"You boys are lucky I can speak Korean, but I'm happy to say that Zelo's going to be fine," the doctor said. "Turns out that that boy's drink was spiked with some milk of magnesia, a heavy laxative, and his body didn't like it that much. He's pretty dehydrated right now, but he'll be okay within a day or so. We should be able to release him in the morning; just be sure to keep him hydrated and not doing anything too strenuous, though seeing who you six are, I'd find that hard to believe."

"You . . . wait, sir, you know us?" Daehyun asked.

"I've got a daughter, don't I? She's going to be in the crowd, right in front of the stage, actually. Wave to her; she'll love it."

"If it was just a laxative, why was he clutching his stomach?" Youngjae asked.

"Bouts of diarrhea can cause pain in the stomach, especially if your body is getting rid of a strong drug like milk of magnesia. It's like vomiting; your stomach hurts after that, right?" the doctor asked.

Everyone nodded.

"Same thing. But be glad that he didn't drink all of that orange juice he said he got, or we could be dealing with something a lot worse that a little bit of dehydration."

"Like death?" Zelo squeaked from behind them.

"Well, yeah," the doctor said. "If you had drunk all of that stuff, you would've releasing everything you had inside you and then some. You would've become dehydrated extremely fast, and severe dehydration can cause death, no doubt."

At these words, the entire team collapsed onto Zelo's bed, then they all turned to him and hugged him, glad that he was okay.

"I love you guys, too, but . . . I don't like being squished," came Zelo's muffled voice.

They all let go of him and turned back to the doctor.

"What do we need to do to make sure he's okay?" Jongup asked.

"Just keep him hydrated with juices and similar drinks, that's all," the doctor said, turning around to pick something up behind him. He turned to face the group, holding a needle. The group tensed. "I'm just going to take some blood, Zelo, to make sure everything's okay inside you. Can I do that?"

Zelo was busy staring at the needle, gripping Jongup with both hands. He looked over at Himchan with a silent plea, but Himchan shook his head. Then he turned to Yongguk, eyes wide with fright.

Yongguk shrugged. "B.A.P, fighting." Then he led the group in an a cappella version of "Warrior," which steeled Zelo's nerves and gave him enough courage to produce his arm to the doctor. The doctor approached with the needle, but at the last second Zelo turned away with his eyes squeezed shut.

"All right, Zelo, I'm going to draw blood in ten seconds. Okay?"

Zelo said nothing, but his teeth were bared.

"Ten," the doctor began, putting a silent finger to his lips as he inserted the needle into Zelo's arm and began drawing blood.

The group stared and refrained from laughing as the doctor continued his countdown. The five of them continued singing "Warrior" and rubbing Zelo's back and shoulders for support, and by the time two seconds remained, the doctor had already pulled out the needle. Then he clapped Zelo on the shoulder.

"All done, Zelo."

Zelo opened his eyes, looked at the doctor in confusion, then at the needle, then at the rest of the group. He blinked. "I didn't feel a thing."

"All that counting down for nothing," Youngjae said.

The doctor nodded. "I'll just get Zelo's blood checked to make sure everything's okay, then you'll be free to go." He left the room while the group continued pounding Zelo on the back and congratulating him for having blood drawn with no complications.

"Next time maybe you won't have to bear your teeth," Daehyun said.

"You stiffened up right as he said, 'one,' but by then he was already done," Jongup said.

"You're true B.A.P material, Zelo," Himchan said.

Zelo hid a smile. "I'm glad you guys came to the hospital." He looked down at the bed and began to pull at the sheets absentmindedly. "I thought you wouldn't come," he finished in a soft voice.

"Why would you think that?" Yongguk asked.

"I heard our manager yelling at you guys to get back to practice, and I thought you'd choose to stay behind instead of following the ambulance."

Yongguk blinked, at a loss for words. How could Zelo even think that they would abandon him after being injured? Their group had been inseparable for the last two years, and they'd been together in everything from winning awards to fighting off false accusations and slander.

"We share a bedroom; we share food, and sometimes we even share a toothbrush," Himchan said, and Yongguk heard Daehyun and Youngjae gagging next to him. "Why wouldn't we make sure that the youngest in our group isn't going to be poisoned to death?"

"We're always going to make sure you're okay, Zelo," Himchan said. "Even when you don't want us to!"

"Besides, you think we'd let you get doted on by all the hot American nurses by yourself?" Daehyun asked. "Never!"

"And we can't practice our songs without you," Youngjae said. "You're our front dancer."

Yongguk reached over and knocked everyone's heads playfully. "You're B.A.P, Zelo. We wouldn't be who we are without you."

"And it's too bad, because you're stuck with us now," Jongup said.

Zelo blushed. "Thanks."

The group playfully bullied Zelo for a few moments before falling back onto the hospital bed.

"But, Zelo, you really missed out," Youngjae said.

