Disclaimer: This is an original story based upon the characters of Gilmore Girls. No profit will be made from this story and no copyright infringement is intended.
Author's Note: Thank you all for your feedback on the last chapter. I appreciate it! Sorry it's taken me so long to get the next one up. I hope you all enjoy the next installment.
"Time to go," Emily said with "I mean it" eyes.
"Mom, the fever is gone, I feel a lot better," Lorelai said but was completely ignored.
"I have a severe allergy to tongue depressors," Lorelai said sticking out her bottom lip, "My tongue breaks out in a rash."
"Considering that line didn't work when you were eight, do you really think that it will work now?" Emily asked as she bent down so Lorelai could get a grip on her shoulder.
Lorelai grinned, "That was a memorable trip to the doctor wasn't it?"
"Oh just wonderful. If you whistle in the stethoscope, or stick the tongue depressors up your nose again, you are promptly going to be disowned," Emily said as she reached out a hand to help her up.
"Really? I should have tried that again years ago."
"Stand up and shut up please."
They made it as far as the door before Lorelai's cell phone rang. "Honestly Lorelai, tell the man we will call him when we get back from the doctor. We'll never get there if he keeps calling to see if you're okay. We don't if you're okay any more than we did five minutes ago!" Emily said as she rolled her eyes.
"Relax Mom it's not Luke, its Sookie...Hey Sook," she said as she answered the phone. They had a quick conversation. "Yeah, I'll be right there...bye."
"We'll have to stop by the inn Mom," Lorelai said as Emily helped her into the car.
"Why? Can't they handle it there?"
"I have to sign some papers. It will only take a few minutes."
"Alright, only a few minutes," Emily said as she moved around to her side of the car.
"Considering I can't move without assistance Mom, I think you have the advantage."
There was nothing in the world that filled Emily with more pride than seeing the Dragonfly Inn. It was it's own world, a world her girl created. The beauty of it astounded her and yet she couldn't bring herself to tell Lorelai that. Maybe it was because criticism had become second nature to her, maybe it was because the world was still so different from hers. If she was going to being honest with herself, there was a part of her that didn't know what to make of Lorelai's success. Lorelai had broken the rules, changed the plans, and yet here she was running a successful business. It wasn't that she was resentful of Lorelai's success; it just made no sense to her. She couldn't comprehend it. But, as they pulled into the parking lot of the inn, Emily heart swelled.
"I am so proud of you," the words came out before she realized it, but she couldn't have stopped them had she tried. There was silence after she said it and when she turned to look at daughter, Lorelai was staring at her with tears pooling in her eyes.
"Oh stop crying, I've said it before," Emily said rolling her eyes.
Lorelai shook her head, "Not since I was fifteen and won the Harriet Beecher Stowe award for the paper I wrote in English."
Emily felt the guilt tear at her in the bottom of her stomach. Had it really been that long? She unbuckled her seatbelt and went over to Lorelai's side of the car. She spoke with more tenderness as she gently lifted Lorelai up and put her arm around her waist. "Just lean on me," she said as they walked into the foyer. Emily's eyes lit up as she watched Lorelai do her job and as she saw how much the employees thought of her.
"Lorelai!" Sookie's voice came from the kitchen. "I'm so glad you're here! Hi Emily!"
"Hello Sookie, how are you?" Emily nodded.
"Great," Sookie said and then turned to Lorelai, "Sweetie, it's so good to see you up and about. Do you have a minute before you go to the doctor? Can you taste one the crescent rolls? I tried a new recipe."
"Actually Sookie we..." Emily started, but Lorelai cut her off. "Yeah, we have a minute."
Sookie moved in to take Emily's place and Lorelai leaned on her as they walked to the kitchen.
"Two minutes and counting!" Emily called after her.
"Yes mother," Lorelai replied and then turned around and smiled. Oh that smile, that beautiful smile that could melt Emily's heart when she was angry, and light up the world when she was sad. It was that smile she missed the most over those sixteen years. As Lorelai slowly made it down the hall, Emily tapped a tourist on the shoulder, and pointed down the hall, "That's my daughter," she said. "She owns this inn." The woman nodded and Emily smiled happily as she sat down as she waited for Lorelai to return.
It all happened so fast and slow at the same time. She had picked up a Better Homes and Garden's magazine when there was a crash coming from the kitchen.
"Lorelai!" Sookie screamed.
Emily tore out of her seat as if the hand of the almighty had thrown her out of it. She ran down the hall towards the kitchen. "Dear God," she cried out when she saw a deathly pale Lorelai collapsed on the floor. "Call 911!" she cried. "Lorelai!" she knelt down and gathered her into her arms. "Lorelai!" She put her head against Lorelai's chest and went dizzy with relief to hear she was getting air.
"The ambulance is on it's way Emily," Sookie cried out. Emily cradled Lorelai's head against her heart, and rocked her back and forth. "Dear God," she whispered, "Not now, please don't take my baby."
"Alright baby, that's right, Mommy's here," Emily said as she gently took the newborn out of her crib. She sat down on the rocking chair and began to rock back and forth. "That's right Mommy's right here," she whispered. She fed her while stroking her velvet cheek and soft silky hair and when she was done, she brought her up close to her and put her cheek against the small one.
