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Hana blows out a breath as she stands up from looking at the microscope. She and Will had been over the data on the flash drive countless times. Tris had given her and Will the idea to use the blood of everyone who was on the task force who was divergent in the serum. She had used Natalie, Uriah, Amar, Tris, and her own blood against the sample antidote she and Will had manufactured. This was the 5th version and it still wasn't working.
"It's still not working is it?" Tori asks she picks up a folder reading over the information.
"I'm not a chemist, I know a good deal, and so does Will but it's not our true strength…"
"It's not my strong suit either but I've seen a lot of responses to the aptitude test serum and I remember some things from working in the lab with my parents before I transferred," Tori asks as she comes into the lab. Hana and Will had asked her so many questions, both of them taking notes and looking deep in thought as they processed her answers.
Will looks up from his notes, equally as frustrated as Hana that they weren't able to figure this out.
"The cells are still not bonding with the antidote…" Will sighs.
"We've followed everything outlined, but we are missing something…" Hana frowns moving to the side so Tori can look into the microscope.
"Maybe because Jeanine is using stem cells the compound is reacting to the blood differently. If we could get our hands on one dose that might give us the answer. When I administered the aptitude test, it was more than just seeing the final result, I could see how divergent responded differently in real-time. Have you considered looking at the compounds of the fear simulation serum? The base might be the same" Tori offers.
Hana and Will both grin wide as they look at Tori. She was onto something.
"Hey, what's wrong? You've been quiet all evening" Max asks Natalie as they settle in bed for the night and he pulls her against his chest.
"Nothing, just tired" she lies, still distracted.
Max leans down and kisses her on the forehead.
"I know you are worried about Caleb, but try not to. Amar's going to check in on him soon and I will get him here" Max reassures her.
Natalie smiles. Yes, she was worried about her son but there was something else on her mind.
"I met with Hana today and I think we need to find out how to get in touch with Cara…she holds to key to Hana and Will cracking the mystery on this serum"
Can you get her out of Erudite?"
He sighs. It would be tough, but she could be the only option they had to create an antidote for Jeanie's serum.
"It would be tough…Do you have a way to contact her?"
Natalie shakes her head, she had always communicated with hidden messages under a specific marker in the factionless section when she and Evelyn met with Cara.
They talk for a few more minutes and Max eventually falls asleep and Natalie says in his arms even though she is still awake.
"A baby…we're having another baby," She thinks. That's what had been on her mind all evening. She couldn't raise a baby Factionless, she would never put her child through that but what did that mean for her and Max?
She was going to have to tell him, she just couldn't bring herself to right now.
"God I missed you" Tobias moans as he fumbles with the buttons on Tris' shirt and she unbuckles his pants.
"It's only been two days" Tris giggles as she toes off her shoes.
"Way too long..." He admits as he moves to unhook her bra.
"Tobias…." Tris gasps as he attacks her neck. A few days before he had pulled her into the closet in the training room and had his way with her. She wanted nothing to get lost in him but couldn't spend all night with him.
Within minutes their remaining clothes are scattered over the floor and Tris is sprawled out across her bed. Tobias gives her a long kiss that makes her whimper. He was going to make sure he took his time, to show her how much he cared.
Tobias starts to kiss his way down her legs, to settle between her thighs, intent on making her tremble with his mouth.
"We have to be quick…. I only have until dinner" She moans.
The words are a bucket of cold water for him. He pulls back and sits up, wiping his hands over his face, the frustration evident.
"What's wrong?" Tris asks as she sits up and leans on her elbows.
"Tris, I can't do this anymore…. Not like this" Tobias tells her honestly.
Every time she went to talk with Lynn about their relationship, things just went left. They would start arguing and then Lynn would apologize and want to play nice but she still hadn't pulled the trigger to break up with her.
"Tobias, I…" She starts, not sure what to say to explain herself.
"Tris, I love you, you know that and I don't know what I was expecting…but it wasn't this, I don't want to keep sneaking around and hiding" Tobias moves to grab his clothes. He'd done it with Shauna and that had been okay but he was tired. He looked at Zeke and Tori and now Uriah and Christina. He wanted that with Tris, go on a date in public, spend the night together, and make her breakfast in the mornings.
