DISCLAIMER:

I own NOTHING!

I love reviews if you would like to leave me one. :-)

I started writing this story about a month ago, and just randomly decided to publish it, so I am currently re-reading everything that I have thus far, making edits and changes, and publishing each chapter as I go. I have quite a bit written so far, but I am also dealing with some writers block, so hopefully by re-reading and editing everything, I'll figure out where to go with this and get it finished. If anyone has any ideas of something they would like to see happen, please feel free to let me know.

6:00pm

Columbia Presbyterian Hospital

New York City, New York

"I'm so sorry you guys!" Rory said walking into the hospital waiting room with Logan, to meet her Mom, Grandpa and Honor. "I needed ice cream after loosing my job, so Collin had Stephanie and the baby meet us at our favorite ice cream place in town, and I know you've been waiting for us, and you are probably all starving. I am so sorry!"

"Don't even worry about it. We had those sandwiches that Sookie sent after the press conference. We're fine." Lorelai told her.

"Honor, have you told Dad the plan yet?" Logan asked.

"No, I have not. I was waiting for you. I thought it would be easier if we did it together." Honor answered.

"Ok. Lorelai, Richard, why don't the two of you decide where you would like to go for dinner, and we will go as soon as we are done here. My treat." Logan told them. "Honor, text Josh to meet us."

"No problem!" Lorelai smiled.

"We are going to head in to see Dad then. We'll keep it as short as we can."

"Take your time. We are fine right here." Richard told him

"Rory, give me your things. I'll take care of them while you're in there." Lorelai said holding her arms out for Rory's jacket and purse.

"Thanks Mom. I really appreciate it."

"Did things go well at the Times?"

"Yeah. Everything is good. I just needed some ice cream. There are cookies and brownies for you in my purse."

"Good girl!" Lorelai laughed, opening up Rory's purse and pulling out the treats. "Dad, we've got chocolate!"

"Rory, you are our favorite person today!" Richard told her as Lorelai handed him a brownie.

"You guys enjoy your treats. We'll be back shortly." Logan told them, then took Rory's hand and lead her and Honor to the security doors leading to the CICU, where Logan pressed the buzzer to get in.

"Can I help you?" a voice came over the intercom.

"It's Doctor Huntzberger. I don't have my badge on me." Logan said then heard the lock on the door click, and the automatic doors opened granting their entrance.

"It's just like the Wizard Of Oz." Rory said as they stepped through the doors

"Hi Belinda. How's my dad doing?" Logan asked, stepping up to the large nurses station just passed the doors.

"He is doing well Doctor Huntzberger. We gave him the soup you had brought in for lunch, and he really seemed to enjoy it, so we just gave him another bowl for dinner. There are several different kinds in the bag that was brought in. They smell delicious!"

"Maybe I'll see if he will let me try some. My fiance had those made just for him by a chef she knows back home. Has Dad give you guys any attitude today? Has he been unpleasant at all?"

"Not that I've heard. He's slept and watched tv a little bit. Your sister was here with a visitor earlier."

"Yes, Mr. Gilmore is on my approved list. Thank you for monitoring everything for me. Have you had anyone else try to call or get in who wasn't on my list?"

"A few people with the last name Huntsberger called, and one came by. Security took care of the one who came by. He was pretty irate."

"I'll talk to security and find out who it was. Thank you Belinda."

"Do you want to add your guest to your list?"

"Oh, I am so sorry. Belinda, this is my fiance, Rory. Rory, this is nurse Belinda. Rory is already on the list."

"I'm sorry, it is so nice to meet you Rory. Doctor Huntsberger, I had no idea you were engaged."

"That's ok, it's only been 24 hours." Honor explained. "Word is still getting out."

"Oh! Well congratulations!" Belinda told them.

"Thank you so much!" Rory smiled. "It is nice to meet you Belinda. Thank you so much for taking care of Mitchum today."

"It's my pleasure." Belinda told her. "Doctor Huntsberger, would you like your father's chart?"

"That would be great." Logan said taking the folder that Belinda held out for him. "Thank you so much! Did Doctor Levan leave for the day?"

"He did."

"Who is doing rounds tonight?"

"That would be Doctor Johnson."

"Would you mind asking him to stop in when he has a moment?"

"No problem. I will send him a message right now."

"Thank you so much Belinda!" Logan said, then headed to Mitchum's room with Rory and Honor right behind him.

"Hey Dad, Logan and Rory are here." Honor said as they stepped into the small room and saw Mitchum sitting up in bed, eating his soup.

"Hey Mitchum, how are you feeling?" Rory asked.

"I'm ok. Not too bad today." Mitchum answered.

"How is your soup? Is it alright?"

"It is actually the best soup I've had in years! Please tell your chef thank you for me."

"I will. I am so glad you like it!"

"What kind of soup are you eating now?" Honor asked.

"I think It was labeled tomato bisque."

"You had chicken curry or something earlier, right?"

"I think so."

