Eh, nobody said it was Shakespeare. I am aware this is total silly terrible cheese. But sometimes these things just have to happen. ;) Thanks everybody :) Yeah, the CoG sequel will probably arrive this summer.

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"And then they ripped out your guts and stuffed them in jars. Oh, and you know how they took out your brain?"

Rick's stomach turned, but he put on a good face. "How?"

"They stuck a sharp, red hot poker up your nose, scrambled things about a bit, then ripped it all out through your nostrils."

He tried to smile, but couldn't force it. "Eeeeaaggghh. That's gotta hurt."

Evelyn's face lit up. "Don't worry, you'd be dead when they do this... Wimp."

"Hey!"

Evelyn danced away from him down the street, laughing. "Honestly, I don't know if I could take you out in the field... You're much too delicate. Have you ever even been camping?"

"Camping is my middle name," he growled. "I spent three quarters of my childhood camping, missy, and I happen to be certifiably able to survive in the woods for up to--"

"The woods are different than the desert," she interrupted. It was so fun to tease him. He really couldn't take it, at all. "Soaring temperatures, sand in everything, locusts, sandstorms, scorpions, deadly desert tribes..."

"I'll prove it to you!"

"How?"

"I'll..." He searched for some sort of definitive proof of his outdoorsman ability. "All right, I'll take you on some sort of...what do you call it, experder--"

"Expedition."

"Expedition into the desert, you can archaeologize whatever, and I will impress you with my desert-living ability."

"My, you've known me for a week and you're offering to whisk me away to the desert. How dashing. And archaeologize isn't a word."

"Hey, I'm a lawyer, not a linguist."

Evelyn stopped walking. "We have...known each other for a week."

"Yes, we have."

"It's been a wonderful week."

"Yeah! I mean, yes. Every day has been..." Rick felt rather like he was choking. "...you know."

Evelyn couldn't believe she was bringing this up. "I was just wondering... Eh, never mind."

"About..."

"I was wondering what exactly it is we're...doing here. We are spending an awful lot of time together. And, look, if you're just using me as a tour guide or something, that's fine--"

"No!" Rick willed his vocabulary past the monosyllabic. "I suppose you could call these outings...dates. Isn't that what we're doing? I thought that's what we were doing."

"I suppose." Evelyn hesitated. She shouldn't have to be spelling this out for him. How unromantic! And yet, she decided, if she didn't take charge, perhaps no one ever would. "It's just that, if we are, in fact, on a date, Mr. O'Connell..."

"What?"

"We're been 'dating' for a week, and it's just...you know, I thought it was going so well, and..." Evelyn forced the words out in a rush. "I was just wondering if you were ever going to kiss me."

He appeared, to Evelyn, momentarily stunned. "Do you want me to....."

"No! No, not right now. How awful to be discussing the matter, anyway. But now you know. For later."

Rick was unsure how to respond to such a statement. He'd wanted to kiss her since the moment they'd met--every moment of every single day since he'd known her--but still at the back of his mind was Madeleine, the brevity of his trip here, and a million doubts about Evelyn's own feelings. "Now I know," he repeated slowly. "For later."

"Right." She continued down the street, this time with a smile on her face. "Just thought I'd mention it."

There was something else, he just couldn't put his finger on it. He followed her at some distance, wishing he could know everything about her. "Is something else bothering you?"

"No," she replied immediately, but the look on her face said otherwise. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"It's just...you. I've known you for exactly one week and I..."

"You...what?"

"I..."

Evelyn might have continued, but the streetcar beeped down the block, announcing its arrival. "I have to catch the bus. I have to go back to work."

"Can I see you tomorrow?"

Her smile banished all thoughts from his head except those of her. "Take me to lunch."

"I'll pick you up."

"Okay." She started to make for the streetcar but stopped herself. "And..."

Her pause seemed to last forever. "What?" he asked.

Evelyn hesitated again. "Bye," she said, stepped forward, and kissed him.

In what seemed like a millisecond later, she had suddenly rushed down the street and onto the waiting streetcar. Rick stood there in the street for a full five minutes before regaining enough sense to continue on his way. He could scarcely believe it. This was love, he thought to himself as he walked slowly back toward the hotel. He had no idea how or why, he just knew. This was the stuff of fairy tales, legends, myths. He'd certainly come to Cairo looking for something, but he hadn't expected it to be this. He hadn't expected Evelyn. The thought of leaving her, of going back to America, was so painful he pushed it quickly out of his mind. He could hardly breathe when she just left the room! He wasn't leaving her. Ever.

