Twenty-Four Hours

Chapter Two: ½ Hour Post-Contamination

A/N: The response to the first chapter of this story just blew me away! I've never felt so loved. :D I guess my writing doesn't suck after all, eh? Special thanks go to those who reviewed. Cookies, cake, and lots of sugary drinks for all of you. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Covert Affairs. But the people who do don't mind if I borrow their characters. At least they'd better not… *grins evilly and eyes WMDs*

C_A

Annie and Auggie were walking out of Starbucks when Joan called.

"Auggie, can you hold my coffee for a moment?" Annie asked, handing her latte to him. Grumbling, he took it.

"Annie Walker, Smithsonian Museum."

"Annie, it's Joan," came the curt reply. "We have a Code Fourteen contamination at the CIA. Are you and Auggie somewhere secure?"

"In thirty seconds, we will be. I'll call you back."

Hanging up, Annie turned to Auggie. "We need to get back to base, ASAP."

Auggie nodded. They both hurried into the apartment building by the Starbucks, raced up the stairs, and went into their unit.

Annie brought out her phone again and pressed redial and speaker.

"Joan, what the hell is going on?" Auggie demanded when the phones connected.

"A Dirty Demon fungal infection affecting the whole CIA, that's what!" Joan shot back. Ignoring Auggie's stunned choking sound, she continued, "Jai and I are working on finding the info regarding the cure. You two are the only operatives we have on the outside within the Langley/McLean area.

"Annie, a DD infection is a slow killer, taking out infected people in approximately twenty-four hours. It's been about a half-hour since the infection, give or take. We need you two to locate the cure, once we've found out what it is. This is a matter of life and death. Specifically, the life of the CIA's employees, and if the spore gets out, the death of most of North bloody America!"

The operatives were maintaining a stunned silence when Joan added softly, "I don't want the CIA to be destroyed. I don't want everyone I've ever worked with, barring the two of you, to die painfully, unable to breathe, with black, disgusting, fungus-and-blood scum drowning them from the inside of their lungs.

"I want to live."

Annie took a deep breath. "Joan, we will do everything we possibly can to find the cure and get it to you before twenty-four hours is up."

"Thank you," Joan said softly. "That's all I ask."

A/N: Sorry it's so short! Also, I have another chapter about half-finished. Review if you want me to post it today or tomorrow. :P