The Damian-Kidnapping Aftermath Caper, Part 2/2
Title: The Damian-Kidnapping Aftermath Caper
Author: Myrna1_2_3
Fandom: As the World Turns
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Damian-Kidnapping Aftermath Caper.
Disclaimer: Not-not-mine
Author’s Notes: The aftermath of Damian kidnapping Luke as he does from time to time. This story stands alone in its own universe.
Reid had only meant to leave Luke for an hour or two, but the ability to practice medicine without the black cloud of desperation was more intoxicating than Reid imagined. He was shocked to glance at his watch and realize he’d been on the floor for almost four hours. He figured Luke would have texted him if he needed anything, but he still headed over to the fourth floor to check on him.
Reid heard Luke shouting the minute the door to the elevator opened, and he took off for Luke’s room at a dead run. He barreled into the room to find Luke lunging at Lily who was white-faced with shock at his reaction.
Luke’s face was beet red, and he was screaming at Lily, “Don’t lie to him! Don’t lie! How could you do that? How can you be so stupid?”
Reid grabbed Luke, afraid he was going to try to get out of bed and rip the IV’s from his arm. He held him tight, hand to the back of Luke’s head and if it reminded them both of the night Damian was killed, Reid didn’t give a damn. “Lily, go home!” Reid said, only because it sounded slightly better than Get out.
There were tears streaming down Lily’s cheeks. “No!” she cried. “I’m not leaving until Luke understands…”
“You’re leaving now!” Reid said fiercely. “Go. Home.”
Luke started coughing and then choking which set off alarms on two of the monitors, causing two nurses to join the fray. Lily must have slipped out because by the time the alarms were reset, the nurses sent away, and Luke breathing easier, they were alone.
“What happened?” Reid asked.
“I just…lost it,” Luke said. “I don’t understand…how could I…Oh God, what’s wrong with me…” He started coughing so hard, Reid grabbed an emesis bowl, but Luke shoved it away.
“Coughing up a lung isn’t going to help the situation,” Reid said. “Calm down.”
“God, what’s wrong with me?” Luke moaned.
“You’re going to be all over the place for awhile,” Reid told him. “Between withdrawal from the drugs you were given and the trauma, you get a free pass on your reaction to shit, okay?”
“No, I have to call her,” Luke said hoarsely. “God, I’m awful. She’s been worried out of her mind, and I go and scream at her for trying to protect Ethan from all this garbage…”
“Tell me what happened,” Reid said gently.
“My mom said she and dad told Ethan that I was on a trip, and, I don’t know, I just… freaked and started screaming at her.” Luke gave Reid an incredulous stare. “He’ll find out anyway,” he said. “Kids at school or someone’s parents will ask how I’m doing. He’ll figure parts of it out anyway and then the other parts he’ll try to fill in and… and he’ll figure out everyone else knows the whole story and he’s some… some idiot walking around not even knowing what’s happening in his own… his own stupid life!”
Reid ducked his head, grinning in spite of himself at the enormous swell of affection he felt for Luke. How in the hell had he ended up here, entwined with this ridiculous, beautiful, big-hearted guy? Reid almost lost his breath at the overwhelming sense of relief flooding through him. He was so thankful; so God damned thankful Luke was back here with him.
“Do you think maybe,” Reid said carefully, “It’s possible you’re not just angry at your mom and dad for keeping the truth from Ethan but just possibly because they kept it from you?”
Luke swiped irritatedly at the tears on his face. He rolled his eyes and said, “No, I’m pretty sure it’s all because they didn’t tell my six year old brother that I’d been kidnapped by my psychotic birth father-oh yeah, sidebar, Ethan--Daddy isn’t Luke’s daddy.”
“Let me pass on a nugget Bob Hughes told me the other day,” Reid said magnanimously. “Just because someone loves you doesn’t mean they aren’t doing it wrong.”
Luke laughed in spite of himself. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re remembering that right,” Luke said. He picked up Reid’s hand and held it to his chest. He looked utterly exhausted. “One of the FBI agents was here earlier,” he said with a yawn.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Reid asked.
Luke glared at him. “Don’t start,” he said. “It was humiliating enough. My mom and dad were here, and they were, like, refusing to leave me alone, and the agent was trying to explain to them that they just needed to interview me about what I remembered, but that they couldn’t do it with my mom and dad there, and my mom and dad were getting all, like, incensed about it…”
“Did they leave?” Reid asked.
“Eventually,” Luke said. He looked away from Reid for a beat. “I know you said they knew Damian was in town, but I didn’t realize…”
“Didn’t realize what?”
Luke sighed, still not looking at Reid. “I didn’t realize the FBI had been in regular contact with them; that they’d wanted to talk to me from the beginning, but Mom and Dad and Grandmother had gone over their heads to make sure I was kept out of it. They must think I’m some kind of total idiot.”
Reid kissed the top of Luke’s head. “I believe I made it clear during the investigation that you were not the idiot in this story.”
“Thanks,” Luke said softly.
“Who was the FBI agent, Nick Ferretti? Did the talk go okay?”
“Yeah, that was the guy. It was okay, I don’t know.” Luke shrugged. “I really don’t remember much, but I felt like he didn’t believe me or something. The behavioral unit wants to schedule time to talk to me too, like I can tell ‘em stuff that will help them with other cases, but I don’t remember anything!” He started coughing and then struggling to catch his breath.
“You might never,” Reid said. “The drugs Damian was giving you mess with memory.” Reid studied Luke’s hand for a minute, weighing whether or not to say anything further. “You’re telling them what you remember, though, aren’t you?”
“Of course!” Luke said, with that country-boy, wide-eyed look of his.
“Luke, you and me… we tell each other stuff, right? The good and the bad. I will never, ever need protecting from anything about you. I need you to get that. To really get that. And God knows you probably deserve to be protected from a lot of shit about me, but it’s too late. You said you were in, so now you’re in.”
Luke nodded and added a watery, “Yeah.”
Reid squeezed Luke’s hand and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “All right, so we’re clear, right? You don’t think keeping quiet about shit is some half-assed way to handle whatever crap life is tossing our way?”
Luke didn’t answer for a few seconds. Reid wasn’t sure if it was emotion or pneumonia that made Luke’s breath hitch, but then it didn’t really matter. There were tears in Luke’s eyes, but his voice was strong when he answered. “No. Not anymore.”
====================================================================================
Two days later, Luke was pushing to go home, but persistent fever and inconclusive test results found him still stuck at Memorial.
Reid was increasingly worried about the test results surrounding Luke’s kidney. Neither Bob nor Luke’s nephrologist, Carl Mendoza, were convinced they should do anything other than wait and see, but Reid was not a wait and see kind of doctor under the best of circumstances-meaning any and all circumstances that didn’t involve Luke.
Bob was functioning more as a go-between for Reid and Mendoza than a consulting physician and when Reid burst into his office before Bob had even removed his suit coat, Bob sighed and let Reid rant for a good five minutes about Mendoza’s 18th Century sensibilities, his inability to see reason, his lack of initiative and courage, and, strangely, his refusal to eat processed foods.
When Reid finally took a breath, Bob said, “Reid, I can appreciate how difficult it is to sit on the patient side of the table for once, but…”
“Bob, this has nothing to do with what side of the table I’m sitting on and everything to do with Luke’s being treated by a man who can’t finish the TV Guide crossword puzzle.”
