The Long and Winding Road 27/?
Title: The Long and Winding Road
Pairing: Luke and Reid
Other Characters: Katie and Jacob
Summary: This is a story about the courtship of Luke and Reid. This is definitely AU. Reid doesn’t die and Chris and Katie aren’t a couple.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They all belong to ATWT and its parent company(ies). All mistakes are mine.
Rating PG
A/N I wanted to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!
A few nights later, Reid and Luke were relaxing on Katie’s couch, just watching crap TV and eating junk food. Reid was in heaven.
“So has Bob confirmed that you will be the next Chief of Staff?” Luke prodded.
“No,” Reid sighed, already bored with this conversation.
“Well it has to be you, doesn’t it?”
Reid shrugged. “I think that it’s going to be me, but if it’s not, then it’s not and I’ll deal with it. We’ll know one way or the other on Saturday night,” Reid frowned.
“What?” Luke asked, noting how unhappy Reid seemed to be. “I’ll still love you even if you remain just a lowly neurosurgeon,” Luke teased gently.
“I will never, ever be a lowly neurosurgeon,” Reid intoned seriously. “I just wish that I knew one way or the other. I care about Bob, I guess, but I hate getting dressed up and going to social events and if I’m not the next chief then I’d rather just work at the hospital.”
“You can’t be serious!!! Bob has acted like a mentor to you. You have to go, Reid. Not showing up would be horribly disrespectful.”
Reid just grunted in response.
“Oh, and by the way, you have to wear the new tux that I had custom made for you. I put it in your closet earlier today. You should probably try it on just to make sure that you don’t need any last minute alterations.”
“What are you talking about, Luke?” Reid asked, clearly flabbergasted.
Luke just stared back at Reid hoping that he wouldn’t be to mad at Luke for taking such liberties..
“Let me get this straight, you had a tuxedo custom made for me that is now hanging in my closet?”
“Yes,” Luke answered simply. “I knew that you didn’t have one, I figured that this was the easiest solution,” Luke shrugged as Reid continued to stare at him. “The dress for Bob’s retirement dinner is formal. Didn’t you read your invitation?”
“Yes, I read my invitation,” Reid huffed. “I figured that I could just wear my grey suit. This is Oakdale for God’s sake, how formal do you people get?”
Luke just raised an eyebrow in response.
“Never mind,” Reid grumbled. “I’ll try it on later,” he reluctantly stated, not willing to capitulate completely.
Luke just beamed in response and leaned over and kissed Reid.
“Fine, fine,” Reid huffed out. “I’ll go and put it on now.” Reid said and stood up to walk to his room.
Reid went to his room and found the tux in a garment bag that had been labelled with his name. Reid just shook his head. He carefully opened the bag and took out the beautiful suit with accompanying shirt and black boxers. Seriously, there are people that handmake boxers? He put those on first, naturally. Oh my God, these feel incredible. I had no idea that underwear could feel this amazing. He dutifully put on the shirt and found that it too was incredibly comfortable. Next he pulled on the pants and then the jacket and found that naturally it all fit perfectly. Reid looked in the mirror and noted that he looked incredibly handsome. . He worried momentarily that he didn’t have the right shoes for this outfit, but then he glanced again at his closet and noticed a box with his name on it. He reached in and grabbed it. Inside were the most beautiful shoes that he had ever seen. Of course there was also a pair of socks in the box with them. Rolling his eyes for only a second he quickly put on his new socks and shoes. They fit perfectly, better really than any of the shoes that he owned. The leather was soft and pliable; clearly Luke hadn’t just picked these up at PaylessTM. Oh my God, these shoes were probably hand made too. How does he do that? He is the most amazing partner ever! Partner??? Reid shrugged the reference off and headed out for Luke’s inspection. Hoping that the younger man would like what he saw.
Luke gaped at the vision that was Reid Oliver as he entered the living room.
“Wow!” Luke said with a broad smile. “You look amazing!”
“Yeah I do, don’t I?” Reid smiled smugly in return. “I noticed that there was a tie in the bag too. I’m counting on you to tie it on the night, okay? We don’t need to practice that too, do we?”
“Yes I will tie your tie for you, and no we don’t need to practice that tonight.”
