Disclaimer: I do not own AHS
A/N: I know Rachel and Lana's little fight was a bit of a shocker but everyone argues once in a while, right? lol anyway, just a few more days till my fall semester starts! So not ready.
-AS
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CH 20- Down the Rabbit Hole
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For a moment, Lana stood frozen in front of the flustered young woman she adored beyond belief. She had been barely able to process her words; unable to believe what she had said and for the smallest of moments, Lana could have sworn she was trapped in one of her night terrors. She slowly felt Rachel slipping away from her and her mind instantly panicked. It took another moment for her to fully understand the reality of the situation; it wasn't as bad as Lana was making it out to be and she steadied herself, taking in a deep breath.
And when Lana finally calmed herself, she studied Rachel's expression. She looked like an angry child, frustrated with her own feelings. "Is that what's got you so worked up? Some photograph?" She reached out for Rachel.
Rachel pulled away. "It's not just some photograph, Lana."
Lana nodded, trying to sound reasonable. "No, you're right. It's not just some photograph. It's a photograph of my deceased partner, Wendy. I understand that. What I don't understand is why it makes you so upset." She reached for Rachel's hand again. That time, the young woman didn't deny Lana her hand. Instead, she let her glance fall to the stone walkway beneath their feet. Silence overtook the park.
When Rachel didn't answer her, Lana caressed her hand, "Rae, you silly child."
Rachel's eyes shot at Lana. She hated being called a child. She was a grown woman.
Lana met her gaze. "You asked me last night if I treated you right. It's because you think I still have feelings for Wendy, isn't it?"
"Don't you?" Rachel retorted a little hotly. Lana was surprised; Rachel didn't usually get so worked up over such things.
Lana was amused for the most part. "Rachel. Wendy's gone. She's been gone for over ten years. Do you think I'm still in love with a ghost?"
"Well, you loved her, didn't you?"
"Of course I did. A long time ago. Please tell me you're not worried about my love for you."
Rachel sniffled. "It's not that. It's just that what Willis said had me wondering and then I found the photograph and it just made me feel like maybe you hadn't quite moved on and it scared me because I thought that maybe I wasn't good enough for you…"
Lana chuckled. "You really are a silly little girl, Rachel Wyatt Dylan. Come here." Lana pulled Rachel into a hug. "I should scold you for being so ridiculous. Just because I used to love her doesn't mean I don't love you."
"But—"
Lana pulled away, placing her hands on Rachel's shoulders, "Wendy died. I moved on. It took me a long time but I finally did. Then I met you and my entire world changed." She smiled that lovely smile of hers. "What I feel for you is just as real as what I felt for Wendy and just as different as well. Do you understand me?" She brought Rachel's eyes to meet hers, "You jealous girl." And brought her into another hug.
Rachel sighed heavily, annoyed at her own behavior. "Lana, I'm not jealous."
"So you didn't just pull a fit of jealousy just now?"
Rachel pulled away from Lana, annoyance crossing her pretty face. "No. I wasn't."
Lana chuckled and placed her hands on Rachel's cheeks, kissing her lips. "I was meant to be with you." She said when she pulled away.
Rachel opened her eyes to meet Lana's, her cheeks squished between the reporter's hands, "What if Wendy was still alive? Would I just be another girl in the office to you?"
Her question had unsettled Lana to some degree. The same thought had crossed Lana's mind on a few occasions and she had wondered herself. It was a very tough question to answer. If Wendy were still alive, Lana would of never lain eyes on Rachel, well, at least not willingly. The young woman was absolutely gorgeous. It was difficult not to do so. However, Lana knew that even if Wendy were still alive, some kind of bond would have formed with Rachel and herself.
"No, you wouldn't be." Lana answered her, "Now, can we please stop arguing over this nonsense?"
Rachel wasn't convinced.
