Globe Trotting: Mtwara Part 1

Notes: My hiatus fic project involves sending Annie and Auggie around the world prompted by a random city generator. The city that turns up will determine if they are working or vacationing, but it should provide enough research fodder to keep me going for a while. I am starting right where 4X16 left off and going off book, hope you enjoy!

Thanks to Epona3 for letting me talk it out this weekend !

***555***

Annie flipped the phone shut and turned her face to the sun and fresh air of the bay. She thought about every time Auggie had led her to safety and every journey home over the past 4 years. Finally exhaustion over took her and she found her way below deck to a small cabin with a comfortable bed.

She was up and showered and dressed as they approached the aircraft carrier, a tender ship coming out to meet them and take her the rest of the way.

"Hello Ma'am," a young soldier greeted as he helped her navigate the transition from vessel to vessel. Annie thanked the owner of the yacht Auggie had managed to procure and waved to the crew as she sailed away.

Once aboard she was greeted by an officer who handed her a sat phone and told her to call Calder Michaels immediately.

"This is Michaels," he answered.

"Calder, it's Annie," she said sounding more like herself.

"Walker, good to hear your voice. Listen, I hate to do this, there is no time to waste though. Oliver Lee has proven an incredible source. He knows he cannot go back to China and he is willing to trade intel for security in the states. He has outlined 6 active missions Henry had in play, we have 5 of them covered, we need you to stop the 6th, our resources are stretched in the region," Calder rushed.

"Um, OK," Annie was surprised and quickly regrouped for another mission.

"I know you are due some R&R, but there is a bomb scheduled to go off in 72 hours and that time table may be moved up if word of Henry's death make it to his cells."

"Where?"

"Tanzania, Mtwara to be exact. Auggie will fill you in on all the details, Admiral Canton has a plane inbound to get you," Calder reported.

"Auggie?" Annie asked.

"We re-routed him, he'll meet you in Mtwara. You are not on your own any more Annie, you are working with CIA support and from what I have seen you and Auggie can move mountains. Stop this and you two can take as long as you want before coming back to DC," Calder said sincerely.

"OK, I'll head for my ride," Annie smiled into the phone.

***555***

Twelve hours later Annie landed on a grass covered air strip, the ocean bright blue beyond. A jeep was waiting for her, a local man told her Mingus sent him and she hopped in for the short ride to a hotel. The old white stone structure looked cool and welcoming, big ceiling fans thwacking against the warm humid air and pushing through the open lobby from one set of French doors to another.

She saw him then, sitting in a wicker chair, his head tilted back and eyes closed, his breathing steady, but not steady enough for sleep. He looked exhausted, but so beautiful.

"I'm here," was all she said and his eyes opened, his head tilted forward and a smile broke out that took ten years off his appearance.

"Welcome to Tanzania," he said as he stood.

"Why are you down here?" she dropped her bag on a loveseat and moved closer to him.

"I got a room, but I didn't know… I wasn't sure, if…. We haven't really talked, so if you want your own room I can," he was using his hands to try and make more sense of his conflicted feelings.

She moved closer, brushed her hand against his arm before reaching under that arm and cupping his hip, the other hand moving to his stubbled jaw and pulling him to her. She kissed him softly but with conviction, felt him tremble under her hand, moved closer when his hands encouraged it.

"One room is fine," she smiled as she pulled back.

"OK," he nodded and kissed her one more time.

"Mr. Anderson," a hotel employee appeared, "excuse me."

"Yes," Auggie replied, his hands still on Annie.

"Your room and dinner are ready whenever you are Sir," the clerk spoke lovely English.

"Asante," Auggie replied in Swahili.

***555***

Annie used the old school metal key to unlock the door to a big airy room, the walls and floor white wood, a dark wood four poster bed and desk with 2 chairs the only furniture in the room. A set of glass doors open to a patio facing the thick vegetation below and the ocean just a short distance beyond.

She guided Auggie to the desk and he placed his bag and cane there as she moved about, finding a closet and a large en-suite bathroom. Before she could say anything there was a knock at the door and Annie opened it to another staff member with a rolling cart covered in food. She thanked him and rolled it right out on to the patio.

"I know we need to discuss the mission, but do we have time to just sit and eat first?" she asked as she moved the chairs out to bookend the table.

"Of course," he smiled softly and took her arm as she led him to their dinner.

"What's on the menu?" Auggie asked.

"You ordered it," she laughed.

"I just told them to send dinner," he shrugged.

"Rice, some sort of green vegetable that looks like okra maybe, a stew that appears to be coconut based with fish and curry, flat bread and a bottle of what I assume is wine," she reported.

"It smells good," he mentioned.

"It looks delicious, but it is a traditional African service," she moved her chair closer to him and started arranging the dishes.

"I got pretty good at this," he said while not going into any more detail about the amount of time he spent in Africa with Parker.

"Well we both look like we could use a bath, so if we end up wearing our dinner it won't be too bad," she laughed and handed Auggie a hot towel to wash his hands.

Annie dug in first, she took a small ball of sticky rice with her fingers and dipped it into the stew working it into the right consistency to make it to her mouth without dripping too much on herself.

"Mmmm, hot," she blew out a breath.

"Temperature or spice?" Auggie asked as he found the rice.

"Both," she smiled, "but so delicious."

They ate in companionable quiet, murmuring words of delight at the spicy food. A sliced mango serving as dessert. Annie finished her wine and Auggie could tell the glass was empty when she put it down.

"More?" he asked finding the bottle.

"We do need to work," she hesitated.

"All we have to do tonight is a briefing, no action until morning. Why don't you take a second glass of wine and take a bath?"

"You trying to get me drunk?" she laughed.

"No, I am trying to let you have a little bit of rest between missions. You've been through a lot Annie, you need a break," he ran a hand over his face.

"You too," she reached out for his hand.

He was about to argue with her, but instead he just nodded his head and squeezed her hand.

"How about you join me for that bath, you can brief me in the tub," she stood and took the wine and their empty glasses in one hand and offered the other arm for Auggie.

Annie drew a nice bath, poured them some wine and helped Auggie settle at one end of the large tub then she stripped off the clothes she had been wearing for over 48 hours, grabbed her own wine and slipped into the tub at the other end, her toes sliding along Auggie's legs and tucking themselves behind his hips.

"Nice," she sighed and let her head tip back against the cool stone tub.

"It is," he agreed and used his free hand to massage the muscle of her calf.

"What are we doing here?"

"In the tub, you invited me," Auggie said confused.

"In Tanzania, Auggie. What is the mission?" she clarified as she flexed her muscles under his strong fingers.

TBC…