Sickness, Tea, and Guilty Thoughts
Summary: Rory—home sick from school—ends up bonding with Jess. Lorelai reconnects with someone from her past.
Rating: PG
Content: Nothing you wouldn't see on the show.
Characters: Rory/Jess, Lorelai romance.
Feedback: Greatly appreciated. I won't withhold writing for feedback, but it certainly makes it feel more worthwhile. I'll put each chapter up seperately, one day at a time to keep people interested.
Author's Notes: This takes place sometime in the future. The events in the Previously on... are partially fictional, and partially things that have actually happened. I actually do want Lorelai with Luke in the end, but this seemed like a fun diversion. The movie Kramer vs. Kramer is referenced and I suggest you all see it, as it is incredible. You have to ignore the last couple of episodes, I started writing this during hiatus and it's actually kind of repetitive if you've already seen There's the Rub. But I swear it was my idea first! (Chuck Presby is modeled after a real kid in my history class.)
Music references: The la-las. (There's a bunch of variations. Imagine whichever one you want.) Collective Soul. Jim Croce.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters (except for one.) They, and some of the scenes in the previously on are not my own writing, they belong to Amy Sherman-Palladino and the other creators of the Gilmore Girls universe. Kramer vs. Kramer is a great movie which is not mine either.

*

Announcer: Previously on Gilmore Girls...

(LORELAI and SOOKIE in the Independence Inn kitchen.)
Sookie: ...are you moving on?
Lorelai: Yes, I'm moving on.
Sookie: Well, then how many dates have you had post-Max?
Lorelai: What does that have to do with anything?

(LORELAI and RORY walking through town.)
Lorelai: Why is it so important to you that I like him?
Rory: Well, I just think that he's Luke's nephew and we like Luke and we eat at Luke's everyday, and we see Jess when we eat there everyday, and that it just might make things nicer if you liked him.
Lorelai: And that's the only reason?
Rory: Yes.

(SOOKIE and JACKSON kiss at the alter.)
Justice of the Peace: (voice over) I now pronounce you husband and wife...

(SOOKIE rushes over to LORELAI during the wedding reception, still wearing her gown, and hands her a huge binder.)
Lorelai: Wow. What's this, sweetie?
Sookie: It's the menu for the next week.
Lorelai: For the next week? Are we hosting the population of Swaziland?
Sookie: No, see, I wrote instructions to go with the recipes. You know, tips, advice, measurements, how to tell when the water's boiling, stuff like that.
Lorelai: (paging through the book) That's very...thorough of you.

(RORY and JESS sitting on the bridge)
Rory: Why are you only nice to me?
Jess: Excuse me?
Rory: An hour ago you were totally screwing with Dean and now you're totally nice to me.
Jess: You see, it's the screwing with Dean - that's an important step to getting here so that I can be nice to you.

(LORELAI hugs SOOKIE then pulls back.)
Sookie: I'll call you every day! No, every meal!
Lorelai: Honey, that's not necessary.
Sookie: Are you sure you can handle this without me? (starts to put down her suitcase) Maybe I'd better stay. Jackson'll have fun without me.
Lorelai: (catches her) No, you're going. We'll be fine. I promise.

(RORY and JESS talking in the Gilmore yard.)
Jess: (smirking) What makes you think I care about you?
Rory: (embarassed) I don't mean care care, like care. I mean if you like me at all...not like like.
(JESS grins.)

