Disclaimer: I do not own Inception.

Deceit My Deception

Chapter Two

I Try

After dinner with Jeff and Georgette, Ariadne wandered off to think about Arthur's offer. She went way in the back of their garden and was thrilled when she discovered that her old tree house was still there. Her father had helped her make 'blue prints' before the two of them had built the tree house.

Even at a young age she had been overwhelmed by seeing the building she had designed come to life, solid enough to touch and play around in. A rope ladder hung down the tree and though it had gotten dirty and tough over the many years, Ariadne resolutely grabbed the ladder and began crawling up. Her palms had bloody scrapes from the rope by the time she got to the platform.

She wiped her hands off on her cut-off's and sat down on an abandoned pillow, kept company by various insects. Staring out of one of the little windows at the darkening sky Ariadne went over all of the pros and cons of taking the job. By the time she had considered every aspect of the offer she had lost track of how many pros and cons she had counted.

Climbing back down the rope ladder her scrapes began to bleed again, but Ariadne hardly noticed. She had made up her mind and when she crawled into bed, ignoring the sounds from her mother's bedroom, she easily drifted off to sleep.

The next morning was a chaotic blur. Ariadne woke up late, she couldn't decide what to pack because she had no idea how long she would be gone and she couldn't explain to Georgette and Jeff why she was so flustered since she was supposed to leave for a normal job.

Georgette wanted to make a delicious brunch, but she had never had much talent in a kitchen and there wasn't a whole lot of solid food in the fridge. In the end Jeff fried a couple of eggs and some ham while Georgette skipped out to the store to get a carton of milk that wasn't sour.

Ariadne had borrowed a suitcase and was dragging it downstairs when she smelled the food and began to feel nauseous.

"Sit down for a bite, baby." Georgette dragged out a chair from the dining room table, but Ariadne shook her head.

"Mom, I have to be there at noon, it's very important that I'm not late," she could only imagine Arthur's demeanour if she showed up late and her excuse was brunch with her mother and Jeff, "and I really have to hurry. Can you call me a cab while I get the rest of my stuff?"

Sniffing pathetically Georgette pretended to wipe her eyes "But baby, when am I going to see you again?"

Even though she was in a hurry Ariadne stopped and looked at her mother. Was she really upset? Maybe it wouldn't have to be years before she visited again. Jeff pulled Georgette close and whispered little, comforting words into her hair and Georgette clutched him dramatically.

Ariadne was reminded of her father's funeral and got a bad taste in her mouth. It was too late now for their relationship to change.

Looking over Georgette's wildly shaking shoulders Jeff promised to drive Ariadne.

Uncertain if she was allowed to let someone else see Arthur, and embarrassed by the thought of being dropped off by Jeff in his dirty truck, Ariadne declined the offer and called for the cab herself. Once it honked outside the house Ariadne hugged her mother goodbye and let her do all of her antics before gently shoving her away and avoided Jeff's hug by quickly shaking his hand.

The cabdriver helped her with her suitcase and once they left Pine Valley Ariadne felt like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. It was a short drive to Arthur's hotel, but for Ariadne it was a brief window where nothing troubled her. She was free of her mother and she didn't have to worry about doing another job in Dreams again.

The hotel was large, modern and looked expensive. She wasn't surprised at Arthur's choice. After she had paid her driver and gotten her luggage she stayed outside and looked around for him. She was wearing jeans, a white silk shirt and a red scarf tied loosely around her neck. If the hotel had a dress code she would feel silly walking in and asking for him in the reception dressed so casually and dragging her suitcase where one wheel was broken and the other one squealed loudly.

Also she had no clue what his last name was.

In the end though Ariadne felt self-conscious hanging around outside the hotel as well and she carefully ventured inside. To her relief Arthur waved two fingers at her from the reception. Ariadne hurried to him, pretending it wasn't her suitcase making noise.

"Hello."

"Hi." Ariadne tried a smile, but Arthur was absorbed in glaring at the slow receptionist. Finally she gave him back his bill, credit card and passport "We hope you had a pleasant stay Mr. Knight, and will come back soon to the,"

"Thank you, goodbye." Arthur cut her off, slipping everything into his briefcase and walking off instantly. Ariadne nearly tripped over her own feet to catch up "Is that really your name?"

After she'd asked Ariadne bit her lip. Arthur wasn't exactly the type of guy to joke around with and probably not at all about this around other people in a hotel lobby. He gave her a smile she couldn't decipher.

He didn't stop his long strides until they were outside the hotel again. Today he was wearing a Burberry trench coat over what she could only assume was another suit. She wondered how they were getting to Los Angeles. Probably not by bus.

