Take Two

By Aimee

It’s been a while (about 3 years actually) but I have finally got around to finishing what I started. Although Craig and Luke are long gone from our screens, I know they still live in our hearts and I hope you enjoy this and it’s worth the wait.

Rating: MF

Feedback: gratefully received at lowlow1257@yahoo.co.uk

Chapter 1

One eye opens and the sudden light instantly makes it close again.

Blink…Blink

The dull pain in his head reminds him just how much he had, had to drink the night before. Slowly opening his eyes fully he sits up. The duvet slips off his naked chest and he flinches at the sudden coldness of another January morning.

Unsteady on his feet, he stumbles to his wardrobe and pulls his dressing gown around him. After relieving himself in the bathroom, he makes his way to the kitchen, catching a glimpse of himself in the hall mirror. His hair is long and scruffy, his eyes are blood shot and the bags below them showed how tired he is. His skin is grey and he looks ill. He knew he wasn’t taking care of himself but there seemed very little point. There wasn’t much point to anything these days.

He woke up alone; he went to work where his colleagues had lost all respect for him. He came home and made a meal for one. He watched the news and went to bed. He wakes up in the middle of the night sweating and screaming out for someone he knew wasn’t there and drinks another bottle of anything he can find in the cupboards to knock him out again. The same routine everyday, the same loneliness crept up on him. He had the same pointless existence.

*****

A tickling under his chin stirs him. It’s moving up his jaw line and latches itself onto his lips. He loved it when he was woken like this.

“Morning sexy” said a voice in his right ear “sleep well?”

“Best nights sleep in ages” he said and snuggled back into his partners arms. Memories of the night before came flooding back to him and he smiled. At last he could remember what it was like to be happy; to have someone put you before themselves and to know they will be there.

The past 18 months had been difficult to say the least and he knew this was the beginning of something good. Maybe even something great.

A while later he stirred again to the brilliant sunshine streaming through the window. Turning over he realised that he was alone and he got up to shower.

The expensive jet powered shower head covered his tanned body in the softest water he had ever felt as he washed off the smell of last nights love making. Stepping onto the fluffy bath mat he dried himself and dressed in shorts and a t-shirt before heading out onto the balcony.

Slipping his arms around the mans stomach he nuzzled his neck and whispered into his ear.

“Have I told you what a great idea this was”?

Turning around to face his partner he replied

“I know I’m full of them” he smiled and winked “how about we grab a meal at Crusendo’s tonight. It is our last night here”

“It sounds fantastic” he said before kissing his partner on the lips. It was only gentle but even that reminded him how great his new life was. He hated to say it, to spoil the moment but he was still the same sensible and level headed person he had always been “but are you sure we can afford it. I mean this holiday was hardly cheap”.

“Come on. How often are we going to be here again? We are in the Caribbean and you’re still worrying about money. Just relax”

The man looked up at his partner, Robert and he instantly knew he was right. They had to make the most of it because when they got back to London tomorrow it was going to be back to work and reality. The early morning sun made Robert’s skin glisten and his eyes became deep pools that the man was drawn too as there lips met and their tongues explored each others mouths. The kissing soon became more passionate and erotic.

*****

A lonely meal for one sat untouched on the kitchen table. A slumped figure sat with his knees drawn to his chest on the floor. The mans shoulders shudder as he sobs. He has been this way for 20 minutes and there seems to be no sign of his tears subsiding.

He saw nothing left in his life. He had lost the one person he truly loved and then had begun to purposely push away everyone that tried to help, as he believed that he had no right to be happy now. How could anyone love him?

For 18 months this man had constantly been drawn back to the past. A past he had well and truly screwed up. A past that left him emotionally drained each time he goes over it, the heartache grows stronger. He takes a moment to think about the future, his future.

A future as what? He could focus on his career. He could start an entirely new one. He could make up for all the hurt he had caused everyone and he could start again, find love and live happily ever after.

