NEW! "Persons Unknown - Part One" (Sequel to "Taken," ATWT/Nuke)
Title "Persons Unknown"(Part 1 of 2)
What It Is Sequel to "Taken"
Pairing: Nuke/Lure
Prompt Luke finds out about Noah's tattoos.
Rating: M for language
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
Everyone wanted a sequel to "Taken," so here it is.
Note: This story takes place in the same ‘verse as "Taken," “Angels Lie,” and “My Favorite Disease.”
***
Persons Unknown
Luke’s not spying on Noah, he’s not. He’s just checking up on him to make sure he’s okay. Just being a friend.
Okay, he and Noah haven’t been friends - haven’t been anything - for at least three months. This whole summer, as a matter of fact.
He knows Noah is avoiding him, which is a pretty impressive feat considering they live in such a tiny town. He half-hopes Noah will show up at some Snyder function - he knows his family invites him - but he doesn’t. Sometimes he “accidentally” drives past campus or Ali’s apartment or peeks in the window at Java hoping - and failing - to catch a glimpse of him.
But when Luke finally does see Noah, he kinda wishes he hadn't.
***
Luke’s been writing press releases for gay-friendly publications and websites, explaining the work of the foundation. One newspaper, based in Chicago, has a slideshow on their blog showing highlights from Pride weekend. During a slow afternoon at the office Luke idly pages through the photos, trying not to feel jealous. He had floated the idea of going to Chicago with Reid - they could take in the sights, hit the Pride celebration, make a romantic weekend of it. But it turns out Reid has as much contempt for Pride as he does for Snyder family picnics. Needless to say, they stayed in.
Luke scowls and hits the arrow at the bottom of the screen, then stops at the next photo.
It’s Noah.
At Pride.
With another guy.
Luke checks again, then a third time just to be sure, but it’s definitely Noah.
And another guy.
A really good-looking guy. Really good-looking. Like, movie-star handsome. He’s shorter than Noah, but ripped. His tank top shows off muscled arms and a wealth of colorful tattoos. His dark hair, thinning a little on top, is cut short and his goatee is neatly trimmed. He and Noah have their arms slung around each other’s shoulders. They’re holding beer bottles and laughing. Usually Noah stiffens up whenever someone points a camera at him, but he must have been pretty damn relaxed that day because he looks totally comfortable and happy.
With another guy.
“Huh,” Luke says, leaning back in his chair. “What the hell?”
He’s tempted to call Noah and ask him about it, but he can’t think of a way to phrase the question that doesn’t sound A) pathetic, B) jealous, or C) like a stalker.
Hey, who was that hot guy I saw you with - online?
So, you seeing anybody with tattoos these days?
Hey, Noah, what’s up - been to any gay-themed celebrations lately?
Given that Luke's the one who ended things, he doesn’t have the right to ask if Noah’s seeing anyone, or be jealous if he is. Even if it’s a really hot tattoed muscled guy. So he doesn’t call him.
The picture stays with him, though. Haunts him. Taunts him. Makes him wonder what else is going on in Noah’s life that he doesn’t know about.
But when Luke finally does find out, he kinda wishes he hadn’t.
***
Crime is rare in Oakdale, as long as there aren’t any Grimaldis in town, so any minor incident immediately becomes major news. One night Luke hears through the grapevine (i.e., the checkout line at the gas station) that there was an attempted robbery at Yo’s by persons unknown, an attempt that was thwarted by one of the bartenders. Luke listens with interest as a customer relates the tale to the cashier. This is Oakdale, after all - any news is big news. But he doesn’t think much of it. He figures he’ll get the whole story from Jack at the next Snyder get-together.
The thought makes him scowl. Reid hates Snyder get-togethers.
“Oh, joy, another gathering of the Walton clan,” he said that morning when Luke told him about an upcoming barbecue at the farm. “Didn’t we attend this hootenanny last weekend?”
Luke frowns at the memory and tries not to think about how much Noah loved Snyder get-togethers. He would actually bitch at Luke if he took too long getting ready, because he didn’t want to be late. When they got there, he would make the rounds - kiss all the women on the cheek, shake all the men’s hands, and scoop up any little kids into his arms. Of course, the kids always wanted Noah to chase them and tickle them, and he never got tired of obliging. At the end of the gathering, he’d help clean up and do dishes and usually Luke had to drag him out to the truck and bribe him with promises of sex to get him to leave.
