Fic: Down the Rabbit Hole (42/?)
Title: Down the Rabbit Hole
Author: slayerkitty
Genre: Romance, Angst, AU
Warnings: Implied rape, Implied incest (I'm not sure I need this one, but Zoe and Luke are technically related)
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: None
Characters: Luke/Reid, Past Luke/Noah, Other Misc characters
Disclaimer: As the World Turns and it's characters are not mine, no matter how much I enjoy playing with them. :)
Summary: What if Zoe succeeded in her plans to have Luke's baby?
Author's Notes: This story picks up right after Luke has promised Reid that his foundation will donate money to the new wing. Flashbacks here are Luke's thoughts. This chapter's a little dark guys, and angsty. I think I'm channeling my show anger. It jumps around a little too, so hopefully you can follow it.
Previous Chapters: Prologue/ 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
Luke pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, finding a spot as close to the entrance as possible. He glanced back to see that Rose was sucking her thumb.
“Look at you, Rosie.” He can’t help but laugh once he realized what he said. “Oh, God. Reid’s got me saying it now.”
Luke got out of the car and shut the door, moving to the back door and opening it.
That’s when he felt the hands.
They jerked him around; shoved him roughly against the car, startling him. He cried out in surprise.
Luke gasped as he took in his attacker.
Zac Finn.
The other man looked the same. Luke couldn’t catch his breath.
“Hello, Luciano.” Zac said, his lips twisting into something close to a smile.
“Zac, what?” Luke stammered. “You’re supposed to be in jail.”
“It wasn’t what it was cracked up to be.” Zac shrugged. “So I escaped.”
“What - what do you want?”
“What I want, I can’t have.” Zac moved closer, his expression turning feral. “Zoe is dead.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Zoe.”
“It’s okay, Luciano. I’m not blaming you. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Then why are you here?”
“You have something that belongs to me.”
“I don’t have anything of yours.”
“But you do.” Zac leaned closer, trailing his fingers along the edge of the open car door. “I want the kid.” Luke’s eyes widened.
“You’re crazy.” He choked out. “Rose is mine.”
“I don’t care.” Zac replied. “She’s Zoe’s daughter, and I want her.”
“You can’t have her, Zac.” Luke refused. “I love her. She’s mine.”
“I’m not asking.” With that, Zac produced a gun. He cocked it, pointing it at Luke. “Just hand her over.”
“No.” Luke moved to stand in front of the open door.
“You Grimaldi’s.” Zac sneered. “Always doing everything the hard way.” Luke jumped at him them, desperate to get Zac away from Rose. They scuffled for a few minutes, rolling around on the ground. Both of their hands were on the gun, and then it discharged.
*
Pain.
Overwhelming, mind-numbing, all-consuming pain.
Like fire, it burned.
*
Reid shouted orders, screaming at the ER trauma team as they start working on Luke. They moved fast, loading Luke onto the gurney and wheeling him inside. Reid doesn’t need to look to know that Noah has followed them.
Reid channeled his panic into his work. It’s Luke. He can’t lose Luke. The team worked frantically for the next few minutes, hooking Luke up to machines, and IV’s and starting a blood transfusion.
The surgical consult finally arrived, and Reid nearly took his head off for not getting there faster. Luke is wheeled away, off to surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his abdomen. Reid was left clutching his bloodied lab coat.
Noah just stared at him.
*
Blood.
Spreading, staining, coating.
Everywhere.
Red. Everything is red.
*
Luke barely registered when the bullet hit him, the wind knocked out of his lungs, and the pain is all-encompassing.
He tried to get up. He did. He found he could barely move, could barely breathe.
Zac leaned over him, gloating.
“Like taking candy from a baby.” He smirked, Luke unable to do anything buy force his lungs to take in air. “Or a baby from her Daddy.” Zac stood up.
“No.” Luke managed to feebly whisper.
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” Zac said, picking up the car keys where they had fallen on the ground during their fight. “I was going to kill you anyway.”
Luke coughs, his hand pressed against his abdomen in a futile attempt to stop the blood from spilling.
“Now I’ll have Zoe’s daughter, and your money.”
“Rose.” Luke choked out. Zac gives him a long look.
“Rose.” He knelt down next to Luke. “I’m not such a terrible guy, Luciano. I’ll call her Rose.” Then he was up and moving, in the car and with a squeal of the tires, Luke could only watch as Zac drove way with his little girl.
*
Fight or flight?
Fight or flight?
Fight, damn it.
Fight.
GET UP.
One foot in front of the other.
Step.
Step.
*
Reid doesn’t know who called the police, or when Detective Hughes showed up, followed by Luke’s frantic parents. He doesn’t know how long he’s been in this waiting room with them, answering the same questions over and over, while Margo makes notes. Lily had lost it, crying in Holden’s arms and Noah - well he was just sitting there. He’d already had his turn at the inquisition, and Reid was distracted for a moment, watching the younger man swallow hard as he stared off into space.
Reid was still clutching his lab coat. It was still covered in blood, and it’s what set Lily off in the first place. He supposed he should have put it down, hidden it, burned it, thrown it away.
