Disclaimer : They are not mine okay I said it now are you happy???

 

Author : Eviefan

 

Summary :  A little adventure for Rick, Evelyn, and Alex.  Some not so nice thieves want the secrets of Hamunaptra, and take Evelyn along with baby Alex  in order to find the secrets.   Will Rick be able to save the day?  Of coarse he will because I don't like sad endings.  So here we go.

 

 

 

Hamunaptra  Again

 

 

Chapter 1 : Taken

 

A few months had passed since Alex's arrival, and Evelyn was back to work at the museum, taking him with her.  He was now 4 months old and smiled, and cooed at she and Rick all the time.  He was finally sleeping six hours a night, as opposed to every three hours, and both parents were glad for that.  Their lives seemed to have come full circle, and they were happy for the way things has settled down into a normal pace.  Today  Evelyn was putting  some other treasures of Hamunaptra on display in the Egyptian section of the museum, while Alex had his nap in her office in his playpen..  She smiled.  Life for all of them was going so well, and she was so thankful that the Museum had wanted her back even if she brought her baby with her, though some days Alex stayed with daddy, but most of the time, since he was nursing, she had him with her.  As she was finishing her work,  a young couple came in looking at the exhibits and she smiled as one of the guides Ahmhad led them around.  Since she was finished, she went back to her office to check on Alex.  Upon her arrival she heard his gurgles and coos and walked over to his playpen.

 

"Did you decide to wake up?"  she asked as she got his burp cloth, and draped it over her shoulder, then lifted him out.  He snuggled against her gumming the burp cloth which meant he was ready for lunch.

 

"All right let mummy close the door so we can have some privacy," Evelyn said, and as she walked to the door Rick arrived with a basket.

 

"Oh, I thought you were going to help Jonathan with his trouble,"  Evelyn said, surprised but pleased to see him.

 

"Taken care of,"  he said, as he set the basket down, and hugged she and Alex who turned to see who was talking to his mum. He gave his dad one if his toothless grins.

 

"Hey there Alex, do you want to go with me and mum on a little picnic."  His response was more toothless grins.

 

"Here you take him, and I'll meet you outside,"  she said as she gently placed Alex into his fathers arms. 

 

"All right lets go get set up for this picnic before she finds something to do,"  he said, cradling Alex in one arm, as he gathered the basket with his free hand, then moved to the back of the museum, out to the little gardens.  He found a shady spot under a tree that was indigenous to Cairo, then set up, putting a blanket down for them to sit on. Once he had spread that out, which took him a bit since he had only one had to use, he sat down with his back to the tree and laid Alex on his lap.

 

"There we go.  Hows a little fresh air with you  daddy?"  Rick asked.  Alex gurgled at him then started to fuss all at once, which meant he wanted his lunch.

 

"Hey shh,"  Rick said, as he lifted Alex to his shoulder.  He rubbed his back, and Alex rubbed his face against his fathers shirt getting more fussy.

 

"Hey hey shh, Mummy's coming,"  He said and sighed relief when Evelyn came out of the museum.  She hurried over to them, and once she had settled down, took him into her arms, and in a moment he was nursing and quiet.

 

"So what wonderful things did you pack for our picnic?"  Evelyn asked, as he began to get things out of the basket.  He took out a container with some potato salid in it, and two sandwiches wrapped in wax paper, handing her one which was her favorite,  tomatoes, cheese and a slice of ham.  She managed to eat one handed while holding Alex with her other hand and arm as he nursed.

 

"So anything new today at the museum?"  he asked.

 

"Not too much, I put out a  new display of treasure from Hamunaptra which always draws in new tourists,"  she said casually.

 

"Evie I really wish you wouldn't display it, I know you donated it to the museum, but I dont think its safe for you to be around there with greedy people lurking about,"  he said, ever the worry wort when it came to her.  She sighed and smiled down at Alex who was watching her as he had his lunch. 

 

"I think your daddy worries too much."   He smilled at her, then closed his eyes.  The rest of lunch was relatively quiet, and once they had finished she helped him pack things up.

 

"So I'll see you at home,"  He said as he kissed her, and their sleeping son, then he left.  Evelyn sighed.  She knew how much he worried about the treasure, but since they had left Hamunaptra more than a year ago, nothing bad had happened, and she was feeling as though that was an isolated incident.

 

"Alright baby, lets get you inside to have a proper nap while mummy sorts through her books,"  she said, and carried him back into her office.

 

 

 

 

 

It was a little before dinner, when Evelyn decided they needed to head home.  Alex was starting to get fussy, and tired, and she was ready to go home, and be with her husband.  Now as she gathered her things, and his, putting them into a satchel,  Alex lay in his playpen starting to cry.

 

"Alex mummy's hurrying," she called out,  as she finished.  She took the baby harness and pulled it over her head then put her right arm through it, letting it rest on her shoulder.

 

"Here I am baby,"  she said, as she lifted him out.  Once she got him settled in the harness, she got their satchel, and was about to turn to leave when something was placed over her nose.  Her eyes grew big and she tried to struggle, but what ever she was smelling was making her very tired.  Soon darkness enveloped her and the fight left her.

 

"What about the baby?"  Thomas asked his wife.  Alex had settled down and was now asleep, oblivious to what was happening.

 

"Bring him with her, if she refuses to give us what we want, we will use him as leverage,"  Sylvia answered.  She and her husband had come to Egypt to find the lost city, and over their months in Cairo, they had heard the talk that the librarian,  Evelyn O'Connell had discovered the city, and more importantly knew a great deal about the ancient times, so now they were taking her to get what they wanted.  Thomas was a strong man and easily lifted the woman into his arms with the baby and they snuck out the back way.

 

 

 

 

When it was past dinner, Rick decided to go get Evelyn from the museum.  It was not unusual for her to forget the time, and he took his time walking to get her.  It was a cool evening, and there was a bit of a breeze.  He smiled as he thought about seeing if she wanted to go for a walk.  Often times they would get Alex down for the night, or at least three hours, then sit out in their little back yard, and watch the stars.  Sometimes they would make love beneath the night sky, and those were his favorite times.  He came out of thought as he arrived at the museum.  It was still lit up, and he frowned as he found that the front door had not been locked.  If Evelyn was there by herself, she usually locked it and would come and let him in.  He took the gun he always carried on his belt out, and entered the museum carefully.  The front entry was vast, and he didn't see anything amiss, though he took great care as he moved through the passage that led to her office.  Once he was there he didn't find anything or anyone, and he started to worry.  He looked around and spotted the Satchel that she always carried when she had Alex laying on the floor with a few of his toys scattered about, as if it had been dropped.  Worry set in fast, and he ran through the museum seaching every place he could think of but didn't find them anyplace.   He left the museum thinking maybe they went back to the house, hoping that they were there.

