Chapter 7

It had been two weeks since Hannah had come to Dauntless. The days were repetitive. She would train in the mornings, spend the afternoons in my office or with someone who had a shift off and then the evenings were spent reading. Even though it was repetitive it seemed to work for her and the rest of us as well.

She was getting stronger by the day. Running seemed to be a favourite of hers. We continued to run only in the leaders training room, not trusting Hannah outside. Her core strength was increasing with sit-ups, crunches, and pull-ups. She seemed fond of being able to shut off her mind while her body worked through the motions.

It had been decided that I would not be allowed to give her a head start on anything for initiation. She would be with the transfers, and it would not be fair with her getting extra weeks. Also, the other leaders didn't like the idea of her learning about the guns or knives, with her still being unpredictable.

Even with being here two weeks she still was closed off from people. Occasionally she was set off by people and lashed out. Tris seemed to be the one who ticked her off the most, which only seemed to piss her off even more.

Her afternoons were split almost equally between Nate and Uriah or Christina and Tris. Occasionally Tori or Zeke would also take her. Once she had spent it with Harrison, but they had only lasted an hour before he dropped her off at my office. Apparently, she had not been thrilled to be sorting through his kitchen appliances. Whatever made him think she would help him organise was very wrong.

Christina and some of the other girls had taken her to get more clothes. Apparently, the clothes I had picked up were not suitable in their eyes. Even though they were the ones Hannah wore when it was just us in the apartment and I assumed the most comfortable. They seemed to enjoy shopping as a pastime especially since it came out of my credits. They had even managed to get her to the salon. It had caused a ruckus when they tried to get her to colour it, and I was glad Hannah had put her foot down.

Nate and Uriah seemed to get on with her the best. They gave the freest reign out of all of us. They had allowed her to try new things: the indoor climbing wall had been the biggest hit. They had gone every single time they had the afternoon together.

She was nimble, her small size allowed her to climb both easily and quickly. Nate had brought a group the weekend I was off. Even though it was the biggest gathering for her since coming to Dauntless, Hannah was so engrossed with climbing that the crowd didn't frustrate her. I wouldn't admit it out loud, but I was impressed when she ended up being one of the quickest in our group.

They had also been introducing her to different foods. However, cake had not been allowed, much to both Nate and Hannah's annoyance. They had found a formula that she would now actually drink coffee. The exact same way as Zeke and Uriah: coffee with one of those processed hot chocolate sachet, at least she didn't add a shit ton of creamer and sugar in it like them.

Her reading had also greatly improved. We had finally made it through Wizard of Oz and had just started Frankenstein. It was one of her favourite times of the day. Even if someone was to suggest doing anything after dinner, she would shut them down. It was nice to have an excuse to read again, as a leader my schedule didn't always give me time to spare.

I also enjoyed Hannah's schedule. It gave me an excuse to not work myself to the bone. I had spent the last few years as a leader working every moment I could. Whether it had been for Jeanine or after, trying to prove my loyalty. I had pushed people away from me, and everyone seemed fine letting me do my own thing.

Now I had a reason to leave my office at dinner. I would eat some of my meals in the dining room, while I waited for Hannah. Sitting at a table with people I spoke to about life or Hannah, rather than just because we worked together. Although they were either here for Hannah or Nate, I could get on with them, and they didn't seem to mind me too much.

I had someone in the evenings. I had someone who came back to the apartment with me: who asked about me and my day and told me about theirs. She would find her book, sit beside me as we would read together. Finally, we would get ready for bed, taking turns in the bathroom, before saying goodnight by our bedroom doors at the end of the night. All to do it tomorrow. It was perfect.

Hannah and I had our good and bad days. She was not a morning person, no matter how many times I told her I was not her alarm clock. I nearly always ended up dragging her out of bed. She still was defensive with me, and occasionally we had people knocking on our door, as we screamed and shouted at each other. A few times I had needed to restrain her but never required to sedate her again. We worked through things and were able to come to an understanding or at least an agreement on most things.

Today we were having to head to the infirmary for a follow-up appointment. I had personally noticed an improvement in her health. She had started to get a more natural colour about her. The cough that mostly appeared when she was asleep was starting to fade and although she still needed to gain more weight, she was starting to fill out.