He rose to his feet and slammed his fists onto the counter in despair. He didn’t want to love or be loved by anyone else. He didn’t want to move on because sometimes if he really concentrated he could really feel the hands, the lips, the skin of the man he desired.

Then he saw it. His way out, his escape. A way to put everything right. A way to guarantee that he would never hurt another person again. Its handle was jet black lying on the draining board. Its blade sharp and shining as the light caught it. The man was drawn to it and grasped it in his right hand. Its blade became so much more inviting as he held it, admiring the sharp edge it had.

The first gash hurt. Blood poured from the cut on his left wrist but he didn’t stop 2…3…4…5 gashes. Barely able to stand the stinging he fumbled with the knife and drove it into his right wrist before slumping back onto the floor. He watched his arms cover in blood and became light headed. Had he done the right thing? It was too late now. It was all going away. He was going. It wouldn’t hurt anymore

Bleeding…Bleeding

His head fell sideways and his eyes closed

Chapter 2

“...should the oxygen level within the cabin fall too low, an oxygen mask will fall from the ceiling. Place the mask over your face, securing the straps behind your head. The oxygen flow will begin immediately. Please secure your own mask before helping others. The emergency exits are located at the front and back of the plane with two more located in the middle. Should the lights go off these doors can be found by following the glow-in-the-dark floor markings. The flight attendants are here should you need any help. Thank you for listening and we hope you enjoy your flight.”

Craig squeezed Robert’s hand. Robert didn’t like flying and the emergency information always made him anxious. Craig was shocked when he had even suggested a holiday abroad. He never thought Robert would get on a plane. If Craig was honest he himself didn’t really enjoy flying but it was always worth it to explore a different country and culture.

Craig closed his eyes and allowed himself to reminisce on the past few months. He had met Robert 6 months ago. Craig had been working at Barton Street for nearly a year when he had gone to a local club where a tip-off had suggested a drug deal was going down. An undercover operation had removed a large supply from the streets of London and arrested the three men responsible. For Craig however it had been the new beginning he had been looking for. Robert, the barman, had thanked Craig personally for all his help and when shaking his hand had slipped his number to him.

It had taken Craig nearly a week to master the courage to call him. He felt silly and old. Dating was for teenagers and Craig was very apprehensive of being hurt again.

He needn’t have worried. Robert was kind and charming with short blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He was slightly taller than Craig with the same build. He was confidently handsome but not arrogant and so different from Craig’s usual type. A breath of fresh air and Craig enjoyed his company.

After leaving Sun Hill, Craig had been left with limited friends in the area. He cut himself off from Gina as she brought back too many memories that he had fought so long to forget. When he had been recovering in the hospital, she had tried to see him nearly every day, wanting to apologise, but he had nothing to say to her except that he wanted a transfer. She reluctantly agreed and that was the last he had heard from her.  Although he understood why she did what she did, he wasn’t ready to forgive her.

Craig and Robert took things slowly. They got to know what each other liked and enjoyed one another’s company. They went to the theatre and went on long walks together just happy to be together. Craig wasn’t surprised to begin with when he wished he was experiencing all of this with someone else but eventually the feeling began to fade and when Craig and Robert finally spent the night together, Craig was the happiest he had been for a long time.

Craig felt Robert kissing his cheek and turned his head to look into the eyes of his lover. His eyes, the colour of the ocean they were leaving behind, held his gaze for a few moments before they closed as Robert leant in to kiss Craig.

The past fortnight had been amazing. Two weeks in the sun, strolling along the beach hand in hand, seeing the sights and dining out nearly every night before returning to their hotel to make love into the early hours of the morning.

Craig felt the eyes of a fellow passenger on them and opened his eyes as an aging woman turned away in disgust. Craig didn’t care though. He was happy and that’s all that mattered to him.

***

Luke was sat in a side room of St Hughes. The walls were white, the floors were white and his bed sheets were white. Why did they always make hospitals white? It was depressing and with so little to distract him Luke kept thinking over the past 72 hours.

