3.
Welcome
Samantha cannot bring herself to complain out loud, but she almost can't keep up with the long stride of the Dauntless man she's following.
Since Erudite doctors had begun working at the Dauntless compound, they haven't been left at the infirmary without a Dauntless also being present. Often this is one of the medics who generally man the Med Bay anyway, but sometimes it's another lackey who sits around doing some other work. The kindest explanation for the constant presence is that they do not want the visiting doctors to need something or get lost, but it is slightly more likely that there's actually a lack of trust.
The fact that Samantha is now following Mason, one of the medics, to the Leadership offices is evidence of the latter theory.
She'd asked him for access to medical records from the past year in order to gain a better understanding of what kind of injuries and illnesses were most commonly issues there. Id had not seemed like an inappropriate request at the time, but Mason had balked-he didn't think he was authorized to hand over such a large scope of information.
So he is taking her to make the request directly to leadership, which means they have to travel up through the uneven and sometimes precarious walkways of the compound. Samantha had been caught off guard by them the first time she had come and had to carefully navigate herself while wearing heels. She now wears flats whenever she comes.
Practicality.
"Here we go," the long-haired man ahead of her mutters and veers off of the ascending path.
The hallway there is a short one with several doors leading off it, three of which stood open. As they pass one, Samantha sees that they are offices. Beyond the threshold of the first, she glances in and sees Eric sitting behind a thick desk. He looks up and meets her eye for a moment, but they don't stop so she doesn't have time to wave even if she wanted to.
"Max, it's Mason," the medic announces himself when he stops to knock at the end of the hall.
"C'mon in ...Mason," the leader nods when they enter. "Morning, Dr. Thorne."
Max is a stern man, overall, but his smile always seems to be both easy and genuine.
"Good morning," she smiles in return.
"She's looking for the past year's medical records," Mason jumps right into the reason why they are there- Dauntless don't often bother with preamble. "I wanted to check first- it's not something we'd talked about much."
Max nods his dark head thoughtfully to start thinking that over.
"Why?"
It's Eric's brusque voice that asks this. He's filling the doorway that Mason and Samantha had just entered through, shoulders broad in the suddenly narrow space.
"Right now we only have data about sickness and injury that have sent Dauntless to us in the city. We'd like more data on the kind of complaints most people have when they come to your infirmary," Samantha supplies her reasons again.
"...what for?"
He's being unnecessarily short, she thinks, but she remains cool and factual anyway.
"To allow us a better idea about how to improve what you're stocked in. Plus, knowing what supplies are more heavily used will help us make things more efficient for patient flow when we reorganize."
Eric crosses his arms, giving no indication that her sensible explanation has phased his thoughts in the slightest.
"...seems like an easy way to get an understanding of some potential weaknesses, too."
"Eric," Max voice warns.
Samantha glances at him, then back to Eric.
"...is that what you think we want?" she frowns at the younger leaders.
"No," Max answers swiftly and with a clear sense of finality. "Eric will find those records for you and bring you downloaded copies."
Eric's jaw ticks, but he says nothing against the other man.
"Okay. Thank you."
"Would you like anything else?" Max's smile is more exasperated now than before, but he at least puts in the effort to look kind.
"No, no, that's it ...thanks."
"No problem. Can you find your way back so I can steal Mason for a sec?"
"Yes, I think so," she nods.
Many of the hallways look the same and she is still learning them, but they had not taken an intricate path to get there. She doubts she'll have trouble.
Except for the wall that is Eric blocking the doorway. He still stands with his arms crossed, his chin ticked up just slightly so he can stare down his nose at her a bit. It is a dominant gesture, but she doesn't take easily to being cowed.
Logic helps her. Dauntless may be reckless, but a committed leader can't lash out unprovoked at a helping Erudite doctor without repercussions, and he knows it. Plus, there are others in the room- she needn't actually be scared.
"Excuse me," she simply requests.
"...oh, of course," his answer is a little too polite before he steps aside and gives a small flourish of his arm to wave her through.
