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 Roxhall, Karina, Hufflepuff, Goddess, and Navywife for your reviews! I want to shout out to Navywife for their birthday weekend! Happy birthday my friend! I will double post today and go for a third later as well. Hope you have a great birthday weekend! *smiles* As always, I appreciate all of you! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!

Eric went down to the pit, where Max and Four was there, along with some other Dauntless leaders. A guy name Caius, and a woman named Marie.

"What's going on?" Eric asked as he walked up.

"Your number one met his death." Max said, as some other Dauntless grunts hefted Lukas's body up from the drop.

Eric nodded. "Anyone know what happened?"

"Nope. No one saw a thing. Someone heard a scream, then nothing. Looks like maybe he jumped. Who the fuck cares?" Max muttered.

Eric just sighed. "Alright, I'll take him off the board. It's a bit early for recruits to start killing themselves, but whatever."

Four didn't buy it. Lukas wasn't the type to just off himself. He looked at Eric, and at how disinterested he was. He was so detached from the recruits, and that bothered him. "What if someone pushed him over?"

"Well then, good for them." Max said. "We're training the best Four, don't get so fucking sentimental." He said and looked at Eric. "I need a word with you."

Eric nodded, and followed Max out of the pit and up to Max's office. "What's up?"

"Tris Prior."

"Yes, what about her?"

"She's getting too close to that line. Since Lukas is dead, I want Peter to handle her. I've already told him that I need him to break her down completely in the next spar." Max said.

Eric nodded, knowing that Max would have used Peter at some point. "Alright. Next spar is after the team event at the ruined fairgrounds."

"That could be a good opportunity too…" Max murmured. "Either way, Tris doesn't need to make it about that line. Bella is slipping. It's odd that Tris got the one up on her, but Lukas's beat down must have left her as easy prey. Since she's dropping in the ranks, it might be good to take advantage of her broken state."

"What do you mean?"

"Use James again, Peter, I don't care, but they'll be able to take her down a couple more notches. If we're lucky, then both the Abnegation girls won't make it through the round."

Eric frowned. "Max, I don't think that's really necessary. Bella is a fighter. She recovers quickly. I don't foresee her letting Peter or James take her down without a fight."

"So, make it harder. How about some two against one scenarios. That could be fun." Max said with a sick smile.

Eric held his tongue. "Jeanine said that- "

"Jeanine can fuck off. She's not the leader here, I am. I don't care what she wants. She can't dictate how I run my trials here. I want soldiers, not pansy ass Abnegation." Max said.

"Bella is far from being a pansy." Eric took up for her again. "I think she's a good asset to Dauntless."

"I don't care much what you think. You do as I say. Are we going to have a problem?" Max asked.

Eric clenched his jaw. "Yeah. We're going to have a problem."

Max stood from his chair. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." Eric said. "I've been training recruits longer than you have. You absconded to your throne only because Jeanine allowed you to. I know my recruits. I know their capabilities, and I am not going to trash good Dauntless material because you have a vendetta against Abnegation council leaders Prior and Swan."

Max narrowed his eyes as he walked towards Eric. "You forget who I am boy. I am not only older than you, I am more skillful."

"That's debatable." Eric taunted. "You're almost out of your prime. Your fear of being tossed out to the factionless is catching up to you. You think that you scare me, but you don't."

"Right, Eric the fearless." Max said with a snort. "You have fears, just because your fear landscapes never showed any, doesn't mean they don't exist now. What is it, Eric? Jeanine fucking you? Afraid to lose your pussy piece?"

Eric snorted. "You don't know me at all, do you? I'm tired of your games Max. It ends tonight."

"Oh? You're going to be the one that ends it huh?" Max laughed sadistically, and then he flew into an attack on Eric.

Eric had been ready for an attack. Max had been in Dauntless leadership for quite some time, so Max was strong, and skillful. Skillful enough where Eric hadn't seen him pull his sidearm. It went off, and Eric felt the sting in his chest, but he pressed on. He disarmed Max, and Max swung on him again, hoping to take advantage of Eric's wounded state, but that didn't matter. Eric was fast, this time he expected all the unexpected, and he pulled his knife from his side in a swift movement, as he struck at Max. Max parried Eric's blows, trying to disarm the knife, but he caught the knife in his arm instead, and Eric ripped it in a downwards motion, ripping at an important vein in his arm, and then slashed up, hitting Max in his shoulder. Max stumbled back, giving Eric the opportunity to pull his own sidearm, and he shot Max, three times, center mass.

Max's body jerked with the impact, and he stood there a moment, his hand coming up to his chest before he slumped to the ground.

