Note and Disclaimer: I don't own anything. I just play in the sandbox. There's a fair bit of focus on Susan but I think it work for the story purpose and there's still plenty of Indy and Mutt for everyone to love. I want to thank all the people who have read the story and commented. I was hugely surprised by the number of International Visitors and I thank you all for giving my story a read. Enjoy this next chapter.
Indy flopped onto the couch as Marion finished on the telephone. He absolutely loved putting his son down for a nap and compared to Mutt's normal teenage self, this little version of his son was absolutely the most wonderful child on the planet. Of course, he had to admit to a little bit of bias on the matter but he was still filled with the warmth of his child hugging and kissing him openly and wanting him to be around forever. It was almost enough to make him want to forget asking the djinn to change him back but he knew that it wouldn't be fair to Mutt to expect him to grow up all over again.
"The doctor will be here as soon as he can which should give you some time to tell me what the hell happened," Marion said, breaking Indy from his reverie.
Indy patted the spot on the sofa next to him. "Sit down, Honey and I'll do my best to explain what's happened," Indy said.
After twenty minutes, Marion looked as shocked and awed as any human likely could. Her mind rebelled against the incredulous nature of what her husband told her but the truth of the matter was impossible to ignore, particularly as she had a pair of toddlers in place of teenagers.
"Well, get it to put them back to normal," Marion said, expectantly. "They can't stay little."
"Once I get the lamp back, I'll talk to her about undoing it," Indy said. "But right now, Susan won't let it go. We could definitely use her back to her reasonable elder self."
There was a patter of tiny feet on the stairs as Mutt came charging down the stairs, lamp in hand, and dove onto his father's lap. He supposed it was a good thing that he and Marion weren't planning on having more children because Indy grunted as his son's knee connected with his crotch.
"I taked it for you, Daddy," Mutt said triumphantly handing his father the lamp.
"Good job," Indy said ruffling his son's hair.
"No it is not!" Marion scolded her husband. She then looked at Mutt. "You know that you're not supposed to take things that don't belong to you."
"But Daddy needed it an' she wasn't sharing like a good kid," Mutt defended himself.
"Your mom's right, Son," Indy replied. "Even though I know you meant well, taking the lamp without permission was wrong. You can apologize to Susan later."
"Am I in trouble?" Mutt asked his eyes wide with worry. "I'm sorry, Daddy."
Indy hugged his sweet little boy. "No, Son. You're not in trouble. You made a mistake and one that's easily fixed."
"Jones, we need to have a word in the hall," Marion said, taking their son from his father's lap. "Stay here, Sweetheart."
They went into the hall and Indy gave Marion his best innocent look, "What? He knew I needed the lamp and did what he thought was best. It showed ingenuity and honestly, she's an incorrigible…"
There was a small popping noise and Xanae appeared on the steps. "And I thought the trolls were hateful to their young."
"She's not ours," Indy replied. "Can you put them back to right?"
"I'm perfectly capable of it, Bone Bag," she said, doing a little hopscotch move on one of the steps. "But not right now."
"Why not?" Marion demanded. "They can't remain toddlers."
The djinn leaned on the bottom railing of the banister and swung her feet beneath her. "Can we talk woman to elemental?" she asked Marion. "I have a little problem removing the glamour at the moment. There's a wish interfering with my ability to perform another."
"We didn't wish for anything," Indy said defensively.
"I'm not talking to you at the moment," Xanae said as she returned her attention to Marion. "After he failed to wrest the lamp from the little female and she laid hiding under a blanket from the world, a wish flooded my home that rests deep in her. A wish made that, even as her older self; is her deepest desire. It is one I can neither grant nor ignore and as such, I am unable to perform any more wish magic."
"What did the child wish for?" Marion asked softly. She already had a fair idea but there was no sense in assuming.
"She desires to be loved," Xanae replied.
"I'm sure her parents love her," Indy growled.
"Do you think I'd be having this problem if that were true, Genius?" the tiny djinn snapped as her hair flared in irritation. "Tolerance is not love."
"Poor thing," Marion sighed.
"Maybe if she wasn't so contrary and unpleasant," Indy said but didn't get to finish as his wife smacked him in the head.
"He's not terribly bright, is he?" Xanae asked Marion. "I can't force someone to love her so it has to be your job to find someone for her."
"You've granted wishes already," Indy said. "What's so hard about this one?"
