Fic: Repercussions (1/10)
Title: Repercussions
Author: random_nic
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I still don't own ATWT. I ought to work on that.
Word Count: 1481
Characters: Luke, Noah, Casey, Ali, Holden, Lily, Reid, Bob, Kim, Chris, Katie, Tom, Margo
Summary: AU. Sequel to my one-shot No Substitute (found here: http://random-nic.livejournal.com/3428.html), which was written for a nuke_anon challenge awhile back. I would recommend reading that one first to find out what's going on.
We pick up the story after Luke and Noah did a bad, bad thing, but they don't know Reid knows.
November 24, 2010 - The day before Thanksgiving
Reid stormed into Bob's office sans knocking, or any other courteous preamble mere mortals would have bothered with. "We need to talk," he demanded.
Bob balked. "As you can see I'm in a meeting, Doctor Oliver," he responded, emphasizing the man's title in the way he only did when he was mightily annoyed with the hotshot physician. "I'll see you when we're through here."
Undeterred, Reid stalked over to the desk, extending his hand to the perplexed man sitting across from Bob. "Reid Oliver, world-famous neurosurgeon," he said in introduction.
In response, the nameless man's face lit up as he quickly rose from his chair, clearly impressed. "Doctor Oliver," the man began excitedly, shaking Reid's offered hand. "What a thrill! I'm-"
"I don't care," Reid interrupted. "The point is, I'm important, and you're not. You're leaving now."
"DOCTOR Oliver!" Bob was positively red-faced in anger now. Turning to the stunned man between them, Bob apologized on Reid's behalf. "You'll have to forgive Dr. Oliver," he explained. "The man has the surgical brain of a genius, and the social skills of an orangutan."
"Thank you," Reid interjected, pretending to be visibly pleased. "Now are you getting rid of this yahoo, or should I call you from Dallas?"
Bob sighed heavily. Whatever the hell was going on with Memorial's superstar, it had to be pretty bad. Reid hadn't threatened to flee to Dallas in at least four months.
In fact, Reid had blossomed since being named the next Chief of Staff. In the end, it was Bob's support with the board that had secured the coveted position for Reid over Bob's own son. At the time, Chris complained loudly to his father that the man simply felt indebted to Reid for securing a heart for Chris in Bay City.
In response, Bob pointed out that if Chris hadn't been so irresponsible in failing to seek treatment for himself, he may never have needed a heart in the first place. The elder Hughes felt that showed a lack of maturity, and was reluctant to hand the reins of Memorial to his clearly unprepared son. In Reid, despite the man's snark and ego, Bob found the worthy, capable successor he needed in order to feel comfortable about retiring.
Still, realizing that Reid would be busy opening the neuro wing, Bob had put off his retirement for a few months as a favor to the younger man. He had grown strangely fond of Reid, probably because despite his surly exterior, the other doctor was much more the kind of man Bob wished Chris would have become. When the time came, Bob would be more than willing to leave Memorial in Reid's unendingly capable hands.
Despite his aggravation at the other doctor's boorish behavior, Bob knew it was in his own best interest to hear him out, and try to nip whatever the problem was in the bud. He regretfully excused the potential donor he’d been meeting with, realizing they could kiss any hope of funding from the man goodbye. After escorting the lost opportunity to the door, Bob walked back to his desk and sat down, extending an arm to indicate Reid should take the opposite chair.
“I’ll stand, thanks,” Reid said absently as he frenetically paced back-and-forth.
“Doctor Oliver,” Bob began, taken aback by Reid’s unsettled state.
Upon receiving no response, Bob repeated himself. “Doctor Oliver. Please, take a seat. I’d rather avoid the hole you’re attempting to wear into the carpet.”
Head snapping up, Reid abruptly stopped pacing, and looked at Bob as though he just remembered the other man was there. “Whatever,” Reid said shortly, lowering himself into the chair facing Bob. Unable to walk off the dark emotions swelling within, Reid settled for gripping his hands together, staring at them as he frantically twisted his own fingers.
Now genuinely worried at the normally unflappable Reid Oliver's chaotic state, Bob proceeded cautiously. “Doctor Oliver,” he began in a gentle, compassionate tone. “What’s this about?”
