Author's notes: It's been a while, and this plot has taken so many twists and turns that I'm amazed it even got completed! I hope you don't mind me adding in some surnames for our plot's sake? Hope it's good. We'll meet parents in the next chapters. I smell family feud.

Welcome to my world of attention deficit.

'Arthur, slow down or you'll get us both killed!' Ariadne said, unable to hide her fear. She didn't actually doubt the point-man's driving skills, as he expertly weaved in-between the three lanes of traffic, but it was attracting a lot of unwanted attention. Let's get the police involved and try to explain the ten car pile-up we left in our wake. She turned to her left to look behind her. 'They're still onto us.'

'I know. But that's not our only problem,' said Arthur, his eyes never stopped alternating between the road in front of him and the car tailing them.

'Not our only problem?' Ariadne said in shock. 'Care to elaborate that while trying not to run over those pedestrians?'

'They probably tailed us from campus, which means they -'

'Might be onto Cobb, Eames and the Professor,' said Ariadne, as she considers how the night that started so beautifully can turn so dire. 'Crap.'

'Yeah, well if we lose the cars and make it out alive,' Arthur smiled at Ariadne and continued, 'we'll warn them. Hopefully they're still getting drunk in Miles office and hasn't left yet.'

'Wait, what? You said cars,' Ariadne repeated. She checked behind her again and sure enough, behind the tail was another car following their erratic path. 'That's just great!'

Arthur turned, this time managing to do so legally at a green light, onto a quieter street. 'This should take us to the -'

Wherever it was supposed to take them, Ariadne never found out as a black 4WD, the same as their second tail, cut right in front of their path. Arthur braked in time to prevent a collision, and changed gears to reverse when the driver of the black jumped out and yelled, 'wait, are you with Cobb's team? We're Mr. Saito's guards. Our other team have followed your tail. You're good.'

Ariadne stole a look at Arthur. 'Saito put guards on us? Why?'

'Because he's the one that offered us a job,' Arthur simply stated, the car still running.

'Still, it doesn't justify the fact that they chased us through downtown Paris,' mumbled Ariadne in return.

Arthur reached behind his back and pulled out a hand gun. 'Stay here,' was all he said, leaving the keys in the ignition and stepped out to the other driver who was still standing there patiently, waiting. She could barely make out the conversation.

'How do I know you're Saito's guard?'

'Because if we weren't, I'll be talking to two dead bodies instead. Arthur, am I correct? And that girl must be Ariadne.' The driver turned towards Arthur's passenger and flashed what she thought, was a warm smile.

Arthur remained silent, his gun held loose on his side, making it obvious that he's willing to fight, if it ever came to that. Ariadne sure hoped not, as the black car opened and three more men in black suits came to stand behind the driver. They were outnumbered. The fact that they each carried two holsters each didn't help Arthur's case either.

Ariadne jumped out of the car, the hatchback making a continuous ding sound for leaving the car door open.

'Ariadne, I told you to stay in the car!' said Arthur, not trying to conceal his anger and disappointment as she ran up to stand next to him. Arthur took half a step sideways to better give her cover.

'Brave one you have there,' said the amused driver, who saw Arthur's movement and added, 'but we mean no harm to either of you.' He was then distracted by a phone call, and spoke in a foreign language that Ariadne can only safely assume as a south-east Asian dialect.

'My other team has, uh, cornered your tail. If you wish to find out why he did such a foolish thing, you are welcome to follow us in your car. We'll be at the warehouse near Pier 9. I think you know where I'm talking about, Mr. Chase?'

Arthur raised his eyebrows either out of confusion or recognition of his name, Ariadne wasn't sure. 'We'll follow you,' and he took his passenger by the arm and lead her in front.

Arthur started the car and followed the black car as it turned left onto another small street.

'Arthur Chase? Is that your real -'

'Didn't I tell you to stay in the car? You could have gotten yourself killed!' Arthur fumed.

Recovering from the shock of hearing Arthur's sharp voice, Ariadne retaliated, 'well if they were going to kill us, what chance did I have sitting in the car? This tiny thing isn't exactly bullet-proof.'

