It’d been a few days since the duo left LA, after settling their business with the coach. It was their third night in Paris after, and since since their departure from LA, they had been to New York, and several small cities within France.

“Can we go to the hotel now, I’m feeling a little under the weather” Jiyong smiled at Seunghyun who rose an eyebrow; in the last few days he’d been noticing how strange Jiyong had been acting. He was always slept longer and always tired.

“Are you sure you’re okay”? Seunghyun asked when they arrived at the hotel.

“Yeah.... fine, just a bit tired” Jiyong lied, something was definitely wrong with him. “Come lie next to me”

“With pleasure” Seunghyun hopped on the bed beside Jiyong, he would still be the happiest if all he had to do was sleep in with Jiyong beside him.

“Baby.....Baby...hyunnie” Seunghyun yawned as he felt someone tapping him lightly. “Hyunnie”!!

“Youngie”? he yawned again as he rose up, “Baby are you okay? It’s 3am in the morning”

“Baby I think we should head back home”

“What? Are you okay”? Seunghyun was now fully awake. “Baby are you okay”? He reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. “My God Jiyong, you’re pale”, he felt Jiyong’s temperature. It felt normal.

“Baby I want to go home”

“No, I should take you to the hospital” Seunghyun was already panicking as he rushed out of bed. “Baby get dressed”

“No please.... just take me home, I don’t want to see any new doctor. Plus I’m really home sick”

“But Ji...”

“Seunghyun please”

“Fine” Seunghyun finally gave in when he saw tears forming in Jiyong’s eyes, he took out his laptop to find the earliest flight to Seoul. “Baby, there’s one leaving in three hours, we’re about thirty five minutes from the airport so we can make it if we start getting ready”

“Okay, I’ll start” Jiyong tried his best to move as quickly as he could. “No baby just shower and I’ll take care of it” Seunghyun stopped him.

“Seunghyun I’m fine” Jiyong pulled Seunghyun beside him when he caught Seunghyun eyeing him.

“Promise? I mean we could go to the hospital first before flying”

“I promise... Plus I’m really homesick” he placed a light kiss on Seunghyun’s cheek.

They had been on air for five hours and Jiyong had been asleep the whole way and Seunghyun couldn’t help but worry. On several different occasions, he’d seen Jiyong shiver and even after covering him with five blankets. He was growing increasingly worried, ‘It’s a fever, only a fever’, he kept telling himself. “Do you need anything, wine, coffee, soft drink”?

“Water please, no ice” he smiled at the flight attendant.

         “Baby.... baby wake up we’re home” Seunghyun was growing increasing worried, Jiyong slept the entire trip, except for when he had to use the bathroom; he neither ate nor drank anything. “I could carry you, and you have to eat once we get home”

“No way... gee Seunghyun, I'm not a baby” Jiyong kidded but Seunghyun found it hard to laugh, it seemed like Jiyong was sluring his words. Seunghyun supported Jiyong out of the aircraft, through immigration and baggage claim.

“Mom’s waiting, I bet she can’t wait to see us” Seunghyun whispered to Jiyong while keeping an eye on the man who carried their luggage. “Jiyong”? Seunghyun called when he felt all of Jiyong’s weight on him, “JIYONG...JIYONG”! Jiyong was suddenly unconscious in his arms.

“JIYONG”! Seunghyun was grateful to hear his mother’s voice, “Seunghyun what happened”?

Seunghyun lifted the unconscious Jiyong in his arms, “I don’t know, he’s been really tired lately and sleeping a lot” he said in haste as they made their way to the car where the driver was waiting patiently. “I’ll sit with him, you go in the front” Mirae’s voice was starting to shake, “Hurry”! She yelled at the driver, “I have to call the hospital to prepare a team, his breathing is labored”

“Mom, what do I do”? Seunghyun asked when she got off the phone with the hospital. “Tell me when this started, and why you two didn’t tell us or go to a hospital in Paris...he shouldn’t be flying”

“I didn’t notice on time, and when I did...he kept insisting that he was fine... I should have noticed, I should...I should have done something.... this...”

“This is not your fault Seunghyun, Jiyong is going to be okay” Mirae squeezed her son’s shoulder.  Both Mirae and Seunghyun prayed silently, and Mirae tried to check on Jiyong as much as possible. “We’re here” she opened the door before the car came to a halt.

