Jungkook walks into the clinic to meet Taehyung's doctor the next morning instead of reporting to work straight away.

He always met Dr. Park after one of Taehyung's appointments.

Dr. Park never gave him the straight facts when Taehyung was there because he didn't want anything he had to say to have a negative effect on his recovery.

"Is everything okay?" Jungkook asks as soon as they are seated.

"Everything is fine. Taehyung's condition hasn't really improved or worsened since the last time I spoke to him. The reason for his mutism isn't physical at all, even though that's what I told him. It's completely psychological. All in his head. He can speak, whenever he's ready, but as long as there's damage psychologically, that won't be any time soon. That's why I want to suggest in-house treatment." Dr. Park says handing him a pamphlet.

"In-house?" Jungkook asks taking the little booklet and reading the cover.

White Wing Psychiatric Institution.

"Yes. It's the best shot we have at getting him to open up and no longer fear speaking." The doctor says. "It doesn't mean he's ill, he's far from it. He's very capable, he just needs a little push in the right direction."

"I-I don't think I like the idea of this." Jungkook says honestly. "He doesn't need to be institutionalized."

"I understand where you might become opposed to the idea but I promise you after at least a weeks stay in the hospital and he'll be as good as new. Just like the Taehyung he used to be." Dr. Park says. "It's a small sacrifice of time, Jungkook. But the results will be worth it."

Jungkook sighs, looking through the pamphlet. Only finding photos of white walls and white floors and doctors dressed in all white.

"How long?" He asks looking up from the booklet.

"I'll ask for two weeks. Give me two weeks and I'll have him up and running like normal again." Park says with a smile.

"Two weeks." Jungkook says reluctantly. "Two weeks and I want him out of there, even if he isn't better."

"Two weeks." The doctor promises.

Jungkook sighs again, running his fingers through his hair.

This wasn't what he was expecting from his visit here today, he was hoping to here good news, not that he had to convince Taehyung to go to a psychiatric hospital for two weeks.

Jungkook tries to come up with an easy way to tell him and convince him into staying at the hospital but everything sounds bad.

He can't shake the thought from his mind all day, even when he's drowning in all the work he has.

How could he accept the fact that he was sending Taehyung to a psychiatric institution?

-

"White Wing? The crazy hospital?" Yoongi asks earning a glare from Jimin.

"It doesn't mean he's crazy. They have the best doctors there to treat him. Taehyung's doctor said he'd be better in two weeks." Jungkook says.

"He's not sick, Jungkook. Lots of people have mutism. They aren't in institutions." Jimin says from where he sits next to Yoongi on their couch.

After getting the news about the hospital Jungkook wanted to talk to Hobi, but since they aren't exactly on speaking terms he went to Yoongi instead.

"I know, but Tae's mutism is psychological. He can talk whenever he wants but it's everything in his subconscious that's keeping him from doing it." Jungkook says. "If a little while in the hospital can help him get over all that, why shouldn't I send him?"

"You have to think about what Tae wants too though." Yoongi says. "Maybe going to the hospital isn't what he wants."

Jungkook nods with a heavy sigh. "I just want him to get better, Yoongi."

"Hyung. And I understand that, Kooks. But still, think about what he wants. Then try talking to him about it. Okay?" Yoongi says with a smile. "Things will work out like they should."

"Yeah, they will. Just talk to him." Jimin encourages.

Jungkook nods and starts to thank his friends when the front door of the apartment opens and Namjoon walks in with Jin.

They both stop short when they see Jungkook.

"What are you doing here?" Jin asks, obviously upset at him.

Jungkook stands up and so does Yoongi and Jimin.

"Jungkook just stopped by to update us on Taehyung's condition. He's doing a lot better now, Joon. We really should get around to going to see him~"

Namjoon cuts Jimin off. "He's not welcomed here."

Jungkook feels a pang in his chest but he ignores it. "Yeah, I get that. I was heading out anyways."

"Hang on a second, Joon. Jungkook is welcomed here, it's our apartment too." Yoongi says stopping Jungkook.

"I know it doesn't matter to you that he hurt Taehyung because you hardly know anything about him, but we trusted him and he betrayed that trust." Jin says with more hurt behind his voice than anger.

"Nothing good has come out of Taehyung knowing him." Namjoon says. "It's his fault Taehyung is the way he is now."

"That's not true, hyung." Jungkook says in disbelief.

"It is, now if you aren't gonna go then we will." Jin says taking Namjoon's hand.

"I'm leaving." Jungkook say feeling extremely hurt that his hyungs both thought he was no good for Taehyung.

"Jungkook taught Taehyung to love and respect himself, are we forgetting what Tae was like before he met Jungkook?" Jimin speaks up in Jungkook's defense.

"Oh we know you didn't, Jimin." Namjoon says angrily.

"Fuck you, Namjoon!" Yoongi says. "What the hell is your problem?"

"He's my problem." Namjoon says pointing at Jungkook.

"Well then maybe you should fucking leave cause as far as I'm concerned Jungkook may have made a mistake but at least he's trying to fix it. And you two are fucking assholes for coming for him like he's not spent almost four years of his life making Taehyung happier than he's ever been." Yoongi says growing angrier by the second.

"Don't fight." Jungkook says looking between the two. "It's fine, Yoongi-hyung. Seriously, I understand why they're upset and they have every right to be. But please don't fight because of me."

"He's wrong, Kooks. They're both wrong." Yoongi says, still heated.

"It doesn't matter." Jungkook says before turning back to Namjoon and Jin. "I know I messed up guys, I messed up bad. But believe me when I tell you that I love Taehyung with everything in my being, he's everything to me. I'd never hurt him on purpose and you know that. So please don't think all I've done is hurt him, because it's not true. I've done everything in my power to keep him from getting hurt. What else can I do?"

Namjoon and Jin both just continue to look at him like his words are insincere.

Jungkook sighs. "I'll just go. Thanks for talking to my Yoongi and Jimin."

"Be careful going home, Jungkook." Jimin says with a small smile despite the situation.

Jungkook nods before walking past Namjoon and Jin to get to the door.

He walks out of the apartment, leaving the other two couples in a tense silence.

"It's okay, Yoongs." Jimin says breaking the silence and taking Yoongi's hand. "Just forget about it."

"You were out of line, Namjoon." Yoongi says anyway. "Whatever happened between Jimin and Taehyung was in the past. Why'd you go and bring it up now?"

"I'm sorry, hyung. I was just upset. I can't believe you guys are on his side." Namjoon says before heading to his room.

"What do you mean his side? There are no sides. And even if there were everyone's on his side except for you guys and Hobi. Everyone including Taehyung." Yoongi says. "Taehyung loves him and he's forgiven him for what he did. If he can accept it then why can't you guys?"

"You didn't know Tae before, Yoongi. Jungkook's making his life just as hard as it was before. If not harder." Jin speaks up.

"Life's hard, that's life. It's hard. But when life gets you down don't you need someone you love to help you back up?" Yoongi asks. "Maybe I didn't know Taehyung before, but just by looking at him and Jungkook when they're together I can tell that Jungkook is the only thing he has left. And you're trying to end that?"

Jin sighs in defeat. "I know they love each, Yoongi. But~"

"No, no buts. They love each other. So let them love each other." Yoongi says. "It's there life, so stop making Jungkook feel like the bad guy."

Namjoon and Jin both sigh. "Fine."

"I think you two, and Hobi, owe Jungkook an apology."

———