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 MrsJackson, Hufflepuff, Sassy, Navywife, Roxhall, and Goddess for your reviews! I love writing stories, and you guys make this adventure so amazing! I enjoy Eric and Bella, and are probably one of my favorite pairings in any of my other stories. As always, I appreciate all of you! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

Eric stood in Max's office; arms crossed. Jeanine looked over the board with all the recruits' names on it.

"This Bella, she seems to be exceptional." Jeanine said and looked at Max. "You haven't mentioned her."

"That's because she came from Abnegation, ma'am." Max responded.

"Faction before blood Max, you know this. She seems worthy of Dauntless. She might be what I need to finish a task…" She murmured. "Who is this Jasper?"

Eric cleared his throat. "Amity transfer. He's pretty ferocious."

"And the ones below the line. We have a month until the final simulation. Any of these show any promise?"

"Not really." Max said.

Eric cleared his throat again. "Tris Prior. She works hard, but she's still not as strong as the other recruits."

Jeanine nodded. "Her brother is on my team. She'll be an asset later." She said. "Caleb Prior is motivated by family still, he's quite intelligent. She shouldn't be on the bottom. Max, see to it that she succeeds."

Max looked at Eric, and then back at Jeanine. "With all due respect ma'am. I'm looking for recruits that will benefit Dauntless. Now I let you come in here and store your serums, but I will not elevate a recruit because you said so. Tris Prior is a joke, the only way she gets above that line, is if she does it herself."

It was the first time Max stood up to Jeanine, and it took both Jeanine and Eric by surprise. "Very well." Jeanine said. "The final test is the simulation. Afterwards, I want the new serum injected in all of Dauntless. We're close to finding what we need in Abnegation, but they're not being cooperative."

Max nodded. "Of course."

"Eric, walk me out." Jeanine said and Eric nodded, and left with Jeanine. She stopped when they got to the back door. "Max needs to go."

"I'm not sure I follow." Eric said, frowning.

"I don't care how you do it, but I want him gone. I have plans in place and I will not have Max's biases get in the way of that." Jeanine said. "Am I clear?"

Eric nodded. "Yes ma'am. I'll handle it."

"As for Tris Prior. I might need her later. Keep her afloat. I don't care how you do that either." Jeanine said. "Just make sure it gets done."

"Of course."

Jeanine patted Eric's cheek. "I was sad to see you go. Though you seem to suit Dauntless well." She said and then she left.

Eric blew out a breath, and ran a hand over his face and looked in the direction of Max's office. His issue he had was clearing up, the only hard thing, was taking Max out. Max was the leader of Dauntless for a reason. He would have to play his cards, very carefully.

Eric walked towards the training area, he heard some recruits training knowing it would be Bella, and her crew. He walked in, and Bella glanced up, but didn't stop hitting the bag. "Bella. I need a moment."

Bella frowned and looked at Tris, who looked rigid as soon as Eric walked in. "Is it necessary?"

"Don't talk back." Eric snapped. "Come now." He said and turned and walked towards the clinic room.

"What do you think it's about?" Tris asked, crossing her arms.

"I'm not sure." Bella muttered, and then walked to the clinic room. She closed the door behind her. "Eric, you can't just rip me away from the others like that. They will become suspicious."

Eric was quiet a moment and sighed. "This was important. I just got done with a meeting with Max and Jeanine Matthews."

"Okay. You have meetings all the time. What's going on?"

"Jeanine has an interest in Tris. Her brother is on a team she handles in Erudite. Which means it's likely research, and he's motivated by his family despite being Erudite. Jeanine's fears are if Tris… doesn't make it in Dauntless, that her brother will defect too."

Bella frowned. "Caleb isn't like that. He's very logical. But he's also very compassionate… I suppose… maybe, but we're working hard. She's getting better. We still have time."

Eric nodded again. "Max doesn't see it that way. He wants to tear her down further, and that is why I've been so hard on her. But… I've got to do some things that… I'm not going to be proud of, and I don't want you to see me… in a different way."

"Why does it matter what I think?"

"Because I care about you Bella. I told you this morning…"

Bella nodded. "Okay, so… what is it you have to do?"

"I can't tell you the details." Eric sighed. "But if something happens to me… I didn't want you to think I just abandoned you." He said and then reached for her and pulled her to him. "Promise me something."

"Eric, you're… scaring me."