"Missed what?" Zelo asked.

"Jongup getting angry," Daehyun said. "He stared down our manager!"

Zelo's eyes widened. He looked at Jongup. "Really?"

"Yeah . . . he called you an idiot," Jongup said quietly. "I couldn't take that."

"He was practically breathing smoke," Yongguk said.

"And our manager was terrified!" Youngjae laughed.

Zelo sat back, still wide-eyed as he stared at Jongup. "I wish I'd been there."

Jongup shrugged. "It was nothing, really."

"Oh, it was something, all right," Himchan said. "I wish I had recorded it." Then he turned to Daehyun. "So, the doctor said that we need to keep Zelo hydrated. Can you do that?"

As the team glanced at Daehyun, they found that he was already smiling.

"You'll never guess what I brought on our trip, Zelo," Daehyun began, reaching into a bag he'd brought from the hotel.

Zelo's eyes brightened. "What? What?"

He pulled out a bottle from his bag, and Zelo squealed in excitement.

"Tomato juice!" he shouted. "Thanks, Daehyun-hyung!" Then he took it and began drinking the stuff as though he hadn't had a drink in over two days.

Yongguk laughed at Zelo. "Maybe that's why your hair is red."

"You love that stuff, don't you?" Jongup asked.

Zelo nodded, still drinking.

"Well, with all five of you here, I think his recovery time will be doubled," the doctor said. "He looks better already."

"I feel great, too," Zelo said, taking a deep breath and pausing from his inhalation of the tomato juice. "No more . . . laxative trouble."

Everyone had to laugh as Zelo's face became as red as both his hair and the bottle he was holding.

"We're just glad you're okay," Himchan said, tousling Zelo's hair. "You gave us all a scare after you passed out."

"Does this mean that I can drink tomato juice for the rest of the tour?" Zelo asked, looking at all the members in turn with a hopeful expression.

"If it can keep you from fainting, I think I can say that we'll keep you drinking tomato juice every day for the rest of your life," Yongguk said.

Zelo squealed in delight and was being so cute that Jongup leaned over and kissed Zelo on the top of the head. Zelo ruffled his hair and made a face at Jongup. "Why do you do that, Jongup?"

"Because you're too cute," Jongup said with a grin. Then his face became serious. "I'm glad you're all right."

Zelo affirmed Jongup's comment by letting out a loud laugh and throwing his arms around Jongup in a bear hug. "I'm glad I'm all right, too!"

"You'd be pretty hard to replace," Yongguk said, smiling. "And once we're out of this hospital, we can get back to practicing."

"Well, all except you, Zelo," Himchan said. "We'll probably have to keep you from practicing for just a little longer."

Zelo released Jongup and frowned. "But the concert's in two days! Y-you're not going to do it without me just because I got a little sick, are you?"

His words were so broken that Yongguk knew that keeping Zelo from performing wasn't an option. Besides, the doctor said that he'd be good in a day. "We'll just keep you light on dancing until tomorrow evening," Yongguk said. "Then you can join us practicing again. Don't worry, you'll be onstage when we perform. We couldn't' do our American debut without you."

"We are B.A.P!" they all yelled.

"And don't think you'll get out of practicing just because you're sick," Himchan said with a grin. "We'll make up for lost time and be sure to work you to the bone."

"Even if I have to rest in bed, can you still practice in our hotel room so I'm not alone?" Zelo asked.

"I think that's what we were going to do anyway," Jongup said.

"It wouldn't feel right if only five of us were in the practice room," Youngjae said.

"If you weren't there, we'd lose our cheering and motivational section," Daehyun said.

"He's our personal cheerleader, all right, but with what's been going on, maybe we should just stay in our hotel rooms for the rest of the tour anyway," Himchan said.

"I know," Yongguk said. "I'm surprised that none of us broke an arm or something."

"Who knew America was so dangerous?" Zelo asked, setting down his now-empty bottle of tomato juice.

"But still . . . it's America," Youngjae said.

Everyone nodded, then the doctor cleared his throat so that the group would notice his return.

"Well, I think you six have everything set here," the doctor said. "Blood work just came back, and Zelo's system is all clear. He's been discharged from the hospital and is now free to go. Just make sure he drinks plenty of water alongside that tomato juice, since tomato juice can be a tad salty and hard on a dehydrated system."

"Got it," Yongguk said, getting off the bed with everyone else. "We'll stop off at the store on the way home to make sure you're kept thoroughly hydrated, Zelo."

"Tomato juice?" Zelo asked hopefully.

Yongguk shrugged. "Apple juice, lemonade, water, sports drinks . . . tomato juice," he finished with a smile.

"Orange juice that isn't laced with a drug," Daehyun said.

