Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth.

Writer's note: Thank you Sassy, Goddess, Hufflepuff, Navywife, and Roxhall for your reviews! I'm sad to say there won't be a thruple in this story, but that's an interesting idea. Lukas is an asshole, probably more so than Peter. There are some mysteries it seems. Well, hope everyone enjoys the new chapter. Just in case I can't get this posted up tomorrow! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

Bella woke up in sick bay. She was laying in a bed, and she had an IV in her arm. Probably for dehydration. Tris was sitting by her side, and when Bella opened her eyes, Tris shot forward.

"Bella!" Tris called to her.

Bella groaned a little, pain radiating in her skull. "Don't shout."

"I'm just so happy you're awake. It's been three days."

"Three days?" Bella said with a frown. "Lukas knocked me out good then.

"Yeah. But why did you let him do it?" Tris asked, her voice soft.

Bella shook he head a little. "I didn't." She said. "How's the board look?"

"You're 11th. Jasper is 12th now after losing out to Lukas too. I'm still the same, Christina went down one, Will, took her spot. Al… Al is worse too." Tris relayed.

Bella sighed. "Yeah. It's all fucked up." She muttered. "I need to get up."

"No, you need to rest."

"No, I need to get out of this bed, and start back to training." Bella said. "I have to keep my hold on the board."

Tris shook her head. "Lukas could have killed you. You have a concussion, and two broken ribs."

"I feel fine."

"No, you don't." Tris said. "Please listen to me for once."

Bella sighed. "Fine. I'll lay here for a few hours and let the doctor check me out. You need to go back to the others. I'll be okay. Don't fall behind because of me."

Tris hesitated and then she stood and leaned down and kissed Bella's forehead. "I'm going to tell them you're awake. They're all worried."

Bella nodded. "Thank you." She said and watched her friend leave. She sighed and felt the tears prick her eyes. She didn't mean to get emotional, but she did. Tris was like her family, and she'd do anything for her, and that included being a punching bag for Lukas. She closed her eyes, but heard footsteps and she looked up and Lukas walked in. "Come to finish me off?"

Lukas' smile was cocky. "Well, you did what you were told. Peter doesn't feel so great, but I told him, in time. Your friend gets to live another day."

Bella glared at him. "Leave Tris out of this. You want me, right? I'll do whatever as long as you leave her alone."

"Anything huh?" Lukas said with a creepy smile, and then reached a hand up and petted her face. She stayed still, looking at him with murderous eyes. His hand went to her throat, and he pressed in a little, slightly choking her. "There are things I can think of." He said, his words making her want to vomit at the thought. "But I'll settle for letting me use you as a ragdoll." He said and then patted her face. He laughed a little and walked out.

Bella closed her eyes, and fought the tears. When she had enough, she pulled her IV out, and she sat up. Her head exploded, but she ignored it. She got to her feet, a little wobbly, but she didn't care. She went to the cabinet and found pain medicine and then took like six pills, swallowing them dry. She lifted her shirt to see the bandaging to help her ribs, and oddly, her ribs didn't hurt as much as her head did. She walked out of the sick bay, and went to the training room. Everyone would be in dinner chow right about now she assumed, so she just wanted to punch out some frustration on the bags.

She didn't know how long she was hitting the bags, when she felt a hand touch her shoulder and she swung, and Eric moved out of her range. "What do you want?" She bit out.

Eric frowned. "You should be in sick bay."

"I'm fine." She retorted coldly.

"You're not fine. You're bleeding again." Eric said, and took her hand, and held it firm, and looked at her knuckles. "You need to stop."

"No, I need to keep training."

"You just got your ass handed to you by Lukas three days ago. You can't be 100 percent right now." Eric raised his voice a little and Bella glared at him. "But then again, you let him do that. Didn't you."

Bella shook her head. "No, I didn't."

"I saw the fight, Bella. You looked at Tris before he knocked you out." Eric said, his voice calming down now. "You threw a fight to save Tris from something. What is it Lukas is threatening you with?"

"Lukas isn't threatening me. I looked at Tris because I felt like I failed, and she's my best friend. I was exhausted and hurting. You saw Lukas beat me fair and square." Bella excused everything away.

Eric didn't believe a word of it. "I'm not stupid Bella."

"I didn't say you were."

"Let me check you over. Make sure you're actually okay, then you can train." Eric said.

Bella sighed. "Fine." She said and followed him to the clinic room.

"Take your shirt off." Eric said as he moved to the cabinet.

Bella slipped her shirt off, and leaned against the counter. Eric turned and looked at her. "What?"

"Nothing." Eric said and moved to her side. He unraveled the bandages and looked at her side. He moved his hand over her side, and his cool hand felt nice against her skin.

Bella sighed, closing her eyes, at the cool relief. She relaxed under his touch, her body automatically responding to him.

