Disclaimer: The concepts and characters from the Night at the Museum that are used in this fanfiction do not belong to me and remain the properties of the original films' production company. I am making no profit from this piece of work.
2014 update: After an extended hiatus for personal reasons I have come back to this fic but my writing style has changed for various reasons and as such I've gone back and altered my wording (and a few plot points in the later chapters) in all chapters to date. After asking for advice I have made the decision to delete the previous chapters and replace the first one so that those on alert will still get the information about it. Some things have changed for characterisation sake and to better suit my current writing style. If you are coming to this, I recommend you re-read the first chapter as I'm not sure if I made any drastic alterations to the first chapter or not.
Author's notes: Chapters 5, 6 and 7 are having some drastic overhaul so may take a little while longer than the other chapters. I just ask that you remain patient with me re: them especially as there are holidays coming up and I work a full-time job and a most of the time hobby. - Please note, if you have reviewed the earlier chapters before they were changed (members), fan fiction's system will not allow you to review again for that chapter even if it's changed/deleted. If you would like to leave some feedback you can either leave one anonymously or, alternatively, you can pm with anything you'd like to say. Those who have reviewed anonymously will be able to review again (assuming you want to.)
I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Two: Just the Start
"Larry brushed himself down as he stood up, museum guide clasped in his hand. He nodded at the small audience who were gathered in a circle round him. It was all right for them but this floor was marble and his back was not responding well to the rough treatment.
"As he placed the guide back he heard a whoop come from the desk and saw Jed there cheering. After the plane incident last night it was reassuring to know exactly where Jed was and no doubt Octavius was glad for the break from extreme adventure. Stopping only to give him a two-finger salute similar to the ones the cowboy usually gave, Larry quickly moved on.
"The stairs out of the lobby were packed with people, all of them desperate to discover what other wonders the museum had on offer. Getting up them was difficult and he was nearly knocked backwards twice. Of course once he reached the top they almost instantly cleared and were easily passable. Sod's law.
"In one corner sat Attila telling another story to a group of children all gathered round his feet while the parents stood a short way away every bit as entranced as their children. Attila sure was good at telling stories considering he didn't speak a word of English.
Squeals of delight erupted from the hall of miniatures as he passed; always a popular stop for those with young children. He stood in the hallway looking in and saw the place packed with visitors, all of them enjoying their visit.
Moving on down the corridor, Larry continued with his round. No problems in invertebrates and all was well with the reptiles. Everyone was doing fine with the new regime and even the most impossible of them was co-operating, grateful not to be in storage.
It was still so weird seeing so many people enjoying the exhibits liveliness. Back when he'd started this job he never thought anyone would ever find out about the whole coming to life at night thing. Technically speaking they didn't know, all of them convinced it was animatronics or well trained actors. It was for the best.
Perhaps the best thing was Dr McPhee had been lost for words at the start, not that he was exactly a word-smith before, and every night he would leave his office and see all the patrons wandering around in amazement.
"Just when I think I've seen it all I notice something new like the…or the…well…the… Amazing!" he'd said a few nights ago. Then of course there was the briefest of moments when he'd admitted that as far as night guards go Larry was best. Never again had the director mentioned that and it was probably better. Said more than once, especially by McPhee it would quickly lose its meaning.
Everyone was seeing the Museum anew and Larry couldn't help but smile at that. It really was great to be back.
Larry rushed through the corridor, weaving and dodging the people as they went past, trying hard not to drop Jed.
"Wake up Jed!" Larry hissed at the cowboy, nearly hitting an elderly man with his elbow as he barged past. "Jed! Jedediah!" Teddy had found him sprawled out on the front desk and was currently trying to forge a clear path through the crowd leading to the hall of miniatures. Neither of them knew what else to do, both hoping that one of the miniatures might be able to shed light on the problem.
"Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen," the wax president announced as he entered the room, "but due to unforeseen circumstances I'm afraid we must close the hall of miniatures."
Naturally, there were groans from disappointed children and muttered complaints from the parents, but they slowly and compliantly left through the exits, leaving the way clear for the night guard. Octavius, who had been organising his troop for a demonstration of Roman battle strategies, lowered his sword as he noticed the scuffle.
"What's going on?" he asked, but Larry dashed straight past the Roman exhibit, heading for Jed's home town.
"Medic!" he called out. "Doctor!" All the miniatures gathered at the front of the display, curious to find out why they had stopped and from out of the crowd stepped the medic.
