The Forever Friends
by LadiSwan

Summary: Evy's American penpal arrives in Egypt with her young daughter and younger brother.  But as she sets foot on Egyptian soil, she becomes haunted by dreams of a past life, of a handsome prince, a young concubine, and the concubine's best friend. . .a beautiful girl named 'Anck-su-namun.'  As an ancient evil arises once more, Anck-su-namun finds herself in a Place-in-Between, and while there, she also discovers a chance at redemption. . .if she can look past Ardeth Bey's Med-jai markings.

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"I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU!"

Miranda beat her small fists on the chest of the terrible man who had hurt her mother and Ardeth.  They had landed here, the mean man still holding Miranda close as he stalked toward that scary place with the funny name.  Miranda didn't want to be here.  She was afraid.  She wanted to be back with her mommy and with Ardeth.  Ardeth, who would be her daddy when he and Mommy got married.

"Shhh, little one, I will not harm you," the man replied softly, rubbing her back.  Miranda burst into tears.  He had hurt her mommy, she saw him hurt her mommy!  The man whispered something under his breath, then said, "I have been unforgivably rude, little one.  My name is Imhotep, high priest of Seti the First.  I have brought you here for your protection, there is no need to be afraid of me.  I have left word with your mother where you could be found."

Miranda didn't stop crying, but she did stop pounding on the man's chest.  She was getting tired, and her fists hurt.  The man patted her back again, saying softly, "I was told that you were the reincarnation of a very special little girl who had been kidnapped by the O'Connells."  Miranda reared back at that piece of information, so startled that she stopped crying.  K. . .k. . .kidnapped?  NO!  She got mad at Uncle Rick sometimes, but. . .

"They didn't kidnap me!  Uncle Jason and those bad men kidnapped my mommy, but Uncle Rick and Aunt Evy didn't kidnap me.  They're Mommy's friends!  You hurt my mommy!" Miranda repeated.  She found herself scooped up and held in the man's arms as she cried herself out.  She didn't know what to do. She was just a little girl, she wasn't big and strong, and she couldn't fight like Ardeth.

"Shhh, it is all right, little one.  I ask your forgiveness for harming your mother.  I still do not know your name, though I know your mother to be Ardath," the man named Imhotep said.  Miranda frowned, wiping away her tears as she pulled back once more to look at him.  Ardeth?  That wasn't her mommy's name, her mommy's name was Celia!  The man explained, "Your mother has had many names over the centuries, little one.  The name by which she was known, the first time I met her, was 'Lady Ardath,' concubine of Prince Rameses."

She looked at him, frowning.  He was a stranger.  She wasn't supposed to talk to strangers.  But Miranda was far from her home, literally ripped from her mother's arms, and this man had apologized for hurting her mother.  He told her that he had been told Uncle Rick and Aunt Evy had kidnapped her.  She whispered, "Miranda.  My name is Miranda.  My mommy's name is Celia.  My uncle Jason kidnapped her.  I. . .Uncle Jason!"  She saw her uncle over the man's shoulders, and felt the man now holding her stiffen.

He turned very slowly and growled something which Miranda couldn't understand.  But she did feel his arms tightening around her, the way Mommy's did when she thought someone might hurt Miranda.  Uncle Jason answered, "So. You recognize me, do you, Imhotep?  Good.  Then you know why you have been awakened."  Miranda found herself cuddling closer to the man who had just taken her from her mother.  That other man wasn't really Uncle Jason.

Imhotep answered, again in words Miranda didn't understand.  Then, as he had when he took her out of her aunt and uncle's house, he spun around.  Miranda squealed and grabbed Imhotep around the neck, hanging on for dear life.  There was a blur, and Imhotep muttered, "Foolish man. . .this is my place.  He should have realized there were places here that I know, and he does not.  You will be safe here."

He set her down, gazing at her almost in the same way Ardeth looked at her.  He put his finger under her chin, and continued, "I must go, child.  Khaldun and his men will try to find you, but they will fail.  I have roamed these halls for so many years, and I know these walls well. I can make myself unseen, and should anyone try to harm you, they will die.  You have my word as a high priest on that."

Miranda nodded.  Not because of his word, but because she had just seen him protect her from Uncle Jason.  Imhotep smiled at her, his eyes lighting up, as he continued, "Listen to me, little Miranda, your mother and the Med-jai are coming for you.  I told them where to find you, in a manner of speaking.  And again, I give you my word, I will not harm your mother or. . .or the Med-jai again.  They are not my enemies now.  Indeed, I seek to protect them, for we have a common enemy."

Miranda tried to figure out what exactly that meant.  She wished her mommy or Ardeth were here, so they could tell her what that meant.  Imhotep closed his eyes and bowed his head, then offered, "Khaldun seeks to hurt your mother.  He also seeks to hurt me.  So I will help your mother.  Do you understand?"  Now that, Miranda did understand.  She smiled at him, and Imhotep stared at her, his eyes suddenly very wide.  He murmured, "Oh, Imhotep, you fool!  Stay here, little one, and be safe."

As soon as the words were out, one of the men who had been with Uncle Jason only a few minutes earlier appeared behind Imhotep.  Miranda tried to call out a warning to her new protector, but it wasn't necessary.  The man swung around, and the bad man went flying back.  Imhotep stalked away from Miranda, and drove a dagger (where did he get that?) into the man's tummy.  Miranda cringed as the man fell to the ground. 

And then she thought. . .he had been with Uncle Jason.  Uncle Jason had hurt her mommy, had kidnapped her, and hurt Ardeth, too.  He would have hurt Miranda.  And the little girl decided she was glad the bad man was dead.  He couldn't hurt her, or her mommy, or Ardeth any more.  Imhotep turned back to her, then smiled very gently, and touched her face.  She smiled back, and Imhotep quietly disappeared.