'I left the keys here in case you needed to get away. You need to think of yourself first Ariadne, because in the field, things can happen in a heartbeat. You need to know your exits,' said Arthur, his voice still angry.

'Well even if I did managed to slide into your seat and start the car, what about you?' quipped Ariadne, her face turning pink in embarrassment of the origin of this conversation. 'Just leave you there?'

'Yes!' Arthur snapped.

Something lodged in Ariadne's throat that made it impossible for her to answer back, even if she wanted to. She was suddenly interested in the street lamps outside of her passenger window, and the car lapsed into silence again, not for the first time tonight. It was however; full of tension as opposed to the peaceful one they had before they realized their tail.

'Sometimes you just have to take one of the team,' said Arthur quietly.

'Then perhaps I don't want to be part of this ridiculous notion you call a team.'

'Perhaps you shouldn't. You'll be safer,' said Arthur as he slowed the car down to park behind the black car.

The other team was already there, their car parked closest to the warehouse doors. The man who was standing there saw the arrival of the black 4WD and Arthur's hatchback quickly ran towards the driver and explained the situation. The driver then waved him away and he disappeared into the warehouse. He then exited his car and approached Ariadne's side of the vehicle. 'They got him in there. You don't mind if we use one of your workbenches?'

Arthur slipped out of the car and followed the driver. 'No, as long as it's not mine.'

'Wait,' said Ariadne, this time closing the door properly before falling into step with the two men. 'Your workbench?'

'Yes, this is the warehouse I've been told to set up. So it means you really are Saito's men,' stated Arthur, turning to look at the driver.

'Like I said, I am to keep an eye out for you,' and he indicated his companions on either side of him, 'on Mr. Saito's request.'

They entered the warehouse. It was pleasantly lit, Ariadne mused. The soft golden tones gave off a sense of warmth, though the tall cement columns cancelled out that thought. At least there are plenty of windows for some natural light in the mornings. She always liked the feeling being outdoors.

While Ariadne was admiring the interior design of the warehouse, Arthur followed the driver to a gagged man tied securely to all four post of a table.

'Well, at least it's not my bench.'

Ariadne followed Arthur to the table and looked down at their tailgater. 'Oh, so whose workbench is it?', trying to remain calm at the sight of the captive.

Arthur smirked. 'Eames.'

She turned to the driver. 'I'm sorry; we don't even know your name.'

'Oh, my apologies. You may call me Zang. My associates here speak very little English I'm afraid, but they are useful enough. He gave her that warm smile again, and she couldn't help but trust him.

'So, are you going to uh, hurt,' she nodded towards the gagged and bound man, 'him?'

Though the man's voice was muffled, they're assuming he's trying to plead no to that particular situation as well.

'Well, Mr. Saito has been notified, and is heading here now. He's also informed Cobb and all those relevant to this little situation,' and Zang nodded towards their target. '"He is not to be harmed" was all Saito asked. Shame for us, torture is out of the question...'

Ariadne was beginning to really like Zang, even if he is a little creepy.

'So why were you following us?' asked Ariadne, as she reached over to release his gag. Arthur stopped her attempt, and pulled her away from the table.

'What was he packing?' asked Arthur, his attention still on the person squirming on the table but directed the question at Zang.

Zang waved one of his associates over. He was carrying a handful of equipment pieces but it wasn't until he came right up to her that she saw what is was.

'A camera?' quipped Arthur in disbelieve.

'And other various recording gear.' The associate of Zang's then placed down all of the equipment next to the man, it spilled everywhere on Eames already cluttered desk.

'But that's good, right? No guns?' said Ariadne. At least there won't be a shootout.

Arthur pulled Ariadne out of the captive's earshot. 'No. It means he's not a professional. It means that we've become careless enough to attract attention of people who shouldn't know we exist.'

'The government?'

'No, I mean casual people. Like you, before you joined the team. I have to warn Cobb.'

Ariadne walked back over to Zang, while Arthur was speaking rapidly over the phone in the far corner. She gingerly removed the gag on her captive.

