Note: Thank you to everyone who reviewed my previous chapter. Hopefully this one will meet expectations. I know it's a little short and slow for now, but I'm hoping to work on the build up. I'm also waffling between the T and M rating. We'll see what happens.

…~~~~…~~~~…

Chapter One:

[Four Months Earlier]

"Are you sure you don't want to stay?" Cobb asked, looking concerned.

"Don't worry about me," Arthur answered, "You have your children to look after."

"Will you keep in contact?"

"I doubt it. We both know it's not a good idea."

"Still, it'd be nice if the kids could have their godfather around once in a while."

Arthur smiled, looking out the window to the backyard. Phillipa and James were playing a game of tag, never quite escaping each other as they ran about. He could hear the sound of them laughing and giggling.

"Their safety isn't worth the risk," the point man said, placing a hand on Cobb's shoulder, "Besides, I'm sure they'll survive without me."

The extractor sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Will you at least tell me where you'll go?"

"East coast, maybe."

"It was good having you around the past couple of months. Don't go disappearing."

"Too bad it's what I'll have to do."

The two smiled at each other. Cobb hesitated for a moment before pulling the other man into a firm and affectionate hug. Arthur returned the gesture, knowing it might be a long time before he saw his friend again.

"Don't be a stranger," the extractor said, pulling back and patting the point man on the back.

Arthur only nodded before he grabbed his bag and headed out the door. Cobb stood in the kitchen, watching his teammate and friend walk away. It made him feel a great sense of loss, knowing their professions would keep them apart. The roles they played in each other lives had been big, but now that Cobb wanted to settle down and be with his children, things have changed. He could no longer be with his point man. The team was gone, but he hoped deeply the friendship would sustain.

…~~~~…~~~~…

[Present Day]

He knows he's awake. He doesn't need anything to tell him that because they aren't doing anything as damaging as what they dream up for him. Someone was behind him, holding him up for the second person in the room to interrogate and rough him up.

He knows for certain he's drugged. His limbs felt weak and heavy, as if they didn't belong to him at all. He couldn't fight back even if he wanted to. Yet, despite his grim situation, he refused to speak.

"You're making this very hard for us," the man standing before him said, looking frustrated and tired, "How long do you think you can keep this up?"

Arthur looked up and stared into the man's face. He kept staring until the man leaned in close, hoping to hear something, anything coming out of the point man's mouth. Instead of giving him words, Arthur spits in his captor's face. It earns him a hard right to the jaw and pain radiates across the side of his face.

"You little fucker!" the man yelled, wiping his face frantically with a handkerchief.

And Arthur laughed, his voice hoarse and foreign to himself.

"Son of a bitch!"

Arthur heard the sound of the gun being armed before he could even see it. The man holding him dropped him immediately at the sight of the weapon. The two proceeded to argue. He could make out names and he stored that information away for later use. It gave him a way to identify those who were holding him captive.

"The boss said no guns, you idiot!"

"The little shit spit in my face!"

"No guns!"

The sound of the gun being disarmed met his ears. Arthur looked up in time to see the man that he had spit on approach him and kick him square in the stomach. The point man grit his teeth to keep from crying out, the force of the impact leaving him winded and hardly able to breathe.

"Plan B then?"

"What choice have we got? This little fuck won't open his mouth for anything."

"Maybe a familiar voice will make him talk."

…~~~~…~~~~…

When the phone rang, Dominic Cobb had been washing the dishes, telling his children it was time to get to bed. He had answered the phone, expecting a familiar voice, but the one that greeted him sounded hostile and unwelcoming.

"Who is this?" Cobb asked as he set down the plate he had been drying.

"This is a friend calling from Cobol Engineering," the man on the other end said, "Mr. Cobb, we have a situation on our hands. You see, we wanted information on the job you did for Mr. Saito. Unfortunately, your teammate hasn't cooperated and we've resorted to calling on you."

"Is this a joke?" the extractor asked, resting his free hand on the counter.

"I assure you this is no joke. We've captured your point man and now we're giving you a message. You will give us all the information we ask for as well as monetary compensation for the effort we've put into this."

"I have no proof that you have any leverage."

Cobb heard the phone being pressed against someone's ear. He could hear ragged breathing and someone in the background speaking, but he couldn't make out the words. The voice that greeted him was raspy and uneven, words slurred, but unmistakably Arthur's, "Don't you dare."

The extractor squeezed his eyes shut, trying to digest what he had heard. He knew he couldn't do anything the moment he heard the point man's words. They had agreed on the procedure long ago.

"So what do you say, Mr. Cobb?" Arthur's captor was back on the phone, sounding smug.

Cobb breathed, "I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do for you."

"We'll kill him." The voice on the other line was filled with surprise.

"We don't negotiate with your type. You've wasted your time. Good bye."

The extractor hung up before his voice could betray him. He placed the phone back on the receiver and drew in several deep breaths. They had agreed long ago that if either of them was captured and being used as influence to get information, they would not give in to demands.

How the hell did they find him? Cobb asked himself as he raked his fingers through his hair. They have to have targeted him. They want me to be afraid. If they can find him, they can obviously find me. They can find my family. The extractor balled his hands into fists and kept on breathing, telling himself he would have to think of a way to get his friend out of this.

He knew that there was key information Cobol wasn't aware of. They don't know who else had been part of their team for the inception job. Ariadne would be safe and he knew he shouldn't bring her in unless she was absolutely needed. The agents in Mombassa had seen Eames and it would be alright to bring him back. Then there was the thought of Yusuf. The man laid low. No doubt no one had connected him to the job yet. Whether he would be willing to help bail Arthur out of trouble was a whole other story.

Then there was the fact that the extractor knew, without a doubt, they wouldn't kill Arthur until they could get something out of the point man. This would buy him time. How much time, Cobb didn't know. But he knew he would have to kick it into high gear and get moving as soon as possible.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Phillipa's voice made him turn.

He smiled as best he could, "You should be in bed, sweetie."

"But I'm not tired," the young girl said, pouting.

"Come on, let's go read a bed time story," Cobb said, picking up his daughter and carrying her out of a kitchen.

A plan was already forming in his mind. He only hoped Arthur could hold out long enough.

…~~~~…~~~~…

Note: That ends chapter one! I hope you guys enjoyed it. As always, feedback is always welcome. Stay tuned for more, I'm still writing.