Convergent

Chapter Twelve

Tobias

She's still next to me when I wake up. I had loosened her straps once I was sure she had fallen asleep, so she could be comfortable, she didn't try to escape, but she did wriggle her arm out, and take my hand, the thought warms me inside, this tender gesture shows she still loves me, which right now, is a very comforting thought, I gently shake her hand off and walk over her, I undo her straps, and feel my heart in my throat when I see the red marks, from where she was tied too tight. I didn't want to leave her side, but Caleb said he thought he found a better way to remove her transmitters... He didn't. When I made my way back and saw all those scientists around her, I thought she was dead, I pushed my way through them, and when they tried to stop me, I knocked two out and sent the other running, then I saw she wasn't dead, she had woken up. She was screaming and struggling, my heart was racing, so many emotions were flooding me; relief, and joy, but also panic and terror, her body is wearing down, it cannot take any more stress. I walked over to her and tighten her straps, so she was forced to lie down, and tried to calm her down; telling her to relax, and that everything is okay, but she struggled harder, screaming about how I'm a traitor and how could I let them experiment on her, I was forced to tell her the truth, I wanted to wait until she was a little better but with the way she was struggling she would not get better, she would only get worse. I rubbed her back and gently eased her back into the bed, she finally let me, and I begged of her to stay here and mend, begged her not to leave me, I now know she won't leave me without putting up a fight. I sit on the edge of her bed, one arm behind her head, my thumb skimming her cheek, and the other massaging the red marks on her arms. She seems to relax a little, and I lean over and kiss between her eyebrows. For two years I thought I would never hold her again, never feel the warmth of her touch, never get the love of her kiss, but now I hold her again, and I never have to let go. She opens her bright blue eyes, and smiles faintly at me, shooting warmth down my spine.
"Morning-" I say and before she can respond I grab her head between my hands, tilting it up, and fitting my mouth to hers, gentle but insistently kissing her. Her hands are shaking as they wrap around my waist, and she pulls me closer. When we break apart we don't say anything, just sit there being comforted by each others presence.
"I guess today's the day." She says shakily, breaking the silence, what she doesn't say is "for me to be experimented on yet again."

"I promise you Tris, I won't let them hurt you, they are going to find out where the transmitters are, and remove them, so that you can get better. I won't let them experiment on you."

"But they are, aren't they-" She says tiredly "They are going to experiment on me to see exactly what makes me tick, and if we want them to remove the transmitters, there's nothing we can do about it." I don't know what to say, or how to comfort her, she's right, there's nothing I can do. She tries to sit up, and winces, which draws me back to reality.

"Here, let me help you." I keep her head steady with one arm, and press my other hand into the small of her back, she grits her teeth and pushes up, wincing, tears are streaming down her face.

"Shhhh it's okay, I've got you, I've got you. Here, Caleb gave me this for you, it's the same pain medicine you were given in Amity, take a dropper every twenty four hours." She gives me a grateful smile, but it is clearly forced, she is in a lot of pain. She squirts it into the back of her throat, and swallows.

"Thanks." A man wearing scrubs comes in.
"It's time." She says shakily and lies back down on the bed.

"I'll be there as soon as you get out." I hold her hand and walk with her until we reach the room where her surgery will take place, and stand there until her hand falls away and she rolls out of sight.
"I love you." I hear her call back.
"I love you too." I whisper after her.