"Jeongin." Jeongin paused and turned around, seeing Hongjoong, Jongho and Yunho running up behind him.

"I'm coming with you, come on," Yunho said. Jeongin nodded quickly and the group split off, Jeongin and Yunho running together.

"Where abouts was Wooyoung searching for Seonghwa," Jeongin asked as they slowed their pace slightly to keep attention drawn away from them.

"He was near the front half of town, or at least he was supposed to be. We don't," Yunho paused and drew in a deep breath.

"We haven't heard from him since we split up. Why didn't we check in? We were all so busy trying to find Seonghwa that we didn't even take precautions to look after each other. We just, we assumed they were after Hongjoong and wouldn't recognise the rest of us. Wooyoung is the fastest and he's good with his daggers, we thought him going alone would be the safest option," Yunho said shakily. Jeongin felt bad for all of them. They were all going through so much with losing Seonghwa and just as they found him again, they had now lost another crewmember. They thought they were doing the right thing, that they were protecting everyone with what they were doing. They had no idea Wooyoung was the one in most danger, they didn't know sending him out alone was most likely signing off on his death. They couldn't know that, but it would still haunt them for the rest of their lives is Wooyoung showed up dead. No one had heard from him for quite a while, which unfortunately means that's becoming the most likely scenario.

"You couldn't have known, none of you could have. There's no point trying to beat yourself up over what has already happened. It's in the past, right now you just need to focus on finding him so we can make sure he's ok," Jeongin said.

"Why Wooyoung? Out of all people, why is it Wooyoung that they want? I can't think of anyone he's wronged that none of us have," Yunho said with a sigh as he scanned the streets.

"His parents want him back for some reason. They higher the crew to find Wooyoung and bring him back to them. They put a really high price on it as well, that's why they didn't care it would be going against the Pirate King. I mean they were brave enough to kidnap his husband on his wedding day, and all that to take a kid back to his parents. I don't know why his parents wouldn't try to just contact him themselves. It could have avoided all of this bloodshed," Jeongin said with a frown.

"Woo and his parents don't get along. They didn't abuse him physically but they all didn't care about his wellbeing. There was a lot of verbal and emotional abuse for him growing up as a kid. These days he still suffers from what he went through as a child. I couldn't count the amount of times over the years he's ended up cuddled up in Hongjoong's arms while Hongjoong assured him he was proud of him and he's doing well. I know as a crew we joke about Hongjoong being our dad but he really is like that for Wooyoung. Wooyoung thinks the light shines out of Hongjoong's ass and he's always been like a father figure for our little one. Wooyoung would never go back to him and Hongjoong would never allow it," Yunho said. It always hurt his heart when he saw the hesitation in Wooyoung's eyes, when he saw all of that self-doubt swirling around.

"How's Hongjoong going to react? I assume he would've been devastated about Seonghwa but now Wooyoung's gone. If he's like a father figure for Wooyoung, does it go both ways," Jeongin asked.

"Yeah, it definitely goes both ways. Hongjoong cares about all of us but he's always worried a lot about Wooyoung and looked after him. But it's not Hongjoong I'm worried about," Yunho said quietly.

"Who," Jeongin asked.

"San. There's something going on between the two of them and I've known it for a while now, I just haven't said anything. They've known each other since they were kids but their relationship has definitely changed," Yunho replied. His heart broke as he remembered the little moments he had noticed between the two of them, the most recent being that day Seonghwa was taken. San has shielded Wooyoung away, was consoling him and protecting him like he was the most precious thing in the world. He pushed the thought from his mind and continued on quickly. They needed find Wooyoung and they needed to find him soon or that small slither of hope would be gone.

"We should get off the main streets. I know it's not very comforting but if we're going to find a body anywhere, it's not going to be out in the open on a main street," Jeongin said softly. He tried to soften the blow as much as he could but it needed to be said. Yunho's breath hitched but he composed himself and nodded. Jeongin was right, they weren't going to find Wooyoung out here. They turned left quickly at he next alleyway and walked down it.

"Hey Jeongin, be honest with me please. Do you think he's already dead," Yunho asked quietly. Jeongin hesitated at that. He didn't want to give Yunho false hope but he also didn't want to crush all of his hope.

