Disclaimer: I own nothing, zilch, nada...

Read and Review please?

To Huskygirl1998: O.O whoa neat idea! I am Merry Christmas, so back atcha, and Happy Holidays to everyone! Thank you!

To Guest 1: Yeah, wanted a cute way to end the story so the remaining blush would be the best as anything else would get Larry in trouble. Thank you!

To Guest 2: The inner dynamics of the museum and its inhabitants relationships are fun to do, it will be fun to explore! Thank you!

To TMNT Fan: Yes, the miniatures need a "bigger" part, working them into this two part drabble. ;) Thank you!

To flick windsnap, gotoRoomgirl, , FullMoonPhoenixShadow, wolfrain5898, muffins and sprinkles, Batman91939, Elven Jedi Companion, GalaxyGirl317: Thank you so much for the follows and faves!

****Thank you to Bookworm Gal for the main idea, and ImLostForever for the idea of human clothes, the fighting was researched online so if it's a bit off I apologize, This will be a two part!******

Chapter Four, part One

Mugs are for Coffee

Xxx August

Thank whatever deity that cared to listen there was coffee always available somewhere in New York. The last month of night shifts had been long and grueling, even with summer having shorter nights Larry's job didn't get easier. Nicky was busy like none other in sports and summer fun, meaning on Larry's days he was running all over the place.

Then worked eight hours at the craziest job in the world. Summer fever had even hit some of the exhibits, especially the animals, driving them up the walls, (in some cases literally) and driving everyone else nuts. Even Teddy's amazing patience was wearing thin, he and Ahkmenrah had brought it up to Larry to let the tablet be inactive for one night just so everyone would settle down.

The night guard was seriously considering it as he left the museum after another long night. He'd given up and had outright restrained the animals in the Hall of African Mammals, shutting down and locking up a couple of the wings for the night, including the Mammoth and the Ocean World. Needless to say Dexter hadn't been happy to be put back into the hall so early and had proceeded to complain along with all the others for a good hour before they all gave up and fell silent.

Everyone was getting frustrated, and Larry had to think of something quick to deal with it, watching the others tonight help round up the animals and straighten the museum back into order only proved that fact. Teddy was getting worn out from all the chaos, both he and Sacajawea hadn't had time to themselves for weeks as they'd been helping Larry maintain order, or at least keep everyone inside, order was beginning to slip. Larry even saw Ahkmenrah getting frustrated, and trying to keep a level head and keep others from seeing him lose it.

They were all at their wit's end...

It was a hot, humid, foggy morning in New York. A tropical storm had blown North up the Atlantic coast, dying down and losing some of its strength, but not the moisture, and was currently proceeding to drench the city and make it a warm gross mess.

Larry was soaked within minutes, dragging his feet already from exhaustion and still having to run errands before going to bed.

xxx

Two blocks from his apartment in the lower end of the area, he never saw the first fist coming, and after that it was too much of rain soaked blur to tell what happened for him to end up curled on the ground against an alley wall, struggling to breathe and wondering what time it was.

A slow inspection of his being found his cell phone smashed beyond recognition, probably got dropped and stomped on. His watch was gone, his apartment keys missing, his wallet emptied of all but his library card. And he hurt like none other.

The walk the rest of the way home was the worst of his life, the landlord could have cared less when Larry let him know he'd have to replace the lock on the door, just said get the money for the replacement as soon as possible.

Calling the bank and credit card companies to cancel his cards took hours, as did trying to clean himself up enough to go to work. It was no use doing more than that, he never got a look at his attackers so why bother with the authorities?

xxx

He moved almost glacier slow as he locked everything up, glad summer hours meant sunset was a bit later so he could get things done between clocking in and everything waking up for other night. The Hall of African Mammals was his last stop, and by this point he was limping and trying really hard to stay upright, his entire body just throbbing. He groaned softly as the warmth in the air shifted from summer heat to the tablet's nightly power, the familiar growling beginning behind him as he turned to see the lions stepping off their platform, the male snarling angrily.

Trying to talk the five hundred pound male down was hopeless, his throat was killing him and his voice came out as a croak. He tried to back up slowly, unfortunately he clipped his shoulder on the half opened gate and crashed to the ground at the pain the impact caused. Larry didn't know which was louder, the lion's roar as he lunged or his own yell at just how much it hurt to hit the floor like that.

