AN: Thanks for the reviews, favourites and follows! I'm glad so many people enjoyed the Halloween chapter :) I've added a bit of the party in here!
Chapter 26
Tris and Lauren were dressed unobtrusively in dark colours, jeans, casual shirts, boots and warm jackets (to combat the cool November air), walking along the sidewalk in a town about fifteen miles out of Harrisburg.
Harrisburg, the capitol of Pennsylvania was about forty five minutes drive from the Dauntless compound in Faction.
Through the electronic bugs planted by Lauren and Tris, and the hacking and electronic surveillance done by Four and his team, they had established that Eaton was set to meet with some 'businessmen' in a small hotel, just out of Harrisburg.
So Lauren and Tris were out in the field, in the hope of finally getting some physical proof of the connection between Eaton and the terrorist group, for the 'businessmen' he were meeting with were of course the terrorist group he was linked with.
It had been about a week and a half since Lauren and Tris had gone to Washington on their first day in the field for the Eaton case. Halloween had been the only time they had really allowed themselves a chance to have any relaxation.
Flashback
Halloween
Tris and Four entered the function room, which was covered in elaborate Halloween decorations, from pumpkins, to fake spider web, to smoke machines.
The latest pop music was pumping through the speakers, and there were some people dancing on a makeshift dance floor.
There were several tables piled high with Halloween themed food, as well as tables for sitting at.
"Look, there's someone dressed as Lady Gaga!" Tris exclaimed, grabbing Four's arm and pointing. "You guys really do go all out."
"It's kind of our holiday," Four said with a grin. "Now, will you be wanting food before we dance?"
"We're going to dance?" Tris asked with a gulp.
"Well, we're going to shuffle around the floor a bit," Four replied, smiling. "I'll wait until they teach you to dance to subject you to a real waltz. Plus, this music isn't really suitable for waltzing."
"You know how to waltz? I'm going to learn how to waltz?" Tris asked as he led her towards the food.
"Well, if you're on a mission where you're posing as a wealthy socialite, or the wife of a well known businessman, at a ball, you'll need to know how to dance," Four said with a grin. "So, I know how to dance, from the last time I ended up at some snooty ball on a mission."
"He's very handy at the foxtrot," Shauna said, coming up beside them. "I got to be his trophy wife when we went on a mission to take down an art counterfeiter in Europe. Trust me, that was a very good mission."
"Oh, I want a 'European adventure' mission!" Tris exclaimed. "And great costume, Shauna. It's a pity Zeke is stuck in the field tonight."
"I know," Shauna said with a pout. "I thought about not coming, but I had my Queen of Hearts costume all planned, so here I am. Plus, I can't resist the dessert buffet."
"A well known fact," Four teased her.
"Oh, shut up," Shauna retorted lightly. "You shouldn't say stupid things when your girlfriend looks that hot. You look stunning, Tris! I'm surprised you two bothered coming down here at all."
This was accompanied by a sly grin.
Four looked a little uncomfortable, and Tris blushed, but managed to say, "Well, Marlene and Christina put a lot of work into this outfit, and Lauren said I had to come to the party, so I really didn't have any other option. Plus, like you, I can't resist dessert."
With that they finished getting their food and found a table to sit at. They were quickly joined by their usual group of friends, who did of course not look anything like their usual selves.
Uriah was dressed as Green Arrow, Will as Superman and Lynn as The Black Canary, along with the afore mentioned Marlene as Catwoman and Christina the flapper.
"Did DC Comics pay you lot to dress like that? Are you posing for an ad later in the evening?" Four asked dryly.
Marlene looked as though she would very much like to throw some of her caramel popcorn at Four, but refrained, as it was one thing to throw food at your friends, but another to throw food at a superior such as Four.
"We just wanted to make sure Tris stood out," Christina said with a grin. "Are you happy with our creation?"
"Ah, um, she looks great, she always looks great though," Four said, feeling cornered by the fiendish grins of Marlene and Christina.
"Mind if I join you?" Lauren asked.
Tris turned around, and saw her partner, wearing the black bob from earlier in the day, along with white and gold ensemble which was clearly a Cleopatra costume.
"Good choice!" Tris said with a grin.
"Likewise, Girl on Fire," Lauren said, smiling affectionately at her young partner.
