The Third Level
1.
~ Ariadne stood by the window of her little apartment. Her wedding gifts were still unopened and stashed in a corner. Their bright shinny wrapping paper mocking her with their details of hearts and flowers. Of all things bridal.
Their wedding was a few months ago and she still had not summoned the courage to unwrap these things and find a place for them. It was a job her and her husband were supposed to do together.
She and Arthur had been honeymooning in Brazil. The Point Man wanting to see the stunning country and do extreme activities. Ariadne had not backed down from the rock climbing, para-sailing or zip lining. She had enjoyed the adventurous things she and her new husband had done together.
It was while zip lining that the Point Man had taken a hard landing and cut his leg on unseen rocks.
He had laughed it off and told her he was fine. The Architect bandaging him up and they didn't worry about it.
It was that night, the fever started. He was sweating so badly and it took a long time for the ambulance to get there. Ariadne didn't speak Portages, and had trouble talking to the doctors. One moment, he was fine, the next he was gone. The doctors explaining to her, in broken English, it had been some kind of infection from the fall. Something in the water that had poisoned his blood.
She didn't believe them until they showed her his body. His skin strangely pale and gray as she tried to wake him up. The nurses asked her to call someone and she couldn't stop her endless crying. She cried so hard she thought she might die. She wanted to die.
She couldn't think of anyone to call except Cobb. The Extractor coming on the first flight he could. Taking charge of everything. Making arrangements for Arthur's body to be transported. He made everything so easy. All she had to do was take Cobb's hand and climb on board the plane home. She didn't have to worry about the funeral or think too much about what had happened. Cobb took care of everything. He made all the phone calls and all she had to do was dress in a black and watch a white casket lowered into the cold, lonely ground.
This haunted the young bride more then anything else. If his body had been cremated, she might have felt better. Thinking of her husband in the ground, hurt her.
He was so young and strong. How could he have died? How could his life have slipped away so easily?
~ "Ariadne?" Cobb's voice came to her.
She tore her gaze from the window and looked at the handsome Extractor.
Cobb was in her apartment.
"Your door was unlocked." He said to her unasked question.
She didn't want to see him. Didn't want anyone here. She hadn't bothered to take a shower and her hair was limp with grease. Her apartment was filthy and littered with fast food. The trash hadn't been taken out and it smelled.
"Ariadne. I came to check on you." Cobb said looking around her home. "See if you were alright."
"I'm fine." Ariadne told him.
"When was the last time you cleaned? Or took a shower?" He asked as he started to pick up the trash.
"Cobb, don't do that. Please." She said feeling ashamed and embarrassed. She had always been so good about keeping her home clean.
"Ariadne, I went through the same thing after Mal died. I pulled up into my own shell and festered there. You know better then anyone what that did to me." Cobb said as he pulled out a garbage bag and was tossing the trash in it.
"Cobb." She said pushing back her hair and wanting to cry.
"Go take a shower. Go get cleaned up." He ordered her. "I'll finish here and then you're coming home with me."
"I'm fine." Ariadne said fighting back tears.
"No. your not." Cobb said. He was taking charge now just like he did right after after Arthur's death.
She did as he told her. She took a long, hot shower and washed her hair twice. Her scalp hurting from the scrubbing she had to give it.
It felt god to dress in clean clothes. She felt better as she came into her living room. Cobb had opened the windows to let the air in. The trash was picked up and thrown away.
"Smells better in here." She told him as he tied off three trash bags.
"I'm sure it does. Why don't you pack an overnight bag?" He asked gently. His fine eyes kind as he spoke to her like she were an easily frightened animal.
"I'll be fine." She whispered.
"You are not fine. You haven't been picking up the phone. Your place is a wreck. When was the last time you ate a decent meal?" He asked.
She shook her head.
"Go pack a bag. Don't forget your toothbrush. We have a guest room ready for you." He said softly. His voice commanding, yet kind.
She held back tears and nodded.
She did as he told her. She packed a bag and her bathroom things. It felt good to not have to think too much. To be instructed to do simple things. Pack a bag, pack a toothbrush, pack socks.
