Another Chase - National Treasure

Three - Next Stop: London

"We're going to England!"

Despite Abi's not wanting anything to do with Ben, she was still apparently in contact with his father.

"Was?" cried Alice in German.

"Patrick called – Ben and Riley need us."

And, it seemed, despite not wanting to have anything to do with Ben at the moment, she was still pretty keen on going to help him.

"It's another treasure hunt," Abi insisted was the only reason for her involvement when Alice brought this up to her. "History Ali! You know how much I love it and how important it is. I don't want to miss out just because of some hurt feelings."

"Yeah but are you sure this is the best idea right now?"

"Well no, not really. But like I said, they need us."

"Need you. You could have told me this before I left Germany, which is a lot closer to England than America is – a lot closer."

"Well I didn't know then."

"Won't Riley be there with him?"

"Yeah but him and Ben are best friends."

"I don't want Ben to drag you into yet another life-threatening treasure hunt!"

"But this is my choice this time! And besides, it already has some European historical ties, and that's your area of expertise." Then she sighed. "And I don't really want to face Ben on my own."

"I don't know if I'm quite ready for another treasure hunt," is what Alice wanted to say. Instead, she sighed and said,  "Here we go again..."

-----------------------------------------

"Any sign of Ben?"

"Not yet. But there's Ian."

"Was?!" cried Alice, once again reverting to her native language. Sure enough, there was Ian ahead of them in the crowd. There was Ian looking at them. And there was Ian making his way through the crowd towards them.

Alice began to panic - she wasn't ready for this!

"Verdammt Abi-" Abi obviously thought that Alice had avoided this for long enough, and had secretly arranged for Ian to meet them here at Buckingham Palace. How could she have been so stupid and not seen this coming? They were in England after all, his home, and where he had returned to for a time.

"I see Ben," Abi said suddenly, the perfect escape. "I'll see you later." And giving her sister a little shove forward she disappeared through the crowd and up the stairs. Alice stood there, watching helplessly as Abi left and Ian came over, taking her place at Alice's side. Apparently Abi was willing enough to be with Ben if it meant Alice and Ian could have some time together.

He smiled that warm, charming smile of his in greeting. "Hello, Alice."

As much as she didn't feel ready to face him yet, she was glad to see him nonetheless. His low voice instantly relaxed her. "Hello, Ian."

"You started it!"

"I didn't start anything!"

"Oh God." Alice buried her face in her hand in embarrassment as Abi and Ben's voices carried throughout the room. "They're together for a minute and they're already fighting–"

"Wait, I think it's intentional," Ian said. They watched and, sure enough, the fight became more and more exaggerated, to the extent where Ben was using a very terrible English accent and sliding down the banister and security had to get involved. Alice couldn't help but laugh a little as Abi and Ben were hauled off by the security guards, still yelling at one another.

"Well, looks like they've got a plan. I guess all we have to do is watch them humiliate themselves." Alice grinned. She was definitely going to tease Abi about this.  "So, what part do you play in this whole elaborate plan?" she asked as the last of Ben and Abi's shouting faded away as they were dragged off.

"I'm not entirely sure to be honest," he admitted. "Ben just called me and told me that he's onto another treasure hunt to clear his ancestor's name, and told me to meet them here today."

"Did Abi contact you too?"

"Yes. She still had my contact information from when she and Riley made that deal with me to get Ben out of FBI custody."

They set us up, Alice realized. Wow, Ben and Abi were avoiding each other and yet they still managed to cook up a plan to get Alice and Ian to meet. Abi's breakup had suddenly turned her into a matchmaking mastermind. "I should have been the one to contact you."

"It's all right, Alice," he assured her. 

Her mobile phone buzzed in her pocket then. "Abi, where are you now? You WHAT?!" Abi hung up on her. Alice scoffed. "They're in another car chase."

(Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :))