Watching the Watchers – Chapter 5
Standard Disclaimer applies – don't own them.
A/N – ok, so I know I said this was the last chapter, but it was starting to drag on a bit so I thought I would finish it now and do a shorter one to follow. Again, thank you SO much for your kind reviews! They've really helped keep this bobbing along.
I couldn't reply to all reviews so: sisterdear – wow! What a lovely review (and cookies!) – thank you. I'm really glad you picked up on the little things like the unlovable comment – that means a lot.
Lyn – thanks for reviewing. I'll definitely think about another Jess fic but I'm also really aware I've got to get back to my Peter Petrelli fic that I've kind of abandoned! Maybe after that, cos Jess really is a tempting character :-)
COOLKAT – love the name, BTW and thank you for taking the time to review. So it's going to be a little longer than 5 chapters, but not by much I'm afraid :-)
And Jesslover – I'm really glad you're enjoying this – hope you like the new chappie.
There are a few perspective changes but I've tried to indicate the main ones with line breaks. Hope you can bear with me. :-)
By the time Lorelai Gilmore had pulled on her coat, hat and gloves her mind was already racing along with her heart. Luke's phone call had been brief and limited in its details but the urgency in his voice, not to mention the very existence of the phone call, at one in the morning, had sent panic coursing through her. Luke needed her. Her friend, her very best friend outside of her own daughter, needed her and it almost broke her heart, imagining what he must have gone through to make such a desperate plea. Suddenly, she was ashamed of the anguish she had been feeling over her failing Christmas lights, not one hour earlier. Life was funny that way.
He had asked her to come alone but that hadn't been a necessary request. Whatever would cause a late-night emergency phone call was not something she wished to expose her daughter to, particularly when she didn't know the details and how safe his situation currently was. In the back of her mind, she turned her thoughts to Jess. Luke didn't mention him but she got the impression he was very much at the heart of things. He was certainly present because she could think of no other reason for Luke to have kept his voice low and guarded. If Jess had been missing, it would have probably been the first thing out of his mouth, anyway.
Her initial misgivings over the boy were certainly not enough to want him exposed to anything of this sort, either. She was still a mother, after all. As Lorelai climbed in to her car, she hoped the kid was all right. The insightful young woman knew how much Luke's affections for the boy were starting to develop and, like any protective friend, she didn't want to see his feelings crushed or hurt. However, she almost wished Luke would detach himself a little more from his nephew, though she knew how unfair that would be to the boy. It was just that Jess' presence in Stars Hollow seemed so…transient. Like at any moment, he would be gone as quickly as he arrived. Lorelai didn't like to think what that would do to the gruff diner owner with the heart of gold.
As she started the engine and pulled away from her house, Lorelai knew that it would be just as easy to walk. Though the roads were clear of vehicles, the snow on the ground would force her to drive about as slowly as she could have walked it anyway. But if she needed to travel further a-field to help him once she got there, then at least she would be prepared.
She parked out the front of the diner. Luke had told her the door would be unlocked. Lorelai almost felt as though she were following the secretive instructions left on a tape, in some kind of spy movie. She tried the door and, sure enough, it opened. On entering the diner, she suddenly stopped as her breath caught in her throat. Tables and chairs had been knocked over, pushed aside with haste as someone had obviously made a mad dash to the exit. Her first thought was that Luke had been robbed. On Christmas Eve! It was outrageous! Didn't crooks have any sense of decency?
She moved to the staircase and as she made her way upstairs, Lorelai listened out for indicative sounds from the apartment. Yet, oddly, all was quiet. The door was slightly ajar and, tentatively, she knocked softly and pushed it open.
When Luke heard the soft knocking, he breathed a sigh of relief. As Lorelai Gilmore entered the room he saw her gaze scan the apartment and fall, with widened eyes on the mess. He had meant to clear it up but had only managed, since hanging up the phone from Lorelai some fifteen minutes earlier, to re-check the bruising on Jess' face and then to stand, uselessly by the door.
