Kyle quickly stood from the couch when he heard keys on the other side of the door. Dean stepped inside but stopped as soon as he noticed the strange look he was getting from Kyle.

"Dean where the hell have you been?" Kyle asked frantically still holding the phone.

"I was just out, taking a drive. Why, what's with you?"

"I've tried to call you like twenty times. Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"I turned it off; I just wanted a day of quiet, if that's okay?"

"Clearly you have no idea what happened today. Haven't you seen or heard the news?"

"Kyle I told you…I've been alone all day driving. What's going on?"

"Lorelai called here and asked for you, she said she tried your cell but there wasn't an answer…"

"Are you kidding me? Is she still hung up on me going to see Rory? I swear she isn't going to give up."

"No Dean wait." Kyle was quiet for a moment not sure how to say it. "It is about Rory, but it's not what you think it is."

Taking notice of the scared look on Kyle's face Dean began to panic himself. "What then, what's going on?"

"Rory was shot today."

"What?"

"She is in the hospital and last I heard she was still in surgery. Lorelai has been trying to find you for like the last three hours."

Dean legs instantly collapsed from beneath him; luckily the couch was behind him to break his fall. "I don't understand how this happened. Who would want to shoot Rory?"

"She was working…walking outside after the speech on television today. Some crazy person had a gun and he shot several people. Rory was one of the lucky ones; it's all over the news."

"Lucky, how is she lucky? We don't even know if she is going to be okay, I mean where was she shot?"

"I don't know all of the details; I just meant that some people didn't even make it to the hospital alive."

"I have to get there, do you know which hospital?"

"Yeah I wrote all the information down for you here." Kyle grabbed a piece of paper from the table and handed it to him. Dean tried to stand from his sitting position but instantly fell back down. "Hey man, maybe I should drive you there."

"Thanks but I should just drive myself, I doubt I'll be coming back home tonight." He explained gaining back his balance and finally standing on his feet.

"Well if you need anything just call and also make sure you call as soon as you know how she is too."

"I will, thanks Kyle."

At the hospital…

Rory's eyes slowly opened and tried to adjust to the bright light. The first thing she noticed was the sound of her mother's voice.

"Rory honey."

"Mom." She managed to get out groggily.

"Yeah it's me, how are you feeling?"

"I don't really feel anything."

"Well that's probably a good thing considering you have a bullet hole in your side." She said trying to make light of the situation. "The doctor said your surgery went fine and that you should be back to normal in a week or two."

Rory's hands moved up to her stomach and she smoothed the blanket out across the small bump there. "What about the baby, is she going to be okay?"

Lorelai smiled before answering. "Yeah everything is fine. The bullet went towards your back instead of to the side where it would have had a huge effect on the baby and probably an even bigger effect on yourself. The doctor said you both were really lucky." Rory smiled back at her mom glad to hear the good news. "Look up there." She pointed to the heart monitor beside the bed. "That line on the top is your heartbeat and underneath is the baby's."

Luke suddenly opened the door to the room surprising both of them who were so caught up talking to each other. "Rory, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?" He asked taking a few steps into the room but still keeping a certain distance from the bed.

"I feel okay; I guess that's pretty good considering."

"That's great. Do you mind if I borrow your mom for a few minutes? The nurse out here has all these forms to fill out, I tried to do what I could of them but there are a few things that I don't know."

"No go ahead, I'm fine."

"You sure, I could just do that stuff later."

"No I'm sure it's important, go ahead, really I'm fine."

"Okay we'll be right outside though if you need us."

"I know mom." She said now laughing at her as she closed the door.

As soon as she turned away from the door to walk towards the nurse's station she noticed Dean walking towards her down the hall. "Well at least something good might come out of this whole mess." Lorelai whispered to Luke before Dean was close enough to hear them.

"Stay out of it Lorelai, they have to work this out, not you."

"I know that." She said under her breath while continuing to smile at Dean as he approached them.

"I came as soon as I got your message. How is she?" Dean asked still clearly scared.

"You have perfect timing, she actually just woke up. Everything is going to be okay; the doctor said she will have to stay in the hospital for a few nights though. You want to go in and see her?"

"Yeah I do." He said taking a deep breath. "It's funny though, I swore to myself that no matter what, she would have to come to me and now here I am."

"Maybe there is a higher power at work here trying it's best to get two stubborn people together." Luke quickly gave her the mind your own business look. "Go ahead in, we have some paperwork to take care of but we'll be back in a little bit."

"You know what; neither of us has eaten today. So we're going to grab a bite to eat in the cafeteria when we're done here. It will also give the two of you some time to talk alone." Luke quickly interjected.

Dean nodded before continuing towards the door. They both stood still watching until Dean was in the room and the door shut behind him.