Disclaimer: I own nothing but the idea for this story and any characters not recognized. All else is the property of Amy Sherman-Palladino. The quote in the summary is by George Bernard Shaw. "The Good Kind" belongs to The Wreckers.
Author's Note: Thanks so much for your reviews. I hope everyone likes this chapter. You'll find out what happened. Just bear with me, I have five more chapters of this story, and then everyone will be happy. Anyway, here's chapter 12!
Chapter 12: The Good Kind
Lorelai ran into her house as quickly as she could when she heard the phone ringing. "Gilmore residence."
"Lorelai?" a voice, warm and familiar asked hesitantly.
Lorelai set her keys on the counter. "Luke? To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Rory and Tristin were in an accident this morning. Rory's going into surgery Hartford Memorial Hospital," the woman said.
"And Tristin?" Lorelai asked.
"He's awake, and should be getting out in the next few hours," Luke responded. "He's upset, though."
Lorelai picked her keys up again. "I'll be there in ten minutes."
She was out the door in record timing, only worried about her baby.
Luke sat down on an uncomfortable chair waiting for Lorelai. As was usual with her entrances, he heard her before he saw her.
"Lorelai Leigh Gilmore," she said impatiently. "My daughter. Where is she?"
Luke nearly ran over to the reception area. "Lor."
Lorelai looked at Luke. Tears were welling up behind her blue eyes. He opened his arms.
Lorelai ran into Luke's arms. "Luke."
"She just went into surgery," Luke said. "I don't know anything else."
"Why was Rory with Tristin?" Lorelai asked.
"Tristin said it was because Logan broke up with her," Luke responded. "He was taking her home because she was crying."
Lorelai put her fingers to her temples. "How did this happen?"
"It was a drunk driver," Luke said.
"Does anyone in Stars Hollow know?" Lorelai asked.
Luke nodded. "Jess, Lane, and Dave. Logan does, too."
"Little prick," Lorelai muttered. "I can't believe…"
They were interrupted by other familiar voices -- those of Paris Geller and Richard and Emily Gilmore.
"What do you mean you don't know where she is?" Paris asked incredulously. "She's a patient. Are you not supposed to keep track of patients?"
"I swear people should have acompetency check before being allowed to work in a hospital," Richard bellowed.
Emily let out a dramatic sigh. "Can you please just tell me where my granddaughter is?"
Lorelai made her way to her mother's voice. "Mom."
Emily looked at Lorelai and hugged her. "Oh, Lorelai, I'm sorry we weren't here sooner."
Paris hugged Lorelai as well. "I came as soon as Logan called."
"How is she?" Richard asked as he ushered the group to the waiting room.
"She just went into surgery," Lorelai whimpered. "Tristin's awake, and in okay shape. He'll be getting out in the next few hours."
"Have you spoken with him?" Emily inquired.
Lorelai shook her head. "I was going to, but then I heard your voices."
"Go see him," Paris said. "Luke can give us the details."
Luke nodded when Lorelai looked to him for approval. She made her way to Tristin's room and silently opened the door. She watched him as he lay in the bed looking out the window.
"I'm… I… sorry," Tristin said between his tears.
Lorelai rested her hand on his. "Don't worry, Tristin. It wasn't your fault."
Tristin put his hand to his forehead. "It was my fault. I should have watched the road. I shouldn't have --"
"You did everything you could, Tristin," Lorelai told him. "It's not your fault that the man got drunk."
"How is she?" Tristin asked.
"She just went into surgery," Lorelai replied. "The doctor's going to tell us when she gets out."
"I'm supposed to get out today," Tristin said. "I'll just stay here with you. I need to know she's okay."
Lorelai nodded. "Okay. Rest until they say it's okay for you to go."
Tristin turned his head to the window again. "I will."
Lorelai stood up and walked out of the room. She hadn't made it two steps out until she broke down in a fit of tears.
Her baby was in the hospital. In surgery. She didn't know about the accident until Luke had called.
She felt two strong arms come around her, and she leaned into Luke as he whispered to her. She still cried, though. As did Tristin, who watched the rain and felt as though the whole world was crying.
