Ever since she first began her job at the L.A. Daily News Jenna would occasionally sneak out of the fifth floor window onto the metal fire escape outside; where she'd spend a few minutes smoking a cigarette.

It was her special spot that nobody knew about.

At least nobody did until now.

"Seriously?" she asked as she stooped through the window to stand on the ledge. "Is there no place in this office that you don't frequent?

Luke didn't turn around. "I was just leaving so there's no need to get all bitchy on me, okay?"

It would have been hard to miss how his voice crackled like a scrunched up chip packet. She watched as he lifted one arm to his face and realised quickly that he had been crying.

That familiar feeling of discomfort wafted over her. She hated outward displays of emotion, especially those around the topic of death. They put her on edge. In fact Luke Snyder put her on edge in general. He made her… feel.

"And before you reel me over the Steadman article, you can have it." He told her. "I don't have the time or the head to write it, anyway."

"I choose my own articles, thank you very much. I don't want it."

"Why?" Luke turned to her. His eyes were red. "Is it because Jarvis gave it to me and now I'm offering it to you? That's really juvenile you know?"

Inside she felt a stirring she'd been feeling lately whenever she thought about, saw or spoke to Luke Snyder. Ever since she found out about that kid he took in. She didn't like it!

"Yes. I do know. Still don't care." She cupped one hand over the end of the cigarette in her mouth while using the other hand to flick her lighter. She had to click it a few times, but eventually the flame lit and she drew in a puff of calming smoke. Pure bliss!

"You know, I'm really…" he drew a deep breath of exasperation. She was used to getting those from people. "Things aren't exactly going great me for right now… I know you don't like me. I get that. But, please, could you be nice just for a little while?"

That thing stirred inside of Jenna again and she reacted instinctively to deny that she felt it.

"I thought you said you were leaving."

Luke shook his head with a sarcastic, breathy laugh. "I think I've finally worked you out."

"Oh really?"

"You don't treat me this way because Jarvis likes me; or I was given an editorial quicker than you… This is something else…"

"I'm just dying to know what your keen reporter sense tells you."

"You have a problem working with me because I'm gay."

She laughed, surprising not only Luke but herself. She didn't often find anything hysterically funny, but this just took the biscuit!

"God!" Luke exclaimed, gesturing with his arms. "And now she laughs at me? You think this is some kind of joke or something?"

"Well… I mean… it is…" Jenna chuckled, "You think I'm a homophobe..."

"It's the only thing that makes sense."

"Hmm… I think my girlfriend of two years might disagree with you."

Luke's eyes bulged. "What?"

"You heard."

Luke shook his head. "You're lying."

Smiling, she dug into her back pocked and produced the small key she used to lock the pedestal for her desk. The rainbow flag key ring spoke volumes for her.

"Wait!" Luke exclaimed. "If the gay things not the problem then what is?"

She sighed before inhaling another breath of smoke.

"Maybe," she said speaking slowly, "and I know it's difficult for you to understand, but maybe, I just don't like you."

Luke frowned for a moment. It was almost a pout and against her wishes she felt another laugh wanting to break free. Mercilessly she managed to maintain her apathetic exterior.

"Why?" he asked.

The question took her back. She wasn't expecting it. People usually just gave up and left… which was what she wanted. Nobody had ever asked her to provide reasons before.

"I don't owe you an explanation, Luke."

"Fine!" he brushed past her on his way back inside.

The fact that she had irritated him didn't give Jenna the usual sense of satisfaction. She felt the strangest need to correct it.

"You know," she said quickly before he could leave, "there are ways of getting the information you need without running in all gun-ho and getting yourself killed."

Jenna hadn't the foggiest notion what made her sprout those words. Or she did but she wasn't willing to admit it.

"And it's illegal." She continued. "You keep doing that and you'll be finding out what the inside of a real prison looks like!"

Luke stopped, mid-bend, arm braced against the top of the window frame. At Jenna's words he stepped back outside and turned to stare at her.

Then he smiled; a huge and brilliant smile of victory.

"Shit!" she thought. "Shit, shit, shit!"

"You read my stuff." a gleeful Luke announced.

Deny, deny, deny.

"Don't be ridiculous." She replied, already knowing it was too late.

