𝑩𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒍 //𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝑲𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑭𝑭//

~𝟳𝟵~

(Third person, Lee Know's perspective)

Lee Know parked the car, looking over at Ava who sat in the passenger seat. She hadn't spoken a word since they went to see the doctor, and she sat completely still the entire ride home, staring into space. It worried him, but he tried to convince himself that it was probably just shock. He got out of the car and walked over to her door to help her out. As he opened her door, he saw her wrap her arms tighter around herself. The shard of guilt in his heart seemed to twist and dig deeper as he witnessed it, but he pushed it aside.

He tried helping Ava out of the car, but she wouldn't take his hand. He could see how much pain she was in but didn't want to push her boundaries. So he let her be, just following close behind her as she walked to the door of the dorms. He opened the door for her and led her to the couch. She sat down, crossing her legs, and staring off into space again. He took a few steps away from her, just to give her some space and let her process.

His eyes scanned over her tired and broken body. Her shoulders were slumped forward slightly, and she seemed like she would fall asleep very soon. Two of her ribs were badly fractured, and her shoulder had been dislocated. The doctor had popped it back into place and put her arm in a sling, which now hung limp at her side. She was covered in bruises and cuts. Every time she breathed; he saw the pain flash on her face from her ribs. And it broke his heart to see her so... fragile.

"How's she doing? Any major injuries?" Chan asked softly from behind Lee Know. He hadn't even heard his Hyung approaching him, so he was a little startled.

"She'll be okay, but her recovery is going to be long and hard. Her shoulder was dislocated and the gash was very deep. But they stitched it up and put her in a sling for time being. Two of her ribs are fractured as well. But other than that, she physically seems fine."

"But mentally she's..."

"Not doing great. She didn't speak once the entire ride back; just stared out in front of her."

Chan put a hand on Lee Know's shoulder, making him look at his Hyung.

"She'll be okay. Afterall, she has you to help her through this. And we'll all be there with you."

"I hope you're right Hyung," Lee Know said dejectedly, looking back at Ava.

He heard Chan leave and sighed softly. The hospital visit started replaying in his head. Ava's desperate screams. The security pinning her to the bed. How reality had kicked him in the gut and forced him into action. The moment that male doctor had walked into Ava's cubicle, Lee Know had known something would happen, and yet he hadn't said or done anything. Ava had asked the doctor not to call her darling twice, but he wouldn't listen. Then he tried cutting her shirt open.

"It's to inspect the wound without the fabric getting in the way," he had said.

That's when Ava completely lost it. And with good reason. Then security came and Ava was pinned to the bed. She was kicking and screaming. Lee Know couldn't understand how they didn't see how much pain they were causing her. He lost his cool. He pushed the doctor and security off of Ava, somehow managing to get in between them and her, and demanded that they get her a female doctor. It took some convincing, and Lee Know even went as far as threatening to have them arrested, but they finally agreed.

Things settled down after that. Maybe a little too much so. Because Ava had stopped talking after the male doctor left. So Lee Know had to explain everything. She wouldn't take his hand. She wouldn't let him touch her. She was fine with the female doctor, but with him she was suddenly... cold. And distant. He could understand why, of course, but it still hurt. Seeing her like that and not being able to make her feel better.