Chapter Seven

Rory's eyes flickered open, adjusting to the bright lights around her. Her head was throbbing. She looked to her left and saw Dean sitting fast asleep in a chair. To her right her mother was sat also sleeping, her face pale and hair messy.

'Mum' Rory said barely more than a whisper but both Lorelai and Dean woke and looked at her.

'Oh thank goodness' The relief on Lorelai's face struck Rory as odd as Lorelai embraced her daughter, tears springing to her eyes.

'Where am I?' Rory asked trying to sit up but unable to. Dean held her by the shoulders and helped her up.

'You're in the hospital honey. Do you remember what happened?' Lorelai asked. Rory noticed her mother was wearing the same dress that she'd worn to her grandparents party, was it the same night? She looked out the window of he hospital room, daylight surrounded her.

'I was in the car..uh someone ran a red light and Jess....'Rory stopped her eyes wide with fright 'JESS! Mum where's Jess?'

Dean clenched his jaw at the mention of his name but remained calm.

'Honey take it easy you've been out of it for 3 days, the doctors said you'll need a lot of rest' Lorelai said taking her daughters hand.

'NO! I need Jess. Where is he?' Rory screamed pulling the IV from her arm and swinging her legs from the bed. Dean caught her before she could get up and put her back into the bed.

'Rory you have to stay in bed. The doctor said no stress' Lorelai said reluctant to talk about Jess. Unsure how Rory would react.

'Please I want to see Jess' Rory cried unable to think of anything else 'Where is he?'

'He's in the hospital' Lorelai said stroking Rory's hair the way she had when she was little and she was afraid of something.

'Is he OK?' Rory's voice shook with terror, as she recalled the car ploughing into the side of them. The car had hit Jess's side of the car. She remembered him calling out her name before it hit. She remembered seeing him lying in the car motionless before she passed out herself.

'Rory! It's his fault you're in here' Dean said trying hard to stay calm.

'Don't say that!' Rory yelled 'I wanted to go with him. It's not his fault someone ran a light. Jess would never hurt me'

'Dean don't' Lorelai warned him. She looked back to Rory. Rory's eyes filled with tears as she thought about the accident, about Jess. Realisation hit her hard, she needed Jess.

'Please forget him Rory' Dean said taking her hand again.

'I can't forget him' Rory said pulling her hand away from Dean. He looked hurt but knew what Rory was saying, it was over for them.

'I should go' Dean said taking a few steps back.

'I'm sorry Dean' Rory said truthfully as he left. Lorelai looked at her daughter.

'You broke up with Dean?' Lorelai shook her head 'He's been here everyday Rory, every night'

'I don't love him any more mum' Rory said admitting it to her mum as well as to herself 'Please tell me how Jess is' But before Lorelai could answer Luke walked in, shocked to see Rory awake.

'Rory you're up!' The happiness on Luke's face was evident. He walked to her bedside and hugged her gently, afraid that he would hurt her.

'Luke. How's Jess?' Rory asked, tears in her big blue eyes.

'That's what I came to tell your mum' Luke said glancing at Lorelai 'He's out of surgery, so now it's just wait and see'

'Wait and see what?' Rory asked terror gripping her body.

'His injuries were very bad Rory, you have to understand that' Lorelai said trying to make it easier.

'Wait and see WHAT?' Rory demanded.

'See if he wakes up' Luke said gently, pain on his face 'He might not'