Story summary: Rory and Tristan are both being sidetracked by the reality that as much as they want to be with each other…there are still many major obstacles in their paths. Can they wait for each other or is the waiting going to be too hard?

 

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters in my story. The characters belong to the writers and creators of the WB show Gilmore Girls.

 

 

EXT: ROADSIDE-NIGHT

 

Rory and Dean are walking along the road headed towards town; suddenly Rory drops to the ground in protest.

 

RORY: I cannot walk another mile. This is ridiculous.

 

DEAN: Well we can’t stay out here.

 

Dean sits down on the ground beside Rory. He reaches over and brushes her falling hair out of her eyes.

 

RORY: I’m sorry…I don’t mean to be so…girly. But my legs feel like I’ve been running a marathon.

 

Dean gets up off the ground and puts his hand out to Rory.

 

RORY: (cont) I’m serious Dean. I can’t take another step.

 

DEAN: I know. Just get up.

 

Rory reluctantly gets up off the ground and before she realizes what it happening Dean has swept her off her feet and into his arms all in one stride.

 

RORY: Ok…put me down. You can’t carry me all the way to the next town. That’s ludicrous.

 

DEAN: Would you stop complaining? At least this way you don’t have to walk anymore.

 

Dean starts walking with Rory in his arms and the closeness to him makes her start to tense up.

 

DEAN: Okay…you’re going to have to relax a little…it’s like carrying a two by four.

 

RORY: Sorry.

 

Rory starts to lean against Dean as he carries her. Dean smiles and pulls her tighter to his chest.

 

DEAN: Much better.

 

INT: GILMORE GIRLS HOUSE-NIGHT

 

Lorelai is just coming in the door after staying late at the Inn to do inventory. She is walking on tiptoe so as not to make any loud noises that might wake Rory. She walks over to Rory’s door and it just about to open the door to peek in on her when her cell phone rings. Lorelai rummages in her purse to find it.

 

LORELAI: (to the phone) Sshhh…people are sleeping.

 

Lorelai clicks open the phone and holds it up to her ear.

 

LORELAI: (whispering) Hello?

 

LORELAI/CHRISTOPHER: INTERCUT

 

CHRIS: Lor?

 

A big smile spreads across Lorelai’s face at the sound of Chris’s voice.

 

LORELAI: It could be. Who wants to know?

 

Chris smiles at Lorelai’s sense of fun.

 

CHRIS: Just tell her it’s a gentleman caller with a big yen for her.

 

LORELAI: Oohh…sounds kinky. But I’ll need the name of this yen master if I’m to persuade her he is worth her precious time.

 

CHRIS: Name’s Bull.

 

LORELAI: As in what you’re full of I’m sure.

 

CHRIS: Suddenly…my yen is waning.

 

LORELAI: Well drag your yen back here and I’ll fix that problem lickety split.

 

CHRIS: You and your pillow talk are quite disarming.

 

LORELAI: So how was your flight?

 

CHRIS: Pretty uneventful.

 

LORELAI: Hey guess what?

 

CHRIS: You died your hair purple and joined a rock band.

 

LORELAI: Close…but no.

 

CHRIS: Rory died her hair purple and joined a rock band.

 

LORELAI: Rory with purple hair…please. I’m the immature one in the relationship…please try and remember that.

 

CHRIS: My bad. What’s the news then?

 

LORELAI: I miss you.

 

Chris looks around at his apartment and the party festivity left-overs and sighs.

 

CHRIS: I miss you more.

 

LORELAI: He says in a wistful tone. Is everything okay Chris?

 

CHRIS: You’re not here…so how could they be?

 

LORELAI: Wow…that is so going in the memory bank. You just keep getting better and better.

 

CHRIS: I should probably go. I really just needed to hear your voice.

 

LORELAI: Okay. Are you sure you’re okay though?

 

CHRIS: I think I just need a good night’s sleep. I’ll call you tomorrow.

 

LORELAI: All right. Goodnight Christopher.

 

CHRIS: Don’t ever forget I love you Lorelai.

 

LORELAI: Of course not. You’re really starting to freak me out now.

 

CHRIS: I’m sorry. It’s just the jet lag talking. Goodnight.

 

LORELAI: Goodnight.

 

Lorelai hangs up the phone and puts it back in her purse forgetting all about checking up on Rory she heads up the stairs and to her room. Lorelai throws off her clothes and pulls a t-shirt over her head. She climbs in to bed and reaches over to her dresser where she picks up a pair of head phones and puts them over her ears. She pushes play on the portable CD player and switches off the light before sinking into bed.

 

EXT: GOOD LUCK MOTEL-NIGHT

 

Rory and Dean walk into the lobby of the motel. It consists of two worn out looking metal chairs and a cigarette vending machine. Behind the desk the motel clerk is fast asleep with head phones on. After several unsuccessful attempts to get his attention, Rory walks behind the desk and lifts his earphone.

 

RORY: Excuse me!

 

The desk clerk falls off his chair and confused looks up at Rory.

 

CLERK: Hey…you can’t be behind the counter it’s against the rules.

