Lost Souls 

By Karri

 

Summary: Settled comfortable back in London following TMR, Evy finds a book...and, of course, much trouble ensues.  

 

Disclaimer: This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money is being made.  The Mummy Returns and its characters are the property of Steven Sommers and Universal Studios. The original characters, tribes, situations, legends, and curses are the property of the author.  Please don't borrow them without asking.  Special Thanks to Deana for her encouragement and suggestions

 

Things people seem to like to know ahead of time: it's Ardeth hurt/comfort, which includes all of the O'Connells (and Jonathan.)  It doesn't include Immy or Anck - apologies to their fans.  There are several original characters (BOO HISS!), including one in the very first chapter.  =-O  However, any and all Mary Sues are purely unintentional. Also, I've juggled more characters in this than I usually attempt, so if I lose anyone (usually Jonathan or Alex), apologies. I always find them, eventually.  ;-)  Oh, and, this is my first solo Mummy story - so be warned.  :-J

 

One last note:  Generally speaking, the Arabic is written only when the conversation is switching back and forth between languages, not when the entire conversation is Arabic.  Apologies to any Arabic speakers for my slaughtering of the beautiful language. 

 

Okay, all done.  To any who are still here, happy reading!  :D

 

 

oOoOoOo

 

 

Focusing on his horse, Ardeth Bey tried to ignore the reproachful glare burning a hole into his back.   Unfortunately, nothing else really needed to be done to ready the animal.  It was prepared to leave, as was he.  Sighing reluctantly, the great Medjai warrior bravely turned to face his exasperated sister.

 

"It is not as though I'm riding into battle, sister.  I will be fine."  There was a slight pleading edge to his voice that only an only older sister would recognize.   

 

"Ah, but you cannot be certain of this, can you, little brother?" Badi'a questioned, rhetorically.   "And if you do find yourself in battle, what then?"

 

Ardeth studied his sister's disgruntled stance for a moment, before answering simply,  "Then I will fight."

 

"Then you will fight, will you?"  Badi'a huffed, and Ardeth ducked his head ever so slightly in preparation for the tirade to come.  "You really believe you are recovered enough for battle, do you?  Well, you are not, little brother."

 

Badi'a fell silent, and Ardeth nearly breathed a sigh of relief.  He had gotten off easy, but showing that he realized it would only set her off again.   Turning back toward his horse, he mounted.  There seemed little point in remaining.  He had no argument for Badi'a.  She was right, of course.  He was far from ready for battle, but he wasn't riding into one, only traveling to England.  However, Ardeth understood that for his grieving sister, they were one in the same. 

 

It was, indeed, his destination that fueled her anxiety, and Ardeth could not fault her for it, nor, he knew, were there any words that would ease it.   The last time he'd traveled to England, he'd returned home wounded and physically exhausted.  There'd barely been time to learn of his younger brother's death in the battle before his body gave out, collapsing with fever.   Badi'a had watched that fever nearly claim his life; it had been almost more than his sister's aching heart could bear.  In her grief, she'd blamed the O'Connells.   He knew this, and was not surprised when she'd balked at the announcement he was returning to England; she did not even believe he should be on his feet.   However, there was too much at stake.  He had to go, despite the anguish is caused his sister.

 

"Go with safety, little brother," Badi'a shouted, in resignation, as Ardeth prodded his horse into motion.   His mind would not be changed; he was making that clear enough. 

 

"Allah willing, sister," Ardeth replied, twisting around and smiling, reassuringly.    Turning back, he wavered, slightly but visibly, in his saddle.  Tightening his grip, the warrior softly prayed his trip would be uneventful.

 

"Yes," Badi'a muttered under her breath, once his back was to her. "May it be Allah's will that you survive the O'Connells one more time."

 

oOoOoOo

 

Evelyn O'Connell, standing hands on hips, sighed as she examined the crate sitting near the foot of the staircase. Once belonging to her parents, it had greeted the family upon their return from Ahm Shere - and had been sitting in the way since.   Evy hadn't allowed it to be moved, wanting to take care of it herself.  But each time she'd approached it to do so, unexplained reluctance stopped her.  This time, however, she was determined.  The afternoon was perfect for it.  Rick, Alex and Jonathon were all out, so there'd be no need to worry about making a spectacle if she became sentimental and blubbery.

 

Sitting carefully balanced on one corner, Evy's eyes skimmed over the top layer of trinkets, most of which were obviously silly flea-market bobbles.  The realization made her wonder if her parents had ever really intended to send the crate back to England, or had just used it as a waste bin.  Regardless, the sentimental value of the crate - labeled only with the name "Carnahan" - made it priceless to Evy.  She shook her head as she marveled, yet again, that it had found its way to her in London so many years after their deaths.

 

"Well, no time like the present," Evy muttered to herself, randomly reaching for a trinket.  Its displacement caused the items around it to shift and uncovered what appeared to be the hilt of a weapon. Evy's melancholy mood dispersed as her gaze fell upon it. 

 

"What do we have here...?"

 

She ran curious fingers over the finely crafted silver, before grasping it firmly and slowly pulling the blade from beneath the other items.   Ignoring the shifting and resettling of displaced clutter, Evy twisted the sword in the air, examining the design etched into the metal.

 

"You're certainly not Egyptian, are you?  Where did you come from?"

 

Evy was about to lay the sword down to study it more closely when something else caught her eye - a glint of light as it reflected off another, smaller blade that had apparently been hidden beneath the displaced clutter.  

 

"Hmmm...looks like you have a friend," Evy commented, carefully picking up the dagger. 

 

Holding it in one hand and the sword in the other, she briefly compared the two weapons, before the sword became to heavy to hold up with one hand, and she let the tip drop.  They were obviously a set, an exquisitely crafted set.... inscribed with ancient Arabic.  Evy nearly gasped at the discovery of the words woven into the intricate design etched into the blades of both the sword and dagger.   Wanting to examine the words more closely, she carefully balanced the sword across the top of the crate and held the more manageable dagger in both hands, intending to carry it upstairs where the lighting was better. 

 

As she stepped toward the staircase, something else caught Evy's eye - a book - no, not a book... a journal of some sort.  A journal.  Evy felt a flutter of excitement.  Perhaps there was some reference to the mysterious weapons.  Perhaps it belonged to one of her parents?   Her mother?  Or her father?  It didn't matter really, she longed for both so badly that she trembled at the prospect of reading their words - their thoughts - regardless of whether they revealed any great secrets. 

 

Bumping the now forgotten broadsword as she reached for the journal, Evy was too focused to notice as the hilt slipped from its precarious ledge and fell back into the crate, leaving the blade sticking dangerously up in the air.  Oblivious, she stepped past the crate and up the stairs to her bedroom.  It wasn't until Evy moved to sit on the bed that she remembered the dagger still in her hand.  Placing it on the nightstand, she made herself comfortable and opened the journal at random.  As she read the beautifully scribed Arabic, it quickly became obvious that the words weren't those of one of her parents.

 

"At this moment, as I await word from my fellow Medjai that it is done, I continue to pray to Allah for his divine intervention. The Carnahans have been dear and faithful friends to me. If only I had found a way to dissuade them from traveling to the city, but they would not listen.  They would not be turned away from Hamunaptra.  Now, my heart is unable to find solace in the knowledge of what will be. Never before have I questioned the honor of being of the Medjai as I do today." 

 

The Medjai...the Medjai had killed her parents!  Evy could barely form the thought as grief and rage surged through her.  Letting the journal slip from her fingers and drop gracelessly to the floor, Evy rolled onto her side and let the tears welling in her eyes trickle onto her cheeks, as she mentally cursed every Medjai she'd ever laid eyes upon. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

Pausing for a moment in the empty drive, Ardeth Bey studied the imposing stone of the O'Connells' home.  A chill wafted down the warrior's spine, and he shivered.  The damp air seemed colder than it had been the last time he'd come to England, but the Medjai knew the chill couldn't be entirely blamed on the weather.   The memories of his last visit were at least partially responsible.  His reception then had been less than friendly, not that Ardeth could entirely blame the O'Connells for their reaction.  They had carried the trouble into their home themselves, but he knew they still associated it with his presence.   That made it seem unlikely that they would be pleased to see him there again, especially so soon after returning from Ahm Shere.   

 

The warrior's muscles, already sore and tense from the long journey, wound tighter as his body registered the eerie stillness surrounding him.  He hoped it was an indication that the occupants were away, but Allah never seemed that merciful when the O'Connells were involved.  Still, perhaps if he were very careful, he could accomplish his task this time without any mishap befalling any of them.   Knocking on the door, the Medjai steeled himself for the suspicion that would greet him. He sighed as he waited, feeling the cold dampness settle deeper into his bones.  England was not good for his health, he decided, but then neither were the O'Connells.

 

After several minutes, Ardeth knocked again.  Still, there was no response.  Moving to a window, he peaked inside and spotted a large crate near the bottom of the staircase.  Certain that it contained what he sought, he briefly considered simply breaking-in, but the Medjai didn't want to damage his friends' home unnecessarily.  Fortunately, during his previous visit, an alternate method of entry had been discovered. 

 

As Ardeth moved away from the front door, he once again felt a tickle of hope that he would be able to retrieve the artifacts without incident.  He'd moved only a few steps before it occurred to him to check if the door were locked.  Retracing his steps, Ardeth tried the knob.   When it turned, his heart sunk a little, certain that it was an indication someone must be home.  Still, he reminded himself, that was not a guarantee of trouble.   Opening the door slowly, Ardeth stepped warily inside.   

 

oOoOoOo

 

Evy jerked up from the bed, unsure of what had startled her.  Holding her breath to try to quiet her tear-spawned hiccups, she listened, intently, but heard nothing and was tempted to brush it off.  Unfortunately, the chill tickling her spine wouldn't let her.  Swinging her legs around, Evy sat on the edge of the bed and listened again.  She still heard nothing, but was certain, all the same, that she was no longer alone in the house.     

 

Grabbing the dagger from the nightstand as she stood, Evy crept out of the room and quietly made her way to the balcony.  Careful to keep as well hidden as possible, she scanned the room below.  It didn't take long to spot the imposing figure dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Medjai.  Evy's grip on the dagger reflexively tightened, as he moved toward the stairs. 

   

oOoOoOo

 

Striding over quickly, Ardeth immediately spotted the tip of the sword sticking out of the crate.   About to reach for the hilt, a flicker of movement caught his attention.   Looking up, Ardeth spotted Evy.  Strangely, she appeared to be skulking.

 

"Evelyn," the Medjai greeted, bowing his head slightly.  "Pardon my intrusion.  I did not realize you were at home."

 

Evy heard his voice - the strong, yet, gentle voice of her friend.  Her friend?  He was a Medjai - a murderer!  The words she'd read spun around her head.  'I await word from my fellow Medjai that it is done.'  IT!  That it was done!  That they - the Medjai - had killed her parents!   Evy's hand trembled with building rage, as her fingers flexed around the hilt of the dagger. 

 

"Evelyn?"  Ardeth repeated, growing concerned.  Not only had she not replied, Evy had edged deeper into the shadows, as if responding to some sort of danger.  Instinctively reaching for his weapon, Ardeth pivoted around, quickly and thoroughly scanning the room, but neither saw nor heard anything.  Concerned that perhaps the threat was already upstairs with Evy, Ardeth warily made his way towards her, keeping his fingers firmly wrapped around his scimitar's hilt.   

 

Evy didn't see the worry on his face as he approached.  In fact, she didn't really see Ardeth at all.  Her attention remained focused on the silver embroidery decorating his robe - his distinctively Medjai robe.  It moved closer...and closer.  The Medjai - the murderer - moved closer...and closer.  

 

Ardeth scanned every shadow, as he reached the top stair and stepped towards Evy.  His adrenaline-heightened senses heard nothing but the sound of his own heart racing.  However, he could feel the tension emanating from Evy.  With each step forward, Ardeth could also see more clearly the storm of emotions raging across her lovely features...but there was no fear.   He realized too late that the dominant emotion was rage.  

 

Evy's fury swelled, as the silver embroidery moved close enough to nearly distinguish the individual threads creating the Medjai design.   It moved a foot closer...and another.   Her eyes traced the embroidery, following it down until it disappeared beneath a neatly wrapped black sash.  As her gaze locked on the spot where the black swallowed up the silver, the tip of the dagger in her hand followed.  Suddenly, her body could no longer contain her surging emotion.  Stuck in an enraged trance, Evy lurched forward.

 

Ardeth flinched away from the unexpected movement.  Shocked by the hatred on his friend's face, he didn't notice the dagger until pain tore through the left side of his abdomen, yanking his attention down to Evy's hand.  He watched, disbelievingly, as his blood spilled onto her fingers. 

 

"Evelyn?" he gasped.  

 

The sound of her name wormed its way through the haze of Evy's rage, and she glanced up to meet familiar eyes.  They were filled with bewildered amazement; she wasn't quite certain why.   It made her abruptly remember she held a dagger in her hand.  The blade twisted, as she reflexively tightened her grip.   The movement caused a hot deluge of blood to gush onto her already sticky fingers, and she instinctively pulled her hand back. 

 

Ardeth stumbled backward as Evy pulled the knife from his flesh.  One hand groped for the wall and the other for the wound, as he struggled to stay on his feet.  He continued to watch, disbelieving, as Evy's hand dropped, allowing his blood to drip from the tip of the dagger onto the floor.   She made no move to help him, but simply stood there, her gaze locked on his.  Ardeth saw enough recognition in her eyes to assure him that Evy had acted of her own will.  He didn't understand what he'd done to provoke her, but enough rage lingered in her expression to send him staggering away, towards the stairs. 

 

With each step, more blood spilled from the wound, taking his strength with it.  By the time he'd reached he first step, Ardeth could already feel the darkness threatening to engulf him.  Clinging to the banister, he struggled to keep it at bay long enough to escape.  His legs only barely managed to stay beneath him, as he stumbled down the flight of stairs. 

