"I have a car, a home, health insurance. What do you have? Him?"

Patrick Gates' offhand comment still troubled Riley as they drove through the night to Philadelphia. At a rest stop in the middle of nowhere, Riley switched to riding shotgun so he could navigate, and so the exhausted Abigail could snooze in the backseat.

Ben kept stealing glances at his (adorable) co-pilot. His comrade, partner-in-crime, his best friend. His best friend who looked- rather troubled?

"Riley, what's wrong?" he said softly.

"Ummm...nothing," Riley replied, shifting awkwardly in his seat.

"C'mon, Riley...I can tell what's wrong! You're my best friend. Come on, tell me, it's not residual guilt, is it? Because if it is, we may have a problem..."

"No, no, no. It's not that."

"I promise I won't tell anyone!"

"Well...cross your heart and hope to die?"

"If I die right now, the car would crash, and then how would we save the treasure?"

"Ok, well...your dad sort of made me feel bad..."

"How so? Well, that's his job, but what did he say?"

"When he was lecturing you in how you threw your life away, chasing after fool's gold? He was all, 'well, I've got a stable life, and all you have is a computer nerd with a bad haircut!'"

"Well, my dad never has approved of my lifestyle, and he didn't want to offend Abigail, so you were the person he vented on."

"...What do you mean...lifestyle...? You mean the treasure hunting?"

"Among other things. Have you ever told someone you loved them?"

"Actually, no."

"Really? Young stud like yourself?"

"Well, I never really got the chance to..."

"But...at college, surely?"

"Um, no. Heh heh, awkward subject. Hey, can we stop at that Mickey D's?"

"Sure, if you stop changing the subject. Do you love anyone?"

"Yes."

"Who?"

"They don't love me back, so it doesn't matter."

"Boy, do I know what you mean. It's the worst feeling in the world..."

"The worst...

"So tell me, maybe I can help!"

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can! With my vast storehouses of historic knowledge and my suave...suaveness."

"Ben, trust me, this is one thing you can't help with."

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Tell me!"

"No!"

"Come on!"

"NO!"

"YES!"

"NO!"

"JUST SAY IT!"

"FINE! I'LL TELL YOU! I'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH YOU! FOR A VERY LONG TIME! SO THERE! I FUCKING SAID IT! HAPPY NOW?!"

"...very."

"..."

"..."

"Welcome to McDonald's, may I take your order?"

Riley disentangled himself from Ben's lovely, lovely lips long enough to gasp out, "Double cheesburger, no onions, diet coke."

"You know exactly what I like!" Ben said.

"Yeah, and I bet I can guess what else you like..."

"Please drive to the next window."

"Drat."

"Mmm, cheesey goodness. Hey, can I have your fries?"

"Sure. Now, about what my dad said..."

"What about it?"

"Do I have you?"

"Always and forever, Ben. Always and forever."

"Finally!" said Abigail from the backseat, shocking the two men as she demurely sipped from the diet coke.

"Abigail, you...did you...I mean, what was...how long...when..." Riley stuttered.

"Relax! I saw everything! Now, let's go find that treasure!"

"Y-yeah." Ben said shakily, stepping on the gas pedal.

Philadelphia, 75 miles.

A/N Yep, I'm alive, and making a small, discreet, classy (I hope!) comeback with this, since I've been addicted to Ben/Riley slash for awhile. Reviews would make me feel like me re-entry into the fanfiction world is not in vain!