*

(Star's Hollow Video store. RORY walks among the shelves, methodically reading the back covers of movies. JESS enters, notices her, and walks over.)
Jess: (looking over her shoulder) Terrible movie. (RORY startles) Anthony Hopkins should have never agreed to do it without Jodie Foster.
Rory: You scared me! (whacks him lightly with the video before putting it back) Didn't anyone ever tell you not to sneak up on someone in the horror section?
Jess: I've never heard that rule before. (He starts walking down the aisle.) Does that go for all genres?
Rory: (following) What?
Jess: No cracking jokes in the comedy section, no singing by the musicals. (Pause, as he glances back at her.) No kissing in the romance aisle. (RORY looks uncomfortable. He changes the subject.) Is your mom with you?
Rory: No. Why, are you still avoiding her?
Jess: (casually) Course not. (looks around) You know, I think they reorganized after the whole Rory curtain fiasco.
Rory: Let's not relive that, okay?
Jess: (He stops walking and she almost runs into him.) Didn't the foreign films used to be here?
Rory: Yeah, all five of them. What's here now? (They both look. Camera angle on the label of the shelf, which reads: Romance. RORY avoids his eyes and crosses her arms defensively. Awkward silence.)
Jess: (breaking the moment abruptly) Well, anyway, I should find something and get back before Luke takes over the TV.
Rory: Right. (nods) What movie were you thinking about?
Jess: Well...I was trying to find The Graduate.
Rory: That's one of my favorite movies! It's over on the Kirk's Klassics shelf. (She smiles mischievously.) Hey, you haven't been fantasizing about Miss Patty again, have you?
Jess: (He looks at her, surprised by the joke, then grins and elbows her.) Shut up! (She laughs as he studies her.) Hey, you wouldn't want to—
Dean: Rory! (RORY and JESS turn around. RORY looks guilty as DEAN brandishes a video.) I found it!
Rory: (relieved) Oh, what? (JESS quickly walks away, hands in his pockets.)
Dean: It's been out for a month! (Her face falls.) What? I thought you said you wanted to see it!
Rory: I know, I did, but...I'm just not in the mood for it tonight.
Dean: (frustrated) Fine. What do you want to see?
Rory: (leads him through the store) Didn't you tell me the other day that you'd never seen ?
Dean: Yeah, but—
Rory: Trust me, you haven't seen comedy until you've seen
Dean: Rory, I thought it was my turn to pick the movie.
Rory: Come on, it'll be fun! (DEAN looks upset.) Okay, how about if I promise we can watch next weekend?
Dean: Promise?
Rory: (holds up her hand) Scouts honor!
Dean: (laughs) You're not a scout!
Rory: (takes his arm) So what?
(They walk off towards the front of the store. JESS leans against a shelf and watches them leave.)

(opening credits)

