Fic: The Other Side of Us, Part 14
Title: The Other Side of Us
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1700
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Reid stood off to the side, more comfortable hovering along the periphery of the idyllic family scene than he would be to sit down within it. The Snyders had gathered around Noah in the living room, watching as he read Ethan a favorite book. Something about dinosaurs or dragons saving the kingdom, Reid gathered.
Though the storytelling was ostensibly for Ethan, the entire family seemed transfixed. Not by the children’s tale, of course, but by Noah sitting comfortably within their midst again. Surveying the picture before him, Reid couldn’t help think it all fit.
Ethan settled contentedly into Noah’s lap. Natalie burrowed into one side of Noah, clinging to his arm. Faith sat on the opposite side, far too old to care about the book, but nonetheless resting her head upon Noah’s shoulder as he read. Lily and Emma watched approvingly from their chairs, while Holden sat perched upon the armrest of the couch with an expression that could only be classified as “proud father.”
This was why Reid had resisted most of Luke’s attempts to get to know his family. He never would have fit. What they’d found in Luke’s first boyfriend was another son. Reid certainly would never have been that to them, even if he was Noah’s age.
He wasn’t Noah.
He didn’t want to be, either. Reid was perfectly comfortable in his own skin. He had no need to be anything other than who he was.
For Luke, he’d bent a little. He’d allowed his boyfriend to soften his edges. No - he’d allowed Luke to think he’d softened Reid’s edges.
Reid knew otherwise. He might’ve stopped saying the first thing that came to mind every time he faced the perpetual idiocy he encountered in Oakdale, but he didn’t stop thinking it. Any change in his disposition was purely cosmetic.
Playing nice - well, nicer - had furthered his goals: getting the Chief of Staff position, and getting Luke. He needed to remember that. Bonding with Luke’s family had not been a goal, so there was no reason to regret that he’d avoided doing so while Luke was still alive.
Reid wished he’d left when lunch concluded, like Lucinda had. She’d had a Saturday appointment; he should’ve made one up for himself. But he’d driven Noah, so there was probably some pesky etiquette rule that required him to transport the guy back home. Reid had no desire to give the Snyders more reason to find him lacking in comparison.
Having had his fill of the Norman Rockwell scene before him, Reid quietly headed into the kitchen.
******
“Hiding out?”
He’d barely found a full minute’s peace before Holden Snyder interrupted his solitude. Reid swallowed the morsel of biscuit he’d been chewing to answer.
“Do people often hide from your family?”
Unruffled by the transparent deflection, Holden answered with good humor as he joined Reid at the table. “Not as much as you’d think. I guess we grow on people.”
“Like a fungus,” Reid answered, thinking of Luke. He belatedly realized he’d said it out loud.
Holden’s laugh showed he hadn’t taken offense. “I think the same could be said for you with Luke. His opinion of you certainly improved with time.”
Reid allowed himself a small smile. In the beginning, Luke wasn’t a fan. He wanted Noah healed at any cost, and Reid’s initial refusal to take his case infuriated Luke.
But Reid soon found that the other man didn’t stop until he’d gotten his way - in everything. Luke wanted Reid to treat Noah, and he made it happen. He wanted Reid to get Holden cleared of murder, and again, got it accomplished.
Finally, Luke wanted Reid. Attaining that target had been comparatively easy, because Reid had already wanted him for weeks. Maybe months.
Maybe from the first time he’d ever laid eyes on the annoying, pushy, incredible man.
“His taste improved with time,” Reid replied. He’d only meant to indicate the months between his initial meeting with Luke and their subsequent relationship. But it occurred to him the statement sounded like a swipe at Noah.
Holden cut him off when Reid began to clarify. “I knew what you meant. Lily couldn’t stand me when we first met. She thought I was a cocky son of a bitch.” Holden smiled with the memory. “She was right.”
Reid raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was difficult to picture Luke’s father as anything but the salt-of-the-earth working man who sat across from him now. Still, he’d raised Luke, who’d certainly displayed his own arrogance on an occasion or five.
“Are you two…” Why Reid was inquiring to the romantic status of Luke’s parents, he couldn’t fathom. He supposed Holden’s unexpected comparison of he and Lily with Luke and Reid’s relationship prompted the sudden interest.
“We are. I moved back in to help with the kids. But losing a child… all the things that kept Luke’s mom and I apart seem pretty damn trivial. Wasting time nursing old hurts is pointless when we get so little time to begin with. We both agree it makes more sense to spend that time with the people we love.”
