Title: Silence Chapter: 1/1 Rating: PG-13 Summary: Gapfiller following the 2/11/09 episode. Characters: Luke, Noah Genre: Drama Warnings: Contains spoilers through 2/11/09 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.

Noah didn't know how long he stood there holding Luke, rocking them back and forth. He could hear occasional sniffles and sighs coming from his boyfriends face that was pressed into his shoulder, but other then that Luke was doing his best to fight his emotions. After a while, Noah felt Luke start to sag onto him and he knew that he had exhausted himself.

"Let me take you home," Noah said gently, continuing to rub small circles into the blonde's back.

Luke shook his head against the soft fabric of Noah's coat.

"Come on, you're exhausted and it's getting really late," Noah coaxed into his ear.

"I don't want to be alone," Luke whispered, tightening his grip on Noah.

The brunette knew they couldn't stand out there all night, but he didn't know where to go. There was no way that he was going to chance being caught in bed with Luke at the Snyder household. Even though Holden nor Lily had said anything to them about sleeping arrangements, probably due to the fact that he was living in the dorms, Noah knew they would be none to pleased if Faith or Natalie walked into Luke's bedroom and saw them together. In the dorms, Noah's roommate would probably be there. Weighing his options, Noah pulled back a little.

"I'll take you back to the dorms with me," Noah ran his thumb over Luke's cheekbone.

"Won't your roommate be there?"

Noah shrugged, "I don't care. We're just going to sleep."

Luke finally nodded and allowed his boyfriend to guide him out of Old Town.

***


As quietly as he could, Noah opened the door to his room and led Luke in. Everything was dark, but they could make out the beds. Noah's roommate wasn't there and he sighed in relief, thanking God for giving him a roommate who liked to go out alot, sometimes not coming back at all for days at a time.

Silently, they both undressed down to their underwear and crawled into Noah's bed. It was small. A typical dorm bed meaninng it was a little bigger then a twin. But Noah didn't care as he wrapped his comforter around both him and Luke.

"You want to talk?" Noah whispered.

Luke shook his head and manuvered himself so his head was on Noah's chest.

Noah nodded to himself as he ran a hand through Luke's hair. He felt his eyes start to grow heavy and sleep slowly start to take him.

"I still can't believe it," Luke whispered and Noah had to strain to hear him.

"I know," Noah didn't have any words to comfort Luke. Sure, he liked Reg and they talked, but Luke was more of Reg's friend.

"He didn't deserve to die."

Noah tightened his hold around Luke's body, "No, he didn't."

"I just can't stop thinking about it. My last words to him were so...they didn't mean anything. I never thought that...how could this happen Noah?"

Closing his eyes, the brunette tried to find words of comfort, anything to say. But he couldn't. He could only hold his boyfriend and let him grieve.

"It's not fair. Elwood is out there somewhere and Reg is..."

Noah pressed a kiss to the top of Luke's head, "Why don't you try and get some sleep? It's already," He paused and looked at the clock on his nighstand, "4AM."

"How can I?"

"Then rest. You don't have to sleep. Just rest, okay?" Noah pleaded as he started to run his hands up and down Luke's back, trying to soothe him. He felt Luke nod against his skin.

After a few minutes, Noah heard Luke's breathing even out and knew he was asleep. He continued to caress his back. It was a while before Noah finally allowed himself to join Luke in slumber.