Tobias gently sits me down in the middle of the couch then kisses the top of my head before turning toward the kitchen to make us breakfast. I call Christina and let her know our meeting is still on for this afternoon but it has to be in the apartment. When I hang up the phone Tobias tells me it's time for some pain medication but I don't want to sleep the day away so I tell him I'll take it later. I think he'll argue with me but he holds his tongue.
Soon he's handing me a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a plate filled with steaming fluffy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fresh fruit salad drizzled with yogurt and honey, and wheat toast with honey butter. I'm not exactly sure what it is he does to eggs but they are delicious, and I can never duplicate them. I eat quickly realizing I slept through supper again last night. I've missed more meals than I've eaten this week. Soon my plate is empty, and I watch as Tobias finishes his breakfast and drinks his orange juice. I reach for mine and drink it down in three or four gulps then I settle back into the couch. Soon his eyes meet mine.
"Do you need something?" he asks.
"Yes," I say calmly, moving his now empty plate and juice glass to the end table with mine. "You." He tenses up as I carefully turn my body and put both my legs across his lap then lie back pulling him down with me. He relaxes and moves his body, carefully avoiding my legs so he's half sitting, half lying on the couch making sure I don't feel any of his weight. I reach up with my right hand and pull his mouth to mine. The kiss starts out slow and pleasant, tasting of fresh oranges but quickly builds in intensity until it's fevered and full of desire. He opens my mouth with his and lets his tongue slide along my bottom lip before mating it with my tongue. I playfully bite his lower lip as he pulls back to let us breathe. I lightly rest my broken hand on his back and wrap my right arm around his neck and pull him as close as I can returning his mouth to mine. I kiss him hungrily, letting all my longing out. He kisses me just as fiercely letting his need show. He moves his left hand and tangles his fingers in my loose hair and gently pulls my head back exposing my throat. He moves his mouth to my neck placing teasing kisses and licks everywhere, causing my heart to beat even faster. My breath is coming quicker, and I moan when I feel his other hand on my bare stomach. It's leisurely roaming up my ribcage toward my chest. He slows the ascent of his hand momentarily as he moves his mouth back to mine. He kisses me slowly, exploring my mouth with his tongue then moves his hand to caress the side of my breast through my lacy bra.
Suddenly there's loud pounding at the door, and I groan into his open mouth. He pulls back and removes his hand from under my shirt. We extricate ourselves from each other's limbs, and he goes to answer the door. A panicked Tori is standing in the hallway. She pushes past Tobias and into our living room.
"Four, Tris! I'm sorry to bother you but we have a problem," she says animatedly. My slowing heart rate picks up speed again. "There has been another assault, this time in a dark hallway here in the compound. The victim is on the first list again and..." She stops, hatred filling her eyes. "There's a possibility she was sexually assaulted." I gasp in horror, my hands involuntarily moving up to cover my mouth.
"What's her name," Tobias says, immediately taking on his Four persona.
"Ivy Stevenson," she says. "Some members found her in the resident's wing and took her to the infirmary. I haven't confirmed it with the doctor but it sounds like her injuries are just as extensive as Daniel Parks' were."
"Why is sexual assault suspected?" I ask, not sure I actually want to know.
"Her clothing had been torn away," Tori says, anger coloring her face. "Four, I need you today."
"Go, Four," I say. "I'll call Christina and have her come over." Tobias looks like he's going to argue with me. "Really, I'm okay. Just give me my crutches so I can get around. Go. Dauntless needs you right now."
He brings me my crutches and kisses me lightly on the mouth then says in my ear, "We'll pick up where we left off later." I blush crimson remembering the feel of his hands on me.
"I love you, Four. Please be careful," I say as they head out the door.
"I love you," he says before closing and locking the door behind him.
I call the infirmary and tell them Tobias and Tori are on their way and to have a written, detailed account of Ivy's injuries for them when they arrive. Then I call Christina and ask her to come over early. I tell her briefly about why Tobias needed to leave, and she tells me she'll be over as soon as she finishes unpacking a shipment of dresses at the boutique. Lastly, I call Zeke telling him to get ahold of Tobias because there's been another assault, and he needs to start going over the surveillance footage as soon as possible. I may not be able to physically participate in this emergency but I'll do everything within my power to help. I do the shoulder exercises Dr. Parrish gave me while I wait for Christina. Soon she's knocking at the door, and I manage to hobble over to open it for her.
"Have you had an update on the girl?" she asks as she walks through the door.
"No, Four hasn't called or texted. I have a feeling he'll be gone the rest of the day. Did you have any problems getting off of work?" I ask already knowing the answer.
"No. It helps when your best friend is one of the Dauntless leaders and that's who you're going to see. What do you want to do?" she asks.
"Do you mind if we go over the party planning early. I haven't taken any pain medication yet, and I'm really starting to feel uncomfortable," I confide. "I was afraid if I took it while I was waiting on you I'd fall asleep and you wouldn't be able to get in. I should get you a key. Remind me of that."
"Don't wait to take your medication on my account. I already have the party planned out." Of course she does. She gets up and goes to the counter in the kitchen where my medication sits and brings it to me with a glass of water.
"I want to hear what you have planned, except for the decorations. I know you like to keep them a surprise," I say taking the bottle and the glass from her. "I have about 10‑15 minutes after I take this before I fall asleep." I chase the pill with the entire glass of water.
"I asked around about past Christmas parties and got some great ideas. It'll be semiformal, not black tie like the welcome party was, so we don't have to get ball gowns just party dresses. The menu will be a lot like our Thanksgiving menu but with a few additions like honey baked ham."
