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"Good morning", Namjoon and Taehyung greeted the others after entering the office.
"Good morning", the other boys greeted back.
"How are you feeling today, hyung?", Jungkook asked.
"Same as yesterday", Taehyung replied.
"Fever?", Yoongi asked. Taehyung shook his head. He has been suffering from a runny nose and mild sore throat for a couple days.
"And I've gotten tested thrice in a span of 48 hours, all tests coming back negative. So it's not Covid", Taehyung informed.
"How is Jin hyung treating you?", Jimin wondered. Taehyung let out an empty chuckle, triggering a coughing fit which he tried to drown in his inner elbow.
"Oh, you have a cough, too?", Hoseok frowned.
"Jin hyung is... Jin hyung", it was Namjoon who responded, a comforting hand on Taehyung's lower back. Jungkook rushed to bring a glass of water for Taehyung, once he stopped coughing, to ease some of the dryness in his throat, which the slightly older boy accepted gratefully. The other boys nodded knowingly at Namjoon's words. They knew how Jin gets when any of them catches a cold, let alone gets sick, and they have seen him when Namjoon is under the weather. But, with Taehyung in the picture for not even a year now, being the youngest Kim, they can only imagine how much Jin is checking up on him and trying to get him to go to the hospital.
"Any new cases today?", Taehyung asked, as soon as he was able to talk again and having downed the glass of water Jungkook had brought him.
"No", Yoongi shook his head. Times like these were more than appreciated, because they didn't come often. It meant the boys could take it easy, could catch up on unifinished paperwork... It meant their community was safe. So, they each took their seats, and got to work, stealing occasional glances at Taehyung whenever he coughed.
"It's quite windy today. Are you sure you're not cold?", Hoseok directed at Taehyung, ready to get up and close at least one of the windows at the slightest hint of Taehyung feeling chilly or shivering even if the younger doesn't admit it.
"No, I'm good, hyung", Taehyung smiled. "My back is covered", he adjusted the jacket over his back.
"Okay", Hoseok sighed. "But, if anything changes, just say the word". Hoseok would be up closing windows even if Taehyung just glances towards the walls opposite his desk. Taehyung nodded with a smile. Their work day came to an end, with the boys greeting each other good night, and Taehyung driving himself and Namjoon back to their apartment, where Jin was waiting for them for dinner. Jin who had also called numerous times throughout the day to check on Taehyung, and even talked with the others just to make sure Taehyung wasn't putting on a brave front for him and the boys confirming the second youngest's words. After the heartwarming delicious meal and freshening up in the bathroom, Taehyung decided to go to bed early, hoping to rest some more, although his stuffy nose would make it hard and breathing through the mouth made him cough, after receiving a hug from Jin and a hair ruffle from Namjoon.
Next morning, when Taehyung woke up, he felt awful . His runny nose had gone away, but judging from the pounding headache that had settled deep in his skull, and the chills down his spine and his eyes burning, he had a fever. He groaned, rubbing his eyes, pulling the covers past his head afterwards. A knock on his door was heard, but his voice was muffled so Namjoon entered quietly.
"I'm awake", Taehyung murmured. Namjoon reached to uncover Taehyung's face, frowning at the sight that greeted him.
"Heeeeeey", Namjoon greeted. "I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you should come to work today"
"To be honest, hyung, I agree", Taehyung replied. His voice sounded so rough. "I don't feel so good", he admitted.
"Wait", Namjoon reached towards Taehyung's ears and covered them, feeling the younger's heated skin, before he turned towards the door and called for Jin.
"I'm here", Jin rushed inside the room.
"He definitely has a fever", Namjoon informed as he uncovered Taehyung's ears. Jin reached towards Taehyung's forehead, the latter sighing in relief at his oldest hyung's cool hands against his scorching forehead.
"Oh, Tae", Jin frowned, reaching to cup Taehyung's cheeks. "I'm guessing 39,7°C"
"I'm bringing the thermometer", Namjoon headed to the bathroom. Once he was back, he handed it to Jin's extended hand, before the latter scanned Taehyung's forehead. Taehyung was indeed running a fever of 39,7°C. Namjoon would have joked about why did he even bother bringing the little device, but his worry for Taehyung didn't let him.
"What else do you feel?", Jin smoothed Taehyung's hair fanning onto the pillow.
"My head is killing me", Taehyung voiced, trying to clear his throat but it only made the dryness worse. "I feel cold", he tried to sink more under the covers. He was shivering despite wearing thick PJs and having 2 blankets on.
