FIC: The Decision
Title: The Decision
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, Holden, Lily
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The comment fic series concludes: Will Luke stay?
Disclaimer: All belongs to the As the World Turns, not me.
Notes: For the FFF prompts Have I Told You Lately, Lazy Morning, and Would I Lie to You
The House
The Ride
The Night That Didn’t Happen - Part I/ Part II
Say It
The Promise
Reid opened his eyes.
It was Sunday morning. Reid liked Sundays. He didn’t have to work. He didn’t have to wake up early. He could stay in bed all day if he wanted . . . if only he didn’t have to eat.
Reid smiled. Omelets, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, pancakes, biscuits. Hmm, what should I eat today? Reid normally didn’t cook, but he never minded cooking breakfast when he had the time or when he was really hungry.
Reid’s private time with his food thoughts was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
Reid’s smile instantly disappeared.
It was Sunday morning. Moving day. Luke was moving out today. That was almost reason enough for Reid to not get out of bed, at least not until Luke-and the horde of Snyders helping him pack-left. His stomach growled loudly.
Oh, to hell with it. I’m hungry. It’s my house. It’s my kitchen. I’m gonna go get some food.
Reid rifled through the casual drawer, nicknamed by Luke since he and Reid kept their casual wardrobe-T-shirts, shorts, very old jeans-here. Reid pulled out the “I’m in love with a neurosurgeon” shirt he’d bought Luke for their first anniversary. Luke had pretended to be upset at the gift but then wore it several times a month for a whole year. Reid suddenly realized that all of Luke’s clothes were gone except this shirt. He wasn’t too surprised, though. He and Luke were over, and Luke obviously didn’t want to keep anything related to Reid.
More clothes for me, Reid thought with a grimace as he put the shirt on.
Lily was instructing Holden how to properly pack Luke’s books when Reid made his way downstairs. He quickly walked past the living room to avoid being detected and practically sprinted into the kitchen. He was pouring milk into his cereal-having decided to postpone his breakfast buffet for another day-when Lily walked in.
“Luke, are you in here?” She froze when she saw Reid standing by the sink.
Reid forced a smile. “No Luke, just me.”
“How are you, Reid?” Lily asked softly as she walked toward him.
Reid nodded. His body tensed, and his mouth had trouble forming words. In the six and a half months since he and Luke had broken up, Reid was used to people asking how he was doing. ”None of your business” worked really well in shutting people up, people who truly had no business inquiring about his emotional state. However, when it was any of Luke’s relatives doing the asking-particularly Lily, Holden, Emma, and Lucinda-Reid wasn’t so quick to quip.
He felt like he’d disappointed them, and their looks of pity and sympathy only made him feel worse.
Lily glanced at the bowl of cereal and then back at Reid, her eyes travelling from his disheveled hair to his stubbly chin to his pajama pants and sock-clad feet. “You have to take better care of yourself, Reid,” Lily said as she patted Reid’s hand.
Reid wanted to tell her that he was all right, that he would be all right and that he only appeared unkempt because he hadn’t yet had a chance to shower or shave, but feeling her genuine concern in her touch and voice caused a lump in his throat so he simply nodded.
“We’re almost done,” Lily said. She smiled at him and then walked out.
Reid shoved a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, intent on finishing his breakfast in his bedroom when he walked in. Reid stared at Luke, and Luke stared at Reid, both replaying the big moment they’d had in this kitchen only a few days ago.
“I don’t want you to move out, Luke.”
“Why?”
“Because I promised I’d never leave you. You did too, remember?” Reid approached Luke. “What do you say?” He held out his hand. “Will you stay?”
Luke stared at Reid’s hand before looking at Reid. “Stay in the house or stay with you?”
“Uh, both?”
“I can’t.”
Reid dropped his hand. “What? Why?”
“You don’t mean it,” Luke said. “You’re just saying it because-you, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“The hell I do! I’m asking you to stay.” Reid shouted. “And I don’t know what I’m doing? You’re the one who’s moving out. Talk about overreacting again.”
