Tom grabs the Idol from Moira

"You're crazy! Do you want to lose all hopes of your appointment? If you screw up in the least on this project, the administration will have you out of here so fast..."

"Why, because I'm a woman?" Moira spat. Her red hair stereotype was showing through again.

"Moira," Tom said gently, "you know I don't believe it, but it's true that they are looking for any excuse to get rid of you from this department. I'm sorry, love, but I'm just trying to protect you."

Moira dropped her defensive stature and sighed. She knew he was right. "Thank you, you're a good friend."

Doctor Chapel entered the room at this moment. "Did I miss something?" he asked looking at the idol in Tom's hands and the glass case on the floor.

"Hello, sir, doctor," Tom stumbled for the words. "We had, um, a discovery."

The Doctor walked over to them to see what they had.

"Moira found that there is a strange seam on the back of the idol. In addition, I've been able to transcribe most of the writing and I'm ready to start working on translation."

"Goodness, it's a good thing you're both my best students ever, but your agressive pursuit of knowledge is going to be my undoing. Okay, let's see what you have here." The Doctor, took the idol in his hands and sat down on a nearby stool. He studied the back of the idol where Tom had pointed out the seam.

Moira had always fancied the Doctor. He was in his late thirties and didn't seem to show any signs of aging. He was married though and so Moira kept her crush to herself, knowing that a relationship with him would be impossible. Still, with him sitting there, looking all the example of knowledge and learning, she couldn't suppress a sudden chill of longing.

"Tom, bring me the excavation kit, please. There's a miniature plyer in there..." the doctor's thoughts trailed off.

Tom brought the leather case over to Chapel. The doctor unrolled it, found the tool he spoke of and began to apply it to the back side of the idol. It happened so fast that neither student could exactly explain what happened later. All they knew was that the Doctor, there one second, wasn't there the next.