Amazing part 17
Gwen settled down on a chair across from Annie.
"Sure, go ahead," she looked concerned.
"Gwen, Auggie and I don't work for the Smithsonian," Annie began quietly.
"OK," Gwen looked puzzled.
"We work for the CIA," Auggie continued.
"OK," now Gwen looked shocked.
"We have been asked to approach you, to ask you to consider serving your country," Annie picked up.
"You're recruiting me?" Gwen smirked, "I have a job."
"We know that and we are very interested in the job you have. We are recruiting you, but not as an Operative, as an asset," Auggie explained.
"You want me to exploit the people I know in certain parts of the world for the government?" Gwen summed it up.
"Exploit is a harsh word," Annie sighed, why was this never easy.
"So you guys are CIA and this has all been one big mission for you then? Is anything about you accurate? I was really starting to like you two," Gwen's words were measured, not overly emotional and Auggie realized she would make a very good asset.
"The only lie we told was about our employer, the rest of us is completely real," Annie assured her.
"You're really a couple then?"
"Yes, we were chosen for this because we are really a couple," Auggie confirmed and ran his hand down Annie's arm to hold her hand.
"And you were really blinded in Iraq and still do field work?" Gwen was skeptical.
"I do very limited field work, although more since I started dating her," he held their joined hands up and kissed Annie's knuckles.
"What would you expect of me?"
"A heads up on where you will be on a monthly basis, possible courier services or simple things like stocking a safe house. Nothing dangerous and nothing unethical, you simply present us with an opportunity to access parts of the world we can't always have Operatives in 24/7. Your language skills, your adaptability are admirable, there could be room for more, if you want it," Annie indicated.
"Do I have to tell you now?" Gwen peeled at the label on the water bottle.
"No, not at all, you can think about it for as long as you need. If you haven't decided by the time we leave I will contact you securely so you know how to reach us. This is the really soft pitch, it shouldn't be an easy decision for you," Annie hopped off the table, relinquishing Auggie's hand and squatted down in front of Gwen.
"I'll think about it," she nodded.
"That's all we ask," Auggie smiled.
"So you don't have a yeast infection or something?" Gwen smirked at Annie.
"No, I'm fine," she squeezed the younger woman's arm.
"You'll keep this conversation…."
"Yeah, yeah," Gwen assured quickly and stood to leave.
***555***
The Pit Stop at Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort lived up to its name, there was a little too much wilderness for Annie's liking as she begged Gary to search her sleeping bag twice for spiders before reluctantly crawling in.
The next morning they were off to Bangkok and a nice long flight to Thailand allowed her to catch up on the sleep she missed in the Outback. Gwen had seemed fine since their talk, but hadn't made a move to get them alone again.
A bus ride to Lophuri and it was time for an individual challenge.
"I think I have to take this one babe," Annie squeezed his arm as Auggie perked up to a distinct noise.
"Do I hear monkeys?" he furrowed his brow.
"Lots and lots of monkeys and I need to assemble a ceremonial offering for them out of fruit and flowers and stuff. Wish my sister was here," she laughed.
"You have to make a fruit salad for monkeys?"
"That about sums it up," she confirmed.
"Well have at it, wish I could help," he said in a tone that said he was really glad he couldn't help.
The challenge proved to be more challenging for Annie than the others as even though only 1 person could assemble the display, the other member was allowed to give instructions and shoo away the monkeys who were not waiting patiently for their fruit. Auggie, and his cane, proved good at shooing, but not so helpful with telling her where to place the watermelon rose she had just carved.
"Here you are," the judge finally declared Annie's offering complete and she hadn't even stepped aside to open the envelope when the monkeys destroyed it.
"Now I know how my mother always felt at Thanksgiving," Annie watched her hard work be devoured for a few minutes before leading Auggie back out to get a cab to the ferry terminal.
Their next stop was Koh Kret Island where they found and wandered through a gorgeous Buddha Garden. The desire to win the race had faded for Annie, she was hoping to succeed in her mission and beyond that she just wanted to spend time with Auggie.
"Want to sit for a minute?" she led him to a bench near a koi pond.
"Sure, you OK?" he worried about her ankle.
"I'm totally fine Auggie, it is just really pretty and peaceful here and I want to enjoy it. We won't get another chance like this," she spoke vaguely of their work.
"I know," he pulled her close, kissed her hair.
They sat silently, absorbing their surroundings, they never saw another team. Just as Annie was about to slip into a mix of meditation and full on sleep she felt something land on her knee. Still skittish from the spiders in Australia she jumped a little, but saw that all it was was a blossom from the vibrant yellow flowering tree they sat under.
She tucked the flower behind her ear, kissed Auggie on the cheek and stood, indicating their break was over. She led him to the clue box and was uncertain of which task to choose.
"We have a choice between another arts & crafts project involving gold leaf and a Buddha altar or we can try to transport 20 clay pots on a wooden plank half a mile," she twirled the clue in her hand trying to come up with the logistics of the 2nd one.
"You had enough arts & crafts fun with your monkey buffet I take it?" Auggie raised his eyebrows at her.
"I did and I think if we can get our strides right we can move the pots, it is all about smooth and steady movement and I don't know anyone smoother than you," she whispered in his ear.
"Are you coming on to me?" he smirked.
"Always. Is it working?"
"Always. Let's get this done," he took her elbow and she followed the map to the pottery kiln.
TBC…
Note: I had hoped to finish this by the premiere (TONIGHT!) but that is not going to happen. I am planning some mid-ep/post-ep pieces for the rest of the week, but will use this to fill in as we wait for episode 2. Enjoy Season 4 guys!