*Disclaimer: The following is a work of pure fiction based off the Universal Pictures film, 'The Mummy'. All copyrights belong to them as well as the character of Rick O'Connell. All other characters are the creation of the author. It is rated PG-13 for languge, violence, and some implied sexual situations.*

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Hannah stormed into the tiny hotel room, slamming the door behind her.

"Watch it!" O'Connell exclaimed, throwing his elbow up to stop the door from going into his face.

Hannah glowered at him. It had been a very long trip by boat to Toulon, or at least it had seemed that way to her. There had been a couple of times when she actually wished the Germans *had* attacked the ship. Perhaps it was a bit drastic, but it would have gotten her away from him.

"Perhaps it would be easier for you to simply say out of my way," she answered at last with all the sweetness she could muster. "Far out of my way. Back in Algeria, preferably."

"Are you this charming with everyone, or is it just me," O'Connell replied with a sarcastic grin.

God that grin was getting on her nerves. "Will you please stop that," Hannah hissed.

"Stop what?" O'Connell raised his arms, feigning innocence.

"You know damn well," Hannah took a deep breath trying too hard to keep her temper in check.

"You really shouldn't swear like that," O'Connell shook a condescending finger. "So unladylike, but then again..."

Hannah grabbed the nearest thing at hand to throw at him, which happened to be a pillow.

"Nice aim," O'Connell nodded, catching it in mid-air, "but I don't think you're going to do much damage with this. Next time, go for something with less frills," he added, fingering the laced edges.

"Thanks, I will," Hannah smiled before sending her foot into his side. "Now I understand the use for these," she said, noting the damage the tall heel had done. She grinned with mild amusement as he continued to simply glare at her. "What's the matter, won't hit a lady?" she smirked.

"As I said before," O'Connell muttered, grabbing her suddenly by the wrists, "good thing there isn't one of those around."

Hannah ground her heel firmly into his foot, relishing the wince on his face. "Yes, I can definitely see the use for these," she nodded. Her joy was short lived however, as O'Connell tackled her at the waist. Both of them hit the floor and he sat perched on top, pinning her arms to the ground. Fuming, she struggled against him for a few moments, but it became increasingly apparent it was not going to do her any good.

"Are you quite through?" O'Connell leaned in close, his bangs grazing against her face. "Hmm?" he added with a quirk of his brow, trying to meet the eyes that kept dodging his own..

Hannah bit her lip and took several deep breaths. She was not used to giving up a fight.

Finally, O'Connell's eyes found their target and his pale gaze met her own intense one. Almost like a hunter with a wild animal, something in his eyes made her stop fighting and turn away.

"Good," O'Connell sighed after he felt her muscles relax. He still waited a second before releasing his grip and getting up.

Hannah sat up and banged her fists against the wooden floor. The least he could have done was to help her up. After all, it was his fault she was down there. She watched from the ground as he fell into the couch, throwing his feet onto the table. "God damned, arrogant..." she mumbled to herself as she staggered to her feet. Finding a large chair across the room, she sank down into the cushions. After a long awkward silence, she sighed and recrossed her legs. Really, she should at least try to make the best of this situation, or at the very least, fight off boredom.

"So, who exactly is this 'Mr. Carter' we are looking for?" she snapped, not coming across quite as cordial as she would have liked.

"He worked at the embassy office in Algeria," O'Connell mumbled as he sat cleaning his gun. "Seemed straight forward enough, but I guess that was how he planned it. I guess it really wouldn't have worked if he had acted like a spy."

"So, now that they know he is, why don't they just arrest him?" Hannah asked indignantly.

"It's not that simple," O'Connell shook his head, examining the bullet chamber. Evidently satisfied, he put the gun back in its holster.

Hannah raised a curious eyebrow, "Why not?"

O'Connell shrugged, "Your guess is as good as mine, that's just not how they work these things." He leaned back on the couch, putting his hands behind his head and resting his feet once more on the table. "Can't complain, gives me something to do."

