I'm back to working on this story. I don't know why but I suddenly got hit with inspiration for this chapter. Should be updating my other stories as well very soon.

As always I own nothing from the Mummy movies. Just the oc's in this story belong to me.

WARNING: Chapter contains some graphic scenes of violence.

Note: Italic = thought. bold=Arabic

Chapter 6 – Show me the way to go home.

Morning had come as the sun shown through the flap of the tent. Jade groaned as she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "I think I slept on a bloody rock." she rubbed her back and stretched before turning to face the front of the tent.

"Time to go little one."Ardeth said as he peeked his head into the tent. Jade walked out and noticed that he had packed up all the things in their makeshift camp. "Does he ever sleep?" She mumbled to herself as she walked over to the camel she used as her means of transport. She turned to notice he was now also deconstructing the tent and putting it away neatly.

"Why couldn't you be a car." She said with a chuckle as she petted the camel.

"Do you really have to bring me back to Cairo?" She said looking over her shoulder at Ardeth.

"Yes, you will be safer there. This is no place for you."

"No place for me? Hey I made it this far all on my own without any trouble buster! Besides I think I did a pretty good job of holding my own last night." Ardeth arched an eyebrow.

"Is that so little one? As I remember it you were on the ground and had it not been for me charging to your rescue you would not be here now."

Jade let out a humph and crossed her arms over her chest. "Yes I"ll admit had it not been for you I would have met a bad end, but until you came I think I did a decent job of holding my own. Least till that guy punched me." She mumbled the last part as she walked over to where Ardeth had been and took the tent roll from his hands.

"SHE DID WHAT!" Rick shouted as he covered his eyes and shook his head.

"What would every possess her to do something as crazy and irresponsible as that?" Evy added in for good measure.

"Yes, she must have slipped out after dinner. I didn't even know she was gone. I went in to wake her for breakfast and she wasn't there." Kristy said.

Alex stood on the other side of the door listening in on the conversation between his parents and Kristy. He looked worried. Had she been hurt? He knew she had left but promised not to say where she had gone. Now hearing how upset everyone was he felt really bad. He didn't want to betray Jade or get himself into trouble but if she needed help he had to tell someone. Just as luck would have it his uncle John was walking out of his room with an apparent hangover.

"What in the bloody hell is all the commotion?"

"Uncle John. There's something I need to tell you. . ." Alex lead Johnathan into another part of the hotel room and proceeded to tell him the entire story.

"You did what? Do your parents know?"

"No, I promised Jade I wouldn't tell them. You didn't see her uncle John, she was so sad when he left."

"Let's go tell your folks." Johnathan said as he walked over to the room holding the rest of the adults. From the other side of the door bickering could be heard as to what should be done about jade and being missing and as to where to start looking. Johnathan walked in with Alex not to far behind hiding slightly behind him. He knew he was going to get in so much trouble.

"Don't worry old mum. I know where to look." Everyone in the room turned to look at him with surprise written on their faces.

"What? Where is she?" Rick asked. He knew this trip would be nothing but trouble.

"She went to Ardeth's village, I drew her directions on a map. She missed him."

"And you didn't think to say anything why exactly?!"

"I didn't think she'd go now did I."

Alex looked on as his uncle and father were now bickering back and forth. Suddenly Kristy and Evy looked at one another.

"I can't believe she actually took off like that." Kristy said not realizing her statement had come out louder than she originally intended.

"Now that you mention it Jonathan she did seem a bit out of sorts lately,"

"Mum, out of sorts? She's been downright depressed." Alex chimed in finally. Just now getting over the shock that Jonathan had taken the blame for him.

"He's right old mum. She hasn't been the same since he left the day after the Halloween party."

"Well now that we know where she is I say we go and fetch her." Evy said.

They had been riding for a while when all of a sudden Ardeth put a hand out signaling for Jade to stop. They were at the top of a large dune. Jade rode up beside him.

"What is it? What's going on?"

"They have returned, and in greater number."

"Who?"

"The men from last night. We cannot go any further this way. It is not safe."

"So what's our plan now oh fearless leader?" Jade said giving him a quick glance.

"First we get off this hill before they spot us, then we will make for my village. They would not dare to follow us there."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Let's go." She turned her mount around and started heading back down the hill. "I guess you don't always win huh." Jade said giving him a sly smile. "Looks like I win this time."