‘Teenage boy, age nineteen....severe fatigue and….’ Seunghyun stayed in the car, trying to block the commotion with the doctors and the nurses, ‘Let’s get him inside, QUICKLY’! Seunghyun shut his eyes tight; he just wanted to get back LA, to those moments where Jiyong laid beside him, baring his heart and soul. Those moments he and Jiyong became one, “Seunghyun...” He opened his eyes to see his mother looking down at him, “Seunghyun, lets go inside”. He shut his eyes again, “I..I can’t... please don’t make me....I can’t go in there. I can’t see him like that mom”

       “Then lets stay out here but the car has to leave” she pulled him out; “This spot is reserved for emergencies”. She nodded at the driver when Seunghyun was out, “Take their luggage’s home, and you can leave for the night” She smiled at the man.

Time was moving slow, too slow. He should’ve been the one on the gurney, in fact he wished he were the one on the gurney, “How did you and dad do it”?

Mirae needed no further explanation; she knew what her son was referring to, “I don’t know.... But I can tell you that once it’s all over and he’s back home, it’s all forgotten”

“But now.....” he clenched his chest, “It’s happening now and I can’t do anything”, he finally let himself cry. “OH GOD” He was about to let his legs give out when Mirae supported him midway. “Seunghyun I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry you have to go through this” She patted his back, and let him cry it out, “Let it out. Let it all out now because when we get in, you have to be strong for him. He is going to need you to be his rock”

They stayed in that position for a few minutes before Seunghyun finally collected himself, “Ready”? Mirae asked looking at her watch; they’d been out for almost an hour and Eun Hyuk still hadn’t called or sent her a message, which meant that they were still running tests. That scared her a little; Jiyong usually had severe symptoms for him to be rushed to the hospital, either one of his crisis, or an asthmatic attack, but from what Seunghyun said, whatever it is must have snuck up to him. “Seunghyun, Jiyong is the strongest person I know. Don’t show pity or remorse, he hates that okay”? Seunghyun nodded, “You sure you don’t want your friends here with you, I could call Taemin for you”

“No.. he doesn’t even know I’m back in Seoul yet. I’ll call him in the morning”, he didn’t want to worry Taemin, “Mom lets go in, he might be looking for us”

“Okay” Mirae took Seunghyun’s hands and hastily made their way to the all too familiar room, “STABLE.......” Seunghyun and Mirae heard when they entered the suite, “Stable”? Mirae ran to Eun Hyuk who was leaning toward the door to Jiyong’s room, “Honey what did they mean by stable”?

Eun Hyuk wanted to answer but he gave Seunghyun a quick glance, “It’s okay dad, I have to hear it”

“He had a myocardial infarction” he said to Mirae before turning to Seunghyun, “A heart attack, wasn’t serious but they can’t guarantee that it wouldn’t happen again. His blood pressure is…”

“No...No....No” Mirae pulled away from her husbands grasp and walked out of the suite, “I’ll go with her, she’s on her way to the chapel” Eun Hyuk walked to the door, “Will you be alright by yourself, I could stay and....”

“Is this normal for him.... the heart attack”? Seunghyun asked eyeing the doctors and nurses that were surrounding Jiyong.

“No, this has never happened before”

“So it’s bad”

“There’s hope... I won’t allow anything happen, I can’t allow anything happen” Eun Hyuk said and left, he couldn’t possibly face Seunghyun when he didn’t have the answers.

Seunghyun remained standing in the suite till the doctor and nurses started filing out, “We’re not sure, we’re running test on the blood samples we drew so until we know what’s wrong, we can’t treat him”

“What about his personal doctor, doctor Kim. Shouldn’t he be here right now”?

“Doctor Kim has been out of the country on a retreat for that past two weeks. The test result would be out soon” The doctor nodded before leaving.

Seunghyun waited to catch his breath before entering the room Jiyong laid. The lights in the room were turned down except for those that shined on Jiyong. Jiyong looked tiny and pale lying there with breathing tube down his throat. *beep*.............*beep*..................*beep*..............*beep* “I really hate you right now” *beep* “You promised you were fine, but why are you laying here like this” *beep* “How could you lie to me? How could you not tell me earlier”? *beep* “How could you keep it to yourself”? *beep* “Have you been in pain this whole time”? *beep*

FLASHBACK

“Jiyong are you sure you don't want to come with me”? Seunghyun asked as he got ready to meet with coach Matheson and the rest of the players. They invited him to practice with them. The coach needed to see him play to know how much practice he would need in the future.

“And do what, watch a bunch of guys touch you inappropriately... No way” Jiyong pouted. “They can touch all they want but at the end of the day, you’re the one I’m going home with” he collapsed on top of Jiyong.