He didn’t remember much but his mother had filled him in, in between yelling at him and holding him so tight that he couldn’t breathe. She had found him slumped on his kitchen floor surrounded by more blood than she had ever seen. Hysterically she called an ambulance and he was rushed to the hospital. The paramedics hadn’t told her much but from the nurses faces she was prepared for the worse. He had watched her son being resuscitated by the medical team as others tried to stem the bleeding. Wires and machines beeping now haunted her dreams.

Luke had survived, just, but he wasn’t sure how he felt about that yet. His mother had barely left his side and although she was driving him crazy, he was lonely now she was gone and scared of where his thoughts might take him.

The earlier conversation with his mother was running through his head,

“Why Luke? Why?”

“You wouldn’t understand mum.”

“No I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you could do this, but I want to. I want to help you. There is nothing you can’t tell me. Please talk to me sweetheart.”

But Luke couldn’t. How could he tell his mother he was in love with a man? She had been so disappointed when his marriage had broken down and inconsolable when Kerry lost the baby. This would probably finish her off.

“I can’t tell you. It’s too painful. I can’t put it into words.”

His mother wrapped her arms around Luke and muttered a goodbye with the promise she would be back later. Luke couldn’t watch her leave. He knew she was crying.

***

It was raining as Craig and Robert bundled there cases into the back of the taxi. It was nearly 8am and the rain was quickly dampening the two men’s moods. Both men were tired and just wanted to get home. Robert was staying at Craig’s tonight as Craig lived closest. Both men convinced themselves that this was the most logical decision when really neither was ready to part yet.

Around twenty minutes later Craig was paying the taxi driver as Robert struggled up the garden path with the cases. At the doorway Craig grabbed Robert around the waist placing kisses along his neck. Robert relaxed at his touch but soon tensed up again when he heard Craig’s name being called.

“Craig. Oh i’ve missed you. You look like you’ve had a good time. Such a nice tan. The weather must have been good.”

“Hi Mrs Lovell. We had a lovely time thank you. How have you been?”

“Now, now Craig. How many times must I tell you to call me Karen?”

“Sorry Karen. I don’t mean to be rude but could we catch up later. We’re both very tired. It’s been a long day.”

Stealing a glance towards Robert she frowned before turning back to Craig and smiling “of course my dear. You can tell me all about it later.”

“Ok then. Bye.” They watched Mrs Lovell return to her house. Craig was always worried she might fall over. She must have been pushing 90 but had befriended Craig as soon as he had moved in. She was a bit nosey but harmless. Robert however hated her.

Turning on the light in the hallway, Craig discovered the reason the door wouldn’t open. A large pile of mail had accumulated on the mat. With one more shove they were home. Robert slammed the front door before starting on the elderly neighbour.

“Did you see the look she gave me? That woman is a witch. She’s probably put a curse on me or something. Why is she always in your business? We hadn’t even got through the front door. I bet she sat by that window for two weeks waiting for you to come home.”

Suddenly feeling more awake Craig laughed and pulled Robert towards him.

“What’s the matter? Jealous?”

Chapter 3

At around 11 o’clock Luke was disturbed by the nurses doing their checks. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept so long. Sadly he was still just as tired as when he had drifted off. The doctor had warned him that his body would take time to recover.

After nearly a week in hospital Luke was getting impatient. He was bored with staring at the same four walls. He wanted to go back to his own flat and shut the world out. He wanted to be left alone and if one more person asked him how he was feeling, he was going to explode.

“Hello Luke. I’m Doctor Justin Wilson. How are you feeling?”

Luke grunted a reply. He really didn’t want another assessment, another person pretending they understood him.

“I’m a psychiatrist and your mother has asked me to have a chat with you. She told me you have been feeling a bit low and might need someone to talk to.”

