Hmm. I've been away for a while. Haha, sorry to anyone who misses me. Writer's block, exams, all that stuff. I dunno how good it is. It's a teensy bit deeper than my usual stuff. I can't promise anything else at this stage. I guess we shall see.

Lonny was in his usual spot on the couch. The TV was on, and Dennis was at his desk, scratching away at the seemingly endless amount of paperwork that had built up over the course of a week. Lonny had been complaining about back pain, and had been on the couch most of the day. Actually, he'd been complaining about back pain for a while.

He'd been sick a couple of times as well, although Dennis suspected this was due Lonny's frequent hangovers. What worried Dennis more than anything was Lonny's loss of appetite. The brunette was usually always hungry, and happy to eat anything that was put in front of him. But recently, he'd only picked at his food and claimed that he wasn't hungry. As a result, he was losing weight rapidly. Dennis was terrified that Lonny would eventually starve himself to death, but he honestly couldn't think of anything that would force his usually happy-go-lucky lover's health to deteriorate so rapidly. A doctor's appointment had been scheduled for the following day, and until then, Dennis was left to fret and worry while Lonny slept even more than usual to escape the pain.

Lonny continued to insist that everything was fine and that he'd probably injured his back somehow and that he'd soon be fine. However, the doctors said otherwise.

Lonny went to the doctor's appointment alone, since Dennis had so much work to do, and Lonny was almost grateful. Dennis had already decided not to make a big deal out of it, and not pounce on Lonny the moment he walked through the door.

"Have you eaten anything?" Dennis asked when Lonny entered the apartment, already forgetting the 'don't pounce on him' plan. Lonny shook his head.

"No, um-"

"Look, I know you're not hungry and all of that, but you're losing weight. I think the reason you've been feeling sick is because you haven't eaten."

"Dennis-" Lonny said so quietly that his lover barely heard him.

"Stacee's playing tonight. He's worried about you. He wanted to check that you're ok."

"I'm not."

"Huh?"

"Dennis," Lonny sighed. How the hell could he break this gently?

"What's up?" Dennis questioned. He knew he wasn't going to make a big deal out of the whole doctor's appointment, but Lonny was kind of starting to freak him out.

Lonny's eyes were about to brim over with tears. He hadn't been this terrified in a long time.

"Lon?" Dennis said uncertainly. Ok, now he was scared.

"Dennis, I have liver cancer. They reckon it's self-inflicted, and unless I qualify for a transplant, I've got about seven months. They reckon if we'd spotted the symptoms, loss of appetite, back pain, weakness, weight loss and so on sooner, my chances of survival would be higher."

Dennis just stared as his brain processed the information.

Liver cancer, seven months, self-inflicted? How... the drinking. It had to be the drinking. Loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness... Lonny had been sleeping more than ever, he barely ate, and he'd definitely lost weight. But it couldn't be true. Could it? No. Not Lonny. Not his Lonny.

Lonny didn't deserve this. In his whole life, he'd barely been in a fight, he was friendly to almost everyone, he wouldn't hurt a fly. This had to be a practical joke.

"You're kidding. This is a joke, right? I knew you had a sick sense of humour, but come on. Tears and everything?"

"Dennis, I'm not kidding. Believe me, I wish I was joking." He bit his lip to stifle a sob.

Finally, it hit Dennis like a ton of bricks. Dennis was usually the calm one of their relationship. However, forgetting that Lonny probably needed Dennis to be calm, he hurled himself at the brunette, wrapping his arms around the most important person in his world.

"I love you. Lonny, don't leave me. Please."

"Dennis, what if I die?"

Dennis grabbed Lonny by the wrists and stared him straight in the eyes.

"Don't you dare say that. I don't care what happens, I don't care what I have to do, you're going to be fine. Do you hear me?"

There were two hours left before the Bourbon was supposed to open. Knowing he couldn't let the now crying Lonny go into work, they ended up curling up next to each other in bed until Lonny fell asleep.

That's the first part. There's more if you guys want it. I'll end up posting the rest at some point anyway.