May 8 2005

Fire! And Fired!

1

Luke's truck pulled into Lorelai's driveway, but he kept the motor running.

"Aren't you coming in?" Lorelai asked.

"No. I've got to get up for the early deliveries. I thought I'd go on back to the diner."

"Don't do that. Stay here tonight."

"But I'm just going to go to bed and go to sleep."

"So?"

"So, I know it's too early for you."

"So?"

"So, I'm not going to be very good company."

"So?"

"So, you know you hate going to bed when you're not sleepy."

"So I'll go to bed with you and read a magazine or something. And after you fall asleep, I'll get up and go downstairs and watch some TV until I get sleepy and then I'll come back to bed."

"And then tomorrow I'll feel guilty because . . . . "

"And when I do get back into bed, you'll have it all nice and warm for me."

"Ahh, now I see. I'm just your bed warmer."

"Of course you are. What did you think, there might be some other reason I'd want to share my bed with you?"

"The thought had crossed my mind."

"Like what? I want someone else in my house with me because Rory's gone? Or I like waking up in the middle of the night because of your snoring and feeling all safe and secure because you're right there beside me? Oh man! What an imagination you have!"

"Well, my mistake. But what about me getting up at four o'clock?"

"So, you'll reset the alarm for six thirty, since it's obvious I'LL never get up at four. And then I'll see you again at seven, or maybe eight, at the diner for breakfast."

"Okay, if you insist."

"You are TOO easy!"

They got out of Luke's truck and went inside. Lorelai checked for messages, then followed Luke upstairs. They got undressed, brushed their teeth, and got into bed.

"Good night."

"Good night, don't forget to reset the alarm."

"I won't."

Luke kissed her then rolled over away from the lamp on her night stand.

Lorelai began leafing through one of her catalogs while Luke was falling asleep. When she was sure he was asleep, she leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek then quietly got out of bed. She put on her robe and slippers and went downstairs to watch television.

She was absently flipping through the channels when she heard a siren, then a second one.

"Must be a fire somewhere," she said to herself, then shrugged and turned her attention back to the television.

Fifteen minutes later, the phone rang, startling her and making her drop the remote. She got up to answer the phone, irritated, and wondering who would be calling this time of night.

"Hello. And this better be good! . . . Taylor? . . . Yeah, Luke's here. Why? . . . WHAT? Oh, my God! OH MY GOD! We'll be right there!"

Lorelai slammed the phone down and began running up the stairs.

"Luke! LUKE! Get up! Hurry! We've gotta go!"

Luke was wide awake by the time Lorelai got upstairs.

"What's going on?"

"That was Taylor! There's a fire! At the diner!"

Together they hurriedly threw on their clothes, neither speaking.

2

When they got to the diner, a small crowd had gathered. One of the fire trucks was shooting water into the upstairs apartment. Most of the windows were broken, and thick black smoke was boiling out.

The other truck was pouring water into the diner itself. Most of its windows were also broken.

Luke and Lorelai pushed through the crowd but were stopped by a policeman.

"That's my diner!" Luke yelled at him.

"I know that, Mr. Danes, but you have to stay back. Let the firemen do their job, there's nothing you can do."

In shock and disbelief, Luke and Lorelai could only stand and watch in despair at the destruction of the diner.

"Luke," someone said.

Luke turned to face the Fire Chief.

"I'm really sorry about your diner. We got here just as soon as we got the call."

"When can I go in?"

"Tomorrow afternoon at the very earliest."

"But my things, my clothes, my dad's things – I need to get them out!"

"Not until tomorrow. We have to do an inspection first. We need to find out where the fire started, and we need to determine if it's even safe for you to go in. Besides, we had to cut the power so we could put water on the fire without any risk to my men, so you wouldn't be able to see anything anyway."

"Come on, Luke," Lorelai said as she tried to pull him away, but he wouldn't budge.

"I can't just do NOTHING!" he exclaimed.

"There's nothing you can do. The fire's ninety percent contained. All that's left is to put out the remaining hot spots and to keep a watch on it until it's daylight. Go on home. I'll call you at Lorelai's when we find out something."

Lorelai tugged on Luke's arm again. This time he let her lead him back through the crowd to his truck. Once there, he slumped against the front fender. His breathing was shallow and ragged.

Several people expressed their sorrow and regrets, but Luke never acknowledged them.

In the semi-darkness, Lorelai could see Luke wasn't doing so good. He was barely holding it together.

Over the years she had seen him angry, happy, sad, depressed, and stoic; the whole town had. But this was different. She couldn't bear for anyone to see him like this.

He was HER Luke, and no one, NO ONE, had to right to see him when he was most vulnerable. No one but her.

"Let's go home," she said.

He looked at her as if he was unable to understand what she saying, but he let her guide him to the passenger side.

Lorelai got into the driver's seat, started the engine, backed away, turned around and drove back to her house.

After she killed the engine, they sat without speaking.

"Now what do I do?" he asked, mostly to himself. "I have nothing, no . . . place."

Lorelai put her hand to his cheek and turned his face toward hers.

"Luke, this is your place. It's OUR place. If you don't believe me, just think about all the work you've done on it over the years. And after you kissed me that first time, it became just as much yours as it is mine. I just have more clothes here and I'm making the mortgage payments."

"My dad's things are in there . . . ."

"I know. And tomorrow we'll get them, all of them, but right now we need to go inside."

Luke opened the door to get out, but Lorelai was already there, ready to help.

Back in the kitchen, Luke dropped heavily down into one of the chairs. It was as if all his strength had left him.

Lorelai began making him tea, and decided to make some for herself as well -- a small, supportive gesture on her part.

When it was ready, she put the two steaming cups down on the table and sat in a chair nearest to him.

Luke's hands were folded together and his head was bowed.

Lorelai put her hands over his.

"It's going to be okay," she said, hoping she wasn't lying.

"What if it can't be saved? What if everything's gone?"

"Then you'll find another place and reopen the diner."

"It won't be the same."

"I know."

For many minutes there was silence.

"Luke, I'm here for you. You do know that, don't you?"

He didn't answer.

"If you want to talk, need anything, I'm here. I'll always be here."

Instead of an answer, she heard him swallowing hard, holding back.

"You can let it out. I'm the only one here. No one will ever know."

After a couple more minutes of silence, Lorelai said, "I'll – I'll leave you alone. I'll be in the living room if you . . . I'll be in there."

Lorelai got up but Luke grabbed one hand.

"Don't . . . I want . . . I need you -- to stay."

Lorelai sat back down, fighting to control her tears.

TBC