fan fic; RUSH (moving to personal journal)
title: RUSH
summary: "don't tell me, you found the nearest gay bar?" "maybe."
rating: pg-13
notes: This is largely (*cough* almost completely) inspired by my own experience in New York City earlier this month. We went to Mason Dixon (holy-surrealism, batman!) and then to a club called "RUSH", where myself & another in our party had the misfortune of running into the 'friend' Luke meets during this story (even sharing Luke's experience!) I like to think Luke's version turned out quite better… xD
dedicated to: Teri (first & foremost <3), Colleen, Angela, Sharlie, Pup, Nicole & Cherimola (all of whom are in this story!)
thanks to: Cherimola for being my AMAZING beta yet again. I don't know what I would do without her. Also to the other ladies listed above for reviewing bits of this beforehand, and for going through this crazy evening with me! (Even if they did nothing to save me and laughed at me for days afterward =P You know who you are! Haha)
This is largely inspired by my own experience in New York City earlier this month. We went to Mason Dixon (holy-surrealism, batman!) and then to a club called "RUSH", where myself & another in our party had the misfortune of running into Luke's friend (and sharing his experience!) I like to think Luke's version turned out quite better… xD Dedicated to Teri, Colleen, Angela, Sharlie, Pup, Nicole & Cherimola (all of whom are in this story!)
-----------------------------
The sky burned a deep reddish-orange by the time they made their way back to Luke's hotel room, briefcases falling onto the table with soft thunks and accompanying sighs. Reid rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, feeling the weariness in his muscles with every small movement. Luke shrugged off his light jacket and began to shuffle through his things, digging out his cell phone quietly. Settling into a chair across the room, Reid started in on another journal artcile, red pen at-the-ready. Neither said a word to one another in the process.
"No, I'm still in Texas."
Luke's voice captured Reid's attention long enough for him to glance up and notice the phone before his eyes fell back to the journal in his hands. He did his best to focus on the words in front of him, but with Luke Snyder's voice ringing through the otherwise silent room, it was nearly impossible. The mention of an award ceremony gained another look up. The blond stood with his back to the older man, giving Reid the perfect opportunity to continue to stare and listen in on the conversation with mild amusement, looking away only when he feared that Luke might turn around and catch him eavesdropping.
The phone call ended and just like that, it was impossible for Reid to resist. The banter than ensued was nothing less than predictably entertaining, and for once Luke gave Reid a pass on his obnoxious behavior. After all, the man was waiting on a decision that could change his life.
"That's it. We're getting out of here. What is there to do in this town?"
"I don't know, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, you lived here for years. What's there to do?"
Luke shouldn't have been surprised -- after all, Reid made no secret of the fact that he wasn't a social person. In fact, that only thing that did surprise Luke was when Reid told him, "All my friends actually work." He couldn't help but smirk at the idea of Reid actually having friends.
Ultimately modern technology proved once again to be his ally, though perhaps he would think differently at the end of the night. For the moment, though, the web browser on his tiny little phone provided him with his only window into Dallas life. Doctor Oliver was clearly going to be no help in that department.
"Did you see those old buzzards looking at me? They can't wait to really stick it to a young hot-shot like me, teach me a lesson -- hey, Snyder."
"Oh, sorry. Were you saying something?"
"My life is over, I'll never work again, blah blah blah."
Luke blinked.
"Do you have your wallet on you?"
"My wallet?"
"Yeah, you're gonna need it. We're going out."
Shadows brought to life by street lamps instead of sunlight played across the far wall, the sound of night time traffic buzzing on the street below -- Friday night in Dallas was just getting started.
"Don't tell me, you found the nearest gay bar?"
Luke grinned.
"Maybe."
*
"It's only nine thirty, nothing is even open yet," Reid complained as he followed Luke out of the cab.
"It's also Friday," Luke pointed out. "Everything opens early. Besides, it's college night or something, these places start to fill up as soon as classes are out."
"Oh great," Reid groaned loudly. "Just what I need, to be surrounded by a bunch of drunk, horny college kids."
All Luke could do was laugh.
It was a short walk from where they'd been dropped off to the club. Regardless of the time, the street was crawling with people, moving in and out of the bars and restaurants, the sounds of cars and conversation vibrating off every building and neon signs lighting up every corner of their walk.
They arrived at the club within minutes, Luke smiling so eagerly that Reid couldn't even honestly consider turning around and running in the opposite direction. A small section outside the club was sectioned off and two large men in leather jackets stood just inside, moving along the small line that had already formed. Reid could hear music playing loudly and light smoke, no doubt from some ridiculous smoke machine, was drifting out through the doors every time someone went in or out. Above them in simple white letters read, "RUSH."
*
After the tacky wristbands had been attached they were permitted into the ridiculously small entry way, completely black save the small backlight from the counter where a rather cocky young man (who more than obviously flirted with everyone who came through the door) took their money and directed them around to the coat check. Cursing under his breath ("Twenty bucks just to get in and five more to check my damn coat?"), Reid handed over his suit jacket and took his ticket, sticking it into the front pocket of his jeans. Luke was already pushing aside the curtains to their left and stepping into the dimly lit, smoke-filled room with a smile more appropriate for Christmas morning than entering a night club.
It was still early and the place was fairly empty -- a few people lingered by the stage (because of course there was a small stage, pole and all) and others sat on the bench along the wall. One couple bravely danced in the middle, two tall young men not much older than Luke who weren't afraid to publicly display their affection. Reid made a bee line for the bar, immediately ordering a beer and ignoring the smile the (admittedly cute) bartender gave him.
Beside him, Luke was still smiling, leaning back on the bar and gazing with mature eyes as the room slowly began to fill.
"This is awesome," he shouted over the loud music, leaning toward Reid.
"Sure," Reid said after a pause, pursing his lips and nodding a less than genuine thanks as the bartender brought him his drink.
"Oh, come on, Doctor Oliver!" Luke laughed, turning to lean on one elbow and grinning at Reid. The older man couldn't help but notice that the childish gleam in Luke's eyes was long gone, replaced by something older, sexier.
