"Really Rick, must you do that at the table?"
Rick O'Connell looked up from his gun, which he had been in the middle of cleaning. His wife, who had her glasses perched on the end of her nose, was sitting at the other end of the table, giving him a pleading look while nibbling at her salad.
"What? You can read during dinner but I can't play with my toys?" he said, pointing his gun at the book that Evy had leaned up against the water pitcher. Evy tugged the book closer to her, taking her glasses of in exasperation.
"Oh really Rick! This is an account of all the mummifications during the reign of King Tut! It is highly important to my research and can't be said to cause as much damage at the dinner table as one of your 'toys'." She answered indignantly. Rick sighed, tucking his gun into his suit belt much to the disapproval of Evy, turning his attention to their son.
"Learn anything educational in your lesson's today Alex?" he asked, swiveling his head in Evy's direction at the word 'educational'. Alex, who had grown at least two feet in the past year, looked up from his dinner to grimace at his father.
"Just about some boring war in America." He answered back. Evy smothered a laugh at this as Rick's eyebrows shot up. Both of Alex's parent's tried to have an equal influence over their son's education, providing a varied mixture of English and American History lessons. It was something of an ongoing battle between the O'Connells. But only at the age of twelve, Alex had proven to only be interested in everything Egyptian, from the language to the history. Neither of his parents could dispute on his interest there. They really were not ones to talk.
"American history is very important," Rick said, throwing Evy a look as his leaned back in his chair. "Even if your mother would beg to argue." Evy opened her mouth in mock insult.
"I condone all studies! When have I ever said anything to suggest that?"
"When you told Dad that 'you wouldn't go living in a savage New World such as America' before we moved to England," Alex said, poking his chicken with his fork. Rick tweaked his eyebrows at Evy as if to say, 'the kid's got you there'. Evy closed her book, rolling her eyes, deciding to leave the topic as it was. Just in time as well. The doors to the dining room burst open, startling to O'Connell's into their defensive positions, Rick with his gun out and cocked and Evy grasping at Alex's hands.
"Johnathan?"
Sure enough, a disgruntled Jonathan stood in the doorway with the footman panting behind him. There had obviously been no formal introduction for him planned. Johnathan's shirt was untucked and dirty with what the O'Connell's recognized as desert sand. His face was red and sweaty, hair in disarray and lips chapped. They all could have guessed where he had come from. Despite his coward-like tendencies, Johnathan's greed could always be counted on to take him back to Egypt.
Evy stood up and rushed to her brother, grasping at his shoulders as the footman stepped forward, having caught his breath. "I am sorry Miss, he just came barging in-"
"No, no it is quiet alright, Johnathan was never one for formalities," Evy said, dragging her brother over to the chair that Alex had pulled out for him. "Get your Uncle some water Alex," she said, fanning her brother and herself for good measure. Rick made his way around the table and squatted down with Evy so that they were both at eye level with Johnathan.
"Oh heavens Johnathan what have you gotten yourself into now?" Evy moaned, slapping her brother's cheek in an attempt to get him awake and talking. He was still gasping for breath, moving his arms and hands wildly in an attempt to communicate.
"Come on Johnny spit it out!" Rick shouted, his hand gripping his pistol, the only way he felt like he was in control of the situation. Alex rushed award, handing his Uncle a large glass of water while clutching the pitcher in his other hand. Johnathan gulped the water down, some of it sloshing down his front, gasping for breath and lowering the glass rapidly.
"IMHOTEP!"
The name made both O'Connell's freeze, leaving little Alex to drop the pitcher at the very sound of the name. Water seeped into the carpet, but at this point no one cared. Evy gripped her brother's shoulder while reaching instinctively for her husband's hand.
"What are you taking about Johnathan?"
"Just what I said! Imhotep! Back! Causing a bloody panic in Cairo, just like old times," he answered, desperately trying to lap up some of the remaining water from the glass. Rick grabbed the front of Johnathan's shirt, pulling him forward.
"We are gonna need a little bit more than that Johnny." Johnathan's head bobbed about as Rick shook him.
"I was at a dig." Which usually meant he was pickpocketing an excavation team, "We were heading back to Cairo when I saw it. Bugs, sand twisters, you name it! Like it was the bloody end of the world! People screaming and hiding and in the thick of it all was-"
"Imhotep," Evy finished, her face growing pale. Johnathan nodded.
"I wouldn't forget that bald head anywhere." He said as Rick released him. Rick looked at Evy, whose mouth was pressed in a hard line.
"How many times to we have to kill that son of a bitch?" Rick asked, earning a hard slap to the shoulder from Evy, who jerked her head in Alex's direction.
"I don't know how he could have survived! We saw him get dragged into Hell for goodness sake!" she whispered, either from terror or because she did not want Alex to hear. "But even so, it must be him! And he isn't powerless as Johnathan as confirmed. I honestly can't say what could have happened to bring him back! Well I guess figuring that out is our job…"
"What?" Rick said, giving her an exasperated look. Evy looked at him full on, her eyes wide.
"Yes, our job Rick! Who can be more accountable for what Imhotep does than us?" Rick stood, pacing back and forth, as if that would help her see sense.
"Evy are you crazy? Why would we run head on into the guy?! You heard Johnathan! He's making it rain bugs over there!" Evy joined Rick in standing, but walked right up to him, shaking her fists passionately.
"And what makes you think we will be safe if we stay here? He has more reason to come looking for us than anyone else! Isn't it just better to try and figure out what is going on at once? Perhaps Ardeth might know something-"
"And I suppose you want to take Alex with us?" Rick bellowed, gesturing to their son who still stood frozen in shock. Evy shook her head.
"No of course not! Johnathan will take him somewhere safe!"
"I second that motion!" Johnathan cut in, slumping further into his chair. Rick twirled his pistol, glaring down at Evy who he could see was not going to change her mind. Running a hand through his hair, he sucked in his cheeks, did a full 360 before making a growling muttering something about them getting themselves killed. Evy, knowing that it was a difficult decision, went up on her tip toes and offered a kiss.
"I couldn't live with myself if we left Egypt the way is. For all we know it could be something that we did."
"When is it not?" Rick muttered, tucking his pistol in his belt and walking off to start packing their things. Evy sighed, turning to find Alex starring up at her. She knelt down and wrapped her arms around him.
"Don't you worry about anything Alex. Your father and I are going to sort all of this out." She said, attempting to offer the most comforting smile she could. "Uncle Johnathan in going to take care of you while we are away." Alex looked to his Uncle, who was pathetically fanning himself in the chair.
"But when are you going to be back?" he asked. "Can't I come with you?" Evy felt her lips quiver and forced a laugh.
"Oh my brave little man. Maybe when you are older." Alex straightened his back in an attempt to make himself taller.
"But what if there are not mummies to chase?" he asked, pleading look in his eyes. Evy pecked him on the cheek, standing up and taking his hands in hers.
"With your father still alive there were always be mummies to chase."
"Hey, you were the first to raise one." Rick called from the next room. Both Evy and Alex laughed for a moment before they exchanged worried glances. Evy shook herself, kicking her brother's leg. "Come on Alex dear, Johnathan is going to help you pack."