Disclaimer: I don't own squat, not a damn thing. Well, I own a rather nice pair of red Converse high-tops, but that's it. As far as Ardeth, Evy, or Rick, no, sorry, not mine. The OC, however, is mine. Flames will be used to light my backyard barbecue pit. Please R&R, I'm desperate.

-Belle

Lira held the gun in trembling hands. It was a miracle she'd managed to hit her mark. Truth be told, she was a horrible shot with a gun, but sometimes adrenaline compensates for lack of talent. Slowly, she let her arms down and the gun dropped from her hand with a muffled thud onto the dirt floor. She was breathing hard, cold tears stinging the corners of her eyes, making her blink quickly. When Evy had left and she'd received that knock on her door, she hadn't expected to see a Medjai warrior standing there. She was further amazed by the news of Joshua's capture. The Medjai had ushered her away to observe the questioning.

Now that it was over, her mind was reeling over all she'd seen. She'd been hidden in the shadows away in the corner. She could see several Medjai standing around, including an older man she didn't recognize. She spotted Ardeth and made a conscious effort to avoid looking his way, and instead remained transfixed on Joshua's sweating face. As the interrogation began she felt an overwhelming sense of surreal. She never would have believed she'd be in this position, but as it continued, the haze lifted and indignation began to grow. When he called her his fiancée her hackles raised. As he professed to love her, her fists began to clinch. Finally, when he began to explain how he'd been using her to plunder the ancient secrets of Egypt, she was suddenly aware of the feel of hard metal digging into the small of her back.

She'd forgotten all about the pistol Evy had handed her that morning. Now, as a cold, hard hatred spread through her, that pistol became the axis around which her mind revolved. He'd murdered his parents, two of the sweetest people she'd met. He was a criminal, responsible for heaven knows how many deaths, and he'd used her to expand his business. She didn't remember ever having any dreams until she'd come here. Apparently, though, she'd had them all along. When she'd run out of useful information, he decided to have her killed. He must have assumed she had some conscious awareness of her dreams, that she could somehow knew what he was up to. She was a risk. That's all.

The gun had felt foreign in her hands. She wasn't used to handling one. She was a terrible shot, but at that moment one thought consumed her. The pistol was heavy, but she was used to holding a sword firm and steady. This was it. She would avenge Mr. and Mrs. Lieger and whomever else he'd killed. He'd failed to kill her, and that was a mistake. She was a kind woman, and endlessly patient, but she was dangerous, too. She was capable of great affection and endless loyalty, but he'd turned on her and it was a mistake to not have just shot her in the head. She wasn't going to make the same error. She wasn't the type to turn and run. He'd underestimated her, and he wouldn't have a chance to make that oversight again.

As he finished the tale, she drew the weapon, her heart pounding in her ears. She couldn't hear a sound save her own breathing. Slowly, she aimed, sighting the space just above and between his eyes along the barrel of the gun. Her hands were steady, her eyes unblinking. Without hesitation, she squeezed the trigger. She never even heard the shot, but the kickback brought her back into the present. Her arms began to tremble, and her eyes felt that familiar sting. She saw Ardeth several feet away to her left. His weapons were drawn. She lowered her arms, and the gun dropped from her numb fingers. She wasn't sure whether or not to put her arms up so she just stood there motionless. She gazed through the darkness, barely making out the vague glimmer from his eyes in the dim light.

"So, I suppose you'll have to execute me now." She said blandly. She'd heard the interrogation, and had no way of knowing Esam had mentioned execution as a tactic to get some information out of Joshua.

"Certainly not," came a gruff voice out of the shadows to her right. She turned and saw a man, somewhat short and stalky. Suddenly, the lights in the building came on. Lira blinked at the sudden brightness, and many of the Medjai began milling around, two of them coming forward to remove the body. The man who'd spoken was perhaps in his sixties. His face was tattoo covered, dark, dry, and pock marked. He was by no means an attractive sight, but otherwise there was nothing intimidating or foreboding when she looked at him. "You're not afraid of looking anyone in the eye, are you?" he continued, coming closer and appraising her.

"I suppose not." She replied soft but firm. He scrutinized her closely.

"That's good. That's an excellent quality, though not usually present in foreigners," he commented, "but no, we're not going to execute you. We knew this man was intensely interested in getting you out of the way. The prospect that a secret organization would see to it for him was too much to resist. It was merely a tactic. You've nothing to worry about." Lira accepted this and just nodded. The man continued to regard her closely.

"If it's not too impolite to ask, may I go now? I'd rather like to get some sleep." She said, meeting the older man eye to eye.

"Yes, yes. Our chief did mention you would be leaving tomorrow. I'm very sorry, but I must request that you stay for just one more day. We are going to put a council together, and we wish for you to testify everything this… man… confessed to you," he replied, "I realize this is an inconvenience for you, but I'm afraid you are a key piece to this puzzle." Lira sighed to herself.

"I understand."

"Good, good. By the way, young lady, my name is Esam. Go get some rest. We will call on you early in the morning," he explained before turning and speaking to Ardeth, "I trust you will see her safely to her room."

"Yes, Esam. And I will tell O'Connell he will be needed tomorrow."

