Never My Money

Rated PG-13

Disclaimer – All characters belong to Stephen Sommers and Universal.

The Mummy, through the eyes of the accidental hero.

Thanks to all who reviewed!  This is where we start adding in little bits….hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 2

Okay.  Not dead.  That's a good start.  Though breathing had quickly become an issue.  Were it not for the blood pounding in my ears, I'd probably have gone deaf with all of the screaming going on.  But that really wasn't important...

I happened to catch a blurred glimpse of Hassan and the woman ... were they arguing?  Hell if I could tell.  I was more concerned with not blacking out at the moment.  Whatever the hell he wants, give it to him!  Oh well.  It was a nice thought...not really a nice life, but a nice thought anyway.  You always know you're close when the self-pity kicks in.

And then I hit the ground.  When I actually find the strength to move, I roll over onto my back (and my tied hands, merely adding to the pain that my body was currently being racked with.)  She stands slowly, smugly, glancing down at me over the bridge of her nose.  A little grin starts to play onto her lips.  Shit.  Something tells me she's gonna be trouble.  And God only knows what I've gotten myself into.

~~~~~~~~~

"So the docks tomorrow?"

"Ten o'clock boat, yeah, I got it," I said to Jonathan for about the fifth time. I managed to get out of the prison without Hassan saying a word, but these two were relentless.  The Brit did all of the talking, and I do mean all of the talking, while she just stared at me.  I glanced at her once, and dropped her eyes faster than her brother drops whiskey, but soon after, I could feel those eyes burning into me again.

After finally being allowed to leave (and getting a decent amount money for provisions and supplies in the process) I made my way back to the run down rattrap someone at one time was capable of calling a building, but I don't think it falls under that classification anymore. And that's why I was living there. 

But I wasn't planning on staying long – just long enough to get my guns and go weasel hunting.  Shrugging on my shoulder holsters, I checked each pistol, already imagining how I was going to kill him.  I wasn't going to just shoot him, oh no. Not for everything he's done to me in the last five years.  Oh, he was going to suffer.  Maybe a bullet to the thigh, and while he attempted to slither away like the snake he was, another shot to the arm.  The possibilities were endless.

Taking the stairs two at a time down to the street, I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in a small, cracked looking glass hanging in the stairwell.  Good God, I looked awful.  It's no wonder she had been staring at me.  She had been looking at the Elephant Man himself.  I ran a hand through the mass of hair falling in my eyes, and as much as I was ready to ring Gabor's scrawny little neck, there was only one thing for me to do – shower, shave, and haircut.

~~~~~~~~~

"Ah, O'Connell, you've not been around here for a while," Jim says to me, pulling a fresh towel from the cupboard as I sit in the barber's chair.

"No kidding."  He was tying me up and lathering me down before the seat had even warmed up.

"To what do I owe this honor?"

"Going out into the desert for a couple days," I said.  "Some woman and her damn full-hearty notions."

"Ahh, I shoulda guessed there was a woman involved."

"Just shut up and shave."  The silence lasted for all of a minute and a half.

"A friend of yours was in here yesterday.  Said you were dead."  Had there not been a sharp blade at my throat, I would have leapt out of my skin.

"Anyone in particular?"

"Frigidity little shit.  Wouldn't hold still worth a damn, and then wondered why his hair looked like hell after."

"Snake with legs?"

"That'd be him."

"Beni," I growled under my breath.  "So he tolja I was dead, huh?"

"Yep.  Said something 'bout you killin' a guy."  I gripped the arms of the chair, my knuckles turning white.  "Well, did you?"

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Just wondering if I have a criminal sitting in my chair."

"Hate to break it to you, Jim, but it wouldn't be a first time."  He didn't have much to say to that, and decided best to let it drop.  I couldn't believe it.  No, wait.  I take that back.  I could believe it, and I did believe because it was just like him.  The spineless coward never did take responsibility for his own actions while in the Legion; why should he start now?

Jim finished up, and pulled the towel away, turning me to the scrap of reflective glass on the wall.  You wouldn't have thought it was the same person staring back, hand it not been for the sleeveless, grimy shirt staring back as well.  I stood up, shoving a note into the barber's hand.  "Keep it," he said, shoving it back.  "You're gonna need new clothes, unless you wanna walk into the desert looking like a mugged Brit."  I nodded, turning to head out.  "Besides, you ain't gonna impress your lady-friend, looking like that."  I effectively slammed the door on the way out.