Luke has to bribe Reid with promises of sex to get him to go in the first place.
Luke shakes his head, trying to shake off his mood as well. He gets in his car and drives to the hospital to pick up his boyfriend. It’s a beautiful late-summer night, warm but with a cool breeze that hints of autumn. As he drives past Yo’s he catches a glimpse of yellow police tape fluttering in the darkness. He literally hasn’t set foot in the place since the disastrous “celebration” drink with Reid and Noah and whatshisname.
Richard.
He wonders if Noah is seeing him, too.
Not your business! he reminds himself sternly. Broken up! Dating Chicago hotties now!
He parks in his spot at the hospital, close to the main entrance - one of the perks of being a major donor. There’s a squad car idling out front, a uniformed officer at the wheel. Luke assumes it’s because of the robbery and vaguely wonders if anyone got hurt. As he walks through the sliding front doors, Jack’s walking out, escorting a young man in handcuffs. The young guy’s face is bruised, and he looks fairly freaked.
“Just keep that crazy motherfucker away from me, man,” he says to Jack. “I mean it!”
Jack, on his cell, ignores him. “Hey, Margo, it’s Jack,” he says into the phone. “I’m bringing the first guy in. Second one’s still having his arm set...Yeah, no kidding.”
Jack catches sight of Luke and nods in greeting. “Hang on, Margo.” He pauses and presses the phone against his shoulder for a moment. “He’s in the ER,” he tells Luke. “He’ll be fine. It looks worse than it is.”
Luke blinks at him in surprise. “What?”
But Jack’s walking away, dragging his prisoner with him, still on the phone. “Sorry about that. I was filling Luke in...Nah, he’ll be okay, just some stitches.” Jack chuckles in amusement. “Yeah, I told him you’d want to talk to him about that.” The sliding doors close behind him, cutting off the rest of the conversation.
Luke stands looking after him in confusion. “What the hell?” he asks.
He heads to the ER. To his surprise, Reid is there, along with Casey and Alison. Casey sits on an exam table in one of the alcoves while Alison holds a bag of ice to his head and Reid shines a penlight in his eyes. As Luke approaches, he clicks it off.
“Pupils are normal,” he says. “I’m telling you, there’s no sign of a concussion.”
“See, Ali?” Casey says. “I told you I’m fine.” Luke notices that he has a ripe bruise on his forehead.
“Shouldn’t you do some sort of brain scan?” Alison asks Reid anxiously.
“We’d have to locate his brain first,” Reid replies.
Luke winces and Ali looks pissed, but Casey laughs. He seems hyped, even more than usual. “You’re all heart, doc.” He glances over and sees Luke. “Hey, Luke,” he says quickly. “He’s all right. He’s just getting stitched up.”
Luke frowns. “Who?”
Everyone stares at him.
“Noah,” Ali says slowly, like she can’t believe he’s asking.
“Noah’s here?” Luke asks, looking around. He doesn’t see him.
“Hello?” Casey says. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“I’m here to pick up Reid.”
“Oh,” Ali says. She and Casey get that closed-off, disappointed look they get whenever Luke mentions Reid.
Reid notices, of course, He’d have to be blind not to. “And on that note, I’m done,” he sneers. “Assuming I’m free to go?” He looks pointedly at Ali.
“Are you sure he’ll be okay?” she asks. "What about pain?"
Reid sighs in annoyance. “Give him aspirin. If he starts having any symptoms, bring him back in.”
“I’m fine,” Casey insists. “I’ve got a head like a bowling ball.” To prove it, he raps his knuckles on his forehead.
“Excuse me!” Luke says loudly. “Why is Noah in the hospital? What happened?”
Casey frowns in puzzlement. “Dude, you didn’t hear about the fight at Yo’s?”
“I heard someone tried to rob the place, but the bartender stopped them.”
“Yeah, hello? That was Noah.”
“Noah works at Yo’s?” Luke says. “Since when?”
They all stare at him again.
“Since, like, all summer,” Casey says finally. “Where have you been?”
“What about Java?” Luke asks.
Casey frowns. “Dude, he hasn’t worked there in months.”
“You didn’t know?” Ali asks, her voice tinged with disapproval.
“Geez, Luke, even I knew that,” Reid says primly, slipping his penlight back in his shirt pocket. “Can I get my ride home now?”
