"What the bloody hell happened?" Eames asked as we walked back into the warehouse.

"We were played." I told them simply, sitting on the empty chair.

"Played?" Cobb asked.

I nodded to him simply, and thought about this whole situation.

"How were we played exactly?" the scientist asked with his hands in his pockets.

I rubbed my hands over my face and looked at them.

"You might want to sit down for this." I said, and then began my story.

I told them everything, just like I told Arthur, except this time I told them all about my brother.

"My brother…Jason." I said lowly.

"He and I were really close. We got even closer when our mom married this man named Jack."

I took in a breath and put a hand on my forehead. "Well one night, I went into my brother's room, nothing unusual. We usually hung out there- just sitting and talking. Well, that night, he looked really jumpy and nervous. And when I asked him about it, he showed me a picture- he took it on his camera when he was out walking one day.

This man, Craft, had been following him. He told me how scared he was and that something was wrong…he could just feel it, he told me."

I brushed away a tear and looked up to the ceiling to not think about the guilt that was slowly creeping up on me.

"I told him it wasn't a big deal…that maybe it was a coincidence."

Taking a second, I felt like hitting myself. "I brushed it off like it was no big deal."

Everyone looked at me with sadness in their eyes as I continued.

"Trying to cheer him up, I told him that we would go get some ice cream and make some homemade sundaes."

I smiled at the silly thoughts and moments with him.

"Ooo, chocolate ice cream." I said while sitting on his bed.

"With hot fudge." He added, sitting on his computer chair across from me.

"Cherries." I said.

"Chopped nuts." He challenged.

"Bananas" I replied. He took a moment and then smiled at me.

"Gummy bears."

"Gummy worms." I immediately added.

"Whipped cream." He said proud.

Getting stumped…I thought about it for a hard moment.

"Sprinkles." I smiled.

His smirk dropped but quickly came back.

"Spoons." He laughed

I chuckled at the response, but continued the banter.

"A bowl."

"A fork." He said proudly.

"A fork?" I laughed and laid back on his bed. "That so does not count!"

"Does too!" he said smiling at me.

I shook my head, gazing at his ceiling. "No way, you sooo lost."

He rolled his eyes at me and then stood up, offering his hand.

"Come on, I want to go get my sundae with all these crazy things on it."

"Spoons, bowls, and forks included?" I chuckled.

His smile spread all the way across his cheeks.

"Of course! What kind of sundae would it be without those?"

My smile was etched on my face till I realized it was now just a memory.

"But when we went downstairs, my mom and Jack were fighting. Unfortunately, we were there to interrupt it."

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Since they were both overly angry, they allowed us only one of us to go out and get the things."

I swallowed hard and felt my face pale.

"I remember noticing how upset Jase looked when we interrupted the fight. It was like he was heart broken and a scared little kid again."

"So I let him go. I handed the keys to him and told him to bring us back everything we listed."

"And?" Eames asked.

I looked up at him sadly. "He never came back."

"Jase died on his way out of the parking lot, a car crash apparently."

"One hell of a crash." Eames murmured.

Everyone shot him a death glare; everyone except me.

"Yea, for some odd reason, I believed it. When my parents got the call and told me…I guess I was just so caught up in the guilt and pain that I didn't think twice about it."

Eames looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Are you saying you don't believe the crash?"

I nodded my head. "I don't believe it for a second. Something happened in the dream…something I can't explain; but there are just too many open ended questions for me to believe he is truly dead."

"What kind of questions?" Yusuf asked.

"Well for starters, why was Craft following him…and why is he here now? I'm positive he recognized me, and im one thousand percent sure that when I realized where I knew him from, he panicked."

"What else?" Arthur asked as I was silent.

"I think…I think he was the one that rigged my line- when I got stuck in the dream."

Arthur's eyes immediately became alert, along with everyone else's.

"He was the one that touched my first line. He held it to me and then did his own. He never gave you all one; just me."

They all thought about it for a second before I noticed how upset they were. Arthur's hands were clenched into fists and Eames was about ready to use every cuss word known to man. Yusuf was upset and seemed very puzzled, while Cobb looked upset he was played and trusted the man.

"So what now?" Eames asked.

"We drop the case." Cobb said highly upset.

"And split up." Arthur added.

"No!" I protested.

"Ari." Arthur said with a knowing tone.

"No. I am not letting this man just walk right into our lives and think he can play us. I don't care if he's dangerous and I don't care if he's working for something bigger. Im not letting him get away with this." I seethed.

"You sure you have a clear head about this?" Cobb asked, referring to my brother.

"Even if I didn't; I don't have anything to loose."

"Yes, you do." Arthur said.

I looked at him sadly. "I need to do this."

"Why?" He protested.

"Your brother is gone." He said gently.

I shook my head and resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"I know. Thank you."

"And revenge isn't going to bring him back." Cobb added.

"It may not, but it will sure as hell bring me closer." I said.

Everyone debated with this for a second.

"I'm in." Eames said.

Yusuf looked to Eames and shrugged. "Sure, why not finish the job."

