A/N: Sorry it's been awhile since I updated guys! And I promise that Amelia will be in the next chapter! This one is still setting up the story a little bit.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
As soon as he was a good distance from McPhee's office, Larry took off at a sprint for Ahkmenrah's exhibit. Ignoring calls of "Dum-dum", incoherent Chinese chatter, and Rexy's whimpers of boredom, he finally skidded around a corner and stopped in front of the entrance to Ahkmenrah's tomb.
He ran in to find the area empty, with the exception of the two large guard statues, which were staring at him, following his every move.
They didn't completely trust him yet.
Trying to ignore their gaze, Larry took a few more glances back towards the empty golden casket. Unable to bear it anymore, he finally looked up at the huge stone beasts watching him.
"Hey there... um, you wouldn't know where Ahkmenrah is, would you?"
More staring.
"No? Okay, well thanks anyway, I'm just going to be going then..." Larry trailed off as he backed out of the exhibit and into the hallway once more, making a mental note to become friends with the guards. He came across Christopher Columbus, who was muttering as usual.
Larry had to wave his hand in the explorer's face to get his attention. After asking for the Pharaoh's whereabouts, the night guard headed in the direction that he thought Columbus had pointed.
Larry did a double take at first, but found the young Egyptian in the Hall of African Mammals, entertaining some young visitors with Dexter and the tablet. Walking over, he got the kids to go look at the lions so that he and Ahkmenrah could talk alone. He tried to shoo Dexter away as well, but the little Capuchin monkey refused to move.
"Leave him be, Larry, he shouldn't be a problem," Ahkmenrah told him pleasantly.
Larry nodded, but said, "Okay, but I know something that's about to be a problem. A huge problem, and you're in the middle of it."
Ahkmenrah's features sobered immediately.
"McPhee's sending you on tour in France, at the Louvre."
The young man jumped up, the urgency in his movements mirroring Larry's.
"How long do we have?" he questioned, beginning to pace back and forth.
"Until morning."
"Don't we always."
For a few seconds, they were each at a loss for words. Larry was standing so still he could have been mistaken for a security guard exhibit, except that he would run his fingers through his hair every few seconds. Ahkmenrah, on the other hand, couldn't stop moving. He paced back and forth, and walked around the lions' pedestal at least ten times. After several minutes, he came to a stop, turning to face Larry.
"Okay. Well, you are just going to have to come to France."
Larry snapped his head up to look at the pharaoh. "Are you serious?"
Ahkmenrah nodded solemnly. "Yes, and then all you can do is just try and prevent me from being kept over there."
"Okay, and what about the tablet?" Larry asked.
That stumped Ahkmenrah momentarily, but he came up with an answer for that too.
"There's another one in storage," he told Larry. "A fake tablet," he added hastily after taking in the guard's alarmed expression.
"Go fetch it," he continued, "and switch it out with my real one."
Larry bobbed his head slowly in affirmation, but then said, "What are we going to tell everyone?"
Ahkmenrah sighed. "The truth. I will do it, after all it is my job to keep track of the museum. We can put Teddy Roosevelt in charge while we're away."
They both stood silently, not looking at each other. They knew how much this would bother the other exhibits.
"Go, Larry, get the decoy tablet and meet me on the second floor. We'll address everyone at one of the railings overlooking the main lobby."
Without another word, Larry ran off to the basement, in search of the second golden tablet.
-----
Fifteen minutes later, Larry and Ahkmenrah stood alone at a second floor railing, waiting for all of the exhibits to gather.
The rest of the museum was empty, the patrons had long since retired to their own homes, and Dr. McPhee had been out the door soon after his meeting with Larry.
While they still had a few moments before they started speaking, Larry took the chance to ask something that had been bothering him.
"Why is there a back up tablet?"
Ahkmenrah didn't look at Larry, but replied as his eyes roamed the crowd.
"For a situation like this, I suppose. But not quite. I presume that one was to be left here if I were to tour."
Larry nodded, satisfied.
"Well, now is as good a time as any to start," he told his Egyptian friend, giving a reassuring pat on the back in the process.
Ahkmenrah managed a nervous smile, then cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. It took about five minutes to fully explain the situation, and to get through most of the questions. After that, almost all of the exhibits trudged back to their places dejectedly, preparing themselves for a very long sunrise.
Larry and Ahkmenrah descended the stairs, striding over to the main desk, where Teddy, Jed, and Octavius were still lingering. Dexter sat upon the former president's shoulder, cradling the magical golden tablet.
"I will be happy to be in command while the two of you are gone. Even if there will not be much to watch over." Teddy said as they approached.
Ahkmenrah only nodded without a word in reply.
"We're coming with you, Gigantor!"
"What?" Larry said, looking down to see Jed and Octavius staring back at him.
"My western comrade is right," Octavius continued, "This is extremely important, it's fitting that we be a part of it."
Seeing Larry opening his mouth to protest, Jedediah cut in. "Hey now cowboy, you ain't talkin' us outta this one. We can make this a huge shindig or one smooth operation! Whatever you like."