Foster greeted us as we entered and took us directly back to an exam room. Hannah popped up on the table while I took a seat in the corner, pulling my tablet out to check my emails. To make it feel like I wasn't staring at her.

"Well Hannah, it's nice to see you again. I hope you have been settling in well and Eric hasn't been too much of an ass." Foster says with a hint of humour.

Hannah just nodded her head, and when she didn't answer I glare at her. After a minute she finally responded. "Fine."

I tutted at her, but it didn't seem to bother Foster. "Alright, I'm going to listen to your lungs, take a scan over your liver and kidneys, and then I'll just take some blood. I'm hoping to see the infection shrinking and hopefully, you will be able to stop some of the medications. Your Hep B, that we wouldn't be able to check until you have been on the medicine for a few months. Right if you lie back down, I will be able to get started."

Foster goes through the motions explaining exactly what she is doing to Hannah. I appreciate the patience Foster is showing her. I'm able to sit back in my chair working through what I can while keeping an eye on the two of them.

Preparations are already underway for the next initiates; they seem to believe we will have an increase in numbers this year. We have not had many factionless adults choose to come to Dauntless and many of them were allocated to Amity to work in the field and with their livestock, to deal with the increase in demands. We had added an extra bunkroom to the transfers, at least for this year.

As I responded to an email from Veronica in Resources, I looked up to see Hannah shaking her head and moving away from Foster. From the syringe in her hand, I assumed we had got to the blood draw.

"Come on Hannah, I promise I will be quick and as painless as I can be. I just need you to lay back and stay still for me." Foster said as she approached her again, with Hannah now standing up from the table.

I stood up this time, and Hannah's eyes darted to me. Fear was evident in her eyes, and I knew she wasn't just being difficult. "Hannah, I need you to sit back down, the sooner we are finished we can go."

"You're going to knock me out. I promised I'd been good." She says still standing up now positioned behind the exam table.

"I promise you it's just a blood draw. It will be quick and then we can head out of here. We are spending the rest of the day with Zeke, Uriah and their girlfriends. You like them. Just come and sit down." I suggest while patting the table she was meant to sit on, trying to not look as intimidating as I normally do.

She looks at me and then at Foster as she walks back to her spot. Foster walks over as she sits down, but before Foster gets too close, she holds her hand up to stop her. "I want cake."

Foster chuckles, before turning around to look at me: "You still haven't given her cake?"

"Once you are done here, we will head upstairs, and you can have some cake. I'll even let you sit downstairs." I didn't have the heart to tell her that it had been decided at the leaders' meeting earlier in the week and would have needed to happen sooner or later.

She sits patiently as the blood is drawn. She stares at the syringe the whole time. She seems fascinated as it fills and questions Foster when she is finished. Foster allows us to leave saying she will email me the details when they get the results.

It is lunch when we leave, and I lead the way back to the dining room. It's filling up quickly when we arrive, and I make sure she follows closely behind me. In Dauntless meals are self-service, the food is placed on the table, and it's passed up and down everyone. I pick a table close to the wall for a quick escape if needed.

Four, Tris, Christina and Will are at the table when we get there. I nod for Hannah to sit, and she goes over beside Christina. I decided to sit at the other side on the end, allowing her some space and independence.

Hannah stares in amazement at the food and I can't tell if it's because of the volume of food or the variety. She watches as bowls and plates are passed up and down. I watch as Christina hands her a bowl of dumplings and she glares at them, before placing them on her plate. The girls start asking about her day so far and what she has been up to. While Will starts a conversation about an issue they have been having with some of the computers.

I keep looking over at Hannah checking in. She is never one to carry a conversation around the others, but she answers politely and looks to be enjoying herself. She is relaxed with them as she eats her food.

As Will explains how the monitors have been overheating, I watch as the person from the next table, who is sitting beside Hannah snorts and laughs at something her friend said. In the process, her hand reaches out and grabs ahold of Hannah's.

