Long into the night, Yunho sat by Jaejoong’s quiet hospital bed with his mind chaotically swimming with all manner of thoughts and worries.

It had been many hours since Daddy Min had held Moonbin in his arms and with a reassuring and loving voice convinced the worried child that his mother would be well very soon. It had been many hours since Auntie Jihye and Brother Seungwoon volunteered to take care of the little one for the night and took Moonbin home. It had been many hours since Daddy Su reluctantly gave in to Yunho’s assurances that he would take care of the man’s best friend, to let him rest, and quietly left for home for the night. And, it had been many hours since Yunho found himself lost in a world of deep and agonizing questions.

Within the stillness and silence of the quiet room, where even the slightest sound echoed within the emptiness, Yunho found himself going over and over everything he had learned about the troubled brunette sleeping quietly before him. The truths about Jaejoong’s past; the heartache, the pain, the loneliness, the violence, the fear of the unknown, the loss; seemed far too tragic for a man who with a simple smile could light up even the darkest day. A man who, without even trying, could bring joy to the joyless, happiness to the most miserable, and contentment to even the most unsettled.

It seemed all so unfair.

From the moment he had met Jaejoong, Yunho had always felt that there was something more behind those deep brown eyes flecked with gold and cheerful smile, but he had never in his wildest dreams thought that such a beautiful soul could have been tormented so. Now that the truth was out in the open, for the first time in his life he had begun to despise the darkness of people’s hearts. How could they be so capable of such wonderful things, but chose to do nothing but bring pain to the gentlest of hearts?

He didn’t deserve such treatment, such pain, and yet he had to endure it none the less.

Although Yunho’s heartfelt heavy as if it had been secured with stones and thrown into the deep ocean unable to surface once more, the pity he had felt for his new friend, in the beginning, had disappeared far faster than he would have thought. As a doctor, he was trained to never let emotions interfere with his job and, after the life he had led, that ideal had seeped into almost every aspect of his life. He could treat the sick with ambivalence and emotional obliviousness, doing what must be done to secure their recovery but, with Jaejoong, those clear divisions between personal and profession were unequivocally nonexistent. He couldn’t just arbitrarily treat Jaejoong as a stranger, he was far too emotionally involved now. He cared for Jaejoong and Moonbin. He wanted Jaejoong to live. Not for just their sakes, but his as well.

Tearing his eyes away from Jaejoong’s hand clasped gently within his own, Yunho took in the clean contours and flawless skin of Jaejoong’s lovely face with sad eyes. His body was healed, completely on the mend, yet his eyes still hadn’t opened. As more and more time passed by, Yunho began to worry that Jaejoong would never wake up and that thought haunted him. He had to live. Jaejoong was so strong, strong enough to endure such a wretched and unfortunate past, he couldn’t let something like this stop him from living the life he had always dreamed of. There was so much more left to do. He had to live to see Moonbin grow up proudly. He had to live to see his work touch millions of lives. He had to live to experience the good parts of this world. He had to live to know what real love feels like. He had to live, he just had to.

“Jaejoong...” breathed out Yunho slowly, his heart aching for any signs that his words could reach the sleeping man before him. “You have to wake up.”

By the time dawn’s first light flickered across the horizon, the night’s fatigue had finally taken its toll on Yunho. Though he fought the need to sleep for many hours, his mind and body finally gave in leaving the young doctor fast asleep in the chair at Jaejoong’s bedside. And though his body lay still, taking in much-needed rest, Yunho’s mind still raced with the images of Jaejoong’s past. He could see himself standing there, in the corner of a small bedroom, unable to move a muscle, his body lashed to the wall, forced to watch as a man whose face he could not discern tormented and tortured a nearly wasted away and form shrinking in the darkness. The smell of sweat, , and blood assaulting his senses while hateful words of uselessness, disgrace, denial, and detriment rang out into the air like an unending mantra over and over as the shrinking form laying upon the ground, his arms cradling his face, cried out for mercy as blow after blow of a vicious fist landed again and again.