 

 

 

 

It was Alex's loud cries which woke her, and Evelyn quickly remembered what had happened and came fully awake. She found that she was tied up in some sort of old building.  When she opened her eyes she found Alex laying next to her on a dirty burlap sack and he was very unhappy.

 

"Shhh,"  Evelyn tried, though she knew he wouldn't stop crying until she fed him.  It was then, that a woman walked in.  She was tall, and thin, and had soft waves of blond curls.

 

"Why have you brought me here?"  she asked over Alex's loud cries.

 

"Oh that is quite simple.  My husband and I want you to take us to Hamunaptra,"  she said and knelt down lifting Alex into her arms.  He rubbed his face against her chest and she kissed the top of his  head.

 

"I don't know the way, and my son needs me to feed him,"  she said trying not to show the woman any emotion. 

 

"Well then there is a problem.  If you can't remember where the city is, this baby won't get to eat.  You see his welfare depends on how willing you are to cooperate with what my husband and I want,"  She said as she laid Alex back on the sack, getting even more loud cries from him.

 

"Fine I'll tell you how to get there,"  she said.  Sylvia smiled at her.

 

"We want you to take us there,"  she said.

 

"But Alex can't make that kind of a trip,"  she said.

 

"Well we will leave him here then,"  she said not willing to give anything.  Hearing her son's bellowing cries was enough to make her cry.

 

"I will take you, please just let me feed him,"  she said softly.

 

"Good, now don't try and escape,  My husband has a gun, and he won't be shooting at you," she said as she cut the ties on her hands.  She left, and Evelyn leaned over, and lifted Alex into her arms.  It took a while to calm him, but eventually he did stop crying and nursed.

 

"Oh baby your daddy was right,"  she said as she kissed his soft head.  They gave her just enough time to feed him then brought her the sling to put on.  Once she had him situated, they led her out of the building which was set not far from the vast dessert and took her to a Camel.  Carefully she got on, and as she did she dropped Alex's little sock, knowing that it was a slim chance Rick would find it but she had to have some sort of hope.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2 : Clues

 

 

It had been as he feared, when Rick got back to the house he didn't find Evelyn there, and he had a sinking feeling that something was terribly wrong. However, he was willing to think of the logical places she might be before jumping to any conclusions.  Now, his first line of business was to check around with their neighbors.  They lived in a house on the north end of Cairo, not far from some of the other homes, placed close together, where their friends lived, or more specifically Evelyn's friends lived.  His first stop was at Becky's home.  He knocked on her door, but she wasn't in, and he guessed she was at the dig in Thebes.  His next stop was at Safia's home, and when he knocked on the door, he only had a short wait until Kiya, Safia's 6 year old daughter, answered.

 

"Hello Kiya.  Have Evelyn and Alex come by?"  he asked.  Rick spoke slowly, so she could understand him.  Out of the three of them,  Kiya, and her mother and father,  she was the only one who spoke, or understood any amount of English.  At his question, she shook her head.

 

"They were by in the morning but not since then,"  she said.

 

"Thank you.  Will you watch for them?"  she nodded. Then her father called out for her, and she had to leave.  The next hour was spent looking for Evie, and Alex at various friends homes, and when Rick didn't find her in any home, he went back to theirs. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon his arrival,  Rick found Jonathan seated in the kitchen eating some pasta with fresh tomatoes.  His brother-in-law looked up and smiled.

 

"Hey Rick.  Is Evelyn working another late night?" he asked, oblivious to the fact that she wasn't where she needed to be.

 

"No Jonathan she isn't.  I can't find her.  She isn't at the museum, or at any of our friends houses, and its just not like her to take off without telling me,"  he said.  That news didn't seem to worry Jonathan.

 

"She likely went to the market,"  he said, though it was getting late, and Rick pointed that out.

 

"Jonathan it's almost nine, and she doesn't go to the market this late,"  he said.  He was worried and began to pace, and that for Jonathan was a wake up call.  Most of the time Rick was one of the most laid back people Jonathan had met.  The only time he got worked up was when something wasn't right, and this was one of those times.

 

"Look, will you help me.  Go to the market place, and see if anyone has seen her there, and then meet me at the museum,"  he said.  After he gave Jonathan instructions, he went into the parlor to his desk and got out his revolver, and holster and put it around his waist, then headed out to the museum to see if he could find any clues.

 

 

 

 

 

The museum was pretty much the same way he had left it.  The doors were still unlocked, and he was surprised that Ahmhad had not been by to close things up.  As he entered, he was very careful, and drew his gun just in case anyone was there who should not be.  Cautiously he moved down the passage to Evelyn's office, and when he got there he didn't find anyone inside. However, he still kept his gun out ready to use it should anyone come who was not a friend.  The satchel was still laying on the floor, and he went to that, and began putting the few things that had fallen out back in.  It was while he was picking up, that he noticed a piece of gauze, and he picked that up.  There was some sort of stain on it, and he lifted it to his nose and sniffed, and suddenly felt dizzy.  Carefully he sat down, and realized that what was on the rag was something to make one sleep, Chloroform perhaps, but then again he was no doctor.  When the dizziness passed, he got up and went out of her office to the Egyptian section of the museum and looked around.  As he was looking for more clues, he heard foot fall quickly approaching him, and he quickly clicked his gun, ready to shoot whomever it was, then Jonathan ran in with Ahmhad.  Rick put the gun away.

 

"She's not anywhere in the market, and no one has seen her,"  Jonathan informed.  That was not what Rick wanted to hear.

 

"When I was here today there was a couple who came by looking at the treasures.  They kept asking me how we obtained them, and I told them that you and Evelyn had been to the lost city,"  he said.

 

"What did they do when you told them,"  Rick said having a sinking feeling that whomever Ahmhad had seen and spoken with had taken his wife and son on another expedition to Hamunaptra.

 

"Asked when we closed,"  he said, and looked down.  He was a young man, younger than Rick and Evie, and it was evident that he felt bad for having said anything about who had found the treasures.  Rick walked over to him.

 

"Ahmhad It's not your fault.  I should have insisted that she not display the treasures,"  Rick said.  That seemed to make him feel better.  After reassuring him,  Rick walked over to the display cases and found one of them shattered.

 

"Ahmhad can you tell me what she put in this one?"  he asked. 

 

"Yes she had in it a small statue of Anubis, and a gold box, also a scepter,"  he responded.  Rick looked at Jonathan. 

 

"We need to pack and get going."  For once in his life Jonathan didn't complain.  He knew that Evelyn and the baby were in danger, and he would do what it took to help find them and bring them home to safety. 

