Update 3/3
Check Chapter 24 before this one.
Enjoy!

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"Is this Mr. Jungkook Jeon?"

A polite but hurried voice spoke over the phone.

"Yes, that's me." Jungkook frowned. It was way past midnight and Taehyung still hadn't come home. Jungkook had slogged in the kitchen for hours getting everything ready and then waiting for Tae to show up.

But he hadn't, disappointed and hurt, Jungkook had pushed everything into the fridge and crawled into bed. He had been startled awake by his phone ringing.

"I am calling from Langone Hospital regarding a Mr. Taehyung Kim. His emergency contact is Mr. Park. However since Mr. Park is out of town, he passed on your contact information to us. Are you aware of Mr. Kim?"

Jungkook sat up straight "Yes. Is he alright?" He asked in a panicked voice.

"Yes. Mr. Kim was brought to us with some lacerations and trauma. However, he is refusing treatment and seems to be in an extremely inebriated state. He not fit to be making any decisions so we need a family member to sign for him. He keeps saying he doesn't want to interrupt his husband's date, which I am assuming is Mr. Park?"

Jungkook froze with the bombarding of information.

"Mr. Jeon?"

"Uhm.. yes. T-That's me. The husband I mean. I'll be right there." Jungkook scrambled out of bed and ran through the apartment stopping only to pull on his shoes and grabbing his wallet.

He tried to get a cab but it was taking too long. No busses at this time either. He hated feeling so helpless. His heart was beating wildly in his chest. His fear and panic rendering him almost immobile.

He started to run towards the hospital. It wasn't very far. It wouldn't take him more than fifteen minutes if he ran fast enough.

His breath burned through his lungs as he ran faster than he ever had, reaching the hospital in record time.

He rushed into the reception area. "I am here for Kim Taehyung." He announced breathlessly.

"Oh? Mr. Jeon?"

Jungkook nodded, holding on to the stitch in his side.

"Please sign this. Mr. Kim needs stitches but he has been refusing treatment. We have given him a tetanus shot but haven't administered any pain medication yet since he is very drunk." The nurse informed him kindly.

Jungkook's hand shook as he signed the documents before him. He wanted to see Taehyung and make sure he was alright.

He quickly completed the formalities and was finally directed to the ER by an orderly.

He saw Taehyung sitting on the edge of a bed, half-naked in a hospital gown, mumbling unintelligibly. He could barely hold his head up.

"Tae!" Jungkook called rushing to him. "Are you okay? What happened?" He checked him all over, his hands trembling. There were long deep gashes on his arm and more than a few bruises marred his beautiful skin.

"Jungkookah!" Tae hugged him and then slumped in his arms. The orderly quickly caught him and laid him back on the bed.

"I don't want to stay here, I want to go home. Please take me home, Koo" Taehyung moaned. "It hurts."

"The doctors will make the hurt go away, Tae. Let them."

The resident doctor stepped in from behind the curtains and smiled at them.

"Mr. Kim, are you ready to get your stitches now that your handsome beau is here?" She asked him kindly.

Tae shook his head.

"Aww come on, honey. You are my last patient for the day. How about I discharge you immediately after and your good husband can take you home?" She pleaded.
"Mr. Kim, if you don't mind?"

Jungkook took a moment to realise that she was speaking to him "N-no I-I..."

Taehyung's laughter interrupted him. "I would like to go home with you "Mr. Kim Jungkook." I would like that very much. Yes!"
He offered his ravaged arm to the doctor. "He's my wife you know. He could've just kissed it better." Tae giggled.

Jungkook didn't say anything. His heart was still trying to beat out of his chest. He almost didn't get here tonight. He really needed a car. Tae had a habit of drinking too much. He figured he'd be doing a lot of rescuing before the year was up. Probably after too.

The doctor made quick work of cleaning the wounds and stitching them up. Taehyung was still mumbling nonsense but co-operating for the most part. Every hiss of pain that passed through his lips cut through Jungkook as he stood aside watching silently.

Once they were done, the discharge papers were handed to Jungkook along with the bill and prescriptions.

"Are you sure you don't want keep him here for the night?" He asked the doctor out of concern.

"I would usually, but as you can see we are full here and need every bed. He will be fine at home. You can call me on the number on prescription if he has any trouble with his vision." She assured him.

"Vision?" Jungkook asked in surprise, looking over at Taehyung who was trying to wear his jacket on the wrong way.

"He may have hit his head. I didn't find any bruise or swelling but he was found and brought in unconscious." She informed him.

Jungkook's heart skipped a beat. What had Tae gotten himself into?

"Thank you. I will keep an eye on him." Jungkook shook hands with the doctor and went to help Taehyung who was still struggling with his jacket.

Jungkook gently coerced him to wear it correctly and walked him out of the hospital. Then he remembered he didn't have a ride. He was really getting a car. He squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"What's wrong honey, aren't we going home?" Taehyung asked with a yawn.

"Should I call Hobi hyung, he's the closest. But it would still take him about 40 minutes to get here." Jungkook was thinking out loud.

"No, I don't want to go home with Hobi." Tae wrinkled his nose. "I want you." He threw his arms around Jungkook and clung.

Another time and Jungkook would have been rejoicing. Right now, he was just disappointed in himself. He was completely useless and irresponsible. If the roles were reversed he was sure Tae would be pushing him into the plush warm interiors of his car and driving him home comfortably.

His mouth turned downwards and he really felt like crying at the moment.

