The Hospital

Part 3

Luke walked slowly into Reid’s office. “Are you still angry with me for not telling you?”

Leaving his paperwork behind, Reid stood, shaking his head as he moved to greet Luke, embracing and kissing him soundly.

“That’s good to know. I particularly like your greeting. None of the other doctors at Memorial greet me quite that way.” Luke winked.

“They’d better not.” Reid laughed. “Otherwise I’ll have to look for replacements.”

Luke’s smile filled the room. As long as that smile was in Reid’s life everything would be alright.

“Let’s head down to the cafeteria. We’re meeting someone there before you see Dr. Walker.”

“Is she here?”

“Yes, but she’s so damn ethical. She wouldn’t say a word to me, until you were with us.”

“Reid, don’t pressure people into breaking the law. You know she can’t talk to you without my permission.”

“Which I assume you’ll give when we’re with her.”

Luke held up a form. “She faxed this to World Wide’s office last week. It’s my signed release. I checked with Tom Hughes. Once I give this to Dr. Walker, you can talk to her about my case whether I’m with you or not. It’ll also protect your rights where I’m concerned in case--”

“I don’t want to hear it.” Reid raised his hand, halting Luke mid-sentence.

“Okay.” He folded the paper and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. “So who are we meeting for lousy cafeteria coffee?”

“Come on, he’ll be waiting.”

Luke raised an eyebrow. “He?”

“Let’s go. You’re as bad as Katie when it comes to wanting to know everything.”

“If I didn’t know how much you love and admire her, I might just be insulted by that statement.”

“Yes, well, you do know, so just leave it at that.”

The two walked toward the elevators to head to the cafeteria. Reid took Luke’s hand in his own. He needed to feel Luke’s warmth, feel their undeniable connection.

Getting off the elevator, Reid scanned the room. He soon spotted his target, seated in the rear of the room, at a table near a window. “Come on, he’s here.”

Reaching the table, Luke stood behind his chair, eyes wide open. “Noah, what are you doing here? I thought you were preparing for a location shoot.” Luke scanned the room. “Where’s Mark? Are you meeting him?”

Noah shook his head. “I’ll catch up with Mark later. What I want to know is why Reid thinks it’s important we talk before noon today. He insisted.”

Staring at Reid, Luke tilted his head. “I don’t understand. Why did you arrange this?”

“Chris said it was important, and I think he might be right this time.”

Flopping into the seat, Luke rested his palms on the table.

Looking at Noah and Luke seated together still brought on mixed emotions, even if the sight was from an era long past. Reid quickly shook that thought from his mind knowing the singular significance of his place in Luke’s life. He also remembered observing Noah recently with Mark Jenkins. He’d noticed the way Noah looked at Mark whenever they met at the hospital, a look so similar to the way Luke looked at Reid, leaving no doubt whatsoever as to where Mr. Mayer’s heart was currently directed.

“I’ll get us some coffee.” Reid glared at Luke. “Tell him.”

“What about Mark?” Luke’s brow furrowed. “Shouldn’t he be here too?”

“The hospital grapevine is working overtime in your case. I’m sure he already knows.”

Luke nodded and turned to Noah as Reid began to walk toward the coffee carafes. “Noah, something’s come up and I may just need my closest friends around me for support; same goes for Reid.”

When he turned to look back at their table, he knew he hadn’t needed to stay and hear the words. He could tell the exact moment Luke told Noah; Reid could see the ashen, distressed look on Noah’s face even from his position near the coffee carafes. Mr. Mayer really had become a valued friend. There aren’t too many of those in the world. Noah, Katie, Mark, even Chris. How did Reid end up with this unlikely foursome in his life? How did he end up with supportive, caring friends?

That wasn’t too difficult to figure out -- Luke. Everything in Reid’s life began, and ended, with Luke Snyder.

 

*~*~*~*~*
 

Ethan ran into Reid’s inner office without knocking. Reid wondered for the hundredth, no make that thousandth time, why his secretary was so incompetent that she couldn’t seem to keep anyone out -- not even a twelve year old.

At least Ethan was a welcome visitor... most of the time. Miriam Oliver tried to hurry in after him, but just couldn’t keep up. She stood at the threshold to Reid’s office, trying to catch her breath.