Miranda looked around, not sure where she was.  Until she looked down beside her and saw. . .a mummy?  Aunt Evy had told her about mummies!  The mummy looked like it might be a lady mummy, and Miranda wondered about the lady before she had died.  She whispered to the body, "I'm scared, are you?  Don't be.  I'm not very big, and I can't fight as good as Ardeth, but I'll protect you until my mommy and Ardeth come."

.                     .                         .

Anck was more touched than words could say by Miranda's offer to protect her body.  She had wept as Imhotep tore through the O'Connell house, injuring both Ardeth and Celia, and frightening little Miranda as he abducted the little girl.  And she had screamed at her love, begging him not to do this.  Even as the O'Connells, Celia, and Ardeth made their plans, Anck watched her love take the little girl to Hamunaptra.

Would you like to reanimate your body and stay with the child until her mother and the others arrive? a soft voice asked, and Anck looked away from the land of the mortals, to her companion.  Mathayus was looking at her compassionately as he added, It is permitted, and you will bring her comfort.  I have spoke with Ma'at, and she has agreed.  She does not think you will frighten the child.

Yes, Anck whispered.  That was all that was required, it seemed.  The word was scarcely out of her mouth, before she found herself spinning, spinning, spinning.  And then she was settling back in her own body-not Meela's, not Evelyn Carnahan's, her own-for the first time in three thousand years.  Anck took a deep breath, feeling as if she had been underwater.  It took several blinks before her eyes seemed willing to work, and then she sat up.  Miranda turned very slowly, her small body tense with fear.  Anck struggled to remind herself to speak in English, not in her own language.  And to remain patient.

"Do not be afraid of me.  I am Princess Anck-su-namun.  I was given leave to come to you, since you were so kind to offer your protection to me," Anck said slowly, carefully.  The fear in Miranda's dark eyes slowly gave way to curiosity.  She had reason to be afraid-by the gods, did she have reason to be afraid!  Anck realized how she must look to the child and hoped she wouldn't frighten Miranda further by smiling at her.

"My name is Miranda, are you really real?" the little girl asked softly and Anck nodded.  Miranda swallowed hard, her dark eyes getting bigger by the minute, and asked next, "Can I touch you?  Or are you gonna turn to dust?  Aunt Evy says we gotta be careful, 'cause sometimes if we touch a mummy, they'll turn to dust, but I don't understand that."  This was said with a shake of her head.

If Anck had been charmed by the little girl earlier, she was totally enchanted now.  She very carefully attempted a smile as she replied, "You may touch me, sweet girl."  With that, she carefully closed her fingers around Miranda's wrist, and lifted her hand to touch Anck's face.  Miranda gave a little giggle, and Anck found herself laughing as well.  Anck said, "I will take care of you, Miranda, until your mama comes for you."

"Okay.  I was right!  I was right, you ARE a lady mummy!" the little girl exclaimed excitedly.  Anck laughed delightedly, especially when Miranda gave an excited little bounce.  But as children often do, her mood swung drastically, and Miranda asked, "Princess, is my mommy okay?  Imhotep hurt her.  He says he didn't mean to, and he protected me from those bad men, but. . ."  Anck melted.

"In the first place, little Miranda," the concubine whispered, "you must call me 'Anck.'  That is what my forever friend always called me, before she died.  And in the second place, before I came to join you, I saw your mother.  She and Ardeth are fine.  Your mama is frightened for you, and Ardeth blames himself, but they are fine, and they are on their way here."

Miranda screwed up her little face into a glare, and said angrily, "It's not Ardeth's fault!  He was hurt!"  The little girl gave an exasperated huff, and Anck fought back a giggle.  Miranda asked next, "What happened to your forever friend?  How did she die? Were you real sad?"  Anck swallowed at the barrage of questions, which brought back so many memories, and Miranda said softly, "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to make you sad."

"You did not make me sad, little Miranda, you did not kill my forever friend.  Her name was Ardath.  When we were twenty years old, she was killed by the bad man who made your uncle Jason betray your mama.  She was poisoned, and died in the arms of Rameses, whom she loved and who was the father of her child.  And yes, dear one, I was very, very sad.  So sad, that I thought I was the only one who loved her.  The only one who missed her," Anck replied.

"Imhotep said that my mommy's name used to be 'Ardath,' a long time ago," Miranda offered, and Anck nodded, smiling.  Yes, he had.  Miranda looked at her, and said, "Do you think your friend knew my mommy?  Like, Mommy told me once, that sometimes, two ladies had the same name, 'cause one lady was named after the other."

"Your mama was my forever friend, dear one.  She was the Ardath who was my forever friend.  I have missed her so much for all these years, and now she has come back.  She has found Rameses again.  You see, little one, just as your mama's name was once Ardath, so too, Ardeth Bey was once called 'Rameses,' and they loved each other very, very much.  In fact. . ." Anck said, looking at Miranda closely, "in fact, since your mama is the reincarnation of my forever friend, my sister, that makes you my niece."

"OOH!  Goody!  I have an aunt who's a mummy!" Miranda said, giving a little bounce as she clapped her hands.  Anck threw her head back and laughed, almost regretting it.  She forgot that she was in a three thousand year old body, and her head had almost fallen off when she laughed.  Which would have frightened Miranda.  However, after a moment, Anck was saved from losing her head.

"Yes, dear heart, you have an aunt who is a mummy.  And I will stay here and take care of you, until your mama comes.  She will be here as soon as she can, along with your other aunt," Anck replied.  Curiously, the only envy she felt now for Nefertiri was that she could hold a child, and feel the softness of that child's hair, that child's skin.  Anck had never really given much thought to having a child.  But she regretted that now.  She regretted so many things.

"Aunt Anck, are you sure my mommy's okay?" Miranda asked, and Anck cupped the small face in her hands.  She remembered holding Ardeth, after his birth, the sweet weight of a trusting child against her.  She remembered seeing the beautiful little black-haired boy, hurtling through the corridors, crying out to her.  She had shut out those memories for so long.  But now, it all came back, including the feel of Ardeth throwing his little arms around her legs.