“Stop!” cried out Yunho.

Screaming at the top of his lungs, Yunho begged and pleaded for the man to let Jaejoong go as he thrashed against his bindings trying to set himself free. But no freedom came, as the man with no face seemed to nearly laugh in the revelry as he reached his hand back and backhanded the gentle form with a viciousness never before witnessed.

“Yunho, it’s Ok.” came Jaejoong’s soft voice from the deepening darkness. “This is what I deserve.”

“No you don’t!” cried out Yunho, his voice desperate and laced with agony, as he tugged on his bindings harshly. “You don’t deserve any of it!”

“You’ve done enough,” whispered Jaejoong softly.

Suddenly a bright flash enveloped the room, blinding him from the horror before his eyes, and then suddenly fell into pitch darkness. Closing his eyes, Yunho tried to slow his racing heartbeat as his mind to find its composure once again.

“Yunho...” came Jaejoong’s voice once more. “Yunho...”

Opening his eyes slowly, the soft light of Jaejoong’s hospital room pierced through the darkness until his vision came into focus and his eyes landed upon a third hand laying upon his and Jaejoong’s.

“Jaejoong...” gasped Yunho in surprise as he tore his eyes away from their intertwined hands and looked up to see those beautiful brown eyes looking back at him worriedly, a frown marring his beautiful face.

With a relieved sigh, Jaejoong pulled his hands away from Yunho’s and sunk back down in the bed.

“You scared me,” whined Jaejoong softly.

“Scared you?” questioned Yunho confusedly.

“You were crying,” whispered Jaejoong, wistfully motioning his hand towards Yunho’s face.

Reaching up, Yunho touched his face and instantly felt the remnants of tears upon his cheek.

“Well, I was worried,” answered Yunho honestly as he quickly brushed them away and moved to sit on the edge of Jaejoong’s bed. “You scared all of us to death.”

“What happened...?” questioned Jaejoong, looking down at the intravenous line in his arm.

“Your medicine,” answered Yunho. “You fainted...and hit your head on the tub.”

Raising his arm, Jaejoong felt the bandage wrapped around his head and instinctively closed his eyes and frowned.

“Moonbin found you...and called me,” he added gently.

“Binnie!” gasped Jaejoong, his mind immediately on full alert, as his eye snapped open in panic and he tried to push himself up in the bed. “Where is he? Is he ok?”

“Don’t get up, Jaejoong.” called out Yunho as he grabbed the man by the shoulders and pushed him back down onto the mattress. “You need to stay still. Everything is alright. Moonbin is at my house with Seungwoon. My sister’s looking after him. He’s fine. I promise!”

“I want to see him!” replied Jaejoong worriedly.

“You will...” reassured Yunho with a gentle smile. “They will be back in a few hours.”

“They will?” he questioned in a nearly defeated tone.

“They will.” nodded Yunho with certainty, smiling when Jaejoong suddenly relaxed back onto the bed.

A few quiet moments passed as Jaejoong silently seemed to be coming to terms with all that Yunho had told him, as the anguish and guilt of what he had done began to pool in his eyes. Turning his face from the man that had saved his life, Jaejoong let his tears fall freely.

“I’m sorry...” came Jaejoong’s gentle voice once more, laced with a tone reminiscent of regret. “For worrying everyone.”

“Don’t be.” smiled Yunho reassuringly as he reached out and rubbed Jaejoong’s shoulder lovingly.

“Someone’s finally awake.” came a surprisingly cheerful female voice from the doorway as a young woman, dressed in spring yellow scrubs and carrying a sterile silver tray in her hands, walked into the room with a gentle smile.

“Yes.” nodded Yunho as he smiled back at Nurse Kim.

“Oh!” she exclaimed softly, stepping up to the bed just as Jaejoong turned and looked at her. “And a little upset, I see.”

