::Disclaimer, I own nothing but my own imagination.

::I'm so sorry for the wait for this one, life got in my way yet again hehe, so this ones extra long for you! WARNING!! Not pleasant at all stuff ahead, child abuse, a bit of swearing and generally not for kids ok? On a lighter note, this was particularly hard to write, as whenever I got to a heavy bit my shuffle threw me a particularly inappropriate song, such as 'bobbing along' from bednobs and broomsticks, so you have been warned! On with the show!

Save Your Soul 3: Danger.

Luke sat staring at the figure that lay dwarfed in the hospital bed. The figure was pale and clammy save for an unhealthy blush, shivering every now and then and breathing harshly.

There was just no way that this fragile person could be Jess, Luke couldn't accept that the dysfunctional teen could go from normal to hospitalized in the space of one week.

The doctors words rang through his head, 'smoking damaged his lungs,' 'slight pneumonia made the damage worse,' 'hasn't been eating, why didn't you check?' 'All of these, the stress on his body and the fall caused the bleeding.'

Luke had barely taken it in. But now Jess lay before him, bruised and bandaged with an IV line almost cruelly keeping him restrained to the sterile white sheets.

He just kept playing it back in his head, only now hearing Jess' soft pleas for him to stop moving, before feeling the teen become dead weight in his arms, slipping away from him.

In his own panic, Luke knew he had just made the situation worse, and he hadn't been prepared for Jess to fall any further that night. He hadn't even managed to brush the child as he reached for him.

But he had swung wildly for Jess and missed, and could only yell as he saw Jess' body fall down the stairs bouncing like a rag doll, and then rolling to a stop at Lorelai's feet in the diner below.

Horror had coupled the blind panic then, Jess, his Jess his charge, his responsibility, lying crumpled on the cold harsh floor, too still, far too still to be ok. Lorelai was screaming, he was screaming, then they were screaming at each other, heart in his throat he had started down the stairs, staring at Jess.

Against all odds, he saw that Jess was shaking, and then trying weakly to lift himself up. But it was all wrong, and he looked like he'd been broken, falling back to the floor with a thud.

Lorelai had reached him first, another thing he'd never forgive himself for, but then there had been the blood, and he had never been more grateful for the elder Gilmore's presence as she instructed him too call for an ambulance whilst checking Jess over.

The fall had bruised Jess. The doctor had insisted that he was extremely lucky to escape with only that, but Luke could see the dark red bruise that marred Jess' shoulder, and if what he and Lorelai suspected was true, then this would definitely not be a good event, and couldn't help but think that he himself had inflicted the scar.

Jess shifted and moaned slightly, the doctor had said that he would be sore for a few days and shouldn't push himself.

Luke sighed, everything seemed to go wrong at once in this town. He glanced at Jess' pale and peaceful face, and tried to imagine coming out the good side of this.

He kept trying for the rest of the night.

::S.O.S::

Jess was released from the hospital the next day, and was sheparded home by Luke, who seemed to be feeling the burn from his fall.

Jess didn't entirely blame him, but that small and ever present childish part of him had been slightly scared by Luke's lack of parental knowledge.

He felt pretty bad, his whole body ached and his head seemed to spin at violent movements, the doctor had explained that he would be feeling weak for a couple of days, and that he really needed to eat. Luke seemed to be of the opinion that he might break at anything too loud or fast, and as such had been taken off work at the diner for a couple of days.

Jess stared mutinously at the wall opposite his bed that night, refusing to give in to the sleep that he desperately needed. He hadn't thought of that incident for years. It wasn't one he enjoyed reliving.

A violent shudder coursed through him, and instinctively a hand went to grip his hair.

The music played out at a slightly quieter volume then usual, Luke seemed to want to be able to hear any nightmares that may befall him.

Glazed brown eyes fell to the clock, two in the morning, and he had to go back to school the next day.

At least Luke hadn't told the doctors about his nightmare, or other mental deficits of late. All he needed now was to be put on some counselling system that just brought all the pain into the bright scrutinizing light where he could remember them more easily.

He cringed as the unbidden memories flittered into his brain, cold fingers-. 'Stop it,' He thought angrily to himself, tightening his grip on his hair.

However, the more he tried to not remember, the more he did.

'Stop it stop it stop it,' the mantra repeated desperately for he didn't know how long, fighting the film of memories that never seemed to end.

By the time Luke was gently shaking him awake on his uninjured shoulder, he hadn't even realised that he'd fallen asleep.

::S.O.S::

Jess' head spun as he once again found himself doing laps, he couldn't understand why their teacher had insisted on making them do this again. He'd been instructed to take it easy and stop when he felt tired, as the teachers had been informed of his hospital trip, but thankfully hadn't told any of the students that he had fallen down the stairs, he was too tired to be asked curious questions as to why he fell.

