His cell phone buzzed, startling him. The caller ID told him it was Casey.
"Hey, Case," Luke said, as he answered the phone.
"Hi, Luke."
"What's up?"
"Hey...uh...Noah's doctor..."
"Dr. Oliver?" A smile snuck across Luke's lips. It was okay. Nobody was there to see him smile. He liked thinking about the doctor. It was his little secret.
"Yeah...uh...he's three fucking sheets to the wind, man."
"Drunk?" Luke sat up.
"Yeah, I'm at Yo's, and man...he's toast. The bar tender took his keys. I offered him a ride home, but he refused. Doesn't he live with Katie?"
"Yes," Luke answered. "Is he being beligerant?"
"No, man...he's cracking me up. Holy shit. He's funny as hell. He's telling dirty jokes and reciting limericks. He's flirting with all of the waitresses, and I'm fairly certain he's flirted with a couple of the waitERs too. Too bad he can't drink at work; he's way easier to be around when he's corked."
Luke shook his head.
"Anyway," Casey continued, "You think Katie will come get him? I don't have her number, and he won't give it up. I tried to get his cell phone, but he put it in his front pocket, and dude, I'm not going there. Will you call Katie?"
Luke laughed, amused at the thought of the ultra serious Dr. Oliver being silly. "No, it's late, and I don't think she needs to take the baby out to a bar to retrieve her inebriated roommate...I'll come get him and take him home."
"Okay, cool. I'm gonna go now. Dr. Neuro's about to do the Cupid Shuffle with bunch of drunk chicks. He's a trip, bro. I think he needs backup. See ya."
"Okay, yeah...see ya in a few." Luke hung up the phone, smiling, and grabbed his coat. This he had to see.
****************************************
When Luke walked into Yo's, he found Casey sitting at the bar with Reid next to him. Reid's head was on the bar.
"Uh-oh..." Luke said, smiling, as he head nodded toward Reid.
"Yup. He was YMCA-ing and Cupid Shuffling, and then he was Cha-Cha sliding, and then when he did the 'how low can you go' part, he sat on the floor and didn't get back up. It was pretty funny, man. I think he's hit a wall."
"Cha-cha Sliding? Dr. Oliver? Casey, I think YOU are the one who's drunk. I'm pretty sure Dr. Oliver would not be caught dead doing a line dance." Luke laughed heartily.
"Dude, he was good at it. And I'm pretty sure that blonde hottie over there by the juke box wants to go home with him. Too bad he's probably too wasted to get it up."
Luke looked at the "blonde hottie" in question. "She's not his type."
"What do you mean? She's freaking hot, man. I'd tap that."
"She has breasts."
"Yes, she does! Duh. For most guys, present company excluded, that's the best part! What do you mean she's not the doc's type...she's tall and stacked and..." And then realization hit Casey. "Oh, no fucking way. He doesn't ping! Are you sure? How do you know? Do y'all have a secret handshake or something?"
"Yeah, Case...we have a secret handshake," Luke said sarcastically. He approached Reid more closely and shook his shoulder. "Hey, Dr. Oli..."
Reid's head shot up. "Hey!" he said, way too enthusiastically, "Richie Rich!" Luke bristled at the nicknane, but then Reid reached out and grabbed Luke's shoulder, letting his hand slide down Luke's arm to his wrist. Luke's breath hitched at Reid's touch, and he took a step back and looked at Reid smiling. Smiling. Dr. Oliver never smiled, but here he was smiling a big, slightly crooked smile that made him look like a little boy, and even in the dark pub, his blue eyes sparkled, making it hard for Luke to breathe.
"Whatdyll ya have? He cut me offfff, but...what are you drinkin? I'll buy ya one...drinks on me..." Reid laughed at whatever amusing thing was going on inside his alcohol-fogged mind.
"Thanks, but I don't drink..." Luke answered. "And that's okay because we need to get you home. C'mon, I'll drive you to Katie's." Luke nodded at the bartender, who handed him Reid's keys and a bottle of water.
"Has he taken care of his tab?"
"Yup. Fat tip. That's why I'm giving you the water." The bartender winked at Luke.
"Here, drink," Luke said, twisting off the bottle top and handing the bottle to Reid. Reid drank down half the bottle and then burped, laughing. Casey laughed too.
"Case, you okay to drive?" Luke asked, helping a swaying Reid off the bar stool.
"Yeah, bro, I'm good. I've had two beers all night. I've been playing darts."
"Okay, well thanks for calling me, I think." Luke nodded toward Reid, who was already headed for the door. "He better not puke in my car."
Casey laughed. "Ewwwwww. Hope not."
Luke rolled his eyes and clapped Casey on the shoulder. "See ya later."
"'kay..."
****************************************
"My car's over here," Luke said, catching Reid by the crook of his elbow and pulling him gently beside him. Reid was still smiling. Luke laughed. "You're feeling no pain, eh?"