Rick entered his room and sat down at the desk. He picked up a pen and began to write.

...A week later...

How did time pass so quickly? Evelyn wondered. It seemed she'd just arrived at work, and already it was five o'clock. In the last two weeks, time had seemed to fly by.

Cate walked into the library and cleared her throat. She had decided to be direct, and began to speak before she could change her mind. "Evelyn," she said, "What's going on with you and my brother?"

Evelyn looked slightly startled, and more than a little embarrassed. "What do you mean?"

"You like him, don't you?"

Evelyn's face lit up, but she tried to be cautious with her answer. "Oh, Cate, I've only known him for two weeks--"

"Well, I've only known you for a year, and already I love you like a sister."

By this time Evelyn could not contain her grin. "I do like him. We've been spending an awful lot of time together."

"I've noticed," said Cate dryly. "I hardly see either of you."

"Oh, Cate, it's crazy, but...I think I'm in love. Is that crazy? To fall in love with someone when you've only known them for two weeks? It's crazy, isn't it? I'm crazy!"

Love??? Oh, no. Cate paused. "Does he feel the same way?"

"I don't know!... I don't know," Evelyn repeated. "It's crazy. Crazy!"

"It's not crazy!" Cate protested. "It's entirely possible!"

"Do you think so? Really?" Evelyn's face was so full of hope that Cate almost felt sorry for the young girl. What if Rick didn't feel the same way? She couldn't make a value judgment on her brother's feelings. After all, he was technically still engaged...Cate couldn't bear to see Evelyn's heart broken like that...

"I think," she said carefully, "that you should just ask him."

"Ask him?!" Evelyn looked panic-stricken now. "I can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"Well, what if he doesn't feel the same way?"

"You'll never know unless you ask him."

"But what if he doesn't love me?"

"Do you think he loves you?"

"Yes," Evelyn said immediately. She looked startled at her own pronouncement. "Yes, I do," she continued, more confidently. "I know he does."

This time it was Cate who broke into a broad grin. Forget about Madeline! The more she thought about it, the more it sense. Rick and Evelyn, together! It was so perfect! "I'm so happy for you!" Cate cried, giving Evelyn a hug. "To think, my brother and my best friend, falling in love!"

"Don't get too excited, Cate. I don't know if he feels that way..."

"Uh huh."

"Seriously!"

"Evelyn being serious? Who ever heard of such a thing?" Rick asked from the doorway.

"Rick!" cried Cate. "It's very rude to eavesdrop!"

"I wasn't eavesdropping. I just came to pick Evelyn up."

Evelyn had by now turned a very deep shade of crimson. "I'll get my purse," she said, and practically ran from the room.

"How much did you hear?" Cate hissed.

"Geez, Cate, just the last word. Why, were you talking about me?"

"No!"

"Well, case closed, then."

"So...is there anything you want to tell me?"

Rick pretended to think for a moment. "No, not really. Why?"

"Anything about...you and Evelyn?"

Now it was Rick's turn to look startled. "What did she tell you?"

"Nothing!"

Rick contemplated his sister for a moment. "I do need to talk to you, but can it wait 'til tomorrow? We've got reservations."

"Breakfast?"

"That would be fine."

...................................

"I have to ask you something."

Rick looked up from his salad and chewed for a moment. "Fire away."

Evelyn looked terrified. "Um.... Can I have the salt?"

He would have laughed but she looked even more terrified at mentioning the salt. "Um, yes. Was there something else?"

"No." Evelyn couldn't believe herself. Could she have thought of a more silly substitute for "Do you love me?" She shouldn't even be talking about something so stupid, anyway. They were in the middle of a crowded restaurant, was this really the time to ask the man you've been seeing for two weeks whether or not he'd fallen madly in love with you?
"Evelyn?"

"What?"

"You spaced off. You okay?"

She nodded but then felt a sneeze coming on. He looked at her scrunched up face and asked again, "What?"

Evelyn shook her head. "I have to sneeze."

"Well, bless you in advance. I have to use the restroom. I'll be right back."

"All right." Evelyn watched Rick walk away, and finally sneezed. Now she needed a tissue. But the fantastic thing about pretty little shawls, they didn't afford much pocket room. Evelyn stared at Rick's coat, draped on the back of his chair, for a few moments, then decided that he certainly wouldn't mind if she checked to see if he had one. Jackets were much more practical for such things.

She raised the jacket from the chair and checked the right pocket. But what she pulled from it was not a tissue, but a rectangular piece of paper.

A boat ticket.

Her stomach dropped. The steamer was set to leave Cairo tomorrow. A round trip, she supposed. He was going back to America. Tomorrow... Tomorrow...