"I don't know Yunho, I really don't know. I do hope he's ok though, he's a really good person. Lixie loves him a lot, says he's like the nicest person he's met," Jeongin said with a sigh. Yunho didn't reply to that. He didn't need to, he already knew what Jeongin was trying not to say. That it was unlikely they would find Wooyoung alive. They continued searching the alleyways before Yunho noticed something in the corner of his eyes as the passed another alley. He gasped and spun back around, racing to the alley they had already passed by as it took a few seconds for him to register what he saw.

"No," he gasped, rushing over to the body in the alley. His eyes widened as he saw the large pool of blood surrounding the blood. There was a lot, so much that it was even trailing down the alley. Yunho stumbled and dropped to his knees as he noticed the familiar pale white hair.

"No, no, no. Wooyoung, W-Wooyoung," he gasped. He reached out a shaky hand but didn't touch, too scared to do anything. Jeongin dropped down beside him as well and quickly got to work, checking Wooyoung over.

"He's been stabbed twice in the back. Shit, he's lost a lot of blood, this isn't good," Jeongin said with a groan. Yunho was frozen, his eyes stuck on Wooyoung's pale and lifeless face pressed to the ground with his eyes shut. There was no movement coming from him, none at all.

"He's dead isn't he," he whispered. Jeongin glanced over at Yunho, seeing the glazed over look in his eyes and quickly hurried to check for a pulse on Wooyoung's neck. He couldn't feel anything and he started to panic before he shifted his fingers and felt a weak but still there pulse.

"Yunho he's heart is still beating. He's still alive but I don't think he will be for much longer, we need to get him to Melanie. She a nurse, she knows what to do," Jeongin said quickly. That snapped Yunho from his thoughts and he jumped into action. If there was a chance to save Wooyoung's life, he sure as hell isn't going to sit here and well in pity and lose that. Jeongin gently turned Wooyoung over and Yunho slipped a hand under his knees and back, lifting him into his arms. He stood up quickly and nearly slipped, his foot having been in a puddle of the blood. Yunho fought back a gag and focused his attention on the boy in his arms. Wooyoung was completely limp, his head hanging back lifeless and that's when Yunho noticed the blood that had trailed down from his lips.

"Do you know how to get back," he asked Jeongin quickly as the younger slipped Wooyoung's dagger into his back pocket.

"Yes, follow me," Jeongin replied. They moved as quick as they could, not running as Yunho wasn't sure what had happened exactly to Wooyoung and he didn't want to risk the possibility of hurting him further. Not to mention they didn't want to draw even more attention to themselves despite the half dead body in Yunho's arms. They couldn't afford to be attack right now, Wooyoung didn't have the time to waste.

"Hang in there Youngie. We're going to get you some help, you just, you need to hang in there for me. Think of Sannie ok, think of him and fight to stay alive," Yunho said softly. Wooyoung didn't react, obviously, but Yunho hoped he could hear him, hoped he would be able to give him that last little kick to make it until they got to the house. It was a five minute journey but it felt like five hours, ever step one of fear as Yunho tried desperately to be able to tell if Wooyoung was still alive. He was still bleeding, the blood having soaked through Yunho's shirt and it scared him even more. Jeongin threw the door open as soon as they got there and they both rushed inside.

"MEL. MEL HE NEEDS HELP," Jeongin yelled. There was rushed footsteps but a few seconds later the others in the house appeared in the front room.

"Oh my god," Seonghwa gasped.

"What happened," Melanie asked.

"He's been stabbed twice and he's lost a shit ton of blood. He's alive but barely," Jeongin said.

"Get him into the room," Melanie said quickly. Before Yunho could even moved, Jeongin had ripped Wooyoung from his arms and hurriedly taken him into the room. Yunho's hands were shaking now that Wooyoung was gone from them and he quickly put them down, clenching them in his pants.

"That's a lot of blood," Seonghwa said with wide eyes, looking at Yunho's shirt that was now soaked.