"Yes you did." He laughed. "You read my stuff and… you liked it!"

"Okay, fine! I liked it! So what?"

He was looking at her so strangely now; really studying her; as though realising something for the first time.

"What?" she asked when an entire age past without either of them moving.

"Oh nothing." Luke replied, a kind of sad yet happy smile on his face. It was almost like he was reminiscing.

"Yes, there is something! Spill!"

"It's just… I can't shake the feeling that if I were into girls… you'd be my type."

She gagged on her next puff of smoke, spattering and coughing up phlegm.

Laughing once again Luke turned to leave.

"Thanks, Jenna. I was feeling really down only a few minutes ago and you've totally cheered me up!"

With that he was gone.

...

Noah gave a shuddered sigh and Luke dropped the book he was reading on the nightstand, turned off the light and rolled toward Noah, curving himself to fit against him.

"Can't sleep?" he asked softly.

Noah nodded his head.

"Do you wanna hear something funny?" Luke asked into the curls at the nape of Noah's neck.

There was a telling clearing of throat before Noah replied.

"What's that?"

Luke lifted up on one elbow. "Turn to me."

He heard Noah swallow; felt it through the hand he had rested flat against Noah's chest; and Noah made no move.

"Okay." Luke whispered, resolving to continue his story anyway. "I know why Jenna get's to me."

That worked, Noah turned his head round to look up at Luke.

"You do?"

Luke nodded and hummed his yes. "Think. Who does she remind you of?"

Noah's forehead creased into a frown as he considered this, then after a few minutes the man smiled widely up at Luke; who returned it with a beaming smile of his own.

"Reid." They both said at the same time and laughed a little.

"I love to hear you laugh." Luke told him, running his thumb down Noah's cheek.

"Same here."

After a short kiss Noah turned from him again and Luke settled to lie back down.

He rubbed Noah's stomach lightly and let his fingers curve around the wide arch of his ribs.

Noah sighed again and searched the sheets for Luke's hand so that he could squeeze it.

Luke lay there for a while, listening to Noah's breathing.

"Won't you talk to me, Babe?" He softly pleaded into the back of Noah's neck, placing small kisses there. He traced the smooth hollow in the centre of Noah's chest with his finger. "You'll feel so much better… I promise."

Holding his breath for some kind of reaction from him, Luke lifted himself up on his elbow and leaned over to get a better view of Noah's face. But his husband had fallen into a deep sleep.

"You're really scaring me." Luke whispered, gently kissing his temple.

Luke watched Noah for a few more moments, finally deciding that he was too wired to sleep himself. He climbed out of the bed and made his way down the passage. When he came to Josh's door, he couldn't stop himself from entering.

He sat on the end of the bed and closed his eyes. Sometimes when he did this it was like he could feel Josh in the room with him. It made him feel better.

When he opened them again, his father was standing in the doorway.

"Hey Dad."

"How you holding up, kid?"

"I think we both know it's not me we have to worry about."

Holden entered the room and sat beside Luke on the bed. His warmth was comforting.

"Is he sleeping?"

Luke nodded. "Finally. He doesn't sleep much but when he does it's the deepest I've even known him to."

"Have you tried talking to him?"

"Yes, of course I have. But I don't want to press. I'm afraid too. It's just…"

"…past experience?"

Luke nodded.

"I know what he's like. I don't want him to clam up any more than he already has. I guess I'm hoping all he needs is a little more time. But it's been weeks now. I'm really worried, to be honest. It kills me that I can't help."

Holden rubbed Luke's back.

"I know, Son. But I think you're doing the right thing here. I think we have to wait for Noah to let it go… when he's ready to."

...

Kevin Howard paced another length of his cell, a weekly ritual that took place every Thursday morning. He was surprised there wasn't an indentation cracked into the floor.

He quickly checked his appearance in the mirror for the umpteenth time and sighed; impatient to see his daughter.

Mia – beautiful Mia.

He stood by the door to his cell, waiting for it to open. It wouldn't be long now.

Looking down and his eye caught the papers sitting on his desk. They made him wonder whether he would see Luke today. Kevin really needed to speak with Luke but for the past few weeks their friend Jasmine had been bringing Mia for her visits.

