Back to the Basics

Chapter 5

By the time Finn stumbled into the kitchen the following morning groaning and clutching his head, Rory was already on her third cup of coffee and was well into the daily newspaper. Finn's father, Winston, sat at the head of the table studying the folder he had been working on the previous day. The moment Finn entered the room Rory's eyes narrowed but never left the black print of the paper.

The sound of cupboards opening and closing filled the air. Pills rattled as Finn attempted to pinch of few from the container. He finally settled in a chair beside Rory, a water bottle clutched in his hand.

"Rory," he whispered. His voice was still hoarse from sleep.

Papers shuffled and a briefcase closed. Winston had packed up his things and was already out the door.

"Rory," he tried again, "let me explain. Please."

"Why did you lie to me?" asked Rory, hurt. "You had me so worried. I rushed over here only to find out it was some sort of sick joke. It wasn't funny, Finn. What made you do that?"

He was silent for a moment. His head was bowed in shame or to keep from laughing, she wasn't sure. He appeared innocent and lost. "I didn't lie," he mumbled quietly.

"Really?" Rory said in disbelief. He eyebrow cocked up. "I showed up here, concerned, while you went out drinking with your friends."

Finn shook his head, which was still down. She felt anger well up in her veins. Was it easier for him to lie if he didn't look at her? "Look at me, Finn!" she said sharply. He flinched and looked up.

"I didn't lie," he repeated. "I swear I didn't."

Rory snorted.

"Just let me explain," he said desperately.

"Explain, Finn, I've been waiting for that explanation for a while now. Yet all I'm hearing is a pathetic plea to hear you out. Well I'm waiting, Finn, get on with your very well concocted story, I mean explanation, please."

If her words bothered Finn in any way, she never knew, he kept his face blank as he spoke. "When I called you, I had been at the hospital. A few years ago my mom was diagnosed with cancer. We got her the best doctors money could buy and they gave her all the treatments. Miraculously, after eight months of treatments she went into remission. We were all so happy. Last week after I got back from," he faltered a little here, "Vermont I got a phone call from my father. He said mom was back in the hospital, that it was serious. I came home right away. I sat by her hospital bed day and night. Then the day I called you, the doctor had just – he had just explained that she had stopped responding to treatments months ago and that she wouldn't make it. She's dying. I didn't even know she was sick again! She didn't tell me. I needed something familiar. You still weren't here so I went to the pub. I had to get my mind off it. I felt like I was going mad. I'm sorry I messed up. I didn't mean for you to get the wrong impression. I apologise."

"I'm so sorry about your mother Finn. You should go see here today," Rory said, "but I'm not sorry about getting angry about finding you at the pub. I stand by that."

He nodded in understanding. Rory had never approved of drinking to forget one's feelings and problems, Finn knew and understood that.

"Will you come with me?" he asked. He paused. "To the hospital, I mean," he clarified.

-

An hour later Rory was sitting in a hospital waiting room while Finn was in visiting his mother. It was the second time in a week that she was in a hospital. Needless to say she wasn't remembering the best of all her memories. Absentmindedly she reached down and grabbed her cast encased ankle.

"Excuse me, miss?"

Rory looked up. A doctor in a lab coat with a stethoscope around his neck stood before her. "Can I help you sir?" she asked.

He laughed. "That is what I was asking you."

"Oh, right," she said blushing.

"Are you all right?" he asked curiously.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry I don't know your name, doctor," Rory said.

"Joshua Lockeport."

"Well then, I am perfectly fine, Dr Lockeport."

"Call me Joshua. Are you sure though," he hesitated here, "you seemed a little distressed."

"Oh, did I?" She said, "I just don't really like hospitals."

"Understandable," Dr Lockeport commented.

Truth was Rory was thinking about Vermont. The day had gotten off to a good start. Everyone was happy. Lorelai and Luke had a beautiful ceremony in a small white chapel. Rory and her boyfriend had been the witnessed. She and Marty had then treated the newlyweds to a fancy dinner. Everything was going great until after dessert.

Lorelai and Luke stood up to dance and as they were leaving Lorelai called back, "No making out in the coat room while I' gone!" Luke had scowled and Marty's face had lost any and all happiness.

Marty then refused to say anything even after Lorelai and Luke had left for their honeymoon, he didn't speak until they reached their hotel room. Even then it had been Rory who spoke first.

"Marty," Rory whispered lightly touching his arm.

He had tensed dramatically. "Let go of me."

"What did I do?" she asked.

"Just let go of me!" he growled.

But Rory was insistent, "what did I do? Is this about mom's comment? Marty she was joking. She didn't mean anything by it, I swear."

"Rory, drop it!"