Lana sighed and released Rachel from her soft grasp. "Listen to me, Rae. Wendy was a huge part of my life. I loved her and her death was a great loss. You just can't forget someone you lost. No matter how long ago. I'm sure you can understand that."
Rachel nodded. "I understand."
"But that doesn't keep me from loving you. Goodness, Rae. Don't be so foolish."
"I know, I know. I'm sorry." Rachel grew embarrassed.
"Oh, what am I going to do with you? Hmm?"
Rachel tilted her head back and groaned, "Oh my God. Don't look at me right now." She placed her hands over her eyes.
Lana laughed, "Let's go home."
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Lana was awfully thoughtful on the drive home. She hadn't thought much of the portrait she had left in her desk. It was a portrait of Wendy that had been returned to her after everything and she simply hadn't thought to throw it away, but she couldn't bring herself to look at it either.
It then occurred to Lana, how in the world had Rachel come upon it? It was safely tucked away in the deepest depths of her desk and Rachel wasn't the one to pry and go through her things. The woman was afraid to go through her nightstand in fear that she was interfering with Lana's privacy.
"Rachel?"
"Yes?" Rachel looked away from the window.
"How did you find the portrait?"
Rachel suddenly became nervous. "What do you mean?"
"Well, how did you come upon it?"
"It was in your desk…"
"What were you doing in my—" It then occurred to Lana what she had hidden in the desk. Her head sharply whipped to her, "You didn't!"
"What?" Rachel demanded, "Lana, I'm a grown woman, I can read whatever I want!" She went on the defensive immediately and her cheeks flushed a shade of pink Lana had seen multiple times.
"It gives you nightmares, Rae." She argued referring to the book.
"Yes but so does The Exorcist but I still saw it with you."
Lana huffed, holding back a smile. "You're something else, you know that, right?"
Rachel paused and laughed, realizing how ridiculous it all was. "Lana, I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry, Rae." She looked at her and gave her a teasing smile, "You're an adult, remember?"
"Why does that sound so sarcastic on your part?"
Lana only laughed and continued to drive them home.
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The two women had arrived home awfully early and Johnny wasn't home from school yet. They both seemed to notice the empty house at the same time and hurried up to the bedroom, laughing and giggling away, shutting the door behind them.
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The weekend rolled around and on that Saturday evening, Rachel was in a much better mood than she had been during the week. Lana guessed it was because she was excited to go out for dinner to a high-end restaurant Lou had suggested. The subject of the portrait had settled to a calm but it continued to loom in the back of each woman's mind. Rachel was awfully embarrassed for reacting the way she had, however, she still couldn't help but to think about it.
Lana on the other hand, worried about Rachel but she knew what she had told her was nothing but the truth. They had another long talk about it that night, after Johnny went to bed. However, they focused more on what had happened with Willis in the office and had come to an agreement that they wouldn't hide such things from one another. As a couple, they knew they were better than that.
Johnny and Rachel talked excitedly all the way to Kit's house that evening when they went to go drop off Johnny. Lana had stuffed Johnny's bike in the trunk only because the boy had asked so nicely. He said he and Thomas and Julia were going to ride to the creek in the morning with Kit.
So when they dropped off Johnny, they hugged and kissed him goodbye and Lana reminded him to behave. Johnny turned a bit serious when Lana told him this but nodded, no less, putting up a forced smile that calmed his mother's worries.
Johnny hated lying to Lana but he knew she wouldn't even touch the subject of his father. So he kept it a secret.
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Lana and Rachel left for the restaurant. Lana couldn't help but to feel a little worried of leaving Johnny behind that night but Rachel's smile was contagious. She hadn't taken the young woman out on a date in a long while and she hoped it would take their minds off of all the problems they had been having as of late.
The restaurant was a fine one in the richest area of the city. Lou had been the one to get the two women reservations, claiming that the main cook was an old friend of his. Lana knew Lou had so many friends in every single nook and cranny of the eastern United States so she didn't question it. The two women were seated at a fine round table near the window where they could talk in privacy.
