A/N: Hey, hey, it's me again, crazily-obsessed-with-anything-and-everything-Riley Girl (try putting that on a shirt, ha, ha). Anyways, yep, I'm back with a new story. This time it involves Ian. I noticed there wasn't much interaction between these two characters (besides the negative stuff) so I decided (with a little help from DownwiththeSupernatural for the character pairing idea) to do them in a positive way, yay.
I hope you guys like it; tell me if you do… Or don't!
Disclaimer: I don't own National Treasure, or the characters. But I do own my thoughts. Oh wait, crap! I sold those on EBay for twenty bucks yesterday.
You Should Know: It's been two years since the treasure was discovered.
XxxxXXXxxxX
"Are you kidding me? The Shaolin Monks could kick anybody's butt any day!" Riley's voice reasoned proudly. Ben shot back with a long, thought out retort. The two were bantering away on the phone about one of the rare subjects of video games. It certainly was an unusual topic for the two men since they were found more commonly discussing the latest discovered artifact or Abi and Ben's future. Ben was relieved to be talking with his best friend, if even for a short while. He loved his new wife and the honeymoon they were spending in Egypt, but he found himself missing the young man more and more as each day passed.
"So, you have about two more weeks in the desert?" Riley asked after he received a particularly brutal verbal bashing on his Mortal Kombat character.
"It's Egypt, Riley, not the Sahara." Ben pointed out.
"Yeah, yeah," Riley said distractedly. He was driving his baby, Ben could tell easily over the phone. Riley always seemed a bit more tense and unfocused when driving his sleek red Ferrari. The young man needed to stop worrying about scratches from nonexistent branches so much.
"Yes, we have about a couple more weeks," Ben affirmed, taking a drink out of his smoothie. At the moment, he was sitting in a comfortable chair by the pool. Abi was still up in the hotel room, getting ready to jump in with him. "What've you been up to?"
"Meh, nothing much. I'll tell you what has been up though, this weirdo car besides me. It's like trying to race or something, but it gets way too close for comfort, you know?"
"Riley, I think you're just getting paranoid about scratches on your red top again," Ben said with a smile. He smiled faltered a little at the sound Riley made. "What going on?" he asked.
"This silver car; it just made a U-turn and now it's heading right-" Ben heard a loud thunk. Shattered glass, tires screeching away, and then another thunk was all that could be heard. Ben eyes glazed over in a panic.
"Riley? RILEY!" Ben called into his phone. Abi had just stepped across the length of the tan walkway to see the pale, worried expression on her husband's face.
"Honey, what's wrong?" She asked, looking into his eyes. Ben still had the phone to his ear, but he answered her nonetheless.
"I think Riley's been hurt. I think it was intentional too." Ben explained in a rush. More worried filled his eyes at the sound of his words. How could this be happening? Why would somebody want to hurt Riley? He was harmless. Ben knew one thing for sure though: he had to call somebody. If he wasn't there to help Riley, he had to get somebody in that hospital as soon as possible who could.
After calling his friend's name a few more times, Ben quit and hung up. He immediately opened up his contacts page with a click of a button on his cell phone.
"What are you doing? Is Riley going to be okay?" Abi looked on the verge of tears now. Ben felt sympathetic.
"I'm just trying to get a hold of some one who can help Riley since we're not there." He said, clicking the down button on his phone, scrolling through possible assistants. The person had to be strong and brave, willing to help under these heated circumstances. They also had to be smart, full of ways to help Riley and provide excellent investigative skills. Ben clicked through name after name. He paused at one in particular though. He gave it an apprehensive glance before quickly pressing "talk." Inside of him, he knew he was looking for this name all along; he supposed he was just skeptical from experiences.
A few rings later somebody picked up. He inhaled deeply.
"Hi… I need your help."
xxxXXXxxx
Riley stirred at the touch on his forehead; he immediately regretted coming back to the world of consciousness though as a pounding pain in his head came along with it. He tried to grasp at his the pulsing ache but his arms seemed to have been stuck to something. What the heck was going on here? He thought irritated. The young man opened his eyes blearily, the room was dimly lit, which Riley found relieving. He looked down at himself and gaped for a long time. He was in the hospital! There were numerous cords attached to him, which made him squirm. He could barely handle seeing the IVs in Ben when he went, now the little cords were forced into him? The very thought made the young man shudder.
"Are you cold?" A smooth, British-accented voice asked.
