A/N: thanks for the reviews! I'm excited to have some time to write more on this in the next couple days! Also, trying to separate the flashbacks/dreams from reality better. for some reason fanfiction won't save my line breaks or anything else when I'm trying to separate. enjoy! :)
"So, let me get this straight.." Ashby said leaning her chair back and tapping her pen on her notebook nervously "this isn't just an extraction...it's inception as well?"
"Correct" Cobb said as he stood before the team.
"That's bloody impossible" she shook her head in disbelief.
"Ah of course, the other Point ma- woman, would say that" Eames said sarcastically.
"And of course you'd have to be the smart ass in the discussion" Arthur shot back.
"And of course the two of you can't get along for a single day" Ashby pointed out.
"We have done inception before" Cobb assured her.
"You know one shouldn't be cocky in our line of work Dom" Ashby said as she wrote down more notes.
"Sorry we're just bringing you up to speed now.." Arthur said to her quietly. She waved a hand.
"Perhaps it was just my misunderstanding or coming in late to the project," she sighed running a hand through her dark hair "How is it possible? to perform both, I mean"
"Easy," Cobb answered "Yusef"
the rest of the team voiced agreement in various forms.
"Pardon me, but who is Yusef?" Ashby asked.
"A chemist" Eames answered "Bloody brilliant one at that"
"Just don't get us into a situation like before, if you use him" Arthur reminded Cobb.
"Wait, what happened before?" Ashby said nervously, she'd had anxieties about coming back to this lifestyle after the last job and what it did to her.
"Long story short pet, if we'd died in the dream...we dropped into limbo" Eames explained.
"Oh bloody hell..." Ashby said exasperated and ready to walk out at that moment.
"I'm sure Yusef will have an even better and SAFER concoction if we ask him" Cobb shot back.
"Fine then," Ashby said closing her notepad "Where is this Yusef?"
"Mombasa" Cobb answered.
Ashby stared at him a moment, questioning if he'd really planned to head straight into Cobol's playground. Cobb didn't back away from the stare.
"Well, you have your fun in Mombasa...I'm staying here. where I don't have to worry about Cobol engineering" she said standing up and heading to her desk again.
Ashby sat at her desk flipping through files and gathering the info she could when a tea cup brimming with her favorite non-alcoholic drink was set in front of her as Arthur sat at his desk right across from her sipping at his own mug.
"Thought you might like some tea" he said politely.
"Thanks" she smiled "still drinking stomach ulcers in a cup I see"
He smirked and laughed slightly.
"I only drink the best stomach ulcers" he grinned "I'm sure I'll convince you of the goods of my coffee"
"Doubtful" she smirked. Much as she was trying her hardest to keep a distance from everyone on the team, she also realized when things were stressful, Arthur used to be the one to calm her down and he was still going to try.
They were silent a few moments as each drank from their respective cups.
"So, what happened in Mombasa, Ash?" Arthur asked finally. He knew it was a gamble to even ask given how Ash felt about anything related to Cobol engineering.
"What do you think happened Arthur?" she asked.
"Don't bother running Miss Wilkes!" one of the men called after her "We'll get you in the end!"
She continued running pushing people as she went. She'd been on the run for nearly a month since the failure of her last job. she'd hidden in Edinburg, Dublin, Paris, Munich and was now in Mombasa hoping to end it all.
"I just have to get to the main office...that's all" she thought to herself.
Just as she thought this a large man appeared in front of her, she tried dodging him, but two large muscular arms grabbed her.
"Nice work Leroy" a skinny man in a white suit and sunglasses said as he approached. His blond hair slicked back, he dabbed the sweat off his face with a small handkerchief.
"Oh Miss Wilkes...you could've made this so easy" he said.
"Do we kill her now?" the large man now known as Leroy asked, a hint of excitement in his voice. Ashby tried screaming only to find the now sweaty handkerchief of the man in white shoved in her mouth.
"Not yet, we bring her to central first" the man in white said calmly. "And Miss Wilkes..."
she looked to him just before his fist made contact with her jaw.
When she awoke, the air was cooler. She glanced around trying to move. She winced in pain, her ribs felt like they were on fire. "fuck..." she thought realizing she was tied to a chair in a large office.
"Ah, Miss Wilkes..." a smooth voice said from behind a large chair. "Good to see you awake. Ashby's face hurt and she was thirsty.
"W-w-water.." her voice cracked. She glanced and saw Leroy and his accomplice standing on either side of the desk. It all ended here, one way or another.
"Leroy, Adam...you heard the lady" the man in the chair said.
"Yes sir" the man in white, now known only as Adam, said. He returned moments later with a glass of water which he set at a small table near her as he returned to the large oak desk. Ashby would have been relieved if she weren't tied to the chair. She glared at the man behind the desk, he was only in shadow, backlit from the large window behind him. Ashby squinted at the light.
"Where are my manners?" he asked politely as he clapped his hands twice and the blinds shut before making his way to her. She could see him clearly now, he was a large man in a black pinstripe suite, his dark hair peppered with hints of gray. He bent down to her level.
