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'Connells return to Egypt and find themselves with old friends and enemies (and some new ones into the mix) creating merry havoc. Enjoy!

888

Still feeling irritated by the Professor's off-hand manner, Evelyn stalked into the curator's office – she ignored the concilatory smile the younger man offered as he held the door for her.

'Mrs O'Connell', the Professor sat himself down in a large armchair beside the desk and waved Mr Fehr's polite offer of his own seat away with an impatient hand.

'Mrs O'Connell, my research over the last couple of years into the region surrounding the Kharga oasis suggests that there's a lost village between the oasis and the Nile. This village, which we believe to have appeared during the reign of Tuthmosis III, seems to have been real short lived, in fact it doesn't appear beyond his reign. The evidence has led Dr Faulkner and myself to what we believe is the ruins of the viallage and we have therefore gathered a team from both the US and Britain...'

Realising that if left to himself the Professor would continue on at some lenghtn without telling her what she actually wanted and needed to know now, Evelyn interrupted. 'Yes, well Professor, that is all really very interesting. But I'm afraid I don't see where I fit into the picture.'

While Professor Sommerson blinked in confusion and some annoyance at her rudeness, his monologue did stutter to an abrupt halt. Mr Fehr hid a smile, and a soft cough, behind his hand and moved to smooth over the increasingly cool silence.

'I believe Mrs O'Connellis curious to know in what capacity she may be of assistance to you in his expedition.'

Biting her tongue to prevent herself from correcting both men of this misapprenhension – even though she knew it was deliberate – Evelyn tried a look of innocent enquiry on the Professor.

Sommerson harrumphed and deliberated over his reply, rubbing his fingers over his nose and then scratching at his chin while staring at the map spread over the desk beside him.

'You're said to be an expert at translating hieroglyphics, hieratic and demotic scripts, and given what I have heard about your... adventures,' he paused smanaging to add another layer of dispproval to his face as he looked up and finally met Evelyn's eyes. In turn she barely managed not to stick her tongue out at him.

'Yes, well, I have had more than my fair share of excitement. Things just seem to keep happening to me here.' She blushed slightly, and continued, 'But given that you will be on this expedition Professor, I really fail to see how my abilities as a translator will add anything to the party.'

'I would've thought that was obvious, mam. I need a second translator and someone with experience of the desert. Almost half of my team are comin' out here for the first time.'

'Oh.' Catching the sudden smile on the young doctor's face, Evelyn added, 'yes I do see.' And she did, but did the man have to sound so patronising?

Not wanting to admit to her increasing annoyance, she gestured towards the map of Ancient Egypt which covered almost half of the curator's desk. 'Where exactly in the south is this village?'

As she had expected all three men looked down at the map, and the Professor leant over the arm of his chair and traced a line out from the Nile muttering to himself.

'Ah... yes... here we are. Mrs O'Connell?' and he looked up to make sure he had her attention, he tapped at a very familiar area of the map.

Professor Sommerson's village was near enough to Hamanaptra to be within the large sweep of desert that the Med-jai patrolled.

'Oh dear.' Evelyn's instantaneous exclamation surprised herself as much as her companions, and she looked up quickly pasting a polite smile on. Perhaps she was getting a little old for the mayhem and death that always happened when that city was involved.

'How wonderful. I don't believe there have been many digs in that area. Also I think I may have to come with you. Just too exciting for words.'

Before the others could speak she continued, years of dealing with Rick telling her to keep talking; and talking fast until they had to agree – if only to shut her up.

'My brother, Jonathon Carnahan, has experience of digs in Saqqara and Abydos. And he was with me on my trip to the possible Hamanaptra nine years ago. He has some knowledge of hieroglyphs and hieratic script. And my husband Rick – he's... very capable. He knows the desert and... it's people, and how dangerous... And our son is here with us for the summer so I'm afraid he would have to come with us to the site as well.'

Finally running out of breath Evelyn turned her best and brightest smile on the Professor. Who blinked, opened his mouth and then blinked again before closing his mouth. It was the slightly lilting voice of Dr Faulkner that managed to choke out an answer.

'I don't believe that will be a problem, mam. Professor Sommerson's own family will be accompanying us, his wife is to act as chaparone to our photographer.'

'Oh, how wonderful.' Evelyn knew her face was turning red, but she couldn't stop it. If only she had not rushed on with her speech... Even after all this time with Rick, she was still so easily flustered.

