AN i'm extrmely sorry with the lack of the update... my work schedule has been demented! Anyway a short chapter and don't worry we only have a few chapter left and maybe an epilogue and then i finish Simple Things.

So have fun and RR

Rory sat in the airport lounge a small lingering smile on her face, touching her lips with the tip of her fingers.

Jess wandered down the long white corridor and realized Rory's absence immediately; nurses seeing an abrupt change in the dark haired man from moody to smiling at everyone. Sasha had commented that they had acted like a couple of teenagers, which only proved to make Jess grin more.

By the end of the second week, Jimmy was progressing nicely and was discharged to go home.

Rory sat at her desk Monday morning, her chin resting in her hand. She hadn't heard from Jess all week and she was worried, what if had change his mind figuring it wasn't worth it. Her cell phone beeped and she grabbed it pressing the button to read the message.

'Here is your mission; you are cordially invited to partake in a goose chase! Take a left from the building you are in and walk three blocks north.'

Rory sat back and stared at the vague message, frowning she re-read the message. Glancing at the clock at the end of the hall she noticed it wasn't that long till her lunch break, she could always take a long lunch.

Her cell phone beeped once more and she found herself checking the second message.

'I know you are contemplating, but I know your curiosity. Take a leap of faith or you could sit at your desk and have a sandwich?'

Amused she grabbed her bag and her jacket from the back of her chair and left the office, she followed the directions her gaze trying to check if anyone was following her. Whoever it was knew her fairly well; after all she was a journalist which in turn meant curiosity was part of the job.

'Cross the street and make a left at the corner, walks two blocks and make a right.'

Rory pressed her lips together in a fine line and shrugged her shoulders, adjusting the strap of her purse tighter against her shoulder.

She stopped for a moment outside the Washington Park gates, frowning she looked from her left to her right. The small beep alerted her to another message; she lifted her phone to read.

'Go on walk through the gates; follow the winding path just like Dorothy. Take a right towards the lake.'

Rory hurried her pace and followed the winding path that was adjacent the lake, looking around she spotted a hot dog stand off the right against some benches. She noticed a large tree overlooking the lake a large blanket placed on the ground.

"Hungry yet? Go to the hot dog stand, get two with everything and wait for me by the tree.'



Rory glanced at her cell phone suddenly becoming irritated, glancing at the hot dog stand she realized she was hungry. Ordering two hot dogs she grabbed her purse and pulled out a couple of bills to pay the vendor.

"It's already take care of sweetheart." The vendor smiled his quirky smile causing her to grin.

Walking across the grass she was about to kneel onto the blanket watching as matt abruptly buped into her.

"Rory hey." Matt looked around embarrassed.

"Matt hi, um weird question but you didn't send me any messages did you?"

"Me? No I'm just taking a walk, a nice leisurely walk at lunch time. That's me." Rory frowned at him confused thinking that maybe he was working too many hours at the bookstore. Shrugging her shoulders she smiled politely and kneeled onto the blanket the hot dogs still held in her hand.

"I'm surprised that you actually turned up, you were always terrible with directions." She turned in surprise as Jess emerged from behind the tree; he casually sat on the blanket and stared at her.

He leaned forward slowly and Rory closed her eyes in anticipation, waiting she crinkled her brow when she re-opened her eyes and noticed she no longer held her lunch.

"That's yours." Jess pointed to the container that had appeared on the blanket. Rory grabbed the container and pulled on the lid immediately wrinkling her nose when she sniffed the contents.

"Tofu?"

"What's good for the goose, and I expect you to eat it all." Jess bit into one of the hot dogs with a satisfactory moan.

"Fine." Grabbing a fork she scooped the tofu and placed it into her mouth, she hummed and painfully swallowed before placing the container back down onto the blanket.

"That stuff's disgusting."

"I know." Jess agreed.

"Give me a hot dog?" Rory leaned forward and Jess pulled his hand backwards.

"What's it worth?" Jess smirked and held onto Rory's shoulders forgetting about the hot dogs.

"Ugh my lips hurt." Rory complained her back leaning against Jess's chest.



"Yeah, i'm irresistable." Jess grabbed the flask beside him and leaned forward grabbing two plastic cups, Rory instantly lifted her head.

"You brought coffee?"

"I brought coffee."

Rory inhaled the coffee when he passed her the cup, she took a small sip her eyes lighting up.

"This tastes like Luke's coffee."

"You don't work in a diner, without learning a few trade secrets." Jess winked at her and lifted his own cup to his mouth, his eyes never leaving her face.

"And would those secrets include Luke's famous pancakes?" Jess nodded and Rory squealed in delight almost knocking over her coffee.

"You'll have to cook me them sometime." Jess looked up in surprise and noticed the two spots of color settle on her cheeks.

"Sure, if you behave yourself." Rory looked over the brim of her cup and smiled back at him.

Rory glanced at her watch and cursed inwardly, that time had gone too quickly. Grabbing her purse she checked her cell phone.

"Lunch time over?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. We have a staff meeting at 3pm and I have to prepare some notes."

"No problem, help me clear up and I'll give you a ride back." Jess grabbed the flask and twisted the cap back into place.

He pulled up against the kerb outside the newspaper building and turned off the ignition.

"I had fun today."

"Good, it's not every day you get to eat Tofu."

"This is true." Rory smirked and un-buckled her seatbelt grabbing her purse she held onto the handle of the door. Feeling impulsive she leaned over and kissed Jess, what started out as a simple kiss turned into a very heated kiss on a cool Philadelphia day.



A few days later Rory picked up her cell phone and shoved it into her bag, switching her computer off she tapped her foot impatiently before dashing away from her desk.

"Whoa where's the fire?" Lisa Held Rory by her arms.

"I have a date with jess tonight and I want to get ready."

"Isn't this like the fifth date in a row now?" Lisa queried

"Yes it is, why? Are you keeping a tally?"

"No I just know that you haven't done the deed, or at least if you have your very good at covering it up."

"We're taking things slow." Rory argued.

"Yeah real slow, any slower honey and you'll come to a grinding halt." Lisa muttered but Rory had heard her and threw her an annoying glare.