Reid hummed in reply. He leaned with his back against the sedan, as Luke stood in front of him and searched his own coat pockets for his keys. Next thing Luke knew, the doctor's hands were on his hips, and he felt himself moving closer to him, though Luke wasn't sure whether it was because he was stepping into him of his own volition or it was Reid pulling him closer.
Luke was still contemplating his own movement when Reid's lips softly met his. And then Luke's lips were opening to accept a warm tongue that tasted of beer and tequila and salt and lime. Luke sighed into the kiss and instinctively brought his hands up to Reid's neck and head before he pulled away with an "mmmmm" sound. Reid's eyes were barely opened as he leaned back against the car, looking at Luke and smiling slightly.
"You're not even going to remember our first kiss," Luke noted.
"The word 'first' implies that there will be more..." Reid teased, slurring his words.
"Yeah, we'll see..." Luke smiled and pulled the door open. "In," he demanded.
Reid sat down in the front seat very UNgracefully and swung his legs inside. Luke closed the door, went around to the other side, and got in.
Reid's eyes were closed, and he breathed shallowly, his brow furrowed a bit.
"You okay?" Luke asked, as he studied Reid's profile.
"Yeah. Car's spinning."
"Of course it is...tequila shots?"
"How'd you know? That Hughes kid?"
"Casey. No. I could taste it." Luke blushed at the very recent memory and shifted in his seat.
"Hey, I was drinking the good stuff. I shouldn't have a headache in the morning."
Luke reached across Reid to grab his seatbelt, but Reid stopped him. "Wait, wait..." He lifted himself off the seat and felt around in his right, front pocket. "Here..."
He put a cold piece of marble in Luke's hand. Luke held it up to catch the parking lot lights. The marble held the shape of a horse's head.
"A chess knight?"
"Mmm, hmmm. It's yours. Payment for the car ride home."
"Okaaaaay," Luke answered, confused. He started the car and opened Reid's window. If you're going to hurl..." He turned the chess piece over in his hand. "Where'd you get this?"
"Came in the mail today. Belonged to someone I knew. He died."
"I can't accept this...here...," Luke said holding the knight out to Reid.
Reid pushed his hand away. "Keep it. I've earned the right to never see that fucking thing again." Reid closed his eyes. "Fuck. I'm dizzy."
Luke looked down at the chess piece, opened up his unused ash tray, and placed the knight gently into it. He looked at Reid, who appeared a little green around the gills.
"Just relax. I'll keep the window open." Luke reached across him and secured Reid's seatbelt. Reid ran his hand over Luke's before Luke pulled away and gripped the steering wheel.
Reid slept the whole way home.
****************************************
"Hey, Katie." Luke stepped in the door, holding Reid's keys, with Reid leaning on him heavily.
"Luke!" Katie said, hopping up off the couch. "Reid? What's wrong?"
"Goldilocks..." Reid laughed in Katie's direction. "I'm home."
"He had a little too much to drink," Luke answered for him.
"I had the perfect amount to drink," Reid slurred and chuckled again.
"Oh, Lord..." Katie said. "Are you sick?"
"No, I can handle my liquor, thank you very much."
"Yeah, I can see that," Katie said, rolling her eyes.
"Katie, will you get a glass of water and a couple of aspirin. I'm going to put him in bed."
Reid looked at Luke through eyes that he could barely keep open. He attempted to waggle his eyebrows, but instead he just blinked a few times. "Now we're talkin'..."
Luke shrugged at Katie and walked Reid to his room. Reid toed off his shoes on the way down the hall, causing both of them to lose their balance and fall against the wall.
"Easy," Katie said, as she came up behind them with the water and pills.
Once inside Reid's room, Reid took the aspirin and thanked Katie, taking her hand and smiling at her.
"Oh, geeze, he really is drunk," Katie laughed and kissed Reid on the cheek.
Jacob started crying. "Oh, shoot, I'm sorry, Katie, we woke the baby," Luke apologized.
"It's okay. He'll go right back down. You okay here?"
"Yeah, I've got him," Luke said, still holding Reid by the waist. Luke turned back to Reid. "Okay, lush...off with your clothes. It's bedtime." He began unbuttoning Reid's shirt.
Reid reached for Luke's belt, but Luke grabbed his wrists. "Uh-uh...no..."
"Why?"
"Because you're drunk, and when you sober up, you're going to remember that you can't stand me."
"That's not true." Reid sighed and pressed his forehead against Luke's as Luke continued to unbutton his shirt. He pushed the shirt off of Reid's shoulders and let his fingers trail down Reid's smooth back as he tugged it off and it fell to the floor. Luke looked at the beautiful, bare torsoed man in front of him and stifled a groan. They were standing so close that Luke could feel Reid's breath against his neck. It had been a long time since he'd been this close to someone, and it took all of his willpower not to press his mouth to Reid's pale skin.