 

 

 

 

 

After leaving the museum, the two men went back to the house.  In their room, Rick packed a rucksack with cloths for Evelyn, as well as cloths and diapers for Alex, realizing she didn't have any way to change him, when he had a dirty or wet diaper.  He had vowed to himself that if any harm came to either of them, the people who took them would pay dearly.  Once he finished that, he went to their closet and pulled out his weapons bag and then headed downstairs.  Jonathan was waiting for him in the Parlor, and though it was late they knew they could get Camels, and set off toward Hamunaptra.

 

"Are you ready?"  Rick asked.  Jonathan stood.

 

"As ready as I can be,"  he responded, and there were no more words as the two men set off for another parilous journey across the desert to a city that seemed to haunt them.

 

 

MORE SOON

 

 

 

 

Chapter 3 : Return to Hamunaptra

 

 

It was Alex's shifting about which woke Evelyn, and when she opened her eyes it was becoming day.  Ahead of her Thomas, and Sylvia still road on their camels, and Thomas still had his gun.  Her eyes fell to her son, and she was glad that she had put something warmer on him last night, for it was chilly at night in the desert.  Knowing that he was hungry, as well as  wet, she tended to the one thing she could help at the moment.  She unbuttoned the blouse she had on, and in a moment he began to nurse.  Evelyn remained quiet not wanting to draw any attention to herself or Alex.  She wanted to run and get away from these people, and she was terrified to be returning to a place that held so many bad memories.  The only good thing that had come out of Hamunaptra was her love for Rick, and his for her. Other than that there had been months of bad dreams, and now she knew it was all about to start again.  For a moment Alex was content to nurse, then he pulled away and started to cry, and Sylvia and Thomas stopped and turned around.

 

"So you are awake.  We will be there by nightfall,"  Sylvia said.  Evelyn lifted Alex out of the sling and found that he was wet.

 

"I need to stop, to get off this camel,"  she said over Alex's cries.  He was a quiet baby unless he was hungry, or unless he needed to be changed, like now.

 

"You will make do,"  Thomas said.  He was not willing to let her have any sort of freedom, nor was he willing to hold up their journey due to a baby.  They turned their camels and once again they were under way.  Evelyn positioned herself to sit sideways on the camel glad that it seemed calm, and managed to get Alex's long pants off of him then his diaper thankful that it was only wet, and hoped it would dry out before he made a mess.  Once he was out of his wet cloths he quieted, but was still restless, and after sitting back the normal way, stradling the camel,"  Evelyn moved the sling off of her shoulder, and set that aside with his wet cloths, then held him to her breast and let him finish his morning meal.  She felt around the packs and found a skin, and snuck a few drinks of water,  knowing that if she didn't stay hydrated she wouldn't have enough milk to last Alex.

 

 

 

 

It was easy for Rick and Jonathan to get the camels, and now they were underway, taking the same route to Hamunaptra that they had traveled when they had left the city all those months ago.  Jonathan soon fell asleep, but for Rick sleep would not come.  He was beginning to hate Egypt.  He knew that Egypt was Evelyn's love, but it seemed like this place brought them more bad times than good.  He remembered a conversation they had on one of their nights out.  They had left Alex with Safia one evening, and after dinner they had gone for a walk.  It had been a beautiful starlit night, and they had gone just outside the city to a small oasis area

 

 

 

 

The moonlight cast down on the small watering hole as Rick and Evelyn sat on a quilt nearby in each others arms.

 

"What was your childhood like?"  He had asked.

 

"We spent most of our early childhood in England.  Father had always kept two homes, one there and the one we live in here.  I sometimes miss the home in England.  It is quite large, with several rooms, and a huge library with several books of different sorts,"  she had told him.

 

That had brought a smile to his face.

 

"I bet you spent all your time there."

 

"I never grew tired of reading, at first just children's stories, then later about Egypt."  They had sat in silence for a while then he asked her another question.

 

"Do you ever thing about returning there.  Now that we have Alex, not right now, but eventually he will need to go to school, and Egypt is nice but don't you think he would have better luck learning in England?"  he had asked.  Her response had been a sigh.

 

"I think about that from time to time.  I want him to have just as much love for this Egypt as I do but there are times that I have worries.  What if someone comes in search of Hamunaptra, and somehow finds that we were there."

 

 

 

He shook his head trying to forget that night.  She had in a since foreseen this, and now she was in the hands, as was Alex, of people who might do both of them harm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time pressed on and soon the sun shown bright over the desert.  Evelyn had put the dry diaper back on Alex and had him back in the sling to protect him from the light of the sun, but she couldn't protect him from the heat, and he cried constantly. 

 

"Shut that damn kid up,"  Thomas yelled back at her.  One thing she was getting tired of were his demands.

 

"I'm trying but he isn't used to this heat,"  she said and tried to get him to nurse but he would not.  He was upset, most likely picking up on her turbulent emotions, but she couldn't calm her fears.  Alex let out a louder set of cries and Thomas stopped the camels.

 

"Give him to me,"  he said.

 

"I will not let you touch my baby,"  she said coldly.  He clicked his gun, and pointed it at Alex's head.

 

"If you kill him then I will follow,"  she said though she was terrified.

 

"I'll give you five seconds to hand him over,"  he said.  She closed her eyes wishing Rick were there but he was not, and she wasn't going to risk having Alex shot.  Reluctantly she road close to them and winced as Thomas plucked Alex out of her arms.

 

"What are you doing?"  she asked as he emptied out a basket bag.  Alex was small enough to fit in it as a sort of a bed and he cried louder.  Thomas ordered the camel to lay, then put the basket on the desert sand.  When he stood Evelyn screamed.

 

"NOOOO,"  she yelled and started to sob.

 

"I won't help you,"  She said, and was grabbed off her camel and quickly tied up.

 

"Oh you will and without that damn baby,"  he said and they moved off with her screaming.  She knew that Alex didn't stand a chance of surviving on his own.  She was gagged but she still screamed, until sleep from exhaustion took over.

 

 

 

The Med-jai patrolled the desert as a necessity to keep unwanted travelers away, and part of that patrol was using Falcons to send messages and bring them anything that was associated with intruders.  Falcons are known for their strength, and some could carry prey weighing in fairly heavy.  Now at the village of the Med-jai,  a young girl waited for her Falcon to return.  Olia was not like most of the girls in her village, in that she kept a falcon, despite what the elders said, and had managed to train it herself, which had impressed most of the younger men.  She sat just outside the village waiting for Serus to return, and wondered why he was taking so long.  Soon however she heard his cry, and when she saw him he flew low carrying some sort of basket.  He came to her and she reached up and took hold of the basket and heard a baby cry.  That was alarming and she looked inside finding a young baby who looked unharmed but would need someone to care for it.  She hurried back to the village to her mother.  Once inside she took the baby to the kitchen where her mother,  Kyllie was making lunch.

 

"Mother, a baby,"  she said in their native tongue.  Kyllie turned to her daughter about to get after for being fanciful the stopped when she saw the basket and went to her.

