A/N- Ok so firstly sorry this took so long. Secondly please review. Thirdly this chapter is for Kassandra27 who just read and reviewed every chapter in a row. I really appreciate it so this is for you. Without further ado….

Better In Cones

Chapter 24

'No…' Jess shook his head visibly shocked by what she'd said to him, he took her hand in his and Rory was shocked to see tears shining in his eyes.

'No you're seventeen, you're perfect you can't have cancer.' He shook his head again, silence hung in the air as he took in this news.

'Jess?' Rory was crying openly now and he knew he had to pull himself together, he quickly wrapped his arms around her and she felt comforted instantly.

'You're going to be fine.' Jess held her tightly afraid to let her go.

'Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt but visiting hours are over. Rory only your parents can stay.' A nurse said popping her head round the door. Jess pulled back from Rory and nodded to the nurse as she walked away to let them say goodbye.

'I love you, remember that ok.' Jess kissed her gently, she kissed him back clinging onto him.

'I love you too.' She smiled through her tears wishing he didn't have to leave.

'I'll come by tomorrow as soon as they'll let me in.' Jess promised, standing up and walking out as Lorelai and Christopher entered the room.

Luke spotted Jess coming down the hall noticing that he looked like the shell of a broken man, despair written across his face which had been drained of all colour. Luke followed Jess out of the hospital until the reached the parking lot, Jess leaned against the wall of the hospital pressing his forehead against the cold brick.

'Are you ok?' Luke asked not knowing what else he could say.

'No! She's perfect she doesn't deserve this, I should have noticed she was sick, I should have done something and now she's…' He trailed off angrily kicking the wall hard.

'Jess! Don't do that.' Luke pulled his nephew away from the wall which he was repeatedly kicking, taking his anger out as best he could on the brick.

'I need her Luke, she's the only one who really sees me.' Jess broke down letting his emotions swell, he pulled away from Luke's grasp and punched the wall, for him it was easier to show his emotions in the form of anger than sadness.

'Come on this isn't going to help Rory.' Luke pulled him away again looking at his mangled hand. 'Jeez I think you broke it.'

'I don't care.'

'Well Rory will so come on we'll get you checked out.' Luke marched him back inside the building. 'I know you're worried about her, so am I, but she'll be alright.'

'How do you know that?'

'Because she's strong, she's not going to let anything get in the way of all her plans, but for now she's going to need you to hold it together.' Luke replied.

'I know, that's why I waited till I was outside to punch the wall.' Jess said gravely.

Lorelai looked down at her phone which was lightly buzzing in her hand, Christopher was asleep in the chair by the window while Rory was sleeping in the hospital bed.

Jess broke his hand, just thought I'd let you know so you can explain to Rory why he'll be visiting with a cast on tomorrow. Is she ok?

Do you need anything before we leave?

Luke.

She laughed lightly at the message, Jess must have had a hard time teaching his uncle to text, she hit the reply button and typed out a message.

How'd he manage that? I'll tell Rory when she wakes up, she's ok I guess, upset and confused but she's strong. I don't think I need anything, not unless you have a cure for cancer, sorry, that's not funny. Thanks for asking.

Lorelai.

Lorelai looked back up at the bed and saw Rory's eyes open, she smiled and leaned forward wiping a strand of hair from her daughters face.

'How you doing?'

'Fine, calmer now I think.' Rory said quietly. 'Did I hear your phone?'

'Yup, Luke sent me a text!' Lorelai said pleased to see the smile across her daughters face at that fact.

'Surely Jess sent the message!'

'Nope, or at least not unless he can text with a broken hand.' Lorelai said tentatively watching her daughters smile fade and concern cross her delicate features.

'What? What happened?' Rory asked.

'Not sure, hang on.' Lorelai said as her phone vibrated again.

He was angry at…well life and everything that's happening with Rory, so he punched a wall.

Luke

'Jeez that kid really loves you.' Lorelai said with a roll of her eyes.

'What do you mean?' Rory asked.

'He was so upset about you being sick that he punched a wall.' Lorelai said showing her the message.

'Oh no!' Rory gasped. 'I hope he's ok.'

'Well he'll be here tomorrow so you can ask then, but for now you need to rest, you've been through a lot today.'

'Yeah, but only if you promise to sleep as well.' Rory said sternly, resting her head against the pillows.

'I promise.'

(-)

'I come baring gifts.' Jess said entering Rory's hospital room and sitting alongside her on the bed, she smiled at him and his offered bag of books and leaned her head onto his shoulder for comfort and smiled happily at him.

'So how's your hand?' Rory asked touching the cast on his wrist tentatively as if her touch could hurt him even through the thick black plaster.

'It's ok I guess.' Jess shrugged and wrapped his good arm round her shoulders. 'You're the one I'm worried about, how are you this morning?'

'Tired but mostly ok.' Rory sighed heavily and let herself relax for the first time since the doctors told her she had cancer. 'I'm going to be ok you know.'

'Oh yeah, I hope you're right.' Jess said his features turning darker.

'Well the way I see it is that I love you right, and it took us a long time to get together and you've already had a tough life so there is no way I am going to make it worse for you.' Rory said confidently.

'That's very self sacrificing of you.' Jess said trying to hold it together.

'I thought so.' Rory smiled, 'But come on I don't want to talk about it because I have some good news.'

'Yeah? Shoot.'

'I get to go home today, that's why my moms not here because she's signing the release papers and getting instructions from the doctor, I mean I will have to come back in for chemo and stuff but I'm just so excited about coming home!' Rory smiled.

'That's the best news I've heard all day, and Taylor announced that he's going to run a tree planting fund raiser!' Jess said in mock innocence. Rory swatted his arm but laughed as her mom came back into the room with a wheelchair.

'Quick we don't have much time if I'm going to spring you from this joint.' Lorelai said pushing the wheelchair as fast as she could and stopping it quickly beside the bed.

'I can really go, now?' Rory asked excitedly.

'Did I not just say I was springing you, ok let's her out of here.' Lorelai said as Rory started to stand up from the bed, she was a little unsteady on her feet and swayed a bit until Jess put a arm carefully around her waist to hold her up and help her to the chair.

'Do I really need to be in this?' Rory complained as her mother pushed her down the halls.

'Yup, at least until we reach the parking lot.' Lorelai said in a sing-song voice trying her hardest not to focus on the fact that her daughter was really sick, trying not to fall apart. Jess trailed behind carrying bags full of books and presents that Rory had been sent by all the people who cared about her. As the door came into sight he breathed a sigh of relief, even though this was far from over it felt better getting her out of the hospital.

'Can I get up now?' Rory asked as they came into the parking lot.

'Yeah just go carefully ok.' Lorelai said giving a pointed look at Jess to stand by to help her, he picked up on it and dropped his bags onto the floor. As Rory stood slowly she let out a breath and felt weak, she couldn't believe how quickly this had come on, she'd felt a little tired and unwell for a couple of weeks and all of a sudden she was so weak and tired. She felt Jess' arm go around her and she smiled leaning into him slightly.

'You ok?' Jess whispered.

'I'm just really glad I have you, because there is no way I could cope with all this without you.' Rory said as they walked towards the car.

'Well it's a good thing you don't have to then.' Jess said picking her up and carrying her the rest of the way to the car.