It had been a bear of a day. Reid had gotten to the hospital early on Friday morning for a scheduled surgery, and just as he was about to walk out the door at 3:00, casualties had come into the ER from a multi-car accident on the highway that ran through town, two of them needing his expertise to save their lives. And now it was 10:20, and he was walking into Yo's for a couple of beers and maybe some pool or darts...maybe even a hookup?...(yeah, he knew it was a stretch)...to take the day off his shoulders and out of his head so that he'd be able to sleep.
When he walked in, he scanned the room on his way to the bar and decided that in addition to all of its other short comings, Oakdale was pathetically lacking in gay men. Queer Nation, Oakdale was not. He sighed and approached the bar, digging into his pocket for his wallet. As he did, he saw Mr. Snyder arguing with the bartender. So, there was another gay man in the bar, after all. And although he found Luke incredibly attractive in more ways than one, Luke hated his guts. And he was a blackmailing, overly indulged brat. Oh, and there was the matter of him having a boyfriend. Who was his patient. Reid considered turning around and going home. There was beer in his fridge. He could relax with ESPN SportsCenter, maybe find some porn on the Net......but then he noticed that the bartender was raising his voice, so he walked up behind Luke.
"Come on, Matt...we've known each other since middle school. I'm fine!"
"Listen, Luke, this is the last time I'm saying this," the bartender replied, the frustration evident on his face. "You can give me your car keys, and I'll call you a cab, or I can call the police and have them take you home. I'm not giving you another drink, and that's final. You're wasted. You need to sleep it off."
"Fuck you," Luke muttered before getting off his bar stool and heading for the door.
Reid watched the bartender pick up the phone. He got his credit card out. "Hey...wait. That's not necessary. I'll make sure he gets home safely." He placed his credit card on the bar. "Pay his tab with this. I'll be back to sign the receipt in a minute." Matt looked at him suspiciously. "Listen, I know him, okay? I'm a doctor at Memorial. His boyfriend's my patient....I'm not going to steal his car or wallet, okay?" Matt didn't say anything. "Or I can leave him here, and maybe he'll come back to argue with you some more. Take it from me, he doesn't know when to let things go and just shut the hell up."
Matt nodded and picked up the credit card. "Yeah, okay...see if you can talk some sense into him."
Reid walked quickly over to Luke and put his hand on his arm, causing Luke to spin around.
"Hey, Dr. Ol'ver! Whaderyou doin' here?" Luke smiled widely, which caught Reid off guard for a second.
"Yeah, hey, Mr. Snyder. Where are you going?"
"To my truck. That asssshole cut me off. Go'na go to Huey's, by the river. Issnot that far..."
Reid tugged on Luke's arm. "Why don't you sit down. I'll go up there and get you a drink. The bartender won't know. I could use some company. Drink with me."
"You wanna buy me a drink?" Luke asked increduously. "Are you hittin' on me, DoctrrOl'ver?" Luke teased and stepped closer to Reid.
"Hell, no," Reid said, putting his hand on Luke's chest to stop him from completely invading his personal space. "C'mon, Trust Fund, What are you drinking?"
"S'prize me, Docterr," he slurred, as he sat down at a small table by the door and let out a giggle. "You look cute in re'glar clothes..."
Reid looked down at his maroon button down shirt and black jeans. He shook his head. "Okay, don't move. I'll be right back with our drinks."
"You rock, Doc."
Reid was unable to hold his smile at Luke's complete state of drunkenness and returned to the bar. "What's he been drinking?" Reid asked, adding a large tip to the receipt and signing it.
"Gin and tonic."
"Wow, how 1970s of him....Um, yeah, ok...can you fix up a drink that looks like gin and tonic, but make it with water and tonic? At this point, he won't taste the difference. And a couple of shot glasses of water with two limes?" He pulled a $5 bill out of his pocket and put it on the bar. "And a...." he looked at the taps. "A Michelob."
Matt nodded. "Luke shouldn't be drinking, man. I wouldn't have served him if I'd been out here, but I was working in the office tonight, and then I came out to relieve Nick when his shift ended. Luke was already shit-faced. I've been trying to get his keys from him for half an hour." A few moments later he put all the drinks in front of Reid. "Thanks for the tip, bro."
Reid nodded, wondering why Luke shouldn't be drinking, took the drinks, and walked over to Luke, whose head was down on the table. He put the drinks down and Luke raised his head, reaching for the "gin and tonic."
"Hey, hey, wait," Reid said, sitting down. "Do a shot with me first." He picked up a shot glass and handed it to Luke. "White tequila," he lied. "Are you even old enough to drink?"
"I'm twennythree," Luke said, picking up the other shot glass. "What showe toast to?"
"Viva Mexico," Reid replied and clinked their glasses together.
