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

Ardeth sat at a table in his room, his head resting in the palm of his hand. Jonathan was pouring himself a glass of brandy.

"Would you like a glass?" he asked, turning with the bottle in his hand. Ardeth lifted his head from his hand and stared at him with a mix of disbelief and outrage. "Oh, right, the whole, um… right." Jonathan stammered, screwing the cap on the bottle. Ardeth shook his head. He could not believe he was taking advice from this man. Then the pain gripped him again. Suddenly an image of the slave woman flashed in front of his eyes. Just a split second, the moment she'd looked at him just that once. When the image faded he felt empty. So he sat still, remained quiet, and waited for Jonathan to sit down.

"Listen…" Ardeth began, intending to set some ground rules in the beginning. He wasn't going to sit there and be ridiculed.

"'Pride sullies the noblest character.'" Jonathan interjected, "Ever heard it? It was Claudianus. I doubt you've read it, but that doesn't make it any less true. We're not going to make any progress if you can't take a little guff from me." Jonathan took a sip from the glass, "That stupid pride of yours is what's gotten you into this position in the first place. Am I right?" Ardeth was silent, his jaw clenched. "Well, you haven't taken my head off yet, so we'll mark that off as a win for you right now. I will need you to explain something to me first before I can ever begin to untangle this mess. And don't look at me like that. You should know by now, if anyone knows how to fix a colossal blunder at zero hour it's me. I want to know what it was that inspired you to push her away not once, but twice."

Ardeth was quiet a moment. In a flash he was able to relive that night out in the desert and their more recent interaction on the rooftop. Both images seared into his mind and left him nearly breathless. Jonathan watched the emotions riding across the Medjai's face, and felt some remorse for heckling him. He had wanted to do this for Evy. He knew how important it was to her. Now, after seeing this longing and pain in a man he'd believed to be made of stone, he just wanted to see to it that Lira came around and forgave the big idiot.

"Listen," Jonathan said, casually sitting back and taking a strong swig of brandy, "I know you think I'm here just to rub your failings in your face. I'm not. I see how real this is, and believe me, I will take it seriously. Now just answer the bloody question."

"Duty." Ardeth said simply, "I have a duty to my people that…"

"That you can't afford to complicate." Jonathan continued for him, "It's the second oldest excuse in the book behind 'There's plenty of fish in the sea.'"

"You couldn't possibly understand." Ardeth grumbled.

"Yes, yes, me the irresponsible, untrustworthy lout who's already managed to blow the vast majority of his wealth from Hamunaptra. I could never possibly understand." Jonathan summarized, "But even I wouldn't be stupid enough to let my lifestyle keep me from a woman like that." Ardeth clenched his teeth. "You do realize she's completely in the right here? It was bad enough you ended a kiss that you instigated, but when she made the move and gave you a second chance, you did it again. Now you have the golden and elusive third chance, and that's why I'm here."

"Why should I bother?" Ardeth growled, "If I've ruined things so thoroughly, then why try at all?" His temper was growing, fed by his hurting pride. Jonathan stared at him, a cold unfamiliar stare. Suddenly he stood and took his jacket from the back of the chair and put it on. Ardeth stared at him in confusion.

"If you can't figure out why you should make the effort to win her over, then there's no point in my being here." He said. It was unusual for Jonathan to be so serious, and he suddenly realized why Lira was so fed up with this valiant warrior. Jonathan made for the door, and Ardeth didn't have it in him to admit he was being a stubborn prig. Jonathan turned the knob and stood in the door jam a moment, looking at the back of the stern Medjai. "I really used to admire you, you know. But from what I've seen of life, letting this opportunity slip through your hands is not only disgraceful but cowardly." With that, he was gone, and Ardeth was left alone in his room.


Lira heard a knock at her door. She growled to herself, having only just gotten ready for bed. She threw one of the heavy desert robes around herself and tied it off. She didn't think Ardeth could be stupid enough to mess with her again. She fully expected it was Evy. So when she opened the door and there stood the skinny Englishman, Jonathan, she was a little amazed.

