marsabi1

Title: The Secret of Being a Grimaldi
Author: Marsabi
Rating: NC-17
Summary:  Damian returns from his "death," and causes big trouble. Luke finds out he has inherited strange powers. At this time, Noah is still blind. Chris and Reid are already competing for Chief of Staff, but Chris has no heart issues.
Disclaimer: Based on characters from ATWT; I own nothing
Warning: sexual content, light bondage, superpowers




Chapter One:


"Listen, I'm a neurosurgeon not a sex therapist. Did I say my name was Dr. Ruth or Doctor Oliver?" Dr. Oliver snapped with irritation.

"Sorry," Noah mumbled, "It just I have no one to talk to ...Since Luke and I broke up, he keeps coming here and confusing me-"

"I repeat, I am here for your eyes."

Noah sighed. "Right." He submitted himself to Doctor Oliver's exam.

"So?"" Noah said after Dr Oliver was through.

"Not sure." Dr. Oliver put his equipment away. "It looks like we can operate soon, but I need a few more tests."

Noah started to ask more questions, when his hospital door suddenly opened and Luke came in.

"Hey," Luke spoke softly to Noah. "Just wanted to come and visit."

"Luke?" Noah said. Then Noah frowned. "This isn't helping."

"Why?" Luke approached his bed, stepping carefully around Dr Oliver. Even though they had started to work on the new wing together, Luke was certain Dr. Oliver still hated his guts.  He could always feel Doctor Oliver's eyes on him, judging him. Luke went to Noah.

He said to Noah, "Let me still help."

Noah blew out an angry breath. "Doctor Oliver?"

"Yes?"

"Will you excuse Luke and me, please?"

Dr. Oliver glanced at Luke's  face and then looked away.

"None of my business," he said and left Noah and Luke alone.
 
"Is he gone?' Noah asked.

"Yes."  Luke reached out to take Noah's hand.

"I said I need some space, Luke," Noah repeated, turning away from Luke's touch.

"Noah, your operation is coming and..."

"Maybe.  Doctor Oliver was not sure there will be an operation yet." Noah spat out bitterly.

"Let me help you, " pleaded Luke.

"No," Noah shook his head. "I told you, I can't do this Luke. I have to focus on me now and my eyes."

Luke struggled to find the right words to convince Noah.

"Is this cause you blame me - " Luke whispered, looking at the ground .

"I don't blame you," Noah said.

Luke felt like his entire world was over.

I totally blame him, Luke heard.

"What?" Luke snapped his head up. "What did you say?"

"Nothing. Just that I don't blame you," Noah insisted.

"Oh." Luke frowned in confusion. That was not what he heard a second ago.

Luke shrugged it off.

"Things have never gone smoothly, have they?" He tried to laugh with Noah and get him to reminisce. "First Maddie, then your dad -"

"Yeah," Noah interrupted. "Good times. " He scowled. "You broke it off with me Luke, cause I couldn't give you everything. This doesn't help."

"I know, but I -" Luke took a deep breath. "I still want to support you. Member when we first met and - "

I should never have even kissed him; I wish I had stayed with Maddie.

Luke's mouth fell open. He had been looking right at Noah this time. Noah had not spoken, but Luke had heard him.

What was happening? Luke shook his head. His heart was hurting, now his head was hurting too. He could taste the truth of what he heard. The bitter weight of it pressing inside of him.

"I gotta go," he said to Noah and fled the room .

***

Luke went home and found Lily looking through old albums of her many weddings to Holden. Luke almost groaned out loud, this was not what he needed. He tried to sneak past his mother, but she looked up and saw him .

"Luke?"

Luke sighed, "Hey, mom."

"I was just ...cleaning up some old stuff."

Luke smiled sympathetically. 

Lily flushed, "I guess I am pretty obvious," she gestured toward the albums. 

"That's okay. I'm having a weird day too."

"Oh?" 

Luke shook his head, "It is crazy."

"Try me."

Luke shrugged. "Okay, but don't worry or anything...I know it is just stress. " He inhaled sharply. "I was with Noah and we were fighting - like we do now- and I looked at him and I heard him saying things to me- in my head - only he wasn't speaking."

Luke waited for Lily to brush this aside and make him some calming tea or something.  Instead, her eyes widened.

Damian, Luke heard.

"Damian?" He repeated. "What does he have to do with this?"

Lily jumped, "Luke, you just read my mind. I- Oh no!"

A feeling of dread spread through Luke's whole body. "Mom," he commanded and took Lily, who was crying, and shook her. "Just tell me."

"He said it would happen in puberty , not now," Lily cried. "I thought you had escaped it!"