"What is it?" A gasp went through the crowd, followed by worried chatter as Larry carefully laid Jed down onto the rock before them. He was still and silent; not even a slight twitch to indicate he was alive. None of them had seen him like that before; none of them wanted to see it most of them turning away. The medic however strode cautiously towards the still form of his leader and knelt down. "What happened?"
"We were hoping you could tell us."
The medic placed his hand on Jed's chest and left it for a moment before grasping one of his arms and raising it up. Jed's arm hung limp at the elbow and smacked down when he let it go. The resultant thud sent a shudder down his people's backs. The medic did no more.
"Is that it?" Larry asked impatiently. "Aren't you going to check his pulse?"
"Lawrence, Jedediah's made of plastic." Teddy was looking at the cowboy solemnly, pausing momentarily before turning to Larry. "He doesn't have a heartbeat."
"He's not responding." Said the medic, shaking his head. "I don't know what I can do."
So much for keeping an eye on him. Why was he like this? When would he wake up? Would he wake up?'
There were so many questions and not a single one had an answer; all of them were apparently equally clueless as to what was going on. On top of that there was something that was bothering him. The large amount of guilt that weighed on his chest as he looked at Jed; it was the same as the time he'd found out everyone was being shipped to the Smithsonian. Heavier than it should be; deep. He felt that it was his fault.
It was dark, as it always was, as the pressure on Jed's chest began to ease. Light was carefully attacking his eyelids in an attempt to wake him up but his limbs still felt like lead, weighed down by an invisible force that was intent on keeping him in place. He didn't mind. Lying there, he was comfortable; it was the calm after the storm.
His throat was dry and he was aching as he tried to move but at least it meant he was alive, which was something.
"Jed?" The first thing he was able to recognise looking up was Larry's face in front of him, peering down at him in concern. "You alright?"
"We-" Jed paused as he strained to push himself up. "Well, why wouldn't I be?"
"You've been out of it for over six hours." Larry threw a glance at his watch as he spoke as though wanting to make sure he wasn't wrong in his simple math.
Jed glanced around, able to see that he was back in his display, his people stood around him, all with differing degrees of fear and concern on their faces. Exactly the looks he'd been hoping to avoid with this.
He gave a very unconvincing grin as he pushed himself to his feet and brushed himself down. "Guess I been rumbled."
"Rumbled?" Larry frowned, tilting his head as Jed seemed suddenly interested in the faux desert beneath his feet. "Has this happened before?" All eyes were on the little cowboy, but he refused to meet any of them, keeping his head down as he nodded discretely. His attempt at subtlety was useless and fearful murmurs immediately erupted among the crowd around him. Larry looked equally as unimpressed. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Burning glares were coming at him from all angles and Jed knew it, but that was a question he couldn't answer. Admitting it would only make things more real and they was bad enough already.
"How often?" Jed only shrugged but Larry refused to just accept that. "Jed look at me!" and reluctantly the cowboy looked up, his face sullen. "How often?"
Making sure to take a moment to make it clear how little he cared for his answer, Jedediah shuffled in place. "I don't know. Every other night."
"Since when?"
It was clear that this was not something that was going to be dropped. "Started six weeks ago."
When Larry stepped back in shock, Teddy took the opportunity to step forward and address the young man before them. "You mean to tell us that you've been falling unconscious every other night for six weeks and no one in the museum has noticed?"
Jed tilted his head as he heard his people shift uncomfortably behind him. He knew they'd noticed, even if only out of the corners of their eyes. Jed was the kind of person who disappeared off on adventures all the time so if he disappeared off for some time alone none of them had questioned it. Jed was a busy man; there was lots for him to be getting done. If they needed to know he would tell them.
Slowly realisation dawned on Larry's face and he shifted forward again. "That's what happened on the plane."
It hadn't been a question but after a while Jed gave a curt nod, lowering his head a little. He'd been flying the plane through the lobby with Octavius in the passenger seat when it just hit him and they'd crashed. Octavius had been fine, a little shaken, but Jed hadn't. In fact, he was surprised they hadn't guessed then, but everyone had just assumed he was knocked out.
A few minutes silence passed by, no one quite sure what to say with each second making the awkwardness in the air more potent. Jed had tried to keep it hidden for a reason. He was a leader; his people looked to him to be strong. To be capable of leading them, and brave in the face of adversity. Sure they expected a bit of stupidity at times but he had to protect them and the last thing he needed was for them to think of him as weak. People in the Old West diorama were very particular about who could lead them.
