Night fell and the adventurers ate and took themselves to their temporary accommodation. Choosing not to share a tent with the two other men, Rick took a blanket and settled himself by the camp fire to lay on his back with his arms behind his head staring up at the stars. Lights eventually went out in the tents and the fire burned low, and finally the American drifted off into sleep.

The sound of a canvas tent flap moving immediately woke the light sleeper. It was from the girl's tent. He could just make out the nightdress clad figure pick her way across the camp to him.

'Evie? Is everything ok?' He whispered. The figure crouched down and picked up the edge of the blanket before wriggling underneath. Instinctively he put his arm around her.

'What's the matter, couldn't you sleep?' He hissed.

A finger was placed against his lips, which was rapidly replaced with the visitors own lips kissing him hard and unfamiliar as she climbed on top of him. Hands fumbled and pulled at his clothing in the most intimate of areas. This wasn't Evie.

Gripping her shoulders, he pushed Isobella off him and sat up.

'What the hell do you think you're doing?' He growled quietly.

She sat back on her haunches and tossed the hair out of her face, a feint silhouette in the dark night.

'It's all right, I won't tell.' She giggled. 'I wanted to make it up to you for the little accident. It's only a bit of fun.'

'No, it isn't, go back to bed.' He ordered.

Isobella inched closer. A hand snaked out and played with the buttons on his shirt. 'Oh come on. You didn't mind when you thought it was little miss prim…' She wheedled

'Evie would never do something like this.' Rick said. Before he could speak again, Isobella had thrown herself towards him. Already leaning away, she knocked Rick onto his back. Once again he found her full weight on top of him and her mouth clamped against his.

'Ahem!' The cough was about the worst thing Rick could have possibly imagined.

Except of course until the lamp was lit and Evie stood over them with a look on her face which perfectly mixed utter fury and total incomprehension.

'Am I interrupting?' Evie's tone could have frozen the desert.

Rick scrambled out from under the blonde and got to his feet, awkwardly running his fingers through his hair. 'This is really not what it looks like.' He said.

'So you aren't rolling around in the middle of the night with Isobella?' Evie asked.

'No, well yes technically but I can explain…' She raised her eyebrows in a manner that suggested she didn't think he could.

Clutching Rick's blanket to cover herself, Isobella began plaintively. 'Oh Evelyn, I just came out for a breath of fresh air and the beast…'

Evie held up an index finger in warning. 'Don't.' She ordered.

'But…' Isobella tried again.

'Go… to… bed…' Evie spat each word, not even looking at the other woman as she scuttled back to her tent. Evie's sole focus was on Rick who was desperately wishing for a hole to open up in the sand.

She folded her arms and stared accusingly. It was worse than her yelling, seeing that hurt in her eyes.

'I thought she was you.' It sounded unlikely even to him, he scuffed his boots in the sand.

'You said it yourself, I would never do such a thing. I heard you… so how could you have thought it was me?' Those brown eyes flashed angrily.

'She threw herself at me?' That sounded even worse.

'You didn't have to catch her. A man who has taken on Mummies, with all of their strength and he can't fight off one small woman?' She scoffed.

'She was really persistant.' He protested.

'Ooooh!' Evie exclaimed in outrage stamping her foot before turning and returning to to bed.

'Evie…' Rick cried after her, but she didn't even look back.


The next morning the atmosphere was painful. Isobella claimed a dramatic headache, however the night's events had obviously been relayed to the two other men.

An uncomfortable silence filled the camp as a meagre breakfast was consumed.

'Isobella is claiming she can't face coming with us today so someone will have to stay here with her.' Evie said coolly.

'Obviously not O'Connell.' Charles said snidely.

'Obviously.' Evie agreed. 'So either one or both of you will have to stay, it's not safe to leave her here alone.'

'I don't think you should be alone with him Evelyn.' Charles began.

'Now just a minute.' Rick got to his feet, his temper flaring as he jabbed a finger at Charles. 'For the last time, I didn't do a damned thing! Ask Isobella, just ask her to tell you what happened!'

'I'm afraid my sister is far to distressed and unwell to talk to anyone at the moment.' Charles sniffed.

Rick threw his hands in the air in disbelief. 'You know this is bogus Evie right?'

'I can stay with the patient.' Jonathan said helpfully, earning himself a furious glare from Rick.

'Then it's settled gentlemen. Charles and O'Connell will come with me and Jonathan you can stay here and take care of Isobella.' Evie said.

'Just watch yourself.' O'Connell shot at Jonathan.

'I might say the same to you.' He replied with a pointed glance towards Charles.


