Chapter 4

"Do we have to do this here?" Yoongi placed his chin on the table with a whine.

"Yes, we do! You've been holed up in your room long enough. You need to be anywhere but there for a little bit." Jimin replied from across the table.

"But I like the privacy of my room! I like it when it's just me and you!" Yoongi huffed.

Jimin raised a brow, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "Just me and you huh? You flatter me Min Yoongi."

"Don't get big headed Blondie." Yoongi warned in a teasing tone, eliciting a small laugh from the other.

He watched as Jimin pulled a deck of cards from his pocket, opened it, and placed the two Jokers off to the side. "What exactly are we about to play?"

"Deuces!" Jimin answered. "One of my favorite card games and I happened to be extremely good at it!"

"You chose a game you'd kick my ass in." Yoongi chuckled. "Here I was thinking you were a sweet person."

"Don't count yourself out too quickly!" Jimin snickered as he shuffled the cards. "It's actually a game of luck! Each player gets five cards, the remaining cards are placed in the center of the table and the card on top of the stack is laid front side up next to the stack." Jimin explained as he dealt out the cards. "The goal is to get all of the cards in your hand in a pair. A King can go with a King, a five can go with a five, and so on. But the two of diamonds, Spades, Hearts, and Clubs can be paired with any card in your hand."

"So what if you have two Kings and two threes and only one card left that needs a match?" Yoongi asked as he gathered his five cards in his hand.

Jimin pointed to the card that was placed face up beside the deck. "If that happens, and it's your turn, you can see if this card is the one you need. If not, then you pull the first card from the stack. If it's a card that matches, you lay your entire hand down and say 'Deuces!'. If it's not a card you need, then you leave out on the table and pray that it isn't the card your opponent needs!"

"This really is a game that relies solely on luck!" Yoongi sucked his teeth. "What if you only have one pair?"

"You'll still pull from the deck, but if you pull a card that matches one in your hand, then you keep that card and place one of your cards that doesn't have a match on the table."

"And is just have to hope that the card I throw out isn't the card my opponent needs to win." Yoongi guessed.

"Exactly!" Jimin exclaimed. "Sounds pretty fun and simple right?"

"It sounds like a very intense version of Old Maid that requires you to be extremely lucky and not too cocky." Yoongi pouted. "I'm screwed."

Jimin gathered his cards into his hand with a snicker. "Don't condemn yourself so soon! Who knows, you might even win a round."

"We'll see." Yoongi puckered his lips as he lifted the cards in his hands up to get a good look at them. 'Ace of Spades, two of Diamonds, three of Hearts, and a nine of Hearts. A two can go with any card…but what should I pair it with?'

"You go first!" Jimin offered with a smile.

"Hmm.." Yoongi gave Jimin a suspicious look as he peered at the card on the table. 'Eight of clubs…I don't need that one.' "I pull from the deck if it's not the card I need right?"

"Yep!"

Yoongi nodded and reached for the deck, sliding the card on top into the palm of his hands and quickly looking at it. 'It's a King.' Yoongi sucked on his teeth. "If I pull a card I don't need I throw it on the pile right?" Jimin nodded, enticing Yoongi to place the King on the pile.

Almost instantly, Jimin laid the card in his hands down for Yoongi to see. "Deuces!"

Yoongi's jaw dropped as he leaned over the table to observe Jimin's cards. Two Eights, a two paired with a Queen, and a King that found its pair in the card Yoongi had just laid out. "How did you…"

"What can I say?" Jimin winked at Yoongi. "I'm lucky!"

Yoongi narrowed his eyes at Jimin, not exactly believing his words. "I'm shuffling this time."

"Fine by me!" Jimin slid his cards over to the patient. "By the way, who's the tall guy with the clipboard standing against the wall watching us? He wheeled you in right?"

Yoongi tossed a glance over at the man glued to the opposite wall with his eyes glued to where they sat. "That's Seokjin. He's my assigned doctor. His job is to basically watch over me while I do activities outside of my room to make sure I don't get hurt or anything. He'll also oversee my physical therapy when the time comes for that."

"Oh okay!" Jimin tilted his head. "But why does he have a clipboard?"

Yoongi paused mid shuffle at that. "Not sure. I don't think I've ever seen him with one until now. Maybe he's just hitting down notes about my progress?"

"Could be." Jimin shrugged his shoulders with a sniff. "So, tell me something about yourself!"

