AN: I'm sorry it took so long to get this chapter out. Between working 2 jobs and dance I've had zero time to myself including only getting about 4 hours per night every night for the last 2 weeks. It's basically just a time passage filler with a very small bit of drama thrown in. I have fun things planned for the next few chapters including a possible game of Candor or Dauntless ;) Remember to keep reviewing! It keeps writer and Beta happy!
I never realized how much I had adjusted my life to Tobias' presence in the five short weeks that I have known him until I spent three days without him. On Monday I walk with my mother to drop my father off at the government building and turn to leave with her when my father catches my arm. "Beatrice?" He asks and I blink at him before remembering that I'm supposed to be training under Marcus today.
"I... With what happened with Tobias I had forgotten, I'm sorry." I state softly, dipping my head before touching my mother's arm gently. "Are you alright walking by yourself?"
"I've been walking by myself for years, Beatrice. I promise I'll be fine." My mother smiles and pats my arm before giving my father's hand a gentle squeeze. We watch her leave before my father leads me into the building.
"You'll basically be doing what you were doing at the volunteer building: scheduling meetings, filing paperwork and taking phone calls." He shows me around for a few moments before showing me to Marcus' office. "You will also be traveling to the other Factions with him to take notes." I nod and keep my thoughts to myself. I didn't like the fact that I was working under the man that left so many marks on Tobias' life, but after Tobias was done training, I would be working under him instead of Marcus - if I could hold my tongue long enough to be sure I got there.
I sit at the desk shown to me and look over the schedule of what Marcus needs to do today. Marcus walks in with a dark-haired girl a few years older than me and sets a new schedule in front of me before turning to the other girl. "Beatrice, this is Alyssa, she will be showing you how we do things around here. I'm a very busy man and I don't have time to babysit." Alyssa frowns at Marcus but smiles when she sits down next to me. We spend most of the day going through where everything goes and how the systems and practices of the office work. I learn that Alyssa is Tobias' age and an Amity transfer who works under my father as his assistant. She could be pretty if she wasn't in Abnegation but she is engaged to a man she has known since they were in lower levels and I smile softly to myself. Maybe if Tobias and I had met when we were younger we would be engaged. I blush a bit at the thought and shake my head. That's a silly thought when we have only known each other for a short while. I return home trying to remember everything that was told to me and help cook and serve dinner and knit a bit before retiring to bed early.
The next day I spend mostly learning Marcus' schedule and making copies of papers. My father and I have lunch with my mother in the park halfway between our two places of work. The sun is warm and I wish I could feel it on my skin instead of sweltering in two layers of shirts but I remain quiet as my parents talk. My mother turns and says something and I don't realize she's speaking to me until she touches my arm and states it again. "One of the volunteers from the clinic heard that Tobias should be able to come home tomorrow. He didn't sustain a lot of exterior damage but she said the doctor was a bit concerned about the cough he had." I smile a bit at this, walking to work without Tobias was a quiet walk and it made me feel lonesome, missing the only true friend I had here in Abnegation.
I haven't heard anything about Randolph since our last encounter at the volunteer building until we have dinner with the Black's later that night. Randolph is there, helping Susan make bread, when my mother and I enter with our own cooked dish. "Beatrice, it's so nice to see you!" Susan exclaims as we set the table.
"Why is Randolph here?" I ask softly and look up enough to see Susan's cheeks flush red.
"He told me he liked me a few days ago and my father invited him to dinner tonight. I know he punched Tobias and I hate that he did that but he seems so kind when it's just the two of us." Susan whispers, smiling over her shoulder at him. While I was glad that Susan was no longer in mourning over losing Robert and Caleb on the same day, the cautious part of me wished her happiness was for some reason other than Randolph's sudden intrusion into her life. I lick my lips and nod, making a note to say something to Tobias about it the next time I see him. Dinner, as usual, is a quiet affair - Susan and I talk quietly to each other about our jobs while our fathers talk politics and our mothers talk about the Initiation Ceremony to be held on Thursday, just two days away.
