Summary: 'I was beginning to get frantic. "Ben?" I jumped in a ball pit for you Ben, you'd better be okay!' Riley's thoughts as they are stealing the Declaration of Independence. I was looking for a certain Ben and Riley story to share with my friend, and when I couldn't find it, I wrote her this. Ben and Riley's first meeting was my idea. I just have a thing about Riley getting embarrassed.

I could not believe I was helping him steal the Declaration. I wasn't worried about my own safety. I would not be in as much danger as he would be. I was worried about my best friend.

The gala was a great idea, I had to hand it to him, but the whole idea of stealing the Declaration was ludicrous. Though, so was expecting the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, or the cute lady at the Archives to believe us about an invisible treasure map on the back of one of the founding documents.

I was not having a good day. I had longed for excitement and adventure when I had been stuck in my cubicle in the technical support department.

-flashback-

Ben had called in, asking for help with his computer that had picked up a virus while he had been researching.

I had walked him through the process of erasing his computers temporary memory in order to kill the virus and he had said something about Charlotte. I asked him what he meant and he had laughed.

"You will think I'm crazy."

"Most people think I'm crazy." I replied. It was true, my co-workers took a lunch break while I found new uses for computers. It was my dream to be working on top, but was stuck at the bottom because I lacked the bravery and all around shine that the important men had.

"Well, I'm hunting for a treasure."

I did want to laugh, but then I thought that maybe this guy was serious. He sounded serious. "And who is Charlotte?" I asked.

"Charlotte is, I think, a ship actually. 'The secret lies with Charlotte' is my only clue, and I was researching to see if I could find any records of a ship named Charlotte."

"Really? I don't suppose you need a technically savvy persons help?" I asked.

"Well, actually, I could use someone good with computers. When do you get off work?"

"I get off at five today." I said.

"Good, meet me for dinner at six." Ben said. He left an address and I was there, promptly at 5:45, to find that the address actually was a local McDonalds.

I was a little taken aback, but I saw a sign taped to the door as I went in.

"Order a Big Mac with fries and a strawberry milkshake. Then read the next clue."

I stared at the paper and looked around, but saw no one. I went inside and scanned the crazy restaurant for someone who might be meeting me, but it was mostly moms and their kids. This McDonald's had a play place – complete with a ball pit and three slides.

I went up to the counter and decided to try my luck. "Uh… I'll have a Big Mac with fries and a strawberry milkshake." I told the lady behind the counter.

"Oh my gosh! It's him!" The girl shrieked, bringing the attention of just about the entire room to me.

"Yea. You know what, skip the meal, can I just have whatever was left for me?" I asked.

"Here." The cashier said, slipping me a folded piece of paper with a shy smile.

"Ok-ay Riley, you're officially having one of those days." I said, turning around to see a grandma with a grouchy face standing behind me.

I slipped past her and went to an empty table to read my clue. As I sat down, I realized that someone had left an open packet of open ketchup on the seat.

"Oh that's just great." I said, putting my head down on my folded hands.

I sighed and read the clue. "The secret lies in the ball pit."

I looked up and grimaced at the pit. It was full of red, yellow, blue, and green balls and five or six kids.

"There is no way this is happening." I said. I thought about leaving, going home, cleaning up, going to bed, and getting up to go back to my sad little cubicle in the morning.

I dashed over to the ball pit and dove in before I could hesitate. I swam around, scaring the little kids out, and searched for the piece of paper. It took several minutes, but I found it. I grasped it tightly as I surfaced to face the restaurant full of staring customers. They were all silent and staring.

I sighed and crawled out of the ball pit, picking up the balls that decided to fall out with me. Then I unfolded the piece of paper and read the contents.

"Congratulations." Was all it said, and a one-dollar bill was tucked inside as well.

Oh good, I could buy myself a small fry.

"Good job." A man said, coming up behind me as I read the note over and over, hoping somehow that the congratulations would end up making me feel better. "Benjamin Gates." The man said, holding out his hand.

It clicked that this was the man I was meeting.

"Oh, Riley, Riley Poole." I said.

"Are you a fan of James Bond?" Ben asked, leading me to a seat. I checked for ketchup before I sat down.

"Uh, well, I've seen the movies. I don't know if I liked them or not really…" I said.

"You did a good job following the clues."

"That wasn't that difficult." I said. "You just told me what to do."

"Yeah, but you did it. Not everyone would jump in a ball pit for a guy they just talked on the phone with." Ben smiled.

"I'm so desperate to get out of my job." I admitted.

"Well, I can't promise you anything, treasure hunting is a risky business, but I will compensate you for your help." Ben said.

"I can live with that. I could live with it if you just bought my food and gave me someplace to sleep." I said.

So the deal was made. I help Ben find the treasure; I have a life outside my pathetic cubicle. Ben and I grew to be good friends, and I admired his courage and knowledge.

-flashback ends-

I never thought I'd be helping him steal the Declaration of Independence though.

Ben jumped to the back of the car to get out of the side door. "Ben are you sure that we should-" He shut the door before I could finish.

"Guess so." I sighed, setting up my equipment.

"Riley." His voice came over the radio. "Can you hear me?"

"Unfortunately, yeah." I replied. I didn't mean it. He knew I didn't. "We're all set in here."

I waited tense, for something to go wrong. I heard him getting changed and smiled.

"How do you look?" I asked. I wondered how he could manage fitting into a jumpsuit overtop his suit.

"Not bad." He said. At least he was modest when it came to his appearance.

"Mazel tov." I answered.

I heard him greet someone and a female voice replied. "Is that that hot girl? How does she look?" I asked. I didn't get a reply.

"I made a last-minute donation. A big one." Ben said. He was obviously responding to one of her questions.

"Well, on that subject thank you for your wonderful gift." She said.

What gift? I wondered.

"Oh you did get it?"

"Yes, thank you."

"Oh good." He said.

"You know, I really couldn't accept something like that normally, but… I really want it."

I rolled my eyes.

"Well, you needed it." Ben replied.

"Come on Romeo, get outta there." I told him.

I heard her ask about the pipe and then heard another male voice enter the scene.

"Who's the stiff?" I asked Ben, knowing he wouldn't respond. I was getting used to being ignored and picked on, but considering the danger Ben was in, I didn't mind.

"A toast, yes? To high treason. That's what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration. Had we lost the war they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and – Oh! My personal favorite – and had their entrails cut out and burned!" Way to ruin a toast Ben, I thought. Way to ruin their appetites and give them nightmares as well. At least such torture was outlawed in the U.S., because we would probably suffer it for what we were about to do.

Clue: review and go on to chapter two!

Seems pretty simple right?