Hey readers! Here is the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Thank you to everyone who read this last chapter and to everyone who took the time to comment on the last chapter. As always, I don't own Divergent, the only thing I own is the plot, all military-related mistakes are mine. However, to make the story more interesting for this story I did take some liberties with some aspects in regards to the military. Happy Reading!

Chapter 18: Unexpected Guest

"Tris! Tris! Tris! Please wake up!" A worried male voice begs, and, slowly, the voice becomes clearer in my mind. My eyes snap open, and I am met with three pairs of worried-looking eyes. My eyes automatically search for Tobias, connecting with his eyes first. I whisper, "What the hell happened?" He whispers, his fingertips lightly touching my forehead, "You passed out. You were fine one minute, then the next, you were out cold. I thought I had lost you; you scared the hell out of me." My eyes rove to the fallen piece of paper and the white substance on the floor near the door. A shiver rips up my spine, I sit up, shaking, a wave of dizziness hits me. Tobias pulls me to his chest, I breathe in his scent, my eyelids close, and I wait for the dizziness to fade. A female voice asks, "What was in the letter?" My eyes shoot open to find Christina, staring back at me, a quizzical expression dancing across her features.

Shrugging my shoulders, I pull away from Tobias, answering, "I didn't read it completely. I have no idea who sent it." She moves toward the doorway, bending, reaching for the letter, her finger is a centimeter from touching the tainted letter, when Tobias and Will yell at the same time, "Christina, don't touch it!" She swipes it from the ground. It's too late! Her eyes quickly sweep back and forth, reading, asking, "It says he knows you are here, Tris. Who is he?" My mind races to the night Peter wrote a similar message on the bathroom mirror at Tobias's old place in California. Another shiver ripples up my spine. Peter is dead. I killed him. I watched him stop breathing, and I watched him bleed out on the floor. He is dead, right? I repeat the mantra in my head, attempting to recall that night. My mind spins, I can't completely remember. My focus wasn't on Peter, it was on saving Tobias from Drew. I can't truly recall all the events that happened that fateful night. Confusion laces my voice, I whisper, shrugging my shoulders, "I don't know." Confusion crosses Tobias's eyes momentarily, looking at me with concern, he squeezes my hand reassuringly, "Peter is dead, Tris. This is someone else playing a sick joke on you." Fearfully, I ask, staring into his eyes, "How can you be completely sure? What if Peter is alive and well, or worse, what if this is Drew or someone higher up in the mob who wishes to avenge Peter's death?"

Tobias snaps, "Drew never had any issues with you, he was only Peter's muscle. You told me that yourself after the incident," wrapping his arm around my shoulders. Tobias's touch doesn't bring me any comfort like it normally would. I push his arm away, needing space. He softly sighs while I walk outside to sit on the porch, needing air to process everything that has taken place. Moments later, Will, Christina, and Tobias follow me out the door, not giving me the space, I was desperate to have. They all stand quietly behind me. Christina breaks the silence, first asking, "Why is the world spinning?" Will glances at her, concern evident in his eyes, he reaches for her hand, she stumbles toward him, and he helps her walk to the swing. He whispers, "Shut her eyes and lean against me." Moments of silence stretch between us, the only sound is the creaking of the swing. The creaking sends my mind into overdrive replaying the night I heard creaking in the house in California when Peter came to kill me. Will breaks my thoughts, commenting, "It was only a letter, Tris, I would put my money on it being someone who worked with Peter or for Peter. Someone who is trying to scare you for no good reason, they are probably not even in the state." When Peter's name hits my ears, another chill hits my spine, I curl into my myself, whispering, "Well, their plan worked. I'm terrified. I don't even want to leave the house now, especially if someone associated with Peter is after me again." Tobias sits beside me, placing an arm back around me, murmuring, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm going to protect you from whatever or whoever is trying to frighten you."

