Yeah, so I'm back. Here's chapter one. Next chapter in two weeks? We'll see.

"It's been a long day living with this
It's been a long time since I felt so sick
I took a long walk straight back home
I could've walked back to San Francisco...
I never had a problem facing fear
but I'm done, over and out my dear!"

~Alkaline Trio - Mercy Me.

Auggie Anderson was far from stupid. Blind; yes. Stupid? Absolutely not. Every decision he had ever made was either for the greater good, the good of his friends, or both. He rarely thought of self-benefit, and despite being weighed down without his sight, he considered himself a smart man at the CIA and a valuable asset. Joan was always praising him and his buddies were well aware of his abilities that could save a failing mission through a computer.

So when that same Auggie Anderson came back from Africa, he felt he was very stupid to let Parker go. He knew that letting her go right before her leaving was the right thing to do for the both of them. He couldn't love her the way he had loved others. She had lost her brother and they had found comfort in each other. Parker had agreed for similar reasons but even Auggie knew that she had found someone else in the short time they had been apart. She deserved someone whole, someone who did not have the burden of death on his shoulders. Their meeting in Africa was bittersweet, but needed; they had closure.

But now Auggie felt alone. Letting Parker go was a huge step because not only did he let go of someone he had deep, moving feelings for, he let go of a connection to his old brothers back in the Special Forces team. He found that when he looked inside his mind, he no longer felt the intense, stinging guilt, shame, and hurt. Yes, he still felt like it was his fault, but there was no more self-torture. He could never forgive himself, but compared to the many nights he restlessly laid awake, his days were getting better. He had even given his beautiful car to his best friend, Annie.

Oh Annie Walker. How on Earth had she grown so fast? Auggie grinned to himself and leaned back in his chair slightly, amazed at the thought of her famous heels clicking against the floor, her intoxicating scents of grapefruit and baked goods that she stole from her sister's kitchen table. He learned not to trust many people while working in the CIA; hell, he didn't even trust his fellow co-workers to an extent. But she was different. Maybe because her first personal question about him wasn't how he got blind, but about his wicked cool headphones.

Speak of the devil, his ears had found a familiar set of steps. "Why good morning Annie, how are you on this bright, shinning morning?"

He heard her snort. "And how would you know if the world is bright and shinning today? Is there something you're not telling me?" She playfully nudged his shoulder with her own.

Auggie chose his next words carefully. "The same way I know you're in an annoyed mood and how Joan is going to make it worse."

On cue, Joan called Annie's name. With a twirl, Annie's heels dimmed away and Auggie closed his eyes, a hand unconsciously rubbing them. He hadn't told anyone of the visits he made to the doctor regarding his eyesight. He was putting too much hope into something that may not be possible and he refused to let anyone do the same. A pang of guilt washed over him; he always trusted Annie to tell him if anything was wrong at home. So why couldn't he do the same with her?

Losing his eyesight was both catastrophically life changing and annoying. Auggie would be lying if he said that he didn't miss the fieldwork. But it had its perks; his parking spot was close to the building's front door since, you know, handicapped. But he never escaped the chance to dream about what he would see first if he miraculously got his eyesight back.

Annie's heels brought him back to reality. "Well, well. You were right Auggie. Joan has pissed me off. Looks like you'll be accompanying me while I go to the ever exciting Japan."

"That's great Annie be care-" Auggie's eyes widen. "Me? Accompany? What?"

"Come on, into the conference room." Her are looped around his as they walked up the steps.

Joan was already there, along with a few other members of the DPD. Auggie felt the room was tense, which only meant that Arthur wasn't very far behind either, and if he was right, Arthur wasn't happy with whatever Joan was planning. Low chatters and movement filled his ears and Joan finally cleared her throat and silence fell upon them.

"We've had our eyes on a potential source of Intel in Japan for quite some time now, however, it seems our person of interest has gone off the radar. More importantly, we've lost contact with our agent that was undercover for over 24 hours."

Auggie felt Annie perk up at that news. "Don't we usually go searching for missing operatives after 48 hours?"

"That would be the case, but the circumstances to this mission are much more… public." Joan hit the buttons on her clicker and the screen behind her glowed. "This is the building in which both the missing operative and the person of interest were both working at."

The room had gone eerily quiet, and of course, Auggie had no idea what was on the screen. "So… is anyone going to fill the blind guy in on what the hell's going on?"

Joan cleared her throat again. "Auggie, Annie. The missing operative's name is Amy and her mission was to gather the Intel from a popular host named Dimitri. Dimitri is of Russian des-"

"Did you just say host?" Auggie's upper lip twitched. "You sent another one of our operatives as a prostitute when Annie's the one with that kind of experience?" A chuckle broke out through the room while Auggie received an elbow from Annie. He could feel the incredulous look she sent him and laughed to himself.

