Disclaimer: I disclaim everything that belongs to Disney, but Dustin and Nick are mine

Disclaimer: I disclaim everything that belongs to Disney, but Dustin and Nick are mine! Avril Lavigne is not mine either.

A/N: Hey, I hope everyone's holiday was great (if you celebrated it), and mine was very special since I got to hold my six-month-old cousin for the first time! She's adorable! But anyway, I've been asked to join another fanfiction-type website called . I'm on it, but I'm only putting on my National Treasure stuff right now since I have written anything outside of that that's Disney yet. So, yeah! Thank you so much to Fantasy's Magic, Majestik Moose, Miss Hermione Jane Granger, unorthodox yo-yo, daisyduke80, Maira Blue, Jedi'Pirate Jaeh, and Halo for your wonderful reviews! I can't believe I've broken 200. Since that is the case, there will be a special surprise after the epilogue, which will be after chapter 26. Enjoy this chapter! Oh, yeah. And in my story, Emily and Patrick are back together.

Note: I have no idea if this is the real address or not, but while I was researching Jesse James for this story, it gave an address of where his house is, so that's what I'm using. Also, there is a sad part in this chapter, so have some Kleenex by you our something, okay? No slash of course.

Chapter 23

Emily stood in the kitchen, making her favorite casserole for her and Patrick's lunch. But as she stirred in the last ingredients, her mind wandered to her son, his wife's, and his best friend's trip to Missouri. Patrick had told her many times that everything was going to be fine, but she had the nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that something wasn't right. Ben hadn't told her why they were suddenly flying south, and he always told her his reasons for doing things. Something just didn't feel right…

Her nerves finally getting the best of her, Emily moved away from the stove and went to the phone, picking it up and dialing the number of the FBI. There was an answer after only the first ring.

"Hello, Agent Peter Sadusky, FBI."

"Yes, this is Emily Gates," Emily said, relieved that the agent had given her his direct line if she needed anything.

"Ah. Hello, Mrs. Gates. How are you?" Sadusky asked, his voice sounding cheerful.

"I'm all right," Emily answered him, her tone faltering with nerves. "But I'm concerned about Ben…"

Though she couldn't see him, she could sense the agent's change of mood. "What about Ben?"

Emily sighed. "Well, he called Patrick and I yesterday to tell us that he was flying to St. Joseph, Missouri with Abigail and Riley," she explained. "He didn't tell us why, which unusual for him. I'm sorry for calling you since it's probably nothing, but I just feel that something's not right. It could just be motherly instinct, I suppose…"

"No, Mrs. Gates. You did the right thing," Sadusky assured her. "But is there anything that he said to you that might give you an idea about why he suddenly decided to leave?"

"No, not really…" Emily muttered as she shook her head. "Oh, wait! Yes, there was something. He called me asking for the address of Jesse James a little while ago."

By the agent's silence, Emily could tell that he was as puzzled as she was. "Did you give it to him?" he asked.

"Yes. It's 1318 Lafayette Street," Emily answered, hearing the faint sound of a pen quickly scribbling over a piece of paper. "I just don't know why they would need it."

"Don't worry, Mrs. Gates. We'll find out for you," Sadusky told her. "I'll gather some of my men and we'll fly down as soon as we can."

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Riley, please. You were not abducted by aliens," Abigail muttered. "They've already sent you to stay for a long visit on this planet, and they're not ready to take you back yet." The three friends were heading up on the elevator to their room on the seventh floor in the hotel that they were staying in. Riley had been quiet about where he had gone and what he had done while the couple had been in the travel center… until now.

"Well, okay. Maybe my real family hasn't taken me back yet, but I did have a strange encounter of a different kind," Riley replied, being somewhat sarcastic. "Remember that old lady and that sheriff we encountered last night? Well, I've met another one of… them."

Ben rolled his eyes as the elevator stopped and made the annoying dinging noise, the doors opening as they stepped out. "Riley, I'm sure that there's a logical explanation for what you saw," he said irritably. "There are no ghosts. Who do you think it was this time, anyway? Jesse James or something?"

"No…" Riley looked at the back of the older man's head warily. Though he didn't say anything, the sarcastic comment hit deep. Ever since his father died, he had noticed a change in his best friend. The treasure hunter seemed to be getting more and more irritable, angrier and angrier as time went on, but he kept those feelings trapped inside of him…

Abigail seemed to notice how badly this statement affected Riley because she suddenly took her husband's hand in her own. "Ben, are you all right?" she asked.

"Yeah, fine," Ben answered, putting his copy of the room key into the slot and pushing open the door when the light flashed green. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Riley and Abigail exchanged doubtful looks before they slowly followed him into the room. They were first met with a door on their right that opened to a bathroom. A little farther in were two double beds against one wall with a small dresser in between them. Across the room was a desk, television, and radio, and on the far wall were three comfortable-looking chairs placed around a window that gave them a great view of the city.

The techie set his bags on the bed nearest the window, smiling at his two best friends. "It's a tradition for me to explore the hotel as soon as I get my room," Riley explained, grabbing his copy of the room key. "Wanna' join me?"

