EQUALS 15/?
EQUALS…
Author: Scotianova
Beta-fairy: Carol38
Disclaimer: I don't own them and writing about them is just for fun.
Genre: A story about different shades of love
Pairing: Reid and Luke - as always
Characters: Reid Oliver, Luke Snyder, Ravi Oliver, Ruby Oliver II, Kathryn Peretti, Liath Orbanns, Damien Grimaldi, Henry Coleman,Dustin Donovan, Paul Ryan, Holly McLean…
Warning: none so far
Rating: sexual contents
Summary: On the surface they couldn’t be more different from every point of view, but if someone just looks closely at them…
AN: This is an attempt to invert some facts and whereabouts but I hope the character drawing is plausible- somehow at least ;)
15.
It took Damian a few hours to get back to his son. Of course he’d made sure that Dr. Weis would call him instantly if anything happened, and the doctor had shown a smile that even Damian kind of liked and assured the concerned hot “Italian” (because how could the poor smitten doctor know that Damian was Maltese?) that his son was in the best medical hands possibly available. So when Damian returned to Luke’s side after having a shower, changed into something casual (as far Damian owned casual clothes, even examining his vineyards and olive holts he looked as if just jumped out of a fashion magazine) and especially after placing some calls and having a private conversation with the internet, he was stunned to find his son in a mood he didn’t like at all.
“Luciano, what happened? Are you sick or in pain?”
“No, it’s, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“…nothing, never mind.”
“Boy, I know that look - like lost Bambi!”
Luke chuckled softly; actually he rarely fooled his father. Damian had an internal sensor for emotions and thoughts people tried to hide that had made him so successful in his former business.
“It’s Reid…” and as Damian frowned Luke added assuming Damian didn’t know who Luke was talking about: “Reid Oliver, Ravi’s father.”
“You are Ravi’s father, Luciano!”
“Papa, don’t even think a second about going there!”
“Just saying, just saying…”
Damian answered oddly sheepishly, but he had learned long ago that is was best not to tangle with his son when the latter’s voice had that ultimate tone.
“It’s not about that, Ravi is Reid’s and Katie’s son and I do respect that. And neither of them strike me as one who would shut me out of his life. But there is something about Reid that’s confusing, frustrating - actually their whole living arrangement is not only nonconformist - it’s weird. Katie and he are very close and yet there is something strangely brotherly or sisterly about them as if they were a very old couple…”
“And YOU, my boy, have a thing for the attractive red-head.”
When Luciano showed that shy, almost embarrassed smile of his as if caught in the act Damian melted. His grown son was just a boy when it came to losing his heart. And given his face blushing like a teenager it was obvious Luke had already lost it - to two guys, a small and an adult redhead, at the same time.
“Luciano, he is absolutely your type -so it wasn’t brain surgery to figure it out. And he’s an accomplished doctor and raises his sister’s son and…“
“And he’s surely hiding in the hindmost corner…maybe he doesn’t even know…”
“He’s a grown man, Luciano and he doesn’t appear to me as a man who doesn’t know who he is. He called me to tell me about you donating part of your liver - he called me because he wanted your father to know and be there for you, Luciano. He took a risk. I could have called Lucinda to stop the whole thing…no, he does know what he’s doing and no, no he isn’t in denial. Maybe he is gay and loves that woman anyway. Why not? What happened that you are in such a strange mood?”
“He ran away from me - earlier and I have no clue why.”
“Maybe he is just a bit out of sorts, Luciano. The boy almost died…”
“His boy, Papa, please repeat it, his boy, his son…you have to accept that, so please start right now to get used to it.”
“But it’s your son, too. You have to accept that.”
“I do and I already love him. But I won’t try to drive a wedge between them. I know how that feels, Papa. If you believe I would do that to Ravi, you don’t know me at all.”
“I know. I know.” Damian didn’t look happy then, imagining his grandson flying away before he even got to know him a bit. But it was Luke’s choice and he had to accept it - or to pretend to accept it at least.
“Maybe - Luciano - he didn’t run away from you but from himself - because he knows exactly who he is.”
