Sorry, I've been kind of forgetting to update this one, so I'm putting up two chapters! Enjoy! ^^

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Samantha turned the key in the door and let it swing open, stepping into Ben's apartment. It was small, but it was clean and comfortable. She dropped her suitcase on the floor, collapsing onto the small tan couch that matched the walls.

"Finally. Home at last," She paused. "Well, not home, but it's close enough."

Ben laughed, taking his suitcase into the bedroom. He returned to the living room, sitting in a chair.

"Let's get to the important issue," he said.

"How're we going to stop him?" Samantha asked with a sigh. "You know what he's capable of. We can't have him busting into the National Archives."

"I know," Ben stared down at the floor, his face determined. "We're going to stop him. We need to warn someone."

"Who do we tell?"

"Anyone and everyone who can do anything to stop him," Ben replied firmly, now staring deep into her eyes. "He's not going to get away with this. I swear on my life I will stop him. No matter what it takes," He paused. "No matter what it takes."

"Well, now that that's decided, how about dinner?" Riley suggested. Samantha rolled her eyes.

"Leave it to you to bring up food at a time like this."

"All I've had all day is a handful of peanuts on the plane."

"I'm not hungry," Ben replied half-heartedly, too focused on the situation to even think about food.

He went into the bedroom, closing the door behind him.

Samantha sighed deeply. She couldn't help but worry about him.

'Maybe Riley's actually right. Maybe I ought to cook something; cooking will help get my mind off things'.

She was already on her feet, heading into the kitchen. She opened the cabinets, only to find them rather empty except for a few packages of flour and the like. She frowned.

'Does Ben ever eat?'

"Looks like we're getting pizza."

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Samantha smoothed out her skirt, trying to wait patiently, unlike Riley, who was fidgeting in his chair.

"Stop it," she commanded under her breath, not trying to draw any attention to the little group.

There were already enough people staring as it was, though she couldn't fathom why. Was it really so strange for three people to be waiting for an FBI agent?

She was about to start wondering about this in her head when their agent appeared. He looked younger than the others they'd seen, and he had short brown hair and a polite smile.

'This can't be too bad, can it?'

"Mr. Gates?" The young agent stepped forward, shaking Ben's hand. "I'm Andrew Hendricks. You three come with me, and we'll discuss the matter that you brought up."

The group followed Agent Hendricks to his tiny little office and seated themselves, exchanging looks. Hendricks seemed like a rookie to them.

"What can I do for you?"

"Well, sir, I'm going to get straight to the point. Someone's going to steal the Declaration of Independence."

The man's mouth fell open into an 'O' of surprise. Then he snapped his jaw shut.

"Mr. Gates, I'm afraid that's not possible," He said, leaning forward across his desk. "The Declaration of Independence is heavily guarded. There's no way it could possibly be stolen."

Samantha watched as Ben shifted in his seat. He'd obviously been expecting such a response.

"My friends and I are less certain," He said slowly. "However, we might be able to see if the document was in any danger if we were given the privilege of examining it."

Now she was unsure whether the rookie was amused or enraged.

"What exactly do you think you're going to find, Mr. Gates?"

"We believe there is an…encryption on the back," Now Ben was clearly uncomfortable.

Samantha could tell from his hesitation and his body language that they both knew this would not end well.

"What sort of encryption?"

"C-Cartograph," Ben stammered, stumbling over his words.

Samantha winced.

"A map," The agent translated. "A map of what, exactly?"

"The location of hidden items…"

Before Ben could finish, Hendricks had snapped a file folder shut, a look of anger crossing his face.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Gates, but I'm afraid we have no time for people who are off in search of buried treasure. There is no map on the Declaration of Independence," The note of finality in his voice clearly meant he was finished talking.

The three stood up, thanked him, and left the building.

"Is it really so hard to believe that someone's going to steal the Declaration of Independence?!" Riley appeared to be fuming.