"Gives you something to do?" Hannah echoed with some astonishment. "You make it sound like a hobby to go chasing people from country to country."

"I guess you could look at it like that," O'Connell smiled.

"Hold on, don't tell me you actually joined the Foreign Legion by choice?" Hannah stared as the recognition sank in.

"Ok, I won't," O'Connell returned with large grin.

"Why on earth would anyone join the Foreign Legion willingly?" Hannah mussed, truly puzzled.

"Dunno," he shrugged again, "I guess I was just looking for a good time."

"Well, that's a new one," Hannah rolled her eyes.

"Oh, and what would you do for fun?"

A slow smile crept across Hannah's face and she could almost swear she saw a slight blush through the unruly strands in O'Connell's eyes.

"Well, that is," his stammering was kind of cute, in an obnoxious way. He coughed and pulled out his other gun, avoiding Hannah's amusement by focusing on cleaning it.

"Are we really going to need those?" Hannah asked at last with a nod to the weaponry, gracefully changing the subject.

"Somehow, I always seem to," O'Connell said casually.

"Great..." Hannah sighed, folding her arms. "Why do I not feel comforted in the least?"

"What?" O'Connell asked looking up, his face a total void of recognition.

"Just try not to hurt yourself," she yawned, getting up. "Or more importantly, me." At least tonight she didn't have to worry about being flung from bed by tossing waves. After throwing a blanket and a pillow at O'Connell, she kicked off her shoes and took off her jacket before murmuring a quick good night and turning off the lamp.

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The train ride to Grenoble was relatively uneventful. People more or less keeping to themselves, no one quite knowing what to say. It was hard to talk about the weather when there was a war going on outside. Not even the babies cried. Hannah was glad to be out of the eerie stillness once they finally reached the station.

"From here on out," O'Connell whispered, "my name is Rick, got it?"

"Yes, I know," Hannah snapped back.

"For some reason, people seem to have a lot of trouble with that," he muttered picking up the bags.

"Yes," Hannah sighed, "you are my brother, Richard Leone."

"Rick," he said flatly coming to a dead stop. His fists clenched tightly about the handles of the luggage. "Not Richard, Rick."

"What's the matter?" Hannah said with a cheerful smile, happy to find a sore spot in that leather hide flesh. "Don't you like the name Richard?"

"No," O'Connell muttered through gritted teeth, "that's what the nuns used to call me."

"Nuns?" Hannah queried.

"Yeah, nuns," he said, heading outside and closing the matter.

"Nuns," Hannah repeated to herself, following him out of the station.

The market outside seemed like a ghost town. One could tell there had been a time when it would have been swarming with activity, but now, a few lonely flower sellers crouched in doorways, the grocers looked as depleted as their stock, and there wasn't a single piece of meat to be seen. Hannah quickened her step, following closer to Rick.

"Yeah, war is hell," he murmured not so much to her as to himself.

They trekked along until they came to a large stone building with a small ironwork gate around it. "Welcome to the Embassy's Grenoble office. That's where we stay," Rick said pointing to a small hotel across the way, "From there we should be able to see when he gets here."

Hannah turned to look, but careened with the ground as a well dressed man leaving the Embassy collided with her.

"Terribly sorry, miss, here, let me help you up," the man offered her a hand, which she took gratefully enough. He was a young man, early 20's, with well groomed sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes. He stood staring at her for a few moments before finally stammering, "So sorry about that, umm, Nathan Carter, at your service I'm afraid."

Hannah's breath caught a little in her throat. She really hadn't expected to quite literally run into him like this. "It's quite all right," she said at last, "Hannah Leone."

"Enchanted," he smiled, kissing her hand. "And who might your friend be over there?"

"Oh," she said looking over her shoulder at Rick who had just stood there the whole time. She had a feeling it would be a cold day in hell before he helped her up off the ground. "That would be my brother, Richard."

"Pleased to meet you, Richard," Nathan said offering a hand.

"Call me Rick," he answered, shooting a look at Hannah who in turn, gave an innocent smile back.