“Nice logic, maybe I should go so Chris can flirt all he want, after all I’m going home with you right”?

“Tease”! He kissed Jiyong, “Yea don’t come, it might be too early to start fighting with a teammate. So what will you do all day by yourself”?

“Watch movies, order room service, go sightseeing.... I’m not a baby you know”? Jiyong rolled his eyes.

“I know I just miss you already, I don’t want to go” he pouted.

“You have to. Plus, we’re leaving for France tomorrow night anyways. We’re only going to be apart for a half a day”

“Time passes too slowly” he gave Jiyong another kiss before running out the door. He knew the more the delayed his departure, the less likely he would show up for practice.

“Baby I’m back” Seunghyun practically ran up from the lobby, “Baby”?

“In here” he heard Jiyong’s voice from the bedroom. “How was practice”? Jiyong was focused on what he was writing.

“Amazing. But I thought of you all day” he quickly undressed, “What did you do all day, you seemed busy when I called”

“Nothing much, went sightseeing”

“Is that your journal”? he noticed how Jiyong quickly tucked it away when he peaked, “Wow I thought you had stopped writing in it”

“I did” Jiyong sighed, “But I decided to continue”

“And I still can’t read it....all of it”?

“Not yet” Jiyong smiled. “Now go shower, and come join me”

“I think I might need help, I’m way too dirty and I can’t clean this all on my own”

“Is that when you found out, the day you started writing in your journal again? Did you find out something you couldn’t tell me”?

“Seunghyun” Someone called from the door.

“Doc” Seunghyun answered but didn’t turn, “I know I failed to keep my promise of protecting him”

“This isn’t your fault” Min Hyuk walked closer to Seunghyun, “I was always so jealous of you Choi Seunghyun, even now I’m still jealous. Because the moment Jiyong wakes up your name will be the first he calls out, as always”

“Unlike the rest of you; my parents, the doctors, you I can’t do anything. So what’s the point of him calling my name”?

“Just be here, that’s what he needs the most.. not a bunch of bags of IV drips as someone so eloquently put it” Min Hyuk said and chuckled at Seunghyun’s old words.

“I’m sorry for being such a to you”

“It’s okay, I’m going to continue trying to steal him when he wakes up” Minhyuk said and they both laughed, “Anyways, what I came to tell you is... the test results are out, I think you should listen to it with your parents”

“Can’t you just tell me now”?

Minhyuk shook his head, “I haven’t seen it. I just volunteered to come get you, I’ll lead the way then I’ll come back to keep Jiyong company till you’re done”

“How could this happen” Eun Hyuk asked while Mirae cried on his shoulders and Seunghyun just sat there neither blinking nor speaking. It wasn’t exactly generally surprising news to both Eun Hyuk and Mirae, it was only shocking now because they thought they’d passed the hardest stage. “I just don’t understand how we didn’t detect this earlier, I don’t understand how this could have happened, there were no warning signs during his last check up”

“That’s the problem, it started slowly without anyone noticing, and then it kind of just spread like wildfire.” The doctor said solemely,

“But both kidneys.... how can both kidneys be severely damaged”? Mirae kept crying, “All his medications, I don’t remember a time Jiyong didn’t have to take a lot of different medications” Eunhyuk answered and the attending doctor nodded.

“The transplant, we should do the transplant as soon as possible” Mirae finally wiped her tears, “We should start searching for donors”

“That’s the problem...because it’s so sudden, it would take over a week to find a living donor and then we still have to do all the tests and....”

“He doesn’t have that much time” Eun Hyuk finished the doctors statement, it certainly felt surreal being the one handed the news. He was usually at the other side of the conversation, telling a family that their loved one only had barely a few days left to live.

“I’ll be the donor” Seunghyun finally spoke, “I’ll donate my kidney....both if I have to, plus I’m completely healthy; I don’t drink or do drugs, and…”

“Seunghyun...”

“Mom it’s fine, I’ve donated blood to Jiyong…we’re a match”

“Son” The doctor spoke this time, “This is not just a regular blood donation, we have to do various tests like urine analysis, antigen testing, EKG......”

“Then why don’t we start, aren’t we just wasting time sitting here”?

“Seunghyun, there are risks involved” Eun Hyuk reached for his son. “Dad wouldn’t you do it if you could, Please. You can’t stop me from doing this”.