Looking up to meet Bob’s eyes, Reid briefly entertained the utterly preposterous thought that he might actually cry. Immediately, he mentally pushed such lunacy aside, and after a moment, formed an answer. “I’m going back to Dallas.”
“What? Why? I thought you were happy here,” Bob answered, truly upset at the discovery that Reid seemed serious.
“‘Happy’ is for fools,” Reid snapped acidly. He normally would have said more, decrying the idiocy of the morons in the world who thought themselves ‘happy’. But up until an hour ago, Reid had been one of those morons.
The bitter tone in Reid’s voice would’ve confirmed that something was very, very wrong, if Bob hadn’t already worked that much out for himself. “All right - what’s happened?”
The fact that Bob sounded like he actually gave a damn nearly did Reid in. But he wasn’t weak, dammit. Taking a moment to make sure his voice wouldn’t crack on the reply, Reid finally responded flatly, “nothing. I just don’t belong in this batshit, backwards, one-horse town. I was crazy to think I ever did.”
Shocked at the deadened tone in the normally vibrant doctor’s speech, Bob felt at a loss for what to do. He understood that whatever had happened, it was serious. Bob had seen Reid egotistical, angry, brilliant, dismissive, rude, and even funny. But he had never seen the other man distraught.
“Maybe I should call Luke,” Bob said, thinking aloud.
“DO NOT. Call. HIM,” Reid spat out.
Suddenly, things became markedly clearer. Bob’s idea to call Luke to help Reid through his problem wouldn’t be happening, since Luke very obviously was the problem. Slowly, Bob rose from his chair, and crossed over to the other side of the desk, leaning against it there. He placed a hand on Reid's shoulder, hoping to offer some measure of comfort.
“Whatever has happened, don’t do anything rash,” Bob began carefully. “You've built a life for yourself here. You’re the driving force behind one of the foremost neuro wings in the world.
You’re taking over as Chief of Staff in the new year, a position you have absolutely earned. You have a future here. You have friends here. Don’t throw it all away, no matter the cause.”
Reid wanted to revert to his old, cynical self. He wanted to pretend that Bob was just saying these things to keep him there for the sake of the hospital’s prestige. Unfortunately, as much as he’d tried not to form yet another Oakdale attachment, he had come to know and respect Bob Hughes.
So he couldn’t deny the man genuinely cared, and was trying to help him. It would’ve been so much easier if Reid could’ve dismissed Bob’s statements, but he knew they were true. Somehow, he had made a life for himself in Oakhell.
Having no close family ties, Reid had stumbled across the sister he’d never had in Katie. He even delighted in his regular showdowns with her ridiculous friend, Henry. And of course, Katie’s son Jacob had firmly and unapologetically wrapped himself around Reid’s heart, the little stinker.
Professionally, Reid was on top of the world. Not only in charge of the neuro wing of his dreams, but soon to take over stewardship of the whole of Memorial. And Reid was sure he was up to the job - though surprisingly, not due to his own sometimes sizeable ego.
Instead, it was Bob’s faith in him that convinced Reid he was more than ready to step up to the plate, and unquestionably succeed. With Bob’s help, Reid had already made the neuro wing the talk of the medical community. And now he was set to follow in the impressive steps of the man who’d become his mentor, and yes, his friend.
Reid knew Bob was right. He had so much to stay for - really, everything he’d ever wanted, and more. But the biggest part of the “more” was exactly the problem.
Because, for a brief, heady moment in time, Reid had more - with Luke Snyder. In the beginning, he’d simply been wildly attracted to the gorgeous, spoiled, passionate young man. The physical pull between them overwhelmed Reid, and it was all he could do to keep his hands off the other man for as long as he did.
Finally, though, his defenses faltered, and Reid couldn’t help himself from kissing Luke. And then, kissing Luke again. Eventually, they both acknowledged there was something real between them. As Luke demanded more from Reid emotionally, though, Reid realized he’d have to risk it, or lose any chance at all with Luke. And so Reid took a leap he’d never taken with anybody. For the first time, Reid gave someone his heart.
And that trusting gesture had backfired so colossally, so spectacularly, Reid was left to wonder how he could ever hope to recover from the soul-crushing experience.
