Title: When the Past Comes Alive

Authors: Alex (skettipikachu@aol.com) and Sarah (silivin@aol.com)

Rating: PG-13

Category: Action/adventure

Status: Work in progress (part 3)

Spoilers: TM

Disclaimer: See part 1

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Rick came into the kitchen to see Evie getting dinner ready for that evening. She was standing at the stove and he walked up behind her, putting his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck. "Smells good," he said.

"Me or the food?" she asked, laughing. She held up a spoon with gravy on it. "Taste." She commanded. "Is it good?"

He accepted her offering, sighing in appreciation. "Delicious as always," he told her. He focused his attentions back to her neck, nibbling lightly this time. "Mmm, you taste better though."

She swatted him away. "I'm cooking, there are hazards in here...go play with Alex."

"I'd rather play with you," he said teasingly, squeezing her gently. "We never did get to take today out for ourselves."

"Tonight." she promised. "I'll come to bed, wearing your favorite clothes-none." She shoved him out of the kitchen and went back to the food.

He grinned and went off in search of his son, seeing what mischief he was up to this time. He wandered off into the dining room and found Ardeth already seated at the table. "Have you seen Alex?" he asked.

"Yes, he's under the table, trying to figure out how many weapons I have in my boots without me taking them off." Ardeth smiled wryly. "It should keep him busy for a while."

Rick smiled and sat down next to him. He was actually feeling much better now compared to the apprehensive mood he had been in earlier as a result of his dream. Maybe tonight would help take his mind off it. "Nice to have a break from chasing mummies and searching out clues to our past lives, wouldn't you say?" he grinned.

Ardeth rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Yes. Although my job is still rather full of them in some way or another." He glanced down and with a quick movement, leaned down and swatted at Alex. There was a muffled yelp in response. "I told you no hands!" Ardeth said.

"Alex, stop bothering Ardeth," said Rick. He reached under the table and picked up his son, sitting him down on his knee. "Remember, we have a guest tonight so best behavior, alright?"

Alex didn't like the idea of actually having to behave, but he knew the rules for houseguests. And besides, he was hungry and he wasn't about to be sent to bed without dinner. "Okay," he sighed. "But afterwards, can we have a game of soccer or something?"

"If your mother allows it," Rick told him." He turned to Ardeth. "Well maybe you might actually get used to having a day off from all that stuff. Works wonders y'know," he said, smiling. His friend always seemed so serious.

Ardeth just looked at him. "Used to it?" He frowned. "I've never not had work. The threat of death is just a way of life for me, I suppose."

Rick frowned, remembering his days in the foreign legion when that too had been his way of life. "Well, you're not working now," he pointed out. "Just take your mind off that for a while. Have some fun with your life." He smiled; when he thought about all the times he had told Evie the exact same thing.

"I know how I would like to have fun, but I doubt that will happen." Ardeth leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. For once, he didn't have on his Med-jai black robes. Instead, he was dressed in a white shirt and dark pants, similar to what Rick wore.

"Well, you never know," he said, setting his squirming boy down on the floor who had suddenly grown bored with this conversation. "Go see if your mother has finished dinner yet," he said, pushing him off in the direction of the kitchen.

"I thought I was supposed to know everything," Ardeth said, smiling. "So, what have you and Evie been up to? Alex told me you just got back from Egypt."

"Yeah, you probably know that Evie got the job of the curator at the museum since the previous one...mysteriously vanished," he replied, thinking briefly about the events of Ahm Shere. "So that means we're off exploring more than usual. Plus it helps Alex with his studies, so I guess it all works out. But what about you? How have you been?" he asked, feeling strange asking Ardeth about his personal life and suddenly realized how little he really knew about the man. "So what do you do when you're not fighting off plagues and curses?"

"I sew." Ardeth smirked at the expression on Rick's face. "Actually I like to train horses. But other than that I don't really have any hobbies. What can you do in the desert?" He shrugged.

"Make sandcastles," he smiled. "If you like horses, maybe later we can go check out the stables outside, Jonathan and Alex each have their own horses. Since you're staying with us for a while, you might as well have something to do."

"I'm afraid my horse is rather fat and boring," Jonathan said, making his grand entrance. "But Alex's is a good one." He popped down beside of Ardeth. "Hello, old chum."

Ardeth shook his head. "Hello Jonathan. I think I'll take your offer up." He turned his attention back to Rick.

