Authors note: This was originally a sequel to 'Chance Meeting' but it
seemed stupid having the two stories separate. I was cleaning out my
ff.net account in a vain attempt to get my stories organized, and I decided
just to make this the second chapter of one story. Previous reviews have
been added. Thanks.
***
One --- two --- three --- four --- five---
Ja-Kal held the stretch for five seconds, counting the time elapse inside his head. His calf muscles ached a little, but he knew that the feeling would pass momentarily. Standing tall he frowned critically, surveying the makeshift gym. Gym was, perhaps, a rather grandiose name for the assortment of battered gymnastics equipment Armand had brought home one night. Ja-Kal had no idea where he had found them - in truth, he wasn't sure that he wanted to know. At any rate, he had found it a useful place to spend his ample free time, training and exercise providing him with a short-lived feeling of productivity while waiting to serve his prince.
He settled on the punch bag hanging in the centre of the room. Already having been working hard for almost an hour, his bandaged brow was uncomfortably damp with beads of perspiration. It was one of those confusing points that made him question the means of his existence. Could a dead man sweat? Ja-Kal didn't know, but that small mark of his humanity was a strange comfort to him.
With a grunt, he planted a savage blow in the middle of the punch bag. Before it could swing back at him, he hit it again, and again, and again, losing himself in the motions. He allowed his mind to drift away, his body working with some instinct all of its own. He was only vaguely aware of the aching of his knuckles as he pounded at the heavy fabric. With growing force he aimed a powerful kick into the bag, causing the rope that held it in place to groan audibly. He gritted his teeth, his punches increasing in speed. He seemed somehow far away from his pained body, the distance felt pleasing to him.
With one final cry he summoned the last of his strength and hit out at the punch bag. A piece of the rope snapped, leaving the bag swinging drunkenly at a strange angle. It swayed uncertainly, still rebounding from the fury of his blows.
Ja-Kal stood back, his chest rising with shallow breathing. He reached out to still the wavering punch bag, resting his forehead against the coarse fabric. Closing his eyes, he waited for his strength to return.
A low whistle behind him alerted the former huntsman to company. He whirled around, surprised. Nefer-Tina leaned against the open doorframe, her slender arms folded over her chest and her eyebrows raised questioningly.
"Did the punch bag do something wrong?" she queried.
Ja-Kal cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed. "I...err...I was training."
"So I see." The youngest mummy walked into the room surveying the damage he had inflicted. "All work and no play makes Ja-Kal a dull guardian," she teased, her mouth curved into a playful smile. She was wearing a pair of soft denim jeans and a long sleeved black top. Evidently, she was going out.
He frowned. "Where are you going?"
Nefer-Tina ran a hand through her shining white hair. "That's what I was coming to ask you about. There's a monster truck rally in town. Armand, Rath and I are all going and we wondered whether you wanted to come as well."
Ja-Kal's frown deepened as he considered her offer. "Rath is accompanying you to a monster truck rally? Willingly?" he asked doubtfully.
She shrugged, "It's amazing what boredom can drive you too. And he does have a professional interest, you know. I think he's dreaming up improvements for the Hot Ra."
The mummy thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I thank you, but I'd prefer to stay here and train."
"You sure? You've already been down here a while."
Ja-Kal gave a weary half smile. "I'm afraid trucks aren't really my forte."
Rath's lean figure appeared in the shaded doorway. Also dressed for the outside world, his bows were pulled together in a look of mild irritation. "Come now," he scolded, "The rally starts in less than an hour, all the good seats will already be taken."
The two mummies looked at each other. "You had better get going," Ja-Kal told her quietly, knowing full well how particular Rath was about punctuality.
Nefer-Tina nodded and moved to leave. Casting him glance over her shoulder, she called "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
He nodded. "Quite certain."
The girl sighed and shook her head. "You work too hard," she told him softly "You should give yourself a break once in a while." She gave him a final, lingering look and then disappeared. Moments later he heard a door slam shut, and he knew that they were gone.
Ja-Kal stood alone by the punch bag, the silence weighing down darkly around him. He looked about him and started to walk towards the beam, but halted. Something made him pause to consider his friends last comment...
...You work too hard, you should give yourself a break.
