Jungkook's POV:

God my head hurt.

Damn, so did right arm and back.
Hell, everything pretty much hurt.

But the pounding in my head hurt more than anything at this very moment.

I pressed my eyes together tightly in an attempt to make it through the next few moments of pain.
When that didn't help, I lifted my hand to apply slight
pressure to my eyes.

Ugh, damn it! I was even having a hard time lifting my arm! For some reason it felt heavy and sluggish.
I groaned in annoyance.

"Mr. Jeon?"
A gentle, surprised voice asked.

I didn't know that voice.
I went to open my eyes but it took a few moments to do so.

My eyes felt heavy and like lead, and wherever I was laying was super bright.
I blinked a few times until finally my sight became clear.
A shorter woman with brown hair up in a tight bun and brown eyes smiled brightly at me.

I was confused.

Who was this woman?

And why was she wearing... scrubs?

"Where am I?"

I spoke, but only managed to whisper gruffly.
I looked to her for answers.
Her hand came over and gently touched my arm.

"Calm down, Mr. Jeon. You're safe."

she withdrew her hand.

"You're in the hospital. My name is Amanda. I'm your Nursing Assistant. "

I furrowed my brows.

Hospital? Why the hell was I here?!

"Do you remember what happened?"

she asked gently, giving me a moment to try and think.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

What had happened?
Last I knew I was at the office and Y/N handed me a letter.
My eyes flew open and I looked to the nurse, or whoever she was, in a panic.

"Bee?"
I asked, my voice louder than the first time.

She raised a brow, giggled a little and then smiled.

"Your wife? She's fine."

"Where is she?"

I pressed more.
I had to make sure she was safe. If that bastard came after me and I was now in the hospital, then he could surely get to Y/N easily!

"She's down in the cafeteria. I made her take a break. Poor thing has been sick with worry and not eating."

Wait... she was here?
Why wasn't she home?
And she hasn't been eating?

Why would she do something like that?

"Has she been here long?"

I asked,curious.
I watched the woman's features soften in compassion.

"She's been here with you since you came in with EMS in the Ambulance. You are very blessed to have such a caring, loving wife. She's been sleeping onthis pull out bed-"

she pointed behind her at a small chair that was pulled out as a bed, unmade.
The sheets looked as if they had been slept in.

"Each night since you've been here. I came in to change the sheets for her while she was out of the room, when I saw you move."

She looked at me closely, as if examining me.

"Are you in pain? I can grab the nurse."

"A lot of pain, actually."

I grumbled, the pounding coming on even harder, and my skin felt as if it was burning.

"Why am I in so much damn pain?"

I asked, frustrated.

"Give me just a moment, Mr. Jeon."

she told me gently still, then quickly walked out of the room.
It was only a few moments later when she returned

and with a small foam cup in her hand.

"Here, it's water. Take a few sips for me please. Your nurse, Cindy will be right in with some pain medication."

I took the drink with appreciation.
I placed the straw, slowly, to my mouth as it felt as if my skin was still on fire and pulling, causing more pain.

"Here, let me help."

Amanda told me, taking the cup from me.
I hated being treated like a child, yet at the moment, I needed it.
I was in too much pain to care.

She placed the straw to my lips and took a sip, instantly feeling relief as the cold water rushed down my extremely dry throat.

"Thank you."

The nurse, named Cindy came in just a moment later and explained everything.
She administered some pain medicine through my IV and then left with the Nursing Assistant.

☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎

Y/N's POV:

I raced to the door of Jungkook's room and saw him sitting up in the bed.

Awake.

My heart raced and jumped with happiness and relief as I stood in the doorway.
A small burden was instantly lifted off my shoulders.
His stunning brown eyes, piercing, instantly found mine.

"Jungkook.."

I allowed his name to roll off my tongue softly.

"Bee.."

his own scruffy, deep voice replied.

I felt tears well up behind my eyes.
I'm sorry, it's just I had been sick with worry, wondering if he would ever wake up.

