Chapter 13: When tomorrow isn't promised

The front door opened and two giggling teenage girls fell over the threshold, holding onto one another in order to keep they're balance. After them entered two more slightly less drunk teens and lastly with an eye roll two completely sober. Sean had decided, much to Colin's displeasure, to opt out of returning to Rory's but instead be dropped at Paris's where he would more then likely sleep that night. After a few to many glasses of champagne at the country club and multiple glasses of hard liquor in the limo, Rory and Louise were just barely holding themselves upright. Finn and Madeline weren't as drunk as the other two but they were far past tipsy. Tristan and Colin however, had declined the drinks offered to them on the ride home, which surprised not only they're friends but themselves as well.

Colin shut the door and for what seemed like the millionth time that night he rolled his eyes. Louise and Rory had fallen onto the stairs and were laughing drunkenly at nothing in particular.

'Could you two please lower you're voices. If Carmen hears you we're all dead.'

Rory shook her head and held a finger in the air.

'Nope, she's got the night off.'

She burst into another fit of giggles which acted as a chain reaction and spread to Louise then Madeline and lastly Finn. Tristan laughed to himself, and turned to Colin.

'They're all wasted.'

'What threw you off?'

His snapping come back caused Tristan to pull his head back in surprise and smirk.

'Hey man, don't get all pissy with me because you're girls off getting some from her boyfriend right now.'

'DUDE!'

'What?'

He gestured to the group sitting on the stairs.

'Do you honestly think any one of them is going to remember they're own names in the morning? Let alone the fact that you're hot for Paris?'

Colin stared at them thoughtfully as Madeline began dragging her finger down Finn's face then proceeded to tap him lightly on the nose. Shrugging he walked off toward the kitchen.

'Whatever, just get them in the living room and I'll put on some coffee.'

'Why the hell do I get the hard job?'

'Look at this way, you get to touch Rory.'

Tristan looked from Rory to Colin fearfully.

'DUDE!'

Colin turned back with a smirk.

'Like you said, they won't remember right?'

Before he was given a chance to react, Colin cut him off with a nod at his cousin.

'Hey red!'

She turned to him with a huge smile plastered on her face. He threw his head in Tristan's direction.

'Tristan's got a hard on for you.'

The blonde boy's eyes grew as Colin disappeared around a corner and Rory turned to him with confused eyes.

'What did he say?'

Sighing with relief he walked over and helped her to her feet.

'He said that he's going to put a pot on for you.'

She moved her head up and down in big gestures.

'Ooooooh. I gotcha I gotcha. Whoa where we going cutie?'

He laughed yet again; she always called him that when she was drunk; it was one of the many things he loved about her.

'We are going into the family room so you all can lie down and sober up. Come on guy's.'

Rory pulled away and slouched with a pout.

'Cutie, I don't wanna walk.'

'Really now? Well then what would you suggest?'

Biting her bottom lip she looked up at him from beneath her long lashes.

'Right, come on.'

Turning around he bent his knees and allowed her to jump up and wrap her arms around his neck. He placed his hands beneath her thighs which due to her dress riding up, were completely bare. Tristan swallowed the lump in his throat and bounced her higher up onto his back; the movement however got a reaction from her that he wasn't expecting, a small moan escaped her lips causing a whimper to fall from his own. After a short pause he proceeded down the hallway, three chattering teens behind him. A few seconds later Rory dropped her head on his shoulder, her hair falling against his cheek. She spoke softly, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.

'I love you Tristan.'

It took him a moment to push through his surprise and then another to convince himself that she thought of him as no more then a friend. With a small sigh, he looked over at her and they're faces came within centimeters of each other. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and blinked. That moment, when her lashes touched her cheeks, he knew that what he felt for her was more then just a crush or lust; she was absolutely beautiful and he was in love with her. His voice was husky when he spoke, just barely a whisper.

'I love you to.'

