Hope
(I’m a bad tumblr friend for not doing this sooner and I hope you still love me @lokitapendragon, and I hope you like this!)
“Believe it or not,” Nicks scathing voice reached Vails ears. “The Egyptian Book of the Dead is not in the Cairo public library!” Vail didn’t even flinch at the shout anymore. Nick’s hope had been infectious when he first came up with the idea that the Book might help...but that hope was just as debilitating now.
“Nick, I’m sorry it was just a suggestion.” Vail apologized for probably the eight thousandth time today.
“Sorry doesn’t get Set out of my head Chris!” Nick’s temper was worse too, after all their issues with the book. Vail took the yelling with a straight spine and eye contact. He wasn’t going to let Nick drive him away because he was angry. However that didn’t mean he had to take it in silence.
“I get that Nick! I understand that! I really do!” Chris yelled back and looked away as the setting sun burned into his eyes. “Why don’t you find us somewhere to stay for the night, I need a drink.” Vail untied his horses reins from the post outside the library and swung up into the saddle. Just because he was angry didn’t mean he wanted to verbally punch it out with his best friend, and the bar was the one place Vail could go where Nick wouldn’t follow. He felt like kind of a jerk knowing how much Nick wanted a drink but didn’t to keep Set in check. Vail could see Nick’s scowl beneath the cloth but instead of apologizing like he should he just kept his mouth shut.
“Fine but if I have to come look for you at bar close you’re sleeping in a sand dune.” Nick replied curtly and mounted his horse before nudging it on toward the very edge of Cairo, where no one would find them. Vail didn’t even think about how he would find Nick later, much less how he would find Nick while drunk. The bar Vail picked was shady and almost empty. Sitting at the bar and keeping his head down and eyes on his drink, he hoped no one would bother him. After maybe his fourth or fifth drink Vail’s mind drifted to the day they found that stupid coffin...sarcophagus, whatever it was. He didn’t care about the technicalities. He almost died that die...then he actually did die. Nick said he’s stabbed Greenway first then went after Nick and the soldiers...no, that wasn’t right. Nick said he’d gone after Jenny...Jenny! That’s it! She could help! Vail dug into every damned pocket he had in his pants and jacket before he found it. “I knew I would need this someday.” It was Jenny’s number, hastily scrawled on a bar napkin from their last night of peace in Iran, three days before they found Ahmanet. Nick had no use for the number since he’d gone with Jenny to her hotel but Vail had snagged the napkin before he left the bar that night, thinking he would need it someday and oh had that day come. Making his way to the crappy pay phone at the back of the bar, Vail dug out all the change he could before quickly dialing the number on the napkin. Holding his breath during the series of rings that followed it was amazing he didn’t pass out by the time a voice answered.
“Hello?” The female voice had an obvious British accent so Vail knew it was her.
“Jenny! It’s Chris Vail, I need your help!”
