Return to the Beginning

by Comnena

Rick and Evelyn return to Egypt where they find themselves and their family becoming involved in another adventure. Old and new friends and enemies come along for the ride. I am coming back to this, PhD, life, etc got in the way but it isn't abandoned!

4. Return to the Beginning 4

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 I'm using a phrasebook designed for ignoramuses like me. Also I am mixing up Islam with the ancient Egyptian gods as I please and no offence is meant to any religion or its followers past or present.And I'm really, really sorry about how long this has taken. Blame RL, hopefully with the new year we should be back to a more regular programme.

Summary: Arrangements are made, new arguments begin and Jonathon tries to avoid adventure.

888

Evelyn was as excited as her son as the boat cast off, they were both standing at the rail waving to the usual crowd at the dock. Jonathon had already disappeared into the ship and was probably already engaged in some card game. And Rick… was somewhere and Evie for once didn't know, and was too excited to fuss.

'Oooh! We're off Alex! Ma"as salæma! Ma"as salæma!1 She called to the throng on the dock.

'Ma"as salæma!' Alex chimed in, waving frantically to the crowd.

Eventually Evelyn turned away from the rail, and slipping an arm round her son's shoulders, was about to suggest that they look for his father when she heard her name being called. It was Ewen Faulkner with a slender, red-haired girl by his side.

'Mrs O'Connell, May I introduce you to the photographer on our little expedition. Mademoiselle Milisende Bonnard.'

'Mrs O'Connell, I am delighted to meet you. I read all your articles.' The voice was soft and light in tone and the faint accent made her sound somewhat exotic.

'I am glad to meet you to, mademoiselle, this is my son Alex.' Evie pushed her reluctant son forward slightly to make his bow.

The young woman smiled shyly, 'Bonjour Alex, you are an Egyptologist to?'

Alex shook the hand she offered but his expression was childishly irritated. 'No, of course not. I'm too young. But I want to be.'

'Alex!'

Milisende was flushed but when Evelyn started to reprove her son she held up her hand. 'Non, non, it was my fault. It was a clumsy joke. My apologies, Alex, I do not know anyone of your age so if I make mistakes I must ask for your forgiveness. An' perhaps you can tell me when I do?'

'He'll do no such thing!'

Evelyn's smile twisted into a grimace as she recognised Morris Feathering's voice. The man himself followed immediately and as he strolled over to join then he smiled charmingly at the two women, but his eyes were mocking as he looked at Evelyn. 'I'm sure his father will've taught him better than that.'

Alex caught the insult to his parents and was about to prove the American right, only Evelyn got there before him. 'My husband is certainly at least as capable of politeness to a lady as you are Mr Feathering. And I have no fears of my son being considered rude if he follows his father's example.' Very much on her dignity she nodded to Faulkner and to Mademoiselle Bonnard and with a curt, 'An iznukum.'2 she and Alex continued their interrupted journey to their cabins.

For most of the first day on the ship Evelyn and her family avoided the rest of their party, it seemed safer to keep Jonathon, Alex and Rick away from that archaeologists – even if for widely different reasons.

'Now Jonathon, remember not a word about the Med-jai, Hamanaptra, Ahm Shere or mummies coming to life. We don't want to give them ideas! No bets, no dares, and no drunken confessions!'

'Of course not! D'you really think I want to go through that again? Honestly Evie!'

Nodding her head sharply Evelyn swung round on the other two children… men in her life.

'Alex.' Her son looked up at her apprehensively, 'same goes for you, and don't show off. We know you are as smart as the rest of our party, they don't have to.'

'But…' he started then seeing her glare he subsided with a quiet, 'Yes Mum.'

And finally, 'Rick, please don't beat them up, throw anyone over the side, shoot them, or… or…'

Rick held his hands up to ward off her spate of orders, 'Sure, no worries hon' no rough stuff. Unless they start it.'

Rick…' it was a wail of despair.

888

'Mr O'Connell?' Jonathon blinked up from the deck chair he was sprawled in, surprised by the sudden blocking of the bright rays of the sun.

'No, no I'm Jonathon Carnahan. Rick is over there, tall, American, light hair, lots of guns and muscles.'

'Oookay…' said the questioner, a very tall light-haired American, with a fairly muscular build moved off in the direction of Jonathon's vaguely waved hand. 'Thanks.' He added over his shoulder.

'No problem, always glad to help.' Jonathon murmured affably, settling himself even further into the chair, which creaked ominously.

888

'Mr O'Connell?'

Rick looked up from the book he was trying to force himself to read. 'Yeah?'

'I'm Garrett Manning, one of the archaeologists. From the American side of it all.'

'Uh-huh.' Rick's response was not encouraging and the younger man hovered uncertainly before sitting down on the chair opposite.

'This is only my second dig, an' the first where I've been in at the beginning. I just wondered if you had any advice?'

