CHAPTER 1

Two nightmares and a dream pt1

Disclaimer:I don't own GG
Background: An alternative story in Stars Hollow as continuation of my story 'Love the way you lie'. Rory is coping with the consequences of learning she was molested as a child and findind a new path. Lane is torn between her Korean heritage, her dreams of being a drummer and the loss of her father, while living without grownups for a first time. Abigail (Jess' NY ex who is friends with him and Rory as per my previous story) is tending wounds from her past and adjusting to life in the small city. Couples now and/or eventually Rory/Jess, Lane/Tristan, Abigail/Zack, mentions of Lorelai/Luke

The story will switch between the points of view of the three main girls.

Warning: Some chapters may be really triggering

1.

(ABIGAIL)

Abigail, all stitched up and covered in a blanket on the couch, turned in her sleep, mumbling non-sensically. Zach kept covering parts of her face in a wet cloth from time to time, because she was still burning up, her body trying to adjust to the wounds. They had made a schedule to look after her during the night and it was his turn. He had watched her alwmost growl helplessly, trying to contain the pain as Paris stitched the cut on her forehead, still resisting hospital. Half of her face was puffy and swollen. Her arm was in his own football sling to keep her shoulder in place. He shuttered at the thought of what happened and the idea of anyone doing that to that tiny girl that was a head shorter than him and 110lbs soaking wet made him sick.

He knew very little about her from their failed attempt to sing at New York. The bubbly, lively girl he'd met then didn't at all seem like the stone cold one he'd witnessed tonight. She hadn't even recognized that she had seen him before, but with all the stress he couldn't blame her.

The next time he was changing the towel over her face, she struggled, and her eyes fluttered open, her hands and feet already trying to kick and hit the person above her. He took it calmly and tried speaking firm and calm as Paris has instructed before she left. Lane had taken Zach and Brians room and Tristan had taken the bunk above her until it was his turn to help again. Brian was the last who'se shift it had been, and he was sleeping on the beanbag chair in the corner. They had been playing Twister with choosing beds and sleeping places, with the exception of Jess and Rory, who had stayed in Lane's room and by mutual agreement- left undisturbed.

Abigail kept hitting, her body clearly in pain, but she wasn't giving up.

'Slow down. It's Zack. Abigail? It's Zack, you're in Stars Hollow, you're safe.' Another punch of her tiny fists hit him before her eyes finally fluttered open, chocolate brown with flickers of beutiful green in the light. She stopped moving, his two hands staying on her forearms trying to make sure she was calm.

'What the f- let me go' He did and she was clutching her body with her knees close as far away from him as she could. She clearly didn't want him to see, but her chest was rising in a restrained panic, what was not swollen of her face few shades lighter.

'I was just putting a wet towel on your face as Paris told us. To bring down the temperature.'

'I'm not a f**king charity case. You don't have to look over me.'

' That's not even close to- Abi-'

'Abigail.'

'Abigail? We were going to sing together in New York, do you remember me?'

Her face scrunched, trying to focus on his features in the dark- the dirty blonde longer hair, the beard, the kind brown eyes. 'Yeah, I remember. Where are Rory and Jess?'

Her world was trying to fit the familiar and unfamiliar and the fact that she'd left with whatever was in her backpack and barely enough money for a ticket here was starting to hit her.

'They are sleeping. I hope. Rory- I'm not sure, she wasn't feeling well, remember?'

Abigail did. Her body relaxed a little but still not enough.

' Want the next painkillers? Paris gave us exact instructions and you're just about due.'

She didn't more, studying him. There was nothing threatening in his face or posture, but then again...

'Do you want me to wake them? It's not a problem.'

He was so careful and the shame rose over what wasn't purple on her face. 'I'm fine, who do you think-'

Great, sutures without painmeds she could handle, but a conversation with a practically stranger... Abi rose from the couch and limped out the front door before Zach understood what happened. He found her at the edge of the garden, clutching her stomach, throwing up the little food she ate. He tried to rub her back and she flinched away, holding her own hair.

'I'm fine.'

'Clearly.' He rested his body on the wall, making sure she knew he wasn't leaving, but wasn't touching her either. She threw up again, and was about to fall over, so he put her healthy arm to rest over his back and used another arm to support her around her tiny waist, ignoring her protest. 'Shhh. Brian is sleeping. Let's go to the bathroom to get you cleaned up.'

She followed him into the house, resting on him, mostly for lack of strength. "Don't assume that-' She attempted with a hoarse voice.

' I ain't assuming anything besides the fact that you need to brush your teeth and we need to change your bandage, sweetheart.'

She looked at him confused,

'It's bleeding.'

She nodded., finally a little softer to the stranger. Throwing up somehow took it out of you, she didn't have the energy to fight. Plus he hadn't complaned for her waking up kicking so she gave him some props for that. 'I hate those words.' She said quietly, while she brushed her teeth, leaning on the sink for support.

