Pushing through the green hanging cubicle curtains enclosing a small white room, you shout at the boy on the bed."W-what the hell are you still doing up there Taehyung?"

Everyone in the room looks up.

Jimin shakes his head.

Sana sighs as she pumps the ambu bag at the head of the bed.

"Ask him," she groans, looking at Jimin in displeasure as she gestures for you to look at Taehyung. "Seriously, I have no idea anymore."

Frowning, you follow her finger to him.

"Taehyung, you idiot, why are you still up there," Your heart quivers, as you lurch forward, clinging onto the sleeve of his white coat as he does CPR atop of a young coding patient. "What are you doing? Talk to me."

"Don't bother. He's been up there for an hour Y/N," you watch Jimin pad the sweat on his forehead with the bag of his glove, "She's been in asystole the whole time too."

Sana cooly leans against the defib trolley, indifference written across her face as she watches him. "I refuse to defib again, so he's up there doing it all by hand that fool."

"Are you serious? What are you doing?" Shaking his coat, you try to pull him down. "You need to get down and call it."

Shaking your arm off, he trembles, overexertion apparent across his red face. "No," he stammers, thrusting his remaining energy into the balls of his hands as he continues chest compressions. "I'm going to save her, I'm a doctor."

"I'm a doctor too and I'm telling you that it's too late," you stand up straighter. "Get off the bed right now and call it."

He shakes his head. "I'm not giving up."

"Oh my god, you don't have a choice, she's gone."

"I said no Y/N. I'm a doctor, I can save her."

"I heard you the first time, stop being an idiot," You wrap your hands around his arm before yanking him hard and clean off the bed with all of your energy. And he's too weak to protest as you do it. "Y-you can't save her because s-she is already dead."

"Y/N," He hangs his head as he leans against you. His chest heaves. He pants. Sweat drips down the sides of his face. He looks at you with fresh look of grief in his eyes. "I can save her Y/N. I can. I don't give up one people." he whispers.

"Tae," You awkwardly pat his back, keeping your face away from his. "You and I both know that it's not like that, you have to sto-

"But-

"-no, shut up. You've worn out our entire time with this one case because you can't seem to be a medical professional-

He snorts in dejection, pushing your hand away from his back. "-it's called trauma Y/N, have some empathy," he frowns, snapping back at you. "She was just a kid-

"-they're all just kids and they're all just adults, newsflash Taehyung people do actually die in this profession, it doesn't mean you can put your team at risk of exhaustion with an unnecessary long resuscitation-

"-it wasn't unnecessary, she's just a kid? How can you say that?"

You take a deep breath, feeling the anger radiate off his skin. "We don't go past 40 minutes Taehyung, you're being really selfish right now but that doesn't surprise me at all since you are a selfish prick," turning to Jimin and Sana, you smile at the rest of the nursing crew. "Guys, go have a break. Jimin and Sana, you both stay."

"Finally"

"If she hadn't stopped him, how long would he have gone for this time?"

"No idea. Probably forever, Dr. Kim Taehyung hasn't had a death on his record before."

"What?" You stare at the Seoul Hearts nurses leaving the cubical before turning back to Taehyung. "Wait, is that true?"

"What?" he asks. "Is what true Y/N?"

"Oh my god, I think I get it," you snort, putting your hands on your hips, "Is this some surgical doctor thing? You don't want a death on your record, so you exhaust resources during an emergency to avoid it."

His hair falls over his eyes but you can still see his dark eyes. You recognise the blank expression, you've seen it before back when you agreed to let Namjoon mentor you when he had explicitly told you he didn't want you to.

He's angry.

"Y/N," He looks to the right of you before crossing his arms and stepping close to your. "I'm not that kind of person and you know that, how could you even say that? Are you kid-

"-except, you are exactly that kind of person Taehyung," you rebuttal, crossing your arms across your chest in a similar fashion, chin in the air facing him. "If you aren't, why haven't you called it yet?"

He narrows his eyes at you. "Because you've been talking to me, how do you expect me to call it when you're being an irate?"

You push your finger hard into his chest as you step into his personal space. "Excuse you? We haven't seen each other in 5 something years and you're calling me an irate you swine-

He slaps your finger away, poking his own finger into your chest. "-calling me a swine? Really mature. Who's unprofessional now? Had you not pulled me off the kid, she'd be alive right now. Are you aware of that?"

You wrap your hand around his finger, bending it as you harshly push it away. "No she wouldn't. Stop being stupid. God, I don't remember you being this stupid. Hell, I've been awake for nearly 24 hours now and I'm not this stupid. What's wrong with you?"

"Ow, ow," he moans, cradling his finger. "You're what's wrong with me, ...what's wrong with you, that hurt!"

"I'm what's wrong with you? You think you have the right to say that to me after what you did?"

He scoffs, tongue poking out to wet his bottom lip. "Get over it, shit happens all the time and you didn't die did you?"

You narrow your eyes at him, how could he be so infuriating? "If I had, my doctor would've called the time of death already, what are you waiting for? Call it, you assho-

"-oh my god," Jimin shouts, pushing you and Taehyung far apart. "Both of you are being unprofessional right now. God, I don't know what happened between you two but you need to sort yourselves out. She died Taehyung, don't put that on Y/N. Y/N, he's a human being too, stop being cruel. What's wrong with the both of you, now's the time to be a team not ex-lovers with some unfinished history or whatever the hell you two were. Grow up."

Taehyung continues staring down at you, frustration evident by the way he rolls his eyes.

"He's so fucking irritating Jimin, I can't do this anymore," You shake your head at Taehyung, poking his his chest one more time because you know how much he hates that. "Call. It. Now. Or. I. Will."

Taehyung steps forward, your noses almost touching. "Here's a funky fresh idea, stop telling me what to do Y/N."

Sana groans.

Jimin slaps his cheeks.

Suddenly bothered by the intensity of his expression and the little space that separates you, you step back. Pink dusts your cheeks as you look at anything in the room but at him.

"Whatever, while you're be annoying and unethical Taehyung. I'm bringing in the next patient from the tent triage outside while you give this patient a dignified passing because newsflash, her soul is still in the room." You drop your arms back to your side before pushing through the curtain and leaving the cubical.

"You're the annoying one!"

Sana slaps her forehead. "Great, we have death and a palpable sexual tension between our doctors in the same room."

Jimin snorts, "Now's not the time Sana but ...like, I totally agree with you on that one. Obviously, they need to sort their crap out. Imagine if this happened on any other day, both of them would've been struck off."

"Kind of like it though, makes it interesting." Sana giggles.

"We shouldn't be laughing right now," Jimin looks at the child, "This sweet child could've had a bright future. Instead, her soul had to listen to those two argue about whatever they were arguing about."

"She would've liked it." Sana smiles.