The mummy looked down and studied the bare wooden floorboards intently. The remark reminded him of something that Tia had once told him.
..."You take care of everyone...except yourself."...
Tia.
He sighed sadly, holding a hand to his forehead. His wife had occupied much of his thoughts recently and he found himself longing to hear the sound of her voice again. Her half teasing accusations had always eased his troubles, no matter how unsolvable they seemed at the time.
But Tia was gone, and no amount of wishing could ever bring her back. This was his life now. He lived for Prince Rapses, bound by sacred duty and an oath he had taken many years ago. His own loneliness was of no concern, as long as the prince was safe.
Ja-Kal swallowed hard and looked away. Why was he thinking of this now? Nefer-Tia was right. He needed a break.
He went to the wardrobe where the guardians kept their disguises for the outside world. He quickly disrobed and, selecting some nondescript items of clothing, began to dress, pulling the jeans over his bandaged legs. Ja- Kal was not one for breaking the rules - usually it was he that was constantly enforcing them among the others. The idea that he was doing something wrong was strange and unnerving to Ja-Kal. He was a man of high morals, and something inside him was disappointed that he couldn't say no.
...But it was a feeling that he knew would pass, at least for a while, as soon as he was with Amanda.
He and Amanda Carnovan had met almost three weeks ago. That day, for the first time since his calling as a guardian, Ja-Kal knew what it was to be just another ordinary man. She provided him with the brief, tangible taste of normality that he longed for.
It had been almost a week after that initial meeting before he had plucked up the courage to phone her, but that first stuttered conversation over the phone had enabled Ja-Kal and Amanda to meet again. It sometimes surprised him how swiftly he and Amanda had become friends - they talked with a familiarity that suggested that they had known each other of years. At the end of the day, he reasoned, they were both simply lonely.
He was risking a great deal with this friendship. She was the Princes mother, and, if he revealed himself, it would spell disaster not only for himself and the other guardians, but for Presley as well. And he knew exactly what had happened to the other mummies each time they had tried to connect with outsiders, he only had to cast his mind back to the Nefer- Tina/Apep episode to remind himself of that.
But there was something about Amanda...something that made him willing to chance it.
Resolved, he pulled on a sweatshirt and walked out of the door.
***
Amanda Carnovan's emerald eyes were fixed steadily on the clock on the opposite wall, its slim arms tracing the time with infuriating slowness. The woman's own hands were poised over a pile of paper work, her fingers tapping listlessly. She sighed and shoved the pile of documents away from her. A mild frown of irritation furrowed her brow. This could possibly be the most boring day of the year so far - Amanda thought to herself - stuck behind a desk and given a small mountain of irrelevant red tape to complete.
She should have been out in the museum, overseeing the installation of the new exhibit. However, part of the problem of being in charge was, although you got to say what goes, you were also shackled down with paperwork. The sums swam before her eyes as she tried, unsuccessfully, to concentrate on her work. She couldn't help but sneak another glance up to the clock. To her frustration, she realised that only two minutes had passed. The dark haired woman groaned - would this day never end?
It was her own fault, she realised. She habitually worked during her lunch hour. After all, she reasoned, why waste a perfectly good sixty-minute slot when she had work to do? The other women in the office lunched together in the museum cafeteria every day, but - after she politely declined to join them for two weeks in a row - they had given up asking her to join them. Now she was stuck in her office with only a sad little muffin and a book full of finance records for company. She sighed and rested her chin dejectedly in her hand, willing the hours to pass as swiftly as possible.
Her stomach growled quietly as she realised with a start how hungry she was. The muffin in its plastic wrapper didn't look particularly appetising. She briefly considered a trip to the cafeteria before ruling that one out. Digging around in her jacket pocket she withdrew a handful of small change. There was a candy machine in the museum foyer - it would be a ten-minute delay at worst.
She strode out of the office and traveled skillfully through the white walled maze of corridors. After a short space of time she found herself in the public area of the museum, the halls of the exhibits filled with the soft murmur of hushed voices. Amanda smoothed out her skirt, walking to the booth outside the gift shop. Her face fell. The makeshift sign taped across the machine read 'temporarily out of order' in scrawled handwriting. Cursing, she gave the candy machine a rueful kick.
