Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. This does get a little dark, I warn you.

"She's in danger. And not from me."

Eames looked at Arthur as the words hung heavily on the air. He swallowed, and nodded. "You mean she's in danger from Cobb."

"Yes." Arthur shook his head. "He's done something to me...I'm not sure what, but its damaged me. And Ariadne...she's in danger from him."

"Danger?"

"He could be planning anything...do anything..." Arthur began to pace. "And I'm stuck here, facing the prospect of jail. Or a spell in a psychiatric unit. Because people will believe I was capable of hurting that young woman...and I'm not."

Eames looked at him. "You're not?"

"No," Arthur said, almost breathlessly. "I'm not."

"I believe you." Eames' voice was soft, and he nodded. "I believe you, Arthur."

"You do?" His eyes were pleading, almost desperate. "Why do you believe me? Why?"

"Because," Eames said, slowly, as though considering his words carefully, "I've never seen any evidence of violence used by you against anyone - certainly not a young woman. And you never struck me as the type of man were if you were refused, you'd use violence or force. But your behaviour towards Ariadne..."

"But that wasn't me," Arthur said, his voice a hoarse whisper. "Please Eames, believe me - that was never me."

"I do," Eames said, carefully. "I do." He nodded, and walked over to the younger man, and patted his shoulder. "Just...wait for me, all right? I will try and sort this out."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Eames turned. "Yes?"

"Time's up." The door opened, and two male nurses walked in. "Its time for Arthur to go to group therapy."

Eames nodded. "Of course." He turned and began to leave. "I'll be back next week."

"Thank you." Arthur watched him go, then turned to the two men. "Group therapy?"

"Yes," one of the nurses said with contempt. "For wife beaters and sexual predators like yourself."

"I'm neither!" Arthur felt his colour and temperature rise. "I-"

"Oh, save it." The nurse glared at him. "Men like you make me sick. Its never your fault, is it? Its hers - for being too sexy, or dressing provocatively, or for just not jumping to attention when you demand it. You're going to therapy with the rest of the animals!"

Before Arthur could protest, he felt a hand clamp round his upper arm.

"So, do you want to go out this evening?"

Ariadne blinked. Cobb was leaning over her, smiling. She forced her lips into a smile, and shook her head. "No, thank you. I really just want to get aan early night."

"Oh." Cobb frowned slightly, his face falling. "I'm sorry, I didn't realise."

"No, its just..." Ariadne looked down at her desk. "We've been working so hard, I'm just tired. Especially as we have no-"

"Oh, yes." Cobb frowned. "Well, don't worry. We can find another Point Man."

"We can?" Ariadne looked at him, almost suspicously. "Cobb, we don't know if Arthur's not coming back yet!"

"Oh, right." Cobb nodded. "Of course." He looked at the floor. "Listen, I think I might call it a day, all right?"

She nodded, finding words to answer with. "Of course."

As Cobb turned and left, she couldn't help but stare at his back.

"OK, pretty boy, let's take you back."

Arthur allowed himself to be walked back to his room, silently compliant. The session had passed slowly - he'd preferred to sit, and stare at the floor. As he was pushed into the room, he collapsed onto the bed.

After a few minutes, there was a knock on the door. It began to open. "Arthur. Visitor. We've made a special exception - this guy is on the court order as your caretaker."

Arthur blinked. "My what?"

"Caretaker," the nurse replied, patiently. "Mr Cobb?"

Arthur's eyes widened as Dom Cobb entered, holding a sleek silver case.

"OK, you've got fifteen minutes."

Cobb looked at Arthur, who, dumbfounded, merely stared back.

"Fifteen minutes," Cobb replied. "I think we can make use of them."

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