Chapter 1

A chorus of "Slainte!" was heard around the bar. It was St. Patrick's Day, and Dom Cobb's team had managed to get a night off to enjoy the holiday. They had been holed up in Cork, Ireland for the past 3 weeks, and Eames and Ariadne had been pushing to have a good time. It didn't take long for Dom to cave in. After all, what could be better than St. Patty's in Ireland?

Eames and Ariadne slammed their shot glasses down. The bar was loud and crowded, filled with heavy Irish brogue and music. Dom was chatting quietly with Arthur, his face much more relaxed as he took a drink from his pint.

Dom had been able to go home to his family. His name had been cleared, and he was able to move on. The government had called him back, though, using his new status as a way to blackmail him back into one more job. One final job.

As far as Ariadne had been filled in, it was another simple extraction job. A very skilled extractor had gone rogue. The government claims he had been bought out by another country, and all they need is to find out who bought him out, for how much, and what his goal was.

Yusef was tailing him tonight. They had been following him for weeks, studying his habits and daily routines. Yusef had updated them a few minutes before they entered the bar, letting them know the target, too, was going out for the night. So far, there had been no more updates.

Ariadne came to stand next to Cobb and Arthur, throwing her arms around their necks. "Oh boys…" She said, her words a little slurred and her eyes a little unfocused. "I'm having a wonderful night. Isn't this great?"

Arthur and Dom hadn't hit the bar as hard as Eames and her had tonight, but the laughed when she pulled them closer, shouting, "I Just love you guys!"

She exploded with laughter when Eames grabbed her 'round the waist and spun her out of their grip, saying, "C'mon, darlin', let's go dance."

The two were right smashed out of their minds.

Things had been different these past couple of months. After Dom left for a bit, the group had dispersed, but it had been hard. After only a few weeks, Ariadne called Arthur in desperation. She hadn't been sleeping, having hit the stage where she stopped dreaming at all. She had been near tears. He had stayed with her up until Dom had called a month ago.

Dom wasn't sure if there had been something going on. The two kept very quiet, and he hadn't felt the need to press them any further. However, he noticed his friend keep a close eye on their coworker on the dance floor.

"You gonna dance with her at all?"

Arthur looked at him sharply. "Why would I do that?"

Dom merely gave him a look, but his friend refused to give up any information. He sighed, and glanced back out on the dance floor as well. Ariadne had a beer in one hand; Eames who was twirling her around held the other. They looked like a drunken mess, but Dom couldn't help but find it funny.

He continued to watch as one of the Irish locals walked up, trying to get her attention. Eames spun her in the opposite direction, giving him time to growl something in the man's ear. His face was perfectly composed by the time Ariadne was able to focus on him again.

Dom laughed to himself again, but was cut short by his phone vibrating in his pocket.

"Hello?"

Yusef's voice was panicked on the other end of the line. "I can't find him. He's gone."

Dom sat straighter in his chair. Arthur's eyes flicked back to his best friend, and he muttered, "What is it?"

Dom plugged his other ear with his finger, trying to drown out the noise. "What do you mean? Did you lose him?"

"I guess! Listen, I followed him in, but a crowd cut me off. I searched the whole damn building and even outside. He's not here."

Dom uttered a few choice words. "Get out of there. I don't know if he realized we're tailing him or not. Just get out and meet us back at the hotel." He barely registered Yusef's reply as he hung up.

Arthur stared him down. Dom motioned at the dance floor, "Get Ari and Eames. I'll grab the car."

As Dom hurried toward the door, he glanced back to see Arthur struggling a little to keep Ari on her feet. The dancing hadn't helped her sense of balance. Dom gave a frustrated sigh. This was not what they needed right now.