"You're questioning if I want you?" Luke stumbled.
"What, you don't think I'm right?" Reid asked evenly.
"After everything earlier, how can you even ask that?" asked Luke, obviously hurt.
"Everything that happened between us earlier is part of the problem, isn't it?" Reid said, a bit louder than he meant to be. "I was content knowing that you were torn and not sure which way to go, when you hadn't made a decision either way. Today, though, you made a decision and we both know it. You chose me,"
"That's exactly my point!" Luke began, but Reid waved a hand to silence him.
"Hold on. Yes, you chose me, but then you're right back here with him. One minute you're with me, then you're kissing him, then you're back with me, then you're holding his hand," Reid said in a mock singsong voice. "I'm glad you don't get tired of the back and forth, but I've told you already, Luke, I don't play games."
Again they stared at one another. Luke could feel his face burning red and glanced away, afraid to admit that Reid was right.
"Reid, please," Luke said desperately, stepping forward and reaching out for Reid. Reid didn't move away but he didn't move into Luke's touch either. Luke retracted his arm at first, but finally forced a deep breath and stepped forward, tenderly resting his hands on Reid's arms and urging him to uncross them. The stubborn doctor finally gave in, his expression never changing, though he did allow Luke to take his hands.
For a moment they just stood close, standing against the wall and out of sight of anything passing through the main corridor. They stood with their foreheads resting together, eyes shut and breathing each other in.
"I don't know how to do this," Luke confessed wearily. "Noah is the first person I loved, the only person I've ever loved." Reid tensed. Luke squeezed his hands gently. "I never thought… I never imagined that someday we wouldn't be together, that I could possibly be with anyone else."
"That explains a lot," Reid said slowly, opening his eyes to look up at Luke. The blonde's eyes were wide and glassy, full of pain and confusion. Reid wished more than anything that he could make that pain go away and answer all the questions he knew Luke had. He reached up slow, cupping the side of Luke's face with one hand. Luke reached up and placed his hand over Reid's.
"I know this isn't fair to you, and I wish I knew how to do this better, but I don't," Luke went on, his words beginning to waved as he went on. "Until he wakes up, I just don't know how I'm suppose to…"
Without any warning, Reid leaned in, cupping his face with both hands now, and kissed Luke gently on the mouth, stopping his words and his breath. When they broke apart, Luke's eyes were shut but tears were obviously forming. Reid reached with his thumbs and carefully wiped the tears from under Luke's eyes. Luke choked a small laugh, scrunching his eyes together tightly for a moment before opening them, gazing up at Reid's kind eyes that he knew to be a rare but beautiful sight.
Luke was quickly becoming use to the easy silence that often lingered between them. He held onto Reid's arms, leaning close to him without reservation. Read rested his cheek against Luke's, just holding the boy close.
"I just need him to wake up. I feel like I'm stuck here," Luke said quietly with a shaky voice. Reid stroked his hair tenderly. Awkwardly, Luke pulled away, scrambling from Reid's hold and wiping the tears away from his face. "I'm sorry, this isn't fair, I shouldn't be doing this," Luke said hurriedly. Reid watched with painful surprise as the blond struggled to compose himself.
"Luke?" Reid questioned slowly, debating whether or not to reach for him. Luke stopped and looked up with sad eyes and Reid felt his heart sink again.
"You've been so patient with me, for months you've been patient and put up with me. It's not fair of me to ask you to stick by me through this," said Luke. "You deserve better than that, better than some kid who can't even figure himself out."
Reid frowned.
"You know, your confidence is one of the first things I noticed about you, one of the first things I admired. You were comfortable in your own skin and you didn't apologize to anyone. Don't change that now," Reid insisted firmly, moving closer and taking a hold of Luke's arms to steady him. "Luke," he hesitated, "you are a strong, wonderful person, and so much more than just some kid. I'm sorry for what I said before, for making you think otherwise."
Luke could feel his lungs straining for oxygen, his brain far too distracted by Reid's words to remember to breathe. Reid was panicking a little at Luke's lack of reaction, which Luke noticed. He blinked a few times, continuing to stare up at Reid.
"You mean all that?" Luke questioned, a smile slowly fading onto his lips.
"Have you ever known me to be a liar?" Reid asked with a grin. Luke managed to laugh, which reassured Reid, who pulled the blond closer. "I'm not saying I like this," Reid said semi-seriously. Luke grinned. "I'll give you the space you need, and I understand that you'll want to be there for him when he wakes up. But just remember one thing," he said with a straight face. Luke tilted his head to the side, curious and unsure. When Reid continued, he had a slight smile on his face but it was clear that he was quite serious and setting the basic conditions for allowing their non-relationship to continue.
"Once all of this is over, and Noah is well on his way to recovering, no more games," Reid said, shaking his head a little. "Once you've finished playing doctor to Noah, it's time to let someone take care of you. I'm that guy, Luke, and once this is over, I plan to be the only guy."