One day the sun will show up at my door again.
The cold will end and spring will come hold my hand again.

When Sherly finally opened her eyes, the rain had ceased, leaving behind a tranquil night sky adorned with twinkling stars. She staggered to her feet, her heart sinking as she surveyed the scene before her—dead bodies littered the ground, remnants of the brutal clash between the two gangs. The air was thick with the aftermath of violence, and a few men still engaged in combat nearby, oblivious to her presence.

A sense of urgency surged within her as she desperately searched for Jongki, a gnawing fear settling in her gut. Jungkook would undoubtedly unleash his wrath upon her for returning empty-handed, especially without the Eclipse boss. Just then, the realization struck her like a lightning bolt. "Jimin!"

Pushing through the chaos, she ran toward the battling men, her heart racing. "Check for Jimin! Now!" she commanded the remaining Titans, her voice steady despite the tremor of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm her. As she scanned the area for the familiar pink-haired figure, her eyes caught sight of muddy handprints smeared across the railings of the bridge—small, hazy remnants of Jimin's presence, unmistakably his.

Hovering over the edge of the bridge, she peered into the swift-moving stream below. "Jimin!!" she shouted, her voice echoing into the void, swallowed by the night. Without a second thought, she sprinted down the path leading beneath the bridge.

The banks of the stream were cloaked in thick vegetation, obscuring her vision further in the darkness. A wave of worry crashed over her at the thought of little Taesoo, whom she had never met, but hoped to find safe and sound. Jimin still might have a chance, but the child—she didn't know how to swim.

Just as her heart sank further, the vibrant pink of Jimin's hair caught her eye, a beacon amidst the darkness. He lay unconscious, covered in mud, his once-vibrant cheeks now dull and dusty. Blood splattered parts of his body, and panic gripped her. "Hey! Jimin. Open your eyes. It's me, Sherly!" she urged, tapping his unresponsive face, desperation lacing her voice.

Frantically, she checked for any fatal injuries or bullet holes, relief flooding her when she found none. His pulse was faint, a glimmer of hope that he was still alive. Acting on instinct, she pressed her mouth against his, breathing life into him, feeling the coldness of his lips against her warmth.

Suddenly, Jimin gasped, his eyes flying open as he struggled for air. Sherly straightened, locking eyes with his unfocused gaze. It took him a moment to process the situation, the warmth of her lips lingering in his memory. He blinked, confusion giving way to realization as he recognized the tears pooling in her eyes, mirroring the storm of emotions swirling within him.

"Did you find Taesoo?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope.

Jimin shook his head, his expression shifting from confusion to anguish. "I jumped after her. I tried my best, Sherly... I tried." He sniffed, pain etched into his features. "I saw her being carried away by the current right before my eyes. I could do nothing!" The sobs erupted from him, raw and unrestrained.

Instinctively, Sherly wrapped her arms around him, her heart aching for his despair. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss on his lips. "I know you did everything you could," she whispered, trying to soothe him, though her own heart was heavy with the weight of their losses.

Jimin was momentarily taken aback, the kiss igniting a spark he thought he'd buried deep. Without warning, he grasped her neck, pulling her closer as their lips collided again, this time with a fervor that eclipsed the pain surrounding them. Sherly melted into him, arms wrapping around his soaked frame, both shivering in the cool air but ignited by an undeniable passion. In that moment, Jimin forgot the physical agony coursing through him—the heartbreak of watching Jungkook propose to her and the distance he'd tried to maintain for the sake of his best friend. All that mattered was the taste of her lips, tinged with the salt of their shared tears, as they moved together in perfect rhythm.

"I was scared," she murmured, her gaze dropping, unable to fully confront the vulnerability she felt.

A faint smile crossed Jimin's face, the warmth of her confession grounding him amidst the chaos. "I don't like to see the dumb-headed woman crying," he teased gently, his tone laced with an understanding that softened the harsh reality of their world.

Sherly playfully elbowed his chest, and in that moment, laughter broke the tension. Their surroundings were in ruins, uncertainty loomed, and they both knew Jungkook wouldn't be pleased with their failure to capture Jongki. Yet, for now, they found solace in each other, living fully in the moment, despite the darkness that surrounded them.

On one side, relationships were blossoming, while on the other, they seemed poised to shatter. Taehyung held open Sri's abdomen, allowing Yoongi and the gastroenterologist, Dr. Han, to perform their respective tasks. The injuries she had sustained were extensive, requiring expertise across several specialties.

