A/N: Like I said at the start of this, I've had just about as much fun doing my research as I have writing my family that I love so much. I'm happy all of you are enjoying it as well. Thank you so much for the alerts/favorites. And the reviews. ;)
And to all my Yank readers, Happy Fourth of July!
Chapter 4
Jack woke to his parents sharing the bathroom getting up for the morning. Beans woke up Mike, sleeping on the pull out couch. He got up and looked at his younger brother in the kitchen. Jack, he signed, you got the next clue by your head. Jack lifted his head and grabbed the yellow and black envelope, smiling at his brother. Mike whistled to get Matt up, sleeping in the loft. He looked at Beans and then Matt coming down the ladder. Think she'll stay close, he signed with a question. Matt nodded at him, unlocking the door. Beans flew out, ready for her morning unload. Matt watched her head to the back of the campsite and smiled.
In the little bathroom, Cait came out of the shower. Aaron handed her a bath towel and smiled. "I like seeing you naked."
"Get naked you," she smiled back. "The boys are up." While Aaron showered, Cait got ready for the day, brushing her teeth, putting on a hint of eyeliner around her lashes and put in her contacts. She pulled on her robe. Walking out the door, she looked at the boys already gathered around a laptop, smiled and scampered into the bedroom to get dressed.
Mike let in Beans as Matt figured out the clue. He smiled. "We're sleeping around Memphis tonight."
"Matt," Mike asked, putting in his second hearing aid.
"The Joel Cohn song," he smiled.
Mike smiled as well. "Walking in Memphis." Matt played it for Jack so he could understand.
Cait walked out of the bedroom dressed for the day. "Guys, can you live on two meals a day with some munchies in between?"
"Works for me," Jack said, powering into a hug for her. Cait kissed his head and looked at the other boys.
"That works for both of us mom," Mike smiled.
Aaron came out of the bathroom in his boxers. "Then get your teeth brushed and get dressed. It's a big breakfast and then we hit the road."
-00CM00-
Following their original clue of reserving a time slot for the tour of the Lost Sea, the whole family marveled at the experience. They followed their guide through a narrow path and then boarded a glass bottom boat to see the wonders that was hidden inside a mountain. When the guide shut down the lights on the boat, plunging all the passengers into total darkness, they all were taken back. Jack grabbed Cait's hand and held it tight. She smiled, rubbing his back.
After leaving the venue, the family made their way down to Rock City, outside of Chattanooga, entering into the state of Georgia. They enjoyed Lover's Falls at the top of lookout and the view of seven different US states.
When they left, Aaron drove a bit on the freeway and then took an exit onto a two-lane highway. "Really dad," Matt asked, sitting with him upfront.
"Really Matt," he smiled. "You'd be surprised what you find in small town America."
Half way through their four hour journey to Memphis, Aaron pulled the motor coach into a parking lot. Cait, sitting on the couch with Jack, walked up behind him and rubbed his shoulder. He smiled and pointed. "You're going to turn down a stop at 'Ye Olde Ice Cream Shoppe'," he said pointing at the sign with his smile.
Matt looked at her. "Mom, you're overruled on this one," he smiled.
Cait shook her head. "I know all my sons stomachs too well," she smiled.
The family walked into the mom and pop shop, opening the door. The bell above the door rang and an older woman came out from the back. "Welcome," the lady behind the counter smiled. "I'm Artie," she slightly drawled. "What can I get you?"
"Ma'am," Matt said. "First off, do you mind if our dog does her thing. I promise we'll pick up after her.
Artie smiled at Cait and Aaron. "You've raised fine sons. Child go ahead and let your dog do her thing." Matt winked at her and headed out the door. Jack walked up the ice cream case and just shook his head.
Artie laughed. "My favorite son is the mint chocolate chip in a cone."
Jack looked at her and then Cait. "Can I mom?" Cait nodded with a smile. She and Aaron selected their ice cream cones as well. The older boys went with shakes to get them through to dinner.