"I will," Abigail told him, picking up her purse after setting her luggage on the other bed beside Ben's bags. "I think I'll stop at the lobby to see if they have anything to eat. Ben, do you want to come, honey?"

Ben shook his head. "No, I think I'll stay here," he replied. "I have a lot to think about." Then, he kissed his wife. "You two have fun."

"All right," Abigail muttered unsurely, moving to the door with Riley. "We'll bring you back something if we find a snack." Then, they were gone.

He was exhausted. There was something about traveling that always made him so much more tired than normal. Ben sighed, running his hand through his hair. Why was he feeling so angry? But then, he realized that his hot temper was directed toward Dustin because of what he had done to Riley. He had put his own little brother through so much pain, both mentally and physically, that he would love to have the chance to return it to him doubled.

No. That wasn't like him. The thought that he wanted to hurt Dustin scared him so much that Ben turned on the radio, allowing the music to fill his ears as he lay down on the bed to think of finding the treasure instead. But the horrible thought that he had mostly taken out his anger on Riley and Abigail crept into his mind as his exhaustion overcame him, the song lulling him to close his eyes…

"When you're gone,

The pieces of my heart are missing you.

When you're gone,

The face I came to know is missing too.

And when you're gone,

The words I need to hear

Will always get me through the day,

And make it okay.

I miss you…"

Xxxxxxxxxx

Ben suddenly found himself in what appeared to be a small living room, which was strange because the last place he remembered being was in his hotel room alone. He looked around him, seeing that there was a picture hanging crookedly on the far wall. For some strange reason, it bothered him greatly, so he began to walk toward it to maybe straighten it out.

Then, he froze when he heard the soft click behind him. Ben slowly turned around and saw that Dustin was there, aiming a gun in his direction. Ian stood off to the side with Nick and Powell, who was holding another gun to Abigail's head. But Riley was nowhere to be seen.

"You made the wrong decision in not cooperating with us, Ben," the older Poole whispered, his finger hanging dangerously over the trigger.

"Dustin, lower the gun," Ian cautioned from where he stood, glaring at him. "It's not going to help anything!"

"Shut up, Ian!" Dustin snapped, turning his eyes back at Ben. "He doesn't want to tell us the clue, so this ends now."

"Dustin, don't!"

Time seemed to stop for Ben when he heard the other but familiar voice, though so many things happened all at once. Dustin's finger pressed down on the trigger and the bullet came flying at him, but then another force collided into him from the side and caused him to fall to the wooden floor. The treasure hunter looked up, seeing that that force had been Riley, and his eyes widened in horror while Abigail's scream of terror reached his ears as he watched the bullet tear through the younger man's chest.

"Riley!"

The shout didn't even sound like it was his own, for Ben thought he heard it come from somewhere else though he felt it come from his very heart. He quickly pushed himself to his feet, rushing over to where the limp Riley lay, and he gently picked him up into his arms.

The younger man looked deathly pale, his thin frame shaking with every forced breath he struggled to take. Ben quickly took off his thin jacket and pressed it down on the wound on Riley's chest, attempting to stop the blood flow. The techie whimpered in pain from the pressure, but the action caused him to slowly open his eyes. His deep blue orbs were dim and unfocused as he looked up at the older man. "Ben…"

"Stay with me, Riley!" Ben commanded urgently, shaking him a little when his eyes began to close again. "Come on! Don't close your eyes! Stay with me!"

But Riley smiled slightly, a small laugh escaping from him. "I'm sorry, Ben…" he whispered forcefully. Then, his eyes closed and his head lolled limply against Ben's arm.

Panicked, Ben tried everything he could think of to revive his friend, but nothing worked. "Riley?" he asked anxiously, his voice elevating to a frantic shout. "Riley! Riley!"

A sobbing Abigail suddenly dropped down beside him, hugging both him and the lifeless Riley. Her actions were all Ben needed to confirm that his best friend, his little brother, was truly gone. The older man looked up at Dustin and saw that a thin line of tears had formed and were slowly falling from his horror-filled eyes and running down his pale cheeks. The gun that he had accidentally killed his own brother with was lowered at his side.

His bottled anger finally coming to a boil, Ben gently gave Riley to Abigail and got to his feet. He approached Dustin with angry tears falling furiously from his own eyes, wrestling the gun away from him and pushing him to the floor. Making sure that the weapon was loaded, he aimed it at the older Poole, preparing to pull the trigger…

Xxxxxxxxxx

"Ben. Ben!"

With a scream, Ben's eyes snapped open, and he sat up with a start. He saw for a moment that Abigail and Riley were sitting on the bed beside him before the techie fell to the floor with a startled yelp. But he was back up quickly. "Ow…"

"Are you all right, Ben?" Abigail asked anxiously, wiping some of the bangs away from her husband's sweat-drenched forehead. "You fell asleep and were screaming when he came back. What happened?"

