Chapter 14 – A Dramatic Nap

Chapter 14 – A Dramatic Nap

As soon as Jimin opened his eyes, he realized there was something heavy laying across his chest. He tried to move but whatever was holding him had a superman type grip on his torso. Jimin looked around the room and realized he was in the hospital. He was a little fuzzy about what led up to being here. He looked down at his chest and saw the top of Jungkook's head. Jungkook was asleep with his entire upper body sprawled across Jimin. He could feel Jungkook's heart beating. The feeling of having their two hearts so close made Jimin smile. Jimin's smile dissipated when he saw Jungkook's swollen puffy closed eyes. It was clear to him that his Kookie had been crying. His arms were stretched over his head and locked over Jimin's body.

Jungkook was heavy. Jimin wanted him to move but he didn't have the heart to wake him. Even in such a pitiful state, Jungkook was still extraordinarily handsome. He was the most beautiful man Jimin had ever seen. Jungkook's face was pointed up towards Jimin as if he had been watching him from that very position for hours.

Someone entered the room. Jimin was still locked in place by Jungkook's heavy body, so he couldn't see who it was. Taehyung's face appeared above JImin's head.

"You're awake! You gave us quite a scare," Taehyung whispered low to avoid waking Jungkook.

"Sorry about that. I'm ok though," Jimin reassured him.

"Yes, we know you're ok. You gave us all a heart attack for what amounted to a big dramatic nap. Doctor says you'll be just fine and you can go home any time," Tae smiled.

Jimin looked down and Jungkook, "Is he ok?" Jimin asked with worry.

"It almost killed him Jimin, this definitely was rough on him," Taehyung patted Jungkook on the back, "I've never seen him like that before. It's good to see him finally get some sleep."

"How long has he been here?" Jimin inquired.

"Going on about 14 hours now. The Doctor gave you some medicine to help you sleep. You've been out cold since yesterday. He's been right here every second." Tae smiled down at Jungkook again.

"Oh Jungkookie," Jimin spoke to him softly. He ran his hand through Jungkook's hair.

The sound of Jimin's voice whispering his name was enough to wake Jungkook out of his slumber. His eyes flew open and he popped up from Jimin's chest. Jimin let out a gasp of relief. Jungkook was indeed very heavy. Without looking around or giving any concertation to who was in the room, Jungkook reached up to kiss Jimin. Tae was standing there but Jugkook didn't notice. Jimin had to think fast to keep Jungkook from planting a big wet kiss on him in front of Tae. Jimin broke into a coughing fit that caused him to shift slightly to the right. The small little movement was enough to divert Jungkook's eyes to where Tae was standing. Jungkook aborted his attempted kiss.

"Yeah, so I'm pretty sure I walked in the other night right after you two had just fucked each other silly. I��m not going to be appalled and offended because you kiss in front of me." Tae said with indignation.

"Jiminie-hyung, are you okay? How long have you been awake?" Jungkook was eager for answers. His swollen eyes were big as they surveyed Jimin's face.

"I just woke up, I feel great, very well rested, in fact," Jimin reassured Jungkook.

"They gave you something to help you rest. They also pumped you full of nutrients to stabilize your vitals. Your blood pressure dropped too low. That's why you blacked out. Your blood was super thin and it was limiting the oxygen to your brain. That's why you wouldn't wake up. Thank goodness the EMT's got there when they did. That CAT scan came back negative," Jungkook reached back and propped up Jimin's pillow as he continued to rattle off Jimin's health status, "Your potassium was low. You also needed a vitamin B shot. There's no sign of concussion, but they are still running more test on your iron, something was a little off there. You've also got a couple of bone spurts in your left ankle. You'll need to take it easy on that for a while. You're exhausted…that was no surprise and the stress was causing a bunch of other problems that only God can explain. You're emaciated and the Doctor wants you to put on at least ten pounds. I already hired a nutritionist. Other that than, I think…we'll be ok." Jungkook concluded his analysis and presented Jimin with a big knowing smile.

"Um, thank you Dr. Kookie. And how do you know all of this?" Jimin said amused.

"I have POA remember? I have a right to know everything," Jungkook suspiciously emphasized the word everything.

"Sweetie, I just fainted. It happens to people all the time," Jimin stated, holding back a smile.

"Bullshit. It may happen to other people maybe, but not to you. You were unconscious for almost 20 minues Jimin. We didn't even know if you were breathing. This is not something that just 'happens all of the time'," Jungkook was serious and a bit anxious. He tried to keep his emotions stable. He didn't want to reveal too much in front of Taehyung. Jimin sensed that Jungkook wanted to speak to him alone.

