the_lioness | New York to French Cameroons, 1938

"Are you sure you wouldn't care for champagne, Ms. Trebond?"

"It will only make me more thirsty."

"If you don't mind me saying so, your eyes are a most unusual color."

"I've been told it's an early sign of cataracts."

Underneath the brim of his hat, Indy smirks; he knows it's not a lie.

"No champagne, then?"

"No champagne. But I'll take a coffee if you have some."

"She'll have water," Indy interjects, voice gruff as if this little exchange is keeping him awake. It is. "No caffeine. It's a long flight."

"It can't be that much longer, can it?"

Pained, "we haven't taken off yet, Alanna."

"Oh." He'd had no idea that the twiddling of thumbs could be such an audible gesture. "I can't believe you're already tired. We haven't done anything to warrant exhaustion!"

Indy groans.

- - -

A lesser man would have called off the trip due to harassment many hours ago, but Indy had indulged her near constant questions. He was in his element lecturing on everything from public transportation to the role of museums in modern society. However, his patience was wearing a little thin by the third time he had to explain that no, they couldn't go to London and leave something for Adam to find years from now. It might not even be the same world.

Alanna's lips twitched, and Indy realized he'd been had.

"You're lucky we’re in public or I'd be forced to swat you," he growled. Alanna smiled sweetly and moved away to look at a map of the museum while he retrieved their airplane tickets from reception.

- - -

"Indy-"

"Augh, woman! Get your nails out of my arm!"

"Indy, what's happening?"

"We're taking off, that's what! Did y'think we'd just magically find ourselves in midair? All I want is a little shuteye before dinner."

"I can feel the water."

"You can't feel the water."

"Yes, I can. It's there, beneath us. This is no better than a glorified boat!"

Indy works to release her death grip on his arm as the plane lurches into the air. "No water. Why don't you look out the window?"

"You're right. This isn't so bad." She presses her nose up against the window, pushing the curtain out of her way. He breathes a sigh of relief and closes his eyes.

"Indy? I'm not so sure how I feel about being this far off the ground."

With a grunt, he pulls his hat lower over his face.

- - -

After picking up the tickets, they found themselves with some unexpected time on their hands. The drive down from Fairfield hadn't taken long at all, the flow of traffic into the city unexpectedly light for a Saturday afternoon, Indy explained. Alanna had been too captivated by the bridges and city skyline to pay much attention.

"Why don't we go shopping?" she suggested. The large market places no longer cause confusion.

Under the impression that Bar had provided everything necessary, Indy gave her a questioning look. "You look fine."

Alanna shrugged, self-conscious, surreptitiously studying every woman they passed.

Smiling, he tugged on a lock of red hair. "I tell you what. We'll get everything ready at the apartment, and then go out. Make an evening of it."

"Are you sure? Doesn't an old man like you require lots of rest before an adventure?" Smirking, she kept walking after he stopped, his glare burning into the back of her head.

"Watch it," he barked, hurrying to catch up. "It's not too late for me to go get Mel."

"Don't worry, I'm only teasing. You're quite spry for a man your age."

- - -

"This is interesting. I'm not sure I've ever seen anything quite so orange."

"It's food. You eat it."

"I'm not a lackwit, Indy." She sniffs a forkful of mashed sweet potatoes. "I'm just not overly fond of orange."

"I know." Chewing, he pats her hand until he remembers he's supposed to be annoyed.

"Where are we now?"

"Somewhere between Azores and Lisbon."

"Ah. And how many times do we have to take off?"

With a note of triumph in his voice, "five times in total."

"I don't like that part."

"My arm and I both noticed."

"And then we'll be in Cameroon. Cameroon. Camerooooooon. That's awfully fun to say."

"Steward, more champagne. Hurry."

- - -

Indy's apartment proved to be a treasure trove. While he wrapped up loose ends, Alanna poured over books and maps, slipping two slimmer volumes into her bag to read on the plane. As the sunlight started to fade, Indy poked her in the arm and reminded her that she had to get ready for a night on the town.

It didn't take her long. Hair slightly curled and make-up carefully applied, she stepped outside with a wide smile and the boyish stride of which she will never be cured. Indy hailed a cab. Amused at her proclamation that she would rather take a horse, he ushered her into the car.

Dinner was wonderful, and despite the fact that Alanna delighted in frustrating Indy at every turn, she sat straight and displayed the very best of manners. Determined to shake her unexpected formality a bit, he asked her to dance.

She accepted.

"You're better at this than you used to be," he noted, eyebrow arched.

"Adam and I have been practicing," she said. "We don't often make it past the waltz."

"I don't want to know why."

Alanna just smiled.

- - -

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but we need you to return to your seat."

"The plane feels like it's about to shake apart! Do you honestly expect me to sit there and do nothing?"

"It's turbulence. Routine, really. I assure you that the captain knows what he's doing. Now, please take a seat."

"If it is so routine, really, shouldn't he know how to avoid it?"

"Oh, for-" Grumbling, Indy wraps an arm around her waist and pulls her back to their row. "Sorry ‘bout that. She has a nervous condition."

"Ahh," the steward sighs with obvious sympathy. "I'll get more water."

"Nervous condition? I'll show you a nervous condition," she huffs. "I just wanted to stand for a few minutes. My rear end is asleep."

"Want me to rub it?" Indy leers.

Loftily, "need I remind you that I'm bound to the Antichrist?"

"Point."

Meanwhile, the man behind them wonders if he heard her correctly. Surely she hadn't really said Antichrist. It was just the drone of the engines.

He crosses himself anyway. Just in case.

- - -

By the time they reached the dock, Alanna had decided that February mornings in New York leave a great deal to be desired. Dressed in slacks and a plain sweater, she followed Indy and did her best not to shiver. They weren't bringing very much between them, and he'd forced her to leave one of the books in his apartment with the suggestion that she use the flight to sleep. He claimed it was his secret.

Clutching the little passport and ticket in hand, Alanna knew she was far too excited to sleep. It felt like ages since she'd been on an adventure.

She almost changed her mind when she saw the plane.

"Why is it on water?" she asked around the sudden lump in her throat.

Indy winces. "It's a seaplane. You won't even notice, I promise."

"Indy, I get seasick."

"That's why I made sure you packed the ginger root."

Swallowing, Alanna nodded and gave the crew a wobbly smile as she stepped on board, one small hand clutching the back of Indy's shirt.

"Was her face green?" the captain asked one of the stewards.

"Looked like it. This is going to be a long flight, I fear."

- - -

"Alanna, wake up."

"S’not time yet, Adam."

"I've been called the devil, but I've never been confused with his son. Come on. We're here."

Curled up in her seat, Alanna shakes her head and pulls the blanket over her shoulders. The heat wafting through the open door does nothing to stay the instinctive move. "But I just went to sleep."

Indy grits his teeth and looks as if he would very much like to shake her. "I am painfully aware of that fact." His voice softens a little. "You did well, all things considered, but it's time to start our quest."

"Can wait an hour. Quests always do."

His eyes narrow. "If you don't move in the next minute, you're going to be on your way back to New York. Five takeoffs."

Alanna bounces out of her seat with a yelp, pushing her hair off her face. Gathering her things in record time, she calls over her shoulder, "well, what are we waiting around here for?"

Sometimes you have to laugh. Sometimes you have to grab a bottle of alcohol on your way out the door.

Indy does both.