After placing Bert on the kitchen table, Luke unpacked a few tools -- the only one Lorelai could identify was the screwdriver -- and then picked up a lock, still in its plastic sleeve from the hardware store. She watched him work without comment, watched him rip open the packaging and remove the new lock.

"Oh," Lorelai said, straightening up. "Luke, what do I owe you?" Because he was out, and she wasn't even sure they were friends after the way it ended, and she wouldn't take advantage of his kindness. Not anymore.

He froze, holding the deadbolt in one hand, and turned that liquid blue gaze her way. For an unending moment, he watched her, studied her, and Lorelai just stared back, wondering what he was looking for, what test she was failing this time.

"Nothing," he said finally, his gaze sliding away from hers again, which was never a good sign. She wanted to press, to pepper him with questions -- How much did it cost? Why won't you let me pay you back? Why did you leave me? -- but she'd learned the hard way at Doose's that pressing Luke was exactly what he didn't want.