"Is there a problem?"
The voice behind her made Amanda turn. She was about to say something but stopped when she saw who had addressed her, her face lapsing into a grin.
"Jason!" she exclaimed happily "What are you doing here?"
Ja-Kal smiled shyly, rubbing his neck with a bandaged hand. He wished that he could tell her his real name, the fake one he had given her sounded so strange to him. "Hello Amanda. I hope that you do not mind the intrusion, but I wondered what you were doing for lunch today?"
Amanda's cheeks flushed with pleasure. The muffin sitting on her desk was forgotten. "Nothing important," she murmured "Certainly nothing that can't be put off till later." She touched her forehead with a low laugh "Actually, you just rescued me from a huge pile of paper work."
He looked at her sympathetically. "You are working hard?"
The dark haired woman beamed up at him, "Not for the next fifty-five minutes. Come on, let's get out here."
***
They went to the coffee house that they had visited the first time they met. The weather was cooler today than it had been then, forcing them to choose a table indoors. They sat by the grey window and ordered their drinks, studying the menus leisurely. Ja-Kal looked out at the darkening sky, a slight frown playing across his brow. It looked like rain. He shifted comfortably in his seat, glad for the warmth in the café, the air tinged with the woody scent of ground coffee beans.
Amanda rested her elbows on the smooth tabletop. "I'm feeling dangerous today," she told him, curving her mouth into a seductive twist "Double chocolate doughnuts, and lots of them!"
The former huntsman shook his head. "I can not imagine that there is much nutritional value in those."
"Hey, I deserve them. I need my sugar fix to get me through the day."
Ja-Kal considered her with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. "How is the new exhibit going?"
The tanned woman grimaced, running a hand through her darkly shining hair. "Oh, alright," she gave a tired half smile "At least, I hope it will be. With any luck, it will be ready to open on Friday."
"I'm sure it will be fine," he told her earnestly.
She flashed him a nervous grin. "My first big exhibit. You'll visit it wont you?"
"Of course."
"Good, I think you'll enjoy it. The Cairo Institute has lent us some really great pieces for it." Her dark eyes sparkled as she talked about Egypt. He recognised her passion for her work...it was something that he respected her for. "The excavation work at Thebes has uncovered some incredible finds! The artwork that we have coming will blow you away, it's in such good condition."
"What era does the display cover?"
The waitress gave them their drinks and took their orders. As well as the chocolate doughnuts for Amanda, Ja-Kal ordered a salad. He wasn't hungry.
"It's going to have examples from most of the main dynasties. The museum let me loose with a lot of money for this," she played with the rings on her slim fingers, "That's why I hope that it goes well."
The mummy gave her an encouraging smile, "I am certain that it will."
Amanda sighed and looked up at him. He noted how tired her eyes looked. "Thanks Jason," she grinned and reached out to touch his hand "I needed that."
"That is what friends are for."
The tanned skinned woman glanced down. "Friends" she murmured in agreement.
She looked up at him suddenly. Her emerald eyes glittered like stars against the grey window; Ja-Kal found himself monetarily lost in them. Friends. It was such a simple word, and yet it meant so much to him to hear her say it. He savoured the feeling, wishing that it could last longer...
The moment was shattered as the waitress deposited their food unceremoniously on the table in front of them. Amanda looked away with an embarrassed laugh, taking a sip from her coffee. Ja-Kal thanked the waitress and became suddenly engrossed in his salad. When he looked up, he found his companion staring back at him.
"Jason," she started hesitantly, setting her coffee mug down "I was wondering if I could ask a favour."
The ancient guardian frowned curiously. "Of course, if I can help you in anyway you know that I would."
"Its nothing big," she said quickly "Its just...well...you know about the exhibit opening on Friday?"
"Yes."
"There's going to be a big opening party, lots of archaeologists and museum types...and I just really hate going to those functions...well, what I mean is...I hate going to those functions alone. You know what I mean?" Amanda grimaced as she noted Ja-Kal's blank expression. Evidently, he did not. She groaned inwardly in despair. "You know how it is...I turn up and all everybody notices is that I'm a unescorted woman. The girls with dates sneer and congratulate each other on their marriages - its like divorce is a dirty word - and when they find out I have a kid by myself...you should see the looks I get off some of them! Plus I have to deal with greasy middle- aged archaeologists grabbing my ass every time I go to the punchbowl."