 

"Where did you find this child?"  she asked.

 

"Serus brought him to me,"  she said.  Kyllie was raising Olia on her own having lost her husband in one of the raids at Humanaptra a year ago.

 

"Go to the elders and find Ardeth,"  she said.  Olia ran off and Kyllie cradled Alex in her arms.

 

"We need to get you cleaned and fed,"  she said speaking English to him.   She took him into her bedroom and got a  cloth and wet it from the wash basin, then wiped him clean.  She guessed that a baby this young would be fed by his mother, and knew the chances were slim that he would take anything else, but he needed nourishment so he wouldn't get dehydrated or starve.

 

 

 

 

When Olia arrived at the central building in the village a few of the younger Med-jai were standing outside.

 

"Shouldn't you be helping your mother?"  one asked her.

 

"She has sent me for Ardeth.  Serus found a baby in the desert and my mother wants him to come to our home,"  she said.  Usually they just pushed her off, but the way she spoke and the fact that her father had been well known among the warriors, as well as her mother being well respected, the boys let her past and she entered the small stone building.  It had a central entry then a hall which led to the main room, and it was there she found the chief of the Med-jai.  When she entered, Ardeth looked up.

 

"I wouldn't bother you but its important,"  she said afraid he would be angry at her.  He was one intimidating man, and though he had never yelled at her, she was still afraid of him.

 

"What is it you have come to tell me?"  he asked.  He was one of the ones opposed to her keeping a falcon, but now was not the time to discuss that. He had a sense that she had an important message for him.

 

"Serus found a baby and brought him to me.  My mother requests your presence at our home,"  she said.  He left word with the younger Med-jai of where he would be and went with Olia to her home.  When they arrived it was quite.

 

"Mother?"  she called out, and in a moment Kyllie came for out of her room.

 

"Shh,"  she instructed, then greeted Ardeth.

 

"He is healthy, though I would wonder why he would be in the desert or who would bring a child like him out so far,"  she said.  They all knew how dangerous the heat of the sun could be and that doubled with a baby like Alex.

 

"May I see the child?"  Ardeth asked.  She nodded and led him into her room.  Alex was asleep on her bed between two pillows.  By what the baby was dressed in, he could tell it was not from one of the villages, for he wore a shirt with little lambs on it, and the babies in their villages wore things made by hand.  He guessed the baby was from Cairo, and would send some of his men there to see if anyone was missing a baby.  When he walked out of the room Olia was sitting at the small table in their front room petting Serus.

 

"Olia does Serus know the way to Cairo?"  he asked her.  She shook her head.  It was his fear that the baby had been taken by mistake, and he hoped he was wrong.

 

"I don't want you to fly him anymore, not until we know where this child came from,"  he said.  She wanted to protest but know better, and went to her own room a little upset.

 

"They don't understand,"  she said to her friend.  She put him on his perch and lay on her bed, and after a few minutes she decided that tonight she would take her horse and fly Serus, and follow him to where he might have found the baby.  She had no desire to be a Med-jai, and knew she would never be, but her thirst of adventure was strong, and she was willfull to a fault.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was hushed voices talking which woke Evelyn, and she found herself tied up in a tent.  How she had managed to sleep was beyond her, and she stayed still to listen to the conversation.

 

"We should wake her,"  Thomas said.

 

"In good time, I think our first line of business is to ride to the city ourselves and see if we can find the way to erect it ourselves, if we cannot then we will use her,"  Sylvia said.  At the mention of the city,  Evelyn shuttered, and caught their attention.

 

"So you are awake,"  Thomas said as he walked to her.  He helped her sit up and gave her a skin, after cutting the bonds on her hand, and she drank despite her terror and sadness.  He also brought her some soup.

 

"We are going to the city,"  he said.  She didn't say anything.

 

"Don't bother trying to leave us, we will be taking both Camels, and we will find you, and you will join your baby in death."  They left and she ate a little then lay against the sand and cried.  Her heart ached for her son, and she wasn't sure how to cope with his loss, much less tell Rick he was gone.

 

Once it was dark,  Olia left the safety of her village and once she was away she took a piece of cloth she had gotten from the baby's shirt and gave it to Serus, then set him to fly.  He stayed close to her as they road, and it wasn't long before they arrived at the hill top which looked over Hamunaptra, or what was left of it.  Right away she saw the light from two sources, lights over the ruins of the city, and a light from a fire she guessed that was a good ways away from the city.  There was fear but also excitement that she had found someone at the city and she decided to go to the camp.  It took her 20 minutes to get close, and once she was fairly close she got off of Sieanna, and left her, then snuck closer to the camp.  It was quiet, and there were two tents.  Once she was close to one tent she peeped in and didn't find anyone there, and was walking around the other one when a hand clamped over her mouth.

 

"What do we have here?"  Sylvia said as she took the girl into Evelyn's tent.  Her words woke Evelyn who sat up as Both Thomas and Sylvia entered with a little girl.

 

"Who are you?"  Thomas asked the child.  She didn't speak and he raised his hand to smack her, but Evelyn cried out for him not to.

 

"She is probably from one of the villages around these parts, and may not understand your English,"  Evelyn said, and very quickly asked in Egyptian if she was from a Med-jai village.  Olia nodded.

 

"She is from a village a little away nomads,"  Evelyn lied.  None the less,  Olia was tied up and put next to Evelyn.

 

"Come on we need to get back to the city,"  Thomas said to his wife and they left.  They heard the camels go, and once they were gone Evelyn spoke English.

 

"Do you know Ardeth Bey?"  she asked.  Olia nodded.

 

"Can you get a message to him, and tell him that Evelyn O'Connell is here, and that the city is in danger of being raised?"  Evelyn spoke that part in Egyptian and Olia's eyes got very big.  She screached and in a moment Serus flew in and landed on her hand.  Thomas had only tied her to a pole so she had use of her hands and was able to take out the little scroll.  She wrote her name, and a small message with a pen she kept in her little pocket.

 

"Fly,"  she said and the bird took off.  Olia looked at Evelyn.

 

"You look sad,"  she said softly, afraid.

 

"I am sad, but right now that isn't important. We need to find a way to get you out of here,"  Evelyn said.

 

"No I will stay with you.  I'm not supposed to be here,"  she said, and looked  down.

 

"I'm glad your here,"  Evelyn said and that made her smile.  It wasn't all that much later that Sylvia returned and took Evelyn away, and once they were gone Olia did her best to get out of her bonds but she could not and she closed her eyes knowing she should rest while she could.

 

 

 

 

At the site of where the city once stood,  Evelyn was led to the only thing that was in tact which the giant statue of  Anubis.

 

"Find a way to bring the city back,"  Thomas told her.

 

"I would rather die.  You took away my baby, which you had no right to do,"  she said, and was slapped hard by the mad, hard enough for her lip to start to bleed.

