Unconscious Fears
By: Alyson Tierney
Disclaimer: I do not own Lorelai or Rory Gilmore, or any other character associated with Gilmore Girls the way it is seen on television. Those characters and other related things and ideas belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB Network. However, Alicia and Arielle's characters are figments of my own imagination, so I do own them. Please do not use them without my permission. Thank you.
Author's Note: This story is the sequel to my story "Arielle." Everything that has happened up to the Gilmore Girls episode "Not as Cute as Pushkin" is consistent with this story, but after that, it takes its own path, so relationships and other facts may be different than on the show. I am not a dream doctor, or a medical doctor, nor do I know anything about dreams or medicine, so if the information is way off, please don't shout at me.
I hope you like this chapter! I've finished the entire story already, but I'm finding that a lot of your suggestions are helping make a few changes in future chapters. It's each and every one of yours' feedback, comments, likes, and dislikes that helps this story. Thank you! Enjoy and please review if you wish!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Dr. Lockham opened the door and walked in not five minutes later. Lane was running her hands through Rory's hair, trying to send some comfort to her best friend. Rory still watched her mom, whispering words of affection to her. She looked up when the doctor entered the room, followed by another doctor, with dark blonde hair. She smiled, glad to see the familiar doctor. She'd seen so many unfamiliar medical personnel today.
"Rory?" Dr. Lockham said, smiling, "This is Dr. Magnant. She's head doctor on this floor, and she's one of my close friends."
"Hi, Dr. Magnant. This is my best friend, Lane." Rory said. Dr. Magnant smiled, and extended her hand to shake Rory's and Lane's in turn.
"It's nice to meet you two. How's Lorelai doing?" Dr. Magnant asked.
Rory looked a little confused. Wasn't she supposed to tell Rory that? She noticed that Dr. Lockham was smiling, though, so she smiled and answered, "I think she seems better. Her color is better and she just looks like she's asleep."
Dr. Magnant smiled, "From what I understand, the surgeons did a great job on her. We're just going to keep her here and monitor her progress. You see the machine over there?"
Rory nodded, "Yeah, the other doctor said it's a…E…something."
"An EEG machine. It tells us how her brain is responding. I watched it while you were talking and the waves moved differently than they are now." Dr. Magnant explained.
"She can hear me?" Rory said, hopefully.
"I think she can. Many patients who have injuries like this will respond to a loved one's voice. It's one of the things we look at while we evaluate someone's condition." Dr. Magnant informed her.
"Will she wake up?" Rory asked. While she knew many people woke up after falling off roofs, she still knew there were some people that didn't.
"Most patients with this type of injury will wake up within the first hours to days." Dr. Magnant said. Rory could tell she was choosing her words carefully. Rory just nodded, letting her thumbs stroke the back of her mom's hand.
"Can Sookie, Luke, and Alicia come in now?" Lane asked, knowing Rory would want them here for her too.
Dr. Magnant looked at the other doctor, and Dr. Lockham nodded, "That would be Lorelai's boyfriend, best friend, and Rory's other best friend."
Dr. Magnant looked a little hesitant, "I wouldn't want to crowd everyone in here at once, but if they wanted to come in one by one to sit with Rory, sure."
Rory smiled, happy that everyone would get a chance to come in and sit with them. She was also glad that Dr. Magnant never once implied that Rory would leave the room. She wasn't going to. She was not leaving her mom's side until she woke up.
People came and went throughout the rest of the day. Alicia came in first, trying her best to cheer Rory up, until Jackson called and said that Arielle was cranky and kept asking for her mama. Luke came in for a little while, and Rory felt her heart clench as she watched him talk to her mom. It was obvious that he loved her so much. Lane sat with her for a little while, the two of them poring over magazines, reading the stories to Lorelai. Finally, Lane and Luke left, and Sookie remained with Rory and Lorelai. She was going to stay for awhile, and offered to get Rory some dinner, so Rory wouldn't have to leave Lorelai's side.
Rory looked at her watch. Sookie had been gone about ten minutes, and knew she'd be back fairly soon. She reached out with her free hand, smoothing her mom's hair back. She was careful not to disturb the bandage on her temple. She knew that's where they'd gone in to control the bleeding. She traced the outline of her mom's face with a finger, watching as the line on the EEG machine bounced around rapidly. Her mom was responding to her touch as well. Dr. Magnant said that was a good thing, and Rory agreed. She brushed Lorelai's hair behind her ears, her fingers brushing the electrodes attached to her mom's scalp. She'd noticed them earlier, but the doctor had reassured Rory that they weren't hurting her mom at all, it was just like having a band-aid that could measure brain activity. Rory liked that analogy. She leaned down, her face close to her mom's ear, and whispered, "I'm here. I won't leave you. Please come back."
She blinked as the tears began to fall, "Please come back. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, please wake up. Please, I need you." She wiped the tears away that threatened to overcome her.
"Ace?" She looked up as she heard the familiar voice.
Breaking into a grin, she wiped the remaining tears, "Logan? What are you doing here?"
"I heard that there was a damsel in distress." Logan said, coming into the room. He knelt and captured Rory into a long hug, Rory never letting go of her mom's hand.
"You're here. I'm so glad you came." Rory said, breathing a sigh, "I didn't know if you knew."
"Well, one of your friends has a big mouth." Logan said, smiling as he pulled back.
Rory chuckled, "Only one of them?"
"How is she?" Logan asked.
Rory looked down at the figure on the bed, "The doctors say she could wake up at any time."
Logan nodded, "That's good. She just needs her rest. It must be exhausting keeping up with you."
"Hey!" Rory said, pouting playfully.
"She'll be fine." Logan said, looking Rory in the eye, "Can I get you anything?"
Rory shook her head, "Sookie will be back soon with dinner."
"Okay, good. You need some food in you." Logan said, rubbing her arm comfortingly. Rory shivered, looking down at her mom, willing her to wake up.
She was glad that Logan had come, but soon she sent him home. Sookie came back with dinner, and then left to go home to check on Davey. She'd come back later that night, and spend the night in the family room. Rory wasn't going to go sleep in the family room. Lorelai was the most important person in the world to her, and she wasn't going to leave her alone.
"Mom…please come back to me." Rory whispered, her voice shaky, "Please wake up, I need you."
Rory thought she was imagining things when Lorelai squeezed her hand. She blinked a few times, "Mom?" Lorelai squeezed her hand again, stronger this time. Her tongue moved slowly in and out of her mouth, moistening her lips, as she struggled to open her eyes, "Mommy, open your eyes."
Lorelai could hear Rory's voice as she opened her eyes. She could only get them open a tiny crack, but it made it all worth it as she focused on her daughter's face. She smiled, not knowing what happened, but knowing that Rory was here, and that's all that mattered, "Babe."
Rory's eyes filled with tears as she smiled hopefully, "Mommy?"
"Hi, babe." Lorelai said, her voice sleepy.
