Author's note: This is based on the movie National Treasure, and is to a great deal dedicated to the more than worthy performance of Sean Bean. I enjoyed the movie very much, but I thought that since Ben and Ian often used similar methods to reach the same goal, I did not see one of them as more evil than the other. I also thought that the hints of the friendship we saw between them should be explored more. I began doing that in 'Who Did You Say Stole the Declaration,' this story takes up a short time after that one ended, and is my version of what happened next. I hope you all shall like it.

Big thanks to LadyDeb1970 who have been going over this for me, and helped me with plot and story ideas. Also to Celebrion for being my beta.

Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure. I just borrowed it because I like Sean Bean as an actor. I will return all characters in good and whole order, completely undamaged, if covered with a slight glue residue from having been put together again. I also swear I will not make any serious attempt at stealing Ian. More than I already have that is…

The name of Thomas McDowell have been stolen from LadyDeb1970, with her kind permission, as well as one or two other details.

/Elenhin

The Biggest Treasure

25

Sadusky stepped out of the car and looked around, taking in the castle entrance and the general lay of the land. Ben and Abigail had gone out when they heard the car, together with Patrick. This time they had opted for Riley remaining inside. He and Ian was about as nervous as each other.

Charlotte had taken Ianna, afraid that the nervous father would upset the daughter.

"Well?" Sadusky crossed his arms across his chest. "What's going on here?"

"Er." Ben cleared his throat. "We found a bigger part of the treasure." He said. "The biggest part that was hidden in one place. It's here."

"Where here exactly is it." Sadusky tipped his head slightly sideways as he smiled confidently.

"In a hidden cellar beneath the castle." Ben explained. "I thin it would be easiest if you came with us and took a look."

"I think so as well." Sadusky followed them, smiling confidently to himself. The first treasure had been very good for his career. The only down side had been the bastard Ian Howe. He had been so sure he would get him into prison for life. The theft of the Declaration would have ensured that. Never mind the technicality that it was in reality Gates who had stolen the document.

Howe had done more damage upon entering, but nothing that they could prove. So when Gates withdrew the accusation they had not had enough on Howe to get him. Instead of life behind bars he had gotten away with a fine.

It was his the one failure in his carer. Sure, there had been others that had bargained themselves to lower punishment, and even gone free. He made deals with criminals all the time. He had made the deal with Gates, someone had to go to prison, for Sadusky had been standing there in front of all those people, and they had seen him trying to figure out what had happened. If no one went to prison, then they would never know that he had done his job. Gates had brooked the deal, and Howe had seemed like the bigger criminal. So in the end when Gates had been sitting there with the declaration in his hand, the treasure in the room beneath them, and told him how to get to Howe, he had decided that it would be Howe who went to prison.

The declaration had been the bargaining chip that tipped the scale in Gates' favour, even if the man had not meant it as such.

One dead body at the bottom of the shaft, something that Sadusky could not care little enough for, and four live bodies whom should never be able to get out of jail for as much as one second for the rest of their lives.

Howe had gotten himself out of that, and it was one thing that he could not accept. If Howe ever stepped out of line, Sadusky would be there and make sure he paid for it, and then there would be no soft hearted Gates top help him get out of it.

He would feel a lot better about that whole treasure hunt when he knew that Howe was serving life in the iron pen. The founding fathers knew the man had deserved it, and Sadusky would be damned if he allowed him to weasel out of it a second time.

He followed Gates down into the cellar, and he had never expected such a sight as the treasure that lay before him. It was amazing. However he refused to show how stunned he was by the sight and gave it a scrutinizing look.

"See." Ben said eagerly. "We found some new clues, and they led us here, and this is what we found."

"Impressive." Sadusky admitted, there was no way to deny that, not that he even wanted to.

"And over here is the tablet." Ben showed him the now quite famous stone tablet, Sadusky gave it a throughout study for some time.

"Whoever is the last McDowell would also be the legal owner of this." He agreed when he was done. "Thought I'm sure the Scottish government would want a say in it. Most likely they would want to make a deal about what shall happen. But this McDowell would be a very wealthy man, especially if he was also the owner of the castle as you say."

"He is." Ben assured him. "Her inherited the castle, it's a rather complicated story, but he is the legal owner of the castle, and now it looks as if he is the last owner of the treasure as well. And if I read that correctly, he'll also have the title of honorary knight."

"Yeah." Sadusky agreed. "It would seem like it." He turned to face Ben, hands on his back. "Would he happen to be here, Mr Gates?"

"He is." Ben admitted. "See, this is rather complicated."

Sadusky snorted. "You have no idea of how complicated." He stated. "If Howe finds out about this, we are going to have trouble. I hope you've kept quiet about this."