A final laugh rang through the hospital room before the group slowly helped Zelo to his feet, steadying him as he stumbled a bit. "I guess that orange juice made me really weak," Zelo said with a smile. "But I'm a lot better now." Yongguk found this hard to believe as Zelo took another step forward and nearly fell over, this time being caught by Jongup.

"I'm fine, Jongup," Zelo said, shaking his friend off.

"It's either Jongup or me, Zelo," Yongguk said, prepared to carry him out of the hospital just as he carried him out of the hotel an hour previously.

Zelo blinked and put his arm around Jongup's shoulders for support. Then he motioned for Daehyun to come closer and put his other arm around Daehyun's shoulders. "Good?"

Yongguk smiled. "Good."

The six of them left the hospital, stopped off at a nearby grocery store, and bought enough juice to change the color of the Pacific Ocean. After they returned to the car, they gave Zelo five bottles of juice and demanded he drink them there on the spot. However, Zelo had only gotten through one bottle of juice before Daehyun and Youngjae began a singing competition to see who could hit the higher note with his voice, and soon everyone was either joining in the game or paralyzed with laughter.

After the game was over and Daehyun declared the winner, Zelo resumed his mandatory juice drinking. This quickly became a game as well as each member of the group challenged Zelo to see who could drink juice faster, and before they had gotten back to the hotel, half the juice was gone.

"His color's coming back, at least," Daehyun said as they pulled into the hotel parking lot.

"Yeah," Jongup said, reaching out to poke Zelo in the face. "There's the orange juice."

"There's the lemonade," Youngjae said, poking the other side of Zelo's face.

"There's the tomato juice," Daehyun said, gently tugging a lock of Zelo's hair.

"There's the manager," Himchan announced, pointing out a man running toward the vehicle.

"Is he okay?" the manager panted as the six of them climbed out of the car. "Will he be able to perform?"

"Just keep him hydrated and let him rest for a day, then he'll be able to practice with us," Yongguk said.

Zelo smiled. "I get a break!"

"But you'll have to work twice as hard once you're recovered," the manager said. "Even though it's just a day, we perform the day after tomorrow. You all need to be ready."

"We talked about that already," Himchan said, brushing him off. "We'll do our best and we'll be fine."

"It's not like we couldn't perform all the songs in our sleep," Youngjae said.

"Is anyone hungry?" Daehyun asked.

The team looked at him and they all groaned good-naturedly as the six of them left their manager behind and made their way back up to the hotel room to practice. As he closed the door to the hotel room, Yongguk did a quick count of everyone there and noticed that Himchan was missing. "Guys, where's Himchan?"

"Wasn't he right behind us?" Jongup asked.

"I don't — " A knock at the door interrupted them, and Yongguk opened the door to see Himchan standing there, panting slightly. "What's up?" he asked.

Himchan shook his head and put a finger to his lips, but his eyes were glowing. Yongguk hid a smile. Himchan was up to something. With the entire group now in the hotel room, practice resumed, Zelo watching from his requisite spot on the bed with at least six bottles of juice lying next to him.

"All right, that was good, everyone, but Daehyun, you need to make sure you get to the front faster so you'll give us more room to dance behind you," Yongguk said.

"Got it," Daehyun said. "Should we go through the dance agai — "

Just then, there was another knock at the hotel door. Yongguk looked around in confusion but Himchan was already answering the door. He bowed once, then came back in holding something behind him.

"Who was that, Himchan-hyung?" Zelo asked.

"Just . . . someone," Himchan said slyly, bringing the object he'd been hiding behind his back forward so that all could view it.

Zelo was practically jumping up and down on the bed. "Chocolate chip ice cream!" he said joyfully. "Is it for me?"

"That's right. Just get better, Zelo," Himchan said. "And this ice cream will definitely help," he laughed.

Zelo took the ice cream and spoon offered to him, digging right out of the carton and eating for a few seconds before he looked up at the rest of the team watching him. He frowned, looked down at the ice cream, then brightened and held the carton out to the rest of the team. "Sharing is better!"

With a group grin, everyone crashed on the bed next to Zelo, not even bothering to grab individual spoons. The carton and spoon were passed around, as were smiles, laughs, and groans of delight.

"Hey, I didn't get any yet. Pass some over," Youngjae said.

"Daehyun, stop eating so much," Himchan said. "Save it for Zelo."

Daehyun's eyes were wide with delight. "But it's such good ice cream."

"Eat as much as you want, hyungs," Zelo said, cuddling into Jongup who was lying closest to him.

"You deserve it," Himchan said.

"You passed out," Yongguk said with a laugh.

"Does that mean if I pass out, I get cheesecake?" Daehyun asked, receiving a slap to the head from Himchan.

"If you try to pull a stunt like that on Himchan, he'll probably surprise you with a plate of radishes," Jongup said.

Daehyun made a face, and everyone laughed. There was only one food that Daehyun refused to eat.

"I'm thirsty," Youngjae said. "Pass me a bottle of that orange juice, would you?"

