Chapter 3: As long as you love me
5 months and 2 weeks had passes since the day Tristan was shipped off…The first month was the most difficult for Rory. After that, it got easier, the pain didn't completely go away, nor did the loneliness but it got easier. She sighed as she looked at the calendar. 2 weeks. He was coming home in 2 weeks…she was so ecstatic she could hardly breathe.
"Who could that be" She muttered to herself as she looked at the time when hearing the doorbell rang. It was only 10 am…on a Sunday. Throwing on a sweater, she walked to the door and opened it…only to find two men dressed in uniform standing at her door. Tears welled in her eyes at the mere sight of them. This was never good, she had seen movies…it was never good for uniform men to come to your doorstep.
"Ms. Gilmore?" One of them spoke going on when she nodded mutely "You were listed as the contact for Tristan Dugrey?"
"Yeah is he okay?" she asked frantically
"He is hanging in there…Dugrey's a fighter" the one who was standing in the back said sympathetically, as if he knew who Tristan was.
"You know him? Is he alright?" Rory asked ushering them inside
"I know him" the man confirmed "We're sorry to inform you that his unit has been taken in by the Iraqi military" he said and just like a dam…her tears fell silently down her cheeks
"We can assure you that we are doing everything in our power to get them out of there" he said firmly sighing as he saw her nod mutely "Tristan's going to be fine…he loves you too much not to come back" he added
"How do you know him" Rory whispered
"I was his commanding officer when he was in training…I remember you. Never met you, but his description fits perfectly" he said with a smile
She nodded "Okay. Uhm…will you call me if anything…" she trailed off
He nodded "Of course…we have your information. Hang in there Rory" he said before making his way out
She knew this was a bad idea…it was bad from the beginning. She knew something like this would happen, her life had been too good lately…why not ruin It a little?
"Ace, it's early" the voice on the other end whined
"Logan" She choked "Tristan…his unit…his unit's been taken in by the Iraqi military" was all she managed to get out between sobs
"I'm coming" he said before hanging up
"What happened Rory" Logan demanded softly as he bolted through the door, looking for her in the apartment, finding her sitting on the couch staring out into space. He approached her and sat down next to her.
"They came here to tell me" she whispered as a single tear made its way down her cheek "I guess they got his unit…"
Logan frowned, Tristan was his best friend. "But they're only medics…why would they take them?!" he asked incredulously
She shook her head, her tears falling faster "I don know…I don't know." she whispered
"Did they say how bad it was?" he asked
"No…they don't know much" She said hoarsely
"He'll get through this" he said, convincing both of them "He's Tristan…"
"That doesn't make him invincible" Rory sniffled
"Try a little optimism" Logan said annoyed at the situation "he'll be fine. I mean people do this all the time"
"Logan sit down" Rory said, feeling guilty that she hadn't even considered his feelings in all of this. He was his best friend…she knew how he was feeling. "You want something to eat?"
"Ice cream. Or pie. Or cake. Or pizza" he listed off
She laughed sadly "You sound like a girl" she teased walking into the kitchen and grabbing what she had
"Thanks" he said shortly, grabbing the fork from her and digging into the pie she handed him, taking a huge bite before taking a deep breath and leaning back into the couch
"Feel better?" she asked, taking her previous position on the couch
He nodded "Yes oddly" making her laugh
"Well now you know why we take comfort in food"
"I love him Logan" Rory said quietly, tucking he legs beneath her and facing him
He nodded "I know…and so do I"
"He's all I've got" She whispered
Logan shook his head throwing an arm around her and bring her head to rest on his shoulder "You have me…" he said softly "And he loves you so much Rory…he won't leave you."
Rory nodded against his shoulder "Stay here tonight?" she asked not wanting to be alone
Logan closed his eyes taking deep breath "Sure. You want to call Lane?" he asked
Rory smiled "Yeah sure…you should call her, tell her what's going on" she said, happy that Lane and Logan found each other. They were good together…
He nodded "In a bit. She's with her mom right now" he said with a small shudder making Rory chuckle
"Mrs. Kim still not warming up to you?"
"Warming up?" he asked incredulously "She should be melting by now…we've been dating for a year!"
"Well give her time. And if not, don't worry…Lane's her own person. And she really loves you" Rory said softly
Logan softened a bit, his heart beating slightly quicker "Yeah?" he asked amused
"Yeah" Rory confirmed
"You guys talk about me a lot?" he asked smugly
Lifting her head from his shoulder she rolled her eyes "Arrogant bastard. I don't know what she sees in you" She teased
"Not in me baby…its what she sees" he joked making her shake her head while rolling her eyes.