"Does it hurt anywhere else?", Jin asked, wanting to lower the covers so he could check out Taehyung's midsection. Taehyung caught up, lowering the blankets despite being cold, and shaking his head but immediately winced at how much worse he felt by doing that. Jin pressed onto Taehyung's abdomen, upper and lower, left and right, while looking at Taehyung for any sign of pain, finding none. He sighed briefly in relief.
"I'm not even thinking of going to work-", Taehyung began to reassure Jin, but he started coughing, bringing his inner elbow over his mouth.
"I really don't like that cough", Namjoon winced. It sounded wet, for lack of a better word. Jin tried to rub Taehyung's chest, hoping it would help him stop coughing and breathe better.
"I'm not going to the hospital, though", Taehyung said after his coughing fit. The others began to protest. "It's just a cold, there's no reason to. I'll tough it out, should be fine in the next few days...". Jin sighed in defeat.
"I'm gonna call the others and let them know that we're not going to work", Namjoon whipped out his phone.
"Hyung, no", Taehyung protested. "No reason for you to miss work, too"
"I'll stay, Namjoon", Jin reassured, checking out his phone. "I've been forced to take the day off", he turned his phonescreen towards Namjoon. A message from Director Song came, stating that she's indeed forcing him to take at least today off, adding in a slightly joking way that even if he took the whole week off he's still the employee with the highest number of work days/hours per week in the entire hospital.
"Okay, hyung", Namjoon nodded. "With things being slow, I'm sure the others will be more than eager to come by later to check on you", he eyed Taehyung.
"Stay safe, hyung", Taehyung smiled. After Namjoon reached to pat the younger on the crown, Jin called Soojin to tell her that Taehyung is sick (listing his symptoms) but he's being stubborn and doesn't wanna go to the hospital.
"You don't say", Soojin's voice came in when he put her on speaker. "I wonder who he reminds me of". Taehyung managed to chuckle at that.
"Hey!", Jin exclaimed, ready to reply to that, but Taehyung started coughing again. He tried to lower Taehyung's head, maybe taking away the pillow would help him breathe better and help with the cough, but nothing would be supporting his head up.
"Oh boy", Soojin's voice was heard, but any lighthearted joke-y tone was gone. "That cough does worry me. Tae, have you eaten anything?"
"Not today, noona", Taehyung managed, after regaining his linguistic abilities. "Not really hungry. It hurts when I swallow and the cough doesn't help my sore throat either"
"I know, but you have to eat something so Seokjin can get some fever reducers in your system. Okay? Will you do it for me?", Soojin inquired.
"I'll do my best", Taehyung promised. After a praise and requesting Jin that she's updated regularly, the call ended. Jin warmed up some soup and helped Taehyung get something in his stomach, before giving him a fever reducer. The younger boy doesn't remember dosing off, waking up with Jin leaning closer as soon as his eyes opened -not all the way.
"Heeeeey, Tae", Jin couldn't mask the worry in his tone nor his gaze.
"Bathroom", Taehyung managed to mumble, the fever making it hard for him to even say that.
"I got you", Jin reassured, slowly pulling down the covers. Taehyung visibly shivered, but tried to brace himself on his elbows. Jin's hands slipped under the younger's back and knees, helping Taehyung sit up and span him a bit so he was now sitting at the edge of the bed, hopefully making it easier to stand up. Jin changed the placement of his hands, now hugging Taehyung as he helped him stand up, before going behind and bear-hugging the latter at the speed of light. Taehyung could barely support himself up, his head resting against Jin's shoulder as they slowly started walking towards the bathroom. Jin entered with Taehyung, the younger not complaining about privacy because he didn't trust himself to stay upright right now. After he relieved himself, Taehyung was guided to the sink to wash his hands, before being guided back to bed. He passed out asleep as soon as he was under his covers again, managing to slur a 'thank you, hyung ' before that.
"You used a catheter after all, hyung", Jimin observed. All six boys were in Taehyung's room at the moment, speaking in a low voice, to not disturb Taehyung's sleep although they highly doubted he would wake up if they spoke on normal decibels.
"Yeah, I didn't wanna risk...", Jin's voice trailed off. Taehyung was barely conscious, and Jin had no problem supporting his weight, but he feared Taehyung could pass out during his next trip to the bathroom, so he wanted to avoid that. They were already worried enough, because the boy barely ate, when he was awake he could barely talk due to the fever and the coughing fits making it harder to breathe, he was mostly sleeping which could be a blessing...
"What's his temperature?", Yoongi asked, having arrived last, as he was parking the car.