"Escaped what?" Luke asked.

"The secret of the Grimaldi's, " Lily answered and began to sob hysterically.

***

"So, the Grimaldis have like ancient super powers for centuries now? Awesome!" Casey laughed.
 
Luke was sitting with him in Java. He had needed to talk about it to somebody. He had turned to his old friend. Lily had completely broken down after explaining that it was more a curse of power than a gift. Luke kept hearing one word in her mind that came to him over and over , Evil.


"So like now you could get more and more powers? Right? That's what your mom said. Wow, dude, maybe like Wolverine or something. I love that comic book!" Casey  held up his hands, "Check out my claws!"

"Casey-" Luke said. It appeared to Luke that his ability to read minds was limited to people that he actually knew and had a connection with. He could not, for instance, read the thoughts of all the strangers at Java. Thank God. As for Casey Hughes...Casey pretty much said exactly what he thought.

"You know I always suspected that I'd make an excellent superhero type, " Casey mused. "I actually am a little psychic. Like I can always tell what Alison is thinking," Casey bragged.

Luke was about to respond, when the door to Java opened and Alison actually came inside. She waved at Casey.

"Gotta go!" Casey jumped up, "Wedding stuff to do. Sorry, pal. I'll Twitter you."

Luke tried to ask Casey not to tell anybody else; he felt like enough of a freak. But Casey was already with Alison.  Alison nodded bye to Luke.

Luke heard, Mick Dante, Mick Dante...coming from Alison's pretty blond head. Luke rubbed his eyes in weary confusion. He did not even know what that meant. 

Luke jumped up and went to leave Java; he still had his head buried in his hands.

Wham! Luke smacked hard into somebody and coffee spilled all over.

"Oh, sorry," Luke apologized and looked up. Terrific, Luke thought, Doctor Oliver. Luke grabbed some napkins from a nearby table. Dr. Oliver was covered in mocha latte.

Luke started to apologize again and dabbed at Dr. Oliver's chest with the napkin.

"Quit touching me, Mr. Snyder."

Keep touching me, Luke heard.

"Sorry," Luke mumbled in shock, but he kept his hand on Dr. Oliver's chest. Luke leaned in closer to him; he was sure he had heard wrong that time.

"Will you stop wiping me up like I am a toddler!" Reid demanded.

God, does he always have to stand so close to me!

Luke jumped back and stared at Dr. Oliver's piercingly blue eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" Dr. Oliver demanded, "Is your brain on in there," Dr. Oliver tapped the side of his head, "what few brain cells you might have. Maybe you need some more caffeine."

Luke found he could not answer the snarky doctor. He just stood there.

Doctor Oliver stared back.


"You're gay?" Luke said finally.

Doctor Oliver suddenly seemed disconcerted. He actually flushed. Then he took a step back from Luke.

"So what? Did Katie or Hank run to tell you? " Dr Oliver shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I've known I was gay since I was nine years old."

"You never said anything to Noah or me," Luke mumbled. He could hardly pay attention. The things he heard coming from Doctor Oliver's mind were shocking him.

"The fact that it took your gaydar all these months to realize it, Mr. Snyder, only emphasizes how obtuse you are."

 Luke heard,  I wish I didn't have to look into those amazing eyes. They melt me.

Luke couldn't help it. He suddenly wanted to make Dr. Oliver squirm.  Luke batted his eyes at him knowingly,
 
Sure enough, Reid became flustered .

"Excuse me, " he told Luke quickly, "I need to go and change." With that, Doctor Oliver left.

Luke stood in Java for a moment, processing all that had just happened. He smiled slightly. Maybe this mind reading thing had its uses.



Meanwhile, far away, somewhere in Malta:

Damian Grimaldi peered into the darkness. He sat on the edge of a massive bed.  Behind him, two sleeping women were curled up in each other's embrace.Their nipples were touching and their mouths hung open. Their feet were tied together with a thick rope.  They both had long brown hair and dark eyes. The two women were naked and bruised from Damian's night with them. One of them had whip marks down her back. They had been pleasing to him in bed, but neither of them were Lily. He would dispose of them soon.
 
It had been a long time now, but Damian was ready. He could sense changes in Luciano. And Lily was vulnerable and alone. It was time for Damian's revenge to begin...