Eric was panting, out of breath, but moved fast, ignoring his chest pain for the moment, and he fired at the wall, with his gun, and then he took Max's gun and he tossed it out the window of Max's office. He wiped his knife off to clean it, and he put it back on his hip. He took a breath, and closed his eyes, slowing his brain down a little to think about everything, before he left Max's office, his weapon drawn. He knew the shots would make people come, and he was right.

Jasper was rushing through the training area, Tris with him, but she was drunk, he could tell. Will and Christina were with them, and then there was Four, running towards the shots.

"What happened?" Four asked as he pulled his weapon, seeing Eric's state.

Eric shook his head. "Not sure. Happened really fast." He said and winced, his hand going to his chest.

"You were shot." Jasper said and caught Eric as he stumbled a little.

"There's still a shooter?" Four asked and Eric nodded. "Where'd they go?"

Eric shook his head. "I left Max's office only to get around the corner before I heard the shots. I rushed into the office and found Max on the floor, bleeding. Looks like a small altercation, and then I turned and saw a figure. They had a hood on, they shot at me, and I returned fire. I ran towards the door, but then they were gone, I doubled back to check Max, but he's already dead. So, I came out…" Eric wheezed a little, making up a story on the spot.

"I'll lock it down." Four said and looked at Jasper. "Get him to sick bay now." He said and left, grabbing his palm pilot from his hip, and sending out an alert.

"Come on." Jasper said and took more of Eric's weight. Will went to help, going to the other side, taking his sidearm from him and handing it carefully to Christina. They helped Eric get to sick bay.

Eric sat on the bed in sick bay, while Jenna stitched him up.

"You're lucky." Jenna said. Jenna was tall for a woman, her hair was pitch black, and shaved on one side. She had a nosering, and she wore dark liner around her eyes.

"Don't know how lucky it is to get shot in the chest."

"Right above your collarbone. It missed everything vital. I got the bullet out, and you're not bleeding out. Probably hurts like hell, but you'll live."

Eric winced a little as the needle dug a little deep. "Yeah, well. At least I'm not dead."

"Yeah, could be worse." Jenna agreed. "Max is dead, so you're next in line, right?"

"That's how it goes unless Caius wants to step up." Eric said, his jaw still clenched.

Jenna nodded, and finished the stitches, and then poured straight alcohol on his wound.

"The fuck Jenna." Eric said, getting to his feet.

"Had to make sure it's all sanitized." Jenna said with a shrug.

Eric glared at her. "Yeah right… probably pay back for not returning your message."

Jenna smirked a little. "What's a girl to think after a blissful night in bed, only to be forgotten the next day."

"You're tougher than that. Don't give me that shit." Eric muttered.

"You're right, but still. Felt nice." Jenna said. "I heard a recruit jumped into the chasm. That true?"

Eric nodded. "Yeah, we lose recruits every year."

"Yeah, but top ones? Lukas was born and bred here. It's uncharacteristic of a Dauntless born to take his own life. Unless they're on the bottom." Jenna pointed out.

"Lukas had his issues. I don't give a fuck the reasons. All I care about is who the fuck shot me."

"That's fair." Jenna said. "Alright, pain meds, and rest for the night. Leave the manhunt to Four and the others." She said and put a bandage over his wound.

Eric nodded and grabbed his shirt, realizing the blood, he tossed it. "Thanks." He said and then left sick bay.

Four searched for the shooter, but it was as if a ghost disappeared into the night. He went back to Max's office, finding where Eric had tried to shoot the shooter after being shot. He had to of been in a lot of pain to miss like that. They already moved Max's body to the incinerator to prepare for cremation, and the memorial. It would be a Dauntless funeral. They lost their leader. He sighed and then glanced up to see Caius walk in. Caius was the creepy one of Dauntless. Four never really cared for him. His bright blond hair was slick back on his head, and his icy blue eyes were cold, and distant. He was Dauntless born, and became leadership the year after Eric. "Come to see the scene of the crime?"

"I did." Caius said, his voice light and monotonous. "Maria says that maybe the same person that pushed Lukas into the chasm is the same shooter. They had to be watching and waiting for the right moment. They knew that taking on Eric and Max would be too much."

"She's right. Eric and Max together, there's no way. Max's body had knife wounds on him. He struggled first, before he was shot. Max didn't have his weapon, which means that whoever shot Max, shot him with his own weapon and left with it."

"It appears that way." Caius said. "Must be a recruit or someone not on the training team or leadership. Because only leadership, and trainers like you and Masie, carry."

