Treasure Hunters: A National Treasure Fanfiction

Chapter Two: Mysterious

Alex stood in the centre of a large empty room in the American History museum at the Smithsonian where she worked. Pretty soon this room would hold a new exhibition, which was what she and her colleagues were arranging and organizing the details of. It was a big project and a long process to say the least, and the reason she couldn't go with Ben and the others on the trip, which she was still bitter about. While they were out treasure hunting she was stuck here, with all the stresses and pressing deadlines.

She intently studied the layout in the binder in her hand. "Let me run and grab that other file, I'll be right back," she said to one of her colleges and headed out of the exhibition hall.

"Alex!" She stopped as she rounded the corner at the call of her name. Looking up she found source.

"Ian?" she cried in disbelief. He smiled as she came over. "Hey, how are you?" she asked, giving him a slightly awkward hug, like their parting at the airport had been.

"I'm well thank you, yourself?"

"I'm good thanks. I wasn't expecting you to be back so soon, I thought I'd hear from Ben cause he said he'd let me know when you guys got in." It had been just less than a week since she had seen the group off at the airport.

Something flashed across Ian's face, though so fast Alex thought she may have imagined it, nor could she make it out. "I-I'm sure you'll hear from him soon," he said, his voice softer now.

"So," Alex said, trying to ignore the suspicious feeling now pulling at her concentration. "Tell me about it! Did you find the secret that lies with Charlotte? I'm still so upset that I couldn't come but we're in the middle of opening a new exhibit right now so we're crazy busy."

Now Ian grinned again. "Your presence was thoroughly missed. And yes, we did."

Alex's face lit up even more. "Oh my gosh! Aw I'd love to hear all about it but I'm afraid I'm in the middle of something right now, so it'll have to wait."

"Well I was thinking I could take you for a coffee or something," Ian suggested.

She hesitated. "Alright," she finally agreed. It wasn't a date, she told herself, he was just going to tell her about their trip and the treasure. She glanced at her watch. "I have my break in about half an hour, if you don't mind waiting around for a bit."

He agreed, and they said to meet in the same spot in half an hour. Alex couldn't help but be slightly distracted by Ian's change in expression when she had mentioned Ben - it could be nothing, but it was enough to make her stop at her office on her way to retrieve the file and check her cell phone. No messages. No messages on her office phone either. Taking her cell phone again she dialed Ben's number. It rang a few times and her heart leapt when she thought someone was answering, but it was only going to voice mail.

"Hi, this is Ben," came her brother's voice. "I'm unavailable right now but please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you soon, thanks." Beep. She didn't leave a message.

Half an hour later Alex met Ian in the same spot. They left the museum and crossed the Smithsonian grounds to a coffee shop across the street. They got coffee and sat on a bench. Ian reached into his inner-jacket pocket and withdrew an envelope. He handed it to her. "Just as you requested."

Alex took it and found photographs inside of the trip. "Oh thank you!" She shuffled through them. She found one of a ship that the group had been digging out of the ice. Charlotte was written across the back of the ship. "'Charlotte'", she said. "Charlotte wasn't a person, she was a ship!"