Disclaimer: I don't own Indiana Jones

Chapter 7

(I know this isn't what you were after, but I made it short and quick to get it out the way...will aim for Chapter 8 tomorrow if I can find an hour or so in the day)

By the time Indiana landed, Marion was already wrestling her parachute off. She was pulling at the ropes and struggling with the tangled mess as she tried to pull her backpack off. Indiana slipped his off with ease and walked over to his former lover, secretly hoping that he would never reach her, that he would never have to see her suffer. He grabbed her by the arms as she continued to flail. "I can't get this god-damn thing off!" she yelled pushing Indiana away, "It wont come off." Hot tears dripped down her face.

Indiana grabbed her again, "You need to stop moving", he said cautiously, "Calm down so I can help." Marion's face turned a deep red. "how on Earth can you help!" she spat at him, "You left my son in there...you left him to die."

They were unthinking words of pain, a desperate heart lashing out, looking for someone to blame. He knew they weren't true but the words cut through him like a blade. "I never left him." Indiana muttered quietly. "Then why..." Marion yelled , finally managing to pull her backpack off, "..are you standing there, when my baby is lying dead."

"I did everything I could..." Indiana began.

"Well it wasn't enough." Marion stated as she started storming towards the tree front, where in the distance the smoke continued to rise like a black flag, marking the point of contact.

Indiana watched after her, "He was my son too." He shouted over to her.

Marion never even looked round, "For a week." she spat, "He's been my son since he was born!"

Check mate.

If Indiana's guilt could have been personified it's tentacles would have spread around America and swallowed it without chewing. But it wasn't, and as such Indy was able to temporarily push it down and hide it away while more pressing matters were at hand. He ran after Marion.

"Where are you going?" he asked as the woman continued to storm through the trees, "This isn't a good idea." The concept of her seeing Mutt's dead body after such a horrendous crash wouldn't do anyone any favours. "I need to know." Marion stated, wiping away her tears, "What if he's alive. What if he made the jump?"

Indiana stepped in front of her, grabbed her by the shoulders and stopped her in her tracks, "Marion." he said gently, "I saw it go down. Nothing could have survived that. Oxley...Mutt, they're gone"

"Please let me go." Marion said, refusing to make eye contact with the man she blamed, "I need to know."

Indiana dropped his arms and stepped to the side, allowing her to pass. She didn't move. "Will...will you come with me?" she asked, looking up and finally softening a little. Indiana gently held her hand. "Always." he said, a matter of fact.

The first time they knew they were approaching was the wreck was the smell. Not the sweet smell of a bonfire or coal fire, but a thick chemical smoke which burned their nose and throat. Shortly after, there was the crackling noise of trees and branches still burning. Then they began to pass some pieces of wreckage. The remains of a seat, some broken glass, jagged pieces of metal. Indiana stopped.

"I think you should wait here." he said. Marion nodded, she needed to know, but she didn't necessarily need to see. Marion sat down on the ground by a large tree, "Find him." She pleaded.

Indiana continued slowly towards the wreckage. The thick black smoke was beginning to dissipate, but the smell was as strong as ever. The wreckage pieces were getting larger and larger until...

"Holy crap." Indiana cursed as he walked into the crash sight. The largest piece of the plane at the crash was about the size of a briefcase. The explosion had been so massive that there was was nothing left. Indiana walked amongst the charred remains and blackened grass for any signs that either the Professor or Mutt could still be alive.

But what he found was evidence of the contrary. Blood, body fragments, hair and little scraps of clothing were everywhere. Indiana had dealt with death before, too many times, some were enemies, and some were even close friends. But he had never had to deal with death of this brutality. He fought the urge to throw up and instead began to walk back to break the inevitable news to Marion.

When Marion saw Indiana slowly walked back towards her, she worked it out by herself. She put her face into her arms and was cried loudly. Indiana kneeled beside her. "It was instant." he said soothingly, "They never felt any pain."

"Did.." Marion sniffed, looking up, "Did you see him?"

Indiana nodded. It wasn't a complete lie, but the truth was hardly appropriate.

Marion uncrossed her arms, she had something in her hand. "I found this on the ground." she cried, opening her hand. In her palm lay a little cracked black comb, "I was going to give it back to him... when you found him." She stammered. Marion dropped it on the ground and put her hand out to Indiana. "Take me home." she said blankly, "I hate this place."