Finding Rory

Chapter 24: I've Got You

Rory woke up drenched in sweat and with her chest heaving. She was having trouble breathing and felt an intense sense of dread. She'd had a dream that her mom and grandmother were yelling at each other and he grandfather was standing there watching. Lorelai was berating Emily for supporting Rory in her relationship with Tristan, and Emily was yelling at Lorelai about how she didn't support Rory and tried to control her, and all of the sudden Richard had a heart attack.

Rory knew that it was just a dream, but she couldn't calm herself down. She picked up the phone and dialed Tristan's number, shaking as she held the phone to her ear.

"Rory, is that you? Are you alright?" she asked, sleep evident in his voice.

"Tristan, it was awful. I dreamed my mom and my grandma were fighting over our relationship, and then my grandpa had a heart attack. He died, and they just kept yelling. I just...I can't get it out of my head, Tris," she sobbed into the phone.

"Hey, it's okay, baby. It was just a dream. I'm already out of bed and throwing on some clothes; I'll be there as quickly as I can, okay? My bag is already packed, so I'll be right out the door."

He listened as Rory struggled to control her breathing and sobs, and his heart broke for her.

"Listen to me, Mary. Can you focus on my voice? I'm here on the phone with you, and it's going to be okay. You'll be in my arms before you know it. I need you to concentrate on your breathing. Remember how I taught you to breathe when you're running? I want you to breathe like that, baby."

Rory closed her eyes and listened to the sound of Tristan's voice as he continued to comfort her, and she focused on slowing her breaths into a steady rhythm.

"That's right, baby. I can hear you - you're doing a great job. Keep it up, okay? I'm already in the car and on my way. I'm so sorry that I'm not there with you. Did something happen tonight?" he asked, although he was fairly certain that he already knew the answer based on the emotional state of his girlfriend.

"She started in when I got here - complaining about me taking sixty seconds to call you and let you know I'd gotten here okay - and then things just got worse when I told her about us and dinner with my grandma. Then it all went to hell when I told her about staying in the pool house and Grandma buying me a house, and it all came to a head while we were watching a movie. I just...I'm so tired of it, Tris," Rory sobbed.

"Hey, shhh. It's okay, Rory. You're an amazing, strong woman. You can make your own choices in life. You know that, right?"

"Uh-huh," Rory replied quietly.

"You don't need anyone's permission to live your life. You're smart, and you make good choices. I need you to believe that, okay?"

"I do, Tris. I just...she makes me doubt everything," Rory whispered.

Tristan's heart dropped as she said those words. He couldn't lose her; not now.

"Are you having doubts about us?" he asked quietly.

"God, no! No, that's one thing I'm absolutely certain of. I'm so sure about us, and this new job, and moving. It's just hard to fight with her and to know that she's not happy with me when I'm trying so damn hard to fix my life."

"She'll come around, Mare. We'll work through this together, okay? No matter what she says, I'm here for you," Tristan said firmly.

"I know, baby. Thank you. I'm so sorry that I woke you up."

"No way, you don't get to apologize to me for this. I want you to wake me up in the middle of the night if you need me, and I want to be there for you," he insisted.