Damian loved when his son got those confused eyes and adopted that worried frown that made him look like a dachshund-puppy.
“Have a little patience, Luciano, time will tell what kind of a man Reid Oliver is.”
While Luke finally calmed down Reid tried to get a grip on himself. What had gotten into him? He’d almost… he’d almost. God, he was so pathetic.
Just a pair of pleading brown eyes and he crumbled. Didn’t he ever learn from his mistakes? And he forced himself to face the scene that he desperately wanted to forget once and for all and yet he dug it out when he ran the risk of walking right into the trap of his own sentimentality.
“Reid what’s wrong with you?” Had this man sensors implanted that told him exactly where Reid was?
“It’s nothing, Liath, I am just a bit tired.”
Reid answered and avoided looking at the concern on Liath' face. Sometimes he simply couldn’t put up with Liath’ omnipresent concern. Right now he wanted to have some time alone - just an hour for God's sake!
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No thanks, these are things I have to do myself.”
“Reid…”
“No Liath, just no.”
With that Reid turned away and headed towards Ravi’s room - when he was with his boy and Katie he escaped Liath’ scrutinizing look at least. Why couldn’t the guy finally create a life of his own? He was still such an attractive man, Reid was sure the stubborn self-proclaimed “monk” would find someone in a minimum of time. But leading that borrowed life - that couldn’t be healthy.
Ravi was sleeping again, that was good. Sleep was a wonderful doctor when your body was exhausted and worn. And it was even better that Katie was watching over their boy’s sleep. Reid knew she needed this right now, to be inseparably close to him, noticing every movement, every wince and sigh. But their boy was soundly sleeping as if nothing was worrying him.
“Hi Kit.”
“Hi yourself.”
“Wanna change seats? I think Ruby might need her mum a bit.”
“Yeah, I’ll head home and come back later tonight.”
“And please take Liath with you, he’s driving me crazy.”
“He just cares so much”
“Too much, Kit, it’s too much. And it’s suffocating me.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“As if that would help”.
“Don’t be so sarcastic!”
Although they whispered her boy might have sensed the tension and stirred and opened his eyes.
“Daddy - you should be proud of me I just beat you in chess.”
“What a boy, dreaming of chess tournaments instead of getting better.”
Watching father and son exchanging a smile a wide one and a crooked one, Katie took a deep breath:
“Ravi, I’ll go home for a while to see how Ruby and the guys are doing but I’ll come back later.”
“Please say ‘hi’ to everybody.” Ravi asked his mum.
It was an emotional day and Katie wasn’t her usual self. The point was that she couldn’t talk to anybody about what was going on with her. Usually Reid was her first choice to talk about everything or Liath but both men would instantly turn into their “I am responsible for all and everything”- mood and that wouldn’t help at all. And Henry still refused to grow up. He chose to live his own fantasy populated with clowns and jongleurs, wishing he lived in medieval times wandering around with a vagrant theatrical company.
Almost losing Ravi had felt like losing Ruby a second time.
So she had to make sure that little Ruby was safe and go home for a few hours while Reid stayed with their son.
Ravi drifted away every once in a while but all in all he seemed stable. Reid stretched his long legs and decided to relax a bit when he heard a soft knock.
“Mr. Grimaldi?”
“Dr. Oliver - may I possibly have a look at the boy?”
Well, that was supposed to happen sooner or later.
“He’s sleeping but yes - please come inside.”
In the end this was Ravi’s birth grand-father, right?
Damian Grimaldi cautiously approached Ravi’s bed but didn’t get too close. Reid watched him standing an arm’s length away from the bed, his arms hanging along his sides and lost in contemplation.
“He looks so small.”
“Yes he is small for his age.”
“How is he?”
“Considering his state before the surgery I dare say he is in a good place now.”
Nodding the lean, tall man smiled at Reid and turned to leave:
“I also love my son very much.”
Was this a threat? A warning? Or a plea?
Reid wasn’t sure; maybe he needed to have a private conversation with Luke revolving around two stubborn guys confusing themselves with little titans sometimes.
Silently closing the door Damian Grimaldi ran into Liath Orbanns.
“What are you doing here?”