"I'm in love with you too" She blurts out quickly pulling the sheet over her.
Tobias sighs as he zips up his pants, stopping and placing his hands on his hips.
"Then why are you still with Lynn, Tris? As soon as you and I slept together, I stopped sleeping around, Why can't you do the same thing? "
"Because this is complicated, I haven't just been sleeping with Lynn, we were together… well are together…" Tris says stumbling over her words. " I don't want to hurt her, I don't know how to do this..," Tris says softly, feeling her eyes burn as tears threaten.
"You can't just keep saying that Tris, no one knows everything, decide what you want and stick to it. You can't keep stringing both of us along" Tobias spits out angrily as he grabs his shirt and angrily pulls it on. In his heart, he had hoped Tris would walk away from Lynn, and they would be together, it didn't need to be complicated. Things had been so simple with Shauna, they were clear and straightforward with each other about everything.
He'd thought that with everything he and Tris had been through together, she would choose him. He needed to put some space between them. If she loved him, she needed time to end things with Lynn, not keep up these secret meetings.
"I need some space, I'll see you at work," Tobias tells her gruffly without looking at her.
"Tobias please don't go, It's just... " Tris pleads stumbling over the bedsheet as she jumps up following Tobias as he walks to the door.
"I know what I want Tris, it's you, it's always been you. I've been honest with you about that but you need to be honest with yourself. If you want Lynn and not me, It's going to hurt me more than you'll ever know. I'll move on but I can't keep doing this."
"Please, Tobias...
Tobias doesn't look at her, he grabs his keys and walks out the door. Tris flinches as the door slams. She needed to realize that Lynn was going to be hurt. The Abnegation parts of her hated having to choose between Tobias and Lynn, she was being selfish holding on to both of them. She sinks down on the couch, still naked with the bed sheet wrapped around her, and cries.
As the team gathers in the conference room next to Max's office, Tris sits next to Christina and looks at Max. Tobias was avoiding her still and she didn't dare look at him. It had been three days since he stormed out on her and she was an emotional mess.
"What's going on with you two?" Christina leans over and whispers to Tris noticing the change in the dynamic between Tris and Tobias.
Tris bites her lip and shakes her head. Christina is about to push when Max walks in. They had started using a scrambler just in case any bugs got past them but they had been rotating all the maintenance and cleaning staff and checking every office first thing in the morning just to be sure.
"As we look at the landscape and prepare for refugees I want one last scouting mission done before the impending snowstorm as we move the Candor leadership here to Dauntless. All of the refugees will need to be vetted once we start moving others. Christina, you will take the lead on that. We can't take a chance of someone getting behind the line that could be a traitor. Everyone agreeing to enter will need to be housed in this section here." Max says pointing to the map on the large conference table.
Christina shifts in her chair and nods. She locks eyes with Uriah who gives her an encouraging smile.
"The gates between here and the safe zone should be heavily guarded. Everyone entering the safe zone will also agree to be searched for any weapons, explosives, or technology. I don't put it past Erudite or factionless to sneak something in." Harrison adds.
"What about Candor?" Zeke asks.
"The same goes for them. Jack and his leadership team and their families will be given diplomatic immunity and can be housed here in this wing of the compound. Jack and Niles will take rooms that we have open on the Leadership Training floor. I'd prefer not to move all of the Candor at once but if we don't allow them access to the safe zone, they could be used as hostages. We will focus on moving any additional refugees after the snowstorm"
"Can we house all of them in the safe zone?" Amar asks, looking at the map and then the papers in front of him.
"No but Amity will take some as well," Harrison confirms.
"And what about Abnegation…." Tris asks, crossing her arms.
"Any council members will be allowed here or in Amity, If and only If Marcus and Andrew cooperate with providing information on Erudite's plans will they be given immunity. If and only if they do, will Andrew or Marcus be allowed in the compound. They can go to Amity for refuge." Max gritted his teeth as he said the words. Tris could see the way Tobias clenched his jaw but she also breathed a sigh of relief. There was no way her father would let Marcus or Andrew near them and she was grateful for it.
"We know firsthand that they have a part in this. Let them fend for themselves with Erudite if they don't cooperate." Max adds, looking at Tobias who nods in agreement.