 

"You will find the way to raise the city, and I will do what I must to get you to do that,"  he said.  She refused again, and again was smacked hard across the face.   She cried out that time, and then spat the blood in his face, and jumped on him biting his hand as he tried to get her off, and drew his blood.  Sylvia grabbed her off and held her while Thomas punched her first in the stomach then in the face.  She hurt and indured blow after blow, until darkness took over, then there was nothing.

 

 

 

MORE SOON

 

Chapter 4 : Search and Rescue

 

It was the approaching footfall which woke Olia, and she quickly sat up, wanting to be on her guard.  Thomas returned carrying her new friend, and when he set her down, Olia saw her face was bleeding, and even some blood was trickling out of her mouth.  The tall man looked at her, then left, and once he was gone,  Olia moved around on her pole, and reached out taking Evelyn's hand in hers.  She wanted to be brave like she knew her father had been, but this was scary, and if those people did make the city rise, then He who shall not be named, would likely return.

 

"You have to wake up now,"  Olia said softly, but Evelyn didn't move, and that was even more terrifying.  Gently Olia put her hand down and struggled with the rope tied around her waste and the pole.  She wanted to get out to get them both help, despite getting in trouble with the elders and her mother.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the Med-jai village, Kyllie had gone to Olia's room to find her gone, which was not all that uncommon.  Her daughter often ventured off, so the young mother didn't worry.  Now she was trying to get the baby under her care to drink from the bottle as he had done before but he would not, and had been crying at a constant for almost an hour and a half.  Kyllie took him to her room and rocked him, and he finally fell asleep.  Tomorrow they would have to find out who his parents were.  After she got him back on her bed, she went to her daughter's room and sighed.  Generally Olia returned before dark.  Now it was dark, and Kyllie decided to give her another hour before she went to look for her.  As she was going out of the room she heard Serus cry, and then he flew in her window and landed on his perch.  Kyllie frowned and went over to the Falcon, and noticed that he had a red tie on his message band, which meant there was a message inside.  She reached out and took the message from the tube, and read, and what she found made her heart turn cold.  Very quickly she went back to her room and got out a blanket, then wrapped Alex in it, and went toward the commons building.  No one stood outside, so she went in, and found some of the younger men in training.  She waited patiently, and finally one of the elders noticed her.  Daniel came to them noticing the worried look on the young mothers face.

 

"Kyllie?"  he asked. 

 

"Olia went to Hamunaptra and has been taken. She says there are people there who want to raise the city,"  she said terrified.  Since the city had sunk into the sand, the watch over it had not been as intense, and now that had all changed.  With her words Daniel went off to find Ardeth-Bey.  Kyllie closed her eyes hoping that her little girl was all right and would remain that way until help arrived for her.

 

 

 

 

It had been a long night and day of riding, and Rick was exhausted and worried.  He wanted to get Evelyn and their son home to safety, and possibly out of Egypt if he could talk her into that.  They had another full day to go, and he wished they would have gotten horses instead of camels, but it was too late for that now.

 

 

"Do you think  whomever has my sister will be there?"  Jonathan asked.  Rick sighed.

 

"Likely so," he said as they road on.  They had lunch on the Camels, not stopping for anything to make sure they got there in the quickest time, and as Rick had expected it wasn't long before a few Med-jai warriors road out to them surrounding them, as if ready to kill them.

 

"We aren't here to go find the secrets of the City of the Dead,"  Rick said, hoping at least one of them understood a bit of English.

 

"We come for you.  Our leader is watching over the city, one of the children in our village has been taken along with your wife, he wishes to see you," one of the robed men replied.  From then on Rick and Jonathan road with the Med-jai to the look out over the city, and would arrive at dusk.

 

 

 

 

It was the throbbing of her head, and the pain in her lip that started Evelyn waking up. When she opened her eyes it was dusk.  She looked around, for a moment confused, then slowly she remembered everything, including Alex being left in the desert to die.  At the thought of him she noticed that her breasts were full and sore, needing Alex there to empty them.  She tried to sit up and cried out as her upper chest stung in pain.  It was her cry that woke Olia. 

 

"You should be still.  He was mad because you wouldn't wake up, and he kicked you alot,"  she said very softly cautious of the fact that  The big scary man would come back and try to hurt her, though he had not so far.  She closed her eyes then feeling as though they would never come out of this alive.

 

"Have they been able raise the city?"  she asked softly, doing her best to ignore the pain she was feeling in all her body parts.  Olia shook her head.

 

"He yells at me I don't talk or I'm afraid he will hurt me,"  she said scared  for her life.

 

"I won't let that happen,"  she said. She was almost ready just to raise the city and let them in to the cursed place, just so she could get away and try to find Rick, as well as get Olia to her people.  Both of them heard footfall and Olia pretended to be asleep.  It was Sylvia who entered the tent and she smiled as she found Evelyn awake.

 

"Good it is time for you to show us what we want,"  she said. Instead of getting Evelyn up, she grabbed Olia who screamed when she was pulled up by her hair. 

 

"Don't you have any compassion in you at all. This child like my own did nothing to harm you, and yet you needlessly harm them just to get to something you don't have any understanding of," she said and moaned as she sat up.  Her words did nothing to sway Sylvia, and in a moment Thomas walked in.

 

"You will show us what we want,  or this child will die like yours,"  he said, and then he made her stand despite how much pain she was in, and pulled on her.  She gave in one good fight, and stuck her foot out tripping him, then grabbed Olia from Sylvia who had been stunned and started to run.  When she couldn't she pushed her away. 

 

"Run Olia don't look back,"  she called as she fell down.  For the first time in her young life Olia felt more terror than she ever had, and ran as fast as she could, not turning back, and got to her horse, Sienna, who had waited.  She grasped a hold of her mane, and pulled herself on the horse's back.  Then she road off as fast as she could, trying not to cry, but she was afraid for her friend.

 

Thomas caught Evelyn, and again he beat her. He threw her to the ground a few times, and kicked her ribs and her stomach over and over until she was unconscious from the pain, then they put her back in the tent.

 

 

 

 

It was just getting dark when Olia arrived home, and after leaving Sienna in the fenced in area she ran to her home. Inside heard the baby crying, and the voices of a few women aside from her mother.

 

"Momma momma,"  she called out, and in a moment Kyllie ran out of her room,  and knelt down gathering her baby into her arms, concerned as her daughter who  had never showed any sort of emotion cried.  Kyllie for the moment let the other two woman try to get the baby to eat, and held her own. 

 

"Shh,"  she said stroking her hand over Olia's black curls. 

 

"Momma we have to help her.  I think the baby's mother is the one who is being hurt at the campsite,"  she said, as she pulled away.

