When You Need Me I Will Be There

Chapter 31

Rory and Lucas arrived at school surprised at what they found when they walked into the doors of their high school and found that the hallways were completely quite. They both thought that it was one of the strangest things that have happened at the high school yet. Because the hallways are never quite in mornings like today. Everyone is exploring the halls chatting with friends they have not seen in one whole day. However, today that was not happening.

"I wonder where everyone is."

"I'm not sure maybe were missing something? Was there a pep rally before school today?

"Not that I remember coach talking about."

"There has to be something happening. It's like the school is" Rory Paused. "Empty."

"Empty?" Lucas replied." Don't be ridicules"

All the sudden, there was a shot that rang out down the hallway. Lucas crouched down and protected Rory's body with his.

"What was that?"

"I'm not sure but it sounded like a gun shot."

"It can't be." Rory said. "A gun shot here at Tree hill?"

"I know, but it sounded like it. Stay here. I'm going to go find out what's going on."

"Lucas you can't"

"Rory I have too what if Brooke and Peyton are hurt?"

Just as he said that tears came to her eyes, and that broke his heart just as he was going to clam her down he heard another shot ring out. He looked at Rory and took off.

Rory, who was left in the hallway all alone, started to cry. She hated not knowing what Lucas was getting himself into. She hated the thought of him possibly dying. They did here a gunshot. Lucas was putting himself in danger. Rory did not want to lose the man she loved more then anyone else on this planet.

In a split second decision, Rory got up and ran for the nearest classroom hoping that the gunman would not come shooting down the hallway and Lucas, Brooke and Peyton would find her. Finally moving into a classroom, she saw students spread across the room. They sat on the floor and it seemed like all of them had tears rolling down there face.

Rory noticed right away that Nathan and Haley were huddled in the far corner of the room and at that moment all the anger, she had for them over the last seven months disappeared. She went over to them and sat by Haley she turned to them.

"What's going on?"

In a quite voice Nathan spoke.

"Jimmy Edwards brought a shotgun to school and started shooting we all ran for cover as fast as we could."

"Jimmy? Jimmy." She thought to herself. "Hold up .Jimmy Edwards? Lucas' Jimmy? He brought a gun to school?"

"Yeah."

"You can't be serious"

"Did he hit anyone?"

I don't think so we all started running when we heard the first shot."

"That's good."

"Yeah. I never thought that Jimmy had it in him. I never pegged him for someone to show up at school with a gun and start to shoot up the whole place." Nathan said.

"He always seemed. I do not know. Normal." Haley said.

Rory looked around. Her nerves seemed to get the best of her in some situations. In addition, this was one of them.

"Rory are you ok?" Haley asked

.

"Uh... ... Not really. Lucas he went to see what was going on and, I'm afraid that he's not going to come back."

Haley and Nathan's eyes both got wide and Haley reached for Rory and hugged her tight.

"I promise you he will be ok we all will."

Rory give her the best smile she could muster hoping in the end she was right."

Lucas raced down the hallway searching for any signs of what might had happened. As he turned the corner, he saw a man in the middle of the hall, on the move to find a new classroom.

Lucas got down on the floor trying to hide himself so the man could not see him.

Luckily, he did not and Lucas was able to find cover as he entered the room he found who he was looking for all along.

"Are you girls alright?"

Brooke in shaky voice had enough courage to speak.

"We're fine we aren't hurt just stunned."

Have any idea who the shooter is? I saw the back of him and I couldn't really figure it out."

"It's Jimmy Edwards."

"Oh My God"

"What do we do Lucas?"

"We have to figure out a way to stop him or get past him and call for help and I have to get back to Rory."

What about your phone? Do you get service?"

She took out there phones.

"Doesn't look like I do." Brooke said.

"Crap that's just great"

All the sudden, Peyton spoke up

"Lucas clam down remember your HCM gets worse when you get upset."

"I know I'm just worried about Rory and the babies' safety. She did not look like herself this morning she looked tried and pale and like she was in a slight bit of pain. I worried she might be going into labor and not know it."

"Oh. God. We really need to get out of here. What a great way to have a baby. When your high school is taken over by a psycho." Brooke said. "We need to find away to get her and those babies out of here."

"That's what we just said Brooke." Peyton said.

"Shut up, . Now give me two minutes and I'll have one of the best plans it will blow your minds."

They both looked at her and waited finally she spoke

"First we need to get to her make sure their alright and get safety hopefully she's not alone maybe she found Nathan and Haley".

"Yeah that would be just great." Lucas said sarcastically

"At least she with someone Lucas" Peyton said.

