Paranormal Investigators - Chapter 6: Conception

[swallowtt]

            "We're not going to do any testing here, since it's no longer necessary," Yunho explained.  "Instead, we would be accompanying them to the hospital this Friday afternoon to check out the place."

            "In that case, I should go stop Changmin from setting up the equipment," Yoochun stated.

            "I'll do it," Junsu uttered and hurried off to do so.

            Soon, the two youngest member of their team emerged from Junki's home office and joined the rest of them in the living room.

            "We can't bring any equipment into the hospital, so we're going to have to rely on our own judgment," Yunho informed.  "Remember to watch your backs.  It could be extremely disturbing in there."

            "Yunho hyung, we don't have to go empty-handed," Changmin said.  "I'll perfect the gadgets in two days."

            "That would be great Changmin."

            "Alright, guys."  Yoochun herded.  "Let's go clear out our headquarter."

            "Headquarter?" Junsu asked.

            "Our testing room."

            "That is an excellent name," Junsu praised.  "We should call it that from now on."

            "Um...Junsu hyung," Changmin interrupted.  "That is what it's called.  Yoochun hyung didn't make it up."

            "Yah, kid."  Yoochun threw Changmin a wink.  "Let Junsu think that I'm a genius and not spoil my image with the truth."

            "Yoochun hyung, there's no need for that.  Junsu hyung already likes you and he's not the type to pick on such petty reasons to dislike you."

            "C-Changmin," Junsu sputtered.  "I never said I'm in love with Yoochun.  Don't put words in my mouth."

            "You're the one putting words in my mouth," Changmin clarified.  "I said 'like', not 'love'.  No wonder you won't admit to liking him.  You're madly in love with him."

            "I...I'm not.  Y-You the one who is mad."

            "Stuttering is a form of denying one's true feelings."

            "Is Yoochun paying you or something?  Why are you helping him?"

            "I help no one.  I just love promoting love."  Changmin beamed.

            "T-There's no love here."

            "There's love everywhere," Changmin corrected.  "You need to open your eyes and recognize it."

            "I don't love him," Junsu muttered as he glanced down at the floor.  "I...can't."

            "What do you mean 'you can't'?" Yoochun questioned.  "You either do, or you don't."

            "I can't...Yoochun.  I'm not who you think I am.  I'm not right for you."  With that, he left to go break up their headquarter.

            "Junsu."  Yoochun speedily trailed after him.

            "I'll go help them out," Jaejoong finally spoke.

            "Me too."  Changmin excused himself and caught up with Jaejoong.

            "Sorry about that," Yunho apologized.  "My teammates are young and..."

            "You don't need to explain, Yunho-sshi," Junki cut in.  "It's totally understandable."

            "Understandable, yet not very professional."

            "You've built up quite a wonderful team.  It's great that you care for one another.  This way, you could ensure each other's safety during danger."

            "I agree with Junki," Minah added.  "Anyways, sometimes a little office romance isn't so bad.  Junki and I met when I was hired as his secretary."

            "I see."  Yunho smiled. 

            "Minah wasn't an ordinary secretary."  Junki chuckled at the thought. 

            "I was a horrible secretary," Minah admitted. 

            "Well...I wouldn't say horrible," her husband disagreed.  "Clumsy, maybe."

            "On my first day at work, I spilt coffee on the contract right before the clients came."

            "We had backup on the computer, so it was fine."

            "Then a few hours later, I slipped and spilt tea on his shirt."  Minah told Yunho.

            "Like I said, she's clumsy," Junki reminded.

            "You can't blame me for panicking in front of a handsome boss," Minah retorted.

            "You think it was easy for me to resist such a beautiful secretary?" Junki countered.

            The two exchanged looks and burst out into laughter.  It was something that haven't been heard in the house for a long time.  Noticing his team busily packing up the equipment, Yunho excused himself to go assist them.

