dpracket

"The beating of my heart is a drum, and it's lost, and it's looking for a rhythm like you."  -- Air Supply (does this refer to Luke or Reid or both of them?)

Chapter 1:  http://dpracket.livejournal.com/32142.html
Chapter 2:  http://dpracket.livejournal.com/32417.html
Chapter 3:  dpracket.livejournal.com/33801.html


Notes:  So, you can see how firm I was on my "three chapters at most" statement.  I'm really bad about that, aren't I?  Haha...anyway,  I'm making this up as I go along.  Reid did the surgery on Noah already.  It was a success.  And he and Luke didn't break up until now.  I guess Reid stayed in town for the new wing.  Not sure Luke funded it or not.  Lol.  And we continue...


Reid shifted awake up against Luke, half on top of him, and mumbled lazily.  Without opening his eyes, he nuzzled into the side of Luke's neck.  He hummed softly in appreciation of Luke's sleepy morning smell.  He felt Luke's arm resting on his back, and he was aware of his own arm slung across Luke's torso.  His left leg was nested between both of Luke's, and his right arm was currently suffering pins and needles from being trapped between their two bodies.

If he partook in such activities, he would have to admit he was snuggling with Luke Snyder.  However, since Dr. Reid Oliver most certainly did NOT partake in snuggling or cuddling or anything of the kind, he rationalized that he was doing his part to make it possible for them to share the couch.  Yeah, that's what they were doing.  They had to be this close to both fit on the couch.  He was being generous.  A team player.

Christ.  I'm snuggling with Luke fucking Snyder.

Reid sighed and smiled a small contented smile that he would never cop to. Thank God they weren't spooning.  He at least had that to hold onto.  He brought his hand up to Luke's neck and felt him stir.  He let his hand drop to Luke's chest and then travel down over his stomach, lower to...

"There are five perfectly good bedrooms upstairs, each with king sized beds, fitted with luxurious bedding.  Why on earth would you risk neck cramps?"

Reid's eyes flew open and stared at the perfectly dressed older woman who sat, legs crossed elegantly, on the coffee table, mere inches from where he and Luke lay.

"What the hell?" Reid said, sitting up and scrambling to get off of Luke and the couch.  "Luke, wake up," he said, slapping Luke's hip soundly and wincing as it caused his hand to prickle.  "We have company." 

"Apparently, I have company," Lucinda said, clicking her manicured nails on the coffee table, "And you're it.  May I ask who you are?"
 
Reid finally got one foot on the floor, and as he stood up, he thumped Luke in the chest with the back of his hand.  "Snyder!"

"Wha..?" Luke said, rubbing sleep out of his eyes.

"I'm Dr. R..." Reid began, but then Luke shrieked much too much like a girl for Reid's liking, and Reid rolled his eyes.

"Grandmother!"  Luke sat up.

"Hello, darling."

Reid, feeling a little self concious as he stood in front of Luke's grandmother barechested and sporting morning wood, crossed his arms and looked around for his shirt.

"Grandmother.  This isn't what you think...we weren't..."

"Oh, relax, darling.  I'm not your mother.  You won't get any histrionics from me.  I love that daughter of mine, but she does have a flare for the drama, doesn't she?"

Reid smiled.  Like mother, like son.

"But, grandmother," Luke pleaded.  "We didn't do anything.  We just slept."

"Pity," Lucinda purred, eyeing Luke's well-defined guest as he looked around uncomfortably.

"There it is!" Reid said, pulling his shirt out from underneath Luke's butt on the couch.  "You were laying on it..."

"I'm sorry," Lucinda said, "I didn't catch your name?"

Reid turned the shirt right side out and pulled it over his head, pausing very briefly as the soft material grazed his nose, savoring the fact that the shirt was warm from Luke's body and smelled like him too.  Relieved to no longer be half naked in front of Luke's grandmother, Reid extended his hand.  "I'm Dr. Reid Oliver.  It's a pleasure to meet you."  He tried not to sound flustered. 

Luke stared at Reid, surprised by his polite tone.

Lucinda stood up from the coffee table and  took his hand.  "Lucinda Walsh.  Your name sounds familiar, Dr. Oliver.  I don't think we've met, but how do I know that name?"

"He's Noah's doctor," Luke said as he stood up, smoothing his jeans.

 "Ah, yes," Lucinda said, walking towards the kitchen.  "The one you convinced to come here."

Reid blew out a sigh.  "Convinced?"  He looked at Luke and smiled.  "More like blackmailed.  Lured and trapped."

"Whatever means necessary, to get what one needs," Lucinda said cooly.  I hear that you're not very nice."

Reid and Luke both laughed and looked at each other.  "He's not.  He's terrible," Luke said and winked at Reid.

Lucinda turned around from where she stood in front of the open refridgerator to find her grandson and this doctor person staring at each other like she wasn't even in the room..  "There's nothing in here.  I'll call Alfred and tell him to bring some stuff out to you boys.  Orange juice, bagels, coffee."

"Actually, I have to go...I've got..." Reid started, but Lucinda cut him off as she closed the fridge.

"I also hear that you are hell on wheels, Dr. Oliver."

"You heard right," Reid answered.  "With a V8 engine."

"Difficult.  Aloof," Lucinda continued, eyeing him intently.

"Grandmother..." Luke complained, but Reid stuck out his bottom lip in consideration and nodded in affirmation of Lucinda's observations.  "Where are you hearing this?" Luke asked, already knowing the answer.

"Your mother.  So, I took it witha grain of salt.  Clearly, you have a much different opinion of the man?"

Luke blushed.  Reid scowled at the fact that Luke's blushing caused the word cute to enter his brain.  "Yes, I do." Luke said, shyly.  Reid rolled his eyes.