It was easier to not think.
~ Cobb's home was beautiful. It was a modern craftsman and it was stylish and family friendly. The Extractor took her to a secluded guest room with it's own bathroom.
"Just until you can manage on your own. It's what Arthur would have wanted." Cobb explained. "For you to be taken care of." He added in a whisper.
Ariadne bit her lip.
"I'm pregnant." She so softly she was sure Cobb wouldn't have heard. Tears falling out of her eyes as she stood in the center of the room.
Cobb only nodded. His face that troubled scowl that showed he was worried. His fine eyes went to her then.
"That's good news." He said honestly. His voice sincere. "It's good you have something of Arthur."
"Did he know? About the baby?" Cobb asked.
She shook her head. No, Arthur didn't know. She didn't even know until he was gone.
She cried then. The Extractor holding her as let lose ugly sobs.
~ "You need to start eating." Cobb said after she had cried herself out. Her body felt slightly better now. Cleaner somehow.
"I have been eating." She told him numbly as she watched him cook pasta and cut up vegetables.
"Yeah, I saw what you were eating." He grumbled. "That doesn't count as food."
"I'm not hungry." She said petulantly. The Extractor caring for her like she were a child.
Cobb sighed.
"Do you really want to hurt Arthur's baby by not eating?" He asked.
Ariadne glared at the handsome Extractor as he handed her a plate of spaghetti and started eating.
"I think I still have the number for Mal's old doctor. She's very good. We liked her." Cobb said.
She watched as Cobb pulled an old fashioned address book out and found a number. He called and made an appointment for the Architect.
"Tomorrow will be preferable." He said confidently. "Full exam including sonogram."
Ariadne watched in wonder as he seemed to know more about baby doctors then she did. It occurred to her then that he was a father twice over. He had done all this before with Phillipa and then James.
"Alright. We have an appointment with Doctor Becton." Cobb said as she finished her dinner. She didn't realize how famished she was till she started eating good food.
The Extractor happy to see her eating.
~ Cobb went with her to see the famous Doctor Becton. A small blond woman who impressed Ariadne with how knowledgeable she was.
The two women spoke in privet before her exam. Doctor Becton listening to all of Ariadne's concerns.
"I delivered both of the Cobb children." Doctor Becton said with a smile. "It was so tragic what happened to Mal. I'm so glad to see he's found you."
"Oh no." Ariadne said feeling foolish.
"No. Cobb and I are not together. This isn't his baby." Ariadne said feeling panicked.
Doctor Becton looked at her in surprise.
"I was married a few months ago. My husband, Arthur, he died on our honeymoon in Brazil." She whispered. "This is his baby."
"I see." Doctor Becton said sadly. "Well, lets check on the little one." She said. Her smile picking back up.
~ Ariadne looked over the grainy sonogram photo Doctor Becton had printed out for her.
"Where is it?" She asked.
Cobb chuckled as he was fixing dinner. James and Phillipa were playing in the living room. He walked around to peer at the image that looked nothing like she thought it would. How could anyone see a baby in this picture?
"It's still early." Cobb assured her looking over the image. "See this? This mass right here?" He asked showing her a thing that in no way resembled a baby.
"That's him." He said with a smile.
"Or her." Ariadne said.
"Or her." Cobb conceded with a small laugh.
~ She helped the Extractor set the table. The children coming to dinner and were glad the Architect was there. Ariadne was happy to be surrounded by other people again. Cobb's family filling some void Arthur had left.
She felt so grateful to Cobb as they ate dinner, washed the dishes and made sure James and Phillipa were put to bed.
~ "I think James will stay down." Cobb said closing his son's door quietly. He and Ariadne were out in the hallway. Night had fallen and they spoke in whispers now.
"Thank you, Cobb." She softly so as not to wake the kids.
The Extractor looked at her in surprise.
"For everything." She added as she tried not to cry.
~ Later, she didn't know how it happened. Cobb had been hugging her. Then his lips were caressing hers. She was in his strong, capable arms. Her body molding to his as their breath mingled and her skin yearned to make contact with his.