To say that treasure hunting took over the next 15 years of Alex's life would be an understatement. From such a young age Ben had filled his sister's head with stories of them finding the Templar Treasure and that both believed they would find it. Alex had romanticized a version of her being a successful treasure hunter who traveled the world looking for clues. For a while it had just been them two working on the riddle. Well, them and some of Ben's friends from his classes at Georgetown. Ben hadn't trusted them enough to give them the full truth on the treasure, and they had always thought the extra research was worth more than an actual treasure. That was until they met Ian. Ian was the money to Ben's brain and he was so quickly included in the hunt that Alex didn't think standards existed.

Ian knew enough about history, he at least could keep up with Ben's theories, sometimes going all glazed-eyes while listening. Ian was a nice enough guy. Seeing as him and Ben were attached at the hip, Alex became a sister figure to him. She cared for him the way she would've cared for an older brother who hid things from her in "her best interest". At this point in the hunt the Gates siblings were so desperate to find the next clue Alex wouldn't have disputed Ben if he hired a circus clown to help.

Alex knew her history, that would never be up for debate but with Ben as the official expert she didn't have much to do but provide reinforcement. She had decided to get a part time job when she realized that spending everyday of every week with Ben and Ian got too intense. Plus, she figured she could use the extra cash, if only to get away from the testosterone filled environment that had become her home.

So, she found herself working at the Royal Diner almost 60 hours a week to keep herself occupied

A group on teenagers had just thrown a napkin at her head as she sighed and closed her eyes. Everyday she dealt with different kinds of customers. Unfortunately for her, today was the obnoxious university students. Giving her temper 3 seconds to calm down she turned with a smile.

"Can I get you anything else?" She asked with a fake smile plastered on her face.

"More." One of the kids said, shaking his milkshake cup. His friends snickered at his response as she smiled and took the glass.

"It'll get that for you." As she turned her fake smile fell if her face as she reached the register. Alex and her coworkers had created their own form of communication, one of which Alex utilized daily.

"Give me another mudslide." Alex called out as she leaned on the counter. She quickly added the item to the receipt.

"Want me to put something in it?" The chef asked as he grinned at Alex's surprised face.

"No." She said slowly, watching as Tyler, the front line cook, started laughing. She wasn't ignorant to what usually happened to rude customers

"I should've guessed." He said. "You're too nice." He trailed off as he handed her a new milkshake.

She shrugged. "It's no big deal." The bell rang and Alex turned to see who had walked in, grabbing a few menus.

"Ben!" She called out as she recognized her brother, along Ian, both of whom gave her a small smile and wave.

"How can I help you guys?" She asked from the teen's table as she passed over them. "Here's your shake." The teen thanked her before the group erupted in laughs. As a service worker all Alex could do was smile while she took the empty plates and glasses.

"The burger." Ben replied as Alex stood over their table. She raised her eyebrows at Ben's unenthusiastic tone. Usually him and Ian came down to the diner in good spirits, usually after a few too, but she hadn't seen them this uncharacteristically glum

"Salad." Ian responded. They had ordered the same items almost everyday since she got the job 5 months ago.

"So original." She replied, her joking nature falling flat as she was met by silence.

"Why are you two so quiet?" She questioned, her tone getting a bit softer as she assumed it had to do with the treasure.

"We've hit a roadblock."

"In the treasure hunt." She declared. She tried to hide the smirk forming on her face. Ben should know that finding the treasure meant as much to her as it did to him.

Ben sighed. "Stop saying it like that, it sounds so juvenile."

Alex made a face at the accusation but remained quiet. There wasn't a professional way to say it.

"But yes. Neither of us are good with computers and we need a way to get into a secure site to find some information on a few Freemasons." Ian explained, running a hand through his hair. She knew he was dumbing down the reason on her behalf. A fact she despised. If all they needed was to get on a secure site Ian could hire someone in a second, paying them enough to where they wouldn't ask questions.

"Is there an easier way to get the information?" Alex asked.

"We need into government data bases." Ben explained. "Unless we could find out who would have the information."

"So unless we're using a ouji board then we need help?" Alex confirmed as she was met but two very irritated faces.