Seti had always laughed, she remembered now, when he saw the smudging of the paint caused by a little boy holding onto Anck's legs.  She also remembered the hurt in his eyes when Anck had moved protectively in front of the little boy, as if to shield him from Seti's anger.  Yes.  He had been hurt when he asked, "Do you truly think I would harm my own grandchild, Anck?"  Something else she had forgotten.  Seti had loved Ardeth.  He loved to watch the little boy run through the corridors, squealing with laughter when Shakir caught him and spun him around.

So many memories.  So many mistakes.  So many times when she only saw what she wanted to see.  She was slowly coming to accept that Ardath's murder was not her fault, but there were plenty of other things that were.  Anck leaned forward, saying very softly, "Miranda.  I have many regrets in my life.  But I will not lie to you.   Your mama is all right.  Yes, she was hurt.  But she is awake and she is moving, and she is ready to come for you.   Do you believe me?"  Wide, dark eyes regarded her, eyes that reminded her of another child.

And then Miranda nodded very slowly, saying softly, "Okay.  Aunt Anck?  Would I hurt you if I gave you a hug?" In answer, Anck scooped the little girl into her arms, shifting her until Miranda was seated crosswise on Anck's lap, her head resting securely against the concubine's chest.  Miranda whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks and soaking the leathery skin of Anck's mummy, "I'm tired, Anck.  Can I take a nap?"  Anck lightly kissed the dark hair, her own eyes wet with tears, even after three thousand years.

She began to sing to the little girl, a lullaby she remembered hearing when she was a small girl.  Who had sung that?  It was not an Egyptian song.  No, Ardath's foster mother had sung it to Ardath, who in turn sang it to Anck when the Egyptian girl was feeling frightened.  She smiled weakly as she sang, remembering how Ardath denied that she was singing it to Anck.  After all, Anck didn't get scared.  Ardath was singing it to herself.

Foolish, prideful little girl.  But in time, Anck had allowed herself to take the comfort offered.  It was only right, then, that three thousand years later, Anck was singing that song to Miranda, the daughter of Ardath's reincarnation.  Anck knew that this was not the reincarnation of either of Ardath's children.  This soul was entirely too new.  But she was Celia's daughter, and Celia was the reincarnation of Ardath.  That was all that mattered.  She didn't even realize it, but Anck had just taken another step in her own redemption.

.                    .                         .

In the future, Imhotep decided, he would be a little more careful in his choices.  Though small, Miranda had obviously learned how to throw a punch, and he had the bruises on his chest to prove it.  Then there was her amazing ability to scream.  In all truthfulness, Imhotep was unaccustomed to dealing with small girls.  True enough, there had been Nefertiri when she was a child, but she was a princess, taught to behave as royalty from a very young age.

Miranda, on the other hand, wasn't a princess.  Rather, she was just a frightened little girl who had been taken from her mother's arms, and seen her mother thrown rather brutally into a wall.  If that wasn't enough to make Imhotep feel low, then there was the way she had screamed at him that she hated him.  Not because she hadn't gotten her way, but because of the pain he had caused her mother, someone she loved.

Imhotep wasn't entirely sure, where these feelings originated.  Perhaps it was because some of the soul's memories remained within the body, and the man who had inhabited the body before Imhotep himself would have been repulsed by what Imhotep had done.  Maybe it was the memory of seeing what his arrogance had done to so many.  But the high priest felt ashamed for frightening the child, and for hurting her mother.

He had accomplished what he set out to do.  He knew now that he had been used, and he also knew who was doing the using.  Khaldun.  Somehow, Khaldun had risen once more.  And that could not be good.  Imhotep had realized, during his appearance in the O'Connell house, that the child's mother was the reincarnation of Lady Ardath.  Which meant another member of that long-ago drama had now been drawn into the situation.  Ardath, Imhotep, Khaldun, Terumun, Nefertiri, and Nassor.  The only one remaining was Rameses.

That also explained why Khaldun's men had wanted him to kidnap the child.  It was so obvious.  Kidnap the child, lure the mother here, and Khaldun could take his revenge on Ardath's reincarnation.  Never mind, of course, that she had not been among those who had tortured, then murdered, Khaldun.  That never made a difference to one such as Khaldun.  Imhotep knew that well, for once, much to his shame, he had been like that.

He had left little Miranda with the mummy of Anck-su-namun, perhaps because the Anck-su-namun he remembered from all those years ago would have watched over the child.  Though, in the beginning, she had little use for children, Anck-su-namun had come to love the small son of her forever friend.  She had called him her 'nephew,' just as Ardath herself was Anck-su-namun's sister.  And while she had betrayed him, Imhotep had felt in his heart that the woman he had loved so many years earlier would never betray Ardath.

Just to be safe, Imhotep had placed wards around the child.  Khaldun would not be permitted to separate another mother and child.  And Imhotep ignored the voice in his head, which reminded him of a time when he showed no such scruples.  But that was before his time in the Underworld, before he came to understand the suffering he caused to others with his own selfishness.  Besides, while he had been selfish, Imhotep had never been stupid.  He didn't make the same mistake twice.

Again, that voice reminded him that wasn't entirely true.  How many times had he underestimated the O'Connell family?  And the Med-jai?  Imhotep felt a smile tugging at his lips as he thought of the young Med-jai in the O'Connell house, their ally from his first rising.  While the young man had always been his opponent, Imhotep had to acknowledge his worthiness as an opponent.  He did not give up, even after repeatedly being thrown into the wall, he. . .

Wait.  What was that?  Imhotep ignored his surroundings for a moment, focusing on his fight with the Med-jai warrior.  There was something so familiar about him, something which had never registered with Imhotep in all the times he had fought the O'Connells.  Then again, how many times had he actually faced the Med-jai, through all the times he had faced the O'Connells?  Truly, he had seen the young man from a distance when he and O'Connell had rescued the reincarnation of Nefertiri.  But never before had he actually faced the Med-jai.

