A/N: For this story I did my usual Google research which you will see throughout the progression on the places the family visits. However, my primary piece of research was my large Rand McNally US road atlas. I know all of you don't have one of those. But if you want to follow along on a cross-country trip of the US, look them up on the web.
And I've got too many guest reviewers with "J" as the first letter of their name. So hi to you Janet in Canada as well!
Chapter 2
The Virginia Cavaliers had lost out in the regional finals of the NCAA baseball tournament Memorial Day weekend. It was hard on Matt for a day or two but then he sprang to life with the family having time together and spending a long weekend with Lauren in New York City; which included a romantic dinner at Sean and Leslie's restaurant.
Aaron, Cait, Mike and Jack were also in New York City that weekend, having taken the train on Friday. But they were on a different mission: to welcome baby Ethan, Sean and Leslie's latest addition to the Hotchner family. Matt and Lauren joined the family on Saturday to do the same.
Cait's birthday came and the family enjoyed it at home with Dave joining them around the pool. Everyone was in their swimsuits. Aaron eyed his wife while he cooked ribs on the grill. "You sure you wouldn't rather be in California?" Just then, Jack jumped off the diving board, sending up a big splash that got her a bit wet.
Jack came to surface and swan to edge of the pool. "Sorry mom," he sincerely said, the water dripping off his long eyelashes he inherited from Haley.
Cait looked at Aaron with a smile. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she winked. They had told the boys they were leaving on a long trip on Monday. Other than that, they had no clue to their parent's plans.
Aaron smiled back, turning over the ribs, as Cait jumped in, splashing Jack.
-00CM00-
Dave rubbed Matt's shoulder as he stuck in a twenty pound bag of charcoal into one of the storage places of the huge motor home parked in the Hotchner's driveway. "This is one helluva ride."
Matt laughed. "Mom and dad are doing their fifth anniversary up in style. Let me give you the tour." They both got on. When Matt finished the tour, Dave softly whistled his appreciation.
"Yes they are," Dave smiled, and then looked at him. "You are getting all this?"
Matt smiled. "I am; it's our last family hurrah together. I have full buy-in Uncle Dave." Dave eyed him. "And I'll play along," he smiled.
"Thanks Matt," Dave smiled. "Mom and dad need it."
Matt nodded his head with his bright smile. "Uncle Dave; they deserve it." Dave proudly smiled. "I'm really looking forward to it." Matt looked around. "Just don't let them know that," he winked.
Dave beamed. "Got it Matt." Matt went inside the house to get more of the supplies.
Aaron walked out with more items to store in the coach. Dave helped him. He looked at Aaron. "What happened with renting an RV?" He noted the five family bicycles were loaded on the two racks in the back.
Aaron shook his head. "The more Cait and I explored it, the prices were right but they were just too small for our family for a cross country trip and back." Dave looked at him. Aaron smiled. "You know my wife."
Dave smiled. "She found a deal."
Aaron nodded. "One of her professor friend's parents takes this rig to Florida every winter. It's their home down there for four months. In the summer, they rent it out to the right people."
"And you two qualified," Dave smiled.
"Actually, we all did," Aaron said. Dave looked at him. "We had to meet them and they vetted us. When Cait and I told them the trip we wanted to take, they were all in and gave us a helluva rate, even with the mileage we're going to put on it. To rent something like this through normal channels would have cost us over twenty thousand." Dave looked at him completely astounded. Aaron smiled. "We got it for a lot less."
"That's Cait," Dave smiled. Aaron nodded with a smile.
"How'd the case go," Aaron asked.
Dave shook his head. "The team covered it; as usual. Aaron, do I have to pound you over the head."
Cait appeared with two bags of groceries. "Please do," she smiled, kissing him on the cheek. "My husband is having separation withdrawals," she smiled.
"No I'm not," Aaron said. He looked at Dave as Cait got onto the coach. "This coach has everything including Wi-Fi nationwide. Holler if you need me." Dave hiked an eyebrow. "To consult only Dave," he smiled. "I want this as much as Cait." He thumbed at Matt, coming out of the house with more things to pack and then went back in. "This is our last family chance with him involved."
Dave smiled. "Relax Aaron; I get it. So does the rest of the team. We're just happy you're doing this." Jack and Mike came out with two more bags of groceries. Matt followed with one of the two coolers the family would be using.
Cait flew back off of the coach barely looking at Dave. "Back to my list," she smiled over her shoulder, heading back into the house. Dave shook his head at Aaron. "Good luck with that one," he smiled.
Aaron shook his head. "This is what we want for our family Dave. I'll put up with that," he smiled.
Dave matched the look. "Then enjoy it." He pulled out a Vanilla Visa card from his pocket and handed to Aaron.
Aaron shook his head. "God damnit Dave, I told you you're not contributing." Matt eyed the scene and went into the home, not wanting to get in the middle of that argument.
Dave softly smiled. "I'm not Aaron; my publishing company is." Aaron suspiciously looked at him. "My latest book is starting to send out residuals."
"Dave, it's number two on the New York Times non-fiction Best Seller list."
"Aaron, what you don't get is Cait, as my consultant, gets a cut of that. You told me about your trip. All I did was have them load her share onto this card instead of dropping her portion into your bank account. They started doing it last month. And they will keep doing it for the next two months. Its Cait's; rightly earned. Use it," he smiled.
Aaron softly smiled. "You do think of everything," he said, taking the card and putting in his wallet. "When are you going to meet up with us?" Dave gave him an almost shocked look. Aaron laughed. "Cait and I know better; and would love to have you join us."