Luke laughed. “I’m overreacting? Seriously? This from the guy who ‘overreacted’ just because he didn’t get what he wanted? That’s where it all started, remember?”
“Oh, right, of course, it’s all my fault. I forgot. Thank you-really, thank you for reminding me,” Reid shot back angrily. “But don’t worry, Luke, everyone in town reminds me of it every day, also thanks to you.”
“Reid-”
Reid held his palm up. “You know what? You wanna go? Go. I’m not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna beg you.”
Reid slapped the side of the fridge with his hand before storming out.
“Um, good morning,” Luke said.
Reid nodded as he ate another spoonful of cereal.
Luke pointed to the cabinets over the sink. “I need to pack a few things in here.”
“I’ll be done with this bowl and spoon in a bit,” Reid said, holding up the bowl he was eating out of.
Luke smiled. “It’s okay; I’m leaving the dishes. I’m only going to take some of the glassware.”
Reid motioned Luke forward with this spoon. He chewed quietly, trying very hard not to stare at Luke-and Luke’s body-as he lowered glasses from the top shelf.
“Luke, I finally got all your books packed away in Dad’s truck. What else do you need me to take?” Aaron said as he sprinted into the kitchen.
And just like that, Reid’s Sunday morning was ruined even further.
“Let me just pack these up. This is the last of it,” Luke said, pointing to the box in front of him.
“Sure thing,” Aaron said, smiling at his brother before noticing Reid. His smile dropped. “Reid.”
“Aaron.”
In the four years that Luke and Reid had dated, every single Snyder had grown to like or at least tolerate Reid. Except Aaron Snyder, Luke’s older brother. Reid had never figured out why the guy didn’t like him. They barely talked to one another, and as far as Reid could remember, he hadn’t insulted him once when they first met. After much analyzing, Reid decided that Aaron was probably jealous of Reid and Luke’s relationship. From everything Luke had told him about Aaron, Aaron wasn’t lucky in love. Also, Aaron hated Chris Hughes, and since Reid considered Chris a friend, Aaron hated Reid too. Well, that’s how Reid saw it anyway.
Aaron tapped his fingers on the counter. Reid continued chewing. Luke packed.
After a few seconds, Aaron looked at Reid. “Thanks for none of your help this morning.”
“Aaron,” Luke warned.
“What? Seeing as how quickly he wanted you out of here, I thought he would’ve packed everything himself,” Aaron said. “But then I remembered he can’t hurt his pretty, delicate hands.” Aaron wiggled his fingers.
“Sunday is my only day off,” Reid said, his mouth full of cereal. “And since I spend the other six days running an entire hospital and using my hands to save lives, I’m always beat on Sundays. From what I can see, you’re obviously not. What is it you do again?”
“Reid,” pleaded Luke.
Aaron glared at Reid.
“Here, help me with these,” Luke said quickly, handing Aaron two large apple-shaped coffee mugs with The Big Apple printed on the front.
“Those are mine,” Reid said, putting the bowl down and walking closer to Luke and Aaron.
“You bought them for me,” Luke said.
“I bought them, thus, they’re mine,” Reid said. He pointed to the shirt he was wearing. “Just like this shirt.”
Luke noticed Reid’s shirt, and a slight blush covered his cheeks.
“They’re just cups, Reid,” Aaron said.
“They’re my cups, Aaron,” Reid said.
“He’s letting you have the house; let him have him have the fucking cups.”
“Aaron, enough!” Luke said loudly.
Reid stared at the floor, waiting for Luke to berate him too. When nothing happened, Reid looked up at Luke. Luke, an apologetic expression on his face, held out the mugs to Reid. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Reid and Luke’s fingers touched for more than a few seconds as the mugs exchanged hands.
“You don’t owe him anything, Luke,” Aaron muttered.
“Aaron, shut up,” Luke said, his voice clearly exasperated.
“Yes, Aaron, shut up,” Reid said with a smirk. Before Aaron could respond, Reid picked up the mugs. “I’ll take these and get out of your way so you two can finish packing. Sorry I can’t help but I gotta protect my pretty, pretty hands.” He wiggled his fingers as he waved goodbye and walked out of the kitchen.
