: : Summary : : Evelyn's day is growing lousier and lousier by the second. After everything that happens in her terrible day, what could possible make it better? How about some tender loving care from everyone's favorite gun-toting American? Read to see what happens! ^-^ This takes place after the first movie but before the second. It's about right after the first movie past the part where they ride off into the desert sun.
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The evening went by quickly, and Jonathan and Rick ended up eating alone. Evie hadn't come back to camp until nearly sunrise. That was one thing that worried Rick, was Evie's overwhelming urge to work until the wee hours of the night just to find a small artifact, relic, anything just to get something credited to her goals of being a good archaeologist in any museums eyes. Her desires were even more revealed that day she was fired, having caused her memories of her parents to resurface. Then of course, the other thing about Evie that trouble Rick was how to propose to her. He still had no idea how to propose and was in continuous thought, even now as he poked and prodded his breakfast on its plate.
"Rick, don't play with your food." Evie said softly. Rick blinked and looked up at Evie as she watched him swirl his meal with his fork.
"Ohh�sorry, Evie�" Rick said half-heartedly.
"Is something wrong, Rick? You seem a bit off�" Evie asked, concern suddenly filling her eyes.
"Yeah I'm fine, I'm just thinking is all." He replied quietly.
"About?"
"Just�wh-what we might find today" Rick said, knowing full well the lie was slipping off his tongue with ease. Evie didn't seem to notice as she turned to Jonathan and eagerly spoke to her brother about the evening's findings.
Letting the siblings be, Rick put his plate down and rose silently, walking down to the dig site where the workers would most likely have already begun to dig. Perhaps working at the dig site would ease his tensions and keep his mind off of Evelyn for a while. He had hoped that would work in his favor. At least until Evie decided she had had enough of breakfast and decided to dig some more. Then he would have to work beside her and study her features rather than the features of an Egyptian tomb. Goodness knows watching Evelyn was obviously better than looking for mummies and dusty scarabs all day. Rick leaned against the stone wall, arms crossed in front of his well-built chest in thought. He thought of Evie's tender smile�those sparkling starry eyes� that gorgeous figure�those tempting breasts�Rick blinked. Was that was what drove him mad the most, her breasts? There was obviously more to her than just her breasts�though to the American, it was a plus. A lot of people knew he enjoyed watching a beautiful woman every now and again simply to get his adrenaline pumping. And he had to admit Beni WAS right when he said he always did have more balls than brains. So he liked women�so what? He was a guy! His masculine tendencies did have a way on him. But with Evie�well with Evie it seems the leopard can change his spots.
"Rick! Come take a look at this!" Evie suddenly called from within the tomb.
Hearing Evie call, Rick walked over to the doorway of the tomb and popped his head inside, trying to spot her in the dark. He recognized her slender figure next to a torch and made his way beside her. Evie smiled and pointed to some bones, which lay at her feet. Rick made a face.
"Some bones, Evie?" Rick asked, wondering the significance of a couple of bones.
"Look closer. They were eaten away by scarabs�" Evie replied with a slight smile.
"Eww�only you could be excited by dead bodies eaten away by bugs, Evie." Rick said with a sour face.
Evie giggled and stepped further inside the tomb, looking around excitedly with torch in hand. Following her closely, Rick eyed their surroundings wearily. Everything looked so old and decrepit that it looked as if it would fall apart at any moment. Hieroglyphics and other numerous markings aligned the stone walls, and each nook and cranny was dusted with cobwebs and aged sand. He looked at Evie, who still eagerly looked about like a child in a candy store.
"This place is amazing, isn't it Rick?" Evie said with an awed breath.
"Not as amazing as you�" Rick murmured to himself. Evie blinked and looked at him, having heard him.
"Really?" Evie asked. Looking at her, the American could feel a blush creep on his face. Thank goodness it was dark�
"Y-Yeah�" Rick replied with a sheepish grin. Evie giggled softly at his shyness and continued walking.
Looking over to her left, Evie made her way to a little area that had torch holders and different statues adorning the area. She gently touched a statue of an Anubis looking dog, amazed at the feeling of the rare stone used to make the statue. She took a step forward and was startled when she jerked back suddenly. Looking behind her she realized her bag handle was snagged in one of the statue's ears. She noticed the ear was already half way off the statue, so she gave her bag a simple tug and allowed the ear to fall off the statue and her bag to plop back at her side. Picking up the fallen ear, she tossed it absently aside. The stone ear, however, manage to bounce off a weak piece of wall. Her eyes widened as she heard a loud rumble from above and beside her.
"Rick! The wall's going to collapse!" Evie cried out as numerous rocks began to shower down on them.
Sensing danger, Rick grabbed Evie's wrist and tugged her away as quickly as possible into a covered area away from the falling debris. She clung to him tightly as he protectively sheltered her from any rock that would dare to hit her. Once the dust settled, Rick and Evie both opened their eyes and looked around. They were surrounded by rock in every direction. The only light in the room was the torch Evie was once holding, now lying on the sandy floor. Rick looked down at Evie.
