Isha

Chapter 9

NCV Home

              Imhotep took care enough to wait until the light of Ammun had faded from the shrine before he rose to his feet. He did not bother at all with seeing to the last tasks of the day, leaving the lesser priests and acolytes with what remained to be done. He simply headed at the fastest walk that was not a run up to the rooms where he hoped Ardeth would be sleeping once again. And for once there was no annoyance at all at finding him sleeping soundly in O'Connell's arms, obviously, praise be to Bastet, naked and sated in his lover's arms. "Gods but you are a damnable opponent Rick O'Connell, that you have everything a man could wish for and yet at the same time make me glad that you are here." He muttered to himself. It was no less than the truth given how devastated Ardeth had been when he had left the young man the night before. There had been no time to come and check on Ardeth again since he had spent the whole of the day seeing to several prayers and petitions and spells before he had thanked great AmmunRa, He who was lord of all Egypt, for the day and seen him back to battle once more. Since he could tell that both O'Connell and Ardeth were safely in Thebes, and soundly sleeping from what he could tell the few times he had searched for their thoughts he had not stopped to actually go and see for himself that they were doing so. It was surprise enough certainly that both men were still sleeping, curled up together amidst the sheets, but how O'Connell had managed the miracle of having Ardeth sleeping sound and obviously sated in his arms was one miracle today Imhotep was not even going to question. He focused just a bit of energy toward seeing that Ardeth stayed asleep, yet. Although, given the utter exhaustion he did not think anything short of screams of terror would wake the young man. He was beyond exhausted himself.

              O'Connell still slept as well so he reached out and gently stroked his fingers through Ardeth's hair, recalling the night before and how Ardeth had finally allowed him to offer what comfort he could, and for once he had held the young man close and Ardeth had welcomed the embrace. He smiled sadly. "Perhaps it is a good thing you slept the day away, Ardeth. No doubt you would be regretting the wine otherwise." He smoothed the tangled waves softly. "Bravery and stubbornness you do not lack, Ahba. It is good to see that you may yet have realized that." He trailed his finger's down Ardeth's arm and then back, then drew his hand away and pulled the sheet more tightly about the young man. "O'Connell."

              The American woke to his name, one hand reaching for a weapon the other arm pulling Ardeth close. "What the hell do you want?"

              Imhotep smiled, not caring at all if the man was annoyed at his presence or not. "I have Ammun's blessing and healing to bestow upon Ardeth, O'Connell. Do not annoy me now."

              That got the young man's attention. "What?"

              "I bring Ammun's blessing and healing for Ardeth, O'Connell. You have no idea the amount of effort and magic it has taken to procure it either. So let us see it done before I am so exhausted I can not achieve it, hmm?"

              "You can heal him? Really I mean?"

              "Make him whole?" He was a bit surprised at the gentleness in his own voice. "Yes. I believe so. Thanks be to Ammun."

              O'Connell pushed himself up onto one arm to look down at Ardeth for a long moment. "What do I have to do?" And it was so very easy to read in his thoughts that he truly did not care what the cost might be. Imhotep shook his head a bit.

              "Medjai. Always more bravery than sense." He muttered in Egyptian. "You can help, a bit, actually." He switched back to the language of Allah. "Let him sleep through this I think. It may cause him some pain at first and better he is not conscious for any more."

              "Yeah, okay. So what do I have to do?" O'Connell looked at him, but Imhotep noticed he made no move at all to release Ardeth any.

              "Roll him onto his side if you can, and lay behind him to hold him still." He answered.

              O'Connell for once did not even think of arguing, simply did as Imhotep had asked, cradling Ardeth in his arms, spooned behind him and holding him tightly. "Okay, now what?"

              Imhotep sighed. "No doubt you are going to not like this part, but I shall swear it to you now I do this only to heal him, and not at all for my own pleasure. I need to see-- what it is I am healing."

              That got a flash of anger and disgust from O'Connell but the man pushed it all down with that indomitable will and nodded once, curtly. "All right. But so help me you hurt him at all and I will blow you to bits if it kills me again."

              "No doubt." He smiled just a bit. "Please let us neither be blown to bits again, shall we O'Connell. I had a had enough time finding a gift to Isis that would allow her to heal you once. Twice may be more than I can manage assuming of course I feel enough compassion for Ardeth and your son to bother again."

              That seemed to shock O'Connell into silence. "All right, truce for now I guess."

              "Some miracles never cease to amaze me." He rolled his eyes and then very gently pulled the sheet away from Ardeth. It took all his hard learned patience and self control to simply study the wounds clinically. He could recall too well the way the German had wielded his bloody whip, and the screams that had torn from Ardeth's throat. "What do you say to an agreement to tracking down the jackal's son who did this in hell and teaching him that he should not have done so?"

              That got a surprised chuckle from O'Connell. "Sounds damned good to me."

              "And to me as well." He took a deep breath and gathered all the power he yet had in Thebes to him. "You have shared his bed often enough now to be familiar with how he is whole, O'Connell, close your eyes and think on that, in arabic as I will need the thoughts clear."

              O'Connell nodded and then did as he had asked, closed his eyes and thought very hard indeed about how Ardeth looked when he was well, unclothed and in varying states of arousal. Imhotep reached out and took O'Connell's hand from where it rested on Ardeth's chest and drew it downward. O'Connell tensed and opened his eyes, glaring at Imhotep."What the hell do you think you're doing?"

              He quirked a smile at the young man. "Using your memories to recreate what is missing. If I was doing this for any other reason, O'Connell do you think I would be encouraging you to touch him so when I could do so myself?"

              The man was silent for a bit and then sighed. "Okay. Fine. Now what?"

              "Close your eyes, be quiet and think about loving your brother, O'Connell. This is not simple magic and I need to concentrate."

              "Bastard." There was something that just might have been hope underlying the annoyance and anger of the insult though and O'Connell closed his eyes again and did as Imhotep had asked.

              "Likely." He smiled and then closed his own eyes and let his mind fill with O'Connell's thoughts. And it was like trying to condense the entire windstorm he could summon in the waking world into something he could hold in his hand but he forced the power down and down and down again, drawing on the grace AmmunRa had given him that night and pouring that new hope and joy into the magic he was working. He began reciting the spell he had unearthed in the ancient scrolls, a copy of what Isis had said when healing Osiris in much the same manner so that they might beget Horus. Then he began to trace out the symbols for the spell on Ardeth's skin and the air above. And Ammun was kind and glorious because he could feel the power condense beneath his finger tips and O'Connell's hand and grow solid and warm, the flesh wrapping around the words and symbols and power in a sensation eerily similar to what he could recall from both his resurrections in the waking world. Ardeth gave a soft groan but did not wake, pressing back against O'Connell as if to escape the sensation. Imhotep finished off the last of the symbols and then intertwined his fingers with O'Connell's and ran them over the newly solid flesh and blood and muscle, making certain that everything was as it should be. The spell released with a soft flash of light and warmth that only served to make Ardeth arch into both their hands with a sleepy mutter of what might have been O'Connell's name and spill his completion over their hands.

              O'Connell gave a whisper in that damnable English, and then lowered his head against Ardeth's shoulder.

              "It seems we are successful after all, O'Connell." He opened his eyes and drew his hand away from the warm living flesh. "Thanks be to AmmunRa."

              O'Connell met his eyes the gaze surprisingly open and without hostility for once. "Anything you want from me for that you can have."

              He shook his head just a little, with a small smile. "When I am less exhausted, I shall remind you of that, O'Connell. Do not doubt me. It will come as no surprise to you, I am certain, that he offered much the same for my aid in seeing you whole. For now, champion of Anubis, you may both take your rest-- or not, here in Thebes. I shall send Tahiri with some dinner and clean clothes for you both. And the baths I do not doubt will be empty later should you wish to use them. I shall see you both tomorrow. You may join me in the courtyard for breakfast after I have given my thanks to AmmunRa, He who is Lord of all Egypt, for the miracle he has given us. Do not disappoint me." He turned from the two men still lying entwined on the bed.

              "What the hell do you expect to get from this?"

              Imhotep smiled as much at the annoyance as the confusion in the man's voice. "That is for me to know and you to consider, O'Connell. Perhaps it is only for the joy of knowing he is well and whole, hmm? I am fond of him you know."

              "Yeah right."

              Sometimes, the best way to lie was simply in how one told the truth after all. He chuckled a little. "We shall see, we shall see." And he walked out into the hall and closed the door behind him with a thought. Then he leaned against the cool stone wall and worked very hard and not simply collapsing onto the stones. "Ammun but you are the most annoying guest, Ardeth." He forced his legs steady and then chuckled again. "But I am very, very glad to have you well, Medjai. I would miss the game far too much you know." He laughed a bit. "Not exactly how I imagined I would get to touch you so, Ardeth. But I am not so foolish as to not be thankful for the opportunity none the less." He brought his hand still covered with Ardeth's completion to his lips and gave himself the luxury of the taste. "Someday, Ahba, I promise you that."