“Wait.” Luke waves his hands in the air for silence. “Just wait a minute.” He paces the floor for a few seconds, then comes back. “So Noah’s the one who stopped the robbery tonight?”
“Dude, you should have been there.” Casey’s eyes light up. “These guys came in right as we were closing up-"
“What were you doing there?” Luke asks. "Or do you work there now, too?"
Casey shrugs, ignoring Luke's brittle tone. “Just hanging out. Noah and I were gonna shoot some pool after he closed.”
“Okay.” Luke wants to ask if Casey and Noah hang out often, but Casey’s on a roll.
“Noah asked me to lock up while he closed the register,” he says. “I’m telling you, the guys must have staked the place out because they shoved the door open just as I was shutting it. One of them had a knife and grabbed me. Told Noah to empty the till or he’d cut my throat.”
“Oh, my God, Casey!” Ali gets tears in her eyes. “You could have been killed.”
“Nah, it was no biggie,” Casey says impatiently. He’s practically bouncing from excitement. “Noah said okay, no problem, and the second guy walked over with a bag for him to put the money in. Noah’s behind the bar, right? So as soon as the guy gets close enough Noah just clocks him. Bam!” Casey demonstrates with a punch in the air. “Guy staggers back and falls.” Casey waves his arms for emphasis.
“That was reckless,” Ali scolded.
“Yeah, what about the guy holding the knife?” Luke asks.
“He lets go of me and goes after Noah,” Casey says. “Then Noah jumps over the bar and totally puts the ninja moves on the guy. He got a little cut up ‘cause of the knife--”
“What?” Luke asks in alarm. “Is he hurt?”
Casey shrugs. “Chris is stitching him up. It’s no big deal.” He sobers for a moment. “Noah broke the guy’s arm. It was pretty brutal. I haven’t seen a fight like that since the joint.”
“What about this?” Ali pulls away the ice bag to point at Casey’s bruise. “How did this happen?”
Casey brightens again. “The guy with the bag, the one Noah punched? He got up off the floor to help his buddy, so I head-butted him.” Casey grins, relishing the memory. “Then both guys were down, so we called the cops. Or, I did. Noah was still a little...wound up. I kinda had to pull him off the guy.”
There’s a howl of pain from a nearby alcove, and Luke jumps at the sound. Casey smiles grimly.
“Yeah, that’s him. My grandpa’s setting his arm.”
“And that’s enough excitement for me for one night,” Reid interjects smoothly. “Luke?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute.” Luke rubs his head, which is starting to ache.
“Fine,” Reid says through his teeth. “You get caught up with your pals. I’ll just go shower and change. My shift was officially over an hour ago, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to be drafted into ER duty.” He glares at Ali, and she blushes.
“Thank you so much, Dr. Oliver,” she says. “I just wanted to make sure Casey was okay.”
Reid loops his stethoscope around his neck. “Trust me, it’ll take more than a little head butt to crack that thick skull. Luke,” he looks pointedly at him. “See you in ten?”
“Sure,” Luke says distractedly.
Reid frowns and walks off without another word.
“Casey, I want you to stay with me and Noah tonight,” Ali says.
“Oh, yeah?” Casey leers at her. “Am I gonna get lucky?”
Ali punches him in the arm. “You can sleep on the couch, idiot.”
“Then what’s the point?”
Ali sighs impatiently “So I can check on you every couple hours,” she says. “And make sure you don’t have a concussion. It’s either me or your mom,” she adds.
Casey’s face falls. “Oh, yeah,” he says. “She’s gonna kill me.”
“Understatement.” Alison removes the ice bag, examines Casey’s bruise, and kisses it tenderly. He looks at her for a long moment.
Luke clears his throat. “I hate to interrupt,” he says.
Casey and Alison blink, the moment shattered. Alison takes a careful step back. “I’ll go get you that aspirin,” she says.
“Thanks, Ali.” Casey watches her go.
“Where’s Noah now?” Luke asks.
“Uh...” Casey shakes his head, bringing himself back to the present. “Chris took him to one of the rooms down the hall. He kinda went after the guy again in the ER, and Jack had to pull him off.”
“That doesn’t sound like Noah,” Luke says.
Casey shrugs, then smiles at Ali as she returns.
“Take these,” she orders. She puts the aspirin in his hand and gives him a bottle of water. “My shift’s over in a few minutes, then I’ll drive you to my place.”