Luke hated when doctor’s patronised you. He couldn’t understand while they always spoke to people like they were children. Luke might not have been the smartest bloke about but he was far from stupid and this doctor’s attitude was quickly worsening his mood.

“I heard that you were being discharged this afternoon and was hoping we could arrange to meet up in a few days.”

Luke closed his eyes. The last thing he wanted was to talk to a psychiatrist, but his promise to his mother filled his mind. He had agreed to accept all the help that was offered to him and although he didn’t want a complete stranger analysing his past, he had to do this for his mum. A promise was a promise although he hated to think how much this would be costing her.

Opening his eyes he half smiled before speaking “Yeah. Ok. A chat in a couple of days would be        good.”

“Good good. Well if we say Thursday at 10 o’clock. Does that sound ok?”

“Yeah that’s ok.”

“Lovely. Well I’ve written that all down for you but if you need to chat before hand, don’t hesitate to ring. My number is on the card. Of course we could chat for a while now if you wanted.”

“No...I mean i’m a bit tired right now.”

“Ok. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday then. Goodbye Luke.”

“Bye.”

***

Doctor Wilson left the room and walked down the corridor looking for Luke’s doctor. Justin knew that people were apprehensive of talking to psychiatrists and understood Luke’s abrupt attitude but he also saw a deep sadness in his eyes. He hoped it wasn’t too late to save such a young man.

“Ah Doctor Masood, may I have a word.”

Doctor Wilson was led to an office cluttered with files and paperwork. The name on the desk told him this was Gabriel Masood’s office.

“I have briefly spoken to Luke Ashton. He’s clearly a troubled young man but he has agreed to meet with me and although quite quiet today I am pleased that he has accepted help. At this stage I do not want to prescribe any sort of medication. I think that it is something that I need to discuss with Luke on Thursday.”

“I quite agree. He has his mother to support him until then and I think that Luke needs to be 100% committed to recovering. At this stage I don’t feel the suggestion of an anti-depressant would be beneficial. He is feeling extremely vulnerable and forcing medication onto him may push him further away, stopping him from opening up. I’m happy to discharge him based on his physical state and hope that he will attend his meetings with you to address any other issues.”

“Yes so do I. It’s such a waste otherwise. His mother describes a talented and determined man. I hope we see that again.”

***

Craig unlocked his front door and kicked off his shoes. He headed straight for the kitchen looking for a beer. After locating one in the fridge he slumped down onto the kitchen stool.

He’d had one of those days that you couldn’t wait to be over. After spending 4 hours solid clearing his desk of all the paperwork that had accumulated while he was away, he’d finally got his refs. Sadly they only lasted about 5 minutes. Two sips of coffee and he had been summoned to the custody desk to help out. Apparently four PC’s had gone out the night before and all had to go home ill, suspected food poisoning from a curry they’d had.

Things had been hectic from then onwards with a steady flow of people being brought in. One particular gentleman, a drunken taxi driver, had almost collapsed on the floor and Craig’s thanks for helping him to his feet was that he threw up all over his shoes.

Now, exhausted, Craig was looking forward to a quiet evening in with Robert. Getting to his feet he searched the cupboards for something to cook for their dinner. Deciding on a quick stir fry he began preparing the vegetables.

Roughly ten minutes later a knock at the door marked Robert’s arrival. Pulling him into an embrace Craig traced his jaw line with his tongue before lightly kissing his lips.

“Dinner’s nearly ready. Did you want a beer?”

“Sounds good” Robert replied as he followed Craig into the kitchen. “How was your day?”

“Thankfully over. Yours?”

“Quiet. Business has been pretty slow recently. Apparently the bar made a loss last month. First time in 12 years. Everyone’s worried. They think it’ll be their jobs they cut to save money. Jamie’s worried. His missus just had twins.”

Craig disliked Jamie. A cocky little kid that thought he knew it all. Craig still has his suspicions about Jamie being involved in the drug dealing that had gone on. He looked the type. He was shifty and always whispering on his phone. Still, Craig had never told Robert any of this. Robert loved Jamie. Thought of him as the son he would likely never have.