"Oh, very quiet." Ben nodded eagerly as they all headed up the stairs again. "But you see, Ian already knows about this."

Sadusky just stopped in the kitchen and turned to face them. "Howe knows about this?" He asked astonished. "Have you any idea what he'd do to get to a treasure like this one. He'd kill you all without a second thought."

Had Patrick had any doubts about Ian and whatever he was really worth a second chance or not then, he did not have it anymore. Not after he saw Ian in the doorway behind Sadusky, and saw how hurt he looked, the pain in his eyes made him look so vulnerable.

"He would not do that." Abigail said, and the fire in her voice surprised even herself. "Ian would never do something like that, and he's the one who you've got to thank for finding this treasure to start with."

"Howe, would shoot you all, the very moment he saw that treasure room." Sadusky insisted. "He would sell and destroy every single piece of it to make himself a few dollars."

Charlotte was rueing the fact that there was still no way to glare actually solid metal daggers, she would have settled for the cartoon ink ones if they had been possible, but she had no luck at all with it.

Yet it was Ian who spoke. "I know that's what you think of me Sadusky, but your wrong. As you can see they are all alive."

Sadusky spun around as fast as if Ian had killed someone behind his back. "Howe." He glared. "How have you gotten in here, Howe? I'll get you on trespassing and threats. Attempted theft."

"You cant do that." Patrick stated. Even if he still had to admit in all honestly that he had believer Ian capable of all that before, he did not care for the way Sadusky spoke. "He's not done anything."

"I don't know what he did to get away the last time, but he's not getting away this time." Sadusky said angrily.

"I haven't done one single illegal thing since the last time we saw each other." Ian said slowly, calmly.

"You have no right to be here." Sadusky growled. "I'll have you behind bars Howe."

"No, you'll listen." Patrick said.

"Ian's the one you've got to thank for finding this." Ben went on. "He's the one who figured out every single clue this time. I even made things worse."

"You are going to hate me for this Sadusky." Ian sighed. "But there is nothing you can arrest me on, and you'll hate me even more in a moment, but I might as well tell you know. You were right when you said that Howe was an alias, I added it to my real name, and took that out of use." He was not good at explaining this, so he tried to do it about the same way he had done it to the others. "My given name's Ian Thomas McDowell."

He waited for the explosion, but Sadusky was to shocked for it.

"I'm sorry Sadusky, but that's the way it is." Ian shrugged.

"You are lying Howe, I don't know how, but this is all a scam of yours." Sadusky burst out.

"No, it's the truth." Charlotte stated. "I was there when the lawyers confirmed it. You had better start behaving yourself Sadusky." She was angry enough to consider assault on him worth a few years in prison. The other three men looked as if they were thinking the same thing. Riley was looking quite scared, and was edging in behind Ian for protection. Ben, Abigail and Patrick was mostly looking disappointed.

Clearly they had expected more from Sadusky.

"Look." Ben said trying to reason with him. "We did not say anything before, because we knew you would not like it, but it is Ian who found this treasure. He's the one who worked out all the clues, he's the one who found the first one, and he is the one that tablet speaks about. What I'm beginning to think that you'll never understand is that he's not a thief or a murderer."

"And when did you understand that?" Sadusky challenged, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I can't listen to more of this." Ian choked out and turned his back on them.

Ben watched as Victor grabbed his arm and led him out of the kitchen, Charlotte at his side, Phil and Riley flanking them. Gregor only pausing to glare at Sadusky before following. When had he understood that? Not when he promised Ian he'd change his testimony. He thought he had when he ripped that paper Ian had given him then. Yet he probably had not until he had seen Ian come there in the waiting room, bruised and in pain, and with his arm cast enclosed and in the sling. That was when he had realised how easy it is to hurt someone else, even if you don't mean to. Ian had suffered more from him than he had from Ian. He recalled it when Ian had been so depressed it had nearly destroyed him.

He had not meant for any of it, and yet Ian had suffered so much because of him. That was when he realised that it might have been the same way for Ian. He never meant to hurt anyone either, but things had spun out of his control.

Now Ian had been hurt again by the words that were spoken, and maybe by the ones that were not spoken as well. Cause Ben could have spoken a reassurance for him.

"At least I did understand it." He said. "Sadusky, there are real criminals to arrest, real bad guys. Why chase after the ones who took one or two bad turns along the way."

"He should have gone to prison." Sadusky pointed at the doorway where Ian had been standing.

"So should the ones who left a fifteen year old kid fend for himself the day he was orphaned." Abigail challenged. "The ones who weaselled out of the responsibility when two of their employees died in an accident because of faulty equipment. They went free, why should not he go free."