“Luke would like that. If it sticks.” Reid knew it wasn’t polite to add the last part. But he also knew from talking to Luke how difficult the constant back-and-forth of his parents’ relationship had been for him. Luke’s siblings deserved to be spared any more traumatic upheaval.
“We’ll make sure it does.” Once again, Holden showed no signs of insult. “I want to thank you, by the way. Lily was surprised to get your call this morning. And also surprised that Noah wanted to come for lunch.” The amusement in Holden’s voice made it clear both he and Lily realized Noah had nothing to do with the request.
“He may think we were invited,” Reid admitted.
“I gathered as much. And you were,” Holden answered, assuring that Noah wouldn’t hear otherwise from him.
Reid was beginning to understand why despite some pretty impressive fuck-ups (the wedding no-show sprang to mind), Holden was beloved in Oakdale. The guy was an established pillar of the community, but not some judgmental prick like many often were. Though Reid had been indulging his doubts about how he would’ve fit with Luke’s family had Luke lived, Holden appeared to accept Reid as he was.
Luke had accepted him, too, but with a belief that he could help Reid be even better than he was. Holden didn’t seem to share that need to improve people. Consequently, he reminded Reid less of Luke, and more of someone else.
******
“No Noah!!!”
The ear-splitting scream sent both Holden and Reid running into the living room. Arriving, they found a sobbing Ethan screaming at the top of his lungs, clinging to Noah’s neck.
“I’m sorry, buddy - I have to go to work. I’ll come visit you tomorrow,” Noah tried to reason with the wailing first-grader.
“No you won’t, you’ll go with Luke! You like to go everywhere with Luke! I don’t want you to go!”
Reid could see the tear-filled outburst was getting to Noah. He looked ready to cry himself at Ethan’s words. Holden quickly moved in to pry Ethan from Noah’s neck and reassure his young son.
“We’ll see Noah tomorrow,” Holden promised Ethan. “I bet he’ll even let you pick out a movie to watch together.”
“I will,” Noah chimed in. “And we can have popcorn. I’ll see you tomorrow, buddy - I promise.”
“I don’t want Noah to go away,” Ethan now sobbed into the crook of his father’s neck. “I don’t want him to go with Luke!”
“He’s not going with Luke. He’s going with me,” Reid intervened, moving to stand beside Holden to address the hysterical child in his arms. “I’m driving Noah to his apartment so he can get ready for work. You know where Java is, don’t you, Ethan?”
Ethan was distracted by the attention from the relative stranger, and quieted to answer with a sniff. “Uh-huh,” he confirmed with a nod.
“Noah’s just going there. He’ll come back to see you tomorrow. And he can pick this up for me.” Reaching into his pocket, Reid retrieved a silver penlight. “This is a very important tool for a doctor. I wouldn’t just leave it with anyone. But you’ll take care of it for me until Noah picks it up tomorrow, won’t you?”
As Reid had hoped, Ethan bought in. He reached out a skinny arm to accept the offering, pushing the button several times to turn the light on and off. “I won’t break it,” Ethan vowed solemnly.
Reid had to stifle a laugh. Such a statement signified a propensity to do just that. Luke’s father may not have reminded Reid of Luke, but his brother absolutely did. The physical resemblance only added to their similarity.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Noah affirmed as he moved to kiss the top of Ethan’s head. “Any movie you want-”
“Monsters Inc.?” Ethan cut in.
“You got it,” Noah agreed. He said his goodbyes to the rest of the family, receiving hugs from all in return.
Reid thought to escape with only a handshake from Holden, a peck on the cheek from Lily, and an eye roll from Faith. Emma thought differently, however, and once again he was crushed within her strong embrace. This time, he made a bit more effort to return it.
As they drove away from the Snyder residence, Reid was feeling strangely good about the experience. Luke’s family didn’t seem to resent him (except for Faith, but he figured that as a teenager, she probably resented most people.) He’d even diffused a testy situation with Luke’s little brother.
On the drive back to Noah's apartment, Reid related the attributes of his favorite dishes from Emma’s efforts - which were all of them. He expressed his pleasure at the leftovers she had sent home with them. He’d actually have an edible meal to heat up later at work.
After uncharacteristically prattling on for several minutes, Reid noticed that Noah hadn’t responded. Looking to the man in the passenger seat, Reid remarked, “what’s with you?” He was rewarded with a steely glare from his companion, who finally spoke.
“I fucking hate you.”
Chapter 15
Author: random_nic
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: ATWT characters are the property of Telenext and CBS.
