A/N:  The selections from Oliver Twist belong to Charles Dickens.  I don't own characters in the story or the aforementioned excerpt.

Six hours later, Rory paced the waiting room nervously, Lorelai rested her head on Luke's lap, and Luke tried to read a finance magazine.  One of Jess' nurses, Karen, updated them a few hours ago, but they didn't receive any news since then.

"What time is it now?" Rory groaned stopping her pacing.

"Its ten minutes later than the last time you asked me," Luke replied, "It's 6:41."

"What's taking so long…"

"Mr. Danes," a voice cut her off, "I'm Dr. Liese, and I operated on Jess Mariano."

"Yes," Luke answered, rising after Lorelai moved off his lap, "How is he?"

"Um, why don't you…"

Luke cut him off, "Whatever it is, Lorelai and Rory should hear it too.  She's his friend," he indicated Rory.

"As you wish, let's be seated," Dr. Liese invited, I'm sure Dr. Simms explained the injury to Jess' spleen and to his kidneys. We removed the spleen, the damage couldn't be repaired.  The kidney damage to his left side was also irreparable; we had to remove that organ as well.  We were able to repair his right kidney and it is functioning," the doctor explained.

"Is he awake?" Rory asked, "When can I see him?"

"He roused for a moment and asked to see you, but he's asleep again now," Dr. Liese replied.

"What about…" Luke began, "Dr. Simms said…" He couldn't force the question from his lips.

Lorelai knew what Luke wanted to know and taking a deep breath she asked quickly, "What about the spinal fracture?  How much…could you do anything for that?"

The doctor shook his head, "No, I'm afraid not.  Mr. Mariano's spinal injuries cannot be operated on at this time.  They are way too severe.   Perhaps later once his body heals and the swelling goes down a bit he'll be a candidate but now, no there's nothing we can do."

"So what exactly does that mean?" Luke asked, "What kind of effects are we looking at here?"

"Basically, we're looking at paraplegia, paralysis of the lower portion of Jess' body," the doctor replied, "the injury site is L1, 2, and 3, so his arms, and breathing won't be affected.  Dr. Camden is the staff neurologist and he'll take a look at the MRIs and C-spines and he'll be able to give you a better prognosis."

"Um," Luke's voice failed him again, "Um, does he…did you…does he know?"

Dr. Liese shook his head, "No, we never tell patients before they have surgery.  It's too risky.  We can tell hi when he wakes up, but most of the time, family members choose to deliver the news."

Luke covered his face with his hands, and Lorelai gentle ran her fingers through his hair, "Doctor, could we have some time alone.  Please?" she asked.

Dr. Liese nodded and left the trio alone.  Rory, who had been silent up until now, sat on the other side of Luke, "Luke," she said, "let me be the one to tell him."

Luke looked at Rory with surprise, "Rory, you know Jess won't take this well.  He'll get angry and lash out…"

"Luke, not with me, not anymore.  I know he won't.  Please we can't let the doctors tell him."

Lorelai smiled at her daughter.  She never approved of Rory and Jess, but she was proud of how Rory was handling the situation given her poor history with Jess.

"All right, Ror, if that's what you want to do," Luke replied, "Okay, Lor?"

"Yeah, it's okay with me.  Rory's an adult and frankly Luke, I'm not sure you'd be able to do it right now," Lorelai told him.

"Excuse me," a nurse poked her head in the door, "Jess Mariano is awake, if you'd like to go on in and see him."

Luke rose, but Lorelai gently pulled him back down, "Let Rory go and talk to Jess. He'll need you calm when she'd finished, he'll need your support.

Luke nodded, "Go ahead, Ror.  Call us if you need us."

Rory followed the plump nurse down the hall.  She  stopped just outside Jess' room, 307, "Now, be prepared, he is still disoriented from the anesthetic, but he's mostly alert.  He's also in a good deal of pain, but with the surgery we can't give him a stronger pain killer until the anesthetic wears off a bit more.  Go on now.  Buzz if you need anything. My name's Karen."  With that she left.

Carefully Rory pushed open the door and walked in.  Jess was lying on a bed covered in white sheets.  His eyes were closed, but he opened them when the door latched shut.

Rory was good in a sick room.  She didn't know that until her grandfather's near heart attack a few years ago, but it was a skill she in fact possessed.  Gently, she took Jess' hand in hers, "Hey, how are you feeling?" she asked softly.

"All right," Jess replied, his fear no longer ruling his thoughts, now his anger was doing that, "if you even care."

"Jess, of course I care," Rory countered, "Before I was shocked, confused, scared even, but that's in the past.  I'm just so sorry I hurt you.  I'm so sorry for…" her voice broke as she thought of the revelation she had to deliver and tears drifted down her cheeks.

Jess let out a long sigh. He knew her, he knew where her thoughts were headed and he had to stop that.  Slowly, he turned his head to look at her, "Rory, this was not your fault, okay?  It was my fault."

