#4

*dubcon warning. See A/N below for details*

"Hey," Will said when Brian walked into his usual room in the hospital. The same room Will always used during testing. "Is it time for me to get out of here, yet?"

"Nope," Brian responded as he pulled up a rolling stool to sit next to Will.

Will didn't bother stifling his groan. Headaches or not, he hated all the testing.

He grumbled when Brian laughed at him and gave him his usual wink.

The two had a system for the rare moments where Brian needed to work with Will during his testing. It had been a few weeks since the two started seeing each other. They had fun, hung out. Sometimes they'd get drinks or something to eat. Sometimes they'd play video games or catch a movie. Half the time they'd end up in bed together or the nearest available surface.

It was different than Will's thing with Xander. Xander was nothing but fast, rough, adventurous sex. A lot of the appeal with Xander was Will knowing he shouldn't be with him. Whereas with Brian, the two were closer to friends with benefits than fuck buddies.

But, when at the hospital, the two stuck the friendship side of the scale. Anything more and Brian wouldn't get to work with Will at all and he was the only doctor Will trusted here.

"You're the one who volunteered for this study, right?" Brian reminded Will.

"Oh, like the hospital didn't want to jump all over me," Will said. "They're the ones that gave me the serum anyway. They're just trying to save their butts."

"You're the idiot who insisted on injecting an untested serum into yourself," Brian said. Prepping to take more blood samples. "You're lucky you aren't paralyzed or a zombie by now."

The two bickered back and forth until Brian gave Will the all clear to go.

"My breaks in a few minutes," Brian told Will as they walked out of the room. "You wanna grab some lunch?"

"Can't," Will said. "Ari has a dance class soon and she wants me to watch her."

"Ah," Brian nodded, holding a clipboard to his chest. "Well, what about tonight? I heard about this Indian restaurant about twenty minutes away. I can pick you up. We could make a night of it."

Will paused for a moment. That sounded a little too much like a date for his liking. Every other time, the two would end up places without any plans. It would just happen.

Will didn't want to change any of that. He didn't think Brian wanted to either. Or, at least, he used to.

"Uh, well," Will stopped short when he saw the hopeful expression on Brian's face.

This was too surreal.

"I've got therapy after Ari's class. I can't really miss it," Will said.

"Right," Brian said, biting his bottom lip. "Yeah, no, you need to be there. And we can go another night."

"Maybe, yeah," Will evaded.

Brian looked around the small hallway. When he didn't see anyone, he kissed Will full on the lips. Something he'd never done at the hospital before.

"I'll text you later," Brian said with a teasing smile.

Will watched him walk away. Wondering just what he was getting into.

Ari's dance class cheered Will right up. He loved watching her coltish, uncoordinated limbs swaying this way and that.

He did not love what came after.

Will didn't have a problem meeting up with Gabi to drop Ari off. He did have a problem with meeting at the Kiriakis mansion. As if that wasn't bad enough, Ari didn't want to let Will go.

Ari screeched at the top of her lungs she didn't want to go with Gabi. She wanted to stay with Will. And while Will would have enjoyed having Ari with him all day, he didn't want to step on Gabi's toes. Plus, he had therapy in just a few short minutes.

As Ari was in the middle of a full-blown meltdown, Sonny arrived with Xander on his heels.

Just what Will needed.

"What's going on here?" Sonny demanded with his arms crossed.

"Are you really that inept you can't figure out what's happening?" Xander wondered with a smirk.

"Shut up, Xander," Sonny hissed.

"Don't," Will threatened, pointing a finger between Sonny and Xander both. "Ari doesn't want to go with Gabi but I have somewhere I need to be. It's fine."

"Where could you possibly go that's important enough to stand this?" Sonny sneered, gesturing to a sobbing Ari.

"It's fine," Gabi insisted. "Ari's overwhelmed and pushing boundaries. We can't give in every time she cries."

