Shorty crept downstairs as quietly as the creaking steps would allow. Indy had left. Without even saying anything to him. What was wrong? Shorty thought he had heard the phone ring. Yes, that must of been it, because he had heard his father talking to someone. What could have been so important that he didn't even tell his son he was leaving?

Shorty crossed the messy living room's carpeted floor. The coffee table was piled high with his college text books, archaeology guides and Indy's papers he had to grade this evening. They really needed to clean the place up, Shorty realized subconsciously as he entered the hallway. Indy's hat and jacket were missing from their pegs on the wall. He had really left in a hurry then, but he wasn't in trouble. His pistol was still in it's holster, hanging on it's hook behind a few jackets. (Dr. Jones didn't like to leave guns in plain sight, as it was tempting for thieves.)

"Dr. Jones?" Shorty called, already knowing there'd be no response. He checked on the kitchen table, but there was no note. He observed that the phone receiver had been replaced on it's pedestal hurriedly. So quickly that it hadn't actually hung up. Shorty carefully put it back on the hook and went back to the hall, stepping outside.

He sighed in relief. The car was still in the drive, so he hadn't gone far. Shorty was about to go look for him when he saw a red car slow down outside the drive. It was Willie's car.

Brilliant, what am I going to tell her? Shorty walked reluctantly to her car and she opened up the driver's door, stepping daintily outside. "Hey Shorty!" she smiled that artificial smile. She didn't want to see him, she wanted his father. Duh. "Hello, Ms. Scott." Shorty said innocently. He knew Willie hated it when he was formal with her.

She didn't seem to notice, however. "Where's your dad?" She took a lipstick out of her purse and began applying it on her already covered lips.

"He's.." he had to think fast. No way was he telling her he didn't know where Indy was. She might insist on waiting here, and that was the last thing Shorty wanted. But there wasn't any good excuse. "He's gone for a walk." He said at last. It was lame, but it'd have to do.

"A walk?" Willie asked critically. "Since when does he have leisure time?" She smirked, reopening her car door. "Well, I'll drive around the block and see if I can hunt him down." She winked and backed out of the drive.

Good. I hope I didn't just sick her on him. He better not be on the block.

There he was, walking down the sidewalk towards her as though he was meeting one of the neighborhood kids to play baseball. He never seemed willing to show any sort of emotion around her. Well, almost never. There was a time, long ago now, when she would never have thought such a thing. He had loved her then, she was sure of it. But not enough.

"Marion, I-"

Before Jones could give any of his no doubt already-thought-up excuses, Marion brought her slim well manicured hand up, bringing it neatly across his cheek.

To his credit, Indy winced but said nothing in complaint. "There's just one thing I want to say." He said cautiously.

"Make it good, then." Marion waited, placing her right hand on her hip, and running her left through her thick black hair.

"I'm sorry."

The middle-aged woman scanned his face carefully with her sapphire eyes, trying to find any deception in those wonderful eyes of his. There was none. Only regret.

"Should I believe you?" She asked, though she didn't expect an answer. She continued, "So, what are these problems you've been 'going through'?"

"Can we please-"

"No. Just talk. Don't whine."

"I wasn't whining, dang it, Marion!" Indy raised his hands in exasperation. "Why do you do that?"

"What?"

"You never let me-"

"Change the subject?" She challenged, her blue eyes glinting with somewhat annoyed humor.

"Ok. Fine. My 'problem' is that I'm already... involved with another woman."

"Why is that a problem?" Marion asked innocently. Apparently she wasn't willing to admit that she had only come because she was still in love with the bachelor. But why else would she have come?

"Well... it's not, necessarily. But I.. I'm starting to regret it already."

"Oh, I see you're still as fickle as ever, Dr. Jones."

"I'm not fic- ok, yes. I admit it. I am." No sense in trying to lie to Marion, what she'd said was obviously true. "But I'm working on it. I just need to make sure I'm making the right choice before I can settle on it."

"So, all you've been 'going through' is a relationship with someone else? That doesn't sound like much of a hardship." Her voice was cold and her eyes showed the anger she was trying to hide in the rest of her features.

"I've adopted a boy." Indy didn't want to give Marion time to speak. He plowed on, "He doesn't like Willie one bit. Er, that's my girlfriend. He's having a really hard time accepting her."

"Why is that any of my concern?"

"Well, you asked what my problems were, so I dang told you." Indy was thoroughly exasperated now. "Why are you here, anyway?" Behind him, he could hear a car on the road. It sounded like it was slowing down. Maybe someone needed directions.

"Indiana Jones!!" A high feminine voice shrieked. Indy stiffened and turned slowly to face the source of the angry yell.

"Willie, I can explain." He looked from Marion to Willie and then back again.

"Then do it. Now." Indy hadn't seen Willie so mad since the time they'd had that argument back at the temple. But that was a long time ago, Indy'd assumed she'd matured some since then. "She's an old friend of mine. She came all the way from Nepal."

"Why?" Willie's icy blue eyes surveyed Marion from head to toe twice.

"Look, you've obviously gotten the wrong impression." Indy felt unease creeping along like a million spiders. "Marion's just here to visit."

"What are you doing out here?"

"Ah, Ms. Scott!" Marion intervened, giving Indy an urgent glare. Best to let her handle it, the archaeologist decided. "Indy's told me all about you. I was so pleased to hear how happy you are together."

Willie blinked for a moment and then said looked at Indy, who nodded vigorously. Marion gave her a winning smile and the blond woman stepped gracefully from her car.

"Excuse my rudeness, I.." Obviously she was finding it difficult to think of an excuse.

"Of course," Marion said, once again the gracious savior of a conversation that could turn ugly. "I understand entirely."

Indy felt it was safe to step in at this time. "Marion was just going to book a hotel room."

"Yes, you'll have to excuse me." She stepped on Indy's foot quickly and he winced. Then she was walking away, turning around the corner and out of sight as soon as possible.

Willie looked at him awkwardly. "Did you actually think I'd be... with someone else? Willie, I thought-" He paused, searching her blue eyes. "I thought you trusted me more than that."

"Well.." Willie faltered for a moment and then took a step towards him. "You've been with so many others.. I just didn't know what to think, I guess."

"Maybe you should go home, Willie." Indy didn't need this right now. He needed to get home, cool down, take a shower and get some rest. He had some serious thinking to do. He opened Willie's car door for her and waved to her as she drove away. She was mad at him. He didn't really care. He was so confused. As he walked home in the evening's dwindling light, all he could think about was the fact that he might be the one in need of a psychiatrist.