AN whew! well this is finally updated after a while, ive been busy with the other fics (yes the naughty one) so now we are entering in nice phase and this fic will soon be finished. RR

Rory folded the note tightly in her hands, her feet rushing towards Matt. His smile appeared on his face, thankful that it was one of those letters.

Jess entered in the hospital in a daze, and stood at the reception desk waiting. The nurse held up her finger , whilst talking on the phone.

"Jess!" He looked up and saw a very tearful Sasha running towards him.

"How is he?"

"They're prepping for surgery, it all happened so fast."

"Surgery, why does he need surgery?"

"Well he wasn't quite honest with you the last time, he wasn't fine." She held onto Jess and all he could do was place his arm around her shoulder and comfort her.

Rory wasn't the impulsive type; in fact she was quite the opposite. But there was only one person she could think of that would cause to listen to her impulses and completely disregard decisions. Closing her eyes she leaned her head back and sighed, hoping she wasn't wrong.

Sasha came out of the small hospital room and stepped out into the corridor, Jess looked up and stared as she threw him a watery smile.

"Jess."

"He wants to see you." Jess took a deep breath and squeezed her shoulder as he made his way to the door, pushing on the handle he entered.

A nurse stood beside the bed her hands expertly placing the IV in his hand, Jess glanced away and focused on the plain white wall.

"Hey." Jess turned back at the sound of his low voice. "It must be bad if you took the time to turn up."

Neither person laughed at the small hint of humor, but Jess stepped closer to the bed.

"I've been meaning to come by for a small vacation, this way I kill two birds with one stone." Jimmy turned away and sighed, his eyes glancing at the needle that was now protruding from his hand.

"How's the library?"

"It's a bookstore, and it's good. "



"You got a girl yet?"

"It's none of your business." Jess shoved his hands in his pockets, a clear Mariano defensive move that Jimmy was well aware of.

"Which means yes, you're a terrible liar." Jimmy threw him a small smile.

"And you know me so well that you can tell when I'm lying?" Jess bit back sarcastically casuing Jimmy to grind his teeth.

Rory climbed out of the cab and yawned; dropping the bills with the driver she adjusted the bag on her shoulders and looked up at the large building. With a sudden determination she lifted her head and entered through the sliding doors, following the signs she entered the third floor and waited by the reception desk.

The nurse looked up and smiled at Rory, clearing her throat she enquired after Jess's father. She turned suddenly when she was tapped on the shoulder.

"You were asking about Jimmy?"

"Oh I'm sorry; I'm Rory a f-friend of Jess's." Rory politely held out her hand and Sasha accepted it with a smile.

"Jess is still in with his father, he'll be out soon." Sasha stood awkwardly as she glanced at the closed door, the tears glazing her eyes.

Rory patted her on the shoulder and handed her a tissue from her bag, Grimacing when she blew loudly.

Jess closed the door quietly behind him and sighed loudly, he allowed himself a few moments to adjust to what was happening. Taking a few steps forward he rubbed his forehead agitatedly; he heard Sasha's voice and followed around the corner. That's when he did a double take, he was sure he recognized that brown hair.

Rory had the distinct feeling that someone was watching her, spinning around she saw Jess's surprised expression. He felt rooted to the spot, his legs suddenly encased in concrete as that could be the only reason why his feet wouldn't move.

She smiled and stepped towards him a shy smile on her face, brushing her hair away from her face. They both stood opposite to each other, trepidation and hopefulness on each other's face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Uh… well I brought snacks." Rory opened her bag and pulled out a sandwich.

"You came all this way to bring me a sandwich?" Jess smirked.



"I thought you might be hungry, and I wanted to be here." Jess's gaze changed from humor to softness as she held out the sandwich

"I'm glad you're here."

"You are?" Jess silently took the sandwich from her hands, his thumb grazing across her skin causing her to gasp.

Jess pointed to a small couch in the waiting room, in front of the small nurse's station. Rory sat down quietly and clasped her hands, glancing over at Sasha who had now closed her eyes with exhaustion.

"I'm a little shocked you came out all this way."

"Well you did say it's worth saving."

"Yeah, about that." Jess turned to face her and he opened his mouth to speak.

"How about we save this conversation for another time, now eat your sandwich." He smiled and for once did exactly as he was told.

Rory removed the book from her bag and opened to the last saved page, Jess bit into his sandwich watching her as she bit her lip in concentration.

After he finished the sandwich he felt his eyes drooping, yawning slightly he didn't realize how tired he was. He leaned back on the couch his head dropping with every moment; sleep overtook him until his head rested against Rory's shoulder.

