Dean is still in surgery. He better have some amazing Dr. Grey or Dr. Yang type working on him. Rory and Luke don't even know what to say, but man can I read their minds. Rory is thinking I'm taking the Chad Michael Murry Freaky Friday switch scene too far, though I know she's glad I'm here with her and not in an operating room. She's worried about her friend/ex, because she's a good person. When she gets to her mad stage, when Dean is back to Dean, she'll blame me. If she had seen Dean's actions leading up to our date, aside from the butt staring...he kissed me, he seduced me. He made me fall. Well.

And Luke. I'm so lucky to have so many good people in my life. Here he is, supporting his needy friend, his dating-too-young-for-her-age friend and he is totally weirded out. He cares about Dean too because his gruff papa bear attitude when it concerned Rory aside, he always respected Dean's work ethic and the way he was so kind to people around town.

They are both going to be disappointed with me after the shock of this night wears off.

Mom and Dean. Mom and Dean. They were on a date. What was their conversation like? Have they kissed? More than kissed? Despite the obviously terrible circumstances, something about her vibe in reminiscent of the time she almost got back with dad. How is this supposed to work? I mean, when Dean recovers from surgery, what happens?

Lorelai was out, dining far from town, with Dean. They were over an hour away on purpose. If it were just a friendly dinner, the distance wouldn't be necessary. Something significant exists between those two. It would explain the ups and downs she's displayed lately. They all lead back to Dean. She was conflicted because she has actual romantic feelings for Dean. Sure, he's not really a kid, he always seemed together and responsible. Are they going to be together after this surgery?

"So, Rory, can I use your phone? I have to call the station and see if Dean's truck has been towed or if it's back there, at the stop, because my purse was in the truck, contents dumped out, and I need it. Damn. The Jeep is at the Sandpiper Inn up in Meriden. I'll be right back, just going to call outside in the fresh air and use the phone. Get me if you hear anything about Dean."

"Rory, do you know if there's an extra set of keys at your house? If the truck is impounded or whatever, her keys could be bagged somewhere. I can drive you to get it at some point...hey, I need to find a pay phone because Cesar is going to have to take care of the diner today. I'll be right back. You okay? I'll try and scare up some decent coffee for you and your mom."

5:30 am

"Forester?"

Lorelai, Rory and Luke all raised their heads.

"Yes, I'm Dean's mother. How is he? Can I see him?"

Lorelai must have missed Dean's mom entering the hospital when she was on the phone outside. She didn't see her sitting in that other section because she sat in a chair with it's back to the room. Rory went to the bathroom, and Luke was off on a pay phone search.

"Your son's wound was pretty significant. His pneumothorax surgery went well, but due to the severity of the knife wound he experienced hypoxemia which requires him to be on a ventilator to prevent any cerebral complications. He won't be awake for a while. You may see him now."

Okay, he made it through his surgery, but that sounded terrible. Gotta talk to her Lorelai. You need to see Dean and she is his mother. Get up, and go to the recovery room. Move feet!

"Mom, I don't think…"

"Rory, she needs to see Dean and, we'll be here waiting Lorelai."

Lorelai stopped just outside the door. Dean's name was written on a dry erase board. Lorelai wanted to erase this attack from their lives.

Knock knock.

"Hi, Mrs. - Barbara. Lorelai Gilmore."

DEAN! He looks so helpless. So many wires and tubes. I cannot cry now. I cannot break down in front of his mother.

"Lorelai? Do you work here? I thought you ran the inn?"

"No, I, yes, I do run the Dragonfly, but these scrubs were given to me to wear, um, after the attack."

"YOU were there? The police have been so withholding tonight. I have so many questions. Tell me what happened."

Lorelai started from exiting the bathroom at the rest area. She tried her best not to cry when she got to Dean on the ground, and that's where she fell apart. Crying and looking at Dean in a hospital bed.

"Is Dean going to be alright?" Lorelai walked to his bedside and took his bandaged hand in her good hand. She noticed that his other hand was swollen and bruised as well. She caused this. If he weren't connected to so many things and if his mother wasn't in the room, she'd curl up next to him on the bed and hold him until he opened his beautiful kind eyes.

"Oh my! I can't say I'm surprised he'd protect you. That's my son, always thinking of others, protecting others. Back in Chicago he got in a fight as a fifth grader with some eighth grade boy who was bullying his friend Oscar. He was pretty roughed up then too, but the bully got a taste of his own medicine, and Oscar wasn't bothered again. But what I don't understand is, why were the two of you at that rest stop last night?"

Come clean. Say it. Don't lie. Tell her truthful things.

"We were at dinner, and I had a few drinks, so Dean being Dean, he insisted I not drive just to be on the safe side. Unfortunately, I had to use the bathroom on the drive home, and it seemed fine…"

"Well it wasn't fine, was it? Why were the two of you having dinner? Out of town? I know he's been working at the inn, but he never said the two of you were having dinners together."

"No, we haven't had dinners together, just tonight, last night, and…" Lorelai turned her head back to Dean.

"I don't care about the number of dinners you have or haven't had. My son was stabbed, and he had surgery, and he isn't awake so he isn't okay. And now you are here, with this look on your face, wait, were you on a DATE with my SON?"

Shit. Face her Lorelai, turn around and say it.

"Yes."

"What kind of woman are you? Your daughter's ex boyfriend is the only person in town for you to date? Is this some kind of sick joke? A beautiful woman like you cannot find a man her own age? You have to go for my son, your employee, who is working so hard to earn money for college because his father, who right now is in Spokane for a job interview, and I are so in debt that we cannot help him. I just don't have the foggiest idea as to how this whole mess came to be."

"Please, I can't say I know what you are feeling right now, but I am genuinely concerned about Dean, and I want to help, he's impor-"

"Lorelai, please leave. I can't deal with this right now. I have to get home to Clara soon."

"Right. Well, if you need anything, I'm here for you. And Dean."

Lorelai left the room, returned to the waiting area, and asked Rory and Luke if they were ready to go.

For the second time, they were in Luke's truck, silent. This time the silence lasted the entire ride.