“Thanks,” Casey says. He’s starting to look tired, like the adrenaline’s wearing off.
Luke claps him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, man.” Casey and Luke do the awkward, one-armed, back-pounding guy hug.
“I’ll see you both later. Take care of him, Ali,” Luke says and heads down the hall.
“Where are you going?” Ali asks.
Luke stops and turns around in surprise. “To see Noah.”
Ali frowns. “Why?”
Luke stares at her. “To make sure he’s okay.”
“He told me he was fine,” Casey says.
“This is Noah,” Luke points out. “He could be in there having his arm amputated and he’d still say he was fine.”
Casey and Ali exchange uneasy glances.
“What?” Luke demands.
“Maybe you should just...” Ali’s voice falters.
“What?” Luke asks again.
“Leave him alone,” she says.
“Are you serious?” Luke asks, his voice squeaking in suprise.
Casey speaks up. “Ali’s right. Noah’s had a really rough night. Maybe you should...call him tomorrow or something.”
“What the hell?” Luke puts his hands on his hips. “Why are you warning me off? Is there someone in there with Noah? Is he seeing someone?” He has visions of Hot Tattooed Muscle Guy hovering over Noah, holding his hand and soothing his troubled brow.
“Of course not!” Ali snaps.
“It’s just been a rough night,” Casey repeats.
“Which is why I need to see him,” Luke insists, “I know how Noah gets after something like this happens, how he gets down on himself. You don’t.”
Casey hops down off the exam table. He’s starting to look angry. “Are you sure about that?” he asks.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke demands. “Are you saying you know Noah better than I do? Because you don’t.”
“Casey,” Ali says softly, putting her hand on his arm. “Just let him see Noah. It’s okay.”
“I don’t need anyone’s permission to see Noah!” Luke snarls.
Casey steps forward, but Ali gets between them. “He’s in room 103,” she tells Luke. “Down the hall and to your right.”
“Thank you,” Luke snaps. Pissed as hell, he walks away, down the hall and to his right.
The very idea that Casey or Ali - that anyone - could know Noah better than he does makes him furious. Maddie, maybe. She and Noah have always been tight, even after he came out. But even she doesn’t know him as well as he-
Luke stops, staring at Noah.
“What the hell?” he says
To be continued...
What It Is Sequel to "Taken"
Pairing: Nuke/Lure
Prompt Luke finds out about Noah's tattoos.
Rating: M for language
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
Everyone wanted a sequel to "Taken," so here it is.
Note: This story takes place in the same ‘verse as "Taken," “Angels Lie,” and “My Favorite Disease.”
***
Persons Unknown
Luke’s not spying on Noah, he’s not. He’s just checking up on him to make sure he’s okay. Just being a friend.
Okay, he and Noah haven’t been friends - haven’t been anything - for at least three months. This whole summer, as a matter of fact.
He knows Noah is avoiding him, which is a pretty impressive feat considering they live in such a tiny town. He half-hopes Noah will show up at some Snyder function - he knows his family invites him - but he doesn’t. Sometimes he “accidentally” drives past campus or Ali’s apartment or peeks in the window at Java hoping - and failing - to catch a glimpse of him.
But when Luke finally does see Noah, he kinda wishes he hadn't.
***
Luke’s been writing press releases for gay-friendly publications and websites, explaining the work of the foundation. One newspaper, based in Chicago, has a slideshow on their blog showing highlights from Pride weekend. During a slow afternoon at the office Luke idly pages through the photos, trying not to feel jealous. He had floated the idea of going to Chicago with Reid - they could take in the sights, hit the Pride celebration, make a romantic weekend of it. But it turns out Reid has as much contempt for Pride as he does for Snyder family picnics. Needless to say, they stayed in.
Luke scowls and hits the arrow at the bottom of the screen, then stops at the next photo.
It’s Noah.
At Pride.
With another guy.
Luke checks again, then a third time just to be sure, but it’s definitely Noah.
And another guy.
A really good-looking guy. Really good-looking. Like, movie-star handsome. He’s shorter than Noah, but ripped. His tank top shows off muscled arms and a wealth of colorful tattoos. His dark hair, thinning a little on top, is cut short and his goatee is neatly trimmed. He and Noah have their arms slung around each other’s shoulders. They’re holding beer bottles and laughing. Usually Noah stiffens up whenever someone points a camera at him, but he must have been pretty damn relaxed that day because he looks totally comfortable and happy.
