A/N. ok people I promised a quick update, so here you go. Never let it be said I don't keep my promises.
A quick welcome to angel1411 and a welcome back to little miss anonymous kiley. Also a quick apology to lucky fannah, sorry no Jonathan this chapter, but he will be back and just as loveable as ever, so please bare with me. As ever loving your comments Lilylynn and hypercaz.
Chapter four- A Walk in the past.
Half an hour later, Rick was walking down a dimly lit back-street in Cairo. He had a plan but he wasn't sure he wanted to go through with it. Whether he did or didn't, the alone time was greatly welcomed; he needed it in order to get his head around what was happening. Having finally arrived at a place in his life where he felt happy, being plunged back into an adventure was somewhat disorientating. Two days ago he had been getting on with his life in London. Now he was back in Cairo, and at the beginning of a fresh adventure- an adventure he hadn't chosen- having flash backs of a previous life.
Digging his hands deeper into his pockets, Rick looked down as his feet carried him forward. And as he trudged through the filth of the streets, he began to remember his childhood, and the first time he had seen streets this dirty.
When he was about twelve Rick's parents had brought him to Egypt for a holiday. It was the first time he had left America, and he had fallen in love with the exotic location practically the moment he had set foot on the sand. As the month of his holiday began to come to a close, Rick had begun to feel more and more distressed about leaving the place where, for the first time, he had felt like he was home. His anguish had become so acute one night that, as his parents lay sleeping, he'd gathered all of his belongs that he could carry, snuck out of the guest house, and into the night. Knowing nothing more than that he didn't want to leave his new found paradise, he began to walk the streets. The further he got away from his parents the darker the streets had become, and the less certain he was of his decisions. Not one to back down, however, he continued walking until dawn, when tiredness had forced him to his knees. Crawling into a dark doorway he had fallen asleep, and spent his first of many nights sleeping rough.
As he reached a junction in the road, Rick lifted his head and studied the street sign, and turned into the street that took him where he wanted to go. Lowering his head, he continued forward.
Life on the streets had been tough for Rick, and he could remember many times, shivering in dark doorways the cold dessert night freezing his bones, as he wondered what his parents were up to, and yet still not wanting to go home. One day after a few months, Rick come across an un-attended food stall. With hunger knowing at his gut, he gave into temptation, and stole a loaf of bread. Unfortunately for the young Rick the stall holder had returned just in time to see his crime. After a brief chase through the streets, he had been caught and handed to the authorities. The Cairo police however had been at a lost as to what to do with him, especially when after many exhaustive hours of interrogations; he had refused to name his parents. Annoyed and unwilling to deal with him any longer he was sent to a local orphanage, run by what Rick now suspected to be Med-jai's.
It was while there he had received the tattoo that Ardeth believed represented his calling.
Rick was so caught up in his memories of the past that he didn't hear the running footsteps until it was too late. A man crashed directly into him, and sent him flying backwards.
"Whoa!" Rick exclaimed as he fell to the floor.
The dark robed man, who had been looking over his shoulder until he ran into Rick, stumbled backwards and dropped the bag he was carrying. Frantically he grabbed for it in the dark, barely sparing a glance for Rick, who was sitting on the pavement, somewhat shocked by what had happened. Finally turning, the man met Rick's eyes and froze.
Rick in his seated position also stopped moving as the man's face became clear. It was a face that was covered in Medjai tattoos, but beyond that it sparked recognition in Rick that he couldn't explain.
The man's face suddenly cracked into a smile.
"It's nice to see you again," he said with strong Egyptian accent, "Menka!"
Realisation clicked quickly in Rick. "Djeser-si!" he guessed aloud.
Djeser-si nodded slowly without removing his smile, and then bolted past Rick and down the road.
Jumping to his feet, with his heart pounding Rick raced after him.
Although running as fast as he could, by the time Rick reached the crossroads, the ancient priest had disappeared into the night. Stopping to get his breath back, Rick rested his hands on his knees. He could feel the adrenaline racing through his body, and although it felt good there was something bothering him. Thoughts of being powerless over his actions plagued his mind. The seemingly simple task of going to investigate the museum had turned into an unexpected encounter, which was, he realised as he thought about it, just another event in the ever growing list of things he had little choice in, and that feeling of not being in control was the very thing Rick hated most in life. Deciding not to be caught out again, Rick started to run back to Evelyn.
Sitting on the edge of the O'Connell's sofa, Ardeth Bey looked nervously from one side to the other. It was highly unusual for him to be so on edge while on watch, especially considering his life's calling, but there was something about tonight that left him feeling uneasy. Having been present on many of the O'Connell's adventures before, he was well aware that anything could happen.
Djeser-si's re-birth had taken the Medjai by surprise- something he really hated- as had Rick's sudden remembrance of his past life. Even though from almost the first moment he had seen him, Ardeth had known there was something special about Rick O'Connell, this latest development disturbed him somewhat. Leaning back, Ardeth began to consider what the next few days would bring-not just for him, but for friends.
Bang, bang, bang.
A loud sudden knocking on the O'Connell's thick wooden door caused the Medjai to jump somewhat clumsily to his feet.
Bang, bang, bang.
The urgency of the knocking alerted him enough to draw his scimitar before opening the door.
"O'Connell!" Ardeth cried as he saw who it was, surprised to see the man banging on his own front door.
Pushing his way in past Ardeth's lowered weapon, Rick slammed the door behind him and stood in the hallway panting.
"Is...is he here?" he managed to ask after a second.
Ardeth shook his head; he didn't know who O'Connell was referring to, but he could see the concern in Rick's eyes, regarding his answer. "No. No one is here," he answered quickly. "All is as you left it."
"Thank god!" Rick exhaled, relieved. However, a small creak from upstairs revived his concern. "You sure?" he asked, pointing at Ardeth.
Ardeth nodded; the creak had been the first noise he had heard in he last hour. "Your wife is safe," he tried to reassure Rick. "She is asleep."
Rick nodded and looked down at his feet. He knew he was overreacting, and he could feel Ardeth's eyes on his back, waiting for an explanation.
"Well, she was!" A voice suddenly boomed from the top of the stairs, making both men jump.
Snapping his head up immediately, Rick saw Evelyn standing at the top of the stairs in her nightdress and gown.
Looking up, and then quickly respectfully back down, Ardeth also saw Evelyn.
"What's going on?" she asked as she descended the stairs. "Rick, why are you wearing your coat? And Ardeth why are you still here?"
"Nothing," Rick lied immediately and crossed to her. "I...I just went for a walk."
Evelyn looked at Ardeth, who wouldn't met her eyes, and then back to Rick, who wore the same look Alex did when he had been caught doing something he shouldn't have been. "Right, so what's really going on?" she asked as she tightened her gown, and led the way into the living room.
Sighing, and tapping Ardeth on the back, Rick followed her. This was a conversation he had hoped to avoid. "I did go out," he started as he reached his chair and sank into it.
Ardeth, who had taken the pat as an invitation to join them, returned to perching on the edge of the sofa.
"Please," Evelyn began. "Please tell me you didn't go to the museum."
"I didn't," Rick assured her quickly. "But I was going to."
"Rick!" Evelyn sighed, more annoyed at herself than him; she should have known that he would have tried.
"But..." Rick continued. "I ran in to someone." He paused to allow the others enough time to wonder. "Our new friendly re-incarnated priest."
Evelyn, who had been facing the bookcase, turned sharply. "Djeser-si?" She asked, amazed.
"Yeah," Rick nodded. "We kind of... ran in to each other."
A/N. So what did ya think? Huh? Huh?
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