I'll keep singing this lie if you'll keep believing it

I'll keep singing this lie

I'll keep singing this lie

---

Brendon groaned as he opened his eyes. His head ached more than usual, probably caused by the blinding light coming through the window. He should really learn to close his blinds before falling asleep.

"You're up." He shot up in his bed, instantly regretting it as an ache pulsed through his body.

"Shit," he moaned.

"Try not to move so fast. A nurse will come in with some water and aspirin soon." He looked over to see a doctor come to his side to adjust his bed so he could sit up comfortably. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes, slightly bothered by the plastic bracelet on his wrist. He took notice of the thin gown he had on. Reality settled in as he looked up at the doctor.

"Where am I?"

"You're at Summerlin's Medical Center. I'm Dr. Walker." Brendon looked down at his lap, a nervous lump sitting on his chest. "Can you tell me what you remember from last night?" A nurse came in with a small paper cup with two white pills and a plastic cup of water. Brendon gratefully took the pills, swallowing them down with the water.

"I uh, I was at the club and there was this asshole." Brendon sighed and squeezed his eyes shut to concentrate. "He bought me a drink and got mad when I wouldn't drink it. When I finally did, I started feeling weird. He kept trying to make me leave with him then this other guy, Ryan, was there," Brendon recalled.

"That's good. Do you remember how you got here?" Brendon shook his head.

"Last thing I remember was being with Ryan at the bar. After that, it's fuzzy." Dr. Walker wrote a few things down on his chart. Brendon chewed on his bottom lip. "Do you.. do you know if he came?" He felt stupid for asking. Why would some stranger he met at a bar stick around if he was taken to the hospital? It was embarrassing to even think about it. He didn't even get a chance to thank the guy.

"Who?"

"Um, Ryan," Brendon bit his lip. That's all he really knew about the man. It wasn't like they had much time to talk.

"Ryan? Yeah, he was the one who brought you in, but he went home after you were admitted." Brendon nodded, disappointed with the answer. "I believe he's here for his shift now." Brendon's eyes widened in surprise. "And speak of the devil," Dr. Walker said with a smile.

Brendon looked over and saw Ryan come into the room. He looked like a different person in her dark scrubs and doctor coat. Brendon couldn't stop himself from staring. This was some kind of joke, right? He wasn't rescued by an actual doctor.

"Good morning, Dr. Ross. What do you want?" Ryan rolled his eyes at the other's sarcastic tone.

"How's he doing?" Jon smacked Ryan's hand when he reached for Brendon's file. "Ow! What was that for?"

"He's my patient. You don't get to see his chart." Ryan huffed and turned to Brendon.

"How are you feeling?" Brendon was still reeling in from his shock. Ryan chuckled, waiting for Brendon's answer. Jon nudged Ryan, getting an amused chuckle in response.

"Leave him alone. Go bother your own patients."

"I've done my rounds and I'm here as a friend who's curious about his condition." Brendon tensed. Does he know? Does Dr. Walker know about his condition? No, it was just how they talked. Right? He couldn't handle another doctor judging him for his decision. Brendon tried not to show how uneasy he suddenly was.

"He's fine. His blood work should be back from the lab. I'm sure you were right so the drug should be out of his system by now and he'll be able to get discharged."

"That's good to hear." Ryan nodded and turned to Brendon with a smile. "How are you feeling, Brendon?"

"First name bases now?" Jon teased. Brendon felt himself flush and looked down to hide it.

"I'm doing fine. Ready to get out of here. I'm not a big fan of hospitals," Brendon answered, shifting uncomfortably in the bed.

"You see that? You're scaring him away," Jon joked.

"Oh screw you," Ryan said easily, getting a laugh from his coworker. "I'll go get your discharge papers ready so you can run away from him as fast as you can."

"Don't let him bug you in the mean time. If he does, push your call button and have a nurse kick him out," Jon joked as he scribbled a few notes down on the file. Brendon laughed and nodded. "Alright, I'll be back with your results." With a final smile, the doctor left, leaving Brendon alone with Ryan.

"So... You're a doctor." Ryan let out a small laugh.

"According to my PHD, yes I am."

"Wasn't expecting a doctor to save me from some dickwad at the club." Ryan shrugged, still wearing his charming smile.

"It's my duty to make sure people are safe, especially handsome clubbers." Brendon looked down to hide his blush. Normally, he was more confident than this, but normally the guy wasn't this hot. He couldn't pass up the opportunity to be with a good looking doctor though. He fiddled with his bracelet before looking back up.