I snap at him, unable to withstand the pressure of the events of the morning. My mind drifting to his upcoming deployment, "You can't protect me when you aren't going to be around!" My mind racing to all the things that could happen while he is gone, and I'm left alone attempting to move to a new state with only Shauna for assistance. His face falls knowing I'm right, that I've won this argument, there isn't anything he can say which can bring me comfort. Christina interrupts quickly changing the subject, asking, her brow creasing with worry, "What type of poison was in the letter?" Will answers, "Can't be sure, but it did make Tris pass out when she opened it, and it made you dizzy. I believe we should have the letter and the poison tested at the lab; we were all exposed to it. We need to know what we are dealing with. I can drop it off at the hospital. I'm on my way there now for blood work and a physical. Tris, I think you should be checked out as well," Will grabs ahold of Christina's hand, Tobias glances at me, "I agree with Will, we should make a stop at the hospital to be on the safe side, even if it will make us run late." I roll my eyes at Will and Tobias, replying, "I feel better than I did when I woke up, but if it will make everyone happy than I will." Tobias grins, "It will." Chris quips an eyebrow, asking, "Where are you going after the hospital? Can I come with?"

I smirk, linking my fingers with Tobias's, pulling myself up from the step, "To work with Four, it is my punishment for finding him during training. Didn't I tell you about it?" She laughs, "That doesn't sound like a punishment for you. That sounds more like a punishment for Four. Will, can I go with you to your job?" She rapidly bats her eyelashes at him, back to her old self, he loudly laughs, "No, you wouldn't last five minutes on my schedule." She giggles, "Yes, I would!" Will grins, "Okay, if you want to join me at work, let's start with joining me in the mornings for a run for the next month." Chris smiles, "Deal!" Throwing her hand out to him, Will shakes it, nodding his head thoughtfully, muttering, "You won't make it past one week." Christina snaps, "William Kennedy, I heard that! Now, I'm going to set my alarm for tomorrow morning. What time are we getting up at?" Will grins, walking down the road, "Three-thirty in the morning, and we are exercising for an hour and a half." Christina moans, "Are you serious?" He laughs, not answering her question, continuing to tug her down the road toward their hotel. We stop in front of the small base hotel which they are staying at, he follows her into the lobby, returning a few minutes later wearing different clothing. Cocking my head, I ask, "How come, I have never seen you in a uniform? Are you sure you are in the Army?" He shrugs his shoulders, not answering my question, leading the way to the hospital.

At the hospital, I am quickly checked over by a healthcare professional, my vitals are taken, blood is drawn, questions are asked, and, as suspected, I am cleared for my workday with Tobias. Tobias mentions flying to the doctor who doesn't see any issues, clearing me for all activities. Zeke meets Tobias and I outside the hospital, grinning crossing his arms over his chest, "Trissy, what happened, did you fall trying to walk again, or did Four need something to help with his sour face?" Heat floods my cheeks, I smack him in the arm, answering, "No! None of the above!" Tobias rolls his eyes at Zeke, asking, "What's wrong with my face?" Zeke laughs, "You always look angry. I assumed you were constipated or something." Tobias loudly laughs, "You need better jokes. Nothing is wrong with my face. Ryan is just pushing my last nerve when it comes to Tris and always being around her." I giggle, "Are you jealous, Tobias Eaton?" Tobias shoots me a look like you know I am when it comes to Ryan, no matter how many times you tell me not to be.

Walking on the base between Tobias and Zeke, I feel awkward, out of place with two men who tower over me. I feel even more odd when people begin to salute, but then I recall both, Zeke and Tobias, are officers. Zeke glances around, asking, "Are you used to all the saluting yet?" I shrug my shoulders, not knowing how to answer his question. Tobias smirks at Zeke, grabs ahold of my hand while everyone stares around us. Zeke momentarily looks stunned that Tobias would do such a thing, then lightly laughs, before walking off in the opposite direction toward a brick building. I stand in shock, asking, "Aren't you going to get into trouble? Aren't you worried about who will see us?" My brain rapidly, recalling all the times Tobias has gotten into trouble for holding my hand while in uniform since coming onto this base.

He grins, his eyes alight with mischief, "I don't care. Let them all stare! I'm sick of hiding that you are my wife." A giggle escapes my mouth, "You are? You didn't seem to be the last time we discussed the issue," my heart races in my chest, I look into his eyes for confirmation. He doesn't want to hide our marriage anymore. He grins, "However, I have one favor to ask." I smile, "Anything, what is it?" He twirls me to his left side, "I need you to stand over here." Quipping an eyebrow, I ask, "Why?" He answers immediately, "In case, I need to salute someone of higher rank than me." We continue to walk down the road, I whisper, "I love you, Tobias, thank you." He glances at me, whispering, "I love you too, and I'm sorry, I should have done this sooner. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel like you were my dirty little secret, or like I wanted to hide our marriage. I was stupid, please forgive me." Standing on my tiptoes, I press my lips against his smooth cheek, murmuring, "Forgiven."

