NEW! "Hazard Pay - Chapter Twenty"
Title: Hazard Pay - Chapter Twenty
Pairing: Noah/OMC
Rating: M
Prompt: Action!Noah in action ripped from the headlines!
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
***
“Oh, my God,” Noah said. He struggled to stand, even though his legs were shaking with exhaustion and emotion. Like Casey, Holden didn’t fuss at him or try to help. He just waited for Noah to get to his feet, then swept him into his arms.
“I’m glad you’re okay, kiddo,” he said, his voice muffled. “We were so worried.”
Noah clung to Holden’s shoulders and bit his lip hard to keep from crying. When they finally separated, there was more manly sniffling and feet shuffling, until Noah sank into his wheelchair.
Holden pulled up the extra chair and sat, then leaned forward and glared at Noah. “But I swear to God Almighty, the next time you promise to call me and let me know you’re okay, you damn well better call me.”
Noah laughed through his tears. “Yes, Sir.”
Holden leaned back in his chair and smiled, then slapped his thigh. “Okay, let’s get this party started. Stay right there.” He ducked out of the room and came back holding a paper bag and a cardboard carrier with two steaming cups of coffee.
“Is that...?”
“From Java? Of course.” Holden handed Noah a cup. “Black with a depth charge, right? Mike remembered.”
Noah pulled off the lip, took a cautious sip, and closed his eyes in ecstasy. “Oh, my God,” he said reverently. “Thank you so much. Hospital coffee is shit.”
“Tell me about it.” Holden pulled the bedside table closer and set his own cup on it. Then he reached into the bag and pulled out a battered round tin, its lid decorated with a cozy holiday scene of a horse-and-sleigh driving up to a lighted farm house.
Noah set down his coffee cup so fast the hot liquid splashed on his hand. He didn’t even feel it. “Is that what I think it is?”
With a grin, Holden handed the tin over. Noah clutched it to his chest. He didn’t need to open it to know what was inside.
“Emma’s cookies,” he breathed.
“Well, don’t just sit there, son. Open it and dig in!”
Noah ripped the lid off the tin. Inside, nestled in wax paper, were two dozen oatmeal raisin cookies. The familiar spicy scent brought tears to his eyes. He tried to resist, but the temptation was too great and he grabbed one. At the first bite, he groaned in pure pleasure, and before he knew it, he’d devoured six.
“Shit. Where are my manners?” he mumbled with his mouth full. He offered the tin to Holden, although he secretly didn’t want to share.
“Don’t mind if I do.” To his credit, Holden only took one. “Mama wouldn’t let anyone else have any when she was baking them. Said they were ‘Noah’s cookies.’”
The words were broke something inside Noah. He set the tin down on the table and buried his face in his hands. After a moment, he felt Holden’s strong, steadying hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay,” he said.
“No, it’s not!” Noah choked out. “It’s too much.”
“Why?” Holden asked. “Just because you and Luke broke up, doesn’t mean you’re not part of the family anymore.”
“I know, but-” Noah shook his head miserably. “We tried that, remember? It didn’t work.”
Holden sighed heavily. “You’re talking about your graduation party.”
“Yeah.” Noah raised his head, wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve. “And now everyone acts like nothing happened, like I was never gone. I don’t understand...”
Holden frowned. “What?”
Noah shrugged helplessly. “I don’t understand why everybody doesn’t hate me.”
“Noah.” Holden’s voice was gentle, like he was calming a spooked horse. “Nobody hates you.
“But, the way I left...and then just blowing everyone off, not keeping in touch...”
Holden leaned back in his chair, restlessly tapping his empty coffee cup with his forefinger. “I blame myself for that.”
Noah stared at him. “Why?”
“That day, the day of the party...” Holden shook his head. “I knew deep down I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should have stayed with you and made sure you were okay.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference," Noah said flatly. "It wouldn’t,” he insisted as Holden started to object. “Seeing Luke with Reid, it just hurt too much. I had to get away.”
