A Hidden Power

They had been sitting at the table for some time after Mariana had revealed the name of the bracelet. Rick was trying to get an answer from his wife as to why she looked so frightened, but Evy gave was a blank stare that wasn't even towards him. It was staring into space.

" Mariana, since my wife isn't keeping her promise right now, maybe you could tell us hwy you both are freaking out?!" Rick said in an annoyed voice.

Mariana did not look at Rick, or respond. She just looked at Evy, who looked back. They just stared at one another.

" Alright! That's it! I give up!" Rick said slamming his hand on the table.

The thump of the table jolted Evy back to the present but made no effect on Mariana, Evy looked at Rick and winced. She didn't know how to explain the Bracelet of Chance to him…

" I'm sorry Rick….but at the moment, I cant explain it to you." she stared not knowing how to continue.

" Hm." Mariana sneered and pushed herself from the table.

Rick looked at her startled.

" And where the hell do you think your going?! You're not leaving until one of you gives me an answer!!" Rick called after her.

Mariana stiffened and glared at her brother. There was fire in her eyes. Rick could see it.

" Oh fine go! Its not like you know anything anyway!" Rick snapped as he looked back at his wife and glared.

Evy winced again, and without a word, Mariana left the table.

" I want my bracelet back!" Malik demanded, holding out her hand.

" Besides, Mariana is a Medji, cant she just bring him back herself?" Malik added.

Everyone stared, even Mariana, who had one foot out the door. She paused and came back, lifting Malik off the ground by the collar.

" What the hell are you blabbering about?!" Mariana snapped.

Malik smirked.

" You do have that power don't you? I mean, you are the reincarnation of AnckSunamun dammit, I'm a reincarnation of a priestess and even I have some healing abilities. So wouldn't it make sense?…." Malik was interrupted as she hit the floor from where Mariana had dropped her.

Mariana was running out the door. Just as Mariana was out the door, and Malik was trying to get to her feet, Rick came up behind her and *helped* her up.

" What the hell are you talking about?!" Rick snapped, picking Malik up by the collar.

" Simply what I just told her, and what's with the picking me up by the collar?! What is it? Does it run in the family or something!" Malik snapped back.

" You better finish explaining right now!" Rick yelled.

Malik started explaining to Rick as Evy just sat and stared.

She couldn't help but think about the bracelet…about what it could do…she wanted to tell Rick…he had to know….she promised him.

" All I'm saying is that she's capable of bringing him back, now put me down!" Malik finished with a yell.

Rick was about to say something when he heard a familiar voice.

" O'Connell, you are causing trouble again." Ardeth stated.

Rick dropped Malik on the ground, and she hit it hard.

" Ardeth…how?" Rick asked.

" Mariana….my dear Mariana." Ardeth replied looking at her.

Rick looked and saw her gleaming face. A face that said she had managed the unthinkable…and that she had done something worthy.

Rick walked over and hugged Ardeth.

" Glad your back!" Rick said.

" It is very good to be back…everyone is alright?" Ardeth asked.

In unity, everyone replied with a "yes." Malik with a "no" as she was rubbing her neck.

" Good." Ardeth replied looking around the room at everyone, who were all standing near, but he noticed Evy was the only one who wasn't there.

" O'Connell, what is wrong with your wife?" Ardeth asked.

Rick turned around and looked at her. He was reminded of what he was trying to figure our before Ardeth returned.

" I don't know….she wont tell me….neither will Mariana…but its something about a bracelet." Rick answered.

" Bracelet?" asked Ardeth.

" Yeah, the Bracelet of Mafdet or something." Rick replied.

Ardeth looked immediately at Mariana with a strong look, then back to Evy. Rick caught the quick look, and took it that they knew something.

" What the hell do I have to do to get some answers from you people?!" Rick snapped.

" I mean, maybe could threaten to wake Imhotep if no one wants to answer, Im just about to the point where I'll do anything…" Rick started calmly, the rest came out in half a yell " Maybe I could walk the desert for days till I die of heat exhaustion!" Rick continued, yelling getting louder.