She passes through the space he'd opened up, giving him a searching look as she does so. She deduces very little ...he is being strange, but that is no concern of hers. He could work things out with Max if he doesn't like what's going on. She doesn't have nefarious intent, so there is nothing further for her to do.
So she heads back down to the infirmary, which is not really the sort of place she had envisioned before first arriving there. She had thought, however unfairly, that it would be cramped and unorganized. These had been expectations based on common stereotypes; she sees that, now.
Assumptions.
A slip in logic. One that has been corrected.
The unit is sizable and placed deep within the compound, one level up from what they call The Pit. The biggest problem upon their arrival had been how lightly stocked the place was; they've already begun correcting that. Historically, Dauntless restocked on a minimum of basic medical supplies on a near-weekly basis; pending approval from the heads of the hospital, they will be increasing their order size and the speed with which they can re-fill.
Another problem they'd found was the inefficiency of the current organizational system in place; that is their next project to tackle.
"Well?"
"They're going to download what we need," Samantha answers Michael's inquiry.
His hopeful look drops back to something placid, and he nods. She's almost surprised by that since he is someone with high expectations. Perhaps hes just resigned himself to what he should expect there. He is the lead doctor, but he is not the superior of everyone here and has no call to expect anything more than acceptance from the Dauntless. His kinds of accomplishments earn him respect in Erudite but may not necessarily do so here in a faction that regards bravery and acts over sharpness of wit.
"When should we expect them?"
Raymond Eastway is there, too, which is a surprise. Samantha hd felt sure that he wouldn't take-on this project, but he must have decided that it is in his best interest to work on a project that Dr. Freeman and Jeanine Matthews are closely monitoring. There she is making inaccurate assumptions again...
"I wasn't exactly provided a timeline," she confesses to the surgeon.
"Grea.t"
He's seated in front of a computer. He has been chatting with some of the Erudite labs trying to plan what kind of portable equipment they'll be able to get brought in to this medical unit. They won't be able to get an MRI machine down through the compound, for instance, but the labs have been developing various handheld scanners and small set-ups. This might be the ideal venue for testing many of those devices.
It's not a bad idea. Samantha can admit that even if she isn't Raymond's greatest advocate.
Dr. Sherman has already caught onto that fact. He had only smiled and then been kind enough to let her know that if she bribes him he will be willing to avoid scheduling the pair together.
Once the set-up is optimized and they have a routine, they won't so much need to come in groups anymore. One doctor, or possibly a pair, could come at a time and be sufficient. For now, they simply want multiple eyes creating the best infirmary possible.
As she doesn't know when she will be receiving the records she wants, Samantha moves to the small back room to retrieve the lunch she'd brought so she can sit at one of the desks and eat while she browses some of the Dauntless safety protocols they found copies of. This was less so she could comment to leadership about their rules -that was beyond her scope there- but just to know.
She jumps sometime later when there is a clatter on the desk beside her from a thin black box. Looking up, she sees that Eric is the source of the scare; he's standing over the desk.
The black box is a covered tablet.
"The records we asked for?" she asks, standing politely.
"Yes," he answers shortly. "They're all there."
"Thank you."
"...sure."
"If there's a problem, should we clear it up?"
Samantha fussily tucks some of her long, blonde hair behind her ear. Once she realizes that this probably looks like a nervous tick, she quickly crosss her arms to mirror Eric's own posture.
"No," his gaze is bored and his answer simple.
"Are you sure?"
He nods.
"I'm keeping an eye on you," he mutters and then looks away to scan the room before he twists to exit.
Samantha stays standing there for a while, wondering if he'd just been stating fact or dolling out a threat. Maybe calling it a warning is the best middle-ground.
'What's his problem?' she scoffs to herself when she finally drops back into her seat.
But as soon as she thinks this, she is sure that she knows the answer.
He had already said back at the hospital that he left Erudite for a reason. Now he is facing the reality of his old faction occupying his new one. Samantha glances down at her outfit: khakis with a light camisole and a blue cardigan; her hair in a braid over her left shoulder. She presents the very picture of the Erudite rules that had stifled him most of his life.
She wonders what he must think of her staying in the very place he had run away from.
.. ... ...