"You know the cab I took, is still right over there?" she pointed out to be helpful. The corner's of Arthur's mouth twitched.

He lifted up her suitcase with ease "Our car is over there." He gave a nod and she followed him to the luxurious, black Bentley.

"Very low key." She commented sarcastically under her breath.

"I prefer to be comfortable."

Ariadne's cheeks were tinted pink and she quickly climbed inside the car, leaning back in the leather seats before buckling her seatbelt. The driver nodded to her and Arthur got in a fluid motion. As soon as his door shut, they were off.

"It's only noon now, what if I had been late?" she didn't know what had possessed her. For weeks she had been like a zombie and now she was getting sassy with the one guy who didn't appreciate it.

Turning on the air-condition Arthur barely acknowledged her "If you were going to be late, you wouldn't have come at all."

Pondering over that little quip both of them was silent for a long part of the ride. For Arthur it was natural, but Ariadne struggled. She was burning up inside from holding back all of her questions, both about the job but also about what everyone else had been up to.

They were getting closer to Los Angeles and Ariadne refused to walk into the meeting knowing absolutely nothing "So am I ever going to get any details?"

Arthur folded his newspaper neatly in his lap "I'm sorry Ariadne, but I don't have any."

"I thought they were your job?" Ariadne shot back, getting annoyed with him. She enjoyed working with Arthur a lot. He was dedicated, disciplined and a perfectionist. But on the personal front they got along, yes, but he wasn't her cup of tea. She had to hold on to the memory of their innocent kiss to remember he had another side to him than being the Point Man.

"We haven't started the job yet. And I don't know any details, Saito hasn't been sharing much."

"Oh."

When it seemed Ariadne had no more to add, Arthur opened his newspaper again. Ariadne sat besides him, stewing. A meet-and-greet didn't warrant the same excitement that she had felt when they were starting the last time. And she wished she had something to read, but she didn't want to pull her romance book out in front of Arthur. Even if she was dying to know if the knight would save the princess and how she would thank him.

At last they pulled to the side and when Arthur got out, Ariadne assumed they were at their destination. She secured her brown leather bag around her shoulder before getting her suitcase out of the trunk. When she turned around to find out in which direction Arthur was headed, she gasped "The Orpheum Theatre?"

Arthur nodded and noticed Ariadne's bloody palms. The handle of the suitcase had opened her scrapes from last night. He carried it for her again "You know Orpheum's music was supposed to have the ability to move mountains and,"

Ariadne cut him off when they walked inside a nothing less than impressive lobby "Yeah, I know, you don't need to tell me about Greek myths." she winked.

"No, I suppose not." he chuckled and watched Ariadne turn in a circle around herself while staring up at the ceiling.

"Wow, you know this is how a theatre is supposed to look. All old-timey and majestic."

Arthur held a door open for her "You have something to look forward to then, Saito asked us to meet him on the stage."

Even though tree men stood on the stage chatting it could hardly be heard in the giant room. Ariadne's breath was taken away from her. The theatre was a treat for any architect with all the intricate patterns cut in exquisite wood and painted gold. The room came complete with the heavy, red curtain that hung down on the back of the stage. Arthur sat her suitcase down before walking up on the stage and greeting Cobb, Eames and Saito.

Curiously Ariadne stopped noticing all the little details of the room and went up to her team instead. Saito reached her first and took her hands between his own "Hello Ariadne, I am happy you could join us." he said formally, but there was still warmth in his eyes.

When he let go of her hands, Cobb was right behind him. It was strange seeing him like this. Almost like meeting a teacher outside of school. After both of them tried for a hug three times they ended up patting each other on the shoulders.

Eames pushed himself off the wall he had been leaning against and opened his arms "Come on over, luv."

Like she was still a child Ariadne forgot about the rest of the people and jumped into his embrace. Her and Eames had shared several dreams when she was teaching him the layouts of the different levels for Inception and they had gotten close. He was the most open of the men on the team and she could easily touch him without being self-conscious about it, unlike with Arthur.

"Did you miss me little Architect?" he asked in his adorable British accent and Ariadne caught a whiff of his well-known leather jacket.

She nodded "Of course, what have you been up to?"

He still held her in his arms as they chatted away, oblivious to the looks the others were giving them. Eames had several younger sisters and to him Ariadne was just another one.

"Now that we're all caught up on our Forger's misdemeanours, maybe we could get started?" Arthur asked Saito, but it was clearly a hit at Eames. Ariadne giggled when Eames stuck his tongue out at Arthur who didn't notice.

"Alex isn't here yet." Eames pointed out.

"Alex?"

"The Chemist." Cobb answered and Eames nodded "Brilliant one, this one."