He was well aware that he should stop what with the unpleasant faint feeling that was washing over him, but the running seemed to be about the only thing that was stopping the memories from overtaking him.

He guessed it was some sort of primal instinct to run, but he was getting to tired to think such complex thoughts, instead he was being mesmerised by the thudding feeling of each foot hitting the floor, and concentrating on breathing.

Part of him knew that he was still running in order to make himself feel worse, in a combination of self pity, loathing, and so that maybe Luke might pick up on it and do something.

But of course, Luke already knew he wasn't well, and he had no idea what he wanted him to do about it.

Jess stumbled a bit as black dots once again invaded his vision, he doubled over as his head pounded at him angrily and he panted for breath.

A couple of students passed him with curious looks that he couldn't really care less about, if only he could see straight.

"Hey, come on, let's go sit down." Jess jumped at the hand he felt on his shoulder and stumbled away slightly. Unfortunately, his body seemed to have decided that he had given it enough abuse for one day, and small lights flickered as he swayed, the fence he was looking at tilting sickeningly.

Arms grabbed him and led him safely off the track to a crash mat that lay against said fence, sitting him down and handing him a water bottle.

After a couple of minutes the faint feeling subsided slightly, and Jess looked up to see an unfamiliar face. It was a few seconds before he remembered the new in-training gym teacher they had.

"You feeling ok there?" The man questioned.

"Hm, yeah." Jess answered shortly, and made a move to stand up, only to be forced back down firmly.

"You're in no position to move right now, just take it easy for a bit." Jess managed a half-hearted scowl at the considerate tone and had a drink from the water bottle.

"You're Jess Mariano right? I hear you just got released from hospital a couple of days ago.

Jess' headache increased at the question.

"I wasn't in there for long." His voice came out quiet and tired, not at all the forceful tone he had been aiming for. As if speaking had taken his remaining strength Jess slouched slightly, bringing a shaky hand up to rub his aching head.

"Just relax Jess, you'll feel better soon." The coach insisted kindly, and tapped his shoulder reassuringly before going to talk to their other teacher.

Jess sincerely doubted that he would ever feel better at the moment, his whole body ached and trembled, he thought he could taste blood in his mouth as he continued to breath labouredly. His head continued to pound in worsening amounts, and eventually he allowed his head to fall into his hands, giving in to its now searing pain.

Heat seemed to trickle through him, and he regretted disobeying the doctor's orders of taking it easy.

'Worthless brat.' The words came unbidden to his head, and he shook it as if trying to shake the words out. He didn't want to remember, not now, he couldn't run anymore though, he was too tired to escape. Too tired to fight the words.

'Waste of space, you're only good for one thing, and you know it.'

"Shut up." Jess moaned, trying to force the images away of shadowy faces looming over him.

"Hey Jess, you doing ok?" Jess jumped and stared up at thee looming figure of a concerned Dean. He groaned half in annoyance and half in pain as the movement aggravated his head.

"Hey coach!" Dean called, and Jess was suddenly aware of the worry in the other boy's voice.

Just what the hell was going on at the moment? The whole town evidently went crazy at once.

"Look I'm fi-" Jess started as he tried to stand up to prove his point, only to find he couldn't quite get his legs to cooperate with him, instead a wave of fatigue hit him at the mere thought of movement. He therefore resigned himself to his fate and re-rested his head on his hands.

How was he going to get home if he couldn't even stand up properly? Frustration hit him, which only increased when he felt an uncomfortable prickling in his eyes. Dammit he hated being this weak. 'Worthless,' he gripped his hair at the unbidden word.

"I'll take him to the nurse's office." Volunteered the new coach out of the corner of his hearing.

It was at that moment however, that Jess had decided he'd had enough attention for one day. And he did not want to go to the nurse's office and be gawked at. The whole class was probably watching already, and Dean seemed to have lost his marbles, and he didn't even know the new teacher's name, and he hated too many new things at once. He'd never coped with change too well.

His breathing quickened as he heard footsteps approaching him, he wanted them to stop. 'You know you deserve this' he didn't deserve any of this 'You just get in everybody's way' no he didn't 'there's no one who really cares about you, you're just a nuisance' Luke cares 'You don't really believe that, or you'd tell him' maybe I will 'but you know that you deserve to be punished really, don't lie to yourself.'

"I'm not lying!" Jess screamed out, breaking his internal battle, silence greeted him, and he looked up to see several concerned faces looking at him.

But the seemed alien, and dangerous, and it felt wrong to have them so close, Jess wrapped his arms around himself and looked up at the distorted shadowed faces in horror.

