Okay...so Parker is mentioned in this chapter...the file is dated December 2011 but it flows pretty well. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Covert Affairs or any of the characters.
Annie sat at the edge of her bed thinking over what Danielle had told her. There was no doubt in her mind that she loved Auggie but she wasn't sure how she loved him. Was it as a friend or was it something else? She fell onto her back and clutched a pillow to her chest. As she lay there she replayed the night's events in her head.
...
"So how do you want to play this?" Auggie said in a low voice as the dinner guests arrived.
"Just like at the tavern," Annie replied. "I can signal you when Todd comes near." Annie grabbed hold of Auggie's hand and gave it a firm squeeze. "Just like that, okay?"
"Alright."
"I'm going to go help Danielle set the table. You going to be okay hanging out here in the kitchen?"
"I'll be fine," Auggie said reassuringly. He gave Annie's hand a light squeeze and smiled. He could tell she smiled back when she replied, "Okay." He didn't know how he knew but he just knew.
Annie went into the dining too to help out her sister. "I seriously don't know why you and Auggie aren't together, Annie," Danielle whispered when she entered.
"You are impossible, Danielle. I told you already that we're just friends. Plus, he just got out a relationship."
"Yes, that's true. But he isn't upset about it, Annie. Ask yourself why. Maybe he was in a relationship with that Parker girl because he was trying to get his mind off of you."
"Can we have this conversation later?" Annie whispered quite annoyed.
"I'll hold you to that."
Annie continued setting out the food when the doorbell rang. Danielle left the dining room to answer it and Annie's stomach dropped when she heard Danielle squeal "Todd!" from the foyer. Annie took her time setting out the wine glasses but she eventually had the go into the living room to mingle.
From across the room, Annie scanned for Auggie. She found him standing by the fireplace talking to Michael and she briskly made her way over to his side.
"He's coming this way," Annie whispered as she looped her right arm into his left. Auggie continued his conversation with Michael until Danielle came to introduce Todd.
"Auggie, this is Todd. Annie and I went to high school together. Todd, this is Auggie."
Todd extended his hand to shake Auggie's. Annie squeezed his left hand and Auggie extended his right.
"You'll have to forgive me, Todd," Auggie said with his Anderson charm. "I can't see all that well." He flashed a smile and Annie saw Todd's expression change to a happier one. Annie squeezed his hand again and Auggie wrapped his left arm around Annie's waist.
"I'm sorry, Auggie," Todd said without feeling. "Hi, Annie."
Without letting go of Auggie, Annie replied with a polite, "Hello," and a nod.
"Well," Danielle said breaking up the awkwardness, "let's all go into the dining room and we can get started."
Everyone followed Danielle and Michael while Annie and Auggie lagged behind a bit.
"If you grip my hand any tighter we may have to amputate it by the end of the night," Auggie whispered to Annie.
"I'm sorry," Annie said loosening her grip. "It's just that, his expression changed once you told him you're blind. It was like he thought that being blind gave him an advantage."
"If it's any consolation I don't like him either. His sorry wasn't genuine at all."
At the dinner table, Annie sat next to Auggie and Todd chose the seat across from her. Annie took a deep breath and put on a smile. It was going to be a long night.
…
Annie slowly woke up as the sun peeked through the opening in the curtains. She sat up and rubbed her eyes and ran her hands through her hair as she sighed. She mulled over what Danielle had said the night before and was on the verge of ripping her hair out from frustration and confusion when her nieces came bursting into the guest house.
"Annie!" Katia squealed as she climbed onto the bed. "There's a phone call for you."
"It's your cell phone," Khloe said handing it to Annie. "You left it in the kitchen last night."
"Thanks, Khloe," Annie said groggily. "Who is it?"
"It's Auggie," Katia said surrounding herself with the blankets.
Annie's heart skipped a beat and her mouth went dry. She brought the phone to her ear and spoke slowly. "Auggie?"
"Hey, Annie. Did I wake you?"