Reid rubbed his forehead and sighed. He knew he’d acted childish-it was one thing Luke didn’t like about Reid and Reid hated about himself, but he couldn’t help it. That’s who he was. Sure, he’d tried to act better, be better for Luke in their four-and-a-half years together but it wasn’t easy.
It especially hadn’t been easy when one of Reid’s former colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital had applied for Memorial’s newly-created hospital administrator position. It had been Luke and the board’s idea to hire someone who could help alleviate Reid’s heavy administrative workload. The neurology center was successful, and Reid being Reid, he refused to completely give up surgery or consulting on tough cases. He was still the face of the Snyder Pavilion even though other capable surgeons saved many lives every day. Unfortunately, by also refusing to cut back on his duties as Chief of Staff, Reid became overworked and stressed and not always as efficient a supervisor as he wanted to be. Thus, Memorial needed someone else.
That someone else was a guy Reid didn’t like. Actually, he despised him. And he’d told Luke that. And Luke listened like he always did but in the end, after much discussion, debate, and arguments, Reid couldn’t convince the board not to hire him. The guy was-as Luke had argued with Reid day after day-knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced. But-as Reid had argued night after night-the guy was also exceedingly arrogant (“Yup, much more than me, if you can believe that,” Reid had joked) and egotistical.
”He cares only about himself, Luke. He goes from job to job learning what he can and then moving on. He’s not interested in sticking around in one place for too long. And I can assure he has no intention in sticking around Oakdale of all places. The guy’s got his sights set on somewhere bigger and better. You hire him and he’s gonna come in like a sponge, soak up everything he can for a year or so and then move on. He’s not gonna care about the hospital, only about himself.”
“He comes highly recommended, Reid.”
“That’s just because his employers want to get rid of him. They’ll say whatever they have to say to send him our way.”
Luke had laughed. “I hardly think that’s-”
“And you don’t even know the worst of it. He’s horrible with women, very sexist. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got pending sexual harassment suits in every hospital he’s been at.”
“You just don’t like him, Reid.”
“No, I don’t and I’m especially not going to like it if I have to work with him.”
“I’m not going to ignore his stellar resume and experience and, just so you know, I had him checked out carefully and there is no pending litigation against him, Mr. Know It All.”
“Well, then, that’s ‘cause they don’t want to go up against him. The guy can talk his way out of anything.”
“It’s not just my decision, Reid.”
“But it is, Luke. If anyone can convince the board not to hire him, you can. Tell them what he’s really like.”
“Based on your word?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“No, but you would exaggerate the truth. You’ve done it before with your patients-back in Dallas and here. I’ve looked the other way because I trust your judgment and I know you’re doing it for the good of everyone but . . . I just don’t see your argument having much weight this time.”
“So you’re gonna choose him over me?”
“What are you talking about? Stop acting childish. This isn’t about us.”
“It’s him or me, Luke.”
“Can I come in?”
Reid saw Luke standing in the doorway of the bedroom with a box in his hands.
“I forgot a few things in the closet,” Luke said.
Reid nodded.
Luke walked in and noticed Reid’s forlorn expression. “You okay?”
Reid nodded and forced a smile.
“I told Aaron to leave. This is your house. He shouldn’t talk to you like that,” Luke said from where he was dumping items into the cardboard box.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But you don’t deserve it.”
Reid exhaled. Even after everything, Luke still cared. Maybe Chris was right. Maybe Reid could still fix this. Luke still cared and Reid did too.
The box in Luke’s hands bumped into Reid as Reid stood in the doorway of the walk-in closet. “You didn’t deserve what I said to you either, Luke.”
Luke lowered the box. “What?”
“The ultimatum I gave you. I shouldn’t have.”
Luke looked down. “But I should’ve listened to you. You turned out be right, as always, and-”
“But I didn’t want to be, Luke. And it really wasn’t my decision to make but I was still forcing you to do what I wanted and I-I’m sorry. I should’ve handled it better,” Reid said.
