Fighter

// nine \\

Four was not happy. He didn't want to go to meetings with some high company that could potentially increase his own profits drastically, he wanted to be at home with Tris and her family... the people he considered his family. He hated being away from them.

He rubbed his face, kicking off his shoes in the hotel and loosening his tie. He missed Tris' cooking a lot too, her home cooked meals had spoiled him.

He changed into his sweatpants and picked up the menu for Chinese delivery. It would have to do until he got to see Trissy.

He hummed, switching on the television to some random action movie before plugging up his phone before it died.

As he was eating from the traditional white containers and chopsticks, his phone rang and his mood lifted by one hundred. There was only one person that called him.

"Hi," he smiled ear to ear into the phone. He couldn't wait to hear Tris' voice.

"Daddy, Mommy fell and needs help," the frantic voice of Lyle came through the speaker of the phone.

His heart dropped and he sat on the edge of the bed as far as the charger could reach.

"Can you do me a big favor, buddy? Can you hang up the phone and call the numbers 911? Can you do that, and then call me right back? I'm coming as fast as I can."

He prays that Tris has taught them their address and how to work a phone as he shoves everything messily into his suitcase, getting in his rental and speeding to the airport with his hazards on.

"I need to get to Chicago as soon as possible," he told the lady at the front desk, hands shaking as his phone rang again.

"Is this Mr. Eaton?" a deep voice asks. "I'm Officer Pedrad from Chicago District Police Department. Beatrice Eaton seemed to pass out and hit her head and is on her way to the hospital. We're going to be waiting for you at your house with the kids until your available seeing as we cannot take them anywhere without your permission."

"I'm on my way as soon as possible," Four says, buying the plane ticket from the lady. It didn't leave until midnight meaning he wouldn't get home until two in the morning. "I'm in New York. I'll be there at two in the morning. How are my kids? Let me talk to them."

He could hear Milo and Stella wailing in the background and he panicked slightly. There was a stranger watching his kids and Tris was unconscious in the hospital, all while he was out of town.

----

He entered the unlocked front door quietly, peeking his head in to see the three all curled on the couch together, the officer sitting in the rocking chair with Evie in his arms.

He was a tall Olive skinned man with a lanky frame and bright teeth. He shook Four's hand and introduced himself as Zeke.

He rocked Evie and put her in her crib when the man left, walking downstairs to get Stella who mumbled and flopped like a fish.

Milo had tear stained cheeks and a frown. He was such a sweet, sensitive little guy who loved to play with Stella and her stuffies.

Lyle was awake when he came down, and he launched himself at Four, crying softly into Four's neck. "Daddy," he sniffled. Four didn't have it in him to correct him.

"Why are you crying? You were such a big boy, helping Tris just like you did. I'm so proud of you," he whispered, rocking him in his arms. "She's doing just fine because of you. We'll get to see her tomorrow after you sleep, okay?"

He had called the hospital for an update and they said she had caught a bug and was extremely underested. She had a concussion because of her fall, and would most like not wake up until mid-afternoon the following day.

Four would take care of her.