“I think it would be best if we started with the tests, they’re both close in age so if they match, there would be less risk for Jiyong in regards to coping with the new kidney”, the doctor nodded at Seunghyun before rising up “If we’re settled, we have to admit you as soon as possible”

 “Jiyong should be put in a temporary induced coma while Seunghyun does the test” Mirae stopped the doctor.

“Yes, I was thinking the same but not for another couple of hours. His heart rate is still a bit irregular. Mr. Choi please walk with me for a moment”

“Seunghyun are you sure”? Mirae asked when she was alone with Seunghyun, “Yes mom, please lets not discuss this anymore”

“Sorry for bothering you” Minhyuk was at the door, “Jiyong is awake and asking of you”

“Go” Mirae nodded at her son, “I know you want to be with him. I’ll go have a word with your father”

Seunghyun hugged her briefly and made his way to Jiyong’s room. “Baby” He took Jiyong’s hand, the breathing tube was out. “I’m here...I’m here” Jiyong smiled, a small tear slid down his cheek. “I’m very angry at you right now”

“S...Sorry” Jiyong’s voice was hoarse, “I love you....”*beep*..*beep*..*beep*..*beep* The nurses came running I and just like that he was pushed out.

“Whoa, your love almost gave someone a heart attack” Minhyuk walked out with a couple of nurses, trying to lighten the mood. “Hyung if you’re going to make a joke like that, why don’t you change your expression” Seunghyun took a seat. “Hyung? Whoa that’s a first” Minhyuk sat beside Seunghyun, “we’re going to have to induce him sooner than expected... but it’ll be fine. I hear you’re his donor, how about we go fill some paperwork instead of moping around huh”? Minhyuk stood but Seunghyun remained unmoved, “Doc, how can you be so calm… you, the doctors, nurses…my dad. How can you all be so calm”?

“Trust me we’re not… we don’t have the luxury of being nervous. This is a different case; this isn’t some stranger….

This is Jiyong. Everyone in this department, both the doctors and the nurses love Jiyong so it’s a lot harder for us”

“Sorry for assuming….”

“It’s okay, just understand that we are doing the best” Minhyuk smiled at Seunghyun, “Common lets go stick you with a bunch of needles, and dump you in different machines”

“You sure you don’t want to think this through”? Minhyuk asked Seunghyun as they done with the final test for the night. He’d been asked the same question over fifty times, and the more he was asked, the more his mind was set on the task. “Would you”? He asked the doctor, it was the perfect way to deflect the questions. He’d read the brochure after filling out the paper work with his mother; his life span may be shorter, he would have to refrain from sports probably for life which meant goodbye UCLA, no surgeries were 100% guaranteed so there was a 20% chance that he might die during the surgery, the list went on and on but while reading that, he couldn’t help but think about Jiyong’s chances, and what his parents were going through. “Seunghyun” Minhyuk squeezed his shoulder.

“It’s okay you don’t have to say anything” Seunghyun smiled, “I miss the old you, you’ve been sticking to me all night”

         “Well i took all the samples so it’s required of me to stick to you” Minhyuk rolled his eyes, he’d never thought much for Seunghyun until now. He never really saw what Jiyong saw in him, Jiyong always seemed to have so much faith in his Seunghyun and he was now understanding why. When Seunghyun loved, he did so wholeheartedly. Never through all the tests did Seunghyun waver, even when Eun Hyuk finally broke when he caught a glimpse of Seunghyun going through the MRI machine, Seunghyun stayed strong. Even he had to admit he went off to the men’s room to cry his heart out when he was the great Eun Hyuk in that state. “Don’t get the wrong idea. When Jiyong starts college, we’re going to be together all the time. Then I’ll be a full time doctor and he’d be shadowing me”

Seunghyun smirked, “I guess he didn’t tell about UCLA, sorry doc but Jiyong and I are going to be together for a while.... I’ll send you our wedding invitation”. From there Seunghyun told how they both got accepted into UCLA.

“Seunghyun you know you wouldn’t be able to…”

“Play football? I know”, the room fell silent till Seunghyun spoke again, “Jiyong told me you used to play football, was it hard giving it up”?

“Yes a little, but I’ve seen you play and I wasn’t as good as you are”

“Doc do you know what’s so funny? I don’t mind giving it up one bit. I have my heart set on being a lawyer” Seunghyun smiled, albeit being teary eyed.

“Seunghyun it’s almost 11, you should get some sleep” Minhyuk changed the conversation.

