A/N: The doctor treating Jess and his family some may recognize as characters from the WB Monday night series 7th Heaven. I do not own those characters or those of Gilmore Girls'. I would not classify this as a crossover per se, but Matt Camden and his wife will be used. Possibly some other Camdens, but they are support characters, they are not central to the plot.
I love both of these shows and want to tie them in. For this purpose Matt and Sarah have moved to Hartford to do their medical interships.
Chapter Four
Such was the way of it. Day in and day out Rory would sit by Jess' bedside and read to him or talk to him as he slowly began to regain his strength. His lung was healing as were the incisions from the surgeries performed to remove his spleen and kidney. Even the pain from his broken ribs lessened as the days wore on. It was the spinal injury that was the most worrisome, the longest lasting and it was the pain of the misfiring nerves and the spinal fractures that caused him lasting pain.
Three days after the accident, Rory sat with Jess in the similar position she'd sat in the last few days. She was on a chair next to the hospital bed, her feet propped on the edge of the bed near Jess' hips, a book, this time The Sun Also Rises open on her lap. The door opened as she finished the third chapter and a tall handsome doctor walked into the room, "Hello, Jess. How are you feeling today?" the young man asked.
"Pain's getting better," Jess replied shifting in the bed, "I'm not as tired."
"Good," the doctor replied, "that's really good. You must be Rory. I'm Dr. Camden, Dr. Matt Camden." He extended his hand.
"Yes, I'm Rory Gilmore," Rory confirmed, "It's nice to meet you, Dr. Camden. I've usually been home when you come here."
"Yes, usually I've spoken to Mr. Danes and once I've had the pleasure of your mother," Dr. Camden smiled, "So Jess, let's take a look at those legs of yours."
"Look all you want," Jess murmured, "they ain't going to do nothing for you."
"That's not the right attitude, Jess," Rory soothed, "you have to believe you can get better and then you have to do it."
"I admire her spirit, Jess," Dr. Camden praised, "My father would have said something very similar."
"Cock-eyed optimist your father?" Jess asked.
"No, but he's a minister, so I'd say he's just cock-eyed," Dr. Camden smiled.
"Should I leave?" Rory asked, rising from her chair, when she saw Dr. Camden was about to pull bag Jess' covers.
"No. Yes." Dr. Camden and Jess said simultaneously.
Dr. Camden was sensitive to his patient's wishes and did not want to upset the young man. He could understand that his patient did not want his paralyzed legs exposed to the view of his lovely young lady friend. He probably hadn't told her about the tremors yet or the horrible burning or freezing sensations that rocked his body at times from the severe nervous injury.
"I'll just be outside," Rory said softly, excusing herself leaving Jess alone with his doctor.
Dr. Camden pulled the thin sheet off Jess' legs and started to run his instruments up and down his calves and thighs, "Anything?" the young doctor asked.
"No," was Jess' strangled response.
"Nothing? Or something you don't want to tell me?" Dr. Camden asked.
"No," Jess shook his head, "it's just really cold with not sheet at all on."
Dr. Camden nodded, "Jess, what happens if I put the blanket and the sheet over your legs?"
"Don't," Jess said, more asking than telling, "then it feels like burning."
Dr. Camden nodded, "Jess, I'd like to run this by our attending physician, Dr. Davis. He's got more experience with this type of injury. As you know, I'm only a doctor in training so…"
Jess nodded, "Whatever you think is best, Doc. So, what's the prognosis so far? Am I ever going to walk again or is it veggie man for me?"
Dr. Camden sighed, "Um, with the type of injury you sustained I'd say that you'd have a long hard road ahead of you is you did try to learn to walk again. You'll have to begin strengthening your leg muscles right away if you do want to try and with the tremors and the pain…" Dr. Camden shook his head sadly.
Jess swallowed, "I want to try. I at least want to try."
"All right," Dr. Camden agreed, "I'll confer with Dr. Davis and after he gives his opinion, if we don't feel it will cause further damage, we'll start you on a regimen."
Jess smiled at Dr. Camden for the first time since they've met, "Thank you," he sighed, "Could you ask Rory to come back in?"
Dr. Camden nodded, "Absolutely. She's special to you, is she?" He winked.
Jess nodded, "Very much so."
Dr. Camden left and Rory came back in. She smiled when she looked down at Jess, but her smile soon turned into a frown.
"What's wrong?" Jess asked her concerned.
"Nothing," she answered.
"Then why the long face?" Jess asked.
Rory shrugged and sat back down, "Want me to read some more. You look like you're getting tired."
Jess nodded, "I am. The medication makes me groggy," Jess swallowed. "While I take my nap, you go home, get some rest yourself."
"You don't want me to sit with you?" Rory asked.
"Luke will be by after lunch and you and I have a dinner date tonight right?" Jess confirmed.
"Yes, but what if…"
Jess cut her off, "Rory, you need to rest. I've been selfish asking you to stay here so late every night. I'm getting used to being in this place and I better stay used to it if I'm going to learn to walk again."