Rick grinned. "Tell you what. After dinner tonight, we'll go up to the stables, check out the horses, then Alex and I will teach you how to play soccer," he said, trying to imagine the Med-jai kicking a ball around.

Ardeth nodded, and was about to say something when the doorbell chimed.

"I'll get it," said Rick, getting up. He shouted for Alex to take his place at the table and walked out of the dining room and out into the hallway. He opened the door to see Sari standing there and he smiled, motioning for her to come inside. "Just in time," he said.

She smiled a little nervously at him and hung her coat up. "Hello, Mr. O'Connell," she said, following him into the dining room.

"Ardeth and Alex you know already, but this is Jonathan, my brother in law," he told her.

"Hello!" Said Jonathan jumping to his feet and practically running around the table. "What's a pretty little thing like you hanging out with rabble like them?" he asked starting to take her hand, but he was thwarted by a kick from Rick. "Would you like to sit by Ardeth?" he choked out.

"Um, yes, thank you," she answered, thinking that she would rather sit anywhere than next to this man. Jonathan helped her in her seat and she looked over at Ardeth and smiled. "Good evening," she said, noticing his change in attire. "You look nice," she blurted out and then slapped a hand over her mouth in horror. "I mean, you look *different* to how you did this morning. Not that it isn't nice or anything," she rambled, blushing.

Ardeth fought to keep from grinning. "I look better than Jonathan, that's for certain."

Jonathan sat down with a thump. "I'm not that bad really, just a drunk, misunderstood, gold-digger."

Ardeth rolled his eyes, before looking back at Sari. "You look beautiful," he said, and gave her hand a quick kiss.

Jonathan rolled his eyes and went to find Evie and Alex.

"Oh... thank you," she said, blushing even deeper. She smiled and folded her hands neatly in her lap. "Well, you probably know that I work in the museum as Mrs. O'Connell's assistant, but what do you do?" she asked curiously.

"I work at the Cairo Museum, making sure that the artifacts are handled with proper care." Ardeth glanced over at Rick and glared at him. Rick took the hint and stood up to excuse himself.

"Cairo? My father is from there," she told him. "Although I've never been myself. I'll bet it's a wonderful place to live." She smiled.

Rick made his way into the kitchen where Evie was just finishing up with dinner and Alex was sitting on the counter top, trying to get at the food. He picked him up and set him on the floor. "Go sit at the table," he told him. "And watch your manners." Alex scampered off. "Sari's here," he told his wife.

"She is?" Evie asked. She was bending over looking at the baked chicken in the oven. "Don't even think about it Rick." He backed away from where he'd been about to grab her butt. "I'll go and say hello to her." She started to go into the dinning room, but stopped when she saw that Ardeth and Sari were in a deep conversation. "Nevermind, I'll leave them alone for a bit."

He smiled, pulling her into his arms. "Yes, let's leave them for a while," he said. "They're doing just fine without us." He leaned down to gently brush his lips over hers.

She responded eagerly and leaned back against the door. Which promptly swung open, throwing both of them to the dinning room floor.

"Ow," Evie groaned. Rick had landed on her, and he wasn't the lightest person in the world.

"Guess this is not my lucky day," he muttered, getting to his feet and helping her up. "Sorry about that," he said, brushing her off. It was then he looked up to see his son, Ardeth and Sari seated at the dinner table and staring at him and Evie strangely. "Uh...hi?" he said, grinning sheepishly.

"My breasts hurt!" Evie exclaimed loudly before realizing that they had an audience. "Oh, my! I mean my bread's burnt! Uh, I should go and see to it…" She backed away into the kitchen, leaving Rick still standing there.

He chuckled self-consciously and sat down beside Alex. "Uh, she's just going to see to the food," he said, shrugging his shoulders. He looked up curiously. "Hey, has anybody seen Jonathan around?"

"No," Ardeth said. "You weren't by any chance doing it in the kitchen around our food were you?" he asked suspiciously. Sari turned a bright shade of red at the words 'doing it'.

"What kind of man do you take me to be?" he replied grinning, although it had sounded like a good idea if only they hadn't gone flying out the door like that. He sighed. "Ardeth don't forget, we have a guest and a small child present."

"He was one who suggested it," Ardeth said pointing to Alex who was trying to slink away. Sari couldn't hold it in anymore, and burst out laughing surprising all three of them.