He gulped and turned back to his drink.
Reid nursed his first beer very slowly, wanting to feel that slight burn in the back of his throat but determined to keep his wits about him. Luke on the other hand seemed to be having a blast. He still hadn't left Reid's side, but he was raising his arms high above his head, swaying his hips to the music and happily singing along. It seemed that regardless of the company (or lack thereof) that Reid offered, the young man was determined to have a good time.
*
Reid was pretty amazed at how quickly midnight rolled around. They no longer had an option on where to stand, trapped at the bar, which was fine with him. The club was small, tiny really, and by now it was completely filled with men and women alike, all ages and types represented amongst the crowd.
Luke spent the time dancing and attempting conversation with Reid, which he only occasionally returned. Colored laser lights shot through the smoke, illuminating a face or two at a time, though the anonymity of the club prevailed. Luke danced with a few guys, though sometimes he didn't even need anyone to dance with, simply moving with the music on his own. Other times he became a part of a larger group of young men, all dancing together and smiling, innocently enjoying each other's company while they had it.
A song Reid didn't recognize (not that he could recognize anything with how heavy the bass was pumping) was playing and Luke was once again pulled into a group of five guys, forming a tight, awkward circle, though none seemed to care. His arms were high above his head, blond hair flying around his head as he swayed. His back was to Reid and the older man could see a fine line of sweat down the back of Luke's shirt where it stuck to his skin. He swallowed, eyes following the trail from Luke's shoulders down to his mid then lower back. Swallowing again, he looked away before his eyes could wander any further.
With a little liquid courage burning down the back of his throat, Reid dared to glance up again, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips to see Luke enjoying himself so much.
In that moment, caught between a smile and desire, Luke looked sideways at Reid. For the briefest of moments their eyes locked. It was Reid who looked away, startled at being caught, but it wasn't for long. Boldly he turned his eyes back to Luke's, dark eyes pulling like magnets. Without looking away, Reid raised his glass to his lips steadily. Luke's lips curved upward in a bashful smirk and he looked down momentarily before meeting Reid's eyes again, a playful expression on his face.
Reid was quite aware of the heat coursing through his body, the tension in his legs as they itched to move forward -- but Reid was too stubborn to let that happen. His face fell into a frown, which Luke mirrored as he watched Reid push his way to the side, through the thick of dancers and toward the other end of the bar.
*
The bartender brought Reid his second beer of the night, purposefully allowing their fingers to brush as he handed it over. He ignored the action, which wasn't hard to do -- now near the corner end of the bar he was suddenly quite aware of the young man actually dancing on the bar top, wearing nothing but the world's tightest undies, probably made for boys half their age. He felt the heat rush through his body and he cleared his throat, taking a quick swig of his drink. There was a rather loud group of women nearby, all clearly straight, and some of which were talking with the boy up on the bar, even taking pictures of (and with) him. Reid rolled his eyes, trying to ignore them but it was next to impossible. One of them kept grabbing random boys from the flow of dancers and smelling them, causing a fit of giggles from the rest.
Reid rolled his eyes and tried to look away -- until he realized that the guy in their grasps this time was none other than Luke.
Standing in the circle of women, Luke was laughing and talking in that overly friendly way of his, which Reid could hardly find surprising. The women were practically swooning over him and Reid fought the urge to walk up to them and remind them that this was a gay bar, but something told him they were all too aware of that fact.
*
The music changed and a heavy bass echoed through the building. Everyone let out a yell of approval, including Luke and his new friends, and he offered his hands to two of the women. The one appeared to be around Reid's age with short curly brown hair and bright eyes, lips turning up in a smirk directed toward her friends. The other seemed to be the youngest of the bunch, closer to Luke's age and with the same doe eyes and bright smile. The three began to dance, their companions cheering them on as they laughed and swayed with the music. Watching Luke enjoy himself, smiling with more joy and energy than Reid could remember ever seeing on the young man's face in the few months they had known each other, he found himself unable to resist smiling as well.
Luke happily danced with each and every one of the ladies in the group in turn. Regardless of how much he tried to ignore the scene to his left, Reid found himself glancing over, rolling his eyes and hiding his smile by taking another sip of his beer. His glances didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you here with him?" came a woman's voice in Reid's ear. Surprised, he turned to find the younger girl Luke had initially danced with leaning back on the bar beside him, smiling pleasantly in his direction. Reid gulped the bit of liquid in his mouth down and looked between Luke and the girl talking to him, eyes wide and slightly confused.
"Him? No," he said quickly before making a face. "Well, yes, technically he dragged me here, but… No, no, I'm not here with him."
Reid groaned.
The girl laughed.
"That's too bad! He's a great dancer," she gushed, the red in her cheeks visible even in the dark. Reid found himself smirking behind his glass again. "How about you? Do you dance?"
"Absolutely not," Reid answered automatically.
"Me either," the girl smiled, still red in the cheeks. Another trait she apparently shared with Luke.
"Could have fooled me."
"Oh, that?" she laughed, nodding toward Luke, who was currently dancing with a slender brunette in smart glasses and a vibrant smile, clearly enjoying herself. "I can dance, or, well, I will dance," she shrugged. "But this isn't exactly my scene."
"Mine either."
"Could have fooled me," she returned, a smile comparable to Luke's spreading across her lips. Resisting the urge to say, "touché", Reid simply gave her a genuine grin, laughing in approval.
Just then Luke appeared behind the girl's shoulder, moving around her through the dense crowd to stand at Reid's side. He was glowing, bangs plastered to his forehead with sweat and his breathing slightly erratic.
"Hey," he breathed heavily, smiling from Reid to the girl.
"I should probably get back to my friends, make sure they're behaving," she winked.
"Somehow I doubt that," said Reid, causing all three of them to laugh.
"It was really nice meeting you both!" she said happily, tucking her bangs behind her ears and giving Reid a bashful smile before offering a small wave to Luke, turning around and pushing through the crowd after her friends.
