AN: Thanks for the continued great responses! You all are amazing :)

Chapter 31

"You're back early!" Christina exclaimed with a squeal as she spotted Tris wheeling her suitcase along the 19th floor towards her room.

"Got a call," Tris said succinctly. "And before you ask, I don't even know what it was about, I was just asked to come back."

"I don't care, it's just so good to see you, I miss you," Christina said, hugging her, mindful of her shoulder. "How's the shoulder, on the mend? And boy did you miss a hell of a Thanksgiving feast! I don't know how they'll manage to top it at Christmas."

"The shoulders's going quite well, I mean, I won't be in any wrestling tournaments soon, but I've got most movement back, even if it twinges at times," Tris said, grinning at Christina's rapid comments. "Did you know there's a ball for Christmas? I dare say that will manage to top Thanksgiving for you."

"A ball?" Christina squealed. "Like with evening gowns and dancing and a sit down dinner?"

"From what Four mentioned, I think so, it's a very grand affair," Tris said with a smile. "I think we take turns in hosting a couple of other branches from nearby states, and we're hosting this year, so it's a big deal."

"Enough about that!" Christina said, as they entered Tris's room. "There'll be time for planning for than later. I want to here about your trip home! Especially how you went with introducing Four to your parents. Oh, and how you went with maintaining your cover story. I'll need all the tips I can get for when I get to visit my family. I talk so much I might need to wear a muzzle when I go home!"

Tris laughed happily at Christina, she had missed her lively, chatty friend while she'd been away.

They set about unpacking her things, Tris sharing at length about her trip home, and Christina filling her in on what she'd missed around the compound while she'd been away.

"People have been calling referring to you two as Fourtris," Christina said with a giggle.

"You mean this compound is like a fortress?" Tris asked in confusion.

"No Four-Tris, like Brangelina, you two are a regular celebrity couple around here," Christina said gleefully.

"Oh just shoot me now," Tris said with a moan. "Wait, I take that back, I don't want to be shot again, not now that I'm nearly recovered. Maybe could you just hit me over the head with a frying pain? That would be preferably to having a stupid couple name."

"It's kind of sweet, people care about your love life," Christina teased. "Besides, it's better than them obsessing over Four's parentage."

"Well, so long as no one calls us, ah, that coupley name, to my face, I guess I'll cope," Tris said with a grumble. "Do you have any better news to share? How are people coping with Harrison as our new leader? Have they brought out any new frosting flavours on the chocolate cake?"

"No to the cake, but the current chocolate frosting is still, of course, a work of art," Christina said with a grin. "Things have pretty well settled down, actually. The news cycle that never ended seems to actually be winding down, so people aren't constantly reminded about the Max/Jeanine/VP/Eric/Marcus Eaton stuff, which is good. Harrison has stepped in to Max's shoes without rocking the boat, so things are good. In other news, Will told me he loves me."

"That's great, Christina," Tris said warmly. "Did you, ah, say it back?"

"Of course!" Christina exclaimed. "I'd just been waiting for him to say it, I didn't want to say it first and look like an idiot."

Tris looked distinctly uncomfortable at these words, and actually squirmed a little.

Christina looked shrewdly at Tris, and then exclaimed, "You look guilty! You couldn't possibly have anything to look guilty about in this situation, unless you haven't told Four that you love him, and he's told you that he loves you! Tris, how could you? You adore him, it's written all over your face!"

"How did you get all that from just looking at my face?" Tris asked, gob smacked.

"Turns out there are some useful bonuses to working as a profiler, you pick up some handy skills," Christina said, rather pleased with herself. "So, what happened? Why didn't you tell him you love him?"

"Well, um," Tris began uncomfortably. "Cone of silence? You'll take this to your grave? And if you don't, you'll go to an early grave?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Christina said seriously.

"Well, he told me he loved me the day after I was shot, just as I was falling asleep after I made that speech in the lecture room," Tris said. "The next morning I didn't say anything about it, we were kind of busy, you know, with injured shoulders and being the focus of all compound gossip. And then, I wanted to make sure I really meant it when I said it. Of course, I care a lot about him, but saying I love you is a really big thing."

"So you sleep with the guy, you're joined at the hip, but you won't tell him you love him?" Christina queried. "I mean, he just met your parents."

"I know, I know," Tris groaned, choosing not to get into the fact that all they did was sleep when they shared a bed. That was a whole separate issue that she was definitely not getting in to.

"So, what's stopping you from telling him?" Christina prodded gently.

"I guess, at first I didn't want to say it, just because he had, and then I left it too long, and now, I've blown it all out of proportion," Tris said with a grimace.

"Well, why don't you think about all the reasons that make you care for him, and when the time is right, just tell him you love him," Christina suggested. "It's not like you'll be the first one to say it, you know he already loves you."

"I suppose so," Tris agreed. "I guess too, there's this little niggling in the back of my mind, that one day he's going to wake up and wonder why he's settling for a girl like me, when he can have anyone."