Today Alyssa is waiting for me when I get to the office."Good morning, Beatrice." I nod in response. Last night I didn't sleep well - today is the day Tobias is being discharged – so I wasn't feeling up to idle, polite chatter today. "Today we have a meeting with the Erudite ambassadors. They won't let us into their sector so we will be using a meeting room at the hospital. We'll break for lunch when the ambassadors do and we'll have about an hour to eat and set up for the next part of the meeting." I nod as Alyssa stands. "We should get you a notebook and an assistant pass so they don't think you're just lurking." I stand and follow her out the door and into a larger office. Alyssa talks with a dark haired male for a few moments before coming back with a bag and a bar-coded lanyard both labeled 'Abnegation Assistant Ambassador.' I take both from her and nod, licking my lips as I drape the lanyard around my neck.
"Alyssa, we're ready to leave." My father smiles at me and Alyssa nods and gestures for me to follow her. I slip the bag over my shoulder and follow her and my father to where we will catch the bus that takes us to the hospital on the outskirts of Erudite.
The bus is mostly full and I cling to the rail next to my father, his arm is across my shoulders as he holds onto the rail, helping me stay in place, as the bus jostles us from side to side on the rough road of the Abnegation and factionless sectors. We file off when we arrive at the stop across from the hospital and I wonder, vaguely, if Tobias has already made it home.
The first part of the meeting is long and boring. The ambassadors talk mostly about a new development for Amity to help produce more crops to be able to support our growing population and new transportation methods. The request to have Dauntless soldiers policing the trains and railways is suggested by Erudite but shot down fairly quickly by the rest of the council. When we break for lunch, I realize why my father seems so worn down after work; these meetings are exhausting.
I turn to my father and give him a small smile. "I think I may see if Tobias would like for me to make him dinner tonight. I know he'll probably still need rest and - even though the hospital is the best - I bet he could really use a good home cooked meal, if it's alright that I miss dinner with you and mom tonight." My father nods, giving my shoulder a squeeze as we exit the meeting room.
"That sounds like a very nice idea, Beatrice, I'm sure the good food and good company will help with his recovery." Marcus looks at us curiously.
"I'm sure he'd appreciate a good meal, why not let me do it for you, Beatrice?" Marcus asks and I frown and shake my head, my lower lip finding its way between my teeth.
"I'm sure Tobias would love to see you, Marcus, but usually Tobias comes to see Beatrice and have dinner with us on Sundays and Wednesdays. As today is Wednesday, I'm sure they'd like to spend time together." I give my father a greatful smile and move ahead with Alyssa, keeping an ear on what my father and Marcus are saying.
"Are you sure it's wise to let him be alone with her, Andrew?"
"Why is it any concern of yours, Marcus? Tobias is an adult and came to me first before mentioning anything to Beatrice and she, Beatrice, will be a contributing member of society tomorrow night after the ceremony. It's her wish and I have no right, nor want, to deny it when I have raised her well enough to know her own mind. Tobias is a wonderful young man and has been nothing but kind to my daughter and our family. Do you have a problem with them dating?" My father asks, I turn to see Marcus' reaction.
"No..." Marcus is a bit pale but his cheeks are flushed as if he had been running. "Of course not. I'm merely concerned about your daughter's welfare and the fact that there's an age gap between them."
Behind me, a chuckle startles me and I turn and walk into someone. I apologize profusely before a voice, his voice, rumbles through my shoulder and chest and I can't help but smile as I'm righted. "Yes father," the word is spat like venom and only I seem to be able to notice, "that whopping two year gap is insurmountable, isn't it?" Tobias asks and I can't keep the silly smile from my face. Zeke had visited Tobias as I had suggested; Tobias wears the clothes I had sent the other night on the train with Zeke. The pant legs are cuffed because my father is a few inches taller than him and the shirt a bit small across the shoulders but Tobias seems to be in good spirits.
"Son," Marcus starts but Tobias ignores him, favoring his attention towards me and my father instead.
"I'm sorry to have worried you, Beatrice." He coughs then, for the first time, and it is a loud hoarse bark that makes me jump. "Making dinner for me is very kind. I'll stop and get some things for food on my way home." Tobias smooths my hair from my face in an innocent gesture before turning to Alyssa. "Alyssa, I hope you won't mind too much if I take Beatrice for lunch?" Alyssa gives Tobias a small smile and shakes her head. Tobias smiles and turns his attention to my father. "Andrew, do you mind?"