Eighteen and nervous as hell.
Seated inside the hub for the Choosing Ceremony, nearly one hundred teens and their parents anxiously waited.
Samantha Thorne had sat amongst them in her blue and white school uniform. She had known where she belonged and knew just what she would choose. Still, it had been a scary prospect to choose in front of so many people ...and it would be the rest of her life. And her friends lives ...where would they all go? Were some of them going to leave her life forever? A majority of people stayed within their faction of birth, but never everyone. And would everyone make it through their initiation?
Things would surely change.
She had told herself that change was good- necessary, even; change could be for the better, especially after the choosing. This was going to be where everyone officially started the rest of their lives. The mantra had calmed her some. Any inevitable change would be for the best and would work out in the end...
When "Eric Coulter" had gotten called to the front of the auditorium, he was the first Erudite of the day to defect.
Samantha had started somewhat and watched as he went to take a seat with the Dauntless members with a wide grin set on his face. Someone ruffled his short, curly hair roughly, and she had seen his eyes dark back to the Erudite section- possibly to his parents.
Samantha was a little sad but hadn't been surprised. She had known him throughout school, and if any one of their peers would make it through Dauntless it was Eric- he had not belonged in Erudite. He was bright, but he had always been more than that. He'd rebuked strict rules, talked back, and had not liked sitting to study ...if he was going to learn, he wanted to try and do., not read it in a textbook. He was enigmatic and open ...and he'd often been in trouble.
She had understood that he belonged elsewhere and was he was ready to go. Some part of her had even felt a tiny thrill spark through her chest at the idea of fresh, new beginnings.
But she would stay; a defector hadn't changed her mind.
... ... ...
And there she is in Dauntless, anyway. Funny how life goes sometimes.
Samantha let herself forget the memory. Eric is gone so there's no use in dwelling on his mood. Instead, she starts to process through the report he'd brought, making a few notes as she does so.
By the time Dr. Sherman tells her she should find a stopping point so they can leave, Samantha checks her watch and finds it's later than she had realized. It is difficult to keep a general awareness of time when there are no windows there. It's the type of thing she supposed one could eventually get used to.
She's not finished sorting over the records she has, so she goes about uploading them to her own, new work tablet. Her old one had never been recovered after the clinic break-in so she'd received a new one from the hospital. It is a newer model, and, so far, she has no complaints.
"Hi, Tabitha?" she approaches the Dauntless who's there in the infirmary with them that evening.
She is quiet but polite in a dutiful sort of way. She has long, bleached hair, several tattoos on pale skin, and wears her make-up heavily. It is a look far bolder than the Erudite flaunt, but she sits calm and confident by the door with a small computer.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering if I could find Eric in his office again- I need to return this," she waves the tablet.
She has no idea if it is his personal device or if he'd meant for it to stay there in the medical unite to be used. Given his mood, she would rather not guess at that and be mistaken.
Tabitha checks her own watch, which has a thick leather band.
"...he's probably working out before dinner," she thinks aloud.
"Oh..."
"It's nuthin'," the other woman shrugs and waves for Samantha to follow her once she stands.
Samantha wonders if she could just give Tabitha the tablet to return to the leader, but if the woman isn't offering then she probably doesn't know if she's s allowed to take custody of it. Everyone here toes a line that isn't clear to her, and it makes Samantha nervous. It isn't as though Erudite doesn't have a hierarchy, but she understands the customs and chain of command in her own home.
They don't have to travel up multiple levels like she did earlier with Mason. Tabitha only leads her up to what Samantha is sure if the next floor, and then they walk a couple connecting hallways before stepping through a wide doorway that had no door.
Inside is a gym. There's a boxing ring on the other side of the room in front of numerous punching bags, and the rest of the room is full of various weight-lifting equipment. There are a few people littering the room, but they generally ignore the two women. Samantha scans the room while Tabitha does the same; she feels incredibly out of place there- her stark, clean clothing and small frame are juxtaposed by the sweat and the dark, baggy clothes around her.
"Eric," Tabitha calls when she realizes where he is at.