It happens quickly and completely on instinct. Hannah grabs her and with her other hand, pushes forcibly down. Both girls tumble off their seats with the force, Hannah instantly stands up still holding pressure on her. I jump quickly from my seat and storm over. By the time I get around, Hannah has already let go and is apologizing to the other girl.

"Oh my god. You have to teach me that." The girl says and I'm glad she's at least taking it like a Dauntless, and not a bitch. "Did you see that, Jessica?" I could use that move when we are at the bar with Stef, she is always taking my drink." Hannah has stepped away from her, and her mouth is hanging open. She looks up at me and takes another step further away.

"I didn't mean it. I promise." Her expression is anxious as she takes me in. I know she is heart scared of being punished, especially since I told her there would be cake.

"Sit back down and finish your lunch." I turn and look at the other girl. "Maybe keep your hands to yourself."

As I walk back over to my own seat, I glance over at Hannah. She is staring down at her plate but has yet to start back into eating.

"You were told not to teach her anything. We all agreed, no fight training until initiation has started. You can't be giving her an edge on the other transfers; you know how they all get." Four says, now also not eating his own food and looking over at me.

"I didn't teach her anything. I'm all for fairness." Everyone now turns to look at Hannah. "Where did you learn that move?" I question and stare at her so she knows it would be in her best interest to answer the question.

"People don't share when you live on the streets, they will steal anything from you especially if you look like a child. If it's yours, you got to claim it. I don't like being touched." Hannah says still not looking up from her plate. She looks ashamed of herself and her actions.

"Don't show it to Uriah, he's already ruthless enough when it comes to food, no one would stand a chance." Christina states, it causes a light chuckle out of Hannah, and for that, I'm grateful to her. I can't be dealing with another one of her moods.

Everyone goes back to their own meals and conversations. I see a few people looking at us, probably waiting to see what either Four or I will do with Hannah. Quickly people start getting ready to head back to their work.

As Christina and Tris stand up, they ask who Hannah is spending the day with, she answers them, and they wish her a pleasant day. As they leave, Hannah finally looks over at me and starts apologizing again.

"Dauntless doesn't apologise when we are standing our ground correctly. You were startled, and as soon as you realized she was not a threat you let go." I simply reason with her, trying to convince her that she's not in the wrong for once.

She glances up at me, smiling as she asks: "I still get cake then?"

I laugh at her question: "When are you ever not asking about cake?" I roll my eyes before I give her the answer she wants to hear. "I had the kitchen hold a few slices for us. We are sharing with the others."

She gets up and follows me to the kitchen, and watches as I lift a covered dish that is sitting waiting for us. Leading the way to Zeke and Shauna's apartment.

When we get to their apartment, the others are already there. As soon as Zeke opens the door, Hannah storms in and heads over to his brother. Uriah sees her and starts talking animatedly with her. It's strange to see, as I normally don't see her being so open with people, she nearly looks happy.

I look over to Zeke and see him also watching them. "They seem to get on well," I remark to him, to see if he will give out any details.

"Everyone gets on with my brother, there's not a bad bone in his body. I think the three of them get on like a house on fire. She talks to them about life out there. She apparently is more nervous around Nate, since she knows you and him are best friends." He walks over to his kitchen, before pulling out a beer handing it over to me.

I take it out of his hands and open the top taking a swig. Thinking over what Zeke has said. "Do you think she is settling in? You know what she was like when we first brought her in"

"She certainly looks a whole lot better than when we found her. I still can't get over how feral she looked when we first saw her. She seems more comfortable here than when she first got here, but I don't know if it's a front. Seeing her with my brother though, I can see her living here." He says while watching the pair.

"She drives me mad. I think I'm making progress with her, and then she does stupid shit. Someone grabbed her at lunch, and she literally dragged them to the ground. It was only an accident, but she still thinks people are out to get her. I don't know how to help her, or what. I'm used to doing it the other way around."

"She's only been here roughly three weeks, it's going to take some time to get her use to faction life, and a Dauntless life at that," Zeke says while he leans against the kitchen counter.

"We only have four more weeks before initiation starts. I know people expect me to have her ready to join the class, but I'm seriously doubting it." I confide in him, and I almost laugh at the thought of how much has changed in the past two weeks. I'm asking Zeke for help.

