Fic: The Other Side of Us, Part 13
Title: The Other Side of Us
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1400
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
He'd just completed a long shift. Walking into his apartment, all he wanted to do was sleep. But he lacked the energy to change clothes, opting instead to drop down onto the sofa, propping his feet atop the coffee table. He leaned back to recline, closing his eyes to savor the moment of peace.
"You look tired."
Immediately, his eyes flew open. "Luke! What are you doing here?"
Suddenly sitting beside him, Luke leaned in flirtatiously. "Don't you want me here?"
"What? Yes. I just - forgot."
Luke laughed at the inane statement. "You really know how to make a guy feel special." The mirth in Luke's expression told him Luke was humored, not insulted.
"I'm just tired. I'm glad you're here."
Luke zeroed in on his lips, inching in closer to reach his target. Just as their mouths nearly met, a cry erupted from outside the apartment.
"What was that?"
Luke scrunched his nose, clearly annoyed at the kiss delay. "What was what?" he asked as the wail repeated.
"That yell - can't you hear it?"
Luke's face fell. "You know I can't."
He was about to ask what Luke meant by that when the cry rang out for a third time. Instead, he stood up from the couch and walked over to the door, throwing it open to satisfy his curiosity once and for all. The sobs continued, and he looked down to find the source.
There on the floor of the corridor sat Ethan, his arms wrapped around his legs and his face buried in his knees. He squatted down to squeeze the boy's shoulder. "Hey. It's okay, Ethan."
When Luke failed to appear to console his own brother, he removed his hand from the boy's shoulder to turn and summon him. But Luke was no longer sitting on the couch. He didn't respond to the calls of his name, either.
Luke was simply gone.
******
October 16th
For the first time in a week, Noah had slept fairly well. He’d only woken up once during the night. If he’d dreamt he had no memory of it, so was able to fall back to sleep fairly quickly.
Perhaps the aborted threat of homelessness had relaxed him. It was certainly welcome to have that burden removed from his shoulders. Still, Noah couldn’t say he’d given it much worry.
As with almost everything else, he’d felt somewhat removed from the reality of it all. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand his precarious financial situation. It was that he couldn’t seem to care very much.
In the grand scheme of things, miserable with an apartment or miserable without one didn’t look much different to Noah. He’d probably feel otherwise had it come to that point. But though he logically knew his life would suck more with no roof over his head, since he had mostly stopped caring about his life, it hardly mattered.
When he gave it enough thought, Noah knew why he felt a little bit lighter. Chris needed his help, and he was really the only person Noah could help right now. Noah hadn’t been able to be there for Luke’s loved ones.
He’d visited the Snyders twice since Luke’s accident, and had stayed less than half an hour both times. They’d surrounded him with love, as always, and for that he was grateful. But they also needed something he couldn’t give them.
They wanted him to open up and share his grief, just as they opened up to share their own. Neither was something he could handle. Giving them access to his misery would mean facing it head-on himself.
He’d spent over a month trying to avoid just that. Noah wished he was stronger, but knew he wasn’t. He couldn’t give Luke’s family what they needed from him, so he’d mostly steered clear of them.
It hurt. He didn’t just miss Luke; he missed the whole family. But he couldn’t be any good for them.
Realizing he was letting Luke down pained him all the more. Noah had disappointed him too often in life, and it was agonizing to know he was doing it yet again after Luke’s death. Last night, though, he finally found a way he could be there for Luke.
Chris needed help, and Noah could be there for him. Chris didn’t need Noah to commiserate over Luke’s death. He just needed someone to watch over him, and the heart now beating within him.
Noah would take better care of Luke’s heart this time around.
******
He was loading a box into his pick-up truck when a beep sounded behind him. Noah turned to find a car pulled up behind his truck, blocking its exit. He hadn’t even formed the complete what the hell thought when he realized who it was.
The car’s passenger side window lowered. “Get in.”
Vague thoughts of taking offense, decrying the man’s nerve, and telling him where to go all came and went within seconds. Noah did none of the above. Instead, he closed the truck door, locked it, and climbed into the other vehicle.
******
They drove in silence for a few minutes. He decided Reid wanted the upper hand by making Noah speak first. Naturally, Noah resolved not to say a word until Reid had.
Unfortunately, circumstances forced his hand. “Shit. I forgot my wallet.”
“You don’t need it,” Reid replied, unconcerned.
That was all it took to incite Noah’s aggravation. “You are not buying me lunch.”
Something that was part scoff, part snort burst out of Reid. “You’re damn right I’m not. Get over yourself.”
