NEW! The Promised Land - Nuke/ATWT Fic (2/3)
Title The Promised Land (2/3?)
Prompt Noah gets a dog.
Characters: Noah + Luke + Oakdale
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
Rating: M for Language
Author: WillWork4Dean
link
Luke pounces on Reid and Alison soon as they reappear. “What’s going on?”
Reid, scribbling on Noah’s chart, doesn’t look at him. “Care to be more specific?”
“Why is Noah getting headaches?”
"Hello? Brain injury?” Reid looks annoyed. “It’s a common side effect. Be thankful he’s not having seizures.”
“But...it seemed really bad. And Alison says he’s gotten them before.”
Reid looks at Alison. She gives him her patented “I know I should have told you about this but...” look. “I know you should have told you about this,” she says, “But Noah made me promise not to.”
“Why?” Luke and Reid ask simultaneously.
Alison blushes. “He was worried you’d think he wasn’t a good candidate for the surgery,” she tells Reid. “He thought you might not agree to do it. It was his last chance at getting his sight back,” she adds apologetically, glancing at Luke. “It means everything to him.”
“Is that true?” Luke asks. “Does this mean Noah might not get the surgery?”
Reid rolls his eyes. “Far from it,” he says. “If I’d known, I might have performed the procedure sooner.”
Luke rubs his eyes, suddenly realizing how exhausted he is. “That is so typical of Noah.”
“Tell me about it.” Reid scribbles a few more notes on Noah’s chart then hands it to Alison. “Let’s get him admitted and upstairs,” he says. “And tell Dr. Hughes I’d like a consult before we proceed.”
“Aren’t you going to give Noah anything for the pain?” Luke demands. “He’s in agony.”
Reid gives him a withering stare. “No, I’m going to stand next to his bed and bang coconuts together,” he says. “Of course, I’m going to give him something for the pain.” He wanders off, muttering something about “idiot Oakhellians” under his breath.
Luke takes Moses for a walk and grabs a coffee at Java. The staff members recognize Moses, so he tells them about Noah and they promise to keep a good thought. When he gets back to the hospital, he finds Noah’s room, Reid standing outside.
“He’s asking for you.” Luke can’t read Reid expression, which makes him nervous.
“Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine. Don’t even think about bringing that dog in here.”
Luke turns to Moses. “Moses, stay. Stay.” Moses looks up at him and yawns, then lies down and scratches his ear with his remaining rear leg. Ignoring Reid’s amused smirk, Luke enters the room. Noah is in bed, shoulders hunched, muttering to himself. Alison hovers nearby, her face anxious.
“Thank God,” she says when she sees Luke. “Noah? Luke’s here now.”
Noah turns his head. “Luke?” His voice is slurred.
“I’m here.” Luke sits by the bed and takes Noah’s hand. He’s startled when Noah grabs on tight.
“Are you okay?” Noah sounds panicked.
“I’m fine.”
“What’s going on? Where are we?” Noah lowers his voice. “Are we in the storage place?”
“No, no,” Luke squeezes Noah’s hand reassuringly. “We’re in the hospital.”
“Why are the lights off? Why can’t I see you?”
Luke feels like he’s been punched in the gut. “Baby, you fell and hit your head,” he says carefully. “Don’t you remember?
“No.” Now Noah sounds petulant.
Luke looks at Reid. “What’s going on? Why doesn’t he remember?”
“Some people get a little loopy on pain pills.” Reid glances through the papers on his clipboard. “Does he have a history of reactions to meds?”
“I don’t know,” Luke admits. “He never takes anything, not even cold medicine. He says he hates feeling out of control.” He glances at Alison for confirmation, and she nods. “He didn’t even want to take any when he got shot.”
Reid sighs. “Why am I not surprised?”
"No one’s listening to you,” Noah says abruptly.
“Noah, it’s okay,” Luke squeezes his hand again. “What do we do?” he asks Reid.
“Wait for it to wear off.”
“Shut UP!” Noah says loudly. “And stay away from my boyfriend, you bastard!”
“Noah, it’s all right,” Luke says, mortified. “This is Dr. Oliver. He’s going to help you. I’m sorry,” he adds to Reid. “He’s really confused.”