"Hello, old mum. So sorry to bother you. I just found out all about what happened and I wanted to see how you were holding up." Jonathan offered, "Mind if I come in a moment?" He couldn't understand why he was doing this for the stubborn idiot, but here he was. Lira shrugged. It wasn't advisable to let a stranger in her room, but she was about as tall as he was. She figured she could take him if he tried anything.

"Come on in." she offered, opening the door. He bowed his head graciously and entered. The room had scarcely anything in it save the furniture. It reminded him a lot of Ardeth's room. Finally he turned and they both sat at a small table. The window was open, allowing in the cool evening desert air.

"We're all rather concerned for you. Evy particularly. I think she's gotten rather attached to having a woman around who understands her. She has to put up with Rick, Alex, and me every day."

"Evy's a great person. I wish I could spend more time with her."

"Well, it sounds like you'll be here at least one more day. Evy would be more than happy to give you her address. When you get settled in you can write. Evy looks for every excuse to travel." He offered off-handedly. Lira smiled.

"That would be great." There was a large gulf of silence. She seemed beside herself. Jonathan observed her closely. Suddenly it hit him, the same sorrow coming off her that he'd seen in Ardeth.

"I lied a little," he confessed, "as to why I'm here. I just got done talking to Ardeth…" At those words, she put her hand up.

"I don't want to hear it." She said firmly.

"And I don't blame you. He's behaved ridiculously. That doesn't change the fact you're crazy for each other." He insisted. Lira let out a derisive snort, now on her feet pacing the room. "Laugh all you want, but look at you." Jonathan pointed out, "You're miserable."

"Of course I'm miserable." she all but spat, "No one should have to put up with that. I don't know what his little game is, but…"

" Ardeth doesn't play games." Jonathan laughed, "Games require a sense of humor."

"Well, I don't know how else to explain all this."

"It's simple. He's crazy for you, but he's obsessed with being in control of his emotions. He's got a massive amount of responsibility and he thought somehow he was abandoning his duty by letting himself get so close to someone who he was assigned to protect. He probably thought he was dishonoring you somehow." Jonathan explained, "His pride is a major problem here." Lira looked at him.

"Assuming you're right, it doesn't make much difference. I put a lot down on the table kissing him, and being rejected like that, by him, is the worst I've felt in a long time. So unless he sees fit to swallow that pride of his, I'm not budging." She said, finally halting her pacing and sitting on the edge of the bed. Jonathan stood.

"I understand, old mum, and I agree. You shouldn't have to do anything at this point. I'm just letting you know. Don't hate him just because he's a bit foolish when it comes to you." Jonathan offered, "But I'm going to see what Evy and Rick are up to. And just so you know, there is no remedy for love but to love more."

"Thoreau." She said softly.

"Yes, very good," he commented, "Hey if things don't work out with Ardeth maybe you and I could…" she was staring at him blankly. "Didn't think so."

"Good night Jonathan."


"Where've you been?" Evy asked as Jonathan came swaggering downstairs. Alex had long since been put to bed, but Evy had remained in the lobby waiting for news on Lira and Ardeth and the gunshot she'd heard.

"Oh, just talking to Ardeth," he said, relaying the news about Joshua's death and Lira having to stay another day. Evy was instantly cheered up.

"You mean we have one more day!"

"Evy, don't start. There's nothing we can do for them."

"Maybe not, but I'd wished for Lira to stay just one more day, then I heard that gunshot when I came running back down to talk to you guys. They've gotten another chance. Maybe that's all they need." Evy beamed. She wanted to see Ardeth happy, and to some extent Lira as well. Jonathan patted her shoulder. 'I hope so, Evy,' he thought 'I really hope so.'

A/N: I know it's been much longer than I promised. I'm sorry. I've been very busy, work's been a Grade A, USDA Choice side of bitch. And I've got a nasty case of strep. So it would really make me feel better if everyone reviewed this (bats eyes hopefully). Anyway, now for the tahnks. Thank you very, very much to NewsieGoil1899, Shorty Mcgee (Scotch Irish in the hizzy!), Tammatha, Pirate Gyrl, Lucretia Skelington, Faerie Childe, and Kara Ann. I don't have time to post more than one chapter right now, but for what it's worth, here it is.