“When will the results be out, I want be with Jiyong when they’re out”

Minhyuk sighed, “Seunghyun half the staff in this hospital have dedicated their night to work on the but even at that these tests usually take days and the most that I can guarantee is tomorrow” Minhyuk felt bad when he saw Seunghyun’s shoulder’s slump, “We have to prepare just incase you’re not a complete match. You know that right”?

“I’m a match, I have to be”

“Okay then” Minhyuk rose up, “We should head back. They put an extra bed in Jiyong’s room for you.... Seunghyun you really have to get at least 8 hours, you would be allowed to do surgery if you’re fatigued”

                                                                                                    ***

“I don’t understand why you didn’t call me” Taemin was trying not to raise his voice, they were in the hospital’s cafeteria, “Your mom had to call me to tell me that you would be going into surgery tonight, and that was because I called to tell her I was stopping by the house”

“Sorry, there was just so much going on and I didn’t want to bother you”

“How are you bothering me, we’re basically brothers.” He couldn’t even get angry, there was no point; his best friend looked like he could be the poster child for misery “ But Seunghyun..”

“T, if you’re going to ask me if I’m sure please don’t. You have no idea how happy I was when they said I was a match...I was happy but I couldn’t even really be happy, I mean Jiyong is still like that and the surgery is more dangerous for me than him” Taemin reached for his hands, “Taemin I don’t understand, I mean one moment we’re fine, and now we’re here. They said it would have still happened even if he was in the country so I don’t even know who to me angry at”

The two were silent for a little while, “So...why aren’t they doing the surgery now that everything is okay”?

“They just stabilized him, we are on schedule for 10pm”

“That’s in two hours”! Taemin looked at his watch, “Yeah, I should start heading up” Seunghyun rose up. “Should I text the boys, we should be here when you wake up in the morning” Taemin pulled out his phone.

“No.... I’m okay with just you”. They made their way to the elevator. “Was wondering where you went” Minhyuk greeted them at the elevator. “You ready”?

“As ready as I’ll ever be” Seunghyun smiled sadly. He’d spent his day talking to Jiyong, assuring him that everything was going to be alright and it felt like Jiyong was there comforting him. “If you have anything questions, now would be the time to ask... when we get up, you’re going to get in bed and we’ll roll you and Jiyong to the theatre… there an attendant would talk to you and then they’ll administer the anesthesia, and then begin the procedure”

“Doc you didn’t get any sleep did you”?

“Of course not, someone had to be there to kick your behind if you didn’t get any sleep”

“You’re not going to do the operation or anything right”? Seunghyun raised an eyebrow.

“I’m not a surgeon silly, plus it’s my day off but I’m here as a volunteer” Minhyuk tried to make light of the situation.

“Where’s dad”? Seunghyun asked Mirae as he was being rolled to the theatre. “He has another surgery scheduled so he went ahead.... he couldn’t take it” Mirae knew her husband well, he worked better when he was under stress. One look that the person he’s operating on and he works like he’s fighting for Jiyong’s life. “I knew you were the strongest” Seunghyun smiled at her, he’s been holding Jiyong’s hand with his free hand, the other was hooked to an IV drip. “My babies....” Mirae clutched her heart as they’d reached the doors to the OR, “I’ll wait here for you okay”? She finally let go, She could watch the procedure from the viewing room but decided not to, no mother should have to watch her sons being operated on. “Same, now go kick some ” Taemin added as he supported Mirae.

“How do you feel”? A nurse asked. “Okay, we’re about to administer the anesthesia. You feel week by now since the IV drip contained some but, this one works faster and will prolong the effect of the anesthesia”

“What about Jiyong”? He stopped her from putting the mask over his head, “We usually do the donor first” She smiled reassuringly, then a few of the attending surgeons walked in with their masks on “Seunghyun just relax, and it’ll be over before you know it” He recognized the voice, it was Minhyuk “I told you, I’d be volunteering. I’m just here as a bystander so relax okay”?. The mask was placed on him, and he turned to look at Jiyong as he eyes started feeling heavy, and for a brief moment he could have swore Jiyong’s eye were open and Jiyong smiled at him.

‘Hyung           Hyung             Hyung                  HYUNG               Sarangheyo                             Everything is going to be okay.

A/N: 61 Votes and almost 300 subs? whoa, you guys are amazeballs!!!!!!!!! So one more chappie and we're through though :(   OTTOKE? I miss you guys already, many of my readers have become silent due to delayed updates and for that I apologize. I have a new story in mind but first i will finish 'Revenge'  So i hope i'll see some of you there.