Samantha jerks and quickly follows the Dauntless woman along a row of metal apparatuses. They are headed towards someone lain back on a padded bench and pressing a metal bar with several circular weights on each end. The shirtless man -for it is very clearly a man- did not stop right away but completes a few more steps before he sets the bar on its rack with a "clank."
"Tab," Eric's deep voice answers once he sat up.
"Dr. Thorne wants to return something to you."
Eric's eyes pierce her then.
"Alright," he ticks a nod. "You can go."
He doesn't sound upset; it is just a casual dismissal as he leans forward to catch his breath while resting his elbows on his knees.
"Are you sure?" Tabitha's painted lips dip into a frown.
"I think I can fucking handle it, yeah," he snaps.
As he does so he lifts a hand to gesture at Samantha in a 'duh' sort of fashion. She isn't sure she appreciates the implication that she was to be "handled" but she understands his meaning so she doesn't protest.
Nor does Tabitha. After Eric's churlish retort, she pivots on her heel to go without further argument. Samantha doesn't blame her.
"Thanks, Tabitha."
She doesn't get a response.
When she turns back around, Eric is standing and cracking his neck as he swings a leg over the bench so he's no longer straddling it. Samantha eyes the sight, distracted by the inked skin stretching along his neck as he rolls it form one side to the other. She has seen the markings above his shirt collars before, obviously, but they seem to stand out now where they glisten under some sweat.
"What?" he grunts and taps on her shoulder with just enough pressure to turn her arounds so she'll head back across the room. "Never seen a body before, Doc?"
Caught staring, she stiffens.
Cocky ass.
"A few," she answers primly.
"Oh, I bet," he drawls from behind her. "Miss Doctor ...wearing your nice clothes, keeping your nose in a book, and doing what your told..."
He is mocking her and part of her still can't quite figure out why. They had been friendly before ...
'Faction first,' she reminds herself.
She doesn't know him, she is able to tell herself. Not anymore. Not this Eric. That is the truth, though it has taken her a while to really believe it.
Not very Erudite of her.
"Erudite treats me well," she shrugs.
"That suppose t' be a jab?" Eric snorts and veers away from behind her.
He strolls toward a bench and snatches up a small towel that he runs over his face. Samantha eyes the tattoo on his back, then; it matches the style of the ones on his neck and travels straight down his spine, narrowing before it snakes past the top of his jogging pants.
"No," she answers, looking away from the body art.
"Good," he glances over his shoulder. "I'm not sorry I left."
He stoops for a black t-shirt and tugs it on while he turns back around. He stands defiantly straight and with his shoulders back. Samantha's not sure why- he is already tall and imposing enough.
"Why should you be?" she shrugs, and she actually does mean it. "I remember how miserable you used to get" -a glare flashes over his face-- "and I don't think we should apologize for who we are ... ...me included."
It is a pointed tack-on, and Eric's face loosens some.
Not much.
"Always so rational."
He is still sneering, but there is less blatant resentment in his tone. She thinks so, anyway.
"Well, ya know- it's worked well so far."
"Hmmm..."
His icy blue eyes are searching, looking for something she can't know.
"Your tablet," she ignores his scrutiny and holds it out.
He grabs it from her lazily and tucks it against his side under his elbow. He sighs, still watching her and doing some kind of mental arithmetic to suss her out.
"...let's get you back, Sam."
He trudges out the door and Samantha follows closely, glancing back behind her at the other people still exercising.
"What - don't go to the gym?" Eric catches her getting a last look.
Samantha doubts he would want to have a chat about Pilates or yoga classes she's tried, so she keeps those stories to herself.
"Not like this one."
That is true enough.
Eric smirks.
In the hallway, he ushers her ahead of him with a hand on her back. He sticks close in the narrow hall but wants to see how much she has paid attention and whether she's figure out how to get around the compound. He can't say he is incredibly surprised that she has little difficulty- being from the know-it-all faction- but he is a little disappointed that she doesn't mess up.