Confused, Noah tensed as Reid took the opposite turn of the one required to head for Al’s. “Where are we going?”
“Casa del Batshit. We’ve been invited to lunch.”
“No. Stop the car,” Noah commanded.
“What - you’re gonna walk home?”
“Just take me back.”
“Lunch is in five,” Reid informed him. “I can’t be late. These people already think I’m rude.”
“You are rude,” Noah reminded, dread settling in his gut. “Just stop the car. Let me out.”
“Nope - no time. You’re welcome to exit while it’s moving.”
Noah worked to push back the rising sense of panic. Reid didn’t understand. To him, this was just extending a courtesy to Luke’s family.
Not that courtesy was Reid’s strong point, but any discomfort he’d have in the situation would be fleeting, ending when the dinner did. He didn’t comprehend what this would be for Noah. Noah would’ve objected again had Reid not spoken first.
“We go, we eat, we say thank you, we leave. Even your intellect can handle that,” Reid assured, his eyes on the road but his words for Noah.
The pot-shot didn’t even register. What did was that contrary to what Noah had believed, Reid did have some idea how difficult this would be for him. Under the surface insult, he was sending Noah a message: you’ve got this.
As they neared the Snyder home, Noah incredibly began to think that with Reid there, maybe he did.
******
“What the hell do you want?”
Faith eyed Reid on the doorstep like he'd come to rob the house. Once she spotted Noah coming up the sidewalk behind him, though, she squealed and flew past Reid to throw herself into the taller man’s arms. “I missed you! Are you staying for lunch? Wait - why is he here?”
“Faith Snyder!” Emma scolded from the doorway. “Is that any way to treat our guest? Come in, Reid.” He moved to, but found that although it wasn’t her house, Luke’s grandmother didn’t allow entry without a hug.
He awkwardly returned the embrace by gently patting the woman’s back twice. Reid didn’t need to see him to know Noah was watching in amusement. His suspicions were confirmed when he turned to see Noah hug Emma, all the while smirking at him.
******
Two hours later, Noah was thankful he’d come. Not only had he gotten to visit with the Snyders, but Lucinda was there, as well. Still, it would’ve been overwhelming but for Reid.
With him there, the family was hardly going to subject Noah to a probing interrogation of how he was coping. He was able to fully enjoy their company without the threat of anyone digging too deeply. It was the first time he'd felt happiness since Luke died.
Chapter 14
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1400
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
He'd just completed a long shift. Walking into his apartment, all he wanted to do was sleep. But he lacked the energy to change clothes, opting instead to drop down onto the sofa, propping his feet atop the coffee table. He leaned back to recline, closing his eyes to savor the moment of peace.
"You look tired."
Immediately, his eyes flew open. "Luke! What are you doing here?"
Suddenly sitting beside him, Luke leaned in flirtatiously. "Don't you want me here?"
"What? Yes. I just - forgot."
Luke laughed at the inane statement. "You really know how to make a guy feel special." The mirth in Luke's expression told him Luke was humored, not insulted.
"I'm just tired. I'm glad you're here."
Luke zeroed in on his lips, inching in closer to reach his target. Just as their mouths nearly met, a cry erupted from outside the apartment.
"What was that?"
Luke scrunched his nose, clearly annoyed at the kiss delay. "What was what?" he asked as the wail repeated.
"That yell - can't you hear it?"
Luke's face fell. "You know I can't."
He was about to ask what Luke meant by that when the cry rang out for a third time. Instead, he stood up from the couch and walked over to the door, throwing it open to satisfy his curiosity once and for all. The sobs continued, and he looked down to find the source.
There on the floor of the corridor sat Ethan, his arms wrapped around his legs and his face buried in his knees. He squatted down to squeeze the boy's shoulder. "Hey. It's okay, Ethan."
When Luke failed to appear to console his own brother, he removed his hand from the boy's shoulder to turn and summon him. But Luke was no longer sitting on the couch. He didn't respond to the calls of his name, either.
Luke was simply gone.
******
October 16th
For the first time in a week, Noah had slept fairly well. He’d only woken up once during the night. If he’d dreamt he had no memory of it, so was able to fall back to sleep fairly quickly.
Perhaps the aborted threat of homelessness had relaxed him. It was certainly welcome to have that burden removed from his shoulders. Still, Noah couldn’t say he’d given it much worry.
As with almost everything else, he’d felt somewhat removed from the reality of it all. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand his precarious financial situation. It was that he couldn’t seem to care very much.
In the grand scheme of things, miserable with an apartment or miserable without one didn’t look much different to Noah. He’d probably feel otherwise had it come to that point. But though he logically knew his life would suck more with no roof over his head, since he had mostly stopped caring about his life, it hardly mattered.
