Taemin in real life.

Part 55

I didn't sleep well in the hospital chair. I was cold, uncomfortable and fitful. I left the room unwillingly at around 6am to use the bathroom and grab a coffee. About half an hour after I got back she woke up.

'Morning beautiful' I cooed as best I could. I was still feeling a mixture of emotions but everything the guys had said to me the previous night had sunk in and I decided they were right I needed to be strong and calm.

'Hey' her voice was still groggy.

'How do you feel this morning?' I tentatively asked her.

'Hmmm, better than yesterday, not as fuzzy.' She went to sit herself up in the bed but was having difficulty. She took a sharp intake of breath as she moved, obviously irritating her stitches.

'Careful baby,' I said quietly helping to lift her up.

'I'm ok. Really, It's just a bit sore,' she winced. She looked at me properly when she was settled. 'You look like shit Taemin, have you been here all night?'

'Yeah, I said I would be here when you woke up.' I told her.

She gave me a sad look. Her eyebrows crossed as they did when she was worried about me. 'You need to sleep properly, you were so busy all yesterday, and you slept on a sofa the previous night too.' She told me. I was touched that she was worried about me, but I couldn't let her.

'I'm fine really. I wasn't the one who was stabbed,' I grinned trying to break the tension.

She grinned back at me appreciating the attempt at humour. Seeing her smile was worth the moon to me right now.

I settled myself on the bed next to her. 'So, the guys all came back last night, they were here but you were sleeping. They all say they love you.' I told her putting my arm around her shoulders and stroking her hair.

'They didn't need to rush back, they would have all been tired too,' she frowned again.

'It's ok. Don't worry about that,' my voice was sounding less and less like me as I attempted to keep the conversation normal.

'Minho contacted Sarah to tell your family what happened. She's going to come here today.' I hoped this would lighten her mood.

'Oh good' She smiled.

'Yeah, I text her again this morning telling her to tell me if she needs anything, or your parents,'

'My parents?' she asked

'Yeah baby she will have told them, and if they want to come out here we can arrange it.'

She frowned slightly at me.

We sat in silence for a while. She rested her head on my chest as I stroked her hair.

'You know,' I began, 'You didn't need to go and get stabbed to get space from me.'

She burst out laughing. I laughed with her, the first time in two days I felt like really laughing.

'Oh god,' she gasped, 'Don't make me laugh,' she was still laughing, tears streamed from her eyes.

'Why?' I asked.

She pointed to her stomach, 'It hurts so bad when I laugh,' she was still laughing.

I couldn't help but laugh, 'Stop laughing!' I told her, unable to stop myself.

'Stop speaking!' she gasped, laughter tears still rolling down her face.

The laughter finally dissipated and she rubbed her stomach. That familiar stab of guilt came back to me.

'Do you want me to leave?' I asked her quietly. I was serious, I suddenly became very paranoid she didn't want me there.

She looked down at me sadly. Her fingers found mine and entwined together.

'No, I want you to stay please,' her voice was small, but a small smile formed on her lips.

'I love you' I told her sincerely. I looked up at her sadly. She knew me, she knew what was going on in my mind before I knew. 'I'll look after you when you get out and come home with me.'

She sighed and blinked at me a few times before replying with 'I love you too.'