"I don't mean to scare you, but I need you to promise me something."

Bella was quiet, but she nodded.

"If something happens to me. I want you to go to my room, in the top drawer of my dresser, there is a flash drive. It has data on it… that can hurt all of Dauntless. Promise me you will find it, and you will destroy it." Eric said.

"What's on it?"

"Really bad things Bella. Things that Max has done… things that I have done." Eric said. "You make me… not proud of what I did. I… don't have excuses for it, but know that I've done a lot of bad things. Will have to do some bad things, but I will keep you untouched… safe."

"Eric…"

Eric kissed her. "Promise me."

"I promise." Bella murmured. "You're going to be okay… right?"

Eric studied her, reaching up and brushing his hand over her cheek. "I can't promise that I will be. Now, Tris, I will make sure she gets above that line. I'm going to have to… play this dirty, and I will apologize in advance. I need you to work with me on this."

"Of course." She didn't hesitate.

"Throw a couple spars with her. I'm going to put you up there today, and you're going to fight your friend. You need it to be convincing, because if you don't then…"

"Anything." Bella said with a nod. "I'll do anything."

Eric nodded. "Shooting. Do you think she can make chest shots?"

"Well…"

"Okay. Work with her on that. You're an excellent marksman. Knife throwing?"

"She's getting the hang of it. She's a lot better from before." Bella assured.

Eric blew out a breath. "Okay. I'm going to stack the teams when it comes to our… team match."

"Team match?"

"I'll explain it later, but right now, go out there to your friends. Tell them nothing. This cannot get out. I know you trust them, and I trust you, but… the less that know of this, the better. There are people within the recruits, that are moles." Eric said.

Bella nodded. "It's Peter, isn't it?"

Eric swallowed. "He's a Candor transfer that Max specifically recruited because Peter is a nobody. He's working hard to break Tris down, because Tris was Max's target. He not only hates Abnegation… he hates her family. Protect her. Don't let her ever be alone. Do you understand?"

"I do."

Eric leaned in and kissed her again, then again, before resting his forehead against hers. "There are so many more things I want to tell you, but I can't." He murmured. "Just know that I really care about you Bella, more than I have ever cared about a person before."

"I know." Bella murmured, and closed her eyes. "I know."

"Good. Now go." Eric said, and Bella nodded, leaving the clinic. She kept her face impassive, before she rejoined the others.

Tris crossed her arms. "What did major dick want?"

"Check in after my spar with Lukas. All instructors are required to make sure I pass all the physicals. I had an issue with my hand eye, he was instructed to check it out." She lied flawlessly.

Tris rolled her eyes. "Only reason why he ever cares, is because he's ordered to."

Bella nodded. "I want to work with you on your shooting. We have access to the rooftop." She said to Tris, redirecting the tension.

Tris nodded. "I think it's because I don't care for the guns. Not like the knives but I have to do well."

Jasper agreed. "I can help too. The more the merrier right?"

Christina slung an arm around Tris' shoulders. "Yeah, let's all go tomorrow morning and work on our shot."

"Sounds like an excellent idea." Bella said with a smile and then went back to the bag she was hitting on and started in on it again.

Bella rotated her shoulder a little rubbing out stiffness. She walked through the pit. There was a little bit of time before Eric started morning training. She paused to look at the board. She looked at Tris' name on the board and thought about everything Eric said. She was worried about him. The way he was talking meant that he was going to do something extremely dangerous. She wished that she knew more so maybe she could help more.

"You, okay?" Four called to her.

Bella turned and looked at Four. "Yeah. I was just… looking at the board."

"You got knocked out by Lukas. I'm sure you'll regain your spot. You're strong." Four walked over to her, edging closer.

"Yeah, I know. I'm more worried about-"

"Tris." Four said and nodded. "She's got a fighting spirit."

Bella smiled a little. "Yeah. She does."

Four reached out and brushed his hand over her face. "She's this way because of you."

Bella took a step away. "Maybe. Four…"

"I'm being too forward. The kiss we shared… that wasn't right. I shouldn't have imposed myself on you that way. I'm your instructor."

Bella nodded. "I've already forgotten it. You shouldn't feel bad. But… I don't see you in that way. I'm sorry. I wasn't sure how to say it to you."

"I got it. My apologies then. Um, you should rest before Eric gets ahold of everyone today." Four said and left.

Bella sighed, and looked back at the board one last time before going back towards the training room.

