A Suit and Tie Type Thing, GG, PG, Chapter 2
Title: A Suit and Tie Type Thing, Chapter 2
Author: Piratelf
Rating: PG
Fandom: Gilmore Girls
Genre: Gen, Het, Narco, JavaJunkie
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gilmore Girls Characters. No money will be made from this work. I'm really not worth suing, honestly.
Beta: Nadnewraid
Xposted to: deanfest_2007, gg_fic, narcoleptics
Author's Notes: Can you believe I'm updating so soon??? Me either! We have seen Lorelai's fireplace actually housing a fire at different times, but for the purposes of this fic, it is presently non-functional. Also, we know Randy Forester owns a stereo shop (Richard in Stars Hollow). Dave Rygalski was an audio geek (Application Anxiety). Where would he have gotten that stuff? And once he had introduced Lane to the wonders of superclear audio, where would she go? Right, Dean's dad's shop! That's my theory anyway, you'll understand why I am explaining this all to you rather early in the chapter.
Summary: Luke talks to Dean.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
The next afternoon Luke walked over to Dean and Rory's, having no idea whatsoever as to what he was going to say. He found Dean in the front, shoveling the walk.
"Hey, Dean."
Dean looked up, surprised, "Oh, hey Luke. What's going on?"
"Nothing. Just taking a walk."
"Nice day for it." Dean couldn't imagine why anyone would decide to take a walk when the temperatures were below freezing.
"Uh, yeah," Luke laughed a little.
"Rory's inside," Dean told him as he dumped the next shovelful of snow onto his yard.
"Oh, well, um, good," Luke said.
Dean shoveled for another minute or so before he realized that Luke was still standing there. "Is there something I can do for you, Luke?"
"No. Well, I mean, yeah." Luke looked up and down the street, just to give himself time to think of something, "Looks like you're almost done here, huh?"
"Not exactly, I usually do the Cassinis', too," Dean indicated the house across the street where an elderly couple lived.
"Yeah? That's nice."
Dean shrugged, "Someone has to." He dumped another shovelful of snow. "But I can take a break if there's something you need?" Dean looked at him, questioningly.
"Why don't you take a break? That would be good. We could go in and have some coffee or something."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no nothing's wrong. I kind of need to talk to you."
"To me?" He and Luke talked, but mostly about sports or cars. Nothing a guy couldn't talk to any other guy about. Nothing really specific to themselves. "What about?"
"Let's just go inside, okay?"
"Okay," Dean leaned the shovel against the garage and led the way inside the house.
While Luke shed his coat and boots by the door, Dean took off his gloves, snuck up behind an unsuspecting Rory and put his cold fingers on the back of her neck.
"Aiiiiiiieeeeee!" she screamed, causing Lane, who had the misfortune to be on the other end of the phone Rory was holding at the time, to think she may have gone temporarily deaf. "DEAN!" Rory turned and smacked him repeatedly on the arm. He stood there, laughing. "I will have my revenge, Forester!" she threatened him.
"I'm scared, Forester. Luke's here." Dean unfastened his coat and hung it up to dry.
"Oh, hi Luke!" Rory turned and gave him a smile and a thumbs up, out of Dean's sight.
Luke returned the thumbs up unenthusiastically.
"I hope this isn't too rude but Lane and I are in the middle of a critical fashion discussion. Do you mind if I go upstairs and finish it?"
"No, not at all," Luke answered her. "Far be it from me to cause some sort of fashion disaster."
Rory laughed and stood up from the table to go upstairs.
"Hey," Dean called to her. "Tell Lane that Dad has the Swedish digital system in the shop now. He says you can actually hear Keith Richards' brain cells dying during the bridge of Satisfaction."
"Did you get that?" she said into the phone. She nodded to Dean and continued up the stairs.
"Coffee or cocoa?" Dean asked Luke.
"Uh, either. Whatever you're having," Luke answered.
"Take a seat." Dean waved his hand toward the couch in the living room. "I'll be right in."
Dean decided to make cocoa. Partially because he really wanted cocoa, but also because he figured his coffee probably wasn't as good as Luke's, and also because it took a lot longer and he was still trying to get his head around the fact that Luke wanted to talk to him. He put the milk on to heat while he mixed the cocoa and sugar.
