AN: Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your lovely reviews!!!!!!! You guys are the best readers in the entire world!!!!!!!!!!

I really meant to update earlier, but I seem to have broken some ffnet rule (I'm still trying to figure out what I did wrong) in another story and I didn't have upload access for a while... bummer. As to make matters worse, the guy who is supposed to fix my laptop hasn't returned it to me yet, so I'm uploading from my father's really slow PC. Right now I feel like sending Ardeth to teach the so-called technician a nice lesson with his scimitar. Oh! And I'm with a lot of fever, a sore throat and an awful headache (damned flu), but here's the next chappie. Please forgive any mistakes I might have made in this pill-induced daze.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The sands rose as a lone figure screamed from within a pyramid. She ran around, looking fearfully for any possible way to get out of the tomb. The walls shook and small stones started to come from the ceiling. "Let me out!" she screamed. Suddenly, a rope appeared seemingly out of nowhere; it led to the ceiling. Jean grabbed it and held on tightly. The rope slowly pulled itself up and toward her possible freedom. She smiled in relief as she saw a small light in the ceiling becoming brighter. The light grew so bright that she closed her eyes. She felt a strong hand grabbing hers.

"Thank you," Jean said with joy, as she stepped down with her eyes shut. She felt the rope looping around her. She opened his eyes to see the rope transformed into a long cobra. The cobra was large, black and it had red-on-black eyes. It arched as its hood spread out. "Help!" she screamed, as she tried to break free. It wrapped itself tight around her as she started to struggle to breathe.

"No one can help you now," a deep voice said, as Jean looked up at his 'rescuer.' The figure had morphed into an Egyptian man with full lips and black tattoos all over his body. Imhotep laughed as Jean saw the snake melt and cover her entire body.

She opened her eyes and screamed, "NO! GET IT AWAY!!! I' WON'T DIE! I WON'T DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Ahmad entered the tent and tried to awake Jean, but his efforts were in vain. She seemed to be in some kind of trance. Ardeth hurried inside to find the young man shaking the screaming Jean, trying to bring her back to her senses, and covering her bleeding arm with his own robe. Ardeth began talking to her.

"Jean, Jean, it's alright. Come back."

Suddenly, she sat in bed and stared at the two men with her eyes wide opened.

"Imhotep is coming," she said in a deep voice, and fainted.

"Go get some water," ordered Ardeth as he pulled the covers off from Jean, leaving her body uncovered. She had stopped screaming and was now crying. Ahmad was back almost immediately with a cube of cold water. Ardeth took a black garment, dipped it into the water and applied it to Jean's forehead; he did the same several times with Ahmad's help, but placed the wet cloths on her stomach, chest, legs and arms, specially in the bleeding one.

She slowly started to awake. "Ardeth…Ahmad…" she mumbled.

"We are here, Jean," he said firmly, yet gently.

Ahmad couldn't say a word, he was too shocked as to do so and felt so much sorrow at the pain and torment his new American friend had to endure.

Her eyes opened and she smiled. But then she realized she was lying in bed wearing only her underwear and tried to cover her body.

"Do not worry, Jean. We will leave so you can get dressed," said Ahmad after finding his voice.

The two of them left the tent and once they were outside, he sighed heavily.

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Muttered Ardeth.

"Beg you pardon, master?" Asked Ahmad without understanding his leader's words.

"I mean, seeing Jean suffer so much."

"It is awful," the young man smiled sadly, "there has to be something else we can do to help her other than your company."

"About that, Ahmad…"

"You don't owe me any explanations, my lord. We both care for her and that's all that matters to me."

Ardeth placed a hand on his warrior's shoulder in a warm gesture.

"Jean will be fine. She is a very strong woman…maybe the strongest I have ever known," he stated.

"I know, but why does she have to go trough all this?" Complained Ahmad. It was the first time he had dared to complain about anything in Ardeth's presence.

The leader understood and gave him a faint smile. "It is Allah's will. And hers, for she accepts the nightmares and visions willingly, as a part of her 'mission' here."

"Then there is nothing we can do?"

"I know it may not seem important, but we must support her while she is going through all this and help her battle Imhotep. We cannot let him harm her."

"I will, sir, with all my heart," said Ahmad. And he meant it, wholeheartedly.

"Good."

They heard Jean's voice calling for Ardeth and he entered the tent. She had put on a navy blue Arab outfit and was sitting in bed.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked, concern all over his lovely face.

"Yes, thank you," she said, still a bit shakily.

"How is your mark?"

"It has stopped bleeding. What happened?"

"You were having a nightmare, I think, as you started screaming, but you opened your eyes and told us that Imhotep was coming and then you fainted. We couldn't wake you up. You really scared us," replied Ardeth, all in one breath.

It took Jean a few seconds to process all he had said and when she did, all she managed to do was bury her face in her hands.

"Jean?" Asked Ardeth tentatively.

"Damn, I'm sorry for all this..."

"It wasn't you fault, little one," he said gently. "Tell me, what did you dream about?"

"All I can remember is his face, twisted in anger and his voice telling me that no one could help me as a cobra was about to bite me. It was very disturbing."