*******************************************************************************************************************
Next chapter: http://random-nic.livejournal.com/13710.html
Author: random_nic
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I still don't own ATWT. I ought to work on that.
Word Count: 1481
Characters: Luke, Noah, Casey, Ali, Holden, Lily, Reid, Bob, Kim, Chris, Katie, Tom, Margo
Summary: AU. Sequel to my one-shot No Substitute (found here: http://random-nic.livejournal.com/3428.html), which was written for a nuke_anon challenge awhile back. I would recommend reading that one first to find out what's going on.
We pick up the story after Luke and Noah did a bad, bad thing, but they don't know Reid knows.
November 24, 2010 - The day before Thanksgiving
Reid stormed into Bob's office sans knocking, or any other courteous preamble mere mortals would have bothered with. "We need to talk," he demanded.
Bob balked. "As you can see I'm in a meeting, Doctor Oliver," he responded, emphasizing the man's title in the way he only did when he was mightily annoyed with the hotshot physician. "I'll see you when we're through here."
Undeterred, Reid stalked over to the desk, extending his hand to the perplexed man sitting across from Bob. "Reid Oliver, world-famous neurosurgeon," he said in introduction.
In response, the nameless man's face lit up as he quickly rose from his chair, clearly impressed. "Doctor Oliver," the man began excitedly, shaking Reid's offered hand. "What a thrill! I'm-"
"I don't care," Reid interrupted. "The point is, I'm important, and you're not. You're leaving now."
"DOCTOR Oliver!" Bob was positively red-faced in anger now. Turning to the stunned man between them, Bob apologized on Reid's behalf. "You'll have to forgive Dr. Oliver," he explained. "The man has the surgical brain of a genius, and the social skills of an orangutan."
"Thank you," Reid interjected, pretending to be visibly pleased. "Now are you getting rid of this yahoo, or should I call you from Dallas?"
Bob sighed heavily. Whatever the hell was going on with Memorial's superstar, it had to be pretty bad. Reid hadn't threatened to flee to Dallas in at least four months.
In fact, Reid had blossomed since being named the next Chief of Staff. In the end, it was Bob's support with the board that had secured the coveted position for Reid over Bob's own son. At the time, Chris complained loudly to his father that the man simply felt indebted to Reid for securing a heart for Chris in Bay City.
In response, Bob pointed out that if Chris hadn't been so irresponsible in failing to seek treatment for himself, he may never have needed a heart in the first place. The elder Hughes felt that showed a lack of maturity, and was reluctant to hand the reins of Memorial to his clearly unprepared son. In Reid, despite the man's snark and ego, Bob found the worthy, capable successor he needed in order to feel comfortable about retiring.
Still, realizing that Reid would be busy opening the neuro wing, Bob had put off his retirement for a few months as a favor to the younger man. He had grown strangely fond of Reid, probably because despite his surly exterior, the other doctor was much more the kind of man Bob wished Chris would have become. When the time came, Bob would be more than willing to leave Memorial in Reid's unendingly capable hands.
Despite his aggravation at the other doctor's boorish behavior, Bob knew it was in his own best interest to hear him out, and try to nip whatever the problem was in the bud. He regretfully excused the potential donor he’d been meeting with, realizing they could kiss any hope of funding from the man goodbye. After escorting the lost opportunity to the door, Bob walked back to his desk and sat down, extending an arm to indicate Reid should take the opposite chair.
“I’ll stand, thanks,” Reid said absently as he frenetically paced back-and-forth.
“Doctor Oliver,” Bob began, taken aback by Reid’s unsettled state.
Upon receiving no response, Bob repeated himself. “Doctor Oliver. Please, take a seat. I’d rather avoid the hole you’re attempting to wear into the carpet.”
Head snapping up, Reid abruptly stopped pacing, and looked at Bob as though he just remembered the other man was there. “Whatever,” Reid said shortly, lowering himself into the chair facing Bob. Unable to walk off the dark emotions swelling within, Reid settled for gripping his hands together, staring at them as he frantically twisted his own fingers.
Now genuinely worried at the normally unflappable Reid Oliver's chaotic state, Bob proceeded cautiously. “Doctor Oliver,” he began in a gentle, compassionate tone. “What’s this about?”