"True." Four said and looked around. "But why Max?"

"He's the leader, he calls the shots."

"Then it has to be someone Dauntless born. No other transfer recruit would know how cruel Max is otherwise. They haven't been subjected to the second rounds. Only Dauntless born would have some sort of privileged knowledge of Max's… methods." Four said.

Caius nodded his agreement. "This is true."

Four was quiet. "Eric is okay though?"

"Yeah, Jenna patched him up, gave him pain meds and sent him on his way." Caius said.

Eric appeared in the doorway then. "Yeah, sent me on my way. Missed everything vital." He muttered and looked at the floor where Max had laid. "Get it cleaned up. Tomorrow, Four, make sure the recruits are all accounted for."

Four nodded. He didn't like Eric, but he sympathized in this moment. "Sure."

"Caius, I want you to put your ear to the walls. If someone is talking about this in Dauntless, I want to know about it." Eric said, his tone clipped.

Caius nodded and then reached into his pocket and pulled out Max's patch and handed it to him. "I cut it off Max before they took him away. I knew you'd be needing this."

Eric looked at the patch in his hand. "You should have it." He said and looked at Caius.

Caius chuckled, and it was a scary chuckle. No one ever heard Caius really laugh before. "No. I may be Dauntless, but I'm no fool. Someone is gunning for leadership. I rather you have the target on your back instead of mine." He said and left.

Four crossed his arms. "He's right. Someone is coming after Dauntless leadership. Maybe it's a recruit, maybe not, either way, this isn't good."

"Yeah well, we have to move on. If we can't figure out, who did it, then we just keep moving forward. Max was an asshole. There were plenty of people that didn't like him and would like to see him dead."

"Yeah, myself included." Four said. "But that doesn't mean that someone should take those matters into their own hands."

Eric nodded. "Well, it's not up to me, is it? This is Dauntless, Four. We don't have the luxuries to stick around and run this thing into the ground. We have recruits to train, and work to do."

"You're right." Four said, not liking that he had to agree with Eric. "I'll get this cleaned up. Go rest."

"Alright." Eric said and he left Four there in the office. He needed to check on Bella anyways, and he admitted he was exhausted.

Eric opened the door to his room, and found Bella on his bed, curled up, and sleeping. He smiled when he saw her. She was safe and sound right here. He moved to the bathroom, to splash some water on his face. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw his condition. His chest was bruised around the wound where he was shot. It was natural for bruising to form like this. He looked down into the sink bowl, the water running, and rushing down the sink. He just watched it, as he thought about everything that happened tonight. He jumped the gun and had reacted with anger because Max threatened Bella. That was twice tonight that he killed for her, and he was sure that he would do it again. His palm pilot beeped from his hip, and he sighed. He took it from his hip and looked at the message.

[Jeanine:] Word travels. My condolences.

Eric shook his head. She already knew that the deed was done. Just like she wanted, he played into her hands, and he didn't stop it because he wanted the same things. He wanted Max gone, but because of Bella. He only wanted to protect Bella.

His palm pilot beeped again, another message from Jeanine.

[Jeanine:] Don't forget the fear landscapes. Watch carefully.

[Eric:] I will.

Eric set his palm pilot down and sighed and splashed more water on his face. When he leaned up, he heard shuffling, and knew it was Bella. He glanced over at her when she walked over to the doorway. "Hey… I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't, the beeping did." Bella said and then frowned. "What happened?"

"A lot happened tonight." Eric said with a nod. "I got shot, but I'm okay now."

"Shot? Eric, how in the world!" Bella went to him, inspecting him closer.

Eric looked down at her worried expression. "Bella. Baby, I'm okay."

Bella looked up into his eyes. "Why did you get shot?"

"Doing the bad things, I have to do." Eric said then turned and took her hand in his, bringing it up to his lips and kissing it. "I shot Max."

"W-what?"

Eric swallowed. "Max… was going to have you killed, and Tris killed."

"So, you shot him?"

Eric was quiet. "I know that it's not… what you want to hear, but I wanted to be honest. Tomorrow, there's going to be all sorts of things going around."

"Do they know you did it?"

"No. No, part of being who I am, is that I'm discreet… usually, but Max got the jump on me first, clearly." Eric said, motioning to his bandage. "It's believed there's a shooter somewhere in Dauntless. I've taken Max's place… and- "

"Wait, you're the new Dauntless head leader?"

Eric nodded. "I am. I tried to pass it to Caius, but well… Caius is a flake most of the time anyways."

Bella shook her head. "Eric, this is too much, you can't kill everyone that threatens me."

