Outlier, Chapter 14
A/N #1: Please lower all expectations...this is not the date.
Previously in Outlier: Once upon a time, Reid was straight and life was straightforward. But the force was strong with Luke, bending Reid’s road past demolition zones and medical mysteries and internet investigations of dubious consent. When last we saw our internally wandering hero, he had finally taken the fateful (fated?) step of asking Luke out…and taking Luke’s horrified reaction as a ‘no.’ But before Reid could finish trashing his life with an eye on escape, Luke appeared at the apartment armed with an explanation and a timetable - tonight. The date would be tonight.
Chapter 14
“Can you believe that he thought I’d go out with him?”
Keys rattle-fell into a dish.
“I mean, how could he-what on Earth was he thinking? He’s not supposed to be interested in me. After everything I’ve done…all the work I’ve put into fixing things…for him to be with the person he said he’d come back to town for in the first place. And then he hits on me? Really?”
A black blazer hit the back of the sofa.
“‘What kind of doctor would I be if I let you walk around in wet clothes?’ Ugh, he actually says this to me. Like I’m supposed to swoon when he gives me his jacket. Like he hasn’t just tried to kiss another woman. A woman I set him up with!”
The refrigerator door slammed.
“After all the trouble I’ve gone to… You know, I’m starting to think that maybe Alison’s got the right idea. Just say no to Chris Hughes. Clearly, the guy’ll go after anything that moves. I mean, seriously, who asks their matchmaker out to dinner? Their matchmaker who, as far as they know, is in a relationship? Wait a minute-” Katie carried her glass toward the sofa. “You don’t think that’s it, do you? That he was really just trying to screw with you? Which of course would make it so much less appalling. Hmm, I dunno…do you even think he’s capable of that kind of higher-level thought? Well, of course you don’t…and I’m starting to think I should’ve been listening to you all along… Hey-Reid?” She dropped next to him on the sofa. “Hello?” She extracted the pillow from his arms. “Are you with us?” She tilted toward him. “Have you entered some kind of power-down mode? Is there a button I should push?”
Reid’s profile was unresponsive.
“Oh, come on, I couldn’t have opened the door any wider for you on that one. Wait…what are you even doing home? Did something happen at the hospital? Reeeid-did you manage to get fired? Has all that practice finally paid off? Well, that’s lovely, but don’t think you’re getting out of next month’s rent. I’ve gotten used to having a neurosurgeon’s salary around.”
Slow blinks were her only answer.
“Any time now, Reid. Just because Chris has mad skills with the ladies is no reason to give up on life.”
Reid’s mouth opened, lips twitching toward forming shapes. Katie leaned in even closer.
“I…”
“You…?”
“I have…”
“…to thank me for my all-around awesomeness?”
The blinking accelerated. “I…I have a…”
“Headache? Fever? Just so we’re clear-you do realize that if Jacob gets sick again I’m going to have to kill you?”
“No, it’s…I have a…”
“Lawsuit? Incurable God complex?”
“…date.”
A moment of silence preceded the piercing shrill.
“Reeeeeeeid. You asked him out! You asked him out and he said yes!” Reid’s body rocked with the force of her grip on his arm. “Holy shit, you actually did it! Wait, you did do it, right? You asked him?”
Still swaying slightly, Reid blinked, nodded.
“Of course you did! Because you listened to me! Because this town would be an infinitely better place if everyone just listened to me! Because of course he said yes!”
“…eventually.”
The rocking stopped. “‘Eventually’? What do you mean ‘eventually’? Didn’t you just ask him? Today?”
Reid nodded again, once.
“And?”
“And…he had to…think about it.”
“Oh. Okay. Well, sure, I guess that makes sense. Straight guy who hates him asks him out - guy’s gotta be a little thrown.” The rocking resumed, this time with bouncing. “But then he said yes! He got over his shock and said yes! And now you’re totally gonna have to toast me at the wedding. Because I’m pretty sure this is my finest achievement.”
Reid turned his head, finally focusing.
“Oh, come on, Reid-not only do I open you up to the idea of a relationship, but with a guy? Now, granted-some women might interpret that a little differently. But I am taking it as a win, baby. Forget Luke’s magical powers, mama’s got some of her own.” She stilled. “We…we are talking about Luke, right?”
Reid’s eyes narrowed.
“’Cause, you know, Chris doesn’t seem to be all that discerning these days, and you two have been just as antagonistic…”
The glare was muted by distraction.
Katie squeezed his arm, adding a gentle rub. “Okay. Focusing. When is the date?”
“Tonight.” The word creaked.
“What? You asked him out for tonight?”
“I didn’t… That was more his idea.”
“Huh, okay. Okay, that’s good…yes, definitely a good sign…shows he’s into it. That he’s into you. And gives you less time to freak out. I am assuming you’re freaking out, yes?” With a hand on his chin, she turned his face toward her, nodded. “Yup, better to speed this right along. So, what time?”
“Uh…I’m not sure. Whenever I get out of surgery.”
“Hmm, a late night…you’ll be drained, guards lowered…I like it. Which restaurant?”
“Uh…”
“Of course you didn’t think that far. Alright, well, nowhere in town, obviously; you certainly don’t need any more pressure. Let’s see…Italian’s always safe…ooh, I know-that new place in Dixon. Perfect. I’ll get you the address. Okay,” She leaned back. “Yes. Those jeans. For the rest of your days, my friend. Do you have one of those black button-downs in your locker? Is it clean? Really clean? Hasn't been worn since the wash?”
The nods trailed into absent bobbing.
