Disclaimer: I own Jason, Nikki, Maggie, and the Rehabilitation Center. Also, a few other minor characters in the story.

Summary: Even in a dark world of crazy parties, alcohol, and waking up in unknown places … there's someone at the end waiting to help you back to reality. Literati. AU.

A/N: Thank you for the reviews on the last chapter. They make me update a lot faster.

Jess was sitting in the chair in front of Rory's desk and fumbling with the hem of his shirt. His hands were still shaking, slightly.

"Jess, when's the last time you ate?" Rory asked, looking at him with worry in her eyes.

"Two days ago," Jess said, not looking up at her.

Rory sighed and looked through her purse, "That could be a reason that your shaking so badly." She pulled out a Pay-Day and handed it to him.

Jess un-wrapped it, slowly and took a bite. He chewed and swallowed before looking up at her, "Thanks." He said.

He looked so innocent. Like a five year old who lost his parents. Rory took a moment to look him over. She opened her mouth to say something, but he cut her off.

"I bet you have no clue what I feel like."

"Actuall-" Rory started, but he cut her off again.

"I mean, of course you've had patients who are just like me and they've described how they felt, but you've never felt the pain."

"Well, I-"

"You can lecture us all you want, but until you are in our shoes you'll never know how hard it is."

"Jess!" Rory finally managed to get his attention. He looked up at her with a mixed emotion in his eyes. Pain, anger, confusion … it was all swirling around in his big brown eyes.

She took a deep breath and bit her lip before continuing, "I'm not supposed to share my personal life with my patients, but … I'm a recovered addict. Okay? I have been there. I have had the withdrawals, I have stayed up all night with my head half-way in the toilet, and I've woken up not remembering what happened the night before. I know how you feel."

Jess just stared at her and let her continue what she had to say. "But look at me. I haven't touched liquor since I've been out of rehab. I started drinking after my boyfriend helped me steal a yacht, I stopped talking to my mother, and I dropped out of Yale. My boyfriend and I stopped seeing each other and I drank at least five bottles a night. One morning my room mate found me passed out in the bathroom after I had taken one too many pills and washed it down with vodka."

Rory stopped and took a deep breath to continue, "She told my mother about it and mom immediately sent me here. I wouldn't talk to her, I was so angry. I thought she sent me here because she didn't love me. I got forty days of rehab and surprisingly, I recovered. I started talking to my mom again and I got back into Yale. When I graduated I was twenty-two years old. And now I have two jobs. I'm a journalist and I work here. I drink wine every now and then … on occasion, but I can control it."

Jess nodded and looked down at his lap where he was crumpling the candy wrapper in his right hand. He sighed, "After I graduated high school I left and never came home. I was a stubborn ass hole back then and cared about no one, but myself. I traveled and didn't really keep in touch with my family, my older brother and sister or my parents. I called on holidays and that's about it. I'd mail them their gifts. When I was twenty-two, my father was diagnosed with cancer. My brother called and told me and all I did was call my dad once a week to check in. I never even went to check on him. How selfish is that?"

He rubbed his corners of his eyes and continued, "When I turned twenty-three I got a call from my sister saying that my dad had died. This was the same guy who used to be my hero when I was eight. Jimmy Mariano, the best dad anyone could ask for and I just left him. When I got home for the services my sister had told me that all he wanted to do was see me. And that he looked forward to when I would call him. After his funeral I drowned my sorrows with alcohol. Ever since then I drank and did anything I could to get that off of my mind."

Jess couldn't look up at her, because he knew once he did he would feel guilty for everything that he already told himself not to feel guilty for. But, he did. He looked up at her and she was staring at him with sympathetic eyes.

"I'm sorry," She said, softly.

"Don't worry about it," Jess replied. He was surprised he had opened up to her and actually felt comfortable doing it.

"We have family sessions tonight. Would you want anyone to come? Your sister? Brother? Mother?" Rory asked, hoping he'd want someone.

Jess thought about them all. His mother was never mad at him. Her sister forgave him already for being such an ass. It was just his brother who never really let it go. Jess nodded his head, "My brother."

Rory smiled, "Okay, I'll call him. Go get you something to eat in the cafeteria."

Nodding, he stood up. He smiled at her slightly and walked out of her office

"Is Jason Mariano available?" Rory asked, twisting the phone cord around her index finger and leaning back in her chair.

"Yes ma'am, one moment let me transfer you." The lady said.

After a few moments Rory heard the line click, "Jason Mariano."

"Hi, my name's Rory Gilmore. I'm your brother's counselor down here at the Rehabilitation Center." Rory said, sitting up in her chair and resting her elbows on the desk.

"Oh, hello, what can I do for you?" Jason asked, setting down his pen on the desk in front of him.

"Tonight is family sessions here and Jess said he wanted you to come. It's kind of like getting everything out of your system. Telling him what you feel about his addiction and the cause for it."

"No, I'm sorry … I have plans." Jason said, clearing his throat.

Rory sighed and ran her hand through her hair, "Can't you at least try to make it? Can you re-schedule your plans?"

"I'm sorry. I can't make it." Jason said, pulling his tie loose on his shirt.

"Listen, Mr. Mariano-"

"Call me Jason." He cut her off.

"Okay, Jason, your brother has been carrying around guilt for something that wasn't his fault for a long time. He is trying to let go of it all and get help. Maybe you need to let it go, also," Rory bit the inside of her lip.

There was a long silence and then, "I'm sorry, Ms. Gilmore, I can't make it." And with that the line went dead and Rory slammed the phone down, aggravated.

Later that night, Rory walked down into the conference room and over to Jess. He turned and smiled slightly at her, "I came. Are you happy?"

Rory smiled at him, "Jess, listen, I'm sorry. Your brother said he had something he needed to do tonight and he couldn't make it."

His face fell, slightly, "Oh, its okay. I understand. I knew he probably wouldn't come anyways."

She reached forward and laid her hand on his arm, "I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Jess looked down at her hand and she quickly jerked it away. He smirked a bit and walked past her. He turned around before he left, "Thanks, Rory." He smiled a little and continued to walk away from her.

Rory watched him walk away and then turned, bumping into a man, "I'm so sorry." She laughed a little and looked up at him, "I am so clumsy."

The man looked down at her, "Nah, its fine. I'm here for a Rory Gilmore." He looked around the room.

"Oh, well." She stuck out her hand, "I'm Rory Gilmore. And you?"

"I'm Jason Mariano." He shook her hand, "I thought about what you said."

Rory broke out into a smile, "Oh good! Jess just left, let me go get him. Thank you for coming." She walked away from him in search of Jess.

Jason just watched her walk away, smiling to himself.

A/N: Okay so you got the history of both of them! Review, please! Reviews make me very happy.