It was just after five in the afternoon and Luke walked into his mother's house where he lived. He had not expected anybody to be home and was, therefore, surprised when he found both Lily and Holden sitting on the couch, anxious and sad looking.
"What's wrong?" Luke asked, panicking. "Did something happen to Faith? Or Natalie? Or Ethan?"
"No. They're fine," Holden said slowly, but his voice was strained and strange.
"Then what's wrong?" Luke asked, confused.
"Sit down, sweetie," Lily said.
"No! What's wrong?" Luke queried for a third time.
"Chris Hughes was rushed to the hospital with heart failure a couple hours ago. Dr. Oliver was driving behind the ambulance. Katie was riding with Chris."
"What does that mean?" Luke said, his voice an octave higher than normal.
Lily stood up and walked over to where Luke stood stock still. She took his hands in hers.
"There was an accident, Luke. Reid swerved off the road to avoid hitting another car that was too far over into his lane."
"What are you saying?" Luke nearly shouted at his mother.
"Reid's car crashed. Katie saw it happen, but the ambulance took Chris to the hospital before they went back for Dr. Oliver. By the time they got to him, there was too much bleeding. They couldn't save him." Tears were falling thick and fast down Lily's face.
"No! That's not true! I just…I just talked to him like an hour ago!" Luke cried hysterically, pulling his hands out of his mother's and backing into the door, fumbling for the doorknob. Finding it, Luke wrenched open the door and flew outside.
Ten minutes later, he was bolting down the main corridor of Memorial Hospital looking for Dr. Bob Hughes. Spotting him down the hall, Luke shouted, "Bob!" and several nurses turned their heads toward in alarm.
Bob looked up at the sound of his name, saw who it was, and slowly made his way towards the stricken blonde.
"Luke," Bob said, as Luke skidded to a halt in front of him.
"Is it true?" Luke pleaded of the doctor. "Is Reid…?" He couldn't finish the sentence.
"Let's go in here," Bob said, leading Luke into an empty exam room.
"Please, tell me!" Luke said, no longer hysterical, his mind now aware of the incontrovertible truth.
Bob looked at him sadly and said, "Yes. Dr. Oliver is dead." Luke gasped, choking back tears, his heart heavy as a 20-pound bowling ball.
"Where is he?" Luke whispered.
"He's in a room hooked up to machines. We are waiting for John Dixon to arrive to give Reid's heart to Chris whose own heart is failing quickly," Bob said, clearly distressed that his top neurosurgeon had to die to save his son.
"Can I see him?" Luke asked. "Please?"
"Are you sure?" Bob asked, concerned. Luke nodded. "Alright, then," Bob said, leading Luke out of the exam room in which they had been talking and to another room down the hall.
"He's in here?" Luke asked, his voice trembling. Bob looked at him and Luke didn't need a spoken answer.
"Take as much time as you need," Bob said.
"Thanks," Luke said, placing a shaking hand on the door handle. He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
Once inside, Luke was met with a sight that was terrible to bear. Reid – his precious, wonderful Reid – was lying in a bed, hooked up to machines and IVs which were in place to keep his heart fresh although they could no longer keep it pumping blood.
Luke choked back a cry and slowly walked towards the bed. All too soon he was there and staring at the pale, bloodless face of the man he loved with all his heart and soul. His teeth clenched, Luke sat down on the side of the bed. Reid's hand was lying limply next to him and Luke took it in one of his own; it was cold as ice.
"Reid," Luke whispered and bent down to kiss his lips. They, too, were cold and lifeless and lacked all the softness and warmth that they had had in life.
Without warning, tears fell thick and fast down Luke's face and his heart was so constricted and crushed that he could barely breathe. After what seemed like an eternity, but was in reality only ten minutes, Luke's eyes stopped 'leaking tears' and his breathing became slightly easier and more relaxed. Careful not to pull out any IVs or plugs, Luke laid down next to Reid. Luke picked up Reid's arm and placed it around his waist; to anyone looking in through the window, the two would appear to be sleeping peacefully, Reid holding Luke close, the naturalness of the lovers marred only by the artificialness and coldness of the machines keeping the older man's heart preserved.
"Why did you have to go and be a hero?" Luke asked, placing his head gently in the crook of the doctor's neck. "You said you'd never leave me," Luke whispered into his ear. "You promised." Luke closed his eyes and nuzzled his face into Reid's neck. The coldness of it was like a bullet through Luke's heart and silent tear drops fell onto the dead man's skin.
Just as his tears once again subsided, the door opened and a voice behind Luke said, "Dr. Dixon is here, Luke. It's time."
Luke sat up and saw Bob standing in the doorway looking at him sadly. Luke clenched his teeth, nodded, and got up off the bed.
Bob stepped inside the room and nurses pushed past him, moving to the side of the bed and carefully wheeling Reid out into the hall. As the bed passed him and disappeared out of view, Luke whispered, "I love you," and sank to the floor of the room that was as empty as his heart.