Oh gosh, I checked my email this afternoon and nearly had a heat attack when I saw all the messages from fanfiction. Thank you so much for all the story alerts and reviews! They made my day. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Inception or any of its characters. I only own my idea and writing.
Ariadne P.O.V
With each step towards the taxi, it felt as if someone was hitting Ariadne's head with a hammer. She let out a small groan.
Migraine
But besides the fact that she felt like she could be sick at any moment, only two thoughts occupied her tired mind.
The first thought was of Cobb and Saito, the image of the two ambulances on the tarmac was burned into her mind. Ariadne wondered if they would ever wake up and even if they did wake up, would their minds have turned to jelly?
Ariadne remembered Cobb's kids and wondered who was going to tell them that their father may never wake up again.
Her second thought was more of a question along the lines of 'What the hell?'
In the airport, Arthur had dragged her along to some questioning room, then mentioned the words fiancé and pregnant and now they were in a taxi, driving to his hotel where she would stay in his suit because he had offered her the extra room.
Had he completely forgotten the two week, no contact rule?
As the taxi turned a sharp corner, Ariadne bought her hand up to cover her mouth and then rested her burning forehead against the cool car window. She realized that this situation was in fact her fault. She had been the one who was to busy looking in her bag for painkillers to notice what immigration line she got in.
Arthur must think I'm some sort of idiot.
Ariadne shifted position in her seat and immediately regretted it as a wave of nausea came over her. She let out another groan and opened her eyes when she felt a pressure on her upper arm.
"We're here," she heard Arthur say softly.
She groggily opened the taxi door and made her way to the hotel's entrance, trying not to upset her stomach further. Arthur followed behind, her suitcase in one hand and his bag slung on the opposite shoulder.
They stopped at the front desk to sign in and Arthur took the key to their suit. He then wrapped his hand around hers and led her to the lift.
Unfortunately, it was the motion of that lift that pushed Ariadne's stomach over the edge.
She stumbled slightly, "Arthur, I'm going to be sick"
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him nod just as the lift stopped on the fourth floor. He quickly ushered her over to the first door on the left.
Lucky, she thought.
Arthur slid the key card into a slot next to the door, there was a small beep and she heard the click of the lock.
They entered and Ariadne found herself standing in a large bedroom with two doors to the left and one to the right.
"Right," Arthur said from behind her.
Ariadne practically ran over to the door before kneeling in front of the toilet bowl and retching. It wasn't till a moment later, when she sat back on the cold tiled floor and looked up, that she realized Arthur had followed her into the room.
He was holding out a warm, damp flannel. She took it from his hands and wiped her mouth and face.
"Would you like a glass of water?" he asked her.
Ariadne's throat was burning so instead of talking, she simple gave him a small nod. At this indication, Arthur walked out of the bathroom. A moment later she heard the opening of what must have been a drinks fridge and then a clear glass entered her vision.
She wrapped her slender fingers around the glass and savored its cool touch. After a few sips, the burning in her throat was relieved and Ariadne was content to lean back against the bathroom wall and place the cold glass on her forehead.
Ariadne felt numb, numb to the fact that their mission had gone so wrong, numb to the fact that Cobb and Saito were now in comas and numb even to Arthur's presence in the doorway. Months ago she had been a simple architect student, leading the normal life of a person under study. But now she was half way around the world and had just performed a highly risky, not to mention illegal job, and paid the price in the health of two newly made friends.
She felt like crying but didn't have the energy.
It was at the point when she felt like closing her eyes and going to sleep that Arthur cleared his throat. Ariadne bought the glass back down and raised a weak eyebrow at him.
"Perhaps you should shower and got some rest," he suggested.
Ariadne looked across the room to where the shower was. It seemed so far away. But Arthur was right, all she needed to do right now was get cleaned up and sleep her nausea away.
She made to stand but wobbled as her head spun. She felt Arthur's hands on her shoulders, steadying her.
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Don't mention it. Would you like me to get you your suit case?" he offered.
Ariadne gave him a small smile, "Please"
While he fetched her case, Ariadne looked at herself in the large mirror. I look awful, she thought, but found herself not particularly caring.
When Arthur returned, he didn't enter. He simply put her small travel case down near the bathroom entrance and closed the door. Ariadne looked up in surprise at the sound of wood slamming against wood. She promptly locked the door and opened up her suitcase, taking out toiletries and nightwear.
She turned her head to the right, intending to get to the shower, and gasped in pain as her neck muscles spasmed. Ariadne realized that she must have slept with her head at an odd angle and now a few small knots had settled themselves in her right shoulder and neck.
Bugger
She sighed and picked up her soap, shampoo and conditioner and made her way over to the shower, this time being careful to turn her whole body and not just her head. Ariadne undressed and turned on the water, making sure that the temperature was a little hotter than she usually had it.
As the warm water soaked her hair and somewhat soothed her tense muscles, only one thought remained in Ariadne's head. It continuously rebounded in her mind.
What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing?
Alright, second chapter up. In future, updates probably aren't going to be as quick as this one was; I mean 2 chapters in 2 days is a bit much. But rest assured, I'll update as often and as quickly as possible. :)