"It's good to see you, Jess," Lorelai said, pulling her nephew into a hug that Sam was surprised he returned. The last time he had seen Lorelai, she hadn't been Jess's biggest fan. But Sam had been gone for quite a long time now. "Luke went to talk to the Hartford police again. He said he wasn't going to worry you just yet."

As they pulled apart, Jess spotted Sam and Dean on the porch. Jess placed his helmet on the seat of the bike. He looked much like he had in high school, only with shaggier hair and a scruffy face. He didn't seem surprised to see Sam, but Jess was always good at hiding his emotions beneath layers of snark and cynicism.

"I'd say you got big, but I really can't tell," Jess said.

"Maybe you just shrunk," Sam said, crossing his arms. He could feel Dean looking at him. They both knew Sam wasn't usually the confrontational type, but Sam had been a different person in the couple of years he spent in Stars Hollow.

"What are you doing here, Paul Bunyan?" Jess asked.

"Jess, play nice," Lorelai warned. "Dean heard about Rory too."

"So?" Jess asked, not taking his eyes off Sam.

"So I figured I could lend a hand," Sam said. "Why are you here?"

"Maybe because I've actually talked to her in the last ten years unlike some people," Jess said.

"Oh, I'm sure you were really broken up when I left. Sorry that I didn't stop by the Walmart and say goodbye."

"I didn't mind at all," Jess said. "Rory didn't really either. She was preoccupied."

"Why don't you two just pee on her?" Dean said. "As much as I'm enjoying this dick measuring contest, we have more pressing matters."

"And who are you?" Jess asked, quirking an eyebrow at Dean.

"Bobby, he's Dean's cousin," Lorelai explained. "He's a private investigator. He said he's solved hundreds of missing person cases, ones the police couldn't even solve." Sam's heart ached hearing the sad hopefulness in Lorelai's voice. Lorelai had been like a mother to him, always saving him a plate and a spot on the couch for movie nights. He was almost embarrassed to admit that, when he and Rory broke up, one of the first things he thought about was how much he would miss her mother.

Jess laughed bitterly. Sam was surprised that he didn't say anything classically cynical and rude but maybe Jess had grown up. Or maybe even he wasn't enough of an asshole to dash any hope his aunt had.

"How about I make you a cup of coffee?" Lorelai asked, patting Jess's arm gently. "I could use another cup."

Lorelai disappeared into the little house once again. "Is that even possible?" Dean asked, almost under his breath.

"Yes," Jess and Sam said in unison. Dean's eyebrows shot up as he tucked his hands into his pockets and followed Lorelai in.

"Didn't think I'd see you here again," Jess said as soon as Dean was out of sight. Sam laughed slightly.

"More like you're glad I got ghost," Sam said. Jess shrugged.

"Can't say I missed you."

"Of course you didn't," Sam said. "You were busy weaseling your way into my girlfriend's pants." Sam couldn't even believe the words coming out of his mouth. He sounded like he was back in high school again. He almost expected Rory to show up and put her hand on their chests to push them apart.

"Why are you here, Forester, really?" Jess asked, stepping closer to him, as if he didn't want any chance of Lorelai hearing. "What's your deal?"

"What's yours?" Sam shot back.

"Rory's still my friend. You haven't talked to her since you left."

"Because we were eighteen and she dumped me for you," Sam said. "It's not a crime to leave town. She's missing, maybe my pride isn't that important if I can help."

"How'd you know she was missing?" Jess asked. "She lives with my uncle and I didn't even know until this morning."

"Like Lorelai said, my cousin's a PI, he's got police connections. He recognized her name and told me about it," Sam said. "How'd you find out if Luke didn't tell you?"

"I have connections too."

"Last I checked you were Kerouac-ing up and down the east coast," Sam scoffed. Sam failed to bring up that he had also been drifting around the country. "What connections do you have?"

Jess shook his head, pushing past Sam to get into the house. Sam resisted the urge to shove Jess off the stairs. He knew he could and the version of him that lived in Stars Hollow would have. He liked to think he had grown up and matured, that he wouldn't do something like that anymore but Jess really brought the petty, high school bullshit out of him.

Jess disappeared into the house, passing Dean as he came back out, holding a styrofoam cup. He looked over his shoulder at Jess, shaking his head as he came back to Sam.

"Kinda see why you clocked that kid," Dean said. "Lorelai said we could have a room at her inn, we should set up there."

"Are we sure this is something?" Sam asked, still looking at the door as if he could see what Jess was up to.

"You think he has something to do with it?" Dean asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"I don't know what I think," Sam said honestly. "He's a dick and he pulled some shit at a party when we were kids, but I didn't think he would ever seriously hurt her. If I did, I would've done a lot more than punch him."

"You're pretty protective of a girl who dumped your ass for some Breakfast Club reject," Dean said. He looked over his shoulder, back at the house before ducking to pop open the seat of Jess' bike.

"We were just teenagers. Yeah, it sucked back then, but it's been ten years," Sam said. "What are you looking for?"

"You said you didn't really know the other missing girl, right?"

"She was younger than me, I think we maybe had art together my first year here," Sam said.

"You know if Jess knew her?"

"Not that I saw. Jess dated a few girls who were as wrong side of the tracks as you could get in Stars Hollow, but I'm pretty sure Michaela lead Bible Study, so I doubt it."

"And if he only came here for Rory," Dean said, pulling out a picture Sam recognized as Michaela Rogers, albeit slightly older than he remembered her as. "Why's he got this in here?"