"No, I was just-Holy crap!" Riley's eyes widened at he looked at the man beside him. His blonde hair was shorter, but that didn't matter, he still looked exactly the same. "I-Ian?"
The older man smiled, "Glad you remembered."
Riley suddenly sat up and started searching frantically for the nurse's call button on his bed.
Ian held the object at the younger man's eye level.
"Are you looking for this?" Ian said in a quiet voice that made Riley quiver slightly. He blinked slowly at the object. Why was Ian holding so many nurse call buttons? When did he get so many hands? "Riley, why are you blinking so bloody weird?"
Riley felt dizzy beyond belief but he knew he had to stay up to ensure his safety from the evil British man who tried to kill him once. He closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. He wouldn't be able to operate normally with this enormous dizzy spell and the throbbing in his head wasn't helping the situation either. He grasped at his head, his hands able to reach it now that he was propped up.
A memory seemed to have made its way back to him, causing a flood of others. He remembered a car, making an illegal U-Turn, coming straight at him and then… blackness. It was all so clear to him in an instant. He was shaking now but he didn't notice. This revelation brought new and terrible thoughts too his head. Was he all right? Did the people who did this to him get away or were they hurt too? Why had this happened? Was this plotted?
"Riley, calm down." Ian instructed firmly.
Riley opened his eyes slowly and glared to his side at the older man. Why was he telling him what to do? Riley didn't even know why the heck he was there in the first place!
"No, shut up." Riley said, surprising Ian and himself. He had never been the firm type; he could joke his way out of anything and that's just what he did, for as long as Ian had known him. This was different though and all his earlier personality traits were lost as things began to grow serious. "I have questions, Ian, and I need answers."
Ian nodded perceptively and sat down in a chair, staring intently into Riley's eyes.
"I know that you must feel confused right now, scared even, but your questions will have to wait. At the moment, I'm checking you out of the hospital and you're coming home with me. I-"
"Like hell I am!" Riley interrupted loudly, looking at the man like he was insane (which is just what Riley thought he was). "Ian, need I remind you, you tried to kill me many times before, so you'll have to excuse my distrust, but I am not going with you."
"Ben said you would be like this," Ian muttered, rubbing his eyes. This statement brought Riley to immediate attention.
"W-wait… Ben knows that I'm in the hospital? How?" Riley asked, staring earnestly at Ian now.
"Apparently he was on the phone with you when you got into the accident. You don't remember?" Ian asked, a hint of worry in his last sentence.
"My head hurts a little is all," Riley mumbled distractedly, obviously more interested in the Ben topic. "Why would he call you then?"
"Ben has very generously hired me to watch you." Ian said. "He's under the impression that this act of brutality is somehow purposeful."
Riley gave Ian a very skeptical look.
"You're not very good at hiding your uncertainty," Ian chuckled. "I know what you're thinking though 'Why would I volunteer to watch you?' Well, believe it or not, Ben and I have been in communication for sometime now since I got out of jail. I was bitter at first but I've grown to realize that my ways back then were cynical. I really do believe I've learned my lesson. Anyways, I'm doing this because I know it to be the right thing. I feel I owe it to Ben for all the stuff I put him through. I can put you in contact with Ben the moment we get home but none of that can happen unless you start to trust me."
Riley listened to the little speech fixedly.
"What if you're lying?" Riley asked after a few minutes of hesitation.
"I'm not lie-"
What if you are though?"
Ian sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Would a gun make you shut up?"
Riley's eyes brightened at the statement.
"I'm kidding. You're arm is broken in three places, you wouldn't be able to hold it anyway."
Riley looked down at his arm, noticing for the first time that it was indeed in a sling. He frowned.
"I guess I have no choice then." He said, exhaling noisily. "The second we get to your place though, I call Ben."
"Of course." Ian said; he walked composedly outside the small hospital room to see how the departure process was going.
Riley looked after him, wondering the whole time how he could have been reunited with his would-be-murderer. The world was a cruel, sick place. He laid himself gently back onto the pillows. His head still hurt and aching pain seemed to be radiating from his neck as well. It must've been quite a crash… Riley thought, closing his eyes for some rest only to immediately open them again. My baby!
XxxxXXxxxX
Ian shrugged his suit jacket on coolly as a less orderly Riley struggled to wheel himself through the elevator doors. It was understandable seeing as one of his arms was in a sling.
"I could help you, you know?" Ian pointed out, getting impatient with all of the young man's stubbornness.
