Chapter 20

Lily and Damian hurried through Old Town. Lily knew she shouldn't have told Katie about knowing what was going on with Luke and Dr Oliver. She found strength when she realised that Luke was in Dallas and Katie couldn't bring back Dr Oliver and mess up her plan. Damian was worried also, if Luke was told about his mother's involvement in Dr Oliver's abrupt break up, he would make the connection with Damian and he would never trust his father again.

'Cara, what did you actually tell that woman?' He asked as they stood by the bench.

'I told you a minute ago, I told her I knew. She knows Dr Oliver very well and I bet she's working out a plan right now.'

'And Luke's at home at the farm?'

'No, he's in Dallas. He went with Casey for an internship with Martin Watt's firm.'

'Right. Should I do a backup check on this Martin Watts?'

'I think that would be a good idea.' Lily conceded.

Reid took a step closer to Luke and Luke held up a hand to indicate not to come any closer although his hand was only inches away from touching Reid's chest.

'It's just my luck, isn't it?' Luke murmured towards the wall. Reid felt the tension in his shoulders heighten when he realised he couldn't touch Luke. Luke had gotten over him, probably had a new boyfriend his own age. He was happy and now Reid had turned up and made him look broken all over again. Reid hated himself.

'How are you?' Reid asked shakily, his voice, thankfully, not breaking.

'How do you think I am, Reid? You broke my heart and left the next day. You used me and made me believe we were something we never were.'

'Luke…'

'No, listen. I'm going to get through this day for Casey. I know how much this means to him,' Luke paused and Reid was about to tell him what really happened when Luke began talking again, 'I've imagined this discussion so many times. Would I cry and get angry or tell you everything I felt and am still feeling?'

'Still feeling?' Reid questioned, he was still in shock and Luke's words weren't registering properly.

'Don't mock me. I loved you. Katie has tried everyday since you left to persuade me to believe that you still loved me that day. That you didn't mean what you said. But I can't believe her. She didn't see your eyes when you said those words. She didn't see the lack of emotion on your face when you said you used me for sex,' Reid closed his eyes as he remembered that horrible day.

'I'm doing this for Casey. This day will be the last time I see you, it just hurts too much.' Luke felt his eyes watering and he left the room and shut the door behind him, leaving Reid standing in the kitchen alone. Luke walked down the corridor feeling worse than he had ever felt. He still couldn't believe how much it hurt to see Reid, and how he didn't even offer and explanation for that day. All he had to do was get through the day for Casey.

Damian was sitting in his desk chair sending some emails when his secretary brought in a file with Martin Watts written on the front. He opened it and began reading with interest. If this man was looking after his son he had to make sure Dr Oliver wasn't going to be involved in anyway to tell Luke about Lily's involvement. Now Katie knew Damian expected her to call Dr Oliver and encourage him to corrupt his son even further.

He read through the information with little interest until he reached the personal information.

Watts is married to Mia Oliver Watts, a Bio-Chemist, with no children. He is close friends with Mrs Watt's younger brother, Dr Reid Oliver, a well-known neurosurgeon. They are currently working together as Oliver is looking to be reinstated with his medical licence which was revoked in late 2008 due to a malpractice suit.

Damian leant back in his chair and held his index finger to his lips. He couldn't risk Dr Oliver being there while Luke was in Dallas. He had to go to Dallas and rescue his son from this man. He told his secretary to book the next flight to Dallas and he smiled. He wouldn't let that man anywhere near his Luciano.

Katie scrolled through her contacts until she found Luke Snyder. She pressed the called button and chanted 'Pick up, pick up' in her head a couple of times before she heard Luke's voice on the end of the line. He didn't sound like the happy Luke that had left Oakdale the day before.

'Luke?' Katie's voice asked. Luke stopped half way down the corridor and leant against the wall. It felt nice to talk to someone who he could explain what had just happened.

'Katie? Hi.'

'Luke, listen. Reid's in Dallas. I'm assuming from your voice you already know that.'

'Yes. We just had a little catch up. Actually, I yelled at him for a couple of minutes and left him in the kitchen.'

'Kitchen? Anyway, I just found out what happened that day. For certain.'

'What? Reid was telling the truth that day, Katie. I know it.'

'No, Luke. It was your mum and Damian! They made him break up with you so badly that you would never forgive him and get back together. They made him leave town under the promise he would never return. Otherwise they would report him to the police and make sure that he never got out.'

'What? My mom would never do that. I know she was struggling with accepting my sexuality but she would never blackmail Reid into doing something like that!'

'It made Reid appear the eternal bad guy and you went straight home. Lily got her son back and Damian simply wanted to manipulate you. Reid still loves you!'

Luke started walking back to the kitchen in a daze after what he had heard. He thanked Katie and hanged up. He opened the door with his hand still gripping his phone. He saw Reid in a similar position Luke was a few minutes ago.

