ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Ardeth forced himself to remain still as the felt the physician's needle prick his flesh. He couldn't keep himself from tensing, however. Keeping his eyes closed, he focused on breathing.

Although relieved when Ardeth stopped squirming shortly after the Doc began stitching him up, Rick continued to restrain the Medjai, just in case. As the physician finished up, he let go of Ardeth's arm, straightened up and stretched his aching back.

Ardeth released a long, soft sigh as he realized the physician was finished. Enjoying the brief lessening of pain, he was caught unprepared when the physician rinsed the freshly completed handy-work. His eyes flying open, Ardeth hissed as the alcohol seeped between the stitches.

"Dad?!"

Rick looked up at Alex and saw a look of alarm on his son's face. He was about to ask what was wrong when Ardeth flexed against the latest abuse. Caught off guard, he barely managed to grab the Medjai. "Whoa, buddy, easy...,"

"All right, then. Finished there, let's have a look at the other side," the physician commented. Alex and Rick released their hold on Ardeth as the Doc gently eased the Medjai down onto his back and immediately turned to rinse his supplies. Turning back, he flinched as he found himself captured in the intense gaze of his patient.

"I was about to tell you...Ardeth's awake," Alex announced, before anyone else could speak.

"Oh! H...hello...uh...I mean...all lawn," the Doc stammered, squirming a little as Ardeth continued to glare at him. Rick raised an eyebrow at the physician's poor attempt at Arabic. "Ardeth, is it? I'm Doctor Hamilton...um...the O'Connell's physician. Um...easy yak?" ("I mean hello." "Um...how are you?")

Rick grimaced as the physician made another attempt at Arabic, but it earned a weak sort of half smile from Ardeth and his glare softened.

"I have been better, Doctor."

"Oh, excellent! You speak English. Excellent! I'm not sure I could manage much more Arabic," the physician exclaimed, relieved.

"And I am not sure I could survive it if you tried," Ardeth replied, earnestly.

"Oh...I...I...," Dr. Hamilton stammered, fearing he'd offended him. Unsure of what to do, he glanced up at Rick, who was valiantly attempting, but miserably failing, to stifle a chuckle. The physician grinned, sheepishly, as he realized Ardeth was teasing him. Glancing back toward the patient, he saw him blink wearily and grew serious again. "Ardeth? It is all right if I call you that?"

"It is fine," Ardeth indicated, with a small, tired nod.

"I would like to give you something for the pain before continuing, if it would be all right."

Ardeth closed his eyes and, for a moment, Dr. Hamilton assumed he'd lost consciousness again. The physician sighed. His patient was visibly exhausted, but he doubted he'd get any real rest without at least some relief from the pain.

"What drug do you wish to use," Ardeth inquired, the strain of the continued conversation apparent in his voice.

Dr. Hamilton started as his patient abruptly opened his eyes and fixed his intense gaze on him. "I have..uh...laud...oh, no, that one won't do. Well, there's one called morphine. It..."

Cutting the physician off, Ardeth frowned, shaking his head carefully. He'd heard of this drug. It would make him unable to think, even more so than the pain. He could not allow that.

"All right, well...I can give you some aspirin. It's not as strong, but it should help."

Ardeth studied the physician for a moment before answering. Dr. Hamilton was clearly uncomfortable continuing without at least believing he'd provided Ardeth some relief from the pain.

"That would be fine."

"Excellent!" Dr. Hamilton exclaimed, sounding very relieved. "All right, then, Rick, would you mind fetching..."

"Fetching what? I'll get it," Jonathan offered, startling everyone as he unexpectedly barged through the doorway.

Flinching with the others, Ardeth gasped softly, the sudden movement pulling on his injuries. Feeling the quick intake of breath, Alex glanced at the warrior and frowned at the grimace of pain in the Medjai's face.

"Sorry, old chap," Jonathan offered. Seeing Alex glance down, he'd followed his nephew's gaze to Ardeth's pain-filled expression. Although Jonathan wasn't certain, he had the feeling he'd somehow contributed to it.