"I think she likes you," Luke laughed loudly. Reid's smile quickly faded and he rolled his eyes, turning back to the bar.
"Having fun?" he asked dryly, determined to change the subject.
"Yes!" Luke exclaimed happily. "I would suggest you dance, too, Dr. Oliver, but I have a feeling it isn't really your thing," he grinned.
"Hmm," was all Reid said.
"You've been stressing out for days, you deserve to enjoy yourself," Luke said seriously. "Come on, Dr. Oliver. Life is short, have some fun!"
As if on cue, a tall dark-haired man appeared at Luke's shoulder, pressing against him lightly and smiling in a way that Reid could only classify as creepy. Luke appeared startled for a moment, but with that quick-to-trust nature of his, it was only a matter of seconds before he was smiling again and giving into the other man's silent request for a dance. Reid could help but notice that this new guy had somehow snagged Luke's hand in the process, pulling him a few inches closer. With one hand slung lazily against Luke's hip, the other still holding his hand up above their heads, the man began to move, encouraging Luke without ever saying a word.
Luke, amazingly, just kept on smiling, clearly having no qualms about dancing with a stranger. His new friend seemed to be enjoying himself as well, Reid noticed, nearly choking on his drink as he watched Luke's dark-haired dance partner tug him closer, grinding their hips together provocatively. At first he turned away, refusing to watch. Instead, he ordered a third beer, telling the bartender to make it quick.
*
Still refusing to give any attention to Mr. Snyder and his choice of recreation, Reid traced the grain lines in the wooden bar top, simply concentrating on keeping his eyes pointed down. He figured he'd give it another, oh, ten minutes, and then he'd bolt -- whether Mr. Snyder chose to follow or not was his business.
It wasn't until something, or rather someone, brushed against his leg that he finally looked up, eyes finding the mirror behind the bar, giving him a clear sight of what was happening behind him -- and what he saw made him instantly turn around.
Luke still stood incredibly close to the dark haired man that had made his interests known a few minutes before, but instead of dancing they were standing rather still, one hand firmly holding Luke's face, the other holding tightly to his wrist. The stranger was kissing Luke, though really, Reid wasn't sure he could even call it that. It was more like slobbering on him, kissing him so messily he might as well have been licking him instead. Luke's eyes, Reid noticed, were wide open and while he occasionally appeared to move his mouth against the other man's, but for the most part he looked petrified.
Before Reid could step in (not that he cared enough to step in, of course), the kiss ended, leaving Luke panting and his friend grinning triumphantly. He pressed against Luke again, causing Luke to step back and knock legs with Reid (an action which he realized is what had gotten his attention in the first place). Before anyone watching could see it coming, the stranger was moving in again, attaching his mouth to Luke's. Reid blinked, fist clenching at his side.
Without thinking, for really, who could possibly consider logical thought during a moment such as this, Reid released his drink and found Luke's free hand, giving it a small tug. The motion caused Luke to jump, and apparently to bite the man sticking his tongue down his throat. The man leaned back, touching his lip with a confused expression before that smug grin returned and he actually attempted to go in for another kiss.
"I don't think so," Reid frowned, speaking just loud enough to hear over the music. He moved his hand up to Luke's forearm, pulling to blond against his chest. The silent man looked between them and Reid suddenly had the urge to knock that damn smile from his face. It worked, though, and Luke found himself being released, their buddy disappearing into the crowd.
As soon as he was gone, Reid let go of Luke's arm and leaned against the bar, willing the tension in every inch of his body to fade.
"Thank you," Luke panted, making a face before reaching up to wipe the saliva from his face. "Agh, that was disgusting!"
"You really know how to pick 'em, don't you?" commented Reid.
Luke paused, locking gazes with Reid and frowning.
"I didn't exactly ask for that to happen, you know," said Luke defensively. "He basically forced me to dance."
"You could have said no."
"I had no reason to!" Luke shouted. "He seemed… fine, nice even."
"Until he decided your mouth was the perfect place to stick his tongue."
Luke dropped his shoulders, eyes narrowing as he tilted his head, a silent "Really?" echoing between them. Reid widened his eyes and shrugged his shoulders innocently, turning back to the bar.
"I mean it, though," said Luke a bit more seriously, coming to lean against both arms beside Reid. "Thank you. I kept trying to push him off, hell, I even bit him--"
"--I think he liked it--"
"--But it seemed to do nothing but…"
"Turn him on?"
Luke blushed. "Basically."
"For being the one to drag me to this dump, you really don't know much about gay bars, do you? Or any kind of night club for that matter."
"I'm from Oakdale, Dr. Oliver," Luke grinned, as though that said everything. Actually, it kind of did.
"Touché."
*
Silence passed easily between them, Reid slowly finishing off his beer, Luke sipping at his glass of water. They watched the boys dancing on the bars, Luke with innocent interest and Reid with eye rolling. They could see in the mirror that two more boys, dressed similarly to their bar dancers, were making use of the pole.
The atmosphere did little for either of them, though, especially after Luke's little encounter.
"Want to get out of here?" Luke finally asked.
"God, yes," Reid groaned.
They began to push their way toward the curtain wall and essentially their freedom. Just as they were about to make their way out, though, Reid paused. Luke noticed and stopped as well, following Reid's gaze to where the women he'd been dancing with earlier now stood together, still as jolly as they had been before. At first Luke just smiled, catching the tall red-headed woman's eye and giving a small wave -- but when he turned to Reid, he noticed him frowning.
"What?" he asked. Reid nodded toward the women and Luke looked again. Just as he did, his 'friend' approached the group, making his way up behind two of the youngest, slipping his hand into that of the young brunette girl that had chatted with Reid.
Without discussion they both moved forward. Just as Reid had done with him, Luke grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her away from the guy invading their circle, holding her protectively against his chest.
"Try again," Luke said with a sarcastic grin, standing impressively tall, a hand protectively on the girl's shoulder, who was blushing furiously again. The guy simply made a face and shrugged, stepping away, no doubt off to find another unsuspecting victim. Watching from the side, Reid couldn't help but smile proudly.
