THE WRITER
Chapter 4
“Hey, how are you?” Reid hated feeling the need to check up on Luke. After three weeks of work on the Memorial Hospital documents, he knew full well Luke was about to leave for the TV station.
“I’m doing great. Ethan is at school and Faith has the twins for the day so I’m all set for a day of writing. I’m just glad the outline is almost complete and the narration piece is almost completely scripted--” Luke stopped talking.
“Why did you cut yourself off, I can practically hear you biting your lip.” Reid leaned forward in his desk chair at Memorial. “Were you going to say so you don’t have to work with octopus-hands any more?”
Luke chuckled. “Something like that. He does seem to have a touchy-feely way about him, especially where I’m concerned.”
“How does it feel to have a bona fide fan?”
“I’d like him better if he were a fan from a distance.”
“I liked him better when he was Noah’s fan. It’ll all be over soon. When filming starts you can hide in my office, since the primary locations will be filmed here.” Reid smiled thinking of the two of them hiding out together.
“Now there’s an offer I can’t wait to take you up on, but only if you hide out with me.”
“Great minds think alike, Mr. Oliver-Snyder.”
Reid heard the doorbell ring at the house.
“Damn. I’d better go see who it is. I just want to finish this script and filming outline, get the twins, and plan a nice evening for us.”
“Now there’s an offer I can’t wait to take you up on. Since it’s Friday, is Ethan having his weekly pow-wow with Andy at Casey and Jason’s place?”
“Absolutely.” Reid heard Luke open the door through his cell phone connection. “Oh, hi. What are you doing here?”
“Noah’s kid got sick so he won’t be able to work with us today. Rather than dealing with all the other distractions at WOAK I thought we’d get a lot more accomplished if we worked here.”
“Luke, are you still with me?” Reid called into the phone.
“Yeah, sorry.” Reid could here the hesitation in Luke’s voice.
“Is that Dan the all-hands man?”
“Yes.” Luke’s chuckle sounded forced. “It seems Sammy’s sick, so Dan thought we’d get more done without the disturbances at the station.”
Reid’s pager went off. “Shit!”
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m being paged to the ER. I’ll be home as soon as I can. Keep your distance.”
Luke sighed. “Everything’s fine. If we’re done before you’re due to finish at work I’ll call and maybe come visit you at the hospital if you have some free time, since none of the kids are with me today.”
“Okay.”
“Great!” Reid could hear Luke’s smile through the phone.
“Luke.”
“Yes?”
“I love you.” Reid bit his lip as the tension in his shoulders doubled in seconds. “Be careful.”
“I love you too. Now let me get to work. The sooner I finish here, the sooner I can visit you. Bye.” Luke disconnected the phone.
Reid felt nauseous as he felt his pager go off once again while he gazed at the picture of Luke, sitting front and center on his desk. He was going to get to the ER as fast as his legs would carry him, deal with whatever issues he needed to be involved in, and get the hell out to head home as fast as he could without getting into a car accident or pulled over by one of Oakdale’s finest. One thing was certain, Reid was not happy to hear Luke was now alone with touchy-feely Dan.
Just as Reid was entering the elevator to find out why the incompetents in the ER couldn’t do without him, Mark stepped in as well. “Did you get a page?”
“Of course. No one can fill out a single sheet of kindergarten paperwork without me holding their God damned hand around here.”
“Whoa! Reid. What’s got you in a fouler mood than usual? This could be an accident with multiple head traumas coming in. We’ve had situations like that before and we were both needed.”
Brushing his hand through his hair, Reid looked directly at Mark. “Sammy is sick.”
Mark shook his head, clearly trying to understand the connection. “I know. I’m one of his fathers. Noah’s home with him today. He’s been great about taking time away from the station to work from his computer at home whenever we can’t leave Sammy at WOAK’s daycare center.”
“Your writer friend--” Reid choked out his words.
Mark raised his hand to halt Reid’s words.
“Correction, Noah’s writer friend.” Mark nodded his understanding in response to Reid’s words, clearly sharing his dislike of Dan.
“He took it upon himself to change venues for his last day of working directly with Luke.”
“What are you talking about? Noah left instructions with his assistant to allow Luke and Dan free rein to work in his office or any other unassigned location at the station.”
