Are you playing a joke on me, Casey?
What are you talking about?
This file, are you kidding?
"No, why?"
"You don't recognize the name?"
"To be honest, I may have been a bit baked when I got the folder."
"What do you mean, got the folder? This isn't your own work?"
"No. Alison and I have been working on the case together, while we were at work."
"Well it's clear I need to talk to Alison about the name on this file, since it's impossible."
"Do what you have to do bro."
"Okay, I'm going to go find, Alison. Will you let Amber know that I'll be back sometime tomorrow to talk to her?"
"Sure thing, bro."
Luke headed out of the hospital. He was more determined than ever to find out what was going on.
He headed toward Alison's apartment.
He knocked on her door, praying that she was there, and thinking he should've called before he stopped over.
He tried calling Alison's cell phone when no one answered and heard it ringing inside.
So, Alison was definitely there.
He walked over to the window and saw it wide open with the curtains flopping in the breeze.
Alison was lying on the floor, not moving.
Luke acted then. He burst through her front door, and checked her pulse.
She was barely breathing, but still alive.
He called 911 then, and had them send an ambulance.
He looked around and the only thing he saw was a coffee mug.
He went over to the coffee maker which was still on and took a spoonful of the grounds and placed them in a bag.
This had all the signs of another poisoning.
He went back and held Alison until helped arrived.
The EMTs questioned how long she had been down. He answered to the best of his knowledge and watched as Alison was wheeled away. He felt horrible. He and Alison had always been good friends and he hated that they had left their friendship in such a bad place.
Jack and Parker were close behind and questioned Luke.
He explained what he was doing there, and they told him he was free to go back to the hospital.
He called Reid on his way and told him that it would be a few hours before they could leave to go home, but he would be there as soon as possible.
Reid simply told him he expected a large pizza and a six pack of beer for his troubles.
Luke headed to the police station first to drop off the evidence. When he arrived, he found that the other evidence from Chris's poisoning was back. He had indeed poisoned by hemlock, but Chris knowing the signs caught it before it completely shut down his system.
So there was a serial killer out there on the loose. Someone who was targeting everyone who worked on the case, and she was female.
Luke was at a standstill. He had no idea who was targeting his friends and loved ones, or why the case was so important to the killer. But he wasn't going to let the killer win. Especially not when people like Alison, Amber, Reid, Chris, Pete, Dr. Rosenthal, and Dr. Murdoch had all been targeted. Why hadn't Luke? Why was Luke the only one not to have something happen to him?
These were all questions that ran through his mind as he waited for news of Alison.
Casey walked into the waiting room and saw Luke.
"What are you doing back here so soon?"
"The killer got to Alison."
"What?"
"She's in the emergency room now being worked on."
"Oh my God. No."
"I'm sorry, Casey."
"Why?"
"I'm sorry. Maybe I should just give up."
"No. I nearly lost the love of my life today, and my first true love is fighting for her life right now. No. You will find the murderer and then let me at them. I will personally see to it that they are castrated."
"If they're male."
"Either way, they will pay for what they have done to us."
"Casey, go sit with Amber. I'll let you know when I hear anything."
"No, Luke. You don't understand. I'm not leaving until I hear something."
"Fine. I'll go talk to Amber, just make sure you let me know."
"Fine."
Luke walked towards Amber room.
He peeked his head in to see Amber working on the case.
"Really, you nearly die because of the case and you're working on it already?"
"I can't help it. I got some great leads, even though I got kidnapped and nearly murdered."
"So, let's hear it."
"Where's Casey?"
"Umm, he's in the waiting room. I think he wanted to give us privacy."
"Right. Casey? Tell me the truth, Luke. The look on your face lets me know that you're lying."
"I found Alison unconscious, barely breathing on the floor of her apartment. She's in the emergency room now getting tested, but Casey wanted to make sure she was okay."
"Wow. I can't believe…"
"Don't take it personally that he wanted to check on her. He's a good guy."
"I know. I love him for it, and I don't blame him for wanting to make sure Alison is okay. They are still friends."
"You're a bigger person than I am, then."
"I guess, it's called being in love."
Luke just smiled and scooted his chair closer.
"So, tell me all your big leads."
"Okay, well I told you I met with Dr. Bob. He was very forthcoming with his information."
"And?"
