Hit and Run Part 19
Title: Hit and Run
Author: Marsabi
Summary: After Natalie is a victim of a hit-and-run, Luke and Reid’s relationship is tested
Disclaimer: Owned by ATWT
Warning: Some strong language
Rating: PG
Part 19
It was New Year’s Eve.
Reid was rushing Luke along, and trying to remind himself to breathe. He hated to acknowledge it, but he was extremely nervous. He had not eaten all day. His stomach was in knots and the thought of food actually made it hurt. Besides, he had slept poorly last night. He had gotten up feeling drained. Now they were only an hour away from the party - only an hour.
Reid picked up the clock again for the fourth time, “Would you move along?” He said to Luke.
It didn’t help that Luke was walking around in just his briefs, looking like an angel in an underwear ad, not helping his nerves one bit.
His scheduled proposal time was almost here. Reid felt dizzy from just the thought and sat down on their bed. The lack of sleep and sustenance was getting to him. And Natalie had made him go shopping all day. Shopping! In and out of every frilly, prissy store imaginable.
“Why do you care so much if we’re on time?” Luke complained. “ You hate parties.”
Could Luke’s underwear be any tighter? Could he be any more perfect? Reid studied the clock again.
“I don’t hate parties, besides its Lucinda. Now stop asking me so many questions,” Reid said anxiously, “and get your butt in the shower.”
“You had my butt in the shower last night,” Luke said laughing, “however, I might be persuaded to do it again - “ Luke and his hot, skimpily-clad body started over to him. He offered Reid one of his killer smiles.
“No,” Reid held out his hand to stop him. “ I want you to actually get clean. “
“ Spoilsport.” Luke stuck out his pink tongue. Reid felt like somebody just cut him off at the knees. Part of him just wanted to drag Luke back to bed and keep him there.
Luke wouldn’t get his romantic proposal then. Natalie would kick his ass.
“I’m not spoiling things,” Reid said with irritation. “ I just know how long it takes you to do your pretty hair.”
“Hey,” Luke pushed at him, “just for that remark , I won’t go and get ready until you tell me something…revealing.”
“Oh, come on!”Reid put a hand to his head- none of this was going easily for him. He could feel his mind turning into quivering mush. Is this what love did to you? He was beginning to have not one coherent thought. He just wanted to go and get it over with, and here was Luke goofing around, wanting to play. Didn’t he know how hard this was for Reid? Well, okay, he didn’t know, but still…
“Let’s see. Before I shower for the party, I need you to tell me…” Luke chewed his finger in thought. “The number.” He shot Reid a triumphant grin.
“The number?” Reid parroted. “ Fuck Luke! You want to tease me about the number of men right now?”
It was an ongoing fight they’d always both enjoyed. Luke constantly asking for details of Reid’s sexual history, and Reid’s carefully avoiding it. It always had bothered Luke that Reid knew all about Noah and Luke’s history together, but much of Reid’s past love life was a mystery to him.
“Tell me,” Luke said now, his eyes dancing.
“If I tell you the number of men I’ve been with, will you hurry?” Reid snapped. He really had more important matters on his mind. He’s promised Natalie he would not screw it up; he did not want to screw this up. And now they were already running late.
Luke was stunned, “Yes,” he agreed eagerly. He couldn’t believe Reid was about to finally reveal the number of men he had slept with. Luke braced himself, suddenly wondering if he really did want to know.
“Okay, then. ” Reid rolled his eyes.”Five. Happy now?”
“Five?” Luke’s mouth dropped” Just five?”
“Look, I never said I was some kind of Casanova, you just got in your mind.” Reid grinned suddenly, “Probably cause I’m such a master in the bedroom. “
“Five?” Luke said again.
“Hey,” Reid said a little defensively, ” I was busy becoming a world class neurosurgeon. And before that a chess champion and Harvard medical school student and -“
“Before that a high school science geek?” Luke offered, laughing.
Then Luke’s face glowed wickedly. “So five, huh? Hmm. You mean if I go and sleep with just a few more men, I could tie you?” he teased.
“You’re not sleeping with anybody but me,” Reid said hotly.
“I don’t know,” Luke mused.“Five only? “Luke laughed again, delighted.
“They were five extremely satisfied men,” Reid said.
“I’m sure.”
“Just go and shower , smart ass. I answered the question.”
Giggling, Luke headed for the shower.
Reid rushed over to their closet. He glanced down a moment at the texts from the family urging him to hurry. Then Reid took out the outfit he’d hidden behind his tux. He took a deep, terrified breath and grabbed it.