Ardeth intended to reply, but it came at as long sigh instead. Before he could make another attempt, Alex shifted on the bed, barely brushing against his ribs. The slight touch was enough to send fresh waves of pain radiating out from the ribs no one had yet noticed were broken. Biting his lip, Ardeth gripped the bedcovers, trying to hide his reaction, but failing as his back reflexively arched ever so slightly.

"Water, Jonathan." Dr. Hamilton requested, noticing Ardeth's increased discomfort. A look of bewilderment spread across Jonathan's face. "I was asking Rick to fetch a glass of water."

"Oh...oh, yes, of course. Won't be a moment," Jonathan responded, dashing out the door.

"Sorry, Ardeth, I didn't mean to...," Alex began, tearfully.

"Do...not...trou..ble...your...self, young...O Con...nell," Ardeth gasped out, attempting a reassuring smile, but only managing a weary grimace. Not certain he'd manage better with a second attempt, the Medjai took the child's hand instead and gave it a comforting squeeze. He was pleased when Alex responded with a slight, trembling smile.

"Hmmm...what have we here, now," Dr. Hamilton muttered to himself, absently. Reaching over to examine Ardeth's ribs, he realized he'd been so flustered that he'd failed to do so earlier. As he mentally chastised himself, the physician found relief in remembering that he had, at least, thought to check Ardeth's breathing and for signs of internal bleeding, before starting on the wounds.

Grasping what the physician was about to do, Ardeth tensed and closed his eyes. He attempted to steel himself as he felt the physician touch creep down his ribcage. Despite the effort, Ardeth wasn't quite able to stifle a clipped moan as the physician's hand slid lightly across the broken ribs.

"Um-hmm," Dr. Hamilton mumbled, making a mental note of each broken rib.

Rick frowned when Ardeth's grip tightened around his son's hand. As Alex winced, he took a stepped closer to the bed, ready to intervene if necessary.

"It's all right, dad. He's not really hurting me," Alex whispered, seeing the concern on his father's face.

Hearing the words, Ardeth realized what he was doing and immediately released the child's hand. Opening his eyes, he glanced apologetically at Alex and then Rick.

"Don't worry about it, buddy. No harm done," Rick responded.

"Yeah, Ardeth, it's all right. You can keep holding my hand if its helps," Alex offered.

Ardeth did manage a weak smile this time and nodded appreciatively, but didn't take hold of the child's hand again. Hearing Jonathan approaching, Ardeth nearly sighed. Whatever relief the aspirin brought, he would welcome it.

"Here you are," Jonathan announced, as he entered the room.

"Yes, thank you, Jonathan," Dr. Hamilton acknowledged, reaching into his bag for the aspirin, before taking the glass. "Rick, could you lend me hand here."

"Yeah, sure, Doc," he replied, shifting around to help Ardeth rise up enough to drink. The Medjai grimaced as he choked down the chalky pills. Rick wasn't sure if it was from the pain of moving or the taste of the medicine.

"Shukran," the Medjai muttered. Exhausted, he closed his eyes, again, and prepared himself for the physician's continued ministrations.

Jonathan hovered in the background, watching as Dr. Hamilton prepared to get back to work. However, both the physician and Rick seemed oblivious to his continued presence, so he decided to excuse himself before the real unpleasantness began. Slipping out the door, Jonathan headed to his room to pour himself a stiff drink.

"Rick."

Dr. Hamilton uttered only the single word, but it was enough to cause Ardeth to tense in anticipation. He flinched, feeling sudden pressure on his chest as Rick's hands pinned him against the bed. Ardeth focused on not squirming as the physician quickly probed the wound. As he felt the first prick of the physician's needle, he switched his focus to keeping his breaths slow and even. With each successive stitch, Ardeth increasingly noticed that the aspirin was indeed easing the pain, if only slightly, and he found himself teetering on the edge of sleep.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Evy continued to pace her bedroom, replaying the past few hours. As the events were happening, she'd been in such a fog that it had seemed like a dream...a nightmare. But Evy found that each time she reviewed the memory, the details became clearer. Ardeth's eyes seemed to have etched into her mind - the concern in them as he approached her, concern for her, his friend - the disbelief as she thrust the dagger into him - the bewildered amazement as she just stood there and let him bleed...bleed... Evy unconsciously stared at her hand, remembering his blood gushing onto it, and a shudder ran down her spine.