It was a test of Taehyung's professionalism, a battle between his personal anguish and his commitment to saving lives. Behind his mask and safety glasses, he forced himself to become a detached, composed surgeon. He had to shut down every thought that reminded him she was anything more than another critical patient who needed his skill and focus.

"Her pulse is dropping," the anesthetist warned. Yoongi glanced at Taehyung, noting the younger doctor's steady hands. Despite his inner turmoil, Taehyung was doing his job impeccably. Yoongi refocused on stitching the artery, while Dr. Han attended to the torn tissues in her abdomen.

"Give a shot of barbiturates," Taehyung instructed, his voice resonating with a gravity that belied his usual calm.

After several tense minutes, the anesthetist spoke again, "Pulse rate isn't improving, doctor. Should I administer another shot?"

"Not necessary," Yoongi responded, as Taehyung efficiently handled the suction, keeping the area clear for the others. Every move was executed with precision, his emotions buried beneath layers of professionalism.

"Dr. Kim, could you focus the light on the liver? I need to inspect it for any damage," Dr. Han requested. Taehyung adjusted the light, releasing a silent breath of relief when no additional injuries were detected. Just hang in there, love. I know you can make it. His gaze shifted momentarily to the monitor tracking her vitals, silently willing each number to stabilize.

His eyes fell on an old bullet scar just beside her heart, a reminder of her resilience, each mark a testament to the battles she'd endured. Beneath her seemingly invincible exterior lay pain that he could feel as if it were his own. No matter how fierce or gorgeous she appeared, those scars told a story of survival—a tale of a woman who had been fighting death since she was young. Gangster or not, to Taehyung, Kim Soojung was the strongest woman on earth.

After two grueling hours and the combined efforts of all three doctors, the surgery concluded successfully. Relief filled the room, but the job wasn't entirely done yet. Sri needed to regain consciousness, a critical final step to confirm that she was truly out of danger. The looming risk of post-surgical complications lingered in everyone's minds, but Taehyung held onto hope, silently urging her to open her eyes.

"Keep her in close observation," Dr. Yoongi instructed the nurses once she was ready to get shifted to the wards. Then the three doctors thanked the team and left the OT.

"I'm amazed to see how you have handled this," Yoongi spoke as he washed his hands beside Taehyung, who replied with a nod. Now that the mask was removed, he could see how broken the younger looked. He couldn't even dare to imagine himself in his shoes. Tae walked out of the washroom without waiting for him.

The doctor locked his seat belt and was ready to drive. He was alone amidst the city chaos. He could hear the cars honking and citizens yelling. Life seemed so perfect for them. Taehyung pulled out a small picture of Taesoo which he had been keeping with himself ever since he had left Australia.

She was smiling widely at the camera, the same rectangular smile as his. Her bob cut hair made her look extra cute. A sob left his mouth as he tried to bite them back. He crumbled the picture in his fist while his vision blurred in accumulated tears.

Wiping off his tears for the umpteenth time, Taehyung stepped on the accelerator. He didn't care about the speed limit. He wanted to reach the place where the fight had taken place as soon as possible.

The stream was too wild for even a skilled swimmer. Jungkook had notified that he had sent his men to search for Taesoo but Taehyung wanted to confirm it himself.

"Taesoo!!"

"Soo-ah!! Can you hear me?!!" He ran in all possible directions like a maniac.

"Taesoo!! Its daddy!! Answer me!" He had almost ran half a way down the river bank. He saw numerous footsteps on the muddy ground and even spotted some of the Titan men. However, his daughter was still missing.

The moon shone brightly after the rain. Taehyung sank on his knees when the gravity became too much for him to stand. He supported his body with his hands on the marshy ground and wept. With every choking sob leaving his mouth, he felt his heart constrict a bit more instead.

He refused to believe he wouldn't be able to see his daughter again. He wouldnt be able to provoke her to do mischief, he wouldn't be able to feed her ice creams in late nights. He punched the ground when he realized he would not be hearing 'Daddy' again. She was too young. What was her fault?! They had left the mafia world and began living peacefully. Why does the past haunt them?

He stood up when he had composed himself. He saw Jungkook standing at the far end. His expression was hard as a stone. Tae knew he wasn't here to console him with sweet words. That was the last thing the needed right now. The Titan signalled him with a nod and walked away until he disappeared behind the trees.

Taehyung dusted off his attire and immeditely drove back to the hospital. He didn't wait for the lift and took the stairs until he stood infront of the cabin where Sri was kept. He took a deep breath and pushed inside.

No one was there in the room besides the patient and the doctor. The fresh aroma was in the air. The monitor beside her bed beeped in a steady rhythm. Tae saw her eyes slightly open. She was blankly staring at the ceiling, body unable to move yet. Nevertheless, a wave of relief washed through his body. Atleast, she woke up.

