Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows Chapter 18: What Price We Pay Part I, a guiding light fanfic

Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kimberly21570

Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children

Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca

Disclaimer: The character Rafe Rivera is owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney and Prospect Park. Rights to the show MacGyver belong to Paramount Network Television. The original characters of Detective Sergeant Langston Malloy, Attorney Danika Kováč, and their daughter, McKenna, Tracy Jackson, Lauren Thomas, and Toni Martin are the property of this author, and any resemblance to fictional characters, or real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, or any other entity. With the exception of Cedars Hospital, the settings, dialogue, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.

Many thanks to my friend and favorite FFW, WickedWanda926, and to my friend newfan64, for their ongoing willingness to edit my stories. Words cannot express how much I appreciate the two of you and your steadfast support of me, both personally, and as a would-be writer. Thank you to all who continue to read and/or comment. I appreciate the time you have invested in this story, and truly hope you continue to enjoy.

Rating: Chapter 18 is rated PG-13 for language.

Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

"For the greater the love, the greater the grief, and the stronger the faith, the more savagely will Satan storm its fortress."

— C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

Chapter 18 – What Price We Pay:

Wednesday, July 8, 2009… Emergency Waiting Room, Cedars Hospital—6:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time

Agitated and afraid, Rafe Rivera paced restlessly across the worn linoleum that passed as flooring in the emergency waiting room at Cedars Hospital, his scrambled thoughts racing a thousand miles a minute. Just the mere fact that he was here made him a nervous wreck. It turned his stomach to think about why.

Upon his arrival, he had burst in through the main emergency room doors, frantic, begging for answers; only to find that he was immediately diverted to this sizeable, yet stark room. Before disappearing again behind the heavy locked doors that separated him from any chance of getting information, the rotund nurse with the bright blue eyes had cheerily promised him an update just as soon as one was available. And then she'd left him there with the few other weary souls who were congregated there, awaiting word about other patients in the E.R. Almost wordlessly, they had shuffled about now and then, pouring what smelled like burnt coffee from a pot that seemed to have no end to its contents, and plunking loose change into a nearby vending machine in hopes of acquiring a snack that hadn't expired. He wished them luck with that.

Now, nearly three maddening hours later, the room was abandoned, but for one lonely old man who sat in an uncomfortable-looking wood-framed chair across from the flat-screen television, staring mindlessly at WSPRs early-morning newscast. Rafe might have actually thought him dead, had he not periodically been sipping what must have been a very cold cup of coffee. Even the sedate night clerk had disappeared from her perch at the admissions desk not far from the entry way.

The pungent smell of antiseptic, and the buzzing of requisite florescent lights as they flickered overhead, only served to agitate him further. The smell reminded him of his father's death, and the lights were giving him the most vexing headache. In the nearly three hours since his arrival, he had all but memorized the nicks and gouges in the antiquated flooring, practically generating a few more of his own, and still, he'd heard not a word from anyone. The flow of blood in his veins was fierce, and all he could hear was the rushing of it in his ears as his heart pounded rapidly in his chest. She had to be all right.

She just had to be.

Unbidden, his thoughts flashed back to just hours before—a scattering of images: Her disheveled hair. Her torn clothing. The taillights on the car. And all that blood. God, there was so much blood. Her clothes were soaked in it, and it just kept coming. She looked so helpless there, lying on the ground, the crimson liquid pooling around her.

He remembered the sound of anguished cries coming from somewhere behind him as he lifted her. They sounded so distant, and yet, he knew they were near. And then, through the cries, he heard the voice instructing him, telling him where to go. Having no capacity for autonomous thought, he had no choice but to follow, her body limp, like a rag doll, as he carried her.

Back in the present, the huge, round clock that hung on the stark institutional-gray wall across the barren waiting room mocked him, loudly ticking away the seconds as they expired—so quickly, and yet, so maddeningly slow. Raking his fingers through his thick dark curls, he fought to hold back emotions that threatened to spill.

He wanted to scream.

He wanted to cry.

Most of all, he just wanted to know if she was all right. But in that moment, he had no choice but to live with the fact that he didn't even know if she was dead or alive.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009… Café Andiamo—6:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time

Toni Martin leaned back in the stylish back leather chair in the secluded alcove at the rear of Café Andiamo. Careful not to bump the tiny round table that sat within arm's reach of their matching chairs, she smoothly crossed one toned thigh over the other, the fabric of her linen trousers swishing lightly as she moved.

