Disclaimer: I don't own Inception and the character. Just the plot of the story I wrote.

Warning: mention of child abuse, homophobia, description of an accident, swearing.

A./N.: I hope you'll enjoy the story :)

I'm not sure how the hell it turned from a one-shot into a 88 pages story but I hope it's worth the sleepless nights :)

Inspired by the song "You left me just when I needed you most" by Randy VanWarmer. I borrowed the title, too.

Oh and I bent the medical stuff the way I need it, sorry. I'm a social worker and not a doctor.

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Eames took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He tightened the grip around the man in his arms. "Will you stay?" He asked sleepily. It was a question he had so often asked the last few years.

Arthur tried to avoid Eames in the morning but he never succeeded not to wake the other man, he always seemed to sense his movements and intentions. Or he just got used to him sneaking away in the middle of the night or next morning, "I can't."

"What is it this time?" Eames released his hold on Arthur, he knew it was pointless.

"I have to be in Russia in 26 hours," he collected his clothes and got dressed.

"Arthur, stay," Eames urged, he had enough of Arthur's games.

"I have work to do Mr. Eames," Arthur searched for his dress shirt.

"I can't do this anymore," Eames sat up in bed, staring at Arthur, he thought about it so many times. "I just can't. Stay or leave for good," he knew the answer to his demand but a little part of his heart and soul hoped he was wrong.

"Goodbye, Mr. Eames," Arthur put on his jacket and left, closing the door softly behind him.

Eames rubbed his face, they had sex for the last three years. It was rather an on and off relationship. It was less than a serious relationship but they were more than fuck-buddies. The forger loved the stoic point man unconditionally but he reached his breaking point a while ago. Arthur was scared to get close to him and he was even more scared of settling down, so much he knew but he hoped that Arthur loved him enough to grant him entrance into his life. They did not have to settle down somewhere or go around spreading the news about their gay relationship around. Everything he wanted was to wake up next to Arthur for the rest of his life and share his life with him.

A little part of him hoped that Arthur would come back and tell him it was a mistake to leave but his mind knew better. The point man was gone, he lost him forever.

Silent tears streamed down the forger's face. His heart screamed in agony.

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Arthur hailed a cab and gave him instruction to head for the airport, as fast as law permitted.

He had trouble to get his racing heart under control and he denied his tears stubbornly to fall.

Eames popped the question he dreaded for ages `Stay or leave for good`, he never thought it would hurt so much. It reminded him of how hard he fell for the forger. He'd love to stay but leaving was for the best. He didn't believe in everlasting bonds. His parents divorced when he was six, his sister got divorced after three years and Mal showed him that life ain't fair. Dom loved her but the dream share took her away from him, ending his life too in the process. It was a miracle that his friend got a grip on himself and learned to live again. Arthur took deep, calming breaths to maintain his indifferent appearance. Eames wasn't the one for him, he told himself. He was loud, lazy and a gambler. The drastic opposite from himself, it would never work, he told himself.

He paid the driver and hurried inside before he got a chance to change his mind. He used the time he needed to check in to convince himself that it was the right decision.

Arthur looked at his watch 15 minutes before he could board the machine. He took an empty seat and observed his surroundings. A mother scolded her child for running around too much. A young couple cuddled while they studied a guidebook, newlyweds, he guessed. His breath caught in his throat as a gay couple walked down the corridor. They talked animated and touched each other every so often, their behavior was decent but it was obvious that they were more than friends. They seemed happy and he wondered how it would feel to walk through life with Eames by his side. Arthur shook his head and went towards the gate.

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"Good morning soldier," Arthur said sarcastically. "Ah shut up," said his totally hung over underling, staying in the states for 6 months within the context of an exchange project. "What was that private Eames?" , "I'm up and about in no time sir," the man stumbled out of his bunk. Arthur shot him in the knee during the dream share training for being hung-over.

"Now that the project is over and you're not my superior anymore, because you outrank me a little. Would you like to spend the evening with me. A drink, a movie," Eames made the little statement sound utterly naughty.

"No," he turned around and left a stunned private behind. A small smirk found its way on Arthur's lips at the thought of the other man and his bold request.

"That's Mr. Eames, he's a forger and the best in the business," Dom introduced the broad blond Englishman. Arthur was shocked to see him again, after all these time.

"Hello there, darling," the blond smiled broadly.

Arthur groaned, he hadn't change a bit, "Nice to meet you Mr. Eames."

"I heard you made it to first Lieutenant before you dropped out?" The forger asked nonchalantly.

"Yes," Arthur confirmed. "I guess you stick with private," he aimed to hurt.

"Ah no, darling. It seems I outrank you by now. I got promoted after I returned from the states and afterwards it was a cake walk," the look and tone didn't fit the words Eames spoke.

"Really?! " Arthur faked disinterest. "What are you, General?" He mocked.

"Funny, love. I'm too young and pretty to be a general. I'm a Captain," he said proudly.

Arthur just gritted his teeth, how could the idiot actually outrank him? It was time for a serious background check on this guy, he decided.

Arthur learned a few years later that Eames had always outranked him, they temporarily degraded him because his rank was too high for the project but England didn't trust the Americans enough to send them an inexperienced soldier.

"Arthur have you got information about Mr. Heartthrob there?" Dom pointed at Eames who took up all of Mal's attention.

"Most of his military files are classified and I don't get my hands on them. It must be very compromising when they go to such a length to keep their secrets. No one wants to help me with them. As far as I know he worked on the dream share project, we worked together for a few months. But what I definitely know is that he's a heartthrob, what you already know, he's a gambler and love's secluded towns. My sources say that he's loyal and honest nonetheless."

"That's it?" Dom glared at the forger from afar.

"Don't glare daggers in his back, he's not into women so give him a break," Arthur defended his new companion. Dom's expression was hilarious, he would have laughed at his friend weren't so many people around. He would never confess the truth but he started to feel a hint of attraction towards Eames. He was incredible sexy when he was younger, at that time he was rather slander, but the extra muscles suited him. He was even more attractive this way, though his clothes were hideous.

Arthur was surprised how persistent the forger was, he was always around calling him Darling. After the fourth job together he gave in, strictly speaking after one and a half years. They took their time to get to know each other before they took their attraction to the bedroom. Arthur was startled as he realized that he was quite attached to the other man. Eames possessed the most gentle soul he ever got to explore. The Englishman was cheerful, protective, caring and he put a lot of work into things he considered important or worthy.

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The plane took off and interrupted Arthur's trip down memory lane. He watched how the buildings got smaller and smaller and the town transformed into a shiny sea of lights, leaving the man he treasured behind.

He took a deep breath. "Farewell, Mr. Eames," he leaned his head against the little window and stared at the world beneath him, "Farewell."