The sound of my cellphone woke me up, grunting I turned over to the nightstand and checked the screen of it. As expected it was a private number. Rubbing my eyes with my left hand I took the cellphone, flipping the cover up and turning the lapm on.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Arthur, it's Saito"

Frowning I cleared my throat and sat up straight. "How can I help you, Mr. Saito?"

"I need you to get ready. Maurice Fisher just passed away. I'll be picking you up in 20 minutes"

Click. I sighed and pulled the covers away. Checking the alarm clock on my nightstand, 2:25am, I walked to the bathroom and after 10 minutes I was ready. Being efficient was one the few good things I picked up due to the nature of the job. Sadly I didn't have the time to pack all my things, but since mostly were only clothes and were on the cleaners of the hotel, I decided to ask the manager to mail them to me. She didn't seem that surprised with my request. After handing over the keycard and signing some release forms I walked out the hotel. It didn't take long before a black Jaguar pulled over.

Opening the back door I jumped in the vehicle. Saito greeted me with a nod, which I returned. After saying we were heading to the warehouse to pick up Cobb and the Passiv, he started to explain me about the procedure the Fisher family will be taking. I took my briefcase and pulled out my notepad when I noticed that my laptop was missing. I cursed remembering that I left it back on the room. Putting this matter aside I started to take notes. When we reached the warehouse I wasn't surprised to see a couple of lights in it, well knowing who still remained inside. I opened the main entrance door and let Saito walk in first, as we climbed up I heard voices. Opening the main floor door, Saito barged in.

"It's time. Maurice Fisher just died in Sydney"

I walked to the right and turned the lights on. As suspected Cobb was next to the PASIV machine on the corner, but what I haven't predicted was that he wasn't with Yusuf this time, instead Ariadne was sitting right next to him. I contained my surprise and walked right next to Saito.

"When is the funeral?" Cobb asked, straighten it up on his chair.

"Thursday in Los Angeles" Saito responded.

"Robert should accompany the body no later than Tuesday. We should move" I said walking a few steps closer.

Cobb stood up and started to fix his things from the table. I took out my notepad from my briefcase and started to check some notes. I heard Ariadne and Cobb speaking in hushed tones, apparently discussing. I noticed Saito walking closer to them, when I heard Cobb sighing.

"Get us another seat on the plane"

I looked up from my notes, what just happened? I looked up searching for Cobb's eyes and discuss about this sudden and reckless decision, but Cobb already left the building with Saito behind him. Ariadne avoided my gaze and walked to her desk, I frowned and pressed my lips, something must had happened… something big. I walked pass her, to the chairs were clearly Cobb and Ariadne were sharing a dream, and start to pack the PASIV. Ariadne did the same with her things. It didn't take long before I was finished, assuming she might too. To my surprise when I looked over my shoulder to check how was she, she was staring at the first level model that laid on top of her desk. I raised an eyebrow and turned completely.

"Ariadne?"

She jumped at the mention of her name and turned to face me. For the first time I noticed what she was hiding, fear. Must be the leftovers of Cobb's dream. I tilt my head and walked with caution a few steps closer to her, trying not to scare her with any sudden moves.

"Is everything alright?"

She looked down and shook her head. I gulped and rage started to bubble inside me. What the hell you did to her this time Cobb? I licked my lips and placed my briefcase on the nearest desk and approached her. She kept staring at the floor, her eyes looking for answers. I dared and took her by the arms and give her a little nudge. She came back and stared me directly in the eye. She looked like a dear on the highway, waiting to be crushed by a car. I felt how my throat went dry and how hard is for me to swallow; it had been a while since something had shaken me this hard.

I resisted the impulse to hug her, calm her down and take her in my lap and whisper positive things on her ear. Instead I tried to comfort her with my eyes and after a few strokes on her arms with my thumbs she nodded. Letting her go I picked the PASIV, walked to the main door, she followed me quietly. Once on the frame of the entrance, she looked up and gave me a small smile. It pained me that she didn't give me the usual big one. I nodded and turned off the lights. Once outside I checked the surroundings and once everything was clear I pull out my cellphone and dialed.