Larry rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because it would be so difficult for me to just pick you up by your little collars and carry you off to your dioramas."
"Don't you man handle me, Gigantor!" Jed shouted, yanking his guns out of his holsters. "You carry Roman man over here, but I will not be man handled!"
Octavius turned to look at the other miniature. "Roman man?"
"Hey it's every cowboy for himself at the moment."
That earned Jed a slap to the back of his head that made his hat fall off.
Dusting the hat off before plopping it back over his shaggy blond hair, Jed said, "Okay, I mean we're sticking together on the Louvre thing."
Teddy put a hand on Larry's shoulder. "It can't hurt to have a little back up, son."
Dexter screeched it what seemed to be agreement. Larry sighed.
"All right, you guys are in. Dexter, do I have your word that you're going to behave?"
Larry held out his hand in a truce. The monkey reached for it, then slipped past it and slapped Larry's in the face. He cackled happily, mocking Larry.
The night guard went to retaliate, but was stopped by a stern look from Teddy. He settled for making a face at the Capuchin instead.
"Okay, well good thing it's memorial weekend, we're closed. But this trip is going to take a few days, what's McPhee going to think when nothing moves during the night hours?" Larry inquired to no one in particular.
Nobody had an answer for that. Trying to brighten up, Larry clapped his hands together after glancing briefly at his watch. "We've got half an hour to sunrise, so Ahk, let's get you all boxed up and ready for transportation. Jed, Octavius, and Dexter, you guys stay here, because I'll have to keep you with me. You'll need to stay in a box during the day, the last thing we need is for one of you to turn into dust."
The latter nodded and stayed at the front desk, while a depressed Ahkmenrah followed Larry to the loading dock.
After the pharaoh was taken care of, Larry found a small wooden box and placed Jed and Octavius into it, while Dexter climbed in on his own.
Everything was set, and with several minutes to spare. Only Teddy, Rexy, and Larry were left in the main lobby. Rexy obediently got up on his platform, and Larry patted his skull fondly. Teddy was just getting back on his steed, and looked down at the younger man.
"Good luck, Lawrence."
With that, he drew his sword and soon froze in that position.
Larry gave a small smile.
"Thanks, Ted."
-----
Larry sighed as he drove back to his apartment. The wooden box containing the two miniatures and the monkey was stowed safely on the floor in the backseat. The golden tablet was leaning against the side of the crate as well. The truck transporting Ahkmenrah to the airport had only left fifteen minutes before Larry, and the pharaoh was being shipped overseas at eight that morning. The tired and weary night guard would allow himself some rest before Paris.
Bzzzt. Bzzzt. Bzzzt.
His cell phone vibrated in the cup holder. Grabbing it, he stared at the caller ID for a few seconds before it actually registered in his mind.
It was his only sister. Calling at six in the morning.
He picked up after another ring brought him back to reality. "Hello?"
"Larry?"
"Yeah, speaking," he said.
He could hear the voice on the other line draw a breath. "It's your sister."
"Yeah, no, I got that. Caller ID told me."
"Oh... anyway, Larry I need a favor."
"At six in the morning?"
"My flight's at seven, so yes. Just meet me at central park, okay?"
"What? Wait, what's your flight have to do with this? What?"
His sister didn't answer his inquiries, but just told him that she'd be around the museum. Larry looked back at his phone, which was flashing "call ended" back at him. He took a deep breath, and made an illegal u-turn and began the drive back to where he had just come from.
-----
Stepping out of the car, he found his sister standing near a bench, where sure enough, there was a clear view of the museum. What caught his eye, however, was the young teenage girl sitting on the bench near his sibling. She looked to be around fifteen, with dark hair. She glanced at him once before looking back at her surroundings.
"Larry!"
He shifted his gaze from the girl to his now approaching sister. He greeted her as they embraced.
"Emma."
She pulled back, hands still on his shoulders. "I see you're thrilled to see your little sister."
Larry laughed a little. "Hey, you better stop playing the age card every time I see you if you want me to grant that favor."
She sobered immediately, giving a nervous grin.
"I know it's a lot to ask, but you're the only relative..."
Larry narrowed his eyes. "What is it?"
She inhaled, then looked him in the eyes briefly. He cocked his head slightly. Walking away from him, Emma went around behind the bench, putting her hands on the young girl's shoulder. The girl glanced up at her, then at Larry.
Emma stared down at the dark-haired girl, and then back up to her brother.
"I need you to take care of my daughter."
A/N: Just for the record, I took a few creative writing liberties, so I don't actually know if the American Museum of Natural History closes for Memorial Day. I doubt it. And I think the exhibits will be fine in a box during the day, granted they were transported in a truck during Night at the Museum 2.
Next, I would love to hear if anyone has any information on the Louvre, or what exhibits they would like to see me use. I've never actually been to the Louvre, so any help would be appreciated. I'll do my research, regardless, because I realize that this should be as accurate as possible.
Anyway, I hope this chapter wasn't too bad, please review!