Disclaimer: The characters of Sydney and Nigel are borrowed from the television show Relic Hunter. No copyright infringement intended story purely for entertainment purposes only.
The police had scoured the area. The owner of the fourth set of footprints still remained unknown, and no evidence of the legendary mine had been found.-----
Beep....Beep....Beep....Beep...Beep. The sound of the monitors had become like an old friend to Sydney during the long days since Nigel had been found in the mountains. Sydney had spend every second by his side, and would for twenty four, seven if the hospital staff would allow it. As she drove back along the now familiar road to the hospital she know the decision she had come to would change both their lives.
Mystery still surrounded him, and Nigel himself was at a loss to explain his survival and where he had been. Fleeting memories refused to congeal into coherent thought. He knew someone had helped him, but who remained as elusive as the mine itself. At first he had just thought this whole trip was a wild goose chase, but now he knew somehow it was more than just a legend.
Nigel gathered his things together, the doctor had finally decided he was well enough to leave the hospital, but gave him strict instructions to take it easy until his own doctor gave him medical clearance to resume his treks around the world with Syd. He laughed to himself, just a few short years ago he would have been happy to stay behind, but now relic hunting was in his blood, and the thought of being left behind recuperating if any thing came up before he was a hundred percent didn't sit well, among other things. It was the thought of the other things that turned his mood solemn, wondering how Sydney would react.
As Nigel gathered the last of his things, he felt something strange in the pocket of the pants he had been wearing at the time of his injury. He stared in wonder at the antique pocket watch as Sydney entered the room.
"Nigel, are you ready? Nigel." When he didn't respond she quickly went to his side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you all right?"
Nigel looked up "I'm fine. Did you put this in my pocket?" He handed her the watch, and could tell from her expression she had never seen it before.
"No." Sydney marveled at the old pocket watch, it was a beautiful piece of workmanship, and in what looked like perfect condition. "You found this in your pocket?"
"Yes, I was getting my stuff together and it was the back pocket of the jeans I was wearing when I got shot."
Sydney looked back at the watch, as the terrible vision of Nigel going over the cliff replayed itself in her head. As delicately as she could she opened the watch. Inside was a small piece of aged and yellow paper. She gently unfolded the paper and handed it to Nigel.
To Jacob, my friend and partner.
JW
-----
After leaving the hospital Sydney had dropped him off at the hotel. She was going to take the watch and note over to Joe Anderson at ASU. Nigel laid down on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened, and what might happen when Sydney returned as he fell in to a fitful sleep. When he awoke hours later the room was dark and it did not look like Sydney had come back yet. As he sat up he felt his side give him a painful reminder to get up more slowly next time. After turning on the lights he sat in one of the plush chairs, lost in thought as Sydney came bursting into the room.
"Sorry it took so long, but that little pocket watch of yours caused quite a stir at the University." She went over to Nigel waving at him to sit back down as he started to get up out of the chair, and gave him a quick kiss before continuing. "I showed it to Joe and one his colleges Ann Bowman, who is quite an authority on the Lost Dutchman's mine and Jacob Waltz. She compared the writing on the note, as well as the map to some others that were written by Jacob Waltz, and it matches." Sydney could barely contain her excitement. They had not found the mine, but they did find an important piece to the puzzle.
"Really?" He knew he should be excited by the news, but his thoughts were only about Sydney, and how she would react to what he was going to tell her.
Sydney immediately sensed the unease in the room, and began to wonder if something had happened while she was gone. She watched as Nigel got up and headed towards her, the excitement she felt quickly fading. "What's wrong?"
Nigel looked at Sydney, God, she was beautiful, and everything he ever wanted. Steeling himself for her reaction, he decided to just come out with it "I don't want to hide what I feel for you anymore. I want to be with you and I don't care who knows or what the consequences might be." He saw Sydney start to reply, but forged ahead before his resolve gave into his fear of losing her. "I know your worried about someone using our relationship against us, and about me being in danger, but......but." His fear finally won out and he lowered his head unable to look her in the eye.