He closed his eyes to not see it, knowing for a fact the teeth in the lion's jaws were all real and all sharp.

Wasn't expecting the main lioness to nuzzle his cheek, chuffing until he rolled onto his side with a groan and slowly sat up. The animals were crowded around him quietly, lending warmth to his aching body as he shoved himself back against the wall to have something to lean against. It hurt to breathe, hurt to move, hurt to blink, hell it hurt to exist...

xxx

Theodore Roosevelt smirked as he watched Ahkmenrah drop into the chair behind the main desk, spinning slightly to keep from hitting anything within reach. The pharaoh groaned as he dropped his head onto his folded arms, shoulders slumped as the president patted his back encouragingly.

"Ocean World contained?"

"For now, the whales are rather loud this evening..."

The president nodded in agreement, tugging an ear as the haunted sounding calls echoed through the halls.

"Has anyone seen Gigantor this evenin'?"

Both turned to see Jed leaning on the rack full of maps, and shook their heads, no one had seen the night guard yet.

"Probably rounding up the African Mammals, they're the farthest from the security office, would take him the longest."

Jed shrugged, waving as he headed off to entertain Rexy for the night. Ahk set his head back down as the whale calls increased in volume, groaning softly at the most likely building headache.

The two remained there in silence for several minutes, trying to decide which issue to tackle first...

When all the echoing, howling, roaring, and noise just stopped, leaving an eery silence.

"Well that's either really good or really bad."

Ahkmenrah nodded as he stood up, both turning to the stairs when Luna, the white tigress, appeared at the top, hissing impatiently. Neither moved as she stalked down to them, circling them anxiously and chuffing.

"Ahkmenrah..."

"Yes?"

"Any ideas?"

"The tablet is upstairs..."

Luna picked up on their anxiousness, settling down with her body language before stepping forward, lightly shoving Teddy towards the stairs by pushing against his legs with her shoulder. Ahk was given the same treatment, both being forced to move quickly as the tigress' insistence grew.

Neither fought back, Luna may be the tamest cat, but she was also the deadliest, being lighter, faster, and had the sharpest claws. She guided them up the stairs and towards the Hall of African Mammals, starting to growl as they neared it to make the two to move faster.

When they turned the last corner, they finally saw why.

xxx

It wasn't until close to two am that Larry finally managed to open his eyes again. Actually only really opened one, the other was swollen shut and unmoving.

A sigh slid from his lips before he tried to sit up and figure out how the heck he ended up on the pull out couch in the security office when he distinctly remembered trying to lock up the lions.

Two sets of hands pushed him back down, the words sounding fuzzy before his aching head cleared enough to hear properly.

Ahkmenrah sat next to him, holding an ice pack out for him to press against his eye as he met the pharaoh's and Teddy's gazes.

"Uh...hi guys. Nice night?"

Teddy looked anything but joking, "Lawrence...what happened, half the museum is tense and staying put, the other half is worried sick after seeing Ahkmenrah and I carry you down here. You'd passed out my good man, what in god's name happened?"

"It's New York Teddy, got mugged on my way home from work. No big deal-"

Ahk's grip on his shoulder tightened as he sat up, and almost fell over with his spinning vision.

"Oh boy..."

The two historical figures helped him sit back, moving pillows to support him as he groaned softly. Man he was sore...

"How bad is it?"

Teddy sighed softly, "You have a concussion, a mild one but I wouldn't suggest moving right now. Your eyes is a rather fantastic shade of purple, but the swelling should be gone by morning if you use the ice. Bruises and a few cuts, nothing more, but Lawrence do not take this lightly. You could have been much more seriously hurt!"

"I know!" He coughed, changing his tone after snapped, "I know Teddy...there's not much I can do...didn't see the muggers so police can't do anything, already took care of everything that was stolen-"

The dual intake of air made Larry sigh again, and he moved the ice pack enough to glance at both of them. Ahk looked worried and anxious while Teddy just looked downright furious.

"Pharaoh if you would be so kind as to stay with Lawrence here, I shall go settle the masses leaning on the door and get everyone back to their places."