Reid gazed at his appearance in the mirror and winced. He looked ridiculous. He must be out of his mind. How could he listen to Natalie? She was eleven years old! He shook his head and glanced at the bathroom door. Luke was still in the shower, no doubt conditioning his hair or whatever.
Reid studied himself again. If they were still alive, his rational, cold-hearted parents would be shocked by his idiotic behavior. No one in his family ever foolishly acted from emotions. If his Uncle Angus could see him, there would be vicious taunting and ridicule. Reid examined his reflection again. No, not like this. He just couldn’t. It was all too risky. He didn’t know anything about declarations of love. Panic consumed him. He had to get away. He had to think this over. Just for a little bit of time. He grabbed his winter coat and quickly covered up the outfit.
Then Reid walked out the door.
***
When Luke opened up the bathroom, showered and shaved, and looking more lovely than a man should be allowed to look in his tux, he found himself all alone.
“Reid?” He called. The room was deserted. Luke looked around in confusion . He went down the stairs and wandered from one dark room to another. A pang of loneliness hit Luke. The house was empty.
Then his phone buzzed. Luke went and picked it up.
Meet me at the hospital the text read, I’m in exam room one.
***
The hospital was eerily quiet. Soon there would be New Year’s Eve accidents and drunks pouring into Memorial’s doors, but right now it was early. Luke was surprised that an emergency had called Reid away. At least, that was what he guessed. He was baffled why Reid wanted him to come to the hospital, and not just meet him later at the party.
Luke walked to the exam room and opened the door.
Reid stood in his long white doctor’s coat and scrub pants, but there was nobody else there.
“Hey,” Luke said, suddenly feeling unsure.” What’s going on? I thought you must have had an emergency.”
“I did,” Reid said grimly. “of nerves.”
“What?”
Reid slowly looked Luke over from head to foot. He was wearing his formal black tuxedo. It outlined the shape of his body snugly. His hair was combed back and spiked a little. His beautiful skin looked illuminated, even under the harsh hospital lights.
“You look amazing,” Reid told him honestly.
“For a guy you just stood up?” Luke asked, a little hurt and irritated now that he could see no emergency in sight.
Reid ignored that.
“Do you know,” Reid said, moving around the exam room and fiddling with one of the machines. “That this is the room they brought Natalie into.”
Luke glanced around. “It is? I guess it is. That day was so crazy.”
“Yeah,” Reid said. “I remember coming in here and seeing her for the first time. “ Reid paused and cleared his throat. “And do you know, my hands shook when I touched her.” He frowned with puzzlement as if the shock of that day was still with him. “ That never happens to me.” Reid’s eyes flitted all about room. “ I never, ever shake. “
Luke’s heart was hammering in his chest with confusion. “ Your hands?” He repeated. “ Shook?”
“Yeah, I didn’t tell you.” Reid drew his eyebrows together. He had just assumed Luke would somehow know his fear. He realized now that had not been fair. “I’m sorry,” he told Luke.
Feeling awkward, Luke grabbed at the edge of the metal table. “Sorry? About your hands?”
With a muffled oath, Reid began to babble:
“No, I’m sorry I’m screwing up! You deserve this to go as planned. You deserve it all to be perfect! Natalie told me how to be romantic and she had me reserve the bridal suite of the hotel. It’s supposed to be like in the Nutcracker, I think. She has music on and ready and there are flowers there, even rose petals in the tub, and balloons and sparkling cider and - but Luke, “ Reid turned away with a rueful smile, “I just couldn’t go there. “
He gestured around wildly. “ I couldn’t do it!” Reid took a step back from Luke. “ All that isn’t me. I’m not that guy - I couldn’t.“
Luke inhaled a sharp breath. He tried to get closer to Reid.
“Do what? Couldn’t do what?” Luke asked desperately now. He felt the shock of the situation hitting his stomach.
“Wear my heart on my sleeve and be all sappy,” Reid answered, backing away from him. “ All I thought about is will Luke think this is good enough? Is this romantic enough? And what will happen in that hotel room, when he sees everything? I panicked. “
Reid turned away.
Frantically, Luke tried to answer. “ It doesn’t matter,” Luke stumbled over his words, “Do you hear me?” I don’t care about music or flowers or a bridal suite- I just need you to - I don’t - just please -“ Luke’s voice broke.
But Reid didn’t hear Luke’s plea. He was clammy with sweat by then, and in his own world of agony.
