Headaches
Chapter 9
“I hope Noah and Mark were able to get the kids to sleep. I’m exhausted and I have surgery in the morning.” As Luke pulled into their garage, and turned off the car, all three leaned back in their seats. The entire evening had been emotionally exhausting for all.
“Will you be able to convince Casey and Jason to let Andy stay with them? He’s scared they’re going to send him back to his mother, the Bible-quoting homophobe.”
Reid turned his head slightly, toward Ethan’s voice. “I don’t think it’s going to take much convincing. Dr. Willis and Casey seem fairly certain they’ll be keeping their new ward around.” Reid completely turned his body so he was looking directly at Ethan. “However, I hope he won’t give them any trouble, nor will his loyal boyfriend encourage him to do anything stupid.”
“We’ll be perfect. If he can stay with them he’ll be blown away. That would be so friggin’ amazing!”
“Glad you approve.” Reid faced forward once again, leaning back in his seat. He took a deep breath. “Ethan.”
“Yeah?”
“About the meeting tonight and your reaction.” Reid wasn’t sure how to confirm Ethan’s dedication to staying sober.
“It’s okay. Even before we left the house, after talking to Luke, I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be searching for liquor to deal with any crap that comes along.”
Luke finally spoke up. “So how do you plan on dealing with crap when it comes up?”
“I think I may just have to go to my big brother for advice. The one who doesn’t knock up his ex-girlfriend.”
Reid rolled his lips inward to hide the smile creeping across his face.
“You can go to Reid also, or any of our family and friends. They’d all want to help if you felt like the world was caving in and couldn’t get in touch with Reid or me.”
“I know. But, Luke, is it okay if I try you first? You really seem to get me more than anyone else, even Natalie.”
“It’s always okay if you try me first. And if I’m not home, you can always call me on my cell. Hell, I’d walk out of a meeting with Grandmother to take a call from you.”
“Really?”
Reid closed his eyes. How could Ethan think that he or Luke would ever put him second? Teenagers seemed to have no sound judgment whatsoever. No wonder he had more headaches related to Ethan than the twins.
“Of course.”
“Unless I’m in surgery, the same goes for me. I’d walk out of a Board Meeting for you.”
“I guess I didn’t realize.” Ethan lowered his voice.
“It’s okay, kiddo. Just remember it now. You’re number one for both of us.” Reid took Luke’s hand and squeezed. “You, and the two rugrats inside.”
Glancing back once again, Reid watched Ethan’s Snyder smile spread across his face. Mission accomplished -- for now.
“Reid, we should probably get inside. We’ve been gone over two hours.”
“Yes, dear.”
Luke shoved Reid playfully.
“Ethan, when we get inside you need to head upstairs and get to sleep. There’s school tomorrow.”
“Got it.” Ethan grinned. “So I don’t have to help anyone change a diaper tonight?”
“No diapers, straight to bed.”
“Alright!” Ethan pumped his fist into the air. “Bed it is.”
As soon as Luke unlocked the door from the garage into the house, Ethan ran off to his room, not even stopping in the living room to say goodnight to Noah and Mark. Reid wondered if Luke was disturbed by the kid’s lack of etiquette. Then again, he was learning everything from Reid himself. Reid bit his lip to cover a chuckle trying to escape.
“Oh my God, Reid. Look at them.” Luke pointed to the sofa.
“Holy shit,” Reid whispered.
Mark and Noah were fast asleep, each ones head propped on the opposite arm of the sofa. In Mark’s protective arms, Bobby slept soundly. The position was mirrored with Miri in Noah’s arms.
Slowly approaching Noah so as not to startle him, Luke tapped his shoulder gently.
Blinking, Noah looked around and then down at the sleeping bundle in his firm grip. “Damn. I fell asleep.” He glanced toward the far end of the sofa. “I guess we both did.” Noah’s brow furrowed as he closed his eyes tightly.
“That you did, Mr. Mayer.”
“They didn’t want to go back to sleep after we fed them. We fed them, diapered them, and then started talking to them. Babies aren’t nearly as boring as I thought they’d be.” Noah smiled, looking toward Mark once again as he sat up, still holding a sleeping Miri. “We actually had a pretty good time with them. I thought I’d totally mess things up, but instead--”
Squeezing in next to Noah, Luke rubbed Miri’s back. “Instead you discovered even men can have a real desire to be parents?”
