Chapter 10

"This isn't going to work." Key said for the millionth time. Jonghyun and Minho ignored him. "How do you know he's not going to freak out as soon as he gets into public?" Key asked irately.

"Because I told him about this and he wanted to go. He wants to come with me. And he said he would be alright." Minho replied.

"So you're just going to take his word for it?" Key asked in disbelief.

"Yup." Minho and Jonghyun answered simultaneously grinning at each other. Key rolled his eyes and put a hand on his hip. Jonghyun snickered and shoved him gently.

"Come on Key, enjoy this, it'll be fun and we won't get caught. We've never been caught for any of the stuff we did at school." Jonghyun said. Minho laughed. Key sighed and went and took his place guarding the door to corridor. Minho slipped into Taemin's room.

"Taeminah, are you ready?" The younger boy looked up and smiled and nodded. He held a hooded jersey out to Minho who passed it to Jonghyun who carried it out to Key. Key slipped it over his head making sure the hood was up.

"You're only on your learners permit. You shouldn't be driving." Key said to Jonghyun.

"Quit nagging." Jonghyun grinned and gently shoved Key who frowned back at him.

"I just… don't want you to crash."

"Don't worry. Believe it or not Minho's more paranoid than you and yells at me if I go any faster than a walking pace so we will be taking it slowly." Jonghyun looked Key in the eye. "But the fact that you're worried about me is cute." Key blushed but suddenly pulled Jonghyun into a hug. Jonghyun stumble into the other boy's arms before reciprocating by putting his arms around the other boy's waist.

"Drive safe." Key whispered into Jonghyun's ear.

"Okay. You be careful too." Jonghyun replied gently pulling away. Key blushed again and gave him a small smile before slipping into Taemin's room and sitting on the bed his back facing the window and door.

"Do I look like Taemin?"

"You're almost the same height so no one should notice as long as they don't come close." Minho said. Key simply nodded in response. Taemin nervously looked at the door; he hadn't been outside the institution in over a year. He was scared. He reached down and took Minho's hand. Minho squeezed his hand reassuringly and slowly led him out into the hallway. Jonghyun peeked out into reception.

"She's still at the desk. Her lunch break isn't for another minute or so." Jonghyun whispered. Minho nodded hoping and praying that a nurse wouldn't come around the corner in the next minute. They waited tensely. Then Jonghyun saw Mrs Kim get up and head to the cafeteria. He gave Minho a nod before slipping through and out the door. Minho turned and looked at Taemin.

"Are you sure? It's not too late to stop." Taemin nodded in response indicating that he was sure. "If at any time you want to stop tell me or Jjong okay? No matter what. Your safety is the most important thing." Minho said seriously to Taemin. Taemin nodded shyly. Minho led him out through reception and opened the front door. They walked out and saw Jonghyun had already backed the car into place. Minho led Taemin forward and opened the door to the backseat for him. Taemin climbed in. He hadn't been in a car for a long time. Minho climbed in next to him. Jonghyun slowly made his way out of the drive. Taemin ducked as they passed the guard and they all held their breath but the guard didn't stop them.

They drove past at a casual speed and left the gate. Taemin looked out the window excitedly. He hadn't been outside of the institute in so long and so much had changed. He couldn't keep his head still as his eyes flicked from one thing to the next. Minho laughed at his cuteness. Taemin stared out the window but then he started thinking about the last time he'd been out before going into the institution. He felt anger and pain rising in him. He then realised Minho was staring at him.

"Do you want to go back?" Minho asked putting a hand on Taemin's arm. Taemin shook his head and instead pulled Minho's arms around him and leaned into the older boy's embrace. Minho wrapped his arms around Taemin protectively.

They were still in that position when they arrived at the hospital. The car came to a halt. Jonghyun got out and opened the door for them. Minho climbed out taking Taemin's hand and helping him out before putting an arm around Taemin and checking that he was ok. They walked in together and Minho led them to the wing where his father was. Jonghyun waited outside in the waiting room. Minho led Taemin in cautiously.

As soon as he set eyes on his father laying in that hospital bed in that state his eyes flooded with tears. His knees felt weak and he weakly leaned on Taemin. Taemin wrapped his arms around him and pulled Minho closer to the bed somehow understanding that he needed to be closer to his father. That was the thing that got Minho. How did Taemin always understand what he wanted or needed without words? He looked down at his father and reached out and took his father's hand.

"Dad…" He said weakly. "I love you and I miss you." He glanced at Taemin who looked at his father with no emotion clear on his face and then turned back. "And I'm sorry I broke my promise. I couldn't help it." He hung his head and whispered to his father. "I really need your advice right now." He gently kissed his fathers and was suddenly overcome with emotion. He would have collapsed if he hadn't been leaning on Taemin already. Taemin caught the rest of his weight and helped him over to a chair where Minho just buried his head in his hands and let out all his pain.

He was vaguely aware of Taemin comforting but for this moment his mind was only on his father and the many things he took for granted. He remembered one of the first mornings his mother had been sick and he'd woke up to Jonghyun sitting in his room but he hadn't been eating cereal. He'd asked why Jonghyun hadn't got cereal yet and Jonghyun had replied that it was always on the bench when he got here but it hadn't been today. Minho had later asked his father. His father had said that it started when he found out Jonghyun's mother couldn't afford to buy breakfast cereals and even though she got a better job and could afford it he'd continued it out of habit.

He then thought of other memories some old and some more distant like the time his father had begged the principal on his behalf. He hadn't deserved a father so great. He had taken too many things for granted and that was why this had happened.

Jonghyun sat drinking a bottle of coke when the door opened he looked up. Taemin looked at him.

"Help me please." He said simply. Jonghyun got up and quickly followed him in shocked that the younger boy had spoken to him. This was the first time he'd spoken to anyone but Minho. He never even spoke to Minho when there were other people around. They walked through the door. Minho was sitting on a chair. There was no other way to describe it. He was destroyed. There was nothing of the confident fun-loving friend he knew left. Minho was just… gone. Jonghyun knelt down beside him.

"Minho, he's going to be okay. I promise you that." Jonghyun watched Minho drag his eyes up to meet Jonghyun's but not register. He put his hands on the other boy's shoulders. "Minho!" The other boy blinked and suddenly returned but immediately began crying again. Jonghyun pulled him into an embrace and Taemin stepped forward and rubbed his hand soothingly on Minho's back.

Key stiffened when he heard the door open. It was a good thing Taemin was jumpy or he could have given it away. He heard Jinki's voice.

"Taemin here's your lunch." Key didn't move. He heard Jinki walk closer and tried to stay calm. But he heard the tray be put down and footsteps move away. He heard the door shut but knew he couldn't turn around to check if he was actually gone without revealing his face. He sat there, still, hoping that Jinki was gone and that Jonghyun, Minho and Taemin would be back soon.