“Look,” Reid declared suddenly, “See what an idiot I am.” And with that, Reid began to take off his lab coat and scrubs in order to reveal to Luke just what was underneath.
a/n: Okay, don’t throw tomatoes at me for the cliffhanger… the rest is being posted later today; it was just getting too long here
Author: Marsabi
Summary: After Natalie is a victim of a hit-and-run, Luke and Reid’s relationship is tested
Disclaimer: Owned by ATWT
Warning: Some strong language
Rating: PG
Part 19
It was New Year’s Eve.
Reid was rushing Luke along, and trying to remind himself to breathe. He hated to acknowledge it, but he was extremely nervous. He had not eaten all day. His stomach was in knots and the thought of food actually made it hurt. Besides, he had slept poorly last night. He had gotten up feeling drained. Now they were only an hour away from the party - only an hour.
Reid picked up the clock again for the fourth time, “Would you move along?” He said to Luke.
It didn’t help that Luke was walking around in just his briefs, looking like an angel in an underwear ad, not helping his nerves one bit.
His scheduled proposal time was almost here. Reid felt dizzy from just the thought and sat down on their bed. The lack of sleep and sustenance was getting to him. And Natalie had made him go shopping all day. Shopping! In and out of every frilly, prissy store imaginable.
“Why do you care so much if we’re on time?” Luke complained. “ You hate parties.”
Could Luke’s underwear be any tighter? Could he be any more perfect? Reid studied the clock again.
“I don’t hate parties, besides its Lucinda. Now stop asking me so many questions,” Reid said anxiously, “and get your butt in the shower.”
“You had my butt in the shower last night,” Luke said laughing, “however, I might be persuaded to do it again - “ Luke and his hot, skimpily-clad body started over to him. He offered Reid one of his killer smiles.
“No,” Reid held out his hand to stop him. “ I want you to actually get clean. “
“ Spoilsport.” Luke stuck out his pink tongue. Reid felt like somebody just cut him off at the knees. Part of him just wanted to drag Luke back to bed and keep him there.
Luke wouldn’t get his romantic proposal then. Natalie would kick his ass.
“I’m not spoiling things,” Reid said with irritation. “ I just know how long it takes you to do your pretty hair.”
“Hey,” Luke pushed at him, “just for that remark , I won’t go and get ready until you tell me something…revealing.”
“Oh, come on!”Reid put a hand to his head- none of this was going easily for him. He could feel his mind turning into quivering mush. Is this what love did to you? He was beginning to have not one coherent thought. He just wanted to go and get it over with, and here was Luke goofing around, wanting to play. Didn’t he know how hard this was for Reid? Well, okay, he didn’t know, but still…
“Let’s see. Before I shower for the party, I need you to tell me…” Luke chewed his finger in thought. “The number.” He shot Reid a triumphant grin.
“The number?” Reid parroted. “ Fuck Luke! You want to tease me about the number of men right now?”
It was an ongoing fight they’d always both enjoyed. Luke constantly asking for details of Reid’s sexual history, and Reid’s carefully avoiding it. It always had bothered Luke that Reid knew all about Noah and Luke’s history together, but much of Reid’s past love life was a mystery to him.
“Tell me,” Luke said now, his eyes dancing.
“If I tell you the number of men I’ve been with, will you hurry?” Reid snapped. He really had more important matters on his mind. He’s promised Natalie he would not screw it up; he did not want to screw this up. And now they were already running late.
Luke was stunned, “Yes,” he agreed eagerly. He couldn’t believe Reid was about to finally reveal the number of men he had slept with. Luke braced himself, suddenly wondering if he really did want to know.
“Okay, then. ” Reid rolled his eyes.”Five. Happy now?”
“Five?” Luke’s mouth dropped” Just five?”
“Look, I never said I was some kind of Casanova, you just got in your mind.” Reid grinned suddenly, “Probably cause I’m such a master in the bedroom. “
“Five?” Luke said again.
“Hey,” Reid said a little defensively, ” I was busy becoming a world class neurosurgeon. And before that a chess champion and Harvard medical school student and -“
“Before that a high school science geek?” Luke offered, laughing.
Then Luke’s face glowed wickedly. “So five, huh? Hmm. You mean if I go and sleep with just a few more men, I could tie you?” he teased.
“You’re not sleeping with anybody but me,” Reid said hotly.
“I don’t know,” Luke mused.“Five only? “Luke laughed again, delighted.
“They were five extremely satisfied men,” Reid said.
“I’m sure.”
“Just go and shower , smart ass. I answered the question.”
Giggling, Luke headed for the shower.
Reid rushed over to their closet. He glanced down a moment at the texts from the family urging him to hurry. Then Reid took out the outfit he’d hidden behind his tux. He took a deep, terrified breath and grabbed it.
