Annie walked across the parking lot to the supermarket. It was cold, cloudy and it had been raining the whole week long. Lost in thought, she stepped right into a puddle and within seconds her feet got wet up to her ankles. „Shit" she cursed. She had been distracted and had not seen the huge puddle. And then looking up, she saw a blind man with a cane coming out of the supermarket. Immediately she thought of Auggie. How does it feel for him to walk with a cane and to encounter obstacles all the time, to walk into puddles or to talk to people he couldn´t see. Auggie had never talked about „his world". She would have liked to ask him all of that but now he was gone. He had left with Natasha the Russian hacker girl to tour around the world and had left her behind. Annie had reached the door of the supermarket, got herself a shopping cart and strolled through the aisles and along the shelves to get what she needed to fill her fridge again.

Back again! Annie thought when she entered the CIA building in Langley and walked through the maze of corridors. But this time was different. She had gone through so much within the last two years and Auggie had always been there to help her. She could not imagine to work at the CIA without her best friend, her handler and her rock to rely on in rough times. On her way to Joan, she walked past Auggie´s office. She had expected it to be empty but Barber had made himself at home at his former boss´ desk and as an evidence of his presence the desk was already packed with empty coke cans, chewing gum paper, chips crumbs and pizza boxes. „Hey Eric" Annie greeted, peeking around the corner. „Hi Annie, good to have you back" Barber replied and then he added „Feels strange to be in this office now, I never thought I would be the one to occupy it". All of a sudden Annie felt a lump in her throat and she said „Well, it feels strange to come back knowing Auggie won´t be around anymore. I have to get going, Joan is waiting for me already" And with these words she left.

„Come in" Annie heard the voice of Joan and opened the door. Her boss sat at her desk typing on the keyboard and looked up when Annie came closer. „Take a seat" Joan offered and Annie sat across from Joan waiting for what was to come. „It is good to have you back Annie. I am amazed how well you have been dealing with all the things that have happened to you in the last two years but of course I cannot ignore your heart condition." Annie listened carefully and all of a sudden she was scared. Was Joan about to tell her that she should leave because of her health issues?" Then Joan continued „I have decided to let you come back to Langley but this time not as an operative but as a handler. You will handle a new operative as long as your health issues are not resolved. As much as I would love to give you my permission to go to the field, I cannot do that. For many reasons but first of all for your own safety. I am responsible for you."

Annie swallowed. What she had just heard was tough. She was benched! But she had expected something like that. She loved her unsteady and exciting life as an operative but would she be able to act as a handler, would she be able to protect her colleagues from harm when they relied on her during a mission? Again she thought of Auggie. How had he felt when he came back to Langley after his injury , well knowing that he could not go to the field anymore due to his vision loss? Of course, she was not blind but the effect of her health issues on her life as an agent, was the same. She was now supposed to remain at her desk while the others went to the field. „Of course I understand" Annie said when Joan had finished her explanation". And with that, she left Joan´s office to get back to her desk.

Annie sat at her desk, searching the internet for some information when a young man approached. „Annie Walker? Hi, I´m David, Joan has told me you are my new handler. I hope we will be a good team." Annie looked up. David was blond, he had broad shoulders, he was slim and had a radiant smile. He is just a kid Annie thought when she saw him. „Yes, I am Annie Walker she answered and offered her hand for David do shake it."

Thousands of miles away at the same time:

Natasha curled up at Auggie´s side. The weather was fantastic. It was hot and sunny, the sky was blue and the water was warm, too. Auggie and Natasha enjoyed their days on a beach in Hawaii. Natasha wanted to go to the Bahamas but Auggie had insisted on going to Hawaii, a place he had always wanted to go to when he was still sighted. But one mission after the other occured and finally the accident happened. He had never managed to get to Hawaii up till now. Of course he could not see the surroundings but he liked the idea of being in Hawaii whilst Natasha described to him what she saw. „Hey handsome are you up for a swim?" She teased and nudged Auggie. „Of course I am" Auggie replied and felt for Tash´s hand. She pulled him up from the lounger and they both made their way to the water. Auggie could not see what was around him, but feeling the sun on his face and swimming in the warm water made the difference for him. Made him feel that he was in a different place, on a private vacation far away from Langley.

Twenty minutes later Auggie and Tash were sitting on a stool at the beach bar. Auggie sipped on a cold beer and Natasha on a Planter´s Punch. „I could stay here forever with you, Tash whispered into Auggie´s ear" and he felt for her, turned her face around and kissed her. „I really enjoy being with you, too" Auggie confessed. Auggie had not used his cane a single time since he had arrived with Natasha a week ago. She guided him everywhere and he enjoyed holding her hand or touching her elbow when she led him around. Tash loved Auggie but from time to time she was a bit frustrated, too. Especially when she noticed the looks of pity when other people noticed that her friend was blind. She was prepared to be with Auggie, but she was not prepared for a world that seemed to believe that a person with a visual disability was less valuable, less capable. Natasha felt uncomfortable when she noticed how people watched Auggie with curiosity and pity.

It was dinner time and Auggie had just emerged from the bathroom. With his right hand slightly extended he made his way to the bed and felt for his clothes. He slowly dressed himself in a pair of dark blue jeans and a white shirt when Natasha asked all of a sudden „How did you get used to it?" Auggie closed the zipper of his trousers and attached the leather belt before he turned around and said „Used to what?" Natasha now felt a bit uncomfortable and replied with a bit of hesitation in her voice „Well...to... being watched by everyone?" „People are watching me?" Auggie quipped. But then his expression got more serious and he said „I know what you are talking about. When people notice that I am blind they often stare, wondering how I can get around as a blind person. I don´t like the idea of being watched but there is nothing I can do about it. So I try to ignore it and that is what you should do, too".

Dinner was delicious they had smoked salmon with baked potatoes, fresh salad and for the dessert ice cream with fresh fruit and cream on top. As always, Tash had guided him to the table and had put his hand on the back of the chair. Then, Auggie had carefully explored the table by feeling for the napkin and the cutlery and the win glass in front of him. He was not a bit clumsy and Natasha was always surprised how well he handled all kinds of situations whilst being blind.

In Langley:

„David, come back immediately" Annie shouted into her headset. She was furious. The rookie agent she was handling, had not listened to her advice and now acted all on his own. And while a wave of anger was about to wash over her, she remembered how she had started about six years ago. She had been more than stubborn and more than once she had ignored the orders of Joan and the good advice of her friend Auggie. Now she was on the other side and got an idea what it was like to be a handler. Being a handler was a completely new life and she felt like she was starting to learn her job all over again.