This chapter is more or less just a filler chapter in a way, but it's still important to certain aspects of the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inception or its characters. I only own Sadie.


Chapter 8: Long Shot

For someone who said she was gonna cut back on the drinking, Sadie sure did end up back at the bar quickly. But, in her defense, it had nothing to do with her fearing for her life, or her being vulnerable this time. She just simply wanted to enjoy a drink again for once. No reason to get drunk this time. Just a simple drink, that's all. Or that's what she told herself. She could easily stay away if that's what she wanted to do. But, it wasn't. Not now, anyways.

Although, one would argue that she was drinking as an outlet from dealing with her dad being dead. Her dad always did say not to cry over someone dying, but to instead celebrate the life they lived. For once, she intended to take her dad's words to heart. It was the least she could do to make him proud one last time.

But, no, it was really just a drink for the heck of it on her part this time. Or, okay, well, maybe it sort of had something to do with the fact that earlier that day she had made a complete fool of herself with Arthur. Cause' really...what the hell was she thinking when she kissed him? He must've thought she was insane or something.

After the kiss, Sadie had left his apartment faster than she'd ever left anywhere before. She had made a quick stop at her and Ariadne's apartment to change her clothes. Then, she ended up sitting there at the bar with a drink in hand.

"Isn't it a little early to be drinking already?," a very familiar voice asked from behind her stealing her from her thoughts.

"It's never too early," she answered taking a swig of her drink.

"That's true," he agreed. "So, a little birdie told me that you stayed with Arthur yesterday," he smirked changing the subject while sitting down beside her.

"Your point being, Eames?" Sadie asked looking over at him.

"My point being did something happen or not?" Eames asked with a smirk.

"Why do you ask that like you expect something to happen between Arthur and I?" Sadie asked curiously.

"Love, for one, it doesn't take a genius to notice the way you two act around one another. And two, Arthur never takes someone back to his loft unless there's a bigger reason for it."

"How would you know he never takes anyone to his apartment without a reason? Are you suddenly the teacher for Arthur 101?" Sadie asked before she could think twice about it.

"Doesn't matter," Eames answered ignoring both of her questions and switching the subject back quickly. "So, back to you and Arthur."

Sadie shook her head and laughed a little not having the drive to continue arguing with him like she normally would have had. "It's not like that between us, Eames. You must be noticing wrong something wrong if you think there's something more happening between us," Sadie insisted deciding that she would not be the first one to admit her own feelings out loud. What's the point if there was no proof that they were recipricated?

"But, you want it to be more."

"What the hell, Eames? You don't know what I want! I'm perfectly fine with how everything is now," Sadie insisted lying straight through her teeth and knowing instantly that Eames would see right through it.

"Now, love, there's no reason to lie. It's already obvious and out in the open that you both feel the same way about each other. Well, to everyone but the two of you, apparently."

Liquid courage took over after Sadie took another sip of her drink and she admitted, "For fuck's sake! I've already dropped hints about me being attracted to him. Way too many times. Hell, I've been attracted to him from the moment I met him, which is very unusual for me, especially since only two days prior to first meeting him I had just gotten out of my last relationship."

"What kind of hints are we talking? Were they small hints or big hints?"

"I kissed him and I even dropped my towel in front of him. I think those would be classified as the biggest hints one could drop," Sadie said rolling her eyes. "Or maybe I should just jump him? If that doesn't work, then it'd definitely be clear that he doesn't return my feelings."

"Oh, he most definitely returns your feelings, love. He's just too much of a clueless stick in the mud to realize such hints when they're given."

Sadie rolled her eyes and sighed frustratedly. "Yeah, that's a freaking given."

"So, the kiss...was it short and simple in which he could've read it as something other than feelings or..." Eames started to ask.

Sadie rolled her eyes and sighed frustratedly. "For fuck's sake, Eames!" Sadie exclaimed turning to him and grabbing him by the back of his head pulling him into a kiss just like the one she shared with Arthur the day before. Oh gosh, how come it felt right in a screwed up way? Sadie pulled away just as she felt Eames begin to kiss her back. As soon as she pulled away she turned back to the bar and downed the rest of her drink.

They both sat there completely still saying nothing at all for a few moments.

"So, what was that all about?" Eames asked breaking the silence.

Sadie shrugged playing it cool as she answered, "It was just easier to show you rather than try to describe a kiss like that."

"He's blind if he doesn't realize what a kiss like that means."

"It seems he's blind then."

"I guess so."

"Besides, with everything that's going on right now, it wouldn't be the right time for anything to happen between us anyways," Sadie spoke after a moment of silence.