Luke laughed and threw the shot glass back. Reid handed him a lime, which Luke sucked. Reid squeezed the other lime into his beer and dropped it in the glass. They were quiet for a few minutes while Reid drank his beer and Luke enjoyed his "gin and tonic."
"Whadaya doing here alone, Docter Ol'ver?"
"I could ask the same of you," Reid answered. Luke snickered and another few moments went by.
"I broke up with Noah today," Luke said suddenly, and then he dissolved into laughter. "You shoullda seen his face...I bet henever thought I'd do it." Luke chuckled again. "But I did..." Luke stopped laughing and took another sip of his drink and grimmaced. "This drink sucks."
Reid put his hand out and tipped the glass back toward Luke's mouth. "Drink..."
Luke took three long gulps of the water and then put it down. "Are ya tryyin' to get me drunk, Doc Ol'ver?"
Reid looked at his watch. "It's getting late, Mr. Sny...."
"Tell me somethin', doc," Luke said, his eyes glassy. "Do you have a boyfriend down in Texas?"
Reid grinned. He'd never told Luke he was gay. He'd never told Noah either, for that matter. "Nope. No boyfriend, Mr. Snyder."
Luke rested his chin in his hands on his elbows and gazed goofily at Reid. "You have pretty eyes...they're clear like....pool water....when it's sunny......"
Reid stayed quiet, not sure how to respond to Luke waxing poetic about his eyes.
"Let's dance!" Luke said, suddenly standing up. He pulled some money out of his pocket. "I'll pick a song in the jukebox."
Reid stood up and put the money back in Luke's pocket. "There's no dance floor." He leaned closer to Luke and lowered his voice. "And I don't think the patrons in this establishment would take too kindly to two men dancing together, know what I mean?"
Luke stepped back and gave Reid a nod of annoyed acceptance.
"Let me take you home," Reid offered, putting his hand in the crook of Luke's arm.
"NO!" Luke argued, pushing Reid's hand away. "No. I don't wanna go home. I'm not going home. I can't. I'm not answr'ing their questions. No. I'm not goin'home."
Reid sighed. Shit. Why couldn't he have left well enough alone and let the bartender call the cops? Let them take Luke home in their squad car? Of course he knew why...because Richie Rich would have made it on the road before they got there. And Reid knew all too well what happened to human bodies when they ran off the road...or into trees...or into oncoming traffic. "Okay, then why don't you come home with me?" he suggested. "I have some of that 'white tequila' at my apartment," Reid lied. "We can do some shots...keep this party going. What do you say?" He knew that Luke wouldn't even make the ride home before falling asleep. If he could get him up the stairs, he figured there was no harm in letting Luke sleep off his stupor on the couch. Katie would be okay with it.
Luke smiled. "Now we're talking," he slurred as he ran his hand over Reid's chest. Reid shook his head, pulled Luke's hand away from his body, and motioned toward the exit. Luke shrugged and started walking toward the door. As Reid followed him out, he looked over his shoulder and caught Matt's eyes to let him know that Luke would be okay.
****************************************
Luke immediately headed towards his own truck in the parking lot, but when Reid took him by the crook of the arm, Luke easily followed him to Reid's black Challenger. As they approached the car, Luke said, "Cool car. Is it a standard? Can I drive it?"
Reid laughed. "I'll make you a deal, Mr. Snyder, I'll let you drive it anytime...when you're sober. 'K?" Reid wondered why the hell Luke was impressed with something as pedestrian as a Dodge. The kid could probably afford a fucking Bugatti, if he wanted one.
"You'rrr no fun," Luke slurred, leaning against the car, as Reid opened the passenger door. "I am wasted though." He giggled. Then his face fell. "I can't go home."
"You're coming home with me, remember?" Reid reminded him as he tugged on his arm, " C'mon, get in."
Luke sat down and closed his eyes.
"Buckle in," Reid said, nudging Luke on the shoulder.
Luke opened his eyes and gave a half smile before closing them again.
"Great," Reid muttered, leaning down and stretching the belt across Luke to secure it. As he did, Luke opened his eyes and brought his hand up to the side of Reid's face. Reid turned toward him and before he knew what was happening, Luke's lips were on his. Reid lost his wits for a moment or two, instinctively opening his mouth and searching for Luke's tongue because, God, he'd wanted to kiss Luke since the day he'd met him. However, as soon as his tongue slid against Luke's, he tasted gin and lime, reminding him of Luke's inebriated state, and he reluctantly broke the kiss. He gently pushed Luke's head back against the seat and moved the hair out of his eyes. "It's probably not a good time for that," Reid said, shaking his head.
Luke nodded and closed his eyes again. Reid ran a hand over his own face and then buckled Luke in completely. He closed the door, leaned his forehead against the cool metal of the car, and hoped Luke wouldn't remember that kiss in the morning.
When he started the engine, Luke startled and then settled back in the seat. "I broke up with Noah today," he told Reid for the second time that evening, as they drove through the darkness. Reid looked over at Luke and by the dashboard lights he could see a small smile on Luke's face. "I think I s'prized him." Luke giggled but then his smile faded, and he closed his eyes.