Luke nodded. “I actually thought you were just trying to sabotage his chances because you were angry that we were bringing in someone to help you. I was worried that you thought that I didn’t think you could handle it.”
“Well, it was a lot but I wasn’t upset about that. I wanted the help but I knew he wasn’t it. And I wasn’t just thinking about me but about the hospital too.”
“I know that. I just didn’t like how you kept bringing us into this thing. It was professional, Reid, nothing personal,” Luke said.
“I know, I know. I just really hate the guy.”
“Yeah, well, now I hate him too.”
Reid touched the corner of the box, which Luke still held in between them. “Do you, uh, hate me?”
“What? No.”
“Even after everything?”
Luke stared at Reid, remembering the argument they'd had months later after Reid's opinions about Memorial's top administrator proved to be fact.
"So what now? Are you gonna fire him?”
“He signed a contract. We can’t just . . . we have to find sufficient grounds to dismiss him. I have the lawyer looking into it.”
Reid nodded.
“Just say it.”
“What?”
“Just say ‘I told you so.’ Tell me that you’re a lot smarter than I am. Tell me how wrong I was not to listen to you. Say it.”
“Luke, stop. I don’t think that. And I don’t want to spend the next four months fighting about him again. Let’s move on.”
“Just like that?”
“You learned your lesson, didn’t you? I’ll settle for an apology now, a blowjob later and then we can put this behind us for good. Do you want to order in or go out?”
“I hated what you said that night,” Luke whispered, gripping the box tightly.
“I know because I hated what you said too.”
“I said I was leaving.”
“But you didn’t, did you? And you haven’t yet.” Reid put his hand over Luke’s. “Don’t go, Luke.”
“You mean it this time.”
“I do. I love you, Luke.”
Luke stared at their hands.
“I want you to stay but if you don’t feel the same way about me, then you should go. I just think there’s a reason you haven’t left and that we’re still somewhat civil to each other in spite of everything that happened. You defended me to your brother and why would you do that if you hated me?”
“I don’t hate you.”
Reid stared hopefully at Luke.
“I love you, Reid. I just . . . do you think we can fix this, fix us?”
“If we want to be together, yes.”
Luke slowly dropped the box to the floor. “I’ll stay.”
Reid grinned. “Yeah?”
“It’s a great house,” Luke said, surveying the room. “I like living here.”
Reid laughed. “Come here.” He pulled Luke to him and held Luke’s face in his hands. “I mean it, Luke. I love you and I want to live here with you.”
Luke nodded. “We can do this, right?”
“Yes.”
They kissed, their arms wrapping around each other tightly.
“Um, so I take it you’re not leaving?” Holden asked from the doorway, a small smile on his face.
Reid and Luke broke apart. “Oh, uh, no, Dad, I’m not. Sorry.”
“No problem,” Holden said. “I’ll go tell your Mom and Aaron.” He winked at them and then walked off.
“Can I go tell Aaron, please?” Reid said.
Luke slapped Reid’s shoulder. “Behave.”
“He started it.”
“Reid.”
“Sorry.”
Luke caressed Reid’s hair at the nape of his neck. “I’ll talk to him. You two need to get along better.”
Reid sighed. “I’ll try. I promise.”
“And since we’re talking about misbehaving, you taking my mugs from me-what was that about?” Luke asked.
Reid shrugged. “I thought you wouldn’t want them, just like this shirt. You wanted nothing I gave you. You even gave me the house.”
Luke shook his head. “I didn’t take the shirt because I didn’t think I could handle wearing it if I wasn’t, you know, with you.” Luke touched the shirt’s collar. “Can I have it back? The cups too?"
“They’re yours.”
“And I’ll take back everything I said about you to everyone. I didn’t mean-I was so angry.”
“We both were.”
“But not anymore.”
“Not anymore,” Reid concurred.
Luke smiled at him in a way he hadn’t in a long time. Reid smiled back.
He really loved Sunday mornings.
Author: sleeper6
Characters: Luke/Reid, Holden, Lily
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The comment fic series concludes: Will Luke stay?
