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"Taehyung, hurry up!", Hoseok said loudly, as the boys were waiting for Taehyung to come out of the bathroom. They were about to go on stage and practice for their first live concert in almost 2 years. HYBE had booked the venue 2 weeks prior to the day of the concert, and the bangtannies were trying not to rush things, but they were very excited!
"Coming", Taehyung replied. After taking a deep breath, and seeing that it didn't make him puke, he slowly stood up, flushed the toilet, stepped out of the cubicle and washed his hands. Stealing a glance at his reflection, and seeing how pale he was, he reached inside his pocket, took out a face mask, and put it on. He also pulled his hood over his head, only his eyes visible, and opened the restroom door. "Sorry"
"Let's go!", Jin said, and they all headed out.
4 hours later, they were due for a break. Taehyung crouched down on the spot, and coughed a few times. He lowered his mask, trying to take a few deep breaths without the fabric barrier, and also trying to force his stomach back down as it felt like it would come out of his throat. Anything he had eaten or drunk that day was already out of his system, during his last meeting with the porcelain throne, probably yesterday's meals and fluids as well...
"Okay, let's get back to it!", Namjoon said. 20 minutes were already over? Taehyung had lost track of time. Reaching and putting on his mask properly again, he stood up, stumbling but maintaining his balance as he got dizzy. The others were too busy to notice.
"Come on!", Jungkook patted Taehyung on the back, and in his weakened state, the boy almost bent forward -it took a lot of effort to keep a straight posture. And like that, practice resumed.
After 3 hours, they decided to take a longer break to eat something. Taehyung, being aware of his nausea, didn't even bother grabbing a bite. He took a few sips of water slowly, hoping to keep it down. But, 15 minutes later, he was back in the bathroom, dry-heaving for at least 5 minutes after the little water he had left his stomach. Well, that didn't go well.... How can he keep up when he's malnurished, dehydrated and dizzy? He had to, it was probably his fault for getting sick now, he should have been more careful... ARMY deserve the best, not to mention his brothers...!
When they stepped back out on stage to continue rehearsal, it had started raining. Oh great, that's all that was missing to brighten Taehyung's day!
"Bundle up!", Jimin suggested, passing raincoats to the others, before putting his on. Pulling the hoods over their heads, they began again. Fortunately, it stopped raining about an hour later.
"Taehyung, you need to run faster!", Yoongi scolded him.
"Are you not excited about this? We can finally have a live concert!", Jin asked.
"Of course I am!", Taehyung replied, keeping his voice stable. All he wanted to do is curl up in a ball, under his bed covers and sleep. It was a miracle how he was still standing, if you take the dizziness and the blind spots in his vision, into account, not to mention his ears ringing. This can't be good...
"Then, you better act like it!", Hoseok exclaimed. Taehyung was hurt, but he tried not to show it. He understood that those words were coming from a good place, but it still hurt.
"We'll go again!", Namjoon told the staff, so they would rewind the song. Taehyung nodded, his head remaining low, as everyone took their positions to start over. To say he was struggling, would be an understatement. Keeping in mind what his brothers had said, and not wanting to be yelled at again, he tried to run faster. And he was successful. However, with the stage being slippery from the rain, plus his lightheadedness, things didn't exactly go according to plan... Taehyung slipped... and fell off the stage.
"We told you to hurry up, but you should still be careful", Jungkook sighed. They didn't hear an answer, which caught them by surprise, so they decided to check on Taehyung, frowning.
"Taehyung, are you ok-", Jimin began to ask, until the boys layed eyes on him. Taehyung's left foot was in a weird angle, probably spraining it when he slipped. He was laying on his right side, eyes closed, but that's not what caused Jimin to pause mid-word, or Hoseok to cover his mouth with his hands. There was blood dripping from Taehyung's left temple, as the boy's head came in contact with the edge of the stage when he slipped and fell.
"HYUNG!", Jungkook yelled, but Taehyung didn't move at all. The boys carefully climbed off the stage and ran towards him, Sejin running up behind them.
"Oh my God!", Jin exclaimed, the boys closer to Taehyung now. Jimin began to reach towards Taehyung, to shake him, but Sejin gently grabbed his wrists before he did, slowly raising his gaze to look at their manager.
"Don't touch him", Sejin said, still holding onto Jimin's wrists, but looking at all the boys. Fearing he sounded too harsh, he rushed to explain. "We don't know if he injured his spine, so it's better not to move him, but wait for the paramedics". He searched Jimin's eyes, the boy staring at him blankly, but he nodded. As if on cue, 2 paramedics came running towards them, the boys clearing the way so they could tend to Taehyung. They checked his pulse, the 6 boys holding their breath.
"His heart is beating a little faster than normal", one of the paramedics said. They let out the breath they were holding, hearing that. Taehyung was gonna be okay... right?
