Chapter 10

Zeke P.O.V

So much crap is happening all at once. First, I get the news from Four about Uriah and now Tris' life is on the line. Shit this crap never ends. I'm on the couch in my brother's room. He is covered in all the gadgets keeping his body alive. Doc told us that he has very little brain activity, and the longer he is under the less likely it is he will wake up. Mom is passed out in a chair pulled right up next to his bed with her hand stretched out holding his hand. Shit.

I remember the first time I saw my annoying brother. I was told not to make a sound in the hospital, they snuck me in. Mom didn't want me to think she forgot about me. Then I walked in the hospital room and see her holding this little baby wrapped up in a blanket, they tell me I asked them to put him back.

"Uriah dude they got Dauntless cake!" No change, I had to try.

"Oh my god is that nurse walking around butt-naked?!" Still no change, "DAMN!"

"Stop that Zeke, that's not appropriate," my mother says scolding me. It loses some of the effect when I notice she is fighting to keep a straight face.

"Had to try something mom, cant just sit here, not doing anything." I explain.

"I wonder how Four is doing? Is Tris out of surgery yet?" She asks.

"Not sure they haven't come by to tell me anything." I answered her.

The doors open and a man in a white coat comes in. I recognize him, he was speaking with Four earlier about Tris. "Hi, I'm Dr. Protel. I understand you are Uriah's family?"

"Yes, I'm his mother and this is my oldest son Zeke." She points at me introducing us. We hold out our hands and firmly shake his hand.

"Well I have been looking over your son's case. Now I understand that Uriah is under the care of Dr. Ramos and he is a great doctor, one of our best general surgeons. I am a neuro surgeon and I'm currently working on the study on patients with low to none brain function and work to reverse it. I have brought over my case research and current findings in case you would like to look them over."

I cut him off not understanding quite what he means- "Doc are you saying that you might be able to help him."

"I am saying that Uriah and many people suffer from brain injuries leading to the loss of brain function. The brain is a very sensitive and yet magical organ. The brain is very delicate and new options for this kind of damage are still being explored. I don't make promises but I'm willing to try if you will allow me. We will administer some experimental drugs and have a few experimental procedures to try. Would you consider donating him to science?" He glances at both me and my mother.

Shock comes over both mom's face and my own. He said donate? How do you donate a person to science?

"I know it's a lot to think consider, and I would like to leave you my research and materials of this trial. Along with the required paper word, which will need your signatures, if you decide to proceed. Please read them over and take your time." Handed me two vanilla folders.

"Doc if you did that, and he... I stumble over my words, what will happen?" I had to ask.

"I wish I could promise a miracle I really do. From what I gather he is a loving and heroic young man. Unfortunately we are talking about the brain. The brain can be unpredictable. The best-case scenario, we get him through this and he is full function and can live a long and happy life. That is the goal. The worst is that we can lose him. He can also have middle ground as well. He may survive and get some brain function, but because we are reviving a brain, he may have defects of several kinds, from verbal, physical, to needing to learn everything all over again like a newborn. It's hard to predict an outcome when the brain is involved. That's why its best to talk about it, think it through." I look at my mother, she mirrors the same emotions I am feeling back to me, shock, hope, fear, concern.

"They are scheduling Uriah to be taken off the machines on Thursday, today is Monday you have until then. Please have the nurse page me if you have any questions of course." He turns and walks out what felt like forever, my mom and I just sat there staring at each other and every so often glancing at Uriah.

"Well shit" Is all I can say.

"Would you watch your mouth before I wash it out for you. You may be 18 but I am still your mother, and I will take you over my knee." Yup, I shouldn't push her anymore.

Christina P.O.V

The door creaks while I walk into the room, Four is finally sleeping. He finally sleeps. Like really sleeps. Wow I don't know why but I always pictured Four sleeping upside down hanging like a bat or something.

"Oh Tris" I walk over to Four and place my hand on his shoulder. He automatically jumps up and looks like his eyes are going to jump out of his head from the motion. "Sorry I didn't mean to scare you." Trying to ease his wornness.

"What's going on?" He asks.

"I thought I would come and offer you a break. You haven't left her side for three days now. Go clear your head, get some food. At the very least get a shower. I say making what I hope is a humorous face.

"No I can't leave her. Not until she wakes up." Is his stubborn response, exactly as I expected.

It's been five days since she was shot. They took her off the ventilator today. She seems to have more color, but no other changes. Doctors were mentioning her brain activity was slowing.

"Dude, I'll swear, I'll send for you if there is the slightest change, but you have to take care of yourself, for her. Think of what she will do to me when she wakes up and you are passed out from starvation. Now go away." I start tugging his arm and he finally gives in. He stands up slowly, finally. The scary looking Four to which I have grown accustomed, turned into what looks like a muscular 80 year old overnight. I can't help myself. I blame my Candor upbringing but I know it's really just me taking advantage of a rare opening."Dude do you need a cane? Looking kind of wobbly there."