**************************************
"Oh, my God, Luke! Is he okay?" Katie asked, standing up from the couch. As she got closer to Luke, who was leaning on Reid, she got a whiff of the very distinct smell of vomit and put her hand over her mouth and nose.
"He puked in the parking lot on the way in here, and then he fell in it," Reid said, a grimmace on his face. "The little shit is lucky he didn't puke in my car."
Reid continued to guide an only partially awake Luke to his room. "Do me a favor; call his mother. Feed her some bullshit. He was over here watching a movie or something with you and fell asleep. You don't want to wake him or whatever. Don't tell her he's drunk."
"Okay. Yeah, I can do that. Oh, Luke, you shouldn't be drinking, hon..."
Reid noted that those words had been said in regards to Luke two times that evening. Apparently, Richie Rich had issues with alcohol. "I'm going to get him cleaned up. Will you get some Tylenol and water too?..."
Reid walked Luke into the bathroom and sat him down on the closed toilet seat. Luke slumped against the half wall between the toilet and the shower. Reid looked at the stand-alone shower and then at the tub on the other side of it and then back at Luke, who had puke in his hair and on his clothes. He sighed, trying to imagine peppermint and snow, and knelt down in front of Luke, pulling off his shoes and socks. He looked at the shower again and wondered how he was going to do this. "Hey, Mr. Sny.....Luke."
Luke didn't respond.
Reid knew that Luke couldn't stand up in the shower by himself. He considered just putting him in the tub and letting him sleep it off there, but the thought of dried vomit in his hair in the morning made Reid feel like gagging. If he put Luke in the tub and washed his hair, he wasn't sure he'd be able to lift him out afterwards, even with Katie's help. "Okay, Mr. Snyder," Reid said, pulling off his own shirt. "I guess we're showering together. Yeah, I know you've fantasized about it," he joked with himself, more than with Luke. He undid his belt while toeing off his shoes. "Shit, I can't believe this..." He stepped out of his jeans until he was standing in front of Luke in nothing but his boxers.
He tapped Luke on the cheek a few times. "Mr. Snyder." Reid tugged up on the hem of Luke's shirt as Luke groggily opened his eyes and saw Reid's bare chest.
"Whatter ya doin'?" Luke demanded, pushing Reid's hands away. "Don'touch me..."
"C'mon, Luke. You got sick. You need to get washed off. You're a mess. Take off your shirt." Luke obliged and pulled the shirt over his head. Reid took it from him and chucked it in the direction of the tub, just making it. "Okay, now stand up," Reid instructed, putting his hand out to Luke who took it and pulled himself to his feet with Reid's help. "Take off your pants." Luke leaned his forehead onto Reid's shoulder and didn't make a move to remove his clothing. "C'mon, Snyder," Reid said, holding Luke steady with his left hand and unbuckling Luke's belt with his right. He felt Luke's hands on his sides, against his bare skin, to steady himself. Reid maneuvered the best he could getting the belt and button undone and lowering the zipper. "C'mon, help me out here, Mr. Snyder," he said, trying to tug Luke's pants down with his one hand. Luke came to his senses a bit and tugged the other side down. He put both of his hands on Reid's shoulders and stepped out of his jeans, leaving his boxer briefs on. "There ya go," Reid said, and walked Luke over to the shower.
Reid opened the door and turned on the water, waiting for it to heat up and adjusting it, while Luke leaned limply against him. "Okay, here we go," Reid said when the water was the right temperature. He walked Luke into the shower and helped him sit on the bench seat. He pulled the shower massage down, put it on gentle, stood with his legs on either side of Luke's right leg, and began washing Luke's hair while Luke leaned his forehead against his toned chest.
"I'm sorry, Doctor Ol'ver," Luke said attempting to soap his own hair but seeming relieved when he felt Reid's hands there to do it instead.
Reid shook his head. "Let me do it; it will be quicker."
"I'm such a screw up..."
"There's no self-loathing allowed here, Mr. Snyder," Reid answered as he gently scrubbed Luke's scalp and worked his fingers through his long hair. "It's my bathroom, so I make the rules." He felt Luke's hands suddenly on his hips and the pads of his fingers pressing into his flesh. He was surpised by his own sharp intake of air. As he rinsed Luke's hair, Reid felt hyper-aware of the heat, the steam, how close they were, and the feel of Luke's hands on his bare skin.
When he finished rinsing, he put his hand on the back of Luke's neck, and Luke raised his head. "Thanks," Luke tried to stand up, but he got dizzy.
Reid pushed him gently back against the wall. "Sit."
