Well, the boys are back together! Well, in the same chapter anyway! GOTCHA!

Enjoy!

Chapter Thirteen

Opening Up

Noah sat in the waiting room of Dr. Johns' office. He just could not sit still. His knee was bouncing and he kept moving in his seat. He was still processing the news that Dr. Pierce gave him yesterday.

He might actually be able to see again. He had given up hope so many times in these last few months and it might actually be in his grasp again. He could get back to his old life. The life that he fought like hell to get in the first place.

"Noah? Are you ready?" A woman's voice said as he felt a hand rubbing his shoulder. Noah shook off what was running in his mind and directed his attention to the voice.

"What?"

"I asked you if you were ready for you session?"

"Oh right. Yeah," he said as Dr. Johns' took his arm and helped him into her office. The first thing he noticed was the smell. "You changed candles again, didn't you?"

Dr. Johns shook her head and got not help but laugh to herself. He never ceased to amaze her.

"Yes I did. The store was out of the vanilla ones I usually get,"

"Is it lilac?" He asked as she eased him down onto her leather couch. She sat down across from him and set her notebook on her lap.

"Close, Freesia," she smiled. He seemed different today. Almost, dare she say, playful. She made a note of it and settled in for his one hour session. "So, how are you today?"

"I'm good. Really good,"

"Well. That is something that I have been waiting to hear. What has happened to cause this mood?"

"I had an appointment with Dr. Pierce yesterday and he wants to do surgery on my eyes tomorrow,"

"And you are not even nervous about this?"

"Of course I'm nervous. But he said that there is a possibility that I might be able to see again. That's why I'm good today,"

"That's great Noah! What did Luke say when you told him about this?" She knew that a lot of what happens to Noah hinges on how Luke feels or what he wants.

"I, ah, I haven't told yet,"

"Really? Do you think that is a good idea?" He could hear her make small scribbles on her pad. Noah suddenly wondered what her handwriting looked like.

"I wanted to tell him, but I just couldn't,"

"Why?"

"I am already trying to keep my hopes down. I mean I could handle it if the surgery doesn't work, but to get Luke's hopes up and then have them taken away. He would feel even guiltier than he already does. I will tell him, eventually, but after the whole thing is done,"

"So if it works you will have a big surprise for him, but if it doesn't work, he wouldn't be hurt again,"

"Something like that,"

"Noah I have to say I am very impressed by your level of maturity. You are going to take on this huge thing and not lean on anyone. But that can also be every dangerous,"

Noah did not have to see his face to know that he was showing her confusion. He didn't quite get what she was talking about.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it is very noble and brave to handle something so big on your own, but it also selfish. Accepting people into your life is the healthiest thing to do. We all need to be able to lean on others for support or love. Sometimes the bravest thing a person can do is ask for help and then be able to accept it,"

Noah mulled her words over and over in his head. There was something that has been bugging him since he heard Casey and Maddie talking the living room.

"What are the symptoms of a battered wife?" Noah mumbled quietly.

"Huh? Why are you wondering that?"

"Well, I talked to Casey and Maddie the other yesterday like you told me to. And I overheard Casey say that Luke was acting like a battered wife,"

"Well there are four psychological stages: Denial, Guilt, Responsibility and then Enlightenment. The symptoms can range from depression to disruptive body image to higher than normal levels of anxiety. In my experience, battered woman or man can overcompensate for their significant other, like apologizing all the time for them or they make excuses for their behavior. They also start to avoid things that they use to enjoy because it may upset the person they're with. Do you think that your friend was right about Luke?" She asked her question very hesitantly. She knew that she was tip-toeing a sore subject for Noah, but she needed for him to see his own actions. That would be the only way he could get past what had happened and more on.

"After hearing what you said and thinking back, yeah, I could see that. He always took on too much and never asked for help. He felt guilty for my accident and I know that was because I pushed that on him. I was always blaming him,"

"Do you still think it was his fault?"

"The accident, no. The fight, that fight was both of us," Noah was swallowing back the lump in his throat. He was finally seeing what his anger and behavior had done to Luke.

"You said that you talked to your friends. How did that go?"

"Good. I asked them to tell me why Luke left,"

"How did that make you feel?" She asked. She knew that this was going to be a good session when she saw him in the waiting room.

"Shitty. Oh sorry. I felt awful. You see, Luke has been there for the worst moments in my life and he has been the cause for all the good ones. And to think that I made him that miserable, that he had no other choice but to leave his family and everything he knows. It, well, it killed me," Noah finished and was surprised by everything he just said.

"What did you tell them about you? Why do you think that you were pushing Luke away?"