"That has nothing to do with this. That is a dangerous felon, he needs to be locked away for the safety of all." Sadusky insisted. "Do you want your children to be safe, or do you want men like him around?"

"With men like Ian around I think my children would be safe." Ben shook his head.

"Mr, Gates." Sadusky turned to Patrick. "How can you allow this, how can you stand there and know that the man who kidnapped you, threatened you and attempted to murder you is free?"

"I thought about what it was he really did." Patrick said slowly. Yes, there was a few things he still had to come to terms with, but he had forgiven Ian for it. "I would have done most of those things myself if I had been in his position, and what do you expect when you leave young kids without any example? You cant just leave a young kid to learn everything on his own, and then blame him for what goes wrong. When will you take your responsibility."

"What are you talking about?" Sadusky shook his head. "You have a murderer in this very house."

"And a hypocrite in the kitchen." Abigail muttered.

"I thought that you would be able to understand this." Ben shook his head ruefully. "I really thought you would be able to understand this, but I guess I was wrong."

"If I contact my colleagues one of them must know someone who can actually help us with this." Abigail muttered.

"We wanted you to come here because we wanted you to know that Ian's not what you thought." Ben tried to explain vainly. "He even tried to make us take all the credit for it, because he was afraid you'd never think he had done it honestly. He was ready to deny his right to any of this because he thought it was to much. And I though that no one would condemn him. If you cant accept that Ian can be an honourable man, then I'm sorry for dragging you over here for nothing, but I failed Ian before, I wont again."

"Keeping your word to a murderer and thief is insane." Sadusky raged angrily.

"No." Ben shook his head. "Or maybe, yes, it is. But I'm not doing that, because Ian is neither, and I never really promised him any such thing. I just owe it to him because of what I did to him."

"If you can not accept that, then I think we'd rather ask someone else about this." Abigail said softly.

"I'm not gonna having anything to do with him until I stick him in jail." Sadusky stated. "And I will get him there, I know his type, he could not have pulled of something like this the legal way. I'll find out what he did, and he'll pay for it." Sadusky spun around and left.

Ben did not care, he had expected more of him, he had expected Sadusky to be better than that, and he was not a little disappointed.

Abigail was looking after him. "You know, I'm beginning to understand Ian's point of view more and more." She stated thoughtfully. "Make one mistake and get people like that after you, how do they think that anyone would be able to amend themselves after that."

"They might as well brand them." Patrick snorted. "Or take up the practice of cutting their hands off again, it would be just as compassionate."

"I wish I had never agreed to bring him here." Ben shook his head. "At least he confirmed what we thought about that tablet thought. Ian's a knight, or as close to one as it is possible these days, and he owns the treasure."

"They wont let him keep all of it." Abigail shook her head. "Most likely they will negotiate with him, let him keep a fraction, or they will give him a percentage of it in finders fee."

"Like they did with us." Ben nodded. "Most likely." "They found the others in the dinning room. Ian sitting in a far off corner and playing with Ianna. Charlotte was looking furious, thought Ben had grown to expect that. She was fiercely protective of Ian. In a way it was odd to see the shorter women be so protective of a man who looked as big and strong as Ian, but everyone ha their vulnerable spots.

Ian was clearly nearing the limit of what he could handle emotionally, for he had used Ianna to shut himself off from the others completely. This was when Shaw would have slipped over to him silently, hunched down beside him and said something so softly that the others never heard what it was. Ian would tilt his head towards him ever so slightly. Leaning closer to receive the support his best friend offered.

It was so easy for Shaw, he always knew just what to say, and Ian leaned closer, a faint smile at the corner of his lips, even if his eyes still held the same hurt and pain. An attempt to put it behind him. Shaw would smile at him, that warm and comforting smile he could offer so easily if he wanted to. A strong but gentle hand on Ian's shoulder, and the pressure of his arm against his back. Ian leaning forward again, a last attempt to hide away while he fought to compose himself.

Then as he was able to get a grip on himself, again face the world. Then that arm that had been pressing against his back would use the hand on his shoulder to pull him towards him for a half hug. The kind both men felt comfortable with.

Now Ian leaned against him, seeking himself deeper into that hug.

"I miss him." He whispered.

Victor nodded, he did not know what to say as Shaw did. He could not offer that comfort, not the same way Shaw would have done it, but he would give whatever he could.

"He should have been here, Victor. He should have been here." Ian choked and leaned closer to him. Ianna was half sitting in his lap and looked up at him, blinking with curious eyes, not able to understand why her father was so sad.

"It wasn't your fault Ian." That was the only thing Victor could think of to say.

"He followed me, he did what I asked him, and that's why he's gone." Ian shook his head desperately.