Something else occurred to him then.  Lock-nah often ranted about the Med-jai chieftain, through the journey to Ahm Shere.  Ardeth Bey.  Imhotep's breath caught in his throat as he realized why the young man looked so familiar to him.  Ardeth Bey had also been the foster son of Shakir Bey, and birth son of Prince Rameses and Lady Ardath.  This Ardeth Bey could be a twin to Rameses, save for the black hair which reached his shoulders.

Like most Egyptians of the time, Rameses had worn his hair close cropped and a wig.  But his hair had not been curly or even wavy.  On the other hand, his son Ardeth's hair had been wavy, like his mother's.  Yes.  He was staring at the descendent of his best friend, who was a Med-jai.  Imhotep wanted to laugh, but it hurt too much.  It didn't occur to him, however, that after three thousand years, it was highly unlikely that a simple descendent of Rameses would bear such a striking resemblance to the prince.

"Oh, Imhotep, you have truly done it this time," the high priest muttered under his breath, stalking through the corridors of Hamunaptra once more.  One of Khaldun's men appeared in front of him, as if conjured by Imhotep's mind.  The high priest welcomed the chance to hurt someone, someone who had tried to use him, someone who would use an innocent child in such an evil way.

However, this wasn't one of Khaldun's men, after all.  It wasn't even a man, but a skeleton.  Imhotep eyed the strangely familiar figure, then smiled in recognition.  The being rasped in the language of the slaves, "You have need of me, my prince?"  Imhotep had never thought the little weasel was truly loyal to him.  But for now, he would take what allies he could find to protect little Miranda.

"There is a child in the resurrection chamber, a girl-child of four years.  You are to protect her.  See that no harm comes to her, for she is the key to my redemption," Imhotep instructed the little man once known as 'Beni.'  He didn't know how Beni had awakened, why his spirit had returned to animate his corpse, but he had a feeling it had to do with Khaldun's awakening.  The line between the living and the dead had grown blurry.

"I shall do as you ask, my prince," Beni answered.  Imhotep inclined his head, then continued seeking out Khaldun's men, for he wished to dispose of as many of them as possible.  The fewer men to face the O'Connells and the Med-jai, the less time it would take for Miranda's rescue to take place, and thus, the less time Khaldun would have to finish whatever plans he had in mind for both Ardath's reincarnation and her child.

Which brought up another interesting question.  Miranda had called Khaldun's present form 'Uncle Jason.'  When he had absorbed the fluids of those whom had opened his chest, Imhotep had absorbed their knowledge in a way which he didn't fully understand.  What he did understand was that 'uncle' meant the brother of a parent.  In this case, Imhotep guessed, Khaldun had taken over the body of Ardath's brother.

It was just the sort of thing to appeal to Khaldun, assuming, of course, that he even knew that the boy Jason was brother to Ardath's reincarnation.  Even so, Imhotep knew that he was grateful he had never before faced Ardeth Bey in combat, as he had the O'Connells.  It was hard enough, seeing the face of a brother on the body of an enemy.  Defeating Khaldun would not be easy for Miranda's mother.

He had told Beni's skeleton that protecting Miranda was his key to redemption.  Something he found he wanted, very much.  He cared little for the pain he had caused Seti.  After all, Seti had hurt Anck-su-namun.  But he did care about the pain he had caused to Nefertiri and to Rameses.  He cared about the pain he had caused to others, whose only crime was getting in his way.  He regretted that very much.

And while Miranda was not the reincarnation of Rameses and Ardath's lost daughter, it mattered little.  Imhotep had found it very hard, dealing with that loss.  He had little love for Lady Ardath, but that did not mean he wished to see her grieving so terribly for her child. 

The child she had lost because of that bastard Khaldun.  And as a healer, Imhotep never wanted to lose a patient.  There was one other factor; though the souls were totally different, the names were not.  Miriam and Miranda (but how did he know Ardath's daughter had been Miriam, when she had not named that child during her life?).  Two little girls, separated by three thousand years, but this time, Imhotep would make things right.  This time, he would make sure that an innocent child did not pay the consequences for Khaldun's evil.

.                      .                        .

They had a lot of work to do, and not much time in which to do it.  Rick was making himself, and everyone else, insane by trying to figure out what he could use to bribe Izzy into taking them to Hamunaptra.  Jonathan and Alex were trying to decide what kinds of supplies they would need, when Celia finally told them very clearly to find a small bag and start putting first aid necessities into that bag.

When Jonathan muttered a few choice phrases under his breath about bossy females, Celia had stopped what she was doing (namely, removing Ardeth's shirt so she and Evy could see how badly he had been injured) and turned a steely gaze onto Evy's older brother.  Jonathan had double-timed it into the pantry just off the kitchen, chanting, "I'm going, I'm going!"  Evy decided to never anger Celia, least of all when her child had been kidnapped.

It had taken some work, but the two young women had Ardeth lying on the davenport.  Rick had made an obscure remark about Ardeth enjoying the attention of two beautiful women while he was prone and half-naked.  Celia had picked up a pair of scissors, and waved the utensils at him threateningly.  Rick backpedaled out of the room, hands raised in the classic 'surrender' gesture. Eventually, Evy thought, he'll learn not to make her angry.  Eventually.

The trouble at the moment was not Rick, but Ardeth himself.  The vicious kick to his side had resulted in broken ribs.  He had no business going into battle, but Evy knew better than to suggest he stay here.  That wasn't who Ardeth Bey was, it never had been.  He had done the exact same thing after Alex was kidnapped, but this was deeper.  More personal.  Evy recognized that just as Ardeth had fallen in love with the mother, he had grown to love the child as his own daughter.

He would not stay, would not allow Celia to face this alone.  And so, the two women carefully wrapped his ribs, stabilizing the broken bones.  He was in excruciating pain.  Evy could see it in his eyes, but he fought to maintain his composure.  It helped, Evy thought, that Celia's hands rested on his shoulders, stabilizing him.  Because if it had been Celia who had been doing the wrapping, they might have been in trouble.  The pair had a hard time keeping their hands off each other.  Not unlike Rick and Evy, come to think of it.