"Did he faint?", the other paramedic asked, looking at the others present.
"N-no, he s-slipped and fell", Hoseok stuttered. He looked at his brothers, recalling how they were all acting towards Taehyung today, and how Taehyung looked... "Actually..."
"We don't know... Maybe he fainted and that caused him to slip", Jin cut Hoseok off, looking around as he thought out loud.
"I see", the paramedic smiled, and then placed a c-collar around Taehyung's neck, before he and his colleague slid the backboard under him. Then, they lifted the backboard and started carrying it towards the back of the ambulance.
"Boys, let's get to the hospital", Sejin said, as the ambulance drove away, the sirens wailing. The boys nodded, ran with Sejin to one of the company cars, got in and followed behind the ambulance.
When they arrived at the hospital, Taehyung was already in a room getting examined. The head nurse told them in which room he was, so they can wait outside. They thanked him, bowing, and went to stand outside of the room he pointed them at. The curtains had been pulled, so they couldn't see inside. They don't know how long they had been waiting, when finally the curtains were pulled back and the doctor came towards them.
"How is he, doctor?", Yoongi asked, the boys hanging from the doctor's lips.
"I can't say for sure, yet. He sprained his ankle, which will take about 4 weeks to heal. As for his temple, he needed some stitches, but we have successfully stopped the bleeding. However, he is a little pale... When was the last time he ate or drunk something?"
"Uh...", Jimin frowned, trying to remember. "I don't remember, not today... Do you?", he asked his brothers. The boys tried to recall, but all ended up looking at each other and shaking their heads.
"He's slightly dehydrated and malnurished, but we're giving him fluids and nutrients via IV... Did he mention feeling nauseous? He must have had an upset stomach, because there's a faint smell of vomit when we got close to him as we examined him", the doctor explained.
"No, he didn't", Namjoon replied, the boys frowning in concern. Taehyung had been sick all day, and yet he still tried to keep up at rehearsal and put up with the way they treated him?
"W-what about his injury?", Jungkook asked, the doctor turning to look at him. "You mentioned he needed stitches but you have stopped the bleeding...", his voice trailed off, not finding the right words. The doctor understood, though, what he was trying to ask.
"Yes, he did need a few stitches. Since he hit his head, we'll run some tests to see if there's any internal damage... But, I can't say anything more, until he wakes up, so we can examine him properly", came the doctor's reply.
"How long till he wakes up?", Hoseok asked.
"We don't know...", the doctor sighed, looking down. That wasn't what the boys hoped or expected to hear... Their eyes widened. "You can stay with him if you want", he added, gesturing towards Taehyung's bed. The boys nodded frantically, bowed, and slowly entered Taehyung's room. Sejin stayed outside to handle the paperwork, and notify the higher-ups at headquarters, having in mind to suggest postponing the concert as well, and also come in contact with Taehyung's family.
As soon as the boys stepped in Taehyung's room, they saw a few IV bags connected to him. When they approached his bed, paying attention to him for the first time that day, they noticed indeed how pale he was. The nurses had already removed his soaked clothes and put him in a hospital gown instead. Despite the IVs, he looked like he was just sleeping peacefully, his hands laying parallel to his body over the covers. He looked comfortable, probably for the first time all day.
"Taehyung", Jin whispered, loud enough for only his brothers to hear. He didn't want to wake up the boy, who definitely needed the rest, nor did any of the others, so they also spoke barely above a whisper.
"What have we done?!", came from Hoseok, as he stared at Taehyung, shaking his head, his eyes teary.
"How did none of us notice he was not feeling well?", Jungkook wondered.
"And he still tried, he didn't even complain...", Namjoon said.
"That's Taehyung", Yoongi sighed, lowering his head.
"How could we treat him like that?", Jimin wondered. They didn't know what else to say, so silence filled the room. They were just looking at Taehyung, with sad expressions pasted on their faces, as tears started rolling down.
The boys barely left Taehyung's side, fearing he might wake up while they were gone. Not once did all of them leave the room -at least half of them were present when others did have to leave for restroom break or a cafeteria run. And they would talk to him, not sure if he heard them -yes, he was sleeping, but it had been 3 days and he hadn't woken up yet, so they tried to urge him on and show him they're there.
"Taehyung", Namjoon called.
"Hyung, it has been 3 days", Jungkook said.
"Please wake up", Yoongi begged.
"We are so sorry for the way we behaved towards you!", Jin added.
"We need you!", Jimin spoke next.
"We promise we'll make things right! Just, please, wake up!", Hoseok pleaded. And just like that, another day passed.
Taehyung wasn't sure when he became aware of laying on something soft, or how peaceful and quiet it was, wherever he was. Even though he had his eyes closed, he could tell the room was bright, he could almost feel the light trying to filter through his lids. And he knew he wasn't alone. So he worked his way to open his eyes, blinded by the lights at the beginning. As soon as he opened his eyes, he heard someone call his name, but couldn't register who it was yet. Feeling hands gently cupping his, he instinctively squeezed back. It took a few minutes to be aware of his surroundings.