"No, he's gone because the stair was to old, because those things happen Ian, its nobody's fault. No one could have stopped it from happening, not Shaw, not your parents. And when it comes to Shaw, you could not have stopped it Ian. He would not have let you, every time he stepped in front of you he knew what he was risking, he knew it, and he did it willingly."

"He should not have, he should have been here." Ian's throat was choked, and he was as close to crying as he would ever be.

"Ian, he would never have been able to go on without you." Victor said softly. This was something they had all known, all three of them, but they had never told Ian before. "He would have been arrested or killed within a week, he could never have gotten along without you. He's gone, and we all miss him, but if you let that grief destroy you, then what did he die for?"

He felt awful for saying it when he saw Ian cling to Ianna desperately, but it was true. Had Shaw made it and not Ian, then it would only have been one or two weeks before Shaw had gotten himself killed in some way, for he truly could not cope without Ian.

"Sadusky's an ass, Ian. He thinks he's better than everyone else, like those bloody Sheriff's that hid behind their tin star and did not care a whit what happened to people. Your better than that, so you show him that, do what Shaw would have wanted you to do."

Ian nodded slowly. "Not now." He whispered. He could not have done it now, his grip on his emotions was to fragile.

"Not right now." Victor nodded slowly. "Ianna's sleeping, go and put her to bed Ian."

Ianna gave her honorary uncle a questioning look, as if she wanted to know why he was lying when she was so clearly awake, but she did not call him on the lie. Instead she yawned softly and did her best to comply with the statement. By the time Ian approached the bedroom where he and Charlotte slept she truly was sleeping in his arms.

Victor grinned confidently to the others as Ian had left the room. "He'll be alright." He smiled. "Just needs a moment or so alone."

Ian put Ianna down in the wicker basket that was her bed, then he changed his mind and took her to the bed in stead. Lying her down in the middle of it before taking his shoes off. Curling up beside her on the bed. He would have thought that his brain would be in uproar, but instead it was blank, refused to work.

So curling up with his daughter felt like a really good idea. He was so mentally exhausted that he fell asleep instantly.

Victor and Charlotte went there to make sure he was alright, and spread a blanket over him. He did not even stir in his sleep, one arm protectively around Ianna, and the other used as a pillow. Ianna had her tiny fist clenched around a lock of his hair. Even if Ian's hair was mostly out of reach, she had still managed to reach one lock. Charlotte though it was endearing how Ianna always seemed to be able to find his hair from instinct. She wondered how old Ianna would be before she stopped doing that. Ian might have many years of hair pulling to look forward to.

The funny thing was that she did not think he would mind at all, there was no doubt how much Ian loved his daughter.

Victor closed the bedroom door softly as they left, careful not to wake anyone inside. He turned to Charlotte with a wide grin. "You know, I'm beginning to understand what people men when they say their kids look like sleeping angels. Looks just so cute and cuddly." He smiled fondly with a glance at the door. "Looks so vulnerable its hard to leave."

"Ianna does look like that when she sleeps." Charlotte nodded. "She does not seem to have a worry in the world when she sleeps. And yet you just want to hold her tight to protect her."

"I was talking about Ian." Victor grinned and gave a short chuckle at her confused expression. "Really." He beamed. "When did you ever see him trusting others to keep him safe except when he sleeps?" He looked innocent, but had a wide grin on his face, and his eyes was sparkling mirthfully.

Charlotte shook her head in amusement. "I would argue the point, except for the fact that you are right." She allowed a small laugh to escape her. "Poor Ian, he's always trying to appear so strong and independent, and then as soon as he falls asleep, everyone just want to tuck him into bed and cuddle him."

"Shaw tucked him in alright a couple of times." Victor grinned wickedly. "And I'm not sure he did not cuddle him a time or two as he did it."

"Did he now?" Charlotte asked with a curious look, one that demanded to be told the whole tale. It was hard to picture Ian being cuddled as he was put to bed. Oh, she did that whenever she got the chance. Ian never tried to avoid snuggling close before they went to sleep. He would draw her close, and try to keep her close during the night. Something that woke her up at times, Ian could be quite a restless sleeper.

Several hours later Charlotte put Ianna to sleep in her wicker basket before joining Ian on the bed. In the morning she would give Ian a task that he could handle, she would send him looking for a crib or something. Ianna would soon have grown out of the basket, and they needed something else for her. Since most of the furniture in the castle was intact they should be able to find something for the baby. It was a task perfect for Ian, enough to let him think that he was exploring, but not more so that that he would stay out of trouble while doing so. To be on the safe side she would however send Phil with him. She trusted Phil more to be sensible than any of the other's.

TBC

Please review, the Cricket is hungry…….