Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Apologies for the hiatus!

"Cass?"

There was a tinge of fear in Eames' voice, which Arthur heard with a sinking feeling of dread. They were struggling, trying to get themselves out of the building, acutely aware it was only a matter of time.

"Eames, keep going." Her tone was abrupt, a reflection of both the pain and the anxiety she was feeling. Arthur bit his lip. Ariadne tightened her grip on him.

"We can make it," she whispered. He swallowed. They had to make it.

As they approached the door, Eames pushed. It opened, leading to a flight of stairs.

"Let's go," Cassandra said, her voice devoid of emotion. Eames looked at her. The flow of blood had not stopped. He could see a steady trickle, forming a stain on the makeshift bandage he'd provided from his shirt.

"Can you-" he stopped. She looked at him, directly.

"Eames. When we get married, you can chain me to the kitchen sink. Until then - assist me!"

Arthur blinked, as did Ariadne. Eames, his face changing colour, looked at her. "Cassandra..."

"We need to get out of here," she said, abruptly, reminding them of the present predicament. Steeling herself, she began to edge her way down the stairs.

"Stop right there!"

Arthur felt his chest constrict. Peter Browning, his face livid, was standing at the top of the stairwell. He turned to face him.

"I suggest you don't go any further," Browning said, his voice deceptively calm. He looked directly at Arthur. "Its over for you - all of you. You should have learned that you don't double cross the Fischers...or me."

Eames raised an eyebrow. "Perhaps Robert should have thought of that, before he double crossed us."

Browning raised his arm, revealing a gun. Arthur swallowed, and to his shock, Ariadne was suddenly wrenched from his side, and crushed against Browning's. The older man wrapped his arm around her neck, and pointed the gun at her temple.

Arthur felt a rush of white hot fury. Before he could stop himself, he leaped at Browning, trying to prise his arm off Ariadne. The older man responded by punching him in the abdomen. The Point Man doubled over, exhaling.

"Don't try that!" Browning snapped. "Or I will kill her!"

Arthur froze. Was the other man bluffing? He looked in his eyes. They gave him the answer.

"A choice," Browning snapped. "You come with me...or she dies. Final offer."

Arthur swallowed. "You know I have no choice."

Cassandra spoke. "Browning, you can't-"

"You weren't involved in this conversation," Browning snapped. "The two of you, leave. Now. Or...these two are dead."

Eames looked at Arthur. "Arthur, I-"

"Go," the Point Man said, shortly. "Now, Eames. Get somewhere safe."

Eames' shoulders slumped. He and Cassandra kept moving.

"Keep walking," Browning shouted. "You'll reach an exit. Go through it, and don't come back." As they began to disappear, he began to pull Ariadne up the stairwell. Arthur followed him.

"What do you..." Arthur's voice trailed off. Browning looked at him, dispassionately.

"The secrets. I want them. Robert clearly can't get them, but I can. And then, its all over. Forget any ideas you might have about violating Robert's mind again, or mine."

"Over?"

"You're going to jail." Browning's face held a barely concealed smirk. "All three of you. The other two..." he shrugged - "they can run."

Arthur swallowed. "Three of us?"

Browning nodded, the gun still pointing at Ariadne's temple. "Come with me. If you try anything, this bullet enters her brain."

As if to underline his threat, two other men appeared in the corridor, hulking figures, swathed in black. Arthur did not even try to resist as they grabbed his arms.

They walked down the corridor. Arthur felt powerless, a predicament that enraged him. He was unable to even reach out and touch Ariadne, reassure her. After entering an elevator, Browning punched in a couple of numbers.

It lurched downwards.

After what seemed an interminable length of time, the elevator stopped, discharging its human cargo. Arthur blinked as they were lead into a room.

"I said, the three of you are going to jail." Browning looked at him. "Look at the floor."

Arthur did so, his eyes widening in shock. He heard a gasp from Ariadne.

Lying on the floor was the bruised and bloodied body of Dom Cobb.

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