I know it's been a while since I updated this one but that's also why this chapter is a bit longer.
Like I said since it has been some time, let me know whether you are still interested in this story cause at the
moment I am not sure which one to continue.
Luke remained still for a moment and took a deep breath as he stepped out of the building. Finally some silence and fresh air.
The second session of the hearing had taken forever and he had seen Reid's mood change from bad to worse with every minute Dr. Mulligan had dragged his testimony out.
Now he was rushing towards the car and Luke had to practically run again to follow him.
''I never thought I would say this but this public show of incompetence those amateurs just pulled off in there makes Oakhell look professional .''
Reid threw his files onto the backseat and slammed the door shut.
,,Should I drive maybe.'' Luke leaned on the passenger door looking at him over the roof of the car.
''Absolutely not. I need to give my brain something to do if I ever want it to reach it's normal thinking level again.''
''He really doesn't like you.'' Luke reached back for his seatbelt as he spoke.
Reid just let out an annoyed groan as he tugged on [i]his[/i] seatbelt that had got stuck around the drivers seat.
''But you know.'' Luke paused and shook his head as he watched Reid start the car.
''I think it is for a reason. I mean I observed him and the way he acts it's pretty clear what it is about.''
''He's just plain stupid that's all.''
Luke shook his head.
''There's more to that.''
''Enlightend me then.'' Reid turned his head to watch the flow of traffic as he pulled onto the street.
''His jealousy is killing him. I watched him with everybody else and it's evident that he is the king of the crowd.
I mean he sure knows how to small talk and socialize and he might be ten times as appreciated among his colleagues but deep down he knows it's not because of his professional skills.
The one thing he really wants is to reach your skills and he knows he'll never will.''
''I think the guy is just an idiot.'' Reid shrugged not looking away from the street.
But Luke just shook his head.
''And you know what sends him of the edge?'' he paused and turned his head to give Reid and expectant smile.
'' The fact that you don't even care.''
Knowing that Reid was not really in the mood for talking anymore now Luke turned around again and leaned his head against the window was windy and unusually bleak for 5 P.M. in the afternoon. The sultry heat from today's sun was still hanging in the air and seemed to be trapped between the streets and the dark , heavy clouds hanging in the sky.
The wind had become stronger and in the distance he could see the trees swaying with it. The line of cars was slowly creeping forward towards a huge roundabout and as he looked up he could see the beacons of a nearby landing strip glowing against the grey sky.
The drive around the airport junction was a little more fluid but as soon as they'd reached the freeway it was dense rush hour again. Car's squeezing onto the 4 lanes from several directions.
Luke heard an annoyed sigh and trough the corner of his eyes he could see Reid drag a hand over his face. As he looked at the window again his gaze was caught by two women in the red car on their right. They were both in their twenties he guessed. The one with the long black hair was waving her hands ,obviously trying to get a point across. Her friend looked focused but also very confused. Or maybe the two of them were lovers? Or sisters?
While he kept watching them , trying to figure out what they were talking about the queue moved forward and the red car was replaced by a black BMW driven by a man in his late forties. He was wearing a suit and his tie was loosened. Suddenly Luke remembered how he had always watched people or how a few months back certain situations just started telling him stories and making plots develop in his head. The next car was a dark red jeep. The woman behind the wheel looked tense and worried and he wondered what had happened to her or what options she had now to make it better.
''I'll be in the shower.'' Reid dropped the files he was carrying onto the dresser in the small hallway and headed straight for the the way he took of his jacket and threw it over the handrail.
Luke slowly turned the key in the lock, listening to the sound that so strangely thrilled him.
He carefully placed it on the key board and headed straight for the living room where he'd left his lap top the night before. Going over the table and shelves he started looking for pen and paper. Suddenly his gaze was caught by a medical reference book and he just picked it up from the shelf. He turned it around and ran his hand over the soft covers of it. Wondering what Reid must have looked like in his early twenties when he was a student and suddenly the pictures appeared before his mind.
Reid sitting on the kitchen table, his hair wet from a shower he'd just taken. His notes and scripts spread all over the table along with some snacks probably crisps and cookies. He was focused on working on his notes while he watched dinner cook on the stove. Probably he was sitting in the kitchen because he didn't want to be crowded by his roommates who he most likely did not really get along with.
Luke nearly dropped the book as he opened it and tried to catch a small piece of paper that was sliding out from between the pages.
I love you.