"I can't alter free will. I can change actions, change people's fortunes and history but it must be mutually agreed," she said, flipping around the banister railing.
"What about us?" Marion asked.
"She's not our kid, Marion. This isn't like getting a dog," Indy argued. "I'm happy with having Mutt. I don't really want him around a sullen, disobedient, unlovable…"
"Pity isn't enough, Lady, and he's not agreeable to it," Xanae explained. "So, as you see, we're at a stalemate."
There was a sniff from the top of the stairs as Susan stood crying silently. She'd wanted to get her lamp back but couldn't help hear what the big man said about her. She retreated back into the room and closed the door as Marion shot Indy a scorching angry look.
"Very nice, Jones," Marion said, rushing up the stairs as the doorbell rang. "Get the damn door."
Marion walked into the guest room come nursery where she found Susan sitting facing the corner bawling pitifully. She picked up the little girl and moved over to the rocking chair where she cuddled her.
"No one wants me," she whimpered between bouts of tears. "Not mommy, not daddy, not nobody. I a'pposed to be 'lone f'rever. I sorry I a bad kid."
It was a hard concept for Marion to hear such a small child verbalize as she shushed her. "That's not true, Susan. We want you to stay here. Doctor Jones said some thoughtless things but he didn't really mean them," she soothed as the child buried her head in Marion's neck and sobbed until it dissolved into hiccups. She patted her back until she was again quiet and pulled her away to wipe her face with a tissue and held it to Susan's tiny nose. "Okay, that's all done; now blow. You and Mutt didn't get much of a nap, did you?"
Susan shook her head. "No."
Mutt followed as Indy walked in with the doctor as he opened his bag and pulled out his stethoscope. Susan clutched at Marion in fear and she patted the girl's back. "It's okay. I'll stay here."
"Mrs. Jones, if you could put the child on the bed and sit with her," the doctor said before giving Susan a smile. "Hello, Susan. I hear you're sick so I'm going to help make you better, but I need your help too. Can you stick your tongue way far out for me?"
The child obliged and he stuck a depressor in her mouth to look into her throat as she gagged. Mutt moved over next to his mother and patted Susan's hand sympathetically. "Don't barf," he suggested. Indy snickered behind them.
The doctor then felt around her neck and took her temperature before looking at the injury that had brought him to the house. He knew the next part would bring about all sorts of protests so he pulled a pair of lollipops to bribe her to obedience.
"I need to give you a shot but if you hold onto this and don't thrash about, then you may keep one and give the other to your brother," he said gently.
"Okay, I try," Susan replied sweetly. She then looked up at Marion. "You stayin'?"
"Yes, Sweetie, I'm staying right here," Marion answered, stroking the little blonde head. "You can squeeze my hand when the doctor gives you the shot and it'll be over quick."
"Okay," Susan replied taking Marion's hand and holding it while she closed her eyes tight. The doctor made short work of giving the offending shot and before she could flinch involuntarily, he was finished. The little girl gave him a smile. "That didn't hurt."
"You're a brave little girl," he said giving her a pat on the head as Mutt climbed onto the bed with Susan. "I'm all done now so you can have a nap while I talk to your folks."
"I'll take care of her," Mutt said to his mother as she looked a little reluctant to leave.
"Be nice," she warned as she left with the doctor and Indy closing the door. The doctor put away his stethoscope and closed his bag. "Is it an infection?"
"Her throat is raw and to be honest, I wouldn't expect a child that age to have tonsils in that poor a condition. I would suggest they come out as soon as she's finished a course of antibiotics. I'll call the hospital pharmacy and have them fill a prescription for penicillin and a liquid fever reducer with analgesic. Try to keep her in bed as much as possible until the fever has come down. She should have lots of liquids even though she may not want to eat much."
"Could this illness be causing her to behave badly?" Indy asked as Marion glared at him.
The doctor chuckled. "It's possible. Even adults get out of sorts when ill and a child of that tender age doesn't have the vocabulary to tell us what is wrong so they find other ways to show their displeasure: crying, whining, clinging, and any number of behaviors that adults wouldn't otherwise tolerate. Given a few days, I'd say she'll probably be fine but those tonsils really need to come out or you'll battle a chronic condition."
"Thank you, Doctor," Marion said. "I'll make sure she gets enough rest and takes the medicine until she's feeling better."
