AN: Yay, I got reviews! Thank you so much!

Disclaimer: I do not own either National Treasure movie.

Notes: Riley's brief bout of alcoholism won't last long. He's just upset about his date. Both Ben and Riley are a little bit snappy throughout this chapter (they will be for awhile, actually). Try to bear with it, okay? And Abigial... Will come off as slightly bitchy at first, but will get better as the story progresses. I apologize in advance for her attitude :). I apologize for the shortness, too...


Chapter 1: Faith

Present Day

Washington, D.C.

Her name was Rita Lixsenbury. Or, as Riley liked to refer to her because of that complicated last name, Rushmore Rita. She was one of the first girls to hit on him in years. Riley and Rita, wasn't that cute? The computer genius rolled his eyes at the thought. Yeah, right. He had more intelligence in his pinky finger than she had in that whole perfectly styled head of hers (which was saying something, as he only considered himself averagely smart in everything but computers). After spending ten minutes with her on their first date, he'd told her so. Which was how he had ended up back at his droll apartment, sprawled out on his extremely comfy sofa with a wine bottle held loosely in his hand. And apparently ignoring all phone calls.

"Riley? It's Ben. That girl showed up here looking for you. She seemed angry. Is everything okay?"

No, Ben, everything is obviously not okay.

"Well, Abby and I were wondering if you could drop by sometime and help us with a few decisions. I can't plan my wedding without the best man - Abigail, we've been over this! Your brother is not going to be the best man! - Sorry, she's a little stressed. Give me a call when you get home, all right? Before I go insane. Bye, Riles."

Riles… Ben hadn't called him that in a long time. It almost made him smile. Until what the older man had said finally registered in his hazed brain. Ben and Abigail were… getting married? He winced as the figurative pile of bricks came crashing down on his chest. Or perhaps his heart. They had sure patched things up quickly. Though he supposed he already blew his chance on flirting with mindless beauties and bragging about his stupid book. Well, damn, my day can't get any worse.

"Hey, Tech? You there?"

Riley shot upward, staring at the phone like it was a ghost. Am I cursed, or something?!

"I know we haven't talked since I scared you away from New York, but I think you should know… Your uncle died last night."

Cue the second pile of bricks and long gulp from the wine bottle.

"I know you two were close after that whole deal with your dad, so the funeral is this Saturday if you want to come. I've already cleaned out the guest room for you… And Riley? I love you. Never said it enough when you were here. Goodbye, Tech."

It was like Riley's whole world had suddenly decided to take a flying leap out the window. His fleeting hope to be with Ben, the uncle that had been more of a father to him than his dad ever was… The two most important things in his life were gone. He had to sit through a funeral and a wedding, both holding the same sadness and dread over him. Riley let the glass bottle fall to the floor with a thud and hugged his knees, something he hadn't done since he was twelve. There were no tears, though. He just didn't have the energy for them.

"Riley? Riiiiiiley? Answer the phone, boy!"

Man, his head was seriously starting to hurt from all the shock. This time, however, he did pick up the phone. Because that was his dead uncle's voice.

"Uncle Henry?" he questioned breathlessly, not daring to believe it.

"Who else would it be? Look, don't believe a word people back home tell you. I'm still alive and feeling better than ever! The guy in my casket isn't me. He looks like me, but I'm actually in Florida right now. I found something in your great-grandma Shelly's library a couple weeks ago and, well… I need your help."

"Oh, no," Riley said, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "I know that voice. Ben's used it on me a million times. You found a clue, didn't you? To some weird treasure?"

"Not exactly, but-"

"I don't care what it is, no! I've been on enough adventures to make me die of a heart attack at thirty!"

"What if heart attacks didn't exist anymore?"

Riley was about the launch off into why this was such a bad idea, but then stopped at his uncle's words.

"W-What?"

"No heart attacks, Riley," Henry began to explain, sounding satisfied that he had his attention. "No breast cancer, lung cancer, sickle-cell anemia, leukemia, blindness, deafness - Everything. If you help me find this, it can cure every single disease, illness, and ailment known and unknown to man."

It took a moment for Riley to shake off his feeling of awe. That would be wonderful… If it were possible. Which it wasn't.

"Let me guess, the Fountain of Youth?" he snapped sarcastically, grabbing his wine again to take a sip. "No such thing."

"It… doesn't give you immortality. Just really, really good health."

You've got to be kidding me.

"You're crazy, Henry."

"So was that friend of yours, until he found the treasure."

Oh, that was low. Riley groaned, wondering if he should just give in. It would take his mind off Ben's wedding, at least.

"Fine, I'll go. But I get half of the money we make from this."

"Of course. But it isn't going to be just you and me. We'll have a local guide who knows the backlands named Hann-"

"There's still backlands in Florida? Huh, I never knew."

"Buford, our financier-"

"Don't like the sound of that. The last financier I met tried to kill me."