"Are you all right?" He asked quietly.
"I-I think so�" Evie replied nervously. "But it looks like we're trapped�"
"Yeah, I think we a-OUCH!" Rick suddenly hissed in pain as he held his head in his hand.
"Are you all right?" Evie wondered worriedly.
"N-Not really�I must've gotten hit by a jagged stone on the rescue because I'm bleeding�" Rick replied, fingering blood on his forehead.
"Ohh dear, let me see�" Evie said, putting the torch into the ground beside them.
She took his face in his hands and slipped his blood-covered hand away from the cut. She gently examined the flesh wound, touching tender spots lightly and murmuring a soft apology if her touch caused him pain. Rick took this moment to watch Evie quietly as she carefully examined his cut. He watched as her hands glided along his cheeks and forehead and brushing his temple. He personally loved her touch at the moment. Though he had a harsh headache, Evie's touch was all that he needed. Then it left. He frowned slightly, missing her delicate fingertips against his skin. He watched as Evie rummaged through her bag and pulled out a long strip of cloth. In the firelight, Rick recognized it as�
"Your scarf�" He breathed.
"It will have to do as a makeshift bandage�at least until you can get proper attention for your gash." Evie replied in a soft tone.
She reached up and gently wrapped the silk strip around his head, making it tight but not a strain against his cut. Rick smiled as she finished the knot on the end of it to keep from falling apart. Brushing his bangs out of his eyes, he suddenly made a slight face.
"What is it?" Evie wondered.
"I'm gonna get made fun of the moment we're found. Whoever heard of a pink bandage?" Rick said.
Evie laughed, and it made Rick want to blush again. "I don't think that's going to concern them why a man of your stature is wearing a pink scarf around their head."
"I suppose so. Well�what do we do now, now that we're stuck together in a stone wall?" Rick asked.
"Just wait a while I suppose. They must be coming soon, knowing Jonathan he must be wondering where we are." Evie replied, resting her head against his shoulder.
Rick glanced down at the British woman lying against his shoulder with a content smile. He tentatively slipped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer. Evie blinked at the sudden movement, but smiled and cuddled against his chest as he ran his hand along the length of her back. Rick leaned back and closed his eyes, adjusting his comfort level to suit both himself and Evelyn. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open as an object in his pocket jabbed his thigh. He reached his hand inside and pulled out the ring he was to give Evie. Rick blinked. Now was the moment. Now would be the time to ask.
"Evie? Hey Evie." Rick said, giving her a gentle nudge.
"Hmm? What is it, Rick?" Evie asked with a yawn. She was about to slip asleep when he nudged her.
"Remember last night there was a question I wanted to ask you? Well I never got a chance to and I think this is the best time to ask it�" Rick said quietly.
Evie sat up confused. "What is it?"
Rick readjusted himself so he was in a kneeling position in front of Evelyn. "Evie�I�I-I love you. I really, truly, love you. You're possibly the first woman who has ever actually made me think with my brain and my emotions rather than my balls." Rick rambled.
Evie tipped her head at his choice of wording. "I think that's a compliment, but go on�"
Rick chuckled. "Yeah, it was, Evie. I kinda forgot you're not up to date on the American speech�but, anyways. I�wanted to ask you�" he began as he slipped the ring in front of Evie's vision. "Would you�marry me?"
Evie could only stare in awe at the amazing diamond that seemed to sparkle all the more radiantly in the light of the torch. He held the box in a visibly trembling hand. Evie could see he was as nervous as she was. But deep in her heart, she knew the answer. And she would set the answer free.
"Yes�yes, Mr. O'Connell I shall marry you." Evie whispered in his ear. Rick grinned and scooped her into his arms with a triumphant laugh. Evie laughed as well at her new fianc�'s jubilance. He pulled back slightly and slipped the ring out of the velvet box and onto her slender finger. She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss on Rick's lips, much like they had done in the dusts of Hamunaptra. Rick obliged eagerly, pulling her close against him and caressing her soft rosy cheek. Evie was about to allow Rick's tongue to slide past her ruby lips when the rock around them began to stir.
"I say, old mum, if you two wanted a little privacy you certainly shouldn't have come to a smelly old tomb for it." Jonathan said with a sniff in contempt for the dusty and sandy conditions.
"Ohh, Jonathan honestly�" Evie said with a tiny scowl. Leave it to Jonathan�he merely smiled.
"Come on you two. We'll get ol' loverboy here patched up, and then you two can go back to your kissy-wissy" Jonathan chuckled.
Rick smiled and stood, offering his hand out to Evie. She shook her head at her brother's absurdity and took Rick's hand lovingly. He pulled her up and they exited the tomb hand in hand, large smiles across their faces. Rick let the comments about his bandaging slide off his back. Nothing could ruin his mood now, not even wearing a silky pink scarf around his head.