It had been a stormy & wild night, raindrops had refreshed the earth.
Through the open window came fresh air, mixing up with the dusty one from the night.
Marion soaked it into her lungs like a dry mush.
She loved the fresh air of Washington; although it was America's capital, there weren't too many cars and factories.
Next to her she heard soft breathing, saw the blanket slowly moving up and down.
His eyes were closed, first rays of light were falling on his sleeping body.
This morning was so peaceful, she regretted they had to leave in a few hours.
At least it was them.
He had changed, being softer and more romantic. She wasn't sure where this had come from- however, she didn't regret it.
Marion kept watching Indy. They had to get up in a few minutes, a couple of ideas how to wake him went through her mind.
Her slender fingers began to play with the hair on his chest, curling it up and releasing it. He'd always loved her doing that.
This time it didn't work, he kept asleep like a stone.
Now Marion leaned carefully on her elbows, getting with her face close to his and giving him a quick kiss.
At the moment, when her lips touched his, she felt warm hands grabbing around her body.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
"Uhh, you fooled me!" she whispered during their ongoing kiss.
"That's what I love doin'…"
His hands gave her back a nice massage.
They were both entangled into a deep embrace, as somebody knocked on Indy's bed-room door.
"Indiana, are you there?" It was Brody.
Marion pulled away in shock, covering her nearly naked body under the blanket, so that only her head and shoulders were visible. "Should I leave?"
"No." He shook his head. "I'm in here, you can come in now."
"Good…" Marcus stopped as he realized Marion was laying in bed too. "…morning you two. I hope I didn't disturb you."
"No." was Indy's reply, but a fast look to the ravenhaired woman told him that she was embarrassed.
"What has happened?"
"The police's going from house to house in search for Marion."
"That's not true!"
"I'm afraid so…"
"Where are they now?"
"Just a few houses away, you better hurry up."
"Thanks."
"One good news chases the next! Damn! Where's the wig?"
"On the shelf. Your passport's there too."
Marion swung her legs out of the bed, went over to the shelf.
"Oh, nice name, who am I now?"
"Your name's Heather O'Duncan. You're from Irland."
"Can't guess. What am I doin' in the states?"
"You're here for… for a visit. Everything else, improvise. Alright?"
"Okay."
"Other thing: Dress yourself in an unusual way, just that you don't look like Marion."
He stood behind her, watched how her hands turned the passport.
"You better get dressed now."
She turned her head, eyed his also naked body from head to tip-toes.
"You better get dressed now, too."
"I'm not in the mood for joking."
"Neither am I. I'm in my room."
Somehow Indy was content with how things turned out, but in some way he was nervous, unsure how this adventure may end.
He had the misgivings it would be no happy end.
Marion was standing in front of the mirror, inspecting the reflextion.
The new hair colour fitted perfectly to her sun-tanned skin, however, as far as she knew, irish women were pale and looked kinda maidenly, something she even didn't when she was a young girl.
Damn Jones, she thought, you know me, couldn't you have picked something matching?
At a sudden she heard voices at the front door- policemen.
"Hello Dr. Jones, sorry that we disturb you at this time, but we are searching for a woman called Marion Ravenwood. Have you seen her or do you know her?"
She peaked through the slightly opened door.
"I do know her, but we have not talked since- well, it must be 10 years."
"Do you know where she is staying at?"
"As far as I know she lives in Chicago."
"Do you live here alone?"
"No, at this time a friend from Ireland lives here too."
"Where's he now?"
"She must be in the bathroom."
"Would you mind calling her?"
"Of course not. Heather? Heather, would you please come out, honey?"
Marion got away from the door, waited a few moments, then left the room.
"What's up, Indy? Oh, good morning gentlemen!"
"Good morning, miss…"
"O'Duncan, Heather O'Duncan. If I may ask, has something serious happened?"
"No, to appease you, we are just searching for a woman called Marion Ravenwood. Witnesses said they have seen her in Washington. We just wanted to inform you."