It didn't take long before an obnoxious voice responded me.

"Hello Darling. I suppose since its bloody 3 in the morning, you must be feeling lonely and randy. Want me to go there and give you a massage?"

"Shut up and get ready, we're leaving"

"Oh Arthur, I knew you had a backbone somewhere… Where to sweetie pie?"

I frowned and pressed my lips tighter, how could this man managed in less than 5 seconds to annoy me? He started to laugh while I in my head I started to count to ten, slowly.

"Alright, alright. Don't get you panties twisted pumpkin. I'm on my way"

Click. I took a deep breath and placed the phone back to my jacket's pocket. I turned to face Ariadne she seemed calmer now.

"We must go, Cobb and Saito must be already on their way to the airport"

"But I don't have my papers with me. Also I will need a change of clothes"

I smirked and felt the urge to pat her on the head, it was always charming how the new ones worry about these mundane things. When our client had just proved how powerful he is by buying an entire airline for this mission.

"No need. We'll get new ones on the airport, proper for the mission. As for your papers, Eames forged some for you"

She blinked in confusion and her mouth slightly opened in surprise. I noticed in the corner of my eye a yellow car approaching, I hailed it and it parked in front of us. I opened the door on the back to let her go first. She was still staring at me dumbfounded; perhaps her mind was finally grasping the whole thing. I scooted next to her and told the driver where to and with that we stayed in silence for the next half hour, watching the buildings go by through the windows.

From time to time I checked on her, just to see if she was ok. She sighed and pulled out her cellphone from her bag. She started to dial a number and placed it on her ear, biting her lower lip, clearly ashamed. After a couple of seconds she started to speak in French. Since it was private conversation I tried to distract myself with something, but some words and the voice on the other line caught my attention. She was apologizing to a male. I couldn't help but frown and look at her. She avoided my gaze, clear sign for me to back off, which I did unwillingly. After a minute, or so it seemed, she saved the device in her bag.

I gave her a quick glance, trying to look nonchalant, doing my best to hide the fact that her conversation with another man stung in my stomach a little. I assumed she would be calling her roommates and explain where would she be the next couple of days, so they wouldn't raise the alarm. But I didn't expect her calling a guy. Curiosity spread through my head and started to grow in such a quick pace that my head started to ache. It's just an innocent question, a question anyone was entitled to. However my respect for her privacy stopped me, yet it wasn't enough to tame my desire. I made up my mind and decided to ask casually while reminding myself that it had nothing to do with my personal affairs, I was doing this because I'm the point man and I must know everything.

"I don't mean to pry but may I ask who were you speaking to?"

She kept looking at the window, like she didn't hear me. Before I repeated my question she turned and faced the back of the driver's seat.

"Michel"

I tried hard to avoid the impulse of rolling my eyes. True I knew almost everything from all the members of the team, but their private lives I keep them the way they were supposed to, private. So she telling me a name didn't say anything that helped me. I know that her father is not named like that, nor a relative and clearly wasn't the name of her landlord. Seeing as it was the first call and apparently the last, it leaded me to think two possible options. One it was a really close friend or two a boyfriend. Well I already asked a private question, might as well push my luck a little further and ask another one.

"Your boyfriend?"

She looked at me and blinked a couple of times in confusion, then on the corner of her lips a small smile appeared or so that seemed. It was really dark to tell. She turned back to the window and continued gazing at the street through the windshield. After a couple of seconds she responded.

"I wouldn't call him that"

Facing me she smiled widely, like her usual self. I raised an eyebrow confused, curiosity burning through my skin.

"And why is that?"

She chuckled and stared at the ceiling, apparently reviving a memory or enjoying my suffering.

"Because he doesn't find me attractive"

I frowned skeptic "I am sorry, I just find that hard to believe"

She chuckled and looked up at the ceiling once more. I noticed a light shade of pink on her cheeks, but the street lamp that passed by didn't give me enough time to verify it. She looked back at me and smiled.

"Well… it's just that he doesn't find attractive girls in general, if you get my drift"

I blinked in surprise I certainly wasn't expecting that. And judging by the way my face looked, she found funny how I took the news.