"Thanks," said the girl, again tucking her hair behind her ears innocently. "He was a bit creepy."
Reid snorted. They all looked up, staring at him with questioning eyes -- except for Luke. Luke just smiled.
*
"Well that was interesting," Reid finally said after five minutes of walking in silence. Luke had said a quick goodbye to his new friends before following Reid to the coat check and making a hasty getaway from the club. With no real destination, they'd simply started walking.
"You can say that again," Luke sighed.
"'Well that was interesting'," Reid in fact repeated. Luke glanced up, smirking enough that his dimples showed. He stepped closer and nudged Reid with his shoulder, causing them both to laugh.
"I'm sorry if I ruined your night," said Luke next. "I probably should have just found a nice café or something, but instead I drag you to a place like that."
Reid shrugged. "It was…"
"Interesting?" Luke answered.
Reid let out a loud laugh. "Yes, that. But it was also kind of… fun."
"Wow," gasped Luke. "I don't think I've ever heard you use the 'f' word before!"
"Don't tell anyone, it'll ruin my reputation," Reid grinned.
"So do you want to head back to the hotel?" Luke asked. "I could seriously use some mouthwash or something… god that was just gross," he chuckled.
"Mm, I agree with you there," Reid said, scrunching his face as though he could actually smell Luke's breath. "Was he trying to kiss you or eat you whole?"
"I think he was trying to give me a tongue bath," Luke responded, laughing even harder once the words were out of his mouth.
*
They caught a cab rather quickly and were back at the hotel in no time. Once upstairs, Luke headed straight for the bathroom -- Reid could hear water running and the sound of gargling. He grinned, shaking his head and digging his hands into his pockets.
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe Luke really did just look pretty damn fantastic as he came back into the room. He was patting a dry washcloth to his face, which he'd clearly splashed water on, running fingers through his messy blond hair and simply looking refreshed and untouched. Reid gulped.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
"Who is calling you at one-thirty in the morning?" Luke asked, casting Reid a smile.
Wondering the same thing, but with far less amusement, Reid pulled the device out. It had buzzed only once, and he cursed under his breath to see he had two missed calls and one new voicemail.
"Damn it," he muttered. Luke stepped closer, his face a silent question. "It was the board. They called over three hours ago. They left a message."
There was a pause.
"Well," began Luke. "What did they say?"
*
Luke stood silently just behind Reid's shoulder, and Reid was quite aware of how close the young man was to him. He nervously flipped the phone around in his hands, trying to gather the courage to listen to the message.
"You're afraid it's bad news," said Luke softly. Reid nearly jumped at the sound.
"I wish I didn't care this much," answered Reid, glancing back as Luke stepped even closer. "This message it's… it's everything. It's Noah's surgery, it's my career… it's my life." He paused. "What if they tell me I can't practice medicine anymore?"
Try as he might, Reid knew there was no hiding the fear in his voice.
"Well, then you fight them. You're way too obnoxious to just lay down and die," Luke smiled. For a moment, just a moment, it was enough for Reid.
"I've worked my whole life to become what I am," he began to explain, the doubt filling him again. "I need my work, I need to experience those highs and lows every day. Without it I'm--"
"Without it, you'll be fine. You're more than a doctor," insisted Luke, taking another step.
"What else am I?"
Luke paused, but then a smile crept into his eyes. "You're a Knight in Shining Armor."
Reid laughed enthusiastically. "More like Knight in Blue Scrubs," he offered, causing Luke loudly as well. Reid's face softened, a hint of seriousness creeping into his eyes. "You were a bit of a hero tonight yourself."
Ducking his head for a moment, Luke glanced up with an embarrassed but appreciative smile.
The young man's ease was contagious and Reid found the tension slowly begin to seep away. The warmth of Luke's hand on his shoulder as he told him to make the call was pretty helpful, too.
With Luke's encouragement and his own determination to just get it the hell over with, Reid held down the 1 on his keypad, speed dial taking him directly to his voicemail. The computerized female voice greeted him, informing him that he did in fact have one new message. Finally the message played.
*
Barely breathing, barely thinking, Reid lowered the phone, slipping it into his pants pocket and staring blankly ahead as the news set in.
"Well?" asked Luke from his place at Reid's side. Reid shifted, taking a deep breath as he turned in what felt like slow motion toward the blond. In the same motion, his arms raised and he cupped Luke's face within his hands. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing, no nerves -- without breaking his turn, he moved into Luke's space, confidently meeting Luke's lips with his own.
*
"I'm reinstated, can you believe it? Vasco says they're going to keep the investigation open -- why? I have no idea, I'm certainly not guilty of any malpractice, but in the mean time, I can get out of here!" Reid was practically dancing as he spun toward his things, going on about getting back in the operating room and first decisions, fingers that had just moments ago held Luke's cheek now gripping the cool leather of his briefcase.
"This never would have happened without you," Reid said, suddenly stopping as his eyes locked with Luke's, who seemed completely (and understandably) bewildered.
"Dr. Oliver," Luke said softly, bashfully looking down for a moment before his confidence returned, looking Reid square in the eye. "You do realize you kissed me, right? I mean, that's… okay, it's nothing to be embarrassed by… you're really excited, you just got some great news… but I think--"
He was cut off mid-sentence by Reid's lips pressing against his own for a second time, a small part of his brain registering the sound of Reid's briefcase hitting the floor as hands once against found his face.
"I know what I did," said Reid, his voice practically a whisper as he just barely pulled away. He still held Luke in his hands, faces just inches apart. "It had nothing to do with the phone call, I wanted to kiss you. I've wanted to kiss you for a long time… Luke."
Watching as Luke's eyes lit up, Reid wasn't sure which had surprised the young man more -- his sudden show of affection, or the use of his first name.
Luke stared, lips trembling as though he was lost in his search for words. Reid smiled, thumb brushing Luke's cheek. "Though I've gotta say, I'm pretty glad I waited until after you brushed your teeth."
