A/N: Okay, Nina is having hard time writing; at least I think so, so I started this chapter.
A/N: Yeah, I was, so thank you Ellie darling! But, before we look onto Elli's fantbaulous writing, I want to dedicate this chapter to Goddess of the Rain Pixie because she is the best reviewer I've ever had and deserves every bit of this dedication. We love you!
Disclaimer: Don't own…
On with the story…
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Chapter 7: A New Day
Jess' POV
Seeing her lay there was the worse thing I'd ever seen in my life. She smiled as Lorelai just walked, cautiously to Rory. Rory held up her left hand and Lorelai held it. I watched as she kissed it and smiled wetly at Rory. Luke shifted from one foot to the other.
"Rory—," I turned back to Lorelai as she croaked out the name. Rory smiled wider and shook her head. Her eye was swollen and I felt my heart plummet.
"I know mom, he talked to me," Rory said in labored pained breaths. If I weren't a guy, I'd be extremely touched by the mature nature about Rory.
Luke stepped out of the shadow and made eye contact with Rory, "I love you Rory." He said and a little liquid pack slid down her face in the form of a tear.
"I love you too, Luke," she said and he kissed the part of her head, which was exposed. I stepped toward her and our eyes met. Granted her left on was swollen. I opened my mouth as a nurse came in.
"I'm sorry, we must ask you to leave now. She needs to be prepped," the Mexican plump woman said and I turned on my heels to leave. I walked; half ran, down the hallway without waiting for Lorelai and Luke. I saw the exit doors. Busting through them I took a deep breath and steadied myself against the hospital brick wall.
"She needs you," my head said and I slid to a seated position. Why was I always there? Why did I have to save her? Was I born for the simple reason of helping, lending a shoulder to cry on? I dug in my leather jacket and pulled out a cigarette. I lit it and took a deep breath. Looking towards the sky I wondered.
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She was still in surgery when I walked back in. I'd spent an hour out there. I walked in the waiting room and sat next to a planted Lorelai and a pacing Luke. I just watched Luke's rapid feet pound to the rhythm of his thoughts. The pound of Luke's feet and the smell of the hospital kind of created a safe surrounding. My eyes blurred and I thought back to times when I'd been happy.
"You're not going anywhere," I whispered in her ear, "You're safe," I promised. I remembered doing that for a number of people; Tabitha, Liz, and lastly Rory. All three women I'd loved in different ways.
Tabby had been the girl whom I'd discovered the world with, the girl who was my first everything. She was the first girl I could talk to, the first girl I kissed, this first one I ran to the first time my mom brought home a drunken man, the first girl I had sex with, and she was the first girl who had understood what I was going through.
Liz had been the one I had to always forgive, and try to help. She was the woman that I had to sometimes look the other way for. She had been my mother.
Rory, she was a simple woman in need of help. We went through her problems together.
"Rory Gilmore," broke my thoughts as I jumped up.
"We're here," Luke said as he stopped his pacing. I stood next to Lorelai.
"Rory was very lucky. We safely removed the chips of bone. Her nerves suffered minimal damage. Her one nerve, near her elbow, will tingle with the slightest pain when she uses it to much, but other than that she's fine," the doctor said and a communal breath was let out.
"Thank you so much doctor," Lorelai said then flung herself to Luke. They hugged with smiles as I looked at the doctors retreating form.
"Wait," I said as the doctor stopped. I caught him by the door.
"What's wrong?"
"Can I see her?" I asked in a whisper. I wanted to see her alone.
"Sure, follow me," he said and I did. He led me down the hall then to the fourth door on the left. It was white; I noticed when the doctor left. It was white and had one of those little windows in it. You know those windows that look like there are bars but there isn't? STALLING, my mind screamed at me and I had to bite back a chuckle. I nodded my head, yeah I'm stalling. Then, taking a deep breath, I picked my hand up to push open the door. The smooth, soothing metal cooled my hand as I pushed it open.
She was lying there, looking like she was in extreme pain. The thoughts that had been in my head flew out at a moments notice. She turned her right eye to me and suppressed a smirk.
"Bet you I look great," she said as she tried to move her left arm. She let out a small wince of pain as I helped her put a pillow under her arm. As I placed her arm down, she touched my cheek with her right hand. My cheek was set on fire with emotion. Rory slid her hand over my stubble and pulled me closer to her.
"You do look great," I stammered out and then I heard the door creak. I jumped back and looked uncomfortably at the Jell-O on the table. Lorelai ran to Rory and kissed her cheek. She grabbed her right hand again as Luke walked to where I had just stood at Rory's side.
"Honey, we love you," Lorelai said and started telling Rory about some guy named Ross and how he and Rachel were meant to be. I just slipped back and finally inched towards the door. Before opening it, I turned back to Rory, she caught my eye and then I left.
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Rory's POV
Mom looked at me and I looked away, "You know we have to talk, right?"
"Yeah," I said bringing my face back to hers. She smiled and stood to pace.
"Did he know?" She asked and looked me in the eye.
"Yeah, but I asked him not to say anything. Mom you can't blame him. If anyone's to blame its, De—," I started and broke off when I figured out that I couldn't say his name.
