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Alone	By : kattanon Category: M through R > Mummy, The (All) > Mummy, The (All) Views: 14674 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own The Mummy movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
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- 12
Disclaimer: - I don�t own any of the characters of The Mummy, I�m just borrowing them to play with.

Alone Chapter 11

Rick had been becoming increasingly frustrated. For the past four nights he�d trawled his way through the seediest, darkest parts of Cairo. Buying drinks, making sure to lose at cards, knowing that alcohol and money were the two quickest ways to loosen tongues, but all to no avail.
The news that Jonathan had been attacked, but thankfully for Jonathan and Evy not the details of his ordeal, were all over every gambling establishment and bar in the city. Although Rick did come across a few people who seemed pleased by the news he was genuinely surprised by how many others were saddened to discover what had happened. It seemed that despite Jonathan�s rather light-fingered habits many of the patrons of his favourite haunts had something of a soft spot for the Englishman.
Rick might not have learned anything of importance about who had attacked Jonathan, but he had learned plenty about the man himself. While Jonathan�s cheating at cards and occasional petty larceny were common knowledge they were shrugged off as just being � well just being Jonathan. What Rick heard were stories about how Jonathan was never a sore loser when lady-luck, and some marked cards, went against him. How he would never hesitate to lend a fellow a few pounds if he could. How he was sure to stick by you and cheer you up if life was being unkind. How he spoke about his little sister constantly, about how clever she was, how she would go far, becoming a Bainbridge scholar one-day, pride evident in his voice.
The more he learnt about Jonathan from his friends the more Rick found himself liking him, and the more angry he got that someone had done this to someone who was genuinely good-hearted and warm. He only hoped that his ordeal wouldn�t change Jonathan too much, because he really wanted to get to know the man that was spoken of so often with so much affection by others, and Rick was afraid that if he survived that man may be lost forever.
Rick had grimaced, annoyed at himself for thinking if Jonathan survived. Of course he�d survive, get better, he had too for Evy�s sake. Evy clearly adored her older brother, no matter how exasperated she became with him sometimes, and she had been shaken to her very core by what had been done to him. All through their adventures together at Hamunaptra Rick had been impressed by Evy�s indomitable spirit. Yes, he�d seen her afraid, but being confronted by the undead, flesh eating scarabs and nearly being sacrificed was enough to scare anyone, God knows he�d had his moments of near mind-numbing terror too. Yet despite all that he�d never seen Evy look defeated � not until now. Every morning he came home to find her sitting by her brother bedside he could see a little more defeat and despair in her eyes, and it broke his heart.
Every morning he also had to see the question in her eyes, wondering if he�d discovered who had done this to her beloved brother. Every morning Rick felt like he was letting her down, like he was letting her and Jonathan both down, every time he had to sadly shake his head.
Walking slowly back to Fort Brydon empty handed again Rick began to think the time had come for him to contact some of his less savoury acquaintances. After his career in the Foreign Legion had come to a rather bloody end with the majority of his comrades lying dead in the sand around Hamunaptra and a nightmarish trek into the desert, hanging onto life by shear determination, until he was lucky enough to stumble across a Bedouin encampment, Rick had spent three years getting by as best as he could. In the first two years or so that had meant getting in with a fairly ruthless crowd. There were a few things he�d done back then that he wasn�t too proud of, things that he�d make sure Evy never found out about. However, it did mean that some guys who were pretty well connected to the illegal side of Cairo life owed him favours. Guys who knew how to get things done. Guys who knew how to find things out. He�d relinquished that life about six months before Jonathan had picked his pocket determined to make a new start, a better life for himself, but if he had too he�d go back to his old haunts, seek out old acquaintances, and call in his debts.
He�d just made up his mind on this course of action for the next night as he approached the gates of Fort Brydon when a dark figure stepped out of the shadows and called out,
"O�Connell"
Rick instantly recognised the rich accented voice of Ardeth Bey, and stepping forward he held out a hand to the other man. Ardeth took O�Connell�s hand in a strong grip as Rick asked,
"What are you doing here? I thought we said good-bye in the desert." Then an uncomfortable thought entered his head, "Ah no, don�t tell me there�s mummy trouble again �cause I�m not up for saving the world right now."
Ardeth smiled shaking his head,
"No my friend, the monster is dead and all is quiet again in the desert. I am here because I have heard that trouble has come to you."
"You mean Jonathan?" Rick asked.
Nodding Ardeth replied,
"Yes. I have heard that he has been hurt and that he is not well."
"How? I mean how do you know?" Rick asked puzzled.
"You and the Carnahans fought bravely at Hamunaptra and you did my people a great service defeating Imhotep."
"Even if we were the ones who woke him up in the first place." Rick pointed out ruefully.
"That is so, but you also stayed to fight him when many would have fled."
Rick shrugged to acknowledge Ardeth�s words,
"That still doesn�t explain how you know about Jonathan or what you�re doing here."
