Disclaimer: I don't own anything

X

Rory sat solemnly in the Hospital chair in the waiting room. Staring down at her feet a tear rolled down her cheek. She had ridden in the Ambulance so she was here before everyone else. The SWAT team had busted through the door ten minutes after he'd been shot. The doctors wouldn't tell her what was going on so she was stuck in the waiting room hoping to god that he was alright. She hadn't even hugged her mother as she ran along the side of the gurney carrying Tristan to the Ambulance. She just jumped in the ambulance with out saying anything, holding Tristan's hand. Telling him he'd be alright, mostly for her own benefit but telling him nonetheless.

"Rory!" She looked up and saw her mother and Luke running toward her. Her mother pulled her into a tight hug. Rory softly returned the embrace, not saying anything.

"Oh my god I'm so glad you're okay!" Lorelai cried. She pulled back and looked at her daughter. "He's going to be okay, Ror."

Rory stood up. "I can't be here" She walked out of the hospital. Lorelai and Luke stared after her. Stunned, Lorelai stood up to chase after her but Luke pulled her back. "I think it's best if we give her some time alone"

"What if-"

"Rory's smart. She's not going to do something stupid. She probably just needs to clear her head"

"She can't do that here?"

"Lorelai calm down. Rory is fine. She's healthy. Physically she is perfect. But her boyfriend just got shot. Emotionally, she's probably a wreck right now. Give her some time alone. She'll figure things out"

Lorelai nodded and sat back down. Luke sat next to her.

X

Rory sat at the dock. Feet dangling towards the water. Tears escaping from her eyes. Why did he always have to be the Hero? She asked herself over and over. She wanted him to be okay. She needed him to be okay. She sniffled and continued staring at the water. Life really sucked right now and part of her just wanted to jump in. Just jump in and let the water have her. But she knew she couldn't. Tristan still had a chance at living and until she knew for sure, she wasn't going to do anything drastic. "Rory?"

She turned.

"Morry?"(A/N I know that's probably spelled wrong but I didn't know how else to spell it)

He smiled and walked down to sit next to her. "What's up with you kid?"

"Tristan got shot"

"How?"

"A guy brought a gun to Chilton and he got shot"

"So why are you sitting here and talking to me?"

"I don't like hospitals."

"I don't think anyone really does. Doesn't stop them from going"

"I'm afraid. Afraid of what they'll tell me. I mean what if he isn't alright? What if he dies?"

"There's always a chance of dieing, Rory. I mean us two sitting here. Some alligator might jump up and eat us right now"

"I don't think there are any alligators in this pond"

"Doesn't matter. There's always a chance of someone dieing. Your bus could get in an accident on your way to school. Babette could be hit by a car. Everyone of us has a chance of dieing. It's just a matter of how brave we are"

Rory smiled. "Thanks Morry. I have to go now. Tristan needs me" She got up and left him sitting there smiling, pleased with himself.

x

Rory ran back into the hospital's waiting room, out of breath. Lorelai and Luke jumped up. Paris was there, sitting quietly working on a laptop. And Melanie was next to her. Rory sat next to Melanie.

"Hey Mel"

Melanie looked up. "Hey Rory."

"Do they know anything?"

Melanie shook her head. "They haven't told me anything yet. I'm so worried"

"Yeah I am too"

"He cares about you a lot you know"

Rory nodded. "Yeah I know"

"Even before he went to Military School. He talked about you all the time. Granddad made fun of him for it"

Rory smiled. "Really?"

Melanie nodded. "Yeah. He still talks about you. You should've seen him after you said yes to going out."

Rory beamed.

"Tristan Dugrey's Family?"

They all looked up to the doctor standing in the doorway of the waiting room.

Melanie stood up and walked over. "Is he okay?"

The doctor looked at her gruffly. "The bullet hit his right lung causing it to collapse. It barely missed his heart. We did surgery and it went fine. He's unconscious, but stable. His vitals are good. They could be better but their good."

"So he's going to be okay?"

"We hope so"

X

There you go. Reviews make my day. Please Review. You'll be my hero if you do! (ha! That rhymed!)

xoxox

Mary Jane