“I’m sure things will pick up. Dinner’s ready. Can you set the table?”

As they tucked into the stir fry over a bottle of red wine they talked more about their days, enjoying one another’s company. Just as they were finishing Robert’s mobile rang.

“It’s Jeff”.

Craig had still not met Robert’s brother. Although they were happy together they still hadn’t introduced one another to their families.

“Hi. How are you? ...Oh my god. I’ll be right there”.

Craig had watched the colour drain from Robert’s face and was now at his side rubbing his shoulders.

“What’s wrong? What’s happened?”

Robert was shaking now “its mum. She’s in hospital. They think it’s a stroke. They don’t think she’ll make it”.

Chapter  4

Luke had been packed and ready to leave for an hour or more. A small holdall sat on the bed and a nervous Luke sat perched on the chair.  It had only been a few days but Luke felt he had spent a lifetime in the hospital.  His mother would be here any minute to collect him and the doctor still hadn’t been to see him. Punctuality wasn’t the hospital’s strong point.

Luke wasn’t really sure why he was nervous. Maybe he was worried to see the disappointment and confusion in his mum’s face again. Maybe he was worried that he would hurt himself again. Maybe he was worried of losing the security that the hospital offered. He had rarely been left alone for longer than ten minutes since entering hospital and was maybe worried of where his thoughts would take him in the night.

Luke had agreed to stay with his mother for a few days until he felt able to go back to his flat. He hadn’t wanted his mum to make such a fuss but didn’t have much choice in the matter. He hadn’t really been asked to go to hers. More told that he was. His mother had taken control of everything. She had phoned Sun Hill and organised some time off for him. She had brought clean clothes every day and taken the others home to be washed, even if they weren’t dirty.  Luke was pretty sure that she would have even fed his fish and watered the plants. She liked to fuss and it was easier to let her get on with it. At least if she was kept busy, she wouldn’t question Luke.

Luke sat fiddling with the edge of the bandage wound around his wrist. The bandage had begun to fray along one side. He imagined the mess of his arm underneath it. He hadn’t been able to look at them himself but his mothers eyes when they had been dressed told him all he needed to know. He knew they would heal and the scars eventually fade a little but wasn’t sure the reason behind them ever would. He wasn’t sure he could keep the promise to his mum that he wouldn’t do this again.

***

Craig was seated in the waiting area watching the coming’s and going’s of the hospital. Nurses and doctors rushed about exchanging files and hushed words with one another. Sometimes laughing, sometimes shouting and once or twice the look of sadness passed across their faces. He wasn’t sure how long he had been sat there. It was still early evening but so far there had been no news on Robert’s mother.

Robert sat next to Craig hunched over and crying. Craig had tried to comfort him but his touch was shrugged aside with the mutter of him not understanding.  What Robert didn’t know is Craig knew only too well. He had lost his grandfather from a stroke only a few years earlier and had sat in the hospital waiting just like Robert. It had taken hours for his family to arrive and in those hours all he had wanted was the comfort from someone.

Robert’s brother sat a few chairs away. Although no longer crying, the tear tracks were still visible on his cheeks. He hadn’t spoken to Craig and Craig hadn’t pushed it. Everyone dealt with things in his own way and Craig could see that this family were not especially close. They didn’t even try to comfort or reassure each other and Craig felt it had been a while since they had both sat in the same room.

Craig excused himself and walked into the corridor. After relieving himself in the gents he wandered about looking for a coffee machine. He felt the night would be long and he would need to keep awake in case Robert needed him.

The coffee machine was located on the left hand side of the reception. Craig took out his wallet to search for some change. The machine took time to grind the coffee beans and heat the water. As he waited he heard snippets of the conversation going on behind him.

Craig suddenly froze and it wasn’t until one of the doctors that had been talking asked whether he was ok that he reached for the coffee and politely apologised for the hold up.