Bob sighed, eyes to heaven. “Reid…”
“It’s a very easy puzzle,” Reid said, prompting another sigh from Bob. Lest Bob try to give him any more Aw shucks, let’s just give it more time advice, Reid said, “I’m not asking permission, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’m putting in a call in to Dennis Foster to have him come down for a consult…”
Bob laughed in spite of himself. “Reid, you’re not going to get Dennis Foster to waltz on into Oakdale Memorial for a consultation…”
Reid already had his cell phone out of his pocket and was thumbing through his contacts. He cocked an eyebrow at Bob and said, “Wanna bet a parking spot on that?” The phone was ringing as Reid walked out of Bob’s office, and he paused, leaning against a wall as he waited for Foster’s voice mail message to play.
“Hey Dennis, it’s Reid,” he said after the beep. “Look, I’m about to say around 300 things that will break your what-the-fuck meter, and I swear to God, I’ll answer all of your questions eventually but for now just go with this, all right? I need a consult on my…” Reid hesitated, took a breath and plowed ahead. “Boyfriend. “ Reid knew his massive eye roll was clearly audible in his tone. “He had a kidney transplant five years ago and was recently… aw, Jesus Christ this is so stupid… he was kidnapped, drugged--it’s all so ridiculous, you can’t even begin to--well, anyway. I’m not liking any of the test results we’re getting right now, and I need you to bring a little competency to the table. His file should be sitting in your email, along with the test results we got this morning. I’ve got a private jet waiting for you at Kennedy-it’s under Walsh Worldwide… “ Reid paused again, imagining the look on Dennis’ face by this point in the message. “I know,” he said helplessly. “You’re just going with it, remember? Text me when you’re en route, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Two hours later, Reid’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the display screen and sighed in relief at the message. Wheels up in 45 min..
Thx, Reid texted back, and managed a snort of amusement at the next reply.
22?
When Reid told Luke a colleague of his was coming in to consult on his case, Luke was more curious about the doctor travelling all the way from New York than he was concerned about something going wrong with his kidney.
Reid cocked an eyebrow at Luke’s incredulity that Foster was on his way. “Are you really having trouble believing an incredibly busy, tops-in-his-field doctor would lower himself to come to Oakdale Memorial for a consultation? This is so far off your radar of conceivable events?”
Luke grinned at him. “Did you blackmail him?” he asked.
Reid snorted. “I didn’t have to.”
“How come?”
Reid laughed. “If you must know, we went to med school together. And we keep score. I’m up three consults on him, he owes me.”
Luke had a sudden epiphany. He gasped dramatically. “He’s not a colleague colleague,” He said with dawning understanding. “He’s a friend colleague! He’s your friend!”
“Sometimes you sound 12 years old,” Reid said, and damn it, if his face wasn’t heating with embarrassment.
“He’s your friend!” Luke said delightedly. “You have a friend! Aw, I’m going to meet one of your friends.”
Reid was saved by a text from the doctor in question saying he had landed and was in the limo on the way to the hospital and would it reflect poorly on Reid if he pocketed a bottle of the Macallan to enjoy later.
Reid was waiting for him in the lobby when Dennis sauntered in like a movie star walking the red carpet. “Hey, Dennis,” Reid said, as though they passed each other in the hall every day.
“Hey, Reid,” Dennis answered in kind. He offered his hand, which Reid shook. His head was cocked to the side in a universal gesture of Well?
Reid sighed deeply. “Go ahead,” he said.
Dennis nodded, glancing off to the side as if ordering his thoughts. He looked back at Reid and began with, “Boyfriend?”
Reid shrugged. “Yeah. It’s the age old story--he coerced me into coming here to operate on his tragically blinded ex; hate-hate relationship ensued, melodramatic bullshit erupted on all sides, he fell hopelessly in love with me, I grudgingly stopped trying to ditch him, happily ever after, roll credits, the end.”
Dennis rolled his eyes. It was most likely as much of an explanation as he expected, so he moved on. “Private jet?”
That was easy enough for Reid to explain. “Grandmother on his maternal side is Lucinda Walsh of Walsh Worldwide. He’s a shipping heir on his paternal side. Runs a multi-million dollar charitable foundation in his spare time. You know how I like ‘em-- rich young thing and all. Oh, and pretty. Yeah, like ‘em pretty.”
Dennis took a breath as if he was about to say something, but abandoned the thought with a helpless sigh and instead said, “Kidnapping.”
“That’s the paternal part of his paternal side. The guy was richer than fuck but completely psychotic, Luke was actually raised by another man so periodically, Bad Dad would turn back up to wreak a little havoc, and then… Yeah, kidnapping.”
Realization suddenly dawned, and Dennis gawked at him in shock. “Damian Grimaldi?”
Reid hadn’t really been keeping up with the news, but it wasn’t surprising that the story had gone national. He nodded slowly.
“Jesus,” Dennis said. He coughed a humorless laugh. “This is so fucking typical of you. Sherry says to me, ‘You heard from Reid recently?’ and I say, ‘No, but he works and sleeps, what’s to hear?’ and then come to find out you’re in the middle of some crazy ass…”
“Yeah well, I don’t update my blog as often as I’d like,” Reid said dryly. “Look, I was going to fill you in about the job change and the…Luke thing. And anyway, the medical journals were going to start profiling the neurology center eventually-word was going to get out. If nothing else, I would have sent you and the missus some signed copies of my media profiles.”
“We do like to keep the Oliver shrine as up to date as possible,” Dennis said.
They smirked at each other for a few beats, but the reason they were there couldn’t be ignored for long. The smirk slid from Dennis’ face, his eyes softening with compassion that made Reid’s throat feel blocked. “Let’s go talk,” Dennis said.
Reid pursed his lips, and his heart rate picked up as he led Dennis to a vacant conference room. Dennis struggled to begin the conversation, staring at the file in front of him with a troubled frown on his face. “How much do you know about…about Luke’s transplant?” he finally asked.
Reid stared at his hands, clasped together on his knees and nodded to himself. “Everything,” he said and brought his eyes up to stare unflinchingly at Dennis, who still looked doubtful. “Everything,” Reid repeated forcefully.
They held each others’ eyes for a long moment until Reid quietly asked. “Is it really that obvious just from the file?”
Dennis only hesitated a beat before slowly nodding. “To a nephrologist,” he said.
Any of them or just one of your caliber? Reid wanted clarified, but he didn’t ask out loud. What did it matter anyway?
Dennis motioned at the thick file he held on his lap. “It’s clear some of the tests and paperwork were forged to make the transplant look more viable than it was. It wasn’t a great match. It certainly wouldn’t have made it past the vetting process on a public registry.”
Reid nodded bleakly, feeling protective of Luke and the sordid history of the transplant, and hating the glimmer of understanding it provoked for the ludicrous decisions Luke’s family made around him.
“I’ve got to examine Luke and run some additional tests Memorial might not routinely perform, but my initial thoughts are these results don’t have anything to do with the drugs Luke was given. The toxicology show they were drugs synthesized by the liver, and the amounts aren’t enough to cause irreparable damage; certainly not to the kidney. The pneumonia under control yet?”
“Not yet,” Reid said. “Temp’s stuck at 103; can’t make heads or tails out of his white count…”
Dennis glanced at his watch and did some math. “The stress of the last two weeks alone is enough to throw off his WBC. Toss in anti-rejection meds, the additional drugs he was given, and pneumonia and the count is going to be meaningless for awhile.”