"Come with me, Jean," Ardeth said, stretching his hand out to her, "perhaps some fresh air will help you; you are too pale."

She smiled and followed him outside. There the men were building a fire in the center of the camp and some of them were setting the table for the evening meal.

"I should go help them cook dinner," she started.

"You will not do such thing tonight. Maybe tomorrow, but now you have to rest."

"Okay, then I'll se you later, the Nile will keep me accompanied."

"Goodbye."

Jean headed to the Nile's rim and sat down by the water edge as she started to pass her hand through it..back and forth..it was so cool and she wished she had been alone, so she could get into it. She stopped her hand and brought it out from the water and when the surface of the river became like glass she looked in to see her reflection. Jean fixed her eyes in the Nile's stream and listened to the quiet whisper of the running waters.

The smoldering sun sank slowly below the horizon, giving way to a myriad of stars that would light up the exotic Egyptian sky creating an effect of truly intense and beautiful Arabian nights.

The palm trees swayed gracefully in the caressing breeze as if they were dancing to the music created by the flowing river Nile. The Nile carried in its stream, eons of secrets of lovers having met over the passage of time. The whispering of the trees almost sounded like a beckoning to the young hearts of Arabia, inviting them to begin yet another love story that would be etched into the sands of time.

She didn't realize how long she had been in such a peaceful state of mind until she heard a voice behind her.

"I am sorry to disturb you, Jean, but Ardeth sent me to build a fire here so you won't get cold."

"It's ok, Tarek, thank you," she watched the man work efficiently. "Truth is, I hadn't noticed how chilli it was."

"You seemed truly relaxed and lost in your thoughts," he said, looking at Jean with great interest.

She smiled briefly. "I was. This place has a magic I can't put into words, but that helps me forget about any worry and enjoy every minute I spend here."

Tarek had finished his job and a small fire was set near Jean. The flames danced a cheerful dance and dyed the surroundings with their intense reds and oranges.

"Would you like some company?"

"Well, it wouldn't hurt."

He sat next to Jean and sighed. "Unlike Ardeth, I hated this life when I was younger. But then I got used to the desert and now I wouldn't be able to live anywhere else."

"But what about Sheelah, won't you go live with her in Cairo?"

"I see my brother told you about her," he said and smiled, "I love her, but if we marry, we will be separated most of the time, like my parents were. She hates the desert and I wouldn't leave it for the world. I know it will be hard if we have any children, but that's the way the Med-jai have to live."

"Was it hard for you to grow up with your father spending so much time in the desert?" She asked sympathetically.

"It was, but I was quite used to it. I was happy with my mother, Ardeth and Oded; besides, when my father was in Cairo he used to tell me so many wonderful stories that, even when he was gone, they lasted in my mind until he returned. It is funny, but do you know what was really hard for me?"

"Nope, tell me."

"Not having a sister," he informed her. "Most of my friends did and I could see the love and devotion reserved for brother and sister, something I personally had no experience with. And that hurted me. I mean, I loved and idolized my two brothers, but a sister would have been something very special for me."

"I know what you mean, I've always wanted a brother to look after me," she said, a bit sorrowfully. "Being an only child isn't easy."

"Then here you have me, sis," he offered, opening his arms.

Jean gave him a short hug as they laughed. "Still, I don't think Ardeth will like it," he said, "he tends to think you belong to him."

"Maybe he wants a sister too," she whispered, going red up to the roots of her hair.

"I don't know about a sister, but he could use a wife," pointed out Tarek, eyeing Jean intently. "If he doesn't get married, then me or my older son would have to lead the Med-jai after him."

"That doesn't seem to bother him." There was a hint of jealousness in her tone that didn't go unnoticed to him.

"I know, and I don't mind either, but a wife would make him happy. And I had all my hopes placed in you." OK, there, he had said it. Ardeth would probably kill him if he knew, but...

Jean's eyes widened and she blushed even more than she had before. "In me?????" She asked in complete amazement.

"Yes, in you. I have noticed the way he looks at you and I have also noticed you enjoy this life very much, so I just put two and two together and the equation was perfect. You would be perfect for him," he pressed.

"But, Tarek, I am engaged and I am not one of you," reasoned Jean.

"None of those things represent a problem."

Well, he was stubborn... 'probably runs in the family,' she mused. "Tarek, I do love your brother, but not enough as to marry him. And I can't just stay here and forget about my life in USA."

"I knew you wouldn't accept, but it was worth the shot. Would you accept being a sister of the Med-jai?"

"That would be an honor."

"Then, my sister, I will escort you to dinner."

He offered his arm to Jean gallantly and she took it. They both went to the table where Ardeth smiled at them, welcomingly. The brief dinner was very animated as they made plans for the next day. When everybody started going to their tents to get some needed rest, Ardeth remained sitting by the fire, watching Jean talk to his grandfather. Tarek approached him.

"Do you need anything, brother?"

"No, Tarek, thank you. You can go to sleep now."

"Good night, Ardeth," he whispered, placing a hand on his brother's arm.

"Sleep well, my brother," replied Ardeth, his eyes never leaving Jean's figure.

***

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!