DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INCEPTION.

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"I am going to kill that mother f-"

"Arthur, you know that whatever happened probably wasn't his fault."

None the less, Arthur's grip on the wheel did not loosen.

"I hate him. Always have. And now he's just gone and put our daughter in hospital," he spat. "...Just when you think he couldn't get any more idiotic."

Ariadne shifted in her seat uncomfortably. "Just get us there."

Arthur gave her a glance before reaching over and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "She'll be okay, Ari."

"Oh I know. I just don't want to hear your bitching and moaning anymore."

-X-

Eames sat on the hospital chair, head in hands. Thomas sat beside him perfectly content in rearranging the wilted flowers by Samantha's bedside.

"...Your father is going to castrate me."

Thomas looked up at him, eyes of inoccence. "What does that mean?"

"It means that I won't have a good time for a very long time. Now, do you want a drink or-"

"EAMES!"

Eames' head snapped up and eyes widened. The former Point Man was storming into the room and Eames could only think of the expression "If looks could kill". Eames swallowed and stood up from his seat before backing away calmly into the wall.

"Hello, mate. Listen-"

Arthur turned towards him before shaking his head. "Just be quiet, Eames." He moved quickly towards the bed and kissed Samantha's forehead.

"Hi Daddy!" she smiled.

"Hi, Baby." His expression turned grim as he turned his attention to the large cast on her left arm. "Sweetie, what happened?"

"I broke my arm!" she said, just as happy as if she were buying a lollipop.

Ariadne's hand flew up to her mouth. "What?"

Arthur turned on his heel to Eames, who held his hands up in defence.

"Okay, before you start, it wasn't my fault-"

"Go outside," Arthur snapped. "I'll talk to you in a minute."

"Right. 'Course." Eames quickly disappeared out the door, leaving Arthur in a huff.

Ariadne stroked Samantha's hair. "Are you alright, sweetie?"

Samantha nodded happily, as if nothing had happened. "Yes, Mommy. It hurt for a while, but it's fine now. I got an X-ray!" She proudly held up her arm. "And I get to wear this cast! Uncle Eames said that people at school can sign it, and-"

"How did this happen?" Arthur asked, taking his place on the nearest chair, Thomas on his lap.

Samantha turned her expression into one of deep thought, an uncanny resemblance to the one Arthur used when he'd look over his notes. Ariadne couldn't help but smile at the familiar expression.

"Well," she said. "I fell off the kitchen table when Thomas and I were playing airplanes. The nurse said I must have landed on it, 'cause the bones snapped!"

"Oh lord," Arthur sighed. "Where was Eames during all this?"

"He was there. He's the one that took us straight to the hospital." Samantha turned her head up to Ariadne. "Mommy, can I have a drink?"

Ariadne nodded. "Of course. Come on Thomas," she said, holding her hand out, which was soon grasped by the small boy. As they left the room, Arthur moved over and placed a light hand on Samantha's good shoulder, rubbing gentle circles.

"You're such a brave girl," he said softly. "Promise that I'll be the first to sign your cast, okay?"

"I promise."

At that moment, the door opened and in walked a young nurse, clipboard in hand. She saw Arthur and smiled polietly.

"I assume you're Mr Connolly," She said, shaking Arthur's hand. "Samantha should be able to go home now, all you need to do is sign some paperwork."

"Thank you."

She looked at Samantha and smiled fondly. "Samantha's very brave. I don't think I'd be able to handle a broken bone like she did."

"Was she in a lot of pain?" Arthur asked.

"Well, breaking any bone is an unpleasent experience. But she shouldn't be in that much discomfort from his point on." She handed Arthur the clipboard and a pen. "Fill these out and just hand them into reception on your way out. Be sure to make an appointment in 2 months so we can get that cast off."

Arthur nodded. "Ok, thanks." He chuckled to himself. "I think Eames should be the one to do all this paperwork."

The nurse turned. "Is Mr Eames the gentleman outside?"

"Unfortunately. This is basically his fault."

She looked confused. "Really? Well I suppose...he did look awfully upset."

Arthur looked up at her in disbelief. "Really?"

She nodded. "Oh yeah. He seemed to feel just awful. But he seemed to know what he was doing."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, he rushed down here with both of the children and demanded to see someone. He refused to wait."

Arthur blinked. "He did?"

"He didn't leave her side for one second. In fact, he seemed more worried about the injury than Samantha did. He seems very loving with the children." She paused. "Is he their babysitter?"

"Uncle."

"Ah, that makes sense." She turned and began walking out of the room, before turning once more. "I know it's none of my buisness, but he seems like he really cares about them. He's a good Uncle."

Arthur found himself speechless as she left the room.

"Daddy? I'm tired..." Samantha said, leading off into a small yawn.

"I know, sweetie. Just give us 10 minutes, then we'll go home."

"Talked to Eames yet?" Ariadne asked when she reappeared.

"I was just going to do that now. Here, why don't you start doing these." He handed her the forms and made way for the door.

He found Eames with his head in his hands, looking incredibly ashamed.

He folded his arms across his chest. "Eames."

Eames looked up and rose from his seat. "Arthur, I am so sorry! I should have been watching them closer, but she fell and I couldn't-"

"You're an ass, sometimes."

"I know-"

"-And you're offensive."

"I know, I know-"

"-And sometimes I really hate your guts."

"Believe me, the feeling's mutual, but-"

"But I'll be damned if I say that you're a bad Uncle. Because apparently, you're actually very good. Regardless of how many limbs my children break in your care."

Eames blinked. "So...you're not going to hurt me?"

Arthur shrugged in return. "Well, that remains to be seen. You know what they say..." He smirked. "...An arm for an arm."

The pure horror on the Forger's face was enough to make him laugh. "Relax, Eames. Sit down."

Eames complied and sat down immediately. Arthur stood over him, his arms folded. "Eames, I know you didn't mean for that to happen, and maybe it wasn't totally your fault."

"Arthur I am so sorry. I haven't felt this guilty in so long," Eames muttered.

Arthur held his hands up. "Please, let me finish. I'm still mad at you, but the fact that you came through and did what you needed to do was impressive. Thank you."

"I was just panicking and I...wait." He looked up in shock. "-...What?"

"Thank you."

"Yeah, what's that?"

Arthur narrowed his eyes. "...It's my gratitude to you."

Eames stood up. "You've never ever said that to me before."

"Well...I mean it...I think."

A big grin spread itself along Eames' face. "Oh, stick! I love you too!"

"Eames, what the hell are you-AH!"

Eames quickly wrapped his arms around the younger man in a tight (much tighter than it needed to be) bear hug. Arthur kept his arms stiffly at his side, struggling for release.

"Get off of me," he growled.

"Just enjoy the moment." Despite the struggling man beneath him, Eames continued to grin. "Oh, and by the way..." He said quietly. "...I need your sister-in-law's phone number."

Oh man, good times. I think I'll do a few more chapters of the kids this age, then start to move on to things a bit older. BUT NOT TOO OLD! I've grown to love these kids.