True to his word, Jungkook was there at 9 AM sharp, just as visiting hours began. He rushed to Yoongi's room and found he was still unconscious, and that Namjoon was asleep, sitting up in a chair.

So as to not disturb either one of them for the time being, he silently lowered himself into another chair and waited. He thought about getting on his phone, but he found he couldn't. All he wanted to do was stare at Yoongi and will him to wake up.

He was devastated. He couldn't believe he had ignored Yoongi after doing something that apparently was special to him. He hadn't known that it would be. He had just done something that he hadn't been able to get out of his own head. He'd wondered for a while what it would be like to kiss Yoongi, but he'd never crossed that line because Yoongi was already so out of sorts with relationships and love. It felt inappropriate to do. So, when he spontaneously did it anyway, he felt terrible. He was worried Yoongi would feel pressured or obligated. And that wasn't something Yoongi should be worried about or concentrating on right now. So, he'd removed himself from the situation, hoping Yoongi would be able to go back to focusing on the things he needed to.

He also needed time to contemplate how he himself felt about it. It had meant something to him, too. And he wasn't sure how to handle that. Jungkook hadn't felt the way he felt about Yoongi for anyone since his first and only relationship in high school. And because he didn't know how to handle it, he'd simply walked away.

It was so selfish, and looking back, Jungkook was disgusted with himself. Who was he to make decisions about Yoongi's feelings? Who was he to decide what Yoongi did or did not need? He should have acted like a man and talked it out with Yoongi. He should have explained his fears and why he was so horrified with himself that he'd done it.

Because now, he might never get a chance to. Now, Yoongi might die having believed Jungkook didn't care about him.

For what felt like the fiftieth time since he heard about Yoongi's condition, Jungkook dropped his head into his hands. He didn't know what he'd do if Yoongi didn't make it. He couldn't even entertain the thought.

"Jungkook?"

Jungkook's head snapped up. Namjoon was watching him carefully. "You okay?"

Jungkook shook his head. He didn't know how to explain to Namjoon how he was feeling. He didn't want to tell him he was scared his best friend wouldn't wake up.

"Talk to me," Namjoon said kindly. "What's going through your head?"

Jungkook shook his head again, but Namjoon persisted. "I know you must be having a hard time right now. It might make you feel better to talk it out."

Jungkook took a deep breath. "The kiss meant something to me, too," he said quietly.

Namjoon nodded. "I figured as much. Why did you run away, though?"

"I... I felt like it was inappropriate. I didn't want to pressure Yoongi or make him feel like I cared more about kissing him than being there for him."

Namjoon sighed. "I think I understand where you're coming from, but – "

"But it wasn't my place to decide how Yoongi feels."

"Exactly," Namjoon said.

"I should've talked it out with him. I just... I panicked."

Namjoon nodded. "That part is clear."

"I care about him, Namjoon. I hope you know that."

"I do. You had a funny way of showing it recently, but I know you do."

Jungkook looked over at Yoongi. "Do you think..." he took in a deep breath. "Do you think he knew that, too?"

Namjoon followed Jungkook's gaze. "I think so," he said honestly. "But I can't tell you he wasn't devastated when you disappeared."

Jungkook let out the breath. "I'm such an idiot."

"Gotta agree with you there," Namjoon said.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. When it opened, Jimin entered. But then, upon seeing Jungkook, he paused.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Oh my god, Jimin, what happened to your eye?!"

Jimin looked at Namjoon, who rolled his eyes, then back at Jungkook. "Chul happened."

"Oh," Jungkook said, feeling foolish. "Right."

"Where have you been?" Jimin asked, annoyance in his tone.

"Off being an idiot," Jungkook said.

"Sounds about right," Jimin muttered.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," Jungkook said sheepishly. "It was my day and I should – "

"Yeah, you should have," Jimin interrupted. "But there's nothing you can do about it now."

Jimin stepped past him without another glance and walked over to Namjoon. "How's he doing this morning?"

Namjoon shrugged. "No one's been in here since I woke up. But none of the machines have gone off or anything, so I'm thinking his condition is probably the same."

As if on cue, a nurse suddenly entered the room. "Good morning," she said pleasantly. "Noticed any changes?" she asked Namjoon.

Namjoon shook his head. "Seems about the same."

She checked Yoongi's vitals and all of the machines he was hooked up to and then nodded. "At least it's not worse," she replied.

"I suppose that's the best we can hope for for now," Namjoon said.

"Don't give up hope," the nurse said, patting Namjoon's arm. "I've seen people come back from worse. And your friend is a fighter."

Namjoon smiled. "He is pretty stubborn."

The nurse laughed. "Call me if anything changes," she said as she left the room.

Jimin sat down beside Namjoon. "He's gonna make it. You know that, right?"

Namjoon sighed as tears pooled in his eyes, but he nodded. Jimin wasn't sure he believed him, though.

About ten minutes later, there was another knock at the door, and they were all surprised to see Officer Chung enter the room. "How is he doing?" he asked Jungkook.

"Why are you asking him?" Jimin said incredulously. "Namjoon here is his guardian."