"That's very kind of you to ensure everyone's security by walking around the houses. I'd be glad if we had that security in Ireland, too."
"There are quite few policemen, true, true. You're not fully irish, are you?"
"Why are you asking?" Marion realized that Indy was getting nervous.
"Your hair, it's blonde."
"Eh, my mother's from Norway."
"Oh, well, Miss O'Duncan, it was nice to meet you, goodbye, Dr. Jones. If Miss Ravenwood contacts you, please let me know."
"Sure."
"Have a nice day, officer!" Marion chirped.
Indy closed the door and stared at her. "Did ya've to start a conversation with the policeman?"
"Whaz up, honey? Everything's okay!"
"But he nearly catched you!"
"It's not my fault that I have a blonde wig! I had to improvise! You should honour my excuse!"
"Oh yeah? And you should honour that I hide you here!"
Marion looked down, searched for the right words. "I don't want to start an arguement with you in the morning. Let's eat and get ready for the flight."
He watched her leaving for the dining room. Everytime they met he was surprised by her development, seeing her become soft and vulnerable.
"Are you coming?"
"Josh, this's Rafe. Please call the irish police and check out, if there lives a woman called Heather O'Duncan."
All the time they sat at the table nobody said a word, they kept totally quiet.
Indy felt guilty, not knowing why. His mind told him to stop the feeling, but he couldn't. Maybe Marion hid something, maybe she knew soemthing he didn't, maybe it was wrong to make love so early.
"Marion…"
Her eyes rose from the bottom of the cup of coffee.
"We should leave now, it's time."
She nodded.
"What's wrong? Is there something I should know?"
"No, I just think I shouldn't have come here."
"What makes you think that? We've beaten the Nazis, remember, nothing's as worse as that."
"You make me think so! You always remind me that YOU hide me here, that YOU take care of me! You always pronounce that it's you! What do you want to accomplish by that? I thought you were my friend who'd help me in every situation without asking for any money or other goods. My impression was wrong, you're not the man I left nine years ago."
Indy was speechless, just meeting her bewildered gaze. "Okay, if you think you'll make it on your own, feel free to leave!"
Marion got up from her chair. "Listen, I'm thankful that you hide me here, share your house with me, but you don't have to remind me all the time."
"When did I remind you on that except this morning?"
"It's not just that. You're so… so… aggressive, tensed. And I have the feeling it's because of me."
"I'm not mixed up or tensed, you are!"
"Well, if you're angry cause of the wig, it was a joke, heard me, Jones? A joke!"
"Let's get one thing strait: I'm not mixed up nor tensed, got it?!"
"You are! I know you so long and I feel something's not okay with you."
"You're not my doctor!"
"If you're telling somebody what's w-"
"Stop it, Marion, stop it now!" he roared.
Surprised by his rising voice, she stepped back, looking at him with paniced eyes. "I-I'm upstairs, g-getting ready."
He took a deep breath, why does it have to be so difficult? Especially with this wildcat at his hands. He felt the age creeping into him bit by bit… and Marion perceiving it.
For her he wanted to stay as young as he had always been.
As they were sitting in the car, there was tensed silence.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" she nearly whispered.
"I said I'm sorry. I didn't intend to yell."
"I was just scared, nothing more. I know your temper."
"So you're not angry?"
"I was mad at you for 10 years, that's sufficied I think."
Houses passed by, laughing children ran down the street, she looked for the last time at the shops.
After another long silence, Marion was curious. "Do you think this hairstyle fits me, Indy?"
"Don't have luck with blondes."
"Oh, I guess that explains it."
"Your black hair looks better."
"Thanks. Think there hasn't been anybody else with whom you started a relationship three times."
"Honestly… no. You can be proud of yourself."
She gave him a triumphant smile. "Besides, your irish friend, is she just a friend?"
"Or a lover? Why?"