"No, I won't," Rory, said. "Mom's comment meant absolutely nothing. Logan and I are completely over you know that. I'm with you now. Logan –"

It happened in a split second. Rory found herself in a heap on the floor clutching her cheek. She had tripped over the side of the bed when the impact of his hand hit her face.

"Never mention that name to me! You're no longer his you don't have to pretend to care about him anymore. You belong to me!" He grabbed the lamp form the night table and threw it hard against the wall. The lamp landed in a hundred shattered pieces.

Rory hadn't moved from her landing spot. "Marty," she said, " I think you should leave."

"Oh, so you can call your blond lover to come to the rescue?"

"Logan is not –"

"What did I tell you about his name! Never mention it!" Objects started to fly across the room. Rory stared transfixed at the sight of her boyfriend ranting.

All of a sudden he room stilled. Marty was staring wide-eyed at the destroyed room and his bruised and crying girlfriend. He fled.

"Are you sure you're all right," Joshua asked. He looked worried.

"I'm good, I swear."

He smiled. "You know I never did get your name."

"Rory love," a new voice said. It was Finn. He was looking curiously between Rory and the doctor. There was an unreadable expression on his face.

"Hey," she said smiling. "Everything okay?"

"Under the circumstances things are as good as they will get," he answered bitterly. "She wants to meet you."

Rory smiled. "I'd love to meet her." She stood up. "It was nice to meet you, Dr – Joshua."

Finn put a hand on her back and led her to the hospital room.

-

Finn looked like his mother more than he did his father. They had the same eyes and colouring. Both were tan, green-eyed brunettes. At the moment though, Finn's mother, Peyton, was looking pale and clammy. Her hair had lost, what Rory was sure, a shiny lustre. It was limp and simply fell across her pillow lifelessly. Her eyes were dull. It broke Rory's heart.

Peyton smiled at Rory as soon as she walked through the door. "You must be Rory, dear."

Rory smiled back, "how are you feeling Mrs Rothschild?"

"Peyton, dear and I am doing all right, thank you for asking," she said. "So, I hear you are an aspiring journalist."

"I try," Rory said smiling.

"Finn told me you were very talented."

Finn blushed as Rory laughed. "Well thank you for thinking so Finn."

He mumbled something unintelligible.

Peyton smirked. "Rory, dear, tell me, is my Finny a good boy at school? What exactly does he get up to?"

Rory smiled back. "How long do you have?" Then she instantly sobered up. "Oh my God, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. Oh I'm so sorry!"

"Rory dear, it all right. And to answer your question I have all the time in the world," she was smiling good-naturedly.

"Well…" Rory began telling Peyton a story that involved Finn and an early morning exam.

-

"I like her," Peyton said grinning.

Rory had just stepped out of the hospital room to give Finn and Peyton privacy to say their good byes.

"She's a keeper," she continued.

"Mom," Finn whined, "don't."

"What?" she asked innocently.

"We are just friends, mom."

"For now," Peyton shot back.

"I have to go now, mom. I'll see you tomorrow?" he kissed the top of her head. "If you need anything call me. Bye mom, I love you."

"I love you too, son."

-

Rory and Finn sat in the living room watching a movie and eating take out Chinese. They were about half way through the movie when the front door burst open and the sound of footsteps hurrying through the house sounded. They slowed only when they reached the side of the house where Winston's office was located.

"Finn," Rory asked.

"Yes love," he answered tiredly.

"Does your dad, um, ever visit your mom in the hospital?" She asked slowly.

Finn shook his head.

"Why?"

"It complicated. Dad has never been able to handle mom's illness. Every time the topic comes up he buries his head in his work. Kind of like an ostrich."

"He should still visit her," she insisted.

Finn nodded. "I agree. But it's futile to try. He avoids talk of it like the plague."

Rory stood up and wobbled her way to Winston's office. She walked right in without knocking.

"What the hell?" he said shocked at her determined entrance.

"Mr Rothschild, your wife is lying in a hospital bed at the moment all alone. She is suffering and here you are working instead of being by her side. At her side like you should be. Do you not remember your vows? For richer for poorer, in sickness and in health. What happened to that?"

He didn't answer.

'"Tomorrow instead of going to your office and creating work that doesn't need to be done or that can be done by your competent employees you will be going to the hospital and you will visit you wife. You remember her, that women you pledged your love to. Do you understand me?"

He nodded.

"Now, there is some Chinese for you, I put it in the fridge. Eat it when you are hungry." She turned and left happy that she had gotten through to him.

Author's note: This is what English; Math and Chemistry class resulted in. It wasn't revised so I apologise for any errors. Now we know why Winston is so, um, strange?

Anyway, review please!