"Luke." Rory said from the bottom stair.

"Still not back." Luke replied.

"They've been gone six hours."

"I know."

"Jess's cell phone and wallet are upstairs. I called TJ and he has no idea where they went."

"I know." Luke acknowledged. "Do you want some coffee?"

"No thank you."

"I'm sure they'll be back soon." Luke offered sympathetically. "Liz can be a little free spirited."

"Do you think Jess will survive six hours with her?"

"Jess can handle himself even where his mother is concerned." Luke assured her. "I have to finish closing up."

"Want some help?" Rory inquired.

"Wipe down the tables down." Luke tossed her a cloth. "And put the chair up."

"Okay." Rory replied.

When the diner was shut down for the night Rory sighed.

"Do you want me to wait with you until he gets back?" Luke offered.

"No go home to Mom. I'm sure he'll be home soon."

"Call if you need anything." Luke told her.

"Thanks Luke." Rory stuffed her hands in her pockets.

"Goodnight."

"Night." Rory echoed.

…

"Hey hun." Lorelai said when Luke got home.

"Hi Lorelai."

"Everything okay?" Lorelai inquired.

"Jess still isn't back and Rory's a little worried."

"They're still not back?" Lorelai questioned.

"No."

"I should call her."

"I wouldn't." Luke suggested.

"I'm her mother and her best friend, trust me I should call her."

GG

After Rory had hung up the phone, she checked on Libby who was sound asleep. She picked up a book and read until she fell asleep.

When Libby woke up at 3am, the other side of the bed was empty.

"Where is your Daddy?" Rory asked as she picked Libby up.

"Dada." Libby chipped in.

"Yes Dada. Grandma Liz took him out they haven't come back. Mommy's getting worried." It took Rory 45 minutes to get Libby to sleep. But Rory couldn't sleep; she lay awake imagining all the worst case scenarios.

She switched the TV on with the volume low and tried to distract herself but it was no use.

"I'm going to kill." Rory muttered. "I'm going to kiss him, yell at him and then kill him."

By the next time Libby woke up, Rory had already cleaned the apartment, rearranged the books and her closet. She had gotten dressed and eaten and still hadn't distracted herself from thinking Jess was lying in a ditch some where.

After getting settled Rory grabbed the phone and called Lorelai.

"Hello. This better be good." Lorelai answered grouchily.

"He didn't come home."

"Who is this?" Lorelai asked half asleep.

"Rory, Mom. Jess didn't come home at all last night."

"Are you sure?"

"Well his keys to the apartment are on the table, and he wasn't here any time I woke up with Libby. Should I start calling hospitals?"

"There are a lot of hospitals in Connecticut; we don't even know where they went."

"I feel like I should be doing something, what if…" Rory started.

"Luke and I will be right there. We'll figure out a game plan."

"Mom, I'm scared." Rory admitted.

"He's probably fine, he's with Liz."

"Mom that doesn't help."

"Just look after Libby and we'll be right there."

TBC