“All the way across the world?” Holden asked dryly.
Noah shrugged. “As far away as I could get. And I know that you and Lily and Emma still cared about me, but let’s face it, Luke chose Reid and then...” He shook his head, at a loss for words.
“Luke lets his heart hold the reins,” Holden said quietly. “He always has.”
“Yeah, he does.” Noah glared at Holden. “But sometimes he tramples other people’s hearts in the process.”
Holden sighed again. “I can’t argue with that.”
“And now, I don’t know what to do,” Noah said. “I don’t know how to feel. One minute I was in Iraq with Jeff and life was normal, or as normal as it got with us, and the next moment I was here, only I don’t know where here is anymore, and I don’t fit in, and everything’s changed and I’ve changed but here, nothing’s changed and Luke-”
Holden held up his hand, and Noah fell silent.
“Easy,” Holden said. “Easy. First of all, you’ve been through the wringer.”
“Yeah, so?” Noah asked. He didn’t even care if he sounded rude.
“So. Give yourself time. Right now, you’re like--” Holden waved his hand, trying to come up with the right words. “You’re like a newborn foal, still trying to get your legs under you.”
“Yeah, my legs,” Noah said bitterly, looking down at his bandages. “Do you know I might not be able to work anymore, if I can’t walk well enough? And then what will I do?”
“Hey.” Holden patted Noah’s knee. “Look at me.”
Noah reluctantly looked up at him.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Holden said firmly. “Okay?”
Noah didn’t answer.
“Okay?”
Noah gave in and sighed. “Okay.”
Holden held his gaze. “One thing at a time. Repeat after me: One thing at a time.”
Noah laughed in spite of himself. “One thing at a time.”
“Good boy.” Holden rose. “Now you get some rest. And eat up those cookies. There’s plenty more where they came from.”
“Yes, sir.” Noah hesitated. “Will you say thank you to Mrs...to Emma for me?”
“Of course.”
“And Lily...” Noah hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to see her, it’s just-”
“It’s a little much right now.”
“Yeah.” Noah blushed in embarrassment. “I’d probably just cry like a big baby. Again.”
“I’ll tell her, the next time I see her,” Holden said. “She’ll understand. And when you’re ready, she’ll visit.”
“The next time you see her.” Noah stared at him. “Aren’t you two together?”
Holden’s mouth twisted. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m sorry.” Noah said, mentally kicking himself. “I’ve been so caught up in my own problems...”
Holden raised his eyebrows. “I think being blown up by a bomb exempts you from staying up to date on the Oakdale gossip.” He shrugged and looked away. “And you’re right. Some things around here never change.”
With a visible effort, he looked at Noah again and smiled. “Which means Lily and I be back together before you know it.”
“I hope so,” Noah said seriously. He hesitated, toying with the hem of his shirt. “Speaking of things never changing, can I ask you a question?”
Holden looked at him, understanding in his eyes. “The answer is yes. Your father is still incarcerated in Statesville.”
Noah blushed a second time. “I just...I didn’t know...”
“Jack keeps tabs on him,” Holden said. “Just in case. He’s alive and well, or as well as a man can be who's serving consecutive life sentences.”
Noah rubbed the soft flannel fabric of his shirt between his fingers. “I don’t suppose...I mean, do you think he knows I’m back?”
“Probably,” Holden said easily. “It was pretty big news around these parts. Local boy becomes celebrated photo-journalist, injured in Iraq, recuperates here at world-famous facility.”
Noah squinted up at him. “Local boy?”
Holden shrugged. “What can I say? We’re proud to claim you.”
Noah tried to smile, but it didn’t work. “Did my father...do you know if he contacted the hospital at all? Tried to check up on me?”
“No,” Holden said.
“No, you don’t know?” Noah asked. “Or, no, he didn’t?”
Holden just looked at him.