"If she takes to it like that wall she goes to with Nate and Uriah, she will be grand. She is a quick learner. Uriah says you are teaching her to read. Still got a bit of nose in you?" He nudges me. Of course, he doesn't know I'm divergent, but most people know I'm smarter than most in Dauntless.

I roll my eyes at his comment. "It's not that hard to teach. She's more willing than kids. She knows what it is like to go without an education, so she is eager. I want her to be ready for what is to come, but I have no clue what to do to get here."

"Eric, I never thought I would see the day you would care for someone other than yourself." He chuckles at his comment, and I don't think he even knows how true the comment is.

"A lot has changed in the past couple of months. Hannah, she's my redemption project with the rest of the leaders. If I can get her on the other side without killing her, they will hopefully see that I'm really not the person who people thought that I was."

"Just remember she's a person, not a project." He says looking directly at me, showing me a side of himself not many see serious.

I take another long swig of my beer watching Uriah and Hannah still talking. Uriah is his usual over the top self and seems to be doing most of the talking, but Hannah watches him and seems to be able to carry the conversation. Shauna and Marlene walk over, and although they have met Hannah, they have not spent a ton of time with her. She glares at them, and I can see she is learning more from me than reading. She scans them up and down and takes a step closer to Uriah.

"Hannah was asking me what initiation is like. I was just telling her about the first stage. Do you remember that fight you had with Lynn, Marlene? She actually knocked you completely off the mats it was wild." Uriah says to the group smiling at his girlfriend.

Marlene snarls under her breath, throwing her arms in frustration. "How could I ever forget she mentions it every single time I see her. It was only two years ago; I could totally take her."

"No, you could not, and you know it," Shauna says to the other girl, as she laughs at her.

"Hey! I work out thank you very much. I might not have ranked first, but I could certainly take you, Shauna."

Hannah is watching the girls bicker between the two of them as she stands beside Uriah before she speaks: "I'll fight you."

I glare at her from across the room, and everyone has turned to stare also at Hannah, before glancing over at me for my reaction. "Absolutely not." I clearly state for everyone in the room to hear.

"Why not? Four only said you couldn't train me. If I fight her, and you don't say anything you aren't teaching me." She smirks at me, knowing that she is challenging me in front of the others. She does it often at the apartment, but never in public.

Uriah looks over at me with a smirk. "She does have a fair point."

The four of them turn to look at me, waiting to hear my answer, and I look to Zeke for help, but he just shrugs his shoulders. "Fine." Uriah and Shauna cheer before I open my mouth again. "You are the one to explain to Four what is going on when he finds out," I say to Uriah.

"It will be fine; Tris likes me she will sweet talk him for me." He turns round to Hannah. "Come on let's see you fight."

"Go to the initiate training room, they need to be cleaned soon, so no one should be down there now. Remember she's still on medications. No one breathes a word of this to Foster, and no one is going to the infirmary today." I command, still trying to show my hesitation of the fight. Even though after the interaction from lunch, it makes me curious how she will do.

As the four of them race out of the apartment Zeke gives me a questioning look. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"You worried about Marlene?" I snap back at him, as we get ready to leave his apartment.

Zeke chuckles, "I don't know what she's been doing since her initiation, but I don't think she stands a chance against Hannah." He pokes his head out the door to check that the group has moved on. "What happens if it sets Hannah of? She has been doing better."

"She's going to have to fight for initiation. If she's going to be ready for what is to come. We agreed there would be no teaching. She can handle herself."

"Have you ever thought maybe she's not actually cut out to make it as a Dauntless member? She is already at a disadvantage. Everyone else is getting a choice to try. What if her aptitude isn't even Dauntless? Yes, she is violent, but we both know first-hand that violence is not a sign of bravery."

"What's the point in doing a test? If she gets another faction result, she wouldn't be able to go. The other faction leaders have already decided that she isn't welcome with them. You call me cruel, why would we pretend to give her an option with the test, if there is none?"

"I'm not saying we make her do the test. I'm just saying maybe she just becomes a resident. Work in the kitchen, a shop or even childcare. Something. She doesn't have to be a member, don't put that pressure on her."

