Tris POV:
"Are you sure?" I ask Kyle suddenly panicked. "How do I know this isn't just some prank?"
He holds his clipboard up. "Miss, it clearly says here-"
"I don't care what it says!" I scream. "I want to know my daughter's safe!"
Kyle's face grows serious. "
"What?!" I shout. "Please tell me Isabelle's okay!"
He says nothing.
"Caleb," I beg. "Tell Kyle to say something."
"Kyle," Caleb says. "Just tell her what's on the sheet."
"I-it s-says," Kyle starts to stutter out.
"Just tell me!" I urge.
Kyle sighs. "ItsaysthatwehavenorecordofanythinglikethishappeningandwecannotguaranteeIsabelle'sfate."
My eyebrows crunch together, not understanding what Kyle said, or, more accurate, what any Erudite says. "What was that?"
He slows down, "Nothing like this has happened before." Kyle grins, "Your daughter's a medical miracle." Then his face turns stormy. "But because we have no record of anyone turning out like this, we cannot guarantee Isabelle's fate."
I turn my head away, tears forming.
Caleb rubs my shoulder. "She'll be safe here," he promises me. "She'll be safe," he repeats, although it sounds as if he's trying to convince himself more than me.
I smile and turn around, hugging him. "Thanks for everything, Caleb."
"No problem," he whispers back. "This is what mom and dad would want."
"Speaking of mom and dad," I ask, stepping back from Caleb. "When can they come?"
Caleb smiles sadly. "The Erudite won't let them into their compound, but you should be released in the next day or so, and then we can take Isabelle to them."
"Pardon me for interrupting," Kyle says. "But with this new genetic information about your baby, Tris, Isabelle will have to stay here, closely monitored."
"My baby is Dauntless," I say. "She'll be fine."
Kyle bites his lip, "B-but-"
"She'll be fine," I repeat. "It'll only be for a few hours."
"I'll speak to my boss," Kyle says.
"Thanks," I say. "C'mon, Caleb. Let's go."
Before we walk out the door, I turn to Kyle and Isabelle. "I know what you Erudites crave. Knowledge and power," I spit at Kyle. "Well, I'll repeat myself. If you ever use Isabelle as a test subject, you'll be dead before you can recite the first ten decimals of pi."
Kyle gulps and nods.
I smirk, satisfied.
The next day, I am released from the hospital. But Isabelle isn't.
"You know," Caleb tells me over breakfast in his apartment. He stops to take a bite of his biscuit. He wipes his mouth, and continues what he was saying, "Maybe Kyle is right. Maybe we should wait a few days, or even a week, before we take Isabelle to see mom and dad in Abnegation."
I stare at him. "You really think Isabelle needs that much medical attention?"
"Beatrice, she's a week old tomorrow."
"And I know she's fragile and requires what Erudite can give her. But I'm just asking to have her for three hours. Four, tops."
Caleb sighs and stares into his cup of tea. "Next week, okay?"
I huff, "Fine." Then I stand up. "Thanks again. For everything."
Caleb hugs me awkwardly. That part of Abnegation has stayed with him, the part that dismisses physical displays of affection.
"Bye," he tells me. "Good luck."
"With what?"
Caleb shrugs. "Life."
I kiss his cheek and walk out the door.
But someone is already out there. "Oh!" she squeaks. "Is this a bad time?"
"I'm sorry?" I ask.
"You're Beatrice, right?" she sticks out her plump hand. "I'm Eleanor. Eleanor Brown."
I gasp. "What. A. Pleasure," I manage out.
She laughs to herself. "My, look at you. Eric told me you were worth it."
"I'm sorry," I say awkwardly, suddenly uncomfortable. "But what are you here for?"
Eleanor tucks a piece of her chocolate brown bob behind her head. "By the looks of you, my grandchild has already been born. And I'd like to see her."
"How do you know it's a 'her'?"
Eleanor smiles. "Beatrice, my sister is Jeanine Matthews. I have authorized access to any file in the city."
I smile at her gingerly, then call Caleb out.
"What is it?" he asks. "I thought you were leaving."
I nod, "I was. But-"
Eleanor interrupts me. "Hi, I'm Eleanor Brown."
Caleb gasps. "Umm, we're busy now, if you don't mind."
"Oh that's fine," Robyn says. "Now if you'll just point me in the right direction. I would like to see my grandchild."
"I'm sorry," Caleb says. "But only family and friends are let in to see Isabelle."
"Is Isabelle her name? I bet she's beautiful!"
"I'm sorry," Caleb stresses, "But only family can see her at the moment."
"Oh, but I am family!" Eleanor says cheerfully.
