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 THIRTEEN
Rory watched as the doctors worked on her mom. They threw around words like "BP" and "Ativan" and "IV push," which Rory didn't understand. Her lips quivered, as she watched her mom's flopping form finally cease jerking. She couldn't lose her. Lorelai was the most important person in Rory's world.
"Okay, BP is stabilizing. EEG is leveling out." Nurse Sayde reported. Dr. Magnant nodded, and walked over to where Rory was standing in the corner, her arms wrapped around her chest.
"Rory?" Dr. Magnant said, cautiously.
"You said she would be fine! That is not fine!" Rory said, accusingly.
"Rory…I said she should be fine, but I also said there could be complications from the surgery. Unfortunately, seizures are one of them." Dr. Magnant said, looking into Rory's baby blue eyes.
"She…had a seizure? Like epilepsy?" Rory asked, her voice quivering.
"No, an epileptic has chronic seizures because of abnormal brain activity. Lorelai's seizure was most likely a direct affect from the injury. Most patients with Lorelai's injury's seizures go away pretty quickly." Dr. Magnant explained.
Rory nodded, "Okay."
She was about to ask another question when she heard Lorelai's soft voice from the bed, "Rory? Babe?"
Rory rushed over to the bed, and took her mom's hand, "Hi, Mommy."
Lorelai groaned, "What happened? I got all dizzy and then I was waking up…"
"You had a seizure." Dr. Magnant explained, "Many patients have seizures after waking up from surgery of this nature. We're giving you some medicine to help it right now, and you should be fine."
"Medicine?" Lorelai looked at her arm, which now had another IV tube attached to it, "Oh great. I'm a pincushion."
Dr. Magnant smiled, as her beeper went off, "I'm being paged, but I should be back briefly. Get some rest."
"Thanks." Lorelai said, her voice sounding a little off. She noticed Nurse Sayde was still in the corner, writing in a file. Lorelai looked at Rory, with a supportive smile on her face.
Rory tried to talk, but got choked up. She blinked back tears, as she reached out and took her mom's hand carefully. "I took a header, huh?" Lorelai asked, reaching out to rub Rory's arm.
Rory nodded, "I was so scared."
"Oh, baby, I'm so sorry." Lorelai said, her voice a whisper, "I never wanted to scare you like this. I was hoping you wouldn't know this kind of fear…well, ever, but at least until you got older."
Rory's voice quivered, "I was scared you'd leave. I was scared you'd never…I was scared that you would think I still hated you. I'm so sorry I said that." Rory said, in a wavering voice. The tears began to come, cascading down Rory's cheeks.
Lorelai reached out to her daughter, who melted into Lorelai's arms, "Angel, its okay. I know you didn't mean it…you were just angry. It's okay."
Rory allowed herself to be rocked for a few moments, but then pulled away, "No, this isn't right. You're the one in the hospital bed. I should be comforting you, not falling apart."
"Babe, it's okay. The fact that you are here for me is comforting enough." Lorelai said, smiling at her daughter.
"Are you sure?" Rory asked, in a small voice.
"Positive. As long as my baby girl is here with me, I'm good." Lorelai gave her daughter a huge smile, and then yawned, "Stupid painkillers. They're like a constant invitation to dreamland. Scratch invitation, they drag you kicking and screaming."
Rory climbed back on the bed carefully, snuggling into her mom's shoulder, "Get some sleep, Mom."
"If you insist, Princess Rory." Lorelai said, yawning again. She tucked her head next to her daughter's and let sleep overtake her.
Lorelai tried to fight the images as they swirled through her head. She was standing on the front porch of the Gilmore house, and Rory was driving away in the car. She was driving farther and father, faster and faster, until she was gone. Her life was empty, a big, black hole. She turned, and the lone item in the pitch black was a small, pink bassinet. She recognized it as Rory's old bassinet. She rushed forward, hoping her baby was still there, but it was empty. Nothing was there except Rory's bear that had been lost when she was five. Lorelai felt an immense feeling of sadness, but it was slowly washed away as she drifted back up out of her sleeping state. Lorelai could hear Alicia talking to someone, and familiar cooing. She smiled, turning her head. Rory was fast asleep, curled next to her, and Arielle was playing on a blanket on the floor nearby. Alicia was standing near her child, talking to Nurse Sayde. The two were engaged in an excited discussion, and Lorelai smiled. She was glad Alicia was finding interesting people to talk to.
"Hi, Ari." Lorelai said, in a soft voice. The baby looked up and smiled, rising up on her knees to reach out to Lorelai. Alicia appeared from behind her daughter, and lifted her up.
"Want to see Auntie Lorelai?" Alicia asked. Lorelai watched as Alicia crossed to the other side of the bed, and placed Arielle on the bed next to Lorelai. Arielle smiled, and patted Lorelai's tummy. Lorelai smiled at the baby and reached out to tousle her hair.
"How are you feeling, Lorelai?" Alicia asked, perching on the bed.
"I feel better. Not quite as floaty as before." Lorelai smiled up at Alicia, and looked around the room. Nurse Sayde was checking a few of Lorelai's monitors, and Lane and Sookie were both fast asleep on the couch. Lorelai smiled, "I exhausted them, huh?"
Alicia shrugged, "Nah. They exhausted themselves staying up all night playing poker."
Lorelai chuckled, "Well, you know them and their poker." She turned her attention back to the baby, who was now playing with her plastic key ring. "Did Luke come by?"
"He was here yesterday, and he'll come back later today. With Lane not there, it means the diner is in Caesar's hands, and you know what that means." Alicia grinned.
"Total and complete chaos. Got it. I hope I didn't worry you guys too much." Lorelai chuckled as the baby grabbed her outstretched hand.
"Nah. You're Lorelai." Alicia said, and Lorelai grinned.
"The Inn still standing?" Lorelai asked, trying to make sure all the bases were covered.
Alicia smiled, even when she was injured, Lorelai tried to be the take-charge one, "It's standing. Michel stayed, and Logan offered to go over there and help out."
Rory stirred then, "Logan?" she asked, sleepily.
"Yeah. That guy of yours is over at the Dragonfly helping Michel out." Lorelai told her, smiling as Rory tossed an arm over her mom and Arielle poked at Rory's outstretched hand.
Rory grunted, "Ari." She yawned and opened her eyes, reaching out and brushing Arielle's nose before looking up at her mom, "I had another dream."
Lorelai smiled supportively at her daughter, "Just now?"
Rory nodded, a sad look on her face, "And before…the morning I found you."
"Oh…sweetie, mom's fine. I promise." Lorelai said, holding her daughter close to her. Rory nodded, but didn't answer, "And pretty soon we're going to get out of this dump and get some chocolate ice cream and coffee."
Rory raised an eyebrow, "She wants coffee." She turned to Alicia and smiled, "She must be feeling better."
Alicia grinned, "Must be." She smiled at Rory. Rory lay back on her mom's stomach. Arielle studied Rory for a few seconds, before reaching out and patting Rory's brunette locks. She then lay down with her head on Lorelai's stomach as well, and Lorelai smiled. Alicia smiled down at her child, stroking her hair, and the four enjoyed a quiet few moments.
