OK, Folks. This chapter is really short, so I'm gonna put a long author's note! Fair, right? Lol. J/K. OK, Nakhti. Here's the family tree:

Ramses-Seti-Nefertiri-Alex

Ramses-Seti-Shanala

Nicholas/Anne-Rick-Alex

Jhati/Kinha-Anck-su-namun

LOL. Sry if it's still confusing. And, M'Dear, I must schedule an appointment with you about the....what do you say....angels that you dream of? How's Saturday? Two? OK. LOL. Alright, Everyone. First: Imhotep's Lover finally made it to 100 reviews fore the first time! Let's all congratulate her, hmmm? YAY! HURRAH! You go girl! Everyone should include a slight congrats on their next review. LOL. U don;lt have 2, but it would be nice. Second, I seriously recommend that everyone read my best friend EvelynC.O's stories. They R excellent, and the poor sweetie doesn't have many reviews. ( Oooh! We have another new reviwer! Nefertiri, WELCOME!!!! YAY! Thanx 4 ur review. (. UR so sweet ;) OK, all. Here it is: Zee next chapter!

Chapter 15

"So, Lock-Na. How'd you get into this job anyway?"

"I enjoy killing others."

Alex blinked, "Ok....well....ummm..." Alex cleared his throat, "How'd you meet Anck-su-namun?"

"I was her servant in ancient days."

"Oh." Alex stretched out and yawned, "And...ummm...have you ever been married?"

Lock-Na shot him a glance, "No."

"Figured."

Lock-Na gritted his teeth.

Alex laughed, "What'd your mom do when you let your little temper flared up.?

"I have no mother."

"You have to have one."

"Says who?" Lock-Na demanded.

"The laws of Life."

Lock-Na rolled his eyes, "I don't know what she did."

"Why not?"

"She died long ago."

"How many years?"

"several thousand."

"How'd she die?"

"I killed her."

Alex swallowed and felt his eyes widen.

Lock-Na seemed happy with this result, as he smiled slightly, "This interview is over."

Alex raised his eyebrows, "Right. Well...Abitula?"

Abitula rolled his eyes, "What?"

"Do you enjoy your job?"

"Why so many questions?" Abitula snapped, facing Alex, "Why are you so curious? It is driving me crazy!"

Alex shrugged, "Sheesh! I was just curious!"

Abitula sat down, fuming.

Alex leaned forward and whispered, "You get your temper form Fat Boy over there."

Lock-Na lost it. In a matter of seconds his hand had whipped out and had pinned Alex to the floor by his throat. Alex swallowed hard.

"If you say another word," Lock-Na breathed, his eyes blazing, "I will kill you...even if it is against Imhotep's rules. I will kill you."

Alex raised his eyebrows, "I can't say any words exactly? Or just...the words...'another.....y'know'."

Lock-Na growled loudly in frustration and stormed from the tent. Alex sat up, rubbing his throat, "Nasty temper."

Abitula nodded.

"So you never answered me. Do you enjoy your job?" **********************

Evelyn couldn't help but to chuckle as she listened to her son. He was so much like Rick, it was scary. She leaned back into the shade and looked over the next few tents to where she knew her son was staying. Several soldiers were outside the tent, their swords drawn. Most of them were conferring with each other but a few simply stood solemnly; Lock-Na was one of the silent ones. Evelyn was still anxious about her son's safety, but she was a little less worried having heard his never-ending spunk. For some reason, Evy began to think about what it would be like having another child. "We'd have less money," she mumbled, "Less room...less food...more worry...more arguing...more whining..." Evelyn grinned hugely and closed her eyes, "Oh....I want another."

That was when she heard the voice nearby, and she stopped thinking of another child and listened.

"Yes, and once we spot them, we'll hide out until they enter the camp, and then we'll sabotage them. We'll grab the girl, shoot O'Connell and the others, and deliver Shanala to Anck-su-namun."

"And what about the woman and her son?"

"They'll be easy to take care of. Anck-su-namun ordered that we slip poison into the woman's drink of water. The boy...well, his fate has yet to be decided."

Evelyn's mouth went dry and she felt dizzy. "What do I do?" she moaned, "Rick...he'll be killed...and so will everyone..." She bit her lip and closed her eyes, leaning her head back, "Oh please...please let Rick stay safe...oh please..."

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It was sunset. The sky was a river of pinks and purples, but they were quickly fading to sapphires and blacks. Stars were already beginning to pop up in the sky, and the sun was just barely peeping over the sand. Shanala sat back and sighed, feeling impatient. Even though she didn't even know them that well, she worried about Evelyn and Alex. Rick and Jonathan and even Ardeth had spoken so much about the two of them, she felt like she had known them for her entire life. According to the men, Evy was pretty (Shanala knew this already), brilliant, and brave. She knew just about everything there was to know about everything, and she had a wonderful sense of humor. Alex was like Rick: brave, witty, and a little less sentimental than Evy. He was a little arrogant, but had a right to it, as he was just as smart as his mum. As Rick spoke on and on about his family, Shanala noticed a strange melancholy mask drift over his face. Jonathan had tears glistening in his eyes, and Ardeth was silent for a while. Izzy, who had just been sititng by listening, now cleared his throat and said, "Wonderful people, they are."

Rick nodded.

Ardeth smiled.

Jonathan started to cry.

"Hey! We'll get 'em back," Rick stated, clapping Jonathan on the shoulder.

Jonathan nodded, "Yes...but...but...oh...I don't know...I'm just...worried..."