"Live everyday like it's your last, Sadie," Eames told her.

She looked over at him for the first time since the kiss, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"You've never heard the saying before?"

"Well, yeah, I have, but what does that have to do with my situation?"

"If everything goes badly, you don't want any regrets. And, I'm willing to bet that if you don't act on your feelings for Arthur and see where they lead, then you'll regret it."

Sadie looked at him in shock and asked, "Who are you and what have you done with the Eames I've come to know in the past month?" Seconds later she added, "I mean, you just don't seem to be the type to talk in such a meaningful way."

"I don't seem like the type to do or say a lot of things."

"Yeah, that it true."

~TheMiddle~

"Thanks for coming over, Arthur" Ariadne smiled opening the door and letting him in.

"What was so important that you couldn't talk to me about over the phone?" Arthur asked turning to face her.

Ariadne thought to herself for a moment trying to decide whether she should simply go for it or slowly ease into what she wanted to know. Curiousity ended up winning in the end and Ariadne found herself bluntly asking, "Do you like, Sadie?" Ariadne was shocked by her bluntness, but just took it as she had once again been living with Sadie for too long.

Arthur's eyes widened and he was taken back by Ariadne's straight to the point question.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't have rushed into that," Ariadne said when Arthur didn't speak for a while.

Arthur shook his head and nervously cleared his throat. "No, that's fine," he assured her. "I just wasn't expecting that at all."

"So, do you?" Ariadne asked again. "I mean, you've been dropping hints left and right."

"Hints?"

Ariadne nodded. "When you were convincing me to go along with performing Inception on Sadie, you mentioned we would all sleep better knowing Sadie was safer...if you didn't feel something for her, then you wouldn't have been losing any sleep over her situation. And, not only that, but you've been overprotective of her lately. The type of overprotective that you get when you like someone more than just a friend."

"You caught on to those things," Arthur said with a sigh sitting on the couch.

"I did. I'm quite observant. You already know that, though," Ariadne replied sitting down in the chair adjacent from the couch. "So, you never answered my question. Do you like her?"

Arthur looked at Ariadne and nodded answering, "Probably more than I should."

"What do you mean more than you should? Are you not going to act on your feelings?"

"Why would I? For one, I don't know if she feels the same way. Two, after all of this is said and done I'll be gone onto a new job and it's not like I could just leave or ask her to come with me if something happened between us."

"You don't have to leave," Ariadne pointed out.

"If the next job requires me to then I do."

"Arthur, you really need to separate your professional and personal lives. You actually have a chance at a personal life now. You should try it out and see where it leads. Trust me, you and Sadie are perfect for each other. If only the two of you would realize it already."

"Ariadne..." Arthur started.

"If you're gonna argue with me, then don't even say another word," Ariadne told him. "Just give it a shot."

"How do I know she feels the same way that I do?"

"Trust me, I know my cousin. She feels the same way. It just so happens, though, that when it comes to feeling something for someone she's not as blunt as she is about other things."

"But..."

"No. But, nothing. It's worth a shot, Arthur."

~TheMiddle~

Ariadne opened the door with a smile. "Have you talked to Sadie?" she asked letting Eames in.

"I just came from the bar," Eames told her sitting down on the couch.

Ariadne closed the door and walked into the kitchen getting a water from the fridge, "You want a water?" she asked politely, looking over her shoulder at him, already knowing the answer.

Eames shook his head no. "Did you talk to Arthur?" he asked.

Ariadne nodded and said with a smile, "He left about 15 minutes ago."

"You think our talks will get them together?" Eames asked looking up at Ariadne as she walked into the living room and sat down next to him on the couch.

Ariadne shrugged, unscrewing the cap of her water bottle and taking a sip. "It's too soon to tell. Arthur still seemed a little doubtful about whether or not Sadie feels the same way."

"Sadie's convinced that Arthur doesn't feel the same way. She said she kissed him and even dropped her towel in front of him and he walked away each time."

Ariadne spit out some of her water at hearing that. "And, yet Arthur still doesn't realize that Sadie feels the same way he does?"

Eames shrugged. "Sadie and I have come to the conclusion that's he blind."

"Apparently so. What's left for Sadie to do now? Jump him?"

Eames laughed. "I'm not even sure that would work."

"Do you think they'll realize that we've been trying to get them together this whole time?" Ariadne asked.

"Sadie, maybe. Arthur...maybe if Sadie figures it out and tells him."

"You really like to tease him even when he's not around, don't you?"

"It's a fun way to pass time. And, he makes it so easy."

Ariadne laughed as a thought came to mind.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, nothing really. Just thinking back to a grade school saying. But, let's not get into that."


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