Title: Return to the Beginning
Author: Comnena
Pairings: Rick O'Connell/ Evelyn; Jonathon/ OFC; Ardeth/ OFC (but no Mary Sue)
Rating: PG-13 I'd guess, at least for now.
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made, no rights being infringed. All good, clean (-ish) and harmless fun being had.
Feedback: Anything you want, but bear in mind flames aren't nice for anyone.
Notes: Please note I don't speak any form of Arabic and am using a phrasebook designed for ignoramuses like me. Also I am mixing up Islam with the ancient Egyptian gods as I please and no offense is meant to any religion or its followers past or present.
Summary: The usual, O'Conells return to Egypt and find themselves with old friends and enemies (and some new ones into the mix) creating merry havoc. Enjoy!
Evelyn O'Connell opened the window and inhaled the redolent and unique smells of Cairo, the mass of humanity within its walls and the lack of attention to hygienic matters certainly made the smell memorable she thought. Delighted to be back in her beloved Egypt - and so soon after her last adventure – she continued to stare out of the window, but she was no longer aware of the street scenery below her, or even the further cityscape.
'Penny for your thoughts, old mum?' Jonathon's voice was a gentle interruption and roused Evie to the sounds of her husband and son squabbling as they came along the corridor to the sitting room.
'Just remembering last years adventures.' She smiled, 'I wonder how long it will be before Ardeth appears to make sure we don't cause any more ... accidents.'
'No accidents, no curses and no tracking down myths or past lives.' Rick's warning tones caused Evie to smile. 'No books, keys, bracelets or oasis's'
'I know darling, I promised that this time we wouldn't go any further than Luxor, and we won't, and that I wouldn't dig anything up. I will stay in the libraries, I swear.'
Alex bounced onto the chair next to his mother, his blue eyes sparkling as he settled himself down comfortably. 'Do you think we will see Ardeth, Mum?'
Evelyn glanced down at the enthusiastic face and smiled, Alex had hero-worshipped the Med-jai chieftain ever since that horrible evening when Ardeth had appeared from nowhere to help her fight off Imhotep's followers. 'I'm sure we will see him Alex, at some point.'
'Sure we will,' Rick agreed, 'He hasn't missed us once in ten years, I don't see him slipping up now.'
'You mean he visited every time we came here, when I was little?' Alex sounded surprised and more than a little irritated, 'Why don't I remember this?'
'He visited at night, normally long after you had been put to bed.' Her son's humph of disgust in reaction to this news surprised Evelyn. 'He came to our wedding, and he visited us several times during the three years we spent here. Then of course, after I fell ill, your father decided we should go back to England. And ever since then, Ardeth visited us whenever we came here. I hadn't realised that you didn't remember him – or that you hadn't seen him since you were a baby.'
'Well I don't and I didn't.' Alex sounded sulky.
Jonathon grinned at his nephew; 'Wish I could say the same, I always feel even more frivolous than normal after seeing good ol' Ardeth.'
'Really. Wonder why that would be?' Rick rolled his eyes slightly at his brother-in-law.
'I'll have you know...' Jonathon started to say only to be interrupted by a cushion that Rick heaved at him. Alex started to giggle at the cushion fight that looked sure to develop, only for Evie to stand up briskly.
'That's enough you two. Come on Alex, bedtime. And both of you might want to plan on an early night. It's been a long day and we're all tired.'
'Awww, Mum...' Alex gave the usual whine of a child being hurried off just as things got interesting.
'Do as you mother tells you.' Rick said his tone firm, a finger pointing to re-enforce his point.
'Yes Dad.' A heavy sigh, but Alex got up and with dragging feet walked over to where Evelyn stood at the door. She laughed at his display and wrapping an arm round his shoulders they headed on through to Alex's bedroom.
8888
Evelyn was precariously balancing on one of the ladders in the Museum of Antiquities library when the three men entered the room. One of them was the curator, but the other two were strangers to Evelyn. She spared them no more than a glance as she continued to examine the book she was balancing on her left arm and on the top of the ladder.
'Mrs O'Connell?'
She yelped in surprise, jumped slightly and tried to grab at the heavy Victorian volume. Her desperate save failed and the book fell hitting of one of the lower shelves before thudding solidly to the ground barely missing the group standing by the foot of the ladder.
'Ooooh, I'm so sorry! She gasped, hurriedly descending. Once safely on the floor she continued to apologise, pushing her glasses back up her nose as she attempted to organise herself.
'It is quite alright, ' the curator smiled politely, 'Mrs O'Connell may I introduce Professor Sommerson, and his assistant Doctor Faulkner. They asked me to introduce you to them as they have much they wish to speak to you about. If you wish you may use my office for your discussions gentlemen.' Bowing slightly, his manner edging into the obsequious, the neat little Egyptian backed away before turning and hurrying out of the room.
'Professor Sommerson?' Evelyn could not control her surprise, or her enthusiasm. 'I just finished reading your last paper on the economic structures of the Middle Kingdom, I found it most enlightening.'
The tall man, grey eyed and with greying hair the only colour in him coming from his sunburnt face and formal suit, gave a slight bow in response to the compliment. 'I am delighted you found it useful, Mam. However, if we could just...' He gestured in the direction that Mr Fehr had taken.
'We would be more comfortable in the office.' The younger man suggested in support of his superior.
Evelyn blinked slightly, then looking quickly from one to the other shrugged and said, 'In that case we want to go this way.' And proceeded to lead the way, her head buzzing as she tried to guess at what had brought them here.