Disclaimer: I do not own anything but the plot. Everything else, characters and such, are not mine, nor do I claim them to be.

Benjamin Riker.

Trixie couldn't remember the last time she had seen Honey's mischievous fun-loving cousin.

He had only shown at the Wheeler's a handful of times after his eventful thanksgiving visit – Trixie found herself blushing at the memory of that one. He had only visited once or twice a year on the major holidays.

With each visit, though, he appeared to gain more maturity, and became more tolerable. In fact by the last time Trixie could remember see him, she had found him more than entirely likeable.

Which was why Trixie smiled and put up no objections when, after he greeted his cousin, she found his arms around her.

After a quick embrace he held her at arms length and made a large show of looking her over.

"Trixie Belden," he said again, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe his eyes, "Look who's grown up?"

She felt herself blush and started nervously rolling a ringlet around her finger; a habit she had developed when her hair had grown out.

Honey giggled and playfully shoved him, "Leave her alone."

"Don't worry Belden," Ben whispered hugging her again, "You look good."

Trixie felt her blush deepen as his breath softly brushed her cheek.

As he pulled away, she forced her face into a neutral expression, "What are you doing here?"

Curiosity burned in her. This was one of the last places she had expected to find Ben Riker. In fact, if Trixie was being honest, she hadn'texpected the see Ben, anywhere.

"He's working for me," Jim stepped up beside Ben; his voice was casual but his face told another story.

It was an odd expression that Trixie couldn't quite place. It wasn't exactly angry, but perhaps it was something close to disproval. Whatever emotion he was displaying, it was a strong enough one to make Trixie bristle and feel suddenly defensive.

She turned a bit so she was facing Ben more, and Jim was looking at her shoulder.

"You're part of the build crew?" she snorted in disbelief, "I don't believe that you've ever built something in your life."

Despite the fact that Ben had grown over the years, he was still a privileged rich boy, and although he had, had his fair share of jobs over the years, he only took certain types of jobs. Trixie was quite certain something as mundane and grueling as construction work was not on that list.

"Although I resent that comment, and can assure that I am quite handy with a toolbox no I'm not part of the build crew. I'm in charge of it," Ben finished his statement which had started with a haughty fake offended tone, with a tone of genuine pride.

It was obvious he was proud with what he had done with his life.

Trixie found herself suddenly wondering what that feeling was like. What it was like to actually have a job that you were proud of, rather than one you did just to say you had one.

She wondered what it would be like if she had actually become a detective rather than a secretary of one.

"You knew Ben was away at school," Honey interrupted her thoughts before they could get too dark, "he left before… before you left."

Trixie nodded absentmindedly. She now recalled hearing of Ben's adventures in the world of higher education but she couldn't recall anything but bragging stories of his girlfriends (read: conquests) and out drinking his fraternity brothers.

She found herself smiling at the memory even though she didn't recall being very impressed at the time.

"He really is marvelous Trixie, one of the best. He's just being a doll helping Jim like this," Honey gushed with pride.

Ben blushed slightly, "shucks, she's laying it on. I'm not that good. I'm good, just not that good."
Trixie smiled at this fake cocky grin.

"Congratulations," she said genuinely, "You were lucky to find something you're good at."
"Do I detect a note of surprise there, Belden?" Ben teased.

"If I had said it you would have," Mart joined the small group, shortly followed by Di, Brian, and Dan.

As the group morphed into easy teasing and taunting that was getting too familiarly of the Bob-Whites of old for Trixie's comfort, she drifted away from the group.

She felt oddly jitter and tingly. It was like when she started a new mystery only better. It was like when—

"What do you think you're doing," Jim saddled up beside her his odd-disapproving look on his face.

It had the same affect on her it had earlier, "What do you think your doing?"

Anger bubbled up in her chest; she crossed her arms over it. What right did he have?

"I think I'm protecting my—I mean…" Jim ran a hand through his hair as he jumbled over his words. His shoulder's sagged dejectedly, "you… I think-I want to protect you."

Her heart did several things at the same time, none of which at the moment were particularly were pleasant.

Gritting her teeth Trixie glared at him, "You don't have any right to do that anymore."
With a toss of her hair she turned on her heals and flounced away completely ignorant of the stares of the on-lookers.

She kept walking, letting her anger pulse through her. As long as she was angry she wouldn't feel the pain; she wouldn't start crying.

Who does Jim Frayne think he is? she fumed trampling along, What right did he have? How could he…

As she neared the edge of the forest she felt her anger, and her energy start to drop.

It drained out of her as if someone had pulled a plug. She could feel herself spiraling out of control.

She sunk down on a large rock and laid her head in her hands.

How could Jim think he could protect me when he already… he already, Trixie felt warm tears start to slip down her face, There was nothing left to protect. He already broke it.