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              Rick waited until the door closed and then rested his head back against Ardeth's shoulder. Somehow he wasn't sure whether he felt more like laughing or crying right now. He stroked his hand softly over Ardeth's cock, smiling against the warm skin of his shoulder despite the tears. "Thank you, Ammun, Allah, whoever. He deserves the chance to be happy. Honest." Rick sighed. "I know he always wants to take on all the responsibility and what not but he's only one man, okay? So next time he tries to take the whole price of victory for himself bit can you make sure we're all there to take part?" He kissed Ardeth's neck gently. "You're going to drive me nuts, muHabb, I thought Evie teaching me a sense of responsibility was pretty amazing but this whole balancing obligations and love and the fate of the world stuff is too much for me, okay? Think the gods would notice if three of the champions ducked out and took a vacation to the States?" He was babbling and new it, which was a really good sign of how exhausted he was. But he also didn't care because Ardeth was lying there in his arms, whole and safe and that was worth whatever this was going to cost him. "Christ you are contagious. I am not a martyr you got that?" He directed the complaint as much to the universe at large as to Ardeth.

              "Rick? What are you muttering about, hmm?" Ardeth asked sleepily.

              "Hey, you're awake." He grinned, and then kissed Ardeth's shoulder again. "Wake up, huh?" He stroked his hand over Ardeth's cock, still slick with his semen from the healing. "You're not paying attention."

              "Hmm? I was dreaming. Such a nice dream too." Ardeth snuggled into his arms but Rick could tell he was as much asleep as he was awake, even the Arabic was a mumble.

              "Dreaming about me?" He tightened his fingers a bit, feeling Ardeth's cock begin to swell and lengthen in his hand.

              "Mmm." It was an affirmative sort of mumble. "That feels good."

              "Yeah, you do." Rick agreed, nipping lightly at Ardeth's throat. "Wake up and enjoy it, huh?"

              "I am awake." Ardeth grumbled. "Stop..." Ardeth's whole body tensed in his arms. "Rick?"

              "Seems Ammun likes you more than we thought." He didn't want to even start on what they owed the damned priest for this. Later he'd worry about it. "Feel good, mukalb?"

              Ardeth shuddered and then pulled away from his arms to sit up and stare at him in shock. "Rick?"

              "Last time I checked." He smiled gently. "You're healed, Ardeth. Really, it's okay now." He reached out to catch Ardeth's hand kissing his fingers and then pulling both their hands back to Ardeth's cock.

              Ardeth gave a whimpered sort of groan and Rick could see the fear and disbelief that filled his eyes for a long moment before he glanced down at himself. "I am dreaming?"

              "Nope. Well, not any more than we ever are when we're here." He shrugged.

              "But...The German...I..."

              "And I was blown to how many pieces, huh? The gods fixed that too, remember? Maybe Horus finally figured he owed you a favor or something."

              "But...I...Oh Allah's mercy, Rick. I thought I..." Ardeth shook his head and then just pushed Rick back onto the mattress and kissed him deep and desperate, tongues tangling with each other and only demanding more. Rick let Ardeth take the kiss for as long as he could before he just couldn't be passive anymore and returned it, not quite as desperately as it was given. Ardeth's and his hands were still gripped loosely around Ardeth's cock so he shifted the grip until he was stroking over them both. Ardeth groaned out something Rick didn't even try to catch and then pulled both their hands away. "Rick."

              "Hmm? Thought that felt good." He complained, meeting the hot brown eyes and noticing the edge of panic to them. "Okay, we need to slow down, huh? Too much too soon." He brought his hands up to rest on Ardeth's shoulders then slid them slowly up his throat and then through the tangled hair. "What do you want, Ardeth?"

              "I do not know. Allah have mercy Rick I can not even think."

              "Yeah, okay, um. Then let's not think, huh? Only feel for now, habibi." He stroked his hands slowly down Ardeth's chest. "We are so going to need that bath."

              Ardeth chuckled just a little and then blinked as if it surprised him as much as it surprised, Rick. "I think I want too many things at once, hmm? I want you to touch me, but I would so like more than that and if you touch me again I will embarrass myself."

              Rick smiled. "You did that already." He pointed out.

              "I noticed that." Ardeth flushed just a bit across his cheeks. "In my sleep like a boy, hmm?"

              "I think it was more from the healing that anything else." He wasn't sure if he really wanted to tell Ardeth what had happened. "Figure it must have felt pretty good to have the pain stop, huh?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded, and then kissed him again, long and deep again but not nearly so crazy. "But nothing feels as good as your touch."

              "Poetry again." Rick smiled.

              "If you say so." Ardeth agreed. "Right now, I do not think I can think enough to manage poetry, habibi."

              "Then I'm doing it right." Rick smiled and pulled him into another kiss. Ardeth just sighed against his lips and returned it. And it was so good to feel the enjoyment and pleasure Ardeth got from that. He stroked his hands down Ardeth's back again, tracing old scars and tattoos, taking a moment to thank any god that wanted to listen that there weren't even more new ones to trace. Later he'd find time and a way to ask Ardeth just what had happened with the Germans but not now. Now it was just so good to have Ardeth lying on top of him like this, whole and very obviously aroused. Rick arched his back a bit, just enough to rub their cocks together again.

              "Rick." Ardeth broke the kiss with a growl and then licked at his throat, leaving a trail of kisses and soft nips along his skin, then back up to his ear and teasing the lobe with his teeth. Rick couldn't help but chuckle.

              "Tickles." He laughed.

              Ardeth pushed away to look down at him again with a smile of his own. "Good?"

              "Yes." He reached up and buried both hands in Ardeth's hair and then pulled him down to kiss him again, before rolling them both over so Ardeth was beneath him on the bed. "What do you want, Ardeth? Hmm?" He ran his hand lightly down Ardeth's side and then between them to stroke once quickly over Ardeth's cock just to feel it and watch the pleasure and joy that filled the dark eyes.

              Ardeth groaned, tossing his head back and arching into the touch. "I want, everything we have ever done, Rick. Allah, I do not know."

              "Okay." He thought for a moment and then slid down to lick lightly at the head of Ardeth's cock, tasting the last traces of his earlier orgasm on his skin. Ardeth groaned, low and sweet without even trying to smother it. "Yeah, that's it. Just enjoy, huh?" He licked again all the way to the base this time, before tracing the same path back up with kisses. Then he braced one arm over Ardeth's hips and took a deep breath to swallow him whole. Ardeth gave a sobbed sort of moan that might have been his name and arched up hard against the arm he'd put in place just for that. Rick chuckled, knowing the sensation was just going to add to Ardeth's pleasure and then stroked his free hand as lightly as he knew how to touch over Ardeth's balls as he raised his head, slowly, teasing with his tongue. He swallowed once around just the head, listening to the mostly unintelligible things Ardeth was groaning and taking it all for good he took him deep again. And it was growing easier and easier to remember how to do that for longer without gagging. He eased his hand further back, tracing that smooth patch of skin and reminding himself firmly not to think about how it had felt to touch Ardeth when he hadn't been whole. He let Ardeth's cock slip form his mouth as he raised his head again to catch a deep breath and then had to laugh at the groan that got.

              "Rick." His name was mostly a growl, but there was desperation to it too.

              "Yeah, I know." He met Ardeth's nearly black eyes and brought two fingers to his friend's lips. "Lick?"

              Ardeth muttered something but then did so, sucking both fingers deep into his mouth. Rick lowered his head again to lick Ardeth's cock in turn, feeling his own throb a bit in sympathy as Ardeth followed his example and mimicked whatever he did to his cock on Rick's fingers. Finally, Rick pulled them away and taking Ardeth's cock as deep as he could pressed the first one inside Ardeth. It was easy enough given that Ardeth was still pretty relaxed and slick enough from earlier, so he worked the second in too. Ardeth shuddered, arching up hard against the restraining arm Rick still had over his hips and Rick chuckled again as the groan of his name ended in a choked sort of cry when he found the spot he was looking for. And that was all it took it seemed because Ardeth came hard, almost one long continuous shudder and it was all Rick could do to try and swallow, but damn if he was going to miss any. And this time the taste didn't bother him one bit.

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              Ardeth barely managed a muttered complaint as Rick stopped in the middle of teasing him so, and then growled out another complaint as Rick placed two fingers against his lips as if to silence him. "Lick?" That soft request registered finally and he did so, taking Rick's fingers into his mouth and that seemed to be what Rick wanted because he once again began to lick at Ardeth's cock. And Allah help him but it felt so good, better than anything he remembered from before. He tried his best to follow what Rick did to his cock on Rick's fingers, reminding himself somewhere in his mind that he wanted to ask Rick firmly, when he was coherent enough how it was that Rick managed to take him so deep. Rick pulled his fingers from Ardeth's mouth and he almost complained of that. Wishing there was some way they could pleasure each other like this at the same time. Then there was no room at all for thought, just sensation as Rick eased first one and then the other finger into him, while swallowing him to the base. And he tried to manage Rick's name in warning, because he could not hold back the wonderful almost painfully sharp rush of completion, but Rick's fingers touched that spot within him that sent him spiraling up into desire and joy. And it was like flying, like riding faster than he ever had and leaving the ground behind. So he did. Left it all behind, all the pain and the remembered horror and humiliation and he trusted Rick to catch him when he fell.

     It was a long glide back down and he gasped as he seemed to fall those last few inches into his skin and into the strong arms around him. Gentle hands stroked his hair, held him close as he shivered, so he burrowed closer to that warmth. Rick groaned the sound just close enough to pain that Ardeth found the strength to look at him worriedly. "Rick?"

              "Yeah?" Rick's fingers traced his jaw. "Feel good, habibi?"

              "Paradise." He nodded, not feeling like trying to find the words Rick seemed to think he was so good with. Instead he licked at Rick's fingers, drawing one into his mouth with a smile.

