Fic: First Kiss with the Last Boy (7/11)
Title: First Kiss with the Last Boy (7/11)
Author: gradgirl (aka Ali)
Rating: PG-13
Characters/Pairings: Primarily Luke and Reid, mentions of Noah, Katie and the Snyder Clan.
Summary: Sometimes it's not about the first boy you kiss, it's the last. Different scenarios in which Luke and Reid could have shared their first kiss.
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not my characters, just borrowing them for fic purposes.
Author’s Notes: As always I have to thank you all for stopping by and reading. All of your comments are so greatly appreciated. I have to thank my two betas (reilaroo and hopeful 624) for making this what it was. This series is made up of 10 one-shots, individual situations in which Luke and Reid could have shared their first kiss. The last chapter explains how they are tied together. ~Ali
{ Chapter 1} { Chapter 2} { Chapter 3} { Chapter 4} { Chapter 5} { Chapter 6}
Chapter 7: Eventually
Reid Oliver’s grip tightened on the steering wheel of his car. His knuckles were white and he felt anger and frustration course through his veins. Just when he thought his annoyance with the town that time forgot couldn’t reach any new heights, something like this would happen.
He had bitterly swallowed his pride and tried to be “nice” to Mr. Snyder when he needed money for the neurology wing. He’d even agreed to “work” with the blonde when he wanted a seat on the board. And worst of all, Reid had allowed Luke to come to him with plans and ideas, dozens of stupid meetings where the blonde would wax poetic about treating the whole patient, the need for rooms and comfortable chairs.
Reid smacked the steering wheel. He had done all of those things. They were annoyances, but generally Mr. Snyder would come to the hospital or check with Reid’s assistant before setting up these appointments. Now the doctor had to drive out to the sticks to track down the bratty millionaire.
Reid had waited 15 minutes (ten more then he would for anyone else). Luke never showed up. There was no phone call, text, e-mail, or even carrier pigeon to explain the young man’s absence. Luke may be late a minute or two, but never like this. He tried to dismiss the nagging feeling in his chest as concern. He might have gone down and checked with the ER, just to make sure the young man wasn’t in some sort of attempted to justify his walk down to the ER to make sure the young man wasn’t in some sort of trouble. Reid wasn’t sure which bothered him more: the fact that Luke wasn’t there (and Reid still didn’t know what had happened to him) or the relieved breath that wracked his body when he found out Luke wasn’t in the ER.
When Mr. Snyder didn’t answer his cell phone, the doctor managed to track down the number of Luke’s office. The younger man’s perky assistant (another thing to add to the list that bothered Reid so much) told him that Mr. Snyder was at the farm.
“What the hell is that?” Reid snapped in response.
Cindy, the annoyingly perky assistant, quickly explained it was the location of one of Luke’s family homes and gave him (per Reid’s demands) specific and detailed directions to the Snyder farm.
Now Reid found himself on a gravel road with his blood boiling and about a million things he had wanted to share with the young philanthropist. If it had been anyone else, Reid might have let it go, but he was angry and upset (for being concerned) and it was about time he said a fraction of those million things to Luke Snyder.
When the doctor finally made it to the Snyder Farm, his anger hadn’t lessened. He tried to school his features as he walked onto the porch and opened the door. Reid wasn’t going to knock, he didn’t think Luke deserved the decency of manners. He was greeted by the smell of warm cookies and a gray-haired woman.
“Oh, hello.” She gave him a kind smile. “I’m Emma Snyder. How can I help you?”
He was momentarily caught by the smell from the cookies. “Uh, I’m Dr. Reid Oliver.”
“Oh.” Emma put the cookies down immediately and reached for Reid. She pulled him close for a tight hug. “Luke talks about you all the time.”
The doctor reluctantly reached up and patted Emma on the back. He eyed the cookies over her shoulder. He briefly acknowledged that Emma said Luke talked about him frequently. His annoyance was starting to dissipate.
“We’re all so grateful for the way you helped my son, Holden. And Noah,” Emma said, pulling away. “What you are going to do for our Noah, we will always be indebted to you.”
Reid had to bite his tongue at Emma’s last comment. It wasn’t that he disliked his patient, but he couldn’t understand why everyone bent over backwards to help Noah when he didn’t seem to try to reciprocate the sentiment.
“How can I help you?” she asked.
“Oh, um…” For once, Dr. Oliver was at a loss for words.
“You must be here to see Luke. He’s in the barn, doing chores.”
Reid suppressed a grin. He couldn’t wait to discuss Mr. Snyder’s “chores.” “Well, yes,” the doctor replied. “Mr. Snyder and I had a meeting. He didn’t show, and I-”
“It’s so nice of you to be concerned,” Emma cut him off.
His mouth opened to protest, but he wasn’t sure what to say and that feeling of annoyance returned. She knew that he had been concerned. Reid prided himself on his cool demeanor, although Luke seemed to bring out the anger more than anyone else.
