"I'm sleeping, and right in the middle of a good dream

like all at once I wake up

from something that keeps knocking at my brain

Before I go insane

I hold my pillow to my head

and spring up in my bed

screaming out the words I dread

'I think I love you!'

~~~~~~~~~~

Tris sprang up and slapped her hand over her mouth, locking back the scream that tried to force it's way out of her throat. She hated waking up like this, but she had been having these dreams, these nightmares, for close to three months.

They had started out once every two weeks or so about two months before she had broken it off with Four. They had been together for about six months after she had passed initiation and she had found him to be... less than she had hoped for. Tris had come to Dauntless to be herself, not get caught back up in Abnegation rules.

The breakup was... messy to put it nicely. Tris had, after moving her things out of their apartment and into Christina's, told him, bluntly and clearly, that she was done. He hadn't understood. In the weeks that followed, he spied on her, wherever she went. From the safety of the control room, he had tried to control her life. It did not go well.

Tris had informed Max, who had been training her to step into a leadership roll, and Max had given her leave to do what she felt needed to be done. Tris had marched herself to the control room and stripped Four of his clearance to be there before she kicked his ass. She had done it in such a way that she couldn't be questioned. Four was abusing his power, and misusing Faction resources He had been lucky to not be branded a trator and killed, or worse, made factionless.

A month after that, when Four had finally learned to leave her alone, the dreams had started to pick up. At first, Tris just throught she was horny, and who wouldn't be when she roomed with Chris and Will who went at it like rabbits. Sure she questioned why Eric of all people played the leading roll in those dreams but... she didn't try to analyze it.

She had moved out after the fifth dream and gotten her own place. It hadn't helped and she dreamed erotic encounters and sweet romances between her and Eric more frequently. At this point it was every other night and people, Eric, had started to notice that she was sleeping less than she should be. Just the other day the arrogant jerk and come into her office to give her paperwork and caught her in the midst of a cat nap. He woke her up and told her that it would ruin her back if she slept hunched over her desk before he left.

Fuck, it was all so annoying! Why was she dreaming about him and why was he noticing she wasn't sleeping well? Why couldn't she... her office door opened and Max stepped in, looking concerned. "Eric tells me you haven't been doing to hot Tris. wanna tell me whats going on?" He asked.

Tris made a face, he rated on her to Max? What the actual hell? "It's nothing, just a few rough nights is all," she replied as she tried to straighten out her desk and look busy.

Max eyed her sternly and shook his head. "Eric wouldn't have brought it up if he wasn't truly concerned Tris. Maybe you should head to the infirmary and see if they can't give you something to help."

Tris hadn't thought to go to the infirmary but... maybe it would help? She nodded and stood up. "Alright Max, I'll go see the specialists," she said with a tired smile.

The older man grinned at her and held the door open for her as she exited her office. "Wonderful, Eric will escort you," he said just as Eric walked out of his office, a sandwich in his mouth and looking completely caught off guard. Tris had to blink for a moment when she saw him looking so bewildered and lost it was almost... cute.

"Wat?" Eric asked around the mouth full of food and Tris had to fight an indulgent smile. He may be big and scary and mean for the most part but even inked and pierced the way he was he could still be adorable apparently.

Tris violently shook her head as Max smiled at him. "Eric, you're being volentold to take Tris to medical. Make sure she gets there safe and all that. After, please make sure she gets to her apartment safely as well"

"Max," Tris protested, "I can get from point A to point B and point C on my own. I'm a big girl."

Eric, who had forced down the over large bite of food he'd had in his mouth, nodded. "Yeah, you're all grown up and out of initiation but you're still pretty short from what I see." He smirked at her and she had to remind herself that she was sleep deprived and that was the only reason she thought it made him look attractive. He turned to Max, "I'll make sure the little princess gets where she needs to be." He promised.

Tris scowled at Eric as he headed down the hall before cutting a betrayed look to Max and hurrying after the long legged jerk.Max smiled at their retreating backs aand wondered when either of them would admit they liked each other. He laughed to himself as he returned to his office listening to Tris shout at Eric that he needed to slow down. He faintly heard Eric's reply that she needed to grow taller so she could keep up. He would tell the other leaders about it during dinner and they'd all have a good laugh over it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay so these are gonna be pretty short. This idea has been bouncing around in a note book for like... um... well... huh, I was in my last year of high school when this one was "born" so it has been a while. Anywho... do enjoy.