Chapter 7 Tris POV

I let myself into the apartment and divest myself of my outer weapons in the corner by the door. I will find a better place to secure them shortly but right now I just don't have it in me to worry much about someone getting in and using one of my own weapons against me. I keep my concealed weapons on my person to compensate for such laziness for now. I dig through the drawers and steal one of Tobias' t-shirts. I realize I have no clean underwear since I don't really live here, nor do I really have much in the way of possessions these days. I remember that I did have some stuff down in the initiate dorms and decide I can quickly run and grab that to have at least a little something for comfort. I run to the initiate dorms quickly for my small stash of clothes and other belongings (really just my old watch) that I left there so long ago. I let out an audible groan still frustrated with my sense of time since that point and even before. I grab what I need and head to Tobias' apartment.

Once back in the apartment I grab my undergarments and his t-shirt head into the bathroom to take a shower. I strip down starting with weapons. I leave one gun on the back of the toilet and one on the vanity. I secure the knife sheath to the shower's curtain rod. A quick glance in the small mirror shows I am still wearing the headset from earlier today that goes with the Bureau uniform. I cannot believe I have had that on all day and didn't realize, I take it off and set it on the sink. I let out a small scream of frustration at how hectic life has been. Nothing I can do about it right now.

Feeling secure enough for the moment I shower and slide on clean clothes. I suddenly feel a LOT better. Once I am dressed I slide the knife sheath back on my calf for now since I know I still left the other guns stupidly exposed. I grab the pistol from the vanity to carry with me to put with the rest of the weapons when I put them away.

As I am thinking of where I will put them, I hear the front door to the apartment open and close. I lift the pistol to a more defensive position and slowly open the door. I notice that the apartment is dark but the bathroom light gives me just enough illumination to see who just entered the apartment. Doesn't take me long to realize it is Tobias and he is leveling a rifle at me. I spare a thought to wonder if he is back in another sim to kill me or if he is just a highly trained, smart man in a war zone. He appears to take in the fact that it is me and lowers the rifle. I lower the pistol in my hands. I set it back where it was on the vanity and start walking toward him. He sets the rifle down and rushes toward me. Once he reaches me he takes me in his arms and holds me tightly. He is breathing very hard and I realize I am too. He lets go of me only to reach up and grab my face. He stares into my eyes and looks like he is searching for something.

"Tobias, what's wrong, why are you looking at me like that?" I ask a little confused, but I also feel like he might be thinking the same thing. Part of me wonders if he really is here or if I have just wished for it so hard my imagination is tricking me. I wonder if I was captured and put under yet another sim or if I passed out from exhaustion and am dreaming.

"I am having a hard time believing this is real" He admits.

"Oh I know all too well what you mean." I say and suddenly I realize that I am crying.

"Are you really here? Is the war really at a pause and I finally have you home, somewhat safe and all to myself for a few hours of actual privacy?" He asks with a bit of a laugh building as he speaks. He wipes away my tears with his thumbs.

"Believe me, I understand what you mean. Ugh," I scoff my frustration building, I wipe the tears from my eyes for what feels like a daily exercise at this point. "We have so much to discuss. I would rather lie in bed and cry for days but we are far from having a moment of peace." I am frustrated to be crying yet again which only leads to me crying harder. Tobias pulls me closer and just holds me through the torrent of emotions wracking my body.

"Tris, it is absolutely ok to feel like this. After everything we have been through, the fact you are just now feeling like this and showing it is impressive." Tobias tries to soothe me but I am still not happy with feeling weak. "It's natural to release your emotions like this. We haven't had the safety to mourn our losses or even take a deep breath until now. Let it out now so we can get back to work in the morning." He says leading me to the bed. He lifts me up and lays me down on the bed where the covers are still flipped to the side. I spare a bit of brain power to realize this is how he pushed the blankets off his body when the simulation began. I wonder how it woke him up but I am too tired to discuss it tonight. Realizing that the blankets mean this is his side of the bed, I scoot over to the other side and get comfortable under the blankets. Tobias heads over to his dresser, trades out his pants for sleep shorts. After checking the locks on the door and windows, he crawls into bed beside me, kisses me and settles himself down to sleep. I feel him pull me closer and hold me tight as I start to drift off. It feels good to feel safe enough to really sleep and to have him beside me makes me fall asleep even faster.

End Chapter 7