“Oh,” Noah said. He stared down at his feet and took a deep breath. “I’m not surprised. I figured he wouldn’t.”
“Some things never change,” Holden said gently.
“Yeah.” Noah looked up at Holden. “So why does it still hurt?”
Holden shoved his hands in his pockets, leaned against the wall, and let out a long breath. “My father died when I was young -- younger than you are now,” he said finally. “But I still miss him every single day. I guess...”
He paused, then went on. “As a man, you can love your father or you can hate him. But you can never, ever be indifferent to him. That’s just the way it is.”
Noah thought of Jeff.
Jeff broke off, shaking his head. “I loved my parents, okay?”
“Of course you did,” Noah said.
“My father...even after what he did...” Jeff’s voice broke.
Noah took his hand. “Hey, I get it. Two fucked-up peas in a pod, remember?”
Noah nodded at Holden. “I guess you’re right.”
“Do you want to contact the prison?” Holden asked.
Noah snorted. “You wouldn’t advise that, would you?”
“No.” Holden said evenly. “But it’s your decision.”
Noah thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Screw him. I don’t need him.”
Holden smiled. “Atta boy.” He straightened up. “I meant what I said. Get some rest. And-”
He broke off, clearly searching for the right words again. “I know you’re upset with Luke after what he did. Taking over your care, bringing you here.” He winced. “I know it was high-handed of him, but-"
“But that’s Luke,” Noah said softly.
Holden nodded. “Just give him a chance to explain himself, is all I’m saying. And that’s the end of my interference between you boys.” He held out his hands, palms open. “Although Lily may have more to say on the subject.”
Noah laughed. “I bet. Thank you for visiting. And for the cookies. And for...everything.”
“Anytime.” Holden held out his hand, and they shook.
“Welcome home, son,” he said.
To be continued...in the next chapter, when Luke and Noah have a huge fight and some other really major stuff happens. Hope you enjoyed this drama-free interlude!
Pairing: Noah/OMC
Rating: M
Prompt: Action!Noah in action ripped from the headlines!
Disclaimer: Don’t own ‘em. Don’t make no money.
link
***
“Oh, my God,” Noah said. He struggled to stand, even though his legs were shaking with exhaustion and emotion. Like Casey, Holden didn’t fuss at him or try to help. He just waited for Noah to get to his feet, then swept him into his arms.
“I’m glad you’re okay, kiddo,” he said, his voice muffled. “We were so worried.”
Noah clung to Holden’s shoulders and bit his lip hard to keep from crying. When they finally separated, there was more manly sniffling and feet shuffling, until Noah sank into his wheelchair.
Holden pulled up the extra chair and sat, then leaned forward and glared at Noah. “But I swear to God Almighty, the next time you promise to call me and let me know you’re okay, you damn well better call me.”
Noah laughed through his tears. “Yes, Sir.”
Holden leaned back in his chair and smiled, then slapped his thigh. “Okay, let’s get this party started. Stay right there.” He ducked out of the room and came back holding a paper bag and a cardboard carrier with two steaming cups of coffee.
“Is that...?”
“From Java? Of course.” Holden handed Noah a cup. “Black with a depth charge, right? Mike remembered.”
Noah pulled off the lip, took a cautious sip, and closed his eyes in ecstasy. “Oh, my God,” he said reverently. “Thank you so much. Hospital coffee is shit.”
“Tell me about it.” Holden pulled the bedside table closer and set his own cup on it. Then he reached into the bag and pulled out a battered round tin, its lid decorated with a cozy holiday scene of a horse-and-sleigh driving up to a lighted farm house.
Noah set down his coffee cup so fast the hot liquid splashed on his hand. He didn’t even feel it. “Is that what I think it is?”
With a grin, Holden handed the tin over. Noah clutched it to his chest. He didn’t need to open it to know what was inside.
“Emma’s cookies,” he breathed.
“Well, don’t just sit there, son. Open it and dig in!”
