Sorry for the delay! Work's been busy and I've been getting home late! Thank you for your continued support, it means a lot to me! :) Now I'm not a medical expert but I've tried to do some research so please be kind! :P Here's the next chapter. :)
Chapter 6
Lorelai returned back to the Crap Shack and put Mia to bed before collapsing down on the couch in the living room, letting out a big breath. She couldn't understand why Luke couldn't see her side and it frustrated her. They were married. She thought married couples were supposed to support each other. She let out another breath and turned on the tv.
Meanwhile, Taylor was walking past the diner after locking up Doose's when he noticed the lights still on inside. He was confused as to why they were as he knew that Luke always closed up long before he did. He hesitantly went up the stairs to the door and looked inside. It was then that he saw Luke on the floor. His eyes widened and he rushed inside without hesitation. "Luke?" He exclaimed kneeling down next to him. "Luke, can you hear me?"
"Can't….breathe…." Luke gasped.
"Oh my god…" Taylor said remembering back to when he found William in the exact same spot but when the diner was the hardware shop. He was determined there was going to be another outcome this time though. He pulled out his cell quickly and dialled 911. "Yes ambulance please! Quickly! My friend…I think he might be having a heart attack….Yeah…Luke's diner in Stars Hollow….Ok, thank you." He said. "The ambulance is on its way. Don't worry, Luke, everything's going be ok." He tried to reassure him. "Where's Lorelai?" He asked.
"Home…" Luke managed to get out. "Please….stay…" He then said weakly.
"I'm not going anywhere." Taylor assured him. "I'll ring Lorelai ok? I'll let her know what's happening. Just try and keep calm." He said. He slowly got up and went over to the door to ring Lorelai, and also looking out for the ambulance. "Lorelai? It's Taylor." He said when she answered.
"Taylor?" Lorelai said confused.
"Yeah, look, it's about Luke." He told her.
"I don't really want to talk about Luke right now." She said, her tone changing completely. "I have to go."
"No, wait! I think he's having a heart attack!" Taylor said quickly.
"What?" Lorelai said shocked.
"I've just found him on the floor at the diner. He's having real trouble breathing. I've called an ambulance and it's on its way but I really think you should come." He said. "Luke needs you."
"Of course!" Lorelai said worried, their argument completely forgotten.
"Oh wait, the ambulance is here. He'll probably be taken to Hartford Memorial." Taylor said. "Can you meet us there?"
"Yeah I'll be there."
"Ok good."
"Taylor?" Lorelai said quietly.
"Yes?"
"Can you go with him? Luke hates hospitals." She said quietly.
"Of course." He said softly. "I'll see you there."
"Thanks Taylor." She said, hanging up. She stood there for a moment and realised she was shaking and she felt tears in her eyes. She quickly dialled a number. "Sook?" She said tremulously. "I need a favour…"
"Taylor!" Lorelai exclaimed rushing into the hospital and finding Taylor in the cardiology department. "Where is he?"
"They've taken him away for tests." Taylor explained. "They wanted to determine if he was in fact experiencing a heart attack."
"But he was conscious right?"
"He was but he was having trouble breathing and was in a lot of pain." He said.
"Oh god…." Lorelai said quietly, fighting back some tears.
"He's in the best place, Lorelai. The doctors here know what they're doing. Luke's tough. I'm sure he will be fine." Taylor said kindly.
"But his dad had a heart attack, didn't he? And he…he died…" Lorelai said tremulously.
"His father was also a lot older and had been experiencing a lot of health problems. Luke's healthy. He'll get through this." Taylor tried to reassure him.
"Thank god you found him when you did…" She said quietly. "I don't know…I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't…"
"They said they will let you know when there is any news." Taylor told her. "Would you like me to stay?" He asked kindly.
"Oh..uh..no it's ok." Lorelai said. "I rang the girls and they're on their way so should get here soon."
"Ok then. I'll get going then." He said going to walk off. He then hesitated and turned back. "Will you let me know when you know anything?"
"Yeah I will." She nodded.
"Thank you." He said quietly.
"Taylor?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you." She said softly.
Taylor gave her a small smile and a nod before leaving.
"Mom!"
Lorelai was brought out of her daze when she heard the familiar voices and looked up to see Rory, Charlotte, Jess and Sam rushing towards her.