I step forward. "We're sorry, but my family is the only one authorized to see Isabelle at the moment."
Just then, Tobias jogs up. "Tris, you ready to go?" he asks me, slightly out of breath.
I sigh. How do I explain this to him?
Then Eleanor explains. "Hi. You look familiar. Marcus Eaton's son, right?"
Tobias fits his mouth into a stern line.
"Alright then," she says. "Well you may know me as Eric's mother. My sister is Jeanine Matthews."
"Oh!" Tobias exclaims. Then he pulls me aside. "Is this lady for real?" he whispers harshly. "Or is she just some lady here from Amity?"
I bite my lip. "Let's believe her," I say after a while. "If she's joking, we'll give her the satisfaction of playing along. And if she is for real? Well, let's just say it's better to stay on Jeanine's good side. Besides, she does look a lot like Eric."
Tobias nods slowly. "but when this is over, we're going back to Dauntless."
"Agreed."
We make our way back to Eleanor, who is arguing with Caleb.
"But I'm family!" she says.
He groans. "I've told you; you'll have to get permission first."
"I shouldn't have to."
"Do the logical thing. Put yourself in Beatrice's shoes. She was raped. Now, when she has the baby, do you see why she's so protective of it?"
"But I'm genetically related to it."
"So am I. But I, on the other hand, have clearance. You'll have to get it before you see Isabelle."
Eleanor sighs. "Okay. I see where you're going with this."
"Finally," I mutter under my breath.
Tobias POV:
"C'mon Tris," I say tiredly. "Let's go back to the Compound."
"How long has it been?" she asks.
I shrug. "Five, six days."
She groans, throwing her head back as we walk onto the elevator.
I press the down button, as Tris leans into my side.
"Sleepy?" I ask.
She nods. "It's hard to say goodbye to Isabelle."
Then, the elevator stops.
"That quick?" Tris asks.
I shake my head. "They probably just aren't giving us the 'express' route."
Then Marcus walks onto the elevator.
"Go," I whisper to Tris.
She stares at me. "No."
"Please," I beg. "Go."
She looks at me, and then at Marcus. After a long period of silence, she sighs and walks out.
"Touching," Marcus says to me, sarcastic as usual. "Does she usually care about you like this?"
"Yes," I respond. "Guess you're jealous that Edith didn't give you the same treatment, aren't you?"
Marcus seethes. "Your mother deserved what she got."
I glare at him. "Guess I deserved the torture you gave me to, huh?" Then I lean towards him. "You know there's a security camera above us, right?"
He glares right back at me.
"What are you doing in Erudite, anyways?" I ask.
Marcus crosses his arms together. "Dropping an envelope in Jeanine's office," he responds. "But I could ask you the same thing."
I roll my eyes. "Isn't it obvious? Tris had her baby."
Marcus smirks. "Ah, yes. Aren't you glad that little brat's out of the way?"
I laugh. "You really think that's what I think? You know what I really think? I think I would take care of Tris, no matter what, and that baby no matter what."
"Oh please," Marcus responds. "You really don't believe that."
"Look," I hiss. "Just because your marriage was hell doesn't mean mine has to be."
Marcus looks up at the security camera and sighs. I guess he thinks it's really not worth it to beat me up if he'll get in trouble doing so. Then he smiles at me creepily. "So have Marcus' parents seen the baby?"
I shake my head. "No you idiot. After that all-city trial, do you think they'd be allowed to?"
Marcus nods. "If Beatrice doesn't want the child, they should have automatic custody of it."
I raise my eyebrows. "You don't know anything about this situation."
"There's no proof they did anything wrong."
"And there's no proof they didn't encourage Eris in his...how do I put this? Uncanny ways?"
Marcus sighs. "They're family."
"So you're automatically on their side?"
Marcus shrugs. "You're automatically on Tris'."
"At least I know the full story."
"Tobias," Marcus says stiffly. "You have no reason to be involved in this."
"Tris is my wife," I say, holding up my left hand. "I will stand by her forever." Then I glare at Marcus. "You have no reason to be involved either." I lower my voice. "You're just doing this to prove me wrong, aren't you?"
Marcus shrugs. Then he presses a button on the elevator. "Oh!" he exclaims. "Here's my stop." The elevator dings, and he walks of, dismissing me.
I see that it's the first floor, and walk off.
"Tris," I say. "How'd you get here so fast?"
"I took the stairs," she responds, standing up.
A/N Next Chapter is Epilogue! Unless I decide to write another for any reason...
Happy 2014! Only Three Months and Twenty-One Days Until the Divergent Movie! (!)
And thank you mamamiller99 for the wonderful idea for Eric's parents wanting custody of Isabelle!
