FIC - Rescued (1/1)
Title: Rescued
Author: wheelie47
Rating: PG -13
Word Count: 2,035
Warning: Mention of violence (non-sexual)
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Summary: Noah rescues Luke and realises something at the same time.
AN: Written for the nuke_anon with the last line prompt of “I can’t breathe without you.”
Noah stumbled through the dense undergrowth, fighting to keep up with his sinewy guide as the man used his machete to expertly cut through the foliage.
His shirt was clinging to his back with sweat; he was hotter than he ever imagined possible. Every single muscle in his body, and some he didn’t even know he had, screamed at him to rest and his throat burned with the need to stop and take a drink.
He’d give anything to call ahead to the guide and then slump with relief against the nearest tree.
But stopping wasn’t an option. Noah was determined to follow the guide for as long as he had breath in his body and an ounce of strength left in his muscles.
One reason, and one reason only, kept him moving forward.
Luke.
Noah could hardly believe that it was a mere three days ago that he was filming a short in LA, thoughts of camera angles and how to get the best from his actors filling his mind.
That was until he received the call.
****
He pulled out his cell when it rang as he walked off set during a break in filming, a smile immediately spreading across his lips when he saw who was calling.
“Hi,” he said brightly; it was always good to hear from Oakdale.
“Noah!”
He stopped in his tracks, gripping the cell tighter. He knew from just that one word that Lily Snyder was on the very verge of falling apart.
“You have to find him!”
Before Noah could even speak, he heard a crash and a thud followed by rustling and a rush of muffled voices.
“Lily!” He tried to stay calm but his heart pounded in fear. Something was terribly wrong.
He heard the phone being picked up from where it had fallen.
“Noah? Are you still there?”
Noah breathed again when he heard Holden’s voice down the line.
“Holden! What’s going on? Where’s Luke?” Lily hadn’t mentioned Luke’s name. She didn’t have to.
He heard the usually calm man take a deep steadying breath.
“He’s missing, Noah. We… we haven’t heard from him in over five days.”
Noah tried to think back to the last time he’d heard from Luke. It must have been over three or four weeks ago. He wasn’t surprised it had been that long. They were beginning to carve out a new relationship that, for now, involved just talking about mundane everyday things. They weren’t ready for anything more. Not yet. Noah wondered if they could ever go back to the Luke and Noah they used to be.
They had talked about how Noah’s film was progressing, how Ethan was doing at school, the rest of the Snyders, the farm. Simple, uncomplicated things.
Both of them knew they were skirting around the issue. Neither of them seemingly able to take that next step.
“Where was he when you last talked to him?” Noah tried to focus.
“Peru.”
“Peru?! What the fu...” Noah stopped abruptly when he realized he was about to swear down the line to Holden.
He tried again. “What’s he doing there?!”
“He’s out there looking at a joint project with Doctors without Borders and the Foundation to fight the spread of AIDS and HIV. He wants to set up some outreach clinics.”
“He never mentioned it to me,” Noah replied. He felt a little hurt that Luke hadn’t confided in him but all the same he couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice.
Holden paused before answering. “He probably didn’t want you to worry. You know, he’s been kinda lost ever since…” His voice petered out.
Noah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s okay, Holden. You can say his name. I’m not gonna get mad at the mention of Reid. Not anymore.” He couldn’t stay angry at a dead man. What would be the point?
“Okay,” Holden replied uncertainly. “Well, I guess the memories that surrounded Luke here in Oakdale finally got too much for him and he wanted to throw himself into a new project. The last time we spoke to him he was headed down into the Amazon basin to look at a site for one of the clinics. We…we haven’t heard from him since.”
Noah could hear the worry in Holden’s voice.
“What are the Peruvian authorities doing?” Noah had already turned around and was headed back to the set in search of his assistant director.
“We don’t seem to be able to get them to do anything other than say he might just be out of communication range. Even Lucinda’s failed to get them to take action yet. It’s… it’s just that there have been reports of animal smugglers and poachers in that area. Lily’s worried Luke might have run into some kinda trouble with one of the gangs.” The older man sounded like they expected to receive a ransom note or worse any day now.