With another guy.
“Huh,” Luke says, leaning back in his chair. “What the hell?”
He’s tempted to call Noah and ask him about it, but he can’t think of a way to phrase the question that doesn’t sound A) pathetic, B) jealous, or C) like a stalker.
Hey, who was that hot guy I saw you with - online?
So, you seeing anybody with tattoos these days?
Hey, Noah, what’s up - been to any gay-themed celebrations lately?
Given that Luke's the one who ended things, he doesn’t have the right to ask if Noah’s seeing anyone, or be jealous if he is. Even if it’s a really hot tattoed muscled guy. So he doesn’t call him.
The picture stays with him, though. Haunts him. Taunts him. Makes him wonder what else is going on in Noah’s life that he doesn’t know about.
But when Luke finally does find out, he kinda wishes he hadn’t.
***
Crime is rare in Oakdale, as long as there aren’t any Grimaldis in town, so any minor incident immediately becomes major news. One night Luke hears through the grapevine (i.e., the checkout line at the gas station) that there was an attempted robbery at Yo’s by persons unknown, an attempt that was thwarted by one of the bartenders. Luke listens with interest as a customer relates the tale to the cashier. This is Oakdale, after all - any news is big news. But he doesn’t think much of it. He figures he’ll get the whole story from Jack at the next Snyder get-together.
The thought makes him scowl. Reid hates Snyder get-togethers.
“Oh, joy, another gathering of the Walton clan,” he said that morning when Luke told him about an upcoming barbecue at the farm. “Didn’t we attend this hootenanny last weekend?”
Luke frowns at the memory and tries not to think about how much Noah loved Snyder get-togethers. He would actually bitch at Luke if he took too long getting ready, because he didn’t want to be late. When they got there, he would make the rounds - kiss all the women on the cheek, shake all the men’s hands, and scoop up any little kids into his arms. Of course, the kids always wanted Noah to chase them and tickle them, and he never got tired of obliging. At the end of the gathering, he’d help clean up and do dishes and usually Luke had to drag him out to the truck and bribe him with promises of sex to get him to leave.
Luke has to bribe Reid with promises of sex to get him to go in the first place.
Luke shakes his head, trying to shake off his mood as well. He gets in his car and drives to the hospital to pick up his boyfriend. It’s a beautiful late-summer night, warm but with a cool breeze that hints of autumn. As he drives past Yo’s he catches a glimpse of yellow police tape fluttering in the darkness. He literally hasn’t set foot in the place since the disastrous “celebration” drink with Reid and Noah and whatshisname.
Richard.
He wonders if Noah is seeing him, too.
Not your business! he reminds himself sternly. Broken up! Dating Chicago hotties now!
He parks in his spot at the hospital, close to the main entrance - one of the perks of being a major donor. There’s a squad car idling out front, a uniformed officer at the wheel. Luke assumes it’s because of the robbery and vaguely wonders if anyone got hurt. As he walks through the sliding front doors, Jack’s walking out, escorting a young man in handcuffs. The young guy’s face is bruised, and he looks fairly freaked.
“Just keep that crazy motherfucker away from me, man,” he says to Jack. “I mean it!”
Jack, on his cell, ignores him. “Hey, Margo, it’s Jack,” he says into the phone. “I’m bringing the first guy in. Second one’s still having his arm set...Yeah, no kidding.”
Jack catches sight of Luke and nods in greeting. “Hang on, Margo.” He pauses and presses the phone against his shoulder for a moment. “He’s in the ER,” he tells Luke. “He’ll be fine. It looks worse than it is.”
Luke blinks at him in surprise. “What?”
But Jack’s walking away, dragging his prisoner with him, still on the phone. “Sorry about that. I was filling Luke in...Nah, he’ll be okay, just some stitches.” Jack chuckles in amusement. “Yeah, I told him you’d want to talk to him about that.” The sliding doors close behind him, cutting off the rest of the conversation.
Luke stands looking after him in confusion. “What the hell?” he asks.
He heads to the ER. To his surprise, Reid is there, along with Casey and Alison. Casey sits on an exam table in one of the alcoves while Alison holds a bag of ice to his head and Reid shines a penlight in his eyes. As Luke approaches, he clicks it off.
“Pupils are normal,” he says. “I’m telling you, there’s no sign of a concussion.”
