7.

~ "I still don't know where we're going." Ariadne said in a fussy voice that hinted she was actually excited to be doing something unexpected.

Arthur let himself smile as he caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror.

It was hard for him to allow the security team to handle the new systems being installed. He wanted to be there to supervise everything. But it was best if Ariadne wasn't in the house with so many strangers coming and going. Cobb knew what he was doing and Arthur trusted the other staff. Brian seemed eager to help and Arthur gave him specific instructions not to let the instillation crew upstairs and to make sure they didn't leave anything behind.

Brian had become Arthur's biggest fan. Following the Point Man around and asking questions about his kind of work. Arthur felt like he had a lovable, but annoying kid brother in those times

"You'll see." Arthur told her with an impish smile.

"We've been driving a long time." she observed. She smoothed out the tan slacks she wore and made sure the mexican style top was alright.

"Did I dress okay?" she asked as her hands went to her neatly styled hair. Arthur had never once seen her with her hair down. She always wore it up and fixed to perfection. Today, it was more casual with a decorative wooden hair fork keeping her dark locks in a bun.

"You look fine." he assured her.

"Only, if we're going to the theater or something, this is too casual."

"We're not going to anyplace dressy." he sighed. This wasn't a date after all.

"Can you tell me where? It's just us in the car now." she wheedled.

"I want it to be a surprise." he said and checked on her in the rearview mirror again.

She was elegantly casual. Her entire outfit no doubt cost a fortune and was made to look everyday. He hated to think of the lengths she would have to go to or spend to look formal.

"If we catch this guy, if he goes away or is killed, you would leave to. Right?" she suddenly asked.

Arthur wasn't expecting the question and looked back at her.

"Um... if you wanted me to leave, I would." he admitted.

"Well I don't. Want you to leave I mean." she sighed and refused to look at him. "I think you do a good job and there might be another nut wanting to stalk me next."

"I see." Arthur told her.

"Yes. After Bill and I are married, I would like you to come with us as head of security. He would like you."

Arthur griped the steering wheel tighter. He hadn't been ready for this comment.

"Oh, you're getting married." he said as if commenting on the weather.

"Yes. We haven't told a lot of people. Not even Jordan knows. Daddy knows and approves. Bill works for another senator in PR and wants to enter politics himself one day soon. He's very smart and has a lot of good ideas." she said in a voice that sounded more like she was trying to sell Arthur on the idea of this Bill person.

"He sounds nice." he said at last. "I'll keep my options open about working for him."

"You'd still work for me." she assured him. "Daddy's funds have all been frozen because of the scandal and investigation."

Arthur looked back at her. She kept surprising him.

"I pay for everything, including your salary. My mother's family left me a comfortable trust." she explained carelessly.

"I see." Arthur said.

He pulled into a large drive way packed with people.

"We're here." he said at last.

~ Arthur frequented Willie's barbecue on his days off. The owner of the ramshackle restaurant was a third generation pit cook and the whole family ran it. His sons and grandchildren helping him in his old age now. It wasn't fancy and didn't need to be. There was barely room enough to get into the well worn and comfortable establishment as teams of people poured in.

"Glad to see you back." Willie Jr. said and came to shake Arthur's hand. "With a lady friend." he nodded at Ariadne who hid behind her bodyguard.

"Nice to meet you." she said meekly as she was suddenly surrounded by poor, common people. Clearly, she wasn't used to being in a place like this and was uncomfortable.

"Wille, this is my friend Ariadne." Arthur said and gently pulled her front and center.

"Very lovely." Willie said and gave her a little bow. "You two love birds sit over here, it's more private."

Ariadne gave Arthur a look and he just smiled and placed his arm around her waist as though they were dating.

"Pork, chicken or beef?" Willie asked.

"Can we see a menu please?" Ariadne asked.

Willie started to laugh and his grown granddaughter brought them iced tea in a pitcher without asking what they wanted.

"She's adorable, Arthur." Willie laughed.

"Beef will be fine." Arthur agreed.

Ariadne watched the owner leave them.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know how to order things here. No menus? They didn't even ask what we wanted to drink." she hissed.

"This is southern barbecue, Miss Richard. Embrace it." he whispered back. "It's meat, bread, mashed potatoes and sweet tea."

"I've had barbecue before. Daddy grilled us burgers on the Foreman." she said spitefully and Arthur had to smother a laugh.