“I’m booking myself on the next flight out there,” Noah stated in a tone that left little room for argument.
“I’ll have Lucinda get her jet to you. I’d go with you but…” Holden left the rest of the sentence unsaid and Noah didn’t need the man to explain. He must be torn between wanting to go find his son and feeling that he couldn’t leave his other kids and Lily… not given the fragile state that the woman was obviously in.
“I’ll bring him home, Holden.”
“Just make sure that you bring the both of you home.” Holden’s emphasis on the ‘both’ and ‘home’ weren’t lost on Noah and, despite the situation, he smiled. He had a sudden desire to see the only place and the only people he’d ever really truly thought of as home.
****
Noah was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the guide had stopped and turned around until he ran into the man’s outstretched hand.
“What…” he began before he was silenced by a finger pressed to his lips as he was pulled down into a crouch.
“We are close,” the guide whispered in his heavy accented and broken English. “Must be quiet.”
He turned and crept forward, beckoning Noah to follow.
Noah’s heart was in his mouth. Earlier, the guide had led him to Luke’s campsite. Noah had been horrified to discover the camp in disarray and there had been obvious signs of a struggle. He’d emptied the contents of his stomach at the sight of the blood splatters, desperately hoping they weren’t Luke’s.
The guide had spotted a recently made trail heading off through the rainforest and, hours of hard trekking later, he’d brought them here.
Noah’s mouth went even drier at the thought that this man could be leading him straight into a trap. For all he knew the guide could be working with the gang that had taken Luke.
“What the fuck am I doing?!” Noah thought to himself. “I should’ve gone to the Authorities and insisted they do something.” Hiring the first guide he’d come across that was willing to bring him out this far and following him without question was such an impulsive and desperate thing to do. It was such a Luke thing to do.
Luke.
And there was his answer. The reason he’d acted so out of character. The reason he always acted a little crazy where the blonde was concerned.
The thought that Luke was out here and needing his help, possibly hurt or… No. Noah couldn’t - wouldn’t - even think that.
He simply couldn’t sit idly by and do nothing. Not when Luke needed him.
Suddenly the guide signaled Noah to stop.
Peering through the dense undergrowth, Noah spotted a tent in a small clearing ahead.
Row upon row of cages holding small monkeys or brightly colored birds littered the site. But the place seemed deserted and no human sounds could be heard coming from the tent or the surrounding area.
Seemingly satisfied that they were alone, the guide cautiously crawled around to the rear of the tent and, stretching out flat, peered under the canvas.
He beckoned urgently to Noah, gesturing that he should slip under the tent flap.
Putting his trust in the man, Noah did as he was told.
What he saw inside the tent made him gasp in horror.
Luke was tied to the central tent pole, his head lolled forward onto his chest and there were dark splatters of dried blood over his jeans and green T-shirt.
Noah rushed forward and dropped to his knees in front of the bound man. He lifted Luke’s head gently with trembling fingers.
Luke tried to flinch back from the movement, obviously expecting another blow.
“Shit, Luke!” Noah did his best to keep his voice down but as he took in Luke’s split lip, his completely closed and swollen left eye and the pattern of bruising all over his beautiful face the blood boiled in his veins. He wanted to hurt someone for what they’d done to his… his… to Luke. Hurt them badly.
“What have they done to you?” he choked out, trying to find a clear and un-bruised patch of skin to caress with his fingers.
Luke’s one open eye stared at him blankly as if he didn’t recognize Noah.
“Luke, it’s me.” Noah moved in closer, fearing Luke had suffered some kind of concussion or amnesia.
He saw a flash of recognition followed by disbelief pass across the blood-shot hazel.
“Noah?” The usually honeyed voice was rough and gravelly.
Noah’s heart broke a little more at the harsh sound and immediately reached for the flask at his belt. “Here, drink some.” He carefully raised the flask to Luke’s lips. Most of the precious liquid dripped down the blonde’s chin but some reached its target and Luke tried to smile gratefully.