It was late. Lorelai had concluded that no surgery should take four hours. She, along with Emily, Richard, Lane, Dave, Luke, Jess, Paris and Logan had laid claim to the waiting room for surgery. Tristin had joined them two hours ago, but had managed to steer away from Logan. Anyone who came in would look around before heading to the adjacent room.
That was how Dr. Johnson knew where to go after completing the surgery. Every nurse knew where the "Gilmore Waiting Room" was located, as many calls had been made from there in the last four hours with inquiries of Rory's surgery.
"Gilmore?" he asked.
Everyone in the room looked up at him with expectant, and fearful, eyes. "Yes?"
"Rory's out of surgery," he said. "She's doing fine, and is awake. She's asking to see Logan."
Logan looked up at the mention of his name. He looked to Lorelai first for approval and she nodded. He followed Dr. Johnson out of the waiting room down a long hall. He found Rory's room with the help of a friendly nurse.
When he walked into her room, he saw her looking up at the ceiling. "Ace?"
Rory looked over at him, her breathing shallow. "Hey."
Logan sat down in the chair beside her bed. "Hey."
Rory took his hand. "Logan, I'm so…"
"You shouldn't be," Logan interrupted. "I shouldn't have overreacted."
They were silent. With the exception of the heart monitors that beeped every few minutes, there was no noise coming from the room.
Logan rubbed the top of Rory's hand with his thumb. "Do you want to see Tristin?"
"Is he okay?" Rory asked.
Logan shook off the feeling of jealousy that hit him suddenly. "Yeah. He's in the waiting room. Do you want me to tell him you want to see him?"
Rory nodded. "Yeah."
She was asleep when he went into her room. She looked like an angel. Even as she was opening her eyes she looked like an angel.
"Hey," she whispered.
Tristin took her hand. "Hey, Mary."
Rory smiled. "Bible Boy."
Tristin smirked. "I see you haven't lost your sense of humor."
"You're the only one who could bring that back," she said.
Tristin felt tears welling up in the corners of his eyes. "I'm… I'm so sorry, Rory."
Rory shook her head. "Don't be. It wasn't your fault."
Tristin looked down as he began crying. Rory brought her fingers under his chin. She lifted his face to see his eyes, and wiped away his tears.
Tristin closed his eyes as she touched him. It was too much to bear. Then, she sat up slowly and kissed the spots where tears were still present.
"I wish you wouldn't have done that," Tristin said.
"Why?" Rory asked.
Tristin sighed. "I know you and Logan are still together. It hurts to know you chose him."
"He's been with me through it all," Rory whispered. "And so have you. I just… I'm not ready for it to be over with Logan."
He helped Rory ease herself back into the bed. "We took over a waiting room. You've got your grandparents, Lane, Dave, Jess, Paris, Luke and your mom out there."
Rory smiled up at him. "Tell mom and Luke to come back here."
Tristin nodded and kissed the top of Rory's head. "Sure thing, Mary."
Logan and Tristin made their way over to the soda and snack machines. Lane was going to get a soda, but Rory had wanted to see her, so she'd asked Logan to get her one. That was when Lorelai had announced that she was hungry, and the rest of the camp had chimed in.
They had chosen Tristin to go, but told Logan to help him carry back the stuff. Of course they were trying to get the two to talk.
Tristin inserted the money into the snack machine. "Lorelai wanted…"
"I think she said 'anything edible', but don't take my word on that," Logan responded.
Tristin smirked. "Sure thing. Chocolate sound good?"
"You know the way to her heart," Logan replied.
Tristin didn't respond with a witty remark, but held his tongue as he got Lorelai a candy bar.
Logan smirked. "You wanted to say something."
Tristin shook his head as he pressed a button for a soda. "Nope."
"I know you, Tristin," Logan said. "I used to be you."
"Excuse me?" Tristin asked as he put another dollar in the snack machine.
"The cocky, arrogant bastard who could get anything he wanted," Logan explained. "I used to be that."
Tristin grabbed the other soda and started back to the waiting room. "But Rory changed you. You became a new person because of Rory."
"Actually, yes," Logan said.
Tristin rolled his eyes. "Whatever. You have her, man. You'll always have her."
Logan looked at Tristin. He sighed and walked by Tristin. The fact that he walked away didn't bother Tristin. It was what he said as he walked away that made him think.
"If you only knew."