Eric stood next to Four his arms crossed. "Today, we're going to spar before we head out for work detail. The object is to knock your opponent out. If you tap, you lose points. I'm getting tired of having to repeat these rules." He said, his eyes cutting over to Al, who looked down at the ground. "First up, Lukas and Christina."

"What? That's insane." Bella said without thinking.

Eric sighed and looked in her direction. "Insane as it may be stiff, you don't get a say. Take some laps, before you seriously piss me off for the day."

Bella grumbled, and started jogging around the training room.

"Anyone else want to be a smart ass this morning?" Eric asked, and there was silence. "Good. Lukas and Christina." He said and watched Lukas and Christina get up on the stage.

Four frowned, watching Bella jog. "Eric, she was just released from medical she- "

"Shut it Four, I don't give a fuck." Eric snapped, but he really did care. His eyes drifted to her running, briefly, to make sure her face didn't show any real pain. He turned his focus back to the stage, where Lukas knocked Christina out after just a minute.

Bella finished laps and joined the others, her breathing hard. Her side screamed at her, but she ignored it.

"Jasper and Will." Eric said, and Jasper and Will got up on stage. It wasn't the first time they sparred, but Will was getting better. Jasper let him get a couple shots in before he subdued Will.

Eric nodded. "Peter and Al."

"This is ridiculous." Bella muttered.

"What was that stiff?" Eric asked, his attention on her.

"You're being a bully."

Eric made a hmph sound. "Am I? Are you saying that Al is incapable of defending himself?"

"That's not what I said." Bella said. "Don't twist this."

"Did Lukas not knock you out hard enough? Keep challenging me little girl, and this isn't going to end the way you think it is." He said, his eyes staring into hers.

Bella was quiet now, not saying a word.

"Peter and Al." Eric said, his eyes not leaving hers.

Al and Peter got up on stage, and Peter just grinned like the psycho he was, and went at Al hard. Thirty seconds. That was how long it took for Peter to break Al's nose, knocking him out.

Bella looked at Al, grimacing. Al was a friend too, she hated seeing him go through this.

"Alright stiff, your turn. How about we test your strength. Bella and Tris." Eric said, his arms still crossed.

Jasper frowned and looked at Bella. "He's playing sick games." He said lowly.

Bella looked at Tris. "Don't hold back. Give me everything as hard as you can." She said and then got up on stage. Tris followed suit and they took their stances.

Bella started off being the aggressor. She knew that Tris did better on defense than on offense, so she went at Tris. Tris' reaction times were not as fast as Bella's, but Bella slowed down for the benefit. Her side screamed at her, and when Tris threw a kick into her side and it landed, Bella winced.

Tris was stunned a little, not realizing that it would actually hurt Bella. But she recovered and swung on Bella, and Bella blocked a few hits, before Tris got a hit in. It busted Bella's nose, and lip. It was a good shot, Bella admitted. Tris was getting stronger, and that was good.

Bella spit blood on the mat, and then attacked Tris again, and Tris blocked, and ducked, throwing a shot into her side, and that hurt a lot. It took Bella's breath away, when Tris hit her side, but she was still standing. She looked at Tris, her eyes telling her to finish it.

Tris swallowed, and then threw a side kick, knocking Bella back on the stage.

Bella felt the radiating pain, and she grabbed her side, and then Tris was on top of her. Bella stuck her hand up to block, and Tris hit past it, dazing Bella. Bella lay on the mat, her eyes closed, her arms fell to her sides. She was semi-conscious.

Tris looked stunned as she looked down at her best friend, laying there bleeding.

Eric sighed and then hit something on the palm pilot, and the board flashed and updated. Tris moved up to 23rd, and Bella was at 12th now. "Get her off the stage." He said, pretending to not be worried, but he really was. Bella was in pain; he saw that when Tris hit her side.

Jasper and Tris helped get Bella off the stage, sitting her on the ground against the pillar.

Four came over, bringing water and kneeling down in front of Bella. "Bella." He called to her.

Bella heard her name called, and she blinked a few times seeing double for a second. "Hmm."

"Let me get you to the clinic room to examine you." Four said, and then set the water down, and gathered Bella up into his arms, and carried her away to the clinic room. He set her down in a chair and then knelt again. "Bella."

"Yeah." Bella said, opening her eyes fully.

"You were knocked out. Can you tell me how many fingers I'm holding up?" Four said and held up three fingers.