"Teddy! Wait, I'm fine! I can take care of things-"

Larry somehow managed to stumble to his feet before collapsing, his legs giving out in time for Ahk to catch him and keep him from falling to the floor.

"Or not..."

The president grunted softly, nodding when Ahkmenrah helped Larry back to the couch to rest.

"Thanks Ahk."

The pharaoh hummed in response, settling next to him silently as he laid there, holding the ice pack to his face to ease the pain. Dumb idea to blow this off, dumb idea to think he could get through the night without questions, dumb all around...

He was honestly too exhausted to care at this point, wincing when he jumped at the sound of angry yells out in the hall. Ahk stood and shut the door again, blocking out most of the noises. Apparently Teddy had broken the news and no one was taking it well...

xxx

Limping down the the front doors to unlock them for the morning staff, Larry waved as Ahkmenrah returned to his exhibit, the pharaoh nodding in parting before heading up the stairs, having not said a word all night to the guard.

Teddy was mounting Texas when he arrived, watching Larry carefully before glancing up to Ahkmenrah at the railing on the second floor. Both shared a short nod that the night guard never saw before Ahk disappeared into his exhibit.

Larry clocked out as dawn was seconds away, Teddy settling in the saddle and drawing his sword.

"Teddy-"

"Good day Lawrence."

Sunrise kept either one from continuing, but the president's tone only made it even more clear just how everyone thought of the situation. Larry knew the smile on the wax figures face was fake, even if no one else did.

In all honesty, the next night was the one Larry was dreading.

xxx

Erica and Don blew a gasket when he came to see Nicky the next afternoon, he had come to say he wasn't going to be able to take Nicky back to his apartment for awhile, at least until a new lock was installed. They insisted the boy wouldn't be going with Larry until he lived in a better part of town.

He didn't blame them, heck he agreed after a few seconds, it wasn't safe there and with a new and higher paying job he could afford it. It was just a matter of finding the right place and time to move.

Returning to the museum that night was not something he wanted to do, but it had to be done.

Everyone was awake and moving by the time he arrived, he'd had to call his insurance company to let them know he'd be moving and then the bank had called him back, dragging his arrival time back even farther.

Luckily things hadn't gone to hell within the twenty minutes he was late. Instead everyone acted like one wrong move would break the night guard. And to them it made sense, every night for decades they'd wake up after sundown, and were practically immortal. Night guards...not so much, a visible sign of how fragile true humans were unnerved them.

Teddy met him at the security office, leading him silently to Ahkmenrah's exhibit where the pharaoh, Attila, and both miniature empire leaders were waiting.

"Uh...hey guys...what's going on?"

"Lawrence, we've all discussed it and are in agreement, you are too valuable to not only the museum but to us as well."

"Guys-"

"Shut up Gigantor, we ain't done!"

The night guard shut his mouth, looking to each of them, the residual anger at him being harmed was still there from the night before, but there was also genuine concern that surprised him.

"My liege, you not only guard the museum's valuable artifacts, but you also ensure our safety as well, keeping us in and others out so the secret is not revealed and possible harm comes to any of us. Your job is highly respected, and your position among us even more so."

Larry stood stunned, looking to all of them "I...really? I mean c'mon guys, most of my job is keeping you guys from fighting with each and with me. I'm just the night guard."

"No you are not Larry, you keep this museum and its occupants in line, you keep this secret safe from those who would mean us harm, and you helped me as well." Ahkmenrah shifted slightly, a faint smile on his face before going serious again.

"R-really?"

Teddy crossed his arms over his chest, "Lawrence, we all say you are valuable here, just as worth protecting as we are, right?"

"Hell ya!"

"I swear by Jupiter himself it is so."

Attila grunt, "Tiim"

"Aywa"

Ahk's voice was softest, but also the surest, none of them looking a bit hesitant or joking as Larry looked around again before sighing in defeat.

"Alright...now what's going on, you had to have pulled me here for something."

Teddy laughed, "To discuss something of utmost importance lad!"

"And that is."

"The start of your training."

This is open to suggestions/ideas as well if you lovely readers want to, just stick your thoughts in the little white box below! I take them and work with them as I get them and insert the drabbles as they fit with the series, trying to keep in order with the movies but will see how long it lasts.