"What's happening? How is he?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't know…" Lorelai said. "They still haven't let me know anything. Taylor brought him in twenty minutes ago but no one hasn't told me anything."
"Taylor?" Rory said confused.
"Yeah.." She said quietly.
"Why was Taylor with him?" Charlotte asked.
"Was it a heart attack?" Jess asked at the same time.
Lorelai glanced at Jess and saw his worried expression. "I don't know." She said quietly. She then glanced at her daughters. "I..uh..I wasn't with him when…when it happened. We…we had a fight.." She admitted guiltily.
"But he will be ok, won't he? Where is he now? What is he doing?" Jess asked.
"I…" Lorelai said not knowing what to say. The honest truth was that she didn't know and the reason she didn't know was because she wasn't with him because she had that stupid argument with her. She could see how petty it was now and she felt so guilty about the things she had said to him.
"Hey, why don't we go get some drinks?" Sam suggested to Jess, seeing Lorelai was struggling.
"But…" Jess said.
"It might be a while until we do know something. Come on." He said gently leading him away.
Lorelai watched them go and then put her head in her hands.
"Mom, you weren't to know this was going to happen." Charlotte said softly, sitting down next to her.
"Charlotte's right. There's no point feeling guilty…" Rory said, sitting down on her other side.
Lorelai looked at them with tears in her eyes. "The last thing I said to him was to drop dead…" She said tearfully. "What if…what if that's the last thing he heard from me?"
"Don't think like that." Charlotte said. "Luke will be fine. Look at Grandpa. He's had so many scares but he's still here."
"What were you fighting about anyway? I thought you were good…" Rory said.
"I…" Lorelai started glancing at Rory but stopped when she realised how her daughter would feel if she admitted the truth.
"Oh god…It was me, wasn't it? You were fighting about me…" Rory said quietly.
"It was stupid. It was a petty argument." Lorelai said.
"But you were still fighting about me…" Rory said quietly.
"Ok, who cares about whether you were fighting with Luke or what the fight was even about! What matters is focusing on Luke now. He's going to be fine, ok? And he'll be home before we know it." Charlotte said. "Don't focus on anything else because it's going to drive you both crazy."
"I just…I want him to be ok." Lorelai said tremulously. "He's Luke. Our Luke. My Luke. He's…he's everything to me."
"I know." Charlotte said quietly. "But he will be ok. I promise you." She said trying to reassure herself as well as her mom.
"Where's Mia?" Rory asked quietly.
"Sookie's with her." Lorelai said. "Mia was asleep. I didn't want to wake her…" She glanced around. "Where's Jack?" She asked Charlotte.
"Our neighbour's watching him. We've known her for years and she's lovely and Jack loves her." Charlotte said.
"Ok. Good." She sighed.
"He will be ok, mom." She said softly.
"He has to be." Lorelai said quietly.
"He will be." Rory said.
Rory was walking down the corridor a while later and bumped into Sam. "Hey…" She said.
"Oh hey. Any news?" He asked.
"Not yet." She shook her head. "Mom's going crazy…" She said quietly.
"I can imagine." Sam sighed.
"It's been an hour since he came in. That can't be good news, can it?" She said nervously.
"It depends on what tests they have to do. It can take a while." Sam said.
"I just wish someone would tell us something. Anything." Rory said.
"How are you doing?" He asked sympathetically.
"What?" She said surprised.
"You and Charlotte have known Luke most of your life. This must have shaken you as well. I know it's shaken Jess."
"Where is Jess?" Rory asked looking round.
"Toilet and then he was heading back to Charlotte and Lorelai." Sam said. "So?" He said softly.
Rory blinked back tears. "Mom and Luke were arguing about me beforehand…"
"Oh Ror…" Sam said pulling her into a hug.
"They were arguing about me and then the next minute, Luke's here. It's all my fault." She said her voice cracking.
"No, it's not." He said firmly. "Rory, no one could have seen this coming. It's noone's fault." He said softly, sitting her down and then he sat down himself.
"I'm not going…" She said quietly.
"Not going where?" He asked confused.
"Afghanistan. I'm not going…" She said.
"Rory…" Sam said surprised.
"This was a sign. I can't go. Not after this…" Rory sniffed.
"But…this was your dream job…" Sam said softly.
