Four's eyes are wide open, focusing on mine, when I wake up the next morning. His face comes alive with a smile as he brushes a lock of hair off my forehead. "Hey, did you sleep ok?"

I wiggle under the blankets, reminding myself how warm and cozy I feel snuggled up beside him. "Yeah." I'm happy to see his face first thing in the morning, but I'm reminded all too quickly that he plans to leave me behind soon. My mood is instantly soured because I know if he does, I will follow him anyway. And when he finds out, he will be angry, maybe even be finished with me. It's a chance I have to take if it means helping him beat Eric.

His smile turns into a frown immediately as he recognizes the distress on my face. "Why don't we go get some breakfast?"

I roll over onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. I don't want him to see me cry. "I'm not really hungry."

"Well, that's too bad." He brings himself to a standing position beside the bed, pulling his pants on. "Because you need to eat. You're going to need some energy if you want to learn how to shoot."

My head whips around to face him. Did I hear that correctly? "What?"

He's smiling again as he walks to my side of the bed and sits down beside me. "You know, Tris, we haven't really known each other that long, but that doesn't mean I don't know what you're thinking."

I push myself up to a sitting position and fidget with my hands. "Oh?"

"We're not all that different, you and I. It didn't occur to me until last night." He raises his right hand and lets it rest on my cheek as he strokes it gently with his thumb. "Leaving you behind would've been the stupidest thing I could've done."

I swallow hard. "Why do you say that?"

"I could've take everything with me, your phone, your money, your ID, even your clothes. And I bet my life, you'd still find a way to follow me back. And since I don't want you hitchhiking in the nude…"

My heart beats faster in my chest, like I've just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar. "What makes you think that?"

He smiles at me with only one side of his mouth. "Because that's what I would do." In one smooth gesture he's on his feet again, grabbing the bags from last night's shopping trip. He tosses me a pair of yoga pants and a tank top, before pouring the rest of the contents onto the bed. "So I want you to get dressed, join me for breakfast and get ready to learn how to defend yourself."

I'm so happy, I completely forget my current state as I jump out of bed and leap into his arms, hugging him tightly.

He groans lightly. "Oh, Tris, you're killing me." His fingers run down my bare back, reminding me I'm completely nude. A shiver runs through my body and then a flashback of last night enters my mind. I want him again.

My breathing becomes shallow in a matter of seconds and there is no way he doesn't pick up on it. "I think we'd both enjoy breakfast more if we work up an appetite first." I smile, hoping he won't refuse.

"Yeah, I think you're right." He kisses me hard as we both fall back onto the bed.

I was right. After our workout in bed, I am more than ready for breakfast, as is he. I order an omelet, loaded with everything imaginable, and a side of home fries. Four has a tall stack of pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs and sausage. Honestly, I have no idea where he put it all, but he finishes every bit of his meal.

He looks over at me with a satisfied grin after taking his last bite. "So far, this has been a pretty great morning." I nod in agreement while sipping my coffee. "You ready to get serious now?"

"Absolutely. I'm ready for anything."

"Good. Let's go." We both stand simultaneously. Four tosses a couple bills on the table and we walk out of the little diner together.

I said I was ready, and I meant it. But at the same time, I am nervous as hell. I'd never even picked up a gun before the robbery at Carlos's store. I remember hearing my heartbeat loud in my ear as I pointed it at the thief. I didn't want to shoot him, but I would have if I'd had to. I remember feeling so relieved Four already had the situation under control.

The shooting range is only a quick drive from the place where we had breakfast. As soon as I swing my door open, the sound of gunshots fill my ears. Four walks over to my side. "Looks like there is an inside and outside range here."

"Ok." I say it as if I know the difference. "So where do we start?"

Four takes my hand, lacing his fingers with mine as he leads me inside. Together we approach the counter where Four takes over the conversation. I listen in amazement as he rattles off instructions to the man behind the counter. He looks confident, comfortable, in his element here. He's handed a small handgun, two sets of ear and eye protection and a box of ammunition. We are then escorted to the shooting range. Four walks ahead of me, beside the heavyset man from the front desk who'd given him the equipment.