"Sh-She needs help. She needs another medic with her. He's going to die Seonghwa," Yunho choked out shakily.

~~~~~

"San you need to slow down, we can't get split up," Mingi yell as he ran after San through the streets. After Seonghwa had told them in a panic about how the Eyun was really after Wooyoung and not him or Hongjoong, they had all started to panic. No one had heard from Wooyoung since they split up in the morning and he went out alone which was not very comforting. Jongho, Mingi, San, Yunho and Hongjoong had immediately set out to search for him. San and Mingi went together while the other three stayed as a group. They were hoping to come across Jeongin where they could split again. San heart was racing as he looked everywhere, running up to dumpsters to check inside even though it dreaded him to think of finding the body of his loved one inside it.

"No, you need to fucken hurry up," San snapped back. Mingi was shocked at the outburst but he quickened his pace, catching up to San who was still running.

"There's no need to snap at me. I care just as much about him as you do," Mingi said.

"You care for him could never compare to mine," San said angrily. Wooyoung is his boyfriend, the person he's going to marry, who is already practically married to. Losing him would be incomparable to everyone else, except Hongjoong and Seonghwa. Mingi stayed silent at that, knowing there was no point in trying to argue, it wouldn't do them any good right now. San and Wooyoung have been friends since they were literal kids so it's understandable that he would be so rattled and upset with the possibility of something happening to him.

"We've been down that street already San," Mingi said as he noticed San going to turn right.

"Fuck," San groaned in anger, his fist smashing into the wall to vent.

"San," Mingi gasped, rushing over and grabbing San's hand gently, cupping it in his own hands as he checked his knuckles.

"Stop, we don't have time for this," San snapped, ripping his hand from Mingi's hands. He went to turn around but Mingi had enough. He used his height and size to his advantage, grabbing San's shirt and ripping him back, pinning him to the wall. San immediately tried to shove him off but Mingi was not giving up. San was getting out of control and in a situation like this, that can be dangerous.

"You need to calm down San, right now. You are not going to be doing Wooyoung any good if you're running around hot headed. The only thing you're going to do is get us both killed and how the hell is that supposed to help Wooyoung, huh," Mingi said angrily.

"He could be hu-."

"Yes San, he could be hurt. He could be lying in a ditch dead somewhere but you acting like this, WILL NOT HELP," Mingi said firmly, shoving San back into the wall. San's chest was heaving in anger. It was the only emotion he was allowing himself to show. Deep down, he knows he's scared, his terrified for what state he will find Wooyoung in but he can't allow the fear to overtake himself. He needs to be aware, he needs to be strong and to be able to fight to protect Wooyoung if someone is trying to hurt him. He can't do that if he's so blinded by fear so he pushed anger to the surface.

"Please Sannie, please. We need to find Wooyoung but I can't allow us to do that if you're so angry right now. I can't allow you to get yourself killed," Mingi said softly. San deflated at that, his shoulders sagging in Mingi's grip and his eyes welling up slightly.

"I can't lost him Mingi. I c-can't. It will kill me, I need them," he whispered.

"Hey, hey, shh. It's ok. We're going to find him alright. We're going to find him and do everything in our power to make sure he's going to be ok," Mingi said softly as he relaxed his grip on San's shoulders and gently rubbed his thumb over his face.

"I can't lose him," San whimpered. Mingi went to reply to comfort him more but felt heard a buzz from San's pocket. San quickly pulled out the device, sniffling slightly as he quickly pulled up the message.

Jeongin and I have found him. You all need to get back to the house right now

"They found him," San whispered.

"Yeah. Yeah, they did. Come on, let's get back so you can see him and make sure he's ok," Mingi said softly. San nodded and they quickly took of down the street. San had the way back memorised and lead him and Mingi back over to the house. They got there just as Hongjoong and Jongho came running up. Hongjoong went in first, the others following quickly. When the got inside, there was chaos. Jeongin was pacing up and down, Yunho was crying and shaking his head and Seonghwa was standing there in shock.

"Seonghwa you need to help her. He's going to die if you don't do something," Yunho yelled. That got Seonghwa jumping into action and he ran into one of the rooms, slamming the door closed and locking it with a click.

"Wh-What do you mean die," San asked quietly, breaking the silence that had come from the door closing. Jeongin and Yunho turned around and it was then that the others saw the blood covering the front of their clothes. Yunho's eyes were red and he had a few tears slipping down his face.

"We found him but it's not good," he whispered. San's heart stopped and he stumbled slightly but Mingi grabbed his arm quickly to stabilise him.

"What happened," Hongjoong asked quietly.

