A/N: YAY! new chapter...sorry I've been a bit spontaneous in updates, life has been hectic! Hopefully I've still got readers! comments are super appreciated, hope people enjoy!
"Alright, the first level in Woodruff Sr.'s mind is all about gaining his trust" Cobb explained as the group walked the streets of the world being created by them "Ashby, we'll need your help on this as you worked closely with him"
"Not something I'm overly pleased with, but I'll do it" Ashby scoffed.
"My question is, how are we going to gain access to him?" Arthur said "Security around him will be tight."
"I can help in that matter," Saito said "I have an alias I use, the staff won't easily be bought by me. But Mr. Yakimora on the other hand has a little more pull"
"And security in the dream?" Ashby said stopping in her tracks.
"I'm positive we can handle that, we've handled worse." Cobb said.
Ariadne looked about, noticing a building had seemed smaller then she'd originally designed. Granted, they'd been playing with the physics of the atmosphere a bit...but she hadn't remembered seeing that particular building shrink.
"I know I built that taller..." she said confused.
"Sorry love, just rehearsing" Ashby said absent mindedly.
"How did you do that?" Ariadne asked.
"It's something she's a master at, cheating physics" Eames said.
"Not cheating, just misdirection" Ashby said pushing onward. "Trust me, it will come in handy. Especially on this upcoming mission"
Back in the workshop, after waking up Arthur and Ashby sat together thinking through plans for the first set of dreams.
"I can't believe we haven't even touched on junior's dream levels yet," Ashby said running a hand through her hair.
"That'll be a little easier, I'm sure" Arthur assured
"But you aren't really sure..." Ashby said looking up "I know you Arthur, you're being optimistic"
"I'm always skeptical on jobs like this, you know that Ash. But we have dealt with worse situations" he said. He scribbled in some notes on the maps set out before them.
"I just worry that we're underestimating the sub-conscious security" She said glancing over the notes Arthur had written, adding to them as well.
"That's why we need you Ash," he said "You worked closest with him, you'll know your way around his thoughts best"
Ashby cringed slightly. She hated reliving her time with Cobol and working so closely with Woodruff.
"However, I haven't seen him or his thoughts since he went mad...things may be entirely different" she said. "But I'll take the compliment"
she smirked slightly at the last remark.
"Should I ask?" Arthur said running his fingers over a scar on her shoulder. He'd noticed several small scars on her since they'd become close again.
"Only ask if you really want to know.." Ashby said.
"What happened to you Ash?" he asked.
She sat up, lighting herself a cigarette.
"That particular scar happened in Munich" she said "I was on the run and they found me, I ran again, but a shot actually nicked me. Nothing like fishing out a bullet and stitching yourself up in a dingy hotel room before fleeing the country"
She pointed to another scar at her left forearm. not as visible as the one at her shoulder, but there nevertheless.
"That happened before I could even leave London." she began "Much as I can cover my tracks, Cobol's bounty hunters are great at uncovering them. I was thrown into a car...fortunately, Cobol's hunters are rather stupid...as they were outside congratulating themselves and chatting up a little blond tart. I punched out the back window and fled. Unfortunately, my arm took a bit of damage from it"
"I should have been there with you through that.." Arthur said. He hadn't realized just how much she'd been through to stay alive and be free.
"I'm not mad at you Arthur, I stopped being sore at you a long time ago" she said. "So stop apologizing"
She kissed him, sometimes it felt like nothing changed between them.
"Arthur, do you still love me?" Ashby asked breaking away suddenly. Arthur was baffled.
"Of course I do Ash" he said. She sat up and sighed.
"That's what I was afraid of" she said slipping into the shirt she'd worn that day. "I should go..."
"Wait, Ash...what's going on?" Arthur said sitting up.
"Nothing, we just shouldn't continue on if that's the case" she said without looking at him.
"Dammit Ashby!" He said as he became more frustrated "What do you want from me? You push me away, blame me for everything, then suddenly sleep with me, but the instant it's more you push me away again. What the hell is going on with you?"
"Nothing is going on with me!" Ashby yelled "I'm sorry Arthur, I should've stopped this before it got this far"
"You really think it wouldn't have? Christ Ash, what did you expect?" Arthur said. He was confused by her change of heart.
"Look, if it makes it easier...if things hadn't gone wrong with the Cobol job, if you hadn't chosen them over me.." she said. Arthur tried interrupting her but failed.
"I was going to leave you anyway" she said sounding exasperated at the thought.
"What?" Arthur said angrily. "You have to be kidding!"
"I'm not," she said without looking at him.
"Why? There has to be a reason" Arthur said. his heart was breaking thinking back on everything.
"I...just..." Ashby said trying to find the right words.
"C'mon Ash, I know there has to be a reason...I need at least that much from you..." he said defeated. there was silence for a long while.
"I'm not giving up on you.." Arthur said finally breaking the silence. Ashby sighed and shook.
"Woodruff was ready to kill you when he'd learned we were engaged last time" she said finally.
"I wasn't willing to let that happen, so after the cobol job...if it had gone well, I'd planned on returning. cutting ties. to you, Cobb, Eames...everyone...I'm afraid of that happening again"
"I don't care.." Arthur said "I'm not loosing you again Ash"
"I'm terrified of what to expect with this job Arthur...if anything happens to you...I don't think I'd forgive myself" she said wrapping her arms around herself.
"He's lost it..." Arthur tried assuring "It can't be any worse then before"
"You don't know Woodruff.." Ashby said shaking again. "It's better if we stop this now..."
Arthur reached out to her, pulling her close.
"I'm willing to take those risks Ash..." he said "I know you're scared of this job, but you've got me, you've got the team. We'll get through it"