Mac stared at him. "What is it?"
"One of you must strip down to your bathing suit and dive down into the water to retrieve the next clue. You must wait until your body temperature returns to 98.6 degrees before you can continue on."
As unpleasant as it sounded, Mac couldn't help but laugh. "You poor guy. I think it's a conspiracy."
"Yeah, I bet that Harriet paid off the show producers."
BACK AT THE ROBERTS' RESIDENCE
"Hey!" Harriet laughed. "I did not. But it would've been a good idea."
BACK IN ALASKA
"C'mon, Harm...focus." Mac reluctantly stripped down, gasping as the cold air hit her skin.
"Mac, I can do it."
"Harm...relax." She jumped into the water, crying out. "Oh my...wow that's cold."
"Mac, hurry...the less time you spend in the cold, the better."
"You just want to warm me up." She joked, her teeth chattering. "But you're right."
Harm watched as her head disappeared under the water. He held his breath until he saw her reappear, clue in hand. Quickly moving to teh edge, he helped pull her out. He was handed a blanket which he eagerly wrapped around her shivering form. He pulled her against his warmer body, his hands rubbing body gently to try to help warm her up. He honestly didn't care about the race nearly as much as getting her body to a safer temperature.
Mac snuggled into his warmth, happy to have an excuse to be in his arms. She smiled softly at how concerned he was about her. //I never want this race to end.//
Harm held her for several minutes until her temperature reading was back to normal. He released her reluctantly and turned his back as she dressed.
Mac touched his shoulder gently before opening their clue. "Drive to Matanuska glacier."
"Let's go." Harm took her hand, something that was becoming a little too natural for him. He led her to the waiting SUVs before handing her the map and climbing behind the driver's seat.
Mac gave him directions after turnign the heat up to full blast. They pulled up at the glacier an hour later.
Mac ran to the box, ripping open the clue. "Roadblock." She read the clue to herself before looking up at the glacier.
"What?"
"Climb to the top of the ice wall."
Harm looked up at the glacier. "You sure you want to do this?"
"Well, I used to climb Red Rock Mesa all the time. I'll be fine."
"Becareful, okay?"
"I always am." She kissed his cheek lightly before going to the Amazing Race staff to put on the harness, gloves and climbing shoes. Moments later, she was making her way up the wall, shivering slightly.
MEANWHILE
The other five teams arrived in Anchorage and ran to the SUVs, driving quickly to the detour.
Pete and David grinned, immediately picking snowmobile.
Gerry and Melissa did the same. While Andy/Bev and Bernie/Anne chose the dog-sled.
Katie and Donna arrived last and chose the snowmobile.
BACK AT THE GLACIER
Harm watched Mac carefully. He knew he didn't need to worry about her. She was a Marine and a fine one at that. But he couldn't help it. He always worried about her.
She made quick work of the wall before quickly making her way down the side with the clue in her hand.
Harm sighed in relief when she returned to his side. "Where to?"
"Make your way on foot to the cabins just north of the glacier. The last team to arrive may be eliminated."
Harm grabbed their bags, despite Mac's protest that she could carry her own. "You've done more than your share today. Relax...it's only a mile or so to the cabin." He walked off before she could protest further.
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the cabins and stepped onto the mat in front of Phil.
"Welcome to Alaska. Harm and Mac, you're team number one."
Harm grinned, kissing her temple.
"You two definitely seem to be on track now.'
"Well, the prize is too good to lose." He grinned more.
"Yeah, it is a nice sum of money." Phil agreed.
"Oh, that's not the prize I was talking about. We have a little bet of our own. We win...we get hitched."
Phil's eyes widened. "Wow...well whatever works. Good luck."
Harm pulled Mac into one of the cabins where their dinner was waiting. He couldn't help but notice her shivering throughout dinner.
When she laid down, he snuggled up against her. "You looked cold." He smiled shyly.
"I am so...thank you." She snuggled into him more. "Sweet dreams."
"You too." He held her close as they both drifted off.
TWO HOURS LATER
Pete and David made it to the glacier where David got to the top with relative ease. They sprinted to the mat. "Pete and David, you're team number two."
Gerry and Melissa arrived twenty minutes later. Gerry had done the roadblock.
Andy and Bev arrived five minutes later. They were a little behind after taking the dog-sled, but Andy got up the glacier quickly to make up lost time.
Forty minutes later, Bernie and Anne arrived at the pit-stop. They had good luck with the dogs, but the wall proved challenging for Anne.
Twenty minutes later, Katie and Donna arrived. They had troubles with the snowmobile which put them further behidn. Donna made it up the glacier in pretty good time, but not nearly good enough to make up the distance.
BACK AT THE ROBERTS' RESIDENCE
The group cheered as they watched Harm and Mac finish first again.
"I guess we should start finding wedding gifts for them." Jen grinned.
"I knew it would work!" Harriet squeeled.
"I must thank you." AJ chuckled. "While it's going to make some things more complicated, it sure will be less hostile around the office."
Harriet nodded happily. "They're unstoppable now."