"Just checking out if I'm allowed to kiss you in public."
"Keep it for the flight or our arrival in Cairo, then we can celebrate."
The airport was crowded with policemen, but Marion behaved like she had nothing to do with it.
There he was again: The policeman who had visited them this morning.
"Hello Miss O'Duncan, are you going home?"
"No, we're going on an archeologic mission."
"Yes, Dr.Jones is deeply involved into dusty stuff."
"If you might excuse us now."
They went into the building, trying to seem calm.
"You've done a good job this time, honey."
"A job? That sounds so serious."
"It's serious."
"Don't be nervous cause of this crowd, we have beaten the Nazis together, remember?"
"Yeah, we have."
"Luck seems to be on our side."
"Don't be so optimistic, Heather."
"Since when are you so damn pessimistic, I just don't get it!? Don't tell me it's because of the mileage."
"No, this time it's the years."
They were standing in a row, waiting to ckeck in.
Marion watched a woman with a baby, but without a husband. She thought about what might have happened to him, when she felt a hand on her back.
"Heather, come on, it's our turn."
After some time, they were ready to get into the plane.
"Welcome on your flight from Washington to Cairo. It will last 12 hours. We will serve you two meals during this flight. We wish you a nice stay on our plane."
"Indy, I feel motioned."
"So do I. Try to stay calm. We should try to sleep, honey."
"You're right. I'm a little tired, didn't get much sleep tonight." She said with a smile.
"Me too." He smiled back. "By the way, why did you wanted to hide yourself when Marcus was about to enter?"
"I just thought that you don't like to be seen with your ex-lover in bed."
"It's alright, Marcus knows me."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He knows what I feel for you."
She nodded. "I'd love to kiss you." she whispered.
His lips went close to her ear. "Keep your passion for our stay in Cairo."
When he looked at her she seemed disappointed.
After they had taken their first meal both fell asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
A few rows behind them a man stopped making notes with the phrase: Have fallen asleep…
Through the open window came fresh air, mixing up with the dusty one from the night.
Marion soaked it into her lungs like a dry mush.
She loved the fresh air of Washington; although it was America's capital, there weren't too many cars and factories.
Next to her she heard soft breathing, saw the blanket slowly moving up and down.
His eyes were closed, first rays of light were falling on his sleeping body.
This morning was so peaceful, she regretted they had to leave in a few hours.
At least it was them.
He had changed, being softer and more romantic. She wasn't sure where this had come from- however, she didn't regret it.
Marion kept watching Indy. They had to get up in a few minutes, a couple of ideas how to wake him went through her mind.
Her slender fingers began to play with the hair on his chest, curling it up and releasing it. He'd always loved her doing that.
This time it didn't work, he kept asleep like a stone.
Now Marion leaned carefully on her elbows, getting with her face close to his and giving him a quick kiss.
At the moment, when her lips touched his, she felt warm hands grabbing around her body.
"Good morning, sweetheart."
"Uhh, you fooled me!" she whispered during their ongoing kiss.
"That's what I love doin'…"
His hands gave her back a nice massage.
They were both entangled into a deep embrace, as somebody knocked on Indy's bed-room door.
"Indiana, are you there?" It was Brody.
Marion pulled away in shock, covering her nearly naked body under the blanket, so that only her head and shoulders were visible. "Should I leave?"
"No." He shook his head. "I'm in here, you can come in now."
"Good…" Marcus stopped as he realized Marion was laying in bed too. "…morning you two. I hope I didn't disturb you."
"No." was Indy's reply, but a fast look to the ravenhaired woman told him that she was embarrassed.
"What has happened?"
"The police's going from house to house in search for Marion."
"That's not true!"
"I'm afraid so…"
"Where are they now?"
"Just a few houses away, you better hurry up."
"Thanks."
"One good news chases the next! Damn! Where's the wig?"
"On the shelf. Your passport's there too."
