Chapter Ten: The dead of night

Luke and Lorelai had left a day earlier for a week long vacation to celebrate their anniversary. Rory was pleased to have the house just to herself and Anna, the peace was nice and being alone with her daughter to bond was nice too, not having to worry about Two month old Anna waking up her mother and Luke was a bonus too. With each passing day Rory became happier, as the weather warmed up more with each day she started taking Anna out for long walks round the town, most of the time accompanied by Jess, occasionally with Doula as well. In the back of her mind she always had Jess' promise to take them to the beach.

Rory was watching the sun setting on the porch, Anna resting in her arms, as Jess approached the house, holding a box full of brownies.

'Are those for me?' Rory asked excitedly.

'They are.' He nodded, handing her the box and taking Anna from her arms, kissing her head and sitting next to Rory on the porch swing, baby in his arms. Rory turned to face him and tucked her feet under his legs. 'So I came by to tell you that the forecast for tomorrow is excellent, so I thought we could venture out and take this little one to the beach, what do you think?'

'Yes! Ah I've been waiting for this day for weeks.' Rory replied happily, taking a brownie from the box.

'Excellent, then I'll drop by and pick you guys up at about nine, I'll pack food from the diner.' Jess placed his finger in Anna's grip.

'She's getting real good at gripping.' Jess laughed as she clung to his finger.

'Yeah, and she can hold her own head up for a few seconds now as well.' Rory said proudly.

'She'll be crawling before you know it.' Jess smirks up at Rory.

'Don't I know it, I need to start baby proofing the house over the next few weeks.' Rory sighed, swinging the swing slightly.

'I can do that.' Jess says casually, keeping his eyes on Anna.

'You do so much already.' Rory smiles at him as he rests Anna on his chest.

'I don't mind.' Jess shrugs.

'So have you heard anything more about Truncheon?' Rory asks, a hint of sadness in her voice as she mentions it.

'Spoke to Matt last night, funds are low but we're getting there. There's a couple places they've got their eye on, they sent me details, but it's mainly Matt doing all the work from Philly, Chris has gone to stay with his parents in San Francisco.' Jess replies.

'Do you need to go back and help out?' Rory looks down at the ground as she speaks.

'Nope.' Jess shakes his head. 'Matt's got it under control, he actually said I'd get in the way. He's happy doing things by distance, besides I just made a commitment to baby proof a house.' He smirks at her.

'And we can't have you going back on that.' She rolls her eyes, a smile crossing her face.

'He also said it would be far more helpful to get this book done so we actually have something to publish when we get back up and running.' Jess adds, his eyes resting on Rory.

'That's a very good plan.' Rory nodded her agreement. 'So what are your plans for the day?'

'I was thinking of going to the mall in Hartford.' Jess replied casually.

'You? Shopping? Voluntarily?'

'Yes, there's some things I saw that I want to get Anna.' Jess looked away as he said that, not noticing the smile across Rory's face.

'You don't have to do that.'

'I know I don't but I saw them and I thought that Anna could do with them, it's just some toys and things that are meant to stimulate learning, though with you as a mum I don't think Anna's got to worry about education.' Jess smirked.

'She might not like school, not everyone does.' Rory replied, her eyes meeting his, he held her gaze a few seconds longer than needed, then looked back down to Anna. 'Still even if she doesn't like school I'll try my hardest to keep her in till graduation, but even if she does drop out or have to leave there are some shining examples of people who didn't finish high school that turned out pretty well.' Rory smiled. 'My mum did well, amazingly well and then there's you, you didn't graduate and yet you're a published author and are a partner in a business.'

'One that burned down.'

'The independence inn burned down when mum worked there and she managed to use the opportunity to fulfil her dream of opening her own inn, so all you have to do is find a way to view this as positive.' Rory replied.

'I guess.' He nodded his head. 'Ok I should get going to the mall because I promised Luke I would help Caesar out a bit while Luke is away and so I am helping this afternoon.'

'Ok.' Rory smiled, 'Thanks for the brownies.'

