TW: Major character death. Don't read it if you don't want to be sad v.v . 

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Taehyung had been feeling a little different for well over a week now. He was getting extra tired during dance practice and overall feeling drained the majority of the time. He thought it was probably just the flu or something, as most of his symptoms matched the ones of a flu.

Jin was continuously trying to make food that would help. Any kind of soup, stuff with ginger, vitamin packed meals, but the second maknae still wasn't feeling all that great no matter what. Everyone kept telling him he needed to go to the doctor but he was reluctant. Not only did he feel like he didn't have time, he also kept informing everyone that whatever it was will pass 'within a few days'.

"You've been saying that for over a week now," Jin told Taehyung after yet another unsuccessful lecture to Taehyung about how he needed to go to the doctor.

"It will probably be gone in just a few more days," Taehyung pouted as everyone packed up their stuff from the studio and headed home. They had the next two days off so Yoongi ended up taking it upon himself to make Taehyung a doctors appointment.

"You don't have a choice anymore, I will drag you there if I need to," Yoongi said sternly. Taehyung rolled his eyes in response. He was too exhausted to put up a fight about it. When they got back to the house Jin immediately went to the kitchen to make Taehyung a healthy drink. Yoongi got started on dinner. Taehyung went over and threw himself on the couch, with Jungkook and Jimin sitting on both sides of him. Hobi and Namjoon plopped onto the one of their other couches.

Namjoon started talking about meetings coming up they had and some performance schedules they had going on once their two days off were over. He was distracted when he looked over and saw Taehyung with his head leaned back staring at the ceiling and clutching his stomach.

"Tae? What now? Your stomach hurts?" Namjoon asked concerned.

"I'm just a little dizzy. And it's probably indigestion or something," Taehyung replied. Jimin and Jungkook both turned to Taehyung with concern.

"But you haven't even eaten anything since this morning," Jimin replied. Taking his hand and rubbing Taehyungs stomach too to help his best friend feel better.

"Maybe I danced too hard?" Taehyung replied, not ungluing his eyes from the ceiling.

"No offense," Hobi couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, "But with your current condition you didn't really do that either." Taehyung also found the comment a little funny, Hobi was right. He hadn't been giving his best practices this week. Namjoon decided to get up and go look for medicine that could help somehow.

Jin came in with some medicinal drink he had made and handed it to Taehyung, alarmed when he saw how much his second maknae was starting to sweat. He placed his hand to Taehyung's forehead.

"You're warm," Jin recoiled his hand in surprise. He sent Jungkook to go get a thermometer and his concern grew when Taehyung's temperature hiked up to 100 degrees F.

"Hyung are you sure you're okay? Maybe you should go to the hospital or something," Jungkook asked concerned. He hated seeing his hyung so sick, especially because he'd been sick for a while now and it didn't seem to be getting any better, actually only worse.

"I'm fine. It's not that high. That's normal for the flu isn't it?" Taehyung looked to Jin for an answer.

"I guess it's not too high, but we don't know if it's the flu or not Tae," Jin said ,"Maybe we should go to the hospital just for some peace of mind."

"No," Taehyung protested. He didn't want to go anywhere. He just wanted to curl up on the couch and rest. Just a few more days and I will be fine. He leaned over and rested his head into Jungkook's lap and his maknae tried to make him feel better by running his hands through his hair. Jimin started caressing the number 8 into his back with the tips of his nails. Taehyung thought it felt nice.

"You really want to suffer for two more days?" Namjoon came back in and handed Taehyung some indigestion medicine.

"I'll be fine," Taehyung pouted. As miserable as he actually felt he really hated hospitals and doctors offices. He'd always do anything he could to avoid them. Yoongi came over to let everyone know dinner was ready. Taehyung said his stomach hurt too much and he wanted to go lay down for the night.

"You don't want to at least try to eat? You haven't been eating all week. Maybe just a bite of bread or something?" Yoongi asked. He figured it'd be better than absolutely nothing.

"No thank you, hyung," Taehyung got up and made his way to his room to lay down. The rest of them watched him with great concern.

"We should have forced him to go to the doctor as soon as this started," Jimin said as they all made their way to the kitchen.

