Okay, I know I don't leave authors notes before the chapters usually, but this is important. Many of you are happy because Marion knows her feelings. While this is true in essence, she is far from admitting them to anyone, let alone herself. It will, once again, take a while. Alright, now that that's cleared...on with the chapter!

I'm sure I'm dreaming.

Except I don't even remember falling asleep in the first place...

Damn.

I'm standing on an open mountain, overlooking the camp. It's like any ordinary night, but the camp is completely silent; no campfire shining in the blackness, no cheers and shouts coming from the men I've gotten to know so well these past two months.

"Marion?"

I turn around, though my body just glides to follow the action. Indy is standing there, looking pained and almost upset.

I open my mouth to ask what's going on, but the words are unable to form.

His face is frantic now, his arms are reaching for me.

"RUN!" He yells.

I run, but it's more like floating. I'm flying past all types of landscape. I don't know why, but I'm absolutely terrified.

Suddenly, I can't even run anymore. My body just freezes up, and I'm standing in a familiar room. Like a distant memory, I try to recall where I've seen this place before.

There's a woman lying on a bed in front of me, hands clasped on her stomach. I try to get closer to her, feeling an odd sense of attachment to this stranger, whoever she is.

Suddenly, her closed eyelids fly open, fixing me with a stare that's both calm and cautious. Her eyes are the exact same color and shape as my own...

"Mom?" Despite me inability to speak earlier, I manage to rasp the question.

And then she is gone, Abner standing next to me with an arm on my shoulder.

"You look so much like your mother, Marion."

I look over at my father, gasping in horror as he morphs into another being; a man in a turban and an eye patch.

The man reaches for my throat, cutting off my scream. I swing around and punch him.

"OW! Dammit, Marion, watch where you're swinging that thing!"

Did Patches just talk to me? I didn't see his lips moving...

But wait, who IS Patches?

He continues to strangle me, and my breathing is getting shorter. I want to just run.

"Marion! Wake up!"

My mom is behind the man harassing me, a sad smile written across her features.

"Marion! C'mon, wake up! Wake up!"

If I could just reach her...if I could just touch her hand. I throw my left arm out, stretching to make contact with her. She reaches out as well, the smile getting a little more confident on her face.

And then she disappears.

I scream.

I open my eyes, groping for the man attacking me, and nearly scream again when I see it's just Indy.

I'm silent for a moment, trying to register what just happened and then sit up quickly, searching around my tent.

"Marion? You're alright, you were just--"

"Where's Patches?" I cut him off, leaping up and running over to the flap. "Where's mom?"

I feel his hands on lock down on my wrists, restraining me. He's talking to me, but I tune out to his words.

"I have to tell Abner." I gasp, my chest heaving. "Mom's alive. I have to tell him." I struggle to get out of his grip.

"Marion, what are you talking about?" He asks, bewildered.

"I was running. I saw mom. And then a man was choking me. And she was right there, just out of my reach..." The words tumbled out of my mouth, forming no coherent train of thought.

"MARION!" He grabs my shoulders, shaking me until my teeth clatter together.

I look up at him, my eyes widening. He looks worried, more uncomfortable than I've ever seen him. I shut my mouth, looking up at him expectantly.

"Marion," He begins again, "You were having a nightmare. Your mother is dead."

I blink and shake my head, like a child denying that he stole the cookie from the cookie jar.

"No, no. Indy, I SAW her. She was ALIVE. You're lying."

"Marion, your mom is dead. You were dreaming." He points out, still keeping a firm grip on my shoulders.

"NO!" I shout fiercely, glaring up at him.

Why didn't he believe me?

I feel like hitting him, but when I cock my fist, he winces and I spot a purple mark already sporting on his right cheek.

"You already hit me, Marion." He says, gesturing at his face. "But go ahead and slug me again if it makes you feel better."

I stop, the confusion ebbing away as I realize that I AM AWAKE. That I WAS DREAMING.

I let my arm fall limply to my side. My lip trembles.

"She's dead?" I hear the words, but am unaware they come from me.

He nods, and that's all I need to cue the tears. I don't even know what kind of tears the are, angry, sad, or embarasssed.

"I heard you talking and came in to see if you were actually awake." He explains as I stare blankly at him, furiously trying to blink the tears back. "You were thrashing around and calling my name."

I blush, but my red cheeks go unnoticed in the dark.

"And when I tried to wake you, you punched me." He finishes, shaking his head with a wry smile. "Even in sleep you're still a scrapper."

After watching me for a long moment as I pathetically sniffle and choke back a sob, he brings me close to him and I bury my face in his shirt.

I breathe in, trying to immerse myself in his scent and clear my muddled head at the same time. He smells like-- as weird as it may seem--chocolate cake and a piny tint that screams wilderness. There's something else that lingers there, something completely and uniquely his own, both musky and sharp.

We stand like that for a long time.

"Are you okay?" He murmurs, lips at my ear.

The gesture sends a rather familiar rush of adrenaline through my body, washing away most of my useless misery.

"As okay as I'll ever be." I manage to whisper, voice breaking.

He rests his chin on my head, sighing. "What am I going to do with you, Miss Ravenwood?"

I know it's a rhetorical question, but I can't resist answering.

"I'm just a naturally hazardous person. Nothing and no one is safe from me."

Giving a light chuckle, he reaches down and lifts me up, setting me back down on the cot. I sneeze, sniffling tearfully once it's through.

"Are you sure you're alright?" He asks, crouching down beside the bed.

I nod weakly, doing my best to conjure up a buy-able smile.

He stands to go and a wave of panic covers me, smothering my previously calm thoughts.

"No," I plead, sitting up and snatching his hand, "Don't leave me. Please."

I feel pitiful begging him, and selfish for even asking. It's probably too late to even be awake.

With another long look of worry, he sits down next to me.

"I'll stay till you fall asleep."

I sniffle as a means of thanks.

With a small smile, he leans forward and brushes my hair out of my eyes, studying my face as he does so.

"I'm sorry for crying and being a baby in front of you." I apologize earnestly, trying to tear my gaze from his and failing terribly.

He just continues to study me, fingers lightly tracing my brow as he continues to brush my bangs out of my face.

I'm about to ask what time it is, but my mind drifts before I can comprehend my own thoughts.

His hazel eyes stay fixed in the back of my head the rest of the night because I fall asleep staring into them.

Wow, another shot over the 1,000 word limit, you guys are so lucky I'm on a roll with this story!

Would it be too much to ask for a review??

And for you guys to check for typos?

Pretty please?