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Hey everyone – sorry it has taken so long, but here it is, finally!! Whew...once again, sorry – stuff has really piled up on me, but never mind that – on with the show!!
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Chapter 7: By the Light of Day
He sat there, his infinitely spanning thoughts reaching throughout all reaches of space and time.
His reflections drew back upon himself – he would find no rest, no peace, this night. His thought were too preoccupied with the dilemma facing him...they would not refrain from using his mind.
He knew what faced his son...he knew the feelings that the boy had for his wife...and he knew the feelings that she had for him...after all, he had created them both – he knew everything about them...
He had always promised to himself that he would not bend on the rules he had so strictly created – he would not erase the regulations that the universe held on its inhabitants...
...and yet, despite all of his misgivings, he could not shake the feelings that plagued his heart.
He watched them, both grieving for the loss of the other, both suffering and wilting away a little more each passing day. And, as his watched the anguish race through his children, he wanted in some small way to wilt himself.
He couldn't break what he had set into stone – he couldn't send his children back, back into the realm of conscious reality, away from the paradise that he had brought them into.
He wanted to; he very much wanted to bring those destined back together. But he knew that, for all the compassion he felt for his children, it could not be done...
...it would not be done, no matter the price...
~{:*:}~
Rick O'Connell had never been more desperate. Desperate to get back to his home...desperate for his family...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ...desperate to get back to her... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
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He didn't know what to do – every passing moment led to more confusion and more desperation to return to what he once knew.
Rick O'Connell, for the first time in his recent memory, couldn't do anything. He...he had battled Medjai, he had taken on a 3000 year old corpse...
...but now, for all the tries he made at quelling his feelings, he was at a loss. He could do nothing...
...absolutely nothing...
The tears welled in his eyes – he shook his head. Battle hardened Rick O'Connell couldn't stop the pain, the fear from consuming him...
...she was everywhere, begging him, pleading with him to come back...
...and he couldn't do it...there was nowhere for him to go...
...this spiral downwards hurt him constantly...and for one moment, he realized that if he hadn't already been...dead...
...the pain of losing Evie would have killed him...but, as he thought about it, anguish racing through his body...he didn't know if it was possible to die twice, from both the inside and the outside...
...he had already died on the outside, and now...he felt closer to death on the inside than ever before...
...he wasn't sure how to live in paradise when she wasn't there...it wasn't paradise without her...
Crying softly, he sunk to the ground. Nothing he thought of could calm him...
...life in reality was over for him – and now, in the spanning realm of the Otherworld...
...life for him was beginning to end again...
~{:*:}~
Life in merry old England had returned to normal, if somewhat tense, conditions. Evie had been able to get up and function in her daily life: she had resumed her work at the museum, burying herself in as much as was possible.
At home, Evie, Jonathan, and Alex lived well enough – however, relationships between them all had become strained. None knew how exactly to deal with normal conversation anymore. They talked plenty, to be sure, but they all skirted anything having to do with Rick.
The hardest to endure of these trials occurred daily between Evie and her son. She loved her son, more than she could possible describe. But every time she looked at him, she saw her husband. She saw his face, his hair, his eyes, and his mannerisms all drilling straight into her heart. As it was, her relationship with Alex had suffered tremendously.
She hated herself for it. She hated the fact that she could not enjoy the simple pleasures that her son brought to the world without remembering Rick. She did not want it to continue...God knew she didn't want that, didn't want it with every fiber of her being...but, in the end, she found herself unable to deal with memories past and gone.
She often wondered if a talk with Alex would quell these emotions – if, by some fortunate chance, by sharing her emotions with her son and relishing in his, they would be able to heal together. However, every time this entered her mind, some part of her, convinced that she was being weak, screamed to her that the time for grief was long since gone. Time to move on – even though that time had passed so strangely, causing every instant of it to seem destined to well up in eternity.
