Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls or the rights to the song 'Hold On' by Sarah McLachlan.
Full of Grace
Hold On
---
So
now you're sleeping peaceful
I lie awake and pray
that you'll
be strong tomorrow and we'll
see another day and we will praise
it
and love the light that brings a smile
across your face
---
"Is she getting any better?"
Finn sighed and shook his head, running a hand through his wild hair and looked over at Stephanie who was leaning in the doorway.
"I don't know," he admitted and watched as she came closer, sitting down at the edge of the bed.
"You know Finn," she started, letting her hazel eyes run over his rumpled clothes and tired eyes, "maybe you should get come sleep. We're all here, we'll look after her."
"I can't," he told her, his voice going firm and a determined glint coming into his eyes. "I told her I would be here when she wakes up."
Stephanie smiled, "Okay," she whispered and then motioned at the door and Finn nodded.
Stephanie quietly got off the bed and walked back to the door, pausing for a minute to look over at Finn and Rory before walking out. She closed the door behind her and then turned around to find three pairs of concerned eyes fixated on her.
"She's not awake yet," she told them as she took a seat next to Colin on the arm of the couch he was sitting on.
"Maybe we should take her to the hospital?" Logan asked, unconsciously running his hand through Brooke's hair, his arm's holding her tiny frame close to him.
"Rory hates hospitals," Brooke told him as she pulled away slightly, her voice raw and her eyes bloodshot.
"Ace, from what you've told us she needs to see a doctor," he told her gently and from the corner of his eye he could see Colin and Stephanie nod their agreement.
"But…" Brooke trailed off and broke their gaze to look over at Rory's closed door. "Her fever went down," she whispered, almost defeated as her worry kept growing every minute Rory stayed asleep.
"She could be really sick though," Stephanie said and walked over to where Brooke was on the couch. She kneeled down in front of her and laid a hand on her leg, rubbing it in a comforting motion. "We don't even know what's wrong."
"Rory hates hospitals," Brooke repeated, her voice growing stronger. "She would never go inside them, no matter what."
"Why?" Logan asked his eyes narrowed.
Brooke shrugged, "I don't know. She never told me…I was in the hospital once. I got my arm fractured in a car accident," she told them, her eyes glassy as she seemed to be remembering that night. "My dad came down to see me in the hospital but he said that Rory wouldn't come in. I didn't see her until they released me."
"She's never been to one?" Stephanie asked standing up and sitting down next to Brooke. "Not even when she was a kid?"
"I'm not sure," Brooke said, "maybe when she was smaller, but– "
"Uhh guys," Colin interrupted her and they all snapped their attention towards him. He jerked his head to the left where Rory's door was opening and Finn walked out, his skin slightly pale and his brown eyes weary.
"Is Rory okay?" Brooke instantly asked, jumping up from the couch with an almost panicked look on her face.
"She woke up," he stated, his voice sounding almost mechanical.
"She's awake?" Brooke asked, tears finally leaking out of her eyes. She slowly let a small smile spread onto her lips but when Finn's look didn't change she felt her heart stop. "What's wrong?"
"She asked me to take her to the hospital," he told them and everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.
Brooke felt her knees almost give out from beneath her and she sat back down on the couch, shaking her head. She brought her hands up and buried her face in the palms, sliding them across her skin and then into her hair, pushing it back.
"She wants to go to the hospital," she repeated in a monotone voice but the look of fear in her eyes spoke volumes.
- - -
It was quarter past eleven when the group of six rushed into the hospital, Colin and Finn each with an arm around Rory, keeping her up. It was late and fortunately there weren't that many people waiting and a nurse instantly came over to them.
"What happened?" she asked, looking over all of their worried faces and then focussing on Rory.
"We don't know what's wrong," Brooke started and gestured her hands at Rory. "She had a really high fever and she's having trouble breathing."
The nurse nodded and quickly walked over, grabbing a gurney that was pushed against the wall. She rolled it over and motioned for them to pick Rory up and lay her down on top of it.
"She's really weak," Colin explained as he stepped away but Finn stayed by her side, her hand still clasped in his.
"It's gonna be okay," the nurse assured them and turned to Rory and quickly checked her pulse. "Honey, can you hear me?" she asked and when Rory nodded she moved back to the front desk and grabbed a clipboard and started writing something down. "What's your name?"
"Rory," she managed to answer her and groaned slightly.
"Her last names Hayden," Brooke finished and the nurse smile thankfully. "She's my half-sister," she explained, glancing at Rory again, hating to see her so weak and sick.
An older man suddenly walked up to them. He was dressed in a white coat with a silver stethoscope hanging around his neck and plastic gloves on his hands. He let his eyes briefly run over the group before turning to Rory on the gurney.
"What do we have?" he asked the nurse.
"They said she's having trouble breathing," the nurse explained, continuously jotting things down on her clipboard.
The doctor nodded and moved to the other side of the gurney. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a flashlight. He quickly checked her eyes for a response and sighed, pocketing the flashlight again.
"Her pupils are unequal," he stated and the nurse nodded, her pencil moving even more furiously. "She responded to the light though, so that's a good sign."
"What's wrong with her?" Brooke asked, her voice panicking slightly.
The doctor looked up, his eyes turning sympathetic and he smiled kindly before turning to the nurse. "Put her in a room and run some tests. Take her blood and do a chest x-ray," he ordered and the nurse nodded.
"You're gonna have to let go now," the nurse told Finn, who hadn't moved from her side since they'd brought her in.
"Can't someone go with her?" he asked as he backed away and they all looked hopefully at the nurse.
"Not right now," she told them. "When we've completed the tests the doctor will come find you," she promised and then smiled before wheeling the gurney down the hall and through a pair of double doors.
The five of them stood still, each staring off at where the nurse had disappeared to.
---
Hold
on
Hold on to yourself
You know that only time will tell
---
Sorry for the shortness of this chapter but I thought I should at least get something out. The nest one will be longer and hopefully up soon because I don't have school this week so I'll have free time.
Thanks for the reviews, you guys are awesome!
Hugs
and Kisses,
-Ella