"Taehyung, where are the other members?" Jimin asked

"They had to get back to practice. They were here most of the night. We even cancelled the fan greet event yesterday. And we have a concert tonight, remember?" Tae said.

"Gosh, I forgot, I better get dressed and…" Jimin attempted to pull himself up to get out of the bed. Jungkook interrupted Jimin and pushed him back down hard.

"You're not going anywhere. You're taking the night off, Doctor's orders." Jungkook was again very serious.

Jimin frowned at Jungkook. He looked politely at Taehyung and asked, "Tae-Tae could you please excuse us for a moment?"

Tae could tell that Jimin was irritated with Jungkook's overbearing protection. Tae was happy to be able to leave the room. Jungkook cursing at Jimin was an odd event indeed. The tension was palpable and Tae wanted no part of it. He quickly exited.

The door hadn't even shut completely before Jungkook had pounced onto Jimin and pressed his lips against his. He held his lips there for an eternity. Tears had started to roll down Jungkook's face again.

"Please tell me you're ok. I'm so sorry. This is my fault, I should have watched you more carefully. I knew you weren't feeling well. I knew you needed to eat more. I didn't do enough to protect you. I forced you to have sex every day, multiple times a day. I knew you were under stress and I didn't take care of you. I was mad at you for something stupid. If I had just come to see you. If I had just been there for you. I didn't even speak to you, oh baby I am so so sorry, I am so…." Jungkook purged his guilt. He cried on Jimin's chest.

"This wasn't your fault, this had nothing to do with you. These things happen Jungkook. You said it yourself, my blood pressure dropped, I had some vitamin deficiencies. It happens. I'm ok now. That's all that matters." Jimin tried to reassure him again. "Don't cry my love. You're over reacting. I'm fine."

"FINE?" Jungkook said loudly. "You were unconscious for 20 minutes. If I hadn't caught you, you would have busted your head open on the practice floor. That isn't fine Jimin. That is not someone who is OK."

"I'm sorry I scared you Kookie." Jimin apologized and shifted uncomfortably at being lectured.

Jungkook continued, "Sorry isn't good enough. This can never happen again. You mean too much to this group. We can't continue if you're not here. I can't continue if you're not here. From now on, I will take care of you. I will never let you down again Jimin." Jungkook's eyes started to well up with tears again.

"How can you possibly have any more tears left?" Jimin teased Jungkook. His teasing was successful. Jungkook immediately stopped crying and began to smile.

"Good question," Jungkook added. "I'm serious Jimin. We can't go through this again. I want you to move in with me for a while. That way I can keep a closer eye on you. From now on, I will be handling all of your meals. You will eat. I also need to monitor your sleep. I got you one of those sleep trackers, it's attached to my phone. Now I will know when you're sleeping and when you're not."

Jimin looked down at his arm and sure enough, there was thick black sleep monitor buckled around his arm.

"I got it, I got it. I'll do better, but Kookie, don't you think you're over reacting just a bit?" Jimin delicately challenged Jungkook's over zealousness.

"You left me for twenty fucking minutes. I thought you were dying. There is no over reacting in this situation Jimin. Besides, this is just temporary until you get back on your feet. I know you like your freedom and I won't impose on that. But we need to handle this." Jungkook had never spoken more sternly to Jimin in his life.

Jungkook grabbed Jimin's face with both hands and begun kissing him again around every inch of his face.

Jimin was a little bit taken aback by this new attitude Jungkook was displaying. He wanted to push more about being able to perform, but he was a little scared of how Jungkook may react. He gently dipped a toe into the water, "Did the Doctor really say that I couldn't perform tonight?"

"Yes."

"But what about my solo spots and the choreo?" Jimin shifted in his hospital bed.

"Covered," Jungkook said casually.

"You?" Jimin stared at Jungkook.

"Yep," Jungkook smiled.

"Oh Jungkookie, that's a lot of extra work for you," Jimin felt guilty.

"It's ok. I'll do it every night if that's what it takes for you to get well. Your only focus should be on getting your strength back. I'm going to get you back to your room and then I have to get back to practice. Lucky for us the concert is local and we don't have to travel. We've got to make some adjusments to the songs to compensate for your not being…,�� Junkook's voice became shaky.

Jimin saw it coming. Jungkook couldn't bear saying the words "your not being there". The fear of losing Jimin had been too much. Jungkook fell to Jimin's side on the bed and cried. Jimin, never felt more in love with anyone in his life. Every tear that fell from Jungkook's eyes, Jimin matched with his own.

