Chapter Ten

Rory had been discharged from the hospital for a week now. Yet everyday she got up and dressed carefully. Pulled her dark hair back from her face with a band and made her way to the hospital. Walk down the halls and into Jess's room sitting beside him, she'd get out the Hemingway book and read until it grew dark.

Today Rory had done exactly that. She sat down next to him took his hand and kissed it. Then leaning forward in her chair she began to read to him.

'Rory…' The sound was muffled, barely more than a whisper but she heard it. Her head snapped up from the book and she saw Jess's eyes were open, looking into hers.

'Hey…'Rory couldn't say any more than that, tears ran down her cheeks as she stood up and wrapped her arms around him.

'You're here' Jess said weakly.

'Where else would I be?' Rory smiled putting the book aside and sitting at the edge of his bed.

'You're OK?' Jess asked spotting the bruises on her face and arms.

'I'm fine Jess' Rory smiled. He relaxed then smirked.

'I knew I'd get you to read the whole of the Hemingway' He said looking at the book.

'I must have finished it 3 or 4 times this past week' Rory said laughing.

'Doesn't Dean mind that you've been here so much?' Jess asked watching her carefully.

'I broke up with Dean' Rory said. Jess stared at her in disbelief.

'Why?' Again his voice was low, eager.

'I don't love him…not anymore' Rory said looking him in the eye.

'Does that mean….' Jess began but was interrupted by the arrival of Luke and Lorelai.

'You're awake!' Luke's relief flooded his face as he went to his nephew and hugged him.

'Yeah figured I'd slept long enough' Jess replied vaguely as he watched Rory go over to her mother.

'How long have you been awake?' Luke asked turning from Jess to Rory and back again.

'A few minutes' Jess answered watching Rory steadily.

'I was about to call you' Rory promised although she was ashamed to think that she hadn't thought of it.

'You gave us a scare' Luke said turning back to Jess.

'Sorry about that. Is the car…?' Jess began.

'A complete wreck' Luke confirmed 'But I don't think you'll be driving in a while'

'The guy who hit us…' Jess started weakly.

'What about him?' Luke clenched his fists and Lorelai went over, placing her hand on his arm to calm him down.

'Is he OK?' Jess asked amazing Rory with his compassion.

'He almost killed you and Rory' Luke said angrily.

'Luke he was drunk while driving which is against the law, I know that. But I was speeding, which is also against the law. It very easily could have been me that caused that accident' Jess said looking at Rory with hurt in his eyes. She went to his side immediately and took his hand.

'He's fine' Lorelai put in 'His injuries were minor, he got out of the hospital 2 days before Rory did' She added. Jess nodded appreciatively.

'You should rest' Luke said after they'd talked for a while.

'Uncle Luke, did my mum…' Jess started, seeing the look on Rory's face he looked down darkly knowing what Luke was about to say.

'She came,' Luke began with difficulty 'But she left a few days ago'