“We have to get you out of here.” The men that held Luke captive obviously didn’t think he was at risk of trying to escape in this condition seeing as they’d left him unguarded but they could come back at any moment.
Noah reached for his pocket knife and cut the rope that held Luke. He gently tried to help Luke to his feet but the man’s legs were weak from being stuck in the same cramped position.
Trying to push down the panic, he massaged Luke’s limbs. “Are you on your own?”
Luke’s shoulders sagged and he nodded sadly. “They… they killed my guides. I guess they thought they’d keep me alive and get some kind of ransom for a rich American. Even out here, in the middle of nowhere, people are getting hurt because of me.”
Noah had never heard Luke sound so defeated or so lost.
It shattered what was left of his heart into a million pieces.
Noah couldn’t help himself “It’s not your fault, Luke,” he choked out as he pulled the man to his chest and hung on as if he was never going to let go again.
“Hurry!” The guide poked his head back under the tent flap and hissed urgently. “We go!”
Noah nodded at him and the man disappeared from view again.
Sensing the urgency, Luke began to stand as Noah supported him.
Noah tried to guide Luke out of the tent but he resisted, stopping to reach out and raise an unsteady hand to brush against Noah’s cheek, the stubble rasping against his palm.
“You came for me.”
Luke spoke with such tenderness tinged with a hint of surprise that Noah couldn’t resist leaning down and pressing his lips to Luke’s, taking care not to split the lip further.
“Kinda had to,” he gave a half-smirk as he pulled back. “You see, as annoying as you can be sometimes, I’ve realized something.”
Luke tilted his head questioningly and waited for Noah to continue.
When he spoke again all trace of a smile was gone and he was completely serious as he cradled Luke’s face in his hands. Seeing Luke like this had made him realize what was truly important and they’d wasted enough time already. “I want you in my life, Luke. Always. Without you I’m only part of a whole. You see I… I can’t breathe without you.”
The end
Back to fic master post
Author: wheelie47
Rating: PG -13
Word Count: 2,035
Warning: Mention of violence (non-sexual)
Pairing: Luke and Noah.
Summary: Noah rescues Luke and realises something at the same time.
AN: Written for the nuke_anon with the last line prompt of “I can’t breathe without you.”
Noah stumbled through the dense undergrowth, fighting to keep up with his sinewy guide as the man used his machete to expertly cut through the foliage.
His shirt was clinging to his back with sweat; he was hotter than he ever imagined possible. Every single muscle in his body, and some he didn’t even know he had, screamed at him to rest and his throat burned with the need to stop and take a drink.
He’d give anything to call ahead to the guide and then slump with relief against the nearest tree.
But stopping wasn’t an option. Noah was determined to follow the guide for as long as he had breath in his body and an ounce of strength left in his muscles.
One reason, and one reason only, kept him moving forward.
Luke.
Noah could hardly believe that it was a mere three days ago that he was filming a short in LA, thoughts of camera angles and how to get the best from his actors filling his mind.
That was until he received the call.
****
He pulled out his cell when it rang as he walked off set during a break in filming, a smile immediately spreading across his lips when he saw who was calling.
“Hi,” he said brightly; it was always good to hear from Oakdale.
“Noah!”
He stopped in his tracks, gripping the cell tighter. He knew from just that one word that Lily Snyder was on the very verge of falling apart.
“You have to find him!”
Before Noah could even speak, he heard a crash and a thud followed by rustling and a rush of muffled voices.
“Lily!” He tried to stay calm but his heart pounded in fear. Something was terribly wrong.
He heard the phone being picked up from where it had fallen.
“Noah? Are you still there?”
Noah breathed again when he heard Holden’s voice down the line.
“Holden! What’s going on? Where’s Luke?” Lily hadn’t mentioned Luke’s name. She didn’t have to.
He heard the usually calm man take a deep steadying breath.
“He’s missing, Noah. We… we haven’t heard from him in over five days.”