***

            Changmin gathered the other four gadgets and disappeared into his room to work on them once they made it home.  Unless it was meal time, the lad didn't come out and stayed inside to upgrade all the necessary components.  He even managed to transfer the sound data from Yunho's gadget into his computer and played it for the rest of his team to hear.

            "Wow, that's amazing Changmin," Jaejoong commended.

            "Good job."  Yunho gave the youngest a pat on the shoulder and handed him an envelope.  "Here."

            "What's this Yunho hyung?"

            "Funding for your inventions."

            Changmin's eyes lit up as he took the check out of its envelope.  "Thanks hyung.  I'll make good use of it."

            "I'm sure you will.  How are the upgrades coming along?"

            "They should be ready by tomorrow.  I'll have to train you hyungs on how to use them properly prior to our investigation on Friday."

            "Speak up if you need assistance."

            "Of course."

            "Okay, let's not bother Changmin so that he could focus on his work."  Yunho shooed them out of the lad's room and shut the door.

            "I'll go prepare dinner," Jaejoong stated and started walking downstairs.

            "I'll help you," Junsu offered.

            "Junsu, could we talk?" Yoochun requested.

            "Not now, Yoochun.  Jaejoong hyung needs my help."

            "It's okay, Junsu," Jaejoong reassured.  "You could go talk with Yoochun.  I'll manage."

            "NO!" Junsu shouted and bowed his head in apology for his sudden loudness.  "Sorry.  I mean, I want to help with dinner.  I'll talk with you next time, all right Yoochun?"  Grasping Jaejoong by the wrist, he lugged the older man with him to the kitchen.

            "Junsu, what's the matter?"  Jaejoong was curious.  "Why are you avoiding Yoochun?"

            "I can't be with him."

            "Why not?"

            "Please don't ask.  I...just can't."

            "Understood," Jaejoong obliged not wanting to stress Junsu out any further.

            Noticing Yoochun furrowing his brows in confusion after being rejected, Yunho told the man to give Junsu some time to think things through. 

            Yoochun nodded in agreement and went to his room to listen to some music.  'I won't burden you any further until you're ready, Junsu...'

***

            Changmin returned the gadgets to their rightful owners and updated them on the new and improved functions.  They set up the inside of the company van as their headquarter. 

            On Friday morning, they met up at their clients' home.  Not wanting to look overly suspicious, Yunho decided that he would enter the hospital with Minah and Junki pretending to be a close relative.  Yoochun and Junsu would sneak in the side or back door to gather some evidence of the place's wrongdoings.  Considering Jaejoong being  highly sensitive to spirits, it was best that he stayed behind in the van to assist Changmin with monitoring the sounds and cameras hidden on Yunho, Yoochun and Junsu.  The three rode in their clients' vehicle, while Changmin followed them in the van with Jaejoong on the passenger seat.

            In the car, Yunho refreshed everyone on what they were supposed to do once they arrived at their destination.  Changmin switched on the sound system in the van so that he and Jaejoong could hear what the others were saying.  Parking behind some bushes to conceal the van, Changmin and Jaejoong promptly went to the back and turned on the necessary equipment.

            The front gate opened, so Junki drove in and parked.  Yunho entered the hospital with the couple as planned, whilst Yoochun and Junsu snuck in a side door.  The moment they stepped into the building, Yoochun was nauseated by the reeking fumes of rotting flesh and had to use the wall as his support.

            "What's wrong, Yoochun?" Junsu inquired worriedly.

            "I smell blood." 

            "I don't smell it."

            "So much...blood."  Yoochun was practically choking for air.  "I can't breathe."

            "Yoochun, you're scaring me."

            "Can't breathe..."  Feeling weak from lack of oxygen, Yoochun lost his stance and fell forward.

            Junsu swiftly caught a hold of Yoochun to stop him from hitting the floor.  A frightening vision was triggered upon contact and Junsu's eyes widened in fear.  "Don't die..." he gasped.