Leaps and landings

39

It was Saturday, the 7th, and Celeste and Jess had slept late, only checking their phones a few times in between - no change. While Jess had cooked them breakfast, some eggs and prepared a green smoothie, Celeste had taken upon herself the cancellation and reorganizing of Rory's party. She had canceled the original catering order, but as this late it had been non-refundable, she had simply told them to alter it enough so they could provide them with cold snacks instead, which she aimed to take over to the hospital on the 8th. Surely by then they'd have some news? Besides Jess knowing Lorelai and Rory's friends, they expected the crowd to start forming sooner rather than later and surely what the two of them could do for Rory and Logan was keep the sideline supporters engaged and fed, allowing Rory and Logan to focus on more important matters.

"Huh, as expected," Jess sighed, not being the slightest bit surprised, as he noted the private waiting room, already bustling with people. Lorelai and Emily were nervously pacing back and forth exchanging a few casual lines, Paris on the phone with someone, a frustrated glance upon her face, Lane with earphones on, knitting something light blue in the corner, her legs crossed on the seat and Finn asleep in another corner dressed in a tux, his bow tie hanging loosely around his neck.

"Who's that?" Celeste asked, as they observed the group through the corridor window momentarily before entering, having not seen Lane before.

"That's Lane, she's Rory's childhood friend from Stars Hollow," Jess explained quietly before they entered.

"Hey," Jess said, adding, "any news?" while Celeste, feeling slightly out of place being not quite the immediate family, especially after understanding Lorelai a little better from Jess' explanation of her, waved her hand in greeting hesitantly.

"Some progress, they're not telling us much," Lorelai whined, her arm crossed on her waist, biting her fingers, worriedly, looking like she'd been there all night.

"I'm sure they'll tell us if there is anything to tell," Emily sighed, Lorelai's nervousness getting on her nerves.

"Jess, can I have a word," Paris pulled him out to the corridor, as she got off the phone, Celeste following after them.

"They didn't want to give Lorelai all the details, so she wouldn't go barging in there, so I'm sort of like the filter in between. They're progressing extremely slow - 4 cm so far. They're not letting her eat anything in case they need to take her into surgery, so as you can imagine she's very grumpy and tired, and I don't think Logan has slept a wink either," Paris explained.

"Anything we can do?" Celeste offered.

"For one thing I think I might go try to get a second opinion, see if there are warning signs she might need that surgery or not, so they could make a better decision about her eating," Paris said. "The attending doctor was a little old school, but his shift just ended, so I'll go try to go find his replacement," she said.

"And us?" Celeste asked.

"Celeste, I think you should go be with Rory for a bit, and try to get Logan step out for some time, try to do a quick power nap in the second waiting room or something. He's going to need his strength too. I've seen this self-sacrificing behavior in men before, but he won't be of any use if he's a zombie in a few hours," Paris suggested.

"You go make sure Lorelai doesn't intervene, keep them busy, fed, caffeinated, whatever they need. Preferably don't tell her Logan is not there," Paris said to Jess, as she typed something into her phone.

"Alright," Jess sighed, knowing it was going to be a daunting task. He didn't exactly have the best track record with Emily Gilmore either.

"What room is she in?" Celeste asked.