Noah tried to think back to the last time he’d heard from Luke. It must have been over three or four weeks ago. He wasn’t surprised it had been that long. They were beginning to carve out a new relationship that, for now, involved just talking about mundane everyday things. They weren’t ready for anything more. Not yet. Noah wondered if they could ever go back to the Luke and Noah they used to be.
They had talked about how Noah’s film was progressing, how Ethan was doing at school, the rest of the Snyders, the farm. Simple, uncomplicated things.
Both of them knew they were skirting around the issue. Neither of them seemingly able to take that next step.
“Where was he when you last talked to him?” Noah tried to focus.
“Peru.”
“Peru?! What the fu...” Noah stopped abruptly when he realized he was about to swear down the line to Holden.
He tried again. “What’s he doing there?!”
“He’s out there looking at a joint project with Doctors without Borders and the Foundation to fight the spread of AIDS and HIV. He wants to set up some outreach clinics.”
“He never mentioned it to me,” Noah replied. He felt a little hurt that Luke hadn’t confided in him but all the same he couldn’t keep the pride out of his voice.
Holden paused before answering. “He probably didn’t want you to worry. You know, he’s been kinda lost ever since…” His voice petered out.
Noah sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s okay, Holden. You can say his name. I’m not gonna get mad at the mention of Reid. Not anymore.” He couldn’t stay angry at a dead man. What would be the point?
“Okay,” Holden replied uncertainly. “Well, I guess the memories that surrounded Luke here in Oakdale finally got too much for him and he wanted to throw himself into a new project. The last time we spoke to him he was headed down into the Amazon basin to look at a site for one of the clinics. We…we haven’t heard from him since.”
Noah could hear the worry in Holden’s voice.
“What are the Peruvian authorities doing?” Noah had already turned around and was headed back to the set in search of his assistant director.
“We don’t seem to be able to get them to do anything other than say he might just be out of communication range. Even Lucinda’s failed to get them to take action yet. It’s… it’s just that there have been reports of animal smugglers and poachers in that area. Lily’s worried Luke might have run into some kinda trouble with one of the gangs.” The older man sounded like they expected to receive a ransom note or worse any day now.
“I’m booking myself on the next flight out there,” Noah stated in a tone that left little room for argument.
“I’ll have Lucinda get her jet to you. I’d go with you but…” Holden left the rest of the sentence unsaid and Noah didn’t need the man to explain. He must be torn between wanting to go find his son and feeling that he couldn’t leave his other kids and Lily… not given the fragile state that the woman was obviously in.
“I’ll bring him home, Holden.”
“Just make sure that you bring the both of you home.” Holden’s emphasis on the ‘both’ and ‘home’ weren’t lost on Noah and, despite the situation, he smiled. He had a sudden desire to see the only place and the only people he’d ever really truly thought of as home.
****
Noah was so lost in thought that he didn’t notice the guide had stopped and turned around until he ran into the man’s outstretched hand.
“What…” he began before he was silenced by a finger pressed to his lips as he was pulled down into a crouch.
“We are close,” the guide whispered in his heavy accented and broken English. “Must be quiet.”
He turned and crept forward, beckoning Noah to follow.
Noah’s heart was in his mouth. Earlier, the guide had led him to Luke’s campsite. Noah had been horrified to discover the camp in disarray and there had been obvious signs of a struggle. He’d emptied the contents of his stomach at the sight of the blood splatters, desperately hoping they weren’t Luke’s.
The guide had spotted a recently made trail heading off through the rainforest and, hours of hard trekking later, he’d brought them here.
Noah’s mouth went even drier at the thought that this man could be leading him straight into a trap. For all he knew the guide could be working with the gang that had taken Luke.
“What the fuck am I doing?!” Noah thought to himself. “I should’ve gone to the Authorities and insisted they do something.” Hiring the first guide he’d come across that was willing to bring him out this far and following him without question was such an impulsive and desperate thing to do. It was such a Luke thing to do.
Luke.
And there was his answer. The reason he’d acted so out of character. The reason he always acted a little crazy where the blonde was concerned.
