Globe Trotting – Rajkot P3

Auggie felt around for a chair and finding none decided he would stand next to this gurney as long as he needed to. He pulled out his phone and stuck an ear piece in, Calder answered on the first ring.

"You are not at the safe house," he began.

"I am not, but I did find Annie," Auggie tried to sweet talk his way out of trouble.

"How is she?"

"Unconscious, but her vitals are good. What the hell happened Calder?"

"We sifted through the reports you sent us and dug a little on this end and we are fairly certain it was a local act, no chatter beforehand and not at all related to the intel Annie was sent to gather. Speaking of which, can you get your hands on that?"

"I am waiting for a doctor to give me an update, I will ask for her personal effects at that time. I just ID'd her Calder and trust me, a blind guy looking for an unconscious woman in a hospital in India, it was no easy task."

"You sure it's her?"

Doubt suddenly flooded Auggie, could he have been wrong? He knew Annie, he knew her body and her soul without having ever seen her, but could he have been wrong?

"As sure as I can be, hold on," Auggie switched the phone to camera mode and emailed Calder an encrypted photo.

"Yeah, it's her," he sighed.

"How does she look?" Auggie asked.

"Bandage on her forehead, but otherwise just looks like she is sleeping. I'm glad you're with her," Calder acquiesced.

"I'll transmit the photos if I get Annie's camera."

"Once you do the mission is complete, you guys take as long as you need to recover. If she is able to be moved somewhere other than India just let me know where you want to go."

"Thanks," Auggie ended the call.

"Now that I have 100% confirmation it is really you," Auggie began and leaned down and kissed the woman on the gurney.

He felt her wince and heard a soft groan.

"Wow, that really works?" he smiled at the idea that his kiss woke her.

"Auggie?" she whispered.

"Hey Grace," he said a little louder to let her know they were in public.

Annie opened her eyes and took in her surroundings.

"Matt, what happened?" she reached for his hands and squeezed them tight.

"There was an explosion," he said and she squeezed tighter.

"You're OK, it seems it was just a random thing," he tried to convey it was not mission-related.

"Wow, wrong place at the wrong time, huh?" she smiled in understanding.

"Exactly," he confirmed.

"You're awake," the same young man as before.

Annie smiled at him.

"Your husband was worried," the young man smiled back.

A doctor arrived shortly and examined Annie, confirmed she was alert and oriented and they just wanted to monitor her for a few hours for signs of a concussion. If she was still in good shape she could leave that evening.

"Did anyone find my bag, was it with me when I came in?" Annie asked knowing she had it strapped across her body.

The young man looked around the gurney and found a satchel underneath the gurney.

"This one?" he asked.

"Yes," Annie smiled, relieved, "my camera is in there with all my pictures of our trip."

The young man smiled back, handed her the bag and left them alone, well as alone as they could be in a crowded hospital. Annie found the camera and flipped through the display, looked like everything was there, she popped out the sim card and handed it to Auggie discreetly. He plugged it into his phone and tapped a few keys to send the data to Calder.

"Mission accomplished," he whispered as he leaned down to kiss her again.

"How'd you find me?" she asked in awe as she ran a hand through his messy hair.

"I made a friend," Auggie shrugged, but Annie could see the relief in his features.

His phone chimed and Auggie listened to the message that Calder had what he needed, they were officially off duty but could use the safe house until Annie was ready to travel.

***555***

The doctor discharged Annie with some aftercare instructions and some supplies for tending to the wound on her leg. Annie felt bad about taking the supplies and tucked them back on a cart as they left, they had plenty in the safe house. Auggie asked his friend to get them a cab even though their journey was short so Annie could rest her leg.

"This isn't going to be very romantic," Auggie grimaced as he hefted her over his shoulder in the foyer of the apartment building and carried her fireman style up the three flights of stairs, using his other hand to hold the cane.

"I can walk," she laughed as she enjoyed the view of his ass from her position.

"And I can carry you, what's your point," he turned and kissed her hip.

He deposited her outside the door for fear of whacking her head on the frame, she had already suffered a head injury today. Once they made it through the door she threw herself into his arms.

"You're OK," he said over and over as much to himself as to her.

She nodded against his neck and then turned her lips to kiss him there softly, she trailed the kisses along his jaw and found his lips. He returned the kiss enthusiastically for a minute but then slowly backed away.

"You need to rest," he encouraged and led her to the couch.

"I need you," she clarified and redirected them towards the bedroom.

"Annie," he used his stern tone.

"We'll be careful," she finished that thought with another searing kiss.

***555***

Auggie held Annie as she slept, her warm soft body seemed fine, he was sure to check everywhere as he made love to her. Now, in the stillness of the room he just held her, cautious of her head and leg, and despite the growling of his stomach or the nascent need to pee he stayed still not wanting to let her go.

Finally she stirred, burrowing her face into his stomach and stretching along the length of him.

"Hey," she said as she looked up at him.

"Hey," he smiled back.

"It's dark out," she mentioned and leaned over and saw it was after 9:00 pm.

"Mmmm," he agreed although he couldn't tell.

"Did you eat?"

"Recently? No," he felt her move to sit up and pulled her close and kissed her again.

"You must be starving. I'm starving," she realized.

"That's a good sign. You don't feel nauseated?"

"No, I'm fine Auggie," she assured.

"Calder is giving us a little break, so you can recover. How about we get married now? I don't want to wait any longer," he said his face dead serious.

"Sure, but like right now right now? In India?"

"Calder said we can recuperate wherever we want. Pick a spot."

"Can I invite Danielle?"

"Of course."

Annie did the math in her head and then dove over Auggie for his phone.

"It is almost 8:00 am in California," she explained as she dialed.

"Auggie? Is everything OK?" Danielle answered on the 2nd ring.

"It's me Danielle. Auggie's phone was closest," Annie explained.

"Oh thank god," Danielle calmed and Annie felt a twinge of guilt at leading Danielle to such quick panic.

"I'm sorry to call so early, but it is getting late where we are. I wanted to let you know that Auggie and I are getting married and we'd like you to come, if you think maybe that would be OK."

"Oh Annie, that is wonderful news. Of course I'll come, where when?"

"We aren't sure about where, but soon, like next week soon."

"You two never do anything the normal way, right?"

"It's just about timing and the time is right. I completely understand if you can't rearrange your schedule, we could always just try to schedule a visit to celebrate the wedding," Annie backtracked.

"Don't be ridiculous, you are my only sister and this will be your only wedding, I will be there. Do you need a couple of flower girls?" Danielle asked.

"Really?" Annie swung her head around to Auggie and placed her free hand on his cheek to get his attention, "you'd bring the girls?"

Annie watched a huge smile envelope Auggie's face.

"I wanted to tell them in the best possible way, this makes it all perfect. Email me and tell me where we are going and we will be there."

The End of Rajkot…..wonder where Dart on a Map will send them for the wedding….tune in next week.