Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

"Cobb!" Ariadne tried to pull away from him. "Cobb, this is insane!"

Cobb looked at her, smiling a frozen grin. She shuddered. Suddenly, the mask was beginning to slip - the sheen of professionalism that he had worn during the Fischer job was cracking, sliding off. Underneath it was a desperate man. A man who was prepared to go to any lengths.

Including seeing his best friend go to jail on a false charge.

"Nothing's insane, Ariadne." Cobb was shaking his head. "You just...need to stop believing Arthur. He's dangerously unstable. Come on, come with me!"

"Cobb, I-"

"Ariadne..." there was a glitter in his eyes that chilled her. Suddenly, she realised she only had one choice - to co-operate and see what would happen. She swallowed, and nodded.

"All right," she said, quietly. "Let's go."

"Arthur?"

Arthur blinked, and swallowed. He could feel a cold cloth on his forehead, and he turned. A young nurse, female, was gently wiping his face. He nodded. "Thank you."

"Arthur, you're not strapped down." A male voice spoke, gently. "You're able to move. I need to ask you some questions."

He nodded. He was in a normal bed, without restraints. As he looked round, he saw that it was a larger room. The doctor sitting next to him was late thirties, with an intense, intelligent face. His light green eyes surveyed Arthur, curiously.

"I'm Dr Mike Tennison," he said, calmly. "I'm a shrink. Your case has been passed to me. It makes for interesting reading."

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes." Tennison was surveying the data, carefully. "It gives the impression of a man in a state of deluded psychosis. Someone who underneath a carefully composed facade, would simply explode into violence."

Arthur bristled. The nutrients in the IV drip had helped feed his mind, and being able to sleep had given him some clarity. He swallowed, and nodded.

"But...you have no history of violence, or aggression." Tennison frowned. "So, there is something missing here. Something either happened to make you change...or there is another factor."

Arthur rubbed his eyes. "It will sound...crazy."

"Try me."

"Ok," Arthur took a deep breath. "My best friend implanted an idea. An idea that I'm - like that."

Tennison opened his eyes. "Well. That does sound crazy."

Frustrated, Arthur fell back against the pillows.

Cobb and Ariadne entered the warehouse. She shuddered, and he smiled again.

"Look, all I need to do is get rid of those thoughts of Arthur." His voice was gentle, almost soothing. "You can't keep carrying him round in your head. It was a dream, an illusion. The real Arthur is the one that tried to attack you."

She swallowed. An idea was forming, but she could not afford to give it away. She nodded. "Yes, I think maybe he was."

Cobb was studying her. "You really think that?"

"I do wonder."

"Well, let's get started." Cobb's facial expression was almost crazy. "You will thank me for this."

He began to open and fiddle with the PASIV. Ariadne moved over to the long resting beds, biting the inside of her lip. She had to pull this off.

"Yes, it does sound crazy."

"Well..."

"But what if I said it sounds so crazy...it could be true?"

Astonished, Arthur looked at the other man, who nodded. For the first time in too long, he allowed a flicker of hope to form.

"Ready?"

She nodded, watching the Extractor press the centre button.

Closing her eyes, Ariadne plunged into darkness. All Arthur had now was her, and she could not ruin this.

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