The Search

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters seen in ATWT, they are the property of CBS.

Author's Notes: This is my first story ….please be kind

Rating: This has a K rating, this rating may change

A month has gone by since Noah had left for Texas and away from Luke. Luke's family has had to deal with the drama of his father Holden being accused of his other father's murder. Luke's heart was broken when Noah decided he needed Luke to be his friend and not his lover, but he knew that he couldn't dwell on his loss with his father possibly going to jail. If the findings of Dr. Oliver had been correct then Damian was not dead, he had other things to worry about. How could he do this to Luke? He hurt him too often, and just when Luke started to let down his shield and began to accept Damian as a father. This was becoming too much like the last time Damian betrayed Luke.

He was 16 years old and had just come out to his parents. His mother was having a difficult time accepting that her son was gay and that was when Damian showed up. He made Luke believe that he accepted him and loved him unconditionally. Luke was so happy to have that acceptance from his birth father; even though he would never admit that he longed for it. The little boy inside him that loved his father, and wanted his acceptance, was thrilled. The teenager in him was still a little hesitant to believe that this man could accept him so easily. That was until the accident with his mother and the man from "camp" came to take him away. After his mother fell down the stairs and went into a coma, Luke felt so lost and guilty. His dad Holden was pushing him away and Damian was there to step in and take his place. After weeks of pain and turmoil, Luke agreed to go to Malta with Damian, only to find out that he lied to Luke. He never accepted him and he was the one who sent Ross Krieger to take him to that camp where they would make him "straight".

The pain of that betrayal stayed with Luke for years. He hated Damian for what he did, not just the betrayal, but the fact that he made Luke feel love for him. Luke began to feel like his son, only to be slapped in the face with his true feelings about how he thought Luke should be. Now it happened again. Damian lied to Luke, he hurt his mother and father and he said it was all in the name of love. That he loved Luciano and all he did was in the name of that love. Luke could only laugh at that thought. He knew what love was and this was not it. This was possession and that is the real reason he let Noah go. He knew that he couldn't hold on too strong, because Noah would just fight to get away. If he and Noah were meant for each other then they would be, one way or another. So if you love something, let it go, and it will return to you.

Luke knew that Noah was due back from Texas this afternoon, but he found out from Maddie and not Noah. It broke his heart that Noah wouldn't call him to tell him he was returning. Maybe this was the first sign that it was truly over. Luke knew that he couldn't be just friends with Noah, and hoped that Noah wouldn't ask him to be. It hurt too much to be around him and not be able to touch him or kiss him. He would have to deal with being in the same town, but he'd be damned if he let Noah see him cry ever again. He's cried enough in the past few months. If Noah didn't want him anymore, then he would find a way to live without him, no matter how much it hurt. Luke was headed out of the office when his phone buzzed. He took it out of his pocket and saw it was a text from his mother. It seemed odd; she was asking him to meet her at the docks on one of the Grimaldi freighters. Her text ended with "Luke, it's important, please come, asap."

He drove down to the docks and found the ship his mother told him to go to. When he boarded the ship he received another text, "down the stairs, I'm in the third room on the right." Luke's instincts where telling him not to go, but he knew these text where coming from his mother's phone. As he walked down the hall, he found the door he was looking for. As he entered he noticed it was a small room with only one thing in it, a bed, and on the bed laid his mother, unconscious. Luke rushed over to his mother, taking her hand and feeling for a pulse. As he did this, the door he had just walked through was shut, and the person standing in front of it was supposed to be dead.

"Damian," Luke gasped. "What have you done to her?" Much to Luke's amazement, Damian smiled,

"Luciano, your mother is just sleeping. Do not worry we'll have time to speak later." Luke's anger could not be contained.

"You son of bitch, do you actually think I'm going to stay here with you and talk. I'm taking my mother as far away from you as possible. And if you EVER come back I'll kill you myself." Luke turned towards his mother's unconscious form and began to try to wake her. He was concentrating so hard with his task that he didn't notice that Damian had moved closer and that he was holding something in his hand. By the time he noticed it was too late, a sharp pain shot through his arm. He pushed Damian away and saw the injection needle fall to the floor. He could feel the drug working its way through his body. Instinct took over and Luke turned and ran out the door. He knew he had to get off this ship and get to his father. He made it to the steps when his legs began to give out from under him. Adrenaline began to pump through his body as he thought about his mother and what would happen to her if he didn't get help.

