Better in cones

Chapter Fifteen

'Jess...' The sound startled both of them, because it wasn't Rory's voice that spoke Jess' name, it was a deep, rough, man's voice, one that made Jess freeze. Rory looked at Jess noting his change in mood, his gaze floated behind Rory to the tall, slightly overweight man with dark hair and unshaven face. His eyes were dark and menacing, and he stared at Jess.

'What do you want?' Jess asked clenching his fists, Rory turned to face the man standing a little away from them.

'What? No hello, you need to learn your manners Jess. Always were impolite.' He sneered. As he took a step forward the smell of stale beer, and cigarette smoke hit the two younger ones. 'I see you got yourself a pretty little girl, what's your name love?'

Jess took Rory's hand protectively and stepped a little in front of her, making Rory nervous.

'That's none of your business, now I'll ask you once more, what do you want Karl?' Jess asked gathering up all the strength he had, because the truth was this man scared him, but he couldn't let him know that.

'Ok, I'm a reasonable man, I'll speak my piece. You're flake of a mother stole some money from me and I want it back, but seems she's moved and I couldn't get hold of her to get the money back, but one of your old neighbours mentioned she'd shipped you off to her brother in this poor excuse of a town, so I thought I would pay you a little visit.' Karl said. 'So tell me where your mother is and I'll be on my way.'

'Sorry no can do, besides after all you put us through, all the food of ours you ate, the money you took from her and me, I reckon my mum only took what was owed.' Jess replied firmly.

'Now I really wish you hadn't of said that, we're both mature men right, so lets sort this out, I want that debt settled and I won't leave here without her address, or $3500, so what's it going to be?' Karl said stepping closer. Jess stood fully in front of Rory.

'I don't have the money, and there's no chance I'll give you my mothers address. So save yourself the bother and leave.' Jess clenched his fists, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

'Now that's not a very friendly way to treat me is it, especially in front of your lady friend.' He smirked cruelly at Rory. 'Don't you think he's being rude.' He turned to face Rory.

'Leave her out of this.' Jess said forcefully.

'Then tell me where she is!' Karl yelled. 'One last chance Jess.' He waited a minute and when no answer was forthcoming he grabbed Jess and punched him hard in the stomach. Jess doubled over in pain, gasping for breath.

'You changed your mind yet?' Karl yelled, still Jess remained silent, and Karl raised his fist again, hitting him hard, knocking him to the ground.

'STOP!' Rory cried rushing forward as Karl kicked Jess in the side.

'Stay out of this girl.' Karl shouted, shoving Rory out of the way, he continued to hit and kick Jess, who was crumpled on the bridge.

'Rory, run!' Jess shouted desperately, she hesitated for a minute then seeing Jess' face crumple in pain as Karl kicked him again, she ran as fast as she could, down the path and across the town square, knocking into Taylor who yelled after her, she didn't stop, tears were streaming down her face as she pushed open the diner door.

'Oh Rory, a man was looking for Jess earlier, I pointed him towards the bridge, did he find you two?' Kirk asked, but Rory ignored him, going over to the counter where her mother was sat. She looked around desperately and was relieved when she saw Luke coming out from the kitchen.

'Honey what's wrong?' Lorelai asked panic setting in as Rory grabbed Luke's arm.

'It's Jess, there's this man and he was looking for Jess to find out his mums new address, and when Jess wouldn't give it to him...he started attacking him. Oh Luke you have to come quickly, Jess was on the floor...' Rory sobbed loudly, the whole diner hearing the story, including Taylor who had followed Rory in to lecture her on knocking into people.

'Where?' Luke asked already moving outside the diner, Rory ran at the same speed as him.

'We were at the bridge.' Rory cried. Taylor, Kirk and Andrew had all followed to help, and Miss Patty and Babette had followed out of curiosity, there hadn't been this much drama in stars hollow in a while. Lorelai was at her daughters side, trying to comfort her. They arrived at the bridge just as Jess was yelling out in pain as Karl kicked him once in the head, causing him to black out, and once in the side. Luke grabbed Karl and pulled him away from his nephew, one he felt extremely protective of, he'd grown to think of Jess as a son, and now this man was hurting him. With the help of Taylor, Andrew, and the slightly unhelpful Kirk, they managed to pull him away and restrain him. Miss Patty had called the police on the way over to the diner and was now stood in stunned silence as Jess lay covered in blood, lifeless on the bridge.

'Patty call an ambulance.' Lorelai yelled, as she tried to restrain a now hysterical Rory, who managed to break away and run to Jess' side. Dropping down onto her knees next to him, she dropped her head onto his chest.

'Wake up, Jess.' Rory sobbed, Lorelai now crouched down beside her lifted Rory's head up. 'Mum...' Rory choked on her words as she looked down at Jess, his face was pale and covered in blood.

'Come away from him honey.' Miss Patty advised, worried that Rory was going into shock. But Rory firmly shook her head, and held onto Jess' hand.

'Rory! I just heard. Oh my...' Lane came running up the pathway, her words stopped as she saw Jess lying unconscious on the ground, she'd not heard how bad it was. It didn't take long for a crowd to appear around the bridge, and for Lane, Sookie and Jackson to try and get them all to leave again. Some of them went over to help restrain Karl, and some to restrain Luke who was likely to cause some serious damage to Karl if he didn't have people pulling him back. The police arrived and carted Karl off, shortly followed by the ambulance. Rory refused to move from his side as they worked on him, stayed with him as they carried him to the ambulance, and climbed in beside him, along with Luke who was trying hard to hold it together, not only for Jess, but for Rory who was no longer crying, but was staring down at Jess, her face pale. It was clear she had gone into shock. Awkwardly he put his arm around Rory, who rested against him, drawing support from him, like she would from a father.

Lorelai was following behind in her car, breaking several laws to keep up with them. Her daughter was hurting and she needed to be there for her.

They arrived at the hospital and rushed Jess into a trauma room, where they wouldn't allow Rory to follow, she sat between Luke and Lorelai, staring blankly at the wall, he legs drawn up to her chest. As Rory glanced around the hospital waiting room, Rory thought about how not long ago she'd been here waiting for news on her Grandfather, as a tear fell down her cheek she thought about how much she hated hospitals.

About twenty minutes later, a tall doctor walked out into the waiting area, he looked stressed and overworked.

'Are you the family of Jess Mariano?' The doctor asked.

'I'm his uncle.' Luke replied.

'And you two?' He asked.

'It's ok they're with me.' Luke answered.

'Ok, well Jess...'

A/N- I know, you probably really hate me for this, I hope not though. Please review.