Eric watched her face, saw the relaxation happen and he smiled a little. He moved his hand over her side again, and she sighed again. "Feels good?"

"Yes." Bella murmured; her eyes still closed.

Eric smiled and then leaned in closer, his lips brushing hers, kissing her softly, his hand still lightly massaging lightly over her side.

Bella's lips parted, letting him take the dive inside, but her brain finally caught up and she pulled away slightly. "Eric…"

"Is it because of Four?" Eric asked suddenly, his hand stopping.

"What?"

"Four, he… you… maybe I'm just…" He wasn't sure how to phrase something.

"There's no me and Four." Bella said. "He kissed me one time. I… don't know why he did, but he did."

Eric nodded. "I know why." He said and sighed and reached one hand and brushed her hair back. "You're exceptional Bella. You turned his head."

Bella stared up into Eric's steel eyes. "I don't want to turn his head."

"Too late." Eric nearly whispered. "He cares."

Bella didn't care about what Four cared about. She just wanted to survive Dauntless. "Eric…" she said, her voice small.

"Bella…" Eric said and brushed his lips over hers again.

Tears welled up in her eyes, and they fell silently down her face, as she kissed him back. Her hands moved to clench his shirt, to keep herself upright. She felt dizzy from their kiss, her heart raced hard in her chest, and she just needed him.

Eric paused, to look at her, and wiped her tears away. "Why are you crying?"

"I don't know." Bella said, "Eric, let's go to your room." She said, her dark eyes holding his gaze.

Eric nodded, and grabbed her shirt and they went up to his room. "Let me take care of you." He said as he closed the door.

Bella nodded, and Eric moved towards her. His hands moved up her side carefully, to her bra, and he unzipped it in the front, her breasts sprung free. He dropped it in the floor and then he unfastened her pants, leaning in and kissing her as he did this. She stepped out of her pants, and stood before him naked now, while he still had all his clothes on.

Eric smiled and pulled away from her to go into the bathroom, turning on the water in the shower. He pulled his shirt off and then pulled her to him, kissing her again, as the water heated up. Bella's hands moved up his hard chest, before putting her arms up around his neck, while she pressed against him. His hands moved down her side to her butt and he groped her, pulling her in close.

When the steam started filling the room, he moved away to take his pants off, before stepping into the shower with her. The heat of the water stung her skin on her side at first, but then it pushed away some of the pain. Eric was gentle with her in the shower, carefully washing the soap over her body, stroking her lightly in all her sensitive areas. He stole kisses as he cared for her. It was a change of pace for Eric, and it took him by surprise too.

The shower started to go cold, and he got out, pulling her with him. He shut off the water and grabbed towels and dried her off, then himself, before taking her to his bed, and he lay her back on the bed gently, completely naked.

"Why are you doing this?" Bella finally asked.

"Because I want to." Eric said and then kissed her softly, before he kissed her throat, and then her breast, her stomach, then on the inside of her thighs before his mouth covered her moist core.

Bella gasped in surprise as his tongue drew circles over her clit. Her eyes closed and her hands fisted in his sheets, as she made her slow ascension to pleasure.

Eric didn't do things like this. The other women he had been with, it was just a one and done situation. But with Bella, he just wanted more. She tasted amazing, and he knew that he would never be able to just walk away from her.

Bella moaned as the pleasure sent tingles through her body. It continued to climb. She moaned again, gasping as he continued to push her over the edge. "Eric!" She gasped as she felt herself release, probably the best orgasm she had experienced. She reached for him, and he went to her, his mouth moving over hers. Kissing him deeply, moaning against his lips, as his cock pressed against her wet entrance.

"Please." Bella begged, and Eric gave to her, his cock pushing inside her deep and she moaned, shivering as his hips carefully pumped to hers. Each stroke sent thrills through both of them. Eric kissed her throat, then back at her mouth, his hands shifting, finding hers, and he laced his fingers with hers as he pushed inside her. He moaned as she clenched tight around him, her second orgasm washing over him. He pushed inside her deep, his cock swelling inside before he emptied himself. He moved inside her a few more times before he stopped, his mouth still covering hers, kissing her. He felt like he transcended somehow. Being here with her.

After a few moments he lay beside her, pulling her into him, holding her gently. Bella lay there, her head on his chest, and she listened to the steady rhythm of his heart. They were quiet, just laying there together after experiencing a soul changing encounter. He played with her hair as they lay there, he was deep in thought, not really realizing that he was playing with her hair.

Bella closed her eyes, feeling tears coming on again. She couldn't stop it, her tears landing on his chest.

It broke Eric out of his own head, and he tilted her face up to look at him. "What's wrong?"

"My heart… it just… hurts."

Eric frowned. "You're in pain? Why didn't you tell me?"

"Not that kind of pain. I feel amazing. My head doesn't even hurt. It's just… you're making me feel things Eric, and… I'm scared." She admitted.