"He's my gay roommate" she explained.

I frowned and my memory immediately started to double-check her record. I remembered reading something about two roommates. One was an American named Rachel and the other one was Michelle. In that moment my mind finally connected the dots, I kicked myself mentally for not catching this at the first time. I turned at her and smiled apologetically.

"So what did you tell him?"

"That I was going on a trip to Lyon with a guy"

I lie back impressed, I didn't expect the highly efficient and innocent looking architect to be capable of having a dark side. And by the sound of the call either she was a good liar or she had done this 'escapes' before.

"Didn't he find it weird you leaving this abruptly?"

She shook her head.

"No, he just said me 'use protection' after threatening me to kill me if I woke him up again"

I chuckled and so did she, before we realized we were already on the airport. I sighed knowing what that meant, it was the end of these bonding times. From now on it will be long, stressful hours, which I hoped they weren't that painful. Not on her first mission, which I wished wasn't the last. I haven't talked to Cobb about it, but it will be a lot of help if she stuck around for a couple of jobs. I had never found this much potential and talent in such a young person. Maybe if everything went according to plan, we could go back and do it the old ways. Like the days when Mal was around.

The cab parked on the sidewalk, I pull out a bill of 100 euros and told him to keep the change. I offered my hand to help her out, after closing the door the cab drove and left us us with a cloud of dust. I motioned her to follow me, as we entered the airport my cellphone started to ring.

"We're here"

"Quantas desk" Cobb's voices replies.

"Got it"

I hung up and started to walk to the international lines, Ariadne following me closely. As we approached I noticed all the team assembled on the desk of the Australian airline. Eames was the first to spot us he waved and smiled widely. I assumed he was glad to see Ariadne. Cobb was speaking on the phone while Yusuf was checking his luggage. As for Saito he was on the front desk, guarded by his two orangutans, speaking with the flight attendant. Must be really nice to tell you're the owner and you need to move some passengers from their first class flights so he and his "friends" could board.

"So… what took you so long darling? Having a little fun time in the office with the princess?" winking at Ariadne. She only rolled her eyes and a light shade of pink appears on her pale cheeks. I just ignore him and go straight to Cobb. Taking mental notes of that blush.

He dismissed me, apparently he was speaking to Miles. I sighed and looked at the group, waiting for Saito to finish with the documentation. After a couple of minutes Saito approached us with the flight tickets and the schedule. The flight would be departing in two hours, it would take us 20 hours to travel from Paris to Sydney. The first scale would be in Hong Kong and latter Sydney. That left us with just a day and a half to spare and get ready to board the next flight to L.A. As for the seating, thankfully I didn't have to share my seat with Eames. Instead he was sitting with Yusuf. Saito preferred to go alone and so did Cobb, leaving Ariadne with me, which I couldn't help but smile internally.

Eames opened up his briefcase and pulled out some documents, he started to distribute them along with a credit card. I looked up inquisitively; he only smirked and pointed with his thumb at Saito, clearly a courtesy. Cobb ignored us and parted to the gates, Saito motioned Yusuf and me to follow him. I looked over Ariadne, she gave me a smile which I returned with a small one. It didn't take long before Eames breaks the moment by placing his arm around her shoulders and pulls her to him.

"Oh don't worry Darling, I will take good care of our princess here" winking at her and shaking her a little, she rolled her eyes and chuckled.

I gave him a warning glare, which of course he deflected.

"We're just going to be shopping on these lovely stores, nothing else unless she wants to. Which I wouldn't say no, obviously" putting his hand under her chin and raising it, almost as he's was going to kiss her. She chuckled and pushes him away gently, muttering moron.

I rolled my eyes pretending it didn't affect me, picking up the PASIV and moving to the gates. Saito gave me a nod and walked to the security panel, followed by his bodyguards, Yusuf and one of the flight attendants. As we reached the main entrance, the flight attendant approached the guard, clearly as a distraction. With a quick maneuver I passed the PASIV, my briefcase and Yusuf's luggage. Before the guard could say anything we were already walking to the waiting area of the plane.