Chapter Two:

In his office at the foundation,  Luke finally found relief from all the voices. He was alone. Luke Snyder did not usually enjoy being alone. In fact, he usually relished company. But tonight, being alone was a great relief. Luke sipped some old soda and chewed his lips nervously. He was on his computer, searching for Damian. He tried his father's old email accounts and his private numbers, but Damian did not respond. Luke recalled the last time he had seen Damian. Damian had hugged him and told him not to listen to all of the horrible things that were bound to come out. Then Luke had thought Damian had died. It had been Doctor Oliver who proved that Damian was not the corpse in question. But now, nobody knew Damian's whereabouts. With everything falling apart for Noah, Luke had tried to push the pain of losing Damian from his mind, but now it all rushed back.

Luke stared at the computer screen. Why had Damian never told him about these powers? Could Damian read minds too? Luke had no answers. With a sigh, he focused on the foundation's business instead. It wasn't long before Luke found a problem. The foundation was missing a significant amount of money. Somebody had stolen from him. Luke checked and rechecked the math. The money meant for the new neurology wing had been tampered with clearly. What was he going to do now? Luke felt panicked.

Not knowing where else to go, Luke found himself back at Memorial. The first person he ran into was Chris Hughes.

"Hey there, Luke."

"Hey Chris, " Luke said. "Have you seen your dad? I really need to talk to him."

"No," Chris shook his head with a very concerned look on his face. "Can I help?"

Luke started to answer, then he heard Chris chanting:
 
It is all about me, all about me. Hmm. Wonder if I can finally get into Katie's pants? Maybe after my golf game?

"Uh, no everything's fine, " Luke told Chris quickly.  

Luke moved on. He searched briefly for Bob Hughes to inform him of the missing funds, but he had no luck  finding him. Luke was feeling queasy and tense. This was all too much to take. He needed some help. Luke hesitated. Even though a part of him became full of doubts, Luke tried to shrug his feelings aside. They had been together for a long time, after all. Surely, if Noah could see how much Luke needed to talk and if he could hear of all the insane things happening, surely he would want to at least comfort him.
 
He entered Noah's room.

"Noah," Luke said. "I know we fought before, but I really need to talk to you."

Noah sat up in his hospital bed. "Luke? It's not a good time. Richard is coming over soon and - "

"Look, please. I'm having the craziest day and I really need somebody to - "

"Doctor Oliver said I might be ready for my operation after all. I'm so excited."

"That's great, but I-"

"Don't make him angry, okay Luke? You know how he hates you."

"Noah," Luke grabbed Noah's arm, "please I need your help! If I ever meant anything to you -"

Luke heard, Why is Luke bothering me? He is always so needy! 

"You do, you do," Noah waved his hand dismissively. "But I can't deal with all these outside problems right now, okay Luke? Will you just understand. I'm blind! Blind! What could be more important than that?"

Luke dropped Noah's arm. "Nothing, I guess. " He shook his head. "Noah, I want you to see again, I do. More than you know...But our whole relationship, it -" 

The door opened and Richard came in.

"Hey, what's up guys?" Richard gave a big, dorky grin.

"Richard, man, you're late, " Noah scolded.

"Sorry, dude."

"Did you bring my Luna bars and my chips?" Noah demanded.

"Right, " Richard opened up the plastic bag he was carrying.

Luke looked on with disbelief. The air felt cold, making Luke shiver.

"Richard, I asked for Lemon Zest and Chocolate,not carmel."

"Sorry."   
 
Luke was standing by his ex-boyfriend watching him boss around his potential new love interest while he ignored Luke's pain, and suddenly it was like a stab in the guts.  And Luke simply fell out of love with Noah, right there in that very moment.  As quickly as he ever fallen in love with him, that love for Noah soured.

Luke did not need any voices to know what his heart told him to be true: Noah loved himself more than he had ever loved Luke.

Overwhelmed by the loss, Luke felt like a scared and tired child. Luke turned and stumbled towards the door. He could not leave the room fast enough. He felt like he could not breath.

***

The elevator seemed like a safe place to go, and Luke ran in and hit the down button. He knew that he and Noah had broken up, but a part of him had hoped...Luke had offered Noah all the beauty that was inside of him and Noah had not wanted it...now, it was truly over...maybe he was just not meant for love...

A vicious headache brought Luke to his knees. Luke closed his eyes and shook his head. His skin broke out into a slick sweat.  All of a sudden, images began to invade his mind.

What Luke saw was this:
 
He was in the shower, not his own, someplace else. The water, Luke could almost feel the steady stream of it against his face and neck, was hot and steamy. Luke had his hands braced on the shower walls and he was moaning. There was somebody sitting on the floor of the shower. A man. He had Luke's legs pulled apart. The man's firm fingers were at Luke' thighs, insistingly pressing them open. Luke tried to resist. His mouth was open and quivering. 

"I can't," Luke was saying.
 