“But if kidney failure is starting, how are you going to…” Reid asked.
“It’s not. You’re not in crisis here,” Dennis said, then cocked an eyebrow at Reid’s snort of derision. “Well, not in regards to Luke’s kidney anyway.” Dennis leaned in and continued, “The issue is the kidney is going to fail sooner than later, and you need to start addressing that now so Luke is well poised to accept another transplant.”
Reid shoved up from his seat and paced a few steps back and forth in front of Dennis. “God damn it, why did I have to call you in to hear this? Why isn’t it already being addressed?” He couldn’t shake he idea that this was more of the ridiculous shielding that followed Luke wherever he went, like the whole fucking town was invested in keeping bad news from touching the golden boy, only to end up damaging him far more than if they’d just come clean from the beginning.
Dennis shook his head at Reid’s ire. “I understand why Mendoza is reluctant to change up Luke’s protocol,” he said. “We’ve got numbers that aren’t great, but he’s holding steady, so staying the course makes sense. And I’ve gotta tell you, man, he really is one of the better doctors in his field.”
“Yeah, well, a guy who can’t figure out “Blank’s Company” in the TV Guide crossword doesn’t really instill an overabundance of confidence, you know?”
Dennis just laughed. “The way I look at it, I’m not seeing the kind of steady that’s going to be sustained indefinitely, and if long-term anti-rejection isn’t in the cards anyway, we should be concentrating on meds that aren’t so taxing to the heart and liver so when the second transplant takes place, Luke is better positioned to accept it.” He sat back and gave an easy shrug. “It’s a far more aggressive approach than most doctors are comfortable with, but focusing on the second kidney is going to give Luke a much better long-term prognosis.”
“So, second kidney--what are we talking--five years from now, what?” Reid asked.
“More like two,” Dennis answered.
Reid snorted, his apparent amusement made Dennis cock his eyebrow in question. “We…joke around sometimes…” Reid said, sounding more like he was talking to himself. “Lay bets on whether the kidney will last him ‘til he’s 30. Not even gonna get close, are we?“ He shook off the reaction, took a breath and blew it out. “Do we start looking now?” he asked. “This entire backwater town was tested the first time around, like some ridiculous Save Ferris scenario. There was no match, and three-fourths of these yahoos are related to him.”
Dennis pursed his lips in thought. “If there are immediate family members eligible to donate who weren’t before-someone who’s now at least 18-I’d test them, although…” his voice trailed off, and Reid smirked as Dennis fought a smile.
“What?” Reid demanded.
Dennis shrugged. “Nothing, I just shudder to think how you’d micromanage your boyfriend’s kidney incubator if you ever found out they were a match.”
“Yeah, well, sit through a Snyder Family Dinner Fiasco-that’s trademarked, by the way--and then we’ll see where your sympathies lie. A kidney is the least they owe me for putting up with the crap around here.” Reid stood up. “All right, let’s go meet the patient, then.”
“I’m all a-tingle!” Dennis said, and gladly followed Reid out the door.
If Reid didn’t know better-and he wasn’t prepared to say that he didn’t-he would swear that the nursing team had conspired together so that when he opened the door to Luke’s room, the sun was beaming through the window at just the right angle to make it look like a heavenly light was shining down upon Luke, who was sitting up in the bed and smiling beautifully, eyes round and bright in anticipation.
“No fuckin’ way,” Dennis muttered
“Luke Snyder, Dr. Dennis Foster,” Reid said.
Luke offered his hand. “Dr. Foster, thank you so much for coming,” Luke said, as though he were welcoming the doctor to a fund raising gala. “I can’t believe you came all this way.”
“Really?” Dennis said, with a wide grin on his face. “There’s not a lot I won’t do for my buddy Reid here.” He slapped Reid on the back so hard, he almost did a face plant into Luke’s bed. Reid glared at Dennis over his shoulder.
“So you went to med school together?” Luke said, his grin matching Dennis’.
Dennis nodded, bouncing on his toes. “Yep. My wife Sherry thought she and Reid were dating the first six weeks of school, so when I asked her…”
Luke turned to Reid with a curious stare, and Reid shrugged. “She was a waitress at the student union,” he said, as if that explained the mix-up.
Luke’s understanding nod suggested it did. There wasn’t time for more of the story before Chris Hughes walked through the door, saying, “Hey, Luke, thought I’d…” He stopped short when he saw Dr. Foster and said, “Oh, good God.”
“Hey!” Dennis said, recognizing Chris. He held his hand out in greeting. “It’s Chuck, right? Dennis Foster.”
Reid snorted at Chris’ pained smile as he offered a correction. “No, it’s Chris. Hughes”
“Oh that’s right, that’s right,” Dennis said. “We called you Chuck ‘cause of Charlie Brown and the round head thing, yeah, I remember now.”
Chris heaved a great big sigh. “Two of you are so much more enjoyable than one,” he muttered. “What are you doing here? Exactly?” he asked.
“Reid asked for a consult on Luke so, you know, I hopped the old private jet and swooped on in. Like I do.”
Reid nodded along with Dennis, saying, “Why bother with a second opinion if you can’t get the doctor Time Magazine called ‘the 21st century’s answer to Dr. Joseph E. Murray.’”
“Thank you,” Dennis said with exaggerated appreciation. “That means a lot coming from the man The New England Journal of Medicine dubbed ‘the most successful neurosurgeon modern medicine has ever produced.’”
“Thank you,” Reid said.
Chris sighed. “I’ll come back later,” he said to Luke and beat a hasty retreat out the door.
Dennis sniffed loudly and said to Reid in a weepy voice, “I’ve just missed you so much!”
====================================================================================
Reid had an uncomfortable feeling as he quietly sat by and watched Dennis lay out Luke’s condition and his recommended treatment that maybe he was going overboard the other direction trying to keep Luke informed about what was going on. Maybe he was subconsciously punishing Luke for his family’s stupidity for shoving down his throat more information than he really needed to know.
Luke had grown steadily more quiet and more still as Dennis spoke and when Dennis finished up and asked if Luke had any questions he had dazedly shook his head.
After Dennis left to introduce himself to the nephrology department, Luke looked at Reid, all doe-eyed anime, and took a deep breath, but before he got a word out, Reid said tersely, “If you say the words I’m sorry to me any time in the next 50 years, they’d better be followed by the words, I ate the last piece of cake; I erased the Red Sox game--again because I willfully refuse to learn how to use the DVR; or your cock’s not in my mouth.”
Luke didn’t lose the doe-eyed look, just added more of that mushy-faced adoration thing he did. “Those are really the only three things I’m allowed to apologize for?”
“Think of them as categories,” Reid answered. “And not one of those categories has anything to do with kidney function, so I’d better not hear an I’m sorry, all right?”
Luke nodded. He licked at the corner of his lip and said, “I don’t want to tell my family right now.” He winced, adding hurriedly. “I just don’t… don’t trust that they won’t do something… you know…” Luke lowered his voice, whispering, “Like last time.”
Reid shrugged, sure the look on his face asked why Luke would feel badly about that. “So don’t tell ‘em,” he said.
Luke looked surprised. “But you and I promised all that stuff about not protecting each other and everything.”
“That’s about you and me,” Reid said. “I don’t care what you tell or don’t tell them.”
“You don’t think it makes me like them if I don’t…”
“You’re nothing like them,” Reid said before Luke could finish the thought. “They’ll be clued in when they’re clued in which is more than they deserve.”