"41,6°C", Jin sighed. The boys' eyes widened, Jungkook's hand coming over his mouth. "And I can't give him a fever reducer yet, he has to eat something"
"Giving him an ice bath could bring the fever down, but...", Namjoon thought. But the boys wouldn't be able to handle Taehyung thrashing away from the cold, whining, potentially breaking down or apologizing for whatever he did wrong and promising he won't do it again. That would be torture . Probably more for them than Taehyung, actually... "What if we use washcloths and cool water instead?", he eyed Jin. The oldest nodded, Namjoon sprinting to the bathroom to get towels while Hoseok made a run for the kitchen to grab a bowl and fill it with water. Once they were back, Jungkook reached to pull the covers, Taehyung stirring in his sleep because he was cold, hugging himself in an attempt to warm up when he couldn't grab the covers. The others' hearts sank.
"We should change his clothes too, while we're at it", Hoseok voiced. Yoongi moved towards the younger Kim's closet, finding a clean hoodie and a pair of sweatpants, while Jin and Jimin removed Taehyung's sweat-soaked clothes, the latter whining in his sleep. Hoseok decided he would hold onto the bowl, in case it tipped over and its contents spilling if he lets it on Taehyung's bed, so Namjoon dipped the washcloths in, squeezed to get rid of the excess water, before handing one to Jin, one to Jimin, one to Jungkook, and keeping the last one, while Yoongi was holding onto Taehyung's change of clothes, standing next to Hoseok. The boys silently decided to each take a limb and work their way to Taehyung's center. They were being so gentle, but as soon as the cold cloth came in touch with Taehyung's heated skin, the boy started thrashing in his sleep, trying to move away.
"Hyung, please don't fight it!", Jungkook pleaded.
"It's just a washcloth!", Jimin tried to reassure. Whimpers escaped Taehyung's mouth when he couldn't break free and run away from the cold. Their hearts broke.
"Shhhhhh it's okay", Jin caressed Taehyung's crown, Yoongi momentarily stepping out to get a clean towel for Taehyung's head. With his arms and legs done, it was time for his torso, midsection and back. So, they gently lifted him to a sit-up position, Taehyung leaning fully against Jungkook, the youngest frozen in place. He hadn't realized how sick Taehyung really was, until now. After successfully wiping Taehyung down, patting his hair and face dry as well, Hoseok placed the bowl aside, and with Yoongi approaching as well, they put the clean hoodie and sweatpants on him, and then guiding him to lie back down. Their pleading eyes were on Jin when he reached to grab the thermometer and scanned Taehyung's forehead.
"41,3°C", Jin read the measurement out loud.
"How is it not dropping?", Jimin clasped his hands at his own nape in despair.
"I'll go prep some soup. What do you guys want to eat?", Jin sounded defeated.
"We'll have what Taehyung has, hyung. No need to make something different for us", Yoongi replied. "Do you want help?". There was a tired smile on Jin's face, which Yoongi read as a yes . So, he followed the oldest out of the room.
"Wish we could get Taehyung to go to the hospital", Hoseok sighed.
"I don't know for how long we'll be able to grant Taehyung's wish to stay home if his situation doesn't improve soon", Namjoon mumbled. "I don't know which one of us will break first..."
"Taehyung is sleeping, when he isn't he's barely conscious, unable to finish a sentence without a coughing fit, the fever is not dropping...", Jimin voiced.
"I get what Jiminie hyung is saying. And I'm sure Taehyungie hyung wouldn't get angry", Jungkook backed the latter up.
"I'll discuss it with Jin hyung when he's done cooking", Namjoon nodded.
"No need to discuss anything", Jin's voice was heard. The boys' heads whipped towards the oldest and Yoongi reentering Taehyung's room.
"Hyung", Namjoon called. "I know Taehyung doesn't want to-"
"Let me stop you there", Jin raised a hand, interrupting Namjoon. Jin opened his mouth to talk again but he didn't get the chance to. Taehyung was awaken by a coughing fit, and it was the most violent one yet.
"Turning him on his side", Jungkook was closer, so he helped Taehyung to turn on his side since his youngest hyung was too exhausted to turn for himself.
"Is he looking even more pale than before, or is it just me?", Hoseok wondered. Yoongi sprinted to grab a bowl or a bin, whatever was closest, before running back, kneeling down and placing it as close to the bed as he could, right under Taehyung's face. It was supposed to be a just in case thing. However, Taehyung brought up anything he had managed to get in his stomach, dry heaving for at least three minutes after he had nothing left to give. The whole time, the boys were whispering comforting words, while Jimin had moved to running his hand gently patting the other's back.