“Here.” she prompted gently as she grabbed a tissue from the small cardboard box on the bedside table and handed it to Jaejoong. “Wipe your face, darling. We wouldn’t want that precious little boy of yours seeing you at less than your best, now would we?”

“Thank you?” replied Jaejoong suspiciously as he reached out at took the offered tissue.

“This is Nurse Kim.” supplied Yunho with a smile. “She’s the best nurse in the whole hospital. You’re in good hands, Jaejoong. I promise.”

“The best?” she giggled slightly embarrassed as a blush flickered across her cheeks. “Hardly.”

Turning her eyes back to Jaejoong, she ventured a gentle smile before readdressing her patient.

“How are we feeling, Mr. Kim?” she questioned. “Any pain?”

“My head hurts a little,” responded Jaejoong.

“On a scale of one to ten, how bad is it?” she prompted.

“Maybe a three?” answered Jaejoong.

“So, not too bad at all?” smiled Nurse Kim. “That’s good.”

“Dr. Jung?” she asked as she looked back at Yunho. “I need to change his dressing and draw a little blood for more lab tests. Do you want to stay? Or would you rather step out for a moment?”

“Dr. Jung?” questioned Jaejoong softly, looking up at Yunho in confusion.

“I’ll step out.” smiled Yunho, nodding at Jaejoong as if to confirm his questioning look. “I need to call home, Junsu, and Dr. Shim.”

“Ok.” she smiled.

“.” thought Jaejoong as the name of his therapist echoed in his ears and he watches Yunho stand from the bed and walk out quietly.

When Nurse Kim finished her work and left, Yunho hadn’t returned leaving Jaejoong to his worried musings. Yunho hadn’t been a simple businessman or a random stranger who just happened to have a son his little Moonbin liked as he had thought. He was a doctor and from the respectful adulation he had received from Nurse Kim, a revered doctor at that.

The idea of Yunho’s occupation, though a little disconcerting, hadn’t really bothered him initially. Over the course, of his life, he had known many a great doctor, ones that were trustworthy, skilled, and caring, but knowing that Yunho was familiar with Changmin made his heart sink. What information about his life had Changmin shared? What did Yunho know?

The more and more Jaejoong thought of the possibilities the more his fear mounted. He liked Yunho. And Moonbin liked Seungwoon. Could they possibly still be friends after all this?

“MAMA!” came a voice so sweet and happy that Jaejoong couldn’t help but smile as he turned to see his precious little boy standing in the doorway holding tightly to his brother’s hand.

“There’s my angel.” sighed Jaejoong sweetly, reaching his arms out towards his son as the boy raced across the room, jumped onto the bed, and hugged him. Holding Moonbin tightly in his arms, drawing in the scent of his strawberry and cream scented shampoo, Jaejoong couldn’t help but sigh happily. Moonbin was alright.

“You had him worried.” came a female voice Jaejoong didn’t recognize.

“I’m Jihye,” she informed the second Jaejoong looked up at her questioningly.

“Yunho’s sister and...” she added shaking Seungwoon’s hand that sat quietly in her own “this one’s Auntie.”

“Seungie.” smiled Jaejoong.

“Hey, Mama Jae.” waved Seungwoon with a bright smile before shuffling his way to the bedside.

“Hello sweetheart.” nodded Jaejoong.

“Daddy said you were awake...” offered Seungwoon as he climbed up on the bed and sat beside Jaejoong. “Brother wanted to see you.”

“And I wanted to see him,” answered Jaejoong gently as he reached out and patted Seungwoon on the shoulder. “Thank you for bringing him.”

“We missed you Mama.” smiled Seungwoon.

“I missed you two, too.” chuckled Jaejoong lovingly.

“Are you better, Mama?” questioned Moonbin.

“Much better, now that my two favorite little men are here to see Me,” reassured Jaejoong, smiling brightly when Seungwoon joined Moonbin in a sweet group hug.

