Don't own AHS

A/N: I forgot to mention in the last author's note that I'm so happy you guys noted my love for mythology that has been mentioned in both this story and in Dear Father. I absolutely love mythology. Greek, Roman, Celtic, the list goes on. Anyway, I couldn't help myself so I finished this chapter a little early. (Semester's over and insomnia has me up all night so why not).

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EIGHT

Caged Birds

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Oliver sat in silence as he watched Lana color. They were in his office for another one of their sessions. He knew the activity within itself was quite childish but it seemed to calm down her anxiety and distract her from what horrors lay in her mind. He had just finished telling her the story of Icarus and the sun. Lana had seemed to like that story but not as much as the one about Persephone and the pomegranate seeds.

Snow had begun to fall outside and covered the garden in a thin white blanket of wonder. It almost made Oliver forget the atrocities within the manor itself. There was something different about that day as well. Not only because they were so close to Christmas Eve but also because it was the day Oliver was to visit Wendy Peyser.

He had planned on doing so after leaving Briarcliff for the afternoon. He had been debating if he should tell Lana or not. He weighed the pros and cons but if he wanted to help her, he needed to at least know what connection Lana had to the woman before he visited her.

"Lana?" He pondered, "Do you know what's fun?"

Lana glanced up at him but said nothing.

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It had taken Oliver a total of fifteen minutes to persuade Frank to let him take Lana out to the garden. Sister Jude was away for the day. She had gone off with the Monsignor to visit the sisters at the convent and had left Sister Mary Eunice and Frank in charge. However, the young Sister was currently busy with a few naughty patients in the kitchen and persuading Frank wasn't very hard to do.

"Just for an hour or less." Oliver dug his hand into the pocket of his coat and brought out a Cuban cigar, offering it to Frank for his discretion.

A grin spread across Frank's face, "Shit, Doc." He chuckled, "All right but have her back before Sister Jude's arrival."

"Will do, Frank, will do."

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Witnessing Lana experience snow for the first time in what was years was truly a sight to see. Without Oliver's help, she stood from her wheelchair and ambled to the middle of the garden. She looked up at the sky, watching the soft little snowflakes flutter down from the sky. They gently landed upon her face, mixing with her lashes.

There was a smile on her face; one so bright it couldn't be denied.

Oliver shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants and went to stand next to her. "What do you think, Lana?"

Lana glanced ahead of her to the rest of the garden covered in white. "Beautiful…" she whispered in amazement.

Oliver knew there was almost nothing special about the snow. It came every single year and was often a nuisance but to someone like Lana that had spent so much time in darkness, well, it was beyond amazing.

Lana continued to enjoy the falling little snowflakes, sticking her hand out to catch one. She shone so brightly and Oliver feared that if he got too close he would burn.

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It was a quaint one-story home in the middle of a lovely, upper middle class neighborhood. There were nice cars parked on driveways and bikes and toys left out on front yards. There were chimes on the porch and a few potted plants withering in the cold. He could barely make out what was a Christmas tree in front of the curtained window.

There was no point in wasting time. Oliver got out of his car with his briefcase in hand; inside was all of the paperwork needed for Ms. Peyser to sign Lana out of Briarcliff.

Oliver went up to the door and knocked. At first there was no answer so he knocked again in hopes that she would come to the door. Oliver counted the seconds in his head until there was the clicking of a lock and the door opened.

"Ms. Peyser?" Oliver addressed when a brunette woman stood before him.

"Yes?" she answered a little hesitantly.

Alas, Oliver had Wendy Peyser right in front of him. She was a lot different than he had pictured her but her appearance made much sense to him now regarding his hunch about her being Lana's lover. Ms. Peyser appeared to be young, in her early thirties. She had a fair complexion and deep brown eyes. She was an awfully pretty woman but she seemed distrustful of his presence in a way.

Oliver snapped out of his thoughts and flashed her a kind smile, "Hello. I'm Doctor Oliver Thredson. I was wondering if you would be kind enough to give me a moment of your day."

"May I ask what this is regarding? I'm sorry, I've just never had a doctor show up to my door unannounced." Wendy admitted sheepishly.

Oliver chuckled nervously, "Yes, my apologies. See, this is over an important matter and I know I should have called before hand but it is time sensitive and to be honest, this topic should best be discussed in person."

Wendy became nervous and looked around the neighborhood to see if any of her neighbors were watching. No one was. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it has nothing to do with me." Wendy attempted to bid him goodbye and close the door.

"Wait." Oliver placed his hand upon the door. He saw Wendy's nervous reaction and took his hand off the door. He cleared his throat, "Excuse my boldness, but like I said, I'm here on an important matter."

Wendy acknowledged that she wasn't going to get rid of the doctor so easily so she crossed her arms defensively, "Well, what is this important matter concerning?"

"It's concerning Ms. Lana Winters."

The name registered in Wendy's eyes immediately. Her face turned pale and her gaze fell to the floor beneath their feet. There was panic in her eyes that she tried to shake off but failed miserably. "I'm sorry but I do not know any…Lana Winters…" Her voice almost cracked when she spoke the name and after, she gulped as if it had been a bad taste in her mouth.

