Disclaimer: not mine…if they were, it wouldn't be so frustrating at the moment

Author's Note: Poor Auggie…Spoilers for 7/31/12 episode

Nothing goes as planned…everything will break.

- Andrew Belle 'In My Veins'

What do you say when a friend is about to make the mistake of his life? What do you say when he comes to you with hope in eyes…in his voice…in every fiber of his being? What do you say when he shows you the ring he has chosen for a girl that is not you? How do you hide your true feelings when your best friend is a spy?

You remember you are also a spy, and as much as you might hate yourself later, you tell him what he needs to hear. You force a smile to your face even though he can't see it. You hide the pain behind the happiness you will yourself to feel, because in truth you want him to be happy…and you pray that you are wrong.

What do you do when it turns out you where right all along?

You bite your lip so hard you can taste blood to prevent the I told you so that hangs on the tip of your tongue…and you are glad that you did as you first glimpse his unsteady gait and rumpled appearance as the officer leads him toward you. His normally expressive face is void and his eyes dull and lifeless, the eyes of a stranger and not the man who has been your rock for so long.

He reeks of alcohol and something you can't quite identify but associate with holding cells, and you pretend not to notice as you wrap him in a gentle hug. Just like you pretend not to notice as he stiffens at your touch. You wait quietly as he finishes his processing and is given a small plastic bag containing his personal items…and you can't help but notice the ring as it gleams dully beneath the harsh florescent lights overhead.

He says nothing as he shoves it unceremoniously into his pocket along with his keys, and offers no resistance as you take his arm and lead him from the station to the car. His silence is unnerving but you wait quietly, patiently until he is ready. Because that is what he would do if it were you.

His carefully constructed walls begin to fall as you reach the door of his apartment and a soft metallic ping follows the dull clinking of his keys as the ring falls from his pocket to the floor. You move instinctively to retrieve it, but freeze in place as a hand reaches out to stop you. His hand gently squeezes your arm as if an apology before reaching for the small bit of offensive metal. His breath hitches and his eyes clench shut as his fist closes around it. Without warning, he rises swiftly and opens the door, vanishing into the darkness beyond.

You wait a moment, uncertain, before following him. He stands in the center of his floor, silhouetted against the faint light emanating from the windows. His head tilts as you shut the door behind you and place your bag on the table.

"She's gone, Annie."

He speaks the words so softly that you strain to hear. You move closer instinctively and are glad you did as seconds later your arms are full of the near dead weight of your best friend. His arms are like vices as they close around you, clutching you like a drowning man would a life preserver. For that is what you are.

You cradle him as best you can as you control your descent to the floor, ending up in a sprawled heap in the middle of the floor. The room is dark, but you don't need light to know he is breaking. His entire body trembles beneath the force of his emotions, and you tremble along with him as your heart breaks for him. There is nothing you can say to fix it, but you try anyways.

"I'm sorry, Auggie."

What do you do when the strongest man you know is shattered? How do you begin to pick up the pieces…if he will even let you try?

...when there is nothing you can do but sit there, as long as he needs you…

Everything is dark and it's more than you can take…