Amazing part 4
Author's Note: Thanks for the lovely reviews, glad you guys liked the concept!
Annie and Auggie got the tent set up easily and stowed their packs, grabbing some clean clothes and the basics. Annie led Auggie to the visiting locker room set up for the women and stripped his tee shirt from his sweaty body.
"What are you doing?" he asked unnecessarily as she started to work on his pants.
"Get in the shower and I will elucidate," she giggled.
"Winning turns you on doesn't it?" he laughed but complied, feeling his way into the shower and turning on the water.
"A little," she admitted grudgingly as she joined him.
"Oh god Annie," Auggie's head tipped back against the cement wall as she finished displaying what winning does to her.
"Shhhh, we could have company at any time," Annie chided as she kissed her way up his body .
Just as she said it Annie heard the clank of a metal locker and froze, she put a finger to Auggie's lips which he began nibbling on. Annie peeked out and saw Molly slip into another stall.
"We gotta go," she whispered and kissed him soundly.
***555***
"Brian, Gary, you made it," Annie called as she led Auggie over to the dinner that Gwen's team had set out.
"We did, the helicopter ride was awesome," Gary sang the last word.
"I'm glad you're…" Annie was interrupted by a barrage of profanity from Brett as he and Cathy checked in as the 6th team of the day.
"Yikes," Auggie grimaced.
"Seriously, gay couples can't get married in most of the country, but he can treat her like crap and that's OK," Annie blew her damp hair off her forehead in frustration.
Annie noticed the change in Brian and Gary, she had revealed herself as open-minded and suddenly Gary's hand was on Brian's back and they dropped the façade that they were not together, at least with Annie and Auggie.
Annie thought how hard it must be to constantly be unable to express your affection for your partner. In some ways she understood as she and Auggie have to be guarded with who they let in to their relationship, but it is different since she and Auggie chose a life of secrecy, Brian and Gary just fell in love.
"I built a motorcycle today," Gloria announced as she helped herself to a bottle of water.
"How was that challenge?" Auggie asked curious.
"Hard," they replied in unison.
"But you did it," Annie cheered.
"We did," they agreed.
Once all the teams arrived Gwen joined them and made her way from team to team checking in. She made sure everyone ate a good meal and settled in for some sleep.
"You two need anything?" she asked trying not to intrude as Annie and Auggie talked quietly.
"No, we're fine," Auggie smiled and indicated she should sit, hoping there was a seat there.
"Thanks," Gwen smiled and joined them at the picnic table.
"Everything is so well-organized Gwen, you guys do a great job," Annie mentioned casually as she shared her spoon with Auggie so he could enjoy some of the ice cream she was hoarding for herself.
"Thanks, we've been doing this for a while, but there are always unknowns," Gwen shrugged.
"Sounds like the military," Auggie smiled around a mouthful of ice cream.
***555***
The next morning Annie and Auggie had a head start on the other teams, but everyone caught up when the museum where they were collecting their next clue didn't open until 9:00 am. Annie set out in search of coffee leaving Auggie at the museum entrance.
"The lady abandon you," a man asked.
"Coffee, she will always choose coffee over me," Auggie smiled.
"It's Warren by the way," Warren identified himself and sat down, his voice registering lower to Auggie than before.
"Thanks, haven't gotten everyone's voices down yet. Nice to meet you," Auggie held out his hand and Warren shook it.
"My son is in Afghanistan," he said out of the blue.
"I hope he's safe," Auggie nodded solemnly and the two men sat quietly.
***555***
The museum opened and the teams found the clue, it sent them to a hotel and there they were presented with an Individual Challenge. In this case only one member of the team can complete the challenge.
Annie and Auggie had thought about this before the race, there would always be some of these that Auggie simply could not do, but he wanted to do any that he could. This one, he could.
"OK, so your selected team member is going to run up one of these 3 spiral fire escapes, 25 stories and then don the harness and rappel down the side of the hotel. Any questions?" Gwen asked.
"What kind of stairs am I looking at?" Auggie asked Annie.
"Metal, they look to be average height and the spiral is not too tight, hold the railing get your rhythm and you will be fine, there are 16 stairs to each landing," she reported.
"Got it, let's do this," he squeezed her arm and Annie smiled at how excited he seemed, perhaps her competitive nature was rubbing off.
The men dominated the pack: Brett, Ed, Auggie, Gary, Warren, Rick and Mike all represented for their teams and Gloria and Kendall for the all girl teams. Gwen gave them the green light and they headed off to divide up among the three fire escapes. Auggie wound up with Rick and Ed who were both pretty fit guys, but not Auggie-fit.
Annie watched with a knowing grin as Auggie jogged up the stairs cautious but consistent. Even at a guarded speed he left the other 2 men in his wake after the 5th floor. She tried not to reflect on a different fire escape in a different city last year, certain there were no bad guys waiting to surprise him mid stride.
"He's doing great," Marion mentioned.
"He's pretty fit," Annie nodded.
"I'd say so," the other woman laughed.
Auggie made it to the top, winded but well ahead of the others. The assistants got him in his harness easily and tightened all the fastenings.
"You good with this?" one of them asked.
"Just get me to the mark, I can make my way down," Auggie assured him.
Meanwhile Brett had made it to the top of his escape and Kendall was doing a surprisingly good job on hers as well.
"He's got this," Annie bounced on her toes.
"You sure he's OK?" Cathy asked with a grimace.
"Oh yeah, most people will close their eyes any way," Annie grinned.
As they chatted Auggie began his descent. His long legs helped him keep contact with the building and gave him ample warning so he wouldn't swing into it too hard. He felt his way down the side with swift efficiency.
Cathy started cheering for Brett who was over the lip of the roof and Danielle was cringing as she watched Kendall begin the rappel.
"Come on Auggie," Annie cheered.
"I'll be right there dear," he replied with a smirk.
Although Brett made a valiant move Auggie sped up at the end and hit the ground first. Annie helped him out of the harness and kissed him forcefully but briefly before taking the clue they were handed and heading away from the crowd,
"That was awesome," Annie and Auggie said simultaneously.
TBC…
