Fragile 11/?
Title: Fragile
Author: sajaal
Rating: pg13 - NC17 (language)
Characters: Luke, Cal Stricklyn, Reid, Casey, Ali, Noah, other Oakdalian’s mentioned.
Disclaimers’: I do not own any of them…it would be nice though, sigh.
Summary: Luke never met Dr. Reid Oliver when he came to Oakdale to perform Noah’s surgery. Luke comes back after he leaves and Luke and Noah are still together (for a little while)…Luke ends up in rehab and that changes him and the course of his life. He meets Dr. Reid Oliver in Dallas in the fall of 2012...
Fragile, like a baby in your arms.
Be gentle with me.
I’d never willingly,
Do you harm.
Weaknesses,
You know each and every one,
But I need to drink,
More than you seem to think,
Before I’m anyone’s,
And you know
“It’s a Question of Lust”; Depeche Mode
Chapter #11
“Oh, baby, let’s go to the cafeteria and get something to eat, you must be starving and exhausted,” Lily said to looking at Luke in his crumpled suit and messed up hair.
“I’m not really hungry mom, but I’ll come down with you,” Luke agreed running a hand through his tangled hair.
They talked about everyone back in Oakdale and how the family was doing. Meg and Paul had finally settled on custody issues with Eliza. Emily and Paul had adopted a little boy, legally this time, and Craig and Rosanna had decided on round three as well. Luke shook his head, Oakdale never changed and all the craziness that surrounded its residents.
Luke picked at some food but was just tired and irritated with Reid. Why was he always such a jerk to him and why did he make him feel...feel so much? Luke had cut himself off of feeling, it usually led to disappointment, he did not want to lose himself in feeling it was too dangerous.
“Luke, where are you?” Holden asked, noting the faraway look in Luke’s eyes, “Are you okay?” he asked with concern.
“Oh, dad, I’m just really tired that’s all”, Luke replied smiling slightly but his deep brown eyes looked sad and weary.
Holden hated seeing Luke like this it scared him and he didn’t want to lose Luke again now that they had him back, healthy and sober. The past two years had been rough and they just wanted Luke to be happy. He said he was happy, but Holden knew that he was working so hard so that he didn’t have to feel. Luke just went from project to project, building the neuro-wings and then when it was done moving on to the next one. He did not want to settle down he was afraid of what might happen if he stopped and had to feel again. Lily and Holden knew, but they were not sure the best way to handle the situation without pushing Luke further away. They just hoped that he would find someone or someone would find him.
They returned to the neuro-wing and found a nurse who told them they could go and see Cal.
“I’ve already seen him mom, you and dad go in,” Luke said.
“Alright honey, what are you going to do?” Lily asked.
“I’m going to call Anna, Donal and Martin and find out what they think of Cal’s scans,” Luke replied.
“Oh, Luke don’t go stirring up Dr. Oliver again,” Holden said firmly.
Luke put his hand up, “Dad, I have the resources to help Cal, why can’t I use them?”
“Because you know its going to make Dr. Oliver mad and more rude than normal. Why do you want to antagonize him so much?” Holden returned.
“This has nothing to do with Dr. Oliver, he’s always rude and obnoxious, to me,” Luke lied turning away so Holden did not see the blush creeping up his neck as he thought about Reid and his not so obnoxious side.
Holden shrugged “Fine, suit yourself, but don’t say I didn’t warn you,” and went into Cal’s room.
Luke sighed, he was not feeling very well but he didn’t want to leave the hospital until he had more information about Cal. A few minutes later Cal was wheeled out of his room.
“Hey Luke,” he said, “Thanks for getting your mom and dad to come, you can go home now and get some sleep, they will stay with me.”
“I can’t go anywhere until I find out what’s going on with you.” Luke replied.
Cal shook his head, “Luke you’re gonna make yourself sick, have you taken your meds?” he asked.
Luke chuckled, “Don’t worry about me Cal, I’m fine, you’re the one who needs the help.”
Just then Reid walked in looking a little better, he had obviously showered, his auburn curls looked damp above the collar of his lab coat. Luke couldn’t stop himself thinking of those soft curls at the nape of his neck between his fingers as they kissed on the balcony. Reid’s eyes met Luke’s as his fingers drummed nervously on his left thigh, and widened as he watched the deep brown eyes darken with lust.
He cleared his throat and said, “We’ll be taking Cal down for an MRA instead of an MRI, I’ve been on the phone with Dr. Anna Della Croce from Florence and she believes that an MRA will give us a better idea of Cal’s condition.”
“What is an MRA?” Lily asked.
“It’s similiar to an MRI, but we inject an soluble dye into the veins and arteries to see how the blood is moving through the brain.” Reid replied, gazing over at Luke.
“Anna called you?” Luke asked.
“Yes, she did, as soon as she saw the scans were from you great grandfather she looked at them immediately, she seems to be a big fan of yours, Mr. Snyder,” Reid replied.
“Anna is great, she and her family took care of me when I was building the neuro-wing in Anna’s hospital and helped me with my Italian,” Luke said smiling and remembering her loud and crazy family, it reminded him of his own.
