Fic: The Other Side of Us, Part 1
Title: The Other Side of Us
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13 for now
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1420
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Note: Written for theneid Lil' Bang 2013. Will add a chapter a day until complete.
September 7th, 2010
Luke Snyder was dead tired. He'd been at the hospital for hours, waiting and hoping along with Katie and the Hughes family. Only moments ago, they were all celebrating that a donor heart had been found for the rapidly deteriorating Chris Hughes, but soon, that miracle was stolen. By a doctor in another city, no doubt working as feverishly to save his own patient as John Dixon was to save Chris.
Now, everyone who'd gathered at Memorial was doing their best to keep a brave front in the face of this news, but they all knew the truth: it was a death sentence. Even from the hallway, Luke could hear the furious voice of his boyfriend, Reid Oliver, from inside the doctor’s office, engaged in verbal combat on the phone with some stuffed suit at the hospital in Bay City. While everyone else had resorted to their only option, prayer, Reid had immediately swung into action mode when the donor heart marked for Chris was suddenly ripped away.
Luke couldn’t help the small smile this brought to his face, even now. Of course Reid would never accept defeat. The man wasn't a heart surgeon, but somehow, Chris had ended up as his patient. Reid didn't even like the other guy, but the doctor sure as hell wasn’t about to let a patient of his die now; not when they'd come so close to a life-saving transplant.
Luke was well aware the truth went further than that, even if Reid would never admit it. Reid cared. He’d never want to let on to other people, but Luke knew it was true. He could see that Katie and Jacob had become Reid’s family. If they needed Chris Hughes, then by God, Reid Oliver would move heaven and earth to save him.
Though Reid would sooner gouge his own eyes out than admit it, Luke knew the doctor had come to care about Bob Hughes, too. The outgoing Chief of Staff had become a mentor to Reid, but something more, as well; almost a father figure. Reid, who rarely showed concern over another’s opinion, absolutely cared what Bob Hughes thought. And when Bob praised Reid for an idea he’d come up with for the hospital, or some particularly difficult surgery he’d aced, or even for letting his humanity show just a little, Luke could tell how much it meant to Reid.
So it was no surprise Reid was currently battling anyone in a position of power in Bay City that he could get on the phone. He wouldn’t give up until even the smallest hope had been extinguished. Luke marveled at his boyfriend’s dedication, but also worried Reid was setting himself up for disappointment when the inevitable occurred, and Chris passed away.
Immediately, Luke chastised himself for his thoughts. He was currently sitting outside Chris’s hospital room, holding Katie’s trembling hand. How could he lose hope when it was all that remained? Moreover, how could he sit here encouraging Katie not to give up, when he’d already done so himself?
At this realization, Luke made a decision. Katie, the entire Hughes family, John Dixon, and even Reid were still holding out for a new miracle, and doing whatever they could to make it happen. What had Luke contributed to the effort?
While Reid was desperately trying to use whatever clout he possessed to get Chris a heart, Luke had failed to use any of his own. He was Lucinda Walsh’s grandson, for God’s sake! He shouldn’t just be sitting here; he should be doing something.
What good was it to have connections if he failed to use them to help his friends? God knows he’d used them to help himself on a few occasions, a fact that shamed him now, and made him loathe to use those ties for anything. But surely it couldn’t be wrong to use whatever pull he had to try and save Chris’s life?
Luke squeezed Katie’s hand. When she looked up questioningly, he said, “I’ve got an idea. It’s a long shot at best, but I’m going to try to help Chris get that heart. Don’t give up, Katie. It’s not over yet.”
As he quickly embraced his friend, she said, “Luke, what are you going to do?”
Luke stood up, and replied, “Use whatever influence being both a Walsh and a Grimaldi gives me.” Luke leaned down to kiss Katie’s cheek, and told her he’d be back soon. As he strode off purposefully past Reid’s office, he considered stopping and telling the doctor of his plans. Luke quickly reconsidered, though, deciding it was best to leave Reid uninterrupted to terrorize the staff of the Bay City hospital by phone, while he worked other angles in person himself. They could catch up when Luke returned; hopefully, with the right strings pulled and Chris’s new heart on its way.
******
This is it. The thought was the first of many that raced through Luke’s mind as seemingly in slow-motion, an out-of-control tractor-trailer careened towards his car. His eyes could plainly see its driver desperately trying to stop the murderous skid. Luke’s mind, however, understood that trapped between the speeding vehicle and the sturdy guardrail, there was simply nowhere for his car to go. His mind transported Luke through a surreal, disjointed journey through his life.
It’s called relating, Dr Oliver. You meet someone; you learn things about them. You find what you have in common and then you get along better.