'You're welcome.' He stood up and rocked Anna before handing her back to Rory. 'I'll stop by tonight with the things for Anna, is there anything you need me to pick up for you?'

'Nope, I think I am all set.' Rory replied, waving as he left. Jess passed Lane on the way, as Lane was walking up to the Gilmore house.

'Hey.' Lane waved. 'How's my favourite baby Gilmore?'

'She's good, how are you?'

'Good, so Jess was here?' Lane asked, sitting down on the seat Jess had just vacated.

'Hmm, he brought me brownies.' Rory replied, avoiding the gaze of her best friend. 'He's going shopping now.'

'For himself?'

'For Anna.' Rory corrected, picking up on the look on her friends face, 'What? Loads of people buy things for Anna.'

'Yeah it's just that Jess gets her a lot of things and he gets you things and he's acting like….' Lane trailed off.

'What Lane? He's acting like what?' Rory asked.

'Like he's Anna's father.'

'What? You're being ridiculous.' Rory shook her head and stood up, walking up and down the porch, 'Just because he helps me out doesn't mean he's acting like her father, and besides it's not like she has a father so having him around is really good for her.'

'For her or for you?'

'For her, I mean I love having him around we're friends, we've always been really close, always could talk about things and he knows me but nothing is going on, we're friends and that's it.' Rory replied.

'Ok if you say so.' Lane shrugged her shoulders, 'And you're not relying on him too much?'

'No.'

'Fine.' Lane sighed a little, she'd seen this pattern before, Rory denying her feelings for Jess and letting them build up, she just hoped that this time it would be different, she hoped she could believe her friend when she said nothing was going on. Watching Rory carefully she decided to ask one more question.

'You know I'm your best friend and I love you and would never judge you, and remember that you should never lie to your best friend.' Lane said catching Rory's eye. 'Have you ever thought about Jess sticking around and being a dad to Anna?'

Rory paused for a second, torn between wanting to hide the truth and not wanting to lie to her friend.

'Ok you cannot tell anyone but I may have had a dream where Jess was her father, but that's all it was a dream just because he's here and I see him a lot and he's so good with Anna, but whatever we had together as a couple is gone it has been for a long time, we haven't been together since high school. I want Jess in my life as a friend, and he likes taking care of Anna, but I know that he'll be leaving soon.' Rory replied. 'Can we drop it now?'

'Yeah, I'll say no more.' Lane replied. 'So I should get back to the boys, I just stopped by to invite you over tomorrow, we were thinking of having a barbeque.'

'Um maybe, me and Jess are taking Anna to the beach but maybe if we're back in time.' Rory replied awkwardly, but Lane didn't say anything about yet another mention of Jess.

'Right well swing by anytime, you're always welcome and invite Jess as well.' Lane replied. 'I'll see you later.'

'Yeah.' Rory waved goodbye and walked back into the house with Anna.

'What do you think baby girl? Does Jess act like your daddy?'

Anna wriggled in her arms, settling down and letting her eyes flutter closed. Rory smiled down at her and kissed her forehead, taking her to her cot to sleep, then laying on her bed to sleep herself.

(-)

Rory woke hours later, the room was pitch black and she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, she glanced at the clock, the numbers read 3.12am she'd obviously slept for a long time, she was about to check on Anna when she noticed a message on her phone, she read it quickly.

Rory, Can't make it to yours to drop off the stuff, diners crazy and I don't know when I'll be able to get away, I'll see you tomorrow. Kiss Anna for me. Jess.

Rory smiled faintly but still felt strange, getting up she switched on the light and checked on Anna, as she picked her up it was obvious that the baby had a fever, her skin was burning to touch, panic washed through Rory in waves as she saw a rash on her daughters arms, it was in that moment that Anna started fretting in her arms, crying in distress. Rory laid her down carefully and dived for her phone, tears filling her eyes. It rang three times before a sleepy voice answered.

'Rory what's wrong?' Jess' voice came through the phone, knowing there must be something wrong for her to be phoning at this hour, before she'd even spoken he was getting up and dressed.

'Anna's sick.' Rory said in panic, 'She's got a fever and a rash and I need you.'

