Atticus stumbled for a moment before landing on something soft. A bed. A girl's bed, no less. And since he was last in a bathroom and could no longer recognize his surroundings, he used his fabulous perceptive abilities to assume that he was now in Lola DuGrey's bedroom. Fantastic.
Looking around the room he took in the objects surrounding him. A bookcase, stereo, a pile of discarded magazines. Schoolwork lay open and unfinished on a desk and an unfinished file was open on her computer.
"Lola!" Atticus heard Rory's voice and watched as the door open gradually. Shit.
Rory peaked inside the room. Nothing. "Lo?" Which could only mean one thing. Lola had left without telling her again. "That girl…" She shook her head. One of these days she was going to have a talk with her daughter. She was. But for now she just sighed and left the room. She'd have to wait for Lola to come back before anything would happen.
Atticus resorted back to childlike tactics and hid on the far side of Lola's bed. Rory stood at the door for a few seconds, and he heard her muttering something. After she left, Atticus breathed a sigh of relief. All he needed was to see his un-mother.
He looked around the room again, his eyes falling on a window. He quietly and expertly opened it and escaped from the bedroom of his half-sister. He was in her world now, and he had no clue what to expect.
He formulated the best plan he could think of in his head - go to see Luke. Of course, in his reality Luke's was a tad more cheerful then the diner he walked into. The difference wasn't massive but the Luke he knew just didn't seem so ...somber. His eyes suddenly flickered to a brunette behind the counter who looked about his age.
There hadn't been a new customer in Luke's for the past forty-five minutes. Dallie had timed it, since the only other customer in there was a traveling businessman that stopped in every five weeks and Kirk. Who was off in the corner, attempting to write a poem- his latest venture into a career. So he had been reading Finnegan's Wake until seven minutes ago when he had finished it. So he was almost excited about the fact some new had entered the diner.
"Can I help you?"
"Uh, I'm looking for someone actually." How freaked out was this guy going to get? Lola never really mentioned how mentally stable he was. Maybe this wasn't even who he was looking for.
That should be easy enough to do in Stars Hollow. Dallie was pretty sure there was a town citizen list outside of Ms. Patty's studio. He looked closer at the guy that had just come in. Weird. He almost looked like his father had when he was younger. "Who are you looking for?"
Well, here goes nothing. "Dallas Mariano?"
And things just got weirder. "That'd be me."
"Oh." Okay, so this was his brother. His brother from another dimension. "I need your help with something. I'm a friend of Lola's," he paused, "Lola DuGrey? Can we talk somewhere?" Here's hoping they were still on good terms.
Dallie
sighed inwardly, what had Lola gotten herself into this time? "Yeah, sure."
It's not like he was needed here. "Uncle Luke, I'm going to go upstairs."
"Go ahead," Luke replied, but his attention was on the newcomer. That kid looked familiar.
Atticus followed him upstairs, this kid looked a little 'upstanding' for his taste. He probably worked at the diner voluntarily. Atticus pretended to ensue warily, unsure of where he was going, but the fact that he knew the way by heart was what actually freaked him out. "So Jess Mariano is your father?"
"Yes." When the reached the top, Dallie stopped. "How do you know Lola?" And did he really want to know.
"You could say that we're related...technically." he paused, "Can we go inside, this is going to take a lot of explaining, and I barely understand it myself."
Dallie was intrigued enough to agree to it. He opened the door to Luke's apartment and stepped inside. "How are you and Lo…" Another though occurred to him. "Were you with Lola before? When I called her?"
"Yea, that was me. One of the only reasons I figured finding you would be the best idea." he glanced around the apartment. Apparently, Luke still lived there. "See, when you called Lola, she was at my apartment. But I'm not from around here." he raked his hands through his hair. "You're never going to believe this."
"She finally figured out how to live on a higher plane of existence?" That was sarcastic. Sarcasm probably wasn't the best way to go with this, but it slipped out nonetheless.
"No, more like slip through dimensions." he laughed but he was entirely serious. "Dimensions where almost everything is the same, but small things make drastic changes." he was hoping that the fact that he was suddenly deadpanning wasn't making this lost on Dallie.