When her eyes fell on Jess, still seated awkwardly on the couch, icepack to his face, Lorelai felt an alien pang of emotion. Well, she considered, a mother's instincts were kind of universal, after all. He looked so small all of a sudden, so unsure of everything. Yet at the same time, just as brash and aloof as he usually did. From beside her, where she still stood in the open doorway, she heard Luke come to join her.
"Thanks for coming," he said, softly.
Startled out of her contemplation, she turned to him and gave him a warm, reassuring and sympathetic smile. "Not a problem," she assured him, taking off her hat and gloves. "Luke…" She paused, looking over towards where the teenage boy was currently staring straight ahead of him and pretending they didn't exist. "What the hell happened?"
He sighed wearily and ran a hand through his hair. Whatever was going on in his head, she could see he was angry. Someone had broken in to his home and hurt his kid. If it had been her – if it had been Rory bruised and battered, the young woman knew she would be tearing down the walls by now. With a sickening realisation, she suddenly knew it had been facilitated by her, calling him out of his house, with a ridiculously trivial errand. Guilt washed through her and once more, she looked over to the silent figure on the couch.
With surprisingly gentle gestures, he took her to one side and explained. "Liz," he began, venom lacing his words. Lorelai held her breath – this was getting more complicated than she realised. Sure, Liz wasn't getting Mother of the Year any time soon, but this would be low, even for her. "Liz got stoned, or high or whatever the hell is wrong with her and wanted Jess back for Christmas."
Slightly uncertainly, Lorelai repeated: "She wanted him back?" Luke nodded. "But Luke, didn't you say," and here she lowered her voice, "didn't you say that she didn't ask him back?"
Bitterly, he nodded again. Lorelai's blue eyes narrowed in rising anger.
"I don't get it," she returned. "So he's her property? She just snaps her fingers and the kid has to come running back to her on Christmas Eve?" Luke didn't respond but she didn't need him to – she was already on a roll. "What is he? A puppy? Luke the woman is disturbed. I'm sorry – I know she's your sister, but she is seriously disturbed!"
He sighed again and rubbed his tired face in his hands. "Tell me about it," he muttered. Then his tone seemed to soften, just a fraction. "She doesn't mean it," he insisted, weakly. "She's just." He considered his words for a moment. "She's in a pretty bad place right now." And Lorelai simply nodded. She may have her own opinions and damn, it was difficult not to voice them, but she still imagined her friend knew his sister and her situation better than she did.
Seeing her remain quiet, Luke was silently grateful, knowing she probably had more than one opinion on the subject: there was hardly a subject that she didn't. But he was glad not to have to morally defend a woman who he was barely resisting the urge to kill, himself.
"She sent someone. Jess said it was a guy named Clyde Bartell. He's been her boyfriend now for about six months. For Liz, that's practically a common-law marriage."
"And he…did this?" She indicated the mess all around them. Luke laughed, harshly.
"Understandably, Jess was less than eager to be dragged out of his bed and thrown in a car headed back to New York."
She nodded, eyes filled with concern. "Is he okay?" She watched in concern as Luke's face once more darkened.
"He's fine," he muttered, obviously not wanting to dwell on the unsavoury reminder of this attack. Seeing her doubt, he clarified. "I mean he's going to be sore for a couple of days – a few bruises here and there. The town will probably think he's been up to his usual wicked ways again. But ultimately, he's fine."
Looking over to where Jess had still not moved, she felt a wave of fresh sympathy. It couldn't be easy to know your own mother had unwittingly caused you this much pain and fear. But she guessed he was kind of used to it by now. "Have you called the police?" she wondered, already suspecting the answer. Luke shook his head.
"I wanted to – I really did. But once I'd got him away from Jess, the kid didn't want any more to do with it. I guess he just wants to protect his mother."
"Well," she replied, softly. "That's understandable, I suppose." She rubbed a soothing hand gently up and down his arm, surprised by the tension she felt there.
"Hey. You okay now?" she questioned. To be honest, she was getting a little concerned about him. By now she had expected him to be talking to his nephew, but he seemed to be doing all he could to avoid even looking at the kid. As if sensing the direction her thoughts were going in, Luke suddenly turned to her, his eyes blazing.
