A/N: As promised! New chapter of Nutmeg. A few of you asked if Johnny will be making an appearance since this is around the time he was conceived in the show. Welllllllll, all I can say regarding Johnny is that patience is bitter but its fruit is sweet.
Enjoy!
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ELEVEN
The Little Bird
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That night Oliver slept on the largest sofa in his living room. He laid out some bed sheets and settled beneath his blanket with an extra pillow under his bed. Oliver couldn't remember the last time he had slept on a sofa. He must have been a teenager or a young undergrad exhausted after a long night of studying in the dorms.
It took Oliver a good two hours to finally doze off. In between those two hours he got off the sofa and poured himself a drink. Doubts were beginning to materialize in his mind and he second guessed his decisions. Maybe taking Lana out of Briarcliff was the wrong thing to do. Maybe he had been too brash on his decisions to quit and leave with her.
Oliver lay back down and turned the lights off. Doubts, doubts, doubts continued to drip, drip, drip into his thoughts.
But when he heard her voice call to him in the night, Oliver knew all those doubts had no importance. He had done the right thing. He had saved a woman's life. A sane woman's life.
"Oliver?" He voice started as a whisper and became louder and louder, "Oliver!"
"Lana?" Oliver sat up and turned on the light. He then grabbed his glasses from the coffee table and put them on.
Lana stood in front of the hallway in his pajamas, awake and alert. She seemed to be trembling.
"What's the matter?" He hesitated on standing from the sofa. "Are you all right?"
Lana glanced around the living room as if barely remembering where she was. "I—I—"
"That's okay, Lana. Use your words." Oliver encouraged her.
"Home." She finally spoke, "I want to go home."
She must have been speaking of the home she shared with Wendy Peyser.
Oliver stood from the sofa and made his way to her. He gently placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her an understanding look. Lana tilted her head back slightly to look up at him, tears streaming down her face.
"Lana," he spoke firmly, looking into her eyes "You are home."
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It took Oliver some work to get Lana back to sleep but once she dozed off, she didn't wake till past nine in the morning the next day.
Lana stretched her body upon waking, her fingers brushed against clean and fresh linens. A smell of cologne and clean laundry filled her nostrils. It was a far different smell than that of her bed in Briarcliff. A much better scent. Lana rolled onto her back and a new smell engulfed her. She slowly blinked her eyes open and stared at the white ceiling she was unfamiliar with. The sound of heavy rain came next followed by more of the heavenly scent that made her stomach grumble. It almost made her smile; reminding her of a memory long lost.
Lana stood from the bed and followed the delicious aroma out of the room and into the kitchen where Oliver was in front of the stove. Something was sizzling in the frying pan.
Oliver noticed her and smiled. "Croque monsieur and tomato soup. The perfect combination for a rainy day."
Lana stepped closer, intrigued by the meal he was preparing.
"I learned how to make this in medical school." Oliver continued, "But what I learned is that nutmeg…" he smiled softly, "Makes all the difference in the world."
"Nutmeg." Lana repeated, "Is it good?" She asked.
Oliver chuckled, "Try for yourself."
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Lana ate her meal without complaint. It must have been the first dish she had that was not on the brink of rotting. She chewed quickly and with her eyes glued on the television and Oliver guessed that she must have liked the nutmeg after all.
After breakfast, Oliver was planning on going out and buying Lana her necessities. Of course he couldn't take her with him but he hoped that she would stay put and behave while he was gone.
"All right, Lana. I'll be right back. Please, stay inside. Do not go outside and whatever you do, don't open the door for anyone." He ordered as he grabbed his keys and his wallet from the coffee table. He was sure Briarcliff had become aware of her disappearance and must have been looking for Lana.
Lana stood, a bit of tomato soup on her bottom lip. She was alarmed. "Leaving? Wh—where?"
Oliver placed his hands on her shoulders to calm her. She looked like a frightened little bird about to take flight with broken wings.
"Lana, please settle down. I'm going to the store to get you clothes." He looked at her still dressed in his pajamas. "You can't live in those forever, you'll drown in them eventually." He joked but it flew over Lana's head. He cleared his throat and with his thumb wiped away the bit of tomato soup on her lip. "Behave while I'm gone. I'll be back before you know it. Do you understand?"
Lana nodded, "I understand."
"Good." He smiled and sat her back down in front of the television screen. "Remember, don't answer the door for anyone."
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Oliver went to a department store to purchase Lana a toothbrush, other toiletries, pajamas of her own size, a few dresses, some shirts and some pants, socks, shoes, and last of all, undergarments. Oliver was at a terrible loss and had asked one of the sales associates for assistance. With much embarrassment he claimed they were for his wife on their fifth wedding anniversary. The sales associate; a young woman gushed and led Oliver to the more revealing undergarments. black bras, lacy underwear, garters and thigh highs. He grew red at the thought of Lana wearing any of those and opted for much simpler, cotton items once he was left to his own.