 

Tripping over his feet as he stepped onto the landing, Ardeth lost his grip on the banister and fell onto his knees.  He didn't notice the fresh deluge of blood, as he focused his little remaining consciousness on the struggle to rise.   Putting everything into the effort, Ardeth finally reached his feet.  He took a few dizzy, disoriented steps in a vain attempt to find the banister, but it was too late.   Darkness swallowed him completely, and he tumbled gracelessly down the remaining flight of stairs.

 

Distantly, Evy registered the smack as, below her, Ardeth's head met a solid surface.  Her body flinched, reflexively, jolting her out of her fugue.   Forgotten, the dagger slipped from her fingers.   Racing to the banister, she stared, in horror, at the body draped lifelessly over a corner of the heavy wooden crate still sitting at the foot of the stairs.   It took several seconds for her to notice the blood dripping from the blade of the broadsword impaled through Ardeth's shoulder.

 

Gasping, Evy flew down the stairs, hitting the bottom step just as Alex came bursting through the front door.  Rick, trailing close behind shouting at his son not to run, nearly tripped over the eight-year old as Alex abruptly halted.  He followed the child's shocked stare to the bundle of black cloth dangling precariously off a corner of Evy's crate. 

 

"Oh, Rick!  I didn't....I mean he was coming at me and....I....I...I killed him, Rick!  I've killed Ardeth!" Evy wailed, nearing hysterics. 

 

Glancing up at his wife, then, back down at the crate, it finally dawned on Rick that it was a body limply hanging there.  

 

"What the...?!"  Pointing at Alex as he moved past, Rick ordered, "stay there!"

 

Rushing over to the body, he carefully lifted it off the sword and rolled it onto its back.  The Medjai moaned weakly, pulling Rick's gaze from the bloody shoulder wound to his friend's ashen face.  It was then that he fully registered it really was Ardeth in his arms.  As gently as he could manage, Rick laid him on the floor.  

 

"Dad?  Is it really Ardeth?  Is he really dead?"

 

Rick glanced up at his son, who was still, surprisingly, standing where he'd left him.  It almost seemed as though Alex were afraid to get any closer, which seemed strange to him.  His son had seen injured men before and hadn't shied away.

 

"Yeah.  It's really Ardeth, but he isn't dead," he calmly answered his son.  Glancing around, Rick searched for his wife and found her pacing back and forth a few feet away.  She was muttering something about the Medjai bastard deserving it and not meaning to hurt Ardeth.  There was more, equally jumbled and contradictory, but he didn't have time to worry about it.   "Evy!"

 

"Evelyn!"  Rick tried, when she failed to respond.  Evy stopped pacing and looked at him.  "Evy, we need to get him to the hospital.  I need your help."

 

"La'!  Min fa..." Ardeth began, then, paused.  Barely clinging to consciousness, he found it difficult to remember to speak in English.  "P...please, no hos..pi..tal."

 

Rick barely caught the weak, pain-laced words.  Looking down at his friend, he saw his eyes had opened a crack and were fixed on Evy.   

 

"Ardeth!" 

 

Amazingly, Evy had also heard him and rushed forward.  Ardeth flinched away from her, more than Rick would have thought his body possible of at the moment. 

 

"Whoa, buddy.  Don't try to move...gonna be all right," Rick soothed, placing a firm hand on his friend's uninjured shoulder.   He could feel Ardeth continue to tense as Evy stood over his shoulder. The Medjai's weak gaze remained fixed on her.  "S'all right...gonna be all right."

 

"Evy, send for the doctor!"  Rick ordered, without taking his eyes off his friend.   She didn't move.  "Evy!"

 

Rick nearly sighed with relief as he felt her move away and, beneath his hand, felt Ardeth relax a little.  The Medjai's eyes remained cracked, but were no longer focused on anything in particular. 

 

"S'all right...gonna be all right," Rick repeated, more for himself than Ardeth.  He knew he needed to move him, and he knew it was going to be agony for the Medjai.  Still, there was little choice.  As he studied his friend, trying to figure where best to grab him, Ardeth's eyes slid shut.  "Ardeth?!  Ardeth?!  You still with me?"

 

There was no response.  Rick shook his uninjured shoulder - still, nothing.  Taking a deep breath, he told himself that it was a good thing Ardeth had passed out.  At least, he wouldn't have to feel it as Rick moved him. 

 

"Alex," he said, as he tightened his grip on the Medjai's good arm and hoisted him over his shoulder.  "Gotta move him upstairs to a guest room.  Need ya to open the door for me, buddy."

 

Alex nodded.  Sidestepping around his father, he carefully averted his eyes and ran up the stairs without looking back. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

As he neared the only guest room with an open door, Rick found it puzzling that Alex was nowhere in sight.  However, Ardeth was getting much too heavy to worry about it.  Rick shuffled quickly towards the room, feeling his friend beginning to slip.  Barely making it to the bed, he slung the Medjai onto it with a lot less care than intended, provoking a weak moan from the unconscious warrior.  

 

“Sorry about that, old buddy,” Rick muttered in response.  “And this.”

 

He felt his friend tense against the pain as he pulled him into a sitting position. Gingerly easing the Medjai out of his robe, Rick heard the warrior gasp when he jostled the injured shoulder.  Carefully laying Ardeth back down onto the mattress, Rick saw that his eyes were open.

 

“Hang in there, Ardeth,” Rick whispered, not sure if the Medjai was in any shape to understand him.   Ardeth blinked sleepily a few times and closed his eyes.

 

Thinking he’d lost consciousness again, Rick started to rise, wanting to find something to slow the bleeding with until the doctor arrived.  He’d considered using Ardeth’s tattered robe, but it didn’t seem right to use the ceremonial garment in such a way without asking.  Towels would do the job.   Rick had no more than shifted his weight when a hand grabbed his arm.  It startled him, and he flinched.

 

“’Eh-sif.”   (“Sorry.”)

 

Rick gave his friend a concerned smile.   “S’all right, buddy. Just startled me, no need to apologize.”

 

Ardeth closed his eyes, taking a painful breath and letting it out with a shudder before opening his mouth to speak again.

 

“Hey, don’t try to talk, okay,” Rick told him, almost pleadingly.  Taking in Ardeth’s ashen complexion and the pain emanating from his eyes, listening to him try to speak almost physically hurt.  Rick silently screamed at the doctor to hurry. 

 

“Ana ’eh-sif,” Ardeth repeated weakly, ignoring his friend’s request.  He didn’t realize he’d reverted to Arabic. His brain felt fuzzy, making it hard to think, but he could still clearly remember the rage on Evy’s face.  Ardeth tried to focus, to pinpoint what he’d done, but his brain was too weary.   Whatever his offense, it had caused her to attack him with the Devourer’s dagger, placing not only her life, but also her soul in danger. (“I’m sorry”)

 

As Ardeth struggled to speak, Rick grasped that there was more to it than an apology for startling him.  It seemed as though it were taking everything the Medjai had to get the words out.  Rick prayed he would stop trying, but could see determination mingled with the pain on the warrior’s face, and knew that he wouldn’t. 

 

“‘Eh-sif geddan, sadiqi.  Min fadlak…yi...seh…mih,” Ardeth gasped out the last word, his eyes closing tightly as wave of pain washed over him.  Arching his back against it, his fingers dug into Rick’s arm as his other hand clenched the bedding.  Collapsing back down as the pain momentarily receded, Ardeth found himself without the strength to force his eyelids to open again.  (“I’m very sorry, my friend.  Please, forgive me”)

 

“Min fadlak yisehmih, sadiqi,” he repeated in a barely audible whisper, before finally succumbing to the darkness. (“Please forgive me, my friend.”)

 

Rick sat stunned.  The desperation in Ardeth’s plea was heartrending, but that wasn’t what he found shocking.  The Medjai’s apology, combined with Evy’s hysterical mutterings, had Rick’s head spinning.  The obvious conclusion – that Ardeth had done something to provoke Evy – was difficult to comprehend.  The Medjai was one of the most honorable people Rick knew.

 

“Here.” 

 

Rick glanced up to see Alex standing next to him with an armload of towels.  Shaking himself out of his thoughts, he smiled at his son, relieved to see Alex acting more like the irrepressible child he knew. 

 

“Can I help?”

 

Rick was tempted to send him away.  He knew he blocked the full view of Ardeth’s injuries.  Remembering Alex’s reaction downstairs, he wasn’t so sure it was a good idea to let the child have a closer look. However, Rick understood what it was like to have to stand by helplessly.  He also knew that, as bad as it was, the child’s imagination could come up with worse.   

 

“Sure, buddy.  Hop up on the other side,” Rick replied, calmly.  As Alex scrambled up onto the bed, Rick wadded up a couple of towels and pressed them against the wound near Ardeth’s waist.   The Medjai moaned softly, tossing his head and reflexively shifting a hand toward the injury.  

 

“S’all right, big guy.  Take it easy,” Rick soothed, gently stopping Ardeth’s hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he’d seen Alex cringe as Ardeth moaned.  It made him reconsider letting the child stay, but he didn’t want Alex to feel like he was letting him down.  Glancing up, he gave his son a reassuring smile. “You know your mum’s pretty upset.  She could probably use some company.” 

 

“Please, dad.  I’m not a baby.  I can take it and I really want to help,” Alex responded, a little wisp of desperation edging his tone.   Rick heard it, and it worried him.  There seemed to be more to it than concern for Ardeth, but he realized that it would have to wait.   For the moment, his son obviously needed a task to focus on.    

 

“Think you can keep pressure on that for me.”

 

Alex nodded, glumly, putting his little hands in place of his father’s, as Rick moved on to the shoulder wound.   He watched his father pull Ardeth up enough to place a couple more wadded towels under him.  Beneath his hands, Alex felt the warrior stirring.  Ardeth continued to shift restlessly, muttering incoherently, as Rick pressed against the front of the shoulder wound.   

 

“Shhh.  It’s all right, Ardeth,” Alex soothed, his voice wavering as tears welled in his eyes.  Shifting, he tenderly placed a hand on the warrior’s feverish cheek.  “Don’t be frightened.  We’re going to make it all right.”   

 

Rick felt a little teary as he watched his son remove his hand from the warrior’s face and focus his attention on pressing on the towels.  Ardeth moved his hand toward the renewed pressure, and Rick was about to intervene when Alex placed one of his little hands in the warrior’s big one.  Ardeth continued to stir restlessly, mumbling the occasional word in Arabic, but made no further attempts to relieve the pressure.

 

Hearing a soft tapping, Rick peered over his shoulder to see Evy clinging to the doorframe.   Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Alex tense and frowned at the reaction as he studying his wife.  She appeared calmer, but he could tell it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge.   

 

“How is he?” she inquired, hesitantly.  Beneath his hands, Rick felt Ardeth tense at the sound of her voice.   He heard Alex whispering soothingly as the Medjai’s stirring grew increasingly agitated.

 

“Doc on his way?”  Rick asked, intentionally avoiding her question.  Before Evy could answer, they heard a car squeal to a quick stop, and she fled towards the front door to meet the physician.

 

Rick could hear her grow increasingly agitated as she escorted the family doctor upstairs, trying to explain to him on the way what had happened.  Doubting that the man had been able understand much of Evy’s rambling, it didn’t surprise Rick when the physician gasped and came to an abrupt halt as he got his first eye-full of the patient.

 

“Evelyn mentioned there’d been an accident,” the physician finally stated, after pausing for several seconds to absorb the scene before him. “This isn’t exactly what I’d pictured.  Perhaps you’d care to elaborate while I have a closer look.” 

 

Evy slipped around the physician and moved towards her son.  “Come on, Alex!  Let’s get out of the man’s way.”

 

“No way! I’m not going anywhere!  Ardeth’s needs me!”  Alex shouted, squirming away from his mother’s attempt to touch him.  Rick noted that the child determinedly kept his eyes anywhere but on Evy. 

 

“Alex!” he chastised, not understanding what was going on with his son, but not wanting to let him get away with shouting at his mother. 

 

“But Dad, I promised him I wouldn’t leave.  Promised, Dad!”  Alex implored.   “Please!  Don’t make me leave.  What if he wakes up and all he sees is the doctor?  He’ll be scared!  Please, don’t make me leave him, Dad!”

 

The vehemence of the child as he neared hysterics stunned Rick.   It was uncharacteristic of Alex to lose it so badly.  Rick thought back to the family’s recent Ahm Shere adventure, remembering how amazed he’d been by his son’s composure through it all.   Suddenly, it occurred him that perhaps that had something to do with this.  Perhaps seeing Ardeth again had brought it all back for his son.   Deciding that might explain it, Rick felt a little better.   He was still worried, but at least he could understand.  Although still reluctant to give in to Alex, he decided it wasn’t the time to push it.

 

Backing away, Evy stood wide-eyed with her arms wrapped around herself.  Too near her own hysterics to begin to deal with her son’s continued refusal of her touch, she shrugged her shoulders helplessly at her husband. 

 

“Doc, would...” Rick began.  The physician stopped him with a compassionate squeeze of his shoulder.

 

“I’m sure Alex can manage to stay out of the way,” he commented, tossing the child a friendly smile.    He wouldn’t normally have approved of exposing a child to this sort of thing, but he’d been the O’Connells’ physician long enough to know Alex had seen worse.

 

“All right, Alex,” Rick acquiesced, frowning a little.  “But you hop on out of the way if the Doc tells you to, you got it.”  

 

Alex nodded.   

 

“Evelyn, I could use some water and fresh towels,” the physician requested.  The matter of the child’s continued presence settled, he shifted his gaze from Alex to Evy.  By the look of her, it was apparent that she needed a distraction.

 

Evy nodded in response and practically ran from the room.

 

oOoOoOo

 

“Evy?  Everything all right?” 

