96 Promises
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #96 Promises
Rating: PG13
Summary: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar
Previously on As The World Keeps Turning:
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 #12 #13 #14 #15 #16 #17 #18 #19 #20
#21 #22 #23 #24 #25 #26 #27 #28 #29 #30 #31 #32 #33 #34 #35 #36 #37 #38 #39 #40 #41 #42 #43 #44 #45 #46 #47 #48 #49 #50 #51 #52 #53 #54 #55 #56 #57 #58 #59 #60 #61 #62 #63 #64 #65 #66 #67 #68 #69 #70 #71 #72 #73 #74 #75 #76 #77 #78 #79 #80 #81 #82 #83 #84 #85 #86 #87 #88 #89 #90 #91 #92 #93 #94 #95
Finally. They made it home without yet another crisis and they made it to bed, without yet another distraction. Well…at least he did. Reid followed Luke around with his eyes, while his blond was taking his medicine, searching through his bag and pulling out a plastic bag. He opened his drawer and filled it with a telling smile.
Reid grinned. “You have big plans…” he teased.
“I have,” Luke agreed calmly. “This being your day off and all…”
“Aren’t you forgetting one tiny detail?” Reid pointed at the ceiling and Luke shrugged.
“I told you… he takes a lot of naps.”
With a light giggle Luke jumped onto the bed and sat next to Reid. Something in the brown eyes shifted and - as always - Reid was fascinated when it happened. Not that it happened a lot, so he made sure he didn’t do or say anything to get Luke off track. There was a secret code. It started with one question.
“Can I come in?”
And it required one answer.
“Hell yes, Luciano. By all means.”
This was Luke, fighting off fear, anger or whatever intense emotion was bothering him. This was Luke being aggressive. Almost brutal. This was Luke demanding what he needed. Without insecurity. Without remorse. Without consideration. This was Luke in control.
And Reid let him. Putting himself completely in Luke’s very capable hands. He knew he was safe there. Whatever Luke needs were at that moment, they were never in conflict with Reid’s wellbeing. Never. So Reid let him. It was no sacrifice. He loved it.
He moaned when he made it back to bed after their shower and Luke frowned.
“Too much?”
“Never,” Reid’s grin was wicked and reassuring at the same time. “You feel better now?”
Luke nodded, finding a nice spot against Reid’s slim body.
“Yeah. I needed that.”
“I guessed that.” Reid kissed Luke’s temple. “Always happy to function as your personal safety valve.”
“I’m glad,” Luke sounded drowsy already. “Before…us… this would all build up and I would end up yelling and screaming or doing something really stupid…”
“I like this better,” Reid muttered and enjoyed Luke’s soft chuckle.
“Me too.”
Reid felt Luke’s body relax even more and the even breathing told him his lover had found a path to Dreamland. His fingers were not ready to follow Luke, though. They loved playing with the moist hair. At some point they stopped moving. Their master had falling to sleep.
“…but very quiet. Don’t wake him…”
Luke’s soft voice reached Reid’s brain and through his eyelashes he saw mini-Luke looking at him from the threshold. Shy. Curious. Yearning. And scared. Reid clenched his fists under the covers and took a deep breath. When one fist touched his leg, he was reminded of his current state. Naked. His brain settled into its stride. He needed to put his boxers on and he needed to go to the bathroom. Not an option with this boy in his doorway. So he slowly opened his eyes and smiled.
“Good morning Danny, where’s Luke?”
“Making breakfast…” the boy hesitated. “We’re having breakfast in bed…”
“Really?” Reid managed a genuine smile. “Sounds perfect. Could you go tell him I’m awake?”
Danny nodded, looking relieved he could leave and as soon as Reid heard the boy walk away, he jumped out of bed, grabbed his boxers from the chair and made a run for the bathroom. ‘Mental note to self: always keep boxers within reach.’
He had just returned back to bed when Luke walked in with a tray full of goodies and Danny walking right behind him. Still looking very insecure. As did Luke. ‘I’m not sure this is such a great idea anymore’, his eyes told Reid, ‘Please help.’
So Reid smacked his lips, looking at the food. “This looks great, doesn’t it, Dancer?”
Danny giggled. “Now I’m a reindeer?”
“Ah well, it’s the season to be jolly and all that,” Reid joked and the boy eased up a little.
“So tell me, where on the bed do you want to sit?”
The adults were not surprised Danny pointed at a spot on the foot of the bed. As far away from them as possible. As always, Luke was the creative one. He gave Danny the thumbs up and lifted him on the bed. He then walked to the huge blanket chest and pulled out a pillow and a small comforter.
“Here,” with some fast movements Luke created a little bed on their bed. “Now you can have your breakfast in bed.”