Something.
He can’t.
He can’t because it’s got Luke’s blood on it, and right now Reid needs to hold onto something that is inherently Luke.
Noah was covered in blood too, Reid noted, as he eyed him. Margo cleared her throat.
“I realize this is difficult, Dr. Oliver, but…” She said, trailing off when he raised his gaze to meet hers.
“You have no idea.” He stared hard. “What are you doing to find Rose?”
“I've got my best people on it.” Reid laughed, hard and bitter.
“Your best people?” She looked like she was going to reply, but Bob Hughes walked in. He came to a stop next to his daughter-in-law, putting an arm on her shoulder.
“Luke is out of surgery.” He said to the room. “He’s going to be fine.” Lily and Holden let out sounds of joy. Noah smiled.
Reid closed his eyes.
*
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
*
Somehow, Luke forced himself upright. The hospital entrance, the ER doors (ironic) seemed very far away. The thought of Zac hurting Rose, taking her away is what drove him to keep walking.
He can’t let Zac take her.
He stumbled but didn’t fall. His hand clutches tighter at his side, but he can feel the blood dripping between his fingers.
The ER doors are closer now.
He tried to call out, but couldn’t.
And then Reid was there.
“Reid.” He gasped, stumbling again, falling against the doctor. Reid lowered Luke to the ground. Reid asked him what happened.
“Shot.” He wheezed. He doesn’t remember what he said after that, except that Noah was there, and all he could think about was getting to Rose.
“Zac took Rose.”
*
Bright light.
Pain.
Fear.
*
Sitting in Luke’s hospital room felt surreal.
Reid registered the irony, that he and Luke had been at the hospital the night before, worried about his kidney. All that worry to find out he was fine, in order for him to get shot the next day.
Oakdale really was Hell.
Reid was holding Luke’s hand. Lily had insisted. She and Holden were off to the side, clinging to each other. Noah was leaning against the wall, near the door, arms crossed over his chest. Reid knew Noah wanted to be where he was, holding Luke’s hand.
The machines beeped around them, offering comfort, hope. As long as they beeped, they registered life. Time passed, but Reid could only track the beeping.
He knew he wasn’t Luke’s doctor, but that didn’t stop him from checking Luke’s vitals, making sure his IV was hooking up properly, and double checking doctor’s orders on the chart. Reid was subtly taking Luke’s pulse when he felt it speed up.
There was a gasp and a grimace. Reid waited.
Luke opened his eyes.
Author: slayerkitty
Genre: Romance, Angst, AU
Warnings: Implied rape, Implied incest (I'm not sure I need this one, but Zoe and Luke are technically related)
Rating: R to NC-17
Spoilers: None
Characters: Luke/Reid, Past Luke/Noah, Other Misc characters
Disclaimer: As the World Turns and it's characters are not mine, no matter how much I enjoy playing with them. :)
Summary: What if Zoe succeeded in her plans to have Luke's baby?
Author's Notes: This story picks up right after Luke has promised Reid that his foundation will donate money to the new wing. Flashbacks here are Luke's thoughts. This chapter's a little dark guys, and angsty. I think I'm channeling my show anger. It jumps around a little too, so hopefully you can follow it.
Previous Chapters: Prologue/ 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
Luke pulled into the parking lot of the hospital, finding a spot as close to the entrance as possible. He glanced back to see that Rose was sucking her thumb.
“Look at you, Rosie.” He can’t help but laugh once he realized what he said. “Oh, God. Reid’s got me saying it now.”
Luke got out of the car and shut the door, moving to the back door and opening it.
That’s when he felt the hands.
They jerked him around; shoved him roughly against the car, startling him. He cried out in surprise.
Luke gasped as he took in his attacker.
Zac Finn.
The other man looked the same. Luke couldn’t catch his breath.
“Hello, Luciano.” Zac said, his lips twisting into something close to a smile.
“Zac, what?” Luke stammered. “You’re supposed to be in jail.”
“It wasn’t what it was cracked up to be.” Zac shrugged. “So I escaped.”
“What - what do you want?”
“What I want, I can’t have.” Zac moved closer, his expression turning feral. “Zoe is dead.”
“I didn’t have anything to do with what happened to Zoe.”
“It’s okay, Luciano. I’m not blaming you. That’s not why I’m here.”
“Then why are you here?”
“You have something that belongs to me.”
“I don’t have anything of yours.”
“But you do.” Zac leaned closer, trailing his fingers along the edge of the open car door. “I want the kid.” Luke’s eyes widened.
“You’re crazy.” He choked out. “Rose is mine.”
“I don’t care.” Zac replied. “She’s Zoe’s daughter, and I want her.”
“You can’t have her, Zac.” Luke refused. “I love her. She’s mine.”
“I’m not asking.” With that, Zac produced a gun. He cocked it, pointing it at Luke. “Just hand her over.”
“No.” Luke moved to stand in front of the open door.
