Chapter 2

The Hunt

Six months had past since she wrote that letter to Logan. She found herself sitting in herfavorite chair reading "The Great Gatsby" watching Emma Grace sleep, when she started to wonder if that was the right thing to do. She kicked herself every day thinking about him and wondering whether or not he had gotten it and whether or not he even cared about the situation that she was in. Granted that she put herself into this situation but she hated what she did to Logan.

"No matter what happened in the past, it was best for all parties involved that I just well enough alone.

After all things were going great for her in California. She had a great job working with a local newspaper company. She was determined to make a great life for her and Emma. Jess had been such a great friend through out the whole ordeal. She was starting to wonder why she had ever let him leave in the first place. The only problem was that she wasn't ready to get involved in a relationship when she didn't even know where she stood with her feelings for Logan.

At that point she heard the front door open. Wondering who would be home at this time she got up to go and check it out.

"Jess, is that you?" called out Leigh. I don't know why I call out to him. I mean if it isn't him and rather a criminal do I really think that they are going to answer? I don't understand my self sometimes.

"Yes Leigh, it is I." Jess called back to her. "Do you think that you could come and help me with the groceries?"

So Leigh got up from the chair that she had been sitting in and went to help him out. As she went from the back room to the front door she continued to wonder whether or not she was doing the right thing. After all she really didn't know who the father was so maybe it wasn't Logan's, maybe; just maybe it was Jess'. Anyways she will never know but her daughter will have a father if it was the last thing she did.

"So what are you fixing us for supper tonight? I mean after all it is your night." Leigh asked Jess in a kind of hoping voice.

"I don't know what do you want me to fix since I know you have been thinking all day long about this?" Jess replied to her with that skirmish grin that she was ever so used to by now.

"Now what makes you think that I have been doing that all day?"

"Oh I don't know. Maybe the fact that you do that every day on my nights since Emma was born. Ever since you were once again allowed to have coffee as an ingredient. And don't deny it because I know you."

At that point the phone starts to ring which ends up waking Emma up since absent minded Leigh left in the nursery when Jess got home.

"Great; just great," Leigh exclaims, "she just went down less then an hour ago. Make you a deal I will grab Emma if you get the phone and then I will treat you to take out, deal?"

"Sure, works for me I didn't want to cook anyways." Jess states as they walk towards the back room to get the phone and Emma.

Picking up the phone to look at the caller ID, Jess recognizes the number as his uncle's dinner. Seeing as Leigh was involved with Emma he steps out of the room to take this call. Knowing that Leigh had left every thing dear to her old life in order to give Emma a normal life, he hopes that Luke is calling just to make sure that Jess is still alive and not because he had some how find out that his girlfriend's daughter had turned to Jess for help.

"Hello Mariano resident. Jess speaking."

"Hi Jess," a familiar voice called from the other end of the phone, "How have you been? I bet that you weren't expecting a call from me, were you?"

"TJ, is that you? What are you doing calling from Luke's? Wait did something happen to Luke? What is going on?" an extremely anxious Jess starting to scream into the phone.

"Calm down buddy, Luke is just fine. He and Lorelei are so wrapped up in the whole hunt for Rory, that he asked me and your mom to look after the dinner for a while."

"What hunt for Rory?"

"The one that has been going on for the past 6 months when she didn't show up to her mothers house. I mean they have been searching hi and low for her, night and day."

"Do they have any idea where she is?" asked a very nervous Jess. Oh god what am I going to tell Leigh. She has been so happy lately I would hate to ruin that.

"Nope they haven't the clue but I will tell you that I have never since your uncle and Taylor work on the same side of anything and they are heading up this campaign together."

"Oh wow I guess they are really concerned about Rory. But is there any reason for the hysterics?"

"Well it seems as though Rory wrote a letter to her boyfriend, telling him that she was really sorry and all but that she was going to somewhere no one would ever be able to find her."

"Ok I am starting to understand the hysteria. But what I don't understand is why did you call me?"

"Oh sorry bud, I totally forgot. Well her mom was thinking that the last place she would think to look for her daughter would be with you. They asked me if I would call you to see if you had heard from her. You haven't, have you?"

"Well actually I did hear from her about 6 months ago. She said that she was trying to find some relatives of her father. I haven't heard from her since, but I swear if I hear something I will let you guys know, but at the moment I have to let you off the phone because it seems as though my roommate could use my help right now. Tell everyone that I say hi. Bye." And with that Jess hung up the phone and turned around to see Leigh standing there with Emma asleep in her arms.

"Leigh, let me explain," Jess started to say but before he could say anything else, Leigh came over and gave him a great big hug and a kiss on the check. She whispered in to his ears a very quite and sincere thank you. As she pulled away, Jess noticed that there was a small tear running down her face. Jess knew that being away from her best friend had to be killing her. He just wished that there was something that he could do.

"Why don't you just call them? I'm sure that if you would just talk to them they would understand."

"NO! They won't understand. Ok we have been over this a million times and I need you to promise me that you will not call them. Now I have to go put Emma to bed then I am going to go to bed because I am exhausted. Good night."

Jess just stood there in shock. She finally had the proof that everyone still cared about what was going on with her and she wasn't going to do anything about it. Well I don't care if she doesn't want me to do this, I have to do this. They deserve to know the truth.

Next chapter: Betrayal on the Highest Level

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long to update. I really hope to update about once a day. I hope that you enjoy this chapter.