Noah ripped the lid off the tin. Inside, nestled in wax paper, were two dozen oatmeal raisin cookies. The familiar spicy scent brought tears to his eyes. He tried to resist, but the temptation was too great and he grabbed one. At the first bite, he groaned in pure pleasure, and before he knew it, he’d devoured six.
“Shit. Where are my manners?” he mumbled with his mouth full. He offered the tin to Holden, although he secretly didn’t want to share.
“Don’t mind if I do.” To his credit, Holden only took one. “Mama wouldn’t let anyone else have any when she was baking them. Said they were ‘Noah’s cookies.’”
The words were broke something inside Noah. He set the tin down on the table and buried his face in his hands. After a moment, he felt Holden’s strong, steadying hand on his shoulder.
“It’s okay,” he said.
“No, it’s not!” Noah choked out. “It’s too much.”
“Why?” Holden asked. “Just because you and Luke broke up, doesn’t mean you’re not part of the family anymore.”
“I know, but-” Noah shook his head miserably. “We tried that, remember? It didn’t work.”
Holden sighed heavily. “You’re talking about your graduation party.”
“Yeah.” Noah raised his head, wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve. “And now everyone acts like nothing happened, like I was never gone. I don’t understand...”
Holden frowned. “What?”
Noah shrugged helplessly. “I don’t understand why everybody doesn’t hate me.”
“Noah.” Holden’s voice was gentle, like he was calming a spooked horse. “Nobody hates you.
“But, the way I left...and then just blowing everyone off, not keeping in touch...”
Holden leaned back in his chair, restlessly tapping his empty coffee cup with his forefinger. “I blame myself for that.”
Noah stared at him. “Why?”
“That day, the day of the party...” Holden shook his head. “I knew deep down I shouldn’t have left you alone. I should have stayed with you and made sure you were okay.”
“It wouldn’t have made any difference," Noah said flatly. "It wouldn’t,” he insisted as Holden started to object. “Seeing Luke with Reid, it just hurt too much. I had to get away.”
“All the way across the world?” Holden asked dryly.
Noah shrugged. “As far away as I could get. And I know that you and Lily and Emma still cared about me, but let’s face it, Luke chose Reid and then...” He shook his head, at a loss for words.
“Luke lets his heart hold the reins,” Holden said quietly. “He always has.”
“Yeah, he does.” Noah glared at Holden. “But sometimes he tramples other people’s hearts in the process.”
Holden sighed again. “I can’t argue with that.”
“And now, I don’t know what to do,” Noah said. “I don’t know how to feel. One minute I was in Iraq with Jeff and life was normal, or as normal as it got with us, and the next moment I was here, only I don’t know where here is anymore, and I don’t fit in, and everything’s changed and I’ve changed but here, nothing’s changed and Luke-”
Holden held up his hand, and Noah fell silent.
“Easy,” Holden said. “Easy. First of all, you’ve been through the wringer.”
“Yeah, so?” Noah asked. He didn’t even care if he sounded rude.
“So. Give yourself time. Right now, you’re like--” Holden waved his hand, trying to come up with the right words. “You’re like a newborn foal, still trying to get your legs under you.”
“Yeah, my legs,” Noah said bitterly, looking down at his bandages. “Do you know I might not be able to work anymore, if I can’t walk well enough? And then what will I do?”
“Hey.” Holden patted Noah’s knee. “Look at me.”
Noah reluctantly looked up at him.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Holden said firmly. “Okay?”
Noah didn’t answer.
“Okay?”
Noah gave in and sighed. “Okay.”
Holden held his gaze. “One thing at a time. Repeat after me: One thing at a time.”
Noah laughed in spite of himself. “One thing at a time.”
“Good boy.” Holden rose. “Now you get some rest. And eat up those cookies. There’s plenty more where they came from.”
“Yes, sir.” Noah hesitated. “Will you say thank you to Mrs...to Emma for me?”