Evelyn felt a bit like she was floating, and no thought in her head made sense. He was planning on leaving! He was going to leave! How could he do that?... She thought she meant something to him... Heavens, she'd only known him for two weeks and already she was planning a wedding. He had every right to go back to America. There was absolutely nothing to hold him in Egypt past a two-week vacation...

Evelyn willed herself to start breathing again. Rick was walking back to the table. She had to act normal. If he wanted to tell her, he'd tell her.

Wouldn't he?

.........................................

Evelyn was near to panicking by the time Rick walked her to her door that night. One moment she was sure he was leaving her without saying a word, the next she was positive that she had to have misinterpreted the ticket. He held her hand, walked close, acted as though nothing was wrong. She got out her key. "What are you doing tomorrow?" she asked.

"Oh, I hadn't planned anything yet."

Evelyn was near tears. This might be the last time she ever saw him, and he was acting like it wasn't even happening. "Do you like Boston? Are you happy there?"

Where did that question come from? wondered Rick. He answered slowly, unsure what she meant. "I think I'm happy here."

"Stay."

Rick felt like jumping up and down. She didn't want him to leave Cairo! "I can't deny that the idea of staying in Cairo has appeal--"

"No, stay tonight."

He noticed a tear forming in the corner of her eye. What was going on here? "Are you crying?"

She shook her head. "I've never been happier than when you're standing next to me."

He would have agreed but decided to kiss her instead. "I should probably go," he finally said, but as soon as the words left his mouth he hoped desperately that she would ask him again. Evelyn didn't say anything, but she didn't move, either. Rick traced the line of her jaw with shaking fingers. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her again, to never stop.

"Please stay," she said, her voice almost down to a whisper.

Evelyn took his hand and pulled him inside, shutting the door with a resounding click. Rick wasn't sure what he had expected, but it wasn't that she would kiss him again, desperately seeking his lips, unwilling to let him go. He willingly returned the affection. "Stay," she whispered. "Don't leave tonight."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Positive," she replied, and sealed her answer with a kiss.

.....................................

Rick opened his eyes the next morning to the bright sun filtering in through the open curtains. Those weren't his curtains...that wasn't his ceiling...

He turned his head to the left. Evelyn was still asleep. The word "beautiful" didn't do her justice. Gorgeous, stunning, exquisite, dazzling, striking...perfect. Rick couldn't think of enough words to describe her. He was content to just lie there, arms wrapped around his Evelyn, listening her breathe in and out. His Evelyn. He knew he could never think of her as anything but. He was in love.

Her eyes fluttered open, registering disorientation at first. "Oh," she said, "hello."

"Hello."

Evelyn couldn't think of anything else to say, but it didn't bother her. "I've overslept," she said finally, snuggling back into the pillow as if to hide from the day. "Must I go to work today?"

"I'll write you a note," he teased. "Stay in bed all day, I don't mind."

"It's rather relaxing, isn't it?"

"I'll make you a deal." He kissed her, unable to resist, then continued his thought. "We'll have breakfast in bed, and then you can decide whether you have to go to work."

Evelyn steeled herself to ask the question she had blessedly forgotten until now. "Don't you have a boat to catch?"

"What?"

"Aren't you...aren't you going back to America?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?"

"The ticket," Evelyn replied, eyes downcast. "I found your ticket."

"Ticket?" He'd completely forgotten about the ticket! "No! I just never bothered to cash it back in! That's not the reason you...I mean..."

"No! No, of course not! I...." The words were on the tip of her tongue. She just couldn't say it. "I don't think I could stand to lose you."

"I'm not going anywhere." He kissed her again, barely noticing a few seconds later that someone was knocking at the front door.

Knock, knock.

"Just ignore it."

Knock, knock, knock!

"Maybe you should answer it."

Knock, knock!!! "Evy, open up!"

"Oh my God, it's Jonathan!" Evelyn flew out of the bed and grabbed a robe. "Get dressed, hurry!"

He hurried while Evelyn went to the door. "Just a minute," she called, buying a few more seconds. "I'll be right there, Jonathan!"

Evelyn pulled open the door just as Rick buttoned the last button on his shirt and sat down on the couch, trying to look for all the world as if he were visiting for tea. "What are you doing here, Jonathan?" asked Evelyn, hugging her brother. "Unlike you and Rick, some people don't get up at the crack of dawn."

"Rick?" Jonathan looked Rick up and down, then offered his hand. "I'm Evy's brother Jonathan. Who are you again?"

