A/N: Thank you guys for the reviews, you are awesome! I have actually had this chapter written for a while, but for some strange reason I couldn't log in…
I know this fic isn't one of those kinds who focuses only on Rory and Logan's relationship, but also on the whole gang's relationships. When I write I have a hard time not writing a little joke between Rory and Finn or Colin bickering and being an ass. I would like to how if you like that or not. Should I continue that or drop it? BTW I know some of you have requested more Rogan 'moments' and I'll try to do that. Right now I am just building up the whole friendship.
Oh! One of you, ess3sandra, I believe it was, asked why Rory's phone is playing Willy Wonka if it was Dean who called. I know some cell phones can have a tone for each caller, mine can that too, but I just have one tone for all callers. Rory has that too. It's a little simpler, I think. Lol. So that explains that! But just so you guys know, that doesn't mean that Dean was the one calling!
Anyways… This chapter is different from the others, a little angst and sad. (Or it is supposed to be so therefore I hope it is. Lol) I love the humour but I needed some drama. Drama is always good. I love drama!
Right, I think that is it, I am officially done with rambling. Remember to hit the little purple/blue botton and review!
I disclaim. I don't own any of the characters, and I am in no way associated with Gilmore Girls.
Chapter 6 – Hide and seek
He continued pacing the room like he had done for the past half hour while glaring at his watch every minute.
It had been over an hour since Colin and Stephanie disappeared to buy food for the hungry Gilmore and the rest of them. If their disappearance hadn't freaked him out, Rory being gone sure would have. When she had excused herself he figured she would be gone for a few minutes, fifteen max. She probably just wanted to have a private conversation, who ever had called had seemed to make her mad. But now, an hour later, she was still gone. He had tried to wake Finn up, but he was passed out and wouldn't even move, let alone get up to help him search for Rory, which only gave him more to worry about.
As soon as he heard someone opening the door he snapped his head back and watched as a smiling Colin came in with a now more awoke Stephanie, their handsentwined while Colin carried a bag of food in his other hand.
"Something wrong Logan?" the blond asked, as she noticed the unfamiliar look on her friend's face. Logan Huntzberger weren't really known for his compassion, so it was easy to see when something was bothering or in this case, concerning him.
"What took you so long?" he snapped, then shook his head when he noticed the smirk appearing on Colin's face. "Forget it, I don't want to know." He took a pause and ran his hand though his blond hair. "Have any of you seen Rory?" he asked.
"No…" Colin answered a little uncertain. "Why?"
"Someone called her-"
"You know who?" Stephanie cut him off and Logan shook his head.
"No, but I figure it was someone unexpected and not very welcome. She got that look in her eyes and excused herself, storming out of the dorm. That was like an hour ago." He saw the way Steph dropped Colin's hand and crossed her arms over her chest, her face suddenly looking very worried. "You think something is wrong?"
"I don't know," Stephanie answered truthfully. "You called her cell phone?"
Logan nodded his head. "Yeah. No answer."
"Her dorm?"
"No answer either."
Stephanie sighed sadly. "I think we should look for her, if something has happened…" she trailed off as both Logan and Colin nodded, agreeing with her. Her eyes then fell on Finn. "Why didn't you wake him?" she asked, a little anger in her voice.
"Trust me, I tried, but he just wouldn't wake up. You try."
She did so, walked over to Finn and stopped to look at him for a minute. He laid completely still, making no sound, not even his breathing could be heard. If it wasn't for his chest rising and falling she would think he was dead.
She gave him one last look, then sighing. "Finn," she said, her voice a little raised as her foot kicked his shoulder softly, but he didn't move. She tried again, a little harder but when he remained still she couldn't help herself and gave him a hard kick as she yelled, "Finn, you drunken Australian! Wake up, Rory is missing! Finn!"
Finally the boy groaned and looked up to see Stephanie looking at him with angry eyes. "What love?" he asked, trying his best to charm him out of whatever the problem was.
"Rory is missing," she said, her voice falling back into her usual soft mode.
"She is missing?" he asked and stood up quickly. "What the hell happened?"
"She got a call, excused herself and has been gone for over an hour. She didn't look to happy when she left, so I am wondering if anything has happened."
"Damn it," Finn sighed. "You think it could be…?" he asked, his eyes focusing on Steph, who only shrugged. They were closest to Rory and knew some of her problems. "Okay then… Okay… I guess we should look for her?"
Steph nodded her head as the rest of them said a low yes. "You take the library," she said, pointing to Colin. "Finn, you take the coffee-shop and Logan can come with me. We'll search the halls. If anyone hears or sees anything, be sure to call."
They all nodded their head and walked out the dorm, desperate to find their friend.
--GG—
After searching for about 35 minutes both Stephanie and Logan were tired, but neither would quite before they found Rory. They had looked practically everywhere, asked several students who passed by them but no one had seen her. She wasn't at her dorm either, Paris said she hadn't seen her since they stopped by that morning to get her clothes. It was like she had simply disappeared.
They were starting to give up hope, and Stephanie, knowing Rory's history, was becoming more and more worried.
"Any calls?" she asked Logan for the fifth time in ten minutes.
He looked down at his cell and shook his head. "Hey," he whispered, rapping his arm around her shoulder. "We'll find her, she has to be somewhere, right? I am sure it is nothing."