"Shut up candor." He says with less feeling than usual but with a small grin.

"I'll be back, I wont be long." I don't really understand the look of warning he gives me but I am used to it from him by now. He walks around the bed to the other side... making a mental note of her vitals and then kisses her gently on the forehead and tells her he will be right back. Then he turns and walks out in swiftly.

I can't help it I shake my head, "God, Tris, your ass better wake up. Looking after your boy is a lot of work. You so owe me big, girl. Oh I almost forgot." I pull out a small bottle and show her. "-haha you can't tell me no! It's pink!" In the back of my head I can hear her annoyed groan. Laughter bursts through me like she can hear me. I start working on her toes...

I talk to her about Uriah and his family, Cara, and update her on Caleb. "I'm really worried about him, they admitted him to the mental ward. He stopped all function, he doesn't talk, sleep, eat, nothing, just stares out.

It doesn't take me long to get through her toes and I'm almost finished with her finger nails when Four walks back in.

"That was fast." I say, expecting him to say something smart about stating the obvious like a Candor. I wish he would so that things could feel bit more normal.

"Yea just cleaned up little and walked around. Thank you, Christina." I don't like this version of Four, him thanking me is too much.

He looks down to what I'm doing. "Pink, really? She is going to kill you!" That's better! I feel relieved to hear him engage a little. He walks past me and kisses her again on the forehead "I'm back Tris, as I promised."

"Yea and he smells better too." I tell her.

Alright I couldn't help myself there. "Shut up!" Is his only reply. Still not quite the Four he was.

Tris P.O.V

I've been watching them all for days. Cara and Mathew seem to be keeping themselves busy. Caleb looks like death just lying there on a bed. Mom is worried about him. "He wont get pasts this one, not without a mark." She says. Christina seems to be putting on a good front, she is looking after Tobias and Uriah's family as a way to distract herself, I guess. Tobias, oh my poor Tobias... When no one is around he cries his heart out. I heard him daydream the first day they brought me from the operating room. Something we never did. We never dared to mention such things. In war, the best you can do is live for the moment and not for the future. The future is too unknown and can change to fast and most time it's for the worst.

I wish I can touch his arm, feel my lips on his and tell him I'm not worth this much pain. Knowing him, he would argue that statement.

"Beatrice, you are running out of time, your vitals are going down little by little. You have to make your choice before its too late." Mom is holding my hand, she hasn't let go this whole time.

I am so grateful for her support and comfort. "Mom I'm scared what if I make the wrong choice?"

Looking into her eyes, I feel torn by wanting to be with her, and my father, to be able to speak to Will and experience his friendship, or at least apologize for killing him. The hurt of not being with them fills me with so much doubt.

"Honey there is no right or wrong here. There also are no other second chances. To be brave you must live, to live is to be brave. Beatrice Prior can you honestly tell me you are done with this life? She says gesturing to Tobias. Can you honestly tell me you can look at Tobias Eaton and not want to continue to be with him? Can you leave your brother in pain, and your friends behind? Those are questions you need to ask yourself?"

Just then I heard him say those familiar words; "I love you Tris. You die, I die. You choose for us."

"Tobias?" I didn't have to ask the question, I knew it when I looked in his eyes what he meant.

It wasn't long ago I faced this choice. He was under the simulation and wouldn't stop attacking me. I had a choice: shoot him, or shoot me. It was a no-brainier, I would rather die than to live in a world without him. With that thought my choice apparently was made.

"I love you mommy." I feel the pull, the choice has been made. My mother lovingly embraces.

"Oh my sweet girl, I love you no matter what. I'm so proud of the girl you have become and will continue to grow into. Be strong and brave my love. Life isn't easy as you already know, but hold on for all the good moments. Give love a chance to make you stronger, and focus on that love to help heal Tobias as well. Love and cherish, be honest and trusting in each other. Together you are unstoppable. When you have children be honest and open with them. Give them plenty of hugs and kisses. Know that your father and I will always be here watching you and we love you. We will see you soon enough." As she speaks she starts to fade... trying to hold on to her but the pull is too strong.

Annoying beeps surround me instead but I hear someone confessing his love for me. All I see is darkness. What is that? There's a pressure in my hand. It feels different than my mother's hand which has been in mine these past days. Something heavy surrounds my hand causing a warm pressure. My eyes start to flop open and closed. I concentrate on the movement: open and close, open and close. I can't make anything out everything is so blurry. I'm having trouble keeping them open for longer than a second.

I hear something or is it, someone? "Tris?"

Did they just say Tris?