I know the doctors said he would be okay, but when he hadn't woken up in over three days, I was scared something was wrong.

I took a few steps into the room and sat down the food I had in my hands on the bedside table.
I couldn't help myself but then walk over to his bed. I felt his.eyes on me constantly.

"How are you feeling?"

I asked.

Hell, I didn't know what to say right now.

Jungkook finally looked away and down to his arms, which were wrapped up in gauze.

"Like a wreck."

I swallowed hard.

"Well, you've been through a lot these past couple days."

"I heard I've been out of it for about four days?"
he asked.

I could tell his throat was still a bit dry from the sound of his voice, so I looked over and grabbed the water Amanda must have brought in.

I put the straw to his lips and he hesitated at first, but then took a quick sip. Jungkook pulled away when I tried offering more, so I sat it back down.

"Yes. That sounds about right."

I responded to his question finally.
He looked back up to me.

"I was worried."

"So I heard."

I frowned.

"Why does it sound like you don't believe me?"
I quickly asked in return.

His voice and expression was a bit distant and I felt as if we just had that bad argument again.

Pain stabbed my chest.

"Why did you stay here? Why haven't you eaten and slept? The little nursing woman told me you hadn't left my side and been neglecting yourself in the process."

Did he expect me to stay home while he was in the hospital after almost being burned to death?!

Did he really think I would be okay with him being in this
state?!

Even I had to admit that I was starting to feel more for him than I thought I ever would.
He was my friend, and... I might actually care for him a bit more than just a friend too.

But, really we were at least friends!
Yet... with him almost dying I couldn't ignore the pain and longing for him that filled my soul.

I crossed my arms over my chest and continued to frown at him.

"I can't believe you would think of me so lowly. How could I ever be okay with you here, injured, and alone?

And I haven't slept very well or ate because I've been sick with worry and horribly sick to my stomach. I'd rather starve than throw up."

"Foolish woman."
he snipped.

"Foolish!?"
I snapped back.

I leaned over and threw up my hands, taking his face into them.
His eyes went wide as I put my face right in front of his.
I matched his surprised gaze with a stern, angry one.

"I may be foolish, but you can't hold it against me that I care about you!"

The air became tense. Silence ensued.

We both didn't move.

I could feel his breath on my face, and I felt as if I couldn't pull away.

Something captured me and made me long to kiss him again, just to show him how much I cared.

And to just kiss him again.

Damn.

Oh my gosh!? What was I doing!?
What was I thinking!?

I qickly pulled away and straightened up.
His expression grew cold.

"Take care of yourself."

he demanded and closed his eyes.

"I'm tired."

☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎☼︎

Jungkook's POV:

God my body was burning again.
I opened my eyes to see that it was dark in my hospital room.
What time was it? How long had I been sleeping for?

With the glow of the machines beside my bed I could see the face clock on the wall reading three A.M.
I groaned internally and looked towards the window.

A rise and fall of a chest caught my attention through the darkness.

Y/N.

That stubborn woman was still by my side.

I felt bad for being so short with her earlier, but I was so disgusted with myself.

I was already a marked man from so many years ago, and was able to at least cover it up for the most part.
Now? I was marked again, but this time there was no hiding the scars.

Scars were hideous. Scars were shameful and condemning. Now everyone would look at me with pity, or stare, or reject me.

I tried to think back to what had happened after the nurse explained everything to me, but I hadn't realized that I was almost burned alive.
All I remember is going to my building and heading into a soon to be office, and then a sharp, numbing pain slamming me from the back of my head.

I remember falling,

then that was it.

Apparently whoever was after Y/N was a pansy and couldn't face me like a man.
I have a concussion from that bastard now. And then he set my new building on fire.

I wanted to kill him.

If he was willing to do that to me, then what would he have done to the sweet Y/N I knew?

Would he have touched her?
Then killed her?
Threatened her again?

Just the thoughts of it made me mad as hell.

