A/N: This is the final chapter, I think. It definitely leaves things open, and I think I will write a follow up, but I wanted to at least resolve the emotional conflict of this storyline. Hopefully it's satisfying after the long wait. Content warning in this chapter for mentions of abuse and sex work. Thanksfor reading!
Luke led Lorelai and Rory back out to the waiting room.
"How are you holding up?" Lorelai asked.
He had to think about it. "Me? I'm okay. A little worn out."
"I bet," Lorelai said sympathetically.
"Thanks again, I know it was a big ask. Let me give you some gas money."
"Luke please, you don't owe us anything. We're happy we could help."
"Yeah," Rory said sincerely, "it was fun to have a mission."
"Can we do anything else?" Lorelai asked. "We could run and get you and Liz something to eat."
"Oh uh yeah, that would be great. Anything. All I've had today was a cup of coffee."
"Okay, what do you want, burgers? Sandwiches? What does Liz like?"
"Oh she'll eat anything. Sandwiches I guess. That would be great. I should probably get back."
"Oh, Luke," Rory said with a start, "I almost forgot!" She handed him a canvas tote bag, " I brought some books and music for Jess, and a discman. I thought maybe he would want some entertainment," she finished uncertainly, feeling foolish.
"Oh wow, I'm sure he'll love this. He likes to sleep with music on so I'm sure this will be great. Thanks, Rory." He gave her an awkward little side hug.
"Okay, see you soon," Lorelai said.
"See ya."
Luke walked back down the short hallway to Jess' room. He stopped in the doorway and watched his sister sitting on the side of the bed holding Jess' hand and talking softly to him. He felt relieved to have Liz there. He sat down next to the bed in the recliner and listened to her tell Jess all about the pigeons on her fire escape and the drama with the warring bodega owners on their block. From what he could tell Jess seemed to be asleep, not that anything could stop Liz once she got going, but he looked more comfortable and at ease than he had before.
The nurse, Carletta, came in to hang more fluids and give Jess his noon medications. "And who is this beautiful lady?" She asked.
"Oh hi, I'm Liz Danes, Jess' mom."
"So nice to meet you. Mr. Danes told me this morning you were coming from New York. How was the drive?"
"It was fine, felt long but I'm glad I'm here."
"And I'm sure these two gentlemen are very happy you're here as well."
"Mister Jess, I'll be back with your lunch and I expect to see a better effort than the sorry attempt you made at breakfast."
Jess was either still asleep or pretending to be, because he didn't respond, and the nurse left the room with an indignant "Humph!"
Luke and Liz looked at each other and were caught in a fit of giggles.
"You look good, sis."
"Thanks. You look terrible."
"I bet," Luke scrubbed his hands over his face.
"Nah," she said, softening, "you just look worried."
He nodded, "it's been a weird couple of days."
They just sat together in silence as the minutes ticked by, listening to Jess' shallow breathing.
"I think he's grown. He looks taller," Liz said.
"Maybe," Luke said. " I think he's having a hard time."
"What was your first clue?"
"No, I mean obviously right now, but before this too."
"I know," she said, she was looking intently at Jess' hand in hers.
"Sorry, I didn't mean - I just mean I thought he was this angry kid who was always getting in trouble, so I treated him that way, so he acted that way. But maybe he's actually been having a hard time, like emotionally, and I just didn't get it."
"We Daneses are notoriously good at talking about our feelings," Liz chuckled.
"Yeah, right."
"You're doing your best, Luke. You're there for him and you care. It's more than I've been."
"You care Liz, you obviously care."
"I know, Bro. I love my kid. But when it counted I cared more about what I wanted than what he needed. The worst part is that he's the one that's paid the price for my mistakes, not me."
They lapsed back into silence, each one thinking about the past two decades.
Eventually the nurse came back with a tray. "Okay, Mister Jess, lunch time."
Jess opened his eyes, seeming surprised to find his mom and uncle both sitting at his bedside.
"Not hungry," he rasped.
"You will eat it and you will like it!" Came the retort.
"We'll make sure he eats." Luke said.