“Well, the eager beaver writer showed up at our home to work, as he put it, without disruption.”
Mark pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let’s see what we’ve got to deal with in the ER, and I’ll do my damn well best to get you out fast. I don’t trust that guy. Although I have no proof, he wants a lot more than to work on a documentary. At first I thought he wanted Noah, but now it seems--” Mark stopped talking and Reid just glared at him.
“Fuck!”
The elevator doors opened and the ER head triage nurse was waiting for them and reported there had been a bus accident on the interstate highway near the exit for Oakdale. Reid shook his head. Somehow he would have to clear his mind enough to deal with his patients before getting back to Luke.
It was nearly four hours later when Mark finally turned to Reid and said, “I can handle the rest.”
“Are you sure?” Reid looked around at all the head injuries they had dealt with throughout the morning. One or two were challenging, but all would pull through with little or no residual after effects. Only a couple of people needed to actually be admitted to the hospital for more than a day.
“I’ve got this covered and I know you’re dying to get home.” Mark scanned the room. “Go! If I need any back-up, Jason and Chris are both here. I can always page our two new doctors affiliated with the Neuro wing if more head traumas develop. We’ll handle it.”
“Thanks, Mark.” Without waiting another minute, Reid took the stairs two at a time rather than waiting for the elevator. He tossed his lab coat on the sofa in his office, grabbed his jacket and locked the door as he left.
Reid slowed his pace as he passed his assistant, letting him know he wouldn’t be back for the rest of the day and could only be paged if it was a true life or death situation and no other doctor could handle it.
Trying not to speed, knowing that would be the one time the Oakdale police would actually be doing their jobs, he made it home in less than fifteen minutes.
For some reason, Reid sensed the need to go in quietly through the back door. It was a decision he wouldn’t regret. Entering the kitchen, Reid heard Luke’s voice loud and clear.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Come on, Luke. We finished this project in no time.” There was a momentary pause and then Dan continued. “You know why I came to work here instead of WOAK. We’ve both been itching for privacy and couldn’t get it anywhere else.”
“I have no idea where you got the idea that I wanted to have any private time with you. I’m happily married.”
“To that old grump! Dr. Oliver can’t give you everything I can. Besides he doesn’t need to know if you’re getting your real needs met with a younger man.”
“Get the hell out of my--” Luke’s words were cut off.
“I know you’re just adding heat to our fire. And I have to admit it’s hot. Do you like being held down by someone bigger and stronger? You must miss this kind of roughness with the little man.”
Reid didn’t need to hear anymore. He grabbed the ridiculous marble rolling pin Emma had once given Luke in the hopes he might become interested in baking with her. Stepping slowly into the living room so as not to startle Dan into doing something that might hurt Luke, Reid held the rolling pin over his head, poised to swing. His eyes widened on spotting Dan covering Luke’s entire body on the sofa, holding Luke’s hands above his head in one of his and briefly covering his mouth with the other.
“Now we can start by rocking together. You’ll get into it, Luke. You know you will.”
Luke’s eyes were closed. “Please, Dan. Please stop.”
“I love a guy that begs. It’s so hot. You’re so hot.”
Reid crept closer and when he saw Dan was unarmed he swung as hard as he could. Something inside him wouldn’t let him go for Dan’s head, although the idea was tempting, but he knew with just the right angle he could break his clavicle. With all his might, Reid hit his target.
“Ahh!!!” Dan fell off the sofa, clutching his shoulder and writhing in pain on the floor.
“Reid.” Luke breathed out his name.
“Are you okay?” Reid quickly helped Luke off the sofa.
“I am now. You got here just in time.”
Reid wrapped his arms around Luke while dialing 9-1-1 on his cell phone. When he spotted Dan trying to get up, Reid swung again with a direct hit to the same spot.
The man cried out in pain, but Reid had no regrets. Although it was against everything in his nature to damage any part of the human body, this was about Luke. His Luke. Nothing else was more important.
“Oh God, Reid. I don’t know what would have happened if you hadn’t--”
Reid covered Luke’s lips with his finger. “I’m here, and you’re safe. No one can ever get between us.”
“I love you, Reid. I love you so much.”