"Okay, I believe you, but honey, he's just like him," Lorelai said sitting deflated in her spot. I looked bewildered.
"Who?"
"Your father," she said grabbing my hand and I brought my eyes to her. "He's got the carefree attitude, the jacket, and the great hair, and the last thing,"she paused and I echoed her last word, "experience."
"Mom, you need to let me venture out and make my own mistakes," I said as she looked down. When mom looked back up she had a slight tear in her eye.
"I just don't want you to make my mistake," she said and I looked down. Was I a mistake?
"No," she said and I looked at her. "You are not a mistake. But having you at sixteen was mine. You're a great person who is a little too much like your mother. You have to tell me things Rory," my mom said and I nodded as a tear fell.
"I love you, mom, best friends till the end of our world," I said and her eyes flicked to the same memory as mine. I could tell.
"Mom, I LOVE this house!" 11 year-old Rory screamed as she ate her pizza sitting on the floor of their new living room.
"Thanks honey!" Lorelai said as Rory turned her serious face on.
"Mom, I don't want to leave you. Let's not let boys get between us," Rory said and Lorelai smiled.
"Best friends till the end of our world," Lorelai agreed and they cheered with their apple juice.
"Best friends till the end of our world," Lorelai agreed and I smiled. She stood and planted a kiss on my forehead and left to 'find Luke'.
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Jess' POV
Watching the firing ball come up over the low rolling hills I realized, as much as I hated too admit it, living in Stars Hollow was growing on me. The ball continued to grow as I thought of the people in the Hollow. Lorelai and Rory Gilmore had pulled me in the first time I met them. Her eyes had a quality about them that could make you watch their every move. I could swim in the emotional sea that warped around in her eyes. I felt the crisp warm morning air sift in over my face. I ran a hand through my hair and let the warmth embrace me. I was losing my mind and soul in the affection of sunlight.
"It's beautiful isn't?" I turned to see Lorelai walk up the little hill behind the hospital in which I was standing on.
"Yeah," I agreed deciding not to ruin the moment. She finally reached the hill and stood next to me. I just kept watching nature's wonders at work. Lorelai crossed her arms and turned to face me. Moment over.
"She told me why you didn't tell me," she said with a smile, "She said she asked you not to and for that I have to give you credit," The sun started warming my back.
"I was on my way to tell you," I confessed.
"It would have been the right thing," she reassured. I smiled and she giggled pulling me in for a hug, "Loosen up," she commanded, shrugging my shoulders. I let my body relax and felt safe, Lorelai holding me as though I didn't have to keep my walls up. She was making sure I could always come to her. She pulled back and I saw her eyes clouded over with emotion. "You're a tough guy Jess, but you don't need to be around me," she said and I nodded. "Plus, you were enjoying a simple thing like a sunrise, for that you get brownie points," I looked at her and she laughed and ruffled my hair. I smiled again and she looked astounded. "Another smile?" I laughed and we turned to watch the sunrise together, like family.
Yeah, it was definitely a new day.
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Rory's POV
I opened my right eye and saw Luke half asleep in the chair to my right. I bit on my lip to try and stifle a giggle. But it didn't work. The giggle escaped. Luke lolled his head and then opened his eyes. I could still see the sleep in them.
"You're awake?" I laughed as he rubbed his face.
"I could," I started as I tried to move a bit, "say the same for you."
"Yeah, well. You need help?" He asked as I tried to move again.
"Well, my bum is actually a bit numb," I said as Luke looked over his shoulder at the door.
"I could go see if you can stand or at least sit in a different position," he offered and I looked over at him ruefully.
"Would you?" I asked and he smiled and left. I looked around me and tried to move. I was elevating my arm when I heard the door creak open.
"Oh, thank God Luke, my bum wa—," I stopped short when I saw Jess standing by the door with a bouquet and a huge balloon that read 'GET WELL SOON'. He smirked and threw the things on the chair, which I saw had a bear too.
He swooped close to my face, "Rory Gilmore you are one complex puzzle, but lucky for you I happen to like complex puzzles," he laughed and kissed my forehead. I smiled at him and patted the spot next to me in bed. He climbed in on my right side and I lay half on his chest, trying to get comfortable. I put my leg up and half over the side of the bed and the other bent. I was careful to cradle my arm close to me.
"So, what did you do while I was getting those nasty bone chips removed from my arm?"
"Well your mother and I were talking," he started and I laughed, but bit my bottom lip in anticipation.
"That's not always a good thing," I mumbled as he started to twirl my hair on his finger.
"Your mother…gave me this sense of belonging, like I wasn't just this guy who is always the one there to help girls in need. She became more of my cheerleader," we both chuckled at that, "I finally feel like I have some sense of family when I'm in Stars Hollow."
Looking him straight in the eye, "And you always will," I reassured him, because it was the only thing I could do. He had said it all.
He stopped twirling my hair, bent down, and kissed my cheek, "And I always will," he echoed.
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A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I had this all written, then my computer flicked and I lost it! So Good night, and good luck. LOL.
A/N: Props to Ellie for getting this out tonight. Of course, I went through it and edited it and threw in my own things, but for the most part, she wrote this whole thing so thank her!