Tris POV:

The last few days were spent with me being transferred to the ICU and then to the normal hospital, Today I will finally be released from the hospital, but I can't go to school for another week, so this is gonna suck. Tobias has been by my side and making sure I stay in his sight 24/7. I guess I get it; if my dad shot him, I would be there constantly, catering to his every need. And that's what he's doing for me. It annoys the crap out of me, but I know he does it because he cares so I try my hardest not to say anything. Especially today. Today he made me let him pull my hair into a pony tail. But to be fair, I did let out a few ego-lowering whimpers that really alarmed him because he thought I would pull my stitches out. This, not being able to even do my own hair, takes nearly all my self-pride away from me.

The car ride back to my house with Tobias is tedious. He won't go fast enough to get us there in the normal time, claiming he doesn't want to be the reason I end up back in the hospital with ripped stitches. As far as I'm concerned, I will be just fine. As long as I don't rip my stitches. You know, I don't get why they were even invented in the first place. The entire process is just made more painful. You get a wound and then they say "Oh, look, we can just repeatedly put a needle through this person's skin and say they will be just fine and they will need no further treatment." Well, you do need further treatment. If you ever rip your stitches, its pretty much the equivalent of getting the same wound over and over. They make you dependent on other people. Oh, and when you have to get them out, they have to be cut out. Unless you do get liquid stitches, but those are usually used for small injuries.

The whole thing just completely and utterly frustrates me.

We pull into my driveway even though Tobias's is right next door. He won't let me walk more than, eh, I'd say… 25 feet? The last few days, I wasn't really exposed to much of his protectiveness, but that was because I was holed up in a tiny hospital room the whole time and because my parents were with us. Now, though, my parents have to work, Caleb is at school, and Tobias is still on 'leave' since he got out of the hospital just a few days before I did. So, he'll be spending all his free time with me until we both go back to school. He'll be staying with us for a little too, just until Hana, Zeke and Uriah's mom, can clear out their guest room for him. Apparently, Marcus is M.I.A. and the police aren't finding him anywhere. I don't know the full story though. Every time I try to bring it up, Tobias just brushes me off and mumbles something about me being shot by that devil of a man and how I don't need that stress on my shoulders as well. He needs the stress taken from his shoulders, and I am trying to help I'm, but he just won't let me in. At all. I try to talk to him. Get to know him better since, well, we were both hospitalized for our whole relationship so far.

From my perspective, I feel trapped. I feel like I am incapable of everything that I did every day before…all of this.

From his perspective… well, let's just say you wouldn't see me with my feet kicked up on the coffee table if he was in my shoes.

I did through my big over-the-shoulder bag that Chris used to bring me my school work, book, charger, etc. for my house keys and unlock the door and let both Tobias and I through the door. We go in and I plop me and my bag down on our sectional, noticing the house's quietness since my family is all out. Well, they care. I get that mom and dad have work and Caleb has school, but… I just wish they would be here. For me. I guess Tobias notices my quietness and the way I am looking around at my home that I have lived in for not even a year; he comes, plops down the exact way I did, wraps his right arm around my petite frame, and leans back into the couch, bringing me with him. We lay there for at least an hour. Me with my head leaning against Tobias's shoulder and my legs thrown across his lap. His arms are strongly wrapped around me, making me look even smaller than I actually am compared to his tall, lean, toned body, but I feel so loved. More loved than I ever had. Not from my parents, not from Caleb, not from my friends, not from my asshole of an ex. From no one. Just him. I wonder if this is the way that my parents feel for each other. The slight touches and PDA when they are in front of others. The shy smiles at each other. The looks and unspoken words. All of it are the ways they show their affection for each other. They show their restraint in front of others in their PDA. I've never even seen them hug in front of me and Caleb. The only time I ever saw them within five inches of each other was when I was 14 and I walked into the kitchen and they didn't know I was there. I hid behind the fridge, silently watching their quiet, loving, timid touches to each other's flesh. I watched their embraces. I watched their kisses on each other's cheeks. I watched them grip each other's hands tightly while they whispered what I assumed were sweet nothings to each other. I want something like that. I don't even know how long Tobias and I are dating, but I wonder if I'll have something like that with him one day. Or if its not him, then someone else. I hope it would be Tobias one day; I feel the connection I have with him. The sparks flying, as cheesy as it sounds. Every time that I am with him, I feel like I am about to fall. Or turn into liquid. Or burst into flames. I don't know why. He just does this to me. His presence it lights me up. I don't understand the science behind it to be honest. I guess its just love. Yeah, and I just realized how much I would be made fun of by Caleb for even thinking that. And to top it off, I suck at lying. Dear God, please help me. (If this or any of the other 'God' sayings offend anyone, I'm sorry. I just say stuff like this all the time.)

Eventually, I hear Tobias's breathing even and decide I should try to get some sleep as well. My eyes slowly shut as my breathing soon is in time with his.

…

Tobias POV:

At some point in the afternoon I wake up to Tris's legs draped across my lap, hearing her soft occasional snores and sighs. I guess someone covered us with a blanket while we were sleeping. Just then I hear someone, cooking I assume, in the kitchen. I look at my watch to see that it is nearly 6. I move Tris's legs off my lap as gently as possible and walk into the kitchen. I was fuller expecting to see Natalie, but to my surprise, I see Caleb rummaging through the refrigerator. I am silent for a few moments, watching him continue his search for food, until I cough loud enough for him to jump in shock and hit the back of his head on the fridge door. He mutters under his breath. He looks to me, subtly nods to the kitchen table, and I follow like a dog after its master. Looks like I'm in for the "Big Brother" talk. Help.

…

A/N: Hey new chapter! Sorry it's a few days late. If any of you didn't see my profile page, I decided to update this story every two weeks. This chapter was late because of the holiday as well as school and my music lessons. Deeply sorry. I want to let you guys know that your reviews really encourage me to keep writing and posting and updating. Especially emmabethwritingfanfics. Your last review really, well, I got excited. It is so nice to hear that other people enjoy my writing other than my English teacher. I even did a little happy dance (it was kinda scary though, so I won't describe it in detail).

Thanks again, -Tori