A/N -- Just want to say thanks for all the great reviews and words of encouragement. Much appreciated.

3

Lorelai woke up with a crick in her neck, and someone was tapping on the front door.

"Hey! Is anyone up?"

It was Babette.

"God! Not now. Please, just go away!" Lorelai thought to herself.

A few seconds later the tapping stopped.

Lorelai moved her head around in a circle, trying to ease the pain. She had slept sitting up on the sofa. Then she realized how full her bladder was. But she couldn't get up, not with Luke's head in her lap.

She had finally gotten him to drink the lukewarm tea, and they eventually moved to the living room sofa. They hadn't talked much, but they didn't need to. Luke knew she was there for him, and she was satisfied with that.

After what seemed hours, Luke fell asleep with his head in her lap. And long afterwards, she sat there, running her fingers through his hair, watching him sleep, and wishing she could make it all go away.

But now she HAD to get to the bathroom.

As gently as she could, Lorelai tried raising Luke's head so she could get up, but he woke up.

"Morning, Sleepyhead," Lorelai said as Luke sat up.

"What time is it?"

"Not sure. It's daylight outside."

For a few seconds they looked at each other.

"I guess I really made a fool of myself last night, huh?"

"What are you talking about? Of course you didn't!

"Not even a little? I sure feel like I did."

"Luke! You were hurting! You were in shock! You were acting just like a normal human being would act. And believe it or not – you ARE a human being, with feelings and emotions and reactions just like everyone else."

"Well, thanks for – being there."

"Thanks for letting me be there."

They gave each other a small, affectionate smile.

"Well, I have GOT to use your bathroom!"

"Right there with you, pal! You want the upstairs or down?"

"I'll go upstairs."

"Ah HAH! Going right for the good one!"

"Sure, plus I know that when you have to go, the closer the better."

As they parted, Lorelai said, "Meet you in the kitchen."

Luke got there first. He was starting to make Lorelai's coffee when she came in.

"You want tea?"

"Okay, yeah, that sounds good."

While Luke prepared her coffee, Lorelai made his tea.

They sipped the hot beverages, each with their own thoughts.

"So, how'd you sleep?" Lorelai asked.

"Okay, I guess. The last thing I remember was realizing that if you hadn't insisted I stay here, I would have been there, probably still there, waiting to taken out in a body bag."

"No, we BOTH would have been there! I would have come with you."

"So, why DID you insist?"

"I don't know why. I just wanted you to stay here for a change. No other reason I can think of."

"Well, thank God for that."

"Yes, definitely!"

Luke poured Lorelai a second cup of coffee.

"Do you want to know what I was thinking about?" Lorelai asked.

"Sure."

"How cold and callous and unfeeling I am!"

"What the hell are you talking about? You were anything but THAT!"

"No, not with you, but before."

"Before what?"

"Before Taylor called. Before we knew about the fire. I heard the sirens, and I knew there was a fire somewhere, but it didn't matter, I kept watching TV. I just didn't think about the fact that somewhere, someone's life was being turned upside down, or was maybe dying. I didn't really think it could have been anyone I knew, so it didn't matter."

"Lorelai," Luke started to say, but couldn't think of anything to say to console her.

"It's all right. I suppose I'm no different than anyone else. Maybe the next time, I can be less self-involved."

After a while Luke began wondering why no one had called about the fire.

"Maybe they're respecting your privacy. Maybe no one knows anything yet. And speaking of calling, I should call Rory."

4

"While you do, that, I think I'll take a shower. I should have a change of clothes here."

"You do. Look in my closet somewhere."

"You think Rory's even up yet?"

"If she has an early class, she will be, if not, then I'll wake her up."

"Well, tell her . . . tell her I'm okay, I guess. I don't know."

"I'll think of something. Go on and get your shower."

The first time Lorelai called, she got Rory's voice mail after four rings. She hung up and called again. This time Rory answered.

"Why are you calling so early? Is everything all right?"

"Actually, it's not. There was a fire at the diner last night."

"Oh, my God! Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, Hon, we're fine. Luke was spending the night here. Good thing, too."

"So, what happened?"

"We don't know yet. We're still waiting to hear from the fire inspector, or inspectors, I don't know how many there are. They're supposed to call us when it's safe to go inside."

"Oh, poor Luke. All his dad's stuff was in there. Is anything left?"

"We won't know that until we go in and see."

"Is Luke okay? I know how much everything meant to him."

"I think he might be okay this morning, but last night was really tough on him. But you know Luke, he holds things inside so much, it's hard to break through."

"But you managed, I'm sure."

"Some. At least he knew I was here for him."

"Can I do anything? You want me to come home?"

"No. There's nothing you can do. I just wanted to let you know what was going on. Sorry I woke you up."

"Oh, no, that's fine. Um, tell Luke I said . . . . God, just saying 'I'm sorry' sounds so lame! But I am. I really am!"

"I know you are. I'll think of something."

"I feel so horrible!"

"I know you do, Hon. So do I. We'll see you in a couple of days. Love you."

"Love you, too. Bye."

Not long after she hung up, Lorelai heard the water stop running.

After ten minutes Luke hadn't come downstairs, so Lorelai went up to find out why.

Luke had put on his pants, and was standing in front of the sink. He had put shaving cream over his stubble, but both hands were down on the sink and his forehead was resting against the mirror.

Watching him in such pain was breaking her heart, but she knew she had to try to cheer him up, so she took a deep breath and said, "Uh HUH! Think you're going to use MY razor? I don't think so, Mister! Not with that steel wool you call a beard."

Luke straightened up.

"Well, it was the only one here."

Lorelai walked up to him and put her hands on his shoulders, then slipped them around his chest and rested her head against his back.

"I'm okay." Luke said. But his voice told a different story.

"Rory sends her love. And said to tell you how sorry she is."

"I need to finish shaving."

"No you don't."

Lorelai soaked a wash cloth and wiped the shaving cream off his face. She was so used to seeing him with the stubble, she almost preferred that to him being clean shaven.

He put on a shirt and they went back downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Anything here to eat?" He asked.

"Not too much, I'm afraid. Unless you want strawberry pop tarts, or Rocky Road ice cream."

"Well, I need something on my stomach."

"We can go to the Dragonfly, there's plenty to eat there."

"Okay, I guess."

"You want me to call Sookie? She can meet us there and . . . ."

"Lorelai, I know how to cook!" Luke was suddenly angry. "I do – DID – own a diner, at one time!"

"Okay, no Sookie. And just for the record, you STILL own a diner."