Miss Patty, as always imposing in her presence, stood in her studio doorway, languidly puffing on a cigarillo, watching as a tall Connecticut State Trooper emerged from his cruiser and adjusted his grey hat. A good-looking man always piqued her interest; a good-looking man in a uniform with a gun even more so. And when such a man pulled up in front of the unofficial social hub of the town, in front of an establishment whose proprietor had suddenly disappeared from the town, well that was indeed newsworthy.
Only one thing would do in this situation: enlisting the counsel of her sister town matriarch, Babette.
"Babette, Babette," Miss Patty purred into her dainty little cell phone, "You have got to come over to Luke's RIGHT NOW!"
"Did that Anna and Lorelai finally get in a fight over him?" Babette languidly asked.
"No, my dear…" Miss Patty extinguished her cigarillo and crumpled the tobacco leaf to the ground. Walking towards Luke's, she explained, "It seems that Luke has gone fishing! And the last time he did that, you know…"
Babette sighed in understanding. "Oh. I'll be right over."
"It gets better," her friend continued, "There's a gorgeous long tall drink of a State Trooper knocking on Luke's door!"
"Maybe he's looking for Lorelai," Babette deduced, "Maybe her Rory's committed a crime again!"
"Young people these days…who knows…"
Having by now reached the entrance to Luke's, Miss Patty snapped her cell phone shut.
"Oh Officer!" she cooed, "Patricia LaCosta." She extended her hand, "May I help you?" Miss Patty made her inquiry with her most alluring smile.
By the time the officer could tip his hat to her, not only had Babette arrived, but several other townspeople were gathered in front of Luke's.
"Ma'am…folks," the officer acknowledged, "this the home of…" He consulted a report in his hand, "Lucas Danes?"
"You bet!" Babette chimed in. "But he ain't home!"
"He have any family here?"
"Well," Miss Patty clarified, "there's his fiancée, Lorelai…"
"Fiancée's not a legal family member, Ma'am," the officer explained. "Does he have parents?"
"Nope," the crowd answered.
"Siblings?"
"There's his sister Liz," Kirk spoke up, "but she's out in Arizona touring."
"Thank you, Sir…this sister, do you know her phone number? She got a last name?"
"Oh…well she's an artiste in a Renaissance Faire…" Miss Patty clarified.
"Cell phone?" the trooper persisted.
"Why dontcha just talk to his fiancée, doll?" Babette insisted.
The trooper sighed. "Alright then, ma'am. Where can I find her? Her name is…"
"Gilmore, Lorelai Gilmore. But not the one you'll find in THE SYSTEM," Taylor unctuously proclaimed, having finally appeared on the scene. "Taylor Doose, Town Selectman," he introduced himself.
"Lor'lai's at the Dragonfly Inn; she's the owner. Want Patty 'n' me to show you how ta get there?"
The trooper surveyed the group, then looked into Babette's eager face.
"She's my next door neighbor, been that for years," Babette supplied.
"Obliged, ma'am," he demurred, "uh Miss…"
"Mrs. Dell. But call me Babette."
"Ooh, officer," Miss Patty spoke up, "Will we be in the back seat? Behind the screen? Why, I haven't been escorted by an officer of the law in a very long time…"
"Just tell me how to get to Mr. Danes' fiancée," the trooper sighed in resignation.
-----
Evening was starting to overtake day as the cruiser pulled up in front of the Dragonfly Inn.
"Ladies, thank you very much," the trooper thanked his chatty passengers. "You have a way back?"
"Morey'll come and get us…" Babette supplied.
"Thank you again," the officer tipped his hat and entered the Inn.
The night manager had already begun his shift. "Officer?" he inquired.
"I'm looking for a Miss Lorelai Gilmore," the trooper replied.
"Lorelai's in her office, may I tell her who…"
"Around the corner here?"
"Yes sir."
The officer strode to Lorelai's door, which was shut, and rapped his knuckles on the door.
-----
After she'd left Luke that morning, Lorelai had gotten into her Jeep and aimlessly wandered the back roads. She'd been to Hartford, only to turn around--even though it was a large city, there was nevertheless a danger of running into one of her parents or their friends. Calling Rory was an option, but Lorelai knew that Rory was struggling with her own relationship issues. Chris? No way. Sookie? Busy with work and family.
'Home. Like Miss Scarlett,' she wryly thought. 'I'll go home to Tara.'
But the erstwhile Crap Shack held too many memories, too many happy memories at that, of him. Luke. And there was a danger that she'd see him around Stars Hollow. Her heart, with its many hairline cracks, might not survive a glimpse of him, a whiff of his scent, the sight of his clothing, the sight of their bed.