I looked to Arthur and he nodded to me. "You already know my answer."

Lastly was Cobb. "You in?" I said.

He looked at me for a moment and then slowly but surely nodded. "I'm in."


Ever since then, I felt like I had been loosing pieces of myself. Here or there, it was like I was having a hard time on focusing on reality. At times I would get so caught up in the job, Arthur would have to steer me away from the table.

"Ari." He said, guiding me by the shoulders, away from the desk.

"Arthur!" I whined.

"Sit." He commanded, pushing me down lightly on a lawn chair.

Everyone gathered around me, pushing the chairs closer together.

"What's going on?"

"What's going on? Darling have you looked at yourself lately?" Eames asked.

I furrowed my brows and looked at myself.

"What?"

"Ari…" Arthur said, sighing sadly.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself. You're wearing yourself thin." He looked at me, with heart break in his eyes.

"Im fine. Everything is fine. I just need to get this job done." I explained.

While everyone lectured me, including Yusuf, Cobb stayed silent.

"Do you remember when I snapped and said I wanted to go back to limbo?" Cobb asked me.

I nodded, tired of this stupid intervention.

"What did you tell me?" he asked.

Sighing again, I answered the question.

"I said I know how it feels."

"What else?" he commanded.

"I said that denying it doesn't help-that you need to focus on reality, because you still have a life."

He nodded.

"Well I am here to tell you the same. Focus on reality. Because it's right in front of you. I know that whatever is fueling you is eating you up inside and we can't stand to watch it."

"I am focusing on reality!" I argued.

"No, you're not." Cobb said strictly.

"I-…What do you want me to do?" I asked weakly.

"Stop blaming yourself for one." Eames said.

I looked over to him and he gave me a nod.

"We all know it sweetheart. It's written all over your face. You can't blame yourself."

Admitting defeat, I ran my hands through my hair.

"I can't stop thinking about it. I should have…"

"What?" Eames asked.

"I should have been the one that left the house. I should have been the one to…"

"No." Arthur said softly.

"Stop-…stop thinking that way." He pleaded.

"It was my fault though…"

"No, no it wasn't!" he yelled getting angry.

"I-I can't stand watching you do this to yourself…I can't just watch-" he said getting upset.

"I-…" I watched as Arthur looked broke hum. I broke him.

"Im sorry, Im so sorry Arthur. I-I have to go." I said. Grabbing my bag off the floor, I ran out of the warehouse, tears pouring down my eyes.

I ended up back at my apartment. Gosh, I haven't been here in forever.

I closed the door and set my bag down, wiping away the tears.

What have I done?

Going straight to bed, I didn't even change.

How could I do this?

I woke up in a cold sweat, my body shaking like a leaf. Pulling out my totem, I tipped it on the nightstand. It fell with a cluck and I laid back with relief.

This repeated, every night of every day. Sometimes I would wake up screaming, while other times it would be thrashing. In the mornings, I would make coffee and just sit on the couch, leaving myself to my thoughts.

I never once answered the banging door or called out to the men who yelled my name. I never even went out and walked around Paris. It wasn't until I finally looked in the mirror and examined myself.

What was I doing? I asked.

That day; that was the day that I finally pulled myself together. I made my way to the outside world; heading for the gym. I wanted to make myself stronger…I needed to.

So everyday like clockwork, I would get up, have some morning tea or coffee and get ready for the gym.

When I would get home, I would get in the shower and then head for a day in Paris or classes. Calls and knocks came frequently to my apartment, but I never answered them.

I couldn't think about them…I didn't want to think about what I did. It was unexpected, though, to find Arthur at my door. He was just about to knock as I opened the door wide.

"Ari." He said amazed.

I looked at him stunned. In a none trying to offensive way, Arthur looked like crap. There were dark circles under his eyes, and the clean cut shaven man I had always pictured in my head looked a little worn.

"Arthur." I said surprised.

We stared at each other for a few seconds, before awkwardness started to set in.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, still holding onto my gym back that was strapped across my shoulder.

"I-..I came here to see you. You haven't been at the warehouse for a couple weeks and you didn't answer our calls or the door…" he said still kind of in la la land.

I nodded apologetically. "Yea, im sorry, I was just…adjusting."

Adjusting? What? I criticized myself.

"What are you up to?" he asked, still staring at me.

"Actually, im just about to head to the gym. But um…how are you?" I asked.

Never before have I felt so awkward with Arthur. If anyone would have told me that in this day and age we would have shared this moment of awkwardness, I would have thought they couldn't be more wrong. But here we stood, just watching each other and having the most pointless conversation of my life.

"We need you back Ari." He whispered.

I bit my lip and leaned against the door. "Arthur." I said with a knowing tone that he always gave me.

"Ari." He pleaded. His eyes were full of sadness and hurt.

Whenever he said my name, it was like the butterflies would go crazy in my stomach. Being around him- smelling his intoxicating cologne, it was like wanting something you knew you couldn't have.

"I can't go back Arthur. I just can't. The way I lost myself and how I treated you…"

"It doesn't matter." He argued.