Reid could not believe the conversation he had with Anna Della Croce, he had met her during one of his rotations while interning in Boston. She was a beautiful petite woman with black curly hair and bright brown eyes that missed nothing. Anna would become one of the few that could call Reid a friend, she would invade his space continuously and would not be put off with his rude personality.
Reid would shake his head and would say if I wasn’t a gay man I would definitely be so into you. Anna would laugh and suggest seductively that she could change him if he gave her a chance.
“Never”, Reid would say, “I’m a dick man not a breast man.”
The call was not all about Cal, Anna asked Reid how he was getting along with Luciano, “Che c’e di nuovo Reid, have you been able to get closer to our Luciano?” she asked sweetly.
“What do you mean?” Reid asked cautiously, thankful that Anna was not with him since she would be able to see the effect her question had on him.
“Ah, Reid, will you let me believe that you have not tried to get into Luciano’s pants, he’s che bello’uomo, beautiful, intelligent and wonderful,” she said slyly.
“If you think that highly of him then why haven’t you tried?” Reid inquired sarcastically.
“Who said I didn’t?” laughed Anna, “But alas he is like you a true dick man and not interested in someone with breasts”.
“Enough Anna, let’s talk about my patient, Cal Stricklyn, Luke’s great grandfather,” Reid replied filing her information about “Luciano” for later.
“Well Reid, without a tumour or a bleed somewhere in the brain I have my suspicions that Cal has AVM. You will need to perform an MRA and use the dye to find out how the blood is moving through the brain and how fast. If we can determine the extent of the AVM then we can figure out a treatment for him. I’m worried about his age and what neuro-surgery might do to him. Their are a number of treatments we can look at that are less invasive but first the MRA. When you’re done send me the scans and then we can consult on possible options,” Anna told Reid now in full doctor mode.
“Okay Anna, only from you will I take advice, I was thinking of that an MRA would be better as well. I was not happy when Mr. Snyder demanded I send copies of the scans to other doctors. I’m a genius, I don’t need anyone’s help to treat a patient’, he said tiredly, he really needed to have a shower and get a bit of sleep.
“I know Reid but we would do anything for Luciano, he has done so much for my hospital and Martin’s and soon Donal’s. He is a truly remarkable young man and full of so many good ideas and he wants to help others and make their lives better.” Anna pleaded Luke’s case.
“You sound like he’s some kind of saint Anna, and he can do no wrong, he’s not that good,” Reid retorted.
“Oh, our Luciano is no saint but he is trying to fight his demons by giving back to those who helped him through a very difficult time,” Anna replied quietly.
Okay, enough, I will get the MRA set up and have all the scans sent to you directly, arrividerci.”
Reid replied cutting her short and not wanting to hear more about Saint Luciano.
“Prego Reid, devo andare, arrivederci!” Anna replied.
Reid came back to the task at hand ignoring the tug of desire being this close to Luciano...no Luke...no Mr. Snyder, I need to focus he thought to himself, “I don’t need the distractions of Mr. Richie Rich.”
“Okay let’s get Cal going,” Reid told the nurse, “Mr and Mrs Snyder we will see you in a few hours, after I’ve been able to review the scans.”
“Thank-you, Dr. Oliver,” Holden replied.
Reid nodded his head towards Luke and then followed the nurse and Cal down to the diagnostic lab.
“Look at this waiting area mom, it’s so terrible,” Luke exclaimed, “I can’t wait to start working on the new neuro-wing and create a much more comfortable environment.”
“Honey, you really should get some rest,” Lily told him worriedly, he was pale and so tired looking.
“I’ll be fine mom after some sleep, I promise to go back to the condo when we have the results of the MRA,” Luke replied. “I’m going to call Anna, and find out what she thinks is going on with Cal.”
“Ciao, Anna, come stai?” Luke asked.
“Oh, bene, grazie Luciano, its great to hear from you, I guess Dr. Oliver has spoken to you about our conversation,” Anna laughed.
“Si Anna, grazie molto, for looking over those scans right away. I can’t tell you how much it means to me,” Luke replied sincerely.
“I called Martin first since I could not get a hold of J.P. and we discussed tome of the possibilities, then I called Reid,” Anna explained.
“Reid, you’re on a first name basis with that arrogant asshole,” Luke said surprised.
“I know he can be a real jerk but we actually became friends when I interned in Boston many years ago. He may seem rude and obnoxious but there is a whole other person underneath that gruff exterior...don’t let him fool you,” Anna replied smugly.
Luke thought to himself that he actually had seen that other person and he liked him...alot.
“Hmmm, you maybe right Anna,” Luke agreed, “But he and I don’t seem to get along, we are constantly fighting and he just sees me as some rich brat, who gets in his face,” Luke replied.
Anna smiled to herself, “Ah these two really like each other, all this arguing is just foreplay.”
“So, has Reid taken your great grandfather for the MRA?” Anna asked.
“Si, about an hour ago, you should be getting an update soon,” Luke told her.
“Oh, si Luciano the results are in, I will need to take a look at them, devo andare, arrivederci Luciano”, Anna said.
“Grazie molto, again Anna, give Gionvanni a hug for me, Chow!” Luke replied hanging up the phone.