"Let's just say that he was visited by a woman from Invicta Corporation and she not so kindly requested that he vacate his position immediately. If he did not, they would ruin the hospital with litigation."
"But, why would they want him gone?"
"He has no idea. All he knew was that they wanted him gone as soon as possible and to invite Reid Oliver to come back to Oakdale as the new Chief of Staff. Turns out that the hospital that Reid was at in Dallas had been purchased two weeks before by Invicta as well, and three doctors there also died, before the merger went through."
"Let me guess, hemlock poisoning?"
"Yes. Once I called the homicide detective there to let him know what our theory was, they exhumed their bodies and tested them again. It was hemlock."
"So our serial killer has been in two cities."
"Yes. The killings stopped though when Reid moved to Oakdale, and the homicide detective was convinced that Reid was the killer, until I pointed out that two of the murders overlapped. One happened in Oakdale the exact same night, one happened in Dallas. Which means…?"
"There has to be two killers."
"Right. So we have at least two people working together, and Invicta is definitely involved somehow."
"Well Casey just gave me this file that has information on Invicta."
"Really?" What does it say?"
"Well it said Lily Walsh across the top of one of the memos Casey was able to get from Invicta's database. And I know my mother can be a bit of whiny, over emotional bitch sometimes, but she is not a killer."
"So why would your mother be implicated?"
"Maybe as a set up?"
"Is there any more information about Invicta? Like financial records or press releases?"
"I haven't looked that far into the file yet, but from what I can tell, it's a fairly new company. In the past two years they have bought all kinds of real estate, holding companies, and bought shares in many companies."
"So, Bob retired because they threatened to ruin the hospital, forced him to bring Reid back, by buying out the hospital they ensured that Reid would go to Oakdale since they owned both hospitals."
Luke could feel a migraine coming on.
"This is confusing."
"Well, I also talked to Faith who gave me the pictures she took over the past few weeks and from Pete's camera."
"Right. Did we get anything?"
"I think we can for sure determine that there are more than two people working together. One is definitely a female based on height and build. And there are at least two men; both at least 6 feet tall and average build. Of course we see no faces or features, but this goes beyond one killer."
"Well, looks like we have our work cut out for us."
"So, how did you happen to be kidnapped?"
"Well, I got a text telling me to meet me at the meat warehouse because they had a lead. So, I went, by myself and got jumped and chloroformed. When I woke up, I was in the meat locker, freezing, and freaking out, but I still had my phone. Thank god for 3G coverage. Anyways, I called and was able to leave a voicemail, before the smaller one came and took my phone, broke it, and kicked me in the ribs."
"Wow."
"Yeah, then they left and turned the lights off. I sat in the dark for at least ten hours before I finally felt myself getting weak. The next thing I remember is thinking is that I'm going to die without telling Casey I loved him and then I woke up in a hospital bed. So I guess, I have you to thank for saving my life."
"Well, me and Reid."
"Reid? Really?"
"Yeah, he's the one to figure out what meat locker you were in."
"Wow. I'm impressed. I guess I have to thank him to. What do you think he'd like, flowers?"
"Anything edible is my guess. Besides, we four are going out for dinner tomorrow night at the Lakeview, my treat. So you can thank him there."
"I can't wait. I've been living off Jell-O since I got admitted."
"Well you can order whatever you like tomorrow night. Reid will probably order everything on the menu."
"I look forward to it."
They were interrupted when Casey walked in the door.
"She's going to be fine. They were able to pump her stomach, and she's resting comfortably. She probably won't be up for a few hours, but she's out of the woods."
Luke sighed in relief.
"Thank God. Do they know what she was poisoned with?"
"It was strychnine. Fortunately, you found her about twenty minutes after it was ingested, and they were able to pump her stomach, and are administrating activated charcoal to seep up the excess, and some anticonvulsants. If she makes it past 24 hours, she should be fine."
"So it wasn't hemlock? Why would the killer suddenly start using a different poison that is so easy to trace."
"All we know is that someone is targeting every person that has been on the case so far."
"This is too depressing for me. I'm going to see Reid and take him home."
"I think being with ones we love tonight is just what we all need."
"I feel horrible leaving Alison here alone though."
"She's not alone. She has us."
Luke just nodded and headed toward Reid's room.
He was so exhausted, physically and emotionally.
