Replaceable


8 am.

Admitting it or not, even Auggie Anderson is replaceable. Auggie just had to realize that, when he got back to work after a four week vacation. When he opened the heavy doors to the DPD - office everything looked like he never left. Okay, he couldn't see that, but he felt, heard and smelled it. He could make out the sound of footsteps of his coworkers, the conversations, the rustling of paper. Added to the usual office smell of coffee and ink, Auggie noticed the smell of different perfumes and aftershaves.

Nothing's changed. Expect of him. His vacation showed him how blind he really was. Auggie finally realized he was in love with a special, blonde coworker. He was in love with Annie Walker. Taking one last breath he walked towards Annie's desk, just to find it empty. Maybe she was on a coffee run or was in a briefing with Joan. He shrugged it off, knowing he'd get a chance to talk to her later.

His white, public cane in his hand, he walked straight to his office. When he pushed the glass door open, he smelled an unknown perfume. It was definitely male. Added to the perfume an unfamiliar voice talked:

"Really? And I thought you'd known better, A." The voice sounded nice, polite and honest. Auggie could tell man was smiling. Only a second later he heard Annie's laugh. How he adored it, to hear her laughing. It sounded like music in his ears, it made his heart beat faster, a smile spreading over his face. His mood dropped a little, when he remembered how the man called Annie and that the man caused her amusement.

Auggie stood in the door for almost a minute until Annie and the new guy realized he stood there. Annie's kitten heels clicked, when she jumped up.

"Auggie!" Annie screamed and ran over to him, pulling him into a hug. "It's good to see you again, Aug."

"It's good to see you, too Annie." Auggie answered, smiling at her greeting. Their hug broke after a few seconds and the man walked towards Auggie.

"Hey, I don't think we've met before." Auggie said, stretching out his hands toward the probable direction of the man. "I'm Auggie Anderson."

"Nice to meet you, Auggie. I'm James. I was running Tech-Ops while you were gone, I hope you don't mind." He said taking Auggie's hand.

"As long as everything is at its place, everything is fine. I would have problems looking for everything." Auggie answered. It was a whole lie. He did mind. James wasn't just his replacement at work, no. Auggie also felt like Annie used James as replacement as best friend.

"Don't worry, Aug. I made sure everything is the way you need it." He heard Annie's voice, her smile at the hint to his blindness.

Auggie walked to his desk, folded his white cane and took out his laser cane from his desk drawer. "I'm going to talk to Joan. Annie, do I see you at Allen's later?"

"Actually, James and I were going there, but I'm sure he doesn't mind you joining us." Annie said, looking at James.

"No, I don't mind at all." James answered. But Auggie did. It was their place. Allen's belonged to him and Annie.

"No, it's okay. I thought of going to pick up a girl, anyway." He didn't think about that at all. He just didn't want to feel like a fifth wheel. He turned around and walked out of his office, taking the steps to Joan's office, knocked and entered her office.


6 pm.

The day had passed by without him really remembering any of it. After his talk with Joan he started to work at his desk, drank coffee and thought about Annie. When did he fall in love with his best friend? And how did she feel about Auggie? At noon he went to her desk to find it empty. Later that day he found out she had lunch with James. What was so special about this guy anyway?

Auggie was sitting at Allen's Tavern, drinking his second beer when he heard Annie's heels. Hell, how could he hear them? The music was loud, people we having loud conversations. But he heard her anyway. And then he heard James voice.

"You know how pretty you look tonight, A.?"

Once more Auggie wished he was able to see, to see Annie, but he couldn't. And he'd never be able to. He would give up everything to see Annie. He was sick of hearing all the agents talking about how pretty she was. He wanted to see her by himself.

Listening to Annie's and James' steps fading away, Auggie assumed they were going to the tables. A part of him wanted to follow the sound of Annie's heels, be with her, be close to her, to smell her Jo Malone Grapefruit perfume, to hear her laugh. But the other part of him told him to leave, to let her be alone with James. He wanted Annie to enjoy her time with James. She deserved so much.

Auggie emptied his beer, took his cane and walked towards the exit. He was almost outside when he overheard a conversation of two female CIA agents. He recognized the voices of Julia and Lena.

"Have you seen Walker and this new guy? They are so cute together." Julia said.

"Yes, damn. It was about time they started dating. I mean, I knew from day one they had this connection. But why Walker? This guy is so hot. Why does Annie get the hot guys?" Lena answered her.

Auggie had heard enough and left the bar as fast as he could. Why did it hurt him so much? It wasn't like she belonged to him. Annie could date whoever she wanted to and Auggie would tell her how glad he was, that she found someone who was able to make her smile. He'd pretend to be fine, to be the best friend she wanted him to be. But Auggie wasn't even sure if she still thought about him as best friend. He'd do everything to make her happy, even disappearing from her life. What did he think? He wouldn't leave Annie. He couldn't.

Auggie would hide his feelings like he ever does, he'd burry his love for Annie deep inside him, where no one, not even Annie Walker could reach it. He'd close the door to his feelings and throw away the key. Someday the feelings would kill him, but until then he will keep them hidden.

Auggie Anderson was replaceable.


I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I'm not sure if this is is going to be an one shot or if there will be some more chapters. Tell me what you'd like in a review please.

So please review and tell me if you'd like it.