Author's Note: I am so sorry for the long time between updating. I've been working on other stories and life just kept getting in the way. I set up a schedule so hopefully there won't be so long a wait for the next chapter. Thanks so much for reading and please leave me a review to let me know what you think of the story.

Disclaimer: I own nothing from The Mummy.

Becoming a Team

Ava and her companions traveled silently along the river the next day. All of them were cross and sore from sleeping on the river bank last night. Ava was still mourning the loss of her mother's last gifts to her, and stared morosely ahead of her. They had traveled three miles when they finally came upon an encampment of people native to the land. "Do you think they can help us?" Evie asked.

"I'd say so," Rick responded and led them all into the encampment. The natives stared curiously at them, not used to seeing people of the western hemisphere. One of the bigger men stepped forward to greet them, his eyes locked on her and Rick. Ava realized it was because of the guns tucked in their holsters.

The man stared warily at them before speaking, "Hal beemkani mosa adatuk?" (Can I help you?) Ava and Rick had learned a little Arabic while in the Egyptian orphanage so Ava was able to follow along with the conversation when Rick explained that they needed supplies and transportation. The natives relaxed when they realized that they knew their language and rushed to help them. The women of the encampment hurried forward to get new clothes for Evie and Ava. Although Ava was reluctant to part with her favorite dress she didn't want to insult the natives' hospitality and allowed herself to be changed into a traditional black dress. She was at least lucky enough to have changed before the Warden tried to sneak a peek at her. Ava happily helped the native women kick him out of the tent before heading over to her brother who was bargaining for five camels.

"I can't believe the price of these flee bags," Jonathan was complaining to Rick.

"You probably could have had them for free," Rick replied. "All we had to do was give them your sister." Ava looked over her shoulder to see Evie stepping out of the tent. She was beautiful.

"Yes, awfully tempting, wasn't it?" Jonathan muttered. "Although I think we'd have more luck giving them yours." Rick glared at Jonathan who was giving Ava a suggestive look.

Ava laughed and looped an arm through Jonathan's. "But if you gave me away who would keep you company?" she teased smiling flirtatiously at him.

"An excellent point," he acquiesced. "You'll just have to stay with us then."

"Yes, and time will move all the more quickly won't it?" she laughed as Rick gave her a helping hand onto her camel.

"Never did like camels," Jonathan complained as they began their trek into the desert. "Filthy buggers. They smell, they bite, they spit. Disgusting."

Ava glanced over to see Jonathan looking distastefully at the Warden. She smirked and leaned in closer to Jonathan and said, "Are you talking about the camel or the pig on two feet?" Jonathan flashed a smile at her.

"Well I think they're cute," Evelyn said completely unaware of the Warden's behavior. They rode on through the desert throughout the day. Ava fell in love with its beauty. The sun shone off the sand dunes like gold and the heat felt like a warm blanket wrapped around her. It was beautiful and dangerous, and Ava loved it. As nighttime fell, Ava urged her camel up beside her brother who was gently pushing Evelyn upright. She smirked at the gesture and let out a soft laugh.

"What?" Rick asked giving her a cautious glare.

"You know what," Ava told him and opened her mouth to say more and then stopped abruptly when she noticed a group of people on horseback looking down at them from a sand dune in the distance. Her heart began to flutter nervously as she recognized the black robes. They were the same group that had attacked on the river boat. Rick looked over his shoulder to see what she was looking at and tensed. "Who are they?" Ava asked in a whisper.

Rick turned back to her and tried to give her a reassuring smile. "I don't know," he told her. "From the way they dress they're men of the desert, but I don't know who they are or what they want."

"Well should we try to get away?" she asked never taking her eyes of the men in black. The tall one in the front seemed particularly threatening and she shuddered at the thought of what would happen to them if they were attacked.

Rick, however, shook his head. "If they were going to attack tonight they would have done so by now," he told her. "They would have taken us by surprise. We never would have seen them." Deep down Ava knew her brother was right, but it brought her no comfort. Rick must have seen her anxiety on her face because he leaned over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I won't let them hurt you, you know that."