Rick stared sternly at his son. "Alex, just what has your uncle been telling you?" he asked. He couldn't help but smile at the sound of Sari's laughter; she always seemed so shy and reserved.

"Nothing," he protested. "It's just that you and mum kiss like all the time and, dad, it's *disgusting*!" He looked up, putting on his best innocent expression. "Who's ready for dinner?" he asked chirpily.

"It's almost ready!" Evie's voice sailed out of the kitchen. Ardeth smiled, he had a feeling Sari wasn't as innocent as she seemed.

"Where did Jonathan get off to?" he asked, looking over to Alex who knew everything about everyone it seemed.

"Oh, he'll probably be in the living room practicing his card game," said Alex. He turned to Sari. "Did you know one time Uncle John played poker with these men and he bet-" He was cut off by his father's glare and he got up hurriedly. "I'll just go and fetch him," he said, scurrying off.

Ardeth picked at some lint that was one the tablecloth. He suddenly had no earthly idea what to say. He glanced at Sari and saw that she looked about the same way.

She would have smiled at his awkwardness if only she hadn't felt the same way. She suddenly wished that Alex would return, it had been easier for her to talk then. "So, how long have you been a friend of the O'Connell's?" she finally asked as Evie set to work serving them all after Rick had finished setting the table.

"Ten years. Since before Alex was born," Ardeth replied. Sari blanked, that would have made her twelve years old then.

"That's a long time," she replied, figuring out his age to be somewhere around the same as Mr. O'Connell's. She knew the age difference should have put her off, but strangely, she didn't feel all that bothered. "I only started work at the museum with Mrs. O'Connell a few months ago."

"Well...It's not as long as it sounds. I mean, I'm not as old as Rick here," he responded, giving his friend a slap on the back. Rick replied with a heartless 'Ha ha'.

She giggled a little and then thanked Mrs. O'Connell as she served her. It was then that Alex returned with his uncle and she was relieved to see him sit at the far end of the table, away from her.

Rick took his place next to Evie when everybody had been served and said, "alright everyone, dig in."

After a round of complements on the food, Evie decided to stick her foot into her mouth and ask. "So how old are you, Sari?"

"I'm actually twenty-two," Sari told her. "Not very old, I know. I only graduated last year."

"Oh, that's a perfectly good age!" Evie exclaimed. "I was twenty-two when I met Rick in Cairo."

"You met your husband in Cairo?" asked Sari with interest. "Well, it seems like all our lives are related to there at some point." She smiled at Ardeth.

Rick, Ardeth and Evie all stared at each other for a split second before Ardeth blurted out, "You must come and see it sometime. There's always something about to happen there." Rick nearly choked on his water.

"Oh, that sounds lovely," she replied, unaware there was anything wrong.

Rick frowned at Ardeth. He would have to talk to him about this later, but for now he decided to just let it be. "Oh yeah, Cairo's great," he said, keeping the conversation going.

"Hot though," Ardeth said. "You have to be able to stand the heat." He smiled at her. "I doubt you'd have a problem though."

She blushed and looked down at her plate, wondering if he had just been coming onto her. "Why did you say that?" she asked shyly, looking up at him.

Ardeth head went blank. "Well, you said your father was from Cairo, then that would mean that the sands of Egypt run through your veins, just as much as it does mine or Evie's."

"Oh," she said, laughing as she realized what he actually meant. "Well yes, I suppose that's true. I would like to go there some day though."

Evie decided to jump in. "You know, I'm going on an expedition in two weeks-"

"You are?" Jonathan interjected. Evie waved him off.

"I was thinking of asking you to accompany me, would you?"

"That would be lovely, but I'm sure you wouldn't want me in your way," she said. She really did want to go, but she didn't want to seem rude.

"Oh, no!" Evie was now totally ignoring the looks all of the men were giving her. "I'd love to have you come! And it's not just Cairo, we're going to Karnack and Giza and some of the smaller temples around the Nile. You'd just love it!"

She bit her lip. It really did sound amazing and too good an opportunity to pass up. "I would," she sighed. "You are sure it wouldn't be any trouble?" she asked uncertainly.

"Positive!" Evie ignored the fact that Rick was kicking her in the foot. "Oh, we'll have to go shopping! And we'll have to get some of the books from the museum..." Evie and Sari's excited conversation faded into the background as Rick and Ardeth just looked at each other and shrugged.