"Rick O'Connell. I'm Cate's brother, actually."

"Ah." Jonathan looked at Evelyn in her robe, then back at Rick. "Yes, Evy told me about you. And what are you doing here?"

"I thought she'd be up already," said Rick, trying to laugh. "We were going to have lunch. Apparently Evelyn has trouble getting up before noon."

"It's 10:00 a.m."

Rick struggled to keep his face straight. "Yes, well, I like to be early."

"And what are you doing here, Jonathan?" asked Evelyn. "I wasn't aware we had plans."

"No, I just thought I'd stop by."

"Well, you boys should get out of here and let me get dressed. Honestly, is it too much to ask to sleep in on a...a Tuesday?"

Jonathan was suspicious again. "What's so special about a Tuesday?"

"I don't have to be at work until noon on Tuesdays," answered Evelyn, pushing Rick and Jonathan out the door. "Now if you'll excuse me, I will see the both of you later. Honestly, manners these days..."

Evelyn closed her door, leaving Jonathan and Rick alone in the hallway. "Well," said Rick. "How about them Red Sox?"

...............................................................

Rick practically ran into the café, stopping just short of the table where Cate sat. "Sorry," he apologized, sitting down. "Lost track of time."

"Mm hmm." Cate seemed just as suspicious as Jonathan. "And where have you been?"

"Told you, lost track of time. What are you eating?"

"What does it look like I'm eating?" Cate pushed her plate of eggs toward Rick. "Here, you have the rest. I have to get to work, anyway."

"Can we talk first?"

"Of course. What's on your mind?"

"I'll give you three guesses."

Cate sighed. "The Red Sox?"

"Funny."

"The stock market?"

"You're hilarious."

"Evelyn."

"Bingo."

Cate couldn't decide what to say, so she decided to be her usual informative self. "She loves you, you know."

"I know."

"Oh. What are you going to do, then? Are you going to stay in Cairo?"

"If she'll let me." Rick reached for his pocket, then realized he wasn't wearing his jacket. "Well, I was going to show you the ring, but I don't seem to have it with me at the moment..."

Cate's eyes widened. "You're asking Evelyn to marry you? What will Mom and Dad say?"

"They'll be happy for me, and they'll love her. Similar to what I was hoping would be your reaction."

"Oh!" Cate reached across the table and hugged him. "I am happy. Oh, Rick, I think you two are perfect for each other. This is wonderful."

"That's what I thought. Now let's just hope that she thinks so, too."

...............................................

The dusty grandfather clock's chiming startled Evelyn out of her thoughts, again. She couldn't concentrate. Her mind wandered anywhere and everywhere but the books she was supposed to be cataloguing. It was a good thing Cate had gone to meet Rick that morning, because Evelyn certainly wasn't accomplishing anything. Rick! The very reason she couldn't focus...

"Excuse me." A woman's voice interrupted Evelyn's thoughts. She turned to see a woman peeking timidly around the office door. "I'm looking for Cate O'Connell," the woman said, in a neat, clipped American accent. She kept glancing around her nervously like she expected something to jump out at her at any moment. Her shiny blond hair, evidently engineered to complement the flawless blue suit she wore, was sticking out a bit at the edges. Evelyn guessed that the poor woman was a bit overwhelmed by her surroundings. She knew girls like that back home. Egypt was obviously not the kind of place the poor woman was used to.

Trying to sound reassuring, Evelyn answered, "She's just stepped out. Can I help you with something?"

Evelyn thought she saw a flash of panic pass through the woman's eyes. "She's--she's coming back, then, right? Today?"

"Yes, of course. Are you all right? Would you like to sit down?"

"Yes, please. A glass of water?"

Evelyn nodded as she guided the woman to a nearby bench, noticing that her shaking hands clutched a crumpled, dog-eared envelope. "I'm Evelyn, the librarian."

"Madeline Morrison. When did you say she was coming back?"

"She and her brother are running an errand, she should be back within the hour."

"Her brother?" Madeline was visibly relieved. "Thank God."

Something was off about this woman. She wasn't telling the whole story, Evelyn could tell that much. "Are you a friend of the family, then?" she asked.

The American actually cracked a smile, betraying her icy demeanor. "I suppose you could say that. I used to be, anyway. Could I get that water?"

Evelyn tried to be polite, but as she talked more with the woman, she couldn't help but form a dislike for her. It didn't help that Madeline treated Evelyn as though her job was to cater to her wishes, as well as be a sounding board for the troubles she'd encountered in making it to Egypt. She was probably just completely frazzled, Evelyn told herself. Her trip certainly sounded terrible, and though she wouldn't say exactly what she was doing here, she didn't seem too thrilled about whatever it was.

