Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth.
Writer's note: Thank you Roxhall, Goddess, Delia, Navywife, and Hufflepuff for your reviews! We have just a couple chapters left in the story! Excitement! Up next is Not the Good Guy, featuring a Twilight x TVD crossover that I am super excited about. *grins* Thank you so much for all the support! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Bella stood on the balcony on the roof looking out at the darkness of the city. There were the lights in Erudite that could be seen from afar and then the ruins of Dauntless. Amity looked like the small farm part of the city and even then, there were a couple twinkling lights that could be seen. The night air was still warm as it blew gently against her skin. She felt like war was brewing in the horizon and that things would get much worse before it got better.
"Enjoying the view?" Jasper walked up behind her.
Bella glanced over her shoulder to look at Jasper and smiled. "Sort of. Just looking at the city. Candor has the best viewpoints of the city it seems."
"It does." Jasper said in agreement. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"Something is up with you." Jasper said. "You know, you might be able to fool others, but I know you and something is going on with you."
Bella swallowed. "Jasper… what we're going to do is dangerous."
"It always is. Dauntless is dangerous."
"Whatever happens, just know I have your back no matter what."
Jasper frowned, crossing his arms. "Bells… what's wrong?"
"Nothing." Bella said and looked out on the city. "Nothing." She repeated.
"If you're worried about something happening to you, don't. I won't let anything happen."
"You can't always be there." Bella said.
"I can try." Jasper said and then he reached out to her, laying his hand on her shoulder. "Bells… talk to me." He said and turned her to look at him. "You can tell me anything, you know that."
Bella nodded. "Um… Jazz… I'm pregnant."
Jasper was a little shocked to hear those words. "Bells… I… you can't be here then. You have to go back to Amity where Johanna can look after you. This is far too dangerous."
"I can't." Bella said. "Jasper, I have to keep doing what I'm doing. I can take care of myself. I'm just…."
"Bella, there's a baby involved now. Eric wouldn't want you out here putting yourself in danger."
"He doesn't know…"Bella said. "And it'll stay that way until we figure out how to take down Jeanine. I only told you, because… you deserve to know."
Jasper sighed. "Bella…"
"Jazz… I'll be fine. I just… I know it's a lot to ask."
"Bella, I love you." Jasper said, his eyes serious. "You are my family and my best friend. You were Tris's best friend and practically her sister. I will never, stop watching your back or protecting you. I meant what I said to Eric. I will protect you with my life."
Bella felt tears prick. "Jazzy… I love you too." She murmured as he pulled her into his arms then he kissed the top of her head like an older brother would, even though they were the same age. She pulled away slightly and then looked back out at the city and saw a flash of something. "Jazz, we're being infiltrated. Move, move!" She said and they rushed back inside, taking the stairs at a fast pace, getting down to the floor Jack's office was on, but then suddenly Dauntless were flooding in.
"Shit." Jasper cursed and he shielded Bella with his own body as he was shot with something, a dart of some sort. He knocked Bella out of the way and he fought slightly before he went down. Others rushed in that were Dauntless staying at Candor, but they were shot too, a nerve dart that made everyone go down. Bella managed to slip away, hiding herself away, while the invading Dauntless soldiers rushed through Candor.
Bella waited until she heard all the footsteps go away. She peaked out. "Jasper." She whispered sharply.
"I'm good." Jasper groaned and got to his feet. He looked at the small device that was implanted in his chest. "Yeah, I'm okay."
Bella sighed, relieved "Okay. We need to find Jack, his office is clear."
"Okay." Jasper said and stepped over people as he went to Bella. "You good?"
"Didn't get hit, thanks to you." Bella said. "Come on." She said and they moved silently through Candor. When they rounded the corner, Jasper saw Caius and then it was over.
"Stop." Caius's voice rang out.
Jasper and Bella froze, knowing that they were surrounded now.
Caius walked over to them, as Dauntless soldiers surrounded. "You two, are very hard to find."
"Well, we wouldn't make it easy for you." Bella said, her tone clipped. "You do know you're backing a mad woman."
Caius smiled coolly. "Be that as it may, I take my orders from Eric."
Jasper snorted. "So, you're here to arrest us then."
"Oh, we're here to test you. Fight and well, you don't have to be completely in one piece. It'll make my day if you flinch a little." Caius retorted.
Bella swallowed and looked at Jasper. They had no choice but to follow Caius.
Down in the lobby, Eric looked at the Divergents that were gathered up. This was not the way he wanted to do this, a simple in and out like in Amity would have sufficed. However, one of Caius's little birds, said that Jack was not going to be cooperative, so this was Jeanine's call. He was looking at a tablet, when Caius walked in, soldiers escorting Bella and Jasper. He looked up and wanted to frown in panic at the sight of seeing both Jasper and Bella, but he stayed where he was.
"Found these two." Caius said. "Jeanine should be happy."
"Indeed." Eric said and nodded to the other Divergents. "Put them over there." He said and looked back at his tablet, while Caius followed instruction. "Check them all."
Caius nodded to a couple soldiers and they used the device to scan over one of the Divergents that was kneeling now. Just a small girl, no older than ten.
"10 percent." The soldier said, looking up at Caius.
"She's useless." Caius said and pulled his gun from his hip, to shoot the girl, but Bella reacted disarming Caius and bringing her leg across in a crescent kick, knocking him backwards.
Jasper jumped into action then too, putting himself in front of Bella, when a soldier shot at Bella, and it tagged Jasper in the shoulder.
Bella spun him around and kicked the weapon out of the shooter's hand and then turned, catching another guy in the chest with a kick, before Eric stepped in. He put himself in front Bella now and put up a hand, making everyone stop. "What are you going to do?" She said, her voice even.