"What about the train? Could we transport groups from Abnegation and Candor that way?" Uriah asks.
"I anticipated them attempting to blow up the tracks, but if the train stops running it benefits us more than them. We could still barricade and prevent them access to Amity so I don't think they will do that. We just need checkpoints at entry and stop the train before it gets to Erudite. But trying to load people on the train who aren't used to jumping wouldn't work. We will need a line that would take fire and allow any refugees time to get to designated transport vehicles. It won't be pretty but people will need to move fast." Harrison tells the group. It was risky but it was the best chance they had to move people to the safety zone. "Amity has agreed to the same checkpoints. Fence guards will split between the checkpoints and fence duty"
"How will we prep those in Abnegation willing to leave?" Tori inquires.
"Amar and Zeke will take the lead, Caleb Prior is our inside to Abnegation, he will be prepared to help"
"What about the Erudites who are innocent?" Will asks and several people nod in agreement.
"We have to deal with the threat first. Once we destabilize Eruidte then we can support them. It's the cost of war." Tobias tells the group. He, Max. Harrison, Chavis, and Victoria had gone round and round about that but finally, all came to support the decision.
"What about the extra people? If any refugees want to fight, what do we do?" Zeke asks the group.
"Then we will train them. Amar, you will be in charge of that. If they don't pass your criteria, they don't fight." Max informs them and Amar nods in understanding.
"These are your scouting mission assignments for Thursday night and the transfer will occur on Friday. That's two days for us to prepare. I want to pair up with people in a few different ways. Use each other's strengths. We need to see what we are missing so Erudite can't surprise us. Be on the lookout for factionless activity, and any abnormalities. I'm hoping that by sending three smaller teams into different areas we can slip in and slip out" Max commands.
Everyone nods.
"Christina, Uriah, I want you two here. I want you to focus on how the factionless are moving near Candor for the first part of the mission. Then you will move to support the Candor Leadership Transfer. We will move out at 6 am sharp and you need to be in position here." Max points to the map and he and Christina look down. " We should pass here no later than 6:30. If there is any attack on the motorcade with Jack, you do what you do best, Uriah."
Uriah nodded in understanding. He was a sniper, he could hit anything.
"After we pass, you will meet up with the patrol unit to ensure that no one follows."
"Tris and Tobias, you two are going to be here, I want to see how far out they've moved" Max indicates as he points at another section of the map.
"Will, Zeke, I want you two further this way, we want to see if there are any ways into Erudite because in Phase 2 of the plan we need to move in and out unnoticed"
"Hana, I need you and Tori to keep working on that antidote. Everyone will be on the lookout to see if we can get our hands on more information regarding the serum. Jack has agreed to bring Candor's truth serum for you to analyze. Uriah will retrieve peace serum from Amity on his next visit from Johanna so you can study the make of it. We are also going to try and reestablish contact with the informant inside Erudite to see if we can get her to Dauntless"
Will and Hana look at each other, and nod. They knew this was exactly what they needed after providing Max with their latest update.
'Amar and Chavis, you two will head towards Abnegation, and see if anything is stirred up in that section. Check-in with Caleb and discuss the plans with Marcus and Andrew. You will then rendezvous with the envoy at Candor in the morning"
"Harrison and I will lead the convoy from Candor, and Victoria is going to stay here, along with Hana and Tori as a backup if anyone needs help. Any questions?"
Max had been clear in his instructions and the group dispersed to start planning to head out that evening. Max grabs Christina and Uriah before they leave.
"Christina, I wanted to let you know that I spoke with Jack. Your mother and sister will be joining us here in Dauntless"
"Really?" Christina whispers, her heart fluttering with happiness as Uriah smiles.
"Yes, I insisted, especially with everything you have done for Dauntless. If I am protecting my family, I'm going to protect yours. If we are going to rethink how this city works, this is a way to start. Stephanie will be working with Jack on the legal side of things safely here in Dauntless on how to hold Erudite, Marcus, and Andrew accountable for their actions"
Before Max can say anything else, he's almost knocked over as Christina wraps her arms around him. He smiles and returns her hug while Uriah smiles.