"Oh Tris," Christina said sympathetically. "There's this quote from a movie, that I think is actually quite appropriate for you. 'We accept the love we think we deserve.' I think you really do love Four, but the reason you can't tell him is because you don't think you're worthy of his love. If you could only see yourself as he sees you, as the rest of us see you, you'd realise that you are worthy of his love. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I guess I've got a lot to think about," Tris said softly. "Thank you, for putting it all into words.

"Any time," Christina said with a gentle smile. "Well, you're all unpacked. Want to go see the others before bed?"

They joined the others in the one of the common room on the 14th floor that they had taken to hanging out in in the evenings, spending a little while catching up on things before retiring for the evening.

The next morning, after a jovial breakfast with their now usual set of friends in the dining hall, Tris headed straight up to the top floor, to Harrison's office, to meet with him as he had requested.

"Thanks for returning from your break early, Tris," Harrison began.

"I know you wouldn't have asked if it wasn't important," Tris said seriously. "I did as you asked and didn't tell Four anything, not that there was much to tell anyway."

"I guess you'd like to know what that was all about," Harrison said, smiling a little at her round-a-bout way of prodding for information. "I have a mission for you, and I don't want your personal relationship with Four to affect this mission. It's not you I'm worried about, it's him. I wouldn't usually be assigning a mission such as the one I'm about to give you, so early in an agent's career, but you're the right agent for the job. You're the most capable agent with the right skill set, even if you are still very new. Additionally, owing to the recent leadership upheaval here, you're the most senior agent I can spare from the compound at the moment."

"What is it exactly you're assigning me to?" Tris asked, her curiosity completely piqued. "I'm assuming it's quite a high risk one, which is why you're concerned about Four's reaction. I understand that my position here is first and foremost to do what you need of me. Four knows this too, but I can understand that you might be worried he might react as my boyfriend, instead of a senior agent, at least on first hearing you're sending me out on important new mission. What details can you give me?"

"I'm sending you to Europe, on a top secret mission," Harrison said seriously. "You won't even know the specifics of your case until you have access to the file once you get on the plane. You'll be leaving tonight, and Uriah is going to be assigned as your partner. He won't have the same level of clearance as you, he's being sent as the muscle. I know you're skilled in combat, but you need back up, especially as your shoulder is only just coming to the end of its recovery period. Uriah also speaks French and German quite well, so he will also act as your interpreter, when necessary."

"How long will I be gone for?" Tris asked. "What will I need to pack?"

"You could be anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months," Harrison answered. "I'll have a list emailed to your cell with what to pack. Uriah will be joining us in a minute or two, and I will brief him, and we will make as many plans and arrangements as we can, with the information you both have now."

Accordingly, Uriah walked through the door, a serious expression on his face, one Tris wasn't accustomed to seeing. Uriah was usually the class clown, but he understood the significance of being called to the director of the compound's office.

"Thank you for joining us, Uriah," Harrison said. "As you know from the meeting request, this is a matter of the utmost secrecy. Tris is here and I have already started briefing her on the situation at hand. You are being partnered with her for a top secret mission. You will both be leaving tonight for Europe. You will not tell anyone anything about this mission, just that you've been assigned an important case, and that you'll keep in contact we you can."

"Yes, sir. What is my role on this mission?" Uriah asked seriously.

Harrison explained the same things he had explained to Tris, and then the three of them discussed the appropriate arrangements little further. They were given guidelines for safety, a list of weapons to take, money for any expenses they would come across, and what time to be ready in the basement to leave, among other things.

"I know you both have significant others here, as well as a close group of friends, some of them with quite high clearance," Harrison began warningly. "Still, you cannot tell them anything specific, and very little else. They will understand, you all know the job you were trained to do. You may say goodbye to your friends, and give them the ball park time frame for your absence. While you are gone, you may keep in some contact, but make sure that your location won't be able to be traced when you do so. I'm sure you're both familiar with the appropriate app for this."

"Yes sir," Tris and Uriah said together.

"You may both go now, and make arrangements," Harrison said. "I will speak to you further tonight, as I will ride with you to the aerodrome."

Tris and Uriah walked out together, and Uriah turned to her, trying to act casually, but his excitement was oozing out of every pore.

"You know, when you're little, and you dream of being a secret agent?" he began excitedly. "This is every single one of those dreams rolled into one, but better."

Tris smiled, agreeing on some level, but she was a little weighed down by the role Four was playing, or rather, not playing in the mission.

Of course she knew that she would not work every mission with Four, but she had assumed on some level that she'd at least be able to share with him about most of her work. She respected Harrison's desire to conceal the seriousness of her new case from Four, at least until after she had left. She also understood his reasoning, particularly as she had first hand experience in Four's protective nature when it came to her. Still, she wasn't looking forward to the vague explanation she would be able to give him about her departure.

Tris and Uriah went via the equipment room, both to collect a specific suitcase Harrison had recommended for their mission. They also visited the tech. room, the weapons room, and the supplies room, collecting a number of things they needed to take, that they didn't already have in their possession.

It was almost winter in Europe, and in particular parts of Europe it was already very cold, so Tris needed a heavy snow coat, as well as other cold weather gear.