"Call Lane!" She said pushing up a little
"Like I said, with her mom" he reminded her
"Exactly. She'll be happy for the distraction" Rory said raising her eyebrows, pointing out the obvious.
Logan laughed nodding his head as he took out his phone and dialed her number. "Awww look at that Lane is number 1 on your speed dial?" Rory cooed as he held the phone up to his ear
Logan glared at her and batted her hands away from him, which ere pinching his cheeks mockingly. "Hi Lane!" Rory shouted into the phone before Logan said anything
Lane laughed "Logan? Is that you?" she asked
Logan shook his head at Rory "Yeah it's me…what are you up to?" he asked
"Shopping…with my mother" She said in disdain
"Well where are you shopping?" he asked
"New York…I was going to stop by Rory's later but I'm guessing you're already there?" She asked knowingly
"Yup. Come on over…your mom can take of herself for a few hours cant she?"
"My mom could probably fight the Nam on her own and still come out unscathed. I'll be there in a bit"
"See I told you!" Rory exclaimed
"Hey hi hello, I'm here what's wrong?" lane asked immediately as she walked through the door
Logan raised an eyebrow at her from his spot on the couch. "What are you talking about? How long have you spent with your mother?" he asked suspiciously
Lane glared slightly "Oh stop it! I'm not an idiot Logan, the tone of your voice…and you're here with Rory. What's wrong" She demanded
Rory spoke up "Tristan isn't coming home in 2 weeks" she said vaguely
Lane's eyes widened immediately sat down between Rory and Logan "I'm sorry guys…" She said sympathetically "Why? His unit got extended?"
Logan shook his head, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath "He…he's been taken in by the government" he said quietly
"What!" Lane screeched "Please say our government!" shaking her head in sadness when both remained silent "Guys…"
"We're okay. Logan had pie. And we're okay" Rory said trying to convince herself of that as well.
Lane narrowed her eyes at Logan "Pie?" She asked confused
"I've figured out your secret, Pie…pie makes the world better" he stated
"You sound like a woman. I don know if I can date you anymore" Lane stated seriously.
Logan smirked leaning closer "Aw you don't mean that. You love the feminine side of me" he teased
Lane raised an eyebrow "Did you just say feminine side of you?"
"Anyways" Rory stated saving Logan "You want something to eat Lane?" she asked
Lane shook her head "no but you guys must be crushed right now…." She said sympathetically "And so am I! Did they say anything else?"
Rory shook her head "I'm guessing they don't know much either."
Lane shot Rory an incredulous look "Okay so I may have gone online and done some research on POW's and all that" She sighed
"Better" Lane coaxed
"And it's horrible…which is why I don't want to think about it. I mean what if they're torturing him as we speak? What am I supposed to do about that? I don't want to think! God Lane…don't you get it; I'm better off not knowing! I would kill myself if I knew for sure that he was going through some of the stuff I read today!" Rory said, her voice rising louder with each word she spoke.
Lane remained silent "Are you done?" she asked
"Sorry" Rory mumbled in embarrassment
"I'm glad you got that off your chest" Lane shrugged "But Tristan is going to be fine…I mean have you seen the guy? He'll be home before you know it…" she assured
"Thanks" Rory said
"Okay" Lane said letting out a breath while placing a hand on both Logan and Rory's legs "We need to do something"
"Do something? Like what? I think the military would frown upon us creating our own covert operation" Rory retorted
Lane rolled her eyes "Let's…go watch a movie!" She suggested
"Too lazy." Logan answered earning a glare from Lane
"Fine. Well then order some pizza, and we'll just watch something here" She said
Logan groaned "I'll fall asleep"
"Yeah so will I" Rory muttered in agreement
"You two suck you know that?" Lane grumbled
"We try babe. Just relax…" Logan said pulling her back so she was leaning against the couch like they were.
"Listen, why don't you guys just stay tonight? I mean…I don't really feel like being alone" Rory asked more than stated
Lane nodded "I don't mind…Logan?"
"Of course Ace" He said easily "We're all yours"
"So. How much faith exactly do you have in our armed forces?" Rory asked suddenly after a while
"Popping a movie in right now" Lane stated looking pointedly at both Logan and Rory.
A/N: Okay so there it is…next chap is sort of a big one :) Please review. I have half the next chap written so I may be nice and post that real soon too