(Grandparents' house. EMILY, LORELAI, and RORY are eating dinner. Classical music plays vaguely in the background. RORY sneezes several times in succession.)
Emily: Rory? Are you all right?
(RORY nods, but sneezes again.)
Lorelai: It's just a cold, Mom.
Rory: I'm fine. (sniffs) It's been going around school.
Emily: Are you sure? Because I could get Nadia to make you some tea.
Rory: That's okay. (sniffs)
Emily: You look exhausted. How much sleep have you been getting?
Rory: Oh, I've just been really busy with school. Finals start on Tuesday.
Emily: That reminds me. It's Bitty Charleston's birthday next Saturday, and I'm throwing a garden party for her.
Lorelai: Well, that's nice of you.
Emily: The two of you will be coming, of course.
Lorelai: What?
Emily: Well, it's only appropriate. Hanlin is Rory's headmaster. As my granddaughter she should be there. As should you.
Lorelai: Mom, she doesn't want to attend a party with a bunch of adults who don't know her.
Emily: They do know her. I invited some of her teachers.
Lorelai: (sarcastically) Oh, well that's much less awkward.
Emily: Why doesn't she bring a friend then? Rory, (turns to address RORY) would you like to bring a friend?
Rory: (excited) Would it be all right if I asked Dean? (EMILY looks pained) It's just, I've been so busy with school recently and he says he never gets a chance to see me...(anxious to please) I could ask Lane instead.
Emily: (quickly) No dear, that's fine. If you want him to come, then he's welcome here.
Rory: Thanks, Grandma. (sneezes again) Are there any tissues around?
Emily: In the living room.
(RORY exits. LORELAI studies EMILY appraisingly.)
Emily: What?
Lorelai: That was really nice of you, Mom.
Emily: What was?
Lorelai: I know you and Dad don't like Dean.
Emily: (dismissing it) Well...
Lorelai: It's just...(sighs) nice. That you're making an effort for her sake. (Shakes her head, then stands up.) Is there any more cake in the kitchen?
Emily: (quietly) You never brought anyone home to meet us.
Lorelai: (turns back around) What?
Emily: You never brought anyone home to meet us.
Lorelai: What's that supposed to mean?
Emily: All through high school, you never once introduced us to one of your boyfriends.
Lorelai: You knew Christopher.
Emily: That was different. The Haydens were our friends.
Lorelai: So, what are you saying? That if I'd introduced you to my boyfriends you would have liked them? Cause you wouldn't have.
Emily: But at least we would have known something about your life. You never let us see that part of you, Lorelai. It was like you were ashamed of us. (pause) You still are.
Lorelai: (laughs nervously) What?!
Emily: You think this is funny?
Lorelai: No, it's just that you're just pogo-sticking to conclusions faster than I can argue. (sits down) Mom, why do you think I'm ashamed of you?
Emily: You never bring anyone to meet us. Your daughter brought her boyfriend to dinner when she was sixteen. I didn't meet Max until you were already engaged!
Lorelai: Well, we're not really engaged anymore so I hardly think—
Emily: That's not the point, Lorelai!
Lorelai: Then what is?
Emily: The point is that I still barely know anything about you! You come here every Friday and I don't know anything else about the rest of your life!
Lorelai: I'll tell you what, Mom. Next time someone proposes to me, I will let you know about it before I say yes, okay?
Emily: That's not what I'm saying.
Lorelai: What do you want me to do?
Emily: Bring someone to the party on Saturday.
Lorelai: But Mom, my gigolo service is really busy this time of year.
Emily: It doesn't have to be a lifelong commitment, just bring a date. Bring your friend from the diner.
Lorelai: Luke has never been to a garden party in his life! He doesn't even know what one is!
Emily: (calmly) Then find someone else.
Lorelai: Okay, hold on just a second. (takes a deep breath) Why do you want me to do this?
Emily: To prove you're not ashamed to bring someone to meet me and your father.
Lorelai: But I already said that!
Emily: So prove it! (LORELAI opens her mouth to protest.) This is nonnegotiable, Lorelai. Either bring someone to the party on Saturday, or—
Lorelai: Or, what? You'll disown me?
Emily: (raises an eyebrow) We'll just have to wait and see.
(EMILY stands to clear her dish and LORELAI slumps in her chair, using her fork to play with the remaining food on her plate.)

