A/N: Hugs and Snuggles to everyone who reviewed! Sorry it's taken me awhile to update again, but this week has been finals, job interviews, and being sick, so I haven't had much time to work on this. And, to answer kisstherain's question, "Like a Rolling Stone" is a chapter in Vol. 2 of the Cowboy Bebop Manga, but long before that, it was a song by Bob Dylan, which is what I titled this fanfic and after.
I mentioned earlier that this story is literati…but did I also mention that it's going to be java junkie? Because it is! Also, the second chapter is reposted, with a little more conflict. I just love drama!
Disclaimers: Don't own nothin.
Chapter 3: How does it feel? To be out on your own?
Luke sat at his desk, trying to work on his taxes and ignore the fact that Jess was asleep just a few feet behind him. Trying not to subconsciously will Jess awake so he could get to the bottom of this mess, and failing miserably at all three things simultaneously. He ran the same figures he'd been trying to balance for the last half-hour and once again got distracted and messed up the calculations.
It was time for a new approach. He shuffled his papers loudly and cleared his throat. Jess didn't move. He moved his chair back from the desk, making a loud scraping noise across the wood floors. Not even a twitch, Man, this kid sleeps like death, he thought. Maybe he is dead. Luke walked over and stood above Jess, trying to decide if his hypothesis was right or not. He didn't really think it was, but hey, it was something to do.
He hadn't been standing there for more than fifteen seconds when Jess's eyes popped open suddenly. "What the—? Why are you standing there like that? It's creepy."
"Sorry, I was just ah—um, nevermind what I was doing. The real question is what are you doing here?"
"Well, it appears I'm lying in my old bed."
"Dammit Jess, you know that's not what I meant. Why are you back here in Star's Hollow?"
"I don't know. I just… Jimmy he…Rory…you don't…I just needed to come back, ok?"
"No, not ok. You hurt Rory a lot when you left Jess, and I need to know why you're back and what you're planning on doing while your back. I can't let you hurt her again. She was the best thing that ever happened to you, and you just treated her like dirt."
Jess sat up slowly, rubbing his face between his hands. He looked at Luke. "I know, I know. Look, I'm not going to hurt her again, I swear. Jimmy and I didn't really get along…so, I tried to play the good son for awhile, but it didn't work out so good. He has his a family there, and I'm not part of it. I used to think he was my family, but you don't walk out on family…but I did. I walked out on Rory…and on…you. The only two people that ever gave a shit whether I lived or died. I couldn't stand the fact that I'd become Jimmy, so I spent a couple of months completely shitfaced, trying to forget my own name. But then one night…I don't know, I just…I realized that I wasn't Jimmy yet, because I still had a chance to come back…so I did."
Jess sat crosslegged on the bed, studying his dirty fingernails. It was completely silent in the apartment for several interminable minutes. Luke just stood there, looking at his nephew, trying to figure out if this was for real. He didn't think it could be an act, the old Jess couldn't have acted this sincere if you'd put a gun to his head. Then again, could he really trust the kid?
Finally Jess broke the silence. "So…ummm…can I stay here?"
"Of course you can stay here, what kind of a question is that? You think I'm going to let one of my two living relatives out in the streets to die? Speaking of which, you still dying?"
"Yeah, pretty much, you never know though, I might dissappoint everyone and pull through."
"How long have you been sick?"
"ummm…since I got off the bus…somewhere around Chicago. I don't really know how long ago it was." Jess swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, steadying himself on the nightstand.
"Woah, where do you think you're going?"
"To see Rory. I didn't come this far to lay in bed."
"Jess, you're sick. Get back in bed, you can see Rory later. Besides, you're not going to get very far like that."
"I can walk just fine."
"No, I meant in your boxers. The rest of your clothes are in the washer. Wasn't much left of them, though."
"Oh, right." Jess sat down on the bed.
"So, the plan is, once your clothes are clean, we're going to drive to the hospital in Hartford and get you checked out. Then, in a couple of days, when you're feeling better, you can go see Rory."
"No, I have to see her now! This can't wait, Luke."
"Ok, fine, I'll send her up when she and Lorelai come in this afternoon. But as soon as you guys talk, it's straight to Hartford—and you better keep your apology brief."