Rules of Engagement- A CanEm AU

Chapter 13. The Head And The Heart

Previously

She watched him as he finally fell into a deep sleep. His Gitme played in her head and she couldn't help the tear that rolled down her cheek. I want to stay Can, you're the one who wants to go.

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Thursday

Can spent most of Thursday sleeping. Sanem would wake him up at regular intervals to give him medicine, something to eat and drink, and check his temperature. Sometimes she would sit with him until he fell back asleep, brushing soothing strokes through his hair or down his arm. In a moment of clarity he wondered how he could be so sick and so comforted at the same time.

Friday

Can woke up late Friday morning feeling immeasurably better. Sanem was not in the room, but he could hear her singing in the kitchen and he smiled to himself. He loved the sound of her voice, it was sweet and melodious, and it seemed like she knew all the words to all the songs.

He felt bad that he hadn't visited his dad in a few days and called the hospital to let them know he would swing by in the evening. The nurse on the other end assured him that his dad was doing ok and that the visits from Sanem had cheered Aziz Bey up in Can's absence. Can hung up the phone, her words taking him by surprise. Sanem had not even told him that she had been visiting his dad. He couldn't wrap his head around it. No one in his life had ever done anything without wanting something in return, or without using it as leverage against him. Perhaps they were too different - Sanem and him. She lived in a world of co-dependency, of giving and receiving altruistically. And he felt more and more like he didn't belong in her world.

He checked his voice messages and saw that he had one from his boss. Of course, he hadn't checked in with work either in a while, even though he had taken a leave of absence. He listened to the message and his chest tightened, both in excitement and apprehension.

Sanem walked in just then and smiled to see him sitting up in bed. "Oh good, you look much better", she cupped his cheeks, smiling affectionately. "I'm glad".

"By the way, I spoke to the lawyer. I told him you've been under the weather, so he said he would stop by here instead of us going to his office. He'll come here in the afternoon, if that's ok with you?"

Can nodded in consent. "You've been visiting my dad", he blurted out.

"Oh, yeah, I've been going when I can. I love spending time with him and I think he enjoys my company", she said fondly.

"You didn't tell me..... You didn't have to do it".

She waved her hand, "It's no big deal. Like I said, I enjoy his company". It finally dawned on her where his thoughts lay, and she bristled. "I wasn't doing it to score points with you or Aziz Bey"

"Sanem", he held her hand apologetically, "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant at all. You  surprised me. I'm not used to people doing things for no gain."

She nodded, accepting his apology.

"I  got a message from my boss this morning", he said, switching topics. "I'd put in proposal to do a shoot in Madagascar. It's something I've always wanted to do. The budget was finally approved. He said I can go as soon as I put my program together".

Sanem's eyes widened in surprise. "That's.....that's wonderful! Congratulations. You definitely deserve it". She meant every word, but her voice caught as she said them, and she could feel the tears forming in the back of her eyes. She turned away so he couldn't see. "I was in the middle of putting lunch together. Let me get back to that", she said, walking towards the door.