"Are you just coming to Grenoble?" Nathan asked, noting the bags.

"Yes," Hannah chimed in, trying to think of a quick excuse. "We are on our way to visit out aunt in Lyon." She was suddenly glad she had been bored enough to read the map on the train schedule.

"Do tell me you are at least spending the night," Nathan prodded and upon Hannah nodding the affirmative, he beamed, "Then you will have to allow me to make amends over dinner. Where are you staying?"

O'Connell threw a thumb over his shoulder, indicating the building across the street.

Nathan smiled at Hannah again, "Well then, I shall pick you up at 8 and I will not take no for an answer."

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"I can't believe you are doing this," Rick shook his head, peering out the window. It was nearly 8 o'clock.

"What is there to believe?" Hannah sighed, "This will give you a chance to check the Embassy and see if he has left anything there. With any luck, I can get a chance to check his room."

O'Connell didn't say a word, but sent her a disapproving glare that spoke volumes more.

Hannah threw up her hands with an exasperated sigh. "He seems harmless enough. I really can't see what all this fuss has been about. We'll get those documents and be on our way back to Algeria before he even realizes what happened." Taking her time, she walked over to the window where he was standing. "You'll probably even get a nice promotion out of this," she tossed out sarcastically.

"Hey, maybe I'm not just concerned about what's in this for me," O'Connell shot back.

"That's right," Hannah sneered. "You're in it for a *good time*."

"There is something I don't trust about this guy..." O'Connell started, but Hannah cut him off.

"Let's see, is it the fact that he sold out an entire country to the Germans, or," she let a hint of a grin break through, "the fact that he actually helps a person off the ground when they've fallen?"

"I just don't think you should write him off so easily," Rick muttered, growing more and more frustrated. "Obviously a lot of other people have already underestimated him."

"I can take care of myself, thank you," Hannah shot back. She took a definitive stance and the two of them stood there, glaring at one another, neither willing to back down. The stalemate went on for several minutes before the phone rang. Both of their hands went for the receiver, but a swift kick to Rick's shin took him out of the competition.

"Hello?" Hannah answered nonchalantly, ignoring the icy look Rick gave her. "Thank you, I'll be right down." Replacing the receiver, she turned back to Rick with an equally cold look. "Just worry about not screwing up your own job."

"Hey, don't you worry about me," Rick scoffed, "I'm not the one who got myself locked into this mess!" He opened the door and raising an eyebrow, pointed the way out. "You want to go, no one is stopping you."

Hannah turned up her chin and pushed past him, feeling the sharp gust of air as Rick slammed the door behind her. After a moment, she heard the knob turn again and looked around just in time to catch her coat as Rick threw it at her. God, she was going to be glad when this was all over.

Descending the staircase into the lobby, she found Mr. Carter standing patiently by the reception desk.

"Sorry I kept you," she smiled more graciously than was generally in her nature.

"Not at all," the other replied, "I hope you don't mind, most of the restaurants around here are wonderful, but they really don't have the resources right now. I'm afraid the only decent place left to eat is back at my hotel."

"That's fine," Hannah replied following him out the door. "I suppose I'm more interested in the company than the food." She glanced briefly behind her, catching a quick glimpse of Rick at the window before stepping into the waiting car.

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"Really?" Nathan said as he opened the door of his room for Hannah, "I never would have taken your brother for the poetic type."

"Oh yes," Hannah nodded solemnly. She was having fun embarrassing O'Connell, even if he wasn't around. Oh well. She could settle for imagining the irritated look on his face. "Richard really is deeply sentimental. He once gave a reading for our mother's Ladies' Circle. There wasn't a dry eye in the room, including his own."

"Well, here we are, home sweet home." Carter smiled as he switched on the light. "It's not much, but I make due. Let me get that '86 port I've been saving. Won't be a minute," he called over his shoulder.