"Not my choice and you know it," Tris retorted. "So, what's next? Do we play games? Bob for apples? Is there a house of horrors hiding somewhere back there?"
"We're going to dance," Four said, standing up and offering her his hand. "I'm sure there will be plenty of banter waiting us when we return."
Tris took his hand and let him lead her to the floor.
"I really don't know anything about dancing," Tris said, as he pulled her to him on the floor. "I went to one dance in middle school, and it was a complete disaster."
Katy Perry's Unconditionally started to play, and Four began to lead her in a gentle sway around the floor.
"Well, tonight won't be a disaster, because you've got me," Four said softly in her ear. "Someone who looks as beautiful as you do should be danced with."
Tris smiled tenderly up at him and he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips as they swayed.
End Flashback
Since then Lauren, Tris, Zeke and Four had been working tirelessly to compile irrefutable evidence to convict Eaton.
They had almost enough, they just needed to actually witness Eaton meeting with his associates, and hopefully witness some damning evidence to go with the money trail and electronic communication Four had obtained.
Zeke and his men were stationed in and around the hotel, in case Lauren and Tris needed back up. Both Tris and Lauren were miked up, so that they could communicate with Four, back at the compound, and Zeke in the field.
"They've booked room 214," Four said, as Tris and Lauren walked up the steps of the dingy looking hotel. "I've booked the room next door for you two. Get into 214, plant the bugs, and then drill a surreptitious hole or something in one of the walls so you can see everything from your room. Be quick, they're supposed to be meeting in 35 minutes, and judging from the GSP location from the tracking device on Eaton's car, he's right on time."
Lauren and Tris shared a glance, as they often did, when they heard Four refer to his father as Eaton. It was as if he was a stranger, he was completely emotionless, as if this was a normal mission, not a mission to take out his father. Of course, Four was being completely professional, but both women sometimes had a hard time remaining professional themselves, when it came to their personal hatred for Marcus Eaton.
In addition to their almost endless efforts in the Eaton Mission over the last couple of weeks, Four and Tris had been working hard to try and find out what Eric and Jeanine Matthews were conspiring about. Four had stayed up late a lot of nights, trying to get into Eric, and Jeanine's files, in the hopes of finding something. He hadn't been successful in finding a way in that wouldn't leave his electronic fingerprints on their files. He hadn't told Tris, but he thought he had thought of another idea to try, and was hoping to finally have some success.
Tris herself had not seen Jeanine in person, but had sat in on one conference call with Lauren to update the Deputy NSA as to their progress. Eric too had been scarce, out on classified missions in Washington, which worried Four and Tris, as it meant that he was probably also meeting with Jeanine, and working on whatever they were plotting. The longer they went on meeting, without Four and Tris figuring out what they were up to, the more likely it was that Eric and Jeanine would succeed and lives would be lost.
Four had almost decided to tell what they knew to Harrison. He knew Tris wouldn't like it, but if his last attempt to get access to their files failed, he would have to seek advice from his superior.
At the hotel, Tris and Lauren checked in, under false identities, and made their way up to 214, easily breaking into the room and closing the door behind them.
They pulled several devices out of the bags they were carrying and proceeded to set them up, activating them.
"Testing," Tris said.
"I'm picking up sound from all of them," Four confirmed.
"I'm getting the audio feed too," Zeke confirmed. "Now, how about a little girl-on-girl to check the visual?"
"How about I let you live to see another day?" Tris suggested, half amused, half irritated. "Besides, you're not getting the visual feed."
Tris was use to Zeke's sense of humour, but she was also pretty on edge. The Eaton mission had been taking its toll on her, as had the additional weight of the Eric and Jeanine issue.
She had found little time for rest and relaxation, and had not had much time to spend with her friends after work hours, as she spent most of those with Four, working on the Eric and Jeanine case, or worrying about it, or worrying about how Four was coping with taking down his father.
Christina was missing her friend, but realised that she was involved with a big case, and put her exhaustion and unavailability down to her making sure she succeeded on her first mission.
"Tris, everything okay?" Four said urgently.
"Sorry, I spaced," Tris said guiltily. "What did you say?"
"I said you'd better get set up next door now," Four said. "Lauren's already gone next door."
"That's right, I have," Lauren piped.
