Namjoon: I need to talk to you.

Namjoon: It's about Yoongs. It's really important.

Namjoon: I rather not talk about it over text, so please call me.

But Jungkook never called. And Seokjin said he still hadn't come home. So Namjoon made a decision that he'd hoped he wouldn't have to.

He was going to go to Jungkook's work and interrupt him there.

He was nervous, he couldn't lie. What if Jungkook simply turned him away? What if he got angry? What if he refused to see him at all?

Namjoon approached the host stand at the restaurant Jungkook worked at.

"Table for one?" the hostess asked pleasantly.

"Um, is Jungkook working tonight?"

"Yes, he is! Would you like a table in his section?"

"Yes, please."

And that's how Namjoon found himself waiting at a table, sipping water, and watching Jungkook avoid him. He'd initially tried to hide behind a menu, but it wasn't seeming to do any good. So, he decided to just wait like a normal person.

And Jungkook had almost immediately spotted him after that. His eyes had widened as they met Namjoon's and he'd spent the next ten minutes doing everything he could to stay away from Namjoon's table. It wasn't until Namjoon saw a manager approach Jungkook, point in Namjoon's direction and angrily walk away that Jungkook finally came to his table.

"What can I get for you?" Jungkook asked begrudgingly.

Namjoon set his water glass down on the table. "I'd say an explanation, but I don't have time for that."

Jungkook seemed to grit his teeth. "Our specials tonight are – "

"Yoongs is at the hospital. He's in a coma," Namjoon said as he stood. "I thought you ought to know."

Jungkook's eyes widened. "Wha – "

But Namjoon simply turned on his heel and walked away, leaving the restaurant with no further explanation. He headed straight to the hospital to be with Yoongi. When he got there, however, before he went back to Yoongi's room, he stopped at the nurses' desk.

"Hello, I'm here with Min Yoongi. I've got temporary guardianship over him, and I need to add someone to the list of those allowed to visit him."

-

Namjoon heard him long before he saw him. Desperate footsteps flying down the hallway. He closed his eyes in anticipation and jumped slightly when a heavy weight crashed against the door frame. The door flew open, and a wild-eyed Jungkook threw himself over the threshold.

Before Namjoon opened his eyes, he could see the look on Jungkook's face in his mind. There was silence; a pin drop could be heard. Namjoon finally took a glance at Jungkook, and it was worse than he'd expected.

Jungkook was staring at the bed, face pale and tears pooled in his dark, worried eyes. He looked every bit the stunned, anguished and terrified that Namjoon knew he felt. He looked awful. His hair was sticking out in places and it was obvious he'd been running his hands through it. His eyes were ringed in red, and his shoulders were slumped. He looked like a little boy, completely at a loss.

"Jungkook," Namjoon said quietly, and Jungkook's teary eyes looked over at him.

"What happened?" Jungkook choked out.

Namjoon took a deep breath. "Chul broke out of his ankle monitor this morning."

Jungkook stumbled backward, his eyes wide in shock. The tears escaped as he looked at Yoongi again.

"He immediately came to my place because he knew I'd know where Yoongs was. He kicked down the door, knocked Jimin and me out, and found Yoongs hiding in his closet."

Jungkook suppressed a sob, imagining Yoongi cowering in fear on his closet floor. "And he..." Jungkook whispered.

Namjoon nodded. "He did this. Yoongs has already had two surgeries. The first was due to a tear in his liver. He was bleeding internally. He almost died on the table."

Jungkook fell to his knees. He heaved out a heavy sob as he dropped his head into his hands.

"The second was to place pins in his shattered wrist. Because of the position he was in when they found him, we think he was trying to protect his head with his arms. Despite that, though, he was also kicked in the head. Multiple times. He has a fractured skull and swelling on the brain."

"I should've been there," Jungkook moaned. Namjoon felt a desire to get up and comfort him, but he didn't. He simply watched as Jungkook completely fell apart.

There was a sudden knock at the door, however, and then a nurse peeked her head inside. She stared at Jungkook's loudly crying form before looking up at Namjoon. Namjoon shook his head and mouthed 'sorry' before finally getting up and moving toward Jungkook. The nurse nodded her head, then held up a finger to her lips. Namjoon nodded as he lowered himself next to Jungkook and the nurse quietly closed the door.

Namjoon stared at Jungkook, who still had yet to lift his head from his hands.

"You wouldn't take his calls," he said softly. "You wouldn't answer any of his texts."

Jungkook shuddered, as though he was startled by Namjoon's voice being suddenly so close to his ear. Then, he slumped over, falling against Namjoon's chest as he continued to cry.

Namjoon sighed and wrapped his arms around Jungkook. "It's not your fault," Namjoon said.

"I should have been there," Jungkook choked out again. "I'm the strongest. I could have protected him."

"No one can say that for sure," Namjoon said. "Chul was strong enough to kick down our door and then put Yoongs in a coma. You can't guarantee you could've stopped him."

But Jungkook just shook his head. "I should've been there," he shouted agonizingly.

"Jungkook," Namjoon said gently. "I'm so sorry, but I need you to quiet down. The nurses are asking that you do – "

"I don't care about them!"

"But think about Yoongs," Namjoon said. "If he wakes up and this is all the first thing he hears..."

Jungkook immediately quieted his sobs. He was still shaking, but he was quiet as a mouse.

"Why don't you head home," Namjoon suggested. "Calm down, take a shower, get ready for – "

"No," Jungkook whispered. "No, I'm not leaving."

Namjoon sighed. "You don't have a choice," he said. "You're already here past visiting hours. Only I'm allowed to be here this late."

"But I – "

"Chul's been re-arrested. He's in jail. There's no chance Yoongs will get hurt worse now. Go home with that information to ease your mind. You can come back tomorrow."

Jungkook wanted to argue, but in the end, he simply sighed. "Okay," he whispered. He stood and walked over to Yoongi's side. He carefully placed a hand on Yoongi's cheek, and Namjoon saw a couple of tears fall from his eyes again. After a few moments, he removed his hand and turned to Namjoon.

"I'll be back tomorrow, as soon as visiting hours begin."

Namjoon nodded. "That's good. Maybe you being here will be calming for him, even though he's unconscious. The doctors aren't sure if he can hear us or not. But if he can, I know hearing you will be good for him."

Jungkook ran the back of his hand across his eyes. "Thank you for telling me, Namjoon. And thank you for not being angry with me."

"Oh, I'm angry with you," Namjoon clarified. "But I knew that Yoongs would want you to know what happened, and that he would want you here. Because just so you know, that kiss meant something to him."

Jungkook blinked, then hung his head. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, not really knowing if he was apologizing to Namjoon, Yoongi or both. He turned to leave and just as he pulled the door open, Namjoon called out to him.

"Oh, and Jungkook?"

"Yeah?"

"Go home. Seokjin is worried sick about you."

Jungkook nodded before walking out the door.