"Yes, I know," she said and squeezed his hand. "I won't let them hurt you, either."

Rick flashed her one of his more brilliant smiles. "Yeah, I know," he said and took his arm back from her shoulders. "You should try and get some sleep."

Ava snorted. "Not likely while I'm on this infernal beast," she muttered, but even then she could feel her eyes drifting shut and unconsciousness claiming her for its own. Ava woke up a few hours later, her camel still walking alongside Rick. She let out a soft groan as she blinked the sleep from her eyes. Her muscles were sore from riding so long, and she squirmed uncomfortably in the saddle. Behind her, she could hear Jonathan and the Warden arguing.

"We're almost there," Rick said reassuringly. Ava turned her head in his direction, assuming he was talking to her, but found that his attention was on Evie.

"Are you sure?" Evelyn asked.

"Pretty sure," Rick answered surveying the land around them. Suddenly, Ava heard the sound of horses coming around a sand dune. She groaned when she saw the group of Americans, who were now accompanied by dozens of diggers. "You've gotta be kidding me," Rick muttered scowling.

"Good morning, my friends!" Beni greeted, uproariously pleased with himself. Rick just nodded and kept going until both parties came to a sudden stop.

"Well, what the hell we doin'?" Daniels asked impatiently.

"Patience, my good sahib, patience," Beni assured him.

"First one to the city, O'Connell!" the blonde Henderson called obnoxiously, "Five hundred cash bucks!" Rick didn't spare him a glance, just kept looking out over the burning sand. Ava looked out to where he was staring in confusion.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked

"Just watch," Rick told her and Ava looked back out into the open desert and then gasped as the rising sun revealed the abandoned city. "Get ready." Ava gripped the reins tighter and leaned forward in her saddle.

"We're about to be shown the way," Rick said. The ever rising sun quickly revealed the path to the city and then the race began. Ava's camel ran effortlessly through the sand and she felt as if she were flying. She was just before Rick, and a few good paces ahead of the Americans. Ava risked a glance over her shoulder to see her position and frowned as she saw Beni pull up next to Rick on his other side. The little rat quickly took out his whip and began thwacking Rick with it. Ava was about to turn her camel around and charge Beni when her brother sent the weasel flying from his camel. She laughed and continued on, urging her camel to run faster. Suddenly she heard a yipping sound and looked to her right to see Evelyn racing past her. Ava was right behind her heading into the city, laughing with glee over winning the five hundred dollars.

Soon after everyone arrived the groups dispersed to begin their dig. Ava watched the Americans and their diggers clear debris from the doorway of the temple. Her own group was hovered around a tight crevice that led into the temple. Rick was wrapping a rope around a pillar, purposely smacking the Warden with it each time he spun it around. Ava smiled and bit back a laugh.

"Alright," Rick said pulling tight on the rope to make sure it was secure before dropping it into the crevice, "let's get going. Ava?" He held out his hand, offering to let her go first, but Ava shook her head. Here was the downside to her insistence of coming along on this adventure; she hated being underground. After years of being cooped up in orphanage after orphanage, Ava craved the open space and fresh air. The thought of walking trapped under the earth made goose bumps coat her arms and made her breathing a little tighter. Not that she'd ever tell Rick this of course. He'd just say I told you so, as well as tease her for the rest of her life.

"You go first," She told him. "I'll follow." He shrugged and lowered himself into the crevice. Ava waited until Evelyn and Jonathan had made their way down before lowering herself into the crevice. When she reached to floor of the temple below she took a deep breath before sidling up next to Rick.

"According to the Bembridge Scholars, inside the statue of Anubis was a secret compartment, containing the golden book of Amun-Ra," Evie said fiddling around with some equipment.

"What are the mirrors for?" Rick asked curiously stepping closer to Evie

"Ancient Egyptian trick. You'll see," she replied looking around her surroundings. "Do you realize we are standing inside a room that no one has entered in over four thousand years?"

"Realized it, still can't believe it," Ava said trying to marvel the fact over her discomfort.