"I'm ok Kookie, please stop, I'm ok," Jimin tried his best.

"I know, I know, I just was so scared," Jungkook pulled himself together and stood up again.

"Let's get you out of here," he used his already damp sleeve to wipe his nose and both his eyes, "the Doctor has already signed your papers, so you're free to go now. I'll help you get dressed."

Manager PD walked into the room unexpectedly.

"How are we feeling?" He smiled and looked down at Jimin.

"Fine, I'm fine. Much better." Jimin greeted him with a smile.

"Good. I called your parents. They know you're fine but I'm sure they would like to hear from you. Please call them when you get back to your apartment."

"I wish you hadn't done that. I don't want them to worry," Jimin protested.

"You fell in the middle of practice in front of a tens of people. Do you really want them to hear that from the tabloids?" Manager PD insisted.

"Ohh, I guess you're right about that one." Jimin agreed.

"Jungkook has spoken to your mom and dad almost hourly. They know exactly how you're doing." Manager PD patted Jungkook on the back.

Jimin's nurse entered the room. She wanted to do one last check of Jiimin's vitals before he left the hospital. Jungkook and Manager PD stepped away towards the corner of the room to give them some privacy.

"Jungkook, how are you?" Manager PD asked.

"I'm fine Hyung," Jungkook shifted nervously.

"Are you really? You haven't slept or eaten since yesterday.

"I'm fine really," Jungkook repeated himself.

"Jungkook, listen to me. Jimin can't perform tonight. There will be a heavy load placed on you. The members need you, but you have to be rested to be your best. I will be taking Jimin back to his apartment. I will get him settled and keep an eye on him. You have to get back to your room and get some rest. Please take that as an order and not a request.

Jungkook looked over lovingly at Jimin. He was hesitant to leave him in someone else's care but he really had no choice.

"Yes, Hyung. I understand." Jungkook acquiesced.

Jimin was eavesdropping on the conversation. After a few minutes delay, their conversation triggered his memory and he recalled hearing something while he was still unconscious. He remembered Jungkook telling the ambulance technician that he kept a copy of Jimin's insurance card in his wallet. Jimin yelled at Jungkook and Manager PD as they stood in the corner talking.

"That's right, I remember. You keep a copy of my insurance card. You're such a dork," Jimin let out a loud hardy laugh that caused him to double over while sitting up. He was definitely getting back to his old self.

"Stop taking these dramatic naps and maybe I won't be forced to keep tabs on all of your medical details, Hyung!" Jungkook barked back. Both men were laughing with dancing eyes. Jimin was pleased to see Jungkook snap back quickly. It was a good sign.

Jungkook left as he was instructed. He had been forced to leave Jimin's side, so he was heading back to his apartment to get some sleep. As he walked down the hospital hallway, he saw Namjoon and Yoongi approaching him. Jungkook sped up and with lightning speed was upon Yoongi and had him pinned to the wall.

Jungkook laid into him, "He BEGGED YOU, to let this go. He begged you two to work this out. You know how sensitive he is. You knew this was affecting him. Whatever this stupid shit is between you two, it ends NOW!"

Jungkook yelled the last word. It reverberated down the hallway. Jungkook was always cool and calm. He showed very little emotion with most things in his life. But when it came to Jimin, all bets were off. His pain, outrage, fear, guilt, regret, all of it came boiling out of him. He took it out on Yoongi by slapping him in the chest.

"He's worried himself sick because of you two. We could have lost him you selfish DICKS," Jungkook's voice was raised again. He aimed his last insult and both Yoongi and Namjoon.

"Ouch," Yoongi pouted, "you hit me. That hurt."

"First of all, we never even came close to loosing him. He was unconscious for about 20 minutes. After that, he was good." Namjoon corrected Jungkook's assertion of Jimin ever being in dire straights.

Yoongi whined a little louder this time, "What about my chest? It still hurts."

"Aw, I'm sorry Yoon," Namjoon reached out and petted Yoongi on the chest. He continued speaking to Jungkook, "and secondly, you shouldn't abuse your elders. Yoongi is too old to take that kind of punishment from a muscle pig."

Yoongi burst into laughter. "Muscle pig, that's a good one Joon." Yoongi backed up Namjoon's insult of Jungkook. Namjoon was in a deep smile and his dimples were on full display as he thanked Yoongi for the compliment.

"So now this is funny?" Jungkook was still angry and he wasn't in the mood to deal with their nonsense.

Both Namjoon and Yoongi stopped laughing at once.

