Almost Everything 11/15 [Lure Big Bang]
Almost Everything Master Post
Chapter Eleven
When Reid got back with Luke’s sandwich, he expected (or hoped) that the young man would be sleeping. Instead, Luke was sitting there, eager for Reid’s return. It was the smile-that eager grin that greeted Reid and made him stop mid-step.
“You’re awake.” He quickly squeezed his eyes shut, and his free hand bounced against his thigh. He felt like an idiot for stating the obvious.
Luke’s smile deepened, and he winced slightly as he tried to sit up further on the bed.
Reid’s steps quickened and he placed the take-out bag on the tray next to Luke’s bed. His hands went up to Luke’s face, cupping his cheek. “You okay?” he murmured. His eyes searched Luke’s face.
“Yeah,” Luke assured him. “Were you hoping I was asleep so that you could eat my sandwich?” he teased.
“No, I had one there while they were making yours. You know me and food.” Reid shrugged.
Luke rolled his eyes in response. “That’s why it took so long.”
Reid quickly unloaded the food and got Luke some water. There still wasn’t a chair and the doctor stood for a moment, looking lost.
“Reid, why don’t you sit on the bed? Watching you is not helping my concussion.”
“I shouldn’t keep climbing in and out of your bed,” he replied not realizing how it could sound. But for a moment, the idea of being close to Luke was exactly what he wanted.
Luke smiled. “Then just stay in my bed,” he whispered.
“Eat your sandwich,” Reid ordered instead of responding to Luke’s invitation. The doctor went to the foot of the bed and looked over Luke’s chart. “They didn’t get you your anti-rejection meds.”
Before Luke could respond, Reid went back to the bag he’d brought for Luke earlier and pulled out the pill bottle. He filled the pitcher of water and set the glass and pills next to his sandwich. Bob had gone home, and the night shift had taken over. Word that the husband of Reid Oliver had been admitted had spread as well as the warning to offer their best care to Luke and avoid Reid at all costs.
“So why didn’t Dr. Roberts get your pills? Should I talk to him?” Reid asked.
Finishing about half of the sandwich, Luke leaned back. He had felt a little awkward with the doctor because Roberts knew that Luke was Reid’s husband, and the other doctor had been professional but a little distant. Luke had wanted to be alone, so he didn’t do anything to encourage Dr. Roberts to stay. “No, I didn’t mention the anti-rejection meds. He was mostly focused on my pain, wanting to make sure that I’m not in any actually. So what do you think of him-Dr. Roberts?” Luke asked as he went back to eating. He’d asked Reid to leave earlier to diffuse some of the tension. Now, Luke realized how hungry he was.
“He’s an okay doctor, bit of a jackass.”
Luke chuckled softly. “Yeah, he said the same thing about you.”
Reid looked at him for a moment.
“Kidding,” the blonde said. “He said you were a great doctor and a bit of jackass.” He offered a cheeky grin before popping the last bit of sandwich into his mouth.
The older man smirked in response. “Cute. Are you done?” he checked.
“Yeah.” Luke nodded his head.
Reid quickly disregarded the take out and started to pace around the room again. “You’re feeling better, right?” he checked. “Do you have any shooting pain in your head? Is your vision blurry?”
“Reid, I’m fine. But…” He sighed. “Get your skinny ass in this bed right now.”
“Oh, hubby, I love it when you order me around,” Reid teased, but he did walk closer and gingerly climbed into the bed. Luke moved over to the side, making room. Reid’s back leaned against the bed, his shoulder grazing against Luke’s and his legs stretched out in front of him. He tried to move away from Luke, but the bed was too small. The entire left side of Reid’s body was pressed to Luke’s right. “Do you want me stay until you fall asleep?” the doctor checked.
“Yeah,” Luke murmured, his hand reaching out for Reid’s. The redhead was so tense; it made Luke even more uncomfortable then watching him pace. “Where are you going to sleep though?”
“Uh…” Reid’s free hand came over and sandwiched Luke’s hand between both of his. “There’s a couch in the doctor’s lounge.”
“You could stay here,” Luke murmured; his gaze focused on their entwined hands.
