And they did hear something. Lots of things. It sounded so violent, that it was obvious that it wasn't just Yoongi getting beat up; that the apartment was being absolutely torn apart. There were sounds of chairs hitting walls, glass shattering, tables overturning. There was yelling and accusations being made and insults hurled.

And amidst it all, there was the sound of Yoongi sobbing, begging and apologizing.

It was so loud, that they could hear it almost all the way out to the car. As they got nearer to the door, Hoseok turned around, already on his phone. The rest of them stood near the door, tears threatening to spill over from all of their eyes.

Hoseok eventually returned with the news that the police were on their way, and that 119 had already gotten another call before his regarding the situation.

"A neighbor must have called," Namjoon said quietly. The others nodded.

Soon (although it felt like an eternity), sirens could be heard. The boys were shocked to see an ambulance pull up along with two police cars. They hoped beyond hope that the ambulance wouldn't be necessary. But, after all they had been listening to, they knew deep down that it would be.

They were ordered by the police to go downstairs and wait by the ambulance. Only one could stay, to be with Yoongi immediately to try to keep him calm. Without saying anything, Seokjin, Hoseok, Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook all walked away. They knew it needed to be Namjoon.

Without even bothering to knock, the police kicked down the door, guns drawn, shouting commands. It didn't take long for them to emerge with a raging Chul in handcuffs.

They dragged him down the stairs to one of their cars, and Chul happened to glance over at the other five boys. His eyes found Seokjin.

"This was your fault!" Chul shouted at him.

Jungkook and Taehyung stepped in front of Seokjin while Hoseok murmured reassuring words to him. Chul's eyes scanned the rest of the group until they fell on Jungkook. Chul smiled an evil smile.

"You can have what's left of him, you fucking faggot!"

He was then pushed roughly into the back of the police car, and they promptly took off with him.

Upstairs, once Chul had been secured and removed, the police quickly gave the go ahead to the paramedics and Namjoon to enter the apartment.

What he saw, Namjoon would never be able to fully express in words. His heart almost couldn't take it. Yoongi was on the floor, balled up in the fetal position, clutching his stomach. There was glass all around him, slicing into his skin with every move he made. His lips were busted open. Bruises littered his milky white skin. His left eye was swollen shut. His nose was quite obviously broken.

And the blood.

There was blood everywhere. And to Namjoon's horror, he realized, there was vomit on the floor. Chul must have kicked Yoongi so much and so forcefully that he caused him to throw up. Namjoon couldn't tell if the blood in the vomit was from Yoongi's stomach or the blood that had likely already been surrounding him before he threw up.

"Oh, Yoongs," he whispered as the paramedics rushed to unfurl him and lift him onto a stretcher. They began cleaning him up a bit, removing small shards of glass from his arms and face as they checked his vitals, and Namjoon took the opportunity to move closer to Yoongi to let him know that he was there.

"Joon?" Yoongi asked, barely conscious.

"I'm here, Yoongs."

And then, just as the paramedics placed an oxygen mask over Yoongi's mouth and nose, he finally let go and slipped into unconsciousness.

-

"Kim Namjoon."

Namjoon stood as soon as a doctor walked into the waiting room and said his name. "That's me."

"Mr. Min has given permission for me to discuss his condition with you. Will you please follow me?"

Namjoon looked back at the others. "It's okay, Hyung. We understand," Jimin assured him.

Namjoon then followed the doctor into a small, empty patient room. "Mr. Min's injuries are extensive," the doctor said. "We've already had to take him in for a laparoscopic surgery to view his abdomen and vital organs. We had to make a few repairs, but thankfully, not many."

Namjoon felt sick to his stomach as he nodded.

"He may need plastic surgery to repair some facial injuries, specifically his nose. When he is feeling better, we'll bring in a plastic surgeon for a consult."

"Okay."

"His lips, eye and bruises will heal, as will the cuts from the glass, but it will take quite a while. Help him by reassuring him that he will look back to normal eventually."

Namjoon nodded again.

"This next part is one that he specifically asked that you not tell your other friends." Namjoon's eyes widened slightly.

"There has also been quite a bit of sexual abuse. Scar tissue has already formed, and it may require surgery as well."

Tears sprang to Namjoon's eyes. The extent of what Yoongi had been through was finally setting in, and he was internally cursing himself for not having noticed or intervened sooner.

The doctor suddenly closed the file he'd been reading from and observed Namjoon very seriously.

