Well, here it is. I'm am so sorry that i haven't updated in months, but i had a good excuse. I had some health issues and this and my QAF story were put on the back burner until it was resolved. Thank you to all those who have kept up with this story. Again I am so sorry that it took so long. I can't promise that i will update soon, but i will try my best.

As for the formatting. I always have so much difficulty getting it right, so if you are having trouble reading this, please let me know and i will try to fix it. And if anyone knows how to fix it please tell me. I can't seem to get it right.

The Search – Chapter 18

Mother and Son

Luke rolled over in his bed, feeling beside him for the man he loved, only to pat an empty space. Luke opened his eyes and looked at where his hand had landed, and for a split moment he thought that he had just dreamt what had happened the night before. Tears began to fill his eyes, the pain of reality hitting him hard; that was until he noticed something hanging from the bedpost. Luke reached over with shaky hands and pulled the object off the post and held it in front of him, tears of joy running down his cheeks, as he held the green and black stripped tie Noah left hanging on the post in his hands almost reverently, and laughed as he brought the tie to his nose and inhaled the scent of the man he loved.

Luke closed his eyes and thanked God that it hadn't been a dream. That Noah had been there last night, and they had made love for hours. As Luke shifted around in his bed, he couldn't help but wince at the slight ache in his lower body. If he had just waited long enough he would have known that it hadn't been a dream, by just the way his body was deliciously aching from being thoroughly fucked the night before. Noah always did know how to make Luke's body want more and more, no matter how much he ached afterward. Luke threw himself back onto the bed and laughed and cried at the same time. He inhaled the scent on the tie deeply, closing his eyes and picturing the most beautiful blue eyes, staring down at him, as he thrust in and out of Luke's body, gently at first then in uncontrolled spasms that left Luke feeling as if he were going to die of pleasure at any moment.

Luke smiled at the memory of their night together, but was quickly pulled from his memories by the sound of his door being opened. He had just enough time to hide the tie under his pillow, when he father walked into his room.

Damian walked into Luke's room with the "Hulk" walking in behind him, he looked down at his son and noticed that Luke has been crying, "Luciano, son, what is it? Are you in pain?" Luke knew his eyes and face would still show signs of his tears, and though they had been happy tears, Luke decided to take advantage of his father's worries, "I'm just upset, Damian. You haven't let me see my mother in a while and I'm beginning to think that you're keeping something from me about her recovery. I want to see her today, please, I'll do whatever you want." Luke watched as Damian actually cringed when Luke addressed him by his name instead of 'father.' Luke watched Damian's reaction carefully; he knew he was treading on thin ice, when he saw his father's eyes flicker anger.

Luke decided he had to control his anger and remember that there was a plan in the works and he couldn't mess it up. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, they glistened with unshed tears as he looked back at his kidnapper, yes that is how he would think of him from now on, and shakily said, "I'm sorry…father. I know you're doing what you think is best for both of us. I guess…I guess I'm just a little frustrated." He watched as Damian's whole body changed, he seemed to have relaxed, so he continued, "I really am grateful for all you've done for us. I just miss her so much. I miss them all so much." Luke knew he was pushing it with that last sentence, but he wanted Damian to know that Luke still loved and thought about his family, including Holden. Luke knew he'd hit a nerve, but kept his face clear of any emotion that would give him away.

He watched again as Damian's emotions seemed to change his whole body. As he stood there, Damian's body seemed to tense at Luke's words. It was the look of hatred that passed through his eyes that made Luke do what he did next. He grabbed both his sheet and comforter and threw them off his legs. He watched as Damian watched him, a question forming on his lips. Before Damian could question what Luke was doing, he slowly moved his legs off the bed and turned his body so that his back was to his father. He could hear Damian's intake of breath as Luke slowly began to get up. Luke knew though that he couldn't show all of his progress to Damian, so as he slowly turned and began to walk towards his father he let himself falter and began to fall when a pair of muscled arms wrapped themselves around his waist and lifted him up.

Luke felt his body shiver at the touch of the muscled monster that was now carrying him. He hadn't noticed that the orderly had moved from his position behind Damian. Luke couldn't help but want to get out of this man's arms as soon as possible, "put me down, you ape! I don't need your help!" Luke watched as the orderly ignored him and looked over to his father for orders. He could feel the man's arms tighten around his waist as he seemed to bring Luke's body closer to his. Luke looked over at his father and spat out his next words, trying hard to keep his revulsion for the man holding him in check, "DAMIAN! Tell your pet monster to put me down. Now! I am not an invalid, and will not be treated as such!"

Damian couldn't help but smile at Luke's reference to Frankenstein's monster when talking about the giant orderly. He knew how stubborn his son was, and knew that he would not want to be coddled. Damian nodded to his son then gave the Hulk an order, "Felipo, put him on the bed, if you will." The orderly turned and walked back towards Luke's bed, putting Luke down gently, while moving his arm from Luke's back down towards his butt, where it lingered long enough for Luke to feel the hand grope him between his legs. Luke looked up in hopes of seeing Damian watching this, only to find that he had walked away and was standing by the window, looking out to the grounds. Luke looked up and saw the Hulk smiling down at him; it was a predatory smile, and it made Luke want to jump out of the bed and run. He did the only thing he could think of that would make the man move away from him, he called to Damian, "father. Please, I want to see her."