"But evidently you are also quiet a miracle worker with a scalpel...or a laser...or whatever you use," she said waving her hand in Reid's direction.  "I saw Luke's young man in Old Towne a few days ago.  The blind man sees."

Reid nodded.  "Both, plus a skull saw.  Yes, the surgery was a sucess."  He looked at Luke, whose eyes were downturned.  Reid picked up his shoes and sat on a nearby chair to put them on.

"He's not MY young man anymore, grandmother."

"Well, that's evident, dear, since you broke into my house to sleep with his half-naked doctor.  And unlike the rest of this town, you're not the cheating type."

"I have a key, and we didn't sleep together."

"To the contrary, darling, I saw the two of you wrapped up in each other only a few minutes ago, most definitely sleeping." 

"Okay.  Yes.  Literally.  Sleeping."

Reid reached over and squeezed Luke's elbow.  "Hey, I'm going to head out."  He stood up.

Luke nodded.

Reid turned to Lucinda.  "It was nice meeting you, Ms. Walsh.  You have a beautiful guesthouse.  I'm sorry if our being here startled you this morning."

"Please, call me Lucinda.  And it was a pleasure meeting you too, doctor.  Don't be a stranger. Five bedrooms, remember?  And there's a swimming pool at the main house.  Pity all you've seen is the couch.  Come back.  My grandson can give you the full tour."

"Oh my God...Grandmother!"  Luke brought his hand up to cover his eyes.

Reid chuckled softly and pulled Luke's hand away from his head.  "Walk me out?"

"Yeah," Luke replied.  "Excuse me for a minute, grandmother?"

"Of course, dear."

Reid and Luke walked toward the front door.  "Don't forget this," Luke said as they passed the table in the foyer.  He picked up Reid's baseball cap and placed it on his head.  Reid turned it around backwards and pulled Luke toward him by the back of his neck until their lips were pressed together. 

"I'll see you later," Reid said, slapping the side of Luke's face gently.  

Luke nodded.  "You don't need to make promises."

"I'm not," Reid said, looking confusedly at Luke.

"I just mean...ya know...in the light of day, if you don't really want to hang out with me, it's okay.  I understand...I mean, I don't think either one of us expected last night, and like you said, I'm a mess, and..."

Reid leaned in and kissed Luke again.  "Will you shut up?"  He kissed Luke once more.  "I'll see you later," he repeated, looking Luke right in the eyes.  He then kissed Luke on the forehead and ran a hand over his ass before stepping onto the morning-lit porch.  "At the very least, you owe me a complete tour of the premises, including the bedrooms, remember?  Grandmother's orders."  

Luke laughed and nodded.  "Anytime."  He watched Reid walk to his car and get in.  As he backed out of the driveway, he stuck a hand out the window in a departing wave.  Luke smiled and waved back.

When Luke went back into the house, Lucinda had poured him a cold glass of water.  He sat at the counter and drank it, as she smiled devilishly at him.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know that I was here.  That was rude of me."

"Don't be silly, darling" Lucinda said, changing the subject.  "Your mother made it sound like your doctor friend is awful, but he seems like a nice young man. And he's a doctor."  She clicked her nails on the granite countertop and waggled her perfectly shaped eyebrows.

"No...she's right.  He's awful.  Rude.  Cold.  Arrogant."

"And sexy?" Lucinda offered, tapping the side of her nose.

"God.  Yeah...you have no idea...," Luke said, rubbing a hand over his face.

"I have eyes," Lucinda remarked, winking.

"But he's also got a...I don't know.  I don't want to call it a softer side because that's not it exactly.  But he's...quiet.  And tender?"  Luke shook his head.  "I never would have believed that 24 hours ago.  I guess  it's true that you can't judge a book by its gruff, grumpy cover."  

"I didn't know you and Noah had broken up," Lucinda said, "When did this happen?"

"Yesterday," Luke said, his eyes turning down.   "And I'm making out with his doctor that evening?!  I'm awful..."

"I don't think it's awful," Lucinda reassured her grandson.  "I'd call it theraputic.  Nothing like a strong pair of arms around you to take your mind off things."

Luke smiled.  "I didn't plan this, grandmother.   I didn't even know he was gay.  We ran into each other yesterday, and we were decent to each other for a change, and then we just started...clicking.  We were laughing and enjoying each other's company. I don't know how it happened, but I definitely didn't plan it."

"You don't have to justify it to me, dear."

"But how do I go from hating the guy to wanting to kiss him in the same day?"

"There are no rules of attraction.  But maybe you were attracted to him all along?"

"No...I don't think so.  I don't know.  He's a good looking guy, so sure...yeah, I noticed that.  But  I pretty much hated his guts.  Mostly.  We argue a lot.  About everything.  He really is an arrogant jerk."

"Do you enjoy arguing with him."

Luke shook his head no.  "Yes..."  He sighed and rubbed at his eyes.  "That's so messed up."

Lucinda laughed and patted the top of Luke's head.  "My dear, boy.  I am envious.  Attraction born of a passionate dislike is rather delicious."

"Grandmother!"

"It's a cliche, but there really is a fine line between love and hate, darling.  Believe me, I have experience with this.  You should grab the bull by the horns and enjoy the torment."

Luke laughed.  "You're easy to talk to, Grandmother...even though I'm dying of embarrassment here."

Lucinda leaned across the island counter and kissed Luke on the cheek.

"Please, don't tell mom," Luke begged of Lucinda.  "She'll freak out.  She doesn't even know about Noah yet."

"Your secret is safe with me.  Now tell me...is the handsome doctor a good kisser?"