"Just stop by the hospital pharmacy in about an hour and they'll have what you need," the doctor said putting his hat on and heading out the door.
Marion went back up to the nursery where Mutt was sitting on the bed with Susan, who had cuddled underneath the blankets and each, had a lollipop in hand and Mutt was pretending to read a book to her. He looked up when Marion came in.
"I tucked her in, Mommy," he said as she took the as yet uneaten candy and put it on the bedside table. "An' I was readin' her a story."
"I see that, Sweetheart," she said, picking him up. "I think we should let Susan take a nap now and you can play downstairs."
"Can I give her a night-night kiss?" Mutt asked, wiggling out of his mother's arms. He planted a kiss on the girl's forehead before walking out with his mother.
"That was very sweet of you, Honey," Marion said, picking him up again.
"Mommy?" he said, playing with his mother's necklace. "Am I still your favorite kid?"
"You're not jealous, are you?" she asked, hugging him. "Mutt, you are the most special little boy in the world to me and I love you more than life itself. Right now, Susan doesn't have anyone to take care of her and as you heard the doctor; she's a very sick little girl."
"Why don't her big people come an' get her? Then it just you and me and daddy. We invite Ox too," he reasoned. "Is it 'cause she's a bad kid?"
Marion sat on the steps with Mutt. "Honey, not every kid is as lucky as you to have grown ups that love and care for them," she explained carefully. "Susan isn't a bad kid. She's been hurt and she's angry; there's a big difference. How would you feel if no one ever said nice things to you or told you that you were a good boy or that they were proud of you?"
"I'd be mad," Mutt agreed. "Issat why she don't share?"
"I think so, Honey. It's the only way she can show that her feelings are hurt and she doesn't know how to trust people. We have to teach Suzy that she's a good kid and she should have lots of love and people to care about her. That's why I need you to be a big boy and help me gain her trust and have her feel safe. Can you do that with me?"
Mutt nodded. "I will, Mommy. Daddy help too?"
"Yeah, I'll help too," Indy said from the bottom of the stairs, looking properly contrite after hearing Marion's explanation. He somehow wondered if his son was being more mature about the situation than he was. "Let's go outside and you can play a while."
"Can we go to the playground?" Mutt asked jumping down the stairs into his father's arms. Indy swung him around and was rewarded with plenty of giggles.
"Sure, we can," Indy replied.
Marion stood and walked down the stairs. "Don't forget you need to stop and get Susan's medicine at the hospital," she said. "Make sure you two are back by dinner."
"Come on, Son," Indy said flipping his son upside down and tickling him. "We'll go to the hospital and then stop at the playground."
Indy plopped his son into the passenger side of the car and started up though he saw his son eyeing the motorcycle with a longing that must have been something he felt from his older self.
"When you're bigger, Kiddo," Indy chuckled. He wondered if he'd known he could have gotten into just as much difficulty staying home, why he'd bothered running to Egypt and India to find it.
The entire drive to the hospital, Indy was treated to Mutt's driving sound effects complete with squealing tires as they turned corners and pretend honking at passing cars. He knew Marion would kill him if she knew that Mutt rode in the front seat the whole way but it was a special day for both of them.
Indy and Mutt walked into the hospital and Mutt wrinkled his nose at the smell. He didn't like hospital smells, he decided as he looked around at the boring white walls and people in their white costumes and funny hats. The people were all very quiet and staring at him as they walked by and Mutt looked to see if the zipper on his jeans was down.
Mutt grabbed hold of Indy's hand while he talked to the pharmacist about the various medicines that the doctor called in for the little girl. It seemed like a lot of chemicals to be sticking in a little body but he figured that she must be sicker than he realized. He grabbed hold of his son and walked out of the hospital and took a walk along Main Street toward the park. They stopped to window shop at a toy store where Indy saw the perfect tricycle for his little boy. It was bright yellow with a horn and streamers in the handle grips.
"We'll come back tomorrow when the store's open and get that for you," Indy promised.
"Really?!" Mutt exclaimed throwing his arms around his father in a hug. He then thought about the talk he'd had with his mom before they'd left. "Suzy get a toy too? Mommy said Suzy doesn't have her own big people so we hafta do it. I can be the big brother."
Indy didn't bother to point out to his son that he and Suzy were the same age but his heart swelled with pride at his son's compassion for others. "I suppose we can, Son. What do you think we should get her?"