Mr Fehr spoke up startling the rest of them who had forgotten his presence, his gentle smile acknowledged their attempts to cover their starts of surprise. 'Alex is a most intelligent boy, very knowledgable. He would be no trouble on a dig.'

Grateful for his attempt to save her from further embarressment, Evelyn said quietly, 'I... I can't accept for all my family of course, nor can I accept for myself until I've discussed it with them. Perhaps if you were to meet my husband, and Jonathon, ... we could discuss this over tea? Tomorrow morning?'

Professor Sommerson coughed abruptly, 'Very well. I will come at 9.30 tomorrow. I assume that will be acceptable?'

'Yes, of course. That's fine.' Evelyn smiled weakly, trying not to think about Jonathon's– and more importantly, Rick's –reaction to her news.

888

'So anyway, I asked them to come round tomorrow morning for our answer. And they'll be here at 9.30.'

'In the morning? Do I have to be there, Evie?' Jonathon whined. 'I've promised some friends that I'd join them for a game or so... nothing expensive, cbviously.'

'Is it really close to Hamanaptra? Would I be able to go and see the city?'

'NO!' Rick and Evelyn both jumped on Alex's questions, and ignored Jonathon's complaints.

'And no to them as well, Evie. We aren't going out into the desert, digging stuff. Things'll go wrong, and I'll end up fighting some monster who wants to kill you or marry you, or somethin'!'

'Rick we have to go. I know we said we wouldn't but we can't let them go out there to be killed. Or even worse to find something and wake something up.'

'So we get word to Ardeth, and the Med-jai head them off before they get out there. But we're not going. And that's final.'

'I... er... think I'll go catch some air. I'll take Alex out to see the gardens. Leave you teo to discuss things. We'll just be outside...'

As he spoke Jonathon was gathering up his suit jacket and waving Alex over to the door. His last words were lost as he hustled them both out of the suite, and over to the elevators.

888

'Phew, we're well out of that, right partner?' Jonathon mock wiped his brow as they walked out into the courtyard of the hotel.

'Yeah, I don't know why Dad bother's to argue. Mum always wins.' Alex jumped onto the stone bench that circled the fountain and began to pace round it.

'Yes, she always did.' Jonathon's tone was gloomy. 'Unless we meet up with Ardeth, he tends to lay down the law to everyone, even you parents m'boy.'

'Do you think we will see him? I'd like to learn more about the Med-jai.' Alex jumped down to sit beside his uncle – grateful for the cooling spray from the fountain.

'Oh he'll show up. Bound to – if only to make sure you and your mother don't go waking up any more mummies and ancient curses.'

It was only as he finished speaking that Jonathon noticed the young couple who were obviously returning from a romantic stroll and had overheard his last comment. 'Eh-hum.' He coughed nervously, 'and... erm... vampires, and... and... monsters...'

'Great cover Uncle Jon!' Alex softened his sarcastic tone by patting his uncle reassuringly on the shoulder.

'Ye-es, well... ummm...' Jonathon watched with chagrin as the couple hurried up the steps and back into the hotel.

'So why didn't I ever see Ardeth when he came to visit?' Alex returned to the original topic, the one he was actually interested in.

'Hmmm? Oh, habit mostly. Evie's habit of putting you to bed early and Ardeth's habit of showing up unannounced at night.' Jonathon paused reflectively, 'Do y'know Alex, he looked after you a couple of times, so that your parents could go out at night. They didn't really trust me with you at that age.'

'They don't trust you with me now.' Alex pointed out, truthfully.

'No, probably wise of them really.' The rueful admission would have surprised much of London and Cairo society that knew Jonathon Carnahan, few in either city would have believed him capable of such self-knowledge.

'Why don't I remember any of this?'

'I don't know. But you were very young and then... we... well its habit again. You know about Ardeth and the Med-jai, but most of the world doesn't. When Evie first started writing about our little adventure, she and Ardeth talked about what she could and couldn't say. One thing she definitely wasn't to talk about was the Med-jai and their role. That's why she just lumps'em in with the Bedouin tribes, and passes over their involvement as fast as possible.'

'I know we aren't supposed to talk about the Med-jai, Mum and Dad have always told me that.'

'Of course they have, and if we go on this dig I'm sure you'll stick to that. But you were awfully young old chum, and back then you wouldn't have been able to.'

'Oh.' The boy's voice was flat. He could understand the reasoning but he didn't have to like it.

'Jonathon? Alex? You can come in now.' His father's voice interrupted Alex's brooding thoughts.