Chapter Text
Laying on an examination table in a doctor's office is not what Ryan would call fun. But this was for his health. This exam was not just for his health. It was to find out if he had cancer."Okay, Mr.Tedder. I am going to be drawing on your back now," The nurse said.
"Okay," Ryan said. He turned his head to the side he heard the slight crinkle of the medically graded baking paper on top of the exam table. Ryan felt the marker run down his back."All done here," The nurse said. Ryan sat up "the doctor will be with you shortly," She said before leaving the room.
Ryan stared at the clock on the wall. Being referred to an Oncologist for a bone marrow biopsy was not the best sign. Deep down, he knew what the results of this test were, going to be. The previous doctor had already made him well aware of his likely diagnoses. The room door opened.
"Goodday Mr.Tedder, I am doctor Stephen Strange. I will be doing your biopsy today, "The doctor said. He closed the door behind him. Stephen walked over to where Ryan was sitting. He was holding a tray of different medical instruments."A pleasure to meet you. I am Ryan Tedder. But I assume you know that because of my chart," Ryan said. He felt a bit embarrassed by his awful attempt at small talk.
Stephen chuckled ", yup, your name is on your chart," Ryan gave him a small smile. Stephen pulled a chair over to where Ryan was sitting and sat in front of him."Okay, so I am going to first inject you with locale anesthesia. We will wait about five minutes before doing the actual bone marrow aspiration," Stephen said.
"Okay, sounds good," Ryan said."K den let's do this" Stephen said. He got up and grabbed a pair of gloves."Ah...must I lay down?" Ryan said."Yes," Stephen said. Ryan lay down on the bed, "I am about to put some hydrogen peroxide on your back," Stephen said."Why do I have a sneaky suspicion that that is not the weirdest thing you have ever said?"Ryan smiled at the table.
"You are correct. I have said stranger things," Stephen chuckled."Is that why they call you Doctor Strange" Ryan smirked."Stephen started to laugh this made Ryan laugh. Stephen finished cleaning Ryan's back."Okay, please sit up," Stephen said. Ryan sat up."I am going to be injecting you now" Stephen said.
"Go for it," Ryan said."Let me know if you experience any discomfort," Stephen said."Aye, captain," Ryan said. Ryan felt Stephen's hand gripping his shoulder. He felt a shiver run through his body."Take a deep breath," Stephen said. Ryan took a deep breath the second he did. He felt a sharp pain in his back."Done," Stephen said he was still griping Ryan's shoulder.
Ryan looked over his shoulder and made eye contact with Stephen."Not as bad as I thought," he said."That is good," Stephen said. Stephen removed his hand and walked back to the seat in front of Ryan.."How painful is a bone marrow biopsy?" Ryan questioned."It will hurt a bit. But you should be numb," Stephen said."Yeah, sorry, I am just nervous," Ryan muttered.
"Don't worry about it. It is normal to be nervous" Stephen said.
"I think the numbness should have kicked in by now. So I am going to be doing the biopsy," Stephen said."Okay," Ryan said. Stephen got up and walked behind Ryan. Stephen placed his hand on Ryan's back."Please lean forward," Stephen said. Ryan leaned forward."Take a deep breath," Stephen said. Ryan took a deep breath. He did not notice the needle going into his back. The only thing that he could focus on was the heat of Stephen's hand against his back.
"Done," Stephen said."Great," Ryan said."So your results should be in. In about two weeks," Stephen said."Cold," Ryan said as he scanned the room, looking for his shirt. He noticed that the nurse had put it on a chair. Stephen clapped his hands together", See you then," Stephen smiled."Catch you later," Ryan said. As he got off the table. He grabbed his shirt and pulled it over his head.
A WEEK AND A HALF LATER...
"Is that sound good?'' Ryan said."Yeah, all good," Davie said."Grate" Zach said. Ryan jumped when he heard his phone ring."Oh, sorry, I have to take this," Ryan said. He answered the call."Hello, Ryan Tedder speaking, "Ryan said."Hey, this is Doctor Strange Stephen from the Malibu cancer center. I have the results of your bone marrow biopsy. Di you mind coming to see me" Stephen said on the other line.
Ryan felt his mouth go painfully dry." When can I see you" he managed to force himself to say."Any time today is good," Stephen said."I will be there in about an hour," Ryan said."See you" Stephen said. Ryan hung up the call."Ah..guys. I have to go. It is important. I will be back in about two hours," Ryan said."Yeah sure. Everything is good here," Eddie said. The drive down to the cancer center was dreadful; Ryan could dance and sing in front of thousands of people and not feel nervous. But at the moment, Ryan was so nervous that he was surprised that he was able to drive.