"But if only I heard you out, you…" she began again.

"No, it's was meant to be, Rory, and it was not your fault.  The accident was my fault, and you rejecting my offer was my fault, just like me leaving you those other times.  Id did it all, Rory. I caused it all by…" Jess trailed off, his strength was failing him.

"Ssh," Rory placed a finger over his lips, "hush, now.  Save your strength. What's past is past.  We have to focus on the future, on you getting well."

"What…" Jess paused for breath, the pain that had dissipated upon seeing Rory rapidly returning, "Exactly happened to me?"

"Um, well your doctors explained it to us before.  Dr. Liese was your surgeon, he seemed really smart, Jess.  Well, he said they removed your spleen and your left kidney because they couldn't fix them.  But your right kidney is fixed and kidneys are so cool, because that one will get bigger and work for both of them and…"

"Rory," Jess said to pull her out of her litany on kidneys, "I'm getting tired so…"

"Okay, sorry, Dr. Simms, she saw you in the ER, she said some of your ribs are broken and one of your lungs collapsed, but they fixed it…"

Jess moved about a bit in the bed, his face contorting in a grimace of pain, "Oh, oh God," he moaned, not able to control it.

Rory stopped talking and leaned over Jess, "Jess, I'm here.  It's okay, look at me.  Try and take a deep breath if you can and tell me what hurts."

"My…back," Jess panted, breathing fast, "legs."

"Do you legs hurt, Jess?" Rory asked, knowing it was impossible, but praying if he could feel pain there was chance.

"No," Jess groaned through his teeth, "can't move them.  They're heavy," he explained in between gasps, tears in his eyes, "feel burning."

Rory squeezed Jess' hand, and with her free hand pressed the call button, "You hold on to me, Jess.  I'm here, it's going to be okay.  Help's coming, just hold onto my hand," Rory gently coaxed while they waited for the nurse.

Jess' forehead was breaking out in a sweat so Rory used her free hand to wipe a cool cloth across his brow.  After she rewet it twice, Karen finally showed up.

"What's the trouble in here?" she asked.

"I don't know," Rory replied, "all of a sudden he was in such pain.  He says his back hurts and he feels a burning in his legs."

"Oh," Jess moaned again, "feels so hot, like fire."

"All right, Jess, hold on.  I'm giving you some Demerol in your IV, okay," Karen soothed, "It'll take the edge off."

Karen injected some medication into the IV pump in Jess' arm, while Rory held her hand and caressed it with her thumb.  After a few minutes, Jess' body visibly relaxed.

"Better?" Karen asked.

Jess nodded groggily, "Yeah, not as bad now, but…I can't…"

Jess stopped mid-sentence and his eyes glassed over with fear, "Rory, I can't move my legs.  Why can't I…oh my God! Oh, God, what's…"

"Jess," Rory felt her eyes tearing up, "Jess, Dr. Simms and Dr. Liese said…Jess, in the accident your back, you broke three vertebrae in your back and it crushed your spinal cord. It…you're …" Rory paused as she started to cry, "It paralyzed you, Jess, that's why you can't…"

Jess heard her, but he couldn't believe her.  Paralyzed.  That happened in movies and books, not in real life but as he concentrated on moving his legs, he didn't get any result, he knew it was true.

"I'm sorry, Jess," Rory sobbed, letting her feelings out, "I'm so sorry."

Jess felt like he'd been hit by a truck all over again when he heard Rory's words and saw the tears on her face.  He felt like screaming or crying he didn't know what he felt like, he only knew he had to do something to comfort Rory.

"Ror," he said softly squeezing her hand this time for her comfort instead of his, "Rory, it'll be okay.  These things are usually temporary.  I'm sure it'll clear up and I'll be as good as new," Jess comforted his steady voice breaking, "Could you do something for me?"

Rory nodded, "Of course, Jess.  Whatever you need."

"Ask Luke to come in.  He's still here right?" Jess asked hopefully.

"Of course he's here. You rest and I'll get him," Rory said patting Jess' hand.

Jess lay on the bed trying to absorb all Rory told him.  He lost a kidney, he lost his spleen, he was paralyzed…he couldn't get past that part.  He'd never walk again for the rest of his life.  He'd be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, dependent on Luke or worse, his mother for the rest of his life.  Those were very scary thoughts.

Luke appeared the in Jess' line of sight, his face taunt with worry, "Hey, Jess.  Rory said you wanted to see me."

Jess nodded and swallowed the lump in his throat, "Yeah, I wanted to let you know I was okay," he said huskily.

"Good, I'm glad," Luke replied awkwardly standing by Jess' bedside, "Are you really okay?"

Jess shrugged, "I'm in some pain, but it's not as bad.  I'm really worried about Rory, she was so upset and it's…"

"Jess," Luke cut in, "she's worried about you.  I know she told you about…about your legs…"

Jess nodded, "Yeah, and she thinks it's here fault.  It told her no, but…"

"She's…Jess, why did you go to Yale last night?" Luke asked.