"That damned kid!" he growled. "I told him to get out but he wouldn't! He just sat there! I told him to move and he would not go!" And as he shot a glance at Jess, Lorelai could see tears welling in his eyes. "How am I supposed to protect him if he won't listen to me?" he asked, desperately. She squeezed his arm, gently, not knowing exactly what to say. She hadn't ever seen Luke this angry before and if it was starting to scare her, what must it be doing to the already traumatised Jess?
"And do you know what else he did?" Luke hissed, leaning in closer to her. "This guy pulls a knife, right? A fricken knife! And what does Jess do? Leap in front of it!" His eyes widened as he began gesticulating wildly with his hands. Alarmed, she took a step back. "He could have gotten himself killed and it doesn't even seem to bother him! I'm just…I'm just so God damned mad at him!" he finished.
Attempting to placate him, she took a step closer and leaned in, rubbing a soothing hand on his back. "I know. But it's okay, Luke. You saved the day. He's safe, he's fine. You need to start calming down and thinking about what you're going to do now. He still needs you, remember? You can be mad at him, but don't lose sight of that." Relieved, she saw him nod and some of the tension leave his taut frame.
"Luke, do you mind if I talk to him a second?"
He looked at her a little curiously but he just shrugged. "Sure, if you want."
As she turned to Jess, he caught her arm. She turned back to him. "Um, Lorelai? Would it be okay if Jess and I came and crashed at your place tonight? I mean, I understand if you and Rory want Christmas alone it's just…" he gestured round at the trashed apartment. "I'd rather the kid didn't have to look at this any longer than he has to. It's not exactly a pleasant reminder for him, you know? I can come back on my own tomorrow some time and fix it up." He trailed off, sheepishly, aware that inviting yourself round on Christmas Day was not a generally acceptable thing to do.
But she just smiled reassuringly at him and squeezed the hand that still held her arm. "Of course – just you try and go anywhere else, mister!" Then she turned back to the couch and headed on over to it.
Jess looked up in surprise when he saw her approach. He had heard them talking in hushed tones though he'd not made an effort to pick out the words. Luke was still angry though – he could tell that much. And so he'd sat as still as he could, just praying that he hadn't screwed things up enough to be sent packing. When Lorelai Gilmore sat down next to him, Jess felt distinctly uncomfortable and exposed, dressed for bed with a discarded icepack on the arm of the chair and looking, no doubt rather dishevelled. It's not like he'd made an amazing impression on her even before this. He shifted a little as he felt her eyes on him.
"Hey," she greeted him, softly and Jess was amazed that he almost choked up at the first sound of a soft and gentle voice. But he reigned his emotions back in, quickly.
"Hi," he returned in a quiet, subdued tone. He just didn't feel up to being his defensive, sarcastic self at that moment and the young man didn't particularly care what she thought of him. He flicked his gaze over to her and then returned it to his lap.
She noticed the large bruise forming on his cheek and winced. "That looks painful."
He shrugged. "I've had worse. I'll be fine."
"Still," she continued, "you okay?" She placed a warm hand on his arm and he turned his head slowly to look at it as if he couldn't comprehend what it would be doing there. Lorelai noticed this, but he also didn't shrug it off so she left it where it lay. Behind his eyes, Jess could feel tears threatening to fall. Furiously, he blinked and looked away.
"I'm fine," he insisted. "I already told Luke." At that, her eyes widened a little in surprise but she said nothing to him, making a mental note to talk to her friend later. Jess just didn't strike her as fine, at the moment. Whatever Luke had said to him before she arrived, he obviously needed to supplement it with something else.
And damn it, he needed to be here with his nephew! She shouldn't be the one sitting there, for pity's sake.
"Okay," she agreed. "But you know, just in case you needed to hear it again, everything is alright now. You know?" And for once, he fixed her with a direct look and gave her a small, grateful smile. Her heart lurched a little at the raw pain still shining in his eyes.