"What's up?" Lauren mouthed at Tris, wary that Four and Zeke were listening in.
Tris pulled her cell from her pocket and typed a quick memo.
Just overloaded, this has been taking its toll on me, I guess. I'm okay. Really. My head is in the game, nothing is more important that getting this last bit of evidence today.
Lauren read it quickly, and then nodded curtly, her eyes sympathetic.
"Alright, I've a drilled a hole down near the skirting board, and I've planted a lens there, which will feed straight to my laptop," Lauren said, gesturing to the mentioned equipment.
"Remind me again why we aren't overpowering them today and grabbing whatever evidence they have on them?" Tris grumbled.
"Because we're going to get enough evidence without spooking them and causing them to flee the country," Lauren told her.
"Even if you took them out, temporarily, and they had no idea who had overpowered them, they'd still know they someone was onto them, and we don't want that, and the NSC doesn't want that either," Four added.
"Are you sure we couldn't cause them just a little bodily harm?" Tris asked jokingly, though dearly wishing she could cause Marcus Eaton at least a little of the pain he'd caused Tobias. Knowing that he'd be a couple of metres away, through a thin wall, made it especially hard not to toy with the idea of just beating him to a pulp.
"I'm sure. Look, I know it's been a full on mission, but I just need you to keep up the effort you've been showing for the last couple of weeks," Lauren said sympathetically.
Tris closed her eyes and said, "Okay, I'm getting my game face on."
"Good," Four said, "Because they're in the lobby. Show time."
Tris and Lauren got in position and waited.
Forty five minutes later Eaton and his associates had left, their meeting finished.
Tris and Lauren collected all of their devices, packed up, and headed straight back to the Faction Dauntless compound. They had all the evidence they needed, and all that was left was to review everything back at their headquarters, present a fully completed mission to Harrison and Max, then arrange to meet with the NSC and do the same.
"Tris, you call Jeanine's offices and arrange a meeting with the NSC for tomorrow morning. You'll need to be cryptic, but let them know we've got what they need and we'll be there first thing to deliver a full brief, with all the evidence," Lauren instructed.
Tris pulled out her cell and dialed the appropriate number.
She reached Jeanine's PA Melanie, who transferred her call directly to Jeanine.
"Jeanine, Tris Prior here," Tris said formally. "My partner and I have completed the task requested of us."
"Excellent," Jeanine said crisply. "Can you make it in this afternoon to brief us?"
"We've got a few things to finish up, so the earliest we can make it is tomorrow morning," Tris answered.
"That will have to be fine," Jeanine replied. "I'll speak with Jim Patterson, the NSA, and the rest of NSC and arrange for the meeting to go on their calendars. You'll be briefing them tomorrow morning. Thank you for your call."
"Done?" Lauren queried.
"Yes, she's going to take care of things on her end," Tris answered.
Back at the compound they headed to their office, where Four was already waiting for them, typing furiously, presumably finalising the evidence he had compiled.
Lauren and Tris got straight to work, downloading what they had recorded that day, and adding it to their now comprehensive file, and adding their notes from the final step of the mission to it.
"I've let Harrison know we'll be up in ten minutes to brief him," Lauren shared. "You almost done there, Four?"
"No, I can't leave right now, I'm in the middle of something else I've been working on," Four said distractedly. "This is your case anyway, you and Tris don't need me to present to Harrison. My part is all finalised and complete in your file."
Tris and Lauren headed up to present to Harrison, and when they had finished he said, "Very good work agents. I'm impressed at the effort you and the team you put together have made. I'm sure the NSC will be more than pleased with the results of your work."
"Thank you sir," they said together, both pleased and relieved that their mission was coming to a close.
"You've done well, Tris, and you've learned quite a lot along the way," Harrison added. "I think it might be time for you to have a little break, once all this is finalised."
"Thank you," Tris said, intrigued at the idea, but not wanting it to eventuate until she and Four had stopped Jeanine and Eric.
"I think a week at home should be just the ticket, around Thanksgiving," Harrison continued, giving Tris a smile.
Not too long later, Tris and Lauren left his office, both looking very tired, but a little more relaxed.
"Well, I think we might as well call it a day," Lauren said. "Just make sure your best suit is clean and wrinkle free for tomorrow. You should also make sure you've got a warm, formal overcoat, it will be cold in Washington tomorrow."
