First Kiss with the Last Boy (2/11)
Title: First Kiss with the Last Boy (2/11)
Author: gradgirl (aka Ali)
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Primarily Luke and Reid, mentions of Noah, Katie and the Snyder Clan.
Summary: Sometimes it's not about the first boy you kiss, it's the last. Different scenarios in which Luke and Reid could have shared their first kiss.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not my characters, just borrowing them for fic purposes.
Author’s Notes: I do not think I can put into words how I feel after watching yesterday’s episode, but I want send hugs to everyone who stops by and reads today. Again I have to thank my two betas (reilaroo and hopeful 624) for making this what it was.
This series is made up of 10 one-shots, individual situations in which Luke and Reid could have shared their first kiss. The last chapter explains how they are tied together. ~Ali
{ Chapter 1}
Chapter 2: One Question
“Luke?” Noah was concerned. The blonde hadn’t said anything for a few minutes and it wasn’t like him. Since the accident, Luke was always reassuring, trying to find a cure, helping Noah even when Noah hated it. Then there were the constant promises. Luke was going to fix Noah or find someone who could.
But now…
He wasn’t talking.
“Noah,” Luke tried to respond, but there were no words.
“Look, I know we broke up,” Noah tried. He remembered that painful conversation, the admission that he couldn’t imagine a future with Luke, and the fact that he never believed they would break up permanently.
“I begged…” Luke finally found his voice, and he was back in that moment. The tears were clogging his throat again and his eyes were wet. He briefly closed his eyes. He could still feel the rough sweater against his fingertips as he hugged Noah one last time.
“I know,” Noah replied. “Luke, I’m sorry, I didn’t know it then-”
“What’s changed?” There was a hint of accusation in Luke’s voice. “It’s only been a couple of weeks. You couldn’t image a future with me but now…”
Noah sighed gently and his hand shot out, he tried to find Luke’s hand. He was getting better at moving around. He’d just been in an appointment with Dr. Oliver, and his surgery was scheduled soon. He could finally talk about the future. He could- “Luke, I never stopped loving you.”
The blonde angrily stood up. He wasn’t sure where the anger was coming from. He still loved Noah and he didn’t want them to break up, but something… This didn’t feel right. “But it wasn’t enough,” Luke replied. “I wasn’t enough. Everything I did, everything I said, and it wasn’t enough, either.”
Noah stood up as well. Luke heard the gentle clank of his cane, bumping into the furniture as he tried to get closer to Luke. “Luke, I’m sorry, you just tried too hard.”
A harsh bark of laughter slipped past Luke’s lips. Everything he had done was because he loved Noah, how could that be trying too hard? “I blackmailed a world-renown surgeon.”
“I know.”
“And now what? Now that Dr. Oliver is here and you’re getting your surgery, you want-”
“No. Yes.” Noah reached out and his hand brushed against Luke’s back. “Please, Luke, tell me there’s still a chance.”
“I-”
Noah’s hand gripped Luke’s shoulder and the blonde automatically reached up. His fingers meshed with Noah’s. “Please, Luke, promise me you’ll think about it.”
Luke let out a breath. This is what he had wanted: Noah and him to get back together. Why wasn’t he jumping at the chance? He briefly shook his head. “I can think about it,” he offered. After everything that they had been through, Luke felt he owed Noah and himself that much.
Noah moved and the blonde automatically went to help him. Instead of a grimace and Noah trying to jerk away, there was a smile and a grateful sigh. “Thank you,” the brunette replied.
Luke found he couldn’t respond. Instead he watched his ex-boyfriend head down the hospital corridor. The blonde sat there, reliving so many moments with Noah, hoping to understand why he wasn’t jumping at the chance to get back together when he was given the opportunity. What was holding him back?
*
Reid shook his head as he watched a nurse race away from him. A sob came from her throat right after the gasp and then she just started to run. He couldn’t get over how thin-skinned and incompetent the staff at this hospital was. Not the first time that hour, he longed for his staff and clinic back in Dallas. But he was stuck in this town and the inadequacy of the hospital. He was a little grateful that he would have his own staff in the neurology wing. He just hoped Mr. Snyder wouldn’t want to fight him on that point. A small part of Reid relished the idea of that conversation. Lately, the arguing was a little less annoying and a lot more exhilarating.
The doctor glanced at his watch. He had time to get a terrible cup of coffee before his next appointment. He started to head toward one of the waiting areas when he saw the young man he was just thinking about. Reid hesitated for a moment, wondering about the odds of such a coincidence. But he had to remind himself that this was a small town and the last patient he had seen was Noah Mayer. Dr. Oliver briefly wondered if Luke was there to give Noah a ride.
Reid ducked his head and was tempted to walk right past Luke. Halfway there, he changed his mind. If his patient wanted to spend time with Mr. Snyder, it was none of his business.
The doctor continued on his way. For some reason, his eyes kept shifting over, watching the blonde out of the corner of his eye. As he got closer, the redhead realized he didn’t need to act surreptitiously. Luke’s chin was resting on his hand, and he appeared lost in throat. Probably mentally counting his money, Reid deduced.
Unfortunately, the doctor was so caught up in thinking about Luke that he bumped into the blonde’s chair with his foot.
Luke jumped and it took a moment for his eyes to focus. “Dr. Oliver,” he said.
Quickly straightening, Reid turned. “Yes. That’s my name. And you’re Mr. Snyder. Any other ‘noteworthy’ information you’d like to share with me?”