Glancing up at Jihye, Jaejoong notices an almost astounding look upon her face. For a moment he didn’t understand why she was looking at him like that but a second later he remembered what Yunho had said about Seungwoon being afraid of people. With a nod of reassurance, silently telling her that she had no reason to fear him when it came to Seungwoon, he released the two young boys in his arms and smiled at them.

“Have you two been good for your Auntie Jihye?” he questioned.

“Yes, Mama.” the two boys answered in tandem.

“Good.” smiled Jaejoong. “Have you eaten breakfast yet?”

Moonbin instantly frowned, lowering his head.

“Binnie...” urged Jaejoong, a slight inflection of scolding in his voice.

“He was too worried about you to eat.” offered Jihye as she came closer to Jaejoong’s hospital bed. “But, he promised me that he would eat well after he got to see you again.”

“Did he now?” questioned Jaejoong suspiciously. “Did you promise Auntie Jihye that you would eat after seeing me, Binnie?”

“Yes, Mama.” nodded Moonbin.

“Well... you’ve seen me. Now you need to go eat,” responded Jaejoong in a motherly tone.

“But...” protested Moonbin, looking up at his mother worriedly.

“No buts.” countered Jaejoong, wagging his finger at his son for emphasis. “Real men always keep their promises, Moonbin. Especially to the ladies...right?”

“Right!” answered Moonbin with a curt nod of understanding.

“I’ll take him.” gently laughed Jihye, amused by the interaction between Jaejoong and his son. “There’s a great cafeteria downstairs. They have the yummiest pancakes too.”

“Pancakes?!” repeated the boys in tandem.

“Yup!” she smiles, amused even further over how quickly the two little ones crawled out of Jaejoong’s lap and bounced up to her side.

“Thank you, Jihye.” nodded Jaejoong appreciatively.

“No worries.” she smiled, directing the boys towards the door and glancing up to see Yunho standing in the doorway.

“Any friend of my brothers is a friend of mine,” she added pointedly, looking at her brother with a knowing smirk on her lips.

Jaejoong watched as Jihye and the boys disappeared out the door and smiled to see the vision of them quickly replaced with Yunho.

“They’re in good hands, Jaejoong,” confirmed Yunho with a smile. “That I can promise, for sure.”

“Jihye loves children, and they love her too,” he added. “It’s a gift, I think.”

“Moonbin seems to like her,” confirmed Jaejoong with a gentle nod. “She seems nice.”

“Only to strangers.” he laughed. “To me...well, we are brother and sister after all.”

“Feeling better?” he questioned.

“Yeah.” smiled Jaejoong before questioning softly. “So, you’re a doctor?”

“Afraid so...” smirked Yunho playfully. “That doesn’t bother you does it?”

“Why would it?” questioned Jaejoong suspiciously.

“What are you hinting at?” he thought.

“No reason.” smiled Yunho with a dismissive wave.

“I take it...then...you’re my attending?” he asked.

“Yeah.” sighed Yunho.

“When can I go home?” Jaejoong immediately questioned.

“Everything looks good,” responded Yunho in a more professional tone. “So, as long as nothing else happens, you can go home in the morning.”

“I feel fine.” countered Jaejoong. “Can’t I just go home today?”

“You may feel fine, Jaejoong,” replied Yunho, sitting on the bed beside him. “But we need to make sure you are fine before we let you leave.”

“I don’t want to send you home and then something else happens because we were too hasty,” he added with a knowing nod.

“I understand.” sighed Jaejoong.

“I spoke to Junsu earlier.” offered Yunho gently. “He will be here in a bit.”

“Dr. Shim is also on his way,” he added.

“Oh...” sighed Jaejoong worriedly.

“I also called the nutritionist and set up your food plan for the day,” he informed, a slight tinge of disappointment lacing his words.

“Food plan?” questioned Jaejoong guiltily.

“Yes,” answered Yunho with a stern look in his eyes. “They will be bringing your food up soon. You are to eat all of it. Without wasting a single speck of it. Are we clear?”