The young boy was processing this new experience and although still watchful, he visibly started to relax. He even put his panda down. Always a good sign.
Luke stepped into bed next to Reid and enjoyed Reid’s approving wink.
“This is nice. It’s like our own picnic,” the doctor smiled at his guys and focused on the tray. “I’d liked to start with a croissant.”
“Of course you do,” Luke smiled, handing him a plate, a knife, some jam and the croissant. He saw how Danny just stared at Reid. Accepting the plate with a smile, putting the jam on top of the bread, taking a bite and closing his eyes in pure joy.
So Luke wasn’t surprised when Danny pointed at Reid after he’d asked “And what do you want me to get you?” and he gave Danny the same items. “Do you need help?”
The boy shook his head and showed he had paid attention. He mimicked Reid’s motions perfectly. Including the closing of the eyes. Luke smiled. Danny was a fast student.
When all the food on the plate was gone, Luke just dropped it next to the bed and laid back. His hands under his head. He looked relaxed. Reid could see he wasn’t. He was afraid to scare Danny with the wrong movements. So Reid followed Luke’s lead and laid down too.
“So Dancer, how did you like this breakfast in bed thing?”
He couldn’t see the boy, but he did hear a soft chuckle. “Nice.”
“Good.” Reid nodded.
He could feel the bed move a little and according to the soft content sigh, Danny was lying down too. That was promising.
“Comfy?” Luke asked calmly and Danny’s soft “Yep” made the dads smile.
“This is what we call a lazy morning,” Reid explained on a similar lazy tone.
“Hmmm,” Luke agreed. “I love these mornings.”
He felt Reid’s hand on his cheek and softly kissed the fingers. When he came up a little to check on Danny, he frowned.
“You’re lying on your back?”
“Yeah. It’s much better.” Danny smiled.
“That’s good news,” Luke softly replied and saw the boy nod.
“How are the nightmares?” Reid asked calmly.
“Scary,” the boy said.
“Still every night?”
“Yeah.”
Reid was lost for words for a second. Then he said what he felt. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay.”
“You’re a very brave boy. A very strange reindeer, but a very brave boy.”
Danny laughed. Short but sweet.
The silence felt good. Reid felt Luke’s hand on his and their fingers entwined. Somehow they dozed off again, because Luke’s ringtone woke them all up.
“Hey dad.”
“Did I wake you?”
“Well, yeah… but we’re just having a lazy morning.”
“Sounds good,” Holden said, realizing he could use one of those mornings too, “I’m just calling to let you know that your mother is removed from intensive care. They’re keeping her sedated, so no need to visit or anything. And Lucinda is there.”
“Okay. I’ll check in with her tomorrow. Danny and I will be at the hospital anyway.”
“Okay son. Keep in touch.”
“I’ll do that. Say hi to everyone.”
With a soft sigh Luke placed his phone on the nightstand and laid back again, repeating the information Holden gave him.
Reid nodded. “As I expected,” he calmly said. Moving her from ICU is a good sign. Sounds like her breathing isn’t affected.”
“I understand that was a possibility?”
“It was. It’s all connected to that part of the brain that was damaged.”
Luke just nodded. He did worry about his mother, but he also wanted to enjoy this moment. So he changed the subject.
“Christmas is coming up soon…” He sat up a little so he could watch Danny. He smiled when he saw the boy looking at him.
“Do you have any wishes, Danny?”
The child immediately shook his head and Luke came up even more, with a teasing smile. “You don’t?”
Danny shrugged. “Santa was early. I wanted a safe home.”
“Check.” Reid murmured and they all chuckled.
“I’m glad that wish is fulfilled. But come on, Danny. There must be more stuff you’d like to have. Or like to do…”
That made the boy sit up and both fathers did the same. Apparently Danny had a wish list after all.
“I’d like to take a bath.”
For a moment, Reid and Luke just stared at him. What?
“With lots of bubbles in it,” Danny continued, his eyes all shiny.
All Reid could ask was “Why?” and the boy smiled. “I remember having a bath. Don’t know when. Long time ago. But all that warm water around me. It was great.”
This was his fondest memory? His biggest wish? Taking a bath? But Danny wasn’t faking. His whole face lit up by the thought of it and Luke sprung into action.
“Well, I’m not gonna let you wait till Christmas for that,” he smiled. “We don’t have a bath upstairs, but we do have a big one down here. If you get your clothes and underwear, I’ll start filling the tub.”
Danny was already making his way to the floor, when Luke realized a crucial point.
“But Danny…you know I let you shower alone, but I can’t leave you alone in the tub.” He saw mistrust crawling back in and Luke continued, “I’m not joining you in the tub, but I will supervise. Are you okay with that?”
