Whatever possessed me to write this... hm. Perhaps 'cause I find Indy highly misogynistic as of late? Nah. It's prolly because I like Nigel's name. Oy. It's been some time since I've done any archaeology fics. Enjoy.

btw, I do NOT own Sydney, and wouldn't like to. As for Nigel, I got my own, this one is just borrowed. Now as I said, enjoy.

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"Pack up Nigel, we're leaving."

At the soud of Sydney's voice, Nigel felt like banging his head against the desk he had just sat to read and sip his first cup of coffee for the day.

"I don't -need- to pack up, Syd. In order to pack up, I would have to UN-pack first, and I haven't even had the -time- to do that." he glared over his glasses and curled his fingers around the coffee mug. Infuriatingly, it appeared that Sydney knew him well enough, and instead of taking any kind of offence, she just threw him a pair of tickets.

He stared at the infernal oblong paper before deciding to look where he'd risk dying this time, all the while making such a fool of himself that being a movie side kick for comic reliefs was all he could think of his purpose of existence in the world. He arched an eyebrow.

"What are we doing in Greece, Syd?"

"Two words: Eulesinian Mysteries."

"You mean the occult secretive sect thingy that the Ancient Greeks had and that nobody actually knew anything about except the members? You know Syd, the one that is known to leave as many relics behind as bloody Socrates? Which means, absolutely NONE?"

Sydney watched him with a small amused smirk that was always effective in sending chills down Nigel's spine. That look always meant shady contacts and untrustworthy help.

"Yep. It appears that there IS a relic that is directly linked to them."

"What is it and where did it surface out of the ages?"

"I don't know, and in Athens."

"And what makes you certain that we are not flying over there in mid-winter over a wild goose chase, and why can't it wait until it's summer and we can at least go to the sea or something?" Nigel tried hard to keep brooding.

She smiled the grin number 2: The got-you-now grin.

"Because my friend Dr. Panagelou in Athen's university gave me the tip and asked for my help, and guess what: he mentioned Demeter's Kernel."

Nigel's jaw dropped, and he forgot about his brooding and his coffee. As a matter of fact he'd have forgotten his head too if it wasn't attached to it.

Later next day...

Nigel adjusted his shades peering around. It was amazing. It was supposed to be middle of November, and the heaviest article of clothing he could see was a light jacket. What was the weather in this country thinking? Sydney looked refreshed even though she had not slept the previous night. Nigel wondered how she managed. She was everything a guy hero should be: good at martial arts, sweet-talking, good at bargaining and a killer with the opposite sex. What did that make him? The squeaky not-so-popular side kick that usually was also female, and tended to shriek a lot. That was not entirely helpful to his ego. Sure, he could read scrolls of almost every dead language existing, but that just added to his 'Ways to Know you are a Geek Sidekick' list. He sighed. That kind of whine would only be yet another entry in the aforementioned list if he ever voiced it. So instead he said

"Where to now, Syd?"

"Dr. Panagelou is waiting for us in his office at the acropolis museum. He says he has a parchment to lead to the Kernel."

Nigel nodded and hefted the backpack, then looked warily at the yellow cab Sydney hailed. Nigel never had an older sister, but somehow he felt he had acquired one when he agreed to be his boss' assistant. Not that it was bad or in any way boring. Just somewhat belittling at times. Like when he had to watch when she beat the shit out of anyone that could wipe the floor with him for laughs. But then she'd never mentioned that. And she always seemed to need him around. That was also somewhat comforting.

The cab pulled up to the Sacred Rock, after about 45 minutes of frustrating commuting. He spared a moment, as he and Sydney walked up to the Acropolis, to see the Caryatids, the pillars in the shape of women.

"Hi girls", he murmured. It was not the first time he saw them up close.

Dr. Pangelou was a round, slightly blading man in his early 60s, that rushed to greet Sydney -certainly not him- as soon as they made their presence known. He all but pulled her to his office like a child wanting to show her his room.

"I am so glad you could make it, Dr Fox, Nigel." he said excitedly. Nigel was greatful he didn't peck his cheek. The man made sure the door was locked and the shutters closed before he reached into his drawer and pulled what seemed to be a fragile looking roll of paper. "Look, my friends. Have you ever seen anything so splendid?"

Nigel heard Sydney's breath catch in her chest, and he felt his own interest rise to the zenith. Although he could definately not tag a moth-eaten scroll splendid, the mythical Kernel was alluring enough to make him touch eons of dust and filth. All three gently unrolled the ancient parchment and Nigel started reading.

His brow clouded. He did not like what he saw.

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eh. A start. I am Greek by the way. So locations and impressions are authentic. More to come if I am encouraged or Nigel overdosed.