Saito was busy checking something on his state of the art phone and Cobb kept in the background, a mystery as always. He looked like himself, but still not. It was obvious being back with his children had done him good.

Eames shifted his arms around so Ariadne was hanging on his back "Did you put on weight?"

She slapped him lightly on his arm "Why are we meeting in a theatre? How did you even gain access?" Ariadne asked suspiciously. Saito looked up from the emails he was reading "I own it."

"Of course." Eames said and Ariadne smiled. She was happy Eames was there to keep the mood light. Saito looked busy, Arthur could be a statue as he and Cobb stood by each other now, chatting in a whisper. And Cobb never gave anything away.

"Sorry I am late!" a southern accent called out for them.

A tiny woman was walking through the rows of red velvet seats to the stage in a hurry. She looked like the all American girl with long, blonde curls, blue eyes and tan skin. She was really quite beautiful, even if she was only five feet two. Maybe a bit more because of her high heels.

"Gentlemen, this is Alexandra Stovall." Eames introduced the southern belle. Ariadne asked to be put down.

"It's nice to meet y'all." She smiled brightly. Her southern drawl was charming "I usually just go by Alex."

The men all introduced themselves and then Ariadne shook hands with the woman "Nice to meet you."

"You too, sugar."

Not really certain why, this annoyed Ariadne. She hadn't called anyone else sugar. Even if she was a girl and younger she was the architect after all, that should earn her a little respect. Especially from the new kid in class.

Arthur had of course checked her out as much as he had been able to in the short time he had been given to assemble a team "I hear you're a Johns Hopkins graduate as well?"

"That's right, top of my class." Despite her smile, her young age and her accent there was no doubt she had been competitive and that she was proud of her accomplishments.

"So," Saito began speaking and everyone fell quiet "the reason I have asked you all for your help is because I need a skilled Extractor." he glanced at Cobb whose face was closed off, but he did move his head a fraction of an inch as if to recognize Saito was talking about him.

"I have an employee in a high position who I am suspecting of being a double agent. I need proof that he is doing corporate espionage."

Cobb finally spoke "Saito with all due respect, you can easily find that out without performing an Extraction."

"I know, Mr. Cobb, I need you to do something else as well. I need you to steal a memory of his. Preferably without him ever finding out what has been done to him. His other employers may think to use this method of exploring his knowledge as well." Saito explained about the man's function in his global company and why he had raised suspicion.

Arthur interrupted "Saito have you had your employees trained to protect themselves in their Dreams?" apparently he had learned from Inception never to take this for granted.

Saito shook his head "No, but whoever he is working for as well may have. I am counting on you to find that out." he didn't need to add 'this time', everyone was already thinking it. Everyone except Alex who didn't dare interrupt. She didn't have a lot of experience with Dream Sharing yet, but saw it as the ultimate within her field, and clearly there was some history she was not supposed to be let it on.

Eames joined in also "This memory we're nicking, how important is it to him? Will his subconscious guard it heavily?"

Saito looked stern and his hands were folded behind his back "I do not know Mr. Eames. But you a hired as his new associate."

"Gotcha'." Eames nodded. Ariadne could see how he practically came alive at the prospect of impersonating someone else, the excitement, the thrill of possibly being caught.

Arthur was busy taking notes of all the details he would have to sort out when Cobb stopped Saito from speaking further "Is there something you are neglecting to tell us Saito? Because this seems too easy to have called us all together this fast and insisting on this team."

Looking insulted Saito turned "Mr Cobb, I assure you after getting hurt and ending up in Limbo, I am not doing this for a lark or withholding any information. I trust you people and that is why I have insisted on using you again."

Cobb's eyes were narrowed at Saito but he didn't speak. Arthur was frowning, at the moment it did seem like an amateur's job unless Thomas Whitley, their subject, had received training.

"From you Ariadne, I need you to design a level where he will feel safe, you will collaborate with Arthur and Mr. Eames on that. As for you Miss Stovall,"

The Chemist cut him off quickly "Alex, sir, I insist."

"Very well, Alex, you will come up with a sedative strong enough for the Extraction to be performed, but it should be unable to be traced. I am not taking any risks."

Alex nodded "I will do my best."

Saito addressed all of them again "I have closed down the theatre for the time being. This is where we will be working and doing practice runs. I have booked some rooms for you all at The Hollywood Roosevelt. You are designers and interior decorators I have hired for the renovation of the theatre."

"I will be staying in my own home with my children." Cobb insisted and Saito didn't object.

"But I will ask that tonight you have dinner in their excellent restaurant The Bridge to exchange ideas for 'the theatre'," Saito made air quotes "really I want you to divide the work-load between you all and Miss Stovall, excuse me, Alex I am having a lab set up for you here in the Green Room so I need a list of what you will be needing."