Trixie sat there sniffling, hating herself for it but unable to stop, until she head the distinct sound of approaching footsteps.

Using the back of her hand she quickly tried to wipe away the tears.

"Honey, go away please; I can't talk, not right now."
"Honey wanted to come," Dan said sinking down beside her, "So did your brothers, but I convinced them to let me do it."
Upon hearing Dan's voice Trixie stopped all attempts at fake cheerfulness and sunk back down on the rock.

Dan sighed, "So what happened?"
"How did everything get so wrong?" Trixie asked, fresh tears burning in her eyes.

Dan sighed again and put a comforting arm around her.
"I don't know Trix; I just don't know."

"This place really is gorgeous," Trixie sighed as she combed one of the lovely horses that Jim had gotten for the school.

Honey and Trixie had just finished a ride through the wooded trails that surround the school.

Trixie was thankful that so far, she had made it through the day without anyone mentioning her out-burst from the day before. In fact, except for one unsure, awkward moment when she had finally pulled herself out of the woods, it had been like it had never happened.

At least, everything was no more complicated than it had been the day before, and really when you take everything into account that isn't saying much.

Also, the mystery was no clearer.

"What do you think about the workers? Could one of them be doing it? Writing the notes I mean?" Trixie couldn't think of any other solutions.

Three were no clues – no leads.

What was going on?
"But why would they do that?" Honey looked at her from over top of the stall, "What would they get from ending their own job?"
Trixie sagged against the stall wall, "I don't know."

Slowly sinking down until she was in a sitting position she let out a defeated moan.

Maybe the men at her work were right. Maybe she should just keep her pretty little head out of these things.

Honey set down her own come and sank down beside her friend.

"We'll find him; don't worry Trix," she comforted, "it's not over yet."

"Why does everyone always have such faith in me?" Lately she hadn't even been able to have faith in herself.

"Because you have a real talent," Honey said surprised she had to explain, "You're good at this – you've never lost a mystery yet, and you're not going to lose this one either."

Trixie smiled at Honey "Because I had you; I've also never solved a mystery with out you."

"Oh Trixie," Honey said, trying to wave off the comment but her voice cracked with emotion, betraying her, "I didn't do anything. You were the talented one."

"You don't know how wrong you are. You were the smart one of this partnership. I always told you that," Trixie shook her head, "I can't do it with out you Honey."

It took a few moments for her to compose herself enough to respond, "If I was so smart, I would be able to tell you who left those notes."

"And why. Don't forget we need to know why too."

Honey nudged her playfully; Trixie returned the gesture then the two girls fell into a comfortable, if discouraged silence.

"Remember the time we found the diamond in our gatehouse—before it was the clubhouse, of course," Honey had that far away look in her eyes that only someone completely lost in the past can get.

Trixie snorted, "How could I forget."

"And remember how panicked we were when we thought we lost it," Honey's pretty voice tinkled with laughter.

The sound was infectious and soon Trixie was laughing too, "I was so sure we were going to be put into jail."

"But Bobby had had it the whole time," Honey gave a content sigh, "and had put it back in my jewelry box, exactly where I had taken it from in the first place."
"Bobby was such a riot back then… I guess we all were," Trixie concluded almost regretfully.

Time was a funny thing.

She had lost so much of it, and Trixie wasn't sure how she could get it back.

The past, though, was the past for a reason.

Trixie understood that. Now all she was hoping for was a way of fixing the future.

"Oh Trixie, How did we get here?" Honey asked mirroring Trixie's own question the day before.

Just like Dan, Trixie only had one answer, "I don't know."

The silence that fell this time was not as comfortable as before. This one was charged with years of pain, misunderstanding and unsaid words. It was as if they were all piling up now and pushing down on the girls, threatening to explode if something wasn't done, if something wasn't said, soon.

"Trixie," Honey's tone was a hesitant one that Trixie knew well; she felt her stomach clench with grim expectation, "about yesterday."

Trixie stiffened but made an effort to control herself, "Look Honey, I'm really sorry about that. I really wish I hadn't lost my temper like that; I was out of line… its just that I-we… I mean Jim… Jim isn't faultless either. He was out of line too. He should have- he didn't have a right to –"

"Hello?" a new voice entered the stable, "I come baring a summons for my dear cousin."

Ben Riker's blond head and cheeky grin appeared over the edge of the stall the two girls were sitting in.

"And what, pray tell, are two young lady's such as yourselves up to in such a place as this?" His grin widened as he looked down at them.

Trixie rolled her eyes but couldn't keep a smile off her face, "Go away Ben."
"That I can not do," his eyes twinkled, "I am here to tell Ms. Honey Wheeler that her charming fiancé, a one Dr. Brian Belden, desires to see her."

"Oh but I can't – I mean, I have to finish up here—I can't just, " Honey looked around as what she wanted to do clashed with what she thought she should do.

