Chapter 162
"Hello?"
"Lorelai?"
"Hey, Lane! What's up?"
"…I need you to come meet me."
"…what's wrong?"
"Mama's in the hospital."
"What?"
"She collapsed when she was over playing with me and the boys. I brought her over. Sookie's with the boys now, I'm here."
"And Zack?"
"I don't know. I can't reach him. Lorelai…"
"Text me the hospital and what room you're in, I'm on my way. Just breathe- I'll be there before you know it."
"Mom?"
"Hi hon," Lorelai said into the phone, well on her way to the hospital, "I need to talk to you."
"…what's wrong? What happened? You don't sound like yourself."
"Mama Kim is in the hospital. I'm going to meet Lane there now."
"Oh my god, what happened?"
"Apparently she was over playing with the boys and just collapsed. The boys are with Sookie. Apparently Lane can't get a hold of Zack. I'm heading over there now."
"Should I come out there?"
"I don't know yet," Lorelai admitted, "I'm about ten minutes away from the hospital, and I'm hoping once I get there I'll know more. It could be anything, really, from minor to…"
"Not."
"Yeah," Lorelai sighed, "Look, why don't I text you as soon as I have an update? If you still want to come out here once we know more we can camp out in this waiting room together. Okay?"
"Okay," Rory agreed, inhaling deeply, "Thanks, Mom. For being there for Lane."
"Always," Lorelai nodded, "I'll see you later, kid."
"Lorelai?"
"Luke, Lane's mom is in the hospital. I'm on my way to meet Lane there now. Sookie's handling the kids."
"Oh my god…is she okay?"
"I don't know anything yet," Lorelai answered, "As soon as I get there and get some answers I'll let you know. But I won't be by the diner, and I don't know when I'll be home."
"Don't worry about anything," Luke said, "Is there anything she needs? With the kids or…"
"Not yet, but she hasn't been able to reach Zack." Luke's brow furrowed. "I'll check in with her about it once I see her. But maybe…"
"I'll be on it the second you give me the go-ahead."
"Thanks, love," Lorelai replied, smiling, "I'll keep you posted."
"Lane!"
"Lorelai!" Lane said, relieved, meeting Lorelai for a hug in the middle of the waiting room. "You got here so fast!"
"Speed limits, kiss my ass," Lorelai joked. Her face turned serious. "So, what do they know?"
"Not much, yet," Lane sighed, sinking into a nearby chair. Lorelai sat carefully next to her. "They said that it looks like it was related to her heart…she's in with a doctor now."
"Oh, Lane. I'm so sorry," Lorelai said, pulling Lane closer to her into a tight hug. Lane dissolved into sobs.
"Lorelai…I can't…she's my mom. I know we don't always…but…"
"I know, hon. I know," Lorelai hugged her tighter. Just then, a doctor walked into the waiting room.
"I'm looking for a Lane…Kim?"
"That's me." "Over here!"
"Ms. Kim," the doctor started, lowering his clipboard and meeting her eyes, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but your mother has had a cardiac episode. We think it may be related to an underlying cardiological condition. We'll know more after her surgery."
"Surgery?" Lane asked, dazed. Lorelai looked over at her.
"She needs surgery?"
"Yes. And quickly," the doctor said, "She was conscious long enough to consent, but given the circumstances, we'd like…"
"Of course. If she's okay with it, I am," Lane said quickly, "Can I see her?"
"Yes. But you'll have to come back with me now. We need to get her in quickly. She's asleep again, but you can have a moment with her."
Lane nodded, following the doctor back behind the double doors. Lorelai sank into the chair, losing her composure the second Lane disappeared. After a couple deep, heaving breaths, she picked up her phone. She texted Rory and Sookie- Rory to let her know to get her ass to the hospital and Sookie to tell her she'd need to keep the kids overnight. She knew they weren't going anywhere anytime soon. When her mind moved to Zack, she fumed. She pulled out her phone and dialed his number, hoping that since it wasn't Lane, maybe she'd get through to him. It went straight to voicemail.
"Zack! Your wife is at the hospital, and your mother in law is going into surgery. Get your ass here, now, or I swear to God, you will regret the day you ever set foot in Stars Hollow," Lorelai growled. She hung up, putting the phone away just before Lane re-emerged from the door.