Jimin frowns. "I doubt it."

"Jimin, I am still here," Taehyung says, watching the two nurses. "And I can hear you."

"Yes, I am aware. We're literally waiting for you to call her time of death," Jimin claps back. "So call it."

"Fine." Sana nods her head frantically as Taehyung finally leans forward, putting his stethoscope on.

"Oh, so you'll listen to me but not Y/N?" Jimin frowns, watching Taehyung roll up his sleeves. "You're an asshole Kim Taehyung."

Taehyung shakes his head. "Do you mind shutting the hell up? I'm trying to listen here."

"Fine." he huffs.

"Fine." Taehyung mimics.

Taehyung closes his eyes, reluctantly listening for breath sounds and a heartbeat as he moves the stethoscope over her chest.

They both watch him do it.

They both watch him sigh.

Truth is, everyone goes a little bit crazy in these kinds of situations. Jimin just did not expect it from you. He thinks Taehyung might be your kryptonite.

"And?" Sana whispers, standing by Taehyung's side as he closes his eyes and silently prays for her.

Jimin watches.

Walking to the end of the bed, Taehyung runs his fingers over the coloured ribbon.

"Call her parents," he whispers, unwrapping the yellow ribbon, replacing it with a black one. The nurses falter, Sana immediately scribing as he stutters. "T-time of death, 01:23. Cause of death, respiratory arrest."

"Taehyung, do I minus the 5 minutes you spent flirting with Y/N or do I keep it as the current time?" Sana says as she writes on her clipboard.

Taehyung rolls his eyes before ripping the clipboard out from her hands. "I'll just do it myself then."

Sana smiles up at Jimin as Taehyung leaves the cubical. "Watch that space."

"Oh god."

Sana leans forward, draping her body with the white blanket. "Alright Jimin, we better move her for the family."

"Sounds good," Jimin turns off the breaks on the bed, pushing it out from the wall. "Post-mortem cares, let's do it together."

"Okay Jimin, team work makes the dream work." Sana smiles, not quite realising the death, not completely feeling it yet, but she will.

How can she not?

Sana and Jimin cry as they clean her up in a quiet room for her family but it doesn't deter a feeling in Jimin's stomach that for this patient, this would just be the tip of the iceberg.

He should've listened to his gut instinct, maybe it would've prevented the future from happening.

As doctors, how do we explain to others that we are grieving the loss of people we don't even know? Of people we briefly met eyes with, or sutured, or triaged? Of people we would've not known had it not been for this evil.

We don't.

We persevere, driving with the remaining energy we have until we can go home and sleep it off, so we can go back to work and do it all over again. It's a cycle, of ignoring one's own needs, having nurses remind us of self-care, to grieving a traumatic loss of someone we could've saved but nature or God whatever entity up there didn't want us to.

And as the clock ticks closer and closer towards sunrise, where we can see exactly what has happened in burning daylight, it becomes apparent that we are no longer the people we woke up as. That we all lost and are losing something in ourselves today. That we will never be the same people before this event.

Will we be able to go home and sleep this all off?

Is that even possible at this point?

Because as the stars fade into the morning night and behind the plumes of smoke, we call time of death and we resuscitate, we bandage and we wear old blood on our clothing like timestamps of our endurance to save lives, it becomes increasingly obvious that none of us will be okay.

And there's potential for us of never being okay again.

"What's the problem?" you ask as Yoongi hangs up his phone, hands immediately in his hair to pull at the strands in frustration. The green LED sign above him glows 3 minutes past 2, time was going quickly. "You look frustrated Yoongi, whats up? Talk to me."

Yoongi turns to you, scared dark brown eyes stare into yours. The words don't leave his mouth as he looks at your face, classic indications of fatigue under your eyes. He doesn't want to scare anyone yet. He looks around the room as he swallows the implications of accepting all these patients.

Everyone already has enough on their plates, what circulates in his brain right now, he prays never gets out. The last thing they needed was an outbreak in the midst of an emergency.

And the fear of a MERS outbreak happening again, especially in his Emergency Department after 23 of 64 cases were confirmed in his hospital in 2015, plagues Yoongi's mind every single day. The disaster his department had looked like following the induced panic on both workers and patients, had come with unimaginable repercussions.

Professionals had abandoned their posts.

And patients had died.

It was ugly.

Yoongi looks around the room. Hi eyes fall on coughing patients, he could practically see the germs fly through the air and land on other patients.

But it is likely.

So, Yoongi pulls out all of the resources, he pulls out a box of walkie talkies and he pulls out fluids, bandages and scissors. He splits the resources into three lots, meticulously planning. Meticulously thinking ahead.

Boxes upon boxes are sent outside where tables and tents are being set up for tented triage. It's 0130 and his medical world is tethering across the line of surviving and dying but only Yoongi knows this.

Only he can at this point.

"Nothing is wrong Y/N," he says, wiping the sweat dripping down his face with the back of his hand. "Everything is okay for now. We're coping well."

He watches you step forward, apprehension drawn across your face. "Are you sure? Why do I feel like you're lying?"

He shakes his head, "Fuck, just go and help the others, let me do my job. I'll let everyone know if there are any other plans okay."

You frown, stepping back. "Fine, but if you need help, don't hesitate to find me."

He nods. "Don't worry, I will."

"We are a team you know."

And he knows but he wants to be sure first.

"Follow your own advice Y/N."

"I think I'm going to throw up," Taehyung admits to no one but himself. "What is going on?"

A doctor he doesn't know throws a bottle of water at him as Younggi runs over to help an elderly man with his bandages. "Drink, get your energy up."

The doctor he didn't know in a Forest Lakes uniform throws his own empty water bottle into the bin. "Gods, what are you doing to us?" he says to no one in particular.

Taehyung agrees.

Since the explosion, the ER has never looked more like a mess. He hadn't seen nor experienced anything quite like it and because two of Seouls major hospitals are shut down and the other having blown up, his hospital had become the place to be.

It was unfair.

And people just kept coming and coming.

And you're here and you're vacillating in emotion around him but you mostly hate him and he knows that and he hates it. He's frustrated at everything and at everyone.

"I have no idea what is going on anymore, I didn't think a collapsed hospital would bring forth this amount of people," Taehyung swallows his fear, surveying all the patients. "I don't know why I thought that."

The doctor slaps Taehyung's back. "It's not like our hospital just blew up or anything, shit happens, we gotta rise above it so we can keep going. You can do this-" he squints at Taehyung's name badge before grinning. "-Taehyung, we just gotta roll with the punches."

"Incoming ambulance, requesting Forest Lakes Dr. Baekhyun and his trauma team at the ambulance bay to receive multitrauma patient, thank you."