"Better late than never I guess, yeah?" said Hobi. Hobi quickly vanished to go give Taehyung a cold washcloth to keep on his forehead to try and help with his fever. The mood was mellow at dinner, the members were exhausted and their anxiety about Taehyung put everyone in a quiet mood. They'd been sad all week. Taehyung had gotten really quiet since he got sick and it was making everyone miss him even though he was around. Once dinner was cleaned up, they all made their way into his room to say goodnight and check on him one last time. Jungkook shared the room with Taehyung so he slipped into his pajamas and sat on his bed while everyone came in. Taehyung was laying curled up under his covers with the washcloth still on his forehead.

Hobi took it off, "Do you want a new one?"

Taehyung nodded in response with his eyes closed. He felt like he was going to be sick, but he also felt like if he lay completely still and not move a muscle it would just pass. Sharp pains kept shooting through his stomach and he wasn't sure why. He'd had the flu before but this was starting to feel a lot different, and a lot worse. Jin and Namjoon both left more medicine on his bedside table incase he wanted some throughout the night. Jungkook took their bedroom trashcan and scooted it next to Taehyung's bed, "Just incase."

Every time a new pain shot through his stomach he'd clutch it even harder.

"On a scale of 1-10 how badly does it hurt?" Jin asked.

"I don't know. I have nothing to compare it to," Taehyung whispered. Even talking put him in more pain. He was starting to now get a sore throat.

"Can I check something?" Yoongi asked as he slowly slipped Taehyung's blanket off.

"What?" Taehyung asked annoyed. He didn't want to be moved. Yoongi slowly lifted Taehyung's shirt and started pressing on his stomach, causing the boy to whimper loudly.

Yoongi quickly took his hand back.

"Why did you do that?" Jungkook asked.

"I was just checking. I mean he feels normal. Maybe it's a stomach ulcer or something?" Yoongi suggested. He pulled Taehyung's shirt back down and covered him back up with the blanket, "How are you not too hot under this?"

"I'm cold."

"But you're sweating?" Yoongi was confused.

"It's called a cold sweat, hyung, "Jungkook turned from Yoongi to Taehyung, "Can you please go to the doctor tomorrow instead of waiting another day? You're scaring me."

The rest of the members looked at Taehyung.

"Fine. I'll go tomorrow."

"But if you feel worse tonight, wake someone up," Jin demanded. Taehyung nodded in response. After saying goodnight a final time and all taking turns giving Taehyung a kiss on his forehead, it was just him and Jungkook in the room.

Jungkook was feeling restless so decided to stay up and practice random dance moves in the middle of the floor. Taehyung was already dozed off in bed but the maknae wanted his attention anyway.

"Hey, hyung. What about this move? Maybe we could add it to our next choreography!" Jungkook said excitedly while still dancing.

"Mhmm," Taehyung replied without opening his eyes.

"You're not even watching," Jungkook stood there and pouted at Taehyung. He then walked over to his hyungs bed and sat on the floor next to it, running his fingers through Taehyung's hair, "You're so boring when you're sick. I miss you."

"Sorry," Taehyung whispered.

"Don't be. Maybe when you feel better we can go out for ice cream or something?"

"Yeah."

Jungkook sighed. He really missed his playful hyung, but at least he was finally going to get some help tomorrow. He realized Taehyung wanted to sleep so he kissed his cheek goodnight, "Hmm. Well. Goodnight Teahyungie. I love you," he went and curled up into his own bed, quickly passing out.

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a/n :turn back now. last chance if you don't want to read this part.

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When Jungkook woke up the next morning he looked over and saw that Taehyung was still fast asleep curled up under his blanket. He decided not to bother him for once. He made his way out into the kitchen to the smell of waffles.

"Ooooooo," Jungkook smiled while grabbing some.

"How is Taehyung feeling?" Namjoon asked while washing some dishes.

"I don't know. He's still sleeping."

Jimin walked in, "Think he wants breakfast?"

"Probably not," Yoongi said from across the counter, "Let him sleep. We'll wake him up when I'm ready to take him to the doctors."

"Do you know if he took any more medicine during the night?" Hobi asked the maknae.

"It didn't look like it. It was all still full," Jungkook told his hyung while shoving waffles into his mouth.

After about an hour Yoongi said he'd be ready soon so asked if someone could go wake Taehyung up.

" I will, I have to get dressed anyways," Jungkook offered. He made his way into their room and got dressed and then went over and started shaking Taehyung.

"Yoongi hyung said he's ready to bring you now so you have to get up," Jungkook stood there waiting for his hyung to stir awake, but he didn't.

"Taehyunggggg, "Jungkook shook him again, "Get up Yoongi hyung is almost ready to take you." Jungkook started shaking him harder. When he still wasn't moving, Jungkook pulled the blanket off. He noticed his hyung looked abnormally pale. He went to shake him more but flinched back at how cold he was. He noticed Taehyung was extremely still.

