A/N: I decided to update twice today. It's the final chapter of this story. I guess I could write it further, but I started it with clear plan in my mind I didn't want to change it too much, let's stay with angst. What is more I started a new story, not so angsty this time and I decided to finish with this fic completely.
I want to say big THANKS for everybody who reviewed/favorited/allerted my story! It's my first attempt in writting here and all your wonderful responses made me a little happier every day:) Special "thank you" goes to Voldemort's Spawn, who reviewed most of chapters.
I do not own Inception or any of its characters. I also do not own the song used in this chapter. If You Can't Sleep belongs to She&Him.
Without further talking- the final chapter!
When Ariadne finally went back home, Arthur was sitting in his usual place with laptop. He smiled at her.
"You're late?", he half stated, half asked.
"Yes. I… I met with Eames.", Ariadne answered and squatted in front of Arthur. She gently took the laptop and put it on the floor.
"Look, there's…", she started, but Arthur stopped her by taking her hand and examining her wrist.
"You went under.", he said flatly. Ariadne frowned, unable to decide whatever it was an accusation or not.
"Yes.", she admitted. She didn't want to lie anymore, besides the proof was clean and obvious on her skin. Arthur absently brushed the needle mark on her wrist with his finger.
"I knew Eames won't listen.", he said quietly. With every brush of his finger on her skin, Ariadne felt her anger faltered.
"Why don't you want me as Architect?", she asked, her voice much softer than she planned.
Arthur smiled weakly. "You made more open, more… vulnerable.", he admitted slowly. "It's not good at this work, it never was, but now… Now it can be a little more problematic."
"I won't go with you.", Ariadne said and Arthur glanced at her in complete astonishment. "It's not hard job, besides you'll need somebody to be the lookout.", she explained, shrugging.
"Creating world; will be that enough?", Arthur asked doubtfully.
"More than enough.", she answered and kiss him gently.
It was a miracle they didn't kill themselves tripping over the laptop on their way to bedroom.
"Arthur, as much as I appreciated your ability in finding information, I'd rather go under right know.", Eames cut out Arthur and gave him unceremoniously the needle. Arthur gulped. They had been working together for two days now, Arthur passing on all information about the mark to Ariadne and Eames and successfully avoiding Dreaming. Successfully until now. Ariadne was absent, she was in her official work and Eames immediately took an advantage of this.
"Come on.", Eames said, his tone urgent.
Arthur breathed heavily. He was as nervous as he'd never been before, but he obeyed and gently placed the needle into his wrist.
The world of Dreams welcomed him with familiar sensation of sedatives running through his vein.
0000
Arthur opened his carefully. He already knew what he'd see: a familiar picture of hotel lobby with Penrose's stair in the middle of it. His favorite Dream place since his first lesson with Ariadne.
Eames whistled quietly, looking at impressive stairs. "I always knew you're obsessed with paradoxes, but I never knew how much.", he teased, arching his eyebrow.
Arthur didn't honor him with answer of any kind, just went straightly to the matter. "Our mark has a mistress, which is extremely useful.", he announced.
"Mistress?", Eames mused over it for a while. "Yeah, that's useful, but only if I get a chance to see her naked."
"Naked?", Arthur seemed surprise. He had been working with Eames for a long time, but never heard him making such demands before. On the other hand Eames had never faked somebody's lover before, at least not during a job with Arthur.
"Naked.", Eames confirmed. "Look this small details are important; you'll surely notice if all of sudden Ariadne loses her birth-mark on h…". He didn't finish, the look of utter shock on his face.
"How…", Arthur's voice cracked, so he cleared his throat and started once again. "How do you know about it?"
"I…", Eames hesitated, trying to find any kind of explanation, but his mind was suddenly completely empty. It seemed that his hesitation was enough for Arthur, who took out a gun.
"You're fucking bastard", he said coldly and put gun into his temple.
0000
Arthur waked up with shudder. He sat motionless for a second, trying to calm down his rapid breath and clear his vision. He glance at Eames's slumped body laying on the next chair with hatred in his eyes.
Yet, when he stepped out from warehouse he seemed as calm and composure as only he could be.
The way to Ariadne's office was vague. It was a wonder that Arthur managed not to kill himself or anybody around during it. He left car on street, not bothering himself to look for a parking place.
"Hello.", he said to first woman, he met in the office. He smiled his flashing smile, which always made all women feel dizzied. "I'm looking for Ariadne Myer. Could you…?"
"Oh, her desk is there.", woman smiled and gestured toward closest door.
"Thank you so much.", Arthur gave her one more smile at which she blushed slightly.
"Oh, it's nothing!", she called after him, but he already turned his focus on the small room. He noticed Ariadne as soon as he stepped in; the familiar shape of her body, her beautiful hair falling free…
"Excuse moi?", a voice tore him out of his reverie. It came from another woman sitting in this room.
"Oh.", Arthur cleared his throat. "I came to Ariadne…"
Ariadne turned rapidly, at least noticing his coming. "Arthur!", she exclaimed happily. "What are you doing here?", she asked, obviously curious. Another woman eyed them suspiciously.
"Oh, Amelie that's my fiancé, Arthur. Arthur, that's Amelie, my coworker.", Ariadne introduced. Arthur forced himself to smile and shook gently Amelie's hand, mumbling some courtesies.
"Ariadne, I need to steal you for minute, it's that ok?", he asked finally.
"Yeah, I guess…", Ariadne glanced at Amelie, who nodded vigorously her head.
Arthur leaded Ariadne on courtyard of building he noticed before and stood in front of her, silent. Ariadne started to feel a little uneasy.
"Arthur? What's happened?", she asked carefully.
"You slept with Eames.", it wasn't a question. It was a statement, said in cold and hateful tone.
Ariadne felt her heart skipped. She couldn't find any proper words, so she just nodded her head. Suddenly she felt very, very tired and numb.
Arthur's eyes could burn holes in her body.
"I'll leave today.", was all he said, before turning away.
"Arthur!", Ariadne yelled after him. "Arthur, please!"
But he didn't turn.
Arthur rubbed his eyes. they were pricking after a long ride, he definitely needed to make a stop. He turned on roadside, when his phone called, number unknown.
"Yes?", he answered.
"Mister Callahan? Arthur Callahan?"
"Yes, that's me", Arthur said.
"I'm Robert Night, I'm a policeman. I'm afraid I have some bad news."
Arthur frozen, his heart beat suddenly very rapid. "Yes?", he managed to say.
"There was an car accident… The victim of which is Ariadne Myer. She marked your number as the one we should call in a case of emergency…", policemen was obviously waiting for some kind of confirmation.
"Yes.", Arthur repeated, his voice hoarse. "What… She…", he stammered.
The policeman took a long breath before answering. "She died."
Arthur dropped his phone, his hand suddenly to numb and cold to take hold on anything.
He closed eyes, trying to stop world from this horrible waving.
And suddenly he was sure.
As sure as he hadn't been for a long time.
He wasn't dreaming.
The PASIV hummed quietly, ready to use. Arthur gently put the needle into his wrist, tiny smile on his lips.
He knew who would wait for him in his Dreams.
As always for two years.
Ariadne.
His Ariadne.
If you can't sleep, I'll be there in your dreams
I'll be there in your dreams
If you can't sleep at all
And in your dreams, I'll touch your cheek
And lay my head on your shoulder
Goodbye, shadows
Goodbye, shadows
If you're far away, if you can't see my face
If the world is cold, but the sun shines the same
Shut your eyes, there are bluer skies
For you're embraced in my heart
Goodbye, shadows
Goodbye, shadows
She&Him "If you can't sleep"