"Thanks," he mumbled, quietly. Then he turned his focus back to the floor, signalling the end of his cooperation.
As she rose to leave, Jess did not look at her. But when she had returned to continue speaking with Luke, Jess seemed to snap out of his daze, somewhat. Sitting there, moping on the couch was certainly not helping their situation. He knew Lorelai was there because his uncle needed a friend, someone he trusted to help him through this. Obviously that someone wasn't him but, Jess considered, that was okay. There were other ways in which he could be useful.
Spying the broom by the kitchen, Jess suddenly took a good look at the mess. Rather than sit and worry about it, he may as well clean it up. He got, shakily to his feet and fetched the broom and a new garbage bag while Lorelai and his uncle continued to talk, over by the door. Then he went to the broken pictures and over turned table and started to straighten things up, righting the table and gathering the fallen items from the floor. His chest still lanced with pain at the movement but it was manageable. When the table was back to its usual state, Jess stood back and assessed it. The room was starting to look a little better.
"Jess!" He turned to the sound. Seeing Luke, glaring at him with hands on hips, he winced again. This didn't seem to be helping alleviate his uncle's bad mood.
"Yes?"
"I don't want you touching that!" the older man snapped. This wreckage was precisely the reason he wanted to get the kid out of there – the idea of Jess having to witness, let alone clear up the mess of his own attack just appalled him.
Jess hesitated. He got the impression that 'out of sight, out of mind' was what Luke wanted with him, but still…
"I don't mind," he protested.
"Jesus, Jess! Could you, for once, just do as I tell you?" Luke demanded. Biting his lip, Jess nodded. He took a step away from the table, feeling suddenly useless. It was like fighting a losing battle. No matter what he did to appease his uncle's mood, he just seemed to be making it worse. The broom had been resting against the wall, but now it clattered to the floor. Instantly, the teenager stooped to pick it up before he added to the mess, rather than subtracting from it. Glass still covered the floor from the shattered picture frames and, very quietly, he began to sweep the shards into a central pile.
It came as a shock when he suddenly felt the handle being pulled from his grasp. Shooting his head up, he saw his uncle, broom in hand, rolling his eyes.
"I said leave it!" the older man demanded. "It doesn't matter. It's not like you're going to be here, anyway."
And Jess froze. So there it was. Out of all the blows he'd received that night, this one felt the worst. His heart and stomach both clenched in unison and he felt his hands go cold and numb.
Silently, he pressed his lips together tightly, lowered his head a fraction, and nodded. He had seen it coming. It's not like he didn't expect it. He had just been…hoping differently. With any luck, he'd be allowed to stay Christmas Day or at least until it got light. He didn't know when the buses started running, or if there even were any at Christmas.
"Okay," he acquiesced, softly. He wasn't going to beg: that wasn't his style and besides, it was Luke's right. There was nothing he could do about it anyway. But of all the things Jess had come to hope he wouldn't screw up, this had been the biggest one.
As he stared at the floor, he caught sight of the fallen Christmas tree and almost laughed. He couldn't believe how much he had been ridiculously looking forward to having Christmas around that stupid tree the next morning! At least he had been disabused of foolish notions like that.
"I'll go pack my stuff."
Jess turned to his bed, eyes scanning his belongings for what could most easily be packed tonight and what would need to be sent on later. If ever Luke were going to reconsider, he thought, now would be the time. However, as he held his breath and waited, Luke nodded, his voice quieter now and more gentle.
"Okay – that's good. Don't be too long." Then he headed off to speak again with Lorelai, leaving his nephew fighting the tears that were threatening to fall, arms wrapped protectively across his chest.
Lorelai and Luke had created a small pile of clothes and necessities to take with them. Having silently watched the exchange between nephew and uncle, Lorelai now watched Luke return, feeling a renewed sense of purpose to have a good talk with this man.
"Wow," she remarked as he approached her. "Harsh much?"
Luke gave her a confused look. "Huh?"
"Back there," she clarified. "The kid was only trying to help. You didn't really need to bite his head off. Particularly as, you know, he has been through a lot tonight."