If anyone was the strong one, it was Jonathan – and, if Jonathan was the strong one, it was only because he had to be. He despised having to be in this position – not for himself, but for his sister and nephew. For the life of him, he could not understand why existence had unfolded the way it had. Why had those who controlled the workings of the universe brought such horrible punishment upon those that least deserved it...?
Why did things have to be so unfair when clearly they weren't destined to be so...?
Still, through all of his reveries on the unjustness of those above, Jonathan found himself day-by-day given the task of bringing the two remaining members of his family along, towards the future.
It hurt him to do so. Part of him knew that bringing Evie and Alex forward, away from the pain, away from the deadening feeling that day at Ahm-Shere had brought, was the absolute thing to do. But the other part of him...?
That other part believed (with every instrument of believing that it possessed) that pulling his sister and nephew back from the wonderful life they had once known would damage them; it would scar them for the rest of their days.
He didn't want them to forget what they had once had, but he knew that it was of the greatest necessity. Two grossly different ideals played out in the corners of Jonathan's mind, forcing him every day to compromise and come up with his solution.
He hated it. He hated that he had to make these kinds of decisions. He hated the feeling that, no matter how hard he tried, his incessant pulling would bring those he loved to ruin.
~{:*:}~
"Come in, my son."
The deep, tranquil voice sounded from the nothingness, bringing swirling form and life to where there once was none.
Rick stood hesitantly, not knowing exactly what to do. Whatever news or information Ra held, Rick was not sure if he wanted to hear it. There could be nothing done with it anyway, even if, by off chance, it were good news.
He stepped forward, slowly, trying to reassure himself every passing moment. Gradually, he moved in front of Ra, who was turned away from him, staring out into the depths of the Otherworld. Nothing – the Nothing was everywhere and nowhere, expanding into itself all at once.
"You...you called for me...?" Rick asked tentatively.
Ra did not turn to face Rick – he didn't even raise his head; he made no response whatsoever. Rick moved forward again, and made to speak when Ra silenced him.
"Hmm...I think you know why I asked for you, my son."
In all honesty, Rick had no clue why he had been summoned. He had been so wrapped in his surmounted grief that he had failed to notice much of anything recently...he had no clue anymore...
"I...uh, I...I don't..."
This time, Ra turned around to gaze at Rick. Those eyes...those eyes, he thought...they can pierce anything...even my heart...
Ra stepped forward, neutrality placed squarely on his fatherly face. Emotion couldn't peek out through that tough exterior...blankness ran across his features.
"I told you once that I know what you desire. And I also told you that, no matter how much it may be desired, it cannot be granted."
The pain rose instantly in Rick's chest. Why had he bothered to say that? Surely, he didn't intend to increase Rick's level of anguish...Why...What was his purpose...?
The sigh that escaped from Ra's insides echoed throughout the universe. Great weight seemed to be resting on his shoulders – a decision was in his mind, but for whatever reason, it wouldn't be brought forward with ease.
"You see, my son, the thing is...I know human emotion...I created it...and, because I created it, long ago I decided to share in it. And now, I feel it...truly feel it..."
He paused and turned away from Rick, once again looking out into space. The words slowly came back to him.
"I never intended for this to happen...but it is happening, whether I wish it or not..."
He turned again and walked up to Rick. Silently, he placed his hand on Rick's head, waiting for a moment before continuing.
"I've decided...that what you ask for...shall be granted..."
Rick started, not believing that he had just heard those words. He looked up at Ra, disbelief resonating from his eyes.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...shall be granted... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
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... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Ra smiled at Rick.
"Yes, my son, it is true. You shall return to what you once knew...but..."
Rick barely heard the "but" – when it finally registered, he stiffened, waiting for the catch that was inevitably going to come.
"...but I cannot help you when you get there. I will have already spent too much in sending you back – you will have to find your own way...I shall empower you to do so, but the task shall remain only for you..."
Rick felt the tension in his chest crack a little. The difficulty in getting back would probably be enormous...but that seemed pale in comparison...it didn't seem to matter anymore...