"I love you," she whispered.
"Can someone call my husband please?" Emily cried out as they lifted Lorelai into the ambulance and she stepped in with her. "Have him meet us at the hospital!"
The ride to the hospital seemed to take hours. Two men worked over Lorelai while she watched, "She was in an accident ..." she said and her voice seemed far away, "She was having pain...in her side," but it seemed as though no one heard her.
"Tell me what's happening!" Emily cried out, but no one would answer her. She desperately wished for Richard. Lorelai looked so pale. She felt so helpless. By the time they reached the hospital, Lorelai still hadn't regained consciousness. Emily felt fear in a way she had never known. When the accident had happened, when Richard had his heart attack, she had been terrified. This was different. Watching her daughter's face, so still and white, filled her with a feeling that shook her to her very core. She felt it in her pores, it seeped through her like ice water. She didn't cry, just stared at the people whisking Lorelai away into the hospital. The voices seemed to blend together, like she was hearing the talk from under water. She hurried after Lorelai, her skin tingled as she walked and she felt like she was falling. She caught some of what the ambulance people were saying.
"Car accident...lost consciousness...Mom says...complained of pain in side...Mom's behind us...in shock."
Suddenly a nurse touched her on the arm and Emily cried out.
"Mrs. Gilmore...daughter allergic...medications?"
"What?" Emily said, "Where's...where's my daughter?"
"Mrs. Gilmore, in...shock...need to...give you..."
"I want to see my daughter," her words felt foggy, "Please"
Suddenly, she could hear another voice, and her heart leaped into her chest. "Where is my daughter? Where's my wife? Where's Emmy! Emmy!"
"Richard!" she called out to him, and in a moment she was in his arms, Richard's strong, wonderful arms. She melted into him as he held her, and when they parted he took her face into his hands. "What happened?" he whispered hoarsely.
Emily shook her head, "I...I don't know. She had a fever during the night...and...I...we were going to he doctor when we stopped at the inn...and she collapsed...oh God Richard...I...I should have called the ambulance last night..." suddenly she felt dizzy and fell back against Richard.
"She's in shock Mr. Gilmore, I can give her something," the nurse said gently.
"No..." Emily shook her head. "No, I don't want anything."
"Emmy," Richard said gently, rubbing her back, "Let them give you something."
"I don't want to sleep," she said.
"It's alright Mrs. Gilmore," the nurse said gently, "It won't put you to sleep."
It seemed to her that she had just nodded her approval when she felt the sting of the needle. Richard put his arm around her and she leaned into his embrace. The feeling of drowning soon disappaited, her skin stopped crawling and she didn't feel as though she was gasping for the breaths she took. The doctor came out, a different one than with the car accident and the nervous parents entwined hands as they stood up.
"Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore, I'm afraid Lorelai is in acute kidney failure. The accident severely damaged her left kidney and now the right one is beginning to shut down as well. She is going to need a transplant within the next five hours."
The hands closed tighter, pressing against each other until both of their knuckles were white. "If you have possible donors available, we need to start testing them right away. Of course a family member has the greatest potential for a match; I know Lorelai has a daughter."
"Richard," Emily cut the doctor off and turned her husband towards her. "Richard, she's in Portland, the rally in Portland. Fly there and get her, get her on a plane and bring her here," Richard nodded slowly, "I can't leave...Emily...what if she..." he said as his voice shook. "Richard," Emily said forcefully as if their roles had been reversed and she was now being the strong one, "Get Rory. Get Rory now."
Richard quickly bent down and kissed her. "I'll...I'll be back by tonight. I'll bring her back," he whispered and hurried down the hall.
Emily suddenly felt very alone. "Where do I need to go to be tested?"
"The third floor, the nurse will take you there," the doctor said and went back in the direction of Lorelai.
"Doctor," Emily whispered in a haunting, tortured voice, "That pain in her side...it was her kidney wasn't?"
The doctor seemed to know where she was going with her questions and sighed sympathetically, "Yes, it was...but we don't know if early detection would have made any difference."
Emily said nothing, just followed the nurse down the corridor. She was half way down the hall when it seemed as if a blur of flannel whizzed by her and grabbed her arm. "Emily!" Luke said, "Where is she? Is she okay?" The fear in Luke's eyes took her breath away. "
"She...she needs a kidney transplant. I'm on my way to get tested for a match" Emily said slowly, staring ahead at the wall.
"I'll go with you," he said and suddenly put his arm around her, helping her walk. If anyone would have ever told her she would get comfort from Luke Danes, she would have laughed hysterically.
"Richard is on his way to get Rory," she whispered, and feeling weak, she put her arm around Luke as well to hold herself up.
"That's good," Luke nodded. "I'll get people from the town to come in and test too."
Suddenly Emily stopped and drew in a sharp breath, "Dear God Luke...what if Lorelai...before Rory gets here," she whispered, stifling a sob. He tightened his grip on her.
"She's not going anywhere," he said firmly. We're going to find her a kidney. They'll test you and me and..."
"Me," came a voice from behind them. "I'm coming too."
It was a voice that sounded sweet, but caused Emily's stomach to churn and her heart to clench in her chest. It was the voice that belonged to the woman who for sixteen years had what she could not...her daughter.
Mia.