Okay, I'm posting the next few chapters today! I'm not sure I'll be able to update for a few days after this though. :-( But I will try my hardest.

Thank you to all those who have reviewed! It made my day:-) (and yes, i love smiley faces:-D)

Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure or its characters. :-(

On the other side of the wall:

They heard the banging and Riley found the direct spot and the two began frantically searching. "Hang on Ben! We'll get you out!" he shouted as they worked frantically.

"Yes," asserted a deep and very sinister voice from behind them. "Hang on Ben."

Riley turned on his heels to see the man he had been dreading. "Knox," he greeted- from his crouched position by the wall-with a little finger wave.

"Your time is over Poole, I knew you'd come here, and now I can finish you. It seems you've brought your friend, I guess I'll have to take care of the both of you." he raised his gun and took aim.

"Get down!" Riley screamed diving at Cecilia, knocking them both out of the way. They were both able to get behind something secure where they were shielded from the bullets.

"DON'T make this harder on yourself Poole, I have to do it. You'll go one way or another." he fired again in a series.

"Not a chance in hell!" he shouted back, tossing a rock in the opposite corner to distract the man.

"Where the hell is Seduski?" Cecilia hissed at him, leaning heavily on the couch they were using as cover...

"He should be here any minute now, hang on." He insisted back.

"We haven't got a minute!" she screeched.

"Okay, Okay, I'll distract him; you get Ben and Abigail out."

"But Riley…"

"NO, just do it. Okay? I'll be fine."

She nodded and watched him closely.

"Knox! I'm coming out! Don't shoot, I have a last request!"

--

"Riley! Hurry up! We're running out of air!" Abi screamed at the wall, which had been silent for several minutes now.

Ben leaned his head against the wall, clutching Abi's hand in his own.

"He'll figure it out, don't worry."

"Yes, but what's happening out there?" she asked exasperatedly.

They both went silent when they heard gun fire.

There was more silence and then:

"DON'T make this harder on yourself Poole, I have to do it. You'll go one way or another." he fired again in a series.

"Not a chance in hell!"

"Riley!" Ben shouted after minutes of quiet. "Don't do anything stupid! Get out of here!"

--

"Yes, Riley, get out of here," Jerry Knox said mockingly.

"You know, I never liked you Knox!"

"We've confirmed the identity of the man after Gates," Seduski said tersely as he entered the small safe house apartment that Riley and Dylan were sharing.

"Excellent," Riley said, pumping his fist in the air. "Does this mean I go home?"

"Not yet, kid; we have to catch the guy first." Dylan answered rolling his eyes.

"Oh," Riley sighed.

"His name is Jerry Knox. Find all that you can about him Poole." Seduski said grabbing a slice of pizza.

Riley did research him and what he found, he didn't like. The guy was into some pretty conspicuous activities. But he was low on cash, and he was a friend of Ian Howe (Surprise surprise); who must have suggested Ben as a way out to him. And so he was targeting the Gates family, which just pissed Riley off.

"The feeling is mutual, you pesky little worm! Since day one, you've been a thorn in my side; even though I knew who you were, how I could use you, and what you were capable of. And now its time for you to die, because there's no other way this could have ended. Surely you knew that?" Knox asked with a grin.

Riley began to back up, and turned to run, but it was too late, Knox pulled the trigger.

Riley went down in a limp heap.

"Riley!" Cecilia screamed in horror, just managing to duck as fire came her way.

--

"What is going on out there?" Abigail snarled. "If anything has happened to Riley…"

"He's fine, I'm sure of it," Ben said. "He's probably taking his time on purpose,"

Perhaps he spoke too soon.

They listened for his voice but couldn't hear it. And then:

'Bang!' a gunshot rang out.

"Riley!" was the scream that followed. And then more gun fire.

Ben's eyes widened and he began banging on the wall once again. "Whoever's out there let me out! …"