"Are we having sweet potato casserole like at Thanksgiving?" I ask excitedly. "That was one of the best tasting things I've ever had in my life. You know how much Uriah loves cake? That is how much I loved that casserole." She rolls her eyes at me.
"I'll add it to the menu," she says. I clap my hands together.
"Yet another perk of being a leader," I say, yawning. The pain medication is kicking in already. "I feel like all I've been doing is sleeping. I'm sorry I'm not going to be better company today. Feel free to use the DVD player and watch whatever you want. Also the kitchen is fully stocked, eat whatever you want. Could you help me to the bathroom? I'm feeling a bit wobbly already." I get my crutches off the floor and get to my feet. I let her steady me as I make my way to the little powder room tucked into the corner of the room. After I'm finished I go to the loveseat and lie down flat on my back with my right leg propped up on the arm. Christina gets the ice pack out of the freezer and places it on my ankle then places the throw over me to try to keep me warm. I tell her to move the ice pack every 15 minutes to one of the places on the chart Tobias made. I start to tell her something else but my words slur so bad I give up and fall into sleep.
I wake up to a gentle swaying motion and realize Tobias is carrying me up the stairs to put me in bed. I smile into his shoulder then lift my head and look at him.
"Can I go to the bathroom first?" I ask him sleepily.
"Of course." He stops at the bathroom and sits me down on my left leg. He lets go of me but I sway, and he grabs ahold of me. "Tris, are you going to be okay to do this by yourself?" I have to be unless I want to pee in front of him. I blink my eyes a couple times to shake off the sleep and put my arms out to steady myself.
"I think I'm okay now," I say. He reluctantly lets me go, and I stay in one place. He leaves the bathroom, and I relieve myself. When I'm done I call out for him, and he helps me into bed. Instead of lying down I sit with my back against the headboard.
"Tobias?" I ask. He turns my way and comes and sits on the bed beside me. "What happened with that girl today?"
"Why don't we talk about that in the morning?" he says.
"I'm awake now unless you're wanting to go to sleep," I say.
"I'm not sure I'll be sleeping anytime soon," he says under his breath.
"That bad?" I ask.
"I thought Daniel's injuries were bad. They really were nothing compared to Ivy's, but there was no sexual assault. It's my opinion either her attackers were interrupted or they tore her clothes off to humiliate her when she was found." He looks drained but continues. "Thank you for your assistance by the way. Zeke called and got on the surveillance footage right away, and when Tori and I walked into the infirmary I was handed a detailed account of her injuries. I'll spare you the list. The doctors went above and beyond tonight. They pulled the evidence from Daniel's case and compared it to the evidence collected from Ivy, and it has been determined the same two men are the assailants. If we ever get suspects, we can compare their DNA with that of the collected DNA, and we'll have them dead to rights."
"Did Zeke find anything?"
"We have footage of two men dressed head to toe in black leaving the scene at the approximate time of the attack but we never get a clear look at their faces so we don't know who they are."
"Is there any way to get identifying features like height or weight from the video?" I ask yawning once again. I can't believe after sleeping all day I'm still tired.
"I have Zeke working on that," he says. "You should let me get you your medicine and then go to sleep. We can talk about this in the morning." He reaches out cupping my face, and I lean into him.
"I'm tired of sleeping," I say. "God I'm whiny. Even I hate the sound of my voice right now." He laughs lightly.
"Tris, you're healing. You need your rest." He lightly places his lips to mine and kisses me. This kiss is not laced with the desire and want of this morning's but I can feel the love he has for me pour into it and I sigh.
"Okay, Tobias Eaton. I'll bow to your judgment, just this once. Bring me my medicine, and I'll go to sleep." He laughs as he gets up and heads toward the door. "Tobias?" He turns at the sound of his name. "I love you, and thank you for taking such good care of me this week even when I know I had to be hard to live with. You're a good man, don't ever doubt that."
I wake lying on the loveseat in the living room with my right ankle propped up on the arm. I look around disoriented. I could have sworn that when I went to sleep last night I was upstairs in my bedroom and not in the living room. Maybe that was all a dream and Tobias hasn't gotten home yet. I sit up and look around. He's standing in the kitchen wearing nothing but his sleep pants, pouring himself a cup of coffee. I fill my eyes with the site of his perfect body, longing to get my hands on him.
"Stop staring, Tris," he says, his back still to me, bringing the coffee mug to his lips.
"If you don't want me to stare, Tobias, may I suggest putting on a shirt?" I say. He turns around with a smile on his face.
"Coffee?" he asks me. I nod. Caffeine might actually wake me up. I turn my body placing my legs on the floor making room for him next to me. He pours another cup then turns off the coffeemaker and walks toward me. He hands me the steaming mug as he sits down on the loveseat next to me. "How are you feeling today? Christina tells me you were restless yesterday as you slept." I take a quick inventory of my injuries trying to figure out how I feel.
"I actually feel pretty good this morning," I say, amazement ringing in my voice. "All the sleep yesterday must have really helped. So tell me about yesterday, all the details you left out last night. I need to know, Tobias." He looks deep in my eyes for a moment, sighs, and then looks straight ahead.
"The doctor called me this morning and told me Ivy didn't make it. She died from the head injuries she sustained. Whoever these ... maniacs are, it's been confirmed they've killed three people now." Three? "I had the doctor pull the evidence from George and Amar's autopsies, and the DNA matched those cases also. We have two serial killers roaming Dauntless killing Divergents."