It was probably Joan's piercing stare that brought them back to reality. "A host," she informed them as she stepped down, "is someone meant to entertain and converse with. There is no sex Auggie, you're not getting lucky this time." The familiar chuckle went across the room again. "The Intel is not meant to have to do with the host business in Osaka, but the manager of the club, Jester Sasaki, is who we're gathering information about. Sources are chattering about a possible arms deal and movement that might happen within the next few weeks." Joan stopped in front of Auggie and placed a manila folder in his hands. "Auggie, you're going to go undercover as a host and Annie," she shifted over, and placed a folder in her hands. "Annie, you're going to play as a client. This way, we have ears in and out of the club as well as any talk between clients. Jester has been on the radar of the CIA and the Japanese government, but he's slick. There's almost nothing connecting him to the arms trade, besides this Intel. Everyone else that seems to have something to say about him seems to just disappear all too conveniently in his favor."

Joan turned and addressed the rest of the crowd. "We have a missing operative under strange circumstances in a country that we have good relations with. Let's try not to tear that apart." And with that, footsteps echoed away. Auggie made a turn to leave with Annie until he heard Joan call their names again. She approached them with what seemed to be a wariness that Joan's step never had before.

"Both of you, in my office, in five."

"Done," Annie spoke with a slight tremble. When Joan was out of earshot, he felt her arm turn in his. "Boy, she must be some important operative. She was totally serious back there. I mean she always is, but something tells me that this is really personal."

"Maybe this one hit home a little. Why was Arthur there?"

"I don't know, he didn't say anything, but he didn't look so pleased either. We better go up to Joan's office to find out what he wants. He's there too."

Annie guided Auggie to the office and closed the door. He made no move to sit as tension and adrenaline began to pulse into his bloodstream. Finally, after what seemed like years, he was going back into the field, with someone he had respect for. And being a host couldn't be that hard. Maybe the beautiful women and booze could wipe his head of his irrational thinking.

It was Arthur that spoke first. "You both know that this has been a very difficult time for the Agency. Jai was assassinated and just because the leak was plugged, it doesn't mean that the press isn't off our backs. This is a risky mission because the Japanese government isn't to be involved. You both know very well that we're not always welcomed into countries, even ones that declare themselves as allies or declare neutrality." He paused for a second, as if he wanted to let that information sink into their heads. "Furthermore, don't let the events of the past few days cloud any judgment you have or allow it to be leeway for you two to break protocol." He moved slightly. "Annie, you were present when Jai's car exploded. Though Joan may have excused you from seeking professional therapy, I am giving you the chance to say no to this mission. Any time you want to drop out, you call, and you're out. If you detect a single doubt in your head, you can be excused, with no favors to return to anyone. Is that understood?"

Auggie felt the grip on his arm tighten. "With all due respect sir," Annie gritted out, "I think my language skills and Auggie's charm are the only factors that can make this mission possible. I will never let my weaknesses put our missing operative on the line. I will continue as planned."

The room quieted as Arthur muttered a "very well" and exited the room. Auggie turned slightly, facing where he knew Joan's desk ought to be. "You held your tongue nicely there."

Joan sighed, exasperated by her husband's concern and her own worry. "He's my boss in this building only, I can promise you that. Now, about this mission, sit please." Auggie felt Annie guide him to a chair as he felt his own grip on his laser cane tighten.

"Despite western belief, host clubs are no where close to what American strip clubs are. Let's call them more classier." Auggie heard the crinkle of pictures being passed to Annie as Joan set a piece of paper with Braille writing. His hands skimmed over the paper as Joan continued to speak. "The club, fortunately, has many men of different culture backgrounds, and of course, American seems to be popular as well as European. The files I gave you will have information of who's going to put you through a sort of host training, Auggie."

Annie's voice roused him from his reading. "I thought this was the other way around at first."

"I knew you'd say something like that, but the manager works a host club, so we work with what we have. Annie, I don't expect you to stay with Auggie for every night you do go to the club. But make sure you do chat with him, because the club setting is also a public one that can be great to pass new information around. The location of a safe house and a hotel are there as well. Pack your bags by tonight; the flight is tomorrow in the afternoon."

"And Amy?" Annie asked. Oh, that was so like her. Never mind the danger she would be in, but focus on the person who was in danger already.