Luke sat in the living room, rubbing his hands together to warm them. There was a fire in the fireplace so he got up and stood there, feeling the heat rise in waves. Once again he thought about asking Dean to help him fix and clean the fireplace at Lorelai's house. And once again he wondered, how much time and effort it would take, if they'd have to build a whole new chimney, and how he would approach it without making Dean think he wanted him to do it for free.
He noticed a stack of what looked like manuals at the bottom of the wood bin. Though it officially identified him as nosy, Luke sifted through them: Connecticut Technical University - Bachelor Degrees in Automotive Engineering and Design, New Britain Tech - Associate Construction Certification and Certified Professional Constructor, Hartford College - Construction certifications and degrees, Hartford College - Automotive certifications and degrees, Connecticut State University - School of Technology, Federal Financial Aid Guide, Connecticut Guide to State Financial Aid, Grants and Scholarships.
"Marshmallows or whipped cream?" Dean called from the kitchen. Luke dropped the college course books like they'd burned him. They fell all over the floor.
"Uh, what?"
"I made cocoa, do you want marshmallows in yours or whipped cream?" Dean said, his volume decreasing as he walked to the living room. He saw Luke picking up the course books, "Oh."
Luke looked up, "Um, I was just, um, and they . . ."
"Here, I've got 'em." Dean knelt down and grabbed one.
"No, it's okay, I've got 'em." Luke pulled some together into a stack.
"They shouldn't be out here anyway," Dean said, taking the stack from Luke. "So, marshmallows? Whipped cream? Both? Neither?"
"Uh, whipped cream," Luke said, standing up.
Dean nodded. Luke noticed he dropped all of the course books into the trash as he went back to the kitchen. He re-emerged momentarily with the cocoa. "Here you go." He set Luke's mug on the table.
"Thanks."
"Sure." Dean sat at the opposite end of the couch, and turned to face Luke.
"So, you're going to school?"
"No, actually," Dean rubbed the back of his head. "I was just checking into it, but it looks like it's not going to be cost effective, like, ever." He chuckled.
"Oh, sorry."
"It's not a big deal," Dean shrugged it off.
"Maybe you could get a loan or something?"
"Nah, it was just a stupid idea."
"Education is never stupid, Dean."
"You know, I kind of doubt this is what you came over to talk about." Dean sipped his cocoa.
"No, you're right." Luke took a deep breath and blew it out. "The truth is, Rory asked me to come over and talk to you about going to Richard and Emily's."
Dean was stunned for a minute, "Wow, let's go back to the school discussion."
Luke laughed, "I know. But she gave me the Bambi eyes, what could I do?"
"She really should use the power of the Bambi eyes for good, not evil."
"With great power comes great responsibility."
"Hey, we should do Spider-Man for the next movie night!"
"I don't know if they'll go for it. There might not be enough to mock in Spider-Man."
"Are you crazy? It's a kid in tights with the so-called powers of a spider, but he doesn't even have venom!"
"Or extra limbs. Or extra eyes," Luke agreed.
"And shouldn't his webs really be coming out of his butt?"
"Spider-Man it is!"
"They need to increase their action movie intake anyway."
"True." Luke sipped his cocoa. "This is really good!"
"Thanks. It's a family recipe. My dad showed me how to make it."
Luke took a bigger drink. "Is there cinnamon in here?"
"Yeah, just a little."
"What kind of cocoa mix do you use?"
"It's the bitter stuff you bake with. You have to mix it with sugar and kind of mash it together."
"It's like liquid pudding."
"There's cream in it too."
"Don't give this to Lorelai, she'll never drink mine again."
"That's what happened to Rory! She says it ruined her for all other cocoa. I think it's why she married me."
"The way to a Gilmore's heart is definitely through the stomach."
"Amen."
"You know Lorelai only goes to her parents' Christmas Party because of these apple tarts that her mother only has the cook make once a year?"
Dean laughed. "I believe it. Are they that good?"
"Well, they are good. Good enough to go to the party for though, I don't know."
"God, that party must be an ordeal."
"It's not fun," Luke confirmed. "No matter how nice my suit is, I always feel underdressed. It's all these rich people talking about how many millions their business made that year, what foreign country they're going to winter in, or which outrageously expensive thing they're buying themselves and their kids for Christmas."
"Ugh, it's worse than I thought."