Rounding a corner near the airfield, I ask, "What made you change your mind about not keeping us a secret?" He scratches his forehead, I interject, "Let me guess, Ryan? Was it the other day, when we were at lunch, he carried my tray for me and opened the door to the cafe afterward? Or was it yesterday, during your meeting when he called Asshat out in front of the entire shop for something stupid, then asked him where his wedding ring was, if he was married, and wanted to know why he never wanted to be around his wife when she is in the shop?" Tobias laughs, "I must say, the guy is growing on me even though he is a pain in the ass especially after he called Asshat out as he did yesterday. O'Connell looked like he wanted to die from having to speak publicly in front of everyone to confirm he didn't have a wife. Then, Ryan calling him out in front of everyone for lying was pure gold. It made my entire month at the base." His eyes scan the surrounding areas, lowering his voice, he continues, "We have company." I glance in the direction to where Tobias is staring, to find two men walking across the field to Tobias, each man is wearing a different uniform. When the men approach closer, I attempt to pull my hand from his, but Tobias keeps a firm grip on my hand, keeping me firmly at his side. My eyes scan the two men, I whisper, "I recognize both of them."

Shock laces Tobias's whispering voice, asking, "You do? How?" His voice becomes louder, "You should know Ryan, but the other man, I have never seen before in my life. That might be the person we are training today from the Coast Guard. How do you know him, Tris?" Shrugging my shoulders, I whisper, glancing at Tobias from the corner of my eyes, "I'm not sure, but I have a feeling, I have met him before. He looks very familiar to me." Both men stand before Tobias at attention and salute. Ryan glances at our interlocked hands, a smirk plays across his lips, quickly it disappears, "Tris, Lieutenant Eaton, good morning."

Tobias playfully asks, "Anderson, are you stalking me?" Glancing at him. Ryan laughs, "No!" Looking like he wants to escape from Tobias's prying eyes. Tobias asks curiously, "Where are you off to in such a hurry?" Ryan points to the young man with short blonde hair and bright blue eyes, who is standing next to him, replying, "My friend, who is like a brother to me, just arrived from Virginia for some training with you and a visit with me. Before training, I was going to take him to the local DQ for ice cream and an early lunch." Tobias eyes the man, assessing him, asking, "Is this your first time at Andrews?" The man nods, "Yes, sir, this is my first time on this base. I'm currently stationed at Little Creek in Virginia Beach, Virginia" My ears detect a bit of a Scottish accent in his voice, my eyes skate across the man's chest searching for his name tape and what branch he is. I know his uniform isn't an Air Force one, but which uniform is he wearing? Ryan rolls his eyes at me before fully turning toward Tobias, smiling, "Sorry to interrupt sir, but, Tris, would you like to come with us to get ice cream." I smirk at the two men, my eyes glance upward to Tobias's questioning eyes. He waits for my answer, I respond, "Actually, Four and I have plans already."

Ryan and his friend's mouths drop open. Did I break another unwritten military rule? Ryan turns to me, staring, tugging me away from Tobias, whispering, "Tris, you can't call Lieutenant Eaton that in public! It's very disrespectful!" Tobias pulls me back toward his chest, away from the two men. Looking up, I stare into his eyes briefly. Confirmation passes through them, I beam, "Actually Ryan, you were right the other day. Something is going on between Eaton and me. I'm married to him, he's my husband, that is why you detected some favoritism during PT. I'm not married to Colonel O'Connell which is why he doesn't wear a ring and couldn't answer any of your questions at the meeting."

Ryan exclaims, "You're shitting me! At least something good came out of calling out Asshat and getting a LOR!" Tobias clears his throat, I smile interlacing my fingers with Tobias's, "Nope, I'm not shitting you!" Ryan smiles widely, "I knew something was going on between the two of you. You both couldn't keep your eyes off one another at lunch, ever. You should have seen them, Sam, it was like high school or something! Those two were the worst kept secret of the shop, everyone knew they had a thing for one another!" Suddenly, recognition dawns on me. The man with light blonde hair and blue eyes who stands over six feet tall in a solid navy-blue Coast Guard uniform, smirks at me. I shout with excitement, "Sam McKenzie!" Wanting to jump onto the man, who I haven't seen since before college graduation, who I have been trying to get a hold of through letters forever. It feels like I haven't seen him in a lifetime.

