Serena coughed out water as her blurry vision started to adjust. She realized she had been knocked out and Ardeth was helping her sit up. They were all drenched, but they were alive.

"Are you alright, my love?" Ardeth asked her.

"Yes, I'm fine, just sore." Her side braid was still intact, but it certainly wasn't neat.

The vessel was in ruins and she had no idea how they were ever going to get out of here.

"We're gonna go get my son!" Rick announced. "Then we're gonna wanna get out of here fast, so make this work, Izzy!"

"No, no you don't understand!" Izzy shouted back. "This thing was filled with gas. Not hot air! Gas! I need gas to get this thing off the ground! Where am I gonna get gas from around here? Huh?! Bananas? Mangos?! Tarzan's butt?!"

Serena laughed at that last one, though she tried to hide it. But she looked over at Ardeth and he was smiling too as they took what they needed from the burning vessel.

"Well," Izzy continued, "maybe I could finagle it to take hot air…But do you know how many cubic meters I'd need? It's too big!"

Rick looked at him with slight anger, but moreso desperation. "If anybody can fill this thing up with hot air, Izzy, it's you."

Serena looked over at Jonathon and saw him discreetly take the golden scepter once again from Izzy's bag. She laughed to herself and silently walked over to him.

"You never quit, do you?"

Jonathon jumped as he realized he had been caught, but relaxed when he saw who caught him. "Gotta have money somehow, love."

"Jonathon, from the moment I've met you, all you do is think about money. Don't you think there's something else you can focus on? Instead of gambling it all?"

Jonathon just walked away at her statement and Serena smiled, knowing she had won.

"Horus!" Ardeth called. The beautiful bird obediently flew to his hand. Ardeth attached another note to his foot and sent him off. The group, minus Izzy, all started walking into the jungles to find the boy. Serena knew they were close. So close, it hurt her.

"So, Rick, what's the plan?" Jonathon asked.

"Let's find some higher ground," Rick replied.

They hadn't gone very far at all when they heard a gunshot pierce the quiet jungle air.

"Horus!" Ardeth screamed. He scanned the skies, looking for his friend, waiting for him to return to his hand, but he never came. Serena put her head down in sadness. She knew this was hard on her husband and she had grown fond of the bird herself.

Ardeth turned back to them. "I must go," he stated.

"What?" Serena exclaimed. How was he going to leave her? She already told them they were in this together. She didn't think she could be separated from him! What if the Army of Anubis arose? She would need him by her side to prevent her death!

"I must let the commanders know where we are."

"You can't go!" Rick said to him firmly, but still pleading.

"If the Army of Anubis arises—"

"I need you to help me find my son."

Serena looked at Ardeth. She knew he was torn between his duties as a Medjai and his desire to help his friends. She saw the expectant looks etched on her friends' faces and decided to step in.

"Rick," she said as she stepped between him and Ardeth. "Ardeth has trained me well. I can help you find him and get him back." She turned to her husband, and tried to muster out the hardest word she'd ever had to say. "Go."

Ardeth looked at her sadly and pulled her aside. Serena looked up into his beautiful brown eyes, still drawn into them now as much as when she had first met him. Tears formed in her own eyes. "I don't want you to go," she admitted.

He grasped her tiny hands in his firm ones. "There is no doubt in my mind that you are prepared for this and you will find the boy. I have faith in you."

Serena looked at him deeply as her eyes filled up even more, turning her vision blurry. She took his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his. He gripped her waist and her hands traveled down to his chest. She never wanted to let go of him. She didn't want to say it, but this could very well be the last time she ever saw him.

Ardeth abruptly ended the kiss and took off in the direction they had come. Serena looked after him as tears traveled down her cheeks. "I love you," she whispered after him. She discreetly wiped away her tears and turned back to her party. Avoiding all eye contact, she went ahead of them. "Come on, it's this way."


A/N: AWWW! NO, DON'T GO ARDETH! SERENA NEEDS YOU! Can Serena save Alex without him?