Tris and Uriah returned to their separate rooms and began the process of packing, Tris marking off each item on her list as she went. As she packed, she tried to think of what to say to Four about her leaving, but gave it up as a bad job after her fourth painful conversation with herself.

Tris ate a late lunch, preferring to avoid her friends in the dining hall, so that she didn't have to answer any awkward questions ahead of time.

She and Uriah had agreed to speak with their friends fifteen minutes before their scheduled departure, just before dinner. Enough time to give them the little information they were allowed, and enough time for goodbyes, but not enough for questions to be asked.

They had both sent out a message to their friends, asking them to meet them before dinner, and after working hours, in 'their' common room.

"Uriah and I are heading off tonight, Harrison has given us a mission, we can't really tell you much more than that," Tris said, taking the lead, as she was the senior agent on their case.

"What?" Marlene exclaimed with a gasp.

"We're not sure how long we'll be gone for, or how often we'll be able to be in contact," Uriah said seriously.

"We've got to head off in a few minutes," Tris added. "We just wanted to let you all know. I know it's not much, but it's better than you all realising we've disappeared."

Christina jumped up and rushed over to Tris, giving her a big hug and muttering unintelligible, emotional words.

A variety of other farewells were said by most of the people in the room, but Four said silently by, motionless, as if in some sort of a trance.

A space cleared around Tris and Uriah, everyone stepping back, having said their farewells. Tris looked at Four in a little hurt and some confusion.

She walked softly across to him and put her hand gently onto his arm, eliciting no reaction.

"Four? I'll speak to you as often as I can. I, I," she said softly, stuttering a little, not knowing how to put her feelings into words in a room full of people. "I'll see you when I get back."

She stepped back, he was looking at her, but not saying anything. His eyes met hers, a mix of unreadable emotions in his expression.

"Tris, we'd better go," Uriah said, interrupting them.

Marlene elbowed him in the side for breaking their moment.

Tris gave Four a swift kiss on the lips, then hurried after Uriah who had left the room.

The others stayed behind in the room, knowing there was no point in following the other two, as they were leaving immediately, and it was something they were not a part of.

Tris and Uriah traveled up to their rooms to grab their suitcases and carry on bags, then headed for the basement car park.

Tris trembled a little in the elevator as they rode down to the car park. She did not like the way she had left things with Four, but she didn't have much choice. She could choose whether or not it made her cry, and she certainly had no plans of crying.

As they stepped out of the elevator Four burst out of the internal stairwell, breathing heavily, looking agitated.

"Four!" Tris exclaimed.

"I'm just going to go," Uriah said, grabbing Tris's suitcase and taking it with him.

"How could you do that to me!" Four said hotly, chest heaving with exertion and emotion.

"I did what I was asked to Four, it's my job," Tris said quietly.

"You couldn't have told me about your mission alone, instead of in a room full of others?" Four queried, his voice hard. "We could've at least discussed it then, instead of you rushing off to some unknown mission."

"I did it that way for a reason, this isn't a mission I can discuss with you," Tris said hesitantly.

"I have higher clearance than you," Four pointed out.

"This mission is different, it's top secret, at the specific request of Harrison," Tris explained seriously.

"Top secret usually translates to high risk," Four said, his tone accusing. "You didn't tell me about it because you thought I would stop you from going. Well, you were right, you should not be going on this case! You're a new agent, and you're only just at the end of your recovery from being shot. I'll speak to Harrison, and we'll sort something else out. I can't let you go."

"It's not up to you," Tris said, her voice firm, very different to tumult she was experiencing emotionally. "This is my job, our jobs come first, we're Dauntless. Our relationship has to be separate from our work, or we can't be in a relationship and still be a part of this world."

"Is that an ultimatum?" Four asked coolly.

"No!" Tris exclaimed fiercely, stepping towards him. "Just an explanation. I'm not going on this mission for you, and I'm not staying here because it's what you want. My decisions related to this mission, and my job, remain separate from you as my boyfriend, and our relationship, or I won't be able to do my job properly."

"If you cared enough about me, you wouldn't say that," Four said, a little sullenly.

Tris stepped back as if she'd been slapped.

"I do care about you," she insisted emotionally. "I'm sorry that this is hurting you, but I hope that once you've had a chance to think it over you'll understand my choices."

Four didn't say anything, his expression unreadable.

"I'll keep in touch," Tris said softly, moving towards him, reaching up and brushing his lips with a kiss. It was a promise and an apology. "I have to go."

The words she couldn't yet say, 'I love you', hung in the air between them as she hurried out to where Harrison and Uriah were waiting for her.

Four cut a lone figure, standing alone, watching her leave, looking not a little upset.

Tris only hoped that time and space would resolve the issues that now lay between them.

AN: Thanks for reading! I'm so sorry for the end of chapter angst, but I promise the making up will be sweet, and the pain short lived :)

Also, any volunteers to be a temporary creative consultant? I'm having trouble deciding where to take the next couple of chapters, and it would be nice to flesh out some ideas with anyone with some thoughts!

Please review :)