Damian turned away from the window, satisfaction over being addressed as 'father,' clearly showing on his face. "Luciano, I was going to wait to tell you this, but I see how well you're doing, so I believe you are strong enough now to know what has happened with your mother." Luke felt as if he'd been punched in the stomach, fear was coursing through his body, at Damian's words. All he could think was that somehow Damian had hurt his mother. Though, he knew that that scenario was unlikely, since Damian was obsessed with getting Lily for himself. It was unlikely that he would hurt her. Luke could hear his pulse in his ears, as he tried his hardest not to show his fear, he looked over at Damian and asked the question he was dreading, "has something happened to her?" Damian could see the fear in his son's eyes, and hurried to reassure him, "no, son, she is not hurt. As a matter of fact, I came here to give you some very good news." Damian paused for what seemed like an eternity to Luke, "your mother is showing signs of waking up." This revelation earned Damian a smile from his son. He watched as different emotions crossed over his face before settling on the smile that now was aimed towards him.

Luke couldn't believe his ears. Had his mother finally convinced Damian to allow her to be awake for their next visit? Luke smiled, knowing that his mother had somehow conned Damian into believing she would do what he told her, but knowing that she never intended to go through with whatever arrangement they had made. The smile that Damian mistook as it being meant for him was really intended for Lily Snider, actress extraordinaire.

Luke took the opportunity of having Damian relaxed and happy to request seeing his mother again, "so, does that mean I can go see her today? Please, father, I really need to see her." Luke held his breath, waiting for Damian to answer him. He watched as Damian smiled at him and began to walk towards him again. When Damian reached Luke's bedside he raised his right arm and gently cupped his son's face with the palm of his hand. It was a gesture he'd used before, and it was meant to comfort and show love, but at that moment it took all of Luke's strength not to pull away from the touch. He looked up into Damian's face and realized for a split second that he looked a lot like him, even though he knew he had his mother's face and fair complexion, he still found the resemblance between him and his birth father rather painful. Thoughts were running through his head as he looked into those dark eyes, 'how can he share DNA with this monster?'

Damian took Luke's acceptance of his touch as a good sign. He looked down into his son's light brown eyes, and saw the eyes of the woman he loved looking back at him. Luke may share physical similarities to Damian, but he had the heart and soul of his mother, as well as the eyes that expressed everything he ever felt. He could see no deceit in those eyes at the moment, just trust, and that made his decision to allow Lily to be awake for their next meeting all the more exact. Damian wanted his family back, and at last he was getting his wish. He moved his hand to his son's shoulder and pressed it firmly while saying, "yes, Luciano, you can see her today. You will have to give me some time to get her ready for your visit, but I am sure she will be as happy to see you as you are to see her."

Damian, moved away from his son and began to walk out of the room, leaving Luke alone with his caretaker, "I will leave Felipo here to help you change." Luke could see the predatory look in the Hulk's eyes and decided to act before his father left the room completely, "father, wait. I would rather do it myself. I don't need Felipo to help me get dressed. You saw how much stronger I am now. I think I can use the cane that my PT gave me, and I can take care of myself now." Luke prayed that Damian would listen to him; he did not want to be left alone with this monster that kept looking at him as if he were his next meal. Damian paused for a moment, thinking over what had occurred before, but wanting to please his son, "alright Luciano, but Felipo will be right outside your door if you need help. Be very careful, I do not want you getting hurt, after all the progress you've made." He turned and began to walk out the door, but the orderly seemed to be rooted to his spot, staring at Luke with a mix of anger and lust, a feral smile coming across his face. Damian stopped short of walking out the door and called to the orderly to follow, "Felipo, you heard my son. He does not need your assistance. Come." Luke let out a sigh of relief as he watched the orderly turn and walk out of his room.

30 minutes later

Luke had allowed himself to be helped back into his wheelchair. He was after all not fully capable of walking the distance between his room and his mother's room. For all he knew it might have taken more energy than he had so rather than risk tiring himself out, he allowed them to bring him the wheelchair. As the orderly rolled him behind Damian, Luke couldn't help but clasp his hands together in an attempt to keep them from shaking. As they reached the door to the room and stopped, Luke could feel the knot in his stomach as he thought about how he had to react to his mother's 'cured' state. He knew what he wanted to do, run across the room and take his mother in his arms, but he also knew he couldn't do that, at least not yet.

As the doors opened and Luke was wheeled into Lily's room, it took all his resolve not to let his emotions show on his face. He and Lily had been corresponding via letters so he knew she was alright, but he had to be sure to paste a look of surprise and concern on his face so his father wouldn't see through their ruse. As they passed through the vestibule and into the main room Luke's closed his eyes turned towards the bed where he knew his mother would be, where she had been every time he came to visit her. Luke was almost afraid to look, afraid that he would see her still form again lying in the bed. As he held his breath, he knew he would have to open his eyes, but before he did a voice full of love and concern called out to him and brought him back to reality, "Luke, baby…open your eyes. It's okay."

Luke's eyes shot open and tears began to blur his line of vision. He closed his eyes for a split second more, allowing the tears to roll down his cheeks as he took in the sight he thought he would never see again, his mother with outstretched arms, beckoning him to come to her. Before he knew what he was doing Luke was standing up from the wheelchair and slowly making his way towards his mother's arms, he allowed himself to collapse into them while his body shook with his crying. Luke cried for his mother, brothers, sisters, father, and especially for his Noah, all the while Lily held her grown son in her arms and soothed him the best she could, just as she had done countless times before, 'ssshhhhh, baby…it's okay. It'll all be okay now." Luke just held his mother tighter as the sobs wracked through his body. He could hear the tears in his mother's voice as she rubbed his back in circular motions, a technique she used on him when he was a small boy, and had woken up with nightmares after his kidnapping. He knew that for now, they would have to work harder to get away from the maniac who claimed ownership over both of them. But for now, just being together was enough.

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