"Come on mom! Pick up the phone!" Rory said to herself.

She had been trying to get ahold of her mom since Friday and today was Sunday. At first she -assumed- that her mom was busy with arrangements on the Dragonfly. Now she was getting worried. What was up?

"Hi. You reached Lorelai Gilmore. I'm not here right now. Please leave a message after the beep."

Beeeep.

"Mom? Hey. It's me. I've been trying to get ahold of you for two days. Why aren't you answering? I'm getting worried. Well, I'm on my way to your house. Call me if you get this message. Bye."

Rory hung up the phone. Thirty minutes later she pulled into her moms driveway. She got out of the car and went through the front door.

"Mom! Where are you?" Rory called throughout the house.

After she got no answer she headed upstairs to her moms room. She saw her mom laying in her bed surrounded by tissue.

"Mom? Are you ok?"

"Rory?" Lorelai said in a whisper.

Rory walked over to her mom and put her hand on her forehead.

"Oh my God mom! You're burning up!"

"I think I have the flu." Lorelai said and then started coughing uncontrollably.

"I'm gonna call Sookie. You need to be taken care of and I have no clue what to do." Rory pulled out her cell and dialed Sookie's number. There was no answer. She tried the house. Still no answer.

What should I do? I have to be back at school. I have my midterms this week.

Then an idea popped into her head. She dialed Luke's.

"Luke's. How may I help you?" Luke said into the phone.

"Luke! Oh, thank God!"

"Rory? What's wrong?" Luke asked worried.

"It's mom. She's really sick. I think she has the flu. She's lying in bed and seems to be in a haze. I tried calling Sookie, but she's not home." Rory said in a rush.

"I'll be right over." Luke said and hung up.

"Ceaser, I have to go. Can you close up for me?" Luke asked.

"No problem boss."

Luke got in his truck and drove to Lorelai's. He walked up to the door and knocked.

"Luke! You're here! Mom's upstairs." Rory said as she shut the door against the fierce winter winds.

Luke walked into Lorelai's room and went over to her.

"Lorelai? Can you here me?" Luke asked.

Lorelai thought she heard a voice far off. She couldn't really tell. She felt horrible. She was running a really high fever and had been throwing up all day. At the thought of that she started to feel nauseous.

Luke noticed a pale-ish green tinge in Lorelai's face. He also noticed she was clutching her stomache with one hand and covering her mouth with the other.

I need to get up! I need to get to the bathroom quick. Lorelai thought. She tried to get up, but had difficulty. Luke reached for her hand and led her to the bathroom where he held her hair back as she threw up in the toilet.

"Is there anything I can do?" Rory asked from the doorway.

"Yeah, actually. Rory can you go to Doose's and pick me up some Pepto Bismol and some chicken noodle soup?" Luke asked.

"Yeah. Sure. I'll be right back." Rory said and with that she left.

"Luke?" Lorelai asked after Rory had left.

"Yeah. It's me. Rory called and asked me to come over." Luke told her as he guided her back to her bed. She could barely walk.

I hate seeing her like this. I would do anything to take this pain away. Luke thought.

"How long have you been like this?" he asked concerned.

"Since Friday. I think. What day is it?" she asked.

She's out of it! My God. She must be really bad.

"It's Sunday." Luke answered her .

"It is?" she asked.

"Shhh. Lie down and don't speak. You need to rest." he told her and she obeyed.

This is really sweet of him to do this. Lorelai thought.

Just then Rory entered the room, clustching a brown bag in her hand.

"Here." she said handing the bag to Luke.

"Thanks. You can go now. I'll take care of her from here."

"Are you sure? I mean I can stay and help if you want me too. I don't have to be back at school until nine tomorrow."

"No. That's ok. I know you have your midterms this week. You should study."

"No. I think I should stay. Really, I can help you." Rory insisted.

"It's ok, Rory. I know how important studying is to you."

"Mom's more important than that, though."

"I know. But you mother's goal for you is to graduate and start your career. Really, Rory."

Rory hesitated. Her midterms were improtant, but she wanted to stay with her mother.

"But-" she started to argue.

"No buts." Luke said. He looked her seriously in the eyes and told her "I'll take good care of her. Trust me."

"Ok, but call me if something happens. Or if she needs me. Or-" she rambled.

"I will. I promise." Luke told her.

"Ok." she gave in.

Rory grabbed her purse and left.

"Ok, we need to get you downstairs so I can watch you while I make your soup." Luke told Lorelai.

"I'm ok, Luke. I'll be fine. You should get back to the-" Lorelai got up again, with the help of Luke, and threw up. When she was done, she crawled back into her bed.

"No, come on. Ceaser's closing up for me anyway." Luke lifted her up out of her bed. Lorleai put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder. Luke carried her downstairs and placed her on the couch.

"Ok. I'm gonna be making you some soup in the kitchen. Call me if you need me."

"Ok. Luke?" Lorelai called.

"Yeah?" Luke asked

"Thank you." Lorelai said.

"Your welcome." Luke said and covered her up with a blanket. He waited until she had closed her eyes and he was sure she was asleep before going into the kitchen.