188A/N: Thanks so much for all the great reviews! You guys are the most amazing people ever!
Disclaimer: If I owned National Treasure, I'd be writing this stuff into the script! In other words, not mine.
CHAPTER TWO
Ben
I'd hardly stepped through the door when Abigail swooped down on me. She must have heard us coming up the drive. "You're home early," she said. She arched a blonde eyebrow.
"We had a bit of trouble," I replied, turning to help Riley step up from the porch. Though he had 'don't touch me' written all over his face, I doubted he could make it on his own the way his legs were shaking.
"Oh, my—" Abigail gasped. "What happened? Riley?"
Riley groaned. "Do I really look that bad?"
"Yeah, kid," I said. "Good thing your room's on the first floor. Abigail, could you go get the Advil?"
Abigail gave me a questioning look, then hurried upstairs to the medicine cabinet. I walked with Riley down the hallway into his room, and he dropped down on the bed without saying anything else. I shoved a bunch of papers off his desk chair and sat down.
Abigail returned quickly with the little white bottle and a glass of water. "Here," she said breathlessly. Riley made a face but swallowed the pills without comment.
"Could someone please tell me what's going on before I go crazy?" Abigail asked.
"Too late," Riley muttered, settling down on his pillows and closing his eyes. One corner of his mouth turned up slightly.
Abigail sighed. "Obviously whatever happened hasn't affected your sense of humor."
"It's not my fault you leave me openings a mile wide. Even Ben could probably get a jab in there." It was amazing how Riley could harass us both in the space of a few words. And it was really amazing how he could completely alter the course of a conversation to avoid talking about something. Luckily, I was well-versed in Riley Evasion Tactics.
"We're getting a little sidetracked," I pointed out. "I don't even know what happened, exactly." I looked at Riley expectantly, but of course he couldn't see that with his eyes closed.
"It was nothing, Ben. Please, just give it a rest." Riley didn't even bother to open his eyes, but at least he was still talking. I knew he wasn't above feigning sleep if he was being really stubborn.
The kid did look tired, though, and I knew he'd fallen asleep on the car ride home. Tonight wasn't the right time to push him. "You're right," I told him, and Riley opened one eye in surprise. "This can wait until morning."
Riley didn't look pleased, but he took whatever concessions he could get. "Thanks."
"Will someone please tell me what happened?" Abigail said, looking between me and Riley.
I glanced at Riley before beginning. If he really didn't want me to tell her, I wouldn't. But he only nodded. "Go ahead. She'd get it out of you eventually anyway."
I cleared my throat, and Abigail focused on me, her face intent. The way she was scrutinizing my every expression made me almost uncomfortable. "We were at the dinner party after the lecture—"
"The mandatory dinner party," Riley interrupted. "And the food was awful. You'd think a bunch of rich museum-donor type people would have some taste, but—"
"Would you like to tell her?" I asked, trying not to smile.
"No, that's okay. I was just trying to give her some perspective. You sounded like you do when you give a history lecture."
"Anyway," I began again, "We were at the mandatory dinner party with the awful food, and the power died. People panicked. It was kind of contagious." My eyes darted to Riley as I said this, and he gave me a small smile, knowing what I was trying to do. I wanted a real explanation later, of course, but it didn't have to be in front of Abigail. Riley was a very private person (though you wouldn't know it, with his sometimes incessant chatter), and I understood that even as his best friend, there were a lot of things I didn't know about him. But I knew much more than he let anyone else in on.
"And?" Abigail prompted, looking unconvinced.
"Riley's a little claustrophobic, as you know. And people were panicking, like I said—"
"And I just couldn't take it anymore. I had to get outside, away from the crowd. I felt kind of sick, and then Ben found me and convinced me not to throw up. And now I have this killer headache," Riley finished, sounding embarrassed both for her benefit and because he really was. But there was definitely something he wasn't saying.
Abigail smiled a little, sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Riley. That sounds awful."
"It was even worse than the food," he agreed, closing his eyes again.
Abigail smiled. "Do you feel any better?"
"No, but the meds should kick in soon. Thanks, Abby. 'Night."
"Goodnight," Abby said, moving towards the door. "You coming, Ben?"
"Yeah, I'll be up in a minute." My eyes didn't move from Riley's face. I heard Abigail climbing the stairs. There was a long pause as I considered what to say.
"Yes, Ben?" Riley said, without even opening his eyes.
"Are you really all right?" I asked.
Riley smiled tightly. "No, not really."
Something in his almost bitter expression pushed me to ask, "Will you be?"
He sighed. "Eventually. And no," he said, just as I was opening my mouth to ask, "I don't want to talk about it."
"Okay. Not tonight. But you know I won't give up."
"I know. Thanks, Ben." Riley paused, and he seemed on the verge of saying something important. But all that came out was, "Goodnight."
"'Night," I replied, recognizing this as my cue to leave. As I stepped out into the hallway, I reached to flick off the light switch. But Riley's voice stopped me.
"Ben, could you just leave it on?" It was an odd request.
"Sure," I said, realizing that it was important to him. I knew he usually slept with the bathroom lights on, but considering what had happened tonight . . .
I wondered again about what exactly had occurred, and realized that it was probably one of the most important things that Riley hadn't told me. Did it have to do with his kidnapping, a little over two months ago? I knew he had been treated badly, but I didn't think Riley could have developed such a deep-seated phobia over just three days. The fear I had seen in his eyes tonight reminded me more of the way he had reacted when he was being loaded into the ambulance: a wild, horrified panic.
The two events were connected in some way, and I was going to find out how.
First thing in the morning.
A/N: Will it be that easy? When Riley's involved, it rarely is! Review to find out!