Joy heard a lot of shuffling and movement, her lids fluttering. Her eyes try to adjust to the dimness in the room, easily making out a familiar figure moving on the hospital bed. She hears light pants, sitting up immediately to attend to Jungkook.
She wasn't a doctor or a nurse, but she could understand the monitors pretty well. His heart rate was getting rapid, Joy approaches his bed quietly, seeing that he was asleep, likely having another nightmare.
She sighs, wondering what he was dreaming about that had him so bothered. She looks down at him sympathetically, wishing there was more she could do to ease his distress. She takes his hand, gently squeezing it as a means of reassuring him.
Luckily he didn't wake up, but Joy couldn't fall back asleep. She took the time to email her co-workers about her situation. She started rescheduling things when she heard a hoarse bellow from the hospital bed. She looks at Jungkook, his eyes snapping open, only for him to immediately shut them again.
"Holy shit," he groaned groggily, hissing as he brings his arm up to rub his eyes. Joy stands up, smiling down at him, glad he was awake. It was quite early, hence why it was still dim in the room, the grey sunlight seemed to be too much for his eyes to handle at the moment.
"How're you feeling, Kookie? Any better?" Joy asked him, moving his hand from his face because he was touching the scratches adorned on it. She grips his large hand with both of hers.
Jungkook blinks, still disoriented it seems. She sees his eyes flicker for a moment as he remembered what happened. He looks up to meet her gentle eyes, "Joy." He murmured, a smile trying to reach his lips.
She giggles a little, he still seemed a bit out of it. Surely, he was tired and sore. "Are you in pain?" She asked him again.
His groan came out wispy, almost like his voice was going. "Hurts a lot." He admitted, Joy spotted a black cord attached to what looked like morphine, telling by the label on it, she was right. She follows what the cord is attached to, relieved to find a button. It was controlled by the patient to administer morphine when they were in pain. She hands it to Jungkook, who studies the device in his hand, confused. She found it adorable how his brows knitted together.
"Press this when the pain is bad." She explained, Jungkook wasting no time to jam his thumb on the button. He sighs once the drug reached it's destination.
"What... would I do without you?" He murmured, looking up at Joy fondly. She smiles at his silliness, rolling her eyes playfully. She was glad to see a weak smile on his face. "'M glad you're here..."
"Of course," she said, like it was obvious. She pulled the bedside chair closer before sitting on it, her feet tucked beneath her. "I'm not leaving you. You really had me worried."
"I'm okay..." he croaked his promise, Joy not too convinced. He reaches for his face again, brushing his hair from his eyes, she watched his bicep tense as he did so. "Just hurts is all."
"Dr. Min said you'll be okay," She agreed. She left out the detail about the healing process. Considering how hard it was to tell what state of mind he was in, she didn't want to make him panic about anything. "Just take it easy, okay, Kookie? I want you to get better." She whispered, gently rubbing his arm closest to her, the only limb of his that wasn't bandaged nor pierced with a needle.
He hums, his lids falling, "You look so pretty..." he complimented. Joy giggled at his randomness, telling by the light tone of his voice he was definitely still doped up on drugs from the surgery. "Come lie with me." He pleaded, sounding dopey. His voice was starting to fade as he struggles to fight sleep. It was clear his lids were getting heavy, as he couldn't open them fully.
"Kookie, I can't," she explained. Like a child, he whines huskily, his voice cracking as he does so. Joy found his antics a little humorous considering that he was acting like a child. "Why not?"
"The bed isn't big enough for us both." She explained, though she knew she could squeeze in with him if she wanted to. But he was in a lot of pain still, and she didn't want to make it worse by putting her weight on him.
He sulks, a pout on his lips, Joy simpered as she watched his mindless behavior. "Can... I at least have... a kiss?" His breath was labored now, probably because he was talking too much. "It'll make me feel... better."
"If I give you a kiss will you relax?" She asked, noticing he was starting to get antsy. He just can't help but to move, but if he tried to move too much, he'd wince and sink back as he was, the morphine seemed to only numb the pain. She was sure all the thrashing he did in his sleep wasn't much help either. He hums eagerly, pressing his button again.
Joy sits up, leaning over the bed carefully, his lips were chapped, and she knew he hadn't gotten the chance to brush his teeth in a while, but if it would make him rest then so be it. Besides, she didn't want to accidentally kiss one of the hidden scratches on his face as an alternative, as some were harder to see especially with the lack of lighting. She presses a closed mouth kiss to his dry lips.
Jungkook lifts his head, trying to make the kiss last longer before she'd pull away. She tucks her hand beneath his head before he'd dramatically let it drop back onto his pillow. "Now rest, Kookie. No more kisses until you've slept a little longer, okay?"