Disclaimer: All belongs to the As the World Turns, not me.
Notes: For the FFF prompts Have I Told You Lately, Lazy Morning, and Would I Lie to You
The House
The Ride
The Night That Didn’t Happen - Part I/ Part II
Say It
The Promise
Reid opened his eyes.
It was Sunday morning. Reid liked Sundays. He didn’t have to work. He didn’t have to wake up early. He could stay in bed all day if he wanted . . . if only he didn’t have to eat.
Reid smiled. Omelets, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, pancakes, biscuits. Hmm, what should I eat today? Reid normally didn’t cook, but he never minded cooking breakfast when he had the time or when he was really hungry.
Reid’s private time with his food thoughts was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell.
Reid’s smile instantly disappeared.
It was Sunday morning. Moving day. Luke was moving out today. That was almost reason enough for Reid to not get out of bed, at least not until Luke-and the horde of Snyders helping him pack-left. His stomach growled loudly.
Oh, to hell with it. I’m hungry. It’s my house. It’s my kitchen. I’m gonna go get some food.
Reid rifled through the casual drawer, nicknamed by Luke since he and Reid kept their casual wardrobe-T-shirts, shorts, very old jeans-here. Reid pulled out the “I’m in love with a neurosurgeon” shirt he’d bought Luke for their first anniversary. Luke had pretended to be upset at the gift but then wore it several times a month for a whole year. Reid suddenly realized that all of Luke’s clothes were gone except this shirt. He wasn’t too surprised, though. He and Luke were over, and Luke obviously didn’t want to keep anything related to Reid.
More clothes for me, Reid thought with a grimace as he put the shirt on.
Lily was instructing Holden how to properly pack Luke’s books when Reid made his way downstairs. He quickly walked past the living room to avoid being detected and practically sprinted into the kitchen. He was pouring milk into his cereal-having decided to postpone his breakfast buffet for another day-when Lily walked in.
“Luke, are you in here?” She froze when she saw Reid standing by the sink.
Reid forced a smile. “No Luke, just me.”
“How are you, Reid?” Lily asked softly as she walked toward him.
Reid nodded. His body tensed, and his mouth had trouble forming words. In the six and a half months since he and Luke had broken up, Reid was used to people asking how he was doing. ”None of your business” worked really well in shutting people up, people who truly had no business inquiring about his emotional state. However, when it was any of Luke’s relatives doing the asking-particularly Lily, Holden, Emma, and Lucinda-Reid wasn’t so quick to quip.
He felt like he’d disappointed them, and their looks of pity and sympathy only made him feel worse.
Lily glanced at the bowl of cereal and then back at Reid, her eyes travelling from his disheveled hair to his stubbly chin to his pajama pants and sock-clad feet. “You have to take better care of yourself, Reid,” Lily said as she patted Reid’s hand.
Reid wanted to tell her that he was all right, that he would be all right and that he only appeared unkempt because he hadn’t yet had a chance to shower or shave, but feeling her genuine concern in her touch and voice caused a lump in his throat so he simply nodded.
“We’re almost done,” Lily said. She smiled at him and then walked out.
Reid shoved a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, intent on finishing his breakfast in his bedroom when he walked in. Reid stared at Luke, and Luke stared at Reid, both replaying the big moment they’d had in this kitchen only a few days ago.
“I don’t want you to move out, Luke.”
“Why?”
“Because I promised I’d never leave you. You did too, remember?” Reid approached Luke. “What do you say?” He held out his hand. “Will you stay?”
Luke stared at Reid’s hand before looking at Reid. “Stay in the house or stay with you?”
“Uh, both?”
“I can’t.”
Reid dropped his hand. “What? Why?”
“You don’t mean it,” Luke said. “You’re just saying it because-you, you don’t know what you’re doing.”
“The hell I do! I’m asking you to stay.” Reid shouted. “And I don’t know what I’m doing? You’re the one who’s moving out. Talk about overreacting again.”