Luke sat on the bench and slumped against the side wall with his eyes closed. Reid proceeded to wash Luke's face, Luke sputtering as water ran over his nose and mouth. Reid then moved to his neck and chest, as well as his back and stomach, his hands and fingers taking their time to outline the angles and muscles on Luke's body and to rake through his chest hair. He was only human, after all. When his hand moved over the scar on Luke's side and lower back, he felt a world of understanding and protective feelings run over him. "Oh, Luke.....damn......."
Luke seemed to come to for a second. "I told you I was a screw up."
Reid stood upright and ran his soapy hands over Luke's broad shoulders. "Relax, Luke...just...........don't worry about it right now........right now, you need some water and some sleep."
Reid quickly washed his own hair and body and turned the water off.
He stepped out of the shower, leaving Luke balanced on the bench, while he toweled off, stepped out of his boxers, and wrapped a towel tightly around his waist.
He helped a half-conscious, very slippery Luke out of the shower and toweled him off, taking time to dry his hair and smooth it back. He slid Luke's now very clingy boxer briefs off, forcing himself not to look, and wrapped a towel around his waist. He then walked him out of the bathroom, over to his bed, and helped him to lie down on his back, his legs hanging off the side.
"Oh, my," Katie said, walking in and seeing a toweled Reid standing over a mostly naked Luke, passed out on the bed.
"Can you believe this shit?" Reid asked, running a hand through his damp hair. He couldn't believe he had just cleaned up Luke Snyder's puke. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of sleep pants, which he put on in the bathroom. He then came out and pulled a pair of boxers and a tank top out and threw them on the bed next to Luke. "I need some help," Reid said, nodding in Luke's direction.
"Sure thing," Katie said, smiling and bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"You are such a fucking perv," Reid teased, even managing to smile in the middle of all the ridiculousness.
"Okay, Mr. Snyder, you've got to stand up one more time. But first, just sit up." Luke groaned and Reid tugged on his hand. Luke reluctantly let him pull him up to a sitting position and then Katie held him there, lovingly stroking Luke's shoulders. Reid knelt in front of him and put Luke's feet through the legs of the boxers and pulled them up to his thighs. "Okay, Katie, help me stand him up. They both pulled Luke to a standing position. Reid pulled the boxers up the rest of the way, cursing under his breath (but sort of loving it) when he felt Luke's dick catch on the elastic waistband. When he was sure Luke was completely covered, he removed the towel. He pulled the soft, gray tank top, that read "Harvard Rowing" over Luke's head, and Luke pushed his arms through on his own. Katie retrieved the glass of water and handed it to Reid, who put it up to Luke's lips. "Drink." Luke took a sip. "More," Reid instructed. Luke took a large gulp. "Good, open." Luke opened his mouth. Reid placed two Tylenol on his tongue. "Okay, last one. Drink." Luke took one last bit of water, swallowing the aspirin down and coughing a little.
"Good job," Reid said, walking Luke over to the side of the bed. "Lay down."
Luke got into bed without an argument. Reid pulled the sheet up to Luke's chest and was surprised when Luke reached up and took his hand. "Noah and I broke up," he divulged to Reid for the third time in less than as many hours.
This time Luke didn't smile or giggle, his hand fell away, and Reid saw tears welling in his eyes. "I know, buddy..." He reached down and softly rubbed his thumb from the bridge of Luke's nose up to his forehead, and Luke's eyes closed. Reid smoothed Luke's damp hair back and listened to his breathing become deep and steady. He looked up to find Katie staring at him with a smile on her face. "What?"
"Nothing," Katie said happily and rolled up on her toes.
Reid rolled his eyes. "Whatever, Goldilocks. I've got some laundry to do," he said heading toward the bathroom to get their clothes.
"You care about him," Katie said, as she followed Reid, who had an armful of soiled clothes, down the hall. "You wouldn't have brought him home and taken care of him tonight if you didn't."
Reid glanced at Katie. "First of all, I'd rather give him a ride home than work to put his brain back in is skull when they page me at 1 a.m.. I spent enough time in the hospital today; I didn't feel like going back to fix Luke Snyder's stupidity. Second, I had no choice than to clean him up. Were you going to do it? Stop trying to make more out of this than it is."
"Why didn't you just take him home then?" Katie asked.
"Because he begged me not to, said he couldn't go home. He never said why, but he seemed..........I don't know.....panicked at the thought of going home."
"I still say you care about him."
"Will you stop with this matchmaker shit? Luke Snyder and I have absolutely nothing in common, so drop it. On top of that, he hates my guts."
"But you don't hate his," Katie observed. "Do, you Doctor Oliver?"
Reid stopped and looked at his roommate. "Katie..."
"When I called Lily, she said that Luke broke up with Noah today. Do you know what that means?"
"Yeah, it means that he's so upset about it that he drank himself into a stupor."