 

Evelyn heard her brother’s voice float up from downstairs and moved to the banister.  Below her, she saw Jonathan examining the bloody mess left in Ardeth’s wake.  He looked as though he were about to faint.  

 

“Evy?  Rick?  Alex?  Anybody home?”

 

Hearing the near panic in his voice, Evy realized that he didn’t know whose blood he was staring at.

 

“Jonathan, up here,” she called out, waving to get his attention.  He looked up, visibly relieved, but it didn’t last. 

 

“Rick?  Alex?” 

 

“They’re both fine.  Ardeth’s the one who’s injured.”

 

“Ardeth!”  Evy heard her brother groan.  “What in bloody hell is he doing here?  Don’t tell me that damn Mummy’s back again!” 

 

“Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to say.” Evy paused, for some reason remembering that reminded her of what she’d read in the journal.  It occurred to her that it was something her brother had a right to know.  “Jonathan, you’d better come up.  I need to talk to you.”

 

Jonathan paled further as he studied the look on Evy’s face.  A little hesitant, he climbed the stairs toward his sister.  As he reached the top and approached her, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye and glanced toward the banister.  His brow wrinkled at the sight of a bloody dagger lying on the carpet.   Swallowing hard, Jonathan quickly glanced away, wondering what had happened, but not entirely sure he really wanted to find out. 

 

“You sure I really want to know....whatever it is?” he asked, as he approached.  Evy responded with a sympathetic squeeze of his arm, which only made Jonathan more certain he didn’t want to know....whatever it was.

 

“Don’t run away....I’ll just be a minute.”  Jonathan nodded and watched her as she fetched a basin of water from the washroom.  “Oh my...Jonathan, I needed to grab some clean towels and I seem to have run out of hands.  Would you mind...?”

 

“Oh, um...sure, Evy....I’m right behind you,” he responded, a little flustered.  Quickly fetching the towels, Jonathan fell in behind his sister. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

“Um…what happened…” Rick started, stepping aside to allow the physician a better look at Ardeth’s injuries. “I’m not real clear on that myself, Doc.  I know he’s got a shoulder wound, went all the way through – from a broadsword.”

 

Peeling the blood-soaked towels away from the shoulder wound, the physician raised an eyebrow at the mention of the broadsword.   He didn’t get many sword wounds, even with the O’Connells. 

 

“And another stab wound, don’t know how deep,” Rick added, nodding toward Alex.  The physician briefly glanced over to see the child keeping pressure on the other wound, before rolling Ardeth’s shoulder over enough to get a peek at his back.

 

“He hit his head, too,” Evy added, remembering the ‘smack’ she’d heard. Squirming past the physician, she set the basin of water on the stand next to the bed.  The Doc let Ardeth’s shoulder roll back onto the bed as he shuffled out of her way.  

 

“Rick.  Alex.  Doctor,” Jonathan greeted, entering the room behind Evy.  The blood-soaked towels immediately caught his attention, and Jonathan swallowed hard.  “Here.”

 

Rick had to lunge for the fresh towels, barely catching them before they hit the floor.  Shaking his head, he smirked as he watched his brother-in-law flee from the room.  

 

“He been conscious at all?” the physician asked.  Ignoring Jonathan’s brief appearance, he frowned at the additional piece of information Evy’d provided.  Checking Ardeth’s pupils, he saw signs of a concussion.  

 

“In and out.  Seems pretty coherent when he awake,” Rick responded, and the physician’s frown lessened a bit.

 

Taking a deep breath, he pondered silently for a moment.  Letting his breath out in a long sigh, the Doc locked eyes with Rick.  “You realize your guest should be in a hospital?”

 

Rick broke the eye contact and shrugged slightly.  “Just do what you can, Doc.” 

 

The physician nodded, grimly, and refocused his attention on Ardeth. 

 

“Rick,” Evy whispered to her husband, as the physician fell silent.  “I need to talk to Jonathan.  Can you manage without me?”

 

Rick nodded, pleased that Evy was excusing herself.  Having no idea what had happened between her and Ardeth, he preferred putting some distance between the two until he figured it out.   

 

“Well, Alex, what do you say we get to work,” the physician quipped, as he nodded to acknowledge Evy’s departure.  He smiled reassuringly at Alex, who returned a half-smile in response and moved out of the way so the Doc could roll Ardeth onto his side.

 

The shift increased the pressure on the abdominal injury, and Ardeth moaned softly.  Tensing, he grasped at the bedsheet, reflexively planting his uninjured shoulder and elbow against the bed to resist further movement. 

 

The physician sighed.  He’d gotten him over enough to work on the injury, but wasn’t certain how long he’d stay in the position.   Briefly, the Doc considered giving his patient something for the pain, which would conveniently relax him, as well, but he vaguely recalled some sort of Arab prohibition against intoxicants.  Not sure if the pain medication would be considered an intoxicant or not, he decided he’d better not use it without permission.

 

“Rick, I’ll need you to hold him for me.”

 

Rick nodded.  He was still considering the best angle to go at it when Alex scooted over and rose up on his knees enough to take hold of the Medjai’s shoulder, holding it steady for the Doc. 

 

“I’ve got him, Dad.”

 

Rick exchanged glances with the physician, then shrugged his shoulders and positioned himself to lend a hand if needed - which it was.  The Medjai immediately reacted as the wound was probed.  Even unconscious and in a weakened state, Ardeth was a lot to handle as he struggled to escape the physician’s touch.

 

Alex glanced down at Ardeth’s face as the warrior’s feverish mumbling grew more agitated. To keep from focusing on his pain-contorted expression, Alex studied the tattoos decorating the Medjai’s forehead and whispered soothingly, until Ardeth abruptly stopped struggling and fell silent.   Letting out a relieved sigh, Alex closed his eyes for a moment and didn’t notice as Ardeth’s eyes briefly flittered open.

 

oOoOoOo

 

“All right, Evy, let me have it,” Jonathan prompted, as she finished guiding him into her bedroom and closed the door.  Unsure of how to begin, Evy turned and studied her brother. 

 

“Evy!” 

 

“Yes, yes…I’m getting there, Jonathan.  Let me see…where to begin?”  

 

Jonathan found himself tempted to strangle his sister as Evy paused to gather her thoughts.  He was just about to prod her along when she took a deep breath and spoke.

 

“Mother and Father were murdered by the Medjai!”  Evy blurted out, having realized there was really no easing into it.  She steeled herself for her brother’s reaction, but it surprised, more than a little, when it came.

 

Dumfounded, Jonathan stared as his sister for a good minute before bursting out in laughter.  “Don’t be ridiculous, Evy.”

 

As her face wrinkled with confusion, Jonathan realized she was serious and tried to stifle his laughter.

 

“I don’t know where you got that idea, but I can tell you with certainty that no one murdered Father and Zarina.”

 

“But…but…I…,”

 

“They died in a car accident, Evy.  They were driving to some oasis in search of some fabled tribe and were caught in a storm.  Father crashed the car, and they died.   That’s all there is to it.”

 

“You’re absolutely certain?”  Evy asked, warily.

 

“Yes, old mum, absolutely!” 

 

“Oh, Jonathan!”  The color suddenly drained from Evy.   

 

“Evy?!  What is it!”  Jonathan asked, alarmed by his sister’s reaction. 

 

“Evelyn?!”  he shouted, when she failed to respond.

 

“Jonathan…I…I can’t explain now.  Please….I need to think….need to be alone.”

 

“Yes, of course.  I’ll just….uh….I’ll just see if Rick needs as hand,”  Jonathan offered and nervously backed out of the room. 

oOoOoOo

 

Ardeth forced himself to remain still as the felt the physician's needle prick his flesh.   He couldn't keep himself from tensing, however.  Keeping his eyes closed, he focused on breathing. 

 

Although relieved when Ardeth stopped squirming shortly after the Doc began stitching him up, Rick continued to restrain the Medjai, just in case.  As the physician finished up, he let go of Ardeth's arm, straightened up and stretched his aching back. 

 

Ardeth released a long, soft sigh as he realized the physician was finished.   Enjoying the brief lessening of pain, he was caught unprepared when the physician rinsed the freshly completed handy-work.  His eyes flying open, Ardeth hissed as the alcohol seeped between the stitches. 

 

"Dad?!" 

 

Rick looked up at Alex and saw a look of alarm on his son's face.  He was about to ask what was wrong when Ardeth flexed against the latest abuse.  Caught off guard, he barely managed to grab the Medjai.  "Whoa, buddy, easy...,"

 

"All right, then.  Finished there, let's have a look at the other side," the physician commented.  Alex and Rick released their hold on Ardeth as the Doc gently eased the Medjai down onto his back and immediately turned to rinse his supplies.  Turning back, he flinched as he found himself captured in the intense gaze of his patient.

 

"I was about to tell you....Ardeth's awake," Alex announced, before anyone else could speak.   

 

"Oh!  H...hello...uh...I mean...all lawn," the Doc stammered, squirming a little as Ardeth continued to glare at him.  Rick raised an eyebrow at the physician's poor attempt at Arabic.  "Ardeth, is it?  I'm Doctor Hamilton...um...the O'Connell's physician.  Um...easy yak?"  ("I mean hello."  "Um...how are you?")

 

Rick grimaced as the physician made another attempt at Arabic, but it earned a weak sort of half smile from Ardeth and his glare softened.

 

"I have been better, Doctor."   

 

"Oh, excellent!  You speak English.  Excellent!  I'm not sure I could manage much more Arabic," the physician exclaimed, relieved.

 

"And I am not sure I could survive it if you tried," Ardeth replied, earnestly.  

 

"Oh...I...I...," Dr. Hamilton stammered, fearing he'd offended him.  Unsure of what to do, he glanced up at Rick, who was valiantly attempting, but miserably failing, to stifle a chuckle.   The physician grinned, sheepishly, as he realized Ardeth was teasing him.  Glancing back toward the patient, he saw him blink wearily and grew serious again.  "Ardeth?  It is all right if I call you that?"

 

"It is fine," Ardeth indicated, with a small, tired nod. 

 

"I would like to give you something for the pain before continuing, if it would be all right." 

 

Ardeth closed his eyes and, for a moment, Dr. Hamilton assumed he'd lost consciousness again.  The physician sighed.   His patient was visibly exhausted, but he doubted he'd get any real rest without at least some relief from the pain.

 

"What drug do you wish to use," Ardeth inquired, the strain of the continued conversation apparent in his voice. 

 

Dr. Hamilton started as his patient abruptly opened his eyes and fixed his intense gaze on him.  "I have..uh...laud...oh, no, that one won't do.  Well, there's one called morphine.  It...."

 

Cutting the physician off, Ardeth frowned, shaking his head carefully.   He'd heard of this drug.   It would make him unable to think, even more so than the pain.  He could not allow that.    

 

"All right, well...I can give you some aspirin.  It's not as strong, but it should help."

 

Ardeth studied the physician for a moment before answering. Dr. Hamilton was clearly uncomfortable continuing without at least believing he'd provided Ardeth some relief from the pain. 

 

"That would be fine."

 

"Excellent!"  Dr. Hamilton exclaimed, sounding very relieved.  "All right, then, Rick, would you mind fetching...."

 

"Fetching what?  I'll get it," Jonathan offered, startling everyone as he unexpectedly barged through the doorway. 

 

Flinching with the others, Ardeth gasped softly, the sudden movement pulling on his injuries.  Feeling the quick intake of breath, Alex glanced at the warrior and frowned at the grimace of pain in the Medjai's face. 

 

"Sorry, old chap," Jonathan offered.  Seeing Alex glance down, he'd followed his nephew's gaze to Ardeth's pain-filled expression.  Although Jonathan wasn't certain, he had the feeling he'd somehow contributed to it.

 

Ardeth intended to reply, but it came at as long sigh instead.   Before he could make another attempt, Alex shifted on the bed, barely brushing against his ribs.   The slight touch was enough to send fresh waves of pain radiating out from the ribs no one had yet noticed were broken.  Biting his lip, Ardeth gripped the bedcovers, trying to hide his reaction, but failing as his back reflexively arched ever so slightly.

 

"Water, Jonathan."  Dr. Hamilton requested, noticing Ardeth's increased discomfort.  A look of bewilderment spread across Jonathan's face.  "I was asking Rick to fetch a glass of water."

 

"Oh...oh, yes, of course.  Won't be a moment," Jonathan responded, dashing out the door.

 

"Sorry, Ardeth, I didn't mean to...,"  Alex began, tearfully.

 

"Do...not...trou..ble...your...self, young...O Con...nell,"  Ardeth gasped out, attempting a reassuring smile, but only managing a weary grimace.  Not certain he'd manage better with a second attempt, the Medjai took the child's hand instead and gave it a comforting squeeze.  He was pleased when Alex responded with a slight, trembling smile.  

 

"Hmmm...what have we here, now," Dr. Hamilton muttered to himself, absently.  Reaching over to examine Ardeth's ribs, he realized he'd been so flustered that he'd failed to do so earlier.   As he mentally chastised himself, the physician found relief in remembering that he had, at least, thought to check Ardeth's breathing and for signs of internal bleeding, before starting on the wounds. 

 

Grasping what the physician was about to do, Ardeth tensed and closed his eyes.   He attempted to steel himself as he felt the physician touch creep down his ribcage.  Despite the effort, Ardeth wasn't quite able to stifle a clipped moan as the physician's hand slid lightly across the broken ribs. 

 

"Um-hmm," Dr. Hamilton mumbled, making a mental note of each broken rib.

 

Rick frowned when Ardeth's grip tightened around his son's hand.  As Alex winced, he took a stepped closer to the bed, ready to intervene if necessary. 

 

"It's all right, dad.  He's not really hurting me," Alex whispered, seeing the concern on his father's face. 

 

Hearing the words, Ardeth realized what he was doing and immediately released the child's hand.  Opening his eyes, he glanced apologetically at Alex and then Rick. 

 

"Don't worry about it, buddy.  No harm done," Rick responded.

