Never see you again
Auggie was in a tricky situation. Joan Campbell had given him a chance to go back into the field but the circumstances were anything else but easy. Auggie would have preferred a different occasion, a different job, to prove his skills as a CIA operative or more precisely as a blind operative.
The day before, during a meeting, Joan had told him that he was supposed to get in touch with Natasha Petrovna. This Russian computer hacker was not just an OP, she was a lot more, she was his ex-girlfriend and that made the whole thing so complicated for Auggie. He and Natasha had been in a relationship and for Auggie it had been very difficult. He had not expected to fall in love with the target that he was supposed to spy on. Natasha had trusted him, she had loved him and he had come to love her, while he was spying on her.
When Natasha was finally arrested by the FBI and ended up in jail, Auggie felt guilty. He had dated so many women for various purposes. The reason had always been to collect information. But Natasha was a different thing. She had not been just another OP on a long list, she had been his lover for quite a while. When he learned about Natasha being detained, he was convinced he would never see her again. And despite the fact, that he was supposed to meet her again very soon, it was true in a certain way. His life had changed since he had left for Iraq. He had lost his vision and he would never SEE Natasha again with his eyes. All he could do was listen to her voice and take in the scent of her perfume. He wondered what it would be like to meet the girl, he had been in a relationship with three years ago. He wondered what her first reaction would be. He had no clue whatsoever whether she had changed as much as he had.
Auggie shut down his computer, grabbed his cane from the top drawer of his desk and rose from his chair. He walked over to the bull pen area where Annie had also risen from her desk chair. Together they made their way to the door. Auggie swept his cane back and forth, turned slightly towards Annie who walked behind him and said:
"Can you take me home? I have to change before we go to Datatech"
Barely an hour later Auggie and Annie walked through the exhibition centre. Various computer companies had set up their information booths and Auggie provided information about the visitors based on Annie´s description. Finally they reached a huge convention hall. The stage was occupied by a number of guys that Auggie described as former hackers that had turned into celebrities of the computer scene. And all of a sudden he heard a familiar voice and a well known Russian accent. It was her, it was Tash, the girl he had dumped for agency protocol and intel purposes. Auggie´s well trained ears carefully listened to every word she had to say and Annie watched him. She realized that Auggie´s feelings were in turmoil.
Ten minutes later, Auggie made his approach. "Take me to her" he said to Annie and his CIA spy colleague gave him a hint when Natasha walked past him.
"Hey, wait Tash!"
Natasha Petrovna turned and she looked like she had seen a ghost. The voice was so familiar to her but she had never expected to hear it again. And then she made a few steps towards Auggie and slapped him right into his face.
It took Auggie by surprise and he said
"I did not see that coming"
And then he heard a so familiar voice in a Russian accent say:
"You should have!"
Auggie knew it was her, the same voice, the same sarcastic tone, the same scent. But despite her being so close, he would never see her again.