" Rick…" Mariana started.

" No! It seems like that's the only way to get you all to talk is if I threaten to do something drastic….or above drastic, cause I'm drastic all the time! But something has Evy scared and no one apparently knows what, or they're not telling me! That's what a team does, we tell what we know, if it can help! But something is scaring my wife!" Rick finished, red in the face.

Everyone stared in shock.

" Alex…I think your dad has finally cracked his shell." Jonathan whispered.

Rick stared back, glaring at each one before him, with anger.

" Well!!" he asked angrily.

" Rick…" came Evy's voice from right behind him.

He spun around. He hadn't heard her come up behind him.

" Its nothing." Evy said.

" How can it be nothing?" Rick asked sternly.

" I…its just not…so don't worry…its nothing, I just overreacted…its nothing to worry about, everything is fine." Evy replied trying to seem like she was telling the truth.

Rick looked deep in to her eyes. He knew she was lying. He could always tell…it was her only weakness….whenever she was extremely serious, she didn't mean it. Rick studied her more, and then decided not to fight it.

" Fine…" Rick said. " If you think its nothing, then I trust you. You know your feelings better than I do….well, most of them anyway." Rick finished.

He knew what he was doing, he was making her feel guilty. Whenever she would become too serious for everyone's own good, his only joy was making her regret it.

Evy watched him as he went and sat at a table. She followed him, studying him in return, but with almost sad eyes.

" Ardeth, I'm glad your back, were all back now." Evy said with a smile, but a weak one.

Rick took note of that too.

" Yes, it is good." Ardeth replied.

Mariana, Ardeth and Evy all looked at each other for a second, as though they knew what the other was thinking. Then Evy went and sat down beside Alex, who was next to his dad.

" So….what now?" Jonathan asked.

" I do believe, there is a wedding to plan." answered Evy smiling at Mariana and Ardeth.

" Oh yes! that's right!" Jonathan replied.

" Yes, we do." Ardeth said smiling at Mariana, who smiled in return.

" But first, we have to go to the commanders." Ardeth added.

" What? Why?" Rick asked.

" Just to be sure…they haven't, how do you say it? Fired me." Ardeth answered.

Rick snickered and took a drink.

" Ardeth, I cant believe you're a Medji and you cant even stand up for your own self. Sure, you look out for you people, but I mean, take a chance, don't check, what's the worst that could happen? You get fired, and your still out in the desert, but with less company." Rick said smiling.

" Unfortunately O'Connell, I care for my job, and I have one at that…" Ardeth answered, smiling at Rick.

Rick looked at him with a cocked eyebrow.

" And, I take risks all the time." Ardeth added.

" Oh yeah?" Rick asked.

" Of course. Every time you come around." Ardeth answered.

Rick cocked his eybrow higher and looked at Ardeth.

" Oh yeah?…you got anything else to add to that last statement of yours?" Rick asked.

" Yes…if you ever got fired…from your job, which I'm sure Evelyn would certainly let you know, you could come live with me in the desert." Ardeth added.

" What do you mean fire…..Oh, that fired…right…" Rick said rubbing the back of his neck. " Thanks."

" Of course you'd be alone, it's a big desert out there, I'm sure you wouldn't find me." Ardeth finished.

Rick glared at Ardeth. Everyone else had begun to laugh. Rick stared a few minutes longer, then he laughed as well.

" Alright, well you do that Ardeth, run to your mom for advice…we'll be right here waiting." Rick added coolly.

Ardeth glared as well, but then laughed.

" O'Connell, Evelyn. See you later." Ardeth said and he and Mariana walked out.

" Well, I think I need a drink. Would you like to join me Jonathan?" Malik asked.

Jonathan jumped with excitement.

" Sure…" Jonathan answered with a smile.

He realized Rick and Evy were watching him and smiling. Rick was raising his eyebrows up and down and going "ooh" under his breath. Jonathan realized they thought he liked her.

" But only for the drinks." he added quickly as he followed Malik out the door.