Harun gathered his courage a few minutes later and moved from his spot. He knocked gently on the door.
Fatih immediately released the hand he was holding in his palms and turned toward the door. Harun, showing the patient file in his hand, said, "Commander, I brought this."
Fatih immediately stood up and, not wanting to disturb Deniz, said in a low voice, "Let's talk outside."
Harun nodded in agreement and stepped out into the hospital corridor. Fatih gave Deniz one last check and slowly walked out.
When he stepped into the corridor, he immediately took the file with curious eyes and examined it. But he couldn't make much sense of it.
"What happened today? Tell me about it," he said. There was genuine concern in his eyes.
Harun nodded and said, "Commander, they took her to intensive care for a while after surgery. When no complications were observed, they moved her to a room. The doctor said she was lucky. The bullet hit only the outer tissue without embedding in the muscle tissue, but she fainted because she lost too much blood."
Fatih thought quickly. When they started shooting at Deniz, she was at least 40 meters up. Considering the men's weapons, this was normal. It would have been very difficult for the bullet to penetrate that distance.
"The firing distance was very far. Thank God, we were lucky," Fatih said.
"Yes, Commander, thank God," Harun said.
Fatih straightened his gaze and turned to Harun. "About an hour ago, I told you that you could return to headquarters. So why are you here, Lieutenant!?"
"After your order, Commander, the nurse gave me paperwork to obtain some medications. I got the medications and left them at the nurse's station, Commander. I apologize," he said.
Fatih's gaze had softened. "Alright, soldier, you may go," he said.
Harun stood at attention, saluted, and slowly walked away.
Fatih slowly entered the room. Deniz's eyes were closed.
He should be at his post when duty started tomorrow. But he had filled out an excuse report for tonight, stating he couldn't stay at the lodge.
He thought he'd sleep in the chair, but first he wanted to go to the bathroom and wash his hands and face. He didn't want to bring germs to Deniz, as if protecting a baby in a bell jar.
He took off his camouflage jacket and entered the bathroom in his military green T-shirt.
Just then, a deep breath filled the room.
Deniz had woken up about twenty minutes earlier when Fatih first entered the room. But she pretended to be asleep to avoid being bullied with "Why didn't you tell me you were injured?" Naturally, she had turned quite red from holding her breath so her wakefulness wouldn't be noticed.
She immediately turned her gaze to the bathroom and buried her head back in the pillow as if to say, "What did I just experience?" before fixing her eyes on the ceiling.
And yes...
All the secrets of this shy Captain were now out in the open.
Minutes later, the excitement that sleeping Fatih created in Deniz had peaked. But Deniz, perhaps due to the anesthesia, succumbed to sleep again...
Around 03:23 at night, Deniz had woken up again.
The room was dim. Nothing stirred except the soft beeping sounds of medical equipment and the flickering light of the night lamp in the corner of the room.
She listened to the room's silence for a few seconds. Then she slowly tried to sit up. Her movements were careful; she was both injured and... she didn't want to wake Fatih. She leaned her back against the pillow and took a deep breath. She needed to go to the bathroom.
She carefully lowered one foot to the edge of the bed, then the other... but before she could step down, she accidentally nudged the slipper on the floor, causing a tiny scraping sound that made her flinch.
And at that moment...
"Deniz?!" she heard a voice.
Fatih had sprung from the chair with a reflex as if going to war. Due to his profession, he was alert even in sleep. His eyes immediately focused on Deniz and he reached the bed in a few steps.
"You're awake! Are you okay? Why did you get up?!" he said in a tone bordering on panic.
Deniz didn't know whether it was from the sentences she heard or from Fatih's presence, but she had suddenly turned bright red with embarrassment.
"Well... I need to go to the bathroom, so I got up," she said bashfully.
Fatih was flustered. He didn't know what to do with his hands, pacing back and forth, examining the bathroom from the corner of his eye, then Deniz's leg, then the door handle.
"Wait! I'll... I'll help you. Just a minute!" he said, but he was all flustered. As if he was seeing a patient and helping for the first time.
Deniz couldn't help but giggle slightly when she saw his state. "Fatih, stop. Stop for a minute. Calm down," she said, placing her hand on his arm.
"If I just hold onto your arm, that should be enough. They were supposed to bring crutches but they haven't arrived."
Fatih took a deep breath, realizing he had overreacted. He immediately extended his arm. "Of course! Come on, please. But don't put too much weight on that leg. Be careful," he said.
Deniz was holding Fatih's arm like a cane. When they reached the bathroom door, Fatih stopped. He suddenly froze, hesitating. What should he do now? Should he wait here, or go inside...?
Deniz had noticed his dilemma. She smiled slightly. She pointed to the safety bar mounted on the wall.
"I can hold onto this and go in. Thank you," she said.
Fatih cleared his throat and swallowed. "Okay. I'll... well... I'll be right here. At the door..." he mumbled.
As Deniz headed inside, before closing the door, she poked her head out with a mischievous expression and whispered:
"Actually, it would be better if you didn't wait exactly there."