"Wow," Rachel said as she looked around the restaurant. It had fine polished floors; walls of deep red with gold trimmings with an Italian countryside style and silver wear that shined brightly under the dimmed lights. "I've never been to such a luxurious place before."
"Of course you have." Lana said as she looked through the mirror, "Remember Hobbes?"
"Oh, right." Lana smiled at the memory of one of their first dates as an official couple. She opened the menu and raised a brow, "There's no prices?"
"Those are a surprise." Lana joked with light sarcasm.
Rachel grew worried but pushed it aside.
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The boys waited until Kit and his girlfriend were distracted to get out of bed. Thomas snuck through the door and tip toed his way to the living room where Kit and his girlfriend were watching a horror movie together. He then went back to his room and quietly closed the door behind him.
"Coast is clear."
Johnny reached under the bed and pulled out a flashlight, turning it on. "Ready?"
"Ready."
The boys snuck out through the window with their backpacks on and went around the back where they collected their bikes and quietly tip toed around the house. They stopped just under the window on the side of the house. Johnny carefully peered inside to see Kit wrap an arm around Jen. He then nodded at Thomas and they quickly hurried to the road where they hopped on their bikes and road off into the night.
They road through the back roads of outside Boston under the large full moon. "Johnny, are ya sure about this?"
Johnny had told Thomas the day before about his plan to sneak out and visit his father's house. It was the first time he had told Thomas about the house and swore the other boy to secrecy.
"Yes." Johnny said, pedaling just a bit faster.
It took the boys a while before they reached the dark and somewhat lonely neighborhood. Mike was sitting out in front of the garage, his bike parked next to him. "What the hell, Winters? I told you sunset."
Johnny climbed off his bike, "We had to wait till my uncle sent us to bed."
"Fine, whatever. You ready?"
"Yeah."
"Alright, let's go."
The three boys hid their bikes behind the dead shrubbery and snuck in through the back door like they always did.
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Lana and Rachel made their way out of the restaurant sometime past ten. They had gotten carried away talking after their desserts but since they didn't have to be home at a certain time, they strolled side by side through down town. Rachel glanced up to the full moon and leaned closer to Lana, slipping her hand into hers.
Lana looked at her rather surprise but with a smile, no less, "Rae, are you sure?"
Rachel smirked. "Definitely."
Lana's smile widened and she intertwined her finger's through Rachel's, nervous yet proud to walk hand in hand with her partner through the crowded streets of downtown Boston.
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With flashlights in hand, the boys went through Bloody Face's abandoned house in a single file. Mike had pushed Johnny towards the front to lead.
"Wimp." Thomas muttered.
"I heard that."
"Will you stop?" Johnny glanced over his shoulder.
"Sorry." Both Thomas and Mike said.
They made their way past the oblong fireplace where Mike found a stick and began to poke the ashes that still remained inside.
Thomas flashed his light around the abandoned, eerie living room and read the graffiti on the wall. A shiver ran down his spine and he turned to Johnny. "Did your dad really live here?"
"Yeah." Johnny answered.
Thomas grew worried. "It's empty. Why are we here?"
Johnny shrugged and continued his way into the living room. Thomas followed after him. Johnny looked through the remnants of his father's house, feeling the same empty feeling of "what ifs" that filled his thoughts every time he thought of Oliver, closely followed by the anger, rage and confusion he felt over the events that had happened in 1972. Johnny hadn't had any closure. The last time he saw his father, he lay dead on the forest ground with a bullet wound to the head. Sometimes, he still dreamt of Oliver's mangled body, cold and lifeless, eyes on him.
The boys scattered around the house, kicking at trash and poking in crevices. Mike brought out a spray can from his backpack and began to write his name on one of the walls in the living room.
When he was done, he handed it to Johnny.
Johnny eyed the can wearily.
"Come on, Winters." He suggested the can at him again.