Uh, okay. Dallie had been kidding but… "You might want to start elucidating."
"Somehow, and I'm not sure how, but Lola showed up in my kitchen this morning. I live in 2021. In an apartment in Stars Hollow. With my mom, " he paused, "Rory Gilmore."
"And how did Lola end up…there?" Was he actually buying this?
"We don't know. It seems the only connection between the two...realities is her cell phone, which she still has on her." This was still way to Star Trek-like for his thinking. Alternate dimensions? He wouldn't believe it if he wasn't living it.
"So if I called her now, on her cell phone she'd confirm this…story?"
"Yes. In fact, that's probably a really good idea." Atticus probably should have thought of that right away, although he wasn't so much in a thinking state of mind.
Dallie picked up the phone off Luke's end table and dialed her cell phone number, though he still kept his eyes on the alleged son of Rory Gilmore.
Shockingly, she answered on the first ring. "Dallie?" Lola didn't wait for an answer; in fact if he didn't know her better he'd say she sounded half-panicked. "Is Atticus there? With you?"
"Atticus?" This wasn't directed at Lola.
"Yea? Is that her?" his desire to talk to someone who actually had a semblance of idea as to what was going on suddenly peaked as he reached to take the phone from Dallie.
Dallie let Atticus take the phone from him, he wanted to talk to Lola more, but he was sort of going into shock at the moment.
"Lola? What the hell? I walk into the bathroom and then I'm on your bed. Rory walked in too, she would have had a coronary if she had've seen me. Not that she actually would have recognized me. Can I just say that having a parent not recognize you must be a very traumatic experience? I have serious empathy now." he knew he sounded frantic, but truth be told, he was.
"Too little, too late," Lola returned. Karmic payback was a bitch. "And can I just say I'm in your bathroom and still in your bathroom. I would have loved to end up in my bed. Even if it was the one in Stars Hollow." One more thing. "And you went to Dallie first thing?"
"Well it's not like I had much else of a choice, I figured if Dominique could understand it surely so could your friend. I was actually looking for Luke at first, he's a different guy here though."
"You mean he knows words with more than one syllable?" She returned. "And Dallie is far too logically to ever accept anything. Never mind anything that'd come from me."
"So it was a delusive attempt to even try to explain it to him? And I actually meant the fact that my uncle has two kids. With your grandmother."
"Eww." Lola began pacing the length of the small bathroom. "As for the attempt? I don't know. He's never believed in anything I said before. But I can try if you want."
He turned to Dallie, "Do you believe me yet or what? Because if you don't I really need to find someone who will help me out." he glared at the phone, "Who's not in another dimension."
Dallie sighed, "Let me talk to Lola."
With no complaints, Atticus handed over the phone.
"Are you in 2021?"
"Um," Lola smacked her lips. "Yeah."
To believe her or not to believe her? Wasn't that always the question? "Lorelai
Emily, this isn't going to be like the time you…"
She interrupted him. "Like I care enough to set up an elaborate joke about
alternate realities and half-brothers just to fool you, Dallie." Lola paused.
"And you know how sciences makes my head ache."
Dallie had heard her complain enough to know that was the case. "Say I do
believe this…"
"Just do, Dallie," Lola sighed heavily. "Look, it's better
to accept it rather than analyze it."
Dallie had a feeling that she was right, he looked at Atticus. "Do you want to
say anything more to Lo?"
He nodded and took the phone from Dallie, "Hey." he gathered his thoughts. "Okay, we'll talk again in a while, I need you to go back to Dominique's okay? Do your best to explain this whole...thing to her. I have a Black, 2007 Jeep Liberty, it's sitting outside. The keys are on the table next to the door. Any questions?"
Ugh, a Jeep. Like she wanted to be seen driving in that. But Lola guessed that was trivial in this situation. "No. But if you need a ride, which you probably will because the Cowboy there isn't licensed, my Mercury is over at Rory's. And if you stick with him, he knows where the extra keys are in my room."
