Fic: Don't Let Go (3b/7)
{ Chapter 1} { Chapter 2} { Chapter 3a}
*
Reid stormed into his office at the university. He slammed his coffee down and watched some of it drip over the side, despite the lid. “Damn it,” he muttered, searching for something to wipe up the mess.
He knew there was something going on with those four kids. Three times a week, they came to his class, and he could observe them. Reid would bet money that Casey Hughes was straight as an arrow. There was no chemistry between him and Luke. Reid was convinced of that, but then he’d seen the way Casey was touching Luke’s arm this morning before class.
Class.
He shook his head. Reid couldn’t think of his brief encounter with Luke, without remembering the way Luke had argued with him and his confession about being an alcoholic. He had wanted to take Luke’s hand, pull him from the classroom, and let Luke tell him what he wanted or needed. Hell, Reid just wanted to be alone with the young man.
Reid took a sip of his drink. It had cooled, and Reid threw it away in disgust.
But if he thought about class, then he would have to remember the way Noah had tried to comfort Luke and what was that conversation he had witnessed? Before today, Reid didn’t think there was much chemistry between Luke and Noah, either. Reid wondered if that was his attraction coming into play. Was he letting his own fantasies about Luke get in the way of what was really going on between Noah and Luke? Mayer wouldn’t be the first gay guy to marry an immigrant to keep her in the country, Reid deduced. Sometimes they even thought it would be easier-no hurt feelings from significant others, no worries about giving in to physical attraction. Reid broke cases easily enough with a few flirtatious comments and heated gazes. The thought of trying that with Noah made him feel ill. Luke on the other hand…
Stop it, he demanded. Forget about that kid and how he makes you feel.
Reid glanced at his wall clock. If he hurried, he could get a cup of bad coffee from the lounge down the hall. He’d gotten a notice from the head of the department that he even though he was undercover he still needed to keep up appearances. He had been assigned as an advisor for 20 students and the appointments were to start soon, actually in the next five minutes.
“Whoever this kid was, he’d just have to wait,” Reid decided. He’d need caffeine, especially if he was going to give any kind of “advice.”
When Reid returned to his office a few minutes later, he found Luke standing outside his door. Luke was still a little upset, Reid could see that immediately. The young man had his hands shoved into the pocket of his pants. He was staring at the floor. Even from a few feet away, Reid could feel the tension in Luke. His desire to pull the young man close and promise him that Reid could make everything okay came unbidden again. He tried to shove it down.
Luke’s head snapped up when he heard the approaching footsteps. “Professor Oliver?” he greeted Reid in surprise. “You’re my advisor.”
Reid was about to make a dry comment about why Luke felt the need to state the obvious, but he could tell the young man was beyond stressed. Instead, the redhead ushered Luke into his office.
“Yeah, come in,” he instructed.
Luke followed, but once the door was shut, he leaned against it. He watched Reid walk around his office. There were piles of paper, but they appeared to be neatly stacked. There were a few books. The office didn’t look like it was used often. Luke had to remind himself that Professor Oliver hadn’t been in town too long.
“So, as your advisor I’m supposed to talk to you about your career plans and ‘map out your courses.’ I don’t know why they make it sound like we’re about to discover new worlds, when really you’re just getting a liberal arts degree from a mediocre college.”
Luke’s mouth fell open and he stared at the redhead in shock. “Professor Oliver?”
“Oh, right.” He looked at Luke before sitting down behind the desk. “Do you want to talk about being a drunk?”
A surprised chuckle worked its way past his lips. After everything that happened today, Luke didn’t think that he would find a reason to laugh. And somehow, it seemed appropriate that it would be Professor Oliver to make him do it.
“Look…” Reid sighed. “I think we should wait.”
Luke slowly moved away from the door and headed toward the chair opposite Reid. “Why?” he asked.
“I was in Java earlier, and I saw you with Mr. Mayer.”
Luke felt his stomach drop to the floor. They had been careful for so long and now… He didn’t think that Reid would have anything to do with the INS, but they always have to keep up appearances.
“Noah and I… We’re friends. He was feeling stressed,” Luke said, the words coming out slowly. Professor Oliver was the last person Luke wanted to lie to.
Reid looked at Luke for almost a minute before he said anything. The younger man shifted a little his chair, trying not to say more. Reid had found that in silence, people often felt the need to fill it. He didn’t want to use his interrogation techniques on Luke, though.
“You admitted to your classmates that you’re an alcoholic, and Mr. Mayer felt the need to talk about his stress? Why?”
“I don’t…” Luke sighed and his gaze met Reid’s head on. “I don’t hide who I am and most of those people in our class…I went to high school with them. They know about my past. And as far as Noah… We’re best friends,” Luke said trying to make it sound true even to himself. “Noah’s a newlywed. He and Ameera need some time to adjust and he needed someone to talk to.”