"And have you push the chair into the nearest fountain? No thanks, I, for one, choose life." Riley said, finally getting the chair through the doors. "Stupid hospital policy." He mumbled. After about two more minutes of exertion on Riley's part, Ian took hold of the chair's handles and began driving it towards the front desk, ignoring the protests given by a certain young man.
"Yes, hello," Ian said after being greeted by the kind-faced receptionist. "A doctor sent me down here to receive the prescription for a Mr. Riley Poole."
"Riley Poole, Riley Poole…" She checked her computer and after not finding it there looked through a small card catalog beside her. "Ah, here it is. Yes, let me get that. It'll just be a moment." She walked off into another room marked "Authorized Personnel Only." Ian waited patiently and let his eyes trail down to Riley's in-need-of-a-haircut head. The young man sat in the chair, rubbing his fingers over the bandages wrapped around his unbroken arm which covered a long, deep cut. He looked ready to peel the top part off when Ian's voice startled him.
"Don't even try it, Riley."
I'll look at it when I go to the bathroom Riley thought as if to reassure himself that Ian wasn't entirely in control.
"Look at it even when you're not in my presence and I'll know. That gauze is holding in a lot of blood and you'd do well not to loosen it." Ian said, once again reading Riley's thoughts. It was starting to creep the younger man out. He dropped his broken arm against his chest where it hang idly.
The lady entered the room once again with a slip in one hand. She handed Ian the paper, had him sign a few things, and then he left, giving her one last nod. Ian wheeled Riley through the doors of the hospital and, as expected, the younger man quickly jumped out.
Ian rolled his eyes as Riley began his "Thank God I'm not a cripple" rant, as if Ian was actually listening. Although it was quite overcast outside, the older man placed his sunglasses on as they stepped through the second set of hospital doors. Riley followed Ian to his pearl-white Escalade and, after a few attempts because of the vehicle's height, made it in.
"You know your car is starting to rival the heights of mountains now, right?" Riley said, settling in his seat.
Ian graced him with a small smile before starting the engine. "Seatbelts." He announced. "Wouldn't want another concussion now, would you?"
Riley rolled his eyes as he clicked belt into place. His head started to hurt again at the mention of the concussion so he laid it on its side into the leather headrest.
"Are you all right?" Ian asked, noticing Riley's sitting position as he backed out of the lot.
"I think I've just been kidnapped by my former would-be killer. How do you think I feel?" That was what Riley wanted to say but settled with a less patronizing
"My head hurts..." It really did too. The throbbing had settled on a numb pressure underneath that made Riley feel as if his brain would splatter all over Ian's nice, clean dashboard any moment.
"Well, I'm heading to the pharmacy for your prescription; it should feel better after you take the pills." Ian said, making a right out of the intersection. Riley turned around and picked up the slip of paper Ian had gotten from the receptionist. "Firoicet" it read along the line where medicine was prescribed. He had never heard of the medicine; Riley assumed it was a type of aspirin. He hoped it wouldn't make him act too tipsy.
They arrived at a Walgreen's thirty minutes later and Ian killed the engine once they were parked.
"Do you need to get something?" he asked, turning to the young man who had his head laid back in an odd angle, eyes closed.
A toothbrush, silverware, and cup… Just to be on the safe side when we get to your place. Riley thought to himself. He opened his eyes and nodded. He didn't now what he needed but looking in the store at things sounded more appealing then sitting in the car.
They exited the car and stepped through the sliding doors of the store. The inside was quite bright in contrast to the gray skies outside. This made Riley cringe as a pain shot through his head. It was being so sensitive to light lately. Ian, the ever analytic, noticed this but decided not to say anything.
"Get what you need; I'll go get your medicine." He walked off in the other direction towards the back, leaving Riley to stare at the selection of makeup that was set up in the front. A woman gave him a confused expression as she passed. Riley noticed and snapped out of his daze. He wasn't looking at the concealer; he was trying to get his swimming head under control.
Riley strolled through the many aisles, looking for anything he might need on his who-knew-how-long stay with Ian. He spotted the older man waiting in the assigned area for the prescription to be filled, flipping through a torn up magazine, and voted to turn the other way.
He found a basket carrier when he turned around and decided to pick it up, even though he had no clue what he was getting. He just looked less weird with one in his hands.
He continued to scan the aisles, dropping random, interesting items in his basket. So far he had a Snickers bar, a stuffed rat (since the Halloween season was coming soon), a bottle of bubbles, some chap stick, and a Washington DC magnet. Ian found him just as he was about to drop an alien notebook in his basket; he was carrying two more rolls of gauze and the prescription bag, which he dropped in with Riley's things
He took the basket from Riley, not noticing the odd assortment of items in there. Riley followed him to the checkout.