Luke laughed. “I’m overreacting? Seriously? This from the guy who ‘overreacted’ just because he didn’t get what he wanted? That’s where it all started, remember?”
“Oh, right, of course, it’s all my fault. I forgot. Thank you-really, thank you for reminding me,” Reid shot back angrily. “But don’t worry, Luke, everyone in town reminds me of it every day, also thanks to you.”
“Reid-”
Reid held his palm up. “You know what? You wanna go? Go. I’m not gonna stop you. I’m not gonna beg you.”
Reid slapped the side of the fridge with his hand before storming out.
“Um, good morning,” Luke said.
Reid nodded as he ate another spoonful of cereal.
Luke pointed to the cabinets over the sink. “I need to pack a few things in here.”
“I’ll be done with this bowl and spoon in a bit,” Reid said, holding up the bowl he was eating out of.
Luke smiled. “It’s okay; I’m leaving the dishes. I’m only going to take some of the glassware.”
Reid motioned Luke forward with this spoon. He chewed quietly, trying very hard not to stare at Luke-and Luke’s body-as he lowered glasses from the top shelf.
“Luke, I finally got all your books packed away in Dad’s truck. What else do you need me to take?” Aaron said as he sprinted into the kitchen.
And just like that, Reid’s Sunday morning was ruined even further.
“Let me just pack these up. This is the last of it,” Luke said, pointing to the box in front of him.
“Sure thing,” Aaron said, smiling at his brother before noticing Reid. His smile dropped. “Reid.”
“Aaron.”
In the four years that Luke and Reid had dated, every single Snyder had grown to like or at least tolerate Reid. Except Aaron Snyder, Luke’s older brother. Reid had never figured out why the guy didn’t like him. They barely talked to one another, and as far as Reid could remember, he hadn’t insulted him once when they first met. After much analyzing, Reid decided that Aaron was probably jealous of Reid and Luke’s relationship. From everything Luke had told him about Aaron, Aaron wasn’t lucky in love. Also, Aaron hated Chris Hughes, and since Reid considered Chris a friend, Aaron hated Reid too. Well, that’s how Reid saw it anyway.
Aaron tapped his fingers on the counter. Reid continued chewing. Luke packed.
After a few seconds, Aaron looked at Reid. “Thanks for none of your help this morning.”
“Aaron,” Luke warned.
“What? Seeing as how quickly he wanted you out of here, I thought he would’ve packed everything himself,” Aaron said. “But then I remembered he can’t hurt his pretty, delicate hands.” Aaron wiggled his fingers.
“Sunday is my only day off,” Reid said, his mouth full of cereal. “And since I spend the other six days running an entire hospital and using my hands to save lives, I’m always beat on Sundays. From what I can see, you’re obviously not. What is it you do again?”
“Reid,” pleaded Luke.
Aaron glared at Reid.
“Here, help me with these,” Luke said quickly, handing Aaron two large apple-shaped coffee mugs with The Big Apple printed on the front.
“Those are mine,” Reid said, putting the bowl down and walking closer to Luke and Aaron.
“You bought them for me,” Luke said.
“I bought them, thus, they’re mine,” Reid said. He pointed to the shirt he was wearing. “Just like this shirt.”
Luke noticed Reid’s shirt, and a slight blush covered his cheeks.
“They’re just cups, Reid,” Aaron said.
“They’re my cups, Aaron,” Reid said.
“He’s letting you have the house; let him have him have the fucking cups.”
“Aaron, enough!” Luke said loudly.
Reid stared at the floor, waiting for Luke to berate him too. When nothing happened, Reid looked up at Luke. Luke, an apologetic expression on his face, held out the mugs to Reid. “Here.”
“Thanks.” Reid and Luke’s fingers touched for more than a few seconds as the mugs exchanged hands.
“You don’t owe him anything, Luke,” Aaron muttered.
“Aaron, shut up,” Luke said, his voice clearly exasperated.
“Yes, Aaron, shut up,” Reid said with a smirk. Before Aaron could respond, Reid picked up the mugs. “I’ll take these and get out of your way so you two can finish packing. Sorry I can’t help but I gotta protect my pretty, pretty hands.” He wiggled his fingers as he waved goodbye and walked out of the kitchen.