"Yes, yes. That's all well. We will see you at sunrise, my chief."

Ardeth's heart was pounding. The shot had frightened him, but when he saw it was her, he wasn't sure what to do. Lieger wasn't supposed to have died just then. They would have had no need for Lira to stay had she not shot him. All the necessary information would have come from him. She would be here another day because she'd lacked self control. As Ardeth realized this, the pain in his chest loosened, and he was suddenly grateful she'd shot the bastard.

As Esam bid them goodnight, Lira turned and headed for the door, not even turning to look at him, and suddenly the tightness returned. He had an extra day, now that he knew everything he'd perceived was real, but it might just be one day too late. Swiftly, he sheathed both blades and followed after her. The room had been tight and stuffy, and he was grateful when the cool night air hit him. Lira was already beating a hasty trail back to the fort, her skirt billowing with each stride. Ardeth took a few ground eating steps and was caught up. He wanted to say something. He couldn't imagine what kind of mental state she was in at that point. This was the second time in less than a month she'd killed someone, and he was sure she wasn't okay with that. Still, he kept his mouth shut all the way to the Fort.

Evy was in the lobby, apparently having a heated conversation with two very familiar, very exhausted men. She saw them walk in, and suddenly lit up. Ardeth held up a hand to silence her, and she left them be to ascend the stairs alone. Lira was walking with even, sure steps. She wasn't moving overly fast or unusually slow. It was as though nothing happened. He became more and more reluctant to say anything as they drew closer to the top of the stairs. Finally, as they stood in front of her door, he was forced to speak.

"Will you be alright?" he asked. After all that had happened in the past few minutes it seemed that the incident on the roof was ages away, and he hoped she felt the same.

"I'll be fine" she assured. There was no bitterness, no malice in her tone, but there was no warmth, either. In a moment the door was unlocked and his heart stopped. His hand shot out against his will and lightly grabbed her upper arm and turned her around. He reached up to hold her other arm, to pull her closer. He wasn't sure what for, but it mattered little as she pulled her arm away. "Don't." she said coldly, her eyes boring into him, "Just don't. I'm not going to be yanked around by you, so just stop it."

"I'm not sure what you…" he began, perplexed.

"You've pushed me away twice now. I don't know what you're playing at, but I'll have no part in it," she scolded, and before he could defend himself, she spun around and shut the door in his face. Ardeth stared at the wood, inches from his nose, and suddenly felt a sickness he'd never known before. An abject misery gripped him, and he dejectedly leaned forward and rested his forehead against the door.

"Tough break, old boy," came a familiar English accent to Ardeth's left. He quickly righted himself and turned to see Jonathan leaning against the banister at the top of the stairs. Ardeth's pain was replaced by a healthy does of indignation. Evy he could forgive, but Jonathan was another, irritating, story altogether.

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Well, she leaves in the morning, and you've utterly botched every intimate moment you've had with her. She's fed up with you. Can't say I blame her." Jonathan replied, standing and walking toward him. Ardeth couldn't quite decide whether the wiry Englishmen was being sympathetic or mocking. So, assuming the latter, he crossed his arms and fixed his face into the sternest expression he could muster.

"I fail to see how this is any of your concern." Ardeth said evenly. Jonathan shrugged.

"Evy seems to think it should be. She seems to think we owe you something. I fail to see how interfering in this little mess you created has anything to do with gratitude for saving our collective necks. The old girl was convinced the lass was head over heals on you, but after seeing that little display…"

"Clearly, she was mistaken. There's nothing going on here." Ardeth assured. He was all Ardeth: tall, imposing, unfaltering. Except his eyes. Jonathan just shook his head.

"Whatever you say, old boy." Jonathan sighed, turning around and heading for the stairs, "I may be a pickpocket, a womanizer, a compulsive gambler, and a drunk, but I've seen enough of this world to know a woman in love when I see her. If you're going to let your pride stop you, then you don't really deserve to be with someone like her. It's just as well. Come morning she'll be on her way to a new start." Ardeth was stunned for a moment. He'd never had a great deal of respect, or trust for that matter, where Jonathan was concerned. Here was this man with no redeeming qualities as far as Ardeth could tell, save for his loyalty to his sister, and it suddenly seemed the buffoon may be his only hope.

"She's not leaving tomorrow." Ardeth said quietly, "We captured Joshua. She shot him. Now, because he's dead, she has to testify to everything he revealed to her." Jonathan stopped, only three stairs down. He sighed, shook his head, turned around and walked right back up. He approached Ardeth with particular arrogance and placed a hand on his shoulder. Even when Ardeth glared dangerously at the offending appendage, Jonathan kept it there.

"Don't get gruff with me. You've officially treaded into territory that only I am familiar with thanks to the good graces of my dear sister."

"And what would that be?" Ardeth asked, suddenly feeling very foolish at getting any type of help from the Englishman.

"The third chance."

A/N: So here's the second chapter as promised. Since it's posted concurrently, I can't thank the reviewers for chapter 20 right now, but I'll try to update this note when reviews do come in. I try to make sure and mention every one of my reviewers.

And hey, you guys should check out my new fic. "Good Things Won't Let You Wait"

……..I can't believe I'm plugging my own story. I'm such an attention whore.