Chapter 15
Two days later Rory and Logan had to meet Mitchum at the Tribune office in Chicago, to meet some people and attend a few meetings. This was to be Rory's first meetings with the company. They were planning on attending the said meetings and doing a few meet and greets and then meeting the rest of the gang at the Wynn in Vegas.
They took a commercial flight into Chicago and were met at the airport by a limousine and taken to the InterContinental Chicago, Mitchum was staying in the Presidential Suite and we were booked into the Vice-Presidential Suite they would be staying there for four days. The concierge met them when they pulled up and escorted them directly to their suite. They were also met with a flurry of reporters and photographers.
"This is out of control Logan, why are they so interested in us" Rory said to Logan referring to the press "Can't we do something about this, I mean you are a Huntzberger"
"Sorry I know it's a pain but it will die down" he said sympathetically it had been this was since the party. They were trying to deal with it, constantly wearing sunglasses to avoid the flashbulbs. But this trip was different it was known that it was Rory's first taste of the Huntzberger Media Empire and all that comes with it the respect and the power.
They checked into their suite, the concierge left them and Rory just walked around the room. She had traveled with Logan before and they had stayed in suites but this was unbelievable.
"Should I get use to this" she asked jokingly
"Yeah, probably!" he said to her "When we travel with my father, he never settles"
"OK" she said continuing her stroll around the magnificent suite "Logan, I think it's bigger than our apartment"
"You are probably right, you should see my Dad's" he said laughing he loved when she was stunned, it reminded him of when they first started 'seeing' each other his life was new to her and he loved reliving everything with her for the first time.
"We should really get cleaned up we have that reception dinner tonight" Logan said from inside the bedroom
"OK, I am going to jump in the shower but first I need to unpack" she said meeting him in the bedroom and walking over to her suitcase and began to unpack.
"If you need anything pressed just call the concierge, they will send it out" Logan told her
"Really Logan I can iron my own clothes" she said a little annoyed
"I know Ace, but we will be really busy and it's a nice thing to not have to worry about ironing" he said trying to explain
"Whatever, I am going into the shower" she walked into the marble bathroom and sighed 'We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto' she said to herself and turned on the water and got in.
The dinner was beautiful, it was held at one of the restaurants in the hotel, and most of the journalists were there along with the editorial staff as well as all of the big wigs from the paper. They were all introduced to Rory and reintroduced to Logan. Dinner was fabulous as to be expected. When the night was over Rory's head was spinning.
"That was amazing, those were some of the top journalists in the field" she said to Logan and Mitchum in the elevator on their way up to their suites
"Yes, it was fun wasn't it" Mitchum said, believe it or not he loved being around so much talent "What do you say you two, you want a nightcap"
"It's up to Rory, Dad" Logan said looking at Rory
"Sure, it's not like I am going to be able to fall asleep now" she said excitedly
They all went up to Mitchum's suite and Rory was completely shocked. The suite was beautiful. They walked into the living room and Mitchum went over to the bar and poured three glasses of brandy.
"Here we go" he said handing them off "So, tomorrow we have to actually go over to the paper and then we will meet with all the different departments and go through everything, reorganizing a bit, that should take a few days, then you two are free to join your gang in Vegas" Mitchum explained what they would be doing.
Rory nodded her head and drank her brandy, she never really cared for the stuff but she drank it anyway.
"OK, sounds good. What time do we leave in the morning?" Rory asked
"How about 9?" Mitchum said
"Good, would you like to join us in our room tomorrow morning for breakfast" Logan asked his father.
"Sure, 8:30" he said
"Sounds good, it's getting late come on Ace, time for bed" Logan said standing up and offering his hand to help her up.
"Goodnight" She said walking out the door
They went to bed, Rory didn't sleep much, she was really excited about that evening and now going to the actual paper tomorrow, this isn't the Stamford Eagle Gazette , this was the Chicago Tribune; one of the countries leading paper. Who wouldn't be excited?