So she went to her safe haven, her Inn. After deflecting Sookie's inquiries, and taking care of a few business matters, Lorelai informed Michel that she needed to work on some strategic planning for the remainder of the year, and was unequivocally not to be disturbed.
Once in her office, she not only locked the door, but barricaded it with some furniture, then sank to the floor and quietly sobbed. All she could think of was how much she loved Luke, how much she would always love him and the devastation on his face during their fight. She spent most of the day with her emotions wildly careening between her grief over what had become of them, and fear. Fear that Luke just might decide to end their engagement, to end their relationship, to not return the ring to her. As evening approached, she began to bargain with herself: maybe she should go back to him, be more understanding, just try a little harder. After all, a terrible thing had happened to him, and she tried to imagine if somehow, she'd been in a coma during her pregnancy with Rory, and Rory had been taken away without her ever knowing that she was a mother. The things she would have missed…the things Luke had already missed…it was no wonder that it was so difficult for him to process. And here she was, prattling on about duck sausage rolls and her perfect dress, when he had such a difficult task before him, getting to know this daughter of his.
Fortunately, Lorelai had a habit of keeping a supply of junk food in a desk drawer, and there was a back way to a restroom, so she was able to avoid running into people for the remainder of the day. And now that it was evening, she began to worry about Luke. She was surprised that he hadn't tried to call her during the day. After all, they hadn't broken up--she just wanted him to consider her role in his and April's life.
Since the staff had respected her wishes and left her alone during the day, the knock on the door caught her by surprise. Perhaps, if she stayed very still, whoever it was would give up and leave.
Another knock, this time more insistent, was accompanied by a deep voice proclaiming, "Connecticut State Police."
Her first thought was Rory. Had Rory somehow missed completing part of her community service? Was a cop coming to arrest her?
"Ma'am? Miss Gilmore?" the voice on the other side of the door persisted.
Lorelai hastily smoothed her clothing, moved the furniture aside, and opened the door.
"Miss Gilmore?"
"Yes."
"May I come in?" The officer displayed his badge for her inspection.
The badge, the serious tone of his voice and the resolute look on his face caused Lorelai to decide that something had happened to Rory.
"Please, take a seat," she gestured, barely able to get the words out, herself barely able to stand.
"Thank you, ma'am," he replied, removing his hat and setting in on his knee after he'd taken his seat. He opened a folder and took out some papers.
"You are Miss Gilmore, correct?" the officer asked.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry." He put down his pen. "I'm afraid I have bad news for you."
Are those words ever followed by something other than stunned silence?
"Do you know a Lucas Danes?"
Lorelai was shocked. Her body shook as she said, "Yes."
"Mr. Danes was in an accident about three hours ago, just outside Greenwich. I'm sorry."
Luke. Luke was hurt. "I don't understand." What was Luke doing in Greenwich?
"The other driver provided a statement. Apparently," he checked the incident report, "Mr. Danes was driving on the wrong side of the road."
Lorelai sat in stunned silence. "Is he…"
"Mr. Danes was taken to Greenwich Hospital, where they say he is being treated. They've ruled out speed and alcohol; right now, it appears that Mr. Danes was confused, or perhaps not paying attention to the road."
Lorelai exhaled and the tears began to stream down her face.
The trooper reached into his pocket and pulled out a small evidence bag. "Ma'am, the trooper on the scene recovered this from Mr. Danes. If you'll check and make sure it is his property…"
Lorelai opened the bag. Luke's wallet. A folded wad of paperwork. A ring. A small screwdriver. An eyeglass repair kit. Keys.
With the tears still coming, Lorelai said, "These belong to him."
"Sign here, please."
After Lorelai signed and took possession of Luke's personal effects, the trooper stood. "Miss Gilmore," he handed her his card, "please call if you have any questions. And, I'm sorry. Is there someone who can be with you right now?"
Call the hospital. Call the hospital. Call the hospital. The words repeated in a vicious cycle in Lorelai's mind. Is he all right. I love him. He can't die.
Lorelai reached for a tissue, blew her nose, and said "Yes."
The trooper placed his hat back on his head, tipped it to her, and reminded her that should could call. "I'll see myself out, Miss Gilmore."
-----
After he left, Lorelai stood in the doorway for a second. Luke, her Luke, in an accident. She noticed that she was holding the ring clenched tightly in her hand.
She needed help. She had to get to Luke, right away. But there were so many things to do. She had to call Rory. She had to tell Caesar and Lane. And April…Just as she was starting to get a handle on things, she collapsed into her chair.
Looking at the ring, she then carefully attached it to the necklace she was wearing, then dialed the one person she thought could help her get to Luke as quickly as possible.
"Daddy? I need you…"
iTBC/i