She trailed off into silence, embarrassed by how lame she sounded.
Ja-Kal shook his head. "I'm afraid that I do not understand."
Amanda took a deep breath, "What I'm trying to say is...well, do you want to be my date?"
Ja-Kal sat back in surprise, blinking stupidly. "Date?" That was not what he had been expecting.
Her face fell as she saw his reaction - suddenly, she wished that the earth would swallow her. She felt a hot wave of embarrassment colour her cheeks.
"Just as friends I mean," she explained hurriedly, "I just thought that..."
His expression still hadn't changed. Amanda could honestly not think of a moment when she had ever felt more like an idiot. She had moved too fast, and now she had probably scared away the only friend she had made in a long time. Trying to salvage the situation, she forced a laugh.
"You know what? Never mind. It was just an idea."
Ja-Kal looked down at his salad, twisting his fork around in his bandaged hands. His face was creased in a frown of deep thought. Could he say yes? And if so, what would it mean? Just how far would he be able to lie to her, to pretend to be something he wasn't?
...How far was he willing to risk Presley's safety?
"Understand," he started slowly "That I do not often go to such formal occasions. Perhaps I would not be the best person to ask to accompany you."
Amanda nodded. "Of course. It's alright, I totally understand."
"But," he said, glancing upwards "I suppose...one night could do no harm."
Amanda froze, a strand of hair falling across her eyes. She titled her head questioningly, suddenly not certain that she could trust her own hearing. "You mean you want to?"
Ja-Kal smiled warmly and nodded.
The tanned woman grinned, her humiliation forgotten. She offered her hand across the table. "Then it's a date?"
"Yes, I suppose it is."
The two shook hands, laughing between themselves. There was a light pattering of rain against the window as the cloud's burst overhead, but to Ja-Kal, the air was never more pleasant than it had been at that moment. In the warm golden glow of the café, nothing else seemed to matter. Because - despite all the hardships he had faced in the past, and those he would doubtlessly face in the future - there and then, none of that made any difference whatsoever.
***
One --- two --- three --- four --- five---
Ja-Kal held the stretch for five seconds, counting the time elapse inside his head. His calf muscles ached a little, but he knew that the feeling would pass momentarily. Standing tall he frowned critically, surveying the makeshift gym. Gym was, perhaps, a rather grandiose name for the assortment of battered gymnastics equipment Armand had brought home one night. Ja-Kal had no idea where he had found them - in truth, he wasn't sure that he wanted to know. At any rate, he had found it a useful place to spend his ample free time, training and exercise providing him with a short-lived feeling of productivity while waiting to serve his prince.
He settled on the punch bag hanging in the centre of the room. Already having been working hard for almost an hour, his bandaged brow was uncomfortably damp with beads of perspiration. It was one of those confusing points that made him question the means of his existence. Could a dead man sweat? Ja-Kal didn't know, but that small mark of his humanity was a strange comfort to him.
With a grunt, he planted a savage blow in the middle of the punch bag. Before it could swing back at him, he hit it again, and again, and again, losing himself in the motions. He allowed his mind to drift away, his body working with some instinct all of its own. He was only vaguely aware of the aching of his knuckles as he pounded at the heavy fabric. With growing force he aimed a powerful kick into the bag, causing the rope that held it in place to groan audibly. He gritted his teeth, his punches increasing in speed. He seemed somehow far away from his pained body, the distance felt pleasing to him.
With one final cry he summoned the last of his strength and hit out at the punch bag. A piece of the rope snapped, leaving the bag swinging drunkenly at a strange angle. It swayed uncertainly, still rebounding from the fury of his blows.
Ja-Kal stood back, his chest rising with shallow breathing. He reached out to still the wavering punch bag, resting his forehead against the coarse fabric. Closing his eyes, he waited for his strength to return.
A low whistle behind him alerted the former huntsman to company. He whirled around, surprised. Nefer-Tina leaned against the open doorframe, her slender arms folded over her chest and her eyebrows raised questioningly.
