Amber returned to her seat after retrieving a small pillow and thin blanket from the overhead compartment.  She gently lifted Frank's head to slide the pillow underneath.  She smiled softly when he mumbled something unintelligible and slipped back to sleep. 

The flight to Cairo was a lengthy one.  She was thrilled the seats had movable armrests; the one between their seats had been pushed back soon after takeoff.  She carefully smoothed the blanket over both their laps before snuggling against Frank, pillowing her head against his shoulder.  He had been wound up so tight she didn't think he would ever relax, but as the hours passed his tension seemed to ease and he finally drifted off to sleep a short while ago. 

He was less than crazy about this trip to Egypt, but she had wanted him to meet Alex O'Connell.  When she had contacted Alex to ask him if they might visit, she had been informed he was currently in Egypt settling some affairs he had there.  Her message had been passed on to him and she had received a telegram from him shortly afterwards asking if she and her friend would like to meet him in Cairo.  Amber jumped at the chance readily, but Frank's reluctance was more than evident.

It had been several weeks since his last vision, and although he said he accepted the ethereal connection they held with Ardeth and Miranda, it still alarmed him.  Amber wasn't sure if he was yet convinced he had not lost his mind.  He admitted that all other aspects of his life went on as normal and work especially had not been affected.  He still carried out his duties with the same familiar exactness he'd always practiced.  No, it was only his personal life that had him messed up.

She had asked him if he wanted to end their relationship and perhaps, thereby, ending what had him most concerned throughout all he had learned.  He had immediately balked at the idea.  He assured her that he loved her and had no intention of losing her.  He would come to terms with this; it was only a matter of time.

She slipped her hand into his and sighed as his fingers entwined with hers reflexively while he slept.  She pressed a tender kiss to his shoulder and closed her eyes awaiting sleep.  She truly loved this man and found that he returned that love with the same depth astounding.  She ached for his mental anguish.  He was a good man, strong and proud, and she knew he hated admitting he was having difficulty with the knowledge that his soul was connected to another.  The supernatural was unfamiliar to him.  He wanted to know his place, demanded to stand firmly on solid ground, and she prayed he would find the balance between the known and unknown.  It was the only way he would find peace.

He was walking through the hazy muck again.  "I'm dreaming, but this is not a dream," he told himself.  His conscious mind fought these visions, these past life experiences, but his subconscious opened the doors eagerly as if it knew there were secrets that must be shared. 

Who was he to fight his destiny?  He could try, but he wondered helplessly what would be left of his mind if he did?  Reserve a ward at the local loony bin.  Donovan's trashed his brain and there's nothing left.  Just sit him in the corner with a drool rag.  Yeah, he'll be fine.

He stepped through the curtain of obscurity to find himself seated atop a magnificent stallion.  Arabian, yes?  He even knew the horse's name.  Midnight.  His hands were once again adorned with tattoos and he wore the robed garb that he associated with Ardeth.  He looked up to see that he was nearing a city.  Cairo.  Of course, he was on his way to join his friends, the O'Connells.  They had brought a relative with them on their holiday and wished for Ardeth to join them and escort them through some of Egypt's ancient ruins. 

He was looking forward to seeing his friends, but something was not quite right with him.  Frank's hand covered his heart intuitively as if trying to cover the pain and emptiness.  Thoughts of Amber filled his mind and he was overwhelmed with the feeling of need.  The need to see her, touch her, love her, as she deserved to be loved.  Tears stung at his eyes as his fingers fumbled through the folds of his robe.  When they contacted the item he had been searching for, he withdrew the photograph that Amber had sent in her last letter. 

Frank closed his eyes after gazing at the photograph for the longest while.  He was experiencing the feelings of Ardeth's wants and needs.  It tore the hell out of his heart knowing the full depth of the man's love for his Amber.  Metaphysical or not, it had been heartfelt and real to Ardeth, just as he knew it had been for Amber.    

