Luke could hear the screaming from outside Katie's thick wooden door and stifled a laugh as he tried to imagine what would appear on the other side of the door. He hadn't seen Reid in two days as he'd just returned from a foundation meeting in New York followed by an immediate dining. He'd missed Reid, missed him more than he had expected to.
The door swung rapidly open and Luke barely had a chance to speak before Reid's back was turned and he had run into the baby's bedroom. Luke chuckled ... this could be a long night.
Luke let himself in and stood, mouth half open, gaping at the mess and utter chaos that was Katie's beautiful home. Nappies were ripped in half and strewn on the floor, half full bottles of milk were stranded on the counter, blankets were draped over the back of the sofa and a multitude of soft toys were dotted around the coffee table ... Luke's imagination ran wild. He felt his heart swell. As much as he was expecting Reid to be in a mood similar to a dog chewing a wasp, he felt overwhelming affection for him. He was clearly trying.
"Luke? Are you just going to stand there and gawp or are you actually going to help?"
Luke forgave Reid's snappy commands, knowing it was his way, and shook his head as he entered the nursery.
"Reid, seriously...what the hell are you doing?"
Reid was attempting to fight Jacob's kicking limbs into a clean playsuit and with every gentle tug at the baby's leg, Jacob's screams got louder.
"I don't know, if you hadn't already realised, that's kind of the reason I called," Reid barked sarcastically.
Luke, still wearing his suit jacket, took hold of Reid's arms and lifted them out of the way. He took Reid's place and leaned into the cot. Jacob's eyes widened at the new face appearing in his eye line. Luke, in three swift movements had Jacob fully dressed and wrapped his hands around the baby's waist drawing him up to his chest.
Reid stood still and stared. It was like they fit together. Luke knew exactly where to put his hands and how to position his arms and Jacob had stopped squirming and fighting. Luke rubbed circular motions on the baby's back and shushed him in rhythm with his slight sways. The baby, still emitting strangled cries, choked on a few of his own noises and began to calm, his bulging eyes starting to return to normal. Jacob became responsive again and, between sobs, was intent on tugging Luke's hair. Luke freed his blonde strands with a smile and gave Jacob his finger instead.
"There you go buddy. That's all you wanted right?" Luke's voice was warm and soft but had a firmness Reid felt was learned from experience. Reid ducked his head and smiled adding another reason to his growing and secret list of why he loved Luke so much.
"You're still in your suit," said Reid, stating the obvious. Luke knew Reid and this was his attempt at hiding his feelings.
"Well spotted," Luke replied, glancing up at Reid, Jacob now placid and fascinated by Luke's watch.
Reid couldn't help but sigh. Luke's eyes did that to him. Damn them.
"He's making a liar out of me," Reid said quietly, looking up from under tired eyes, "he feels my fear."
Luke muffled a laugh and glanced sideways.
"You're welcome by the way," Luke added with raised eyebrows and a smirk.
"Yea well, it's not as if you had anything better to do, right?" Reid teased with a stoney face.
"Shut up."
To anyone else this exchange would seem cold and unfeeling and Reid would appear ungrateful and callous. To Luke this was just about the most adorable he'd ever seen Reid. His shirt was crumpled and his curly hair slightly dishevelled; he looked exhausted and Luke wondered how many hours he'd been awake for.
Luke lowered a now limp Jacob into his crib, tucking the cotton blanket around every contour of his sleeping form like a pro. Reid could hear Jacob's little contented sighs and he felt hypnotised in the orange glow of the lamp. Luke had this effect on people. Reid was all sharp edges and points and Luke would come and smooth them down. He had a way of comforting and even though his ever playful and sunny disposition drove Reid insane, he wouldn't change a single part of him. It was what made Luke, Luke... as infuriating as he was, Reid couldn't help and didn't want to resist loving him.
Reid stepped out into Katie's lounge and watched as Luke tapped Jacob lovingly on his nose and pulled the light chord, plunging the baby into a comfortable darkness.