Once inside we split up and went to different directions, I decided to go and purchase another set of suits and a luggage to carry them. Thankfully the airport had some designer stores open. After a quick glance I walked to my personal favorite, Armani. It didn't take long before I exited the store with two brand new three-piece suits, with matching ties and shirts. I walked right to the next store, looking for a silver case to put all the new garments in it. Thankfully the store sells Rimowa, which is not only practical but also resistant and discreet. I took the travel size I placed carefully the suits inside and paid. Checking my watch and verifying I still got time before the flight crew started to board, I treat myself with a French roast espresso of Starbucks.

I locked the portfolio over the suitcase and walked just like any other businessman to the waiting room, sipping my coffee. The room is almost packed, but since we're traveling first class I headed to the VIP room, right next to the gate. There's no one here but the team. Cobb is glancing out the window, Saito speaking on his cellphone, his two bodyguards nearby, Yusuf on a chair near the door rocking back and forward on his chair. As for Eames and Ariadne, they're nowhere to be seen. I tried not to look annoyed by that and took a seat sit right next to Cobb. I try to talk to him about his decision of including Ariadne on the dream but he didn't even bother to look at me, but I'm so much used to that to be affected. I took mental note to approach him later with this subject. So instead I pulled out my cellphone and start to review some documents in it while waiting for the rest of the team to appear or to be called by the front desk, whichever happened first.

The sound of heels clicking the floor disturbed the silence on the room, I assumed it was just another passenger. I kept on reviewing the documents when I heard the sound approaching closer to where I was seated. I kept on reading until by the rear of my eye I spotted a pair of 4 inch black leather heels standing in front of me, I frowned and finally bothered to look up and see the owner. My jaw must had dislocated, I certainly didn't expect Ariadne, our little architect, to wear that kind of shoes. Blinking in surprise my eyes starts to scout shamelessly the rest of her outfit. She was wearing a long black skirt that reached just under her knees, a white blouse with flounces on the front and a black blazer wrapping her upper body. I looked back at her face, noticing a pair of pearl earrings. She brushed her hair to the back of her ear and found a matching ring. I gulped and stood up to compose myself, fixing the knot of my tie and clearing my throat.

"So… what do you think?" she asked turning around slowly giving me a clear sight of her back.

Dear lord… why did you just do that for Ariadne? I gulped and cleared my throat once more and I nod her in approval. Her smile slightly weakens, clearly she was hoping for more. I swallowed and cleared my throat for the third time.

"It looks perfect… " The words escaped my lips before I had the time to process them. I felt my cheeks burning and her eyes glistened with happiness "I mean for the job" trying vainly to save my last statement.

If my nod was such a bad move, this was devastating. Her brow went down, clearly disappointed. I felt a sting of pain on my chest, as I try to make her look up and make amends. An arm rounded her shoulders and pulled it closer to the owner.

"Oh don't listen to this prick, princess. I'm sure his job has sucked out all the manhood he had left, which I believe he didn't have much to begin with. As for me I think you look ravishing, isn't that right Cobb?"

At that moment I remembered Cobb was next to me, he only looked back from the window and checked Ariadne from toe to head. He nodded and returned to look out the window. Ariadne smiled at his approval, just like when he complimented her back when we were checking the dream levels. We were interrupted by a female voice, asking for the first class passengers to board.

Taking our belongings, we approached the flight attendant and passed the door one by one. Usually by protocol they would have checked us again before boarding, but just a glance from Saito to the girl on the desk, stopped them from doing so. Cobb passed first, followed by me. I didn't pay attention who followed next, I just wanted to get to my seat and distract myself with work.

Once inside I placed my suitcase above, I requested Cobb to pass me his laptop so I could keep on working on the last details of the case. He looked at me surprised. He nodded and pulled out from his briefcase. Before handing it to me, he told me he has seen me a little off from a couple of days. I look at him with a raised eyebrow not fully understanding. He shook his head and hand it to me muttering never mind. Thanking him I sat on my place and turned the computer on, waiting for it to start and giving a second thought of what he said. It was true that in the last couple of days I wasn't as sharp as usual, I blamed that to the complexity of the job. I had never performed Inception so that must be getting to me. Before I can go deeper on that thought the rest of the team appeared.