Luke shrugged, guilt edging his voice as he attempted to justify his actions. "He was sweeping up glass and he didn't even have any shoes on, for pity's sake."
Once more, she looked over at Jess, standing with his arms wrapped about his body and his head bowed to his chest. "Luke!" she exclaimed. "Enough is enough." And Luke met her eyes with surprise.
"What?" he questioned.
"Whatever you've done to comfort him isn't working! He looks like he's barely holding it together!" They both turned to his nephew, who was now occupied with stuffing clothes and books into his carryall. Luke absently wondered how much the kid thought he was going to need for one night.
"He's a strong kid," he insisted to his companion. "I've got to give him credit for that."
Lorelai's incredulous expression made him wince. "But he's still a kid, Luke! I mean…have you actually told him everything's okay? That he's safe?" Luke's guilty, slowly enlightened expression was making her nervous, confirming her suspicions.
"Luke," she began, trying hard to keep the condescending tone out of her voice, knowing how much he hated her lauding her parenting advice over him. "He's not as strong as you think and even if he is, he deserves the right to a hug, at least."
"He wouldn't have let me!" the man suddenly snapped. "You don't think I want to comfort him? But the first thing he'd do is just push me away. He doesn't like being touched. I only get to touch him when he's sleeping and now you've made me go and say something really creepy!"
She shook her head, sadly. "That's an excuse, Luke. You have to at least try. I know you got scared tonight and I know that made you angry but you have to get past that. He may have acted stupidly and put his life in danger but you don't get to withhold comfort because of that."
The abrupt pain in Luke's eyes almost made her stop. "I'm not…" he started. But she cut him off, gently but firmly.
"Yes. You are. And you let him just tell you he was fine?"
"Yes," he answered, both defensive and suspicious. She gave him a weak smile.
"I'm just saying I would have checked him. If I were you, I would have him checked out. Just to be sure." And Luke nodded, slowly. When he looked up again, his eyes were shining with emotion.
"I don't think I'm very good at this, Lorelai."
She leaned over and hugged him, tightly. "You're doing fine," she whispered. "But go over there and talk to him. Tell him why you were afraid – tell him why you're angry. For all you know, that is one confused and scared kid over there." Then she released him and pulled back.
"I'm going to take your bag down to the car. Just come on down when Jess is ready." And with that, she picked up his bag and left the apartment, closing the door quietly behind her.
By the time Luke had said his goodbye to Lorelai, Jess had moved to the bathroom. When he emerged, he was fully dressed and presumably, ready to go.
Luke rose from the couch to meet him. "You all set?" he asked and Jess couldn't help but bristle at the upbeat tone. Luke may be happily resolved to see him go, Jess thought, but couldn't he at least pretend to have regrets?
Pushing down the rising ache in his chest, Jess walked over to his bed and dug around for the book he'd been reading last night. When the mattress had overturned in the scuffle, he was having trouble locating it.
"Almost," he said, digging through piles of sheets.
He didn't have any money, either, but hopefully Luke would pay for his ticket. He'd hoped to be allowed to stay till morning, but apparently not. He had found a bus timetable at the bottom of his bag and, having quickly scanned it, found there was indeed a bus leaving Christmas morning. It left at six so he had plenty of time to make it.
"What are you looking for?" Luke asked, coming over to kneel by his bed. Jess shot him a guarded look.
"My book from last night," he supplied, quietly.
Half-heartedly, Luke started rummaging around the fallen pillows for it, his mind already turning to the conversation he knew he needed to have with his nephew. "Is it important?"
Again, Jess tensed and bit back his hurt response. "It is to me."
The strangled response made Luke regard his boy, curiously. "You feeling okay, Jess?"
Jess gave a short, mirthless laugh and then winced at the pain it caused. Luke gave a half smile.
"Stupid question, huh?" Weakly, Jess nodded.
They grew very quiet for the longest of moments. Jess sat on his mattress, carryall clutched in his hands, staring at the floor. He seemed to be waiting, willing Luke to say something, but the older man wasn't sure where to start. Though the boy's expression appeared blank, Luke could see the torrents of emotions raging behind it. He wondered just what was going through the kid's mind.