Sasha woke up with a start and glanced around, relaxing slightly she shifted in the chair and smiled at Rory who had watched her.

"Hi." Rory closed the book and set it on her lap, careful not to jolt Jess awake.

"If there was an earthquake, he still wouldn't wake up." Rory smirked and shifted causing Jess to settle deeper against her shoulder.

"You know, he's a lot like Jimmy. Although he would argue differently, but I saw his face when he saw you. You're clearly not just a friend." Sasha smiled knowingly when Rory blushed, her face aflame.

"It's complicated."

"It always is honey." Sasha nodded.

Jess blinked his eyes open and realized that his nose was inhaling the most intoxicating scent, he felt the skin underneath raise with a shiver. Rory closed her eyes as Jess's lips and breath danced across the column of her throat.



Clearing his throat he moved away from her neck and Rory pressed her lips together in a fine line. Jess looked up to see Sasha stare back at him a smirk on his face, rolling his eyes he threw her pointed look and turned away.

After a few moments Rory moved from her seat and lifted her arms and stretched, grabbing her bag she gave a small smile and headed back toward the nurses' station. Jess grumbled and sat back in his seat, refusing to see where she gone to.

"Jess, go talk to her. You've hardly said a few words since she got here."

"I don't know want to say to her, things with us aren't always simple." Jess played with the pocket of his jeans.

"It took a lot for her to turn up, who else do you know would drop everything to be here for you?" Sasha grabbed a pamphlet from the table and buried her head behind it.

Rory grabbed her phone from her bag once she was outside the hospital, dialing Lisa's number she waited for her to pick up.

"Thank god Rory, where are you?"

"I'm sorry, I'm in California. But it was an emergency; I didn't mean to worry you."

"Of course, Brian knows anyway and he said if you need anything?"

"Thanks, he really is the best boss."

"Oh he is." Rory grinned against the phone, her foot scraping across the sidewalk.

"Lisa, are you crushing on Brian?"

"Into a fine powder." Lisa sighed into the phone.

"He is kinda cute though." Rory agreed.

"Hey, you already have someone." Lisa argued.

Rory turned and faced the entrance, seeing Jess resting against the wall.

"Lisa, I have to call you back." Closing the phone she stepped closer towards him as he pushed himself away from the wall.



"Hi."

"Hey." Jess lowered his head and focused the collar of her shirt.

"Do you want to get a coffee?" Rory smiled up at him.

"I'd love to."

The hospital cafeteria was empty, causing the music to filter around the room and bounce off the walls. Rory took a seat at a table as Jess, went to purchase two cups of stale coffee.

She sipped on the coffee and grimaced, suddenly craving one of Luke's special hazelnut coffees. Staring into her cup she willed herself to look up and start the conversation.

"I'm glad you came." Rory looked up in surprise noticing that Jess's head was still lowered.

"You said that."

"Well if it wasn't for you, I might have starved."

Rory grinned and settled back in her seat, the smiled suddenly leaving her face.

"Jess, you know we have to have that conversation sooner or later. But what is going to happen when you get home?"

"Well I'm going to check on the bookstore, maybe check a few emails." Jess smirked as Rory threw him an annoyed look.

"I know what I did was wrong."

"Rory." Jess grabbed her hand, his thumb caressing the skin on the inside of the wrist. "I want this to work this time."

"So you're cautious?"

"Not cautious, but I don't want to rush things."

"Okay." Rory nodded finally understanding that Jess was different and he really had changed.

"I have a flight back tomorrow, so why don't you call me when you get back?" Jess nodded and pulled on her hand, causing her to lean forward across the table.



Jess leaned in and watched as she licked her lips in anticipation, his lips softly touching hers. Rory closed her eyes slowly and when she felt his lips part slightly she breathed deeply. This was different to the last time they kissed; sparks flew from her diaphragm and exploded between their mouths.

Jess tried to move to get closer and Rory tried to shift on her chair, but the table became in the way. Her hand reached up to hold onto his cheek, her head tilting allowing Jess to move his chair closer to hers.

Jess suddenly felt the drop in his stomach, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time. Not surprised that is was Rory who had facilitated this feeling, breaking the kiss he sat back his hand still holding on to her wrist.

"Wow." She whispered her lips plumb and full from his kisses.

"Yeah." He agreed.

They both sat there in the cafeteria, staring at each other. Oblivious to anyone who would walk into and notice them, two cups of cold stale coffee resting between them.