The next three days flew by, Rory was exhilarated by the experience, and she sat in on the meeting giving her input when she felt it was appropriate. She sat in on meetings between editors and reporters. Logan watched her and adored the fact that she was truly in her element. Although she didn't have as much real life experience as most of these people, she had no problem keeping up with them even offering advice here and there.
Mitchum saw Logan watching Rory as she was speaking with a reporter about an article.
"She really is a natural" Mitchum said breaking Logan from his thoughts
"That she Dad" he replied looking at his father, who looked a little pale "Come with me" Logan said. He walked with his father into an empty office.
"Are you feeling ok?" Logan asked concerned for his father
"Sure why?" Mitchum replied
"You don't look so hot" just then Mitchum collapsed into a chair, Logan leapt forward to make sure he didn't fall to the floor. "Dad, Dad are you ok?"
"Yeah, just got a little light headed" Mitchum replied
"Well, I think we should take you to the hospital to make sure" Logan said walking to the door and calling for Rory, she smiled and went into the office.
"What's up?" She said then saw the very pale Mitchum sitting in a chair. "Oh my God, Mitchum are you ok?"
"We need to take him to the hospital" Logan told her "Can you call for the car please?" he asked her
"Sure" she simply replied and simply pulled out her phone and dialed the number of the car service.
"Logan, Rory really this is unnecessary" Mitchum pleaded
"This is not up for discussion Dad" Logan said "Now can you walk out of here or do I need to carry you" he said knowing full well that his father would never allow him to carry him anywhere it would appear to weak.
"I'll walk" was all he said
"The car should be downstairs by the time we get there" Rory said "I will go get my stuff and meet you by the elevator, do you need me to get anything for you" she said looking at the two men before her
"NO, we will stop by my office and get our things; I do not want anyone thinking there is something wrong" Mitchum said trying to straighten up and act normal
Ten minutes later they were in the Limo and heading towards Lutheran General Hospital, which his doctor said was one of the best cancer hospitals in Chicago. Rory had called the second they got off the elevator.
The walked into the ER and were taken directly in. Mitchum was a well known figure and was ushered directly into the oncology unit.
"Do you think he will be ok" Rory asked Logan sitting in the waiting room while they were running some tests on Mitchum
"I don't know, Ace, I am nervous" he said, "I am not ready to let go" he said with tears in his eyes
Rory wrapped her arms around Logan and just hugged him. The doors opened and Mitchum was being wheeled back in from having an MRI done. They brought him back into his room and a few minutes later the doctor came back out.
"Mr. Huntzberger" he said to Logan "I am Dr. Wycliff, you father is going to be fine for the time being, he needs to rest but he should be fine, his white blood cells were off and he was just a little weakened by it" he explained (AN: I am not up on all the exact terminology of cancer)
"How long does he have to stay here or can we bring him back to the hotel to rest" Logan inquired
"I would like him to stay over night and then I will release him in the morning" Dr Wycliff said
"Ok, Thank you" Rory said
The doctor excused himself and Rory walked over to Logan who was now standing outside of his father's room she placed his hand on his shoulder and said "Are you ok?"
"I… I never heard anyone call my father weak before, this is real now" he said referring to the cancer. He pulled Rory into a strong hug and cried. She didn't know what to do, Logan never really cried, she just held him until he pulled away and wiped his eyes.
"It will be ok, I know it sounds lame, but it will" Rory tried to comfort him
"No it won't Rory, my father is dying, how is that ok?" he said irately
"I am sorry Logan I didn't mean to imply that your father dying was ok, I just meant the current situation not the entire one." She said trying to rectify her earlier statement
"I know I am sorry for snapping at you." He said "Um, would you mind calling Steph and telling her that we aren't going to make it to Vegas" he asked her
"Sure of course" she said pulling out her cell phone giving him a light kiss on the cheek and walking towards the door.
She dialed the number and pressed send.
"Loralie's house of ill repute" her mother said answering her phone
"Mom" Rory said with tears in her voice
"What's the matter?"
"It's Mitchum, he had some sort of episode and we are in the hospital in Chicago"
"Is he going to be ok, how's Logan?"