Craig slumped into the nearest chair and only then remembered to breathe. Had he heard correctly? No it must have been a mistake. It was a common enough name. He had probably misheard anyway.

However hard Craig tried to convince himself that he must be mistaken, he couldn’t stop shaking. Luke Ashton was in hospital.

***

There was a knock on Luke’s door and he looked up expecting to see the doctor. Luke’s stomach tightened as he saw who his visitor was. He didn’t know what to say as his guest stepped into the room and closed the door quietly behind him.

Chapter 5

It felt like an age before the visitor moved further into the room and stood no more than a metre away from where Luke sat staring. Of all the people that Luke would have thought might visit him; his brother wasn’t one of them.

Luke hadn’t seen his brother since his marriage to Kerry had ended and it had never really seemed like much of a loss to him. They had never been close. Luke had suffered years of abuse from his older brother. His mother had never really understood what the problem between her two boys was and had never thought it was anything more than silly things that all siblings fight about. Most people would look in at the family and think the same, just brothers fighting.

Luke knew different.

“What do you want Peter? Come to gloat.”

“So it is true. Little Lukey has finally lost his marbles”.

“Just get out Peter. I don’t want to see you”. Luke could feel his temper rising. The past couple of days he had held his tongue even when he felt like screaming at the doctors, at his mother. That control was slowly going.

“Tough shit little bro. You’re going to listen to what I have to say whether you want to or not”.

Luke’s stomach lurched. His brother hadn’t spoken to him like that since they were children. Luke remembered only too well his drunken father ordering Peter to hit him and Peter always obliged, fearing being beaten himself.

Looking at Peter now it was uncanny how alike he and his father were, the same evil eyes and the same gaunt skin from years of abusing alcohol. It was safe to say that Peter was very close to becoming the thug that their father had been.

“I don’t have to listen to you. Get Out”. Luke’s voice was getting steadily and steadily louder.

“You’re putting mum through hell. Did you know that? She’s cried herself to sleep every night this week and all because little Lukey tried to kill himself. Well look at you, you couldn’t even get that right. If you ever hurt mum like this again then I’ll give you something to get upset about and next time try getting it right. The world doesn’t need another poof after all”. Peter glared at his brother before turning to leave.

“You bastard” came the yell from behind him and Peter felt a tug on his arm, turning him around. All he saw was the blur as Luke’s fist connected with his face.

Luke ran from the room, ignoring the searing pain in his right wrist. No doubt he had pulled a couple of the stitches out of his arm but it had all been worth it to see the expression on his brother’s face. After all these years of taking all the shit from his brother, it felt good to finally fight back.

Peter slumped to the floor in shock. His little brother had actually hit him. Luke never hit back. Luke was a wimp. He rubbed his face feeling the warm trickle of blood from his nose. Maybe Luke was more of a man than he thought.

***

Craig felt like he had been sitting for ages. He had just got his breathing under control when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“You ok baby”. Robert knelt in front of him looking concerned at Craig’s pale complexion.

“Yeah. Fine”. Craig’s shaky voice wasn’t convincing anyone but Robert was too preoccupied with his mother to challenge him right now.

“Me and Declan are going to go up and visit her now”.

“Ok. I’ll be here if you need me”.

Robert smiled weakly before turning and walking with his brother towards the lifts.

Craig lifted his coffee cup to his lip and grimaced as he tasted the cold liquid in his mouth. He stood and threw it into the nearest bin before wandering to a chair in the corner of the reception. Suddenly he didn’t need coffee to keep him awake.

Craig was surprised at his own feelings. He thought he had buried Luke a long time ago but the mention of someone with his name had brought the same longing feeling back. He felt the same ache in his heart and hated himself for letting Luke bloody Ashton have this effect on him again. He hated himself for having allowed his heart to fall for someone he could never have.