Luke stood up and walked over to Reid, staring at him for just a moment before he leaned in and kissed Reid firmly on the lips
“Hey, don’t rumple the clothes,” Reid admonished with a huge grin on his face when he finally broke the kiss.
“Maybe you should take them off, if you’re so worried about them,” Luke suggested with a raised eyebrow.
“Whatever do you have in mind, Mr. Snyder? Do you think that just because you have bought me the most beautiful clothes that I have ever seen, not to mention the gorgeous shoes, that I owe you something?” Reid asked coyly, already removing his jacket and starting to unbutton his shirt.
“Yes, you totally owe me,” replied Luke, quickly getting into character.
Reid smiled enigmatically and slowly finished unbuttoning his shirt. He was on the last button when the door flew open and Katie and Jacob blew into the room.
“Oh Reid, thank God you’re here,” Katie started breathlessly. “I need a huge favour from you. Oh hi Luke,” she added as an afterthought, suddenly aware that perhaps she had interrupted something.
Reid wanted to glare at her, but he noticed the harried look on her face and instantly softened.
“Okay, give me a second to change and then you can ask me for that favour,” Reid grumbled as he headed back to his bedroom, sadly alone.
“Sorry for interrupting you guys,” Katie apologized to Luke, feeling a little bit embarrassed.
“Don’t worry about it, Katie. This is your home you have nothing to apologize for.”
Thank God she came in then and not a few minutes later. Maybe it’s time for me to start thinking about getting my own place.
“Why was Reid so dressed up?” Katie asked.
“He was just trying on his tuxedo for Bob’s retirement dinner,” Luke answered.
“Oh,” Katie answered, feeling both uncomfortable and relieved. “So he’s definitely going to it, right?”
“Yes,” Luke replied firmly, wondering why Katie was so interested in this.
Just then Jacob started crying and Katie turned her attention back to her son. She quickly got him out of his jacket and mittens and hat and hung them up on their hooks.
Jacob was happier to be free of all of his outer garments but he still wasn’t satisfied.
Katie gave him a cookie to nibble on, while she heated up a bottle for him. Katie had just gotten Jacob settled on her lap when Reid appeared, dressed in a pair of scrub pants and an old Harvard T shirt.
“So what’s the favour you desperately need me to fulfill?” Reid asked as he sat down in the middle of the couch between Luke and Katie.
“Um… I need you to be my date,” she said in a rush.
“Katie you do know that I’m gay, right?” Reid asked feeling perplexed and grasping Luke’s hand for reassurance.
Katie rolled her eyes. “Of course I know that you’re gay. I don’t need you to date me; I need you to be my escort at Bob’s retirement dinner.”
“Why?” Reid asked wondering why Katie couldn’t get a real date.
“Well, uh… Chris bumped into Jacob and me in Old Town a little while ago and asked me to be his date at that function. I said no, obviously,” Katie stated wrinkling her nose in disgust. “But he wanted to know why. I panicked and said that you had already asked me to be your date, and that I couldn’t possibly turn you down, seeing as you are my roommate and all.”
“You couldn’t just say ‘No I don’t like you and thought of you sitting beside me for an entire evening makes me want to hurl?’” Reid chuckled.
“Reid!” the two blondes admonished him at once.
“What, it’s the truth isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I could never say that to anyone, not even Chris,” Katie murmured.
“It would save you a lot of trouble in the future if you did,” Reid sighed.
“So will you take me? I mean I’m sure that you were planning on going with Luke and I don’t want to interfere with that at all. I just need you to let me sit at your table, preferably beside you two.”
“That’s no problem, Katie. Maddie was going to come but she has a huge paper due and can’t afford the time away from school, so you can easily have her spot,” Luke answered for Reid.
Reid glared at Luke; he had wanted to torture Katie a little bit longer as punishment for interrupting them earlier.
Reid turned to Katie and smiled at her, letting her know that he was fine with this arrangement.
“Hey, doesn’t that technically make her Casey’s date?” Reid smirked.
“Yeah, I guess so, but we can just keep that to ourselves,” Luke answered giving Reid a meaningful look.
Katie smiled her thanks at Luke.
“How did Doogie take the news that I was your date?” Reid asked.
“It was kind of weird; he actually seemed pleased about it. I was going to add that Luke would be going with us, but something in his expression stopped me. He didn’t even ask about Luke,” she finished with a shrug.
Luke and Reid exchanged a meaningful glance.
