marsabi1

Title: Sticks and Stones
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Halloween fic
Warnings: Kink, Sexual, Hurt and Comfort
Rating: Nc-17

Continued here:

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Title: Anywhere, USA
Author: Marsabi
Warning: None
Summary: Luke and Reid meet again as adults


Chapter 6

The next morning Reid was running late. He’d slept poorly and hadn’t heard his alarm, and now he hurried into the locker room. He had no time for breakfast before he needed to start to prep for Ameera's operation, and so he quickly downed some vending machine snacks. He’d have to operate on sugar and adrenaline. He'd done it before, and he could do it again.

Briefly, he wondered how Luke was doing this morning. He imagined Luke already at Ameera’s room or lingering out in the hallway. After last night, Reid hoped he wouldn’t see him. His feelings for Luke confused him. Luke wasn’t just a little brother; Reid could admit it now. How could he tell himself that Luke was like a brother, when he kept picturing those lips on his cock? If it was only an attraction, Reid would deal with it, but Luke brought out weird, messy feelings of affection - and it was so much more complicated now that he knew Luke was gay.

Reid ran a hand over his face. He would do his job, avoid all this craziness, and leave as soon as possible. With any luck, he’d barely have to see Luke today. Besides, given how things ended last night, Luke was annoyed with Reid too, so he’d probably just stay away.

Feeling slightly better, Reid began to change. He took off his pants and put on scrub bottoms, and he had his shirt off, just about to change into the scrub top, when the door swung open.

“Reid,” Luke called out.

Reid paused in shock, his shirt still in his hand. Jesus. It was like Luke had a sixth sense. He always knew where to find Reid.

“Don’t you knock?” Reid snarled, annoyed at the way his heart raced at the sight of Luke.

Luke said nothing, his eyes on Reid’s bare chest. Reid could practically feel Luke’s eyes move like a caress, gliding over his bare neck and shoulders, then sliding down to his pecs, staying a moment on his nipples before moving to his lower abs. When he saw that Reid was watching him, Luke quickly averted his gaze and stared off at the lockers.

Complicated, Reid thought again and frowned.

Reid noticed Holden standing just behind Luke, a warm smile on his face, and the usual farm-ready wear making a drab fashion statement.

“Sorry for interrupting you, Reid,” Holden said. “I just wanted to stop in and say hello. It’s been a long time, and I didn’t want to miss you after the surgery.”

Social niceties always confused Reid. Who really cared? He nodded and said, "Okay."

“And you became a doctor,” Holden smiled, stating the obvious like he always did. “I guess you really did like all that medical stuff.”

“Nah,“ Reid drawled. “I only did it so I could wear these scrubs.” Reid pulled on his top. “They’re like pajamas. “ He glanced at Luke. “The medical stuff was just a bonus.”

“Well,” Holden went on, “I know Luke’s glad it’s you taking care of Ameera. He was ecstatic to tell me that you had returned to town and that you were the one operating on her. Ecstatic.”

Reid eyed Luke curiously. Luke was flushing a slightly pink color. He appeared to be still transfixed by the lockers.

“So you’re close to Ameera too?” Reid asked Holden.

“Oh, sure. And Noah. I’m here to support Noah through this, and Luke too.”

“I didn’t realize the Mayers meant so much to your whole family,” Reid said. He knew the Snyders were meddlesome busy-bodies, but everything about this situation reeked of weirdness.

Holden was about to answer, when his cell phone buzzed. “Excuse me, I gotta take this. “ Holden answered it with an annoyed glare. “Not here,“ he told the person on the other end. “Later.” He walked out the door to talk in private.

Reid wondered if he should mention the small fight he and Luke had had from last night, but Luke didn’t seem to be thinking about it. His eyes were at the door as he listened to Holden talking. They heard Holden whispering and then his voice rising at the person on the phone. Luke looked at Reid and smiled a bit ruefully.

“New girlfriend?” Reid guessed.

Holden’s voice carried again. Then silence.

“Yeah. And maybe, well Mom thinks - new long lost sibling.”

“You’re kidding!”

Luke sighed deeply. “I wish. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love Abigail and Aaron, and I’m fine with anything Dad does.” Luke didn’t look fine to Reid. He looked stressed. Now that Reid was facing him, he could see circles under Luke’s eyes, tension in his face.

“What I worry about,“ Luke said. “Are the little ones. I really hope there’s no truth to Mom’s worries. I mean for Faith, Nat and Ethan’s sake. It will just upset them. Confuse them, you know?”

Reid nodded. “Maybe Lily’s wrong.”

“Maybe.” Luke ran a tired hand over his eyes. “You’re so lucky in some ways not to have anybody.”

Reid said nothing.

“Oh, God!” Luke said, his mouth dropping open. “I didn’t mean - that sounded so - I’m sorry. That wasn’t how I meant-“

Reid held up his hand to stop Luke’s words. “It’s just the truth,” Reid replied calmly.

Luke gazed at him with a mixture of guilt and compassion. “I’m sorry,” Luke repeated softly. “You know that I feel-“

“I have medicine,” Reid interrupted. “And being a doctor is fine; it’s more than enough for me.”

Luke gave him a troubled look.

“So you really might have another sibling out there?” Reid said crisply, trying to get the subject off of how alone he was. Why did that fact keep coming up?

Luke looked at him a long moment and then he nodded. “Seems to be the case.” He walked a few steps closer to Reid. “And the strange part is that Dad was the one who gave me the whole birth control lecture.”

Reid raised an eyebrow at that.

“Before he knew I had no danger of knocking anybody up.” Luke half-smiled.

“Worried about the girl next door and that tempting barn house, was he?”

“Yeah,” Luke said. “He stumbled over a few basic pointers and then handed me a book about it. It had some really nice pictures too, colored illustrations.“ Luke laughed. “Not really the book I needed though.”

“I doubt Oakdale library carries that book. If I recall, their circulation material stopped around the 1950s.”

“And now Dad once again might be in a paternity mess,” Luke sighed.

“Well,“ Reid offered. “I’m about to go into brain surgery, but if you want I think I could handle giving Holden a quick neutering afterward.”

“Reid!” Luke exclaimed “That’s awful.” But his eyes gleamed and mouth curved up.

“Snip , snip?” Reid made a scissor with his hand.

Luke snorted out a laugh.

“You know these heterosexuals,” Reid continued, “they can never keep their pants zipped.”

The door swung back open. “All done.” Holden smiled at them. “Luke? Want to head with me to Ameera’s room? I’m sure Reid has to get ready.”

“I do,” Reid said

“Okay,” Luke answered. He moved closer to the door.

“Oh, Holden,” Reid said, turning to the other man for a moment.

“Yeah?”

Reid saw Luke’s eyes bug out. He flashed Luke a quick grin.

“There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

Luke frantically mouthed, ‘please no.’

Reid held back the urge to laugh. He gave Luke an innocent stare and Luke shut his eyes like he had on Casey the night before.

Reid walked over to Holden, and, forgetting about teasing Luke, Reid studied Holden’s face. He’d been planning to say something to both Lily and Holden, and the time seemed as right as any. “Look, I,“ Reid paused. “I wanted to say I appreciate that summer that you took me in.” He extended a hand out to Holden and they shook.

Even though Reid didn’t think much of Holden as a reliable husband and questioned his choices as a father, he knew that he’d done him a kindness way back then.

Looking stunned, Luke watched them shake hands. Then his eyes became all big and melting. Reid could practically hear all the sappy, gooey thoughts running in Luke’s head. Reid rolled his eyes at him.

Luke’s grin widened at the eye roll, and he just wrinkled his nose back at Reid.

“Thank you for that,” Holden nodded.

Reid nodded back.

“We all just hope you can save Ameera,” Holden said. “We’re counting on it.”

“I’ll do everything I can.”

“We should go,” Holden replied. He clasped a heavy hand on Luke’s shoulder. “I’m sure Noah needs us there, right?”

Reid was watching Luke’s eyes, and he could just see the light going out of them. The moment of teasing and sweetness evaporating before him, Luke appeared miserable now. He shifted his feet.

“You’re right. I should go and see.”

“I’m sure it will all soon work out and return to how it was before,” Holden told Luke cryptically. It felt like he was speaking in some odd code.

Luke merely shrugged.

Once again, Reid felt like he was confused by the situation. He couldn’t figure out the Snyders and the Mayers deep connection. Since learning that Luke was gay, and therefore not in love with Ameera, the situation baffled Reid. But then again, this was Oakdale, where nothing made sense and everything got lost in translation.

“Bye, Reid,” Holden said. “We’ll be waiting outside the OR.”

Reid nodded.

“Bye,” Luke said quietly.

“Bye, Luke.”

Whatever this bizarre situation with Ameera and Noah was, Reid was firmly on Luke’s side. Reid just wished that Luke would stop blaming himself about Ameera . Wasn’t he sick of that yet? Luke always blamed himself for everybody else’s troubles; he’d been that way as a kid, too.

With his eyes, Reid attempted to communicate his desire to help him. Something gentled on Luke’s face, and Reid knew he understood him. Luke had always understood him.

But Luke said nothing else, his gaze swept over Reid’s body a moment, and then he followed his father out the door.

***

During Reid's final briefing of Noah, Luke had been nowhere to be seen, which wasn't too much of a surprise given how adamant Noah had been about leaving Luke out of all decisions concerning Ameera's care. But the presence of Holden and Lily, both physically supporting Noah with hands on his arm and shoulders, had triggered another round of questions for Reid to ponder as he walked toward the OR. They were treating Noah almost like a son, and hadn't Luke said that Noah had no family? Was he yet another stray the Snyders had taken in at their farm? Was he a warmer, touchy-feelier version of Reid himself? Had he milked cows for a few summers in exchange for a home, and managed to wriggle his way into their family, to actually be one of them?

Reid snorted. Who'd even want that?

Turning toward the OR, Reid saw Luke slumped against a wall; avoiding Luke was proving impossible today. Luke straightened up at the sight of Reid and came toward him, provoking in Reid an odd combination of feelings. As Luke nearly reached him, Reid couldn’t determine if it was fear or thrill that made his pulse leap slightly.

"What are you doing here?" Reid said, not stopping, but continuing on to the OR.

"Waiting for you." Luke was immediately at his heels, and Reid stepped up the pace, hoping that he still stood a chance of shaking him.

"Why?"

"Just 'cause," Luke said. "I wanted to say good luck in there."

Reid stopped short, unable to keep himself from looking at Luke again. "Don’t need it."

“Oh, course not,“ Luke said, amusement on his face. “I forgot who I’m talking to.” Luke gave a little, mocking bow and then grinned.

Reid smiled back at him, almost shyly. “I thought you were angry with me last night, but you came in to see me with Holden before and now you’re here again.”

Luke shrugged generously. “I was angry, but if you’re only here for a few days…I don’t want to waste them being mad at you.”

“Oh,” Reid said. Luke was so close to him there wasn’t an inch of space between their bodies.

“Even if I’m a blip,” Luke added.

“I-I never said you were a blip- I never,” Reid couldn’t believe he was actually stammering now.

Luke gave him a saucy grin.

“Are you being a wise-ass?” Reid asked him.

“Maybe. “ Luke tilted his head. “What’re you gonna do about it?”

“Listen, If I wasn’t on my way to surgery –“ Reid began stepping threateningly at him.

Pain suddenly shot through his leg. Cursing, Reid began to hop around on it, trying to make the charley horse go away.

Luke frowned, his teasing grin gone. “Are you okay?”

“Do I look okay?” Reid replied. He stamped his foot on the floor to try and stop the cramping pain.

“What is it?”

Reid sat down in a nearby chair and pulled at his toes. “Just a charley horse . I get them, mostly in the morning. I’ve had too much surgery lately and not enough stretching. And my hotel bed sucks. ”

Reid left out the fact that he had barely slept. The reason for it was staring him in the face all full of concern now, making the empathetic sounds that Luke made so well.

“You should try yoga,” Luke advised. “I’ve heard it’s good for loosening up muscles.”

“Yoga?” Reid snorted. “Do I look like an earthy-crunchy type?” Reid made a face.

“And for a doctor? Your diet is terrible.” Luke scolded him. “I saw all those vending machine snacks.”

Reid shot him a glare. “Thanks, Mom. Damn it. Right now, I'd try anything. Getting a kink in my leg right before a major operation is going to set it back. Can't go in until it's resolved.”

“Here,” Luke said, “let me help.”

“How?” Reid grimaced and pulled at his toes again. After a moment, he stood up, and tried to walk down the hallway.

“Wait, Reid,” Luke cautioned. “Give it a minute.”

“I don’t have time for this.” Reid made it one more step, when pain sliced through his calf muscle.

“At least lean on me ,” Luke said, grabbing at Reid’s waist and hoisting him close, causing Reid’s body to stiffen and his heart to speed up.

“I’m not leaning on you . Don’t you have a foundation to fulfill all these obsequious, do-gooder instincts of yours? Go rescue a small country or something. Leave me alone.”

Luke pursed his lips. “Being a jerk might scare off most of the people you meet. In fact, I’m sure it causes the hospital staff to flee in terror, but it doesn’t work with me. “

“Why not? Too much hayseed between the ears?” Reid grumbled, but he grabbed Luke around the shoulders, which felt firm under Reid’s hands.

“Too much exposure to you,” Luke replied, “and at a young age.” He wrapped his arm at Reid’s waist and, half-carrying him, helped Reid into a nearby room and over to another chair.

As he sank down, Reid couldn’t help letting out a small yelp of pain, and of course Luke noticed it, his eyes went big with worry and a stubborn look crossed Luke’s face. Reid knew there was no escaping Luke’s strange need to fuss over him. Reid made a sour face at him, but he found he couldn’t object any further, both because he knew Luke was a person of singular purpose and because the idea of Luke’s attention turned solely on him wasn’t entirely unappealing.

“Does it hurt that much?” Luke asked, clucking sympathetically. He gave Reid a small touch on the side of his leg; the touch was both a pat and a poke. “Should I get a nurse?”

“Do you want to kill me? Just let me up, alright?” Attempting one final escape, Reid started to rise, but Luke pushed him firmly down into the chair. Their eyes locked on each other and the force of Luke’s determination struck Reid. Luke’s eyes were so large and so deeply brown, Reid became momentarily lost in them. A faint spot of color was on Luke’s cheeks and he seemed equally compelled to just gaze back at Reid. Then Luke sighed deeply and dropped his eyes.

Luke bent down between Reid’s legs.

“What are you doing?” Reid snapped, coming to his senses again, trying to squeeze his knees together.

“I’m helping you,” Luke said, practically gritting his teeth.

“You know, I can prescribe you something for this irrational need you have to meddle. Or there might be a shot for it. Say the word and I’ll put a big needle right in your butt.”

God, Reid really had to stop fixating on Luke’s ass. First he threatened to tattoo it and now he was prattling on about sticking something in it. He’d been trying to change gears deliberately and get rid of Luke’s attentions, but now he’d only boxed himself into a corner with his own big mouth.

“I’m helping you,” Luke repeated, his lip jutting out. “Now quit fighting me.”

Luke stared him down, practically daring Reid to argue, and when Reid didn’t say anything more, Luke lifted up Reid foot, and quickly rolled the scrub bottom up to his mid-thigh. Then Luke placed Reid's foot on his knee, and began to knead Reid’s calf muscle, stroking the knotted flesh with his fingers. He had really warm, surprisingly strong hands, and Reid swallowed back a soft moan.

Luke scooted closer, massaging Reid’s leg in steady circles with the pad of his thumb. It felt good, really good, and a small shudder passed between Reid’s shoulder blades; he had to concentrate on not allowing his breath to come too quickly. Luke’s fingers dug harder into his flesh, creating equal parts pleasure and pain, and Reid had to fight the urge to contort his body in reaction to both. Reid’s heart thumped violently just under his ribcage as Luke dug his thumb in again, pressing on just the right place.

“Mmm,” Reid said, the sound escaping his lips before he could squash it.

“Feel good?” Luke stopped and looked up at him. Luke’s palm pressed flat against Reid’s leg, generating warmth, and Reid’s eyes felt pulled to Luke’s. For a second, he again lost himself in their clear gaze; the energy between them was electric.

“It ain’t bad,” Reid admitted, attempting to sound breezy and unaffected, but watching Luke from under his lashes, examining Luke’s flushed skin, he knew -- something was brewing between them. Reid could feel it in his gut, not that he planned to act on it, but just knowing that Luke might want him too caused a delicious coiling sensation in Reid’s groin.

Luke smiled quickly, bashfully, and went back to the massage, using all of his fingers on Reid’s skin, pushing into the muscle and then rubbing softly. Luke’s mouth hovered near Reid’s knee; his breath blew gently out, his fingers stroking Reid's skin, as his hand traveled up to Reid’s thigh, and worked the flesh there. For some reason, Reid didn’t protest. He didn’t remind Luke the pain was in his calf. Luke ran his other hand up Reid’s thigh and then glided it back down, moving closer, close enough that Reid could feel the heat coming off of him.

Reid gazed at the top of Luke’s golden head, bent practically at Reid’s crotch, and groaned. He firmly pushed Luke’s hands away, rubbing a hand over his eyes, trying to keep his dick from making itself very obvious to Luke and anybody else who might enter the room.

“Better?” Luke asked him softly.

Reid was incapable of speech; he nodded.

Luke flashed his dimples at him and grinned, jerking Reid's pants leg back down as he stood up. “I’m glad. Listen,” Luke said. “After the surgery, when all this is over, you know, if it goes well and all, do you want to meet up? Maybe grab dinner. Or even come over to my mom’s and I’ll make something for us.”

Reid stared at Luke for a moment, still trying to shake the image of Luke's head by his crotch, and asked the first thing that came to mind. "You cook?" He took a deep breath and focused on that thought. He was desperate to focus on anything after that massage to prevent getting hard. “You cook real, actual meals?”

“I do,” Luke laughed. “It was a matter of survival, since Mom never did. Once we moved out of the farm, I practically starved every night. Anyhow, I begged Grandma to teach me. She tried to teach the girls too, but they weren't interested. I started fooling around with it more and more. I mean, I’m not as good a cook as Grandma Emma, so don’t expect anything like that, but I can make a killer chicken parmesan.“

Reid just stared at him.