"We're sorry JK. We know this mess between us was stressful for everyone, especially Jimin. Although, in our defense, it wasn't ALL our fault. Jimin puts a lot of pressure on himself and he wasn't eating properly despite multiple warnings of our tough schedule…."

Yoongi could see JK growing very angry with Najoon's attempts to skirt responsibility for Jimin's collapse. Yoongi burst into the middle of Namjoon's statement, "Stop talking, stop talking, stop talking," Yoongi directed his comments toward Namjoon and interrupted his intended path of conversation. Yoongi continued speaking on behalf of Namjoon, "Jimin scared the shit out of all of us ok? We knew we had to put this behind us. It should have never come to this." Yoongi looked down apologetically.

"Yeah, we're good now. We're brothers and best friends and we always will be." Namjoon said eloquently.

"Good," Jungkook agreed, "because Soujin is not worth fighting over."

"Oh yes she is," Yoongi replied.

"She's hot as FUCK," Namjoon chimed in.

"And the things she can do in the bedroom," Yoongi added.

"My GOD!" Namjoon high fived Yoongi, "Straight freak!"

"OOOOOOO-K, enough, I really don't need to hear anymore," Jungkook was grossed out by their description of Soujin.

Jimin was left alone in his hospital room. He had been released, but there were a few lose ends that Manager PD still needed to tie up. Jimin was growing bored, so he grabbed a magazine from his bedside table.

The door to his room silently opened.

He looked up and reacted with disguist when he saw who was entering his room.

"What are you doing here? I don't want you here. Please leave. Please get out. Yoongi and Namjoon could be here any minute and we don't need you causing a scene. GET OUT!" Jimin spat angrily at Soujin.

"Well hello to you too Daddy." Soujin seemed to ignore every single thing Jimin said. She pulled up a seat and sat next to Jimin in his hospital bed.

"Soujin why are you here? Get out please, I don't want you here." Jimin tried to show his anger, but he was still weak and slightly sedated.

Soujin continued to ignore Jimin. She lifted up from her seat and went to the linen closet to grab a blanket. She wrapped the blanket around Jimin. She activated two hot packs and placed them under Jimin's neck. "You're cold Daddy. Your fingertips are a little blue and I can see the goose bumps on your arm."

Jimin was freezing. The extra warmth felt beyond good. But there was no way he was going to admit that to Soujin.

"Ok, so let's address your tantrum shall we? First, Namjoon and Yoongi are here. They both know I'm here. They aren't fighting any more. We all sat down and talked. I apologized. I explained myself. They kissed and made up. It's all good. Although your boyfriend almost beat the shit out of Yoongi in the hallway. Jungkook's fucking hot by the way." Soujin rattled off a bunch of facts that no one had bothered to tell Jimin.

Jimin wanted to stop her to force her to go back to the "beating the shit out of Yoongi part" but he decided to let her speak. She clearly wasn't leaving until she said her peace.

Soujin grabbed Jimin's hand. "You've warmed up nicely. Good Daddy. Lutz see, what else were you bitching about? Oh yeah, why am I here? So, when Yoongi called and told me what happened, I couldn't help but feel a tiny bit responsible." She pressed her index finger and thumb together and left a tiny little space between the fingers.

"A tiny bit responsible! Bitch you're 100% responsible!" Jimin felt badly as soon as he blurted that out. If Jungkook had been there, it would have never happened.

"Ok, Ok, maybe I deserve that. But let's put it all on the table shall we? I had a look at your chart. Every indication is that you haven't been eating, taking vitamins, or sleeping. In fact, you ignored the warning signs so adamantly, that your body shut itself down for it's own protection. So you can blame me, Yoongi, Jungkook, Santa…whoever the fuck, but ultimately, YOU are the one who needs to take care of you. No one else will ever know what's going on with your body like you. Stop being selfish. If you fucking die, Junkook will be right behind you." Soujin's waist length hair was a deep purple. She grabbed it by the bunch and twisted it into a bun.

Jimin couldn't deny a single word she said. "What do you mean "looked at my chart?" so now they're giving my personal health information to just anybody?"

"I'm not just anybody Daddy. I'm the head nurse here at the hospital. Nothing goes down without me knowing about it." She flashed her badge at Jimin and smiled. "Yeah, a lot has changed in the years since we first met huh Daddy?"

Soujin stood over Jimin and pulled a pin light out of her chest pocket. For the first time, Jimin noticed that she was wearing a pair of purple scrubs that matched her purple hair. She leaned over Jimin and checked both of his eyes with the light.

"You're still medicated. Is someone coming to take you home? You can't be alone right now." Soujin ran her fingers through Jimin's hair.