"Did the punch bag do something wrong?" she queried.
Ja-Kal cleared his throat and looked slightly embarrassed. "I...err...I was training."
"So I see." The youngest mummy walked into the room surveying the damage he had inflicted. "All work and no play makes Ja-Kal a dull guardian," she teased, her mouth curved into a playful smile. She was wearing a pair of soft denim jeans and a long sleeved black top. Evidently, she was going out.
He frowned. "Where are you going?"
Nefer-Tina ran a hand through her shining white hair. "That's what I was coming to ask you about. There's a monster truck rally in town. Armand, Rath and I are all going and we wondered whether you wanted to come as well."
Ja-Kal's frown deepened as he considered her offer. "Rath is accompanying you to a monster truck rally? Willingly?" he asked doubtfully.
She shrugged, "It's amazing what boredom can drive you too. And he does have a professional interest, you know. I think he's dreaming up improvements for the Hot Ra."
The mummy thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I thank you, but I'd prefer to stay here and train."
"You sure? You've already been down here a while."
Ja-Kal gave a weary half smile. "I'm afraid trucks aren't really my forte."
Rath's lean figure appeared in the shaded doorway. Also dressed for the outside world, his bows were pulled together in a look of mild irritation. "Come now," he scolded, "The rally starts in less than an hour, all the good seats will already be taken."
The two mummies looked at each other. "You had better get going," Ja-Kal told her quietly, knowing full well how particular Rath was about punctuality.
Nefer-Tina nodded and moved to leave. Casting him glance over her shoulder, she called "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
He nodded. "Quite certain."
The girl sighed and shook her head. "You work too hard," she told him softly "You should give yourself a break once in a while." She gave him a final, lingering look and then disappeared. Moments later he heard a door slam shut, and he knew that they were gone.
Ja-Kal stood alone by the punch bag, the silence weighing down darkly around him. He looked about him and started to walk towards the beam, but halted. Something made him pause to consider his friends last comment...
...You work too hard, you should give yourself a break.
The mummy looked down and studied the bare wooden floorboards intently. The remark reminded him of something that Tia had once told him.
..."You take care of everyone...except yourself."...
Tia.
He sighed sadly, holding a hand to his forehead. His wife had occupied much of his thoughts recently and he found himself longing to hear the sound of her voice again. Her half teasing accusations had always eased his troubles, no matter how unsolvable they seemed at the time.
But Tia was gone, and no amount of wishing could ever bring her back. This was his life now. He lived for Prince Rapses, bound by sacred duty and an oath he had taken many years ago. His own loneliness was of no concern, as long as the prince was safe.
Ja-Kal swallowed hard and looked away. Why was he thinking of this now? Nefer-Tia was right. He needed a break.
He went to the wardrobe where the guardians kept their disguises for the outside world. He quickly disrobed and, selecting some nondescript items of clothing, began to dress, pulling the jeans over his bandaged legs. Ja- Kal was not one for breaking the rules - usually it was he that was constantly enforcing them among the others. The idea that he was doing something wrong was strange and unnerving to Ja-Kal. He was a man of high morals, and something inside him was disappointed that he couldn't say no.
...But it was a feeling that he knew would pass, at least for a while, as soon as he was with Amanda.
He and Amanda Carnovan had met almost three weeks ago. That day, for the first time since his calling as a guardian, Ja-Kal knew what it was to be just another ordinary man. She provided him with the brief, tangible taste of normality that he longed for.
It had been almost a week after that initial meeting before he had plucked up the courage to phone her, but that first stuttered conversation over the phone had enabled Ja-Kal and Amanda to meet again. It sometimes surprised him how swiftly he and Amanda had become friends - they talked with a familiarity that suggested that they had known each other of years. At the end of the day, he reasoned, they were both simply lonely.
He was risking a great deal with this friendship. She was the Princes mother, and, if he revealed himself, it would spell disaster not only for himself and the other guardians, but for Presley as well. And he knew exactly what had happened to the other mummies each time they had tried to connect with outsiders, he only had to cast his mind back to the Nefer- Tina/Apep episode to remind himself of that.
But there was something about Amanda...something that made him willing to chance it.
Resolved, he pulled on a sweatshirt and walked out of the door.