Rory frowned again, "Jess, you shouldn't get your hopes up. The doctors…"
"Screw the doctors!" Jess snapped, "The doctors don't know me or my body, all they know is their books. I know I'm going to walk again! I believe it! I believe it with all my heart," Jess told Rory.
"Jess," she sighed, "the reality is your spinal cord, the nerves are damaged, nerves don't regenerate like skin or bone, Jess…"
"Shut up," Jess snapped again, "I don't want to hear this. I'm going to walk again. I have to believe that Rory. It's not what I want, it's what I need. If I don't believe that…" Jess stopped and took a deep breath, his body spasmed in a wave of pain
"Jess?" Rory leaned over him, she knew the signs of the muscles spasms in his back and how painful they could be. Slowly, she reached for his hand and tried to hold it, but he pulled it away, and through clenched teeth, he ordered, "Get out."
"Jess, hold my hand, I know it hurts," Rory tried to soothe.
"Leave me alone, get out! If you don't believe in me, then I don't want you here," he snapped before letting out a moan, "Oh, God. Get out!"
Rory could see her presence was only upsetting Jess so she turned and quickly left his hospital room. Luke was on his way in to Jess' room when he saw Rory fly out of it.
"Rory?" He caught her arm to stop her.
"I have to go, um…" she stuttered, "Jess wants me to go."
Luke was confused, "What? Why?"
"He just…Luke you better go to him. He's in terrible pain again."
Luke nodded and started for Jess' room after squeezing Rory's arm in comfort, while Rory headed for home and the comfort of her mother's arms.
Luke entered Jess' hospital room to find the young man in physical and emotional pain. He lay against the pillows, crying out, his hand trying to find the call button, but he couldn't move over as far as he needed to to reach the button.
"Hey, hey," Luke said softly, "Take it easy."
"Luke?" Jess looked at his uncle, pain clogging his mind.
"I'm here; I'm going to get the nurse. You just lie there, let the pain go, Jess," Luke coaxed, brushing a hand through his hair, "let it go."
Jess tried to do his pain management, deep breathing and focusing while Luke continued to make gentle circles on the top of his head. Eventually a nurse came in and gave Jess some strong medication. Luke held Jess' hand until the pain eased.
Luke hated hospitals. He was afraid of them, just like Jess was, but now that Jess was in one and would be for at least another week or two, he had to get used to them. He loved this boy like a son, he didn't want to have to come and see him in a hospital, but he wouldn't let his fear of the hospital prevent him from seeing him.
"Better?" Luke asked when Jess' breathing evened out, but he received no answer. Luke looked down at the young man in the bed, he couldn't answer him. He was all ready asleep.
Rory got home and saw Lorelai sitting on the sofa. Lorelai turned when she heard the front door slam and ran quickly to Rory when she saw her daughter standing just inside the doorway, shaking and crying.
"Rory, what is it, Sweetie?" Lorelai asked gently holding her daughter against her, rocking slightly.
"It's Jess," she sobbed.
"What about him? Is he worse? Did something go wrong?" Lorelai asked concerned. She knew how deeply Rory cared for Jess and he was starting to grow on her as well.
"No, he's the same, but…" Rory took a deep breath, "He…he thinks he's going to get better, Mom. He thinks he's going to walk again. I know he won't and I tried to tell him, but…"
"Oh, Rory," Lorelai sighed, "Rory, that is a lot of hard truth for Jess to take, Kid. He has to deal with the problem with the hope that it will work out for the best, that's the only way, Hon. He'll come around to the reality, but…you can't force it on him."
"I know that, but, it hurts so much to see him and if he tried the therapy, all the pain, physical and emotional pain he'll go through, and I'll know it's for nothing, Mom," she sobbed, crying harder.
"I know, Baby, but you'll have to be there for him, to help him. And when you go back to Yale in the fall, if he still needs someone, I'll help him and Luke, and you on weekends. It'll work out, you'll see."
"He told me to get out, Mom. He shouted at me and told me to leave him alone," Rory continued, "and he was having one of those cramps or something, but he kept shouting at me to get out. So I finally did."
"Ah, Sweetie," Lorelai soothed, "he was upset that's all. And you are very tired. What do you say, you take a shower, take a nap, then you and I can watch a movie or something. Willy Wonka? You and Jess might need a night's break from each other."
Rory sniffed and nodded, "That's a good idea, Mom. But could you call Luke later and see how Jess is doing?"
"Sure can," Lorelai assured her, "Now go on. We've got oompaloompa's to watch."
Rory kissed her mother's cheek and headed up the stairs to the bathroom. She stopped half way up the steps and turned to look at Lorelai who was heading back to the couch, "Mom?'
"Yeah, Babe," Lorelai replied.
"I love you," Rory said then continued walking up the steps.
"Ditto," Lorelai thought to herself, before settling back on the sofa to await a movie night with her baby girl.