"You don't get it," the blond protested sadly, finding no comfort in his word. "You don't know Rory's history. Some of the people she has dated…She has been hurt many time Logan. And I don't mean just emotional."
"You are saying that-"
"I am saying that these people know how to hold a grudge, Logan." She saw the surprised look on Logan's face, the way his eyes narrowed and his fist clenched, and she found herself wishing she hadn't told him. "I'll take the girls' bathroom, you take the guys'." She went to the bathroom without waiting for his answer, leaving Logan do nothing but go into the guys.
As soon as she opened the bathroom-door and got in, she noticed a strange sound. It was very quiet, but somehow she heard it immediately. It sounded like someone was having a hard time breathing, inhaling and exhaling very fast. It sounded like someone was crying.
Her heart told her, she knew who it was.
She walked closer to the booths, noticing that only was door was locked. "Rory?" she whispered and for a moment the harsh breathing stopped. "Rory, is that you?" Stephanie asked again, her voice unbelievable soft.
"Stephanie...?" she heard someone whisper.
"Rory. Rory, open the door please. Tell me what is wrong. What happened?" She waited for a minute, prepared to come with another small speech, when she heard a click and noticed that the before little red dot on the lock was now white. She slowly opened the door to reveal a crying Rory. She was sitting on the toilet seat, her legs pulled up under her head as her chin rested on them. Her usually beautiful blue eyes were red and bloodshot from all the crying, and her skin pale, her cheeks especially as tears rolled down them.
She looked terrible, but more so, sad. Heartbroken.
"Rory?" she whispered, slowly walking closer to the heartbroken girl and sad down on her knees. "What happened Rory? Why are you crying? Tell me what is wrong."
Rory sniffed and let the tears fall freely. "He called… But I…He... I ca-can't… Why..." She shook her head, too sad, too broken to explain what had happened.
"It'll be okay. It'll be okay," Steph assured her and patted Rory's arm softly. "Okay, can you stand up? Try to stand up sweetie."
She took her hand, letting Rory lean on her, but when she was on her feet, she quickly lost balance and sad down on the seat again. "I'm sorry, I can't…"
"That is okay, Logan is here. He will come and help you up, okay?" she whispered softly while Rory nodded her head. "Logan. Logan!" she yelled, trying hard to keep her voice low.
He was there immediately, by Stephanie's side, looking concerned at Rory. "What happened?" he asked her, his voice more gentle than ever. When Rory didn't answer, Stephanie looked over at him and shook her head, saying without any words that it was not the right time.
"Can you help her up? She can't, I think she is drained from energy."
Logan nodded his head and took the brunette's hand. He gentle helped her up, but saw that she still couldn't stand by herself. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to make this girl, this fun, ironic and awesome girl, so sad and helpless. "Rory?" he whispered. "I'll carry you, okay? I'll lift you and you just try to rap your legs around my waist, okay?"
Rory shook her head. "I can wa-"
"No you can't," Logan interrupted, but kept his voice sweet. "I'll carry you. Just let me carry you." He looked pleading at her and almost sighed relieved when she finally nodded her head.
"Okay."
Stephanie stepped out of the booth, giving the other two more room, as Logan lifted Rory and she rapped her legs around him. "Good," he whispered in her ear and stroked her brown hair. "Good," he repeated. "I'll take you to our dorm, okay? We'll make sure you are okay and then if you want you can go back to your dorm, okay?"
Rory nodded her head and buried it in his neck as the small group of three walked out the bathroom and down the halls, ignoring all of the strange looks the other students sent them.
--GG—
"Do you think we should wake her up?" Colin asked as the group looked down at the sleeping brunette.
She had falling asleep while Logan carried her to their room, whatever had happened had obvious made her extremely tired. When they finally arrived they had laid her down on the soft sofa and simply watched her sleep for a while, while they tried to figure out what had happened.
"No, she needs sleep. She seemed so tired when we found her. She couldn't even stand up by herself. Logan had to carry her," Stephanie told Colin.
"I'm a little tired myself, love. That was definitely not a fun game of hide and seek," Finn said, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't help. Instead the looks on his friends' faces seemed to sadden even more. He finally gave up and sighing. "I wonder what happened."
"Yeah…," Logan mumbled. "Should we call her parents or someone? One of her friends?"
Finn shook his head. "Not her parents. She barely sees her father, they have this weird relationship. She doesn't really like to talk about it. And things have been rocky between her and her mom lately. Besides, I think Lorelai and Luke are on vacation this week."
"Then friends?" Logan asked again.
"She has her roommate Paris and her best friend Lane, but she lives in Stars Hollow. And Paris, well, she isn't the best friend when it comes to comfort. Besides, she already has her friends here."
They all smiled sadly and remained silent as the all looked at Rory, their eyes and faces showing obvious concern.
"It strange seeing her this way," Steph broke the silence. "Hurt, broken, scared. I mean, I have seen her when Dean had messed up, I have seen her upset and betrayed, but it was never this bad. When they had had a fight she could still come to us and tell us about it. This time…" She shook her head. "This time she had to hide. Not only from whoever called her, but from us too."
"You don't think that it was one of her boyfriends?" Colin asked.
"I don't know, it could be… But I have never seen her so down over a boyfriend or ex-boyfriend."