 

"Yeah, Ardeth, it's all right.  You can keep holding my hand if its helps," Alex offered. 

 

Ardeth did manage a weak smile this time and nodded appreciatively, but didn't take hold of the child's hand again.   Hearing Jonathan approaching, Ardeth nearly sighed.   Whatever relief the aspirin brought, he would welcome it.   

 

"Here you are," Jonathan announced, as he entered the room. 

 

"Yes, thank you, Jonathan," Dr. Hamilton acknowledged, reaching into his bag for the aspirin, before taking the glass.  "Rick, could you lend me hand here."

 

"Yeah, sure, Doc," he replied, shifting around to help Ardeth rise up enough to drink.   The Medjai grimaced as he choked down the chalky pills.  Rick wasn't sure if it was from the pain of moving or the taste of the medicine. 

 

"Shukran," the Medjai muttered.  Exhausted, he closed his eyes, again, and prepared himself for the physician's continued ministrations. 

 

Jonathan hovered in the background, watching as Dr. Hamilton prepared to get back to work.  However, both the physician and Rick seemed oblivious to his continued presence, so he decided to excuse himself before the real unpleasantness began.  Slipping out the door, Jonathan headed to his room to pour himself a stiff drink. 

 

"Rick."

 

Dr. Hamilton uttered only the single word, but it was enough to cause Ardeth to tense in anticipation.   He flinched, feeling sudden pressure on his chest as Rick's hands pinned him against the bed.  Ardeth focused on not squirming as the physician quickly probed the wound.  As he felt the first prick of the physician's needle, he switched his focus to keeping his breaths slow and even.  With each successive stitch, Ardeth increasingly noticed that the aspirin was indeed easing the pain, if only slightly, and he found himself teetering on the edge of sleep.

  

oOoOoOo

 

Evy continued to pace her bedroom, replaying the past few hours.   As the events were happening, she'd been in such a fog that it had seemed like a dream...a nightmare.   But Evy found that each time she reviewed the memory, the details became clearer.  Ardeth's eyes seemed to have etched into her mind - the concern in them as he approached her, concern for her, his friend - the disbelief as she thrust the dagger into him - the bewildered amazement as she just stood there and let him bleed...bleed...   Evy unconsciously stared at her hand, remembering his blood gushing onto it, and a shudder ran down her spine. 

 

Coming to a stand still, Evy closed her eyes, letting her hand drop to her side.   Taking a deep breath, she held it for a minute, before releasing it slowly and opening her eyes.   Her gaze landed on the journal, still lying where she'd dropped it.  As Evy moved to retrieve it, she recalled the words she'd read.  Their meaning had seemed so certain.   It didn't seem possible that she'd gotten it wrong, but she must have.  The journal had to be wrong, or Jonathan was wrong - but he, also, had seemed certain. 

 

Forcing herself to calm down enough to sit on the bed, Evy opened the journal near, she thought, the same page.  She'd intended to skim until she found the passage she'd read earlier, but the words on the page in front her immediately captured her attention.

 

"A messenger has come to inform me that my fellow Medjai discovered the Carnahans, abandoned far from Hamunaptra, terribly ill with fever.  Knowing they are dear to me, my brother had them brought back to his camp and asks me to come with a vehicle to fetch them.  The message arrived too late for me to depart immediately.  I will have to wait until dawn.  So again, I find myself waiting and praying to Allah for his mercy." 

 

Evy's heart nearly stopped.  The Medjai had not murdered her parents; they had rescued them.  Nausea tickled her stomach as the words sank in, and she closed her eyes. Taking several deep breaths, Evy forced herself to calm down.   It was only one paragraph; she couldn't be certain which words to believe until she'd read more.  Opening her eyes, she returned to the journal.  Her brow wrinkled as she noticed the next passage was dated nearly a week after the one she'd just read. 

 

"The fever continues to spread through my people like a raging sandstorm.  I pray constantly to Allah for his mercy, but I am not certain he hears.  Nearly half of the camp is sick with the fever, and it seems every hour brings word of another fallen ill.  The people are frightened.  They seek words of comfort and guidance, but their leader, my brother, lies desperately ill with the fever, along with his wife, his eldest daughters, and the two youngest children. The people blame the outsiders and I fear for the Carnahans, but they are still to ill to return to Cairo on their own and I am reluctant to leave my family to take them.  Praise be to Allah that Ardeth has not yet fallen ill.  He has only barely reached manhood, but despite his tender years, it is his calm words of reason that keep the people from turning on my friends.   I do not know how it is that he is able to so adeptly hide the fear I see in him as he sits by his father's bedside, but hide it he does.  The people see only his steadiness.  I dread to think of what will happen should he fall ill." 

 

The sick feeling in Evy's stomach grew in intensity and her heart raced. Ardeth had protected her parents...and she'd nearly killed him.  Shutting her eyes, Evy took several deep breaths and tried to clam down.  As she opened them again, she decided to check on Ardeth. Without consciously thinking about it, Evy dog-eared the page as she closed the journal and set it on the nightstand.

 

oOoOoOo

 

As Dr. Hamilton rinsed his completed stitches, Ardeth stirred and his eyes flickered opened briefly.

 

"Shhh...he's almost done, Ardeth.  Go back to sleep," Alex whispered, bringing the Medjai's weak gaze his direction. 

 

As his heavy eyelids slipped shut again, Ardeth smiled at Alex.   He was too tired to say anything, or even force his eyes to open again.  So he just lay quietly, hoping he would fall back to sleep soon. 

 

"How is he doing?"  He heard Evy ask from what seemed to be very far away.  

 

"He's hanging in there, Evy.  Doc's almost done," Rick responded, frowning as he glanced up at his wife hovering in the doorway.  She seemed no less upset than she'd been earlier, except...it seemed different somehow. 

 

"He's going to be all right?"  Evy asked, directing her gaze toward the Doc.

 

"He seems like a strong chap and none of his vital organs were damaged, so I expect he'll recover well enough, Evelyn, as long as there's no fever," he reassured. 

 

"Anything you need?"  Evy glanced first at Rick, then at Alex.  Her son was intently focused on Ardeth and didn't look up.  Evy let her gaze drift down to Ardeth.   She found herself unable to look away from his still, pale form as, once again, the image of his blood gushing onto her hand flashed into her mind.   

 

"I think we have it covered, Evy," Rick replied softly, shifting to block her view of Ardeth.   Shaking herself free from the image, Evy sighed, softly, and gave her husband a quick nod, before excusing herself. 

 

Expecting to hear Evy respond, Ardeth flinched as he felt Rick's hands press down on him, instead.  "Sorry," he heard Rick say, but Ardeth was too distracted to reply.   Focused on Evy, what had happened and what must come next, he was almost too distracted to notice as the physician set to work on the abdominal wound. 

 

As, Dr. Hamilton gently peeled away the towels Alex had dutifully continued to press against the wound, he frowned at what he saw.  The sword had gone through Ardeth's shoulder quickly, leaving clean edges that were relatively simple to stitch.  However, the abdominal wound was jagged, as though the blade had been twisted, and the damaged tissue was much more inflamed than with the other wound.  The Doc shook his head knowing the aspirin wasn't going to do much to dull the pain he was about to inflict.    

 

Although he kept his eyes closed, Ardeth came fully awake as the physician prodded the wound.  His exhausted body didn't have the strength to struggle against the pressure Rick was exerting, but his hands desperately clenched the bedding.  Biting his lip, Ardeth fought to suppress the moan rising up in his throat.  

 

"Shhh....almost done....almost done," Alex chanted, seeing the Medjai's agonized expression.  He'd moved up toward Ardeth's head to get out of the physician way.  Curling up, he lay down next to the warrior and closed his eyes as he continued to whisper soothingly.

 

Ardeth was relieved to finally feel the poke of the needle as the physician began stitching the wound.  He knew that meant the man really was nearly finished. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

It startled Evy to find herself back in her room.  She'd intended to put on some tea....or had she?  Despite the voice in her head that screamed she would regret it, Evy knew she had to know the rest.  Sitting back down on the bed, she was relieved to see she'd marked the page.  Trembling, she opened the journal and began the next passage, dated several days after the previous passage.

 

"At Ardeth's insistence, I return with my friends to Cairo.  It is with a heavy heart I agreed to do this.  I know he fears for their safety, but I fear what may happen while I am away."

 

Evy breathed a sign of relief as she reached the end of the page.  The author had returned to Cairo, end of story.  Flipping to the next page to be certain, Evy glanced at the first few sentences and her heart sunk, it wasn't over after all.  Momentarily reconsidering reading further, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself.  Opening them again, she began to read.

 

"My friends have been left in the care of others and I have returned from Cairo.  Now I understand the reason for my nephew's insistence that my friends leave, for he has fallen ill with the fever.  It is certain that he was already ill when I departed, but he kept it hidden, as he has kept his fear hidden. The loss of his steady strength weighs so heavily upon our people that I knew he was ill long before anyone could break the news to me.  Again, I wonder if Allah listens to our prayers.

 

Shortly before dawn, my brother's wife found her place in Paradise.  I cannot find the words to describe the pain it causes me to not to have been here.  But praise be to Allah for the mercy he granted her, for he allowed her to pass from this existence into the next without the pain of little Bashiyra's passing.  The sweet child followed her mother just an hour ago.

 

Perhaps, afterall, it was with merciful intent that Allah allowed Ardeth to fall ill.  My nephew doted on his youngest sister as though she were the center of all creation. It is surely merciful that fever and delirium have spared him, at least for the moment, from the pain of these losses."

 

The tears welled in Evy's eyes, blurring the words.   Determined to finish reading the section, she attempted to blink them away, sending the tears spilling onto her cheeks.  Resigned, Evy laid the journal face down on the bed, rose and shakily made her way to the washroom.  Dampening a cloth, she swiped it across her face, before pausing to take several deep breaths.  Leaning against the wall, several minutes passed before she felt steady enough to make her way back to the bed.   Sitting back down, she took one more deep breath before picking up the journal and continuing the saga.

 

"Sweet Amal passed from out midst as the morning sun rose.  But even as I mourn by beautiful niece, I endeavor to remind myself that Allah has not yet abandoned us. Mercifully, even as Ardeth's fever continues to rise, my poor brother's fever diminishes, providing hope to our people.  I am not so certain that Dabir see the mercy of this, however, as he grieves the loss of his beloved wife and cherished daughters.

 

I cannot fault my brother's despair.  The situation within his household does not improve.  Little Nameer continues to grow weaker.  I do not expect that he will survive the night. 

 

Fathi has bravely sat by his younger brother's side for many days, refusing to give up hope. Indeed, I believe it is he that will be most affected by Nameer's passing.  As I write, he also helps tend to his father and Ardeth.  He puts on a brave face for his father, but I see fear in his eyes when he tends to Ardeth.  I know he doubts his ability to fill his elder brother's shoes should Ardeth not recover.  Ordinarily, I know he would have shared his uncertainty with Nameer, but instead he must face the imminent loss of his younger brother."    

 

Evy felt fresh tears roll down her cheeks, but she was too drained to wash them away again. Closing the journal, she intentionally dog-eared the page, not bothering to even pretend that she wouldn't read more.  She knew with certainty that she would - but it would wait.  All she wanted to do for the moment was close her eyes.   Setting the journal on the nightstands, Evy rolled onto her side and fell asleep.

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Easy, Ardeth.  Let us do the work," Rick stressed, as he and Dr. Hamilton helped the Medjai sit up.  

 

Biting his lip against the pain, Ardeth let his head droop wearily.  Too weak and exhausted to continue to exert effort, he allowed Rick to completely support him while the physician bandaged the broken ribs.

 

"There we are!  All finished," Dr. Hamilton announced, causing Ardeth to jerk awake.  The physician frowned apologetically.  He hadn't realized that his patient had dozed off.  As he and Rick eased Ardeth back onto the bed, he muttered a quick, but sincere, "sorry 'bout that."

 

Ardeth managed a little smile for the physician before letting his heavy eyelids close.   

 

"You are finished?  I may sleep now?  You will go?"  Ardeth mumbled in a tired whisper. He hoped he'd made sense, too weary to be certain of his English. 

 

"Yes, my boy, I'll go.  You may sleep now," Dr. Hamilton responded, gently, giving him a sympathetic smile. He couldn't really blame Ardeth for wishing him away and didn't take any offense. 

 

"Yeah, Ardeth, I'll just get Alex and we'll get out of your hair for a while," Rick added, getting ready to pick up his sleeping son.

 

"No. That is all right.  Let him sleep," Ardeth mumbled.  As he desperately wanted nothing more than to be allowed to sleep undisturbed, it seemed a shame to wake the child.

 

"Okay," Rick responded, hesitantly, wrinkling his brow and shooting Dr. Hamilton a look.  The physician just shrugged.  "Well...wake him up and have him come get me if you need anything.  All right?"

 

Ardeth nodded, very slightly.

 

"All right, off to sleep then," Dr. Hamilton ordered, compassionately.

 

"Shukran, tabeeb," Ardeth mumbled as he fell asleep. 

 

The physician glanced at Rick.  He was reasonable sure of what had been said, but not positive.

 

"He said 'thank you, doctor.'"

 

Dr. Hamilton smiled, but didn't bother with a reply.  He wasn't really certain whether the thank you was intended for the medical care...or just for letting him sleep.   Quickly gathering his things while Rick cleaned up the mess, he paused to lay a blanket across his patient before allowing Rick to escort him out of the room. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Will you be staying the night, Doc?" Rick inquired, as the two men made their way downstairs and into the kitchen.  Grabbing a kettle, he put some water on to boil. 

 

"No.  The wife's expecting me home for dinner."

 

Rick frowned as he glanced at his watch and was surprised to see that it was still fairly early in the evening.   The past few hours had so thoroughly worn him out, he'd assumed it was very late.   

