Chapter Text
To be honest with himself, Jungkook doesn’t know how he has managed to hide his fever from his hyungs for so long. He is hiding it well. especially as Jins astute eyes hasn’t noticed. He feels he has it all under control, managing by sleeping as much as possible in between concerts and rehearsals. But, today is that fateful day where it's all about to catch up with him.
...
Even opening his eyes this morning has been a huge effort, sitting up even more so.
Namjoon hears Jungkook whimper slightly.
“Everything okay Jungkook?” The leaders eyes showing concern for the Maknae.
Jungkook smiles through his pain. His limbs and head ache. He feels like shit, but this is the last show, and he out right refuses to let Army and his hyungs down.
“I’m fine Hyung. Must have slept at a funny angle last night” He lies.
Just one more show, that’s all, just one more and then he can break and get all the help he needs.
This is going to be a hard day... But, little does he know, it's about to get a lot worse. ...
Namjoon is already one step ahead of their youngest. He isn’t convinced by JKs response, and he is planning on telling the others to watch out for their youngest throughout the day. However, that plan is about to go out the window.
...
The group are on their way to the venue when they all start to notice Jungkook isn’t his normal self.
“You okay JK?” Hobi asks sympathetically.
“I’m fine. Just tired, aren’t we all?” he tries to divert the conversation back onto his hyungs.
He is getting really tired of being asked that question.
“He makes a good point. Some of us may not look it, but we are all pretty much exhausted by now.” Yoongi speaks, ironically yawning towards the end of his sentence.
“You’re always tired Hyung.” Jimin cheekily jokes, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere.
"Sure" Yoongi smirks. He doesn't have the energy to joke right now.
“Guys, can we keep it down please?” Namjoon sounds pissed.
He is keeping his eye on Jungkook through the wing mirror. He notices how pale and tired he looks, something is definitely wrong with the kid.
“This is the last show of the tour. As Yoongi and Jungkook said, we are all tired, so we need to rest as much as we can before tonight’s performance.” He looks back over his shoulder to Jungkook “Some more then others.” His expression softens.
Everyone falls silent, but now Jungkook is worried. Namjoon has noticed, which unsettles him even more.
He has to perform. He can’t let Army and his Hyungs down. Not ever, but especially not on the last show of the tour.
He has to suck it up and get through this, then he can rest as much as he wants.
“Kookie, you’re looking a little pale, are you okay?” Tae whispers. Jungkook shakes his head, sighing heavily.
“I’m tired but fine, Can everyone stop asking me that!?” He feels guilty straight away for snapping at Tae.
He knows it’s wrong of him but all he wants to do right now is sleep. No questions, no sympathetic looks, just sleep.
“Ya Junkook! Tired or not, I won’t tolerate any disrespect towards your brothers, especially us Hyungs, is that clear?!”
Oh crap, now he has annoyed Jin.
“Apologise to Tae. He is only checking up on you.” Jungkook feels ashamed, bowing his head as he bites his lip nervously to apologise.
“I’m sorry Tae Hyung” He feels Tae’s arm wrap around him and pull him into his shoulder gently.
“It’s okay.” He knows his best friend. He knows he is struggling right now.
“Sleep for a while. I’ll wake you when we get there.” He smiles through his worry.
JK, feeling overwhelmed, just wants this day to be over as he gives in to his exhaustion.
Taehyung runs his.hands through his only younger brothers hair. That's when he realises, he is warm, like really warm. He waits patiently for his best friend to fall into a deep sleep before voicing his concerns with Yoongi who is sat on the other side of him. He doesn’t want to wake the boy and panic him, so he keeps his voice soft and low, leaning into the eldest Rapper.
“He’s really warm Hyung” Tae eyes are wide with concern.
Yoongi frowns and gently touches Jungkooks forehead, immediately flinching from the heat radiating from their youngests.
“Aish” He keeps his voice low, but the expression written on his hyungs face is concerning The.
Yoongi is the one with the calm level head, and him looking this concerned is more then disconcerting.
Tae sees him lean forward, whispering in between Jin and Namjoon’s shoulders. Instantly the eldest and the leader turn to face Jungkook. Both clearly worried, they turn their attention to their second youngest.
“How long Tae?” Namjoon quizzes. Tae's confusion is evident. What do they mean, "How Long?" He questions himself before he looks into his hyungs eyes.
“How long what? What do you mean?” He questions.
“How long has he been sick, and how long have you two kept this from us?” Jin questions seriously. It is wrong of him to assume, but knowing Tae and JK spend a lot of time together, he suspects Tae has to know something. Though the moment he asks, he can see the boy is telling the truth.