"Peyton's right Lucas."

"Ok. So how are we going to make sure there ok, smart one?"

"First we slowly leave the room and go by the lockers down the hall because I don't hear him anymore and find the payphone and call for help then go back to where you left Rory Lucas."

"That just might work I hope". Lucas said

"How long have you two been stuck in this room" Rory asked.

"Uh. I lost track of the time." Haley said.

She looked over at Nathan and he looked down.

"It's been about 30 mintues."

"Oh great."

Rory took a deep breath. Can this be really happening to her? Could it?

All the sudden thee pain Rory had been having since early morning intensified to an acute sharpness. It so sharp her breath was taken from her for a moment. Haley noticed the change in her demeanor right away.

"Rory are you ok?"

"I'm not sure my back really hurts all the sudden. I've been dealing with pain since last night but this feels different"

"How different?"

"It feels like...like I'm...I'm in labor"

Haley's eyes went wide and she turned to Nathan who was looking out the window.

"Uh… Nathan we have a situation."

He turned to Haley.

"What's wrong Hales?"

"Huh… Rory's in labor with your children."

"What? She's. She's in labor....Now?" Nathan asked in disbelief.

Nathan got up, went right over to Rory, and rubbed her back. He noticed that she was wincing in pain. He took her face in his hands and looked right into her eyes.

"Rory it's going to be okay we won't let anything bad happen ok?"

"Promise me Nathan"

"I promise you."

"Do you see anything?" Brook whispered to Peyton as she stuck her head slowly out of the door.

"Uh...The coast looks clear." Brook said as she shut there door again.

Lucas looked relieved he was just glad that he could safely get to Rory he hoped that she did find safety and that the babies were safe too.

"Ok. Do you have the plan down?"

"Yes .I think I do. I am guessing Rory would be in one of the rooms close to the main entrance of the school. So I'll carefully sneak out of here and make my way of there."

Brooke and Peyton let him go first they had agreed that they would wait for five minutes before they headed out as well.

"Okay I'll see you soon."

"We're right behind you."

Luke slowly opened the door servaling the hallway. He saw no body so he took one tiny step out of the room. Shutting the door slowly behind him, he takes one more step. When he did not see anyone, he made a mad dash for it felt as if he was walking in slow monition when all the sudden he heard a shot ring out and he grasped his arm.

What had just happen? Everything just flashed before him. Could it be? Could he have just been shot? He put up all the energy he had to try and get up. As he did the man he had seen the back of came slowly down the hall. The man stopped right in front of him.

"Well if it isn't Lucas Scott""

Lucas looked up and could not accept that this mad man was once one of his friends.

"Jimmy what are you doing?"

"Taking charge of my life."

"Taking Charge? Taking charge Jimmy. You just shot me."

"Well you we're just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Lucas just gave him a look like he was crazy.

"What was your plan Jimmy shoot up the whole school?"

"I just want people to pay attention that's all."

"Look Jimmy this was not the way to go about it."

"I know but its too late now."

"Its never to late, Jimmy. If you stop now you might not go to jail. You might not send your life wishing you could change what you did."

"Look it will be ok you just put down the gun and we can release everyone?"

Just at that, moment there was a loud bang and Lucas saw Jimmy fall to the ground. He never thought that he would ever see the man that he saw holding that gun that killed Jimmy. And as much as he hated the man who did, he had to admit that he had just saved his life. Dan Scott just saved him from being killed by someone he use to call a friend. Someone that he thought that he could trust. But it was all a lie.

Lucas got up off the ground turned and looked at Dan, but no words would come out of his mouth all that was on his mind was getting to Rory.

"OK. Breathe, Rory. In and out." Nathan said as he positioned himself behind Rory, making himself a pillow for her to lay on.

"That was a hard one Nate I'm scared I don't want to have the babies here I want to be in the hospital."

"I know you do but your ok I promise you"

"How far apart are they now?

"15 mintues we still have a lot of time."

"I can't do this Nate. I cannot have our babies here. I cannot do it. I am sorry. I just can't"

"Rory, You have to .They're going to come no matter what you do. You can't stop them from coming." Haley said.

"Where is Lucas? I hope he's ok."

"I'm sure he's fine you just need to worry about yourself and these babies Lucas will come I promise"

"How do you know? For all I know he could be dead."

"Rory, don't think like that." Haley said. "I can't think of Lucas being dead... And for the sake of those twins, you cannot either. So please... you can do this."