When he gave it enough thought, Noah knew why he felt a little bit lighter. Chris needed his help, and he was really the only person Noah could help right now. Noah hadn’t been able to be there for Luke’s loved ones.
He’d visited the Snyders twice since Luke’s accident, and had stayed less than half an hour both times. They’d surrounded him with love, as always, and for that he was grateful. But they also needed something he couldn’t give them.
They wanted him to open up and share his grief, just as they opened up to share their own. Neither was something he could handle. Giving them access to his misery would mean facing it head-on himself.
He’d spent over a month trying to avoid just that. Noah wished he was stronger, but knew he wasn’t. He couldn’t give Luke’s family what they needed from him, so he’d mostly steered clear of them.
It hurt. He didn’t just miss Luke; he missed the whole family. But he couldn’t be any good for them.
Realizing he was letting Luke down pained him all the more. Noah had disappointed him too often in life, and it was agonizing to know he was doing it yet again after Luke’s death. Last night, though, he finally found a way he could be there for Luke.
Chris needed help, and Noah could be there for him. Chris didn’t need Noah to commiserate over Luke’s death. He just needed someone to watch over him, and the heart now beating within him.
Noah would take better care of Luke’s heart this time around.
******
He was loading a box into his pick-up truck when a beep sounded behind him. Noah turned to find a car pulled up behind his truck, blocking its exit. He hadn’t even formed the complete what the hell thought when he realized who it was.
The car’s passenger side window lowered. “Get in.”
Vague thoughts of taking offense, decrying the man’s nerve, and telling him where to go all came and went within seconds. Noah did none of the above. Instead, he closed the truck door, locked it, and climbed into the other vehicle.
******
They drove in silence for a few minutes. He decided Reid wanted the upper hand by making Noah speak first. Naturally, Noah resolved not to say a word until Reid had.
Unfortunately, circumstances forced his hand. “Shit. I forgot my wallet.”
“You don’t need it,” Reid replied, unconcerned.
That was all it took to incite Noah’s aggravation. “You are not buying me lunch.”
Something that was part scoff, part snort burst out of Reid. “You’re damn right I’m not. Get over yourself.”
Confused, Noah tensed as Reid took the opposite turn of the one required to head for Al’s. “Where are we going?”
“Casa del Batshit. We’ve been invited to lunch.”
“No. Stop the car,” Noah commanded.
“What - you’re gonna walk home?”
“Just take me back.”
“Lunch is in five,” Reid informed him. “I can’t be late. These people already think I’m rude.”
“You are rude,” Noah reminded, dread settling in his gut. “Just stop the car. Let me out.”
“Nope - no time. You’re welcome to exit while it’s moving.”
Noah worked to push back the rising sense of panic. Reid didn’t understand. To him, this was just extending a courtesy to Luke’s family.
Not that courtesy was Reid’s strong point, but any discomfort he’d have in the situation would be fleeting, ending when the dinner did. He didn’t comprehend what this would be for Noah. Noah would’ve objected again had Reid not spoken first.
“We go, we eat, we say thank you, we leave. Even your intellect can handle that,” Reid assured, his eyes on the road but his words for Noah.
The pot-shot didn’t even register. What did was that contrary to what Noah had believed, Reid did have some idea how difficult this would be for him. Under the surface insult, he was sending Noah a message: you’ve got this.
As they neared the Snyder home, Noah incredibly began to think that with Reid there, maybe he did.
******
“What the hell do you want?”
Faith eyed Reid on the doorstep like he'd come to rob the house. Once she spotted Noah coming up the sidewalk behind him, though, she squealed and flew past Reid to throw herself into the taller man’s arms. “I missed you! Are you staying for lunch? Wait - why is he here?”
“Faith Snyder!” Emma scolded from the doorway. “Is that any way to treat our guest? Come in, Reid.” He moved to, but found that although it wasn’t her house, Luke’s grandmother didn’t allow entry without a hug.
He awkwardly returned the embrace by gently patting the woman’s back twice. Reid didn’t need to see him to know Noah was watching in amusement. His suspicions were confirmed when he turned to see Noah hug Emma, all the while smirking at him.
******
Two hours later, Noah was thankful he’d come. Not only had he gotten to visit with the Snyders, but Lucinda was there, as well. Still, it would’ve been overwhelming but for Reid.
With him there, the family was hardly going to subject Noah to a probing interrogation of how he was coping. He was able to fully enjoy their company without the threat of anyone digging too deeply. It was the first time he'd felt happiness since Luke died.
Chapter 14