Chapter 29
The voice somehow carried all the way across the room. Even more shocking was that the voice had risen from the normally passive pharaoh.
"Look at all of you, squabbling about like children! Over what?" He'd have to ask Teddy what exactly this NASCAR was, but for now, he'd fudge it. "I understand defending one's idols passionately, but not at the risk of bloodshed. Look at this place! Look at the chaos you have created!" The Civil War puppets didn't even bother surveying their surroundings; they could only hang their heads in shame. "And who is the one left reigning it in? The man who is one of very few, it seems, capable of keeping this building intact. Is this madness how you repay him?"
As if to illustrate Ahkmenrah's point, Teddy dribbled to the floor.
A jolt of lightning roused him from his coma. "What the?.." Larry and Ahkmenrah were leaning over him; the pharaoh looked like he'd been reaching towards him. Where had that jolt come from?
"Whoa whoa, easy there, Teddy. You okay? What happened?" Larry didn't bother mentioning any normal human who's smacked his head against a pillar like that would probably have had a concussion.
"Yes, Lawrence, I'm quite all right, thank you. What in God's name happened?"
"You fainted," Ahkmenrah stated plainly, biting his lower lip anxiously.
Sighing, Teddy tried brushing them off as he sat up. "I'm well enough now, thank you." He was growing conscious of the whispers and stares directed their way. What a way to make a spectacle of oneself!
"We're taking you up to the office, no arguments. Can you walk?"
"Certainly, Lawrence, but who will keep an eye on things here if I'm not available?"
"I can handle it- things have calmed down enough. Ahk, could you please help Teddy to the office? I think one of the mannequins went to get Sacagawea."
Ahkmenrah didn't even have to be asked- he was already steadying the president on his feet. Somehow, watching them hobble away, Larry was reminded of the fateful night when Teddy had saved the pharaoh from being mugged. The sight was striking and disturbing.
Teddy's self-consciousness increased the further they limped from the crowd. "It's all right, lad, I'm well enough to walk on my own." Ahkmenrah refused to release him.
"You are still weak, and require rest," he insisted. It was only within sight of the lounge's door that Teddy finally managed to wrangle himself out of the pharaoh's grasp.
"Really, I don't want you all to make such a fuss over me. I merely overexerted myself, that's all. See? I'm fine." Clearly unconvinced, Ahkmenrah frowned and placed his hands on both hips, frowning. No doubt he'd learned that gesture from a certain Shoshone lady. Since when had he grown so stubborn?
"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Resigned, he settled down on the sofa, closing his eyes and allowing himself to rest for the fist time in several nights. "Perhaps some rest wouldn't hurt."
Ahkmenrah grabbed a blanket from the closet and wrapped it around the older man's shoulders. "Teddy, forgive me, but you collapsed tonight. That is not merely overexerting oneself, it is working oneself to destruction. How would Sacagawea have reacted upon seeing you that way?" For once, the president had ready-made quote. He could only lean back and try to regain his strength.
"It is I who should ask for forgiveness, Ahk. Truly, I don't know what came over me!"
"I do. Indeed, almost everyone else here understands! How can you not realize that one man cannot hold this museum together by himself?" Sitting down beside him, Ahkmenrah placed a hand on his shoulder as he'd seen the president do so many times. "Why do you not seek help? Many would gladly give it, including myself."
"It's not that simple..."
"Tell me, for the night is young."
How could Teddy explain how much he felt responsible for? About how much the others depended upon him, since he was the only figure nobody was threatened by, yet they respected him? About how guilty he felt having left Ahkmenrah to rot away in his sarcophagus, believing the old night guards' lies? He still hadn't addressed Sacagawea's discovery. There wasn't an easy way to dredge up such a past, and the pharaoh appeared to be better adjusted now- maybe it would be best to let sleeping dogs lie.
Then, looking at the young man staring at him so earnestly, Teddy realized there might be no one who could understand his plight better.
"Lad, much as I'd love some help, I fear no one else is capable. I've held this position for so long that I know all the nooks and crannies: everyone's quirks, their habits, even their fears. To ask someone else to take charge of even a fraction of that, especially from scratch... I feel it would overwhelm them. As for you... You've barely grown accustomed to museum life. You've traveled far, don't mistake me, but you still have much to learn. Perhaps too much."
Ahkmenrah pretended to study his trousers as he listened. He wasn't sure what to make of the president's blunt summary of his skills- surprisingly, he was disappointed. And determined to prove him wrong. Besides, if he didn't do something soon, Teddy might work himself to, well, death, for lack of a better word. "Then teach me."
"He's right, Teddy- let him help share the burden. Let us share the burden together," Sacagawea spoke from the doorway. As she settled down on the president's right side, she instinctively began rubbing his shoulder. "Isn't that what family does?"
Still studying his palms, Teddy mumbled something unintelligible. "No, no more excuses. Ahk's right, you're wearing yourself out."
Slumping his shoulders in defeat, Teddy finally looked up at them. "I admit, it would be wonderful to have extra sets of eyes around here." He smiles wearily.
"Then it is settled," Ahkmenrah grinned.
"Lad, would you mind getting me a steaming cup of coffee? Lawrence always keeps a nice stash by the microwave." Grinning even more broadly, the pharaoh left them.
"Well, my dear, did you have to gang up on me like that with him?" Teddy sighed, though he sounded more grateful than annoyed.
"When you collapse out of exhaustion? Yes, I do," she replied firmly.
"All joking aside, do you truly think our dear pharaoh is capable of taking on my role? After everything?.."
"The question is, do you think he is? He's going to need our faith to move forward, you know."
Teddy thought back to his fainting fit earlier, to Ahkmenrah's budding speech. In that one instant, he'd seen promise. "Yes, I do. Though I'll admit I'm reluctant to put him through even a fraction of my work. I love this museum- it is our home, and in many ways remarkable. Sadly, that can get lost amidst-"
"The chaos?"
The president nodded. "I fear for his safety more than anything else. No doubt he's still weary from our little- crisis. Who knew body-switching could be so tiresome?" He chuckled. "He has enough on his plate with the tablet and Joseph..." The one thing he couldn't quite bring himself to say was how surprisingly reluctant he was to pass on his job to someone else.
"What have I said before? Trust in your wisdom, Teddy. Trust in your heart- and in his," Sacagawea murmured, resting her palm upon his chest for emphasis. Gradually, Teddy met her gaze. "Promise you'll be by my side? Our side?"
"Every step of the way." Sacagawea smiled.
Are you ready for more? ;)
To all the guests who reviewed: this chapter is for you! I know many of you wanted one where Teddy faints and/or discusses his woes with Sacagawea and Ahkmenrah, so here you go. I hope you all enjoyed it!
Wanli8970: Please don't stop breathing on my account, for there will probably be at least a couple more times in my story when your heart will need the extra oxygen, it'll be pumping so hard!
VibeQuake: As usual, your humor woke me up enough to burst out laughing. XD
the electric phantom: One-shot of Jed and Octavius riding Amun, coming up!
Thank you all!
