Characters: Katie(mainly), Luke/Reid, mentions of Bob, Kim and Nuke.
Disclaimer: As the World Turns and it's characters are not mine, no matter how much I enjoy playing with them. :)
Author's Note: So far, what I have been spoiled for is on accident, so please keep your comments as spoiler free as possible! :)
Summary: Katie decides to play matchmaker one last time. My take on two spoilers for this coming week: Reid misinterprets a moment between Luke and Noah, and Reid's grand romantic gesture. Come on now. Are we supposed to believe that matchmaking Katie isn't going to be involved in the grand gesture at all?
Chapter 3: Find Me a Perfect Match
"Crap, sorry." Katie apologizes, walking into the front room. Reid and Luke jump apart at her words, Luke laughing and Reid smiling. It's the third time since she's been home that she's walked in on them kissing.
She can't help but smile herself, sitting back down at the food laden table.
"Jacob okay?" Luke asks, taking a sip of his soda.
"He's fine." She replies. "I think he's teething." Luke nods, taking a bite of his sandwich. Dinner has turned into a celebration of sorts. Luke was shocked to find out that dinner was going to be cold cut sandwiches, started when Reid made and inhaled the largest sandwich known to man, and flabbergasted when he started making a second one. She notices, again, that Reid has his arm around the back of Luke's chair, and Reid's finger's are playing with the hair at the nape of Luke's neck.
It's almost perfect, this moment. Even her kitchen, destroyed by a mound of cold cuts and condiments, isn't bothering her.
"I still can't believe you quit." Luke says, turning to look at Reid. Reid gets an almost bashful half smile on his face.
"I can't believe I almost let you go." He says, and this time it's Luke's turn to blush. Katie can't help but squeal a little inside as the two men stare at each other.
Reid's phone interrupts the silence. Surprised, Reid glances down at the caller id.
"It's Bob." He says, sounding confused. "What could he want?"
"You should answer it." Katie says. He looks at her for a second, then picks up the phone.
"What do you want?" He says into the phone, forgoing any kind of greeting. Katie cringes, and hopes that Bob continues to ignore Reid's lack of social skills. Luke is watching Reid like a hawk, curiosity written on his face. "You're kidding?" Reid replies and then pauses. "And why would I want to do that?"
Katie bites her lip and hopes that Reid doesn't blow it. She knows Bob's good graces will only extend so far.
"And how do I know the same thing won't happen again?" Reid asks, frowning into the phone. Luke reaches over and grabs his hand, locking their fingers together. "I see." He pauses again. "Can I get that in writing?" Reid glances at Luke. "Yeah. Fine. See you then." Reid flips the phone closed, and stares at it for a long moment.
"Bob wants me back at Memorial." Reid tells them, looking from Luke to Kate and back.
"And you said you would?" Luke asks.
"Bob's going to make some changes to my contract so something like this doesn't happen again." Reid answers, his voice quiet. "I won't work anywhere that tells me who I can and can't be with."
Luke closes his eyes, relief on his face.
"What about selling the hospital?" Katie wants to know. She already knows the answer, but asks anyway.
"Apparently, dear Mona and her co-worker's have been up to some shady things in the past." Reid replies. "Bob won't be selling the hospital to Invicta Corp."
"Wow." Luke comments, and then he smiles. "We should have known there was something up with her – she was way too easygoing about Noah hitting you."
Katie starts to clean up, putting lids back on jars and throwing empty wrappers in the trash. She's just put the mustard back in the fridge when she feels eyes boring into her back.
"You had something to do with this." Reid gets up and approaches her.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Katie keeps her attention on the cleaning, innocence in her voice.
"Liar." She's suddenly pulled against a firm chest and her arms instinctively wrap around Reid. It's stiff and unfamiliar, and it means so much.
"Reid?" Katie says. "Is this a hug?"
"Of course not." He replies, pulling back. "And if you tell anyone about it, I'll deny it."
She smiles, and hugs him again.
"Never happened." Reid insists, and Luke laughs.
Jacob's cry comes from the nursery, and she heads towards it.
"Take your time!" Reid calls after her, and she smiles.
She enters the nursery and picks Jacob up from the crib. He's fussy and miserable, so she settles in the rocking chair near the window. She can hear Reid and Luke laughing and talking in the other room.
It was almost perfect.
Almost.
She wishes Brad was here.
The End.