Word Count: 1700
Summary: Lives are changed in the wake of a traumatic event.
Reid stood off to the side, more comfortable hovering along the periphery of the idyllic family scene than he would be to sit down within it. The Snyders had gathered around Noah in the living room, watching as he read Ethan a favorite book. Something about dinosaurs or dragons saving the kingdom, Reid gathered.
Though the storytelling was ostensibly for Ethan, the entire family seemed transfixed. Not by the children’s tale, of course, but by Noah sitting comfortably within their midst again. Surveying the picture before him, Reid couldn’t help think it all fit.
Ethan settled contentedly into Noah’s lap. Natalie burrowed into one side of Noah, clinging to his arm. Faith sat on the opposite side, far too old to care about the book, but nonetheless resting her head upon Noah’s shoulder as he read. Lily and Emma watched approvingly from their chairs, while Holden sat perched upon the armrest of the couch with an expression that could only be classified as “proud father.”
This was why Reid had resisted most of Luke’s attempts to get to know his family. He never would have fit. What they’d found in Luke’s first boyfriend was another son. Reid certainly would never have been that to them, even if he was Noah’s age.
He wasn’t Noah.
He didn’t want to be, either. Reid was perfectly comfortable in his own skin. He had no need to be anything other than who he was.
For Luke, he’d bent a little. He’d allowed his boyfriend to soften his edges. No - he’d allowed Luke to think he’d softened Reid’s edges.
Reid knew otherwise. He might’ve stopped saying the first thing that came to mind every time he faced the perpetual idiocy he encountered in Oakdale, but he didn’t stop thinking it. Any change in his disposition was purely cosmetic.
Playing nice - well, nicer - had furthered his goals: getting the Chief of Staff position, and getting Luke. He needed to remember that. Bonding with Luke’s family had not been a goal, so there was no reason to regret that he’d avoided doing so while Luke was still alive.
Reid wished he’d left when lunch concluded, like Lucinda had. She’d had a Saturday appointment; he should’ve made one up for himself. But he’d driven Noah, so there was probably some pesky etiquette rule that required him to transport the guy back home. Reid had no desire to give the Snyders more reason to find him lacking in comparison.
Having had his fill of the Norman Rockwell scene before him, Reid quietly headed into the kitchen.
******
“Hiding out?”
He’d barely found a full minute’s peace before Holden Snyder interrupted his solitude. Reid swallowed the morsel of biscuit he’d been chewing to answer.
“Do people often hide from your family?”
Unruffled by the transparent deflection, Holden answered with good humor as he joined Reid at the table. “Not as much as you’d think. I guess we grow on people.”
“Like a fungus,” Reid answered, thinking of Luke. He belatedly realized he’d said it out loud.
Holden’s laugh showed he hadn’t taken offense. “I think the same could be said for you with Luke. His opinion of you certainly improved with time.”
Reid allowed himself a small smile. In the beginning, Luke wasn’t a fan. He wanted Noah healed at any cost, and Reid’s initial refusal to take his case infuriated Luke.
But Reid soon found that the other man didn’t stop until he’d gotten his way - in everything. Luke wanted Reid to treat Noah, and he made it happen. He wanted Reid to get Holden cleared of murder, and again, got it accomplished.
Finally, Luke wanted Reid. Attaining that target had been comparatively easy, because Reid had already wanted him for weeks. Maybe months.
Maybe from the first time he’d ever laid eyes on the annoying, pushy, incredible man.
“His taste improved with time,” Reid replied. He’d only meant to indicate the months between his initial meeting with Luke and their subsequent relationship. But it occurred to him the statement sounded like a swipe at Noah.
Holden cut him off when Reid began to clarify. “I knew what you meant. Lily couldn’t stand me when we first met. She thought I was a cocky son of a bitch.” Holden smiled with the memory. “She was right.”
Reid raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was difficult to picture Luke’s father as anything but the salt-of-the-earth working man who sat across from him now. Still, he’d raised Luke, who’d certainly displayed his own arrogance on an occasion or five.
“Are you two…” Why Reid was inquiring to the romantic status of Luke’s parents, he couldn’t fathom. He supposed Holden’s unexpected comparison of he and Lily with Luke and Reid’s relationship prompted the sudden interest.
“We are. I moved back in to help with the kids. But losing a child… all the things that kept Luke’s mom and I apart seem pretty damn trivial. Wasting time nursing old hurts is pointless when we get so little time to begin with. We both agree it makes more sense to spend that time with the people we love.”