He sighs, his chest heaving. Joy lowers his head back down and watches him shut his eyes. She pulls his blanket back over his chest more, turning when she hears movement in the room. She watches someone unfamiliar step out of the corridor on his way to the main room. He looked at his younger brother in bed, frowning at Joy.
She waves, "Um, hello. You must be here for Jungkook?" He didn't respond, Joy was confused as to who it was, but telling by the resemblance the stranger had with Jungkook, she was sure he was a relative. Unbeknownst to her it was none only then Kookie's older brother. Junghyun takes it upon himself to sit in a chair on the far side of the room, his stare at Joy felt rather hawkish. She was sure he'd watched her interaction with Kookie just moments ago, and telling by his behavior he wasn't the fondest of her. He blatantly ignored her polite gesture.
Joy tries not to think about it, turning and opening the curtains to welcome some more sunlight into the dull room, sighing when she was greeted by the sun's warmth and light. It wasn't intense at all, rather it was subtle, comforting, and best of all Jungkook didn't stir.
A nurse strolled in, humming to herself. "Oh, good, you opened them. I was worried you two would be in the dark for a while," She greeted, studying her clipboard. "How's he been doing?" She asked Joy.
"He just fell back asleep, we found the morphine button so he isn't in as much pain." The nurse nods, smiling politely. "Good, looks like he's resting well. Do you want to order breakfast for him so he can have something to eat when he's up?"
Joy nods, the nurse explaining she'll be back soon to check on him when he's awake and that the food would arrive soon. Joy and Junghyun sit in silence, the only noise in the room being that of Jungkook's labored breathing as he slept, it almost sounded like soft snores, but luckily that wasn't the case. JK never snored, so it would definitely raise a few concerns for Joy if he started to now.
His food arrives covered, Joy quietly thanking the employee that brought it. She tends back to her phone, texting Alex. Meanwhile, Jungkook fusses about in his sleep, only seeming to calm down when he felt Joy's hand rub his arm soothingly. Though he'd already woken up from his disturbing dream. Joy hadn't seen him thrash about in his sleep like that before, not until he ended up in a hospital bed. She wondered if he was dreaming about what happened to him. "Joy?" He huffs, his eyes cracking open and looking around for her. He sounded urgent, like he had to to make sure she was still there. He starts to sit up, only for her to gently place her hands on his shoulders.
"Calm down," she whispered soothingly, his chest was heaving. What was he dreaming about to wake up so startled? "I'll sit you up, okay? Are you hungry?" She glances at the stranger in the room, who watched intently as she comforted Jungkook.
"Tell me if it hurts." She advised, walking around and pressing the button so his bed would recline. He flexes the hand beside the button, it must've fallen asleep since he's been lying down so long.
Jungkook was a shade of scarlet red again as Joy lifted the cover off the dish, breakfast steaming on his tray. She sits on the other chair, getting the utensil ready. "You don't have to do this." He tried, feeling incredibly embarrassed. He was sure he could feed himself, only he really did feel weak and tired and sore to no end. Not to mention all the equipment would reduce his ability to move as much as he'd want to. Jungkook could barely focus the pain in specific locations, he just knew that it was hurting.
"I know," she scoops up his plain eggs. "But I want to." He groans, throwing his head back - well, not so much throwing it back as he let it drop dramatically.
"Come on, you big baby, it's not that bad." she brings the food to his lips, biting back a giggle at how flustered he was getting.
He playfully glares at her, "I'm not a ba-" she pushed the eggs past his lips when he spoke, looking satisfied with herself. Joy giggles at how flustered he got. He directs a glare her way, prompting her to roll her eyes. "Jungkook, please don't feel embarrassed. I'm here to take care of you, not humiliate you." She assured, that and she wasn't taking no for answer, knowing he hadn't eaten in several hours.
If he could, he'd reach for her and pull her by the waist so that she was closer, then he'd rest his head on her chest to hide his face, it was the only place he could think of to make sure she wouldn't see his embarrassment. He never liked being babied, his family and hyungs did it all the time and he was sick and tired of it.
It wasn't until after what he felt was an excruciatingly 'long' (really, it took no more than 10 minutes for him to eat everything) and bland meal that Jungkook noticed someone else in the room. He picks his head up, looking in his direction, "Hyung?"
"Finally noticed me?" Junghyun chortled, sounding a bit bitter. "This your girlfriend?" He nudged his chin toward Joy, who was collecting trash to throw away.
Jungkook didn't respond, glaring coldly at his older brother. "What the fuck are you here for?"
Junghyun was taken aback by Jungkook's abrupt question and disturbing hoarseness, his expression drops and he stands up and approaches the bed. He was starting to reach his hand out and touch Jungkook, who moved away as best he could, hissing as he accidentally lifted his injured leg slightly, he had stitches in it.