...he was going back...back to them...back to her...
And at that moment, the happiness that swelled within him overpowered anything else that he could possibly feel...
...he was going back...
~{:*:}~
Jonathan was out on the front drive, fiddling with the engine in his car. Sunshine poured everywhere – it was a perfect spring day in London. He whistled happily as he grabbed a wrench and began to work with the insides of his car.
~{:*:}~
He...remembered...a giant flash...and then...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...nothing... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Nothing. He didn't know where he was, and it frightened him. An infuriatingly large amount of light pounded at his closed eyelids. Slowly, so very slowly, his eyes creaked open...
He saw the pretty blueness of the sky above him – it was something he had missed during his stay in the Otherworld...
The Otherworld...that's right...that's where I was...
He rolled over onto his side and forced his eyelids to completely open. He tried to sit up; consequently, a wave of wooziness fell over him as he collapsed back to the ground.
Slowly, he sat up again, fighting off the nausea that attacked his insides. When he was finally able to see straight again, he realized where he was.
He was home.
There was his house…their house; the one that they had shared...it was all here, just as he had remembered it.
He heard a distant, cheery tune being whistled from the front of the house. Rick grinned broadly as he recognized his brother-in-law's whistles.
Picking himself up off the ground, he dashed to the front of the house.
~{:*:}~
Jonathan pulled free a damaged piece of tubing from the hood of his car. He frowned – he was going to have to replace it, and those thugs downtown at the mechanic shop always messed with his car.
He felt a tap on his shoulder. Without lifting his head from the insides of his car, he chuckled.
"Is that you, Roger? About bloody time, I've been waiting for those plugs for nearly two hours now..."
"Jonathan?"
He froze. That voice...that voice...he knew it...he knew it, and yet...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...it couldn't be... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Body still unresponsive, Jonathan gulped. Ever so slowly, the brought his head out from under the hood and turned around.
And there he was.
Rick smiled at a still gaping Jonathan. Hesitatingly, Jonathan peered up at the specter before him.
"Rick...? Is it......is it really you?"
Rick continued to smile as he nodded. Without reservation, he pulled Jonathan into a bear hug.
Jonathan stood perfectly still, beginning to realize that this was no ghost, no haunting vision...
He was real.
Jonathan pulled back to once again look at Rick's face. Nothing, not one thing, had changed. He still held the same look, the same smile, the same swaggering demeanor that he always had.
Jonathan's face slowly grew into a smile – finally, a full-blown grin appeared. He let out an astonished cry as he hugged Rick again.
"Rick!!!!! You're alive, man, alive!! I can't believe it!!"
After a while, he pulled back, smile splitting his face.
"Good to see you again, old chap."
Rick smiled. "It's good to be back."
Rick's smile faded a little as he looked back at the house. He wondered...how she would be...how she would react to his return...
Jonathan followed his gaze and looked back at the house. Realizing what was running through Rick's mind, he patted his brother-in-law on the shoulder.
"Go on, my good son. She'll be positively thrilled to see you."
Rick gulped and, after having prepared himself, slowly went up to the front door – he shook his shoulders and walked inside.
Jonathan smiled, happiness literally pouring from every facet of his being. His wish had come true...
... ... ... ...he was back... ... ... ... ... ...
~{:*:}~
Rick quietly closed the front door behind him, stepping forward into the drawing room. He looked around, familiarizing himself once again with that which he was once so familiar...
"Jonathan, is that you?"
He stopped cold. It was her. That voice, that voice that he had come to adore...it hadn't changed a bit.
And then, before he had time to even think, there she was. She had walked in from the dining room, staring intently into the book held in her grasp. As she walked in, she looked up, expected to see her brother...