They're eyes locked and time stopped, he didn't know what she was feeling, but every part of him was screaming at him to kiss her. In an in voluntary movement, his face inched closer to hers and just as he was about to close the gap between them, Louise came running past them and into the bathroom a few feet away. Rory pulled away and looked behind her, Finn and Madeline were gone, apparently having went into the family room where the television was on and something loud was playing. She cleared her throat nervously and understanding what that meant, Tristan let her legs go, and her bare feet softly hit the ground. They stood a few feet from each other silent and uncomfortable. Trying desperately to find something to distract her, Rory looked around the hallway and her eyes landed on the bathroom door. With a small smile she gestured to the door.

'I better go check on her.'

'Yea.'

She nodded and walked away stumbling slightly as she came to a stop and knocked on the door.

'Louise, it's me. Open up.'

The lock clicked and Tristan watched as Rory disappeared into the bathroom. With a long sigh he dragged his hands over his face and laughed unbelievingly. While shaking his head he stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked back in the direction they had come from. Just as his hand hit the door knob, Colin suddenly appeared.

'Where you going?'

Tristan simply shook his head and left without a word, letting the door click silently closed behind him. Eyebrows raised in confusion Colin joined the others in the family room. Thirty minutes later Rory entered the room holding Louise's hand and carrying a pair of pajamas for Madeline. She handed the colorfully striped bottoms and yellow tank top to Madeline then sat carefully down beside Colin and laid her head on his shoulder. Louise fell into the spot on the pull out mattress that Finn was currently passed out on. She pulled the blanket up to her neck and punched her pillow a few times in an attempt to make it fluffier. After a slightly slurred 'good night' her eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep. Rory looked around the room after a few minutes and raised her head from her cousins shoulder.

'Where'd Tris go?'

'I don't know. He left like half an hour ago. I asked him where he was going, but he just walked out.'

With a small sigh she laid her head back down; Colin looked to her worriedly.

'Are you ok? How are you feeling?'

'Better, a little queasy still but it'll pass.'

'No I mean, how are you doing?'

Rory sighed heavily, understanding exactly what he was implying; she sat up and moved as far away from him as she could get.

'I'm fine Colin.'

'Are you sure? Because if you need to talk I'm here. '

'Really, I'm doing great.'

Suddenly she felt as if she couldn't breathe, the voice from earlier in the week was suddenly back, screaming 'LIER' at the top of it's lungs. The thing that frightened her though wasn't the fact that she was hearing this voice, because she had long ago become accustomed to that, it was the fact that the voice she was hearing was no longer a replica of her own, but still a voice she new all to well. Chris's voice was clear as day in her head, screaming the same word over and over 'LIER LIER LIER'. She jumped to her feet in an attempt to get away from his taunting chant, but it followed her step for step 'LIER LIER LIER'.

'If there's anything at all you'

'GOD LEAVE ME ALONE! I DON'T NEED YOU'RE HELP!'

Colin flinched back in complete shock then glanced at a still sleeping Louise and Finn. Seeing the look on his face, Rory's hand flew up to cradle her forehead. She let out a long sigh and took a step toward him.

'Look I'm sorry ok? It's just I'm getting a little irritated with the constant worrying. I can't handle being treated like some glass doll. I love you for wanting to but I don't need you to take care of me Colin.'

They sat in silence for a minute, Rory waiting for him to respond and Colin trying to choose his words carefully.

'I don't agree.'

'What?'

'Ror, something's going on with you, we're not blind. If Chris were here'

'Don't go there Colin.'

She turned away from him as the tears began to sting her eyes; the mere mention of his name still made her chest cold and her heart began to make a heavy thudding feeling in her chest, as if a heavy rock were being tossed around in there.

Colin sighed loudly and stood up.

'If he were here, he would know exactly how to take care of you and I'm doing the best I can but '

She spun back around, tears streaming down her cheeks, fury burning in her eyes.

'But he's not here; is he? And you can't change that, so if you want to help me then just butt the hell out of my life!'

