miracle (miracle) wrote in luke_noah, @ 2008-04-07 03:40:00 |
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Entry tags: | -[luke/noah]-, fanfic, fanfic: [atwt], » by: kissesdragons |
Resolution, Ch 7
Original poster: kissesdragons
Title: Resolution
Chapter: 7
Rating: PG-ish
Summary: Noah meets with his father.
Disclaimer: Luke and Noah do not belong to me. If they did we would see a lot more kissing. This story is not for profit. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait – my hard drive was fried. Do yourselves a favor and never buy anything from Fry’s Electronics – this is my fourth hard drive in three years.
Noah gets to
Jack’s words from earlier that afternoon echo in his mind “We’ve had men stationed around the meeting point since just after you spoke with the Colonel – just ignore them. And remember to do whatever he says – we want to keep him complacent so he’s more likely to make mistakes.”
Noah sits on a nearby bench trying to remain calm, knowing that he can’t do anything that might set his father off no matter how badly he wants to hurt the man.
“Noah, Son!” his father says in a jovial voice as he walks up the path toward Noah. Noah freezes when his father wraps him in hug. He tries to force himself to return it but he’s so full of anger that he just can’t. After a moment his father releases him with a put upon sigh. “It’s okay” he says condescendingly, patting Noah’s shoulder. “You’ll thank me for this one day.”
Noah bites his tongue so hard he tastes blood. “Dad” he manages after a moment, voice strangled. “Please, just let Luke go” he begs, but his father’s face hardens immediately.
“I’ll let him go once you’ve put this abnormal lifestyle behind you son. Don’t you understand? If I let that – boy – go he’ll just corrupt you again. Now, here’s what you’re going to do. I took the liberty of checking up on Madeline. She’s in town for the summer and currently unattached.” He smiles at Noah as if he should be thrilled by the information.
“I know” Noah answers, dread building in the pit of his stomach. “I talked to her yesterday.”
“Wonderful!” his father says, laughing. “Call her and ask her to dinner tonight. Grovel if you have to. I have everything set up for the two of you to dine at Le Jardiz at seven. Once Madeline has forgiven you, you can get your life back on track. After you have married her and joined the military like you should have done years ago, then I’ll let your friend go.” The insane smile on his father’s face makes Noah physically sick, but he does his best to nod and smile back.
His father pushes a cell phone into his hands and Noah takes a deep breath before dialing Maddie’s number. He sighs in relief when she picks up after only two rings. “Hey Maddie, it’s Noah” he says brightly, trying to make his voice sound normal.
“Hi Noah” she says, sounding surprised but happy. “What’s up?”
“There are some things I need to talk to you about” Noah says, trying to imbue his voice with the urgency he feels. “Would you be willing to go to dinner with me tonight? I can pick you up in half-an-hour.”
Maddie must hear something in his voice because she just says. “Sure Noah. See you at 6:45?”
“Yeah” Noah answers, swallowing hard. “Thanks Maddie.”
“Okay, she’s agreed” Noah says after hanging up.
“That’s wonderful son” his father says, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder. “Just make sure you ask her out for tomorrow at some point tonight.”
“Sure dad” Noah agrees, biting back the bitter words he desperately wants to say. “I’d better get going. Don’t want to be late.”
When Noah gets to his truck there is a yellow legal pad on the front seat that wasn’t there when he left. He feels another rush of hatred toward his father when he reads the message one of the plainclothes officers must have left him. ‘Car bugged. Use pad to explain situation to Ms. Coleman. Converse normally.’ He blasts the stereo as he drives to Maddie’s and takes a deep breath before walking to the front door.
“Hi Noah” Maddie greets him at the door.
“Can I come in for a minute Maddie?”
“Sure thing” she agrees easily. “Want anything to drink?” she asks.
“Could I have a glass of water?” he asks, following her into the kitchen. Just as he is about to explain what’s going on to her he starts to wonder if maybe his father bugged him. His father was never the touchy feely type, but today he had hugged Noah and squeezed his shoulder several times. Hoping he was just being paranoid he grabbed a pad of paper and began writing. ‘My father broke out and he has Luke somewhere. He won’t let him go unless the two of us get back together. I think he has me bugged. Please play along.’
Handing the note to Maddie he says “I wanted to apologize to you Maddie. I treated you unforgivably.” Maddie’s eyes widen in shock as she reads the note and she looks up at him, nodding her agreement to play along. Letting out a sigh of relief he continues. “I have realized recently that the thing with Luke was just a phase. I know I have no right to ask you this, but would you be willing to consider getting back together with me?”
“I don’t know Noah” Maddie says in a thankfully even voice. “You hurt me. I don’t know if I’m willing to risk that again.”
“I’m so sorry I hurt you Maddie, but I know what I want out of my life now, and that’s you” Noah says, finding it easy to sound sincere because he really is sorry he hurt her.
“Let’s see how dinner goes tonight, then we can move on from there” Maddie says, scribbling a note of her own and handing it to him as they head toward the front door. Noah glances at it and it says ‘God, I’m so sorry Noah. Anything you need.’
Dinner is like torture. His father chose an expensive, romantic restaurant with candles and violin music, which just makes the situation that much more uncomfortable. This is the sort of place he had taken Maddie to before he broke up with her. Knowing the table is bugged means they have to keep up the small talk and by the time the waitress comes by with the desert menu the strain is nearly unbearable. Maddie must be able to see how upset he is, because she turns down desert and pulls him up from the table, wrapping her arm through his in support.
They make the drive back to Maddie’s house in near silence, the radio filling the space between them. “Do you want to come in?” she asks when he pulls to a stop.
“Sure” Noah agrees, knowing his father is listening.
“I had a great time tonight Noah” Maddie says flirtatiously once they;re inside, really playing it up for his father’s benefit.
“Me too” Noah agrees, trying to sound like he is flirting back but knowing he is failing miserably. Remembering his father’s ultimatum he asks “Would you like to go out again tomorrow?”
“That sounds great” Maddie answers, stepping close to give him a comforting hug. She kisses his cheek, making sure the smack is audible. “Say around six?”
“Sounds good” Noah agrees, following her to the front door. “Night Maddie.”
“Goodnight Noah” she echos softly, closing the door behind him.
Noah breaks every speed limit on the road getting back to the Snyder Farm. He grabs the legal pad and writes ‘I’m bugged’ holding it in front of him as he enters the kitchen. Thankfully everyone sees it before saying anything to him, and he hurries upstairs to toss his clothes on the bathroom floor, heading to Luke’s room to borrow a pair of sweats. He comes back downstairs, and this time Jack is holding up a sign that says ‘Don’t Talk’. He runs a small black remote-type thing up and down Noah’s body several times before sighing in relief. “Okay” he says. “You’re clean.”
“Were you able to get anything?” Noah bursts out. “Did you track him? Where’s Luke?”
Jack holds up a hand, and when Noah falls silent he answers “We were able to track him for quite a ways into the
“That’s not good enough!” Noah shouts. “Luke is out there with who knows how little food and water? You have to find him.”
“We’ll keep searching for him Noah, starting with the area where we lost your father’s trail, but our best bet is to wait for him to meet with you again so we can track him. I’m sorry” Jack finishes, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
Noah swallows hard, biting his tongue against a scream a frustration, and he just nods. “I’m going to bed” he says, heading upstairs to Luke’s room. Noah reaches into the hamper and grabs one of Luke’s dirty shirts. Lying on the bed he brings it to his face and inhales his lover’s scent, tears slipping unheeded from his eyes as he falls into a restless slumber.