Chapter 3: The Encounter
"How was your check-up?" Pogue asked as he sat on Reid's sofa, beer in hand.
"A total pain in the ass," he grumbled.
Pogue quirked an eyebrow. "Liar," he said, catching Reid's lie immediately.
"It was fine, just not the prostate exam," he said tiredly.
"Why no-..." Reid gave him the shut-up-or-I'll-kill-you look. "Alright alright! Jeez!"
Silence filled the room as they watched reruns of NCIS. "Whattya wanna do tomorrow?" Pogue broke the silence.
Reid shrugged, "Don't know."
"You wanna watch the basketball game at the bar?" Pogue suggested.
"Sure, there's nothin' else to do..."
"Hey, what's wrong?" Pogue asked, concerned.
"It's nothing..." Reid said.
"Reid..." Pogue warned.
He sighed and told him what he'd been bothered about. "So you think you're bi?"
Reid nodded. "And you've only felt an attraction to this one guy right? Not guys in general?" Reid thought for a moment before nodding again. "And who is this guy again?"
"My doctor..." Reid mumbled.
"The one who did your prostate exam? Reid, just because some guy stuck his finger up your ass-"
"No! It was before that. When I saw him I was just..." Reid drifted off.
"Attracted?" Pogue offered.
"Yeah," he admitted.
"Huh," and they were silent again. "You know that won't change anything between us, right? You're still my best friend, no matter what," Pogue said while wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
Reid looked into his best friend's eyes, seeing nothing but the truth in them. He smiled and leaned his head on his shoulder. "Thanks," he whispered. Pogue laid his head on top of Reid's.
"No problem," Pogue whispered back.
Next morning, Reid was in the convenience store shopping for supplies. He turned the corner of an isle and crashed right into someone. "Sorry," they both said. He looked up. It was Dr. Danvers.
"Oh, hey Reid," he said.
"Hey Dr. Danvers," Reid said, a little surprised at seeing him.
"Please, call me Caleb. I'm only Dr. Danvers at the clinic," he said and held up his hand.
"Nice to meet you then, Caleb," he took his hand and Caleb's smile crinkled his eyes.
They finished their shopping and Caleb invited Reid to lunch. They went to a bistro and their conversations started out awkwardly. But eventually, they grew comfortable with each other. It turns out they had a lot in common: they were both an only child, they both watch football but prefer basketball, and their favorite author was Stephen King. Their favorite book, Dreamcatcher.
"How old are you?" Reid asked curiously.
"How old do I look?" Caleb teased.
"You don't look old...you look pretty young for a doctor..."
Caleb quirked an eyebrow, "How old do you think I am?"
Reid studied his face. "Thirty-four," he said confidently.
Caleb choked on his drink and coughed. "Do I really look that old?" He gasped out.
"Well, you are a doctor..."
Caleb chuckled, "I'm only twenty-three."
Reid's jaw dropped. "No way...You're shittin' me..."
"Nope," he said, the corner of his lips twitched in amusement.
"You're the same age as me?" mouth still open.
"Guess so." and reached over to close Reid's mouth. Reid's cheeks flushed.
"So, what do you do?" Caleb asked nonchalantly.
"Uh-...I'm an actor," Reid tried to say casually.
"Really? That's cool!" he said, interested.
"Theatre?"
"Yeah. I'm actually rehearsing for this play, but it doesn't come out until a few more weeks."
"I wanna see it," Caleb said excitedly. Reid tilted his head to the side. "My mom used to take me to plays and musicals when I was a kid. I loved it," Caleb finished, blushing slightly.
"I'll get you tickets then," Reid smiled.
"Really?" Caleb asked happily. Reid nodded. "Thank you," he said kindly.
They spent a minute just staring at each other until the waitress dropped off their bill. Caleb paid for lunch after they both insisted, or fought, on paying the bill.
"Listen, my friend and I are goin' to the bar to watch the NBA Championships. Wanna come?"
"Sure, but can I bring my friend along? I promised to watch the game with him..."
"That's fine..." a little disappointed.
"Cool, I'll see ya then," he said as they left the bistro.
"Cya," Reid said as he walked to his car.