Suddenly they were surrounded by more of Jack's men and Four was there with some of the Factionless.
Eric didn't move, didn't blink, only stared at Bella. "Put your weapons down." He told his men.
Jack Kang stepped forward. "Eric Coulter, you are attempting a coup under the orders of Jeanine Matthews, surrender now and we'll let your men walk out of here."
Eric still didn't look away from Bella, he just nodded. "Alright." He agreed.
Jack seemed to be surprised by this. "Take their weapons. Cuff them."
Caius was scowling as he knelt, getting cuffed. Four went forward and cuffed Eric then put him to his knees.
"Take Eric to Jack's office Four. Get information out of him." Bella said and Four nodded then made Eric get to his feet and hauled him off.
Jack came to stand beside Bella. "I will set up trials for the rest."
Bella nodded. "Good. Save Caius for last." She said and then she walked away, Jasper right behind her.
When they got to Jack's office Bella's stomach turned in knots and suddenly, she was overcome with nausea that forced her to grab the trash can and throw up in.
Eric frowned, rubbing his wrists. "Bella. Are you okay?"
"Nope." Bella said and sucked in a deep breath before Jasper handed her water so she could drink. His shoulder was fine, the nerve dart didn't affect him at all like the first one.
Four crossed his arms. "It's obvious there was supposed to be some sort of plan here today. What was it?"
Eric studied Bella a moment before he looked at Four. "Jeanine figured out that the box needs a Divergent that is more than what we've been finding. Every Divergent to try and open the box, has died trying."
Bella frowned. "So, she's rounding all the Divergents up in what, hope that one is high enough in percentage to open it? Does it reset after each Divergent?"
Eric nodded. "Yes. So, far that seems to be what's happening. She's so hyper focused on the box that she's not paying attention to anything else. She's gone mad and she's going to lose support before too long. I wanted to politely come to Candor and ask to scan the people, but Caius has a mole here and he was told that Jack wasn't going to be friendly so Jeanine's plan was to infiltrate, knock everyone out with the nerve darts and take the Divergents. Obviously that didn't work." He said and looked at Bella. "You were supposed to be in Amity. I didn't expect for you to move to Candor."
"Not many choices left." Bella said and then took another drink of her water. The queasiness was still there and she felt the washing fatigue.
Eric frowned. "Bella, what's wrong? You're sick."
"Not sick." Bella said. "I'll be okay.
Jasper shook his head. "No, you're not." he said and she glared at him. He sighed. "Let's give them a moment." He said looking at Four and then the two walked out of Jack's office leaving Bella and Eric to themselves.
Eric walked over to her, his hands moving to her waist and he pulled her to him gently. "What's going on with you?" He murmured softly.
Bella looked up into his worried steel gaze. "Eric… I can't…"
"I love you. You can tell me anything. I'm here to protect you. You know this."
Bella nodded. She knew that Eric would always try to protect her and that is what worried her. Telling him about the baby meant he would worry even more and she had too much to do. "Eric, I'm going to be okay. I know how to handle myself. I'm being extra careful and-"
"I'm still going to worry. No matter what you do or don't do, I will worry. I can't just leave this alone. I know something is wrong, I can see it and feel it. So, tell me."
Bella thought a moment and then sighed, giving in. "I'm pregnant." She said the words and her heart started beating hard in her chest. Tears breached and she wanted to turn away, but Eric was pulling her closer his arms wrapping around her protectively.
"Baby…" Eric murmured his own voice shaking a little. He just wanted to hold her close and never let her out of his sight again.
"Eric… I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry. Baby, I love you. A family is something I never thought I'd live to see. But you're giving me that."
"Everything is so dangerous. I can't just sit on the sidelines and let Jeanine blow up this city because she's crazed." Bella said pulling away from him now.
Eric shook his head. "You're not in this battle alone. You have me. You have Jasper, Four, now the full weight of Candor, the Dauntless refugees and not to mention the Factionless. Jeanine won't have the power or the people to resist. This is over. I don't have to go back to Erudite. Especially if you release Caius and he sends back word that I was killed."
Bella looked at Eric. The gears in her head were turning as she thought about this. "That could work."
Eric went to her again. "It will work." He reached up, framing her face with his hands. "Trust me. I can handle this now. I can get us infiltrated inside Erudite without having to lose any more lives. We can bring Jeanine to her knees."
Bella stared up at him, his words heavy as he spoke to her. She nodded finally, giving in. He was right. She wasn't alone in this fight, even though she tried to be. He leaned in with his lips capturing hers and she leaned into him, his arms wrapping around her securely as he did. Tears ran down her face as she thought about there being an end. An end to all of this bloodshed and pain at the hands of Jeanine.
Jack walked in his office, Jasper and Four with him. He was stunned to see Eric holding Bella like he was. He turned and looked at Four. "Explain."
Bella moved away from Eric slowly and turned and looked at Jack. "Eric has been my inside man from the start." She said. Her dark eyes latching on to Jack's.
Jack frowned. "That's why you know so much…"
Eric cleared his throat. "Yes. Jeanine is losing it slowly. Eventually she will have no support. With all our forces united, we can take Jeanine down and her true sympathizers. I can get us in and out of Erudite without many lives lost."
Jack thought about this. "How do we do that?"
"Four is going to kill me."
"What?" Four said, frowning.
"Not for real." Bella said then sighed. "Release Caius after you pretend to kill Eric. He'll go back to Jeanine, tell her Eric is dead and that will give us time to infiltrate, take out the remaining guard and arrest Jeanine."
Jack thought about this. "Very well. Let's put this plan in motion."
Eric nodded. "Yes. Let's begin."