(The waiting room of the Hartford hospital)

"I can't believe I was so stupid..." Lorelai groaned.

"It's not your fault." Sookie soothed.

"Yes!" Lorelai exclaimed. "It is... I'm her mother, I should know when something is wrong."

"You did." Sookie replied. "You told Matthew to leave..."

"I should have known sooner..." Lorelai's eyes began to tear up. "I let my selfishness stand in the way of my intuition. Rory and I have always had a connection, and I broke it." Her voice broke. "God, only knows what he's done to her..." she began crying. Sookie sat down beside her and tried to comfort Lorelai.

The doctor came out into the waiting room. "Ms. Gilmore?"

"Yes?" Lorelai replied standing up and wiping at her eyes.

"Your daughter has taken quite a beating." He noted seriously. "Luckily, there is no permanent damage. She'll be sore for a few days, and the bruises are likely to get worse. Nevertheless, she will recover." His tone was dry.

Lorelai exhaled deeply. "May I see her?"

The doctor's face stiffened. "You may." As Lorelai attempted to walk by the doctor, he held up his hand to stop her. "Ms. Gilmore... I hope who ever did this to your daughter, is placed in jail. That's despicable nature to beat a young girl."

Lorelai shook her head and walked passed the doctor. When she found Rory's room, her heart began to thump immensely. She would have so much trouble facing her daughter knowing what she had overlooked all these weeks. She slowly cracked the door and slipped in.

"Hey..." she whispered coming over and sitting down on the bed.

"Hey." Rory replied softly.

Rory looked very pale, and sick. Lorelai noticed the bruises on her arms, how did she not notice this all earlier? She took Rory's hand.

"Sweetie, I'm so sorry." Lorelai sniffled. "I... I feel so bad." Lorelai began to sob. Rory sobbed along with her. "I never knew..." Lorelai protested. "I should have... but I didn't..."

"It's okay." Rory murmured.

"No, it's not okay... Look at you. Look what he did." Suddenly hatred filled Lorelai's body. The emotion was becoming much stronger the grief she had been dealing with that evening. Lorelai collected herself and took a deep breath. "We'll take you home tomorrow... The roads are too bad tonight to travel. Sookie and I'll stay right here with you all night." Lorelai smiled. "I'll be back soon... okay?"

"Okay." Rory smiled in return.

Lorelai bent over and kissed her daughter softly on the forehead. "I love you."

Lorelai calmly walked out of the hospital room and back into the waiting room where Sookie was anxiously sitting.

"How is she?" Sookie asked wholeheartedly.

"She'll be okay." Lorelai confirmed.

Lorelai walked over and grabbed her jacket from a chair.

"Where are you going?" Sookie asked quickly.

"Promise me, you'll stay in the room with Rory." Lorelai replied.

"Lorelai..."

"Promise me." Lorelai repeated looking Sookie directly in the eye.

"I promise."

Lorelai grabbed her keys and left the Hospital.

(Matt's house)

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK,

"I'm coming!..." Matt yelled. "Don't break the damn door down." He added in a quieter voice.

Matthew opened to the door to reveal a ferocious Lorelai. "Lore?"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT." Lorelai huffed.

"What's...?"

Lorelai shoved her way through the door. "What the hell did you do to her you bastard!"

"Who?" Matt asked innocently.

"Don't play games Matthew! You beat my kid!" Lorelai snarled.

"I did not!" Matt objected. "I'd never hurt Rory!"

"You're nothing but a damn liar!" Lorelai screeched. "Well congratulations, you fooled a lot of people, Matthew, but the truth is out now, you sick son of a bitch."

"Lorelai, I have no idea what you're talking about." Matt replied calmly. "Look let's just sit down and have a cup of coffee, and work this thing out..." He placed his hand on her shoulder.

Lorelai smacked his hand off her shoulder immediately "Don't touch me!" She stared in him down, as the anger built up inside her. "Don't ever come around Rory or me again. If you do, I swear to God..."

"WHAT?" Matthew asked stepping up into her face. "You'll do what?" He asked wickedly.

"I'll kill you." Lorelai replied solemnly.

Matt chuckled. "Good luck." he smiled.

Lorelai turned and left the house. Tears came streaming down her face again, as she got into the jeep and headed back towards the hospital. She grabbed her cell phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Hello?"

"Luke..." Lorelai sobbed. "I need you."