Disclaimer: I still don't own Indiana Jones. I'm sure all you fine readers realized that by now, I just thought I'd help clarify it. And I do apologize for it taking so long. I've been working on it for some time now, then I hit a block, then I wasn't happy with it, then I fixed it. So here it is.

Chapter 5 Cuba

Indy followed the other three members of the expedition off of the plane and into the hot Cuban sun. He shielded his eyes and walked into the airport, met in the lobby by Sallah and a well dressed, middle-aged Cuban man.

"Indy! Hello my friends!" Sallah's accented greeting reverberated throughout the room as he crossed it and engulfed each of them in turn in a massive, bear-like embrace accompanied by a hearty kiss on each cheek. The poor, dear man was not aware that he crushed the breath out of his friends, paying no attention to the "huff!"-ing, muffled sound each of them made as they were squeezed tightly, then shaken and patted. He received each of their greetings with pleasure, then gestured towards the man at the desk, who stepped forward when introduced and shook hands with the newcomers with a slight bow.

"My friends, allow me to introduce Pedro Sanchez, the most learned archeology scholar and historian that I know of on this island. I think you'll find him to be most helpful on your venture."

"Hola, Senor, mucho gusto conocerte." Indy took off his hat respectfully. "Soy Indiana Jones, esta es mi amigo Marcus Brody; mi padre Henry Jones, y mi amiga Anya O'Brian." He stepped closer and lowered his voice, "tenga cuidado de la mujer, ella es dificil."

Anya stepped forward and pinched his arm hard, smiling at Pedro as if nothing was wrong, "perdon mi amigo, Senor Sanchez, el es dificil, no yo."

Indy grabbed her elbow and began to pull her back when Pedro laughed, "From what I can see the two of you are both tricky and must be watched very carefully. It's a pleasure to meet with you; I've heard so much about you all."

"Oh so you can speak English! Thank heaven!" Marcus exclaimed, "I was so worried that I would have to misunderstand everything again and have to go through the trouble of a translator."

"Well if my son and Anya would have allowed Senor Sanchez to speak sooner we would have found that out, now wouldn't we?" Henry chuckled. "Now just where are we staying?"

"In a hotel, around five miles from here." Pedro answered, "I have taken the liberty of reserving five suites for all of you, courtesy of the bureau, of course."

"Thank you very much." Indy smiled and fingered his hat, slightly embarrassed at having underestimated their new comrade.

"Not at all." Pedro spoke with an accent, but his English was impeccable. "If you will follow me there is a car waiting outside for all of us."

Their hotel suites were rather impressive, nicer than they'd expected. Brightly colored carpets and golden lamps adorned the rooms, soft, white towels were placed next to their ivory bathtubs, and records were already playing as they entered.

"Not bad." Indy looked around the room. He turned to their host, tipping his hat, "Muchas gracias, senor."

"De nada."

"Well, your highness?" Indy turned to look at Anya in the adjoining room, "Are your chambers satisfactory?"

"Quite." She smiled, overlooking his sarcasm.

"If there is anything else you need, please notify the front desk. I will meet you all at supper downstairs at six o'clock." Senor Sanchez bowed and exited the room.

At five minutes to six, Indy was straightening his tie and adjusting his glasses. After applying a comb to his hair, he was ready. He walked out of his room, being careful to lock the door behind him, straightened his coat and knocked on Anya's front door.

"Just a minute." came her muffled reply.

Typical. "Hurry up." his sing song voice only thinly masked his impatience.

"I'm coming." came her matching tone.

A moment later the door swung open. Her auburn hair was swept up into a loose bun, with a red rose in it from her vase. Her makeup was well done, and her cream colored dress accentuated her fine figure and her fair skin. When Indy caught his breath, he smelled her peppermint perfume.

"Well?" she raised an eyebrow.

"You look beautiful." he grinned.

"Well thank you. You look nice too; the glasses are an interesting touch."

"I wear them from time to time." He offered her his arm, "shall we?"

She smiled and took his arm, "Indiana...I think we've both been rather impatient with one another and I just wanted to–"

"Forget it."

"No, I don't want to forget it, I want to address it. If we're going to be working together on this, we can't be quarreling all the time."

"You're right."

"Oh, 'I'm right'. That's progress."

He threw his head back and laughed, "Can't we even walk to dinner without arguing over something?"

She smiled, glancing down at the carpet, "Alright then. What would you rather talk about?"

"How about that dress? It sure looks good on you." He glanced at her hair, "The flower was a nice touch."

She laughed, "Still the charmer I see."

"I was trying to pay you a compliment."

"And you did, thank you. I was only mentioning how complimenting women always seemed to come as naturally to you as archeology does."

"Well, you make it easy."

She laughed and shook her head.

"What? You don't believe me?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"I just don't that's all."

"Believe it." He said earnestly.

She looked at him for a moment, then looked away. "Come on, we're late."