Disclaimer: I own Rebecca and Amanda at this point.
Amanda walked across the library at a brisk pace, pushing the cart laden with books ahead of her. She stopped before the first row, sighing as she went back for the ladder. She set it against the A shelf carefully, taking an armful and beginning the climb up. She hated re-shelving books, but knew it was a necessary part of being a librarian.
"B….what are you doing here?" She muttered, turning to look over her shoulder at the distance spanning the shelves. She reached out teetering dangerously as she attempted to put the book on the opposite shelf.
"I wouldn't advise that." A clipped female voice stated from below. "The consequences are not worth it, believe me."
Amanda was so startled that the book slipped from her fingers. She looked down to see Evelyn O'Connell catch the book, setting it on the cart before folding her arms across her chest. Amanda finished shelving the remaining books in her arms before returning to the ground. Evelyn's gaze was chilly, and Amanda squared her shoulders in preparation for a verbal battle.
"I do not agree that we should let you in on what we are doing." Evy said. "But it would seem I've been outvoted."
"I understand you have reservations about me." Amanda began, halting when the other woman waved an arm in irritation.
"If your greed for gold in any way endangers my family, I will not hesitate to cut you out." Evy continued in a wintry voice. "I find it thoroughly reprehensible that anyone could place such a high value on the search for gold."
"Does that opinion extend to your brother?" Amanda asked, arching an eyebrow as she too folded her arms across her chest.
'Jonathan? No, I-"
"Because I understand that it was his initial interest in gold that brought you to Hamunaptra." Amanda continued. "So you must not think very highly of him then."
"I love my brother!" Evy said, outraged.
"And wasn't it your greed for knowledge that placed you and your family in danger not once, but twice?"
Evy clenched her hands at her sides, her jaw clenching in anger as she stared at the girl before her. This was not going the way she'd planned. She had come here to warn the girl, and get out. The tables had been turned, though. It was Evy herself on the defense, and she didn't like having her own words thrown back at her. Especially the ones about how she viewed her brother.
"You have a lot of nerve." Evy said, her voice low.
"So I've been told." Amanda said with a humorless grin. "Let me tell you something. I'm not looking to excuse what I've done. I took a risk and I got caught. Now I face the consequences. But I will not be judged for the things I hope to have. It's not a crime to want to be rich. It's not a crime to want so much money you never have to worry about anything ever again. So don't look down your nose at me, Evelyn O'Connell, or I may just have to knock you off of that high horse you sit upon."
The two women stared at each other in silence, each measuring the other's resolve. Evy forced her clenched hands to relax, and her expression smoothed into an indifferent mask.
"My brother is very important to me." She said quietly. "Hurt him, and I will hurt you. Understand?"
"Perfectly." Amanda said, her eyes narrowing as Evelyn O'Connell walked away. She let her breath out in a rush, turning back to her task with slightly shaking hands.
She wondered at that last comment Evelyn had made. How on earth could she possibly hurt Jonathan?
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Alex woke slowly, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes as the morning sun streamed through the window. He sat up with a yawn, turning to let his feet dangle over the edge of the bed as he stretched, relieving the stiffness sleep had caused. He stood slowly, stuffing his feet into the slippers that lay next to the bed without looking, for they were always there. He shrugged into the robe he pulled off the hook behind the door without looking also, which is why he did not see the man that hid behind it.
He made his way to the bathroom, noting that no one else seemed to be up yet. That was not unusual, for he was an early riser. He glanced at the closed door to the room their new guest occupied, curious. She had arrived late last night, and he could tell that his mother did not like her. Not that she said it out loud, but he could tell by the expression of distaste that crossed his mother's face. He'd seen it plenty of times when he'd misbehaved, or Uncle Jon had done something wild.
His morning rituals were completed quickly, and he returned to his room, whistling a cheerful tune that made Amanda glance at the doorway. She smiled as she heard the door to the room next to her close, knowing it was the young Alex that occupied the room. She hadn't expected anyone else to be up yet. She'd been up for quite some time, but had chose to remain in her room until the others were up and about. It wouldn't do to be caught wandering around by herself, they were already suspicious of her without giving them anything to justify it.
Alex took off his robe, and saw the man when he went to re-hang it. He didn't have time to do anything before the man was upon him, knocking him back upon the bed and holding a knife to the startled boy's throat.
"Where are the books?" Beni demanded, leaning into the boy's face menacingly.
"I don't know." Alex said, his words struggling past the pressure of the man's arm across his throat. "I'm just a kid. Do you think they tell me anything?"
"Just like your father." Beni spat, his eyes narrowing. "You think you know so much. I know you lie."
Beni brought up his hand to squeeze Alex's throat, cutting off the boy's flow of air. Alex struggled, his arm flailing out and catching a vase that stood on a bedside table, where it hit the carpet with a thud, but did not break.
In her own room, Amanda heard a thud from the room beside her. She stood, uncertain as to what caused it. She opened the door to her room, peering around the jamb to see that Alex's door was open a crack. She stepped out, a flash of movement catching her eye. She put her hand on the doorknob, pushing the door open further in time to see Alex's face turning an unhealthy shad of red as the man on top of him choked him. She gave a yell, flying across the room to land on the man's back, flailing with her fists as he jerked back, releasing his grip on Alex as he tried to defend himself from the banshee that was striking him. He swung out, catching her in the eye with his elbow but she held on, until he stumbled back into the door jamb, banging the back of her head into the wood. Her grip released as her vision darkened, and she heard the sound of rushing footsteps as the world winked out.