He leans in the doorway to watch while she rejoins her colleagues and they pack up their papers and a couple computers. The crisp blues where he usually sees a sea of black, grays, and reds is still something he's getting used to. He travels the city and ventures into other factions regularly in his work, but he is used to being able to slink here amongst his own when he is home. It's not all bad, he supposes - but it is different.
He rarely takes quickly to change.
"We know the way," Dr. Eastway catches sight of his lingering.
Dr. Raymond Eastway of Terrace View apartments on East Ave - yeah, he knows shit, too. Eric doesn't like him or his condescension. Erudite may be the faction known for their smarts, but they are not the only ones with brains. Eric loathes the Erudite who forget that; Max finds this reaction humorous for some reason.
"I'm sure," the leader smirks.
Just for the cheek, he decides to escort them outside. From the corner of his eye he sees Samantha grin a little to herself, perhaps guessing his intention based off his tone. Probably. He scowls a little and wonders if he is predictable.
Anyway, Eastway says no more while they clean up and then follow him quietly to get up and out. Samantha and the older doctor - Michael- are talking softly. Eric listens, but it's mostly idle chatter about some pharmaceuticals. He recognizes that a few they name are painkillers, but he's not even sure if they are talking about the hospital or their infirmary, so he ignores them.
When they reach the ground-level he shoves open a thick metal door and steps out to hold it for the group. They walk out into the back lot where some of the Dauntless' trucks are parked. Amongst them is a small silver car the doctors had driven in.
"Thank you," Michael nods cordially.
Eric nods but says nothing. Eastway returns him that favor when he passes.
"Bye," Samantha waves.
"...see ya," he mutters once she passes.
He watches them file towards their car for a moment and then re-enters the compound. The guards at the gate would slide open the chain link fence there to let them out into the alley; his job there is done.
"Why are they denying part of our requested inventory," Samantha frowns in the car Michael is driving.
She is checking her emails and sees that she'd recently received notice from the medical board at the hospital. Why would they do that if they want this to work?
"What else does it say?" Michael asks, sparing a glance away from the road.
"...they must not agree with our projection of the increased traffic that is going to be coming in now that doctors are on-site," she determines once she skims through the list of supplies on-hold. "Citing lack of proof," she quotes.
There are some things that Duantless routinely come into the city for: prenatal care and deliveries, for instance. Now that there would be doctors at the infirmary, it is perfectly reasonable to expect some of those needs to be taken over at Dauntless itself. Why go all the way across the city?
"It is conjecture," Raymond fairly points out from the back seat.
"Yes, but it is a logical step. Not a leap," Samantha argues.
"They will want to see that the Dauntless trust us enough to start coming before they give us everything we want," Michael figures.
"If we don't have our supplies we might not be able to provide the best care, which means they'll stop wanting to come anyway. Are they trying to set this up to fail?"
"I doubt it," Michael chuckles.
Samantha isn't sure why he thinks it is funny.
"But they're being unreasonable."
"They are being skeptical is all. Despite how much they want this to work, they cannot let go of all their preconceived notions of Dauntless. But, don't forget - they areoften a wildcard."
"But they're benefiting from this arrangement."
"All the same, you shouldn't leave a dragon out of your plans when he is in your backyard."
"Nice reference ...a little pessimistic of you, though, I must say. Especially considering you're the lead on this venture," Samantha's appraisal of his attitude is dubious.
"I prefer realistic, as you very well know."
"Have it your way," Samantha sighs and scowls at the tablet before clicking it off so she isn't staring at the frustrating email.
If everyone is reasonable and thinking about what's best, there is no reason the arrangement shouldn't be successful. This is especially true if Dauntless leadership are truly pushing for cooperation among their factions. Samantha and the other doctors have been told to fully cooperate with all Dauntless security measures at the Clinic; even if the Dauntless faction was known for being rowdier, she assumes they have similar orders.
Is she being idealistic?
She tries to assess herself honestly to determine if she is merely full of hubris. Maybe Mike was on a better track? Perhaps he has the better measure of the situation. Maybe she should take cues from him.
She tells herself not to worry too much. She still has her regular job- that hasn't changed. She wants to be a part of this working out, but her career does not necessarily rely on it.
But she will keep her head up and do her best.