"Right, thats me. Guess it's not going to end anytime soon is it? Hang in there man, you've got this. Your the rock patients need. Keep that in mind. I hope this ends soon too." Baekhyun sighs, before rushing off towards the ambulance bay as his critical patient is rushed in.

Taehyung doesn't say anything as he watches the ambulance bay door open from where he stood. A woman is rushed in on a stretcher, impaled by a metal rod, extensive burns covering her body as her screams fill the department. Baekhyun guides the patient straight down the hallway, out of ED.

A red ribbon is wrapped around her bed as she's rushed to an operating room.

Red for dying.

He looks around at all the patients in beds, burns, respiratory conditions exacerbated by the journey here, cardiac monitors beeping in alarm all with yellow ribbons tied to the end of their beds.

Those in the waiting room being bandaged, green wrapped around their biceps; superficially wounded. He feels like the only still thing in the room as people buzz around him, how did he suddenly find himself in the midst of a mass casualty response, Seoul was supposed to be safe?

"Taehyung," He's handed the ward phone as Sana pats his back, "I'm sorry ...her parents want to hear about the death from you."

Taehyung takes the deepest breath he can manage holding the phone to his chest before putting the phone up against his face as he walks towards a private hallway. "Dr. Kim Taehyung of Seoul Hearts speaking."

He sinks against the wall as he listens to the sound of a parent's heartbreak and then the sound of someone's anger over the phone. He didn't usually deliver this kind of news over the phone but given circumstances, he thought it deemed appropriate.

"She's gone, are you completely sure? I can bring my crystals, we'll try something. We have to drive everything-

"-give me the fucking phone Cheryl, I'll talk to the quack."

"I just can't believe it doctor. Hospitals aren't supposed to bring death..."

The mother stutters her disbelief over the phone again, breathing heavily before sobbing loudly into the receiver. It breaks him. "We're on our way, please, please just try something. Save our baby."

"I'm sorry. I tried my best ...I'm very sorry for your loss." He holds a hand over his mouth as he tries his hardest not to cry. This was the hard part about trauma -talking to the family because then it makes everything real.

A man takes over the phone, rage voice by his threats. "You get your ass over to my daughter and you bring her back. If she dies, if my baby dies, I swear to god, so will you. I'll kill you and that Forest Doctor Witch"

Taehyung wants to say that he's already dead inside but holds back on the idea as Cheryl takes over the phone again.

He listens as she cries.

He apologises profusely.

Then they hang up.

The ground shakes as you stand outside.

Your surrounded by tents and running EMTs; the sound and feeling of gravel beneath your sneakers has never felt as refreshing in your entire life. In fact, you don't even think you've thought about the ground beneath your feet in such a long time before tonight.

You were just so glad to still be standing here.

The rush of responsibility rumbles in your blood as the wind brushes your hair back. The smell of smoke, a suffocating smell of burning wood is carried by the wind; Seoul is on fire.

They know that now.

It's impossible not to know when you can see the flames boil up from the forest in the distance.

The loud sound of helicopter blades slice through the air. You look up to the flickering red lights amidst the night sky of an emergency helicopter landing on the hospitals helipad above.

"I think that's Namjoon," Jin says, cutting you out of your thoughts. The torch he carries flickers on, the fluorescent light, lighting up the vicinity. "He just transported your VIP to our Chuncheon medical centre, he should be okay there overnight."

"Good, I was feeling itchy with him here," Folding your arms over your chest, you sigh in relief. "Do you think he'll feel guilty when he's well?"

"What for?"

You turn to Jin. "Because all of this," you gesture to the mess and to the injured people around you. "Happened in a plan to assassinate him?"

Jin shrugs his shoulders. "I doubt it. Why bomb the hospital to assassinate one man when you can suffocate him with a pillow in his sleep?"

"Jesus," Frowning, you stare at him. "That was very dark Jin."

He shrugs again. "But I'm right. Dark times call for dark humour I guess. Anyway enough of that, I've got a whiteboard in the resource tent so if you use anything, please make sure you record it so we know how much we have. If you get another patient, write their name and their triage status. All reds are getting sent back inside for surgery obviously, which is why you're here. All superficial lacerations and treatable injuries stay out here. Got it?"

You nod. "I do, yeah. How long will I be out here for?"

"I guess until more doctors arrive."

"Good, I need to stay as far away from a certain doctor inside."

Jin doesn't ask, you'll tell him in your own time. "Remember teamwork is important, no lone wolves allowed."

You nod. "I don't think working alone is even possible in this situation."

Grabbing his medic bag, he shoves it over his shoulder. "That you are right. I'll see you soon, I'm gonna go grab Jungkook, he should be out here."

"Fine."

Yoongi stands by the helipad, hair thrown in a disarray as the blades of the helicopter slow to a stop. Namjoon pulls at the door, sliding it open as he jumps out and runs towards Yoongi.

Yoongi smiles as he wraps his arm around Namjoons shoulder, guiding him through the doors and inside the hospital. "Hey man, shit, I wasn't expecting you until later. How was it?"

Namjoon turns back to the helicopter as the sliding doors close behind them. "Was alright, the blue house have taken over his care. So, it's out of our hands now. Did you hear the news?"

Yoongi shakes his head, unsure in what particular Namjoon was talking about this time. A lot has happened. "About what?"

"Another hospital was targeted in Seoul," he says, as Yoongi presses the button on the elevator. "Obviously, it didn't end the way Forest Lakes did but the government is keeping super hush about it."

"Oh," Yoongi says as the elevator doors open. "I didn't know that, god that's fucking huge news. Why isn't that out?"

They both walk into the elevator, Yoongi presses ground floor. "They don't want to incite panic."

Yoongi nods. "I got a call about half an hour ago from up top. Was told that this was maliciously done and now they're worried about superspreader patients being sent to the hospital."

Namjoon gasps. "You aren't talking about what I think you're talking about?"

"I am."

Namjoon gulps. "What are you going to do? What are we going to do?"

"Nothing. We have to wait for a call from my higher ups. I get the word and we immediately shut our doors.

"Fuck."

Yoongi nods as the elevator doors close. "You can say that again."

"Dr. Taehyung, could you please come and look at this patient, he looks really unwell." a student asks, poking Taehyung's shoulder.

Taehyung grabs his hair in agitation, frustration overflowing his body. "Please find Dr. Y/N, and ask, she seems perfectly fine. I need to re-fuel or I'm going to crash. Sorry."

"Oh ...okay...will do..." the student cocks an eyebrow at him before running outside to you.

Taehyung sighs, pushing himself back into the quiet hallway. He steals himself for a moment, overwhelmed. He isn't it usually like this. He promises.

It feels like everything's hitting him all at once. All of his greatest fears coming together, forming a tidal wave of razor blades that are slicing through his skin as it crashes down on him.

