Chapter 47 was a cluster before editing. It was literally 9-12 short, short scenes that I'd dropped together and was trying to make it blend. I stepped back and refocused the goals and then expanded what was left into what got posted. But, in there there's a reference to an appointment. And this is that appointment. There was also a little scene snatched out that had to do with Lauren's injury becoming known to all her friends and her having a very public outburst. That's about all you need know about that.

Content warning, I think some people may find this hard to read. I was referring to it as "the torture scene". It is purposefully brutal to push Tris's mental state in a way that injuries and repetitive, painful treatments can often cause depressive episodes in patients.

Zeke approached the back door where Tris was sitting on the floor. She was exhausted and in pain. The healing serum had helped dull the ache, but it was back with a furious pounding. She was not looking forward to her discussion with the doctors. Undoubtedly, they'd lecture her on putting pride aside and using both the brace and the sling. He tapped her boot with his and held out a hand to pull her up.

"Where's Four?"

"He's going to meet you at the hospital after your appointment."

"Is Lauren okay?"

He looked relieved, "Oh you know? Good, cos I gotta talk to someone about it! Yeah, she's fine, for now, she says she was just 'having a moment.' Four got her calmed down. But she's had a few outburst almost every day since they sent her home — bad dreams, flashbacks. I'm wondering if it's all the stress with initiation coming up. It's getting concerning. Like, I don't know if she should be leading patrol. She probably shouldn't even have a gun right now. I talked to Janice about it and she's got Karla checking on her every couple hours."

"What's so stressful about initiation?"

"Well, because of Raf. He's not Dauntless. He's doing the aptitude test with all the kids at school, but there's no way he's getting Dauntless. He might be Divergent, or what ever, but I think he's probably Erudite. Lauren must think so too. She's freaked out that he won't have the stamina to make it through. She couldn't bring herself to do initiation." His eyes flicked to his wrist, "Come on, let's go."

"I guess I never thought of that. He survived Milwaukee. I know that wasn't easy. I just assumed he'd fly through initiation."

"We will see, won't we? So, how was your first day in Dauntless?"

"It was okay."

"Leadership, up with the chair warmers? That's a nice, cushy job. Sounds boring."

Tris laughed, "It was. My head feels like jelly. And not in the 'Oh I learned so much' way."

"Well, when you're up there making tea and cookies, spit in Scout's cup for me, will ya?"

"What she do to you?"

"That bitch. That bitch used to fuck Eric. She was at his every beck and call. I have no idea how she got voted into leadership. I know I still don't trust her."

"She went to Erudite and didn't get wiped?"

"Well, no. She stayed with us. But still, she actually hung around Eric a lot. There's no way she didn't know something and then we all end up zombies."

"Oh, did she not get the serum?"

"I guess she did."

"So knowing Eric didn't save her from the mind control?"

"No. I guess not."

"Hmm…"

"Just spit in her tea, okay?" Zeke huffed.

Zeke had been thinking about the past a lot in the days leading up to Choosing Day. While they waited in the little room, he told her about learning to jump the train on his own when he was eleven. And about the lizards he liked to catch and put in Uriah's bed. He had lots of stories about family gatherings and relatives that had passed. It helped keep her nerves at bay. But when they called her name, her hand started shaking. Tris handed Zeke her bag and her keys. She paused before following the nurse, "If you hear things, don't tell Tobias, okay? He shouldn't know."

Zeke furrowed his brow and glance around suddenly more nervous than Tris. It was ten minutes before he heard the first shrill squawk echo down the hall. Four arrived just in time to hear the second.

"What is that? What are they doing back there?"

"I dunno." Zeke commented quickly. He passed Tris's stuff and avoided eye contact, "Keep an eye on your watch, you don't want a third shift." He hustled out, hiding his cringing face. And leaving Four to make his own assumptions.

Four planned on dozing in the waiting room, but the residual unease he felt from the rhythmic yelps kept him on the edge of his seat. The volume had eased but the quality had stretched out into a miserable sobbing that was barely audible through the door. He shifted and walked to the far wall hoping to get a little distance and lose the noise all together.

"Uh, who's here for Tris?" An Erudite nurse looked around at the three uncomfortable faces. Tobias stood. "She's recovering a little slow. It's often hard the first treatment, but maybe you can comfort her some."

Tris was panting, the technician was removing the electrodes from needles pressed deep into her flesh. He almost threw up realizing she'd been the source of the noise. "What the Hell were you doing?" He grabbed her hand and squeezed. She didn't have any strength in her grip.

"It's the connection therapy. You know, so that the muscles bond to the implant and the nerves get switched on?" The technician stated.

"Does she have to do this again?" Tobias searched around and then pulled a tissue from a nearby box. He started to dab the tears off of Tris's eyes.

"Usually they do three and then a scan and then more, if needed. I've never done anyone without sedation before. Like, is that a crazy Dauntless thing? I've mostly done Candors. We have to knock some of them out cold." He finished withdrawing the last of the needles and wiped around her incision with a gel coated pad. Tobias pulled a chair up, concerned that she hadn't opened her eyes yet. She'd barely moved at all. A nurse brought in a heated blanket and rubbed her feet, her brow knitted together in concern. Tobias took a cue from her and started to rub Tris's hands and fore arms. She took in longer breaths and started to stir.

Tris didn't look at him while she dressed. She pointed at the new shoulder splint they'd laid on the end of the table. He held up the board it was a different design with an extra cuffs and straps that would secured her better. It took a moment to make sense of it. She directed him with shaky hands. Her voice was hoarse when she finally spoke, "Can you pull it a little tighter, please?" He complied, "Thank you." She was surprisingly steady when her feet touched the ground. She pushed away from the table and headed towards the door.