"Like?" Yoongi raises a brow as he shuffled the cards once more.

"You know, the basics! You're favorite color, hobbies, likes and dislikes, dreams, things like that!" Jimin leaned forward in his chair, eyes wide with curiosity.

Yoongi smiled a little at Jimin's enthusiasm. "I don't exactly have a favorite color, my hobbies are playing the Piano and writing music, as far as dreams go…I'd like to be a classical musician. Maybe even get a few gigs here and there."

"Do you see yourself making it big time? Performing at sold out arenas and stuff?"

"Ehh…I don't think I'm too keen on that." Yoongi answered with a slight grimace as he dealt out the cards. "For now, playing at a restaurant or somewhere small will do just fine."

"That's too bad." Jimin pouted. "I bet you play the Piano beautifully. Shame the world may never get to hear it."

Yoongi puckered his lips in an effort to keep his smile and blush at bay. "Well what about you huh? Tell me some things about you."

"Hmm.." Jimin gazed at the cards in his hands. "My favorite color is Blue, baby Blue to be exact! My hobby is dancing and my dreams…" Jimin rested his head on his hand with a wistful smile. "I want to visit the Sea."

"The sea?" Yoongi bloom up from the cards in his hand. "What's so great about the Sea?"

"Nothing really to other people but to me, I've always wanted to go since I was a child. My family wasn't really well off so we didn't have the means or luxury to do a lot of things. One thing I've always wanted was to got to the Sea. To feel the warm sand beneath my toes, smell the salt of the water, feel the rays of the sun against my skin, it all sounds like a dream. Can you imagine sitting on the sand, watching the sun set over Cobalt Blue waters? Just the thought alone is enough to make me excited!"

"The Sea means that much to you huh?" Yoongi pulled a card from the deck, giving it with the frown when it wasn't what he needed.

"Absolutely!" Jimin's eyes seemed to twinkle as he spoke. "If I could just see it once, I think I'd die happy!"

Yoongi's smile faded. He didn't want to think about it, didn't want to even mention it. Two days had passed since he had reached the conclusion that Jimin was nearing death. And as far fetched as it was, Yoongi had hoped the topic of death would never breach their conversations again. It was too much for him to handle. Jimin and death…it wasn't fair to even think those two words in the same sentence.

"I..I mean.." Jimin fumbled over his words upon seeing the drop in Yoongi's attitude. "Not literally of course! He gave a small, nervous laugh that was drowned out by the intense silence that hung between them. They said nothing for awhile and just played through their card game with absent minds, hearts no longer in it.

"Do you believe that life extends after death Yoongi?" Jimin's question cut through the air, voice soft and ever so gentle. "That there's something waiting for you in the afterlife?"

'Don't ask me that Jimin.' "I..I believe there's a final resting place for everyone." Yoongi forced the words out of his stinging throat.

"Like heaven and hell?" Jimin's gaze wandered down to the Queen of Hearts in his hand. "Bad people go to hell and the good go to Heaven? What about those that aren't so lucky to be either? What do you think awaits them?"

'Why are you doing this to me?' "I'm not sure what you mean." Yoongi's voice was tense with the effort to keep his emotions in check.

"The people who weren't the best in the world, but hell is too harsh of a punishment for them. At the same time heaven is too good for them. Where do they go?" Jimin tapped the card against the table. "How do you continue on not knowing your fate when you draw your last breath?"

"…I'm not sure, Jimin." Yoongi's replies grew shorter and shorter the more the anguish in his chest grew.

"You know…I used to believe that when someone dies, they leave something special behind for their loved ones, like a trinket of sorts. Something to let them know that they've found peace and they don't need to worry about them anymore." Jimin raised is eyes to look at Yoongi. "Do you think I-"

"You're not one of those people!" Yoongi snapped, frustration and hurt lacing his shaky voice. "Y-you're an amazing person with a good heart! You don't need to worry about things like that! Heaven is the only acceptable place for you!" It made his body shake and his nerves rattle that Jimin even considered he might be subjected to a fate far worse then what he deserved.

A sad smile pulled at Jimin's lips. "..I never said I was one of those people."

'We both know that's what you were implying.' "I'll tell you what." Yoongi leaned forward, fingers inching across the table to where Jimin's hands lay. "If you promise to never think like that again, when I'm fully recovered and we can both leave, I'll take you to the Sea. Okay?" Nervously, he let his fingertips brush against Jimin's. "Just no more of this kind of talk okay? Please?"

