A/N: THIS IS PART TWO OF THE DOUBLE UPDATE. MAKE SURE TO READ CHAPTER TEN FIRST.

Rette collapsed onto her bed, exhausted from a three-hour training session with 17.  She groaned.  "Ughhhhh.  What did I get myself into?" she grumbled into her pillow.  Dare threw himself onto her bunk beside her, laughing.  He put an arm across her shoulders, placing a kiss on the top of her head.  She leaned into his touch easily, even though they'd only been doing this sort of... stuff... for less than a day. 

"I don't know, Waar."  He pressed his head onto her shoulder.  "I'm just annoyed that they brought us to the training room at nine in the evening.  I mean," he gestured a hand to his face, "I need my beauty sleep, and some people just can't understand that."  Dare turned his nose up, pretending to be one of the pretentious daughters of high-ranking officials and doctors.  Giggling, Rette got into character.

"Oh, I know, darling.  These people need to sort out their priorities." 

"They should elect us to the Council.  We'd make all the right decisions."  They erupted into a fit of giggles, soon cut off by the door opening.  

It was a girl, a little older than the two of them. Honey brown locks fell in ringlets to her waist, her hazel eyes wide.  If it weren't for the panicked expression on her face, she would've been beautiful.  In a strange way, she was, right then.  "Um," Dare slid his eyes to Rette's.  "Do we know you?"

She shook her head.  "No.  Not yet.  But I'm Riniya Almon. I'm a part of 13 with Keaton?" The two of them nodded, telling her that they knew what she was talking about. "Yeah, you need to come with me. Now. And we have go hurry."

They bounded to their feet. "What's going on?" Dare looked as lost as she felt.

"Keaton's been attacked."

•

Her breathing quickened, hand tightening around his. Jara's dark blue eyes had lost nearly all of their brightness. "Keaton, please stay with me. Please don't let go. Keaton." A tear slipped down her cheek. The first one in years. As Keaton's eyes slipped shut once again, the hand pressed against his cheek slapped him lightly, bringing him back.

Thankfully, when loading him onto a stretcher, Fallow had assigned her to be the one to keep him awake and responding. He squeezed her fingers, lightly. With all of his strength, it seemed. "Jara..." Her name was a sigh on his lips, barely audible, but her heart clenched all the same. She leaned forward, pressing her head against his chest. His heart was still going. Fortunately. She looked up, just to meet Martyz's gaze.  His hands were currently covered in blood.  They had been pressed to the gash in Keaton's neck.  "Jara," he uttered again.  "How bad is it?"  A pause.  "Brutally honest, please."

"Keaton..."  She was spared from having to answer when they barreled into the infirmary.  Sorsasta, in all her black-bloody glory, looked up, startled at the extensive crew with Keaton.  She whimpered at the sight of him.  When Jara moved her eyes to Keaton's again, she noticed that they were closed again.  "Oh no.  Keaton, wake up.  Please wake up!"  Her eyes started tearing. 

"Grewen.  Off," came Fallow's gruff voice from behind her.  Instantly, she jumped down from the gurney, watching as the best doctors in the world carried Keaton Sailor into an operating room. 

Somehow, that didn't make her feel any better. 

•

Her eyes threatened to flutter shut as her pen scratched across the page.  She knew she shouldn't have been doing her class work this late at night, but the stuff was just so boring.  Sighing, she pushed her notebook away from her, rubbing her temples. When her dad barged into their living room, where her desk was, she greedily accepted the distraction. At first, his eyes slid over her, but they soon came back, confusion evident. "Tyris. Darling, what are you still doing up?"

"Oh, I just had some tough class assignment." She waved the topic away. "But I might ask you the same question, Father."

"I, young lady, have to work," Nix said, bracing his hands on his hips. "But, I suppose you must know, as it may effect you."

She leaned forward, propping her head up on her hands eagerly. "Alright. I'm ready."

He paused, staring at his daughter, wanting to share the information, but at the same time, wanting to keep her in the dark. To keep her safe. "A subject was attacked by the Fence. One of my best students. He's in surgery now."

"Who was the subject?" Nix sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Tyris, it isn't like you know any of them anyway." He looked up, meeting her guilty eyes. "Unless you do," he said, realization dawning upon him. "How many times have I told you to stay away from them, Ty? I cannot believe you never listened to me. Who was it, Ty? Who is your new friend?"

"Dad, please. I don't want you to hurt him, because-" But then she stopped, biting her lip, realizing her vital mistake.

"Him? Him? You've been coercing with a male subject?" Venom dripped off of every word.

"Father, I'm sorry," she exclaimed, running shaky fingers through her blonde hair. "I met him on their Testing day. And we talked for a while after that. I really like him, Dad. But, recently, he's stopped trying to get in touch with me." Her expression became solemn. "I don't know why. I think he likes another girl. I saw them together in the hall once. All bright-eyed."

Nix, not at all ready for the influx of information, sat down hesitantly next to his daughter, allowing her a shoulder to cry on. "Well, um, boys are, uh, stupid. They don't... Look, Ty... This boy is probably feeling very conflicted. I mean, he likes this other girl, but you two had spent a lot of time together. Have you tried reaching out to him?"

"No."

"That's part of the problem. This is a two way street."

"Well... He did get hurt once, and I... withdrew. I stopped sending him notes." Nix turned to her, wishing she would meet his eyes, and see how uncomfortable she was, so he could get back to work.

"Yes, now if we could get back to the topic at hand. You had a question?" he reminded her.

"Oh, right! Who was it? The subject who was attacked?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Absolutely."

Again, he sighed. "I suppose, if you are this eager to know. His name is Keaton Sailor." She sucked in a gasp, paling at an alarming pace, frightening her father enough that his eyes bugged. "That boy you like. It's Sailor... Isn't it?" She didn't respond, only confirming Nix's suspicions.

"Oh boy..."

•

Dare sat rigid in the plain waiting room, strong arms wrapped around a crying girl. He didn't judge her. He knew he'd be doing the same thing if there someone there to hold him. "Do-do y-y-you think he'll be a-al-alright?" she asked between sobs. He wished he could've told her that Keaton would make it through the surgery with zero problems.

But Dare couldn't lie to her. He refused to do that. "Honestly, Waar? I have no clue." That only caused the girl to hold on tighter. "But you know Keaton as well as I," he said, desperately trying to counsel her. "He's a fighter. He'll fight as hard as possible to come back to us."

"Yeah," she replied, voice slightly muffled by Dare's shirt fabric. "I know what you mean."

Hours later, or what feels like eternity, Dare and Rette awake, necks stiff. Jara stood above them, circles beneath her eyes.

"He's out of surgery," she said. "And he's okay.  He's alive."

•

A/N: YAY! DOUBLE UPDATES!!!! And, oh my god, I feel obligated to apologize for all of these bad cliffhangers. First, Nix telling them that the subjects are patrolling right away, and then Keaton being attacked, and then this.  At least, this chapter's end isn't too bad.  But, yeah.  I really got to stop with these sucky cliffhangers.  So... Nix is great at giving advice to Ty.  During her super small homework scene, the whole time, I was thinking that she was me.  Yes!  Procrastination!!!  But not for updates.  Never for updates.  I mean, I just did two.  That's a lot for a Master Procrastinator. 

Until next time...
Your procrastinating friend, Jordan