"It's even worse than that when they ask me and Lorelai the same questions."
"Ouch. What do you say?"
"Me, I tell the truth. I never know what's going to come out of Lorelai's mouth."
"Just like always," Dean grinned.
"Pretty much," Luke agreed.
"So, why do you go?"
"I told you, so Lorelai can get her apple tart fix for the year."
"Yeah, but why do you go?"
Luke shrugged. "I don't know, it seems like the thing to do. I think Lorelai would be disappointed if I didn't. She enjoys it and it's a big thing for her parents, a huge social thing, so I guess she feels that she should be there."
"Hmm," Dean responded. "Don't you think her relationship with her parents is a little unhealthy?"
"A little?" Luke asked, and Dean laughed. "Well, yeah, it's not the healthiest relationship I've ever seen, but they're her parents, and it's between her and them."
"So what are you even doing there, then?"
Luke opened his mouth to respond, then shut it again and thought. "Well, I'm there for her."
"Yeah, but she's there because of the relationship, which you aren't even a part of, and think is unhealthy for her anyway, so why are you supporting her in it?"
"Uh, I don't quite know what you're getting at."
"You don't want to be there, right?"
"No."
"And you don't think it's exactly healthy for her to be there."
"Well . . . no."
"So why are you there? I mean, if she wants to go, then that's her decision, but you shouldn't have to support it if you don't agree with it. Should you?"
Luke blinked a couple times. "No! I shouldn't! What am I doing there?"
Dean shrugged, "That's my question."
"I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing there."
Dean finished his cup. "Do you want some more cocoa?"
"Yeah, that'd be good."
Dean looked at his watch. "You know, the game is on soon. You want some popcorn too?"
"Sounds good. Hey do you still have those salsa chips you had last week?"
"With Rory the chipaholic in the house? What do you think?"
"Damn."
"I know, sorry. Want to get a pizza?"
"Good substitute."
Dean tossed the phone to Luke as he took their cups back into the kitchen. By the time he returned with the popcorn and the cocoa, Luke had ordered the pizza and had the TV on.
"Pizza should be here in 45 minutes, game starts in an hour."
"Perfect timing." Dean set the cups and bowl down on the coffee table. "Hey, do you mind if I go out and shovel the Cassinis' walk while we're waiting?"
"No, give me a shovel and I'll help you."
"Sorry, I only have one." Dean pulled his coat and gloves back on. "It won't take long, though. If you want anything, you know where everything is." He went out the door.
Hearing the door close, Rory came downstairs. "Oh, Luke, hi! I thought that was you." She pointed to the door.
"Uh no, Dean went out to shovel the neighbor's walk. I was going to stay for the game, if that's okay."
"Sure, of course, that's fine!" Rory came and sat next to him. "So, how'd it go?" she asked in a loud whisper.
"Go?"
"Yeah, you know, 'the talk'. What did he say?"
"Oh, right yeah, 'the talk'," Luke shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Definitely wouldn't be good to admit that Dean actually made him question going himself. "Um, it went okay."
"Yeah? He said he'd come?"
"Well, not exactly. I mean, you know Dean."
Rory smacked the couch in frustration. "GOD! He can be so stubborn!"
"Hey, hey, don't worry! I haven't given up yet. That's why I thought I'd stay, you know. Work on him a little during the game."
"Right! Yes! Kind of slip it in there when he's not paying attention! Luke, you're brilliant!"
"Brilliant," Luke nodded.
"I'm going to get out of here while you do your magic." Rory put her coat on. "Tell Dean I went to Lane's." She put her hand on the doorknob, then turned back and kissed Luke on the top of the head. "Thanks Luke!" Then she left.
Luke sat there for the next thirty minutes feeling like crap and wondering how in hell he was going to convince Dean to go to the Gilmores' Christmas Party.
Dean came in, cheeks red from exertion and the cold. "Hey, have I missed anything good?"
"Nah, usual pre-game stuff. Both the coaches think their team'll win. Quarterbacks from each team think their team'll win. Everybody claiming the guys benched for injury or indictment aren't going to affect play. The announcers are going way out on a limb and claiming that the team higher in the standings is going to win."
Dean nodded. "The Bears aren't that far below them though."
"We'll see. Oh, and Rory went to Lane's."
"Okay."