Reid’s grip tightened slightly. “You’re in the hospital for a reason. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then stay.”
The doctor leaned back further and let go of Luke’s hands. He adjusted the pillow underneath Luke’s ribs. “How are you feeling?” Reid tentatively moved closer and wrapped his arm around Luke’s shoulder.
Luke moved closer, so his head was resting on Reid’s shoulder, his forehead in the crook of the doctor’s neck. The blonde inhaled softly, the scent of Reid’s cologne welcoming him. He’d smell it sometimes in the air after Reid would leave for the day. Luke didn’t realize how familiar and comforting it was until that moment. “You already asked that,” the blonde murmured. He moved his wrist, the one that had been hurt, and gingerly rested it on Reid’s stomach.
Reid tensed for a moment; he wasn’t used to being this close to Luke. He was afraid of hurting the younger man, but at the same time, there was no other place he wanted to be. “Humor me,” he insisted, wanting an answer to his question.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Luke replied, his breath hitting Reid’s neck.
He swallowed. “Well, for those not used to a hospital, it can be difficult to sleep.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
The two men laid there for a few moments, the silence enveloping them. But suddenly Reid moved and tried to extricate himself from Luke. “I don’t do this,” he admitted. “I’m not…” he paused, searching for the right word. “Comforting.”
Luke shifted and struggled to reach out for Reid. But the doctor was too fast, and he quickly got off the bed. “Reid?” Luke questioned, his voice a combination of concern and fear.
“I’m not someone that people lean on. My patients…they don’t like me.” Reid paced and with each turn, the doctor headed closer to the door. “They put up with me because of what I can do for them. Jacob smiles at me sometimes, but mostly I think it’s just gas.”
“Reid!”
He stopped and shoved his hands into his pockets. “You smile.”
“What?” Luke felt completely lost. He wasn’t sure if it was the pain medication, but most likely, it was the extremely confusing man he married.
“My patients, people I know…they don’t like me or seem happy to see me, but when I walked in here, you smiled at me. And I know it wasn’t because I bought that sandwich.”
“Cause that’s something you would do?”
“Luke…” There was pain lacing through Reid’s voice.
The blonde moved slowly, tender of his ribs and worried about his skittish husband. He made his way out of the bed and started to walk towards the redhead. “I can’t exactly chase after you, so could you…I don’t know freak out later, when we get home or something?”
Reid’s feet shuffled slowly until he was standing in front of Luke. “You really shouldn’t be out of bed.”
“Then stop trying to run away from me,” the younger man instructed. With his good hand, he reached out and cupped Reid’s face. “You’re scared I know, but could you just…” Luke shook his head and his hand dropped to his side. “Come back to bed. I won’t…” He sighed, the effort of getting out of bed taking its toll. “I won’t ask for more than you can give. If it’s too much…then leave.”
What Luke didn’t realize was that everything he asked of Reid was too much for him to give: a marriage, a friendship, taking care of him, seeing Luke in pain and not running away. All of these things were so far outside of Reid’s comfort zone. But he wanted to do those things because Luke needed him to.
“Okay.” Reid nodded his head. “I’ll stay.”
The two men made their way back to the hospital bed. Reid’s hands gingerly held onto Luke as the young man climbed into the bed. He adjusted the pillows until Luke was resting on his uninjured side. “You okay?” Reid checked, his gaze never leaving Luke’s. He wanted to check Luke’s response against his eyes. Luke’s eyes said so much, sometimes more than the words coming out of his mouth. If Luke had lied about his pain, Reid would know because of the blonde’s expressive eyes.
“Yeah.”
Then Reid moved onto the other side of the bed and got in as well. He slid over until his body was pressed next to Luke’s again. The redhead wrapped his arm around Luke, pulling the younger man close. Luke instinctively curved his body around Reid, his head resting in the crook of the doctor’s neck and his arm around Reid’s waist. They were in the same position they had been before Reid’s mini freak out.
“Can you handle this?” Luke whispered.
“Sure,” Reid gritted out.
“I’d laugh, but it hurts too much,” the blonde murmured.