Joan tensed. "Amy's a smart girl, and like you, a smooth talker. We're hoping she hasn't been burned yet, but if there's no contact within the next 24 hours, we have to assume she's been made. We're hoping you two can get an idea where she is, but your mission is to solely bring back the Intel. Once you get it, you contact us, and you are out of there."

Auggie pulled in a breath. "So what you're saying is, within 24 hours, Amy becomes our concern too?"

"No, but if all fails, it might be. Like I said, Intel before anything else in this mission. Amy is highly trained and we have others stationed in Japan with plans to get her out." She must have stood because Annie put the files in a pile and pulled Auggie to stand.

Auggie motioned for Annie to go on out her office without him. As the door closed shut, Auggie said, "You booked a flight when you didn't even know I'd accept?"

Joan half laughed to herself in a lifeless manner. "You're the one that said you didn't want to be stuck behind a desk forever. I don't want your best in this mission Auggie, I want better than that. Arthur was hesitant, but I have faith in my people. And I don't want my people to be tied down."

Sensing his dismissal, Auggie left the room, making his way back to his desk where he opened the file once more. He read on what kind of people would pay to talk to other people; mostly rich women or chatty younger ones apparently. And they didn't just talk either. Hosts were expected to be on best behavior; as in flirting with them, pouring drinks, singing, and just having a good time. Women would pay by the bottle to be with certain men, some men being worth up to thousands of dollars.

Suddenly, Auggie's temper flared. Pouring drinks? Holding doors open? Did they all forget he was fucking blind? Or was that the point of it all? He stood up and mechanically went back to Joan's office, opening the door.

"Why are you doing this to me? Is this some sort of test to find out if I can live a normal life?"

"Why yes Auggie, you may come in." He heard her pen fall to the desk and her chair move back.

"There are many more pretty boys you could have used, but you picked me because I'm blind? Is that supposed to some how bring in the ladies and get some arms dealer to trust me? Because I can't see?"

Joan's tone was sharp. "Auggie, you know very well I chose you because believe it or not, being blind hasn't made you less attractive and Annie works well with you." Auggie made a move to interrupt but Joan cut through him again. "Yes, you being blind makes you vulnerable and maybe even more trusting, but that does not impair your ability to gather information with your voice and conscience. If you really want someone else to take your place, tell me now so I can tell Ann-"

"No it's fine," Auggie quickly said. "Sorry, I lost my cool. I know what I have to do, it's just that…" He trailed off for a bit. "Are you sure I can handle something like this? Annie can pick up her weight easily, but I can be extra."

"If you're implying that you're a burden to Annie, you should think twice. You took her under your arm faster than anyone else has with ones off the farm. You've looked after her enough." She stopped for a second before saying her next words. "Trust Annie enough to handle you for once."

Auggie fell silent. After a long minute, he threw open the door and left, leaving Joan with a satisfied smile.

Auggie made his way to his desk, only to smell grapefruits close by. "Isn't this exciting? Me and you, mission in Japan."

"Yeah, all sorts of exciting and dangerous." He tried to hide the fact that about a minute ago, he was about to back out. "Our arms dealer friend is Jester Sasaki, who has ties to Japanese diplomats everywhere. Every time the government tries to catch him, or at least try to, their case or plans fall apart. All he has on him is an assault charge by; get this, one of the clients that used to go to his club, a woman named Katie Rodgers. She's from here but moved to Japan to finish her PhD in medicine at Osaka City University's Graduate School of Medicine. She stated in the report that in whatever free time she had, she'd go to the club with a few school friends."

"Is there a list of hosts that she most frequently visited?" Annie asked.

Auggie smiled. "Look at you, being all clever. There is actually. Shortly after the assault charges were filed, Jester filed harassment charges on behalf of a host named Dimitri. Dimitri is Russian born and bred, but can speak an array of languages, just like Katie and you. And look who Katie visited the most out of all the hosts in the club?"

"Dimitri."

"And guess who happens to be at the other end of this arms deal…"

"Oh don't say the Russian mob, I'm getting tired of them."

Auggie faked a surprised look. "But the Russian mob always has the fun weapons! I'm only kidding," he laughed out when Annie smacked his arm. "No, it's a military group. Small, but united and concentrated, unlike the other dozens of groups that want to take over Russia. They're paying big bucks, and we need the Intel that has their names, information, and possible deal setting and time."

Annie lifted herself off of his desk and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "We'll get it, and we'll get Amy out too."

His eyes met hers for a second before looking in the other direction. "I know, but for Joan's sake, I hope we find them soon." He got up and looped his arm into hers and started to walk. "Now, I believe we have some packing to do, Miss. Walker."

Review or whatnot. Thanks for reading.