He feels weak.

Vulnerable.

In the dark.

Sometimes Taehyung hated his profession. He hated the power he had. Hated how people thought of him as omniscient; someone who knew everything when clearly, he fucking didn't. When everyone looked at him like he was God, as though he had the ability to save everyone.

When people begged him to save their child, even though it was far too late.

When he had the capabilities to be able to.

When he didn't.

He felt like a fucking failure.

Why was he even still there?

Doctors learn how to save people, so why couldn't he save these people?

Why?

Jimin washes his hands after dressing and suturing a couple lacerations. He smiles as he does it, making sure to really lather the soap on his hands. He takes a deep breath as the moment of peace in this chaos takes over. He knows that when he turns around and takes in the department and the people who still needed his help, he'd have a panic attack.

So he doesn't turn around.

Turning the sink off, he flicks his hands into the basin before grabbing some paper towels.

He reminds himself of the reasons why he became a nurse. Of the reasons why he's not walking out those sliding doors and walking home to where he knows no harm will come to him. Where patients don't need him. Where he can have some peace of quiet for a fucking second.

Coping methods.

Protective factors.

He's got a couple of those. Drying his hands, he pulls out his phone. He calls his parents and despite it being almost 2 in the morning, Jimin doesn't give a single damn if he wakes them up. He should've done this earlier.

He holds the phone to his ear, leaning against the sink.

He listens to it ring before a woman takes over the phone, her voice roughly whispers into the receiver. "Jimin, that you?" she asks, as though confused but elated at the surprise phone call. "My baby, are you okay?"

He nods but remembers she cant see him do it. "It's me. Just calling you to let you know that I'm safe."

She laughs over the phone, a happy sound that makes him smile. "We know, Yoongi called us. He's a good guy that one. Thank you for calling me though was wondering when you'd personally let us know, I'm glad you're safe. What about Y/N and Jungkook?"

"Jungkook broken his arm so he's resting up that little bitch, always manages to get out of doing work and Y/N," Jimin turns, watching you run past him and disappearing down the hallway he had just seen Taehyung disappear into. "She looks okay but in this type of thing, you can't really tell. People wear masks."

"That's okay, we all gotta protect ourselves somehow."

He runs his fingers through his hair as he bites his bottom lip. "Yeah, you're right but it doesn't mean it's right."

"Don't worry about her, she's a strong woman. Worry about you, come home safe okay?"

He nods. "Will do."

"Damn, where do the nurses keep them here?" you throw yourself into the middle of the equipment room trying to find a goddamn IV pole to hang more fluids onto. "I swear, if I have to make one, I'm done. I'm so done."

Turning the light off, you close the door behind you.

You see Taehyung as you walk further down the dark hallway. With his knees drawn close to his chest, head in his hands, shoulders shrugging as he cries. He looks so small from where you stand.

It reminds you of that time he find you crying after that one particularly awful exam. He had curled himself around you, held you as you cried, it had been nice.

Healthy.

Metres of distance separate you now and somehow, it doesn't feel like planets anymore; the distance you had maintained for years before.

You look at your sneakers and your reluctant feet. Admittedly, you feel stupid for what happened back there. You shouldn't have acted that way but with him, you just can't control yourself. He makes you feel so crazy in a way you haven't felt in a long time.

Since you were back in school really.

In knowing that, you could either walk towards him or walk away from them. You weren't the same Y/N from the past, you were a force to be reckoned with. A girl with so much to protect, especially from him.

Stuttering in what to do, you take a deep breath, regardless of everything that happened between you, he needed someone so he could go back out there and help save more people. It didn't mean anything more.

It would be between two doctors, that's all.

Willing your reluctant self, you walk down the hallway towards him, slowly closing the distance between you.

He doesn't see you, still overwhelmed by everything. So you grab a plastic cup off the wall and stick it under the sink. The boy needs sustenance, some water will do him some good. The soothing sound of water somewhat placates him, he can feel your presence but he doesn't will himself to check if it is in fact you.

"Taehyung?" you whisper, now standing in front of him.

He doesn't say anything but the sudden silence between you feels like a response in itself. Crouching down in front of him, you hold the cup and a dark chocolate bar Irene had given you from your pocket out for him.

"Hey," you whisper, poking his knee. He looks up at you, red eyes and wet cheeks. "Why are you out here crying? Shouldn't you be out there with Sana?"

"Y/N," He shakes his head, more tears falling from his eyes. "You won't understand. Just go away."

"Fine," you stammer, putting the cup beside him. "I'll go then. I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Why do you care?"

"For many reasons," You shrug your shoulders. "I mean, you would've done the same for me? I guess."

"No, why do you care now? You obviously didn't back in there."

Running your fingers through your hair, you take a deep breath. "Look, back there, you were doing CPR on a child who had already passed away. You were hurting yourself and you were hurting your team. You weren't doing any good. Someone needed to stop you, so I did."

"And you had to do it so confrontationally?" He bites his bottom lip, harsh eyes stare past you. "Whatever, I guess you were right."

"I mean ...I'm sorry for how it happened but it had to Taehyung," you whisper, holding your own hands together. "You can't control things like this. When people leave, you have to let them go."

Silence sits between you as Taehyung finds comfort in those words, his shoulders drop when he finally speaks up. "I've never had someone die on me before. To have my first a paediatric patient ...she was practically a baby Y/N, someones pride and joy ...she was so young ...and I ...I couldn't..."

"Couldn't what?"

"I feel so fucking stupid, I couldn't save her and I cou-

-you can't save everyone. You know that more than anyone," you interrupt, shifting to sit next to him, slumping yourself against the cold wall. "I can't believe I am doing this ...did you know anything about her? The young girl?"

He shakes his head.

"Well," you fiddle with your hands as you bring your knees to your chest, "You have every right to cry but I'm going to tell you why you shouldn't. Is that okay?"

"Nothing you can say right now will make me feel better Y/N, she was just a baby. Someone's baby."

Rolling your eyes, you turn to him. "That girl was not a baby. Her name was Elias," you whisper, "She was 13 years old. Had presented to my department 17 times for exacerbations of her pulmonary health, her parents didn't and still don't believe in western or even eastern medicine that I know of, no matter how hard I tried to convince them that her condition could be life threatening, they refused to believe it."

He listens, as he picks up the cup of water. He doesn't understand why you're being so nice to him. You watch him sip the water, colour slowly coming back to his cheeks.

"When she first came to me, it was on her 11th birthday," you say, digging into your pocket for some gauze and an extra bottle of 20ml saline. "She looked so much like my sunny but obviously older, I had almost passed out. I took her in, treated her bronchopulmonary infection and then discharged her with a strict medication regime, I lectured her parents and they understood. Things looked like they would go well on discharge."