The boy gave him a serious look and then slowly nodded. Not completely convinced, but obviously giving Luke the benefit of the doubt. And that was all Luke needed. He would never betray Danny’s confidence.
When Danny came back into the room with the clothes in his arms, Reid looked up from his laptop and smiled at him.
“Have fun, Dancer. I can smell the bath foam over here, so I think Luke is building a bubble party.”
“I am,” Luke replied from the bathroom.
Danny put his clothes on the chair near the door and cautiously stepped in. Reid watched him from the corner of his eye and cursed silently. The boy looked so scared. Again it made him wonder what this kid had endured. Did he really want to know?
Reid focused on Luke’s loving and calm voice. Sounding like dealing with abused kids was his daily routine.
“Do you want me turn around when you undress?”
Reid couldn’t see them, but according to Luke’s remark, Danny had shaken his head.
“Good. Let me help you then.”
First a PJ flew into their bedroom. Small briefs followed.
“Let me get you in there. Water okay? Not too hot?”
Reid could hear Danny sigh blissfully. “It’s perfect.”
“Good,” Reid almost could see Luke smile right now. “Here’s a sponge.”
The laptop was forgotten. Reid just sat back, with his eyes closed, listening to the sounds coming from the bathroom.
“Is it as good as you remember?”
“Better,” Danny looked happy.
“If you trust me, you can even try to float,” Luke suggested and Danny gave him a questioning look.
“I’ll keep my hand under your neck to keep your head out of the water and then you can let your body just float in the water. Ethan always loves that.”
Realizing his peer had experienced it gave Danny the last push and he nodded. So Luke put his strong hand under the small neck and then he gave a nod.
“Just relax. Let your body go where it wants to go.”
The first few seconds nothing happened, but Luke didn’t say anything. He knew it could take a while to fully relax. And then Danny’s body came loose. His face opened up, discovering this whole new experience and his eyes hooked into Luke’s.
“This is great,” the boy whispered and Luke just smiled.
When Danny closed his eyes, Luke’s heart felt ready to burst. He knew they had a long way to go, but in this moment of time Danny trusted him. Completely. It was overwhelming.
They lost every sense of time, but the water didn’t. It turned colder and Luke moved his fingers under Danny’s neck to warn him. As if he returned out of a deep trance, Danny looked confused.
“The water is cooling and if you stay in the water any longer, your skin will fall off…” When Danny sat up again, Luke showed him his little hand, all wrinkled, and the boy laughed for a moment. Getting serious the next.
“Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, sweetie. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much. We’ll do this more often, okay?”
A big grin and nodding head gave a clear answer and Luke came up and tilted Danny out of the water. He had a huge towel ready and started to dry the boy’s back. Softly, but not too caressing. He didn’t want to freak the boy out. He then turned Danny around and gave him the towel.
“You dry the front.”
Danny did and Luke noticed the painful flinch when the boy dried his groin. He put his hand under Danny’s chin and made him look at him.
“Does it hurt?”
Danny bit his lip and then nodded.
“Badly?”
The boy shrugged. “Only when I touch…”.
“You know we’re seeing the doctor tomorrow…”
“I don’t want him touching it…” Danny’s eyes filled with tears and he shivered. “I didn’t want them to…”
Them? “I know, sweetie,” Luke sank to his knees, wrapped the body into the towel and pulled him close. Danny’s hands almost clawed Luke’s neck, as he started crying.
“They hurt me,” he sobbed.
“I know, sweetie,” Luke repeated.
Luke smiled when he felt the support behind him. Reid sat on the ground too, with his legs around Luke and his arms around both blonds. It was a strange, but effective, group hug. Reid smiled when Danny moved his hands from Luke’s neck to Reid’s cheeks. It wasn’t clear who was consoling who, at this point, but it didn’t matter. They just sat there. In silence support.
Luke was the first to speak and he continued the earlier topic.
“We need to check this out, Danny. Something could be damaged.”
“We can only try to fix it, if we know something is wrong.” Reid stated, making the boy nod.
“Will it hurt?”
“Maybe a little,” Reid nodded. “The doctor will need to touch it. Maybe he needs to make an ultra-sound scan to check what’s under the skin.”
Danny sighed. “Okay.” He looked at Luke. “You will be there, right?”
“All the way, buddy. I won’t let anyone hurt you like that again.” Luke kissed the boy’s cheek and remembered Reid’s remark. We can only try to fix it, if we know something is wrong.
“And when somebody tries to touch you there, you come and tell me and Reid, okay? Whoever it is. You come and tell us. Promise?”
He could feel Danny nod, but it wasn’t enough. So Luke repeated his question and this time the boy did answer.
“Promise.”