 

"We need to stay here. Ardeth and his Med-jai will take care of her, and help her away from there,"  she reassured, but Olia ran out  before Kyllie could catch her.  She got back  on her horse, heading for the rise where she knew they kept watch over the city.

 

 

 

It was his own fault, that he had let guard over the city of Hamunaptra slip, and after this day he would never be so careless again.  Now Ardeth-Bey looked out of his binoculars, watching as a man, and a woman emerged from a tent.  He had been watching their activity near the statue, thankful that they had not been able to figure out the secret to raising the city.  Under his watchful eye he had also seen Evelyn beaten, and all he could do was wait for the full cover of night.  When they had arrived after Olia's message,  Ardeth had seen Evelyn get beaten, and knew that they could not just go charging in as they had in the past, that it was a more delicate situation.  He was still thinking about that, when he heard hoof fall and turned his horse to see Olia approaching.  She slowed down and moved beside him.

 

"Evelyn helped me get away. That baby is her baby,"  she said out of breath and afraid

 

"We have to help her." He thanked Allah that she was safe, then lifted her off of her horse and held her for a moment. 

 

"You were very brave to go try to help Evelyn, but right now I need you to go home and help your mother with the baby.  Will you do that for me?"  he asked.  She nodded, and for once decided to do what she was told.  After getting back on Sienna, she road back to her village and her mother.

 

 

 

 

 

It was dark when they arrived at the look out, and Rick was dismayed that Ardeth and his people hadn't done anything to rescue his wife. 

 

"We meet again,"  Ardeth said.

 

"Yes. Why haven't you gone down there to help My wife?"  he practically yelled.  Jonathan was just as displeased, only being a coward, he would let Rick handle the warrior.

 

"We would but those who have her have inflicted harm on her, and we need to have a plan to get to her without them being there to do her more harm,"  he said.  Once he learned she had been harmed he backed off a little, but he wanted to go down to her, and knew they had little time for waiting around.  They got off of their horses and Ardeth explained to them the lay out of the city, as well as where the camp was, and made a rough plan. 

 

"They usually go out alone to the Statue.  When they do we will move in on them, and you go find Evelyn.  I will leave Daniel with you to bring both of you back to my village and to your son,"  he said.  At his words Rick looked at him in confusion.

 

"Olia's Falcon rescued him from being left in the desert,"  he said.  For one brief moment, Rick was ready to go and kill the people who had taken his wife and his son, and anticipating this Ardeth held him back.

 

"I know your anger, but right now your wife needs you, and your son is with people who will care for him until you have your wife safely where she belongs"  At that Rick backed off, and once careful plans had been made, they set off for the city, and his wife.

 

 

 

 

Again it was pain that woke her.  Her stomach hurt her worse than any place of all and she felt slickness between her legs.  Since she was bound up she couldn't reach down to see what was wrong, and it was once again dark.  Usually she would struggle to be free but she didn't this time, terrified that Thomas would come back and inflict more harm on her.  From Rick she had learned to be strong, had even learned a little self defense, but she felt defeated.  She had lost their child, and her heart was broken for that.  She closed her eyes and cried softly into the sand.

 

 

 

 

Not far from the small camp Ardeth, Daniel, Rick, and a few other Med-jai warriors dismounted from their  horses.  Jonathan had stayed behind to keep watch, and Rick let him, not wanting him to mess things up, not when it was so important to keep Evelyn safe.  As they were getting off of the horses a Falcon flew to them and Ardeth held up his arm letting it land.  He pulled a message from the cylinder and looked at his friends. 

 

"They have taken Evelyn to the Statue,"  he said.  That news wasn't what Rick wanted to hear. 

 

"Then your plan is all washed up pal,"  he said, angry at this whole situation.

 

"Now we do it the way I want.  I'll go in for her, but you and your men need to create a diversion and I know your good at that. Just wait for me to get to her first,"  he said.  They agreed to that and all went toward the ruins of  the city.  Rick knew it was basically the same plan but he was tired of waiting for the right moment, and he wanted his chance to give these people a taste of his rage at hurting his wife. 

 

 

 

 

She had been taken again to the statue, and Sylvia held her up as she could not stand on her own.

 

"All the pain will stop,"  Thomas told her as he got right in her face.

 

"You just have to tell us how to get the city to raise,"  he said.  She leaned forward and bit hard on his nose, not letting go, and he screamed.  For a moment she had satisfaction, but only a moment as he pulled away, and Sylvia dropped her.  Once again she was kicked at and she curled up as tight as she could wanting out of the pain, and back in the arms of the man that she loved.

 

"Thomas stop if you keep that up you will kill her, and we really won't be able to find a way. Perhaps if we had kept the baby the city would be up by now,"  she said angry at his temper.

 

"Well Perhaps if you would have listened to me, and we would have used that little girl when we had a chance to, we could have been in there by now but the point is that we have this woman who seems to be bent on pissing me off,"  he said, and kicked her once more in her stomach.

 

 

 

 

Not far from them Rick had seen the last kick and across from him Ardeth and his men were waiting.  He used a match to signal them and an explosion went off not far from Thomas and Sylvia.  It wasn't large but it was enough to draw them away from Evelyn, and just enough time for Rick to get her.  She was bleeding out of her mouth and her eyes were squeezed shut.   He reached out and touched her hand, and she pulled away from him. That hurt worse than any knife cut, or bullet wound that he had ever experienced. 

 

"Stop right there,"  came a mans deep voice.  Rick heard the click of the gun and he waited for it to make contact on the back of his neck.  When it did he moved lightning fast, and spun twisting the gun out of Thomas's hand.  He heard a woman scream, but thought nothing of it, as he knew it wasn't Evelyn.  He punched Thomas hard over and over again until he lay crumpled on the ground. Then he drew his own gun and fired one single shot.  Once that was done he moved back to Evelyn, and noticed she still hadn't moved and her eyes were still squinted shut.

 

"Evie its me sweetheart,"  She stayed still

 

"Shh,"  he said and kissed her forehead then her dry cracked lips, and in that instant she responded sobbing out.

 

"OH Rick they left Alex he's gone,"  she said through her sobs.  He knew she was badly hurt, and eased her so that her head was in his lap. 

 

"No honey he is alive.  One of the Med-jai's Falcons brought him to their camp and he is being cared for there.  With that news  she just held onto him and cried. 

 

"I hurt Rick, I want my baby,"  she sobbed.  He looked up as Ardeth and the other Med-jai came, and for now she would have to stay here. She was too hurt to withstand a ride to their camp.  He stood, and lifted her into his arms flinching at her cries of pain, and walked with them back to the camp.  Once in the tent he put her on a bed roll. 

 

"Bring my son,"  he told Ardeth.  The Med-jai leader left them also intending to bring with them their medicine man.

 

"I want my baby,"  she said.  He laid next to her.

