Chapter 2: Pain on Repeat

But I've tried That,

I didn't work for me;

I found myself going

Wherever the rain is At.


Jess still had his arm around Rory's shoulder when Lorelai pulled into the drive way. As she was getting out, caring the bags from Doose's filled with junk food, Dean walked up the drive as well. He grabbed most of the bags and headed to the door behind Lorelai. Lorelai opened the back door, heading to the kitchen, while Dean said something about getting Rory. He walked into her room to find Rory drifting off to sleep, with some guy's arm around her, reading to her.

"Who are you?" He snapped, jealous and nervous.

"Dean?" Rory lifted her head off Jess' arm.

"Rory, why is there some guy in your bed with his arms around you?" Dean commanded.

"Hi, Jolly? First off, it's arm, second off, is that any of your business?" Jess asked annoyed at the jerk for ruining part of his favorite book. He kept his hand on her wrist covering the still fresh cut.

"As her boyfriend, yeah." Dean said as Lorelai suddenly appeared at the door.

"What's going- Ror?" She titled her head to the side.

"Mom, this is Luke's nephew, Jess. Jess, these are my mother, Lorelai, and my boyfriend Dean."

"I'd say its nice to meet you, but you currently are occupying my daughter's bed." Lorelai joked. "Why?"

"When I was at the diner, I forgot my notebook, and Luke sent Jess here with it, and we started talking, and found we have a lot in common, and we started reading Hemmingway, and it started putting me to sleep because Hemmingway sucks-"

"Hey."

"Sorry, but its true."

"Whatever. At least it's not as bad the Fountainhead."

"You're right, it's worse."

"Hey, Rory, here, focus on Mommy."

"What?"

"Why don't you and Dean go set up the movies while Jess, here, and I set up the junk food."

"Um.." Jess tried to refuse, but Lorelai shot him a look, and he stopped. He gripped Rory's wrist a little. At first she was shocked, thinking he was trying to scare her or something, but then she realized that he was signaling to cover her wrist. She turned her wrist quickly as he let go, pulling it behind her, and luckily, no one noticed.

"C'mon, Jess."

"Sure, Lorelai." He gulped slightly. Rory and Dean headed to the living room, and Jess and Lorelai headed for the kitchen.


Dean and Rory were in silence until he finally asked her if she was cheating on him. She looked at him incredulously, and said no, calmly, not shouting it, or taking too long to answer, the perfect interval for telling the truth. He nodded, believing her, before pulling her to him, kissing her. She laughed in her head at how ironic it was that she going to kill herself partly because of him, and he accused her of cheating on him. Jess was right, he is an ass. As they pulled apart, Rory saw the fear in Dean's eyes. She didn't know what he had to fear, but he was fearing something.

"So, Jess, he's Luke's nephew?"

"Yup." Rory said simply as she moved the coffee table out.

"Is he just visiting?"

"Nope."

"So he's moving here?"

"I guess."

"Why are you being like this?"

"Like what?" Rory laughed lightly, standing straight up to look at him, although he towered over her.

"So monosbic" He struggled over the word.

"Monosyllabic?" She asked, rolling her eyes as she moved to fix the cushions.

"Rory, look at me." He grabbed her wrist, and she recoiled in pain.

"Jesus, Dean!" She covered her wrist in pain and fear of him seeing. He mumbled sorry before going back to what he'd been doing. The conversation was dropped for now. They continued to move silently, finishing their tasks. They then headed back to the kitchen.


Lorelai told Jess to do random things, which in her mind weren't random, but in his, were. They hadn't said much yet. Lorelai was trying to find the right words, and realizing that would never happen, began speaking.

"So, you new in town?" She inquired.

"Sort of."

"What?" Lorelai was clearly confused.

"My mom used to live here, my uncle still does. I'm moving in with him." Jess replied.

"Ah, I hope nothing bad happened to cause it."

"Nope, just my mom is a rather bad parent and dumped me on Luke."

"Ah, right, you're Luke's nephew. He never mentioned he had a sister, or a nephew. The only thing I know about his, well yours, too, I guess, family is that your Grandfather died a few years ago." Jess stopped moving, and didn't say anything back, instead he looked at the bag in his hands. Lorelai didn't know what to say again so she kept her mouth closed.


Rory noticed the tension in the kitchen the second she walked in. She walked over to Jess. Dean didn't like this at all. He was feeling threatened again, just like he had with Tristan, though he would never admit it.

"You okay?" She asked putting her hand on the back of his shoulder.

He nodded and she looked at him, as if trying to see if he was lying or not. Satisfied he wasn't lying she walked over to the coffee pot and poured two mugs, handing one to him. He took it silently still, but decided to sneak a look at her wrist. He noticed it seemed to have an Indian rug burn on it, covering her cut. He looked up at her eyes, his question present in his own. Her eyes flickered to Dean who had his back to them, talking to Lorelai. His eyes changed into something else quickly, protectiveness possibly. She quickly shook her head to reassure him. His eyes seemed to loose most of whatever it was, but some remained.