"Pretty much." Ben replied. Alex nodded before realizing she should head back to work.

"I'll bring your food right out." Alex abruptly left as her manager reappeared from his hibernation. By the end of their lunch Ben and Ian seemed a bit more optimistic regarding their next steps. They waited a few minutes after paying the bill to walk with Alex back to her and Ben's apartment.

" What's the plan?" Alex walked a little behind the two men, she had been since they had left the diner. She used the excuse that the sidewalk was too small for the three of them but she hadn't missed the fact that Ian had always blocked her from standing too close.

"We find someone good with computers." Her brother replied as though it were the most obvious solution.

"Like a TI guy?"

"IT." Ian corrected. Alex openly grimaced. She knew that.

"Right. An IT guy. Where?"

"That, we haven't decided yet." He turned to Ian. "Think you can find a business with a computer genius?"

"Consider it done." The three came to a stop. Alex and Ben would be heading south while Ian went north. "We reconvene tomorrow?"

"Yep." Ben shook hands with Ian, Alex quickly hugged the man telling him they'd see him tomorrow.

"What a prick." Alex proclaimed as Ian left. Ben gave her an unimpressed look.

"You just think he's entitled."

"I love him but he is Ben. We walked down the street, saw a homeless man and he watched as I gave the man money. He didn't even reach for his wallet."

"Maybe he had no cash Alex." Ben reasoned with her. She scowled at him, stubborn features rested on her face.

"He always has cash on him." She pushed.

"What do you two do when I'm at work all day?" Alex asked as she kicked a rock from her path. "I mean, there's only so much you can do until you find the next clue."

Ben rolled his eyes, sighing. "I've told you, where been looking for Charlotte. Whoever or... whatever she is." Alex could tell that her brother was becoming worn down from searching for the answer.

"And why do you need a hacker. Shouldn't this information be public domain?" She pressed.

"A Freemason, Adam Kirby, was said to have a journal, one he wrote everything in." Alex nodded, urging her brother to continue. "Unfortunately, it's since been destroyed but not before his descendant uploaded photo copies to a secure site."

"So you need to find the journal."

"Yep."

After finally making it back to their shared apartment, Alex peeled off her jacket. Winter in D.C was usually brisk and since she tended to get cold easily, she kept warm with a couple layers.

"I'm showering. Can you get dinner."

Ben nodded as she walked into the bath. She closed the door, taking a deep breath. Looking in the mirror she was met by the exhausted face of a 25 year old.

"Pizza?" Alex questioned as she stepped out, wearing her plaid pants and one of Ben's old T-shirts.

"You took my shirt?" He questioned, looking at his sister in pajamas that were at least two sizes too big. She smiled in response before falling onto the couch.

Ben shook his head with a smile as she turned on the tv. Their apartment was almost exclusively playing whatever was in the history channel. Only a few times was Alex lucky enough to pop in fantasy film. Her brother seemed to only be impressed by things that happened hundreds of years ago.

After scrolling for what seems like an hour she eventually settled on something they could both enjoy, a documentary about Pompeii. While Ben focused on the United States history to find the treasure Alex had gravitated to Ancient Greece and Rome.

"Susan asked about you." Alex called to her brother, who was reading one of his old textbooks.

"Where did you see Susan?" He asked in a monotone voice.

Alex made an unimpressed face. "She came into work. Why haven't you called her?"

He gave a noncommittal shrug. Susan and Ben had gone on a few dates, nothing special from each of their perspectives, but Susan wasn't one to brush things under the rug.

"You'll never meet anyone worthwhile if you don't try." She sang as she focused her attention back to the screen, mimicking her mother.

"You sound like mom." Ben retaliated.

"Hmm. Speaking of, have you talked to her?" Alex questioned, recalling her recent phone call with her mother.

"Last week. Have you talked to dad?" Ben asked back, knowing that their father was always a sensitive topic. Alex spent years trying to please him only to discover that as long as her and Ben looked for the treasure, their father wasn't interested.

Ben snorted. "Seems like the Gates' always have parent troubles."

Alex felt a pang if sadness as her brother pointed out the obvious. "Right on." She responded, with no words to say.