Mister Write (IlCey AU)

Chapter 11

"Ilgaz?"

"Mm?" It takes him a moment or two to extract himself from the chapter he's revising at the moment. But one look at Ceylin's face and he's out of his office chair. His first instinct is to stride across the room and pull her into a hug, to shut out this shitty world and promise her a better one. She's been back here for four days and they've returned to their rather intimate 'friends with benefits' situation, if that's what it is. And he's hugged her quite a bit since. Still he hesitates, holds out his hand awkwardly. "What's wrong?"

Ceylin walks over to him, her expression a mix of anger, fear, and confusion. Instead of dropping his hand, he lifts his arm higher and loops it loosely around her shoulders. His ruffled feathers smooth out a little when she steps closer and leans into his support.

"My mother just called me. They received a letter today. Like my anonymous threats."

Ilgaz squeezes her shoulder, steers them to the couch opposite his desk and sits them down. And he keeps his arm around her, gratified that she seems to need being cared for by him as much as he needs caring for her.

"I'm sorry that your family is being dragged into this, that complicates things. Did your mother tell you what was in the letter?"

She rubs her eyes, looking tired and worried. A quick glance at the black watch strapped to his wrist shows him he's been writing for over two hours and it's almost time for dinner.

"Not word for word. Anne said it basically ordered them to call me off. To make me listen to the threats and stop working with you. Or someone would get hurt. Oh, and it seems that asshole of a person knows I'm back here with you, it was mentioned in the letter."

He makes a mental note of that detail, swallows down a vicious curse and rubs his hand up and down her arm. "We'll handle it, don't worry. I can have the police send someone over to watch their house. Didn't you say your mother lived with your abla and her daughter?"

Ceylin nods, turning soulful, grateful eyes his way. He can feel her body getting some of the usual steel and strength back.

"Okay, then I'll sort that out." His savcı mind is whirring, already thinking ten steps ahead, and he's itching to be more active. But first, he'll reassure her some more, explain things that aren't as routine for her as for his former self.

"Ceylin, your mother didn't destroy or throw away the letter, right? She kept it?"

"I told her to."

"Good. Now first thing tomorrow, I'll send a team over to collect the new evidence and to take her statement. And it's probably better if you go to Istanbul again and meet with the police. It was time to ask you more questions anyway, and update you on whatever progress the investigation has yielded so far. So we'll catch two birds with one stone, have you with your family too."

More nodding. She takes a deep breath. "I'll call anne, let her know. Then I'll book a taxi."

She's risen halfway when he tugs her back down, not minding a bit that it makes her tumble against him and gives him another excuse to touch her arm and steady her. "Hold on a minute. There's no need for you to leave now, we can get it all done over the course of tomorrow. And there's also no need for you to call a taxi; I'll drive you."

Her eyes widen. "No no, no need. I don't want to be the reason you have to return to Istanbul again. Absolutely not. And you've done so much already. I'm a big girl, I can do this."

"Ceylin." His exasperated tone makes her jut out her chin. Ilgaz can't resist, he pulls her closer yet and kisses the stubborn protest right off her lips. A second later, she kisses him back, but he breaks things off before they can get lost.