Chapter Four

The men left the room so Aurelia could change into her clothes. Marian helped her. The woman was afraid that Aurelia wouldn't be able to do it with how she was shaking.

There was a knock on the door. Marian answered it. Indy and Mutt came in. Indy took a look at his student and wondered if she'd be up for the trip.

"Cairo?" Aurelia whispered.

"Yes," Indy nodded. "Do you think you could come with us?"

Aurelia turned and Indy was surprised to see a fiery determination in her eyes.

"Yes," She said, her voice cold. "We need to find it before they do. I need to rescue Dad."

"Wait, your pops is missing too?" Mutt asked, taking back his jacket that Aurelia offered him.

"Yes," Aurelia said bitterly. "The last I heard about his whereabouts was that he was staying with his old friend Sala."

"Sala is also a friend of mine," Indy said. Aurelia met his eyes once more. He saw hope. "We'll get your dad back. Don't worry."

"He's all I have left," Aurelia said. Then, shouldering her satchel, "Well? Are we going to Cairo?"

Indy grinned at her spunk. "Yeah, let's go."

"Can I ride in the car this time?" She asked.

"Something wrong with my driving?" Mutt asked, offended.

Aurelia made a face but didn't say anything. Indy and Marian chuckled as they ushered their son out of the room. Aurelia followed.

"I already called for the plane tickets," Indy said. "Miss Livingston, we bought yours for you."

"How much do I owe you?"

Indy stopped walking down the hall and turned to face his student. "You don't owe us a thing, kid."

"I insist." Aurelia said.

"You're paying us back by letting us come with you," Indy smiled.

"But, professor—"

"Call me Indiana," he smiled.

Aurelia was silent for a moment before giving a soft smile. "Indiana."

The four were standing in front of a cargo plane. Aurelia was the only one who looked worried.

"This is normal," Marian assured her.

Aurelia raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

A tall man with dark skin and black hair combed back came over to great the group.

"Hello," he smiled. He had a faint Indian accent. "Welcome to my cargo ship."

"Thanks for taking us aboard, Rick," Indiana said.

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing at all." Rick smiled. He winked at Aurelia. She gulped, nervous of having the attention of the pilot. He gave her a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. "Come, follow me."

He led them to the door of the plane. Mutt hopped inside. Indy helped Marian and Rick helped Aurelia. Rick's hand squeezed hers and he gave her a seductive smile. Aurelia pulled her hand away and moved as far as she could away from the door.

Rick gave Aurelia one last look before hopping inside and going to the pilot's seat.

"Sit down and hold on to something," he called over his shoulder.

Somehow Aurelia got smushed in between Mutt and Marian. The engines roared to life and the plane started to move forward.

Aurelia clutched her satchel tighter.

"Something wrong?" Marian asked. Mutt regarded their conversation with little interest. Indy had already put his hat over his head in an attempt to nap.

"It's a number of things," Aurelia replied. "For one, the pilot creeps me out. It looks like he wants to eat me."

"That means he wants you." Marian frowned.

"Well I don't want him!" Aurelia growled. "If wanting someone means looking at them like a piece of meat then I don't need it!"

Marian and Mutt chuckled.

"Secondly, the two Russian men that are after me saw us take off," Aurelia continued.

"WHAT? Why didn't you say so?" Mutt gasped.

"Because they could never have gotten on." Aurelia explained. "They were too far away."

Marian hastily changed the subject.

"Were no men interested in you where you lived?" Marian asked.

"I don't know," Aurelia replied truthfully. "I lived out in the country with Mom and Dad. They home schooled me. I was too busy learning to pay attention to what anybody thought of me."

"That's a hick for you," Mutt muttered.

Aurelia rounded on him. "You think you're so tough, don't you! Well, I'm tough too!" Her Midwest accent got thick with her anger. Mutt thought that she looked like an angry kitten.

"I've mastered how to use a switchblade, a sword and a gun. What can you do?"

"I can speak Russian, read and write German, and I have a knack for translating languages!" She growled quietly.

"How will that help you in Egypt?" Mutt scoffed.

"Well, I'll be able to understand what those Russians are talking about," Aurelia growled. The plane lurched. Aurelia's eyes grew big and she clutched her satchel tighter to herself. Mutt laughed at her discomfort. Marian slapped her son over the head, effectively shutting him up. She put an arm around the young woman and held her close.

"This is my first time on an airplane," Aurelia whispered.

The jolting of the landing jostled Mutt awake. He blinked, bleary eyed, and noticed something warm on his shoulder. His eyes widened as he realized it was Aurelia. Mutt quickly glanced around, making sure that no one noticed.

"Ah, so the girl is yours?" asked Rick's voice. Mutt looked up. "Too bad," Rick sighed. "She would've been beautiful company for me." Shrugging he continued, "I am making a pit stop to refuel. We're almost to Egypt."

Rick left and Mutt heard a low chuckle from his left. It was his pop.

"Taken a liking to each other?" Indy asked with a grin.

Mutt pushed Aurelia off of his shoulder. "No," he frowned. Aurelia's head flopped onto Marian's lap. Marian jolted awake then smiled at Indy.

Then Aurelia whispered something in her sleep that made Mutt feel a little guilty about being mean to her, "I'm coming Dad. I'll look after you like I promised Mom…."

The trio gave each other a sad look. Marian sighed and started to shake Aurelia awake. Aurelia muttered to herself again but they couldn't understand it. With one last shake from Marian Aurelia rolled off of her seat and landed on the floor.

Blinking up at the amused family she asked, "Are we there yet?"

"Not quite," came Rick's voice. Aurelia glanced behind her and saw him smiling in the doorway. He glanced at Mutt then to Aurelia. "I stopped for some fuel. We're almost to Egypt. Never fear," Rick winked at Aurelia. She hid her disgust but getting off the floor and back to her seat. Marian handed her back the satchel.

Rick chuckled and went to the cockpit.

"He did look at you like a piece of meat," Marian commented.

Aurelia shuttered. "He gives me the willies."

Mutt scoffed and closed his eyes. Aurelia clutched her satchel tightly in her hands during the take-off. Marian smiled and closed her eyes. Indy had his hat over his face but he too was smiling.

Special thanks to xxIbiralianxx and Dinanychus for reviewing! It made my day! XD

So how is it so far? Again, please tell me your thoughts. I love to hear them!