They both fell into loud laughter, the sound only ceasing as Luke brought their lips together again.
summary: "don't tell me, you found the nearest gay bar?" "maybe."
rating: pg-13
notes: This is largely (*cough* almost completely) inspired by my own experience in New York City earlier this month. We went to Mason Dixon (holy-surrealism, batman!) and then to a club called "RUSH", where myself & another in our party had the misfortune of running into the 'friend' Luke meets during this story (even sharing Luke's experience!) I like to think Luke's version turned out quite better… xD
dedicated to: Teri (first & foremost <3), Colleen, Angela, Sharlie, Pup, Nicole & Cherimola (all of whom are in this story!)
thanks to: Cherimola for being my AMAZING beta yet again. I don't know what I would do without her. Also to the other ladies listed above for reviewing bits of this beforehand, and for going through this crazy evening with me! (Even if they did nothing to save me and laughed at me for days afterward =P You know who you are! Haha)
This is largely inspired by my own experience in New York City earlier this month. We went to Mason Dixon (holy-surrealism, batman!) and then to a club called "RUSH", where myself & another in our party had the misfortune of running into Luke's friend (and sharing his experience!) I like to think Luke's version turned out quite better… xD Dedicated to Teri, Colleen, Angela, Sharlie, Pup, Nicole & Cherimola (all of whom are in this story!)
-----------------------------
The sky burned a deep reddish-orange by the time they made their way back to Luke's hotel room, briefcases falling onto the table with soft thunks and accompanying sighs. Reid rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck, feeling the weariness in his muscles with every small movement. Luke shrugged off his light jacket and began to shuffle through his things, digging out his cell phone quietly. Settling into a chair across the room, Reid started in on another journal artcile, red pen at-the-ready. Neither said a word to one another in the process.
"No, I'm still in Texas."
Luke's voice captured Reid's attention long enough for him to glance up and notice the phone before his eyes fell back to the journal in his hands. He did his best to focus on the words in front of him, but with Luke Snyder's voice ringing through the otherwise silent room, it was nearly impossible. The mention of an award ceremony gained another look up. The blond stood with his back to the older man, giving Reid the perfect opportunity to continue to stare and listen in on the conversation with mild amusement, looking away only when he feared that Luke might turn around and catch him eavesdropping.
The phone call ended and just like that, it was impossible for Reid to resist. The banter than ensued was nothing less than predictably entertaining, and for once Luke gave Reid a pass on his obnoxious behavior. After all, the man was waiting on a decision that could change his life.
"That's it. We're getting out of here. What is there to do in this town?"
"I don't know, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, you lived here for years. What's there to do?"
Luke shouldn't have been surprised -- after all, Reid made no secret of the fact that he wasn't a social person. In fact, that only thing that did surprise Luke was when Reid told him, "All my friends actually work." He couldn't help but smirk at the idea of Reid actually having friends.
Ultimately modern technology proved once again to be his ally, though perhaps he would think differently at the end of the night. For the moment, though, the web browser on his tiny little phone provided him with his only window into Dallas life. Doctor Oliver was clearly going to be no help in that department.
"Did you see those old buzzards looking at me? They can't wait to really stick it to a young hot-shot like me, teach me a lesson -- hey, Snyder."
"Oh, sorry. Were you saying something?"
"My life is over, I'll never work again, blah blah blah."
Luke blinked.
"Do you have your wallet on you?"
"My wallet?"
"Yeah, you're gonna need it. We're going out."
Shadows brought to life by street lamps instead of sunlight played across the far wall, the sound of night time traffic buzzing on the street below -- Friday night in Dallas was just getting started.
"Don't tell me, you found the nearest gay bar?"
Luke grinned.
"Maybe."
*
"It's only nine thirty, nothing is even open yet," Reid complained as he followed Luke out of the cab.
"It's also Friday," Luke pointed out. "Everything opens early. Besides, it's college night or something, these places start to fill up as soon as classes are out."
"Oh great," Reid groaned loudly. "Just what I need, to be surrounded by a bunch of drunk, horny college kids."
All Luke could do was laugh.
It was a short walk from where they'd been dropped off to the club. Regardless of the time, the street was crawling with people, moving in and out of the bars and restaurants, the sounds of cars and conversation vibrating off every building and neon signs lighting up every corner of their walk.
They arrived at the club within minutes, Luke smiling so eagerly that Reid couldn't even honestly consider turning around and running in the opposite direction. A small section outside the club was sectioned off and two large men in leather jackets stood just inside, moving along the small line that had already formed. Reid could hear music playing loudly and light smoke, no doubt from some ridiculous smoke machine, was drifting out through the doors every time someone went in or out. Above them in simple white letters read, "RUSH."
*
After the tacky wristbands had been attached they were permitted into the ridiculously small entry way, completely black save the small backlight from the counter where a rather cocky young man (who more than obviously flirted with everyone who came through the door) took their money and directed them around to the coat check. Cursing under his breath ("Twenty bucks just to get in and five more to check my damn coat?"), Reid handed over his suit jacket and took his ticket, sticking it into the front pocket of his jeans. Luke was already pushing aside the curtains to their left and stepping into the dimly lit, smoke-filled room with a smile more appropriate for Christmas morning than entering a night club.
It was still early and the place was fairly empty -- a few people lingered by the stage (because of course there was a small stage, pole and all) and others sat on the bench along the wall. One couple bravely danced in the middle, two tall young men not much older than Luke who weren't afraid to publicly display their affection. Reid made a bee line for the bar, immediately ordering a beer and ignoring the smile the (admittedly cute) bartender gave him.
Beside him, Luke was still smiling, leaning back on the bar and gazing with mature eyes as the room slowly began to fill.
"This is awesome," he shouted over the loud music, leaning toward Reid.
"Sure," Reid said after a pause, pursing his lips and nodding a less than genuine thanks as the bartender brought him his drink.
"Oh, come on, Doctor Oliver!" Luke laughed, turning to lean on one elbow and grinning at Reid. The older man couldn't help but notice that the childish gleam in Luke's eyes was long gone, replaced by something older, sexier.