“Of course.”
“And Lily...” Noah hesitated. “It’s not that I don’t want to see her, it’s just-”
“It’s a little much right now.”
“Yeah.” Noah blushed in embarrassment. “I’d probably just cry like a big baby. Again.”
“I’ll tell her, the next time I see her,” Holden said. “She’ll understand. And when you’re ready, she’ll visit.”
“The next time you see her.” Noah stared at him. “Aren’t you two together?”
Holden’s mouth twisted. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I’m sorry.” Noah said, mentally kicking himself. “I’ve been so caught up in my own problems...”
Holden raised his eyebrows. “I think being blown up by a bomb exempts you from staying up to date on the Oakdale gossip.” He shrugged and looked away. “And you’re right. Some things around here never change.”
With a visible effort, he looked at Noah again and smiled. “Which means Lily and I be back together before you know it.”
“I hope so,” Noah said seriously. He hesitated, toying with the hem of his shirt. “Speaking of things never changing, can I ask you a question?”
Holden looked at him, understanding in his eyes. “The answer is yes. Your father is still incarcerated in Statesville.”
Noah blushed a second time. “I just...I didn’t know...”
“Jack keeps tabs on him,” Holden said. “Just in case. He’s alive and well, or as well as a man can be who's serving consecutive life sentences.”
Noah rubbed the soft flannel fabric of his shirt between his fingers. “I don’t suppose...I mean, do you think he knows I’m back?”
“Probably,” Holden said easily. “It was pretty big news around these parts. Local boy becomes celebrated photo-journalist, injured in Iraq, recuperates here at world-famous facility.”
Noah squinted up at him. “Local boy?”
Holden shrugged. “What can I say? We’re proud to claim you.”
Noah tried to smile, but it didn’t work. “Did my father...do you know if he contacted the hospital at all? Tried to check up on me?”
“No,” Holden said.
“No, you don’t know?” Noah asked. “Or, no, he didn’t?”
Holden just looked at him.
“Oh,” Noah said. He stared down at his feet and took a deep breath. “I’m not surprised. I figured he wouldn’t.”
“Some things never change,” Holden said gently.
“Yeah.” Noah looked up at Holden. “So why does it still hurt?”
Holden shoved his hands in his pockets, leaned against the wall, and let out a long breath. “My father died when I was young -- younger than you are now,” he said finally. “But I still miss him every single day. I guess...”
He paused, then went on. “As a man, you can love your father or you can hate him. But you can never, ever be indifferent to him. That’s just the way it is.”
Noah thought of Jeff.
Jeff broke off, shaking his head. “I loved my parents, okay?”
“Of course you did,” Noah said.
“My father...even after what he did...” Jeff’s voice broke.
Noah took his hand. “Hey, I get it. Two fucked-up peas in a pod, remember?”
Noah nodded at Holden. “I guess you’re right.”
“Do you want to contact the prison?” Holden asked.
Noah snorted. “You wouldn’t advise that, would you?”
“No.” Holden said evenly. “But it’s your decision.”
Noah thought for a moment, then shook his head. “Screw him. I don’t need him.”
Holden smiled. “Atta boy.” He straightened up. “I meant what I said. Get some rest. And-”
He broke off, clearly searching for the right words again. “I know you’re upset with Luke after what he did. Taking over your care, bringing you here.” He winced. “I know it was high-handed of him, but-"
“But that’s Luke,” Noah said softly.
Holden nodded. “Just give him a chance to explain himself, is all I’m saying. And that’s the end of my interference between you boys.” He held out his hands, palms open. “Although Lily may have more to say on the subject.”
Noah laughed. “I bet. Thank you for visiting. And for the cookies. And for...everything.”
“Anytime.” Holden held out his hand, and they shook.
“Welcome home, son,” he said.
To be continued...in the next chapter, when Luke and Noah have a huge fight and some other really major stuff happens. Hope you enjoyed this drama-free interlude!