"My mom said that Sookie made you four or five different kinds, so you have a lot of options." Rory told him.

"Please tell them thank you for me. This is delicious."

"I will. Sookie is amazing! She has been cooking for me my entire life. Maybe when you are released from the hospital we can go have lunch at the Dragonfly one day."

"That would be nice. Thank you Rory."

"Dad, I hear you are doing well today. Thank you for being so pleasant to all the staff. I really appreciate your cooperation." Logan told him.

"Son, you are treating me like I am a two year old. I am a grown man, I don't need a babysitter."

"With all due respect dad, I know you. You had a heart attack just a few days ago, and left to your own devices, you would already be back at work, and well on your way to your next cardiac surgery. As your son, and your doctor, it is my job to make sure that you get the treatment that you need, and that you are fully recovered before returning to your normal stress filled life. Now, with that being said, do you want to tell me why you never told any of us about your heart problems for the last 8 or so years?"

"Logan, I am an adult. I can take care of myself."

"Dad, I was handed your past medical records today. Would you like to explain to me what I read, or would you like me to start making calls to all of your doctors and have them tell me why you have been refusing treatment?"

"I have a company to run Logan. I travel a lot. I don't have time to go sit in a hospital having all kinds of unnecessary testing done."

"Unnecessary testing . . . Dad, come on! This heart attack could have been prevented had you actually listened to your doctors and taken the medications they gave you. Had you actually listened to them, and gotten the testing, you wouldn't be sitting in a hospital bed right now, and Rory wouldn't have just lost her job by voiding the non compete contract she signed with the New York Times, 3 years ago. Because you didn't listen to your doctors, and you decided to hide all of your medical problems from Mom, Honor and I, we are all here right now, and having to figure out how we can best help you, and keep the company running while you recover."

"Rory, you lost your job? Would you like me to make a phone call?" Mitchum asked.

"Thank you, but I'm ok. Everything is fine."

"Rory lost her job because she took over for you at HPG. She signed a non compete contract when she started at the Times, and by working for a competitor like HPG, she voids her contract, and wasn't even eligible for severance. Everything is fine, of course, because having your job, Rory can now buy the Times if she wanted to. But whenever you are eventually released and able to return to work, and no, it won't be any time in the next several months, Rory won't ever be able go to back to the Times. So thank you Dad. You ignoring your heart condition essentially cost Rory her job because she had to take over yours." Logan explained.

"I've been wanting to buy the Times for years. Maybe it's time I finally did it."

"Dad, I hate to be the one to tell you, but you aren't doing anything! I have taken full control of every aspect of your life. Until further notice, you can't get a single phone call, or have a single visitor that I haven't approved. I have your phone and your computer. And I had the phone in this room removed, so you can't even make a call outside of this hospital, without me knowing about and approving it. You not only aren't buying the New York Times, but you aren't doing a single thing other than laying in this bed and doing exactly what the staff at this hospital tell you to do. I am your puppet master, and you are going to sit here quietly, and recover from this heart attack, whether you like it or not!"

"Logan, I am 67 years old, and I have been running my own company since I was 25. You don't get to tell me what to do. Especially after you completely bailed on the family to go to medical school!"

"Actually Dad, that is EXACTLY why I get to tell you what to do! I have the medical degree, NOT you! I am calling ALL of the shots here, NOT you! The only choices that you will be making for the next several months, is what you would like to eat, and if you are lucky, whether or not you want to watch tv. You aren't going to push me on this Dad. We are doing this to help you!"

"Ok, let's all calm down here." Honor told them, stepping between Mitchum and Logan. "Logan, you know that raising your voice to Dad when he is recovering from a heart attack, isn't helping anything.

"You're right. I'm sorry Dad." Logan said taking a step back.

"It's been a really long day for all of us. We all just need to calm down and take a chill pill, ok? Now Dad, Logan, Rory and I are handling all of your work obligations. Rory isn't working for the times anymore because she is the new Mitchum. Logan and I are getting her all settled in at the office. She's got a personal assistant, and we've got everything handled. We met with the HR and PR teams this afternoon, and had a press conference where we announced everything that was happening. Everyone sends you their best wishes for a speedy recovery. But as of right now, the three of us have it all handled. We are meeting with your care team next week to get a plan put in place for you, to ensure that you are fully recovered before we allow you to go back to work. We love you, and we are doing this for your own good, so please, don't fight us on this because you will not win."

"Honor is right, Mitchum. We want you to take all the time that you need to recover from the heart attack, and get all the care that you need to get your health back on track. We are all concerned with your heart condition, and we are doing everything we can to help you. I will do everything I can to ensure that everything with the company keeps running just as you left it. Everything is going to be ok, as long as you stick to your treatment plan, and not worry about anything except your own recovery." Rory told him.

"Rory, I have a lot of traveling coming up in the next couple of months. All of the end of year stuff needs to be taken care of."