              "Christ, Ardeth, I'm not..."

              He chuckled a little, feeling oddly as if he wanted as much to cry despite the very real joy in his heart at the wonderful dream Allah had granted him. He did not believe for a moment that it was real. But for as long as it lasted he would relish it. No night is forever...He recalled the goddess' words. Please Lady of stars do not end this dream yet? "Tell me what you desire, Rick?" He reached down and ran his hand lightly up along Rick's cock.

              "Mmm, right now...that's pretty good."

              "Is it?" He chuckled again and tightened his grip. "You feel very good." He agreed. "But I think, there are things that you would enjoy more, hmm?"

              "Well, I wanted you inside me, but I think that's going to have to wait, huh?" Rick traced his jaw again.

              He doubted the dream would grant him that but it sounded so like Paradise to him. "Allah must know I desire that very much myself." He admitted.

              "Good." Rick's smile was gentler now but just as warm. "Come here?" Rick laid back onto the mattress and only pulled Ardeth over on top of him. Ardeth smiled and caught him in a long deep kiss, groaning as he tasted his own completion still on Rick's tongue. And it made his cock twitch just a bit, despite his exhaustion even as it brought tears to his eyes. Rick arched his back, pressing his cock harder against Ardeth's. And it was such a wonderful shock that he gasped. "Okay?" Rick broke their kiss to gasp out the question.

              "Yes." He nodded, and then moved his lips to Rick's throat, nipping at the slick skin there and then doing as Rick had done earlier for him and leaving a very real bitemark on his friend's skin..

              "Ardeth." Rick chuckled around his name and Ardeth smiled himself at the sound. "Habibi."

              "Yes?" He smiled, teasing the same reddened patch of skin with the edge of his beard. Rick groaned and arched his back again so Ardeth simply pressed back, finding a rhythm that seemed to please Rick a great deal. He kissed Rick again, reaching down between them to caress Rick's cock, finding that spot right beneath the head that made Rick gasp and arch hard against him. And that it seemed was enough this time because Rick broke their kiss to gasp out his name and spilled his completion all over Ardeth's hand and both their bodies. Ardeth only smiled, continuing the caress until Rick finally moaned and reached down to stop him. Then he drew his hand up to his lips and licked his fingers clean as Rick watched.

              "Christ, Ardeth. I'm too tired to try for three, habib. Don't tease."

              He laughed. "I was not trying to tease, only enjoying, habibi." He promised. "I do not think it is something I will take for granted again you know."

              Rick's eyes gentled and he pulled Ardeth close. "Me either."

              That made him sigh and snuggle closer. And it was far more than enough for now to simply lie there and let himself float in the joy of what he had been given. Rick held him close, his hands stroking down along Ardeth's spine, through his hair and then again. Ardeth rested his head on Rick's chest and simply listened to his heart beat and it was enough for a long while. He blinked, sleepily catching himself as he started to doze off.

              "Ardeth?" Rick's voice was a soft whisper.

              "I-- am afraid I will wake." He shifted closer again.

              "Huh? Thought we were going to fall asleep?" Rick's hand began to stroke down his back again.

              "I will--wake-- and this dream will be gone." He shivered. "Allah forgive me but I do not want to wake up."

              "Ardeth." Rick hugged him suddenly tight. "Muhabb, you are awake. Well as awake as we ever are while we're here..."

              He shook his head. "I can not be...I..." Allah had to know he did not want to give this up, it would drive him mad.

              "Ardeth." Rick sat them both up and then shook him once, very slightly though. "You're okay now, Ardeth. Look, huh?" Rick let go with one hand and ran it down Ardeth's chest, along his stomach to finally tease lightly over his cock. "Feel that?"

              "Yes..." He bit his lip hard. "It-- can not be-- can it?"

              "Yeah it can. And you deserve the miracle or whatever Ardeth. If anybody ever did. I was dead and in pieces for Christ's sake and you brought me back. How come I'd get a miracle like that and you don't?"

              "I-- thought Allah had forsaken me." He whispered softly. Because he truly had. Despite Rick's support. Despite the love they had shared he had still believed that he had somehow failed in his part of Allah's plan and so had payed the price.

              "He hasn't forsaken me, Ardeth so there's no way He'd forsake you." Rick shook him again, just as gently. "Crazy, idiotic, stubborn Arab."

              He heard himself chuckle. "We are back to that?"

              "Yeah sure, you still haven't given me a stronger word in arabic than idiot remember?" Rick hugged him tightly and he leaned against his friend's shoulder.

              "I-- think I am in shock?"

              "Yeah, that's probably really close to it." Rick laid back down and Ardeth settled beside him with a sigh, resting his head back on Rick's chest and then putting one leg over Rick's. Naked as they both still were his cock brushed against Rick's hip as he shifted and despite himself he gasped. "Ardeth?" Rick sounded worried now.

              "Only-- surprise...Allah how can it feel so good and yet so strange to be whole?" He was not at all certain he truly believed it yet that his body was blessedly thankfully whole and he could feel that sensation

              "That one I don't have an answer to, habibi." Rick only held him tighter. "But Allah and everyone else has to know how thankful I am that you're okay? Right?"

              "I-- shall try to have faith that they do, yes..." He sighed. "How did it happen though that I am whole?" He shook his head. "Emasculation can not simply be undone can it?" For some reason the question did not hurt at all. Which was probably proof that he was in shock after all.

              Rick sighed and was silent a bit longer. "There's something I really need to tell you, Ardeth. But-- I don't know how."

              "Is something wrong?" He started to raise himself onto his arm. Allah please do not take this away....? He could feel himself tense, catching his breath in too sharply in preparation for the blow.

              "No." Rick only pulled him back down and held him tightly. "Nothing's wrong exactly it's just...You wanted to know how come you're healed right? And...."

              He sighed and then simply held Rick tighter. "As long as it did not cost you your soul or some other horrible price Rick, we will be well." He meant that because nothing else would matter. But he knew his friend too well and Allah alone knew what Rick would have bargained for him. We are so very much alike....The thought came unbidden.

              "Nah,. I would've-- I guess if I'd figured out who to offer it to to make it happen. But no. It didn't cost me a thing....'

              "Then no matter what you worry for it does not matter. You have more than proven to me, mukalb that there is nothing that can change our love for each other, hmm? And nothing else matters, truly. So tell me what worries you if all of this is indeed real and I am whole. And then we shall find a way to right if it is rightable and if it is not we shall find a way to overcome it."

              Rick gave a soft half-chuckle half-snort. "I think I'm worried you'll be angry at me."

              "That is not likely. I have I admit been angry at you in the distant past, and annoyed at you more recently but I can not tink of anything that would make me angry at you now."

              "I hope you're right." Rick's arms tightened. "Earlier, while you were asleep? And um..."

              "Simply say it, Rick, and then we will work our way through it."

              "It wasn't Ammun who healed you. Well-- it was, but only like it's Sekhmet healing people when Evie uses the amulet or the book."

              Ardeth sighed, somehow not truly surprised by the explanation. And the fact that it was no doubt to restart the most insane game of desire Imhotep played with him made it somehow easier to believe. Because then there was a bit of a curse to balance the great blessing and that had the ring of truth to it. "So I owe him more thanks yet. That does not surprise me, habib. Oddly enough I am not too concerned about the teasing I will endure no doubt." He smiled just a little. "He would not tease me while I was not-- whole. And was a very kind ally earlier. So, if by healing me so he has restarted this insane game he plays, I suppose truly, I can deal with be teased and embarrassed by Ammun's high priest as a minor price to pay for the wonder of being whole." He tightened his arm around Rick's waist. "Why did you think that would make me angry?"

              "Because...you remember when he healed your shoulder, Ardeth?"

              "Both times he has done so yes." He agreed. "Tell me what worries you."

              "You were asleep, and I guess I really should have woken you, even though the damned thing seemed to think it might hurt while he healed you, and it did seem to even though you didn't wake up. But, you trust me to guard your back, Ardeth. To keep him away from you whenever I can. And I didn't. He had-- to see what he was healing...and..."

              "Ah." He sighed. "It is not the first time he has seen me unclothed, habib. And he was there when the German-- inflicted the damage in the first place so I doubt the-- wounds were a real surprise. You let him tend my wounds Rick, that is nothing to be angry at you over."

              "I let him touch you damn it. And..."

              Ardeth pushed himself up onto his arm and looked down at his friend, meeting the troubled dark blue eyes. "I am not angry. Embarrassed yes. A bit uncertain how I will manage to deal with the teasing he will likely annoy me with. But, Allah Rick, it is worth it. It would-- Allah forgive me, be worth it I think if he demanded more than kisses as payment for the healing. Thanks be to Allah or Horus or whatever name I should use that he will not. He did not harm me, Rick. That I have faith in. You would be wounded or worse from trying to protect me if he had tried."

              "I'd blow him to bits." Rick growled.

              Ardeth could not keep from wincing at that. "Shhh." He put his fingers against Rick's lips. "Do not say..."

              "Sorry." Rick sighed and kissed his fingers. "I'm right here, Ardeth."

              "Thanks be to Allah." He moved his fingers so he could lean down and kiss Rick fully, before snuggling back into his arms. "I am not angry at you, Rick. And I am only more than thankful to Ammun's high priest. Perhaps when all the shock has worn off and I am not still so happy with having you here alive and myself whole I will be worried or humiliated or something but now I am not."