Craig lowered his head into his hands rubbing his temples. He felt a headache coming on and debated going to his car to get the paracetamol he kept in the glove compartment. He decided against it as he wasn’t entirely convinced that his legs would support him that far.

A wave of guilt swept over Craig as he sat contemplating what he should do. He was suppose to be supporting Robert through what was more than likely to be a very painful and upsetting time. They had been told to prepare for the worst (the stroke had been much more severe than they first thought) and here he sat thinking about Luke. The same Luke that had caused him to leave the job that he loved and shredded his heart in the process.

Did he really want to get involved again? However much he didn’t like to think of Luke hurt and in hospital, did he really want to unravel the life he had now for someone that had never cared in the first place. Did he really want to see the person that had constantly led him on and dropped him again? He had sorted his life out. He was happy. Wasn’t he?

***

Luke ran from the room and felt tears prickling in his eyes. He was determined not to let them fall. He had cried too much over Peter. He had accepted that he would never have the big brother that he had always dreamed of, someone to share things with. He had accepted that his family was a complete disaster that had fallen apart years ago.

His father, an alcoholic for as long as he could remember, had left years ago but not before he beat into Luke that he was a pathetic and useless excuse for a son and would never amount to anything. When Luke first got into the police he had felt so proud to prove his dad wrong. He felt like he had finally achieved something that made him different from his dad, something better.

His brother was following in his father’s footsteps. He got through 5 different girlfriends in a month and each one had bruises down their arms within days of meeting him. He left them all too scared to report him and Luke hated being related to such an animal. Peter had even suggested that Kerry needed a slap in the past as she was dressing too provocatively. Luke would never have dreamed of hitting her. Mind you he hadn’t really even noticed what Kerry had been wearing. He’d been thinking about someone else.

Then there was his mother, the only one that Luke really cared about. She’d tried so hard to keep the family together. She had taken beating after beating from Luke’s father but she still remained loyal to him. He had taken away all her self confidence and Luke hated the hold he still had over her even now. He use to blame her when he had to hide another bruise or explain another black eye but he soon realised that she couldn’t leave him as she was terrified too. Sometimes Luke looked at his mother and sensed that she was thinking about her husband. The husband she hadn’t seen since Luke was 10 but still wished would come home so they could be a family again.

Reaching the lift Luke pressed the button and scrambled inside. He didn’t know why he was running. He knew Peter wasn’t following him and none of the nurses had noticed him leaving the ward. He didn’t know where he was going either. His mother would be here very soon and however much he knew she would worry when she realised he was gone, he still didn’t stop.

As the lift thudded to a stop Luke walked through reception with his head down. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself. As he reached the hospital entrance he risked a quick glance up. No one had batted an eyelid and his mother was nowhere to be seen. Luke pushed the door open and walked out.

***

The sound of the lift arriving on the ground floor sometime later made Craig glance up quickly. He thought perhaps Robert had finished visiting his mother and would need to talk or maybe go home. He must be tired by now.

At first no one came out of the lift and Craig was just about to lower his head again while muttering something about kids pressing the buttons when he saw a brown haired man walk out, his head cast downwards.

Craig held his breath as the man walked towards the exit. He was thinner than he remembered but he still had a nicely toned body. In fact he was still the same gorgeous man that Craig had fallen in love with.

The man briefly glanced upwards as he pushed the door open and Craig noticed the sad look in his beautiful chocolate button eyes. They were full of hurt and Craig’s insides turned. Who had hurt his beautiful boy so much? His skin looked pale and his lips were slightly downturned. That beautiful smile that Craig had always wished to be on the receiving end of was gone. Then Craig noticed the bandages wrapped around both arms and a small patch of blood soaking through. Luke was hurt. His Luke was hurt.

As Luke walked out the hospital, Craig’s heart leapt. Luke Ashton had walked in and out of his life again all in one night and didn’t even know it. Before he even realised what he was doing Craig was running across the reception and out through the doors.

Index