Will took a few minutes to hug and kiss Ari, promising to see her soon. He tried to follow Ari and Gabi out the door but Sonny pulled him back.

"Will, we need to talk," Sonny insisted.

"No, we really don't," Will said, trying not to look at Xander and his blinding smile.

"We haven't had a chance to talk about what happened. You're avoiding me and I need to talk to you."

"Can't imagine why," Xander quipped.

"Why are you still here?" Sonny hissed. "I'm trying to have a conversation."

"Failing to have a conversation, you mean," Xander smiled.

Sonny and Xander argued as if Will wasn't even there. He could only take so much.

"Oh my god, shut up!" Will yelled.

Xander, downright leering at Will, held up his hands innocently.

"Remind me to piss you off next time," Xander murmured causing Will to glare at him.

"Xander," Will warned.

"Whatever," Xander said. "I've got somewhere to be. See you around, baby."

Xander left after giving Will a loud swat on the butt.

"What the hell was that?" Sonny demanded, face tense.

"Nothing," Will groaned with an eye roll. "I need to go."

"No," Sonny argued. "You have to talk to me first."

"I don't have to do anything," Will countered. "I'm gonna be late for therapy."

"Too little too late for that," Sonny snorted.

"What is your problem?" Will asked with a huff, halfway out the door.

"No, I'm sorry," Sonny said. "Just, promise me you'll come back. Things ended poorly the other day but I know we can fix this, especially if you're in therapy."

"I'm not in therapy for you," Will argued. "And there's nothing to talk about. You and I aren't going to happen."

"What are you gonna do?" Sonny asked. "Wait around for Paul? I'm right here. I'm the only one that wants you."

Will was seconds away from blurting out a few hurtful truths to Sonny but stopped himself just in time.

"Stay away from me," Will said through clenched teeth. "And stop following me everywhere!"

Will stormed off but not before hearing Sonny's insistent, "I'm not following you!"

When your memories return in tiny, terrifying batches, and the steadiest presence in your life leaves, therapy is the place to go. Someone who gets paid to listen to your problems and pretends to care? Why didn't anyone force Will into this sooner?

As if he didn't have enough topics to discuss, his therapist wanted to talk about Ben Weston.

Other people in Salem might have no problem accepting Ben walking about town. Will wasn't one of them.

There was something inherently wrong about the man who strangled him to death walking free. If anyone else forgave Ben, felt compassion for Ben due to his traumatic childhood. If they believed Ben changed and could redeem himself, fine. Good for them. Will couldn't, not yet. Maybe not ever.

Sadly, Will's therapist disagreed. Claimed Will would feel better if he accepted Ben. If he could see Ben as a human being instead of his murderer. Thought Will would feel safer if he got to a place where seeing Ben didn't unsettle him.

For the most part, Will and his therapist got along quite well.

Unfortunately, sometimes his therapist encouraged Will to do things. Things that make him question his therapist's sanity. Things Will didn't want to do. Things that make Will uncomfortable. And, in fact, led to drinking copious amounts of alcohol to complete the task.

Things like, not running away from his murderer the next time he sees him, for instance.

After the therapy session, Will couldn't bear to go home. He didn't know how to deal with everything. His headaches and doctor's visits. Ari's reluctance to leave him. Sonny's annoying combination of insults and thirst. Xander's everything. Brian's potential feelings.

All of that and Will still couldn't get Paul out of his head. If Paul was here, he would know what to do. Hell, if Paul was here, Will wouldn't have half these problems in the first place.

No, he couldn't go back home. Not when Paul's absence made the apartment seem that much smaller. Everything reminded him of Paul. Not even a round of hot but meaningless sex with Xander or Brian seemed appealing. In fact, the two of them would make him feel even worse.

Instead, Will found himself at an outdoor café. Figuring the sunshine would do him some good. Even if he couldn't shake the feeling of someone's eyes off him.

Halfway through his first drink, Ben Weston walked up to his table.