Fatih immediately stepped back. When he realized the girl couldn't even be left alone in the bathroom, his face reddened.
"Okay, I'm at the chair! I'm far away... well... I'll hear you if you call," he said, walking back to the chair.
Deniz smiled slightly. "Okay," she said and closed the door.
A while later, Deniz came out from inside. She was slightly tired but her expression was calm.
Fatih immediately got up from the chair and accompanied her to the bed. But Deniz's face looked like it wanted to say something.
Fatih asked curiously, "Did something happen? Do you need anything?"
Deniz murmured softly: "Well... I'm a little hungry."
Fatih immediately straightened up. "Is it okay for you to eat?" he said.
Deniz rolled her eyes and replied with a smile:
"Fatih... I didn't have surgery on my internal organs. Just a bullet removed from my leg."
Fatih, seeing her smile settle back on her face, relaxed. He joined in the joke:
"Just a bullet removed, is that it? When did you become such an expert on bullets, Engineer?"
Deniz giggled. "Well, of course! Don't underestimate us, we have experience now!" she said.
Fatih couldn't hold back his laughter anymore.
He immediately stood up, "You wait," he said laughing. "I'll find out what you can eat and bring it right away."
He hurriedly put on his boots and left the room.
Deniz had watched his every move with admiration, continuing to follow him with her eyes until he left the room.
Those broad shoulders, the camouflage T-shirt, muscular arms...
After he left the room, she excitedly threw herself onto the bed. Now she was murmuring while staring at the ceiling...
"Mashallah... solid as a rock," she said and giggled to herself. Despite everything that happened today, she felt butterflies inside. She literally wanted to jump on the bed right now.
Meanwhile, Fatih in the corridor was advancing toward the desk with quick steps. He was almost running.
The nurse looked up and when she saw him, smiled with a flirtatious grin. "Yes, Commander?"
Fatih spoke seriously as if describing a military operation: "Our patient is a bit hungry. What can she eat?"
The nurse checked the file on the computer. "Our doctor hasn't specified any special restrictions. She can consume anything, but since she's currently bedridden, it would be good to stay away from things that are hard to digest," she said.
Fatih thought immediately. "Would things like soup... meatballs... sandwiches, ayran be appropriate?"
The woman nodded. "Perfectly fine, yes."
Fatih excitedly said "Great," and quickly headed toward the room. Placing his hand on the door, he called out:
"Deniz? You can eat soup, meatballs, sandwiches and such. What kind of soup do you like?"
Deniz replied from inside with a laugh:
"I'm not picky about food. I eat everything."
Fatih's face was smiling. "Okay, great! I'll get it right away. Don't get up, don't even move," he said and rushed off.
Deniz shook her head from side to side and laughed. "This man must be on a secret mission to make me laugh. There can't be any other reason for his sweetness!" she was giggling.
Minutes later, the door opened.
Fatih had a huge bag in his arms. It was so big, it was as if he had brought food for a platoon.
Deniz's eyes widened. "Fatih! You're kidding... Did you get one of everything?!"
Fatih couldn't quite grasp what he had done for a moment. "Why not? You'll eat it..."
Deniz was laughing. "Yes, I eat a lot for a woman, and my appetite is good, but not this much, Captain!" she said with a reproachful face.
Fatih wasn't sure if he was sad or happy about this reaction. He was looking innocently like a small child.
Deniz rolled her eyes, then asked softly: "What did you eat tonight?"
Fatih paused for a moment. Actually, he hadn't eaten anything. He hadn't even drunk water. But he didn't feel hungry.
"I think... I didn't eat anything," he said.
Deniz nodded at him. With a slightly mocking, slightly commanding expression:
"Okay. Then we're eating together. If you don't eat, I won't eat either, Captain!" she said.
Fatih was about to object, but Deniz was literally glaring at him. "Okay... Fine," he said.
Deniz divided the meatball sandwich and the sandwich in half. She opened the soup lid and placed it in the middle. "Ah! You got lentil! I love it," she said and took a spoonful after squeezing the lemon.
That tiny smile on her face gave Fatih more pleasure than the taste of the food.
Then Deniz hesitated. "Well... You don't have a spoon. Wait, let me wash this..." she said, reaching for the water bottle.
But Fatih moved instantly. He placed his hand on her wrist, gently took the spoon, and without any hesitation dipped it into the soup. Then he brought the spoon that Deniz had been holding to his own mouth and drank.
Deniz was frozen. Her eyes opened wide. "You... Aren't you disgusted?!" she managed to say.
Fatih smiled. He leaned close to her nose. Eyes in her eyes. His voice low and clear: "Nothing about you could ever disgust me," he said.
Deniz's body was burning like flames. What was this now? Was this man... serious or was he trying to drive her crazy?
There was a mischievous smile on Fatih's lips. This handsome man was literally right in her face. His breath hitting her face, getting lost in his smiles... Just then, a small rumbling sound came from Deniz's stomach. They both paused. Laughter broke the silence.
Fatih's laughter echoed in the corridor. The night was no longer about duty, guns, or wounds. Just a moment... consisting only of that huge smile they shared.