A/N: Okay, so, I realize the last chapter wasn't our best, but to tell you the truth, we were both completely stressed and rushing to update for you guys. I promise better quality for this chapter. I planned it in Creative Writing.
Disclaimer: Don't own…
On with the story…
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Chapter 8: Together
Nobody's POV
Next Day
Rory had been released with a back brace, sling, cast replaced, and a prescription for vicodin. Now, she and Lorelai were on their way to Luke's for a late dinner. It had been a long day and they just wanted to sense that feeling of home.
Lorelai entered the diner gleefully with a big grin on, "Hey Lukey! Where is everyone?" Her face turned into a confused one as she realized no one was in the diner.
"Hell if I know," Luke sighed and continued to wipe down the counter as Rory trotted up the stairs to the apartment where Luke had told Rory he was.
She knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a response. Just as she had predicted, he was seated on his bed with a book in hand. It was amazing how well she already knew him. He still hadn't looked up from his book as she sat down next to him and curled into his side. He simply lifted his arm, curled it around her shoulders and continued reading. She read along with him in silence.
Downstairs, Lorelai and Luke were talking about everything that had happened.
"Luke?"
"Yes, Lorelai?"
"Why did this happen?" Lorelai asked as she idly swished her coffee around.
Luke sighed and came around the counter to sit next to her. He took her hands and looked her in the eye, "I can't tell you that, but what I can tell you is that we'll get through this. Together," he assured her.
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
Taylor banged his gavel down and shushed the townspeople.
"People! People! Let's settle down so we can get this done quick before they realize what we're doing," Taylor yelled.
"Let's kill him!" Andrew suggested.
"Hush!" Patty made a motion with her hand and looked at Taylor to continue.
"Now, because of town laws, we cannot throw Dean out of town. What we can do, is run him out of town. He will be allowed in no store, no place of food, and no one's houses. He will be kept away from Rory, Lorelai, Luke, and Jess at all costs. Is that clear?" Taylor announced.
"Who's Jess?" Gypsy asked.
"Luke's nephew! He just moved here doll, but he's been real helpful to Rory," Babette answered her.
"Oh, okay then," Gypsy replied and sat back down.
"Does everyone understand what the plan is?" Taylor asked.
He got a chorus of yes-es and yeah-s. He banged the gavel again and the meeting was let out.
--
Jess put his book down and turned his head downwards to look at Rory.
"So, how are you feeling?" He asked her as his eyes narrowed skeptically at her, trying to read her.
She inched away from him, "Don't look at me like that," she scrunched her face up and then relaxed against him again, "My arm hurts a little and my back has been bad. The vicodin should be kicking in soon though," she explained to him.
"Turn on your stomach," he instructed.
"Huh?" She made a confused face and sat up slightly.
"Get on your stomach," he motioned with his hands and started moving her when she didn't move.
"I'm going, I'm going," she said as she rolled over onto her stomach.
He smiled down at her confused face.
--
Lorelai nodded and rested her head on Luke's shoulder, "Okay."
"So, what do you plan on doing about this? Are you pressing charges?" Luke questioned as he rubbed up and down her shoulder.
Lorelai sighed, "Of course we're pressing charges, but I can't really do anything until I talk to Rory. She still hasn't told me everything that happened! I don't know what to think," she cried.
"She'll talk to you when she's ready," Luke assured.
"She told Jess," Lorelai whispered sadly.
--
Dean quietly walked out of his house and started stalking to the Gilmore residence. When he got there and realized that no one was home, he went to the next place he knew they would be—the diner.
--
A girl around seventeen stepped off the bus with long jet-black hair that reached halfway down her back. Her hair was braided sideways so that it hung over her right shoulder and her piercing green eyes shone in the light of the street lamps. She picked up her black messenger bag and started walking aimlessly around town trying to find Luke's Diner.
As she walked onto Main St. she saw an overly tall guy around her age and decided to stop and ask for directions.
"Excuse me!" She called down the street.
He didn't turn around and she got frustrated. She thought small towns were supposed to be nice?