Luke grinned and let it go. “I like your friend,” he said cloyingly.
“This is where I tell you to shut up and then leave to continue my important medical practice.”
“But I want to hear all about the wacky hijinx when you were dating a girl.”
“Shut up,” Reid said, but couldn’t help grinning at Luke’s hearty laugh. Luke reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling Reid close for a hug.
“I’ll stop,” Luke promised. “I’m sure it’s still a very, very open wound for you.” He squeaked when Reid poked him, but didn’t start hacking all over the place, so maybe the pneumonia was finally on its way out.
Reid let Luke hold on for a few minutes, figuring he was about ready for a nap anyway. “Reid?” Luke sounded half-asleep, and Reid smiled at the soft press of smooth lips against his neck.
“Yeah?”
Luke sighed, and for a minute, Reid thought he had fallen asleep, then he said sweetly, “I’m sorry your cock’s not in my mouth.”
Reid chuffed a laugh and pressed his own kiss to the top of Luke’s head. He hugged Luke tightly to his chest, and with more sincerity than anyone else on the planet would think him capable, said, “Me too.”
====================================================================================
Another two days later and Luke’s temperature was finally below a hundred and he’d been cleared for release from the hospital.
Dennis had extended his stay until the end of the week so he could study the full battery of tests they’d run on Luke’s kidney and design a new anti-rejection protocol.
Reid should not have been surprised, but he was when he opened the door to Luke’s room and found Dennis sitting in a chair, feet up on Luke’s bed, eating a salad from the cafeteria.
Reid cast his eyes skyward for a beat, shaking his head at the absurdity. He had no doubt that in the entire history of his medical career, Dennis Foster had cozied up at a patient’s bedside for a friendly little lunch exactly one time.
“I can’t believe Reid gave you the Oakdale grand tour!” Luke was saying. “I’m shocked he even knows where the lake is!”
Dennis laughed. “I’m training for the Panama City Ironman in November. He was showing me the Oakdale Triathlon course.”
“I’m shocked he knew that!” Luke said. “Have you ever done an Ironman before?”
“Done lots of triathlons,” Dennis said. “I did the Lake Placid Ironman two years ago. Missed qualifying for the Hawaiian Iron Man by four and half seconds, and now I’m screwed, ‘cause I won’t age up again for another two years. The training keeps me out of trouble, though.”
“Hey, you must know who Ron Weaver is, right?”
“Ron Weaver, one of the top five Iron Men of the last ten years?” Dennis clarified. “Yeah, I know who he is.”
“My friend Adam trains with him. You’re here through the end of the week, right? Why don’t I see if I can set you up with them for their next practice? As a thank you for coming out here.”
Dennis gaped at Luke in astonished delight.
That’s it, Reid silently encouraged. Reel him in nice and slow. He won’t even know what hit him.
“Luke, that would be incredible!” Dennis said. “Are you sure? Believe me, the grants from the foundation are more thanks than you should even think about…”
"That’s professional courtesy,” Luke said dismissively. “This is personal.”
Reid pushed the door open the rest of the way and smirked at Dennis, nodding toward his relaxed sprawl. “Et tu?” Reid asked with mock weariness.
Dennis gave a good-natured shrug. “What? It’s not my fault he’s as dreamy as everyone says.”
Reid cocked a curious brow at him. “You send Sherry a picture of that house?” he asked.
“She refused to believe it. I had to send her the link to the real estate site, and she still doesn’t think it’s real. That place would go for two and a half mill at least in New York and it’s listed at 320 here. Unbelievable.”
“What?” Luke asked.
“I showed him that six bedroom, four bath house over on Parsons,” Reid said. At the curious tilt of Luke’s head, Reid shrugged. “Just thought he’d be interested. He and Sherry have a tribe of rugrats. Six bedrooms is porn to him.”
“Four,” Dennis said to Luke. “We have four kids. That’s hardly a tribe.”
“I’m one of six,” Luke said, glaring at Reid in offense that Reid easily shrugged away.
“Yeah, but they’re all half-siblings,” Reid said. “So it’s really like there’s only three in total.”
Luke gave an exasperated shake of his head. “Am I sprung?” he asked.
Reid nodded. “You’re sprung-ish,” he said. “Carmen is bringing a boatload of forms for you to sign, then whichever aide won the Wheel-Luke-Snyder-Out-The-Door lottery will be here to fulfill their lifelong dream. I’m going to go bring the car around.”
Luke offered a smirk and a very unkind gesture as Reid shoved Dennis out the door.
“Three twenty for six bedrooms,” Dennis said, shaking his head in a way that suggested it really was porn to him. He shook the thought from his brain and clapped Reid on the back. “So, I figure Luke’s discharged today, by Saturday he oughta be good for dinner out, right? Sherry’ll be here Friday, you pick the restaurant for Saturday, and I’ll act like I’m going to pick up the tab.”
“Really?” Reid said. And even though he was pretty sure Dennis was flying Sherry in to show her the six bedroom, four bath house over on Parsons and the scenic Oakdale park, and also Oakdale Memorial Hospital, and the Elm Street Elementary School that was part of what had been named one of the top five school districts in the Midwest, Reid said, “You’re flying your wife in to gawk at my partner five days after he’s released from the hospital following a traumatic kidnapping that ended with…”
Dennis shrugged, as though the fault was hardly his. “The kids go back to school in two weeks-this is the only weekend that works for us. And you’ve gotta admit, Sher needs to see this in person.”
“I do not have to admit that,” Reid said.
“Yeah you do,” Dennis said.
“I don’t,” Reid insisted.
“Yeah you do,” Dennis said. “We’ll bring Chuck.”
Reid had to put his foot down at that. “I’m not spending an evening with Doogie if I don’t have to.”
“Come on, Sherry has a million ways to make Katie keep saying she and Chuck are just friends. It’ll make him all twitchy.”
Reid quickly relented. “Okay, that does sound fun,” Reid said. “Count us in.”
“You know, it’s funny,” Dennis said conversationally. He pushed the button for the elevator. “Not that Sher and I spend an undue amount of time picturing who you might end up with or anything, but we always figured on more of a Satan’s minion kind of guy.”
Reid nodded, accepting the barb with a smirk.
“Which begs the question,” Dennis continued. “What exactly did you hold over his head to get someone like Luke to even go out with you?”
Reid sputtered in stunned disbelief. “That little shithead blackmailed me into coming to this town that sanity forgot, thank you very much!” he said. “And then spent every waking moment worming his way into my life! He’s as eligible for sainthood as…” Reid paused and cast about for someone ideally unsuited for sainthood.
“You?” Dennis suggested sweetly.
“Even less so,” Reid said pointedly. “At least I don’t hide my terrible true self behind some fake chorus of angels everywhere I go.”
Dennis rolled his eyes. “Yeah, ‘cause it would really suck if you were more pleasant and shit.”
Reid glared, but it didn’t have any effect on Dennis. He gave it up with a shrug and gazed at the tips of his toes, a sheepish look creeping over his face. “He’ll pay everything you send to the Foundation without question,” Reid finally said. He met Dennis’ amused expression head on. “Don’t abuse it.”
Dennis didn’t say anything, but when the elevator arrived at their floor he was giggling to himself.
“Shut up,” Reid muttered, and shoved him into the elevator.
Reid pretended not to hear the belly laugh as the doors slid shut, even though it lasted all the way down to the ground floor.
