Title: Caller ID
Author: Bent137
Rating: PG-13
Improv: diamond, decide, sigh, sheer
Disclaimer: Gilmore Girls isn't mine. How sad huh?
Spoilers: This takes place after the Season 4 Finale. Because I said so.
Lindsay looked out the window with a sigh. He still wasn't home, and there was no sign of him on the street. She didn't know why she was surprised. He'd done this more times than she could count lately. He'd always had a good reason, he'd been busy working on the inn, he'd run into Taylor and everyone knows how Taylor can talk. But she wasn't stupid, no she wasn't. Tonight was the inn's test run, everything should be fine, besides Tom was going to be there incase something went wrong. Taylor would be there too, too busy being nosy to stop and talk to Dean. There was really no excuse for him to be this late.
She let the sheer curtain fall back into place as she walked back over to their kitchen table. She sadly looked down at his cold dinner sitting there. She just knew he was having an affair. It was the little things that added up, along with that gut instinct. She was sure now, if not physically, then mentally and emotionally. She should have known all along. She wasn't deaf, she could hear the rumors in town, the rumors about how he was still madly in love with Rory Gilmore. Lindsay wanted to hate Rory, she did, she wanted to hate that she'd ever been nice to the girl. Lindsay knew better though, Rory didn't do this, she didn't ask for it. Rory never wanted Dean to stay in love with her, did she? If she did than she was a right bitch. Lindsay trusted Rory, she knew that Rory would never break up a marriage. She also pegged Rory to stay a virgin until her wedding night. So, that in mind, Lindsay didn't feel threatened. Not at all.
Her feet carried her back to the window as she twisted her diamond ring absently. She just hoped he was okay, not lying in a ditch somewhere. The phone rang, and she jumped. She prayed for it to be him as she grabbed the cordless and picked it up. She didn't care what his excuse was so long as he was okay. "Hello?" she said into the phone. There was no answer, but she could hear breathing. Heavy breathing. "Hello?" she said again, concerned it was Dean, and he'd been in an accident and couldn't speak. "Dean, is that you?" She heard a choked back sob and then the line went dead.
Lindsay clicked off the phone and looked at it, concerned. Then something clicked in her head and she pushed a button on the phone. She had insisted on caller ID after a series of prank calls early in their marriage. It had ended up being some kids, but the ID had stayed. They found it a great tool in avoiding their parents. She quickly found the entry for the call she'd just received, and her breath caught in her throat. "Gilmore, Rory," the entry read, "555-3452." With that she decided. It was over, she would confront him, and damn if she wouldn't win. A key entered the lock and the door swung open and Dean hurried in. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized. He looked up and stopped at the sight of Lindsay. She looked stricken. She felt so too as she looked at him, his hair was disheveled, his coat looked haphazardly pulled on, and the tag of his shirt was sticking up in the back, or maybe, maybe it was on inside out. A tear trickled down her cheek, and he shifted guiltily on his feet. She held the phone out to him. "Your lover called," she said simply. Dean tried to look confused, but concern clouded his eyes, he took the phone and read the ID entry as Lindsay turned away.