"Right," Tris agreed. "I guess I'll see you later then, at dinner."
Tris did as recommended, and made sure her clothes were in readiness for the next day, then she went back up to the office, to see if Four was still there.
He was, and he was concentrating so intently that he didn't hear her enter the room.
"Hey," Tris said softly. "What are you doing?"
"I've found a way in, to both Eric and Jeanine's files," Four said. "I've been working on a program to give me the access I need, and this morning I thought of a way to tweak it to make it work. It's downloading all of their files we speak, and will start to decrypt them as soon as possible. There's a hell of a lot here though, so it probably will take all night. I'll monitor it, and while you're in Washington tomorrow, I should be able to manually go through it and find something to let us know what is going on."
Tris had listened to all he had said, her excitement growing.
"Oh thank goodness, soon all of this should be over!" she exclaimed. "You're sure it will work?"
"Sure," Four said positively. "If it doesn't, we've got no other options. As soon as I get some results, I'll let you know, but you'll probably be in Washington."
"I don't care, as long as we can stop whatever is going on," Tris said elatedly. "Can you secure the room and come and get some dinner, take a little break?"
"I shouldn't," Four said slowly with disappointment. "Would you mind bringing some food up for me?"
"Sure," Tris agreed. "I guess I'll spend some time with Christina after dinner, I feel like I haven't seen her in months."
"Things have been pretty crazy for you," Four said agreed, pulling her to him. "You should give yourself a break tonight."
"Harrison said he's going to give me a week off, over Thanksgiving," Tris shared.
"That's great," Four said quietly. "I wish I was coming with you, all hell will probably break loose over Marcus, and I'd kind of prefer not to be around for that."
"You could come home with me," Tris offered shyly.
"I appreciate that, but I should stay here and face the music. Besides, your parents should probably hear about me, before they meet me," Four pointed out. "Maybe I could come by one day for dinner, or something."
"My cover story is that I'm going to college in California. I don't think my boyfriend from college on the West Coast, dropping by for dinner on the East Coast is a feasible idea," Tris said with a giggle.
"It is if he's from Faction too, and is home for the holidays," Four retorted, giving her a peck on the lips. "We'll work it out later anyway."
"I'll see you in a bit," Tris promised, standing up to leave.
"See that you do, I don't want to starve to death in my attempt to save the country," Four teased.
Tris chuckled and left, headed straight for the dining room. Her stomach, and the clock on her cell, told her it was time for dinner.
She grabbed her food, set aside some for Four and headed over to sit with her friends.
"Hey, long time no see!" Will exclaimed as she sat down. "We didn't know if you remembered who we were."
"Very funny, you saw me at breakfast yesterday," Tris pointed out.
"Yeah, but you weren't really here. You and your permanent frown seemed to be in a very serious conversation with one another," Marlene teased. "It's gone now though, so I take it you're you again?"
"I'm me, one more meeting, and my life will return to being somewhat normal again," Tris shared. She wasn't going to apologise for being absent, they all knew how hectic their schedules could be as agents.
"So, do you want to hang out tonight?" Christina asked curiously.
"Just us?" Tris asked with a smile.
"You, me, and a few face masks," Christina replied cheekily. "Your pores could use some love from Aunt Christina."
"I'm sure the government officials will thank you personally for the improvement my skin will show once you've finished with me. I however, will probably not thank you," Tris said with a groan.
"Who are you meeting with?" Uriah asked, his ears pricking at the words 'government officials'.
"Just some people at The White House who Lauren and I've been working with," Tris supplied. "You know that's all I'm going to tell you. I'd keep an eye out for a pretty big story to hit in a few days though. That should give you some answers."
Tris and Christina arranged to meet in Tris's room after dinner, Tris stopping to take Four his dinner and Christina stopping in her room to grab the necessary cosmetics.
Once they were settled on the couch in Tris's room, Tris said, "So, what's new with you?"
AN: Thanks for reading! I know there was a little bit of a time jump, but I never planned to focus on the Marcus mission for chapters - just give an overview of what taking him down for the NSC would entail.
Please review :) Big things coming in the next chapter! (We will find out what Jeanine has been up to!) I'll put it up after 12 or so reviews.