That time, Johnny took the can and shook it, stepping up to the wall and sprayed his name on the wall just below Mike's. He then handed the can to Thomas who did the same. The boys then stepped back and admired their work.
"Cool." He playfully pushed Johnny. Johnny laughed.
"Come on, let's explore the rest of the house." Thomas suggested.
The boys wandered down the long hall way past the first wooden door. The hallway was long, feeling never ending with multiple wooden doors. The floors were filthy and covered in dust and debris. Thomas flashed the light on the ceiling where the words "Hallway to hell" were painted, arrows pointing down the hall towards the door at the end. Johnny kicked a can and watched it skitter to the locked door on the left side of the hall.
"Rabbit hole to hell." Thomas read the words on the door. "What's that mean?"
Johnny shrugged. "Don't know."
"What's inside?"
"The doors locked. We can't get in."
Mike made his way through the boys and giggled the knob. "We should open it and find out what's inside."
"I don't think that's a good idea." Johnny said.
"What? Afraid Bloody Face left us a little present behind?"
Johnny's stomach whirled and his fists tightened. "No." He said hotly.
"Well, then help me open this damn door then."
Johnny sighed. "Fine." He left the living room and came back with a brick from the chimney. Thomas and Mike stepped back and watched as Johnny smashed it against the doorknob. The doorknob bent but did not break off.
"Here, let me do it." Mike took the brick and smashed the brick against the knob again and again. The third time, the knob jiggled and hung off the door. "Careful." Mike stepped back and kicked the door twice before it swung open.
"Crap." Thomas said, "Ya got it."
Mike scoffed. "What you expect?" He then looked to Johnny and gestured his head towards the door. "Go on, Winters."
Johnny frowned. "What? Why me?"
"What? Are you a square or what?"
Johnny scoffed. "No." He snatched the flashlight from Mike and braced himself before he stepped inside.
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Lana and Rachel made their way to the docks, not once letting go of each other's hands. They had gotten multiple dirty looks along the way as well as a few wry smiles and looks of confusion. Two men smiled at them warmly in approval and Lana knew those men were also different like they were.
"The moon's so beautiful tonight." Rachel noted as they made their way to the end of the pier.
The light of the lamppost didn't reach the end, leaving them protected by the light of the moon above them. Lana smiled, "You know what this reminds me of?"
"What?" Rachel spun around to face her as she leaned against the thick wooden railing.
"When you came with us to the children's museum, remember?"
"Oh, Lana, that feels like forever ago."
"Do you remember that moon exhibit?"
"How could I forget? It was beautiful." Rachel wrapped her arms around Lana's neck, gazing into her eyes. "Such a lovely day."
"It was." Lana kissed her lips. "I'm really happy, did you know?" She said when she pulled away.
"With me or in general?" Rachel teased.
Lana laughed. "Both. Of course, both."
"Me too."
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"What do you see?" Thomas asked as Johnny made his way into the small, narrow room.
Johnny flashed the light around the room. Along the left side of the room was a counter, above the counter, on the wall, were hooks that appeared to have been used before. On top of the ceiling were arrows spray painted in red. Johnny stepped back, stepping on a latch upon the floor, it creaked slightly. He followed the arrows with the flashlight down the wall and to the floor below his feet. Johnny frowned and lifted his foot, reading the word painted on what appeared to be a latch on the floor.
"Johnny," Thomas spoke, "What's it say?"
Johnny glanced up at Thomas and Mike, "…Hell."
"Johnny, get out of there." Mike urged, suddenly nervous.
Johnny paused when he heard the creaking beneath his feet louden. "What is that?"
He moved his feet slightly and the latch beneath his feet began to shake and creak louder. Before Johnny could step off, the latch beneath his feet gave way and he fell through.
"Ah!"
"Johnny!" Mike and Thomas ran to the hole, falling to their knees, pointing their flashlights down a pitch-dark tunnel. "Johnny!"