There was a knock on the door. "That's the pizza," Luke said. "I'll get it."
"You want to switch to beer?"
"Yeah. Chocolate and pepperoni? Not my favorite combination."
Dean went into the kitchen to get beers and plates.
Once they had the food all situated within easy reach, and the game had gone into the second quarter, Luke spoke up, "You know, Rory wouldn't have asked me to talk to you if this wasn't really important to her."
"I know it is." Dean didn't take his eyes off the game.
"And I realize that they were pretty hard on you before."
"Hmm," Dean took a drink of his beer.
"And I think you're totally right in not going to dinner."
"But?" Dean finally looked at Luke. And he wasn't happy.
"But I think you should reconsider going to the Christmas party."
"I'm not that fond of apple tarts, thanks."
"For Rory."
Dean sighed.
Luke waited, but when there was no more forthcoming, he went on, "It's her you're punishing, not them."
"I'm not punishing anybody," Dean explained plaintively. "I'm just avoiding a bad situation."
"Okay, okay, I realize that. But still, it's really upsetting Rory."
"Yes, I know. And do you why that doesn't bother me? Because putting me in a bad situation doesn't upset Rory in the least! I mean, am I wrong to think that should matter to her?"
Luke swallowed, he wasn't sure what to say to that. He remembered the argument he and Lorelai had overheard, and that Dean had asked Rory the same question. Her answer had been a question. Maybe not the best indicator that she really had considered Dean's side of things.
"Am I, Luke?" Dean persisted.
"No," Luke answered quietly. "No, you're not."
"Thank you. Can we drop this now?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Good." Dean sat through the rest of the game, tense and silent. Luke wasn't sure what to do. Leave? Stay? Try to calm Dean down? In the end he stayed simply through inertia. Once the game was over though, he patted Dean's shoulder and left.
Soon after, Dean went back outside and shoveled the entire sidewalk, on both sides of the street, just to work off his anger and frustration. By that time it was after 5 p.m. and the sun had gone down. He knew Rory would be home soon, and he didn't know what to say to her. Well, he didn't know what to say that wouldn't start an enormous argument. And he was too tired for that. So he went back inside, showered and went to bed.
Chapter 3
Author: Piratelf
Rating: PG
Fandom: Gilmore Girls
Genre: Gen, Het, Narco, JavaJunkie
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gilmore Girls Characters. No money will be made from this work. I'm really not worth suing, honestly.
Beta: Nadnewraid
Xposted to: deanfest_2007, gg_fic, narcoleptics
Author's Notes: Can you believe I'm updating so soon??? Me either! We have seen Lorelai's fireplace actually housing a fire at different times, but for the purposes of this fic, it is presently non-functional. Also, we know Randy Forester owns a stereo shop (Richard in Stars Hollow). Dave Rygalski was an audio geek (Application Anxiety). Where would he have gotten that stuff? And once he had introduced Lane to the wonders of superclear audio, where would she go? Right, Dean's dad's shop! That's my theory anyway, you'll understand why I am explaining this all to you rather early in the chapter.
Summary: Luke talks to Dean.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
The next afternoon Luke walked over to Dean and Rory's, having no idea whatsoever as to what he was going to say. He found Dean in the front, shoveling the walk.
"Hey, Dean."
Dean looked up, surprised, "Oh, hey Luke. What's going on?"
"Nothing. Just taking a walk."
"Nice day for it." Dean couldn't imagine why anyone would decide to take a walk when the temperatures were below freezing.
"Uh, yeah," Luke laughed a little.
"Rory's inside," Dean told him as he dumped the next shovelful of snow onto his yard.
"Oh, well, um, good," Luke said.
Dean shoveled for another minute or so before he realized that Luke was still standing there. "Is there something I can do for you, Luke?"
"No. Well, I mean, yeah." Luke looked up and down the street, just to give himself time to think of something, "Looks like you're almost done here, huh?"
"Not exactly, I usually do the Cassinis', too," Dean indicated the house across the street where an elderly couple lived.
"Yeah? That's nice."
Dean shrugged, "Someone has to." He dumped another shovelful of snow. "But I can take a break if there's something you need?" Dean looked at him, questioningly.
"Why don't you take a break? That would be good. We could go in and have some coffee or something."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no nothing's wrong. I kind of need to talk to you."