Marion swung her legs out of the bed, went over to the shelf.
"Oh, nice name, who am I now?"
"Your name's Heather O'Duncan. You're from Irland."
"Can't guess. What am I doin' in the states?"
"You're here for… for a visit. Everything else, improvise. Alright?"
"Okay."
"Other thing: Dress yourself in an unusual way, just that you don't look like Marion."
He stood behind her, watched how her hands turned the passport.
"You better get dressed now."
She turned her head, eyed his also naked body from head to tip-toes.
"You better get dressed now, too."
"I'm not in the mood for joking."
"Neither am I. I'm in my room."
Somehow Indy was content with how things turned out, but in some way he was nervous, unsure how this adventure may end.
He had the misgivings it would be no happy end.
Marion was standing in front of the mirror, inspecting the reflextion.
The new hair colour fitted perfectly to her sun-tanned skin, however, as far as she knew, irish women were pale and looked kinda maidenly, something she even didn't when she was a young girl.
Damn Jones, she thought, you know me, couldn't you have picked something matching?
At a sudden she heard voices at the front door- policemen.
"Hello Dr. Jones, sorry that we disturb you at this time, but we are searching for a woman called Marion Ravenwood. Have you seen her or do you know her?"
She peaked through the slightly opened door.
"I do know her, but we have not talked since- well, it must be 10 years."
"Do you know where she is staying at?"
"As far as I know she lives in Chicago."
"Do you live here alone?"
"No, at this time a friend from Ireland lives here too."
"Where's he now?"
"She must be in the bathroom."
"Would you mind calling her?"
"Of course not. Heather? Heather, would you please come out, honey?"
Marion got away from the door, waited a few moments, then left the room.
"What's up, Indy? Oh, good morning gentlemen!"
"Good morning, miss…"
"O'Duncan, Heather O'Duncan. If I may ask, has something serious happened?"
"No, to appease you, we are just searching for a woman called Marion Ravenwood. Witnesses said they have seen her in Washington. We just wanted to inform you."
"That's very kind of you to ensure everyone's security by walking around the houses. I'd be glad if we had that security in Ireland, too."
"There are quite few policemen, true, true. You're not fully irish, are you?"
"Why are you asking?" Marion realized that Indy was getting nervous.
"Your hair, it's blonde."
"Eh, my mother's from Norway."
"Oh, well, Miss O'Duncan, it was nice to meet you, goodbye, Dr. Jones. If Miss Ravenwood contacts you, please let me know."
"Sure."
"Have a nice day, officer!" Marion chirped.
Indy closed the door and stared at her. "Did ya've to start a conversation with the policeman?"
"Whaz up, honey? Everything's okay!"
"But he nearly catched you!"
"It's not my fault that I have a blonde wig! I had to improvise! You should honour my excuse!"
"Oh yeah? And you should honour that I hide you here!"
Marion looked down, searched for the right words. "I don't want to start an arguement with you in the morning. Let's eat and get ready for the flight."
He watched her leaving for the dining room. Everytime they met he was surprised by her development, seeing her become soft and vulnerable.
"Are you coming?"
"Josh, this's Rafe. Please call the irish police and check out, if there lives a woman called Heather O'Duncan."
All the time they sat at the table nobody said a word, they kept totally quiet.
Indy felt guilty, not knowing why. His mind told him to stop the feeling, but he couldn't. Maybe Marion hid something, maybe she knew soemthing he didn't, maybe it was wrong to make love so early.
"Marion…"
Her eyes rose from the bottom of the cup of coffee.
"We should leave now, it's time."
She nodded.
"What's wrong? Is there something I should know?"
"No, I just think I shouldn't have come here."
"What makes you think that? We've beaten the Nazis, remember, nothing's as worse as that."
"You make me think so! You always remind me that YOU hide me here, that YOU take care of me! You always pronounce that it's you! What do you want to accomplish by that? I thought you were my friend who'd help me in every situation without asking for any money or other goods. My impression was wrong, you're not the man I left nine years ago."
