Chap. III

-A bit short, but since I've gotten back into writing it, more to follow.-

They walked back down the hallway in silence. Occasionally, Indy would steal a glance at her, but she always looked up and smiled, forcing him to avert his eyes. He was struggling between being extremely excited and happy over what had happened, and extremely guilty. He knew she was young, and he was older. But so did she, and she had done so willingly, had she not?

"You wont-" Indy started. "You wont tell your father?"

Marion stopped walking and scoffed. "Are you serious?! Why would I tell my father? I don't tell him anything."

Indy half-smiled, and they continued walking. As they got closer to Abner's lab, they strained their heads and ears to see if he had returned. Marion held out her hand for Indy to stop, then quietly peeked inside. She smiled, then motioned for Indy to come forward.

"He's not back!" She said laughing.

Indy laughed too, entering the classroom cautiously anyway. "Where do you think he is?" He asked.

Marion shrugged and made sure her clothing was looking tidy. "Could be anywhere."

This did not comfort Indy. What if Abner had been wandering around the building they were in? What if he'd seen them together? He forced the thoughts from his head and watched Marion play with an ancient tribal mask on the counter.

"Think we should go find him?" Indy asked.

She looked at him. "Why?"

"Marion, he's been gone a really long time," Indy said. "It's not like him to be gone this long."

She started towards him. "Are you scared, Jones?" She pulled the collar of his shirt, moving his lips towards hers. They kissed. Indy backed away quickly.

"Marion, no," he said, holding up his hand. "We can't…"

"We just did," Marion said shrugging. "What's so different about now?"

"Look it's bad enough we did it once," Indy said.

Marion shrugged. "Let's just go look for him."

He followed her out of the lab, quickening his pace to keep up with her. "Marion, I'm sorry," Indy said.

She stopped and looked at him. "Sorry for what?"

"Uhh," he struggled. "For… what we did. I shouldn't have-"

She silenced him and shook her head. "I wanted to."

She started walking again but Indy did not feel comforted. They walked in silence the rest of the way back to Abner's classroom. When they arrived, they found Abner sitting at his desk staring at a large opened book. Marion started towards him, Indy waited in the doorway.

"Daddy," Marion sat on his desk.

Abner looked up after a moment with a grunt. "Hmm? Oh! Marion… dear me, what time is it?!" He fumbled for his pocket watch.

"What have you been doing all this time?" Marion asked.

"Well I came down here to get my keys, but as I came inside, I remembered something familiar so I sat down with this book to figure it out," Abner began to rant. "Something quite exciting if I do say so… About that artifact we were looking at, Henry, remember?"

"The amulet?" Indy asked, stepping into the room.

"Yes! That's the one," Abner said, standing. "It was the headpiece to the staff of Ra. I have it here!" He motioned for Indy to have a look. Indy gazed down at the page, a perfect sketch of the dazzling amulet standing out of the paper. He read the caption beneath, his lips turning into a smile.

"Professor Ravenwood, I can't believe you found this," Indy said, taking the book of the table to read it better.

Abner laughed. "I know! It was of the most importance! A find like that doesn't come around every day, does it Henry?"

Marion watched as Indy and Abner discussed the piece. Outside, a bell tolled the hour. Abner finally stopped bragging and shut the book. "Well then Marion," he said, taking off his reading glasses. "Are we ready? Henry, I'll lock up the lab, do mind you shut down here when you're finished…"

"Yes sir," Indy nodded.

"Right, ready Marion?" Asked Abner.

Marion's face grew serious as she looked at Indy, but nodded. Indy too found himself sad that she was leaving. She extended her hand and he shook it, smiling slightly. "Nice to meet you, Indiana Jones," she said, her sparkling smile coming out again.

"You too, Marion," Indy said. They let go of each other's hands and Marion unwillingly followed Abner out of the room.

Indy stood alone, his hands in his pockets, wondering if he'd ever see her again. Sighing, he began straightening some books on the desks. He could still feel her soft skin, smell her hair and picture her eyes. What he hoped he wouldn't do seemed to be happening.

He was in love.

-TBC-