Oblivious to the situation, Taehyung had climbed down the small flight of stairs and walked onto the sidewalk. "It is so quiet. Are we still even in New York, Mr. Kim?" He giggled.

"As far as I know." Jungkook indulged him while his mind was still racing. He was trying to get a Uber on his phone.

"Walk with me." Tae invited, holding his hand out with a grin on his face.

Jungkook hesitated.

Tae's face fell and he dropped his hand. "You wouldn't want to hold my hand, right. Stupid TaeTae." He hit his head lightly and stood staring at the floor.

Jungkook was torn. He wanted nothing more than to take what was being so freely offered. Had never wanted anything more in his entire life. If only he knew.

"Will you at least walk beside me?" Taehyung asked quietly, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.

Jungkook nodded still trying to swallow the giant rock in his throat.

They walked quietly, side by side, shoulders occasionally brushing, their strides matching.

"Want to tell me what happened? How did you end up in the hospital?" Jungkook asked.

"I don't remember." Tae shrugged. "One moment I was drinking away my sorrows and the next I was waking up to them pricking needles into me."

"Sorrows?" Jungkook frowned.

"We really should think of changing your name. We are married after all. You could hyphenate your name if you want I guess." Taehyung said seriously, effectively diverting the subject.

"Why do you assume that I would be the one changing the name?" Jungkook asked with a chuckle.

"Coz you're the wife, of course." His tone added the duh. "And Kim Jungkook has a nice ring to it, don't you think? Definitely better than Jeon Taehyung." He shuddered delicately.

Jungkook chuckled again. They had walked quite a bit and should reach home in less than ten minutes. He sent up a silent thanks to the universe for working things out.

"Well, I like it. I vote for Kim Jungkook." Taehyung said with a light skip in his step.

"You are such a weird drunk." Jungkook teased.

"You are calling your husband weird? Wait until I get you home, I will knock some respect into you, Wife!" Taehyung smacked his ass and laughed hysterically.

They walked quietly for a few more minutes. The tall building was almost in sight.

"Why did you take so long to come get me, Kookie?

The nickname caused a sharp sting. He was so used to the curt way Tae always called him "Jeon" That every time he called him by his name or a nickname tonight, was stabbing him in the chest.

"I-"

"You were on a date." Taehyung finished for him.

"N-n"

"I'm sorry, I ruined it. I didn't mean to I swear." Tae said turning around to look at him. "At least I tried not to on purpose."

"You didn't." Jungkook said quickly before he was interrupted again.

"Was it good?" Tae asked. All traces of the drunken stupor had disappeared, he looked almost entirely sober.

"W-what?" Jungkook asked hesitantly.

"The date? Was he good to you? Make you happy? Make you laugh?" Tae asked, his gaze turning damp.

Jungkook frowned.

"Did he kiss you? Did you let him? Did you kiss him back? Wait! Please don't answer that. I don't think I could bear it." Taehyung said shutting his eyes tightly and covering his ears. "Don't say anything."

Jungkook stood frozen, Tae seemed to be spiralling but he didn't know what to do.

Tae opened his eyes and looked at him, his chin wobbling slightly.
"I'm.. I'm sure it was good, wasn't it? Do you want to leave? Be with him instead of me, Koo?" He stared at him with his wide eyes brimming.

"I didn't go." Jungkook said quietly.

"What?" Taehyung asked, wiping his face.

"I didn't go. I didn't see him. I cancelled. I was at home. I made dinner. Thai, like you wanted. And I most definitely did not kiss him." Jungkook answered stepping closer to Tae.

"You cancelled your date?" Tae took a tiny step closer.

"Yes."

"You were at home this whole time?" Another step.

"Well, I did go to one class but yes, I have been home."

"You didn't kiss him?" Another step.

"No."

"You made Thai food for me?" He stepped right up to Jungkook. Their chests touching.

"Yes."

"You didn't let him kiss you?"

"Nope."

"Would you let me kiss you?" Taehyung leaned in but Jungkook turned away slightly making Tae's lips land on his cheek instead.

"No."

"Why?" Tae asked painfully.

"I don't want you to blame me for taking advantage of you or to regret it tomorrow morning like you did the last time." Jungkook stepped away.

Taehyung looked shattered. "I wouldn't."

"You already did." Jungkook said turning away.

"I'm sorry."

Jungkook whirled around. "You're drunk. You don't know what you're saying. You wouldn't remember any of this tomorrow."

"I will, because I'm not drunk anymore. I won't regret because sitting at the bar wondering what you were doing and unable to do anything about it made me realise what I truly desire." Taehyung took a shaky step towards him. "Don't give up on me, bun."

"You don't know what you're saying." Jungkook repeated. "We should go home now. Get you into bed. Come on."

"If I ask you again, when I'm not so drunk or emotional or hurting like a bitch, would you do it?" Tae asked, trembling slightly.

"Do what?"

"Kiss me?" Tae sniffed.

"Why don't you ask me and then we'll see." Jungkook said walking up the steps to the lobby.

Tae watched him quietly. He would ask again. Soon.

But before he did, he would make damn well sure that Jungkook couldn't refuse. He didn't know how he was going to get there, there were so many hurdles in their path, so many mountains to climb but he knew he would do it.

He just had to focus on what he wanted.

Jungkook.

The rest would fall in place.

**********

A/n: Phew!!
Triple Update is done!!

Tae's back in the game
*high five* 🤚🏼

Thoughts?

See you next Chapter
Borahae 💜