This story will work its way up to the M rating. Right now, it needs the set up. It occurred to me that in a place with that many young people, and dating within the Agency encouraged, there would be a lot of talk about it.

DISCLAIMER: I own my stalker like obsession with good fanfic for this show. Could we get some more out there please?

Something to Talk About – Chapter 1

His smile lasted longer that the sound of her heels on the food court floor. But she always left him with a smile on his face. It was what she did. She lightened his darkness in more ways than she knew. Only the sound of the other chairs at the table being scraped back pulled him back to reality. Calvin Klein for Men meant Stu, Axe was Dave and Wayne wore Old Spice of all things.

"Hey, Auggie. Your lunch is right in front of you. Burgers dead ahead, fries at 11 and soda at 2."

"Thanks Stu. Dave, Wayne, how are you?"

"Ya know Anderson, one day I am switching colognes just to fuck you up."

"No, you won't because your mother would be devastated that you no longer like her taste in men's fragrances Wayne."

"To hell with us, when are you going to hit that, Auggie? Trust me, she is smoking. And the way she smiles at you…"

"Wait, Auggie, let me explain to Dave, for you, yet again. They are just friends."

"Man, she is really cute and built. She has a really great ass. I think she might be a natural blond. And she is so into you, Anderson. I am serious; there are times she just stares at your hands."

"Dave, you are twisted and perverse and see sex everywhere."

"Do you mean to tell me that if you got the green light, you wouldn't go for it."

"First of all, said green light would be wasted on me. They would have to blow a horn like at the start of a horse race. Second, and most importantly, we don't have that kind of relationship."

"Wait, I thought you were some kind of player. I have heard the girls talking about you."

"Yeah I heard about your attempt to listen. Very clumsy. You really can't get away with the stumble into the wrong rest room. I only get away with it on very rare occasions. And I at least have a reason. Did the bruises take long to heal?"

The men laughed at the plight of poor Dave. He was so busy chasing Gloria through the halls; he actually went into the ladies room after her. Invading women's sacred turf was not a smart thing to do when so many of them were trained to kill by the best in the world.

"Laugh if you want. But there is a lot of speculation on why Auggie Anderson, ladies man extraordinary has been lying low, so to speak. There has been grumbling going on. You better make your move with Walker or go back to the line forming to the right."

"Speculation? Stu? You haven't been keeping me in the loop?"

"Auggie, you know this place. Any time someone who looks like her spends every free second with you, people will talk. Of course, that's only when Wilcox doesn't have her cornered. Man that guy is really trying to work it. I think she's weakening there."

"Jai Wilcox? Annie is interested?"

"I heard that at first she was really pissed off after Sri Lanka. But he must have gone and talked to her. Because they are pretty friendly. I think she's a little into him. Hey, he is at least trying to get out of the Friend Zone. "

Auggie's normally relaxed countenance hardened at that. His eyes narrowed and his jaw tightened. Stu was a good friend, but right now, Auggie would happily throw him under a bus for that comment. Sure he would like more with Annie. Hell, she smelled great and from all reports was gorgeous. She was also incredibly bright, and they shared a similar and unusual sense of humor. Her voice figured into his most private fantasies. But he knew she didn't view him like that.

"Boys, Boys, let me explain that grown up men and women can be friends."

Dave and Wayne just laughed. Stu said nothing, but privately agreed with them. He didn't understand what the hell Auggie was doing. He had seen how they were together. It was like they went into their own world.

"Auggie, I can't believe I'm saying this, but Dave and Wayne have a point. The girl is smoking. I think you have a better position than Wilcox, but he is the only one stepping up here. She smiles at you all the time and acts like every word coming out of your mouth is gospel. If the women around here are talking, it's a sure bet they are seeing the same thing. And unless you got a woman hidden somewhere, you have been off your game lately."

"Off my game? Did you really just say that?"

"Mock if you want Auggie. Just answer me this. When was the last time you saw, excuse me, got any action? The women around here talk. It's been noticed."

Auggie paused in lifting a fry to his mouth. When was the last time? Oh yes, Liza Hearn. It had been an op for him. But as Arthur had said, it was a good time. That's all it had been though, that there was no connection. He had tried. But lately, most of the girls at the Agency were too, or not enough or whatever. And the giggling bimbos at the bar had begun to annoy him. He wasn't looking for Ms Right. But lately, most of them didn't even qualify as Ms. Right-now. Chewing the fry slowly, he raised his head.

"What's the pool up to?"

Their exclamations of surprise and denial were all he needed to hear. Of course, there was a pool on him and Annie hooking up. If there was even half the speculation they mentioned, someone would create a pool. Probably the guys in Cover Services. They were generally the betting crowd.

"Stu? How much are you in for?"

Dave and Wayne pleaded silently with their eyes for him not to say anything. But for Stu, his first loyalty was to Auggie. They worked together all the time, and Auggie was helping him with his own romantic dilemma.

"It's a $50 buy in per parameter. There are pools for date, location and for who makes the first move. That one is pretty evenly divided by gender. The guys all think you are going to make the first move and the women are sure she will throw herself at you."

"And the point of this lunchtime interrogation is to get some inside information for gambling purposes? This is my life here. Really?"

Wayne and Dave melted away in embarrassment. Now that he knew, it was hard to say how Auggie would handle this. No one was quite sure the extent of his power. No one really wanted to know.

"Stu?"

"Yeah?"

"So, how much of the shit about Wilcox was on the level?"

"Truth? All of it and then some. Look, I only bet on the date. Frankly, I can't figure out which one of you is going to crack first. But I can tell you that Wilcox had a serious jump on you. I think she likes you better. Not that other guys wouldn't get on that in a heartbeat, but you and Jai are the only ones she really lets get that close. I know what you keep saying about the friend thing. I also know what you're like when she's out on an op. I know what you're like after she comes back in to see you. I know her eyes follow you. You are into her."

"Yeah, maybe. Ok yeah I am. Listen, can you take my tray for me? I gotta listen to some chatter on that terror cell for Joan."

Stu agreed knowing full well that Auggie was going to hole himself up with earphones on and tune out the world. He did that whenever something was bothering him. Stu kept people away as best he could on those days, which weren't too often.

"Hey Stu? Do you really think she would go for me instead of Wilcox?"

He hated that slightly needy tone in his voice. He hated that Stu had to be his eyes on some of this. Mostly he hated wondering.

"I think she is interested. I think you are both nervous about crossing the friend line. I think Wilcox is filling a void and you are letting him. Mostly, I think you will always regret not taking that chance."

"Stu? What day do you have?"

"What? Oh, listen about that…."

"What day?"

"Next Friday."

Today was Thursday. Auggie smiled at Stu. If anyone was going to profit here, it might as well be a friend. That gave him just over a week to plan the most important op of his life.

"You are going to owe me lunch for a week, ya know"

Hard to write the boys. Stu is one of the few extra characters we have really heard from, so he gets to be Auggie's friend. Lucky Stu! Anyway, the girls at lunch is up next! Who wants to see that?