"I said…EXCUSE ME!" She yelled as she trotted up to him, wisps of hair lightly blowing around her face.
"What?" The tall teenage snapped.
"Do you know where Luke's Diner is?" She stood with both hands on her hips and her head tilted to the side.
"Uh," he sized her up, "Yeah, I'm actually going there now, I'll show you."
The girl smiled brightly, "Okay, thanks!"
The guy nodded and led the way to Luke's.
--
"Ohh," Rory breathed out, "Yes, right there."
"God, if anyone walked up here…" Jess trailed off, "Who knows what they'd think."
"Who cares? Ohh. It feels so good," Rory almost moaned out as she lay on her stomach, on Jess' bed as he massaged her back.
"So," Jess said as he finished, "are we going to talk about anything?"
Rory sighed and carefully sat up. She pulled on Jess' arm until he was lying beside her, his arm haphazardly across her stomach while he held up his head with the other.
"Well…" Jess prompted.
"Dean hit me," Rory stated as she turned on her side to face him, also holding her head up with her hand.
Jess sighed and put his head down so that she couldn't see his face, "I know that," and he lifted his head.
"It all started when his parents divorced. I was trying to comfort him, to be there for him, but he didn't want that," she said this first with anger, but got sadder as she ended the sentence, "That was the first time. He had slapped me and I had run home crying, thinking that it was a one time thing—that he was just upset," she was hysterical now as she explained what had happened to her, "But no, that—of course—wasn't the case. Every time I did the slightest thing wrong in his eyes, there was another beating. They got worse and worse as time went on. Slaps turned to punches accompanied by kicks until I ended up with an arm broken in three places and dislocated bones," she finished miserably as she had started to cry and was now curled deeply into Jess' chest while he rubbed her still-aching back.
--
"I think…" Luke started, "I think she needed an outsider's help. She didn't know what to do Lorelai. She was so confused what with all the lies Dean was surely telling her. She'll come to you, I promise you that, but just give it time to happen."
Lorelai nodded against him, "I know, I know she'll come to me eventually, but I just wish it were sooner," she pouted.
Luke just stayed silent as he continued to rub up and down her arms.
--
"There it is," the tall boy pointed to Luke's.
"Thanks!" the girl smiled brightly again and began jogging lightly to the diner, "You coming?" She turned around and asked.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," he replied and caught up to her.
She looked at him and gave him a warm smile as they continued to walk.
He smiled back weakly.
--
"Is that…?" Lorelai trailed off disbelievingly.
"It can't be…" Luke said as he shook his head.
"He wouldn't dare…" Lorelai gritted out.
"Who's that girl with him?" Luke asked confused.
"I don't care," she spat and marched to the door.
She threw it open and ran down the stairs, out into the middle of the street where Dean and the girl from the bus were still walking over.
"And just what the hell do you think you're doing?" Lorelai asked dangerously, staring daggers at Dean.
"Trying to find my girlfriend. I need to talk to her," Dean spat back.
"Like hell you are!" Lorelai shouted, "She's not even your girlfriend anymore! And don't think for a second you are allowed anywhere near her!"
Luke had joined Lorelai by now and was still staring confusedly at the girl, "Who are you?"
The girl, startled by the sudden attention, answered shakily, "Uh, I'm Tabitha. I'm looking for Jess Mariano? He told me that he was staying here."
"You know Jess?" Dean steamed and took a step towards her.
"Sweetie, get over here," Lorelai called and Tabitha quickly scampered over to Lorelai, "Jess is inside up the stairs. Just walk in the glass door that says William's Hardware Office."
Tabitha looked confused, but nodded anyway and walked into the diner, throwing one last glance back at the scene in the street.
That was him.
The girl's abuser.
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A/N: Okay, I didn't get in as much as I wanted, but my fingers got away from me! Anyway, I love you all and I am so happy that we have gotten so many reviews! They really just make our days. The next chapter should be up Sunday or Monday. It all depends on our idea flow so look out for it! Reviews are love so press the pretty little button!