Is That Him?
Chapter: SIX Part B
Rating:PG-13
Word Count: 2411
Beta:
valenti1965
Artwork:
seajellybaby
Disclaimer: ATWT characters property of Telenext. No copyright infringement intended.
Summary: Luke and Reid are happily married for years. But when Reid put his eyes on Noah.
Everything's changing.
Luke watched him slowly walking away. He exhaled some air to calm down and answered the phone.
“Hi mom!” Luke said with such a lack of enthusiasm.
“Hey sweetie. How are you?” Lily answered with a joyful voice.
“I’m ok. I’m a bit sore though.”
“Oh Luke. You have to go the doctor.”
“It’s ok mom. Don’t lily me.”
She giggled a bit.
“I’m doing it again.”
“Indeed.”
“Sorry. I need to go the gallery in New York.”
“Really? Why that?”
“They want to plan an exhibit for Noah’s new pictures.”
“Mom. Noah can’t see clearly yet.”
“I know. They say they can wait for him to get completely recovered.”
“Really? So why planning already?”
“It’s more about negotiating.”
“Oh. Okay. So why do you need me for?”
“Did I say I needed you?” Lily teased her son.
“Mom. I know you.”
Luke could hear the sound of the water in the bathroom. He suddenly felt the urge to take a shower too. His mind was wandering in a world where he and Casey where endlessly kissing. Casey’s hand on him. Casey’s skin on his…
He shook his head to make this wrong fantasia disappearing. But he failed. As always.
“Can you manage the hotel for me today?”
“Ok. No problem.” Luke answered with no hesitation.
He could not refuse a thing to his mom. She was the best mom ever.
“I’m sorry. I know with the Charity and your job at the hospital you’re really busy.” Lily apologized.
“It’s okay. It was my day off. You’re doing so much for Noah mom. Thank you.”
“Well Noah, been through a lot. Losing his sight after a fall when doing some escalation with his cousin and thinking his whole life was ending…”
“Yes. It was a nightmare for him to accept he could be blind… for good.”
“I just really believe in him.” Lily admitted.
“You’d be fool not to mom.”
Lily smiled. Luke always understood what she was meaning. She couldn’t have dreamed for a better son.
“So I’m using one of the jet planes. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“No worries.”
“Thank you Luke.”
“Nah. It’s ok. Oh and if dad can’t, I’ll get the girls and the twins from school.”
“Ok. Thank you Luke. You’re a star.”
“I know. I know.” Luke joked.
“Bye sunshine.”
“Bye mom.”
Luke hung up the phone. Then he quickly collected his clothes scattered on the floor. And put them on. Then without even telling Casey goodbye, he left.
He had to get out of here. Otherwise he knew he would drop on his knees and suck off Casey dry. And THIS was a boarder not to cross.
Casey entered the living room with a towel around the waist. He wanted to stop Luke from walking away from him. To tell Luke he needed him to stay. But the words remained stuck at the bottom of his throat.
All he could do was observing Luke getting clothed and abandoning him.
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“Reid! I’m home.”
No answers. Luke put his personal belongings on the smallest couch of their private living room. It was a bit before seven in the morning. Reid was probably still sleeping.
“I’ll make him a sweet breakfast. He deserves it.” Luke thought.
He cooked pancakes with honey and butter on it, scrambled eggs with ham and cheese. Brewed some coffee. And added two glasses of apple juice on a tray.
He walked with it to their bedroom. Opening the door carefully. Not to knock down anything. Luke put the trail on their bedside table. Then switched on a dolphin shaped lamp.
That was such surprise to him to see that the bed was empty. Luke sat on the bed and saw that a letter was on his pillow. He carefully opened the envelope and read it:
“Hi Lu. I don’t know if you will be back home in the morning. If you are I’m sorry not to be there today and tomorrow as promised. I know how much you were looking forward to it.
The charity Facing The World manager had called very early in the morning. I had to be one of the team proceeding to a huge surgery. We are going to separate two siamese sisters! The one year old children are linked by their heads! It’s their fourth surgery. We can’t fail them. If we don’t do the surgery today they soon will be dead. This is an extraordinary occasion for me to be part of it. This is my chance to be known in the whole world. And most of all to save two young lives.