“Well, since Luke is out in the barn, do you want to wait?”
Almost of their own accord, his eyes wandered toward the cookies again. “Well…”
“Oh!” She clapped her hands together. “You probably have to get back to a patient.”
He really did need to meet with Luke; his schedule over the next couple of days would be hectic. He was half-afraid of the decisions the younger man would make without Reid to keep him in line.
“Since you need to go to the barn,” she told Reid. “Here.” Emma grabbed some of the cookies. “Take these. I also have some fresh lemonade.” She started to move around the kitchen, getting the food ready for travel. “You and Luke can have a snack while you talk. I’m sure he’ll be ready for a break soon.” She handed Reid the care package and gave him directions to the barn.
The whirlwind of Emma Snyder helped to lessen some of Reid’s anger. He stopped on his way toward the barn and ate the cookies. He figured it was the least he deserved for all of his inconvenience, and they were even better then he could imagine.
The air was a little warm for late-March, and the walk helped to improve his attitude, although, it was most likely the homemade cookies. Reid wasn’t the type to spend time outside, especially taking walks in the country.
By the time Reid reached the barn, he had decided to allow Mr. Snyder a minute of explanation for not calling before Reid yelled too much.
He hesitated in the open door. Luke was a few feet away from him. The blonde was wearing a T-shirt. It was stretched tight across his back and the worn jeans Luke had on hung low on his hips.
There was a groan that filled the space. Reid couldn’t be certain if it was him or Luke. As if sensing the doctor’s presence, Luke turned. The large bale he had been holding slipped from his hands. “Damn it,” he muttered. His blonde hair was mussed, some of it was sticking to his forehead. Luke’s eyes blazed and his face was stained red.
Reid had never seen nor expected to see Mr. Snyder like that. He found he couldn’t move his feet were glued to the barn floor.
Luke’s heart had been racing. He’d been moving some of the bales, trying to make room. It had been a long time-too long-since he had helped his dad at the farm. When he had called his father, Holden mentioned that work was backing up and he had to check on Luke’s Aunt Meg. Automatically, Luke found himself offering to help. He’d been trying to spend more time at the Foundation and now his work with the hospital and Dr. Oliver, anything to keep busy, anything to stop from thinking about Noah every other minute. The physical activity-strain in his arms, the twists to his back, the way his thighs burned-all of it was welcome. He wasn’t thinking about anything: not Noah, not Damian, and not the meeting he was supposed to have with Dr. Oliver.
“Damn it,” Luke repeated. His hands were limp at his sides. The bale was resting at his feet. It had scraped down his body. But the rest of the physical pain had been too much, and he barely noticed another layer had been added. His breath started to come out in heavy pants. He didn’t know what he was supposed to say, and he was too tired to argue. So Luke simply stood there: breathing hard, sweat rolling down his back.
For once Dr. Oliver was at a loss for words. He was still angry and annoyed. The unexpected greeting he received from the young man’s grandmother and the cookies had helped. But now that he was here: standing in front of Luke who…
The redhead shook his head. Okay, so yes, you’re attracted to him. Reid had acknowledged briefly, about a month after he’d arrived in Oakhell that even though he hated everything the young man in front of him stood for, he was attracted to Luke. It had been a few moments, fleeting, but now Reid couldn’t pretend. Rarely had he ever wanted any man more then he’d wanted Luke Snyder.
Luke started to move. His gaze never left the doctor’s and he stumbled into the bale of hay. His hands reached out and the bale slid, with Luke following it.
Reid was forced into action. He dropped the travel cups with lemonade. He moved quickly. By the time he got to Luke, the blonde was kneeling, resting on his haunches. He tugged off the gloves. His breathing had returned to normal. The doctor crouched down, trying to see if Luke needed any help. Reid reached out, but he was a little fearful, not sure if he could keep himself in check, especially when those brief moments of desire felt like they were barreling down on him.
Luke chuckled softly at first, but it quickly grew into a loud laugh, which echoed throughout the barn.
Reid’s hands fell, smacking by his sides. The doctor’s mouth opened, but no sound came out.
The younger man finally stopped laughing. “Sorry,” he said, his voice breathless.
“What’s so funny?” Dr. Oliver asked, his voice accusatory. He was angry from caring and even angrier at the young man for making Reid want him.
“You must be loving this,” Luke noted. “I have literally fallen at your feet.”
Dr. Oliver tried to repress a smile. It was something he would say. More than that, though, it was another reminder of why he was attracted to Luke. Those brief glimpses were based on the physical. But the more time he spent with Mr. Snyder, the more frequent the glimpses became-longer, deeper.
“Dr. Oliver?”
A warm, sweaty palm was pressed to Reid’s shoulder. The older man’s eyes fluttered shut. He took a breath and the scent of sweat and hay and the underlying whatever that made the younger man Luke filled his nostrils.
