Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. I know this chapter is very short, but it was needed.

Adam blinked, and looked around. He was sitting at his desk, in work. It was completely silent - no voices, no phones, no air conditioning. He swallowed, and took a look round.

He stood up, noticing as he did so that he was no longer wearing the suit. He was back in jeans, and a crumpled sweater. As he rubbed his head, he realised that he still had a full crop of dark hair.

He began to walk forward. "Ariadne?" He noticed how fearful his voice sounded, and tried to shake himself. "Ariadne, are you there?"

Arthur glared at Adam's mother, and shook his head. "Of all the-" he bit back an angry mutter as he moved over to the sleeping man. His face was perfectly composed, no sign of the mental anguish that Arthur feared he was going through.

"I don't understand," Adam's mother said, tearfully, looking at Arthur. "What are they doing? He never told me-"

"Yes, well, maybe you shouldn't tamper with things you don't know about," Arthur snapped. He struggled to control his emotions. He felt slightly ashamed for being so short with he, but it was tempered by fear for what was occurring. "Adam and Ariadne are in a dream."

"A dream?"

"Yes, a dream." He looked at Adam. "By pulling out his IV, you've sent him into limbo. He needs to be able to wake up when the clock runs out, otherwise, he could be trapped down there."

"Down there?" It was almost a wail. "What do you mean, down there?"

"What I say." Arthur bit his lip in consternation. A plan was forming in his mind, but he knew he had to be able to trust this unknown - and seemingly dangerous - stranger in order to perform it. "I have to be able to be sure that you'll do what I ask. Can you?"

Adam's mother, stunned, merely. looked at him.

Adam blinked as he turned. He was walking through the office, trying to make sense of where he was, and how he'd got there. He heard giggling.

Swallowing, he began to move forward, carefully.

Another giggle.

His blood began to freeze.

"Adam?" Ariadne bit her lip, feeling confused and almost tearful. She straightened her shoulders, and began to walk down the street, hoping to spot him.

Strangers - projections - were looking at her, revealing a hostility. She swallowed, feeling unnerved. Lowering her head, she kept walking

Adam kept moving forward. Eventually, he reached a door. Holding his breath, he wrenched it open.

Inside were Arthur and Ariadne, in a tight embrace. As he watched, Arthur lifted his head, and winked at him.

"Guess we know who the real man is now, don't we?"

As the words fell from Arthur's lips, Adam turned and fled.

Thank you for reading, reviews appreciated!