"Not at all, son. Are you headed home afterwards or were you planning to stay for the rest of the meeting?" My father is exceptionally kind most days and I am thankful he asks the question I'm afraid is to selfish of myself to ask.
"I have strict orders to not return to work until next Monday, they want me to rest, but I figure taking up a half an hour of Beatrice's time to eat wouldn't do too much harm. I have faith she'll keep me in line." He gives me a lopsided smile before offering my father a nod. I thank Alyssa softly before I follow Tobias a few steps ahead of our little group.
"I'm happy you're alright." I whisper softly over my fruit salad. My stomach wasn't agreeing with me - between the anxiety I was having over being in Erudite with Marcus and my father and worry over how Tobias was really doing - I just wasn't really hungry.
"I'm sorry I ran off like that. I imagine you must be upset with me for making you stay." Tobias looks shy and I smile and touch his hand gently.
"I'm just happy you're alright." I state again and he gives me a soft smile.
"You're the only one who cares about my well-being, you know?" I laugh at his comment and shake my head because I know it's not true.
"Zeke cares. If it wasn't for him you'd be walking out of here in charred clothing." Tobias shakes his head this time.
"No, that's thanks to you and your kindness." He stands then, and I notice we have finished the fruit. Throwing away my trash, I follow Tobias from the room. "I was talking with him, apparently Dauntless leaders are watching some of the initiates - including Christina and Zeke's brother Uriah. Apparently the hunt for Divergent has migrated into Dauntless." I frown at this and look over my shoulder as Tobias pauses to cough again. I wasn't sure where we are going but I know that I trust Tobias implicitly.
"Why are they hunting Divergent?" I ask quietly. Tobias starts testing doors until he finds one unlocked and pulls me into it, looking both ways before shutting and locking the door behind him.
"Our minds don't work the same as others. We can't completely conform to what the system wants us to be, why do you think we're both so drawn to Dauntless? They can't control us and that makes us a threat." Tobias' voice is soft and that makes me nervous. When he drops to one knee my mouth goes dry. I know I had thought about this and as he's reaching into his back pocket I try to swallow, stepping back out of reach of him in surprise.
"Tobias, I..." Tobias blinks up at me as I speak and laughs gently.
"Come here, Beatrice, I know you're nervous but I can't stand to think you aren't protected while you're here." He pulls a sheathed knife from his pocket and I laugh softly at myself. My heart thuds in my chest as Tobias pulls up my skirt high enough to tuck the knife into my boot and lace the belt of the holder around my calf. "If someone tries to attack you, just reach down and stab whatever you can reach. I'll teach you how to throw it tonight."
He coughs again and my chest aches as if I had been the one coughing. I reach for him, gently resting my hand atop the one he has clutched to his chest, and offer him a smile. It feels dangerous to be touching him here - we are supposed to be the shining examples of proper Abnegation upbringing – almost as much as having a weapon on me when I'm in neutral territory. With the knife tucked most of the way in my boot, I'm hoping it will be undetected.
As we walk to the dining hall, I try to get used to walking as if I didn't have a banned object in my boot and I'm positive I'm convincing when we go through the motions of setting up for the next part of the meeting. "What did you tell Zeke about Saturday?" I ask, softly licking my lips before taking a sip of the bottle of water I had brought with me.
"We'll still go, if you'd like." I frown when he starts coughing again - more of a fit than last time - and I rush over to help him sit in one of the chairs. He claws at his pocket and I fish into it for him, grabbing the gray container that I retrieve from it. Tobias clicks it once before holding it to his mouth, pressing and breathing deeply as he tries to stop the coughing.
"Maybe we'll walk?" I suggest with a shy smile and Tobias smiles weakly at me once he's regained his breath.
"Maybe we'll walk." He whispers hoarsely as Alyssa enters the room. "I'll see you tonight, Beatrice." He whispers and I nod following him out to make sure he gets on the bus alright. It's going to be a long rest of the day with me worrying about him even more now.