“I didn’t know, I promise Jin hyung. I was stroking his hair, that’s when I felt him burning up.”
Jin feels bad for questioning Tae, but his mind is consumed by worry for his maknae. He leans over the sick kid, gently checking their golden Maknaes temperature, as he exchanges a concerning look with Namjoon.
This is not good!
“When we get to the venue don’t wake him. I’ll carry him. Hoseok can you set the sofa in the dressing room up with some blankets and a pillow? Namjoon you need to let Sejin and management know. Yoongi you get the thermometer, fever reducers and medication organised. We already have food ready at the venue, we need to get him to eat before he takes the medicine but until that moment I don’t want him woken up. He needs to rest” Jin gives his orders sternly but lovingly to his maknaes and dongsaengs.
...
They arrive at the venue an hour later after being caught in heavy traffic, lucky to make it in time for rehearsals before the soundcheck starts.
This increases their worry, they know they are going to be rushed and not have much time to rest backstage and only adds to their concern for their youngest member. He is clearly sick and has an intense 5 hours ahead of him.
The plan that Jin had set out is underway, Junkook still fast asleep having been carried by Jin from their van to the sofa in their dressing room. Yoongi and Namjoon out of sight dealing with medical supplies and management, whilst the rest of the members stayed by his side.
“The food is here” they hear from a staff member.
“Good timing, we can feed him now just in time for when Yoongi should be back with the fever reducers” The others look on, almost confused by the hurry in Jins voice.
He senses their bemusement and looks back to his dongsaengs...
“because he needs to eat and digest before he takes any medication” he explains again, as the others nod and smile with understanding.
“Pabo’s” Jin mutters under his breath, annoyed he has to waste the energy to explain himself again.
He quickly turns his attentions back to JK, gently stroking his long fingers through his silky but sweaty hair
“Junkookie, time to wake up baby” Jin tries tenderness at first, but JK doesn’t respond.
“Junkook come on you need to wake up for me okay? You need to eat something” Jin tries a more stern approach this time, yet his voice still thick with concern.
JK stirs with Jins second attempt at waking him, opening his eyes to the bright artificial lighting of their dressing room. He feels an intense feeling of nausea, his stomach cramping. He comes to his senses and realises where he is. Realises that he doesn’t remember getting to where he is. He doesn’t remember even falling asleep. What has happened to him? Obviously by now his hyungs know he is sick, they aren’t going to let him perform. He starts to panic and his breaths start to shorten.
Hoseok is the first to notice as he takes hold of one of JKs hands, his other hand concentrating on the back of his neck massaging it tentatively
“Jungkookie? Can you hear me?” the young boys eyes immediately widening to the sound of Hobi’s comforting voice
“Heyyy, it’s okay. You’re okay. Just breathe okay? Breathe and you will feel much better” he knows what JK is experiencing, he is having a panic attack.
Dealing with Yoongi’s panic attacks; he knows the first thing he needs to do is to help JK slow down his breathing and help calm him down. JK tries, he is trying so bravely to fight it and to breathe normally but the fear of letting everyone down is too much. Jin, now understanding what is happening to their baby, joins Hobi in coaching him on his breathing.
“Junkookie breathe with me okay?” He places one of JKs hands on his chest and starts to breathe slowly whilst counting
“in two three four, hold two three four, out two three four, in two three four, hold two three four and out two three four” he repeats this, keeping one hand on JKs chest to make sure he is replicating his breathing.
Finally it starts to work, their Maknae is starting to calm down.
“Good, that’s good. You’re doing so well Kookie. Just take a few more deep breaths with me, then we can get some food into you, okay?” Jungkook shakes his head and sits up, fighting all urges he has to curl up in his hyungs arms and fall asleep.
“I’m okay, honestly. I can just eat now” however he is stoped by Namjoon, both him and Yoongi having returned.
“Stay down Kid, you need to take it easy” their loving leader tries to take the tender loving care route, failing as the desperate Maknae tries to sit up again.
This time it’s Yoongi who stops him “Ya! What was you just told Jungkook!? Lay back down and rest” he scolds the youngest, however his worry and concern is heavy in his eyes as he pushes him gently back down.
It’s when JKs tears start to flow. He feels so sick and weak, he just wants to perform, for all this to stop.
“Kookie?” A soft and gently sweet voice, Jimin
“Kookie please don’t get upset. You are okay, we are all here with you” Jimin strokes his hands down the sides of JKs arms, trying to get the Maknae to calm down.
“Why are you crying Kookie? You can tell us” Taehyung speaks quietly in his deep satori accent.
However JKs crying only gets louder. His brothers exchange panicked looks between them. Enough is enough, Jin has to get him to calm down otherwise he is going to hyperventilate and pass out.