 

"I know honey they are bringing him,"  he said, and held her to him for a moment, then went out to their supplies and brought some fresh water for her.  He held the skin to her lips, and helped her sit up and she drank greedily, but he wasn't going to let her get sick.  When he took it away she sobbed out.

 

"Shh, Not too much right now okay,"  he said.  She nodded and for a little bit they rested.

 

 

 

 

 

At the village Alex had finally cried himself to sleep refusing bottles and even another woman's breast, only wanting his mum.  Kyllie had just put him down when a soft tap was heard at the door.  Olia ran to get it and found Daniel there.

 

"We need to take the baby to his mother,"  he said to Kyllie, more than Olia.

 

"I will take him,"  Olia replied.  Daniel knelt down.

 

"Your friend is injured very bad, and you have been instructed to stay here.  When she is able to be moved they will bring her to our village, then you can see her.  Olia nodded and went to her mother hugging her.  Kyllie smiled. 

 

"Come my child lets get him ready for his journey,"  she said as she led Olia into her room where the baby slept.

 

 

 

 

 

It was the sound of a baby crying in the distance which woke Rick first, and he easily slipped from his wife's side, and went out of the tent.  It was early morning, and he idly wondered how much time had passed, then walked toward the cries of his son which he knew well.  When Alex was hungry, he let everyone within a ten mile radius know.  It was Jonathan who had him, and a look of relief washed over his face as Rick came to them. 

 

"They said he hasn't eaten in a day and a half,"  he informed.  Rick took him and carried him to his and Evie's tent, and found her awake as he entered, though she couldn't sit up.  He brought Alex to her and sat down helping her lay on her side. Then helped hold him until he latched on. She winced in pain but it was the kind of pain she accepted in order to let him nurse.  He quickly settled down, and nursed for ten minutes without letting up, and Evelyn's eyes had closed.  As much as she wanted to stay awake her own body was too weak to do so.  Having watched her feed him countless numbers of times Rick knew when Alex stopped suckling to take him away, and even when he did Alex got restless.  Rick sat against one of the tent posts and held Alex to his shoulder patting his back.

 

"Hey big guy shhh,"  Rick said.  At the sound of his voice, or maybe just exhaustion,  Alex calmed down, and in a moment he burped two loud burps, and Rick took him back to Evelyn to let him finish.  Once he had all he wanted of her milk,  he went right to sleep, and Rick lay next to Evie letting Alex sleep on his chest, or started to, when Ardeth came with a man whose face was covered in tattoos.

 

"I know she was hurt.  This is our Medicine man, he will examine her if you want him too,"  Ardeth said.  Rick nodded and laid Alex on another bed roll covering him, then went to Evelyn.

 

"Honey there is a doctor here to look at you,"  he said kissing her lips.  She slowly woke up and endured the pain of  the medicine mans hands her to find  her injuries.  He spoke in his tongue and Ardeth told Rick what he was saying.

 

"He thinks she has cracked ribs, and will wrap her for you. Evelyn spoke something to him and he nodded and she closed her eyes. 

 

"There was bleeding,"  Ardeth told him

 

"He says that she will need to see her doctor when she gets to Cairo but blood from her birth canal may mean damage there,"  He said.  The medicine man wrapped Evie's chest, but left her breasts uncovered enough so she could continue to feed her baby.  He also gave her some herbs in a hot cup of water to drink, then he left her and Ardeth followed.  Rick helped Evelyn sip the tea until it was gone, then at her request he brought Alex to her, and she held him, and he held both of them as they all drifted to sleep.

 

More soon.

 

Chapter 5: A Time to Heal

 

 

It was a week before Evelyn could be moved from the camp site at Hamunaptra, back to the Med-jai village. Even that trip, which was an hours ride, took alot out of her.  She, and Rick, and their baby were given a home of their own to stay in while she recovered, and her recovery was slow.  Alex, now that he was with his parents, was doing well, and was happy.  Today Olia had come to see her friend, and when she arrived Rick was glad to meet her.

 

"Is Evelyn here?"  she asked, when Rick answered the door holding Alex against his shoulder.

 

"She is, and I think your just the one to cheer her up,"  he said.  Lately she had been really quite, and wouldn't talk to anyone, aside from feeding Alex, and Rick hoped maybe Olia would help her open up.

 

"I'm glad she is safe now,"  the little girl said, as Rick let her in.

 

"I am too.  I am glad that you helped her, and Alex,"  he said.  Alex had just finished his lunch and was quickly falling asleep.  After Rick laid him in the cradle he took Olia into the room which was his and Evies, and told her to wait while he woke her up.  He moved to Evelyn's side of the bed, and leaned down kissing her gently on her lips.  She used to wake up with a smile on her face when he did that, now she merely turned over, away from him.

 

"Evie Olia has come to see you,"  he said softly.

 

"Please Rick I just want to be alone,"  she told him.  He looked over at Olia and she waited patiently.  He sighed and went to her kneeling down.

 

"She has been very tired, will you come back in a few days?"  She nodded and he led her out then went to the table and sat down laying his head down.  Their Doctor had been brought to the village, and confirmed what the Medicine Man had told her, that there had been damage to the birth canal, and to her ovaries, enough so that it was likely there would be no more children.  Rick heard the door open and didn't even look up knowing it was Jonathan, who had opted to stay with them.

 

"Still not up?"  he asked.  Rick sighed and looked up.

 

"No she isn't.  I want to take her home, not back to Cairo, but back to your home in England Jonathan."  This seemed to surprise him greatly.

 

"Have you talked to her about that?"  he asked.  Rick shook his head.

 

"Not yet, but after everything that has happened, this time and when we met, I'm not willing to put her or Alex at risk anymore,"  he said.  He spoke as both a husband and a father.

 

"I'm not sure she will see it your way.  Since the death of our parents she has been obsessed with Egypt, and since you came into her life, and Alex, that obsession has greatly reduced itself, but its still there, and I'm certain that she isn't going to just let you drag her away,"  he said, though he was ready for a change of scenery as well.  Rick had thought of that a countless number of times, but he was desperate now.

 

"Jonathan go back to Cairo, get some of the treasure in the safe, not all of it, and get back to England.  Do what you have to do to fix the house up, hire help, do what you need, and I'll let you know when we are ready to come over there,"  he said.  Jonathan nodded, glad that Rick was taking charge, though he knew his baby sister would put up a fight.

 

 

 

 

Another week passed, and today Rick was taking Evie and Alex back to their home in Cairo.  There had been little change in Evelyn.  She ate to keep herself healthy for Alex, but that was about all.  They road on one Camel, and Kyllie had set up a sort of basket bed for Alex to sleep in with a mesh covering to keep the sun off of him.  Evelyn did say goodbye to Olia, then fell asleep an hour out of the Med-jai village.  Ardeth had sent a few younger Med-jai with them to keep them safe, and Rick was glad to be underway.  It was a few hours later when Alex woke up ready to be fed, and Evelyn responded to his cries. Rick lifted him from his bed, putting him in her arms. He was restless and agitated until he got what he wanted, then he relaxed.  Evelyn closed her eyes leaning against Rick letting him help hold Alex.