"I was afraid that he'd leave me, now that I'm less than I was. That he would get tired of taking care of me and cleaning up after me, and all that. I wanted him to leave. So when he finally did leave me, it wouldn't hurt as much,"

"Did it work?"

"No. It hurt worse, because I hurt him to get him away,"

"Well, Noah our time is up. I have to say, you have made a lot of progress so far. I'm proud if you. Good luck with everything tomorrow. I will see you next week," she said as she helped him to the door. She opened the door and saw Lily sitting in the waiting room.

"Well, maybe next week I'll be seeing you too," Noah said with a chuckle.

Lily looked up from her Ladies' Home Journal and saw Noah laughing with his doctor. Her heart lifted just to hear his voice that happy and relaxed. She could not help but smile. She stood and met him. Lily grasped his arm and led him out of Dr. Johns' office.

"Do you want to get some lunch?" She asked as they waited for the elevator.

"Can we do that and then go back to the house? I want to talk to you," Noah said as they entered the elevator.

"Of course sweetheart,"

Luke drummed his fingers against his thigh as he stood in front of Scott's door. He was biting the inside of his lower lip and tapping his foot on the floor. He was nervous and that was plain to see. Luke glanced at his watch, it was just after 2pm; how long would he wait before knocking? He wasn't sure what he was going to say to him, but he had to say something. He had been pacing in front of his door all day waiting for Scott to get back from classes. Luke was sure that he wore the carpet down from his hallway to the kitchen. When Luke heard movement in the hall outside his door, he dashed toward the keyhole and peeked out. He could see Scott carrying a book bag and some groceries as he went into his apartment. He gave Scott about 15 minutes before Luke left his apartment and stood where we was now; trying to get the nerve up to knock.

Luke took in a big breath and lightly rapped at the Scott's door. Door opened to reveal Scott standing there wearing a black tank top, grey jogging pants, and bare feet. His hair was wet and sticking to his forehead. Luke could see that he had well developed arms and he was finally able to see the tattoo that he got a glimpse off when he first saw the apartment. It was tribal just like Luke had thought. It was various tribal patterns wrapping around his bicep on the right arm. The plain black tattoo swirled overlapping each other like the stems of roses. Luke almost wanted to touch it. His skin was glowing like Luke had interrupted him as he was working out. Luke took in a breath; he looked good.

"Hi," Luke said when he finally found his voice.

"Hi,"

"Can I come in? You're not busy are you?"

"Ah, no, I'm not. Come on in," Scott stepped aside and Luke walked inside. He could feel his stomach flip flopping over himself. He was fidgeting with his fingers as he walked around a bit. Scott closed the door and turned to face Luke. He walked over to his stereo and turned off the music that Luke hadn't even noticed was on. Scott waited for a moment and then had to speak. "So, what, ah, what do you want?" He was confused and nervous as he stared at the first guy he had really liked in some time.

"I wanted to talk to you. I think I owe you an apology,"

"You think?"

"No. I do owe you an apology. I am so sorry, for running out like I did last night," Luke said and Scott could tell by his tone, Luke was very sincere.

"Thanks. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Luke was suddenly relieved that Scott had accepted his apology; he would answer anything Scott asked him.

"Why did you run out? I mean, do you find me attractive at all?"

"Oh yes, I do. That's not it,"

"Then what is it? You have to know that I am attracted to you. So what happened last night?" Scott demanded to know. He was trying not to be angry, but how could he not be. He felt how much Luke wanted him last night when they were not his sofa; not even 24 hours earlier.

"I am attracted to you, who wouldn't be," Luke said; unintentionally quoting Brian. "But the thing is I have a boyfriend,"

"Oh really? And where is this "boyfriend"," Scott was sensing a brush off.

"Can we sit?" Luke asked and Scott nodded in the affirmative. They sat on the sofa, Luke at one end and Scott at the other. Luke started at the beginning. He told him about Noah. How they met and fell in love. He told him about Ameera and Brian. Scott listened as Luke told him everything. He told him about their apartment and then he brought up Mason. That meant he had to tell him about the accident and Noah current condition. Luke was crying at this point and Scott could not help, but feel terrible for being mad at Luke.

"Wait. Why did you tell me that Noah was your brother?"

"Well," Luke sniffled at point trying to calm down. "Technically, he is, not by choice. If my mom didn't he would have died. Second, I don't really know what we are right now. Noah pretty much ignored me for two months, so I wasn't sure what to call him,"

"You miss him, don't you?" Scott asked in a defeated voice.

"Every single second,"

It was a dialogue heavy I know, but I have people clamoring for the ending, so I'm trying to speed it up.

Hope I didn't disappoint. Hit review and let me know!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stay Tuned!