[ordinary]

wie schon gesagt, die story ist nicht von mir

Chapter Two
Twenty minutes later Lorelai pulled up in front of Luke’s Diner. The usually focused calm man was nearly frantic with worry. He stood in front of the diner, still in his pajama top. He was pacing back and forth, wringing his hands.

Lorelai didn’t even stop the car fully before he advanced in and leapt into the front seat, “Nice ten minutes,” Luke grumbled rolling his eyes, “What took you so long? The midnight traffic?”

“Hi, Luke,” Rory said quietly from the backseat, “it’s my fault we were late. I wanted to come.”

“Why?” Luke asked, “You and he didn’t part…”

“I know,” Rory replied, “but the accident was my fault I…I just have to make sure he’s all right.”

Luke fell silent and Lorelai reached over to cover his hand with one of hers, “It’s going to be all right, Luke. I promise you that.”

“Oh, so now you’re a psychic as well as a coffee addict,” Luke snapped.

“No,” Lorelai said seriously, “but I am positive.”

“You be positive,” Luke countered, “I’ll be realistic. Why can’t you go any faster?”

“Says the man who does twenty-five on a good day,” Lorelai mumbled, but sped the Jeep up a little faster.

The car was silent for the rest of the trip to the hospital except for the occasional swears word uttered by Lorelai. Finally they arrived at Hartford Memorial Hospital. Lorelai pulled up in front of the emergency room entrance, “Luke you and Rory go on in see what you can find out. I’ll park the truck and meet you inside.”

Luke hopped out of the Jeep and handed Rory down before heading into the hospital. As he walked in he held her hand, Luke knew more about Rory’s emotions than people would believe. He knew more about Jess’ emotions than anyone and he knew that Jess’ visit to U ale, the timing of Rory’s arrival home, and Jess’ accident were all connected. He also knew what was going on in Rory’s head.

Luke pulled on Rory’s hand holding her back before entering the hospital, “Rory, you know what happened with Jess wasn’t your fault right?”

“Luke,” Rory sniffed, “if only I said yes, he wouldn’t have been…”

Luke gave Rory a quick one armed hug, “Or you could both be in this place right now. How would Jess feel then?”

Rory couldn’t answer that, but anything had to be better than how he must be feeling now, “Come on, Luke,” Rory prompted pulling away, “Let’s get in there.”

Luke and Rory wased through the chaotic ER until they found the reception desk, “Excuse me,” Luke said to the plump red head behind the reception desk, “I’m Luke Danes, someone called me about my nephew.”

“His name?” she asked turning to the computer.

“Jess. Jess Mariano,” Luke answered quickly, “M-A-R-I-A-N-O.”

“Ah, yes,” the receptionist said, “He’s in trauma room two awaiting surgery. His admitting physician should be with you shortly.”

Luke’s stomach knotted at the quick and attentive communications from the receptionist, but maybe it was not the unusual, Hartford Memorial was a pretty good hospital.

“May I help you young lady?” the receptionist asked Rory when she saw her standing behind Luke.

“No,” she shook her head, “I’m with him, I’m a friend of Jess’.”

The woman nodded and picked up the phone to page the doctor, “Dr. Simms to Emergency, Dr. Simms to Emergency.”

Luke’s stomach was in knots, this receptionist was being way to accommodating. The phone rang almost immediately and Luke and Rory watched as the receptionist listened and nodded then lifted her head to address them again, “Mr. Danes, Dr. Simms will be with you shortly. She said if you’d like to see Mr. Mariano before he goes into surgery you can go back now.”

Luke nods, “Can Rory come too?” he asked.

“Family only,” the receptionist told Luke.

“What? This girl is one of the most important things in his life…” Luke trailed off, realizing her said too much.

“But she’s not a family member and the hospital policy is family member and Miss Rory is not a family mem…”

A perky brunette nurse bounded past Luke and Rory on her way behind the authorized admittance only door but stopped when she heard the receptionist call Rory by name.

“By any chance are you here to see Jess Mariano, the MVA victim?” Nurse “Perky” asked.

“Yeah, I’m his uncle and this is Rory, she’s a friend,” Luke said, “can we see him?”

“Yes, usually it is policy to only allow family members in the trauma rooms, but the only thing he’s said to us since he regained consciousness has been Rory. I think it would do him good to see her,” the nurse smiled, “You can follow me.”

They both followed the perky nurse to a sterile looking room. On a table amongst blood soaked sheet was Jess. His hair was soaked with blood or sweat, his neck was secured in a C-collar, his heartbeat, pulse, temperature and brainwaves were being monitored by the array of machines he was attached to.

“Five minutes,” Nurse “Perky” warned, “then his surgeon will come to move him to the OR.”

Luke took Rory’s hand and squeezed it as they approached the bed where Jess lay. Luke used his free hand to gently touch Jess’ cheek, “Jess, its Luke. Can you open y our eyes for me?”

Jess moaned and slowly opened his eyes, “Luke,” he slurred, “Rory?” he asked, not seeing the trembling form behind his uncle.

“Rory took a deep breath and squeezed Luke’s hand. He was trembling himself Luke was terrified of hospitals, “I’m here, Jess.” Rory said gently coming into view. She reached up and took his hand. Weakly, he squeezed it, “Now, I know I’m going to die,” he managed to slur in between gasps for breath; his classic wry smile coming through in spite of the pain in his eyes.