Indy was speechless, just meeting her bewildered gaze. "Okay, if you think you'll make it on your own, feel free to leave!"
Marion got up from her chair. "Listen, I'm thankful that you hide me here, share your house with me, but you don't have to remind me all the time."
"When did I remind you on that except this morning?"
"It's not just that. You're so… so… aggressive, tensed. And I have the feeling it's because of me."
"I'm not mixed up or tensed, you are!"
"Well, if you're angry cause of the wig, it was a joke, heard me, Jones? A joke!"
"Let's get one thing strait: I'm not mixed up nor tensed, got it?!"
"You are! I know you so long and I feel something's not okay with you."
"You're not my doctor!"
"If you're telling somebody what's w-"
"Stop it, Marion, stop it now!" he roared.
Surprised by his rising voice, she stepped back, looking at him with paniced eyes. "I-I'm upstairs, g-getting ready."
He took a deep breath, why does it have to be so difficult? Especially with this wildcat at his hands. He felt the age creeping into him bit by bit… and Marion perceiving it.
For her he wanted to stay as young as he had always been.
As they were sitting in the car, there was tensed silence.
"I'm sorry."
"What?" she nearly whispered.
"I said I'm sorry. I didn't intend to yell."
"I was just scared, nothing more. I know your temper."
"So you're not angry?"
"I was mad at you for 10 years, that's sufficied I think."
Houses passed by, laughing children ran down the street, she looked for the last time at the shops.
After another long silence, Marion was curious. "Do you think this hairstyle fits me, Indy?"
"Don't have luck with blondes."
"Oh, I guess that explains it."
"Your black hair looks better."
"Thanks. Think there hasn't been anybody else with whom you started a relationship three times."
"Honestly… no. You can be proud of yourself."
She gave him a triumphant smile. "Besides, your irish friend, is she just a friend?"
"Or a lover? Why?"
"Just checking out if I'm allowed to kiss you in public."
"Keep it for the flight or our arrival in Cairo, then we can celebrate."
The airport was crowded with policemen, but Marion behaved like she had nothing to do with it.
There he was again: The policeman who had visited them this morning.
"Hello Miss O'Duncan, are you going home?"
"No, we're going on an archeologic mission."
"Yes, Dr.Jones is deeply involved into dusty stuff."
"If you might excuse us now."
They went into the building, trying to seem calm.
"You've done a good job this time, honey."
"A job? That sounds so serious."
"It's serious."
"Don't be nervous cause of this crowd, we have beaten the Nazis together, remember?"
"Yeah, we have."
"Luck seems to be on our side."
"Don't be so optimistic, Heather."
"Since when are you so damn pessimistic, I just don't get it!? Don't tell me it's because of the mileage."
"No, this time it's the years."
They were standing in a row, waiting to ckeck in.
Marion watched a woman with a baby, but without a husband. She thought about what might have happened to him, when she felt a hand on her back.
"Heather, come on, it's our turn."
After some time, they were ready to get into the plane.
"Welcome on your flight from Washington to Cairo. It will last 12 hours. We will serve you two meals during this flight. We wish you a nice stay on our plane."
"Indy, I feel motioned."
"So do I. Try to stay calm. We should try to sleep, honey."
"You're right. I'm a little tired, didn't get much sleep tonight." She said with a smile.
"Me too." He smiled back. "By the way, why did you wanted to hide yourself when Marcus was about to enter?"
"I just thought that you don't like to be seen with your ex-lover in bed."
"It's alright, Marcus knows me."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He knows what I feel for you."
She nodded. "I'd love to kiss you." she whispered.
His lips went close to her ear. "Keep your passion for our stay in Cairo."
When he looked at her she seemed disappointed.
After they had taken their first meal both fell asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.
A few rows behind them a man stopped making notes with the phrase: Have fallen asleep…