Title: Eyes That Know Me
Author: Beth Pryor
Rating: T
Summary: This is the third installment of the "Anderson Trilogy," which is written in the universe created in "Duck and Cover" and continued in "The Sword of Time." As order is slowly restored in the Clandestine Services, life attempts to get back to normal. But really, with a bunch of spies, normal is a relative notion. Will feature the Glencoe Andersons and likely at least a little of the Campbells. Season 4 in timing and spoilers, but will not follow canon from 4x10 forward.
Disclaimer: Covert Affairs and its characters belong to the USA Network.
A/N: I've struggled a bit with the universe in which I'm writing this. I originally tried to make it fit in with Season 4 canon, but I soon realized that Annie couldn't be "dead" or away from Auggie's life for months without his family becoming involved. I don't see how they could have maintained their covert lives in the universe I've created and want to continue working in. Therefore, this story will veer quite a bit from canon. I'm going to try to resolve the current situation, and I will fight plot holes as much as I can, but it may lack detail as a result. I hope that I'll find some readers, given those caveats. I do hope you read and will take the next step to review, even if you hate it!
I do have some S4 canon one-shots planned, but if you really need to read S4 canon with all the angst that implies, check out the wonderful works already out there like Everybody's Reaction by Epona3, Reuniting by storyteller629 and Six Months Dark by DiggyDelena. I'm not even going to attempt to re-hash what these writers have already given us with such feeling and skill.
Eyes That Know Me
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
The moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
Well, you have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You've made it known
"Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
Chapter 1
The first imperative step in the entire operation was that she get Teo to the base in Germany while he was still alive. The second part of the plan was that he needed to die. Apparently that had been planned to lull Henry into a careless complacency. Or what passed as careless and complacent for him. Not even Annie knew what had transpired after they rolled Teo into that OR. But he'd given her the information she'd needed. And so had Henry, at the airport in Copenhagen. The hope was that without Teo in the mix, he'd give up even more. The third point was for her to get the intel back to Auggie and Joan without ruffling any more feathers. Or getting arrested. Arthur had a transport waiting for her. So as soon as she'd used the bathroom and grabbed a bottle of water, she found herself strapped into the back of a C-130 on her way back home.
In the days and weeks that followed, the data they had collected and the further information Teo was able to provide regarding Henry's treasonous activities shook the core of the Intelligence community. But still, those fighting for the truth, Annie, Auggie, Joan, Arthur, Teo (who was actually very much alive and recuperating under guard and a pseudonym at the Bethesda Naval Hospital), and their unlikely ally Calder Michaels, spent the next eight weeks at war against the corruption and fear that Henry Wilcox left in his wake.
With the help of Eyal, who had not, in fact, retired from Mossad and continued to work as diligently as ever on the ground in Europe, all the puzzle pieces finally fell into place. Heads rolled all over the capital city. Vincent Rossabi won the honor of arresting Henry for what they all prayed would be the last time. He chose to do it at the Old Ebbitt Grill during Sunday brunch as an added "fuck you." The score read law enforcement – 1, corrupt government officials – 0. For that day, at least.
On that same afternoon, charges against Arthur and Teo were officially dropped. Joan and Bianca Manning headed out as soon as they received word to retrieve Arthur from the correctional facility in Petersburg where he'd been held without bail for nearly two months following his arrest as soon as he and Teo arrived back in DC. Annie and Auggie met Teo at the hospital. He was also now free to go.
Teo hobbled toward Auggie, relying heavily on his forearm crutches with an almost imperceptible amount of weight transferred to his right leg as he approached. Many months would pass before he'd be completely healed and even then, likely not perfectly.
They hugged and Teo held Auggie close. "My friend, I cost you the woman you loved years ago and nearly again, but still, you fight for me and my freedom. How can I ever thank you?"
Auggie shook his head as Teo released him slightly and he reached for Annie, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. "Just leave Annie out of whatever you decide to do from now on and we'll call it even, okay?"
"That sounds like a very good idea." Teo reached for his bag and Auggie the other man's steps falter briefly under the added weight. Auggie reached for the bag and slung it over his own shoulder. Teo dipped his head slightly as he continued. "But I'm thinking I'll be about as helpful in the field these days as you." He looked up, catching Annie's widened eyes. "Maybe less so," he quickly amended.
