101 Life’s curveball
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #101 Life’s curveball
Rating: PG
Summary: “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better to take things as they come along with patience and equanimity.” - Carl Jung
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 #53 #54 #55 #56 #57 #58 #59 #60 #61 #62 #63 #64 #65 #66 #67 #68 #69 #70 #71 #72 #73 #74 #75 #76 #77 #78 #79 #80 #81 #82 #83 #84 #85 #86 #87 #88 #89 #90 #91 #92 #93 #94 #95 #96 #97 #98
#99 #100
For a minute Reid was drawn back into the now by a soft moan and a turning body. Luke moved over on his side and Reid followed his movements. With his hand on Luke’s thigh and his head against Luke’s strong dorsal muscles, he let the memories take him to the farm. And again he smiled.
In the spirit of Christmas, Emma had invited Lucinda, John and even Damian to her home and when the Oliver-Snyder family entered the kitchen, both grandmothers had greeted them. Emma had softly caressed Danny’s cheek and Lucinda had cornered Reid.
“Give me a hug and make it a good one. I’m in desperate need of some serious TLC.”
“And you’re coming to me?” Reid had rolled his eyes, “Sounds like you’re in desperate need of some counseling. Or drugs. Let John do the hugging.”
She had softly slapped his arm and with a “Ah well, come on then” Reid had taken her in a tight hold and she hadn’t fought him. She hadn’t been kidding. She had needed some strength.
“You’re very strong for such a scrawny guy.”
“Scrawny?” Luke had interfered with faked outrage, “My guy is a mean, lean, loving machine.” When his grandmother grinned, Luke had pulled her in for another bear hug.
“I’ll take your word for it,” Lucinda had snorted, blowing Reid a kiss and crouching to greet Danny.
“Hello sweet boy, did Santa bring you a lot of presents?”
Danny had shaken his head. “My daddies did.”
Emma had narrowed her eyes for a moment, just when she was about to hug Luke.
“Somebody told him a few years ago,” Luke had explained with a sad smile, letting himself pull to Emma’s breast.
“That’s a shame,” she had whispered. “But then again, Ethan doesn’t believe in Santa anymore either…at least we don’t have to worry that someone will crush Danny with the truth.”
“And what did your daddies get you?” Lucinda had shown genuine interest in the boy and Danny had given her his big smile in return.
“Lots!” he gesticulated a big pile, “A big pony…not a real one, but daddy is gonna build a barn and we’ll have real horses. And a few DVDs and books and crayons and… lots…”
“Wow,” Lucinda had looked really impressed. “That sounds fantastic!”
“Yeah,” Danny had nodded profusely. “But I’m the greatest gift of all. My daddies told me so.”
The kitchen had filled up by now and Danny’s words had been touching a lot of people.
“Well, your daddies are absolutely right. You are.” Lucinda had smiled. “Can I give you a hug?”
Danny had looked at Luke and the man had smiled. “Don’t look at me. If it’s okay, say yes. If you don’t want to hug, that’s okay too. Just say what you want.”
“I want you to hold me,” Danny had grabbed Luke’s leg and after ruffling his hair, Lucinda had stood up. Still smiling.
“Thank you for being honest,” she had said, softly caressing Danny’s cheek. “You’re a brave boy.”
Luke had lifted Danny to his chest and the rest of the family came closer to greet them. Some of them for the first time.
“That’s quite a change,” Seth had given Reid a pat on his shoulder and Reid had smiled.
“Yeah, I remember our conversation on Thanksgiving…life sure knows how to throw a curveball.”
“It does,” Seth had smiled. “And I understand the connection with this boy. It’s like I’ve stepped into a time machine, looking at Luke at that age.”
“He does look like Luke. Lucky boy. But Luke keeps telling me Danny’s character reminds him of me. Poor kid.”
They had both chuckled.
“On the other hand, Luke is totally in love with you, so there must be something about that character of yours that’s appealing.”
“Don’t tell Luke. He might realize there’s not…”
“I’m not worried,” Seth had given his relaxed, warm and open smile. “Let’s play chess.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Reid had mumbled, following Seth to the chess corner.