The nurse left the room. Luke leaned in conspiratorially, "you better eat because I'm scared of her."
Jess cracked a crooked half smile. Liz pulled the lid off the lunch tray. "Let's see what we've got here. Tomato soup, a grilled cheese, some orange slices, and a vanilla pudding. Not too bad."
Jess made a face.
"C'mon kid. You can do it. Maybe start with the soup? She rolled the little table towards him and gave him the spoon.
Jess managed about half the bowl of soup and tried a bite of the sandwich. His throat was so sore and swollen, the sandwich felt like swallowing broken glass.
He went back to the soup . Maybe if he could finish the soup they'd give him a break. "Can you find something more interesting to do than watch me eat?"
"Sorry bud," Liz said. "I just haven't seen you in so long."
"What do you mean?" Luke looked confused. "He was just in New York with you in May."
"No, I haven't seen him since last October."
"He went back to New York to stay with you after the car accident. He was there for a month!"
"Car accident, what car accident?"
"He crashed Rory's car, she broke her wrist, he wanted to go back to New York. He did go back to New York."
"Wait, you crashed that sweet girl's car? No wonder her mom seemed so confused when I was singing your praises. And where the hell were you in May?"
Jess shrugged, "Around."
"Around where exactly?" Luke said, arms crossed.
"Couch surfing, mostly." Jess shrugged, slurping a spoonful of soup. "Slept in the park a couple of times."
"Why didn't you call me, Jess?" Liz asked. "You could have stayed with me.
"You told me you wanted me gone so I went. You chose Rob and kicked me out. Big surprise I didn't try to come back."
"Jess, I'm sorry. I was afraid you would get hurt or killed trying to protect me. I didn't think you'd leave if I told you that, so I said I wanted you gone. It wasn't true. I miss you so much, every minute."
"Yeah sure, okay." Jess put the spoon down, he was done with this. He didn't need a phony apology on top of everything else.
"Jess, seeing you get hurt like that was the worst moment of my life. I had to send you away where I couldn't hurt you anymore."
"That's where you draw the line?" He exploded, breathlessly. "Not at leaving me alone for days on end with no food in the house, not at boyfriend after boyfriend kicking me around while you were passed out drunk, not at me hustling for cash at fourteen so we wouldn't get evicted?"
"Jess, what?" Liz looked bewildered.
"Where do you think I was getting the money? Huh? How did you think a seventh grader came up with $1200 in a couple of days?"
"I didn't, you never…" Liz had tears running down her cheeks.
"I don't even care," he rasped. "I did it for us, I don't regret it, but you just cast me aside for that lunatic."
"I haven't seen him since that night," she said quietly. "And I'm eleven months sober," she put the green chip in his hand. "It's because of you. I don't want to be the kind of person that hurts her kid anymore. And I know I've hurt you again and again, but you really are the best thing in my life, bud. I'm so proud of you, and I just want you to be okay."
Jess didn't look at her, but he turned the chip over between his fingers, feeling its edges.
"I'm going to go for a walk," she said, getting up.
"Sis - " Luke reached out to stop her.
"I'm coming back," she said, "I promise. I just need a minute."
Jess and Luke sat in silence for a few minutes. Neither one looking at the other. Jess felt all fuzzy and mixed up. He didn't know whether to be mad at his mom or himself or both or neither. He just wanted to disappear.
Luke wasn't sure if having all this out in the open was a good thing or a bad thing. He leaned back in the chair.
"You gonna eat that pudding cup?"
"No, you can have it."
"Thanks." Luke peeled back the foil top.
Jess rolled onto his side, facing his uncle. He was still clutching the green chip.
"So, just to be clear, you are a gigolo?" Said Luke, cocking one eyebrow.
There was a moment of silence and then Jess laughed, a wheezy, breathless laugh, holding his ribs, tears in his eyes.
"Was a gigolo. I actually do work at Walmart now."
"Because you have always low prices, always."
"Settle down," Jess rolled his eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I wasn't staying with Liz."
"All is forgiven kid, eat your soup."