He didn't know how long Lana would be staying with him but he was sure he would need to buy her more things as time went on. Just a few things would suffice to make her feel more human and less like the lost cause Jude claimed she was.
The trip to the store had taken well over two hours. He wasn't sure of the many things women needed but if he missed anything he could always go back. On the drive home he thought of Wendy Peyser. Maybe he should inform her that Lana was with him now, after all, she seemed to be the only type of family that Lana had.
"No." He told himself whilst he drove the car down the familiar treats in the direction of the Boston suburbs. "No, no one can know. For her safety. No one can know."
Then he thought of Lana's well being in the long run. Perhaps speaking to Wendy Peyser one last time would not hurt. Maybe then he could convince her to seek out Lana in the long run and take her home.
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Needless to say, Wendy Peyser was not at all pleased when she saw Oliver Thredson on her doorstep for the second time.
"I have nothing further to speak with you." She tried to slam the door in his face but Oliver stopped her.
"Please," Oliver begged, "I just need to know. For Lana's sake."
"Go away or I'll call the cops."
"It won't take too long. Please. I'll never bother you again."
Wendy sighed and looked around the neighborhood to make sure no one was watching. "If I tell you, will you finally leave me alone?"
"Yes." Oliver confirmed.
"Okay. Fine." Wendy stepped aside and let Oliver in.
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The two sat in the kitchen where Oliver was sure Lana had sat in one day as well. Wendy had poured Oliver a cup of coffee and had set one up for herself. She sat across from him in the round breakfast table in the kitchen nook.
They sat in silence for a moment.
"Well," Wendy spoke, "Aren't you going to ask away?"
Oliver glanced at her and then spoke, "I just wanted to let you know that I am no longer in charge of Lana's case."
Wendy was confused, "Oh?"
"Sister Jude thought it be in Lana's best interest if she was left alone."
Wendy glanced down to the table, "I'm sorry to hear that…"
Oliver couldn't tell if she was being honest or not. "Ms. Peyser, I came to visit you today because even though Lana is no longer my patient, I would like to know why you are so reluctant to sign her out. She still has time."
Wendy took in a deep breath and exhaled, "Oh, Doctor. You see, when I first let them take her, I regretted it right away. I went back to get her the next day but that woman, that Sister Jude—" Wendy said the nun's name with disgust, "She threatened me. She told me I would end up right along side Lana. Of course I was afraid and ran off like a coward." Wendy took the sugar spoon and twirled it around her cup of coffee. "I went back a few months later to see her, to see Lana. You know, to finally face her…but…but when she saw me...Hell Doc, I have never seen that kind of hate in anyone's eyes." Wendy's eyes began to glisten with tears she fought hard to restrain. "When I tried to touch her, she lost it. She screamed all kinds of things. So much so they had to restrain her…"
Oliver listened intently and did not interrupt.
Wendy stopped twirling the spoon, "I never went back after that and I haven't seen her since…" She lay back on her chair, "That's why I can't let her out. I can't face her for what I've done to her. Besides, she's not the same person she used to be."
"But she can be." Oliver urged, "She can come back."
Wendy almost laughed but gave a faint smile instead, "I'm sorry, Doc, but Lana and I no longer mean anything to one another."
"So you're just going to give up on her?" He asked, appalled.
"She's no longer the person she used to be. She's no longer my Lana."
"The real her is still there, deep inside. She has a chance."
Wendy sighed, "Not with me. Not anymore. I'm sorry but I just can't go back to that. I can't." She wiped the tears that had finally escaped.
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Wendy walked Oliver to the door. He had a much better understanding of Wendy's position when it came to Lana and decided not to pressure her any longer. Instead he dug into his jacket and gave her his card.
"Here, this is my number and my address if you ever decide to change your mind. I'm sure you'll have a change of heart when you do." He referred to Lana who was at home waiting for him.
Wendy took the card and held Oliver's gaze for a moment, "You really believe in her, don't you?"
Oliver nodded. "No one else does, Ms. Peyser." He gave her a nod, "Have a good day." He turned his back and strolled down the walkway of what used to be Lana's home.
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When Oliver came home, Lana was still sitting in front of the television set watching The Jetsons. She sat on the floor like a child and Oliver was extremely relieved to see her still there.
"Lana, I'm home." He called out jokingly and Lana smiled radiantly when she saw him.
"You're home." She said, standing to her feet and hurrying to his side, hugging him suddenly. Oliver was taken back but let her wrap her arms around him.
"Yes," He confirmed, "I'm home."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and the two turned to the sound.