The man had his tongue on Luke's cock. He had Luke in his mouth. It felt so good.  Water was streaming down over the man, making his features impossible to see. But in his vision, Luke could feel everything. The man's mouth taking his cock. The man's hands, now grasping Luke's naked flesh, pressing into his ass. Luke shuddered, his muscles bunched tightly now. The sounds of labored breathing. Sucking noises. Luke was being devoured, possessed. The feeling of a warm mouth taking him inside. Luke grabbed at the wall, and the slid one hand down to the man's head. He grabbed at the curly hair. The pressure inside of Luke was building.  Then Luke was coming, exploding, into the man's mouth. The orgasm swept through him like a wave, knocking him out with its heat and power. 

Luke sank against the wall. His body spent. The man released him and slowly stood. He kissed the back of Luke's neck. Luke could feel the man's erection pressing into him. The man was hard and huge. Luke turned and looked at him for the first time. In his vision, Luke could suddenly see the man's face. It was Dr. Reid Oliver. 


The elevator doors opened. Luke looked up, still dazed, wet, and aroused by his strange vision.


Something was buzzing insistently. Luke stood unsteadily to his feet and took out his phone. The text read: Luciano, your father is alive.

Title: One Night Only
Author: Marsabi
 Rating: PG
Summary: This began as a one shot deal based on a Lure prompt (Luke is drunk and has a one night stand with Reid. Reid does not know he was a virgin). I just couldn't stop there. So here is part two and three...
Disclaimer: Based on ATWT; I don't own them or Luke and Reid would still be a couple
Warning: none





One Night Only: Part Two
 


4 months later



Holden sighed at Luke. "You know, son, it is just that we are so disappointed in you. We expected better."

"Is this because of Noah and that girl?" Lily asked.

Luke groaned . "No mom. I did this mess all on my own."

It had been a difficult few months. Noah and Ameera were always on campus, truly married now, always pawing each other. It made Luke want to drink again, but ever since he had that one night with that stranger, he had been sober.  Casey had suggested going out with Reg, a boy in school who had always liked Luke. So Luke had tried that. Reg was nice, and unlike Noah, Reg was totally gay. But after the first few times of fooling around with Reg, Luke had to admit there were just no sparks.
 
After sleeping with Reid, whatever his last name was from wherever, Luke could not continue to see Reg. All he thought about were Reid's kisses and how totally hot they had been. He could see Reid's hands running all over his body. Reid pushing him down into the soft grass. It was just cause I was drunk, Luke told himself firmly, that is why it seemed so ...explosive. He tried to put Reid out of his mind.


He had attempted to distract himself by hanging out with Casey. That was when the trouble began. Stupid guys on campus had teased Reg, harassed him about being gay. Casey had been there and defended him. Casey loved a good fight. Then Casey had the bright idea that Luke should run against that group and try to be class president. One disaster after another had led Luke to cheat at the election.

"Trust me, dude," Casey had promised, "Nobody will know and those prejudice bastards will be out."

But they had found out. Ameera had heard about it from Maddie and had told Noah...Noah had turned in Luke. Another betrayal. Walking around the campus that day, Luke felt like his loneliness was visible on his skin. In the past, Luke could not wait to go back to school. But now he would be glad to leave.

Luke felt no love left for Noah after that incident. Noah had insisted it was for Luke's own good. Ha! He had been kicked out of college now. Noah just hadn't wanted his ex-boyfriend around his wife. He wanted no reminders of Luke. He considered Luke a "mistake." 

 At least Luke had covered up for Casey.

"Look," he told his parents now, "I wasn't that excited about college at any rate."

"What will you do?" Holden said pointedly. "If you stay with us then you must apologize and go back -"

"Yes," Lily said. "Mother knows the dean and we can get you back in. Luke?"

"I'll go see grandmother," Luke sighed.


Lucinda Walsh observed the misery in her favorite grandchild's eyes. They had just called the dean to make an appointment.

"Tea, dear?" she offered Luke. Lucinda thought that Luke looked too sad; his eyes were sunken in and it looked like he had not slept well.
 
Luke took a sip. He looked over the big office at Worldwide. It was as impressive as his grandmother. The office was massive. It was meant for intimidation, but Luke had good memories of the place. Lucinda had let him play in the office many times.


"You never went to college, did you grandmother?"

Lucinda laughed, "I wanted to. Nobody thought much of a girl's education then." Lucinda's eyes hardened, "But I showed them."

She examined Luke again. "Darling," Lucinda said slowly. "If you need a break from college and that boy Noah and all-"

"I do."

"Well, how about working here for a bit?"
 

"At Worldwide?"