"Whoo! What is that god awful stench?" Jonathan complained. Ava glanced toward him and then noticed the Warden climbing down the rope. She felt a smile etch across her face and nodded up the rope. Jonathan glanced up to see what she was pointing out before returning her glance and sharing a smile. Evelyn and Rick ignored them as they walked deeper into the room.

Evie dusted off one of the mirrors in the room and tilted it toward the crevice. "And then there was light," she said as golden sunlight filled the room.

"Hey, that is a neat trick," Rick replied looking impressed. Ava couldn't decide if he really was or if he was just trying to please Evie.

"I agree," Ava said beginning to feel a little better with the light splashing everywhere.

Evie's attention was caught by something else though. "Oh my God, it's a sah-net-jer," she gasped gleefully.

"Run that by me again?" Ava asked as her brother just let out a "Huh?"

"A preparation room," Evie explained.

"Preparation for what?" Rick asked dumbly.

"Oh really Rick! What else?" Ava snapped.

Evie had more patience. "For entering the afterlife," she explained calmly.

Rick still had a perplexed expression on his face, so Jonathan said more bluntly, "Mummies, my good son. This is where they made the mummies."

Ava shuttered, no longer feeling at ease. "We should get a move on," she suggested fiddling with her gun in its holster.

Rick nodded in agreement. "This way," he said and led them down a narrow passageway. Ava stayed close behind her brother, trying to stay in the light shed by his torch. She came to a brief halt when a scuttling noise filled the pathway.

"What the…" The Warden muttered.

"What was that?" Jonathan asked sounding terrified.

"Sounds like…bugs," Rick said slyly. Ava smiled and began walking again. Bugs she could deal with.

"He said bugs," Evie taunted the Warden.

"What do you mean, bugs?" the Warden cried. "I hate bugs!" Ava laughed under her breath as the passageway led them into a room with a huge statue in the middle of it.

"The Legs of Anubis," Evelyn breathed. "The secret compartment should be hidden somewhere inside here."

"Great, let's get to work," Ava said and then froze as she heard something moving around the side of the statue. She and Rick both pulled their guns and stepped in front of their group. They both creeped to the edge of the statue and jumped around the corner. Ava just kept herself from shooting as she recognized the Americans.

"Ya scared the bejeezus out of us, O'Connell," Henderson laughed weakly putting his gun down.

"Likewise," Rick replied and both he and Ava lowered their weapons.

Ava noticed the American named Burns looking closely at them. "Hey that's my tool kit!" he cried and took a step towards Evie. Ava glanced at the parcel in Evie's hands and forced back a groan. She had seen Rick give her the tool kit, but she had just assumed he'd had one on him.

"No, I don't think so," Rick said sternly as everyone raised their guns again.

Burns looked closely at Rick, searching to see if he was really serious, before giving in. "Okay," he stuttered slightly. "Perhaps I was mistaken."

"Well, have a nice day gentlemen," Evie cut in trying to clear the tension. "We have a lot of work to be getting on with.

"Push off!" the Egyptologist spat. "This is our dig site."

"That's funny because I don't see your name on it," Ava hissed.

"We got here first," Evie replied just as indignant.

"This here's our statue friends," Daniels said as everyone kept their guns turned on each other.

"Well, there's only five of you, and fifteen of me," Beni added glibly. "Your odds are not so great, O'Connell."

"I've had worse," Rick replied.

"Yeah, me too," Jonathan added bravely. Ava hid a smile while Rick gave him a funny look.

"It doesn't matter how many men you have," Ava said turning her attention back to the other group. "The only thing that matters is the talent behind the gun, and do I have to remind you boys that I'm an excellent shot?" All three Americans shuffled their feet and looked down at the ground. She took that as a no.

Evelyn, however, appeared to have grown tired of their arguing. "Oh for goodness' sake!" she cried. "Let's be nice children. If we're going to play together, we must learn to share. There are other places to dig." Reluctantly, she and Rick lowered their guns before following Evie down a different passageway. Ava shot the Americans a truly chilling glare. Evie led them down in the temple until they reached another empty room. "According to these hieroglyphics we're underneath the statue. We should come up right between his legs."

