Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me. Apologies for the hiatus!

Arthur pointed his gun to the back of the driver's head. "Just go."

The man swallowed. "Listen, I don't want any trouble-"

"You won't get it, unless you ask." Arthur cocked the gun, making it click. "Drive."

Nodding, the driver put his foot down, causing the car to accelerate, hard.

Ariadne shivered. She couldn't see anything. They'd blindfolded her, gagged her, and then tied her wrists and ankles. She felt herself becoming increasingly bruised as the van jolted along the road. A sharp swerve caused her to turn over, hitting her head slightly. She moaned with pain.

"Hey, be careful!" she could hear a voice, an angry one. "Don't hurt her!"

"I'm just doing what we were told," the other voice snapped. "Let's face it, we're earning more for this than if we were on night duty!"

"Yes, Tom, I know." Brett's voice was heavy with sarcasm. "Indeed we are." He took another turn. "But, its like a trail of breadcrumbs, isn't it? We take the girl, and hopefully he'll come to find her."

"Do you reckon he will?" Tom's voice sounded uncertain. "I mean, he's pretty self-centred..."

"If we hurt her, I think he'll come like a lamb to the slaughter." Brett's tone was satisfied. "Now, drive!"

She swallowed. She couldn't comprehend it. First, she'd had a gun pointed directly at her face, whilst an unsmiling, hard faced brunette had told her to speak to Cobb. Then, she'd been gagged, blindfolded, and shoved into the van.

"Trust me," the brunette had said. "It will help Arthur."

Cobb looked at Eames and Trent. The Forger looked concerned, but the Point was calm. Biting his lip, the Extractor spoke first.

"When we meet," he began, "we need to avoid doing anything that will cause her to move first. So, we should agree to what she says, and avoid conflict."

"What if its a front?" Eames spoke. "What if its merely to lure us into a trap? How do we know that they've even got Arthur? Or Ariadne?"

Cobb shook his head. "Fischer clearly wants us to find them. He wants us to do a job for him. Arthur is the bargaining chip."

Trent raised an eyebrow. "You've let this guy call the shots, Dom. I suggest we let him think he's won."

"What?"

"Tell him," Trent said calmly, "that you don't care what happens to Arthur. It may persuade him that the best strategy is to simply release him. If he thinks he has nothing to blackmail you with, chances are, he'll stop using Arthur."

Cobb looked at the Point. "I really want to believe you, but-"

"You don't have a choice," Trent said, his voice tightening. "You need to let Arthur go. For his sake. For Christ's sake Dom, when are you going to stop being so selfish?"

Ariadne felt the van stop. She listened, her muscles tensing. Suddenly, with a screech and a clang of metal, she heard the back doors being ripped apart. Suddenly, hands were enclosing her ankles, dragging her forward. She then felt hands clamp on her upper arms.

"Bring her in," she heard another voice. She stiffened. She knew that voice.

"Do we have to go on duty?" she heard another voice whine.

"Yes. We have new patients. Put her in a room. Make sure she can change. Bring her to me."

"Yes, doctor."

Arthur swallowed and leaned forward. His cell phone was beginning to buzz. He pulled it out of his pocket. "Yes?"

"Not clever." Fischer's tone was glacial. "I thought you were smarter than that."

"Well, I guess when someone is pushed to the limit, they can do anything." Arthur's toe mirrored Fischer's in coldness. "You took Ariadne. I'm going to find her."

"Of course, Arthur. And meanwhile, I'm going to get your team. Your team will be reunited, and then you'll do as I say."

"No." Arthur's lips compressed into a thin line. "No, its not that simple. I am going to find Ariadne, and then -"

"Look at where the driver is taking you, Arthur. By my timing, you should be almost there."

Arthur looked ahead, and his jaw began to drop. Ahead was the clinic. The same clinic that he had been placed in earlier that year. He put the phone to his ear.

"You played me," he said, bitterly.

"Of course I did." Fischer's tone became menacing. "I knew taking her would make you react. You'e entrapped yourself. But, its the safest place for you. I'll be along in a couple of days, and trust me, there is no chance of either of you getting out. Bye. For now."

Arthur heard the buzzing sound drone in his head, as the car came to an abrupt stop. Suddenly, the back door was wrenched open, and he felt his upper arm being grabbed roughly.

"Come on," a voice said. "Time for you to meet your girlfriend."

Ariadne blinked. The room was sterile, cold. On the perfectly made bed was a tunic, and drawstring pants. The female nurse had looked at her.

"Put them on," she'd said, before turning and leaving the room.

Swallowing, the Architect had complied. She'd shivered as the air con had blasted, the cold air seemingly grazing her skin. Pulling on the pants, she sat on the bed, waiting.

Suddenly, there was a gentle tap on the door. "May I?" a male voice called. Ariadne took a deep breath.

"Yes," she replied. The door swung open, revealing Greenwood. He looked at her.

"Well," he replied. "Good to see you again. Do you remember? We had a group therapy session together, once."

Ariadne nodded. She remembered vividly. Greenwood had watched, smiling, as the team had turned on each other. She swallowed, her eyes narrowing.

"Come with me."

Arthur swallowed. He'd been hauled along the corridor to another room, cursing himself for his own stupidity. As he reached the entrance to another room, he baulked.

Ariadne was standing inside, with Greenwood. The psychiatrist had a tight grip on her, and as he turned to Arthur, his eyes glittered. The younger man swallowed. Greenwood smiled.

"You really don't look well, Arthur," he commented. "Is the bulimia turning into anorexia? Morphing into something else?"

Arthur looked at him. "No comment."

"Really?" Greenwood arched an eyebrow. "Well, here's the deal. In order to properly cope with your low self esteem, Robert Fischer has generously agreed to pay for a stay here. Starting with tube feeding."

Arthur took a step forward. "Tell Fischer, he can take his deal, and-"

"I wouldn't," Greenwood said, coldly. "Remember. I have a PASIV, Arthur. I am a psychiatrist. You refuse to do as we say, and I will perform a little extraction, or should that be inception, on Ariadne."

Arthur glared at him. "Don't even try it."

"Well, its simple. Do as we say, she'll be fine. If you don't..." Greenwood's words drifted, and he made eye contact with the Point Man.

Arthur swallowed. "OK, I'll be tube fed. Please. Let her go."

"No. she stays here, with you. She's part of your therapy!" Greenwood smiled. "The two of you are necessary, together!"

Arthur looked over as a nurse took his arm. "Come on, buddy. Time to get you fattened up!"

Ariadne bit her lip as Arthur was dragged away. Greenwood smiled, coldly.

"Well." He turned to her. "I think its time for our therapy session!"

All reviews appreciated and read, thank you! I like to know who is following this!