Still, she couldn't resist teasing Ardeth as she carefully tied off the bandage, "Almost done, unless you wish Celia to kiss and make better first?"  She arched her brows at him suggestively, and Ardeth blushed, muttering something under his breath in Arabic, and something which sounded rather uncomplimentary.  Evy laughed softly, exercising her right as a little sister to tease her big brother.

As she expected, Ardeth blushed once more and Evy's grin widened.  She sat back to admire her handiwork, and Ardeth said as he pushed himself to his feet, "I must go.  Are my robes clean yet?"  Evy nodded, and Ardeth leaned heavily against the side of the davenport.  Celia had also risen to her feet, a small hand going to Ardeth's shoulder in a wordless gesture of support.  Evy checked him again, just to make sure he was breathing all right.  And he was.  For the moment.

As Celia put a gentle, supportive arm around Ardeth's waist, leading him toward the stairs, the front door flew open.  Celia released Ardeth, her body going almost automatically into a defensive stance.  Evy blinked, then winced as Rick barreled into the front room, his gun cocked and ready to fire.  At the same time, Jonathan and Alex appeared from the pantry, Jonathan wielding a broom.  Rick shifted on the safety, glanced at Jonathan and asked with amusement, "What were you planning to do with that?"

Jonathan simply glared at Evy's husband and retreated to the pantry once more, dragging Alex behind him, ignoring the little boy's protest that he wanted to stay and talk to Anatol, their unexpected visitor.  Evy returned her attention to the young Med-jai, who was glaring at Ardeth for all he was worth.  What followed made the arguments between Nefertiri and Rameses, when they were children, look like nothing.

Ardeth kept trying to go upstairs, but Anatol was determined to have his say.  And Evy learned with a shock that Anatol wanted Celia as his own wife.  Strange.  She had never even considered that, especially since Celia was five years older than Anatol, and her friend seemed to regard the warrior as a kid brother.  Ardeth quietly answered that this was rude to their hosts, and to Celia.  However, these things needed to be said, and he loved Celia, just as Celia loved him.  Ardeth was truly sorry that caused his brother pain.

And once more, a man learned not to anger Celia, as the young American woman exclaimed with no small degree of exasperation, "I apologize for breaking up whatever this is, but Anatol, it has to wait.  My little girl's been kidnapped, she needs me, and I don't intend to fail her again.  So, either join us or get out of our way.  Your choice."  Anatol blinked, as if he had never seen this pint-sized American Fury before in his life.  Which, when she thought about it, was about right.  At last, Anatol made his decision.  He took Ardeth's other side, helping his older brother up the stairs.

Evy and Rick looked at each other, then Rick finally said, "Well, that was interesting.  Does anyone have any idea what that was all about?"  Evy nodded, flopping down onto the cushions just vacated by Ardeth.  Rick continued, sitting down beside her, "Well, would you like to share with the rest of the class, or do we have to play twenty questions?"  He picked up Evy's hand, lightly kissing her knuckles.

"Well, do you want the long version or the short?" Evy asked.  Rick just looked at her, and Evy explained with a sigh, "Short version it is.  It seems Anatol is in love with Celia, or at least wants her as his wife.  Apparently, he doesn't think she's quite strong enough to stand up to the disappointed Med-jai maidens whom she'll be displacing."  Rick just arched his brows, as he looked from Evy to the stairs leading to the second floor.

"He might want to rethink that," Rick observed and Evy nodded.  Her husband continued, "I know she keeps surprising me.  Besides, she's too old for him."  Evy glared at him, and Rick put up his hands, adding in a more conciliatory tone, "I just mean that she's five years older than he is, and he should have a girlfriend his own age.  One of the things that allows Celia work so well with Ardeth is she understands him."

Rick added with a slight frown, "Although I find that rather scary.  Especially when she starts talking like him.  You're only supposed to do that when you're an old married couple like us."  Evy tried to hold her scowl in place, but she just couldn't do it.  Rick was trying so hard.  Besides.  She rather liked the idea of being part of an old married couple.  She should have realized why Rick was trying so hard.  For the next thing he said was, "And we've got a baby on the way, so I want you to stay here, Evy."

The Englishwoman was on her feet immediately, hands on hips and glaring at Rick for all she was worth.  Rick was on his feet as well, putting his hands on her shoulders, as he said, "You're pregnant, honey.  I just don't want anything to happen to you or to the baby."  Evy took a deep breath, remembering the last time they had this conversation.  However, he was right, and she did have to protect her child.

At last, she replied, "Rick, darling.  Listen.  I told you when this first started, that we couldn't hide from what we are anymore.  Do you remember the last time we had this conversation?  I agreed with you, before first I, then our son, was kidnapped.  I will be careful, but you know as well as I do that anything can happen.  If I'm with you, and Jonathan, and Ardeth, I have a better chance of staying safe.  You know that."

Rick looked away, and Evy cupped his face with her hand, saying softly, "Rick.  Every instinct I possess is telling me that I must be there, for this final confrontation.  I will not fight.  I will leave that to you, and to Ardeth.  But I must be there.  I must make things right.  I failed my brother before, when I was Nefertiri and he was Rameses.  Don't you see?  I am finished with failing the people I love."

Rick closed his eyes and lowered his head.  After a moment, he looked at her and said, "You're right.  I know you're right.  But I am so afraid of losing you. . ."  His voice trailed off, and Evy rocked up onto her toes, lightly kissing his lips.  She smiled at him, and Rick muttered, "I hate when you do that.  Makes me feel like agreeing to anything."  Evy laughed softly, recognizing her own words from a few months earlier, prior to her kidnapping.

"Ohhhh, puh-leaze!  Would you two get a room?" Alex and Jonathan whined in unison, even as Anatol, Ardeth, and Celia came downstairs. 

