A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~eighty-six~

Chapter 86

Before Tobias and I reach Tori's room, we can hear her. She's screaming, hissing, and cussing loudly at whomever is obviously trying to help her. Zander bursts through the set of double, thick, wooden doors into the trauma examination room but as they swing shut, one sticks on a protruding tile not allowing it to close all the way. We linger in the hallway, able to see and hear everything that's going on but part of me wishes that I didn't have to see what I'm seeing. Whatever Molly did to Tori made her feral like a wild animal. She's thrashing about on the bed, screaming for everyone to get away from her. Her eyes are wide and wild. She's clawing at her skin and hospital gown trying to get some unseen thing off of her. She definitely isn't the Tori I have known for more than a year now.

"I've got to get out of here," I say as I reach up and take Peanut out of Tobias' arms, not wanting Tori's suffering to touch her any more than it already has. I walk across the hallway, kicking the heavy doors with my foot, which close behind me with a thud. I cross to the far side of the large room and sit down on the bed, double thinking sending everyone home one short hour ago. It would be nice to have someone to talk to right now instead of listening to the muffled sounds coming from Tori's room. I look down at Peanut whose eyes are on me. "How are you feeling, my sweet baby girl? Zander says you have an ear infection. He gave Mommy and Daddy some medicine that should make you feel better really soon. I'll give you some before the next time you eat." She stares up at me, her little brows furrowed so I caress her head and smooth out the lines with my thumb. "Why don't you go back to sleep or are you getting hungry again?" I run my finger down her cheek, and she turns her head towards it and opens her mouth. "Hungry it is." I gently lay her down beside me then pull the diaper bag to me, which I sat on the end of the bed. I dig out a new diaper and the wipes. I look up when I hear the door open.

"Are you alright, love?" Tobias asks as he pulls a chair up beside the bed and sits down.

"Oh, baby, don't worry about me," I say as I finish up with Peanut's diaper. "How is Tori?"

"She's resting at the moment," he says. "Zander had to give her a strong sedative to calm her down. It took a while to take effect but once it did, her blood pressure and heart rate finally came down. It's the first time that's happened since she was found. Zander thinks it's a good sign."

"Peanut's hungry again," I say as I pick her up. "I wanted to give her the antibiotic before I nursed her. Can you go to the pharmacy and get it?"

"Of course," he says. "Will you be okay here alone?" I smile blandly at him.

"Are you going to be okay walking to the pharmacy on your own?"

"Okay, okay," he says with a smirk. "I'll be right back." He gives me a swift, soft, love-filled kiss then heads back out the door.

"Daddy will be right back with your medicine then I'll feed you," I say when she starts fussing. "I promise." I gently bounce her in my arms as I await Tobias' return. He isn't long.

"Here you go," he says as he hands me the filled dropper.

"Thank you," I say. I put the dose of antibiotic in Peanut's mouth and after she swallows it down, I put her to my breast. Once she latches on, she acts like she hasn't eaten every two hours today. "I have to apologize for leaving you standing in the hallway like that," I say. "I couldn't stay, listening to her suffering."

"You have nothing to apologize for," he says. "I wanted to tell you to go but I'm trying to be thoughtful of your feelings. I don't want you to think that you're not included."

"And I love you for that," I say.

"Only that?" he flirts. A knock on the door startles us, and I quickly throw a blanket over Peanut's head as Zander walks into the room.