Chapter Twenty-three

"So, what hospital is it again?"

"Paris, I told you like a hundred times. The Hammersmith."

"Are you sure though? Because that's NHS and a man like Mitchum would definitely have private healthcare."

Rory rolled her eyes at Paris. "It has a private wing, apparently. Would you just get us a cab already?"

Lorelai skipped over to where Rory and Paris were arguing near the exit of the airport. Behind her, Luke staggered under the weight of the luggage he was attempting to carry.

Lorelai grinned happily. "See, I told you he would be useful for something."

Luke mumbled something incoherently, causing Lorelai to laugh gleefully. "What was that, husband o'mine?"

"Mom!" Rory was beginning to lose patience. "Focus. We need to make a plan and get moving."

Lorelai looked suitable abashed. "Sorry."

Paris took control as usual. "Right. Luke, Lorelai, you two get a cab and go and get us all checked into the hotel. I'll take Rory to the hospital, just as soon as I've verified it's the right one."

Rory glanced at her mother, who saluted Paris. Luke dropped the bags he was attempting to carry and heaved a sigh.

Paris looked around at the three of them and tutted loudly. "Why is nobody moving? Time is of the essence people! Mitchum could be on his last legs, for all we know. Let's go!"

Arriving at the Hammersmith hospital, Rory became nervous. She wasn't sure if it was down to the fact that she was about to see Logan and finally hear the news about Odette's pregnancy, or if it because Paris had managed to get on every single one of her nerves in the last half an hour. Three phone calls to the hospital to confirm that Mitchum is indeed a patient would get on anyone's nerves, Rory thought in annoyance.

Standing outside, Paris looked up at the building they were about to enter. "Well, I totally get it now. This place looks more like a hotel than a hospital, even if it is NHS. If anything happens to me while we are in England, this is the hospital I want to come to."

Rory didn't even bother to respond. She simply started walking towards the entrance of the building. As they entered, Paris leaned in and muttered in Rory's ear. "Let me do the talking. You just stand there and look sad."

They approached the main reception, and Paris strode purposefully up to the desk. "Hi. I'm Paris Gellar. You don't know me, and you probably don't want to. Now, I know you lot have all these rules on who can and get go to what floors, but we are looking for Mitchum Huntzberger, and we aren't leaving until we see him."

The receptionist gave Paris a funny look, and raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. "Sure thing, ladies. He was just moved up to the private wing."

The receptionist proceeded to give Paris directions to the ward that Mitchum was on. Rory smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

As the two women headed in the direction they were shown, Paris smiled her superior smile. "See, I told you I could sort this."

A few moments later, Rory pushed open a set of double doors and instantly spotted a familiar looking blond head. "Logan." She breathed softly as she started walking faster, leaving Paris behind.

Logan's head snapped up as Rory approached. "Rory?" He sounded surprised.

"Sorry, Logan, I know you said don't come but you sounded so… and I couldn't not… but mom and Luke and Paris all came with me so I wouldn't be alone and wow, I really missed you. How is Mitchum?"

Logan stood up pulled Rory into an embrace. "I'm glad you came, ace. I missed you too. Dad is going to be ok, we think."

Pulling Rory over to the chairs he had just vacated, Logan made her sit down. "Do you need anything? Water? Coffee?"

"Logan, that's supposed to be my job!"

Before Logan had a chance to respond, Paris marched up to him. "Now, you massive jerk. I know your dad is ill and that's really sad but that doesn't give you the right to treat Rory in this way!"

Logan frowned. "What?"

"Odette? The baby that may be yours? She needs to know the truth and you should have told her. Then she wouldn't have dragged her pregnant ass all the way out here."

Rory stood up. "Paris!"

Logan flinched. "Actually, ace, she has a point."

"No, she doesn't. I would have come anyway-"

"No, ace, about Odette."

"Oh."

Paris folded her arms across her chest. "Well? Come on, rich boy. The suspense is killing me."

Logan turned to Rory. "Odette isn't pregnant."

Rory felt a wave of relief wash over her. She drew in several short breaths as she processed the words Logan was telling her. "She isn't?"

"No. The whole thing was Mitchum. He just wanted to get me to come to London so he could try and talk me out of marrying you. We had a big fight and during that fight, he had a heart attack. This is all my fault, Rory."

Rory could barely form a coherent sentence. "Odette isn't pregnant?"

Logan smiled. "No, ace. She isn't. And even if she was, it's you I love. It's you I want to marry. Sure, I'd have looked after the kid, but it was always gonna be us, ace."

Rory couldn't contain herself, she jumped at Logan and kissed him happily.

Paris opened her mouth and stuck her fingers inside in a heaving motion. "Well, that was boring. Oh, get a room, you two."

Rory detached herself from Logan. "Paris, why don't you go grab us all a coffee?"

Paris turned on her heel. "Gladly."

Logan cupped Rory's face in his hands. "I love you so much, ace."

"I love you too, Logan."