When Cate walked through the door, Evelyn jumped up, eager to be rid of her charge. "Cate, someone to see you."

Cate's mouth fell open and her eyes widened. "Oh my God."

"Hello to you, too, Cate."

"I--I'm sorry, I just--I'm--I'm shocked." Cate stuttered. "What are you doing here?" She looked at Evelyn with amazement. "I see you've met Evelyn."

"Yes. She's been quite kind," said Madeline, rising from the bench, dusting off her perfect suit and shoving the glass of water back into Evelyn's hands. "Is, um, is Rick around here somewhere?"

"He, uh, he's in the library," Cate replied, looking pointedly at Evelyn. "Perhaps we should have a chat, first, Madeline. Haven't seen you in ages." She'd finally come to accept the fact that her brother had moved on, and now Madeline showed up! The woman always did have impeccable timing, Cate noted with irony.

"I'd really like to talk to Rick."

"Well, he's just a bit--a bit busy at the moment. Uh, Evelyn, would you be so kind as to go let Rick know that Madeline is here?"

"Of course," Evelyn said, a bit confused. "Is everything all right?"

"Everything's fine. How are you, then, Madeline?"

As a mystified Evelyn left the pair, she could hear an obviously uneasy Cate still chattering on.

.......................................

Rick appeared suddenly from behind a bookcase as soon as Evelyn had reached the library. He held a single red rose, gallantly holding it out to her as if it were a precious jewel. "Miss me?" he asked as she took the flower, then wrapped her up in a kiss so passionate any message Evelyn had been poised to deliver flew straight out of her head.

"Hi," she greeted him eventually. "I did, actually. Miss me?"

"It was unbearable." Rick smiled, and Evelyn's heart melted yet again.

"You have a wonderful smile," she told him.

"Yours isn't bad, either," he replied. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you--"

"Oh, no." Evelyn's face fell, smile gone.

"What?"

"Usually conversations that start with 'listen, we need to talk' don't end well."

"That isn't what I said!"

"Almost!"

"I just wanted to tell you something-"

"I mean, after last night--"

"I wanted to tell you two things, actually--"

"I didn't want to seem too clingy, but--"

"Evelyn--"

"You know this isn't normally something I would do, and--"

"Evelyn!"

"What?"

"I love you." There, he'd said it. He'd finally said it.

He'd have appreciated some sort of response, however. She just stood there, looking quite astonished, as if waiting for some sort of explanation. "I've felt that way for a while, before last night," Rick continued. "I've wanted to say it for a long time."

"I--I'm sorry," Evelyn stammered. "It's just that I...I almost feel like I'm waiting to wake up."

"You're awake. I love you."

The smile returned, finally. "I love you, too."

Rick kissed her again, feeling as though his whole world had suddenly fallen into place. She loved him! He'd known it, somehow, but to hear her say the words...

"Well, Rick, I'm glad to see you've gotten over me so quickly."

Madeline stood in the doorway, looking at the couple with a completely blank expression on her face, but twisting a piece of paper in her hands as if she wanted to strangle something. Rick's mouth fell open, stunned to see her there, her presence the last thing he had ever expected just as he confessed his love to another woman. All traces of her earlier distress vanished, Madeline continued, "But if you were going to cheat on me, I'd have at least thought it would be with someone pretty."

"Maddie!" Rick choked out, struggling to make sense of her abrupt appearance.

Evelyn looked at Rick, not sure what she expected him to say. Who in the world was this woman? Why was everyone reacting this way to her? And what the hell did she just say? "Rick?" she whispered. "What is this?" She pulled out of his embrace, crossing her arms in a defensive position, waiting for him to tell her everything was all right. He wouldn't look at her. He couldn't stop staring at Madeline, who obviously was having no such trouble speaking her mind.

"A whole month?" she asked, voice rising. "You move fast, don't you?" She began to wave the envelope around in the air. "I wondered why this was the first I'd heard from you. Obviously you were too distracted, what with your little English whore--"

"Hey!" Rick protested. "Don't speak to Evelyn like that."

"Why not? I find her with my fiancé and we're supposed to be friends? I'm supposed to be okay with this? We never even announced our split, and already you've taken up with someone else?"

Rick finally met Evelyn's eyes, and she hated what she saw there. "The second thing I wanted to tell you," he whispered. Already fighting back tears, she pushed roughly past Madeline, who seemed quite pleased with Evelyn's reaction.

...................................

silly conclusion v. soon :)