Disclaimer: I don't own National Treasure.
A/N: Wow, it's been a while. Forgive the long delay, as well as the shortness of this chapter. I'll try to update as soon as I find time! Thank you to my wonderful reviewers! You are so brilliant!
Everyone was sitting in the room together, and Ben was looking so sullen in the armchair across from them. "All I need are a few minutes with him," He explained after a long silence from calling us down.
Next to me, Abigail shook her head, an incredulously amused look on her face. A few minutes, is he crazy? Elizabeth thought, giving him a look.
"A few minutes, really?" Riley asked lightly in a sarcastic tone, then leaning forward. "Ben, even if you were married to the president you wouldn't be able to get a few minutes with him-"
"Not when he's surrounded by his handlers, but if I could get him alone." Ben interrupted, his tone a little defensive.
"How do you expect to get the President alone?" Riley asked, with an incredulous laugh.
"In the Civil War, the states were all separate. The people used to say, United States are. It wasn't until the war ended, people started saying United States is. Under Lincoln, we became one nation."
"And Lincoln paid for it with his life." Patrick added after Ben's speech, trying to get through to his son.
"So did Thomas Gates."
"Right."
"With his life…"
"That's all fine and dandy, Ben, but I'm still at a loss at what this has to do with the predicament we have." Lizzie said, leaning forward and gesturing with her hands.
"So, how am I gonna get him alone?" Ben answered, looking around, a plan already formed in his head.
Everyone gave his looks to continue, and what he said next was truly shocking. "I'm gonna kidnap him… I'm gonna kidnap the president of the United States."
Shocked silence until hell broke loose.
Abigail laughed while Patrick spewed on about his title as a father. Riley stood from his chair followed by Abigail, and all three began to shout at him while Ben took it. Lizzie sat in shocked silence thinking of all the things that were going to happen. Her heart began to race and she felt the beginnings of a panic attack begin to creep up.
"Exactly how do plan on doing this?" Patrick asked in frustration.
Lizzie really didn't care to know her father's plan, and easily crept out of the room. She'd been behind the three and they'd probably not notice her absence right now, anyway. In the kitchen she got a glass of water and gulped it down, taking deep breaths. In, out. In, out. In, out. She calmed her nerves and stared at the ceiling above her. What was he thinking? Kidnapping the President! Oh, Lord…
"I feel this is becoming a reoccurrence with us." She heard from the doorway, startling her. Riley was leaning, cocking a brow at her in question.
She sighed. "You've all agreed to this stupidity, haven't you?"
He had the grace to look abashed and rubbed his neck. "Unfortunately."
She bit her lip and furrowed her brow, turning her gaze to her shoes. After a few tense moments, she decided she really had no other option and sighed. "I guess I have no defense in trying to fight him, huh?"
Riley grinned solemly for her and walked next to her side. "If I know Ben, there's no talking him out of something he sets his mind to."
Lizzie tried to welcome the warmth Riley provided while putting his arm around her in what she knew was trying to be comfort, but the fact he knew Ben better than her had left a bit of a bitter mark on her conscious. She was sure she'd never get the family she'd been looking for. "Let's go plan then."
Thank you, my reviewers! Hearts!