#
Author: Myrna1_2_3
Fandom: As the World Turns
Characters/Pairings: Luke/Reid
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The Damian-Kidnapping Aftermath Caper.
Disclaimer: Not-not-mine
Author’s Notes: The aftermath of Damian kidnapping Luke as he does from time to time. This story stands alone in its own universe.
Reid had only meant to leave Luke for an hour or two, but the ability to practice medicine without the black cloud of desperation was more intoxicating than Reid imagined. He was shocked to glance at his watch and realize he’d been on the floor for almost four hours. He figured Luke would have texted him if he needed anything, but he still headed over to the fourth floor to check on him.
Reid heard Luke shouting the minute the door to the elevator opened, and he took off for Luke’s room at a dead run. He barreled into the room to find Luke lunging at Lily who was white-faced with shock at his reaction.
Luke’s face was beet red, and he was screaming at Lily, “Don’t lie to him! Don’t lie! How could you do that? How can you be so stupid?”
Reid grabbed Luke, afraid he was going to try to get out of bed and rip the IV’s from his arm. He held him tight, hand to the back of Luke’s head and if it reminded them both of the night Damian was killed, Reid didn’t give a damn. “Lily, go home!” Reid said, only because it sounded slightly better than Get out.
There were tears streaming down Lily’s cheeks. “No!” she cried. “I’m not leaving until Luke understands…”
“You’re leaving now!” Reid said fiercely. “Go. Home.”
Luke started coughing and then choking which set off alarms on two of the monitors, causing two nurses to join the fray. Lily must have slipped out because by the time the alarms were reset, the nurses sent away, and Luke breathing easier, they were alone.
“What happened?” Reid asked.
“I just…lost it,” Luke said. “I don’t understand…how could I…Oh God, what’s wrong with me…” He started coughing so hard, Reid grabbed an emesis bowl, but Luke shoved it away.
“Coughing up a lung isn’t going to help the situation,” Reid said. “Calm down.”
“God, what’s wrong with me?” Luke moaned.
“You’re going to be all over the place for awhile,” Reid told him. “Between withdrawal from the drugs you were given and the trauma, you get a free pass on your reaction to shit, okay?”
“No, I have to call her,” Luke said hoarsely. “God, I’m awful. She’s been worried out of her mind, and I go and scream at her for trying to protect Ethan from all this garbage…”
“Tell me what happened,” Reid said gently.
“My mom said she and dad told Ethan that I was on a trip, and, I don’t know, I just… freaked and started screaming at her.” Luke gave Reid an incredulous stare. “He’ll find out anyway,” he said. “Kids at school or someone’s parents will ask how I’m doing. He’ll figure parts of it out anyway and then the other parts he’ll try to fill in and… and he’ll figure out everyone else knows the whole story and he’s some… some idiot walking around not even knowing what’s happening in his own… his own stupid life!”
Reid ducked his head, grinning in spite of himself at the enormous swell of affection he felt for Luke. How in the hell had he ended up here, entwined with this ridiculous, beautiful, big-hearted guy? Reid almost lost his breath at the overwhelming sense of relief flooding through him. He was so thankful; so God damned thankful Luke was back here with him.
“Do you think maybe,” Reid said carefully, “It’s possible you’re not just angry at your mom and dad for keeping the truth from Ethan but just possibly because they kept it from you?”
Luke swiped irritatedly at the tears on his face. He rolled his eyes and said, “No, I’m pretty sure it’s all because they didn’t tell my six year old brother that I’d been kidnapped by my psychotic birth father-oh yeah, sidebar, Ethan--Daddy isn’t Luke’s daddy.”
“Let me pass on a nugget Bob Hughes told me the other day,” Reid said magnanimously. “Just because someone loves you doesn’t mean they aren’t doing it wrong.”
Luke laughed in spite of himself. “Somehow, I don’t think you’re remembering that right,” Luke said. He picked up Reid’s hand and held it to his chest. He looked utterly exhausted. “One of the FBI agents was here earlier,” he said with a yawn.
“Why didn’t you call me?” Reid asked.
Luke glared at him. “Don’t start,” he said. “It was humiliating enough. My mom and dad were here, and they were, like, refusing to leave me alone, and the agent was trying to explain to them that they just needed to interview me about what I remembered, but that they couldn’t do it with my mom and dad there, and my mom and dad were getting all, like, incensed about it…”
“Did they leave?” Reid asked.
“Eventually,” Luke said. He looked away from Reid for a beat. “I know you said they knew Damian was in town, but I didn’t realize…”
“Didn’t realize what?”
Luke sighed, still not looking at Reid. “I didn’t realize the FBI had been in regular contact with them; that they’d wanted to talk to me from the beginning, but Mom and Dad and Grandmother had gone over their heads to make sure I was kept out of it. They must think I’m some kind of total idiot.”
Reid kissed the top of Luke’s head. “I believe I made it clear during the investigation that you were not the idiot in this story.”
“Thanks,” Luke said softly.
“Who was the FBI agent, Nick Ferretti? Did the talk go okay?”
“Yeah, that was the guy. It was okay, I don’t know.” Luke shrugged. “I really don’t remember much, but I felt like he didn’t believe me or something. The behavioral unit wants to schedule time to talk to me too, like I can tell ‘em stuff that will help them with other cases, but I don’t remember anything!” He started coughing and then struggling to catch his breath.
“You might never,” Reid said. “The drugs Damian was giving you mess with memory.” Reid studied Luke’s hand for a minute, weighing whether or not to say anything further. “You’re telling them what you remember, though, aren’t you?”
“Of course!” Luke said, with that country-boy, wide-eyed look of his.
“Luke, you and me… we tell each other stuff, right? The good and the bad. I will never, ever need protecting from anything about you. I need you to get that. To really get that. And God knows you probably deserve to be protected from a lot of shit about me, but it’s too late. You said you were in, so now you’re in.”
Luke nodded and added a watery, “Yeah.”
Reid squeezed Luke’s hand and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “All right, so we’re clear, right? You don’t think keeping quiet about shit is some half-assed way to handle whatever crap life is tossing our way?”
Luke didn’t answer for a few seconds. Reid wasn’t sure if it was emotion or pneumonia that made Luke’s breath hitch, but then it didn’t really matter. There were tears in Luke’s eyes, but his voice was strong when he answered. “No. Not anymore.”
====================================================================================
Two days later, Luke was pushing to go home, but persistent fever and inconclusive test results found him still stuck at Memorial.
Reid was increasingly worried about the test results surrounding Luke’s kidney. Neither Bob nor Luke’s nephrologist, Carl Mendoza, were convinced they should do anything other than wait and see, but Reid was not a wait and see kind of doctor under the best of circumstances-meaning any and all circumstances that didn’t involve Luke.
Bob was functioning more as a go-between for Reid and Mendoza than a consulting physician and when Reid burst into his office before Bob had even removed his suit coat, Bob sighed and let Reid rant for a good five minutes about Mendoza’s 18th Century sensibilities, his inability to see reason, his lack of initiative and courage, and, strangely, his refusal to eat processed foods.
When Reid finally took a breath, Bob said, “Reid, I can appreciate how difficult it is to sit on the patient side of the table for once, but…”
“Bob, this has nothing to do with what side of the table I’m sitting on and everything to do with Luke’s being treated by a man who can’t finish the TV Guide crossword puzzle.”