"He'd been stabbed, in the back twice. We found him in an alley on the ground with blood all around him. He's not conscious and he was barely breathing, we honestly thought he was dead. He lost a lot of blood, and I mean a lot of blood. I don't, I don't know how someone can survive losing that much blood," Jeongin said quietly. Everyone was silent at that, not knowing what to say. They just stopped the over a month worrying they had been going through that Seonghwa would die and now they were thrust back into that intense fear for Wooyoung, their sunshine on the ship. The silence lasted only about five seconds before a heart-shattered scream cut through the silence. Mingi was quick to catch San as his knees buckled and he started wailing.

"San. Sannie," he gasped, hugging him tightly. San didn't react, just continued screaming and crying, tears flowing quickly down his face. The others were all shocked, never having seen San break down to this degree. San always gets upset when someone is hurt but they haven't seen him break down this badly. Hongjoong's eyes widened and he hurried over, kneeling down in front of San and Mingi.

"Oh baby," he whispered, cupping San face as he sobbed.

"I know this is hard Sannie. I know how much you care about Wooyoung, I mean you've been friends since you were little kids. I know this hurts and that this scares you but Seonghwa is in there right now and so is Melanie. They're going to do everything in their power to get him better," Hongjoong said gently. San just sobbed harder, curling up in Mingi's arms as Mingi held him tightly.

"Hongjoong." Hongjoong glanced up at Yunho, noting the tears still falling down his face.

"I don't. I don't think it's just as simple as that with those two," Yunho said. Hongjoong frowned in confusion and rose an eyebrow in confusion.

"How um, how would you feel if it was Seonghwa in that room right now, clinging to life," Yunho asked.

"I'm pretty sure we all know the answer to that Yunho," Jongho said.

"That's, that's how San and Wooyoung are. They think they're being discreet, but I've seen moments between them that don't really scream just friends. They've kissed as well. He's not crying for a friend, he's crying for his boyfriend that he loves more than anyone in the world," Yunho said and San only cried harder if that was even possible. Hongjoong's heart shattered at the realisation. How long had Wooyoung and San been more than friends? How long had they been keeping it a secret from everyone. But also, what will happen to San if Wooyoung can't pull through this. San was hyperventilating slightly as he cried, his breathing hitching on each sob.

"Shit," Jongho gasped softly, hurrying to sit down in front of San. He quickly grabbed the navigators hand and held it tightly. He was devastated to hear that Wooyoung was in such a state and he wanted to completely break down but he couldn't because San needed the comfort right now. Yunho sat down as well, so all of them were curled up together in the middle of the room. Jeongin slipped out of the room to head to the showers to get the blood off him and get changed. San glanced around before his eyes landed on Yunho, seeing all of the blood again. He let out a louder sob and tore his eyes away, burying his head into Mingi's chest to cry. He didn't want to see Wooyoung's blood, didn't want the reminder of the state he was in, not wanting to picture it. But it was too late. His mind drifted to the image of Wooyoung laying in a pool of blood down an alley, his eyes wide and unseeing, dead. He wailed and clutched tighter to Mingi, sitting up slightly to try and hug him tighter, wanting to get rid of the image.

"Sannie. San, come on, talk to us. What's going on," Hongjoong said quickly, sitting up and gently placing his hand on San's back, to rub it softly. Jongho was wincing as San's grip on his hand had tightened considerably but he didn't say anything, knowing San needed this comfort.

"I can't. I can't stop picturing it. There's so much blood," San sobbed. Yunho glanced down at his shirt and cursed as he realised it was still covered in blood, Wooyoung's blood. He quickly slipped it off and discarded it, rushing to the sink and using a cloth to wipe off any other visible bits of blood on his body.

"Yunho's getting clean right now ok," Hongjoong said softly, moving his hand higher to gently run it through San's hair. San whimpered and tugged his hand, drawing Jongho closer. Jongho shuffled over easily, placing a kiss to the side of San's head. San turned his head slightly, looking at Jongho with puffy, red eyes.

"I can't lose him," San whimpered.

"They're doing everything they can to save him ok. We can't think the worst right now. We have be strong for him right. You have to be strong and have hope alright," Jongho said firmly. San sobbed again and shook his head, dropping his head down onto Mingi's shoulder, his body shaking with each sob. It pained Mingi to have his friend back down in his arms. It was bad enough when Hongjoong screamed at him and locked himself up but this was worse. This was him holding the sweet boy in his arms, hearing every sob, feeling the constant tremors of his body every few seconds as he cried his heart out.

