AN: I feel like as a writer my last chapter was written extremely well for my standards. I can honestly say I can only hope it gets that much better from here. I am not sure if this lives up to my last chapter. I tried my best I promise you that!
Please review and tell me your thoughts.
Oh and a special shout out dedicating this chapter to poetof93! She is the best!
ERICS POV
(Takes place when they are at home in the previous chapter.)
As soon as we walk through the door, I take Tris's hand and walk us over to the couch. If we are going to have this conversation then for my sake I need to be sitting down. I know she will not like what I am going to say. I look at her and become aware that her eyes are dodging everywhere, like she is already searching for the quickest exit. I pull her into my lap and snake my arms around her waist. I don't want her to run away; I can't let her do that.
I take a deep breath of air feeling my shoulder tense in anticipation of what I'm about to say; breathing in the lavender scent of her hair slightly loosens the tension and I move forward.
"I want you to know that I really did have no say in whom they picked for this experiment. It truly was based about genetics. Once they told me that I'd be paired with you to bring a child into this world. I was genuinely joyful; I don't do emotions very well, Tris. I just knew that things could work between us, if we both try. Don't get me wrong, I know I haven't exactly lived up to 'Loving Husband' by any means." I pause while I unconsciously scratch the back of my neck. "What I tell you about this all, I want you to promise me that you won't leave." I couldn't afford to lose you. Searching in her eyes I start to see uncertainty, like I am going to reveal her biggest nightmare. "I know you will need time to comprehend this all but please talk to me, let e in on what you're thinking?"
I can feel her start to tremble in my arms. God please give me strength to get through this.
"Eric, your scarring me, just spit it out. What do you know?"
I don't want you to be afraid, that's the last thing I want. I just don't know how to express that into words.
"Jeanine came up with this experiment to see if it would be possible to create someone who is 100% Divergent, susceptible to any serum created." Well that part is out in the open.
"WHAT?!"
I watch her eyes glaze over as if she physically just left her body. Her breathing started to become more erratic and I fear that she is starting to have a panic attack. Not good!
The next thing that came from her mouth was a catastrophic scream at the top of her lungs. I had to cover my ears because the pitch was unbearable. She took this as an opportunity, since my hands were free to toddle over to the bathroom.
I take in that she could barely walk at this point. Way to go asshole. I swiftly run towards the door however, she had already shut and locked it. I didn't bother banging on the door. I knew she needs time that much I could give her. So I sat there straining my ears to pick up on any noise that came from the inside.
About an hour has passed and her sniffling has subsided. Crying I can deal with, I think. I hear the water turn on, and assume that she will be taking a bath. I don't hear her movements as the water stops running.
I can feel the steam from the water start to escape from under the door. I hope the water is not too hot for you and peanut.
Forty five minutes has passed and I don't think she has gotten out of the water yet. Red flag warnings are going off in my head. For whatever reason my subconscious is telling me that something is dreadfully wrong, Tris should have gotten out by now. I fumble in my pocket to retrieve the master key. Thank God I became a leader!
I place the key in the small hole and turn it until the mechanism unlocks. I slowly turn the handle unsure of what I will see on the other side. Please be alright. My breathing hitches as I sweep my eyes towards the bathtub where I see her.
Tris is slumped over the side of the tub with her eyes closed; blood is trickling down her wrist into the water turning it pink. NO! This cannot be happening! This is way far worse than anything I envisioned. Her breathing is coming in shallow as I scooped her up out of the water, caring her towards our bedroom. Once I laid her on the bed, I checked her pulse. Shit this is not good!
I moved at super speed towards the bathroom to grab the first aid kit. I was fumbling under the sink until I found it, knocking over the cleaning supplies that was in my way. I sprinted back into our room and started stitching her wrist. I am beyond grateful that I was born in Erudite.
My mind is going a million miles a minute thinking of how I could have prevented this. Stay calm Eric, take care of her first. Make sure she stays alive, that is the ultimate goal. I close my eyes for a second to collect myself. I decided to listen to that voice, she is my priority. I opened a small white box from the first aid kit that contained gauze. I wrap it around her wrist until I am satisfied that it will prevent bleeding further.
She is lying in my arms now, her breathing is returning to a stable in and out. This is progress, this is good. I kiss the top of her head as I position her to be more comfortable on our bed.
I vowed to myself that I will stay awake until she wakes up. Hours trickled by as I see her start to twitch in her sleep. Dreaming is the only logical explanation for this.
When morning comes, I grab my phone and dial the only person who needs to know that we are not coming into work.
"Hey Max, Tris and I won't be in the office today. We have a situation that we need to deal with together outside of prying ears. I promise to give you a full report once were done." I don't give him an opportunity to go into further details as I hang up on him.
I scoot closer to Tris and I rub small circles on her slightly swollen stomach. There is a precious life that is just under her skin that needs to be protected. "I love you, even before I have met you. I won't let anything happen to you, or your mom." I whisper to our peanut.
I withdrew my hand from her stomach as I felt her start to wake up. I don't need her freaking out on me that I'm touching her. I see her turn over to her right side, eyes still shut. She starts to move her hands over her bandage, her eye brows furrow in curiosity.
I snuggle closer to her, the bed shifting with my weight. She notices the dip and rolls over in my direction.
I don't want to alarm her; before I even realize what I'm doing, I have my hand out reaching for her. I just want to touch you softly.
