: : Summary : : This story does not follow the line of the movies so don�t thwap me for it. It takes place a few years after the first movie. Alex is in this, and he has a sister named Christina Omorose-which is Beautiful in Egyptian. This is not a story, that has a happy ending so to speak, but sometimes you write what you feel.
It was a few evenings later when Rick and Evelyn finally got their night out. Jonathan was staying with the children, and there was very little fuss from Christina, when they left for their night on the town. Now she was in her nightgown, running from Uncle John who was crawling on his hands and knees after both she and Alex.
�Help Alex he gonna tick me?� Jonathan snagged the back of her nightgown, and pulled her back as she laughed. He laid her on the floor and nibbled her neck getting screams of laughter from her before Alex came over and tackled him.
�Oh well, now I have two children to eat.� Jonathan pinned both of them down, taking turns tickling them. It was the chime of the old grandfather clock which let him know that a certain little girl needed to be calming down for her bed time.
�Its time to settle down,� He said to both of them.
�Not bed time I got wait for daddy,� She said, as Jonathan lifted first her, then Alex to their feet.
�How about some milk, and one cookie, but you can�t tell on me?� That got happy responses from both of the children, and they ran in to the kitchen., settling at the table, Christina with her brother�s help. Jonathan got two cookies from the jar, and poured two small cups of milk, then came to the table. He set one cup infront of Alex, along with the cookie, and the other in front of Christina, lifting her out of her seat, and settling there himself, with her on his lap.
�Uncle John what do you do when you have scary dreams?� Alex asked around his cookie.
�Well, I talk about them. When I was little it was to my mum, then when she passed away, I talked to your mum,� he said, helping Christina steady her cup, as she drank milk from it.
�I keep having ones about me being here all alone, and finding her baby, then hearing her screaming and crying, and I can�t find her.� Alex was truly worried.
�Maybe it was the time she got lost out in the woods,� Jonathan offered trying to ease his fears. Alex nodded, hoping so, but there was something not right about them, and he was afraid.
�All right Princess, its time for you to go to sleep.�
�Rock me, Sasha seepen?� She asked through a yawn. Jonathan stood cradling her in his arms.
�I will� Then he looked at Alex. �Are you coming?�
�Okay.� They all went up to her room, and when Jonathan was seated, he made room for Alex, and held both of them on his lap.
�Uncle John?�
�What Partner?� Alex hesitated.
�What if my dreams mean that something bad is about to happen,� he said.� Jonathan hugged him closer.
�Nothing bad will happen. Now what story should I tell you two?�
�Bought princess in Gypt,� Christina said to her Uncle, so Jonathan began.
After dinner, Rick and Evelyn took a drive out in the countryside. She had been quiet this night, and he knew something was on her mind. He found a back road, and pulled of to the side, gathering her close in his arms.
�You have been awfully quiet,� He said to her. She rubbed her cheek against his shirt.
�Alex told me something today, and I�m not sure what to make of it. We have had almost 6 years of a perfect life. We have two beautiful children, and I have you, and I don�t want that to change.� She let out a sigh, and he kissed the top of her head.
�What was it that Alex told you?� he asked, a little frightened.
�He has being having dreams at night about being alone in our house. He told me that he keeps finding Sasha, without Christina, and he hears her crying, but can�t find her. I keep telling myself that its just a dream, but what if its more?� she asked, as she turned in his arms.
�Evie, she is a healthy, beautiful little girl, and it was just a dream. We have what we have always wanted, and nothing will take that away from us. Now lets go home and make sure our treasures haven�t tied Jonathan up and raided all the cookies.� That got a laugh from her, and after a kiss they returned to their home.
It was quiet when they arrived home, and after locking up, they went up to the second floor, and down the hall to Alex�s room first. It was empty, so they opened Christina�s door and found Jonathan asleep with both children cuddled against him. Rick smiled and moved over to the chair patting Uncle John�s hand, which woke him.
�I guess I feel asleep on the job,� he said softly, letting Rick take Christina out of his arms. She snuggled against him, still asleep as he walked over to her crib, and lowered her down to the mattress, all without a peep from her which was rare. While he tended to her, Evelyn had taken Alex and laid him down in his own bed. He woke up with a start.
