The morning meeting was dragging on and on. There was a lot of bickering between Dr. Oliver and many of the other board members. Mostly the doctor and Lucinda Walsh. Luke was just sitting back in his chair, listening and trying to hold back his laughter. He looked down the table to find the other board members doing the same. Bob on the other hand was writing, and seemed to not really be paying attention like he expected this to happy.
"We do not need a better waiting room in the wing. This is to save lives, not a circus."
"Dr. Oliver, I assume you have never been a patient or the family of a patient."
"And I plan to keep it that way."
"So you don't know what it's like for the rest of us."
"Never said I did."
"It's hell." Luke finally chimed in.
Everyone looked up at him, including Bob.
He continued, "The chairs are uncomfortable, there is nothing to look at, no food. All you get to do is sit there thinking about your loved one on the other side of those doors. Your unable to help them. With a better waiting room, they can at least keep their minds off what is happening to their loved ones."
Everyone turned back to Dr. Oliver, waiting for his snarky response. He shocked them all when he smiled and nodded.
"Good point. Fine, I'll allow it. Richie Rich can even design the damn thing himself."
Luke didn't think anyone could have been more shocked then he was. For a few different things. The first being that Dr. Oliver actually smiled and the second, he actually agreed on something with minimal argument.
"With that taken care of, why don't we take an hour lunch and meet back here after to finish up." Bob stood
Everyone mumbled something of agreement and stood. Luke sat in his chair and watched as everyone slowly started filing out. Dr. Oliver didn't seem to move much either. After a minute, Luke finally stood to follow his grandmother out of the board room.
"Mr. Snyder, may I have a word with you?"
Lucinda and Luke looked to find Dr. Oliver looked at him. They were the only three left in the room. Luke nodded before turning to Lucinda.
"Go ahead, Grandmother. I'll catch up to you."
Lucinda nodded, kissed his cheek and left. Luke closed the door and turned to the doctor.
"What's up, doc?"
Dr. Oliver folded his arms over his chest, "I'd like to know why you're trying to kill yourself."
Luke snorted, "Why the hell would you ask me that?"
"By the looks of you, your not sleeping, not eating, you're drinking when you shouldn't be..."
"How would you know if I should be drinking?"
"The first time at Yo's, I asked you what you were drinking and you said, and I quote 'Something I shouldn't be.' so..."
"Right. Well, that is none of your business."
"I'm a doctor, so yes it is."
"But you're not my doctor." Luke turned to leave. He had the door open a crack when Dr. Oliver pushed it closed.
"Are you still taking your anti-rejection meds?"
Luke turned around and looked at the doctor with anger, "How the hell?"
"I looked at your medical file."
"How dare you! You're not my doctor. I'm not your patient and you had no right too."
"Just answer the question."
"I don't have to answer anything."
"I could easily let it slip that you're drinking, Mr. Snyder. I could say something when everyone files back in here for the meeting. Your grandmother and Bob will be most upset."
"You wouldn't! You can't!"
"I would and I can."
"I won't let you!"
Dr. Oliver snorted, "How are you going to stop me? Like you said, I'm not your doctor so there is no doctor/patient thing that forbids me from saying anything. There is also the issue of you not sleeping or eating right. Never knew eavesdropping on you and that Hughes kid..."
"You listened to a private conversation between me and Casey!"
"I couldn't help it if I was sitting at the next table and you were talking loud enough for me to hear."
"You could have tuned us out. You seem capable of doing that whenever you don't want to listen to something someone has to say." Luke took a deep breath, "Unless you wanted to listen, which means you really are following me."
"So what if I am?"
"That's stalking and frankly, a little creepy."
"Let's just say I found you very fascinating." Dr. Oliver smirked for a second before continuing, "Now back to the real issue. Answer my question."
"No."
"No, you're not going to answer or no, you're not taking your meds?"
"No, I'm not going to answer."
Dr. Oliver sighed, "You know. You are a lot more stubborn that I gave you credit for. Everyone sees you as this innocent, never-do-wrong kid..."
"I'm not a kid."
"...but I see a stubborn little child who has all this money that he gives away. You're also not the spoiled brat that I thought you were when we met a week ago. You seem to be a do-gooder but stubborn and maybe a little spoiled. I guess..."
Dr. Oliver was cut off by Luke's lips on his. It only lasted for a second before Luke pulled away, eyes wide.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean... You were rambling... I wanted you to shut up." Luke turned back to the door, "I should go."
He opened the door and again, Dr. Oliver pushed it closed. Luke didn't turn to him this time.
"Look at me."
Luke shook his head. Dr. Oliver grabbed his shoulder and turned him around. Luke opened his mouth to say something when the doctor suddenly pushed him against the door and kissed him, slipping his tongue into Luke's open mouth. Luke was shocked for only a second before his hands moved up to the doctor's curly hair. Dr. Oliver had one hand above Luke's head, on the door and the other on Luke's hip. After about a minute, they broke apart for air.
"I've been waiting to do that since Chicago."
A huge grin appeared on Luke's face, "You remember?"
"Of course I do."
"I thought maybe you didn't because for the last week you've kind of been an ass."
Dr. Oliver laughed, "I'm always an ass. And if I remember, we were getting along pretty well."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know if you remembered me."
"Please, for weeks I tried to figure out who you were. I never got your name after you..." Luke trailed off.
"Chicago is what is keeping you from sleeping and eating."
Luke nodded even though it wasn't a question, "I was getting better but I don't know." his eyes were locked on Dr. Oliver's id card before he looked back up, "Wait, did you know it was me before you moved here for the wing?"
"I looked up your foundation yes. I saw a picture of you on the site but didn't think anything of it but when we finally met in person at the first meeting, I knew."
Luke smiled again, "You should have said something."
"You should have said something."
"I didn't want to feel like a fool if I was wrong." Luke laughed
Dr. Oliver nodded before his face turned serious again, "Luke, will you answer my question now?"
"I forgot what you asked." Luke's smile was growing wider, "And you just used my name."
"Yeah yeah. Are you still taking your meds?"
"Oh, yeah. I know not to miss a day with those."
Just then there was a loud beeping. Dr. Oliver finally pulled away from Luke and pulled his pager from his holder in his belt.
"It's an emergency. Listen, could you tell the board that I'm in the OR when they get back."
"Of course, Dr. Oliver."
The doctor smiled, "You can call me Reid. I think we're past the formality."
Luke smiled again, "Reid." he tilted his head slightly, "I like that name."
"Good to know. Now I've got to get going so if you could."
"Oh, right. Sorry." Luke moved away from the door.
Reid opened the door but before he left he turned back to Luke, grabbed the back of his neck and pulled him in for another kiss. No other words were exchanged and Reid rushed off, leaving Luke in the board room, alone. He lifted his hand to his lips. A few minutes later, he jumped when his phone rang. Pulling it out of his pocket, he saw that it was his grandmother calling.
"Hey, Grandmother." he answered, "Sorry, I'm on my way now."
"No, it was nothing bad. If anything, it was a really good conversation."
"Okay, see you in a minute."
He hung up and pocketed his phone before rushing out of the board room and down the hall to the parking lot where his grandmother was waiting for them to go to lunch. All the while, he was thinking about Dr. Ol... Reid.