"I can't lose him," San repeated in a mumble. Hongjoong felt his own eyes tear up at the resignation in San's voice and he felt his resolve crumbling. Each boy in his crew holds a different but special place in his heart. Wooyoung is someone he quite literally thinks of as his child. He can joke around with the others as much as he likes but ever since he first met Wooyoung and saw how unsure of himself he was, saw how much he needed guidance and a father figure in his life, Hongjoong had stepped into it. He did it unknowingly at first but then had just embraced it and continued. There were often nights Wooyoung would sneak into his bed, curl up and just tell him his worries, trusting him to make all his bad thoughts go away. This was his child, that little 16-year-old, scrawny looking little boy he had met all of those years ago. He choked back a sob as he thought about it, standing up quickly and moving to the other side of the room to try and compose himself. He needed to be strong right now, needed to be the Captain for his crew, San especially as the poor boy was going through hell at the moment. He had his time breaking down and shutting himself off from the world and all that did was just hurt those around him. He cannot do that again.

"Hongjoong." Hongjoong turned around at the sound of Yunho's voice, sniffling and wiping his eyes as he tried to control his emotions. Yunho noticed and frowned softly. He stepped closer and gently wiped the tears that fell from Hongjoong's cheeks. Hongjoong glanced over at the others on the floor and kept his voice low.

"What if he doesn't make it Yunho? He's our sunshine, he's the glue that holds us together. How are we going to get through that," he whispered.

"I don't know Hongjoong, I really don't know. Right now though, we have to stay strong and we can't think the worst. Seonghwa and that Melanie are in there right now trying to save his life. Seonghwa is an amazing medic and Melanie is a nurse which is good right. If anyone can save him, a certified doctor would be a good start," Yunho said. Hongjoong sighed but nodded, wiping his hands down his face.

"San's right, we can't lose him," Hongjoong said quietly.

"I know. But let's not start grieving something that hadn't happened," Yunho said. Hongjoong nodded again and walked over to the others, sitting down beside them again.

"He's not calming down," Jongho said worriedly as he glanced over at Hongjoong. Hongjoong looked to San still in Mingi's lap and saw how much his shoulders were shaking as he heaved for air, choking on sobs.

"Gi, give him here," he said gently. Mingi didn't really want to part with San but he knew Hongjoong had always been a big comfort for him. He leaned forwards, lifting San slightly and trying to put him on Hongjoong's lap. San whimpered and clutched tightly to him though, crying harder.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm just going to put you in Hongjoong's lap ok. You can hug him ok," Mingi said softly. San sniffled and whimpered but let go of Mingi and turned slightly, reaching his arms out to Hongjoong. Hongjoong quickly took him into his arms and hugged him tightly. San wrapped his arms around Hongjoong's neck and rested his head on his shoulder, curling up in his lap.

"Hi baby," Hongjoong whispered.

"H-Hi," San choked out. Hongjoong smiled sadly at him as he leant back, cupping the youngers face gently.

"I know this is hard, I know how scared you are right now. It hurts a lot, the not knowing, the fear of what could be happening in that room but you need to be strong right now. You need to be strong for him alright," Hongjoong said softly, running his fingers through San's hair. San sniffled but nodded, wiping a few tears and calming down slightly. He was still crying but he wasn't hyperventilating anymore. He hugged Hongjoong and just quietly cried, trying not picturing different scenarios. Yunho sat down again and rubbed his back, Mingi and Jongho shuffling forwards as well to comfort him more.

*

In the corner of the room, forgotten, the boy continued to cry, watching everyone curled up on the floor comforting each other. He was terrified, the tears not stopping since Yunho came running into the room with Wooyoung in his arms. Wooyoung was so limp and pale, but he was also covered in blood. He looked dead, more dead than he had ever seen before, and Wooyoung's been in life-threatening conditions a few times. He couldn't sob, couldn't scream, his voice just wouldn't come. He was in shock, horror as he had seen the state Wooyoung arrived in. He was stabbed and left to die in an alley and none of them noticed. No one noticed he was missing, that he hadn't been heard from. They didn't think to check in on him, to make sure he was ok. San was inconsolable for a while but then Hongjoong managed to finally calm him down.

That finally got him to stop just standing in the corner and crying. His eyes landed on the dagger that was sitting on the floor in the doorway. The more he looked at it, the more his emotions changed. The fear left him and was replaced by anger. Deep, rooted anger. A feeling he had never felt before. Someone hurt one of the two people he cares about most in this world and he's going to make them pay for it.

He glanced one last time at everyone in the room before he moved from the corner. He walked quickly but quietly, scooping the dagger up from the floor and slipping out the door unseen and onto the street with determination running through his veins.

A/N

Here is Chapter 17 everyone, I hope you enjoyed it and thank you for reading.

Let me know your favourite parts from this chapter, though the wasn't really anything happy in it to be honest.

Do you think Wooyoung is going to pull through or do you think maybe they found him too late?

What do you think Yeosang is going to do?