"I suggest he begin therapy soon. This kind of violence and assault is mentally damaging as well. I'd like it if you could encourage him to seek out help for that."

"I will," Namjoon said, barely above a whisper.

"We'll be keeping him here for at least a few more days, to monitor him and decide whether or not he needs additional surgery. During this time, he has expressed that he does not want to be alone. We are giving you and your friends permission to stay beyond regular visiting hours in order to have someone with him at all times. We expect that he will suffer from some nightmares and possibly terrors, and we want him to have a familiar and calming presence available to him should that occur."

Namjoon's eyes softened. "Thank you."

The doctor nodded. "He'd like to see you now, if you're ready for that."

"Yes," Namjoon said instantly. He didn't want Yoongi to be alone any longer.

The doctor then led him to another patient room down the hall. He knocked quietly on the door, then held it open for Namjoon. Namjoon entered immediately but nervously, and he felt tears stinging the backs of his eyes as he saw Yoongi laying in the bed. He looked so small and frail.

"Joon," Yoongi said quietly.

"Hey, Yoongs," Namjoon said, rushing over to him and leaning down to pull him into a gentle hug. "I'm so glad you're okay."

"Okay?" Yoongi said sadly. "Not really."

Namjoon pulled back and looked Yoongi in the eyes. "You'll get there."

"I... I feel so stupid," Yoongi said, tears suddenly pooling in his eyes.

"No, Yoongs," Namjoon said firmly. "You're the furthest thing from stupid."

"Would you still say that if I told you I still love him?"

Namjoon sucked in a short but deep breath. "Yes. Because it's understandable."

"Is it?"

"Yes."

A couple of tears ran down Yoongi's cheeks. "I don't know what to think, Joon. I-I still want to be with him. I still feel like he can change."

Namjoon wiped Yoongi's tears away. "He's not going to change, Yoongs. But that doesn't mean you're stupid for believing he could. He was your first for everything. Of course you're still going to feel love for him."

Yoongi turned his head, looking away. "I know that what he did was wrong, but..."

"I know, Yoongs," Namjoon assured, already knowing what he was going to say. "Yoongs, would you consider seeing a therapist?"

"I don't know," Yoongi admitted quietly. "Is there really something that wrong with me?"

"No," Namjoon said instantly. "But I think some therapy might be able to help you reconcile why you still feel love for him, and help you heal from the fact that he didn't show you that in return."

"He loves me, too," Yoongi said fiercely. "He told me."

"But he didn't show it," Namjoon said. "Actions often speak louder than words, Yoongs."

More tears began to run down Yoongi's cheeks. "He still loves me."

Namjoon internally sighed and decided to drop the subject for the time being. "I know a great therapist, Yoongs. I've met her, and she's really well-versed and experienced with domestic violence cases. Will you consider seeing her?"

Yoongi thought it over. "Will you go with me?" he finally asked quietly.

"Of course," Namjoon said immediately.

"O-Okay," Yoongi agreed. "I'll go."

Namjoon smiled. "I'm so glad, Yoongs."

After that, they sat in silence for a while. Just being together felt healing for both of them. After about ten minutes, Namjoon finally spoke.

"The other guys are here," he said. "Would you like to see them?"

Yoongi considered this for a few moments, then nodded. "I owe them that."

"No, Yoongs. You don't owe them anything. They are just concerned, and want to see you. But if you're not ready for that, they'll understand."

Yoongi eventually nodded again. "I'd like to see them."

Namjoon smiled. "Okay, I'll go get them."

"Wait!" Yoongi suddenly exclaimed, grabbing Namjoon's sleeve as he stood. "Don't tell them – "

"I won't, Yoongs. I promise."

And with that promise, Yoongi let him go. Namjoon quickly made his way back to the waiting room. The guys stood as he entered, and Namjoon told them all what the doctor had said, leaving out the part about sexual abuse. Sad looks and even some tears overtook the guys as Namjoon spoke.

"He's ready to see you all," Namjoon said. "He feels like he owes you all an explanation, though, so if he tries to give one, be sure to let him know that he doesn't."

They all nodded. As they were all preparing to head to Yoongi's room, Namjoon noticed that Jungkook was hanging back a bit.

"Jungkook?"

"I think it would be best if I wait," he said. "He's not close to me, and he needs to be with you all right now. I'll go see him eventually, but I'd prefer to let you all have your time with him right now. He needs to be in a better place for when I try to explain to him who I really am."

Namjoon nodded. "Thanks, Jungkook."