AN: Thank you for your continued reviews, I love them! Almost missed todays update, it's been a busy weekend but here I am getting it in at the last possible second. I hope you enjoy, and see you on Wednesday.
He can't look at her, but he can damn sure feel the burn of her hazel eyes on him. He finally tells her everything, including that after he'd found his brother's farm his brother had offered him a job as a farmhand along with one of the apartments that came with it.
"You've had an apartment this entire time yet you've chosen to be out here?" She asks.
"It's not that simple-"
"Do you have an apartment in Amity?" She asks.
"Yeah my brother kept one open for me on his farm. He'd told me that Johanna wouldn't turn me away and I could live there and work for him." He admits.
"Why wouldn't you have moved there?" She asks.
"This was more of a recent thing, it's not like I've had the option for two years and just ignored it." He scoffs.
"Stop avoiding the question." She demands.
"I don't answer to you, Tris." He replies angrily.
She stares at him again and he looks away. She moves closer to him and puts a hand on his bearded cheek, turning his head until he faces her.
"I don't want to fight with you. I just want to know why you wouldn't be somewhere safe, Eric. This infection has gone on for over a month and a half now, you could have died, and we have no idea if you're out of the woods yet. Why?"
F: Do I need to cover your shift or not?
T: Cover it. I'll be at the fairgrounds, give me at least an hour.
F: Alone?
T: He's not well enough to leave.
"Why didn't you tell me about the apartment?" She finally asks, breaking the awkwardness between them.
"I don't know..." He trails off.
"Eric, you had a chance to be somewhere safe. Why wouldn't you take that? I don't understand." She shakes her head.
"I didn't want to stop seeing you." He replies.
"Eric..." She frowns.
"Once I moved there, and was somewhere safe and settled, you would have stopped coming out here to me. Me being out here, you always come out here to me. If I leave the bunker, you don't need to see me anymore."
"I wouldn't stop seeing you, no matter where you went." Tris admits.
"Really?" He asks and she nods her head.
"I like spending time with you." She shrugs.
"I thought you only came here out of necessity." He replies.
"I did at first, just like you admitted to luring me out I can admit that when I first started coming out here to you it was to get information about Four. When you were shot, something changed. You definitely have been different, and as much as I've tried to reason with myself that this is only me helping you recover I know it's something else."
"I told you, I'd change. I've been trying to be better for you. I thought if I left the bunker you'd just stop seeing me."
"Eric you should have been in that apartment." She argues.
"No, I shouldn't have. As you can see, had I been out there my brother Christopher, his wife Tessa and my niece and nephews would have been in danger." Eric replies.
"You could go now, especially since they know about the bunkers."
"Tris, I want to keep seeing you, and I wanted it to be somewhere your ex can't track you down. He obviously can't find the bunkers, he just knows they exist. I am staying here." He replies angrily.
The tension is back and she needs to find a way to diffuse it, so she tries one of their go-to's: humor.
"Are you trying to kidnap me and keep me here?" She asks with a smile.
"Yup. Just you, me, and the hot plate." He replies.
"Wait until you find someone out here. Then it'll be Tris who?" She replies.
"I've been out here for almost two years now, there's no one else. You're the only person I want to be with." He says and her eyebrows raise, "And I shouldn't have said that."
Tris studies his face, catching the slight blush on his cheeks and the way he looks anywhere but at her. It's time to take a chance.
"What if we could find a legal way to get you back to Dauntless?" She asks.
"The only way I can get back to Dauntless is by being pardoned by your father of all people, then also have your father reinstate my citizenship in Chicago, then your leadership would have to file a petition with Candor to reinstate my membership. It's a lot of red tape, and all spelled out in the city bylaws. I'm not going back to Dauntless. Four is just letting you get away with being away from the faction because you're still covering for him-"
"I'm not covering for him!" She exclaims and turns towards him.
"You're not exposing him. It's almost the same thing, Tris." He replies and she frowns at him.
She knows he's right.
"What if I talked to my father?" She asks.
"We both know how that would go. There's no need to alienate yourself from your parents." He shakes his head.
"What if I left then? What if I transferred my membership to Amity, and then you moved to your apartment in Amity?" She asks quietly.
"No. You can't do that."
"Why can't I? It's possible to transfer memberships." She presses.
"You chose Dauntless for a reason. Don't doubt your decisions." He shakes his head.
