The Hospital

Epilogue

“Hey, why’s it so quiet in here?” Reid walked into the home he shared with his partner and son, surprised to find the house silent.

Luke was seated on the sofa, staring at a letter he had clutched in his hands.

“Are you getting fan mail now that you’re a famous author and have a movie in production?” He chuckled at his own joke but became silent when he spotted the look on Luke’s face. It was as far from amused as Reid could imagine.

Holding up the letter, Luke offered the envelope to him. “Look at the return address.”

“I am. After all this time why would Damian be writing to you?”

Shrugging, Luke stood and made his way into the kitchen. Reid followed close behind, still holding the envelope. “What do you want for dinner?” Luke opened the freezer and started to rummage through its contents. “I could heat up some of the food Grandma sent over from the farm. She still thinks we shouldn’t have to worry about cooking for ourselves since we both have such important jobs.” Luke turned toward Reid and rolled his eyes.

“Stop dwelling on dinner. That can wait. I’m not sure this can.” Reid waved the letter in the air.

“Wow, you must really be shaken up by contact with Damian if you’re letting it come between you and filling your stomach.”

“Luke, we’ve been together too long for you to try to bullshit me. Can I assume the reason you didn’t open it is because you were waiting for me to be here with you?”

Closing the freezer, Luke took a deep breath. He gazed at Reid. “Everything’s been so good since I got out of the hospital. I feel healthy, and as of this morning I’ve been cleared to go back to all normal activity.”

Although he wouldn’t admit it at the moment, flashes of carrying Luke away and stripping him immediately filled Reid’s thoughts.

Luke huffed. “I bet I know what you’re thinking. Trust me, until the mail came I was totally preoccupied with the same thoughts; thus the reason for Ethan’s absence. He’s spending the night with Jacob at Katie and Chris’ place.”

“Glad to know we were both on the same wavelength. I’d like to get back there, but I don’t imagine that’ll happen until we open this.”

“You were right... about your earlier guess. I didn’t want to be alone.” Luke took the envelope back from Reid. “Do you think he somehow found out about me?”

Reid shook his head. “I can’t imagine Noah or Mark saying a word about this. No one else knows about the test except for Dr. Walker and she wasn’t interested in the results unless they impacted your health. My guess is, she’s already forgotten about it and is just content with your progress.”

Slowly ripping open the seal, Luke pulled out two sheets of paper, one freshly written on in Damian’s handwriting and the other yellowed and clearly far older. “What the hell is this?” He handed the yellowed sheet to Reid.

“Holy shit!” Reid scanned the document. “Read the letter Luke -- now.”

The two sat together on the sofa. Luke gazed into Reid’s eyes. “What does that say?”

“Read your letter first.”

Brow furrowed, Luke did as Reid instructed.

Dear Luciano,

I found out several months ago that I have pancreatic cancer. You have always been a smart young man. You must know that the prognosis is not good. As I write this, I am painfully aware that my time is quite short. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, especially where you’re concerned. My family’s desire to please me, led to your parents' death and I will never forgive them, or myself, for that. And, no, I’m not so presumptuous as to ask for your forgiveness. I’m not that foolish. But there is one mistake I made in the name of selfish, wishful desire when you were too young to remember. I hope this doesn’t come as too big a shock, but I suspected from the moment I learned your mother was pregnant with you that the child was not mine. A paternity test was run and it appeared that you were indeed a Grimaldi. I had a great deal of power, Luciano. I was able to arrange for the names on the vials of blood taken from myself and Holden to be switched. Money has always been a source of power for me and I used it. I have enclosed the original results, stating you are my son, however the vial of blood with my name on it actually held blood drawn from Holden Snyder. No one in the Grimaldi family was then, or is even now, aware of this, so there will be no retribution. I felt I should tell you before I died -- call it my deathbed confession. I did what I did out of love, but I finally understand that it was not a good enough reason to do such a terrible thing. Since Holden adopted you and raised you as his own I thought it was enough, but I realize now that I was wrong. Good-bye, Luciano. By the time you receive this I will be dead. The instruction to the prison doctor was to mail this when I’m gone. With all my love and regrets, Damian

P.S. I have sent a duplicate letter to my attorneys. They will arrange for you to return Grimaldi shipping to the family. No one will touch you, Luciano, that order forms part of my final instructions to them. The family will all be made completely aware you had no knowledge of my fraud. You are free to be a Snyder if that’s what you desire.

 

Luke’s hands were shaking. He dropped the letter, watching it sail to the floor. Without attempting to pick it up, he gazed at Reid. Holding the yellowed lab report so they both could see it, Reid moved closer wrapping his arm around Luke’s shoulders.

“That bastard knew all along I was a Snyder.”

“It would seem so.” Reid tried to keep his voice even. He needed to help Luke remain calm.

“He robbed me of all those years. And the things he did to me in the name of fatherhood. Damn!”

Reid was about to say something, anything, but Luke continued.

“I know my father loved me, but Damian always inserted himself like a huge wedge between us. He even managed to damage my parents’ relationship on several occasions.”

“I remember.”

“Right, you were the one who helped reveal one of his scams, one that nearly destroyed my family.”

“So what do you want to do? You’re free to be a Snyder.”