 

"There's really not much more I can do for your guest at the moment anyway," Dr. Hamilton continued.  "What he needs most is rest.  If he does wake up, I have no doubt he could use more aspirin and do try to get as much water into him as possible over the next few days."

 

Rick's eyebrow went up.

 

"Don't worry.  I'll be back bright and earlier in the morning to look in on him," Dr. Hamilton added, stifling a chuckle, as he realized Rick had taken the 'next few days' to mean he didn't intend to return. Growing serious again, he continued, "Ring me immediately if his temperature rises, regardless of the hour."

 

"Thanks, Doc," Rick responded, with a quick nod, and poured the physician a cup of tea before collapsing wearily into a nearby chair. 

 

Watching Rick doze off as he finished the tea, Dr. Hamilton briefly wondered if he should wake him.   With a soft, sympathetic chuckle, he decided not to, knowing Rick wasn't the sort to stand on ceremony anyway.  Gathering his things, Dr. Hamilton showed himself quietly to the door.  

 

oOoOoOo

 

Bewildered, Evy glanced around the camp searching for something familiar.  She smiled warmly when she saw Ardeth emerging from one of the tents.  It turned into a puzzled frown as he spotted her and tossed her a quick, angry glare, before retreating back inside the tent. 

 

"Ardeth?"  She shouted after him, taking several steps forward. 

 

Evy froze as he emerged, again, this time carrying something in his arms.  The anger in his face had been replaced by anguish, and Evy thought her heart would break as he pleadingly looked into her eyes.

 

"Leyh, sadiqi?"   ("Why, my friend?")

 

"Leyh?" she echoed, confused.  "Ardeth wha...."

 

Evy's eyes fell on the beautiful little girl he held in his arms.   At first, she only noticed the strong resemblance the child bore to Ardeth.  It took several seconds for Evy to register how limply she hung in his arms.  Taking a half-step closer, she studied the child more closely, gasped and stepped back again as she realized the beautiful little girl was dead.

 

"Leyh?"  Ardeth repeated, his voice laced with despair.

 

"Ardeth?!  Wha..." Evy's question faded as Ardeth turned to look behind him, shifting enough for her to see, as well.  Evy began to tremble.  All of the tents had vanished.  In their place, she saw men and women hovering over limp body after limp body.    Spinning around, Evy found that bodies now surrounded her on every side.  The sound of wailing assaulted her ears as she turned back toward Ardeth.  

 

"Ardeth, please, tell me wha..."

 

Turning to face her again, Ardeth interrupted, this time in English.  

 

"Why, my friend?  Why did you do this?" 

 

Evy was about to protest having done anything when she noticed the look in Ardeth's eyes had changed to bewildered amazement.  As he glanced down, she followed his gaze and quickly realized that he no longer held the child.  The little girl was forgotten, however, when Evy saw the dagger in her hand.  Stunned, she cringed when it twisted as she pulled it from Ardeth's flesh, sending fresh warm blood gushing onto her hand. 

 

"Why?" 

 

She heard him repeat, again, and looked up just in time to lock onto his eyes before hands grabbed him.  Evy lunged for him, desperately, and managed to grasp his hand, but the hands pulling him down into the underworld were too strong, and she lost her grip.  

 

"Why, my friend, why?" 

 

The question echoed through Evy's mind as she jolted awake, gasping for air.   Running a trembling hand through her hair, she tried to calm down and remember where she was, but couldn't stop shaking enough to think.  Closing her eyes, Evy took several deep breaths.  Feeling steadier, she opened her eyes again and realized she was in her bedroom.    As Evy swung her legs around and sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fell on the journal and the events of the day came flooding back.  Ardeth!   She grabbed the book and rose, unsteadily, from the bed.

 

Creeping silently into the guest room, Evy approached the bed.   She reached toward Ardeth, tempted to brush a stray lock of hair from his face, but stopped herself, afraid it might wake him.  Pulling her hand back, Evy glanced over at her sleeping son.   She smiled affectionately, then wearily trudged over to an overstuffed chair in the corner, curled up comfortably, and fell asleep.

 

oOoOoOo

 

Rick woke with a start.  Disoriented, his eyes darted around the room for several seconds, before he registered it was the kitchen.   Relaxing back into the chair, his eyes slowly closed while he pondered why he would be sleeping in the kitchen.  Jerking awake, again, Rick groaned as he remembered, and he forced himself to his feet.  

 

He knew he should check on Ardeth...and Alex...and Evy.  Pausing to stretch his stiff muscles, Rick wondered who to check on first.  Yawning, he settled on Alex and Ardeth - as he wanted to have a long talk with Evy, it seemed better to save her for last.  Slowly lugging himself up the stairs, Rick headed toward the guest room.

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Nooooooo!"  

 

The sound of Evy's panicked shout brought Ardeth awake with a painful jerk.  Trying to bite back a groan, he shoved himself up on one elbow to search for the voice.  Evy's thrashing immediately caught his attention. 

 

"Evelyn!"  he croaked, weakly.  She failed to respond, and Ardeth didn't waste breath trying again.   Forcing his reluctant body to comply, he pulled himself out of bed and took a step before he realized he was half-naked and hesitated.  Seeing his bloodstained robe tossed across the foot of the bed, Ardeth grabbed it and eased it on, gritting his teeth against the pain.   Certain he couldn't stay standing long, he didn't bother securing it with the sash before hobbling over to wake Evelyn from her nightmare.

 

"NOOOOOOOO!  ARDETH!  GET AWAY!"  Evy shouted, before suddenly flying out of the chair.  Still imprisoned within her nightmare, she stumbled over her feet as they hit the floor.  Ardeth reflexively lunged forward to catch her.  

 

oOoOoOo

 

The remnant of sleep still fogging Rick's brain quickly cleared as he heard his wife scream.  It seemed to have come from the guest room.  Adrenaline surging through him, Rick raced the rest of the way there.

 

"NOOOOO!  ARDETH!  GET AWAY!"  Evy shouted.  She tried to escape, but hands grabbed her, holding her still while Ardeth came closer...she could feel the dagger in her hand...she knew she was going to stab him....he had to get away from her!

 

Rick flew through the door.  Seeing Ardeth griping his wife tightly as she struggled to escape, he didn't even pause.  Rushing over, Rick grabbed a handful of Ardeth's robe and yanked him around, breaking the weakened Medjai's hold on Evy.  Stumbling backwards as Ardeth's weight shifted, Rick caught himself and threw his own weight forward. 

 

Stunned, Ardeth was helpless to prevent Rick from slamming him against the wall.  Crippling pain flared through his body, shocking the breath from him and forcing the warrior into a desperate struggle to make his reluctant lungs reinflate, despite the intense pain it caused. 

 

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"  Rick hissed in Ardeth's face. He shook the Medjai fiercely when he failed to answer, too angry to register that Ardeth, gasping for air, was incapable of answering.

 

"DAAAAD!"  Alex flew off the bed and lunged for his father's arm.  Tugging on it with all his strength, he tried to pull his father off Ardeth, but Rick didn't notice.

 

Evy'd dropped as the hands in her dream suddenly released her.  The jolt, combined with her son's shout, shook her free from her nightmare.  It took a few seconds to orient herself before she found her son.  Confused, she watched him dart towards Rick.  Her jaw dropped as she registered what was happening, and she rushed toward her husband.

 

"RICK!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" She shouted, wrapping her arms around his chest and pulling him back.  "STOP IT!"

 

Startled, Rick released Ardeth and spun around to gather his wife into his arms.  "Are you all right!  What did he do to you?"

 

"Ardeth didn't do anything!  He was just trying to help!"  Alex wailed, backing away from his parents.

 

Barely conscious, Ardeth collapsed onto the floor in a heap.  Alex was by his side in a heartbeat, soothingly brushing the hair from his ashen forehead.

 

"He's right, Rick.  Ardeth didn't do anything!"  Evy informed her husband.

 

"But I saw him attacking you!"

 

"No!  Ardeth...I mean...I was having a nightmare.  Ardeth must have been trying to wake me!"  She explained.  Rick's stomach twisted as realized he'd jumped to the wrong conclusion.   

 

"DAD!"  Alex's shouted, noticing Ardeth's strangled gasps. Rick and Evy turned toward their son and saw panic on his face.  "Dad, he CAN'T BREATHE!"

 

"Oh god!  His ribs!"  Rick exclaimed, the color draining from his face.  "Slamming him into the wall like that musta...."

 

Rick didn't finish, unable to voice the possibility that he'd made Ardeth's injuries worse.  Glancing at his wife, he could tell she was thinking the same thing - if the force of the impact sent one of Ardeth's broken ribs into a lung....

 

"I'll ring Dr. Hamilton," Evy muttered, pulling away from her husband and fleeing the room.  

 

Rick rushed to Ardeth, swearing a little as he noticed the awkward way his 'good' arm was twisted beneath him.  Pushing the Medjai flat onto his back, he was relieved to see that the arm didn't seem injured.  The shift seemed to help Ardeth breathe and the bluish tinge of his lips began to fade, leaving Rick to wonder if he should try to get him back into bed.  It didn't seem right to leave him there on the cold floor, but he was afraid of doing more damage.

 

"RIIIIIIIIIICK!"  Evy screamed, flying through the doorway.  "He's not there!"

 

"WHAT?!"

 

"He's gone on another call!" Evy said, wringing her hands.  "I left a message with his wife, buy it sounded it might be hours before he gets it."

 

"Oh man...okay...'s gonna be all right," Rick responded, trying to convince himself as much as Evy and Alex.   "Ardeth!  Ardeth, buddy, come on...talk to me.  Tell me you're all right!"

 

Rick gently tapped the Medjai's face, hoping Ardeth would open his eyes, but was startled when he did.  Ardeth immediately flinched away from him.

 

"Whoa!  'S all right.  Nobody's gonna hurt ya."  Any worse than we already have, Rick thought as he tried to soothe his friend.  Even as he said the words, he realized how ridiculous they must sound to Ardeth.

 

"Yeah, shhhh, nobody's going hurt you anymore," Alex added, with an accusatory edge to his tone.  Tossing his parents a quick, angry glare, the child nudged closer to the Medjai, almost managing to position himself between Ardeth and his father. 

 

Ardeth glanced from Rick to Alex before closing his eyes, not wanting the child see his shame.  His thoughts were a fuzzy, but Ardeth was certain Rick's actions had been justified.  He'd meant well, but even his weary brain could imagine what Rick had seen as he'd entered.

 

"Hey!  What's all the commotion!"  Jonathan inquired, abruptly entering the room and startling everyone - including Ardeth, who opened his eyes again, very briefly.  Glancing down at the group huddled on the floor, Jonathan added, "don't you think he'd be more comfortable in bed?"

 

"Very funny, Jonathan," Evy's responded, as both she and Rick glared up at him.  "There was a bit of a...well...oh bother!  Never mind how he ended up on the floor!  He did.  Now, he's having trouble breathing and we're not sure if it will make it worse to move him again!"

 

"Seems to be breathing all right, considering," Jonathan pointed out, ignoring his sister's irritated tone. 

 

"Yeah, he seems to be doing better," Alex admitted. 

 

Rick and Evy studied Ardeth for a few seconds before making eye contact, trying to come to a decision.  His breathing, although obviously still painful, did seem to be better.  Rick shrugged his shoulders, and Evy sighed in agreement.

 

"Jonathan, give me hand, would ya.  Get out of the way, Alex," Rick 'requested'.   Alex reluctantly stepped aside, but continued to hover protectively as they helped the Medjai off the floor.  Ardeth bit back a gasp as Rick moved his injured shoulder.

 

"Sorry," Rick muttered.  Ardeth turned his head enough for Rick to catch the emotion in his eyes as they flickered open.  It was shame.  Rick mentally swore at himself as he grasp that Ardeth believed he'd offended him.      

 

"It is I...that am sorry," Ardeth mumbled, breathlessly.

 

"Don't worry about it, big guy, just a misunderstanding," Rick responded, knowing the words would do little to convince his friend that he'd done nothing wrong.   

 

Ardeth didn't respond.   Pulling away from Rick and Jonathan, he stumbled the remaining step and a half to the bed, eased himself onto it, and closed his eyes without looking at anyone.

 

"Ardeth?"  Evy questioned, approaching the bed.  Rick stopped her, catching her around the shoulders and turning her toward the door. 

 

"I think Ardeth could use some peace and quiet," he stated.  "Jonathan, Alex, you, too.  Let's go."

 

"But, Dad..."

 

"No buts, Alex."

 

Alex could tell by the tone of his father's voice that arguing wouldn't do any good.  Pouting, he reluctantly followed his parents and uncle out of the room. 

 

Hearing the door close softly, Ardeth spontaneously shuddered with relief, the tension draining from his body.   He tried not to immediately fall asleep - he had much to consider - but it was no use.    With his body physically exhausted and the room dark and quiet, he was asleep within minutes. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

 "Rick, shouldn't someone be sitting with him?  What if he needs something?"  Evy asked, pouncing on her husband as he returned to their room after tucking Alex in bed. 

 

"What he needs right now is to be left alone so he can get some rest, Evy." 

 

She stopped pacing and intensely studied her husband.  The tone in his voice gave her the impression she was missing something.

 

"What's wrong, Rick?" 

 

Rick didn't answer.  He wasn't really sure what to say that wouldn't make Evy upset.  Stalling, he stripped out of his clothes.

 

"RICK?!"

 

He glanced up at her with a soft sigh. 

 

"I saw him holding you, Evy."

 

"Yes, so, I told you...he was just trying to wake me," Evy stressed, impatiently.  "You're not really angry with him?"

 

"No. That's not the problem," Rick responded, hoping Evy would figure it out on her own.  

 

"Then what is the....oh!"  she exclaimed, suddenly catching on to the problem.  Ardeth believed that Rick believed he'd manhandled his wife, and was, therefore, disgraced.   Evy sunk onto the bed, a fresh knot of worry tying in her stomach as she wondered what Ardeth would do.  A second later, she jumped back up.   "Nonsense!  He did nothing wrong.  He's just too tired to think clearly.  Once he's feeling better, he'll see it was just a misunderstanding."

