Secrets That Kill: A Gilmore Girl Fanfiction

Disclaimer: sadly I do not own anything Gilmore Girl related, not even Tristan or Jess (tears)

Summary: what happens when deals are made w/ the wrong people? Will a life be lost? Rory, Tristan, Paris, Logan, and the rest of the crew will find themselves face to face w/ secrets that can kill… AU! Could be a Trory… who knows… hehe!

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CHAPTER 9: The Truth

One…what am I going to say…two…it's been a year…three…but he loved me…four…he saved my life…five…Rory looked up; she had been counting the steps it took to reach the hall of cells since she left the lobby. She kept loosing track with questions her heart couldn't answer, and it killed her to know only one person could…Jess.

"Do you want to go into the cell? We will have a guard just outside just in case." The policeman was concerned, and it was the first time Rory had met one that had been. She smiled at him, his brown eyes, he was young and it proved that being older didn't mean one was wiser. This young man knew that comfort helped someone open up more.

"Yes, I'll go in. Thank you." The man unlocked the cell door and stepped aside as Rory entered the old, dirt-stained, urine-smelling cell that Jess was in. He looked up at her with those dark eyes, the mysterious eyes in which took her heart so long ago, but life had changed and they didn't make her hear skip anymore. She loved him as a friend, and always would.

"Rory, I don't know what to say." He stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. Uncomfortable glances every which way, and a few swayed rocks of his body, Jess was in no way ready to talk to her.

"Don't say anything until I ask. It'll make things easier for you and for me." He couldn't read the emotion she had emitted with her words and it irritated him. Nodding in agreement, Rory finally decided it was time to discover what he never told her. "So, you left me to go find your father, and called me once. After that, I never heard from you again. So my question is, why did you never come back?"

"I did find my dad, and there was something about him that I couldn't read. I didn't know what he was hiding from me, but I wanted to be his son, so I let it go. I called you but after I finally found out the truth I wanted to cut you off in order to protect you in some way. I did the same thing to Luke." Jess informed, letting Rory take in the introduction to his story.

"What did you find out Jess?"

"My dad was making phone calls all of the time, and he worked at this huge factory building even though his girlfriend thought he worked at this snack shack near the beach. Yea, well I decided to take a ride and follow him. I found his secret. He was a drug dealer among other illegal things, and he was cold at heart. I saw him meet Hendrix one time, and he shot a man, Hendrix. My father knew that I was trouble. In order for me to live I had to show my loyalty. I saw Hendrix commit murder, and I knew that if I joined the work with my old man then I could keep me and anyone connected to me, safe." Jess was breathing hard, but he was not finished. He was on a role and he couldn't stop so he let his mind and his mouth take it away, "I made a deal to work long enough to make enough money to double my father's assets. I did in multiple ways, but I never killed anyone. Hendrix was satisfied and he said I could return home, or whatever shit-hole (as he said) I came from."

"Why didn't you come home then?" Rory didn't understand what Jess was keeping from her.

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"Yea, you. My dad told me Hendrix's men could give me a free ride to Connecticut if I wanted, and I asked why. My pops said their next job was at Hartford, at some stupid private school. I questioned him, and he told me it could mean the death of some students. I knew it was where you went to school Rory, and I couldn't let it happen. The only thing I could do was join Hendrix, to make sure you got out okay, but instead I find out you're a main target. My life was ruined and I thought I would lose you too." Rory just stood there, letting it all sink in. So much, it couldn't possibly process in a matter of minutes and Rory let it work its way into her system.

What am I supposed to tell him…She thought to herself? He silence was torturing Jess and she knew it but she had no idea what to tell him. The whole situation was above her, and yet it was closely connected to her. "Jess, I don't know what to tell you. It's just so much. You can't expect me too know what to say right now."

"I don't expect you to say anything. I don't expect you to forgive me. All I wanted was the chance to tell you the truth, so whatever happens to me I will know that you knew I did it for you. I love you. I love you so much." Jess let his words fly at Rory and they attacked her heart in so many ways.

"I do forgive you Jess, but I don't think I can be fully okay with it. I understand you never meant for anything like this to happen, but that's you, you never expect things like this to happen, but they always do, always." He was about to respond but Rory hushed him and continued, "No, you had your turn." He smiled at that. It was the Rory he loved, the one who mocked and challenged his every word. "I'm sorry that this happened Jess. I am so thankful that you were there for me. I really am. I have always loved you Jess, but not in the way you want. You are my brother. I love you like I would love a puppy."

"Oh great, now I'm your pet."

"Jess." She pleaded at his joke.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. What I meant is that I would do anything for you but my heart belongs to someone else. Someone who I can trust not to get involved in things like this. And before you say anything against that, I want you to know I understand what happened, but you will always have this kind of thing happening to you and I can't do that, I just can't." It was so much to say and yet so little. Jess knew he had lost her the moment he left Stars Hollow but he had hoped it wasn't the end.

Defeated, Jess nodded and stood to meet Rory halfway in an emotional embrace. "I understand too. Maybe I don't like it, but at least I know I can be there for you. At least I have your love still, even if it's not romantic." He whispered into her ear, and Rory just let their reunion at that. They had said everything they had wanted to say and now it was time to let the law take action…

- -

"Yes, I understand officer. The four of us were in an important meeting that we have monthly. We are not allowed to be disturbed. All cell phones and pagers are left outside of the room so no one disturbs us. If we had only known that it would mean we would miss this then we would have never made the rule." Mitchum lied through his teeth over the phone, to one of the policemen.