Alex nodded and it was clear from her expression that she was already mentally working on that list.

"Tomorrow we begin to work."

Saito already had his phone out and his briefcase in his hand "Mr. Rajid will be your driver and if it's any comfort he is also a trained assassin." Saito brushed it off as if it was nothing when Alex gasped.

Ariadne was busy figuring out why that name seemed so familiar.

"Thank you for the introduction Mr. Saito."

Looking in the direction of the voice Ariadne recognized the man "Hey, you're the guy from the kiosk!" she blurted out, pointing at him but still unable to register how he could be here.

"Indeed Miss Page, I have followed you since you left LAX airport. I also drove your cab to Mr. Knight's hotel and the Bentley here." Mr. Rajid revealed with a chuckle.

Arthur gently grasped Ariadne's elbow "We've had people betray us before."

Clearing his throat Eames shrugged an arm around Ariadne's shoulders "What Arthur here is trying to say is that we wanted to make sure nothing happened to you." he glared at Arthur over Ariadne's head.

Cobb was getting off the stage "I will see you all tonight for the dinner, 8 PM?" completely ignoring the friction between Eames and Arthur. He was used to it. Mr. Rajid lifted his hand that held the car keys but Cobb brushed past him "I can get home on my own."

Arthur and Ariadne began walking to the car and Mr. Rajid joined them, grabbing Ariadne's suitcase and helping to explain why he had been following her.

Alex and Eames were left on the stage. She was only twenty-five, but highly skilled and free of too many moral scruples. She and Eames had worked together once before. She smiled at him when they began leaving at a leisurely pace "Well they all seem very nice."

Eames nodded "Yeah that Saito is a right joker."

Rolling her stunning blue eyes Alex gave him a light bump with her shoulder "You know what I meant. They all seemed to like me. Are you we can't just tell them?"

Keeping her from walking any further by holding onto her arm Eames leaned forward and Alex stood on her toes while they kissed "Sorry, luv, but it's not a good idea to tell this particular team about our romance."

He was relieved when Alex settled for that answer and didn't demand to know why.

0o0

At the hotel Ariadne was impressed with her room, but by then she was so exhausted from new information all she managed was to dump her suitcase inside the spacious built-in wardrobe and head for the shower.

As it turned out there was a bathtub so large she could almost take a swim in it. Lying her phone down on the counter, safe distance from the burning hot bathwater, she pressed play and sunk herself down in the tub and hummed along softly while enjoying the complimentary bath products.

'I try to say goodbye and I choke, try to walk away and I stumble, though I try to hide it, it's clear, my world crumbles when you are not near'

She had loved Macy Gray since she'd first heard this song and the familiarity did her some good right now when her head was practically bursting from all of her thoughts. After shaving her legs she got out of the tub, she didn't want to risk being all wrinkled when she was meeting the rest of the team for dinner.

Ariadne knew at this hotel she couldn't just turn up in her jeans and boots and besides, she didn't want to look like a bum next to Alex who had worn a pretty navy-blue dress in the theatre. Who knew what she could pull out for a dinner.

Digging a pair of creased, black pants out from her suitcase she put them on with the white, silk shirt she had worn all day. Her other pair of shoes were a pair of white Nikes so she had to wear her solid brown boots. After blow drying her hair she put on a little make-up and was very pleased with the result.

The reservation was in Saito's name and to Ariadne's horror she found out she was the first down in the restaurant. She hated sitting alone like this, looking like someone who had been stood up at a date or something.

Cobb arrived, he had changed to an impressive looking suit and even wore a tie. Arthur was dressed immaculately of course and even Eames had change. He wasn't wearing a tie though. Like a proper lady, Alex arrived last with tousled blonde hair and in that 'little black dress' Ariadne made a mental note to acquire for herself.

Both Eames and Cobb complimented Alex and Ariadne was sent back to awkward teenage days where her friends were always prettier than her.

After each of them had ordered and exchanged empty pleasantries about the hotel, the weather and the view Arthur suggested that they all got down to business. Ariadne straightened up and noticed the little change in everyone else, they were paying attention now.

At least until Cobb interrupted Arthur "All of that will have to wait." the silence that fell on the table was deafening "First we have to find a way to put Saito under so we can be sure he's not holding out on us about anything."

A/N: Tadaa, second chapter done! I was dreading writing Cobb and that much Arthur so I hope I did alright. I was looking forward to adding Alex to the team though and suddenly she was in a relationship with Eames, that one surprised me. Thank you all for the interest and I hope you keep reviewing. I'm still wanting a beta if anyone's interested. Please review.

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