Chapter 1

Trouble Walking Through the Door

1933

Indiana Jones had a lot of colleagues over the course of his life. One in particular was Dr. Alberto Garcia, professor of archaeology. He was a great archaeologist, who focused mainly on Mesoamerican cultures, before "retiring" from the field in order to work in a museum in Chicago. It was about 10 years ago — not long before Indy started teaching at Marshall College — that Dr. Garcia acquired his own piece of the map to the lost Temple of Mara.

That was all well and good. But the fact of the matter was that Dr. Alberto Garcia had a daughter. A daughter who couldn't help but catch Indy's eye, a detail which his colleague couldn't help but notice. After finding the pair of them behind the museum kissing (to put it mildly), he chased Indy away from the museum with a broom in hand.

Indiana Jones hadn't spoken to Dr. Garcia since… nor Elena for that matter, a speed bump which was certain to not win him any points in her favor, especially considering that last he heard she was working as Dr. Garcia's right-hand woman in the museum work.

Indy pulled up to the curb of the museum and climbed out of his car, before letting out a breath. He wasn't exactly sure how he was going to approach this, but confidence was probably his best bet. After all, maybe it had been so long ago that they had forgotten.

He straightened his jacket, adjusted his tie, and climbed the steps into the museum. It was very nearly empty on the inside. His steps echoed on the waxed floors. Banners promoting exhibits hung from the walls. In the center of the main lobby was a tank.

That brought back memories. Indiana had served in the military during the Great War and he saw tanks just like that fairly frequently. Very nearly got taken out by them a few times.

A woman with well-kept hair looked up from the welcome desk as he approached. She looked at him through a pair of wire-rimmed glasses.

"How can I help you?" She seemed friendly enough.

"I'm looking for Dr. Alberto Garcia," Indiana said.

"I'm afraid Dr. Garcia isn't in today. But I can leave a message… who should I say called on him?"

There's no way Garcia would ever call him back if he knew Indy had come calling, so he asked, "Do you know when he'll be back?"

"I'm afraid he has been out of state for a couple of days and will probably be gone another week. But if you would like I could give you a number to call…"

Just then, another woman's voice — and not a friendly one — said, "Indiana Jones!"

Indy and the glasses-wearing receptionist both turned to see a woman (probably in her late-20s now) striding their way. She had olive skin and shining black hair. Her eyes were a coffee-brown. She wore a linen shirt and a black calf-length skirt that was designed to not inhibit any movement — an archaeologist through-and-through.

Her name was Elena Garcia, and she was just as beautiful as the day Indy first met her.

"Elena," Indy said with what he hoped was a charming smile.

"Get out, Dr. Jones," she replied sharply.

"Elena, listen, I just need to talk to your dad."

"Well he doesn't want to talk to you and neither do I."

"Elena, please."

"Oh, we're saying please? Good to know you learned some manners." She still spoke with that touch of an accent. "You know what else are manners? Calling the girl who you were kissing behind the museum, remember?"

"How could I forget?"

"What do you want, Dr. Jones?" She didn't seem curious at all. Instead she just seemed like she wanted to laugh derisively at whatever he had to say.

"Elena, can we talk in private?"

Elena seemed to think about it. Then she shook her head. "My father's office is this way."

A few moments later they were in a room lined with shelves of artifacts. There were two desks stacked with paperwork.

"What are you doing back here, Indiana?" Elena asked.

She called him by his first name. That was progress.

"There's an opportunity and your dad might have the key to solving it," Indiana replied.

"And why should he help you?"

"Because it concerns him."

"Ah, so you're using him, just like you used me." There was genuine hurt in her voice.

"Not at all. Elena, listen to me."

She stopped rearranging her desk and looked at him. Her eyes still had that youthful glow that drove him crazy back in the day.

"It's about the parchment from India. The fragment," Indy said.

Elena's eyes narrowed. "What about it?"

"I found the other pieces, Elena. Your dad's is the last one I need."

Those narrowed eyes widened. "You didn't…"

"I did. But I need your help. I need that last piece if we're going to find the Temple."

Elena paused as though thinking about it. Then she went to a folder and flipped it open, scanning the contents. "My father always kept it nearby, just in case… aha, there it is. We're going to have to go into the archives."

Indy smirked. "Lead the way."

There you have it! Chapter 1 and the introduction of the new OC, Elena Garcia. What do you think?

Sorry it took so long to get this story moving! Life has been busy with college work getting underway for the year. Also I've been focusing on my other story, Munk-Noir, an Alvin and the Chipmunks fanfic.

Just a friendly reminder that I do not own ANYTHING about Indiana Jones. All credit goes to the proper creators.