Ian handed the items to the lady as she scanned them and placed them in the bag. He gave Riley questioning looks at the strange objects, but decided to just leave it at that.
Riley noted Ian had put the Snickers bar back on the shelf, which made him a little irritated. He picked up the bar again and went to hand it to the lady only to get it taken back and placed on the shelf.
"It'll only make you feel worse." Ian admonished, taking out his wallet.
Riley growled; all this sudden caring about his well-being was starting to bug him. This guy definitely never cared about him when he was pointing the gun to his face. Riley thought many more nasty thoughts about the man as he paid for the things. He handed the bag to Riley when they were finished and started heading for the door.
Riley glared at the back of his head the whole way. They were going outside... Maybe this could be his change to run away. He started to quickly formulate a plan as they neared the exit. There's a trashcan I could throw down if Ian decided to chase me and there's also a lady walking towards the bus stop…-Oof.
Riley hadn't noticed while he was staring out the window the makeup display in the front. He knocked his leg against it, causing all the makeup to clatter to the floor. Ian stopped in mid-step out the door to Riley, carrying the bag in his un-slung hand, staring down at all the makeup at his feet. He looked up sheepishly a little red in the face.
"Um… Oops?"
The woman from the checkout walked over.
"Clean it up or pay for it." She said bluntly before walking away back to her register to read a magazine.
Ian sighed, rubbing a hand over one of his eyes. How did he get into this mess? Riley began to place the makeup onto the display case again, and Ian kneeled down to help him. They finished up in a short while and got up, dusting themselves off.
"Stop daydreaming so much, Poole," Ian said after the task was finished. He roughly grabbed the bag from Riley and made his way back to the car. The escape plan flashed in the younger man's head at the harshness but gave up on the plan since he was positive that something would go wrong... (also the girl at the bus stop was gone)
XxxXXXxxX
They were back on the road again, driving down the familiar street to Ben and Abbie's house.
"Where are we going?" Riley asked; his eyes were closed again since the light was still nagging him. How he wished he could be in a dark silent room.
"Ben and Abigail's. You need some stuff, don't you?" Ian asked. Riley began to answer but was interrupted by the unfamiliar ring of a cell phone. Ian flipped open a sleek black phone. "Hello." A beat "He's on his way now? …Hmmm, this is a problem..." Ian sighed. "Well, tell him I'm going to be there as soon as I can; give him my apologies… Okay then, I'll be there as soon as possible. Bye."
Ian closed the phone and let out a frustrated groan. One of his most high-ranking patrons was waiting at his house and he was clear across town babysitting a very difficult and disobliging young man.
"He said eight, the indecisive wanker." Ian said, becoming irritated. "Riley, you will hurry up when we get there. You only bring items that you absolutely need; none of this stuffed animal and candy bar rubbish. I have food at my home, just take some clothes. If you waste my time, you'll wear what you have on for your entire stay; any amount of whining about this will go on deaf ears. You'll do well to pack light the very moment we get there. Do you understand?"
Riley, knowing full well another rant would come on if he didn't respond in Ian's favor, nodded.
"All right, geez…"
The pearl white Escalade arrived at the nice, brick house and the two men exited quickly, leaving the engine running. Ian gave Riley impatient sighs and words the entire time he was throwing the large piles of clothes into his duffle bag.
"I'm going as fast as I can!" Riley said for the millionth time after another one of Ian's annoyed looks. He zipped up his exploding-with-clothing bag and tried lifting it off the bed with much difficulty. Ian rolled his eyes and snatched the bag from him with his right hand as his left hand pushed Riley out his bedroom door.
On their way down the stairs, Riley picked up a resting orange ball of fur. Ian raised his eyebrow but it wasn't until he got in his car and realized that it was a cat that Riley had brought along with him did he explode.
"Riley Poole, remove that flea bag from this car immediately." Ian said in a menacing tone. "I don't have time for this, just put it on the floor outside; I'm sure it can find its way back in."
"What? No." Riley objected, holding the cat closer. "Abi said it was my responsibility to feed and take care of Sunny and I am not going to have it fur and bones when she comes back just because you don't love it." Riley said, giving him a resolute nod.
Ian shook his head in disbelief that he was actually having a pet in his car. He knew he could easily injure Riley into the next millennium but he decided to let him have this one, for once.