Pouring the saline on a piece of gauze, you lean into Taehyung's line of vision to wipe the dried blood he didn't even know he had on his cheek. He's startled by the familiarity of your closeness and his heart flutters at the gesture.

"Um yeah, you have blood on your face," You don't look into his eyes, focused on cleaning him up. "Anyway, she came back in a couple days later, her parents had thrown her medication out and had begun treating her with cabbage leaves and smoke in a small hutt. Family dynamics and beliefs, are interesting and trying to respect them while maintaining patient safety can be tough but Taehyung, you did all that you could and that is commendable. Hell you got further than me, I could barely put a line in her without her parents throwing a fit!"

He's not sobbing anymore, which you take to be a good sign. He doesn't say anything, he just stares, he looks lost in thought, impossibly stupid with his mouth agape.

"I didn't get on well with parents ...in fact her father, he was a very cruel man to me. Did some very invasive and disgusting things and I just ...I refused to care for her if it meant putting myself in a position where I would need to talk to them ...I left you in that room because I knew you'd be able to handle anything thrown at you but again, you're consistently proving me wrong."

"Oh god," Taehyung whispers. "He tried to hurt you?"

Nodding your head, you sigh. "He tried to hurt everyone, including his daughter but you know what, there's a limit Taehyung before we end up hurting ourselves. We have to take better care of ourselves. We have to take our own pulse before we take another's. You have to stop being an idiot and look after yourself and your team. We can't afford to be altruistic all the time, it's impossible."

You smile at the man who now looks like the one you remember but soft pangs of hurt grate into your heart again as you stand up, his eyes following your every moment as you do. You extend your hand to him, "You can't save everyone but you can save yourself, so take a break, have something to eat, drink some water, remember why you became a doctor and treat yourself kindly, just don't put yourself and others at risk of-

"-why are you being nice to me?" he interrupts, grabbing onto your hand, staying on the floor. His voice echoes through the hallway, he'd been waiting for this conversation since you got here. "I don't deserve it. So why? Why me?"

Caught off guard by the tender hold of his hand, you look down at him. "Survival I guess."

"Survival?" He blinks, taken aback by your answer. He looks you over, your face holding no emotion, he wonders how long you've gotten used to wearing a mask. "You've changed a lot. Is that what you mean?"

"Yes. Survival of the fittest. I can't hate you forever," you whisper staring at the way his hand held yours. "Sometimes people have to change in order to survive, I don't know what your life has been like for the past 5 or so years but mine have been difficult. "

He smiles, a grin that doesn't spread to his eyes like they usually do. "Mine too."

Grabbing his hand tight, you pull him up to his feet. "With what? How could your life be impossibly hard, you have everything you've ever wanted."

He lets you pull him up. "How would you know?" He shakes his head as he stares down the hallway. "You're wrong but I can't expect you to know about my life since we seperated. I know you. You're strong and you protect and care for yourself by forgetting."

"Right," Snorting, you roll your eyes, dropping his hand. "Yes, I had to protect me because no one else was going to. I don't remember even being as soft as you just made me out to be."

He watches your hand swing back to your side.

How did it get like this?

"We should sit down and talk about this," he says, feeling more desperate to get the words out than ever before. "Sooner rather than later."

"Why?"

"Because we should."

"Do we need to?"

He nods. "We definitely do. You definitely deserve to hear it."

"Do I actually? It's been years."

"Yes."

You fold your arms across your chest. "Fine, let's talk then."

"Hoseok," Jungkook rushes over to him, holding his cast close to his chest. Hoseok pauses in the reception, looking him over. "Hoseok, have you seen Y/N?"

"Woah," Hoseok tilts his head, pointing his finger at the plaster on his arm. "What happened to you?"

"It's a long story, have you seen her?" Jungkook asks, looking around the room. People look up, watching the two doctors curiously.

"I haven't in a while, she was supposed to go and rest with you but got pulled back on the floor. Why?"

Stepping close to him, Jungkook whispers. "There's a man here to see her and Taehyung, he looks really ...he just gives me weird vibes."

Hoseok pushes Jungkook gently away from his personal space. "What do you mean weird vibes? Please, talk in a language I can understand."

"Hobi," He takes a deep breath before looking at the psychiatrist seriously. "I don't know how to say this without being offensive but he honestly looks like he needs your type of assistance."

Hoseok cocks an eyebrow at this.

Suddenly frustrated at him, Jungkook snaps. "Hobi, he looks like like a code grey potential code silver. He looks insane."

"And he's looking for Y/N and Taehyung?"

Jungkook nods.

"Where is he?"

Jungkook stands beside Hoseok, observing the reception where internal triage takes place, subtly pointing out a gentleman in a suit with dark circles under his eyes. He's sitting down as a nurse drags a vital signs machine over to the woman sitting next to him. He looks exhausted, absolutely wrecked as he drinks out of his water bottle.

"Are you sure?" Hoseok says, turning to Jungkook. "Have you spoken to him?"

"He looks so familiar too, I can't put my finger on it," Jungkook nods. "I'm telling you though, this guy scares me."

Rolling his eyes, Hoseok folds his arms across his chest. "He looks fine to me, stop profiling people, it's not your job and you just look ridiculous."

Jungkook watches Hoseok walk away. "I'm serious!"

"Yeah whatever, go get some rest. All that pain relief has gone to your head. Maybe you're the one who needs my attention." Hobi laughs as he wanders back into the heart of the department.

What, even he won't listen?

"Seokjin!" Jungkook shouts, spotting him in the external triage outside. "Jin, does that guy back there in the messy old suit look familiar to you?"

He shakes his head.

"What vibe does he give off?"

Jin sighs. "Look, I don't have time to play these stupid fuckboy games with you Jungkook, leave it and leave me alone.

"I ask because he looks dangerous-

"-no buts, go away!" Jin snaps, stalking away again.

Jungkook begins to burn in anger. He turns, watching the man, sink into the seat as he eyes up the staff only entrance into the paediatric emergency department. He has a bad fucking feeling, why won't anyone listen to him?

Taehyung paces in front of you. "Look, I know this is going to sound ridiculous but I was immature and confused back then Y/N. I'm not going to excuse the way that I left you, that was cruel and I'm sorry about that."

You snort. "Go on."

"Do you know what a political marriage is?" he asks and you nod your head, "I've been in one for the past five years with Dr. Mina, she's a horrible woman with ambitious parents and she makes me want to die."

"And?"

He stops pacing, standing in front of you. "Yeah so my only happiness is work, so I overwork and it's killing me quickly. You saw me back there?"

You nod. "Yes, you were overworking yourself."

"It's out of habit now."

You're so confused and tired, what is he saying. "What are you saying?"

