Here's 2nd part of my little New Years story with Auggie & Annie. The third and final chapter will probably be up this weekend.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Covert Affairs, Annie or Auggie.

-Chapter 2-

It was New Years Eve and Auggie was trying to prepare for his evening with Annie. Unfortunately a someone in his neighborhood, probably kids, had taken it upon themselves to celebrate all evening long and fireworks had been going off for the past couple of hours. He'd taken a small dose of his meds and between that and prepping for Annie's arrival he'd been able to keep his focus away from the fireworks. It was getting harder and the fireworks seemed to be picking up. In a moment of clarity he checked the time. Only 15 minutes 'til Annie was due to arrive. He gingerly crossed his living room and unlocked the door so it was open before he made his way to his bedroom; it was the room farthest away from the park where the fireworks were going off. He climbed into the bed and buried under the covers. His thick feather duvet muffled the sound of the fireworks a little bit. He felt like an idiot and was mortified by the thought of Annie seeing him like this, but if he was to keep somewhat sane he didn't have a choice.

Annie was walking down the hallway to Auggie's apartment. She'd cursed when she saw the teenagers shooting fireworks in the park a block down from Auggie's place and was worried about her best friend. She made it to his door and knocked a couple of times. No answer. She knocked again, a little harder this time. Still no answer. She pulled the handle and the heavy door slid open. She peeked inside, no sign of Auggie, so she entered and closed and locked the door behind her.

"Auggie?" Annie called out as she deposited her bag and the bag of food she was carrying next to Auggie's cane and keys on the kitchen island. The cane being here meant that Auggie was there, he never went anywhere without it. Her initial thought was that he was in the bathroom, but the door was half open. She peeked into the bedroom and instantly saw Auggie's form under the covers. "Oh shit!" she thought, the fireworks had obviously caused her best friend to suffer already and it was only 8:30 at night.

"Auggie," she said softly as she crossed the floor and sat down on the opposite side of the bed. There was slight movement under the duvet. "Aug, it's Annie. Are you ok? Can I do anything to help you?" No answer, just a groan and a small movement. She put her hand on his shoulder. He jerked away at first, then there was more movement and a familiar head appeared from under the duvet. Auggie's hair was sticking out in odd angles and his eyes were wide with fear. "Annie?"

"Yeah, it's me Aug. What can I do? I wanna help you, but you got to let me know what I can do for you."

Another round of fireworks went off and Auggie disappeared beneath the covers again. Annie quickly slipped off her stilettoes and climbed into bed behind Auggie. She stroked his back soothingly with one hand and eventually she felt some tension leaving his body, but he was obviously on edge.

"Can I get you anything? Do you want to take another dose of your meds?"

Auggie nodded. "Where are they?"

"Medicine cabinet, top shelf, right side."

"How many?"

"Two."

"Got it. I'll be right back."

"Thanks Annie."

Half an hour later the kids had run out of fireworks and Auggie's anti-anxiety medication had kicked in. Auggie was sitting on one of the stools by the kitchen island while Annie was puttering around his kitchen, heating up the meal Danielle had insisted on making for them.

"That smells delicious Annie."

"Danielle made it. She insisted that if we were missing her party we should at least have a decent meal. She knows I'm not much of a cook and I guess she doesn't have too much faith in your cooking skills either."

"She might be right about my cooking skills, or more like lack of that."

"I don't know about that Aug. You do make a mean lasagna and your beef casserole is great."

"Well, thanks Annie. I still think your caterer sister has the upper hand in the cooking department."

"Don't sell yourself short there Anderson." Annie said with a teasing grin. "Now, I hope you're ready for a meal a-la Danielle."

"I'm actually starving." Auggie said as Annie placed a plate in front of him and tapped a fork against the back of his right hand.

"Beef at six, veggies at two and potatoes at ten o'clock."

"Thanks," Auggie said as he grabbed the fork.

"What do you want to drink? I'm guessing your meds doesn't go well with alcohol?"

"Just a glass of water, thanks."

They finished the meal in and then settled down on Auggie's sofa and watched a movie. They'd decided to watch something they'd both seen before and they didn't really pay too much attention to it. They were more engaged in their conversation and for a while the few fireworks that went off merely caused Auggie to flinch. As midnight approached Annie sensed that his tension was growing.

"Aug?"

"Yeah, what?"

"Would it be easier if we just went to bed before midnight?"

"Um..yes, but that wouldn't be fair to you. It's New Years Eve for crying out loud." Auggie sighed and hung his head with embarrassment.

"I'm actually getting tired and I don't mind at all Auggie. I don't care about the fireworks or watching the ball drop. I care about my best friend."

"Annie… You don't have to stay here with me, you can still make it to your sister's place before midnight."

"Sheesh Aug, how many times do we have to have this conversation? I WANT to be here with you, nowhere else. Now, can I please borrow a pair of pajama pants and a t-shirt?"

Auggie got up from his seat and headed to the bedroom. A couple of minutes later he returned carrying a pair of charcoal pajama pants and a light gray t-shirt.

"If you insist," he said as he held the clothes out in Annie's direction. Annie got up and took them from him.

"Thanks Auggie," she said and headed to the bedroom to get changed.

As midnight got closer they were comfortable in Auggie's bed. Annie had curled up against Auggie's side with her head on his shoulder. Under other circumstances he would have found the intimate position awkward, but at the moment he didn't mind having his best friend next to him. He was just thankful that he had Annie in his life, this amazing woman that cared enough about him to give up a great party to spend New Years Eve with him and make sure he was ok.