A/n: Ok so upon finishing that last chapter, I came to the horrible realization that I had indeed wrote myself into a corner. (Now I know what the writers on Lost feel like) So this is what I came up with. Hope you like it. Oh and P.S. I think the next chapter coming up is going to be the last; that is if I don't come up with another shocking twist…nah I think you're safe from that.
Disclaimer: I don't own it I'm just an obsessed...pardon, PASSIONATE fan of the movie and all its characters. :
"What's the matter, Ben? Surprised to see me?" Ian's lips curled up into an evil smile amused by the shocked expressions on the three faces before him. "I believe you still owe me a treasure."
Ben's fist clenched at his side. He had gone though too much to get to this point, there was no way he was going to go down without a fight. "I don't owe you anything." Ben spat out at the Brit. Ian chuckled.
"Oh, that's cute Ben. Maybe you're boyfriend can remind you of our deal, after all it was your fault he got hurt in the first place."
A pang of guilt rose up in Ben's heart. He bit his lip and looked down at the floor, avoiding Ian's piercing glare.
"Ian, it wasn't Ben's fault I got hurt." Riley said boldly. He paused for a moment, closely examining the criminal's expression. "And you know that. So don't you dare go blaming Ben for something you did, something he tried to stop, and something that could've been avoided all along if you weren't such a selfish, arrogant bastard!"
Ian was taken aback by the techie's strong words. They all were, even Riley himself. He didn't know where all that anger came from, but it sure felt good to let it all out. Though, looking back on it, it probably wasn't a good idea to make a desperate man with a gun angry. Riley's theory proved true when Ian shot a bullet into the air, making everyone jump.
"I won't waste the next shot on the ceiling." Ian growled. "Now Ben I want the treasure!"
"This treasure belongs to the world! It's not meant for one man and one man alone." Ben shouted defiantly. Ian shook his head and let out yet another manic laugh.
"You don't get, do you? You have the greatest treasure in the world all around you and you want to give it away? You don't deserve the treasure."
"And you do?!" Ben challenged. "You blew up the Charlotte, almost destroyed one of the most important documents in this country's history, you've held someone against their will and almost killed them, and for what?" All for some dumb thousand-year old treasure." Ben shook his head and expelled a somber sigh. "You know what, if you want it so bad that you would go as far as killing someone for it, maybe you should have the treasure."
Riley and Abigail looked from Ben, to each other and back. They couldn't believe what the treasure hunter had just said. Ian couldn't believe it either.
"Are you serious?"
Ben nodded. "Yeah, I am. I don't want anybody else to get hurt, and obviously you more than proven that you're willing to do that to get what you want."
Riley couldn't believe his ears. This wasn't the Ben he'd come to know and love. Where was the Ben that had an answer for everything and gave up on nothing, no matter how crazy it sounded? Then the techie noticed something. All the while the treasure hunter was talking; he was glancing up and around where Ian stood. Riley smiled to himself knowing that this meant Ben was hatching a plan as he spoke.
"Well, uh, thank you Ben." Ian shrugged and lowered his gun. "And don't worry; I'll give you some credit for the discovery."
"Oh, you're not going to be telling anyone about who found the treasure," Ben said slyly. Ian's expression turned quizzical.
"What are you talking about?"
"You're not going to be telling anyone anything because you're going to be buried under a ton of ruble. Abigail! Riley! Get Down!" And before anyone knew what was happening, Ben drew gun and fired three rounds into the bedrock above Ian's head. The rocks came tumbling down in a cloud of dust. Riley, Ben and Abigail, dove for cover behind the Templar treasure. When the dust cleared, they stood up. Ian was nowhere to be found.
"C'mon," Ben said softly to the others as he ushered them towards the back of the treasure room. "There's a second exit out over here. When we get up to the church, I'm going to give Sadusky a call. He's going to want to hear about this."
Sadusky and his team of FBI agents arrived about an hour later. He sent them down to the treasure room per Ben's directions and explanation as to what had happened.
"Sit down, Ben," Sadusky gestured toward the empty front pew. Ben complied with the federal agents request and was joined by Riley and Abigail. Sadusky looked at all three of them and sighed.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Howe's escaped from prison. We had no idea he was going to pull something like this."
"Now, you know this is Ian we're talking about here." Riley leaned in and added his two cents. Sadusky chuckled at the younger man's ever-vivid personality.
"Yes, Riley. We're aware that the situation shouldn't have been taken as lightly as it was. But you did the right thing. I have a feeling this was the only way Ian Howe could truly be brought to justice." Sadusky paused, noting the apparent guilt that had washed over the treasure hunter's face. He sighed. "But, on a happier note; Ben, you finally found you're treasure."
Ben half smiled. "Yeah. Who would've thought that after all this time, the greatest treasure known to man was five stories under a church in New York City."
"So, obviously, all of you are going to get credit for the find and a percentage of said find of your choosing."
"Fifty!" Riley chimed him. Ben giggled and rolled his eyes.
"Riley, you know we'll never be able to accept all that." The techie's shoulders slumped.
"Yeah, I know."
"Why don't I let you discuss it amongst yourselves? I have to get down there anyway and see what my team's doing. Plus, I'd like to get a look at this treasure myself." Sadusky stood up and regarded all of them with a cordial nod before turning and heading for the basement.
A/N: Wow. This chapter only took my like 45 minutes to write. Usually it takes me at least a few hours to write a chapter. Oh, well. Review and let me know what you think. Last chapter should appear before the weekend's out!