I observer her as she has her mask on, trying to not show me any emotion. I decide to muster up the courage to continue lightly brushing down her arm, until I reach her bandage.
I don't even know when it happened but my eyes started to fill, I try to blink them away; however, a tear slides down my cheek.
I clear my throat, "Why Tris? Why did you think that was the solution?" I try to hold conviction in my voice, but the thought of her doing what she did is breaking my heart.
She is just studying my facial features; I can see the hurt in her eyes is unmistakable. She doesn't speak to me, only shaking her head before placing it back on the pillow.
I place my hand on the small of her back to rub small soothing circles to let her know I am here. I will always be here. She closes her eyes and falls back asleep.
Page Break
I start to feel her movements before she opens her drowsy eyes. She slips out of bed silently and goes back into the bathroom.
Please don't do what you did last night, I sit up against the headboard so I can see her the moment she walks back in. If she even comes back! I shake the thought out of my head and involuntary shiver.
I spot our door open slightly and she walks back in with uncertainty in her steps. She looks over at the clock, and I can see the time registering in her head.
"Before you even ask, I called Max and told him we both wouldn't be coming into the office."
She walks over to my side of the bed and stays there. Her eyes are searching mine for permission to sit down next to me. I respond by pulling her into my lap, wanting some sort of bodily contact with her. I sense her muscles stiffening, unsure of what I will do next. She relaxes once she feels that I just want to embrace her.
I was stunned when she touches my cheek than to caress my face. I welcome the contact by closing my eyes, leaning into her hand.
"Eric, I…"I barely hear her speak as she trails off. "I am sorry for the pain I caused you. I wasn't thinking clearly and I was hurt."
I pull tighter around her not wanting to let go. "I can't lose you. I promise I won't get angry and fight, that won't help either one of us right now. What I do need is for you to let me in on why I found you in the bathtub like that last night? I was so scared." The last part is really for me but I don't mind that I told her. I kiss the top of her head to illustrate to her I care.
"Eric, I was so scared for the life that peanut would have. I don't want it growing up thinking its 'normal' to be Erudite's lab rat."
I shudder at the thought of my origin faction testing our child. "Tris, I don't know what to do. I don't even know if there is a way out of this." But I'll be damned determined to see that it stops right here, right now!
"Tris, I need to know one hundred percent that you won't ever pull a stunt like that again." She flinches at the harshness in my declaration.
"It won't, I promise." She looks into my eyes showing me that what she is saying is honestly true.
Page break
I left Tris in our apartment with everything that she could possibly need so she doesn't have to go out. I don't want her to be bombarded with twenty questions regarding her bandage on her wrist. I told her that I was heading to Erudite for an unexpected meeting with Jeanine. I can't just sit by and not do anything; I had to put a stop to this once and for all.
This event over the past twenty four hours has truly been an eye opener for me. I have to try harder in my relationship with Tris; I have to prove to her that I will be supportive of her and our unborn child.
I jumped off the train and headed in the direction of Erudite's main building. I squared off my shoulders, and held my head high; walking with a purpose. No one is getting in my way, not today. Heads will roll at whoever tries to stop me. I narrowed my eyes as I approached the receptionist being as intimidating as I could.
"I need to see Jeanine, and I must see her now!" My voice was deadly as I made it apparent to the receptionist that I meant grave business.
She scrambled to her keyboard frantically typing away. I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed impatiently. She then turned to her phone and dialed away.
"Sir, Ms. Matthews is in a meeting right now…" She trails off once she see's that I won't take no for an answer.
"Unacceptable!" I bellow at her heatedly.
She scurries away from the desk nervously looking around, she returns with another Nose. Great just what I need to deal with right now.
"I must see Jeanine, I won't say it again!" They won't like ruthless Dauntless Leader, if I don't get my way soon. My temper is starting to boil and adrenaline is pulsating through my veins. I turn around on my heel and make my way to the elevator bank, without acknowledging the shouts coming from behind me.
The doors open and I step inside pressing the button for the top floor and watch as the receptionist is cowering at her desk. The ride up to the top was going slower than my liking and was starting to get on my nerves even more.
I hear a faint ding of the elevator door, signaling that I have reached my floor. I navigate the all too familiar hallways and approach Jeanine's office door. I don't bother for the courtesy of knocking; I just open the door and take in the surroundings. I observe Jeanine sitting behind her desk with a perplexing expression, than I see Caleb sitting in front of her. Just perfect the two people who are directly involved with this mess.
"Jeanine, Erudite is stopping this experiment as of immediately." I don't give her the satisfaction of asking, this is a command. I saunter in closer to both of them putting on my ruthless façade.
"And why would we do that?" She asks casually, pursing her lips.
"I didn't ask you to stop the experiment. I am telling you that it's done, over, never going to continue!" I am practically shouting at her at this point. I don't want to play into her mind games.
"You know it's going to take more than that to end my plans." She plasters an evil grin on her face as if she's already won. You will never win, I say to her in my head.
"No you listen to ME Jeanine! I have authority over my faction members and I am telling you that Tris and I are finished participating in this experiment. Erudite will have absolutely NO INVOLEMENT IN OUR LIFE!"
With that I turn my back on her and Caleb. I look over my shoulder as I exit her office, I notice Caleb with a terrified expression while Jeanine looks indifferent. I don't bother shutting her office door, while I storm out down the hallway. I don't bother with the elevators this time; I need to let off some of this steam so I take the stairs.
Once I depart from the building, I head towards Dauntless compound. I need to get back to Tris.