Reid shrugs. “Don’t worry about it. Most of my patients refer to me as a bastard at some point.”
"Not talking to you,” Noah says scornfully. “Talking to him.”
“Who?” Luke asks.
“My dad.”
“Noah, your dad’s not here.”
“Yeah, he is. He’s standing right over there.” Noah lets go of Luke’s hand and points to the corner of the room.
Luke looks, just in case, but there’s no one there. “Noah.” He makes his voice as gentle as he can. “Your dad’s not here. He’s in prison, remember?” He feels bad talking about this in front of Reid. He can’t imagine Noah would want him to know about his family.
Noah shakes his head stubbornly. “He got out.”
“Yeah, he got out, but they caught him again. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“He’s talking to me. I can hear him.”
Luke looks at Reid. “This can’t be normal. What the hell did you give him?
“Lortab,” Reid says. “It’s a combination of hydrocodone and acetominophen. It’s not that powerful, but sometimes a previous head injury can lower the threshold. Interesting.” He scribbles more notes.
“GET OUT!” Noah bellows, and they all jump. “I said get the fuck out!” He tries to get up, and Luke presses him back.
“Noah, you need to lie still.”
Noah puts his hands over his ears. “Then tell him to go away. Tell him to stop.”
“This is problematic,” Reid observes
“You think?” Luke asks.
“We might need restraints,” Reid tells Alison. “Get someone to help you.”
“No!” Luke says. “He might think he’s being kidnapped again.”
“Shot, kidnapped,” Reid says plaintively. “Do I even want to know?”
Luke gets an idea. “Hang on.” He hurries to the door and opens it. Moses trots right in, almost as if he was waiting.
“Oh, hell, no,” Reid says.
“Shhh!” Luke glares at him. “Noah,” he says gently. “Baby, listen to me. Don’t listen to your dad, okay?”
Noah reluctantly lowers his hands from his ears. “Okay.”
“Do you remember Moses? He’s your dog. He’s going to jump up on the bed now.”
On cue, Moses hops up, panting happily.
“He’s my dog?” Noah asks.
“Yep.” Luke speaks cheerfully, although his throat is aching. “He’s a watchdog. He won’t let your dad anywhere near you.” He points a finger at Moses. “Moses, guard Noah. Guard.”
Moses curls up by Noah’s side. Luke guides Noah’s hand, and he touches Moses’ fur with trembling fingers. Moses grunts happily and rolls over on his back for a belly rub. As he pets him, Noah’s expression softens and his breathing slows down.
“Better?” Luke asks.
Noah nods.
“Can you still hear your dad?”
Noah cocks his head. “He’s not so loud now.”
“See? It’s working.”
“Luke.” Noah looks mournful. “Dad shot Samson.”
“I know he did,” Luke says softly. “But he’s not going to hurt Moses. Moses is way too smart and fast. Right, boy?’
Moses thumps his tail, and Noah ducks his head and gives a tiny smile.
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?” Luke asks. “I’ll be right outside,” he adds.
Noah pouts. "Want to see you."
"You will soon, I promise."
Noah lies back on the pillows, closes his eyes, and lets out a deep breath. They wait a few minutes, then tiptoe out of the room.
"Put an alarm on the bed just in case he tries to get up,” Reid orders Alison and she scrrries off. Reid points his finger at Luke, the same way Luke pointed his at Moses. “One night,” he says. “One night that damn dog gets to stay, and then I want it out of my hospital.”
“Okay,” Luke says weakly.
Reid frowns. “You’re not arguing with me. I don’t know if that’s a good sign, or bad.”
Luke manages a smile. “Bad,” he says.
Reid is about to reply, but catches sight of Dr. Hughes. “Excuse me,” he says and walks over to him.
Luke sits on the floor and puts his head in his hands. He’s shaking all over, and he wants a drink so bad it hurts. He focuses on his breathing for a few minutes until he feels his shoulders relax slightly. Then he gets up. He can’t resist peeking inside Noah’s room, just to make sure he’s okay.
Noah is asleep, Moses curled up in the crook of his arm. When Luke edges the door open, he raises his head slightly, growling. When he recognizes Luke, he lowers it again, resting his chin on his paws. Then he closes his eyes and starts to snore.
“Good boy,” Luke says. “Good boy.”