Ardeth nodded,

"We are all, My Friend. However, we must not worry so much. The camp is in sight now, and in a hour's time, we will be rescuing them."

Jonathan nodded, "Yes....but...I'm nervous."

Rick shrugged, "Yea. All of us are."

"Even you?" Izzy asked slyly.

Rick stared at him, "I said all of us didn't I?"

Izzy nodded hurriedly, "Yes, yes...of course..."

Rick rolled his eyes.

Everyone was silent for a while, and then Rick cleared his throat, "Shanala? Could I have a word?"

"Oh...sure."

Shanala got to her feet and followed Rick a little ways closer to the camp. They stood looking at it for a while, and then Rick asked, "That's Set's temple?"

Shanala nodded, "Yea."

Rick considered that. "I thought all temples were built near rivers and plants....for sacrifices...?"

"They were. The river near here dried up a long time ago. And the village....disappeared."

"Great. By what?"

"A-"

"Curse?"

Shanala laughed, "Yes. It's known as Set's Curse."

"Isis's Blessing, Set's Curse. Wonderful."

Shanala giggled, and then turned serious, "You wanted to talk with me about something, and I assume it wasn't about temples or curses."

Rick nodded, "Yea. Guess I can't really beat around the bush long...." He took a deep breath, and Shanala started getting nervous; this was probably going to be one of the most important conversations of her life.

"See Shanala...Evy...she's really lonely sometimes..."

Shanala nodded, "Yea."

"And...what with her being the only....only girl...woman...in the family...she4 feels left out."

Shanala frowned slightly; what was this leading to?

"So...well...see, Shanala's always wanted to have....like...well...a daughter...and...she's....really, really fond of you..."

Shanala's heart leapt at those words, and her mouth went dry with hope.

"Well...I guess...what I'm trying to say..."

Rick looked so uncomfortable at that moment, with one hand running through his hair and the other clenching and unclenching at his side.

Shanala gave him a tearful smile, and that seemed to help, "Well...after we kill Imhotep and Anck-su-namun yet again...how would you like to come home with us?"

Shanala stared at him, unable to stop smiling, "You mean it?"

Rick grinned "Yea. Cross my heart."

"You mean...forever?"

Rick nodded, "Yea."

Shanala burst into tears and collapsed against Rick.

Rick was speechless with confusion, "Whoa, hey! I thought...I mean...you don't have...You know...?"

"It's not that," Shanala wailed, "I would love to! I'm just so happy!"

Rick raised an eyebrow, "Then... why are you crying?"

"Because I'm happy!"

Rick blinked, "Oh."

Shanala hugged him tightly, "I will. I'd love to!"

Rick nodded, "Good. I'm, glad...now...ummm...."

Shanala sighed, "Thank you so much..."

"No...no prob...anytime..."

Shanala laughed suddenly, and Rick smiled, "What?"

"Well, it's just...we...we've only known each other for less than a week...it seems so strange to think of you adopting me....after only...a short time..." Shanala started crying again.

Rick was so confused he could only stand there and hold her. "Uh....Shanala?"

"Y-yes?"

"I'm not sure I understand the whole happy-equals-cry thing."

Shanala exploded into peals of laughter.

***************************

Ardeth could hear Shanala and Rick laughing as they headed back towards them. A smile crept across Ardeth's face and he turned to Jonathan and Izzy, "He asked."

"Really?"

"You're kidding!"

Both of the men went to Ardeth's side, listening.

Jonathan suddenly cackled, "Yay! I have a niece! First niece ever! And she's older than me!"

Izzy rolled his eyes, "Yea, yea..."

Ardeth smiled, "I knew he would eventually. It was in his face..."

"I still don't get that," Jonathan stated, "How do you see anything in anyone's face?"

"Maybe he can see through skin?" Izzy said.

"Don't be stupid. No one can do that!"

Izzy scowled, "I hate you."

"I hate you, too."

Ardeth laughed, "You two are like children!"

"You just figured that out?"

Ardeth turned at Rick's words and beamed; Shanala was slung over his shoulder, kicking and giggling uncontrollably. Rick finally set her down on the floor and chucked her under the chin, "Toldja you're not too heavy for me."

Shanala chuckled, "I guess not."

Jonathan then bounded up, looking excited, "I have a niece! Yippee! Yahoo!" Then he hoisted Shanala into the air, winced, and swallowed "My spine."

Rick rolled his eyes, and then frowned "Hey...how'd you know...?"

Jonathan pointed at Ardeth, setting Shanala down.

Rick looked at the Medjai, "What?"

Ardeth shrugged, "I cannot help it if I read emotions well."

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It was late at night when the call was finally made. Evelyn sat up with a jolt, listening to the soldiers shouts and exclamations mace in Arabic. After a minute, she was awake enough to think to listen to what they were saying, and her heart leapt at their words: Rick was now in sight.

*********************************

Alex wished he could understand more Arabic. The jumble of words surrounding him were spoken so fast that he could barely understand one word before they were off again. Suddenly, Lock-Na burst into the tent, a mad gleam in his eyes, "Your father is here, Boy."

Alex's mouth dropped open, "Dad?"

Without another thought, Alex crawled out of the tent and stood, looking out to where the men were pointing. His excitement at seeing the small group of people racing forward quickly melted away into shock and fear; earlier on, he had overhead a few men talking about their 'secret' plan. Once Rick got to camp, he would be surrounded and killed. Then Shanala would be taken to Anck-su-namun, and the rest of the O'Connell family would be brutally murdered. Alex was glad that he had overheard the plan, but now he had only thing on his mind: he had to get to his dad before the soldiers.

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