Mutt looked carefully in the window and peered at the merchandise carefully before pointing up to a large stuffed Snoopy on the top shelf of the stuffed animals. "That one, Daddy."
"All right, we'll come tomorrow," Indy said. "We best get going to the park before it gets much later or your mom will skin me alive."
A light came on in the shop and an old man shuffled in and waved at the man and his son looking in the window. Indy waved back as they started to walk away. The old man opened the door and offered them entry.
"I'm not allowed to do business because of the blue laws, but no law says that I can not have people in while I clean up my shop," he said. "Mort Goldstein."
"Henry Jones and my son Junior," Indy said taking the man's hand and shaking it.
"The new dean at the college; my grandson goes to Marshall," the old man said, picking up some receipts from the counter. "What brings you two fine gentlemen out this way on a Sunday afternoon?"
"My daughter's ill. The doctor called some prescriptions into the hospital for her," Indy explained.
"Her tonsils 'fected," Mutt added.
"I hope she gets better soon," Mort said. "A sick child is a sad thing."
"We didn't mean to intrude," Indy said. "We were admiring the tricycle in the window. We'll be back in the morning during normal business hours."
The old man pulled down the trike from the window and motioned for Mutt to get on. "Let's see how it fits, young man," he said. "After all, you have to have one that's the right size."
Mutt sat and reached onto the pedals easily. "It fits!" he said happily.
"The tricycle is twenty five dollars if you want it today," Mort told Indy. "If the police want to arrest an old man for it, then so be it."
Indy pulled out his wallet after seeing the look of excitement on his son's face but was soon reminded of the promise he'd made to Mutt about the stuffed dog. "Would it be too presumptuous to ask how much the Snoopy is? My son wants his sister to have something to help her feel better."
"You give me thirty dollars for both," Mort replied. "And I wish you well for your little girl. I hate to have to cut things short but my wife is cooking dinner and I should be going."
Indy shook the man's hand. "Thank you," he said. "You'll have made two little ones very happy today."
"Phah," the old man said. "It's their father that made them happy. I just happened to be around at the time. Good luck."
"Thank you, Mister Mort!" Mutt said, hopping back on his newly acquired trike. "Can I ride it to the park, Daddy?"
"Sure," Indy said. "Good bye, Mort."
The old man watched as the man and his son left and continued their trip down the street. Indy took his son on to the park and he watched as his son went on the swings and slide, climbed the monkey bars and rode his tricycle until he was exhausted. By the time they returned to the house, dinner had been done for nearly forty five minutes and Marion was looking every bit the irritated wife. "I said before dinner, Jones," she said. "Not whenever you felt like showing up. Where's Susan's medicine? She's needed it."
"Sorry, Honey," Indy said, kissing her cheek and putting his sleeping son on the couch. "We got a little distracted with Mutt's new wheels. He also wanted to get the stuffed dog for Susan. Are you sure we can't keep him like this?"
"Henry Jones!" Marion scolded. "We may not get a choice for a while so don't you go spoiling him."
"The kids need toys!" Indy said innocently. "I think I'll wait for him to wake up to take the toy to Susan. It was his idea, after all, and I think she'd like it coming from him."
"You're going to make this as impossible as you can, aren't you?" Marion said. "Wake your son for dinner and get him to wash his hands."
Indy shook his son carefully to wake him. "Hey, Buddy, it's time for dinner. Let's get you washed up."
Mutt grumbled a little rubbing his eyes and sitting up. "Where's my trike?" he asked.
"It's out in the yard. You can get it later," Indy said lifting him and carrying him into the bathroom.
"Daddy, I hafta go potty," Mutt said, fumbling with the button on his jeans getting frustrated, "but I can't get this."
Indy unbuttoned and unzipped the little boy's pants so that he could take care of his needs. "Do you need me to stay?" Indy asked.
"No, I get it," Mutt said, standing at the potty like he saw big kids doing. He wasn't sure how the bigger kids were able to stand so far away. He finally finished his business and was able to get his pants up without difficulty but buttoning them up was not going to happen. After a rather sloppy attempt at washing his hands, Mutt was at the table and pulled on his father's sleeve. Indy looked down and noticed his son's disheveled appearance. He zipped and buttoned his son's pants up and lifted him into his chair while Marion served the chicken and vegetables.