"To me?" He and Luke talked, but mostly about sports or cars. Nothing a guy couldn't talk to any other guy about. Nothing really specific to themselves. "What about?"
"Let's just go inside, okay?"
"Okay," Dean leaned the shovel against the garage and led the way inside the house.
While Luke shed his coat and boots by the door, Dean took off his gloves, snuck up behind an unsuspecting Rory and put his cold fingers on the back of her neck.
"Aiiiiiiieeeeee!" she screamed, causing Lane, who had the misfortune to be on the other end of the phone Rory was holding at the time, to think she may have gone temporarily deaf. "DEAN!" Rory turned and smacked him repeatedly on the arm. He stood there, laughing. "I will have my revenge, Forester!" she threatened him.
"I'm scared, Forester. Luke's here." Dean unfastened his coat and hung it up to dry.
"Oh, hi Luke!" Rory turned and gave him a smile and a thumbs up, out of Dean's sight.
Luke returned the thumbs up unenthusiastically.
"I hope this isn't too rude but Lane and I are in the middle of a critical fashion discussion. Do you mind if I go upstairs and finish it?"
"No, not at all," Luke answered her. "Far be it from me to cause some sort of fashion disaster."
Rory laughed and stood up from the table to go upstairs.
"Hey," Dean called to her. "Tell Lane that Dad has the Swedish digital system in the shop now. He says you can actually hear Keith Richards' brain cells dying during the bridge of Satisfaction."
"Did you get that?" she said into the phone. She nodded to Dean and continued up the stairs.
"Coffee or cocoa?" Dean asked Luke.
"Uh, either. Whatever you're having," Luke answered.
"Take a seat." Dean waved his hand toward the couch in the living room. "I'll be right in."
Dean decided to make cocoa. Partially because he really wanted cocoa, but also because he figured his coffee probably wasn't as good as Luke's, and also because it took a lot longer and he was still trying to get his head around the fact that Luke wanted to talk to him. He put the milk on to heat while he mixed the cocoa and sugar.
Luke sat in the living room, rubbing his hands together to warm them. There was a fire in the fireplace so he got up and stood there, feeling the heat rise in waves. Once again he thought about asking Dean to help him fix and clean the fireplace at Lorelai's house. And once again he wondered, how much time and effort it would take, if they'd have to build a whole new chimney, and how he would approach it without making Dean think he wanted him to do it for free.
He noticed a stack of what looked like manuals at the bottom of the wood bin. Though it officially identified him as nosy, Luke sifted through them: Connecticut Technical University - Bachelor Degrees in Automotive Engineering and Design, New Britain Tech - Associate Construction Certification and Certified Professional Constructor, Hartford College - Construction certifications and degrees, Hartford College - Automotive certifications and degrees, Connecticut State University - School of Technology, Federal Financial Aid Guide, Connecticut Guide to State Financial Aid, Grants and Scholarships.
"Marshmallows or whipped cream?" Dean called from the kitchen. Luke dropped the college course books like they'd burned him. They fell all over the floor.
"Uh, what?"
"I made cocoa, do you want marshmallows in yours or whipped cream?" Dean said, his volume decreasing as he walked to the living room. He saw Luke picking up the course books, "Oh."
Luke looked up, "Um, I was just, um, and they . . ."
"Here, I've got 'em." Dean knelt down and grabbed one.
"No, it's okay, I've got 'em." Luke pulled some together into a stack.
"They shouldn't be out here anyway," Dean said, taking the stack from Luke. "So, marshmallows? Whipped cream? Both? Neither?"
"Uh, whipped cream," Luke said, standing up.
Dean nodded. Luke noticed he dropped all of the course books into the trash as he went back to the kitchen. He re-emerged momentarily with the cocoa. "Here you go." He set Luke's mug on the table.
"Thanks."
"Sure." Dean sat at the opposite end of the couch, and turned to face Luke.
"So, you're going to school?"
"No, actually," Dean rubbed the back of his head. "I was just checking into it, but it looks like it's not going to be cost effective, like, ever." He chuckled.
"Oh, sorry."
"It's not a big deal," Dean shrugged it off.
"Maybe you could get a loan or something?"
"Nah, it was just a stupid idea."
"Education is never stupid, Dean."