Reid believed him and he was grateful that the young man decided not to lie to him. Reid could justify what he saw as long as it meant the information couldn’t be used against Luke, and Reid could keep his belief that Luke was free. “Well, I’ve never been married, and, actually I don’t expect to be either, so I can’t understand the problems Mr. Mayer and Ms. Aziz are going through.”
“Why don’t you ever expect to get married?” Luke wondered. He couldn’t believe he’d actually said the question aloud.
“I love my job,” Reid replied truthfully. What was it about this kid that made him want to hear the truth and give it? “I don’t really do relationships.”
Luke chuckled. It was nice to focus on something else and he wasn’t going to let the opportunity to get to know Reid go, either. “You haven’t met the right woman yet.”
“Well, that may be the case,” Reid commented dryly. “Haven’t found one to make me give up men.”
Luke was stunned, and he found he couldn’t speak for a few moments. “Y-you’re gay?” he almost whispered the question.
Reid swallowed a grin. “Yes, Mr. Snyder, I’m gay.”
“I had no idea,” Luke admitted.
Now it was Reid’s turn to be surprised, especially after what had happened in class today. Actually, the way Luke had reacted to him since the moment they first laid eyes on each other, he couldn’t believe that Luke hadn’t realized Reid was gay. Reid didn’t think he was too skillful at hiding his reaction to Luke, and he knew the younger man certainly wasn’t.
“Well, Mr. Snyder, I don’t generally announce my sexual orientation to people.”
“Neither do I,” Luke replied. Although, he didn’t hide it either. “Sometimes I wish guys would announce it, like when you introduce yourself. ‘Hi, I’m Luke and I’m gay.’”
“You’ve been to one too many AA meetings.”
The blonde chuckled again. He never thought he would find a way to smile at his past and yet Reid…
“Well, I’ve fallen for the straight guy in the past,” Luke admitted.
“Like Noah?” Reid wondered. He was a little surprised that he actually asked the question, but the agent in him, wouldn’t allow himself to let this opportunity slip away.
“Noah and I are just friends. I told you that. I’m dating Casey Hughes.”
Reid was dying to comment, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to lose his connection to Luke. For the case, he assured himself, and not whatever feelings he may have for the young man.
“I know you want to say something,” Luke noted, crossing his arms over his chest.
Reid jumped slightly in surprise. It was unusual for someone to see through to what Reid was thinking. He prided himself on his ability to keep his emotions in check and his reactions impassive. Of course, Luke would see through him. “I shouldn’t be asking you questions about who you’re dating.”
“Oh, right. I just thought…” Luke’s voice trailed off. “Nothing.” He was disappointed and had hoped his professor wanted to know more about him.
Reid could tell that the ease between them was slipping away. “What did you think?” he asked, hoping to get it back.
“It’s just you always have an opinion. You don’t seem like the type to hold anything back.” His eyes met Reid’s and it was as if they were in the classroom again. The air between them crackled, and this time they were by themselves.
Reid took a deep breath as he realized, he was alone in his office, with the door shut. In a few moves, he could be up out of his chair and straddling the lap of his “student.”
“This conversation has already gone too far, Mr. Snyder. As your advisor-”
“I wish that you wouldn’t mention anything about rules and regulations,” the blonde snapped, and realizing what he said added, “I’m tired of living my life by…other people.”
Reid nodded his head in acquiescence. “I think Casey might be another one of those straight guys that you have fallen for.”
Luke couldn’t move or speak for a moment. He was too stunned. “Well, he’s…we’re…”
“Mr. Snyder, it’s none of my business,” Reid finally commented, but Luke had already given himself away. There was no way that Luke and Casey Hughes were involved. He bit back his smile as he realized that Luke didn’t have a boyfriend. But why were they pretending? Was Luke involved with Noah?
There was a knock on the door. Reid glanced at his wall clock again. And it realized his time with Luke was up.
“That’s probably my next appointment,” Reid acknowledged.
They were both disappointed, but neither one was ready to admit it yet.
“But we didn’t go over…anything we were supposed to,” Luke said. “Can we meet tomorrow?”
Reid opened his mouth to refuse and it was as though Luke knew what he was going to say, because the younger man hastened to add, “I’ll bring you a coffee from Java. What do you want?”
The redhead didn’t say anything for a moment. He wasn’t sure if he could admit the type of drink he preferred. It was a little embarrassing and since he had been caught up in following Luke and Noah, he didn’t get his daily fix. Reid was suddenly craving a caramel latte.
“Professor Oliver?”
“Caramel latte with whipped cream and an extra shot,” he replied automatically.
Luke smiled. “Sounds delicious.”
He knew the young man was teasing him and in any other circumstance, it might feel nice. Reid might even try to flirt back, but everything about this case made him question and uncomfortable. “Don’t tell anyone I drink that,” Reid instructed.
“I promise,” Luke said, a smile still hovering over his lips. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Professor Oliver.”
