After running to collect the Mirror, Larry finally made it across the room, Teddy and Lance in tow. Ahkmenrah was twitching and convulsing like something out of The Exorcist. None of them knew what to do, if there was anything they could do. They stood in silence as he gripped the Mirror tighter in his hand. "C'mon, Ahk," Larry mumbled. "You gotta get out of this."

"What's he saying?" Nick asked.

"I - I don't know," Larry told him honestly. Every once in a while, Ahkmenrah would mumble something, but he couldn't make sense of it. The spectacle was quite unnerving, really.

Time seemed to stand still. They waited anxiously, to see who would come out on top. Waited to see if Zalaam's eyes would return to kill them. Waited for their friend.

Larry jumped a bit as a burst of black sand formed before them. It became a strange, flying, black blob and began to soar around like a fish out of water.

"Zalaam!" Teddy shouted. "The Mirror, quick, quick!"

"Ahkmenrah!" Lancelot ran up to grab his friend before he fell to the floor. Larry watched the man's soul dart around the room like a pinball before it darted back towards them. Without hesitation, he ran into Zalaam's path and raised the Mirror of Wadjet. He saw the snake's ruby eyes begin to glow on the handle and he watched as the blob vanished before him. Larry skidded to a stop, the heels of his shoes squeaking. Catching his breath, he looked at the mirror. The snake on the handle looked normal once again. He scanned the room, paranoid, before he was sure. Zalaam was inside the Mirror.

It's over.

"Lawrence!" Teddy shouted.

He looked back and saw the group kneeling on the floor. Ahkmenrah was in the middle of them on his back. Oh God. His chest tight, Larry ran over to them and got on the floor next to Nick.

"He's not waking up!" his son told him.

"Ahkmenrah!" Lancelot shouted. "What's wrong with him?"

"Are you sure he's in there?!" Nick asked.

"Everyone, back up a bit," Teddy told them. "The boy's just had a massive amount of dark magic invade his body, not to mention fought off someone else's soul." His gloved hand was on Ahkmenrah's pulse. "...I think he's sleeping."

"...Sleeping," Kahmunrah repeated.

"Yes, you know, that thing you do when you get-"

"I know what the word means," the Egyptian snarled. "But why can't we wake him up?"

"Like I said, I think his body is recovering."

"What, like a coma?" Larry asked, finally finding his voice.

"In a way. But if I have this right, the Tablet should heal him once the sun comes up. I think we'll have our friend back by tomorrow."

Larry felt himself breathe easily for the first time since they'd arrived in New York.

"The museum!" Nick shouted. He got to his feet and went to the windows. "...It's gone," he said after a second. "Zalaam's army is just...gone. Like it never happened at all! But the moon's really low."

"We gotta get everyone back," Larry agreed, eyeing his own watch. Lancelot got to his feet and picked up Ahkmenrah. "I think McPhee's car was somewhere down there," Larry continued. "We can fit Ahk in there, so you have space and I guess...I'll get my car some other time."

They got back into the elevator, the Mirror still in his hand. Larry looked at it once again. "He did it," he marveled. "Ahk beat Zalaam."

"He saved everyone," Nick agreed.

"And the world," Lancelot added.

The elevator beeped as they started to head back down. Larry looked over to Kahmunrah, who seemed to be pretending he was anywhere else. Shifting uncomfortably, he cleared his throat. "Um...good thinking."

Kahmunrah's eyes flicked over to him. "Hmm? Did you say something?"

Did he really not hear me or does he just wanna hear it again? "I said that was a good plan, making Zalaam think you were on his side." The Egyptian looked at him like he was speaking a foreign language.

"Yes," Lancelot began. "Without you, Ahkmenrah wouldn't have been able to stop Zalaam. You inspired him!"

The Egyptian's eyes narrowed. "Tell anyone and I swear to Ra-"

"Oh, come now, don't get all grumpy again." Lancelot laughed.

"I mean it! What happened here stays here."

Before they were even out the front door, they could hear the uproar. The exhibits were celebrating the victory. All around the ground were scattered arrows and a few weapons. They were shouting, cheering, yelling like it was New Years in Time Square. Larry spotted a familiar car not far away and looked at Nick. "Go find Rexy and lead them back, okay? Try to stick to backstreets. We'll take Ahk back." His son nodded and went to find the dinosaur.

Teddy looked at Larry through his glasses. "I've got to find Sacagawea and make sure everyone came out okay. I'll see you back at the museum." Larry nodded and watched the man walk through the crowd.

McPhee looked up with wide eyes as they approached him. "I certainly hope this means we won!" he shouted out his window.

"We've got the guy responsible right here." Larry held the Mirror up to show him. "Everyone okay out here?"

"As far as I know. I've been in the car."

"We ran down like, a hundred of Zalaam's guys, Gigantor!" Jed shouted excitedly from the curator's pocket. "It was awesome!"

"It was really quite an adventure", Octavius agreed.

"That's great, guys, but we gotta-"

"Good heavens!" McPhee shouted. "What happened to Pharaoh Ahkmenrah?"

"He's sleeping."

"...I'm sorry, sleeping?"