“It’s cooking Reid,“ Luke teased, "not brain surgery.“ Luke dropped his eyes a moment. “It was nice hanging out last night, right? I thought maybe we could get together tonight too. Let me thank you for all you’ve done.”

Reid raised his eyebrow in question, “Don’t you want to celebrate with Noah, Casey or your family? Assuming I’m my usual brilliant self today?”

Luke shook his head.

“I did a lot of thinking last night,” he said softly. "About them all…. I’ve made some decisions today that-“ He stopped and his body hunched forward protectively. “My timing sucks. Look, you’re about to go into surgery, right? I’m sure you need to do some things. We’ll talk later.”

“I’m holding you to that promise. “ Reid examined Luke curiously, wondering what decisions he’d made.

Luke just smiled warmly “I know you will. Just like I know you’ll be great in there with Ameera. You’ll be great.”

Reid didn’t know what to say to that, so he kept his mouth closed, and stood awkwardly to his feet. He angled his body closer to Luke’s, wanting to thank him, touch him. Reid started to lift his hand up and hesitated. He could sense the weight of Luke’s body and it would be so easy to just lean forward and kiss him, but one kiss would lead to a thousand problems, so Reid lowered his hand to his side.

Luke stared at him, like he’d known exactly what Reid was thinking, and then he moved back to let him go.

Reid left the room without looking back, forcing his mind off Luke, and the way Luke could look at him as if he mattered more than anyone else in the world.

Without Borders 12
Title: Without Borders 12
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Noah remains blind, and he abandons Oakdale and Luke. Luke is left feeling guilty and lost, so he decides to focus on the foundation and PR work. Luke moves the foundation to Rome and avoids America. However, two years later, his family in Oakdale has been pressuring him to visit, and when an old friend calls him with a problem with her medical organization’s image, Luke agrees to fly to Miami. But can he turn their best doctor into a media star? As the cameras roll, Luke soon finds himself in a “pretend” relationship with Dr. Oliver …
Warning: none
Rating: PG- NC-17
First of all, a big shout of thanks to the amazing rhiannonhero! Thanks also to lovely traciamc



Chapter Twelve



Luke’s ass had never felt so sore. His entire body was moving like he’d just ridden a horse for hours. Of course, in this case, he was the one ridden. To say he felt like Reid owned his ass, had pounded on and kissed every inch of it, would be no exaggeration.

Sexual satisfaction hung in the air between them; Luke was sure Damian would smell it. But he didn’t care. Reid was by his side about to meet his father. Luke’s eyes drank him in hungrily.

“Ready to go in?” Luke asked him. “Don’t worry. My father promised me he’d behave.”

Reid gave him a doubtful look.

“I shouldn’t have shared so much about Damian and my childhood,” Luke said. “He’s really supportive now.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Course if he drives you to a camp for straightening queers, I’d advise you to leap out of the car.”

“Right.”

“If he offers to take you to a mental hospital, I’d stash some rope to climb out the window.”

“Got it.”

“If he tells you he’s dying, just give him a full brain scan.”

“Can do.”

“See,” Luke grinned widely, “it’ll be easy.”

Reid grasped his hand. “And this is the parent you feel closest to?”

Luke shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“What’d you tell your father about me anyhow?”

“Hmm,” Luke pretended to think about it, “that you’re rude, egotistical… and have a gigantic cock that’s fully loaded and uses me frequently as a sexual target. “

The corners of Reid’s mouth kicked up.

“Ahh, so you were honest with him,” Reid said.

Luke gasped with laughter. He was about to kiss Reid when he heard a familiar shout.

“Luciano!” His father called, coming out of the restaurant. “There you are.”

“Luciano?” Reid whispered to him as they both watched Damian coming over.

“My birth name,” Luke said.

“You mean I don’t even know the legal name of the man I’m sleeping with?” Reid asked.

“Turned on?” Luke grinned again.

“Rock hard,” Reid replied.

Then Damian reached them and they all went inside.

***

Damian was charming and civil at dinner at Joe’s Stone Crab, mainly because of Jessica. Luke ate his crab and watched them, wondering when Damian would go after Reid. He knew it would happen. Reid, meanwhile, seemed content to eat his meal and rub his foot up at Luke’s ankle.

“Stone crab,” Jessica smiled, “what a treat.”

“Here,“ Damian dipped a piece of the crab into melted butter. “Open your mouth.”

Jessica Griffin, head of WMB, let out a girlish giggle. She let Damian feed her. Then Damian dipped a piece for himself. He stared at Jessica as he ate it and then licked the butter slowly from his lips.

“This is embarrassing,” Luke groaned in Reid’s ear. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Reid shrugged, “Jessica deserves a night out. And I’d say your father’s about to give it to her all night long.”

“Reid!”

“So your dad is on the prowl,” Reid laughed, “and he isn’t bad to watch in action. He’s kind of attractive to see flirting.”

“Are you saying my father is hot?” Luke’s tone became indignant.

“Hot and climbing all over Jessica,” Reid grinned. He stared at Luke. “Relax. I like the younger Grimaldi version. The pouty, high maintenance one.”

“Thanks a lot,” Luke had to smile though, Reid’s foot was now moving along his thigh.
Jessica and Damian devoured their crab.

Reid was much more meticulous with his. He was the only one at the table who’d refused to wear the bib. “Not even when I was a baby,” Reid said to the waiter with a look. Now Luke watched Reid take his tiny fork and wield it expertly in one hand, pulling out the meat in full chunks. He didn’t have one drop of butter or juice on him.

Luke broke off a small crab leg and sucked at the juice. At the same time, he rubbed his foot back at Reid. Reid looked at him, sucking on the crab leg. His eyes darkened. A moment later, Luke felt Reid’s hand glide over his crotch.

“Do you like the crab?” Damian was asking Luke.

“I do,” Luke said, his voice a little thick. He broke off another leg.

“Me too.” Reid said, “the crab is very,” he watched Luke a moment, “succulent.”

“I was reading an article about the dangers of mercury,” Jessica offered, “but they said shellfish was fine.”

“Just what we need the FDA to be doing,” Reid said, “doing more studies where they take back the findings of their older studies. Genius use of time. “

Damian had finished his crab, cracking it right down the middle. He ordered Jessica some more wine and toasted her.

“To Miami beauty,” he said smoothly.

Jessica let out another giggle.

Luke met Reid’s eyes.

“He gets away with anything with that accent,” Luke whispered.

“Fake that accent with me later, Luciano, “ Reid flirted, “and I’ll do anything you want.”

Luke suddenly felt his father watching them.

“Dr. Oliver,” Damian said pleasantly. “Tell me about your medical background.”

“It’s all on file,” Reid shrugged, “I’m sure you checked. “

“Reid’s very dedicated,” Jessica offered.

“And your personal background? “ Damian pursued. “Your family?”

“Not a concern,” Reid said.

“Reid’s private.” Jessica smiled fondly at him.

“I’m not private,“ Reid said irritated. “I’m professional.”

“Why is it not professional to share your family with some colleagues?” Damian countered.

“Dad,” Luke injected quickly, “I’m sure Reid will share things if he wants to.”

Luke uneasily sipped his water. He looked at Damian’s passive face and wasn’t fooled. Luke gave him a look to back off. Damian smiled innocently at him.

Luke was also certain Damian had checked Reid’s background thoroughly- all of it. He probably already knew everything from the color of Reid’s baby blanket right through his graduation day. He frowned at his father.

Then Luke turned his attention back to his crab. Nervously, he attempted to open it up. Every time he tried to crack it, the crab kept on slipping away from him. Luke attempted to hold it in place, and again the crab moved slightly . With an impatient snort, Reid suddenly took Luke’s plate and utensils, opened up the meat in one quick cut, and then slid the plate back to him. Luke looked at Reid, and he smiled at him. Reid’s mouth twitched slightly. He gave Luke back his cracker and his fork. Their fingers touched. Luke’s smile grew dreamy. He gazed into Reid’s eyes.

“Reid,” Jessica turned to him. Reid reluctantly took his eyes off of Luke. “Speaking of your professional life…I need your surgical skills, I know you aren’t due back yet, but can you come to the hospital in the morning?”

“Why? I’m not scheduled for anything until Wednesday.”

“I know. But we had an accident victim brought in- bad head trauma. If you can’t come in, Channing will do the procedure-”

“Channing? “ Reid scoffed. “I can operate better than him with just my pinky.”

Jessica smiled slightly, “So you can come in?”

“I’ll be there.”

“It’s a hard case.”

Reid shifted all of his attention to Jessica, dropping his foot from Luke’s. “Tell me.” Reid’s face lit up.

Jessica went over the facts of the case, but Luke was no longer listening. Luke studied Reid.

Luke could see a little eagerness in his eyes. He was clearly missed operating and being in the hospital, despite their time together. Luke could almost smell Reid’s sudden desire to cut into a brain.

“If we only had more equipment- “ Jessica was saying to Reid now.

“We will,” Reid paused and looked at Damian , “soon.”

Damian inclined his head in acknowledgement. Luke caught his breath. Here we go, he thought.

“What are your plans for the neuro-wing?” Damian asked him directly. “Can you tell me, Dr. Oliver?”

“Call him Reid,“ Luke said quickly.

They ignored him.

“I plan to make the neuro-wing the best damn brain trauma unit in America.” Reid met Damian’s eyes.

“You seem very certain of yourself.”

“If you have read my file, “ Reid said simply, “you already know I’m the best.”

Damian grunted. He looked at Jessica. “And you second this?”

Jessica nodded. “Reid is excellent.” She gave Damian a wide smile. “And you're so generous to help WMB.”

Damian preened a little. “I enjoy helping.”

“Not every person with money does.”

Damian leaned closer to her. “Thank you. My heart sings when you are pleased.”

Even Reid rolled his eyes at that one. Luke smothered a laugh. Jessica glowed.

The meal continued. Reid had survived the first test.

It wasn’t long though, when Jessica’s beeper went off. “I’m sorry- work.” She looked around regretfully. “I have to leave.”

“The night is young!” Damian protested. “ Come back after your work. We still need dessert. A nightcap!”

“Not for me. Once they have me at that hospital, I’ll be stuck there all night. Ask Reid “ she laughed. “He knows how it is.”

She leaned down and kissed Damian on both cheeks. “Besides,” Jessica rubbed her
stomach. “I’m stuffed. Thank you for the wonderful meal.”

“And wonderful company,” Damian said.

Jessica beamed at him. “I haven’t had this much fun flirting, since my ex-husband Duncan took me to a Scottish castle,“ she said simply.

“Then you must come to Malta,” Damian said, his eyes locked on Jessica, “and see my castle by the sea.”

Jessica sighed. “Sounds heavenly. “

“To a future date with a lovely lady,” Damian lifted his drink to her.

Jessica sighed again. She came around and hugged Luke. Then she nodded at Reid.

“Behave,” she told Reid.

Reid raised his eyebrow at her, “I think I need to be telling you that.”

Jessica blushed. “All work and no play….” She shrugged. Then she went to Damian and blew him a kiss.

“Call me,” she said.

“I will,” Damian rose to his feet. Luke and Reid followed suit.

“Marvelous woman,” Damian said with a smile.

When she was out of sight though, Damian’s charming smile faded, “Let’s order dessert now. Something sweet. And discuss other matters.”

“ Dad,“ Luke pointed at Reid’s plate, “Reid’s still eating his main course.”

Damian smiled, “Alright. We wait on the dessert a few minutes. But perhaps a drink for now, Dr. Oliver?”

Reid nodded yes.

Damian ordered two brandies.

“You were very smooth with Jessica ,” Luke told his father, trying to keep the conversation in neutral.

“I’m a good talker,” Damian shrugged. He sipped his drink.

“Well, me too,” Luke laughed, “Ask Reid. I have great oral skills.”

Reid and Damian stared at him.

“I mean, talking skills,” Luke blushed.

“I absolutely agree,” Reid said with a smirk. He drank some of the brandy.

Damian lowered his drink and turned a steely eye on Reid.

“So Dr. Oliver,” Damian began, “you explained the wing somewhat. And I do believe in Jessica’s good opinion. But, “ Damian paused, “ I need to know. Just what are your intentions with my son?”

They both looked at Luke.

Luke flushed. “Dad-“

Reid looked at Damian unflinchingly. “What I plan to do with Luke is none of your business. Luke’s a grown man.”

“You wouldn’t be the first to try and use the Grimaldis,” Damian said, “for our money or power. Perhaps this is your real interest in Luciano?”

Reid slowly lowered his fork.

“You got me,” Reid said and clapped his hands together. “Figured out my master plan. I’m not really a brilliant neurosurgeon trying to build a wing at all.” Reid shook off Luke’s arm on his shoulder. “ All those brains I operated on and repaired were just flukes. See I knew Luke was coming to Miami, so for the last eight years or so, I’ve been here plotting, waiting,” Reid rubbed his hands together like he was scheming. “I knew he would be unable to resist me. Once he gives me those funds, I really I plan to take Luke’s money and live in Key West and spend my time singing Jimmy Buffet tunes.”

“Great joking,” Luke tried to give a laugh, ”he’s got an odd sense of humor. He just –“

“Seriously,” Reid said. “That was my plan.”

“Please!” Luke said.

“Course I knew Luke would be fall right into the trap in about one day.”

“Reid-“

“Okay, maybe two.”

Luke turned and scowled at Reid. Reid picked up his fork, easily extracting the crab meat and chewed.

“Many people aren’t what they seem,” Damian said coldly. “Even in our own family, there were imposters.”

“Ahh,“ Reid said, “now it makes sense.” He nodded sagely. “ Paranoia in one of the first signs of it,” Reid said.

“What?” Damian said.

“Oh boy,” Luke mumbled and dropped his head into his hands.

“Of Capgras delusion. It a neurological disorder.” Reid talked on while he stuffed more crab into his mouth. “Patients think everybody is out to get them and nobody is who they seem. Might want to have yourself checked out.” Reid gave a small smile and tapped at the side of his head. “Just saying.”

Luke looked up and then squirmed at Damian’s face.

“Most people don’t speak to me that way,” Damian replied slowly and bared his teeth at Reid.

Reid shrugged, “I’m unique.”

“Dad,” Luke tried to interrupt. “Reid.”

“Noah never spoke to me like that.”

The name hung in the air.

“I’m sure.”

“He might be easily found, you know.”

“Dad!” Luke tried to jump in again. “I wouldn’t want to find Noah.”

Both men ignored him.

“I’m sure he’s out there somewhere,” Reid agreed. “He’s probably blindly jacking off right now, regretting letting Luke go, and knowing it was the worst mistake of his stupid, mediocre life.”

Damian turned his attention to Luke. “He called me, you know.” He spoke softly.

Luke caught his lip.

Reid frowned.

“Right before he walked out on you. “ Damian seemed lost in thought. His eyes glittered with an intense emotion.

“What – what did he say?”

Luke knew his face must have showed his apprehension then.How he wished he had a face that registered nothing. His heart pounded.Had Noah revealed that he’d hit Luke?

Reid sensed his alarm and gently rested his hand on Luke’s left thigh.

“He called and told me that you were a mess. “ Damian’s voice was clipped, his mouth tight. “That he was concerned and you were drinking again. He thought I should know how bad you’d gotten. ”

Luke clenched his teeth. “That’s sounds like him. I bet he was all morally righteous with you on the phone and told you how much he respects you and how much of a disaster I am.“ Luke swore, “Fucking ass kisser.”

Damian’s mouth fell. “Luciano,” he said, “I’ve never heard you speak this rudely before.”

“Blame me,” Reid said suddenly, “I’m a really bad influence on him.” His hand soothingly made a circle of warmth on Luke’s leg.

Luke’s heart was in his throat. He didn’t want to tell Damian how ugly it had all gotten, but he would tell him if it was necessary. He took a deep breath and gathered up his resolve. “Dad, “ he said, “Noah wasn’t concerned about me; he wasn’t what he appeared.”

“I know that,” Damian said abruptly. “I am a Grimaldi, after all.“ Damian’s face went taut with emotion.

“What’d you tell him?” Luke asked.

“That if he truly wanted what’s best for you, then he’d be helping you into rehab and not planning to take you away from the family.“ Damian’s mouth tightened. “The next thing I heard he’d abandoned you.”

Damian’s eyes glittered dangerously. He downed the rest of his brandy. He examined Reid again.

“So, forgetting Mr. Mayer, I repeat, what’re your intentions with my son?” Damian’s voice was soft as silk.

“Dad,” Luke stopped him. “I appreciate where this is coming from. I know it’s from your heart. But like Reid said- I’m a grown up. “

Damian stared at Luke. His steely face cracked a moment, and Luke spotted the vulnerability just underneath.

“I can count on Reid,” Luke told his father firmly. “He’s a pain in the ass, but – “

“Not an ass kisser,” Reid finished for him, making Luke smile.

Luke felt some of the tightness finally easing out of his chest.

Reid pushed away his dinner plate.

Reid glanced back at Luke briefly, but Luke saw warmth in his eyes. Then Reid looked at Damian. “Look, all kidding aside, I’ll say this once –“

Whatever it was, Reid didn’t get the chance. Damian’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it. “Jessica,” He mouthed. “Yes?“ Damian said, he played with the edge of his napkin. “Not as long as you thought, eh? No, I don’t mind late. After your work then. Bellismo ! I look forward to having you,” Damian smiled, “with me.”

He hung up and looked at them. “ A little fun planned.“ Damian said. “ Now where were we?”

“We were here,” Luke told him. He turned to a surprised Reid. He firmly clasped Reid’s mouth and kissed him breathless.

“I’m also, finally, having fun,” Luke told his father. “I’m happy.”

Luke beamed a smile at both men.

Both men seemed unable to resist smiling back at him.

“Now we can order dessert.” Reid said. He signaled to the waiter and his cart full of sweets.

“Cheesecake or pie?” Damian asked, a subtle glint of humor on his own face.

“Reid will eat both, “ Luke answered absently. He held up a hand to stop the waiter from coming over. “But one more thing. “

Both men sighed.

Luke ignored that. He turned to Damian. “I expect Reid to get the foundation funds, with no strings, and have them released ASAP. You,” Luke said thrusting finger at Reid, “will go over the plans in detail with my father and be agreeable about it. And you,“ Luke thrust the same finger now at Damian, “will listen to my boyfriend and be charming to him from now on.”

