Author's Note: Thanks so much to my reviewers, your reviews keep me going! Enjoy Chapter 6!
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Chapter Six: Things Are Never Easy
He was snoring.
Natalie couldn't help but laugh softly in the dark as she stood over Riley, watching him sleep. He was so cute. She hated to wake him, but Ardeth and some other of the Medjai were waiting to escort them back to Cairo. She knelt down and shook his left shoulder gently. "Riley."
He stirred, but didn't wake up. Natalie shook her head. "RILEY!" she said forcefully, shaking him again.
His eyes snapped open. "Wha- oh,. Hey," he said, waiting for eyes to adjust to the dark. "Time already?"
"'Fraid so," Natalie replied. She helped him get up. "How are you feeling?"
"Better," he admitted. "Shoulder's pretty numb, though. Not sure if that's good or bad."
"We'll have to get someone to check you over," Natalie said.
"You applying for the position?" Riley teased.
"Riley!" Natalie said, surprised at his forwardness.
He grinned. "Just wanted to see how you'd react," he said, brushing past her and stepping outside.
Ardeth and two others were waiting for them. "How is your shoulder?" Ardeth asked Riley.
"All right, for now," Riley said. He heard Natalie step up beside him. "Time to get going. Ben should be waiting for us."
"Can you ride?" Ardeth asked Riley, gesturing to one of the horses standing nearby.
Riley winced. "Uh, last time I was on a horse, I was twelve, and it bucked me off," he confessed. "Haven't been on one since."
Natalie snickered behind him. "He can ride with me," she said.
"Yeah, I'll ride with her," Riley said agreeably. He tried to lift one leg up to climb on the horse, but found that he couldn't do it with his shoulder...plus the fact that he hadn't been on a horse in twenty years. Finally, one of the other Medjai stepped up and practically lifted him into the saddle. Natalie swept up behind him like she'd been an equestrian her entire life.
"Show-off," Riley mumbled good-naturedly.
"Give me mouth and I'll drop you at the nearest sand dune," Natalie threatened. She nudged the horse into a canter and followed Ardeth. Two other Medjai took up a flanking position behind them.
"Check out those stars," Riley said about a half hour into the ride. "You don't see stars like that in Washington."
Natalie looked up. "You think the stars are something, you ought to see sunrise over the Great Pyramids."
Riley whistled. "Yeah, I bet it's something else."
"It's amazing," Natalie assured him. "Maybe...maybe when this is all over, you and I can watch one sometime."
He didn't seem to have heard her. He was looking ahead with a happy smile.
"Riley?" Natalie asked, somewhat frustrated that he hadn't heard her.
"Nice to see civilization again," Riley said. The lights of Cairo gleamed in the night. He looked at his watch. "The plane got in a few minutes ago."
"The airport's that way," Natalie said, pointing.
"Then here is where we leave you," Ardeth said, dismounting and standing next to his horse.
Natalie slipped off the horse, helping Riley to the ground. "Ardeth, I don't know how to thank you," she told the older man. "I wish Grandpa Alex was here to see you."
Ardeth smiled gently. "Perhaps we shall meet again," he said simply.
"I hope we do," she replied. Then, impulsively, she threw her arms around him. "Thank you."
He seemed vaguely uncomfortable with that move, but returned the hug. "Be safe, Natalie," he told her. He took the reins of the horse they'd been riding.
Natalie let go, tears welling in her eyes. With a wave, Ardeth and his companions were gone.
Natalie watched until they disappeared from view. Then she turned to Riley. "Come on," she said.
The final flight out of Cairo International was just leaving when Riley and Natalie arrived at the airport. The first thing Riley did was find a pay phone and put in a call to Ben.
"Hello?"
"Ben!" Riley said, relieved. "Boy, it's good to hear your voice."
"Where are you?" Ben asked urgently. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, we're fine." Riley looked at Natalie and grinned. "We're at the airport. Where do you want us to meet you?"
"There's a hangar behind Gate 16B," Ben replied. "Go there. Abigail and I will be there soon."
"Sounds good," Riley said. "See you then." He hung up and turned to Natalie. "Can you direct me to Gate 16B?"
Natalie nodded. "I think it's that way," she said. As they walked through the airport, Natalie asked him, "Riley? What...um...what will happen after you sign the treasure over to the museum?"
Riley thought about it. "Well, I'll probably go back to the States, I guess," he said.
Natalie tried not to show her disappointment. "Oh. Well, I suppose you would. I mean, there's no reason for you to stay in Egypt, is there?"
He shook his head. "No, I guess not."
Natalie bit her lower lip to keep the tears from falling. "Right. Here we are, then," she said shortly. She pointed to the exit. "Go out that door, and the hangar is right across."
Riley started for the door, turned, and looked at Natalie in confusion. "Natalie? You-you aren't coming?"
She shook her head, and a tear slipped down her face. "No. I really should get home," she said. "I'll have to explain to my boss in the morning why I wasn't at work today, and didn't call in sick."
"I-" Riley began, but Natalie cut him off. "It was wonderful to have met you, Riley," she said. "I wish you all the best." Then, without another word, she was gone.
Riley watched her go in confusion. He had no idea what'd he had said or done wrong.
And then it occurred to him. Riley, you idiot! But it was too late to call Natalie back. I can't believe I just did that, he thought sadly. She just might have been the one Chalk up another screw-up to Riley Poole. I keep this up, it'll be me and my car for the rest of my life. He looked back, but Natalie had disappeared from view. He sighed. Dejectedly, Riley hurried out of the terminal and headed to the hangar.
The hangar lights were blazing. The plane sat there, gleaming under the fluorescent lights. "Hello?" he called out. His voice echoed off the walls. But he didn't hear an answer. "Hello?"
Okay. Now I'm officially scared. He stepped farther into the building. The stairs leading to the plane were down. Riley cautiously climbed them. As he stepped into the interior of the plane, he spotted a couple of men in black suits unconscious on the floor. He sniffed the air. He could just make out a faint sweet smell.
Knockout gas.
Oh, great!
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Natalie practically flew down the corridor. The cleaning crews were just starting to come out and get started on their jobs. I am not going to let myself cry! she told herself. You only knew the man for two days, Natalie. That's not near enough time to know anything about him...what he likes, what he doesn't...if he might be the one...
"Ugh, stop!" she told herself sternly.
A cleaning man looked up in confusion. Natalie ignored him and kept walking.
Of course, you can move on. You have your job. You have co-workers that like spending time with you. That will help take your mind off of his hair...and those eyes...and the way he smiles...and the way he says my name...
She stopped, turned around and started sprinting back for the gate. As she rounded the corner and headed for the door leading outside, she froze.
Outside, she could see two men. Dressed in black robes. Except they didn't look like Medjai. They looked more...sinister.
And they were dragging Riley across the ground.
"Oh, my God," Natalie whispered.
A hand grabbed her shoulder. Natalie whipped around.
"Who are you?" Benjamin Gates demanded.
"You're Benjamin Gates!" Natalie gasped. She looked at the blonde woman next to him. "You must be Abigail Chase. Well, Gates now, I suppose-"
"Save the introductions, sweetheart," Abigail snapped. "Where is Riley?"
Natalie blinked. "Out there! And he's in trouble. It would appear our friends got here before we did."
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