When Jasmine told him what had happened his heart bled for Luke and Noah. Two such amazing people didn't deserve to have so terrible a tragedy befall them; especially two guys still so young, yet with so much responsibility.

The key clanked in the lock breaking Kevin out of his thoughts.

"Ready?" The guard asked.

"You know me, Doug. I'm up and ready before the crow sings to see my little angel."

He followed the guard down the familiar corridor toward the visitation yard, but instead of heading to the usual door, the guard took a right.

"Raining today." Doug quickly explained.

Whenever it rained, visitation took place in a great hall off one side of the detention centre. It wasn't ideal since it was smaller, and the younger children tended to get bored quickly.

This wasn't good for parents dying to spend precious time with their kids, as sometimes it meant the children would be taken home sooner than they ought to.

This hadn't happened with Mia yet. She was such a good child and she was growing up so quickly. Every time he saw her she was inches taller; her cheeks more filled out and her dialogue greatly improved.

There were moments… many of them… when Mia looked so much like Samantha it physically hurt him to look at her. But then she'd flash that amazing smile and all would be made right again.

She was, in his opinion, the most gorgeous creature ever created. And she was his. He still had to pinch himself sometimes to believe it.

He had missed out on so much.

He couldn't wait for the day when they would be properly reunited to live their lives together as they should have done before he ruined it all.

He spotted her right away; hair glowing cherry red like a beacon amongst the other children. She saw him then too and ran for him; that incredible smile plastered across her tiny face.

"DADDEEEEEEEEE"

"Hey, my pumpkin!" he laughed, catching her in his arms and planting as may kisses on her face as she was on his.

"Daddy! Daddy! I ride-ded a pony!"

"You did?" he gave her his most amazed expression.

"Yes!" she giggled. "And it was called Nash!

"A pony called Nash, ha? And where did you meet this pony?"

As he spoke he saw Luke sitting in a plastic stool right up against the wall and away from the crowd of other inmates and their families.

It was instantly noticeable that Luke had recently walked the path of grief. Kevin knew that look well. He had seen it stare back at him from the mirror for months after Samantha died.

A Mia continued chatting to him about some farm she went to and a lady called Grandma Emma, Kevin was happy.

He was ecstatically happy! But he knew what this happiness would mean for Luke and his husband.

"Hey Luke."

Luke stood on Kevin's approach, his usually sunny smile much dimmed. They hugged briefly.

"Hi, Kevin."

"Look, Luke!" Mia announced, beaming at them both. "My Daddy!"

"Aren't you lucky?" Luke asked her. "Did you tell him we went to the farm?"

"Ah ha!"

They sat with her on Kevin's lap for quite some time; Kevin watching how much Luke enjoyed Mia's conversation and how amazing Luke was with his daughter.

Kevin thanked God every moment for the day Luke Snyder became his cellmate.

As per routine, Mia eventually became tired of conversation and wanted to play with the other children. Usually Kevin would join her and they'd spend the time privately together while Luke interviewed an inmate for his book.

But today, Kevin remained by Luke's side, prompting Luke to look up at him in surprise.

"Aren't you going with her?" he asked.

"I will in a minute. I have something to tell you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. But first I just wanted to say how sorry I am Luke. For your loss."

Luke smiled and nodded. "Thanks Kevin. I know you understand."

"Yes."

They sat and watched Mia playing dolls with another little girl nearby.

"She's so happy, Luke. You guys have done wonders for her."

Luke smiled. "Yes, she is. Oh, did Jasmine tell you she's back in the water?"

Kevin nodded. "Again all thanks to you and Noah. I have a lot to thank you guys for."

Luke laughed. "I gotta tell you Kevin, it's me that should thank you. She's a joy! We love having her."

Kevin sighed then and Luke frowned at his worried expression.

"What is it Kev?"

"Luke, it's kinda what I wanted to talk to you about. I would have told you sooner but then this terrible thing happened to you and you didn't come round for a few weeks."

"Yes? Just tell me."

"I didn't want to tell Jasmine and have her relay the message. I wanted to tell you in person. I owe you that."

"Kevin, you're making me nervous. What are you saying?"

Kevin took a deep breath.

"I'm so sorry Luke, I know this is REALLY bad timing… but… I've been granted early release."

...

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