Reid gazed at his appearance in the mirror and winced. He looked ridiculous. He must be out of his mind. How could he listen to Natalie? She was eleven years old! He shook his head and glanced at the bathroom door. Luke was still in the shower, no doubt conditioning his hair or whatever.
Reid studied himself again. If they were still alive, his rational, cold-hearted parents would be shocked by his idiotic behavior. No one in his family ever foolishly acted from emotions. If his Uncle Angus could see him, there would be vicious taunting and ridicule. Reid examined his reflection again. No, not like this. He just couldn’t. It was all too risky. He didn’t know anything about declarations of love. Panic consumed him. He had to get away. He had to think this over. Just for a little bit of time. He grabbed his winter coat and quickly covered up the outfit.
Then Reid walked out the door.
***
When Luke opened up the bathroom, showered and shaved, and looking more lovely than a man should be allowed to look in his tux, he found himself all alone.
“Reid?” He called. The room was deserted. Luke looked around in confusion . He went down the stairs and wandered from one dark room to another. A pang of loneliness hit Luke. The house was empty.
Then his phone buzzed. Luke went and picked it up.
Meet me at the hospital the text read, I’m in exam room one.
***
The hospital was eerily quiet. Soon there would be New Year’s Eve accidents and drunks pouring into Memorial’s doors, but right now it was early. Luke was surprised that an emergency had called Reid away. At least, that was what he guessed. He was baffled why Reid wanted him to come to the hospital, and not just meet him later at the party.
Luke walked to the exam room and opened the door.
Reid stood in his long white doctor’s coat and scrub pants, but there was nobody else there.
“Hey,” Luke said, suddenly feeling unsure.” What’s going on? I thought you must have had an emergency.”
“I did,” Reid said grimly. “of nerves.”
“What?”
Reid slowly looked Luke over from head to foot. He was wearing his formal black tuxedo. It outlined the shape of his body snugly. His hair was combed back and spiked a little. His beautiful skin looked illuminated, even under the harsh hospital lights.
“You look amazing,” Reid told him honestly.
“For a guy you just stood up?” Luke asked, a little hurt and irritated now that he could see no emergency in sight.
Reid ignored that.
“Do you know,” Reid said, moving around the exam room and fiddling with one of the machines. “That this is the room they brought Natalie into.”
Luke glanced around. “It is? I guess it is. That day was so crazy.”
“Yeah,” Reid said. “I remember coming in here and seeing her for the first time. “ Reid paused and cleared his throat. “And do you know, my hands shook when I touched her.” He frowned with puzzlement as if the shock of that day was still with him. “ That never happens to me.” Reid’s eyes flitted all about room. “ I never, ever shake. “
Luke’s heart was hammering in his chest with confusion. “ Your hands?” He repeated. “ Shook?”
“Yeah, I didn’t tell you.” Reid drew his eyebrows together. He had just assumed Luke would somehow know his fear. He realized now that had not been fair. “I’m sorry,” he told Luke.
Feeling awkward, Luke grabbed at the edge of the metal table. “Sorry? About your hands?”
With a muffled oath, Reid began to babble:
“No, I’m sorry I’m screwing up! You deserve this to go as planned. You deserve it all to be perfect! Natalie told me how to be romantic and she had me reserve the bridal suite of the hotel. It’s supposed to be like in the Nutcracker, I think. She has music on and ready and there are flowers there, even rose petals in the tub, and balloons and sparkling cider and - but Luke, “ Reid turned away with a rueful smile, “I just couldn’t go there. “
He gestured around wildly. “ I couldn’t do it!” Reid took a step back from Luke. “ All that isn’t me. I’m not that guy - I couldn’t.“
Luke inhaled a sharp breath. He tried to get closer to Reid.
“Do what? Couldn’t do what?” Luke asked desperately now. He felt the shock of the situation hitting his stomach.
“Wear my heart on my sleeve and be all sappy,” Reid answered, backing away from him. “ All I thought about is will Luke think this is good enough? Is this romantic enough? And what will happen in that hotel room, when he sees everything? I panicked. “
Reid turned away.
Frantically, Luke tried to answer. “ It doesn’t matter,” Luke stumbled over his words, “Do you hear me?” I don’t care about music or flowers or a bridal suite- I just need you to - I don’t - just please -“ Luke’s voice broke.
But Reid didn’t hear Luke’s plea. He was clammy with sweat by then, and in his own world of agony.
“Look,” Reid declared suddenly, “See what an idiot I am.” And with that, Reid began to take off his lab coat and scrubs in order to reveal to Luke just what was underneath.
a/n: Okay, don’t throw tomatoes at me for the cliffhanger… the rest is being posted later today; it was just getting too long here