              "Yeah, shock's probably a good word for it all." Rick sighed. "But I guess you're right about one thing, I'd be pretty willing myself to pay whatever price we have too for the fact that we all made it through it okay at the end. But so help me he better not ask you for anything."

              Ardeth rolled his eyes. "If I may not be a martyr habib, you may not either. I am too tired and too full of joy to care for tomorrow or consequences or worry, Rick. Let the afreet fend for themselves, hmm? Only hold me now and let me sleep in your arms?" He shifted a bit so he could lay his head on Rick's chest again and listen to his heartbeat.

              "Yeah, Ardeth. I can do that." Rick's arms tightened around him and one hand began to stroke his hair, then down his back when Rick's fingers kept tangling in the knots. "We're a mess."

              Ardeth smiled, turning his head a bit to kiss the warm skin he was laying his head on. "I do not care."

              "Me either." Rick agreed with a smile. "I can do the whole worry about it later bit."

              "Good." He closed his eyes and gave a heartfelt prayer of joy and thankfulness to Allah and whichever faces his God had chosen for him to see here in Thebes and in the waking world. He brought his hand up and placed his fingers against Rick's throat, both to feel the pulse there as well and more so to keep it firmly in his mind that Rick was once more whole. Both of them whole and well. It seemed almost impossible to think the words and know that it was true. ‘No night is forever child, not even mine.' The goddess' words took on another meaning now and he smiled a bit to himself. Whatever would happen would happen and he had found finally enough strength and love to have hope through the worst so he would find enough to bear whatever tomorrow brought.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

              "Medjai?" Tahiri's voice came just as the knock really woke Rick.

              "Hmm?" He blinked trying to clear his head. He tightened one arm around Ardeth reaching without thinking for the nearest weapon. 

              "Do not shoot Tahiri." Ardeth didn't sound any more awake than Rick felt.

              "Right." He let his hand fall back to the bed.

              "Medjai?" Tahiri asked again, obviously trying not to laugh. Rick smiled himself, because he and Ardeth really did need a bath and he was starving and all in all life was pretty close to perfect.

              "Hmm. Yes, Tahiri?" Ardeth answered, that much Rick actually followed. Tahiri's response however was beyond him right now. But Ardeth seemed to follow it because he replied and then the door closed and she was gone.

              "What's going on?" Rick asked.

              "She will be back in a bit with our dinner. And she was kind enough to tell me that she has seen to it that we have the bathing room all to ourselves. She has even filled one of the tubs with hot water for us. She said if we wished to bathe while the water was warm we should do so now and she would see that our meal was set up here while we were washing."

              "Sounds really nice." Rick stroked his hand down Ardeth's back. "And we really do need a bath."

              "Yes." Ardeth agreed, but he flushed just a bit. "She asked if I thought we would need another tub or if one would do."

              "Did she really?" Rick had to laugh. "Did you tell her one would do?" He put all the desire he could into the question.

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded as he raised his head to meet Rick's eyes. "I did."

              "Good." He raised his head a bit and kissed Ardeth lightly. "Let's go bathe, huh? Sounds good."

              "It does." Ardeth kissed him back, a bit longer. "Allah must know you make me glad for life, Rick."

              "Yeah, Ardeth, and you me." He grinned a bit. "Paradise is wonderful, but it's not as good as being alive and well and here with you and Evie you know."

              "Truly?" And Rick could hear the almost shy tone of voice that made him figure Ardeth was blushing just a bit.

              "Yeah, Ardeth. Really." He kissed him again. "Come on, lets go enjoy that hot water, huh? Didn't I say last night that I'd wash your hair for you?"

              "You did." Ardeth agreed and then sat up with a sigh. "I think-- having you care for me so-- and the joy of making love with you was a far better means of easing my pain, habib, than any amount of spoiling could have been."

              Rick blinked hard, refusing to let the burning he felt in the back of his eyes become tears. "I have never, ever, seen anyone be half that brave, Ardeth, you know that, right?" He sat up as well and gripped Ardeth's shoulders in his hands.

              "It is kind of you to think so." Ardeth shook his head a bit.

              "It's nothing but the truth, Ardeth. I wouldn't have been half as together as you were. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have had half your courage either."

              "I-- am not as brave as you think me, Rick. Truly."

              Rick gave him a quick gentle shake. "Yes you are. Just because you were scared and hurt and at the end of your rope, Ardeth, doesn't mean that you didn't deal with it better than anyone else I have ever known could have. I'd've been curled up in the corner cursing and bawling my eyes out okay? Trust me."

              "I-- I suppose I must, must I not?" Ardeth gripped his hands. "But I would not have been so brave without your strength to lean upon, habib. Better to think as you say, we are far stronger together than either of us could manage alone."

              He smiled a little. "Yeah.."

              Ardeth smiled back. "Do not shake me, hmm? I will probably still be ill if you do. Perhaps I should not have drunk the wine as I did."

              "Right. It's probably exhaustion and not eating and everything as much as it is the wine. But hot baths are good for hangovers if it is."

              "Hmm, my head feels very much as if it were something like one. Not nearly so bad as I recall from the other two times I indulged in drink though." He shrugged. "Three if we count that horrid brandy of yours."

              "Still, let's go bathe, let you soak some, and find you water and coffee and then some food."

              "All of that sounds very good indeed." Ardeth rose to his feet, with a half-smothered groan.

              "Ardeth?" He started to reach over.

              "I ache, habib. Nothing more. Exhaustion I think."

              "Yeah." Rick nodded he felt pretty much done in himself. "Bath, food, and then we'll sleep the night away, huh? We're expected to join the damned priest for breakfast but I think we can squeeze in some more sleep."

              "That sounds even better." Ardeth held out his hand and Rick took it to get to his feet. "Here." Ardeth picked up his robes from where they were still lying on the floor and tossed Rick the outer one. "It will do to get us to the bathing room I think."

              "Yeah." He rolled his eyes but slipped the loose robe on as Ardeth did with the other. The hallway as it turned out was empty so they simply headed down the torch lit hall. The bathing room was really deserted, but pretty brightly lit by several torches and even two candlelabras that sat near a large tub, carved of solid alabaster from what Rick could tell and full of steaming water. "Wow."

              "Indeed." Ardeth smiled a bit and then walked over to examine the thing. "I must ask where it came from. It is almost too beautiful to use I think."

              "Yeah. But I'm not going to let it go to waste either. Do we have soap?"

              "We do, and bath oils, and many drying cloths, and clean clothes for us both.." Ardeth glanced down at the floor on the far side of the tub. "I really must bring her gifts tomorrow night."

              "Yeah." Rick agreed, shrugging out of the robe Ardeth had given him and tossed it on one of the benches against the wall. Then he walked over and slid his arms around Ardeth. "You need to take this off."

              "So I do." Ardeth nodded a bit. Rick just pulled the one tie Ardeth had done loose and then helped him out of it. "You are going to spoil me, Rick."

              "That's the idea, yeah." He smiled. "You believing it yet? Habibi?"

              Ardeth nodded just a bit but his eyes darkened and Rick could see him pause before he finally glanced down at his own body to confirm it. "Yeah that's what I thought...." Rick's fingers cupped his chin and tilted his head up so that their eyes met. "Okay?"

              And thank God or gods or whatever because there was nothing but joy in those expressive brown eyes as they met his. "Yes."

              Rick blinked back the tears that burned his own eyes. And damn if he wasn't feeling strung some where between laughing and crying.

              Ardeth only smiled a bit more and then kissed him quickly. "Baths?"

              "Yeah. Okay then-- you first, habib." He gestured at the tub, letting go of Ardeth so that he could get in. He walked around to the other side and found the soap Ardeth had mentioned, and a large bowl to dip water with. "Good."

              "Will you not-- join me?" Ardeth asked softly, reaching over and running his fingers lightly along Rick's jaw.

              "I was planning on it. But it'll be easier if we get mostly washed first." He pointed out. Ardeth looked at him, uncertainty obvious in his eyes. "Trust me." He smiled and then wet one of the cloths in the water and poured some of the soapy stuff from the jug onto it. Then he started at Ardeth's shoulders and worked his way down his chest. "This is a lot nicer when the water's warm and there's no blood."

              "It is." Ardeth agreed with a small smile. "Although I think I do not mind really recalling those few moments out of our visit to Anubis' realm. You take very good care of me, Rick."

              "Yeah well, that goes both ways, huh?" He smiled. "Lean forward?" He re-soaped the cloth to stroke it down Ardeth's back this time. "You want to kneel up so I can do the rest?"

              "I can bathe myself you know."

              "Not nearly as much fun, Ardeth."

              "No, that is true." Ardeth flushed just a bit but did as Rick had asked. And it was really good to simply stroke the soft lather over his skin. Just to firmly set in his own mind that Ardeth was whole and well. He gave his friend a quick grin and then stroked the soapy cloth lightly over Ardeth's cock. "Rick." His name was a growl, but Ardeth was obviously at least as aroused as he was annoyed. "Do not tease me."

              "How'd you put it earlier, habib? I'm not teasing. Just enjoying, and not taking anything for granted."

              Ardeth's eyes lightened at that and he leaned down, a bit, his hands sliding through Rick's hair and holding him still for the long kiss. He chuckled a little but let Ardeth kiss him as long and deeply as he wanted, returning it with as much enthusiasm as Ardeth gave it.

              "Let's get you rinsed off so I can join you, huh?" He asked finally, when they broke apart to breathe.

