This is my second fic I've written and decided to upload. I decided to go with the Ariadne/Arthur pairing this time also. Please let me know what you think! Reviews are always welcome :)

I also like to think that I'm getting better at the chapter thing :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Not even Inception on DVD :(

Ariadne woke with a startled gasp. She blinked her eyes open and looked at her surroundings.

She was back on the airplane, headed to Los Angeles. The job was a success, the idea was planted, and she was out of limbo.

Ariadne looked around the first class cabin at her coworkers. They did it.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned around to see Arthur holding out a champagne glass to her. He held one of his own and tipped it to hers as she took it. "Cheers," he whispered.

The team had previously agreed that they would not contact each other for at least three months after the job. The inception was a high stakes risk and Arthur and Cobb still had Cobol out for them. Ariadne didn't know what she was going to do without them. She was introduced to a world that she would've never imagined existed. She had seen these people every day for weeks and weeks and now, it would all just be dust in the wind. She wondered if she meant anything to them like they meant to her. She would probably miss Eames and Arthur most. Especially after the kiss she had shared with Arthur in the dream. That kiss. She could still remember the sweet taste and the tingly feeling he had left on her lips afterwards.

Ariadne began to feel dizzy as she stood at baggage claim waiting for her suitcase to come around. At first she just thought the dizziness was from her remembering the kiss but she hoped the nausea that she felt afterward wasn't also because of the kiss. Her suitcase came into view and Ariadne stepped forward to claim it but her whole body suddenly felt weak. Her legs wobbled and a sweat broke out on her neck. What's going on? Ariadne wasn't one to get airsickness. She didn't think that's what it was.

Ariadne reached out a weak arm and hoisted her bag up off of the belt. She didn't bother to look for Arthur or Eames to say one last good bye; she just had to get out of there at the moment. Arthur and Eames exchanged worry glances with each other as she staggered out of the airport.

Her eyes struggled to adjust to the bright sunlight outside as she stepped out of the airport. She shielded her eyes with one hand and pulled her suitcase clumsily behind her with the other, stopping every two seconds it seemed to apologize to someone for bumping into them. Just get somewhere where you can breathe. Ariadne broke free from the crowd and sat down on an empty park bench, clutching her head. Her vision started going blurry as she stared at the sidewalk trying to regain her strength. It wasn't working. The yellow flash of a taxi cab whizzed by the bench and Ariadne's feeble attempt of flagging it down failed.

Collecting herself the best she could, she headed back down the street closer to the airport in hopes of being able to get a taxi easier there. She saw one parked and just headed for it, not caring if it was occupied already.

"Nearest hospital, please," groaned Ariadne as she collapsed in the back seat, her mind going blank.

Ariadne blinked her eyes open hazily. It took a while but eventually they adjusted to the bright fluorescent lights of her hospital room. A nurse was quietly tending to the IV's by her bedside. Ariadne opened her mouth to speak but her voice just came out as a raspy whisper.

"Excuse me," she cleared her throat. "What hospital am I at?"

"The Good Samaritan Hospital." the nurse replied with a smile. "You were brought here by your cabbie. He said you just collapsed when he picked you up from the airport. We're still not exactly sure what happened but it appears to be some kind of poisoning. You were also highly dehydrated but we're glad you're awake though. We will need an emergency contact."

Ariadne tried to wrap her head around the situation. Who was she going to give as an emergency contact? Her closest relative was states away and her parents were long gone…

Ariadne coughed and said quietly, "I-I don't have one."

"Surely there's someone."

Before she knew it Ariadne had said, "Yes sorry, my friend Arthur."

"I'll be back around to get his contact information." the nurse answered and left the room.

Ariadne didn't know what else she was going to give the nurse other than his number. She didn't even know his last name.

When the nurse returned Ariadne gave her what she could, despite the questioning look she got from her and then tried to go back to sleep, still feeling nauseous.

Ariadne turned to face the window, trying to block out the loud bustling of doctors running down the hallway. It reminded her all too much of what had happened to her parents years ago.

Suddenly, a familiar voice broke through all the commotion and Ariadne strained her ears to hear better through the closed door.

"Yes, I'm Arthur. I received a call from here. Where is she? Can I see her?" the point man's smooth voice made her insides flip but in the good way, not in the way they had been these past few hours. There was something odd about his voice this time. It wasn't the usual steady even tone that he always spoke with. There was something else there and Ariadne couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it sounded a lot like worry.

The exchange between the nurse and Arthur got quieter and Ariadne could no longer eavesdrop. She pretended she was sleeping as she heard her door creak open followed by quiet footsteps.

Ariadne could smell the fresh smell of aftershave wafting off of Arthur as he pulled a chair over to sit in front of her. A small part of her wanted so badly to open her eyes and to thank him for being there but a little part of her told the other part to shut up and see what he'd do.

Ariadne was pleasantly surprised as he took one of her hands and held it tenderly in his hand. He brushed her cheek lightly with his other and once again her skin was left tingly from his touch.

"Oh, Ariadne," she heard him murmur. She hoped for more but he remained silent.

She started to shift as she was actually waking up and Arthur withdrew the hand from her face, but he moved it to join his other in holding both of hers. She opened her eyes to his deep brown ones, the ones that made her melt into a gooey puddle. A look of relief washed over his features and then he broke out into his signature smirk.

"You're alright." Arthur said relieved.

"I am. Well I hope so." Ariadne replied quietly. "I know Cobb said we shouldn't try and contact each other but—"

"Ariadne, it's fine. I'm glad you called."

Ariadne didn't have time to analyze his statement at the moment because she felt something sickening begin to creep its way up her throat. She pulled away sharply and flipped over to the other side of her bed where the trash can was. She threw up whatever she had left in her stomach, which wasn't much. She was glad that she got most of her retching out before Arthur came.

She heard Arthur stand up behind her and he gently gathered her hair away from her face. He rubbed her back soothingly which made her all the more embarrassed to have him see her like this.

"What happened?" asked Arthur as Ariadne settled back down.

"I don't know. When I got off the plane I started feeling really sick. I thought it was just airsickness and that it would pass quickly but I passed out as soon as I got in my cab," Ariadne paused, "Do you think its dream related?"

"It might be. We gotta get you out of here before they start running the wrong kind of tests."

"What do you mean?"

"Ariadne, remember what we do?"

Ariadne nodded feeling silly and Arthur helped her sit upright.

"Do you think you'll be okay? I have a car waiting downstairs."

"Yes. Where are my clothes?" she looked down at her gown and then around the room for her clothes but they were nowhere to be seen.

Arthur chuckled at Ariadne's worried expression and then took off his suit jacket draping it around her shoulders. He took her by her hands and pulled her to her feet.

"Let's go."