So...I dropped off the surface of the earth...or something...

The past few months have been crazy for me work wise and there has been lots of things going on in my personal life as well. Martin accepted a major promotion at work. Which unfortunately involved a move across the country. Now we have to deal with a long distance relationship 'til I get a job there or find the funds to start my own business as an interior designer.

Writing has just not been high on the list and to be honest I haven't been very inspired... I know many of you are eagerly awaiting an update in "Simple Gestures" and both EmeraldEyedPhoenix and I are working hard to make that happen as soon as possible. We've got about 1000 words down for the next chapter and it's very much a work in progress. It will be worth the wait! Promise! :o)

This story is inspired by season 4 - which has frustrated me A LOT(!) - and is my ideas of what happens after the end of 4.16. Not sure how long this will be, but I don't intend to drag it out.

DISCLAIMER: Don't own Annie, Auggie or Covert Affairs. Just enjoy playing with the characters... ;o)

-1-

Annie's journey back to Washington DC took close to 72 hrs. The yacht Auggie had secured in Hong Kong had taken her to an American aircraft carrier in the Sea of China. From there she'd been able to hitch a ride with a helicopter to a base in Japan. There she'd been stuck for almost 24 hours before she'd finally gotten a seat on a military transport plane to a base in southern California. When she arrived there the CIA had a private jet waiting for her and she was flown directly to Dulles.

She was exhausted and anxious as she stepped off the plane. Annie had no idea what was going to happen next. She half expected to be whisked off to Bluebonnet to debrief, like she had been when she returned from Moscow the previous year. A single black Ford Explorer was waiting for her on the tarmac and when she started walking toward it the rear door opened. A familiar figure stepped out. Auggie. Without thinking she started running towards him, but a few feet away from him she slowed down.

"Auggie," she said softly as she stepped closer to him.

"Hey," he said with a small smile on his face as he opened his arms tentatively. It was all the invitation Annie needed and she threw herself into his familiar, warm embrace.

###############

"Mr. Anderson, we've got to get going. The DCS is waiting for Ms. Walker at Langley," the driver said after a few moments. Annie reluctantly let go of Auggie and they slid into the backseat together.

"Is Braithwaite still the DCS?" Annie asked as the driver pulled onto the highway.

"No. He's gone. Calder is interim DCS."

"Calder? Really? What about Joan? Or Arthur for that matter?"

"Joan just had a baby, so… I don't know what might happen in the future though. There are a lot of uncertainties right now…" Auggie shrugged.

"What about you?"

"As I said there are a lot of uncertainties. I just got back to DC yesterday morning and went straight to Langley. Spent the day in debriefs about what went down in Hong Kong. As soon as I got to Langley this morning I was sent here to fetch you. My career hasn't exactly been a topic of discussion yet."

"Have anyone said anything about what will happen to me? Will I be shipped off to Bluebonnet after I meet with Calder?"

"I'm sorry Annie, I have no idea. Calder asked me to meet you at the airport and bring you back to Langley. You'll just have to wait and see what happens in that meeting."

Annie let out a heavy sigh and leaned her head on Auggie's shoulder. They remained silent for the rest of the drive to Langley.

Three hours later Annie walked out of the DCS office in a daze. She'd been presented an award bringing Henry Wilcox down and Calder had offered her a place on one of the Agency's elite teams with operatives that worked exclusively deep cover. She'd declined and had attempted to resign from her position as a covert operative. It felt wrong to be honored for killing someone, even though Henry had been a traitor and had been behind numerous acts of terrorism. Annie felt unsure about her future with the CIA, and her future in general.

The last few months had left her feeling unsure of who she was and what she wanted to do for the rest of the life. The past couple of years had been the hardest of her life and she realized she'd never really taken the time to decompress and deal with all that had happened to her. As soon as she'd recovered from getting shot in the chest she'd headed to Russia to track down Lena Smith. When she'd been released from the Russian prison she'd thrown herself into the Khalid mission and as soon as that was over and done with Henry Wilcox had approached her with the folder that had changed her life forever. The last year had been absolutely crazy and one thing she was sure of was that she'd never be the same again. Her life would never be the same as it was before she went dark.

Calder had refused to accept her resignation and had ordered her to take some time off and consider her options. As she walked down the hallway it hit Annie that she had no idea where to go. The thought of spending the night at a hotel didn't sound tempting at all, but at the moment she didn't feel like there were any other options. She wondered if Auggie would let her spend the night on his couch, but she was unsure of where their relationship stod and she didn't want to impose. Just as she was about to round a corner a familiar beam of green lasers came into view and she almost crashed into Auggie.

"Watch where you're going," he said irritably.

"Sorry Aug. I guess I'm kinda' lost in thought here…"

"Annie! How did the meeting go?" he asked.

"So-so… I resigned, but Calder refused to accept. He has ordered me to take the rest of the week off and just relax and take things through and report back to him Monday morning."

"That sounds like a good plan to me. I you shouldn't make any major decisions until you've had the chance to decompress a bit."

"I guess you have a point…now I just have to figure out where to stay tonight…"

"You're welcome to stay at my place. You know my bed is big enough for both of us, but if you're not comfortable with sharing I'll take the couch."

"I don't want to impose."

"You know me well enough to know I wouldn't offer if I didn't mean it."

"If you really don't mind…"

"I really don't mind. C'mon, let me get my cane and we'll get out of here…"

"I don't have a car Auggie," Annie reminded him.

"I'll call my car service."

"Okay..."

"Let's get going then," Auggie said as he turned around. Annie followed him down the corridor. She was grateful for his support and hoped they'd be able to figure out a new normal.

...To be continued...

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