Artie slipped a small container of vanilla ice cream to Jack. "I haven't met a dog yet that doesn't like ice cream." Jack beamed his thanks with Cait and Aaron adding theirs. "Nice havin' y'all stop in," Artie smiled as the family left.
"That's just too cool," Mike smiled at his parents, taking a deep drink of his shake. They enjoyed the treats and then moved on.
The campsite outside of Memphis was huge and along the Mississippi River. In addition, it connected to a large bike path that ran along the river and through a large wooded area. The family enjoyed a long bike ride. The brothers looked at each other and began to realize the planning their parent's had put in their journey. After a dinner of grilled chicken the boys settled into the coach as a rain storm approached. The family enjoyed a movie on DVD together.
Jack looked at Cait. "Mom, I love popcorn with a movie." He took another bite of the microwaved popcorn. "And I understand what we're doing. But I miss the homemade kind."
Cait rubbed his head. "All part of the experience Jack," she smiled.
Mike settled onto the inflatable bed that night. Cait looked at Aaron as they got ready for bed.
"Shit."
"Cait?"
"I forgot to send a text to Dave about what we learned from Tom and Ann." She pulled her cellphone off the dresser.
Meet you in Albuquerque; Phoenix is not option with coach. Dave pinged back less than thirty seconds later.
Aaron looked at Cait. "The team is out on a case." Cait nodded her agreement and hit the speed dial to Dave's cell, putting it on speaker.
"God damn you two," was the greeting they got. "We've got this," Dave said. Morgan looked at him, shaking his head.
"Where are you," Aaron asked.
"Denver," Dave said. "And like I said; we're all over this and you're on vacation. Get the hell to bed you two."
Cait seductively smiled at Aaron. "All over that," she cooed.
"Read every word of that," Dave smiled, as Emily winked at Morgan. "We'll take care of this; you do the same Cait. Can you get away with it?"
"Mike is sleeping on the air mattress in the kitchen. Over and out Dave," Aaron smiled.
Dave smiled at the team as they shared knowing looks.
-00CM00-
Jack woke on the pull out bed with a yellow and black clue envelope next to his head. "Hey guys," he said. "Wake up; we have another clue." Beans stuck her cold nose into Mike's face. Matt came down the ladder.
"Sorry Jack," Matt said to him, signing to Mike, "I think Beans has a different idea." Matt in his boxers unlocked the door, letting Beans out. Mike put on his hearing aids.
"Matt, what does it say?"
Matt ripped it open, with Jack smiling at him. "It's a Detour."
Battle crowds or learn about one. The brothers looked at each other.
Matt looked at his brothers. "I'm clueless."
Jack looked at the two of them. "I'm the short guy that's a lot younger."
Mike thought for second. "Battle crowds means going into Memphis; and probably doing a tour of Elvis Presley's mansion."
"Who that's," Jack asked. Mike winked at Matt. "But how do we learn about one," Jack continued.
Mike smiled at his brothers. "I'm not only the science guy."
"You're a history buff as well; we all know that," Matt said. "So what's close?"
Mike didn't have to dig into the laptop. "Vicksburg, Mississippi," Mike smiled. "The Battle of Vicksburg was the second largest battle of the Civil War. What do you think guys?"
The older boys looked at Jack. "Like I said, I don't know that Elvis dude. The other one sounds more interesting to me."
"I second that motion," Mike said.
"There's a total surprise," Matt retorted to him. Then he smiled. "But I'm with your guys."
Cait and Aaron came out of their bedroom. "What's your choice guys," Aaron asked as Matt let Beans in. She scampered to her breakfast.
"We're going to Vicksburg," Mike smiled.
Cait winked at Aaron.
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A/N: For those of you that do not watch The Amazing Race, in each "leg" of the race, teams get three different kinds of clues. Route Info tells them where they are traveling to next. A Detour is a choice between two tasks. A Road Block is a choice of two tasks that can be performed by only one member of the team.