I’ve left you a message on your phone, knowing you’d be sleeping. You lazy boy.”
Luke smiled. He had to admit he needed to sleep more than his husband.
“Sorry. I’ll have to miss your birthday. I’ll be there on Sunday and I’ll make it up to you... Love you.”
Love you too.
Luke shed a tear. He was so happy for Reid. This was something spectacular his husband was about to achieve, but he needed him to be there. He was finally ready to tell Reid. He couldn’t let Louisa ruining his marriage. But when he was feeling it was the right time to do so, Reid was gone. And there was so many things going on in his mind right now. So much confusion. He felt Reid. He loved him. But he would have needed some husbands time. For his birthday would have been nice.
Luke knew he should not be that selfish. It was about saving two babies lives. And good for Reid’s surgeon career. And he knew it was his fault if Reid and he didn’t see each other much lately. It was Karma. He was not there Reid and now it was the “what goes around comes back around” effect.
Luke sat on the bed. Pulling his cell phone out of his front pocket. He listened to Reid’s voice message. Reid sounded happy and excited. Luke thought he should be too. So he decided to have breakfast and then to go the Lakeview, do his duty and try to enjoy the day.
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“Good morning Mister Snyder!” The hotel receptionist welcomed him.
“Good morning Jesse.”
Jesse smiled. He had a secret huge crush on Luke. He could have dumped his girlfriend for a kiss of Luke. But who could have blamed him for that. Well maybe she could have.
“Mrs Snyder emailed me the schedule of today. So I don’t need you to give it to me Jesse.”
“Okay Mister Snyder.”
“I’m going to have lunch with sir Mc Gregor. Could you prepare the private “blue salon”?
“Of course Mister Snyder.”
“I’ll be waiting at the bar. Text me when ready.”
“I will Mister Snyder.”
Luke left. Jesse could not do without looking at Luke’s rounded butt as he walked away. Luke was so looking good wearing a white suit and a black shirt. His long and curly blond hair caressing his broad shoulders.
He walked through the restaurant tables. Greeting almost everyone and checking on as much customers as he could. Bunch of rich people were having lunch here every day. He smiled to each of them and shook some hands. Ten minutes later when he arrived at the bar he saw a familiar face.
Noah was sitting there. Alone with his drink. The vision of Noah’s sad face tore Luke’s heart. He approached him.
“Hi Noah.” He told his friend. “Been a while. Where have you been?”
Noah jumped a bit. Surprised. Then he turned around to salute Luke.
“Hi Luke. Erm, you know. Nothing exciting or new. Noah lied.
His voice was trembling. He was so not expecting to see Luke on that day. Wasn’t he supposed to spend the day out with Reid?
“What you’re doing here? Luke asked. Sounding a bit too moralizing.
“I...” Noah hesitated.
“I mean.” Luke’s tone became milder. “Aren’t you supposed to rest at your granddad’s house with your uncle around Dayton? “
“My uncle’s left three days ago.”
“What? He left you alone? You just had a huge surgery. You’ve been in the coma for god’s sake. Damn it!”
How can Noah’s uncle and family be so insensitive to his nephew’s condition?
“Don’t blame him.” Noah looked away.
“It’s okay. I’m a big boy.” He added trying to lightly smile.
“You didn’t even get to the age of the majority yet.” Luke teased Noah.
Seeing Noah’s gorgeous smile Luke suddenly realized, that in another life Noah and he could have been quite a cute couple. Luke was not the blind one here. His eyes could see how beautiful and toned the brunette was. He wondered if Noah was Reid’s type too. Probably. Reid always had been into brunette. Luke was probably the only blonde Reid had ever fallen for.
Oh gosh! Are you thinking of your husband being attracted by your friend?
Luke shook this thought out of his mind and rubbed his eyes.
You’re going crazy Luke.
“Come on. You’re only three years older Mister Snyder.” Noah finally snapped back.
Now smiling for real. Then he drank what was left of his beer. Both of them knew Noah should not be drinking any alcohol with his strong treatment. But it seemed like Noah really needed one.
“One for me.” Luke asked the waiter.