"Umm...Taehyungie? Are you feeling okay?" Jungkook asked with concern growing in his voice. He felt his heart start to pound against his chest and a cold sweat break out, "This isn't funny. You're starting to freak me out. Hyung you have to get up now."

Jungkook stood there and began to panic at the lack of movement.

"HYUNGS!!!!" He screamed, "HYUNGSS?!?! HELP!!"

The rest of the members ran in at the sound of the maknae's panic.

"What?"

"What's wrong?"

"What happened?"

"Are you okay?"

Jungkook backed up and pointed to Taehyung with tears spilling down his face, " What's wrong with him?!?!" he screamed. Everyone turned to Taehyung and ran to him.

"Taehyung?" Namjoon asked, trying to shake him. He was freaked out by how pale and cold he was. The rest of the members tried shaking him awake too with no success. Jimin placed his hand on Taehyung's chest and started screaming.

"HE'S NOT BREATHING! HE'S NOT BREATHING!!" Jimin instantly picked Taehyung up and put him on the floor, " SOMEONE CALL 911!!" he screamed through tears. All of the members turned frantic. Jungkook stood there frozen and crying.

Not breathing?

Jin ran and called 911. Jimin was on the ground immediately starting CPR on Taehyung. Everyone else started yelling for Taehyung to wake up and continued trying to shake him awake while Jimin was pumping his chest and trying to give him rescue breaths.

"Please breathe!!" Jimin cried while pumping his dongsaengs chest.

"What the hell happened?!" Hobi screamed.

"Did he choke on something?!?!" Yoongi screamed in response. None of them knew what was going on. They fought through their tears trying to get him to wake up. When the ambulance got there the paramedics still couldn't find a pulse. They took over CPR and then started to use defibrillators while loading him onto a stretcher. The paramedics were rushing to the ambulance as the rest of them ran out behind them.

"Save him!! Please save him!!!" Jungkook started screaming. They all got into their car and sped behind the ambulance with a police escort.

At the hospital, they sat around for hours crying. They kept asking eachother what could have happened and tried to make sense of why he would have stopped breathing. Nothing made sense to them. Jungkook told them that he never heard Taehyung get up during the night and get sick, he never touched any of the medicine, he doesn't know what he could have possibly choked on. And if choking was out of the question they couldn't figure out why he wouldn't have been breathing. He hadn't once complained about his lungs hurting, it was always his stomach.

After what felt like a lifetime, a doctor and two nurses came in. One of the nurses was crying. All their hearts tensed up and everyone hoped that maybe the three weren't there for them.

"Mr. Kim Taehyung?" the doctor asked. Everyone hesitated. They instantly wanted to rewind at least five minutes backwards to before the three had come. They finally all got up.

"Is he okay? I mean he was sick for the past week but he was supposed to go to the doctors today so he's okay right??" Yoongi asked.

The doctor stared at all of them while the nurses kept their gazes low.

"I'm really sorry," the doctor said dropping his own gaze to the floor.

"What, why?" Jungkook started panicking , "Sorry for what? What are you sorry for? He's okay, right? Hyung is okay?" Jungkook looked around at the rest of the members and they looked frozen in place.

Yoongi felt the blood drain from his face. Hobi felt his knees buckling. Namjoon and Jin became statues. Jimin walked up next to Jungkook and grabbed him , "TaeTae is going to be fine, yeah?" he asked the doctor.

"I'm really sorry. We couldn't..." the doctor himself was getting choked up as one of the nurses had to turn their face and cry, "We couldn't revive him. He ..um..he hadn't been breathing for a long time before 911 was called. It seems as though he passed in the middle of the night while he was sleeping."

"NO! NO! " Jimin started screaming, "THAT HAS TO BE WRONG! He was okay when he went to bed! You have to be talking about the wrong person!!" His sobs could be heard through the entire hospital. Hobi's knees finally gave out and him and Yoongi both dropped to the floor holding eachother sobbing loudly. Jungkook felt like he was in a dream.

It's just a dream. Taehyungie hyung is fine. We are getting ice cream later.

"Where is Taehyung?" Jungkook asked. It was scary how robotic he seemed.

"I..he..I'm sorry," The doctor started, "He didn't make it."

"Where is Taehyung?" Jungkook asked again more aggressively.

