Please bear with me for this important Author's Note: First, I want to say thank-you to all my wonderful readers. You make this worth writing! I want to let you know that I published my two-part story (The Worst Fourth Pirate in History + Curtain Call) on the website for the fandom novel contest (see [slash] stories [slash] 26960). This story was published under the title "The Worst Fourth Pirate in History" with the penname SaltAndLight. Voting for the contest ends by October 21. If you feel like checking it out, maybe giving me your vote if you think I deserve it, I would appreciate that sooo much! I could use a few votes to catch up, honestly. If you want to share the story with friends too, that would be so great! :) Thanks again for your time and support.

Enough on that. Here's the next chapter, which was a lot of fun to write. This scene is totally up for your interpretation. Am I referencing other characters? Am I setting up future ironies? Up to you! Depending on your interpretation, this scene might stray from canon somewhat.

-LTLS

—-

Aaron would have broken into song were he not concerned that all the birds would flee the nearby tree at the terrible sound of his voice. He kept his elation to himself. Soon he was skipping down the sidewalk like a delighted child, not caring, not worrying. So happy.

He couldn't remember the last time he felt like this, free to do as he pleased without expecting severe pain at the end of every day. It changed his attitude, his thoughts, his focus. Though he knew this respite would not last, he relished the sweet relief of this break.

They found out last week that Charles' job was holding a conference in Richmond. He would be meeting with other computer programmers to discuss the latest technology and propose new project ideas. Aaron didn't really understand Charles' job, and he didn't care in the slightest. But Mother had decided to take the opportunity to accompany Charles with Sean and spend the three conference days in the capitol as a family getaway. And since the latest definition of the family did not include Aaron, he would be left home alone for three beautiful, worry-free days.

Mother made a big fuss ensuring that Aaron wouldn't "betray her trust." Charles wanted to have him locked up during the entire trip, but Mother knew he would find a way out and get into trouble anyway. So they ended up ranting excessive lists of what Aaron could not do, what he could not eat from the fridge, and what needed to be done before their return. Once they finally drove away after leaving a bruise under his eye as a warning, Aaron whooped and hollered for joy. He couldn't believe this fortunate turn of events.

He waited until he had finished the day's classes and received his wages—his very own wages—at the end of the day before breaking the news to Haley. She acted like he had won a sweepstake to go on a Caribbean cruise with tropical tours and fancy dining.

When she finally calmed down and stopped bouncing on her heels with excitement, Aaron asked her out to the movies. He hoped Mother wouldn't try to collect his salary when she returned. Most likely she would forget.

They spent a long time in front of the cinema, scanning the movie titles and trying to recall what their friends had said about each. Movies took a long time getting released at their local cinema, and nobody knew exactly why. Summer blockbusters became autumn flicks and everybody in town was behind on the hype. They had read rave reviews for a movie called First Blood, some action film about a war veteran with a bandana around his head, but for them, it was still yet to be released.

Haley had a secret-but-not-so-secret admiration of Harrison Ford ever since that first Star Wars movie came out, so they agreed to see last summer's Raiders of the Lost Ark. Aaron proudly paid the six dollars for both tickets.

Inside the theater was darker than Aaron remembered. The last movie he recalled seeing was the first Superman with his dad about three years ago. It was easily his favorite movie, though he didn't remember much of anything that happened in it.

Public service announcements held the small audience in rapt attention. "And that is why you should never do drugs!" Aaron and Haley slipped into the third row from the front, squeezing past a young, pudgy girl who sat alone at the end. The girl wore large purple-framed glasses and excited blond pigtails, and she stuffed her face with popcorn while staring at the screen without blinking. Aaron and Haley moved to the middle of the row and sat beside a college-aged woman with styled blond hair and super hip fashion. She gave them both a stern look and shook her head as if dismissing two delinquent youngsters.

"What was the last movie you saw?" whispered Aaron to his date.

"I don't remember," said Haley. "There were so many good ones this year. I think it was a Disney movie."

Aaron watched the company titles. "I hope this is good. I don't know anything about it."

"It doesn't matter. I'm just so happy you get a break, and that we can do this."

"So am I."

A man in his twenties with a mullet and leather jacket squeezed past them and sat on the other side of the blond woman. He gave her hand a quick kiss. "Hey, sorry I'm late, Erin."

Aaron's head snapped around and his brows went up. "Pardon?"

The man leaned forward to look at him over his girlfriend. "Nobody's talking to you, kid."

"My mistake." Aaron turned back to Haley and shrugged. She rolled her eyes.

They sat in silent excitement as the movie opened. Aaron almost convinced himself that he led a normal life and was used to this sort of excursion. However, the experience was too rare, the excitement too foreign for him to actually believe he was a typical kid. He felt as if he was watching a movie for the first time ever. Better yet, he felt as if he was a part of the adventure.

He and Haley managed to be quiet moviegoers for about five minutes.

"Run for your life!" cried Aaron near the beginning of the film. Indiana Jones frantically obeyed.

Haley giggled and reached for his hand. "Stay with me, Aaron."

"This is so exciting," Aaron murmured. "I've never seen anything like it. Oh my word! Is that a real snake?"

The Erin at his side gave him a stern look.