"Why not? It is a family company."

Luke grinned suddenly. "Mom will kill you, grandmother."

Lucinda cackled. "Fighting with Lily is half the fun of my day!"
 
Then she shrugged her elegant shoulders. " Don't worry about that. What else is new between your mother and me? Look, I can give you work.  Let you have time to think."

Luke smiled, "What would I do here? Make copies? Get coffee?"

"Of course not! Your a Walsh-Snyder. You go right to the top. Besides, I have a project you'd be great at. I need somebody compassionate and thoughtful; I think it could be you."

"What is it?" Luke asked , intrigued.

"I have a friend, Eliza Judd, her poor grandchild is sick. Right now the girl and her parents are in Dallas with some great doctor. Well, they won't accept Eliza's help with money and their hotel bills..." Lucinda rolled her eyes. "So Eliza and I thought we could have somebody go down to Dallas and create a special family wing in this hospital -where loved ones can stay -they can be right there..."

"Wow," Luke said, his face lighting up with interest. "That sounds amazing."

Lucinda nodded, "You'd have to go to Dallas, dear, and stay awhile."

Luke shrugged. He'd felt for weeks now that he was trapped in a place in his life where he was doing nothing but waiting. Getting out of town and taking some action sounded fine to Luke.
 

"I'll do it."

"Wonderful!" Lucinda tapped Luke on the leg. "You never regret what you do, my boy, only what you don't have the guts to do."

Luke smiled at that. He had spent most of his life being careful to do only what had been expected of him. Then Noah had broken his heart and Luke had done something completely crazy. Yet Lucinda was right. Luke had kept on expecting to regret his one night with Reid, but those feelings had not emerged. It had actually helped him move forward, past Noah and all of that humiliation and pain.

"I'll do a good job," he told his grandmother.

Lucinda grinned, "Fantastic! I will send you on the jet in a few days. Do prepare yourself though , darling. "

"For what?"

"I heard their child's Doctor, Dr. Oliver, is not too crazy about our idea."




 A day or two later,  at the Dallas General hospital, Reid was having a terrible day.

"No way," Reid told his boss.

"Dr. Oliver,"

"I don't have time for this!"

"The Judds are your patients,"

"Only Annie."

"The money Worldwide if offering us and this family wing - it could put us on the map."

"Who cares about some wing to hold the hands of the healthy?"Reid demanded. "What a stupid idea. We need a new Cardio wing, new Neurology wing too. Not this."

"Dr. Oliver - "

"And who is this Mr. Snyder? Some young, spoiled brat  with deep pockets telling me to meet with him?"

"You will do this, Dr. Oliver. It is not a request."

Reid left the room furious at his boss, at this Mr. Snyder, at the Judd family. He needed to focus on Annie and only on her. Not coddle the rest of them .

He frowned and picked up his cell phone. He had been ignoring the texts from Mr. Snyder, but now he had no choice. Still, a nasty smile spread over Reid's face, nobody said he had to play nice.

Okay, Mr. Snyder. I heard that you and your money are flying in to town. I will take you on Richie Rich tour of your life. But that is it. 

  Reid expected Snyder to tell him to go to hell and go off to do his good deeds someplace else.  He was shocked when a text came back.

Fine, Dr. Ice -I mean Oliver . You can buy me dinner and we can plan the wing.

Why should I buy you dinner, Reid texted, "Aren't you Mr. Checkbook? Then Reid added, Do you even know a thing about a hospital?  Oh wait, you must own one back home.

I might own yours too before my day is done, the text came back, be careful.

Reid shook his head. At leat this Mr. Snyder had balls . He just hoped he had a brain in his rich boy head. Reid planned to convince him to forget about a family wing and give the hospital some new equipment.

Luke checked into his hotel and then called Mr. Judd. The man was so angry and fearful. He had all of his hopes on this Doctor Oliver to save Annie. From what the Chief had told him, Annie was not going to be saved. Doctor Oliver had only promised to try and extend her life by a few months. Luke had felt so sorry for Mr. Judd. He became determined to provide Annie and her parents with a state of the art wing to visit in. Even if this Doctor Oliver was already making it clear that he resented Luke, Luke was determined not to fail. Not again. He wouldn't be a disappointment to Lucinda like he'd been to his parents. 
 

Doctor Oliver was supposed to pick a place for dinner, but his texts kept putting it off. The man sounded like he never went anywhere!

Luke texted Doctor Oliver again. Why don't you just meet me in my room here and we can order in chili? 

Chili? came the swift reply, don't you mean caviar and champagne?