"Ah, by proxy, yeah," Annie said throwing pillows at Khloe and Katia as they made kissy faces. "What's up?"
"I think my phone fell out of my pocket in your car last night. Could you check for me?"
"Yeah, give me a minute." Annie got out of bed, slipped on her sandals, and went to her car. "What number are you calling from? I don't recognize the number." Annie searched the passenger side of the car as she spoke.
"My apartment. It took me until now to realize I lost my phone. Took a while to recall your cell number, too."
"Well, your phone is here. It fell under the seat. I can drop it off in a bit if you'll still be home."
"It's Saturday, Annie. I pretty much just sleep or read on Saturdays."
"Well I can be there in a half hour, forty-five minutes. We can grab breakfast, too, if you're up to it." Annie had no idea why she was inviting Auggie to breakfast when she had been with him practically all night. She shook of the feeling and went back to the guest house.
"Sure," Auggie said without pause. "I know a great little diner a couple blocks from my place."
…
Dinnertime conversation was filled with the normal topics: weather, work, sports. Todd was especially interested in Auggie's occupation and interests.
"So, Auggie," Todd began. "What is it that you do?"
"Well, Todd," said Auggie taking his bluntness in stride, "I work in the acquisitions department at the Smithsonian and I deal specifically with artifacts from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Sometimes, on a slow day, I'll give some tours."
"I see," Toss said with a smile on his face. "And what, may I ask piqued your interest in that?"
"Well I've always been partial to history and art," Auggie replied without missing a beat.
Annie sat in her chair and fidgeted a little. Auggie sensed her uneasiness and took her hand in his own under the table and squeezed it reassuringly.
"You said you're in finance," Auggie said civilly. "What got you into that?"
The conversation continued like that until dinner was coming to an end, Todd had had his fill of wine, and all but one subject had been discussed.
"Not to be rude, Auggie," Todd slurred, "But how did you come to lose your eye sight?"
Annie saw Auggie's shoulders tense and she shot Danielle a look. Since everyone was now focusing on Auggie and Todd, Danielle telepathically shrugged an apology to Annie.
"Auggie," Annie said slowly. "You don't have to..."
"No," he said smiling. "It's ok." Auggie regained his composure and began his story of a routine supply trip gone wrong.
…
Annie and Auggie sat in the café chatting while the sun shined through the window and the smell of coffee wafted through the air.
"You know, Auggie, you didn't have to tell them about Tikrit last night."
"And why not?" Auggie inquired.
"Well," Annie began slowly. "I know it's a sensitive issue for you. You never really told me anything until last year and even then it was bits and pieces."
"I like to keep a part of myself shrouded in mystery, Annie. I never really told anyone about Tikrit in full except for Austin. I left out a lot last night, too. It's something I just want to be for me."
"I understand, Auggie. We all have that little piece of ourselves we keep hidden from everyone."
…
"And as you can see, I'm pretty well adjusted," Auggie said finishing his story.
"That's quite a story, Auggie," Todd said with a hint of condescension.
Auggie shrugged off Todd's snide comment and focused on responding to the rest of the guests' praises. Annie relaxed a little and restrained herself from throwing the carving knife at Todd.
…
"I'm surprised you didn't throw something at Todd," Auggie laughed. "I was waiting for him to cry out in pain."
"Ugh, I know. Danielle was so apologetic last night that I couldn't get mad at her. I made her promise to never invite him over again."
"It's not Danielle's fault he turned out to be such an ass. You expect people to change after high school and college but sometimes that doesn't happen."
"Too true. I like to think I'm completely different from my high school self. I'm a bit more outgoing than I was back then."
"Were you one of those shy girls that never said much but always thought about everything?"
"I was more of a bookworm than anything but I was quiet. Danielle was the outgoing one." Annie took a sip of her coffee and laughed at her high school self. "What were you like in high school, Auggie?"
"Ooh...I was a walking contradiction. I still am. I was probably one of the biggest nerds in my school but I was a hell of an athlete, too. I took apart and reassembled computers and ran track while my brothers played football. They picked on me relentlessly but I could always outrun them."
