The media was having a field day. Sam was everywhere. The hospital television displayed the public outrage to the Interior Minister's illicit activities and Sam was being praised for her journalistic abilities. Well, at least she was getting her revenge. I was sprawled on the uncomfortable plastic chair, warming my fingers around the styrofoam cup. I sat there, dominated by a profound sadness, fatigue engraved on my body.

"I think I'll have to use my handcuffs," I spilled the hot liquid onto the back of my hand and my sluggish heart rate picked up as awareness returned, bringing with it burning, sweeping pain. I looked up to see Nasir walk towards me and I stumbled to my feet. "Woah. Calm down. That was a joke," he hastily added at my dark look.

"How is he?" he shook his head, his features grim. Tears gathered in the corner of my eyes. He came down and sat next to me. "How's the family?"

"They're waiting on the other side. Maddy is in the room with him. You should be there," I shook my head violently and he sighed. "Waleed wanted to come and see you. I told him to give you some time," Thank God. "You know that this is a pretty damaging situation"

"I know," I whispered out.

"Does your family know that you're here?"

"They do. I told them to leave me alone"

"If Jahangir wakes up we'll have to arrange for bail. If he doesn't, well..." I'd be going to jail. For murder. I squeezed my eyes shut.

"I don't regret it," He placed his arm on the empty chair next to him and sighed.

"Neither do I. Haider would probably blow a blood vessel if he knew what we were discussing right now"

I stared at my hands. "How did you..." I gave myself a mental jerk. He's still alive Elena. "How do you know him?"

"He and I went to college together. Gave our CSS exams together. Started this whole enterprise together," well that was one way to put it. "Saw you enter his life together," He chuckled at my surprised look. "Oh yeah. I saw it before he did"

I opened my mouth to answer but paused when I saw my father walk towards us.

"He's asking for you"

The beeping sounds of the machines became the background of my entry. Feeling a mixture of emotions, I put one foot in front of the other, hands trembling as I pushed the door open. Durdana Auntie stood near the foot of the bed, her lips pressed in a harsh line.

"I..." I began. She turned and engulfed me in her arms. My heart stopped and I peered over her shoulder. Before I could help myself, I noticed the dark bruises under his eyes. I also noticed the few small scraps over his face and the bandage that covered the tiny cut on his forehead, and then, my eyes travel to his thick dark hair. My insides shrank when I realized I wanted to reach out and run my fingers through it. I inhaled sharply, trying to focus, lifting my eyes to meet his.

Those beautiful eyes warmed up as he held my gaze. Durdana Auntie patted my back, stepped back, and exited the room with a tired smile. A faint smile played across Haider's lips, his gaze lowering and stopping...on the bruises dotting my throat.

"I will kill him," I rocked on my heel, feeling joy and sorrow collide in a strange combination.

"I think I already did," he looked at me, flabbergasted. "I slashed his chest open"

"That's my girl," a surprised sound escaped my lips. "If you hadn't done it someone else would have"

"You're so weird"

"You wouldn't like me if I wasn't"

"So this was all an act? For me?" He chuckled, his lips curving up in a small half-smile.

"Took you long enough to figure that out," My smile faded just as Nasir came through the door. The awful hollowness, the waves of wretchedness threatened to engulf my mind, body, and soul. Both of us looked at him, expectant.

"How're you feeling Haider?" he grimaced and gave him a small shrug. "Jahangir's out of surgery. He's conscious," Haider's head snapped to me and I took in a shuddering breath. "We might have to take you in," My heart stopped and then sped up when I saw what he held in his hand.

"You're not taking her anywhere," I gave Haider a warning glance.

"How bad..." I cleared my throat. "How bad is it?"

"Procedural stuff," where my name would be entered into an FIR. Where I'll have to live with that stain. Where I'd be presented in court. I closed my eyes in defeat.

"Make sure that doesn't happen," Haider gave Nasir a meaningful look. "She is not going anywhere. He's going to jail. For God's sake, he tried to kill me!" He sat up in one motion and then winced.

Both Nasir and I ran towards him. "Why are you sitting up?"

"Haider, "I cried out, reaching out with my hand, stretching my fingers towards him.

"She's not going anywhere, Nasir. Make sure that nothing happens to her..."

"Haider, the..." adrenaline flooded my system, and I thought my heart would explode.

"Nothing. I repeat nothing. I want Jahangir behind bars and held accountable"

"He'll testify against her"

"He won't dare. He shot me. He would have shot her. He killed Mehr Mamoon. That's it, Nasir. That's what you do. Do what you have to. Change what you have to. If we played by the system she'll be charged with crimes she hasn't committed"

I stared up at him were wide-eyed and slack-jawed with astonishment.

"This isn't right Haider..."I began.

"Don't you dare. Don't talk about the system. He'll drag you down. We have to be proactive. You did not do anything wrong. It was self-defense, that's what happened and that's what we'll say"

Nasir sighed and gave him a hard look."Done," he muttered and strolled out of the room.

Heart slamming against my ribs, I watched the door swing shut and dragged a chair to sit by his bed. If I didn't sit, I likely would've fallen over. I was like a ball of tangled yarn. I was a mess, useless until I was untied. That mess felt endless and unyielding. I wanted to refute his logic, but I couldn't come up with one good reason for why.

"This is wrong," I breathed out.

"Don't be ridiculous. The system isn't always right. You know it better than I do. Jahangir would never let you live. He'll drive you to the ground and I won't let that happen. He'll discredit Sam, Mehr Mamoon, and your father. We barely got the Interior Minister under control, they'll rip you apart," I pressed my lips together. "Besides, you wanted proof against him, you've got it," he adjusted his posture and groaned at the pain that action caused.

I focused on the beeping machine, worried. "Are you okay? Should I call the nurse?"

He shook his head, observing the expression on my face. "Maddy told me you've been outside for the past 12 hours," I ducked my head, not wanting to meet his eyes. "Was someone there with you?"

"I told them to leave me alone"

"Why?"

"Because..." I was scared of the guilt. Of the worry. Of being judged.

"I know it seems daunting. But what you did, that wasn't a crime"

"I know that," he let out a long drawn out breath.

"He would have shot you. He had shot me. Enough. Realize that and move on," I sighed and settled back into the chair. "I know it seems hard. I know it's difficult to accept and I'm here for you but sometimes we do things that might seem to be wrong, but morally? They're right morally. You can't explain it. You can't justify it, but in that split second you chose to do it and that's reality," my eyes filled up and I sniffed. "It's done, it's over." his fingers curled into mine. I nodded, understanding his point of view.

"Okay," One side of his lips curved up and I let my body relax, my muscles becoming loose.

"I like this new way of getting you to agree," A nervous flutter filled my stomach.

"What was the old way?"

Haider's smile turned to smoke. "Would you rather I show you instead of telling you?"

My skin flushed hot. "No."

"Liar," he whispered, his eyes intent on mine.

The warmth in my skin started to spread as if it were a spark, and I shifted to avoid his gaze.

"And don't feel guilty. I see you, I see the pain in your eyes. I'm proud of you. You managed to strike back at someone who had you on your knees. Own it," I coughed out a laugh. "There's one more thing..."

"What's that?" I felt him brush my hair back with his calloused fingers.

"You don't have to worry about anything. From this moment until the last, I am yours. I won't let anything happen to you, ever," his chest rumbled, his voice deep and smooth, clasping my had in his. In that small touch, I felt my worries lose their keen sting and my optimism raise its head from the dirt. There was something so warm, something that felt so right.We'd made it out, safe and sound.

Perhaps there was hope all along.

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This is the second last chapter! Oh my God 🙈