Trixie placed her hand on her arm, "Go Honey; I can finish up here. There's not much left to do anyways."

"Are you sure- I mean-"

"Go," Trixie laughed.

"Don't be such a saint Wheeler," Ben waved, "I'll even do your share."

Honey looked unsure for a moment, before running off with a quick thank you.

"Well I thought she'd never leave," Ben said in a conspirators whisper.

Laughing Trixie pulled herself rather ungracefully off the ground and moved to clean that tact.

When Ben moved to follow, she stopped, "You don't have to do that. I can handle it on my own."

"I know – I want to," he answered simply and went about to work while Trixie stood where she was stunned to the spot.

She couldn't think of a moment in her whole existence when the phrase 'I want to' came out of Ben Riker's mouth in relation to working.

After a few moments, noticing that Trixie hadn't moved he turned to her, "You may have been ok with doing this all on your own, Belden, but I'm not," he threw a sponge at her, which startled, Trixie fumbled and dropped, "so get to work."

With a suppressed smile, and a shrug, she bent to pick up the sponge and did just that.

For a long while they worked in a comfortable silence.

It was nice, for Trixie, to spend time in the relaxed calm atmosphere. For once, since she first arrived at the school, she was getting a moment with out the anxiety and stress of her coloured past hanging over her. Ben wasn't a Bob-White, Ben hadn't spent a whole lot of time with her, and Ben didn't know enough about what happened with Jim for Trixie to feel like he might be in some way judging her.

Trixie was enjoying the freedom.

All the Bob-Whites seemed to be expecting something from her that she wasn't sure she could give anymore.

As far as Trixie was aware, Ben didn't know enough to ask for it in the first place.

"So what were you two lovely ladies talking about so animatedly before I showed my handsome face?"

"Oh this and that," Trixie responded with intentional vagueness, "Nothing that would concern you."

"Is that all I get?" He stopped working and put his hands on his hips.

Trixie gave him her best Cheshire grin, "A girl can't give away all her secrets."

"You were talking about me, weren't you?" he made a dramatic sweep of his hands, "It's ok, you can tell me—I already know how irresistible I am."

With out even thinking about it, Trixie reached over and pushed him – it was a light push, but since Ben hadn't been expecting it, he toppled right over into the pile of hay behind him.

Fighting back giggles Trixie rushed over, "Oh Ben, I'm sorry, I—" she cut off with a squeal as Ben reached up and pulled her down beside him.

"I can't believe you just did that!"

"Get used to it, Belden."

Laughing, Trixie pulled herself into a sitting position, and started pulling strands of crisp hay out of her hair, "You ruined my hair; I hope you're happy."

"I am." Ben indeed did look pleased with himself. Then his face changed and he took on a look more pensive in nature, "You know, there was a time when you wouldn't even pretend to care about such things as your hair. What happened, Belden?"

Instead of tensing up like she usually did when this topic came up she leaned back against the wall and sight, "I don't know… I guess it's like you said—I grew up."

"There's nothing wrong with growing up."
Trixie looked over at him and he gazed back with a blank unreadable look.

"I've been meaning to ask you something," she suddenly burst.

"Me?" Ben pretended to be shock, "How can you have a question for me, I've only been here a day."

Trixie smiled, "How well do you now your men, your workers?"

"Pretty well, why?"

"Do you know any reason why—any one of them who—"

"Would leave Jim threatening messages because of the building?" Ben finished for her amused; Trixie gave him a rueful smile, "No. They're all good guys – besides, they all need their jobs. I can't see anyone… well actually –"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by a muffled yell and then several voices coming together in quite the commotion.

Trixie stared to push herself up, "What the…"

Something was going on outside.

"What do you think—" Ben stopped talking when one of the builders came in.

"Sir- you- I mean… you might want to see this," the young man was pale, almost shell shocked.

"Paul? What is it?" Ben got up and offered Trixie a hand, "Is it the pool?"

Paul nodded, "I mean yes… sir it's… I think you need to see for yourself."

Shrugging, Ben and Trixie followed the young man out.

There was now a large group forming around where Trixie had last seen them digging the hole for the pool.

The faces she could see looked as pale and rattled as Paul's had.

Sensing a mystery growing, Trixie sped up; she had to know what was going on.

At the edge of the hole Trixie found Dan looking slightly ill.

"What is it? What's going on?" She looked around frantically trying to answer for herself. What her eyes found made her stomach twist with nausea and her knees felt weak as if they were about to give out, "It that-that-that as, is that a-"

Ben filled in the word she cold get out, "a body?"

A/N: So that was chapter five! I hope you enjoyed, and I don't think that was too long of a wait. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed (Oops, I already said that) and I would love for you to review. I always love to here what you think, what you liked, and what you didn't so I can get better.