The Escort

Disclaimer: I do not own Gilmore Girls it is owned by the CW/WB and Amy Sherman-Palladino. This chapter contains transcript taken from Season 5 Episode 5.06: Norman Mailer, I'm Pregnant; they are the words of the writers of Gilmore Girls and belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the WB/CW.

Chapter 3: Close Encounters With Gorilla Girl

The Yale newspaper office was silent, which was something of a rarity. However this was the day that assignments were handed out, therefore it made all sorts of sense. Rory was trying not to bite her nails, but it couldn't be helped she was taking one for the team. She listened with rapt attention as Doyle began.

"Okay people here we go. Lena: economic development, Seng: Woodbridge Hall, Benji: legal issues, Paris: religion beat…"

" Me? Really? Huh, I hadn't thought. All right," said Paris acting like she was surprised. Rory had it on good authority that Paris would've fought a duel for the religion beat.

Doyle gave her a dirty look and continued. "Jerry: city arts, Rory: features, Glenn: crime…" there was a pause in the listing of assignments as Glenn is heard clearing his throat. "What, Glenn, you don't want crime?"

"I don't care. Maureen Dowd told me it's all the same, not that that flirt has any idea what she's talking about."

"All right, that's it. Congratulations if you got what you wanted, and if you didn't, I could care less. Get cracking," says Doyle as he ends the meeting on a high note.

Rory runs after her editor. "Doyle I just want to thank you for giving me features. You won't be disappointed."

"Gilmore that's enough out of you, now what do you need? You're kind of wasting my time," said Doyle trying to look busy like other editors of major publications.

"Well I wanted to run some…" began Rory.

"Oh god!" said Doyle looking at something behind Rory. "I didn't know he was back! Why didn't anyone tell me he was back? News of his arrival would've spread like wildfire by the female and select male population on this campus, yet I find out when he makes his first, and probably last, appearance in the newsroom this semester. What have I done to receive such punishment? "

Rory turned to look in the direction Doyle was pointing at and found that it was none other than Logan Huntzberger. She didn't know how the boy could be known by everyone on campus, but mention his name and you got a nod in response. However Doyle's reaction seemed intense and rather worrisome.

"Doyle how are you?" asked Logan after he had untangled himself from the brunette who had dropped him off at the door. Rory sniffed at the lack of decorum of a Huntzberger. There was no need to flaunt such low character flaws in front of the entire staff of the Yale Daily News.

"Logan! I didn't know you were back. How are you? We've missed you around here."

"Don't hurt yourself there old boy. So, are we going to get to work or simply gossip amongst ourselves?" asked Logan.

"Oh…um…you see…we've already handed out assignments for the year. I didn't know you'd be back so soon, I didn't put anything aside for you," said an agitated Doyle. He actually looked like he was about to start twitching any time now.

"No assignments? That's fine. Doyle, I'm here for the pretty picture in my father's head, nothing more. I'll just be at my desk, out of everybody's way. Rory it's nice to see you again," said Logan as he made his way to 'his' desk and promptly fell asleep with a ridiculous 'press' hat on his blonde head.

The minute Logan was out of ear shot; Doyle swung his head around to Rory. She thought he might've gotten whiplash. "You know Logan? How do you know Logan?"

"Doyle…the Huntzbergers are family friends. I thought you'd met Mitchum already," asked a curious Rory.

"I've met Mitchum every year that Logan has been here and he wants me to keep his precious heir on a tight leash; something to do with by-lines. However, Logan is never here for me to assign him any work. When exactly did you meet Logan?" asked the inquisitive editor.

"You have to promise not to laugh," came the stern warning.

"Err…okay…I mean alright."

"You see…I was sixteen and decided I would participate in something that all proper young ladies of good breeding and marriageable age had done for generations."

"Oh dear…" said Doyle staring at his reporter with amusement.

"Yes. I was a debutante. I came out during the Daughter's of the Daughter's of the American Revolution debutante ball. My boyfriend at the time was apparently 'not suitable' to be my escort, so my grandmother found me a proper one. Logan Huntzberger was my escort and I've known him since I was sixteen. His sister Honor is an honorary member of the Gilmore-Hayden clan, which I thought you might be aware of."

"I didn't realize you and Huntzberger had such history. I had no idea of the family connections. Huh…I hate guys like him. You know: privileged, white males."

"Doyle, you're a privileged, white male!" said an exasperated Rory.

"Humph! He's more privileged, and way whiter!" said the little editor. He stormed off after stopping by Logan's desk to glare at him.

Rory sighed and had a last look at Logan before she got her purse and jacket to leave. She was leaving one Huntzberger for another.

-GG-

Honor Huntzberger was the happiest she'd ever been. When she'd been younger she'd never dreamt of being so content with her life. A large part of her happiness can be attributed to the combined Gilmore-Hayden family who had taken her in as one of their own. For the past several years they had been the ones to support her when she was down and celebrate with her when she had achieved something of worth.

