Rory was lying in her bedroom, trying to rationalize her mom with Dean. Rory knew she wasn't jealous, Dean was great, but he wasn't the one. Rory was more angry about the age difference. She knew she'd be just as angry at her dad if he dated Paris, or some stranger who was 19. She was glad her grandmother was unquestioning about her request to vacation in Europe with her. Rory had to get away from her mother, away from Stars Hollow.

Luke woke up. He had a horrible dream where he walked into Lorelai's house to fix a window screen and he found Lorelai and Dean having sex on the sofa. Dream Lorelai sat up, naked, and spoke to him matter of factly, "Hi Luke, it's the second window from that corner. Thanks!" Her being naked was totally clouded over by the fact that Dean had her. Luke was angry. He saw her giddily texting Dean on her phone last night, and had the misfortune of leaving the inn shortly after she did, because driving home he noticed her Jeep parked a block over from Dean's folks' house. She was with him. He overheard one of Clara's friend's mothers remarking that Dean had some accident and was staying at the house, while Barbara and Clara were looking at houses in Spokane or Seattle where the father got a job. He knew too much about the town working in the diner. Luke was heartsick. They were sleeping in each other's arms or something worse right now while he was alone.

Sookie sent Jackson to the couch she was so mad at him. When they got home, Sookie was telling Jackson that he should talk sense into Lorelai, to which Jackson refused, saying he didn't have any business meddling in Lorelai's love life and neither did Sookie. Sookie was bitter and hurt that all the hard work, the tension, the financial stress of getting the inn on its feet didn't culminate in a joyous opening. Yes, the guests were over the moon, praising Sookie for the best dining experience of their lives, and complimentary about every last detail put into the Dragonfly.

She and Lorelai should have been celebrating together, but instead Lorelai was distractedly texting Dean, missing the much deserved experience of having created something so wonderful with no help from her parents, and Sookie wanted to express how proud she was of her friend, and thankful to her for selling her on the dream. It was now reality, and they'd never get a do-over to have a grand opening with all of their loved ones. Sookie was certain that Lorelai would celebrate by having sex with Dean. She'd be not at the inn, not with Sookie and Michel OR Rory, but with Dean, at his parent's house, getting funky with Dean. It was all wrong.

Dean was lying flat on his back, Lorelai curled into his arm on his good side. They did it. She let him kiss, touch lick whatever he could with her, and he still couldn't believe it. As real as she felt lying next to him, he couldn't believe this was reality. Technically this wasn't full reality. Almost no one knew that he was injured, nobody had figured out that they were the police blotter's two victims involved in a deadly attack, but people would know when they faced Norton Howard, Dean's attacker, in court. According to the police, much like the deceased, he had several rape convictions, time served for armed robbery, and a few other drug related felonies on his record. They couldn't be together in public, this town seemed like the place that would love a Hawthorne-esque scarlet letter style shaming, and the list went on and on. Dean tried to enjoy this small moment in time, breathing in the lavender smell of her silky tousled hair, trailing his fingers up and down the arm of her soft creamy skin, she was so damn pretty, and she chose to be with him tonight. Sleep wouldn't arrive for another hour as Dean just gazed at her, sleeping peacefully at his side.

Lorelai woke at 5:53 am, exhausted but aware that she needed to get to her Jeep before everyone was out and about in the neighborhood. Lorelai took a few minutes though to appreciate the handsome face beside her. Manly stubble framed but couldn't hide his chiseled jaw and facial features. 'He would make a damn fine male model,' she thought. He was even more handsome than the Brawny paper towel cartoon. Dean was so sexy right now, dreaming, hopefully of her, serene, and certainly Dean knew he was attractive, but he was too modest, he didn't flaunt it, or did he honestly not know? He's THE All-American male. She didn't want to wake him, but she didn't want to leave without a kiss goodbye.

"De-eeean, wake up, I have to go home and get ready for work. Open those peepers and bid me adieu." She tapped her finger on his forehead until his eyes opened.

"Good morning blue eyes. I don't think you should go anywhere. I'm wounded." He turned down his lower lip and gave her a pitiful look.

"Adorable as you are at this moment, I don't believe you are as injured as you claim. If it weren't for your cast and that giant bandage at your side, nothing last night indicated that you were operating at a limited capacity. YOU sir, are a machine!" She planted a big juicy smooch on his lips.

"Oh yeah, well if that was your version of gentle last night, I need to start training as if I were entering a triathlon because your sex drive is insatiable. Not that I'm complaining." He couldn't grab her before she left the couch. He wanted to sit up and drink in her naked form wandering around the room picking up clothing, but he was stiff and truly needed help moving.

"Lorelai, would you please help me sit up, it hurts too much to move."

She stopped what she was doing and carefully helped him into a seated position. It hurt her heart every time he grunted because she could tell he was in pain.

"Dean, what can I get you? Are you taking pain medication? Tell me."

"The dressing on my side feels damp. I think I need to change it, can you help me to the bathroom? You don't have to do anything, I need the mirror that's all."

"No, I want to help you. Blood and sores are gross, but you need me, so I'm Nightingale-ing ya."

They ambled to the bathroom and Lorelai sifted through the different bandages, while Dean peeled off the old ones. When she faced Dean and the giant, oozing wound, she gasped and tears pooled in her eyes.

"Lorelai it's okay, It's getting better."

"Better than what? You are sliced and diced. Oh Dean, that guy was trying to murder you and he almost succeeded." She put her arms around his hips and sobbed into his chest. "I'm so thankful you're alive. So thankful for the risk you took to save me. I love you so much and I am so sorry he hurt you so badly…"

"Hey, hey Lorelai, I'm just stiff. It hurts but I'm going to be fine. I am fine, just a little sliced up a la Freddie Krueger. Please don't cry. You're making me sad. This isn't your fault. It's his." He kissed the top of her head and held her to soothe her. "Come on, I have to clear this with saline so please hand me the gauze and it would be a big help if you could dry my leg afterward." He stepped into the shower stall and drizzled the solution over his wound, flushing out the dried blood and pus around the cut. Lorelai delicately sponged the area with gauze, and then she dried the trail down his leg.

"Nurse, I need two of those big bandages in the green wrap." He fiddled with the adhesive strips and looked in the mirror to apply them like he had been shown in the hospital.

"Dean, be honest, what does that feel like?" pointing to the long scarred area on his torso.

"Honestly, like bits of jagged glass. Hey, it will get better according to my surgeons, so let's move on and think about having a who can stay naked the longest contest. I'll let you win if you want."

That grin was almost irresistible, but she HAD to go to work. His fingers rubbed her nipples.

"Hey hey hey, down boy! My underwear is going back on, and I am going to work or Sookie may poison my coffee and then THIS will no longer be available to you."

I want to pin you against the wall and make you scream my name again. You should be naked all the time, and having sex with me all the time.

Snap snap!

"Dean! Do you need help getting dressed?"

"Yes. Could you help me with a clean shirt and sweatpants? And can you remain naked until I am clothed?"

"You are so easy to please. Since I feel bad for you in this weakened state, I'll refrain from dressing until you're situated."

6:38

"Okay, Dean, I have to go. I gotta get out of here before I'm busted. Your phone is right here, fully charged, and I am gone!"