Disclaimer: I do not own the characters for Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth. I do own the characters created for the storyline. Please support the official release.
Writer's Notes:Thank you for the reviews! I'm mobile at the moment and I saw Munzke's name in there! Things are getting crazy! Don't forget to follow favorite and review! Happy Tuesday!
[5 Days Later]
The hike back to Chicago felt long and arduous. Bella had to depend on Lukas and Jasper taking turns carrying her at one point. Even Will carried her when Lukas and Jasper's bodies were too worn to carry her. Four carried her a short while and even Peter of all people helped carry her at some point. They made it back to Chicago with no other incidents but Tris was silent. She hasn't spoken to her sister the entire time and it seemed that Tris was just boiling.
Carlisle surveyed Bella's stump. "Cauterizing it was smart." He commented and studied it more. "Honestly it could be worse Bella. I think you were incredibly lucky."
Bella lay on the bed in the hospital bay. Her good arm was behind her head as she lay there letting Carlisle look her over. She was getting some phantom pain in missing hand. Her shoulder didn't bother her too much and her leg was doing better since they got back. "So. What's next?"
Carlisle leaned back. "Well. We can fit you with an advanced prosthetic. You'll be able to control it like you would your hand. The tissue is still fresh so I can wire your nerves into the port."
Bella nodded. "Alright, let's do it. I don't have time to wait."
"Its best to start the process now." He agreed. He went over to a cabinet putting his hand on it and if registered his palm. It beeped and opened and Carlisle reached in, grabbing a few things and going back to Bella. "This will hurt."
Bella waved her good hand. "I'm not worried about pain." She said and Carlisle got to work.
Bella flexed the prosthetic hand. It reacted the way her other hand did except it was bionic. There were sleeves that Carlisle was working on to match her skin tone that would give it a real appearance but for right now she sported the metallic hand that made her look like she was out of some sci-fi movie. Her palm pilot beeped and it was her being summoned to Max's office.
She sighed, clipping the palm pilot to her belt and headed to his office. She was intercepted by Eric. He looked at her concerned.
"Hey. How was it with Carlisle?"
Bella held up the hand. "Pretty good. I'm on my way to Max."
Eric looked at the hand. He was impressed that Carlisle was able to move so fast. "I'm on my way to Max too. Later we need to talk."
Bells agreed. They did. Eric lost his cool out there and while no one seemed to be able hear him when he addressed her by baby while she was going through that painful moment. Tris's sobs had made it hard for anyone to hear. "We'll talk." She said and then started towards Max's office.
Once there she walked inside, Eric behind her.
"I wanted a report as soon as you arrived but I was informed you had a medical emergency." Max said to Bella.
Bella nodded. "Had complications. I lost a hand. I'm okay. Released for full duty."
Max raised a brow. "Losing a hand seems like a big deal. You're not bothered by it."
"It was just a hand Max. I'm very capable of doing my job without it."
Max nodded and looked to Eric. "Just one casualty?"
Eric nodded. "Yes sir. Al. He fell to his death."
Max looked back at Bella. "You lost your hand trying save him?"
"Clearly Four and Lukas reported back. You're wasting my time and yours." she stepped closer and leaned on the desk her new hand in full sight. "Tell me what you want." Her voice lilted taking on a domineering tone.
Max's dark eyes studied her, a smile creeping on his face. "Straight to the point."
"I'm very direct Max. What do you need from us?"
"I need you to start testing the children like we discussed." His tone was lower, huskier than he intended but seeing Bella and the way she looked at him crawled under his skin and made him forget who he was.
Bella leaned up. "I'll start in the morning. Anything else Max?"
"That was it. You both can go. Have a drink you deserve it."
Bella looked at Eric and slapped his back in a comrade fashion and left without a word.
Eric saw firsthand how Max was around Bella and he admitted that Bella was good at manipulation. He just witnessed it. He nodded to Max and left, going after Bella. When they got to the training area he saw Tris bee lining straight for Bella.
"Its your fault!" Tris yelled at her sister.
Bella stared at her sister. "You can't be serious."
"Why did you let him go!"
"I didn't let him go. I would never let go of someone. I held on so much I lost my fucking hand." Bella barked back.
Tris had tears in her eyes. "You didn't try hard enough. You just let him die. How could you!"
Bella shook her head. "Are you dense? Do you hear yourself right now? Why would I purposely-"
"Because of what he was." Tris accused. "If it wasn't-"
"Shut your mouth." Bella commanded her tone like ice.
Tris shook her head, looking at her sister. "I don't know you anymore. You've changed. You're not my sister… never were. You only care about yourself."
Bella grabbed Tris then with both her hands and pulled her to her where her face was in hers now. "You will regret your words. I adapted to Dauntless you didn't get it right away. And since I'm not your sister, you can get up at 5am and run drills until you puke." She released Tris pushing her away. "Get the fuck out of my face now." She said and if looks could kill, Tris would be dead right now.
Tris shook her head and left without another word.
Eric lay his hand on her shoulder. "She didn't mean it."
"She did." Bella shrugged his hand off. "She's just been waiting to say it." She said and started walking up towards Eric's room.
Eric sighed and followed her. They closed the door behind them and he turned her to face him. "You're internalizing everything. Stop."
Bella looked at Eric. "I should have just… I knew he had vision problems."
Eric has suspected it but he hadn't been sure. "You can't blame yourself."
"I do blame myself. He should have never been out there on that cliff. If I had benched him then he would be alive." Bella ran the bionic hand through her hair. "He's just gone, Eric."
Eric saw her starting to crumble. He pulled her to him and just held her as she cried. She cried hard. Losing Al was rough. He was more than just a friend or fellow recruit. He was Divergent and he was important. Now he was gone and that would leave a hole in everyone.
After several long moments Bella pulled away from Eric. "I just want to shower and sleep."
Eric nodded then leaned in and kissed her. He was scared out there on the expedition. She came too close to death for comfort. "Wait, can you get your hand wet?"
Bella nodded. "Its Bionic Eric. It's going to be fine." She said with a small smile then she took her gear off, setting it on the dresser, pulling her shirt off and unzipped her bra.
Eric watched as she stripped for him and he saw her leg and the massive bruise from banging it hard saving Chris. Her shoulder was bruised too from the dislocation but she was still standing in front of him. Strong and stubborn.
"Are you going to stare at me or take me to your shower and fuck me?"
Eric blinked a few times before he took his gear off and pulled his shirt off. "Start the shower." He said with a nod, Bella smiled and went to the bathroom. Eric looked down at his hands once she was in the bathroom. They shook a little, he clenched them into fists and closed his eyes. He pushed down the trembling emotion and finished getting undressed before going to get in the shower.
Bella melted under the heat of the water. The soreness was dissipating and she gave way to the water. It relaxed her tired muscles and it was exactly what she needed.
Eric joined her and she leaned into his hard, wet body. His arms came around her to just hold her, skin to skin. They were quiet but Eric kissed her. A soft kiss spiraling into more. Her body begged his and he gave in. He wanted her to take it easy but her body pressed to his her good hand stroking his hardening cock fast. He hoisted her and pinned her to the shower wall carefully before he slid inside her. She purred as he entered her and each of his thrusts lighting up her pleasure sensors. She needed this. She would never not need Eric. Their mouths continued to clash with each other as he pushed her over the edge and her orgasm ripped through her making her moan against his lips. He picked his pace up, his cock swelling hard before he burst open, sinking up into her deep.
They stayed locked like that for a long while until his cock softened and he let her down to her feet slowly.
"I love you so much." Eric said, resting his forehead to hers.
Bella closed her eyes the water raining down around them. "I love you too."