"Besides, there are a lot of people here, what makes you think I'm safe?" she asked as she looked doubtfully at a pair of motorcycle gang members who were shouting at each other.

"No one knows you're here. Besides, with this crowd, that guy would be crazy to try anything." he assured her.

"So you brought me here?" she exclaimed.

"Yes." he laughed.

She shook her head and tried to look comfortable in the rustic, back country setting.

"So, tell me about this Bill guy." Arthur asked casually.

"We met while he was summering here. He went to Harvard."

"Have you told him about what's going on right now?" he asked as he nibbled on the complimentary home made bread.

"No." she laughed.

"Why not? I would think you would have called him right away." he said.

She shook her head.

"I don't want to bother him."

"His future wife is going through this hell, and you think he wouldn't want to know about it. If it were me, I'd want to know."

"Well, luckily for the both of us, I'm not marrying you." she said spitefully.

Arthur found he and Ariadne were once again glaring at each other when Willie had reappeared at their table.

"I brought you the house special, ribs and pulled beef. Enjoy you two." he said happily.

"Thank you." Arthur said numbly as she looked doubtful at her plate.

Clearly she wasn't used to the volume of meat there. All of it smelling richly of hickory smoke and steeped in sauce.

"Smells good." she admitted finally.

She poked the ribs with a fork in a very lady like way.

"How do I start this?" she whispered.

~ Arthur's only joy was seeing Ariadne try to keep clean while eating their dinner. He had long ago leaned to just roll up his sleeves, say goodbye to a clean shirt and enjoy the food.

"I don't like using my hands, it's not suitable." Ariadne said as she tried to cut the meat of the ribs.

"You're doing it wrong." he teased as the bikers were getting a little rowdy.

He looked back at them as Willie was trying to talk them into behaving.

"I am not!" she said and that wonderful smile lighted her face up again as she stubbornly refused to eat her food like a savage.

"Lady like to the end." he said.

"Of course." she said.

She looked at him with her eyes happier than he had ever seen them.

"Thank you for bringing me here." she said softly.

"You're welcome." he said.

Their moment was broken but the loud ruckus the bikers were making. Willie was shouting at his grandson for help.

"Stay here." Arthur said to her. "Stay here and don't move."

There was trouble, he could see it.

"You boys are causing problems and it's time to leave!" Willie was saying as his two grandsons came to his aide.

"Pops, tell that cute waitress to come back over here!" one of the boorish bikers was shouting.

"I think it's time to do what the owner here has asked." Arthur said cooly. "You all need to leave, and don't come back."

The largest of the bikers stood and lumbered over to Arthur.

Admittedly, Arthur looked much smaller than this man. The biker was tall, beefy and looked like he knew how to handle himself.

"I said it's time to leave, tiny." Arthur said brashly.

"You little-" the biker started to say, but didn't have a chance to finish.

No sooner had the biker made to grab him, than Arthur punched him in the windpipe. The large man gasped for air as he stumbled over to the Point Man. Arthur taking that moment to push his head down and punch him hard in the small of the back.

The sound of chairs being pushed back erupted and all the bikers stood.

"It's time for you boys to leave." Arthur said again. "Don't make me hurt any more of you."

~ By the time it was over, three of the biggest bikers were groaning and crying in pain on the floor of the restaurant. The other two were outside laying int he dirt. Arthur, Willie, Willie's son's and grandson's had eventually gotten involved in the fight and things were much more evenly matched.

"So this is why I give you free food." Willie laughed as the bikers started to crawl away in pain.

"Time to leave!" Arthur shouted to the big one that had come at him first.

"That's how it's done, pop!" Willie's son shouted with glee.

"You trying to impress your lady friend with your fighting skill you learned in the FBI?" Willie asked.

"Wow, never would have thought a skinny guy like you would be able to fight." Willie's grandson laughed.

"She really doesn't get impressed by much." Arthur said. "I need to get back to her."

He had no idea how much time had passed during the fight. It had all happened so quickly.

He suddenly heard the loud chirping noise go off in his pocket and he pulled out the matching buzzer rabbit.

It was making a loud noise which meant Ariadne was panicking.

'Probably pissed off I got into a fight. Embarrassed her.' Arthur thought as he walked quickly through the kitchen and back tot he table he shared with Ariadne.

She wasn't there. The table was empty.

He felt like ice water had replaced his blood as the rabbit kept buzzing. Indicating she was desperately in need of help.