As he reached the deck, Luke realized that the ship was no longer docked; it was now on its way out of the port. Luke looked around, he had to hide, panic was beginning to set in and he knew that he had to keep his mind clear. As he ran, he found that his legs were becoming really heavy. He managed to find some large barrels to hide behind. He took out his phone and dialed the only number that came to him, Noah.

Unbeknownst to Luke, Noah had arrived back in Oakdale. He hadn't told Luke he was coming back, mainly out of fear that Luke would tell him that he had moved on and also because he wanted to surprise him. He realized while he was going through therapy that he wished Luke was there to help him. How could he have been so stupid? All Luke ever wanted was for Noah to love him. He didn't care if Noah could see; he just wanted to be there for Noah every day. Noah was a fool, to have pushed him away as often as he did. He only hoped it wasn't too late. He reached the Snyder home shortly after 5. He took a deep breath and knocked, shaking slightly at the thought of seeing those beautiful brown eyes again, seeing that radiant smile, with those beautiful dimples aimed at him. The door opened, but it wasn't Luke who greeted him.

"Holden, hey." Holden's eyes opened wide when he realized Noah was looking right at him.

"Noah, you can see me." Noah had to smile at the surprised look on Holden's' face.

"Yeah, the surgery worked. I've been able to see for about a month now." Holden smiled and couldn't help but to reach out and grab the young man in a hug. Noah, laughed and hugged him back, he had come to consider Holden as the father he would loved to have had. They broke apart when Noah's phone began to ring. He knew by the ring tone, "True Colors," that it was Luke. He flipped his phone open expecting to hear the beautiful voice of the man he loved, only to hear gasping on the other end. "Luke, is that you? Luke answer me! What's wrong?" In hearing the panic in Noah's voice Holden stepped closer to him, trying hard to hear what was being said.

"Noah…..don't have much time. Drugged….help us please." Noah was in a full panic now,

"Luke where are you? Who drugged you? LUKE, please answer me!" Seeing the panic in Holden's eyes, Noah hit the speaker button on his phone.

"Noah, my mom, Damian." Luke's breathing was becoming more erratic. Holden grabbed the phone away from Noah,

"Luke, does Damian have your mother? Where are you son?" Luke, could feel his eyes starting to close, a cold darkness was beginning to overtake him, but he fought it, listening to his father's voice.

"Dad……….please helllp, cannn't fiiight much mo.,."

"Luke, you answer me! Where are you?" Luke fought hard to keep his head up but was beginning to lose the battle. He lifted his head when he heard footsteps come towards him. He wanted so much to run, but his legs wouldn't move. As he looked up he saw Damian standing above him, a disappointed look on his face.

"Now Luciano, son you shouldn't have run. I told you we are going to be a family. Your mother needs you."

Luke fought his way out of the darkness that was drowning him to say "never be your son. I'm a …..Sn..yder. ILoveyouNoah." Luke could feel the tears coming down his face, he tried to say something else, but his throat didn't want to work. So with the last ounce of strength he had he forced his mouth to move and said into the cell phone, "ship." Damian reached down and grabbed the phone from Luke's weak grip. He put the phone to his ear and heard Holden yelling.

"Luke! Luke! Answer me, son please," Damian smiled as he looked down at Luke's eyes as they slowly closed.

"He's my son, Holden. He will never be yours again,"

With that he shut the phone off and threw it overboard. Luke watched as his last hope flew through the air, right before all went black around him. At least he heard Noah's voice, even if it was for the last time. Damian bent down and picked up his son. He carried him down the stairs and into the room where Lily still slept. He looked at the two figures and knew that they were his family now and no one would take them away from him. Ever again.

Back in Oakdale, the phone was still in Holden's hands, making the constant beeping of a phone no longer connected to another. Though, neither he nor Noah could hear it. They were both in a state of shock; this couldn't be happening. Noah had his sight back and he and Luke would work out there problems; even if Noah had to beg for the rest of his life. Holden and Lily were finally free of Damian and their relationship was beginning to mend. Both men had tears in their eyes as they listened to Luke fight to stay awake. They could hear the panic in Luke's voice, when he mentioned his mother. When he said "I'm a Snyder," they could hear the struggle Luke put up just to mouth those words and it sent a feeling of pride through Holden. His fears that his son no longer considered him his father vanished that moment. Noah could feel his heart beating 1000 miles per minute. He knew panicking wouldn't help Luke, but with those last words ringing in his ears, Noah knew he had to do all he could to find his love and tell him that he loved him too.