"No, silly, it means he's free. Unencumbered. Up for grabs. It's your chance, Reid. I know you like him. You can deny it all you want, but I know you do. You have feeeeeelings for him. You want to play it off that he's just this spoiled rich kid that you can't stand, but I see through that, doctor. It's not your fault. Nobody can resist Luke. And if you show Luke a little bit of what you've shown me, well, you're ridiculously irresitable too. It took no time at all for Jacob and me to fall in love with you."
Reid looked over at Luke through the bedroom door. "Yeah, no. Guys on the rebound are not my thing." He looked back at Katie. "You're in love with me?"
Katie pursed her lips and shook her head and then smiled at Reid. "Well, I'm just glad he ended things with Noah. It's about time as far as I'm concerned. That guy's been hot and cold on Luke for years. He's pushed Luke away many times, and then over and over, he's expected Luke to be there when he decides he wants him again. I'm glad Luke finally wised up. He deserves better."
"And you think I'm better? Really, Katie? I've never been in a relationship that lasted more than ten months. No...I'm the last thing Luke Snyder needs. What he needs is an AA meeting."
"Okay, so then...be his friend. Can you do that?"
Reid looked over at Luke now sleeping peacefully. He nodded.
"Good. It's a start." She leaned over and kissed Reid's cheek. "Just be gentle with him. He and Noah were together for a few years. I'm sure his heart is a little bruised."
"Yeah, well....I'm a head guy, not a heart guy."
Katie rolled her eyes and patted his shoulder motherly. "You sleeping in there with him?"
Reid looked at Luke again. "Yeah, I want to be there if he gets sick again. I don't think he will, but..."
"Just in case," Katie said resolutely.
"Yes, just in case," Reid rationalized, continuing to the laundry room.
****************************************
Reid set the dryer to "tumble warm," and then walked out to the living room and turned off the light. Katie had gone to sleep a half an hour earlier. When he entered his bedroom, the light from the bathroom dimly lit the bed, and he could see that Luke was now sprawled out across both sides of it. He shook his head and went into the bathroom. When he came out, he walked through the dark room and over to the side of the bed. He got into bed, gently rolling Luke over and away from him so that he had room to lie down next to him. As he laid down, Luke mumbled incoherently and rolled back over toward him until Luke's back was against his bare chest, and he found himself sort of spooned against him. His mouth was mere centimeters away from Luke's bare shoulder, and it took everything in his power not to steal a taste of Luke's skin. He allowed his lips to hover there for a couple of minutes, fighting against temptation, and let his body relax against Luke. He then he lifted his head just slightly, until his nose brushed against the clean and still damp locks of Luke's hair. He breathed in deeply, groaned, and then forced himself to roll over onto his back, his shoulder slightly under Luke's. He lay staring at the ceiling for a good 45 minutes, aware of Luke's skin, his heat, his scent, before finally falling asleep close to 2:00 a.m.
****************************************
Luke stretched and opened his eyes. He looked up at the ceiling and then to the side. He had no idea where he was. He was in a dim, early-morning-lit room with pale gray walls and white crown molding. On the one side of him was an open closet and a dresser. He rubbed his head, having no idea where he was or how he had gotten there. He looked at the sparse number of clothes in the closet, a few collared shirts, a few pairs of pants, a suit jacket, and a pair of dark blue scrubs. His eyes dropped to a pair of brown boots on the floor of the closet and then back up to the scrubs. Luke's eyebrows knotted together. No. He rolled over the other way, his head hurting, and sucked in a deep breath. Dr. Oliver? He looked at Reid's bare chest and his eyes traveled down over his flat stomach to the sheet bunched just below his navel. Luke looked down at his own chest (Harvard rowing???) and felt below the covers, relieved to find that he was wearing underwear. He looked at the doctor again, snoring softly next to him. What the hell?...
Luke closed his eyes and tried to recall the events of the evening before. He remembered being at Yo's and talking to a couple of girls at the bar and joining in their flirting with Nick. He remembered playing darts for awhile, and he remembered arguing with Matt, but he couldn't recall what they were arguing about. After that? Nothing. Shit. And now he was in bed with Dr. Oliver, of all people. Half-naked Dr. Oliver. Please don't be naked, please don't be naked, Luke chanted in his head as he slowly lifted up the covers and looked tentatively beneath them. "Oh, thank, God," Luke whispered when he saw sleep pants on the man sleeping next to him. Reid shifted a little, mumbling, and turned toward Luke, his hand coming up to rest on Luke's stomach. Luke closed his eyes and didn't move. After a few moments he opened his eyes and looked at Reid, his face so different in sleep...relaxed, free of tension. Luke let his eyes trail over Reid's face...his long eyelashes, his perfect nose, his strong jaw, his soft-looking lips. His eyes drifted lower to his neck, his sinewy arms, his creamy skin, his smooth, hairless chest, his lean torso....Stop! Luke reprimanded himself and slid quietly out of bed, hoping beyond hope that Reid wouldn't wake up.
