A note on the tanning process: I really should have had them stake the hide before they smoked it, but I sort of got ahead of myself in my excitement. Perhaps I will go back and fix that one day, because Indy would know to do that. Just take note: if you plan to try this method, you will want to stretch the hide for a day or so before you smoke it, otherwise it won't be soft. K, thanks.

There's another reference to my story "Compromise" in this chapter, but it shouldn't confuse you if you don't want to go back and read that one.

Mrs. Darcy, thanks. I thought we didn't hear enough about Collin in the movie.

Ellen, I'm glad you think so. When I read your review I laughed out loud about your zapped squirrel. Your parents were right to be concerned, since wild critters can carry fleas and disease, but if you used rubber gloves and worked outside you'd probably be OK.

Ecri, I hope it didn't gross you out too terribly much. :p

hansolofan, Welcome aboard! I hope you enjoy it. You get some Indy/Marion in this chapter.

Indy, Marion, Mutt and Ox are my friends... you don't own friends. They stick by you by choice, for some reason...

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THIRD

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Something was eating at Mutt, Indy knew, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He did know, however, what was bothering him. Mutt was so touchy about Indy's using the term "son," yet when Oxley had used it a moment ago, Mutt hadn't said a word. No protest, not even an annoyed look. Why was it all right for Ox, who was not Mutt's father, to call him son when Indy couldn't?

At least they had progressed from "Don't call me son! No," to "Please, don't call me that." And anyway, even if Mutt wouldn't let him use the label, he was Indy's son, so why was he so upset?

When he returned from disposing of the jaguar's skinned and headless body, Indy saw that Mutt had finished talking with his mother. He helped Mutt take the hide off the tripod and told him, "Sleep on this tonight, and I guarantee you'll have your warmest night yet."

"I can't believe it's finally done," Mutt said. He took the hide to show Ox and ended up sharing another soursop with him. At least his preoccupation might give Indy a chance to really talk with Marion—something he hadn't had a good chance to do for some time.

"You've been working too hard," Marion told him when he approached her. "You're going to get those scratches all infected."

"I'm fine, Marion. Remember, the peppertree oleoresin is an astringent."

"That's what you keep saying, anyway." She patted the ground beside her.

Indy sat and put an arm around Marion's waist. He caught a less-than-friendly look from Mutt and dropped his hand to the ground. "The kid acts more like a boyfriend than a son," he commented, keeping his voice low. "Is he normally this possessive?"

"It depends. Believe it or not, he had quite a row with Ox when he first started paying us regular visits."

"Really? How old was he?"

"Getting close to fifty, I think."

"Not Ox! Mutt."

"Oh. He was eight or nine."

"Oh." Indy was a little disappointed, though he knew he shouldn't be. "What kind of row?"

"Well, I was going through kind of a rough time, and Ox came over for dinner to sort of cheer me up," Marion said, staring reminiscently into the smoldering fire. "Afterward, he helped put Mutt to bed—we still called him Henry at that point—and then we were talking. I was just really stressed and needed a shoulder to cry on. Well, little Henry heard me crying, and mommies shouldn't cry, of course. So he figured something was really, very wrong. When he came out and saw Ox hugging me, he asked what happened. I told him it was nothing and he should go back to bed."

"I bet he took that well."

"Yeah, it's strange... somehow kids never listen when you call something 'nothing.' He said he didn't want to go to bed until he knew why I was crying."

"Very stalwart," Indy observed.

"Well, Collin was very military. I think Mutt picked a little of that up from him. It's almost gone now... I sort of miss it. He used to be more organized and conforming. I don't know if it's better, but it was... easier." Marion sighed. "Don't get me wrong—I love Mutt the way he is..."

"I understand," Indy said, not wanting the topic to change. "But what started the 'row' between him and Oxley?"

"When he refused to go, Ox told him he shouldn't talk back to his mother, and he needed to go straight back to bed. Then Mutt yelled 'You're not my dad' at him. Which just made me feel worse, because I knew that the poor little guy didn't have any idea who was his dad..."

Indy found himself registering a tiny shred of sympathy for Ox, but it soon passed. He couldn't help feeling a little glad that Mutt had blown up his old schoolmate. It meant that Mutt's more recent reactions to Indy might be general rather than personal.

"So, anyway," Marion went on, "I asked Ox to leave. I told him I'd be fine and I needed to take care of Mutt myself. He apologized, but he hadn't done anything wrong—and I told him that. Scared and sleepy kids don't always do the most rational things. I managed to get Mutt back to bed and convince him that I was all right."

"How'd he treat Ox after that?"

"He was leery of him for a while. But Ox was really great about treating Mutt like an adult after that. He would try to explain things to him before giving him orders. Mutt really took to it. That's not to say that he never disobeyed again—heavens, no! But he wasn't so resentful. He really built a lot of respect for Ox. Soon he was just like a second father to Mutt."

"Third."

Marion leaned her head tiredly on Indy's shoulder. "Yes, third."

Indy lifted his arm and held his hand poised over Marion's shoulder until he caught Mutt's eye.

Mutt frowned, but he also gave a tiny nod.

Indy let his hand fall and he pulled Marion against him. "It's very strange having to tacitly ask permission from my own son in order to court you."

"He'll come around," Marion said. She tipped her head back and kissed Indy's jaw.

"That's not fair."

"Why not?"

"Because if I kiss you back, he'll have a fit."

Marion laughed. "Scared of him?"

"In a way," Indy murmured.

"Don't be scared. Just talk to him and be honest."

"I'm trying." Indy leaned his cheek against the top of Marion's head. "Marion, I love you."

She laced her fingers through his free hand. "You don't know how nice that is to hear."

"I would if you'd say it back."

"Your pickup lines are getting less clever... but more endearing. I love you, too."

Indy clenched his teeth. He knew he couldn't say another word. If he opened his mouth now, the first thing that came out would be "Will you marry me?" And he had all but promised Mutt that he wouldn't make a move like that before they were back in the States.

But it was so clear to him now, how important Marion was to him. If he was going to regain her trust, he wanted to fix some of the mistakes he had made. He was sure she wanted that too—was it fair to keep her waiting?

Seeing Mutt coming around the fire toward them, Indy straightened a little. No sense in making his son take offense at their closeness.

"I think I'll take the dawn shift this time, if it's all the same to you," he said.

"Sure," Indy agreed.

"Right. Then I'll be turning in."

"We won't keep you up," Marion promised.

Mutt gave her a suspicious look. "You need sleep, too," he said.

Indy could take a hint. He stood up and made a show of stretching. "I'll ask Ox if he'll take first watch. I'm ready for bed, myself."

Sure enough, as soon as Indy had moved away from Marion, Mutt seemed to relax.

"Hey, Ox," Indy said quietly. "Could you take the first watch?"

"Suits me all right," Ox replied.

"And do me a favor—wake Marion next? Mutt requested the last watch, and I want go third so I'll be the one to wake him."

Ox nodded solemnly. "I can do that, Henry."

"Thanks. You're a pal."

Ox really was a good guy, Indy told himself. He was apparently glad to see Indy trying to connect with Mutt. At least Ox was one person in the group whose support he could count on.

As he spread his jacket on the damp ground to sleep on, Indy reflected that Hercules' next task was to capture the Cretan Bull. It put him in mind of the cliché, "take the bull by the horns." He hoped that the upcoming discussion with Mutt would not prove to be a Herculean task.

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Sorry if this one was a little short. Please leave me a review to know how you liked it. :)