Taken • Choi San •

And Then...

She'd been eating hospital food for just under two weeks when the doctor finally showed up to her room while Jongho and Yunho sat cross legged at the end of her bed, playing some kind of loud game.

Seonghwa was asleep in the corner, on the uncomfortable arm chair deposited almost carelessly far from the bed for visitors.

Like all of them, he had dark circles below his eyes and semi permanent frown creases above his eyes and he snapped instantly awake when the doctor began talking, looking for a moment caught between one nightmare and another.

Which is really what they were in, all of them.

Yunho and Jongho quietened, turning to look at the doctor too.

"Yuna, right?" She nodded.

"You're actually clear to leave, finally." The doctor smiled and for the first time in a while so did Yuna. Yunho whooped softly and reached up to squeeze her hand, his eyes finally twinkling with something other than exhaustion or faked happiness.

Seonghwa leaned forward, running his fingers through his sleep messed hair and blinking away the tiredness.

"Just like that? We didn't get any warning she would be able to go so soon." He said, easily and swiftly stepping into the shoes of the oldest in the room.

The doctor nodded, glancing once down at the chart in his hands.

"It was an on the spot decision made this morning. Her health has improved and we need beds for new patients." Jongho seemed to bristle slightly at the dismissive words and Yunho placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, reeling his temper in.

"What about her safety?" Seonghwa pressed, standing up and staring at the doctor with the kind of intensity she was glad she'd never been at the other end of. The doctor swallowed audibly, forcing a smile onto his mouth.

"The police handle those matters, not us." Seonghwa clenched his jaw and even Yunho looked irritated now, releasing his hold on Jongho. Yuna sat straighter, hoping she didn't look as terrified as she felt about the idea of having no protection.

"Fine, do you know if the police have handled the matter of her safety?" The blonde haired stepped closer to the doctor and she was pretty certain that any other man would have fled beneath that glare.

This one however simply smiled politely and glanced once more at his chart, as if finding the answers there.

"As far as I'm aware she's been put into witness protection. Someone will be keeping an eye on her to keep her safe."

Her muscles melted the tiniest bit in relief and Seonghwa sighed, rubbing his temple and nodding while Jongho reached out with surprising tenderness to squeeze her leg. She threw him a grateful smile and began to stand from the bed.

There was no point in remaining in this room any longer than she had to and the thought of a real bed made her giddy with happiness despite everything.

Yunho was the first to her side, lending his considerable frame for her to lean on, his arm around her waist to support any weight that she didn't rest on him.

"You're coming home with us." Seonghwa said to her, stern and ready to argue if she did. She nodded though.

There was nowhere else she'd feel safer and besides there was nobody else that would ease the pain of waiting for news about San than his closest friends.

Hongjoong was waiting for them outside in the lobby of the hospital when they made it out, tired but glad to see her back on her feet.

"Come on, let's get you home." He said, giving her a quick hug before pointing out the car to them all. What felt like an eternity passed in which she stood frozen on the spot, realising there was something left undone.