Quick AN: I wrote this little drabble about 4 months ago (around August 2012) and the two friends who have read it both told me to post it up, so here it is! It takes place during Chapter 32, page 362 (1st Edition, Hardcover). Hope you all enjoy it!

Saving You

As I finish telling her the plan, I watch her face for some kind of recognition but all I see is emptiness.

"I don't…" she chokes on the words and tears start forming in her eyes. "I can't… make it… that long."

I can't look at her; it hurts to see her like this. So I look toward my shoes and as the words finally process into my mind, I start to feel anger and hurt. As much as she wants to, I can't let her leave. I can't let her go. She must know that, I hope she knows that.

"Tris," I say sternly. "You have to. You have to survive this."

"Why?" Her voice sounds small and fragile. "Why do I have to? Why can't someone else do something for once? What if I don't want to do this anymore?"

Gathering some courage I look back at her face, her eyes wide and her cheeks covered with tears. Just seeing the look on her face makes me feel so defeated because I can't fight for her, I can't even help her. But how could I fight a battle that I can't even see? How could I fight a battle that only existed inside of her?

"I know." I finally say, my voice softer than I expected it to be, that I expected it could ever be. "I know it's hard. The hardest thing you've had to do."

She shakes her head.

"I can't force you. I can't make you want to survive this." I pull her into my arms and I run my hand over her hair. "But you will do it. It doesn't matter if you believe you can or not. You will, because that's who you are."

She pulls away and kisses me. I don't feel hesitation or gentleness, she kisses me the way she used to, when there was nothing wrong with us. When we didn't have these kinds of things to worry about and it makes me wonder what could've life we had if the Erudite never attacked Abnegation.

The door opens and I know that it's over. I won't ever have the chance to convince her or tell her anything else after this. So I step back and give the gun, handle first, to the nearest Dauntless traitor.

And I pray that she knows how much I need her.