'Luke? I'm so sorry I can't tell you why I did those things.' Reid said in reluctance.

Luke walked up to Reid and kept an inch between them. He put the phone on the counter behind Reid and looked back into the older man's eyes.

'Katie explained everything. My mother, Damian. How they made you say those things.' Luke ran his palm up Reid's arm to cup his cheek.

'I was broken without you.' Reid said quietly.

'So was I.' Luke agreed. He leant forwards and kissed Reid softly. It was everything he had imagined, he felt fireworks, fire and a subtle mix of coffee that Luke had been drinking in gallons that morning.

It quickly became heated and Reid flipped them so Luke's back was pressed to the counter. Their mouths melded together as though the past six months had never happened. Reid mouthed kisses down Luke's jaw and sucked on his neck causing Luke to arch his back and gasp. Reid smiled against Luke's neck and began to push his jacket off his shoulders and felt Luke's back still wearing his shirt, rubbing his palms in circular motions.

Luke smiled and kissed Reid hard and started to unbutton Reid's shirt. He kissed his way down the hard chest and reminded himself where Reid's sensitive spots were. Reid was writhing above him and they both felt incredible. They just fitted together perfectly.

Casey and Martin were too busy talking about the case to realise that Luke and Reid had been getting a drink for over an hour now and looked up at each other at the same time.

'They've been gone a long time, huh? I hope they're ok.' Martin laughed.

'Yeah. Luke's been pretty depressed these past months. It's nice to have him back to normal.' Casey smiled.

'Reid's been the same. How do you know him?'

'He was Luke's biology teacher.' And then it hit Martin. How could he have been so stupid; Luke was Reid's Luke. The love of his life and conveniently also his student.

'Oh my god, is Luke's mother the headmistress?' Martin asked with a smile.

'Yeah, why?' Casey asked, confused.

'Do you not know about Luke and Reid?'

'Other than Luke being tutored for extra Biology. Nothing.'

'Extra Biology. Smooth, Oliver.' Martin laughed.

'I am totally confused.'

'They were lovers last year and then Reid had to break up with Luke because Mrs Snyder blackmailed Reid.'

'They were lovers? But Reid is over ten years older than us! And it was illegal last yeah because of the birth certificate thing!'

'Yeah, Reid's moral compass went a bit haywire after they slept together the first time. I think they genuinely fell in love.'

'So what do you think they're doing now?'

'Well, either Luke is standing over Reid's body with a bloody knife or they're catching up.'

'You don't mean… Right now?'

'I'm not sure they're worried about time restraints since they haven't seen each other in months.'

'Right, should we wait for them…?' Casey said pointing at the papers in front of them.

'I think they'll be a while.' Martin smiled and turned back to work.

Reid felt his heart jump around as he pushed into Luke for the second time. They had found their way onto the floor which was, luckily, relatively clean. Luke was clearly enjoying himself and after the first round of intense sex they stopped to talk everything through; simply going over the facts to make sure they were both on the same page. The second round started off much slower, more intimate.

After disappearing for an hour and a half they decided they'd better go back and talk to Martin and Casey. They had unlimited time, until Luke's internship had finished anyway. Reid tried to find all of his clothes and Luke was laughing as he found one of his socks on top of the toaster in the small room. They had been in such a hurry to get the clothes off in the first place; finding them again was proving to be tricky.

They were ruffled and still basking in the afterglow but they managed to walk down the corridor back to the conference room. They stopped outside the room and looked at each other. Luke took both of Reid's hands in his and laced them together as they faced each other.

'Martin knows what happened.'

'Casey doesn't. The only people back home who know my side of the story are Katie, who obviously now knows the truth, and Lucinda, my grandmother.'

'How should we act when we go back inside?' Reid cocked his head towards the room.

'As if we are back together but professional?'

'Sounds good to me.' Reid smiled and kissed Luke passionately. Luke pulled back, slightly revelling in how wonderful it felt to be with Reid again.

Inside Casey and Martin were watching through the glass at the show Reid and Luke were putting on.

'Do they realise we can see them?' Casey asked as he looked away when they began kissing.

'No. It's got a tint to it so I can see outside but they can't see in.' Martin looked down and laughed. 'This is going to be brilliant blackmail material for family gatherings; Reid smiling and in love. Where's my iPhone? I want to take a picture.'

Just then Luke and Reid walked inside trying to look subtle but both of their hair was mussed up from where they had run their hands through each others. Their clothes were crumpled and Reid seemed to have lost his tie.

Casey laughed and tried to mask it with a cough as Reid sat down next to Martin at the table and Luke sat down beside him, sneaking glances at Reid.

'Let's get started then.' Reid smiled and pulled the bulk of paper that Casey had been looking at towards him.

Damian landed just after lunch and found a phone booth. He pulled out a scrap of paper with the number his secretary had given him. He rung the number and waited for the person to pick up. He was going to get his Luciano back, whatever it took.