(LORELAI is sitting at the kitchen table, numerous binders open. RORY paces, nursing a cup of coffee.)
Lorelai: Okay, which are stronger, hydrogen bonds or dispersion forces?
Rory: (sounding colded) Hydrogen bonds. (sits down across from her LORELAI)
Lorelai: Good. What's the difference between dispersion forces and dipole forces?
Rory: (reciting) Dispersion forces occur when a molecule has an instantaneous dipole moment, while dipole forces are polar all the time.
Lorelai: That sounds right, but keep in mind I have no idea what you just said. (RORY sighs, pulls her binder across the table, and flips through it.) Hon, you're going to do fine on your exam.
Rory: That's what you said about the last one!
Lorelai: You did do fine.
Rory: I got a B+! I'm never going to be able to remember all this! (sneezes)
Lorelai: Sure you are! (RORY sneezes again and gets up to get a tissue.) Wow, this cold has hit you pretty hard, hasn't it?
Rory: I'm okay.
Lorelai: Are you sure? Maybe you should stay home from school tomorrow.
Rory: (sitting down again) No.
Lorelai: Sweetie, you're allowed to be sick once in awhile! Exams don't start until Tuesday!
Rory: (stubbornly) I can't miss school! (The phone rings.)
Lorelai: I'm going to get that, but when I get back I'm going to continue to harass you about this, okay?
Rory: (Poring over her notes, she replies absently.) Okay.
(LORELAI picks up the portable phone. Tracking camera shot as she walks from the kitchen to the living room.)
Lorelai: Hello? Oh, hi Michel, what— (pause) Wait, slow down, what happened? (pause) What?! Oh god...(pause) How many? (pause) Did you call a doctor? (pause) Okay, here's what I want you to do. I'm going to come over there, and in the meantime I want you to call Dr. Connelly, do you know his number? (pause) Okay, bye. (She hangs up the phone and walks back into the kitchen.) Rory?
Rory: Yeah?
Lorelai: That was Michel. Um...they're having some sort of crisis at the inn. It sounds a little like the ten plagues have hit, so I'm going to go help out for a few hours. I'll help you study when I get back, okay?
Rory: (already reading again) Sounds good.
(LORELAI grabs her keys and leaves. La-las begin softly. After a minute, Rory slams her textbook shut, gets up, grabs her notes, and goes into the living room. A second after she sits down, the doorbell rings. She rises to answer it, and finds DEAN standing outside.)
Rory: Dean!
Dean: (kisses her) Hey!
Rory: What are you doing here?
Dean: (holds up a video as he walks inside) remember?
Rory: Oh.
Dean: (immediately defensive) What? You said we could watch it this weekend.
Rory: (runs a hand through her hair, which looks vaguely disheveled) I know I did, but— (sneezes)
Dean: But what?
Rory: (nervously) I really have to study for finals. (She sniffs.) Chemistry.
Dean: Right. (hurt) So you weren't actually planning to watch it with me. You were just saying that to get me off your back, is that it?
Rory: No, I really do want to watch it with you! I just need to study, that's all! (takes his arm) Can we watch it next weekend? After my grandmother's party?
Dean: Whatever. (He starts to leave. RORY goes after him.)
Rory: Dean, wait!
Dean: What?
Rory: (back-peddling) Well, my final isn't until Tuesday, technically, so I guess if we watch the movie right now I can finish studying later.
Dean: (turns back) Are you sure?
Rory: (smiles wanly) I'm sure.