He gulped and turned back to his drink.
Reid nursed his first beer very slowly, wanting to feel that slight burn in the back of his throat but determined to keep his wits about him. Luke on the other hand seemed to be having a blast. He still hadn't left Reid's side, but he was raising his arms high above his head, swaying his hips to the music and happily singing along. It seemed that regardless of the company (or lack thereof) that Reid offered, the young man was determined to have a good time.
*
Reid was pretty amazed at how quickly midnight rolled around. They no longer had an option on where to stand, trapped at the bar, which was fine with him. The club was small, tiny really, and by now it was completely filled with men and women alike, all ages and types represented amongst the crowd.
Luke spent the time dancing and attempting conversation with Reid, which he only occasionally returned. Colored laser lights shot through the smoke, illuminating a face or two at a time, though the anonymity of the club prevailed. Luke danced with a few guys, though sometimes he didn't even need anyone to dance with, simply moving with the music on his own. Other times he became a part of a larger group of young men, all dancing together and smiling, innocently enjoying each other's company while they had it.
A song Reid didn't recognize (not that he could recognize anything with how heavy the bass was pumping) was playing and Luke was once again pulled into a group of five guys, forming a tight, awkward circle, though none seemed to care. His arms were high above his head, blond hair flying around his head as he swayed. His back was to Reid and the older man could see a fine line of sweat down the back of Luke's shirt where it stuck to his skin. He swallowed, eyes following the trail from Luke's shoulders down to his mid then lower back. Swallowing again, he looked away before his eyes could wander any further.
With a little liquid courage burning down the back of his throat, Reid dared to glance up again, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips to see Luke enjoying himself so much.
In that moment, caught between a smile and desire, Luke looked sideways at Reid. For the briefest of moments their eyes locked. It was Reid who looked away, startled at being caught, but it wasn't for long. Boldly he turned his eyes back to Luke's, dark eyes pulling like magnets. Without looking away, Reid raised his glass to his lips steadily. Luke's lips curved upward in a bashful smirk and he looked down momentarily before meeting Reid's eyes again, a playful expression on his face.
Reid was quite aware of the heat coursing through his body, the tension in his legs as they itched to move forward -- but Reid was too stubborn to let that happen. His face fell into a frown, which Luke mirrored as he watched Reid push his way to the side, through the thick of dancers and toward the other end of the bar.
*
The bartender brought Reid his second beer of the night, purposefully allowing their fingers to brush as he handed it over. He ignored the action, which wasn't hard to do -- now near the corner end of the bar he was suddenly quite aware of the young man actually dancing on the bar top, wearing nothing but the world's tightest undies, probably made for boys half their age. He felt the heat rush through his body and he cleared his throat, taking a quick swig of his drink. There was a rather loud group of women nearby, all clearly straight, and some of which were talking with the boy up on the bar, even taking pictures of (and with) him. Reid rolled his eyes, trying to ignore them but it was next to impossible. One of them kept grabbing random boys from the flow of dancers and smelling them, causing a fit of giggles from the rest.
Reid rolled his eyes and tried to look away -- until he realized that the guy in their grasps this time was none other than Luke.
Standing in the circle of women, Luke was laughing and talking in that overly friendly way of his, which Reid could hardly find surprising. The women were practically swooning over him and Reid fought the urge to walk up to them and remind them that this was a gay bar, but something told him they were all too aware of that fact.
*
The music changed and a heavy bass echoed through the building. Everyone let out a yell of approval, including Luke and his new friends, and he offered his hands to two of the women. The one appeared to be around Reid's age with short curly brown hair and bright eyes, lips turning up in a smirk directed toward her friends. The other seemed to be the youngest of the bunch, closer to Luke's age and with the same doe eyes and bright smile. The three began to dance, their companions cheering them on as they laughed and swayed with the music. Watching Luke enjoy himself, smiling with more joy and energy than Reid could remember ever seeing on the young man's face in the few months they had known each other, he found himself unable to resist smiling as well.
Luke happily danced with each and every one of the ladies in the group in turn. Regardless of how much he tried to ignore the scene to his left, Reid found himself glancing over, rolling his eyes and hiding his smile by taking another sip of his beer. His glances didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you here with him?" came a woman's voice in Reid's ear. Surprised, he turned to find the younger girl Luke had initially danced with leaning back on the bar beside him, smiling pleasantly in his direction. Reid gulped the bit of liquid in his mouth down and looked between Luke and the girl talking to him, eyes wide and slightly confused.
"Him? No," he said quickly before making a face. "Well, yes, technically he dragged me here, but… No, no, I'm not here with him."
Reid groaned.
The girl laughed.
"That's too bad! He's a great dancer," she gushed, the red in her cheeks visible even in the dark. Reid found himself smirking behind his glass again. "How about you? Do you dance?"
"Absolutely not," Reid answered automatically.
"Me either," the girl smiled, still red in the cheeks. Another trait she apparently shared with Luke.
"Could have fooled me."
"Oh, that?" she laughed, nodding toward Luke, who was currently dancing with a slender brunette in smart glasses and a vibrant smile, clearly enjoying herself. "I can dance, or, well, I will dance," she shrugged. "But this isn't exactly my scene."
"Mine either."
"Could have fooled me," she returned, a smile comparable to Luke's spreading across her lips. Resisting the urge to say, "touché", Reid simply gave her a genuine grin, laughing in approval.
Just then Luke appeared behind the girl's shoulder, moving around her through the dense crowd to stand at Reid's side. He was glowing, bangs plastered to his forehead with sweat and his breathing slightly erratic.
"Hey," he breathed heavily, smiling from Reid to the girl.
"I should probably get back to my friends, make sure they're behaving," she winked.
"Somehow I doubt that," said Reid, causing all three of them to laugh.
"It was really nice meeting you both!" she said happily, tucking her bangs behind her ears and giving Reid a bashful smile before offering a small wave to Luke, turning around and pushing through the crowd after her friends.
"I think she likes you," Luke laughed loudly. Reid's smile quickly faded and he rolled his eyes, turning back to the bar.