"So," Jess started, softly. "Is it time?" And his voice seemed to catch, ever so slightly, on the last word.
"Yeah," his uncle agreed. "I reckon it probably is."
Jess rose to his feet and slung the bag over his shoulder. The book, he stuffed in his back pocket. He looked his uncle straight in the eye, unwavering.
"Thanks, then." And with that, he moved past a confused Luke, heading for the door.
"Jess!" The boy closed his eyes when he heard his name. He couldn't listen to a farewell speech – he couldn't listen to another lecture or how he was very sorry but this was all for the best. Biting his lip to stop it trembling, his back still to his uncle, Jess forced out a reply in as even a voice as he could.
"What?"
He heard Luke stand. "Where do you think you're going?"
And Jess had just about had enough. What the hell was wrong now? What? Did he need to check the bag for valuables? Spinning around, he turned to face his uncle, pain now visible on his face, along with anger.
"What?" he demanded. "What now? I'm doing what you want! I can only get out of here as fast as you'll let me!" Luke widened his eyes in shock at his nephew's words but Jess either didn't notice or couldn't stop himself, now that he'd started.
"I'm sorry about all this!" With one hand, he indicated the apartment. "I'm sorry about the mess Clyde caused and I know I'm the reason it happened. And I know, Stars Hollow was much safer before I brought my knife-wielding psycho friends with me!" Tears were now streaming down his face but didn't even notice.
"And I'm trying to make it right" he insisted, his voice starting to crack. "I'm trying to go without a fuss, to do the decent thing. I didn't even ask to stay on till it gets light. I mean, it's going to be freezing at that bus station till six in the morning but I didn't complain – not once!"
Luke took a step towards his nephew, forcing his own pain back behind the mask of strength that he knew his kid needed to see.
In front of him, Jess was still talking, the words spilling out in a rush, as the tears continued to fall. He was breathing heavily now, the anger having been overtaken by hurt, fear, confusion and pain. And he was past caring if Luke saw it or not.
"I'm trying," the boy repeated, miserably. "I'm trying but I don't know what to do! Nothing I do makes it right. Nothing."
"Jess."
Suddenly, he registered that Luke was standing in front of him. Luke was standing in front of him with concern in his expression and pain in his eyes. The older man cautiously reached out his hands and tentatively placed them on his nephew's arms, as if they might burn. Jess just looked at him in confusion. It certainly didn't look as though Luke were about to throw him out but at the same time, he was too worked up to figure out just what was going on.
"Jess," Luke continued, quietly, now that he had the boy's attention. He soothingly rubbed his hands up and down the kid's arms. "Just where did you think I was asking you to go?"
Jess looked down at his feet then squared his jaw and looked back to his uncle. "New York," he answered, prepared for confirmation but now desperately hoping for a reprieve.
Luke closed his eyes for a moment, cursing his own stupidity. "Jess," he began, on opening his eyes again. "You and I are going to Lorelai's for the night. This place is a mess and you shouldn't have to spend Christmas here."
For a moment, Jess did not speak as he allowed Luke's explanation to filter through his brain. He wasn't being kicked out. He wasn't. And Luke stayed where he was, his hands still gently holding his nephew's arms. Eventually, Jess looked at him and Luke could see the fight taking place to regain his emotions, to scuttle back behind those walls.
Luke knew he had to do something before that happened. Removing one hand from his arm, Luke moved it to gently cup one side of the boy's face, mindful of his injuries. Jess pulled back but Luke shushed him, and didn't break the connection. Very carefully, Luke began to rub soothing circles on the kid's cheek with his thumb. He could feel the boy shaking beneath his touch.
"It's okay, Jess," he said, in a low, soft tone. "I'm sorry, Jess. But it's okay now. It's all going to be fine, kiddo. You're safe now. You're okay."
And as he repeated these comforting words, slowly, ever so slowly, Jess began to crack.