He was about to make a crack about Dallie knowing lots about her bedroom, but decided against it last minute. The last thing he needed was to piss off someone who had complete control of his life right now. "Okay. So, uh...I guess I'll talk to you later then?"
"You better stay in touch," Lola warned. It was discomforting to know that she had to depend on her brother. Even more, now that he was in her reality. Lucky bastard. Literally.
"Worried I'll abandon you Lo?"
Actually, yes. "Maybe." Ugh. The words just had to slip out, didn't they?
"Don't worry, I'm not Jess. I'll talk to you later tonight." He hung up the phone casually, and prayed that Dallie wouldn't put together the fact that they were brothers. Maybe his brother wasn't as insightful as his sister?
Dallie didn't want to know the answer to the question that had popped into his mind during Atticus and Lola's conversation, but he asked anyway. "In this…reality of yours, who's your father?"
Or maybe he was. Shit. He couldn't lie, could he? No. He really needed to stop conversing with his head. "Uh. Well,..." his eyes traveled around the room, finally landing on Dallie's. "Jess Mariano." There, he could draw his own conclusions.
Oh. That would make sense. Since Rory and Jess had dated in high school. "And suddenly I have the feeling you'd be better off with Aggie."
Atticus was momentarily confused before he realized that everyone in this reality must have a nickname. "Augusta? The soon-to-be psychiatrist?"
Lola had obviously done a lot of talking. "Lo mention her?"
"Yep. We were talking about you guys...You, Augusta, Devon, Jess and Paris, Rory and Tristan. It just all seems so...different. I guess you wouldn't understand."
"I'm starting to achieve the confusion that both of you must feel," Dallie began. "And I shudder to think what Lola must have told you."
"I filled in a few blanks myself." his voice was mocking, "Most of it was semi-decent I suppose. For Lola, anyhow."
"She has the tendency to…um, over dramatize."
"Doesn't surprise me." he laughed, maybe he could get along with this guy. "So, um, I'm probably going to need a place to stay."
"We have a guest room," Dallie offered. "It's a little on the feminine side, since pretty much the only person that ever stayed over in it was Lola when she was younger, but if you hide away the frills it's decent. Devon's not home, but Aggie's on a break from college. You can tell her or not, but if you have issues being psychoanalyzed and having every move you make recorded into a notebook, I'd steer clear of her."
"And how are you planning on explaining my presence to her?" Atticus asked. Someone psychoanalytical? He hadn't been around many like that in his life. There was the one 'doctor' he'd seen when he was 14. Didn't take much to scare the shit out of him though. "Or anyone, for that matter?"
That was a good question. "Actually, Mom's in Washington, and Dad's in California. So there's not a lot of explaining to do for two weeks." He sighed. "We could just tell Aggie."
'Dad'. He called Jess 'dad'. How could a word so simple sting so badly? "That would probably make the most sense." he said, dazed.
"I'm not needed here anymore." Unless everyone in Stars Hollow suddenly desired a hamburger at this exact moment. "So if you want to head out now…"
"Yea, let's get going. Maybe Augusta will have some intelligent insight for us."
Dallie resisted the urge to snort. "So Lola say we can use her car?"
"Yea, she said you'd know where the keys were?" Why did this entire situation have an ominous feel to it? Could it be because he wouldn't be getting home for a long time?
"They're in her desk drawer," Dallie answered. He had no idea why he had that information. It was just accepted that he did. "And you must be right up there with Tristan on her favorite relatives list."
"What can I say? I doubt many people can actually keep up with her, so maybe she was impressed by me." he gave an over-enthusiastic smile. "Hmm, care to share, oh brother of mine, why exactly you know where Lola keeps her car keys?"
"I would if I knew," Dallie answered while he opened the door to the apartment back up and started down the stairs. "So what exactly did Lola share with you about her life?"
"Well, she didn't share tons. She told me about people, close friends mainly. I drew a few conclusions of my own about some of her relationships." he nudged Dallie and smiled. "Her parents, her life. We didn't get too into it though, we were on our way out when..." When I fell through a portal to a different reality? Yeah. That sounded correct.