Nodding, Noah kissed the sleeping baby on the head. “I guess you should probably get her into her crib.”
“Why don’t you do it, Mr. Mayer? Get the full experience.” Reid grinned. He was convinced Luke could help anyone get past their fears and anxieties. His husband was the best cheerleader around, always looking for everyone’s successes. Sometimes Reid was still astounded by how lucky he was to have Luke Snyder, or rather Oliver-Snyder, all to himself in every way that counted.
Standing up Noah nudged Mark. He looked as disoriented as Noah had when he first opened his eyes.
“Damn. Did we fall asleep?”
“Out for the count, Dr. Jenkins.”
“Sorry, Reid. I hope we didn’t let you down.”
“On the contrary, you did exactly what Luke and I would have done with the kids if we’d been home with them. Now why don’t you finish your duties and put them in their cribs?”
Mark smiled at Reid as he and Noah left for the nursery. There was no question those two were going to begin their search for a surrogate sooner rather than later. They were more disgustingly domestic than any couple Reid had ever seen, including Bob and Kim.
Reid started when he felt Luke wrap his arms around him from behind. Feeling Luke press his warm lips against his neck, Reid rested his head against his partner’s shoulder, inviting him to continue.
When Luke nipped, and then licked, at his lobe, Reid cupped the front of his pants, feeling them tightening by the second. “We need to get our sitters out of here fast otherwise I may just pop this zipper.”
Luke snickered. “You’re such a romantic; but I couldn’t agree more.” Luke pressed himself against Reid’s ass. Reid could feel the bulge and pushed back just enough to raise the heat a bit. “Reid, not yet.”
“It had better be soon or I won’t care whether we have anyone else in the house.” Turning around, Reid crashed his lips against Luke’s. The kiss went from hungry to urgent, the two clinging to one another, bringing their bodies as close as possible.
Stepping back, Luke looked into Reid’s eyes. Reid loved seeing the desire and need he felt reflected in his husband’s gaze. “Come on, Luke. Let’s get them out of our house.”
Before they could take more than a few steps toward the nursery, Mark returned, holding Bobby.
Reid smiled. “Couldn’t let him go, huh? He is a little charmer.”
Shaking his head, Mark cradled the infant. “He woke up as we were putting him down and when I touched him again I realized he was warm, too warm.”
“What are you talking about? He’s fine.” Reid couldn’t accept what he was hearing.
“Reid, if you have a thermometer I think you’ll find his fever is much higher than it should be for someone this young. I’m concerned.”
Hearing Mark’s concern, a neurosurgeon with a great deal of pediatric experience, Reid began to feel a wave of panic overwhelm him. “He can’t be sick. We take great care of him.”
“Reid, you know as well as I do that anyone can get sick, no matter how great the care, these things just sometimes happen for no discernible reason. One thing I do know is you need to call Chris or Jason right away. My guess is they’ll tell you not to give him anything and want to see him immediately due to his age.”
Taking Bobby from Mark, Luke’s eyes widened. “Reid, he’s so hot to the touch.”
Seeing Luke’s fear, Reid stepped close to Bobby and felt the back of his neck. “Shit!” He quickly went and got the infant pain reliever in case it became necessary and Chris told them to administer it, and then called Chris.
“Reid, don’t overreact. Just get Bobby to the ER. I’ll meet you there in ten minutes.”
“Chris, this is my son, Luke’s son.”
“I know. I’ll make sure to take good care of him. I’m glad you’re thinking. Waiting to give him the meds is a good start, but I need to see him. He was fine at his check-up, so something’s up.”
Reid disconnected the phone and scanned the faces of everyone in the room. “Noah, please stay here with Ethan and explain everything to him if he wakes up. Can you handle Miri if she needs another round of food and diapering?”
“No problem, Reid. You and Luke get Bobby to the hospital. I think Mark should go with you.”
Luke continued to silently cradle and kiss their son on the head as the three men and tiny feverish baby left for the hospital.
Getting in the car, Luke sat in the back seat next to the baby. Mark took the keys out of Reid’s hand and looked him in the eye. “I’ll drive.”
Relinquishing the keys with no argument, Reid sat in the passenger seat, closed his eyes, and pinched the bridge of his nose. His head was spinning. There had to be something he could think of that was causing his youngest son to be sick. He was a genius; he should be able to figure this out.
[TBC]