"You know, I kind of doubt this is what you came over to talk about." Dean sipped his cocoa.
"No, you're right." Luke took a deep breath and blew it out. "The truth is, Rory asked me to come over and talk to you about going to Richard and Emily's."
Dean was stunned for a minute, "Wow, let's go back to the school discussion."
Luke laughed, "I know. But she gave me the Bambi eyes, what could I do?"
"She really should use the power of the Bambi eyes for good, not evil."
"With great power comes great responsibility."
"Hey, we should do Spider-Man for the next movie night!"
"I don't know if they'll go for it. There might not be enough to mock in Spider-Man."
"Are you crazy? It's a kid in tights with the so-called powers of a spider, but he doesn't even have venom!"
"Or extra limbs. Or extra eyes," Luke agreed.
"And shouldn't his webs really be coming out of his butt?"
"Spider-Man it is!"
"They need to increase their action movie intake anyway."
"True." Luke sipped his cocoa. "This is really good!"
"Thanks. It's a family recipe. My dad showed me how to make it."
Luke took a bigger drink. "Is there cinnamon in here?"
"Yeah, just a little."
"What kind of cocoa mix do you use?"
"It's the bitter stuff you bake with. You have to mix it with sugar and kind of mash it together."
"It's like liquid pudding."
"There's cream in it too."
"Don't give this to Lorelai, she'll never drink mine again."
"That's what happened to Rory! She says it ruined her for all other cocoa. I think it's why she married me."
"The way to a Gilmore's heart is definitely through the stomach."
"Amen."
"You know Lorelai only goes to her parents' Christmas Party because of these apple tarts that her mother only has the cook make once a year?"
Dean laughed. "I believe it. Are they that good?"
"Well, they are good. Good enough to go to the party for though, I don't know."
"God, that party must be an ordeal."
"It's not fun," Luke confirmed. "No matter how nice my suit is, I always feel underdressed. It's all these rich people talking about how many millions their business made that year, what foreign country they're going to winter in, or which outrageously expensive thing they're buying themselves and their kids for Christmas."
"Ugh, it's worse than I thought."
"It's even worse than that when they ask me and Lorelai the same questions."
"Ouch. What do you say?"
"Me, I tell the truth. I never know what's going to come out of Lorelai's mouth."
"Just like always," Dean grinned.
"Pretty much," Luke agreed.
"So, why do you go?"
"I told you, so Lorelai can get her apple tart fix for the year."
"Yeah, but why do you go?"
Luke shrugged. "I don't know, it seems like the thing to do. I think Lorelai would be disappointed if I didn't. She enjoys it and it's a big thing for her parents, a huge social thing, so I guess she feels that she should be there."
"Hmm," Dean responded. "Don't you think her relationship with her parents is a little unhealthy?"
"A little?" Luke asked, and Dean laughed. "Well, yeah, it's not the healthiest relationship I've ever seen, but they're her parents, and it's between her and them."
"So what are you even doing there, then?"
Luke opened his mouth to respond, then shut it again and thought. "Well, I'm there for her."
"Yeah, but she's there because of the relationship, which you aren't even a part of, and think is unhealthy for her anyway, so why are you supporting her in it?"
"Uh, I don't quite know what you're getting at."
"You don't want to be there, right?"
"No."
"And you don't think it's exactly healthy for her to be there."
"Well . . . no."
"So why are you there? I mean, if she wants to go, then that's her decision, but you shouldn't have to support it if you don't agree with it. Should you?"
Luke blinked a couple times. "No! I shouldn't! What am I doing there?"
Dean shrugged, "That's my question."
"I don't know. I don't know what I'm doing there."
Dean finished his cup. "Do you want some more cocoa?"
"Yeah, that'd be good."
Dean looked at his watch. "You know, the game is on soon. You want some popcorn too?"
"Sounds good. Hey do you still have those salsa chips you had last week?"
"With Rory the chipaholic in the house? What do you think?"
"Damn."
"I know, sorry. Want to get a pizza?"
"Good substitute."
Dean tossed the phone to Luke as he took their cups back into the kitchen. By the time he returned with the popcorn and the cocoa, Luke had ordered the pizza and had the TV on.
"Pizza should be here in 45 minutes, game starts in an hour."
"Perfect timing." Dean set the cups and bowl down on the coffee table. "Hey, do you mind if I go out and shovel the Cassinis' walk while we're waiting?"
