I DON'T OWN DIVERGENT!
Okay...so I'm not sure if this just my computer, but for some reason, FanFiction won't let me do italics/single line breaks/bold or anything. Anyway, enjoy your long-awaited update!
Four relaxes almost imperceptibly next to me.
Caleb opens his mouth, and then - "FOUR! BEATRICE!" Dad yells. "GET DOWN HERE!"
We glance at each other and run down the stairs, Caleb close at our heels.
"Yeah, Dad?" I ask, slightly out of breath. Tobias' hand is on my hip, and Caleb is standing next to us.
"Did we do something?" He shakes his head, slightly frantic. "We need to go. Now." Tobias and I exchange glances with each other, and then Caleb and my mother. They look as confused as we do.
Four grips my wrist and kisses my cheek. "You say goodbye to your mom and Caleb," he whispers. "I'll stall your dad for a second in the car." I hug him quickly and he walks out.
I give Caleb a hug, too. "I'm sorry we have to leave," I tell them.
Caleb shakes his head. "It's fine, Beatrice. Text me later, okay?"
My mother hesitantly walks over to me. "Beatrice, I - I'm sorry. I'm sorry things happened this way. I know you probably won't be comfortable calling me 'Mom,' but could you consider 'Nat?' Or 'Natalie,' whatever's more comfortable for you."
I nod slowly. "Do you know anything about why we have to go?"
She shrugs. "Andy got a text or email or something and went all white. Then he jumped up and started yelling." Natalie - damn, that sounds weird - hesitates again. "I want to be your mom again, Beatrice."
I don't respond to that. "Thanks. I have to go. See you in school, Caleb." He waves and I run out. Tobias and Dad are already buckled into the car.
"Hey," Tobias whispers, taking my hand in his flinchingly.
"What was the big emergency, Dad?" I ask.
"Booth's dad," he answers. "No," I whisper. "Where is he?"
"Booth is at the hospital with him," Dad answers, eyes on the road. He isn't moving them, like he usually does, and his knuckles are turning white from gripping the steering wheel so hard.
"Is he…?"
"Not yet." Dad takes a ragged breath.
Booth's dad used to be his friend, before he got sick. Dad visits him from time to time, when he can.
"It doesn't look good, does it?" I add. "Booth says -" Dad coughs - "Booth says they think he only has a few more hours."
I look out the window. "Why did this happen to Seeley and his dad? It's not fair. He shouldn't have to deal with his mom dying and his dad dying and paying for the med bills and having a job and going to school and -" I can't continue. I start crying.
Tobias gingerly puts an arm around me. I lean into him, burying my face in his chest before I remember his stitches. "Shh," he says. "Shh," he tells me. "It'll be okay."
Dad drives like a madman until we reach the hospital. Then he sits in the car for a second after Tobias and I climb out.
"I don't think I can do it," he whispers. "I can't do it."
I bang on the car. "Dad, you owe it to him. You owe it to him. Come say - come - come say goodbye." Dad coughs and drags himself out of the car.
Four pulls both of us into the hospital, and when neither of us can say anything, gives Booth's name. They tell us where to go, giving my dad and I slightly sympathetic looks. Four sits in a chair outside the door.
I meet his eyes and he nods. Dad and I walk in.