For the explorers the day seemed to wear on excruciatingly slowly. Every step that Evie took, Charles was under her feet. The moment she put something down or turned around he was directly in her way. She must have trodden on his feet at least four or five times in the last hour alone and it was becoming a tad claustrophobic.

Evie was steadfastly ignoring Rick, who was keeping his distance, much to their companion's delight. Having tried to talk to her several times it became clear that she was in no mood to listen. There was only so many times he could protest his innocence.

Although still angry and hurt, Evie was beginning to feel the loss of his company but she had committed to ignoring him and, as he now wasn't pressing the point, she found herself unable to back down.

'About time she came to her senses.' Charles sneered as he passed O'Connell. It was with a huge amount of self-control that Rick managed not to throw him into the wall.

'Evie just be careful.' Rick said as she pressed the sequences on the stone figures deep under the city.

'I'm sure she knows what she's doing!' Charles snapped.

Rick bit his tongue. Still unable to have a conversation with the woman he adored it didn't mean he stopped taking care of her. The gaps around the stone flagstones had worried him, as had the definite increase in heat as they'd entered this room. He knew enough about ancient Egypt to realise the denizens were a spectacularly devious bunch. Staying within easy range of Evie he stepped backwards onto a raised stone ledge behind him.

As Evie finally completed the sequence, she gave a small satisfied smile and pulled back the stone lever. There was a sudden gurgling. Rick took in the parameters of the room, predicting where the danger would come from. It would come from below. In one fluid movement, He grasped Evie around the waist and lifted her onto the protection of the ledge. It was gratifying to have her rest against his chest naturally once again as he held her tightly to him. He watched with interest as Charles hopped from foot to foot as the high pressure heated sand shot out from the walls at ankle height and engulfed his boots. They began to smoulder. It took a hefty dig of the elbow from Evie before Rick finally extended his hand and dragged the Englishman to safety.

'You ok?' He asked her softly as the last of the sand dissipated. The excitement over, she resumed a cool detachment and drawing away stepped off the ledge. 'I'm perfectly fine.' She said, before turning back with just a glimmer of a smile. 'Thank you.'

'Always.' He said holding her gaze as long as possible.

'So shall we find out what's in this hidey hole then?' Charles said with overblown enthusiasm. Sadness flashed in Evie's eyes as she turned away which ripped into Rick like a bullet.

'Let's.' She said to Charles with forced brightness.


'Sorry Charles,' she said as his toe went under her heel again. 'You don't need to be quite so close.'

'I just want you to know that I am here if there is anything at all that you need.' Charles said with a small bow as he moved away.

'Unable to help himself, Rick snorted in derision.

'It's called being a gentleman.' Charles said pointedly. 'Some people have no concept of the idea.'

'What the hell is your problem?' Rick said, squaring up to Charles.

'You would be that problem.' The former retorted looking up at the much taller American.

'So, let's hear it.'

'I don't think you are good for Evelyn, you're dangerous. She deserves better.' Charles said, 'Some people have no concept of preserving a lady's honour.' Charles said.

Rick, unimpressed by such posturing, simply moved forward until he was towering over the Englishman. 'A lady's honour?' Suddenly confronted by the enraged American, Charles felt his initial courage waning.

'I mean my sister, Lady Isobella of course.' He said.

'Trust me, she may have the title, but your sister is no lady.' Rick pointed to where Evie was standing. 'That is a lady.'

'You'll only end up hurting her, I know your sort.' Charles said self-righteously. 'I intend to make sure she doesn't fall foul of your filthy intentions.'

'I would never do anything to harm Evie. She is the most important thing in my world and I will do all I can to keep her safe from anything and anyone that might cause her pain.' Rick growled. 'Or indeed anyone who has caused her to be hurt in the past. It is a shame you weren't more concerned for her a few years ago.'

The comment hung in the air and Charles had the good grace to glance away.

'Yeah.' Rick continued, 'I know what you did to her at school, how you humiliated her, and believe me I would love to redress that balance, so if you want to take a swing at me for the affront to your sister or anything else then you go right ahead.' He tapped his chin invitingly.

'What's going on?' Evie asked as she approached, her glance bouncing from one to the other.

Charles immediately dropped his stance, however Rick refused to back off.

'I was explaining to our American friend about what it means to be a gentleman.'

She rolled her eyes. 'We have more important things to think about just now.' She said, placing her hand in Ricks. The small gesture of returning affection made him soften immediately and focus all his attention on her. 'There is something I have to show you.' She pulled him in the direction of her discovery and, god help him, he actually stuck his tongue out at his rival.