New Addition

Chapter 10

Dinner with Casey and Jason was an eye-opening evening, holding a surprise or two as well.

“So, Mr. Hughes, king of the ew factor, how does it feel to be a part of this exclusive club?”

“Oh my God.”  Luke grimaced.  “Reid let them have a seat first before you start grilling them.  And by the way, I thought you were too old to tease.” 

“There are some things you never get too old for.”  Reid raised an eyebrow.

“Teasing?”  Luke furrowed his brow.

“Payback.”

Jason looked from Reid to Casey.  “Payback?  What is he talking about?”

Blushing, Casey looked at the floor.  “I may have been a little too free with sarcastic remarks when Reid and Luke, uhm, kissed in public.”

“I see.”  Jason bit his lip, but he couldn’t stop the grin spreading across his face.

“My incredibly well-mannered husband is right.”  Reid gestured toward the sofa.  “Please make yourselves comfortable.”

As Casey made his way to the sofa his face contorted as he sat.  Reid bit his tongue, wanting to make a comment about Luke giving Casey advice about bottoming, but decided to keep his mouth shut, hoping not to lose all hope of some fun of his own after din-din with the newest gay couple in town.

Luke placed a tray of hors d’oeuvres on the coffee table and Casey grabbed two.  “I’m starving.” 

Everyone looked in his direction.

“Hey, gimme a break.  Sex with women may be hot, but sex with a man is hot and exhausting.”

“Maybe you’re just getting older, Casey.”  Luke chuckled.

“We’re the same age and don’t forget it.”

Seated in his favorite armchair, Reid observed Jason take a bite of his food while keeping his attention focused on Casey.  The guy was really falling for the new convert and he was worried.  He needed to say something, needed to make sure everyone knew this wasn’t a high school game.  Jason was an adult with an important career.  He didn’t want him to be used as Casey’s rebound relationship, only to be dumped in the near future when the novelty wore off.  He needed his doctor, and possibly new friend, in good shape.

“I hope you all realize that, thanks to me, the gay population of Oakdale has increased exponentially.”

Luke glared at Reid.  “How do you figure that?”

“It seems that without knowing it, whenever we get a brilliant new hire at Memorial, he happens to be gay.  I must attract them from all over.”

“Get over yourself, Reid.  Chris hired Jason.”

Smiling, Jason intervened.  “That may be true, Luke, but Dr. Oliver-Snyder had the final word.”

Reid sat back, satisfied that his new hire was aware of his Chief of Staff’s value.  To seal the deal Reid added, “Please feel free to call me Reid... when we’re away from the hospital.”

“Thank you, sir.  I’d like that.”

“So, Mr. Hughes, are you planning on continuing to bat for our team or is this just an experiment to get back at your wife?”

“Reid!”

“I don’t like eating with an elephant in the room.  They make everyone feel awkward and crowded.”

Casey looked from Jason to Reid to Luke.  He took Jason’s hand in his.  “I have to admit, after hearing about the kid Alison is carrying, my initial thought was to do anything that would really hurt her.”

“And now, Casey?”  Luke sat on the sofa next to his friend.

“And now I’m getting the feeling being with someone doesn’t have to be the hard work I always thought it entailed.”  Casey was looking directly into Jason’s eyes.  “It’s easy with you, and it’s never been easy for me with anyone else.”

Luke smiled.  “I can attest to that.”

Jason gently brushed Casey’s hair out of his eyes.  Reid was beginning to wonder if he and Luke should leave the room.

“Tonight wasn’t expected.”  Casey actually turned away from Jason to look directly at Reid and Luke.  “I hadn’t planned to -- you know.  But it just happened.  I’d actually gotten some news confirmed and it started out with Jason just being there for me.  No questions asked.  He was just there.”

“It’s okay, Case, you don’t have to say anymore.”  Luke’s voice was soft.  It reminded Reid of the time Luke ended up comforting Natalie when she broke up with her first boyfriend.  “Whatever you and Jason do is none of our business.”

“Luke’s right.”  Reid started to inch toward the edge of his chair.  “Let’s go have dinner.”

“No, it’s okay, guys.  I think I’d better tell you everything.”

Reid’s eyes widened.  “I’m not sure I want to hear everything.”

Jason rolled his eyes.

“I didn’t mean that, Doc.”

Luke briefly squeezed his friend’s shoulder.  “What do you need to tell us, Casey?” 

Reid hated seeing Luke this worried.  They’d have plenty to think about when the kids arrived.  This was supposed to be stress-free time.

Reid watched as Jason placed his hands on Casey’s shoulders and tenderly kneaded them.  It didn’t take a genius to figure out these two had grown intimate in more than one way.