"Yeah, my dream job that has everyone worried and upset." Rory said. "It might be my dream job but I won't let it cost me my family. And you. I can't lose you." She said tremulously, glancing at him.
"You would never lose me." He assured her.
"But this job terrifies you. I know it does. You've tried to hide it from me but I know how you feel about it. I don't want you to feel like that. I don't want my family worrying so much that it causes fights and then…well this. It's not worth it." Rory said quietly. "I'm not going. I can't."
"Well…if that's really what you want…" Sam said cautiously.
"It is. I'm not going." She said more confidently now.
"Ok." Sam said softly.
"Ok." Rory said.
"Come here." Sam said pulling her into another hug. "He'll be ok." He said softly.
"You ok?" Charlotte asked Jess softly after he had rejoined them. She sighed. "Sorry, silly question."
Jess glanced over at Lorelai and then back at Charlotte. "I'm ok." He said quietly.
"You don't have to pretend with me, you know." She told him. "I know what means to you."
"I know what he means to you too." Jess pointed out.
Charlotte sighed. She glanced at him. "I keep telling mom he's going to be ok…" She said quietly.
Jess sighed and pulled her towards him leading to Charlotte leaning her head on his shoulder. "He has to be. Who else is going to pull my ass into gear when I mess up again?" He said.
Charlotte smiled slightly at that. "No one comes to mind." She said softly.
Just then, a doctor came up to them just as Sam and Rory returned as well. "Are you Luke Danes' family?" He asked.
"I'm his wife." Lorelai said quickly getting up. "Is he ok?"
"Your husband didn't have a heart attack. He did, however, suffer from angina." The doctor told her. "We've managed to regulate his breathing and we've prescribed some medication that will relax and widen his blood vessels which means more blood will be able to flow to his heart which reduces his heart workload. We'd like to keep him overnight to observe him though."
"But he's ok? He's going to be ok?" Lorelai asked.
"Yes he should make a full recovery." The doctor assured her.
"Thank you so much." Lorelai let out a relieved breath.
"However, he will have to keep taking this medication we prescribe him to stop this happening again or anything else happening. And he needs to make sure he maintains a healthy lifestyle as well."
"I don't get it. Luke's the healthiest person I know. He's really careful about what he eats." Jess said.
"He's right. He always nags me about my diet." Lorelai said.
"Healthy people can still suffer from angina. Luke did mention his father suffered from heart problems and died from a heart attack." The doctor said. "Someone with a family history of heart problems does have a higher risk of experiencing it themselves." He explained.
"So this could happen to Jess?" Charlotte asked suddenly worrying.
"Sorry?" The doctor said confused.
"I'm his nephew." Jess said.
"Well…there is a higher risk but all I can recommend at this stage is to make sure you have a healthy diet and you're exercising as well." The doctor said. "But if you do ever experience any pain, come in and we can help you."
"So he could suffer from it?" Charlotte asked, biting her lip.
"He said could. Not definitely." Jess said softly, squeezing her hand. "Stop worrying. Let's focus on Luke, yeah? Don't focus on the what ifs."
Charlotte sighed. "You're right. Can we see Luke?" She asked the doctor.
"Of course. He's in room 108. He's very tired though so I'd recommend maybe only his wife going in at this point." The doctor said smiling kindly at Lorelai.
"Thank you." Lorelai said quietly. "Thank you for everything." She turned to everyone. "Is it ok if I go? I mean…"
"Mom, go." Charlotte said softly.
"But…"
"You should go see him. He will want you." Rory assured her.
"Ok." Lorelai said quietly. She glanced at Jess. "Want me to give him a message?"
"Just…just tell him we're thinking of him. And not to worry about the diner." Jess said.
"I will." She nodded.
"And…tell him we love him." Jess said gruffly. "And we're glad he's ok."
"I will." She smiled softly.
"We'll head back to Stars Hollow and let Sookie know what's happening." Charlotte said. "Meet you back there?"
"Ok." Lorelai said. She watched them all leave before slowly walking off in search for Luke's room. She found it and stood outside it for a moment before taking a deep breath and going inside. "Hey…" She said softly as she saw Luke lying in a hospital bed looking very pale and tired.
"Hey…" He said quietly.
So I hope you like it! :) Let me know what you think as I love reading your reviews! Thanks! :)