"Yeah the doctor said that he will be ok he just over exerted himself"
"Dirty"
"Not the time mom"
"Right, sorry. How's Logan?"
"Not good, he's really upset, he cried"
"Oh boy"
"I know what do I do?"
"Just be there for him, both of them, Logan will appreciate it if you help. And don't be upset if he lashes out at you, it's not you it's the situation, remember that"
"Thanks mom"
"How long are you going to stay in Chicago and I guess Vegas is out?"
"Yeah I have to call Steph now then get back up to Logan and I don't know I guess until Mitchum is rested and we can fly home"
"Well call me and let me know if you guys need anything and keep me posted, love you sweets"
"Thanks mom, I will. I love you too" Rory said and hung up the phone and called Steph.
"Hey girl when are you and Logan getting here?" Steph said when she answered the phone
"Hi, Steph that's just it were not going to be able to make it" she said sadly
"What's the matter the old slave driver making you guys stay longer?" Steph said sarcastically
"No, Mitchum is in the hospital" she lamented
"Oh god, I am such an idiot I'm sorry, what happened" Steph apologized
Rory told her the entire story, Steph asked if they should come there she said no and that they would call them when they new more about how long they were staying in Chicago. After hanging up she made one more call to the hotel.
"InterContinental Chicago" a voice answered
"May I speak to the manager please" she stated leaving no room for discussion, she was simply told to hold.
"This is Daniel Sherman; may I ask who I am speaking to?" He asked (AN: HAHA)
"Yes, Mr. Sherman this is Loralei Gilmore I am Logan Huntzberger's fiancée" she said is a very Emily Gilmore manner
"Yes, Miss Gilmore how may I help you"
"We need to extend our stay, ours and my future father-in-law's" she stated
"Excuse me?" he said
"You heard me we need to extend our stay, we have run into a slight situation and it calls for us staying a little longer"
"How much longer will you be staying?" he asked matter of factly
"Well Mr. Sherman I am not sure exactly but if you can not accommodate us I am sure there is another Hotel in Chicago that can, and they would love that publicity, you however would not like the article I would write and have printed in everyone of our newspapers!" she said with a rather malicious tone in her voice
"Of course we can accommodate you and your family, I didn't mean to imply other wise" he said trying correct this conversation "anything you need I will be sure you have it"
"Thank you" was all she said and hung up the phone
She walked back upstairs but Logan wasn't where she left him, she looked lost.
"He went for a walk" a nurse told her
"Excuse me" Rory said
"Your husband" he went for a walk
"Oh, my fiancé, do you know where he went?" she asked sweetly
"He was pacing outside of his fathers room and just turned and walked that way" she said pointing towards the other direction "the cafeteria is in that direction maybe he went there"
"Thank you" she said, she walked over to Mitchum's room knocked on the door and walked in
"Hello" she said "Are you feeling any better?"
"HI, yeah, they still won't let me leave" Mitchum responded not happy that he can't just leave.
"Well tomorrow we can go back to the Hotel but your doctor doesn't think you should fly until you are fully rested so, it looks as if we are staying in Chicago for a few more days and I already called the hotel and took care of everything, they have no problem extending our stay" Rory said smiling, trying to lighten the situation
"What do you mean; we? You and Logan go to Vegas have fun, I will be fine!" he argued
"Absolutely not! We are not leaving you!" she said adamantly
"It's really unnecessary" He said
"Nonsense" she smiled "Now I am going to help Logan get some coffee, do you want anything?" she lied not knowing where Logan was
"No thanks" he said "and Rory, Thank you"
"No thanks needed, your family" she said and kissed her father-in-laws cheek and walked out bumping into Logan when she walked out the door, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly
"Thank you" he said into her neck, hearing the entire conversation between her and his father.
"Just like I told your father, No thanks needed you are both my family" she said kissing him sweetly
He just smiled and hugged her again, "How did I get so lucky"
"I don't know, you must have rubbed the toe" she said referring to Yale
They both laughed and walked into Mitchum's room.
AN: I have no idea where this came from, I was taking them to Vegas and this just came out! I hope you like it!