"I'm sorry", Taehyung barely managed. If the others weren't so close to him they wouldn't have heard it.
"No, Tae, it's okay", Namjoon tried to reassure, using a clean towel to wipe the younger's mouth.
"Tae?", Jin called. The fever was dragging Taehyung back to unconsciousness, but the oldest had noticed something. "Is the coughing fit over?". He would swear he saw Taehyung nod, even if it was weak. "You want to lie on your back, or you want to stay on your side?"
"No", came from Taehyung, sounding a bit whiny. "Hurts"
"What hurts?", Jin asked. "What hurts, Tae?", he repeated, giving Taehyung's fever-drunk brain time to compute and form an answer that his mouth could deliver.
"Breathing". In the silence of the room, this was loud and clear . And that's when the others noticed that Taehyung was having difficulty breathing, even though he wasn't vomiting or coughing anymore. "Chest hurts". The others froze before the youngers' eyes went to Jin.
"We're gonna help you feel better, okay?", Jin stroked Taehyung's head, with the other hand reaching for his phone in his pocket.
"Hi", Soojin's voice was heard, Jin having put her on speaker. "How's Taehyung doing?"
"Soojin", Jin called.
"Love, you're scaring me", her tone changed. Jin would have blushed at the petname, especially because the others were listening and the two had only got together recently, but not under such circumstances. "Talk to me"
"Tae vomited a couple minutes ago, after a coughing fit. Then, he managed to admit that his chest hurts and he's having difficulty breathing", Jin informed her. "Are there any ambulances available? I would drive him myself, but I'm worried about his oxygen levels and I don't have anything at my disposal... I mean, if I have to, I'll drive him..."
"I'm gonna talk with the front desk, give me a second", Soojin replied. He heard her running. "There is an ambulance currently coming back from a call, but they don't have a patient on board. It was a wellness check, so they're empty". A small pause. "The paramedics were redirected, they should be at your place in less than two minutes"
"Thank you", Jin allowed himself to exhale in relief.
"See you guys soon", Soojin said before Jin ended the call. She guessed Jin had her on speaker, and he wouldn't be coming to the hospital with Taehyung alone. As soon as the call was over, the others rushed to help Taehyung out of bed, wrapping him in a blanket over his thick clothes, while they got their jackets and shoes on. Yoongi went to get his car ready, just as the ambulance arrived. Taehyung was guided onto the stretcher and immediately hooked on monitors and an exygen mask strapped onto his face, Jin hopping in the back next to the paramedic. The paramedic looked apologetically at Namjoon.
"I know there's not enough space", Namjoon eased the young man's mind. "Don't worry, it's all good"
"We'll be right behind you", Yoongi piped up, pointing behind his shoulder, at his own car. The paramedic smiled, Jin and the others exchanging nods before the doors closed, and the ambulance rushed away. The others ran to Yoongi's car, and they followed suit.
Because of the fever and the exhaustion, Taehyung would have no memories of this. None .
Pneumonia . And a bad case of it, to add to that. Taehyung was rushed to a treatment room, an ER doctor and a couple nurses ready for him. The curtains closed. Jin was greeted by Soojin hugging him, just as the others ran in.
"Taehyung is gonna be okay", Soojin pulled back, her hands cupping his cheeks. "How are you guys doing?". The boys shrugged in response. Soojin understood. So, they waited in silence, until the doctor came out of the room. They got a glimpse of Taehyung in a hospital gown, hooked on a ventilator, IVs and monitors displaying his vitals. His heartrate was elevated, which is normal for someone who is feverish, and also getting meds in his system. The doctor informed them that Taehyung had caught a bad case of pneumonia, and if they had been just the slightest bit late, things could have turned badly. He has a tube down his throat for feeding purposes, a ventilator providing oxygen and giving his own lungs a break while he was recovering. All they could do now was wait...
"Hyung?", Jungkook called softly. All boys' heads whipped towards him, already huddled around Taehyung's bed, but they looked at Taehyung more carefully. After a light squeeze on Jin's hand (having already squeezed Jungkook's, that's why the youngest had called on him), Taehyung tried to force his eyes to open. He succeeded, about halfway.
"Tae?", Namjoon tried to get his attention. Taehyung blinked slowly, before he tried to turn his head towards Namjoon's voice. The ventilator didn't allow much movement, and he was exhausted enough as it is.