Jerk, Luke thought. Although a small part of him was enjoying all the snark. At least Doctor Oliver was honest and his texts kept Luke on his toes all day.

That is not my style, Luke texted back. Be here by 7.

He enjoyed ordering this big shot Doctor around.



Reid entered the hotel about 15 minutes early. He just wanted this to be over. He went up to Mr. Snyder's room and hit the bell.

"One minute," called a voice behind the door.

Reid stood there. The door flung open.

Luke had only a towel wrapped around him. 

Luke had assumed it was room service with his chili and ribs. It wasn't.

It was Reid. The only man he had ever slept with.

One Night Only : Part Three

 

The two men stood looking at each other in shock.

"What are you doing here?"

"You're Mr. Snyder?"

"You're Doctor Oliver?"

Luke's eyes widened.  Reid glanced down at him, and Luke blushed, realizing he was only wearing a towel.

"I- I thought you were room service,"

"Lucky bell boy," Reid smirked.

"One minute," Luke fled to the bathroom to dress.

It didn't matter. Reid could easily picture him naked. He could picture  how tight his ass had been as Reid had pushed inside of him...He could picture Luke's expression of awe and delight as he came.

"Should we discuss the family wing now?" Luke asked. He had surprised Reid, and Reid jumped.

"Sure. Why not?"

Reid kept his gaze intensely on Luke.

There was a knock on the door.

"That must be the chili and ribs I ordered," Luke said and opened up the door again.


As they ate some and looked over the hospital papers, Luke kept sneaking glances at Reid . It had been dark that night and he had been drunk. He remembered Reid's taste and touch, but his actual looks had been murky. He remembered he had thought that Reid was cute, but - Oh, God...

Really, Luke did not remember those piercingly blue eyes or those perfectly firm lips or strong-looking fingers. Luke watched as Reid wrote a note down. Those fingers that had been inside of him and had ---

"Earth to Snyder! Hey!"

Luke looked up. Reid was waving a paper at him. "I said you need to sign these."

"Oh. Right." Luke grabbed at the paper. Their hands touched.  Reid smiled slowly at him; his eyes were looking Luke over.

Luke stood suddenly.
 
"Well, I think we've worked enough tonight. I assume you have a home to go to and things to do..."

Luke gestured towards the door.

"Yeah," Reid agreed, and he picked up the rest of the papers.  "I should go," he said. Then Reid just stood there and stared at Luke. No one had ever stared at him quite like this before. He stared at Luke like he was going to devour him.

Luke nervously rubbed his palms up and down his jeans. Reid's eyes followed the gesture. Luke saw Reid's eyes had darkened slightly.

Luke felt himself grow hard.

"Do you need to take the actual plans home?" Luke asked and cursed the higher pitched sound of his own voice.

Reid tapped the side of his head. "Naw. Photographic memory."

"Oh."

Reid took a step closer to Luke.

"I never really forget anything " Reid told him with a small smile.

Luke was certain that Reid must feel his heart pounding.

He looked up into Reid's eyes.

Luke's own eyes were huge. They looked like doe-eyes.  Reid saw that they were filled with both confusion and longing.

Reid cupped the side of Luke's face.

Suddenly, it did not seem to matter that Luke barely knew Reid, his body was insistent about remembering every touch. Luke leaned against him. He inhaled Reid's scent like oxygen.  

"I can't believe you are Mr. Checkbook,  deep pockets Snyder," Reid stroked Luke's face some more as he spoke. 

Reid's other hand touched Luke's blond hair gently. 

Luke swallowed. 

"Don't try all that fancy romantic talk, Doctor Oliver, " Luke said back, "I might faint."

Reid grinned at him then. 

Then Reid's face became serious. "You were a bit drunk that night," Reid said slowly. "No regrets?"

Luke reached out and played with the collar on Reid's shirt.  "What makes you think that I even remember?" Luke teased. 

"Brat." Reid continued to touch him.

Luke laughed.  "Well, I do havea really nice jacket from that night."

Reid rolled his eyes.

"And of course,' Luke's voice deepened . "I also lost something kind of big."

"Hmm? What?"

"My virginity," Luke said softly.



Reid's eyes went wild. "What?"

Luke couldn't repeat it again. He had not meant to say that at all. It had just slipped out of his mouth. Luke just shook his head.

"You told me about a boyfriend," Reid said in a measured tone. He had dropped his hands to his sides.

"He always wanted to take it slow," Luke whispered. "All we ever did was kiss."

Luke reached for Reid again, but Reid pushed him away.

"Is  this some kind of game?" Reid demanded. "You look me up somehow? Follow me here?"

"No!" Luke reached out for Reid imploringly.

