Serendipity (3/3)
For the next several minutes, neither man said much. Reid sat in the nearest visitor’s chair, pretending he hated that Luke was holding his hand but secretly enjoying the feel of Luke’s warm, slightly dry skin. Luke suddenly inhaled, and he sounded determined. Reid started to feel a trickle of sweat trail down his back. He supposed they couldn’t avoid this conversation forever.
“Reid?”
“Hmm,” Reid murmured.
“Can we be honest with each other?”
“Of course. I’m nothing if not honest.”
“Most of the time,” Luke agreed. “Not always.”
Reid tilted his head in acknowledgment.
“For example…did you quit because of the Mayo Clinic job?”
“No,” Reid admitted.
“Did you quit because of me?”
“Yes.”
“You wanted to be with me more than you wanted to run the wing?”
“Yes.”
“Then why did you leave?”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about this or ask why.”
“I don’t want to die not knowing.”
Reid stood up and walked away from the bed, turning his back on Luke. “You’re not going to die. No one’s going to die.”
“Ever? Did you discover the secret to immortality up there in Minnesota?”
“Luke.”
“Why did you leave Oakdale?” Luke demanded.
“Because I handed Bob Hughes my nametag and stethoscope and went to find you, but it was too late.”
“What?”
“I quit. I gave up everything, and…then I saw you with Noah and…I thought you two were back together, and - ”
“What?!”
“You didn’t see me. You two were too busy talking and laughing and, I don’t know, reconnecting. Or so I thought.”
“We never got back together! I don’t even remember talking to him that day! I mean, I remember him telling me you quit, but not before tha…oh! No. I - We were just talking about old times. Reid, that was nothing!”
Reid laughed self-deprecatingly. “I know that now.”
Luke stayed quiet for a long time. “You’re Reid Oliver. I didn’t think you ever gave up on anything that easily.”
Reid faced Luke again. He returned to his chair, and when he was sitting again, he finally said, “I won’t stop fighting for my patients. But I never found it to be that easy when it came to - other things.”
“Like your heart?” Luke asked, smiling despite the seriousness of the subject.
“Oh God, shut up.”
“I wish you had talked to me about it,” Luke said, his voice wistful. “I could have told you it was nothing. I mean, I know I wasn’t being very reasonable with you. I was angry about the Invicta thing, but that was because I was so hurt! I was hurt because I wanted - I wanted everything with you, and I didn’t want to wait, and I didn’t want to devote myself to another person who would put me below everything else in his life. Why would I have ever gone back to Noah?”
Reid shrugged. “I’m sorry,” he said simply.
Luke nodded. He looked away, and he inhaled loudly.
“Are you going to cry?” Reid asked warily.
“No!” Luke exclaimed. “I’m pissed at you, you jerk!”
“What? Why?” Reid asked, surprised.
Luke faced him again and smacked him on the arm.
“Ow! Why is everyone abusing me tonight?”
“Because your pride and your stupid assumptions and your - your assholeness cost us three years!”
Reid sighed. He reached out and caressed the back of Luke’s head.
“Assholeness isn’t a word,” he said softly.
Luke backed away from Reid’s hand, closing his eyes and exhaling as he shook his head. Reid snickered. Then he leaned close and lightly kissed Luke’s lips.
“We’ll make up for it, I promise.”
“We may not be able to,” Luke pointed out quietly, and this time he did seem dangerously close to tears. “We may have lost our chance altogether.”
“You can’t think like that.”
“I can’t not.”
Reid lifted his other hand to Luke’s face and tilted his head up so they were looking at each other.
“We’re not going to lose out on this now, after everything. I’m Reid Oliver, remember? I won’t accept it.”
“OK,” Luke agreed softly, nodding in determination. “OK.”
“Besides, I think Jacob has his heart set on being the ring bearer for his cousin’s wedding.”
Luke did a double take, backing away from Reid and staring at him as if he’d grown horns.
“Something to keep in mind for the future.”
Luke couldn’t stop his grin.
**
“Reid? Reid?”