Bella stared at his hand. "Three." She said and sighed. "I'm okay."

Four nodded and got a rag and wet it before dabbing it at her face, cleaning the blood away. "She got you good."

"Yeah, well maybe I wasn't completely recovered like I thought. At least it was Tris that knocked me out and not...Lukas or Peter."

Four tilted her face to look at her nose. "She didn't break your nose."

"I didn't think she did." Bella said, looking at Four.

Four nodded again, and then he lifted her shirt to look at her side. "Hmm. She definitely broke something here." He said and helped take her shirt off. His hands moved over her side, and she winced a little as his hand moved over the new cracked rib. Her side was still very bruised. "Only thing we can do is wrap this to keep the rib in place. It's worse than the other two breaks."

"I know, I can feel it." Bella grumbled. "Just wrap it and let me get back to training. We have work detail today."

"Oh no. You're not doing work detail."

"Four, you don't get to decide that. I'm fine. It was just a spar." Bella insisted.

Four sighed and stood, grabbing some bandages and went back to her and wrapped her ribs. "Exhale." He said as he pulled the bandage around tight. Bella obliged. "Okay. Don't… overdo it… please." He said, his dark eyes still so full of concern.

"No promises, but… thanks for fixing me."

Four continued to stare at her, feeling like he needed to be protective of her. He leaned in, his lips brushing hers, his brain didn't think when he did this. He already knew how she felt about him, and yet… why couldn't he accept that?

Bella pulled away after a few moments. She cleared her throat. "Four…"

"I'm sorry. I know. I know what you said. This… won't happen again."

Bella heard those words before, from Eric, and she knew how that ended up. "Four… I don't know what to say."

Four reached up, his hand caressing her cheek. "You don't have to say anything."

Eric opened the door, looking at his palm pilot. He glanced up to see Four caressing Bella's cheek. He raised a brow. "Alright, I'm going to forget what I'm seeing here." He said, his voice a little harsh.

Four stood and perched his hands on his hips. "Just checking her out Eric, don't make something out of nothing." He said, looking at his superior.

Eric made a hmph sound. "Whatever, get the recruits loaded up."

Four sighed and nodded. He left the clinic room, leaving Eric there with Bella.

Bella looked at Eric and started to say something, but Eric held up a hand, before closing the door, and locking it behind him. "Eric…"

"I don't care."

"You do care, I could tell by the tone in your voice when you snapped at Four." Bella said and stood.

Eric sighed. "Okay, I do care. It pisses me off to see someone else touching you."

"Eric, I can't control when someone kisses me and- "

"He kissed you?" Eric asked, appalled. "Bella- "

"I pulled away. I told him I didn't have those sorts of feelings for him. I told him that earlier and- "

Eric shook his head. "And he ignored you."

Bella sighed and walked towards him. "Eric… it's not a big deal."

"It's a big deal to me. I don't like my girlfriend being accosted by someone else, even if they think it's harmless." Eric said, his voice low, but animated.

Bella swallowed. "Girlfriend?"

Eric blew out a breath. "Yes. We agreed to be each other's… it's how I see you, Bella. I care so much about you, and I can't stop thinking about you, or worrying about you."

"Maybe we shouldn't be this way."

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe it's not a good idea. There are so many things that just… make this impossible. I don't want to get you in trouble, I don't want to- "

Eric shut her up by kissing her, his hands framing her face now.

Bella kissed him back, her hands automatically gripping his shirt to steady herself. When the kiss broke, she looked up into his wonderful, grey-blue eyes. "Eric."

"I'm not going to let you go. You can't tell me that you don't feel the same way about me. I don't care about the other stuff. I just want you… please don't take that away." Eric said, his eyes pleading.

Bella nodded. She hated to see him like this, like he was scared of losing something. "Okay. I won't… but you can't go easy on me. Keep… up what happened today. You need to make sure that no one knows about us. Ever."

Eric knew that. It killed him inside that he couldn't show her off, but he knew that it was important to keep things private. "Okay. Well, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Tris just got me good in my side. It's bandaged, and I'm good to go." Bella said and then grabbed her shirt, and Eric helped her pull it on. "I'm fine. I promise." She reassured.

Eric nodded. "Okay." He said and then kissed her again. "Alright. Work detail. Let's go." He said and then went to the door and unlocked it and left, Bella right behind him.