“Not that it is any of your business, Mr. Orbanns. But given that’s my grandson lying there in that hospital bed…”
“Don’t put a bee in your bonnet!”
“And you are careful that that pompous ass of yours won’t bring you down to earth.”
Who was that Irish klutz to threaten him?
And if anybody thought he could be kept away from his grandson Damian wished them good luck with their delusions.
“I know everything about your son’s lifestyle…he has no chance.”
“And I know everything about you, Mr. Orbanns.”
Well that was a lie for now, but he soon would know a lot more and Damian had always been good at bluffing. Right now he was more afraid of Luciano’s good-naturedness than of Liath Orbanns and the good doctor wasn’t a threat anyway - Reid Oliver would do anything to make his boy happy. The doctor had the sacrifice-gene in him, Damian was sure of it; it was written in his eyes when he looked at the small boy and even when he looked at Luciano. And Dr. Reid Oliver was gay, Damian would bet everything on that. Luke nursed that calculated pessimism only to prevent himself from being hurt.
And Liath Orbanns? Damian would deal with him later. First he had to learn why Reid Oliver lived in that weird arrangement pretending to be an ordinary paterfamilias. The woman, she was a journalist but had given up her career seven years ago - when Ravi’s mother died. Even for a very best friend that was rare, right? She wasn’t Damian’s type, he had a thing for brunettes but she was a beautiful young woman and she didn’t strike him an ascetic, so what was behind all this?
Well, he had time and he would find out and then he would weigh his options, which information he would put to use and which he would save for later.
For now he wanted to know everything about Luke’s surgery and the risks and he surely knew how to get any information out of Dr. Weis.
“Dr. Weis - may I have a word with you?” Damian smiled as if smiling was his only goal in life and he deliberately exaggerated his accent.
Recognizing the familiar blush creeping up the doctor’s cheeks Damian deepened his smile.
After half an hour he left the poor guy’s room feeling calm about Luke’s state. The doctor had explained every detail and assured him that Luke would actually be fine in all probability.
Good, now he could concentrate on his grandson.
Author: Scotianova
Beta-fairy: Carol38
Disclaimer: I don't own them and writing about them is just for fun.
Genre: A story about different shades of love
Pairing: Reid and Luke - as always
Characters: Reid Oliver, Luke Snyder, Ravi Oliver, Ruby Oliver II, Kathryn Peretti, Liath Orbanns, Damien Grimaldi, Henry Coleman,Dustin Donovan, Paul Ryan, Holly McLean…
Warning: none so far
Rating: sexual contents
Summary: On the surface they couldn’t be more different from every point of view, but if someone just looks closely at them…
AN: This is an attempt to invert some facts and whereabouts but I hope the character drawing is plausible- somehow at least ;)
15.
It took Damian a few hours to get back to his son. Of course he’d made sure that Dr. Weis would call him instantly if anything happened, and the doctor had shown a smile that even Damian kind of liked and assured the concerned hot “Italian” (because how could the poor smitten doctor know that Damian was Maltese?) that his son was in the best medical hands possibly available. So when Damian returned to Luke’s side after having a shower, changed into something casual (as far Damian owned casual clothes, even examining his vineyards and olive holts he looked as if just jumped out of a fashion magazine) and especially after placing some calls and having a private conversation with the internet, he was stunned to find his son in a mood he didn’t like at all.
“Luciano, what happened? Are you sick or in pain?”
“No, it’s, it’s just…”
“Just what?”
“…nothing, never mind.”
“Boy, I know that look - like lost Bambi!”
Luke chuckled softly; actually he rarely fooled his father. Damian had an internal sensor for emotions and thoughts people tried to hide that had made him so successful in his former business.
“It’s Reid…” and as Damian frowned Luke added assuming Damian didn’t know who Luke was talking about: “Reid Oliver, Ravi’s father.”
“You are Ravi’s father, Luciano!”
“Papa, don’t even think a second about going there!”
“Just saying, just saying…”
Damian answered oddly sheepishly, but he had learned long ago that is was best not to tangle with his son when the latter’s voice had that ultimate tone.
