Trinty Cruise

Chapter 12: Searching

Tobias POV

After finalizing the plans they went back to the room so Tris could get dressed convincingly enough that Al would take the bait. He knew he had apologies to dole out but he also knew that right now Al needed to be the sole focus. Tobias looked at Eric while they waited for Tris and he was trying entirely too hard not to meet Tobias' gaze. "We're going to have to talk about this at some point." He stated. Eric looked at him his eyes brewing with anger.

He opened and closed his mouth several times like he was going to say something but let out a huff instead and directed his eyes back towards the floor. "Eric, you know that I love you and I know that I messed up, but I hope the fact that I showed up can show you how sorry I am. I will literally do anything to show you both that I'm serious about what we have here. I don't want to lose either of you." Tris moved away from the wall that neither of them had realized she was leaning on and sat on the table facing Tobias.

"I'm only going to say this once. We will deal with this once Al is captured. Eric and I will sit down and discuss what we want to do and then inform you. But, if you try to talk about it with either of us before then the consequences will be dire and you may be leaving this ship totally and completely alone. Understood?" He nodded somberly and rose from the chair. "Are we ready to do this?" He asked calmly not wanting to make either of them even more angry.

Nodding, Tris walked toward the door. "Remember where you need to be?" The both nodded and headed out the door. Eric made his way to the little upper deck his hat and sunglasses being settled into their rightful places. Tobias went in the opposite direction towards the Lobby to have Tris paged. He had a feeling that settled deep int he pit of his stomach that something utterly abhorrent was going to happen, however he could not put his finger on exactly what that was. He flicked a glance one more time in Eric's direction and smiled at how touristy he looked.

Eric POV

"Tris Prior, please make your way to the concierge desk in the Lobby. Again, Tris Prior please come to the concierge desk in the Lobby." At this Eric turned and looked intently over the crowd scanning for Al in between casually looking at the map in his hand. His attention moved to his fanny pack and he shuffled the items around in an attempt to appear lost.

A flash of blonde caught his eye and he looked up in time to see Tris approach the desk, she looked up discreetly and quickly turned back. Eric couldn't help his smile as he thought about what an amazing person she truly was. He looked down at his gun in secure in the fanny pack and once again swept his gaze over the crowd. He was growing impatient as he waited for the call to give up the search. If Al hadn't shown up yet, he wasn't going to show up at all.

"Eric, come back to base." He heard Tris say over the earpiece. He removed it and placed it in the fanny pack and turned to make the trek back to Evelyn's office. For some reason the deck was unusually crowded and all he felt and saw as he was wlaking towards the art rooms was the pressing of other bodies, so much so that it was entirely too last to do much when he finally realized the lack of weight around his waist. The gun pressed into his back and he heard a callous voice in his ear, "turn" it said.

Eric had no choice but to listen as he was now unarmed and there were civilians in the area. Not only that but he was at a severe disadvantage. After turning they walked a ways down the hallway until Al told him to enter an unused room on the left. "Did you guys really think that your stupid little plan would work?" Al sneered. "I have been working in proximity to Tris for years and figured out her plan before she did." He laughed tightly and shoved Eric deeper into the room.

"When are you going to learn that she is mine, you and Tobias cannot have her!" Al lifted the gun and pointed it in Eric's direction. Surveying the room quickly he looked for anything he could defend himself with, or at least distract Al until help could arrive. What the other man didn't know was that there was more to the plan than he knew. Each of them had a tracker placed on them because they knew that Tris would only be one of the possible targets because after all, the man was not stupid and as he himself had pointed out moments ago he has worked with Tris for years.

A loud commotion in the hallway caught Al's attention and his eyes widened as he heard Tris' voice. "How?" He asked simply. Eric removed his hand from his pocket holding up the tracker. "Counter measure." He drawled with a smile. The other man frowned deeply and lifted the gun. "If I'm going down, I am not going by myself." A shot rang out and all Eric registered was pain. It spread slowly through his abdomen. He fell with a loud thud to the floor unable to hold himself up any longer his hand flying to the point of impact. He saw Tobias enter the room and relief flooded through him. He tried to yell but he was fading from consciousness. He registered two more shots and then he succombed to the pain.

Tris POV

There was so much blood. This was the only thought as she stepped into the room. Tobias was next to her clutching his arm and Evelyn was fussing over him. His eyes frantically darted to Eric who was currently being worked on by medics. The look of pain on Tobias' face told her all she needed to know. His speech from earlier was sincere. A mix of Eric's and Al's blood was pooled in front of her on the floor, it covered the medic's clothing as they fought to keep the former alive. Her eyes combed over the other man lying on the floor and against herself she breathed a sigh of relief after the realization that he was indeed dead washed over her.

"The helicopter has arrived." Evelyn stated loudly. The medics stood and lifted the stretcher containing Eric and rushed towards the helipad Tris and Tobias following closely. "The transport will take you to the hospital in St. Thomas and after everything is said and done you can fly to Chicago from there. We will have your things brought to you after we dock." Tris nodded her head at the woman and offered her hand. "Thank you for everything." Evelyn took her hand tightly an unknown look crossing her face. "I hope to see you again." With a nod to the older woman Tris turned on her heel and boarded the helicopter.

Tobias sat next to her and wrapped his good arm securely around her. "Tris, he is going to be okay, we have to believe that he is going to okay." He said more to himself than to her. She turned to face him and his hand touched her face and wiped away tears she hadn't realized she'd shed. "Don't cry love, it's going to be alright." The dam broke and her head fell onto his shoulder. Sobs wracked her body and she held tightly onto him. After a few minutes her wailing started to subside and she pulled away meeting his eyes.

"I'm just so worried, but at the same time I am relieved. It makes me feel bad that I am not soley focused on Eric but I can't help the relief I felt when you killed Al. Please tell me I am not being selfish." Tobias chuckled a little and tucked a stray peice of air behind her ear. "Of course it's okay, and if Eric were awake he would say the same thing, you know how utterly selfless he is. He would say some thing like, "Tris sweetheart I'm just happy your worry is gone, don't fret about me. Soon we're going to be sipping drinks on the beach!" She stifled her giggle and looked at Tobias a little more sated. "Thank you." She said as she placed her head back on his shoulder.

After what felt like an eternity they finally landed on the roof of the hospital and all at once Tris was alone. Eric had been rushed to surgery and Tobias was being checked and stitched up the Emergency room. After asking a nurse where she could procure a pack of cigarettesf she made her way to the suggested area and stood outside waiting for something, of what she was unsure. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and as she pulled it out she relaxed slightly at seeing Max's name on the screen.

Alright everyone. First of all yes I know it has been a while. I have been going through a dry spell which should be evident in the quality of this chapter. Number 2 I need to apologize in the last chapter (Chapter 11) I made a boo-boo in the first paragraph and wrote Peter instead of Al. I am completely surprised that no one self called me out on it. Anyway thank you for sticking with me and as always, thank you for your continued support.