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded a little and Rick took the bowl and filled it with water as Ardeth sat back down and poured it over his shoulders, repeating that until the lather was gone. Then he re-soaped the cloth and started to wash himself off. "No. If you may spoil me so, Rick. I may do the same for you." Ardeth rose to his feet and stepped out of the water. And it was damned arousing to just crouch there and watch the way the water and firelight made Ardeth's skin glow.

              "Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?" Rick asked as Ardeth stepped out of the tub to stand beside him.

              "Nearly as much as you?" Ardeth asked with a smile.

              "Yeah, right." Rick shook his head and then rose to his feet and pulled Ardeth close to kiss him again. "You feel good all wet."

              "Do I?" Ardeth shook his head. "It always feels good to hold you so, Rick. Let us get you clean, hmm?"

              "Okay." He stepped into the water, and then sat down.

              "You will know I have no skill at this, so if I do it wrong simply tell me?" There was a smile that made Rick at little easier at the self-depreciation since there was as much humor to it as uncertainty.

              "With how quick you learn? I'm not worried. Water's not deep enough to drown in anyway."

              "That is a comfort." Ardeth rolled his eyes a little but he did almost exactly as Rick had expected and followed how Rick had washed him a few minutes before. But like all of Ardeth's learning, he improvised too, stroking a bit longer and with more care over those spots that Rick enjoyed.

              "Damn it, you learn quick."

              Ardeth chuckled. "Do you object to that as much as you always say?"

              "Only because you're going to leave me with nothing to teach you, Ardeth."

              "Somehow I doubt that, hmm? And even if it is true, we can practice until we are certain we get it right can we not?"

              Rick laughed. "Yeah, we can." He leaned forward so Ardeth could wash his back, then glanced over at him when Ardeth made no move to do so. "Ardeth?"

              Ardeth blinked and then stroked the cloth lightly across his shoulders. "How many lashes did they give you?" The words were soft.

              "Thirty." Rick answered just as softly, pretty sure Ardeth wasn't really thinking about the lashes he'd been given in prison.

              "I-- do not recall how many times he struck me." Ardeth said, but the cloth stroked very softly over Rick's shoulders.

              He closed his eyes and counted to ten slowly in Farsi. "I don't think it's the number of blows that matters, Ardeth."

              "No. Perhaps not." Ardeth replied. "Kneel up, hmm?"

              Rick looked over at him, not trying to hide the concern any. "That can wait if you want to talk, habib."

              Ardeth shook his head a little. "I-- do not think I can yet."

              "Okay." He nodded but he reached over and pulled Ardeth into a gentle kiss. "But you need to do it soon, Ardeth. You know it'll just get harder if you don't."

              "I know." Ardeth nodded. "Just-- not now, hmm? I very much want to simply take this joy we have and treasure it."

              "Okay." He nodded. They both needed the time together he figured. But he wasn't going to let Ardeth struggle with the memories alone either. He rose to his knees and smiled a little at the warmth that replaced some of the horror in Ardeth's eyes. "Am I that good to look at?" He recalled how Ardeth kept asking him that and gave it back.

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded. "Allah must know I have never known anyone who comes close to rousing me just to look at the way you do, Rick."

              Rick shook his head a little. "You need to look in a mirror sometime, habib."

              That got a small smile. "I could say the same." Ardeth re-soaped the cloth and Rick had to groan as Ardeth stroked the wet linen over his cock.

              "Tease."

              "Yes." Ardeth gave him another small smile. "I was attempting to."

              "Give me that." Rick took the cloth from him and put it aside. "Let's finish this together, okay?"

              "Will that work?"

              "Sure, let me just rinse off a bit."

              "I can do that too, Rick." Ardeth picked up the bowl and Rick let him rinse most of the soap away.

              "Enough. I want to wash your hair and then we can wash mine too?" He smiled.

              "I will not object to either, no." Ardeth smiled back and Rick sat back down.

              It was a bit of work to get them both settled in the warm water but the tub was a bit bigger than the last one they'd shared so it wasn't difficult either. He pulled Ardeth back against his chest and then kissed his shoulder. "Let's wash your hair, huh?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded and reached for the jug of soapy stuff again. "Are you certain we can mange this?"

              "Yeah, I'm certain. Close your eyes." Rick suggested and then reached down to pick the bowl back up and fill it with water to pour over Ardeth's head. He did it again to make certain it was wet enough and then took the jug from Ardeth and poured the stuff into his hands to lather it some before starting at the nape of Ardeth's neck and working it through his hair. "Feel good?"

              "Hmm. Very good. I will be so spoiled to comfort and decadence, Rick, that my tribesmates will not recognize me."

              "Right." He snorted. "I think you're strong enough to bear a bit of spoiling and decadence, Ardeth." He finished with the wash and then reached for the jug of clean water beside the tub to pour it over Ardeth's head, until the lather was gone. "There."

              Ardeth sighed, but only leaned his head back against Rick's shoulder. "Can we simply lie here for a bit, before we wash yours, habib?"

              "Yeah, Ardeth." He smiled and slid one arm around Ardeth's waist the other pouring occasional handfuls of water down his chest. "Tired?" He asked finally.

              "Hmm. Yes. But mostly I am only very content."

              "Good. Me too." Rick agreed. "It is really decadent to be soaking wet when I know there's a desert just outside."

              "Yes, it is." He could hear the smile in Ardeth's voice. "But it is more decadent to know that I am wet from head to toe and in your arms."

              "Good." He tightened the embrace a little. "We could take advantage of the water you know."

              "For something besides bathing?"

              "Bathing's like massages, Ardeth, it can lead to all sorts of things." Rick pushed the wet hair out of his way so he could nibble at Ardeth's ear, liking the shiver that got.

              "Mmm. Will it surprise you any to know I was hoping that it would?" There was a smile to the words but Rick could hear the undertone of embarrassment too which made him pretty sure Ardeth was blushing.

              "Nope." He let the word send a puff of air over Ardeth's wet skin just for the shiver that got and then kissed the spot under his ear and down his neck as much as he could manage in the position they were in. But he let his hands stroke up from Ardeth's waist and across his chest, brushing both nipples firmly.

              "Rick."

              He chuckled. "What? It's not like we have to worry anyone's going to interrupt us this time is it? Not that we let that stop us last time either."

              "No. That is true." Ardeth chuckled. "But we will need to get out of the tub at some point, hmm?"

              "Depends on what we want to do, habibi." He stroked his hands down to wrap one lightly around Ardeth's cock and it was still so damned good to feel the warm flesh fill his hand. He took a deep breath to push the tears back again.

              "God, Rick that feels so good." Ardeth groaned, but the pleasure didn't hide the tears in his voice either.

              "It's supposed to." Rick replied and only tightened his hand a little. "You feel so good, Ardeth."

              A soft sob. "I..."

              "Shhh. Sorry. I didn't mean..." he winced at his own thoughtlessness.

              "I know. I know. It is only...that...Allah's mercy Rick it feels so good to be whole."

              "Yeah." He kissed Ardeth's throat. "But I wouldn't love you any less if you weren't you know that right?"

              "Yes, habib. You convinced me of that earlier. I-- cannot say I understood it then or now, but I do not doubt it any."

              "It's simple, Ardeth. This..." He tightened his hand again, liking the groan that got. "Isn't what makes you you. It isn't what makes you brave, or stubborn, or the best man in the world that I know. Hell, it's not even what makes you a man you got that? Nothing the son of a bitch who hurt you did made you a damned bit less than you ever were or are or whatever. Okay?"

              "Rick..." There was a note of something in Ardeth's voice that cut through him like ice.

              "Shhh." He pulled his hand away, not sure if he's hurt him somehow or not and only wrapped both arms around Ardeth and held him as tight as he could. "I'm sorry."

              "No. Do not be sorry." Ardeth whispered. "I...Allah's mercy you would think I could be strong enough to not come so close to tears again do you not?"

              "Why? I've been fighting it myself all day." He muttered.

              "Truly?"

              "Yeah. We've both been through six kinds of hell lately, Ardeth. Sometimes I think I'm so worn out I don't know whether I want to laugh or cry. And you've been through more than I have, really."

              "I do not think so. Unfortunately I think we are as even on that as we are on so much Rick. Let us wash you're hair and dry off, hmm? As much as I enjoy this. I very much want to have you in my arms and I in yours. Besides, I can not kiss you."

              And that was just what he'd meant he almost laughed and at the same time he could have cried so easily. "Yeah."

              It took very little time to wash his hair and then they both got out of the water. Rick picked up one of the cloths and began to dry Ardeth off. Ardeth only caught his hand and pulled him into a long kiss that Rick met with all the passion he could. And it was enough for right that moment to just stand there in each others arms and take all the pleasure they could from that kiss. "Ardeth."

              "Hmm?"

              "Let's get dried off, huh? Then we can eat something, cause I know I'm starving and you have to be too, and then I just want to fall back into bed."

              Ardeth smiled, despite the remaining sadness Rick could see in his eyes. "That sounds like Paradise."

              "Yeah. It does." He agreed, taking the drying cloth and starting to run it over Ardeth's arms. And it struck him, suddenly, the same sort of epiphany he'd had out on the battle field at Ahm Shere when he'd realized he needed the army of Anubis and that it was just possible to win. "I think I figured it out."

              "Hmm?" Ardeth looked at him, curious now. "Figured what out, Rick?"

              "Why we're both having such a hard time dealing with what happened. Or why we think we shouldn't be having such a hard time I guess is better. It's because we're well."

