ZeyBar One Shots -DoğduğunEvKaderindir

5. Safe (Ep36)

The aftermath of the shooting was pure chaos. Anger and rage mixed with fear and anxiety, followed by an uneasy calm. They were all gathered in Nermin's house, Baris had driven over immediately with Ali Riza and Savas. Everyone was holding onto someone else, they were all drawing comfort from each other. Baris had his arm around Zeynep as they sat on the sofa, his large hand holding both of hers.

Zeynep was shaking her knee in agitation but when she looked down at his hand holding hers, she immediately breathed a little easier. She wondered if he did that on purpose - hold her hands so she wouldn't pick at her thumb. Her heart burst with the love she felt for him. He was so attuned to her every emotion. Her rock, her pillar, her fortress.

"Shall we all go to my summer house for a little while?" Nermin offered, breaking the silence. "Both houses here in Istanbul need repair. That will take two or three days at least. The summer house is in a gated community outside the city. I think it will be a safer for all of us, at least for the time being."

"That's a good idea, Nermin Hanim," Baris agreed. "Why don't all of you go. We can find a hotel here," he said, referring to the Tunahan men.

"No, no, you must come too," Nermin insisted. "We would all be less worried if you are there with us. And it's a big house, there's plenty of room for everyone."

There was some relief about finally having a plan and they packed into their cars, and drove over the Nermin's summer home about an hour away.

The next few hours were busy as everyone settled into their rooms and then prepared a meal together, talking and sharing stories to distract from the uneasiness and fear that was simmering at the surface.

After dinner they retired to their rooms. Zeynep asked Emine to share her room, and she gladly agreed. Emine was shaken too, even though she hated to admit it. Her mother was sharing a room with Sakine, who had perhaps been the worst hit by the trauma of it all. She kept blaming herself for starting this whole chain of events in the first place.

Baris walked with them up the stairs, and took Zeynep's hand, holding her back just before she entered her room. He kissed the side of her head, in that way that was so beautifully familiar to her, and she hugged him with all her strength.

"I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered against her hair. "Sleep well, yavrum. If you need anything call me. If anybody needs anything at all. I'm going to leave my door open. Tamam mi?"

She hugged him one last time and nodded before disappearing into the bedroom.

Emine and Zeynep lay in bed and talked late into the night. Zeynep was so grateful for this friendship that had survived so many obstacles. They were stronger together, now more than they ever were. She was her voice of reason, her Emine. And she loved her to death. She watched as Emine's eyes closed in sleep and smiled at the calm that finally settled on her friend's face.

She wished she could find that calm. Every time she closed her eyes the events of the day played back in her head. She was so furious at Mehdi she could barely control the urge to call him and ream him out. How dare he put so many lives in danger? Her fingers unconsciously reached for her thumb. She wished for the comfort that only one person could provide.

She moved the sheets off her body and quietly got out of bed. She knew her mother would kill her if she knew where she was headed, but she needed him, dammit. She would come back before anybody knew.

"Emine," she whispered into the dark, wanting to make sure that her friend was asleep. "Emine," she said again. Emine didn't respond.

Zeynep heaved an internal sign of relief and tiptoed to the door. She froze and stopped short when she hear Emine snicker.