Ardeth was once more dressed in the black robes of the Med-jai.  Rick sighed, kissed Evy again, then went to Ardeth's side.  Evy knew the bandoliers would have to be arranged over Ardeth's chest, and he still had to gather his weaponry together.  Anatol was still staring at Celia, as if he had never seen her before, and Evy fought her grin.  She said aloud, "Since you two have such a problem with watching me kiss Rick, why don't you help Anatol with his weapons, and Celia and I will start carrying the supplies out to the car?"

This met with the approval of all three boys (including the overgrown one), and Alex and Jonathan dragged Anatol into the pantry.  Evy decided she really didn't want to know what sorts of weapons were in there that she didn't know about.  Instead, she turned her attention to the other female in the group and said, "Well.  It looks like Anatol is changing his mind about you, dear friend.  Care to share some gossip while we load the car?  This could take a while."

"That, my dear Mrs. O'Connell, sounds like an absolutely capital idea," came Celia's sassy reply.  Evy laughed and picked up one bag, handing the other to her friend.  As the two women headed outside to start their latest adventure, Celia said, "You know, ever since I got to Egypt, I've been finding out a lot of things about myself.  Did that happen to you. . .ahhh, never mind.  I did NOT ask that question!"  Evy just laughed, understanding exactly what Celia meant.

.                      .                       .

Within two hours of Miranda's abduction, the entire group was ready to go.  Ardeth was sitting up front with Rick, who glanced at his friend worriedly every few minutes.  His friend was pale, with one hand pressed to his side.  The American swallowed hard, hoping that no permanent damage had been done to the Med-jai.  The poor guy had been beaten up enough during the last few weeks.

Rick turned his attention to the problem of transportation to Hamunaptra.  Winston, of course, was dead, and there was no way he was doing that a second time even if Winston hadn't died in the crash seven years earlier.  For one thing, Ardeth's ribs would never handle being tied to an airplane wing a second time.  For another, there were a lot more people this time around.  Despite repeated efforts, he had been unable to get in touch with Izzy.  Rick thought briefly that Izzy wouldn't take his calls, then dismissed that possibility from his mind.  Why wouldn't Izzy take his calls?

As the car jerked forward, there was a soft groan to his left.  From the corner of his eye, Rick saw Celia reach forward to put her hand on Ardeth's shoulder.  The Med-jai turned his head in that direction, resting his cheek against her small, pale hand.  Rick swallowed hard, then directed his attention to the road.  They couldn't rescue Miranda if he got into an accident.

Fortunately, the drive to Izzy's airfield was a short one, and Rick pulled his car to a halt.  Everyone got out, Evy and Celia helping Ardeth, while a still-stunned Anatol helped Alex to remove the supplies from the floor of the car.  One of these days, Rick would seriously have to talk to his wife about the way she packed the car.  The American smacked his brother-in-law in the back of his head, indicating Anatol and Alex, then headed over to get Izzy's attention.

His old buddy was no happier to see him now than he was a few months earlier.  However, the good thing about that was, while he was arguing with Rick, Anatol, Jonathan, and Alex were loading their supplies onto his plane.  Plane?  Yes, plane.  That damn dirigible (which had admittedly saved their lives while Ahm Shere was being sucked into the ground) was no more.  Ardeth had joined Rick and Izzy, Evy and Celia making sure he stayed balanced.

After Alex's kidnapping, Rick finally had to bribe Izzy into helping them by waving the Spear of Osiris in his old friend's face.  The Spear of Osiris was gone, along with Ahm Shere and the Scorpion King.  And Izzy wanted them to make it worth his while.  Rick was running out of patience when the familiar sound of a steel scimitar clearing its scabbard could be heard.  Rick moved out of the way as Ardeth lay the blade of his scimitar against Izzy's throat.

The chieftain spoke in Arabic, his dark eyes flashing with quiet rage.  Rick, who did know Arabic, didn't recognize the dialect.  However, Izzy obviously did, for he gave a sizable gulp, his eyes going very wide.  Not that Rick blamed him, not when Ardeth was scaring the hell out of him, and Rick didn't understand a word of what he was saying.  Then again, Ardeth was real good with intimidation; his height alone gave him that ability, coupled with his tattoos and black robes.  Izzy gave a single nod, and Ardeth removed the scimitar from his throat.  Izzy scampered away, one hand on his butt protectively as he looked over his shoulder at Ardeth.

Rick turned to look at his exhausted friend, but it was Evy who said, "Uh, Ardeth?  There was only one problem with that little speech.  You had your sword at his throat."  The Med-jai looked at her with an innocent shrug, and Rick just looked at his wife as Celia stepped to Ardeth's side once more.  Evy said, "Well, my former boss was a Med-jai, darling, and I learned a few things from him when he wasn't looking."

"Evy, what did Ardeth say?" Rick asked as Celia guided their friend toward the waiting plane, Izzy shooting nervous looks at the Med-jai.  Evy just smiled as they caught up to the other couple, her eyes dancing with laughter.  Ardeth's rage was giving way to embarrassment, and Rick guessed it was because of his anger.  The American had never seen his friend that angry, which meant this had to be pretty good.  On the other hand, he had figured that much from Izzy's reaction to whatever Ardeth said.

"Welllll," Evy answered, drawing the word out, "it seems that my patient brother has reached the last of that renowned patience."  Ardeth glared at her, rolling his eyes.  Evy just grinned impishly, and continued, "He informed Izzy that the little girl currently missing is the daughter of Ardeth's betrothed, and Ardeth already regards Miranda as his daughter.  So, if Izzy didn't get the airplane ready for take off, he wouldn't need to worry about you getting him shot in the ass, because Ardeth would do that himself."

Rick nodded, until he realized what she just said.  When he did, he looked first at his wife, then at his friend.  Huh?  He asked, looking back at Evy, "Uh, honey, are you sure you translated that correctly?  I mean, Ardeth actually said the Arabic equivalent of 'butt' or 'hindquarters,' right?" That was what wasn't making any sense to the American.  Rick used coarse language on a regular basis.  But Ardeth was much more refined in his speech.  Usually.

