Disclaimer: I do not own the Mummy. Just writing for fun.

A/n: Hey guys. I'm sorry I keep changing the summary. I'm trying to make it fit Rory and the story a bit better. Anyway, hope you guys like, enjoy!

Chapter 20: You have earned the respect of honor and gratitude of me and my people

Morning. Afternoon. It didn't matter. All that mattered was that Ardeth Bay had gotten out of the falling city of Hamunaptra. He climbed onto one of the camels, taking Rory with him, and raced into the desert back to his tribe where he placed her with his healer. She would be under the care of Yallah and Nimishi. He quickly returned to the city, only to find it in ruin. But O'Connell had made his way out, along with the girl, and Jonathan.

Ardeth tilted his head to the side in surprise. He moved his camel over toward them and placed a hand over on Jonathan's shoulder, which had startled him by accident. He'd screamed in shock, along with Evelyn Carnahan and O'Connell as they jumped around to face the medjai warrior.

Jonathan sighed with relief. "Oh, thank you, thank you very much," he stated sarcastically, holding his injured hand over his chest, and breathed out.

"You have earned the respect of honor and gratitude of me and my people," he said.

Jonathan looked back at his sister and Rick and then back at Ardeth, "Ah, well, it was nothing," he shook his head.

"May Allah have a smile upon you always," he kissed his fingers, placed them on his forehead, and sent it off to Jonathan.

"And," Jonathan waved his hand at him, "Yourself."

Rick stepped forward slightly with a questionable look on his face. "Where's Rory? Did she…?" his lips quivered at the very thought of her dying. He didn't dare think it.

Ardeth nodded. "I've taken the liberty of bringing her to my people. She was badly injured during the fight, and will be rejuvenated soon through one of my healers, if that is all right. She will be in my care."

A sigh of relief left him, but he nodded. "Yes. Thank you. I appreciate it. She's…gone through a lot. Not sure what came over that girl all of a sudden."

He smiled. "Sometimes the city plays mind tricks on people, making them think they can do almost anything. She was very brave, but now she must rest and heal."

Rick nodded at him. "Thank you," he said sincerely, though narrowed his eyes a bit at Ardeth. Why did he get a feeling there was more to this than what he was telling him? But Ardeth didn't say anything else. He just left it at that. Ever since their first encounter with the city, she's been slightly obsessed with the Book of the Dead, and that statue. It'd kept her sane for the most part, but Rick had grown worried about what she would have done if she actually had the Book of the Dead in her hands. Truth be told he was thankful it was now buried underneath that sand.

"Ardeth," Rick said, catching his attention. "She's not a bargain chip."

He nodded sincerely at him. "I know."

Ardeth made a tiny noise to beckon the camel and head back to his tribe.

Jonathan sighed, and watched him leave them. "Yes, anytime."

"Stay out of trouble," Rick said.

"And he's just leaving us here," he turned around and frowned, staring at the fallen city. "Well, I suppose we go home empty handed. Again."

"I wouldn't say that," Rick said, and glanced at Evelyn. She widened her eyes, a little shocked, but then smiled when he stared at her, holding her gaze under the sun.

"Oh, please," Jonathan rolled his eyes.

She kissed Rick, and he pulled her in intensifying the kiss, holding her arm gently.

"How about you darling, would you like a kissy-wissy?" Jonathan joked towards the camel, but was met with its stinky breath instead.

They reluctantly broke the kiss, and smiled at each other before he helped her up on his camel. Jonathan got onto his, and the three of them headed home.

~*TM*~

A/n: So, thus ends the Mummy! I may do some re-edits for some chapters. Let me know if you guys want me to continue. Sequel. Or whatnot. Thank you all for following, favoriting, and reviewing!