The one closest him reached out, and Jess felt frozen to the spot, shaking in fear.

Jess followed the movement of the hand until it connected with his shoulder, the gripping touch sent a flare of pain ripping along his whole chest, stabbing at his lungs.

With a yelp he flinched from the touch and threw the hand off before tripping to his feet and sprinting away as fast as he could, blessed with adrenalin.

The sprint didn't last long however, and soon Jess crashed, falling down in between some trees and an old school building. At the sound of footsteps he swung around to see the new coach looming over him.

Before he could even struggle to get away, he'd been grabbed by both arms and hauled upright, he winced at the tight grip.

"Now that really wasn't very smart was it Jess." Jess froze at the sinister voice, and looked up to see malevolent eyes glaring down at him. His blood ran cold.

"Now I've got you just where I want you." Jess' tunnel vision seemed to narrow until all he could see were those eyes, eyes like the others had had, he tried to move, but couldn't seem to get the message threw, his body seemed to have shut down.

He forgot to breathe as he was lifted, his mind shutting off as memories flooded him, desperately he thought of Luke, that he could help him. But Luke wasn't here.

Time escaped him, he was lost in memories until he was thrown onto the floor, a dark hotel room greeted him, one that looked like it had seen better days.

A cold hand gripped his cheek and he jumped, but couldn't escape the hold. His captor sneered down at him.

Jess was suddenly very aware of his heat racing, and his panicked breathing, and yet felt slightly detached from the scene, as if it couldn't really be happening.

"We'll have to be out of this shit hole soon, but first, what say you that we have some fun first." Jess' pupils constricted as the man loomed nearer too him, blood rushed to his head and pounded so much it felt like it would explode, a cold hand brushed across his stomach, and finally he started to struggle.

::S.O.S::

Lorelai strolled merrily into the diner, planning on grapping a quick coffee now that her long day at work had finished.

The sight that greeted her upon entering said diner however, was anything but relaxing. A cracked coffee pot lay on the floor, spilling its precious live giving liquid over the tiles.

The building was also empty and silent as the grave, she was just heading to go upstairs and find someone to a, explain and b, make her some coffee, when Luke burst through the door she'd just come through.

"You really should lock up you know, anyone could get in." She commented lightly, Luke however, appeared to become anxious.

"Well I had to leave it unlocked in case Jess turned up, you haven't seen him have you?" Luke's urgent tone shook her, and she once again found herself worried for the troubled teen.

"No I haven't, what's going on?" Luke took off his hat and rubbed his head in frustration.

"I have no idea. The school called again and said that he had been ill in his P.E. lesson and then ran out and nobody could find him, and he never turned up here and its getting late and I can't find him either!" Luke ranted desperately.

Lorelai blinked in shock, it was dark outside now, school would have finished a good four hours ago. How could this happen twice in as many weeks?

"Don't worry Luke we'll find him." Lorelai insisted, seeing Luke's desperate panic. "He may be small but so is Stars Hollow, he has to be somewhere."

Luke nodded speedily and turned around to leave again, Lorelai swiftly followed him, only pausing to close the door, but not lock it.

::S.O.S::

Jess couldn't distinguish one pain from another anymore, he lay crumpled in a heap on the floor, clinging tightly to the sheet that was cloaking him as he shook.

Gradually thought was returning to his fractured mind, panic, terror and repulsion begun to filter slowly through the darkness and the pain. He could hear the sound of a shower running behind him somewhere.

Gingerly he moved, only to hiss in pain, fresh tears leaking from his burning eyes at the wrongness of how everything felt.

Moving his hand slightly over the coarse carpet, his fingers brushed something soft. He recognised the soft material as his own shirt and clutched it tightly.

The shower carried on behind him, he listed desperately to the sound, and, when it didn't stop, hurriedly pulled the shirt closer and fumbled to put it on.

Tears of pain stung his eyes as his body struggled to function in its broken state.

Once he had succeeded in his task, his hands groped desperately for the rest of his clothing, and as each item was found and donned swiftly his mind focused.

In a miraculously short time Jess managed to clothe himself completely in a panicky rush.

He looked around to see a light peeking underneath a door behind him, and stood on trembling legs as silently as he could, every fibre of his being searing in pain from his movements.

Waiting to assure himself that the shower wasn't going to stop, Jess eventually managed to force himself forwards, and stumbled as quickly and silently as he could to the thankfully easy to unlock door.

Jess tried to appear normal as he walked through the surreally normal looking hotel lobby, the lady at the desk didn't so much as bat an eyelid. Jess sighed in relief at this, all he could think of right now was getting to the diner, getting to Luke.