When both men were silent, Luke gave a nod of satisfaction.

Luke saw Reid and Damian exchange a meaningful glance.

He waved the waiter over with the dessert cart.

They all started to eat.

“He is rather bossy,” Reid complained to Damian, as he ate some pie.

“He gets that from his mother,” Damian said smoothly, and took a bite of cheesecake.

***

As they waited for their cars outside the valet, Damian took Luke’s hand.

Reid had gone to the restroom. It was just the two of them.

“I leave in a day. I want to spend more time with you.”

“Me too.”

“Remember,” Damian told him, ” It’s fine to have a fun fling. But use your head.”

“It’s more than that.”

“Is it?” Damian just looked at him.

Reid came back to them. He looked from Luke to Damian.

Luke smiled. He could feel sparks of attraction starting between him and Reid. He linked his fingers with Reid’s.

“Well,” Damian shrugged as his car pulled up. “We’ll have all the time in the world soon.”
Luke turned back to his father. “What do you mean?”

“When you come home,” Damian said simply.

Luke stared at his father.

“Well ah, “ Luke stuttered, “I have a press release to do, maybe two.” Luke said, feeling Reid’s eyes on him.

Damian nodded. ”And then home, yes? The foundation needs you. Your mail is stacked up too high.”

Luke bit his lip. “I’m sure, but-“

He looked again at Reid. He waited a second for Reid to jump in and demand Luke stay in Miami.

Reid stared back at him.

“How’s the weather in Rome right now?” Luke said weakly.

“Ah, rain. Your office view might be cloudy. But it will be so good to work side by side again, right?”

“Right,” Luke said distractedly. Why wasn’t Reid giving him a sign to stay?

“It was good to meet you,” Damian was saying now smoothly to Reid, shaking his hand. “I’m sure Luciano will enjoy vacation time here.”

“Thanks.”

They both watched as Damian climbed into his car.

“He really loves having me in Rome,” Luke murmured.

Reid said nothing.

Their car came. Luke tipped the valet and they went in.

Luke rested his hands on the wheel a second. He had Reid had not discussed the future. He waited. Reid didn’t speak.

“Aren’t you going to ask me?”

“Ask what?”

“Ask me not to go back.”

Slowly, Reid shook his head.

“You’re not?” Luke said, hurt. He turned the key in the ignition, suddenly feeling miserable.

“That’s your decision,” Reid told him.

“I’m asking you to tell me what you think that I should do.” Luke waited. Tell me to stay, please, please, please .

“Like I told your father, “ Reid said as he stared out the car window, “You’re an adult.”

“He has a dream about us- me - being his heir and running the business, you know?”

“Right.”

“He just wants that son and father thing.” Luke swallowed hard. “And I just want to make him happy.” He attempted a quick glance at Reid’s set face. “And you . And me.”

Reid made a rude noise, “You can’t make everybody happy, Luke,” he snorted. “that’s not the way the world works.”

“Says the man who doesn’t care if he makes anybody happy,” Luke shot back defensively.

Reid didn’t get how Damian had helped him through so much. How he’d lifted him up. Saved him.

“Do you want me to stay?” Luke asked again, as he turned off the exit-ramp and headed to the condo.

“That’s a choice you have to make,” Reid said again. His lips came together firmly. He wouldn’t say more.

They pulled up to the condo and they both got out. Luke held his keys in his hand so tightly he could feel a mark.

“So you don’t care,” Luke said angrily, “what I do. Where I live?“

“That isn’t what I said,” Reid began.

“No,” Luke interrupted. “You don’t say much, do you?”

“Well, how ‘bout you?” Reid replied tightly.

“What?”

“You could have just told Damian you were staying here. But no. You were all – ‘Yes, father. No, father. How’s the weather.’ It was idiotic. If you want to stay then stay- if you don’t-“ Reid stopped abruptly.

Luke folded his arms across his chest. Why wouldn’t Reid just ask him to stay?

“Is this a pride thing?” Luke asked him.

“Get over yourself,” Reid snorted.

“What?”

“You think everything revolves around you. You’re not the center of my universe.”

“I never said I was,” Luke’s voice was hollow sounding.

“Did I hit a nerve? “ Reid said. “Need me to reassure you now? ” Reid shook his head emphatically. “Do you ever think for yourself?”

“Shut up!”

“No, I’m interested. Did you ever make a decision without your family or your ex? Did you ever take control of anything?” Reid went up to Luke.

Luke body shook with anger.

“You’re such a jerk. I’d forgotten what an asshole you can be.”

“And I’ve forgotten what a spoiled brat you can be - “ Reid drew his breath in.

Their faces were inches apart. Luke’s hands were pushed against Reid’s chest. He could feel the warmth of Reid’s skin beneath his shirt.

Luke dropped his hands and took a step back from him.

Reid also stepped back.

“I’m not doing this,” Reid said quietly, and Luke felt a stab of deep hurt.

Reid rubbed his fingers over his face quickly. “I think I should go in. Jessica wants me at work to help her tomorrow and…” He fell silent.

“Fine,” Luke shrugged, “whatever.”

Reid started away.

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Luke added in his bitchiest tone. “Do whatever you need to do.”

“You too,” Reid said coldly.

He watched Reid walk away. Luke felt like he was burning up inside. He turned the air on in his car and rolled the windows down, but nothing helped. He started back to his hotel, but then drove past it. Luke cruised up and down AIA.

He drove along the beach. He glanced hopefully at his phone as it buzzed. Reid? No. It was his mother. Luke ignored the call. He’d been ignoring her calls for a while. He drove faster. How had this happened? How had they gone from “I love you” this afternoon to this huge fight? It was a stupid fight too. He knew it was ridiculous. He should turn around . Go back. Luke shook his head in confusion, a little stunned. No, he wasn’t going to beg Reid to have him stay. He wasn’t going to be whiny and needy. Luke turned onto the highway and raced the car down I-95. Let the cops pull him over. He didn’t care. He put his foot down and felt the speed. Faster, faster- Luke drove on. He drove all night.

Reid never called.

At dawn, Luke slowly made his way back to his hotel, his mind numb, his body aching for Reid. He took a long shower and crawled into the bed. Luke was painfully aware of Reid’s absence; how he was craving him. Not for sex, but just to be near him. He wanted to nuzzle his face in Reid’s neck and to wake up in his steady arms.

Luke twisted in his bed fretfully. He would fix this. He would go to the hospital in a few hours and have it out again with Reid. He’d make Reid admit he wanted Luke to stay. He’d force the words out of him.

Luke hugged the pillow. Every time he squeezed his eyes shut, he still saw Reid’s face, his beautiful face. Luke could picture Reid in the shower as he leaned in to kiss Luke’s lips, Reid trying not to laugh at Luke’s doing yoga, Reid’s eyes the night he told Luke that he could stay, Reid’s intensity at the moment he’d said he loved him. He’s mine and I’m his . Luke sighed and glided his hand over the pillow next to him. There was no way this was over, no way. A few hot tears escaped Luke’s eyes. He touched the pillow again. He’s mine and I’m his .

Sleep finally found him.

Title: Without Borders 1/14
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Noah remains blind, and he abandons Oakdale and Luke. Luke is left feeling guilty and lost, so he decides to focus on the foundation and PR work. Luke moves the foundation to Rome and avoids America. However, two years later, his family in Oakdale has been pressuring him to visit, and when an old friend calls him with a problem with her medical organization’s image, Luke agrees to fly to Miami. But can he turn their best doctor into a media star? As the cameras roll, Luke soon finds himself in a “pretend” relationship with Dr. Oliver …
Warning: Sexually explicit content (some parts)
Rating: PG- NC-17 (depends)

First of all, a big shout of thanks to the amazing rhiannonhero! Thanks for encouraging me not to throw this story away, and for kicking my butt at all the right times.
Thanks also to the lovely traciamc for reading my lazy typos, and chatting with me about James Franco.

A/N
Without Medical Borders (WMB) is a fictional organization, but is modeled loosely on Doctors Without Borders.
Most of these places in South Beach really do exist.


Chapter One



Describe me any way you want. Say that I’m handsome, or affectionate, or sweet. Maybe I look like your brother, your friend, your old lover. I don’t care what people think. I’m not the kid I used to be. I’m no longer innocent, and I won’t go back.

My boyfriend had an accident. He blamed me for it, and maybe it was my fault. No doctor we found could help Noah get his sight restored, so he turned bitter. He left me and broke off all contact. I spent the year in a bottle, continuing to disappoint my family and what was left of my friends. I was hospitalized, went to rehab, and was hospitalized again. My parents would not let me near my siblings. My foundation was floundering. It took nearly dying from damaging my kidney to get me straight again. I had a second kidney operation and woke up feeling glad to be alive and foolish to have ever touched alcohol. I woke up a different person.

So here I am, trying to find a place between that old Luke and the new. The foundation is once again running smoothly, and I have spent this year traveling the world, giving out money. If I couldn’t save Noah, well, at least I have saved others. But it never feels like enough. I will never be able to make up for the loss of his eyesight or my part in that. All I can do is go forward.

Luke looked up from his journal as the captain’s voice came over the loud speaker. He had landed in Miami, still not far enough from Oakdale and those old torments. Luke sighed and closed his journal. He gathered his suitcase and walked alone down the ramp. Intense hot, moist air greeted him, making him feel like he was in a giant sauna. Luke gulped down some water and grabbed a cab over to the headquarters of Without Medical Borders. The cab driver nearly hit several cars on the way over, breaking all the speed records on I-95, but Luke wasn’t worried. The cabbies in Rome drove much worse. Besides, Luke liked speed. He and Damian often raced cars together. He liked racing down the track, pushing the limits of the car. He would have rented one here, if the visit were longer. As the driver stepped on it, Luke gazed out at the palm trees calmly. This place was known as a gay man’s paradise. Too bad he was only here on business.

Soon enough, the cab ride was over, and Luke gave the guy a generous tip. He studied the large, impressive building, which was one part offices and one part a working hospital. The men and women working for WMB were stationed in places all over the world, however all of their assignments started here at the Florida hospital. It was this administrative office that decided what countries the organization would be stationed in, and it was to here that they flew in some of the most serious cases, treating the patients for free and performing operations with equipment not available in some areas of the world.

Usually, Without Medical Borders had great press. But there had been two significant disasters in a short period of time, throwing the organization into chaos. The first incident had involved George Simms, a very important doctor in the organization, whose familiar face was soon splashed all over The New York Times for laundering dirty money through the WMB and other charities, rattling the donors’ trust. The second scandal followed when a WMB helicopter had to abort a landing in North Darfur due to an increase in the violence there. Some people bitterly blamed Without Medical Borders for the many deaths of the locals. They argued that WMB should have taken the risk and landed.

After reading about the disasters in the newspaper, Luke was not surprised at Jessica’s call. Jessica Griffin was the head of the Florida organization. She was a top-notch lawyer, and an old family friend. She had left Oakdale long ago, but Luke had been close with her daughter, Bonnie. She had begged him to come and help.

“Not only is your foundation a huge supporter of our work here,” she’d argued, “but you are the best PR person I know.”

Her timing had been perfect. Normally, Luke might have hesitated to come in person, but he was reluctantly planning to visit his family back home.

“Send me everything on the situation and on your staff,” he told her. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Luke had called Jessica back within hours of her desperate plea. He’d studied the staff at Without Medical Borders, and had found a solution. Luke was feeling pretty pleased with himself when he’d told her, “You have an answer to your image problems right with you in Miami, a Dr. Oliver? I was reading about his work, his latest write ups in medical journals- he’s amazing. His work is cutting edge.”

“Yes,” Jessica had answered, hesitating, ”Reid is a fantastic surgeon, but- “

“He’s young and single and he has a decent face, at least on his staff picture. You need an image booster - Dr. Oliver might be it. “

“Well,” Jessica had said, “I don’t think Reid will agree –“

“Oh, he’s shy? “ Luke had chuckled, spinning around in his office chair. “I can help him get over that.”

“No, not shy,” Jessica had said.

Luke had cut her off. ”Whatever his hang up, I’ll fix it. He’ll be perfect, you’ll see.”

***

Dr. Oliver had apparently complained long and loud about doing any press. Jessica had told Luke that he’d refused to even try and help, but Luke dismissed it. He felt confident that once he met with Dr. Oliver and sold him on the idea, everything would work out fine. He arranged to be Miami for a week. He didn’t think it would take very long to help. Then he planned to travel to Oakdale for a few days. A day or two was all Luke could handle with his family or that town.

***

Luke reached the lobby and was now looking for Dr. Oliver’s office. When he’d asked a nurse for directions, she’d winced and pointed down a hallway. “Good Luck, “ she told him. “Enter at your own risk.” Luke gave her a puzzled thank you.

On his way down the corridor to the office, he paused to look at his recent phone messages. The first one, from Damian, made him smile.

Missed our lunch date today, Luciano. I’m sure you’ve saved the doctors already. Enjoy your trip home. Say hello to your mother for me. D

Since moving to Rome, he and Damian had grown extremely close. The text had made Luke recall their last lunch together.

“Miami has lots of men like you, yes?” Damian had said over their last meal, scooping out a big bowl of Tortelli di Patata for them to share.

“I guess.“ Luke shrugged it off. “I won’t have time for that. “ Luke met his father’s eyes and groaned at the hope in them, “Dad,” Luke said, embarrassed, “I’m not going to Miami to fall in love.”

“I know,” Damian said, chewing his pasta thoughtfully, “but at least have some fun, right? “

Luke nodded. “This from the man who once tried to turn me straight?” he teased his father.

Damian nearly choked as he protested, “A long time ago! ”

Luke laughed and smiled at him, “Just messing with you,” he told him with affection.

“Not funny, Luciano, “ Damian scolded and poured himself a glass of wine, “but I’ve learned from my mistakes.” He suddenly leaned into Luke urgently, “ Now it’s your turn. Don’t let one bad relationship close off your heart.”

Luke didn’t reply. He gazed into the distance. He thought about trying to meet somebody special and let go of his old hurt, but it was so difficult. He’d never told Damian the whole truth about Noah. He’d never told anybody; he’d been too ashamed. Luke turned back to his father. He smiled as Damian drank some Chianti and chatted about work. Miami was just business, Luke thought as he forced himself to eat some pasta, nothing more.

Now, only a few steps away from meeting Dr. Oliver, Luke retrieved his last message and then sighed. Lily had left a small voice mail asking again when he would arrive in Oakdale.

He felt like texting her back with one word: never.

***
As he walked a few more steps to Dr. Oliver’s office, he tried to put his visit home out of his mind. When Luke politely knocked, Dr. Oliver opened the door with an impatient, “What now?”

He stared at Luke, his mouth turned down in a fierce line of displeasure. He was dressed in scrubs and holding a bag of mini-frosted donuts.

Luke heart thudded in his chest. Dr. Oliver’s eyes – god, so blue – met his own wide ones. The man was gorgeous. His staff picture had not captured those eyes or the perfect shape of his face. Luke felt his breath getting stuck in his throat.

The frown remained when Luke introduced himself. “Oh right, that,” Dr. Oliver gave a long-suffering sigh and gestured reluctantly for Luke to come inside.

In contrast to Dr. Oliver’s harsh greeting and casual dress, Luke stood there in his Prada suit and sparkling loafers and offered a big smile.

“So,“ Dr. Oliver had drawled arrogantly, “you’re the King of Spin.”

Luke felt shocked at the blunt insult.

“And you’re the arrogant SOB who won’t help out your own hospital,” Luke countered as soon as he’d recovered.

Dr. Oliver’s mouth curled in distaste. ”Who has time for the endless parade of interviews? I’m actually busy, you know, saving lives? I don’t have time for bad tabloid TV.” Still holding his donuts, he crossed his arms over his chest.

Luke shrugged. “Make time.”

Dr. Oliver frowned and clearly bit back whatever rude retort he’d wanted to say. His eyes were angry and piercing.

Luke swallowed.

“Meanwhile,” Luke said, trying to break the tension, “since I’m here, why don’t you show me this place?”

“I’m not a tour guide,” he said crossly.

“And this isn’t Disney World.” Luke replied. “I get it. But I want a tour anyway.”

“I can get a cute nurse to fill you in? “ Dr. Oliver suggested.

Luke’s mouth twisted .

“I want you,” Luke answered.

They stared at each other a moment. A muscle jumped in Dr. Oliver’s cheek.

“Fine,” he said. He tore open the donut package, and sugar flew everywhere, including all over Luke’s suit.

“Oops. Sorry about your Versace there,” Dr. Oliver said, sounding unapologetic. He handed Luke a napkin from his desk.

Luke smiled coolly, “Prada actually,” Luke brushed off the mess, ”and I have lots of suits.”

Dr. Oliver raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure. “

He motioned for Luke to follow.

“Let’s just make this quick,” Dr. Oliver said, “ I don’t have time to hold your hand.”

“Quick,” Luke agreed, “just the way I like it.”

The doctor stared at Luke again. Then a reluctant smile touched his lips.

They walked from department to department.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oliver was stubbornly not speaking. He would show Luke a room and grunt, “Peds, “ or “Trauma,” and that was it.

Luke stopped walking and poked at his side. “You do realize that I can fix this mess only if I understand how things work both here and abroad?”

“I have an idea,” Dr. Oliver tapped the side of his head mockingly, “it’s called the internet. Use it.”

He started to walk on. Luke hurried over and grabbed at his arm. “I did use it. But forgive me, millions of my foundation’s money is involved, and my friend has asked me to help. I actually wanted to know how things work first hand.“

Dr. Oliver looked down at where Luke held his arm.

“What’d you want from me, Mr. Snyder? “ he said.

Luke made a frustrated gesture. “Not much. Some conversation. We chit chat, exchange ideas. You tell me why this place is so special and how we can save it.”

Dr. Oliver’s face became pinched, “Yeah, “ he shook his head, “I’m incapable of small talk.”

“I’m beginning to see that. “ He was also beginning to see why Jessica had been so hesitant about using Dr. Oliver for the face of WMB.

They stared at each other a moment. Then Luke dropped his eyes nervously. He stared instead at the collar of Dr. Oliver’s shirt, and couldn’t help noticing the creamy skin there. Luke had the strangest desire to press his lips to it.