Slowly, she swirled a dark brown plastic swizzle stick in her paper cup full of overpriced coffee, as she contemplated whether or not she should confess the thoughts that had been on her mind since the moment she set eyes on the gorgeous blonde who sat across the table from her. Lauren Thomas was not only beautiful, she was intelligent, and articulate, and adorably funny… and way out of Toni's league, in more ways than one.

But she was also completely irresistible.

Lost in thoughts of her own, Lauren's intent gaze slowly perused Toni's body, taking in every nuance of the other woman. The dark teal of her flawless linen suit perfectly complemented her wavy auburn tresses, and brought out the gold and green flecks in those gorgeous brown eyes. An absolute vision, she nearly took Lauren's breath away. And the best part: she had no idea how stunning she really was.

Disconcerted by the depths of her own thoughts with regard to Toni's physical attributes—and her own keen attraction to them, Lauren sought a diversion. She grinned at the faraway expression in Toni's eyes, and playfully kicked at her friend's foot as it dangled. "Spill it," she said lightly.

Startled, Toni's face developed an expression of curiosity and surprise. "Spill what?"

"I wanna know what's on your mind," Lauren said with a lighthearted lilt. She'd only met the woman three days ago, but she wanted to know everything about her—a fact that both excited and terrified her in equal measure.

That gorgeous smile, those sparkling blue eyes, made Toni want to spill every secret she'd ever kept. But the thought of being so vulnerable terrified her. She wagered her option, and decided on what it was safe to admit. "I, uh… I was just thinking how I've enjoyed sharing my morning coffee with you this week," she confessed timidly. "It's been nice meeting up before work."

Lauren's smile lit her eyes. "I've enjoyed it too," she confessed. She'd thoroughly enjoyed every single moment of it. And she wanted even more. Shushing the warning bells that clanged in her head, she added, "I'm glad this place is on your way."

Toni simply smiled in response.

Lauren's intuition told her that Toni hadn't been completely forthcoming, and she wanted to know absolutely everything this woman had to share. "There's something more, isn't there?" she ventured.

"Maybe," Toni shrugged nonchalantly. She was scared to admit anything else.

"Like?" Lauren gently pressed.

The internal battle raged as Toni averted Lauren's piercing blue gaze. He heart urged her to be brave, to take a chance. Her head demanded that she not be a complete idiot. Sadly, the voice in her head sounded like her mother, reminding her of what a fool she'd been to tell Tracy how she felt about her. No good had come from any of that. But nothing, good or bad, would come from holding back, she reasoned internally. Casting aside the sound of her mother's voice, she summoned her courage, and taking a deep breath, she jumped into the deep end. "I just… I wondered if maybe we could… I don't know, have dinner, maybe?"

The indecipherable expression on Lauren's face made Toni's heart stop. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks as surely as she could feel the rejection coming on, and immediately, she began to backpedal. "Maybe dinner is too much, too soon. How about lunch?"

"Wait. What? No!" Lauren sputtered, thoroughly confused about what had just happened. Leaning forward, she reached across the short distance that separated them, gently covering Toni's hand with her own. "No, Toni, dinner would be fine."

"Fine?" Toni sounded as though she'd been censured.

Squeezing Toni's hand, Lauren met her uncertain gaze and smiled. "Dinner would be wonderful," she said reassuringly. "Friday night?"

Unable to believe she'd received a 'yes,' Toni's face beamed. "Friday is perfect. As long as I can still see you for coffee tomorrow," she wagered. She couldn't fathom going more than a day without seeing Lauren.

"I'll do you one better," Lauren said, sweetening the deal, her hand still clutching Toni's lightly.

"Oh, yeah?" Toni replied flirtatiously, her soft brown eyes flashing with interest.

"Coffee on Friday, as well," Lauren offered, her own eyes alight with something even she didn't quite understand. Maybe Rian had a point. But Lauren wasn't ready to deal with it. All she knew was that she couldn't get enough of being with this woman.

Turning the hand that Lauren still held beneath her own, Toni allowed their fingers to loosely intertwine. "That sounds perfect," she said softly.

Lauren's heart skipped a beat, and her throat tightened in response. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she found herself saying, "How about a walk in the park after work tonight?"

Feeling particularly brave, Toni uncrossed her legs, and leaned forward, setting her coffee cup on the table. She met Lauren's clear blue gaze, and tightened her hold on the hand that held her own. "That sounds even better."