Rick was the first to reach the room. He had time to see the back of a man disappearing through the window before his gaze took in his wheezing son. He rushed to Alex, frantic as he examined the boy for damage. Alex was unable to speak past the burning in his throat, he could only point at the doorway as the others came rushing in. Evy nearly tripped, and she looked down to see Amanda crumpled in a heap on the floor, unconscious.
"What happened?" Jonathan demanded, kneeling beside the fallen woman. Seeing the lump on the back of her head he winced, knowing she was going to have a hell of a headache when she awakened.
"A man…he tried to kill me…she stopped him…hit head." Alex gasped as Evy gathered her into her arms, rocking him as Rick put his arms around them both.
"My god." Rebecca breathed, as Jonathan stood with Amanda gathered in his arms. "I'll notify the guard. He'll get Ardeth."
Rebecca found the guard with a knife in his back. She knelt, feeling his neck for a pulse. She found one, faint, and she set to work quickly to help him. Deanari, Ardeth's grandmother, had taught her much of her healing arts in the month that they'd spent at the Medjai City. She knew she could help this man.
Ardeth walked in an hour later to a house that was in an uproar. His eyes automatically searched out his wife. When he did not see Rebecca, he grabbed the first person that walked past him by the shoulders, shaking that person as he spoke.
"Where is my wife?" He demanded.
"My lord, your wife is upstairs." The man replied, bowing his head as Ardeth focused on the face of one of the two gaurds left behind to guard his wife. "She is tending to the wounds of our brother."
Ardeth took the stairs two at a time, not stopping until he stood in the doorway of his own room. The other guard was propped up in their bed, a white bandage wrapped around his chest. Rebecca leaned over him, holding his head as he sipped out of the teacup she held to his lips. Ardeth's eyes narrowed as he saw the blood that spattered his wife's arms, and he strode forward, concern etched on his features. Rebecca looked up to see his approach, and she gave him a weary smile.
"What has happened?" he asked, looking down at his man.
"Beni was here. He put a knife in Jolath's back, then tried to choke Alex." She told him, her voice choking up. "If it hadn't been for Amanda, Alex would be dead."
"And if it were not for your wife, sir, I would be as well." Jolath whispered from the bed.
"Shh…" Rebecca said, tucking the blankets around the man. "You should be resting. The tea will help you to do that shortly."
The man's eyes drifted shut. Ardeth took Rebecca's hands in his, pulling her to her feet gently as he led her to the door. She stepped into his arms, laying her head on his chest as Rick approached, a dangerous expression on his face.
"How's Alex?" Rebecca asked, to tired to raise her head.
"Sleeping. He drank that tea you gave him, he said it made his throat feel better."
"Good. I have to check on Amanda. She hasn't woken yet, has she?" Rebecca questioned, hugging Ardeth close before stepping away.
"No. Jonathan's still with her." Rick said, looking back over his shoulder. "I owe her."
Rebecca went into Jonathan's room, closing the door behind her quietly and walking up to lay her hand on Jonathan's shoulder. Amanda lay beneath the covers where he had tucked her in. Her face was pale, and a bruise had formed around her right eye. It did not take away from her beauty, it made her appear even more fragile.
"She opened her eyes for a moment." Jonathan said, leaning his head against Rebecca's side as she placed her arm about his shoulders. "She said she had a bloody headache."
"I still do." Amanda said, her voice weak. She opened her eyes to see Jonathan resting against Rebecca, and part of her melted at the fact that he needed comfort. The other part wanted to rip out the other woman's eyes, married or not.
"Do you feel any nausea?" Rebecca asked, stepping away from Jonathan to lay a hand on Amanda's forehead.
"No. Did he get away?"
"Yes." Rebecca answered gently, holding up her fingers in front of Amanda's eyes. "How many fingers?"
"3. How's Alex?"
"He's fine. A little hoarse, but he'll recover." Rebecca said, satisfied that Amanda would be fine. "He's resting, which is what you should do for today as well. Let me know if you need anything."
Rebecca walked to the door, turning back to look at Amanda.
"I owe you for what you did for Alex." Rebecca said quietly.
She left, leaving Jonathan to look down at Amanda with a bemused grin.
"What?" she asked when he continued to smile.
"Well, luv. I had entertained many ideas of how I'd get you in my bed. This, my dear, was not one of them."
Damn it if he didn't make her feel like laughing.
"Stop trying to make me feel better." She scolded, smiling up at him tiredly.
"You? I was trying to make me feel better." He said, rubbing his forehead tiredly. "This day has barely started and it's already been a bloody fiasco. It was a mistake to get you involved."
"How so?" she asked, struggling to raise herself up on her elbows.
"You nearly got yourself killed."
"And if I hadn't been here, Alex would not be." Amanda pointed out. "Maybe I was meant to be here for that one purpose."
"Maybe." Evy said from the doorway, startling both. "I'm glad you were."
Amanda looked at Evy, noting the lines of strain around her eyes. Jonathan had told her Evy was expecting a child, she hoped the stress of today hadn't been too much for her.
"I still don't trust you." Evy continued. "But I am grateful to you. I won't apologize for what I've said, but we can move forward from here."
"Agreed." Amanda said, smiling up at Evy and Jonathan. "If you'll excuse me-"
She fell forward as she passed out, and would have toppled from the bed had Jonathan not been there to catch her. He lowered her back against the pillows, brushing her hair back from her face tenderly as he tucked her back in. Evy was shocked to note how tenderly he treated her, and she made a note to talk to Rebecca about the fact that her brother was showing quite a bit of concern for their new arrival.