Just then, a familiar voice called his name.

“So happy you made it!” Jessica said, walking over to them.

“Me too,” Luke answered, giving her a smile.

“Reid,” Jessica Griffin said tentatively, “I do hope you’re behaving yourself with Mr. Snyder.” She gave him a firm glance.

“I’m being perfectly civil,” Dr. Oliver declared hotly. “See?” He gave them both a giant, fake smile that looked like it would hurt his teeth.

“Is he?” Jessica raised an eyebrow.

Luke met Dr. Oliver’s blue eyes.

“Sure,” Luke drawled, “he’s a Girl Scout.”

“You should see my merit badges,” Dr. Oliver agreed.

Luke met his magnetic eyes again. Another surprise flash of attraction shot through Luke’s body. He took a step back. Luke wasn’t certain if it was just his imagination, or if Dr. Oliver’s eyes had quickly slid over his body, but he could feel heat going right to his cheeks.

“Well, let me get you off the hook for now,” Jessica was saying to Dr. Oliver, “I really want to take Luke here to lunch.”

“Yes, do that,” Dr. Oliver said. He nodded, relieved to be dismissed and ready to take off.

“Lunch sounds great.” Luke smiled with extra sweetness at Dr. Oliver, “Nice meeting you. We’ll talk soon.”

“Can’t wait,” Dr. Oliver answered sarcastically.

Luke looked at Jessica, “But let me take you out,” he told her generously. “Name any place you want to go.”

“Really? Fantastic!” Jessica exclaimed.

He caught a hungry look on Dr. Oliver’s expression at the mention of a lunch out.

Luke smiled again, “Enjoy the cafeteria food,“ he told him, giving his arm a pat. Luke almost laughed at Dr. Oliver’s disappointed expression.

Luke couldn’t help noticing, as he walked away, that Dr. Oliver had a firm, beautifully-shaped ass.

Title: The Last Doughnut
Author: Marsabi
Summary: When Damian disinherits Luke, can he survive in the real world?
Warning: Angst –well you know- the confrontation is here
Rating: PG
Part 14 Day Grief


His father was calling his name.

“Luciano ? Where are you? Luciano?”

Luke knew he must answer and soon. His heart skipped. His breath was caught in his throat. He needed just a second longer.

“Luciano?”

He was at his computer about to press the send button, about to destroy his relationship with his family forever, and he might be about to get caught –

---yet all Luke could think about was that he hates and loves them at the same time.

An hour ago, he finally went to the safe and tried the old combination. Damian had not changed it; his father was shrewd as a fox but so arrogant. It was beyond his imagination to ever think that anybody could outwit the great Damian Grimaldi. Of course, his father had never sat down and spoken to Reid. If he had, he might have been more cautious.

If he had taken the time to really watch Luke with Reid, Damian might have seen that he had underestimated the depths of Luke’s heart too.

Now it was done, except for a push of a button. He would send it to Reid and wait.

Luke rubbed his eyes tiredly and rested his elbows on the table. His finger still hovered about the mouse.

“Luciano! What are you doing? Didn’t you hear me calling you?”

Luke looked at Damian, who was standing in the hallway now. “Sorry.”

“I want you to tell your mother that I have to go out. She’s upstairs resting and I don’t want to disturb her. What are you doing? You look guilty,” Damian added, and started to walk over to him.

Luke tried to be quick with his response. “I was writing- I’m sorry- I know you hate it when I write my stories. “ Luke felt the smile he forced onto his lips turning numb.

Damian’s eyes were on him. He was closing the gulf between them with every step.

I’ll go to Reid. Soon this will be over and I’ll go to him. I’ll tell Reid how blue his eyes are and how sweet his voice is and how our bodies fit together so well . I’ll make love to him as if it were our first time- ----

Luke pressed down on the send button.

I’ll hold him and love him forever.

Luke closed his lap top just as Damian reached him.

“You’re right, I don’t like those stories. Waste of time, “ Damian said.

“So you’ve always told me.” Luke felt his stomach tightening.

“And yet you don’t listen, right?” Damian held a lecturing finger in his face. “ Cause here you are again writing. Those foolish stories. You need to grow up and take your responsibilities more seriously.”

“Do I?”

”Yes. Why not focus on what’s important?”

“And what’s that?” Luke felt the rage boiling inside of him and kept his gaze down.

“That you’re the heir to Grimaldi Shipping.”

“I’m not the heir to anything! “ Luke spat the words out at his father before he could stop himself. He looked up at him, all of Luke’s resentment suddenly visible in his expressive eyes.

Luke pushed away from the computer and stood up slowly, his feet felt like they were in concrete.

He’d done it now. There was no going back.

The information had been sent at least; he’d done that right. Reid would take care of it and he would be safe.

“What the hell is this, Luciano?” Damian hissed out softly. He suddenly grabbed Luke by the shoulders and pulled him close. “What are you talking about?”

Luke flinched. He turned head and tried to pull his arm free.

“I’m not your heir,” Luke said, his voice cracking. “I’m not anything to you.”

Damian released him in surprise, and Luke rubbed at his skin where his father’s fingers had been. Then he hugged himself and rocked back and forth on his heels like a child.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Damian said coolly.

“You’d deny it? I have the letter you sent me.”

“What letter?”

He came at Damian, flinging words at him like weapons: “You stand there and act like you don’t know. You make me sick. Grimaldi heir? Bullshit!”Luke’s rage spewed out of him. “ You disinherited me, remember? Then you went after my boyfriend – his job, his reputation. For what? So I’ll be that perfect son again? Guess what? “ Luke blinked back tears from his eyes. ”He never existed! “

“I didn’t send a letter- “ Damian denied .

Luke laughed hysterically. “You’re such a liar!”

“I didn’t send a letter.” Two spots of red were coloring Damian’s cheeks. His voice had turned razor sharp.

“He didn’t send it. I did.”

Luke and Damian both jumped at the sound of her voice.

Lily stood there at the bottom of the staircase. Her eyes like chips of ice.

“You did?” Luke repeated.

Lily gave a slightly, regal nod. “I did,” she repeated.

Luke felt like his head was about to rocket off of his body.

“Why?” Luke said in a small voice.

“For us! Our family!” Lily came right up to Luke , until they were face to face. “You were destroying us. Ripping us to shreds. Damian spent the whole summer in Malta upset. Your brother and sisters cried over you. And did you care? No. You’re off with that snake of a man.”

Luke stepped back from her twisted face.

“Cara, calm down,” Damian tried to restrain her. She shook him off.

Lily drew in a sharp breath.

“I thought if I fooled you with those papers from Damian’s lawyers and you assumed that we cut you off financially, you’d come back to us.”

“Why didn’t you just have him do it? Why lie and fake the letter?” Luke asked.

Lily glanced at Damian. “You’re his only child- his blood. He’s fond of the others, but…” She shrugged, “ I didn’t think your father would ever need to know. I thought it would be a few days, maybe a week, and you’d return to the house. But you didn’t. All these other people started helping you.”

“Cause they care about me!” Luke’s voice came out high-pitched.

“Care about you?” Lily gave a shrill laugh. “ They let you get beaten up. I care about you. Your father and I care. ”

“Why do you care?” Luke said in a frozen tone.

The simple question rendered Lily speechless.

“You’re my son,” Lily finally stammered out.

They watched each other like children in a staring contest, daring each other to blink.

“ None of this is for me. “ Luke spoke haltingly. “I used to think, when I was a boy that you were a terrific mom. But now I see that you didn’t protect me. You put your own wants ahead of me. Always. You let bad things happen, so that life could be easier for you. “ Luke swallowed back the bitterness nearly choking him. “ That’s how you care for me? What kind of mother did that make you, in the end?”

“Luciano, enough! Stop this. Your mother can’t take any more of the pain that you’re causing her. “

“She committed fraud, “ Luke said to Damian. “She had fake legal documents drawn up to let me believe that you-“ He shook his head. “How can you defend her ?”

“She’s my wife,” Damian said simply. “Her intentions were good.”

Luke sucked in some air painfully . He stared at Damian. “And going after Reid? Using Casey? Was that you or was that Mom?”

“Going after that man? That was a pleasure. ” Damian’s face was a cold mask. “Your mother needed my help .We wanted to save our family. Can you understand that at all? She came to me. So I went after him, yes. I’d do it again. He’s nothing . Garbage. Worse than trash.”

Luke’s breathing was the only audible sound in the room. He felt like his lungs were straining.

“You’re not going to touch him. Or hurt his reputation again.” Luke narrowed his eyes at his father. A small, warning voice inside of his head told him to stop. Not to say any more. He was supposed to wait for Reid. But Luke just couldn’t take it one more moment.

He stepped all the way to Damian, so that there was only a sliver of space between them.

“ Do you know why you won’t ever trouble him again? Cause I went into the safe this morning, copied your files and took your flash drive. I have the crooked books. I have the proof. I have it all,” Luke told Damian rigidly, “And if you ever hurt Reid , I’ll send you to jail.”

The threat hung there in the dead silence.

“Well, “ Damian said crisply, almost proudly. “You are not so different from me after all.
Go ahead. Try. You can’t threaten me and succeed.“

“It’s not just you I’m threatening,” Luke answered back and looked at Lily.

Lily stiffened, her eyes glazed with hurt. “You’re threatening me now?”

“Your forged documents are a crime. “

“I wanted to stop you from ruining your life. Is that a surprise? “ Lily said, focusing on Luke’s face. “Everything I’ve done has been for you. To save you .“

She reached a hand out to him. Luke ducked away.

“I’m saving myself.” Luke whole face hardened.

Lily began to sob. She buried herself in Damian’s shoulder.

“And by the way,” Luke said to Damian, “those stories you hate? With Maddie’s encouragement, I sent one to a little magazine in New York and it’s going to be published. Want to know what it’s about? “ Luke’s mouth trembled a second and then twisted up in grief. “Me. The camp. Being gay. It’s just a small press, but who knows what’s next? Now everybody can read about your queer son.”

“Just go, “Damian said quietly, wrapping a protective arm around Lily. “You’ve done enough damage here, Luciano. “ Damian gestured to the door. “You have your wish. You’re free. Go and don’t ever come back.”

Luke picked up his computer and headed to the door. He could feel their hatred at his back. With trembling fingers, he stepped into the harsh sunlight. He walked a few steps to his car and then halted. He put one hand on his car to steady himself.


Luke closed his eyes, feeling the end of everything now.


***

At the farm, Luke quickly threw the saddle on his horse. He had just come from a talk with Holden. It hadn’t been easy. Holden had been very upset that he’d been kept in the dark. Luke had wanted to be the one he heard it from first. But now he was sorry he’d come. It was more than he could take.

He just wanted a ride. He wanted to gallop into the woods and cry his eyes out. Then he’d go and see Reid. He had sent the information to him just an hour ago, but it felt like an eternity of time.

The barn door creaked open. Luke jerked his head in that direction.

“What the hell is going on?” Reid asked him, his feet planted. “I get the email message and then nothing? Nothing? What the hell? “ Reid came up to Luke and the horse. “If Holden hadn’t called me I’d be on my way to that house.”

Luke rubbed a hand at the nape of his neck. “It’s over. It’s done.”

“What-?” Reid looked at him, his mouth aghast. Then a stream of profanity came out of his lips. “You confronted them without me? Without anybody?”

Luke climbed up on the horse. “I need to ride. “

“No,” Reid tried to grab at him, “We need to talk. How fucking stupid are you?”

“You have no idea what happened there!” Luke shook his head. “Look, just wait for me with Dad. Or go back to Al’s .Whatever. You really don’t want to stop me from riding right now.”

“And you really need to talk to me. “ Reid grabbed at him again. “Right now!”

“You want to talk to me?” Luke said furiously, “Fine. Get on.” He pulled at Reid. “Get on or go away.”

Reid looked at where Luke held him. Then he looked up at Luke.

“Pull me up,” Reid demanded angrily, “There is no way we are putting this off!”

Luke helped Reid up onto the horse. Reid sat awkwardly behind him, and grabbed at Luke’s waist.

Luke made a clicking noise and dug his heels in. The horse took off out of the barn, racing for the woods

Title: Sex and Chocolate: A Luke and Reid Valentine
Author: rtruffles and marsabi
Summary: A one-shot story with lots of sex and chocolate! Luke and Reid go through some misunderstandings on their way to celebrating their first Valentine’s day.
Rating: NC-17
Warning: None

rtruffles and marsabi
a/n: We wanted to try and write a one-shot story together. Hope you enjoy it! Feedback would be lovely!


“Hey Reid,” Luke greeted him as he came through the door. “Guess what? I signed up for a cooking class with the gift card you gave me for Christmas.” Luke had been a tiny bit peeved that Reid had given him cooking lessons for Christmas. He’d been hoping for something sweet and romantic, but Reid didn’t really do romantic, outside of the bedroom, so Luke had sighed and decided to make the best of it.

Reid walked over and kissed Luke lovingly. “So what kind of cooking class have you signed up for? Italian, you know how much I love lasagna. Or are you taking a Mexican class? I love chili, yum.” Reid asked already starting to salivate over the delicious food that Luke was going to learn how to cook.

Luke frowned at Reid, his earlier excitement tempered by Reid’s questions. This was exactly why he had been disappointed with this particular gift. He had no desire to become Reid’s “wife”, cooking all of their meals to Reid’s specifications.

“I’m taking a truffle making class,” Luke stated, arms crossed in front of his chest, daring Reid to criticize.

“A what? Aren’t truffles some sort of fancy mushroom that pigs dig out of the ground? Why would you want to take a course on those?” Reid asked irritably.

“Not that kind of truffle,” Luke answered, narrowing his eyes. “Chocolate truffles, they just look like the mushrooms. I bought you a box of assorted truffles from Godiva for Christmas, remember? You said that you loved them.”

“Oh,” Reid nodded. “Yeah they were great, kind of small, but really good, nonetheless. So why do you want to learn how to make them, when you already know where to buy them?”

“I already know where to buy lasagna and chili too,” Luke pointed out.

***

One week later, Luke came home with a box full of, what he hoped, were delicious truffles. The class had been really interesting; Luke learned that truffles were all made with the same base of chocolate, cream and butter after that you could add almost any flavoring to it. Luke’s favorite had been the breakfast truffle which had been infused with coffee and then rolled in crushed frosted flakes. It had seemed like an odd combination, but when Luke had tasted one he felt like he’d died and gone to heaven. Luke had made Grand Marnier truffles, which he knew Reid would love even if Luke couldn’t taste those due to the alcohol, and mint truffles that his classmates had raved about. Each flavor of truffle was uniquely finished. The Grand Marnier’s were rolled in cocoa, while the peppermint one’s were dipped in melted chocolate and then rolled in bits of peppermint candy. Luke had been pleasantly surprised to find that truffles were really easy to make. He was feeling very confident that Reid would be impressed by his efforts.


“Hey,” he called out as he entered their apartment.

“Hi,” Reid responded coming over to kiss Luke hello. “Are those for me?” he asked hopefully, eyeing the box.

“Yes,” Luke grinned at him. “Did you have dinner?”

“Not really, I just heated up a frozen dinner in the microwave at work.” Reid replied. “You ate before you went to class, right?”

Luke nodded. “Yeah, I went to the farm and had dinner with Emma.”

A pained expression crossed Reid’s handsome face. “Emma cooked for you, and you didn’t call me? Did you at least bring me some leftovers?”

“Reid!” Luke exclaimed, grinning. “Of course I brought you some food; I dropped it off before I went to my class.”

Truffles immediately forgotten, Reid went to look for Emma’s food in the fridge.

He came back into the living room with an enormous plate of food, and a smile on his face to match.

Luke just stared at Reid, feeling hurt that he had forgotten about the chocolates.

“I guess that I’ll just put these in the fridge for later,” Luke sulked.

“Later,” Reid agreed his mouth full of delicious food. “Thanks for bringing this home for me,” he called out to Luke, but Luke was out of earshot, getting ready for bed.

Reid kissed Luke when he came into the room, but the other man feigned sleep. Reid shrugged, patted his stomach happily, and rolled over. Luke lay there fuming; deeply hurt that Reid hadn’t complimented him on his truffles. Finally around 1 am, Luke fell into a troubled sleep.

When Reid woke up the next morning he reached out for Luke, but he found that the bed was empty and the sheets were cold.

“Luke,” he called out hoping that he was nearby, but there was no response.

Reid got up and pulled on a pair of scrub bottoms and headed out of the bedroom to search for Luke. What he found was a brief note on kitchen table telling him Luke had left early for a meeting at Memorial. Reid frowned in puzzlement, Luke usually kissed him goodbye.


Reid opened up the fridge to grab some of Luke’s truffles, but the box was gone. He sensed Luke was angry then, but Reid couldn’t figure out why. Quickly, Reid picked up the phone.

“I think I screwed up,” he confessed.

“What did you do now,” Katie sighed.

“I’m not sure,” Reid shrugged, still looking at the note and empty fridge.

“Be over in five,” Katie told him.

***

After his meeting Luke went to find Reid. He’d realized that he probably should’ve just talked to Reid. Luke was feeling more confident about things as he walked up to Reid’s office. Unfortunately Reid had taken the day off and Luke had no idea where he was. He tried calling Reid’s cell, but there was no answer.

“What’s up?” Ali asked him, as she and Gretchen found a forlorn Luke standing in front of Reid’s door.

Luke looked at her and found himself soon pouring out the whole story to the two nurses after they sat down in the break room.

“He didn’t even try one,” Luke was whining.

“Wow these are really good,” Ali praised.

“Orgasmic,” Gretchen echoed.

“I’d love it if Casey made me these, “Ali sighed. “Or anything at all really, I’m not picky.”

“Boyfriends suck,” Gretchen nodded, “They act like picking up their dirty underwear off the floor is a huge deal.”

“Casey wants to be patted on the head like a dog whenever he puts down the toilet seat,” Ali agreed.

“I know right? The one time I make something special all he can do is consume my Grandma Emma’s cooking.”

“Reid will be so sorry he missed out on these,” Gretchen said, eating another one.

He watched horrified as they devoured more of his truffles.