There was a moment of silence, each looking heart brokenly at the other. Rory's tears fell faster now as Louise and Finn both sat up completely confused. Colin looked over at them, just as Finn fell back against his pillow, and locked eyes with a worried Louise. Rory apparently hadn't noticed that her friends had woken or that Madeline had re-entered the room and was standing awkwardly in the doorway. She took another step toward Colin who looked at her with guarded eyes.

'You're not Chris, you never will be; so stop trying.'

A gasp came from both Louise and Madeline's directions, Rory looked around the room, and took in the glares directed at her from two of her closest friends; and then she looked back to Colin who was staring intently at a spot on the floor. The voice in her head grew silent and a lump began to form in her throat; that can't breathe feeling washed over her once again. She shook her head and let out a gasping sob.

'I'm sorry.'

Colin glanced up at her and saw the anguish on her face, without a second thought he pulled her into his arms wrapping him self tightly around her. Her body became too heavy for her to be able to hold herself up so she slid to the ground, pulling Colin down with her. He held her there in his lap, rocking her back and forth as her sobs racked over her entire body and her struggle for breath became increasingly harder. He looked over at Madeline who had tears running down her cheeks and mouthed for her to call Tristan. Not needing to be told twice she spun on her heels and ran off down the hall. Louise rose from the bed silently and sat down beside Colin, putting her face in his shoulder, in an attempt to keep Rory from seeing her own tears, and her arm around her sobbing friend. Colin turned his head to the side and kissed her hair softly in a loving gesture. Madeline came back into the room carrying Rory's house phone and shook her head; Tristan hadn't answered.

After twenty minutes her tears began to fade and the room grew eerily silent. Rory lifted her head slowly from his chest and pulled as far away from Colin as she could manage; her entire body felt numb as if it no longer existed.

'Colin I don't'

Her voice came out in a whisper and her head began to fall forward.

'Rory? Ror what's wrong?'

The panic in his voice showed that he knew exactly what was wrong.

'I can't keep'

'Madeline, call 911!'

Panic stricken Madeline was already dialing. Louise quickly moved behind Rory, who's body began to fall backward.

'Wake him up!'

She jumped up, ran over to Finn and began shaking him. Colin kept shaking Rory to keep her from passing out.

'Princess, come on you gotta stay awake. What did you take Rory?'

'Uh-uh.'

Finn, now at full alert slid to the floor and held Rory's head straight, to keep her air passage clear.

'Love, come on wake up. What the hell happened?'

'She's on something and I think the mixture of that and the alcohol is to much.'

'What do you mean she's on something? What is she on?'

'She took a few aspirin.'

Louise's shaky voice broke through the panic. Colin's head automatically jerked in her direction.

'When?'

'Just before we came in here. They're still in her purse I don't know how many she took though.'

'What did she take em with Louise?'

She shook her head fearing that this was in some way her fault.

'I don't know, water? It was clear; It could have been something else.'

He turned back to Rory with tear filled eyes. Although he knew exactly what she had done, before Louise had said anything, the confirmation of it some how made what was happening to real for him to handle.

'Ror, Princess come on, helps coming. Stay awake! I can't do this again Rory, you can't leave me; please.'

He had began to cry as did Louise and Maddy. Finn continued to do everything he could to keep her from passing out.

'Colin, I'm so sorry.'

'For what Princess?'

She moaned and turned her face away from him.

'He keeps screaming at me. Make him stop.'

The boy's looked at each other, fearfully.

'Who's screaming at you Love?'

'Chris.'

Colin sat back in shock and the doorbell rang. Madeline took off down the hall once again. A second later, which seemed like an hour to Colin – who time seemed to have stopped for, Madeline, two paramedics, three fire men and two cops, entered the room; everyone moved out of the way, giving the men room to work. A minute later, Tristan came running into the room, eyes wide and out of breath.

'What happened?'

Nobody answered, because there was no need to, one of the paramedics stood up to get something from his box, which gave Tristan a clear view of an unconscious Rory. With wide confused, terrified eyes he looked back to the group standing a few feet away. Louise had her face buried in Colin's chest, his arm wrapped around her shoulders as he stared blankly at the scene in front of him. There were tear tracks drying on his face and his eyes were blood shot and puffy. Madeline sat on the bed with Finn, her face in her hands, her eyes peeking out just above her finger tips and tears falling freely. Finn looked almost as frightened as Colin did; almost.