Reid shoved Luke back against the wall. They looked at each other in anger. The tension flew all around them.

"I'm not sure you were a virgin. You seemed to suck me off easily enough," Reid accused angrily.

Luke felt his own rage and grabbed on to it. "You are- I - you -" Luke stumbled for a reply. " Maybe you used me. Did you know I was going to be part of the Worldwide money? Did you know who my family was?"

"Hey, I don't need some spoiled boy's family for anything. I make my own way."

 
"Great! Good for you. Just get the hell out of here." Luke shoved back at Reid.  Luke refused to allow this guy see him break down.

The two men were face to face and Reid still had Luke pinned up against the hotel wall. They looked at each other.  For a moment neither one moved.

"I will," Reid dropped his grip on Luke and headed for the door. 

"Fine," Luke said and rushed past Reid to open the door for him, "You weren't that good anyhow," he added, trying to hurt Reid. 

"Don't come around the hospital or bother me again," Reid instructed as he left. The door slammed behind him.

Luke slumped down against the wall.  Don't cry, he told himself, not over that jerk.


Reid stormed over to the hotel elevator. Images of that night with Luke crossed his mind. He recalled Luke's drunken state, Luke's sorrow over his boyfriend's marriage, and the look of sheer surprise on Luke's face when Reid had flipped him over...

"Aw, damn," Reid groaned. Luke really had been a virgin.
 
Reid pinched the edge of his nose and thought. There was really no way this could be anything but a crazy, cosmic joke. He glanced back at Luke's hotel door and frowned. 
 

Luke covered his eyes and tried to calm down. He nearly jumped out of his skin when the door opened again and Reid stood there, towering above him.

"Here is the thing," Reid said, "I don't think either of us did plan that night."

Luke quickly wiped his eyes with the heel of his hands.

Reid gave the younger man a moment to compose himself.

"If I had known..." Reid said finally, "I would have stopped."

Luke just nodded.

"You first time should be with somebody special," Reid said awkwardly. "Shit, I sound like a greeting card."

Luke smiled slightly at that.  

"I tried that - to be in love-" Luke said, his voice quivering. "He just didn't really want me."

Reid bent down to Luke. He gently kissed Luke's tear-stained face.

"Sounds like a big moron to me ," he said.

Luke pulled away. "I don't want pity." He stiffened.

"Good," Reid told him, "cause I don't do pity."


He took Luke's hand and placed it gently at the bulge in Reid's pants.

"What I am feeling for you, Mr. Snyder, is certainly not pity."

Title: After The Rattle
Author: Marsabi
Summary: This story srats when Reid and Luke roll over the baby rattle at Katie's house. It fixes the Chris problem and other things... 
Disclaimer: These characters  are from ATWT ...I don't own anything
Rating: PG

http://marsabi.livejournal.com/1531.html

Chapter Five:


"Well, " Bob put a friendly hand on Reid's shoulder, " this is your night. We are offiically celebrating your new job as Chief of Staff."

Reid looked around at the tacky banner and smell of cheap punch and then took in all the people he did not know standing stiffly around with fake smiles. Then he took in the nurses and other doctors'  fake smiles.

"Great," he said to Bob. Nobody could replace Bob Hughes, except another Hughes...What had he been thinking?

"How is the hand?"

Reid shrugged. "Don't worry. I will be operating soon. I have a special therapist flying in today."

Bob nodded. "You know, the Chief often does paper work anyway- can't remember the last time I actually operated," Bob said.

Reid forced a smile on his lips. He would never be that type of Chief.

"Hey guys!" Katie and Chris sauntered over.

Chris had a hand on Katie's butt. Reid wanted to slap it off. First, Katie had nursed him back from the transplant. Then she had to hear him turn down the Chief of Staff job. Now, Katie had told Reid that Chris wanted to "find himself" some more and take their relationship a few steps back. Bonehead. Doogie Hughes did not derserve Katie!

Not that Reid Oliver cared about her personal life. No, of course not. He was a practical man, a surgeon, focused on medicine and that was it. He had no time to get involved in the love lives of Oakhell. 

"Hey, sorry I am late," Luke came up beaming. Reid noted how all the people around Luke beamed back. 

"You didn't have to come," Reid told him grumpily. 

"I enjoy parties." Luke smiled. He waved at Kim Hughes and then waved at Casey and Alison.

"And this one is so elegant." 

"Don't be snarky, Reid," Luke scolded. Then he patted Reid on the shoulder. "Poor Doctor Oliver- all these people to charm and impress."

"Hey, I can be charming, "  Reid defended himself.  Then he meant Luke's eyes. "Okay, I can be civil. Occasionally. With you by my side."

