Disclaimer: I do not own National Treasure, just Elizabeth and this particular plot idea.

Chapter Nine

Dinner was an awkward affair. Elizabeth had tried to talk with Ian, but her heart just wasn't into it. Ian could tell she was immensely tired and ordered her to bed. Elizabeth complied, if only to try and make sense of her new life. She soon fell asleep.

Strange dreams flashed violently across her unconscious mind. Turbulent scenes of desperation and fear clung to her. She couldn't make sense of any of the images and when she woke up the next morning, she had a pervading sense of turmoil until it was slowly leeched from her mind by the lulling call of the ocean.

She got dressed into jeans, sandals, and a bohemian-ish white top. Throwing her hair in a ponytail, she was about to open her door to leave when she heard a whispered, "Miss!"

She looked around curiously, wondering if she had imagined it, when she saw a man's head peaking out from between the railing. She cautiously went over and dropped down to her hands and knees, opening her mouth to question him when she was cut off.

"Please be quiet miss, are you Elizabeth Chase?" he asked.

She nodded her head, bewildered by what was going on.

The man nodded his head in satisfaction, "You've caused quite a ruckus over in the FBI miss, but I need you to come with me now; you'll be safe with us."

"I'm not sure what you're talking about. I don't know what an 'F-B-I' is and I'm sorry for causing you trouble, but I'm perfectly safe here," she said, more confident than she felt.

Was she really safe here with Ian? It was strange but she felt... weird around him. But she shrugged it off because her entire world was centered around Ian now. To go with a strange anywhere was impossible.

"No you aren't, miss. We're going to be capturing the fugitive Ian Howe and stop him. We need you to come with us to be safe. Surely you want to leave him, after all he did to you, your sister, and your friends," he said, confused as to why she wasn't jumping at the chance to escape.

"After what he did to them? Aren't they the ones that tried to keep the treasure all to themselves? Ian told me they're the bad ones, not him!" she said, huffing slightly.

The man blinked. They stared at each other for a couple seconds before he finally understood what had happened.

"He's brainwashed you," he murmured to himself.

Elizabeth frowned, "I don't know what that is, but he hasn't done anything to me. He's been extremely kind so I think you should leave."

She stood up and began to walk away, intent on telling Ian what had just happened.

"What is your earliest memory?" the man asked, his voice carrying through the room.

Elizabeth paused. She looked back at the man with sad eyes, "I remember waking up just yesterday from a coma. Ian says I have amnesia and I believe him.

"Miss, you may have amnesia, but Ian is lying. He's kidnapped you after staging your death. Whatever he's told you is a lie; either that or he's twisted what actually happened around to make himself look good. Please miss, believe me when I say this, he is lying to you. Don't believe him! Don't believe anything he says! Come with me if you want to know the truth," he said quickly.

Elizabeth was torn. She trusted Ian and yet this man was tugging at parts of her mind that were locked up. She hesitantly put a step in his direction.

"That's it miss. Please believe me. Come with me for the truth. You'll be okay, I promise," he cooed, as if talking to a skittish animal.

The truth: but what is this man was lying. She was so confused. She didn't know who to trust and who not to trust. Her mind believed Ian but her heart just wasn't accepting it. It yearned to go with the man but she was so scared. She took a couple more steps towards him, frightened of everything.

"Come on miss," he whispered, beckoning with his hand.

A couple more steps when suddenly, her door flew open and Ian, with several guards in attendance ran in. She yelped and jumped to the side, away from both men. Before the man could do anything, he was bound up by the guards. Ian slowly approached a shaky Elizabeth.

"Are you okay? He didn't harm you did he?" he asked quietly.

As the man was dragged away, he shouted, "Remember what I said miss!"

Ian moved closer, "Are you all right?"

Elizabeth dragged her eyes away from the man as he was forced out of her room. She looked up at Ian and resisted the urge to take a step back. His eyes were ferocious, practically spitting fire.

"I-I'm fine," she squeaked.

"What did he say to you?" he asked quietly.

"H-he just s-said th-that I-I shouldn't believe y-you," she stuttered, frightened by his demeanor.

He stared at her so intensely that she took a step backwards. He then blinked as if seeing her for the first time and let out a large sigh.

"I'm sorry for frightening you Elizabeth," he close the gap between and hugged her, "I was just worried you believed him He was obviously sent to kidnap you for Riley Poole... that bastard... I promise you'll be safe with me, I won't let anyone harm you," he rested his head atop hers, "I won't let anyone take you from me."

Elizabeth closed her eyes. She had no idea who was telling the truth.

'Oh Lord, help me...'

___

"I'm coming," Riley snapped, slamming his hand on the table.

"So am I," Abigail growled, glaring at Ben.

Ben and Agent Sadusky sighed in defeat.

The plan was to infiltrate Ian's island and capture Howe, preferably alive. They were hoping that Elizabeth could be freed before so she would be safe but that had failed. They had found out a couple hours ago that an agent was captured trying to lure her away. Strangely enough, she appeared not to have wanted to leave with him and he was taken prisoner. They would have to proceed carefully to get to Elizabeth and Howe before anyone died.

Riley and Abigail were dead set on going.

"Fine, you all can come but you'll be in one of the boats, not on the island. Is that clear?" Agent Sadusky asked.

They all nodded their heads.

'Hang on Elizabeth, I'm coming for you...' Riley and Abigail both thought.

I'm going to try and get out ten tomorrow. I hope you guys liked this one. The next one is a doozy, that's for sure.

Aly