Reid reached up and his fingers intertwined themselves into Luke’s scalp, massaging it gently. The blonde’s eyes drifted shut. For the first time in he didn’t know how long, his body didn’t feel tense, and he wasn’t worried about the next day or even the next moment. He just laid there, enjoying the comfort his husband provided.
“Why’d you stop writing?” Reid’s voice sounded loud as it echoed around the room.
Luke shifted gently, pulling away, so he could look at Reid’s face. “What?”
The doctor turned and his nose brushed briefly against Luke’s. He had to force away the temptation of kissing him. “You said in your note that you used to be a writer, why’d you stop?”
The blonde’s face scrunched up for a moment as he tried to think of how to explain it. “I guess, because… Well, a lot of my writing was tied to Noah.”
Reid’s hand stilled in Luke’s hair. “Oh.” Everything in Luke’s life seemed to be tied to Noah. The redhead wondered if he and Luke even stood a chance with all the history of Luke and Noah surrounding them. It felt like a brick on Reid’s chest, and he had difficulty breathing.
Not knowing about Reid’s struggle, Luke continued on, “We used to talk about him directing my scripts.”
“Did you stop because he got hurt?”
“No, his advisor…” Luke cringed, and it wasn’t because of any physical pain. “Mason didn’t think my script was right.”
Reid’s hand started to massage Luke’s scalp again, and the blonde let out a small sigh of content.
“Then the accident,” Luke continued, “and he became my focus, fixing Noah and making him better. You know so much of that was my priority. I know I said it in the note, but I do have to thank you.”
“You’ve done that a lot,” the redhead responded, and his hand shifted lower down to Luke’s back and gently rested there.
“Well, it doesn’t seem like enough,” Luke replied, and he curled his body closer around Reid, trying to emphasize his point. “This marriage…it’s given me a focus again, the new wing, Grimaldi Shipping…”
“If I knew that us getting married would find you injured and hospitalized, I’d have reconsidered.”
“Please, I told you, don’t make me laugh. It hurts too much.”
Reid pulled back slightly, so he could look Luke in the eyes. “I wasn’t kidding. Seeing you like this…” His voice trailed off, and he couldn’t meet Luke’s gaze. “Earlier, why did you tell me to think of the brain?”
“You looked scared like that day we were stuck in the elevator. I was worried that you were going to panic.”
“I was scared…” Reid admitted. “And I was panicking. I was worried about you,” he whispered, and he reached for Luke again.
“I know,” Luke murmured. “But see…I’m doing okay. Besides…” He smirked gently. “You’ve got this reputation to uphold, and I wanted to make sure you keep it. You know cool, calm, nothing gets to you.”
Reid chuckled softly. “That reputation won’t hold if any of the nurses catch me in here with you. The way they gossip, it’s worse then junior high.”
Luke let out a bark of laughter. “I told you not to make me laugh.”
Reid turned so he was lying on his side as well, facing Luke. The redhead’s arm was still resting underneath Luke’s head. With his right hand, he reached out and cupped Luke’s face. “How’s that?”
Luke’s eyes momentarily fluttered shut. “Better,” he whispered.
“You really should get some sleep. If you need help, I could diagram the brain for you again.”
“No,” Luke replied, shaking his head. And Reid’s hand fell away. “I like this,” Luke admitted. “Talking to you, having you so close I can hear your heartbeat.”
“Sorry I keep freaking out on you,” Reid murmured, and his hand reached for Luke’s cheek again.
“You were scared. I’d probably react the same way if something like this happened to you.”
Reid gently shook his head. There was still so much more to say. “I didn’t expect to feel that way about you.”
“I care about you too,” Luke admitted. It felt nice to tell Reid that, to lay here and share the things he wanted to reveal the last time they were in bed together. But Luke had been too afraid then, and Reid had left.
The redhead pulled his hand away, and he shifted slightly creating space between their bodies.
“But you don’t do relationships,” Luke deduced.
“Is that what this is?” Reid asked, holding his breath.
“It certainly doesn’t feel like a business deal to me. But since you don’t do relationships-”
The rest of Luke’s sentence was cut off as Reid pressed a kiss to the blonde’s mouth. It was sweet and gentle, but it could have easily escalated to more. Both men knew that and quickly pulled apart.
