AN: This chapter involves some violence - sorry it can't all be fluff and smut :P
After our shower that lasted much longer and included rounds two and three, we finally crawl into my bed. We lay in the dark and talk until the wee hours of the morning. Just as we have both fallen into a peaceful sleep, there is an erratic banging at the door. I jump out of bed. figuring that its Christina at the door, I only throw Tobias' shirt over my naked body.
Every couple months she gets freaked out while Will is on duty and comes over in the middle of the night. She supports his choice to be in law enforcement but she tends to worry. She usually sleeps on the other side of the bed, until Will gets off duty, but tonight Tobias is in her spot.
Half asleep I walk to the door.
"Sweetheart, are you listening to the scanner again…" I barely get out when I realize that it's not Christina standing at my door.
A very drunk Peter is standing in the hallway.
"You need to leave, you are not welcome here" I say, trying to sound brave.
"Who's shirt are you wearing? You little slut!" Peter spits at me.
I don't answer. "I won't say it again, you are not welcome here" I say, holding my ground as I begin to close the door.
Peter forces the door open, in the process knocking me to the ground. I start to shout for Tobias when he lifts me off the ground and covers my mouth.
"I knew you weren't alone you whore" he whispers.
I bite down on the inside of his hand, he yelps and I taste blood. I use his moment of weakness to shout.
"TOBIAS! HELP!" I scream louder than I ever have before.
I hear crashing in the bedroom and I know he's coming to my rescue. I hope he thinks to cover himself, even though I shouldn't care what Peter thinks, I don't need him to see Tobias in all his glory.
Peter, knowing that he's about to lose this fight slaps me across the face. I feel the white hot sting of his hand. I lose my balance and end up on the ground, I feel his foot connect with my ribs.
Seconds after calling for Tobias, Peter is unconscious on the floor of my apartment. I didn't see what happened but it's obvious that Peter didn't stand a chance when faced with Tobias. Even though it's been 15 years since Tobias's initiation he is still in incredible shape and regularly practices his fighting with a bag in the training room.
I try to sit up but the pain in my ribs is too much. Tobias rushes to my side. He gingerly lifts me off the ground and carries me to the couch. Feeling my cheek against his naked chest instantly calms my franticly beating heart. I breathe in his sent, which at the moment is a mix of my body wash, sweat and a hint of the cologne he was wearing yesterday. He lays me on the couch but doesn't release his arms.
"Baby are you okay? I'm so sorry I didn't hear the door. I can't believe I slept through it. You should have woken me up, I could have answered it. I'm so sorry I let you get hurt." I says into my hair. I can hear the sadness and strain in his voice.
"Tobias look at me. This is by no means your fault! I didn't wake you because I thought it was Christina at the door. It's not uncommon for her to show up in the middle of the night." I say trying to find his eyes.
The kitchen is still dark, the only light is coming from the sun slowly starting to rise in the east. It will be more than an hour before it's fully up. Even with minimal light I can see Peter's unmoving body on the floor.
"Tobias? I ask, looking at him sheepishly
"Is Peter dead? I whisper, I'm not sure what I want the answer to be. Until tonight I didn't really think ill of him after the breakup. At this moment I never want to see or hear from him again.
"I don't think so… but I need to call Will. I wish I could take you back to bed and hold you, but it's going to be a long morning." Tobias says, looking defeated.
A moment later he is back from the bedroom, phone in hand.
"Hi Will, it's me Tobias. I need to come to Tris's apartment ASAP. Bring a medical team too. I'll explain more when you get here… no I don't think you should worry Christina, unless she's already up. I'm sure Tris would like to see her… okay, we'll see you in a few." Tobias hangs up the phone.
Will and two other officers are on their way, Tobias tell me. They will also be bringing and emergency medical team with them. Not five minutes later there is a knock on the door. I flinch. Tobias wraps an arm around me while he answers the door.
I'm close with Will but I'm glad Tobias though to grab me a pair of pants when he grabbed his phone. He has also added pants to his outfit, but he's still shirtless because I am wearing the only top he brought with him.
"Hi guys" come on in he says.
"Oh my god! What happened?!" Will says, when he sees Peter's bloody body laying on the kitchen floor.
"I heard a knock on the door around 3:30 this morning. I figured it was Christian" I say looking at Will. At this point he knows to check here first if she isn't in bed when he gets off shift.
"When I opened the door, Peter was standing there. He was obviously intoxicated. I told him to go away, when I tried to close the door he forced it open and pushed me to the ground. When I tried to scream for Tobias he lifted me off the ground and covered my mouth and called me names. So I bit him. At that point I was able to shout to Tobias. At this, Peter slapped me, pushed me down and kicked me in the ribs. That is the last thing I remember before I saw him unconscious on the ground." I tell the officers, my voice sounding more steady than I was expecting.
"I checked him vitals just before you guys arrived, he's definitely unconscious but I can't tell if it's more from the fight or the alcohol. His pulse is steady but I didn't dare check his pupils, I really didn't want to wake him" I say letting out a shiver at the thought of him waking.
"The bite on his hand broke the skin, normally I would say he needs a round of preventive antibiotics, a tetanus booster and a HIV, HEP B & C test, but I work at the hospital so I'm tested bi-monthly, I'm not a carrier. I'll have the hospital fax over my records. For now just clean and wrap it. As for his head, if he doesn't regain consciousness in the next hour have him transferred to DHC (Dauntless Healthcare Center) for a CT, as soon as you get him to the infirmary I want a toxicology screen done and the results sent to my work email " I state clinically.
The medical team thanks me for the information, and roll Peter onto a gurney. I am thankful when he is no longer in my sight. A moment later there is another knock at the door. This time it is actually Christina! She pulls me into a hug and I hug her back. The events of the morning are finally starting to take their toll on me. I am exhausted and in pain.