Reid stood motionless, breathing shallowly, and Luke knew that the doctor was about to fall asleep standing up. He undid Reid's belt, the hair at Reid's navel grazing his knuckles as he unbuttoned his jeans. Fuck. Once the button was undone and Luke had lowered the zipper, Luke tugged his pants down gently, trying not to look, and Reid stepped out of them, holding onto Luke's arms for balance.
Luke steadied Reid and found himself looking at Reid's open mouth. Reid's hand slid up and gripped the back of Luke's neck and pulled him in. Their lips met, their tongues slid against each other, and Luke felt his resolve slipping away. Reid's hand gripped at Luke's back underneath his t-shirt, and Luke wrapped his arms around Reid shoulders and waist, his fingers digging into soft skin over hard muscle.
Luke fought against the raw want that he felt coursing through him and pulled away.
"Reid..."
Reid smiled, breathing hard. "You said my name. Say it again..."
"Reid," Luke whispered.
"Luke."
Luke closed his eyes at the sound of his name. He reached behind Reid and pulled the covers back. "C'mon, lie down."
"So bossy," Reid slurred and sat down, holding onto Luke's arm. He pulled his legs up into the bed and scooted over, trying to pull Luke down with him, but Luke kept his feet firmly on the floor. "Sorry," Luke said, meaning it and apologizing to himself as much as to Reid. "It's not happening tonight. Let's revisit this idea when you're sober, okay?" He leaned down and kissed Reid gently on the lips. "Goodnight."
Reid nodded, his hand still loosely holding onto Luke's finger tips. His eyes were already closed, as he let out a relieved sigh and his body relaxed into the pillow and mattress. "Don't leave. Stay with me, Luke..." but his hand lost its grip on Luke's, and sleep overtook him, and he was snoring softly seconds after his head hit the pillow.
Luke pulled the blanket up over Reid's chest and backed out of the room.
"Is he okay?" Katie asked as Luke entered the living room.
Luke sat in the chair next to the couch. "Yeah, he's fine. I don't envy the headache he's going to have in the morning." He laughed.
"So, Luke...you and Reid?"
"No, Katie. God...no. We're adversaries really. We're just...I don't know what we are. We never have a kind word for each other, but tonight..." Luke sighed and smiled. "I don't know what's going on. Something's definitely...I don't know..." Luke shrugged. "Anway, earlier tonight, I was at home. Casey called me about Reid."
"So, you went and rescued him."
"That's me. Night in shining armor." Luke laughed. "Katie?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you know who died that Reid knew?"
"His Uncle. Why? Did he talk to you about it? I could barely get him to talk to me about it when he got the mail from his uncle's lawyer today."
"No, he just mentioned something about someone dying. Were they close?"
"He raised Reid, after his parents died."
"Oh God...I didn't know. Reid was orphaned? How old was he?"
"Eight."
"Jesus. I had no idea."
"Why would you?"
Luke shrugged and immediately thought of how young Reid looked when he smiled at him in the bar earlier, and he suddenly felt his heart ache for that eight year old boy. "He didn't go to the funeral?"
"No, they were estranged. He didn't even know he had died until he received the parcel from the lawyer today. It had a small inheritance check and a few of his personal affects. His uncle...he wasn't a very nice guy from what I can gather...ya know, Reid's not a big talker...I don't know what happened, but I don't think he treated Reid very well...there's a lot of resentment there."
"Did he abuse him?"
"I don't know."
Luke felt tears well up in his eyes. "God.......................Katie?"
"Yes," Katie yawned.
"Reid asked me to stay. Would that be okay with you? I mean, it would be totally innocent. He's zonked out, and I'll keep my clothes on. I promise. He's probably going to freak out and kick me out in the morning anyway. I'm sure he'll remember that he hates me as soon as he's got a clear head. I'm probably nuts for staying."
"You underestimate his fascination with you, Luke. But of course...this is Reid's home too, and if he wants you to stay, then it's cool with me...even if it's not innocent." Katie smiled and lifted her eyebrows.
"Katie..."
"I'm just saying...it's all good."
Luke smiled and stood up. "Okay then...goodnight."
"Night, Luke. Sleep tight."
Luke paused outside of Reid's door to text Lily so that she wouldn't worry. Then he took a deep breath and opened the door.
Luke stepped into Reid's dark room and closed the door. He toed off his shoes at the foot of the bed and then walked around to the side before carefully sliding his clothed body in beside Reid's unclothed one. He laid his head on the pillow, facing Reid and studied Reid's silhouette in the very faint light. He felt the heat coming off of Reid, and his body reacted to it. He reached out and ran his thumb across Reid's bottom lip and then his slightly stubbled chin. Reid didn't stir and continued to breath evenly.
Luke breathed in deeply and enjoyed Reid's scent. How had this happened? He was in Reid Oliver's bed. Bizarre turn of events to say the least. Cha-cha sliding? Really? Luke chuckled softly at the thought. He looked forward to and dreaded the morning equally. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss against Reid's lips.
Luke closed his eyes and fell asleep.
fin