Lucille in Stars Hollow

Apple tarts and hospitals

                                                                Lorelai's pov

"Mom?" Lucy whispered into the phone.

"What's wrong?" I asked, as Luke pointed at the "no phones" sign. He got the message as I waved my hands and settled down.

"Grandpa is in the hospital."

My heart almost stopped.

"Oh my god, what happened?" I asked, packing my purse rapidly. Luke was giving me a concerned face.

"I don't know," said Lucy. Her voice was choked up. At least her and Rory were okay. "I think he had a heat stroke, I think. He was trying to loosen his tie, Grandma wouldn't let him, then he went to the thermostat and collapsed."

"Okay, is everyone else okay? Are you and Rory safe?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Yeah."

"Okay, I'll be there soon," I said, hanging up on my daughter.

"What's wrong?" Luke asked, walking over to me to stop the shaking.

"My dad is in the hospital. He collapsed or something. I have to go," I mumbled, putting my phone in my bag and grabbing my coat. I was heading for the door when I remembered I didn't have the jeep. Rory and Lucy had taken it to my parent's house.

"I don't have a car..."

"I'll bring you," Luke said—no hesitation. "Everyone out! We're closing early!" The people in the diner quickly finished their food and started to pour out.

"Luke, you don't have to," I said, secretly thankful. Now, I couldn't stop the small tears falling down my face.

"C'mon, it'll be alright," Luke said. I wanted to believe him.

                                                    Lucy's pov

"Hi," I said as Lorelai walked to us, Luke following behind. She hugged me and Rory.

"Thanks for bringing her, Luke," I thanked, smiling at him.

"No problem."

"How is he?" Lorelai asked. I looked at Rory, who was shaking.

"He fine for now. The doctors are with him now—," Rory started to say, until we were interrupted by Emily arguing with a doctor.

"I would like to meet the person doing tests on my husband!" She yelled as the doctor turned her back to my grandmother.

"I promise you will, Mrs. Gilmore," the woman said, then she walked into another room.

"Mom?" Lorelai said, swiftly walking over to where Emily was.

"Oh, Lorelai! Thank god, you're here!" I saw as Lorelai unwillingly hugged her mother, then pulled away.

"Any news?" Lorelai asked. Emily shook her head then looked behind Lorelai to Luke.

"Were you on a date, Lorelai?" Emily asked. Lorelai looked like she would have strangled her mother if her husband wasn't in the hospital.

"No, Mom, it's Luke. We were not on a date."

"Oh, lord," whispered Rory. "Grandma, we're going to get a paper for Grandpa." I didn't want to hear the drama.

I grabbed Rory's hand and dragged her with me.

"That's going to be awkward to explain...," I said. Rory scoffed.

"Yeah."

8"I think we have enough," I finally said when we must have had at least five newspapers all reporting the same stuff.

Then I heard my stomach rumbling. "I'm hungry. Do you have more money?"

Rory shook her head, then pulling out something from her pocket. "I do have apple tarts though!"

"Were you just sneaking them into you pockets the entire dinner?" I laughed as she handing the tart to me and pulled out another. I took a bite and was hit with the taste of food that I had forgotten for so long. For an entire year.

"Of course, the one thing Mom likes about her parents is these and they didn't even make them," I said to Rory as we walked back to the reception room.

"Where's Mom and Grandma?" I asked Luke, who was sitting in a chair, twiddling his thumbs.

"They both went behind those doors," he explained. I look at the big glass doors. Behind those here sick people, injured people. And my grandfather was among them.

"Anymore news about Grandpa?" Rory asked, as we sat down on either side of Luke.

"No, but someone is getting information right now, I think."

Just as Luke said that, Lorelai came running through the doors, panting.

"Hi, we just found a room for Grandpa. They're bringing him there now. Of course, my mother is out trying to find suitable pillows and blankets," she said, sighing.

For a few moments, we sat in silence then Lorelai spoke again. "Do you want to see him?"

I nodded as Rory said, "yes".

"Okay, let's go. Wait, can we stop for food?" Lorelai asked.

"Rory has apple tarts in her pocket," I said as Lorelai held out her hands and Rory put a tart into them.

"Do you want anything, Luke?" Lorelai asked with her mouth open.

"Nah," Luke said waving us away. "I'll wait here."

"Okay! Bye!"