Ben looked from Abigail to Riley and back before covering his face with his hands. "Oh, God…" he muttered before uncontrolled tears began to escape from him.

Abigail looked at Riley nervously before moving closer to Ben and pulling him into her arms, trying to calm him as she ran her hands through his hair. Riley placed his hand on the older man's back, hoping that the small action would provide some comfort.

The three friends stayed that way for a while until Ben finally regained himself. Abigail and Riley looked at each other nervously. They had never seen the treasure hunter break down like this before… "Ben, what happened, honey?" Abigail finally ventured to ask when her husband pulled away from them, a thin line of tears in her eyes also.

Ben took a deep breath to try to calm himself down. "I had a horrible dream," he answered as calmly as he could. "It was so clear. We were in a house, I don't know where. But Dustin, Ian, and Powell were there, and Powell had a gun to your head, Abigail. Then, Dustin had a gun, and he was fighting with Ian. He wanted the clue, but I didn't know it. And so… he fired the gun at me. But… but…"

Abigail took Ben's hand in hers and squeezed it tightly while Riley put his arm around the older man's shoulders, both able to tell that it was difficult for him to continue. "Just say it, Ben," Abigail told him. "Just get it over with. We're here."

"You'll feel better," Riley added encouragingly.

Ben sighed heavily, tears beginning to resurface in his eyes. "The bullet didn't hit me," he finally muttered, struggling to blink his tears away. "You pushed me out of the way, Riley, and you… you were…"

Riley nodded in understanding, silently telling Ben that he didn't have to go on. "Look, man," he said with a small but reassuring smile. "I promise you, Ben, I'm not going anywhere. Nothing's gonna' happen to me."

Abigail smiled a little as she nodded in agreement, but a tear leaked from her eye. Ben looked at Riley for a long moment, but then he pulled him into an embrace. Riley hugged him back, taking a deep breath. Ben and Abigail meant everything to him since he considered them to be the only family he had left, and he would do anything to keep them safe… even if it meant what Ben had seen in his dream and knowing full well that Ben would do the same for him. Hopefully, it wouldn't come down to that.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Time began to pass more quickly at the hotel. More exploring was done as well as a short swim in the pool, involving water fights against a group of extremely annoying kids who had water guns. Ben forgot about his dream as the day went on, and he even began to enjoy the aspects of the hotel with his wife and best friend. By the time lunch came around, Abigail didn't eat anything since she claimed her stomach felt slightly strange. Riley found it weird and maybe even a matter of concern at first, but then he passed it off with the thought that there was more food for him.

When evening rolled into night, Ben, Abigail, and Riley sat on one of the beds to plan about the hunt for the treasure.

"All right. The last tour of Jesse James' home is at eight," Ben said. "It's seven now, so we can go pretty much anytime after that."

"Do we have the address?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, it's 1318 Lafayette Street," Ben answered him. "That's the address my mom gave me, as well as what was in the travel center."

Abigail sighed. "So, what are we going to do about Ian?" she wondered. "Are we going to just meet him there, or…"

"Why do we have to tell Ian anything anyway?" Riley cut in irritably. "We can just go find the treasure and get out of here on our own!"

Ben shook his head. "I don't know what we're going to do about Ian," he muttered, directing the response to his wife before turning his attention to the techie. "Though he never said specifically, we know that Ian will do anything to get what he wants. Anything. That means that he could kidnap another innocent bystander like Amy, or he could keep a close watch on someone like he did with Abigail, or he could hurt someone who knows about this hunt or not. He could hurt either of you two, or he could threaten my parents, who are still at home where he is."

"True…" Riley muttered with a small nod.

"What about the clue?" Abigail asked as if she was in a big rush. "Do we have it solved?"

"I don't have it solved, but here it is," Riley answered, taking the map and paper out of his bag. "Here. You can look at it."

Ben took the paper and unfolded it, clearing his throat before he read it. "Crooked is straight, straight is crooked, you are almost at your journey's end. Close to your heart the key now lies. Look there for answers, each beat will be your guide."

"You have no idea what it means, do you?" Abigail said, seeing her husband's confused expression.

"No…" Ben muttered as he read it over again to himself. "Jeremy left a difficult final clue."

"Probably because it's the final clue," Riley said sarcastically. "But why don't we check out the map? That may help."

"Good idea, Riley," Ben replied, straightening his glasses. "Hand it here."

Riley gave him the old parchment, and the treasure hunter carefully unrolled it and spread it out on the bed between the three of them. "It looks like a house of some sort," Ben commented quietly, his eyes intently running over the precisely drawn picture. "But it gets confusion farther to the side…"

"That's what I thought too. Do you think it's Jesse James' house?" Riley asked.

"I don't know," Ben answered, meeting the younger man's gaze. "But we'll find out tonight."

As if on cue, Ben's cell phone rang. The treasure hunter quickly took it out of his pocket, put it on speaker, and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Hello, Ben," the sneering voice of Ian filled the room. "We're here."

A/N: Well, that's it for this chapter! I hope you liked it! Thanks for reading! Your reviews are much appreciated. Thank you!