He shook away his jealousy and turned his attention back to the looming city of Cairo.  It amazed him that he knew just the right back roads and alleys to reach the house the O'Connells used while they stayed in Egypt.  As he neared their home, he saw little Alex in the quiet street in front of the house playing catch with Rick. 

Frank wasn't at all surprised when he caught the immediate attention of father and son.  He was sure, dressed as he was, he was quite a larger-than-life sight on the quiet back streets.  He lifted a hand in greeting as they called out to him and just then a movement from the doorway caught his eye.  He smiled warmly at Evie as she exited the house to meet him, but he was unprepared for the person who trailed behind her.

Staring blatantly as she descended the small staircase, he was taken aback by her striking resemblance to Amber.  Totally oblivious to his own actions, he attempted to dismount Midnight.  His foot missed the stirrup completely and he slipped clumsily from the saddle to land painfully on his derriere.

He grumbled under his breath as Rick offered him a hand up, all the while laughing.  Yeah, Donovan.  Damn funny. 

"Hey, buddy," Rick greeted amusedly.  "Never thought I'd see the day you'd fall from the saddle without help."

Frank shrugged and began brushing the dust from his robes.  "I was a bit...distracted," he admitted, accepting a brief hug from Evie.  His eyes fell upon the 'stranger' behind Evie.

"Ardeth," Evie said, placing one hand on her companion's shoulder, "I'd like you to meet my cousin, Miranda.  Miranda, this is our dear friend, Ardeth.  He'll be escorting us through some of this country's ruins."

Miranda briskly shoved her small, delicate hand forward and Frank enveloped it completely within his larger one.  Her touch was achingly familiar, however, Ardeth was quite oblivious to that feeling.  He never had the pleasure of experiencing Amber's touch, so to him, this was all brand new. 

Frank felt the explosive initial touch just as Ardeth had.  It was electric, exciting, and scared the living hell out of Ardeth.  Frank could do nothing but respond in the same manner that Ardeth had.  It was beyond him to change anything that had happened in the past, he was merely experiencing it as it took place.  Inwardly he cringed as Miranda jerked her hand away as if burned.  He knew she felt the same charge that he had felt, but Ardeth perceived her reaction as one of disgust.  His thoughts were that she probably thought of him as a filthy desert dweller, far below her status in life.  Frank wished he could separate himself from Ardeth so he could knock some sense into him.

--

A sudden movement against Frank's arm awakened him from his disturbing dream.  No, the dream wasn't all that alarming, but it bothered him.  Feeling and experiencing things through another person was just not right, in his opinion.  He shifted slightly in his seat causing Amber to slip forward, her forehead now pressed firmly against the side of his neck.  His arm went around her lovingly, taking comfort in her closeness.  He kissed the top of her head before he laid his cheek against it and drifted back to sleep.

"Woman! What do you think you are doing?" Frank yelled as leaped from Midnight's back as he neared the small oasis.  Miranda stood unmoving near the water's edge.  Even after he called out to her, she ignored him.  She was the most stubborn creature he had ever the displeasure to lay eyes upon.  He had forbidden her to leave camp and not one hour after his command was issued did he find her missing.

He stomped forward with all intents of giving her a good talking to.  At this point, he might take her over his knee and spank the arrogance from her.  "There are reasons for the orders I give, Miss Carnahan.  It is in your best..."

Without turning to face him, Miranda snapped, "Don't come any closer!"

That was it; the straw that broke the camel's back.  He'd had enough of her rudeness, let alone her carelessness.  He closed the distance quickly, grasping her by the upper arm.  Before he had a chance to spin her around to face his anger, she stepped back forcefully on the top of his foot.

"I said not to come closer!" she squealed defiantly.  "If you move one more muscle, you'll be digging my grave, you ass!"

Frank huffed angrily and his grip tightened on her arm.  His foot hurt like hell; the heel of her shoe had hit bone, but good.  "You dare speak to me in such a manner one more time and I shall..." his voice trailed as his eyes spied the reason for her last remark.  His eyes widened as the black Egyptian Asp slithered off into the foliage. 

