Headaches
Chapter 8
Reid inhaled a deep breath of the cool night air after leaving the Alateen meeting. It had gone better than expected. Several kids shared their family experiences, relating stories of alcoholic parents and siblings. Some also admitted how tempting they found alcohol and the destruction yielding to that temptation had brought to their lives.
There was no question Ethan had been deeply moved and had also closely related to many of the evening’s revelations. At one point, near the end of the meeting, a young girl spoke about the death of her sister from binge drinking and the aftereffects on their family. While Reid tried to remain stoic, it was impossible not to want to help in some way. Daring to glance at Ethan and Luke, Reid spotted Ethan slip his hand into his brother’s. Lowering his head he felt an overwhelming wave of relief wash over him. It would have all been perfect except now he would certainly have to thank Chris for his advice. Looking once more at his husband and son, Reid shrugged his shoulders -- the circumstances made it more than worth it to swallow his pride and thank Chris.
“Dad.” Reid started, hearing Ethan’s voice.
“Yes, Ethan?”
“Before we get in the car I just want to thank you for bringing me here. I didn’t want to come.”
“No kidding.” Reid huffed.
“I won’t drink. I promise.”
“Don’t ever make a promise you can’t keep.”
“I can keep this one; I know I can, and I really want to.”
“I hope so.”
Ethan nodded and looked directly toward the other side of the car where Luke was standing. “Luke.”
Luke looked at his brother but remained silent. Although he knew it was an impossible task, Reid hoped he could find a way to wipe away all the memories of the past this meeting must have churned up for Luke.
“You must have felt really alone when you were my age.”
“More than I’d still care to admit; but yeah, I felt alone.”
“You couldn’t talk to Daddy?”
“I probably could have but I wasn’t living with Dad full time.”
“Oh, it was one of those times.”
Luke nodded.
“I’m glad you have Reid and me. We won’t let you down. You can always talk to us.”
Smiling through his reddening eyes, Luke gazed directly at Reid over the roof of the car. “I know.”
Not wanting to put any further pressure on Luke, Reid spoke up. “I think it’s time we got into this car and got going. We have a stop to make before we relieve our two babysitters.”
Ethan opened his car door. “Where do we have to go?”
“Casey and Jason’s apartment.”
Luke’s brow furrowed as he began to get into the car as well. “Why do we have to stop there? Casey just finished moving in today. They must be loaded down with junk to put away.”
“You have no idea. Just head in their direction and I’ll explain on the way.”
*~*~*~*~*
“Hey Andy, I didn’t know you’d be here until Dad told me on the way over.”
“I didn’t know I’d be here either, or for how long.” Andy glanced toward the adults in the room. Reid still couldn’t believe Allison had the nerve to just deposit her teen cousin on Jason and Casey’s doorstep. Her irresponsible actions certainly wouldn’t put her in the running for any cousin of the year award, let alone mother of the year, and considering she was pregnant this didn’t bode well for the newest Snyder on the way.
Jason scanned the room, his eyes resting on Andy and Ethan. “Andy, why don’t you show Ethan the room you’ll be staying in?”
Andy chuckled. “You’re not particularly subtle.”
The pediatrician grinned. “I wasn’t trying to be.”
“Cool. I like an honest grown up; haven’t come across too many of you lately.”
After the boys left the room, Luke and Reid took seats side by side on the sofa and Casey and Jason sat in chairs opposite them.
“Case, I can’t believe you have to take care of Andy. Why can’t he stay with Allison and Aaron? They have an extra bedroom.”
“Apparently my ex is getting all stressed out and her blood pressure is going up which isn’t good for her or the baby.”
Reid nodded, not wanting to admit out loud his troublesome intern was correct.
“Getting Andy dumped into her lap by her homophobic relatives hasn’t agreed with her. So, since it turns out I’m learning the ropes about living in queerville, she thinks it would be better for everyone, including the kid, if he stays with us.” Casey took a deep breath. “Hell, I’m just learning everything about being gay. How can I be some sort of role model for Andy?”
