Chapter 165

A few hours later, Lane was asleep in the hotel room. Lorelai had gone to the closet hotel and got a room for the three of them to share, and they were taking turns in the waiting room and getting sleep. It had taken a lot of cajoling, but Lorelai had finally convinced Lane to go get some rest ("Now, while we know she needs the sleep and will be out for awhile") and to call and check in on Steve and Kwan. Lorelai and Rory were manning the waiting room until she got back. It had been about six hours and they were flagging, until Lorelai's phone vibrated suddenly.

"Wha…oh," Lorelai exclaimed, sitting up straight and looking at her phone.

"What?" Rory asked dozily, struggling to stay awake. Lorelai showed her the phone.

"Luke texted. He said he found Zack."

"…and that he's not coming home."

"Yet."

"Still not good. Especially if he knows what the hell is happening."

"Since he knows what the hell is happening. Luke said that Zack got my voicemail."

"…so he's choosing to leave Lane here. In the middle of this situation. With no support, with…"

"Hey…calm down," Lorelai said softly, putting her arm around Rory, "Lane has us. She'll always have us."

"What did Mrs. Kim say to you?"

"It was a mother-to-mother thing," Lorelai said. Rory shrugged and nodded.

"I guess that's not a world I really know anything about yet," she mumbled. Lorelai raised an eyebrow.

"Yet?"

"I don't know, who knows…it's the future. I have time to figure it out."

"All the time you need, babe," Lorelai reassured her, nodding. "Ugh. I'm gonna have to tell Lane."

"I wish we didn't have to."

"I know, kid. We can wait until she gets back. She needs the sleep."

"So what now, though? The doctor said Mrs. Kim needs full time care."

"I guess that's a question for Lane, but I can really only imagine one outcome…"

"God, why is it that Lane has never had the opportunity to live her own life?" Rory said angrily. A few people in the waiting room turned. She quieted her tone. "It's just…unbelievably unfair. She didn't get to as a kid, she got married and it was gone, and now this. She just deserves so much more."

"I know, hon. It sucks for me to watch too. I can't imagine for you," Lorelai said, holding her daughter's hand, "But…all you can really do is love her, care for her, and be there for her."

"…I will be. Jess knows I'm not coming home until this moves forward."

"I'm sure Lane appreciates that."

"Did Luke say anything about where…"

"Not a word, and I haven't heard since. But if he doesn't come back I'm sure Luke'll have him in a bodybag."

"Well, that'll be great for your marriage."

"At this point, it might be worth it," Lorelai said darkly. She rolled her eyes. "Try to get some sleep, kid. You look exhausted. I'll wake you when Lane's back."

"Thanks, mom."

"Ms. Kim?"

"Yes?" Lane said anxiously, standing up. She roused Lorelai, who was sleeping on the chair next to her. Rory had gone to the hotel for her own shift of sleep about an hour ago.

"We have good news. Your mother's vitals are just about back to normal. In the morning, if all remains stable, we'll be able to send her home."

"Is she…is she ready?" Lane asked carefully. The doctor nodded.

"As I said, she'll need continuing care. I've included all of the information here, both in terms of next steps and what you may need a caretaker to do," he said. Lorelai took the folder from him gratefully. "Do you have someone to help with her care?"

"I…I'll be caring for her," Lane said, looking down, refusing to meet his eyes, or Lorelai's. He nodded, a little sadly.

"I thought so. You'll have all the information you need in there, as well as my card. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. She'll need to come back next week for a follow-up, and we'll go from there. When she checks out in the morning, they'll provide you all of her medications."

"All of? How many does she need?" Lorelai asked. The doctor looked at Lane, who nodded to indicate it was okay to answer.

"Seven. For now. She got very lucky that Lane here brought her in just in time. And from now on, she'll need to be very careful," he said. Lane nodded softly.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Of course. She was awake briefly but already fell back asleep, and she could use the rest. I'd encourage you both to get some sleep if you can and come back first thing in the morning. We will of course reach out should anything happen."

"Thanks, but at least one of us will be here," Lorelai said firmly, grabbing Lane's arm. Lane smiled at her gratefully.

"Is there a way that if I'm not here, you can talk to them?"

"Of course. There's a release form at the front desk you can sign. Sign one for each of the people with you and they can both get information on your behalf."

"Thanks, doctor."

"Of course." He walked away, leaving Lane and Lorelai in his wake. Lorelai turned to Lane slowly.

"I'm so sorry, Lane."

"…I don't want to talk about it. It's what needs to be done, so I'm going to do it."

"Of course you are," Lorelai nodded, "And I'll help you, however I can. I promise."

"Can…can you call Sookie, and see if you guys can help me move the boys things into my mom's house this weekend?" she replied slowly, "I know it's a lot to…"

"No, it's not. And of course we will. I'll ask her, but of course we will, and so will Rory."

"And Luke is…"

"…I was hoping you wouldn't ask."

"So he found him."

"Yeah. He wouldn't tell me where. But he hasn't been able to get him to come home yet."

"…figures. Well, I guess I'll doubly need the help moving in then."

"Anything you need, babe. I've got you."

"Thanks, Lorelai."

"Hey kid," Lorelai greeted Rory when she showed up a few hours later.

"Hey Mom," Rory said, pulling Lorelai in for a hug, before turning to Lane and doing the same. "Any news?"

"She can go home tomorrow morning," Lorelai said, "And, well…"

"Just tell her."

Lorelai sighed. "Lane and the kids are going to move in with Mrs. Kim to take care of her. Sookie and I are going to help do that this weekend, and I offered you up as well."

"O…of course," Rory said immediately, "Do we need Jess too?"

"I think a girls weekend is called for, but have him on standby," Lorelai answered, trying to smile. Lane frowned.

"Look, it's okay to call a spade a spade. It sucks. But she's safe, and she'll be cared for, and that's what matters."

"Lane, why don't you go back to the hotel and get some rest?"

"Lorelai, both of us have and you haven't. You need to sleep."

"You need it more."

"Enough," Rory intercepted, "Both of you- go to the hotel. I'll call if anything happens, I promise."

"You sure?" Lorelai asked cautiously. Rory nodded.

"I got plenty of rest already, and just had a bunch of coffee. You guys have been at this longer than me. Go, get some sleep. Tomorrow we'll meet here in the morning, and bring your mom home, and then we'll get your move started. Okay?"

"…thanks, Rory. I know how you feel about it. You don't have to be so nice."

"Lane…even if it's not ideal, this is what's happening, and I'm going to be here for you. I just want to help. Okay? I promise," Rory said. Lane's eyes welled up with tears.

"Thanks, Rory."

"Always," Rory promised, pulling Lane in for a tight squeeze. Pulling back, she smiled at them both softly. "Now go."

"Thanks, kid," Lorelai said, pulling in her daughter for a hug, "Call the second anything…"

"I will. Get some rest, Mom."

"Thanks, hon."

Lorelai and Lane headed out the doors. Rory sank back into her chair, pulling out one of the books she'd grabbed from her car and starting to read. She couldn't deny that she was blazing, furious, irate with Zack for bailing, and worse, not having shown up once all of this was happening. She couldn't believe that he was putting Lane in a position to have to do all of this by herself, again and again and again. And she was even more furious that Lane was going to have to give up her life, herself, her independence a third time to accommodate living with her mom and caring for her. But Rory knew it wouldn't go any other way. She couldn't decide whether she hoped Luke was able to drag Zack back and make him stay, or whether she wished he'd just go away for good and let Lane move on with her life. Regardless, Rory had firmly decided to be there for Lane throughout all of it, no matter what, and help her still find pockets of joy wherever she could.