Chapter 168

Several hours later, Rory and Lorelai were heading back to Lorelai's house.

"Do you think we should've made Lane come with us?" Rory asked anxiously. Lorelai sighed.

"I thought about it too. But…no. I think once she was with the boys, she wanted to be with them. Maybe tomorrow if she's up for it, we can convince her to take the evening off."

"And Mrs. Kim?"

"Sookie will be fine with her. She had to do the same for her mom at one point."

"I didn't know that."

"Neither did I, until today. Sookie was about Lane's age."

"That's…awful."

"It is. I forget how lucky we have it sometimes," Lorelai mused.

"You and I, sure. Life seems to be throwing literally every curveball at Lane that it can come up with," Rory pointed out.

Lorelai nodded, remembering the earlier conversation with Sookie.

A few hours earlier…

"So where are we going? Tijuana? Running away from the extreme awkwardness?" Lorelai tried to joke as she, Sookie and Rory turned the corner away from Lane's house. Sookie sighed.

"I'm sorry for being so dramatic," Sookie replied, "But I had no idea what to say or do! I completely spaced."

"…what did you say, exactly? And what did they ask?"

"Steve…of course it was Steve, he's less sensitive than Kwan, but really keyed into things. I think he eavesdrops," Sookie confided. Rory tried to supress a small smirk at this. "He asked where his dad was, and said he was supposed to be home a couple of days ago."

"That's not so bad."

"Yeah, that part I managed fine. I said that his dad's job sometimes changes and he needs to be away longer or shorter, and he remembered that, right? And Steve and Kwan both said yes."

"So…crisis averted?" Rory asked hopefully. Sookie sighed deeply.

"Not quite. After that, Steve pointed out that Grandma was in teh hospital…and even if there was work, you guys had work too and you were missing it to be with Mom. Lane had told them you guys were there." Lorelai nodded at this. "So he asked if his dad left work and was there with you guys too."

Lorelai sighed deeply. "…and?"

"…I had no idea what to say. I told him that I wasn't sure, but that if he wasn't, he was probably on his way, and then I distracted them with bacon."

"…well, the last part was genius."

"The first part wasn't that bad either. Sookie, that's a really hard one to field."

"…yeah. But I have a feeling Lane will be fielding harder ones tonight. I wish she'd go stay with you guys and let the boys just have a sleepover with mine, and get distracted again."

"Yeah, that would be easier," Lorelai admitted, "But could you imagine leaving your kids after that kind of 24 hours?"

"…of course not," Sookie admitted. Rory shifted uncomfortable. Lorelai, noticing this, turned back to Rory.

"I'm glad you came. She needs you right now." At this, Rory smiled softly.

"Of course I came. I'm glad I get to help."

"And how's your man?" Sookie asked. Rory sighed.

"He's…being totally wonderful about all of this. He can't believe what an asshole Zack is. I think if we knew where they were, and I'd told him, he'd be in the process of killing Zack right now."

"…wait, we? Who's with Zack?" Sookie asked, confused.

"I sent Luke," Lorelai replied. Turning red, she continued, "And…a pretty angry voicemail."

"Really?" Sookie said, trying to contain her amusement. She and Rory shared a conspiratorial look. Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't…that bad."

"Wasn't it?" Rory said pointedly. Lorelai rolled her eyes.

"He deserved it," Sookie said definitely, crossing her eyes, "I mean, I've lived a little life and I feel like I've seen a fair bit of it, but wow…him not being here for Lane. After all she's done for him and her family. All she's given up. It's…"

"Astonishing. Horrifying."

"Confounding."

"There's that Yale degree at work."

"But really. It's…"

"Infuriating, I know. I'm glad it made Jess mad too."

"So where are they?" Sookie asked. Lorelai sighed.

"No idea. Luke said he found him, and that Zack didn't have any intention of going home yet. But wherever it is he has bad service."

"God, if that were Jackson…"

"We'd reverse the vasectomy ourselves and perform a new one."

In Philadelphia, Jess had just finished packing up his car.

"Guys? I'm sorry, but I'm taking off again," he said, walking into the office where Matt and Chris were sitting.

"Quiet weekend anyway," Chris shrugged, "What is it this time?"

"Another Paris adventure?" Matt teased. Jess rolled his eyes.

"Nothing that fun. You guys remember Rory's friend Lane?"

"Yeah, and that asshole that came with her."

"And we're not talking about her kids."

"They were delightful, as far as children go."

"Which is only so far."

