Well this chapter will be one of the last but please read my other stuff too okay? Kinda distracted lately because my favorites haven't put out chapters yet (I typed in children instead of chapters at first...wow). This chapter was fun to write. I'm sorry it takes me so long to put chapters up. I just don't want to put up total trash you know? Well a big thanks to all my readers because I have 55 reviews, 35 favs and 60 alerts. I'm shocked and I thought I should thank you guys. Every now and then I thank my reviews but you know with school and stuff. Oh and before I forget, I've been working on a one shot that is pretty good. I'll put it up when it's finished because I'm still writing it. So far it's ten pages in my mini writing tablet so as you can see theres a lot of inspiration.

I do not own Inception.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. The clock mocked the point man. It was almost as if it moved in slow motion intentionally, just to make him wait and stress over it all. Tick. Tick. He tapped his foot impatiently. Once the interview was done, he could go home and snuggle with Ariadne.

Ariadne. He thought of her sleeping figure as he lingered for a moment in the doorway. His trench overcoat in hand, portfolio in the other and prepared to leave for the interview at anytime.

He hated leaving her but she looked so peaceful so he left a note at her bedside.

It was five twenty-one in the morning, an odd time for an interview. He knew Cobol was an early riser but this was ridiculous.

He rubbed his tired eyes and stifled a yawn. The interview was supposed to start at five but no one had called him up.

Not even the secretary was there. He felt something at the pit of his stomach and he knew something wasn't right.

He shot up and grabbed the clock on the wall. It was broken. The hands weren't moving. He flipped the clock over and found a timer on the back. It was a trap.

There was no bomb attached to the back of the clock so it could be anywhere. The timer said four more minutes.

He bolted out the door and down the stairs. Some how he made it down four flights of stairs without being blown to bits.

Once he was out of the building, he didn't stop running until the building exploded behind him. He could have died. He stopped and breathed heavily. He bent over resting his hands on his knees. Arthur didn't realize how out of shape he was until now.

He chuckled to himself without humor. If he died in the explosion, he wouldn't have been able to say goodbye to Ariadne or Cobb or even Eames.

He felt someone tap him on the shoulder and he stood up and turned around. A man stood there with his arm extended to Arthur, pay phone in hand.

"It's for you sir." He said slowly. Arthur raised an eyebrow and took the phone dangling from the mysterious man.

"Bravo Arthur. Your performance was remarkable." The voice teased. Cobol.

"Where are you?" Arthur grumbled into the phone, whipping his head around to search for Cobol's men.

"That's not important at this moment. You passed. Congratulations. You get to keep your life."

Arthur let out a stiff, sinister laugh. "You cruel, sick man! How dare you risk my life!"

"Watch yourself Arthur. One little slip up and your girlfriend is dead. My job offer stands. It was a test of loyalty, quickness and ability. You passed. I suggest you get back to me with your answer soon. Goodbye Arthur."

The line went dead. Arthur crushed the portfolio in his hand. He whirled around to demand answers from the mysterious man but he was nowhere in sight.

He dropped the phone, letting it dangle and started back towards the train station.

The train ride home was long, leaving him only with his thoughts. He had to take the job. He was putting Ariadne's life at risk.

He knew something like this would happen. He should have never kissed her, let alone started a relationship with her.

This is why he didn't like having friends. Too much trouble. He took a nap but it only gave him nightmares of his escape.

The eerie quietness of the building should have set him off.

He stepped off the train to find a familiar face waiting for him. Eames was propped up against the hood of a rental. Arthur grinned at his former teammate.

"What the hell are you doing here you old bastard?" Arthur laughed as he slapped Eames on the back. Eames just beamed and opened the passenger seat door for Arthur.

"Ariadne told me you might need a chauffeur for the day." He said. Arthur slid into the front seat and Eames closed the door behind him.

Arthur inhaled sharply as Eames got in on the other side. He hoped that Eames wouldn't ask any questions but of course he did.

"How did the interview go?" Eames asked. Arthur exhaled and winced.

"They tried killing me Eames." Arthur mumbled. Eames raised his eyebrows.

"No kidding. Damn. You see that's why I work alone. Well usually." He said, shocked. Arthur shrugged.

"Then they threatened to kill Ariadne." He sighed. Eames shook his head.

"Now that's just sad. What are you gonna do?" Eames asked. Arthur didn't want to answer. He didn't know the answer and it scared him. He glanced at Eames and he found him staring at him.

"You have options. You could put Ariadne in hiding and we could come up with a rebellious plan. Or we could all go into hiding, running for the rest of our lives and doing jobs along the way. But the safe way would be to take the job offer." Eames stroked his chin and gazed at the ceiling.

Arthur was amazed. The man he once thought was a bully and a drunk was actually trying to help him.

"Why you doing this for me Eames? You could get killed." Arthur stated as dryly as he could. A little bit of emotion slipped out.

"Well why the hell wouldn't I help you? If I was madly in love with a woman and my ex-boss threatened to kill her, you'd help me wouldn't you?"

Arthur nodded and they sat in several moments of silence. Finally Arthur bit his lip and turned to his colleague. "Is the first option still available?"

"No. No! Absolutely not." Ariadne cried out. She wrinkled her nose and wrapped her gray wool sweater around herself tightly.