Bob sighed, eyes to heaven. “Reid…”
“It’s a very easy puzzle,” Reid said, prompting another sigh from Bob. Lest Bob try to give him any more Aw shucks, let’s just give it more time advice, Reid said, “I’m not asking permission, I just wanted to give you a heads up. I’m putting in a call in to Dennis Foster to have him come down for a consult…”
Bob laughed in spite of himself. “Reid, you’re not going to get Dennis Foster to waltz on into Oakdale Memorial for a consultation…”
Reid already had his cell phone out of his pocket and was thumbing through his contacts. He cocked an eyebrow at Bob and said, “Wanna bet a parking spot on that?” The phone was ringing as Reid walked out of Bob’s office, and he paused, leaning against a wall as he waited for Foster’s voice mail message to play.
“Hey Dennis, it’s Reid,” he said after the beep. “Look, I’m about to say around 300 things that will break your what-the-fuck meter, and I swear to God, I’ll answer all of your questions eventually but for now just go with this, all right? I need a consult on my…” Reid hesitated, took a breath and plowed ahead. “Boyfriend. “ Reid knew his massive eye roll was clearly audible in his tone. “He had a kidney transplant five years ago and was recently… aw, Jesus Christ this is so stupid… he was kidnapped, drugged--it’s all so ridiculous, you can’t even begin to--well, anyway. I’m not liking any of the test results we’re getting right now, and I need you to bring a little competency to the table. His file should be sitting in your email, along with the test results we got this morning. I’ve got a private jet waiting for you at Kennedy-it’s under Walsh Worldwide… “ Reid paused again, imagining the look on Dennis’ face by this point in the message. “I know,” he said helplessly. “You’re just going with it, remember? Text me when you’re en route, and I’ll talk to you later.”
Two hours later, Reid’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the display screen and sighed in relief at the message. Wheels up in 45 min..
Thx, Reid texted back, and managed a snort of amusement at the next reply.
22?
When Reid told Luke a colleague of his was coming in to consult on his case, Luke was more curious about the doctor travelling all the way from New York than he was concerned about something going wrong with his kidney.
Reid cocked an eyebrow at Luke’s incredulity that Foster was on his way. “Are you really having trouble believing an incredibly busy, tops-in-his-field doctor would lower himself to come to Oakdale Memorial for a consultation? This is so far off your radar of conceivable events?”
Luke grinned at him. “Did you blackmail him?” he asked.
Reid snorted. “I didn’t have to.”
“How come?”
Reid laughed. “If you must know, we went to med school together. And we keep score. I’m up three consults on him, he owes me.”
Luke had a sudden epiphany. He gasped dramatically. “He’s not a colleague colleague,” He said with dawning understanding. “He’s a friend colleague! He’s your friend!”
“Sometimes you sound 12 years old,” Reid said, and damn it, if his face wasn’t heating with embarrassment.
“He’s your friend!” Luke said delightedly. “You have a friend! Aw, I’m going to meet one of your friends.”
Reid was saved by a text from the doctor in question saying he had landed and was in the limo on the way to the hospital and would it reflect poorly on Reid if he pocketed a bottle of the Macallan to enjoy later.
Reid was waiting for him in the lobby when Dennis sauntered in like a movie star walking the red carpet. “Hey, Dennis,” Reid said, as though they passed each other in the hall every day.
“Hey, Reid,” Dennis answered in kind. He offered his hand, which Reid shook. His head was cocked to the side in a universal gesture of Well?
Reid sighed deeply. “Go ahead,” he said.
Dennis nodded, glancing off to the side as if ordering his thoughts. He looked back at Reid and began with, “Boyfriend?”
Reid shrugged. “Yeah. It’s the age old story--he coerced me into coming here to operate on his tragically blinded ex; hate-hate relationship ensued, melodramatic bullshit erupted on all sides, he fell hopelessly in love with me, I grudgingly stopped trying to ditch him, happily ever after, roll credits, the end.”
Dennis rolled his eyes. It was most likely as much of an explanation as he expected, so he moved on. “Private jet?”
That was easy enough for Reid to explain. “Grandmother on his maternal side is Lucinda Walsh of Walsh Worldwide. He’s a shipping heir on his paternal side. Runs a multi-million dollar charitable foundation in his spare time. You know how I like ‘em-- rich young thing and all. Oh, and pretty. Yeah, like ‘em pretty.”
Dennis took a breath as if he was about to say something, but abandoned the thought with a helpless sigh and instead said, “Kidnapping.”
“That’s the paternal part of his paternal side. The guy was richer than fuck but completely psychotic, Luke was actually raised by another man so periodically, Bad Dad would turn back up to wreak a little havoc, and then… Yeah, kidnapping.”
Realization suddenly dawned, and Dennis gawked at him in shock. “Damian Grimaldi?”
Reid hadn’t really been keeping up with the news, but it wasn’t surprising that the story had gone national. He nodded slowly.
“Jesus,” Dennis said. He coughed a humorless laugh. “This is so fucking typical of you. Sherry says to me, ‘You heard from Reid recently?’ and I say, ‘No, but he works and sleeps, what’s to hear?’ and then come to find out you’re in the middle of some crazy ass…”
“Yeah well, I don’t update my blog as often as I’d like,” Reid said dryly. “Look, I was going to fill you in about the job change and the…Luke thing. And anyway, the medical journals were going to start profiling the neurology center eventually-word was going to get out. If nothing else, I would have sent you and the missus some signed copies of my media profiles.”
“We do like to keep the Oliver shrine as up to date as possible,” Dennis said.
They smirked at each other for a few beats, but the reason they were there couldn’t be ignored for long. The smirk slid from Dennis’ face, his eyes softening with compassion that made Reid’s throat feel blocked. “Let’s go talk,” Dennis said.
Reid pursed his lips, and his heart rate picked up as he led Dennis to a vacant conference room. Dennis struggled to begin the conversation, staring at the file in front of him with a troubled frown on his face. “How much do you know about…about Luke’s transplant?” he finally asked.
Reid stared at his hands, clasped together on his knees and nodded to himself. “Everything,” he said and brought his eyes up to stare unflinchingly at Dennis, who still looked doubtful. “Everything,” Reid repeated forcefully.
They held each others’ eyes for a long moment until Reid quietly asked. “Is it really that obvious just from the file?”
Dennis only hesitated a beat before slowly nodding. “To a nephrologist,” he said.
Any of them or just one of your caliber? Reid wanted clarified, but he didn’t ask out loud. What did it matter anyway?
Dennis motioned at the thick file he held on his lap. “It’s clear some of the tests and paperwork were forged to make the transplant look more viable than it was. It wasn’t a great match. It certainly wouldn’t have made it past the vetting process on a public registry.”
Reid nodded bleakly, feeling protective of Luke and the sordid history of the transplant, and hating the glimmer of understanding it provoked for the ludicrous decisions Luke’s family made around him.
“I’ve got to examine Luke and run some additional tests Memorial might not routinely perform, but my initial thoughts are these results don’t have anything to do with the drugs Luke was given. The toxicology show they were drugs synthesized by the liver, and the amounts aren’t enough to cause irreparable damage; certainly not to the kidney. The pneumonia under control yet?”
“Not yet,” Reid said. “Temp’s stuck at 103; can’t make heads or tails out of his white count…”
Dennis glanced at his watch and did some math. “The stress of the last two weeks alone is enough to throw off his WBC. Toss in anti-rejection meds, the additional drugs he was given, and pneumonia and the count is going to be meaningless for awhile.”