To be continued…?
Prompt Noah gets a dog.
Characters: Noah + Luke + Oakdale
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
Rating: M for Language
Author: WillWork4Dean
link
Luke pounces on Reid and Alison soon as they reappear. “What’s going on?”
Reid, scribbling on Noah’s chart, doesn’t look at him. “Care to be more specific?”
“Why is Noah getting headaches?”
"Hello? Brain injury?” Reid looks annoyed. “It’s a common side effect. Be thankful he’s not having seizures.”
“But...it seemed really bad. And Alison says he’s gotten them before.”
Reid looks at Alison. She gives him her patented “I know I should have told you about this but...” look. “I know you should have told you about this,” she says, “But Noah made me promise not to.”
“Why?” Luke and Reid ask simultaneously.
Alison blushes. “He was worried you’d think he wasn’t a good candidate for the surgery,” she tells Reid. “He thought you might not agree to do it. It was his last chance at getting his sight back,” she adds apologetically, glancing at Luke. “It means everything to him.”
“Is that true?” Luke asks. “Does this mean Noah might not get the surgery?”
Reid rolls his eyes. “Far from it,” he says. “If I’d known, I might have performed the procedure sooner.”
Luke rubs his eyes, suddenly realizing how exhausted he is. “That is so typical of Noah.”
“Tell me about it.” Reid scribbles a few more notes on Noah’s chart then hands it to Alison. “Let’s get him admitted and upstairs,” he says. “And tell Dr. Hughes I’d like a consult before we proceed.”
“Aren’t you going to give Noah anything for the pain?” Luke demands. “He’s in agony.”
Reid gives him a withering stare. “No, I’m going to stand next to his bed and bang coconuts together,” he says. “Of course, I’m going to give him something for the pain.” He wanders off, muttering something about “idiot Oakhellians” under his breath.
Luke takes Moses for a walk and grabs a coffee at Java. The staff members recognize Moses, so he tells them about Noah and they promise to keep a good thought. When he gets back to the hospital, he finds Noah’s room, Reid standing outside.
“He’s asking for you.” Luke can’t read Reid expression, which makes him nervous.
“Is he okay?”
“He’ll be fine. Don’t even think about bringing that dog in here.”
Luke turns to Moses. “Moses, stay. Stay.” Moses looks up at him and yawns, then lies down and scratches his ear with his remaining rear leg. Ignoring Reid’s amused smirk, Luke enters the room. Noah is in bed, shoulders hunched, muttering to himself. Alison hovers nearby, her face anxious.
“Thank God,” she says when she sees Luke. “Noah? Luke’s here now.”
Noah turns his head. “Luke?” His voice is slurred.
“I’m here.” Luke sits by the bed and takes Noah’s hand. He’s startled when Noah grabs on tight.
“Are you okay?” Noah sounds panicked.
“I’m fine.”
“What’s going on? Where are we?” Noah lowers his voice. “Are we in the storage place?”
“No, no,” Luke squeezes Noah’s hand reassuringly. “We’re in the hospital.”
“Why are the lights off? Why can’t I see you?”
Luke feels like he’s been punched in the gut. “Baby, you fell and hit your head,” he says carefully. “Don’t you remember?
“No.” Now Noah sounds petulant.
Luke looks at Reid. “What’s going on? Why doesn’t he remember?”
“Some people get a little loopy on pain pills.” Reid glances through the papers on his clipboard. “Does he have a history of reactions to meds?”
“I don’t know,” Luke admits. “He never takes anything, not even cold medicine. He says he hates feeling out of control.” He glances at Alison for confirmation, and she nods. “He didn’t even want to take any when he got shot.”
Reid sighs. “Why am I not surprised?”
"No one’s listening to you,” Noah says abruptly.
“Noah, it’s okay,” Luke squeezes his hand again. “What do we do?” he asks Reid.
“Wait for it to wear off.”
“Shut UP!” Noah says loudly. “And stay away from my boyfriend, you bastard!”
“Noah, it’s all right,” Luke says, mortified. “This is Dr. Oliver. He’s going to help you. I’m sorry,” he adds to Reid. “He’s really confused.”
Reid shrugs. “Don’t worry about it. Most of my patients refer to me as a bastard at some point.”