Arthur laid a hand on her shoulder and sighed. "Darling you haven't even considered-"

"What's to consider?" She snapped back at him, knocking his hand off of her. Eames stifled a laugh from the corner. She whirled around to look back at him.

"You planted this idea in his head! I should be yelling at you!"She tried charging toward Eames but Arthur grabbed her wrist.

"Calm down! So we're in a bad situation, but this way we can go back to dreaming and I can be free of Cobol's charges against me." Arthur said slowly.

Ariadne had enough. She plopped down on the pastel lawn chair and sighed. She couldn't change his mind. This was a bad idea and they were all going to be dead. How dare Eames butt his way into their lives?

"I'm going home. This is overwhelming and you two are being stubborn." She hissed. Eames slid off his position on the oak desk in the corner.

"Ariadne I was just trying to help."Eames explained. Ariadne broke free from Arthur and shoved Eames into the wall. She yelled at him in French and poked him in the chest to prove her anger. Now from Arthur's point of view, this was rather entertaining considering Ariadne was a good nine inches shorter than Eames, while he stayed pressed up against the wall somewhat terrified.

"Bloody hell! What is she saying?" Eames shouted back at Arthur.

"I can't repeat it." Arthur laughed. Ariadne finished her rant and grabbed her tote bag. "I'm walking home unless you'd like to drive me Arthur." Arthur shrugged and grabbed his keys. She stopped at the door and turned around. "Do you really think this is a good idea?" She whined.

Arthur kissed her forehead and opened the door. "I only want to keep you safe."

She fumbled with her scarf and rolled her eyes. "Then take the job." She said as they walked out into the chilly Paris afternoon.

Eames caught up with them and he patted Ariadne's shoulder. "Ariadne they tried killing him. What makes us so sure they won't try killing him again? They can't be trusted."

Ariadne chewed on the inside of her cheek and glanced at Arthur. He was sliding on his leather gloves to treat his cold hands.

"I understand why you would believe that. Makes sense I guess. Just wait and think about this for me okay?" Ariadne pleaded.

Arthur lifted his head so he could peer down at Ariadne. "Okay. I'll sleep on it. At five thirty tomorrow morning I have to call and confirm my decision."

Ariadne made a face and put her hands in her pockets. "Like you'll be able to sleep in the first place."

He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple. "If spend the night I will."

Eames shuddered at the point man's flirting. "I'm still here." Arthur glanced over at the forger and smiled.

"You never did tell us about your-" Arthur paused to clear his throat before finishing. "experience with Ava the model?"

Ariadne made a gagging noise and clapped her hands over her ears. "Jesus, you're bringing back the pictures." She shut her eyes tight.

Eames laughter boomed and on lookers stared at the three of them. "Oh darling that was one of the best days of my life. She was perfect and the fact that your little girlfriend saw me naked was priceless."

Arthur laughed when he knew this should have made him angry.

Instead, he found himself thinking highly of Eames. As if they were almost friends. Almost being the key word. Eames still pissed Arthur off but he was trustworthy, a word Arthur never would have thought to apply to Eames.

"Have you called her?" Arthur asked him. Eames nodded and gave Arthur a grin. "She's a cool lady. I think we might get somewhere." Eames blushed. Yes, he actually blushed.

Ariadne looked up and slapped him on the back of his head. "Now the images won't go away."

Eames rubbed his head and snickered.

"Just ask Arthur to whip his out and you'll be fine." The air became tense and Arthur glared at Eames.

"What? You guys have never..." He trailed off. Ariadne shook her head quickly and Arthur motioned Eames to stop talking.

"Arthur I see you're going for a stubble look." Eames said quickly, changing the subject. If Ariadne was uncomfortable before, she definitely was now. Arthur ran his hand over his stubble and smiled a little.

"Does it look okay?" He asked. Ariadne nodded and stared at the ground.

Eames had really done it now. Arthur wasn't mad at him, Eames just has no idea if what he's saying is totally inappropriate or not.

They finally reached Arthur's car and Arthur opened the front door for Ariadne. She slid in and he closed it behind her.

"Sorry about that." Eames mumbled. Arthur ducked his head and chuckled.

"It's cool. Having friends is new to you too." He stated dryly. Eames nodded and held his hand out.

"Give me a call before the big decision. I'm staying at Ava's Paris loft while she's in London."

Arthur shook Eames's hand and patted him on the back.

"Thanks I will. Good luck with Ava. I'm sure things will run smoothly with you two."

Eames smiled, a genuine smile and hugged the point man. "Do what you think is best. I'll support you." Eames said.

Arthur pulled away and walked over to the drivers side of the car. "Thank you Eames. One more thing."

Eames raised his chin and waited for Arthur to continue.

"Let's not mention this to Cobb. Our friendship." He said sharply

Eames laughed. "So a secret relationship? Sounds secretive." He joked.

Arthur waved and opened the car door. When he slid in, Ariadne was smiling. He shut the door and stuck his keys in the engine.

"What?" He asked. She raised her eyebrows and glanced at Eames as he walked off. "You're bromance with Eames is sweet." She said. Arthur nodded and looked down, hiding his blush.

He wouldn't want to be friends with anyone else.