"I'm in a marriage for her benefit and I've been trying to divorce her and she's pregnant with another surgeons child and my parents think it's mine, which is impossible because the last person I slept with was you and now she's off blackmailing me when I should be blackmailing her and it's a mess and I'm not happy and I have only Yoongi as my friend and I have no one else in my life that can make me stop whatever that is in my head and I hate myself." he pants at the end of his rant and you blink up at him.

"Jesus Taehyung, breathe," you pat his shoulder tenderly. "And do your parents know?"

"Not about me, no, I don't think they've ever cared about what I think," He shakes his head. "Ever wondered why when we were last together, we were able to kiss so openly without interruption?" he whispers, turning to look at you. "It's because everyone in that room already knew about you, some even knew you'd turn up, my mother was unconvinced, she was certain you'd never show."

"She didn't even know me?"

He laughs uncomfortably. "I think that's the worst part-" he looks up at you again, a painful kind of expression takes over face. "She never even wanted to. She knew another woman made me happy, but nothing could compare to the riches marrying me off to Mina's family would bring. Even if it meant locking her only son into a relationship prison and throwing the key down a dark tunnel full of lies."

"You didn't have to marry her."

"I had to," he says, grabbing onto your hands. "She gave me an ultimatum. It was the family or you, and she told me she was sick ...terminally ...I couldn't ...I love my family ...I just..."

"Taehyung, people who truly love you do not give you ultimatums," You shake his hands off you, not wanting to hear anymore of this conversation. "We could've had a family together you know, did you ever think about that when you made your decision?"

The question was rhetorical, he knew that.

"I would never make you choose between your family and a family you could have, that's not my responsibility, you're a capable person, capable of thinking for yourself." You turn your back to him, not wanting him to see you like this when you don't think you can keep your tears to yourself.

"How do we move past this? What happened happened," he asks, his voice low. "I want to move forward with you, but how?"

"I guess, we just ...I don't know ...I have a family now and you're a mess, maybe we just need to keep to ourselves. Sort ourselves out. Especially you, you should probably sort yourself out. We don't work well together and despite all these crazy feelings you're making me feel just by being in front of me again, we should stop. Make professional boundaries and I don't know ...maybe we shouldn't... even, I guess bother being friends either."

"My heart hasn't stopped pounding since I saw you Y/N, I can't promise you professional boundaries, I want to be there for you, protect you, care for you," he says, reaching out for your arm. You let the warmth of his hand wrap around your arm. You watch the way his fingers caress your skin before intertwining with your own. "I will never forgive myself for what I did to you but I can hope you will forgive me right?

You lace your fingers with his. "Taehyung, like I said before, I can't hate you forever and I've already forgiven you but I can't forgive myself for the way I feel in my heart and I know it's really stupid and ugly and gross to say but I know what you mean, I don't even know why I asked, obviously we can't be professional around each other. There's too many feelings."

"I know." he whispers.

"But you know what? I'm stronger than this, I don't need you, I don't need this. I'm okay on my own."

"But I'm not," he deadpans, holding you tighter. "I need you."

You cringe. "No, you don't need me."

"But I want you."

"Ew, now is obviously not the time for this," you frown, trying to seperate your hand from his but he holds on impossibly tight, as though afraid of letting you go again. "I'm serious Taehyung, I lot has happened between us, we can't just ...go back to whatever we were..."

"I'll protect you."

"You can't."

He sighs. "I will. I just.. Y/N, how do you feel holding my hand right now?"

You shrug.

"What does it make you feel?"

You shrug again.

"Do you feel anything?"

You roll your eyes.

Shifting to stand in front of you, he smiles gingerly tilting his head side to side. You look away from him, embarrassed at how close he is to you. "Go away Taehyung or I'll punch you in the throat."

"Y/N, are you as happy as I am?"

You shrug. "Are you nuts? Have you forgotten what exactly happened today-

"-no, I could never but I know that you're still affected by me. I just want to know if this is mutual. I feel intoxicated by every emotion and it's all because of you and I guess you could say, I feel alive again, do you?" he watches your eyes nervously flicker to the floor, anywhere where he isn't.

"What are you even saying..." Butterflies ignite in your stomach and you hate them for it. "I have a family."

He laughs. "I know."

"No, like I have a child Taehyung."

His hand ever so lightly loosens in yours.

"I'm not lying either," Your heart pounds, do I tell him she's his? "I have a family. There's 4 of us and I have a daughter, her name is Sunny and her father is-

"Y/N, what are you doing in here?" Yoongi calls out, interrupting you as the hallway door closes loudly behind him. Namjoon stands beside him. Both adorning equally as confused expressions at you two. "Aren't you supposed to be outside with Seokjin?"

"What were you saying?" Taehyung asks quickly, as you ignore him to look over his shoulder. "Y/N, your daughter Sunny?"

But you aren't as strong as you think you are and the seconds you spend staring into space wondering if telling him would be a regret, you decide that it might be, so you don't say anything else.

It's not the right time for it.

"Wait, is that ...it's Namjoon!" you squeal, breaking away from Taehyung to run to him. Taehyung turns around, watching you leap across the tile towards him.

Throwing your hands around his neck, you hug the dear life out of him. Taehyung watches as Namjoon wraps his arms around your waist, picking you up off the ground and swinging you around. "Babe, oh my god," he giggles. "You weigh a ton."

"Babe?" Taehyung whispers, feeling realisation spread through his heart. "He must be the father, I knew I never liked him."

Taehyung walks over to Yoongi. "Hey," Yoongi whispers, punching Taehyung's shoulder. "What the fuck? Why are your eyes red, you been crying?"

"No, I haven't." Taehyung frowns, hitting Yoongi back.

"Yes, you have," Yoongi steps closer to Taehyung to inspect his eyes. "You can't fool me, I'm the king at diagnosing this kind of stuff."

"Diagnosing?"

Yoongi nods. "Yeah, little bitch syndrome. Why are you two out here on your own? Did Taehyung fuck up again?"

"This is a nice greeting," Namjoon smiles, putting you back on the ground. "I didn't expect of all people to see you with, I'd see you with Taehyung. Care to explain?"

"Hold up Joon, Yoongs, you mean him crying is a regular thing?" Taehyung blushes as you watch him.

"Taehyung is our little petal doctor, he's depressed and married slash, trying to divorce a dragon Y/N, but I don't expect you to know that since you don't know him ...or do you?

"I do actually, Min Yoongi. You shouldn't call him a little bitch for crying, at least he's man enough to do it," You step back, smiling at Taehyung before turning to Namjoon again. "Oh, and there's nothing to explain, we were just reminiscing the good ol days and burying old hatches."

"I'm sure that's true. Good to see you again Taehyung, I trust you've been well?" Namjoon leans forward, lightly patting Taehyung's shoulder.