"Could you come to the police station to explain yourselves here?" The man asked without acknowledging Mitchum's alibi.

"That is perfectly fine. We will come tomorrow, after noon. It is much too late now, and we would like to be with out children when they return." Mitchum played the role well and the other three men smirked at his ease in lying.

"Certainly, but all four of you must be here by one o'clock, and no later. Is that understood Mr. Huntznberger?"

"It is thank you. I will relay the message to my colleagues and see you tomorrow." With that the call ended and Mitchum rested his head on his hand. "Well then, we have an alibi. No one will be straying from this truth, now will they?" He scanned the three men with tired eyes.

"Of course not!" DuGrey said for the others. They all nodded and decided to head home.

"What am I supposed to tell Rory?" Chris asked before he left the office. Mitchum just shrugged.

"There are times when the truth is necessary, and I don't mean just morally either. After all, if Rory already knows and you don't tell her, she might turn on you." Chris' eyes went wide at this truth and shuddered at the thought of it. He bid his farewell to Mitchum and followed the other two men out of the room, down the stairs, into the living room, out the door, and parted ways as they left the driveway…

- -

"He knew, and he didn't call the police?" Lorelai screamed at Luke. He had been trying to explain to her what Jess had told him ever since Rory had left, but Lorelai was letting her anger control her.

"If he called then can you imagine what would have happened to him, Rory, me? I'm just saying, they would have gone through with it anyways and they would have killed Rory because they knew about his connection to her. He was protecting her the best way he could!" Luke defended. Lorelai had finally let her guard down and gave into Luke's desire to hold her. With the open invitation Luke pulled her into his chest and let her cry.

"I get it. I just don't want to, you know? I want to believe it was just one person's fault." Luke understood this and didn't say a word, and Lorelai knew he agreed. She had forgotten they were in a public place and was only brought to realize it again when Paris came to her side.

"Mrs. Gilmore? I mean… Hayden… I really can't get used to that." Paris sputtered.

"Neither can I hun. What is it though?"

"I was just wondering if I could come home with you tonight." Paris was hesitant to ask but she couldn't help it. She didn't want to see her dad. And her mom wasn't home, and she wanted to be near love, and Lorelai was full of it.

"Oh, of course."

"If you don't want to-" Paris started, suddenly regretting she ever asked.

"No, Paris, don't be silly. I would love you to come with me and Rory. We all need different kinds of attention and you my dear, need a little TLC." Paris nodded and Lorelai let go of Luke to hold Paris. It was unusual to see this strong, unbreakable, Paris Gellar so vulnerable and yet it was refreshing. It revealed the surreal ness of the events and made everyone realize that they were all human, and they all were the same deep down.

"Wow, what have I missed?" Everyone jumped at Rory's sudden appearance and laughed at their own jitteriness.

"Mary! I do believe you actually missed history in the making! Our Paris here finally admitted her undying love for you!" Tristan joked and it only gave him a punch from Rory, Paris, and Lorelai. "I was kidding! Geez!" Finally everyone began to truly find themselves enjoying life, and were for the first time that day, they were all truly having a good time.

"Okay, can we take off now, officer?" Logan asked the man at the desk.

"Yes, but don't leave this state. We will be keeping in touch for more advances in the case." The man was nonchalant about his comments, trusting these kids had nothing to hide. Finally being given the ok, the group left the gloomy building to make their way home.

Logan left as a chauffer arrived and Luke gave Lorelai a farewell as he joined Logan in the limo. "Why are you going with him?" Lorelai asked.

"Oh, he offered me a ride to the school. My truck is there."

"What about Lane?" Lorelai suddenly realized she had forgotten about her daughter's friend's appearance.

"Finn is taking care of her."

"I'm sure her mother will approve." Lorelai scoffed and waved as her love drove off in the high society way. She turned to lead Paris into the limo of her own but noticed Paris had already found her way there. Smiling she opened her mouth to call for her daughter but was stopped when she saw her with Tristan.

They were facing each other, and were near Tristan's own limo that had come for him. She said nothing but let him hold her hands in silence. It was beautiful, their silence said more than words could and Rory sighed knowing it would have to end. "I have to go." She said not wanting to do what she said.

"I have to go too." They laughed inwardly at their own stupid ness, standing there saying they have to go, and yet not acting on it. "I'll call you?"

"Yea, do that, please." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles.

"Goodnight, Mary." And he left her standing there, her mother shouting at her to come on and Tristan staring at her through his open window…I love you…she turned on her heal to join her mother and her friend, as they end the day that they couldn't believe ever took place. Looking back one more time at the trail in which the limo carrying Tristan had gone she closed her eyes and smiled…I will tell you…I promise…

- -

Quick Notes: So I though that I was done with the last chapter for today but when I posted it I found that I needed to write some more, and TA DA, chapter nine is here! Maybe I'll finish another and today will be a three chapter update? Who knows! ENJOY!

Coming Up: Home at last… What is in store for the dads? Tristan plans a way to forget about everything… will Luke and Lorelai find love again? What is going to happen to Jess? Rory discovers another secret that could bring them right back into the mess. What's going to happen? And don't worry, more TRORY!

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