***
Amanda Carnovan's emerald eyes were fixed steadily on the clock on the opposite wall, its slim arms tracing the time with infuriating slowness. The woman's own hands were poised over a pile of paper work, her fingers tapping listlessly. She sighed and shoved the pile of documents away from her. A mild frown of irritation furrowed her brow. This could possibly be the most boring day of the year so far - Amanda thought to herself - stuck behind a desk and given a small mountain of irrelevant red tape to complete.
She should have been out in the museum, overseeing the installation of the new exhibit. However, part of the problem of being in charge was, although you got to say what goes, you were also shackled down with paperwork. The sums swam before her eyes as she tried, unsuccessfully, to concentrate on her work. She couldn't help but sneak another glance up to the clock. To her frustration, she realised that only two minutes had passed. The dark haired woman groaned - would this day never end?
It was her own fault, she realised. She habitually worked during her lunch hour. After all, she reasoned, why waste a perfectly good sixty-minute slot when she had work to do? The other women in the office lunched together in the museum cafeteria every day, but - after she politely declined to join them for two weeks in a row - they had given up asking her to join them. Now she was stuck in her office with only a sad little muffin and a book full of finance records for company. She sighed and rested her chin dejectedly in her hand, willing the hours to pass as swiftly as possible.
Her stomach growled quietly as she realised with a start how hungry she was. The muffin in its plastic wrapper didn't look particularly appetising. She briefly considered a trip to the cafeteria before ruling that one out. Digging around in her jacket pocket she withdrew a handful of small change. There was a candy machine in the museum foyer - it would be a ten-minute delay at worst.
She strode out of the office and traveled skillfully through the white walled maze of corridors. After a short space of time she found herself in the public area of the museum, the halls of the exhibits filled with the soft murmur of hushed voices. Amanda smoothed out her skirt, walking to the booth outside the gift shop. Her face fell. The makeshift sign taped across the machine read 'temporarily out of order' in scrawled handwriting. Cursing, she gave the candy machine a rueful kick.
"Is there a problem?"
The voice behind her made Amanda turn. She was about to say something but stopped when she saw who had addressed her, her face lapsing into a grin.
"Jason!" she exclaimed happily "What are you doing here?"
Ja-Kal smiled shyly, rubbing his neck with a bandaged hand. He wished that he could tell her his real name, the fake one he had given her sounded so strange to him. "Hello Amanda. I hope that you do not mind the intrusion, but I wondered what you were doing for lunch today?"
Amanda's cheeks flushed with pleasure. The muffin sitting on her desk was forgotten. "Nothing important," she murmured "Certainly nothing that can't be put off till later." She touched her forehead with a low laugh "Actually, you just rescued me from a huge pile of paper work."
He looked at her sympathetically. "You are working hard?"
The dark haired woman beamed up at him, "Not for the next fifty-five minutes. Come on, let's get out here."
***
They went to the coffee house that they had visited the first time they met. The weather was cooler today than it had been then, forcing them to choose a table indoors. They sat by the grey window and ordered their drinks, studying the menus leisurely. Ja-Kal looked out at the darkening sky, a slight frown playing across his brow. It looked like rain. He shifted comfortably in his seat, glad for the warmth in the café, the air tinged with the woody scent of ground coffee beans.
Amanda rested her elbows on the smooth tabletop. "I'm feeling dangerous today," she told him, curving her mouth into a seductive twist "Double chocolate doughnuts, and lots of them!"
The former huntsman shook his head. "I can not imagine that there is much nutritional value in those."
"Hey, I deserve them. I need my sugar fix to get me through the day."
Ja-Kal considered her with a mixture of sympathy and amusement. "How is the new exhibit going?"
The tanned woman grimaced, running a hand through her darkly shining hair. "Oh, alright," she gave a tired half smile "At least, I hope it will be. With any luck, it will be ready to open on Friday."
"I'm sure it will be fine," he told her earnestly.
She flashed him a nervous grin. "My first big exhibit. You'll visit it wont you?"
"Of course."
"Good, I think you'll enjoy it. The Cairo Institute has lent us some really great pieces for it." Her dark eyes sparkled as she talked about Egypt. He recognised her passion for her work...it was something that he respected her for. "The excavation work at Thebes has uncovered some incredible finds! The artwork that we have coming will blow you away, it's in such good condition."
