Amazing Part 20
Annie laughed out loud when they arrived at Lake Yamanaka. There, lined up in a neat little row, were bright yellow duck-shaped paddle boats. The clue indicated they were to take a paddle boat out to the large Swan shaped boat in the middle of the lake.
"How are your legs feeling?" she asked.
"Fine…." He answered with caution.
"We are paddle boating," she clarified.
"Oh, that's not so bad," he smiled.
"Not at all, it is a beautiful day for a ride," she took his arm and led him to the first boat, getting him situated as Danielle and Kendall approached.
"Aren't these too cute!" Kendall squealed, the younger women appearing to have weathered the effects of the hangover better than most.
"Race ya?" Danielle asked as Annie settled into her seat.
"I think we are going to take the scenic route," Annie smiled.
"We'll try not to blow you out of the water with our wake," Kendall laughed.
Annie took Auggie's hand, instructed him to get his feet in the right spot and counted them off on a slow pace. She took in the sights and enjoyed the fresh air, her head finally pain-free from the hangover.
"I really don't want this to end," Annie sighed.
"The real world isn't going to be as easy you know," he laced his fingers through hers.
"I know," she nodded and tried to keep her thoughts light.
"We'll find a way to have both you know?" he read her thoughts.
"I know," she repeated, more confident.
They made it to the big swan and Auggie avoided a swim in Lake Yamanaka when Annie helped him climb aboard.
"Heard you had a rough ride today," Gwen smirked a little at Annie.
"Did you stock that bar knowing what today's challenge was, felt a little like a set up?" Annie arched an eyebrow.
"You guys shouldn't get to have all the fun," Gwen shrugged and showed them to their bunks in the boat's lower level.
"Dinner is in 2 hours, get some rest," Gwen squeezed Auggie's shoulder on the way out.
The group that night was much more subdued, properly chastised for their drinking by the rigors of the day the group ate a quiet meal together and retreated to their bunks early.
Auggie slept fitfully on the boat, the small bunk he shared with Annie too restrictive for the flailing he might have done at home, his body coiled up and anxious when he woke.
"You OK?" Annie mumbled, her eyes still closed and her hands stroking his tense back.
"I had a strange dream," he confessed.
"Yeah?" she asked quietly.
"I dreamt I could see you," she heard pain and sorrow in his voice and woke shocked to see tears in his eyes.
"Oh Auggie," she cooed and moved her hands from his back to his face, wiped the tears away and kissed his cheek.
"You do see me, more than anyone ever has," she tried to reassure him.
***555***
"Where to?" Auggie asked as Annie opened the clue.
"Anchorage," she smiled.
"Alaska? Huh," Auggie shrugged and shouldered his pack.
They didn't have to paddle back to shore, a tender boat brought them as a group and soon they were at another airport, waiting for another crazy long trip.
"We're close to done," Auggie mentioned off-handedly, both of them knowing that their mission was still not complete.
"I feel good," Annie kept it subtle.
"Yes, you do," Auggie teased as he squeezed her a little tighter.
"I hope we're alone again soon," she whispered in his ear.
He just closed his eyes and nodded, his nose lost in her hair.
"Where did you find him, I want one?" Kendall asked as she sat across from them in the airport seating area.
"At work," Annie giggled.
"Oh yeah, a job, gotta get me one of those," Kendall smiled.
"What did you study in school?" Annie asked.
"Government," Kendall replied.
"Come to DC, there are tons of jobs, none of them pay anything, but hey…the Smithsonian's free," Auggie smiled.
"Will you give me a tour?" Kendall laughed.
"Auggie is an awesome tour guide, he once gave my niece's 3rd grade class a tour of the Museum of Natural History," Annie kissed him on the cheek.
"You never did properly thank me for that," he remembered.
"I bought you beer, that was as good as you were getting back then," she snarked.
"I bet my reward for such an action would be much better now," he stage whispered and Annie blushed.
"OK, if my sister moves back and the girls are in need of a field trip guide and you are available I promise I will reward you properly," she shook his hand to make it official.
***555***
Although it was spring time, Anchorage was still cold and the cars they found included directions to Mirror Lake where the ice and snow were still prevalent.
Their choice of challenges included drilling ice fishing holes or transporting medical supplies to a first aid station 75 miles away by small aircraft. The day was foggy and Annie was certaint he craft would get grounded so she and Auggie decided to try their hand at ice fishing.
Manual augers were hard to use, but Annie got Auggie in the right spot and his upper body strength made short work of the thick ice.
"We need three holes and then we have to push that little shack thing across the ice to cover it," Annie yelled over the strong wind.
Auggie was both sweating and freezing when he was done, his body unsure what temperature it wanted to be. They took their time crossing the ice to get the shack and once they found it realized it was much sturdier and therefor heavier than they anticipated.
"This is fun," he said with thinly veiled derision after 15 minutes of maneuvering.
"Buck up Soldier," Annie tried to tease him and he just turned and glared at her.
"It's almost over?" she tried again with her most adorable voice and the glare softened to a wane grin.
A few more feet and they got the hut in place, given the thumbs up by the local ice fishing aficionado they were handed a clue.
"Oh thank god," Annie sighed.
"What?"
"Pit stop, at a hotel," she reported.
"Perfect, I get you alone for the first time in over a week and I might not be able to stay awake long enough to even make out with you," he grinned as he shook out his sore arms.
They made it to the car and followed the directions to the Hotel Alyeska, a chateau-style hotel nestled in the glacial mountains.
"Wow, it is pretty," Annie announced.
"And likely has real beds to make up for the boat bunk, airplane seat and capsule coffin we've had the past few nights," Auggie grinned.
"Welcome to Alaska," A local woman in traditional dress greeted them as Gwen handed over a key pack.
"As you can see we have lovely accommodations this evening. Dinner is at 7:30 downstairs, enjoy," she smiled and Annie felt like she was looking at her funny.
Annie guided Auggie into the ornate lobby and to the elevator bank, she opened the key packet to find out which floor to press as Auggie wrapped an arm around her and began kissing the back of her neck.
"That feels so good, but I must smell awful," Annie giggled as she fumbled with the packet and finally figured out they were on the 6th floor.
"You smell like you, only more, and it is driving me crazy," he illustrated by pulling her back against his body and slipping a hand under her several layers of clothing.
"We're almost to the room," Annie assured him, but turned in his arms any way and captured his lips until the chime of the elevator alerted her to their arrival on 6.
Auggie protested as Annie extracted herself and led him to the room, she took out one of the key cards and a slip of paper fluttered to the floor, she snatched it and opened the door at the same time. She barely had a chance to stash the packs beside the door when Auggie had her pressed up against it and began working on her clothes.
Annie flipped open the piece of paper from the key pack.
"9:00 pm boat dock. G"
"Auggie, Auggie, Augggggiiie," she groaned as his lips found her now bare hips.
"Yeah," he replied distractedly.
"Gwen requested a meet, quite skillfully I might add," Annie smiled.
Auggie looked up from his spot on his knees in front of her.
"That's great, but please tell me it is not now," the desire in his eyes made him look almost drunk.
"It's after dinner," she reached down and stroked his hair.
"Outstanding, you can show me around the room later, where's the bed?" he stood and grabbed both her hands.
TBC…