It didn't take long before they took their places and put all their belongings away. Ariadne tried to maneuver her red suitcase on top of our seats, failing miserably and cursing under her breath. I put the laptop on her seat and tried to help her out when out of nowhere Eames appeared and with a wink he helped her out. She smiled and thanked him I just gave him a reproaching look. He winked and left to his seat chuckling. Fuming I pulled out the laptop from Ariadne's seat and started to open some files. It didn't take long before she sits right next to me, I tried to look busy but my eyes keep betraying me by taking sneak peeks at her.

The moment I almost truly lost it, was when the flight attendant approached and offered us a beverage. In that moment Ariadne decided it was a good idea to cross her legs and ask for a glass with apple juice. I gulped and looked away ashamed, trying hard to focus in other type of thoughts so when the flight attendant asked me what I wanted I almost stuttered. I cleared my throat and asked for water. Ariadne looked at me with a raised eyebrow and asked me if I was all right. I nodded and focused all my attention on the monitor, thankfully she uncrossed her legs and started to check the Airline Magazine.

After a couple of minutes the flight attendant approached us with our drinks and left to lock the compartments and proceed with her job. The plane started to move so I turned off the computer and placed it under my seat, fastened my seat belt and gazed out the window on my right, placing my hands on the armrest. The takeoff went smoothly until a current of air made a little turbulence, a hand grasped my left tightly. I turned to look at the owner, she had her eyes wide shut and started to mumble things to herself. I frowned worried but once the turbulence was over she relaxed her hand but didn't move it. Perhaps she was expecting another jump but it didn't come. She opened her eyes and sighed, then noticing her hand on top of mine she pulled it away ashamed.

"You ok?" I asked raising a brow.

"Yeah… I just don't like turbulence" she admitted ashamed.

I chuckled, finding adorable her innocent remark "No one does"

She looked back at me and smiled, I nodded and pulled out the computer from under my seat and started to work. From the corner of my eye I noticed Ariadne reached for her brand new purse, she gazed at the details of it, admiring the design and the material. I half closed the computer and looked at her.

"You can afford all the collection once the job is done" I told her giving her a sly smile.

She looked back at me shocked then back at the purse. I smirked and returned to my computer, opened the note pad and typed a figure. Turning the computer to her, she leaned over to see the screen.

"This will be deposited in your account once we land on L.A."

"Holy shit!" she exclaimed with her eyes and mouth wide open.

Her loud remark made everyone around look upon us, she blushed and apologized.

"Darling can't you keep it in your pants until we land? We're trying to sleep here" Eames muttered while turning to the opposite direction, sitting in a comfortable position.

I glared at him while Ariadne blushed even more. Yusuf chuckled and resumed reading his book, Cobb only looked at me and frowned. Somehow I knew what that glare meant. Great… thank you so much Eames. As for Saito, he keep staring the window like nothing happened. I rubbed my temples in exasperation, opened the computer and continued working.

An hour went by in silence and I decided to check on the rest of the team. Yusuf was still taking some notes from the book he was reading, Eames was sound asleep with his mouth half open. I rolled my eyes and hoped he didn't start snoring any time soon. Cobb had his eyes shut, but I knew that he wasn't sleeping. He was just resting his eyes, even if it is hard to believe there's such a thing. Saito was working on his computer. As for Ariadne she was watching a movie on her Ipod, she looked once she noticed my eyes and smiled. I nod at her and she kept watching her device.

Moving my head until the neck gave a crack, I closed the computer and put it away. It was 8am in Paris, the lack of sleep was starting to show up. My body began to complain, my eyelids suddenly feeling heavier, also a yawn was forming in my throat. I rubbed my eyes with one hand. As I reached for the sleep mask, provided by the airline, I fixed my chair so it will imitate a single bed. Ariadne raised an eyebrow once she saw me up. I didn't say anything, instead I let my actions speak for me. Once my pseudo bed was ready I look at her and with a tint of shame I removed my shoes. She smirked and shook her head. Putting aside my embarrassment I placed myself in a comfortable position and drift into sleep.