Reid rubbed his forehead and sighed. He knew he’d acted childish-it was one thing Luke didn’t like about Reid and Reid hated about himself, but he couldn’t help it. That’s who he was. Sure, he’d tried to act better, be better for Luke in their four-and-a-half years together but it wasn’t easy.
It especially hadn’t been easy when one of Reid’s former colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital had applied for Memorial’s newly-created hospital administrator position. It had been Luke and the board’s idea to hire someone who could help alleviate Reid’s heavy administrative workload. The neurology center was successful, and Reid being Reid, he refused to completely give up surgery or consulting on tough cases. He was still the face of the Snyder Pavilion even though other capable surgeons saved many lives every day. Unfortunately, by also refusing to cut back on his duties as Chief of Staff, Reid became overworked and stressed and not always as efficient a supervisor as he wanted to be. Thus, Memorial needed someone else.
That someone else was a guy Reid didn’t like. Actually, he despised him. And he’d told Luke that. And Luke listened like he always did but in the end, after much discussion, debate, and arguments, Reid couldn’t convince the board not to hire him. The guy was-as Luke had argued with Reid day after day-knowledgeable, skilled, and experienced. But-as Reid had argued night after night-the guy was also exceedingly arrogant (“Yup, much more than me, if you can believe that,” Reid had joked) and egotistical.
”He cares only about himself, Luke. He goes from job to job learning what he can and then moving on. He’s not interested in sticking around in one place for too long. And I can assure he has no intention in sticking around Oakdale of all places. The guy’s got his sights set on somewhere bigger and better. You hire him and he’s gonna come in like a sponge, soak up everything he can for a year or so and then move on. He’s not gonna care about the hospital, only about himself.”
“He comes highly recommended, Reid.”
“That’s just because his employers want to get rid of him. They’ll say whatever they have to say to send him our way.”
Luke had laughed. “I hardly think that’s-”
“And you don’t even know the worst of it. He’s horrible with women, very sexist. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s got pending sexual harassment suits in every hospital he’s been at.”
“You just don’t like him, Reid.”
“No, I don’t and I’m especially not going to like it if I have to work with him.”
“I’m not going to ignore his stellar resume and experience and, just so you know, I had him checked out carefully and there is no pending litigation against him, Mr. Know It All.”
“Well, then, that’s ‘cause they don’t want to go up against him. The guy can talk his way out of anything.”
“It’s not just my decision, Reid.”
“But it is, Luke. If anyone can convince the board not to hire him, you can. Tell them what he’s really like.”
“Based on your word?”
“Would I lie to you?”
“No, but you would exaggerate the truth. You’ve done it before with your patients-back in Dallas and here. I’ve looked the other way because I trust your judgment and I know you’re doing it for the good of everyone but . . . I just don’t see your argument having much weight this time.”
“So you’re gonna choose him over me?”
“What are you talking about? Stop acting childish. This isn’t about us.”
“It’s him or me, Luke.”
“Can I come in?”
Reid saw Luke standing in the doorway of the bedroom with a box in his hands.
“I forgot a few things in the closet,” Luke said.
Reid nodded.
Luke walked in and noticed Reid’s forlorn expression. “You okay?”
Reid nodded and forced a smile.
“I told Aaron to leave. This is your house. He shouldn’t talk to you like that,” Luke said from where he was dumping items into the cardboard box.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“But you don’t deserve it.”
Reid exhaled. Even after everything, Luke still cared. Maybe Chris was right. Maybe Reid could still fix this. Luke still cared and Reid did too.
The box in Luke’s hands bumped into Reid as Reid stood in the doorway of the walk-in closet. “You didn’t deserve what I said to you either, Luke.”
Luke lowered the box. “What?”
“The ultimatum I gave you. I shouldn’t have.”
Luke looked down. “But I should’ve listened to you. You turned out be right, as always, and-”
“But I didn’t want to be, Luke. And it really wasn’t my decision to make but I was still forcing you to do what I wanted and I-I’m sorry. I should’ve handled it better,” Reid said.