(At the Independence Inn, chaos is reigning. People are lying miserably on the couches or sitting on the floor. The background noise is a hum of discontent. LORELAI is following a little old man around the room as he examines people. DR. CONNELLY is the classic old-fashioned family doctor, little black bag, stethoscope and all.)
Dr. Connelly: (crouching to check someone's pulse) Mmhm. Very good. Thank you, dear. (He stands up.) It looks like basic food-poisoning to me.
Lorelai: (upset) Oh god, really?
Dr. Connelly: I'm afraid so. Was there anything unusual served for today?
Lorelai: I don't think so. Everything should have been fresh.
Dr. Connelly: Well, not to worry. Whatever it was, it wasn't enough to do any real damage. Everyone should be recovered by tomorrow. (He takes off his stethoscope and snaps his black bag shut.)
Lorelai: Well, is there anything else we should do?
Dr. Connelly: Nothing to do but let it pass through their system naturally. (pats LORELAI's arm) I'd have a lot of pots ready, dear. (LORELAI looks vaguely disgusted as well as worried.) In the mean time, try to keep everyone hydrated.
Lorelai: Okay. (They start walking back to the main desk.) I want to thank you so much for coming here on such short notice.
Dr. Connelly: Oh, it's no problem. You know I'm always happy to help you out. (beams at her) Speaking of which, how is your beautiful daughter?
Lorelai: Still beautiful. And healthy, of course.
Dr. Connelly: Oh good, good. She'd be what, seventeen now?
Lorelai: (proudly) That's right.
Dr. Connelly: Give her my best. (He exits.)
(Phone rings and LORELAI answers it.)
Lorelai: Independence Inn, Lorelai Gilmore speaking.
(Shot of SOOKIE sitting by a pool under a palm tree, talking on her cell phone.)
Sookie: Aloha!
Lorelai: Hey you! How's Hawaii?
Sookie: I'm never coming back to New England again!
Lorelai: You're leaving me to cope with raging June blizzards by myself?
Sookie: (giggles) Yup. (starts tracing the woven pattern of her seat nervously) Actually, that's why I called.
Lorelai: (sighs) To see how I was coping by myself?
Sookie: (defensive) No, of course not! I'm know you're doing a great job and I'm not even thinking about the inn! Not at all! (pause, then tentatively) Since you brought it up, how is everything there?
Lorelai: Well...
(She looks to her right, where a haggard looking woman is pounding the desk in front of MICHEL, who looks frightened.)
Woman: ...my husband can't even get out of bed! This was supposed to be our fifteenth wedding anniversary, and it's ruined!
Michel: Madam, I assure you, we will pay for—
Woman: Oh, you will pay! I'm going to sue you personally!
Sookie: Sweetie? Are you still there?
Lorelai: Yeah. You have nothing to worry about. (fake smiles) Everything's running smoothly.
Sookie: Oh, that's good! I'm glad! Anyway, I have to go; Jackson and I are going dancing!
Lorelai: Have fun! (She hangs up, closes her eyes, then recovers her composure.)
Michel: (coming up behind her) They are starting to revolt. I think we will need some very strong sedatives, maybe those that they use on the elephants in Africa.
Lorelai: (confidentially) What we need, Michel, is to do some very skillful public relations. Here, you cover that half of the room, I'll take this half. Offer compensation, a free visit, new towels, massages, help upstairs—anything so they won't sue us, okay? (MICHEL looks stubborn.) What?
Michel: I do not want to talk with those people. They are irrational and they smell.
Lorelai: You're going to do this.
Michel: (snidely) I will not.
Lorelai: (picks up a stapler) Michel, you are going to go over there and be nice to those people or so help me god I will force you to eat the leftovers from lunch and dinner. (starts shooting staples at him) Go! Go! (MICHEL hurries off. LORELAI picks up the phone and dials.)
Rory: (picks up the phone in the front hall) Hello?
Lorelai: Hey, it's me. How're those dispersion forces coming?
Rory: Not so good. (lowers her voice) Dean's here. We're watching a movie.
Lorelai: Aren't you supposed to be studying?
Rory: I promised Dean last weekend we could watch a movie today.
Lorelai: And you forgot? Is he mad?
Rory: He was. That's why we're watching it.
Lorelai: (sympathetically) That's tough. Listen, there was a bit of a food poisoning incident at the inn.
Rory: Was it bad?
Lorelai: For a little while the lobby looked like that scene from Stand By Me.
Rory: (makes a face) The one with the blueberries?
Lorelai: (laughs wryly) Oh yeah. Anyway, it's a whole big mess and people are calling their lawyers, so I'm going to stick around and clean up. Tell Dean he's welcome to stay for dinner.
Rory: Okay, I might— (breaks off and sneezes twice)
Dean: (off-screen) Rory! This is the best part!
Rory: Coming! (to LORELAI) I'd better go.
Lorelai: Sounds like it. Oh and Rory?
Rory: Yeah?
Lorelai: Try to get to bed early okay? Sounds like you need the sleep.
Rory: Okay. (hangs up and reenters the living room. She really looks terrible at this point, red eyed, tired.)
Dean: Who was it?
Rory: My mom. (She grabs a tissue and blows her nose, then sits down. DEAN puts his arm around her.)
Dean: Is she on her way home?
Rory: Um... (decides to lie) yeah, she called from the car. (pause) Actually, Dean?
Dean: (watching the movie) Yeah?
Rory: Any chance we could finish the rest of the movie later? (DEAN looks at her, so she tries to look sad and sick.) I'm just coming down with this cold, and I still haven't finished studying. (smiles sweetly, pleadingly) You wouldn't want me to be sick for my chemistry final, would you?
Dean: (reluctantly) I guess not. (stands up) We'll finish this next weekend.
Rory: Thanks. (He bends to kiss her, but she avoids him.) I'm sick, remember?
Dean: I don't care. (kisses her quickly) Feel better, okay?
Rory: Okay.
(Sad la-las start up. DEAN leaves, and RORY flops backward on the couch. Looking miserable, she pulls a blanket up to her chin, shivers, and closes her eyes.)

(first commercial break)