Realizing that there was no way Yunho didn’t know that he hadn’t been eating regularly, Jaejoong sighed understandingly and nodded in acceptance.

As the rest of the morning and afternoon went by rather smoothly, Jaejoong’s heart began to feel more at ease. He had eaten properly, received the love and support of his son, Junsu, Seungwoon, Jihye, and even Changmin, who had seemed more relieved to see him awake than disappointed in his recent setback, but even though they had done much to comfort him he still felt a slight pang of worry gnawing at his conscious.

All, throughout the day, Yunho had been there; in the room with him, showing his support for Jaejoong’s recovery; but rarely speaking more than a few words after Moonbin returned from breakfast. The sudden silence from the man who had been so talkative the moment he woke up, sent a chill down Jaejoong’s spine; leaving him to quietly fret and worry as to why. Was he just worried or was there something more?

Stealing glances at the man he barely knew, Jaejoong had noticed the nearly sadden look on Yunho’s face that would appear out of nowhere and then suddenly disappear behind a smile that seemed so utterly forced, seconds before anyone could take note of the occurrence. Jaejoong had thought to call Yunho out on his behavior when Junsu had left for the day and his room had emptied out for an hour as his family and friends went to grab some dinner from the cafeteria, but he just couldn’t bring himself to say anything. Mulling over anything and everything that could have possibly affected Yunho’s mood, Jaejoong was certain only that it had everything to do with him and most certainly his past. He had tried to talk with Changmin alone, hoping that if they could get a moment he would be able to find out what, if any, his psychologist and friend may have told Yunho, but it seemed as if Changmin was deliberately avoiding any situation in which they could talk privately. And that made Jaejoong worry even more.

“It’s getting late.” sighed Jihye, glancing at the clock on the wall and noticing that it was nearly nine o’clock. “I should really get the boys in bed.”

“Yeah.” nodded Jaejoong, glancing down at the two little brothers cuddled close together on the couch near his hospital bed and slightly dozing. “Binnie’s usually in bed by eight. It’s late for him.”

“They both should be in bed by now.” nodded Yunho softly from a small recliner in the corner of the room.

“Alright.” smiled Jihye. “I’ll take them home. What time do you want us to be here in the morning?”

“Don’t come,” answered Jaejoong.

“Why not?” she questioned.

“I should be dismissed from the hospital by nine, there is no sense in driving the boys here just to turn around a few hours later and go back,” answered Jaejoong, his voice sounding somewhat weary. “After breakfast, just bring the boys to our place and wait for me there.”

“Binnie knows the passcode to the door,” he added. “So you can get in easily.”

“Alright Jaejoong.” nodded Jihye.

After Jihye, Seungwoon, and Moonbin had said their goodbyes and left for home, the hospital room that had been bustling with activity and noise throughout the day immediately fell into a dead silence. With a deep sigh, Jaejoong settled back into his bed and threw an arm over his eyes and tried to relax for the first time all day. Yunho said nothing, watching the brunette from his quiet spot in the corner of the room, knowing full well that there were things left of unsaid hovering all around them. Hoping to avoid a confrontation, a discussion between him and Jaejoong, Yunho had tried his best to ignore the strange air that had encircled the room all day but he knew that it was futile. The elephant in the room was far too large to simply ignore.

“Yunho.”

He immediately flinched.

“Yes?” he questioned.

“When this is over...when I leave tomorrow...” said Jaejoong sadly “I...”

“Whatever...whatever I am to you...whatever you feel for me...whatever our relationship is...” he continued.

“Whatever...this is...it’s done.”

“Done?” questioned Yunho worriedly, standing from his chair in fear as he suddenly felt his heart drop into the pit of his stomach. “What do you mean done?”

“Done...” answered Jaejoong with a strange finality lacing his words. “As in....”

“Just...done.”

A/N: Sorry about the delay on all stories. I have been having internet issues for the last few weeks. Everything is fixed and I'm finally back on schedule