"Hey," Ben said, hands holding the back of an empty chair across from Will. "Is it okay if I sit?"

Will remembered what his therapist harped on about, not running away from Ben. They were in a public place with lots of witnesses. And it would make Will's day drinking less pathetic if he had company.

But seeing Ben looking just as nervous as Will felt made it easier to decide.

"Sure," Will said, sitting up straighter when Ben sat down.

The two say across from each other in awkward, tense silence. If only to look away from Ben, Will slurped up the last of his long island ice tea in time for the waiter to come back.

"Let me get you another drink," Ben offered.

That was the best idea Will heard all day. And when Will finished his second drink, he let Ben order him a third and then a fourth.

All which led to Will feeling loosey goosey in the middle of the day. Sitting across from Ben Weston, a plethora of glasses around the table, pouring out his soul.

In hindsight, not his brightest move.

"So, like," Will slurred, hands gesticulating all across the table, "I don't get it. Why did he leave me? Didn't he see I was happiest with him?"

"It's rough, man," Ben commiserated, nursing his third beer. "It's his loss, leaving someone as great as you behind."

"I know!" Will slammed his hand on the metal table, nearly upending several of the tall glasses. "I mean, I'm a total catch. And I can get, like, all the guys. But the one guy I do want left. What is up with that?"

Ben nodded, lips smacking together. He placed both his hands over Will's and leaned across the table.

"I wouldn't ever leave you."

"Thank you!" Will gushed, not even registering how close Ben was.

"Did I tell you how sorry I am about what I did?" Ben asked, hands sliding up to grip Will's forearms. "Because I am. I never wanted to hurt you. Not you, never you."

"Uh," Will blinked a few times, head sluggish. "Okay."

"I'd never, ever hurt you again," Ben promised.

"Right," Will agreed despite something in the back of his mind cautioning him.

"Hey," Ben suggested with a bright smile, grip firm on Will's forearms, "let's get out of here."

"Okay," Will agreed with ease, stumbling to his feet. He tripped over his chair but, thankfully, Ben caught him.

"Here," Ben wrapped his arm around Will, "I got you."

The two walked in the sunshine. Their heads bent together, clinging to one another.

"I love the sun," Will declared, head angled up toward the sky when they stopped outside the green space in front of the Martin mansion.

Will detached from Ben, arms spread wide. He laughed when Ben caught his hand and twirled him around. They hobbled into a dance. Ben doing all the work to keep Will from tumbling to the ground more than anything.

"It's so beautiful out," Will insisted, clinging to Ben's shoulders.

"You're beautiful," Ben whispered, eyeing Will's face.

Will laughed, smacking Ben on the chest.

"I'm serious," Ben pulled Will even closer. "You're so beautiful and full of life and I wish I never hurt you."

Will swallowed, head still spinning. He knew there was something wrong with those words but they sounded so nice.

"Let's go inside," Will suggested, digging his keys out of his pockets. Ben right on his heels.

Will stumbled all the way to his door, barely fitting the key but managing to get it unlocked.

"I didn't say it last time but your place is nice," Ben said with a soft smile on his face.

Will nodded, leaning against his front door. He was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. But, with them squinted, there was something oddly familiar about Ben. About the shape of his shoulders, the cut of his hair. Almost like Will's seen Ben before. Not a memory, no. Something recent.

"I had fun with you today," Ben stated, standing a little bit closer than a second ago.

"Me too," Will tilted his head back, holding Ben's intense gaze.

Ben placed one hand on either side of Will's head, boxing him in.

"You really are beautiful," Ben murmured, breath dusting over Will's face, causing a surprisingly pleasant shiver.

Before Will could say anything, before he could even think, Ben kissed him.

Kissed like he needed it to breathe. It caused Will's knees to quake and his palms to sweat.

He didn't know if those were good things.

