| Ardeth was glad, for Jonathan�s sake. He was upset that Nefret had gone with them, however, for he wanted nothing more then to see her right now. �I have told the O�Connell�s, they are waiting for us to return,� Olympus said. At that, Ardeth started to move, and Olympus pulled him to his feet, holding onto him tightly when he groaned, blinking back a wave of dizziness. �Are you sure that you are all right?� Olympus asked, concerned. Ardeth nodded, realizing that Olympus didn�t know of his earlier injuries. They made their way to the hill, and Ardeth nearly groaned again at the thought of climbing it. They started up it, slowly; Olympus lending Ardeth a hand when he felt the injured Med-jai needed it. After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the top. Olympus attained it first, and helped pull Ardeth up, over the edge. Sitting against the bush that had so effectively hidden the embankment, they paused to catch their breath. �Did they find Alex?� Ardeth suddenly asked, remembering what they�d come for. Olympus nodded. �Yes.� Ardeth smiled, sighing in relief. After a minute, the two men rose and started the walk back to the O�Connell�s location. Krista ([email protected]) May 18, 2002 As Osiris explained the bracelet to the husband and wife, Evie couldn't help but slip her hand into Rick's. She just needed that small reassurance he was standing beside her, alive and okay. When she felt his slightly callused skin touch her own, she outwardly sighed in relief and gripped it tightly. Rick noticed this and gave a gentle squeeze back in response. He hadn't meant to scare Evie like that...hell, he hadn't intended on dying, either. Fortunately they were apparently able to resurrect him. But now Evie was emotional and nervous. Frankly, Rick didn't blame her for being so. After all, he had felt the same way when she...was killed. This thought caused him to squeeze onto her hand tighter. How close they had each come...he wasn't sure he could take much more tension on his heart. "So we must place the bracelet on his wrist in order for him to understand his destiny?" Evie wondered. Osiris nodded. "Yes. It is imperative he at least knows something of his true destiny. This could be vital for your time and for my own." Evie glanced at Rick. "Looks like you'll be saving two time periods, O'Connell. This one and ours in the future." Rick arched a brow, wondering what in the name of the pyramids Osiris was saying. His lack of knowledge of the Egyptian language was really starting to bug him. Here he was, vital to the future of two worlds and yet he didn't understand a damn word of what they were saying. 'Fantastic...' Rick thought bitterly. As Osiris and Evie continued their discussion of the bracelet, Rick looked towards the direction in which Alex and Adom had left. He hoped the two boys were all right. After just getting Alex back, Rick didn't want anything else to go wrong. While he was staring off into the distance, he suddenly noticed movement. 'Odd...is someone coming this way?' He wondered. Rick narrowed his eyes to attempt to make out the figures coming. They were far too tall to be Alex and Adom. He slipped away from Evie's grasp to move a bit closer and realized one of them was wearing familiar robes. "Ardeth!" He gasped. Evie and Osiris glanced at Rick, and Evie was the first to notice the dark-haired Med-jai making his way towards them with Olympus. She stood beside Rick and tipped her head. "Wasn't he supposed to be healing with Nefret?" she asked. "I dunno, but I'm going to meet them halfway. You stay here with me." Rick replied, pointing to Osiris as he rushed over to Ardeth and Olympus. Evie glanced at Olympus and back at Rick's retreating form. She sighed softly and decided it best not to follow. Rick could handle himself, right? After all, he had just gotten himself killed to protect her and was now back from the dead and running about as if nothing happened. No big deal right? Wrong. "Wait, wait, wait!" Evie cried, running after him. Osiris blinked then rushed after Evie. "Didn't he say stay here?!" Osiris yelled in his native tongue. Evie ignored him and rushed after Rick. Rick in the meantime, had just caught up with Ardeth and Olympus. Olympus appeared fine, but Ardeth on the other hand looked awful. "Ardeth...you look like shit." Rick stated. Ardeth gave Rick a look. "Very perceptive of you, O'Connell," he said sarcastically. "Weren't you supposed to be resting with Nefret?" Rick wondered. "Well one thing led to another, and here I am, feeling rather beaten by that monster Imhotep, and Nefret, |
| THE ADVENTURES OF THE O'CONNELL FAMILY Page 46 |