The doctor kept repeating that he was sorry, Taehyung didn't make it. Jungkook ran up and grabbed the doctors coat, "Where is Taehyung?! Where is he?! Where is my hyung?! He can't be dead so where the hell is he?!"

The tears that Jungkook had been refusing to let fall finally came. Namjoon got behind him and pulled him off the doctor and wrapped him into his arms instead. Jungkook let his body drop to the floor, taking Jimin and Namjoon with him. They were all on the ground holding eachother and crying. Jin started screaming his lungs out, he thought he was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen. Yoongi had felt a lot of things in his lifetime on earth but the sudden emptiness he felt was indescribable. Hobi felt like he was hallucinating, he couldn't see through his tears or breathe. Namjoon held onto Jungkook and Jimin tightly. He felt like if he dared let go he was going to lose them too.

"Taehyung.... Taehyung..." Jin cried over and over. Jungkook felt a complete rage shoot through his entire body, "This is all of your faults!" he screamed pointing to the rest of his members. They stared at him in shock.

"I told him he should go to the hospital last night! I told him! But he didn't listen to me! And none of you helped! None of you helped me convince him! He doesn't listen to the maknae half the time! He would have listened to you and none of you even tried! None of you tried!!" he screamed through his tears, "He's dead because of all of you!"

Jin screamed back at Jungkook, "I did try! I told him too and he refused!"

"You're the hyung! You didn't try hard ENOUGH!" Jungkook shot back.

"BOTH OF YOU STOP IT!" Yoongi screamed at them through his own frustration and heartbreak, "Blaming anyone isn't going to bring him the fuck back now is it?! So just shut the hell up! Both of you just shut the hell up!" Yoongi buried his face into his hands and cried harder. Guilt was drowning each and every one of them. They all felt like it was their fault. Even Jungkook. I should have checked on him sooner! I should have stayed up all night and kept my eye on him! He'd still be here!

Jimin got up and ran to the trashcan, getting sick in it. He felt like his own lungs were going to give out and he was going to die too. But he didn't care. He would have preferred that in this moment. TaeTae....I'm so sorry..

Everyone stopped yelling at eachother and gathered back into eachothers arms. Holding eachother brought absolutely no comfort. All of them only wanted to hold one person right now and one person only.

They wanted to be holding Taehyung.

---

It had been two days.

Two days since any of the members last spoke to, sang with, hugged, kissed, or saw their second maknae. Jungkook avoided their room. He couldn't step foot in it. Yoongi braved it out and went in to grab some of Jungkook's things from the room and move them into Jin's. They hadn't even discussed what to do with Taehyung's stuff but they all had the same idea to not get rid of or touch anything. Doing that would mean he's really gone, and nobody could accept that.

The news broke out all over the internet and the entire world was devastated. The members avoided social media at all costs. They didn't want to see all the fan edits of them and Taehyung. It would have hurt too much.

Nobody could eat, and nobody could sleep. All of their upcoming schedules had been cancelled and they were busy preparing for the funeral. They found themselves clinging to eachother a lot more. Like it would somehow fill a void, but it didn't. The void was there and everyone could feel it. The feeling that something was missing wasn't going away. Friends and family were constantly telling them they still had eachother and that they'd all heal in time, but nobody believed it. They didn't see a way to heal from this. Jungkook had apologized for screaming at everyone and blaming them. He shifted his mindset to blaming Taehyung himself. An autopsy came back revealing that their second maknae had ultimately passed due to severe untreated appendicitis. The report said that Taehyung's appendix had become inflamed and infected, but instead of it exploding abruptly like in most cases, it slowly leaked. Which is why Taehyung was slowly feeling the side effects. It was the toxins building up in his body until it got into his blood stream and poisoned him. This is why Jungkook shifted his blame to Taehyung. He blamed his hyung for not taking care of himself. For not going to the doctor sooner. For not caring about his own health. Jungkook needed someone to blame because deep down when he thought about it being his own fault he couldn't bare it anymore.

The rest of the members still weren't any better. Yoongi felt guilty for not forcing him to go to the doctor sooner. Why the hell did I wait so damn long?!?! Idiot!! You're an idiot!!!

Namjoon, Jimin, and Hobi had all gone scarily quiet aside from the tears they would cry. Jin tried to keep up his role as hyung, but so far most of the time he didn't even want to get out of bed. He would find himself scrolling through pictures of him and Taehyung together and then screaming at his phone.

It was time for them to leave for the funeral, but both Jungkook and Jimin were refusing to go.