Before he had time to react, Miranda spun around and slapped him across the face.  "I am not a child, Mr. Bay!" she spat while she watched a well-defined handprint redden his cheek.  "You will not treat me as such, nor will you threaten me if I do not follow your insipid little rules." 

Frank visibly fumed.  This woman was infuriating.  Rude, impertinent, exasperating; those were the traits she possessed.  So unlike Amber it was disheartening.  He felt Ardeth's dismay at those thoughts.  When he had first met her, it was as though Allah had answered his prayers and sent him the woman he loved.  But as the hours and days passed, he found this woman, this Miranda, was absolutely nothing like the woman she shared a soul with.  How could that be? 

Again, Frank found himself wishing he could separate himself from Ardeth to offer him a piece of his mind.  Little did Ardeth know, but Amber Marie could be just as stubborn as Miranda.  It was just well hidden from him in those letters.  Thankfully, it wasn't one of her more prominent traits, but it was there, nonetheless.

"Insipid rules?" he stammered furiously.  He took one step forward and she took one back.  Obviously she read the anger in his eyes.  He was sure it was written all over his face.  She had tested his patience to the limit and he was through trying to be polite to the woman. 

No longer caring what her relationship was to his friends, he reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her toward him.  With her firmly in his grasp, he bent slightly hoisting her over his shoulder. 

Miranda pummeled his back and kicked her legs in astonished anger.  No man had ever handled her in such a manner.  "You will put me down this instant!"

"No," he ground out through clenched teeth.  "You will be quiet, and if you strike me one more time, I shall not hesitate to take you over my knee."

  

"You wouldn't dare!" she challenged halfheartedly. 

"Yes...I would," he assured her.  Her movements stilled instantly; she obviously took him at his word.  He silently thanked Allah for the small favor as he carried his burden over to his horse and dropped her none-too-gently down onto the sand. 

"Oh, you...you, beast!" she cried, outraged.  Regaining her footing quickly, she brushed the sand from her posterior. 

"Call me all the names you like, Miss Carnahan," he spat as he mounted Midnight and offered his hand to help her up.  "However, do it without speaking.  The next time you pull any of these tricks, or wag your insolent tongue, I shall be forced to show you your place."

Miranda gaped openly at him.  "You..." she paused, about to call him an arrogant so-and-so, but somehow, she knew she'd get her backside warmed.  And no matter how tough she thought she was, there was little doubt he could do as he threatened.  "You can do whatever you wish to me, Mr. Bay.  But my place is where I choose, not anywhere that you might show me."

Sighing inwardly, he leaned down and grasped her under her arms and hauled her up onto the horse in front of him.  "We shall agree to disagree, Miss Carnahan.  Now," he said, as he urged Midnight back in the direction he had come, "you will understand this.  No matter how knowledgeable you think you are about the Sahara, you can never know all her secrets.  I have pledged to keep you safe on this journey and, if for no other reason than not wanting to let my friends down, I shall.  Test me again, and this holiday of yours ends."

"You can't," she protested, turning in the saddle to face him.

"I can," he assured her.  "You know little about me, Miss Carnahan.  There are a great many things I can do." 

Frank felt Ardeth's confusion at her nearness.  He could feel the adrenaline flow through his veins as well as sense the heat between Ardeth and Miranda.  As he gazed down into her anger-flushed face, he recognized the sensual pout of her lips, saw the passion dancing in her eyes.  For her it may only have been out of frustration, but he knew better.  He knew better than both of them. 

Without thinking, he pressed forward, closing his eyes as his lips covered hers.  Roughly at first, reflecting the mood of the past few moments, but as desire took hold, the kiss became demanding, passionate.  In his mind, Frank saw only Amber and, for a moment, he knew that Ardeth saw the same thing.  As Miranda responded in kind, Ardeth's thoughts became only for her, the obstinate creature who stirred his emotions as if she were making a wicked potion.

***

To be continued...