Eric was silent a moment. "It was also one of my orders. Bella, Max was always going to die, it just happened faster because… he threatened you. I was always supposed to take him out."

Bella didn't know what to say to that, she just shook her head. "What are you, an assassin?"

Eric looked away. "Not all the time. I'm given orders, I follow them."

"You don't think about the people that it will hurt?"

"Bella, I never cared before. I told you I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of. I don't want… to lose you but if you have to know- "

"No…" Bella cut him off. "No, I don't have to know." She said. "Because if I was in your shoes, I would do the same thing. Because of duty." She said, still not caving and telling him about Divergents. She just didn't know how to approach that topic, or if she ever will. Maybe she would run from it forever, but for right now, Eric was hurt, and she saw how worried he was about her. "I love you, Eric."

Eric blinked a couple times. "Wait… what?" He asked, stunned.

"I love you. I know that's it is crazy, but I do. There are so many reasons why I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I love you, and I don't want to know everything dark that you've done, because you are a new you. I accept the Dauntless in you, just like you accept the Dauntless in me. You've protected me, more than once now, and I can't ever tell you how grateful I am for that." Bella said and then tipped up, her mouth connecting with his.

Eric's hands moved to her waist and pulled her in closer, before he brought a hand up to her hair, and he combed his hand through it. "Mmm. Baby…"

"Hmm?" Bella asked, leaning her forehead to his.

"I want so badly to go to bed right now, and just make love. That's all I want right now, but I physically can't, and it's killing me."

"That's okay." Bella murmured, and kissed him again. "Let me." She said and led him out of the bathroom and into the bedroom, where she got him on the bed. She took his pants off, his boxers, and then she stroked his hard cock with her hand, and he groaned.

Eric closed his eyes as she pleasured him. "Baby…"

Bella moved her mouth to his cock, and his eyes opened to look down at her. "I want this." She paused to look back at him. He blew out a breath, and lay his head back as her mouth covered him again. She sucked him in deep, her tongue twisting up and down, stroking him with her hand as she bobbed. She didn't know if this was the correct way, she was only taking a guess, but he was enjoying it.

Eric moaned as she continued to suck on him, it was an amazing feeling, that he couldn't explain but she was pushing him fast over his edge. He moaned again as his cock swelled, his hand moving to her hair as she bobbed. "Baby, I'm about to cum." He warned her.

Bella smiled and backed off, teasing him a little.

"Oh god…" Eric moaned again. "It's torture."

"Hmm. Is it?" Bella purred a little, and then twirled her tongue over his cock again, hearing him moan again. She backed off again, and sat up more.

Eric opened his eyes to look at her. She took off her shirt, her breast so beautiful and bouncy, her nipples completely erect. "You're a goddess." He said, his voice layered with a husk.

Bella smiled, and then leaned up to pull her pants off. Now she was as naked as he was. She situated herself on top of him, sliding down over him and he moaned pleasantly.

"I'm not going to last long." Eric said, his voice strained.

"That's okay." Bella said and leaned down, kissing him as she shifted her hips. His hands went to her hips as she bounced, grinding against him fast. He knew what she was doing, she was already so tight and wet, which means she turned herself on while going down on him. She moaned a little, and that excited him, his cock leaking out. "Eric…" she sighed out pleasantly, as she continued.

"Bella…" Eric moaned as he got closer, but he still held back, trying to last longer for her.

Bella moaned again as she rose, moving her hips faster and faster to his, until she felt the tension break inside. She shuddered as she rode him, moaning as she ground out her orgasm, his cock erupted and joined her, and she purred happily on top of him. When she was done, she came to a stop. She looked down at him, her eyes dazzling.

"God… baby, you're amazing." Eric said, and she leaned down and kissed him again. "Mmm. I wish I could have done more for you."

Bella kissed him again. "You've done enough." She said, and lifted off him, rolling to his side, and pulled the blankets up over them. "I can lay here for a bit, but I have to go to my cot tonight. It'll be too suspicious."

Eric hated to not wake up with her by his side, but he understood. "I know." He said and she snuggled against him. He kissed the top of her head, as he lay there, fully satisfied in this moment, but he still worried about her. There was still Peter to deal with eventually. Then the simulations. Jeanine would go through with her plan then, and he hoped that Bella wouldn't get hurt in the process. Before long, he felt himself drift into sleep.

Bella felt Eric relax and knew that he was sleeping now. She waited, laying there with him for a few moments, before she pulled herself out of bed, and got her clothes on. She looked at him one last time for the night, before she snuck away, and went back downstairs to the sleeping quarters, hoping that no one would ask too many questions.