Taehyung hates how it makes him feel so uncomfortable. "I have been fine," he says, watching you fawn at Namjoon's jacket. The gesture makes him feel jealous. "Thanks for asking. How have you been?"

"I'm happy thanks for asking Taehyung," he smiles, patting your head. "I've been spending a lot of time with my family. Showering my partner in love is actually what I plan on doing after this, tonight was a close call for us both. I don't know what I would've done if they hadn't escaped in time, I would've ...I don't know what I would've done actually. Nothing good, I can promise that much."

Your cheeks go red as you feel a systemic guilt wash over you.

You know what that tone of voice implies.

Had you not gone inside and saved Jungkook, Jin would've been with Namjoon sooner and he wouldn't have had to worry if he was still alive the way he did.

Taehyung watches what he thinks is a blush cover your face. "I know what you mean," he says faintly, feeling the cracks in his heart crack further down the muscular organ, "I don't know what I would've done either."

And Yoongi stands watching it all wondering what the fuck was even happening.

"Mina, it's lovely to see you after so long but could you please give me some space to finish this job so I can leave," you ask, your hands pausing at the child's arm. "I know what I am doing-

"-just cannulate that kid and then leave us alone, I don't need pesky Forest Lake doctors in my department who don't know our protocols. You might think you're helping but you're not. So hurry up." she interrupts and you wish you never offered to give her a hand when Taehyung begged for you to go instead of him.

It's 0200 hours and you've just triaged a patient straight into the paediatric emergency department in one of the worst decisions you've made recently, you take the offer from Taehyung to help the busy medical team there.

"I'm serious Dr. Y/N, you best hurry up and get out."

With long black hair, a plump girth underneath the pink floral of her scrubs and a name badge with "Dr. Mina" written in pink child like font, she leans over your shoulder. You hadn't seen her since the day you stormed into their engagement party, and boy did she look different.

"Mina, please kindly stop. I'm a doctor too."

The women in question, the apparent chief of the paediatric ward, frowns at you. "Jesus christ have mercy on us all. What the hell are you doing?" she yells over your shoulder and straight into the shell of your ear. "You're putting it in wrong. You have to be more careful with children. They aren't like adults."

Without a second to rearrange the position of your hands as you try to insert a cannula into the child, she shoves your shoulder, pushing you through the curtain of the small bedding cubical.

You fall onto the empty bed.

"If you can't do it, don't do it."

Startled, the patient's parents stare at Mina in shock.

What the hell?

Your phone vibrates in your pocket as you stand back up. "I don't know why you thought that was appropriate to do in front of a patient and their family Mina but I must apologise. I see you are far more experienced with the clinical skills of a child since you are one," Grabbing your phone, you sigh in relief at Yoongi's page. Smoothing the ruffles of your scrubs, you bow politely to the patient's family before leaving them to their own devices.

"If you'd excuse me, I believe I have been paged to help Yoongi," turning to the patient's family, you smile. "Sorry about that, I promise you regardless of this monster, you are in good hands. I'm going Mina, good luck."

"Good," she says, rubbing her belly for a second. "If you see Taehyung, send him in. I could use with experienced pediatric doctors."

"He is not experienced in paediatrics like I am, hence why he sent me in his stead," Your insides twist in anger. "I am experienced with children, I have my own too. I just do not have experience with cranky asshole doctors like you."

The parents snort at your insult.

Mina gasps.

And you leave without feeling an inch of her fury.

"Yikes." you shiver in disgust, suddenly feeling sympathetic for Taehyung.

How bad has his life been since you disappeared?

Jungkook sits in the reception, watching the man drink the last remaining sips from his water bottle before throwing it into the silver trash can. "Sir, can I help you?" a nurse asks, speaking carefully to the man.

Jungkook can tell that she also feels uncomfortable. Something flickers across her face, Jungkook watches carefully. "Are you drunk?" she asks, putting her fingers under her nose.

He shakes his head, an eerie and haunting laugh slips past his lips. "No, my darling, I am just living through my grief, you see my daughter just passed away in your ER. I don't know how to cope with the loss."

He cries.

The nurse's resolve drops as she pats down his back.

Jungkook narrows his eyes.

He stands up, ready to walk and confront him when he's stopped where he stands by the banshee sound of a woman's scream walking through the entrance. Everyone in the room looks up, as she supports her back with one hand and the protruding belly with the other.

"My wife, she's in labour, please we need help," the young man says, supporting her shoulders. "Please."

She screams again.

Nurses grab a wheelchair for her before pressing the green button on the paediatric maternal emergency department door. They rush over and Jungkook looks up to where the man had been sitting earlier, it was empty.

He had gone.

Jungkook has a feeling something bad is about to happen. "Irene," he shouts, spotting her giving an old man some water. "Have you seen Yoongi? I have a seriously bad feeling right now."

Irene nods, her face increasingly pale. "A Jungkook feeling, it can't be good. I saw him in the resus bay with Namjoon. Y/N's in the paediatric bay, did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Elias, the kid that kept coming into Forest because her parents are super hippy and culty just died. Taehyung was in code for an hour trying to bring her back, Y/N stopped them. She died, weird, we won't see her again..."

"Elias?"

Irene continues talking but as soon as she had said her name, Jungkook had grown ice fucking cold.

He knew he recognised him.

Elia's father.

The man with the vendetta against you.

"You do know that he tried to stalk Y/N last year right? She has a restraining order against him Irene! This is not good Irene, not good!"

When you walk into the hub of the emergency pediatric department, you see a familiar looking man in a dirty and dishevelled suit look around the department before suddenly pointing at you.

"Are you okay?" you ask, smiling at the unusually dark looking man. "Are you here to see someone..."

He laughs eerily before suddenly grabbing an abandoned wound dressing table and throwing it at the wall beside your head.

It all happens in slow motion the way that his assault starts, you don't move because everything happens so quickly.

You can't move because everything dangerous happens so quickly.

You scream, covering your head as it's contents fall all over you.

It's enough to finally wake your senses up and to grab the attention of every single person in the room.

Falling to the ground in shock, you look up.

Your hands shake.

Your heart pounds in terror.

"You," he says, walking towards you. "I knew it."

"What are you doing? You're in a hospital!" you shout, your voice quivering as adrenaline rushes through you. You pant in sudden realisation of who this man is, holding out your hands as if that could protect you from his wrath. WHY TODAY, WHY. "Why are you here? I have a restraining order against you, I will call the fucking police. Stay the fuck away from me."

"I knew I'd find you here, you stupid bitch," His chest is heaving and his hands are shaking, he's so angry. "Y/N, how many others have died at your hands today? You're a murderer, I knew that the minute I met you and I was right to trust that judgement because you killed her, you killed my child."

You shriek in panic as you watch the contents of another trolley he throws scatter and spill throughout the department.