"I know it does. And I promise you, I've got it covered. I will take care of everything, and if I get stuck and need advice, I will come to you. But you need to trust that I can do this. Your only job right now is to do exactly what your doctors and Logan tell you to do. Let me handle the business. I know you didn't raise me in this business the way you did Logan, but I'm a Gilmore, and I take after my Grandpa. You have nothing to worry about."

"And Logan and I are going to be there with Rory to get her acclimated, and help with whatever she needs. I may have taken a backseat to all things newspaper, but I will step up and be Rory's right hand if that is what it takes." Honor told him.

"Dad, I'm sorry I got upset." Logan said stepping up next to Rory, and putting his arm around her. "I shouldn't have raised my voice to you, and I apologize. You're my Dad, and you are going through a lot right now, just like we are. I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on you. I am very sorry."

"It's fine Logan. Like it or not, you take after your old man." Mitchum told him in a much calmer voice.

"Look . . . I know this whole thing is going to be hard for all of us. Mom is off at a spa, and Honor, Rory and I are scrambling to take care of you and everything that you do. It's almost amusing that it is taking three of us to replace you right now. But we are doing it. I just really need you to help us out by taking it easy, and focusing all of your energy on your health. You have a heart condition, and we are very lucky that this heart attack didn't kill you, and even luckier that this heart attack happened now, and not years ago when we would have been much less prepared and able to take over so quickly and effectively. And we are even luckier that I am a doctor and can oversee all of your care, and make sure that you get the best possible treatment that money can buy. I am doing everything I can to take care of you, and make sure that you get better. I know that you weren't thrilled when I bailed on the family and went to medical school, but I hope that you can now see just how much having a doctor in the family benefits you. You got your heir to the newspaper dynasty in Rory, so you really have it pretty good when it comes to us."

"And you got it even better than you think you do Dad, because Rory isn't the slacker that Logan is. Rory will actually work, and get the job done instead of taking off in the middle of the day to go play with her little friends. Just think, how many times have you been completely pissed off at Logan for slacking, and wanted him to step up and actually get some work done? You don't have to worry about that with Rory!"

"Oh come on, that was years ago! I haven't been a crazy slacker in about a decade!" Logan told them.

"Honor does have a point there. Rory is definitely a much harder worker than you are." Mitchum agreed.

"So then you know that you have nothing to worry about with Rory taking over for you. You know that she will do whatever it takes to keep the company running better than you left it. And Honor and I will help her with whatever she needs."

"I will even travel with Rory while Logan is working, so she isn't alone." Honor offered.

"That will actually be good. All that travel can get lonely." Mitchum told them.

"Good! It's settled then! You are going to focus on getting better and Logan Rory and I are going to take care of everything else. Isn't it great having three kids instead of just two?!"

"Rory, welcome to the family. I'm sorry I didn't say it sooner." Mitchum told her. "We are lucky to have you."

"Yes we are." Logan agreed, kissing the side of Rory's head.

"I see Logan gave you my mother's ring."

"He did. Thank you Mitchum, it's beautiful. I am honored to wear it."

"My mother would have liked you. You are a lot like her, always standing up for what you believe in. The two of you are the only women who have ever put me in my place."

"You will have to tell me more about her after you get to feeling better." Rory told him.

"Dad, we are going to get your care plan together next week." Logan told him. "Honor and I are thinking about getting you into a special rehab resort, maybe out in California where the weather is nice. We will find a treatment plan that works for you so we can get you back to your best self. We'll get you on a great diet and exercise regime, and get your heart 100% taken care of, so we don't have to worry about you having any more problems, ok?"

"I guess you know what is best."

"I do, and I won't accept anything other than what is best for you. But I need you to fully commit to getting better, and follow all of your doctors orders. Can you do that for us?"

"I'll see what I can do."

"Ok. Good deal. I'm going to see if I can get you a little treat for being so cooperative today."

"Can I ask you guys something, and get an honest answer?"

"Sure Dad."

"Has the media circus set in since I've been here?"

"Would you like to see pictures?" Rory asked.

"How bad is it?"

"They're outside your house in Hartford, both mine and Logan's apartments here in the city, my grandmother Francine's Hartford house that no one even lives in, and they've surrounded both the HPG building and this hospital."

"And there is a small group at my house too." Honor added.

"But you guys are dealing with it." Mitchum nodded.

"It should be dying down now. We met with the HR and PR teams from both HPG and the hospital today, and we had a nice press conference announcing the changes, and squashing the rumors that Rory and I tried to put a hit out on you." Logan told him.

"I take it one of your uncles told the press that you tried to kill me."

"Pretty much! Supposedly the engagement caused your heart attack." Honor told him.

"12 years ago, it probably would have."

"But you like Rory now. She is a great addition to our family."

"I've never not liked Rory. I'll admit that I didn't always think she was what was best for this family. But she's changed all of that. Rory makes Logan a better person, and I am a big enough person that I can appreciate that."

"Rory makes all of us better people Dad. Even you." Honor told him. "You might not see it that way right now. But you will soon enough. Rory is who is best for all of us. This family needs her."