"I can't come visit my baby brother? You almost died." Junghyun stated, dropping his hand to his side, deciding to place them in his pockets. He'd never admit it, but he was hurt that his own brother didn't want him to touch his body, especially when his black bitch of a girlfriend seemed to have her hands all over him.
"Didn't I tell you I don't want you to contact me until you can accept what I want? Clearly, you haven't done that yet."
"Jeongguk, I'm not leaving you-"
"I don't want you here." Jungkook knew his words stung, watching the stricken look on his brother's face. Joy grips his hand, "Hey, calm down. Your heart rate is gonna sky rocket." It was her way of telling him to let it go and to her relief, he gets the message.
Joy wondered why this guy had Jungkook so on edge. She didn't know much Korean, but Joon taught her enough to understand that this was Jungkook's older brother. He's mentioned him briefly once or twice but no more. Jungkook turns to her, ignoring his brother completely. Junghyun scoffs, clearly hurt. She wished she'd get a proper introduction, but the tension between the brothers suggested that that wasn't happening.
She sighs, she'd talk to him soon enough. The nurse returns a few minutes later, smiling politely at her patient. Though Jungkook was still pissed from the encounter. "How are you feeling Officer Jeon? I see you've got good hands taking care of you."
"I'm fine," He replied bluntly, "A little sore and tired."
She nods, "Any pain?"
"None I can pinpoint anywhere." He admits, watching her approach his bed. She checks his vitals, "Your heart rate has accelerated a few times, do you have high blood pressure?"
"No, I just couldn't sleep too well." He explained, not looking at her. She hums, scribbling on her clipboard. "That's too bad, hopefully you can get some better rest, you'll have plenty of time to do so. Let's see how your wounds are holding up."
Joy sits beside Jungkook, he fishes for her hand and squeezes it, seeing even more wires going into his arm and legs. She sensed he was nervous all of a sudden, rubbing her thumb over the back of his hand soothingly, though he remained tense.
"Looks like we'll have to change your bandages. Don't worry, it won't take long." She explained in a sweet voice, Jungkook lies still, letting her do as she needs. Joy watched, as she wasn't squeamish about these things. Not that Jungkook was either, but he didn't want to face the wounds on his body.
The nurse disposes of the older, bloody bandages. Joy seeing that Jungkook's lower abdomen was operated on as well, the stitches closing up the wound beneath his bandages. She knew a bullet penetrated his lower abdomen, which would explain why it hurt to sit up. She read the patient data on the board for the nurses, having seen that Kookie's liver had needed a few sutures, apparently a fragment of one of the bullets was lodged in it, though he was lucky the organ hadn't ruptured completely and was capable of being saved.
"Okay, one last thing and I'll leave you be," said the nurse, who started to take off Jungkook's IV bag. He furrows his brows, shifting uncomfortably, "Wh-What're you doing?"
"Just changing your IV bag so I can put stronger morphine in it. I'll be quick, I promise-"
"Are you taking out the needle?" He asked worriedly. Joy didn't think he was scared of needles like that.
"I didn't think I'd have to, but now that I'm looking I think it's best that I do. I think the needle might have moved, which could happen if you were tossing and turning in your sleep. Just to be safe, I'll switch it out."
Jungkook screwed his eyes shut, he really didn't like needles. He didn't care when he saw other people getting poked with needles, but he hated when he had to be. Piercings were different, he had 8 of them in his ears, but he can't watch the needles enter his skin when he's getting one. Joy stands up, looking worried about him. "It's okay, baby," she whispered for only him to hear.
"Joy, please, I hate needles..." he begged, hyperventilating as the nurse un-taped his arm, careful to remove the utensils. He winced as she removed them, turning to Joy desperately. She strokes his hair to calm him down, Jungkook burying his flushed face in her chest, he groans as the nurse pushes the sharp point through his skin again.
He stopped squirming, the nurse was done with insertion. "All done, Officer Jeon. I'll let you rest now. Do you need anything else?"
He pulled his face from Joy's bosom, "Can I get up?"
"For what?" Asked the nurse.
"To use the bathroom." He explained.
Much to his dismay, Jungkook had to be assisted in the bathroom, considering how easily he could collapse. Joy made sure to comfort him when he returned to bed, completely flustered.
"This is so humiliating..." he grumbled once he was lied back, having completely ignored his brother on his way back to bed. Both Jeons looked so discouraged.
Joy hums, "It's alright, Kookie. Just relax, okay? I'll take care of you."
"Ah, Joy," he sighs sleepily, she strokes his hair. "Why are you so good to me?" He asked under his breath.
"Because you'd do the same for me. Now hush, you'll strain your voice." His chest rumbles as he softly chuckles. Her warm hands luring him to a peaceful slumber.