They were still on their knees, heads bowed as they awaited their Leader's answer but Onew was still so confused and worried about them to properly answer their question. However, he could see they were being weighed down by so much, he wanted nothing other than to be able to lift it from their shoulders like he used to, even if it meant he had even more to carry on his own.

“Please, guys... Stand up, please” he said quietly, he hated to see people kneel in such a vulnerable position just for him, especially if it was his beloved members. Hearing his voice, Taemin, Key and Minho rose from the floor and stood straight, still respectful but at least Onew felt better that they were at he same height, if not higher in Minho's case. Jonghyun, however, who had been the most affected by the guilt, remained on his knees and didn't even raise his head. Onew knew how much he was struggling, he could see and feel it, and it was killing him.

“Key” Key's head immediately snapped over to his Hyung's and came forwards,

“Hyung?” he asked and Onew replied,

“Help me up” he asked quietly. Key was about to argue but before he could, Onew motioned to the floor where Jonghyun was still kneeling and said,

“Key... Please.” Key merely nodded silently, and carefully helped his Leader to his feet. Onew lent on him while trying his best to walk on his bruised leg and the cast on his other. Together they made their way over to Jonghyun who still had not looked up from the floor. With Key's help, Onew lowered himself onto his knees in front of the lead vocalist and placed his hand under his chin, gently guiding his face to his. Tears glistened in his eyes and he looked like a little lost puppy.

“Hyung, I am so so sorry, I don't deserve you but I still really need you” Jonghyun was quietly sobbing, trying his hardest to stop his shoulders from shaking. Onew had seen this many times before: Jonghyun always tried to stay the tough guy if he could but he wasn't great at handling strong emotions, he tried to hide but he needed to just let go. Onew was always there to help him through the break down and was there to pick up the pieces left over and rebuild him into an even stronger man than he was before. Onew wanted to take all his pain away and take it on himself but in this situation the others wouldn't let him. Onew just looked into Jonghyun's face and he gently caressed the side of his jaw and cheek with the back of his hand, like he used to when he talked with him about his problems. He had told him before about little things his parents would do for him and that was one of them. Onew had learned over the time since their debut about little things which made