The thought that Luke was out here and needing his help, possibly hurt or… No. Noah couldn’t - wouldn’t - even think that.
He simply couldn’t sit idly by and do nothing. Not when Luke needed him.
Suddenly the guide signaled Noah to stop.
Peering through the dense undergrowth, Noah spotted a tent in a small clearing ahead.
Row upon row of cages holding small monkeys or brightly colored birds littered the site. But the place seemed deserted and no human sounds could be heard coming from the tent or the surrounding area.
Seemingly satisfied that they were alone, the guide cautiously crawled around to the rear of the tent and, stretching out flat, peered under the canvas.
He beckoned urgently to Noah, gesturing that he should slip under the tent flap.
Putting his trust in the man, Noah did as he was told.
What he saw inside the tent made him gasp in horror.
Luke was tied to the central tent pole, his head lolled forward onto his chest and there were dark splatters of dried blood over his jeans and green T-shirt.
Noah rushed forward and dropped to his knees in front of the bound man. He lifted Luke’s head gently with trembling fingers.
Luke tried to flinch back from the movement, obviously expecting another blow.
“Shit, Luke!” Noah did his best to keep his voice down but as he took in Luke’s split lip, his completely closed and swollen left eye and the pattern of bruising all over his beautiful face the blood boiled in his veins. He wanted to hurt someone for what they’d done to his… his… to Luke. Hurt them badly.
“What have they done to you?” he choked out, trying to find a clear and un-bruised patch of skin to caress with his fingers.
Luke’s one open eye stared at him blankly as if he didn’t recognize Noah.
“Luke, it’s me.” Noah moved in closer, fearing Luke had suffered some kind of concussion or amnesia.
He saw a flash of recognition followed by disbelief pass across the blood-shot hazel.
“Noah?” The usually honeyed voice was rough and gravelly.
Noah’s heart broke a little more at the harsh sound and immediately reached for the flask at his belt. “Here, drink some.” He carefully raised the flask to Luke’s lips. Most of the precious liquid dripped down the blonde’s chin but some reached its target and Luke tried to smile gratefully.
“We have to get you out of here.” The men that held Luke captive obviously didn’t think he was at risk of trying to escape in this condition seeing as they’d left him unguarded but they could come back at any moment.
Noah reached for his pocket knife and cut the rope that held Luke. He gently tried to help Luke to his feet but the man’s legs were weak from being stuck in the same cramped position.
Trying to push down the panic, he massaged Luke’s limbs. “Are you on your own?”
Luke’s shoulders sagged and he nodded sadly. “They… they killed my guides. I guess they thought they’d keep me alive and get some kind of ransom for a rich American. Even out here, in the middle of nowhere, people are getting hurt because of me.”
Noah had never heard Luke sound so defeated or so lost.
It shattered what was left of his heart into a million pieces.
Noah couldn’t help himself “It’s not your fault, Luke,” he choked out as he pulled the man to his chest and hung on as if he was never going to let go again.
“Hurry!” The guide poked his head back under the tent flap and hissed urgently. “We go!”
Noah nodded at him and the man disappeared from view again.
Sensing the urgency, Luke began to stand as Noah supported him.
Noah tried to guide Luke out of the tent but he resisted, stopping to reach out and raise an unsteady hand to brush against Noah’s cheek, the stubble rasping against his palm.
“You came for me.”
Luke spoke with such tenderness tinged with a hint of surprise that Noah couldn’t resist leaning down and pressing his lips to Luke’s, taking care not to split the lip further.
“Kinda had to,” he gave a half-smirk as he pulled back. “You see, as annoying as you can be sometimes, I’ve realized something.”
Luke tilted his head questioningly and waited for Noah to continue.
When he spoke again all trace of a smile was gone and he was completely serious as he cradled Luke’s face in his hands. Seeing Luke like this had made him realize what was truly important and they’d wasted enough time already. “I want you in my life, Luke. Always. Without you I’m only part of a whole. You see I… I can’t breathe without you.”
The end
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