"Would you maybe like to go and get coffee with me?" He managed to ask. Ryan was the one to look down shyly this time.

"I don't date patients." Brendon frowned. What a tease.

"Well, it's a good thing I'm gonna get discharged. And I believe you were the one who came to see me."

"I just wanted to make sure you're okay." Ryan looked back up again, a challenging smile on. Brendon rose an eyebrow and crossed his arms.

"You're flirting." Ryan bit his lip, eyeing the man in front of him. "I'm just asking for one cup of coffee with the man who saved me who I also happen to find aesthetically appealing." Ryan ran a hand through his hair. He looked over at the door before turning back to Brendon.

"I can't really leave the hospital cause I'm working, but I can take you down to the cafeteria?" Brendon smiled and nodded.

"That sounds good to me."

"I should probably get back to work," Ryan spoke softly, but didn't move for a minute.

"Yeah, you probably should go be a doctor and stuff." Ryan chuckled and started slowly moving to the door.

"Right. I'll be back when you're ready to go." Brendon gave a small wave goodbye as Ryan left. When he was alone, Brendon threw himself back and covered his face with the blanket, letting out a small squeal. He took a deep breath, a smile spreading over his face. He'd met many attractive men on his bar hopping adventures, but Ryan.. this man was something else; the gold at the end of the rainbow, the icing on top of the cake, the crème de la crème.

That giddy feeling soon vanished when he took in the scent of sterilizer around him. His smile slipped when he remembered why he hated hospitals to begin with. He couldn't shake the feel that there was a dark cloud hanging over his head. He couldn't wait to get out of there and forget again.

~~~

"According to your results, there were traces of rohypnol in your blood. It must've been put into that drink you had. That would explain the fainting. It should be out of your system now. Otherwise everything seems to be... wait." Brendon felt his blood go cold. He'd been uneasy ever since Ryan left. "Your white blood cell count is very concerning." Jon read through the numbers a couple more times before looking up at Brendon.

"If you don't mind, I'd like you to stay so we can run a few more test."

"Actually, I have plans, so if you would please. I'd like to get out of here as soon as possible." Brendon tried to keep himself calm as he spoke, but his heart was beating too fast for his liking.

"I'm sure you do," Jon kept his voice friendly and professional. "But with numbers like this I'm worried that it cou-"

"I don't want to do anymore tests. I'd like to go," Brendon pressed. He was fidgeting with his bracelet again under the covers, itching to tear it off. Surely Dr. Walker would catch on.

"Mr. Urie, you understand that --"

"I understand," Brendon rushed out. "Please... no tests." Jon set down the chart, his smile completely slipping, replaced with confusion. He eyed Brendon for a second, interrogating him with his eyes. Brendon kept his gaze low, feeling as if he were under a spotlight. Jon looked down at the chart, assessing it. Brendon didn't have to look up to know, he could feel it.

"Brendon," Jon spoke softly, a tone Brendon concluded to be Jon's persuasion voice.

"Can I sign the discharge papers yet?" The doctor stood at the end of the bed, wanting to say more. He didn't want to believe he already lost before he even tried. "I'd like to leave." Brendon couldn't look up, not wanting to see the judgement, not wanting to be lectured or ridiculed for acting against yet another doctor's advice.

"They're almost ready," Jon spoke it an even tone. The room was dead silent. It wasn't until Ryan came in with a clipboard that there was any noise. The air was still tense, but at least it wasn't quiet.

"I got your papers." He waved the board before handing it to Brendon. "So, is everything all good," he asked Jon. The doctor could see Brendon subtly shaking his head, pleading eyes looking up at him. Ryan looked down at Brendon who faked a smile and looked over at his friend again.

"You know I can't tell you that. Doctor-patient confidentiality," Dr. Walker said with a practiced smile. Ryan rolled his eyes and looked back at Brendon.

"Everything's fine. I just need to change out of this gown." He scribbled his signature onto the paperwork and moved to the restroom with his clothes. Ryan turned to his coworker who had an expressionless stare facing the bathroom door.

"Everything alright, Jon?" The man looked at Ryan, the door, then back to Ryan. "Like he said, he's fine." There was no emotion in his words like earlier, just a dead tone. "Now, I have other patients I need to check on." He walked out without another word, leaving Ryan confused at what just happened. He took the clipboard back to the nurse's station, trying to figure could've changed Jon's mood.

"You okay?" Ryan jumped and spun around to see Brendon. He smiled seeing Brendon in the same tight outfit from the night before, all previous worries out of his head.

"Yeah. You ready?" Brendon nodded. "Let's go."