I looked at him like he was crazy. "Of course it matters. I lost it; completely. If you wouldn't have intervened I could have-"

"But you didn't." he cut in.

"Arthur…" I said sadly.

"After you left…and the hours turned into days…which turned into a few weeks…I couldn't help but think of you. Everyday of every hour you were a ghostly reminder of who I was."

"Arthur…" I whispered again brokenly.

"And you know what I realized?" he asked, completely ignoring me.

"What?" I said softly.

"I'd fallen in love you. You held some part of me that I couldn't get back. You found the real me and I couldn't get it back."

I looked at him shocked, freezing as he stepped closer to me. His hand went to cup my face and his eyes bored into mine.

"And so here I am. Standing at your doorstep…pouring out my heart and soul to you. I'm not just begging you to come back because the team needs you. I'm begging you to come back because I need you-because I cant finish this mission without you. Because I need you to remind me who I am and what im doing." He whispered.

I stared into his eyes, feeling happy and sad at the same time.

"Kiss me." I commanded.

"With pleasure." He said and then descended his lips on mine.

Oh, how I missed his lips. They were perfect against mine. We moved in sync with each other; tilting our heads this way and that way. I savored the moment of happiness and love- enjoying how his warm mouth felt against mine; and the way his hands brought me closer by tugging at my waist.

I made sure to remember how my hands felt in his hair and the way he wrapped himself close to me. He broke the kiss, slowly and regretfully. Our foreheads touched, not wanting the moment to end.

"I love you Ariadne; so please come back. I'm not going to let anything happen to you because I will be there every step of the way. Trust me like I trust you." He said.

I watched as he stared in my eyes, hoping I would come with him. As much as I wanted to, I had a question that nagged at my mind.

"How can you love me after I hurt you?"

He looked at me puzzled. "You left me worried Ariadne. You left me worried and fearful by the way you got caught up in everything. I promise it was nothing more than that."

"I wont let that happen again." I whispered to him with determination.

"Good." He smiled, giving me another kiss. We pulled away and I could see his eyes lighting up with happiness.

"So coming with me?" He asked.

I looked back at my apartment and to him. "I'm heading for the gym, so can I meet you after?"

"The gym?" he asked curious.

I nodded, laughing in embarrassment.

"Yea, but im coming. I promise." I said kissing him.

A smirk was plastered on his face and he grabbed my hand with his. He walked me down and out to the city.

"Meet you at the warehouse in a few hours?" I guessed. He nodded and squeezed my hand one last time.

"Quick give me a kiss." He said as a taxi came to get him.

Smirking, I brought myself closer to him and pecked his perfect lips.

"See you later point man." I laughed.

When Arthur's cab was out of sight, I walked down to the gym. I stretched on the mats before walking over to Bishop.

"Hey." I smiled.

The black muscular trainer looked at me suspiciously.

"Who drugged you? And what have you done with the real Ariadne?" he asked seriously.

I shook my head, laughing a little. "I didn't get drugged…well maybe by love; but it's really me. I promise."

"Love?' he said quirking an eyebrow.

"So you made up with that guy…Artie or something." He said.

"Arthur." I corrected, smiling like a fool. "And yes, I did."

"Well are you going to have a clear head or should we reschedule?" he smirked, as he watched me float around like a nutcase.

"Nope, I can handle it. Just let me find my inner anger." I smirked.

He shrugged and let me have a moment.

I tried, really hard to think of something that would get me upset…but the fact that I knew Arthur loved me…actually loved me; I couldn't stop smiling.

I heard Bishop laugh. "Alright come on. Lets get to work." He said.

We worked on self defense, karate, and even some positions to get out of if I was ever attacked.

"Well, then we are done for today." He said huffing for breath.

"Actually, I think this is the last lesson for me." I said as he drank water from his water bottle.

He looked at me in shock. "Oh, I see."

Looking at me again, he shook his head. "What? No goodbye gift?" he asked jokingly.

I let out an embarrassed laugh. "I-…"

"Ariadne, I was kidding. Relax." He laughed.

My cheeks flushed with a darker tint of pink.

"Thank you. For everything." I said as I collected my stuff.

He nodded in a professional manner and then came over to hug me.

"Take care ok? And come visit me sometime."

We pulled away and I nodded with happiness. "Don't worry; I will be back for a visit. Just don't get all rusty on me."

He let out a hearty laugh and shook his head. "Alright. I will try not too."

Hugging his side one more time, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness.

Bishop was a really nice guy. He may be a trainer, but he was a true gentleman. He always made sure we weren't pushing too hard and I really understood what I was doing.

On my way home, I couldn't help but think of what was next. What was going to happen for me? For us. I corrected, thinking about a certain man in my life.

Gosh, I have turned into a pile of mush. I chuckled to myself.

When I got back to my apartment, I sped to the shower; jumping for joy at the fact I was going to be seeing Arthur soon. Changed into a pair of jeans and gray tee shirt, I took off looking for a cab to get me to the warehouse.