Reid’s brain stopped projecting the memories to alert him to a soft sound. He recognized it immediately. No screaming this time, but Danny was clearly having a nightmare. The first one after the encounter with Evil Foster.
He looked at Luke, still sound asleep, and decided on a solo rescue mission. He shivered when he dressed, but warmed up by hurrying up the stairs. The dim light of the nightlight showed Danny clawing his blanket, moving his head from right to left in furious motions. Fighting his demons.
“Danny,” with a soft, raw voice Reid tried to penetrate into the nightmare, “You’re safe. It’s a dream. It’s okay. You’re safe.”
He kept repeating the words and again it worked. Danny calmed down and after a few minutes and a deep sigh he woke up. The horror still in his eyes.
“Daddy,” his cry made Reid gasp, “I don’t like the dark…”
“I know, buddy. Was it dark in your dream?”
Danny nodded, sobbing.
“You want me to hold you?”
The boy nodded again and Reid picked him up, put him on his lap and put a blanket around them. His arms held the boy tight, slowly rocking him, and he could feel Danny relax.
“Wanna tell me about it?” Reid whispered and Danny shook his head.
“I can’t,” the boy’s voice sounded so fragile, so scared, that Reid instinctively pulled Danny even closer to his chest.
“That’s okay. Just know that we will listen if you want to tell, right?”
Danny nodded. “I know.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, buddy.”
“Are you scared of things?”
“Oh yes,” he smiled when Danny turned his body a little so he could watch Reid’s face and continued, “Lots of things. I don’t like to be in tight spaces. Once I was stuck in an elevator with Luke…not good.”
Danny giggled. “Didn’t daddy calm you down?”
“Yeah, he did,” Reid smiled. After tormenting me first, he thought.
Danny nodded. “Daddy is good at that.”
“He is,” Reid calmly agreed.
“You are too.”
“I’m glad.”
“Daddy?”
“Yes, buddy.”
“What do you do when you’re scared?” Danny sounded sleepy.
“I try to think happy thoughts,” Reid whispered, remembering Luke’s advice in the elevator. “Going to a happy place in my head.”
To Reid’s surprise, Danny nodded.
“I did that too.”
“What is your happy place?” Reid asked, not really expecting an answer. But it came anyway.
“I don’t know where it is, but it’s very light and there’s an angel.”
“That sounds like a happy place.”
“Yeah. She looks like the picture on the book,” Danny whispered, unknowingly explaining why he wanted that book near his bed all the time. “And she was always there when I was…” Danny sighed, “locked up.”
Reid didn’t ask. He just kept rocking the little body and gave Danny a soft kiss on his temple.
“I’m glad she was there.”
“Yeah, me too…”
Reid could feel Danny fall asleep in his arms and for minutes he just sat there. Rocking his child, overwhelmed by his emotions. Love and fear were fighting for precedence. He felt a primal need to protect this kid, but helpless at the same time. How could he protect Danny from the horror that was already in his system? How could he shield his son from the evil that was already in his memory?
Whatever mistakes we’ll make, at least he will be loved for a change, Luke whispered in his brain and Reid nodded. True. The boy was loved. Immensely love. But would it be enough?
With a sad sigh Reid cautiously put Danny back in his bed and covered him with the sheets, Mr. Panda near the boy’s head. Reid softly kissed Danny’s forehead.
“You’re safe now,” he whispered as a final reminder and after one more look, Reid made his way to the warm bed. Luke was in the same position as he left him, but the minute Reid laid his head on the pillow, Luke turned to him.
“Everything okay?” Luke nestled himself against his doctor.
“Now it is,” Reid whispered.
“Nightmare?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay?”
“Getting there. He told me there was an angel with him whenever he was locked up,” Reid shared on a soft whisper. “Sounded to me he was locked up a lot.”
“He’s safe now,” Luke put his leg over Reid’s and pulled himself closer. “He’s our greatest gift, but I’m pretty sure we’re his.”
Reid kissed Luke on his forehead. “We are. And you’re right about something else too.”
“What’s that?” Luke smiled.
“All in all, Christmas isn’t so bad after all.”
The ghost of Christmas Past waved goodbye.