Jess was getting tired, but he fought sleep for awhile to answer his uncle's question, "Reciprocation."

Luke ran a gentle hand across Jess' forehead, "I think you got it, Jess," Luke murmured, as his nephew's eyes closed, "I think you got it."

While Luke was inside visiting Jess, Rory was filling Lorelai in on her plan for taking care of Jess, "He's going to need a lot of help, Mom," she said, "He thinks it's temporary, but if it's not or until he gets better he'll need help."

"Right," Lorelai agreed, "and Luke will be there to help him, we'll be there to help him, I'm sure all of Stars Hollow will want to help him."

"But they aren't…Mom," Rory began, knowing Lorelai would not be happy with the decision, "I realized something tonight. I'm not feeling guilty because of Jess' accident."

"You aren't?" Lorelai knew where this was going.

"No, I'm feeling guilty for lying about my feelings for so long.  I should have reacted those times when he tried to tell me he loved me, because I love him, Mom.  I do."  There, it was finally out.

Lorelai sighed, "I know you do or you did, but…Rory, I don't want you making commitments or projecting feelings because you feel bed for Jess or because you think it's your fault, because it's…"

"It is my fault, Mom, because I always judged him, I never heard him out, I blocked him out, but that ends today.  Jess is going to need a lot of help and support to get well, the kind only I can give him," Rory explained, "I'm going to give it to him, be there for him."

"Rory," Lorelai sighed, "you can't make this your sole responsibility.  Jess has Luke and me…"

"And that's great, Mom, but you'll be there with me, not instead of me.  I'm going to make it up to him, Mom.  I have to make it up to him or…or I'll never be able to live with myself."

Rory's voice held such conviction, her stance such determination; Lorelai knew it would do no good to argue with her. Perhaps, when he was stronger Jess would make her see she didn't have to be his sole caregiver, but for now Lorelai saw it as best to let it alone.

Lorelai gave Rory a strong hug, "It'll all work out, Babe.  You'll see."

"I hope so, Mom," Rory replied, "When we worked together, Jess and I made a good team."

Lorelai nodded, "Yeah, you did, when he stayed put."

"He's changed, Mom.  I know he did.  He was telling the truth before," Rory replied.

"I hope he was, Kid," she replied, pulling out of the hug when she saw Luke come out of Jess' room.

"How's he doing?" Rory asked.

"He's sleeping.  His nurse said he should be out until about one or two and that we should head home and change," Luke informed them.

"Yeah, that's a good idea. We're all tired, we could all use showers," Lorelai agreed.

"Yeah," Rory nodded, "let me just say goodnight to Jess."

Rory disappeared behind the doors and Luke moved to hold Lorelai, "Thank you so much for everything."

"My pleasure, Luke," she whispered, into his shoulder, "How is he really?"

"He's asleep.  He was in some pain, but they gave him medication so he's asleep," Luke replied, "How's she?"

"Determined to make it up to him, to take care of him herself," Lorelai replied.

"We'll work it out, Lor," Luke replied, giving Lorelai another squeeze, "It'll work out."

Luke and Lorelai clung to each other in the hospital corridor, each reassured by the other's firm presence, while in a small hospital room, Rory made a similar promise to Jess sleeping form, "It'll work out, Jess," she said gently kissing his temple, "It'll all work out."

Rory pulled away from Jess' bed just as his eyes fluttered weakly opened, "Rory…" he said weakly, "Rory, I'm scared."

Rory took Jess' hand again, "Scared of what?"

"I hate hospitals," he whispered, fighting exhaustion to stay awake, "I'm alone."

"Do you want me to stay until you fall asleep again?" Rory offered, "Then I'll only go home to shower and I'll come right back."

Jess nodded tiredly, "In my pants pocket," he murmured, his eyes drifting closed as Rory rummaged through the patient's belongings bag coming up with a battered copy of Oliver Twist.

"What part Jess?" Rory asked, she could start anywhere, Jess knew the book by heart.

"Dodger," he moaned shifting a little on the bed, keeping his eyes closed as he tried to get comfortable.

Rory flipped to the page in the book where Oliver encounter the Artful Dodger for the first time. 

In a fake cockney accent she began, "'Hullo, my covey? What's the row?'

The boy who addressed the inquiry to the young wayfarer was about his own age, but one of the queerest looking boys that Oliver had ever seen.  He was a snub-nosed, flat-browed, common-faced boy enough, and as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see…"

Rory paused in her ready when the door opened and Luke poked his head in, "Rory, you coming?"

"Um, Jess needs me a little longer," Rory replied, "When you get back I'll head home."

Luke nodded, knowing jess inherited his fear of hospitals, "I'll only be a couple of hours," he replied.

"Take your time," said Rory before returning to the book, "and as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see, but he had about him all the airs and manners of a man…"