“You Grimaldi’s.” Zac sneered. “Always doing everything the hard way.” Luke jumped at him them, desperate to get Zac away from Rose. They scuffled for a few minutes, rolling around on the ground. Both of their hands were on the gun, and then it discharged.
*
Pain.
Overwhelming, mind-numbing, all-consuming pain.
Like fire, it burned.
*
Reid shouted orders, screaming at the ER trauma team as they start working on Luke. They moved fast, loading Luke onto the gurney and wheeling him inside. Reid doesn’t need to look to know that Noah has followed them.
Reid channeled his panic into his work. It’s Luke. He can’t lose Luke. The team worked frantically for the next few minutes, hooking Luke up to machines, and IV’s and starting a blood transfusion.
The surgical consult finally arrived, and Reid nearly took his head off for not getting there faster. Luke is wheeled away, off to surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his abdomen. Reid was left clutching his bloodied lab coat.
Noah just stared at him.
*
Blood.
Spreading, staining, coating.
Everywhere.
Red. Everything is red.
*
Luke barely registered when the bullet hit him, the wind knocked out of his lungs, and the pain is all-encompassing.
He tried to get up. He did. He found he could barely move, could barely breathe.
Zac leaned over him, gloating.
“Like taking candy from a baby.” He smirked, Luke unable to do anything buy force his lungs to take in air. “Or a baby from her Daddy.” Zac stood up.
“No.” Luke managed to feebly whisper.
“I’ll let you in on a secret.” Zac said, picking up the car keys where they had fallen on the ground during their fight. “I was going to kill you anyway.”
Luke coughs, his hand pressed against his abdomen in a futile attempt to stop the blood from spilling.
“Now I’ll have Zoe’s daughter, and your money.”
“Rose.” Luke choked out. Zac gives him a long look.
“Rose.” He knelt down next to Luke. “I’m not such a terrible guy, Luciano. I’ll call her Rose.” Then he was up and moving, in the car and with a squeal of the tires, Luke could only watch as Zac drove way with his little girl.
*
Fight or flight?
Fight or flight?
Fight, damn it.
Fight.
GET UP.
One foot in front of the other.
Step.
Step.
*
Reid doesn’t know who called the police, or when Detective Hughes showed up, followed by Luke’s frantic parents. He doesn’t know how long he’s been in this waiting room with them, answering the same questions over and over, while Margo makes notes. Lily had lost it, crying in Holden’s arms and Noah - well he was just sitting there. He’d already had his turn at the inquisition, and Reid was distracted for a moment, watching the younger man swallow hard as he stared off into space.
Reid was still clutching his lab coat. It was still covered in blood, and it’s what set Lily off in the first place. He supposed he should have put it down, hidden it, burned it, thrown it away.
Something.
He can’t.
He can’t because it’s got Luke’s blood on it, and right now Reid needs to hold onto something that is inherently Luke.
Noah was covered in blood too, Reid noted, as he eyed him. Margo cleared her throat.
“I realize this is difficult, Dr. Oliver, but…” She said, trailing off when he raised his gaze to meet hers.
“You have no idea.” He stared hard. “What are you doing to find Rose?”
“I've got my best people on it.” Reid laughed, hard and bitter.
“Your best people?” She looked like she was going to reply, but Bob Hughes walked in. He came to a stop next to his daughter-in-law, putting an arm on her shoulder.
“Luke is out of surgery.” He said to the room. “He’s going to be fine.” Lily and Holden let out sounds of joy. Noah smiled.
Reid closed his eyes.
*
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
*
Somehow, Luke forced himself upright. The hospital entrance, the ER doors (ironic) seemed very far away. The thought of Zac hurting Rose, taking her away is what drove him to keep walking.
He can’t let Zac take her.
He stumbled but didn’t fall. His hand clutches tighter at his side, but he can feel the blood dripping between his fingers.
The ER doors are closer now.
He tried to call out, but couldn’t.
And then Reid was there.
“Reid.” He gasped, stumbling again, falling against the doctor. Reid lowered Luke to the ground. Reid asked him what happened.
“Shot.” He wheezed. He doesn’t remember what he said after that, except that Noah was there, and all he could think about was getting to Rose.
“Zac took Rose.”
*
Bright light.
Pain.
Fear.
*
Sitting in Luke’s hospital room felt surreal.
Reid registered the irony, that he and Luke had been at the hospital the night before, worried about his kidney. All that worry to find out he was fine, in order for him to get shot the next day.
Oakdale really was Hell.
Reid was holding Luke’s hand. Lily had insisted. She and Holden were off to the side, clinging to each other. Noah was leaning against the wall, near the door, arms crossed over his chest. Reid knew Noah wanted to be where he was, holding Luke’s hand.
The machines beeped around them, offering comfort, hope. As long as they beeped, they registered life. Time passed, but Reid could only track the beeping.
He knew he wasn’t Luke’s doctor, but that didn’t stop him from checking Luke’s vitals, making sure his IV was hooking up properly, and double checking doctor’s orders on the chart. Reid was subtly taking Luke’s pulse when he felt it speed up.
There was a gasp and a grimace. Reid waited.
Luke opened his eyes.