“Hey um,” Luke hesitated, “Maybe I should save some of those for Reid?” Now that he’d let off some steam about the incident, Luke was ready to forgive him.

Ali and Gretchen paid him no attention; they were too busy eating the chocolates and moaning with pleasure.

***

Meanwhile, Katie had dragged Reid across town to go Valentine’s Day shopping for Luke.

“Katie, are you really sure this is necessary?”

Reid glanced around the colorful shop and winced.

“Yes,” she nodded firmly. “I’m sure that you really hurt Luke’s feelings when you didn’t even try one of his truffles. Honestly Reid, what were you thinking?”

“What? How was I supposed to know that he would put so much emphasis on that one thing that he did for me? He always does amazing things for me. I was thrilled that he made truffles, but I was equally happy that he brought home Emma’s food.”

“Boys are so stupid,” Katie said with a sigh. “Luke made those especially for you. That’s why he’s upset. You’ve had Emma’s food a million times, when has Luke ever made anything for you before?”

“Well he sometimes makes amazing sandwiches for me, and he’s occasionally made me bacon and eggs for breakfast.”

“Uh huh, and you probably eat those things right away and then have amazing sex with him as a thank you, right?”

“Well, yeah,” Reid admitted.

“And what happened when you didn’t eat his truffles right away?”

“Oh my God, he went to sleep, and then ran away before I even got up,” Reid stated realizing that Luke probably hadn’t gone to sleep out of exhaustion after all. “Why didn’t he just tell me? I’m not clairvoyant for Christ’s sake.”

“I’m guessing that Luke was too hurt to talk to you by that point. Yes, he should’ve just said something and then this whole mess could have been avoided, but he’s human and he’s Luke,”

Reid sighed “Alright please help me find a killer Valentine’s Day present so that I can make it up to him.”

“If I were you,” Katie said as she fingered a see-through red teddy, “I would give it to him early.”

Later that night, Reid decided to follow Katie’s advice. He waited for Luke, and held out the gift for him the moment Luke walked in the door.

“Open it,” Reid smiled.

“What is it?” Luke asked, delighted. He had been feeling badly about their fight all day, and was so happy to see Reid was home and in a good mood.

“An early present for Valentine’s Day,” Reid watched Luke’s mouth drop open in shock. “What? Did you think that I’d forget?”

“No,” Luke assured him hurriedly. In truth, Luke had given himself a firm lecture about not having too many expectations. He really did think Reid might forget all about the upcoming holiday. He certainly had not imagined an early gift.

“I want to make sure that this fits, after all I have a lot plans for us,” Reid said waggling his eyebrows suggestively. “So can you open it now?”

Luke ripped the package open happily. Then a slightly confused expression crossed his face. He pulled out the very small thong. It had a tuxedo bow in the front and nothing but a string for a back.

“I’ve been imagining you in this all day,” Reid grinned, and rubbed his hand over Luke’s shoulders.

“Oh,” Luke held it up and flushed, “it’s a little…skimpy, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s romantic,” Reid said, “Put it on and model it for me.”

Reid walked over to a chair and straddled it. He looked at Luke expectantly.

“Right now?”

“Right now,” Reid agreed. Then he shrugged, “Unless you want to bring out those truffles you made first? I’m looking forward to eating them!” Reid figured Katie would be so proud of him for specifically mentioning the chocolates.

“Oh no,” Luke said quickly, his face looking guilty. Luke’s heart beat rapidly in a sudden panic. ‘Why did Reid want those truffles now?’ How would he explain that he had given them all away?

“I’ll go and put this on.”

Reid just smiled, “I think that I’ll just go and grab one, while you’re getting changed.”
There. He’d said it again. Katie would give him a gold star! Surely this was what Luke wanted to hear?


Luke gulped hard, “No, please just wait for me,” he said and dashed into the bathroom.

Reid sat back and waited, drumming his fingers on the chair.

A few minutes later, the door to the bathroom creaked open.

“Ready?” Reid called out.

“Um, maybe,’ Luke sounded nervous. “I’ve never worn such …Are you sure you want me in this?”

“Oh yeah,” Reid said huskily.

“Um, give me a few more minutes.”

The door shut again.

“Do you need some help?” Reid’s voice called out hopefully.

“Nnnooo,” Luke stammered, he felt really uncomfortable in the skimpy thong and was trying to find the confidence to strut his stuff into the bedroom for Reid.

He stared at himself in the mirror, looking critically at his abs. Reid, of course had perfectly sculpted abs. ‘Maybe he should be the one wearing this thong,’ Luke sighed and sucked in his gut trying to look as attractive as possible.

Outside of the bathroom, Reid picked up his mail and started to sort it. He glared at the door impatiently. ‘What the hell was Luke doing in there? He better not be jacking off in there. I have other plans for him tonight,’ Reid sighed heavily and picked up the medical journal he had been reading before Luke came home.

***

Finally, Luke peeked his head out of the bathroom. He pushed the door open slowly.

Biting his lip, Luke walked out, his whole body tinged slightly pink. The tuxedo thong left nothing to the imagination.

He saw that Reid was looking down at something, a pencil in his hand.

“Reid!” Luke exclaimed, feeling raw and exposed.

“Just a second,” Reid mumbled distracted, taking his time to mark a page in the journal.

“I’ll just go and put my clothes back on. I’m sorry that I’ve disappointed you,” Luke uttered quickly.

He started to run back into the safety of the bathroom.

“Hold the phone?” Reid threw the journal down. “Why the hell would you put your clothes back on? It took you forever to take them off.”

“Well soorrrry for taking so long! I was trying to look good for you in this ridiculous thong and you can’t even be bothered to look up,” Luke huffed. “God, if I have to explain it to you, then what’s the point?”

Luke tried to go into the bathroom and slam the door, but Reid blocked it.

“Look, you know who I am. I like to work. Besides, you really did take a long time and I was just reading a really interesting article about a new scalpel designed by one of my old professors,” he stopped babbling about the article as he saw the hurt look on Luke’s face.

Reid tried to reach out and hold Luke’s face in his hands.

“I’m trying here. Really! Please just tell me what to do,” he pleaded, inwardly kicking himself for screwing up, yet again.

Luke saw Reid’s regret and suddenly melted a little.

Reid shook his head “You know how thickheaded I can be,” he whispered.

“Yeah,” Luke smiled, forgiving him. He ran one hand down his pants, stroking him. “Thick is the right word,” Luke murmured.

Reid smiled in relief. “By the way, did I tell you how hot you look in that tuxedo?” Reid asked clearly admiring Luke. “So beautiful!”

Luke beamed relieved that Reid didn’t think he looked as ridiculous as he felt, as he was practically bursting out of the thong at Reid’s words.

Reid teasingly put his hand at Luke’s backside and played with the string. He flicked it. Then he squeezed Luke, making him moan. Luke grinded his hips at Reid causing him to hiss with pleasure.

“You know what?” Reid smiled. “I think that you would look even hotter without it.”

“Seriously?” Luke asked in a low voice, his body tight with anticipation.

Reid didn’t answer. He was too busy dropping to his knees and tugging the thong down with his teeth.

***

Hours later the two men lay in bed bodies entwined with one another, both happily sated.

“You know what I’d really like right now?” Reid said.

“What,” Luke asked sleepily.

“A chocolate truffle,” Reid replied and was shocked when he felt Luke’s whole body tense.

“Uh… Reid,” Luke began tentatively.

Reid waited, giving Luke his full attention.

“Well, um, this morning when I left I was really pissed at you and so I took the truffles with me so that you wouldn’t just gorge on them for breakfast,” he paused.

“Uh huh,” Reid encouraged.

“After my meeting, I brought them to your office, but you had taken the day off. I tried to call you, but your phone was off.”

“Sorry about that. I called Katie to help me pick out your gift,” he admitted.

“Wait, what? Katie saw the thong?” Luke squeaked out. “How am I ever going to look her in the face again? I bet she’s going to be picturing me in it every time she sees me.”

“Relax there, drama queen. She was too busy trying on her own teddies and thongs. Let’s get back to the truffles Luke.”

“Oh yeah,” Luke blushed. “Well you weren’t at the hospital, but Ali and Gretchen were.”

Reid groaned out loud, sensing where this was going.

“I’m sorry!” Luke said quickly. “I didn’t mean for them to eat all of them. I just wanted them to taste them. I had no idea that two small women could eat that many truffles at once. It was scary, Reid,” Luke shuddered. “It was like they’d never seen chocolate before.”

“Greedy bitches,” Reid acknowledged.

Reid pulled Luke into his chest and held him to show that he forgave him. They kissed each other softly.

“I’ll tell you what,” Luke said dreamily to Reid between the kisses, “I’ll make you another batch for Valentine’s Day.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Reid agreed, before he captured Luke’s mouth once again.


***
On Valentine’s Day, Luke and Reid stayed home. They turned off their pagers and cell phones and the TV. Reid filled up a bath tub. He’d bought Luke’s favorite soap. Reid had washed Luke’s back in gentle circles.

Getting out, they dried each other off teasingly.

Luke had reached for the box near the tub, and fed Reid a dark-chocolate truffle. Reid ate it eagerly and then sucked on Luke’s fingers.

“Can every day be Valentine’s Day?” Reid sighed with pleasure. “Sex with you and chocolate- my favorite things.”

Luke kissed him, tasting the richness of the candy on Reid’s tongue. Then he took another one and smeared a piece of the truffle at Reid’s nipple.

“The only thing better than sex and chocolate,” Luke murmured, “is sex with chocolate.”

Luke pressed his mouth to Reid’s chest and licked.

Reid groaned.

“Bed now!” Reid commanded, and they climbed in together.

Luke wriggled onto Reid’s lap and they kissed even more. Luke pulled at Reid’s damp hair.

A wave of excitement flooded them both.

Luke put a truffle in his mouth and waited for Reid to bite at it. When Reid reached the rich, smooth center, they let the kiss linger on and on.

Panting now, Reid nibbled the naked line of Luke’s shoulder. He tasted the vulnerable curve of Luke’s neck, his lower stomach, the inside of his thighs. He placed a little truffle cream on each delicate spot. Reid nibbled at the chocolate and then sucked at the skin. Luke moaned.

Moments later, Reid’s fingers found Luke hard and ready. He pushed Luke down on the bed, and spread his legs apart.

“One more thing,” Reid said. He grabbed the last truffle from the box, and covered Luke’s throbbing cock with the chocolate.

“I’m going to ravish you,” Reid promised, just as his mouth closed firmly over Luke’s arousal.

Reid licked at Luke’s hard dick. He took him deep down his throat. Luke tasted like chocolate and pre-cum and Reid sucked at him hungrily.

Luke put his hands over his eyes blindly and bucked his body up. Reid palmed Luke’s ass in his hands and pushed him even higher.

Luke exploded, his release making his limbs quake helplessly. Reid held him still, tasting each drop.

Then Reid flipped a boneless Luke onto his stomach and began to lick at his hole. He thrust his tongue in and out, patiently making Luke become hard again. Reid expertly rimmed him. He kept his tongue deep inside of Luke. Meanwhile, Reid’s hands circled around to his cock and began to play with him. He slid a thumb over the slit and at the same time ate at Luke with his hot mouth.

Luke drew up his knees and whimpered as Reid replaced his tongue with his erection, rubbing up and down Luke’s vulnerable center.

“Please now!” Luke yelled, half-command, half-whimper.

Reid pounded into him, babbling to Luke his own love words, as he hammered his body in a rhythm he knew Luke craved.

Soon they both were coming again, climaxing at the same time, shouting each other’s names.

***

Afterwards, they were happy to just stay in bed; their limbs still tangled together, their arms around each other.

Luke gave Reid a deep, satisfied kiss.

“I love you,” he said.

Reid just smiled.

Luke raised his eyebrows, “This is the part where you say you love me too…and will love me forever no matter what,” he instructed.

Reid sat up on one elbow and gazed down at Luke.

“I don’t know," he drawled teasingly, “You’re young and hot now, but in ten years…?”

Luke gave him a playful shove. “Reid!”

He laughed and pulled Luke into his arms, kissing the top of his head.

“I love you always,” he told Luke roughly, “I want it all with you. Everything, I want the whole enchilada.”

“Why does it always come down to food?” Luke complained mockingly, rolling his eyes. “I’m not taking any Mexican cooking classes for you.”

They laughed together, perfectly relaxed. Luke rested his head on Reid’s chest and ran his hands lovingly up and down Reid’s body.

Reid cupped Luke’s face tenderly.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” Reid said.

“Now and always,” Luke replied.

Title: The Last Doughnut
Author: Marsabi
Summary: When Damian disinherits Luke, can he survive in the “real” world? Will he drive Reid crazy in the process?
Disclaimer: Owned by ATWT
Rating: PG- NC-17 (depends on chapter)
Warning: none
A companion to Camp Queer
Thanks traciamc for the read


PART 10 Up on the roof

A few days later, Reid was having yet another crappy day at Memorial. Bob had accused him of being “distracted” by personal problems, and more small mistakes with his patients’ files had occurred. Reid admitted Luke was a priority but absolutely denied the mistakes. Chris was there and his smirk made Reid wonder if Doogie was behind it all. It was becoming clear to Reid that Bob was not his biggest fan anymore. If push came to shove, Reid believed that Bob would back his son up. Only John had defended Reid, agreeing with him that any nurse or clerk might be responsible for the errors. There were enough incompetent idiots at Memorial, not that it mattered. It was still on Reid to fix it. These were his patients being tampered with and Reid felt his blood simmering. His patients, damn it ! He watched at the morning meeting as Chris and Nurse Gretchen played a game of hand holding under the table, until Reid finally burst out:

“I’m trying to listen to Bob explain this medical procedure to us. Can you play rock, paper, scissor, sex somewhere else?”

Bob had only lifted his eyebrows at Reid and continued his speech. Chris and Gretchen stopped for all of a minute. Reid began to really hate his job here. All that mattered was finding out what was going on and making sure no patient of his suffered from any errors again. Clearly, somebody had his prescription pad, access to his computer and so on. The fact that he had no proof that it was Chris was aggravating.

Reid was in a sour mood when he finally had a break and went to see Luke. Luke’s eye and lip were almost healed, and he was due to be discharged soon. That would be a huge relief. Just the other day, Luke had mentioned having no health care and then had shrugged and said, “Well, I’ve only been here a few days, it can’t cost that much, right?” So now Reid and Lucinda had to handle his biils without hurting his pride. Yet another problem for Reid to figure out.

All Reid wanted was to see his boyfriend and have Luke give him one of his blinding smiles. He opened the door to the room, anticipating that Luke grin, when all he saw was an empty bed and a note. Reid felt a wave of panic. He knew Luke was trying super hard to act tough, to act like he was fine. But he didn't fool Reid. Reid knew Luke was silently suffering. He often had nightmares. He woke up sweaty. Still, he'd thought Luke was improving. The nightmares had been stopping to a degree, and his eyes were smiling too now, not just his lips. Reid had worked hard to be there for Luke all the way, and to not allow Luke to know that Reid was aware of his fears. Luke kept insisting he was fine, and Reid knew he would be fine, in time...just not yet.

Reid picked up the small paper and frowned. What the hell was Luke doing now? He wished Luke would be honest about everything. Reid felt a mix of fear and anger, so he went with anger. It was easier to dea l with anger than the gut-gripping worry he had.

His mood went from sour to completely black as he turned and headed for the stairs.

***

Luke nearly jumped as the door to the roof banged open. Reid stood there looking seriously angry.

“Are you total moron? Why are you out here,” he shouted . Luke swallowed hard and then gestured sweetly to his picnic surprise.

“It’s like old times,” he told Reid. “ Remember all those dates here on the roof?”

Reid stared. Luke was in his hospital gown, robe and slippers. That smile Reid had longed for was on his face. There was a blanket and picnic basket, filled with all kinds of food. Burgers and fries and chicken legs and muffins and corn bread…The food overflowed. Luke followed Reid’s gaze.

“Vienna came by with it all for you and me.” Luke walked to him. “Surprise!” He said happily.

“You still shouldn’t be out here,” Reid repeated, but his voice had lost its anger.

Luke shrugged, “They say I’m being discharged tomorrow. My ribs are healed. I feel fine. “ He motioned Reid to the food, “Come and eat with me.”

“Why are you doing this?” Reid asked him, eyeing the food hungrily now, but still holding onto a small piece of his temper.

Luke looked at him a moment.

“Because I love you, “ He answered softly.

Reid held up a protesting hand, “We agreed to wait until you’re sure –“

“Oh for God’s sake, “ Luke took a deep, steadying breath, “I’m sure. “

“Look, you’ve never had a relationship before me and sometimes –“

“Stop it!” Luke said, a flush of anger coloring his cheeks, “Stop treating me like a kid. I’m all grown up, and I know how to love.”

“Okay, but-“

“I love you,” Luke said, scowling, “and it’s really irritating me that you’re so thick-headed.“

Reid opened his mouth to argue, when all of a sudden Luke jumped up on a higher part of the roof.

“I love you!” Luke shouted defiantly, “Hear me?”

“Luke! Get down!”

Luke ignored him, “I love Dr. Reid Oliver! “ He shouted it again and louder, throwing back his hands like he were shouting it to all the world. “I love you, I love you, I love you- “ Luke screamed at the top of his lungs. Reid rushed over to him.

“Okay, okay! Get down, idiot!” His voice was a deep growl.

“You believe me?” Luke said, ignoring the warning in his tone.

Reid nodded furiously, “Get down here.”

Luke climbed back down . “You better believe me,” he threatened, “Or so help me Reid, I’ll tattoo it on my ass.”

Luke walked slowly, deliberately over to Reid, his eyes never leaving his. When he reached him, he wrapped an arm around Reid, so that their faces were close together. Luke embraced him.

“Normally, I am not against a good tattoo, “ Reid said dryly, giving into Luke’s hug, “but in this case, why ruin perfection?” Reid sighed and breathed in Luke’s scent. A deep, sensual longing filled him.

Reid reached under Luke’s robe and gown and cupped his naked buttocks.

“Gotta love a hospital gown,” Reid murmured and squeezed.

Luke moaned. “You ruined this,” he scolded, “I was going to feed you and tell you very romantically how much I love you,” then Luke smiled . “I do love you. And I’m never going to be quiet again about that. I’m going to tell you every day, maybe five times a day! I love you, love you , love you “

“Luke,” Reid interrupted suddenly. “How’s your lip?”