              Ardeth only looked a little more confused. "I do not understand? Why would both of us now being well and whole, thanks be to Allah, be a reason for us both to be so lost?"

              Rick sighed. "Because we aren't well, habib. Not really. Just because the injuries are gone, just because there aren't scars, doesn't mean they're weren't wounds. Doesn't mean we don't have to heal in here." He touched Ardeth's heart. "If we'd had to heal from this all the normal way no one would have thought a thing about us crying or screaming in frustration or wanting to punch something so bad it hurt not to. None of it. So why the hell are we trying so hard not to do that, huh? Jesus Christ, Ardeth, we're just men, right?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded a little. "So you think it is that while we have been healed and made whole that does not undo the-- loss that having been hurt so gave us?"

              "Yeah." He nodded. "Am I making sense?"

              "I think so." Ardeth placed his hand over Rick's heart in turn. "I know you are well, and alive and here with me. But there is still a wound in m heart from the pain of knowing you were dead. Is that what you mean?"

              "Sort of. Yeah. The pain's real Ardeth, was, is, all of it. Just because the wounds are healed and gone doesn't mean we didn't take them. Doesn't mean we can't allow ourselves to heal from them. Right?"

              "I-- suppose it does not."

              Rick caught both of Ardeth's hands and brought them to his lips, kissing his fingers. "You're going to have nightmares about what the Germans did, Ardeth. I'm going to have nightmares about what the Germans did. Hell, we're both going to have nightmares for a while yet about things we saw in hell and that wasn't even real, right? So it's got to be okay to be shaken."

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded and tightened his hands in Rick's. "I think it must be." Ardeth pulled one hand free and ran his fingers through Rick's hair. "I could not find it in me to even grieve Rick, the loss was so great that it seemed as if a weight had simply crushed me beneath it and-- there was not even a way to grieve. Does that make any sense to you?"

              "Yeah, Ardeth. Hell, how many years did it take me before I could grieve over losing Evie?"

              "I had forgotten that." Ardeth sighed. "Eventually perhaps I will find it in me to grieve for the pain it caused me while you were lost, Rick. I do not know. There is still-- too much weight to it all yet for me to even think of it."

              "Yeah. I can understand that." Rick caught Ardeth's hand and placed a kiss against the palm. "I'm right here, habib."

              Ardeth nodded a little and curled his fingers around the kiss. "I-- could wish you had not had to bear such pain, Rick, as to die as you did."

              Rick shrugged a little. "Hurt like hell yeah, but not for long really. Guess it was a pretty nasty explosion though." He shivered a bit, because the very hazy memory he had of the whole thing was more of sensation than anything.

              Ardeth shuddered. "Yes. It was."

              "I kinda figured that given that you all had to go through so much work to get me back. Otherwise you could have just read from the book."

              "Horus had to help-- us find...you." Ardeth shook his head again. "I..."

              Rick took a deep breath and then asked, because it was only going to get harder if they waited. "How many pieces was I in, Ardeth?"

              And it was like he'd just punched Ardeth hard in the stomach the way the color left his face and he flinched hard. "Rick."

              "How many?" He repeated, gentler now, letting his hands stroke up Ardeth's arms to his shoulders and then around to his back pulling him close again.

              "Seven." Ardeth whispered against his shoulder.

              Rick shuddered himself trying to make sense of that. He almost wanted to ask what those seven pieces were but didn't. He remembered getting knocked off is feet, sort of, up into the air maybe. And not being able to breathe but then the memory was gone again. "Christ, I'm glad I don't remember much of that either, Ardeth."

              "When-- I saw you here? That night-- before I woke up in Ahm Shere when the healing was done. You were dead were you not?"

              "Yeah." Rick hugged him tighter. "I was."

              "I did not realize until later." Ardeth's hands slid down his back and then one came up to press against his throat again the other resting on his hip.

              "I wanted to tell you, but-- you were already in so much pain." He buried one hand in Ardeth's hair and then kissed him softly. "You don't have any scars for me to ask about, Ardeth, can you tell me yet...?"

              "It is all-- flashes of moments in my mind." Ardeth shuddered. "I-- do not think I can do this yet."

              Rick sighed. "We'll do it in pieces then. Let's get dressed, since Tahiri was nice enough to leave us clean clothes and then go back to your room and eat something since we're starving." He brushed his fingers through Ardeth's hair with a smile. "Then I'm going to brush your hair out if you'll let me and we can see about a nap."

              Ardeth nodded, but he didn't let go of Rick any and they stood there for a while, just wrapped in each others arms. "We should dry off, hmm?" Ardeth offered finally.

              "I'm glad it's warm in here. Fire or no fire we'd be freezing in England." He shrugged. "But I wanted to dry you off, yeah." Rick let him go slowly and then knelt down to pick up one of the drawing cloths.

              "Rick." Ardeth sounded almost amused, but he flushed a bit and Rick could see the arousal that sparked in his eyes.

              "What?" He smiled a bit more. "You like this?" He ran the soft linen up Ardeth's legs, drying the water that the desert air hadn't already evaporated.

              "Is there some reason you think I would not?" Ardeth asked in return.

              "Nope." He smiled a little more and then shifted so he was kneeling on the floor and not crouching and it wasn't hard at all to take Ardeth's cock in his mouth and tease the growing length with his tongue.

              "Rick." His name was a soft groan, and Ardeth's fingers slid through his hair. "I-- thought—we were going to get dressed."

              "We can dress later." He teased, pulling back enough to let Ardeth slip from his mouth. And it wasn't any harder to look up and meet Ardeth's eyes. "Feel good?"

              "Yes." Ardeth smiled a little, and still managed somehow to look shy which made Rick smile back. "But I can not stand while you do that." Ardeth traced his jaw with a gentleness that matched his expression and it made Rick suddenly feel damned shy himself. "Allah but you take my breath away, habib."

              "And you mine." He rose to his feet and pulled Ardeth back into his arms to kiss him. "Better dry ourselves off, Ardeth or I'm going to tumble you to the floor again."

              "Mmm. As I recall last time we bathed it was I who invited you to join me on the floor was it not?" Ardeth chuckled. "But now I think I am almost too exhausted to enjoy it well, habib. And there is food to be had upstairs. Plus if I am lucky there is coffee. My head would do well with some I think."

              "Right, I forgot about your hangover." Rick shook his head a little. "So we dry off get dressed go eat and then fall back into bed and see if we're napping first then making love or the other way around?"

              "That truly sounds as close to Paradise as anything."

              "Yeah. It does." He agreed. It didn't take any time at all to get as dressed as they cared to bother with. Which, he admitted wasn't a lot. He'd put on his pants and Ardeth had just wrapped his robes around him not bothering with his slacks or even his sash. Since the hallways were deserted Rick didn't really even care that they'd bothered with that. If Tahiri happened to be in their room, well, she'd seen them both in bed wearing nothing anyway. And he didn't know how he was going to deal with it if the damned priest was there. Because he owed the man more than he could imagine ever repaying and yet he couldn't keep from wanting to just rip his head off either. You don't have anything to be jealous of stupid. Worried and protective yeah, but not jealous. He shook his head a bit and decided to just add that to the long list of things he wasn't thinking about right now.

              Their room was just as empty as the hallway. But Tahiri had obvious been there because there was a meal set out on the table, the bed had been remade with dark blue linen sheets. Rick smiled a little and shook his head. "Think we can con her into coming to Ahm Shere with us, Ardeth? I'd pay her a fortune to clean up after Alex."

              That got a real laugh from Ardeth. "I think asking her to leave the land of the faithful is a bit much to expect of anyone, Rick."

              "Well, that depends on what you're going back to, doesn't it?" He pulled Ardeth into a quick kiss.

              "I suppose it does at that." Ardeth ducked his head, wet tangles of hair hiding whatever expression was in his eyes.

              "You're worth leaving Paradise for you know that?" Rick pointed out.

              "I-- do not know what to say to that, Rick." Ardeth met his eyes. "Except that I know in my heart I feel the same for you."

              "Sounds pretty good to me." He kissed Ardeth again, just for the joy of it and then walked over to the table. "Coffee, water or food?"

              "Coffee. Please?" Ardeth tossed the rest of his clean clothes onto the chest against the wall and Rick followed suit. "I wonder what she must make of the messes we leave?"

              "Probably exactly what they are, habibi." Rick chuckled, pouring Ardeth a cup of coffee and handing it to him as they both sat down.

              "Likely." Ardeth flushed just a bit, sipping his coffee. "I should know better than to drink, hmm?"

              "I think you were allowed." Rick reached over and traced his fingers along Ardeth's jaw. "How bad is your head?"

              "Nothing nearly so horrible as the other times I have tried drinking." Ardeth set the coffee down. "I am not certain what is a hangover and what is only exhaustion."

              "Yeah. I'm pretty tired myself." He smiled. "We never did get to finish those massages did we?"

              "No." That lighted Ardeth's eyes a bit. "Later perhaps?"

              "Sure. Unless of course we want to put that oil to better use."

              Ardeth colored slightly, but he nodded. "Allah must know that I would enjoy that far more."

              "Me too, habibi." He downed his own coffee and then poured them each a goblet full of water. Ardeth rolled his eyes a little. "So I like spoiling you." He shrugged.

              "I have noticed yes." Ardeth caught his hand and brought it to his lips, teasing Rick's fingers with light kisses and a few nibbles. "Even in the worst of my despair yesterday, Rick, you made me feel so very cherished."

