: : Summary : : A continuation after Christina�s death. How will the family live life without her, will Rick and Evelyn�s marriage servive? Read and ReviewA continuation after Christina�s death. How will the family live life without her, will Rick and Evelyn�s marriage servive? Read and Review
It was the morning sun which woke Rick O�Connell, and he smiled as he felt his son begin to stir. Next to Alex, Evelyn was already awake, and seeing her brought a smile to his face, a real smile. �Do you think we should get underway?� he asked softly.
Evelyn sighed, wishing they could stay, but she needed to get home, and like Rick had come to the conclusion, as painful as it was, that life had to start again. �I think I�m ready, I�m not sure about him,� she said softly.
Hearing their voices Alex came awake and sat up, stretching. Then he crawled to the end of the bed and slid off, walking out of their room without so much as a word to either of them.
Seeing the pained look in Evelyn�s eyes, Rick gathered her against him. �We�ll get him throught this,� Rick said as he rubbed his hand against her back. In truth Rick was afraid that they had messed things up so bad with Alex that they would not get him back, then decided against that. As long as they loved him, and understood him, Alex would pull through this just as they were starting to do.
~*~
Breakfast, aside from being a meal, was also a meeting. Both parents decided the first coarse of action to take was get Alex back to England and start him back in school, or to get him home and try to get him back into a normal routine. While they planned, Alex who had heard all they had said, decided he was not going to go back with them. In his room he packed his Rucksack with as much as it would hold, then snuck out the window onto the roof. He inched his way to the backside of the house, and managed to get down without hurting himself, then he left.
Not having any idea where he was going, Alex walked down one street until he arrived at the market. This time his protectors were not there, however he still seemed to be looked after, for no harm came to him as he walked through the busy place.
It was getting bumped into that drew his attention, and when he stood up a boy almost his age looked at him. He had dark hair and wore dark robes, and began to speak to him in Egyptian. Having heard the language all his life, Alex was able to speak a little, enough to say hello and introduce himself.
�You are not from here,� the boy said.
�From England. I�m not going back either,� he said sadly.
�You come to my tribe,� he said.
Alex liked that idea and went with the boy, his new friend. �What is your name?� Alex asked.
�Habib,� the boy answered then grabbed Alex, and pulled him along behind some crates.
Three men passed them by, one which Alex recognized. �That�s Ardeth,� Alex said, puzzled why Habib would have pulled him behind crates. He got his answer fairly quickly.
�He is the leader of my village, and I not supposed to come, but do. My father is his very good friend.� Habib explained. He took Alex, and they left going in the opposite direction of Ardeth.
~*~
Upon finding Alex missing, Evelyn got Jonathan up, and they all split up to look for him. Now on her own Evelyn was trying not to have a panic attack. The streets of Cairo were no place for a child. Too many greedy people were around, who could hurt her baby. Now in the market place she looked at faces of children milling around, and began to ask questions to the local merchants when she heard Rick�s voice.
On his own, Rick had gone to the docks, and then to a few stables, and found out that two children had stolen horses and gotten away into the desert, one boy fitting Alex�s description. �Evie I don�t know where he is going, but Simon had two children steel horses, and ride off in to the desert,� Rick informed.
Before she could utter a word, Jonathan arrived with Ardeth who after giving his condolences for Christina, told them of his encounter with Alex a few nights ago, and that one of the villages children had gone missing. �It is possible the Habib is with Alex, and that they are going back to my village,� Ardeth said.
As they talked, Rick noticed the color drain from Evies face and caught her before she could faint. �Evelyn sweetheart,� he said holding her close.
They had talked about Ardeth�s village, and Evelyn suddenly worried that Alex was going after a certain book. �Rick the book,� she muttered as he held onto her.
For a moment, Rick wasn�t sure what she was talking about, then it hit him. �Holy hell. Ardeth do the children of your Village know of Hamunaptra? You know the secrets right? How it raised and lowers. Is it possible that this boy knows that, because its possible our son is going with him in search of the book. � Rick quickly explained how both he and Evie had wanted to use the book to bring Christina back, and the rest was talked of on the way to get horses for the long trip.
