DISCLAIMER:  I do not own any of the Indiana Jones characters.  The only characters of mine (Lydia Marques, Alessa Harding, Hedrick Velheim) have just temporarily joined the Joneses on one of their adventures.  No copyright infringement on any of George Lucas's/Steven Spielberg's works is intended.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:  Here's the third chapter!  Things start to happen that bring the Joneses into the story… :)  Please enjoy!

Chapter 3

Alessa Harding's eyes fluttered as the sun spilled through the window of her hotel room, splashing color on the clothing-strewn floor and across her twin bed's comforter. She sat up and leaned back on her elbows, taking in her room in a glance that swept over an unlocked suitcase, the open bathroom door, a bag of dirty clothes, and a trunk whose surface had been converted into a tabletop. The room was in a general state of disaster—when she'd arrived she'd simply tossed her clothes into a drawer and dumped her toiletries onto the bathroom counter.

Sliding off the bed and onto the carpeted floor, the slender woman knelt to pick up a sock. A lock of golden hair fell from behind her ear as she straightened to look out the window to the awakening city. She fingered the see-through drapery thoughtfully and then pulled the curtains aside.

Making her way to the bathroom to brush her hair and freshen up, she donned her negligee and flipped her curls over a shoulder. Humming absentmindedly, she smoothed the nightgown underneath her robe.

She emerged from the bathroom with her hair combed and twisted into a bun at the nape of her neck, the robe trailing behind with its tie hanging loose. She moved to make the bed.

Alessa was an American teacher who had traveled to Europe to study the culture. She had already been to Spain, Austria, and Italy; all that remained on her list were Greece and Russia. She would go back to the states when the trip was over, although she didn't want to—in part this was a vacation and not really schoolwork. She intended to take three countries from her travels and give cultural courses when she found work at a school. Having arrived in Greece two days earlier, she planned to wander around and be a tourist, with no specific plan in mind.

But the best part of her trip was that, somewhere along the way, she had found the man of her dreams. Alessa smiled faintly, thinking of the occupant in the room next to hers, and suddenly heard the sharp, angry voice of a young man that rose and carried through the walls. Alessa stopped, holding a pillow in mid-fluff.

"I don't need to negotiate, I just want my father! What? Listen, neither of us is going to Berlin. Yes, I'm sure Hitler's smart enough to find it himself. Okay, put him on."

Still holding the pillow under her arm, the teacher went to the door and shoved it ajar. She saw the man pacing a cleared section of the floor around the bed, stopping where trunks and backpacks halted the carpet's border. Alessa saw that he was in his cobalt-tinted bathrobe, with his hair still tousled from sleep. He was mumbling something and shaking his head, his eyes full of worry and doubt.

This room was almost identical to Alessa's, with the floor space invaded by bags and cases, papers littering the desk and filling the wastebasket. Alessa's boyfriend was also a teacher—a professor at a college, actually—and he had probably figured that he could get some reports written and tests graded in his spare time, even though he'd barely had time to unpack the papers during the trip.

Alessa pushed the door all the way open and walked into the room, an inquiring look on her face. She clutched her silken robe about her tightly as she observed the man's nervous behavior. He threw a forced smile in her direction just as another voice came clearly through the receiver. Relief flooded the young man's face, and he let out his breath.

"Dad? Dad, listen, where are you? Just tell me, now, so I can come get you. What? Dad, no, no! Wait! Tell them to wait!"

Alessa heard the click on the other end that meant the conversation was over.

Indiana Jones sat down in a chair wearily, pressing the heel of a hand to his forehead. "Well, I don't know how, but Dad's managed to get himself in more trouble."

Alessa smiled, one eyebrow raised. "A Jones, getting into trouble? I thought that was impossible."

Indiana stood, pointing a cautionary finger at her. "Hey. Be nice."

The woman smiled up at the archaeologist. Indiana was a handsome young man in his twenties, with light brown hair and a lopsided grin. Alessa had heard of his stories about facing countless Nazis, crazy priests, and women spies… not to mention several other dangers. She didn't know how she had happened to stay in his company for over a week.

She ran her fingers through her blonde curls. "What's going on?"

Indiana had begun to comb his hair. "Dad's being held prisoner by a few Nazis in the local library. Nothing I can't handle," he added with a sure smile, setting down the brush.

Alessa, alarmed, found her mouth dropping to the floor. "Nazis? You're joking, right?"

The doctor shook his head and shrugged. "No." He grabbed a pair of brown pants, a khaki-colored shirt, his leather jacket, and his russet, felt fedora and headed for the bathroom.

"Indy!" Alessa stood, a shocked look on her face. "I don't want you going into the middle of a Nazi troop! Don't you think we should call the police?"

There was no answer. Indiana tossed his robe through the door into the oncoming Alessa's arms, throwing her back a step. She flung the robe down angrily, unable to muffle a puppy-like whimper. "Indy, I thought you were through with adventures!"

"Listen, honey," Indiana said comfortingly, emerging from the bathroom in full attire, "this isn't anything I haven't handled before." He slung his favorite bag over a shoulder and buckled his holster over his belt. Rummaging in his suitcase, he pulled out a long-barreled gun and his bullwhip. He checked the firearm to make sure it was loaded.

The woman watched wide-eyed as Indiana hooked the whip onto his belt and slid the revolver into its holster. "Indy! You're going to get yourself killed!"

Indiana looked up and offered her a charming smile. "I haven't died yet."

"Can't we talk about this?"

"We already have."

He moved though the door, brushing his lips across Alessa's forehead before leaving. The woman watched him go, a fire burning in her green eyes as she crossed her arms defiantly and leaned back on the bed. "Yeah, well you can be sure we will when you get back, Indiana Jones."

Hope you like it so far—please review!