Title: The Mariano Agenda
Author: Bent137
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Characters of Gilmore Girls(as well as anything else associated with it) aren't mine, the title is a spin of the Dark Angel episode "The Berrisford Agenda".
Spoilers: Up to the Season 2 Finale
Music References: All lyrics can be found on MxPx - "New York to Nowhere"
Authors Note: I've had this bouncing around for a little while. I finally got the chance to sit and write it out. This is the first time I've done script format. Thanks to Rea and Trixie for beta reading for me.

Assault My Memory With A 12-Foot Pole

Previously

(Jess starts when he notices Rory's hand on his arm.)

Rory: (concerned) You all right?

Jess: (nodding) Yeah. (looks around a bit, then down at the floor, then glances up at Rory) Yeah, I'm always all right. (He turns and walks away, throwing his rag on the counter and heading up the stairs despite Luke's calls. Rory watches as he leaves, looking confused and a little scared.)

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(The camera pans across Luke's apartment and into a room that is obviously Jess'. Jess walks in the room and flops back on the bed. He stares blankly at the ceiling for a little while. Suddenly he gets up and walks to his stereo. He grabs his head phones and flicks the stereo on then lays back on the bed as "New York to Nowhere" by MxPx begins to play, we can hear the lyrics come from his headphones.)

Song: Going nowhere fast, watching cars go past.

(Jess sighs and closes his eyes.)

Song: Why won't the snow melt faster?

(Moments later he sighs again and opens his eyes staring up at the ceiling again.)

Song: This trip is a disaster. 16 hour drive, just played in some dive.

(He appears to be focusing now on something on the ceiling.)

New York to nowhere, we're never gonna get there.

(His eyes dart back and forth and a strange look begins to cross his face.)

Song: A million miles away from everyone I know.

(He sits up suddenly taking his headphones off and running towards the bathroom. He falls to his knees in front of the toilet and begins to dry heave. When the feeling subsides he slumps back down against the wall and pulls his knees to his chest. He hits his head back against the tiled wall as his eyes glisten with unreleased tears. Slowly he lets his head fall and rest on his knees.)

Song: Stuck here night and day with 5 more days to go.

(The music fades out as the camera zooms out from his face, and his body slowly begins shaking with silent sobs.)

(Meanwhile)

(Rory is still staring at the spot where Jess disappeared when he walked up the stairs. Luke is slowly approaching her.)

Luke: Coffee?

Rory: (sitting down at the table) Yes, please. (He pours some coffee into a mug and sets it in front of her.) What's wrong with Jess?

Luke: (shrugging and being sarcastic) Do you want the long list or the short list? (Rory looks up at him and upon seeing her face he gets serious.) I don't know that there is anything wrong with him. What makes you ask?

Rory: (looking away) Intuition and blind fear.

Luke: (confused) Huh?

Rory: (sighing) Jess never leaves when I walk in and begin talking to him. Today I came in and he was just staring into space so I touched his shoulder and asked if he was okay and he said he was and went upstairs. (looking down) I guess I just wonder if it's because of me.

Luke: Why would it be because of you?

Rory: (glancing at the patrons then at Luke in a meaningful way) I can't tell you now. (lowers her voice) Wait. Keep talking to me. (She reaches over and grabs a napkin from the holder and pen out of her bag.)

Luke: So how was Sookie's wedding?

Rory: (tense) Um, it was nice, pretty. There was a wind though. (she hands him the napkin that she scribbled on.)

Luke: Oh yeah and Jackson was wearing a kilt. (takes the napkin and reads it then whispers to her) When? Where?

Rory: (whispering) The wedding.

Luke: I, uh, better go check on Jess. (Rory nods as he slips the napkin in his pocket and goes up the stairs. She sips her coffee once he's disappeared. She's in mid-sip when he comes running back down the stairs.) Out. Now. Everybody out. We have a family emergency, food's on the house just leave. (He quickly began ushering everyone out and Rory hung towards the back of the crowd a bit. She was approaching the door, and Luke, she opened her mouth to say something when suddenly Luke reached out and grabbed her hand pulling her over.) You stay here. (He reached over and locked the door, flipping the sign to closed.) Something's wrong with Jess.

Rory: (She opens and closes her mouth several times before making any sound.) Can I?

Luke: For gods sake, get up there.

(Rory turns and runs up the stairs and into Luke's apartment. She hears a sound coming from the bathroom and walks towards it. She stops in the doorway and stares at the sight in front of her. Jess is curled up on the bathroom floor against the wall crying. She carefully makes her way in and lowers herself next to him wrapping her arms around him. Suddenly the tears are gone and he jumps to his feet, turning and looking at Rory.)

Jess: (trying to be calm) What do you want?

Rory: To help, to fix this, to see if you're okay.

Jess: (snorting) Oh yeah, well you can't okay? You can't fix this.

Rory: Look, I'm sorry if I've confused you or hurt you, and I don't regret it one second...

Jess: (cutting her off) Regret what?

Rory: (confused and kind of shaky) The kiss.

Jess: God Rory, that's what you think this is about? Well it's not. So run along to your perfect home, and your perfect mother and leave me alone.

Rory: (angry) How can you say that? God Jess, what is your problem? You had a rough life, so what! You're not the only one! How can you even presume to judge me? You're such a hypocrite.

Jess: (shaking) Get out. (Rory isn't moving so he raises his voice and points towards the door) Get out! (she begins to leave and he follows her yelling now) Get out! Just get the fuck out!

(Rory leaves and Jess goes to his room. He shuts and locks the door then collapses on his bed crying again.)