Luke barely had a chance to step forward as he felt Reid's lips meet his. Luke made a faint noise of shock as Reid's hand tickled up his neck and into his hair. Both sighed into the kiss and Luke felt faint. It had been too long. Even two days was far far too long. Luke's hands wandered around Reid's waist, tucking themselves under his shirt and pressing against the flushed skin of his lower back. Luke felt Reid shudder and experienced the same jolt of excitement he always felt when he made Reid squirm. Not many people could manage that.
"I missed you," Luke mumbled into the kiss.
"I don't blame you," Reid replied, smiling as his lips teased against Luke's sending shivers up the blonde's spine.
As Reid's lips slowly left Luke's, he whispered a barely audible, "Thank you."
It was sincere and honest and Luke expected nothing else, knowing he was sworn, as always, to keeping this side of Reid a secret. He raised his shoulders and let out a body loosening sigh.
"Ok, Doctor Oliver, sit your ass on the couch," Luke ordered, abruptly turning Reid in the right direction.
"You do realise you're ordering me around in my own house?" he asked as he sat stiffly.
"Katie's house to be more precise, and yes I am completely aware of the fact I'm ordering you around. I hate to break it to you Reid but you love it."
Reid let out a sarcastic laugh and let his back fall against the back of the sofa, his head leaning back further. He tilted his aching neck to face Luke in the kitchen.
"What are you doing?"
"Making you something special. My Grandma Emma used to make me this when I was little," Luke explained as he stirred the frothy mixture and walked over to where Reid was sitting, "here, drink this. It'll make you feel amazing."
Reid took the mug with an amused frown and watched as Luke removed his fitted suit jacket , unbuttoned his top buttons and slid off his tie. Reid had no idea when Luke had tidied up either and noticed how much floor space there seemed to be now.
"You know, for a genius neurosurgeon you were pretty unhinged before," Luke teased, lowering himself onto the couch by Reid and dipping his finger into the foam.
Reid watched as Luke licked it off feeling suddenly way more alert. He turned and Luke slid in closer. Luke was almost on top of him now and Reid couldn't drop his gaze. The hairs on his arms stood on end and his aches subsided as he felt Luke's arms slot in at his sides and his lips move excruciatingly close to his own. Reid sighed loudly and Luke smiled into the slow kiss. Fitting together perfectly, Reid felt the warmth of Luke's body on his and the pressure of his frame wrapped around him. His head reeled- he still wasn't used to this feeling.
Reid felt something wet on his nose and opened his eyes to see Luke's mischievous grin and a tiny pile of foam in his eye line.
"You, Mr Snyder, are such a child," he sighed deeply.
"Oh, you love it," Luke purred, allowing himself the pleasure of licking it off gradually.
That was just about as much as Reid could take. His body ached for Luke's and even the intensely close proximity that existed between them now wasn't enough.
"Have I told you how crazy you make me?" Reid whispered as his breathing staggered.
Luke, now lying along the back of the sofa curling his limbs around Reid's, tucked his head into the man's neck and snuggled.
"You don't need to," Luke breathed, "I already know."
Reid laughed at this and wrapped his left arm around Luke's waist, allowing his head to fall a little onto Luke's. He loved when Luke tucked himself into his neck. He felt wanted.
"God you're arrogant," Reid taunted gently, smiling when he heard Luke's slight chuckle.
"Takes one to know one," Luke added pointedly, snuggling closer sleepily.
Reid could feel his eyelids growing heavier and listened closely to the nursery behind him. Jacob was fast asleep. Although he had been a mess and was willing to concede that even world renowned brain surgeons have off days, he would never say it out loud or allow anyone else to think it, maybe except Luke that is. Jacob was safe and looked after so Reid felt happy in the knowledge that he hadn't let Katie down. He focused his attention to Luke now, glancing down to see his blonde eyelashes flush with his cheek and his breathing shallow and steady. Reid sat like that in the dim light of Katie's lounge for an inconceivable amount of time and tried to remember every second. He wasn't sentimental, no way, but his heart felt alive and he felt... happy. As sleep overcame him, this was all he could think of.