 

RORY: I’m sorry…but we couldn’t get your attention.

 

CLERK: That aint no never mind…you just step back on the customer side of the counter or I won’t be helping you.

 

RORY: Fine.

 

Rory steps back behind the counter and an amused Dean leans up against the wall.

 

CLERK: What’ll it be?

 

RORY: We just need to use your phone. You see we had some car trouble and we need to get someone to come pick us up.

 

CLERK: Phone call will cost you a dollar.

 

Rory looks in her purse.

 

RORY: I’ve only got a five dollar bill.

 

CLERK: Don’t have no change.

 

Rory looks over at Dean. Dean fishes in his pockets and can only find $ .95 cents. He hands it to Rory.

 

RORY: Would you take $ .95 cents? 

 

CLERK: Phone calls a dollar.

 

RORY: Fine…take the five.

 

CLERK: Don’t have no change.

 

RORY: Right…I got that. KEEP THE CHANGE!

 

The clerk picks up the five and puts it in his pocket. He hands Rory a rotary dial phone.

 

Rory dials her mother and is relieved when the phone starts ringing.

 

INT: GILMORE GIRLS HOUSE-NIGHT

 

The phone next to Lorelai’s bed begins to ring. Lorelai is fast asleep in bed with the headphones still in place. The phone continues to ring and ring.

 

INT: GOOD LUCK MOTEL LOBBY-NIGHT

 

Rory reluctantly hangs up the phone.

 

RORY: No answer.

 

Rory picks up the phone and starts to dial again; the clerk reaches over and stops her.

 

RORY: What are you doing?

 

CLERK: Phone calls are a dollar.

 

RORY: But I gave you a five.

 

CLERK: You gave me a dollar plus tip…that’s what keep the change means.

 

RORY: You’ve got to be kidding me.

 

CLERK: You gonna make another phone call?

 

RORY: I don’t have any more money.

 

The clerk takes the phone and put it back underneath the counter. Dean steps up to the counter.

 

DEAN: Do the rooms have phones?

 

CLERK: Course they do.

 

DEAN: We’ll take a room.

 

RORY: What?!

 

DEAN: It’s getting late Rory and you can’t reach your mother without a phone. Go with me on this one.

 

Dean hands the clerk his credit card.

 

RORY: You have a credit card?

 

DEAN: My parents gave it to me for emergencies. I think this classifies.

 

The clerk runs Dean’s credit card and starts filling out a registration form. As the card goes through he hands the slip to Dean to sign. Dean signs the receipt and the clerk gives him a room key.

 

CLERK: Enjoy your stay at the Good Luck.

 

Rory and Dean walk out of the lobby and head towards their room. They finally locate it and Dean puts the key in the door and opens it. Surprisingly the inside of the room isn’t half bad. The bed is a queen size and the room is neat and tidy.

 

RORY: I’ll get my mother to reimburse you for the room.

 

DEAN: Don’t worry about it.

 

Rory walks over to the phone, picks it up and starts dialing. After about twenty rings she hangs it up.

 

RORY: She must have gone out with Sookie or something.

 

DEAN: I’m going to go to the coke machine I saw on our way in and score a soda…do you want one?

 

RORY: No…I’m fine.

 

DEAN: Okay…I’ll be right back.

 

Dean gets up off the bed and gives Rory a kiss on the forehead before walking out the door. As the door closes Rory picks up the phone and dials again. After getting no answer she contemplates a second before dialing another number. This time the phone is picked up.

 

RORY: Hi. Were you sleeping?

 

RORY/ TRISTAN: INTERCUT

 

TRISTAN: Yeah…but that’s fine. Where are you?

 

RORY: Um…

 

TRISTAN: I mean…I’ve been calling your house all night and I  keep getting no answer…and you’re cell phone keeps telling me you’re either out of the area or unreachable.

 

RORY: I’m having some cell phone problems. I have to make this quick though. I figured you probably had tried to call and I didn’t want you to worry.

 

TRISTAN: What’s going on Rory?

 

RORY:  It’s no big deal…but Dean and I are at a motel…

 

As Rory is starting to explain to Tristan, Dean walks through the door with two sodas.

 

DEAN: I know you said you didn’t want one…but I got you one for later…just in case you changed your mind.

 

Rory is still holding the phone contemplating how to hang up with out making it obvious she was talking to someone.

 

DEAN: Who’s on the phone?

 

RORY: I was just trying my mom again…but no answer.

 

TRISTAN: Rory?! What the hell are you doing at a motel with Dean?

 

Rory reluctantly hangs up the phone as Tristan’s voice begins to get louder.

 

INT: TRISTAN’S ROOM-NIGHT

 

Tristan looks at the now dead phone in his hand.

 

TRISTAN: Dammit! This is not happening.

 

Tristan slams the phone down on his dresser but after a second of contemplation he picks it up and hits *69…the phone starts ringing.

 

INT: MOTEL ROOM-NIGHT

 

Rory is sitting on the bed and Dean walks around and sits down next to her. He pulls her into his arms and leans back against the headboard. The phone on the nightstand next to Rory starts ringing. Instantly Rory knows who it is.

