AUTHORS NOTE! Hey guys I just wanted to thank you for reading and reviewing! Um this chapter kind of come out of nowhere, I've been dying to update this lately but haven't gotten around to it with exams. So if it sucks I sincerely apologize! Again sadly I don't own inception or Arthur sad face.
Ariadne couldn't help but feel hurt at the look the men shared. It wasn't something they should have to think about, they shouldn't even consider continuing on this mission. They should be trying to figure out how their going to help her not considering hurting her.
She thought she was going to scream, but the slight wavering of the office room around her brought her back to attention. Eames and Arthur were looking at the room with worried expressions. Ariadne knew she had to keep calm or her control over the dream would disappear and the dream would collapse. And she needed to know what they would do before they woke up, which meant they needed a few more minutes I the dream.
So she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths and felt the room settle back in to itself. When she opened her eyes Arthur and Eames were both looking at her incredulously.
" How in blood hell did you just stop the dream from collapsing?" Eames demanded.
Ariadne sighed " Its one of many tricks a friend taught me, but that doesn't matter right now. What matters now is you two telling me if I should plan on making a run for in when we wake up or not", she knew that came out harsher than she meant it but she was done playing games.
Next thing she knew Arthur was in motion and standing right next to her. He gently grabbed her wrists and pulled her closer. He looked her straight in the eyes, " Were going to wake up in a few minutes and there is no need for you to run from us. Were not going to hurt you I promise, we will find a way to keep us all safe." She couldn't doubt the sincerity in his gaze, and she knew Arthur did not make promises lightly.
" Okay," she whispered she could barely hear her response over the sound of her own heart. She wouldn't doubt that Arthur could hear it considering just how close they were right now. Not that the closeness bothered her, she loved being pulled against Arthur like this it made her feel oddly safe. They had just been standing there staring at each other for a few minutes when Eames cleared his throat.
At the noise they jumped apart and looked anywhere but at each other. Ariadne saw the smirk Eames sent their way before trying to stay on topic.
" Okay so while I am all glad you two seem to be having cutesy little moments again, we really should wake up about now."
" Oh right," Ariadne mumbled before turning to both of them and asking, " You guys ready?"
They nodded at her and she closed her eyes for a second before feeling the dream collapse around them. Seconds later she was opening her eyes in her hotel room, she sat up quickly looking around her. Arthur was taking the bracelet with the IV off and putting it away, while she saw Eames already talking to Cobb. They all looked at her when they noticed she was awake she was nervous for a second before she saw Eames face light up into a smile.
" Darling you are going to have to show me how you pulled off all those little tricks in there! It was wonderful," Eames bellowed pulling her into a quick hug. Cobb also gave her a smile and a quick hug mumbling a its good to see you into her hair. Ariadne hadn't expected a hug from Arthur, hugs just didn't seem like his thing. He surprised her though by pulling her too him and hugging her tightly " Its so good to see you, I missed you" her whispered in her ear as he pulled away. Ariadne tried to hide the blush creeping up her neck but it was futile, she both loved and hated that Arthur could effect her like this.
After all the hugs and greetings they set out to work. While Ariadne had been waking up Eames had explained their dream to Cobb. Cobb agreed that they would find a way around the job. They agreed that they should find somewhere safer to talk, as Saito knew where they were and probably had men watching then somewhere.
Ariadne offered that they take her car and would call her friend Trevor who owned a few safe houses. They all agreed to meet at her car separately. Five minutes later they were all comfortably seated in Ariadnes sleek black Mustang, with her I Pod playing quietly in the background. Cobb and Eames had taken the back seat while Arthur took the seat next to Ariadne. They had been driving for about ten minutes when Ariadne asked Arthur to pass her cell phone from the glove compartment.
She quickly took the phone and entered a number in it turning it on speakerphone. It rang twice before a mans voice said " Hello?"
Ariadne smiled " Hey Trev its Ari! I was wondering if me and a some of my friends could borrow one of yours and Tracie's safe houses?"
The man seemed surprised to hear from her " Hey Ari! God it's been a few months since we've seen you, yea you can definitely borrow a safe house. Umm do you still have keys to the one in New York?"
" Yea I have the keys. Thanks for letting us use it, ill come drop the keys back off when were done. Sorry but I have to cut this call short, send my love to Tracie and the kids. It was nice talking to you Trev.. I've missed you." Ariadne quickly said good-bye and finished her call.
She knew they were all looking at her she sighed " Trev is an architect like me, I met him a few months after the Fischer job. I worked with him and his wife Tracie, who was our point man. They taught me a lot and eventually we all became really good friends. I work with them every couple months now and if there isn't a job I usually just drop by to see them".
" How many jobs have you had since Inception?" Cobb asked surprised.
Ariadne shrugged her shoulders " Ehh I have a job about every two months or so, it seems that my name got around after Inception. Trev and Tracie have tried their best to keep me away from dangerous jobs. They saved me from a corporation called Cobol a few months ago actually."
" You've been with Cobol?" Arthur strangled out, he didn't like the thought of all the danger Ariadne had been in since they last met. Not hiring her and cutting off all contact with her was a horrible idea he finally realized.
Ariadne shot him a puzzled look, " Well yea umm they sent this guy Nash to talk to me. He offered me a job, tried to force it on me actually. I was lucky Tracie and Trevor found me and got me out of there".
Arthur felt ill, he hated the thought out Nash trying to force anything on Ariadne. He also felt extremely guilty he was supposed to protect her after the first job. Granted he had thought he was protecting her by leaving her, but he realized just how wrong her was.
Ariadne grabbed took the wheel in one hand and grabbed one of his with the other. He felt her give it a quick squeeze before she reassured him that none of it was his fault. Her reassurances helped a little but he still couldn't get rid of the guilt. As she drove though she never dropped his hand, neither seemed to notice this or the silly grins plastered on Cobb and Eames face as they watch the two interact.
About five minutes later Ariadne pulled into the garage of the airport, she had to drop Arthurs hand in order to park, but as soon as they exited the car they both reached out and locked hands again.
They headed towards the line to get their tickets, they were heading to New York and for the time being everything was all right.