Author's Note: I don't own the characters of The Mummy; they belong to Stephen Sommers and Universal. I also don't own the characters of National Treasure; they are property of Jerry Bruckheimer, Jon Turteltaub and Disney.

BTW- to JustWriter2- thanks for the trailer link! I'm super excited, and once again, Riley gets all the good lines- just the way I like it! Can't wait for Book of Secrets to come out!

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Chapter Nine: Better Things To Do

Ben called Cairo police. With Natalie translating, they managed to get most of the story clear. As the men were hauled away to face extradition back to the States, Natalie leaned on Riley's good shoulder for support. "Are you all right?" she asked him.

He laid his head on hers. "I've been better." Then he blinked, realizing he'd just screwed up again. "I...I mean-" He looked into her eyes and got lost. "Nope, I'm like a hundred percent," he said. "We never would have made it through that if it hadn't been for..."

He looked around. Natalie gave the area a once-over.

Ardeth had disappeared.

Natalie returned her head to Riley's shoulder. Just another one of those mysteries her great-grandfather had written about.

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A few days later...

Natalie stepped back from the glass and smiled. Ancient artifacts laced in gold glittered and twinkled back at her. She could pick out a few of the more prominent pieces from her classes.

It was amazing.

Her boss had forgiven her for leaving work and not showing up after he heard about what she'd gone through. She was even supposed to be getting a promotion to curator for the treasures.

"Hi, you."

Natalie saw the reflection in the glass and turned around. "Hi, you," she replied.

Riley Poole grinned at her. Today he sported a Led Zeppelin T-shirt and a pair of jeans with holes in the knees. His black and white Converse shoes were a little dirtier.

"Ready for lunch?" Riley had agreed to stay in Cairo for a while to finish paperwork for the treasure transfer. And then he was taking vacation. A well-deserved one.

A long, long one.

Natalie nodded. "Give me a second." She disappeared into her office and returned with her bag. "All right, I'm ready to go. How's the arm?"

Riley rotated it in a circle. "Almost good as ne-ow."

She laughed. He smiled back.

"What did the doctor tell you about over-exerting it?" Ben Gates asked, coming up behind them.

"Hi, Ben," Natalie said. "I'll keep him in line, promise."

"Good, he needs that," Abigail said, sliding her arm through her husband's. She grinned.

Riley tugged out his wallet. "All right. I got twenty bucks. Let's head out."

Ben said, "Twenty bucks, huh? Hmmm...that reminds me." He looked at Riley. "I think you owe me some money."

Riley cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh, yeah, you know what?" He grabbed Natalie's hand and they took off for the door.

"I'll pay you later!"

I have so many better things to do.

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Well, that's the end! Thanks to everybody who reviewed, your feedback helped me keep writing! Maybe I'll get another spurt of creativity once "Book of Secrets" comes out!