"Yeah, apparently having some guy take over your body really takes it outta ya. Look, I've got Nick taking everyone back, but we need a ride. Those soldiers shot out one of my tires."

"Well then get in! Put him in the backseat so he can lay down."

They climbed into the car with Larry in the passenger seat. Ahkmenrah was laying flat on top of his brother and Lancelot in the backseat. McPhee started the car and they followed behind the museum exhibits. Even from their distance, Larry could see Nick at the front on Rexy. He really took charge, he thought. He got them all together and led them here. I didn't stand a chance against those soldiers. If he hadn't shown up, we would have never gotten Ahk back. Lance and Teddy might not have gotten past those sand people! I would have…

Just the other day, I thought he was losing control. He was buying motorcycles to impress his girlfriend and storming out of my apartment. He watched him for a moment as Nick marched the exhibits back to their museum. Teddy had a point. Nick's still growing up. He's gonna make mistakes. Tonight wasn't one of them, though. He's confident. He took charge. He did it all by himself. Larry decided he needed to talk to his son before the sun came up. His eyes looked up to the rearview mirror. Kahmunrah was looking out of the window.

And then there's you, he wondered. You just...show up all of a sudden. You're fighting with us and trying to get Ahk back. Since when do you, the guy who made it very clear the first time we met that you hated Ahkmenrah, care about his well being?

But the temple...You saved his life. Teddy said he even saw you holding onto him! So, do you care about Ahk or...I mean I guess you do, if you...This doesn't make any sense. But the fact is I guess you helped save us. The world, even. And you seem...I don't know, different. I can't figure this out. Is there even anything to figure out? Man, family is really complicated. I guess they're all like that, though, in some way.

Why is Teddy always so right?

Larry started to make a list of all the things he had to do before the sun came up: The King and Queen are still at my place, so I guess I gotta ask McPhee for his car. We can keep them, Lance, and Kahmunrah in the basement. Tomorrow, we can get their parents and Lancelot back to London before Tilly gets in trouble. Kahmunrah goes back to Washington...Wait, that'll be kinda weird. I mean, he was missing in the Underworld for a long time. It'll be strange if he just shows up again. Then again, he was in the archives, so maybe they won't notice. Plus, it's Brunden, so, not the brightest bulb.

Ahkmenrah won't wake up till tomorrow probably, so that means he won't be able to say bye to his family. The idea made his stomach tighten a bit. He's been through so much, something good needs to happen for him. I know McPhee got his room remodeled, but…

He looked at the back seat again and the wheels in his head started to turn. As they pulled into the empty museum parking lot - save for a motorcycle - Larry looked at McPhee and tried to think of how he was going to word this.

The second the car stopped, Larry turned to look at the backseat. "Take Ahk inside and put him in his sarcophagus. We'll put the lid on when the sun goes down. There's still a little time. I'm gonna go get your parents," he told Kahmunrah.

The two got out quickly and Lancelot carried Ahkmenrah on his shoulder. "Watch the gas," McPhee told him, unbuckling his own seatbelt. "I should have enough, but just be cautious."

"Okay, hey, wait a sec," Larry started. The curator paused and looked at him. "I just...I wanna ask you something."

"Please tell me you want your job back; I'm desperate."

"What? No, sorry."

"Just checking."

"No, I wanted to know, uh...do you think the museum could use some new exhibits?"

The man's eyes widened. "New exhibits? Did you forget how crazy this place gets?"

"Yeah, but...I don't know, I thought it would be nice for Ahk if Lance stuck around."

"The knight?...Well, that should be doable, I guess. It's not a big change and I suppose I could pull a few strings. I agree, I think the Pharaoh would like to have him around."

There's the first hurdle, Larry thought. "The thing is," he started to rub the back of his neck, "Lance kinda has this pet in Britain, Trixie...she's a dinosaur."

"You're having me on. I am not asking the British Museum to transfer another dinosaur here. We have enough issues trying to keep the one we have from breaking things."

"Aw, c'mon, Doc," Jedediah cut in from the Brit's pocket. "Rexy's been real lonely. He could use a pal!"

"So they can tear down the building?! I don't think so."

"On the contrary, Doctor," Octavius began. "If Rexy had a companion, he would spend more time playing with Trixie so he would release more of his energy."

"Plus, dinosaurs are always a big hit with families," Larry added, knowing Lancelot would feel torn if he had to leave Trixie behind. "Could boost popularity at the museum."

McPhee seemed to begrudgingly ponder this. Finally, he sighed. "Fine. But no guarantees!...You have something else," the man deadpanned, apparently reading Larry's mind.

I can't believe I'm doing this. "Well, I mean I was thinking-"

"I really don't like it when you do that."

"...I think Ahk misses his family," Larry told him. "I know he decided to come here with his friends years ago, but in Egypt...I don't know, he was really glad to be around them again."

"That's not going to happen," McPhee said. "I cannot ask the same museum for a knight, a dinosaur, and two mummies. They'll never go for it."

"No, no, I figured that, but," I really can't believe I'm doing this. "His brother's not from Britain."

"What?!" Jed shouted. "Kahmunrah? Yer kiddin' me!"