“Luke would like that. If it sticks.” Reid knew it wasn’t polite to add the last part. But he also knew from talking to Luke how difficult the constant back-and-forth of his parents’ relationship had been for him. Luke’s siblings deserved to be spared any more traumatic upheaval.
“We’ll make sure it does.” Once again, Holden showed no signs of insult. “I want to thank you, by the way. Lily was surprised to get your call this morning. And also surprised that Noah wanted to come for lunch.” The amusement in Holden’s voice made it clear both he and Lily realized Noah had nothing to do with the request.
“He may think we were invited,” Reid admitted.
“I gathered as much. And you were,” Holden answered, assuring that Noah wouldn’t hear otherwise from him.
Reid was beginning to understand why despite some pretty impressive fuck-ups (the wedding no-show sprang to mind), Holden was beloved in Oakdale. The guy was an established pillar of the community, but not some judgmental prick like many often were. Though Reid had been indulging his doubts about how he would’ve fit with Luke’s family had Luke lived, Holden appeared to accept Reid as he was.
Luke had accepted him, too, but with a belief that he could help Reid be even better than he was. Holden didn’t seem to share that need to improve people. Consequently, he reminded Reid less of Luke, and more of someone else.
******
“No Noah!!!”
The ear-splitting scream sent both Holden and Reid running into the living room. Arriving, they found a sobbing Ethan screaming at the top of his lungs, clinging to Noah’s neck.
“I’m sorry, buddy - I have to go to work. I’ll come visit you tomorrow,” Noah tried to reason with the wailing first-grader.
“No you won’t, you’ll go with Luke! You like to go everywhere with Luke! I don’t want you to go!”
Reid could see the tear-filled outburst was getting to Noah. He looked ready to cry himself at Ethan’s words. Holden quickly moved in to pry Ethan from Noah’s neck and reassure his young son.
“We’ll see Noah tomorrow,” Holden promised Ethan. “I bet he’ll even let you pick out a movie to watch together.”
“I will,” Noah chimed in. “And we can have popcorn. I’ll see you tomorrow, buddy - I promise.”
“I don’t want Noah to go away,” Ethan now sobbed into the crook of his father’s neck. “I don’t want him to go with Luke!”
“He’s not going with Luke. He’s going with me,” Reid intervened, moving to stand beside Holden to address the hysterical child in his arms. “I’m driving Noah to his apartment so he can get ready for work. You know where Java is, don’t you, Ethan?”
Ethan was distracted by the attention from the relative stranger, and quieted to answer with a sniff. “Uh-huh,” he confirmed with a nod.
“Noah’s just going there. He’ll come back to see you tomorrow. And he can pick this up for me.” Reaching into his pocket, Reid retrieved a silver penlight. “This is a very important tool for a doctor. I wouldn’t just leave it with anyone. But you’ll take care of it for me until Noah picks it up tomorrow, won’t you?”
As Reid had hoped, Ethan bought in. He reached out a skinny arm to accept the offering, pushing the button several times to turn the light on and off. “I won’t break it,” Ethan vowed solemnly.
Reid had to stifle a laugh. Such a statement signified a propensity to do just that. Luke’s father may not have reminded Reid of Luke, but his brother absolutely did. The physical resemblance only added to their similarity.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Noah affirmed as he moved to kiss the top of Ethan’s head. “Any movie you want-”
“Monsters Inc.?” Ethan cut in.
“You got it,” Noah agreed. He said his goodbyes to the rest of the family, receiving hugs from all in return.
Reid thought to escape with only a handshake from Holden, a peck on the cheek from Lily, and an eye roll from Faith. Emma thought differently, however, and once again he was crushed within her strong embrace. This time, he made a bit more effort to return it.
As they drove away from the Snyder residence, Reid was feeling strangely good about the experience. Luke’s family didn’t seem to resent him (except for Faith, but he figured that as a teenager, she probably resented most people.) He’d even diffused a testy situation with Luke’s little brother.
On the drive back to Noah's apartment, Reid related the attributes of his favorite dishes from Emma’s efforts - which were all of them. He expressed his pleasure at the leftovers she had sent home with them. He’d actually have an edible meal to heat up later at work.
After uncharacteristically prattling on for several minutes, Reid noticed that Noah hadn’t responded. Looking to the man in the passenger seat, Reid remarked, “what’s with you?” He was rewarded with a steely glare from his companion, who finally spoke.
“I fucking hate you.”
Chapter 15