-So you’re telling me that if I had told you I’m a Pisces yet ironically allergic to fish, you and I would have bonded?
Don’t I look great?
-Yes, Maddie. We're like the perfect prom couple. Except I'm gay, and your boyfriend's in jail.
I love your son! And we're together! And we are not afraid to let the world see that!
I love you. There, I’ve said it.
What’s wrong?
-Nothing...
******
Entrenched in a heated phone tête-à-tête, Reid Oliver moved to silence the beep indicating a second incoming call on his phone. After an hour of aggressive bargaining, cajoling, and downright threatening, it seemed he was no nearer to securing the heart Chris Hughes needed to survive the day. Reid didn’t like failure in the best of circumstances, but to fall short now - to fail Katie - was unthinkable.
Just before he pressed the ‘ignore’ option, however, Reid noted the number. Noah Mayer? Only days ago, the guy had thrown Reid’s L.A. referral in his face. Why would Noah Mayer call him now?
Unless he’d had some sort of medical setback. Was that it? Dammit. Reid didn’t have time for this, but he’d have to take the call. Luke would go ballistic if Noah had experienced a serious relapse, and Reid didn’t bother to help him.
Reid abruptly cut off the unproductive conversation with the stuffed shirt in Bay City, and switched to Noah’s call.
“What do you want?” Just because he might have to help the guy didn’t mean he had to be nice about it. He’d tried that the other day, and gotten nothing but grief for his efforts. Now, after a few moments’ pause, Reid began to think Noah had hung up.
“Uh… Dr. Oliver.”
“Give the genius a prize.” The acrid words were out before Reid realized he didn’t know the voice on the phone. It was halting, bleak, and unrecognizable. “Who is this?”
“Noah Mayer.” Now Reid detected some trace of his boyfriend’s ex in the voice, but only just. Reid concluded Noah must be in really bad shape. Had his vision deteriorated - or even disappeared?
Before Reid could question him, Noah continued quietly, “You have to come to the emergency room.”
“What? Jesus, Mr. Mayer. What did you do? I told you how important checkups are - was it worth it to blow them off just to spite me?” Reid realized yelling at a possibly blind man wasn’t his finest moment, but the stress of the day had taken its toll.
“There’s been an accident. It’s Luke. Just get down here.”
As the connection was broken, Reid was already flying like a bat out of hell from his office.
Chapter 2
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13 for now
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1420
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Note: Written for theneid Lil' Bang 2013. Will add a chapter a day until complete.
September 7th, 2010
Luke Snyder was dead tired. He'd been at the hospital for hours, waiting and hoping along with Katie and the Hughes family. Only moments ago, they were all celebrating that a donor heart had been found for the rapidly deteriorating Chris Hughes, but soon, that miracle was stolen. By a doctor in another city, no doubt working as feverishly to save his own patient as John Dixon was to save Chris.
Now, everyone who'd gathered at Memorial was doing their best to keep a brave front in the face of this news, but they all knew the truth: it was a death sentence. Even from the hallway, Luke could hear the furious voice of his boyfriend, Reid Oliver, from inside the doctor’s office, engaged in verbal combat on the phone with some stuffed suit at the hospital in Bay City. While everyone else had resorted to their only option, prayer, Reid had immediately swung into action mode when the donor heart marked for Chris was suddenly ripped away.
Luke couldn’t help the small smile this brought to his face, even now. Of course Reid would never accept defeat. The man wasn't a heart surgeon, but somehow, Chris had ended up as his patient. Reid didn't even like the other guy, but the doctor sure as hell wasn’t about to let a patient of his die now; not when they'd come so close to a life-saving transplant.
Luke was well aware the truth went further than that, even if Reid would never admit it. Reid cared. He’d never want to let on to other people, but Luke knew it was true. He could see that Katie and Jacob had become Reid’s family. If they needed Chris Hughes, then by God, Reid Oliver would move heaven and earth to save him.
Though Reid would sooner gouge his own eyes out than admit it, Luke knew the doctor had come to care about Bob Hughes, too. The outgoing Chief of Staff had become a mentor to Reid, but something more, as well; almost a father figure. Reid, who rarely showed concern over another’s opinion, absolutely cared what Bob Hughes thought. And when Bob praised Reid for an idea he’d come up with for the hospital, or some particularly difficult surgery he’d aced, or even for letting his humanity show just a little, Luke could tell how much it meant to Reid.
So it was no surprise Reid was currently battling anyone in a position of power in Bay City that he could get on the phone. He wouldn’t give up until even the smallest hope had been extinguished. Luke marveled at his boyfriend’s dedication, but also worried Reid was setting himself up for disappointment when the inevitable occurred, and Chris passed away.