"I don't suppose us telling him about our treasure map theory didn't help much," Samantha said thoughtfully. "We got a little farther with Homeland Security, at least."

"The FBI gets 10,000 tips a week, Riley. They're not going to worry about something they're sure is safe."

"Face it, Ben; no one is going to listen," Riley said, sounding extremely frustrated. "They all think we're crazy. Anyone crazy enough to believe us couldn't do anything to help."

"We don't need someone crazy, but someone one step short of crazy. What do you get?"

It sounded like a riddle. A smile crossed Samantha's lips, because she'd heard this one before.

"Passionate," She said with a grin, following Ben as they both walked away in long strides.

"Well, who's passionate about ancient documents?!" Riley cried, struggling to keep up.

Ben smiled vaguely to himself. "I think I know someone."

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The National Archives had always been one of Samantha's favorite places. It was spacious, large, and a beautiful building. Plus, it brought her too favorite things together. Not only did the place have so much history, but each document seemed like a piece of art to her, with the flowing calligraphy and perfectly beautiful parchment. It was heaven.

She stepped into the small waiting area, as the three of them were now going to speak with the Director of Document Conservation. But Samantha froze when she read the name on the front of the door, her jaw clenching.

'How could I have forgotten?'

"I… I think I'm going to sit this one out, Ben."

"Why?" Ben looked confused. "Everything OK?"

"Yeah, I just…" She struggled for the words. "Abigail and I don't get along."

"Abigail?" Riley repeated in disbelief. "It's a girl?"

Samantha nodded. "Yes. And besides, she knows me. She'd probably get me in trouble with someone if I walked into her office trying to convince her someone was after the Declaration of Independence."

'It'd probably be better not to mention that she hates me already.'

"I'll just wait in the other room," She sighed, and then offered Ben a smile. "Good luck. You might need it."

She slid out of the office quietly, walking back to the large rotunda. No specific destination in mind, she found that her legs had carried her right to the Declaration's case.

"Could it really be possible?" She whispered to herself, staring through the glass. Who would have thought the search for the treasure would bring them here,of all places?

She reflected on the men who'd signed the Declaration, who could have sealed their own fates with the stroke of the pen. Ben's words from earlier echoed in her head.

'I swear on my life I will stop him. No matter what it takes'

A gasp suddenly escaped her lips. He'd said the Archives would be their final stop. How far would Ben go to protect the Declaration? Would he… No, she couldn't even think that. Ben would never take things that far. Would he?

The wait seemed like an eternity, though in reality it was only about ten minutes. Finally she heard Ben and Riley's voices.

"If it's any consolation, you had me convinced."

"It's not," Ben's voice sounded dull, and Samantha realized that his last attempt had also been a failure. Her heart sank.

"What do we do now, Ben?" She looked at him, her green eyes pleading. He seemed to avoid the question.

"180 years of searching and I'm only 3 feet away from the solution," He paused. "There's a line here that's at the heart of all the others. 'But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and provide new guards for their future security.'"

"Ben, please speak English," Riley sighed.

"It means if something's wrong, those who have the ability to take action have the responsibility to take action," Ben paused, his eyes carefully studying the faded parchment and the 56 signatures that sat at the bottom.

His next words were barely a whisper, but to Samantha, it felt like he'd screamed them in her ear.

"I'm going to steal it."

Her heart stopped, her mouth going dry. "W-What?"

Ben's gaze was firm as he locked with eyes with her, and then turned away. "I'm going to steal the Declaration of Independence."

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Chapter 5 Preview:

"Samantha, please, we've been in this together from the beginning. After everything we accomplished together, you're just going to let that go? I need you to help me, and you're just walking away?" His voice had a pleading edge.

"What other choice do I have?" She choked on the words, stubbornly staring the opposite direction.

"You could help me."

"I…I'm sorry, Ben," She pulled her arm from his grip and walked away, leaving a stunned Ben behind her.