A/N: Here's next chapter. Hope you enjoy it!
As always all I own it's only my plot, nothing more.
„Ariadne.", familiar voice with characteristic accent tore her out from deep thought.
"Hey, Eames." She let him kiss her cheek.
"How he's doing?", there was a real concern in his voice.
"I don't know. He is… I just don't know."
Eames's eyes are sad and understanding.
"Well… And physically?", he asked gentle.
Ariadne forced little smile.
"Surprisingly good, all things considered."
He knows that she shouldn't go with them, but refusing her… When she looked at him with those huge, brown eyes, he just couldn't say "No".
So there she is, sitting in car next to him. Frighten but determined.
"It's here", he says quietly. "Ariadne, you're staying in the car, remember?"
She nods, but he knows, Gods, he knows that she won't listen.
Coming in is not hard. Exactly as he thought: nobody expected him so everything goes according to plan. At least until he finds Arthur.
There is blood. A lot of blood. Smeared on concrete floor, covering Arthur's hands, staining his torn shirt…
"Arthur!", it's Ariadne's voice, filled with pure panic.
I knew, Eames thinks unconsciously, I knew that she wouldn't stay in car… He shakes his head and kneels in front of Arthur. He immediately finds out where all this blood came from; there are long and deep wounds all over his chest.
They cut him, Eames thinks, they cut him with knifes… He feels a wave of pure hatred and forces himself to calm down and examines the rest of injuries.
Nine open wounds on chest.
At least three broken ribs.
Left arm probably broken.
There might be some internal injuries, as well…
He's making this list, trying to forget that's Arthur laying in front of him, forcing himself not to hear Ariadne's crying.
Pure facts, details.
That's what important now.
"I love you." `
Ariadne turned around violently.
"What?", she exclaimed.
There was a shy smile on Arthur's lips.
"I know, I should told you that. Not here, but in real world. But living without declaration seemed so much easier… Anyway, you always knew that, didn't you?"
"Arthur." Ariadne tried to calm her trembling voice, "Everything around you is real. I'm real. I'd never let you sleep, not without me, understand?"
The only response was a little bigger smile on his face.
"You know what he said to me? That if it's a dream, he don't want to wake up. That he want to live all his life in this dream. And most of the time everything is almost perfect. He's more open, he shows his feelings… Yesterday he told me that he loves me! God, I was sure that he'd never do that! And yet… He is not Arthur. Not anymore."
"Ari… I think we should call Cobb."
Ariadne narrowed her eyes.
"No. I won't do that."
His touch was gentle and passionate in the same time. As always. In this particular moment nothing was important; nothing beside fact that she could forgot, just for a second, that nothing was as always.
He moaned feeling her light touch on his hips. It felt so real.
Maybe I'm not dreaming? Maybe all of this is reality?
For the first time since he woke up in hospital, he was not longer sure. And, strangely, it was worse than believing that everything is just a dream.
He pushed Ariadne aside and stood up.
"Arthur?" Ariadne's voice was bewildered, "Arthur, what's happening?"
Arthur shook his head, trying to compose himself.
"Ariadne… You feel so real. I don't know if I could dream you like that."
There was fear in his eyes but all Ariadne could feel was hope. Wild, uncontrollable hope.
"That's because I'm real, Arthur. I'm real."
"So it's not dream." It was more statement than question, but Ariadne still could hear doubts in it.
"Yes, yes it's not a dream. It's reality.", she said fervently.
But Arthur still wasn't sure and he knew that he wouldn't be sure anymore.
It's reality or dream?
Ariadne absently spun her cell phone. Finally, she quickly dialed the number.
"Eames.", Ariadne didn't waste time for greeting . "You know, Arthur thought that he's dreaming. And now… He's not longer sure."
"That's good, isn't it?", Eames asked uncertainly.
"Yes. No! God, I don't know! He was happy when he thought that he was in dream. And now it's hurt even to look at him!"
Eames could hear that Ariadne was on the edge. One step further and she would start crying hysterical.
"Ariadne, love, calm down. We'll call Cobb, ok? He'll help Arthur, I'm sure."
There was a long pause, until Eames heard Ariadne's querulous voice once again.
"Ok. Call him."
A/N: It's once again me. I want to thanks all of you, who alerted my story and added it to yours favourites. It's amazing to get a massage saying that somebody alerts my story! But I have one small request: please review if you read my story! Left just a couple of words, no matter if you enjoy it or not! Reviews are definitely something I NEED.