In his head, Reid responded with a Shut up and let me sleep. All that came out was an unintelligible moan. Very quickly after that, Reid noticed there was something strapped to his face, preventing him from breathing and talking normally. That was clearly unacceptable, and he tried to lift a hand to remove it. His hand felt way too heavy, and it seemed there were things attached to it. What the fuck was going on?
“Reid, hold still. We'll remove that in a second.”
He was starting to become more aware of his surroundings, and as the oxygen tube was pulled away from his nose, he relaxed. He blinked rapidly, finally focusing on Bob leaning over his hospital bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Luke,” Reid replied, his voice rough.
Bob nodded. “Looking good. It’s nowhere near full function, obviously, but he’s starting to produce a little urine. Knock on wood, but I think the transplant’s going to take.”
Reid tried to respond with little success. He swallowed and cleared his throat.
“How are you feeling?” Bob repeated.
“Crap.”
Bob chuckled. “Well, give it a few days. You’ll be able to return to normal soon enough. Normalish.”
“What?”
“You only have one kidney,” Bob reminded him. “It shouldn’t affect you much, but you’ll still want to consider that in the future, of course. Drinking. Activity. Diet.”
“I didn’t think this thing through,” Reid muttered.
Bob laughed loudly. “Well, while you’re still drugged-up, here’s another thing you can agree to without considering all the consequences.”
“What’s that?” Reid asked, his eyes drifting shut.
“Didn’t want to tell you this while you still might have tried to leave again, but the board’s been investigating Meredith. Just got word they’re suspending his license and probably revoking it. Plagiarism and unethical research practices, funnily enough. If you know anyone who might be interested, Memorial’s gonna need someone to take over the wing.”
“Christ.”
“And maybe someday the whole hospital.”
Reid opened his eyes.
Bob winked at him. “I’m starting to believe Kim’s serious about this whole leaving me thing.”
Reid swallowed. “I need morphine.”
**
Reid was released from the hospital several days before Luke was. And as soon as he was able, he returned to Minnesota. Reid had resisted at first, wanting to stay with Luke during his recovery. But Luke had argued (which included some very persuasive kissing) that he had more than enough people around to take care of him, and the sooner Reid dealt with everything, the sooner he’d be back - and he may as well deal with it when Luke was out of commission instead of wasting any more time they could have together.
Despite everything that needed to be done, Reid hadn’t really expected to be away that long. Nonetheless, nearly six weeks passed before he could finally leave Minnesota for good. At first, he had to arrange to sell his place and direct the packing and furniture movement. Later, when he could work again, he had needed to serve out his notice, which included performing several surgeries and officially referring his remaining cases. And, unfortunately, filling out an ungodly amount of paperwork.
But every night, he’d talk to Luke on the phone. He’d smile softly as he heard the happiness and enthusiasm become more and more noticeable in Luke’s voice, and the exhaustion and pain disappear. Luke hit so many milestones while Reid was gone, from being released from the hospital himself, to being cleared for many activities. He even managed to start working from home a few hours a day, and maybe most importantly, he used the time to find a house.
Luke had decided that his current apartment (and Reid had certainly enjoyed teasing Luke once he learned he had finally moved out of his mommy’s house) simply wasn’t large enough for two people. When he made that particular observation over the phone, Reid had been speechless for nearly a minute - until Luke merely reminded him that they weren’t going to waste any more time and if Reid didn’t like it, tough.
Reid laughed to himself as he recalled the conversation. And then he tried to focus again. He was in his office at the hospital, packing up his few personal belongings. It was his last day in Minnesota, which seemed almost too good to be true, and he was planning on hopping into his car in a few minutes to start the six-plus hour drive. Reid couldn’t wait to see Luke with his own eyes, see that he was happy and healthy and wanted Reid (in more ways than one). He couldn’t wait to finally start running his neuro wing, his baby, the job he never should have left.
Just as Reid threw his last item into the box sitting on the desk, there was a knock on the door. Reid glanced up and sincerely smiled in welcome. It was Peter, whom he actually hadn’t seen since he’d been back in town. Neuro and cardio were on two different floors, in two different wings, and now that they were no longer…meeting outside of work, there had been no real opportunity or reason to interact.
Peter leaned against the doorframe and lifted his eyebrows.
“Making your great escape today?”
Reid nodded.
