A/N: Here's another fanfic for Night At The Museum! It begins shortly before the start of the second movie and goes forward from there. I don't own the franchise. Enjoy!

Chapter One

"Be careful! That's a four thousand year old mummy you're handling!"

I brushed a strand of my red hair away from my eyes in frustration. I was supervising the workers who were putting together the newest exhibit in the Smithsonian. I had only just gotten back from Egypt a few hours ago and the lack of sleep was getting to me.

"Alright, put him right in the center of the exhibit."

I watched as the workers carefully put down the beautifully decorated sarcophagus in the center of the exhibit.

I had only recently gotten my degree in Egyptology, and had just been hired a few weeks ago for the Smithsonian's Egyptology department. My father, the current department head had invited me to come with him on a research trip in the Valley of the Kings.

Who could have known that I'd end up discovering a tomb by walking right into it?

Normally if one sets out to find the tomb of a Pharaoh you know what you're looking for, and already have an idea as to where it might be.

"There's my little star!"

I turned to see my father, who had just arrived. He handed me a drink from the nearby Starbucks, which I gratefully accepted.

"Thanks dad. The set up is going very well. It's going to be a really nice exhibit."

"I spent forty years searching for the tomb of Kahmunrah and you find it by walking right into it! Your mother would be so proud of you."

"I think so too."

My mother had died a year ago – I had seriously considered putting my studies on hold to be with her, but she insisted I see it through. I turned back to the workers, who were putting in the last pieces of the exhibit.

"Alright, great work today everyone! I'll see you all back in here tomorrow."

The workers then left, leaving me and my dad in the exhibit.

"Is the gate set up as well?" I nodded.

"Yeah, it's been put up. The last pieces are arriving tomorrow afternoon so we'll be able to finish setting up."

I took one last glance at the exhibit, and we left.

"Will you be coming home tonight or staying here late to study?"

"I'm going to do some studying. I want to have a look at the mummy before the workers arrive back tomorrow.:

My father nodded, and gave me one last hug before he left. I headed to my own small office, which had notes and pictures from the dig scattered everywhere. I got to organizing them, so that when I began the next phase of my research tomorrow there would be some level of organization. Being in the archives, it gave me a chance to get some peace and quiet when I would study.

"Let's get you all organized."

I started with all the pictures, organizing them by what had been photographed. Depictions of the gods, as well as all of the military exploits had a decent sized pile of pictures for each one.

My notes did not need too much time before they were in the order I wanted them due to my habit of dating each note so I would know precisely when it had been written. Sipping my peppermint mocha, I went over some of the other pictures, matching them to notes that were specifically about what was depicted.

"Now I see why you had such a blood thirsty reputation."

Looking at the clock, it was almost nine at night. I thought for a moment, figuring I could have a quick nap before I got back to my work.

I put on my sweater that had been hanging on the back of my chair to keep warm. I cleared my desk so I would not knock anything off by accident and closed my eyes, grateful for the opportunity to get some much needed rest.

Sacagawea had felt bad when she had first learned about how many of the exhibits from New York were going into permanent storage. It not only meant being separated from Teddy but it also meant being taken away from many others she had grown to regard as a part of her family.

It also meant that she would no longer come to life at night thanks to the Tablet of Ahkmenrah – which would be staying behind in New York. So when she awoke again that night, it took her a moment to realize what had happened.

"Dexter, you know better than to take things that do not belong to you!"

The rest of the exhibits from New York had regained their senses, wondering why they had come to life when they should have been asleep. Seeing Dexter holding Ahkmenrah's tablet answered that question.

Seeing that the doors to the crate they were in were unlocked, Sacagawea poked her head out, wanting to see where they were. Stepping out carefully, she motioned for some of the others to join her.

"We should find out where we are. Maybe there's someone here who can help us."

Jedediah and Octavius sat on the hat of another of their friends, Atilla the Hun. Along with Dexter and the tablet, the group made their way down a corridor, seeing other exhibits around them coming to life. Most of the exhibits seemed surprised to be able to move around, and that they were aware of what was going on around them.

"I'm sure we will find someone who can help us." Sacagawea had just been about to head up a staircase when Octavius spoke up.

"Look, over there! There's a light on!"

Hearing the noises was what had initially woken me up. I thought maybe something had arrived and was being put into the archives but when I kept hearing what sounded like crates being broken, I decided to get my behind up and investigate the source of the noise.

I stepped out of my office and looked around, and heard someone calling me.

"Excuse me, can you help us?"

I turned to the source of the noise and found myself very confused.

"Uh, what's going on?"

The woman, Sacagawea, introduced herself to me, and then introduced those she was with.

"Would you happen to know where we are?"

"Yeah, you're in the archives at the Smithsonian. Why do you ask?"

Sacagawea showed me the tablet that was being held by a monkey.

"Dexter here decided to take Ahkmenrah's tablet. This tablet brings us to life at night."

While I did not want to believe what I was being told, it was right in front of me.

"Then that means the biggest museum in the world is coming to life."