 

DEAN: Aren’t you going to get it?

 

RORY: Get what?

 

DEAN: Uh…the ringing phone. The one right next to you on the nightstand. Do you need any more clarification?

 

RORY: Oh that. Let’s just let it ring. It’s probably just the annoying desk clerk.

 

DEAN: Yeah…I guess your right. Considering no one else even knows where we are.

 

The phone continues to ring as Dean pulls Rory into him and begins kissing her. Rory tries to mentally will the ringing phone to stop. As the phone continues ringing Dean can take it no more and leans over Rory and in one swift move picks up the phone.

 

DEAN: Hello?

 

On the other end of the phone the sound of Dean’s voice makes Tristan more than a little upset. He starts to say something when in the back ground he hears Rory.

 

RORY: Dean hang up the phone…please.

 

DEAN: Yeah…there’s nobody there anyway. Now…where were we?

 

Dean hangs up the phone and pulls Rory back into his arms. Rory wiggles free and lies down on her side of the bed.

 

RORY: We should get some sleep.

 

Dean lies down on his side of the bed and pulls the pillow up under his head.

 

DEAN: Right.

 

RORY: Could you get the light please?

 

Dean silently reaches over and turns off his light. Rory curls up on her side of the bed. Before she realizes what he has in mind Dean has spooned himself behind her and is lightly rubbing his fingers over her arm. The sensation is surprisingly tension filled and Rory shivers.

 

DEAN: Are you cold?

 

RORY: No…I’m fine.

 

Dean pulls Rory into his arms and nestles into her neck…he begins lightly kissing her there and Rory shuts her eyes even tighter. She can’t help thinking that if there was no Tristan…this moment would be almost perfect. The gentleness Dean is displaying causes Rory to regret her secret life she is leading with Tristan. Not because it’s Dean she wants…because she imagines that the one thing that would make this moment perfect would be if it was Tristan in bed next to her…kissing her. Rory momentarily loses herself in the moment…imagining that it is Tristan in the dark kissing her, waking up her senses…putting his gentle hands on her body…taking her mind to another level…and then the phone next to her rings…reality breaks through with the insistent ringing and Rory abruptly breaks away from Dean…recognizing…realizing…what she might have let happen. Rory hurriedly picks up the phone…shamefaced.

 

RORY: Hello?

 

RORY/TRISTAN: INTERCUT-NIGHT

 

TRISTAN: Rory?

 

RORY: Uh huh.

 

TRISTAN: Ok…I’ve been telling myself that there is a logical explanation for why you are in a motel room with Dean.

 

RORY: There is.

 

Dean is now sitting up in bed next to Rory.

 

DEAN: Who is it?

 

RORY: (to Dean) Desk clerk…wants to know if we have enough towels.

 

DEAN: At this time of the night. God…the guys a whack job.

 

TRISTAN: Tell me that you’re okay.

 

RORY: Yes.

 

TRISTAN: Tell me that I have nothing to worry about.

 

Rory is silent…not knowing quite how to answer that.

 

TRISTAN: Is there something you want to tell me?

 

RORY: Goodnight.

 

TRISTAN: Try goodbye!

 

Tristan hangs up the phone and takes a pillow and hurls it across the room. In the motel room Rory reluctantly hangs up the phone. Dean starts to pull her back into his arms but she gets up off the bed.

 

RORY: I think I should probably just sleep in the chair.

 

DEAN: It’s a big bed Rory.

 

RORY: It’s a comfortable looking chair. I’ll be fine.

 

Dean gets up out of bed and goes to stand next to Rory.

 

DEAN: I’ll take the chair…you can have the bed.

 

Dean grabs one of the blankets off the bed and goes over to the chair. Rory reluctantly climbs back in bed and closes her eyes. Visions of an angry, hurt Tristan start swimming through her mind. Her visions are not far off…Tristan lays awake in his bed exaggerated visions of Rory and Dean playing through his mind. Disgusted he reaches for the phone and begins to dial.

 

TRISTAN: Hey babe.

 

TRISTAN/CASSIDY: INTERCUT

 

CASSIDY: Tristan? It’s two am.

 

TRISTAN: And?

 

CASSIDY: And I’m sleeping.

 

TRISTAN: Well wake your ass up…this is a booty call. You up for it?

 

Cassidy giggles at Tristan’s bold overture.

 

CASSIDY: You serious?

 

TRISTAN: Couldn’t be more. Yes or no?

 

CASSIDY: Just tell me where and I’m there.

 

TRISTAN: Meet me outside your house in ten minutes.

 

CASSIDY: Consider it done.

 

Tristan hangs up the phone and grabs a sweatshirt to put over his t-shirt. He pulls a pair of sweats over his boxers and jams his feet into tennis shoes. He grabs his car keys off his dresser, looks into the mirror and for a moment hesitates…what the hell is he doing? As he starts to back off form his original mission thoughts of Rory with Dean begin to enter his mind and his resolve to be with Cassidy is again strengthened as he heads out the door.