“I Googled this place,” Peter said, fighting a smirk. “Some…really weird stuff happens there.”
Reid sighed in resignation. He picked up the box and walked over to the door. Stopping a foot or so from Peter, he nodded. “I know.”
“At least you’ll never be bored.”
Reid smiled softly.
“Good luck,” Peter added.
Reid leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Take care,” he murmured, before walking around Peter and heading down the hall.
**
Reid nearly ran up the driveway, and when he reached the door, he pounded on it unceasingly.
“OK, OK,” he heard from inside. The door opened, and Luke’s expression changed from annoyance to pure happiness. “Reid!”
Reid stepped inside, scooping Luke into a tight embrace and immediately kissing him. He felt Luke’s arms wrap around him, and he barely heard the front door get kicked shut. Eventually, Reid pulled back, keeping his hands on Luke’s face; moments later, he inhaled deeply and opened his eyes. Luke was gazing back at him, a soft smile on his face.
“Welcome home,” Luke murmured.
Reid swallowed. He skimmed his hands down Luke’s neck and across his shoulders. “How do you feel?”
“Good,” Luke assured him, nodding. “Better than ever. Do you like the place?”
“Yes,” Reid responded immediately.
Luke fought a smirk. “You didn’t even look.”
“Does it have a bed and a fridge and a shower?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s fine.”
“It has a very big bed,” Luke added saucily.
“Even better,” Reid replied, grinning.
And with that, Luke turned away from him. He held Reid’s hand in his own as he started to guide him down the hallway. Reid kept in close step, even as he bent his head to nuzzle Luke’s neck.
“Did you have a nice trip?” Luke asked, the smile on his face audible in his voice.
“Mm-hmm,” Reid replied, not bothering to stop his activities.
Shortly after that, they stepped into the bedroom. It was still half-unpacked, and very minimally decorated (although already more than Reid would have ever bothered with). The important thing was there was a bed in the center. Reid pushed Luke closer, and Luke turned to face Reid again, walking backwards until his legs hit the edge of the mattress. He sat down and then pulled Reid on top of him.
“Be gentle,” he requested, smiling.
Reid propped himself on his hands and looked down at Luke warily. “Are you sure you’re ready - ”
Luke nodded. “Yes. That wasn’t what I meant. It’s just been a while.”
Reid lifted his eyebrows at that information. He bent down and gave Luke a quick peck before moving to his neck again.
“How long’s a while?”
“Huh?” Luke asked, sounding distracted. “Um. Like, seven or eight months.”
“Damn.”
Luke chuckled. “Shut up. I was in kidney failure, remember.”
“No,” Reid replied, shifting to the other side of Luke’s neck, sliding one hand down and then back up underneath his shirt. When his fingernails scratched over Luke’s nipple, Luke bucked his hips against Reid’s thigh. “I was hoping you were going to say since Noah. Wanted to imagine you were keeping yourself pure for me.”
Luke laughed. Loudly.
Reid pulled away, smiling at Luke. He rolled to his back, then sat up and pulled his shirt over his head. He felt the tips of Luke’s fingers tracing over the small of his back, just above the waist of his jeans. The light sensation ended, though, as Reid shifted to remove his pants and Luke's fingers fell away. Once he was undressed, he turned to face Luke, who was unbuttoning his own pants while staring hungrily at Reid.
“What?” Reid asked softly.
Luke smiled at him. “Like what I see. That’s all.”
Reid ducked his head, feeling almost bashful. Then he focused on Luke again, helping him to remove the rest of his clothes. He lowered himself onto Luke, and they both exhaled roughly when they came into contact with each other.
Reid stared at Luke, the smile falling off his face and his breath turning slow and heavy as they became lost in each other’s gaze. He propped himself on his elbows, moving his hands up to Luke’s hair, and he rotated his hips, grinding his cock against Luke’s. Luke’s eyes fluttered, and his hand pressed against the small of Reid’s back.
“Reid,” he moaned, biting his lower lip and releasing it quickly. “Want you inside me.”
Reid smiled quickly, teasingly. He dropped one hand down to Luke’s torso, resting it lightly over Luke’s scar. “Already am.”
