AN: So I know I said this was going to be the last chapter but I changed my mind. Now I know that these are not good traits to have, indecisiveness and untruthfulness, but all people have flaws, so accept me for who I am. To ease my guilty conscience, my very good friend "MadeleineDawn", pointed out to me that all good things come in ten. Friends, fingers, toes, etc. For me, the Friends reference was enough. So here it is, the next to last chapter of the story that will now also be added to that list. Maybe one day, a mother will tell her child about the greatness of things in ten and speak of Pleasantly Low. Yeah, that'll probably only be me, but it's a nice thought.

Liz drove down the highway, every few minutes glancing over at Luke. His foot is delicately crossed across his other knee. With his elbow rested on the window, his hand rests on his forehead and his eyes are closed, deep in though or trying to focus past the pain, she wasn't sure which. Her curiosity breaks the silence.

"So what happened?"

"What?" He sounds tired and almost disbelieving, but she presses on.

"To your foot. I assume that it wasn't just from stubbing your toe, and I didn't hear any shelves or walls falling, although, in that case your entire foot could be broken and not just your toe…"

"Liz?"

"Yeah?"

"Stop."

"Okay." She only pauses for a moment. "So what then?"

He sighs, giving in. "I kicked the shelf."

"Seriously? Man oh man, that must have been some kick." She laughs.

Luke opens his eyes to glare at her. "Yeah, too bad we didn't catch it on video or something."

"Does it still hurt?"

He returns to his previous position shifting ever so slightly in his seat, carefully readjusting his foot. "I'm alright."

"I got some Vicodin in the glove compartment."

"I don't even want to know."

"So what did she say?"

Here it comes. Sigh. "Who?"

"Who? Lorelai! That's who!"

"Nothing."

"So she came to the diner to say nothing, and then she leaves, saying nothing, and you kick the shelf and break your toe. Interesting."

"Yep."

"You are stubborn!" She looks over to him, his free hand is gripping the seat belt and his knuckles look white. "You sure you don't want any Vicodin?"

"I'm sure."

"So did she tell you what happened?"

"Liz…" He groans annoyed.

"About the guy. It wasn't a date. It was the bartender,"

If possible, his grip tightens angrily. "Jeez!"

"Okay, okay. I just didn't want you to think it was a date."

"I don't care."

"Of course you do!"

He removes his hand from his forehead. "Are we almost there? Cause I can walk from here." She laughs slightly at the impossible scenario.

"Sorry. I'm done. I just think-"

He cuts her off annoyed, "Well I don't care what you think. Or Sookie, or Carrie, or Kirk, or the rest of that crazy town. I don't care what anybody thinks. Can you go any faster?"

"We're almost there."

The exit for the hospital appears. "Thank god."

Liz sits patiently reading a magazine. Luke sits in a wheelchair with his right leg extended on the footrest. A woman walks by, carefully avoiding the protruding foot.

"I feel stupid in this wheelchair. Can't I just sit in a chair?"

"Nope. Doctor's orders."

"We're in the reception. We haven't even seen a doctor."

"Well receptionist orders then. You stay put."

"It's almost been an hour."

"Unfortunately gun shot wounds and heart attacks get priority." Her eyes never leave the magazine.

A kid coughs and Luke leans into Liz. "We're going to get sick just being in here."

"Chill out Luke. They'll be with us soon." She hands him a copy of People. "Read this."

He eyes it and grimaces. He opens it up begrudgingly and starts to read. Someone stands over him and clears their throat daintily. Luke looks up annoyed, starting to move his foot from the walkway and sees her. He recovers from annoyed and converts to shocked.

"Rory. What are you doing here?"

She holds out a Sports Illustrated shyly. "Hi."

"How did you-"

"Babette."

He rolls his eyes. "Of course."

He takes the magazine and looks at it, smiling thankfully. Liz looks at Rory smiling. "So you're the Rory."

"The one and only. And you must be Liz?"

Liz sticks her hand out and nods. They shake and Liz gleams, "It's about time we met."

Rory smiles. Luke cuts in. "You really didn't have to come all the way here to see me."

"Well I have a serious emotional investment in your burgers and coffee. Had to make sure you were alright." She takes a seat beside him. Motioning to the magazine, "And I know the lack of reading materials in waiting rooms like these, and with the corresponding average wait time, your odds weren't looking so great."

"Well thank you, I appreciate it." He pats her knee and smiles gratefully.

"So what happened?"

Liz cuts in warningly and over-dramatic, "Don't ask."

Luke shoots her a look, annoyed. "No it's fine. I think my toe's broken."