"Taehyung?", Yoongi called from his left. Taehyung's eyes darted to him, squinting in confusion.
"Hyung?", Taehyung mumbled. Relief washed over the boys' faces as they sighed, Yoongi squeezing Taehyung's left hand a little tighter.
"How are you feeling?", Namjoon asked, standing next to Jin, also from his left.
"I'm... okay", Taehyung replied, still squinting, as he tried to remember what had happened. A sharp pain from his left temple did the trick, causing him to wince, and pulling away his hand from Yoongi's grasp to touch his head.
"Don't", Jin said, gently taking hold of Taehyung's palm before it came in contact with his temple. "Are you in pain?"
"Yes", the boy answered, instead of nodding- he feared it would hurt more if he did.
"Maybe we can ask the doctor to up his pain meds?", Jimin suggested, opposite Namjoon. Taehyung turned to look on his right side, feeling Hoseok tightening his grip on his right hand ever so slightly.
"Should I go now?", Jungkook asked from the middle, ready to run out.
"No", Taehyung said. "Not now, please"
"Okay, let us know whenever you want", Hoseok said, frowning. Taehyung's tone was off.
"4 days", Jimin replied to Taehyung's unspoken question, the latter closing his eyes in frustration momentarily.
"How did it happen? I remember restarting the song because I wasn't fast enough the first time...", Taehyung asked.
"You slipped and fell... off the stage", Namjoon responded, feeling a lump form in his throat at the mention, which he swallowed down before speaking again. "But we're not sure if you fainted and that caused you to slip and fall, or if you slipped and you lost consciousness because you hit your head"
"I see", Taehyung sighed.
"Hyung, why didn't you tell us you weren't feeling well?", Jungkook asked with sad eyes.
"I didn't want to distract you from practice", Taehyung began. "I was dizzy and I did end up puking anything I had that day, and probably the day before that as well, but all I cared about was that we could finally have a live concert, with ARMY present, after almost 2 years!"
"At what expense, you jeopardizing your health and scaring us out of our skins?", Hoseok rebutted. "Taehyung, you should have told us!"
"Why did you put up with our crap?", Yoongi asked.
"You shouldn't have tolerated this! We were total jerks!", Jin added.
"No, please don't talk like that!", Taehyung complained, his eyes wide. He hated when the others badmouthed themselves.
"It's the truth, though!", Jimin exclaimed.
"We've worked so hard, and ARMY deserve the best, so I get why you were a little harsh with me!", Taehyung said.
"A little harsh", Yoongi repeated, eyebrows raised. "That's a very kind way to say it and not close to the actual truth"
"I didn't mean to ruin practice, or scare you... I'm sorry", Taehyung said, his head low.
"Taehyung, please!", Jin exclaimed, dumbfounded.
"What about the concert?", Taehyung asked, avoiding eye contact.
"Cancelled it... Rather, postponed it", Namjoon said, after thinking.
"No", Taehyung looked up, eyes teary.
"It was for the best... We're not ready", Jungkook shook his head.
"We got too excited and carried away, that we neglected the most important thing: being kind to and taking care of each other, making sure everyone is okay", Hoseok spoke up, reaching and ruffling Taehyung's fluffy locks affectionately.
"We are so sorry, Taehyung, for the way we treated you! We promise it won't happen again!", Yoongi said, as he leaned in and lightly embraced Taehyung, the rest of the boys joining in. They were careful not to put any weight on him though, so their touch was light as a feather. After a bit, they pulled back.
"What about ARMY? They must have been as excited as we were! I...", he said, looking from one brother to the other, noticing his left leg in a kind of cast. "Even if I can't dance, I can just sit it out, but I can still sing!", he tried to convince them, voice and gaze full of hope.
"They were refunded for the tickets, as soon as the company informed them that we had to postpone the concert due to you getting injured during practice. And from what we've seen on Weverse, they didn't care about the refund at all, they were more concerned about your health, wishing you a speedy recovery", Jimin said. Taehyung felt his heart growing bigger hearing about how ARMY reacted to the news, even though sadness creeped up too.
"We can always reschedule, when we'll be ready", Jin smiled. "What's important right now, is you getting better"
"I want to go home. When can I get discharged?", Taehyung asked.
"We'll get the doctor to examine you and let us know if we can take you home, or if we need to stay here a bit more, first", Jungkook replied, as Jimin began to back away to go get the doctor.
"Taehyung, are we... okay?", Hoseok asked, all boys, including Jimin who hadn't exited the room yet, staring at Taehyung.
"Between you and me, nothing has changed ", Taehyung smiled reassuringly, looking at each brother individually. And the boys were relieved to hear that.