“But if kidney failure is starting, how are you going to…” Reid asked.
“It’s not. You’re not in crisis here,” Dennis said, then cocked an eyebrow at Reid’s snort of derision. “Well, not in regards to Luke’s kidney anyway.” Dennis leaned in and continued, “The issue is the kidney is going to fail sooner than later, and you need to start addressing that now so Luke is well poised to accept another transplant.”
Reid shoved up from his seat and paced a few steps back and forth in front of Dennis. “God damn it, why did I have to call you in to hear this? Why isn’t it already being addressed?” He couldn’t shake he idea that this was more of the ridiculous shielding that followed Luke wherever he went, like the whole fucking town was invested in keeping bad news from touching the golden boy, only to end up damaging him far more than if they’d just come clean from the beginning.
Dennis shook his head at Reid’s ire. “I understand why Mendoza is reluctant to change up Luke’s protocol,” he said. “We’ve got numbers that aren’t great, but he’s holding steady, so staying the course makes sense. And I’ve gotta tell you, man, he really is one of the better doctors in his field.”
“Yeah, well, a guy who can’t figure out “Blank’s Company” in the TV Guide crossword doesn’t really instill an overabundance of confidence, you know?”
Dennis just laughed. “The way I look at it, I’m not seeing the kind of steady that’s going to be sustained indefinitely, and if long-term anti-rejection isn’t in the cards anyway, we should be concentrating on meds that aren’t so taxing to the heart and liver so when the second transplant takes place, Luke is better positioned to accept it.” He sat back and gave an easy shrug. “It’s a far more aggressive approach than most doctors are comfortable with, but focusing on the second kidney is going to give Luke a much better long-term prognosis.”
“So, second kidney--what are we talking--five years from now, what?” Reid asked.
“More like two,” Dennis answered.
Reid snorted, his apparent amusement made Dennis cock his eyebrow in question. “We…joke around sometimes…” Reid said, sounding more like he was talking to himself. “Lay bets on whether the kidney will last him ‘til he’s 30. Not even gonna get close, are we?“ He shook off the reaction, took a breath and blew it out. “Do we start looking now?” he asked. “This entire backwater town was tested the first time around, like some ridiculous Save Ferris scenario. There was no match, and three-fourths of these yahoos are related to him.”
Dennis pursed his lips in thought. “If there are immediate family members eligible to donate who weren’t before-someone who’s now at least 18-I’d test them, although…” his voice trailed off, and Reid smirked as Dennis fought a smile.
“What?” Reid demanded.
Dennis shrugged. “Nothing, I just shudder to think how you’d micromanage your boyfriend’s kidney incubator if you ever found out they were a match.”
“Yeah, well, sit through a Snyder Family Dinner Fiasco-that’s trademarked, by the way--and then we’ll see where your sympathies lie. A kidney is the least they owe me for putting up with the crap around here.” Reid stood up. “All right, let’s go meet the patient, then.”
“I’m all a-tingle!” Dennis said, and gladly followed Reid out the door.
If Reid didn’t know better-and he wasn’t prepared to say that he didn’t-he would swear that the nursing team had conspired together so that when he opened the door to Luke’s room, the sun was beaming through the window at just the right angle to make it look like a heavenly light was shining down upon Luke, who was sitting up in the bed and smiling beautifully, eyes round and bright in anticipation.
“No fuckin’ way,” Dennis muttered
“Luke Snyder, Dr. Dennis Foster,” Reid said.
Luke offered his hand. “Dr. Foster, thank you so much for coming,” Luke said, as though he were welcoming the doctor to a fund raising gala. “I can’t believe you came all this way.”
“Really?” Dennis said, with a wide grin on his face. “There’s not a lot I won’t do for my buddy Reid here.” He slapped Reid on the back so hard, he almost did a face plant into Luke’s bed. Reid glared at Dennis over his shoulder.
“So you went to med school together?” Luke said, his grin matching Dennis’.
Dennis nodded, bouncing on his toes. “Yep. My wife Sherry thought she and Reid were dating the first six weeks of school, so when I asked her…”
Luke turned to Reid with a curious stare, and Reid shrugged. “She was a waitress at the student union,” he said, as if that explained the mix-up.
Luke’s understanding nod suggested it did. There wasn’t time for more of the story before Chris Hughes walked through the door, saying, “Hey, Luke, thought I’d…” He stopped short when he saw Dr. Foster and said, “Oh, good God.”
“Hey!” Dennis said, recognizing Chris. He held his hand out in greeting. “It’s Chuck, right? Dennis Foster.”
Reid snorted at Chris’ pained smile as he offered a correction. “No, it’s Chris. Hughes”
“Oh that’s right, that’s right,” Dennis said. “We called you Chuck ‘cause of Charlie Brown and the round head thing, yeah, I remember now.”
Chris heaved a great big sigh. “Two of you are so much more enjoyable than one,” he muttered. “What are you doing here? Exactly?” he asked.
“Reid asked for a consult on Luke so, you know, I hopped the old private jet and swooped on in. Like I do.”
Reid nodded along with Dennis, saying, “Why bother with a second opinion if you can’t get the doctor Time Magazine called ‘the 21st century’s answer to Dr. Joseph E. Murray.’”
“Thank you,” Dennis said with exaggerated appreciation. “That means a lot coming from the man The New England Journal of Medicine dubbed ‘the most successful neurosurgeon modern medicine has ever produced.’”
“Thank you,” Reid said.
Chris sighed. “I’ll come back later,” he said to Luke and beat a hasty retreat out the door.
Dennis sniffed loudly and said to Reid in a weepy voice, “I’ve just missed you so much!”
====================================================================================
Reid had an uncomfortable feeling as he quietly sat by and watched Dennis lay out Luke’s condition and his recommended treatment that maybe he was going overboard the other direction trying to keep Luke informed about what was going on. Maybe he was subconsciously punishing Luke for his family’s stupidity for shoving down his throat more information than he really needed to know.
Luke had grown steadily more quiet and more still as Dennis spoke and when Dennis finished up and asked if Luke had any questions he had dazedly shook his head.
After Dennis left to introduce himself to the nephrology department, Luke looked at Reid, all doe-eyed anime, and took a deep breath, but before he got a word out, Reid said tersely, “If you say the words I’m sorry to me any time in the next 50 years, they’d better be followed by the words, I ate the last piece of cake; I erased the Red Sox game--again because I willfully refuse to learn how to use the DVR; or your cock’s not in my mouth.”
Luke didn’t lose the doe-eyed look, just added more of that mushy-faced adoration thing he did. “Those are really the only three things I’m allowed to apologize for?”
“Think of them as categories,” Reid answered. “And not one of those categories has anything to do with kidney function, so I’d better not hear an I’m sorry, all right?”
Luke nodded. He licked at the corner of his lip and said, “I don’t want to tell my family right now.” He winced, adding hurriedly. “I just don’t… don’t trust that they won’t do something… you know…” Luke lowered his voice, whispering, “Like last time.”
Reid shrugged, sure the look on his face asked why Luke would feel badly about that. “So don’t tell ‘em,” he said.
Luke looked surprised. “But you and I promised all that stuff about not protecting each other and everything.”
“That’s about you and me,” Reid said. “I don’t care what you tell or don’t tell them.”
“You don’t think it makes me like them if I don’t…”
“You’re nothing like them,” Reid said before Luke could finish the thought. “They’ll be clued in when they’re clued in which is more than they deserve.”
