"Okay, now that we know exactly what's going on and that it will be a few hours, I need you to go get checked out," Emily said to Lorelai.

"Mom, I'm fine."

"Stop lying to me," Emily insisted. "I have enough to worry about right now. Please go and get yourself checked out."

"I'll take her," Babette offered, "Rory, you stay with your Grandmother."

Babette led Lorelai to the Emergency Room check in desk. "My friend fell down the stairs and hit her head, can we get a doctor to have a look at her?"

"It may be a while," the nurse said. "What's her name?"

"Lorelai Gilmore"

The nurse looked panicked, "Is she related to Emily Gilmore?"

"Yes, Emily is her mother." Babette answered.

"Just wait right here," the nurse said before she sped off.

Normally Lorelai wouldn't let someone do all the talking for her like this, but between all the emotional pain she was feeling on top of the throbbing wrist and fuzzy head, she let Babette take the lead. Suddenly Lorelai was being helped into a wheelchair and Sookie was by her side.

"What are you doing here?" Lorelai asked.

Sookie could see in Lorelai's eyes that she was glad to have Sookie there. As far as Lorelai knew, Sookie was the only one who knew what was going on with Chris.

"I'm going to stay by your side for all of this okay?"

"Thanks."

Sookie was glad to be here for her friend, but she wasn't sure Lorelai would be so happy with her if she knew that she had spilled the beans to Babette.

Luke was just about to flip the store sign to "Closed" when he saw Morey approaching. Luke opened the door, let Morey in and then flipped the sign.

"What brings you here alone?"

"You need to know some things that are going on."

"Okay," Luke said motioning to a table for Morey to sit at. "Can I get you anything?"

"No thanks. Just come sit."

Luke sat across from his father's best friend, something that few people would expect. Morey and William were opposites in many ways, but deep down they shared similar values. They grew up together and Morey had always been a sounding board for Luke since his Dad died.

"You know that my wife has a big mouth. But she is also someone that can keep a secret when necessary. The things that she knows about this town that only we know …. Anyway, this is something she swore she wouldn't tell. But you need to know and if you let it out that you find out from us I'll be very disappointed."

"I got it. You can trust me."

"Okay. First thing is that Lorelai's Dad had a heart attack today. It happened while he was teaching Rory's class so she's shaken up. They are at the hospital now."

Luke moved out of his seat but Morey stopped him.

"There's more. This is the delicate stuff. Lorelai is being checked out as we speak."

"Checked out? What do you mean?" Luke wasn't able to hide the panic in his voice.

"She said she fell down the stairs."

"Why are you saying it like that?" Luke demanded, "You don't think she fell down the stairs? You think she's lying?"

"Chris hit her once that we know of."

Luke jumped to his feet but Morey stood in his way.

"Sit down! I promised your father I'd never let you do something like what you want to do right now. So sit down!"

Luke sat but his leg was shaking.

"Sookie and Babette are with her making sure she's getting everything looked at. The bastard didn't go with her to the hospital because he was drunk. Sookie said Lorelai was going home to tell him she wanted a divorce."

Luke was ringing his hands, "Morey. I gotta do something!"

"You love her. So make her some food and show up to the hospital for her. Be the man she wants. Chris is already packing his stuff."

"Really?"

"Just be the guy that you are, the guy she loves. Things are going to work out."

"Thanks Morey, I hope you're right."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sookie was pacing outside the x-ray room. Lorelai was already diagnosed with a mild concussion and bruised ribs. They were checking out her wrist to see if it was broken or just a sprain. The cut on her face was small enough that it didn't need stitches but bruising had started to form on her cheek. It broke Sookie's heart to see her strong friend in such a state. She had let Jackson know that she wasn't leaving Lorelai's side in case Chris did show up. The door opened and Lorelai emerged with a brace on her arm. She was getting through the testing quickly as the staff was aware of Emily Gilmore and her reputation, so Lorelai was given the quickest and best care they could offer. The nurse led her and Sookie to the main desk to complete the paperwork.

Lorelai was quiet so Sookie made sure to take notes when the nurse gave her instructions for the next few days. She promised to schedule a follow up with Lorelai's general doctor the following week and she began to lead Lorelai back to the waiting room where they left Rory and Emily. Before they reached her family Lorelai stopped walking and finally looked Sookie in the eye.

"He found the character reference that I wrote for Luke. He slapped me again. When I left the bedroom he grabbed me at the top of the stairs. I fell when I struggled to get away."

Tears were pooled in Sookie's eyes, "Honey."

"He told me that he wasn't coming with me now because he was packing his stuff. So hopefully this is all over now. I just needed you to know."

Sookie hugged Lorelai. As she rubbed her back she confessed, "I told Babette. She promised not to say anything to anyone and I believe her. She loves you, she told me how she found you and she said she was worried that he pushed you. I just told her because I wasn't sure when I could make it here and I wanted her to get you checked out. We need to have this on record in case the divorce gets bad."

Lorelai just sighed and squeezed Sookie tighter, "I really made a mess of my life, hu?"

"This isn't your fault." Sookie insisted as she pulled away to look Lorelai in the face.

"I should have worked it out with Luke. He's the love of my life and now -"

"And now you'll have a chance to fix things," Sookie smiled while smoothing Lorelai's hair.

"You are forever the optimist, aren't you?" Lorelai chuckled.

"Honey?" Sookie pointed towards the waiting room where Luke was holding bags of food from the Diner and talking to Rory.

The women made their way into the waiting room. Rory saw them and gasped, "Mom! Are you okay?"

Lorelai nodded slowly, not able to look at Luke, "Yeah Sweets. I have a very mild concussion and sprained wrist. But I'm okay."

"She also has some bruised ribs, so be careful when you hug her." Sookie added.

"Oh Lorelai," Emily said with concern in her voice. "I'm sending my contractor to your house. Maybe this is because of loose floorboards. Did Christopher check? Where is Christopher anyway?"

"Mom, the floor is fine. My contractor is great. You know that I've had klutzy moments in my life. I was running to get the phone and lost my footing. I'm fine, really! How's Dad? Is there any word?"

Luke had noticed both Lorelai's face and Sookie's when Lorelai explained her injuries. Clearly neither of them are poker players. Everyone else seemed to buy the story so he kept quiet waiting for a chance to talk to Lorelai.

Emily ushered her daughter towards the seats and instructed Rory to get Lorelai some food. Rory and Logan started going through the bags Luke brought them.

Luke was still standing with Sookie. "Hey no offense, but I thought you were the klutz in that relationship." he said, motioning between her and Lorelai.

Sookie laughed awkwardly. "Come on Luke, what about the time when she broke her leg doing yoga?"

"Oh yeah, her one and only attempt to exercise. But still, I've seen her run in the rain in heels and not drop her coffee. The stairs in her own home are where she can't keep her footing?"

"What are you saying Luke? What do you want me to tell you?"

"Is there something to tell?"

"Hey, what are you two talking about all huddled up over here?" Lorelai asked as she approached her two friends.

"I'm going to go call Jackson and check in," Sookie said as she slipped away.

Loreali finally met Luke's gaze, "I can't believe you came."

Luke smiled, "Of course I came, you have always been there for me. And you know I'll always be here for you, no matter what." He reached out and lightly touched her cheek, "Just tell me you're okay."

"Luke, I'm fine. It's just -"

"Mom, the doctor is coming," Rory waved Lorelai over.