Luke rolled his eyes in response, and he was actually grateful for the abrasive doctor. He could finally turn off his brain for a moment. All Luke had been able to do was sit and hear Noah’s voice. A constant loop of Noah asking him back and then telling him he couldn’t imagine a future with him either.
When Luke didn’t respond, Reid grabbed a mug and poured a cup of coffee. He could feel the younger man’s gaze on him, but Reid refused to say anything. He was tired and lately, despite the fact that it had always been a salvation before, even work wasn’t making him feel as alive as it used to. A small voice in his head told him that the rare times he’d been getting that high was when he was arguing with Luke. He tried to shut it out as he turned and saw the younger man still looking at him.
Reid stood still for a moment. He wasn’t going to break first and ask Mr. Snyder what he was doing there. The blonde’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
With a shake of his head, Dr. Oliver started to walk around Luke, and he headed back to his office. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt disappointed. Picking up his tape recorder, he started to dictate his notes from the last patient. A knock on the door of his office made him pause.
“What!” he called.
There was no response and he was tempted to let it go, but he knew who it was. Reid couldn’t just go back to his work. With a loud sigh, Reid got up and swung open the door of his office.
Luke was standing in front of him. He didn’t look quite as lost as he had a few minutes earlier, but there wasn’t the animation in his face either-a flash in his eyes, a snarl on his lips.
“What do you want, Mr. Snyder?”
“That’s the one question I can’t answer,” Luke admitted.
Reid was confused and not sure if he wanted to play games with the young man. “Look-”
“Noah wants to get back together,” he admitted. The words stumbled out of his mouth in a rush.
The doctor was even more confused. Almost of its own accord, his arm came up, gesturing for Luke to come into his office.
The blonde hurried in as though he was afraid the doctor would change his mind. He stopped and turned, shoving his hands into the pocket of his pants.
Reid shut the door and leaned against it. He honestly didn’t know what he was expected to do. “I can call Katie,” he offered.
Luke’s face scrunched in confusion. “Why?”
“Well, I don’t talk to people. I give directions. I cut into people’s brains. Unless you want me to tell you which part of Noah’s brain is encouraging him to reconcile with you, I don’t see how I can be of help.”
Luke found himself chuckling.
“What now, Mr. Snyder?” Reid questioned.
“Nothing, it’s just…you’re so, well, you.”
The doctor started to close the distance between them. He told himself it was simple curiosity and not the usual occurrence of his body being drawn to Luke’s. A magnetic pull, which inescapably found Reid leaning in closer to the young man over plans, seeking him out, or making some comment just because he knew Luke would have to respond. “And?” Reid asked.
“I think, you don’t know Noah and me, you don’t have any preconceived notions that we should end up together or be together forever.”
Reid opened his mouth to argue. Just a few hours earlier, he had told Katie that Luke and Noah were the “gay Bob and Kim.” But then he realized he wasn't supposed to talk. Luke had chosen him because whatever was weighing on the young man, he just wanted to talk, say whatever was on his mind without anyone else’s feedback. He was actually affected by that.
“Noah wants to get back together,” Luke said again it was as though if he kept saying it, it would actually make more sense to him. He wouldn’t be so afraid of what it could all mean. “And it wasn’t too long ago that I begged him for a future and he couldn’t…”
“So what? You want to punish him?” Reid couldn’t possibly keep his mouth shut for too long.
“What?” Luke questioned and suddenly he was aware of just how close the doctor was standing to him. He recognized the spicy cologne immediately.
“Well, you have been doing anything and everything to get Noah his eyesight back. And he dumped you anyway.”
“I broke up with him,” Luke corrected.
Reid didn’t appear to notice though. “And now that he wants you back, you’re what? Going to make him wait for the inevitable?” The doctor cross his arms over his chest.
“The inevitable?”
Reid rolled his eyes, wondering why the young man kept repeating his words instead of answering the question. “Luke and Noah. You think I don’t know the story? Like you haven’t described it as though it was the greatest love affair since Romeo and Juliet.”
“I have not,” Luke countered, turning away.
Instinctively, Reid grabbed Luke’s arm. The blonde pivoted back and Reid could feel hot puffs of air from Luke’s mouth. The young man tried to catch his breath, but his gaze was locked on Dr. Oliver and the scent of his cologne and something else, something distinctively Reid filled Luke’s nostrils.
“What do you want?” Reid asked, but he was certain he already knew the answer. Mr. Snyder would utter the name of Reid’s patient and they both could move on. Dr. Oliver’s grip loosened, his fingers flexed, but they went back to holding Luke’s bicep. The arm was surprisingly sinewy, and Reid felt his breath catch in his throat.
“I-”
“What do you want?” Reid questioned again, but this time his voice was softer.
Luke’s gaze locked onto the doctor’s mouth, watching as his lips parted to form the words-a quick glimpse at Reid’s slightly crooked teeth. And then, the younger man had the answer, he knew why Noah’s request to get back together made Luke filled with doubt and fear.
The answer was right in front of him. All Luke had to do was go after it…
The blonde leaned forward. His nose brushed against Reid’s. Luke heard an intake of breath, and he swallowed it as his mouth met the lips he’d just been observing. Reid’s hand flexed again, holding onto Luke’s arm. He turned slightly, his mouth opened again and just like before, Luke stole his breath.
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Onto Chapter 3...