Luke grinned and let it go. “I like your friend,” he said cloyingly.
“This is where I tell you to shut up and then leave to continue my important medical practice.”
“But I want to hear all about the wacky hijinx when you were dating a girl.”
“Shut up,” Reid said, but couldn’t help grinning at Luke’s hearty laugh. Luke reached out and grabbed his wrist, pulling Reid close for a hug.
“I’ll stop,” Luke promised. “I’m sure it’s still a very, very open wound for you.” He squeaked when Reid poked him, but didn’t start hacking all over the place, so maybe the pneumonia was finally on its way out.
Reid let Luke hold on for a few minutes, figuring he was about ready for a nap anyway. “Reid?” Luke sounded half-asleep, and Reid smiled at the soft press of smooth lips against his neck.
“Yeah?”
Luke sighed, and for a minute, Reid thought he had fallen asleep, then he said sweetly, “I’m sorry your cock’s not in my mouth.”
Reid chuffed a laugh and pressed his own kiss to the top of Luke’s head. He hugged Luke tightly to his chest, and with more sincerity than anyone else on the planet would think him capable, said, “Me too.”
====================================================================================
Another two days later and Luke’s temperature was finally below a hundred and he’d been cleared for release from the hospital.
Dennis had extended his stay until the end of the week so he could study the full battery of tests they’d run on Luke’s kidney and design a new anti-rejection protocol.
Reid should not have been surprised, but he was when he opened the door to Luke’s room and found Dennis sitting in a chair, feet up on Luke’s bed, eating a salad from the cafeteria.
Reid cast his eyes skyward for a beat, shaking his head at the absurdity. He had no doubt that in the entire history of his medical career, Dennis Foster had cozied up at a patient’s bedside for a friendly little lunch exactly one time.
“I can’t believe Reid gave you the Oakdale grand tour!” Luke was saying. “I’m shocked he even knows where the lake is!”
Dennis laughed. “I’m training for the Panama City Ironman in November. He was showing me the Oakdale Triathlon course.”
“I’m shocked he knew that!” Luke said. “Have you ever done an Ironman before?”
“Done lots of triathlons,” Dennis said. “I did the Lake Placid Ironman two years ago. Missed qualifying for the Hawaiian Iron Man by four and half seconds, and now I’m screwed, ‘cause I won’t age up again for another two years. The training keeps me out of trouble, though.”
“Hey, you must know who Ron Weaver is, right?”
“Ron Weaver, one of the top five Iron Men of the last ten years?” Dennis clarified. “Yeah, I know who he is.”
“My friend Adam trains with him. You’re here through the end of the week, right? Why don’t I see if I can set you up with them for their next practice? As a thank you for coming out here.”
Dennis gaped at Luke in astonished delight.
That’s it, Reid silently encouraged. Reel him in nice and slow. He won’t even know what hit him.
“Luke, that would be incredible!” Dennis said. “Are you sure? Believe me, the grants from the foundation are more thanks than you should even think about…”
"That’s professional courtesy,” Luke said dismissively. “This is personal.”
Reid pushed the door open the rest of the way and smirked at Dennis, nodding toward his relaxed sprawl. “Et tu?” Reid asked with mock weariness.
Dennis gave a good-natured shrug. “What? It’s not my fault he’s as dreamy as everyone says.”
Reid cocked a curious brow at him. “You send Sherry a picture of that house?” he asked.
“She refused to believe it. I had to send her the link to the real estate site, and she still doesn’t think it’s real. That place would go for two and a half mill at least in New York and it’s listed at 320 here. Unbelievable.”
“What?” Luke asked.
“I showed him that six bedroom, four bath house over on Parsons,” Reid said. At the curious tilt of Luke’s head, Reid shrugged. “Just thought he’d be interested. He and Sherry have a tribe of rugrats. Six bedrooms is porn to him.”
“Four,” Dennis said to Luke. “We have four kids. That’s hardly a tribe.”
“I’m one of six,” Luke said, glaring at Reid in offense that Reid easily shrugged away.
“Yeah, but they’re all half-siblings,” Reid said. “So it’s really like there’s only three in total.”
Luke gave an exasperated shake of his head. “Am I sprung?” he asked.
Reid nodded. “You’re sprung-ish,” he said. “Carmen is bringing a boatload of forms for you to sign, then whichever aide won the Wheel-Luke-Snyder-Out-The-Door lottery will be here to fulfill their lifelong dream. I’m going to go bring the car around.”
Luke offered a smirk and a very unkind gesture as Reid shoved Dennis out the door.
“Three twenty for six bedrooms,” Dennis said, shaking his head in a way that suggested it really was porn to him. He shook the thought from his brain and clapped Reid on the back. “So, I figure Luke’s discharged today, by Saturday he oughta be good for dinner out, right? Sherry’ll be here Friday, you pick the restaurant for Saturday, and I’ll act like I’m going to pick up the tab.”
“Really?” Reid said. And even though he was pretty sure Dennis was flying Sherry in to show her the six bedroom, four bath house over on Parsons and the scenic Oakdale park, and also Oakdale Memorial Hospital, and the Elm Street Elementary School that was part of what had been named one of the top five school districts in the Midwest, Reid said, “You’re flying your wife in to gawk at my partner five days after he’s released from the hospital following a traumatic kidnapping that ended with…”
Dennis shrugged, as though the fault was hardly his. “The kids go back to school in two weeks-this is the only weekend that works for us. And you’ve gotta admit, Sher needs to see this in person.”
“I do not have to admit that,” Reid said.
“Yeah you do,” Dennis said.
“I don’t,” Reid insisted.
“Yeah you do,” Dennis said. “We’ll bring Chuck.”
Reid had to put his foot down at that. “I’m not spending an evening with Doogie if I don’t have to.”
“Come on, Sherry has a million ways to make Katie keep saying she and Chuck are just friends. It’ll make him all twitchy.”
Reid quickly relented. “Okay, that does sound fun,” Reid said. “Count us in.”
“You know, it’s funny,” Dennis said conversationally. He pushed the button for the elevator. “Not that Sher and I spend an undue amount of time picturing who you might end up with or anything, but we always figured on more of a Satan’s minion kind of guy.”
Reid nodded, accepting the barb with a smirk.
“Which begs the question,” Dennis continued. “What exactly did you hold over his head to get someone like Luke to even go out with you?”
Reid sputtered in stunned disbelief. “That little shithead blackmailed me into coming to this town that sanity forgot, thank you very much!” he said. “And then spent every waking moment worming his way into my life! He’s as eligible for sainthood as…” Reid paused and cast about for someone ideally unsuited for sainthood.
“You?” Dennis suggested sweetly.
“Even less so,” Reid said pointedly. “At least I don’t hide my terrible true self behind some fake chorus of angels everywhere I go.”
Dennis rolled his eyes. “Yeah, ‘cause it would really suck if you were more pleasant and shit.”
Reid glared, but it didn’t have any effect on Dennis. He gave it up with a shrug and gazed at the tips of his toes, a sheepish look creeping over his face. “He’ll pay everything you send to the Foundation without question,” Reid finally said. He met Dennis’ amused expression head on. “Don’t abuse it.”
Dennis didn’t say anything, but when the elevator arrived at their floor he was giggling to himself.
“Shut up,” Reid muttered, and shoved him into the elevator.
Reid pretended not to hear the belly laugh as the doors slid shut, even though it lasted all the way down to the ground floor.
#