 

"Are you glad to be returning home?"  he asked, breaking the silence.

 

"I suppose,"  she replied coldly.  Rick sighed and kissed the top of her head.  After Alex had burped, and gotten his diaper changed he went to sleep.  The trip lasted a few days with one stop, and they arrived back in Cairo on the eve of the third day.  When they got home Evelyn went straight to their room and lay in their bed huddling into a ball, leaving Rick to get Alex to sleep, which wasn't difficult to do.  Once he was asleep,  Rick went down the street to Safia's and had her stay with Evelyn, and Alex while he went to Fort Bryton to see if Jonathan had left any messages.  When he arrived he found several, and was glad that Jonathan seemed to have accomplished something.  His last letter said that the house was undergoing a few needed repairs, and that it should be ready if Rick really wanted to bring Evie and Alex there.  He got his messages and made the journey home.  At his return he found Alex was awake happy with Safia.

 

"Did Evelyn wake up?" he asked.  She shook her head, and once he thanked her and took Alex she left.

 

"All right buddy, lets see if daddy can get you back to sleep,"  Rick said as he locked up, then took Alex up to his room.  He got out a book, Mogli, and settled down in the Rocking chair cradling Alex in the crook of one arm, and holding the book with his free hand.  As he read Alex watched him giving him alot of smiles and coos, then finally he went back to sleep, and Rick put him in his crib.  After covering him with a light blanket, and giving him a kiss, he went into his and Evelyn's room finding her asleep in the same position she had been in when he left.  Silently he removed his cloths down to his boxers, then slipped in to bed next to her.  He wanted to touch her, to hold her, but anytime he tried she would cry out in fear, and pull away from him.  He watched her sleep until his eyes could no longer stay open, then he let them close.

 

 

 

 

The dreams both of Hamunaptra the first time with Imhotep, and of Thomas seemed never ending, and Evelyn found herself lost in them.  First she was strapped to the stone Alter with Imhotep standing over her, and slowly he lowered his blade to her stabbing her over and over again in her stomach.  The scene changed to Thomas holding Alex in his arms, then taking a gun and shooting him.  She thrashed about in their bed, and when her arm hit Rick he came instantly awake.  He rolled over to face her, and watched as she started to cry out, then she woke up blinking, and when she found him looking at her she turned away.  That was all he could take.  He sat up and gathered her against him.

 

"Rick let go of me, it was just another dream,"  she said trying to get away.

 

"A dream that keeps haunting you night after night.  Evelyn what do you think marriage is?  You aren't alone anymore, you don't have to be strong for yourself because you have me, and we will get through this together,"  he said gently, though she still struggled.

 

"I know what marriage means, and I don't need to be coddled,"  she snapped, and with that he let her go.

 

"Is that what you think I'm doing?"  he asked.  She had turned away from him.

 

"Evie talk to me,"  he said.

 

"What is there to talk about Rick?  I just want to move past this, and I'm doing it the best I can,"  she said, again coldly.

 

"The best you can?"  he asked exasperated.

 

"Evelyn your shutting everyone out of your life.  You do as little as you can. I know you went through a great deal at Hamunaptra...."  She got out of bed then and pulled on a robe.

 

"This is not open for discussion.  I don't want to talk about what happened there,"  she said and left the room.  He heard a door slam, and a moment later heard Alex start to cry.  He waited in bed to see if she would tend to him, but his cries continued, so he got up and went in to take care of him, finding that Evelyn was not there, which meant she was in the storage room.  There was a bed there, because it doubled as a guest room, and he felt lost.  After getting Alex changed he tried rocking him but his son wanted to be fed, and he hoped Evelyn would get that message but she was not.  Finally he went to the other room and opened the door finding her in the bed.

 

"Alex needs you,"  he said softly.  She rolled over, a blank expression on her face, and when she took him he cried even more.  She tried to get him to nurse but he wouldn't, and she started to cry.  Rick sat down and tried to help but in the end Evelyn went back to their room and locked him out.  It took a while but Rick got him calmed down enough to take a bottle of cows milk, and once he was asleep, Rick laid in the bed in his room and managed to get some sleep of his own.

 

 

 

Morning came and Evelyn was able to get him to nurse.  When Rick finished with his shower he found her sitting in the Parlor dressed for the museum, though she wasn't dressed neatly or in anything that matched, and her hair was falling out of the bun she had put it in.  Alex was laying on a blanket on the floor happy, which was one good thing.  He settled next to her and eased her into his arms, and she pulled away, or tried but this time he held on to her.

 

"I have to go to work,"  she said.

 

"No you don't.  You need to face what happened, and I'm not letting you go this time,"  he said holding her tighter against him.  She hit him and even bit him but he didn't let her go.

 

"Why are you doing this to me?"  she finally yelled.

 

"Because you need to face this, you can't run from it Evelyn, and I'm tired of watching you slowly fade out.  You have a life, baby, you have a son, and he needs you.  I need you,"  he said.  She gave one last fight then clung to him sobbing, and he lifted her to sit on his lap.

 

"Thats it Evie just let it all out,"  he said over, and over as she cried.  Alex lay watching them, and didn't mutter a sound, and Rick wished Jonathan were there to take him, but for now it was just them.  She cried for a long time, long enough for Alex to fall asleep, and when the storm passed she was left shaking in his arms.  He kissed the top of her head and laid back with her against the softness of the couch.

 

"I was so mean,"  she said softly.

 

"To me?"  he asked, and she nodded.

 

"Honey you had a right to be angry, and I knew it wasn't me your were angry at,"  he replied rubbing her back.

 

"We won't have anymore children,"  she said in a shaky voice.

 

"Then we will just have to spend as much time with Alex as we can, give him all of our love, and be happy with what we have,"  he said.  She nodded her head.

 

"Rick I want to go back to England,"  she said softly.  He said a silent thank you for that.

 

"We will then.  I sent Jonathan to get things ready for us.  I know I should have told you..."  She lifted her head and silenced him with a kiss, and with that kiss he knew that everything was going to be all right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A month later the O'Connells were adjusting to their life in England.  Evelyn had taken a leave from the museum, and though she had fully healed physically, she still had a lot to deal with emotionally.  There were still bad dreams, but she let Rick help her through those.  They spent much of their time together, going on tours of London, with Evelyn as the guide, showing Alex his new home.  When she was ready she started to tell their son about Egypt, and some day when the time was right they would return there, and let him see his mother's home land.

 

 

The End.