“Don’t you talk like that, Jess,” Rory scolded gently, “The doctors are really good here; the finest in Connecticut.”

“You listen to her, Jess,” Luke commanded lightly, “no dying allowed.”

Jess tried to nod but couldn’t move his head because of the collar. It hurt and he let out a moan in spite of his efforts.

Rory’s hand shook when she heard it, Jess’ face was in a taunt grimace, his breathing even more labored than before.

“Are you…is it…did they give you…are you in any pain?” Rory finally managed to ask.

“It’s…not…too…bad,” he managed through tightly clenched teeth, “Some of me is kind of…numb.”

Luke nodded and squeezed Rory’s hand, who it turn, squeezed Jess’ hand, “The doctor will be here soon,” Rory comforted, “they’ve got the good stuff.”

“You hanging in there otherwise,” Luke asked knowing Jess inherited his fear of hospitals.

“I’m scared, Uncle Luke,” he admitted, tears in his eyes, “it hurts really bad.”

“I know,” Luke comforted, “just relax as best you can.”

Rory absently stroked Jess’ hand with her thumb in an attempt to sooth him. She could feel the tremors under her fingers.

“All right,” Nurse “Perky” announced, “the OR is ready now, so wrap it up.”

A group of orderlies arrived behind her, “Okay, Jess,” Rory whispered, “you hang tight and I’ll be right there where you wake up,” she promised.

“So will I, son,” Luke assured him, “I’m here, Jess, I’m always here.”

Jess smiled a bit in acknowledgement to the familiar comment and squeezed Rory’s hand one last time before he was wheeled away.

Luke and Rory followed Nurse “Perky” back out to the ER waiting room where they heard Lorelai’s voice shouting, “My daughter and my friend are somewhere in this hospital and somewhere in this hospital, which my great-grandfather founded, is a young man named Jess Mariano and I’d like to know where he is because that’s where they are.”

“Mom,” Rory called, “we’re here.”

Lorelai rushed over the Luke and Rory, taking first her daughter in her arms then Luke then Rory again, “How is he?”

“He’s really bad, Mom,” Rory sniffled, “He’s in so much pain. They just took him to surgery.”

“Did you talk to the doctors? What’s the operation for?” Lorelai asked.

“The ER doctor was supposed to talk to us, but he didn’t come out yet,” Luke told her, “I’m going to go…”

“Relatives of Jess Mariano,” a short blonde haired lady called out.

“Yes,” Luke said, “over here. I’m Luke Danes, this is Lorelai and Rory Gilmore.”

“I’m Dr. Simms, I’m the Emergency Room physician who treated your son…”’

“Nephew,” Luke corrected, “he’s my nephew.”

“Right,” Dr. Simms nodded, “let’s go in my office and have a seat.” She invited them back behind the closed door and sat behind a crowded desk.

“So, what’s the matter with him?” Luke asked, “Why is he in so much pain? Why is he going surgery? No one told us anything.”

“Luke, relax,” Lorelai soothed.

“All right, first let me explain that Mr. Mariano is one very lucky young man. Given the condition of his vehicle he should be dead. But he’s not, although is injuries are quite extensive. He had collapsed lung which hindered his breathing, but we were able to fix that in the ER. He has at least two broken ribs, an injury to his kidneys, they are both badly bruised, that’s why he’s in surgery now, to try and repair the damage to his vessels. All of these things are bad, and painful, but they will heal.”

Rory listened to the litany of Jess’ injuries, they did seem bad but he would recover from them.

“Our primary concern,” the doctor continued, “is the damage to his spinal cord and the nerves in his back. He was immobilized almost immediately, but has three crushed vertebrae along his waist causing…”

“Wait a minute…” Luke stopped her, “are you saying that Jess is…”

“Mr. Danes, ladies, Jess’ legs…the prognosis given the nerve damage is not good. It’s likely that he’ll be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.”

“Oh, God,” Luke sighed, struggling to catch his breath, he felt like someone kicked him in the chest. Lorelai moved to put her arms around him, only Rory spoke, “What are the percentages on that?” she asked, “What are the percentages of people who walk again after an accident like this?”

“Under 25%,” the doctor replied, “especially when there is damage to the actual spinal nerve, which there is in Jess’ case. I’m very sorry, Mr. Danes, ladies.”

Luke recovered from his shock and Lorelai nodded her head, “Thank you, Dr. Simms for your information. Let’s go upstairs and wait for Jess to get out of surgery.”

Lorelai held Luke’s hand and put her arm around Rory’s shoulders as they went upstairs to the surgical waiting rooms.

“I can’t believe it,” Rory said softly, “I can’t believe it. He’s going to be…and this is all…” Finally the composure that Rory had fought for cracked and she began to cry. Lorelai rushed to comfort her and Luke stood next to her placing a hand on the top of her head, rubbing her hair in a gesture Jess used often, “It’s not your fault, Rory,” Lorelai told her gently, hugging her, “You know it, Luke knows, and Jess knows it.”

“I don’t know it,” she sobbed, “I don’t know that if I had told him I’d go with him, if I had listened to him that he would have stayed and packed and never have…”

Lorelai looked at Luke confused but didn’t speak, “Ssh,” Lorelai soothed, “It’s going to be all right, Rory. It’s going to be all right.”