He fought and he fought, his lips pressing together in an effort not to cry out, his face battling to remain stoic and still. But before too long, Luke's hand was wet with tears and Jess didn't even try to wipe them away. Despite his best efforts, Jess' lips began to tremble. The first, sharp hitch of breath was the sign Luke had been unconsciously waiting for.
He wrapped his arms around the boy and pulled him, stiffly into his arms, being careful of his bruised sides. At first, Jess remained as he had been, rigid and unyielding, his arms hanging limply at his sides. But as the next breath came out in a hitch and the first sob followed, Jess allowed his head to fall onto his uncle's shoulder. And then he cried. With comforting, reassuring hands, Luke gently held him and rubbed circles on his back, murmuring words of comfort.
"I should have talked to you, Jess," he assured him as the young man continued to silently cry. "I'm so sorry I let it get to this. But you're safe now kiddo. You're not going anywhere, whether you like it or not. You're stuck with me, kid." And against his neck, he thought he felt Jess smile.
Eventually, when Jess' tears seemed to have subsided, Luke gently pulled the teenager back and held him at arm's length. The kid was red-faced and utterly exhausted but was already wiping his eyes, clearly embarrassed. Before he could turn away from him, however, Luke knew he would have to take charge.
He firmly led the boy to the couch and sat them both down. Jess regarded him, curiously and with a hint of suspicion.
Luke took a deep breath. "Okay," he started. "We need to talk before we go down to Lorelai." Warily, Jess nodded. "First off," Luke said, "this was not your fault and I don't want to hear you talking like that again. You got me?" He fixed Jess with a semi-glare and was relieved when the young man nodded again. "Your mom has problems, kid. We both know that. But who she sends to this town has nothing to do with you." He hoped the firmness in his voice was enough to convince Jess of his sincerity.
"Secondly," Luke continued. "Yes, I was mad at you tonight but not for the state of apartment – that kind of pales in comparison to your own well being." Jess looked at him, a question in his dark eyes. "I was mad," his uncle explained, "because when I tell you to get out of a dangerous situation, you do it – no questions asked."
He saw his nephew open his mouth to protest but he cut him off, swiftly. "No! You don't get to argue with me on this one. I know you and I have differences of opinion on just about everything in life but on this matter – on your safety – there is no difference of opinion. My way is the only way. When I tell you to do something you do not question me."
"I could have helped you!" Jess protested, finally able to interrupt.
"I don't need your help," Luke shot back then amended it as he registered how that sounded. "I mean, I can always use your help but it's my job to protect you not the other way around. I'm the adult, you're the kid – you got that?"
Jess looked away from him and almost sneered. "You didn't see that knife, did you?"
"No," Luke returned, dangerously, taking him by the chin and turning his head back round to face him. "But I would have seen it soon enough and if you ever do anything as stupid as leaping in front of a damned knife again, I will give you a hiding you won't forget in a hurry." From beside him on the couch, Jess turned away once more from his uncle and scoffed, quietly not quite daring to push the issue outright. Luke didn't care. He could get angry as much as he liked but he'd soon find out if his uncle were kidding.
The two of the lapsed in to silence but it wasn't an uncomfortable one. Jess' gaze shifted around the apartment while Luke realised that they really should get back to Lorelai downstairs. He only hoped she had the common sense to come and wait in the diner, where it would be a little warmer.
Presently, he looked over at his nephew and placed a hand on his leg. "We should get going. I'll grab your bag."
"Luke?" The man looked down in surprise at the restraining hand on his arm.
"What is it, Jess?" The kid's expression was kind of embarrassed.
"I was wondering if we could…you know…stay here, tonight?" He glanced away, feeling silly for having mentioned it.
Luke's face creased in confusion. "Jess, the place is a tip. You don't want to spend Christmas here."
Jess refused to meet his questioning look. Instead, he rose from the couch and started to toe the glass shards that he had attempted to sweep into a pile.
"I know it's a mess," he mumbled, trying to sound nonchalant. "But I want to fix it – I don't want to run away from it." Luke moved to stand next to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Why is it so important to you, Jess?"