Rory nods understandingly. "So you need anything? Snacks, soda, water? Ice? They should get you ice for your toe!" She stands up haltingly.

"Rory its fine." But she storms off to the receptionist. Luke sighs. Liz looks over to him.

"She's sweet, so worried about you and everything."

Luke rolls his eyes. Liz looks over at Rory who is standing, hands on hips waiting for the ice pack.

Liz continues, "Its good to know that there are people to look after you when I'm not around."

Luke grunts. "I don't need anyone to look after me."

Liz smiles as Rory returns. "You're good! He wouldn't let me get him any ice."

Rory smiles as she hands Luke the ice pack and he places it gently around his swollen toe. "Yeah, he can be stubborn. I just give him no choice in the matter."

Luke grunts. "Don't I know it."

Rory smiles, "Consider it payback for you force-feeding me oatmeal when I had that cold."

Luke looks at her astonished. "How do you remember that? You were like eight."

"Nine and a half actually. And I never recovered." She shivers slightly, remembering the taste.

Liz laughs and Luke rolls his eyes. "Well you certainly need someone to encourage better eating habits." Rory shifts slightly and Luke stops, realizing his mistake.

It is Liz who breaks the uncomfortable silence. "So where is your mom?" Rory and Luke both look extremely uncomfortable. Luke adjusts his foot and Rory trips over what to say.

"She's um- at home. Had some inn emergency, thing." She inwardly curses her excuse. It's flimsy and they all know it. Luke grimaces as he shifts his foot. "Says 'get well soon' though." She tries to force a smile at him, but his focus is his foot, and she gives Liz an apologetic glance.

Liz shrugs and looks at Rory. "Well it was really nice of you to come."

"Luke Danes?"

The three all look relieved as the nurse calls his name.

Rory stands, "Well I guess I'll go now. Just wanted to make sure everything was okay."

Luke looks up at her and gives a small smile. "Thanks Rory."

"It's the least I can do after all those years of you looking after me."

Luke looks down to hide his blush, and Liz stands up and gives Rory a small hug. "Thanks again Rory. I think that he wouldn't have survived with that People much longer."

"Well I'm sure there's still more waiting to endure." Rory pats his head, "Now you go be a good patient."

"Oh jeez."

Rory gives one last smile and turns to go.

"Hey Rory," She turns around at Luke's voice, "Come by the diner tomorrow. There will a burger and coffee with your name on them." He becomes a little nervous but dredges on, "And if the inn emergency or whatever is over-"

She cuts in, "I will."

He nods, and she smiles sincerely and walks away.

As Rory pulls up to the house, Lorelai meets her car, opening Rory's door for her, rushed. "So, so, so?"

"He's fine, just a broken toe."

"How'd he break his toe?"

Rory gets out of her car and starts walking with her mom up to the house. "Didn't say. But I got the impression from Liz it was a sore subject."

"Maybe she broke his toe!"

"I doubt it. She's a pretty small woman to go around breaking toes."

"Yeah you're right." They enter the house and Lorelai flops onto the couch. "So…"

"So, he wants us to come to the diner tomorrow."

"What? Seriously? Me?"

"Yeah. He seemed really happy that I went." Rory sat beside her mom on the couch.

Lorelai wraps her arm around Rory's shoulders. "It's nice that you went."

"Yeah, yeah."

"No seriously. I'm sure it meant a lot to him. He cares about you a lot and I know he was relieved to know that whatever there is between me and him, that nothing between the two of you would change."

"I can still be mad at him if you want me to…" Rory tries meekly.

"Not this again. Absolutely not. You will not get in the middle of this mess."

"Well maybe the mess will clear up soon. He did request your presence as well tomorrow."

"Formality. He did that for you sweetie. Luke doesn't want to see me I'm afraid."

"I don't think that's true."

"Honey, just trust me on this. It'll just make things awkward for both of us. Just because he has a broken toe doesn't change anything."

"Mom…"

"Rory…" She matches her tone.

"He's trying. I think you should go. You and I both know how stubborn Luke is. This is a step in the right direction. He asked you there, so he can't kick you out." Lorelai scoffs, "And no matter what, you know Luke cares about you. The awkward phase has to start sometime, why not tomorrow?"

Lorelai pauses for a second, doubtfully, "I'll think about it."

"Really?" Rory asks skeptically.

"Really. Now I'm going to bed. It's been a long, long day." She rises from the couch.

"Mom? Really think about it okay."

"I'll think about it, but no promises."

"Fair enough."

Lorelai kisses her forehead. "Goodnight Rory."

"Goodnight Mom."

Comments are appreciated and encouraged. TBC soon…