“Dr.-”
“I find it ironic,” he finally responded. “All of your insistence that we meet, the way you harp on me to dress up or be on time, and yet here you are: the farm boy.”
Luke shook his head. “You make it sound like I’m some character.” His hand moved off of Reid’s and he started to stand up. “But you always do that. The nicknames, the insults, anything other than to actually look at me and call me ‘Luke.’”
Reid stood up as well. He didn’t feel like being psychoanalyzed. “Mr. Snyder-”
“Right.”
The redhead’s response was automatic, and he didn’t realize what he was supposed to say. “What does any of this have to do with why you missed our appointment? And why you didn’t call?”
“I’m sorry,” Luke replied. “My dad called and-”
“You need to feel useful the same way I need to cut into people’s brains. Without medicine, I don’t know what I am.”
The blonde didn’t feel like being psychoanalyzed any more than Dr. Oliver did. But he was also surprised by the admission. He knew that about Dr. Oliver, but he didn’t think the other man would feel comfortable opening up to Luke. “So how did you find me?” he asked, changing the subject.
“Cindy,” Reid said the name with a grimace. “She told me you were at ‘the farm’ as though I should know what the hell that means.”
Luke crossed his arms over his chest. “I know I’ve mentioned my grandma Emma to you.”
“Do you think I pay attention to what you say?”
“Yes,” Luke replied, leaning in closer. He sniffed slightly. “Oatmeal raisin.”
Reid took a step back. “What?”
“Grandma was making cookies. How many did you steal?”
The doctor placed a hand on his chest, offended. “I didn’t have to ‘steal’ any cookies. Mrs. Snyder was glad to meet me. Apparently, you talk about me.”
Luke rolled his eyes. “I’m sure I told her about all the ways you annoy me.”
“If that were the case, why would she hug me?” he countered.
“She hugs everyone,” Luke tossed over his shoulder as he turned and started to nudge the bale of hay.
“I still didn’t steal the cookies.”
The blonde stopped moving, but he kept his back to the other man.
“So…” Reid drawled. “Farm boy and millionaire. Interesting dichotomy.”
Luke turned slowly. “I didn’t think you found anything about me interesting.”
Reid swallowed. For once, he didn’t have a quick response. Actually, Reid didn’t have any idea what he was supposed to say.
“Well, anyway, I’m sorry I missed our meeting and made you come all the way out here.”
“The cookies helped,” Dr. Oliver acquiesced.
The blonde smiled shyly. “As long as it wasn’t a total waste of your time. I’ll call your assistant and reschedule. I’ll even bring cookies.”
Reid found himself smiling in return. He knew Luke was trying to dismiss him, but the older man wasn’t quite ready to leave yet.
“So tell me, Farm Boy, is it better with the hay?”
Luke looked at him quizzically for a moment, not sure where this conversation was headed. Insults and snarky comments were the norm. He expected Reid to run as fast as he could.
“Roll in the hay,” the doctor added to emphasize his point.
The younger man briefly wondered if Reid was propositioning him. But it didn’t make sense, they’d never even kissed.
Neither man moved. Reid hadn’t been suggesting anything, but in a way, it didn’t feel like a bad idea.
Shaking away his thoughts, Luke let out a nervous chuckle. “That’s a comment from a city boy.”
Reid swallowed down his own retort. He didn’t think Luke had it in him. The redhead watched Luke for a moment. The other man bent down, his T-shirt rode up, and there was a patch of skin visible above the waistband of his pants. Luke straightened and Reid ignored his disappointment.
Luke reached out, his left hand rested gently against Reid’s cheek. His right hand held a few strands of straw. He rubbed the straw against the doctor’s face. “See?” he murmured, his breath dancing across Dr. Oliver’s face. “It’s like the beach. Good in theory but you get sand in uncomfortable places.”
Uncomfortable was the last word that came to Reid’s mind. He didn’t like where this was going. He reached up and grabbed the blonde’s hands. Luke tried to move, but his foot slipped on some of the loose hay. He fell back and the doctor followed.
They lay in a messy heap for a few moments. Reid’s chest pressed to Luke’s, and the blonde’s legs had spread slightly, Reid’s thigh sandwiched between both of Luke’s.
“You were saying?” the doctor muttered.
“Uncomfortable,” Luke said breathlessly.
Reid slowly leaned closer. “Are you?”
Luke’s response was to lift his head and meet the redhead halfway. Reid’s arms slid underneath the younger man’s head in place. They continued for a few moments, gentle kisses, which would deepen slightly and go back to soft brushes of lips.
Eventually, they would have to stop, get up, and go back…
Eventually.
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Thank you for reading. Still hard to get over that ATWT is over and they chose to end Luke and Reid’s story the way they did. Thank goodness for fic.
Also, please consider donating to Doctors Without Borders in honor of Eric Sheffer Stevens.
Onto Chapter Eight...