Coming to a stand still, Evy closed her eyes, letting her hand drop to her side. Taking a deep breath, she held it for a minute, before releasing it slowly and opening her eyes. Her gaze landed on the journal, still lying where she'd dropped it. As Evy moved to retrieve it, she recalled the words she'd read. Their meaning had seemed so certain. It didn't seem possible that she'd gotten it wrong, but she must have. The journal had to be wrong, or Jonathan was wrong - but he, also, had seemed certain.

Forcing herself to calm down enough to sit on the bed, Evy opened the journal near, she thought, the same page. She'd intended to skim until she found the passage she'd read earlier, but the words on the page in front her immediately captured her attention.

"A messenger has come to inform me that my fellow Medjai discovered the Carnahans, abandoned far from Hamunaptra, terribly ill with fever. Knowing they are dear to me, my brother had them brought back to his camp and asks me to come with a vehicle to fetch them. The message arrived too late for me to depart immediately. I will have to wait until dawn. So again, I find myself waiting and praying to Allah for his mercy."

Evy's heart nearly stopped. The Medjai had not murdered her parents; they had rescued them. Nausea tickled her stomach as the words sank in, and she closed her eyes. Taking several deep breaths, Evy forced herself to calm down. It was only one paragraph; she couldn't be certain which words to believe until she'd read more. Opening her eyes, she returned to the journal. Her brow wrinkled as she noticed the next passage was dated nearly a week after the one she'd just read.

"The fever continues to spread through my people like a raging sandstorm. I pray constantly to Allah for his mercy, but I am not certain he hears. Nearly half of the camp is sick with the fever, and it seems every hour brings word of another fallen ill. The people are frightened. They seek words of comfort and guidance, but their leader, my brother, lies desperately ill with the fever, along with his wife, his eldest daughters, and the two youngest children. The people blame the outsiders and I fear for the Carnahans, but they are still to ill to return to Cairo on their own and I am reluctant to leave my family to take them. Praise be to Allah that Ardeth has not yet fallen ill. He has only barely reached manhood, but despite his tender years, it is his calm words of reason that keep the people from turning on my friends. I do not know how it is that he is able to so adeptly hide the fear I see in him as he sits by his father's bedside, but hide it he does. The people see only his steadiness. I dread to think of what will happen should he fall ill."

The sick feeling in Evy's stomach grew in intensity and her heart raced. Ardeth had protected her parents...and she'd nearly killed him. Shutting her eyes, Evy took several deep breaths and tried to clam down. As she opened them again, she decided to check on Ardeth. Without consciously thinking about it, Evy dog-eared the page as she closed the journal and set it on the nightstand.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

As Dr. Hamilton rinsed his completed stitches, Ardeth stirred and his eyes flickered opened briefly.

"Shhh...he's almost done, Ardeth. Go back to sleep," Alex whispered, bringing the Medjai's weak gaze his direction.

As his heavy eyelids slipped shut again, Ardeth smiled at Alex. He was too tired to say anything, or even force his eyes to open again. So he just lay quietly, hoping he would fall back to sleep soon.

"How is he doing?" He heard Evy ask from what seemed to be very far away.

"He's hanging in there, Evy. Doc's almost done," Rick responded, frowning as he glanced up at his wife hovering in the doorway. She seemed no less upset than she'd been earlier, except...it seemed different somehow.

"He's going to be all right?" Evy asked, directing her gaze toward the Doc.

"He seems like a strong chap and none of his vital organs were damaged, so I expect he'll recover well enough, Evelyn, as long as there's no fever," he reassured.

"Anything you need?" Evy glanced first at Rick, then at Alex. Her son was intently focused on Ardeth and didn't look up. Evy let her gaze drift down to Ardeth. She found herself unable to look away from his still, pale form as, once again, the image of his blood gushing onto her hand flashed into her mind.

"I think we have it covered, Evy," Rick replied softly, shifting to block her view of Ardeth. Shaking herself free from the image, Evy sighed, softly, and gave her husband a quick nod, before excusing herself.