Once he was in the bathroom, with the door closed securely and quietly behind him, Luke turned on the light and looked in the mirror. What the hell had happened the night before? He tried hard to remember having seen the doctor at the bar or anywhere, and he came up with nothing. Why were they in bed together? Was Dr. Oliver gay? Had they had sex? No.... A brief image of Reid moving into him from behind moved across Luke's mind, which sent a warm rush to his stomach and groin. No... Luke felt his ass clench at the thought. He didn't feel any soreness there. No. Just, no. There was no way he would have sex with Dr. Oliver. No way. He couldn't stand the guy, with his pompous attitude and his smug smile. With his blue eyes and his fit, tight frame... Luke shook his head and told himself to stop being ridiculous. "No," he said out loud, looking at his own eyes in the mirror. I wouldn't. "We did not sleep together." Would I?
Luke decided he needed to get out of there before Dr. Oliver woke up, but where were his clothes? He had not seen them in the room, and they weren't in the bathroom. He looked at the Harvard Rowing tank in the mirror. He had no recollection of putting it on. While he peed, Luke ran his tongue over his teeth and realized his mouth tasted like shit. He pulled open the vanity drawer, looking for toothpaste, which he found, along side a razor, some shaving cream, a hairbrush, and a strip of condoms. Another image skittered across Luke's mind. This time he was on top of Dr. Oliver, and................No! He quickly picked up the tube of Crest and closed the drawer. He squeezed some onto his finger and proceeded to brush his teeth like he had at camp in middle school.. He inwardly chuckled at the memory, as the door creaked open. "Mr. Snyder, you okay?"
Luke instinctively pulled down on the front of the tank he was wearing. "Dr. Oliver!" he exclaimed, his mouth full of toothpaste.
"Good morning," Reid said, rubbing his eye. "How are you?"
Luke spit and rinsed his finger. "I'm good, I'm good," he said uncomfortably, even though his head hurt and his stomach was a little queasy.
"You feel okay?" Reid asked pulling his toothbrush out of the holder and picking up the tube of toothpaste.
"Yeah, yeah...sure. I'm fine..." Luke said nervously, as Reid began brushing his teeth. Luke didn't know what to do. Should he leave? Yes, I should leave. But his feet seemed to be cemented in place. He looked down at Reid's bare shoulders as he bent forward over the sink...his muscular back.... And then he forced himself to pull his eyes away before they went any lower. What the hell was happening to him?
Reid straitened up and wiped his mouth on a towel. "Dr. Oliver?" Luke asked shakily. "We didn't...um...ya know..." he gestured between himself and Reid, his eyes lingering on Reid's chest. "Right?"
"No!" Reid said, defensively, but then he said it again, more calmly. "No." He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "No, I swear. No. We didn't."
"Oh, thank GOD," Luke said relieved, running his hand through his wild bed head. "I mean, you're not even gay, right?" He stepped forward and then backward, not really knowing where to go. "And if you were, I'm sure I would never be your type." Why did I say that? He looked down. "These aren't mine," he said gesturing toward the clothes he was wearing.
"No," Reid replied. "They're mine. Um....just how much do you remember from last night?"
"Not much. I remember being at Yo's, but I um...I don't remember seeing you there. I was drinking......Were you there?"
Reid chuckled. "Yeah, you were pretty well hammered."
Luke's hands covered his face so that he didn't have to look at himself in the mirror and so that he couldn't see Reid's face. "Yeah, I gathered as much. Shit..." He pulled his hands away suddenly, and Reid could see the tears in Luke's eyes. "Don't tell Noah! Please, don't tell Noah..." Reid put his hand on Luke's shoulder, but Luke knocked it away immediately. "Dr. Oliver, I'm begging you! I know you would love to see me humiliated, but please, don't tell Noah. I promise I'll stay away from you. I won't show up at any of Noah's appointments, just........please, he can't know about this."
"Hey," Reid said, watching Luke wipe a tear away. "I won't. I wouldn't do that."
"Why should I believe you?" Luke asked, his voice high and squeaky.
"Hey, calm the fuck down, okay?" Reid replied, feeling the familiar frustration that was common when dealing with Mr. Snyder. "I saved your ass last night, you entitled little..."
"W-what do you mean?" Luke asked, looking at Reid in the mirror.
"What I mean is, you were fucking lit. The bartender was ready to call the cops because you wouldn't give up your keys. If I hadn't stepped in, you would have either wrapped your truck around a tree or been delivered home by the police. I paid your tab, placated you, drove you here, cleaned up your fucking puke, put you to bed, washed your clothes, and made sure your mother wouldn't find out. So, I really don't give a shit if you believe me or not."
Luke covered his face with his hands again. "I'm sorry," he said, embarrassed and hating the fact that Dr. Oliver, of all people, had seen him that way. "Shit, shit, shit, shit," he muttered, shaking his head back and forth.