 

"Yeah," Rick responded, resignedly.   He doubted it would be that simple, but she was right about Ardeth being too tired to think clearly.   Evy was, too, and he wasn't far from it himself.   Rick let himself hope that the incident really could just be forgotten once they'd all had some rest.

 

"Evy..." Rick began, remembering he still had no idea what had happened between her and Ardeth in the first place.   He saw her tense and briefly considered leaving things alone....but he had to know.  "Honey, I need you tell me what happened."

 

"I have told you!  I was having a nightmare and....,"  Evy responded, nervously.  She knew that wasn't what he was really asking about, but she wasn't sure how to explain what she'd done. 

 

Rick interrupted, keeping his voice calm and gentle.  "No, Evy.  I need you to tell me what happened earlier....how Ardeth ended up at the bottom of the stairs."

 

Evy abruptly moved to the other side of the room to pace.

 

"Evy?" 

 

"I...well...oh, Rick...I was just so angry and Ardeth was there and I had the dagger in my hand and he was bleeding and....and...,"  Evy stammered, continuing to pace. 

 

"Why were you angry?  What happened?  What did he do?  Please, Evy!  I need to know!"  Rick responded.  Standing up, he moved towards his wife with the intention of comforting her, but she shied away. 

 

 "Ardeth...he didn't do anything....I just....he just....and the journal said...," Evy stammered, growing increasing agitated by the second.  "Well, I thought it said...but it didn't....and....and....it's all my fault, Rick!"

 

Rick sighed, realizing that his wife was still much too upset to give him a coherent answer.   Finally managing to catch her in his arms, he held her, firmly, and gently rocked her until the tension in her muscles began to ease, then guided her back to the bed.  Climbing under the covers, Rick waited patiently for Evy to get settled next to him before wrapping her up in his arms again.

 

"Everything's gonna work out, Evy.  You'll see.  It's gonna be fine," he whispered tenderly, as they slowly drifted off to sleep.

 

oOoOoOo

 

Dragging a blanket along behind him, Alex crept silently down the hall towards Ardeth's room.  There'd been no point in arguing with is father, but he had no intention of really leaving the Medjai alone.  Cracking the door just enough to slip through, Alex left it open to allow some light in from the hallway.  Climbing carefully onto the bed, he winced, then, froze, as Ardeth stirred.   Alex breathed a silent sigh as the Medjai settled, and curled up next to him, quickly falling asleep.

 

oOoOoOo

 

Rick bolted upright as the phone rang.   "Hello?"

 

"Rick, who is it?"  Evy croaked, sleepily. 

 

"The Doc," he whispered.

 

"Oh....ooooooh!"  Evy suddenly remembered she hadn't called back to let the physician know everything was all right. 

 

"Yeah, sorry about that, Doc.  Think it may have been a false alarm, but let me go check on him before I let you go."

 

Rick handed the phone to Evy and climbed out of bed.

 

oOoOoOo

 

Ardeth woke with a start as a distant phone rang.   His muscles were stiff, and he started to stretch, sending pain shooting through his body.  Thinking he was alone, he made no attempt to stifle a moan. 

 

"Ardeth?!  What's wrong?!"   Groggy, but alarmed, Alex poked his head up.  Startled by the child's presence, Ardeth flinched.

 

"Shhh," he whispered,  "I am fine." 

 

Alex reached over, placing a hand on the Medjai's arm.  "You're warm."

 

"I am fine," Ardeth repeated, sleepily, closing his eyes.

 

"Ardeth..." Alex began, unconvinced.

 

 "I am fine," Ardeth insisted, wearily.  Not ready to face Rick and Evy, he didn't want Alex fetching them.  "Please, young O'Connell, I want only to sleep."

 

"Ardeth?  You awake?" 

 

The Medjai barely suppressed a frustrated groan as he heard Rick's voice waft in from the hallway.  It turned into a soft hiss as Alex hurriedly scrambled off the bed, joggling the mattress. 

 

"Dad!"  Alex exclaimed, breathlessly, meeting his father at the door.  Worried about Ardeth, he forgot he wasn't supposed to be there.  Rick raised an eyebrow, but decided not to comment.  "Dad, Ardeth's warm!  I think he has a fever!"

 

Rick's brow furrowed as he quickly stepped over to the bed.   Turning on a lamp, he studied Ardeth.   The Medjai was pale, but Rick noticed a slightly flush hue, as well. 

 

"Ardeth?"  The Medjai reluctantly opened his eyes and looked up at him. "How you feeling?" 

 

"I am fine," Ardeth responded, almost pleadingly.  Closing his eyes again, he shifted uncomfortably on the bed. 

 

Concerned, Rick placed a hand on his friend's arm.  He frowned as he felt the heat radiating up through Ardeth's sleeve. 

 

"Sure you are," he responded, skeptically, before turning toward Alex.  "I'll be back, all right."

 

Alex nodded and watched his father leave, before turning back toward Ardeth as he heard the Medjai sigh.    Moving around to the other side of the bed, Alex scrambled back up and knelt beside Ardeth, reaching down to take his hand.  Alex studied the warrior's weary features for a moment, before noticing a small trickle of blood seeping out from beneath the bandage covering the shoulder wound.

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Rick?" Evy questioned, seeing the concern on his face as entered.  He gestured for her to hand him the phone.

 

"Hi, Doc.  Sorry to keep you waiting.  Um...yeah."  Evy anxiously listened to the one-sided conversation.  "No, it doesn't seem to be.  Yeah, all right."

 

"What?!"  Evy demanded, as Rick hung up the phone. 

 

"Ardeth's a little feverish," he explained, trying to sound unconcerned.  "Probably nothing to worry about, but the Doc's gonna stop by to take a look, just to be safe."

 

"F..feverish!"  Evy stammered, suddenly remembering the journal.   Glancing around, she realized she must have left it in Ardeth's room.  Scrambling from the bed, Evy to pace.  

 

Rick frowned as he watched his wife grow increasingly agitated.  "Evy?  What's going on?"

 

"Oh, Rick!  What have I done!"  She wailed in response. "I've given him a fever... just like my parents did!"

 

"Just like...huh?"  Rick responded, bewildered.  Evy stopped, abruptly, and stared at him, her eyes filled with panic.

 

"What if he dies this time, Rick?!  It'll be my fault!" 

 

"Whoa!  Evy, slow down," Rick soothed, as his wife drew closer to hysterics.  "Nobody's dying!  Ardeth's just a little warm.   It's probably nothing, just his body reacting to everything it's been through today.  He's gonna be fine."

 

Obviously unconvinced, Evy turned to leave, causing Rick to sigh.   He knew she going to Ardeth's room and suspected that, whatever his condition, Evy would see it worse than it was.  Doubting his presence would do anything but further agitate her, Rick decided to go downstairs and wait for the physician.  

 

oOoOoOo

 

Evy quietly entered Ardeth's room and saw Alex kneeling on the bed beside him, holding his hand.  The scene made her smile, but it didn't last.  From the doorway, she could see a light sheen of sweat glistening on Ardeth's skin.  She took a couple steps towards the bed, but hesitated when the warrior shifted uncomfortably.  The awkward movement painfully reminded her of how badly she'd hurt him and, suddenly, Evy couldn't bring herself to face him.   Turning away from the bed, she saw the journal lying crumpled on the floor.  Wandering over, she picked it up and made herself comfortable in the over-stuffed chair.

 

Out of the corner of his eye, Alex glimpsed of his mother, but didn't look up.  Part of him wanted to - the same part that wanted to curl up with her in the chair and just let her hold him and tell him everything was all right.  But nothing was all right.  Ardeth was supposed to be one of the good guys...and his parents were good guys.  And good guys weren't supposed to try to kill other good guys.   That wasn't the way it worked.  Frustrated, Alex lay down on the bed and curled up, still clinging to Ardeth's hand. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Evy," Rick whispered, gently caressing his wife's cheek.  He was relieved that she'd fallen asleep, assuming it to be an indication that she'd calmed down.

 

Waking with a start, Evy looked up at her husband and, then, past him to Dr. Hamilton, standing next to the bed.  She let Rick pull her up and walked to the foot of the bed.   Feeling her husband's arms wrap around her, Evy leaned back against him.

 

Dr. Hamilton frowned, noticing the exotic-looking black robe Ardeth was wearing.   It had been lying at the foot of the bed when he'd last seen it.  His patient had to have gotten up to put it on, and that didn't please the physician.    Gingerly slipping a finger beneath a fold, he carefully slid away the fabric partially covering Ardeth's shoulder. 

 

Ardeth's eyes flickered open as he felt a gentle touch.  Looking up, he saw Dr. Hamilton examining his wound with a decidedly unhappy expression fixed upon his face.  Ardeth closed his eyes again, unconsciously letting out a soft, frustrated sigh.   The physician seemed to be a pleasant enough fellow, but the Medjai knew his presence meant more pain and less sleep. 

 

"Doctor.  You have returned to keep me from sleep once more," Ardeth croaked, in a loud whisper.  The sound of his voice woke Alex, who poked his head up to see what was happening and, then, sat up to supervise. 

 

Peeling back the bandage, Dr. Hamilton felt the heat radiating off Ardeth's skin.   His frown increased as got a good look at the wound and saw that several of his carefully-sewn stitches were torn. 

 

"Hmmm...had you only slept while I was away, I wouldn't have had to return," Dr. Hamilton distractedly chastised, still frowning.  Despite his concentration, the physician noticed Ardeth's muscles tensed in response to the rebuke.  

 

"Umm...that was my fault, actually," Evy explained, anxiously.  "I came in to sit with him for a bit, fell asleep, and had a nightmare."

 

Dr. Hamilton wrinkled his brow, wondering what Evy's nightmare had to do with Ardeth's torn stitches. 

 

"She jumped out the chair and stumbled and Ardeth caught her," Alex added. 

 

"Ah, well then, it appears that keeping you from sleep has become a group effort," the physician quipped.  He had a feeling that there was more to the story, but no one seemed particularly eager to share it, and he saw no need to push.  Knowing how the damage had been done would do little to change it.  

 

"Hmmmm....let's have a look, shall we."

 

"If we must," Ardeth replied, weakly, drained by the short conversation. 

 

"Rick, could you...," Dr. Hamilton paused, feeling Ardeth tense, dramatically. 

 

"I can manage, Doctor," his patient stubbornly insisted.  Dr. Hamilton glanced at Rick and saw a sad, sort-of resigned looked his eyes as he shrug in reply.  Returning to Ardeth, the physician skeptically shook his head.  The Medjai's condition had visibly worsened just in the few minutes since his arrival, and the physician doubted he still had the strength to move his little finger, let alone any other part of his body.

 

"All right...well, if you could roll over a little, I'll just take a quick peak at your back." 

 

Ardeth complied, biting his lip against the pressure on his ribs and abdominal wound.   Even with his eyes closed, the shift made his head spin dizzily.  He took a deep breath to settle it, sending a fresh stab of pain shooting out from his throbbing ribs. 

 

Alex shifted out of Ardeth's way, but continued to hold the Medjai's hand.  He frowned as he felt the pressure on his fingers increase a little.

 

"Gonna be all right, Ardeth," he whispered softly, "Doc'll be done in no time and you can go back to sleep.  Promise."

 

"Insha'alla," Ardeth gasped in response.   Still fighting dizziness, he had little attention to spare for Alex, but was still able to appreciate the child's efforts.  ("God willing")

 

The physician pulled the robe away from the wound and noticed that both the garment and the bed sheet were spotted with fresh blood.  Peeling the bandage away, he made a 'tsk, tsk' sound, discovering, much to his dismay, that the damage there was much greater than the few torn stitches on the other side.  Not only had the wound partially reopened, the torn stitches left it jagged and inflamed.  

 

"This will need to be re-stitched," Dr. Hamilton reported, glumly, earning a dejected sigh from Ardeth.   

 

Evy also sighed, and Rick held her tighter, stifling his own remorseful utterance.   That he'd thrown Ardeth against the wall, tearing the stitches, was bad enough, but he knew his wife felt responsible, and that made it weigh even heavier on his conscience.

 

"How long has it been since he last had any aspirin?"  He could tell by the guilty looks on Rick and Evy's faces that the Medjai hadn't been given any since he'd left.  "Hmmmm....well, perhaps now would be an opportune time to do so, and then we'll get started.   All right."

 

Dr. Hamilton handed Alex a couple aspirin tablets and the glass of water still sitting on the nightstand from the last dose. 

 

Opening his eyes, Ardeth painfully pushed himself up on his elbow.  He allowed Alex to help him with the medicine, then, gingerly eased himself back down.  Swallowing hard, Ardeth quickly closed his eyes as his head swam, sickeningly.

 

"We'll give that a few minutes.  While we wait, Evelyn, would you mind fetching me some clean water and fresh towels?"  Dr. Hamilton requested.

 

"I've got it," Rick volunteered, unwrapping himself from Evy. 

 

"You'll need a hand," Evy stated, recalling the last time she'd run this errand.  Catching hold of her husband hand, she followed him out the door. 

 

Exhausted and weak, Ardeth made no attempt to follow what was happening.  Each time he opened his eyes, the world seemed to be spinning more ferociously, so he kept them closed.  Unaware that his fever was rising, he wondered why sounds around him and even the physician's touch were growing dim and fuzzy, like a dream.  

 

oOoOoOo

 

"More trouble?"  Jonathan asked through a yawn, as he stumbled sleepily down the hallway towards Rick and Evy.

 

"No.  The Doc's here to have another look at Ardeth.  Nothing serious," Rick responded.  Jonathan yawned again. 

 

"Need me for anything?"

 

"No, I don't think so.  You might as well go back to bed," Evy informed her brother.   Dr. Hamilton had enough people to stumble over already.