"Now Miss Wilkes, why are you in my office?" he asked.
"Your thugs brought me here.." she said. she knew the words were a mistake, but almost didn't care. He smiled, but his smile soon was a scrunched up face as he raised his hand and hit her hard. He left a mark in the distinct shape of Cobol's logo from his ring upon her cheek. Ashby didn't scream, she knew that would make it worse, she felt blood trickle down her cheek. He crouched down to her level again holding her face in his hand.
"Such a beautiful girl" he said "Don't make me have to do that again"
Ashby glared at him.
"Now why are you in my office?" he asked.
"To end this..." she answered.
"Miss Wilkes, you've passed reconciliation at this point. Should have joined your fiance on that." he said, his voice almost hissing the word 'fiance' , he stood and turned his back on her "there's only 2 ways out now..."
She watched as Adam and Leroy brightened up.
"I know," Ashby said hanging her head. Everything she'd worked for would be gone in moments "Which is why I came prepared"
he turned to face her again.
"In my bag, is all my money...the deed to my flat, I've sold everything I own...it's all in the bag. Sell the bag if you want...should fetch you at least a grand..." she explained sadly.
"Adam!" he called to the lanky blonde man "See if she's telling the truth"
Adam, searched the bag.
"She is, everything is here boss..." he said almost defeated.
"Cut her loose" he said returning to his desk. Adam dutifully did as he was told. Ashby rubbed her wrists which were burned from the rope at them.
"You're free to go Miss Wilkes"
She entered the streets again. Realizing she had no home, she had no way back to England, let alone Europe and she was alone. She fought back tears realizing she'd have to figure some way back when she heard a familiar voice call her name. She turned to see an older gentleman stepping from a taxi, she'd never been more worried or relieved to see him.
"Miles?" she said as he approached.
Later that evening Ashby returned home, Arthur had promised to finish up in the warehouse. She'd been feeling exhausted. As she approached the small flat however she could hear the sound of bass pouring through the door.
"Bloody hell...of all the nights to have a party...Nel picks the night I'm dead exhausted" she thought to herself. Before she could open the door she was greeted by an excited, and drunk, Nel.
"Ash!" she slurred as she ran to hug her roommate "You're home! I'm so glad, because I'm having a party"
"I can see that" Ashby said laughing slightly at Nel. She'd gotten used to Nel being slightly younger then her and still in college.
"je veux danser comme Vanessa
j'veux voir son mec à Ibiza
je veux dormir quand tu te réveilles"
The song poured through the small apartment now filled with many college boys and girls. Normally Ashby got amusement off the song, especially at the lyrics, but tonight she was tired and would have to fake being social.
"Do you want a beer?" Nel asked "Or wine...we'll make it classy"
"Sure..." Ashby said hanging up her coat.
After Nel returned with her glass of wine she led Ashby amongst her friends
"EVERYONE!" she said getting their attention "This is my roommate Ashby, she is...tres magnifique!"
"Nel, you realize you just called me 'very magnificent'" Ashby laughed. Nel's perception of the French language was amusing when she was sober, let alone drunk
"I know what I said!" Nel laughed "I meant it"
Ashby sat on their couch, drinking her wine, watching as Nel played host. She shrugged at the thought of actually getting sleep outside of work.
"It's not like I dream anyway..." she said to herself.
"How can you not dream?" she heard a voice next to her causing her to jump, spilling some of her wine on the couch arm.
"You scared me" she said looking to a brown haired college boy, clearly drunk.
"You still didn't answer my question, how can you not dream?" he had a thick french accent.
"it's a long story.." Ashby said hoping it would deter him, she really wasn't in the mood to pick up college boys.
"I have time..." he slurred putting an arm around her.
"I don't." Ashby said removing his arm.
"C'mon, Nel tells us all about you...how you never tell where you are going during the day, how you have friends with money.." he said. Ashby raised an eyebrow
"Does she?" she asked.
"So, what do you do?" he asked.
"Apparently spend my time in uncomfortable situations.." Ashby said. Nothing would deter him! He smiled and moved closer.
"So, what do you do for a living?" he asked again.
"I don't talk about my work" she answered plainly
"Mysterious...I like that" he said running his finger down the button line of her shirt and over her breast.
"Bloody hell!" Ashby said as she stood up. She stormed into her small room to grab a change of clothes and necessities, she'd be staying at the warehouse from the looks of it, especially as she glanced at a couple half naked on her bed looking rather terrified she'd come in.
"Don't mind me.." she grumbled. She went to the hall closet and grabbed her coat.
"Ash!" Nel called "Where are you going?"
"Nel, I'll see you tomorrow" Ashby said as she grabbed her bag and walked out the door.
She found herself in front of the familiar warehouse...again.
"Perhaps I should get more work done.." she thought as she unlocked the door.
It was quiet inside, she let out a sigh of relief as she sat down.
"Ash?" she heard his voice behind her suddenly. It was Arthur, looking concerned.
"What are you doing here?"