Author's Note: After this, since it's only been a couple of days since my last update, I will do my best to update weekly. No promises, but I love the feedback I'm getting from you guys. So here's a special treat since you guys are so awesome!

Disclaimer: Arthur, and his gorgeous un-gelled, natural hair from being locked up by Browning, does not belong to me.

Chapter Sixteen

She began to worry when she doesn't know what day it is. Some of the time, she could have sworn it should have been night while it was day, or vice versa. The only thing that kept her from worrying excessively was her totem. As long as she had her totem, and she knew she wasn't dreaming, she could continue on with what was now her life.

The only glimpses she ever saw of Arthur were when his door was opened to give given food. Most of the time she's too concentrated on her work, but during the rare moments when she has let her mind wander, Ariadne will hear the squeak of a door being opened and see him. His hair would be natural, the gel having long ago been washed out. His shirt sleeves would be rolled up to his elbows, and it was in those small moments that Ariadne was reminded of how utterly gorgeous he was. And then the door would slam shut, and her work would continue.

Was there any way out of this? She controlled all of the levels of the dream, for God's sake. Surely she could figure something out. The thought that had been worming at the back of her mind finally came forward.

You could always send them to Limbo.

Ariadne sucked in a breath, and the air hissed through her clenched teeth. These men had kidnapped her, tortured her, and forced her to be responsible for the destruction of someone's mind. Yet she couldn't imagine deeming them a fate of staying in Limbo for eternity. She might hate, no loathe these men, but she couldn't do it.

"That's your one weakness, you know. Your feelings that this job is wrong. You feel that it's wrong, therefore it is wrong. You're brilliant, kid, but that will keep you from being the best."

Browning's words ran through her mind on a loop. Just because she cared didn't mean she was weak. Running her hands through her hair, Ariadne pulled at the brown strands in frustration.

Cobb performed inception on his own wife. Where's the ethic in that?

The thought slammed into her, stopping her mid-breath. Her mentor, her teacher all throughout the work for the inception job, had said that an idea had to come from positive emotion, that it had to be natural. And he had the nerve to preach this to the team, all while knowing that he was the one ultimately responsible for his wife's death.

Maybe she really was weak.

Arthur's POV

It had been five months since Arthur had been taken. And he didn't just waste that time wondering if he would ever get out. He studied his guards with care, noticed who brought him food and at what time, and watched Ariadne in what little time his door was opened. Tonight, he would put all of his knowledge to the test.

Arthur waited until the guard outside his door fell asleep before standing up. When he heard the knock against the wall signaling that the guard was officially out, Arthur made his move. He knelt down in front of the door and pulled out the bobby pin he always had on him. Eames had teased him mercilessly for it, but in situations like this, the pin really came in handy. Sure enough, with a few wiggling turns later, the door unlocked.

A quick glance down the hallway showed that there were no other guards. He walked down the hall and stood in the shadows, watching for any movement in the main lobby of the building. All of the guards were asleep, he noticed. All according to plan. He wasn't the best point man in the business for nothing.

Being the only light in the room, Ariadne's desk lamp shone brightly throughout the lobby. Making no sound, Arthur crept over to her desk, making sure that the guards were still asleep and that he wouldn't be seen even if they woke up. Ariadne was asleep, her head on the desk. Her breaths came in short gasps, and sweat beaded her forehead. Slowly, he placed his hand over her mouth, putting his index finger over his lips, warning her to be quiet when her eyes opened in panic.

Luckily for him, she seemed to understand that being silent was a necessity. Unfortunately, she reacted the same as she did when he first arrived.

"Get out of here," she whispered harshly, going back to work on her maze.

"What are you going to do? Wake the guards?" he asked, a grim smile on his face. "You may detest the sight of me, for reasons unknown to me, but I don't think you would do that."

"You'd be amazed at what I would do, Arthur," she said quietly, dangerously.

He stayed quiet, watching her work. Studying the maze over her shoulder, he wasn't surprised to see that the levels were mapped out almost exactly like the levels had been made for the inception job.

Couldn't Browning have at least tried to be original?

For the next few weeks, he would sneak out every night and watch her work. She never talked, and neither did he. It wasn't a comfortable silence, but there was a whisper of trust in the air, though neither would admit to it, as if speaking would break that small bond between them.

After sneaking out night after night to see her, Arthur began to wonder if she would ever fully trust him again.

Ariadne's POV

The warehouse door slammed open, interrupting Ariadne's thoughts. In walked Browning, chatting and laughing with…Eames? Ariadne blinked in rapid succession, wondering if she was seeing things. Nope. Eames was still there. Another door opened, and Arthur was ushered into the main area. She glanced over at him, and was somewhat relieved to see that he looked as shocked as she did.

"Eames?" Ariadne gaped, still not believing he was there.

"The one and only," he replied, flashing a toothy grin.

"What-? How…?"

"Close your mouth, darling. You'll catch flies," he said.

Snapping her mouth shut, she looked over at Arthur. Sensing her plea, he asked the question she had been unable to force out of her mouth.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Arthur demanded.

"Didn't anyone tell you, Arthur?" Eames asked, adopting a mocking tone. "Ariadne?" When neither replied, he walked back to Browning and clapped him on the back.

"I work for him now."

A/N: *GASP* No, it's not a joke. Are you mad yet? Are you at least happy to see Eames again...? Review and tell me how you feel!