"It's not the same faction I chose, not under his leadership. We can't be together any other way." Tris argues and he takes a deep breath.
"I can't be the reason you leave. Tris, let's be realistic we can't be together at all. We both know if we cross lines they can't be uncrossed, and there's no way I'm putting you in the same type of predicament I'm in. Let's just drop this. We're friends, I care about that, but nothing more. Let's not get it confused." He replies.
She knows he's lying in an attempt to protect her, and this time she's not going to let him get away with it.
"Let me get this straight, you won't go somewhere you can be safe because of me, but you also won't let me compromise and make it so we can be safe and together? Why?" She presses.
"I don't want to talk about this anymore." He finally barks out and she sighs loudly in response.
"I thought Four gave me whiplash with his feelings but you're certainly taking the cake now." She says angrily as she gathers her things to leave.
"Stop comparing me to Four!" He shouts from the bed.
"I'm not-"
"You just did." He replies angrily.
"I guess it's an unconscious reaction when you act just like him." She says and she regrets the words almost immediately.
"Fuck you Tris. You know what, forget the fucking antibiotics and don't come back."
She wants to apologize but she's tired of his attitude and the way he keeps giving her whiplash with his feelings, she leaves the bunker wordlessly even though he's still shouting terrible things to her.
She keeps her eyes open, watching her surroundings and doing anything she can to avoid falling asleep. The radio keeps alerting her and she knows it's Eric, but right now she can't deal with him.
If he wants to continue to push her away then maybe it's time to leave him alone.
Her cell phone alerts next and she checks the message.
F: I'm at the Ferris Wheel. What's your ETA?
She takes a look out of the train and realizes she needs to make her decision now - go back to Dauntless and forget Eric or continue to help him even though he's continuing to push her away.
She doesn't even know why she's questioning herself. He's worth it.
T: I can see the fair grounds, jumping off soon.
She finally checks the radio, and is surprised by what she reads.
E: I'm sorry, once again my asshole ways drive someone I care about away.
E: I wasn't lying when I told you before that none of my exes wanted anything to do with me. I'm terrible at relationships, I'm an asshole and they always leave.
T: This isn't a relationship though right? We can't be together, isn't that what you just spent twenty minutes arguing with me about? You should stop putting unnecessary pressure on yourself.
E: Why would you be willing to leave your faction for me then?
T: The same reason you've refused to move somewhere safe.
E: Tell me. Just say it. I need to know.
T: It doesn't matter, you're right, we can't be together and I'm foolish for thinking that we could. I'm jumping off now.
Tris jumps off the train, making her way towards Four, who she can see with a backpack.
"Hey." She says as she approaches and he nods twice at her. She finds it odd but she continues, "I appreciate your help with him."
"How bad is he?" He asks.
"You had him shot, Tobias, when you know he'd have no access to care because of who he is. You convinced an entire fucking city that he's the enemy, so he was stuck trying to remove a bullet from his chest alone. How do you think he is?"
"You think I wanted that, Tris?" He hisses.
"Of course I do, just like you wanted MY leadership position so you could throw him out." She replies.
He leans towards her, pulling her to him and she struggles against him, "Shut the fuck up." He whispers in her ear. He suddenly pushes her away and she's about to speak again when she is pulled against someone else and her hands are cuffed behind her back.
"Tobias!" She screams and he looks at her.
"She secure?" He asks the person behind her and she hears an unfamiliar deep voice.
"Yeah, cuffed. Does Evelyn want her immediately?"
"Tobias, what are you doing?" Tris asks.
"Insurance. We need to make sure Eric comes out of hiding." The man behind her replies.
"He's sick, you told me you'd help me." Tris cries.
"You can use that radio to call him. You'll tell him what's going on, and we'll see if he miraculously recovers long enough to come to you." Four answers and Tris feels the radio being put next to her ear.
Eric answers immediately, "I didn't mean what I said earlier, we can figure this out-" Eric begins but Tris cuts him off.
"Eric." She croaks out through tears.
"Tris, what's wrong, why are you crying?" Eric fires off questions but she just cries harder.
"Stop fucking crying you little bitch, fucking talk to him." The man behind her commands.
"Who the fuck are you? Don't touch her. Don't you fucking dare hurt her." Eric yells through the radio.
"Oh he's big mad." The man behind her laughs, "Where was this energy when I shot your dumb ass?"
"Edgar, enough." Four commands, "Eric, you need to get out to Evelyn. Once you do, you'll see Tris again. But until then, she's staying with us."