Namjoon is the first to react this time. Kneeling down next to Jin he whispers
“Should we let Medical know?” He doesn’t want to alarm JK even more and make the situation worse so makes sure to not let him hear.
Jin shakes his head in disagreement, also keeping his voice soft and low so JK doesn’t hear a word
“Let’s see if we can handle it, you know how much Kookie hates doctors and hospitals. Let’s just wait and see what his temperature is, we’ll take it from there” Namjoon doesn’t have time to respond before Jin focuses his attentions back onto their Maknae, their baby.
“Kookie, listen to me. You need to calm down. I know you are upset but this is only going to make you feel worse. You need to breathe and calm down” he continues to console and comfort their youngest member.
His heartbreaking sobs start to soften, his body shaking less and his breaths start to even with Jin’s gentle yet firm comfort. Jimin, leans over the back of the sofa and strokes his baby brothers hair softly.
“There you go baby, no more tears now okay? Just focus on resting and let your hyungs take care of you” he whispers into the sick boys ear.
JK closes his eyes, wanting so badly to feel better, for himself but mostly for Army and his Hyungs. He hates making others worry, he hates all this fussing over him and being babied. He just wants everything to stop; the darkness of sleep his chosen escape.
Hoseok smiles slightly at the site of their Maknae finally getting some rest.
“He’s so pretty when he sleeps, how does he do that?” He tries to lighten the atmosphere and it works with Jin replying
“He learned from Worldwide Handsome here of course” however the light hearted banter was short lived as they take JKs temperature. “39.8 degrees!? Jin Hyung we need to get the medics involved now, this fever is a lot worse then we thought” Yoongi says worryingly.
Tae sees that same look on his hyungs face that he see earlier, a signal for Taehyung as so how serious the situation is.
“Will he have to go to hospital?” Tae is almost frantic with worry for his best friend and youngest brother.
“No, not if we can help it okay Tae Tae?” Kind eyes meet Tae’s, a soft caring look overshadows the handsome face of his Hyung.
Tae nods, a slight smile of appreciation for his hyungs comfort, but he is still deeply concerned for his youngest brother.
“Good” He continues and gives Tae another smile and a nod of reassurance, before his attention turns back to Yoongi
“Go get the medics” he gives Yoongi the order, looking towards Namjoon
“Joonie go find Sejin and let him know what’s happening”
His two eldest brothers waste no time as they rush out of the dressing room.
Jin takes a heavy breath and sighs, he hates seeing his brothers suffer. He is also deeply worried about the concert, how will they manage without their golden Maknae on stage? He knows this is going to be a tough and upsetting night for them all, especially JK. He worries as he runs his fingers through their baby’s hair.
“I’m so sorry Kookie. I know you’re going to be upset, but this is for the best” he apologises to the sleeping beauty.
Seconds later the silence is interrupted by the sound of footsteps making their way quickly into the room. Yoongi and the medics are back, followed at the same time as Namjoon and Sejin.
Jin explains JKs symptoms and boys condition to the medics and their manager. All of them snapping into action pretty quickly, the room has gone from silent to almost chaotic.
The medical team of 5 people filling the space around the couch, blocking the sight of theOr Maknae. Gently rousing him from his sleep, the room fills with a gut wrenching cry from their Baby brother.
Jin and Yoongi rush to the couch almost barging the medics out the way to be by JKs side. Jin bent down in front of the couch facing him, taking one of his hands gently into his and stroking his thumb along the back, whilst Yoongi is leaning over the side of the couch next to his brothers head stroking his hair softly and hushing him calmly. Jin whispers his own words of comfort at the same time
“Kookie it’s okay, you are going to be okay. This is all going to be over with before you know it and you’ll be feeling so much better soon. We are all right here with you and are going to take care of you okay?” Hi explains whilst hiding his worry for youngest.
JK stares blankly Into his hyungs caring eyes
“I can’t let Army down, please Jin” Jin knows this is JKs start of his pleas to let him perform, and it brakes his heart to have to say no.
He hangs his head in sorrow, shaking it before quickly staring into JKs dark, watery puffy eyes
“I’m so sorry baby, you know I can’t let you perform like this, you can barely lift your head off the pillow”
Yoongi joins in, lowering his head close to JKs ear
“You know it’s for the best kook-ah. Imagine how scared Army would be if something happened to you on stage, imagine how upset and worried everyone would be” he knows mentioning his own health isn’t going to help the situation as JK clearly cares so much more about letting Army and his brothers down.