"Why wouldn't you come?" Namjoon asked impatiently. Everyone was moody and depressed, he didn't feel like dealing with the two youngest right now. That thought alone made his heart sink even more. The two youngest were supposed to be Jungkook and Taehyung. Not Jungkook and Jimin.

Tears were already spilling out of Jimin's eyes, "I can't say goodbye to him yet."

"Me either," Jungkook also cried. Hobi came up behind them and hugged them, "But he would want you to." It wasn't any easier for any of them to be going and saying goodbye either, but they needed to go.

Jungkook turned and buried his head into Hobi's shoulder and sobbed. I don't want to say goodbye to him yet.

"He wouldn't want you to cry like this," Yoongi came over and put his hand on Jimin's back.

"And I didn't want him to die but he did anyway," Jimin buried his head into Yoongi's chest and let his tears keep falling. Jin came over and pulled everyone into a hug , "We really have to go now."

Jungkook and Jimin finally followed the others to the car. The funeral was outside. It was a beautiful day outside, which made everyone feel even worse. A great day like this should be spent playing outside with eachother. Not gathering at their brothers funeral. They had requested it be a small private event so only close family and friends were there. Everyone had brought Taehyung's favorite flowers and placed them on his casket before it was lowered. Everyone had a chance to go up and place their hand on the casket and say their final goodbyes. The members chose to go up separately.

Yoongi went first.

You stupid little punk. Next time, listen to your damn hyungs when we tell you something! You were sick! You're 26 years old. I'm older I'm supposed to die first you idiot! You selfish little dongsaeng!! What am I supposed to do Taehyung?! Part of me is missing. I'm sorry I wasn't a better hyung. I'm so sorry. I promise to do better from now on. I miss you. I love you. And one small favor, please help Jungkook. I mean help all of us but please help Jungkook. He's not doing well. I love you. I love you.

Namjoon found the strength to go next.

I thought I was a good leader. A good brother. But what kind of person let's their best friend, their brother, die? Not a good one. You deserved better. I don't know what to do. How are we supposed to keep going on without you? We're supposed to be seven, Taehyung. Seven!

He broke down and couldn't continue.

Jin stepped up.

When I met you when you were 15 you were really a selfish kid. I see you didn't grow out of that. Leaving us like this? Unbelievable. Why do you get to take a long nap while the rest of us still have to go to work? I knew you hated mornings but damn. Why did you have to go? Hyung wasn't ready. Hyung was supposed to watch you grow old and have kids and get wrinkly and gray. And you decide to go turn into an angel instead before the rest of us? That's just like you, Tae.

Jin started crying so hard that Namjoon had to go up and hug him, pulling him back.

Hobi looked around. He didn't want to go next, but knew Jimin and Jungkook were waiting to go last. He walked up and placed his hand on the casket and sighed.

I'll be honest. I don't know what to say. All I know is I miss you. I really miss you. Please just come back. Taehyung please.

He rested his head on the casket and cried before retreating. It was too hard for him. He understood how Jungkook and Jimin felt now. He didn't want to say goodbye either.

Jimin went up.

Thought soulmates are supposed to never leave eachother so what the hell did you think you were doing? I guess now a piece of me will be living in eternity until the other half gets there. I love you so much. I'd give anything to bring you back. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I'm so sorry Taehyungie..

It was Jungkook's turn but he hesitated. He still wasn't ready. Jin gave him a small push, "If you don't do this now, you'll only regret it for the rest of your life." Jungkook nodded and stepped forward. He watched his tears fall on the ground.

Hyungie..I can't say goodbye to you. I'm sorry. At least not yet. I'm sorry. All I can say is I'm really sorry. See you later.

He stepped back into a hug from Yoongi.

At the end of it, all that was left was a gravestone. The members decided to stay a while longer after everyone else. It was too hard walking away. They were gathered around silently.

"So are we getting ice cream or what?"

"Huh?" Jungkook looked around at his members. He wasn't sure who had said it.

"What?" Hobi asked.

"Someone asked about getting ice cream?" Jungkook looked around confused.

"Nobody said anything about getting ice cream," Jimin informed.

"Why? Are you hinting that you'd like to go get ice cream?" Jin asked.

Jungkook looked around. He wasn't really in the mood but just shrugged. Something moving caught the corner of his eyes. He looked over to a tree that wasn't too far away.

He saw Taehyung sitting under it looking at him. He was holding his favorite flowers in one hand and smiled at Jungkook. He lifted his other hand and smiled harder.

He was holding an ice cream.

-Fin.