"Let me know if you need any help, sir." The clerk adds with a sound of respect in his voice. He smiles at me politely, allowing me to pass him to join Four.

"Thank you." Four nods, dismissing the man.

"What was that all about?"

"Ah, you know, military ID comes in handy sometimes."

"Wow. I guess so."

"All right. No more fooling around. This is serious shit here." In the blink of an eye, Four becomes a person I've never met. "We don't have a lot of time. I can't spend all day telling you the same things over and over. I'll show you what you need to know. You'll need to listen carefully, because I'm not repeating myself. You with me?"

I nod my head before the word squeaks out of my mouth. "Yes." I clear my throat. "Yes, I'm ready."

Four's face is hard, all business. "Rule number one. Don't ever aim at something you don't intend to shoot. Rule two. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot. Rule three. Set up your shot, aim properly. Once you are ready to make the shot, then, and only then, do you put your finger on the trigger. Ok? Now watch me."

Four picks the gun up from the counter and pushes the clip through the bottom, before pointing it at the target down range. As he instructed, his finger stays on the side of the gun while he aligns his shot. Just as his finger moves toward the trigger, a voice from behind us yells, "Cease Fire!"

I'm frozen in place, not knowing what is happening, while Four rolls his eyes, unloads his weapon and sets it back onto the counter. He takes a step back and turns to face the originator of the order. An old woman stands behind him, looking appalled. "Those are not the rules of this range, or any range I've ever been to. If you are going to be this reckless, you have no business here."

As she finishes speaking, the guy from the counter runs in, protective gear in place. He walks over to inspect Four's gun before turning his attention to the old woman. "What seems to be the problem, Edna?"

"This young man is attempting to teach this girl how to shoot. But he doesn't know a thing about range safety from what I heard of the conversation."

The store clerk smiles at Four apologetically. "Ma'am, this man is more qualified than I am to teach someone how to shoot. He may not use the same terminology as we do here, but I assure you, you have nothing to worry about."

"How can you be so sure? He told her not to aim at anything you don't intend to shoot. He said it was rule number one. Everyone knows rule number one is to keep your gun aimed down range."

Four laughs in disbelief, his head falling back at the same time. The range officer isn't sure what to say. "Would you feel more comfortable if he gave us a little demonstration? To prove to you he knows what he's doing?"

"I suppose that might help a little. But first, I'll show you what I can do. Prove to you that I know what I'm doing."

The woman waddles over to the next stall on the left. She places her revolver on the counter while she slowly retrieves the ammo from her purse. Her fingers shake as she loads a bullet into each chamber of the barrel. Four lets out a long disapproving sigh. I know by the look on his face what he is thinking. We don't have time for this.

After far too many seconds pass, she is finally ready to shoot. She takes aim and fires a single bullet. that hits the target in the fourth ring. Not a great shot, but at least she hit the target. "Ha-ha," She cheers for herself, "See, I can shoot."

"Very nice, Edna." The man from the counter claps his hands before turning to Four. "Your turn."

Four looks at him, clearly annoyed. "Really?" The only answer he gets is a confirming nod. "Ok, fine." He mumbles under his breath. "You want me to show off, I'll show off." Then he speaks louder, "Hold onto your stockings, Granny." Four steps into the booth. In a fraction of a second, the gun is in his hand, the magazine back in place and the slide closed. He aims at the target in front of him and fires three shots. I stare at the target. A single hole appears in the center of the target where all three bullets had entered. But he isn't done yet. He fires three more shots, taking out the center of the old woman's target beside his own. And then again to the two lanes beyond hers. With a quick twist of his waist, he fires another three at the target four lanes away on the right. Again, obliterating the bulls-eye even from this impossible angle. As soon as he fires off the third shot, the gun is opened and the empty magazine is placed beside the gun on the counter. "Happy now? What you call aiming down range, I call taking out my targets."

Edna's mouth drops open, as does mine. There is no way to argue with results like that. The range officer laughs. "Feel better now, Edna? I told you he knows what he's doing."

"You weren't kidding," she replies. "That kid can shoot."

"Yeah. Just be glad he's on our side," the safety officer replies.