“My? My lip” Luke touched a finger to it, ”much better but-“

“Good,” Reid grabbed him, ”cause I really need to shut your beautiful mouth up before I choke on your sap,” Reid declared. Then he kissed Luke, deeply, his tongue taking control of Luke’s surprised lips. He sucked at Luke’s tongue. His hands still caressing Luke’s firm ass. Luke groaned and they both sank down to their knees.

They kissed again, fiercely. Reid’s lips hungrily nipped at Luke’s full ones, and Luke teasingly thrust his tongue in and out . Groaning, Reid threaded his fingers desperately in Luke’s hair and pulled Luke’s legs around him. Their erections rubbed at each other, grinding frantically. They rolled near the blanket, still kissing.

“The food,” Luke said weakly, breaking away to gulp in some air.

Reid glanced at it, “Later,” he said shoving the basket aside in one rough motion. He put Luke stomach down on the blanket instead. “You first,” Reid told him. “I seem to remember promising to devour you.”

Dazed, Luke felt Reid move to underneath his robe and lift it out of his way. He felt Reid’s warm palms skimming across his flesh. Then Reid gave him a different kind of kiss, his lips at Luke’s opening, his tongue penetrating him, finding the very center of him.
Luke shouted, incoherent words of love and pleading. He staggered up to his knees and pushed back against Reid to feel more of his moist, hot mouth. Reid’s entire head was under his gown and attacking Luke’s buttocks. Reid nipped the sensitive line skin, blew gently across Luke’s aching hole , and then kissed there once more. Luke could only scream and cry out. He groped around for something to hold onto because he felt like he might collapse from pleasure. His erection was throbbing painfully.

Just when he couldn’t stand a moment longer, Reid stopped and Luke looked back at him. Panting, Luke could only watch as Reid fumbled to undress. His body was truly magnificent, the skin rippling in the sunlight. Luke’s pulse beat frantically just seeing him. He watched as Reid reached for his wallet, and then ripped open the foil package with his teeth.

He paused only a second, “Are you up for this? “ Reid said hoarsely, his voice ragged with desire, “Cause I can –“

In answer, Luke grabbed the condom and rolled it onto Reid’s arousal, making Reid moan.
Then Luke pushed at Reid until he was on his back. Luke straddled him. Their eyes met. Electric currents shot through their bodies. Their hands sought each others. Luke bent down and kissed Reid’s neck from his shoulder to his ear.

“Please,” Luke said,” I need this. More than I ever imagined.”

“Me too,” Reid admitted, his eyes glazed with passion. His muscles rigid with want.

Luke placed Reid’s heavy erection at his wet hole. He grinded his ass all around Reid teasingly, flicking Reid’s dick up and down and in slow circles. Reid grunted and then took Luke’s hand away. Watching each other, Reid entered Luke slowly, filling him.

Reid thrust in deeper with a shout. Luke’s fingers covered his face and he rode Reid blindly. Reid’s hands were at his hips lifting him up and then lowering him back down against him. His body felt heavy and aching. An incredible , sweet pressure made Luke’s whole body quake. Then he convulsed in a gritty cry of satisfaction. His release came hard and quick, sticky goodness coming over Reid’s stomach and thighs as Reid continued to thrust up into him. Luke could only whimper and bury his head in Reid’s neck, hanging on as Reid finished.

Reid stayed inside of him. They both were panting loudly now. Reid’s hand tangled itself in Luke’s hair and he gently rubbed his scalp.

A long time passed. Finally, Luke pulled off and collapsed next to Reid. They both were staring up at the sky. The sun was setting by now, its colors turning pink and orange across the clouds.

Reid eventually sat up, and then dressed. He eyed the picnic basket, and began to eat. Luke propped himself up on one elbow.

“I got all the things you liked,” Luke said smiling. “Of course, you like everything from Al’s so it was easy.”

Reid nodded, still eating with gusto.

Luke looked away a moment. “Can I tell you something?”

“I know,” Reid said with a pretend suffering sigh, “You love me.”

“I do,” Luke laughed, “but not that.”

“What?” Reid handed Luke some chicken and corn bread.

Luke hesitated. “I don’t want to let Vienna and Henry down, but I really get sick thinking about returning to work at Al’s. Especially at night.” Luke peeked up at Reid, ‘So much for my being tough, huh?”

“No, that’s perfectly understandable,” Reid said, chomping down on a handful of fries.“Anyhow, don’t worry about it. You shouldn’t return , not for the day or night shift. “ Reid looked at him and then simply shrugged, “You sucked away.”

“What?” Luke replied, baffled.

“As a waiter, Luke,” Reid rolled his eyes, “you sucked.”

“I- I …really?”

Reid just nodded and bit into more chicken, “Absolutely.”

Luke sat up and tied his robe tightly. “Well, why didn’t you say anything to me before? I mean, I knew I wasn’t great at it, but…Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well hell, I thought you’d improve- learning curve and all that. But you never did. “ Reid had to look away from Luke’s outraged expression or he would have laughed.

“I thought I did okay!” Luke snorted and glared at him. “So you didn’t tell me just to let me be foolish?”

“ Well, it wasn’t just that. I – “ He suddenly stared down at the food. “ I tried to say something, but…You always gave me doughnuts and things and I just…”

Luke smiled, “Love me? “ He said it teasingly, not expecting an answer.

But Reid looked up and met his gaze. “Yeah, “ Reid said quietly, “ I just love you.”


Luke’s mouth fell open .

“What?” Reid asked, confused, “You know that- we covered that days ago.”

“I know,” Luke said in a low voice, his cheeks blushing, his eyes suddenly wet with unshed tears, “I just figured you wouldn’t say it so easily to me. I was hoping to hear it from time to time, but-“ He brushed his hand over his eyes.

“Relax,” Reid said, continuing to eat, but with a smile, “It’s no big deal. It’s not like I’m proposing or asking you to adopt babies with me.”

Luke threw some fries at him.

Reid laughed.

He then put his food down and held his arms open to Luke, who quickly cuddled against him.

“I do love you,” Reid told him, “I have no problem saying it. It’s the simple truth.”

Luke looked up at him then, and Reid sharply inhaled as he saw the glowing love shining out of Luke’s whole face. Luke appeared to be lit from within.

Reid swallowed hard. His boyfriend was just so beautiful.

“Luke,“ Reid said and raised one shaking finger to Luke’s cheek.

“Hmm?” Luke replied dreamily.

“Pass me those muffins,” Reid ordered and then he caught Luke’s face between his hands and kissed his lips possessively once more.

***

At the same time Luke and Reid were declaring their love for each other, Lily was across town alone. When the doorbell rang, she jumped in surprise. She had few guests since returning to town.

Lily opened the door and met Holden’s eyes.

“Well,” she said ,”this is a surprise.”

“Can I come in?”

She opened the door wider. “The kids aren’t here.”

“I know that,” Holden replied, “ It’s you I want to see.”

“Oh?”

Holden walked into the room and leaned against the wall. He looked at Lily for a long moment.

“Sometimes,” he said finally, “it’s hard to believe so many years have passed . I can still see you as that girl I met in the barn.”

Lily stared at him, her mouth softened slightly, “Sometimes it seems like yesterday,” she agreed, picturing Holden young and shirtless.

“But other times, “ Holden continued harshly, “It seems like a million years ago, and that girl is long gone. She’s just gone.” He shook his head. “I can only blame it on Damian for so long for the terrible woman you’ve become.”

Gasping, Lily folded her arms across her chest, “If you came here just to hurl insults at me-“

“No,” Holden said, he pushed his face close to hers, “I came here to tell you that as soon as Luke’s released from Memorial and he looks a little better, I’m taking Natalie and Ethan to see him.”

“No!” Lily argued, “That is a bad idea! It will only confuse them.”

“I’m not asking your permission, Lily,” Holden said tightly, “They’re my kids too and Luke is their brother.”

“Well, “ Lily snapped, “Maybe we need to go back to court and settle this mess.”

“Maybe we do.”

They stared at each other. Neither one was willing to back down.

Finally, Holden turned and slammed the door behind him. Lily sank down to her knees and bitterly wept.

Lily struggled to her feet, feeling like she was the one who had been beaten up. With shaking fingers, she took her phone out of her purse and called Damian.

“Come to Oakdale,” she told him,” I need you right now!”

***

When they finally returned to Luke’s room, Casey was standing there, waiting for him.

“I have something to confess to you,” Casey said gnawing at his fingernail

“Who’s this? Reid asked

Luke introduced them

“Great another Hughes,” Reid muttered

“The worst one of all,” Casey joked, “when you hear me out. I need to tell you something,” he said to Luke, then looked at Reid , ”Both of you.”

After Casey had explained that it was Damian blackmailing him and pushing him to ruin Reid’s career, Luke was so furious he could barely speak.

"So you’ve been changing Reid’s notes? Messing with his patients? All on Damian’s orders?”

Casey nodded, miserably. “He got me out of jail early, and I believe him when he says he has the power to put me back in.” Casey grabbed at Luke. “I’m so sorry!”

Luke shrugged him off, “Maybe you belong in jail,” he said hotly. “How could you do this?”

Meanwhile, Reid sat down on Luke’s bed. “I should have known Doogie was too stupid to be behind it.”

“No,” Luke whirled on him, ”You should’ve told me about all of this. I could have told you it was probably Damian. This is so like him!”

Reid met Luke’s furious gaze head on. “You’re right, I should have told you. “ He said calmly, diffusing Luke’s anger. “But let’s figure it out now.”

“Together? “Luke said firmly, and then smiled at him when Reid came over and nodded.

They gazed at each other. A rush of ease and understanding passed between them. They pressed their bodies next to each other, eyes transfixed, hands touching.

“Should I leave? ‘Casey asked, as the heat between Luke and Reid became evident.

“No,” Reid said, stepping away from Luke a little, “we’re going to need you.”

“Just wait until I call him!” Luke fumed, redirecting his temper now at his parents, “I will give Damian hell once and for all!”

“No,” Reid shook his head. “Not that way. We have the element of surprise now. We need to use it. Play it his way. Like chess. In deliberate moves. “ Reid became lost in thought a moment, and then he smiled slowly. “I know. “ He turned to Luke. “I have a plan. But you won’t like it, not at all.”

He tenderly touched Luke’s cheek. “Can you do something you don’t like? For me? Do you trust me to figure this out?”

Luke looked into Reid’s eyes, “You know I do,” he said.

Reid nodded, and looked at Luke and then Casey, “Okay,” he said, “here’s what we’re going to do.”

Title: The Last Doughnut
Author: Marsabi
Summary: When Damian disinherits Luke, can he survive in the “real” world? Will he drive Reid crazy in the process?
Disclaimer: Owned by ATWT
Rating: PG- NC-17 (depends on chapter)
Warning: None
A companion to Camp Queer
Thanks traciamc for the read
Previous chapter:
http://marsabi.livejournal.com/21005.html

Part 6 Last Doughnut

There was no escape. Reid tried to deny it, ignore it, hide from it.

But Luke was a terrible waiter. Being Luke, he worked extremely hard. Reid watched him at his first shift. He scurried around, frantically setting up tables and filling up ketchup and mustard bottles. Then he stacked the jelly, and put out the shakers of pepper and salt. He moved carefully, biting his tongue in earnest concentration. He looked that same way whenever Reid taught him something new in bed.

Luke had made coffee, awful, watery stuff that Reid had forced down his throat. Coffee grains were on the side of his cup. Reid winced, but drank it because Luke’s expressive eyes were on him.

Then the breakfast crowd poured in the diner. At first, Reid thought Luke might do a decent job. His first customers appeared happy. Luke was laughing and talking to a young couple, completely charming them with stories of traveling in Europe. It would have gone well if Luke had actually paid attention to their food. While he chatted on and on, he’d let their eggs turn cold and runny. Luke was so busy describing the wonders of Malta, that he failed to even notice the problem. The couple tasted their breakfast and exchanged looks. Luke beamed at them so sweetly that the poor couple had smiled bravely and eaten it.

His next table was a family. The children whined and played with the jam, smearing some on the walls. The mother tuned it all out, texting on her phone. The boys at the table soon had a sword fight with their forks. Luke politely tried to stop them, but the parents ignored it. The father only wanted to know if his little crumb-snatchers could eat for free.

“Free?” Luke looked around puzzled.

“Yes, do kids eat free today. They do right?” The man demanded.

“I- I guess so,” Luke nodded, “Sure.” Luke nervously shredded a napkin in one hand, saw what he was doing, and quickly stuffed it away. He wore a big button on his apron that read “Ask me about our Big Sized Burgers!”

Reid was pretty certain Al’s had no ‘ Kids Eat for Free’ days. He groaned to himself at his seat. Well, it was his very first day. Maybe he would improve.

Just minutes later, Luke walked past him carrying a tray of juice glasses, “It’s going really well,” he excitedly whispered to Reid. Then he dropped the tray. A sticky mess of juice and glass covered the floor. Luke looked startled.

Henry ran out of the kitchen with a mop, and Reid had the feeling Henry was already regretting hiring Luke. Watching Hank becoming flustered was the only good part of the whole disaster, at least for Reid.

Luke, meanwhile, had moved on with determination to his next table. He greeted the two men enthusiastically , pumping their hands up and down like they were long lost friends. Reid watched his perky stride as he fetched the men their breakfast. He practically sashayed around the restaurant. That made Reid hide a smile behind his menu; Luke probably wouldn’t like being told he sashayed. Pranced maybe? Nope, he wouldn’t like to be told that either.

Luke was nodding at the two men, listening to their stories as he poured them cups of his horrendous coffee. Reid glanced up at the clock on the wall of the diner. He really needed to get to work. He glanced at Luke again.

Luke looked across the way at him and smiled.

Reid couldn’t help thinking Luke was like walking sunshine, and the world was dull before him. Reid picked up his things and stood up. He also couldn’t help thinking Luke might be fired by the time he returned from work. He hesitated by Al’s front door. He wasn’t certain he should leave.

Luke seemed oblivious to his job hanging by a thread. He waved a cheery goodbye to Reid and took his next table’s order.

***

At Memorial, Reid was not off to a great start either. To his surprise, he had apparently missed a meeting scheduled for after lunch. He frowned down at his date book. He always kept the planner and his pencil on his desk, and he always meticulously wrote down his appointments. But somehow this meeting had not been there. Bob had expressed his unhappiness. Chris had gloated. Reid had briefly wondered if Chris hadn’t snuck in and erased his notes.

Then, the nurse Reid requested as his OR nurse never showed up. She had been requested by another doctor too, and that wasn’t supposed to happen. The doctor argued that the nurse was assigned to him that day. That led Reid to a pretty ugly exchange with the skinny, flat-assed doctor. Luke would be disappointed in him. He’d actually made the doctor tear up. That had been a first. Usually he only made the nurses cry. He’d ended up using that ditzy Gretchen in the OR, who met all his orders with a blank expression. She almost passed out, when Reid peeled the skin back off the patient’s face and dug into his frontal lobe.

***

During the evening rush at Al’s, relieved to be done at the hospital, Reid could only watch his boyfriend in horror as he went from one dining disaster to another.
The first lady Luke took an order from wanted her steak well done, but he forgot to put the order in while he had played a game of peek-a-boo with a nearby toddler. When he’d finally realized it, Luke had tried sticking the steak in the microwave to speed up the cooking process. Of course, the poor lady bit into a steak that tasted like a rubber tire. She picked up her knife, cutting at it furiously, while Luke apologized profusely.

Meanwhile, a gaggle of teenage girls were there too, ordering desserts and giggling over Luke. He had smiled at them and blushed.

“What can I get you?” he asked them.

One of the girls dropped her fork. Luke bent over to retrieve it.

“Oops,” the girl said.

Luke picked it up, looking puzzled at the girls’ giggles. As he finished the order, a second girl deliberately dropped a spoon this time. Luke bent over once again.

The girls found this hilarious. They checked out his ass gleefully. Reid couldn’t really blame them there. Those girls were the only customers of the day he didn’t think were complete morons.

Taking a quick, appreciative glance of Luke’s ripe ass himself, Reid quietly snuck upstairs to his apartment. He couldn’t watch any more of Luke’s mistakes.

***

When he knew that Luke’s shift was over, Reid came down. He sought out Luke and found him sitting in a booth, groaning.

“Not a great day” Reid asked, sliding into the booth.

“It went okay, I think,” Luke said, “ It’s pretty hard.”

Reid nodded. He was about to be honest with Luke and tell him flat out what a crap waiter he was, when Luke added, “I’m exhausted.” He really did have circles under his Bambi eyes.

“Come here,” Reid commanded, and Luke moved over to him.

Reid picked Luke’s legs up and pulled off his socks and sneakers. He gently rubbed Luke’s feet.

Luke practically moaned in pleasure, “You have no idea how good that feels. “ He sighed. “How did you know my feet would be so sore?”

Reid just shrugged. He had waited tables through college. He remembered aching feet. Of course, Reid had been a fantastic waiter. He never forgot an order, he always refilled drinks, and he was always efficient. Talking to the customers had been the only tricky part. He’d just ignored them as they complained endlessly and occupied his mind with his chess moves or college exam questions.

He massaged Luke’s toes some more. “There are other jobs,” he said quietly. He thought about suggesting Luke try and find a job writing. It was a touchy subject though, because of his family.

“Oh, no,” Luke answered and lifted his head to shoot Reid a big, goofy smile, his dimples flashing, “I couldn’t let Henry down. Besides, my feet will get used to it. It was my first day.”

“Sure,” Reid nodded.

“Tomorrow will be fine,” Luke added optimistically, and Reid couldn’t help smiling at him. That was the thing he was discovering about Luke; underneath his sweetness was a giant, stubborn streak. Part of Reid wanted to knock some sense into him, but another part of him admired Luke’s determination .

But the next day, at Luke’s breakfast shift, disasters continued. Reid had overslept, but as he walked into Al’s he took it all in. A bunch of rowdy college boys were shooting spitballs, and a man was insisting on bringing in his drooling dog. Worst of all, an older couple kept complaining and sending back their food.