Whoever this man was, he meant business and I was going to get to the bottom of this.

My continued to watch her small frame now that my eyes adjusted to the dark.
She laid on her side, facing me.
The blanket was down by her feet.

Wasn't she cold?
Even I was a bit cooler even though I felt as if my skin was burning still.

Sighing, and with the sudden urge to relief myself I carefully threw my legs over the side of the bed and lifted myself up onto my feet.

My muscles protested but I ignored them until they started to agree with the stretch and weight.

I had been in bed for too many days and my body ached for exercise.

Luckily my body didn't hurt as much since the nurse had just come in and given me some pain medicine not too long ago.
And even luckier, she had disconnected me from my IV fluids.
Now I could walk freely to the bathroom in my room without making any noise.

Taking a step towards the restroom, I stopped and glanced at Y/N once again.
Seeing her blanket at her feet still, I took a moment to walk to her side.
I bent over slowly and grabbed it, then pulled it over her small body.

Once covering her up to her shoulders, her hands grabbed it hand tucked it under her chin.
I couldn't help but smile slightly at her child like gesture.

Waiting a moment to make sure she was still asleep, I took myself into the bathroom.

I relieved myself and watched my hands and looked at myself in the mirror over the sink.

Damn I looked like shit.
My hair was a complete mess and looked as if I had been in bed for weeks instead of a few days.
I had bags under my eyes and bandages everywhere.

My beard had also grown and was in desperate need of a trim.
I reached up and touched my scar under the fur growing on my jaw.

A constant reminder of my failures.

Now standing here in a hospital gown, an ugly green of all colors and with my arms and back and other areas wrapped up, I wondered why that woman I called my wife in the other room was still with me.

She should have left at the very beginning.
Why on earth would she have agreed to stay married to me for my reputation?

Was she really that selfless?

I know I had agreed to keep her safe, which honestly was me pressuring her to agree.
Yet, with me in such a state that I couldn't persuade her to stay, she did so on her own?
Why would she suffer her own comfort and health just to stay by my side?

I hated to admit it, but I was really starting to admire her. Or well... care for her I guess. I know I cared for her as a friend, yet... something inside of me longed for something more.

Too bad she wouldn't want a scarred man.
I mean, who would? 

Sighing I shook off all the thoughts running through my head and opened the door to head back into bed.

"Jungkook?"

I heard Y/N's sweet voice ask.

Damn. Caught.

"What are you doing?"
Her voice came across groggy and soft.

"Just using the restroom."

With the bathroom door open and it's light still on, I could finally see her better. She now sat on the edge of her small cot like bed and rubbed her eyes.

"Did the CENA help you?"

"No."
I replied taking a step closer to the bed.

Y/N stood and came to my side.
A frown on her sleepy face.

"You're supposed to ask for help when getting out of bed, Jungkook."

I gave her a scolding expression.

"I'm more than capable of using the bathroom on my own, Lee."

"That's not the point."
she sighed.

"Whatever. I don't want to argue anymore."
Her arms came up and crossed over her chest as she rubbed her arms.
Ha. So she was cold.

Her gaze left mine and she took a step back so I could get to the bed.

As I watched her in her sadden state, I couldn't help the pull that I had to reach out to her.

I didn't realize what I was doing until I was already standing infront of her.
Her eyes went wide as I reached up and a ran my palm against the still soft skin of her cheek.

Her body tensed under my touch and I frowned, wanting to pull away.

Why was she staying by my side yet jumping at my touch now.

I froze.

Before I could think anymore, her own hand came up and covered mine.

Her eyes closed and she leaned her face into my hand more as if savoring the feel of it.

I couldn't peel my eyes away as she stayed there, her face now more relaxed than ever.

The sight stirred my heart.

Looking to her eyes, that beautiful rare grey eyes, My insides swelled with sadness and compassion,
Placing a lingering kiss on top of her head, then the question slipped from my mouth.

"Are you disgusted by me?"