Chapter Title: Knowledge by Greenday. Yes I said Greenday, because they rock. This song is perfect for when a teenager finally realizes they don't know everything.

Disclaimer: They had the summer ahead of them. A lot can change in a summer.

AN: Yes I am finally updating. Is anybody reading this story? It's hit kind of a lull in my opinion. It'll pick up again, I promise. I can't promise that there won't be anymore lovesick Tristan, but I do promise to tone it down. Really I will.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gilmore Girls. Sorry to burst your bubble.

This time I got it all figured out

All I know is that I don't know nothing

And that is fine

Rory drove down the highway trying to see through the rain that was pounding on the windshield. Tristan had fallen asleep not long after they had stopped for gas an hour before. It was just as well, he hadn't said anything the entire day. Which was starting to scare Rory. Every time she would so much as brush her hand against his he would flinch and pull his hand away. He wouldn't even look at her. It wasn't like she could help what had happened. Maybe he was blaming himself for not being there. Or not paying more attention when he was there. Either way it still wasn't her fault that this had happened.

His cell phone rang shattering the silence that filled the car. Tristan didn't so much as turn over in his sleep so Rory grabbed it from off the console.

"Hello?" She said with a sigh.

"Rory?"

"Hey Shannon."

"How is he?"

"I don't know. He won't say anything." She said hoping it would get his attention.

"He hasn't said anything? At all?"

"Not a word. It's been eerily quiet."

"I can't begin to imagine. He's never been like that that I know of."

"It's fine. I just wish he would say something."

"How much longer until you get here?"

"Another hour maybe hour and a half."

"I'll let you go. I'm sorry you have to deal with him right now. I'll talk to him when you get here."

Rory closed the phone without looking at Tristan. He didn't give her any indication that he had hard what was said. She wanted to pull the car over and shake him until he started talking. But she wouldn't, that would probably make him madder than he already was. He stirred and moved in his seat. He turned his back to her and Rory sighed. She didn't know how much more she could take.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye. He was tracing a puddle of rain that was sliding down the window. She remembered doing that when she was a kid, but she hadn't done it in years. Against her better judgment she decided to say something to him.

"Your mom called." She said hoping he would at least turn to face her.

He didn't so much as make a noise to let her know that he had heard her. Rory pulled over and turned off the ignition. Tristan sighed before turning to face the road. Rory tried to reach for his arm but he moved it out of the way before she could reach him.

"How am I supposed to help you if you won't talk to me?"

"I don't want you to help me." He said through clenched teeth.

"Get off your high horse and look around. I have been driving for six hours so you could see your Grandfather. If that's not helping than I don't know what it is."

"Do you expect me to say thank you?" He asked glaring at her.

"No. But I expect you to at least talk to me. I'm not saying you have to give me a long drawn out monologue. Just let me know how you're doing every once in a while."

"I don't feel like it." He said crossing his arms over his chest.

"Stop acting like a child Tristan. Let me in." She said reaching for his hand again.

He didn't move away this time as she laced her fingers through his. Rory started the car again and pulled back onto the highway. They drove for a couple miles in silence before she heard him sigh again. She looked over at him and he had his head rested against the back of the seat and his eyes were closed. She brushed her thumb across his palm hoping he would open up to her.

"I'm sorry." He said not opening his eyes.

"I guess hells going to freeze over soon huh?"

"What?" He asked opening one eye to look at her.

"You never apologize."

"I do too! I apologized when I got into that fight with Bag Boy."

"One time." She said rolling her eyes.

"You're right I don't. Don't get used to it." He said closing his eyes again.

"I'm not."

He smiled before she cleared her throat. He looked over at her giving her a questioning look.

"We're almost there. We just passed over the Connecticut state line." She said not taking her eyes off the road.

It was raining harder and it was getting harder for her to see. She leaned over the steering wheel hoping it would make it easier to see. She let go of Tristan's hand needing both hands on the wheel. He watched her knowing that she was scared. You learn a lot about a person when you share a closed space with them. He had learned that she didn't like driving in the rain. He put a hand on her arm and she shrugged him off.

"Pull over, I'll drive."

"No I can do it. You don't need to be driving."

"But you don't like driving in the rain."

"I don't like a lot of things. But I'll deal with it." She said not taking her eyes off the road.

XXXX

Tristan made his way through the hospital pulling Rory with him. He saw his mom at the end of the hall and practically ran towards her as he let go of Rory's hand. Shannon pulled him to her as she looked over his shoulder at Rory. She gave her a weak smile before pulling away from her son. Tristan had tears in his eyes. Something Rory wasn't used to. Shannon pulled him to a couch and they sat down without letting go of each other. Rory sat across from them not knowing what to say. She didn't see Jonathan anywhere. She thought that was strange, she thought he would want to be there for his father. Unless he was talking to the doctor, that would make more sense.

"Where's dad?" Tristan asked breaking the silence.

"At home, packing his things."

"Why isn't he here?" Tristan asked lifting his head from her shoulder.

"I told him if he wouldn't go in to see his father than he needed to leave. Then I told him to pack his things. We're getting a divorce Tristan. I wish you didn't have to find out this way."

Tristan shook his head in frustration. He had known this was coming, but he didn't expect to have to deal with his grandfather being in the hospital on top of it.

"How's Janlan?" Rory asked breaking the silence

"He's doing better. He's already asking when he an go home." Shannon said smiling.

"What happened? What made him have a heart attack?"

"Your dad had unloaded a lot of stuff on him. The company isn't doing as well as your dad let on. And you shutting your dad out didn't help. He took all of his frustration out on Janlan."

"I'll kill him."

"Uh uh, that's my job. And not before the divorce is final." She said with a smile.

Tristan chuckled as he shook his head. He was glad his mother wasn't too upset about what was going on. Rory offered to go them something to drink so they could talk privately.

"I don't want you to worry about your grandfather. He'll be fine."

"I can't help but worry about him." Tristan said shaking his head.

"He wouldn't want you to. He understands why you won't talk to your father. He doesn't blame you for what happened."

"He told you that?"

"Yes he did. He would want you to be with Rory for the rest of the summer. He doesn't want you around feeling sorry for him."

"Did he say that too?"

"No, but I can tell that's what he's thinking."

"Are you sure?"

"You deserve to be a teenager. And spend time with your girlfriend honey. He would want that."

Tristan sighed letting what she had said sink in. He knew she was right. As soon as he saw his grandfather and had a chance to talk to him he would tell Rory that they were leaving. Rory came back a few minutes later and Shannon went to talk a nurse. Tristan pulled Rory down on the couch next to him and wrapped his arms around her. He buried his face in her neck wanting to be as close to her as he could. She rubbed his back hoping that he would never do anything like this again.