A/N: It's like I can read your minds, right?! You were all thinking "What I really want now, is an alternate universe story from season two!"
No? Oh well. The thing is, I have seasons one and two on DVD, but only a few episodes of season three available. So I've been watching a lot of the first two seasons. As a result, my muse could not shut up about Auggie in the OCA position.
I know there is at least one other multi-chap AU story about Auggie in the OCA. I discovered it after writing at least 5k words on this one, and from reading, I believe these are very different stories.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this, even though it is at least one year too late to the party.
"Auggie, you are the Ernest Hemingway of good news! Turns out I was right, you are a natural at this." Arthur proclaimed.
Auggie continued to take deep breaths, his attention focused on the crowd on the other side of the curtain. The curtain that would destroy the life that he had so carefully held on to for most of his adulthood. Arthur continued to give Auggie a mildly insulting pep talk. Auggie tuned him out and worked on swallowing his fears.
As the moment drew near, it was as though a switch was flipped and his confidence was turned on. This was his new mission. This was his new life. No matter the location or the capacity, it was an honor to serve. Arthur stepped away to introduce him in his new position as the head of the Office of Congressional Affairs, and his covert status ended.
Auggie's demeanor on stage hid the anxiety that he felt earlier. To the faces of the press corps in the audience he was always meant for the job with his pleasant smile, casual jokes, and straightforward delivery of information. When he chose a cover, he would stick with it, and this was the last cover he would be able to choose. He may have chosen to go overt, but he didn't intend to become an open book.
When he left the heat of the stage, Arthur grasped his arm. "Wonderful job, Auggie!"
"If you say so." Auggie replied. Now that he was out of the spotlight, he didn't care to keep the facade of lightheartedness.
"There will likely be some pressure on you for the next few weeks while the media figures out what to make of things. I would lay low."
"I always do." Auggie replied.
"But not too low." Arthur added.
"Got it." Auggie turned and walked away. He calmly made his way to his office, not losing his composure until he stepped through the doors and was alone. He tried to sit at his computer, but couldn't focus. After pacing the width of the room a few times, he took his cane and stepped out.
"If anybody is looking for me, I'll be in the gym." He said in the general direction of the assistant outside his office. Before he walked through the glass doors of the OCA he stopped, turned back, and clarified. "And by that, I mean anybody in the CIA. If anybody else wants to know where I am, they can fuck off."
"Would you like me to use those words exactly, Mr. Anderson?" The young man replied.
"How long have you worked in the OCA, Roger?"
"About five years now."
"Then I'll trust you to convey the intent of my messages, while maintaining an air of professionalism that fits the integrity of the Agency."
"Yes sir."
...
Annie wasn't surprised when she found him assaulting the bag in the gym. She had tried to go to his office, but his new assistant had directed her here.
"Hey!" She greeted.
He didn't respond, just kept swinging at the bag. She noticed the wires from the ear buds, so she greeted louder. "HEY!"
With no response, still, she leaned against a pile of mats and watched. She considered tapping his shoulder, but with the amount of tension in his body it would likely put her life in danger. He was hitting the bag harder, and with poorer form, than she'd ever seen. He wasn't practicing, he was releasing.
After about twenty minutes, he started to slow down. He took off one of the gloves to adjust his music, and she spoke up again. "Hey."
He turned toward her, startled. "Hey."
"Feeling any better now?"
"A little less likely to spend the afternoon next to a toilet with dry heaves, I think."
Her voice was soft with emotion. "That bad, huh?"
Auggie took a deep breath and removed his other glove. "Yeah. You dressed to join?"
"No. I was just checking on you. We had it on in the DPD. You did great."
"Thanks."
"Allen's tonight? I'll buy you a pitcher to celebrate."
"That's not really the best idea right now."
"Drinking? You aren't getting stuffy on the seventh floor are you?"
"Annie, I'm overt. Today, I'm more than overt, I'm in the spotlight. It's too risky for you."
Annie was silent.
"Besides, I have a feeling that when I get back to my desk, I'll have a million responses to take care of."
"Well if you break away from that, I'm here for you, and I owe you a beer."
"I will definitely find a way to take you up on that."
After a long shower, Auggie returned to his desk.
"Feeling better Mister Anderson?" Roger asked.
"I guess. What's waiting?"
"Forty-eight phone calls. I took their information and emailed it to you."
"All press?" Auggie asked.
"Nope. Twenty-two press, nineteen congress, and seven personal."
"Personal?"
"I think one of them may have been your mother."
Auggie groaned and rolled his eyes. "Okay. Tell Audrey to come over in ten minutes."
He walked into his office and opened up his email with trepidation. Before he reviewed what was there, he placed his earpiece on and called his mother.
Three rings. "Hello?"
"Hi mom."
"August." His mother's voice was serious, but soft. Auggie wondered if she had been crying. She had just learned that her son was a top CIA agent, possibly while listening to CNN as she did housework.