Oliver's expression turned grave. "I am Ms. Winters' doctor at Briarcliff Manor where she is currently a patient and I am aware your name was the one signed in her paper work."

Wendy met Oliver's eyes. They shimmered with gathering tears and Oliver knew she couldn't deny him. She stepped aside, "Please, come in…"

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Wendy nervously paced around the living with a cigarette to her lips. While she gathered herself, Oliver glanced around the home. It was kept neat and tidy but there was the strange smell of cannabis in the air mixed with the scent of flowers. If his hunch was true, then Lana had lived there once upon a time too.

Oliver looked to the table next to the sofa upon where he sat. There was a portrait of Wendy and what appeared to be her students.

"I hope you don't mind the smoke." She motioned.

"Oh, not at all. Please, this is your home."

Wendy blew out the smoke through the side of her mouth and faced Oliver. "So you're Lana's doctor, correct?"

"Yes." Oliver confirmed, "She was assigned to my case some time ago and I have to admit to you, Ms. Peyser that I have never had a patient like Lana."

Wendy held his gaze. There was something in her eyes, a sadness mixed with deep longing and regret. "Lana…is she? How is she?"

Oliver could tell Lana had once meant a lot to the woman before him. What caused her to sign away Lana's life to Briarcliff was beyond him.

"She's fine but I assume she's been better." He speculated, "I wont lie to you. When I first met Lana she was…" He glanced away, trying to look for the right term, "Lifeless."

Wendy lowered the cigarette from her lips. All her attention on Oliver.

"She had been abused and neglected proper treatment." Oliver noted Wendy's heartbroken expression but he doubted it was true honesty. "But like I said, after working with her, Lana has pulled through in her therapy and is ready to leave Briarcliff."

Of course Lana wasn't fully ready to live on her own. She still needed constant care but she had no reason to stay where she was. She didn't belong there.

Wendy's eyes shot up at him. "Leave?"

Oliver stood to his feet. "I hope you excuse my boldness, but I am aware that you are the person that signed Lana's freedom over to the institution and therefore are the only one who can sign her out."

"Yes, I am aware of that."

Her blatant response angered Oliver but he remained calm and professional. "Ms. Peyser, Lana does not belong in Briarcliff. She was sane upon arrival. I do not know the reasons you had for turning her over but I'm here, today, asking you to reconsider your decision."

"Y—you want me to take Lana out?" She stammered as if she didn't believe what Oliver was saying."

"Yes." He answered firmly. "She doesn't belong there."

Wendy took a step back and shook her head. "No."

"What?" Oliver quipped.

Wendy faced him, chin high, "I said no."

"May I ask why? She doesn't belong there. She's not insane."

"I'm sorry, Doctor, but I'm going to have to ask you to leave." She headed towards the door.

Oliver remained still, dumbfounded and unable to believe what he had just heard. "May I ask why at least?"

"This isn't any of your business." Wendy snapped, pointing at him, "You have no right to come into my home and ask me something of this caliber!"

"I have no right? You had no right in robbing an innocent woman of her life!" He countered and immediately regretted his words. He was supposed to be a professional but Wendy's attitude towards Lana angered him.

"Get out!" Wendy shouted, "Out!"

"Please. Please reconsider."

Wendy calmed herself down. She closed her eyes and opened them once half the anger had left her. "Lana is no longer a part of my life. I can no longer do anything to help her."

Oliver approached her. "But you can. You can sign her out of there."

"And what? Where will she go? She can't come here."

Oliver's heart broke for Lana and he was instantly reminded of his mother and how he once had been abandoned by her as well. It was then Oliver realized why he was so close to Lana. Why she had come to mean something to him. Because she had been abandoned in life too. Abandoned by someone whom she trusted and possibly even loved.

Oliver met Wendy's bloodshot eyes and with a calm voice spoke; "You cared for her once, didn't you? Is that what you're afraid of? Being where she is now? Losing all of this? Losing them?" he pointed to the portrait of the school children, "Ms. Peyser…Lana has lost this and more. All because of a decision you made out of fear."

Wendy cried silently, "Please, leave."

"Lana is not insane. Her condition is not a sickness." He paused for a moment. Everything Lana had screamed during her mental breakdowns had made so much sense to him now. Wendy was the person she had spoken of. "If you really did care for her once, you'd help her." He picked up his briefcase from the floor by the door. "Good day, Ms. Peyser."

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Oliver left Wendy Peyser's home with nothing to show for it. He had failed on his mission to get the woman to sign Lana out of Briarcliff and in his frustration; he had said things he shouldn't have. Still, there was nothing to prepare him for the anger he felt at how cruel and unjust life was. He had high hopes that Wendy Peyser would help him.

What else could he do?

When Oliver saw Lana the following day after his session with Spivey, she glanced across the rec room to meet his eyes. It was almost as if she had been expecting him. A soft smile brushed her lips when she recognized him.

Oliver felt a deep feeling of regret fall to the pit of his stomach. He had promised her home. He had promised her freedom.

Oliver raised his hand to give Lana a small wave.

He wasn't going to break his promise.