As soon as he escaped the potential scrutiny of the lobby, he broke into a run, trying to ignore the pain and keep going.

He was aware of not moving in a straight line as his head begun to pound again, waves of shivers breaking over him as he began feeling clammy. He slowed to a walk when he couldn't run any further.

The walk was less taxing physically, but more mentally, as he realised that from wherever he was, he didn't know how to reach the diner.

The sinking thought dragged his mind back to the hotel room, hands running over his skin. He shook his head violently, and the movement nearly sent him falling into a tree.

Grasping onto the harsh bark Jess looked around, he was completely lost.

Terror gripped him and any hope he had faded. Luke flashed through his brain and an unwanted chocking sound slipped out of him. Luke didn't know where he was. Luke might not even know he was missing, that anything was wrong. Luke wouldn't be looking for him, and even if he was he wouldn't find him.

Fresh tears stung his eyes as they slipped out, fear trapped him to the spot at the hopelessness of his situation.

Far away through the trees, he saw something glinting in the moonlight. It was water, the only patch of water that large that he knew of around here was the lake.

Desperation filled him, and he pushed away from the tree, stumbling and tripping as he staggered as fast as he could to the glinting water.

It seemed to take hours and yet minutes to reach the water through the wood, and Jess could feel himself getting more tired with each step.

Eventually he stumbled out of the woods onto the path that wove around the lake, and sunk to his knees, unable to force his battered body further.

But he still wasn't close enough, and he couldn't move any more. Despite his mind's protests, his body crumpled against a tree, his breathing desperate and ragged, trying to force oxygen into his bruised lungs.

Jess didn't know how long he was there, it was cold and he was scared and alone, tears stained his face in a never ending dance as he gave up trying to breathe normally, sobbing quietly with shuddering breaths.

Everything was hurting again. It had happened again. He could barely stand it, his skin crawled every time he remembered the alien touches on his skin, increasing his crying.

Weakly he hugged himself, a feeling of total dejection joined his repulsion and fear, sending him in a downwards spiral.

For what seemed like hours he stayed there, as his temperature cooled and his world darkened, his eyes eventually started to drift shut heavily, and he didn't stop them.

"Jess!" The scream penetrated the dark and cold place he had been shut in, and sluggishly he tried to force his eyes open.

"Oh my God." He heard the high-pitched voice exclaim from a way off, footsteps were running towards him.

Finally his eyes cooperated and fluttered open, revealing a dark world save for what seemed to be the light of a phone.

Following its glare, Jess was aware of his jaw falling open as he saw Lorelai Gilmore highlighted by blue.

Seeing safety appear before him, Jess' eyes stung all over again and his throat closed.

"Luke, I've found him by the lake, hurry." The words barely registered as she drew closer and Jess struggled to move towards her, but could only manage to dislodge himself from the tree, and soon felt himself hit the floor from the loss of support.

"Jess!" Lorelai called again, and suddenly familiar hands were on him, lifting him up with surprising ease. Jess' head flopped down onto a warm shoulder and he shifted towards the warmth desperately, one of his hands weakly grasping onto her jacket and he choked out another sob.

"Its ok honey, its ok, your safe." The woman sounded close to tears herself as she wrapped secure arms around him, one of her hands begun running through his hair seemingly of its own accord. Jess realized that this must be how she held Rory.

"Where's Luke?" Jess slurred out, his voice was near to a whisper and weak, it hurt to talk, and it hurt to hear it.

"He's on his way." She insisted, and he believed her, but wished he'd hurry up. A violent shiver ran through him, he wanted to go home, badly.

Time escaped him once again until familiar footfalls could be heard, Jess twitched at the sound and Lorelai shouted out their location.

"Jess!" The desperate cry shot through Jess and he struggled weakly to turn to it, but before he could manage it, he had already been swept into a different set of arms.

"Oh God, Jess," Luke's voice reached him before his eyes could register the horrified face.

"L-Luke?" He chocked out, unable to filter though any other thoughts into words.

"I'm here, its ok, you're ok." Relief washed over him, and more tears tripped down his face, he made some indistinguishable noise before turning his face into the safety of Luke's chest, arms pulled him close into the warmth and his eyes fell shut again as he relaxed slightly.

He was vaguely aware of being shook slightly, and his name being called as his mind fell away, and he sank into peaceful darkness, for once feeling safe.

::Whew go me! I know that was pretty heavy going there, and it's a bit jumpy and there's probably loads of mistakes, but I've managed another, and don't worry, the troubles are not over yet! This was quite hard to write for me, so please let me know what you thought, I reckon it could have been much better, but there you go!

::Thanks for reading, shadowtheo.