Hey, huns! Here's the (first ) part of the next chapter. This might seem more of a filler chapter, but only cuz most of the action is in the second part, and I don't have time to write it right now (cuz my mom is yelling at me to go to sleep...haha...). So, yeah...

Also, I understand that some of you thought that Ariande and/or Arthur were a little OOC in the previous chapter. So I apologize for that. Hopefully, I'll be able to write them spot-on again in the coming chapters.

And a BIGGG thanks to EmoGleek for answering the crapload of questions I asked while writing this chapter. She is amazing! =}
If you haven't read her stories yet, go read them! They are reallllllllly good! I especially like 'Perfect Timing', which is her FIRST Inception multi-chapter fic. So go read that (after you read this of course...XD)

Read and Review!

We'll Be a Dream
Chapter Six (Part One)

Ariadne wasn't at work by noon the next day.

Her desk remained untouched, bare of the mountains of graphing paper and crumpled sketches that usually cluttered her work area. Across the warehouse, Arthur refused to look at her empty chair, reviewing the game plan for the Bonaparte extraction over and over again. He itched for his phone, longing to call her, to find out where she was, but he curled his hands into a fist before he could feel the smooth touch screen beneath his fingertips. Ariadne was a grown woman, responsible for herself. If she was going to come to work, she would come on her own accord.

By 2:27, she still hadn't come.

Thanks to Arthur's research, the team knew that Emmett was prone to taking 4:30 naps, and they had to catch a jet to Switzerland (where the mark was staying for a business trip), get to the hotel he was staying in, steal a room key from the hotel staff, and enter his dream to extract the information they needed before Emmett's 5:45 meeting. They couldn't wait on Ariadne anymore. They had to leave. Now.

A quick phone call from Cobb had Miles rushing to meet them at the airport, ready to step in for his missing former-student. The extractor and his father-in-law spoke in hushed tones as the team boarded the private jet Saito had bought them, but even though he could feel their stares boring into his back, Arthur didn't meet their gaze. No doubt Cobb was explaining their architect's absence to their substitute. Looking back at them would just be an invitation for questioning. And questioning was the last thing Arthur wanted.

His hand draped limply over the armrest of his seat, feeling the textured fabric of the chair beside him. They were to land in Switzerland in an hour or so, and he couldn't help but slide his fingers to his left, where Ariadne would have normally been sitting. On flights like this, the point man would have taken her hand, rubbing his thumb gently over her skin in smooth circles, trying to rid her of the fear and anxiety she always felt before an extraction.

But with Ariadne gone, he felt nothing but air, fingers twitching unconsciously, looking for its missing companion. Arthur sighed, pulling his hand away from the empty seat and shoving it into his pocket. He thumbed the corner of his loaded red die and stared forlornly out the tiny window. This was going to be a long mission.

As soon as they got to the hotel, Cobb began bark out assignments. "Okay, Eames? Go charm the spare key to Emmett's suite from that concierge at the front desk. Room 743. Miles, go with him- keep him in check. Yusuf, the security office is down the hall and to the left. Go disable the cameras in Emmett's room."

Arthur watched as his teammates went off to do their respective jobs. He cleared his throat, catching Cobb's attention, and picked up the metal briefcase resting at his feet. "I'm gonna check to make sure the equipment's working."

The point man turned on his heel, about to go search for a secluded hallway or bathroom, when his boss's voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Arthur, come back here."

He sighed warily and walked back toward Cobb, who was watching him with careful eyes. "Yes?"

The extractor looked at him, concerned. "…Are you okay?"

Arthur had worked with Cobb long enough to know that the man could read people. One glance into their eyes, and he knew every emotion he was feeling, every thought that crossed their mind. Cobb could analyze body language almost as if it was a second language, and seemed to be able to look deep into your soul.

But Arthur had also worked with Cobb long enough to be considered as the extractor's best friend, and Cobb knew enough not to pry into Arthur's personal life too much. The only time he asked if Arthur was okay was when he knew something major had happened.

And Cobb, who had probably gotten the whole story from Eames, was just trying to look out for his best friend.

So Arthur squared his shoulders and gave him a small, tight smile, fighting to keep his voice steady and reassuring. He had cracked yesterday when Ariadne left and he didn't want to break down again. "I'm fine, Cobb."

The sadness and guilt that swam in Arthur's irises told Cobb otherwise, but he decided to let it go. Arthur was a strong man. He could take care of himself. "…Okay…But I'm going to ask you to stay with Eames during the extraction. Yusuf's gonna stay behind to keep an eye on us, and Miles will go with me to deal with Bonaparte. You just stick with Eames and watch our backs."

Arthur gritted his teeth. It was obvious that Cobb was trying to keep him from meeting Emmett, just in case he snapped again. And even though he knew that it was best that he stayed away from their mark as much as possible, he hated the idea of keeping guard instead of breaking into the dream vault.

But Cobb was his boss, so the point man nodded curtly as Eames and Miles returned, the key card between the fingers of the forger.

"We got it," Miles muttered, taking the card from Eames and handing it to Cobb. Just then, Yusuf appeared beside them, breathless and flushed.

"Police were after me," he wheezed, clutching his heart. "Just got away now."

"Well, were you able to turn off the cameras?"

The chemist nodded. "But before the screen turned black, Bonaparte was already in bed. We have to hurry."

Cobb nodded and glance at his crew. "Are you ready?"

The question was mostly directed towards Arthur, though, and everyone turned to look at him. He swallowed thickly and held up the suitcase. "Let's go."

As they crowded into the elevator, Arthur took a deep breath and tried to forget how Ariadne would be asking him for a quick kiss right now, before they started the mission.

He had to forget everything that had happened, at least for the next two hours. Because he was working now.

And he needed to focus.

So...how was it? Was it better than the last chapter? Leave a review please! If you do, I'll send you a virtual fruit basket. I hope you like oranges.

-MusicMakesMeWannaCRAZYDANCE