Luke laughed. 

"Reid, " Bob interrupted them, "They need a picture of us together."
 
Reid just rolled his eys and sighed. "Great. Maybe you can be the Chief." He said to Luke. " They all love you. And you take a much better picture."

Reid allowed himself to be photographed.  Katie stood behind the photographer once and made a funny face. Reid scowled in return. The photographer took the picture. Katie was cracking up now. Reid walked over to her.

"Terrific," he growled at his friend. 

  "Hey, you were supposed to laugh at that."

"Well now I look mean; everybody on staff will fear me."

"Reid," Katie chuckled and grabbed his arm, "they already do."

Reid sighed. What was it about people? He really had no clue. He tried to talk to them rationally; they were so messy and emotional. People never made much sense to him.  Medicine made sense. Before coming to Oakdale, his whole life had been about medicine. It had been so clear. 

"Look at that," Katie nudged him and pointed to Luke. Luke had a group of older trustees laughing and nodding. 

"He is good," Reid acknowledged.

"Face it Reid, " Katie giggled, "thanks to Luke you are now it."

"What?" Reid asked blankly. 

"You, my friend, are the gay Bob and Kim!"  Katie went into hysterical giggles. "Member when you told me Noah and Luke were the next Bob and Kim? Jokes on you, dear. Get ready to celebrate your 25th anniversary!" 
 
"I'm glad you enjoy laughing at my expense." 

"Always," Katie patted him.

"There is one big difference. I'm not married to Luke."

"Not yet," Katie teased. 

Reid shuddered. "Worry about your own wedding plans."

Katie stopped laughing and looked sad. Reid cursed under his breath. He wanted to kick himself for saying that. Katie would marry Chris, if the guy was not such an idiot. 

Suddenly, Reid wished Luke would come over. He would know what to say. He would make Katie laugh again. Reid really did need Luke. Without Luke, people just were too confusing. 

As if he read his mind, Luke walked over to them. He hugged both Reid and Katie impulsively, and then said, "Katie, check out how cute Jacob looks with Jack."

A smile returned to Katie's lips and she went over to see her son. 

Reid let out a long sigh. 

"What," Luke asked.

"I'm terrible at all this," Reid confessed. 

Luke grinned. "Reid, that's nothing new. " Then as he saw Reid's face actually fall, Luke tapped him lovingly on the cheek. "Don't worry. They have big sandwiches over there. Come and get one."

Reid saw love and acceptance in Luke's eyes.

"You always know how to cheer me up."

"Well, Doctor Oliver, it is a full time job. Still, somebody's got to do it. " 

Reid spent the next few hours stuffing his face with food and avoiding small talk. Truthfully, he was excited at the idea of becoming Chief. He had worked all his life, nobody had handed him a damn thing, and now the job was his.

Still, Reid acknowledged to himself, none of it would have mattered much without Luke. Reid took in Luke's proud smile and the way Luke lighted up as Bob officially made the announcements. Reid had never felt so lucky. He glanced around the room. He half-expected something to come and ruin all his happiness.

Luke watched as Reid went up to the podium and shook Bob's hand solemly. He was such a good man. Underneath it all, despite often being misunderstood, Luke knew that Reid would lead with compassion and professionalism. He was so proud of Reid. He would show him later. Maybe in the hospital break room. Maybe in the car on the drive home. A saucy smile played on Luke's lips. He could never get enough of surprising Reid  and touching him all over. 

Luke's dreams were suddenly interrupted by a commotion at the front. Two men had come in, one in a long doctor's jacket and the other in jeans and a red shirt. They rushed up to Reid and shook his hand. Reid let the one dressed as a doctor examine his hand quickly. They got into a deep discussion. The other man was simply staring at Reid. Reid was ignoring him. But the hairs on the back of Luke's neck stood up. He walked over. 

"Luke!" Reid said, almost startled. "This is the doctor friend I was telling you about...James Davis - he is sure he can continue to help my hand."

Dr. Davis smiled and said, "I can't imagine a world where Oliver here can't operate. "

Luke smiled stiffly. He turned to the other man, a handsome man with short dark hair. The man was still staring at Reid.

"And you are?" Luke said smoothly and cooly. Inside, he felt nervous. He had already guessed the answer. 

"Oh," James was saying , "this is my brother Alec. He just came to hang around with me."

"What," Reid said a bit nervously, "wanted to see the sights of this grand  town?"

"Excuse me,' Luke said suddenly. "I need to talk to my boyfriend." 

And with that, the normally charming Luke Synder pulled Reid Oliver out of the party.