"Having fun?" he asked dryly, determined to change the subject.
"Yes!" Luke exclaimed happily. "I would suggest you dance, too, Dr. Oliver, but I have a feeling it isn't really your thing," he grinned.
"Hmm," was all Reid said.
"You've been stressing out for days, you deserve to enjoy yourself," Luke said seriously. "Come on, Dr. Oliver. Life is short, have some fun!"
As if on cue, a tall dark-haired man appeared at Luke's shoulder, pressing against him lightly and smiling in a way that Reid could only classify as creepy. Luke appeared startled for a moment, but with that quick-to-trust nature of his, it was only a matter of seconds before he was smiling again and giving into the other man's silent request for a dance. Reid could help but notice that this new guy had somehow snagged Luke's hand in the process, pulling him a few inches closer. With one hand slung lazily against Luke's hip, the other still holding his hand up above their heads, the man began to move, encouraging Luke without ever saying a word.
Luke, amazingly, just kept on smiling, clearly having no qualms about dancing with a stranger. His new friend seemed to be enjoying himself as well, Reid noticed, nearly choking on his drink as he watched Luke's dark-haired dance partner tug him closer, grinding their hips together provocatively. At first he turned away, refusing to watch. Instead, he ordered a third beer, telling the bartender to make it quick.
*
Still refusing to give any attention to Mr. Snyder and his choice of recreation, Reid traced the grain lines in the wooden bar top, simply concentrating on keeping his eyes pointed down. He figured he'd give it another, oh, ten minutes, and then he'd bolt -- whether Mr. Snyder chose to follow or not was his business.
It wasn't until something, or rather someone, brushed against his leg that he finally looked up, eyes finding the mirror behind the bar, giving him a clear sight of what was happening behind him -- and what he saw made him instantly turn around.
Luke still stood incredibly close to the dark haired man that had made his interests known a few minutes before, but instead of dancing they were standing rather still, one hand firmly holding Luke's face, the other holding tightly to his wrist. The stranger was kissing Luke, though really, Reid wasn't sure he could even call it that. It was more like slobbering on him, kissing him so messily he might as well have been licking him instead. Luke's eyes, Reid noticed, were wide open and while he occasionally appeared to move his mouth against the other man's, but for the most part he looked petrified.
Before Reid could step in (not that he cared enough to step in, of course), the kiss ended, leaving Luke panting and his friend grinning triumphantly. He pressed against Luke again, causing Luke to step back and knock legs with Reid (an action which he realized is what had gotten his attention in the first place). Before anyone watching could see it coming, the stranger was moving in again, attaching his mouth to Luke's. Reid blinked, fist clenching at his side.
Without thinking, for really, who could possibly consider logical thought during a moment such as this, Reid released his drink and found Luke's free hand, giving it a small tug. The motion caused Luke to jump, and apparently to bite the man sticking his tongue down his throat. The man leaned back, touching his lip with a confused expression before that smug grin returned and he actually attempted to go in for another kiss.
"I don't think so," Reid frowned, speaking just loud enough to hear over the music. He moved his hand up to Luke's forearm, pulling to blond against his chest. The silent man looked between them and Reid suddenly had the urge to knock that damn smile from his face. It worked, though, and Luke found himself being released, their buddy disappearing into the crowd.
As soon as he was gone, Reid let go of Luke's arm and leaned against the bar, willing the tension in every inch of his body to fade.
"Thank you," Luke panted, making a face before reaching up to wipe the saliva from his face. "Agh, that was disgusting!"
"You really know how to pick 'em, don't you?" commented Reid.
Luke paused, locking gazes with Reid and frowning.
"I didn't exactly ask for that to happen, you know," said Luke defensively. "He basically forced me to dance."
"You could have said no."
"I had no reason to!" Luke shouted. "He seemed… fine, nice even."
"Until he decided your mouth was the perfect place to stick his tongue."
Luke dropped his shoulders, eyes narrowing as he tilted his head, a silent "Really?" echoing between them. Reid widened his eyes and shrugged his shoulders innocently, turning back to the bar.
"I mean it, though," said Luke a bit more seriously, coming to lean against both arms beside Reid. "Thank you. I kept trying to push him off, hell, I even bit him--"
"--I think he liked it--"
"--But it seemed to do nothing but…"
"Turn him on?"
Luke blushed. "Basically."
"For being the one to drag me to this dump, you really don't know much about gay bars, do you? Or any kind of night club for that matter."
"I'm from Oakdale, Dr. Oliver," Luke grinned, as though that said everything. Actually, it kind of did.
"Touché."
*
Silence passed easily between them, Reid slowly finishing off his beer, Luke sipping at his glass of water. They watched the boys dancing on the bars, Luke with innocent interest and Reid with eye rolling. They could see in the mirror that two more boys, dressed similarly to their bar dancers, were making use of the pole.
The atmosphere did little for either of them, though, especially after Luke's little encounter.
"Want to get out of here?" Luke finally asked.
"God, yes," Reid groaned.
They began to push their way toward the curtain wall and essentially their freedom. Just as they were about to make their way out, though, Reid paused. Luke noticed and stopped as well, following Reid's gaze to where the women he'd been dancing with earlier now stood together, still as jolly as they had been before. At first Luke just smiled, catching the tall red-headed woman's eye and giving a small wave -- but when he turned to Reid, he noticed him frowning.
"What?" he asked. Reid nodded toward the women and Luke looked again. Just as he did, his 'friend' approached the group, making his way up behind two of the youngest, slipping his hand into that of the young brunette girl that had chatted with Reid.
Without discussion they both moved forward. Just as Reid had done with him, Luke grabbed the girl's hand and pulled her away from the guy invading their circle, holding her protectively against his chest.
"Try again," Luke said with a sarcastic grin, standing impressively tall, a hand protectively on the girl's shoulder, who was blushing furiously again. The guy simply made a face and shrugged, stepping away, no doubt off to find another unsuspecting victim. Watching from the side, Reid couldn't help but smile proudly.