“Doogie thinks that Luke and I broke up. He seems to have some weird fixation with us as a couple. He probably took my taking you as confirmation that Luke and I aren’t together.”
“Why would he care if you two are dating or not? I mean he’s not gay, so what difference does it make to him?”
Reid sighed. “I don’t know, but I get the feeling that he has become obsessed with me. We went to med school together, and it seems like he has been holding a grudge against me ever since. He really doesn’t want me to be chief of staff at Memorial, and for some reason he believes that if I am not with Luke then I won’t get the job.”
“Why would he think that? Is it because Luke’s on the board?”
“No, Luke doesn’t even get a vote because of his relationship with me; even if we broke up he wouldn’t get a vote.”
“Does he think that Luke is trying to influence the other board members in your favour?” Katie asked. “Are you?” she queried looking at Luke.
“No, of course not,” Luke replied somewhat indignantly of both of their behalves. “I haven’t spoken to any of the board members about Reid. He doesn’t need me to and I wouldn’t feel comfortable lobbying for him. I mean I know that he will do an amazing job, but I am too close to the situation to be objective.”
Katie smiled at Luke. “It’s puzzling that Chris sees you as such a threat, perhaps you should take it as a compliment.”
Reid glowered at Katie. “Doogie is an idiot, and I just want him to leave us alone. If I do become the next chief, I will be looking for a way to fire him.”
“Reid, you need to be fair to Chris. I know that he is behaving in a bizarre manner, but he is still a good doctor and he’s Bob’s son,” Luke gently chastised.
“I know that he’s Bob’s son and I will be careful but I don’t like the way that he’s been acting, and what’s more I don’t trust him. I can’t have someone working for me that I don’t trust,” Reid stated emphatically.
“Is there anything specific that he has done to you?” Katie inquired, her curiosity truly peaked.
“Doogie went to the board members, behind Bob’s back and told them that he was concerned about my ability to run Memorial. He didn’t officially tell them that he would like to be considered for the job, but it’s pretty obvious that he feels entitled to it. He also talked about my emotional instability due to my recent break up with Luke.”
“Oh my God, I had no idea that Chris would stoop so low. No wonder he was pleased when I told him that I was your date. He’s not sitting at our table is he?”
“No,” Luke answered. “His table is across the room from ours.”
Reid and Katie both stared at Luke. “What?” Luke asked feeling uncomfortable. “Bob phoned and asked my advice about the seating chart and so I spent a couple of hours sorting things out for him.”
“Of course you did,” Reid said leaning over and kissing Luke.
“Well, that’s my cue to head off to bed,” Katie said adjusting Jacob, who had long since fallen asleep, so as not to wake him up.
“Good night Katie,” Luke and Reid replied in unison.
“Hey,” Reid started, looking at Luke carefully. “You don’t mind that Katie is crashing our date, do you?”
“No,” Luke shook his head decisively, “of course not. I’m happy that we can help her out. Just as long as you remember who your real date is.”
“I could never forget,” Reid replied leaning in and kissing Luke again.
“Maybe we should move this into the bedroom; I don’t really fancy Katie walking in on us again.”
Reid chuckled and immediately stood up and reached for Luke’s hand. “Come on,” he said impatiently. “Hey Luke,” Reid whispered into Luke’s ear as they headed for his room.
“Yeah,” Luke whispered back.
“Thank you,” Reid said stopping to stare into Luke’s eyes just after they had entered his room and closed the door.
“What for?” Luke asked, puzzled by Reid’s serious tone.
For everything for being you. God I’m not sure I deserve you, but I’m never going to give you up. “For looking after me, ordering the beautiful tuxedo and the amazing shoes that go with it. I don’t know how you managed it, but I am actually looking forward to wearing that get up.”
Luke leaned in and kissed Reid warmly on the lips. “You’re welcome, Reid. It was really nothing. I’m happy that you like them.” God, Noah would have thrown a fit if I had done that for him. He would have found fault with everything and blamed me for it all.
“Luke, it wasn’t nothing it’s something pretty amazing that you have done for me. I would have shown up in my suit and felt like an idiot,” he paused gazing into Luke’s eyes trying to ascertain whether or not he was getting through to the blonde. “Now get undressed so that I can ‘thank’ you properly.”
Luke giggled and did as he was told!