"She needs to try. This is happening Zeke; it's not going to change." I say, even if I'm unsure just like him.

"I'm not saying it can change. I think we just need to be realistic about what she can do. Hell, she has already been through a lot more than any of us can imagine. We have always had a home. I'm only asking that we accept her for who she is, even if that means not a Dauntless soldier." Zeke stared back at me, and he knows that no matter what he says things have already been decided.

"Come on we better head down before any of them kill each other. Uriah was bad enough when he was actually training." I say as we head downstairs.

"I still can't believe Lauren agreed he could help train this year. She almost skinned him when she was his instructor."

We both chuckle as we walk through the door seeing Marlene and Hannah on the mat. They haven't started yet, obviously waiting for us.

Uriah looks over at us, and I nod my approval for them to start. Marlene is the first one to make a move. She steps forward ready to punch Hannah. I watch as Hannah grabs her opposite arm and yanks her down to the floor, pulling herself down and quickly flipping Marlene onto her stomach. When she is on top, she places her knee hard on Marlene's neck. Marlene struggles but can't get up with seriously hurting herself.

Uriah and Shauna look over at me bewildered. It's completely alien to them. Hannah has technically won, in that Marlene cannot get up, but it's not the Dauntless way. We use force, we punch, kick, flip, and slam, anyway we must till your opponent is bleeding and out cold. Hannah hasn't even attacked Marlene, as she holds pressure on her neck.

We are all pulled from our thoughts as Marlene shouts from her position on the floor. Hannah stares over at me, silently asking me to tell her what to do. I walk over and up onto the mat with the two of them. I lift Hannah's knee off Marlene and push her to stand back from the girl on the ground.

As Marlene pulls herself up, turning around she looks annoyed and frustrated. "What the hell was that?"

"What the hell was that?" I parrot back at her. "She got you down in less than a minute. You are a Dauntless soldier; we always expect excellence. What happens if someone did that during your patrols? You are dead, your whole squad are also dead."

"She didn't even attack me. I'm still in this fight." She snarls back at me.

"You cannot get up from your position. All they would have needed is to put a bullet into the back of your head. Get out and know this is being recorded and reported back to your patrol captain." Wanting her and her anger away from Hannah.

She stomps off the mat, and out the door, with Shauna hot on her heels. Uriah stays staring up at Hannah, but I nod my head for him to go after his girlfriend.

"Did I do something wrong?" Hannah questions. "I thought we were meant to be fighting. You said I could."

"That was not fighting. You defended yourself but you didn't fight her."

She looks at me, "You want me to hurt her?"

"We fight in Dauntless, while you simply stopped your attacker. When we fight, we need to be able to do both. I look at her, and I believe she understands what I'm saying. "Now where did you learn that? And don't tell me some nonsense about living on the street and everyone does it."

"It was after my mother died, there was a guy. He came from here, and he taught us, kids, how to stop people from assaulting us. His girlfriend and him lived on the streets. She was very pretty, and some guy from Candor, wanted her. He raped her, attacked her and left her to die. Ed found her, the next day and she was dead on the ground. He taught some of us girls to try and stop it from happening again. But he got an infection in his injury that following winter. His eye never healed, and he died. The Abnegation found his body."

"Edward," Zeke speaks from behind me, and I remember the transfer from two years ago that he is referring to.

"He taught you how to defend, yourself but that's only half of it. When you fight during your initiation, you will attack, kick punch, whatever you need to do to win the fight."

"I've never fought someone before." She simply states.

"Say that to my shoulder," Zeke says from behind us.

Hannah blushes in front of me, and it's clear she is embarrassed. "You will have to show me what else he has taught you. Some of those could be useful to know, especially for our smaller or female initiates for any unsolicited attacks outside of training." I turn around to Zeke. "Make sure I get a copy of that the next time you are in the control, room."

"If Marlene has not already sent Uriah to delete it." Zeke says "Oh no, wait Lynn is on today. She probably has it on loop as we speak." Zeke chuckles from his spot, which causes me too as well.

"Come on, it looks like it might just be the three of us, but I'm certain I promised you Dauntless cake."