“You need to sleep,” Reid replied, his forehead coming to rest against Luke’s.
Luke nodded his head and slowly pulled away. He looked at Reid for a moment, and then he leaned back onto the bed. The redhead shifted down further, getting more comfortable.
“I’ll be here when you wake up,” Reid promised.
It was the words Luke needed to hear. His eyes drifted shut, and he was finally able to let sleep claim him.
*
When Luke woke the next morning, he felt sore and tried to stretch, but it made him feel even worse. The muscles around his bruised ribs tugged, and he groaned in pain. Reid, who had woken a little sooner and recalling his promise, was still laying there. He tried to reach for Luke, but younger man let out another groan of pain.
“Sorry,” Reid murmured.
Through the haze of sleep and the pain in his side and wrist, Luke finally started to remember who he was and where he was. He knew Reid’s voice, but it sounded a little huskier, sleep clogging it. Luke deduced instead of hoping for something more like desire.
Reid quickly slid of the bed and went round toward Luke’s injured side. He tried to help the younger man turn over to lie on his back.
“Please don’t ask me how I’m doing,” Luke said.
The doctor’s head ducked shyly, the words dying on his lips. “I’ll get a nurse. It’s past time for another dosage anyway. She had come by around three, but you looked so peaceful, I sent her away.”
Luke shifted, trying to sit up. He closed his eyes against the wave of pain, determined to do this. “How did I sleep through that?” he mumbled his thoughts.
Reid shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
“What did you do?” Luke asked.
“Well, the nurse was quiet, so I took her out in the hall and explained that I was there and should you need anything, I could help. The woman was gapping like a fish the whole time she stood there. I doubt she heard a word I was saying, but luckily she didn’t come back. That reputation of mine-the one you were trying to protect-well, that will be gone for sure.”
Luke chuckled as the image of his “loving” husband talking to the nurse flashed before his eyes, especially because of the effect it would have on Reid’s interactions around the hospital. “Thank you.”
The doctor shrugged as though it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah, well, I’ll get your meds. They should be bringing breakfast along soon.”
“Should I ask for two?” Luke questioned, cocking an eyebrow.
Reid smiled gently. “Why don’t I try to get your discharge papers and we’ll eat at home?” he suggested.
“I like the sound of that,” Luke replied, referring to Reid’s use of the house they lived in as home. The younger man still wasn’t sure where his relationship-and the fact that he could now call it that was scary enough-was heading, but he was glad Reid was there with him. Maybe they could figure it out together.
The doctor headed out and about five minutes later an ashen faced nurse came in. Luke recognized her from the previous evening, but he couldn’t recall her name. “I hope my husband wasn’t too Reid-like,” he said.
She shook her head and still hadn’t spoken. She handed him some pain medication and left just as quickly as she had come in.
Luke chuckled softly to himself. There was a soft knock, and the young man sat up straighter in the bed. He knew that Reid wouldn’t knock, and it was probably too soon for him to get the paperwork either. He thought it might even be another doctor coming to check on him.
“Luke?” Noah’s head came around the open door.
“Noah, how’d you find me?” Luke asked. He wanted to try and get out of bed and help Noah, but moving was still difficult. He’d barely made it to the bathroom a few minutes earlier without falling down. The last thing he wanted was to ask Reid to help with that.
“You’re just a couple of doors down from me. How are you feeling?” the brunette tentatively made his way further into the room until he got to the foot of Luke’s bed.
Luke rolled his eyes at the question. He felt like that was all Reid had asked him. “I’m fine, Noah. Just anxious to get home.” The minute the words left his mouth though he regretted them. Noah had been in the hospital a lot longer; Luke had nothing to complain about in comparison.
“Yeah, I know that feeling,” Noah replied. “Is someone coming to pick you up?”
The blonde hesitated for a moment. He didn’t want to hurt Noah’s feelings, but he realized if he wanted to think about continuing to see where things were going with Reid, then he’d have to be honest as well. “Yeah, Reid’s getting the discharge papers right now.”
Noah crossed his arms over his chest. “Nice of him to think of you,” he muttered. Last Noah had heard Reid had dropped off a bag for Luke and disappeared.