"No, give me a shovel and I'll help you."
"Sorry, I only have one." Dean pulled his coat and gloves back on. "It won't take long, though. If you want anything, you know where everything is." He went out the door.
Hearing the door close, Rory came downstairs. "Oh, Luke, hi! I thought that was you." She pointed to the door.
"Uh no, Dean went out to shovel the neighbor's walk. I was going to stay for the game, if that's okay."
"Sure, of course, that's fine!" Rory came and sat next to him. "So, how'd it go?" she asked in a loud whisper.
"Go?"
"Yeah, you know, 'the talk'. What did he say?"
"Oh, right yeah, 'the talk'," Luke shifted uncomfortably on the couch. Definitely wouldn't be good to admit that Dean actually made him question going himself. "Um, it went okay."
"Yeah? He said he'd come?"
"Well, not exactly. I mean, you know Dean."
Rory smacked the couch in frustration. "GOD! He can be so stubborn!"
"Hey, hey, don't worry! I haven't given up yet. That's why I thought I'd stay, you know. Work on him a little during the game."
"Right! Yes! Kind of slip it in there when he's not paying attention! Luke, you're brilliant!"
"Brilliant," Luke nodded.
"I'm going to get out of here while you do your magic." Rory put her coat on. "Tell Dean I went to Lane's." She put her hand on the doorknob, then turned back and kissed Luke on the top of the head. "Thanks Luke!" Then she left.
Luke sat there for the next thirty minutes feeling like crap and wondering how in hell he was going to convince Dean to go to the Gilmores' Christmas Party.
Dean came in, cheeks red from exertion and the cold. "Hey, have I missed anything good?"
"Nah, usual pre-game stuff. Both the coaches think their team'll win. Quarterbacks from each team think their team'll win. Everybody claiming the guys benched for injury or indictment aren't going to affect play. The announcers are going way out on a limb and claiming that the team higher in the standings is going to win."
Dean nodded. "The Bears aren't that far below them though."
"We'll see. Oh, and Rory went to Lane's."
"Okay."
There was a knock on the door. "That's the pizza," Luke said. "I'll get it."
"You want to switch to beer?"
"Yeah. Chocolate and pepperoni? Not my favorite combination."
Dean went into the kitchen to get beers and plates.
Once they had the food all situated within easy reach, and the game had gone into the second quarter, Luke spoke up, "You know, Rory wouldn't have asked me to talk to you if this wasn't really important to her."
"I know it is." Dean didn't take his eyes off the game.
"And I realize that they were pretty hard on you before."
"Hmm," Dean took a drink of his beer.
"And I think you're totally right in not going to dinner."
"But?" Dean finally looked at Luke. And he wasn't happy.
"But I think you should reconsider going to the Christmas party."
"I'm not that fond of apple tarts, thanks."
"For Rory."
Dean sighed.
Luke waited, but when there was no more forthcoming, he went on, "It's her you're punishing, not them."
"I'm not punishing anybody," Dean explained plaintively. "I'm just avoiding a bad situation."
"Okay, okay, I realize that. But still, it's really upsetting Rory."
"Yes, I know. And do you why that doesn't bother me? Because putting me in a bad situation doesn't upset Rory in the least! I mean, am I wrong to think that should matter to her?"
Luke swallowed, he wasn't sure what to say to that. He remembered the argument he and Lorelai had overheard, and that Dean had asked Rory the same question. Her answer had been a question. Maybe not the best indicator that she really had considered Dean's side of things.
"Am I, Luke?" Dean persisted.
"No," Luke answered quietly. "No, you're not."
"Thank you. Can we drop this now?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Good." Dean sat through the rest of the game, tense and silent. Luke wasn't sure what to do. Leave? Stay? Try to calm Dean down? In the end he stayed simply through inertia. Once the game was over though, he patted Dean's shoulder and left.
Soon after, Dean went back outside and shoveled the entire sidewalk, on both sides of the street, just to work off his anger and frustration. By that time it was after 5 p.m. and the sun had gone down. He knew Rory would be home soon, and he didn't know what to say to her. Well, he didn't know what to say that wouldn't start an enormous argument. And he was too tired for that. So he went back inside, showered and went to bed.
Chapter 3