The kid shrugged. "It's not really," he defended. "I just, you know, wanted to have Christmas…at home."
And Luke smiled, feeling a comforting warmth spread across his chest. Wordlessly, he moved away from his nephew and grabbed a hold of the battered Christmas tree, hauling it back upright. Jess grinned and immediately set about gathering up a collection of fallen decorations and tossing them haphazardly onto its branches.
By the time he was finished, they both stood back, looked at it and laughed. "You know," Luke commented. "I think it actually looks better that way."
"Very Picasso," Jess agreed. Suddenly noticing the presents still on the ground, Jess' grin widened and his eyes lit up in surprise. He looked to his uncle, almost shyly.
"Yes, they're for you," Luke confirmed, following the boy's train of thought. "But you have to wait until morning."
"It is morning."
"Then daylight morning."
"Whatever," the teenager mumbled, not especially concerned.
Shaking his head, fondly, Luke set off for the door. "I'm going to go inform Lorelai she's no longer needed."
"Okay," Jess answered. "I'll pick up around here."
His hand on the doorknob, Luke half turned to him. "No. I want you to sit back down on the couch." Off Jess' questioning look, he explained.
"Till we've had a good look at those injuries of yours, you are permanently couched – got it?" He sent him a pressing no-nonsense glare. On seeing it, Jess simply sighed and sank back down, carefully onto the seat.
Thankfully, the adaptable Ms Gilmore was sitting on one of the diner's chairs at a table. She had, Luke noted, straightened the place up for him, which he very much appreciated. She had also helped herself, in generous amounts to the coffee and pastries from behind the counter but he couldn't help but grin. My god – she'd earned it!
"Well hello there, stranger!" she joked as he emerged from behind the curtain. Her eyebrows raised in surprise.
"Unless you've vacuum-packed him and have that nephew of yours stuffed in a pocket somewhere, I'm not sure what gives."
Luke smiled, apologetically. "Ah. I'm really sorry about this, Lorelai but he…kind of wants to stay here." He glanced at the time. Shit! It was almost three am. He'd owe her serious amounts of free meals and coffee after this one.
She smiled and waved off his apologies. "Nah. Forget about it – you can make it up to me later. I've still got time to get home well before Rory wakes up."
He nodded and wandered over to her table, seating himself opposite her. "So," he began. "I talked to Jess."
"Evidently."
"And you were right. You were right about everything."
She sighed. "The number of times a woman would love to hear that from a man but strangely, I can take no pleasure in it." Then she fixed him with a sympathetic smile.
"You're doing a great job, Luke. Don't you go doubting yourself now." She reached across the table and gently squeezed his fingers.
"He thought I was throwing him out, Lorelai."
That pulled her up short. "Oh wow," she breathed.
"Yeah."
"Yeah, that's not good," she agreed. "Poor kid. But he'll be okay now. You guys just need to remember to talk to each other once in a while." Rising, she offered him a charming smile.
"I left your bag in here," she said, indicating where it stood by the counter. He nodded his thanks as he walked her to the door.
"Thank you," he insisted, earnestly. "For everything." She leaned up and kissed him tenderly on the cheek.
"What are friends for?" she dismissed. "And Happy Christmas, by the way."
He laughed – yeah, it was definitely going to be a good one this year. Certainly memorable, that's for sure. "You, too."
And as she climbed in to her car, she turned to him before slamming her door.
"And Luke?" He stepped on to the sidewalk. "Just be careful," she warned in deceptively light tone. "I'm starting to get just a little protective of that kid." Then she slammed her door shut, gave him a short wave and pulled away.
"Yeah," he muttered after her. "You and me both."
OK – thank you guys for getting down this far. I'm sorry I didn't bring Rory to the party but I don't think the poor boy was in a fit state to woo her and I also think he deserved to be comforted by adults (namely Luke!) rather than her. I figure I can round this off in a shorter last chapter but, as I mentioned, this chapter was getting rather long! Hope you guys don't mind.
Once again, if you would be so kind as to let me know your thoughts I would really, truly appreciate them!! Thank you :-)