Jason added, “I certainly wouldn’t start sharing stories with him about your teen years.”
Luke bit his lip and lowered his head.
Obviously Reid wasn’t the only one to notice Luke’s reaction, as Jason continued, “What is it, Luke?”
“I’m not sure keeping quiet about Casey’s, well... sordid past, is such a good idea. I just learned the hard way, that only revealing part of a story can lead to some pretty strange interpretations of history.” Luke looked directly at Casey. “You and I survived some pretty tough times and a whole lot of stupid choices.”
“You can say that again.” Casey wore a half-grin.
“Maybe if you just give Andy an opening to ask the important questions he will really have a good role model because he’ll find out the consequences of being an idiot in your teens.”
“We did make some majorly idiotic decisions back then.”
Reid snorted. “From what I’ve heard over the past nine years, you two came close to cornering the market on stupid decisions. It’s too bad Oakdale never seems to run out.”
“Reid, you’re not helping.” Luke glared at him.
“No, Luke, the doc’s right. We really did take stupid to a whole new level.” Casey turned to Jason. “If it’s too much, I’ll understand, but I can’t kick the kid out, especially knowing what I do about myself now. I don’t want him to feel isolated.”
Reid was surprisingly impressed with Casey’s maturity. It was hard to reconcile this man with the hospital’s bucket boy from years earlier.
“Casey, I already told you how I feel about you. That includes everything about you, even if there’re unexpected surprises.”
Casey smiled at Jason. “Even an ex’s long lost cousin?”
“As long as you’re part of the package, we’ll be okay.”
“Luke, I think we’d better leave before I get ill.” Reid rested his hand over his stomach to emphasize the point.
“Shut up, you know you’d feel the same way if it was you and me.”
“But I wouldn’t force Dr. Willis to listen to any overly romantic blathering.”
Luke rested his forehead against Reid’s. “Yes you would, if you thought it would make me happy.”
Reid closed his eyes and smiled. “Yeah, I would.” Reid’s eyes suddenly widened and he stood up. “Shit!”
“What is it, Reid?” Luke stood up along with Reid, followed immediately by Jason and Casey all seeming alarmed by Reid’s sudden exclamation.
“The boys. I told Ethan I had no intention of leaving them alone for any prolonged period of time. Do you realize what they could have done in the past twenty minutes?”
Jason ran down the short hallway and banged on one of the doors. “I’m coming in.”
He returned shortly, followed by the two boys, hair tousled and lips slightly swollen.
Reid looked at Ethan who had the courtesy to blush like his older brother. “No more alone time with the door closed.”
Ethan looked at the floor.
“And Andy...”
“Yes, Dr. Oliver-Snyder?”
“When you’re with my son, I’d appreciate if we keep everything PG-13.”
“I’ll try, sir, but I don’t want to make any promises I can’t keep.”
“Damn!”
Luke stared at Reid. “What is it now?”
“It’s going to be hard disciplining these two -- I actually might like this kid.”
Casey chuckled as Luke gave Reid a tender kiss. “Poor Reid. Joining the human race is still a challenge.”
Reid chose not to acknowledge Luke’s teasing. “Let’s go before Noah and Mark are no longer our friends. It’s much harder to take advantage of people when they actually still like us.”
Looking at Casey, Luke smiled. “If you need anything, just call.”
Following Luke and Ethan out the door, Reid turned back toward the two men and boy behind him. “Dr. Willis, I suggest you and I stay in close communication so neither one of these kids can get one over on us.”
“We’re in total agreement on that, doctor.” Jason glared at Andy who initially remained quiet.
The kid soon held up his hands in surrender. “I get it, hands off the Chief of Staff’s kid without clearance.”
Jason nodded. “We may just survive this new arrangement.”
“I think you will, Dr. Willis.” Reid closed the door behind him, ready to face whatever may have occurred with the twins and their wayward babysitters while they were out.
[TBC]