"Thank you so much, you didn't have to do this," Christina says trying to fight back tears. It had been so hard for her to leave her mother and sister with how close they were. Even though she had received a Dauntless test result and loved being in Dauntless, it hadn't stopped her from missing her family.
"We look after our own," He tells her. He gives Uriah a pat on the shoulder as he walks to speak with Harrison, leaving Uriah and Christina smiling.
Tris takes a deep breath and looks in the mirror. Lynn had gone back to the fence and now they were having dinner before Tris left for her scouting mission. She knew ending things with Lynn was the right decision, she had to be brave and face the consequences of her actions. She suggested to Lynn they have dinner at her place so they could be alone.
Tris was so conflicted. She hadn't spoken to Tobias about anything other than work for the past two days now and it was killing her. He kept his comments short and specific to their scouting mission or anything Max asked them to complete. Other than the year they spent apart, she had never gone this long without talking to him. Things had never been so tense and awkward between them. She missed him terribly. It was starting to wear her down. She had to make a decision, pick one and she was terrified to hurt one of them. Tobias's words from the last night they spent together rang in her head. He loved her, and no one would ever love her like he would.
A knock at the door causes Tris to shake her arms and legs to draw out the last of her jitters.
"They had your favorite beef stew in the dining hall tonight" Lynn smiles as she lifts the take-out bag. "And I stopped off at Uriah's for some of this new flavor he and Zeke created."
They eat, discussing Lynn's recent trip to the fence and Lynn can tell Tris is nervous throughout the meal. Tris gathers all her courage finally deciding to get out what she needs to say.
"I wanted to talk tonight…" Tris starts but suddenly she's hit with a wave of nausea. She jumps up and runs to the bathroom, throwing up all the contents of her dinner.
"Babe, you okay?" Lynn asks with concern. She noticed Tris seemed off through dinner, now chalking it up to the scene before her.
"I don't know what's wrong…" She mumbles as she vomits again.
Lynn moves quickly wetting a washcloth with cool water and helping Tris get cleaned up. She has them lay on the bed with Tris' back against her chest and the washcloth on her forehead.
"Thank you," Tris tells her after a while and it feels like her stomach is settled.
"Feeling better?" Lynn asks, rubbing her hands up and down her arms in a comforting motion.
"Yeah, I'm so embarrassed, I don't know where that came from. Thanks for taking care of me"
"It happens, must have been something you ate. Besides, you're a cute patient" Lynn tells her softly and kisses her cheek.
Tris closes her eyes again for a moment not wanting to get up too quick, still feeling a bit queasy.
"I think your breasts are bigger" Lynn comments as she cups one gently. She's been looking at Tris, studying her as she dozed slightly the past hour.
"Hmmm, they've been sore this week," Tris confirms.
"It should be time for your period, that's probably why"
"Yeah, maybe that's why," Tris says absentmindedly.
"I'm going to go home and take a shower. Unless you want me to stay…" Lynn offers, seeing Tris start to dose off again.
"No, I think I want to just sleep since I have a long few days ahead of me. I'm sorry" Her intentions for the evening faded away, she just wanted to close her eyes and stay in bed.
"Don't be, you don't feel well, I'll see you when I get back from the fence, Luckily I'll be here when the blizzard is supposed to hit, so maybe we can spend some time alone"
When Lynn goes to shower Tris lays in the bed still thinking when she sits up with a start.
"I was supposed to get my period last Saturday…." she whispers out loud in a panic. She counts on her fingers, biting her lip and she realizes how late she is. She'd never been late before.
"Fuck...I'm so stupid..." she groans and flops back on the bed.
Christina had chattered on when they had lunch together the week before about her birth control even though she and Uriah weren't having sex yet. She had asked a few questions that Christina happily answered but now she realized just how careless she and Tobias had been. She thought back to all the times they had been together. She had blushed when Christina explained why she needed to go grab some more condoms. She had never even seen one before Christina showed her and gave her a quick explanation. She had intended to talk to her Aunt Hana about things but never got around to it. They had never once used a condom and she wasn't on birth control like Christina was.
Did this mean she was pregnant? Is this what happened when you were pregnant? Or was it something else? If she was, she would have to deal with Lynn and Tobias now one way or another, the question was how.