Okay, once again I apologize for not updating for over a month! But, I also want to say that it does NOT mean that I don't care about my story! Dealing with a full-time college load, practically living at the hospital at night AND having my big brother home from Iraq to spend time with was all a little bit much. But, I really do care about this story and want to keep continuing. So, once again, I'm sorry, really, really sorry! And if you are still reading this: thank you so, so much for it! Anyways, I'm done rambling now!

Rory took a deep breath and opened her eyes, trying her best not to lose it. She grabbed Tristan's hand and gave him the biggest smile she could muster. Tristan saw her uneasiness and gently stroked her hand, saying, "Ror, I told you that I'm fine. You don't need to be here for this."

"No, I'm staying. You are not going through this alone." Rory said determinedly, giving him a reassuring smile to show that she was fine. Truthfully, though, she couldn't stand the helpless feeling that she had felt the minute she walked in the door. Pushing her fear and the tears that so desperately wanted to escape her eyes away, she focused solely on Tristan's pale, but still gorgeous, face.

Tristan looked at her through weary eyes, fighting to keep them open. "Tell me something."

"Like what?" Rory asked, eager to distract the both of them.

"School, Lorelai, anything." The forced lightheartedness in his voice caused Rory to smile; he was being brave and she knew it was mostly for her benefit. She couldn't help but marvel at how wonderful he was through all this. The sheer fact that she was sitting next to him at this moment was a big deal for her. She knew that it wasn't easy for him to allow her to see him like this. The trust that he put in her was the best feeling she had ever had.

"Well, Paris is actually fighting the school board to make lunch optional, that way she can fit in more classes." Rory laughed just thinking about the wrath that was Paris.

Tristan laughed weakly and said, "That's Paris for you. I remember in elementary school when she refused to go outside during recess because she said it was a pointless waste of time."

"Seriously?"

Tristan nodded, a small smile on his face. Silence fell over them and all that could be heard was the sound of the beeping machine beside the bed. Rory wracked her brain for something to say, but her attention kept returning to the one place she didn't want it to go. Finally bringing her glance away from Tristan, who had seemed to fall asleep in the silence, she allowed herself to look at the object that was causing her such distress.

A large IV bag filled with a horrible looking color of chemicals hung from the stand next to Tristan's bed. Her eyes slowly followed the path down from the bag and to the place where it was attached into Tristan's arm. The stream of liquid coming through the IV seemed to be moving far too quickly for the amount that still remained in the bag. Every second that passed seemed to drain more and more out of Tristan. Watching quietly for several minutes, Rory choked back sobs at the sight of Tristan's face. She actually needed to keep looking at the monitor to her side to be sure that he was still breathing; he looked so lifeless.

"Are you Tristan's girlfriend?" A kind looking nurse asked, startling Rory.

Rory wiped helplessly at her wet eyes and couldn't help but feel proud when she said, "Yes, I'm Rory."

The older woman gave Rory a warm smile and said, "It's wonderful to meet you, Rory. I'm Denise. I have known Tristan since he was just a little guy."

Rory nodded mutely, thinking of how many times Tristan must have been in this very room. "He's okay, right?" Rory asked uneasily.

"Oh, don't worry, sweetie. He's just fine. The chemo takes a lot out of him, but he's strong." Denise moved about the side of the bed, checking the IV that was taped to Tristan's arm. Rory could see from Denise's face how much she cared for Tristan and it comforted her to know that even if he didn't have his parents all these years, he at least had someone here for him.

Rory sighed and said, "Okay, thank you. I guess I'm just not used to this. I'm trying so hard to be strong for him. I know that he doesn't really want me to see him like this."

Denise looked up from the chart that she had been writing on and said, "Oh, honey, it's wonderful that you're here. It has been killing me all these years to see him go through this alone. He needs you here, no matter what he says."

Rory smiled, small tears rolling down her cheeks. "Thank you."

"You take care of him, okay? He's a special one." Denise gave Rory one last comforting smile and then quietly exited the room.

Denise's words had caused all of Rory's attempts to maintain composure to fail and she began crying, holding her hand over her mouth to keep from sobbing. All attempts for her to calm down failed when she looked at Tristan's face; the grimace that was there, even in sleep caused Rory's sobs to come out angrily. He didn't deserve this and she wanted nothing more than to rip the needle out of his arm and take him home. She knew she couldn't, because this torture was supposed to help him. All she could do was sit staring helplessly at the boy who had become her hero without even trying or wanting to do so.

Rory felt a gentle hand on her shoulder several minutes later and soon realized that she had fallen asleep with her head on Tristan's bed. Slowly lifting her head, she came face to face with an awake, but exhausted looking Tristan. "Hey Mare, you okay?"

Rory laughed slightly and said, "I'm supposed to be asking you that."

"Yeah, well we both know that this was harder for you than it was for me." Tristan lightly ran his hand over her cheek, tracing the tried tear marks.

Rory placed her hand over his and said, "How can you say that? You must feel awful right now."

Tristan nodded in understanding and said, "I do feel like crap, but I'm used to it, you're not. I'm sorry this was so hard for you."

"It wasn't hard for me." Rory defended weakly.

"Hmm, so you were just crying because the hospital gets crappy cable reception?" Tristan lowered his head to meet her eyes, staring into them until he got an answer.

Rory smiled and said, "Okay, I admit that it was hard. I hated seeing you in so much pain and not being able to do anything about it."

"Rory, that's not true." Tristan gently lifted her chin to bring her eyes to his once again. Rory tried to look away, embarrassed.

"It's not?" Rory asked, confused and hopeful.

Tristan smiled and said, "You know ever since the first time I came here, I have had the same nightmare when I fall asleep."

Rory nodded, frowning as she thought of the pained expression that had been on his face earlier.

"Well, today I didn't have that dream." Tristan looked as if he was almost on the verge of tears, his face full of gratitude towards Rory.

Rory smiled brightly and said, "You didn't?"

"Nope, and you know what I think?"

Rory just nodded, her face barely pressed against his forehead in fear of hurting him.

"It was because of you." He closed his eyes, sighing contently.

Whispering now, Rory said, "That can't be true."

"Oh, I think it can. It was like I could just feel your presence next to me and I wasn't scared. I slept soundly for the first time in a long time." Tristan reluctantly brought himself to pull his forehead from Rory's, looking her straight in the eye, trying to convince her.

"But your face, it seemed so pained." Rory admitted quietly.

Tristan nodded and said, "Well, my body may have been in pain, but my mind wasn't."

Rory smiled and placed a gentle, quick kiss on his lips. She pulled him into a hug, extremely cautious of the IV that was still inserted into his arm.

"You're amazing, you know that, right?" Rory whispered into his ear.

Tristan gently stroked her back and said, "Funny, I was about to just say the same exact thing."

So, I was finally able to bring myself to write about the chemo. I spared some of the finer details, both for your sake and I think mine. If you are still reading please review and let me know what you thought! Thanks so much:)