“These eggs are too dry,” the old lady whined, “they taste like cardboard, no flavor. “

“You said plain and no butter,” Luke answered in confusion.

“Make them again,’ the lady ordered him.

Luke brought out new ones.

“These eggs are too oily,” the old man said. “We both have high blood pressure , you know?
Trying to put us in an early grave? “

“Sorry!” Luke quickly said again.”You said to add flavor…” When they just shook their heads at him, Luke took away the eggs.

After catering to the old couple’s every complaint, Luke came back to an empty table and no tip.

He glanced that them with a stunned, hurt face as they were walking out the door.

“We’re on a budget, “ the old man had just shrugged.

“Fixed income, “the old lady added.

Luke just nodded and then smiled, forgivingly. Reid was only surprised that Luke didn’t give them his own few dollars. Reid sighed. He hoped that couple would end up at Memorial one day soon, and he could show them something to really complain about. For now, he watched as the boys flung more spitballs, and the man demanded more syrup, and Luke bounced back and forth like an abused pinball.

As Luke finally had a moment to approach him, Reid drew in a deep breath. This was it.
He was done with this idiocy. His boyfriend was not going to put up with this crap. Reid was not going to watch him put up with it.

He had to tell Luke that he sucked, it was the kinder thing to do. Reid watched Luke walk to him, wiping one greasy hand on his forehead. Luke’s other hand was in his apron pocket. He started to open his mouth and give Luke a stern lecture.

“Here,” Luke whispered , interrupting Reid, as he bent down and brushed a quick kiss over Reid’s lips. Luke was finally beginning to give him affection in public.

“What?” Reid asked. He was irritated that Luke had cut him off. But he also took in Luke’s appearance. Luke looked messy, and sweaty and his hair was all floppy. His bashful smile made it clear that Luke probably thought he looked awful without his normal time to primp or use his million hair products. Reid thought he looked edible.

Luke glanced around for Henry or Vienna, and then he pulled a big powdered doughnut, wrapped in plastic wrap, out of his apron pocket.

“For you,” Luke beamed. “I save you the last doughnut.” He pressed it into Reid’s hand. “I know you got up late today. I know how you love the doughnuts. “

Powdered doughnuts made Reid salivate. He devoured them. Many times, he managed to grab one at the diner, but other times they were long gone before he came downstairs. He had often whined to Luke about missing his favorite breakfast fix, but he hadn’t thought Luke had been listening to him.

Reid stared into his boyfriend’s sweet face. He unwrapped the doughnut and automatically bit down into the sugary snack.

“Thanks,” Reid murmured gruffly. All thoughts of his prepared speech to Luke fled from his mind.

Luke crossed his arms and observed Reid’s happy face. “You’re more excited by that doughnut than you were at the flowers I brought on our first date.”

Reid glanced up at him, a thin film of sugar already on his mouth. “What can I say? “ He shrugged, “Doughnuts are very romantic.” He offered Luke a warm smile.

Luke shook his head at him. “I’ll have to remember that,” he laughed.

“You do that,” Reid told him, and took a second bite. He closed his eyes in ecstasy.

Every day after, Luke saved him the last doughnut. That whole week, he’d offer one to Reid as he left for Memorial, or Reid would find it on a tray outside of his apartment door. Sometimes there was milk with it too.

Every morning, Reid tried to tell Luke that his waiter skills were terrible. And then he’d see the doughnut.

***

It was Luke’s day off. Reid knew that he was going to see his grandmother; she had just arrived in town. But he had remembered the doughnut- it was waiting on a tray outside of his door. Luke had spent a long, delicious night in his arms. They’d had sex in Reid’s shower, on his floor, in his bed. Luke was demanding one moment and whimpering the next. His energy had been endless, amazing. Then again, sex with Luke was never boring or predictable, and it wasn’t just because of all the different positions they tried. It was Luke. They way he gave himself- so completely, so trustingly - going wherever Reid would take him. It was that expression of pleased delight on his face every time he made Reid moan, and it was that expression of intense, almost painful joy sweeping across Luke’s features just before his own orgasm rocked through his body.

Reid was stunned Luke could walk, much less remember to grab him a doughnut on his way out.
Reid sighed as he picked up the treat. This whole situation was beginning to scare the shit out of him. Sometimes, it was all Reid could do not to babble stupidly in Luke’s arms.

As he made his way downstairs, he found Henry and Vienna huddled by the kitchen, whispering back and forth. They broke off guilty when they spotted Reid.

They looked at him.

“I’m sorry, “ Vienna told him, “but we are trying to find a way to let Luke go.”

“No!”Reid protested, “You can’t. He’ll be…You just can’t.”

“It isn’t working,’ Henry said, his eyes truly sorry, “ He ‘s a great kid, but an awful waiter- “

“It’s his first week!”

"He broken several plates and glasses, he let people eat for free, he burns food or serves it cold , he- “

“Okay , Okay- “ Reid cut him off. “I’ll pay you,” Reid interrupted, “for those plates and glasses. “

Henry stared at him.

“He’ll improve,” Reid said quickly.

Henry and Vienna exchanged looks.

“Hank?”Reid added, but his name sounded like please. “Think of Luke’s pride. This is his first job.”

The two men looked at each other.

“Alright,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. “One more week – a trial. “ Then he gave Reid a disgusted glare. “Appealing to my sense of honor –a low blow!”

“I know, “ Reid grinned at him, “morality can be a bitch.”

Henry grinned back a second, and then went into the kitchen.

Vienna smiled widely at Reid.

“What?” Reid asked, irritated.

“You know, “she laughed.

“No. I don’t.” Reid tried to walk away from her, but she followed him outside the diner.

“When are you going to tell Luke? “ She asked.

“Tell him what? That he sucks as a waiter? I hope never.”

“No,” Vienna touched Reid’s arm, “that you love him?”

“I- what? “ Reid sputtered. “Love? Why are you bringing love into this?”

Vienna just stared at him. She cocked her head to one side. “So you don’t love him?”

Reid eyes narrowed. “Love is – “ he waved his hand , “so not the point here. Luke deserves a fair shot to improve and…” He trailed off as Vienna continued to smile at him. “Oh, put that dumb grin away,” Reid snapped. “Even if I did, love him,” Reid said, “What’s it matter? “

“Well, I think he loves you too and – “

Reid shook his head at her. “I’m his first” , he told Vienna impatiently. “We all think we love our first, but it’s just a crush. Just that combination of hormones and gratitude.”

Vienna clucked her tongue in a disapproving sound, “I think you’re wrong. You should find out. Give it a chance.”

“Thanks, mom,” Reid drawled, his features tight and closed off. “But spare me advice from the woman who keeps Hank warm at night.”

Vienna sighed. Reid was so stubborn. Why couldn’t he see that Luke was a sensitive man, the type who only loved truly and deeply?

“Fine,“ she said to Reid, “keep it all bottled inside.”

“Fine,” Reid agreed, “Can you stop pestering me now? What is it with the people in this town in everybody else’s business? “ He hurried away from her, feeling like he might crawl out of his skin.

***

Vienna watched him stride away. She bit her lips and tried not to laugh at him. Maybe Henry would want to play the Virgin and the Doctor in bed that night- such a lovely, lovely game.

Title: The Last Doughnut
Author: Marsabi
Summary: When Damian disinherits Luke, can he survive in the “real” world? Will he drive Reid crazy in the process?
Disclaimer: Owned by ATWT
Rating: PG- NC-17 (depends on chapter)
Warning: None

A companion to Camp Queer
Thanks traciamc for the read


Part Four - Topsy-Turvey

“Come on!” Luke begged.

“No,” Reid stated flatly.

“Please?” Luke poured a glass of lemonade for himself.

“I don’t ride horses,” Reid told him, irritated.

Luke shook his head at Reid. “You came all the way out to the farm with me, listened to me go on and on about a sunset ride, and now you’re saying you won’t go? “

“Pretty much.” Reid took Luke’s lemonade and sipped at it. “Horses smell, they have flies, and they aren’t safe. “ Reid crunched down on the ice.

Luke watched Reid take his drink and just smiled. He poured himself a second glass. He could wear the good doctor down. Reid would be on top of a horse in no time.

“What’s this?” Reid asked, fingering a fat envelope with Luke’s name left on the kitchen table.

“What?”

He handed the envelope to Luke.

Luke frowned in puzzlement. He rarely received mail at the farm, yet and the envelope was addressed to him from some strange law firm.

“Is your dad around to ask about it?” Reid said, sensing Luke’s surprise.

Luke shook his head, “No, he called to tell me he took my grandma to see my Aunt Meg. I wonder what this is about?”

Reid shrugged, “Only one way to find out.”

After reading a moment, Luke sank down into a chair in shock. He had expected Damian’s fury, his attack…He had not expected to just be out and out rejected.

The letter stated in cold, legal terms that Luke was no longer the Grimaldi heir. He was disinherited completely. He was to have no personal contact with his father ever again. The money was hard enough to wrap his mind around, but his heart immediately stung at the frigid way the news had been sent. No phone call, no warning ,no goodbye. Just done. His father had declared him no longer his son. A wave of intense hurt made it hard for Luke to breathe.

He sat there open-mouthed.

Reid took the letter from him and quickly read its contents.

He was quiet a long moment.

“So,” Reid finally said softly, “guess I’ll no longer be calling you Trust Fund.”

Luke forced out a laugh, “Ah, the bright side of this.”

Reid reached out and gently rubbed at Luke’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry,” Luke said, attempting to joke, “I can still give you a free meal,” He gestured to Emma’s stocked fridge and tried to smile.

“Food can solve any problem, “ Reid answered. But neither one was laughing.

Luke looked bleakly into Reid’s worried eyes. “I don’t care,” he told him, his lip jutting out with determination. “I don’t.”

Reid just nodded.

Luke stood up. He drank his lemonade in one fast gulp. “I am not crying over this,” he told Reid, and his eyes were dry and burning.

It frightened Reid a little. But he also understood Luke’s desperate need to be strong.

“Right. Who needs billions of bucks any way? We always have each other. And Taco Bell. “

Luke nodded back, “Taco Bell is good and it’s cheap. “ Luke took a deep breath. “I’ll find my own way alone.”

Reid took his hand. He ran his thumb across Luke’s palm. “You’re not alone, “Reid said.

Luke’s mouth suddenly trembled and he leaned into Reid’s body.

Reid inhaled Luke’s sweet, fresh scent. He stroked his back.

“Reid,” Luke suddenly pulled away and stared at him.

“What?”

“I-“ Luke looked off, biting his lip.

“Just tell me what you need?” Reid whispered.

Luke looked back, “I need you, “ he answered. “I need you right now.”

“No problem,” Reid answered, “I just happen to be available.”

***

They banged open Luke’s bedroom door, their mouths launched on each other. Luke couldn’t catch his breath. He could hear his own gasps and little moans of pleasure at each thrust of Reid’s tongue.

Luke craved Reid’s taste, deepening the kiss. Their tongues danced together in a matching rhythm, touching back and forth. Then Luke sighed as the kiss ended. Reid’s mouth, his tantalizing tongue – it intoxicated him.

They took off each other’s shirts. Their hands reached out, mirrors of each other, moving over hard nipples and flat stomachs. Pants came off next. Their thighs pressed together.

They caressed each other for a long time. Reid’s skin was bathed in light, his muscles taunt, his lips perfectly formed. Luke remembered how when he first saw Reid , he immediately thought he was the most gorgeous man in the world and it was still true. It seemed almost unbelievable to Luke now that he could really kiss Reid, hold Reid.

Reid touched a finger down Luke’s treasure trail and then smiled at Luke’s shiver. Reid’s fingers then journeyed to Luke’s ass, his crack, and back to his balls. He played lightly with them. Luke moaned and desperately kissed Reid’s lips, jaw line, neck.

After stroking each other’s firm torsos, Reid reached for a condom, prepared to roll it on. But Luke’s hand stopped him. He held Reid’s erection and the condom. Reid looked at Luke questioningly, and silently Luke communicated to Reid with his eyes.

They exchanged no words, but Reid understood . He saw Luke’s heart. Luke needed to take control, to equal out everything else in his life that was spiraling away from him. Luke needed Reid to be his.

Reid took the condom away from his own hardness and gently rolled it on Luke. He handed Luke some lube. Then Reid went to the bed and flipped onto his stomach. He raised up his knees and offered himself, somehow seeming to be both vulnerable and in control .Luke went to him, covering them both with a sheet, and then sliding his hand over Reid’s firm buttocks. Luke put his arms around Reid’s neck and gently played a moment with the hair at the exposed nape. Then he let his hand wander down.

Luke felt like he was meant for this moment, for Reid to be under him, trusting him; for Luke to tenderly use his fingers and his mouth, worshipfully on Reid, celebrating each part of his lover. Luke gently kissed the back of Reid’s warm shoulder . He pushed in a finger, closing his own eyes, and feeling a deep rush of pleasure at Reid’s sharp inhale.

Luke entered with exquisitely, slow force, letting their flesh lock perfectly. They fit like coming home. Pausing for a moment, Luke brought his lips to Reid’s hair and breathed in his scent. He gave him the softest of kisses. Then Luke exhaled, feeling like he had been missing being inside of Reid, even though he had never done this before. He was feeling like he was melting into Reid. Something was resonating deep inside of his heart, and it would never be forgotten.

Luke put his mouth on Reid’s back and licked the salty skin. He thrust again, harder now, and moaned loudly. Reid felt tight, his muscles squeezing Luke. Luke rocked into his ass, in and out, with more and more energy. Reid began to shout. He trembled. Luke rode him, digging his hands into Reid’s hips. He set a fierce pace. He clasped Reid firmly and gave it to him deeper and deeper. Reid was calling out his name. His foot was pounding on the bed and he was groaning helplessly under Luke’s forceful thrusts. Luke never imagined how good being inside of Reid would feel, how familiar somehow, how right.

Soon, both men were lost in the final give and take of pleasure.

***

They rolled near each other, their faces close. Reid tucked some of Luke’s hair behind his ear.

“Can I ask you something?” Luke asked tentatively. The air smelled of sweat and sticky sex.

“If you even dare ask me if this was good,” Reid declared, ”I’ll have to hurt you.”

“No,” Luke laughed,” I know it was good,” He shot Reid a shy, smug smile “Your screaming kind of gave it away.”

“I didn’t scream.”

“Like a little girl.”

"You need your hearing checked.” Reid protested.” I was just giving you some encouragement.”

“And then there’s your foot,” Luke added, “still Thumper.”

“Okay, if that nickname ever leaves our bed, “ Reid sat up on one elbow, “ I will really will do terrible things to your beautiful body.”

Luke just smiled.

Reid sighed. “I can see our future. You’re going to make a very demanding top.”

“No I’m not!” Luke replied, but he dropped his eyes. Partly because he suspected Reid might be right, and partly because the talk of a future thrilled him.

“Okay, maybe,” Luke giggled. Then he snuck another look at Reid,” And maybe you’re saying
I’ll become a demanding top because you really liked it,” he pursed his lips in a coy smile.

Reid merely shook his head. “What’d you want to ask me before, smart mouth?”

Luke paused. “I wanted to ask... “ He licked his lips . Then he sighed. “Can tell you about Damian? I feel like I need to get it out, all of it, from the start.”

Reid considered this. “Okay,” he said. Reid held his arms open and Luke nestled against him. “Tell me all about bad dad.“

Luke talked and Reid listened, pulling him close. Luke spoke of his childhood, his off and on again relationship with Damian. He told Reid their whole history together, from kidnappings to the camp, until finally Luke had exhausted himself. He fell asleep, spooned trustingly against him.


Reid, however, stayed awake, his eyes alert. His mind uneasy. He rested his chin on the curve of Luke’s shoulder, worrying about what was to come.

Title: Hit and Run
Author: Marsabi
Summary: Reid and Luke are happily engaged and living together, when a sudden event causes Luke to break it off with Reid. This is also my story for Natalie. I read a lot with Ethan and Faith, but not many stories have her in them. I always loved her for hugging Luke at the end of ATWT.
Warning: Angst
Rating: PG

a/n: I based the medical part on a magazine article that I read. Sadly, I also based it on a friend of mine who, while getting ready for an Aids race for charity, was a victim of a hit and run on his bike. I hope it is medically accurate, but I’m not a doctor so…Then again, if Noah can have a full head of hair and magic eye drops, I think my medical info is just as sound!



Part Two:

At the hospital, Luke and Reid found Lily a sobbing mess. Bob had just given her a shot of something to calm her, but she still blubbered all over Luke as he embraced her.

“My baby!” She cried, smearing her lipstick on Luke’s shirt. “My baby!”

“I know,” Luke hugged her.

“Why did she take out her bike? I was on my way home!”

Emma arrived and rushed over to Lily. She looked at Luke. “I can only stay a little- I am going to relieve the nanny and take care of Ethan. Keep him busy at the farm.” Emma bent down and squeezed Lily hard, “It will be alright, honey.”
Luke began to fall apart with Lily. He felt huge sobs starting inside of him. Reid took his hand and pulled him away.

“Stop this now,” he told Luke firmly. “You can’t lose it. Not like Lily.”

“But-“

“ Call Holden. Call Faith. Help with Ethan. Do what you need to do, Luke. “ He shook him. Now was not the time to coddle him, even though it pained Reid to be tough. Luke responded. He sniffled and stopped crying.

“You’re right, okay. I’m okay. I can do that.”

"You can,” Reid ran a finger down Luke’s cheek. “You can do it.”

Luke nodded bravely. They walked back to Lily.

“ Can I see her?” Luke asked. “ Where is she? Where is Natalie?”

Lily gestured wildly, “Back there,” she motioned to the ER. “I saw her already, but they asked me to step out. “

Bob hesitated. Lily had gone hysterical at the sight of Natalie. He wasn’t sure it was wise to let Luke see her either. He sighed .

“Come for just a moment, “ Bob told Luke. Then he nodded to Reid. “I think she is stable, but I need you.”

Reid nodded. Luke started to ask another question , but Reid and Bob were already going to the trauma room and Luke quickly followed.

Natalie was there. Her blond hair streaked with blood. Her eyes wide and frightened. Nurse were working furiously all around her.

