Title: What he's doing now Chapter: 10 - Don't go Rating: G Summary: Characters: Genre: Warnings: English is not my native language Disclaimer: This site is no way associated with "As the World Turns", CBS, P&G, or Van Hansis and Jake Silbermann. This is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended. Authors submit and write their own work.

“Come with me”

Noah lifted his head and saw Luke standing next to him.

“What?”

“Let’s go sit down somewhere where we can talk and eat something”

“No, that’s okay, you don’t have to”

“Oh, shut up, I’m paying”

He let himself be helped by Luke, who kept his arm across Noah’s shoulders. He led him to a coffee shop and Noah felt his head spinning… he held on to Luke

“Don’t go”

“I won’t, I’m not going anywhere”

Luke helped him sit down in a booth at the corner. Noah’s head was still spinning… Luke left Noah sitting down and went to get some food. He came back with coffee for both of them and a sandwich. He was smiling

“There, eat something. Look at the sandwich, it’s just the way you liked it back then. With four different kinds of meat”

Noah looked at the sandwich and touched it with the tips of his fingers

“What’s wrong with you, Noah?”

“Eh? Nothing, I am fi”

“Don’t try that again with me”

“Where’s Aaron?

“With Faith, and don’t try to change the subject”

“What makes you think I am not fine?”

Luke pointed at Noah’s wrist. The identification bracelet was there… with the hospital’s name, his room’s number and his own name.

“Ah… I forgot…”

He tried to pull it open but found out he couldn’t

“Here, I can do it”

Noah looked at him and Luke held his hands up. He just nodded and Luke opened the bracelet and looked at Noah

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing”

Everything, Luke, my life without you is so wrong…

“Why were you in a hospital?”

“I don’t want to talk about it”

“Shit… you are not sick, are you?”

“Sick…? No, damn, I told you, I am fine”

“People don’t spend time in hospitals if they are fine, believe me”

“I am just tired, I have been working a lot, and I’m not sleeping well. It just caught up with me. That’s all”

“You sure?”

“Yes, Luke, I am sure, can you drop it, now?”

Both stayed quiet for a few minutes. Noah found himself eating little bits of his sandwich and realized that he was hungry. He couldn’t remember the last time he felt hungry. He picked up the sandwich and started eating. When he looked up Luke was smiling

“What…”

“Nothing, I was just remembering, you always had a big appetite”

Always? Not so much.

“I don’t want to talk about the past, if you don’t mind…”

Luke seemed surprised by that, but nodded anyway.

“Your son is quite cute, and nice. You are very lucky”

“Yes, I am. Have you got any children?”

“No. It’s just me”

“Right… “

“You don’t have to stay and watch me eat, you know”

“It’s okay”

“Won’t your husband, or boyfriend… whatever, won’t he mind?”

“What? Who?”

“Aaron’s other father”

“Aaron doesn’t have any other father apart from me. I am a single father”

Noah looked at him, could it be possible? Could he let himself dream just this once?

Chapter 11