�Where is she?� he asked frightened
�Shh, daddy just put her down in her crib.� Alex calmed at her soft touch, and was soon back asleep. Evelyn pulled the covers over him, trying not to shutter at the unease that had settled over her. She came out of his room, as Rick and Jonathan came out of Christina�s. Both thanked Jonathan for watching them, then they all went to their beds for a good nights sleep.
Morning came as it always did in the O�Connell house, with Alex awake first. He ran into his parents room and jumped into bed.
�It�s time to wake up sleepy heads,� he said as he sat on Rick�s chest. Rick opened his eyes and grabbed Alex rolling him over and tickling him, with Evie joining in. Once he was thoroughly tickled they lay together, waiting for their other early riser to join them. She usually came in after hearing Alex howel in laughter, but this morning they waited and she didn�t come. Evie frowned.
�Maybe we didn�t make enough noise to wake her up,� Alex said seeing his moms frown. Evelyn got a cold chill, and got up running out of their room and to Christina�s. Her baby was still asleep, and Evelyn reached in feeling her head, but she was fine, and relief washed over her. The men in her life joined her.
�Me and Uncle John wore her out,� Alex told them. On occasion Christina did sleep in, but it was very rare. They all went out, downstairs, to start breakfast, and the new day.
�I want scrambled eggs,� Alex announced. Evelyn smiled and got out the ingredients she would need for that, and while she and Rick made breakfast Alex went back upstairs to get sister up. When he walked into her room, she was climbing out of her crib.
�Alex help,� she told him. He came over and guided her to the floor.
�Have tea potty,� she told him.
�Sure come on.� He took her hand in his, and they went down to the parlor, where he set up her tea set, and they played a little until Mum came in.
�There�s my baby girl, and my baby boy,� Alex gawked at being called a baby, and ran into the kitchen, but Christina stayed where she was.
�Come on baby.� Evelyn picked her up, and hugged her close. Holding her baby in her arms eased her fears about the dreams Alex was having. Christina was here, and she would stay here. In the kitchen everyone waited, and once Christina was in her high chair, breakfast began.
�Uncle John want to go to the Museum today,� Alex said.
�Well, I am meeting a friend today. Perhaps later?� That made Alex frown, but he nodded. Everyone ate, except Christina, who moved her eggs around her plate.
�Christina eat please,� Rick told her.
�Not hungy, � she said. Then she struggled to be out of her chair.
�Angel, you need to eat a few bites,� Rick tried.
�Noo tum tum full,� she told him. Evelyn frowned.
�But you haven�t had anything to fill it with,� she said.
�Not hungy.� Rick stood, and lifted her out, sitting back down with her in his chair. She stayed in his lap, but still refused to eat. When Alex was finished she went with him to finish her tea party.
�How can she not be hungry,� Evelyn asked, now concerned. Coming to her side Rick knelt down reminding her that Alex had done the same when he was going through growth spurts, and upon remembering that Evelyn relaxed some.
By lunch, Christina was fussy, and still refused to eat, which concerned both of her parents. Evelyn was desperate to get anything into her at this point, and offered her cookies, and cake, but she wouldn�t even take that. It was Rick who suggested that they try getting her down for a nap, that maybe after some sleep she would want to eat. Now in Christina�s room, Rick rocked her, as she rested her head against his chest. He closed his eyes, feeling unease creep into him, and though he tried his best to push it aside, he knew something wasn�t right with is baby girl. When she was finally asleep he laid her in her crib, and put her quilt over her, then walked out, and down the hall to their room where Evelyn was putting away clean cloths.
�She�s asleep,� He said coming over beside her. Evelyn looked up and he found tears running down her cheeks. Rick knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms.
�Oh Rick what if something is wrong with her,� Evelyn asked.
�Then we will cross that bridge when we come to it. We have to think positive here Evie, she�s done this before, its just the dreams Alex told you that�s upsetting you so,� he lied. In his heart he knew something wasn�t right, but he had to reassure her, and himself, that all was well. Both were thankful that Jonathan�s plans had canceled at the last minute, and that Alex was out with him.
It was several hours later that Christina woke up crying, and when Evelyn went in and lifted her out of her crib she felt warmth.
�Shhh, I�m here baby.� Evelyn made herself remain calm, and after getting her daughter into a dry diaper, carried her downstairs where Rick was sitting looking at the paper.
�Sit with Daddy, and Mum will make you something to eat.� She cried harder then.
�Nooo, want mum.� Evelyn held her close rubbing her back, and couldn�t hold back the tears.