The note simply read and he could not tell whether it was Reid's handwriting or the one of another person. So it must have been during college Luke thought. The relationship he had mentioned the night they'd been out at the bar. Not wanting to have to explain his curiosity he quickly placed the sheet back inside and put the book back on the shelf. He picked up an orange pen with the logo of Parkland Memorial and headed back for the kitchen.
Reid pulled the door of the bathroom shut behind him and walked over to the bedroom. The warm water had eased the pain in his aching muscles a bit but his mind was still just as tense. As he stood in the middle of the room not really knowing what to do next the pressure in his chest seemed to weigh him down and he dropped himself on the edge of the bed.
He felt every nerve and muscle in his body and he started to name them silently trying to get something else than fear into his mind.
Dr. Mulligan's appearance had been a much too real personification of what he despised so much in men. Usually he was way above it but in moments like this it made him literally sick that even among educated people sometimes popularity seemed to count more than skills.
It was something he would never understand and he'd never be able to put up with.
Here he was sitting now, wishing for tomorrow to be here already and yet that tomorrow could be the day he'd lose the only thing that had ever mattered to him.
This would be the first time in his life he'd have to make a compromise and knowing how much he hated it, he already knew that it would kill him.
Lost in his thoughts he had not noticed Luke walking past the bedroom. At the sight of the half open door he'd stopped and instinctively peaked inside. Reid was sitting on the bed, his back straight as an arrow. His forearms were resting on the white fluffy towel that he had slung around his hips and his gaze was unfocused and fixed onto some imaginary spot on the white walls.
Trying not to make any sound Luke shifted on his feet as his features turned into a worried frown. He had seen him tense and edgy in the last few days but somehow this was something else.
Even though he was standing in the hallway Luke felt that he could sense the despair radiating from this exhausted body.
Without doubt this was not something he allowed himself very often Luke thought and for the first time since the malpractice suit he was really worried whether Reid would be able to do this.
His brows still furrowed with concern Luke pushed the door open and walked inside the bedroom with a few hesitant steps.
''I'm tired.'' As soon as Reid had noticed the presence of someone else in the room his features changed again. He made a movement to get up and walk away when Luke sat down beside him and grabbed his arm forcing him to stay seated and look at him.
Not letting him look away, Luke waited until the attempted pokerface had disappeared from his features and then leaned in to just very slightly kiss him. Only lips on lips.
Reid closed his eyes and let Luke push him on his back.
As he felt the firm mattress against his shoulders and spine and Luke's body weighing down on his own a little bit of the tension disappeared and he let his eyes fall shut.
The kisses felt tender and soft. More lips than tongue and unlike the ones shared on the days before they spread a warm feeling in his chest instead of his groins.
Between the kisses Luke stopped every now and then to just look down at him, and it almost felt like those warm brown eyes glowing with the shine of the bedside lamp were able to suck the pain out of his chest.
When he felt the body underneath him relax Luke intensified the kisses and began to run his hands over the still wet skin. With a soft movement he undid the towel and slid his hands between Reid's legs. Stroking him at a slow, regular rhythm he bent down to breathe soft kisses along the line of his neck. After Reid had climaxed with a low moan on his lips Luke wiped the sticky fluid on his fingers against the towel and tossed it onto the carpet.
With the tension released Reid's mind was suddenly hit by ten hours of missing sleep and two day of exhausting testimonies and he drifted off to sleep before he could even open his eyes again.
Spooning the naked body Luke wrapped the covers around them and slid his right hand past the waistband of his pants to give himself the realease that he needed.
Slowly and with his arm dragged down by a heavy tiredness Reid reached out to snap open his cell and wondered why it kept ringing.
As the sound slowly became louder he noticed the he was being pulled out of a dream.
With a hectic leap he straightened up on the mattress and grabbed the covers o wrap around his waist.
Luke stirred at the unexpected movement and groaned as the peaceful state of sleep was interrupted by the distant sound of a voice. He crawled up against the head of the bed reluctantly opening his eyes.
The room was dark with the evening twilight and occasionally lit by the lightning flashing outside the window. He heard the rain tapping against the window pane and from the sound of it he guessed that it had to be pouring outside.
In the bathroom he could hear Reid talking on the phone. He strained his ears but he could not recognize from the tone in his voice whether it was good or bad news.
Two minutes later he was standing in the doorframe only the hint of a smile on his lips that Luke loved so much.
''I'm reinstated.'' He simply said with a neutral tone in his voice but Luke could read in his eyes that he was beyond relieved.
Smiling back at him he moved the covers aside and waved his head towards the empty side of the bed.
