Chapter 12 - Return

— Tobias

I find that most of my time is spent at the hospital, or at the Main Building. Currently, wherever I go, Indy comes with.

As I walk into the Main Building, Josh calls out my name, waving me over to follow him. I let Indy's leash go and he runs up to tackle Josh in love.

"I was actually coming to find you too," I say walking into his office. He stands near the window across from the door that overlooks the Pire. People pass below as they go on with their daily activities, and I yearn for a normal life like theirs.

Soon. I tell myself. Soon, she will be here with you, and you won't be going back and forth every day, and you two can settle down.

"Okay, you go first."

"It's about Tris. I'm worried about her going through Initiation again, because of that being the rule since she has no family here. She is going to be most likely released from the hospital next week and her family in Abnegation is in no state to take her and—"

"Okay, I changed my mind. Let me go first," Josh interrupts me.

"But Josh, she is all I have! Can't whatever you need to tell me wait? This is all that is on my mind right now and I'm worried—"

"Four." He pauses as I stop talking again. "It would be an honor to have her back in Dauntless. I called you in here to ask when the next time you go and visit her will be, because I want to go with."

I don't reply, I only stare at him. He continues to speak.

"She doesn't really know me, so I figured it would be better if you are there too, and, Erudite Med is a nasty place to try and navigate."

"I don't know what to say," I admit in shock.

He smiles, "you don't have to say anything."

+    +    +

"No Indy today?" Josh smiles lightly as I enter the room. He stands, our heads being at the same level, except his dark blonde hair is slightly longer than my dark brown.

"I've been taking him everywhere for quite a few weeks now, and Mom said she would watch him for today. She hasn't seen him in a while."

We busy ourself talking about the strange differing of leaderships in the other factions, and the Josh changes the subject.

"I don't want to surprise you with this later," he hands me a folder, "But Tris is required to go on trial again before she comes home, and she has to sign these under the serum. Before you flip shit on me, let me tell you I'm angry."

I read through the papers, skimming random lines:

I agree to never be in an area with weapons alone.

I agree to never take a leadership position.

I agree to not carry a gun with me at all times, unless under sonata that supervision.

I agree never join a battle squad.

I agree to never take an instructor position.

I agree to go on trial as frequently as I am asked to do so with no complications.

I agree to not flaw the system.

The list makes me shiver as I read on, for it seems to never end.

"Why is she required to agree to this?"

"Because I'm allowing her back into the faction without having to go through initiation again. It's not right."

"People come back all the time that aren't forced to go back through initiation. Look at Peter for example: he and Tris are about the same age, they went through the exact same initiation class, and she scored what, five places higher than him in the final results...?"

"Four," he sighs, running his hand through his blonde hair, "I'm just trying to keep West off of her ass. He got all of the other leaders except for us and Abnegation to believe that she is potentially dangerous from some connection that she has to New York and David."

I don't reply and he continues, "I'm sure as the years go on we all can slowly phase the requirements on this sheet into nothing without anyone caring. A lot of things on here she probably won't even involve herself with for the first year or maybe even two that she is back. Please just don't be mad at me Four..."

"I know it's not your fault. I appreciate that you actually try, and we're lucky to have a leader like you and not one of these other dumb shits that do things like this."

+    +    +

— Third Person

"I really do believe I can release you this week, Tris." Doctor Scott exclaims, smiling widely. "You're getting around great on the crutches, everything in your leg looks as good as it's going to get, and you've gained about thirteen pounds this past month. Although gaining another thirty pounds would do you better, I'm sure getting around will give you some muscle mass that you don't have right now."

Tris smiles lightly, concerned about what home she even has that she can be released to.

Marie does not know about Tris's visitor coming later, and how her life will soon change forever; how the walls that she stares at for that afternoon, and every longing day before that, will not be the walls she sees for the rest of her life.

There was a soft rap on the door, and Tris knew instantly from the sound that it was Tobias.

She always is listening, comparing the differences in sound among people in case her sight was to leave her again.

She smiles as Tobias walks in the room, but then feels her eyebrows furrow as a tall blond man walks in behind him.

Her first instinct is to panic. A strange man she does not know has entered the area she feels safe in, and yet, she's as vulnerable as she may ever be.

Tobias sees the fear and confusion in Tris's eyes and speaks as he moves over to her.

"Tris, this is my coworker, and well, boss, Josh." He motions from Tris to Josh, "Josh, this is my girlfriend, Beatrice Prior."

Josh puts his hand out for Tris to shake, which she shaking my does. He is gentle to not squeeze her hand too hard, seeing how fragile her bony hand is.

"Four has told me so much about you, Beatrice. I'm so glad I finally am getting to meet you in person."

Tris puts on a smile, trying to hide her panic from deep down inside, "Thanks, and it's just Tris." She says in a soft manner.

"I think Four forgot to mention it," Josh speaks as Four sits next to Tris on the hospital bed, taking her hand in his, "But I'm the current leader of Dauntless. If you are willing, I really wanted to come to you today to talk about your return to Dauntless, of course, only if you are interested."

She sits still, unmoving, in utter shock.

After what seems like decades, her head slightly nods, encouraging him to continue speaking.

"Before you are released from the hospital, all of the faction leaders have voted on you going on trial again before being released into Dauntless. It is what all of the others rescued had to go through, and they expect you to do the same if you are well enough to leave the hospital. Don't worry though, I've been working my ass off to get them off your ass, and this will be a private trial unlike the public riot that happened last time."

Tris nods and he continues.

"This is where the controversy began when the leaders met over this. Mind you, all the faction leaders are not who they were before you left the city. I can be pretty sure that I am right when I say you know none of them. Anyways, Amity, Abnegation, and of course Candor voted for you to have to sign this agreement of things you will not do if you are released back to Dauntless. Mind you, I think this is bullshit, but it was a three to two vote, so we aren't left with much say. However, Abnegation and especially Amity are very easy to sway once you get out into the world and maybe do some services at the factions to show who you really are and not who Candor says you are."

He hands her the paper, "You'll be required to sign it while under the influence of truth serum at your trial which is scheduled at the end of the week. I got permission for you to look at the commands ahead a time to see if this is something you're willing to do. Like I said, I think it's bullshit, but give it time. I can almost promise that it won't be permanent as long as I have a say."

"Alright," Tris nods, accepting the paper.

"So, as I conclude my babbling, I guess there really only is one more thing you haven't answered yet."

"Would you like to return to Dauntless?"

A/N

Hey guys... well, first authors note of AFY.

First off I want to apologize for the randomized Friday updates. I started off weekly, then it turned to every other Friday, now, god knows what this update schedule even is.

I just want to thank y'all for sticking around with me, the fandom, this fanfic series, and this crazy ass "schedule" that I've been posting too. You guys are the best.

4.89k reads!

That's all for now...

All the love,
Kat