53 Family Matters
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #53 Family Matters
Rating: PG13
Summary: Who’s that at the gate?
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar
Previously on As The World Keeps Turning:
#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 #42 #43 #44 #45 #46 #47 #48 #49 #50 #51 #52
He was lost. He knew it the minute he saw the little town he never saw before. The little town that, according to his GPS, wasn't even here. He hated small towns. Almost as much as he hated being lost. With a frustrated groan he parked his car in front of a small gas station. A small dark and closed gas station. The whole town looked deserted and he moaned again. Why was he here?
He took his phone out of the holder and pulled a face at it. So GPS never failed, huh? Well, it had today. Of course it had, he thought with a sarcastic grin. This was one of those days everything went wrong. Even the things that couldn't possibly go wrong. Like his relationship. He'd been so sure, so confident, that they were solid. But here he was. Lost. And alone. Very alone. He...
Luke startled when he felt a male hand on his shoulder and looked up into Reid's apologetic eyes.
"Sorry for scaring you..."
"Not your fault. I was totally absorbed in my writing," Luke smiled, put the lid of his laptop down and stood up for a elaborate greeting.
"You're home early."
Reid smiled. "No, I'm not. I think you lost track of time. So the writing goes well?"
Luke nodded. "I love it," he enjoyed the warmth of Reid's chest, "and the story seems to write itself. Fascinating experience."
“So is holding you,” Reid whispered on a seductive tone and Luke chuckled. The loneliness of the main character in his book started to fade and Luke let himself be enveloped by the passion and connection he felt with Reid. His initial response to Reid turned into taking the initiative and if Reid’s deep groan was any indication, his man had no objections.
When he disconnected his lips to catch his breath, Luke shivered when he saw the fire in Reid’s eyes. This world famous, highly respected, incredibly skilled, life saving force of nature, also known as Dr. Reid Oliver, had surrendered himself - all of himself - to Luke and he felt extremely powerful.
He held Reid’s face between his hands, nibbled on his lips and waited for Reid to look at him. When their eyes met, he smiled.
“I love you so much…”
Reid returned his smile. “I love you too, Luke. More than I ever thought I was capable of.”
“Hold that thought…” Luke stepped back a little and Reid was alarmed when he noticed how awkward Luke was clearly feeling.
“Out with it. What’s wrong?”
Luke bit his lip. “I’m leaving you…” when he saw Reid pale, he hurried to continue: “…for two nights. It’s only for two nights…”
“We do have to work on your delivery of messages, Mr. Snyder,” Reid shook his head and sat on the couch.
“Maybe you should trust my love a little more,” Luke refuted, sitting close to Reid. “How could you possibly think I would really leave you?”
Reid gave him a telling look. “You mean, after the experience of you coming on to me and kissing my socks off and a few hours later telling Noah you want him back?”
Luke’s initial shock turned into anger. “I thought we were past that by now.”
“Well, apparently there’s still some residue floating around, because your remark…” Reid sighed and pulled Luke close. “Not your fault, by the way. Sorry for lashing out.”
Luke nodded, still upset.
“So tell me… what is so important you have to leave me for two whole excruciating nights?”
“A group of actors are hosting a huge Halloween party in LA and they want to donate a part of their proceeds to my foundation. So they want to meet me and shoot some commercials.”
“That’s great! But does that mean you’re spending Halloween over there?” Reid was visibly confused. He knew how Luke was looking forward to spending that holiday with his siblings.
“No, I won’t attend the party. I’m just doing some groundwork. I’m leaving tomorrow, actually.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yeah,” Luke lowered his head. “It’s a very last minute, I’m afraid.”
“I guess that’s Hollywood for you.” Another disturbing thought entered Reid’s mind. “Please tell me you’re not taking Noah in tow…”
“Reid!” Luke was back to the anger, “What is wrong with you today? You were there when I pulled the plug on him. What part of I don’t want you in my life didn’t you understand?”
“You’re right…I’m being stupid,” Reid looked very contrite, fluttering his eyelids as fast as possible. It always made Luke laugh and Reid’s version of begging for forgiveness didn’t fail this time either. Shaking his head, Luke slapped him on the arm.
“Idiot,” Luke squeezed Reid’s chin. “And double idiot for killing the mood like that.”
“What?” Reid leaned back and lifted his arms in the air. “No no no no, you’re not gonna pin that one on me, Stray Cat. You decided my declaration of love was a perfect moment to share your leaving with me.”
Luke chuckled. “You’re right. So we’re both idiots.”
“Yep,” Reid agreed with a mischievous grin, “but this is one of the few things you’re better at…”
Luke threw himself on Reid and pushed his laughing lover into the couch. “It’s commonly known there’s a great man behind every idiot, so I guess that puts me in the lead then,” Luke covered Reid with his own body and started teasing him with little bites in his lips.
“Show me the way,” Reid whispered under his breath and Luke’s eyes darkened.
“Gladly.”
***
Of course he’d known it from the start, but he had been too proud to admit it to anyone but himself. Life without Luke in it sucked. Big time. A new load of whining hypochondriacs had kept him busy enough, but even tiring himself out hadn’t put him to sleep in that big, cold bed.
He had given himself a little pep talk the next morning. He was almost there. One more night. After a long shower, he’d watched himself in the mirror.
“You’re pathetic,” he had sneered at his own image. “You’ve been alone most of your life. You know you can do this.”
And of course he knew he could do it. But that didn’t mean he had to like it, did it? And he didn’t like it. Not one bit. He didn’t tell Luke, though. When Luke called, he listened to the excited stories about LA and Luke’s meeting with some famous actors, he showed genuine interest in the promos they were shooting, he agreed with the prevailing view that Luke’s foundation was worth donating to and he gave Luke an ego boost when he noticed some insecurity on the other end of the line.
And when Luke inquired about his day, he kept vague about it. “Nothing new. You know… saving lives and stuff like that.”
But life without Luke sucked. As he knew it would. And as everyone who cared about him knew too, considering the little attentions Reid found on his way during the last two days. His favorite coffee from Java, waiting for him at his desk. A box with - unquestionably Emma’s - home made cookies. Lunch from Al’s. And many many little understanding smiles and pats on his back. It made him feel really uncomfortable. Especially when he recognized Faith and her two younger siblings in front of his gate.
The minute he heard her voice, he realized she wasn’t here to shower him with heart-felt sympathy, though. She sounded upset when she answered his teasing “Do I know you?” through the intercom with a “Can we please come in?”