Immediately, Luke chastised himself for his thoughts. He was currently sitting outside Chris’s hospital room, holding Katie’s trembling hand. How could he lose hope when it was all that remained? Moreover, how could he sit here encouraging Katie not to give up, when he’d already done so himself?
At this realization, Luke made a decision. Katie, the entire Hughes family, John Dixon, and even Reid were still holding out for a new miracle, and doing whatever they could to make it happen. What had Luke contributed to the effort?
While Reid was desperately trying to use whatever clout he possessed to get Chris a heart, Luke had failed to use any of his own. He was Lucinda Walsh’s grandson, for God’s sake! He shouldn’t just be sitting here; he should be doing something.
What good was it to have connections if he failed to use them to help his friends? God knows he’d used them to help himself on a few occasions, a fact that shamed him now, and made him loathe to use those ties for anything. But surely it couldn’t be wrong to use whatever pull he had to try and save Chris’s life?
Luke squeezed Katie’s hand. When she looked up questioningly, he said, “I’ve got an idea. It’s a long shot at best, but I’m going to try to help Chris get that heart. Don’t give up, Katie. It’s not over yet.”
As he quickly embraced his friend, she said, “Luke, what are you going to do?”
Luke stood up, and replied, “Use whatever influence being both a Walsh and a Grimaldi gives me.” Luke leaned down to kiss Katie’s cheek, and told her he’d be back soon. As he strode off purposefully past Reid’s office, he considered stopping and telling the doctor of his plans. Luke quickly reconsidered, though, deciding it was best to leave Reid uninterrupted to terrorize the staff of the Bay City hospital by phone, while he worked other angles in person himself. They could catch up when Luke returned; hopefully, with the right strings pulled and Chris’s new heart on its way.
******
This is it. The thought was the first of many that raced through Luke’s mind as seemingly in slow-motion, an out-of-control tractor-trailer careened towards his car. His eyes could plainly see its driver desperately trying to stop the murderous skid. Luke’s mind, however, understood that trapped between the speeding vehicle and the sturdy guardrail, there was simply nowhere for his car to go. His mind transported Luke through a surreal, disjointed journey through his life.
It’s called relating, Dr Oliver. You meet someone; you learn things about them. You find what you have in common and then you get along better.
-So you’re telling me that if I had told you I’m a Pisces yet ironically allergic to fish, you and I would have bonded?
Don’t I look great?
-Yes, Maddie. We're like the perfect prom couple. Except I'm gay, and your boyfriend's in jail.
I love your son! And we're together! And we are not afraid to let the world see that!
I love you. There, I’ve said it.
What’s wrong?
-Nothing...
******
Entrenched in a heated phone tête-à-tête, Reid Oliver moved to silence the beep indicating a second incoming call on his phone. After an hour of aggressive bargaining, cajoling, and downright threatening, it seemed he was no nearer to securing the heart Chris Hughes needed to survive the day. Reid didn’t like failure in the best of circumstances, but to fall short now - to fail Katie - was unthinkable.
Just before he pressed the ‘ignore’ option, however, Reid noted the number. Noah Mayer? Only days ago, the guy had thrown Reid’s L.A. referral in his face. Why would Noah Mayer call him now?
Unless he’d had some sort of medical setback. Was that it? Dammit. Reid didn’t have time for this, but he’d have to take the call. Luke would go ballistic if Noah had experienced a serious relapse, and Reid didn’t bother to help him.
Reid abruptly cut off the unproductive conversation with the stuffed shirt in Bay City, and switched to Noah’s call.
“What do you want?” Just because he might have to help the guy didn’t mean he had to be nice about it. He’d tried that the other day, and gotten nothing but grief for his efforts. Now, after a few moments’ pause, Reid began to think Noah had hung up.
“Uh… Dr. Oliver.”
“Give the genius a prize.” The acrid words were out before Reid realized he didn’t know the voice on the phone. It was halting, bleak, and unrecognizable. “Who is this?”
“Noah Mayer.” Now Reid detected some trace of his boyfriend’s ex in the voice, but only just. Reid concluded Noah must be in really bad shape. Had his vision deteriorated - or even disappeared?
Before Reid could question him, Noah continued quietly, “You have to come to the emergency room.”
“What? Jesus, Mr. Mayer. What did you do? I told you how important checkups are - was it worth it to blow them off just to spite me?” Reid realized yelling at a possibly blind man wasn’t his finest moment, but the stress of the day had taken its toll.
“There’s been an accident. It’s Luke. Just get down here.”
As the connection was broken, Reid was already flying like a bat out of hell from his office.
Chapter 2