Rory took a deep breath and let it out again

"Your right I know you are I'm just in pain and sacred this is not how I planned to have them this way."

"I don't think anyone would plan to have there child like this." Nathan said as he took a hold of her hand. "But we're going to get you past this. We're going to get our children here." He rubbed her hand softly.

Rory gave him a soft smile then flinched in pain.

"Breath Rory your okay it's almost over"

All the sudden her eyes went wide as she felt water go down her leg. Nathan saw her reaction and looked down.

"Was that what I think it was?"

"Yes one of my waters just broke"

"Ok. Come on Rory. It is time to push... On three push. Ok?"

Rory nodded.

"Ok... One... Two... Three... Push" Rory did as Haley said and pushed.

Rory pushed with all her might but nothing was happening she leaned back on Nathan and took a deep breath and pushed again

"Ahh." Rory fell down onto Nathan.

"Come on Rory you can do it... One more push... And the first one should be out. Come on you can do it."

Roy gave one more hard push and the head emerged.

"Ok Rory breath with it while the shoulder come just pant.

"I can't"

You have come this far you cannot turn back now. Come on Rory. You can do it. Push"

The next thing they all heard was a cry.

"It's a girl," Haley said

"Lorelai Victoria Gilmore Hayden"

Rory wished that Lucas was here with her sharing this moment with her. Helping her threw this. Instead, all she could do was worry about her and be scared that something was or is going to happen to him at any second. And she would never see him again.

Before she had another moment to think about Lucas, a contraction took over.

"Ahhh"

Breath Rory I know it hurts but you'll be ok."

"OK Rory baby number two is almost ready but not quite yet"

Haley wrapped the baby girl up and placed her on Rory's stomach and Rory looked down and could not believe this beautiful baby was hers.

Nathan looked down at his baby and could not believe that he actually had a baby .It was something he had to get use to. Moreover, in time he would. He would adjust to the every day life of parenthood.

In the moment that Nathan looked in his at his daughter he could not picture not, being involved in his children's live. He knew he had made mistake in the past 9 months but he was now willing to put that all aside.

Nathan looks at Rory and smiles at her. "You did it"

Rory smiles back at him and as she goes to say something, she felt a pain.

"Uhhh… I think it's time to go again he's right there I can feel him"

Just as those words left her mouth, her water broke one again she felt weak. She didn't think she could do it again.

"Come on Rory you can do it. Push."

"I can't "

"Yes you can and when you do you can hold your sun in your arms."

She pushed with all her might and then leaned back on Nathan to rest. Haley looked at her and her heart went out to her former best friend she hoped that once this was all over they could get back to where they once were.

"Lucas where are you going?" Dan yelled after him as he rushed down the hallway in search of Rory.

"I have to find Rory"

Dan was shocked even though he didn't like that Rory had chosen to have Nathan's child he still didn't want any harm to come to them.

"Wait up, Let me help." Dan called as he broke out in to a slight run.

"Don't bother." Lucas said

Dan finally caught up with Lucas, put his hand on his shoulder, and turned him around so that they were face to face.

"Look Lucas I know I messed up I know I wasn't there for you while you were growing up and I regret that every day.""

"You have a great way of showing it really Dan."

"Let me try and help you find Rory. I know how much she means to you son."

Lucas just looked at him with indifference as they took off to search. They finally found here in the fourth classroom.

"Push Rory" He heard Nathan say as he entered the classroom. "You can do it"

"One more push Rory. One more and he should be out. Push"

She did as she was told and in the next moment, they were rewarded with a healthy cry from a newborn baby boy. Haley took him, wrapped him up, and placed him on Rory's stomach as Nathan took Lorelai from her. Rory looked down and was in awe of the life she held in held in her arms.

"Hello, Christopher Andrew Gilmore Hayden"

"I can't believe I missed you going into labor." Lucas said as he looked at Nathan and Rory who were holding their newborn babies.

"Lucas its ok were fine I'm just glad your ok "

"I'm fine we should be able to get out of here soon the cops are on the way."

"What about Jimmy?"

"He's dead."

"He's dead?"

"Yeah...Dan. He him before he could get to shooting me, again."

They all looked up and realized Dan was in the room then Rory turned to Lucas.

"What do you mean again?"

"Well he shot me in the shoulder."

"He what?"

"He shot him in the shoulder. I could not let him kill Lucas. I had to do something before he got there. So I shot him." Dan said

"Well thank you but, that still doesn't fix how you've treated Lucas all these years"

"I know really I do."

Then Dan turned and left the room to go call the police and Lucas when up to Rory and made her and the twins were ok.