However, Evy shook her head, still grinning, and replied, "Nope.  He definitely said, 'ass.'  And it seems Izzy believed him, too."  Rick just stared at his best friend in shock.  Ardeth Bey had told Izzy to get moving, or he would shoot him in the ass.  Not in the butt, not in the posterior, not even in the buttocks, but in the ass.  Ardeth started blushing, yet another strange occurrence Rick had never seen before the last few weeks.

Then Rick grinned and thumped Ardeth on the back, grimacing at the Med-jai's grunt of pain.  Damn.  He hit Ardeth's bad side, he would have to be more careful about that.  Once Ardeth gave him a faint smile, Rick shook his head and said, "Damn, Ardeth!  I didn't think you had it in you!"  He stopped at the airplane, which was somewhat bigger than Winston's, and helped Alex into the flying machine.

"I find that I am surprising myself lately, my friend," came the rueful response.  Rick threw his head back and laughed, helping his friend into the plane, followed by Celia Ferguson.  He bit back a smile at the way Celia fussed over the Med-jai, before heading back out to help Evy with whatever he was doing.  Ardeth added softly, just loud enough for Rick to hear him, "My brother is angry because when he left the encampment, my sisters were planning my wedding to Celia, and Anatol wants her for himself."

"Isn't he kinda young for her?" Rick wondered aloud, then added hastily at Ardeth's glare, "I just meant, he's twenty-five and she's thirty.  She's closer to your age than to his."  And Rick was a year older than Ardeth, so he had absolutely no room to talk.  The American continued after a moment, "I dunno, buddy.  I just can't see Celia with Anatol.  She's better with you.  She can actually make you laugh, and I didn't think that was possible."

"You would be surprised at what is possible with my people and with me, O'Connell," came the reply.  Rick gave a short bark of laughter.  Oh, not really!  After the things Rick had seen over the last few years, he didn't think anything could surprise him.  At least, until a wicked gleam appeared in the eyes of his best friend as he said, "After all, I did tell you, did I not, that we were brothers?  And we are, twice over.  First as Med-jai, and second, through Nefertiri."

It was on the point of Rick's tongue to argue, until he stopped and thought about it.  Dammit, the man was right.  Again.  Was he ever wrong?  Rick glared at Ardeth, muttering, "There are times when I really hate you."  Ardeth just laughed and held out his hand to Celia, who passed Rick to sit beside her unofficial fiancé.  Rick sat down in front of them, with Evy beside him.  Anatol and Jonathan sat side by side, while Alex had chosen to sit with Izzy.

As Izzy boarded, Rick heard a soft conversation going on behind him, between Ardeth and Celia. It seemed that Celia had never flown before, and Ardeth was trying to reassure her. 

Although, in all likelihood, if Celia was breaking Ardeth's fingers by holding onto his hand, he probably wouldn't feel the pain of his broken ribs as badly.  Evy glared at him, then Izzy called for everyone to hang on, they were getting ready to take off.  Behind him, Rick heard Ardeth mutter under his breath, "I have come to hate that phrase.  Almost as much as when O'Connell says 'we, what we,' among others."

Rick started to turn around to say something to his friend, but Evy elbowed him in the ribs, and it was then that Izzy took off.  It slammed Rick back into his seat, and by the time he had a snappy comeback for the man behind him, Ardeth had turned his attention back to reassuring the frightened young woman beside him.  Yup.  There were definitely times when he hated Ardeth.  But right now, he would spend his time planning out what he would do to Imhotep when he got his hands on that persistent son of a bitch.  Now that would be fun!

.                    .                          .

"What did you mean by that?" Celia asked her companion, trying desperately to avoid clinging to his hand.  She had never flown before.  Instead, she, Jason, and Miranda had taken the boat all the way from the States to Egypt.  She had no idea what to expect, and as the plane started rolling forward, Celia was trying to find ways to refocus her attention, and talking to Ardeth seemed like her best course of action at the moment.

Rick had suggested they wait until after they were airborne to make plans for the rescue of her daughter, and Ardeth had agreed.  Though Celia had heard him muttering things under his breath that she didn't fully understand, nor was she meant to understand.  Ardeth replied now, turning his head back to her, "What did I mean about what, Celia?"  This really was not the time to be ogling this man, as beautiful as he happened to be.

"When you said you've come to hate hearing that phrase. . .uhm, 'hang on.'  I know why you hate when he says 'we, what we.'  But what did you mean by the 'hang on' comment?" Celia asked.  Ardeth rolled his eyes and glared at the back of Rick's head.  Which effectively told her that whatever was behind that particular story, Rick O'Connell was deeply involved.  Then again, she should have expected that.

"This is the third time I have flown with O'Connell, and the fourth time I have heard that.  The first time was while we were fleeing from the Creature's slaves through the streets of Cairo in a car.  The second time was the first time I flew with O'Connell, when we went to Hamunaptra to rescue Evelyn from the Creature.  I was strapped to one wing and Jonathan the other, since this pilot friend of O'Connell had a plane left over from the Great War.  A two-seater.  As we neared Hamunaptra, the Creature called forth a great wall of sand, and we crashed," Ardeth explained.  Celia winced, her small hand tightening around Ardeth's both in sympathy and in concern.  She had heard some of this from Evy, but not all of it.

He gave her a rueful smile, continuing, "The most recent time was a few months ago, with Izzy's dirigible.  I have no love of flying, but I did fly from Egypt to England and back again.  I cannot truly say that was without incident.  I was flying to England to retrieve the Bracelet of Anubis, and I flew back to help rescue Alex O'Connell."  Celia winced, and Ardeth continued, "We were again pursuing the Creature, and as we neared the Oasis of Ahm Shere, the Creature called forth another great wall, this time of water."

"And again, you crashed, which is why you hate it when Rick says 'hang on.'  Now we're flying and pursuing Imhotep.  In other words, it would be a very good idea for me to bend over, put my head between my legs, and kiss my ass good-bye," Celia observed dryly.  Ardeth blinked, then threw back his head and laughed.  The laughter ended on a groan as his hand went to his injured side, and Celia scolded, "Ardeth!  You'll hurt yourself!"

