Hammers, Nails & Florence Nightingale's

Chapter 2: Turn that Frown Upside - Down

Disclaimer: I do not owe this. I do not make money off this. I just write it because I have insomnia and never fall asleep until like 4 in the morning, so I need something to do to pass the time. The end.

Summary: Luke took care of them & now she has a chance to be there for him. Or, maybe it's more than that...

A/N: Thanks so much for the reviews guys... I appreciate them so much. Keep 'em coming.

Wow guysss I'm so stupid... Last time I accidently posted everything that I was gonna write... like the out line... Ummm... yes here was the real chapter 2... Ughhh I'm dumb! Umm... ya...

-

"How's he holding up?" Mia asked, from behind the service desk, as the women eyed Luke, who was fixing the book shelf in the corner.

Lorelai shrugged. "He seems completely fine." She told Mia.

"Hm." Mia said.

"It's like nothing happened at all. He doesn't talk about it or anything." Lorelai explained in a whisper.

"He's probably just used to it." Mia said.

Lorelai looked at her, with question.

"It's the 4th time." Mia told her. "Rachel's always been like this. She just can't stay in one place." Mia said, as they continued watching Luke fix the book shelf.

Lorelai sighed. "Poor Luke." She said.

Mia nodded, as they continued watching.

-

Throughout the entire summer, Saturdays had always been the day that Rory would help out at the hardware store.

Luke had been taking summer classes, but he usually had the weekends free. Lorelai usually worked at the Inn on Saturdays & Lane was in Korea for a few more weeks. So, Rory would wake up early and help Luke open the store every Saturday.

Rory loved helping Luke at the store. Sometimes she could get him to play the radio, and he always packed her a lunch when she helped him. Sometimes she'd bring a picnic blanket and they would sit out in the square and eat it. Sometimes Lorelai would join them if she had a break.

This particular Saturday, however, was going a little different.

Rory sat on top of the counter, next to the cash register, and watched as Luke wandered around the store, stocking the shelves. He hadn't said anything for at least an hour.

She was worried about him. He had been particularly quiet since Rachel left. He was never a talkative person, but she could usually get him talking on these Saturday occasions.

"It's so nice outside." She stated, trying to get him to say anything.

"Mhm." She heard him mumble from around the curtain.

"What's for lunch today, Luke?" She asked.

"Turkey." He stated.

"Oh. I love turkey." She said.

He didn't respond.

"So..." She began, unsure of what else to say. "Did we win the baseball game last night?" She asked, remembering that he was watching a Red Sox game last night.

"Nope."

"Oh." Rory sighed. She continued to watch him stoke the shelves. She had run out of small talk.

"Need help?" She asked after a few minutes.

"No." He said.

"Okay." She sighed again, and looked around the shop. Her eyes wandered outside as she watched the townspeople. Then, she looked at Luke again. He looked sad.

"Luke?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He asked, finally looking up at her.

"I'm sorry Rachel left." She told him, sincerely.

He smiled, a small little thankful smile. "Thanks." He told her.

She nodded.

"C'mon." He gestured towards himself. She jumped off the counter and went towards him. He picked her up, and she grabbed another box and put it on the shelf.

She smiled at him, and grabbed another box.

-

"So, what will it be tonight?" Lorelai asked, as she stood in front of her bed, dressed in her I Love Lucy pajamas.

"Umm..." Rory thought, dressed in her own Princess Jasmine night gown.

"We have the one and only Mary Poppins, the ever-so-mock able flick, The Flamingo Kid, and the classic... Alice in Wonderland." Lorelai announced.

"Hmm..." Rory thought.

"I'm thinking Alice in Wonderland, what about you?" Lorelai asked her daughter.

Rory nodded.

"Alice it is!" Lorelai said. "I haven't watched this in a couple months... Wait, do we have the popcorn?" Lorelai asked.

"Check." Rory said.

"Red Vines?" She asked.

"Check." Rory replied.

"Chips?" Lorelai asked.

"Salt & Vinegar, and Sour Cream & Onion." Rory told her.

"What about the pretzels?" Lorelai asked.

Rory looked around the bed. "I think I left them downstairs." She told her mother. "Be right back." She said, hoping off the bed and going downstairs to get the pretzels.

Rory and Lorelai had their traditions. They had too many to keep track of. But one that they always made sure to remember was their Friday Night movies. Every Friday they'd get into their pajamas and watch as many movies as they could before they passed out from junk food coma.

Rory trudged down the stairs in her night gown and went into the kitchen.

"Hey Luke." She said, when she saw him sitting at the table. "Where's Willie?" She asked.

"Just went to bed." He told her.

"What are you doing?" She asked him.

"Studying." He told her.

"Oh. Well, I just came down to get the pretzels."

"Counter." He told her.

She nodded, grabbed the bag and went back upstairs. When she went back into her mother's room, she found Lorelai already in bed waiting for her daughter.

"Mom?" Rory asked.

"Yes?" Lorelai asked, when she saw the look on Rory's face.

"I think we should invite Luke to watch with us." Rory said.

"Okay." Lorelai said, as she ate a chip. "Ask him." She said.

"He won't want to." Rory said. "I don't think he likes Alice in Wonderland." Rory told her mom.

Lorelai nodded, and sat up. "We'll have to make a plan."

-

"Luke!" Rory called as she entered the kitchen. She didn't want to be too loud and wake up William.

He turned to look at her. "What?"

"We need you." She told him.

"What?" He asked.

"The... bath is broken!" She told him. "Help!" She added.

"What happened?" He asked, standing up.

"It's broken!" She told him.

"What's it doing?" He asked, wanting more information.

"It's broken! Get upstairs and bring Bert!" She told him, before running back up the stairs so Luke couldn't ask anymore questions. Luke shook his head and went to go get his tool box.

"He's coming!" Rory announced, when the girls began hearing footsteps.

"Sh..." Lorelai said.

They heard a knock on the door. Lorelai opened the door for him.

"Well hello kind sir." She greeted him as she swung the door open.

He held up his tool box to show her what he was there for. "Well hello to you, too, Bert." Lorelai replied.

"Rory said your bath tub was broken. I thought you guys were watching movies today. Why do you even need the bath?" He asked.

"Close the door, Mom!" Rory yelled.

"What?" Luke asked, as Lorelai closed the door.

"Lock it!" Rory called.

Lorelai did.

"What the hell is going on?" Luke asked.

"We're watching Alice in Wonderland." Rory told him.

"I could just unlock the door, you know." Luke said.

"But you're not gonna." Lorelai said with a grin. She knew him too well.

He sighed and sat down the bed with them.

"Next time, something really will be broken, and I won't come help you."

"Yes you will." Both girls said in unison.

He tried not to let them see him smile, but both girls knew he was.

-

Well, there is chapter 3 for you guys.

Yeah... I have 4 more days of school left... I'm excited. I can't wait for summer.

I hope you guys are liking this so far. I know nothing big has really happened yet, but it's coming. I just have to set things up first, you know? Mmm...

Next Chapter:

Chapter Three: It's Been a Summer- It's Rory & Lane's first day of school. Luke makes them breakfast & Lorelai walks them to school. She also makes a visit to a certain Hardware store. And someone notices something different about Luke.

Please review. Thanks.

& yeah since most of you pretty much know where I'm going with this... Yeahh tell me if I should even write it. Thanks.