She never once took for granted those who had come to her on their own rather than due to family 'obligation'. Rory Gilmore-Hayden was truly like a sister to her, though she knew how much her own brother Logan had inflicted undue pain on the young girl. Rory had become enamoured with Logan all those years ago and had to learn a tough lesson long before she was old enough to understand the reasoning.

She felt sad for Rory, especially when the girl had cried herself to sleep because Logan ignored her after his getaway from Hartford. He was hurt and unstable to be of any help to Rory, though she would not have thought of that rationale at the time. It had taken a long time for Rory to come to terms with Logan leaving.

Honor sat in a luxurious café in New Haven waiting for the sister she'd always wanted to arrive. She and Rory had been getting together for weekly lunches since Rory had started at Yale. It was fun to have someone to confide in who wouldn't use the information given for personal gain. Rory knew all of Honor's secrets and vice versa.

However, this was the first time the two would be seeing each other since the Rory/Logan run-in. Honor had gotten the break down from Logan's best friend Colin who always called to report interesting developments in Logan's life. She knew she could trust Colin to keep her brother out of trouble…well most of the time anyways.

Before more of the introspection could continue, Honor spotted Rory walking into the café. She looked so grown up and mature. Honor got up to give Rory the customary hug and kiss before seating herself once more.

"How are you darling?"

Rory smiled at Honor. "I'm doing well. Just left the newsroom where your brother decided to take his afternoon nap. Our editor Doyle was having an aneurysm. I didn't know Logan was so well known throughout the school, but I see he causes trouble wherever he goes."

Honor could only shake his head in indignation. "Logan feels suffocated by the life that's predetermined or more aptly put predestined for him. He finds small ways to rebel against the tight reins my father has on him."

"Yes, so you've told me many times. I feel like I'm sixteen all over again Honor. I can't go back to that time again…I just can't! Logan coming back has been a rollercoaster of emotions and he's already showed off his women. I don't know what to do," said Rory putting her head in her hands. All those feelings of helplessness and sadness were coming back. Logan was sending out mixed signals to her once again. It seemed like he wasn't ready to admit his feelings.

Honor knelt down near Rory's chair and put her arms around the young woman. "Rory…I want you to take care of yourself. I know how much you've changed and moved on from what happened all those years ago. You have feelings for my brother, which he is not ready to acknowledge. He's going to be busy reconnecting with his harem and the brigadiers, so there might be a chance for you to be friends and live your separate lives at the same time."

"I kinda wish Logan hadn't come back. I felt some many things for him when I was sixteen and he broke my heart. He still looks at me as if I was still that girl, but he's going to be disappointed when he finds out that life has moved on without him," said Rory bitterly.

"Ror, my brother's not ready for you. I hope he gets his act together soon. I think you should move on with your life. Meet new people; continue as you were before Logan's return."

"It's easier said then done. Now tell me about your Vineyard getaway with Josh," said Rory taking a sip of her water.

"Are you sure?" asked Honor as she made her way to the other side of the table. There was a nod in assent as to the change of topic. "Well! Josh is just a sweetheart. You don't know how many times I thank your father for setting us up. I took him up to the family property and he was overwhelmed, however towards the end of the trip he made a comment about wanting to go up again, so I would say the trip was a success."

As Honor went on about her romantic getaway with Josh, all Rory could think about was one part of Honor's response concerning her brother. Who exactly were the brigadiers?

-GG-

Brigadier band….Brigadier law…Brigadiers acapella group, which she highly doubted Logan belonged to. If anything Logan would've joined the Whiffenpoofs!

Rory was in the Sterling Memorial Library trying to find out who the brigadiers were. She felt the need to crack the mystery behind Logan's absence; it was a diverting way to pass the time so she didn't need to think about story ideas for her features assignment. So far nothing!

She checked both hard and soft copies of the online resources available at the school and come up with nothing that Logan would be interested in. She had been researching for four and a half hours and came up with nothing. Maybe she needed a break?

She passed by students in a frenzy to get back into study mode and not fall behind on their readings. It was hard to get back into the hang of things after such a long summer holiday. She wasn't falling behind though, a lot of the books on her class reading lists were old favourites, she'd read them already, and simply had to refresh her memory when it came time to do assignments.

She made her way to the closest ladies room to wash her face. She'd been cooped up for too long; maybe a shock of cold water would help her system stay awake after several hours of research.

Rory went about the business of washing her face. She heard the door to the washroom open, but gave it no thought. Yes, cold water does help wake a person. She turned to grab some paper towel, when she noticed the ball gown. Huh…who wore a gorilla mask and a fancy dress at this time of hour?

"Umm…" eloquence thy name is Rory.

The blonde head which came out of the gorilla mask tried to focus on Rory's face. "Oh…shh! You didn't see me here."

Rory watched with fascination as the blonde took out a tube of lipstick from her little purse and expertly applied it. She looked like a fairy…well a deranged fairy at that. "Sure!" said Rory.

The blonde drunkenly nodded and exited. Rory waited all of five seconds before tailing her all the way out of the library. The blonde woman walked to an SUV that was waiting with the motor running.

It was weird, but Rory would say it was very calculated when the blonde turned around, raised her hands in the air, and recited a saying "In Omnia Paratus!"