"Not talking to you,” Noah says scornfully. “Talking to him.”
“Who?” Luke asks.
“My dad.”
“Noah, your dad’s not here.”
“Yeah, he is. He’s standing right over there.” Noah lets go of Luke’s hand and points to the corner of the room.
Luke looks, just in case, but there’s no one there. “Noah.” He makes his voice as gentle as he can. “Your dad’s not here. He’s in prison, remember?” He feels bad talking about this in front of Reid. He can’t imagine Noah would want him to know about his family.
Noah shakes his head stubbornly. “He got out.”
“Yeah, he got out, but they caught him again. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“He’s talking to me. I can hear him.”
Luke looks at Reid. “This can’t be normal. What the hell did you give him?
“Lortab,” Reid says. “It’s a combination of hydrocodone and acetominophen. It’s not that powerful, but sometimes a previous head injury can lower the threshold. Interesting.” He scribbles more notes.
“GET OUT!” Noah bellows, and they all jump. “I said get the fuck out!” He tries to get up, and Luke presses him back.
“Noah, you need to lie still.”
Noah puts his hands over his ears. “Then tell him to go away. Tell him to stop.”
“This is problematic,” Reid observes
“You think?” Luke asks.
“We might need restraints,” Reid tells Alison. “Get someone to help you.”
“No!” Luke says. “He might think he’s being kidnapped again.”
“Shot, kidnapped,” Reid says plaintively. “Do I even want to know?”
Luke gets an idea. “Hang on.” He hurries to the door and opens it. Moses trots right in, almost as if he was waiting.
“Oh, hell, no,” Reid says.
“Shhh!” Luke glares at him. “Noah,” he says gently. “Baby, listen to me. Don’t listen to your dad, okay?”
Noah reluctantly lowers his hands from his ears. “Okay.”
“Do you remember Moses? He’s your dog. He’s going to jump up on the bed now.”
On cue, Moses hops up, panting happily.
“He’s my dog?” Noah asks.
“Yep.” Luke speaks cheerfully, although his throat is aching. “He’s a watchdog. He won’t let your dad anywhere near you.” He points a finger at Moses. “Moses, guard Noah. Guard.”
Moses curls up by Noah’s side. Luke guides Noah’s hand, and he touches Moses’ fur with trembling fingers. Moses grunts happily and rolls over on his back for a belly rub. As he pets him, Noah’s expression softens and his breathing slows down.
“Better?” Luke asks.
Noah nods.
“Can you still hear your dad?”
Noah cocks his head. “He’s not so loud now.”
“See? It’s working.”
“Luke.” Noah looks mournful. “Dad shot Samson.”
“I know he did,” Luke says softly. “But he’s not going to hurt Moses. Moses is way too smart and fast. Right, boy?’
Moses thumps his tail, and Noah ducks his head and gives a tiny smile.
“Why don’t you try to get some sleep?” Luke asks. “I’ll be right outside,” he adds.
Noah pouts. "Want to see you."
"You will soon, I promise."
Noah lies back on the pillows, closes his eyes, and lets out a deep breath. They wait a few minutes, then tiptoe out of the room.
"Put an alarm on the bed just in case he tries to get up,” Reid orders Alison and she scrrries off. Reid points his finger at Luke, the same way Luke pointed his at Moses. “One night,” he says. “One night that damn dog gets to stay, and then I want it out of my hospital.”
“Okay,” Luke says weakly.
Reid frowns. “You’re not arguing with me. I don’t know if that’s a good sign, or bad.”
Luke manages a smile. “Bad,” he says.
Reid is about to reply, but catches sight of Dr. Hughes. “Excuse me,” he says and walks over to him.
Luke sits on the floor and puts his head in his hands. He’s shaking all over, and he wants a drink so bad it hurts. He focuses on his breathing for a few minutes until he feels his shoulders relax slightly. Then he gets up. He can’t resist peeking inside Noah’s room, just to make sure he’s okay.
Noah is asleep, Moses curled up in the crook of his arm. When Luke edges the door open, he raises his head slightly, growling. When he recognizes Luke, he lowers it again, resting his chin on his paws. Then he closes his eyes and starts to snore.
“Good boy,” Luke says. “Good boy.”
To be continued…?