"Hey," Reid said, putting his hand on Luke's shoulder. "It's okay. C'mon, don't........it's okay....don't listen to me.............I'm just cranky in the morning. You can ask Katie."
A nervous laugh escaped Luke's throat, as he removed his hands, revealing fresh tears. "Just in the morning, Dr. Oliver?"
Reid shrugged and smiled. He thumbed at the tear on Luke's cheek. "Don't cry..."
Luke nodded and wiped his face. "Every morning," he said, looking at himself in the mirror. "I get up, look in the mirror and tell myself how many days I've been sober. Today was supposed to be 517. And now it's ruined." Luke lowered his eyes.
Reid thought about the scar he'd felt on Luke's body the night before. "Hey," he said, gently pushing Luke's chin up so that he could see his eyes in the mirror. "Don't let one night erase almost a year and a half of hard work." Luke tried to pull away. "No. Hey. Look at me." Luke looked at Reid in the mirror. "So, what.? You slipped. Everybody fails sometimes. Even me. Yeah, I know it's hard to believe, but it's true." He groaned at his own lame attempt at humor. "It was one night. And I know that you know that you can't drink, right? It will kill you. You have to protect your kidney. You know that, right?"
Luke nodded. "How did you..."
Reid didn't let him finish his question. "So, you stand up, brush yourself off, and start over. If you did it for 516 days, then you can do it for 516 more. Don't give up just because you had one lousy night. You're stronger than that."
"How do you know if I'm strong or not. You don't know me. It's so hard. I struggle with it every day. Every. Day."
"I'll help you," Reid said, putting his hand on Luke's shoulder.
Luke pushed it off of him. "Why? Why would you help me? You hate me."
"If I hated you, I would have turned around and left you in that bar to fend for yourself."
Luke ran a hand over his face. "I don't know how anyone can help me...I don't even know how to help myself."
"Well," Reid said, looking at Luke in the mirror. "You can either go home and wallow in everything you're feeling today and risk having a repeat of last night, which will leave you feeling disappointed in yourself again tomorrow morning................or...............y
Luke nodded and swallowed. "Why are you being so nice to me, Dr. Oliver?"
Reid sighed. "Okay, first of all, you might as well call me Reid. I mean, we've now shared a shower and a bed. I think that puts us on a first name basis. And B., contrary to what everyone seems to think around here, I don't kick people when they're down."
Luke attempted a smile but failed. "So, you've seen me naked?"
Reid smiled softly. "Nope, nope....I was a perfect gentleman. I'm not going into specifics, but it was all very chaste."
Luke chuckled. "Okay....yeah, okay."
Reid stepped behind Luke's shoulder and they held each other's eyes in the mirror. Luke nodded, realization about Reid's nature flooding over him. They were the same in one way. How could he have missed that in the past few weeks? Why hadn't Reid mentioned it? He smiled and then looked down shyly. "Reid?" Luke said, testing the name on his tongue and lips.
"Hmm?"
"Did I kiss you? I don't know why, but I have a feeling that I kissed you."
Reid licked his bottom lip. "Yeah, you did."
"I'm sorry, ohmygod...." Luke closed his eyes them opened them slowly as he raised his head to find Reid's eyes again. "And what did you do?" he asked tentatively.
Reid smiled and moved his hands to Luke's hips. "Duh. I kissed you back."
Luke laughed. "I guess my gaydar is better when I'm drunk..."
"Yeah, you even asked me to dance at the bar."
Luke closed his eyes. "That would have been a great way to get our asses kicked."
"Mmm, that's pretty much what I said when I turned you down."
Luke smiled, still well aware of Reid's hands on his body. He looked up at his eyes in the mirror. "Last night....did I tell you that I broke up with Noah."
Reid chuckled. "Only about 27 times..."
"Oh...." Luke covered his eyes. "I'm sorry. I must have been babbling away drunkenly about the stupidest stuff. You must think I'm such an idiot."
"I'm kidding," Reid said, his fingers pressing into Luke's flesh to get his attention. Luke opened his eyes. "It was only three times. The first two times you told me, you were laughing. The third time you told me..............you looked like you wanted to cry."
Luke sucked in a sharp breath and nodded. "I had to do it. I know he's going to turn this all around on me and say that I deserted him during his time of need, but the truth is that he didn't want me there. He hadn't wanted me in a long time...emotionally, physically....none of it."
"He's the idiot," Reid said, stepping closer to Luke. "And he's blind in ways that I can't fix." Reid rested his chin on Luke's shoulder.
After a few moments, Luke sighed and turned around, his breath catching when he realized how close he was to Reid. "Thank you." He looked Reid in the eyes. "Thank you for looking out for me. I didn't deserve it with the way I've treated you."
Reid shrugged and struggled to resist touching Luke. "I gave as good as I got." He looked away nervously. "Uh, Luke?"
"Yeah?"
"Sorry, but.......I've gotta pee."
****************************************
When Reid came out of the bathroom, Luke was laying in the bed, the sheet pulled up to his waist.