The rest of the morning carried on with light conversation and laughter about the previous night's events. Auggie never stopped smiling and Annie was laughing more than she had in a long time. After a few hours, the waitress came by their table again.
"Do you two want to stay for lunch?" she joked.
"Aw, you're not sick of me now, are you, Stella?" Auggie joked back.
"I could never get sick of you, Auggie. But seriously, should I get you guys something?"
"Just the check, please, Stella," Annie piped in. Stella left to get the check and Annie turned to Auggie. "I have to go buy Katia's birthday present."
"Oh, fun. What are you getting her?"
"Danielle and I pulled our money together and got her a boxed set of hardcover Harry Potter books. The box looks like Harry Potter's trunk and Katia's been asking for it since Christmas."
"Do you mind if I tag along?" Auggie asked. "I've been meaning to get some new books."
"Not at all. I'd like the company."
"Great," Auggie replied smiling. They paid the bill and walked out of the café arms linked.
…
"I swear, Auggie, I'm going to kill Danielle when I get home," Annie said gripping the steering wheel tightly.
"Aw, now that's a little extreme," Auggie replied. "Tonight wasn't that bad. Besides, if you kill your sister it's going to put a bit of a damper on your budding career as an intelligence officer." He heard Annie laugh a little.
"I'm sorry you had to put up with Todd. I didn't think he would be such an ass."
"It was really no problem, Annie. I put up with small-minded assholes like him day in, day out. If anything, I should be apologizing; you had to put up with him for four years of high school."
"Two, years, actually," Annie corrected. "We moved to Virginia the summer before my junior year." Annie slowed the car down until it came to a stop. "We're here," Annie said putting the car in park in front of Auggie's building. "I stopped right in front of the door so it's pretty much a straight shot from the car."
Auggie unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door to get out but stopped when he felt Annie's hand grab his.
"Thank you, again, Auggie. I really don't how I would have faired without you there tonight."
"You're welcome although, I'm pretty sure you could've handled yourself just fine without me." Auggie smiled and kissed Annie's hand. "Goodnight, Miss Walker," he said.
"Goodnight, Mr. Anderson," Annie replied with a smile. The smile remained as she watched Auggie greet his doorman and enter the building. She started the car and drove home smiling the entire way.
…
"Have a good day," the sales clerk said half-heartedly.
"You, too" Annie replied replacing her wallet in her purse. She walked towards Auggie who was waiting on a chair by the window. "Ready to go?"
"Yes, I am," Auggie said standing up.
Once they were back at Auggie's apartment, Auggie invited Annie upstairs and she happily accepted. They talked for a while, ordered takeout for lunch, and spent the afternoon listening to Charles Mingus. It was one of the best Saturday afternoons either of them had had in a long while. They were in the middle of a friendly debate when a phone chimed.
"Is that mine or yours?" Auggie asked.
"Mine," Annie replied as she checked it. "I should go. Danielle is looking for me."
"What?" Auggie joked. "We were having so much fun! I was winning our little debate."
"That's what you think," Annie said as she stood up. "Don't forget that I was in JSA all throughout high school. I was wiping the floor with your sorry ass."
"Ah, whatever." Auggie stood up from the sofa grinning like a school boy. "Let me show you out, Quitter."
Annie was going to reply with a witty retort but she knew she'd never leave if she did so she just sighed and let Auggie show her to the door. Before leaving, she kissed his cheek and her lips lingered a little longer than normal.
"Thank you," she whispered in his ear. "Thank you for everything." She kissed his cheek again and turned to leave. The door to Auggie's apartment slammed shut behind her as her heels clicked on the tile floors. Suddenly she stopped. She turned around and headed back to Auggie's door. She raised her hand to knock but hesitated and brought it back down to her side. Before she knew it, her hand was back up and she was knocking on his door.
The door opened and Auggie smiled. "Forget something, Annie?" he said but all he could get out was "An-". He was cut off and knocked back into his apartment by a kiss on his lips.