“See, Ali?” Casey says. “I told you I’m fine.” Luke notices that he has a ripe bruise on his forehead.
“Shouldn’t you do some sort of brain scan?” Alison asks Reid anxiously.
“We’d have to locate his brain first,” Reid replies.
Luke winces and Ali looks pissed, but Casey laughs. He seems hyped, even more than usual. “You’re all heart, doc.” He glances over and sees Luke. “Hey, Luke,” he says quickly. “He’s all right. He’s just getting stitched up.”
Luke frowns. “Who?”
Everyone stares at him.
“Noah,” Ali says slowly, like she can’t believe he’s asking.
“Noah’s here?” Luke asks, looking around. He doesn’t see him.
“Hello?” Casey says. “Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“I’m here to pick up Reid.”
“Oh,” Ali says. She and Casey get that closed-off, disappointed look they get whenever Luke mentions Reid.
Reid notices, of course, He’d have to be blind not to. “And on that note, I’m done,” he sneers. “Assuming I’m free to go?” He looks pointedly at Ali.
“Are you sure he’ll be okay?” she asks. "What about pain?"
Reid sighs in annoyance. “Give him aspirin. If he starts having any symptoms, bring him back in.”
“I’m fine,” Casey insists. “I’ve got a head like a bowling ball.” To prove it, he raps his knuckles on his forehead.
“Excuse me!” Luke says loudly. “Why is Noah in the hospital? What happened?”
Casey frowns in puzzlement. “Dude, you didn’t hear about the fight at Yo’s?”
“I heard someone tried to rob the place, but the bartender stopped them.”
“Yeah, hello? That was Noah.”
“Noah works at Yo’s?” Luke says. “Since when?”
They all stare at him again.
“Since, like, all summer,” Casey says finally. “Where have you been?”
“What about Java?” Luke asks.
Casey frowns. “Dude, he hasn’t worked there in months.”
“You didn’t know?” Ali asks, her voice tinged with disapproval.
“Geez, Luke, even I knew that,” Reid says primly, slipping his penlight back in his shirt pocket. “Can I get my ride home now?”
“Wait.” Luke waves his hands in the air for silence. “Just wait a minute.” He paces the floor for a few seconds, then comes back. “So Noah’s the one who stopped the robbery tonight?”
“Dude, you should have been there.” Casey’s eyes light up. “These guys came in right as we were closing up-"
“What were you doing there?” Luke asks. "Or do you work there now, too?"
Casey shrugs, ignoring Luke's brittle tone. “Just hanging out. Noah and I were gonna shoot some pool after he closed.”
“Okay.” Luke wants to ask if Casey and Noah hang out often, but Casey’s on a roll.
“Noah asked me to lock up while he closed the register,” he says. “I’m telling you, the guys must have staked the place out because they shoved the door open just as I was shutting it. One of them had a knife and grabbed me. Told Noah to empty the till or he’d cut my throat.”
“Oh, my God, Casey!” Ali gets tears in her eyes. “You could have been killed.”
“Nah, it was no biggie,” Casey says impatiently. He’s practically bouncing from excitement. “Noah said okay, no problem, and the second guy walked over with a bag for him to put the money in. Noah’s behind the bar, right? So as soon as the guy gets close enough Noah just clocks him. Bam!” Casey demonstrates with a punch in the air. “Guy staggers back and falls.” Casey waves his arms for emphasis.
“That was reckless,” Ali scolded.
“Yeah, what about the guy holding the knife?” Luke asks.
“He lets go of me and goes after Noah,” Casey says. “Then Noah jumps over the bar and totally puts the ninja moves on the guy. He got a little cut up ‘cause of the knife--”
“What?” Luke asks in alarm. “Is he hurt?”
Casey shrugs. “Chris is stitching him up. It’s no big deal.” He sobers for a moment. “Noah broke the guy’s arm. It was pretty brutal. I haven’t seen a fight like that since the joint.”
“What about this?” Ali pulls away the ice bag to point at Casey’s bruise. “How did this happen?”
Casey brightens again. “The guy with the bag, the one Noah punched? He got up off the floor to help his buddy, so I head-butted him.” Casey grins, relishing the memory. “Then both guys were down, so we called the cops. Or, I did. Noah was still a little...wound up. I kinda had to pull him off the guy.”
There’s a howl of pain from a nearby alcove, and Luke jumps at the sound. Casey smiles grimly.
