Well, I hope you all have had a wonderful New Years! Welcome to 2008 my friends. :-) Okay, I am now posting the last two chapters. This is the end of the story, but I may add an Epiloge type thing to the end. Right now, as well as the other two stories I have going I have another National Treasure fiction in the works, hopefully it will be out soon.

Enjoy! Ch. 9:

He ushered Riley into a far corner, all the while his gun on the unconscious Seduski in order to assure their peace.

"Alright Poole, what can I do for you?" he asked calmly.

"You want to hurt Ben? I mean really hurt him? Then take me, I'll be leverage enough. But you must let the others go," he said immediately, in a low voice.

"I appreciate the offer lad, but you are forgetting one key thing,"was the moody answer.

"What's that?"

"Money, I want money. You'll be a good start, but where do I get the money I want." he asked pointedly.

"You can have mine," Riley snapped. "All of it, I don't quite have as much as Ben, but I have enough; I'll sign it over to you in front of a notary. Anything I have is yours."

Knox contemplated his offer, and then nodded, "We have an accord Mr. Poole."

He extended his hand. Riley looked at it hesitantly and then reached out.

--

On the other side of the room, Ben was pacing. Abi was leaning against a wall, with her arms folded over her chest- a troubled look in her eyes. Seduski was still sitting, against a wall, rubbing a hand over his head and glaring at Knox. Cecilia was looking through some books on a shelf, seemingly untroubled.

"What does he think he's doing over there," Ben asked to no one in particular. "In case he didn't notice, I don't need him fighting my battles for me!"

This was loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, but the two men in the far corner ignored it.

"Let him breathe, Gates. He's a big boy, and he knows what he's doing." Celia said without really looking at him. Instead she was focused on a book of ancient mythology.

"Thank you, that was very not helpful. How did you even get into this? I don't even know you."

"Riley asked me to come; I'm a very old and very good friend of his. I couldn't say no," she replied without looking up.

"Will you put that book down!? Riley could be signing his own death warrant right now, and you claim to be his good friend but you're just standing there." he gasped out angrily.

"What else would you have me do Gates?"

"Riley NO!" Abi's horror filled voice cried out from their left.

They looked up to see him extending a hand to the man, proverbially making a deal with the devil.

It was too late for them to do anything.

--

Knox stood up and crossed the room, using Riley as his shield this time. "Okay, everyone is free to go as soon as I make my exit. Young Mr. Poole here is coming with me. Nice doing' business with you folks," he sneered tipping his imaginary hat.

"Please just let him go," Ben begged him. "He has no idea what he's doing, just let him go!"

"I'm afraid; I can't do that, Gates. We've made a deal, and Mr. Poole here must honor his agreement."

And just like that they were gone, up the stairs and out of the picture. Bens did a very cliché thing that mach men do when they're mad: he slammed his fist into the wall; really hard. It didn't do anything except cause his hand to hurt a lot, possibly because-as they would later find out- he had broken part of it. Abi wrapped her arms around him to provide comfort.

"Surely, Agent Seduski, you have back up?" Cecilia asked, still casual.

"I do, but they wouldn't be able to get to Knox with out risking Poole's life."

"I'm willing to take the risk," she replied, raising an eyebrow at them, "Are you?"

They all looked at her like she was crazy. "No way!" Ben snarled.

"He's wearing a bullet proof vest, its either risk shooting him and injuring him, or let him be killed by Knox. And then Knox can go on his lovely way, killing more people and making more deals- Terrorizing more people! All of this with the money he will take from Riley. Your choice."

"She does make some sense, Ben," Abi said gently.

"I can't make the decision to possibly have him shot again, it's just not right," he whispered.

All pretenses of Cecilia being nonchalant were dropped as she glared at him. "None of this is right! Do you think that I want him to be hurt? I love him! And I always will! And if you do not make the decision, then I will, and Seduski will be backing me. Isn't that right?"

Agent Seduski nodded, "I'm sorry Gates, but we can't let that monster go! It may be the only chance of saving your friend anyways. Knox isn't just going to let him live and you know it."

Ben rubbed a hand over his tired eyes. He couldn't believe this, he just couldn't. "Do it," he said, knowing there was no other choice.

Seduski pulled out his phone and made the call. "Move in on him,"