Hello readers, here is the next chapter in the story. I hope you all enjoy it. Happy Reading!

Chapter 23 Keep Swinging

My dreams are hunted by Tobias that night. I can see his plane crashing to the ground as I stand helpless in a field with a fire burning all around his body as he screams for help in his plane, my help, as I try to run to him, but can't get to him as hard as I try. I'm trapped by a glass box as Peter stands next to me smiling, laughing at me, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me away from Tobias, away from the scene of the crime. I wake with sweat pouring off of me, my heart pounds as I look around the darkened house. I need to get out of here. I need to start living my life again. I feel trapped inside this place. Tobias, would not have wanted me to sit around crying over him all the time. I thought I was stronger than this, after everything I went through.

Unable to sleep any longer, I start the impossible task of starting to pack up his house, knowing it needs to be done sooner or later. I save one of his camouflage jackets, unable to part with it and place it into my luggage. His old gray Air Force t-shirt that says EATON on the back from his time in Officer Training School, I pick up from the bed. The feeling, the smell, and the look of the shirt all brings me comfort as I hold it tightly against my chest. Tears threaten to fall from my eyes as I look around the house as the daunting task begins to sink in. Seeing all his different uniforms that I have to box up, to give away, I feel lost thinking about it. I need to figure out what to do with his few worldly possessions. My chest hurts as I look around the house, gripping the shirt with my fingertips wondering how I am going to manage everything by myself. As I open his desk drawer, to start packing his few belongings, I see a black leather book. My instincts tell me to open it, I do. Inside, I find several pencil sketches of what look to be of me, I have his aviators on, and I am pouting at him, in one of them. I remember that day. It was the day of our first kiss and the day that he took me flying for the first time. As the memories overpower me, I know that I need to leave California.

As I stare at the video of Tobias on my phone once again for what feels like the millionth time, wondering what else I didn't know about Tobias. I decide to start over in New York, to go live with Christina and Will, unable to live with this invisible ghost haunting these halls any longer. I know that Will and Chris will take me in until I can get a new job. I can't keep seeing memories of Tobias and me around every corner. Needing fresh air, I head out of the house to the middle of the base. I'm meeting with Tobias's commander today to come up with arrangements on what to do with his house and his funeral or memorial. "Colonel." I smile as I see an older man looking uncomfortable, on a bench outside, in the middle of the small park in military clothing.

"Miss Prior?" He asks, putting his hand out for me to shake.

"Yes, but please call me Tris," I say, taking his hand, shaking it.

"Then please, call me Max. My secretary was a little sparse on the details of what this meeting was about it. So please, the floor is yours."

I take a deep breath and say, "Sir, Captain Eaton and I are, I guess we were in a relationship. He named me as his contact as you are probably aware. Now that he is no longer with us according to your men. I would like to know what I need to do in order to start the arrangements for a memorial service or something for him. Also, his house. I'm not sure what to do with it." My voice catches as I say, "I've started packing it up, but. . ."

Max holds up a hand, as he says "Tris, the Air Force will take care of everything for you in terms of dealing with Captain Eaton's final arrangments. I assume you want a full military burial."

I shake my head yes. I never imaged at the age of twenty-four that I would be talking about military burials, but this is my life now. "Do you know where you like the service to take place? Perhaps a church or something like that." He asks bringing me out of my thoughts. Tobias and I never discussed this. Tobias never talked about church. Hell, I haven't gone to church since my parents died.

"Yeah." A small smile spreads across my lips. "Travis AirField." I think about how Tobias's face lit up when he flew a plane, when I flew with him, how happy he looked, and how at peace he looked up in the sky.

"We don't normally allow such things to happen, but under this circumstance, I will allow it because it is Captain Eaton."

"Thank you, sir."

"Miss Prior, I'm sorry for your loss. Captain Eaton was a great airman, a great leader, and a great guy in general."

"So I have heard," I say, smiling as I begin to walk away, Max stops me saying, "Tris, take all the time that you need to pack and finish getting the house in order for moving. Also, whenever you are ready for the memorial service. Call my office, and we will get the ball rolling."

"Thank you," I whisper as I walk away, trying to hold back tears. The rest of the day is spent crying as I pack up the rest of Tobias's fatigues and the rest of his house. I work myself into exhaustion. I lay in bed wondering if I am making the right decision about going to the ball with Stephen, after all, this was supposed to be mine and Tobias's special night. The next morning, when my phone rings, and it is Christina FaceTiming me, I know the time has come to make my decision about if I should move to New York or not, have a change in scenery. I also need to decide if I am going to the ball with Stephen or not. When she calls a second time. I answer as I try to plaster a smile on my face, trying to hide from her all my hurt, all my pain as I say "Hey!"

Chris smiles at me for a quick second then says, "You got your curling iron heating up yet?"

"Of course," I smirk at her as she walks me through how to do my hair and makeup, step by step for the dress. When she mentions something about Four, wondering where he is, my facial expression breaks, and I can't hold the smile on my lips any longer. The tears burst forth from the dam. The words explode from my lips as I spill my guts to her, telling her about how the Air Force has him listed as missing in actions, but how everyone is telling me that is dead, about how I don't believe them, about how tomorrow I plan on going to the airport to get the first ticket out of California to New York to start fresh.

Chris stands there in shock, silent for a moment, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, finally she whispers, "I'm so sorry, Tris. Let me know when your plane is scheduled to get in, and I will be sure to pick you up, then Will and I will take you out to get your mind off of everything."

"Thanks, Chris. You really are the best friend a girl can have. Does this look okay?" I ask, unsure about my look.

"You look gorgeous." She giggles, grinning at me. I see Will behind her as he says, "You look great, Tris."

I blush at his statement as I say, "Thanks, Will."

My hair is done is a low bun at the base of my neck with a few wisps of hair coming down curled. The chocker, I used as a hairpiece, instead of a necklace, and my eyes are dark and smokey. I feel like and look like a princess. I lay out Tobias's dress blues, torturing myself some more as I stand in my dress, imagining how he would have looked in them tonight if he were here. As I finish fixing the metals on Tobias's dress uniform jacket, there is a loud, fast knock on the door. "I'm coming," I yell, placing my sparkle flats on, expecting to find Stephen at the door, instead I find Shauna crying, banging on the screen door again.

"Shauna, what's up?"

"They found them!" She says excitedly.

"Found who?"

"They found Zeke and Four. Max just called me and told me. He said that they are pretty banged up, but that they are very much alive!"

"What?"

"Tris, they found Four alive. Come with me. I'll take you to the base hospital."

Thoughts and opinions on this chapter? I can't wait to hear them. I know I left you all with a little bit of a cliffhanger, so please don't kill me. Next chapter will be up on the weekend of March 30. Please review!