The Sidenstrasse Tapestry: An Indiana Jones Fan-Fiction

Chapter 81 - Dawson Apartment, Communist Berlin, 1960

Annie heard the door open as she scrambled to hide the suitcase. "Laurel! You scared me!"

The child slowed. "Like Daddy?"

"No. Not like that," Annie paused touching her own bruised throat. "What's wrong, Laurel?"

"There's a man -" she pulled Annie away from the suitcase into the other room. "And he was going to crash through the window -"

Indy saw movement inside. Mother and daughter were returning.

Laurel went on. "But he missed."

Annie gasped and yanked open the window.

Indy pulled himself up and rolled into the room. He scrambled to his feet, flexing his fingers and locked eyes with a young woman he barely recognized.

There were flickers of Marion and his own mother in her features as well as himself. She had his light brown nearly blonde hair, but it fell like Marion's around her face. Blue eyes like his mother greeted Indy, full of questions and uncertainty as she pulled Laurel close in a protective gesture that reminded him of Abner Ravenwood.

Annie still remembered the wedding photograph which had been over the hearth of the ranch home: Indy, much younger in a gray suit and matching gray fedora stared uneasily into the camera, while a triumphant Marion was on his arm.

Father and daughter stared at each other for a long moment.

"Dad?" Annie asked softly. "Dad... is it really you?"

"It's me, Annie." Indy's tone was a husky emotion laden gravel, mixed with shock and proud paternal admiration at his daughter.

Annie flung herself into Indy's arms.

Indy gripped her, immediately regretting the lost years. "Annie, you've grown up. You're beautiful – and I missed it all. I'm so sorry, my little Treasure Hunter."

Annie pressed her face against Indy's shoulder, pushing her head under his jacket. "Dad... you have no idea... I've tried to tell myself it was a silly useless childhood fantasy... but I've desperately wanted you to come crashing through the window to save me – just like you did with Grandpa in Germany to rescue him and the Grail from the Nazis – and then get back together with Mom again."

"He told you about that?" Indy asked sheepishly.

"Yes!" Annie laughed and sobbed. "I asked for as many stories as possible – all the stories." She touched her face, as the tears washed away her make up, revealing an older greenish bruise next to her slightly reddened eye.

"Let me look at your eyes," Indy murmured, tilting her head to face him. He knew from experience.

"I'm sorry," Annie whimpered. "I couldn't hide the red dots."

"Or the handprint sized bruises on your neck," Indy's tender tone turned into a growl. "He tried to strangle you didn't he?"

"Last night," Annie admitted. "I didn't notice the burst blood vessels in my eyes until this morning..."

Indy held her tighter and gently kissed her forehead. "You'll heal. I've been choked out worse. It takes awhile, but you'll heal."

Annie tried to hide. "I'm ashamed I ever got involved with him, Dad."

"I wasn't there, Annie. Men like these... you don't know until its too late." He steadied Annie's trembling hands. "That's why I'm here. I came to rescue you."

"What about me?" Laurel asked.

Indy knelt to face Laurel. "Yes, darling... you too. I wouldn't dare leave without you. Not after you questioned me so well." He held out his hands. Laurel jumped into his arms. Indy swung her around, and glanced at Annie. "Ready, Treasure Hunter?"

Annie took a breath. "I have to get my suitcase and Tyler."

"Tyler?" Indy asked.

"Your grandson," Annie explained.

"I... have... a grand... son...?" Indy marveled.

Laurel leaned close to Indy's ear. "That means he's a boy."

Indy faced Laurel trying not to laugh. It was almost like staring at a younger version of Annie. The version of his daughter that he remembered. "Thank you dear, for that explanation."

"You're welcome." Her sweet face turned to terror.

Indy followed her gaze and felt fury as Riley Dawson filled the doorway. Indy put a protective hand over Laurel's head, shielding her against his shoulder.

Dawson spoke, his speech slurring. "You can have the woman and the girl, Jones – but not my son." He gripped the ten year old boy's shoulder.

The boy was putting on a brave face... a face that looked exactly like Indy had worn when his mother had passed away. Indy had been younger, but he still remembered that numb terror which smothered all feelings.

"Son...?" Indy asked, trying to connect with the boy.

Dawson clamped down on Tyler's shoulder. "You can't have him, Jones!"

"Tyler?" Indy asked again. "I'm your grandfather. Don't be afraid."

"Stop talking to my son!" Dawson growled. "You can take the girls – they're worthless – but my son stays!"

Indy handed Laurel over to Annie. "Both of you, stay out of the way, and if you get the chance, run."

"Dad!" Annie whispered frantic. "You can't fight him alone!"

"I can take him," Indy glared, putting up his fists. "No one harms my family and gets away with it!"

Dawson threw Tyler aside, and hit Indy across the face. Annie screeched for her son and her father, as Dawson blocked their escape.

Indy stumbled backwards, remembering the last time he'd taken on a thug this size. He'd been a whole lot younger and Marion had been trapped inside a plane, which had actually removed the threat for him.

"Dad?" Annie asked, watching her father waver.

Indy accidentally gave ground.

Dawson stepped in front of the window.

CRASH!

Laurel hid.

Annie gasped.

Indy blinked.

Emily Jones rolled to her feet, tossed Indy his fedora, put up her fists and cried, "C'mon Dad! Let's take him down!"