Ardeth said something else in Arabic, which sounded vaguely rude, then replied, "That is an accurate description of what to do when O'Connell says we must hang on.  Coarse, but accurate."  From the seat in front of them, Celia could hear Rick answering with something just as rude, though in English.  Celia barely managed to bite back a smile.  If she smiled, then the next step would be laughing.  And then she would start crying.

"Well, Ardeth, I've never claimed to be a lady, and it seemed appropriate for the circumstances," Celia bantered.  She was rewarded with a brilliant smile, and this time, it was all Celia could do to keep from melting in her seat.  She wondered if his smile would always have this effect on her.  She rather hoped so.  After a moment, she said, "Well. We're in the air, so what's the plan?"

"Rescue the little lady, kill the bad guy, save the world," came the reply from the seat in front of her.  Again, Ardeth rolled his eyes, his face settling into what the American woman had come to recognize as his 'oh, I have heard that before' expression.  Which meant, in turn, that there was a story behind that as well.  Rick continued, turning in his seat, "Seriously, the biggest thing we need to decide is how we'll split up.  Hamunaptra is a big place, and there are a lot of places for Imhotep to hide a little girl."

"Not entirely.  And something else is taking place, O'Connell.  I cannot be certain what it is, but I do know that the Creature is not entirely himself.  Did you notice as well, Evelyn?" Ardeth replied.  Celia looked around at her companions, totally lost.  What the hell were they talking about?  From the way Ardeth was talking, it almost sounded as if he didn't think Imhotep was the greatest threat to her daughter.

"I did.  Ardeth, he had hair!  He wasn't bald, he hadn't shaved his head!" Evy responded, turning in her seat.  Celia stared at her friend briefly in confusion, then understood. As a high priest, Imhotep was totally hairless.  And the man in the house had short dark hair.  But he did have hair.  Ardeth nodded grimly, and Evy continued, "Which explains how he came back from the Underworld.  His spirit was called forth, not his body.  No one read from the book!  And a new body was provided for him, someone with a reasonable resemblance.  All right, he bears a striking resemblance to Imhotep.  Perhaps a man was murdered with no family."

"The Creature is only part of this.  Hamunaptra is where everything began, with the torture and murder of Khaldun.  I believe that the Creature is trying to warn us about Khaldun, for they were enemies as well," Ardeth replied.  Celia shivered, wondering why the cabin had suddenly grown so chilly.  Or maybe it was her bone-chilling certainty that Ardeth was right.  If he was, if Imhotep had taken her as a warning against Khaldun. . .

"But why would Imhotep even bother taking Miranda?" Evy asked, echoing Celia's own question, "Why would he take her, and tell us where to find her, if he wants to warn us about Khaldun?  There's something missing, information that we don't have."  She sighed, leaning her forehead against the back of her seat.  The two couples were all silent for a long moment, then Evy added, "And what scares me more than anything else is the fact that a Med-jai was the one who recognized the difference in Imhotep."

"The question then becomes, if we are indeed correct about this, why would he help those who had been his sworn enemies for three thousand years?  We seek to rescue Miranda because we love her.  Imhotep has no love for Khaldun.  He, in fact, bound Khaldun all those centuries ago.  But that is not reason enough for Imhotep to protect Miranda.  You are right, Evelyn, there is something which we do not know," Ardeth replied.

"Boy, that's a big help!" Rick said sarcastically, and Evy smacked him in the back of his head.  Again.  Ardeth and Celia exchanged a grin, even as Rick blurted out, "HEY!"  This time, Celia didn't fight back her laugh, and Ardeth squeezed her hand in answer.  That drew her attention back to him.  Ardeth looked somewhat exasperated.  Not so much frustrated, but annoyed and resigned.  Apparently, he was used to this, but his expression was a little more comical than it really had to be.  Still, Celia accepted the attempt of her beloved to distract her from her fears for her daughter.

"He always like this, smug and sarcastic, and not contributing much to the conversation outside smart remarks?" she asked and Ardeth nodded, then grimacing as Rick whacked his shoulder.  That earned Rick another thwap in the back of his head from Evy, who exchanged a smug grin with Celia.  Evy's husband responded with a lethal glare for both young women, and Celia added, "Hey, you walked right into that one, Rick, with both eyes wide open."

Rick muttered a few choice remarks under his breath in French, and Celia chose to ignore that.  She wasn't fluent in French, but she could make herself understood.  In addition, she had picked up a few nasty remarks.  Swearing in another language, she had learned, could be most satisfying.  She made a mental note to herself to ask Ardeth how to swear in Arabic, and if he wouldn't agree to that, maybe she could convince Acacia or Aleta to teach her.

"Play nice, children.  Rick, you're not helping, and Celia, be nice," Evy chastised, sounding very much like the prim young English matron she was supposed to be.  At least, until one took notice of the way her eyes twinkled.  Apparently, she also wanted to distract Celia.  Maybe to make sure she didn't collapse into hysterics?  Evy continued after a moment, her expression becoming serious once more, "We really can't know what's going on, not until we get there.  I'm not crazy about it, but we don't have any other choice."

"Agreed.  This is not a case where we know why the Creature has taken someone.  I think there is a specific American saying which goes to such a situation, though it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever," Ardeth observed.  He was on the point of saying more.  Celia could tell he was getting ready to add a dig at Rick's expense, then he looked at her.  However, after a quick glance toward Celia, Ardeth fell silent.

Which probably meant he was getting ready to say something along the lines of he expected nothing different from an American, or something similar.  Celia just smiled at him and said, "I think the term you're looking for is, 'playing it by ear.'  That's the only one that comes to mind, that doesn't make sense."  When Ardeth smiled, she realized she had tagged the one that was troubling him.  The conversation turned toward Imhotep, and what she could expect from him, in the form of stories of their previous battles with him.  One thing was certain.  This wouldn't be easy.  No matter what role Imhotep played.