'Which?' He was confused, sitting at the edge of the tiny bathtub, ready to offer support if needed.

'Sweetheart.' On her tongue, the word came out broken and harsh, like it was poisonous. He didn't ask, just nodded, and after she was done helped her change the bandage on her head.

'You're not going to ask?'

'You don't seem keen on talking.'

'Perseptive. Still, a girl shows up at your door in bruises and with no luggage-'

'No, Abigail, not until you're ready.' He was firm in his resolve. She pushed him- lightly, given her current state.

'Why? Why the hell not? What kind of a man' He stopped her hands, holding above her wrists, just enough that she swayed, unable to push again.

'You'ré looking for a fight. I'm not the person you want to fight.'

She shook and the tremble reverberated through his hands. 'You're okay. I'll help you back to the couch, okay.'

'I'm in pain,' She admitted involuntarily.

'I know. I'll give you the painkillers now and help you to the couch, okay. Don't push me.' He let go of her hands and took the bottle from the cabinet,

2.

She swallowed the pills and drank a bit of the bottle of water he handed her. He was planning to get her to lean on him again to get to the couch. She pushed through the pain and leaned into his body to kiss him, willing her mind to feel nothing. Always settle your debts. He stumbled back and it took her a second to regain her balance.

'What the hell-'

'You helped me, so I'm helping you? Or do you have a girlfriend?'

'It's not about that!' He seemed so bewildered and flabbergasted, she felt ashamed.

'Whatever. Forget-' He stopped her from wobbling out of the bathroom on her own by holding her hand gently- and still she stopped, frozen.

'I don't want to forget. Any other day I'd kiss you back. You are beautiful, okay? But you know this is not right, right? I'm not helping you to gain anything.'

She didn't seem to believe him. His small experience with women, even knowing what Rory had been through, it didn't help him understand this.

'What, you thought I wouldn't help you unless you did something for me? Why?' He raised his other hand to stop her from speaking. 'I would never do that, ever, okay.'

'You find me repulsive?' Her chin was high, proud, despite the bruises.

'No!'

'You have a girl?''

''No!'

'Then I don't understand-' He shook his head. 'Has anyone ever- besides the bruises that we saw tonight, did anyone-' He wasn't sure how to ask, and he wasn't prepared for the reaction.

'I will need to get the plan B pill in the morning somehow. Nothing new, okay? Been there, done that. Don't say anything-don't- just don't, okay-' She stated as a matter of fact, as if she was stating the sky was blue. Her bottom lip trembled and it spread through her whole body. This he knew, panic he could descipher, before he had to digest anything else she just admitted.

'I- I miss - I miss home. It was bad but I miss- Everything is new and foreign and I m-miss home.'

He used the hand that was still holding hers to pull her into his arms in a bear hug for a second, still in shock. 'You're okay. It will be okay.'

3.

He gently helped her lay back on the couch. Then he snuck back to where Tristan and Lane were in the bunk beds, and snuck out him CD player with a pair of headphones and some jazz and blues CDs with him. Tristan raised on an elbow in the dark.

'Is it my turn?'

'Naah, I'll take that one too. Not sleepy anyway.' Tristan seemed too exhausted to protest, falling asleep again immediately. Zach snuck back to Abi and gave her the player, gently putting it over her ears. ' I remember you liking jazz? Blues, maybe?' She nodded so short he felt like he did something wrong. 'I thought it can be a peace of home.I;ll leave you to it'.

He was about to let go of her and retreat, as she was clearly not comfortable around people she didn't- she pressed the playbutton on the CD player, and with the first sounds, a tear slid from her eye slowly.

''I'm-'

'Zach?'

'Mhm?'

'Thank you. This is great.'

He nodded, about to go again, and she gently pulled him back again. 'Please lay next to me and hug me.'

'I don't want to take advantage.'

'Please don't go. I can't sleep- I can't- I haven't been on my own since- I have never-' Finally safe, she trembled. 'I don't want to wake up tomorrow. I- please don't go.'

'Okay. But this isn't- it doesn't mean anything and you can kick me off at any moment and I won't be mad.'

'I know. I promise I will.' She was not kidding either.

He gently, cautiously laid next to her on the couch, which was barely enough for her, but he wasn't about to protest. She pulled his hand over her so he'd lay on his side and hug her. He could see her wince, but she didn't let him pull his hand away. 'Does it hurt?'

'It's okay. Shh. I wanna listen. I don't want to sleep. Just don't go anywhere.'

Now the tears were flowing freely and he caressed her arm, knowing there was no world where anything he did could make her feel safe right now. She pressed play on the CD played again and stared at the ceiling, letting the tears flow. His hands around her made her feel safe for some reason. His refusal to even kiss her was bewildering, curious- and for the moment- calming. She stared the ceiling for a long time after she felt his breath slow down. At some point, the night won, and the world melted into darkness.