Hey, chaps! I'm back with this story now. This chapter'll be a short one, but just so you know what happens and maybe what's going to happen. At the end, I'll give you a preview of what'll be coming in future chapters. Alright then..

Mutt fled the scene. How was that even possible? Sure, his father was an impatient, hot-headed jerk..but never had he expected him to physcially hurt him like that. As soon as he was certain he was out of his father's view, he put his hand up to his cheek. He rubbed it even thought it stang. "Asshole..." He muttered, under his breath. Was he wrong to have let his mother be with him again? He should have stopped her earlier. He felt useless...

Now, as wimpy as he felt, he let a tear stream down his face. Then again, and another. It continued to blur his vision, as he mindlessly walked away. Away from the house, his father and his mother, and everyone. How embarassing was it going to be when he got back? His mother probably wouldn't know what was wrong. His father definately didn't have the guts to tell the truth to Gerald,so why would he tell Marion? Marion would yell at him, and humiliate him. Gerald and Pepper..well, they were obviously upset. And, oh, what was he going to do? He stuck up for his friend, to save her butt. All he did was get his kicked.

Thankfully, the family owned a good amount of land, so he was able to get pretty far away. He sat down on an old wooden frame, probably some type of bookshelf. Looking back, he could still see the top of the house. (Well, mansion.) "Stupid Indy." He shook his head. He had walked off his tears already, but they still left dry streaks across his cheeks; And his cheek was still pretty red. Taking in the beautiful sights was kind of nice, if it kept him alone. He found ways to entertain himself while he was there. He sure wasn't planning on going back there, anytime soon.

An hour or so had passed. The mess from the broken window was already cleared up back at the mansion, and Alex had explained the whole thing to everyone. She felt so guilty. "So, you see, it's not Mutt's fault. It's mine. He was taking the blame for me."

"Is that really true?" Marion asked her, "Or are you taking the blame for him? "

Alex shook her head. "No, ma'am. I'm being 100% honest now."

Marion sighed. Indy sighed loudly in his head. He realised how badly he'd messed up..He was starting to grow on that boy, so much. Then again, it was his very own son. His son that was just so young, and carefree, and hot-headed just like his mother. He loved everything 'bout Marion, and Mutt was just like her. He had definately fallen in love with him. (Not in a weird and sick kinda way, but a paternal kinda way...yeah.) He hit his son. It was so foolish. He hurt him. Now, he was gone. Indy reassured Marion that he was just a bit upset and would be back later on, after he walked it off. But, in his mind he was only hoping that his son would be OK. If he didn't show up soon, he'd have to tell Marion what he did...it wouldn't be pretty. Maybe, she'd leave him. Oh, he deserved it though. Thats certainly what he thought. After just recently reuniting with Marion, and meeting his son..how could he have let them go so easily?

Back to Mutt....

It had been a while since he'd been home..or, at Alex's home. He didn't blame her for anything and wasn't mad. If he could see her now, he would tell her not to worry. It wasn't her fault, it was his own fault. Maybe, his father's too...

Alex had told her mother that she was going out, to find Mutt and talk him into coming back. Somehow, she knew exactly where he was. It took 15 minutes for her to reach her destination, and just like she thought, Mutt was there. "Mutt." She said, quietly, trying not to startle him. He looked behind, seeing her approaching him.

She took a seat next to him, and he smiled at her, "Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." She began. He could really see it in her eyes that she felt bad. "I-I shouldn't have let you cover for me. It was wro-"

He stopped her. "Don't say anything. It's not your fault. I don't even care anymore."

"You seemed pretty upset."

"I think everyone was upset. You don't have to feel bad for me." He explained, looking away.

"But, I kind of overheard you and your dad." Mutt didn't respond, so she kept on going.

"I'm sorry. Let me apologize." She was thinking what else she could say. "He shouldn't of done that. You're okay? Your cheek is kinda..pinkish."

"It'll be fine." He said, like nothing, looking at her.

"I asked if you were alright." She said, observing his face for any signs.

"Of course! It's just nice out and I didn't want to go back inside. Let's not talk about this anymore.." He said loudly.

She got the picture. "Okay."

A minute of silence. Mutt began, "How'd you know I was here?"
"I used to come here all the time too, when I wanted to think."

Another minute of silence.

"You know, I've got to show you something." She said. Mutt looked at her.
"What?" He asked her. She got up and held onto his arm, tugging him off from his seat on the old bookshelf. "Come on, follow me!"

"What is it?" he begged.
"You'll see when we get there."

"Alright, alright."

A few minutes later, they arrived at the bottom of a big tree. It's green leaves sagged downwards towars the ground, and up and hidden inside was a small treehouse. Alex waved her arms up towards the clubhouse. "Well, what do you think?"

Mutt surveyed it. "I think...People haven't used this thing in a while." He pointed up to a small spider relaxing in a web beside it.

"Oh, come on. You aren't afraid of a little spider, are you?"

"Little?" He asked, his voice getting a little higher. "That thing's not little."

"Oh, alright then. Follow me and I'll make sure the spider doesn't get to you." She said, sarcasticly. She began pulling herself up the old rope ladder, higher and higher into the tree, with Mutt right behind. She made it to the top, hopped inside, and held out her hand to help him inside. It looked rather small from the ground, where it was surrounded by the tree's many leaves. But, inside, it was pretty big. It was tall enough for them to stand up without hitting their heads, and there was a small rug sprawled out in the center. It was decorated with pictures of some horses, an extremely small table with a deck of cards on it, and plenty of paper and things to paint with. "You like?"

"Like?" He asked, walking around. "This place is great. Who built it?"

"Me and my dad did, a few years back. I like coming here when I think. It's a much better spot than that old bookshelf, I think."

He nodded in agreement.

"It isn't much but, I rarely come here anymore, anyways." She motioned for him to copy her, as she sat down criss-cross like in the center on the rug. "Not much to do in here. Usually, I come to let off steam or write or draw a picture or something. " She picked up the deck of cards as he sat down. "Wanna play?"

"Sure."

"Alright." She opened the deck of cards and let them fall out in front of them. Mixing the cards up, flipped over, she picked up 7 cards. "Take your pick."

He got his cards and kept them to himself as he looked at them. Alex flipped over one card on the floor. "You go first."

"Got any...4's?" He asked her. She sighed, and gave him one of her cards. "Thank you very much."

"Got any 3's?" She asked him in return, as he set his cards down.
He looked over his cards, and smiled. "Go fish."
"Damn it!" She said, picking up a card. "I never win this game..."

"Don't worry, we just started." He said, thinking.

And that's how they spent the next 30 minutes or so. Laughing, talking, playing cards and having a good time.

Yayyy! Finally, an update right? Yep. Rather short this time, of course. Next chapter I promise you will not take forever like it always does. (Even though, I say that everytime, don't I?) :p Oh well. Trust me this time! I'm really excited again. And if you wanna know what happens in the story next, here's a sneakpeak.

1)Somebody goes missing.

Oohhhh. Alright, review it please.