Looking up to meet Bob’s eyes, Reid briefly entertained the utterly preposterous thought that he might actually cry. Immediately, he mentally pushed such lunacy aside, and after a moment, formed an answer. “I’m going back to Dallas.”
“What? Why? I thought you were happy here,” Bob answered, truly upset at the discovery that Reid seemed serious.
“‘Happy’ is for fools,” Reid snapped acidly. He normally would have said more, decrying the idiocy of the morons in the world who thought themselves ‘happy’. But up until an hour ago, Reid had been one of those morons.
The bitter tone in Reid’s voice would’ve confirmed that something was very, very wrong, if Bob hadn’t already worked that much out for himself. “All right - what’s happened?”
The fact that Bob sounded like he actually gave a damn nearly did Reid in. But he wasn’t weak, dammit. Taking a moment to make sure his voice wouldn’t crack on the reply, Reid finally responded flatly, “nothing. I just don’t belong in this batshit, backwards, one-horse town. I was crazy to think I ever did.”
Shocked at the deadened tone in the normally vibrant doctor’s speech, Bob felt at a loss for what to do. He understood that whatever had happened, it was serious. Bob had seen Reid egotistical, angry, brilliant, dismissive, rude, and even funny. But he had never seen the other man distraught.
“Maybe I should call Luke,” Bob said, thinking aloud.
“DO NOT. Call. HIM,” Reid spat out.
Suddenly, things became markedly clearer. Bob’s idea to call Luke to help Reid through his problem wouldn’t be happening, since Luke very obviously was the problem. Slowly, Bob rose from his chair, and crossed over to the other side of the desk, leaning against it there. He placed a hand on Reid's shoulder, hoping to offer some measure of comfort.
“Whatever has happened, don’t do anything rash,” Bob began carefully. “You've built a life for yourself here. You’re the driving force behind one of the foremost neuro wings in the world.
You’re taking over as Chief of Staff in the new year, a position you have absolutely earned. You have a future here. You have friends here. Don’t throw it all away, no matter the cause.”
Reid wanted to revert to his old, cynical self. He wanted to pretend that Bob was just saying these things to keep him there for the sake of the hospital’s prestige. Unfortunately, as much as he’d tried not to form yet another Oakdale attachment, he had come to know and respect Bob Hughes.
So he couldn’t deny the man genuinely cared, and was trying to help him. It would’ve been so much easier if Reid could’ve dismissed Bob’s statements, but he knew they were true. Somehow, he had made a life for himself in Oakhell.
Having no close family ties, Reid had stumbled across the sister he’d never had in Katie. He even delighted in his regular showdowns with her ridiculous friend, Henry. And of course, Katie’s son Jacob had firmly and unapologetically wrapped himself around Reid’s heart, the little stinker.
Professionally, Reid was on top of the world. Not only in charge of the neuro wing of his dreams, but soon to take over stewardship of the whole of Memorial. And Reid was sure he was up to the job - though surprisingly, not due to his own sometimes sizeable ego.
Instead, it was Bob’s faith in him that convinced Reid he was more than ready to step up to the plate, and unquestionably succeed. With Bob’s help, Reid had already made the neuro wing the talk of the medical community. And now he was set to follow in the impressive steps of the man who’d become his mentor, and yes, his friend.
Reid knew Bob was right. He had so much to stay for - really, everything he’d ever wanted, and more. But the biggest part of the “more” was exactly the problem.
Because, for a brief, heady moment in time, Reid had more - with Luke Snyder. In the beginning, he’d simply been wildly attracted to the gorgeous, spoiled, passionate young man. The physical pull between them overwhelmed Reid, and it was all he could do to keep his hands off the other man for as long as he did.
Finally, though, his defenses faltered, and Reid couldn’t help himself from kissing Luke. And then, kissing Luke again. Eventually, they both acknowledged there was something real between them. As Luke demanded more from Reid emotionally, though, Reid realized he’d have to risk it, or lose any chance at all with Luke. And so Reid took a leap he’d never taken with anybody. For the first time, Reid gave someone his heart.
And that trusting gesture had backfired so colossally, so spectacularly, Reid was left to wonder how he could ever hope to recover from the soul-crushing experience.
*******************************************************************************************************************
Next chapter: http://random-nic.livejournal.com/13710.html