Covering your head with your hands again, you falter in your chance to escape, too sleep deprived to think normally.

"I'M TALKING TO YOU. LOOK AT ME." He points at you again before staggering his old dresser shoes towards you. "I don't know why you couldn't have just let her go, she didn't need to be here. You forced her to stay."

Standing up again, you gulp. The man who attempted to stalk you and your daughter last year, here, in front of you, how could you forget those black beady eyes. The same ones peeping through your bedroom window in your old house. "Look, I'm sorry for your loss but she was sick. She was very sick. You shouldn't be here, I have a restraining order against you."

You step back again, treading on packets of gauze and no longer sterile suturing kits.

"Elias, she couldn't breathe, I couldn't have just sent her home to die like that. Please, calm down."

You're too far away from an emergency button.

You knew he was aggressive but you didn't know he could be capable of this.

You're scared for your life.

Something you didn't think you'd experience again tonight.

"Don't you dare say her name, you devil!"

Holding your hands out in front of you again, you nervously stammer. "Sir, if you could just c-calm down, you're scaring the other patients. I-I can help you, if you j-just calm down. You're in the paediatric emergency department, there are other children who need help, please just let me go."

"You can help me?" he yells, gaping at you incredulously. "After killing my child, you want to kill me next, is that it? IS THAT IT? YOU FUCKING DOCTORS ARE ALL FAKE, ALL EVIL."

Walking towards you, his shoes tread on the equipment.

His eyebrows crease and his eyes glaze over with murderous gaze. "I'll kill you before that happens, don't you worry. I'll send you to Hell myself."

Jungkook runs faster than he's ever run before, solely dependent on the rush of adrenaline. "NAMJOON. Y/N, WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?" He screams across the Emergency Department.

Everyone looks up at him bewilderedly.

Patients watch curiously.

Yoongi, Taehyung and Namjoon pop out from a cubical, all wearing gloves. "Jungkook, whats up?" Namjoon blinks.

"It's Y/N." he pants, running up to the group.

Taehyung pushes Namjoon into the curtain. "What about her?"

Jungkook looks at all three of them. "I think she's in trouble."

"What kind of trouble?" Namjoon asks.

Taehyung's hands begin to shake. "Where is she?"

"I have no idea, I came to ask you guys?"

Yoongi feels a vibration in his pocket.

Stepping back from Jungkook, he pulls out his pager, reading the code gray located in the paediatric emergency department LED warning flash across the small black box.

"Fuck my life," Yoongi says, shoving it back in his pocket before ripped off his gloves. "Code Gray has been triggered in the paediatric emergency department, she's probably there."

Taehyung pushes past Jungkook with only one thing on his mind, he'll protect you, he can do that now.

"Mina!" you yell, shifting on your feet you turn and run to the nursing station. "Yah, someone, I need help." But the words die on your tongue as you stare at her through a locked room, her face filling up the window.

She had locked herself in to hide.

And you can't blame her for it.

"Y/N, I'm scared," a child you had treated earlier says, suddenly running behind your leg. Your anxiety catapults through the roof, this wasn't safe, someone is going to get hurt. "Fuck."

He looks up to you,"Why is he so ang-wy?"

"Tommy, you need to go back to your bed," you say calmly, petting his head. "Your mother won't be impressed with you. Go to bed, right now."

You feel him shake his head against your leg, as he wraps his arms tightly around your thigh. "I don't wanna. You're my new mummy."

"Tommy, go back to your room right now." The man stares bewilderedly at the child before flickering is burning gaze to the scalpel on the ground.

"But I don't wanna."

Everything happens too quickly.

You, detaching Tommy from your leg. "Go to your fucking room Tommy, I won't tell you again."

Tommy, throwing a tantrum in front of you. "No! I don't want to leave you, I'm scared. Don't yell at me what did I do to you. I thought you were nice."

"TOMMY I SAID GO TO YOUR BED NOW."

Him, picking up the scalpel.

Taehyung and Yoongi and Namjoon and Jungkook rounding the corner, white sneakers a blur as Tommy screams when Jungkook runs toward him, pulling him away to cradle his body.

As Taehyung runs in front of you.

As the scalpel is thrown through the air.

You, a heart beat too late to push you both out of the way.

"No, Taehyung!" you scream but it all happens too quickly to prevent it. Then all you see is red, dripping down his hands as Taehyung falls on top of you.

You fall back, unable to bare his full body weight.

You both crash to the floor, him on top of you.

Yoongi and Namjoon tackle the man before he can do further damage.

Taehyung's blood seeps through your scrubs, drenching your skin. "Y/N, are you okay?" he whispers, "You're okay right?"

You cry as you nod. "I'm okay, are you okay?"

He's pale. "I am." but he's not.

"No you aren't. Taehung, why?"

You have no idea what kind of injury he has sustained. "I don't know Y/N but I'm okay if you're okay."

He's too pale.

"You're so fucking stupid Taehyung," You press your forehead against his, "I can't believe you."

His eyes close as his lips turn into a grin. "I told you that I'd protect you."

The blood seeps into the floor around you, and everything happens so quickly and loudly as Taehyung blacks out on top of you, his head dropping into the junction between your head and your neck.

And no amount of shouting his name could bring him back as he's lifted from you by Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok and forced onto a stretcher where they could rip his shirt open and look at the extensive damage being sliced open caused.

You watch as they rush him away as security cart Elias' father in makeshift handcuffs away in shock.

You watch from the floor as Tommy cries in Jungkook's arms.

You lift your hands up, inspecting the amount of blood on your hands.

Him. His.

Taehyung's blood.

Everything feels unreal.

Everything hurts.

There's a deafening silence, a buzzing in your ear but you can still make out the voices loud and clear shouting across the room and you suddenly wish you hadn't.

"He's losing too much blood, we need to take him to theatre immediately."

"Arterial bleed?"

"Taehyung, open your eyes you fucking idiot. I'm sorry for calling you a little bitch, you've proven yourself not to be one. Just wake up? Wake up!"

"We need blood! Jimin, blood! He's lost so much."

Jungkook lets the kid go, watching him run back to his room before sliding across the floor to you. "Y/N, are you okay?" he whispers, looking at the blood that had splattered across your face.

You shake your head because you most certainly were not okay. "Jungkook," you sob, turning to face him. "Go, make sure Taehyung's okay ...he jumped in front of me Jungkook, go, make sure he's okay."

"Y/N-

"-no fucking buts, go! Go save him Jungkook, go! You have to go!" you shout, tears suddenly streaming down your face. "Please, just go!"

Jungkook does the only thing he knows how, he leans forward, scooping you up into his arms and holds you has you cry.

"Everything will be okay Y/N, everything will be okay."

But you aren't convinced, no way in hell, not now anyway.