“It’s not about that, Ravi is Reid’s and Katie’s son and I do respect that. And neither of them strike me as one who would shut me out of his life. But there is something about Reid that’s confusing, frustrating - actually their whole living arrangement is not only nonconformist - it’s weird. Katie and he are very close and yet there is something strangely brotherly or sisterly about them as if they were a very old couple…”
“And YOU, my boy, have a thing for the attractive red-head.”
When Luciano showed that shy, almost embarrassed smile of his as if caught in the act Damian melted. His grown son was just a boy when it came to losing his heart. And given his face blushing like a teenager it was obvious Luke had already lost it - to two guys, a small and an adult redhead, at the same time.
“Luciano, he is absolutely your type -so it wasn’t brain surgery to figure it out. And he’s an accomplished doctor and raises his sister’s son and…“
“And he’s surely hiding in the hindmost corner…maybe he doesn’t even know…”
“He’s a grown man, Luciano and he doesn’t appear to me as a man who doesn’t know who he is. He called me to tell me about you donating part of your liver - he called me because he wanted your father to know and be there for you, Luciano. He took a risk. I could have called Lucinda to stop the whole thing…no, he does know what he’s doing and no, no he isn’t in denial. Maybe he is gay and loves that woman anyway. Why not? What happened that you are in such a strange mood?”
“He ran away from me - earlier and I have no clue why.”
“Maybe he is just a bit out of sorts, Luciano. The boy almost died…”
“His boy, Papa, please repeat it, his boy, his son…you have to accept that, so please start right now to get used to it.”
“But it’s your son, too. You have to accept that.”
“I do and I already love him. But I won’t try to drive a wedge between them. I know how that feels, Papa. If you believe I would do that to Ravi, you don’t know me at all.”
“I know. I know.” Damian didn’t look happy then, imagining his grandson flying away before he even got to know him a bit. But it was Luke’s choice and he had to accept it - or to pretend to accept it at least.
“Maybe - Luciano - he didn’t run away from you but from himself - because he knows exactly who he is.”
Damian loved when his son got those confused eyes and adopted that worried frown that made him look like a dachshund-puppy.
“Have a little patience, Luciano, time will tell what kind of a man Reid Oliver is.”
While Luke finally calmed down Reid tried to get a grip on himself. What had gotten into him? He’d almost… he’d almost. God, he was so pathetic.
Just a pair of pleading brown eyes and he crumbled. Didn’t he ever learn from his mistakes? And he forced himself to face the scene that he desperately wanted to forget once and for all and yet he dug it out when he ran the risk of walking right into the trap of his own sentimentality.
“Reid what’s wrong with you?” Had this man sensors implanted that told him exactly where Reid was?
“It’s nothing, Liath, I am just a bit tired.”
Reid answered and avoided looking at the concern on Liath' face. Sometimes he simply couldn’t put up with Liath’ omnipresent concern. Right now he wanted to have some time alone - just an hour for God's sake!
“Is there anything I can do?”
“No thanks, these are things I have to do myself.”
“Reid…”
“No Liath, just no.”
With that Reid turned away and headed towards Ravi’s room - when he was with his boy and Katie he escaped Liath’ scrutinizing look at least. Why couldn’t the guy finally create a life of his own? He was still such an attractive man, Reid was sure the stubborn self-proclaimed “monk” would find someone in a minimum of time. But leading that borrowed life - that couldn’t be healthy.
Ravi was sleeping again, that was good. Sleep was a wonderful doctor when your body was exhausted and worn. And it was even better that Katie was watching over their boy’s sleep. Reid knew she needed this right now, to be inseparably close to him, noticing every movement, every wince and sigh. But their boy was soundly sleeping as if nothing was worrying him.
“Hi Kit.”
“Hi yourself.”
“Wanna change seats? I think Ruby might need her mum a bit.”
“Yeah, I’ll head home and come back later tonight.”
“And please take Liath with you, he’s driving me crazy.”
“He just cares so much”
“Too much, Kit, it’s too much. And it’s suffocating me.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“As if that would help”.
“Don’t be so sarcastic!”
Although they whispered her boy might have sensed the tension and stirred and opened his eyes.