Expecting to hear Evy respond, Ardeth flinched as he felt Rick's hands press down on him, instead. "Sorry," he heard Rick say, but Ardeth was too distracted to reply. Focused on Evy, what had happened and what must come next, he was almost too distracted to notice as the physician set to work on the abdominal wound.

As, Dr. Hamilton gently peeled away the towels Alex had dutifully continued to press against the wound, he frowned at what he saw. The sword had gone through Ardeth's shoulder quickly, leaving clean edges that were relatively simple to stitch. However, the abdominal wound was jagged, as though the blade had been twisted, and the damaged tissue was much more inflamed than with the other wound. The Doc shook his head knowing the aspirin wasn't going to do much to dull the pain he was about to inflict.

Although he kept his eyes closed, Ardeth came fully awake as the physician prodded the wound. His exhausted body didn't have the strength to struggle against the pressure Rick was exerting, but his hands desperately clenched the bedding. Biting his lip, Ardeth fought to suppress the moan rising up in his throat.

"Shhh...almost done...almost done," Alex chanted, seeing the Medjai's agonized expression. He'd moved up toward Ardeth's head to get out of the physician way. Curling up, he lay down next to the warrior and closed his eyes as he continued to whisper soothingly.

Ardeth was relieved to finally feel the poke of the needle as the physician began stitching the wound. He knew that meant the man really was nearly finished.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

It startled Evy to find herself back in her room. She'd intended to put on some tea...or had she? Despite the voice in her head that screamed she would regret it, Evy knew she had to know the rest. Sitting back down on the bed, she was relieved to see she'd marked the page. Trembling, she opened the journal and began the next passage, dated several days after the previous passage.

"At Ardeth's insistence, I return with my friends to Cairo. It is with a heavy heart I agreed to do this. I know he fears for their safety, but I fear what may happen while I am away."

Evy breathed a sign of relief as she reached the end of the page. The author had returned to Cairo, end of story. Flipping to the next page to be certain, Evy glanced at the first few sentences and her heart sunk, it wasn't over after all. Momentarily reconsidering reading further, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath to steady herself. Opening them again, she began to read.

"My friends have been left in the care of others and I have returned from Cairo. Now I understand the reason for my nephew's insistence that my friends leave, for he has fallen ill with the fever. It is certain that he was already ill when I departed, but he kept it hidden, as he has kept his fear hidden. The loss of his steady strength weighs so heavily upon our people that I knew he was ill long before anyone could break the news to me. Again, I wonder if Allah listens to our prayers.

Shortly before dawn, my brother's wife found her place in Paradise. I cannot find the words to describe the pain it causes me to not to have been here. But praise be to Allah for the mercy he granted her, for he allowed her to pass from this existence into the next without the pain of little Bashiyra's passing. The sweet child followed her mother just an hour ago.

Perhaps, afterall, it was with merciful intent that Allah allowed Ardeth to fall ill. My nephew doted on his youngest sister as though she were the center of all creation. It is surely merciful that fever and delirium have spared him, at least for the moment, from the pain of these losses."

The tears welled in Evy's eyes, blurring the words. Determined to finish reading the section, she attempted to blink them away, sending the tears spilling onto her cheeks. Resigned, Evy laid the journal face down on the bed, rose and shakily made her way to the washroom. Dampening a cloth, she swiped it across her face, before pausing to take several deep breaths. Leaning against the wall, several minutes passed before she felt steady enough to make her way back to the bed. Sitting back down, she took one more deep breath before picking up the journal and continuing the saga.

"Sweet Amal passed from out midst as the morning sun rose. But even as I mourn by beautiful niece, I endeavor to remind myself that Allah has not yet abandoned us. Mercifully, even as Ardeth's fever continues to rise, my poor brother's fever diminishes, providing hope to our people. I am not so certain that Dabir see the mercy of this, however, as he grieves the loss of his beloved wife and cherished daughters.

I cannot fault my brother's despair. The situation within his household does not improve. Little Nameer continues to grow weaker. I do not expect that he will survive the night.

