Disclaimer: I own nothing from The Mummy or The Mummy Returns. Too bad.
Ardeth watched her working, far enough away to escape notice. He was certain she would not be happy to see him. She'd been working in the same position for over 2 hours, he wondered if she could even move from it anymore. She'd uncovered nearly an entire doorway, and he knew it was only a matter of time before she figure out how to enter through it. A frown marred his face, and he did not notice when Rick came up to stand beside him.
"She's as stubborn as Evy." Rick said when he saw what she'd uncovered. "She asked us to leave this morning."
"I assume you refused."
"Evy did. She won't leave Rebecca. Jonathan was willing to go."
Both men grinned; knowing a lot of Jonathan's 'cowardice' was for show, since he'd saved them in the forest of Ahm Shere.
"I was thinking of sending him back to Cairo with Alex." Rick continued quietly "If anything should happen, I'd feel better knowing he was safe. Maybe we could talk Rebecca into making the trip, if only for supplies. Once we get her there, it may be easier to convince her to stay."
"I doubt that." Ardeth said with a laugh. "But it may be worth a try. You should suggest the idea to her. I do not believe she wishes my company right now."
"What did you say to her?"
"I told her to leave this place. She did not take it well."
"I imagine not." Rick said, squaring his shoulders. "I'll go talk to her."
The Next Day:
Rebecca sighed as the hot water sluiced over her. This had been worth the trip back to Cairo on it own. She hadn't had a hot shower in 2 weeks. Using a sponge, she took her time soaping her body. 20 minutes later she stepped out, only because the hot water had run out. Wrapping herself in a robe, she went into her bedroom. It didn't take her long to get dressed before heading for the door.
"Aunt Becky!" Alex called, waving his hand madly to get her attention. "Over here!"
They all sat around a table, beginning on the meal placed before them. She'd been surprised when Ardeth had brought them to his home. Somehow she hadn't expected that he would live within four walls. She smiled at Alex, sitting between him and Jonathan. She knew what to expect from them, unlike the man sitting at the head of the table.
Ardeth stared at the woman who had been ignoring him for the past two days. She was fresh out of the shower, her damp hair curling around her face wildly. He looked down at his plate, cursing the picture that was forming in his head.
"Are we going back to London, then?" Jonathan asked, buttering a roll, "I must say, I'm terribly tired of all this sand. Bloody uncivilized it is."
"You and Alex will be staying here." Rick replied firmly.
"But-!" Alex began to protest.
"No buts." Both of his parents said in unison, which made everyone laugh.
"If I could talk Rebecca into staying, we could return to London." Evy said, eyeing her friend across the table.
"No, thank you." Rebecca replied, just as firmly as Rick had to Alex. "I haven't done all this work for nothing. I just found an entrance! I didn't want to return to Cairo as it was. You made me feel guilty."
"You didn't wish to say goodbye to your nephew?" Evy asked innocently.
Rebecca eyed Evy narrowly, knowing she'd been tricked into returning to Cairo. Never mind the fact that they did need supplies. She had no intention of remaining. If she could only continue to ignore Ardeth…
"Who's up for a night on the town before you head back?" Jonathan asked, rubbing his hands together eagerly "If I'm to be stuck babysitting, I'd like to get a bit of refreshment before you go."
"Uncle Jon." Alex said, exasperated "I don't need a babysitter."
"You need a keeper, Alex." Rebecca said fondly, ruffling his hair. She laughed when he ducked away from her, annoyed. "I think I may be convinced to keep you company tonight, Jonathan."
Later that evening:
"I love this music." Rebecca whispered to Evy "Do you suppose one could dance to it?"
"I wouldn't try." Evy advised, sipping her scotch. "Many of these songs have ancient meanings. One might find themselves cursed, or married, or-"
Evy broke off with a giggle as Rick took her glass, sniffing it suspiciously. He set it down, an amused grin on his face as she buried her face against his chest, laughing at nothing.
"Evy has trouble with scotch." He said, remembering the first time he'd seen her drunk. "Remember, sweetheart?"
"How could I forget?" Evy replied, "You tried to take advantage of me!"
"I never—you were going to kiss me, then you passed out in my lap!"
"I don't know what you're talking about." Evy said, trying to act prim and failing miserably.
"You always were a lousy drinker." Rebecca said fondly.
"Like you're and better, love." Jonathan pointed out. "You just don't show it as readily."
"Ha." Rebecca said, waving her hand in
dismissal.
Ardeth stepped through the door in time to see
Rebecca joining the dancers on the floor. Her attempts to imitate the movements made his lips quirk into a smile,
until he realized what music they were dancing to. He went to the table where the others sat, shaking his head at
their obvious state of drunkenness.
"Does she realize what she is doing?" He demanded, looking at Rick, the only one
who appeared to be sober.
"I told her not to dance." Evy
giggled.
"Why? What's wrong?" Rick demanded.
"This dance is only done when one is seeking a
husband." Ardeth said darkly,
"Or a lover."
"I guess that explains them then."
Jonathan pointed to a group of men standing at the bar. "Someone should go stop her."
Jonathan tried to rise but fell back into his chair,
too unsteady to remain upright. Rick
had an armful of Evy. Ardeth sighed,
knowing it would be up to him to rescue the stubborn redhead. He made his way through the crowd, not
noticing that the men cleared a path for him, for he was an imposing
presence. One man halted his approach
of Rebecca simply because Ardeth glared at him. He stopped behind her, catching her in a turn so that he was
holding her in his arms.
Rebecca was stunned. She hadn't expected him to be here tonight. She definitely hadn't expected to be in his
arms. She looked up at him in confusion
when he fitted her against him, and began to lead her in the dance. The music
flowed through her, and she moved with it, her body seeming to know the steps,
even though her mind did not. Their gazes were locked; she couldn't look away
even if Imhotep himself were to walk through the door.
Ardeth knew he should not be doing this. She did not know what this dance meant to
his people. That with each step they
took she was bound more tightly to him. But he could not bring himself to let her go. He continued in the dance, proclaiming to all in the bar that she
was his. No one would dare touch her
now. He told himself he was doing it
for her protection.
Rebecca didn't know if it was the alcohol or his
closeness that was making her dizzy. She only knew that she didn't want the music to stop. He lowered his head until his lips were
against her ear, so that she could hear him when he spoke.
"Now would be a good time to leave." He murmured
against her ear, "The others appear to be ready."
"Oh." Rebecca said, disappointed "I guess we should
do that."
"There is one thing I must do before we finish our
dance." Ardeth continued, his lips brushing her cheek.
"What is that?" She asked breathlessly, her heart
pounding in her chest.
"This."
His lips covered hers, and the floor dropped out
from under her feet. Heat moved through
her body in a flash, weakening her so that she sagged against him, his arms
becoming her only means of support. He buried his fingers in her hair,
loosening the pins as their kiss deepened. He nearly forgot where they were, until he heard Jonathan's voice in the
background.
"Oh, please. Not more kissy face." Jonathan
groaned in disgust.
They broke apart, neither feeling too particularly
strong at that moment.
"We should go."
For once not arguing, Rebecca followed Ardeth out
the door. She sent a silent thank you
to Jonathan for breaking the strange spell that had fallen over them on the
dance floor. She was saved from having
to talk by Evy's continued chatter, and Jonathan's intermittent retorts. When they were back at Ardeth's she escaped
to her room, eager to be alone to sort things out. Sleep claimed her quickly instead.