"Jed. Surely you knew there was something wrong about keeping this a secret."
Jed looked up and stared defiantly at the giant man. "I stand by my actions." which caused another ripple of murmurs in the townspeople. Still Jed refused to be thought of as wishy washy. He'd made his bed and he was ready to stand by it.
Larry seemed to be debating internally over his next move when he glanced at his watch, shaking his head. "It's almost sunrise. We'll deal with this later." And with a look of mild anger at Jed, Larry strode out the hall, and that was that.
While Teddy wished them a farewell and followed after him, Jedediah remained in place, listening to his people move behind him. They were muttering about him. He didn't need to hear their words to know it; he didn't want to. Others were returning from their time around the museum and soon word over his...thing would continue, distort. Things were going to be very different tomorrow.
And tonight had started out as such a good night.
Larry walked towards the hall of miniatures that night with purpose. After a day to cool down, he was determined to talk this out with Jedediah whether he wanted it or not. He knew Jed well enough to know that he was scared and when you threw in about the whole 'he's plastic' thing... There was just something about this that was very wrong.
From the moment he was within earshot of the place, he could hear the commotion coming from n the Hall and he moved faster. Hopefully Jed hadn't collapsed again; he wasn't ready for the hours of trying to calm the townsfolk while secretly hiding his own ignorance again. Inside the Hall, it was obvious it was happening in the Old West display and as he ran up he was already throwing out questions.
"What's happened? Did Jed pass ou-" his words faded as he saw the gaggle of Old West figures part and show the source of the problem.
One among their numbers was still plastic, unmoving, motionless, and clearly painted, and of course it was Jedediah. Stood exactly where Larry had spoken to him last night. The night guard didn't like the ominous sheen to his clothes and hat that told Larry that he and Jed weren't going to be doing a lot of talking that night. And from the panicked voices of his people, they didn't much like it either.
6 weeks ago - Smithsonian Institution, DC
Brandon (pronounced Brundon) was sorting through the small mess that remained in the hall of the Smithsonian Castle. The Wright brothers' plane had been the first thing to be removed while the replacement of the stained-glass windows was next. Bit by bit, everything had been removed and put in its proper place save for the smaller pieces. No one had any idea how the mess had been made, nor how so many exhibits moved there from the Federal Archives, but most of it had been in this hall and it was Brandon's job to clear up what was left of it overnight.
He'd already picked up the various weapons, spears and a scythe, and put them aside all ready to be placed back where they belonged. All that was really left was sweeping up the sand that had escaped from a smashed hourglass. Most of it had stayed around the hourglass but a fair amount had managed to get to either side of the hall. But then again sand did somehow always manage to get everywhere. Picking up the broom Brandon sighed. If only he'd been able to swap out his shift tonight.
Now Brandon is not what you would call the brightest flash-light on the belt, which is why it took a while of sweeping as unenthusiastically as possible before he noticed that some of the sand was still moving even as he stopped sweeping it. He watched as individual grains of sand were carefully bouncing along the floor on their own. All over the hall, sand bouncing without brushing, skittering away into the corner where it began to enter the hourglass through the smashed bottom bulb, not stopping until it had flowed into the top bulb. He watched dumbstruck for almost five minutes as the sand sped up until every last grain had re-entered the hourglass, at which point it began to glow, brighter and brighter until it was throwing out a light so blinding that the security guard didn't notice it had stopped and kept his arms in the air as he screamed melodramatically.
When it finally occurred to him that it was over, he lowered his arms and looked across at the hourglass. It was fixed; all the shards of glass had somehow melded back with the rest of the hourglass, and it stood there intact and in working order.
That was obvious as the sand was now flowing through it in the right direction; from top to bottom with a slow steady flow. Brandon watched, transfixed, not quite sure if he'd seen what he'd just seen.
He watched it for a long while, worried it might do something else. Was this the kind of thing that the idiot who couldn't pronounce his name had been talking about? Incredibly slowly, he edged closer to the mysterious object, reaching out with every inch closer that he got. When he was near enough, Brandon touched the wood ready to flinch back at a moment's notice. He frowned. It was warm; very warm. It was getting warmer actually; hotter and hotter under his touch and he followed the instinct to flinch back, realising that the sand was going through a lot quicker now. Too quick; the speed seeming to make the sand roar.
It wasn't until almost all the sand had run through that Brandon found the courage to run.
At the same time – the Museum of Natural History, NY
Jedediah collapsed for the first time.