“Ok. It’s not the point.” Luke added grinning.
He thanked the waiter. Sat next to Noah. Then sipped a mouthful of his not alcoholic beer.
“So what it is then Luke? I’m ok.” Noah lied.
Luke could read between the lines. Noah’s headaches were getting difficult to bear. And it was obvious that Noah’s stress was mostly due to it.
“The point is...” Luke went on after another mouthful of his drink. “Reid and I worry a lot about you.”
“He does?”
“Of course. WE do.”
Noah was surprised. Reid really liked him. Knowing that warmed his silly heart.
“You’re not only a figure on a medical file.”
“I know you do.”
“So why not calling me more often.”
“I don’t know. I think I didn’t want to annoy you with my problems.”
Luke banged his fist on the counter of the bar.
“Noah!” He said angry. “You’re one of my best friends. And recovering. You never annoy me.”
Noah didn’t answer. His eyes were teary.
“Well yes. You annoy me when you are in loner mode.” He teased Noah.
He took Noah’s face and wiped the tear which was streaming along Noah's soft face.
“So convalescent boy.” Luke softly added. “You’re going home with me.”
“What?” Noah replied. “He’s my doctor Luke. I can’t live with him.”
I can’t be around him. It would be too painful.
“Let’s say you’ll be living with me then.”
“Luke...”
Luke put a finger on Noah’s mouth to shush him.
“No more questioning this and that. You’re coming with me whether you want it or not.”
Noah burst in laughing. So did Luke. Luke’s cell phone rang.
“Jesse’s texted me. And I can see my 11am appointment is there.”
Noah looked to his left to watch the big old man wearing a yellowish suit. He looked like a shine of sun to Noah. All he could see was a big yellow blinding shape. He put his sun glasses back on. There was too much light in here for his sore eyes.
“Still in pain?” questioned him.
“Yes.” Noah whispered.
“Well, wait for me in your room...”
“How do you know I have a room in here? I could have just been having a drink. You know.”
“Mom asked me to come in here to cover for her. But I guess this cunning woman wanted me to see that my friend was alone and needed my help.” Luke stated.
“Probably.” Noah admitted.
“As a matter of fact. She was right.”
“I guess she was Luke. I guess she IS right.”
Luke did not finish his drink. He stood up and kissed his friend on the cheek
“What’s that for?” Noah asked caught on the hop.
“I don’t know.”
Noah smiled. Luke had guessed he needed some affection at the moment.
“Okay go. My cousin Lucy’s here.”
“The nurse?” Noah interrupted.
“Yup. She has painkillers with her as I asked her to bring some for Mrs Grimaldi.”
“Mrs Grimaldi?”
“Yes. It’s an old woman who lives full-time in here. She’s doesn’t want to go in a retirement house. So Lucy comes to see her every day for her treatment.”
“I see.”
“I’ll ask her to come to see you.”
“Luke, thank you. But you know. I’ll be fine.”
“When did I ask your opinion Mayer?
Noah giggled. He was imagining Reid’s smiling each time Luke was being bossy with his husband. Luke was lucky to have Reid. They both were lucky.
“Never. As always.”
They laughed. Luke touched Noah’s left shoulder.
“I’m room 1408.” Noah added.
“Ok.”
“See you in two hours or so.”
Luke turned around and walked towards his client. After few seconds, he turned around to look at Noah.
“Noah?”
“Yes.”
“By the way you’re invited to my birthday party tomorrow.”
“Really?”
“Yes dummy. LOL. Too bad Reid won’t be there.”
“Indeed.”
“Yes. He’s on a huge medical case. Siamese babies!”
Luke was real proud of his man.
“Will tell you all about it later.”
Noah forced a smile. He was so disappointed. He knew he should NOT feel so, but he missed being around Reid. He sighed. But Luke was now one of his best friends so he could not bail on him. And he needed some fun. Luke had told him so much about his family and friends.
“I can’t wait.” Noah answered.
Luke smiled. And left. Noah got on his foot and leaning on his cane, he carefully got to his first floored room. He secretly hoped Reid could be at Luke’s Birthday party.
If only.
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CHAPTER 7 Part A