Save Me || Book 1 ✅

I can't lose you

"Namjoon, get a bottle of water out of the other car, now!" Seokjin ordered. "We need to cool him down. Also, there is a spare inhaler in my backpack. Grab it, this one's empty."  

He was knelt in the footwell of the back seat, tending to Taehyung.

"We checked him, hyung," Hoseok said, leaning over from the front seat. Taehyung was laid down on the backseats, unconscious, covered in a thin layer of sweat. He was pale and his lips were tinted blue. There was still a loud rattle in his breathing from the asthma attack he had endured last night. "There's no bites, no nothing." 

"He's exhausted, overworked," Seokjin said to the younger boy. "I wouldn't be surprised if he has fallen ill. We are all malnourished and tired, it was only a matter of time before one of us went down. He is more susceptible, as well." 

Taehyung stirred slightly, pained and confused mumbles falling from his lips. Namjoon handed Seokjin a water bottle and the inhaler, which he thankfully took from him. He gently lifted Taehyung's head and let him take a sip of water. Taehyung coughed slightly, letting his eyes flutter open. Seokjin felt like crying, seeing his little brother in this state. Taehyung looked up at him, completely dazed, for a few seconds. 

"Do you need this, honey?" Seokjin tried to get Taehyung to have some inhaler, but his eyes just fell closed again. Seokjin sighed and laid his head back down, before rubbing his hand down his own, tired, face. He had no idea what to do. 

Taehyung was in a bad way. He had a fever and what sounded like the start of a chest infection. He, most likely, would need medicine - antibiotics - but nothing was going their way, he didn't know if they'd be able to help their brother. 

It was hopeless. 

Jimin sat outside Jungkook's car, on the cold ground, with his head in his hands. Warm tears slipped from his swollen eyes. Hoseok had woken him up just to give him the worst news and, since then, Jimin hadn't moved from the car. He got up, walked and sat down. He couldn't bring himself to do anything else. He would not leave his best friend. He couldn't.

Namjoon and Hoseok went to join the others by the other car. Seokjin was still sat with Taehyung, making sure his fever didn't get worse. 

Yoongi wanted so desperately to be able to comfort Jimin but he didn't know how to. He was worried about Taehyung as well, and he knew his own emotions would rub off on his boyfriend in the wrong way. Instead, he decided to give the young boy his space. Although, after the previous night, all he wanted to do was hold Jimin in his arms and never let go of him.

Jimin forcefully wiped the tears, that were now stinging his cheeks, away. Seokjin was just climbing out of the car, his shoulders slumped and he looked exhausted. 

"Jin hyung?" Jimin spoke up, making the older man jump slightly as he hadn't noticed the boy sitting there.

"Jiminie." Seokjin sighed, crouching down so he was at eye level with the younger. "You alright, buddy?" 

"How is he?" Jimin asked his hyung in a small voice, looking up at him. Seokjin sucked in a deep breath before letting it out, all his sympathy going to the young boy before him. 

"Not good, Jiminie," Seokjin said gently, placing his hand on Jimin's small shoulder. He chose his words carefully to save Jimin the extra worry. "He's resting right now." 

"Can I sit with him?" Jimin asked, looking up to his hyung with pleading eyes. 

Seokjin's gaze drifted, briefly, over to Yoongi who was leaning against a nearby tree watching Jimin very carefully.