"You got me a dog?" Reid asked happily, crouching down to pet the small furry creature who was still hopping around excitedly.
"Well, it was between that and a gold fish, but I figured a dog is harder to ignore if you forget to feed it. A goldfish wouldn't stand a chance around here," Luke teased. Reid looked back at him with a mock glare. "Plus, they do say that a dog is a man's best friend, and I figured you could use some company now that you have this place to yourself."
It was a medium sized dog that looked mostly like a lab, but it was smaller than most labs and obviously has a few other breeds mixed in. He laughed at how playful the dog was. Luke had already mentioned that it was about two years old, but apparently it was still a puppy at heart. Reid pat the brown mutt affectionately on the head before rising to his feet again, turning slowly to Luke.
"I thought you were going to be here enough that I didn't have to worry about company," he said in a low voice, unable to contain the grin on his lips. He stood before Luke, who was grinning with flushed cheeks, hands awkwardly in his front pockets.
"Yeah, well, I can't be here all the time," said Luke, just watching with amusement as Reid took another two steps closer.
"Well then I guess I better make the best of whatever time you graciously bestow upon me," Reid laughed softly, taking the final step toward Luke and cupping his face. He kissed him hard, though not necessarily jumping into a deep kiss just yet. Luke put his hands on Reid's forearms, holding the somewhat older man close and smiling. Suddenly, their new companion barked.
Reid and Luke pulled back, hands still clinging to one another, and looked down at the dog, who was whining at their feet and nudging Reid with his paw.
"I can't quite place it, but the whining reminds me of someone. I think I'll name him Luciano," Reid proclaimed and Luke stared at him with an open mouthed smile and surprised eyes. He shoved Reid playfully.
"Very funny," he said, ignoring Reid's laughing in the background. Luke crouched this time and started petting the dog who ceased whining immediately.
"It's a good thing Katie isn't here. This may not be her place anymore but she would have a fit if she saw a dog in her overly-white house," Reid said as he walked into the kitchen, pulling a beer and a soda from the fridge.
"Yeah, I thought about getting you a white dog, but all of those looked more like pillows than animals," Luke laughed. "Plus, I figure that you'll probably end up painting this place, eventually. Assuming you ever take the time," he grinned as Reid handed him the soda and plopped down on the couch.
"Maybe I'll take a day off next week and do some remodeling," Reid said sarcastically. Luke grinned and sat down beside him, leaving very little space.
"So, any ideas for a name?" Luke asked, taking a sip of his soda. The dog was sprawled at their feet.
"I told you, Luciano," Reid said half-seriously and Luke nudged him. "Ow, alright. Um. No idea. How about… Bob? Or better yet, Doogie," Reid grinned, bringing the beer to his lips. Luke shook his head.
"You're horrible, you know that?" Luke laughed.
"Yeah, well, what can I say," Reid shrugged, taking another sip of his beer before reaching over and setting it down on the table beside the couch.
The two fell into an easy silence at that point, naturally adjusting on the couch so that Reid's arm was over the back, hand falling on Luke's shoulders. Luke leaned into him a bit, eyes on the TV. The baseball game was on, something they had already joked plenty about earlier in the day before Luke had disappeared to his car to retrieve his "moving in present". The volume was turned down to the point that it was nearly muted, but they could still watch what was going on. They sat like that for a while. Reid's fingers would play along Luke's shoulder absently and after a few minutes Luke sat his can down on the coffee table before falling back into Reid and resting his head against his shoulder.
Two innings went by before either of them moved. Their least favorite sound began to chirp from the kitchen, making them both groan. Luke sat up instinctively. Reid gave Luke's shoulder a soft squeeze, kissed the top of his head, and then carefully peeled himself from the couch with a sigh. Luke leaned against the couch now, still watching the game but listening for Reid.
Picking up his beeper, Reid looked down with a frown.
"It's the hospital," he said, though he knew Luke already knew that. "I've gotta go," he said unhappily, walking briskly over to the couch and kissing Luke on the head again before walking past, grabbing his brown coat from the rack beside the door. Luke gave a weak smile, looking up at him. Reid hesitated in the doorway, and smiled.
"Maybe you can brainstorm dog name ideas while I'm gone," he said with his usual cheeky grin. Luke managed a real laugh.
"Just go," he smiled.
"Be here when I get back?" Reid asked.
"Probably," Luke grinned. "Someone has to take care of your new best friend."
Reid smiled, genuinely smiled. "I won't be long," he promised.
"You better come home bearing dinner," Luke called as Reid began to close the door. He stopped, looked back in with a wide smile, and nodded.
"Will do," he said before stepping into the hall and shutting the door behind him.
Luke sighed. Man did he hate that beeper.
"C'mere, boy," he called, patting the couch and calling the dog up onto the couch. "What are we gonna name you, huh?" Luke said out loud to the dog, putting him behind the ear. He slumped a little, grabbing the remote and turning up the volume. The dog sat patiently beside him, wagging its tail.