“Yeah, it was,” Luke responded. “He’s been here all night actually.”
“Really, how did you know? Did he get a page? Is that why he couldn’t be bothered to bring you your bag?”
“Actually, no, Mr. Mayer. Not that my personal life is any of your business, but I spent the night right next to my husband,” Reid’s voice sent a shiver down Noah’s spine.
Luke’s mouth opened, anxious to explain the situation to Noah, but he wasn’t sure what there was to explain. And when he saw the look in Reid’s eyes-the dare to correct him or explain it away to prove to Reid that he was right in not wanting to have a relationship-Luke’s mouth quickly closed. “And I appreciate what you’ve done,” Luke added, his gaze locking onto the redhead’s.
A ghost of a smile graced Reid’s lips. It disappeared so fast, Luke wasn’t sure if he’d seen it or not. “Mr. Mayer, should you be wandering around the halls of the hospital unescorted?” Reid questioned.
“I, uh, just wanted to check on Luke.”
“My husband’s fine,” Reid responded for Luke.
This time the blonde felt a little perturbed. He almost asked Reid if he and Noah would like to go outside to have their pissing contest in private. “Yes, Noah, I’m fine, and I appreciate you coming to see me,” he finished pointedly, his gaze meeting Reid’s.
“Noah, I’ll help you to your room,” Reid offered.
“No!” The brunette insisted and help up his hand. The doctor was startled and took a step back. “I mean, you should stay with your husband, I’m sure Luke will be anxious to get home.”
“Noah…” Luke’s voice trailed off, and he looked helplessly at Reid.
“Actually,” Reid continued. “If you’re feeling better, maybe we could talk about you being discharged soon as well.”
“Do you mean it?” Noah asked. His vision was getting much better, although things were still blurry. He couldn’t drive, but he could he manage to get around the hospital. He was certain he’d be fine at home.
“Of course,” Reid replied, switching over to doctor mode. “In fact, Luke and I could probably take you home.” The doctor glanced at his husband and saw Luke smile at him, and Reid knew he’d done something good for once.
“Actually, um, since Luke’s hurt, you should probably take care of him. I can wait.”
“Are you sure, Noah?” Luke voiced Reid’s question for the both of them.
“Yeah,” Noah insisted. “You’re probably sick of this place, and…” Noah turned in the direction of Reid; the brunette’s eyes narrowed slightly, trying to get a clearer vision of his doctor. “You’re married to a great doctor. He can take care of you.”
“Thanks, Noah,” Luke said.
“Well, Mr. Mayer, we should get you back to your room,” Reid said, and as he reached to help him, one of the floor nurses walked in.
“Oh,” she gasped slightly. “I was coming to see if Mr. Oliver needed help to get dressed before he went home. But since you’re here,” she said indicating Reid, “it’d probably be best if you helped your husband, Dr. Oliver.” She started to turn and walk away.
“Actually, nurse, Mr. Mayer should head back to his room. Could you help him while I help Luke get dressed?” Reid asked.
Both Noah and Luke held their breath waiting for a response. Luke hadn’t thought about how difficult it would be to change his clothes. And he certainly hadn’t expected Reid to help him.
“Of course,” the nurse responded and reached for Noah’s arm. He silently walked out with her.
Reid watched them leave before turning back to Luke. “So, are you ready to go home?”
“Uh, yeah. But you don’t have to-” Luke’s voice trailed off and he shook his head. “You know…”
Reid made his way over to the bed. “Luke, I’m doctor. I’ve seen people without their clothes on before.” He reached behind Luke, his face close to his young husband’s, as he started to untie the hospital gown. Luke briefly thanked God he had the foresight to brush his teeth earlier as well.
“So, this is you being…” He swallowed as his eyes met Reid’s. The doctor had a bemused look on his face. “Clinical,” Luke finished.
Reid simply raised his eyebrows in response and gently pulled the gown away from Luke’s body. The last thing on Reid’s mind at that moment though was detached professionalism. There were still some dark and ugly bruises on Luke’s torso and left shoulder. His wrist was bandaged and there was medical tape keeping Luke’s ribs close to his body, so that the bruising could heal. A few cuts and some band-aids were on Luke’s upper arm and chest.