Wednesday, July 8, 2009… The Cottage, Martha's Vineyard—7:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time

Lounging together with Langston on one of the Adirondack chairs on the lower level of Lena and Bianca's deck, Dani released a contented sigh. The sun was shining, the ocean breeze warm against their skin, as the surf crashed melodiously against the shore. McKenna was still sleeping—a rarity at this hour of the morning. And here they were together. It couldn't have been a more picturesque day.

"I wish we could stay here forever," Dani murmured, as she leaned deeper into Langston's embrace. She never tired of feeling the solid strength of Langston's body against her own frame.

"Me too," Langston quietly agreed. Unfortunately, they both knew that they couldn't, but that wouldn't stop them from enjoying the time that they had.

Lightly, Langston skimmed her lips against Dani's temple, and tightened her hold. The time they'd spent together had been short in duration—barely three full days, thus far—but beneficial in terms of reconnecting with one another, both physically and emotionally. During their time on the Vineyard, they'd shared long walks on the beach, a romantic candlelight dinner on the deck, hours of playing in the surf, with and without McKenna, several serious talks about the state of their marriage and what they planned to do to put things right again, and some of the most intimate lovemaking they'd ever experienced. She was grateful for the time and the opportunity. "It's really nice of Lena and Bianca to open their home to us like this," she commented. They had been invited to stay as long as they liked, joining the Montgomery-Kundera family for the remainder of their scheduled vacation, with the option to stay on afterward, if they needed more time away from Springfield. "I don't think there's even a way to repay them."

"Trust me, they don't expect repayment," Dani asserted. She'd spent enough time with the two of them to know that giving to others was in their nature—and not because they expected anything in return. They were simply good people, with kind hearts. "A simple thank you will suffice, and even that, they'll insist isn't necessary."

"Maybe we can make an anonymous donation to Bianca's women's shelter," Langston suggested.

Leaning back, Dani met Langston's clear blue gaze. "I knew there was a reason I loved you," she smiled.

"Yeah?" Langston queried in a playful tone. "And why's that?"

"You always have the best ideas," Dani declared.

Langston's lips broke out in a smirk. "Well, I don't know about always, but that was certainly true last night," she crowed, her tone husky.

Laughing, Dani swatted Langston's arm. "You are so arrogant," she accused.

An eyebrow arched. "Has anyone else ever managed to get you to do that?" she asked, immediately regretting the question.

Nonplussed, Dani's expression turned from playful to serious in less than a heartbeat. Gently, she cupped Langston's face in her hands, locking their gazes. "You do know that I've never been with anyone else—don't you, Lang?" She sounded uncertain, despite having already assured Langston of her faithfulness; and that broke her heart.

Breath catching, Langston's heart thundered in her chest. She dropped her head, averting that piercing dark gaze. "Not even after I left?"

Refusing to allow Langston to avoid her emotions, Dani gently tipped her chin, meeting blue eyes now hazy with unspent tears. "I've never even kissed another woman," she said softly. "I've never even wanted to, because there has never been anyone for me, but you."

"I'm sorry," Langston said guiltily.

Dani didn't need to ask why. The expression in Langston's eyes said it all. "Don't be," she said firmly. "We're together now, and nothing will ever come between us again. That's all that matters to me."

"How is it that everything is so simple for you?" Langston asked, both curious and confounded. Nothing was ever simple for her.

"Because unlike you, Detective Malloy, I don't need to think everything to death," Dani teased.

Langston chuckled. "Guilty as charged," she confessed, looking suitably penitent. Dani knew her too well. Sometimes it was equal parts blessing… and curse.

Dani grinned and kissed her briefly. "Don't worry, Honey, I won't sentence you too harshly."

Unsatisfied by the fleeting nature of Dani's kiss, Langston laced her fingers through the thick mass of curls at the base of Dani's neck, and drew her close, claiming her mouth. Firmly, yet languorously, her searching tongue explored, as her fingertips tightened their hold in Dani's thick mane, possessing her.

Dani groaned into Langston's mouth, tumbling deeper. Langston Malloy was alternately soft and solid in all the right places, at all the right times, both physically and emotionally, and being claimed by her was an experience Dani would never tire of, no matter how long they were together.

As the kiss continued, Langston's free hand found its way to the outer edge of Dani's right breast, curling around it. When her thumb lightly grazed the nipple, Dani gasped in both surprise and delight. "You're driving me crazy, you know," she murmured against Langston's mouth.

"I know," Langston grinned. She sounded quite proud of her accomplishment.

"You keep that up, and we'll both be in trouble here," Dani warned, though she didn't really wish Langston to stop.

"Duly noted," Langston said. Purposely, she scraped her thumbnail across the stiffened peak, drawing another sharp gasp from Dani.