Fathi has bravely sat by his younger brother's side for many days, refusing to give up hope. Indeed, I believe it is he that will be most affected by Nameer's passing. As I write, he also helps tend to his father and Ardeth. He puts on a brave face for his father, but I see fear in his eyes when he tends to Ardeth. I know he doubts his ability to fill his elder brother's shoes should Ardeth not recover. Ordinarily, I know he would have shared his uncertainty with Nameer, but instead he must face the imminent loss of his younger brother."

Evy felt fresh tears roll down her cheeks, but she was too drained to wash them away again. Closing the journal, she intentionally dog-eared the page, not bothering to even pretend that she wouldn't read more. She knew with certainty that she would - but it would wait. All she wanted to do for the moment was close her eyes. Setting the journal on the nightstands, Evy rolled onto her side and fell asleep.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

"Easy, Ardeth. Let us do the work," Rick stressed, as he and Dr. Hamilton helped the Medjai sit up.

Biting his lip against the pain, Ardeth let his head droop wearily. Too weak and exhausted to continue to exert effort, he allowed Rick to completely support him while the physician bandaged the broken ribs.

"There we are! All finished," Dr. Hamilton announced, causing Ardeth to jerk awake. The physician frowned apologetically. He hadn't realized that his patient had dozed off. As he and Rick eased Ardeth back onto the bed, he muttered a quick, but sincere, "sorry 'bout that."

Ardeth managed a little smile for the physician before letting his heavy eyelids close.

"You are finished? I may sleep now? You will go?" Ardeth mumbled in a tired whisper. He hoped he'd made sense, too weary to be certain of his English.

"Yes, my boy, I'll go. You may sleep now," Dr. Hamilton responded, gently, giving him a sympathetic smile. He couldn't really blame Ardeth for wishing him away and didn't take any offense.

"Yeah, Ardeth, I'll just get Alex and we'll get out of your hair for a while," Rick added, getting ready to pick up his sleeping son.

"No. That is all right. Let him sleep," Ardeth mumbled. As he desperately wanted nothing more than to be allowed to sleep undisturbed, it seemed a shame to wake the child.

"Okay," Rick responded, hesitantly, wrinkling his brow and shooting Dr. Hamilton a look. The physician just shrugged. "Well...wake him up and have him come get me if you need anything. All right?"

Ardeth nodded, very slightly.

"All right, off to sleep then," Dr. Hamilton ordered, compassionately.

"Shukran, tabeeb," Ardeth mumbled as he fell asleep.

The physician glanced at Rick. He was reasonable sure of what had been said, but not positive.

"He said 'thank you, doctor.'"

Dr. Hamilton smiled, but didn't bother with a reply. He wasn't really certain whether the thank you was intended for the medical care...or just for letting him sleep. Quickly gathering his things while Rick cleaned up the mess, he paused to lay a blanket across his patient before allowing Rick to escort him out of the room.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

"Will you be staying the night, Doc?" Rick inquired, as the two men made their way downstairs and into the kitchen. Grabbing a kettle, he put some water on to boil.

"No. The wife's expecting me home for dinner."

Rick frowned as he glanced at his watch and was surprised to see that it was still fairly early in the evening. The past few hours had so thoroughly worn him out, he'd assumed it was very late.

"There's really not much more I can do for your guest at the moment anyway," Dr. Hamilton continued. "What he needs most is rest. If he does wake up, I have no doubt he could use more aspirin and do try to get as much water into him as possible over the next few days."

Rick's eyebrow went up.

"Don't worry. I'll be back bright and earlier in the morning to look in on him," Dr. Hamilton added, stifling a chuckle, as he realized Rick had taken the 'next few days' to mean he didn't intend to return. Growing serious again, he continued, "Ring me immediately if his temperature rises, regardless of the hour."

"Thanks, Doc," Rick responded, with a quick nod, and poured the physician a cup of tea before collapsing wearily into a nearby chair.

Watching Rick doze off as he finished the tea, Dr. Hamilton briefly wondered if he should wake him. With a soft, sympathetic chuckle, he decided not to, knowing Rick wasn't the sort to stand on ceremony anyway. Gathering his things, Dr. Hamilton showed himself quietly to the door.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