This is my G4 entry of my LuRe Bingo Challenge (at LiveJournal) Prompt: Love Song
Setting: this scene takes place before the first chapter of my Word Soap. It is a sequel to my first and second Bingo Stories (Jealous guy and Beautifully rude) but you won’t miss any important clues if you didn’t read them.
Okay, so he wasn’t really keeping his promise. He had no clue where Reid was, so he could cross out ‘not letting him out of his sight’. But he hadn’t left the hospital and he wasn’t planning on it either. Not without Reid.
Luke smiled, while adjusting his ear phones. He needed new ones. For some reason this one irritated him. While his finger was scrolling his phone to quickly scan new posts on Facebook, he suddenly frowned as his finger hung motionless above the small screen and the lyrics reached his brain.
What did you get for the price of my head, was it worth it?
Did you forget that you said what you said when you slept in my bed
(And you say the same things to everybody)
You’re the only one I’ve told, now everybody knows
Oooh, you sold me
And it’s all fucked up
And it’s all my fault
It’s all my fault
(*1)
What the… Luke’s frown deepened. How did this song end up in here? At some point he obviously felt low enough to feel connected to these lyrics. Not good. He pressed a button. Next.
No I can’t forget tomorrow
When I think of all my sorrow
When I had you there
But then I let you go
And now it’s only fair
That I should let you know
What you should know
I can’t live
If living is without you
I can’t live
I can’t give any more
I can’t live
If living is without you
I can’t give
I can’t give any more
(*2)
Holy crap. Luke pulled the plugs from his ears and chucked them on the table in front him. Frustration all over his face.
“Hey, what’s eating you?” a familiar voice asked and Luke slightly blushed when he looked up into the blue eyes.
“I need a new mix,” he muttered and before he could prevent it, Reid had snatched the ear phones and motioned Luke to hit the play button. The signal to hit stop followed soon after.
“I hear what you mean,” Reid grin was teasing, but friendly. “Holy codependency.”
“I know. And that wasn’t even the worst one.” Reid’s lack of judgment gave Luke courage and he let Reid listen to the first song. This time the doctor frowned.
“Don’t hit me, but again I see a definite pattern.”
They both chuckled, remembering their conversation that afternoon.
“Well, this time you might be right,” Luke agreed reluctantly.
“Might?” Reid snorted and then softly pinched Luke’s chin. “I can’t stay, but I wanted to let you know I’ll have some time for dinner in half an hour. Will you still be here?”
“Duh,” Luke rolled his eyes and gave the man an intense look over, “I’m not going anywhere…”
“I like the sound of that,” Reid whispered, stealing a quick kiss. “Maybe you could pre-order. Those nincompoops behind the counter need at least fifteen minutes to understand what you want and I don’t even want to talk about the pace they prepare it…”
“You go. I’ll take care of it.”
“Hmmm, you’re good to have around, Mr. Snyder.”
“I know,” Luke’s smile was defiant, “And I’m glad you do too…”
After a telling grin Reid rushed back to his patients and Luke rose to his feet. Another promise was about to break by his own doing. He would leave Memorial without Reid.
***
“Giving out free food today?” Luke squeezed himself between two stools to reach the counter, returning Henry’s smile.
“You would think that,” Al’s owner nodded, “but apparently nobody can resist our newest burger…the HenBab.”
“The what?”
Henry laughed out loud now. “The HenBab. One half of the burger is traditional – obviously that’s Barbara’s half – and the other half is with all new and hip stuff. My part.”
“And that’s eatable?”
“I guess it symbolizes our relationship… First you go like…what?…and then you give it a try and it all falls into place.”
“Sounds intriguing,” Luke had to admit, “But I’m not adventurous tonight. I need to get some food for Reid and I’m playing it safe. So cornbread and chili and lots of it, please.”
“I’m on it,” Henry smiled and after disappearing into the kitchen for a while, he returned and handed Luke a huge paper bag.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I made yours a priority. We have to keep Dr. Nasty fed before he turns into a werewolf.”
Luke had to laugh. “One day you’ll see his other side and you’ll understand.”
“Whatever,” Henry rolled his eyes, “You see good in everybody, Luke Snyder. I’m not that gullible, I’m afraid.”
“You’ll see,” Luke said again and lifted the bag. “Thanks for this.”
“Go forth, Young Luke, and feed the dragon.”
Still smiling, Luke returned to the hospital and almost literally ran into a pair of black jeans, white coat and wicked grin.
“There you are!” Reid sniffed at the bag like a dog, “Extra points, Snyder. This is excellent. Let’s go to my office.”