"I guess you've heard about my promotion?"
"August." His mother repeated. "Why didn't you tell me yourself?"
"I couldn't, mom. As much for your safety as mine, and the people I work with."
His mother was silent.
"I'm sorry I didn't call you before the press conference. I... I wasn't sure I was going to go forward with it. And I'm sure you have a lot of questions, but I also have to respond to nineteen congressional..." Auggie ran his fingers over his Braille display. "Make that twenty congressional inquiries. But I wanted to call you first."
"I appreciate that. I'm proud of you, son."
"Thank you, mom. I love you, but I have to go."
"Go save the world." She replied before hanging up. It was what she used to tell him when he called from Iraq. He smiled as he got back to his messages.
A few minutes later there was a knock at his door. "Come in," he shouted.
The door opened and a woman walked in. Working around so many new people, he wasn't familiar with their identifying features yet. "You asked to see me Mister Anderson?"
"So that is you, Audrey."
"Oh, sorry sir. Should I announce myself, or..."
"Don't worry about it." Auggie interrupted. "Have a seat."
Audrey moved to the seat in front of Auggie. "You did great today, sir."
"Thanks." Auggie replied. "Now, the aftermath." Auggie took a deep breath. "I'm sure you are aware that Public Relations is not my specialty. You and I both know that I'm not the optimal person for this job, but the Agency decided it would be in their best interest, and I won't let them down."
"Understood."
"Now, you, on the other hand, are a PR specialist with ten years of experience in this office. So I need you to help me figure out where to go from here."
"Of course," Audrey replied. "What have you gotten so far?"
Auggie tapped on his keyboard and ran his fingers over his Braille display. He listed off the current tally of requests. "Keep in mind, we have a transparency initiative." Auggie added with a sing-song voice and fake smile.
Audrey took a deep breath. "Yeah. Transparency. Congress is easy, most of them are just calling to welcome you to the position, but they are the reason you are here. Return their calls, and go visit them as soon as you can. Build those relationships, develop their trust, and keep them off our back."
"Not too much unlike being an agent." Auggie stated.
"I don't know much about developing an asset, Mister Anderson. But aside from the gunfire, I imagine it is a lot like manipulating the halls of Congress."
"Great." Auggie drew the word out. "What about the press?"
"Slightly more hostile."
Auggie rolled his eyes. "I already gathered that. So what's my strategy for survival."
"If I may say so, sir, you are a very likable person. If the CIA wants the public to think favorably of the Agency, I think you should get in front of every camera that you can."
"I was afraid you would say that."
"The trick is controlling the conversation."
"The trick is making sure my tie matches my vest."
Audrey was silent a moment. Auggie was grinning at his own joke.
"Audrey, it's okay. I know this is going to be a big talking point." He waved at his eyes.
"Then I would suggest you determine how much of a talking point you want it to be." She replied.
"I can handle that."
"Okay. So, who has contacted you from the press so far?"
"How about I send you the list, you call and make the arrangements, and tell me where to be? I trust your decision, and I need to get up to speed on many other matters."
"Sure. Is tomorrow morning too soon?"
"Might as well get it over with."
"I'll get you in with Congress this week, and a few news shows over the weekend. Any one on one interviews can wait until next week. Do you want me to arrange wardrobe, as well?"
Auggie took a deep breath. "Yeah, but nothing too conservative, ok?"
"I may be a PR specialist, but this is still the CIA. I'll have some suits delivered to your home that match your personal style without you having to worry about things."
"Thank you."
He heard Audrey get up and walk out of the office, so he put on his headphones and started reviewing the current list of recently declassified missions. The string of emails continued to come in, and he forwarded particular ones to Audrey. Finally one came in that got his attention. It was from Annie.
Hey, hot shot. I came to check on you, but was informed that I would need an appointment, and that some Audrey woman is setting your appointments for the week. That bad, huh?
Auggie picked up his phone and dialed Annie's internal extension.
"Sorry about that."
"Dude, they even refer to you as Mister Anderson. Roger glares at me for calling you 'Auggie.'"
"He'll get over it. I've been keeping it a little more formal up here."
"It's like I don't even know you." Annie teased.
"I promise not to let the fame go to my head."
"Are you working all night?"
"Sort of. Trying to get up to speed so that I can go out and be the face of the CIA. None of my previous training included the nuances of public relations. You wouldn't believe how much of this reading material isn't available in digital format."
"No podcasts out there for explaining half-truths to the world?"
"I've found a few. And I'll have Audrey coach me a little later."
"Can you coach her on who your best friend is sometime?"
"I'll make sure that she knows to pencil you in."
"Good. In the meantime, call me the next time you plan to blow off steam at the gym."
"You got it. Talk to you later, Walker."
He clicked off the line before she could reply. Auggie pulled up his calendar to see what Audrey had scheduled and discovered five meetings with members of the House Appropriations Committee before lunch. At least he knew what he needed to study first.
Thank you for reading! There's more of this to come.