Taehyung gently took her hand in his and placed a soft kiss on the back of her palm. "I am glad that you woke up. We will go through this together." He closed his eyes to fight back the tears and rested his forehead beside her. He could feel her fingers curl around his hand.

"Where am I?" She feebly whispered still unable to grasp her surroundings.

"Hey, its fine. You are with me, in the Saviour." Tae spoke with such tenderness in his voice. However, the female's next words sucked the air out of his lungs.

"Who are you?"

"Sir, everyone in the Saviour knows about Sri now. They know she is S," Yeonjun reported, a deep frown etched on his face.

Commissioner Hoseok's expression remained tense as he tried to grasp the complexity of their situation. If the public discovered that the infamous S was still alive, doubts would cast a shadow over law enforcement. People would see the police as complicit, perhaps even weak. But if he moved to arrest her, Jungkook and his gang would retaliate without mercy. Hoseok could envision the chaos: angry citizens on one side and a relentless gang on the other, both putting his department at risk.

"We'll have to wait until she's healed before making any moves," Hoseok finally decided, his tone grim. "The law prohibits arresting someone while they're still recovering. And let's be real—if we even think of stepping into Savior territory right now, Jungkook would paint this entire precinct red. We don't have the skilled personnel to handle that kind of force."

Yeonjun exhaled, frustration evident in his posture. "If only the government had recruited capable officers rather than filling posts with political connections and unqualified relatives."

Hoseok nodded in resigned agreement. "Imagine if those skilled fighters from the Titans had joined the police. They could've been assets instead of outlaws."

Three days had passed since the nightmare unfolded, and Sri was still in the hospital, though it felt as if she were worlds away. She sat up in bed, her gaze empty and distant, as though her mind floated in another time, a different life. Taehyung leaned against the doorframe, watching her, his heart aching at her detached expression. She barely acknowledged his presence, speaking only in brief, monosyllabic replies. It was as if he had become a stranger to her.

The psychologist had explained that Sri was suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, causing her mind to block out memories of the trauma—and with them, the people she associated with it. Tragically, that meant she had forgotten Taehyung and their daughter, Taesoo. The only memories that lingered were of her life as S, the fierce leader among the Titans. She remembered Jungkook, Jimin, and the gang, but her family was now a void, a place her mind dared not revisit.

Taehyung knew the horrors she'd witnessed were too much, even for someone as strong as Sri. Part of him wanted to shout his name, to grab her shoulders and tell her everything—who they were, who she was to him, to Taesoo. But he held back. He couldn't force her to remember, not when the pain of losing Taesoo was bound to resurface along with those memories. Perhaps forgetting was the only mercy she had, a way for her heart to survive the agony she'd seen.

With a doctor's practiced detachment, Taehyung recorded her vitals in his notepad. Every fiber of his being urged him to reach out, to hold her and whisper how much he loved her. But he swallowed that longing and turned to leave. As he walked away, he missed the single tear that trailed down her cheek, a glimmer of the pain buried somewhere deep within her.

Outside, Taehyung spotted Jungkook, who had been a constant figure around the hospital these past days. He came without causing any trouble, blending in as best as a man of his stature could. Even the staff had grown accustomed to his quiet, chilling presence. Though Jungkook had his own ways of coping, he too was searching for Taesoo. The Titans were still combing through the riverbanks, determined to find her. Each morning, Taehyung joined them, hoping that somehow, against all odds, he would find his daughter. Each morning, those hopes were crushed anew.

Taehyung stopped, an unexpected resolve crystallizing within him. If he couldn't live in peace, if darkness was all that remained, then he would descend into it. He would become one with the shadows if it meant he could destroy them from the inside out.

"Jungkook," he said, his voice steeled with purpose as he clasped the gang leader's arm. "I need you to help me avenge my daughter."

Author:
Most of you are probably confused about the timeline. Let me clear it out. 1st Taesoo was thrown off the bridge. Then JK and the police came at the same time. Seeing the Titans, Hoseok retreated.
Jk took Sri to hospital where Tae operated on her. During the same time, Sherly fought with the Eclipse and searched for Jimin. By the time Tae went to the bank, Jimin and Sherly were gone. Jungkook reached the bank after he got to know about Sri getting back her consciousness. Maybe he even paid a visit to her. He signalled Taehyung about that when he met him in the river bank.

It was a huge chapter. There will be a lapse after this. Things r going to get electrifying from now on! Enough of tears we have shred.

15 votes for an immediate update.

Maknae line shirtless: checked ✅️