Will gripped the front of Ben's shirt. He didn't know if he wanted to push Ben away or pull him in closer. He compromised by doing nothing. Only opening his mouth and moaning long and deep when Ben's tongue touched his. Will bucked into Ben, hissing when Ben nipped his lower lip, sucking and nibbling.

Will could have stayed in his hallway, clinging and grinding into Ben. Kissing Ben with a sloppy finesse, mind a happy, drunken fog. Hands slipping and sliding over the deep ridges of Ben's stomach.

It wasn't until Ben dragged kisses across Will's cheek, all the way to his neck. Tongue licking and mouth sucking on Will's sensitive flesh. Only then did Will realize the gravity of the situation.

He was making out with Ben Weston. His lips tingled from Ben's teeth digging into them. His neck, wet and tender, must be covered in hickeys by now. Will bucked his hips, even now, against Ben's hard length.

Ben Weston, the man who almost strangled Will to death, twice.

"Wait," Will shoved Ben away. He clamped one hand over his burning neck. "We can't do this."

"Sure we can," Ben panted, an easy grin on his face. "That was so hot."

Will couldn't hold back another moan or tried too hard to push Ben away when he kissed him again.

Will clung to Ben's neck as Ben's fingertips dug into Will's hips.

Will knew this was a bad idea. A terrible idea he would never have made if he were sober. But, with Ben kissing him just so, it was really hard to remember why.

Will didn't jump away again until Ben pushed open the door. Walked them inside, hands scrambling to unbutton Will's jeans.

Will held his hands in front of him, chest heaving.

"This isn't a good idea," Will said.

It didn't matter how good looking Ben was, how well he kissed, Will couldn't do this with him. Even if he wanted to and a part of him really, really did.

But no.

"Drunk," Will whispered, stumbling a little off balance. "I think we're both a little drunk. We shouldn't do this."

"Of course we should," Ben urged arm wrapped around Will's waist to balance him. "This is for the best. It's what we should have done all along."

"You definitely have to be drunk," Will whispered, words a little slurred.

Last he checked, Ben wasn't even the slightest bit gay.

"Not that drunk," Ben insisted with a rueful smile. "But you're right. Our first time needs to be special. I'll make it special."

"…What?"

Ben shook his head at Will's blank expression, smile fond. He bent down and kissed Will once again. Hand firm against Will's cheek.

"We don't have to rush this," Ben assured, disregarding Will's rapidly panicked expression. "We aren't like anyone else."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Will whispered, blinking several times to clear his head.

Ben held Will's face between his hands.

"I'll keep you safe, Will. I promise. I won't let anyone ever hurt you again."

"Ben," Will tried to back up and stumbled over his own feet, Ben keeping him steady.

"I'm not gonna be like the others. They never earned you, never deserved you. But I will. I won't leave you the way Paul did. I won't treat you like Sonny does. I won't use you like Xander or take so long to see your worth like Brian."

Will's mouth opened and closed a few times as his eyes widened.

"How do you know about them?"

"I know everything about you, Will," Ben insisted, calm and steady. "I have to keep you safe. You know that. Now, why don't you get some rest? I think you are drunker than I realized."

Will stayed perfectly still as Ben pulled him into another kiss. He didn't move until the door closed after Ben. Will lurched toward it, locking the deadbolt.

Will grabbed a water bottle and a handful of aspirin, downing them both. He collapsed in bed, head swimming. Certain that after a nap, everything would make so much more sense. Because there was no way Ben Weston did or said any of the things he did.

Ben must have been as drunk as Will. It was the only reasonable explanation.

Yes, Will would get some rest and everything would make sense when he was sober again. Particularly the mystery of why Will got the strangest sense of déjà vu around Ben.

A/N

Trigger Warning: Will, uneasy about being around Ben, gets very drunk. While drunk, Will makes out with Ben, something he indicates he wouldn't do if he was sober. Also, Ben says and does some creepy things that make Will uncomfortable and indicate he's been following Will.