"He's not as smart as Ian Howe."

"Thank God for that."

"And we also need someone who knows a lot about symbols and, uh… History."

Riley froze on the way to his refrigerator.

"You don't mean-"

"Benjamin Gates. I'm sorry if you two are having problems, but he is the best qualified."

He felt the urge to curse. Really loudly. This was not what he needed! Riley couldn't stand the thought of spending weeks in the back country of Florida with the happy couple. Because he knew Abigail would somehow worm her way into it. She always did.

"I'm not going, then-"

"Oh, and when you tell him, remind him that this adventure is for men only. We don't want that girlfriend of his to be around five isolated men twenty-four seven. It just wouldn't be right."

There were days Riley loved his uncle for being able to read his mind.


"You hear that, Samuel? Your son's going to help me."

Samuel Poole glared out at his sister's husband through cell bars.

"He won't be much help," he snarled, wanting nothing more than to strangle the man in front of him to death. "The boy's absolutely useless!"

Henry Tasselman grinned at his brother-in-law, amused that he was getting such a reaction from the usually stoic man. He hated Samuel with every fiber of his being. Not just because he hadn't approved of the marriage between Henry and his sister, but because he had abused Riley. It was nice to rub having found the family secret in his face. Especially since that was one of the big reasons Samuel hurt his son. He hadn't wanted Riley to be well enough to look for the secret, so that he could have it for himself. Greedy, sneaky, filthy monster. But Henry had noticed the way his nephew was being treated and had helped put Samuel in jail.

"You don't give him enough credit," Henry retaliated smugly, slipping a newspaper through the bars. "He and that friend of his just discovered another treasure."

Samuel read over the article, his frown growing deeper with each passing second.

"This is his treasure, Sam. It was never meant for you."


Ben sighed as his fiancé scrolled over different fonts for the wedding invitations. He couldn't care less, to be honest. He'd wanted a small church wedding, but no, Abby couldn't have that. Most of the people on the guest list were complete strangers to him. The only ones he really wanted there were his parents and Riley. Speaking of the kid, he still hadn't called back. Which was a shame, because Ben had really needed a distraction from all this planning.

"Get the phone, will you?" Abigail huffed as she shuffled through a dress catalogue.

Maybe that was Riley? Only one way to find out. Ben sucked in a breath as his spine popped in several places when he stood up. He was too old to be getting married, damn it.

"Hello, Gates residence?" he mumbled into the phone in the kitchen, the farthest place from Abby on the first floor.

"Heeeey, Ben. Sorry I missed your call."

Yeah, that was Riley. Thank God.

"Riles! I've been meaning to tell you about Abigail and I, but we've been kind of busy-"

"Need a break?" Riley asked wearily, sounding emotionally exhausted. "'Cause I'm going to Florida to look for some wonder medicine. Wanna come with me?"

"Wonder medicine…?"

There was a sigh. Ben had a feeling that a long explanation was about to follow.

"You see, my uncle called me today. He says he found something in my great-grandmother's library that suggests to a… natural spring that can cure every medical problem. Or, as it is mistakenly called by us, the Fountain of Youth. He seemed very certain about this, kind of like you with your treasures, and he's a doctor, so he'd love to find it. Anyways, he wanted me to accompany him, along with a local guide, financier, and someone that knows a lot about symbols and history. And guess who he wants as our history buff?"

Ben blinked at the information (so formally?) presented to him, and then remembered he had been asked a question.

"Me?"

"Exactly," Riley mused, obviously entertained by the fact that he'd momentarily struck the great Ben Gates speechless. "It would only take three months, at the most. I'm sure Abby could survive without you for that long."

"She won't go with us?"

"My uncle said it wouldn't be very appropriate. Five men with one girl, stuck in the middle of a tropical mini-jungle. Do you really want Hann and Buford to be flirting with your fiancé the whole trip? Just tell Abby that I'm taking you on a vacation. Sort of an early bachelor party."

"That's actually a pretty good idea," Ben said hesitantly, working over the details in his head. "Your uncle's certain this isn't a wild goose chase?"

"Were you certain about the Templar treasure and the City of Gold? Uncle Henry is an intelligent and passionate person, such as yourself. The way he talked about finding this medicine was like the way you talked about your treasure-hunting. Even if there's a high chance that we don't turn up anything, could we just… humor him?"

Something in the way the computer geek said this made Ben slightly irritated.

"Are you saying you were just humoring me at first?" he asked tetchily, glancing around to make sure Abigail was still in the parlor. "You dropped your job to fucking humor a strange man that you thought was crazy? How does that work out?!"

Riley let out a short gasp, apparently not expecting this reaction, then stumbled to clarify himself before his best friend got too upset.

