Disclaimer: I do not own anything to do with Gilmore Girls.

AN: I'd like to rectify a mistake that I made in the last chapter; Jason's birthday party will be held on the 2nd of August not the 27th of July, thanks heaps!

Chapter Ten: Discovery

Rory looked critically at her reflection in the mirror; she was wearing a grey skirt that fell to just above her knee and a light blue long sleeved top that covered any bruises that were currently residing on her arms. Rory looked at her watch, it's already seven, you look fine, and why are you worried anyway? You'll only be there for about an hour and you won't know anyone besides Jason…and Tristan. Rory grabbed her purse off of the bed and made her way over to the door of her apartment and closed it behind her.

Rory looked at the door in front of her just knock already, Rory could hear loud music coming from within Jason and Tristan's dorm room, she was surprised the door was closed at all seeing how there were people holding cups of what she guessed was beer up and down the hall. Rory raised her hand and knocked on the door, it was opened almost immediately by someone she had never seen before in her life. "Come in, come in, join the party, can I get you a drink?"

"Um... No thank you, do you know where Jason is?"

The guy looked confused "who's Jason?"

Rory sighed, "Never mind, excuse me."

Rory made her way past the guy and started to maneuver her way through the throng of people, trying to spot Jason among the crowd. She thought she spotted Tristan at one point and immediately headed in the other direction. Rory couldn't believe the amount of people who had managed to squeeze themselves into Jason and Tristan's dorm room.

"Rory!"

Rory turned at the sound of her name and could make out Jason coming towards her. She smiled and embraced him when hey reached her, "Hey there you are, happy birthday!"

"You made it."

"Yeah"

"I'm really glad you came, especially after you know… after what happened with Tristan."

Rory cleared her throat uncomfortably, "it's no problem I was happy to come."

Rory reached into her bag and pulled out a gift wrapped CD, "this is for you"

Jason smiled, "thanks I'll open it later, it'll probably get stolen otherwise."

Rory laughed, "ok."

"Well I have to go mingle, I'll see you later."

"Oh ok, bye."

Jason started to move away from her and Rory stood awkwardly for a moment before starting to force her way back through the crowd towards the door. She only made as far as a set of drawers next to what she thought was Tristan's bed when someone stumbled into her and spilt their drink down her. "Sorry" someone with breathe that smelled badly of beer.

"It's ok" she replied as the person moved away from her not even waiting for her response.

If it's not Tristan it's someone else. Rory glanced at the set of drawers next to her and reached for them and pulled open the third drawer, she triumphantly pulled out a dark blue shirt that she had seen Tristan wearing on several occasions and started to make her way towards the bathroom.

"And then Claire comes up to me and says…."

Tristan tried to block out what the girl was saying. She had been going on and on for about 20 minutes about what happened at the party she had attended the weekend before and quite frankly Tristan was bored. "Hey sorry, but if you'll excuse me I have to go to the bathroom."

"Of sure of course, I'll talk to you later?" The girl questioned looking slightly put out.

"Maybe, see you later."

Tristan tried not to smile in triumph as he made his way in the direction of the bathroom. How did all these people even get in here, I don't even know half of these people. Tristan finally managed after being stopped by several girls to make his way to the door of the bathroom. I don't even need to go, he thought with a sigh. Tristan turned the handle and pushed the door open. Someone was in there and in the process of pulling their shirt of their head. "Oh shit sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here." Tristan said quickly and averted his eyes.

The girl jumped in shock at his voice "Oh my god!"

"Rory?"

"Tristan!"

Tristan glanced up at her; Rory quickly turned her back and started trying to pull his top on. Tristan frowned, "Hey hold on a second."

Tristan stepped towards her and halted the progress of the shirt down her back. "What are you doing?" she hissed.

"What happened?"

Rory jerked away from him in shock. "Um… what? Oh, nothing!" Rory sputtered.

"Nothing? There are bruises on your back."

Rory turned to face him, "I, um... slipped and fell in the bathroom yesterday" she offered weakly.

Tristan whole face went hard as he stepped toward her. He reached for the bottom of his shirt, "what are you doing?" she asked flinching away from him.

He grabbed hold of her upper arm in a firm grip, keeping her in place and with the other hand he reached for the bottom of the shirt again and pulled it to just below her breasts. There was a large bruise on her left side. "What the hell happened to you?"

"I just… I… nothing… I fell over."

"Don't you dare lie to me!"

Rory flinched at the harshness in his voice, "Did Dean do this to you?"

"What?"

"Did Dean hit you? Did he do this?" He questioned again running his finger over the bruise on her side.

"Um…. No" at the look on her side she closed her mouth, "he is just so stressed all the time and he…"

Tristan didn't let her finish, he swore loudly, "I'm gonna kill that bastard!"

Tristan stormed toward the door, Rory rushed toward him and gripped his arm, "Tristan please! Don't do this! Please!" She pleaded tears welling in her eyes.

"What do you expect me to do Rory? He hits you for god sakes…. he hits you!"

"You're just going to make things worse, he doesn't mean it… really he doesn't."

"There is no excuse for this!" Tristan thundered at her.

"Please!" Tears spilled down her cheeks.

Tristan pulled her into his embrace as she sobbed into him, "it's ok… sssh" he comforted her.

Rory's sobs eventually subsided and she pulled away from him and looked at her watch. "Oh my god! It's 10 past 8, I have to go."

"What? Back there?"

"Tristan please everything will be fine alright and please don't try to come round to the apartment."

Rory grabbed her purse and her beer covered top and rushed past Tristan out of the bathroom. Tristan stared in shock at her back, what the hell am I going to do?

AN: Another chapter… finally. Sorry for the long delay! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Please review. I know where this story is going but I still welcome all suggestions and criticisms. Don't forget to review!