 

Jonathan nodded, gratefully, and spun around to return to his room.

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Here ya go, Doc," Rick announced, in a loud whisper, as he and Evy returned with the water and towels.    Dr. Hamilton acknowledged with a nod, before starting to work. 

 

Ardeth was only vaguely aware of the prick of Dr. Hamilton's needle.  His brain had grown fuzzy enough that, although he was aware of the pain, it seemed as though it belonged to someone else.   He pondered the unique sensation as he lost unconsciousness. 

 

"Rick!"  Dr. Hamilton exclaimed, feeling the tension abruptly leave Ardeth's body.  Shifting quickly, the physician managed to get the needle out of the way as the Medjai's shoulder rolled back onto the bed. 

 

Rick shuffled around to help the Doc roll Ardeth up, again.  Then, with the help of his son, held the Medjai in position while the physician finished. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

Ardeth hissed as Dr. Hamilton's finger brushed against the inflamed abdominal wound.  His head tossed back and forth as he muttered incoherently, but his eyes didn't open and, after a moment, he 'settled' back into his feverous dreams.

 

"Aren't you going to fix it, Doc," Alex asked, concerned as he watched the physician re-bandage the abdominal wound without repairing the torn stitches.

 

"No. The inflammation is preventing significant bleeding.  It'll be better to wait until it's gone down," the physician patiently explained, opting not to add that it was the fever that concerned him most at the moment.   Experience told him it was well over 103 degrees and steadily rising.  "Evelyn, I could do with a cold compress and a basin of ice water."

 

"I'll get it," Rick offered, disentangling himself from Evie and slipping out of the room.

 

"What's that for," Alex inquired, suspiciously.   Dr. Hamilton glanced up at the child, hesitant to answer.   

 

"They're to help bring down the swelling and fever," Evy explained, letting the physician off the hook.

 

"Oh," Alex acknowledged, glumly.  He'd distractedly noticed that Ardeth's fever getting worse, but had still been assuming that it wasn't anything serious.  The look on his mother's face told him otherwise.  A tearful lump formed in his throat, but Alex quickly swallowed it away.

 

"Here ya go, Doc," Rick announced, returning from his errand.  Slipping over to the nightstand, he sat the basin of ice water down and tossed the physician the cold compress.  

 

Dr. Hamilton caught it one-handed and gingerly placed it over the abdominal wound, but found his hand immediately shoved away as Ardeth deliriously reacted to the discomfort of the cold and pressure.   Waiting a minute for him to settle, the physician applied the compress, again.  

 

As before, Ardeth's hand moved toward the pressure, but this time it was stopped.    Using both his hands, Alex held it, whispering soothingly.  The child voice didn't have the calming effect it'd had earlier.   The Medjai grew more agitated, but Alex held firm and, after a few minutes, felt Ardeth stop resisting.  Continuing to hold his hand, as much to soothe himself as the Medjai, Alex curled up next to him and wearily closed his eyes. 

 

Dr. Hamilton left the compress resting on the wound, watching for a second to be certain Ardeth's continued stirring wasn't enough to shift it.   Then, turning toward basin, he soaked several of the remaining towels in the ice water.   Letting them sit, he glanced around the room, looking for a chair he could move closer to the bed.   It was going to be a long night, and he didn't want to have to spend it on his feet. 

 

"Here, Rick, help me scoot this chair over," Evy requested.  Grasping what the physician intended, she twisted away from Rick and moved to the over-stuffed chair.  "I'll tend him, Dr. Hamilton.  We're inconveniencing you enough without depriving you of sleep altogether."

 

"It's considerate of you to offer, Evelyn, but I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you on your own," the physician responded, smiling appreciatively. 

 

'Oh, no, of course not," Evy clarified.  "I didn't mean you should go, but, please, let us fix a guest room for you."

 

"I don't mind...,"  Dr. Hamilton began to decline, but Evy cut him off

 

"I'm too worried to sleep a wink, anyway, Doctor," she insisted, telling herself it wasn't really a fib.  As worried as she was, she knew the day had worn her out enough to sleep anyway.  However, she desperately wanted to read more from the journal.   Evy knew she could simply take it to bed with her, but without the job of tending to Ardeth, she knew she wouldn't be able stay wake for long.   "Please, there's no need for all of us to go without sleep.  You'll be just down the hall, if I need you."

 

"All right, Evelyn.  Since you insist...." Seeing the determination in Evelyn's expression, Dr. Hamilton reluctantly agreed.  "But only if you promise to wake me in a few hours, so I can see where we stand."

 

Evy nodded.   "Rick..."

 

"Right this way, Doc," Rick stated, escorting the physician out the door and to another of their guest rooms.  

 

oOoOoOo

 

"You should get some sleep, too.  I'm all right," Evy whispered, as her husband quietly slipped back into Ardeth's room.   Pausing to replace the damp cloth across Ardeth's forehead with a freshly wetted one, she glanced up at her husband.

 

"You sure?"  Rick asked, skeptically, noticing her drooping eyelids.

 

"I'm sure," she answered.  Rick didn't say anything, but raised an eyebrow.

"I'm fine. Really!"

 

Evy could tell he wasn't buying it.  His posture told her he was contemplating dragging her to bed, despite her protests.

 

"Please, Rick.  Let me do this.  He wouldn't be lying here at all if it weren't for me." 

 

Rick opened his mouth to object, but saw the resolute look in his wife's eyes and realized it wouldn't do any good.  "All right, Evy.  I'll just grab another chair and be right back." 

 

"No!"  Evy blurted.  She wouldn't be able to read from the journal if Rick stayed; it wasn't something she was ready to share with him, yet.   Rick's eyebrow rose, again, and Evy realized she'd alarmed him.  Forcing herself to calm down, she tried to think of something to explain the outburst.  

 

"It's silly for both of us to stay up all night.  Get some sleep and you can relieve me in a couple of hours."

 

Rick frowned, not certain he trusted her to wake him.

 

"I promise I'll wake you when I wake Dr. Hamilton."

 

"All right.  Wake me sooner if you need me," Rick told her, finally relenting.  Even if she were inclined to let him sleep, he figured she would at least wake the physician.   Rick trusted Dr. Hamilton to send her to bed if she looked about to crumple. 

 

Rick kissed her tenderly before heading out the door, and Evy smiled reassuringly, hoping he didn't see how relieved she was that he was going.  Evy patiently waited for him to get all the way out the door, before grabbing another cloth from the basin.  Ardeth stirred slightly as she dribbled the cold water onto his chest.

 

"Shhhh," she whispered, bathing the un-bandaged areas of his chest and shoulders.

 

Finishing up, Evy sighed softly, noting that the heat radiating off Ardeth seemed to have increased since the last time she bathed him.   Refusing to follow that train of thought, she glanced at Alex, still curled up contentedly near the Medjai.   Ordinarily, Evy enjoyed watching her son sleep, but, at that moment, his peaceful little features reminded her too much of the peaceful little features of the dead child Ardeth had held in her nightmare.  Closing her eyes, she shook her head to clear the image from her mind.

 

Evy waited until she'd turned back toward the basin to open her eyes.  Taking a moment to submerge the cloth, she picked the journal up from nightstand and settled comfortably in the chair.  Finding the dog-eared page, Evy flipped the journal open, but paused for moment as Ardeth mumbled a long string of incoherent babble.  She watched him, to see if he was waking up.  When he quieted back down, Evy skimmed the last section she'd read, took a deep calming breath, and continued on:

 

"Nameer has since passed from our midst.  He left us so peacefully, that even as Badi'a prepares his body, is seems as though he might still awaken and greet us with one of his radiant smiles."

 

"Nameer."

 

Startled to hear the name spoken out loud, Evy's mouth hung agape as she glanced towards the voice. 

 

"Na...meer," Ardeth muttered, again, tossing his head.

 

Evy wondered what he was dreaming; surely it couldn't be what she was reading.  The possibility sent a tingle down her spine, and she closed her eyes.  They opened again just in time to see Ardeth's uninjured arm reach out, deliriously seeking....something.  Jumping up as his strength failed and the arm dropped weakly, Evy caught his hand an instant before it struck his injured ribs.  

 

"Shhh, it's all right," she soothed, giving his hand a tender squeeze. 

 

Evy pressed the back of her free hand against the towel across his forehead.  Even though it had only been there a few minutes, the heat radiating up from him had already dissipated its coolness.    Gently setting Ardeth's hand on the bed, she let go, intending to re-soak the towel.  However, before she could move, Ardeth's hand shot up from the mattress and grabbed it.  With more strength than she'd have thought possible, he clung desperately to her.

 

"NAMEER!"  He gasped, loudly, and Evy flinched as his eyes suddenly opened.   With the images from his dream still lingering hazily in brain, Ardeth was surprised to find himself staring into Evelyn's eyes.  Locking his troubled gaze on her, he intently studied her, wondering why she would be at his bedside.  Keeping his eyes open long enough to speak the question seemed too daunting to attempt, so Ardeth settled for a single word, instead.  "Leyh?"

 

The whispered word sent a cold chill through Evy's body.   As Ardeth's eyes closed and his hand dropped onto the bed, she collapsed back into the chair, trembling.  Closing her eyes, Evy took several deep, shaky breaths. It was just a coincidence....had to be.  Taking one more deep breath, she opened her eyes and studied Ardeth.   Of course it was just a coincidence.    Beginning to feel silly for her reaction, Evy rose, unsteadily, from the chair, snatched the cloth off his forehead, and exchanged it for a new one.   Turning back toward the bed, her heart skipped a beat as Ardeth's eyes flickered open again. Outwardly, she forced herself to remain calm. 

 

"Ahlan," she whispered, softly, and smiled, reassuringly.   Grabbing another cloth, she gently bathed his face.  "Keyf il-hehl?"   ("Hi"  "How are you feeling?")

 

Ardeth mustered a slight, weak smile.  As the cloth pleasantly caressed his skin, his heavy eyelids slowly closed again, but he didn't fall asleep.  The sound of Evy's voice reminded him that something important had happened.....but his fuzzy brain couldn't quite grasp the illusive memory.    Deciding that perhaps Evy could tell him, Ardeth forced his eyes open and tried to ask, but the words eluded him.   

 

"Shhh....naiyam,"  Evy whispered, seeing puzzlement, then, frustration on Ardeth's face as he attempted to say something, but failed to get it out.   ("Shhh...go to sleep.")

 

Not ready to give up on the effort, Ardeth's brow furrowed as, again, he tried to speak.  But the fog in his brain had grown thicker, and he could no longer remember what he'd wanted to ask.

 

"Shhh....kifeyah kida.  Naiyam," Evy gently instructed, hoping he would listen.  She found it painful to watch him struggling so hard to speak.   ("Shhh....that's enough.  Go to sleep.")

 

Despite Evy's words, frustration made Ardeth resist.  But even as he tried to force his thoughts to focus, his eyes slowly closed.  Wandering into a dream, Ardeth didn't even realize sleep had won the battle.

 

Evy sighed, relieved, as the tension drained from Ardeth's features.  Dropping the towel in her hand back into the basin, she sank back into the chair and, a little hesitantly, opened the journal. 

 

"As I sat by Ardeth's bedside this morning, I did not think it possible that a fever could burn any hotter within a man without consuming him completely.  Yet with each passing hour, my nephew's fever rises.  It does not seem that there is any strength left in his body.  I see each breath catch in his throat as though he has not the power to force it out, but then, somehow, he does.   I do not know how it is possible that he still lives except that it is by the force of his will.  May it continue to be Allah's as well."  

 

Evy wasn't aware that she'd begun to tremble, but she did feel the tickle of the tears welling in her eyes.  Blinking them away, she took a deep breath and reminded herself that no matter how bad it sounded...Ardeth didn't die.   Almost as if needing to confirm it, she glanced up at him.  He lay still...too still, and Evy held her breath waiting for him to take one.  His chest didn't seem to move at all, and panic flooded her. 

 

"Ardeth?!" 

 

Rising unsteadily from the chair, Evy reached out to touch him.  Her knees nearly buckled with relief as he stirred slightly, muttering something unintelligible, before sighing softly and settling again.    Shaking her head, Evy smiled, feeling a little giddy as the panic left her.   Pausing to place a fresh cloth across his forehead, Evy dropped back into the chair, the fading adrenaline leaving her too weak to ease into it gently.  Shakily picking up the journal, she opened it once more.

 

"Allah be merciful!  Never would I have thought that a day would come that I would pray for my nephew to be released from this world, but it seems cruel to do otherwise.  It is torture to watch each desperately fought for breath leave his body when it seems so impossible that he will manage another. That Ardeth refuses so tenaciously to let go of this life makes its all the more agonizing.  Dabir grieves for his eldest and heir as though he had already passed.  Likewise, Badi'a holds no hope.  She does not grieve, yet, but in her eyes I see acceptance.  Fathi alone still refuses to accept that Ardeth will not live.  However, it is not hope that I see in him, but a desperate fear that at any moment he will find himself to be his father's only son, left alone to carry the full burden his family and his people's future upon his unprepared shoulders.  He sits resolutely at his brother's side as though his will, and not Allah's, will decide Ardeth's fate."

 

Seeing that the remaining space on the page was blank, Evy sighed and gazed up at Ardeth.  Letting her head drop and rest against the high back of the stuffed chair, Evy continued to simply gaze at him, while attempting to convince herself there wasn't any reason to be afraid to turn the page.  Ardeth didn't die.  She had the proof right there in front of her. He DIDN'T die!  She silently repeated over and over again, but it didn't ease feeling of dread knotting her stomach.  As ridiculous as she knew it was, it felt somehow possible that the journal would say that he did....and if she read it, it would somehow become reality, and the Ardeth before her would cease to be.   Evy sighed, again.   Feeling her eyelids droop, she decided that it was just exhaustion making her irrational and allowed her eyelids to close.  She'd just rest for a few minutes...