While Tobias talks to Will and the others officers about what happened when we work up, I lead Christina to the living room. Just as I'm about to start retelling the story I realize she doesn't know about Tobias and I. Almost as if she can read my mind she says "Why is Four here? And why isn't he wearing a shirt?"
I glance at her sheepishly "He well… umm… he… spent the night" I almost whisper.
"HE WHAT?! BEATRICE PRIOR!" she says way louder than I would have liked.
The men standing in the kitchen stop and glance our way. Before I can tell them it's nothing and we're fine. Christina is dragging me to my room, its very obvious that this conversation is no where close to over.
"Tris! You know I've always liked Four, but come on he's so much older" She says, as if the idea disgusts her. "Don't you remember when he was your boss? That's just wrong" She says, taking no care into my feelings.
"He's 31" I jut back "It's not like he some grandpa!" I say starting to feel defensive. I was hoping she'd be happy that I found someone, especially with how things ended with Peter.
"I guess you're right" she says with a huff. "I just worry about you, that's all. Why did it start? Does he treat you right? Have you done IT?" She says with a smirk.
"Well… it kinda started on my birthday. Do you remember when I told you I was talking to Four, when you couldn't find me?" I ask. She nods.
"We weren't talking. Four and I were making out in the bathroom!" I say, glancing up at her. The look on her face is priceless!
"Then after the show he walked me home, well I never really got home that night." I think her eyes are going to bug out of her head! "We stopped at his place so he could put his guitar away and one thing led to another and I spent the night. This evening when I got home from work he was knocking on my door with Chinese take-out. He's been here ever since." I say, knowing that there will be more questions.
Tobias and Will pick the perfect time to knock on the door. "Come in" I say, breathing a sign of relief that Christina's integration is paused momentarily.
" I think we have all the information we need for the moment" Will says. "I will be in touch again when the date of his hearing gets closer, both of you will need to submit statements to the judge, but for now get some rest" he says, looking beat himself.
"Chrissy are you staying with Tris or coming with me?" Will asks.
"Go, Chrissy" I say teasingly, knowing she hates when anyone other than Will calls her that. "We can catch up more tomorrow, but right now I need some sleep." I say with a yawn.
"If your sure" she says hugging me. I wince a little at her hand on my side but I don't pull away.
Once the door is closed behind Will and Christina, I let out a sign. "This has been an incredibly long day its it's only 6am" I say, looking down at my watch.
"Can we go back to bed?" I ask Tobias, as he crosses the room.
"Of course we can, sweetheart" he say, brushing my hair back and out of my face. His fingers lightly trace a pattern on the side of my cheek. His eyes look sad more than they look tired.
"Is everything okay?" I ask, trying to read his face.
"No!" He says, more forcefully than I was expecting. I go to take a step back, he pulls me in closer. "No, everything is not okay. You got hurt on my watch and I will never be able to forgive myself. That asshole had no right to come here and harass you! I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't been there. I don't want to think about it." his eyes well up with tears "He left on mark on your beautiful face, I will never be able to forgive him for hurting you" Tobias pulls me into him, both of our bodies rack with sobs.
For the first time since answering the door this morning, I let my emotions take control. I sob for what feels like hours into Tobias' chest, even though I'm sure it's only a matter of minutes. He scoops me up and carries me to the bathroom. I am shocked when I see my face, Peter's hand is imprinted perfectly on my cheek in red and purple. I now know what Tobias was tracing on my cheek earlier.
Ever so gently Tobias lifts his shirt from my body, exposing my ribs where Peter kicked me. I thought my face was bad, but it is nothing compared to what was hidden by my shirt. The bruise is already a deep purple and it spans from just under my armpit to a couple inches before my waist.
"Tobias?" I say quietly. "I want nothing more than to curl up in bed with you and sleep for the rest of the day, but if I had a patient come in with this bruise I was order an abdominal CT right away. I think I need to get this checked out."
"I agree, but you're the PA so I'm following you" he says. "Let me just grab our clothing."
"You don't have to come with me, it doesn't make sense for both of us to not to get any sleep" I say, as I slide a loose shirt over my head.
"Are you kidding me? Of course I'm coming with you. You can't drive in your state and I want to be with you" he states, taking my hand in his.
He drives me to DHC in his black pick-up truck, which is just as immaculate as his apartment. I call ahead and let the ER staff know what to expect when I arrive, hoping to streamline the process as much as possible.
When we arrive I am greeted by a plethora of familiar faces, they all share the same look of worry. I don't want them thinking I'm some kicked puppy, but that's how I feel. Lauren and Zeke's girlfriend Shauna lead me to a curtained off bed at the very end of the ER. Lauren photographs my injures while Shauna takes my vitals.
"Tris" Shauna says, taking my hand in hers. "Do I need to prepare a rape kit" she asks, squeezing my hand, for my comfort or hers I'm not really sure.
"No no!" I say "Tobias knocked him out after his foot connected with my ribs. I don't know if it would be the same story if Tobias wasn't there though"
"Alright, I've finished with the photographs. Now we're sending you to imaging to make sure you don't have any internal bleeding" Lauren says, as if I'm a regular patient with no medical training.
"Can Tobias come?" I ask, giving both of them a pleading look.
"I don't see why not" Shauna says, giving my shoulder a squeeze. "I'll go get him for you."
Tobias pushes my wheelchair into the elevator. I feel ridiculous but hospital policy is that no one walks up to imaging, even though I walked into the hospital less than 30 minutes ago. I push the button to take us to the third floor. As we exit the elevator I am overcome with a feeling of deja vu.
Her dark brown ponytail is the first thing I see.