"Well… well… well Eames, who are these two?" Devi asked, his anger had dropped but the tone that the team had learned to dread still rang true with every word. Eames simply stared in Devi's direction, contemplating if bending to his rules was the best way to play this out.

"See, I asked a QUESTION Eames," Devi seethed. Then, without warning a shot rang out. For a moment, only the sound of the bullet whizzing through the air could be heard; as if the keeper of time had chosen to slow down this moment in order to draw out its effect. The small ball of lead penetrated deep into Cobb's thigh who cried out in shock and pain upon impact – Eames made the wrong decision. Without even registering the thought, Arthur lunged toward Cobb who was threatening fall backward; catching him right before hit ground.

"NO, STOP!" Devi shouted, looking flustered at the sudden outbreak of commotion. Eames used the opportunity to dash forward in a desperate attempt to gain control of the situation by removing Devi from the equation. But his attempt was in vain. Before he could move more than a few steps Devi had repositioned himself near Arthur's head where he was able to firmly press the barrel of the gun against his temple.

"EVERBODY STOP!" Devi shouted. Eames froze where he stood, hands repositioned palm out at his sides. Arthur was crouched on the floor holding Cobb's upper body; his left arm wrapped around his back and up under his shoulder with his right arm draped across his chest. Devi was panting and sweating, he looked flustered as if he couldn't handle this sudden change in the situation. Cobb had his teeth clenched accompanied short pained breathes, but aside from that he maintained his usual composure.

"Umm… Get him to his feet," Devi order in a more relaxed tone as he began to come up with his next plan of action; but when the team failed to immediately respond his exploded once again.

"I SAID GET HIM TO HIS FEET!"

Arthur knew Cobb wouldn't be able to stand on his own, at least not for very long. It was only a leg shot but there was already a pool of blood spreading out across the floor and Arthur would bet the bullet had hit bone. Cobb's face was already paling and he had sweat rolling down the sides of his head. Arthur looked towards Eames who could only look back blankly – for he had no answer, not this time. Arthur was angry and Eames knew it. Whenever he got mad his eyes would darken and the intensity of his stare would become stronger as his jaw set and his shoulder became rigid.

"IF he is going to be an issue, I will put him out of his misery right now," Devi said, repositioning himself so that the barrel of his gun targeted Cobb's adnominal area and cocked the weapon.

"He's getting up right now," Arthur ground out as he helped Cobb to his feet as gently as possible. Once Cobb was vertical to ground he gave Arthur a slight appreciative nod as he motioned for Arthur to move away. But Arthur stayed where he was, he was not leaving one of his team to get ridiculed or tormented; no matter the threat that brought o himself. So Arthur stayed, his left arm still wrapped around Cobb shoulder to steady him and give him strength.

"Move…" Devi commanded, slightly stepping away from the pair to ensure that the situation did not once again turn in an undesirable direction.

"MOVE!"

"NO!" Arthur challenged back but not saying anything else that might further rile him.

"It must be nice… having someone that would sacrifice themselves for you," Devi continued, his attention being pulled away from what was before him to a time in the past. But as quickly as he 'left' is as quickly as he returned.

"Eames… Eames... EAMES… I H.A.T.E YOU!" Devi bellowed as tears formed in his eyes, only one spilling over to silently roll down his cheek.

"But I am not a monster. Not one such as you! So I shall give you a choice, who dies?" Devi questioned now completely recovered. The question was like a punch in the gut to all of them, it sucked their breath away. Instantly Eames began to think of movie scenes that mimicked his current situation:

A character would be faced with an unanswerable question by a maniac with no moral compass; no care for his actions. But then something would happen, just before the threatener was able to pull the trigger and end a life. Everyone would be saved…

This wasn't a movie. There would be no miracle; so how would he stop one of his family from being killed? That was a question that would be answered all too soon and more than likely, not by him.

"What's your name?" Devi asked Arthur, steering his attention away from Eames and momentarily forgetting his prior question.

"Come now, when I ask a question it gets answered… immediately!" Devi warned in a sick way. Arthur hated being forced to do something, especially by someone he did not respect or even want to associate with. But his pride and ego would be put aside if his team's safety hung in the balance.

"Arthur."

"Arthur, what – no last name?" Devi asked in a mocking tone.

"No, it is just Arthur," Arthur confirmed tightly.

"And what about your friend? The one making a mess all over this lovely floor."

"Cobb," Cobb coughed. "Dominic Cobb."

"Ah, that's better. A full name… a nice name," Devi said in a way that reminded Arthur of a tormentor.

"Who does Eames care about more Dominic? You are Arthur?"

Eames face darkened.

"I care about neither of them. There are business associates and that is all," Eames spat directing his disgust of Devi towards Arthur and Cobb.

"Both…You care for both. Eames you have changed," Devi said nodding in Eames direction.

"But not soon enough," the bullet was almost unnoticed as it slipped from its chamber and went whizzing down the barrel to bury itself in an unknown victim.

More bullets, pain, and agony to come in the next chapter. I hope everyone enjoyed and thanks for reading.