“Yeah, that’s him. My grandpa’s setting his arm.”
“And that’s enough excitement for me for one night,” Reid interjects smoothly. “Luke?”
“Yeah, just give me a minute.” Luke rubs his head, which is starting to ache.
“Fine,” Reid says through his teeth. “You get caught up with your pals. I’ll just go shower and change. My shift was officially over an hour ago, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to be drafted into ER duty.” He glares at Ali, and she blushes.
“Thank you so much, Dr. Oliver,” she says. “I just wanted to make sure Casey was okay.”
Reid loops his stethoscope around his neck. “Trust me, it’ll take more than a little head butt to crack that thick skull. Luke,” he looks pointedly at him. “See you in ten?”
“Sure,” Luke says distractedly.
Reid frowns and walks off without another word.
“Casey, I want you to stay with me and Noah tonight,” Ali says.
“Oh, yeah?” Casey leers at her. “Am I gonna get lucky?”
Ali punches him in the arm. “You can sleep on the couch, idiot.”
“Then what’s the point?”
Ali sighs impatiently “So I can check on you every couple hours,” she says. “And make sure you don’t have a concussion. It’s either me or your mom,” she adds.
Casey’s face falls. “Oh, yeah,” he says. “She’s gonna kill me.”
“Understatement.” Alison removes the ice bag, examines Casey’s bruise, and kisses it tenderly. He looks at her for a long moment.
Luke clears his throat. “I hate to interrupt,” he says.
Casey and Alison blink, the moment shattered. Alison takes a careful step back. “I’ll go get you that aspirin,” she says.
“Thanks, Ali.” Casey watches her go.
“Where’s Noah now?” Luke asks.
“Uh...” Casey shakes his head, bringing himself back to the present. “Chris took him to one of the rooms down the hall. He kinda went after the guy again in the ER, and Jack had to pull him off.”
“That doesn’t sound like Noah,” Luke says.
Casey shrugs, then smiles at Ali as she returns.
“Take these,” she orders. She puts the aspirin in his hand and gives him a bottle of water. “My shift’s over in a few minutes, then I’ll drive you to my place.”
“Thanks,” Casey says. He’s starting to look tired, like the adrenaline’s wearing off.
Luke claps him on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks, man.” Casey and Luke do the awkward, one-armed, back-pounding guy hug.
“I’ll see you both later. Take care of him, Ali,” Luke says and heads down the hall.
“Where are you going?” Ali asks.
Luke stops and turns around in surprise. “To see Noah.”
Ali frowns. “Why?”
Luke stares at her. “To make sure he’s okay.”
“He told me he was fine,” Casey says.
“This is Noah,” Luke points out. “He could be in there having his arm amputated and he’d still say he was fine.”
Casey and Ali exchange uneasy glances.
“What?” Luke demands.
“Maybe you should just...” Ali’s voice falters.
“What?” Luke asks again.
“Leave him alone,” she says.
“Are you serious?” Luke asks, his voice squeaking in suprise.
Casey speaks up. “Ali’s right. Noah’s had a really rough night. Maybe you should...call him tomorrow or something.”
“What the hell?” Luke puts his hands on his hips. “Why are you warning me off? Is there someone in there with Noah? Is he seeing someone?” He has visions of Hot Tattooed Muscle Guy hovering over Noah, holding his hand and soothing his troubled brow.
“Of course not!” Ali snaps.
“It’s just been a rough night,” Casey repeats.
“Which is why I need to see him,” Luke insists, “I know how Noah gets after something like this happens, how he gets down on himself. You don’t.”
Casey hops down off the exam table. He’s starting to look angry. “Are you sure about that?” he asks.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Luke demands. “Are you saying you know Noah better than I do? Because you don’t.”
“Casey,” Ali says softly, putting her hand on his arm. “Just let him see Noah. It’s okay.”
“I don’t need anyone’s permission to see Noah!” Luke snarls.
Casey steps forward, but Ali gets between them. “He’s in room 103,” she tells Luke. “Down the hall and to your right.”
“Thank you,” Luke snaps. Pissed as hell, he walks away, down the hall and to his right.
The very idea that Casey or Ali - that anyone - could know Noah better than he does makes him furious. Maddie, maybe. She and Noah have always been tight, even after he came out. But even she doesn’t know him as well as he-
Luke stops, staring at Noah.
“What the hell?” he says
To be continued...