"No, Ben, that's not it at all! What I mean is, that someone can believe in something so much that the very thought of it not being true crushes them. I did believe that you believed the treasure was real… Which was enough to make me want to help. It was my faith in you that made me stay for as long as I did, not the treasure. And who was I to tell you that the theory of there being some long lost Templar treasure was completely ridiculous when you were so caught up in telling me about it? It was your life's dream and I refused to take that away from you. Even if several government officials and a few family members tried to…"

Well. That had certainly been long-winded. Riley hadn't really meant to get that sentimental. And Ben wasn't talking again… Was that a good or bad sign? Very good, considering the jack-of-all-trades historian couldn't speak because his throat was seized up from wanting to- No, he wouldn't think such things. His young friend couldn't have stirred his emotions enough to make him cry. He hadn't shed a tear since his grandfather died. On the other hand, Ben couldn't recall a time when Riley had ever left his side when he needed him, or not offered to be the sacrifice, or completely disagreed with one of his theories, or just plain put his own safety, well-being, and feelings before Ben's. It started to make him realize how lousy of a best friend he'd been over the years.

"Riles, I'm sorry. Just tell me when and where and I promise I'll be there."

"There's the sane Ben! I knew he was in there somewhere," Riley jibbed cheekily, but Ben could detect the relief in his tone. "This Saturday, 3 o'clock, be ready to leave. You should already know what to pack. Don't worry about meeting me somewhere, I'll pick you up- And before you ask, yes, we're driving all the way to Florida; no, we aren't taking the Ferrari (I don't want to wear out my baby!); and yes, of course you can drive, since you so obviously don't trust my skills."

A sense of excitement overtook the seasoned treasure hunter. This was his area of expertise, one of his many passions. He'd been dying to go on another adventure since discovering the legendary City of Gold. Page forty-seven would take some time to research and couldn't be carried out for at least a year. The side trip Riley was offering would give him ideas for his plans and give him a break from Abigail. Don't get him wrong, he loved her more than- Well, more than he loved history. Or perhaps he cared for them equally. An odd thought struck him at the realization. Had history, the treasure, or even his lovely fiancé ever plucked the chord in his heart to make him want to cry? Ben rubbed at his temples in frustration. Thinking like that was what had caused him and Abigail to break up before. He really did need a vacation. And perhaps spending it with Riley wasn't the best idea.

"I'm not sure if-" Ben broke off suddenly, hearing the familiar click of Abigail's high heel shoes. "I'll see you then. Bye, Riley."

"What's wrong? Are you-?"

But Ben had already dropped the phone back onto the receiver, dreading the argument that was about to commence. Abby could be vicious when things didn't go her way. It was one of the things he loved and hated about her. She stood in the arched doorway of the kitchen, her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyes aglow with a furious fire. He'd used to adore that flame in her. What had happened?

"Who was that?" Abigail snapped, staring pointedly at the phone. "No, don't answer that. It was Riley. I can tell by that guilty look on your face."

Oh, he had to fix this and fix it fast. Ben knew the extent of Abby's jealousy. If she found one little slip-up within his response, he'd be sleeping in a guest room for the next week. Riley had always been a sore spot to her. They fought about him more than anything else. She was afraid Ben would leave her for him. It wasn't that surprising, either. The boy was younger, not exactly bad-looking, intelligent, loyal, and the perfect compare and contrast of Ben's personality. Definitely good competition. Ben understood why she got so angry and panicked when he was near Riley for non-business related occasions. Frankly, it embarrassed him to no end. Especially because he still wasn't entirely sure of the reason for Riley's high position in his life. He hated her badgering him when he was trying to sort his feelings out. Leaving with the kid was probably for the best, after all. It would give him the time he needed to get his thoughts together and… Maybe make some life-altering decisions.

"Okay, it was Riley," he answered finally, putting on his best appeasing smile. "He just wanted to congratulate us on our engagement and ask me to come with him to visit his uncle in Florida. He's sick and Riley needs someone to be there, you know? And if his uncle makes it through… It'll kind of be an early bachelor party."

Perfect. Abigail may be scary as hell when she was angry, but she was still a woman. Sob stories always overrode jealousy. His mother had taught him that. And, as predicted, Abby's eyes softened and a conflicted frown appeared on her face. She was debating. Should she be totally heartless, not let him go, and risk their relationship? Or should she be kind, give her permission for him to spend unlimited amounts of time alone with her rival, and risk their relationship? Either way, Ben knew she would regret the decision she came to.

"All right… You can go," Abigail said reluctantly and glared when Ben failed to hide his grin. "But you had better come back. And I think it's a given that if I find out you cheated on me, I'll take everything you have. Including your manhood."

Ben nodded with a slight wince. Fair enough. Besides, it wouldn't be cheating on her if he told her he was leaving her first… And if he decided he loved Riley during the trip, there were always telephones.


AN: Is it not totally boring? My writing style is weird. I like to pick on myself, you noticed? But I also like reviews.