Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Thank you for reading and reviewing the previous chapter!

Adam blinked, and looked at Arthur. His face registered shock. "Go...into a dream?"

"Yes," Arthur said, nodding. "With this, you can go into someone's dream. You can navigate it, walk around it, enjoy it even."

Adam shook his head. "That's not possible," he practically whispered. "How can anyone-" he swallowed - "just go into a dream, and control it?"

"Well, it takes practice." Arthur's tone was kind. "But, once you're in-"

"This is what you do?" Adam asked, his expression becoming amazed. "For a living?"

"Yes." Arthur nodded. "We actually do this. For a living."

"But why?"

"Well, people conceal things in dreams." Eames chipped in; he could see that Adam's expression was flickering between bewilderment and shock. "You can go in, and try and pull out information. Things they want to hide. Things they're trying to conceal."

Adam sank into a chair, and rubbed his head. "This isn't possible," he muttered. He looked at Ariadne. "And you...you're part of this?"

She nodded. "I'm the Architect," she admitted. "I design the worlds of the dreams."

"This is crazy," Adam said, getting up. "And its not real. The pot Kyle brought - it was too strong. Or they've changed my meds. But you cannot be telling me the truth."

Arthur looked at him. "Why would we lie?"

Adam rubbed his face. "I don't know." He looked at them. "If you can extract people's thoughts, how about extracting some of mine? How about extracting the worry that I'm going to die?"

Arthur swallowed. "That's not possible. But, what we can do-" he paused and looked at Eames and Ariadne - "is offer you the opportunity to live life as you want it. For a while."

"For a while?"

"Five minutes in the real world is an hour in a dream."

Adam blinked. "So if I go under for an hour, its the equivalent of 12?"

Arthur nodded. "Yes."

"This is crazy." Adam shook his head. "I want to believe you, but I-"

"Do you trust us?" Arthur said, suddenly. Adam met the other man's eyes. "I want to."

"OK, let's try something. How about we go under for five minutes? Just to prove it to you."

Adam looked at him. "OK, we'll try it." He looked at Ariadne. "Are you...?"

"I'll stay here," she said, quietly. "With Eames."

Arthur smiled. "Well, they'll watch us." He clicked open the locks, and began to pull out the IVs. "Here, this goes in your arm-" Adam fumbled slightly as he attached it - "and this one's for me."

Adam sat back down on the couch. "What do I...?" he asked, uncertainly.

"Relax," Eames said, smiling. He looked at Arthur, and placed his fingers on the centre button of the PASIV. "Ready?"

Arthur nodded. "Ready!"

"Sweet dreams!"

Adam blinked. He was sitting in the coffee shop, Arthur opposite him.

"You ok?" Arthur asked, picking up his espresso. Adam swallowed and looked around. "Who...are these people?" he whispered.

"Projections of your subconscious," Arthur responded, taking a swallow of coffee. "They're not real - they're just what you think people are, in your mind."

Adam blinked. "OK." The door of the shop opened, and Kathy walked in. Turning, she smiled at him. "Adam! Hey!"

"Oh, hey," he said, forcing himself to smile. "You finished for the day?"

She nodded. "Just seen my last patient!" She looked at him. "Well, I need a decaff latte. See you tomorrow!"

He smiled. "Of course."

He watched as she walked up to the counter. Arthur turned to him. "Who is she?"

"My therapist." Adam looked at the table. "She's meant to be helping me deal with the cancer."

Arthur picked up his coffee cup and swirled its contents. "She obviously preys on your mind."

"No..." Adam felt slightly defensive. "She's just someone I see a couple of times a week, to talk things over with." He looked at Arthur. "That's all."

Arthur nodded. "Its not my business." He took another swallow of espresso, and noticed Adam's eyes wandering. "What is it?"

Adam nodded. "The girl over there, in the beige coat. Long red hair."

Arthur turned. "I see her." He looked back at the other man. "Who is she?"

"My ex."

Arthur turned to him. "Remember," he said, gently. "She's not real."

Adam looked. "She's coming over."

Arthur turned again. Rachel was sashaying her way over to the table. She smiled as she approached. "Adam!" She cooed. "Good to see you!"

Adam swallowed. "Rachel. Hi."

"You know, you're looking so..." her lip curled. "So sick." She shook her head, smiling. "I was right to find somebody else. You're not man enough for me."

Arthur looked up. "Hey!" he said sharply. He stood up, and faced her. "That was uncalled for."

She looked at him. "Oh, I see you're defending him." She raised an eyebrow. "Maybe I should go out with you."

Arthur shook his head. "I don't think so. I don't tend to date women who demean people who are sick."

She turned. "Your loss." Walking, she headed out of the coffee shop. Adam looked in his cup. Arthur studied. "I think your projection is trying to tell you something."

Adam shrugged. "Which is?"

"That you're comparing yourself to me, and you shouldn't."

Adam looked at him. "Let me go into a dream with Ariadne."

"Why?"

"I want to show her what I really am."

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