"I'm scared too." Eric said, and watching the shock roll over her face. "I'm afraid of things Bella. No one is completely fearless. When you do your fear landscapes next week, you'll discover you have fears you didn't even know you had."

Bella swallowed. "And who will be watching my fear landscapes?"

"Four handles all the practice ones." Eric said. "He'll be able to see everything."

"And if you're in my fear landscape…"

Eric nodded. "Well, then, I'll deal with it then. For now, I just want to hold you, and let you go to sleep, because you need to rest." He said and kissed her forehead.

Bella snuggled against him, and he pulled the blankets up more to cover them both. "Eric…"

"Hmm?"

"When I jumped off that building…"

"I was scared." Eric said. "When your chute didn't open, I thought I was going to lose it."

Bella nodded. "I wasn't as afraid, it was afterwards when I was on the ground, that I realized how close I came to dying. I'm more afraid of never seeing the people I love and care about than my actual death."

"That's natural." Eric said, and then kissed her softly. "Get sleep." He murmured.

Bella sighed and shut her eyes, and willed herself to sleep. It did help that she was tired, Eric playing with her hair was soothing. Soon she was sleeping, getting the rest she needed.

Eric sighed after he felt her relax and go to sleep. He wanted nothing more than to protect her now. Max hadn't said anything about Bella again, but Tris was still a target. He was supposed to keep wearing her down until she either gave up herself, or she never made it above the line, but he knew that if Tris didn't make it, that Bella wouldn't either.

Bella shifted, still laying in bed with Eric, who was still sleeping. She smiled a little, but she needed to get up and get dressed. His clock said five, and she knew that Tris would be seeking her out in sick bay soon. She tried to carefully leave the bed, but Eric caught her, and pulled her back to him. "I didn't mean to wake you." She said softly.

Eric opened his eyes to look at her. "Nice try." He said and then kissed her.

Bella kissed him back, leaning into him, but she broke the kiss. "I have to go."

"You don't have to do anything. You're still technically being held for medical reasons." Eric said and kissed her again.

"But I'm fine." Bella said and smiled as he kissed her. "Mmm. Really, I should get dressed and down to the sleeping quarters. Tris will likely be up and come looking for me."

Eric nodded, and paused. He looked at her, studying her face. "If Tris doesn't make it above the red… what will you do?"

Bell didn't hesitate. "I wouldn't let my best friend be factionless alone."

Eric nodded. "You're exceptional at being Dauntless."

"I know."

"You'd throw it all away… to go with Tris?"

"Absolutely." Bella said, looking at him. "It would be the hardest thing for me to ever do, but I would never abandon my friend."

Eric got his answer. He didn't like it. "Then she needs to get above that line then." He said and then slipped out of bed, grabbing his pants and pulled them on.

Bella slipped out of bed too, grabbing her clothes and getting dressed carefully. Eric stopped her from putting on her shirt. "What?"

"I'll wrap your ribs." Eric said with a small smile. He got what he needed to doctor her up, and he helped take care of her like he promised. "Tris needs to work on her shot. We're doing a heavily graded marksman test in two weeks. If she doesn't pass that, then she's going to sink. Sparring. She's got to be more aggressive and use her opponent's weakness against them. It may not be exactly… kosher, but it'll bring her up on the board."

"Why are you telling me this?" Bella asked, frowning.

"Bella, I don't want you to go. Being factionless… it isn't pretty, and I don't want to see you… end up that way, and I don't want to see Tris end up that way either."

"I don't understand."

"You make me feel things Bella. I was going to walk away and ignore it, and just continue doing my job, but I just can't. For now, I just have to ride you hard. When I'm not on that clock, I just want to bring you to my bed, and savor you. Every bit."

Bella didn't know what to say. "You… want me… to- "

"Be mine." Eric finished for her. "Be mine Bella. I just want to…" he sighed. "I'm not good with words.

Bella nodded. "I can see that." She said. "Sure, I can… agree to those sorts of terms. I don't have the desire to jump into bed with just anyone, so…"

Eric smiled. "Okay." He said and leaned in and kissed her. "Tonight…"

"Maybe not tonight because my friends will become too suspicious."

"You're right." He said and kissed her again. "Go on. I'm going to work on some stuff anyways."

Bella kissed him back and then pulled her shirt back on, she looked back at Eric one last time, before leaving and heading to the sleeping quarters.

Eric picked up his palm pilot to look over the schedule today. The shipment from Erudite and the serums got there at midnight, and so those crates were being moved to the simulation location. He grabbed his shirt, and pulled it on, before pulling on his boots and leaving his room, his palm pilot beeping as he left. "Yeah?" He answered, putting it up to his ear.

"Jeanine is in my office, come now." Max said and hung up.

Eric sighed, and walked down the stairs from his room and up a different set towards Max's office on the other side of the training room.