Joan's stilettos struck a staccato pattern across the office and towards Auggie's office. He straightened in his chair and turned towards her in anticipation. If the pace of her footfalls were any indication of what she was about to say, it was something important. Another mission maybe. Where was Annie going this time?
"Auggie, we have a new surveillance mission on the table," Joan stopped next to his desk. The scent of vanilla perfume, spearmint and hairspray met his nose. He heard the shuffling of papers and a soft thud on his tabletop let him know she had just given him a file. "Vishnevsky and Zhuravleva, the former USSR mob bosses have resurfaced and have rekindled their old nefarious ways. We've pinpointed their headquarters to an apartment in Moscow. They're moving weapons and dealing them to all the wrong clientele,"
"Terrorist cells in the middle east? Africa? Europe?" Auggie interrupted.
"All of the above, it would seem. They're a minimal threat but a threat nonetheless. I need one of your best tech ops people to go in and manage equipment in a safe house near by and record footage of who enters and leaves headquarters. We need to know who's resurfaced and what new pawns are playing their game. We need another man monitoring from here as well. Pick your people carefully."
"A sitting duck operation?" Auggie's heart rate quickened at the thought. "Joan, I'm your man."
"Auggie, please," Joan's voice was stern but soft at the edges. He knew what was coming. "We can't risk you in the field. What if your situation was compromised and someone came for you. You wouldn't be able to defend yourself."
"Nothing like that would happen. I'd be sitting in the safe house 24/7. I would go undetected. The only thing that could possibly happen to me is dying of sheer boredom or overconsumption of macaroni and cheese." He heard another set of footsteps approaching. Grapefruit, strong coffee, a pastry—Annie was back from her Starbucks run.
"No, Auggie. That's final. You're to stay here where it's safe." Annie was paused at the door, listening he guessed.
"Joan, I could do this," Auggie argued further. "This is an easy mission, a trainee could fulfill this work. I'm experienced in the field and could defend myself. My lack of eyesight hasn't left me completely unable to do this work." He tried to maintain and even tone, the lilt in his voice that let everyone know he was still lighthearted Auggie, but he could feel an edge coming through with every word. He could do this if he was only given the chance. And if this mission was completed successfully, he wouldn't be a desk jockey anymore. Not entirely anyway.
"Auggie," Joan's voice was the tiniest bit weary and a little strained. He could tell she was about to say something he wasn't going to like. "You would be the best man for the job otherwise, overqualified for this work even, but eyesight is imperative here. I'm sorry," her voice faded lightly at the end. She hated having to make these decisions as much as he did.
"My eyes are perfectly fine," Annie spoke up. Auggie had almost forgot she was standing in the background for a moment. She took a step forward and Joe Malone's grapefruit filled his nose. Something in his stomach seemed to take life and started swimming. The tension in the conversation was suddenly tangible.
"Annie, it's been settled, there will be no further discussion—"
"Why couldn't Annie accompany me?" Auggie would have never been so bold as to interrupt or overstep his boundries with his superior like this, but he couldn't help himself.
"Auggie," Joan was irritated, he could feel the hammer about to come down.
"No, really. Annie has eyes. Great ones. I hear they're a lovely chocolate brown color actually," Auggie's words spilled out of his mouth in a quick fashion and grin pulled at the corners of his mouth. A mission with Annie. This would be perfect.
"I could keep an eye out for any fish activity and keep both of us safe. This mission would go off without a hitch," Annie's voice was a little strained, her fear of Joan's response was palpable. Auggie decided to do what he did best and lighten the mood.
"And Joan, think of it this way. My hounding you for field work would stop, I'll promise to stop sneaking out onto the field,"
"Oh Auggie," Joan said. There was something resigned in her voice, the tiniest hint of defeat.
"We'll bring you back a lovely souvenir!" The grin Auggie had been fighting took over his face. "A lovely matryoshka doll perhaps. Or some fine vodka."
"Fine," Joan said. Auggie's smile threatened to split his face. "Here are the debriefing folders and all the necessary paperwork. Your plane tickets will be delivered to you before you leave work today. Your flight is tomorrow at 5 AM. The safe house has already been supplied with everything you need, equipment and otherwise," she paused for a brief moment. "Be careful what you wish for Auggie, you may very well perish from macaroni and cheese overconsumption," Auggie and Annie laughed out loud. "This isn't your average mission, Annie." Joan said addressing his new partner in justice. "You're in a for a very long week." And with that final word, Joan spun on her heels and strutted out of the office.
"I can't believe that just happened," Auggie's was ecstatic and stood up to greet Annie. She rocketed herself into his arms and hugged him fiercely. As he squeezed her back, the swimming monster in his stomach did a couple of somersaults. "This calls for a celebration. Let's ditch the coffee and hit the bar tonight for a couple of drinks!"
"Not too many!" he could hear the smile in Annie's voice. "We have an early flight tomorrow! Actually I should go home and pack and prepare another Smithsonian business trip lie for my sister," she looped his arm through hers and they began to walk. "How about a ride home?"
"That would be perfect," Auggie smiled in response. 'This will be perfect,' he thought. Annie laughed as they strolled towards the parking garage. Grapefruit filled his nose again and the monster in his stomach swam a lap.
Joan watched them go from her office. A knowing smile spread across her lips as she watched Annie and Auggie leave the department arm and arm.