"Alright..I won't bring it up again." Jimin assured. He ran his pinky over Yoongi's and curled it around the digit. "Promise."

Yoongi let out a shaky sigh of relief as he gazed at Jimin. He didn't want the man to constantly be plagued with such depressing thoughts. He wanted him to smile, laugh and enjoy whatever time he may have left with no regrets. "Thank you, Jimin."

"Yoongi?"

Yoongi jumped, ripping his hand away from Jimin and placing it his lap. "Seokjin! I didn't see you there." Yoongi glanced up at the doctor. "Is there something wrong?"

"No no, nothing's wrong. I just need to get you to the examination room, Namjoon wanted to make sure you got your scan today so we can see how your rib cage was healing."

Yoongi blinked, having forgotten all about his rib cage since he'd started hanging out with Jimin. "I almost forgot my ribs were injured! I haven't felt any pain in awhile!"

"That's a great thing!" Seokjin patted Yoongi's shoulder. "That means your ribs could be completely healed! But there's only one way to know for sure." He gripped the handles of the wheelchair. "Let's get your X-ray done and then I'll wheel you back to your room for the night."

"But I'm not done talking to Jimin!" Yoongi argued, a bit upset at being taken away from the table so abruptly.

"Don't worry Yoongi I'll come see you tomorrow! Your health is more important right now." Jimin lifted his hand in a wave, flashing Yoongi that warm smile the patient wished would adorn his lips forever. "Goodnight Yoongi."

"Night Jimin.."

*****

"Here we are! Are you comfy?" Seokjin adjusted the pillow beneath Yoongi's broken leg.

Yoongi nodded. "I feel fine."

"Good!" Seokjin pulled the sheets over Yoongi's body. "Since it's late, Namjoon will bring you the results of your X-ray tomorrow. If he thinks you're ready, you'll be put on crutches so we can get you back moving around on your own!"

"Does that mean you won't be around anymore?" Yoongi asked out of curiosity.

"Of course not! I'll be with you every step of the way! You want to get rid of me so quickly Min Yoongi?!" Seokjin placed a hand to his heart with an exaggerated gasp. "I'm wounded!"

Yoongi gave a good natured huff. "You know that's not what I meant!"

"Perhaps!" Seokjin wandered over to the window. "By the way, have you been experiencing any…odd behaviors as of late?"

"What do you mean?" Yoongi furrowed his eyebrows.

"I mean, seeing, feeling or hearing things that you don't normally see, feel, or hear." Seokjin tugged the curtains closed. " Like…delusions…hallucinations..things of that nature."

"What?!" The question threw Yoongi for a loop. He'd never been asked anything like that since he was admitted, so why it was suddenly being brought up didn't bode well with him. "No, no I haven't."

"…Are you sure?"

"Yes." Yoongi shot back. "Why are you even asking that?"

"Because I'm a Doctor silly!" Seokjin gave a laugh as he faced Yoongi. "It's my job to ask those kinds of questions!"

'I meant why are you asking that all of a sudden.' "Yeah, Okay." Yoongi curtly nodded.

"How are things going with Jimin?"

Yet again, another odd question that threw Yoongi for a loop.

"Things are fine.." He stares at Seokjin suspiciously. "I don't remember ever telling you about him."

Seokjin merely stared at Yoongi with a small smile. His expression remained impassive as he shrugged his shoulders. "You mentioned his name earlier when I took you from the table you were sitting at and when you two first met I believe."

"The table I was sitting at with Jimin." Yoongi stated with a wary tone.

"The table you were sitting at with Jimin." Seokjin echoed, expression never changing.

Yoongi stared, mind reeling as he thought back to his last moments with Jimin that day. Suddenly, something clicked in Yoongi's head that had him scrambling to sit up on the bed. "Wait a second you care to the table to come get me! How come you didn't say anything to Jimin when he was sitting right across-"

"It's getting late, Yoongi." Seokjin cut him off, smile never leaving. "You should get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."

Yoongi's mouth dropped open in shock as Seokjin dipped his head before exiting the room, leaving Yoongi to wonder so many things.

Why was Seokjin just now asking him about delusions and hallucinations? Why was he asking about Jimin? Why was he being so…strange about it? Why didn't he say anything to Jimin when he came to take him for his X-ray?

Why were there so many questions surrounding Jimin?