“Why’d we have to come home so soon? I thought I was going to get a whole week in Boston this time.”

“What did my mother tell you?” Reid pushed around a few papers, but wasn’t really paying attention to them.

Ethan flopped onto the sofa along the far wall of the office. “Every time I asked, all she’d say was, Your father will tell you.” The kid rolled his eyes. “What kind of answer is that?”

“It’s the best one I could give you.” A clearly exhausted Miriam took a seat next to Ethan. “There are some things you have to hear from a parent.” She looked at Reid, silently pleading with him to intervene.

“I’ll take it from here, Mother.” Reid joined them on the sofa, sitting on Ethan’s other side.

“So what’s the big deal? Why’d you cut my vacation short, and why are we at the hospital?”

“Because Luke isn’t feeling well.”

“I don’t get it. If one of you is sick you usually send me to stay at the farm so I don’t catch it. Why would you bring me home this time?”

Reid gazed at Ethan suddenly feeling inadequate as a father. He wondered how Holden would have shared this information with a pre-teen.

“Wait a minute.” Ethan’s eyes narrowed and his voice softened. “Is this about Luke’s kidney? Did he start drinking and mess himself up?”

“No!” Jesus, what had his kid been reading online? Parental controls didn’t include medical research. “Luke hasn’t had a drop of alcohol.”

“Then why’s he here?”

Lowering his head, Reid took a deep breath. He noticed his mother watching him and for the first time since they renewed their relationship he saw something he hadn’t seen since he came out to her right before he started high school. Her features seemed softer than usual and she bit her lip smearing a dot of lipstick on her front teeth. If Reid had to put a name to it he’d say she was experiencing concern. Miriam Oliver was concerned about Luke, maybe about both Luke and Reid.

“Ethan.” Reid rolled his lips inward. This was harder than he thought it would be. Luke and Ethan were so much more than brothers. “Luke’s kidney is failing.”

“So he’ll have another transplant.” Ethan spoke as if all it took was picking up a kidney in the pharmacy and popping it in.

“It’s not that simple. We have to find an appropriate donor, and that’s not always easy.”

“So you’re saying Luke might not get a kidney before he needs to go on dialysis?”

“Ethan, how do you know all this?”

“I may not be a genius, but I’m not stupid. You can Google anything.” Ethan stood directly in front of Reid. He was still small, having not begun puberty yet. Looking up toward the ceiling and blinking, he tucked his hands in his pockets. He was so like Luke in so many small ways. “You’re going to make sure he gets better. I know you will. You have to. You’re the Chief of Staff. You always take care of Luke and me. You’ll fix this too.”

All definitive statements. All delivered by a boy who couldn’t bear to lose anyone else he loved. Ethan had complete confidence in him and Reid had no idea where that came from, especially since this was entirely out of his hands. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure Luke gets a new, healthy kidney as soon as possible.”

“Then it’ll happen. I know it will. It has to.”

Reid pinched the bridge of his nose. God, he hoped Ethan was right because Reid had no idea how he could move forward without Luke by his side. After losing his parents, Ethan would have an equally hard time. “I hope you’re right, kid.”

“Please make sure Luke’s okay. Nothing can happen to him.” Ethan turned away. As he stood up to stand behind Ethan, Reid felt his mother’s fingers brush tenderly over his hand.

 

*~*~*~*~*
 

Reid had sent Miriam and Ethan to Al’s to have an afternoon snack as soon as he learned Luke was definitely going to be admitted that afternoon.

He headed over to his partner’s room as soon as a room assignment had been made and there had been time for Luke to get settled.

Turning the corner on Luke’s floor, Reid saw Mark walking into the room ahead of him. Rather than immediately following his colleague and friend inside, Reid took some time to compose himself before having to see Luke lying in a bed in one of those hideous hospital gowns.

The door remained open, and Reid didn’t bother walking away, interested in hearing what the two were saying.

“Dr. Jenkins, what are you doing here?” Luke sounded like he was in good spirits.

“I’m Dr. Jenkins when I’m doing my rounds or in the operating room. Right now I’m Mark, hospital visitor.”

Luke huffed. “You might want to remove the scrubs if you’re trying to not look like part of my medical team.”

