In my private little fantasy world, this story falls sometime after Auggie returns ALONE from Africa. After that it goes wildly off-canon. Spoilers including Season 3, so you've been warned. As always, no copyright infringement is intended and no monetary gain sought.

She hurt, there was no getting around it. An Argentine drug thug had beaten her nearly senseless in his efforts to escape American clutches.

"Next time, Annie," she chided herself in a pained murmur, "Let the DEA guys do the take down." She limped across the floor of the guest house, depositing her bag and shoes as she went. Half-way through contemplating the grim process of removing her tank top, a knock on her door intruded on her post-mission self-criticism. Annie groaned and limped back across the floor.

The knocking became a bit more forceful. Annie wrenched open the door even as she hissed "Cut it out, Gary! I swear if you wake my nieces I'll... Auggie?"

Dressed in a soft cotton t-shirt and jeans, his hair artfully tousled, Auggie Anderson stood on her doorstep with a frown on his face and a cocked eyebrow. "Who the hell is Gary and why does he know where you live?"

"Auggie?" She repeated the question like an idiot because her brain ached just as much as the rest of her body. Her eyes traveled down his muscled arms to the case of beer in his hand. "Please tell me you didn't drink any of those before you drove over here," she quipped.

"Deflective humor won't save you this time, princess."

As her blind best friend moved past her into the guest house, Annie thought he still sounded miffed. It surely couldn't be about Gary, though. Auggie didn't get jealous. Well, not jealous in that way. She winced as her twisted knee protested her continued upright posture. "Aug, much as I appreciate the welcome home beer, I'm exhausted. I was just about to get in the bath." The last comment was a calculated ploy to turn his glare into a lewd grin. It failed miserably.

"I know what happened, Annie." Having deposited the beer on a table, he stalked back toward her.

Blind men should not be able to stalk, Annie mentally groused. Out loud, she asked, "What's wrong with you tonight?"

"Lena sending you in with insufficient cover or back-up, again, is what's wrong with me. Not just tonight, either. This has got to stop, Annie." He reached out and, in his mysterious fashion, found her hand on the first try. "You weren't in the building long enough to let the docs do X-rays. I'm half convinced I should drag you back there."

"Auggie, seriously, I'm fine. Just a some scrapes and a few bruised ribs. No bullet holes or stab wounds, I swear. I just want a long bath and some sleep. I'll come see you tomorrow and we can catch up, promise." She took a step back toward the door, but stumbled when her weight came down on her sore knee.

He moved with uncanny swiftness. The hand holding his cane opened, letting the unneeded device fall to the floor as he grasped her waist. His other hand had been gently holding hers but now skidded up her elbow. Unfortunately for Annie's efforts at down-playing her injuries, the large hand holding her waist brushed against her bruised ribs. She yelped.

Auggie's face twisted with a mixture of fear and anger. The anger took momentary precedence when Annie tried to jerk out of his grasp. Unfortunately for her, she didn't have room to back up further. The door pressed into her back as he stepped forward. He moved his hands quickly from her torso only to lock his fingers around her wrists. She gaped at him in shock when he pinned both arms above her head, holding them in place with just one hand.

"When are you going to learn you can't lie to me?" He nearly growled the question. "Stop struggling,"

"Let me go, Auggie," she whispered the plea.

His sightless eyes remained fixed on her face has his free hand snaked under the edge of her tank top. The pad of his thumb brushed against her ribs again. He sucked in his breath at her whimper. When he pressed, ever so gently, she cried out. Movements now suffused with heartbreaking tenderness, he dropped his hold on her hands. Annie found herself wrapped in the gentlest hug she'd ever had.

Auggie leaned his cheek against the top of her head. It took him more than a minute before he regained his composure enough to risk speaking. "I thought nothing could be worse than listening to you on coms while a mission went off book. I was wrong. It's even worse not knowing what is happening until the dust settles." He played with the delicate hairs at the nape of her neck. "I can't lose you too, Annie."

She couldn't respond. Her emotions were still too tangled when it came to Auggie. So, she listened to his heart pound beneath her ear and tried to stop the tears welling in her eyes. In a perfect cap to her horrendous day, one tear slipped down at the same instant he chose to brush his thumb over her cheek. His horrified expression broke her heart all over again.

"Auggie, I... I need to... could you maybe..." She couldn't form a complete sentence while looking at the emotional devastation his features betrayed.

He cursed and bent slightly to hook her arm over his shoulders. "Lean on me. You need to soak and rest that leg."

Her giggle came out more as a hiccup. "I've been trying to tell you that!"

"Don't sass me, Walker. I'm still contemplating shaking you and Lena both until your brains rattle back into place."

They arrived at the bathroom door. "I'd like to see you try, Anderson. Lena would so kick your ass."

"Doubtful," he murmured. Placing her hand against the doorframe for support, he slipped under the arm she'd flung around his shoulders. His breath teased against her ear. "I'm going to start the bath. Take your clothes off." When she snorted, he smiled for the first time that night. "I promise not to peek."

"I can handle my own bath. Get out of here."

He pointed in the general direction—he hoped—of the couch. "I'm going to be sitting right there. Leave the door open and don't you dare try to get out of that tub without help."

She cursed again. "This is silly, Auggie. I am fine. I'm closing this door and when I re-open it you'd better be on your way home."

He loomed over her quite effectively. Without a single touch, he made her feel like she was caged by his body. "Where did you get the idea this was a negotiation?"

She gulped down her nerves. "What's gotten into you?"

"We're past that part of the conversation." He, mercifully, backed up and crossed his arms over his chest. "I'm not leaving until I hear you get in that tub, Annie."

"This sucks."

"What's that?"

"I can't even call Joan and complain about you bullying me."

"You're welcome to complain to Arthur, not that it will do you any good."

Annie shuddered and it wasn't completely because of the delicious feel of the warm water sliding over her body. "No thanks, he terrifies me."

Brows pulled together in a v, Auggie grunted. "Nothing terrifies you, unfortunately. Have a nice soak."

"Shut the door!"

"Not –Going-To-Happen."