“Okay, good. All black is definitely your color. He’ll want to take it right off.”
Reid didn’t feel his jaw drop.
“Well, we already know he’s an eager boy, my dear…hope you’re not planning on making it to dessert.”
At the barrage of blinks she slapped his upper arm, tipping his suddenly slack body. “Your face! Oh, Reid, I’m so sorry. No, seriously, it’ll be fine. Although…from what I understand, gay guys do usually have sex on the first date - to be safe you should pick up some extra condoms.” Her expression folded more quickly this time; she fell forward, smothering her laughs against his shoulder. “Oh, honey, you are just too easy. Okay, really, no, I’ll behave. And you know Luke’s not like that, right? I mean, he and Noah waited a really, really, really, really long time.” She rubbed his stiff shoulder. “I’m sure he won’t expect you to put out until at least the second date.”
He yanked back the pillow, bending into it, muffling the “Fuck me.”
“That would be third date at the earliest.”
The “Fuck you” was equally muffled.
At the chirp he unfolded, reaching for his phone.
“Is it Luke?”
Reid shook his head. “Just a flight to cancel.”
“You know, if you’re planning on whisking him off to Paris, all you have to do is use one of his planes.”
Reid dropped his head back and ran both hands over his face. “My kingdom to be an ocean away from you right now.”
“Sweetie, as if I’d ever leave your side. Nope, no rest for me until you and Luke are having each other’s babies. Aww, unless you’d like me to have them for you?”
Straightening, Reid began to type into his phone.
“Reid, honey…what are you doing?”
“Changed my mind. I'm confirming my flight out of this devil’s pit.”
“Oh, please.” She rose and walked into the kitchen. “You know this is your favorite circle of hell. And now that you’ve found your twin soul…”
“Katie…” The name was a growl.
“Yes, dear? Don’t even try to pretend this isn’t the best thing that’s ever happened to you.” She opened the dishwasher, her back to him. “So there are gonna be a few awkward moments-I’m sure Luke will understand. How did he react when you told him?”
Reid lifted his head from where it lay on the back of the couch, fingers pinching his nose. “What?”
Glassware glinted in her hands as she turned to face him. “When he found out that he was, you know, the first. That you weren’t so straight after all.” She wiggled her brows. “Did he make you prove it?”
The pillow in Reid’s lap shrunk.
“I mean, you said he had to think about it, right? He must’ve had a ton of questions.”
Reid brushed at orange speckles on the side of his thigh. “He…uh…he seemed to accept it…relatively easily.”
“Oh…so, did he have any questions?”
“Well, actually…uh…no.”
“Oh.”
“What?”
“It’s…” She shook her head. “No, it’s nothing. It’s fine.” Turning, she bent to open a drawer; she closed it, spinning back. “It’s just...look, it’s not really my place, but…” She leaned against the counter. “You know his history, right? A little?”
“I’ve seen the file.”
“How about the romantic history?”
“Noah?”
“Well, that’s part of it…Noah thought he was straight when they met.”
“So you mentioned.”
“And for a while after. It…wasn’t easy. For either of them, of course, but…see, Luke’s first crush had also been straight. Like, actually straight. And sort of a dick about the whole thing. Which, unfortunately, happened at a particularly bad time for Luke…”
“You mean…medically.”
“Among other things. But Noah and Kevin were basically kids; later…later there was a man. A man who should have known better. A man who also thought he was straight. To the point where married Lucinda.”
Reid’s rigid upper body formed an obtuse angle the sofa seat. “Luke’s grandmother?”
Katie nodded. “Nothing really happened, but let’s just say this guy didn’t do Luke any favors. Of course it didn’t help that Noah didn’t believe him-”
“What?”
“Listen, Reid, the point is…”
Reid watched his fingers curl against the top of the pillow. “The point is…the last thing Luke needs or wants in his life is another straight guy undergoing…renovations.”
“No.” She crossed to him in smooth, strong strides, kneeling in front of him and covering his hands with hers. “You are nothing like them.”
Reid’s look was sharp.
“Okay, fine - so you’re a work in progress, and everything’s still pretty new, but you know what you want. You want Luke. You asked him out - that never would have happened if you weren’t, at your most fundamental level, absolutely certain that this is what you want. That he is what you want.”
Reid closed his eyes. “But what if…” His voice barely filled the hush between them. “How can I be sure I…that I won’t hurt him, too?”
She touched her forehead to his. “Because I know you, Reid. You’re allergic to feeling powerless. So no way do you give up this kind of control without a pretty darned good reason. And you certainly don’t give up this,” a hand swept down her body, “unless you are one thousand percent sure.”
Reid almost smiled.
Katie stood. “Now quit your moping and go save a life.” She disappeared toward the bedrooms. “And good luck with the surgery, too.”
Reid grunted; he was replacing the pillow against the back of the sofa when her voice next sounded from the hall. “Hey, Reid-is this bag trash? Could you take it out when you leave? Wait…what is…is that a sock? Um, why are you throwing out your underwear?”
“Ah. Yeah…I’m going to be needing some of that back.”
A/N #2: At the beginning of this chapter, Katie is referring to a scene from the 4/21/10 episode in which Chris does indeed give Katie his jacket after having just tried to kiss Alison in a previous scene. It is only in the Outlier ’verse, however, that he subsequently asked Katie out. (And for those who are keeping track, the past two chapters do indeed take place on AU stardate 4/21/10.)
A/N #3: Because my upcoming epic travel plans will delay chapter 15 (and, um, because everyone was expecting this chapter to be the date), I will try to provide a preview tomorrow to tide you over.