"Although you all proved yourselves as brave warriors trouble does seem to follow you all wherever you go, so I had some friends of the Medjai here in Cairo keep a watch on you, just in case." Ardeth replied with a shrug. "When I heard that Jonathan was hurt I had to come to see if I could help. We have fought together, faced death together we are friends, so�I came."
Rick smiled and reached out to pat Ardeth on the shoulder,
"Well it�s good to see you. I just wish�well that it was under better circumstances."
"So do I my friend." Ardeth assured him. "But come you must tell me what has happened. How was Jonathan hurt?"
Rick could tell by Ardeth�s expression that he had let some of the anger and despair he felt show on his face, the Medjai leader�s face became even more concerned looking than it had before.
"Let�s walk in the garden for a while." Rick said, glancing up at the sky and seeing the first streaks of dawn lightening it. He knew he�d have to tell Ardeth everything and he would rather not have to tell the story in front of poor Evy. Besides he hoped she was getting some rest, her nighttime vigils by Jonathan�s bed were exhausting her, but she refused to let anyone else take her place.
Rick�s voice was a quiet monotone as he told Ardeth what Jonathan had gone through and how ill he was now. His emotions finally betraying him when he voiced his own dark fear that Jonathan was going to die, his tongue stumbling over the words he�d only said in his own mind before, afraid to say them out loud as if by uttering them he�d somehow make them come true.
They�d stopped walking and Ardeth was quiet his face turned away from Rick, facing the rising sun. They both stood motionless for a few minutes before Ardeth finally seemed to collect himself and turned back to face him. Now Rick had seen Ardeth angry before, when they stood facing each other across a campfire, with Rick holding a lit stick of dynamite and Ardeth warning them all to leave Hamunaptra, and when the Medjai warrior had assured them that no mortal weapons could kill Imhotep before he and his men had gone to face the monster. However, the barely controlled rage he could see in the other man�s eyes now made Rick�s blood run cold for a moment.
"This is why you prowl Cairo at night, searching for the creature who has done this terrible thing?"
Rick nodded,
"Yeah. I�ve not had any luck yet, but I still have a few favours to call in. I�m gonna get the son-of-a-bitch who did this."
Ardeth reached out and grasped Rick�s forearm,
"Then you shall have me by your side. This calls for revenge, the one who has done this must be punished."
"Oh don�t worry I have a few �punishments� already in mind." Rick assured him.
Ardeth inclined his head in acknowledgement before asking,
"May I see him?"
"Of course, of course�I know Evy is gonna be glad to see you."
*
Rick had been right about that. After gasping his name, and a moments stunned silence, she quickly crossed the room and hugged the surprised, but pleased man. Stepping back, a little flustered and embarrassed by her reaction she asked,
"But what are you doing here? There�s no trouble at Hamunaptra�"
Interrupting her Ardeth replied,
"As I told O�Connell all is well there, it is for your troubles that I have come."
As he spoke Ardeth looked towards the bed where Jonathan lay concern etching itself across his features once more.
Evy sighed and turned to look towards her brother as well,
"Did Rick tell you what happened?"
"Yes."
Nodding Evy glanced down at the floor feeling her emotions in turmoil inside her and a hot pricking at the back of her eyes that signaled that tears were rising up. She tried to reach out within herself to find some hidden strength to cling to, to push her fears and sadness away, but she was too tired and too depressed to do so. She bit her lip as the tears escaped and ran hot down her burning cheeks. Looking up at Rick she saw the anguish on his face and that just made her feel worse.
In an instant she was wrapped in his strong embrace while she sobbed into his chest.
"Oh Rick, he�s so ill�his fever�s worse�what�what if he dies. What will I do?"
At those words Rick held her even tighter, feeling the strength drain out of her.
"It�ll be okay Evy. He won�t die�he�ll pull through this." Rick crooned to her looking over at Ardeth silently asking the other man to help them, to make his words to her a promise not a lie.
Ardeth understood and added his own assurances to Rick�s,
"O�Connell is correct. Your brother will live I am sure of it. While fighting the monster he was afraid many times, but he never gave up he was always there for his friends, for you, he always did what had to be done. That is the true sign of bravery. He will not give up now. He will fight and get better because he will know that we are here for him�and his love for you is great, he will not leave you."
Rick smiled his gratitude at him as Evy straightened at Ardeth�s words and reached up to wipe away her tears. She turned and smiled sadly at him,
"You�re right Ardeth�thank you."
Ardeth inclined his head towards her before saying,
"But you must not make yourself ill looking after him, Jonathan wouldn�t want that. You are tired and should rest."
"Oh, but Jonathan might need me."
"Then I shall be here for him�it is why I came." Ardeth stated. "You must eat and rest�you to O�Connell. I will stay with Jonathan and see to his needs."
"Well�" Evy hesitated, although the thought of some hot food and a lie down in her bed did sound tempting.
"Please," Ardeth said sincerely. "Let me help."
Seeing his earnestness Evy finally relented and let herself be led out of Jonathan�s room by Rick, who turned back to Ardeth as they passed through the doorway to mouth a silent "thank you" to him.
When they had gone Ardeth made his way to Jonathan�s bedside. He winced at the pale skin, and fever-flushed cheeks, and at the angry bruises that he could see on Jonathan�s face and neck. Reaching down Ardeth gently brushed a stray lock of hair from Jonathan�s forehead as he whispered in a broken voice,
"Habibi."

Author�s Note: - Arabic/English translation: - Habibi = beloved one.
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- 12
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