When Chan came back, Minho was awake and painted circles sunken in thoughts on Changbin's arm.

"You're awake again."

Minho looked up and had to smile when he saw Chan.

"Yes, I am. I haven't slept so well since it happened. Although I am incredibly tired. But I constantly dream that he will be kidnapped again."

Chan went to him and took him in his arms.

"At some point it will get better! Once he is awake again and we are allowed to take him home, it will certainly be better!"

Both had tears in their eyes when they looked at each other. Chan put his forehead on Minhos and closed his eyes for a moment.

"He can do it! We can do it!" he muttered and a tear ran down his cheek.

Minho wiped it away with a sad smile.

"I don't know you like that at all..." he muttered.

"Me neither," Chan replied depressed.

"I would give you some space to lay and hug you, but somehow you don't fit into bed anymore. They should really buy wider hospital beds."

A slight grin appeared on Chan's face.

He bent down to Minho again and kissed him softly.

"Actually, I should be the one who tries to cheer you up. After all, you are the one with the gunshot wounds."

"Even the tough guys sometimes need a little encouragement," Minho said with a smile and stroked over Chans arm.

"And I always thought you were the tough guy of ours," Chan stood up smiling and went over to Jisung.

He looked almost peaceful. As if he were just lying in bed and sleeping. If there hadn't been the choking marks on his neck.

Chan wish he could do something to help Jisung and he couldn't imagine how Minho must be feeling.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his agitated thoughts and his sore heart, but it didn't really help.

He felt Minho's gaze in his back and turned around.

"Come here," Minho whispered, who obviously had to make an effort not to burst into tears.

Chan leaned down to Jisung and kissed him on the forehead.

"Get well soon... We need you...!"

Then he turned around and went to Minho.

He had managed to sit down and now pulled Chan into his arms.

"It's not your fault... just as little as it's my fault. Even if it feels different..."

Now it was Minho who pulled Chan to him and kissed him.

He usually showed his love and affection for Chan and Changbin less physically, but he felt that Chan needed exactly that.

Obvious love through touch.

He gently buried his hand in Chan's hair and carefully pulled him towards him.

"Tell me, you tough guy, do you happen to know if I can take a shower? They washed off the blood, but somehow I feel like it's still sticking to me."

Chan cuddled up to him for a moment and enjoyed the closeness.

"As far as I know, you just shouldn't get up alone. But if you let go of me, I can also ask."

Minho suppressed a sigh and nodded.

Chan got up and left the room to look for a nurse, while Minho looked after him thoughtfully and worried.

He knew Chan well enough to know that the elder really blamed himself for everything and that he would sacrifice himself to make up for it.

And Minho also knew that no matter what Chan would try to do, it wouldn't change the feeling that the elder buried deep inside him.

When Chan came back, Minho tried to greet him with a happy smile, although he felt much more like crying.

"Yes, you can take a shower. Under the condition of not going to take a shower alone. But you can at least choose whether a nurse or I should accompany you."

Minho rolled his eyes and actually had to laugh a little.

"Nurse? No thanks. I'd rather take you. Well, then help me up."

"Sounds like I'm something like a consolation prize for you...?" he looked at Minho with his eyebrows raised while he carefully helped him out of bed.

"So are you," the younger one replied with a grin.

"Pfff. Would you rather take a shower with the nurse?" Chan asked exaggeratedly sadly and pouting.

"No honey, I'd really rather take you with me!" Minho replied with a laugh.

So Minho put himself in the shower while Chan sat down on the toilet and went through his emails.

However, this was not very uplifting due to the many annoying emails from their manager.

Snorting, Chan finally put the phone aside and closed his eyes instead.

Meanwhile, Minho enjoyed the warm water. The wound under the waterproof bandage throbbed and itched insanely, but for the moment he didn't care.

He washed himself as best he could and then just stood under the warm water for a while and let his tears run wild.

At some point he felt him get dizzy and saw stars dancing in front of his eyes.

"Chan..." he shouted uncertainly while holding on to the handle on the wall.

Seconds later, Chan stood by him, wrapped him in a towel and lifted him up.

"Well, luckily you didn't take a shower alone."

He carried Minho over to the bed and carefully placed him next to the still sleeping Changbin.

"Stay behind! I'll get you something to wear and then ask when dinner is coming. You have to eat something!"

Minho nodded devoted. The stars were still dancing in front of his eyes and he felt that he was close to losing consciousness.

A little later Chan came back to the bed with fresh clothes in his hand. He helped Minho sit down carefully and then pulled the T-shirt over his head.

Minho wanted to protest when Chan put on boxer shorts and sweatpants afterwards, but if he was completely honest with himself, he didn't have the strength to dress himself.

So he let Chan grant.

Exhausted, he closed his eyes after Chan had finished putting him on.

"I'm going to get your food and I'll be right back!"

Chan quietly left the room and went in search of Minho's dinner.

When he came back, Changbin sat in bed this time looking forward to him.

"Hey," tired and exhausted they looked at each other.

"Would you like to get up so Minho can eat?"

Changbin climbed carefully off the bed and Minho sat down a little cumbersomely.

"Min, if it's okay with you, we'll leave you alone for a moment and go to the canteen for something to eat."

Minho nodded and started eating carefully.

"Call if something should happen."

After they had looped down the not really delicious canteen meal, the two returned to Minho, who had finished eating and was staring at the ceiling.

"Hey Min, are you okay?"

Chan sat down with concern to him.

Minho nodded first, but then shook his head.

"I... I don't want to be alone..."

He grabbed Chan's hand.

Changbin came over to them and put a hand on Chan's shoulder.

"Lie down with him and both sleep a little. I'll take care of Ji."

He kissed them both, then pulled a chair to Jisung's bed and sat down.

Chan pulled Minho tired into his arms and closed his eyes.

"Sleep well Min! And get well soon!"

"Sleep well Honey," Minho muttered and snuggled up close to him.

"Sleep well, you two!"

Changbin looked smiling over to the two and then turned his attention to Jisung.

"And you have to wake up very soon, honey! We miss you insanely!"

꧁ ⸺ ♥ ⸺ ꧂