And here he had been hoping she'd forgotten about that night. Apparently not enough not to share with her newfound brother. "Well if you have any questions…I guess I'm your tour guide through this reality."
"Yay for that. So what exactly should I know about Hartford in 2028?"
Dallie tried to remember what 2021 one was like. Except he had been 10. And not very aware. "I'm sure the city its self is not very different from 2021 in your reality. The people are probably people seven years younger than you in your reality. Except our immediate circle, apparently. Do you go to Chilton?"
"Yeah. This is actually the first year that I'll be attending all year actually. Provided that I get home before June. Hey, is Taylor dead yet? Because he should be."
"No, but the only person vying for the position of town busybody is Kirk," Dallie replied. "So I think he's staying alive until he can find someone more suitable."
Atticus laughed, but they had reached the bottom of the stairs and Luke was glaring at him like he was from another planet, and since that wasn't such a far off estimate, the laughing soon ceased.
Right. This had to be weird and awkward for Atticus. "Uncle
Luke, I'm going to head home now."
"Who's he?" That was Uncle Luke, always abrupt, and direct.
"He's…" Dallie was a faster thinker than this. "A friend
from school. We have to work on a project."
Luke didn't look like he believed him, but he nodded anyway. "All right. Are you
coming in tomorrow?"
Not if he was still entangled in this mess. "I think Aggie is."
"Do you need any food to bring back?"
Dallie shook his head, "No, I think she's ordering pizza or something delivery."
"Bye then." But he still looked suspiciously at Atticus.
Atticus couldn't help but feel awkward under the gaze of his doubtful uncle. But how could he believe that he was anything more than just one of Dallie's friends from school? Ignoring that fact that Atticus looked identical to Dallie's father.
Once they were out of the diner Atticus ran his fingers through his hair, intending on messing it up. If he was going to see Rory, he might as well look presentable.
*
Atticus stood beside Dallie on some random porch, which he was to assume was Rory's Stars Hollow home. Thank god he got to help out with the picking of living space, because living here would have absolutely nauseated him. Now he knew why Lola hated most of Stars Hollow, it's because she had to stay in a house that should go with a white picket fence. And that was just disgusting.
Dallie had knocked a few moments before, and Atticus had braced himself for Rory. When the door opened though, he realized maybe bracing didn't always cut it.
"Dallie, hey," Rory greeted him; her eyes went over to Atticus. And she blinked. "Lola's not here. She's…somewhere."
He wasn't even going to enter into the complexities of Rory and Lola's relationship. "I know. She's back in Hartford. But she asked Atticus and I to pick up her Franklin article. She said she left it on a computer disk in her room."
Atticus…it was a nice name. Rory liked it, maybe if Lola
had been a boy… Then the rest of what Dallie had said entered into her head and
she scowled. Then recomposed her self. It really wasn't Dallie's fault.
She stepped back to allow them in, "You know the way."
"Thanks," Dallie told her as he walked through the doorway.
He timidly followed Dallie through his mother's house as he watched her eye him oddly. He entered a familiar room and for once Atticus was happy to see something he recognized as being the same. Of course, he'd never seen this room in his reality, so it probably shouldn't have been much of a comfort.
"We should get going, I have a feeling the sooner we get to Hartford, the less uncomfortable I'll be." It was true. Being in his mother's...Lola's mom's house was discontenting. He just wanted to be somewhere where he didn't recognize the people.
Dallie could believe that, he opened up Lola's desk drawer and took out her keys. "There we go," he handed them to Atticus. "Just need…" He grabbed some papers off of Lola's desk. "A fake article."
"Actually," Atticus reached over to her mouse and hit 'print', "Why don't we take the real thing?" he said grinning. Lola would kill him to know that he'd touched her computer, but hey, they were in different realities, how much harm could she do?
"Because usually the real thing isn't done until three days after the deadline." But what harm could it do?
Atticus pulled it out of the printer and glanced over. "Looks pretty done to me. Wow, quite the journalistic vixen, isn't she?" he flipped the page and then looked up, "Did you say we could leave?"