“Good-bye…Luke.”
This time the smile Luke offered nearly blinded Reid. Luke had been waiting for his Professor to call him that. He couldn’t wait to hear it again-the drawn out U and the hard K. He swallowed nervously feeling turned on by just the way Reid said his name.
*
Reid wandered around his apartment for a little bit. He was feeling restless. He tried watching television, but nothing good was on. He thought about eating, but even that didn’t hold its normal appeal. And every time he tried to think about working on the class notes or getting updates on his cases in Dallas, he found he couldn’t concentrate. He’d see the smile on Luke’s face, the one that was so bright and hopeful as he left Reid’s office.
Reid loved that smile; he wanted to see that smile directed at him more often.
And that’s the problem, he reminded himself. He was there to do a job, and it had nothing to do with teaching Luke Snyder how to analyze short stories, or advise him on his career goals. Reid had to find out if Luke’s “friend” Noah defrauded the government and if Luke helped. Most importantly, Reid’s purpose in Oakdale had nothing to do with the fantasies that invaded his dreams most nights.
A knock on his door brought Reid out of his thoughts. He quickly got up and went to see who it was.
Sam was standing in front of him holding a pizza. Reid hadn’t seen him in a while. Sam had been called out of town to testify on a couple of cases. But they’d been keeping up-to-date through emails. Reid figured his mentor was there to get more information.
At least there was going to be food.
Ten minutes later, the guys were sitting at Reid’s kitchen table. Sam was giving Reid information from the field agents. “There have a been a couple of home visits,” the older man noted.
“How did those go?”
“As well as could be expected. Agent Jones reported they were a little nervous, but most couples are in these situations. They know a lot about each other, then there’s the field surveillance.”
Reid felt himself freeze for a moment. The last thing he wanted to see were pictures of Luke kissing Casey Hughes or worse, Noah Mayer.
“The Hughes kid-”
“Casey,” Reid supplied.
“Right, he and Aziz have a World Civ. class that meets in the afternoons after yours. It appears that he walks her to the class and to Java, supposedly to keep her safe. Not sure why the husband doesn’t do it.” Sam walked over to his bag and pulled out some of the pictures. “Now, to me it doesn’t look like a gay guy doing a favor for a friend.”
Reid carefully studied the pictures. Casey was standing a little close to Ameera, as though if he wanted to, his hand could easily reach down and hold hers. They were both smiling. Reid noted that it was rare for him to see Ameera smiling, but other than Luke, no one seemed to smile in his class, either. “She doesn’t look tense the way she does with her husband,” Reid finally commented. “And Casey is ‘dating’ Lu-the Snyder kid. He doesn’t stand that close to him. Where is the husband during this time?”
Sam looked at Reid in surprise. “Well, Reid, shouldn’t you know,” he pointed out. Sam had some suspicions, but he didn’t want to push Reid unnecessarily.
He swallowed thickly. He didn’t want to talk about the conversation he observed and he certainly didn’t want to discuss his encounter with Luke this afternoon.
“The agents said they saw you observing Mayer and Snyder just this afternoon.”
Reid took a sip of his water before answering Sam. “I was at the coffeehouse and I saw them talking. Are you telling me this is how it usually works? Casey and Ameera go to class while Snyder and Noah do what exactly?” He closed his eyes, preparing for the response.
“They hang out at the coffeehouse,” Sam said quietly. There was something going on with Reid, Sam was certain now it had do with the Snyder kid. Reid was always on the up and up, usually going above and beyond to get answers. But now it seemed that Reid was holding back.
“Apparently, Mayer and Snyder just hang out, study, and talk sometimes, while they wait for their significant others to come back. Then Mayer and Aziz go home and Snyder and Hughes do whatever. Why were you at the coffeehouse?” Sam questioned.
Reid’s eyes narrowed briefly. “Getting coffee,” he snapped. “I had ‘advising’ appointments this afternoon. Do you think it’s easy talking to 20-year-olds about their plans for the future? If it doesn’t involve beer or changing the world, they don’t want to discuss it.”
Sam laughed softly. “Did you get Mayer or Aziz?”
“No,” he reluctantly admitted. “Snyder was my first appointment though.”
Sam was definitely intrigued now. He leaned closer. “What did he say? If you saw him after one of his encounters with Mayer, he might be more apt to talk.”
“Nah.” Reid shook his head. It was the first time he’d ever lied to Sam, and he realized if things continued as they were, it wouldn’t be the last, either. “We didn’t…I think he’ll just want to talk about his classes.”
“All right,” Sam acquiesced. “But keep on him. I’m not exactly sure what the relationship is between these four kids, but I would bet even money that Mayer and Aziz didn’t marry for love.”
==================
So Reid and Luke finally talked. And Reid Oliver college advisor, what did you think?
Info about F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Babylon Revisited can be found here. ~Ali
Onto Chapter Four...