The Bangtan Wall

It's Time We Talk

Jackson is driving his car when RM and Sora hear him mumble, "An abandoned warehouse at the docks." He rolls his eyes, "Couldn't they be a little more original? It seems every damn mafia gang uses an abandoned warehouse at the docks!"

RM tells Jackson, "That is where most abandoned warehouses are, at the docks or in a rundown manufacturing district—less nosey neighbors with prying eyes."

Irritated that he was talking aloud, he gruffly says to RM, "I know, I'm just saying, it would be nice for a change if they could do something more original. Most dockside warehouses smell of rotten fish. I hate fish."

Sora asks Jackson, "Does this have anything to do with what you wanted to talk to us about earlier tonight?"

He replies, "I'm not sure yet, but I have a feeling I will be once we retrieve Jimin."

Outside the large three-story warehouse that used to be a fish canning factory a figure watches, concealed from view from a window on the top floor. He silently observes one Bentley Bentayga and four black Escalades stop out front. Squinting, he stares through the dimness of the only outside working light as Jackson, Rm, and Sora get out of the lead car.

Jackson's men exit one, and Sora's men exit the other. Ever vigilant, they check weapons and scan the area. 

Jackson suddenly looks up, thinking he has seen motion in one of the windows. Even in the dark, his eyesight is accurate. Without speaking, he motions to several of his men with subtle hand signals: pointing up, then showing three fingers, followed by his thumb pointing left. 

The hand signal lets his men know that someone is on the third floor, on the far left-hand side, and they fan out to head that way.

The rest of his men move ahead as he, alongside Sora and RM, walks towards the entrance on extremely high alert. RM and Jackson both have their weapons in their hands by their sides.

Sora casually brushes her hand back and forth over her thigh in rhythm with her steps. But there was nothing casual about it; her movement was precise and practiced. She could draw her pistol from her thigh holster faster than a man could from his side holster.

RM glances at her action, her hand brushing against her thigh, and sighs, 'This woman is going to be my death. Focus!' He pulls his eyes away from her.

The first of Jackson's men enter the building, and with one swift hand signal, Jackson, Sora, and RM enter.

They start searching the warehouse. RM finds Jimin first and calls out to Jackson and Sora, "Over here, I've found him."

They rush to him as he kneels beside Jimin. RM, shocked at the pale, bloody face of Jimin, mummers, "Jimin, Jimin, can you hear me?" 

He begins checking for a pulse and breathing. Sora runs her hands over his arms and legs, checking for broken bones. Jackson has taken a stance to watch their backs.

Jackson asks, glancing over his shoulder, "Is he okay?"

Sora closes his shirt, done checking his ribs, and tells Jackson, "He is mostly bruised. I didn't notice anything broken."

RM gently shakes Jimin by the shoulders, "Jimin, wake up. We need to get you out of here. Jimin?"

There has yet to be a response from him. Sora says, "Let me try, baby." She moves RM aside, pulls a flask strapped to her other thigh, opens it, and lets a couple of drops fall between Jimin's slightly parted lips.

Jimin's tongue starts sweeping across his lips, and a smile forms. He asks barely above a whisper, "More?" 

Sora conforms to his request and gives him several more drops, then says, "If you want more, you have to sit up."

Jimin, with the help of RM, sits up. His hands go to his head as he shuts his eyes. Grimacing in pain.

RM notices something is lying under Jimin as he sits up. He reaches for it and hands it to Jackson as he and Sora help Jimin to stand.

Jimin sways on his feet, and Namjoon lifts him in his arms. Without a word needed, they start heading for the exit.

As they step out into the night, one of Jackson's men has returned from searching the building. He keeps pace with them as they walk to the car.

He tells them, "I could tell there was someone on the third floor, apparently the movement you saw, Sir, but they must have left. The rest of the building was clear except for Mr. Park."

After placing Jimin in the backseat, Sora gets in next to him and gently has him lean on her shoulder.

RM and Jackson listened to the man, "I had my guys check the perimeter, and the only things they found were fresh tire tracks and multiple footprints. It seemed someone was dragged between two sets of footprints up to the back bay door entrance. I assume that was Mr. Park."

After the briefing, Jackson thanks his man, "Thanks, Roe. We are done here."

"Yes, sir." He turns to gather the men to leave.

Jackson turns to RM and says, "Let's get Jimin checked out at the medical clinic before we take him home to Lorrie."

He places a hand on RM's shoulder and says, "She will never forgive us if we don't take care of him first."

RM nods, agreeing, and says, "True. I will call and let them know he is a little battered but going to be okay."

Almost lost in thought, Jackson says, "I think someone used Jimin as their calling card." 

With worry, RM agrees and slips into the back next to Sora.

Once back at Jackson's home Jimin is reunited with Lorrie and with the pain medication given him, he quickly falls asleep once he feels Lorrie's arms around him. The last thing he remembers is her lips softly pressing to his.

Closing the door behind them, Sora tells RM, "It was sweet of Jackson to let them stay the night."

Namjoon's eyes smolder with desire. He pulls her into his arms and says, between kisses, "And. Us. Too."

A throat clearing is heard, and they break apart to face Jackson.

"Now it's time we talk." They follow him to his study.

In the study, Jackson sits behind his desk while Sora and RM sit across from him.

"What is it?" asks Sora. 

"You said we may still have trouble. What kind of trouble are you talking about Jackson?" asked RM.

Jackson pushes the envelope they had found under Jimin over to them to read. They both look up in shock.

All that was written on the paper from inside was, "It's Only Beginning."

TO BE CONTINUED . . .