"Lang…" Dani whimpered.

Langston laughed, and nipped at Dani's lower lip. "Be glad I don't have my hand somewhere else."

"Don't you dare," Dani warned. The expression in her eyes told Langston not to challenge her. As much as she wanted Langston's touch—all the time—she didn't want to create a scene out there on the deck. The spectacle they'd made of themselves the night Langston had arrived was enough. Not that they were sorry for it—or that Lena and Bianca had had an issue with it. On the contrary, their hostesses had teased them mercilessly, but they were clearly happy for them. Still, as guests, they were making a concerted effort to be more discreet moving forward.

A disgruntled scowl formed on Langston's face. "Killjoy."

Dani chuckled. "Aw, poor baby," she teased. Draping her arms loosely around Langston's neck, she leaned in, skimming her mouth against Langston's lips. "Am I spoiling all your fun?"

"Yes," Langston muttered under her breath. But the grin that teased at the corners of her mouth gave her away.

Leaning close again, Dani kissed the one of those corners. "We can play more later, I promise."

Grinning, Langston responded with a brief kiss. "It's just as well," she said reasonably. "Our little princess is likely to be up soon anyway."

Dani glanced at her watch, surprised at how quickly time had passed. "I can't believe she's not up already."

Before Langston could respond, Lena came bounding up the stairs to the lower level, Sandy, the family dog, in tow. Pausing at the top of the stairs, she grabbed the thick white towel she'd left on the gate on her way out earlier that morning, wiping the sweat from her face and arms, as she steadied her breath. And then she tossed the towel over her right shoulder, and moved toward her guests. "Good morning," she greeted jovially, stopping to stretch her worn muscles.

Blonde fur wet from running along the ocean's edge, the sweet little Cocker Spaniel danced and twirled around Lena as she moved, causing her to smile at the antics. From the time she was a puppy, she had been Lena's companion on her morning run, but she was never more animated than she was when they were on the beach. The dog loved the sand, and she was in her element when running through the surf.

"Morning," Langston replied. She squinted against the morning sun, as she glanced upward toward their hostess.

"You're late getting back this morning," Dani noted casually. "Take a different route?"

"No… Just got a late start," Lena explained. The grin on her face explained a lot more. She was grateful for the flush of exertion that heated her face. It covered a multitude of things.

"Ah… So it wasn't just us who needed the noise box this morning," Dani teased.

Lena laughed, wiping a new outbreak of perspiration from her face. "Definitely not."

Seemingly out of nowhere, Sandy's ears perked. She barked once, and then took off across the deck toward the railing that overlooked the beach. Lena called out to her, but she ignored the reprimand, instead staring out over the water, her tail straight, the hair along her spine standing upright.

Immediately, Langston was on alert. Sharp as a tack, her mind ran methodical scenarios as hawkeyed vision scanned both beach and surf simultaneously. And then she spotted it—the unmarked vessel that lurked just beyond the breakwater. She opened her mouth to issue a warning, but before she could get the words out, she saw the unmistakable reflection of light as the sun beamed down on the barrel of a high-powered sniper's rifle.

"Fuck!" she cursed. She was on her feet before the word escaped her. Oh, god, not again.

"Lang, what's wrong?" Dani asked, sounding alarmed.

Stooping down in front of the chair where Dani was sitting, Langston placed a hand on her wife's knee. "Get down. And stay down," she ordered without hesitation. "You too, Lena," she added, glancing up at her hostess.

Lena stooped down beside her. "What's going on?"

Glancing around, Langston noted the built-in cabinets near the stairs that led down to the beach. She grabbed Dani's hand, as she met Lena's gaze. "Stay low, and let's move over behind those cabinets," she directed.

Following Langston's lead, Dani and Lena moved across the deck, seeking cover behind the wooden structure. Once there, Langston peered around the edge, scoping out the situation. The barrel of the rifle still gleamed in the sunlight, casting shards of light in multiple directions into the morning sky. "Is there a way to get into the house without going up onto the main deck?" she asked. Her heart pounded in her ears, and the rush of adrenaline threatened to send her into overdrive. "A way that's hidden from sight of the beach?"

"Well, yes," Lena answered, confusion in her tone. "We can go down one level, to where the hot tub is hidden, and walk along the edge of the house. There are covered steps over there, leading up to the front porch. That's how we used to get down to the beach before we built the deck."

"Good," Langston declared. "Go that way. Go now," she instructed with urgency.