�She has a fever,� Evelyn said, her voice trembling with fear.
�I�ll call,� Rick didn�t finish, any mention of the doctor would worsen Christina�s mood. At Evelyn�s nod, Rick went to do that, and Evelyn went into the Kitchen and got a bottle, pouring some tea in to it. When her babies had tummy aches, she generally gave them some tea, to ease the pain.
�Here sweety.�
�Nooo,� Evelyn closed her eyes, and just swayed with her, praying and hoping that this was just a regular tummy bug, and not something more serious.
It was a little before Dinner when Alex and Jonathan arrive home finding the other car gone. Alex had gotten a new model ship, and ran upstairs to set it up, while Jonathan went into the kitchen finding a note on the table from Rick. What he read made his heart sink. In the letter Rick had told him that Christina was very sick, and that they had taken her to the hospital to run some tests, and for him not to alert Alex to that fact. As Jonathan finished reading, Alex came in.
�Where are Mum, Dad and Christina?� Jonathan looked up.
�Not sure, so how�s the ship coming along?� Alex pulled him along, and Jonathan said a silent prayer for his niece. Up in his nephew�s room, the two of them set about putting out all the pieces of the ship, and as they got started, the phone rang. Jonathan left and went into the hall grabbing the phone out of the cradle, finding Rick on the other end.
�What�s happening?� Jonathan asked softly.
�They aren�t sure just yet. They found a blockage in her stomach, and think that�s why she won�t eat, so they want to remove it.� Jonathan nodded.
�How is Evie holding up?�
�Not good, listen I need to go.�
�What do I tell Alex.� On his end Rick sighed.
�Nothing for now. I�ll come home, or Evie, and one of us will talk to him.� Jonathan said goodbye, and went back to Alex. The two of them had great fun talking and joking, and didn�t hear Rick�s entrance.
�Hey dad look what Uncle John got for me, its a war ship.� Rick smiled, and sat down in his son�s rocking chair, and Jonathan walked out.
�Alex come here.� Alex looked up and noticed that his dad looked sad.
�Whats wrong?� Rick lifted Alex on to his lap. It as then that Alex realized he didn�t hear his sister, and struggled to be put down. When Rick did set him down, he ran to his sisters room. It was like his dream.
�Where is she dad?� Alex cried as Rick came in after him.
�Your mum and I had to take her to the hospital because she wasn�t eating....� Before he could finish Alex ran out and down the stairs putting his coat on.
�I have to take Sasha to her dad,� he said with tears running down his cheeks. Jonathan came with the doll, and they all went to the hospital together.
After a long night of waiting for word on Christina�s surgery, a doctor finally came into the private room where the rest of her family was. Evelyn and Alex were asleep in the bed, and Jonathan on one of the Couches. Rick had gotten little sleep, pacing back and forth. Doctor Brown walked over to him.
�We removed a mass from her stomach, that had filled it, which is why she wouldn�t eat. She has a massive infection running through out her body, and we are doing all we can to find a way to heal her. Only time will tell if our surgery, and the antibiotics we are giving her will do the trick.� Rick ran a hand through his hair.
�Can we see her?� He nodded.
�For now only you and your wife can go in,� the doctor said. After he left, Rick woke Jonathan first ,and told him to stay here with Alex, then went to the bed and woke Evie, who managed to ease away from Alex without him waking up.
�We can see her now.� They went out, and found Doctor Brown waiting, and he retold Evelyn about their daughters condition. When they arrived at the door, he left them to go in on their own. In the large bed, Christina looked so tiny and frail. A nurse sat with her, but upon their arrival she left. Evelyn held tight to her husbands arm as they went to her bedside. Rick reached out and took her hand in his, and she opened her eyes.
�Hi daddy,� she said softly. Rick knelt down and kissed her forehead and her nose.
�Hi baby doll,� he said back. Evelyn went to the other side, laying Sasha next to her.
�I seepy,� she said. Evelyn stroked her hair.
�Then go to sleep, and daddy and I will be right here when you wake up,� Evelyn said in a shaky voice. Christina closed her eyes, and Evelyn gasped turning away. Gently Rick eased her tiny baby hand out of his, and went over to his wife holding her while she cried softly against his chest.
�I don�t want her to die Rick.� He couldn�t say anything in return, too over come by sadness himself. When the storm passed, and they parted, both of them sat on either side of their baby girl and watched her sleep.