Annie jumped in at that point. "Let's just get you home before you try to plan out the rest of your life. We'll probably beat Joan and Arthur, so I told Joan we'd take care of picking up lunch." They arrived at the car, and Teo fell into the back seat with a painful sigh. Auggie shut the door behind him and slid into the front passenger seat beside Annie.
He'd stuck close to her, especially during the past few weeks of interrogations, depositions, accusations and anxious waiting for the unknown. He could hear the swish of the clothes that hung from her body as she walked past him. He felt the angles poking out through what had once been deliciously inviting curves. While couldn't see the slight dullness of her eyes, nor the dark circles that had parked permanently below them, he'd smelled the absence of her perfume.
Teo's voice broke into his thoughts. "I'm sorry, what?"
"I asked you to tell me a little about Joan."
"We could be here all day," revealed Auggie. "She's who Arthur should have always been with after your mother died. She's intelligent, quick, fair, an inspiring leader and a forgiving disciplinarian. She was a master field operative who has maintained her integrity, which places her above the reproach of anyone in this car, at least." He turned toward Annie. "I'm sorry, Love."
"No, you're right. We've all done things that Joan managed to not ever have to do, and she was at least as successful as any of us in the field. And seeing as she's about to be back running Clandestine Services, probably more so." Annie pulled up to the curb outside the café. "I'm going to run in and grab the lunch order."
"Do you need help?" Auggie called out after her.
"No. I got it." She jogged up the walk and entered the shop.
Teo reached forward from where he was sitting and placed his hand on Auggie's shoulder. "She's stunning, Auggie. In every way. How do you always end up with these amazing women?"
Auggie shrugged. "I use my powers for good instead of evil."
Teo chuckled briefly. "I'm not against that. Although I don't know what use I'll be to the Agency now."
Auggie wasn't up to solving Teo's problems just yet. "Annie's right. You don't have to figure out all of that today. Just be glad you're going home. And that Arthur is, too."
"I don't know how I'll adjust to living in the light," Teo confessed.
Auggie's laugh had a bitter undertone. He still wasn't completely ready to cozy up to this man from his past and bury the hatchet. "Forgive me if I don't commiserate with you on that one." Although, for the sake of Arthur and Annie and Joan he knew he would try all of the above.
"I'm sorry, Auggie." Teo shook his head. "I still forget sometimes."
Auggie sometimes forgot the closeness of the relationship he had Teo had shared, as well. "It's okay. It took me a while to get used to it, too."
"Thank you for what you did for me. And for my father."
"I also did it for Annie and for Joan and for me," Auggie clarified.
"But none of you would have been mixed up in this without us."
Auggie could hear the contrition in Teo's voice. "True. So you should be especially glad that we've ended up on the winning side on this one."
Teo didn't say anything, but just gripped Auggie's shoulder a bit tighter before patting it lightly, and then he sat back in his seat.
Annie found them sitting in silence upon her return moments later. "Joan just texted. They're about 45 minutes away," she prattled as she directed them down the street and pulled into the driveway. "We'll get Teo settled in, and I'll get lunch on the table."
Auggie nodded and allowed her to guide him to the front door. She opened it with the key Joan had given to them weeks ago just in case. She'd be happy to return it today. She sent Teo to the first floor bedroom while verbally directing Auggie to the kitchen with a container of sandwiches in his hand. She grabbed the final bags and boxes from the car and arranged the luncheon on the dining room table. When she finished, she found Teo asleep in the bedroom and Auggie dozing on the couch. She sat down beside him and cozied up in the crook of his arm. He sighed contentedly and played with a strand of her hair until they both fell asleep. This is where the others found the three of them when they arrived about half an hour later.
"Annie," Joan touched her arm lightly. She felt Auggie stir beneath her. She opened her eyes and blinked twice before she sat up.
"Arthur," she exclaimed as she stood. "It's so good to see you. Teo's sleeping in his room. He said to wake him."
After hugs, handshakes, and a toast to the freedom of the Campbell men, Auggie and Annie begged off and headed back to Auggie's place, suddenly realizing how totally physically and mentally spent they both were. The Campbells needed time, as well.
In the car, Auggie grabbed Annie's hand. "Let's sleep for a week."
"I can do that," she sighed in return.
TBC