Ryan pulled into the parking lot. He grabbed his sunglasses and cap. He got out of the car. Ryan then walked up to the cancer center. The automatic doors opened, then he walked into the lobby. He walked up to the responses desk ."Ryan," Stephen yelled."Yeah," he responded."Follow me" Stephen said. Ryan followed Stephen to his office.
"Take a seat, please," Stephen said while gesturing to a desk with two chairs."Yeah, sure, "Ryan said as he sat at the desk. Stephen sat across from him." So I have gotten your results back and...-" Stephen paused."I have cancer," Ryan muttered. An odd look flashed briefly across Stephen's face. Ryan identified it as sadness or maybe hesitation," You have Acute Myeloid Leukemia," Stephen sighed.
"What is the plan forwarded, "Ryan said. His mind was racing. He did not know what to do or what to think and feel. What was going to happen if I can't perform Ryan thought."Ryan," Stephen said."Ah...Sorry, I zoned out," Ryan said."So your treatment will take place over ten (10) months," Stephen said."Okay, how many sessions a month?" Ryan asked."One session every week" Stephen said."When can we start?" Ryan asked.
"Sometime next week would be the best," Stephen said."Monday next week is good, then it is only three days," Ryan said."Monday 12:30 (pm), okay for you?"Stephen questioned."Yeah, it is good," Ryan said. He took his sunglasses off and made eye contact with Stephen."You knew the day you did the biopsy that I had cancer" Ryan said."I knew that it was likely," Stephen said. Ryan slowly nodded his head.
"Well I expected it to," Ryan said. Stephen looked rather sympathetically at Ryan."So Monday we need to do a couple of scans. Then once we are done with that. We will start with the chemo," Stephen said."Okay," Ryan muttered, he looked down at the ground. I have a concert tonight Ryan remembered, "He, everything is going to be okay," Stephen reassured." Okay yeah it will be I guess" Ryan said.
Ryan stood up, "Well, I have to get going. But I will see you Monday," he said. Stephen stood up "thing will be fine," he muttered."I know they will because I have a brilliant doctor backing me up" Ryan smiled. He was not sure where that comment had come from."Well, you aren't such a horrible patient yourself," Stephen chuckled. Ryan gave Stephen a smile."Wish me luck. I have to prance around in front of thousands of people. Well singing, about secrets and counting stars," Ryan said jokingly.
"Well, you know what, Mr.Tedder. Maybe performing might keep your mind off your diagnosis," Stephen said."Well, Doctor Strange, I think you might be correct about that," Ryan said."I will see you Monday," Stephen said." See you," Ryan said before turning on his heels and walking to the door. He pulled a door open and left the office. As Ryan walked down the corridor. He felt the real impact of what was happened hit him. What was his life going to be like now?
Ryan walked out of the cancer center. Then walked to his car. He began the drive back to the area. I have cancer. I am going to die, was the only thing echoing in Ryan's mind. How am I going to tell my manager? How am I going to inform the band? Ryan thought. Ryan felt a tear run down his face. He wanted nothing more than to keep his diagnosis a secret. But he knew that it was not an option.
Stephen was right. The concert was a way for Ryan to forget about his new diagnosis. He was about mid-way through the last song. It was one of his favorites to close off with.' If I lose myself,' was a song that the crowd loved. It was always the right way to end a concert. Once the song ended. His band joined him at the front of the stage. They bowed Ryan heard the screaming and cheering of the crowd echoing against his eardrums.
The five of them walked backstage."So what is the plan for tonight?" Drew said."I saw that there is a nightclub up the road," Zach said."I think I will pass on this one," Ryan said."Why. I thought going out and getting drunk was your thing," Eddie said."I am just tired. But maybe we can do something tomorrow," Ryan said."Yeah, I can understand that you are tired," Zach said."I will text you plans for tomorrow," Eddie said."Cool, cool. See you guys tomorrow," Ryan said. He walked past his friends and. Begin walking to his car.
Ryan felt awful about the fact that he could not tell his own friends about his cancer diagnosis. I will speak to them tomorrow, Ryan reassured himself on his way home. When he got home. He instantly crawled into bed. He was exhausted. His joint ached, and he was freezing. Get over it is not so bad, Ryan sternly told himself. Ryan turned onto his right shoulder. He felt a shock of pain run through his arm before spreading through his whole body.