"The tomato juice is mine," Zelo said as everyone took different bottles of juice and started to drink.

"Don't worry, Zelo," Yongguk began, taking a sip of lemonade. "We — " Everyone jumped as the door to their hotel room suddenly banged open, and in rushed their manager.

"I didn't know you had the key to our hotel room," Youngjae said.

Their manager's eyes were flaming. "I pass your room and hear no music! I come into your room and see no dancing! What do I find? Ice cream! Juice! Are you dancers, or aren't you?! If you forgot, you six have a concert in two days!"

"Calm down," Himchan said. "We're just taking a break."

"Taking a break?" he sputtered. "You should be practicing!"

"We know the dances back and front. We'll practice them all day tomorrow," Daehyun said. "We'll be ready for the concert — "

"Will you? Or did I book an American tour for a bunch of lazy slugs?"

The group visibly recoiled, now clutching their bottles of juice so tightly that their knuckles were white.

"Zelo just got out of the hospital," Jongup said dangerously. "We're just — "

"I don't care if he just got out of the hospital! I don't care if he just fainted, and I don't care if he pukes while he's practicing! No matter the doctor's orders, you should all be up and practicing in gratitude for all the work I've done!"

Yongguk had enough. He could see his teammates already beginning to swell with fury, so he answered for all of them. He rose up like a storm cloud, his voice low and dangerous. "Work you've done? Who writes all the songs? Who sings until they have laryngitis? Who practices twenty hours a day and barely gets one hour of sleep a night? We do! So don't you dare talk to us like you know what work is!"

"I shouldn't have brought you to America. You're pathetic," the manager said. "Zelo should've drunken that entire glass of orange juice. You all should have. At least that way you'd have a good reason for not being — "

As one unit, the group snapped. Suddenly everyone had taken their open bottles of juice and shook them in the direction of their manager, effectively soaking him in six different flavors. Their manager staggered backward, eyes wide, then stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

"Boy, that felt good," Himchan said once they were alone again.

"How dare he say that Zelo should've been poisoned," Youngjae snarled.

"And he accused us of being lazy!" Daehyun's eyes flashed. "We work harder than anyone else I know."

"But man, did he look surprised when we got him with that juice," Jongup said, suppressing a grin.

"It's not my fault, is it?" Zelo said, sounding troubled. "Should I be dancing with you guys?"

"Of course not," Yongguk said, ruffling Zelo's hair. "Our manager's just . . . "

"Being a jerk," Himchan said.

"Yeah, that's it," Yongguk said. "But Zelo, don't feel bad that you drank that stuff; there was no way of knowing it was drugged. And don't push yourself too hard right now or you'll end up worse than you were before."

"You need to rest," Himchan added.

The group fell silent, and Yongguk found himself looking at the multicolored streak their juice left on the hotel carpet.

"The maid's gonna have one heck of a cleanup," Himchan said.

Everyone laughed, and their happy demeanor soon returned. It was hard to stay depressed when there were six boys present. And ice cream.

Zelo took another bite of ice cream before handing the container to Jongup with a grin. "So that's what you look like when you're angry, Jongup! Wow, I can see why our manager was so scared! That's awesome that you were defending me."

Jongup smiled, took a bite of ice cream, then laughed. "Come on, shut up, Zelo." He passed the ice cream to Daehyun, who took two bites and was on his third before Youngjae yanked the container away from him.

"Hey!" Youngjae said. "Give me some!" After stealing the container back from Daehyun, Youngjae took another bite before passing the container to Yongguk.

"There's only a bit left," Yongguk said, taking a bite himself and licking the spoon before passing the last of it to Zelo.

All eyes were on Zelo as he took the last bite of ice cream with his eyes closed, savoring the taste. Then he took the container, turned it upside down, and poured the remaining melted ice cream over the juice stain they'd made. "That's better," he said happily.

Everyone laughed, lovingly hitting Zelo and wrestling with him until they finally fell back against the bed.

"What the — is that your elbow?" Jongup asked.

"No, it's a bottle of juice," Daehyun said, pulling it out from underneath Jongup and tossing it to the floor.

"That's better," Jongup said, nestling into the mattress.

"What should we do now?" Youngjae asked sleepily.

"Probably practice some more," Himchan said with a yawn.

Everyone groaned in agreement, but everyone also knew that there was no way it was going to happen.

Yongguk started to drift off, but was then jolted awake by Zelo's burrowing into his side for comfort.

"This is nice," Zelo muttered.

Jongup was next to Zelo, his head underneath Yongguk's left arm, and Youngjae was resting one leg over Yongguk's right arm. Yongguk looked over at Himchan to see that both Daehyun's arms were draped over Himchan's stomach. He smiled, then let out a tired, "We are B.A.P."

"Sleeping," Himchan replied.

And they did.