“I’m really okay,” Luke whispered, seeing the change in Reid’s demeanor.
The redhead swallowed thickly and nodded his head. “Yeah.” He turned quickly then, going over to Luke’s bag and grabbing the shirt he had brought. He made his way back to the bed. Reid hesitated for a moment. “This might hurt,” he said referring to getting the shirt on. “But I’ll do my best.”
“I know,” Luke replied, smiling gently. “I trust you.”
There was that word again, Reid thought ruefully. Having Luke trust him was a heady and terrifying feeling. He was used to his patients and their loved ones trusting him, but Luke, a guy who he could… He shook his head, not allowing those thoughts to continue.
Luke held out his good hand, and Reid slipped the button-down shirt on it. He let the shirt fall as he went around to the side of the bed. Reid took a breath and gingerly climbed back into the bed, trying not to jostle it too much. Luke’s back was more bruised than his front, and Reid sat there for a moment. Gently, his hand came up and started to trace a couple of the bruises. Luke shuddered softly, the cool fingertips so smooth, and the blonde felt every nerve-ending in his body stand at attention.
“Sorry,” Reid murmured as he finally let go of Luke.
“For what?” Luke whispered his own response.
The doctor shook his head. “Nothing. Can you move your arm back a little?” he asked.
Luke did as he was instructed, and Reid tentatively got the rest of the shirt onto Luke. He climbed back off the bed, and the redhead was standing in front of Luke again. The blonde’s legs fell open, an invitation for Reid to step into the V they’d formed, easier access for the doctor to button up the shirt. Reid tugged gently, bringing the open ends together. He tried to button one of the holes a few from the top, but his hands were shaking and his breath hitched.
With his good hand, Luke placed it over both of the older man’s. “Reid?”
He let out a shuddering breath. “I was going to say something stupid,” he admitted, his gaze meeting Luke’s.
The blonde swallowed, and his tongue darted out to wet his dry lips. “Like what?”
Reid briefly rolled his eyes at his own emotions. “Promise me you’re never going to get hurt like this again,” he admitted. His gaze shifted to Luke’s mouth for a moment before meeting the concerned brown eyes of his husband.
“I wish I could-”
The rest of Luke’s sentiment was cut off as Reid reached over and brushed his lips against Luke’s. The blonde let out a soft groan and kissed him back. Reid had missed this, although he’d never known anything like it before either. The kiss shifted to another; Reid’s head tilted to the left, trying to get a better angle, as Luke’s lips clung to his. It was as though they couldn’t seem to get enough of each other. The redhead tugged on Luke’s shirt. Then his left hand slid down, gripping Luke’s waist and pulling him closer still, his torso almost pressing into Luke’s. The blonde reached for Reid, trying to angle his head for better access, and his bandaged wrist hit the redhead on the ear.
Reid pulled back suddenly. “Ow.” He grimaced.
“I’m so sorry,” Luke quickly apologized, and he desperately wanted to reach out for Reid again.
The doctor’s hand came up and cupped Luke’s cheek. “It’s okay, we’ll figure it out,” he assured him.
Luke smiled flirtatiously. “I like that sound of that.”
Reid felt a shudder go through his body. It was rare that he had wanted someone as much as he wanted Luke in this moment. It scared him, mostly because Luke wasn’t the type of guy he went for. Besides the fact that they were in the hospital, Reid’s sanctuary, a place he felt completely at home until then. He briefly wondered if Luke’s mouth was going to be his new safe haven.
Deciding to stop the analysis and give into his own desires, the older man reached for Luke again. Just as his lips brushed against his husband’s, there was a knock at the door to the hospital room, and he heard the distinctive voice of his mother-in-law. “Luke?”
Both men jumped apart, and Reid hastily finished buttoning Luke’s shirt. They turned to find Lily and Luke’s younger siblings, Natalie and Ethan.
“Mom,” Luke greeted her, and his voice sounded a little squeaky. “Natalie and Ethan!” he exclaimed hoping not to give anything away. “Wh-what are you doing here?”
“We heard about the accident.” She gave a pointed glance at Reid. “From Dr. Hughes.”