“You wouldn’t want to see them hurt and upset as much they and your us hyungs don’t want to see you hurting” he’s trying his best to console their broken Maknae
“Jin is right, you can’t perform when you are this sick. What we all care most about it your health Kook-ah, so just let the medics do their job and let’s try and get you feeling better as soon as we can okay?”
JKs voice broke through his sobs, he is clearly devastated. All he wants to do is be with his hyungs and Army.
“I’ve ruined everything for everyone” he sobs as Jin, Yoongi and their dongsaengs share a concerned look between them.
“Not true, do not let me hear you say that again” Jin says firmly
“You haven’t ruined anything. You can’t help getting sick. It’s not your fault and everyone understands that, okay?” His voice now a lot softer and soothing.
The medics and his Hyungs manage to settle him down enough to control his breathing by whispering encouraging words and placing him on oxygen. His breathing finally settles, much to the other members relief. They apply cold compresses under the sick boys armpits and on the back of his neck, a natural method used to reduce a fever. They also place a cooling patch to his forehead whilst the other medics wipe his upper body down with cold wet towels. An electric fan being held over him by Sejin. This continues for 10-15 minutes as JK falls back into a feverish sleep.
“So we have to talk about the plan for tonight’s show” Sejin addresses the 6 remaining conscious members.
“How do you feel about performing an extra song tonight to fill the gap for Euphoria?” The Guys exchange questionable looks before Yoongi speaks up, knowing what his brothers are thinking.
“The encore for this show is tiring physically, especially with the medley... What I’m saying is I’m worried about pushing our bodies too far” Sejin nods understandingly.
“We have already thought about that. We don’t want you to overwork yourselves so we think Crystal Snow is a good option with the easy routine. Jimin, Tae and Jin will have to fill in on Kookie’s vocals, how do you feel about that?”
Again they exchange looks, it is clear none of them are happy about performing without their golden Maknae, most seemed to still be in shock that this is actually happening.
“What are your thoughts?” Sejin breaks the heavy silence.
“I think it is the best solution to a horrible situation for all of us” Namjoon speaks first. As the leader he knows this is his job to step up and get his brothers through this difficult night
“This is going to be tough for all of us without Kooks, but it’s just this once. Please keep that at the forefront of your mind, this isn’t forever. Together we are strong enough to do this and we know Kookie is going to be safe back here with the medics, and we can check up on him during the breaks” His eyes meeting a watery Taehyung and Jimins, both visibly upset. He walks slowly over to his two dongsaengs.
“Hey, it’s just for tonight” he says gently.
“It’s going to be okay. We are going to be okay and Kookie is going to be okay, alright?” each of his hands soothing one of each of their arms.
They appreciate his comfort and encouragement, but they still feel so guilty for having to perform without their best friend.
…
JKs temperature is being closely monitored and has, to the relief of everyone especially his loving hyungs.
He remains in a deep, sick induced sleep as his Hyungs return back to the dressing room after the soundcheck. They are careful not to wake him, changing in silence for the first set of the concert. If he remains asleep it will not only help reduce his fever but means he will be unaware of missing the concert; bringing a little comfort to his hyungs.
“How is he doing?” Namjoon keeps his voice very quiet, almost whispering to Sejin
“Better, his temperature has fallen to 37.8, still high yes but manageable. He’s being closely monitored by the medics” Namjoon sighs and strokes his hand over his face in relief
“Good, good… wait that’s good right?” He suddenly starts to worry that JK not having woken up is suddenly a bad thing.
Sejin smiles as he places a hand on Namjoon’s shoulder, a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
“Relax Joon-ah. Yes it’s a good thing that he is still sleeping, try not to worry and focus on the concert and the rest of your dongsaengs, okay?” He tries to steady and calm the leader.
Namjoon’s eyes become wider as he takes a deep breath and nods.
“You’re right. Thank you. As hard as it is not to worry, for right now I have to focus on my other brothers and Army; it’s what they deserve”
Sejin smiles as and nods, a proud look in his eyes. Namjoon’s maturity and leadership skills is something that always amazes the elder and he is extremely proud of his dongsaeng.
…
It’s close to the Encore. The members have been continuously checking on their baby brother during the concert. He only wakes once but falls quickly back to sleep without a word or a tear; held in Jimins arms. Lulled back to sleep by Hobi who massages the back of his neck tenderly whilst whispering comforting words
“Shhh Kookie, everything is okay. You’re okay. Go back to sleep”
Before they all know it, the concert is finally over, but not without a lot of tears being shed for their missing Maknae.
Nothing felt right about that show and it is a feeling they never want to experience again. Wether they have to keep an eye on their maknae every single day, making sure he is taking care of himself, then they will. They will do anything to avoid any of them from feeling like this ever again. Now it’s time to get their Maknae home for some TLC.