They tried to keep quiet, but they had too many comments to share. Aaron would whisper something in Haley's ear every few minutes, she would laugh, and a short discussion might ensue. Aaron hardly considered theater etiquette. This was such a rare experience, he knew he couldn't waste it in silence. He had to make the most of every second here with his friend, all the while fearing in the back of his mind that it may be his last chance to do so.

After a little while, a fight broke out between Dr. Jones and a burly Nazi mechanic. Aaron leaned forward, eyes glued to their every move. In his peripheral, he saw Haley shifting uncomfortably.

"Do they have to keep fighting?" she said. "This is too violent."

"They'll be fine," said Aaron, his voice tight. "It's not that bad; he can take a lot more of this before he's out, I'm sure. Look how he fights back. I love this!"

"It makes me nervous."

"Get up and fight! C'mon, sock him in the jaw!" Aaron started waving his fist as he yelled at the screen. "Fight back!"

Haley gave him an uninterrupted moment to egg on the hero. Soon he saw the airplane's propeller spinning close behind the Nazi fighter, and he suddenly realized what was about to happen.

"Don't look," he warned Haley. "This is gonna get nasty."

Haley covered her eyes. To Aaron's relief, no gore was shown apart from the splash of blood on the airplane's side.

Haley looked up again. "What did I miss? Where did the boxer dude go?"

"Do you really wanna know?"

"I guess not."

Erin leaned over. "Would you two be quiet? I'm trying to watch a movie, and I have half a mind to have you both thrown out of here—for good!"

Aaron apologized, then turned back to Haley.

She looked at him and tried to hold back a smile. "Can we be quiet?" she asked.

Aaron grinned. "Not a chance. Why don't we move a little further back where we'll be less likely to disturb people."

Haley agreed, so they got up, moved away from Erin and her boyfriend, and squeezed past the bespectacled girl at the end of the row, who still gazing enraptured at the big screen.

Aaron and Haley walked up a few steps at the side. They moved past two young girls, one blond, the other with raven black hair, who giggled and whispered about "that dashing Harrison guy." "Wouldn't it be something to really meet him, Em?" whispered the blond. Aaron rolled his eyes as he passed. Girls.

He sat with Haley in a nearly empty row. Without explanation, a brown-haired boy in a black sweater moved over several seats so that he was right beside Haley. He wore an odd, sneering half-grin as he held out his concession bucket. "Popcorn?"

Aaron frowned. "No."

The boy offered some to Haley. "Would you like some?" His voice had a faint Boston lilt to it.

"Oh, yes. Thank you." Haley took some popcorn while continuing to watch the vehicle chase in the movie.

The boy grinned slyly. "Look at that action, huh. Seems like everybody wants to be a reaper of death."

Aaron felt annoyed by the boy. He couldn't put his finger on why.

In the movie, a Nazi soldier climbed into the cab of the truck, attacked Indiana Jones, and pushed him out through the windshield. As Dr. Jones nearly slipped off the hood of the truck to his death, the boy at Haley's right took a sharp breath in. "That... was awesome," he said in a low tone. "I hope he falls off the cliff now."

Aaron cast the boy a glare. He did not like this boy, and he did not like how close he was to Haley. The boy continued to grin eerily as if everything in life was a big joke. He made Aaron very uneasy.

Aaron took Haley's hand. "Let's move again," he whispered.

Haley was just getting into the movie. "Why?"

"Cuz I don't like how that boy keeps looking at you," Aaron whispered.

Haley shrugged, but she stood and followed him to the end of the row.

"Leaving already?" drawled the boy. He shook his head and chuckled as another car careened off the edge of the cliff.

Aaron and Haley were getting closer and closer to the back row of seats. They moved past two boys who were tied up in a quiet, heated argument. One boy was very young, and he had thick-rimmed glasses and shaggy hair. He was arguing about the implausibility of the scene in front of them. The boy at his side, an older, darker-skinned youth, flapped his hand open and shut like a talking puppet, imitating his young friend.

"Haven't you ever seen a movie before?" the boy interrupted his bespectacled companion. "Just shut up and enjoy the action."

"I'm trying to," said the younger boy. "But you know what I'd rather be watching? Star Trek."

His friend groaned, and Aaron and Haley hurried by. They reached the row of seats in the very back and sat down together, alone at last.

"Sorry we've had to move around so much," said Aaron.

"It was fun," Haley reassured him. She leaned a little closer. "I am so glad we came."

Aaron put his arm around her shoulders and watched as the woman in the movie tended to the hero's wounds in the hold of a ship. Aaron realized how lucky he was to have someone like Haley who treated his wounds with love and patience.

He felt uncommonly peaceful. He leaned back in his chair, and his exhausted body became relaxed. He didn't notice how his head lolled, or how his eyes welcomed the heavy draw of sleepiness. He knew he would have to fight for his life again soon, but for now, all he wanted was to rest safe in the company of someone he trusted.

Haley leaned over to give Aaron a quick kiss on the cheek. By then he had already fallen asleep.

—-

Note: I do not own Indiana Jones or any of his movies. As for Criminal Minds... well, okay, I still don't own that either.

Now, even though I referenced Season 9's "Route 66" episode here, and it was pretty fun doing so, I would prefer to pretend that Beth never happened. In the universe of my fics, she never existed, past, present, or future. Anyone else's thoughts?

Don't forget to check out my story on inkitt. Thank you for reading!

-LTLS