...And halted dead in her tracks. Her mouth fell open as her eyes became a little glazed over. The book fell from her hand, landing with a hard crash, but she didn't seem to notice. All of her focus was on the image in front of her…
...Rick...it was him...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...it was him... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...no... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
The pain inside her increased, as did the anger. She was being played for a fool again. The gods had sent another apparition into her life. And this time, she would not fall for it. She would not fall to that which was not real.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...no... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"...no..." she whispered.
Rick frowned. What did she say? Did she say...no...? What did that mean...?
He moved a step forward, eyes questioning.
Before he could say anything, Evie screamed loudly, freezing him where he stood.
"GET OUT!!" she yelled, tears falling from her beautiful hazel eyes.
Tears began to well up in his eyes as well. What was going on...?
"Evie...?"
"LEAVE ME IN PEACE!!" she screamed as she ran upstairs. Rick heard a door upstairs slam shut, the lock clicking into place.
He stood there, not knowing exactly what to do. What...? Why...?
Did Evie not love him anymore? If she didn't, he knew that all the blame lay at his feet – he hadn't been there for her, or for his son, when needed most...
But...but...how could that mean...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ...Why didn't she love him anymore? ... ... ... ... ... ...
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
The gathered tears in his eyes began to fall silently to the floor. No...he had been given something special, another chance at a life he wanted desperately...and now...
...it was all for naught...
Slowly, he opened the front door and walked out, quietly closing it behind him.
~{:*:}~
Jonathan saw Rick come back outside, but the expression on his face was nothing close to happy. Rick was crying. Crying...
...If something could make Rick O'Connell cry, it was serious. Very serious.
By the time Jonathan had exited his train of thought, he noticed that Rick was already way up the street, heading into downtown. Jonathan called after him.
"Rick!!" he cried. "RICK!!!"
It was no use. Rick was already out of sight.
Sighing to himself, Jonathan marched up the steps on the front porch and opened the door. By Jove, he was going to find out what had happened.
He was going to find his sister.
~{:*:}~
"Evie?"
He stood outside her door, begging her to let him in. He had to know what was going on – the moment that should have been the happiest in all their lives had quickly unraveled, and he was going to discover why.
"Evie, let me in. Please Evie..."
His surprise heightened as he heard the lock click and saw the door open. There stood his sister, sobbing softly, her mascara smeared through its constant exposure to her tears.
He reacted quickly as she practically fell into his arms. Still crying softly, she spoke to him.
"Jonathan, they won't leave me..."
He looked down at her, confusion registering on his face.
"Who won't leave you, love?"
"Those...things...that look like Rick...I can't get them to leave my head..."
Oh my God, thought Jonathan. No, no...no, how could this have happened? No...no...
"Evie," he said, holding her back from his body, "that...what you saw...was real..."
She sighed heavily.
"Jonathan, you don't even know what I saw..."
He quickly cut her off before she could continue.
"Evie!! It was Rick! He was real!! I hugged him, and he was real!! He told me that he had come back...!"
She looked up at her brother, fear showing in her eyes. No, she thought, oh God, no.
She had been granted her greatest wish...her prayers had been answered...and now, she had thrown that all away...
For just a moment, the pain was too intense for her to even breathe. Then, she steadied herself. No...the time for sadness was gone...he had come back to her...
...and now she had to bring her life back together...
Moving swiftly, Evie passed through her bedroom door and began to walk down the stairs. Jonathan ran to the edge of the banister and looked down at his sister.
"Where are you going, old mum?"
She looked up at him, a mixture of emotions playing out on her face: happiness, anguish, hopelessness, resolution, and determination.
"I'm going to find my husband."
With that, she hustled out the front door. Jonathan sighed and tore after her.
She was going to bring their life back together...and he would be there for her when it happened.
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A/N: That got a little rushed at the end, but what do you think? This is the first chapter I'm somewhat semi happy with. Review if you like, I'd love to know what you all are thinking.
Sk8ergirl: I used your "if he wasn't already dead, the pain would kill him" quote from one of your reviews. Hope you don't mind – it was just so perfect!!
~Cheers!!~
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