A does of salt • jjk + pjm

Chapter 5: code blue

He had nothing to fear or hide.

Years ago, when Jimin was applying for jobs, his father had excused himself from the selection board for the position, stating that one of the applicants was his very own son. He informed the board that he and his son were professionals and that no matter what happened, they'd keep work separate. Jimin and his father both have strong sense of integrity. The elder stated he'd never make it known which candidate was his son, selected or not; he assured them they had nothing to do worry about ethically, as he'd stay impartial and professional.

The board members naturally of course got extremely curious which was applicant was his son, but unfortunately for them, Park was too common of a surname. There were multiple Parks who had applied for the cardiothoracic surgeon position— Park Jimin was just one of the many.

Jimin had worked for everything with his own merits and no help of his father so he had no reason to worry regarding the investigation. At most, it was just annoying since it would take up some of his work time because of interviews or having to gather and provide whatever requested documents they sought.

Not only was he already annoyed from the meeting with the board this morning, his patients seemed to be extra annoying today. Even the ever so kind Dr. Park had days where he just couldn't deal with the obnoxious, rude patients as sweetly as he usually did.

To make matters worse, Jungkook pulls him aside to talk in the stairwell and he looks wholly irritated.

"Hey... what's wrong?" Jimin says confused. How could this man be so irritable when he's only been back from his suspension for a few days? What could Jimin possibly have done this time?

"Were you going around talking to people about me? About... my market incident?"

"What." Jimin's eyes widen. Jungkook wasn't wrong, because Jimin did talk to Yoongi about him... but he never once mentioned the trauma surgeon's name. He had used a hypothetical 'friend'. "No... I didn't," Jimin says. Technically, he wasn't entirely wrong.

Jimin stands there completely shocked at what exactly is going on. How on earth did Jungkook know he'd spoken with Yoongi?

"If you're lying, just cut the bullshit, Park," Jungkook brushes his hair back. "I know you talked to Min and told him what happened. I thought I told you thanks but please don't butt into my business? But no, you go around talking to our psychiatrist about me and my trauma?! It's not for yours to discuss, Jimin. I asked you before I left the store to please pretend like it never happened..." Jungkook speaks firmly but it's not aggressive.

"W-what. Jungkook I'm so confused, how did-"

"Did you or did you not talk to Dr. Min about me and what happened at the market?" Jungkook steps closer to the smaller doctor and stares him down; there hardly a foot of space between the two surgeons. Jimin finds his pulse elevating and his face turning hot. Jimin looks at him with genuine confused, puppy eyes, and it confuses Jungkook too because the sweet, pouty face screams innocent.

"So I- I did but I didn't menti-" Jimin is absolutely confused what is going on and how this is all linking together.

How could Yoongi assume Jimin was talking about Jungkook when he didn't even use Jungkook's name? There were hundreds of other veterans in the Republic of Korea who had had a deployment oversees. And out of them, a fair number of them probably had some form of trauma. Not only that, Jimin was a social butterfly who had one too many friends and acquaintances! Unless... perhaps Jungkook and Yoongi sunbae were closer than Jimin knew of and maybe Yoongi already knew Jungkook had PTSD... Oh god... He wants to explain to Jungkook that he didn't mention his name at all but Jungkook cuts him off harshly.