'Oh, thank GOD! Look, I was just doing a job, I wasn't going to hurt you, or anyone, I sw -'

'Shut up and answer her questions directly. No blabbering of any kind,' threatened Zang. Ariadne glanced up at him. He shrugged, 'he was driving my associates crazy with his constant talking.'

Ariadne didn't have the chance to repeat her question when crunching gravel could be heard and Saito, followed by three more men in black suits, entered the warehouse.

'Ariadne, nice to see that you're alright. May I have a word with you,' asked Saito, quite blatantly that took her by surprise.

'Uh,' she said, glancing up to see Arthur putting his cell phone away and heading towards her. 'Sure, I guess.'

Saito politely directed her to one of the stalls down the room when Arthur interjected, 'oh no you don't. Whatever it is, if it involves our architect, it involves the team. Cobb has just told me that you told him this job might be a conflict of interest. How so, and how does that concern Ariadne?'

'There is no time to explain now Mr. Chase, I must speak with Miss Blackwell in private.'

'Wait, how do you know my name? I've never -'

'No time to explain. Please, Ariadne. Is that how you prefer to be addressed?'

'My first name would suffice,' said Ariadne. 'But whatever it is, you can say it in front of Arthur too. Which in that case you might as well wait for the whole team to arrive because he'll tell Cobb, who would explain it to Eames and then there's no way Yusuf wouldn't know about it after that.'

At that moment, the door of the warehouse creaked as it opened to allow Cobb to rush in, followed closely by Eames and Yusuf.

'Sorry we're late, Yusuf was taking his precious little time. What did we miss?' Eames introduced himself.

'I had to pack my chemicals in a certain way, and that takes time. You don't want sedatives to release fumes during transport do you? Or perhaps you do, to improve that driving of yours,' said Yusuf, who look flustered, but cheered up when he saw Ariadne.

'Said the man who rolled me down the hill in a van.'

Cobb ignored his bickering teammates to stare down at their captive.

'Saito, what is going on? What does he,' Cobb pointed down to the still nameless man on the workbench, 'got to do with our Ariadne?'

'Shit. Why is he on my bench?' Eames muttered. He picked up the camera. 'You guys have to check this out.'

'Eames!' snapped Arthur, Cobb and Yusuf together.

'What? Unless this guy had good reasons to take pictures of Ariadne, I'd love to teach him some manners,' said Eames, dropping his care-free tone of voice for a threatening one.

'What?' Ariadne rushed toward Eames and stared down at the playback of pictures on the back of the camera. On campus, during the graduation ceremony and even a couple of Arthur and me as we packed into his tiny rented car. Oh my god. Ariadne felt faint.

Arthur only glanced at the camera to get a gist of its contents before placing a choke hold on the captive. 'Who is it that you work for?' asked Arthur. He could only choke and splutter in response.

'Arthur, stop it,' said Cobb.

Arthur reluctantly released his grip. The man was smart enough to keep silent throughout the whole scene except for the occasional cough or two.

'Tell us. Who are you, and what do you want with Ariadne? We'll let you go as soon as you tell us the truth, so save us all the bother. Whom is it that you work for?' repeated Cobb, keeping cool and taking charge of the spiralling situation.

'He is no one but an investigator, albeit a stupid and amateur one at that,' commented Saito.

'You know him?' said Arthur and Eames. They both quickly glanced at each other before Cobb cut in, 'An investigator for whom?'

This time, the investigator answered. 'The Blackwells,' he said, and fearing no retaliation from him speaking, he nodded towards Ariadne and continued. 'Her parents hired me.'

Post Scripts: Lol, love writing banters between the characters. Whenever I type, they just take on a mind of its own! If you have any suggestions as to Eames' first name (I'm assuming Eames is a last name, tell me if I'm wrong!), don't hesitate to heckle me about it.

Thanks to all those that put in the effort to leave a comment. Much appreciated. All those that add this story to your alert list(s), I'm doing this at 1130 at night just to appease you all (I'm not complaining though).

The next chapter is already forming in my head. I have one more O/C to add (apart from Ariadne's parents), so any guesses what happens next? Who knows, LOL. Enjoy.