Dave quickly recovered and smiled. "And I know all of you as well. With your southern route west to miss the god-awful hot weather, give me a call when you're getting close to Phoenix." Aaron looked at him. "Aaron, in all my travels, I've never seen the Grand Canyon. And I know you'll do that and then head up to Vegas to see Diana and Bill. I'd love to be a part of that," he smiled.
"You're on Dave," Aaron smiled.
Dave looked at the coach. "You think you can handle this rig?"
Aaron looked at him. "Honestly?" Dave nodded. "I spent a few hours yesterday with Joaquin at the driving school at Quantico. Marty, the guy we're renting it from was all in," he smiled. "He let me borrow it so I could get used to it."
"Atta boy," Dave smiled at his protégé.
"And Marty came along. Between the two of them, I feel really comfortable with everything I have to do." Dave looked at him. "Getting the propane re-filled for the generators all the electrical appliances and AC while we're traveling; hooking up to electrical; dumping the grey water and clear water." Dave nodded his approval.
The boys and Cait came out of the house with their backpacks or in Cait's case, overstuffed shoulder bag and her briefcase. She looked at Aaron. "And your Bureau laptop to keep up with team is where," she asked.
Dave laughed. "You wife knows you too well my friend." Aaron went into the house. He went into the study and got his briefcase with his laptop already packed. He then went into him and Cait's bedroom and unlocked the gun safe. He slipped in his small Bureau issued weapon in its holster.
Dave was in the coach, joking with the boys when Aaron got on, putting his briefcase in the space in the driver's side door after handing his laptop to Cait. She stored it in their bedroom. The older boys were staking out their space with Cait rolling her eyes at Dave as she came back out. Dave looked at Aaron. "Got it all?"
Aaron read his question. Are you armed? "Yes," he smiled with a wink.
Mike looked at his dad. "All that's left is our luggage."
"And Beans," Jack smiled.
"Get to it guys," Dave smiled. The family went into the home. Dave pulled out his cell phone, hit a button and briefly waited. "Now," he said.
The family came out with their luggage along with Beans and loaded it on the coach. Beans ran into the yard for a quick "potty" run. Cait looked at Aaron. "Everything locked up?"
He nodded with a smile. "I didn't shut down the water. Pete promised to swing by every day, check things and water the flowers. For that, he gets to use the pool." Cait smiled.
"And my lawn service will cover the yard," Dave smiled. He eyed Cait and Aaron. "My contribution; don't argue with me."
Just then, the boys saw a black town car pull into the driveway. A man got out. Beans barked at him. Matt and Mike looked at him and then each other. "No way," Mike said. "He has to be a look alike."
Dave walked to him. "Thanks for doing this Phil," he smiled, shaking his hand.
Phil Keoghan smiled. "Dave, we've already talked about this. It's my pleasure." Matt and Mike looked at each other and then Jack, standing with his mouth hanging open. "Hi Jack," Phil smiled. Cait and Aaron came off the coach.
"No way this is real," Jack said.
Phil laughed. "I met your Uncle Dave a couple of years ago at one his publisher's book parties. I'm a huge fan of his books." He looked at Aaron. "Thank you for the job your team and you do," he smiled, offering his hand. Aaron accepted it with a smile. "You too Cait," he smiled, shaking her hand. "And Dave is a huge donator for MS. I have a cousin that has it in New Zealand."
Jack looked at Cait. "Multiple Sclerosis," she smiled. "It's a muscular disease like ALS."
"That took Caroline," Jack asked. Cait nodded her head. Dave smiled.
"Jack," Dave smiled. "There's a cure out there. If they find one, many believe MS, ALS and MD can all be cured."
"As well as CRT," Cait said. Dave introduced Matt and Mike. They shared handshakes as well, still not really believing what was happening.
"Anyway, we met up a couple weeks ago at another one of Dave's publisher's parties and he filled me in on your plan," Phil smiled looking at Cait and Aaron. "I had to be here." His assistant handed him a large folder. Phil handed it to Cait with a wink. "I asked our production staff to give you a supply. The rest is up to you and Aaron," he smiled.
Cait eyed Dave. "I don't know whether to put you on my shit list or hug you." Phil laughed. "And thank you for this," she smiled at him.
Keoghan smiled back. "Hug him Cait; with all of you athletic Hotchner's, if you ever tried out for my show, you'd kill the competition. That doesn't make for good ratings." Dave smiled with him.
Phil Keoghan looked at the family. "Welcome to your Amazing Race, compliments of your parents," he smiled at the boys. "The US awaits you; travel safe," he said, giving the family his traditional, yet somewhat altered version of his usual send off for teams doing the show, complete with his pointed finger in the air and eyebrow lifting. Phil pulled a yellow and black envelope out his back pocket that the show used and handed it to Jack.
Jack ripped it open with his brothers looking over his shoulder. He pulled out the clue. "Route info," Jack smiled. "Travel to the Lost Sea of the US."
Matt shook his head. "I think we're testing out the Wi-Fi on this baby real quick." Phil winked at Aaron and Cait, smiling.
They all thanked Phil again and said good-bye to Dave. "Let's go Beans," Aaron smiled. Beans happily barked tumbling onto the coach after the boys.
Dave and Phil waved at the family as they pulled out of the driveway. Aaron honked the horn at Lisa and Jamal waving at them as they went down the street.
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A/N: MD is Muscular Dystrophy. CMT is Charcot-Marie-Tooth. That is in honor of a very special UK friend I have. Her husband and son both have CMT.
Phil Keogan is the host of The Amazing Race on CBS. The line about his cousin having MS is true.