In the other room, Alex was awake and yelling at his uncle to take him to see his sister, not listening to him about what the doctors had said.
�I don�t care she�s my sister not theirs.� Jonathan was running out of things to say when Evelyn walked in. She had come to check on them, and when she entered, Alex came into her arms sobbing. She picked him up and sat down with him on the bed.
�I want to see her mum, � he said through his sobs.
�I know sweetie, but she has to get better first.� Evelyn half considered breaking hospital policy, and taking him to her, but the doctors said that younger children could pass germs, and right now Christina was too weak to fight them off.
�Shhh,� she rocked him, and he cried himself to sleep. After laying him back in the bed, she got up, and Jonathan came and hugged her.
�If you want to you can go in and see her. I want to stay here with Alex.� She told him how to get to the room, and he went upstairs to the next floor, and went inside where Rick was holding Christina in the rocking chair.
�Look who came to say hi,� Rick said softly. Christina looked up.
�Unc John.� He came over and kissed her head feeling that she was warm.
�Want mum,� she said softly. A nurse came in at that point and Christina started to scream despite being weak, she still had fight in her which was a good sign, or at least Rick hoped. He held her still while the nurse checked her temperature, and frowned.
�Its gone up again, you need to put her back in her bed, and we need to try and get her fever down.� Rick nodded, and when he tried to put her down she latched on.
�Nooo,� she cried. He kissed her cheeks.
�I�m right here Angel, I won�t go.� He got her calmed down, and the nurse came with a bowl of water and a wash rag.
�I�ll show you what you need to do.� She wiped Christina with the cold rag, getting sorrowful cry�s, and then let Rick do it. While he was tending to her, Jonathan went to get Evelyn.
�Stop daddy cold,� Christina cried as Rick wiped the rag over her arms.
�I�m sorry baby, but we have to make you cool down,� he tried. He didn�t know how to explain to her why they had to do this, and hated that he was making her cry. When Evelyn arrived she sang to her, and that calmed her down and got her to sleep, then both of them worked on trying to bring her fever down.
Night fell, and Christina was worse. Her fever was high, and nothing they did was working. Doctor Brown and his colleagues were in with her now, as mum and dad waited for her, fear heavy in their hearts. Rick held his wife in his arms, swaying gently back and forth, trying to comfort both of them, then the door opened, and the Doctors, all except Doctor Brown left.
�I�m sorry, we have done all we can do for her, we are going to keep giving her shots, in hopes that it will kill the infection, but I�m afraid aside from that there isn�t much more to be done. Evelyn pulled away from Rick, angry now.
�What do you mean that�s all you can do for her. What did you go to school for, to save lives, and you can�t even save the life of my baby. How did you get your title as a doctor.� Evelyn yelled. Rick held her, and she cried hard in his arms. Doctor Brown left them, knowing it was just hurt talking, and hoped against hope that Christina would recover.
�Oh god Rick we are going to loose her to this,� He just held her, letting his own tears fall, when the nurse yelled out for the Doctor. Rick and Evelyn tried to go in, but the door was shut in their face.
Listening to how his parents got married, was always a story Alex loved to hear, and right now he was safe in his uncle�s arms listening to the tale.
�Did you like my father when you first met him?� asked Alex.
�Not one bit, he was very rude you know,� That got a laugh from him, then the door opened, and dad came in, a grim look on his face.
�Dad, Uncle John said that you were very rude before you and Mum got married.� Rick nodded.
�He is right, I only used to think of myself,� Rick told him, wishing right now he was back in that time, when he didn�t have to tell his son that his sister was dieing.
�Alex, I�m going to take you up to see Christina now,� Rick said kneeling in front of him.
�Good, is she getting better now?� Rick closed his eyes.
�No she isn�t, and you can stay here if you don�t want to see her, but this infection that�s in her isn�t going away, and the doctor says she doesn�t have much time left.�
�No, she�s my sister.� Alex started to cry, and Rick held him.
�I..want to see her.� Rick stood, and they all went up to the little girls room. Evelyn was rocking her, and looked up with tears in her eyes as the men in her life came in. After Alex was set down, he walked over to the bed and got her baby, then brought it to her.
�Christina, I have Sasha.� She opened her eyes and he placed the doll in her arms, then rested his head against hers, and started to cry. Rick came and hugged him, trying to keep strong, knowing that this was the hardest thing any of them would ever have to go through, even worse than what happened with Hamunaptra.
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