After unpacking the bag, Luke was left with one odd looking object and he shook his head. Henry. Luke knew he hadn’t paid for this extra item and he also knew for who it was. The owner of Al’s diner genuinely disliked Reid, but he loved his appetite and love for food.
“What’s that?”
“That’s a HenBab,” Luke calmly answered, raising his eyebrow. “Why?”
“Stop messing with me. I’m tired and hungry. What’s a HenBab…”
Luke did have mercy on him. “Here, taste it.”
But in spite of his questionable eating habits and obvious overactive digestive system, Reid did have standards when it came to food. Okay, maybe not as high as others, but still…he didn’t put just anything into his mouth. So he watched the contraption with growing bewilderment.
“I’ll ask again…what is this?”
“It’s a combination of the traditional burger and the modern one,” Luke obediently recited and after a quick shrug, Reid plunged in. The moment he started chewing, he closed his eyes.
“This is actually pretty good…”
“You could have told me after you swallowed,” Luke suggested, shaking his head and spooning out some chili.
“I could,” Reid nodded, not looking very apologetic. He then pointed at the phone on his desk. “I have some suggestions for you on there.”
“Suggestions for what?”
“Music,” Reid quickly said before taking another huge bite.
Wow. For some reason it felt very intimate to hold Reid’s phone and for a moment Luke just stared.
“Try number 23,” Reid suggested between chewing and Luke nodded.
“No ear phones?”
“I love that song,” Reid shrugged, “Just skip to a minute and hit that volume.”
Luke did as ordered and some male voice and country beat filled the office.
How do you like me now?
How do you like me now,
Now that I’m on my way?
Do you still think I’m crazy
Standing here today?
I couldn’t make you love me
But I always dreamed about living in your radio
How do you like me now?
(*3)
Seeing Luke’s confusion, Reid laughed.
“You hadn’t expect anything sappy now, did you?”
Luke shrugged. He kinda had. His bad.
“I love the sentiment of this song,” Reid explained on a soft tone, “It’s how I felt after graduating from Harvard. And many times after that.”
“And who is the guy…that you couldn’t make to love you…”
To hide his uneasiness, Luke put the spoon in his mouth, but Reid had noticed the insecurity and smiled.
“My uncle,” he calmly answered and shrugged. “Ancient history. But great song.”
Reid nodded for a moment, deep in thought, and then looked up again.
“Time for number 14. This one is about you. Before Dallas. Before any hope.”
Puzzled by the remark, Luke selected 14 and again a male voice and a country beat claimed their attention.
“Speaking of patterns…” Luke rolled his eyes and Reid chuckled.
“You can lure a guy out of Texas…”
Darlin’ I’ve been standin’ here just watchin’ you all night
And I think I’ve even caught you watchin’ me a couple times
If I don’t ask I’ll never know
This may sound dumb, but here we go
Do you believe in love at first sight
Me neither
I’m glad that we agree
Believe me
That’s a big relief
Well, this place is awful crowded
And this music is so loud
Would you like to go and grab a bite to eat
Me neither
(*4)
Luke laughed out loud. “Good one.” When he saw Reid stare at him, he felt shy. “What?”
“I love your laughter,” Reid mumbled and motioned at the phone again. “But I just know you’re waiting for sappy, so take it to 33.”
Luke’s finger trembled. He wasn’t surprised to hear a country tune again. A slow one, this time.
One word, that’s all was said,
Something in your voice caused me to turn my head.
Your smile just captured me, you were in my future, far as I could see.
And I don’t know how it happened, but it happened still.
You ask me if I love you, if I always will………
Well, you had me from “Hello”
I felt love start to grow the moment I looked into your eyes,
You won me, it was over from the start.
You completely stole my heart, and now you won’t let go.
I never even had a chance you know?
You had me from “Hello”
(*5)
Even after the music had died for several minutes, neither of them spoke. Then Luke came out of his chair and mounted Reid’s lap.
“I am so copying this stuff,” he whispered before he planted his lips on Reid’s. He could feel Reid smile.
“You could,” he whispered, softly biting Luke’s ear lobe, “But we could also just erase all of it and start over. This is ancient history too. We have to find our own tunes.”
“You’re right,” Luke nodded and chuckled when he could hear Reid snort. “Of course,” he quickly added on a teasing tone.
“You’re learning fast,” this time Reid took the lead for a passionate kiss.
“I am,” Luke gasped when he felt fingers on his zipper.
“Pay attention then…”
*1 Nicholas Roy – It’s all my fault
*2 Mariah Carey – Can’t live without you
*3 Toby Keith – How do you like me now?
*5 Kenney Chesney – You had me from hello
Fourth story in this mini series: Home is where the cocoa is