"Thanks," said the girl, again tucking her hair behind her ears innocently. "He was a bit creepy."
Reid snorted. They all looked up, staring at him with questioning eyes -- except for Luke. Luke just smiled.
*
"Well that was interesting," Reid finally said after five minutes of walking in silence. Luke had said a quick goodbye to his new friends before following Reid to the coat check and making a hasty getaway from the club. With no real destination, they'd simply started walking.
"You can say that again," Luke sighed.
"'Well that was interesting'," Reid in fact repeated. Luke glanced up, smirking enough that his dimples showed. He stepped closer and nudged Reid with his shoulder, causing them both to laugh.
"I'm sorry if I ruined your night," said Luke next. "I probably should have just found a nice café or something, but instead I drag you to a place like that."
Reid shrugged. "It was…"
"Interesting?" Luke answered.
Reid let out a loud laugh. "Yes, that. But it was also kind of… fun."
"Wow," gasped Luke. "I don't think I've ever heard you use the 'f' word before!"
"Don't tell anyone, it'll ruin my reputation," Reid grinned.
"So do you want to head back to the hotel?" Luke asked. "I could seriously use some mouthwash or something… god that was just gross," he chuckled.
"Mm, I agree with you there," Reid said, scrunching his face as though he could actually smell Luke's breath. "Was he trying to kiss you or eat you whole?"
"I think he was trying to give me a tongue bath," Luke responded, laughing even harder once the words were out of his mouth.
*
They caught a cab rather quickly and were back at the hotel in no time. Once upstairs, Luke headed straight for the bathroom -- Reid could hear water running and the sound of gargling. He grinned, shaking his head and digging his hands into his pockets.
Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe Luke really did just look pretty damn fantastic as he came back into the room. He was patting a dry washcloth to his face, which he'd clearly splashed water on, running fingers through his messy blond hair and simply looking refreshed and untouched. Reid gulped.
Just then, his phone buzzed.
"Who is calling you at one-thirty in the morning?" Luke asked, casting Reid a smile.
Wondering the same thing, but with far less amusement, Reid pulled the device out. It had buzzed only once, and he cursed under his breath to see he had two missed calls and one new voicemail.
"Damn it," he muttered. Luke stepped closer, his face a silent question. "It was the board. They called over three hours ago. They left a message."
There was a pause.
"Well," began Luke. "What did they say?"
*
Luke stood silently just behind Reid's shoulder, and Reid was quite aware of how close the young man was to him. He nervously flipped the phone around in his hands, trying to gather the courage to listen to the message.
"You're afraid it's bad news," said Luke softly. Reid nearly jumped at the sound.
"I wish I didn't care this much," answered Reid, glancing back as Luke stepped even closer. "This message it's… it's everything. It's Noah's surgery, it's my career… it's my life." He paused. "What if they tell me I can't practice medicine anymore?"
Try as he might, Reid knew there was no hiding the fear in his voice.
"Well, then you fight them. You're way too obnoxious to just lay down and die," Luke smiled. For a moment, just a moment, it was enough for Reid.
"I've worked my whole life to become what I am," he began to explain, the doubt filling him again. "I need my work, I need to experience those highs and lows every day. Without it I'm--"
"Without it, you'll be fine. You're more than a doctor," insisted Luke, taking another step.
"What else am I?"
Luke paused, but then a smile crept into his eyes. "You're a Knight in Shining Armor."
Reid laughed enthusiastically. "More like Knight in Blue Scrubs," he offered, causing Luke loudly as well. Reid's face softened, a hint of seriousness creeping into his eyes. "You were a bit of a hero tonight yourself."
Ducking his head for a moment, Luke glanced up with an embarrassed but appreciative smile.
The young man's ease was contagious and Reid found the tension slowly begin to seep away. The warmth of Luke's hand on his shoulder as he told him to make the call was pretty helpful, too.
With Luke's encouragement and his own determination to just get it the hell over with, Reid held down the 1 on his keypad, speed dial taking him directly to his voicemail. The computerized female voice greeted him, informing him that he did in fact have one new message. Finally the message played.
*
Barely breathing, barely thinking, Reid lowered the phone, slipping it into his pants pocket and staring blankly ahead as the news set in.
"Well?" asked Luke from his place at Reid's side. Reid shifted, taking a deep breath as he turned in what felt like slow motion toward the blond. In the same motion, his arms raised and he cupped Luke's face within his hands. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing, no nerves -- without breaking his turn, he moved into Luke's space, confidently meeting Luke's lips with his own.
*
"I'm reinstated, can you believe it? Vasco says they're going to keep the investigation open -- why? I have no idea, I'm certainly not guilty of any malpractice, but in the mean time, I can get out of here!" Reid was practically dancing as he spun toward his things, going on about getting back in the operating room and first decisions, fingers that had just moments ago held Luke's cheek now gripping the cool leather of his briefcase.
"This never would have happened without you," Reid said, suddenly stopping as his eyes locked with Luke's, who seemed completely (and understandably) bewildered.
"Dr. Oliver," Luke said softly, bashfully looking down for a moment before his confidence returned, looking Reid square in the eye. "You do realize you kissed me, right? I mean, that's… okay, it's nothing to be embarrassed by… you're really excited, you just got some great news… but I think--"
He was cut off mid-sentence by Reid's lips pressing against his own for a second time, a small part of his brain registering the sound of Reid's briefcase hitting the floor as hands once against found his face.
"I know what I did," said Reid, his voice practically a whisper as he just barely pulled away. He still held Luke in his hands, faces just inches apart. "It had nothing to do with the phone call, I wanted to kiss you. I've wanted to kiss you for a long time… Luke."
Watching as Luke's eyes lit up, Reid wasn't sure which had surprised the young man more -- his sudden show of affection, or the use of his first name.
Luke stared, lips trembling as though he was lost in his search for words. Reid smiled, thumb brushing Luke's cheek. "Though I've gotta say, I'm pretty glad I waited until after you brushed your teeth."
They both fell into loud laughter, the sound only ceasing as Luke brought their lips together again.