He backed out of the driveway and sped onto the highway towards his house.
XxxxXXXxxxX
Most of the ride there was a blur to Riley as Ian was driving like a complete maniac. The young man had to remind him countless times that he had been in enough car accidents for one week but Ian continued to accelerate at every word. Riley chose to shut up at this realization of speeding and because he was scared speechless.
Ian slowed down considerably when they arrived in a very nice, wealthy-looking neighborhood. Riley had never been to Ian's place before but he knew by the large checks he had sponsored Ben with that he was quite prosperous.
A two-story, white house with gray roofing came into view. Ian typed in a code at the black gates and quickly sped his vehicle through them. He let out a small curse word when he saw a crimson convertible in front.
Ian quickly parked the car and turned off the engine.
"Riley, your room is on the second floor two doors down on the right. Unpack your stuff and a maid should tell you when dinner's ready." Ian said quickly, hurriedly fixing his hair in the rear view mirror. "Don't do anything stupid." He finished off sternly as he exited the vehicle and walked fast-paced towards the entrance doors of his home.
Riley sat there in silence, not really remembering what Ian had just told him. He was busy admiring the large house, wondering what Ian was so anxious about, if Abi and Ben were all right, and when he was going to eat. He sighed in frustration at his active brain. Why couldn't it shut up so he could listen to important instructions?
Riley exhaled nosily, picking up the sleeping cat from his lap. He opened the door of the car and slowly stepped out, trying not to wake the feline. Sunny was always sleeping, it was reasonable since when she was awake she was crazy and hyper as ever. Riley didn't think he had ever seen a cat as wildly manic as Sunny. He had grown to like the orange tabby though. It liked to cuddle and play with shoestrings which Riley couldn't help but smile at.
Riley started his short trek to the house and quietly opened the door. To the right was a set of elaborate French doors. Riley could hear the recognizable voice of Ian on the other side along with a few other unrecognizable ones, all male. He went to get nearer to hear what they were speaking of but noticed he was being watched by a stiff-looking butler-type-guy behind him.
"Um, hi, I'm just going to… Use the bathroom." Riley said all too quickly, walking the other way, trying to escape the man's critical gaze.
Where is my stupid room? Riley thought to himself. Sunny had woken up now and was struggling to escape his arms. Riley struggled with it for a few moments before releasing it. The cat sprinted down one of the halls but, since Riley knew it would be near impossible to get Sunny back, he let it go and continued to search for his room.
He had found the kitchen, which was just as good, in his opinion. But, upon entering the swinging silver doors, he found two chefs hard at work, stirring soups and frying things on the stove. They looked rushed and only gave Riley a quick glance before continuing their work. The young many felt a bit out of place and silently backed out of the room.
The living room was less crowded but a lot more boring. It was well furnished and very clean but Riley found all of it a bit much and had to shade his eyes from the flowery everything.
He walked into the next room which appeared to be a guest bathroom. It was just as boring as the last room except it had a toilet. Riley decided to take a quick bathroom break before continuing the search for his room. When he exited, he let out a small yelp of surprise. Ian stood just outside the entrance, looking slightly surprised himself to see Riley departing from the guest bathroom.
"Riley, what are you doing down here?" Ian interrogated quickly at the same time leading Riley by the bicep up the stairs.
Riley gave the older man a confused expression. What was Ian's deal? Why was he acting so strangely about him using the bathroom? Was it some sacred burial bathroom where Ian hid all the people he murdered and cremated? Oh my god, did I just piss on old ladies and innocent children? "Give them a proper burial next time!"
Ian shook his head like Riley was an alien (which wasn't exactly far from what Ian actually thought of him as). He snapped out of it and continued.
"Riley, you do realize that if you had been spotted by any of the men in that room, I would be forced to kill you, right?"
The young man's eyes widened in shock.
"Um-well-that's certainly news to me…" Riley said meekly.
"I'm expected back there at any moment. I don't need them getting anymore suspicious so just go to your room and don't leave until Margie comes to get you." Ian said, turning to leave. Riley stopped him on his arm and Ian turned around. "Yes?"
"Um…" Riley gave a timid sort of look.
"Riley, I don't have time for this. Go."
"That's the problem." Riley finally confessed. "I wasn't exactly listening when you told me the directions."
Ian sighed exasperatedly and grabbed Riley by the arm once again. He led him down the center hall into the second door on the right.
"You can get your things later tonight for now, just… play with your stupid cat." Ian said, exiting the room. A thought in his head whispered Where's the cat? ButIan only shuddered in response before coolly making his way back to his business associates.