He should have figured Lola would deliberately keep articles from him. "Yes.
Yes, I did."
"Then shall we?" he pointed to the door, "And can we leave with as little Rory-interaction as possible? You wouldn't believe how strange it is to have your own mother not claim you as her own." he feigned hurt.
Dallie would be the first one to admit that he knew nothing about that. "No problem. She's probably in her office anyway."
"Good." Atticus headed towards the door, keys in hand and proceeded through the house without an interruption.
*
Augusta Mariano had heard a lot of fucked up things in her life. She was spending her life studying Freud, after all. But this…this had to take the cake. Her sane, rational little brother had come undone. It had to be Lola DuGrey's fault. She had seriously underestimated her friend's ability to drive men- quite literally, apparently- insane.
"I know a clinic that can help." She paused. "Both of you."
"Look at me." Atticus said, facing his sister front on. "Tell me that I'm not Jess' son." he said heatedly, "By blood, anyhow. Look, choose to believe me or not, but if you help me, I'll be one hell of a case study."
Aggie glared at her brother. He had to have let out one thing she couldn't refuse. "Yes, you would be." She reluctantly looked at him closer. He did look a hell of a lot like her father. And if Dallie believed him… "I'll at least pretend that I believe."
Well, at least pretending was a step in the right direction. "So, do you think you can help? At all?" It really was too bad he had to be related to all these women.
"Probably more than Lola or Dallie," She gave an apologetic shrug to her younger brother. "I at least understand science beyond dissection." Actually Lola probably didn't understand up to dissection. Cutting into a once live animal was too gross for her.
"What about one of your text books?" Dallie asked. Psych books went into every part of the human brain…
"There was one about the human brain and its capabilities for the paranormal. Phenomenon and all that," Aggie offered. "But it's a little on the complex and confusing side." But what really wasn't now?
"Well, I doubt that this is actually just a part of our psyche, I mean, Lola's definitely where I'm from and I doubt I could just create this all up in my mind. We're in different planes. Both exist and they're only connected through...us. Okay, this is weird."
Not from the human psyche…Augusta was offended. No such thing existed. "It's going to be a little hard to find text books on alternate realities. Unless you want to rewatch episodes of Buffy."
"Like the one where she woke up in the insane asylum in season 6?" Tobey really did push his love of ancient pop-culture on him way too much.
"I was thinking more of the one where Anya was originally
introduced. Where she created that alternate universe for Cordelia where Buffy
had never come to Sunnydale."
"You watch Buffy?" Dallie asked her.
Augusta watched everything. "Did you not hear the part about the insane asylum?"
"Oh yeah, and they were forced to battle off the vampires because there was no Slayer to do it for them? The tiniest of differences..." he trailed off. The smallest of differences, changed things so dramatically. This was the biggest example of it Atticus could even imagine.
Just the tiniest difference and she wouldn't have existed. Or Devon, or Dallie or Lola. How…overwhelming. "So were you serious about the couch time?"
"Yeah, I guess. I'll warn you though, my first and last therapist nearly killed himself after spending a two-hour session with me." he raised his eyebrows, "Guess my reality's the fucked up one, huh?"
"When I went to see a therapist, once, he wasn't too happy with me either. Some people just can't take being psychoanalyzed." She was one of them. But that was irrelevant right now. "And every reality's a fucked one. I'll go get my notebook."
Dallie watched his sister go before turning back to Atticus. "That was pretty amazing. You went straight to something she couldn't refuse."
"Well, I'm good at knowing how to please women."
he smirked, "Even if they are related to me. Takes practice though."
Why did Dallie seem so naive to him?
Right. He was pretty sure that Atticus wouldn't want him around for this, and Augusta would call it unprofessional. "I'm going to be upstairs if you need anything."
"Okay, thanks." Now all Atticus had to worry about was telling his inner-most secrets to a stranger who he happened to be of close relation to? He was supposed to tell her that if that one night Lorelai had decided to leave the house that she wouldn't exist? That in his reality her father was a complete and utter asshole? Of course. Atticus never went back on a promise. He just hoped she was up for it.
To Be Continued…