"…sh…she…she looked so small," Lane said, disbelieving, through tears. Lorelai held her hand and led her over to a chair.
"Rory's on her way, and Sookie's got the boys as long as it takes. And I'm not going anywhere. Okay?"
"Where's Zack?" Lane said incredulously.
"You don't know?"
"I have no idea," Lane said, irate, "We had an argument before the baby shower and things have been tense all week. We haven't really spoken, and he was supposed to be home from his latest gig already. I haven't been able to reach him."
"Do you think something happened to him?"
"I think something's going to," Lane said darkly, "Seriously, Lorelai- I knew our marriage wasn't perfect, maybe not even good- things with us haven't been. But I never expected he wouldn't show up if something like this happened."
"Does he know?"
"I left him four messages, and texted him about twenty times," Lane crossed her arms over her chest, "I just…"
"Don't worry, he'll show," Lorelai promised. Her eyes darkened nearly imperceptibly, and she shot off a quick text.
"Who are you texting?"
"Luke. He'll handle it."
"You didn't have…"
"I don't care if I overstepped, Lane. He should be here. And I've been in your life long enough to sit here and tell you that." Lane smiled at Lorelai.
"Thanks, Lorelai."
"What are friends for?"
"…you know I consider you a friend, Lorelai. But…you've also been a mom to me in so many moments. I love the one I have. Desperately, and you know that. But thanks for being here in the moments like this. I got really lucky finding Rory, but I think I got just as lucky finding you."
"Aww, hon," Lorelai said, her arm around Lane as she leaned on her shoulder, "Anytime. Did the doctor say how long it'd be?"
"He's not sure. At least four hours, he thinks."
"Well, Rory will be here by then. In the meantime, I'll go chase us down some coffee and some food, if you can stomach it."
"Can't hurt to have," Lane shrugged without much emotion. "Thanks, Lorelai."
"Of course."
"Lane!"
"Rory!"
Lane stood up to hug Rory, who immediately handed off two bags of food.
"Doughnuts. I know Mom said you weren't hungry, but…"
"They're perfect. Thanks," Lane said, trying to smile, "How did you get here so fast?"
"Screw speed limits. My best friend is more important," Rory smiled. Then, adopting a more somber expression, she asked, "So…how is she?"
"She's still in surgery," Lane answered. Lorelai gestured to an empty chair and Rory sat down.
"Yeah, they came out a while ago and let us know it would be a while longer. They think she may have some kind of underlying heart condition."
"Mrs. Kim? How is that possible? She's the toughest person I've ever met," Rory said disbelievingly. Lane smiled a bit at that.
"True. Tougher than a nail and just as rigid," Lane teased, earning a smile and a chuckle from Lorelai, "I've never been in a situation like this before. Am I allowed to make jokes?"
"If it makes you feel better, it's encouraged," Lorelai answered, "I sure did a lot of it when Rory's grandpa was in the hospital."
"Yeah, but Grandma hated it."
"Maybe on its face, but I think she appreciated the distraction," Lorelai mused.
"Where's Zack?" Rory asked. Lane's face fell and Lorelai sighed, looking apologetically at Rory.
"He's…"
"Not here yet. Lane, would you mind grabbing some more tissues from the nurse?"
"Sure, Lorelai."
"…I'm so sorry."
"You didn't know. I completely forgot to tell you," Lorelai said, "It's on me."
"So…"
"He's been MIA for a couple days. Didn't come back from his last trip when he was supposed to. They were fighting beforehand, and not speaking."
"…but how could he not show up here? Does he know?"
"Oh, he knows," Lorelai said, her anger palpable, "Lane reached out a bunch of times, and hell, I even called him."
"You did?"
"Maybe not my finest moment. But he knows."
"So…"
"I asked Luke to handle it."
"…it's nice that you have a Luke to handle things."
Lorelai nodded, smiling. "It really is. Did you bring stuff to stay overnight?"
"Sure did," Rory nodded, "Jess sent his good thoughts and such, and also some Mallomars."
"You found a good one too," Lorelai pointed out. Rory smiled.
"Yeah, I really did."