He let his gaze fall back on the frightening scene before him and felt his world begin to crumble as they began CPR.

'One. Two. Three!'

The larger of the two paramedics leaned over and inflated Rory's chest.

'One. Two. Three!'

Tristan slid to the floor, bracing himself on the wall. There was no way he could trust his legs to keep him standing. His brain had already forgotten to let him breathe.

'One. Two. Three!'

Although she remained unconscious, this time when his mouth touched hers, she inhaled a sharp gasping breath.

'Alright we got her back.'

The fire man, who was prepared for this, immediately placed an oxygen mask over her face. While another pulled the stretcher over and the other helped the paramedics place her limp body on it and strap her in. A cop walked over to Colin.

'We're going to take her to Hartford memorial, you can meet us there.'

'I want to go with her.'

'I'm sorry son but only an immediate family member is aloud in the ambulance.'

'I'm her cousin, her parent's are out of town and her brother passed away; I'm all she has.'

'OK. Follow me.'

Louise detached herself from him and moved to Finns side. Colin walked in a trans down the hall and into the ambulance. Once inside, he moved to Rory's side picked up her hand and held it to his mouth as the tears once again began to fall. One of the men sat beside him a clip board in hand.

'Can I have her name.'

He sniffled and cleared his throat.

'Lorelai Hayden.'

The paramedic who Colin now realized was named Jackson, as was stitched into the pocket of his uniform shirt, scribbled her name across the paper. Without so much as glancing at Colin he shot out his next question.

'Age?'

'Sixteen.'

'Birthday?'

'Five Twenty-one, ninety-two.'

'Do you know her height and weight?'

'Uh – like five six; One-ten – one-fifteen.'

'And how much has she had to drink tonight?'

'I don't know. She had a few glasses of champagne earlier tonight, and a few drinks in the limo on the way home.'

A lump began to form in his throat, causing him to pause and look down at his unconscious cousin, unsure of whether or not he should finish his sentence. Suddenly a bright light began to flash throughout the cab of the ambulance and a heart-stopping alarm began to blare from over head. Clearing his throat once again, he turned away from Rory and spoke with a raspy voice.

'Our friend said she took some aspirin about an hour ago.'

'How many?'

'It wasn't aspirin. My cousin has a problem with pain medication.'

Jackson glanced at Rory then gave a small nod, his voice took on a more sympathetic tone.

'What did she take?'

'Vicodin. Most likely with vodka, she wasn't really sure.'

'And she didn't see how many she took?'

'She just said 'a few'.'

'OK. So I have to write down here that you said Lorelai has a drug addiction problem, is that correct?'

He paused again and listened to the raspy breathing coming from beneath the oxygen mask she was wearing.

'Yes.'

'And what's you're name?'

'Colin McCrea. I'm her cousin.'

'Ok, and do you have the number where we can reach her parent's?'

'Actually they're out of town, the emergency contact number is to my parent's.'

'Are they are her legal guardians?'

'No sir; but they do have my aunt and uncles legal consent to approve or disapprove of any treatment in a case of emergency.'

'OK, then you're parent's number please.'

Colin repeated the number without a second thought then inhaled a sharp breath.

'Can I ask you a question?'

'Go ahead.'

'Is she going to be – I mean she's gonna live right?'

Jackson inhaled and exhaled a long breath.

'I'm not authorized to make that diagnoses. I'm sorry.'

Colin nodded sadly and pulled Rory's hand closer to his chest.

'But what I can tell you is that, you're cousin will have some of the finest doctors in the country working on her; doing everything can.'

'Thank you.'

Next thing he knew the van was jerking to a stop, the doors were flying open and what seemed like a hundred nurses and doctors, were pulling Rory out on the stretcher and flocking around her – effectively hiding her from view.