Ardeth remembered their conversation about taking her home from the night before and shook his head giving a glare. This woman shall be the death of me yet.

After a few hours of riding they were nearly there when suddenly out of nowhere a few of the men that had attacked them the night before had appeared. They had road on ahead to scout for Ardeth and Jade. The men charged their horses forward heading straight toward the pair.

Ardeth had unsheathed his sword and prepared for the onslaught that was about to come. The four men were almost upon the pair when a shot rang out taking one of the men down. Ardeth turned to see Jade had a pistol aimed at the now empty saddle where the man had been before she shot. Two more men rode toward Ardeth.

"LOOK OUT!" Jade shouted as she road toward one of the men. Slamming her camel into the side of one of the men's horse causing him to tumble to the ground. Ardeth and the other man battled furiously atop their horses. Jade jumped down landing in the sand with a thud pulling out a small dagger from the sleeve of here robes.

The man stumbled up from the sand and swung his sword in Jade's direction. It came down cutting through the air with an audible hiss. Jade side stepped just missing the sword before she took a swing at the man in front of her, her hit had connected and caused the man to stumble a bit. Jade swung her other arm and sliced the man with the dagger. He let out a scream of pain before clutching the side of his face.

Ardeth had since took his battle with his attacker to the ground as well. The sounds of metal against metal echoed as the two continued their fierce battle. Ardeth's attacker jabbed his sword forward. Ardeth thrust his sword out to deflect the blow. It didn't completely hit him but it grazed his shoulder causing him to hiss in pain as the blood began to flow. He headbutted the man in front of him simultaneously kicking one knee out from under his attacker causing him to fall onto his back. With one swift swing of his sword Ardeth had cut clean through the mans neck before jumping to the aid of Jade who now had her hands full with two of their attackers.

The man she had slashed across the face had now had Jade's arms pinned behind her and the other man was about to hit her but she kicked up off the ground and caught him in the gut. He was stunned giving Jade just enough time to stomp the foot of her captor. He let out a yelp of pain as she brought her head back and headbutted him. He finally released her. She Spun around when she bumped into another body. She instinctively swung. Ardeth caught her arm.

"It is me little one."

"Oops. Sorry. Adrenalin I guess." Ardeth suddenly shoved Jade just as a blade came across her shoulder. She let out a cry. As she landed on the ground and noticed red begin to stain the sand. Ardeth shoved the man back and landed a punch right across his face. He had the man on the ground when a sudden anger rose up within him. He sat on the man pinning him down. Then he hit him. Once, "Don't you ever . . ." twice, "touch her . . ." three times "again!".

Meanwhile Jade had her own problems as the man she slashed had seen her on the ground and kicked her in the gut. She fell back onto the sand when he decided to stomp on her back every now and then kicking her wounded shoulder causing fresh blood to pour forth. He turned her over onto her back and had her in a similar position as Ardeth held his companion.

He laughed at her and spoke in Arabic. "I will thoroughly enjoy this." He brought down a fist hitting her in the mouth. Her lip split open instantly. He hit her again this time in the temple. She was beginning to feel as if she would pass out from the pain. She twisted her head to the side and noticed her dagger not to far from her. She reached out a weakening hand trying to touch it. Just a little further if I can just reach another inch. Her fingers wiggled trying to stretch just that last few centimeters when she finally felt her hand on the hilt she wrapped her hand around it and stabbed the man in the back. He let go of her then jade took a swing at the man stabbing him right in the eye. He stumbled a minute before falling to the ground dead.

Ardeth had lowered his had to the mans face for what could have been the hundredth time. He wasn't sure he had lost count long ago. When suddenly he felt a hand shoot out and grab his before he could bring it down on the man below him. "Ardeth,stop."

He turned to look at her. He rose and she let go of his hand. He reached out his hand and touched her face turning it this way and that while assessing the damage that had been done to it. He saw the bruise forming under her one eye, her one cheek had a cut running from just under her eye to her chin and her lip was split and some dry blood was still there.

He didn't remember what caused him to do it but he began to lower his head. His hair cascaded down around Jade as he leaned in even closer. His lips now just inches from hers. She placed her hands on his chest. "I . . . I think we should leave. There may be. . . be more coming." She stammered breaking Ardeth from his trance.