"That's an intriguing thought," Ava smirked and nearly choked on her laughter at the shocked looks on the others' faces.

"Maybe you should keep your comments to yourself," Rick said giving her a disapproving stare.

Ava rolled her eyes as she handed him the second shovel. "Just start digging," she ordered and began to dig at the ceiling.

"When those damn Yanks go to sleep…"Jonathan grumbled and then glanced quickly at her and Rick. "No offense."

"None taken," they both replied.

"…we'll dig our way up and steal that book right out from under them," he finished.

"Oh yes, if those beastly Americans haven't beaten us to it," Evelyn replied and then started. "No offense."

"None taken," Ava and Rick said again as they continued to dig at the ceiling.

"Where'd our smelly little friend get to?" Jonathan asked.

Ava blinked in surprise and glanced around the room to see the Warden was indeed missing. "Gee, I don't know. Does it matter?"

"Of course not," Jonathan replied. "I say we enjoy his absence."

Rick and Ava dug for an hour straight before deciding to take a break. While Jonathan used a hammer to play an impromptu game of golf, Rick and Ava were listening to Evie explain the process of mummification. "Let me get this straight," Rick interrupted. "They ripped out your guts and stuffed them in jars."

"And then they'd take out your heart as well. Oh!" Evie exclaimed inappropriately excited if you asked Ava. "And you know how they took out your brains?"

"Do I even want to know?" Ava asked speculatively.

"No," Jonathan answered her.

"They'd take a sharp, red-hot poker, stick it up your nose, scramble things around a bit, and then rip it all out through your nostrils," Evie continued.

"Oh, that's gotta hurt," Rick said grabbing hold of his nose as Ava blanched at the thought.

"It's called mummification," Evie explained as if she thought they were stupid. "You'll be dead when they do this."

"For the record, if I don't make it out of here, don't put me down for mummification," Rick requested.

"Likewise," Jonathan agreed as Ava said, "Second that." Ava turned to talk to him as he took another swing with is impromptu golf club, hitting a rock into the ceiling. Ava gasped as the ceiling gave way and barely made it away before something huge crashed onto the floor. She coughed as dust filled the room.

"Oh my God," Evie said stepping closer to the object. "It's a…it's a sarcophagus. Buried at the base of Anubis. He must have been someone of great importance. Or he did something very naughty."

"Why do I have a feeling it was the last one," Ava murmured weakly as they began to brush off the sarcophagus.

"Well, who is it?" Jonathan required.

"He That Shall Not Be Named," Evie answered after reading the hieroglyphics.

"Damn, I was hoping I was wrong," Ava muttered.

"This looks like some kind of lock," Rick said blowing dust off the sarcophagus to reveal a star shaped indentation.

"Well, whoever was in here sure wasn't getting out," Jonathan commented.

"Good," Ava said stepping away from the group and sitting back down by the tools.

"Yeah, no kidding," Rick agreed with Jonathan. "It'd take us a month to crack this thing without a key."

"A key? A key!" Evie cried excitedly and began rummaging through her bag. "Now that's what he was talking about."

"Who?" Ava asked puzzled.

"The man on the barge," Evie explained. "The one with the hook! He was looking for a key. A ha!" She pulled the odd puzzle box, apparently a key out of the bag.

"Hey that's mine!" Jonathan shouted indignantly as Evie fitted the key into place. She was just about to turn the key when they all heard someone screaming in agony and hurried footsteps heading toward them. The four of them rushed towards the noise to see what was going on. Ava quickly pulled her gun out and glanced at Rick and saw he also had his gun. Ava blinked in surprise as the Warden ran past them, beating frantically at his own body, before running straight into the wall and crumpling to the ground.

"What the hell?" Ava exclaimed.

"Is he dead?" Evie asked concerned.

"Well, I'm not going to be the one to find out," Jonathan said quickly.

Ava and Rick looked at each other. "Wanna thumb wrestle for it?" Rick suggested.

Ava scowled at him before walking purposely towards the Warden. She crouched down beside him and pressed to fingers to his neck. No pulse. Ava looked back up at her group. "He's dead," she said.