Sydney reached out and caressed his cheek, gently lifting his head until their eyes met. "I guess that old saying is true, Great minds do think a like." She watched as the fear in eyes disappeared and very relived smile graced his face.
All the worries that had consumed him over the last few hours melted away as he pulled her into his arms. "I love you Syd."
"And I love you. When I thought I had lost you...." she took a breath trying to get her emotions under control. She both hated and loved how emotional and out of control Nigel could make her feel. "I realized how much time we had wasted, sneaking around, hiding our relationship. I don't want to hide anymore either. As long as we're together, I know we can face anything that comes our way."
When their lips met, all the worries and fears that had plagued them both during the journey were replaced only by the love and passion they felt for each other.
As things quickly escalated it was only Nigel's painful grunt that brought Sydney to her senses. As Sydney pulled back, now looking at his bare torso and his bandaged side, she had to remind herself that he had just gotten out of the hospital, and here she was trying to put him right back in. Nigel needed rest, quite and food. She would go and get them some food, she was hungry, but as she looked at him she realized it was not food she was hungry for. She shook her head trying to get her ragging hormones under control. "I'm sorry Nigel."
"For what?" his voice husky as he tried to get his breathing under control. "I'm not complaining."
"You just got out of the hospital today, you know your not up for this yet." She saw the look in his eyes. Her eyes quickly darted down to his pants and back up to his face. "You know what I mean." She saw the disappointment and frustration on his face and wanted to tell him she felt exactly the same, but the mischievous side of her wanted to come out and play.
Sydney seductively traced her finger around Nigel's bandage, thoroughly enjoying his frustration. "Do you remember Casanova's Book of Love?" She watched as his eyebrows moved together and the adorable little pear shaped indentation appeared between them before he answered.
"Yes." Nigel looked at her wearily, wondering what was going through her head.
Sydney slowly moved her finger up Nigel's chest. She felt him shiver in response as she started to plant light kisses all the way up his neck stopping at his ear. "Good. Do you remember number twenty-five." She purred before gently nibbling on his ear
"Twenty-five?" Nigel tried to remember which one that was, and Sydney was not helping. Then it hit him. "Oh.....that number twenty-five." Well, that would definitely put him back in the hospital, but the way he was feeling it was definitely worth it.
Sydney suddenly pulled away "Just think of it as an incentive for you to follow the doctor's orders. The sooner your better, the sooner we can give it a try." She planted a chaste kiss on his lips and started to head for the door.
"Where are you going?" Nigel stared after her, one minute things were getting very steamy and now she was leaving him.
"To go get dinner. Now get into bed! The doctor told you to get plenty of rest, and I expect you to be doing just that when I get back." Sydney saw the bewildered look on his face. How she loved his expressive face. "I'll be back soon. Love you." She blew him a kiss and was out the door before he could respond.
Nigel continued to stare at the closed door for a few minutes, not knowing Sydney was on the other side, leaning against it feeling as frustrated as he was, before trudging to the bathroom. "God, I hate cold showers." he mumbled to himself as he slammed the door behind him.
-----
Jacob Waltz stared up into the night sky lost in thought, until his faithful friend Ruth nudged him, pulling him out of his remorse. Finding the mine had come at a price, one that he sometimes had trouble existing with. Jacob remembered seeing his friend and partner Jacob Weiser die, along with numerous others during the decades. He had been forced to only passively watch as the world around him changed and became as foreign to him as he was to this land. They had ignored the warnings, the Indians respected and feared these mountains, but they had not. His partner Jacob had been granted the gift of eternal rest, something Jacob Waltz both feared and wished for, but knew was forever beyond his reach. The gold was his treasure, as well as his curse, they would be eternally linked together.
Ruth nudged him even harder. At least fate had been kind in one respect. He did not have to spend his existence alone, he had Ruth. He affectionately scratched her head. "Come on you old flea bag, lets go home."
Ruth's insulted snort along with Jacob's laughter could be heard reverberating through the canyons as they slowly faded back into the majesty that was known as The Superstitions.
The End