"Where's Suzy?" Mutt asked as his mother checked his hands. "She not has dinner wif us?"
"Oh, I nearly forgot about her. She's been napping," Marion said. "Honey, would you bring her down? She might not eat much but she should at least sit with us."
Indy stood and went up to the new bedroom for the little ones and shook the little girl carefully to wake her. "Susan," he whispered. "It's time for dinner."
The glassy blue eyes peered up and looked fearfully at him. Why did he keep making this child afraid of him? He silently cursed himself and picked her up as she stiffened in his grasp. Marion had changed her into one of teenage Mutt's t-shirts to sleep in. They would have to take the kids out to get clothes in the morning depending on how Susan was feeling.
"How do you feel, Susan?" he asked softly as he put a hand on her head. She wasn't as feverish as she had been but still warm. "It's time to eat dinner, Kiddo."
He carried her down to the dinner table and sat her across from Mutt and Marion placed a plate in front of her with some small bites of chicken cut up with a spoonful of potatoes and some corn. "Thank you," Susan said quietly.
"Try to eat a little bit, okay, Sweetie?" Marion said. "Mutt, I want you to sit up and eat well for us too, okay?"
"I'll eat it all up, Mommy," he said compliantly picking up his fork and stabbing some chicken. He noticed that Susan didn't look all that interested in her food and decided to exercise his 'big brother' tactics. "Suzy, if you eat up your dinner then I'll show you your s'prise after dinner."
Indy hid a grin as he exchanged glances with Marion. He just marveled at how sweet and adorable his son was. He really loved watching the boy interact with people and was grateful for the chance to see him as such a small kid. God, he wished he'd gotten to raise him with Marion from the beginning. He looked over at Susan who seemed to be trying to eat with some difficulty.
"Does your throat hurt?" he asked. She nodded silently. "Try some of the potatoes. They will probably go down easier.
Susan picked at the potatoes and did seem to get them down easier though the chicken and corn was left largely untouched. "I sorry," Susan said to Mutt. "I can't eat it."
Indy smiled slightly. "Well, I think she gave it a good try, don't you, Mutt?" he asked as his son nodded in agreement. "Why don't you take Susan into the living room and show her the surprise and you two can play for a little while before bed."
"Okay, Daddy," Mutt said wiping his mouth with a napkin though Marion took it from him and gave him a more thorough cleaning up before doing the same with Susan. Mutt walked over and took Susan's hand. "C'mon, Suzy, you'll like it."
Indy cleared the table while Marion put away the leftovers and they cleaned the kitchen together.
"I'm going to try, Marion," Indy said. "I can't promise that it'll work but for all our sakes, I will do my best to learn to love the child."
"You'll be happy you did, Honey," she replied. "Let's go see what the kids are up to."
They stepped into the doorway of the living room as Mutt had Susan sit up on the couch and close her eyes while he pulled out her stuffed Snoopy.
"Okay, you can open your eyes now!" he declared handing her the dog as she squealed in delight.
"For me? Really?!" she said hugging the toy and then hugging Mutt. "Thank you! What do I hafta do for it?"
"No, it's yours forever an' ever," Mutt said. "Yours just 'cause you're a good kid. I'm sorry I said you was a bad kid 'fore. I din't mean it."
Marion squeezed Indy's hand. "Do you think that means what I think that means? Indy if someone forced the child to do things for her toys and the only one she mentioned was… it just can't be."
"I'm not sure but if it does, I'll track him down in China and kill him," Indy said looking dangerous and determined. "What we'd do with her once they're back to normal, I don't know but we'd figure it out. Let's let them play for a while longer yet."
Mutt was still talking to Susan nonstop. "… An' tomorrow, if you're better, I'll share my new trike wif you but we'll hafta take your temp'ature first."
"I try to be better tomorrow," Susan said yawning.
"I'll take you for Night-nights," Mutt offered, holding out his hand which Susan took carefully when they saw Indy and Marion standing in the door. Susan let go of Mutt's hand and walked over to them.
"Thank you," she said very softly.
"You're welcome, Susan," Indy said as Marion picked her up. Xanae popped up on Indy's shoulder and sat on him.
"You're not as dumb as you look, Water Sack," she said watching Marion take the kids up to bed. "Good luck with that."
"I'm gonna need it," Indy replied heading back into the kitchen.