Reid watched the color return to Luke’s cheeks. “It’s a good thing he’s dead because when Jack finds out about this, he’d want to kill him.”

“You’re going to tell the family?”

“Do you think Ethan can keep a secret? I really want to tell him now, privately, before the others find out. As to the rest of the family, we haven’t had a good Thanksgiving surprise since Faith’s pregnancy announcement a couple of years ago. Maybe I can share the news with them at that point.”

“You Oakdale natives really live for your drama.” Reid huffed. “But I do agree, Ethan should find out first, and as to keeping it a secret; I’m sure he would think it cool to know something the others didn’t, so I’m sure he wouldn’t blab.”

Placing the lab report on the coffee table in front of the sofa, Luke looked directly into Reid’s eyes. “This Oakdale native also really lives for something else.”

“Oh, do you now?” Reid raised his eyebrows and smiled. “What would that be?”

“Enough talking, Dr. Oliver. Let me show you exactly what I mean.” Luke straddled Reid on the sofa, threading his fingers in his hair and crashing their lips together.

Before another thought could enter his mind, Reid moaned into the kiss, pressing his tongue inside. It had been too long. The waiting after the surgery was the longest they’d gone without sex and now the drought would finally end.

Hands grappling for anything to hold onto, Reid continued to explore Luke’s mouth, the heat and urgency building.

When Luke began to rub himself against Reid, he could feel the building desire, matched by his own. “Bedroom, now!” Pushing Luke off him, Reid quickly stood, grabbing Luke’s hand as the two hastily moved to the comfort of their bed, removing their clothing in record time.

Without waiting for Reid, Luke climbed on the bed, resting his head on the pillow. Stroking himself, his cock already stiff and reddened, he watched as Reid finished taking off the last of his clothes. “If you don’t get here soon this will be over before it begins.” Luke licked his lips.

Reid didn’t have to be asked twice. He crawled up the length of the bed and hovered over Luke. “Stop.”

Luke’s hand stilled and he placed both hands on Reid’s shoulders directly above him.

“God, you’re beautiful like this. I love having you lay there, waiting for me to take you.”

“Please Reid. I’ve missed this, missed us. I want you inside me again.”

Hearing Luke’s pleas, Reid felt something deep within tugging at his emotions. He pressed his lips to Luke’s. Reid soon stopped, once again looking at the man beneath him, amazed that the two of them had survived all these years and had grown closer, if that was at all possible.

Reaching for the nightstand drawer, Reid pulled out the bottle of lube. It had been quite a while since they’d been completely united and he wanted to make sure Luke was ready.

Squirting a dollop on his fingers, Reid started to kiss Luke on the neck, cheeks, and nipped at his lobe. At the same time he moved his hand between Luke’s legs, now spread wider to invite Reid in. Circling the pulsing hole, Reid pushed one finger inside. Luke immediately arched his back. It had been a long wait for both of them and Luke was keyed up, hypersensitive, and responsive.

Another finger followed and Reid worked Luke open. He wanted to get inside as soon as possible, while, at the same time, causing Luke minimal discomfort.

“God, Reid. More, I need more. I need you.”

“Shhh, that’s what I want too.”

Writhing beneath him, Luke’s head rolled from side to side on the pillow. Reid felt himself getting too close just from watching the bliss on Luke’s face. Slowly pulling his fingers out, Reid coated his cock with the remaining lube.

“Are you ready?”

Luke nodded his head. “Want you now, take me.”

Nudging the opening, Reid began to slowly press inside. His urges told him to go faster, but the last thing he wanted was to hurt Luke. This was more than sex, this was love, and making love was about sharing their pleasure.

Spreading wider, Luke wrapped his legs around Reid’s back. “Ahhh.”

Sliding completely in, Reid stilled. The familiar warmth was back and he knew he was home. Beginning to rock, moving in a rhythm the two had perfected over the years, it all felt new and exciting. Changing the angle, Reid made sure to touch Luke in a way no one else ever would.

“Oh, Reid!” Luke’s nails bit into Reid’s shoulders as he drew him in, kissing hungrily.

Reid knew it would be over soon, but it didn’t matter, there was time for more, a lifetime. He grazed Luke’s prostate again and again, each thrust bringing them closer to the edge.

“Oh, God!” His body shaking, Luke shot streams of creamy liquid between them.

The tightening was too much and just enough all at once. Two more thrusts and Reid was following Luke, filling Luke, making him his own as they had for years. “Luke,” slipped naturally from his lips as he joined his lover over the edge.

Their first time reunited may have been quick, but it was just what both of them needed. Careful of Luke’s still somewhat frail body, Reid rolled to the side and held his partner close, embracing him as completely as was physically possible.

“I love you, Luke.” Reid whispered in Luke’s ear as they clung to one another. “I once told you I wanted it all -- the whole enchilada. Thank you for giving it to me.”

“Reid, you’re everything to me.”

Continuing to embrace his partner, his husband, his life, Reid closed his eyes. They’d skipped dinner, but that was far less important than this, than them.

The last thought before Reid followed Luke into a sated sleep was that while Memorial hospital was special and had grown to mean so much to him, this was home, and there was nothing better.

[The end for now]
 

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