As soon as he stepped out of sight, Hannah's eyes began to dart about the room. Moving quickly, she scanned through the papers piled on the desk. No luck there. She opened a couple of the drawers, still no luck. Damn, there were literally hundreds of places where a person could hide almost anything they wanted in that room. Hearing a sound, she moved to the sideboard feigning interest in a floral arrangement as Nathan re- entered. In one hand was the bottle of port, but in the other, he held a leather satchel.

"Lovely aren't they?" he said dropping the satchel into the bottom drawer of his desk and locking it. "There is a little flower shop down the street that delivers fresh ones every other day."

Hannah watched intently as he slipped the key into his vest pocket.

"There you are," he added, handing her a glass. "The finest you'll get around here, I'd imagine."

Hannah accepted the drink gratefully and did her best to take lady- like sips. Normally, it took a lot of alcohol to get her drunk, after all, she'd had a lot of practice, but tonight she would have to swallow her pride a bit if she wanted to get into that drawer. Bitting her lip, she tossed back the rest of the drink.

After a couple more glasses, she collapsed onto the couch giggling. "I really never thought a trip to my stuffy old aunt's could be so enjoyable." God she hated giggling.

Nathan sat down next to her, watching her every move intently.

At least it seemed to be working. He had that look about his face, like a wolf that had just found a stunned rabbit. Time to reel him in. Hannah leaned forward, slurring her words just a bit. "If anyone had told me a week ago that I would be sitting here tonight with an incredibly handsome and charming young man..." she stopped suddenly in mid sentence, pretending to be shocked at her own forwardness, "I mean...oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have..." She turned away and tried to blush, which wasn't easy for her.

"That's quite all right," Nathan comforted, taking her head in his hands, "I don't get to hear it that often, and never from an angel such as yourself."

Where did men get these lines and why on earth did they think they really worked? Hannah pushed the question out of her mind and closed her eyes as Carter leaned in, kissing her softly on the lips.

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Hannah waited until she thought Nathan was asleep before sliding out of the bed. Quietly, she slipped on some clothes before retrieving the key from his vest which had been neatly hung over a chair. Barely breathing, she crept into the next room and placed the key into the lock. Soon, this would all be over and she would be heading back to Algeria. Actually, it had been kind of fun. Well, more fun than what a normal day entailed for her. Not that she was about to give O'Connell the satisfaction of knowing that.

Slowly, so as not to make a sound, Hannah turned the key. The drawer slid open noiselessly and she pulled out the leather satchel. She opened the flap and immediately, her face fell as she stared at an empty bag.

"Not quite what you had hoped to find, is it?"

Hannah spun to face the voice and found Nathan standing in the doorway.

"Oh, they were in there, but did you really expect me to give up that easily?"

he added with a sneer as he turned on the light. "Where would be the fun in that?"

There was a sudden coldness in his manner that Hannah found unnerving. "What is all this?" following his every move like a cat..

"Please, what do you take me for?" Carter laughed, knocking on the door that connected that room to the neighboring suite. As he backed away still smiling at her, the door opened and two well dressed men dragged in a half conscious O'Connell who looked very worse for wear.

"O'Connell!" she shouted a little out of shock and tried to rush to him, but someone grabbed her arms, holding her tight. "So you knew the whole time?" she stared at Carter, her eyes narrow slits peering from under the loose cascades of hair. "You knew what I was trying to do and still used me."

Carter grinned back smugly at her and she felt herself fill with an overwhelming sense of hatred and loathing.

"Is it any worse than you were planning to do to me?" Carter moved slowly over to his desk and pulled a small bottle out of one of the drawers. "Really, I show up without that information and god only knows what they would do to me."

"Oh, it's nothing compared to what I'm going to do to you," Hannah hissed just before stomping on the foot of the person holding her. She turned and punched him in the face, sending him into the wall. Another man came at her, but she sent an elbow into his chest. She once again tried to make her way over to O'Connell, but reeled as a handkerchief pressed firmly against her nose and mouth.

Carter held her tight as the stifling scent of chloroform filled her lungs. She tried desperately to break free, but slowly, the lights began to blur and then, went black.