“I’ll take the fashion advice into account next time I stop by.” There was a brief pause. “You and Noah have a lot in common.”

“Really?” I was curious about Mark’s statement as well.

“You both try to dress the doctors in your lives.”

“I used to try and do that much more often when Reid and I were first together. That was until I learned Reid had a better innate fashion sense than I gave him credit for.”

Reid smiled, remembering how often he’d gotten angry when he’d spot a specific suit or tux hanging outside their closet, waiting for him to change into before a fundraiser for the hospital or Luke’s foundation.

Luke continued, “At least you know Noah likes to take care of you, both at home and when you go out.”

“I don’t think he even realizes how much he takes care of me. He does it automatically.”

“What do you mean?”

“If we have plans and he comes to pick me up after a long day in surgery, for some mysterious reason he’ll suddenly change his mind about the evening’s plans, claiming to be more in the mood to stay in and watch old movies.” Reid listened to Mark’s voice go from that of bold doctor to mooning romantic. “He’ll run out to his car and bring in a half dozen black and white classics and insist we relax together on the sofa.”

“How is that taking care of you? He loves those films.” Reid enjoyed hearing how distracted Luke was with tales of his friend’s love life.

“He may typically love those movies, except he’s usually dressed to the nines. Noah will settle with a bowl of popcorn, pop in a DVD and guide my head into his lap knowing I’ll be asleep in no time.”

“Wow, he really must love you. He used to make me watch all of those old films.” Reid covered his mouth so he wouldn’t be heard laughing.

“Luke, I’m planning to ask him to move in. I think he’ll agree.”

Listening to Luke’s gleeful chuckle, Reid smiled wondering if he’d share their recent discussion with Noah on a night Mark had an all nighter at Memorial. “Mark, I’m absolutely sure he’ll agree.”

“You know something, Snyder, don’t you?”

“I may, but experience has taught me to at least try to keep my mouth shut.”

“Experience with saying too much to your husband?”

Luke snorted. “You’d better not let Reid hear you say that.”

“What?”

“Husband. I don’t know if he’ll ever get used to that term.”

“That makes no sense. Noah told me he was at your wedding -- both of them -- the commitment ceremony here in Oakdale and the legal marriage in Massachusetts.”

“Being legally married is one thing, admitting to it seems to be hard for Reid so we still use the term partner. Besides we’re not considered married in this damn state.”

“I assume you want him to take your commitment seriously, as more than partners?”

Reid didn’t hear any response from Luke and could imagine him shrugging, letting his needs become secondary to Reid’s. Damn. He wasn’t able to fix everything, but this was something he had the power to correct.

Before the conversation turned maudlin, Reid decided to arrive for his own visit with his partn... no, husband -- he’d have to start getting used to that term, even if he only used it occasionally.

“Hey, Luke. Getting settled on the not-so-comfortable-because-it-better-be-very-temporary hospital bed?”

“As comfortable as I can be. Look who visited me.” Luke raised a hand in Mark’s direction.

“I didn’t know I was paying you to visit inpatients whose treatment you’re not responsible for.” Reid tried to glare but it was lost on his friend.

“Considering I just got out of eight hours in surgery with an emergency head trauma case, I’d say you’re not paying me nearly enough.”

“Duly noted, and ignored.”

Mark huffed. “I think I’ll head home for a shower and a nap. I’m taking Noah to Metro tonight. We have to talk and I want it to be in a place other than my apartment or the hospital.” Mark glanced from Reid to Luke. “Luke, did you tell Noah?”

“Yeah, a couple of hours ago. I think talking to him about something positive would be a really good idea.”

“I know you’re in good hands. I can’t imagine this becoming a negative experience, however I will definitely take your advice and share some positive time with Noah.”

“See you tomorrow, Dr. Oliver.” Mark grinned.

“I didn’t see your name on the rotation for tomorrow.”

“Reid, I’ll be here tomorrow, and every other day Luke remains a guest at Memorial.”

“Thank you.” Reid nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed as Luke moved over making space for them to rest together.

Before Mark could leave, Dr. Walker entered the room. “I have news.”

She glanced at both doctors and then looked at Luke. “They can stay.”

“We may have a kidney.”

[TBC]
 

Return to The Hospital