Luke rolled his eyes, then pressed against Reid’s shoulder until they switched positions. Pushing himself to his knees, Luke straddled Reid as he reached over for the bedside table.
“Have to do everything myself, huh?”
Reid’s cheerful laughter echoed throughout the room, but ended abruptly when Luke began to roll the condom onto Reid’s cock. Moments later, Luke lifted higher and reached behind himself. He exhaled as he inserted two of his own fingers and started to stretch and slick his opening.
Reid watched in awe, taking in the sight of Luke from his closed eyes and open, shiny-wet mouth, to the Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat with every strangled swallow, to the muscles of his stomach rippling with the exertion, to his arm flexing as he moved, to the fluid leaking out of his hard, straining cock.
“Fuck,” Reid breathed.
Luke opened his eyes and looked down, meeting Reid’s gaze. They locked eyes, and Luke gave Reid a small smile. Reid smoothed his palm up Luke’s thigh, around his hip, over the curve of his ass, finally stopping when his hand joined Luke’s. He pressed two digits carefully inside, tangling them with Luke’s own fingers.
And then he hooked them and pulled Luke’s hand away. Reid sat up as he guided Luke to sink down on his cock. He made a small noise as the tight heat enveloped him, and then he pulled Luke closer, meeting him in a kiss. Reid thrust up, filling Luke completely, leaving one hand on his waist to help set a rhythm for their movements.
Luke rode him faster and faster. He reached one hand out, gripping the top edge of the headboard momentarily before flattening his palm and pushing against it, using it to provide solid support. Luke broke the kiss, moaning as he buried his face in the groove of Reid’s neck. Reid responded by placing his other hand on Luke’s waist, and push-pulling him down, forcing Luke fully onto him even as he lifted his own hips with all the force he could muster.
Reid and Luke rocked together. Luke called out in pleasure and Reid grunted and their hands moved everywhere - slid over sweaty skin and tangled into hair. Reid pressed the tips of his fingers against Luke’s cheeks, tilting his face again until they were kissing passionately. He slipped his tongue into Luke’s mouth, with the same urgency with which his cock was pounding into Luke.
Soon, the need to come was unbearable, but Reid’s orgasm stubbornly remained just out of reach. He lifted Luke slightly, repositioning himself even as he forced Luke to fall backwards to the mattress. Luke went willingly, hooking his knees along Reid’s waist and clutching at his shoulders. Reid planted his feet against the headboard, pushing off it to gain force as he continued to enter Luke.
“Reid, please. I need - I need to - ”
Reid groaned, finding Luke’s mouth with his own again and swallowing Luke’s shout as he fell apart underneath him. The splashes of come spreading between their stomachs, the waves all around Reid’s cock, the shaking of Luke’s body, everything was enough to push Reid over the edge.
Reid lost all strength in his arms, and he fell onto Luke, sharply exhaling a somewhat disbelieving laugh. He heard Luke’s answering smile in his voice as he babbled softly-whispered phrases of so good and finally and love you in Reid’s ear.
Reid made a small noise as he pulled out of Luke and rolled to his side. He turned his head and stared at him, then looked at the ceiling and swallowed.
“I can’t believe I walked away from the chance of that.”
Luke reached a hand out, placing his palm over Reid’s fingers. He licked his lips. “We talked about this. It’s in the past. We both realize we were idiots.”
“Me especially.”
“You especially,” Luke agreed with a grin. “Let’s just focus on the future. We get one now…thanks to you.”
Reid sighed. He rolled closer to Luke and rested his palm against Luke’s cheek. “I’d do it again, you know. In a heartbeat.”
Luke smiled.
Reid tilted his head. “I figure this has to win me at least the first dozen fights. Maybe even the first hundred,” he added with mock sincerity.
Luke looked to the ceiling, laughing once in surprise. He ignored Reid’s chortling as he reached out blindly and found a pillow. Gripping the edge, Luke whipped the pillow around and smacked it against Reid’s chest.
The End
A/N: If anyone was curious, the original prompt was inspired by a couple who was recently on Yahoo news/in People/maybe elsewhere. They were previously involved, met again over Facebook, and then the woman donated a kidney to the man (they are now married).