"Yea, my manager is coming to get me." Jimin was still trying to process the information that Soujin had just dropped in his lap. How could this filthy, trash talking slut possibly be a nurse? And a good one at that?

"Look, I know you don't want me here. And I'm leaving, I promise. But I need to say this to you Jimin. I'm sorry. I really have no excuse for my behavior. I mean this all happened because of one drunken night that spiraled out of control. I would never hurt you and Kookles. Sorry, Kookles is what we called him when he was little. I mean Jungkook. I would never intentionally hurt you and Jungkook. Or Yoon or Joon. Forgive me?" Soujin respectfully placed her hand on top of Jimin's.

Jimin felt like he was in the Twilight Zone. Nothing before him made sense. Soujin apologizing, Soujin a nurse, Yoongi and Joon no longer fighting. It was a lot for Jimin to absorb. One thing was for sure. Whatever he thought of Soujin before, she had definitely changed his impression of her.

"Takes a lot of damn courage to come in here and apologize after the way I treated you last time we spoke. Of course, I accept your apology. If you accept mine." Jimin smiled.

"Damn you're hot. I bet the sex between you two is the fuckin' SHIT!!" Soujin reverted back to her strange perverted self.

Jimin frowned, "Soujin, we were making progress."

"Sorry, sorry, Ya, no apologies needed here. So I guess we're good." She smiled back and Jimin. "Ok, I'm off duty. I heard Kai is partying at a club down town, I'm sooo going to check out that scene." Soujin got up to leave.

"You know he's gay right?" Jimin had personal knowledge of Kai's sexual habits.

"Ohh yeah!" Soujin smiled naughtily, she kissed Jimin lightly on the forehead and threw up the peace sign as she exited the room.

Later that evening, all of the members stopped by Jimin's apartment to see how he was doing. They stayed as long as they could before they had to prepare for their concert.

Jungkook joined the other five members for their performance. Jungkook, still affected by Jimin's absence, struggled to get through the evening without crying. But he managed to do a brilliant job covering for him.

When Jimin was finally cleared to fully participate in the performance, he and Jungkook were both delighted. Even though Jimin was out for less than a month, Jungkook missed him terribly as a band mate. They had great chemistry on stage and performing together was immensely fulfilling.

Jungkook and Hoseok were warming up back stage. All of the members were mulling around, trying to pass the next ten minutes until it was time for them to hit the stage. Jimin, in an uncharacteristically aggressive show of affection in front of the other members, grabbed Jungkook's hand.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Jimin pulled Jungkook to a empty corridor beneath the stage.

"Yeah, how are you? Do you feel ok?" Jungkook looked at every inch of Jimin. "Look, if you're not up to this, you don't have to come back tonight. We can wait."

"No Jungkookie, no. I've never been better. Thanks to the care you've given me, I feel better than I have in a long time. This is something different." Jimin spoke as he unbuttoned the first button of Jungkook's shirt.

Jungkook jumped and giggled as Jimin tried to go down his shirt, "HEY, what are you doing we're about to go on. Plus, we're taking a break from that remember?"

"Shh, honey. Calm please." Jimin reached his hand into Jungkook's shirt and pulled out the chain that held his matching couple ring. Jimin released the ring from the chain and slid it onto Jungkook's left ring finger. He held his palm up to Jungkook's palm and they locked fingers. Just like the night when Jungkook originally gave the ring to Jimin.

"It's been too long. I never meant to deny you. Please forgive me? I love you so much and it's time that everyone know. You've been the brave one willing to scream your love for me. I've been the coward, only willing to whisper my love for you. That stops today." Jimin bumped his forehead up against Jungkook's.

Tears flowed. Jungkook was overwhelmed. He never had a chance to say a word.

"Stage up, let's go" The producer called. It was time for OT7 to open the show. Jungkook gave Jimin a quick kiss and they separated to get into their positions.

Both Jimin and Jungkook were overjoyed throughout the show. Their level of flirtation was noticed by all and would end up as the basis for rampant speculation about the true nature of their relationship. Jimin stood center stage singing, Junkook ran up and threw his left arm over Jimin's shoulder dropping his hand just above where Jimin was holding his microphone with his left hand. It was quick, but it was enough to set the world ablaze. Jungkook knew the flurry of gossip that would be spawned by him intentionally granting everyone a glimpse of their matching rings. The moment was captured by every single camera in the nation. The next day, pictures showed up everywhere analyzing the meaning of the matching rings. The entire event created a spectacle. But Jimin and Junkook didn't care about any of it because this was just the first step of many on the path to openly proclaiming their love.