The Sidenstrasse Tapestry: An Indiana Jones Fan-Fiction

Chapter 83 - Dawson Apartment, Communist Berlin, 1960

Emily rolled out of the way.

Annie, her hands gripping a pistol - fired.

Dawson felt the bullet rip through him. He stared in shock at his wife.

Indy stared at his daughters, admiration on his bruised and bloody face.

Annie fired again.

The shot slammed everyone's ears, the force of the sound disorienting them.

Annie's gaze narrowed. Her fingers worked methodically on the firing mechanism. Each shot was collected and slammed against Dawson.

Dawson fought the sounds and burning sensation of each bullet tearing through his body. He moved toward Annie, hatred in his eyes.

The gun clicked empty.

Dawson moved toward Annie – ten shots through his body, all of them holes pouring blood.

Annie spoke, her voice shaking as her husband towered over her. "You have hurt our family long enough!"

Indy grabbed his whip, throwing it around Dawson's neck. He and Emily tugged. Dawson pitched backward, his corpse unable to fall on Annie.

Annie stared at them stunned. "Dad...? Emily...? I thought you were dead... like... him..." She stared at Dawson's body. "I'm going to throw up, and probably faint in it."

Indy grabbed Annie before she could fall. "Its all right, Annie." He wrapped his arms around her as she collapsed against him. "It's all right."

Annie pitched forward, gagging over Indy's shoulder. 

Emily stepped out of the way.

Carefully Annie wiped her mouth. "I'm sorry, Dad."

Indy smiled. "This jacket has been through worse."

Annie and Emily stared at each other for a long moment. "I thought you were dead!" they told each other.

"Mommy?" Laurel asked attempting to enter the room.

Indy stepped forward, dropping his hat onto Laurel's face, preventing her from seeing her dead father. He picked up the child, holding her in his arms, his body blocking Dawson's corpse. "Your mother's fine, darling."

Marion held Tyler, still unconscious, as Indy, Annie and Emily stepped from the room. Indy shut the door, holding Laurel.

Marion rushed Indy, grabbing his battered face. "I thought you were-"

Indy grinned, splitting his lip. "Going to miss a second marriage with you? Never, Marion."

Sirens wailed.

Emily stepped back. "Mom, Dad, Annie – you need to go. I'll distract them. Where's Dawson's arm dealer stash?"

Annie stammered a moment, and then pointed to the room behind them with the body.

"Em -" Indy protested. "We are not splitting this family apart, again!"

Emily shut the door in Indy's face, and locked it before he could protest.

Indy stared at Laurel, and then Marion.

"You know she's right, Indy," Marion finished. "I've got a stolen KBG car out back. They'll find it and we won't have a chance to get back to the American sector."

Laurel looked at Indy from under his too-big-for-her fedora. Indy saw the child was terrified. He could either trust Emily, or protect Laurel, and this child hadn't been taught to fight. "You're right, Marion – let's go. C'mon, Annie. Your sister will be fine. I've trained her too well."

Annie paused. "Dad – that means she'll start World War III."

"If that's what it takes to get us out of Berlin," Indy's voice was grim. "C'mon, Marion. Partners, remember?"