The redhead started to shift further away from Luke as his younger siblings raced toward the blonde and tried to give him a hug. “Careful,” Luke said. “I bruised a couple of my ribs.”
Lily came closer and her hand reached out, cupping Luke’s face. He realized how completely different it felt from Reid’s, and he very much missed his husband, even though the doctor was standing less than three feet away from him. “How are you feeling?” she asked her gaze looking him over.
“I’m better now that my brother and sister are here!” he exclaimed, trying not to make his siblings uncomfortable. “Uh, where’s Faith?” he asked.
“She said she’d stop by your place later. Unless you want to come home with us,” Lily added.
Reid opened his mouth but decided he didn’t want to make Lily any angrier with him. It wouldn’t make Luke feel any better either.
“No, mom, I’m fine. Reid was with me all night, and we were just about to go home-to our home,” Luke said giving his mom a pointed look.
She didn’t respond, instead looking over her shoulder at Reid. The redhead shrugged. “It was in the vows, for better or worse, sickness and health.”
Lily’s smile was brittle, and she slowly made her way over to Reid. Luke’s siblings started to climb onto the bed next to him, asking questions about the accident.
“Ms. Walsh,” Reid greeted her when she finally reached him.
“Under the circumstances I think you should call me Lily now.”
“All right,” he murmured, his gaze trailing over to Luke. He watched the younger man talk to his siblings, and Reid checked to make sure they weren’t causing any unintentional pain.
“I don’t know you very well,” Lily began carefully.
Reid’s gaze slid back to the woman in front of him. “I don’t think you know me at all.”
“I’m afraid neither does my son. Look, I’m not sure why Luke chose you or why you agreed, but don’t hurt him.”
Reid almost laughed. She had no idea Reid was the one who was at risk of getting hurt, and he hated that both of Luke’s parents assumed he would hurt Luke. “You don’t have to worry about me. Besides, don’t you think we should be focusing on Luke right now?”
“And Noah.”
Reid briefly shook his head. It seemed that young Mr. Mayer was all everyone cared about.
“Noah’s a son to me,” Lily pointed out.
It was on the tip of Reid’s tongue to tell her she could take her “other” son home if she was so desperate to play Florence Nightingale, but he knew it was the last thing he should say. He was just so tired of competing with the saintly Noah for Luke and everyone in Luke’s life. The way Reid saw it, Luke had done everything he could for Noah and it still wasn’t enough. Where was the support for Luke?
“I know how much you care for Noah,” Reid began. “And I’m the stranger who married Luke and gave Noah his eyesight back.” They weren’t exactly the words he had intended to say, but whenever Reid felt cornered, he fought back.
“Mom, tell Natalie I’m fine!” Luke’s voice called to them.
Immediately Reid’s gaze turned to Luke, making sure his siblings didn’t unintentionally hurt him. Lily joined her children, and Reid watched as she gently rubbed Luke’s left arm and offered soft, encouraging words to Natalie. He would have to talk to Luke-Natalie and Ethan were supposed to come over to their place in a few days for Reid to help the young girl with her homework. He wanted to check to make sure Luke was up for it and the kids would be careful around their older brother.
Reid watched the scene unfold, lost in his own thoughts, and then he felt something hit his leg. He looked down to see Ethan’s big brown eyes staring back at him. He was reminded of Luke, and he realized they had the same eyes.
The doctor crouched down, so that he was eye level with the little boy. “Yes?”
“Luke says you fix people,” Ethan told him, but there was a hint of suspicion in his voice; Reid was reminded of Lily.
He smiled nevertheless, not wanting to frighten Luke’s younger sibling. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“Did you fix Luke?”
“I tried and I promise I’ll make sure he’s better than he was before,” Reid vowed.
The little boy reached out and wrapped his arms tightly around Reid’s neck. He froze for a moment and heard Ethan say, “Thanks.”
The redhead gently returned the hug. “You’re welcome.”
After a moment, the little boy let go, and Reid straightened up again. His gaze caught Luke’s and he found his husband smiling at him. Reid rolled his eyes in response.
=========
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the scenes between Reid and Luke in the hospital bed.
Onto Chapter Twelve…