“Right back at you.” Reid continued to hold Luke, gently pressing his lips against Luke’s cheek and neck as he heard the sirens pull up to the house.
He brought Luke with him as he opened the front door. Parker must have been on duty when the call came in as he was the first to enter the living room. Reid pointed to Dan, still gripping his shoulder as he lay on the floor. “He’ll need medical treatment. I found him trying to--” Reid looked at Luke.
Finding his voice, Luke continued where Reid couldn’t. “Sexually assault me; that bastard tried to rape me.”
Reid wrapped his arms around Luke as tightly as he could. Luke clung to Reid, his head leaning on Reid’s shoulder, as they watched the police ambulance take Dan out, followed by two officers Reid didn’t know. Parker stayed behind.
“Luke.” Parker spoke softly.
Luke lifted his head from Reid’s shoulder where he had been nestled as close as possible the entire time the police were doing their jobs. Reid could see how red Luke’s eyes were, holding back the unshed tears he expected he would see when they were finally alone and Luke could feel safe to let go. “Yes, Parker?”
“I know you don’t want to talk about this, and the brief statement you and Reid gave was perfect, but--” Parker’s voice trailed off.
“It’s okay, Parker, what do you have to ask me?” Reid was glad to hear Luke speaking clearly and calmly.
“You see, I’m glad we don’t have to break out the rape kit, but I’m not sure if you realized, he tore your shirt and you have some bruises on your wrists. If you let me photograph them in my official capacity it will go a long way to getting this guy the punishment he deserves.”
Luke looked at Reid. “I didn’t notice.”
“I did. That piece of shit.” Reid gently stroked the bruises on Luke’s wrists. They had initially been red when Reid broke into the room, but now they were turning darker.
“I’m going to let Parker take the pictures. Okay?” Luke clearly needed reassurance.
“Of course it’s okay. You’re in charge.” Reid knew those were words Luke needed to hear and if he needed to hear them over and over when they were alone, Reid would be okay with that too. Luke was safe; he’d arrived in time.
Luke turned to Parker. “Faith gave me this shirt. I don’t think I’ll be able to repair it or even want to wear it again.”
“She’ll understand.” Parker continued to speak softly. He took the pictures and then asked Luke to change the shirt. Parker bagged the shirt to take with him, presumably as evidence. “Can I tell Faith what happened so she doesn’t learn about it on the news?”
“Damn.” Reid gently stroked Luke’s hair as he continued to keep his arms protectively around him. “I forgot anything involving the police will be on the news by tonight.”
Nodding, Luke offered a weak, half-smile. “Tell Faith. Please tell Grandma Emma and have Faith tell Grandmother and Natalie too. I don’t want any of them to be frightened by however the news report will spin this story.”
Parker nodded back. “Okay.” Without saying another word Parker left the house.
Luke gazed into Reid’s eyes. The expected tears started slowly falling from his eyes. “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t arrived when you did.”
Reid gently cupped Luke’s cheeks in his hands and returned his gaze. “I was here; that’s all that matters. I’ll call Ethan and then talk to Casey about keeping him with them for the night. I’m sure Faith will be happy to watch the twins. She’ll understand.”
“Don’t let go of me tonight, okay? All night.”
“Not for a second. I’m all yours. No interruptions. I’ll call the hospital and let them know.” Reid pressed his lips to Luke’s hoping Dan’s actions wouldn’t make Luke fearful of his husband’s touch. To Reid’s relief Luke returned the kisses. Their passion grew with each touch, and when Luke led the way to their bedroom, Reid gave up all control. This had to be on Luke’s terms from beginning to end. Reid was so relieved he had arrived before anything worse had happened.
When the two lay in bed together, their breathing returning to normal after what Reid imagined would be only the first of several rounds of sharing their love, passion, and need to reconnect, he ghosted his hand over Luke’s cheek and neck. “I love you, Luke Oliver-Snyder. I will always do everything in my power to keep you safe.”
“I love you too, Reid. Thank you, and although I hope I never have to, I’ll always do my best to keep you safe too.” Luke rested his head on Reid’s chest as the two embraced. “I plan to have many happy decades with you and I don’t want anything to get in the way.”
“Ditto.”
[TBC]