Jungkook took Tae home. Though the doctor suggested that the younger should stay the night but seeing how Tae got angry & all worked up Jungkook requested the doctor to let him go home. He promised the doctor that he'll take very good care of the boy. Finally the doctor agreed to discharge Tae & prescribed medication for him.

Once back home, Jungkook helped Tae to his room. He then asked Tae if he wants to change his clothes, to which the younger just nodded his head. He hadn't talked anything after his outburst in the hospital.

Jungkook helped him to the washroom & made him seat on side of bathtub. He then left & came with fresh clothes for Tae.  "I'll wait outside. Don't lock the door okay. Call me when you are done, I'll take you back" with this he left the washroom shutting the door.

After sometime Tae called him. He went & helped the Tae back to the room. Then Jungkook made dinner & fed Tae, even though the later kept saying he's not hungry. But Jungkook isn't going to take no for an answer. The doctor told him the younger boy is weak, he needs proper nurishment & Jungkook is going to give it to him.

After dinner Jungkook fed Tae his medicine & tucked him in. He was leaving the room after tucking the boy in, when he heard the faint voice of Tae saying,

"Don't leave"

He turned back & saw Tae is sitting on the bed looking at his lap. He slowly went & sat in front of the boy.

"Don't leave me alone" Tae said again in a faint pleading voice.

"You want me to stay here? With you?" Jungkook asked looking care fully at his face.

Tae nodded his head.

"Okay I'll stay" with that Jungkook got on the bed & laid beside Tae.

As soon as he laid, Tae came to him & hid his face in Jungkook's chest. And then he started crying. Loud sobs recked his body. Jungkook held him tightly feeling his tears wetting the t-shirt he was wearing.

Tonight Tae really needed someone with him. He needed to cry & he needed someone to hold him tight while he cried. And Jungkook became that someone. As Tae felt Jungkook tightening his arms around him, the dam broke & his sobs became loud wails. He wailed for his broken heart, his broken trust.

Jungkook felt his heart breaking hearing the boy in his arms wailing loudly. What made him even more heart broken is that he didn't know what he can do sooth the boy, to lessen his pain. He didn't even know why Tae is crying in the first place then how can he sooth him. So he did the only thing he could do. He hugged boy tightly offering him his presence & comfort.

Jungkook hardly slept that night. Tae kept whimpering even in his sleep. He couldn't bear his state but there's nothing he could do.

"What happened to you Tae? Why are you like this? Why are you in so much pain? I can't bear to see you in pain. I wish all your pain will come to me. I don't know what made you like this, but I wish you will share your pain with me." Jungkook thought as he kept rubbing Tae's back & head to comfort him.

The days that followed saw a totally lifeless Tae.  He did everything he normally does in his day to day life, but he never talked, never smiled or cried, he didn't even get angry. He never showed any emotion. He was just numb as if he can't feel anything at all. He went through his daily routine like a machine.

Jungkook got worried seeing his state. This had never happened before. Tae is an expressive person. Even if he doesn't talk one can still tell what he is feeling just by looking at his eyes. That's how expressive his eyes are. But this time even his eyes are numb. And it made Jungkook scared. He really wants to know what caused Tae to be like this. But he couldn't ask the younger thinking what if it makes him more stressed. Once he suggested that they should call Jin & tell him about Tae being unwell. May be Tae will feel better if his eomma visits him. But Tae told he that there is no need for it. Still Jungkook insisted on it & Tae started shouting on him saying he doesn't want to meet anyone. Jungkook too didn't insist anymore, scared he might trigger Tae.

Days passed like this, then one day while Jungkook was setting the dinner table, he heard a thud from Tae's room. He immediately went to check on the younger.

He saw Tae sitting on the floor of room, his eyes wide & teary. He had his phone in his right hand & his left hand on his mouth.

Jungkook got worried seeing him like that & rushed to him. Kneeling in front of Tae he asked,

"Tae, baby are you okay? Why are you here like this? Please tell me what happened?"

Tae looked at him & gestured to his phone "K... Kookie... a...appa e...eomma" he fumbled. He couldn't even form a sentence.

Jungkook understood something drastic might have happened. He pulled Tae in his arms who immediately held his shirt in fist. He took the phone & held it near his ears.

"Hello?"

"H..hello Jungkook" came Jin's teary voice.

"Uncle Jin! What happened? Are you okay? Why are you sounding like this?" Jungkook asked worried.

"Jungkook Joonie, Joonie collapsed. One moment we were sitting & talking, the next moment he collapsed. I..I am at hospital right now"

"What sir collapsed?" Jungkook said shocked "you don't worry uncle Jin I'm sure sir will be okay. We are coming to hospital right now."

Saying this he cut the call.

When they reached hospital, they saw Jin outside the emergency. As soon as Tae saw him, he called 'eomma' & hugged him. Jin too hugged his son tight. The duo cried holding each other.

Jungkook felt sad seeing them cry like that. But didn't know how to comfort them. The most important person of their life is inside the emergency room of hospital. He knows how hard it is for them. After all he too was like that just a few days ago. So he let them cry in each other's arms.

Soon the doctor came out. They inquired about Namjoon.

"He had a mild stroke. It seemed like he had been in a lot of stress for a long time. He's out of danger now. He'll regain consciousness by tomorrow. Make sure he doesn't get stressed anymore. He needs a happy environment." The doctor told him & left.

They went inside the room where Namjoon was lying. Jin went & sat on the chair beside the bed, holding his husband's hand. Jungkook & Tae stood behind him.

Jungkook thought Tae will cry again when he sees his father. He too like Jin hold his appa's hand or even hug him. But nothing like that happened. The younger just stood there looking at his father. His face once again became expressionless. Jungkook couldn't understand what's happening. Just a few moments back Tae was crying his eyes out yet here he standing lifelessly. "What happened to you Tae?" Jungkook thought.

Jungkook had told Jin to go home with Tae , that he'll stay in hospital. But Jin refused to part with his husband. So Jungkook had to leave him there. He took Tae back home.

Jungkook was in his room changing his clothes. He felt an easy feeling growing in him. As if something is not right. He started feeling nervous without any reason. He decided to check on Tae. So after changing he went to check on Tae.

As he opened door of Tae's room, he felt all life leaving his body at the sight that he met with.

_________________

Thanks for reading. Hope you like it.