Hello friends! It's time again to return to the wonderful land of Stars Hollow! Special thanks to 'Nerin' for providing the word "quixotic" in the last chapter! Now, get ready for some excitement folks, cause here it comes!

With the flick of his wrist, Morey filled the Inn with sweet music. He began with the jazzy styles of "Duke Ellington" in attempt to motivate the troops. They were working and dancing and having a marvellous time. Morey had a gift. He decided to save "Howlin' Wolf" for later. No need to over-stimulate them just yet.

Lulu had taken to the paintbrush like a pro, dabbing here, sprucing there. Morey demonstrated a few stroking techniques to her, which she adopted quickly and appreciatively. His ego was flying high today.

Luke and Gypsy were attending to the Inn's power outlets and appliances with great ease. However, they were experiencing a power-struggle amongst themselves. Gypsy was vying for supremacy in the subject of electricity, suggesting on more than one occasion that Luke 'take a break,' and that she could 'handle it from here.' Luke wanted a new partner.

Outside, a rather symbiotic relationship was developing. Babette was a gardener extraordinaire. Tulips were her specialty, but any plant would do. The woman had a green thumb that would make Martha Stewart envious. Jackson was a little envious himself. Produce may have been his forte, but he was certainly interested in broadening his horizons. Babette was thrilled to share her 'Chrysanthemum' secret with him.

Patty was roving about, silently analysing the sociological patterns evident in the partnerships that she'd formed. She was a 'people watcher.' How else did she become the queen of gossip?

Sookie was busy in the kitchen, up to her elbows in yeast. Whatever it was that she was concocting, had a sinfully delicious aroma, sweeping over the Inn with vigour. Sookie was a culinary genius, a goddess of all things edible. She liked having the kitchen to herself; it was her sanctuary.

Lorelai was bored out of her ever-loving mind. There was only so much one could do with water. Her stomach grumbled. It was going to be a long morning. She decided to take a little venture toward the stables to appease her incessant hunger. The water would just have to look after itself for a while. What could possibly happen? Evaporation was the least of her worries.

Of the many thousand skills that Kirk's resume boasted, wood-care was a genuine talent. Kirk was indeed competent with wood and had a firm knowledge on proper storing/drying methods. Plus, he just loved wood. He was so thoroughly enjoying himself that he failed to notice the presence of a dear friend. Well, maybe not so dear.

"There you are, you mangy little varmint!" Taylor hissed.

"Eeeeeyaaiiiii! Kirk shrieked. "Please don't hurt me Taylor! I'm innocent, INNOCENT!"

Taylor continued closing in on the panicked man, his chest heaving with rage.

"Stop! Don't take another step! I'm warning you!" Kirk fumbled for a piece of wood, the only thing resembling a weapon in his vicinity.

"You wouldn't dare!" Taylor challenged.

"I would!" Kirk affirmed. Gripping a small log of wood, he cried out in pain, "Ow – splinter! Splinter!"

Taylor stifled a laugh. He much preferred verbal sparring. "I'll have you know young man, this vest was a precious gift; a vest that has spanned three generations of Doose's. And now, it has been tarnished, unduly scarred by the likes of you. Now, how do you suggest we resolve this matter?"

Kirk was still wincing in pain. "Uh, well mother has a special cleansing product that she uses on all my clothes. I'm still stain-free after all these years. I've never been able to wash my own clothes. I have an unhealthy fear of washing machines." The man was the very definition of unhealthy.

"Alright Kirk. Let's see to it then, that 'mother' has a look at my vest, shall we?" He spoke peremptorily.

"Yes Taylor," Kirk wholeheartedly agreed.

"Good. I'm glad we had this talk," Taylor smiled intelligently. Kirk was putty in his hands. "Carry on then," Taylor instructed. And with that, he was off. He still didn't have a megaphone. That was the next issue that needed to be addressed. Walking past the entrance, Taylor noted the unguarded water, adding that to his list of complaints.

Morey's mix had transitioned into 'Big Band Swing," which really had everyone clicking their heals. Happy workers were efficient workers.

Luke and Gypsy were instead clicking their teeth. It seemed they too had a flare for the verbal sparring.

"Only an idiot would attach a blue wire to a green wire!" Gypsy stated sharply.

Luke rolled his eyes in frustration, allowing Gypsy to try her hand. She instead attached the green wire to the yellow wire, igniting a small spark in the process.

"Whose the idiot now?" Luke returned with fury.

"If you hadn't messed with these wires in the first place…"

Luke abruptly interrupted, "Whose idea was it to 'mess' with these wires?"

"I can't work in these conditions!" Gypsy snapped.

"Ditto!" Luke snapped back.

"I want a new partner!" they shouted in unison.

Patty and Taylor immediately rushed to the scene. There would be no more outbursts. Not on their watch.

"Luke, Gypsy – calm down! I think you both need a 'time out.' Luke, report to the water station at once." Patty demanded.

"Gladly," he responded, relieved to escape from the madness.

"And Gypsy, you go help Kirk for a while. That's an awful big pile of wood out there," Taylor directed.

"You're kidding right?" she asked astounded. "He's kidding right?" she turned to Patty for verification.

"Go now!" Taylor boomed. He didn't like to be questioned.

"I want my old partner back!" she pleaded.

"You've got until the count of ten," Mr. Doose warned.

"Fine!" She stormed out the back door and into her definition of hell. "But if Kirk gets hurt, it's his own fault!" she echoed from a distance.

Patty and Taylor glanced at one another and sighed. This was going to be a long day.

Luke wasn't surprised to see the water station unoccupied. His first instinct was the stables. He knew Lorelai better than to assume she'd remain idle for any amount of time. He also knew her affection for horses. He could hear her, long before he could see her. She was chatting away amicably with her four-legged friends.

He walked over to her position next to Cletus's stall. Not that Luke knew the horse's name. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything," he casually cut in.

"Oh, hey!" she revelled in his company. "I was just testing out my 'Dr. Dolittle' theory, that's all," she laughed.

"Your what?" He really lived in a cave.

"My…never mind." She decided to lay that horse to rest (no pun intended.) "So, how are things going in there?"

"Um, besides the fact that I'm currently on a 'time out,' I'd say they were going pretty well."

"Why, Lucas Danes! What ever did you do to earn such an outrageous punishment?" she playfully mocked.

"In a word, Gypsy," he sighed. "She's driving me nuts. I can't stand working with her. She just keeps pushing all my buttons!" He was getting all revved up again.

"Dirty!" Lorelai giggled.

"Lorelai," Luke groaned.

"Sorry, you were saying?"

He sighed. "I'm saying, that I got a crappy partner."

"Well who would you have wanted for a partner?" She was being rather presumptuous.

"You," he answered honestly. "You're the only person I can tolerate for more than fifteen seconds."

"Ah, I feel so privileged." She sounded disappointed.

"No, I didn't mean – I just…" he struggled. "You would have been a great partner," he concluded, smiling.

Lorelai felt a slight blush arise in her cheeks. "Likewise," she smiled back.

They stood there smiling at each other like a couple of hormone-crazed teenagers. And suddenly, the heavy sounds of a transmission broke their silence.

The shipments had finally arrived!

To Be Continued!

Remember the Word Game!