 

oOoOoOo

 

Jerking awake, Evy was momentarily disoriented and her eyes darted around the room for a few seconds before settling on Ardeth.  Noticing that the damp cloth had slipped from his forehead, she scooted forward enough snatch it up and dunk in the basin.   It wasn't until she turned to place a fresh one that she noticed the blueness of his lips. 

 

"Ardeth?"  She whispered, hesitantly.    There was no response, and Evy found herself placing a hand on his chest.  Was it moving?  She couldn't tell.  Fear sent a wave of adrenaline surging through her, making her head spin, and she closed her eyes.  Beneath her fingers, she felt a sudden movement as she heard a quick, strangled gasp, and her eyes flew open.

 

"Arde...,"  Evy's voice trailed off as she realized she was no longer in the guest room.  Instead, she was in a tent - an enormous one.   

 

Feeling a jerking movement beneath her fingers, she glanced down to see that her hand still rested on Ardeth's chest.  Evy would have been relieved if she hadn't immediately noticed the desperate way he struggled to breath.   Her heart skipped a beat when, after battling to inhale, the breath seemed to catch in his throat, as though he hadn't the strength to expel it.

 

"Ardeth?!"  She gasped, shaking him none to gently.  Her stomach clenched as the breath was finally, painfully, forced out and the struggle to inhale another began.   The battle seemed to drag on for minutes, not the second she knew it had to really be, and Evy started to doubt he was going to manage it at all.  Beginning to tremble, tears welled in her eyes as she grasped what was happening.  Ardeth was dying!  Right there...right before her eyes...he was gasping his last breaths. 

 

"LA!  IMSHEE!"   Evy stumbled as she was angrily shoved away.   Landing on the hard ground, she stared up, stunned, and saw a young man - more of a boy, actually - glaring down at her.  Grief and anger seething from his eyes, Evy didn't need to be told who he was.  ("No!   Get away!")

 

"Fathi?!" 

 

"YOU GET AWAY FROM HIM!"  The boy raged, venomously, not bothering to confirm who he was.  Left momentarily speechless, Evy just stared at him. "YOU DO THIS!  YOU!"

 

She was about to object to the accusation when a low, agonized wail assaulted her ears.  Jumping up, Evy saw a young woman standing behind the boy, staring down at Ardeth, who was blocked from her view.  Suddenly 'Fathi' spun away from her, dropping to his knees beside his brother, and Evy was able to see clearly what was happening.   Ardeth's battle for another breath had been lost.  He lay lifeless, the flush of the remaining heat in his body visibly draining quickly away, leaving behind the ashen pallor of death.  

 

'Nonononononononononono," Evy muttered under her breath, taking a step towards Ardeth.   "He didn't die.  Nononononononono."

 

She froze as she heard Fathi's pained whisper.  "Leyh?"

 

"NONONONOOOO....AAAARDETH!" Evy screamed, jolting awake. 

 

On the bed, Ardeth was startled awake, as well.   "Evelyn?!" 

 

Evy didn't answer, instead she studied him for a moment, unsure whether to trust what her eyes were seeing or not.   Her stomach knotted as she noticed the cloth had slipped off his forehead.   Snatching it up quickly, she felt that it was dry and realized she must have been asleep for a while.  Remorseful tears welled in her eyes; Dr. Hamilton had trusted her to tend to him...and she'd fallen asleep. 

 

Seeing Evy's eyes dampen with tears, Ardeth frowned.  Pausing for a sleepy blink and a breath, he croaked, "Evelyn?  What is wrong?"

 

"Shhh, everything fine," Evy responded, having only vaguely heard him, as she placed a fresh cloth across his forehead.  Distracted by the realization that she should probably have woken the physician a while ago, Evy wasn't as carefully as she might have been and water dripped into Ardeth's eyes, causing them to close.  When he opened them again, she'd left the room.  So, with a sigh, he let his eyelids slip down.

 

"Ardeth, you okay?" Alex whispered, rising up on his knees, after poking his head up and noticing his mother was gone.   

 

"I am fine, young O'Connell," the Medjai answered, sleepily, opening his eyes and peering at the young face hovering over him.   Despite its sleepiness, Ardeth's voice sounded stronger and his eyes seemed less dazed, allowing Alex to smile at the warrior's predictable response. 

 

Ardeth also smiled, but it wasn't just a response to Alex's.   The warrior was pleased that, although he was still weak and tired, the fog in his brain had eased and he could almost think clearly again.  The smiled faded, however, as he remembered the circumstances that had landed him in the O'Connell's guest room.

 

"What the matter?  You need something?"  Alex inquired anxiously, seeing the Medjai frown. 

 

"No, I am fine," Ardeth restated, distractedly.   He realized that time was quickly passing and knew he had to act soon if Evy was to be saved.  However, the Medjai was painfully aware that he was in no condition to do much of anything.   Ardeth sighed and closed his eyes, hoping to fall back to sleep.   Perhaps a few more hours of rest would be enough to get him on his feet.

 

"Are you now?"  Dr. Hamilton asked, rhetorically, entering the room just in time to hear the last couple words.   Startled, Ardeth flinched and opened his eyes, glancing toward the physician.  "Sorry."

 

"Do not concern yourself, Doctor," Ardeth responded, politely, giving the physician a weary smile, despite not being particularly pleased to see him again. 

 

"Well, let's have a look and see if you really are as fine as you say, shall we?"  Dr. Hamilton quipped, returning a sympathic smile.  He was pleased to see that his patient was more coherent than he'd last seen him, but was certain that Ardeth was still far from 'fine'.

 

Ardeth simply nodded slightly, knowing the physician was going to examine him regardless of his wishes.  He closed his eyes as he felt Dr. Hamilton's fingers brush against his flesh.  

 

Moving past the physician to stand at the bottom of the bed, Evy closely scrutinized Dr. Hamilton's expression as he peeled back the bandage covering the shoulder wound.  Relief washed over her when he didn't frown, as he had last time.  

 

"He's doing better?"  She inquired, hopefully, still feeling guilty for having fallen asleep.

 

Dr. Hamilton glanced up long enough to give her a reassuring smile, but didn't really respond.  Having only just begun the examination, he wasn't comfortable commenting.  However, he was pleased to note that, although he was a still warm, the Medjai's temperature seemed to be down a bit.    Deciding he wanted to know exactly where things stood, the physician re-covered the wound and grabbed a thermometer from the medical bag he'd left near the nightstand.

 

"Open."  Ardeth cracked his eyelids enough to see what the physician wanted and then complied.   "That's a good lad.  Now if you could roll over just a bit." 

 

While he waited for the reading, Dr. Hamilton checked the other side of the shoulder wound.   After slowly peeling back the bandage, he was pleased to see that, although there was still some slight swelling, it had diminished from what it had been earlier.  Re-covering the wound, the physician gently helped Ardeth roll back onto the bed and snatched-up the thermometer.   He frowned slightly, noting that it read 102.1 - higher than he would have liked.  

 

After setting the thermometer on the nightstand, Dr. Hamilton moved down to the abdominal wound.  He cringed as Ardeth stifled a moan.  Biting his lip, his patient shifted restlessly in response to his slight touch as he removed the melted ice pack.  Dr. Hamilton better understood the reaction as he peeled back the bandage.   His frown growing, he noted, grimly, that the swelling had increased enough that it threatened to tear the remaining stitches.   The idea of opening the wound back up again to re-clean it didn't appeal to him at all, however, especially with his patient finally showing signs of improvement.  Since the swelling was, at least, preventing continued bleeding, Dr. Hamilton decided to give it until morning before deciding what to do, if anything.

 

Alex frowned in response to the disapproving look on the physician's face.  It was obvious that there was a problem with the wound, but he resisted the temptation to ask.  He didn't want to alarm Ardeth, who'd closed his eyes again and seemed to be dozing.   

 

Evy also frowned, once again, feeling guilty for falling asleep and not putting fresh ice in the compress.  She glanced remorsefully at Dr. Hamilton.  Busy rechecking Ardeth's ribs, he didn't notice. 

 

"Well, I wouldn't really say that you were 'fine', but you're doing better than you were," the physician announced, before checking Ardeth's pupils.  "I suppose, we'll take what we can get and let you sleep."

 

"You keep saying that, Doctor," Ardeth muttered sleepily, giving the physician a skeptical glare.  "But then you come back."

 

"I won't make any promises, but I'll do my best not to bother you again until morning.  All right?" Dr. Hamilton responded. Chuckling, he gave the Medjai a sympathetic pat on the hand.

 

"Shukran, tabeeb," Ardeth's responded, smiling appreciatively, and closed his eyes. 

 

Assuming that the Medjai had fallen back to sleep, Dr. Hamilton glanced over toward Evy and nodded his head towards the door. 

 

"Alex," Evy called out. 

 

"But...,"  Alex protested. 

 

"It would be a good idea to leave someone with him, and since Alex seems to disturb him the least..." Dr. Hamilton suggested, coming to the child's rescue.

 

Evy frowned, pondering the situation for moment before reluctantly nodding her head.  "All right, Alex, but do be careful not to jostle him about, will you.  And come get one of us if he needs anything.  All right?"

 

"Yes, mum," Alex responded, carefully keeping his gaze anywhere but on her. 

 

Frustrated by her son's continued efforts to distance himself from her, Evy sighed.  She was tempted to try to talk to him about it, but decided against it.  There seemed little point in pressing the issue until they were all calmer and better rested.  Turning away from him, Evy stepped toward the physician - unconsciously pausing to snatch the journal out of the chair - and took the arm extended her, allowing herself to be escorted from the room. 

 

"How is he really doing, Doctor?"  Evy asked, anxiously, once they were a few steps from the room.

 

Dr. Hamilton was hesitant to answer her.  He knew Evy needed to get some sleep, and didn't want her too worried to do so.

 

"I mean...he's going to be fine now, right?"  Evy stammered, growing more nervous as the physician remained silent.

 

Dr. Hamilton noticed her increased agitation and realized that his silence was being interpreted badly.  Unfortunately, a truthful response wasn't likely to be comforting, either, since he suspected they'd only been granted a temporary reprieve.  By the looks of the abdominal wound, the physician was certain that the situation was going to get worse, before it was better.   However, he realized it would be harder on Evy if it came as a surprise than if she were prepared for it.    

 

"Well, he's been lucky, thus far, and we can certainly hope that will continue to be the case.  Unfortunately, I suspect the abdominal wound is infected, if so the worst may be yet to come."

 

Evy nodded, her eyes moistening a little.  She'd suspected as much after seeing his face when he'd examined the wound, but had hoped she was wrong.  Still holding onto the physician's arm, Evy gave it an appreciative squeeze, grateful that he was, at least, being upfront with her.

 

"Are you certain it's all right to..." Evy began to ask, concerned about having left Ardeth basically unattended.  Guessing her train of thought, Dr. Hamilton interrupted. 

 

"The more rest he can get, the better, and I truly do think he'll sleep better without us fussing over him."

 

Evy nodded again, and Dr. Hamilton patted her hand supportively. 

 

"Try to get some sleep, Evelyn," he recommended, as they reached his door and she turned towards her own room.  Evy tossed him a smile over her shoulder and continued down the hall. 

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Uhm-nmnn," Rick yawned, as his wife, still a little reluctant, climbed into their bed and snuggled into him.  "How's Ardeth?"

 

"His fever's down," Evy responded, simply.  Everything was still so up in the air, she wasn't really certain what else to tell him. 

 

"There, see.  I told you everything was going to be fine," he replied, wrapping his arms around her and enjoying the intimate moment.

 

Evy didn't respond.  Burying her head deeper into the nape of his neck, she simply clung to him, desperately wanting to believe it would be all right - that she wouldn't end up being responsible for the death of someone they owed so much to....so much more than she could ever voice. 

 

Feeling the tension in Rick's arms loosen as his breathing evened out, Evy realized he'd fallen back to sleep.  Closing her eyes, hoping to follow his example, she felt some of her own tension ooze away.  Lying in the security of her husband's arm, it was almost possible to forget the horrors of the day - of what she'd done - and, gradually, Evy slipped into a light slumber.

 

oOoOoOo

 

"Ardeth, you still awake?"  Alex whispered, after laying quietly in the dark for a few minutes.   

 

"I am," Ardeth replied, drowsily.

 

"Would it be all right if I asked you something?  I mean...I don't want to bother you or anything," Alex returned, hesitantly.

 

"You may ask." 

 

"Who's Nameer?"  Alex asked, propping his head up on his elbow to look at the Medjai. 

 

"Nameer?"   Ardeth questioned, growing a hair more alert as he wondered where the child had heard the name.

 

"Yeah.  You've been calling the name in your sleep," Alex explained.

 

Ardeth didn't respond.  Nameer had haunted his sleep since Ahm Shere.  However, he had spoken of it to no one - not even Badi'a.  To speak of Nameer, was to think of Fathi.  To think of Fathi was to be reminded of the responsibility that Ardeth bore for his death.  Had he recovered the Scorpion King's bracelet before it donned Alex's wrist, there would have been no battle, and Fathi would not had been killed.  His heart weighed heavy with the burden of his failure. 

 

Alex heard the Medjai sigh and wondered if he shouldn't have asked.  "That's all right.  You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

 

"It is all right.  I will tell you," Ardeth finally responded.  Refusing to answer would not alter what was.  "Nameer was my youngest brother."

 

"He died?"  Alex asked, noting the past tense. 

 

"Yes, many years ago," the Medjai answered.   

 

"How'd he die?"  Alex persisted, not really considering that it would be more polite to let the matter drop.

 

"Fever," Ardeth mumbled sleepily.

 

"Oh," Alex commented and fell silent.  Laying still, listening to Ardeth's breathing even out as the Medjai succumbed to sleep, Alex struggled to imagine him with a brother, a mother, a father, and all the other ordinary things of life.   He was still pondering it as he slowly dozed off.