The Read In
NOTE: Just a random AU post 4X10 story for fun. I am enthralled by Barber these days.
Auggie was drifting in and out of sleep in the early hours of a Thursday morning, when the secure phone he had only for Annie rang for the first time in weeks.
"Hey," he said quietly.
"Hey, sorry to wake you," her voice was softer and more relaxed than normal.
"No problem, not really asleep," he clarified and sat up to concentrate.
"You're in bed though, right, all rumpled and adorable," she sighed.
"I don't know how adorable I am ," he shrugged.
"Trust me, I can paint the picture in my head," she sounded almost happy.
"Did you call for phone sex? Cause I can totally get there, but if this is work I better stay focused," he grinned and she laughed in response.
"It is work actually, but it may result in more than phone sex if you agree," she teased.
"Where do you need me?"
"Lisbon."
"Soon as possible?"
"Yes and no, I want you here quickly but we need to be strategic. I actually think we might need back up."
"Muscle?"
"No, geek back up. Do you think Barber would go with you?"
"On an unspecified, unsanctioned Op with a dead woman, sure," Auggie shrugged.
"Obviously we would have to read him in, but Auggie, I think if we can hack this server this might be all over. Henry was in town this week, meeting with a cast of characters right out of an episode of 24, it was a who's who of dark ops types. They have a front company here, something to do with olive oil and dried fish, but I have been surveiling for a week and nothing has come and gone but shady looking dudes."
"OK, let me convince Barber to go away for a long weekend. That sounds very strange out loud. I will obviously have to read him in," Auggie left that dangling.
"Of course, the three of us will have to work together."
"I'll post the arrival details."
"I'll reply with the address."
"Am I really going to see you in a couple days?" Auggie said his voice low and gravelly.
"Yes," she whispered and hung up.
Auggie gave up on sleep at that point and got up and began packing a small bag.
***555***
Eric Barber was hacking away at his computer when an internal IM popped up from Auggie.
"Free for lunch?"
"I have a meeting at 12:30, is 1:00 OK?" Barber replied.
"I work in the basement, I have all the time in the world," Auggie typed back.
"I'll come get you," Barber typed in response knowing Auggie hated coming back up to the DPD these days.
Shortly after 1:00 pm Eric Barber stepped off the elevator in the sub-basement and found Auggie clacking away with his headphones on. He knocked loudly to be heard over whatever Auggie had blaring through the headset.
"Hey," Auggie smiled and finished before logging out of his screen.
When they got outside Auggie realized how cold it had gotten, the months slipping by without Annie, he shivered.
"Our usual?" Barber asked as they approached his car.
"Actually, I need to talk to you about something Eric, can we grab something and take it back to my place?"
"Sure," Barber agreed no questions asked.
They swung by a sandwich place near Auggie's loft and were seated at the bar in Auggie's kitchen in 20 minutes.
"You going somewhere?" Barber noted the small suitcase near the door.
"I am and that is what I wanted to talk to you about."
"Are you taking a break, you really need one Auggie, it has been a rough few months for you. If you need me to cover anything at Langley just say the word," Barber offered.
"Thanks Eric, that is really good of you, but I actually need a little more than that. I need you to come with me," Auggie mentioned as he bit into his sandwich.
"Oh," Barber seemed confused, he knew Auggie travelled alone all the time, he didn't need a sighted lead to go somewhere.
"It's not a vacation, it is an unsanctioned op," Auggie clarified.
"Oh," Barber replied his mouth dry.
"I know you have already done so much for me, so much that could get you fired, but this might be the end of it. We are close to uncovering the last bits of evidence against Henry, bringing him down for good."
"We?" Barber wasn't a spy for no good reason.
"There will be another Operative working with us," Auggie mentioned and moved right on, "we're going to Lisbon, tomorrow. I bought your ticket and hacked a Personal Day Request and got it approved for you, we'll be back by Monday."
"What if I said no?" Barber laughed.
"I'd eat the $1500 last minute fare to Lisbon and you could spend tomorrow watching soap operas," Auggie shrugged.
"What's the Op?"
"Server hack, right up your alley. Security is pretty tight, it will be easier to breach if we are both attacking simultaneously."
"Is it dangerous, not that that is a deal breaker, but you are more accustomed to being shot at than I am," Barber winced.
"Shouldn't be and we'll have back up and fire power.'
"Who's the third Operative?" Barber asked innocently.
"I'll fill you in on everything on the plane, if you're in," Auggie tried to sound nonchalant, but he didn't want to tell Eric about Annie until they were already enroute, in case he balked.
"Of courser man, what time do we leave?"
***555***
Auggie let Barber have the aisle seat for his long legs and crammed in the middle seat between him and what he assessed to be a young woman wearing too much flowery perfume. About 20 minutes into the flight the seat belt sign went off, the flight attendants served drinks and Auggie sipped his orange juice contemplatively.
"So you got me on the plane, what are you going to tell me that you were afraid to say on the ground," Barber called him out on his tactics.
"You are smarter than you look Barber," Auggie grinned and Barber was offended until he realized who he was talking to.
"Funny Auggie, now spill."
"Everything is as I laid it out, totally tech op, no expected danger. We have a safe house to work in and an Operative on site to provide insight and back up to our objective," Auggie whispered.
"So who is the third person, I have been racking my brain since I left your place yesterday. It can't be anyone from the company . Is it that guy who helped you last year when our friend had that problem in Moscow?" Barber very vaguely mentioned Eyal.
"No, actually it is our friend who had the problem in Moscow," Auggie replied quietly and was met with silence.
"Auggie?" Barber finally croaked.
"I'm sorry Eric, Annie isn't gone, she's in Libon…"
TBC…