Rory didn't know what this kind of loss felt like. She hadn't lost someone like this. Adam was dead, but Rory had never dreamed of a life with him. Dennis had ended up in quarantine, but she hadn't lost her brother within days of finding him again. Den had recovered. He proved to be immune. No, this was all foreign to her, but the moment she found out about Elliot's passing, Rory felt an uncertain sensation of loss. Not because she and Elliot were particularly close, but because a piece of her best friend had died that day. Rae would never be the same again. That child would grow up without his father. That was what Rory had mourned when Adam died, not the man, but the father her son would never even know.
And even though she knew that Rae would recover in time, Rory was worried about her now. She had Elliot's child in her belly, but there was no telling if that would be enough to keep Rae's grief from consuming her. Everything Rory knew about Rae had essentially imploded with the lose of Eli, and she had no way of knowing what would be left when the dust settled. She didn't want to think the worst, but she had to. Someone had to.
Which brought her to Rae and Elliot's apartment. Rory winced at the thought, realizing how that title had suddenly changed. It was Rae's apartment now. She hesitated before she knocked, and when she heard nothing in response, despite having the knowledge that Rae had gone inside, Rory didn't wait. She didn't knock politely once again. She grabbed the handle and pushed the door open, spanning the space immediately until her gaze landed on Rae.
It felt like she'd been punched, like the wind was knocked out of her. Seeing Rae like that was shocking even though she had been in rough shape since Elliot was brought to quarantine. But this wasn't about her. Rory was the friend, and she would be supportive. She told herself that, and then closed the door behind her. Nobody else needed to see Rae's grief. "Rae?" she said quietly, walking slowly towards her friend. "Would you like some company, hon?"