~*~
On the Journey, Alex told his new friend of his sisters death, and Habib without thinking very much about a Med-jai�s sworn duty, that was instilled in him as well, told Alex about the book. �Not long ago, but before I was old enough to speak, I think your parents brought the Creature back to life. He is hideous one at that, but the important part here is that the book brings life. If we can get help, we can find the book, and we can go and bring your sister back to life,� Habib said.
�Thats just made up. My Uncle John said so,� Alex told him.
Habib shook his head. �No, its real Alex. I�ll show you,� he said. The Journey to the village was two days, and by night both boys were worn out, but Habib had learned to conserve his energy. He let Alex sleep, leading them ever closer to the City of the Dead.
~*~
As they road, Evelyn was quiet. She and Rick road side by side on their horses, and after a while, he spoke up. �Evie maybe he is just doing this to get out of going back to London. While you and I have one another, I think Alex feels alienated, and afraid. Neither of us have ever told him why we were in Hamunaptra, and I know Jonathan hasn�t� Rick tried.
Evelyn took in a deep breath, then let it out, then began to cry. Rick reached out and easily lifted her off of her horse and just held her.
Ahead of them Jonathan turned to see what was happening and easily caught her horse pulling it along with his. He wished for once he had the answers on how to help his nephew, but it was taking all his will just to help himself through this.
�Rick how do we help him?� Evelyn asked once the tears had subsided.
After kissing the top of her head, and wiping the rest of the tears from her face, Rick sighed. �We make him realize that he can�t run from this, as difficult as that is for him he has to face this. Try to rest,� he said. Evelyn nodded and did what was asked of her.
~*~
Habib had fallen asleep, and the horses had stopped, which is how the group found both boys, asleep on the backs of the horses.
While Rick gathered Alex away from the horse, Ardeth did the same with Habib, and they parted ways, Alex safely asleep in his father�s arms. Evelyn was back on her own horse, and had decided it better to let Rick hold on to Alex, fearing that they would have a fight on their hands once he figured out what was happening.
It was by morning when they made it back to Cairo, and Alex had not moved a muscle since they had left. When she took her son into her arms, Evelyn noticed his lips were cracked, and realized that he had not eaten in several days. They got him home and into bed and when he came awake, Alex hardly had enough energy to drink what Evelyn offered him.
�Don�t want more,� Alex said. Not willing to let him continue not eating, Evelyn put the drink down and held him. �Alex do you know what you need to do?� Evelyn asked stroking his hair. She felt the slight move of his head and continued. �You need to get better, and then you need to do all of the things you love to do,� Evie said.
Not wanting to do much of anything, but wondering why his mum was being so insistent, Alex asked her why. �I want to be with Christina,� he confessed, which made Evie�s heart constrict with pain.
She held him closer. �Do you know where your sister is?� Evie asked.
�With god,� Alex answered.
Evelyn kissed the top of his head. �Yes baby, but she is also right here,� Evelyn said as she rubbed over his heart. �And your baby sister is here,� Evie said touching his head. �Christina will always, always be a part of us Alex, no matter how much time goes by, no matter how much we change, she will be in our memories. I know it�s not as good as having her alive, but as long as we remember her she will be a part of us for all ways.
Once she had told him that Alex cried, and Evelyn held him shedding her own tears. Outside of his son�s room, Rick let his own tears flow, wishing that they could bring their little one back, but knowing that there were some things in life you couldn�t always have.
~*~
The next day, they returned to England. Alex was eating again, little bits at a time to make sure he didn�t get sick, and had gotten back to taking Sasha with him places. The next few days for him were difficult, as he came to the realization that his baby sister was never going to return, but once school began things for him started to improve.
For Rick and Evelyn ,time healed the pain of their daughters loss, and it was a few weeks after they returned from Egypt, that Rick let Aunt Maggie keep Alex, ready to try and move he and Evelyn to what both of them had craved, which was love.
FINAL chapter next. NC-17