"Riley, I need you to come over right now."
Riley groaned, looking at the clock. 2:37 AM. He pulled the covers up to his chin with one hand, holding the phone against his ear with the other. "Ben…" he mumbled.
"You sound tired."
Riley closed his eyes. "Yeah, me an' Bill Gates had a late night at his retirement party." Ben snorted. "I was asleep, Ben. What d'you want?"
Ben's voice got brighter. "I've found a puzzle - I think it may be a clue, but it needs to be deciphered. I need your brain and your laptop to get over here and help me solve it."
Riley pressed his free hand to his forehead. "Um, I would love to help, Ben, but…now's not a good time."
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What?"
"Now's not a good time," Riley repeated, wanting nothing more than to pull the covers over his head and go back to sleep.
"Why not?"
"Would you believe…I have a girl over?"
"No."
"What about…my Ferrari has no gas?"
"Riley."
"Spastic paraplegia?"
"Riley!" Ben snapped. "Stop beating around the bush and just say you don't want to come help. I'll get someone else."
Riley wiped his nose and frowned, sniffing lightly. There was another pause on the other end of the line.
"Are you crying?" Ben asked hesitantly.
Riley almost laughed and leaned back against the pillows. "No, no…I, well, I'm sick."
"You are?" Riley could imagine Ben's patented Concerned Face as he voice suddenly became serious. "How long have you been sick?"
"Um…since two nights ago?"
"I'm coming over," Ben said decisively. Riley could hear him pulling a coat on. He turned a shade of pink.
"Ah, no, you don't have to do that…go back to your cryptoquote. I just need some more rest."
"And some chicken soup," Ben added.
"Uh…yeah, that too."
"Do you have any?"
"No?"
"I'm bringing some. I'll be right over," Ben said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"Ben," Riley whined, but Ben had already hung up. Riley pouted, shoving the phone back into its cradle and flopping onto the bed, tugging the covers back up to his chin. He was upset with Ben – Ben, who always treated him like a child, though he was quite old enough now to be taking care of himself. It was nice, though, after their search for Cibola, to be reminded that he was appreciated.