“When I told Allison I kissed a man she was shocked and upset.  I was surprised she didn’t wind up hurling derogatory comments.  I guess her attitude of tolerance extends to even me.  But she finally chose today, when we decided we would file for divorce, and I was packing a suitcase, to tell me who the father of her baby is.”

Surprising himself, Reid found he was grateful that Jason was, and would be, there for Casey, helping him deal with finding out the identity of the asshole that had got Alison pregnant. Luke’s friend would find comfort with someone who really cared about him.  Reid thought about all the times Luke was there for him.  It was important to have a person who loved you unconditionally, especially when times were tough.  It was a lesson Reid learned over and over, living with his partner, his husband.

“Casey, you don’t have to say anything.”  Jason leaned close to Casey, speaking softly.  “Maybe this isn’t the right time.”

Facing Jason, Casey brushed their lips together.  “If I don’t say this now, I may never have the guts again and they’ll find out from someone else.  It should be me.  I’m their friend.  Hell, you’ll probably end up being the baby’s pediatrician.”

“I’m pretty sure that would be a conflict of interest.”  Jason offered a half smile and gave Casey a quick peck on the lips.  “Okay, if you’re ready, tell them.”

Sitting up straighter on the sofa, Luke looked at Casey.  “Who is it?  You seem more troubled by the who, rather than the entire situation up till now.”

Alarm bells started ringing in Reid’s head.  There had to be a reason Casey was so nervous about telling Luke.  The dawn broke, and almost simultaneously with Casey’s announcement, Reid realized who the father had to be.

“Luke, do you remember when your brother came to visit between Thanksgiving and Christmas?”

“Shit.”  It came out as a breath from Reid’s lips but he couldn’t hold back.

“Aaron?  Of course I remember his visit.”

The moment of realization was evident.  Reid could practically see the light bulb turning on over Luke’s head.

“It can’t be.  He and Allison have taken this road before and it always led to disaster.”

“Well, at least they’re consistent.  It led to the destruction of my marriage.”  Casey leaned back against Jason.  “There, I said it out loud.  I guess that means it’s real.”

Wrapping his arms around Casey, Jason held him tight.

Luke stood up and paced, remaining silent.  He just shook his head back and forth.

At first Reid thought to leave him alone, but it was too much for one person to handle.   Standing up slowly, Reid approached Luke, still pacing in front of the coffee table.  He purposely stepped into his path, gently cupped his cheek and kissed him.  “It’s not your fault.”

“How did you know my mind was going there?”

“Because I know you better than anyone and love you more than anyone.”  Reid kissed him again.  “This is in no way your fault.  The entire fault lies with Allison and Aaron.”

“Lying seems to be Allison and Aaron’s specialty.”  Casey snorted, still resting against Jason.

“How could he do this, Reid?  I thought his life was going well.  Why would he come back and not only screw up his own life, but destroy someone else’s marriage?”

“Because some people don’t have limits, or appreciate the lives they have, so they plow through all the boundaries and don’t care who they steamroll on the way.”

“I love him, Reid, but right now I’m so angry at him I don’t even want to have him come to the babies’ christening after they’re born.”  Luke stepped back, his eyes moist.  “I’d actually thought of asking him to be one of the godparents.”

“And now you don’t want to?”

“How can I?  I don’t even trust him to do what’s in his own best interests, let alone someone else’s.”

“Then you’ll have to think of an alternate.  We still have a few weeks to decide.”

Luke looked toward Casey.  He remained cocooned in Jason’s tight embrace.  “Oh God, how can I be so selfish!  I’m so sorry, Casey.  I wish I could make this up to you.”

Casey turned in Jason’s arms to face Luke.  “I think the night we went to Yo’s you did make it up to me unintentionally.  I’m beginning to understand why you and Reid work so well and what it takes.”

Although the sap was growing a bit thick for Reid’s taste, he was pretty sure his pediatrician wouldn’t be going anywhere soon.  He looked like he was firmly attached to more than just Memorial Hospital.

“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starving and Luke did the cooking so the food should be more than just edible.  He’s learned a lot from dear Emma over the years.”

“And more than sandwiches, right Doc?”  Casey grinned.

Gazing into Luke’s eyes, Reid ghosted his fingers over Luke’s hair and neck.  “Are you ready to move on?”

“Do you mean to dinner?”

“I think you know exactly what I mean.”  Reid was glad Luke could listen with his head as well as his heart.

Luke huffed.  “Yeah, I know.  I’m ready to move on and serve dinner.”  Luke pressed his lips against Reid’s.  “What would I do without you?”

“No reason to ever find out.”

A smile broke through on Luke’s face, warming it up just how Reid liked it.

[TBC]

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