"I thought they didn't get along," McPhee added.

"They didn't. They drove me crazy the whole time, really. But I was talking to the Queen and she said that she thought they just needed more time together and that before the whole thing with the throne, they were a little better."

"Gigantor, yer crazy! Octy, tell 'em he's losin' it."

The Roman had been silent up to this point and by his face, Larry could tell he was thinking. "He did help us get the museum together knowing it could have been dangerous for him."

"And he got Ahk out of that lava filled temple," Larry added.

"Lava?!" McPhee asked. "What exactly happened on this little adventure?"

"Look, I just think that Ahk likes having him around. Even with all the stuff that happened between them, they're brothers and I can tell Ahk misses him, as weird as that sounds."

"Even if that didn't sound insane, there is no way I can get something out of the Smithsonian," McPhee countered.

"You wouldn't have to. He's been MIA for years, even since I put him in the Underworld. So, he's like lost inventory. And even before that, he was in the federal archives, so it's not like they were using him."

"A'right," the cowboy interjected again. "I'll give 'em this, he helped us out with Zalaam. An' he got Ahk outta that fireball of a temple. But what if he starts trouble here? Ain't no Underworld here to toss 'em into."

"Mmm, but he is outnumbered," Octavius told him. "He knows very well that Ahkmenrah has many friends here and that he's not well liked. Attila alone would be able to, shall we say, 'scare him straight'."

Larry was focused on the curator's blank face. "So," McPhee began. "You want me to get one knight, a new dinosaur, and to let this Kahmunrah stay in my museum?"

"...It would make Ahk happy," Larry said, pleading.

McPhee looked at the roof of the car for a moment and Larry waited anxiously. "... I'll do the best I can."

"Thanks, Doct-"

"But," he began, looking back at him again. "You've got to find me a new guard. I can't keep doing this all day. And double the dinosaurs plus two bickering Egyptians will send me to an early grave. There's gotta be someone you trust."

Larry was taken aback by the request. Who could handle knowing about the Tablet? Who could he trust to take care of the museum so McPhee wouldn't have to worry? Then it occurred to him: he already had someone he could trust. "Nick could do it."

"Hey, yeah!" Jed smiled. "Nicky'd be great at it!"

"Your son? Don't you think he's a bit young for this responsibility? What if he wants to impress some girl and decides to tell her what happens here?" McPhee asked.

"He won't do that, he hasn't even told his mom," Larry said confidently. "It all works out. He needs a job anyway. He saw me run this place; he knows what to do. Plus, just look what he did tonight!"

"Yes, he did really take charge," Octavius agreed.

"And he helped you clean the place up," Larry added. "I think he'd do really well here. And who else am I supposed to get? I don't know a lot of people looking for a job. Especially one that involves making sure Attila the Hun doesn't tear anyone's limbs off."

Again, McPhee gave an unreadable look to him. "I don't know if it's because I'm desperate, or, or...fine." He put his hands up. "He gets a shot at this. But if something goes wrong-"

"It won't." Larry smiled. He was sure about that. He'd seen the way Nick had held his head up as he led the museum.

McPhee went inside to find Nick and Larry got behind the wheel of the car. They had a few spare hours until the sun was due to rise.

As they walked into the museum, Jedediah was grinning broadly. With Nicky as the guard, things'll be great! It'll be like when Gigantor was here. An' if we get that other dino, I won't have to worry about playin' with Rexy. McPhee can...oh. The happy feeling contorted into something else, something he didn't quite get. Sadness? That made no sense. All this time, he'd been unhappy with how McPhee was running the museum, and now he was unhappy because he was leaving?

"Where can I drop the two of you?" the man asked.

Octavius looked at him and Jed just shrugged. "Um, if you could just bring us back to our hall," he said. The cowboy stayed silent until they were finally nearing their exhibits.

"I hope you two realize," McPhee began, "that just because I'm going to hire Larry's son doesn't mean I won't know what goes on here. Now that I know all about the Tablet, I'll want to know if there are any issues with the night shift. And for heaven's sake, someone has to train that capuchin."

"He's a wild spirit, Doc," Jed explained. "Ya can't tame 'em."

"Well someone should at least try. At least it won't be me he's peeing on anymore. Are you both going to the same exhibit, or your own?"

"The Wild West is fine, Doctor," the Roman responded.

"...You think you'll come back?" the cowboy asked, still unsure why. "Ya know, just ta say 'hi'?"

The man was quiet, but from Jed's perspective, it almost looked like he was smiling. "Maybe every now and again. Just to make sure these dinosaurs don't destroy everything."

He put them in the Wild West diorama and the sand crunched under the cowboy's boots. "Don' worry, Doc, we'll make sure nothin' happens."

"I certainly hope so. Now, it looks like I've got to go hire our new night guard."

"He'll surprise you, Doctor. I am sure of it," Octavius told him.

"I've never been one for surprises, but we'll see. Good night to you both, then."

"See ya around, Doc!" Jed tipped his hat. The man nodded and left the room.

A/N: Things are wrapping up, but some things have still been...left unsaid. :) I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. Things are so crazy, I know, but just remember, one day this will all be in the past.