              "Good. Then I did it right." Rick leaned over and kissed him. "Let's eat something Ardeth. Or we can take some of this over to the bed and feed each other again."

              That made Ardeth smile, and eased some of the exhaustion Rick could still see. "I am too hungry to enjoy the teasing, hmm? Let us eat and then perhaps we could be decadent and enjoy dessert?" The slight flush only made the soft invitation twice as appealing.

              "Sounds perfect." Rick agreed. But it was still hard to think about eating when Ardeth looked at him with that amazing mix of arousal and shyness in his eyes. Fortunately, they were both hungry enough to simply eat what they could quickly, leaving only the apples, cherries, cream and honey that Tahiri had left for them. Rick made a note to himself to thank her for the thought and finished off the last of the karkaday he'd poured for himself. "Your headache better, Ardeth?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded.

              "Good." Rick got to his feet and went over to the table against the wall to find a comb. He smiled a little at the look Ardeth gave him. "Just because my hair is short now, doesn't mean it always was, besides which I've dealt with Evie's for years now. So, you really want to fall into bed, make love, sleep, and then try to get a comb through your hair when it's dry?"

              Ardeth sighed. "No, not really."

              Rick nodded and then moved his chair over behind Ardeth's too begin working the comb through his hair. "I'm really glad you didn't cut this off a bit ago when you thought about it."

              "Truly?" There was a smile to his voice. "Sometimes it is a bother, but I have always thought I looked silly with it short. Rihana says it is like the beard. Without both I look about fifteen."

              "Do you?" Rick smiled at that, enjoying the contented sigh he got as he worked the comb through the damp waves. "Feel good?"

              "Yes. Why is it that things I have never even considered pleasurable are so very much so when you do them for me?"

              "I don't know, Ardeth. They just are." He finished with the comb. "There."

              "Thank you." There was still a smile to Ardeth's voice. "Likely I will need to comb it out again later though."

              "I sure hope so." He brushed the still damp hair out of the way and nibbled at Ardeth's throat.

              "Rick." There was more laughter in Ardeth's voice now so he just did it again.

              "Can I just have you for dessert?" He asked, purposefully blowing the words over Ardeth's skin.

              Ardeth groaned, leaning his head back a bit. "Is that what you desire?"

              "You taste good." He offered, reaching over Ardeth for the honey that was still on the table and wetting one finger with it to trace a line down Ardeth's neck and lick it clean, trying not to make too much of a mess since they had just washed up.

              "Rick." His name was a soft sigh, not quite as good as hearing Ardeth groan it in that low dark way he did in the middle of passion but not bad either.

              "Honey tastes good on you." He teased and then stood up to walk around so he was standing in front of Ardeth. "Bed, habibi?"

              "Yes." Ardeth caught his hand and Rick smiled as he licked the last of the honey from Rick's finger. "You taste good with honey as well, but better with cream."

              "Really?" He pulled his hand free and wet the same finger with cream this time, giving Ardeth a smile.

              Ardeth smiled back, but his eyes were hotter now and then he began to lick the cream from Rick's hand with obvious teasing. And it was as arousing as anything to let him do it.

              "Ardeth." He drew his hand away finally. "You're too good at teasing already."

              "Am I?" Ardeth smiled. "I want you to teach me how it is you take me so deep in your throat, habib. Or is it truly that we only need to practice more?" The flush that darkened Ardeth's skin only made him look twice as gorgeous as he had before and added a lot to the desire Rick was already fighting with.

              "Mostly it's just practice." Rick ran his other hand through Ardeth's hair. "And trying to keep your muscles relaxed while you do it. You want to practice now?"

              "Very much." Ardeth nodded. "Cream and cherries and honey?"

              "Let's eat that here, huh? Since we're only going to make a mess of the clean sheets Tahiri gave us."

              Ardeth stood up and then pulled him close and Rick did the same, meeting the kiss with all the passion he could pour into it. "We will make a mess of the bed whether or not we leave the food here, will we not?"

              "God, I hope so." Rick laughed, but he undid the ties on Ardeth's robes and just brushed them off his shoulders and onto the chair he'd been sitting in. Ardeth smiled, ducking his head a bit. "What?"

              "When you look at me like that, I can almost believe I am as good to look at as you think I am."

              "We have got to get you a really good mirror, Ardeth." He rolled his eyes. "You're so gorgeous."

              "As much as you?" Ardeth traced his jaw, sliding his fingers down Rick's throat and then down his chest to rest against his heart for a moment before reaching for his pants with both hands. "I want very much to love you."

              "Sounds perfect." Rick nodded, stepping out of the pants as Ardeth pushed them down his legs. "Dessert later?"

              "If you wish to have food for dessert, yes."

              He laughed. "Maybe later." He kissed Ardeth again. "Right now, I want to make love until we can't remember our names, Ardeth."

              "Likely I will pass out first, hmm? I could sleep standing in your arms right now, Rick. But I do not want to waste our time here sleeping."

              "Me either." He stroked his hands down Ardeth's back. "But if we're too tired we can sleep now and then make love you know."

              "Hmm, no, it is much better to make love and then sleep in your arms. Although waking in your arms and then making love is good too."

              Rick chuckled. "Come to bed, Ardeth. We'll just enjoy whatever happens, huh?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded, and then stepped toward the bed, giving Rick the options of letting go or going with him.

              Rick just smiled and kissed him again, because kissing Ardeth was always fun. "Bet Tahiri left us more oil too."

              "If we are fortunate." Ardeth smiled and then just sat down on the mattress, sliding his hands down Rick's chest to his waist. "Although I think we had enough left from before."

              "Maybe." Rick ran his fingers along Ardeth's jaw. "But it's always better to have more than not enough, huh?"

              "Very likely." Ardeth smiled and then turned his head a bit to tease Rick's fingers with his lips and tongue. "But there are always-- how do you say it? Other things besides oil, hmm?"

              "Christ, Ardeth." Rick shook his head a bit and then had to sigh as Ardeth drew two fingers into his mouth for a long moment. "How'd you get so good at that so quick?"

              "You inspire me." Ardeth chuckled as he pulled away and then laid back on the bed, pulling Rick with him. "I want very much to make love with you now, habibi."

              "You do, huh?" Rick smiled.

              "Yes. Likely I will not have the strength or the stamina I could wish for, but I want so much to make it love between us, habib."

              Rick propped himself up on one arm and met the dark brown eyes for a long moment. "Whatever we do or don't do, Ardeth. It already is." He made is as much of a promise as he could squeeze into the words and then kissed Ardeth again to seal it.

              "Allah but you take my breath from me, Rick." Ardeth whispered when he finally broke the kiss.

              "Then we're even again." Rick smiled. "What do you want, Ardeth? Huh?"

              "As always, Rick, I want everything we have ever done. There is nothing yet that has not been perfect."

              Rick sighed, kissing Ardeth's throat and then teasing the still red passion mark he's left earlier. "All of it, huh?"

              "Yes. You make me enjoy the oddest things, Rick."

              "I do?" He smiled, moving to tease Ardeth's ear with his tongue. "Like washing your hair?"

              "Hmm, yes. Or like that...How can something so-- simple feel so good?"

              "This?" He breathed the word over Ardeth's ear and then bit lightly at the lobe, and the soft groan that got was really worth it. So he did it again.

              "Rick."

              "You taste good." He smiled a little.

              "As do you. Please, habib. I do not think I can-- take much teasing, now? It all still feels so good."

              "Well I'd say you're allowed to enjoy it." Rick reached down and ran his hand lightly over Ardeth's cock, and it was still really good for him too, just to feel the weight of it in his hand like this, even only half-aroused like Ardeth was. Ardeth arched his back a little, pressing into the caress with a moan. "Good?"

              "Yes. It-- feels like-- fire, Rick. So very strong... but so good."

              "Yeah?" He stroked again. "Little sensitive still, huh?"

              "Yes." It was a low groan in Arabic. "Rick."

              "Want me to drink you down again?" He asked, moving down a bit to tease one nipple with his tongue, letting his other hand balance his weight for now.

              "I want-- that. And I want to feel you inside me, and I want to be inside you and...so much. Any. All. Only-- Allah do not stop, Rick?"

              "I won't stop, Ardeth I promise." Rick raised his head enough to meet the dark brown eyes and smiled. "Can I have you inside me, habib?" He stroked his hand back a little over Ardeth's balls, feeling the long shudder that went through Ardeth's at the caress. "Good?"

              "Yes." It was a low whisper of sound. "I-- do not know that I can-- manage the control, Rick. I...it feels, so good yet."

              "Okay." He smiled. "Let's try, huh? And if you can't last that's okay too. Felt good for you earlier when it was just my fingers didn't it?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded a little. "It always feels so good when you touch me inside, Rick. Even yesterday when-- before..."

              "Say it, Ardeth. It takes the horror out of it." He stroked Ardeth's cock again. "It felt good when I touched you inside and what?"

              "I-- could not rouse to you." Ardeth whispered. "Allah, Rick, it still felt so good."

              "Yeah?" He smiled gently, and then kissed Ardeth's throat. "Told you it wasn't going to stop me from loving you didn't I?" He tightened his grip just a little. "Nothing he did makes me stop loving you, Ardeth."