'I'm on my way, get her ready we'll take her to hospital.' Jess replied. Grabbing his keys from the table and racing down the diners steps, through the diner and out onto the street.

'Please hurry.' Rory cried, picking Anna up and trying to soothe her as she got her ready.

'I'm on my way.' Jess replied starting his car and driving madly to get to her house. 'It's going to be ok.'

'I'm scared Jess.'

'I know, me too but I'm almost there ok, it's going to be fine.' Jess replied trying to convince himself at the same time as Rory.

He pulled up a few minutes later and ran into the house, taking Anna from a frantic Rory he got them both into the car and drove to the hospital in Hartford, breaking several traffic laws to get there.

'Please you have to help us my daughters ill.' Jess said in a panic running up to the front desk, he handed over all the details and followed the nurse as she led them into a room and examined Anna. Neither Rory or Jess commenting on the fact that he'd called Anna his daughter.

'I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you both to wait outside while the doctor examines your daughter, we'll come and get you as soon as we're done.' The nurse said gently, very reluctantly Rory left the room with Jess' arm around her for support.

'It'll be ok Rory, she's in safe hands.' Jess tried to reassure her, but in truth he was a wreck himself, thinking that Anna could be seriously ill was tearing him apart and he wasn't quite sure how to deal with these new emotions, he wanted to be strong for Rory and yet with each minute they were kept waiting he could feel his strength draining away, he found himself unable to speak any words of support so instead just held onto Rory, needing her to know that he was here.

'Excuse me?' A doctor approached them from the room Anna was in, the expression on his tanned face gave noting away, Rory and Jess sprung forward, Jess' arm still loosely round Rory's waist. 'Are you Anna Gilmore's parents?'

'Yes.' Rory nodded her head.

'Ok well we've examined your daughter and run a few tests, I'm afraid it is quite serious, your daughter has a condition called neonatal bacterial meningitis.'

'Oh my…' Rory's eyes widened, tears spilling down her face. 'Will she be ok? Please say she's going to be ok.'

'It's early stages, but we have caught it early, you did the right thing bringing her in when you did, and we are going to start her on some antibiotics with your consent.' The doctor replied.

'Yes of course give her the treatment, will that cure her?' Rory asked, clinging to Jess' arm.

'We can't be sure of that, this is a very serious condition, especially in infants of her age, the antibiotics aren't a sure thing, but they are our best option, and like I've mentioned we did catch it early.' The doctor replied.

'Ok, um can we go in with her please?' Rory asked.

'Of course, I'll have to ask that you keep it only family in the room until we know more.' He nodded his head and led them into the room. Jess followed slowly behind, not sure if Rory wanted him in the room, but she turned around and pulled him lightly by the arm until he was alongside her. They sat side by side next to Anna's bed, watching over her.

An hour later Jess stood up, resting his hand on Rory's shoulder.

'I'm going to call Lorelai and Luke, let them know what's happening, do you need anything? I could stop by the cafeteria or something.' Jess said quietly. Rory didn't move her eyes from her daughters pale frame.

'No I'm good, and thank you, I really need my mum right now.' Rory said tiredly, tears in her eyes.

'I'll be right back.' Jess said walking out the room, he walked up to a payphone and dialled the number of the hotel.

'Uh… who is this? It's early you better have a good reason for calling.' Lorelai's tired annoyed voice spoke.

'Lorelai, it's Jess.'

Lorelai sat bolt upright, her heart beating faster, causing Luke to sit up with a concerned look.

'Is Rory ok?' Lorelai asked in panic.

'Uh she's ok, it's Anna. We're at the hospital, Anna's got meningitis, she's been put on antibiotics, but Rory really needs you here.' Jess said rubbing a hand across his forehead.

'We're on our way.' Lorelai said hopping out of bed. 'Oh and Jess, thank you.'

'For what?'

'For calling me, for being there for Rory.' Lorelai replied. 'I'll see you soon.'

Yeah ok see you soon.' Jess replied, then returned to Rory's side, trying to come to terms with the great sense of concern he had toward both Rory and Anna.

A/N- Hope you like it, please review and let me know what you think.