"Oh," Officer Chung said. "I'm sorry, I just know Jungkook because he came with Yoongi to the station to fill out the forms to press charges."

"Well, he's been pretty useless since then, so you should start checking with Namjoon for Yoongi's condition."

"Jimin, calm down," Namjoon said quietly.

Jimin just glared at Jungkook, who didn't blame him.

As Officer Chung and Namjoon began talking, Jimin walked over to Jungkook. "So, why are you here? Don't you think you owe us an explanation?"

Jungkook nodded. "I do. I know I do. I need to talk to Namjoon first, and then I'll talk to all of you."

Jimin rolled his eyes. "Sounds like you're stalling."

"I swear I'm not," Jungkook said, but he could tell Jimin was still skeptical.

"Jimin, would it make a difference if I said I'm sorry?"

Jimin observed him. "Depends, but it's a start."

Jungkook smiled briefly. He'd take what he could get.

"Let me know if you need anything, boys," Officer Chung addressed Jimin and Jungkook. "I'll keep in touch with Namjoon, but any of you are welcome to contact me at any time."

"Thank you," Jimin answered as Officer Chung headed out the door.

"What did he say?" Jungkook asked Namjoon.

"Chul is being held in as maximum security as he can be in without actually being in prison," Namjoon answered. "Bail has been revoked indefinitely until a trial can be held. He won't be seeing the light of day for awhile."

Both Jimin and Jungkook sighed in relief. "So, they're basically waiting for Yoongi to wake up so the trial can begin."

"Well," Namjoon said. "Because Yoongs is so touch and go right now, they're thinking about pressing on without him, in an effort to expedite."

"But... But he's the star witness. It literally happened to him!" Jimin exclaimed.

"Yeah, they need him and his testimony, right?!" Jungkook added, just as incredulous.

Namjoon sighed. "They believe their case is strong enough to proceed without Yoongs. Especially since you and I are victims and witnesses now, too, Jimin."

"B-But none of us ever actually saw Chul abusing Yoongi. The three of us heard it, and you and I were injured by him, but we never saw anything specific happen to Yoongi. How could he get the full punishment he deserves without Yoongi?!"

"I don't know," Namjoon admitted.

Jimin dropped into a chair and ran his hands through his hair. "They think he's going to die."

Namjoon shook his head. "No, they don't. They just want to – "

"This is exactly what Chul wanted; what he intended to do," Jimin said quietly. "He'll be delighted to hear about this. He wanted Yoongi dead."

"Well, he failed," Namjoon said fiercely. "And Yoongs'll make it and be able to see Chul put away in prison. He didn't want to go through a trial anyway. This way, he won't have to."

Jimin sighed. "It still makes me nervous that he'll get off easy.

"He assaulted us. Officer Chung said he'll likely get at least five years for that."

"Five years isn't enough for what he did to Yoongi," Jimin mumbled.

The whole time, Jungkook just watched the two friends go back and forth. He felt exactly the same way as Jimin. He wasn't sure what else he could add, so he just kept quiet.

"So, when will the trial happen?" Jimin asked.

"They're not sure yet. They're gathering all the new evidence from the assault yesterday. Officer Chung said he'd keep me informed."

Jimin just shook his head, out of arguments. He felt so drained, so disheartened, he couldn't bring himself to say anything further.

Namjoon sighed. "We'll make sure he gets put away, Jimin. And think about how great it'll be to be able to tell Yoongs when he wakes up that Chul's already in prison. We can all celebrate together."

Jimin kept quiet, but nodded slightly. After a few minutes, he stood up. "I need some fresh air," he said. "I'll be back soon, but call me if anything changes."

Namjoon nodded. As soon as Jimin was gone, Jungkook turned to Namjoon.

"Jimin said I owe everyone an explanation."

"You do," Namjoon agreed.

"I know. But I don't know if Yoongi would want me to tell everyone about the kiss. He only told you, didn't he?"

Namjoon paused, then nodded.

"What do you think? Would that be too much of a privacy invasion to tell them? He obviously didn't want them to know if he didn't tell – "

"I think you're more scared for yourself than you are about spreading Yoongi's business."

Jungkook closed his mouth. "I am," he admitted.

"You know Yoongi well now," Namjoon said. "How do you think he would react if you told them."

Jungkook was silent for a few long moments, then he sighed. "They're his closest friends. He probably wouldn't mind. That, or maybe he would even want them to know."

Namjoon shrugged. "You're the other party in this, so it's up to you. But I think you already know what you need to do. They may judge you, but I don't think it'll be for the reasons you think."

Jungkook furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Namjoon sighed as though Jungkook was stupid. "They won't judge you for kissing him. They'll judge you for running away after doing it. But, they've already done that without even knowing what happened. So, maybe it won't be as bad as you think if you're honest."

Jungkook looked away from Namjoon, deep in thought. "Now I just need to decide if I want to tell the story and answer questions four more times, or just tell them all together."

"I know it seems daunting," Namjoon said. "But I think you'd get more respect for approaching each one individually."

Jungkook considered this, then nodded. He stood and headed to the door.

"Where are you going?" Namjoon asked.

"To find Jimin," Jungkook answered.