Do You Still Dream?

~ It was raining. The downpour so heavy that the road was almost totally obscured. A hard rain, that pounded down on the world fit to rip it apart. Arthur had to squint and keep the car at a slow and steady pace in order to see the lines of the highway. He was always careful, but the hard rain made him even more so.

Inside the cab of the car, the Point Man and Architect were safe. The bullying rain could not reach them here. Could not touch them. But still, Ariadne was uneasy. Arthur noticed how her hands were clenched and her knuckles were white. He cold hardly blame her. After everything that had happened.

The rain worried the Architect. She trusted Arthur completely. He was a good driver, it was just the visibility was so poor and she could just imagine a car hitting them. The rain made everything so much more... deceptive.

"Arthur." She said softly before emotions closed her throat up.

The Point Man gave her a quick worried look. It was the first time she had spoken in hours. Since they had left the mission. He had been concerned about her, but he was not the kind of man to demand things. Especially of women.

"Yes." He said gently. "What is it?" His voice inviting her to speak.

"Can we... can we just pull over?" She asked in a shaky voice.

Her hands trembling as if they were cold.

"I don't want to drive in this. Can we just stop for a little while?" She asked him. Tears threatening to fall from her eyes as she leaned her head back. A foolish attempt to make them go back in.

"Sure." He said as if talking to a scared and wounded animal. A creature he didn't want to spook or run off. "Sure we can."

~ The Point Man could barely see the red lights of a hotel through the driving storm and carefully maneuvered into the covered parking garage. It was a nice hotel, in the city. Arthur paid cash for a room for them as they were given no more attention then they wanted. He guided her to their room and casually placed the "do not disturb" sign on the door.

Ariadne immediately pulled off her boots and jacket. She had a far away look in her eyes. Something like discomfort mixed fear. Despite their ability to avoid the storm by car and hotel, she still felt wet and cold.

Following his instincts, the Point Man went to the window. Whenever he was scared or nervous, that was where he always found himself. This was how he handled all types of stress. By acting a guard for the Team, for her. Today had certainly been stressful.

"I'm... I'm going to take a shower." She said absentmindedly. Her voice sounding far off and nothing at all like the confident young woman he had known just hours before.

He nodded and couldn't help but looked worried. He wanted to ask if she was okay, that would have been alright with Cobb or Eames. But the Architect was not "one of the guys". It seemed a stupid question to ask anyway. He knew she wasn't okay. No one was okay now.

He listened to the shower going off in the bathroom. His gaze returning to the watchful duties of a sentry. He tried to peer through the rain but his eyes were itching for sleep. Too much had happened today. Too many things had gone wrong.

What was he going to do? Should he take her back to Paris? No, that would never work. These people, they had her information. They knew she was with them, knew what she could do. No, he had to keep himself and her off the grid until he could think of a better plan.

He was lost in thought well past night fall. The rain never letting up. Never slowing down it's wrathful beating. He almost didn't hear her emerge from the bathroom. Her voice coming out choked. Telling him the bathroom was free. He turned and saw her as if for the first time.

They had not bags except what they had for carry on. They had not packed extra clothing and the Architect had to improvise with one of the nice complimentary hotel bathrobes. She looked up at him with her big doe like eyes.

"I'm tired." She said pitifully.

He nodded and could see she had been crying. She had made a valiant attempt to cover it up. Rubbing her eyes and face free of tears till her skin was red and raw.

The Architect climbed into bed like a child might. Pulling and pushing the covers away and burying herself in it's warm layers. Arthur almost had to smile at that thought. How sweet and young she was. Too innocent for the horrors of the day.

"I'll shower in the morning." He said sadly and she rubbed her eyes again. Her sweet angelic face sad and lost.

What he wanted, more then anything, was to go to her. But it wouldn't be right. Not now. She was still too hurt, too angry, too sad. Yet, that face, her body swimming in the covers all alone seemed to yearn for him to be with her. Seemed to want his company.

"I want to go to sleep." She said sadly. Fixing her pillow with a violent slap.

"Go to sleep." He said in his gentle tone. The voice he like to use with her when they were alone and she made him happy. When she made him content. He stood his ground and watched her. She looked so lovely, freshly washed. As if just for him.

He could not resist temptation, he went to her.

Were going to try something different with this story, kiddies. I already have an idea for the bones of this story, but I'm going to let my readers decide where we go from here. I will let you decide what this story becomes. I hope this will be fun for all of us! So excited to do this!

(A) Do you want A&A to make love all night?

(B) Do you want to find out what happened? I know the suspense is horrible!

Do you want them to do a little of both? Keep in mind, it will cost you!

I will close polls in 24 hours. 1 P.M. Friday the 9 of December . Texas USA time. Please Vote!

I will post a new chapter 24 hours after voting is over.

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