"I'll go get your clothes out of the dryer," Reid said, moving to the bedroom door.
"I don't remember it," Luke said, sitting up.
"Remember what?"
"Kissing you."
Reid let go of the door handle and laid down next to Luke, pulling him down with him. He propped himself up on one elbow and cupped Luke's face, causing Luke to draw in a surprised breath. He bent down and pressed his lips against Luke's. Luke's mouth opened automatically and Reid let his tongue slide against Luke's one time before breaking the kiss. "It was something like that." He leaned in and kissed Luke softly on the lips again.
Reid pulled back and watched Luke blink a couple of times before he felt Luke's hand on the back of his neck, pulling him into another kiss. They kissed deeply, and Reid rolled over on top of Luke, who opened his legs to accomodate Reid's weight on top of him, his hands kneading the flesh of Reid's bare shoulders and back.
"Oh," Katie said, from the crack she'd opened in the door. "I'm sorry." She opened the door further, as Reid groaned and broke the kiss, picking up a pillow and flinging it at her.
"Did you ever hear of knocking, Blondie?!"
"Oh, yeah. I'm.....I was just checking on Luke....Hi, Luke."
"Hi, Katie," Luke said sheepishly as Reid rolled off of him.
"Hi, there..................." Katie smiled. "Oh well, um...yeah. I'm sorry I disturbed you. Go back to whatever it is that you were doing, and when you are finished....um, I'm making pancakes. Come out and eat some pancakes. And eggs, sausage, syrup, and..."
"Katie," Reid said calmly.
"Oh, yeah, right. Sorry. " She cackled. "Oh my God. The two of you.................I knew sooner or later, you would hit it off.....I just didn't know it would be so soon...." She rolled up on the balls of her feet and clapped.
"Katie!"
"Okay, already! Jeeze, you're no fun at all, Reid..........................but, Luke, he's a good guy. Don't let his rough edges scare you away. I mean, when I met him, gawd.............I thought he was such an asshole................but then he moved in, and he's just one of the most genuine and caring people I've ever........you should see him with Jacob..........they are adorable together. Reid sings to him and reads him stories, and just the other day I found him playing...." Katie ducked to dodge the second pillow that came flying her head. She shot Reid a look. "Fine. I'm going...I can take a hint..."
"Can you? Really?" Reid answered sarcastically.
"Remember...pancakes when y'all are finished with your, um....man time................"
Luke smiled and Katie closed the door.
Reid buried his face in Luke's neck and groaned. "Sorry about that."
Luke chuckled awkwardly and moved away from Reid's mouth as it went to attack the soft skin on Luke's neck. "Yeah." He stood up, tugging nervously on his ear. "Um..."
Reid stood too, nodding. "It's okay, Luke. This probably isn't a good idea right now, huh? Way too soon...you just ended a long-term thing." He ran a hand down Luke's arm. "I'll go get your clothes."
"Thanks," Luke answered, stepping back from Reid. He let his eyes run down Reid's body and then back up to his eyes. "You have a nice body, Reid, and you're a really good kisser.............you have no idea how much I'd like to just...I don't know.........get lost in that for awhile."
Reid smirked. "I think I do, actually." He reached down and played with the fingers on Luke's left hand. "I'm very attracted to you, Luke...always have been."
Luke pulled his hand away and stepped back even further, as if Reid's proximity and touch were too much. "So, what do we do now?"
"I get your clothes..."
"And put on a shirt," Luke added. "Please, put on a shirt."
Reid chuckled. "I'll put on a shirt, you'll put on your clothes, and then we'll go out there and have breakfast with Katie and the kid."
"Okay, yeah," Luke agreed, nodding. "Reid? Please, don't tell anyone about this, okay? I mean... not us...........I mean.......I don't mean us...there's not an us." Luke took a deep breath and steadied his thoughts. "I mean, please don't tell anyone that I was drunk. My family will be so disappointed, and they'll worry. I don't want it getting back to Noah because he'll just berate me about it."
"I won't tell anyone. I promise. You have my word, okay?"
Luke nodded, stepped forward and wrapped his arms around Reid. "Thank you. I don't know what would have happened to me if you weren't there last night."
Reid hugged Luke in return, rubbing circles on his back. "It's okay, Luke. And if you're ever in that kind of situation again....I mean, ya know, where you want to drink. Please, call me. No judgement, okay? Just call me."
Luke nodded, and took Reid's face in his hands, placing a gentle kiss against his lips. Reid groaned in frustration, which caused Luke to laugh.
Reid pulled away, gently slapping Luke's ass. "Clothes, breakfast, and then....we'll figure out something to do today."
Luke nodded and watched Reid walk out the door. He turned around and looked at himself in the mirror over Reid's dresser. "Day one. I can do this."
And of course, this was just the beginning, and they went on to live a life of happiness together. The end.