O'Connell studied the other man in return, and then shrugged. 'I'm not an archaeologist, can't help you pal.'

'I didn't mean about the dig really. More about the people. Dr Faulkner, well, he said you knew the desert nomads, the Bedouin.'

'Yeah, some of them.' Rick sat up bringing the front chair legs down with a thump. 'Why?'

'The tall young man lent forward his elbows on his knees his hands gesturing for emphasis as he talked. 'I've heard stories. Things like expeditions being attacked, people getting killed. Are they for real?'

'Sometimes. It can happen, an' if they do attack knowing about their customs won't help you.'

Manning blinked. 'Oh. I figured if we knew what not to do before we went out there, we wouldn't offend them and they might leave us alone.'

'The only way we could do that is by not going. Good luck on convincing your professor to go home.' And with that Rick turned back to his book, he was trying to get some grasp on the history of Egypt, and especially on the period when Imhotep and his buddies had lived.

888

'Pardon Madame?'

Evie blinked up at the silhouetted figure, recognising it more by the accent then by the shape outlined against the glaring sunlight and brilliant blue-white sky.

''Mademoiselle?'

'I wish to make apology for Mr Feathering's rudeness to you yesterday. I am sorry that my… ma erreur should 'ave provoke such unpleasantness.'

Evelyn struggled to sit up in the low-slung deck chair, 'Please don't worry about it. Mr Feathering and Rick clashed the first time they met – and keep on doing so at opportunity. Please, won't you sit down?' she gestured towards the empty chair next to her – then blinked at the large book she had dropped onto it when the sun grew too warm for reading and pulled it off the seat and let it fall to the deck with a thud.

'Sorry madem… Oh for goodness sake! We're going to be working together, so let's drop the formalities. I'm Evelyn and … I'm afraid I've forgotten your first name.'

The tall girl gave a small, shy smile, 'Je m'appelle Milisende. Oh, I am sorry Mademe… Evelyn. I forget often I am afraid. It is silly, no?'

'Of course it isn't my dear. And while I don't speak French very fluently I can understand it fairly well. When did you come out here?'

'Trois… I… I mean three years ago. I 'ave lived in England for four years before that – wis my Aunt and Uncle, then I had three years in Versailles.'

'Really? Why did you come out to Egypt?' she was surprised, having assumed that the girl had come straight from France to Egypt.

'I 'ave wanted to come 'ere, for… oh, such a long time.' Her hazel eyes flashed to meet Evelyn's then she turned to stare out at the distant bank as it slipped by swimming in a heat haze. 'Ma mere was an artist – a painter, you understand? She came to Egypt to paint an' she met mon pere. He was a soldier. They married an' stayed 'ere for cinq... I mean five years. Then they returned to Paris wis mon pere's regimente, then they went to Normandie – where I was born. When I was fourteen there was an accident.' She shrugged and looked back at Evelyn.

The older woman smiled at her sympathetically. 'You wanted to see where they met? I understand that. My father was an explorer and when he came out here he met my mother who was an Egyptian – her name was Rimona. We… we were very happy.'

She finished rather abruptly, surprised to feel a sudden rush of homesickness for her childhood – when ancient curses, mummies coming to life and Egyptian princesses were merely bedtime stories, and when her Father had always been there to protect her from them.

'You miss them? I also'

Grey eyes met hazel and they exchanged rather watery smiles, which were interrupted by the loud arrival of Jonathon and Alex who were indulging in one of their frighteningly childish squabbles.

'I didn't!' Alex was almost shrieking in frustration.

'Did to!' Jonathon snapped back.

'Didn't!'

With a weary sigh Evie interrupted them, 'Quiet! What are you arguing about now?'

They both turned blank eyes towards her; mouths hanging slightly open as they tried to remember.

'Err… ahh…' Jonathon managed, blinking in confusion. Then he saw the girl sitting beside his sister and immediately brightened. 'Oh, hello there.'

'Oh dear,' Evelyn sighed again with heavy resignation. 'I am sorry Milisende you deserve to be warned. They are always like this.'

'They must be a great trial to you, Madame.'

Jonathon smiled charmingly at the girl and took her hand in both of his. 'We are indeed mademoiselle. Perhaps you wouldn't mind taking me off Evie's hands for a while?' As he spoke he bowed and kissed her hand.

Evelyn was shaking her head at her irrepressible brother, but she was as surprised as he was by the French girl's reaction. As soon as Jonathon's lips touched her hand, and his words registered in her mind Milisende snatched her hand away with a sharp gasp.

'Please, non, excuse-moi Evelyn, m'seiur.' And with that she stood and hurried away leaving them all staring after her.

'What was all that about?' Jonathon blinked at his sister and nephew.

'Oh, Jonathon!' Evie stamped her foot and hurried after the younger girl.

888

By the time Rick had come to find her for the preliminaries to dinner- persuading Alex that he had to change was a two person job at least – Evie had to admit that the young photographer had hidden herself successfully on the relatively small launch.

