For the next hour or so the three of them sat down in the visitors' area without talking much, each of them being exhausted in their own way. The rest of the Hughes family was nowhere to be seen, they were probably waiting right in front of the OR and Luke had a feeling it was best to leave them alone for the moment to give them space to come to terms with their fear. Luke had his arms around Katie who was leaning against his shoulder. Reid was facing them, probably relieved that Luke was doing the physical part of comforting Katie.
Letting his eyes rest on Reid, Luke felt somewhat torn inside. Of course, he wanted to know whether Chris was going to be alright, but he also couldn't wait to be alone with Reid to make up for the lost time.
Thinking of everything that had happened since he had woken up this morning, Luke couldn't believe that so many different emotions and event s would fit into only one day. First his conversation with Noah during which he had for the first time become fully aware of the fact that he was in love with Reid, then Reid's temporary disappearance for – as Luke later found out – a game of golf with Chris and some hospital executive, Chris' condition becoming critical, him and Reid fighting over Reid's behavior towards Katie, him accidentally telling Reid that he had told Noah he was in love with Reid, the prospect of a donor heart for Chris, that prospect going to pieces, Reid deciding to go to Bay City, Reid telling him that he loved him, his weird dream and the consequent realization of how much he indeed loved that man and finally Reid's triumphant return…Luke felt emotionally and physically exhausted. And there was more yet to come…
A sudden turmoil of hasty footsteps and excited voices brought him back to the present. Kim and Bob were rushing towards them, trailed by Allison, Casey, Margo and Tom. Luke understood before anyone said a word, for the relief on their faces spoke volumes. Katie rushed towards the group and was instantly caught into a tight embrace by Kim, who was still in tears but smiling at the same time. Katie, too, burst into tears of joy and relief, releasing all the emotions she had tried to control while waiting for news of Chris. "The surgery went well. If no unexpected complications turn up, Chris is going to fully recover", Bob addressed Luke and Reid. "I can't thank you enough Reid", he added solemnly, reaching out his hand to the younger doctor. If it hadn't been for your resolute intervention, my son might be dead, or at least dying, now."
Luke watched Reid shake Bob's outstretched hand with a sense of overwhelming pride. Reid, however looked pretty uncomfortable and Luke could tell that he was close to wishing he had never gone to Bay City if that would have spared him from having to deal with all that gratitude and emotional outbursts. Allison was beaming at him with admiration, Tom and Casey were both patting him on the back and Luke noticed that Reid was growing more and more tense… and the moment had still worse in store for Reid.
Letting go of Katie, Kim turned to face the man she had disliked so much and whom she had obviously done wrong. She swallowed hard before speaking. "Dr Oliver, no words will ever be enough to express the gratitude I feel towards you for saving my son. I am afraid I owe you another apology. Until today I always thought you only cared for yourself and didn't give a damn about others, but now I am happy to admit that I was wrong. You are a good man, indeed!" She took Reid by the shoulders and kissed him on the right cheek. "Please accept my apology." Luke watched the scene with an amused grin while the expression on Reid's face was changing from embarrassment to horror to disgust and back to embarrassment.
Noticing the grin, Reid smirked at Luke and then cast Kim and the others a forced smile. "All I wanted was to save my patient's life", he declared with emphasis. "And now that I know that Chris is going to make it, I think my work is done for today." While Reid was still talking, Allison embraced Luke from one side and Casey put his arm around Luke's other shoulder. "So Chris is really going to be okay", Allison sighed. "I was so scared!" "Me too!", Casey added, but now nothing stands in the ways of celebrating. "How about getting some drinks. After all, Chris is going to be asleep for a while anyway", he suggested.
Luke looked at Reid who did not appear too thrilled at the prospect of having to spend more time with all these people, and neither was he. Sure he understood that Casey and Allison wanted to celebrate their renewed engagement and he sure felt happy for them, but right now he was more interested in his own relationship. Interpreting the hesitation in Luke's eyes correctly, Casey grinned. "Okay, I see, you'd rather be alone with your Doc", he remarked with mock disappointment. "So drinks some other time then." Luke cast him a grateful smile and turned to Reid who was looking more and more pissed off. He grabbed the older man's shoulder, determined to get him out of Memorial before he had the chance to insult anyone. "Let's get out of here!" he whispered. "I still have to show you how much I appreciate your heroic deed", he added suggestively. Reid's face lightened up immediately and after some polite goodbyes to everyone, Luke took Reid's hand and dragged him towards the exit.