Discliamer: Inception does not belong to me. Readers and reviews appreciated, thank you.
Cobb looked up as the door banged open. Blinking, he saw Eames materialise in front of him, smirking. He was holding Cassandra by the elbow. She raised an eyebrow as she looked at the Extractor.
"Eames, you-" Cobb souldn't finish the sentence.
"Oh, I've caught the wildcat who never wanted to get caught," the Forger said, reinquishing his grip on her. "Its been a lovely reunion, so far."
"Where's Arthur?"
"In hospital," Casasndra snapped. She looked at him. "In hospital, and seriously ill. Saito poisoned him."
"But-" Cobb swallowed. "Saito-"
"Yes, Saito." She narrowed her eyes. "You're in over your head, Dominic. You have no idea who you're dealing with. Fischer is working with Saito. Your enemy's enemy? He's his friend."
Cobb shook his head. "Let's just stick to the case." He turned to Eames. "Would you mind leaving us alone?"
"Certainly." Eames turned and walked out. Cobb waited until the door had fully closed before he spoke again, but Cassandra spoke first.
"What's going on Cobb?" Her voice was hard, mirrored by her eyes. "Arthur comes to me, in Italy. Tells me that you and Eames beat him up and left him for dead. On his wedding day."
Cobb rubbed his face. "Wasn't my intention to do that, Cass."
"Oh, really?" She snapped. "How could you?"
"Do you really want to know why?"
"Enlighten me."
"Fischer threatened to kill my children if we didn't perform this extraction." He looked at her. "There you go, thats my motive, my reason."
Cassandra shook her head. "You really believe Fischer would do that, Dom?"
"Yes." His eyes locked with hers. "I do."
Arthur blinked as the young nurse approached.
"I brought you some water," she said, timidly, putting the pitcher down by the bed.
He closed his eyes, and kept them shut until she left.
Ariadne looked up as the door opened. Eames stepped in, smiling. "Hello, Princess."
"What do you want?" her voice sounded small and tremulous, and she tried to compensate by glaring at the Forger.
"Oh, just to give you some news," he said, smoothly. "I've brought someone with me. She's a friend of Arthur's."
Ariadne looked at him. "A friend?"
"A friend. A close friend." Eames winked, turned, and left the room.
The doctor leaned over Arthur. "Well, he seems to be sleeping." He looked at the nurse. "Give me his meds-"
He stopped, abruptly, as Arthur's fist surged up and collided with his jaw. Staggering back, the medic crashed into the small cart, sending the pitcher over. Water cascaded down and onto the floor, causing his to stagger, clumsily. The nurse ran to the bed. "Arthur, please-"
She stopped, as he grabbed her arm. "I won't hurt you," he said, his voice hoarse, "but let me go. Now."
She swallowed. "Arthur, I-"
"Just do it." His tone was forceful. "Now."
Nodding, she stepped back. The doctor was scrambling to his feet, water running over the floor. The Point Man pushed back the covers, swinging his legs round and preparing to get to his feet.
"Oh, no you don't!" The doctor tried to push him back into the bed. "You're under my care, and you are not leaving until I deem you fit!"
Arthur responded by slamming his fist into the other man's abdomen. He puffed, groaned, and stepped back.
"I deem myself fit," Arthur said, harshly. "I'm not staying here." He looked at the nurse. "Where are my clothes?"
She swallowed. "In the side cupboard."
Walking stiffly, due to his confined bed rest, the Point Man opened the small cabinet, pulling out his shirt and trousers. He reached for the pocket, relieved to see that his wallet was still inside. Holding them close, he walked out, heading for the men's room.
Cassandra looked down at her hands. She'd been shown to a small room after speaking with Cobb, and reflected ruefully that she was lucky they hadn't asked her to go outside and walk off the roof.
She bit her lip. Arthur had looked pale, and almost fragile in the hospital bed. Swallowing, she rubbed her face, wondering what the easiest way out was.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Yes?"
Eames entered. "Only me," he said, smiling. "And with a visitor." Taking a step back, he pushed a young woman into the room. Cassandra studied her. She was barely five foot, with a porcelain complexion and long dark hair.
"Ariadne, this is Cassandra, Arthur's trainer and surrogate mother, it would seem. Cass, this is Ari, our Architect and Arthur's never-to-be wife. I'll leave you ladies to get acquainted."
He left, leaving the Point and Architect to lock eyes.