Digging in her heels, Dani's face took on an expression of fierce determination. "I'm not moving another inch until you tell me what the fuck is going on, Langston Malloy."

Langston glanced at Lena, contemplating exactly what to say. "I don't want to alarm you, but…"

"You don't need to worry about me," Lena assured. "I'm no stranger to peril."

The statement earned curious looks from her companions, but neither asked. Instead, Langston offered explanation. "There's an unmarked vessel out in the bay, with a sniper's rifle pointed directly toward us."

"And you want us to go inside," Dani said, pointing her finger first at Lena and then at herself. "But you're staying out here." She sounded incredulous.

"Yes," Langston answered, as if that were the most reasonable response in the world.

"Who do you think you are, fucking MacGyver?" Dani snapped. "You don't even have a handgun on you, let alone a weapon that would actually be useful."

"I figure a match stick, a rubber band, and a handful of pebbles ought to do it," Langston smirked.

Dani scowled at her. This was hardly a time for joking.

Langston laughed. "I don't need a gun, Love," she said, lightly stroking her wife's cheek. "I just need to get a look at who's on that boat."

"And what good will that do you?" Dani pressed.

Concerned about revealing too much, Langston glanced first at Lena, and then at her wife. The expression in her eyes asked the question.

Her primal instincts kicking into gear, Lena grasped Langston's good shoulder, squeezing firmly. "I know who you are," she announced. "The families you come from. You can speak freely. I assure you, you're both safe here."

"I'm not so much worried about us, as I am you and your family, Lena," Langston said forthrightly. "We have no right putting you all in danger—especially in your own home—and the more you know, the more danger you'll be in."

Lena barked out a laugh that didn't reach her eyes. It was uncharacteristic, and in that moment both Dani and Langston caught a glimpse of who she had been in a former life. "A hitman on a boat is nothing compared to the danger my family has already faced," she said straightforwardly.

Perplexed by Lena's statement—who the hell was this woman? But reassured, nonetheless, Dani nodded. "Just tell me."

Langston nodded in agreement, albeit a bit reluctantly. It wasn't that she didn't trust Lena. She just didn't want her to be culpable if things went south. Plausible deniability was crucial. But in the moment, so was getting Dani and Lena off of that damned deck and in the house to safety. And thus, she caved. "Right now, I don't know which one of us is being targeted," she answered. "So I don't know who to threaten to call the dogs off. You know how this works, Dani. If I go after the wrong people, we'll end up dead either way."

"Dammit, Langston," Dani cursed, knowing she'd lost the battle. She was terrified of what might happen, and offered one last argument. "It hasn't even been two weeks since you were shot and…"

An automatic response, Langston ticked off the days in her head. "Well, technically…"

"Seriously?" Dani interrupted in a huff, giving her a look that dared her to continue that statement.

Immediately, Langston shut her mouth.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?" Dani placated. "I… I just got you back…" And I'm scared of losing you again, she thought, but didn't dare voice. "How the hell did they even find us?" she asked in exasperation.

The vulnerability in Dani's tone, the trepidation in her dark eyes, nearly broke Langston's heart. She pulled her wife close, nuzzling against her ear. "I don't know yet. But I promise you, I'm not going anywhere," she whispered. "I just need to know that you're safe while I figure out our next move."

"Our next move should be to get the hell out of here," Dani declared. "All of us!"

"Agreed," Langston said. "So why don't you go with Lena. Get our things packed, and we'll talk details when I get inside." Not waiting for a response, she turned her attention toward Lena. "You wouldn't happen to have a set of binoculars, would you?"

"Yes," Lena answered. A slight frown formed on her face. "But they're in the house."

Nodding, Langston said, "All right then, let's all go inside. Maybe I can get a better vantage point from there, anyway."

Relieved, Dani released a breath she hadn't known she was holding. "Thank God," she muttered under her breath.

Understanding her wife's concern, Langston rubbed her shoulder. "Come on, Love," she encouraged, guiding Dani ahead of her with Lena in the lead. "Just try to stay low until we hit the sand."

Whistling sharply, Lena called out to Sandy in her native Polish, urging the dog to come. The dog barked in response, spun around, and tore off across the deck toward the sound of Lena's voice, her fluffy ears flopping in the breeze.

Inching their way together, the women moved toward the staircase that led down to the beach, as the sights, and sounds, and smells of the ocean swirled around them, enclosing them in a would-be cocoon. A seagull swooped down, skimming the surface of the sea. Another wave broke against the shore.

And in the distance, a lone shot rang out…

TBC in Chapter 18.2…