Luke approached her slowly; he moved like he was walking in a fog. He was afraid of knocking into the machines and tubes all around him. He felt so clumsy suddenly. He was aware of Reid quickly putting on a white coat, barking a few orders at the staff, and turning into “Dr. Oliver” right before his eyes. He was aware of the strong odor in the room: astringent and bleach and the iron smell of blood. He was aware of the harsh bright quality of the lights. But mostly, he was aware of Natalie’s small body; her feet not even long enough to reach the edge of the exam table.

“Luke! Help me!” Natalie said, her gaze locking on her brother’s. Luke took her hand or tried to take it, but he did not want to pull at her IV drip. He tried to smile and his lips felt frozen. His sister’s face was a mass of bruises. Her left eyelid swollen shut. He touched her gently on her shoulder.

“Natalie! You scared me so much!” Luke managed to tell her. “ I’m here now. Reid too. “ Luke glanced at Reid and Bob who were studying her CT scans, “And you will be fine –“
As the words came out of Luke’s mouth, Natalie’s eyes suddenly rolled back in her head.

Her body seized. Nurses roughly pushed past Luke.

“Out, out, out,” Reid told him, shoving him away.

“What’s happening? What’s happening?” Luke shrieked at Reid.

Machines beeped. An intern flew into the room with a crash cart.

Reid turned his back to Luke and began to help Natalie. Luke felt a firm hand on his back. He tried to shake it off. He tried to get closer to Reid and Natalie.

“Let them work,” Bob told him. He grabbed at Luke again and forced him out. As he pushed

Luke through the door, Bob looked back to Reid. Their eyes met. Reid needed to stabilize Natalie and fast.

***

In the hallway, Luke wheezed in big gulps of air. He bent down a moment , feeling dizzy. Bile rose to the back of his throat and he swallowed it down. He tried to think of what Reid would want him to do. He would want him to calm down. Luke straighten up and took a few careful steps towards his family. They had not yet noticed him; they were distracted by a fight going on between Lucinda and Margo, who had both just arrived.

“What are you doing about the driver? “ Lucinda was barking at her. “Who leaves a child by the side of the road?”

Margo’s face looked pinched. She had no evidence yet, except for some tire skid-marks. She busied herself with a notepad and pen and tried to look professional.

“Well?” Lucinda demanded.

“The driver might have been drunk or stoned.”

“At this hour?”

Margo shrugged, “It’s the holiday season. Maybe the driver has a record or –“

“Find him!” Lucinda ordered. “Or will the Oakdale Police be incompetent as usual?”

“We need to focus on Natalie, mother,” Lily looked up, “and get in touch with Holden.”

Holden and Molly were visiting Abigail in Los Angeles .

“Luke, can you try him again?” Lily was asking.

Luke did not respond. He kept seeing his baby sister’s face, her voice, when she had pleaded with him to help.

“Why isn’t Holden here?” Lucinda raged. “He is still in LA? Still off with Molly, that slut?”

“Please mother.”

“You should have gotten rid of her, darling, like I told you.”

“Lucinda!” Emma scolded, “None of this is helping. Holden’s cell phone is not picking up –we will call again.”

“Let me tell you about Holden – “ Lucinda was saying.

But Luke stopped listening to them. He watched the door for signs – for Reid.
***

Inside the room, Reid had managed to stabilize her –for the moment. Sweat coated Reid’s face and dripped down his forehead. He bent over Natalie.

“Where the hell was Chris?” Reid demanded to Bob.

Chris had been on call, but had not shown up. Natalie’s care had fallen into the hands of the nurses and young interns, until Bob had arrived.

Bob flinched. “I don’t know.”

Chris had been slipping as a doctor ever since his successful heart transplant. Thanks to
Reid finding a heart, Chris had made a full recovery. But instead of being grateful, Chris had, in Reid’s opinion, acted like a spoiled brat. He had decided he needed to “live,” and had proceeded to blow off work, sneak around on Katie, and try risky sports. He had been hanging out partying with Casey and not coming to work much. He was on the verge of suspension more than once.

Poor Katie had caught him cheating on her just weeks after his recovery. She and Reid had walked in on Chris fondling Nurse Gretchen, his hand yanking up her skirt and exposing her undies that had read “Happy Monday!” on them. Reid had yelled at him and Katie had cried. A humiliated Nurse Gretchen, jerking down her panties, had fled at the sight of Reid.
Since then, Chris had been making his way through the nurses. Katie had left for an extended “vacation”, taking Jacob to visit her mother Lila. Although she had promised Reid she would return for his wedding to Luke. Reid wished he’d ripped the donor heart out of Chris Hughes and given it to a better person . The bastard had the IQ of spam and the morals of an alley cat.

Bob had put off his retirement, due to all this business with Chris. Bob almost had given Reid the Chief job, but Kim had pleaded with him to wait, to give their son a chance to change. She’d pleaded that Chris was just going through a “tough time” adjusting. Reid had told Luke he did not even want to job now; it was a bunch of BS and paperwork. Reid preferred the operating room to the board room anyhow. The only part of being Chief that he would enjoy would be firing Doogie’s ass.

“She’s stable; you did it,” Bob said now, blowing out a huge breath.

“She’s stable so far,’ Reid cautioned. “But we need her to stabilize for 24 hours before we can operate.”

Bob nodded.

Natalie was now fully hooked up to machines; her body shrunken and pale.

Reid reached out a hand and touched a strand of Natalie’s blond hair. It was soft, like Luke’s, and only a few shades lighter. Reid imagined that Luke’s hair was this exact color as a young boy. He pictured the first time that he had met Natalie and she had given him a beautiful smile. She had just gotten past the last of her baby teeth. Her smile had been wide and trusting. Reid’s hand shook as her stroked the hair. There was matted blood on it.

Reid’s fingers trembled. Badly.

Bob saw and frowned in concern. “You know- you’re too close to this. You shouldn’t be the one to –“

“I know,” Reid said.

“You do?” Bob was surprised. It wasn’t like Reid to agree so fast.

Bob studied Reid. His skin was still sweaty. Reid was holding his hands together now, trying to stop his shaking.

Bob patted Reid’s back. “I’ll call over to Bay City and get somebody.”

“No!” Reid snapped. “I’m not turning Natalie over to some neurosurgeon from nowhere-land who got his license in a cereal box. No, “Reid drew in his breath. “I know somebody in Boston. She’s good. “

“Who?”

“Dr. Alexa Jones.”

“Dr. Jones?” Bob echoed. “ I have heard of her. “But will she come tonight? She has a huge practice.”

“She’ll come for me,” Reid said with a hint of his normal arrogance. He walked over to the ER phone. “I will get her.”

He dialed the number for Boston General. They had gone through Harvard together and had once accidentally dated the same boyfriend. Reid had not known the guy was pretending to be straight and Alexa had not known he was secretly gay. They both kicked the guy to the curb and had remained friends.

***
Reid had managed to avoid telling Luke that particular story, not that Luke hadn’t tried to dig up everything he could about Reid’s past. Sometimes, Luke’s attacks for information could be downright sneaky. Once, just a few days after they’d moved in together, he’d cornered Reid after his shower, while he was shaving. Reid had been concentrating on the slightly foggy mirror, his face already full of lather.

“So,” Luke had said, slipping up behind him. “Did you miss me last night?”

“Hmm,” Reid had answered as he pursed his lips and slid the razor down his chin. Luke had been out with Casey. Watching the way the razor moved along Reid’s skin, Luke had licked his lips at Reid and smiled innocently.

“We had fun. Casey got to telling me stories of some of his ex-girlfriends.”

Reid’s eyes had met Luke’s in the mirror, dreading what was coming.

“How about you –ever think about your ex- boyfriends?”

“No,” Reid had made a face, “don’t be a moron.”

Luke had shifted around. “I just want to know more about you. I told you my entire sexual history!”

Bits of shaving cream had fallen into the sink while Reid had laughed.

“I doubt one ex-boyfriend could be defined as a sexual history, Luke.”

Reid made another clean swipe with the razor and then tapped it against the sink impatiently to wash out the foam.

“Maybe it qualifies as a small skirmish. And from what you told me about Mayer, “ Reid couldn’t help adding, “his soldier could barely stand at attention.”

“Very funny.” Luke took the razor from Reid’s hand and washed it out a little more. Then he handed it back . Reid began to shave the other side of his face.

“I could go on with the great battle of Noah,” Reid had grinned as he shaved. “Small sword, jammed gun? “

“Fine, be obnoxious,” Luke had said. Coming up behind Reid, Luke had pressed himself into Reid’s naked back. “I have ways of making you talk.”

“Why do you need to know these stories?” Reid had asked. “I love you. The end.”

Luke had shrugged. “ I know, but…”

Reid had dropped the razor and turned. He’d given him a firm kiss, getting lather on the side of Luke’s face.

At Reid’s kiss, Luke had smiled. Sliding one hand into Reid’s hair, Luke had just tilted his face close to Reid’s. Luke inhaled the scent of shaving cream and man. Reid reached out a finger and wiped the spot on Luke’s cheek. Luke had shot him his ridiculously, charming smile. He’d placed both palms against Reid’s bare chest. Keeping his eyes glued to Reid’s, Luke slowly worked his hands down to rest on the towel slung over Reid’s hips.

“Just tell me the number. “ Luke had whispered sweetly. “How many?”

Flexing his muscles, Reid had pulled away. “Well, I am a damn fine specimen.” He preened around the bathroom a bit. “But I don’t know if you can count that high, Einstein. The number is so large.”

“Shut up!”

“It’s bigger than all the grains of sand in the ocean,” Reid had said with mocking poetry, “Than all the stars in the sky.”

Luke had grabbed the can of shaving cream and blasted him with it. Foam had dripped down Reid’s face and chest.

“Hey!”

“You never learn when to stop ,” Luke had laughed. Reid wrestled the can away from him and squirted Luke back. In just moments, they had covered each other in lather.

They had not made it to the bedroom. Things had turned heavy and hot right on the bathroom rug. And Luke had dropped his interrogation – for the time being. Reid knew it had been just a reprieve.

That was the tricky part about being involved with one Luke Snyder. He appeared blithely sweet and all that on the surface, but underneath he was the most stubborn, single-minded person on the planet.

***

Reid was abruptly pulled out of the rest of the memory at the sound of the nurse connecting him through.

“Reid!” Alexa’s rich voice came over the phone, “What a long time it’s been.”

“I have a problem,’ Reid said.

“What no hello first? Am I no longer your favorite fag hag?” She laughed at her own joke.

After simultaneously dumping their shared man, Alexa and Reid had bonded over drinks in the various gay bars around Boston, earning her Reid’s nickname.
Normally, Reid would have been snarky to her and they’d have bantered back and forth. But this was not a normal time.

“I need help,” Reid said simply.”Please. “

In her office, Dr. Jones almost fell out of her chair. She knew that if those words were coming from Reid’s mouth it must be serious.

“Tell me,” she said.


***

When waiting for a loved one in a hospital, the whole world quickens to white. Time does not stretch itself out in a smooth line anymore; it shatters and falls down hard as a storm.

The family was waiting now. Emma had left to care for Ethan, but the rest of them huddled together. Luke held his mother’s hand and tried to rub at her cold fingers. Lucinda paced up and down the hallway, looking for anybody to abuse.

Suddenly, Casey and Ali showed up. They hurried over to Luke.

“How is she?” Casey embraced Luke in a bear hug.

Luke’s eyes welled up and he shook his head. “We’re waiting.”

Ali hugged him too. “I’m on my shift –sorry! I gotta go now.” She kissed him. “We would have been here sooner, but my car is in the shop.”

Casey hugged Luke once more. He smelled a little of smoke.

“Where have you been?” Luke asked Casey.

“Nowhere – just hanging,” Casey’s eyes filled with tears of his own, “I’m so sad about Natalie. “ He hugged Luke some more.

“Thanks.”

Casey nodded. “You need anything, Luke? Coffee or food?”

Luke smiled at his friend. “Just need to know how she is.”

Jack Snyder hurried up to them. “Sorry! I wanted to come with Margo. “ Jack’s eyes slid away, “But I had Carly issues.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Lily said. “Have you heard from Holden?”

“No,” Jack shook his head. “Luke, can I get you a sandwich? Lily?”

They both refused it. Everybody seemed to want to feed them now.

“Not hungry, Uncle Jack.”

Before Jack could reply, Chris Hughes came into the hallway. He went over too and patted Luke. He gave him a big smile, “Don’t worry. Really. I have heard of worse, seen worse.”

Chris’s eyes darted all around. His face had stubble, his shirt was undone. He spied Nurse Gretchen and gave her a leer. She stuck out her chest and angrily walked past him.

“She’ll be fine,” Chris said. He smiled over to Lily to comfort her now.

“Thank you.” Lily said, but she continued to cry.

Everybody jumped up then, because Reid and Bob were coming out of the ER.

Bob Hughes looked at his son. “Where have you been?”

“I- er- forgot the pager and -“ Chris stammered. He tried to give his father a hound-dog face.

“In my office! Now!” He looked at the Snyders. “Be right back.” Bob took Chris away.

Casey let out a low whistle.

“Listen,” Jack said. “Let us go and get some coffee,” he nodded to Casey. Who looked puzzled and then realized that Jack thought they should give Reid a private moment with the immediate
family.

“Right. Back soon, guy,” He tapped Luke on the shoulder.

But Luke was watching Reid.

Reid came over to the family. His family.

Lucinda grabbed Reid’s hand. “Thank God, finally a competent face! How is she?”

Reid cleared his throat. His voice was still hoarse from his cold.

“Natalie has suffered a traumatic brain injury. A brain shear has occurred, “ At their blank faces, Reid hesitated, “It’s a shifting inside of her skull. The brain is bruised and –“

“Oh God,” Lily moaned, sinking back into her chair, her knees buckling.

“But you can operate and fix it, right? “ Luke said. His hand gripped Reid’s .

“We can operate,” Reid answered, “once she is stable enough. “ He did not add that she might not become stable enough; Reid pushed that thought away. “But Natalie has suffered a complication already –a mini stroke.”

“Stroke? “ Lucinda parroted. “What? She’s a child!”

“I know. But it’s not an uncommon side effect of brain trauma. Our next CT scan will show more, but I expect there has been tissue damage .”

“How much?” Luke asked.

Reid opened his mouth to answer, but looking into Luke’s worried face, the words would not come out.

“We can’t tell until we look inside, “ Reid finally admitted.

Bob came back over. He had suspended Chris. He did not relish the idea of telling Kim, but it had to be done.

Now Bob wanted to help Reid.

“Listen,” Bob told the Snyder family what Reid could not voice. “Prepare yourselves. There could be memory loss , speech impairment, walking problems or worse.”

“Worse?” Lucinda asked.

“Cognitive damage. Mild or severe. We have no way of knowing.”

Reid felt his body shake again and inhaled sharply. “We don’t know yet. ” He tried to offer Luke a reassuring smile. “She could be lucky.”

Bob raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. It just confirmed for him that Reid was way too involved to be objective.

Luke had heard enough. He grabbed at Reid and burst into tears. Sobs wracked his body. Reid gently took Luke down the hall and into the break room.

“Just take a breath, sweetie. “ Reid murmured, he never called Luke any endearments. Today, he had called Luke both babe and sweetie. Normally, this would have thrilled Luke, but he was in a world of fear and grief.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Luke said. “I know you told me not to cry.”

Reid did not answer; he just held Luke and rocked him.

After a few moments, Luke pulled himself together. At the same moment, Bob opened the door to the break room.

“Look, I’ve talked with Lily now. We think it would be wise to have the family stay in shifts. Nothing can happen until the morning.”

“I want to stay.”

“No,” Lily said ,following Bob into the break room. “I’m taking the first shift.”

“Mom-“

“She’s my baby.” Lily went over to Luke and stroked his tear-filled face. “You both are. Please go and rest, hon. I will need you here in a few hours to relieve me. “

Lily glanced at Reid. “Will you please drive Luke home?” she asked.

Reid and Lily did not like each other much, but they both loved Luke.

Reid nodded.

Lucinda came into the room now. “I plan to hire nurses round the clock. Real ones.”

“Alison will take care of Natalie tonight,” Bob told her.

“An ex-porn star? Ex-junkie? I don’t think so!” Lucinda huffed. “Luke and I are both on the
hospital board and that is the best nurse you offer?”

“Don’t worry, grandma,” Reid said. He always called her that to tease her. Usually, Lucinda and Reid could spend hours busted each other’s balls. Lucinda, Reid often liked to tell Luke, had a rock hard pair of cohunes.

But now, he could see the fear behind Lucinda’s tough, condescending tone.
“I will drop Luke home and come right back. I’ll stay with her.”

Lucinda grabbed Reid’s face and pinched his cheeks. “Fresh.” But she was reassured.

Luke smiled at them. He liked how cute and easy Reid and Lucinda were together.

***

But in the car ride home, Luke cried again softly. He had just hung up the phone with Holden, finally reaching him in Los Angeles.

“Dad is flying in. He was hiking with Molly and Abigail and did not have reception before.”

Reid nodded. They pulled up to their house. It was a cozy, three bedroom house that suited them perfectly. Natalie and Ethan had slept over a number of times. That had been one of Luke’s reasons for wanting a house and not an apartment.
For Reid, it was his first home. Ever. He had moved a lot as a kid. And his parents had not seen the point of owning a home. Later, when his Uncle Angus had taken him in, they had lived in a cramped apartment by the park. Reid was terribly proud of his house with Luke, and that they had purchased it together.

Luke opened the door and they went in. Both men were exhausted. Luke tossed the keys on the coffee table. Normally, Reid would scold him for that and neatly hang them on their designated hook by the front door. Tonight, he barely noticed it.

Luke sat down heavily on the nearby couch and rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand like a tired child.

“The only thing giving me courage in this whole nightmare, “ he told Reid, “Is that Natalie will be in your hands. “

Reid faltered and nearly tripped. He sat down next to Luke, slowly sinking his weight down into the soft leather.

“I won’t be,” he said.

Luke looked at him, ”Won’t be what?”

“Operating on Natalie,” Reid said softly. “It’s a conflict of interest.”

Luke stared at him dumbly.

Reid sucked in a ragged breath.

“I just can’t operate,” he repeated.

Luke felt like his heart was being cracked-open and a huge, cold space poured in.