He finally saw Reid who was fast asleep. He didn't care about leaving anymore. He just wanted to be close to the man he loved.
So he slipped into the bed with Reid and closed his eyes.
The silent tears fell as he released the pent up emotion and stress he had been carrying for the past few days. He felt two arms come around him and pull him closer.
He knew Reid was awake, because he felt a hand in his hair, massaging his scalp.
Luke just sighed and flipped over.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Don't ever leave me."
"I'll do my best."
Luke slept then, knowing that life was short and fleeting, and he was grateful that he had finally told Reid how he felt. He wouldn't trade anything for the feeling of safety and love in Reid's arms.
The next day was bright and sunny and cooler as Luke wheeled Reid out of the hospital.
They were finally on their way home. He was so happy.
As he helped Reid into the car, he looked back at the hospital.
He was glad to be getting away from it, knowing in the pit of his stomach that Amber and Alison were both still in there, recovering.
Reid didn't press him though, just smiled his half smirk at him and asked him if they could stop and get pancakes on the way home.
Luke said they could go wherever he wanted and Reid insisted on stuffed French toast, followed by pancakes, and then sausage gravy and biscuits.
Luke just watched in amusement as his boyfriend stuffed himself and then asked for a side of home fries and toast.
"You'll have to forgive him, Henry. He hasn't really been able to eat real food for a few weeks."
Henry just shook his head in disgust as he watched Reid stuff himself.
"So, this is his idea of breakfast?"
Reid finally said around a mouthful,
"Less talking, Hank. More orange juice."
Hank scoffed at Reid and stalked back to the kitchen.
"I hope you know he's going to spit in your orange juice."
"I didn't really want any more juice. I just wanted him to go away. His cologne is overpowering. I think he doused himself with a full bottle."
Luke just laughed and picked at his bacon and eggs.
Reid watched and finally just reached his hand out.
Luke grinned and handed him the plate.
Finally, Reid was full and they left.
"So what did you want to do next, Reid?"
"I want to go home and sleep in my bed."
"Your bed, huh?"
"Our bed, whatever. Let's just go and fool around a bit in our bed and then sleep."
"We are not fooling around until you are out of the cast."
"Come on, Luke. It's been two weeks."
"How long before that was it?"
"Let's not refer to that dark time in our lives."
"Reid, we are going home, and you are going to take a nap. Then you're going to take your antibiotics to make sure you don't get any infections. Then I'm going to help you take a bath, and you are going to sit on the couch and watch a football game."
"I like my version better."
"Well I prefer you safe and well and alive. So humor me."
"I hope you know that if you don't play with me, I'll just play with myself and ruin the good towels, so that they're never soft and fluffy again."
"If that means you don't injure yourself, then fine."
"You're no fun."
Luke just stared at Reid and finally pulled into Reid's place.
Luke was suddenly very nervous. He had never been here before, and his first time was because he was moving in with him.
He shook it off and helped Reid back into his wheelchair.
It took some maneuvering to get the chair up the few steps, but he finally managed to get Reid into the apartment.
There were no decorations, very little furniture, and it was very stark.
Luke just shook his head.
"What you don't like it?"
"It's very you, Reid. But, uhh, sorry, your taste sucks. We are definitely repainting and decorating and there will be pictures of people, like our families and friends."
"Like I said. I don't care. I already said what I needed. Now number one on that list, a sandwich."
"There is no way in hell that you are hungry. You just ate enough for an entire family."
"Hey, I'm truly living again here, I need my sandwich."
Luke gave up.
"Fine, put yourself in a food coma. I'm going to make sure the bed is ready."
"My bed is always ready, Luke."
Reid waggled his eyebrows suggestively at Luke.
"I know it is, which is why I'm taking the couch."
Reid just shook his head.
"You should just learn to give in to me, I'm very persistent, Luke."
"Right. Well I guess we'll see who bends first."
"Is that a challenge?"
"Looks like it."
Both men went their separate ways.
Once Reid had his shower and was safely tucked in his bed watching his enormous television, Luke made up the couch and lay down.
He had slept with Reid every night for the past ten days, and he missed him already.
He wanted to get up and slip into bed with Reid, but knew Reid would never let him live it down.
So he forced himself to snuggle deeper into the couch and sleep.
He knew the next day was going to be even longer, but he was not prepared for how long it would truly be.