Chapter 4: Help Me

The front door slammed and the pair stepped in to Reid's home.

"I'm going to go and stick your bag in the spare room." Reid said and Luke pouted.

"Awww, c'mon. You've never had me sleep in there before. In fact, the last time I suggested it, I remember you getting really upset. You said you're much better in surgery if you have me in your bed before."

"It's a pity you don't remember anything else." Reid said almost inaudibly.

Luke frowned.

"Did you say something?" Reid chose to ignore the question.

"Luke, contrary to what everyone says about me, I'm not a total ass. I want to make something very clear: whilst you're living here as my patient, you'll be sleeping in the spare room. You got that?"

There was a hint of irritation in his voice. Luke continued to pout.

"Whatever you say, boss." He smirked. Back when they were dating, that pet name was something Reid got turned on by. Now, he simply rolled his eyes in disgust and continued up the stairs.

Once in his spare room Reid sat down heavily on the bed, sighed and ran his hand through his hair. He had purposely ruled himself out of the housing list and, yet again, Luke Snyder had turn Reid Oliver's world upside down. Only this time it was not to 'Rock His World' in a good way. Reid never thought there would come a day when he would not want to share a house, or a bed, with Luke.

Reid still remembered the day that he met Luke Snyder, as he was back then. It was January 2010. Five years ago. Snyder and Mayer were still an item back then. That very first day Reid met Luke he knew they would be together eventually. There was unmistakable chemistry in the air. Luke, of course, had denied that and for a while the pair seemed to be rival enemies. They got on for the sake of the hospital but that was about as far as it went. Reid used to call Luke the 'Rich Brat' on account of his biological father's assistance in setting up the foundation. Soon after they got together, Reid dropped the 'Rich Brat' although Luke continued to call Reid 'Boss'. It worked for them.

Reid could not forget the day they got together. Luke was hanging around the hospital waiting for someone and Reid was getting ready to scrub in to a particularly awkward operation. It was a rather complicated procedure thus Reid was in a particularly snappy frame of mind. Luke was trying to wind him up and succeeding.

"Oh? Is someone actually NERVOUS?" Luke laughed.

That flirtatious smirk was adorning his lips and Reid knew that he was going to have trouble tearing himself away when the time came to actually scrub in. For months now, Luke had been akin to a drug for him. Something wrong that he could not have no matter how much he craved that substance. Reid would watch him when Luke was oblivious. Sometimes he would sit and watch Luke and Noah and crave what their relationship held. It absolutely pained him that Luke and Noah were so undeniably good together. They had all the right stuff going for them. When they were together it was like an explosive electric current was flowing through the room. Luke had dropped enough hints on other occassions for Reid to know that things were even more volatile in the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen or wherever else the primal urge overtook them. Reid had always imagined that Luke and Noah were somewhat calmer in their sexual exploits and this news had caught him off-guard. So much so that he had spat his coffee out in surprise. Luke just patted his shoulder, chuckled and carried on walking away from Reid. At the end of the corridor, Luke turned and grinned back at Reid. Maybe it was his imagination, but Reid swore he saw Luke wink.

But, back to the day they got together.

"I think you're nervous!" Luke said, glee lighting up his face.

Reid blinked and looked at him, not having realised that his thoughts had distracted him from answering.

"OH MY GOD! You so are!" Luke laughed.

Reid said nothing. He was afraid he might just stick his foot in it. For once the arrogant doctor did not have a put-down to retort with and that unnerved him.

"Dr. Oliver?"

Luke's features creased up in concern.

"Hmmm?" Reid hummed enquiringly.

Luke cracked a mischievous grin.

"You know this operation... it's complicated... I mean we have to insert the...the...the... catheter at exactly the same moment and it's Chris Hughes that has to help..." Reid suddenly babbled as if that would get him off the hook.

Luke laughed.

"My God you're babbling Dr. Oliver!"

"I do that when I get nervous. I don't know what to say, so I just lose control." He gave a somewhat shy smile.

"You know, you're much cuter when you smile, Dr. Oliver." The flirtatious tone and accompanying smirk was undeniable this time.

Reid looked downwards coyly and then back up. He chuckled.

"Are you... are you flirting with me Mr. Snyder?"

"Maybe." Luke smirked.

"It depends." He continued.

"On what?" Reid could barely choke the words out.

He was starting to feel light-headed. He must be dreaming. Luke Snyder would never flirt with him. Ever. He was too wrapped up in that boyfriend of his to notice if the floor were to split open in front of him and start spewing the fires of Hell. That was how into Noah Luke was. Reid swallowed nervously as Luke stepped so close that their waists were almost touching and he reached out to straighten Reid's white coat. Reid thought he might just self-combust with the heady mix of sexual anticipation that was flowing within him.

Just then they were interrupted by a nurse coming by. She cleared her throat.

"Dr. Oliver?"

He glared as his head snapped round to look at her.

"This better be good." His voice was a deep snarl and even Luke flinched in surprise.

The nurse looked like she wanted to cry.

"It's your time to scrub in." Before he could even say anything she had fled down the corridor.

"Be nice to the Nurses, Dr. Oliver." Luke said.

"Hmpf!" Reid grumbled.

They were in the middle of something good. The patient could have waited another few minutes. It would not have killed him.

"You should go. It wouldn't do to keep anyone waiting. Even if you are the boss."

The way Luke said that word, Reid thought he might just go over the edge then and there. Luke was well and truly turning him on. He could now see why Noah found it impossible to keep his hands off Luke until they were in the bedroom!

Before Reid could move away, Luke's lips were suddenly pressed frantically against his. Reid was sure the world around them was a milisecond away from bursting into flames and consuming them both. In his surprise, he had not started to kiss Luke back. Then, just as Reid was about to take his chance and pour his soul into their connection, Luke pulled back, breathing hard.

"They're waiting for you to scrub in, Dr. Oliver."

Had the last five seconds actually happened? Reid was not sure if it had not been his imagination after all. With a stunned expression on his face, Reid turned round to walk away. Just then, Luke chose that moment to snake his arms round Reid's waist to stop him dead in his tracks. Luke's breath was hot in his ear as he whispered the words Reid never thought he would hear Luke say to him.

"I'll be waiting for you."

Reid let out a long, shaky breath as he sat on what would now be Luke's bed, remembering that day and the events that led up to it. His hand scraped through his already tossled hair and then he groaned in frustration. Why had he done an about-turn and accepted Luke's plea to let him live here?

Oh yes, that was right. He could never deny Luke Mayer anything.

Just then, the bedroom door creaked open and Luke stood there looking very vulnerable.

"Reid?"

As Reid looked up, Luke walked into the room and sat down on the bed just a few inches apart from Reid. Luke reached for Reid's hand, though Reid was one step ahead of him and moved it away first. Reid bit his lower lip and watched as Luke looked heartbroken.

"This is hard on me too. I have no idea what you expect me to remember, Reid. I" Reid cut him off there by starting to speak.

"You should get some rest, Luke. I'll see you in the morning." He would stand up and pat Luke's shoulder as he did so. Then he would leave the room and pull the door shut without looking back. As Reid entered the bathroom and shut that door behind him, he let out a long sigh. To be on the safe side, he locked the bathroom door before sinking to the floor against the bath tub. As the cold water in the shower ran to mask any noise, he pulled out his cell phone and sent a simple text.

Help me.