Those in the SUV grabbed her and sped off into the night. Rory turned around and made her way into the library once more, not realizing that fate had nothing to do with her finding the blonde in the washroom.

-GG-

Rory was in a frenzy of research the minute she'd left the parking lot after her close encounter with the Gorilla girl. It was fascinating how little there was on the Life and Death Brigade. She knew that it was established in the early 1800's by elite members of the Yale Horticultural society. In 1996 there was an article done on the brigade, but not much information was given in the entire two page article.

She was finding it hard to track down current members when she got her big break. In an old newspaper article dated way back when, she found a little blurb on 'secret society' members being nabbed for participating in illegal activity. One name that jumped out at her was Elias Huntzberger. It made sense that Logan would be part of the modern day brigadiers, following tradition of membership spanning a thousand generations.

Honor had given her a clue. She wondered what motivated the older Huntzberger to reveal the brigade and Logan's involvement in it. She would have to go to the source on that one.

Rory felt she had accomplished something and her story for the YDN was literally writing itself. She just needed to get some feedback from an actual member to try to understand the motivation behind the club and what an ordinary get together would entail.

-GG-

Rory was feeling excited. She hadn't felt this way in a long time. Waking up early and humming in her shower, she'd annoyed Paris, she was fully caffeinated and ready to role. At the moment she was waiting for Logan to finish his Political Science class.

She watched him as he left the class with a fellow student and laugh at something the other was saying. It'd been a long time since she'd seen him so carefree to laugh at something without putting up a façade. She saw the minute he felt her presence.

"Hello Rory. Are you waiting on me?"

Rory took a deep breath as she walked up to him. His classmate had left and she was alone with him. "I need to talk to you."

"Is this about the cavalier way I acknowledged you in the newsroom the other day? I'm sorry, but I didn't want to put you on the spot with Doyle. Although I have a feeling he still inquired as to how we know each other."

This response was met with the rolling of Rory's eyes. "Logan, if you want to act childish and pretend like you don't know me that's your burden to bear. I really wish you would grow up and act your age…"

"Hey! I resent the fact that you're blaming me! You could have said you know me and set things straight, but you went along with my cover story."

Rory could only stare at him in shock. She felt like everything that had happened between them was her fault. She didn't want to go back to feeling unwanted. This was going to stop right now. "You know what…just forget it. Why can't you take some responsibility for all the crap that happened between us? You come back into my life after disappearing for YEARS Logan! Everything has changed! I tried looking for you at my parents wedding, did you know that?"

"Rory…" said Logan trying to interrupt, but was silenced by a look.

"No! You're going to hear me out. I waited for you to call me back after you left. I understood a little bit why you had to leave, but you cut me out of your life. You left me to be on your own and erased me from your life. Do you know what it feels like to be left behind? I was a wreck after my debutante ball, Honor helped me through it, but it was a hard time for me. You chose to be away from me; therefore you have to acknowledge that you share some of the blame. I'm not the same girl you left behind. I wish you could understand that…I think I'll go ask Colin the question I had to ask you."

Rory had turned to walk away when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and crushed so hard to Logan's body. She tried resisting but he held her too tight. Finally giving in she wrapped her arms around his front and sighed. She felt tears fall down her cheeks and wet the front of Logan's shirt. It felt so good to be held by Logan after all these years, the brief hug previously notwithstanding.

"I'm sorry."

Rory cried harder after the softly spoken words. Her life had turned into such a mess. She'd thought she was over him, but it was a lie. Her feelings for him had never gone away, simply stayed dormant until she saw him again.

"What do you want to talk to me about?"

"I'm doing a story for the YDN and I wanted you to respond to the article."

"Hmm…"

"It's about the Life and Death Brigade. I know you're in it. You're grandfather was in it, therefore you're father was in it and membership spans several generations. I just want to know the basis for your club. What's the motive behind grown adults breaking the law? Why do you do stunts?"

Logan looked down at her with a smile lighting his face. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh? Is that right? I think you know exactly what I mean. I have a lot without you so I guess I'll just have to write my article with the information I've gathered so far. Thanks anyways." Rory made a show of pulling away from Logan, but he grabbed her hand.

"You have a lot of information without me?"

"Yes. I have the fancy catchphrase of 'In Omnia Paratus.' I have the black SUV with its licence plate, and a thousand other things. It would have been nice to have gotten an interview with a current member, but we can do it the hard way."

Logan looked at her longer than necessary then bent down and kissed her on the forehead. She hadn't been expecting that. "It seems like a great scoop. Good luck Rory!" He walked away without a backwards glance.

Huh…She had no idea what he would do.

-GG-

A note was sent to Rory's e-mail a few hours later.

Hey Ace,

If you're interested I'll get you the inside scoop on your story. Before we proceed you need to agree to a few conditions, but first agree before we go on. You in or out? Write back.

Logan

-GG-

Dear Logan,

I'm in

Rory

AN: I want to thank all my loyal readers. This one's for you. Like always, please leave a review to let me know what you think about the chapter. Thanks for all your support. ~Lady Eliza