'But if I'm not trying to impress them Mother, why do I have to wear this?' Alex was practically pouting as he tugged at the tie, which matched the light blue blazer he wore over his school shirt and his Sunday trousers.

'Because I want my son to be a credit to his parents, not looking like something the cat dragged in.' Her tone was firm and all three males recognised that her irritation which had been simmering for the last hour was rising again.

'Hell of a boat.' Rick moved quickly to change the subject, 'Bit different from our first trip up river together.'

'Gosh yes,' Jonathon picked up the new topic with somewhat excessive enthusiasm. 'This one actually looks like it might make it up river in one piece. Always assuming certain gentlemen with a fondness for black robes don't set firs to it of course. Now that was a trip to remember young Alex, I was the epitome of cool self possession…'

'She hasn't even come to dinner! Oh Jonathon, why did you have to be so silly this afternoon?'

'I wasn't! Not really, I was just being… friendly, yes that's right, friendly.'

'What's he done now? Rick looked inquiringly from his wife to his brother-in-law.

'I was just being…'

'Friendly, yeah, I got that. Who to?'

Evelyn shrugged impatiently, then hastily smiled at the red turbaned maitre 'd who was ready to guide them to their table. As they wove between the already crowded tables she explained her current annoyance with her hapless brother. 'I was chatting to Milisende Bonnard, the photographer, when Jonathon came up – arguing with Alex – and he upset her. I've been looking for her ever since to apologise.'

'What'd you say to her?' the question went unanswered for the time being as they all found their seats, unfolded their napkins and opened the menus – not always in that order. Once they were more or less settled Rick repeated his query.

'I didn't say anything! It was a joke, y'see Evie had said…'

'No it wasn't that bad, nothing like the way you acted the first time we met, Mr O'Connell.' Evie smiled at her husband, whose own grin and warm eyes showed his own memories were just as clear. 'But she was so upset, and I wanted to know if she was all right really. I am sorry Jonathon, I have been over reacting again.'

'Oh no, really old mum, it's all right,' Jonathon's voice was distracted; his eyes were fixed on a point just over Rick's left shoulder. Following his gaze, both Evelyn and Alex saw Morris Feathering approaching them. His usual complacent expression tipped over into smugness as he saw that he had been noticed.

Glancing round the dining-room her eyes taking in the richly patterned rug that covered most of the floor, the glasses, the plates and dishes heaped with brightly coloured food, and the numerous candles which provided romantic – if overly warm – lighting; a blink and she could see what the room would look like if Rick lost his temper, she shuddered.

'Please, darling, please remember your promise. No violence on the boat, please.'

'Huh? Evie what're you…?'

'O'Connell! How wonderful to see you again. And so soon.' The drawling voice was exaggerated to add to the listeners' annoyance. Rick froze, while his expression went from confused to blank so rapidly that Evelyn blinked.

'Hey Mo…' Rick used the nickname deliberately as he swivelled in his chair to face the other American.

Looking around desperately for a distraction Evelyn spotted the slender red-topped figure she had been searching for earlier that day, her delight was increased by the prospect of a distraction from the two men who continued to glare at each other at the other side of the table.

'Milisende! How marvellous, I was looking for you before, how are you? Will you join us?'

The younger woman started slightly, and even as she smiled her cheeks flushed and she bit her lip nervously. 'Bonjour Madame, m'sieurs. May I? But there is no room.'

Rick, having seized on the appearance of the missing photographer with almost as much enthusiasm as his wife, was already gesturing for one of the waiters to come over. It was, of course, a complete accident that his chair banged back into Feathering's stomach.

'O'Connell!' The squawk of pain was hastily muffled as Milisende moved quickly past him and slid into the seat, the anger however, was only removed when the waiter having provided a seat for the extra table guest, then hurried to lead the still fuming American over to the table where the Sommersons sat and handed him a large glass of red wine.

Back at the O'Connells' table Jonathon rushed into an apology to the slender girl, 'I do hope Mademoiselle, that you'll accept my apologies for my behaviour this afternoon. I really didn't mean to upset you. It was meant to be a joke, not a very funny one I know.' He smiled hopefully as he allowed his last sentence to trail off.

'I know m'sieur, it was my fault. I should never 'ave behave so badly.'

'Oh no. Really. It was all my fault.'

Shaking his head Rick interrupted with a grin, 'Can we at least put the apologies on hold until we've eaten? I dunno about the rest of you but I'm kinda hungry.'

'Oh, yes that would be a good idea.' Evelyn smiled at her husband. 'Milisende, I do apologise, dear me, I always seem to be apologising for the men in my family. Honestly they aren't always this awful.'

The appearance of a waiter desiring their order interrupted the laughter that her comment caused. And in the flurry of re-opening the menus and hastily deciding what to have, the awkward incident from the afternoon was passed over and forgotten.

1 Goodbye

2 Excuse me