A/N: I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who has reviewed this story. Because of you this is going to be my most reviewed story and I'm so happy! So here's my gift to all of you: Behold, chapter 3

Disclaimer: You're kidding?

"Is he serious?" Abigail asked a very anxious, pacing, Ben. "72 hours to find the treasure?"

"That's what he said." Ben shrugged and tapped his chin thoughtfully as he paced. He needed to come up with some kind of plan, and fast.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Abigail continued her rant.

"Working on it," Ben said his voice coated in thin layer of annoyance.

"Well, maybe we could just--" The blonde began.

"Abigail, please," Ben stopped pacing and snapped. "I'm trying to think." He lowered his voice upon seeing her perturbed expression.

Hearing the faint undertone of begging in the treasure hunter's voice, she begrudgingly obeyed, folding her arms across her chest and leaning up against the car. She wore a pout on her face and tapped her foot impatiently, as Ben continued his pacing, trying to come up with some sort of idea.

But it was no use. Ben's brain was not able to function to its full ability at the moment. All he could think about was Riley, scared, alone and probably beaten. Ben cringed as he recalled what he had heard on the phone earlier. The sound of something hard connecting with some part of Riley's body, and his cries of pain that followed, shot right threw Ben's heart. He knew what Ian was capable of and if he didn't find that treasure…No. He wasn't even going to think like that. If he spent all his time worrying about the future, he wouldn't be able to get anything done. And time, at the moment, was a very precious aspect of keeping Riley alive. Ben knew what he had to do. He turned around to face Abigail, who sat up immediately, ready to listen to anything Ben had to say.

"Take the Declaration, and follow me." He instructed. "We need to figure out the rest of the clue."

Abigail responded with an affirmative nod, and followed Ben as he headed back toward Independence Hall.

"Get up, we're here."

Riley was violently shaken awake, and dragged out of the van before he could even remember where he was. "You know, there are nicer ways to wake a person up," Riley snapped at whoever had awakened him, forgetting that his physical well-being was in danger.

"Shut up," The order came from Shaw, who, in response to Riley's comment, hit the techie in the back of the head with the butt of his gun. Pain shook Riley's tired body and his vision went fuzzy as he collapsed on the pavement.

"What are you doing, you idiot," Riley faintly heard Ian's British accent coming through the increasing darkness. "We need him awake for this." The Brit yanked Riley off the ground and pushed him ahead. The techie stumbled a bit and had to stop for a moment to keep himself from toppling over.

"Move," Ian demanded. "Now!" His patience for the geek was wearing thin. Riley clenched his fists, but obeyed. He followed the two men in front of him into an old, run-down building. He didn't recognize this part of the city, not that he was very familiar with Philadelphia to begin with, but it still did not give him a good feeling.

The building was dark and filled with a poignant, musty scent that made Riley wanted to gag. Ian's two men lead him down the dim hallway, to a small, windowless room, that reminded Riley all too well of his past.

"Get in," Shippen ordered, shoving the genius into the dark space. Riley lurched forward and landed hard on his hands and knees. The impact of the solid concrete floor shot twinges of sharp pain through his palms and knee caps. He resisted the urge to whimper, knowing it would give Ian much satisfaction to know that his evil plan was indeed working.

Riley was relieved when he heard the sound of footsteps exiting the small room and he felt the door close behind him. He rolled over onto his back, allowing his throbbing head to rest on the cold cement floor. He closed his eyes and began to drift off into unconsciousness, until he heard the faint sound of something moving in the shadows. Riley's eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright, looking frantically around the room for the source of the noise.

A single light was switched on and the answer to his question was revealed. Ian stood in front of the doorway, arms cross, mouth turned up in a smug, evil smile. "I'm sorry, Riley; I didn't mean to startle you like that." He said almost mockingly.

Riley scoffed. "Somehow I sincerely doubt that."

Ian took a step forward. "I'm really not a bad guy once you get to know me." He stated, the mocking tone in his voice coming through stronger than ever.

"Could've had me fooled," Riley shrugged, matching the Brit's scornful manner.

"Alright, enough chitchat," Ian's tone turned serious and he glared down menacingly at the young man. "What did the clue on the back of the Declaration say?"

"I-I don't know," Riley lied. "And besides," He added what was sure to be an unnecessary sentiment. "Isn't Ben going to tell you anyway?" This almost immediately tipped of his bluff to Ian, who drew his gun in response.

"Dude, this whole 'pointing-guns-at-Riley' thing is really starting to get old." The moment the words slipped out of his mouth, Riley realized that it probably wasn't the best time for sarcasm.

"I knew I should've taken the bloody Declaration over you," Ian waved his gun threateningly in Riley's face. "At least I wouldn't have had to deal with this back talk."

The computer geek couldn't help but smile to himself. Making Ian crazy had always been one of his favorite pastimes. But staring down the barrel of a firearm held by Ian wasn't, especially if that gun was cocked and his finger was resting on the trigger.

"Tell me what I want to know, or you'll be going back to Ben in a body bag." Ian sneered the warning.

"Are you sure that killing me would be the best course of action? If you shoot me now, you lose all hope of Ben finding your precious treasure," Riley shot back, his inward smile now beginning to appear on his face. By the frustrated glare that now occupied Ian's features, he knew he was right.

"Why you insolent, little…" Ian left the insult hanging in the air as he whacked Riley in the side of the face with his weapon, sending the younger man flying back onto the hard, unforgiving, concrete floor. He felt the blood drip down the side of his face and his head felt like it was going to explode from the sheer amount of pain it was in. Ian moved closer and finished the attack with a rough kick to the abdomen. Riley gasped as the air in his lungs left his body. He was thrown into a coughing fit, blood spurting from his mouth. The metallic taste of the blood made him want to vomit. But that urge disappeared as he saw Ian's boots moving towards him. Riley braced himself for another hit that never came. Instead, Ian knelt down before the computer genius and yanked up by his shirt collar, so he was staring right into the beaten man's eyes.

"If I didn't need you to get the treasure, you'd be dead right now," Ian hissed in his face, before shoving down to the floor. Satisfied, Ian stood up in one swift motion and strode toward the door, closing it with a thunderous slam. Riley watched the door for a few seconds, making sure that Ian wasn't going to come back anytime soon, before he sat up. He reached up and gently touched the bleeding side of his head. Riley looked at the spot in the room the Brit had previously occupied.

"I really hate that guy."

A/N: Poor Riley Don't worry, it will all be worth it in the end. The next chapter is really where the plot starts to get going. That should be up by either tomorrow night or Tuesday afternoon. Please keep the reviews coming!