Milo slowly raised his hand with a confused look on his face. "Wait, you mean his name isn't really Billy."

Issy shrugged, smiling to Hec as they remembered their first day on the job. "We thought he just looked like a Billy."

"Well that's not a mind fuck."

Issy's lips twitched up as Milo continued to frown at Billy. "Any more questions?"

"Yeah," Lani raised her hand, a certain gleam in her eyes as she stared at 226. "When do we get started?"

Issy grinned ferally. "Now."

For the next two days, squadron 226 and their trainees did almost everything together in such a way that it no longer felt like training. The trainees helped Rainbow sort the firearms each day to make sure nothing is faulty, they helped BD sort the truck out before going out for a short shift patrolling the sectors. They saw the squadron in all kind of moods, just as the squadron saw all of their trainees moods.

Unfortunately on Wednesday morning, Milo had to be rushed to the infirmary due to a severe allergic reaction to Artemis, who had decided to pounce on him from one of the higher beams along the ceiling. He had been fine for an hour or so before Milo had problem breathing. Marlene had looked him over and told Issy that his airways had started to swell up. As Lani wanted to stay by her brother's side in the infirmary, Issy postponed the training for the day.

After she had gone back to her apartment to change from her patrol gear to jeans and a hoodie, Issy made her way to the third floor of the Pit walking into one of the bakeries most used for weddings, both Dauntless and some of the other factions like Candor. Issy grinned as Bree ran at her and pulled her into a hug, both of them laughing.

"I though you said you wouldn't be able to make it?" Bree asked, pulling Issy further into the shop to where their group where siting, trying a range of food and sweet treats for the buffet. Lilah and Flare both stood up and pulled Issy into a hug.

"I did." Issy agreed as she smiled and waved at Tris, Christina, and Shauna. "One of the trainees had an allergic reaction to the cat in the garage. I postponed training for the day so he could heal. We didn't have much planned anyway, a few drills and the likes."

"Well, I'm glad you could make it." Bree beamed, pulling Issy to sit down on the low sofa. "We've got the main menu booked, and now we're deciding on the desserts."

Shauna groaned as she picked up another small square of cake. "I swear, I'm going to pretend I'm getting married so I can just eat this glorious comfort food all day… It's so good."

Christina laughed, winking at Shauna. "You're welcome."

Bree, noticing Issy's confused look, explained. "Christina knows the owner of the shop and got us this slot today. Its immensely popular for events and weddings."

"What about the cake?"

"Noah's friends in the kitchen said they'd make it, along with suppling the chocolate fountain and s'more stand. Next week, I have an appointment with that café you like, the one with all the stars, to ask if they can do us a hot chocolate stand."

They all spent the next hour talking about what Bree's big day is going to be like. Christina talked with Bree about her plans for the wedding and bridesmaid dresses while Flare and Lilah tried to persuade one of the cooks to give them a small bag of goodies each.

"Most people in Dauntless either elope and get it out of the way with or have crazy parties in the Pit," Shauna explained to Tris. "So it's going to be nice to have a change from the usual. Hey Bree, who's officiating the marriage?"

"Max said he would." She answered as she boxed up several different types of small cake and desserts for Noah to try. "I asked him about it when Noah and I laid out the plans for what we wanted." The owner came around, hugging Christina and Bree thanked her. "I'll be in touch within the week, thank you."

The owner and Christina lagged behind as the others picked up their bags and said goodbye to Bree, going their separate ways.

"It feels ages away, the wedding." Issy tried to smile at Bree. "Do you think all this shit going on will have stopped by then?"

Bree paused at the door of the bakery. "You know more on that front than I do Issy." She sighed and rubbed her face. "I hope so." Bree looked over her shoulder. "I – I have plans with Eric today to help him pick out a new suit for it, would you like to join us?"

Issy bit her lip and shook her head. "I've got a meeting with the rest of the squad about training. Have fun though." Issy smiled at her sister, drawing her in for another hug, before waving and walking back down to the ground floor of the Pit.

Once she reached the stairs leading down, Issy almost bumped into Eric, who was on his way up. Eric stopped the same time she did, and they just stared at each other. Eric, almost hesitantly, reaches out to push some of Issy's hair out of her face. Issy stays completely still as he hand slides down her face and cups her cheek, drawing her in closer to place a soft kiss to her forehead. His eyes are apologetic when he pulls away but then they harden, and he steps away entirely. Eric's expression changes, like he's just been brought out of a trance. He frowns, eyes darting away from her as he walks away without a word.

Issy's eyes flicker to where Bree is still standing, where Eric is walking to, and her sister watches her with a forlorn expression. Issy shakes her head and hurries down the stairs, still confused at what happened, and why Eric's acting the way he is.

xXx

When Issy met up with the rest of the squaddies later on in the day, Geek had received a message from one of the trainees.

"Milo's pulling out of training." Everybody's head snapped to face Geek and he shrugged. "Apparently, Lani told Marlene that Milo had had severe asthma when they were younger and still sometimes has fits every so often. Vex said that is his allergy got worse, there's a high chance his airways would shut completely. Vex swore on his medical degree on it."

Issy sighed, placing her head in her hands. "How's his recovery rate?"

"Looking good according to Vex. They'll check on his every few hours of so and keep him down there until he gets better."

"Okay. I'll send a report over to Harrison. Milo deserves a better job than being a store manager, especially for such a great soldier." Issy unlocked her tablet, writing out a quick email to Harrison about the situation, and the suggestion to request a meeting with the soldier to look at other job options. After signing it and sending it off, she looked around the table. "Any other news?"

"No other changes really…" Bulldozer snorted ruefully. "Unless you count the gaps in Dauntless' amour on the front lines…"

"Gaps?" Issy's eyes narrow slightly as a frown come on her face.

A look is shared between Red and BD before Red explains further. "The rebel numbers have grown so much within the last week that the squadrons on the front lines can't cover it and many of them are pulling stupid shifts of sixteen hours to cover all of the ground."

"Stupid really, they're dropping to the ground like flies because they're so exhausted."

"Has anyone brought this up with Harrison?" Issy asks as her fingers twitch to write out another email to him to ask what the fuck is going on.

BD snorts again. "'Course they have, there's just too much shit to do throughout the whole department."

Issy frowns before nodding. "I think that's it for tonight. See you all tomorrow."

Everyone says their goodnights before Issy is left in the common room, staring blankly at the wall, completely lost in her thoughts.