              "I know." Ardeth's hands gripped his shoulders a bit too strongly, but he didn't argue with the grip either. "Even last night, when-- I could not dare to hope, I knew you meant it." Ardeth's hands left his shoulders to trace down his back. "I do not understand it, Rick. But I believe it with all of my heart."

              "Good because I meant it then, and I mean it now, okay Ardeth?"

              "Yes." Ardeth shook his head a little. "I do not-- want to dwell on that now, Rick. Please?"

              "Yeah." He nodded. "Maybe I've been hanging around you too long, huh? I forget how to say things simply." Rick smiled and then leaned down and kissed Ardeth long and deep, with as much joy as he knew how. "I love you."

              "That is indeed both simple and yet a joy unlike anything I have ever known." Ardeth smiled back, despite the fact that Rick could see the unshed tears in his eyes. "And I you, Rick. And I you."

              "That's better than Paradise." He promised, meaning it.

              Ardeth gave him one of those crazy shy sort of looks, considering they were naked and in bed already making love, but it still melted Rick's heart a lot. "I am honored that you think so."

              "Just truth, Ardeth." He kissed him again and then rolled them over so Ardeth was on top of him. "You want to see if we have the self-control for this, Ardeth?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded. "Only-- do not let this fire get the better of me, hmm? I do not want to..."

              "Now who's coddling who, huh?" Rick chuckled. "No more sacrifices, habib, okay? Not me, not you. I'll tell you if we're going to fast or whatever."

              "Good." Ardeth smiled, and then stroked his hand down Rick's side, along his ribs. "Because while loving you always brings me joy. Nothing is as good as when we are both so lost in it together."

              "Yeah." Rick sighed. "Oil, Ardeth?"

              "Yes." Ardeth reached over and picked up the jug of oil from the basket beside the bed. "We must bring her gifts."

              "Yeah." Rick smiled, and then rolled them both onto their sides putting his right leg over Ardeth's since that seemed to work best when they did this the other way around. "I want to see you." He explained.

              Ardeth set the oil down behind Rick, and he could feel the warmth of it against his back. "Joy beyond what my heart can hold, habib." Ardeth traced his jaw and then kissed him. Rick pulled his friend as close as he could, liking the way their cocks slid against each other. It was a crazy sort of thing to enjoy but he did.

              "Ardeth." He broke the kiss to lean his head back a bit. "I want you inside me, huh?" He stroked his hand down Ardeth side along his hip, and then recalled what it was Ardeth said so often when they did this. "Make me whole?" He pressed his hand against Ardeth's heart. "Make us whole, huh?"

              Ardeth stared at him and then closed his eyes, leaning forward to rest his forehead against Rick's chest for a moment. "And you say you have no poetry?"

              "Borrowed yours." Rick stroked his hand through the still slightly damp hair. "Make love to me, Ardeth?"

              "Yes, mukalb. With all my heart." Ardeth raised his head and blinked hard, obviously forcing back the tears. "You give me wings, Rick O'Connell."

              "Fair is fair." He smiled and then reached behind him to find the jug of oil and pick it up. "Think we have the self control for this, habib?"

              "In'sh'Allah?" Ardeth smiled back. "Likely I will embarrass myself though."

              "By coming?" Rick rolled his eyes. "Enjoying it is the point, Ardeth."

              "Yes. But enjoying it together is best." Ardeth flushed just a little. "And it is best of all when we are one together when we do so."

              "Yeah, okay. That I'll buy." He kissed Ardeth lightly. "Then let's make us one, huh?" He opened the jug of oil and poured some onto his hand then caught Ardeth's and smoothed it over his friend's fingers.

              "You will make me envy my own skin again." Ardeth sighed.

              "Yeah?"

              "Very much." Ardeth pulled his fingers away and Rick just met his eyes as those strong fingers stroked lightly over his cock and then back over his balls, feather light which just made him arch into the caress. "You feel so good, Rick."

              "Not as good as you touching me feels, Ardeth." He caught his breath sharply as Ardeth's fingers slid a bit further back, teasing now. "Now, habib?"

              "Yes." Ardeth nodded a little, but he kept Rick's gaze as that first finger pressed gently inside. And God but it was impossible to keep his eyes open when it felt so good. Crazy thing to feel so good it stole his breath like this but it did. He'd never understood what Rolande had seen in the whole thing until now. Because he really did want Ardeth to touch him like this. As much as he loved being the one inside Ardeth this was so good too.

              "Rick?" Ardeth's voice was lower now, a bit softer too. And his name sounded really good in that dark whisper.

              "Yeah. Feels so good." He managed to open his eyes.

              "Good." Ardeth smiled, and then kissed him long and deep, until they had to stop and try to breathe. Ardeth met his eyes and Rick could see the desire so clearly in the nearly black depths. "Two?"

              "Yeah." He nodded, and this time managed to keep his eyes open as Ardeth eased the second finger into him. And maybe it was exhaustion or just that he wanted it so much right now, or maybe they were getting more used to it because this time there wasn't even a bit of discomfort with that. It was odd still yeah, full and tight but it felt so good too.

              "I am not hurting you, habib?" Ardeth asked in that same low whisper.

              "No. Feels really good."

              "Always it feels so good to touch you like this." Ardeth nodded and then the fingers inside him moved a bit more and found that spot that was enough to make him want to come right then, only better because he could enjoy it a dozen times in a row and it was always that good. He tossed his head back, and just let himself enjoy it.

              "Three now, Ardeth, please?" He was really tempted to just skip that part if Ardeth would, because Rolande hadn't always needed it and so it must have felt good to do it without right? And he really, really, just wanted to feel Ardeth inside him right now. Probably about as much as Ardeth did. And damn but he was going to have to thank Imhotep for this somehow. But it was worth it. Ardeth pulled his fingers away after another few touches. "Ardeth?" He managed to open his eyes again.

              "Three now, I needed more oil, habib." Ardeth smiled and then the fingers slid into him, and this time it was tight and a little uncomfortable for a second or two but he didn't care about that either. "Rick?"

              "Just full, Ardeth. God I don't want to wait huh?" He picked up the jar of oil himself, having to bite back a groan at the way his movements shifted Ardeth's fingers inside him. "Christ. Right there please?"

              Ardeth whispered something that might of been his name and stroked over that spot again and then again. And it was even better with the added pressure of three fingers. Rick poured some oil onto his hand again and then with Ardeth's help got the bottle restoppered. He stroked the oil lightly over Ardeth's cock, just to enjoy the feel of the hard heavy weight in his hand. And it was going to take them both a bit to really come to terms with the miracle it seemed because Ardeth arched his back and gave a low moan that was really, really good to hear. "Rick."

              "Yeah." He agreed because it really was almost enough to make him come too just to see and feel Ardeth enjoying his touch so much. Somehow, he managed to set the oil behind Ardeth onto the table as Ardeth drew his fingers free. Rick rolled onto his back and didn't even mind the few moments of awkwardness it took for them to find the position they wanted. He met Ardeth's eyes and did his best to keep the gaze as Ardeth finally, and far too slowly in Rick's opinion slid into him.

              "Rick...." His name was a groaned sort of sob. "Habibi."

              "Yeah, we are." He found a smile. "Feels so good, Ardeth." He reached up, finding a grip on Ardeth's hips and just pulled him closer, deeper and it was an explosion of sensation that left him gasping. "More." He forced the word out because Ardeth was going to worry otherwise and there was no way in hell they were stopping now.

              "Rick." this time it was a growl but Ardeth didn't pull away either, just rocked forward a bit, then again. And Rick couldn't even think about anything but the fact that they were actually doing this. And how damned good it felt. He managed to open his eyes and the joy and wonder in Ardeth's made him smile.

              "God you feel huge." He managed to words.

              "Good?" Ardeth asked, his voice a rough sort of groan.

              "Yeah. So good. More now?"

              "Yes." Ardeth shifted a bit, and Rick groaned himself at the sensation as Ardeth drew away and then thrust back and his cock pressed over that spot inside that made it perfect.

              "Better than-- Paradise." And he meant it.

              Ardeth managed a laugh that was really more of a groan and then Rick couldn't even think, just let the crazy spiral of hunger and passion pull him under and then toss him back into his skin with a sudden inescapable rush and he managed to whisper Ardeth's name as he came. Ardeth thrust into him again as deep and hard as Rick had ever known him too and it was enough to bring tears to his eyes as Ardeth shuddered and sobbed out his name and Allah's spilling into Rick in one almost continuous wave of heat that felt as good as anything Rick had ever known. Somehow and he was way too fuzzy on the details they managed to get his legs lowered from Ardeth's shoulders and he didn't mind a bit that Ardeth was lying full on top of him. And he was never ever going to question Evie again on why she didn't mind a bit being squashed under him at times like this. He smiled to himself at the thought because it really was kinda crazy to compare the two but he didn't care either.

              "Ardeth?" He found his voice finally, running one shaky hand up Ardeth's back. "Mukalb?" He smiled a bit more, meaning the endearment really.

              "Gami'an, ehna." Ardeth whispered, but the tears were obvious. "Habibi."

              That took Rick a minute to translate and he just tightened his arms around Ardeth. "Yeah, Ardeth, we're whole, and together the both of us." He found the strength to raise his head and kiss Ardeth's shoulder. "Thanks be to God." He really meant it. Later he'd worry about it, about the tears he could feel soaking his shoulder. God knew Ardeth was entitled. And as long as they were there and whole and complete in each other's arms he was willing to just hold on.

On to Chapter 10

Back to Chapter 8

 

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Fiction