Finest Jin

Access

We were at the hospital, me very grateful for the quick natural look of Korean makeup. Other than the redness of my eyes from my morning outburst, I looked presentable again. The children hit the gift shop while I headed up to the room to see Jimin. There was an armed security guard at the door. 

"Name?" He asked, holding up a clipboard. 

"Ay, Telly." 

His eyes scanned the page, then he shook his head. 

"Not on the list. No access."

I slumped, defeated. As I turned to walk away, a head peered out of the room. It was Bang PD Nim. 

"Ay, Telly." He bowed. I returned the gesture. 

"I didn't mean to disturb you. Just came to see how Jimin-Nim is doing."

He stepped into the hall, walking with a gesture that made it apparent that I was to follow him. 

"I could ask you the same."

"I am very well, thank you for asking. How are you, sir?"

He nodded. 

"Well. Glad to see that Jimin will recover." Here he stopped and turned to face me. We were in a corner where our conversation was private. "I owe you my thanks. If not for your quick action, this could have turned out very different."

"Jimin-Nim is my friend, sir. I love him very much."

"I see that. You love Jin as well, do you not?" His piercing gaze was intense. I dropped my eyes. 

"I do, sir. I do love SeokJin-Nim." 

He was quiet, considering. 

"Then we must meet again soon, the three of us." He looked at my stomach, then grinned. "Well, the four of us. Discuss best how to handle things. I ask that you remain discreet and wait for my lead on this."

"I will, sir. And thank you." My heart was soaring. At last Bang Si Hyuk was on my side and I knew what a formidable ally he was. We were walking back to the room now. He stopped in front of the guard. 

"Add her to the list." He said, aside, to the guard. "Thank you." He pointed with his chin towards the figure in the bed. I bowed as he left. 

"Jimin?" I asked quietly, not wanting to wake him if he was asleep. He was not. 

"Telly-Ssi." He held his hand out to me and I flinched, seeing the splinted finger. 

"Jimin-Ah...how do you feel?" I tried to mask my response. He wore a neck brace, his head was wrapped in bandages and he looked like he had been hit by a car; tired, sore, utterly worn out. I took his hand gingerly, coming close enough to kiss his forehead.

"Not quite like dancing." He joked, his plush lips pulling up into a sweet smile. 

I pulled a chair up by his bedside and held his hand. 

"No need to dance. Just rest and heal up." I placed the other hand on his arm. "You scared us half to death. That was awful."

His face tightened into a grimace. He was reliving it.

"It was terrifying from my side too. I felt the hands pulling on my leg, then the fall into the crowd. Once I was off the stage, I couldn't stop it." The fear flashing in his eyes tore my heart out. "They were moving me further away, and clawing, and tearing...I thought they would pull me to pieces."

I listened, letting him vent. The steady whir of the IV machine was interrupted only by faded beeps on the panel behind him. He ran his good hand through his hair again and again. Self-soothing as the nightmare replayed behind his eyelids. The lock of his jaw showed me just how much the trauma was still affecting him.

"You're going to be okay, Jimin-Ssi." 

He blew out a long breath, flinching a little as he released it, then turned to me. 

"Thanks to you."

I shook my head.

"It was nothing. I wish we could have gotten to you sooner. We tried, Jimin, we tried. I am sorry."

Now he squeezed my hand. 

"I remember seeing you. I thought it was over. I thought that was how I would die. Then I heard Cher and I saw you both coming for me. You gave me the spark to hope."

"You would have done the same for me."

Jimins' dark eyes turned to me, all seriousness.

"I would, Noona. I really would."

I kissed the back of his hand. 

"So, how is the food here? Need me to sneak anything in for you? Whatever you crave, I will find it."

He laughed at this, stretching back into the white pillow.

"Well, if you are offering, I wouldn't refuse a steak."

"Done! I will bring you one today."

He smiled. 

"Mmm...sounds good." He was rolling to his side, facing me. "Noona, did you talk to Jin-Hyung?" His expression was earnest, seeking my face for answers.

"I did."

Jimin half sat up on his elbow now, flinching, then ignoring it.

"And...?"

"Everything is good. I think he is liking the idea now."

Jimin smiled.

"And...?" When my eyebrows showed my confusion, he elaborated, "Minho?" 

"Over."

"Ah..." Jimin sank back into the bed, making a satisfied "k" sound. "As it should be then."

I nodded. Noises from the hall ushered in the 6 men and 4 children that were pouring into the room. The boys were here. Jimin lit up as his brothers pushed through, each hugging him, some less careful than others. He ignored the pain, welcoming their raucous greetings with delight. 

Suga clucked his tongue disapprovingly.

"Any excuse for a lay-about." Jimin laughed as Yoongi bent down, hugging him firmly and for a long time. It was plain to see that he was struggling to hide his relief at his brother being okay. 

The children surrounded him, presenting him with chocolates, cookies, a teddy bear and a vase of flowers. When his forehead scrunched at the treats, Hoseok wisely spoke.

"There are no calories in hospital treats." Jimin winked at him. Jin had found me and came over, hesitating before setting his hand on my back. I stepped into it and pulled his arm around me properly. He looked down at me with eyes that showed remorse. I touched his jaw, running my thumb over his lips, smiling. He pressed a kiss to my forehead. I hugged him tight. When I turned back to the bed, I saw that Jimin was engaged in an animated conversation with the other members of the maknae line, but his eyes kept glancing at us, positively joyous. 

We visited for about an hour before I excused myself to take the children for lunch. It was plain to see that Jimin was growing tired. His brothers each said their goodbyes, promising frequent visits. 

"I'll bring you steak tonight." I vowed to the patient, who seemed to be in much better spirits since we had first come. "Well, I will bring two." My eyes went to Cher, who was pulling a chair up against the side of the bed. Jimin lit up.

"You are staying?" 

Cher nodded. 

"Of course. How will you cut up your steak with that finger?" She smiled, settling into the chair with a book. "Now, you need to sleep." Jimin reached for her hand and she took his fingers in her own. They smiled at each other. "Sleep." She put on her best stern face. "Everybody out. I will watch him for you."

Namjoon laughed. 

"The nurse has spoken. See you later, Jimin-Ssi." 

We all filed out. My last look into the room was at a man content, his one arm folded up by his head, his eyes closed. The other hand intertwined with the fingers of the red-headed girl silhouetted in front of the window, reading. 

He would be okay.