"So, Jess, are you moving here or something?" Dean asked like an idiot.

"Yeah I'm-"

"Living with Luke, right?" Rory cut him off from making a sarcastic remark.

"Yeah." He said looking at her oddly. She looked at him pleadingly and he shook his head in forced agreement. She smiled at him. He took the time to notice how beautiful her smile was.

"Are you staying for the movie night?" She inquired, hopeful.

"What?" Jess, Dean and Lorelai asked.

"What, it's his first night here. Might as well get used to us now, if he's gonna be at Luke's."

"Uh, thanks, but Luke wants me back soon. Thanks anyway, Ror." Jess said trying to control himself from laughing at Dean's face.

"Oh, okay." Was her slightly disappointed tone.

"I'll see you tomorrow I guess?" Jess asked, trying not to sound too hopeful.

"Yes, you definitely will." Rory assured him with a smile.

"All of us, right, Lorelai?" Dean said with a false smile.

"Right, all of us." Lorelai said uneasily.

"I'll let Jess out." Rory said needing to get away.

"I guess he is a bit of an animal, huh?"

"Only in bed, Jolly." Jess smirked as he was pushed out the door. Dean scowled and Lorelai stifled a laugh


Jess was busy slipping on his jacket over his The Clash tee shirt, and Rory was admiring the view. Jess inwardly smirked. He liked Rory, and didn't want anything to happen to her.

"Like what you see?" He asked softly, not wanting to disrupt the peacefulness of the rain that still fell.

"Did you have to make that comment?" Rory asked just as quietly, looking him in the eyes, not being able to help it.

"I can see why you cut. Just remember, don't. If you need to talk about it, I'm here. God knows I'm gonna go back and do my best to restrain from it."

"You believe in God?" Rory smiled wickedly.

"Fuck no." Jess said annunciating each word.

"I'll talk to you later, Jess." Rory smiled slipping back in the door. He nodded and headed back to the diner, begrudgingly, not wanting to go.


Once inside, Rory talked to Lorelai about her day, and Dean stood, simmering with mild anger still. After a few minutes of intense staring he finally beckoned her outside. Rory stood watching the rain, imagining Jess soaking wet, with her, making out right in the middle of a down pour. Dean cleared his throat, getting her attention. Her head snapped toward him, thinking she was in trouble or something. He stood silent still though.

Rory looked at Dean expectantly while he formed what he was going to say in his head. She grew impatient, tapping her foot slightly. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

"What is it Dean?" She snapped.

"I was... Why are you always nice to the annoying guys?"

"What?"

"First, you became all chummy with Tristan even though you hated him-"

"Excuse me-"

"And now you're pitying Luke's nephew-"

"What-"

"I know Luke is important you and all, but-"

"Dean-"

"C'mon, you don't have to befriend his nephew when the guy is a total-"

"DEAN!" He stopped and looked at her. "A) I... I don't know why."

"Is there a B)?"

"No." Rory replied, slightly playing with her cut. She remained quiet for most of the remaining time on the porch. They talked out the rest of their 'fight' as Dean had chalked it up to. It was not a fight, it was a one sided slaughtering. Dean belittled her as usual, and Rory let him. She'd glanced down at her wrist a few times, and decided, maybe Jess was wrong.


Rory was generally quiet the rest of the night, which didn't effect Lorelai at all. She remained her happy self the whole night. Dean's arm was wrapped protectively around her, annoying her to hell. After the movie, Lorelai headed up stairs to give the teens some alone time. Rory inwardly cried out no, but as it was inward, it wasn't heard. Dean tried to kiss her, but she pulled away.

"Dean, I'm really tired. I'd love to stay up and... do that, but I have school tomorrow, so we can do that tomorrow, okay?" She stood up half way through it. Dean nodded solemnly. He got up, kissed her sweetly and headed to the door saying a quick I love to her. Rory made sure he was off her property before grabbing the cordless from the shoe next to the door. She headed for her room and locked the door behind her.


Jess had been in the diner, doing nothing, while Luke prepared to lock up for the night. He'd pulled out the book he'd been reading to Rory and skimmed over it. He would wait to finish reading it to her before he finished it this time. He'd thought instead.

'I have never felt this way before. I was so... open with her. I mean, I have never, ever, opened up like that. Not even to... Gramps. At least I have one friend here. I don't want friends here, and I don't want to be just friends either. Wait, what? I like her? No way! I guess so. Now to just win over Jolly.'

Jess' thoughts were interrupted by the phone ringing, and Luke's order to answer it.

"Luke's." He said monotone.

"Jess?" The caller asked.

"Rory?" He smiled realizing it was her.

"Yeah."

"What's up?"

"You know that support system we were discussing?"

"Yeah?"

"I need it, really badly."