"Tobias, please-" Tris begs.
"Where?" Eric asks.
"The pre war underground trains. I'll send the coordinates to you through this radio." Four replies.
"You don't have to do this. I'd already agreed to see Evelyn. Tris has nothing to do with this." Eric replies.
"This is insurance." Four replies, "If you want your little girlfriend back, you need to cooperate."
"She's a damn pretty thing. I can see why the two of you almost threw it all away for her. I'd surely like to be number three. Is it more than the two of them, pretty girl?" Edgar runs his nose along her cheek.
"Don't fucking touch her! I will rip your fucking heart out and feed it to you!" Eric roars through the radio.
"You've got forty eight hours." Four says.
"Or what?" Eric challenges.
"Or else I can't guarantee Edgar will leave her alone." Four replies.
"I swear to god, I will kill you all, I will tear you apart and-"
"Bye bye lover boy!" Edgar turns the radio volume down and tosses it over to Four.
"Tobias, please..." Tris begs.
"Let's head back." Four replies, ignoring her pleas.
"Why are you doing this? He said he would come-"
"He's said that before Tris. He never does." Four replies without looking at her.
"He's still sick, Tobias please."
"He's still alive pretty girl, so if he's any type of man he'll find a way to you." Edgar croons in her ear, "Although, selfishly I hope that he doesn't, because I'd love to have a taste of you."
"Edgar, let her be." Four says angrily and he grabs Tris from the other man, "I've got her. You drive."
Tris is surprised when she finds herself being led to one of the Dauntless leadership SUVs. She looks over at Four once he's sitting next to her, and he's busy texting on his phone.
"Why are you doing this?" She asks him quietly once Edgar is wearing headphones and nodding his head to whatever he's listening to, "I know your father was awful, but he's gone now. Why not just talk to my father, Tobias? I could have helped with that-"
"She's tried talking to your father, he has no interest in allowing the factionless any type of say in anything."
"I can try-"
"Tris, you know as well as I do that he's not going to listen to you. The Abnegation men have no respect for women, which is why I'd been trying to help my mother be heard."
"It can happen without violence, Tobias. My mother is there. All of the other women and children, you're willing to go in there and hurt them again just to get your way? How is this any better than Jeanine?" She asks.
"Stop talking to me."
"Please just tell me why you're doing this. You don't want violence, you don't want to mind control people and make them hurt the people we care about-"
"There's not one goddamn person in that faction I care about." He growls.
"Tobias, my mother is there-"
"Your mother? You mean the same woman who my mother would confide in that my father was beating the shit out of her? The same Natalie Prior who told my mother just to keep sweet and pray for Marcus instead of trying to help her?"
"She would have helped if she'd known. Tris argues.
"She did know, but she chose to believe Marcus." Tobias says angrily.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that she was hurt and that no one would help her. I'm sorry that my parents follow the teachings of that faction, but they are still good people Tobias. They may be misguided by the teachings of that faction, but there are people there just like us who want out when they're old enough too choose. Don't do this-"
"Shut up Tris!"
"Think of the children who are there-"
"Shut UP!!"
"Tobias, please-"
This time she is cut off by the back of his hand slamming into her face. She can taste blood and for a moment she can't breathe. When she finally forces air out, blood gushes from her nose and she tries to move her arms from behind her.
"Stop moving and shut the fuck up." He growls at her and she closes her eyes and feels the tears pouring out.
When they arrive at their destination Four pulls Tris out of the car and keeps one hand on her the entire time. He dismisses Edgar once they make their way into the old underground tunnel, built prior to the Great War as a method of underground transportation. She's led through several tunnels until they reach a guarded door, and she's surprised when she sees a guy from her initiation class named Drew sitting outside.
"Damn. I didn't believe it when they said you'd turned to Eric Coulter." Drew says, frowning at Tris.
"Watch her. We have him on a forty eight." Four says to Drew and he nods once, "After that, she's mine."
"Got it. Want me to put her with Edgar?" He asks.
"No, after Evelyn sees her she stays with me. No one else is to have access to her." Four says, "Watch her for now. I'll be right out."
Drew nods once and grabs her by the arm, pushing her into the chair he vacated. Once Four disappears behind the door, he regards her with his light blue eyes.
