A/N – Wow! 18 reviews for the last chapter – a record! Thankyou! I love everyone who reviews – I send you virtual cookies! I should be mean to Jess more often, you obviously like it!

Sorry this took SOOOO long again, I had a serious case of 'writer's block' which just wouldn't go away (no matter how many cartoons I drew depicting me killing it!) So please don't hate me!

Hope you like it!

Chapter 6 – Asking for Advice

Luke's POV

I watched Jess closely the next few days. He was quieter than usual and avoided looking me in the eye. Just moped around the apartment reading and smoking. I hated to see him doing nothing. He wouldn't even go to the lake anymore. I decided to take action and told him he should come and work in the diner with me.

But even then he just wandered around aimlessly, carrying a coffee pot and sulking.

I realised then that I needed some help.

"Hey Luke, coffee!" Lorelai greeted, her usual smile glowing on her face. "You know, I'm having a really good day today!"

"Good," I replied as I poured her coffee.

I glanced back over at Jess again and then back to Lorelai.

"Um, Lorelai?" I began slightly nervously, "You know, Rory's a great kid, well young woman, and-"

"Are you trying to imply you want to date my daughter?" She asked in mock outrage.

"No! God, no! I – I wanted your help."

"So, you don't want to date my daughter? What's wrong with her?" Lorelai asked, still acting horrified. I ignored her comment and continued explaining my problem.

"I just meant you've obviously done a good job with Rory, and I was wandering if you could maybe help me with Jess?"

"You want to make Jess into a great, young woman?" The wicked gleam had appeared in her eyes that told me she was still having fun teasing me.

"Just, he doesn't seem to want to do anything. He mopes around and won't talk to me. And the other night I was locking up the diner and I heard him screaming-"

Lorelai gasped, "Is he alright?" she asked in a faintly worried voice.

"Yeah, he's fine, I think. It was a nightmare. When I went up to see if he was okay, he looked terrified, just curled up, crying…"

Lorelai reached forward to put her hand on my arm but a crash from behind the counter made us both jump. Jess had slammed the coffee pot he was holding down onto the counter and thrown a cloth at the wall, then he stomped off, swearing furiously under his breath, up to the apartment.

Everyone in the diner was silent as they stared after him then one at a time turned to look at me. Lorelai was looking up at me, her expression shocked.

"What was that about?" She raised he eyebrows.

"I have no idea." I shrugged and looked over at the curtain behind the counter again.

"Ok, Luke, first piece of advice. Find out why he's upset and then talk to him." She gave me a gently push in the direction of the stairs, "Good luck." She told me, and as I walked away I heard her mutter, "The mood he's in you'll really need it!"

I quietly entered the apartment, dreading what I would find. The papers that had covered the table were strewn over the floor and the cushions on the couch looked askew as if Jess had torn at and punched them. Jess's stuff was in disarray and a lighter and pack of cigarettes were lying on his pillow.

"Why?" He yelled as soon as he saw me, stabbing his cigarette into a plate to put it out. He stood up and took a step towards me, his face was furious but I saw anguish in his eyes.

"Why what? Jess, what's wrong?" I asked calmly.

"You told her! Why did you tell her?" His voice cracked noticeably at the end.

"Told who what, Jess?" I asked still confused.

"About my nightm- About me!" he changed mid-sentence as if he didn't want to admit to having nightmares.

"Who, Lorelai? She wants to help, Jess, she knows how to be a mother, she has a great daughter, you met Rory remember."

"I don't want her help!" Jess cried, whirling around and kicking the couch before slumping to the floor and putting his head in his hands.

"Jess, I-"

"No! Stop it; just stop trying to help me! Leave me alone!"

"Jess." I tried again hopelessly.

He let out an annoyed groan and buried his head further into his arms.

I left him alone.

Lorelai's POV

"Ok, please don't hate me!" I cringed when Luke came back down to the diner looking dejected.

"What? Lorelai?" He scrubbed a hand down his face and frowned.

"I gave you crap advice. I heard the yelling Luke. You know, you should really get that apartment sound-proofed."

"It wasn't your fault; I should have been more discreet about it. Here, have a donut." He passed me a chocolate covered donut and I grinned at him before taking a huge bite.

"Look, he'll come around Luke, just give him some time. Some space maybe." I placed a reassuring hand on his arm and smiled again. He nodded.

"Thanks Lorelai." I watched as Luke made his way around the diner, stopping to pour coffee and take orders at each table.

I sighed, I really wanted to help Luke, and Jess, but I just didn't know how. Jess obviously didn't want help. Not from me anyway. Maybe someone his own age. Rory, I could ask her to talk to him at school, help him settle in a bit better.

As for how to help Luke deal with the wild teenager, I was stumped.

I pondered it as I walked home, deciding and discarding idea after idea.

"Hey babe, I'm home." I called as I opened the front door to the 'Crap Shack' and wandered in.

"Hi Mom, do you want a Pop Tart?" Rory asked as I entered the kitchen. I grinned and nodded before reaching out for the coffee pot. I took a deep breath.

"Rory, you remember Jess, Luke's nephew?" She nodded. "Well, he's not getting on great. I think he needs some friends."

Rory looked shocked for a second then her cheeks tinged a slight pink.

"Yeah, ok, I can try. But last time I tried talking to him he got really mad and ran off remember?"

Of course I remembered. Rory had been on the verge of tears as Jess ran from her, not knowing what she could have done to upset him. I thought about it, maybe I didn't want Rory to be friends with Jess, he was trouble and probably bad news for my wonderful and sensitive daughter.

"Don't worry honey, only if you want to."

"No, I will. I want to help him." My daughter, the victim of her own altruism; always wanting to help others. I smiled at her and poured a cup of coffee.

A/N – Next Chapter – Lane talks to Jess

Sorry it was short, but hopefully my muse will stay alive long enough for me to write the next chapter soon.