They’d selected this bed for its size – they both liked some space – but without Reid in it, Luke felt stranded on a deserted island. The lonely part of him urged him to get up, but the still waking up part of him made him stay just a little while longer.
So he closed his eyes and recaptured his night. Their first night without making love and filled with experiencing love. He had put his arm on Reid’s stomach and Reid had put his arm around him.
“This okay?” He knew Reid didn’t do hugs.
“More than okay.”
He had felt Reid’s chin in his hair, he’d heard Reid’s heart bouncing away in a steady, regular rhythm. A heart that had not deserved the beating it had, that night. He’d felt Reid’s body relax even more and it didn’t take him long to follow Reid into a deep sleep.
This morning the soft kiss on his forehead and the whispered “I love you” had somehow reached his consciousness and he had even managed to mutter “I love you too” before he’d had dozed off again. And now the morning sun challenged him to start the day. With his eyes half closed, he looked at the big windows.
“We need curtains.”
He closed his eyes again.
Reid had already giving him carte blanche when it came to the interior decorating.
“I see you’ve been drawn to the same stuff I like, so you have my full confidence,” he had assured him, and Reid didn’t lie. Not even to please him or to make him feel better about himself. It was indescribably soothing, because he didn’t have to second-guess anything. He knew Reid loved him, because he told him so. He knew he was it for Reid, because he told him so.
It made him feel powerful. He could feel the energy tingling inside and he left his island.
“Reid, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“Bob! Sure. Your place or mine?”
The older man tapped Reid’s shoulder and laughed.
“We’re standing in front of your office, so let’s go there.”
“You call this an office, Dr. Hughes?” Reid rolled his eyes and Bob chuckled.
“I do, Dr. Oliver. Let me guess…not big enough for that immense ego of yours?”
Both men grinned.
He liked Bob and he knew Bob liked him. In spite of himself.
He saw his chief looking at the flowers on his desk and expected the question he got.
“Luke?”
“Nope.” He removed the card from the bouquet and handed it over.
“Your presence made a very painful moment a little easier to bear. Thanks again.” Bob read out loud and sent a questioning look.
“Remember the young guy, killed by a train?”
“The one you thought was Luke?”
Reid nodded. “Him. I sat with his mother and for some mysterious reason I was able to comfort her. Who knew?”
“I did.”
Bob returned the card to the flowers, sat back in his chair and watched Reid with a smile.
“I’ve known from the start. And I’m happy you’re discovering this part of yourself. Aren’t you?”
Reid gave a quick smile. “The jury is still out on that one.”
“You’ll get the hang of it,” Bob looked very confident.
“Moving over to something else…did I understand correctly you took a day off, yesterday?”
“I did. Did I mess up any procedure I wasn’t aware of?”
Bob shook his head, laughing.
“No, Reid. It just took me by surprise.”
“Good surprise or bad surprise?”
“Good. It’s all good.” Bob grinned. “All doctors need some time off. Even the brilliant ones like you.”
“You assume there’s more than one,” Reid grinned.
“How stupid of me.”
“Well, it is. But at the same time it proves my point, so it’s okay.”
Both men laughed.
“Anyway, what I wanted to talk to you about…” Bob ignored Reid’s teasing “You mean you’re getting to the point…already?” and finished his sentence: “…is Chris.”
All humour left the building.
“Something wrong?”
“No no, but thank you for looking so worried. No, the point is… I had a long talk with Chris. I already had my doubts, but the way he handled his own illness was the last drop. I don’t want this hospital run by someone like Chris. And Chris agreed and is stepping down.”
“That means what, exactly?”
“That my job is yours, if you still want it. There is still some voting ahead, but with my recommendation it will be a sure thing.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“That must be a first,” Bob grinned. “But don’t look so shocked. The next few months I will be around to give you some pointers.”
“It’s only fair to warn you, then.” Reid’s face was completely serious and Bob frowned. Now what?
“I had a coach before, helping me with people skills and all that…and we’re now living together.”
Bob laughed out loud.
“You idiot. You had me startled!”
Shaking his head, he made his way to the door.
“But really, Luke moved in?”
“We have our own place now. And yes, we live there together.”
“This day is getting better and better,” Bob gave him a fatherly smile. “I’m happy for you both. I guess this means more days off?”
“I hope so. If that’s okay…”
“More than that. I encourage you to do that. Being chief of staff is a demanding job. Time consuming too. I hope you’ll both be ready for that.”
“We’ll make it work,” Reid was absolutely sure about it. “After I have checked on my patient, I’ll be heading home.”
“The surgery went well, this morning?”
“Yes, it did. No surprises. All he has to do now is wake up and I expect that to happen in the next half hour.”
Bob nodded. “I realize I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know and said yourself, but you’re really a very good doctor.”
“Coming from you, that’s good to hear.”
They shook hands, but when they wanted to leave the room, the doorway was blocked. By something beautiful, hot and blond.
“Luke!” Bob petted his shoulder, “always good to see you. And keep up the good work. It’s almost a pleasure to talk to him now…” He gave Reid a wink and left the room with a telling “…and close the door.”