"Eric do that to you?" He asks and she turns away from him. "You actually think Eric will come out here for you? Oh you wanna be quiet? That's okay, I can talk for hours. You'd better hope he comes out here, because if they let Edgar get ahold of you it won't be much fun for you. The last girl of Eric's they tried with, oh man, Edgar had fun with her. Eric didn't give a shit though, he stayed right out wherever the hell he hides."
Tris turns and looks at him.
"Wanna know more? She was some girl he'd been fucking in Dauntless up until the war. She seemed to think he'd come for her after he was kicked out of the faction. But she was wrong." Drew grins at her then continues, "Edgar had his fun, and their last night together he choked her to death while he was fucking her." Drew shakes his head and Tris shivers, "But let me guess, Eric said he's changed for you." He laughs when he sees the look on her face, "Yeah he tells all of you the same thing."
The door opens and Four pulls her up from the chair, pushing her through the door. Evelyn in person looks so much like Four it's unnerving.
"Hello again, Miss Prior." She says. "Your face looks awful, who did this."
"Your son." Tris growls.
"Tobias, bring something to clean her up." She commands. There is silence for a moment, and he brings her wet towels, "You may go." Evelyn dismisses him and he leaves the room.
"What do you want with me?" Tris asks.
"Dear, you are here as an insurance policy only. We just want to ensure that Eric Coulter cooperates." She smiles as she cleans Tris's face. Tris cringes when she touches her nose, "It doesn't appear to be broken. I'm sorry for my son, he has a touch of his father in him." She sighs.
"According to your people, you've tried this before and failed." Tris replies.
"While that is true, before we only had acquaintances of Eric's. This time, it feels like we may have someone he truly cares about." She says without looking at Tris.
"And if he doesn't?"
Evelyn looks over her reading glasses at Tris, "I suppose that'll be up to Edgar, although my son seems quite taken with you as well. Perhaps without Eric around you'll be a little more available to him as well." Evelyn replies dismissively, "Now, we've given him forty eight hours to report, we're trying to be a bit more accommodating since we know he's been ill-"
"He's not just been ill, he almost died!" Tris yells and Evelyn smiles at her.
"You're quite protective of him, aren't you. Why him?"
"I don't need to talk to you about him." Tris replies.
"Has he ever discussed the bunkers with you, Beatrice?" She asks.
"No." Tris lies.
"Interesting. Well, from what we've learned there were several bunkers built by Max and Eric before the war with Jeanine broke out. We understand that they are not only shelters from the war, but also well hidden storage units for weapons and serums."
"Okay, and?" Tris asks angrily.
"We need to get a hold of those items." She explains.
"What does that have to do with Eric?"
"The person who helped to build these bunkers will also know how to access them. We believe Eric has been living in one of the bunkers, which has kept him off the grid for quite some time. Beatrice, where have you been spending your time with Eric?" She asks.
Tris just stares at the other woman for several beats, "We'd meet at a loading dock on the outside of Dauntless. It was something that Jeanine used before the war to deliver serums. It's out of the range of our cameras, so we felt safe there."
Evelyn leans her head to the side, "Interesting. Is it somewhere he could live?"
Tris shakes her head, "No."
"What about when he was sick, how'd you take care of him then?"
Tris realizes her mistake, and she doesn't know how to answer Evelyn. "He was staying in an abandoned building. We had to move a couple of times. It was intense."
"You're lying."
"I have no reason to lie to you. He's coming here and will tell you himself. I can take you to the last place I helped him." Tris offers.
"There's no need for that." Evelyn waves her hand dismissively before typing something out on a phone, "We will be able to get all of the answers you're trying so hard to hide."
"I'm not hiding anything." Tris argues.
"We will find out soon. My son may find you're trustworthy, even with your transgressions with Eric, however I'm not so sure. Thankfully we have a way to ensure we get nothing but the truth from you." Evelyn smiles at her again and Tris's stomach drops.
"What are you talking about?" Tris asks.
The door opens and Four comes in.
"Ah Tobias, I take it you have what we need." Evelyn says with a smile.
"Yeah, we've gotten it. Is she ready?" He asks.
"Tobias..." Tris trails off and his brown eyes dart down to hers.
"Excellent, okay Beatrice, it's time for the truth serum." Evelyn replies and Tris draws in a shaky breath.
"No, don't do this, please." Tris says as she struggles against Tobias.
"Be brave." He says as he injects her neck. She feels the burn, and sees the room go hazy.
"Now Beatrice, tell us where Eric is hiding." Evelyn says through a sinister smile.