XxxxXXxxxX
Riley ripped out yet another page from a blue, hardback book entitled Political Science on its spine. Riley had been waiting in the room for what seemed like an hour. He was hungry as ever and he could feel another massive migraine coming on with each passing origami crane… Well, attempted origami crane. It was difficult to fold anything with your arm in a sling. Once again, the young man crumbled the paper and threw it on the floor. Riley wasn't sure yet if Ian would kill him for doing so or not. He didn't care much though. Ian looked about ready to kill him with everything he did.
The migraine came in full force after the last paper-folding effort and Riley forced himself onto the flowery bedspread. What's Ian's deal with all the girly decorating? Riley pondered, as he blew at a flower which was sewn to the pillow he was laying on. He laid there for a long time, trying to distract himself from all the painful pressure in his head. He found relief when he finally fell asleep only to be woken up again ten minutes after to a girl's voice.
"Riley, sir, it's time for dinner." She said when the young man finally stirred and looked at her.
"Ugh, my head hurts, I feel like I'm going to barf…" Riley said, burying his head back into the pillows. The room's faint light was bugging the heck out of him.
"I'll go get Mr. Howe." She said, leaving before Riley could protest.
Ian entered shortly after with a pill bottle and a glass of water in hand. He set them both on the side table and stared at Riley. He looked as if he was trying to suffocate himself in the pillows.
"Get up, Riley, take the medicine. It'll make you feel better and then you can eat." Ian said, turning to leave only to stop in his tracks at the sight of an orange tabby staring curiously at him in front of the doorway.
Riley had finished swallowing the water and pills and was now letting it soothe away the pain. Oh, how he loved this medication… He hoped it wasn't supposed to be addictive or anything. He opened his eyes after most of the throbbing receded. He saw Ian getting his legs rubbed over with orange fur.
"This thing better not leave any stupid hairs on this suit," he said, picking the cat up from the floor.
"Don't hurt it." Riley objected.
"I'm not going to hurt it. Calm down." Ian said, petting the cat behind the ears. "I'm actually quite fond of pets. They're just a bit dirty, that's one of the main reasons I don't have one. But having you around is evidently no difference, so there's no harm done." Ian finished, casting a small, amused smile at the pile of papers on the floor near the desk.
Riley scowled at the comment. He wasn't a "pet" and he definitely wasn't that messy.
"By the way, if I see any one of my books treated like the way you did that one, I will hurt you. I'm not kidding." Ian said, a serious expression on his face as he petted the purring Sunny.
Riley gulped quietly at the threat. Note to self: Origami is not that important.
The two made their way down the stairs into the comfortably furnished dining room. The food on the table was less easy on the eyes though. The dishes looked slimy and slightly scary to Riley. He sat down in a chair on the right while Ian took a seat at the head of the plate-laden table.
"So…" Riley began, giving uneasy looks at the food. "What is this stuff?"
"It's edible, so you will eat it." Ian said, serving himself with a dish of brown balls covered in green sauce. He noticed Riley's grossed out expressions at his acts. "Riley, you haven't eaten all day…"
"Is that my fault? You took my candy bar!"
"That's beside the point." Ian sighed. "You've just been in a car accident; food along with a good night's rest will help you recover."
"Yes, food, not… British poop balls."
"Riley, no vulgar language at the table please." Ian said, beginning to lose his appetite.
"Can I call Ben?" Riley asked, trying to change the subject.
"No, eat." Ian said simply, taking a bite of his meal.
"You said at the hospital that as soon as we got to your place I could do that." Riley reminded rudely. "I've been here for almost three hours and I haven't got the chance to ask any questions or make any phone calls."
Ian rubbed at his temple. Riley was a headache.
"Very well…"
He flipped out his cell phone and dialed Ben's hotel room number. He was surprised to hear an unfamiliar and accented voice greet him.
"Hello, I'm Ian Howe, is, um, Ben available?"
The lady on the other line clicked her tongue, making Ian furrow his eyebrows.
"You haven't heard de news yet?"
"No, I'm afraid not. I live in America."
"I see. Well, speaking to Mista Gates would be impossible den."
"I'm sorry?"
"Mista Gates and his wife have been kidnapped."
A/N: Yep, yep, that is the first chapter. I'm already in the works of the second but I could really use some encouragement to help me along, if you catch my drift .:raises eyebrows repatedly:. If you don't catch my drift, I mean review… Please and thank you!