"Yep, that fuckwit," Jess said, rolling his eyes. Matt and Chris exchanged a look. "Anyway…Lane's mom is in the hospital, and Zack skipped town. Luke found him but has terrible service, and hasn't told the girls yet where he is. He told me, though- probably just because I browbeat it out of him. I'm on my way there."

"…is this gonna be the return of barfight Jess?"

"I sure hope it doesn't come to that," Jess said darkly. Chris raised his eyebrows.

"It's not like you to get involved in other people's affairs." Matt nodded, his face coloring.

"This one…it's personal. This is Rory's best friend, and she's a good person, and he's being…"

"A fuckwit, yeah. There's another word for that."

"Oh, please tell me you aren't going to try to shove some Dr. Laura down my throat on the way out the door," Jess snarled, rolling his eyes. Matt looked at him calmly.

"Maybe a little. But I'm not judging. I think you should go."

"…why?"

"…Because nothing is black and white, and sometimes the shit we get upset about that's none of our business is part of what makes us better people," Matt said simply. Chris stared at him.

"When did you decide to become a profound, optimistic moral relativist?"

"Around the time that I had to decide whether to steal the extra donut or risk it getting stale," he said casually. Jess smirked.

"…fair enough. Thanks, Matt."

"Tell Lane we say hi, if you see her, and that her husband's a fucking asshole."

"We'll gladly help her replace him."

"…or hide the body."

"Speaking of, let us know if you need help hiding a body."

"…you two are just so generous."

Three hours later Jess was well on his way. Luke had refrained from telling the girls where Zack was, given how much they were handling, and that he was pretty sure Lorelai would just show up and try to actually murder the guy. Luke had told Jess that if he wasn't able to convince Zack to go home by tomorrow night, they'd tell the girls and let what was coming to Zack come to him. Jess wasn't interested in waiting for that. He sent Rory a note, briefly explaining that he knew where Luke was, and that he was going, and that he'd check in with her tomorrow, he promised. About fifteen minutes later, he got a reply from her that was brief. It was clear she'd resisted her urge to push, ask questions and try to get involved. She told him to be safe and that she loved him. He felt empowered and comforted by that trust. He looked at the map. Only about 50 minutes away now from the place that Zack was staying, where Luke was waiting. It was time to stop another story from evolving the way his own had.

"Mom…I have a question," Steve said softly. Lane turned to him. It was late. Sookie's kids were in bed, but both Steve and Kwan had wanted to cuddle in with Lane, and she certainly wasn't going to say no to that tonight. But she had a sickening feeling that what she had been dreading all day was coming.

"…yes, Steve?"

"…where's Dad? I asked Mrs. Sookie, but she didn't give me a real answer."

Lane had to smile at that. She was sure Sookie had done her best, and been vague, and completely freaked out. Her sudden disappearance into Lorelai's car like a getaway carnie suddenly made much more sense.

"…that's a good question, Steve," she said gently, patting his head. She looked at Kwan. "Were you wondering that too, bud?"

Kwan wouldn't meet Lane's eyes, but nodded shyly. She sighed.

"Your dad is…still away. I hope he gets home soon. I know we'd all love to see him. But…even if it takes him a little while to get here, he loves you guys. And he always will. Okay?"

"…okay," Kwan nodded. Steve, however, narrowed his eyes.

"Mommy…Aunt Lorelai and Aunt Rory are here. Aunt Rory doesn't even live here. They left working to be here when Grandma got…injured?"

"Sick. Surgery," Lane corrected. Steve sighed.

"…I guess what I mean is…shouldn't Dad have left working too? To be here with us and Grandma?"

Lane inhaled sharply. She looked at Steve, right in the eye.

"Do you think he should have?"

"Yeah, I do," Steve answered slowly, not breaking eye contact with Lane. She nodded.

"Me too. He should have been here. And whenever he comes home, you can ask him why he wasn't, if you want. But sometimes…sometimes people we love don't do the right thing. You know that already. Sometimes you don't, and Kwan doesn't, and I don't. It doesn't mean you can't love those people. But sometimes the people you love don't do the right thing."

"…I wish he didn't do the wrong thing, though," Steve admitted. Lane's eyes welled up, and she nodded.

"Me too, buddy. Me too." She pulled both boys in for a hug. "But…I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere, okay? You both know that, right?"

"Of course, Mom," Kwan said, both boys nodding.

"You never go anywhere," Steve pointed out, deadpan, making Lane smile.

"Damn right. And it's staying that way."