Disclaimer: Inception does not belong to me.

Eames met Fischer's eyes, keeping his face perfectly composed. "Nothing," he said, evenly. "Forget it." He crumpled it in his hand, and turned away from the slightly older man. Fischer stood in the corridor, and followed him with his eyes.

"Eames."

The Drama specialist stopped. An uncomfortable silence had developed.

"If its nothing, why don't you show it to me?"

Eames turned. "Because its nothing, and I don't want to waste your time," he said, struggling to control his temper. He bit his lip. A student seemingly developing a crush was one thing; having Fischer making assumptions was something else. Suddenly, he turned and faced him.

"All right, I'll tell you what it is," he almost snarled, and to his astonishment, saw Fischer take a step back from him. "Its a thank you note. A thank you note, from a female student, who was being sexually harrassed by the boys. This is the type of school we have, is it? Where a perfectly decent Vice Principal can be up on a charge for stepping in when an employee is receiving unwanted attention from somebody else-" to his delight, he saw Fischer suck in his breath - "and the Drama teacher is viewed with suspicion because he tried to stop male students upsetting one of the girls. This is a school to be proud of, is it?"

Fischer looked at him, coldly. "Eames. You're-"

"Suspended?" Eames asked, his tone equally glacial.

Fischer nodded, smiling. "Yes."

"You can't suspend me." Eames tilted his head, and glared at Robert. The other man accepted the challenge. "Oh really? Why?"

"Because I resign." Eames snapped, and started to walk away. "I'll send Dom the formal letter by tomorrow."

Stunned, Robert watched him go.

"So, Ariadne's testifying, thats great." Arthur grimaced. "I tell you, Dom, seeing him with his hands all over her-"

"Arthur?"

"Yes?"

"May I make a suggestion?" The older man's blue eyes were twinkling. "Next time, just ask someone out on a date." He grinned. "It worked for me and Mal."

Arthur smiled tiredly. "I should have thought of that."

"Art, it will be ok." Cobb nodded. "Have a little faith. You're a good administrator, and the students really miss you in Music. You will get your job back."

Arthur swallowed. "Dom, I wanted to talk to you about that. You see-"

Suddenly, Cobb's desk phone rang. He sighed. "One moment." He lifted the receiver, and held it to his ear. "Hi, Dom Cobb. Eames? What? You- he- so you-"

Arthur raised his eyebrows, noting the increased tension in Cobb's voice. The other man swallowed.

"Listen. Stay where you are. You're at home? Good. Myself and Arthur will be over- wait, what? OK."

Cobb put the receiver down, and looked at the younger man. "Arthur, do you know where Eames lives?"

The younger man nodded. "I do, downtown."

"Would you mind going over and seeing him?"

Arthur's face creased into a puzzled frown. "How come?"

Cobb shook his head. "He'll explain when you get there."

"Arthur!" Eames opened the door, revealing a cozy, cluttered looking apartment behind him. "Never thought I'd say this, but good to see you!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Thanks," he muttered, walking into the hallway. Eames ushered him, and pushed open the door to the lounge. "Have a seat."

Arthur sat, noting the towering stacks of books, and a sleepy looking ginger cat, curled up contentedly in a shaft of sunlight. Eames, he could hear, was in the kitchen. He settled in the chair.

"Here we are! Tea!"

Arthur smiled as a mug of amber liquid was presented. "You're so British," he said, taking a sip.

Eames shrugged. "Of course." He sat in a chair opposite. "I've resigned."

"What?" Arthur nearly spilled his tea. "Why?"

"Because-" Eames rubbed his face. "I saw some boys hassling one of the girls, and stepped in. She then wrote me this." Slightly guiltily, he removed it from his pocket, and handed it to Arthur.

Arthur read the note, frowning. "OK, does look as though she has a crush, but you haven't encouraged her, have you?"

"No," Eames said, honestly. "I'm not that type of man, Arthur. I wouldn't do that with one of the students. They are children."

"So, you're not that type of guy, you get this note, but you resign." Arthur shook his head. "Please, fill in the blanks for me. Why the resignation?"

"Because Robert saw me with it. I knew what would happen - he'd try and make out I'm some sex-crazed predator, so I-"

"Got in first?"

Eames nodded. "Yes."

"Eames, you can't do this." Arthur slammed his mug on the table. "You can't let him push you out of a job like this."

Eames bit his lip. "But, if I stayed, the school would find out-"

"Find out what?" Arthur interrupted.

"That I had an affair with a parent at a previous school." Eames looked at his hands. "Not very professional."

"A parent?" Arthur shook his head. "Its your business, Eames."

Eames shook his head. "Not with Fischer in charge."

Arthur looked at him. "I'm sick of this." He leaned back in his chair. "You and I are professionals, Eames. He's just someone who got a job because of his connections."

"Yes." Eames rubbed his forehead. "But I can't afford to have my name dragged through the mud, and I should have sent those boys to Cobb, but I didn't think-"

"Still doesn't excuse Fischer," Arthur snapped. He looked at Eames. "Come on. Its time we worked out a strategy. A strategy to get him out."

Eames raised his eyebrows. "You sure?"

Arthur nodded. "Trust me. Yes."

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