"What era does the display cover?"
The waitress gave them their drinks and took their orders. As well as the chocolate doughnuts for Amanda, Ja-Kal ordered a salad. He wasn't hungry.
"It's going to have examples from most of the main dynasties. The museum let me loose with a lot of money for this," she played with the rings on her slim fingers, "That's why I hope that it goes well."
The mummy gave her an encouraging smile, "I am certain that it will."
Amanda sighed and looked up at him. He noted how tired her eyes looked. "Thanks Jason," she grinned and reached out to touch his hand "I needed that."
"That is what friends are for."
The tanned skinned woman glanced down. "Friends" she murmured in agreement.
She looked up at him suddenly. Her emerald eyes glittered like stars against the grey window; Ja-Kal found himself monetarily lost in them. Friends. It was such a simple word, and yet it meant so much to him to hear her say it. He savoured the feeling, wishing that it could last longer...
The moment was shattered as the waitress deposited their food unceremoniously on the table in front of them. Amanda looked away with an embarrassed laugh, taking a sip from her coffee. Ja-Kal thanked the waitress and became suddenly engrossed in his salad. When he looked up, he found his companion staring back at him.
"Jason," she started hesitantly, setting her coffee mug down "I was wondering if I could ask a favour."
The ancient guardian frowned curiously. "Of course, if I can help you in anyway you know that I would."
"Its nothing big," she said quickly "Its just...well...you know about the exhibit opening on Friday?"
"Yes."
"There's going to be a big opening party, lots of archaeologists and museum types...and I just really hate going to those functions...well, what I mean is...I hate going to those functions alone. You know what I mean?" Amanda grimaced as she noted Ja-Kal's blank expression. Evidently, he did not. She groaned inwardly in despair. "You know how it is...I turn up and all everybody notices is that I'm a unescorted woman. The girls with dates sneer and congratulate each other on their marriages - its like divorce is a dirty word - and when they find out I have a kid by myself...you should see the looks I get off some of them! Plus I have to deal with greasy middle- aged archaeologists grabbing my ass every time I go to the punchbowl."
She trailed off into silence, embarrassed by how lame she sounded.
Ja-Kal shook his head. "I'm afraid that I do not understand."
Amanda took a deep breath, "What I'm trying to say is...well, do you want to be my date?"
Ja-Kal sat back in surprise, blinking stupidly. "Date?" That was not what he had been expecting.
Her face fell as she saw his reaction - suddenly, she wished that the earth would swallow her. She felt a hot wave of embarrassment colour her cheeks.
"Just as friends I mean," she explained hurriedly, "I just thought that..."
His expression still hadn't changed. Amanda could honestly not think of a moment when she had ever felt more like an idiot. She had moved too fast, and now she had probably scared away the only friend she had made in a long time. Trying to salvage the situation, she forced a laugh.
"You know what? Never mind. It was just an idea."
Ja-Kal looked down at his salad, twisting his fork around in his bandaged hands. His face was creased in a frown of deep thought. Could he say yes? And if so, what would it mean? Just how far would he be able to lie to her, to pretend to be something he wasn't?
...How far was he willing to risk Presley's safety?
"Understand," he started slowly "That I do not often go to such formal occasions. Perhaps I would not be the best person to ask to accompany you."
Amanda nodded. "Of course. It's alright, I totally understand."
"But," he said, glancing upwards "I suppose...one night could do no harm."
Amanda froze, a strand of hair falling across her eyes. She titled her head questioningly, suddenly not certain that she could trust her own hearing. "You mean you want to?"
Ja-Kal smiled warmly and nodded.
The tanned woman grinned, her humiliation forgotten. She offered her hand across the table. "Then it's a date?"
"Yes, I suppose it is."
The two shook hands, laughing between themselves. There was a light pattering of rain against the window as the cloud's burst overhead, but to Ja-Kal, the air was never more pleasant than it had been at that moment. In the warm golden glow of the café, nothing else seemed to matter. Because - despite all the hardships he had faced in the past, and those he would doubtlessly face in the future - there and then, none of that made any difference whatsoever.