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Chapter 7

Ben, Abigail, and Riley all stood in the underground cavern.

"Ian listen, why don't you just come back down here and we can talk through this together?" Ben heard Riley suggest.

Ian pulled out a gun.

"I have had enough of you," he growled.

Ben watched in horror as he pulled the trigger and shot Riley through the stomach. Riley collapsed.

"NO!" Ben yelled.

Ben went over and picked Riley up.

"Riley come on stay with me," Ben pleaded.

"Ben...I'm...so-sorry," Riley stuttered.

Ben started to cry as Riley took his last breath and went totally limp in his arms. Ian was laughing evilly in the background.

Ben shot up breathing hard. He saw it was already the next day. He immediately turned to make sure Riley was okay. When he saw Riley still on the bed and the heart monitor beeping slowly, his nerves calmed a little. He had seen Abigail had already gone to probably get some coffee so he just took his place next to Riley. The nightmare still replaying in his head. It scared him to think about what might have happened. What if Riley died? What would Ben have done? He shook those thoughts from his head as Abigail came in.

"Morning Ben," she greeted handing him a coffee cup.

"Hey," he mumbled, "has the doctor already come in?"

"Yes. He said Riley is still the same, but not to give up hope," Abigail told him.

They sat in an awkward silence for awhile. The only sound was the beeping of the heart monitor and the sound of the breathing machine.

"Ben what is on your mind?" Abigail asked.

"Nothing why do you ask?" Ben lied.

"Ben I can tell something is on your mind. You have that look in your eyes that look like your some where else," Abigail stated.

"It's nothing...it's just...I had a nightmare that Riley...died. And now I can't help but think what if he died," Ben explained, "and what if he still does?"

"Ben you can't think like that. Riley is strong. He'll pull through this. You and me will be here to make sure that happens," Abigail told him.

"Thanks Abby," Ben sighed.

"No problem," Abby smiled weakly.

They sat there for a little while longer. Agent Sandusky walked in a while later.

"Hello how are you two?" he asked.

"Were alright considering the circumstances," Ben told him.

"I just wanted to let you know Ian Howe has been put in prison for life. He won't be bothering you again," Sandusky stated.

"Good that's good," Ben mumbled.

"How is he?" Sandusky asked referring to Riley.

"Not good," Abigail stated.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I must get back to work. Sorry to have to rush," Sandusky made known.

"It's okay we'll talk to you later," Abigail mumbled.

Sandusky left. There was once again silence.

"At least Ian is in jail," Abigail finally breathed.

"Yeah, but it doesn't help that much," Ben sighed.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom," Abigail announced.

Ben watched Abigail leave. He turned back to Riley. He leaned forward and grasped Riley's hand lightly. He really didn't know what to say. He really wanted Riley to open those big blue eyes of his. He wanted him to be awake and be joking around with him. He really wanted to see that smile too. Ben just sat there looking at him.

"Riley I really wish you would wake up. I need you. I need to make sure you're going to be okay," Ben pleaded.

All of a sudden, the machine watching Riley's heart went flat line.

"NO! Don't do this to me Riley!" Ben cried.

Doctors and nurses came rushing in and one of them pushed Ben out.

"Please sir you have to leave," she told him.

Ben stood there watching the doctors try to bring Riley back to life. Abigail soon came by him.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Ben just kept staring at Riley's door. Abigail looked in through the small window on the door. She started crying when she realized that Riley's heart had stopped again and they were trying to bring him back. Finally a doctor came out.

"One of the medicines we gave him had an allergic reaction and it caused his heart to stop. He has had a set back. It might be longer if he ever wakes up. I'm sorry," the doctor explained.

Ben and Abigail hugged each other. Abigail now crying more. The doctor left. Ben and Abigail went back in. Ben sat down in chair next to Riley. When he saw Riley, all the pain and worry he felt came rushing to him. He took Riley's hand and started to cry as he laid his head on the bed.