“Daddy - you should be proud of me I just beat you in chess.”
“What a boy, dreaming of chess tournaments instead of getting better.”
Watching father and son exchanging a smile a wide one and a crooked one, Katie took a deep breath:
“Ravi, I’ll go home for a while to see how Ruby and the guys are doing but I’ll come back later.”
“Please say ‘hi’ to everybody.” Ravi asked his mum.
It was an emotional day and Katie wasn’t her usual self. The point was that she couldn’t talk to anybody about what was going on with her. Usually Reid was her first choice to talk about everything or Liath but both men would instantly turn into their “I am responsible for all and everything”- mood and that wouldn’t help at all. And Henry still refused to grow up. He chose to live his own fantasy populated with clowns and jongleurs, wishing he lived in medieval times wandering around with a vagrant theatrical company.
Almost losing Ravi had felt like losing Ruby a second time.
So she had to make sure that little Ruby was safe and go home for a few hours while Reid stayed with their son.
Ravi drifted away every once in a while but all in all he seemed stable. Reid stretched his long legs and decided to relax a bit when he heard a soft knock.
“Mr. Grimaldi?”
“Dr. Oliver - may I possibly have a look at the boy?”
Well, that was supposed to happen sooner or later.
“He’s sleeping but yes - please come inside.”
In the end this was Ravi’s birth grand-father, right?
Damian Grimaldi cautiously approached Ravi’s bed but didn’t get too close. Reid watched him standing an arm’s length away from the bed, his arms hanging along his sides and lost in contemplation.
“He looks so small.”
“Yes he is small for his age.”
“How is he?”
“Considering his state before the surgery I dare say he is in a good place now.”
Nodding the lean, tall man smiled at Reid and turned to leave:
“I also love my son very much.”
Was this a threat? A warning? Or a plea?
Reid wasn’t sure; maybe he needed to have a private conversation with Luke revolving around two stubborn guys confusing themselves with little titans sometimes.
Silently closing the door Damian Grimaldi ran into Liath Orbanns.
“What are you doing here?”
“Not that it is any of your business, Mr. Orbanns. But given that’s my grandson lying there in that hospital bed…”
“Don’t put a bee in your bonnet!”
“And you are careful that that pompous ass of yours won’t bring you down to earth.”
Who was that Irish klutz to threaten him?
And if anybody thought he could be kept away from his grandson Damian wished them good luck with their delusions.
“I know everything about your son’s lifestyle…he has no chance.”
“And I know everything about you, Mr. Orbanns.”
Well that was a lie for now, but he soon would know a lot more and Damian had always been good at bluffing. Right now he was more afraid of Luciano’s good-naturedness than of Liath Orbanns and the good doctor wasn’t a threat anyway - Reid Oliver would do anything to make his boy happy. The doctor had the sacrifice-gene in him, Damian was sure of it; it was written in his eyes when he looked at the small boy and even when he looked at Luciano. And Dr. Reid Oliver was gay, Damian would bet everything on that. Luke nursed that calculated pessimism only to prevent himself from being hurt.
And Liath Orbanns? Damian would deal with him later. First he had to learn why Reid Oliver lived in that weird arrangement pretending to be an ordinary paterfamilias. The woman, she was a journalist but had given up her career seven years ago - when Ravi’s mother died. Even for a very best friend that was rare, right? She wasn’t Damian’s type, he had a thing for brunettes but she was a beautiful young woman and she didn’t strike him an ascetic, so what was behind all this?
Well, he had time and he would find out and then he would weigh his options, which information he would put to use and which he would save for later.
For now he wanted to know everything about Luke’s surgery and the risks and he surely knew how to get any information out of Dr. Weis.
“Dr. Weis - may I have a word with you?” Damian smiled as if smiling was his only goal in life and he deliberately exaggerated his accent.
Recognizing the familiar blush creeping up the doctor’s cheeks Damian deepened his smile.
After half an hour he left the poor guy’s room feeling calm about Luke’s state. The doctor had explained every detail and assured him that Luke would actually be fine in all probability.
Good, now he could concentrate on his grandson.