"How are you feeling?", Jin asked. "Try not to talk, don't tire yourself out. We'll do the talking". He felt Taehyung trying to pull his hand from his grasp, so both him and Jungkook let go. Taehyung weakly brought his hands up to his head, not to the ventilator to take it off, but towards his crown.
"Headache?", Hoseok assumed. Taehyung made another motion, as if splitting a fruit in half.
"It feels like your skull is being split in half", Yoongi sighed. Familiar with headaches like this, all of them frankly. Taehyung nodded, before lowering his hands to his chest, making a gorilla-punching motion.
"Your chest hurts, too?", Jimin voiced. Taehyung nodded again. Then, Taehyung's eyes went to Jin.
"No, it wasn't just a cold", Jin confirmed Taehyung's thought. "Pneumonia". Taehyung managed to widen his eyes, wincing the next second as it made the headache worse. "Do you remember me helping you to the bathroom?". Taehyung nodded. "Do you remember us trying to cool you down with washcloths because an ice bath wasn't an option?". Taehyung shook his head. "Do you remember the coughing fit a while later, or you throwing up?". Taehyung shook his head again. "Figured"
"Jin hyung put you on a catheter just so you wouldn't have to get up to use the bathroom", Namjoon said.
"You were mostly sleeping, except for when you woke up to drink water or you were awaken by a coughing fit, Jin hyung feeding you soup because you can't take fever reducers on an empty stomach...", Jungkook informed. "Do you remember us being there?", he motioned for himself and the others. Taehyung shook his head again, his gaze apologetic.
"You're on a ventilator so the strain is off your lungs until you recover, catheter solves the bathroom issue, feeding tube for nutrition and IVs for antibiotics and fluids", Jin pointed as he spoke. "Your temperature currently is at 39,4°C, the lowest it has been yet". Taehyung nodded to show he understood.
"How long you've been here?", Yoongi voiced Taehyung's question, when he noticed the questioning look the younger was directing at Jin who was the last to speak.
"A week ", Jin answered. Taehyung's eyes widened, ignoring the pain intensifying this time. "It has been a week since you spiked that fever of 39,7°C, which only got higher, after dealing with a runny nose and a sore throat for 4 days prior, or that cough for a day less". Taehyung looked at all of the boys, feeling a pinch of guilt. If he hadn't tried to tough it out because he thought it was just a cold, maybe they could have gotten ahead of this. Maybe he wouldn't be here, exhausted, burning up, the mere action of breathing hurting like hell, worrying his brothers out of their minds. Jin looked the most tired out of all of them, probably because he voluntarily took the role of caregiver for him. He couldn't help the tears forming in his eyes.
"Heeeeeeey", Namjoon consoled, all boys frowning at the sight of Taehyung's tears rolling down towards his temples and into his hairline. Jimin reached to wipe the next wave of tears, before they trickled down.
"No, it's okay", Jin responded to Taehyung's apologetic eyes, while shaking his head. Taehyung forced himself to shake his head. "Tae, it's okay", he cupped the younger's cheeks. "It really is". Taehyung's eyes wandered towards the others, with them backing up Jin's claims with kind smiles and eyes full of love.
"You're gonna recover and you're gonna be back on your feet and out of here in no time", Namjoon reassured.
"And you're gonna be on desk duty before you're even allowed to jog from your desk to the restroom", Yoongi emphasized. Taehyung shut his eyes, but they noticed a slight eyeroll, which definitely hurt, but the boy didn't show it. "Don't roll your eyes at me, young man!", he joked.
"You sound like an old man, hyung", Hoseok laughed. "You're 2 years apart, remember?". Any seriousness and fake-scolding tone disappeared from Yoongi's face as he started chuckling. Soon, the other boys followed, Taehyung cracked a smile under the ventilator mask as well. Taehyung reached towards Yoongi, and the older accepted his hand. It was as if Taehyung was saying 'It's all good '.
"Love you, too, punk", Yoongi read Taehyung's mind. Another round of giggles filled the room. "No, you're not gonna sweet-talk me out of putting you on desk duty till I deem you're 1000% healthy"
"Hyung, Tae can't speak right now. How is he supposed to sweet-talk you-", Jimin was trying so hard not to burst out laughing, knowing Yoongi was speaking metaphorically. A glance from Yoongi was enough to make Jimin burst and try to muffle his laugh against Jungkook's shoulder, as to not wake up the entire wing.
"Smartass", Yoongi mumbled, but he was smiling. "All jokes aside, you're still gonna be on desk duty", his eyes went to Taehyung. The younger nodded. He knows the drill .