Chapter Nine

Rory led Jess's mum down the hall to her own hospital room where Luke and Lorelai were sat talking. Both fell silent as they spotted Rory. Making it obvious to her that she had been the topic of conversation.

'Liz! You came.' Luke said spotting her trailing behind Rory.

'Well you said Jess was bad so I came,' Liz said her eyes resting on Lorelai 'What kind of mother do you think I am?'

'That's not what I meant Liz. I'm glad you're here. Have you seen Jess?' Luke asked hugging his sister a little awkwardly. Rory saw the expression on his face. He'd smelt the alcohol.

'Briefly. Uh Rory was talking to him, though I don't know why it's not like he can hear us.' Liz said going over to the window.

'Actually Liz the doctors said he might be able to hear us. They encouraged us to keep talking to him.' Luke replied sitting down next to Lorelai.

About 10 minutes later Liz left the hospital claiming she had to go check into her motel. Luke left to drive her there stopping in to check on Jess on his way out.

'So that's Jess's mum?' Lorelai said to her daughter after a few minutes silence. Rory looked up from the window and glanced at her mother.

'He doesn't talk about her much' Rory said laying back on her pillows 'He said once, at the dinner at the inn. When we were in the slay ride together. He told me that his mum didn't want him back for the winter break. He tries to hide it but I know him better than that. He was really hurt' Rory said smiling at the memory of Jess jumping into the slay.

'I didn't know you two shared a slay' Lorelai said watching Rory's smile fade from her face.

'He jumped in while it was moving. We talked about him fighting, and Dean and music and everything. I like talking to him, and now….' Rory paused tears springing to her eyes 'Now he can't respond' She finished.

'How did it get like this Rory? You and Jess? I thought you were just friends' Lorelai said carefully.

'We were. We are. I don't know mum. I like Jess' Rory said slowly, gazing back out the window.

'Get some rest. I'm going to call your father.' Lorelai said standing up. Rory obeyed because she was so tired. When she woke up again her father had arrived and was sitting in the seat that Dean had been in when she first woke up.

'Hey sleepy head' Christopher leaned over and kissed his daughters head gently.

'How long was I asleep?' Rory asked looking outside, it was light.

'About 20 hours' Lorelai answered her 'The doctors said you'd sleep a lot'

'How's Jess?' Rory asked sitting up and taking a sip of the water that was on the desk next to her bed. At the same time she noticed the huge collection of cards, balloons, teddy bears and get well soon gifts filling her room.

'Still the same' Lorelai answered her. Rory looked away and started getting out of bed.

'Where do you think you're going kiddo?' Christopher asked as Rory grabbed a book that someone had brought in. There was a small pile of them on her dresser. At the bottom of the pile was the Hemingway book that Jess had recommended. She pulled it out and began walking towards the hall.

'I'm going to sit with Jess for a while.' Rory said not looking round. She got to his room, sat alongside him and began to read.