Tobias snaps, "That's Ensign McKenzie, Tris!" behind me, trying to act like he is maintaining control of a situation that is quickly slipping from his grasp. The pretense of being able to control me and going to work with him every day is a form of punishment. He continues, "Don't be disrespectful! Sorry, Mister McKenzie, Tris, isn't used to being around other military branches."

Sam winks, replying, "It's fine, Lieutenant Eaton, it isn't like Tris is really in the military. We went to high school together and were friends long before she started to date, Peter. I'm glad you finally managed to escape from under his thumb. Peter always hated me. Technically, you outrank me, sir, but please call me Sam." Tobias lifts an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes, crossing his arms. Sam continues stopping midsentence, "Lieutenant Eaton, we have met before, but you probably don't recall the meeting. . ." I cock my head, waiting for an explanation, wanting to ask Sam what he means, but I don't get a chance to ask him or Tobias. Tobias's eyes meet mine, giving me a look to drop it. Instead, I change the subject, "How are you? Why haven't you been returning my letters? I asked if you ended up joining the Coast Guard like you wanted to in High school." Sam's brow crinkles, responding, "I have been writing to you for years, every single time you wrote. Didn't you get my letters?" I nod my head, no, he sighs, "Except for the last letter, you never put a return address on it. I knew you had moved since you mentioned it, but I always sent them to Peter's address." Fucking Peter! I bet he took my letters! My mind flashes to images of Peter tearing up letters and tossing them into the garbage while I was walking into the house from work always saying they were junk mail when I asked. I sigh, "What did you end up doing in the Coast Guard? The last letter I received from you; you weren't sure if you were going to be allowed to become a pilot. Why are you only an Ensign? We graduated from college years ago."

"After college, I enlisted as an Aviation Survival Technician, and I had to put my time in as an enlisted member first before I was allowed to commission. I enjoyed my job of jumping out of helicopters, but I longed to actually fly them so I commissioned and finished my initial training a few months ago. I'm a helicopter pilot now, doing mainly search and rescue missions. I'm here to train on a new helicopter we are getting at Little Creek with Lieutenant Eaton doing flight simulations. Then, if he feels I'm ready, I can do a flight test. What do you think Prior, do you want to fly with me?" My cheeks heat at his question. How close in quarters are you in a helicopter? My mind quickly recalling the last time I flew with Tobias at Travis in his fighter jet.

"No thanks, Sam," I reply, changing the subject, "I'm happy for you. I know how much you always wanted to fly. It sounds like you have been doing a lot since college. I can't wait to hear all about it. I still remember the day you dropped the bomb on me and told me you wanted to be in the Coast Guard to fly in high school." Tobias looks on with confusion clouding his features, glancing at him, I ask, "Is Little Creek by Langley in Virginia?"

Tobias answers, "It's a little more than half an hour from where we will be living. Will and Christina will be stationed at Fort Eustis which is also half an hour from us." I squeal in excitement, launching myself at him, "This is the best assignment ever! I get to have all my friends in one place!" Tobias grins, wrapping his arms tightly around my waist, "Yes, it certainly is a great assignment." Twisting in Tobias's arms, I ask, "Sam, how long are you at Andrews for? We should catch up before you leave now that I have found you again." His smile falls from his lips, answering, "Only until tomorrow," my eyes connect with his, I smile, "That's fine, we can catch up in Virginia together. I'll be moving there in a couple of months with this guy," attempting to be optimistic, pointing to Tobias. Sam smiles like he knows I'm hiding a secret about something, or maybe he is hiding a secret, but I let it go. "Sounds like a plan. I can't wait to hear all about your life since the last time I spoke to you, and everything you never told me about in those letters during the years." He says, following Ryan across the sidewalk to their early lunch while I turn to follow Tobias toward the waiting jets.

Thoughts? Opinions? Thoughts on this new character Sam who I developed? If you go back and carefully read, Tris mentions Sam occasionally in passing, but now you get to meet him in the story. Who do you think sent the letter? If you were Tris would you be freaked out by the letter?The next chapter will be up sometime on the weekend of September 12, 2020. Until next time, everyone stay safe!