Luke nodded. “I actually thought you were just trying to sabotage his chances because you were angry that we were bringing in someone to help you. I was worried that you thought that I didn’t think you could handle it.”
“Well, it was a lot but I wasn’t upset about that. I wanted the help but I knew he wasn’t it. And I wasn’t just thinking about me but about the hospital too.”
“I know that. I just didn’t like how you kept bringing us into this thing. It was professional, Reid, nothing personal,” Luke said.
“I know, I know. I just really hate the guy.”
“Yeah, well, now I hate him too.”
Reid touched the corner of the box, which Luke still held in between them. “Do you, uh, hate me?”
“What? No.”
“Even after everything?”
Luke stared at Reid, remembering the argument they'd had months later after Reid's opinions about Memorial's top administrator proved to be fact.
"So what now? Are you gonna fire him?”
“He signed a contract. We can’t just . . . we have to find sufficient grounds to dismiss him. I have the lawyer looking into it.”
Reid nodded.
“Just say it.”
“What?”
“Just say ‘I told you so.’ Tell me that you’re a lot smarter than I am. Tell me how wrong I was not to listen to you. Say it.”
“Luke, stop. I don’t think that. And I don’t want to spend the next four months fighting about him again. Let’s move on.”
“Just like that?”
“You learned your lesson, didn’t you? I’ll settle for an apology now, a blowjob later and then we can put this behind us for good. Do you want to order in or go out?”
“I hated what you said that night,” Luke whispered, gripping the box tightly.
“I know because I hated what you said too.”
“I said I was leaving.”
“But you didn’t, did you? And you haven’t yet.” Reid put his hand over Luke’s. “Don’t go, Luke.”
“You mean it this time.”
“I do. I love you, Luke.”
Luke stared at their hands.
“I want you to stay but if you don’t feel the same way about me, then you should go. I just think there’s a reason you haven’t left and that we’re still somewhat civil to each other in spite of everything that happened. You defended me to your brother and why would you do that if you hated me?”
“I don’t hate you.”
Reid stared hopefully at Luke.
“I love you, Reid. I just . . . do you think we can fix this, fix us?”
“If we want to be together, yes.”
Luke slowly dropped the box to the floor. “I’ll stay.”
Reid grinned. “Yeah?”
“It’s a great house,” Luke said, surveying the room. “I like living here.”
Reid laughed. “Come here.” He pulled Luke to him and held Luke’s face in his hands. “I mean it, Luke. I love you and I want to live here with you.”
Luke nodded. “We can do this, right?”
“Yes.”
They kissed, their arms wrapping around each other tightly.
“Um, so I take it you’re not leaving?” Holden asked from the doorway, a small smile on his face.
Reid and Luke broke apart. “Oh, uh, no, Dad, I’m not. Sorry.”
“No problem,” Holden said. “I’ll go tell your Mom and Aaron.” He winked at them and then walked off.
“Can I go tell Aaron, please?” Reid said.
Luke slapped Reid’s shoulder. “Behave.”
“He started it.”
“Reid.”
“Sorry.”
Luke caressed Reid’s hair at the nape of his neck. “I’ll talk to him. You two need to get along better.”
Reid sighed. “I’ll try. I promise.”
“And since we’re talking about misbehaving, you taking my mugs from me-what was that about?” Luke asked.
Reid shrugged. “I thought you wouldn’t want them, just like this shirt. You wanted nothing I gave you. You even gave me the house.”
Luke shook his head. “I didn’t take the shirt because I didn’t think I could handle wearing it if I wasn’t, you know, with you.” Luke touched the shirt’s collar. “Can I have it back? The cups too?"
“They’re yours.”
“And I’ll take back everything I said about you to everyone. I didn’t mean-I was so angry.”
“We both were.”
“But not anymore.”
“Not anymore,” Reid concurred.
Luke smiled at him in a way he hadn’t in a long time. Reid smiled back.
He really loved Sunday mornings.