When It All Comes Crashing Down

Author Note: Again thanks everyone for the reviews. Thanks Helena for the Auggie plushie... it will have to do for now ;) . I guess after tonight's episode this is kind of A/U now but still fun. Time to see Annie in action. I warn you there is a little Auggie bashing here, but as we all know heartbroken women can be cruel. I promise I will make it up to you all in a future chapter.

Now here's the deal. You are going to get 2 chapters posted because to be honest, I am going to be out of communication for a few day myself. So you'll have to make due with chapter 4 and 5 until I get back.

Chp 4

Annie Walker strutted into the front door of Serenity Day Spa like a woman on a mission (sorry couldn't resist), Saturday morning. Thanks to the conveniently acquired credit card bill, Annie found the spa that Liza went to usually once a month to have her hair touched up before a big interview. The trick was figuring out exactly when/if Liza would be in. Annie's instincts proved right. As she sat across the street around 8am, she watched Liza Hearn, in an old wool jacket and a pair of sunglasses head into the front door of one of the most expensive spas in town.

This was going to be fun.

Annie checked her watch, she had Auggie make her an appointment at 815 and 10 am just in case. Auggie had made the appointments when the spa first opened at 7, stating that he was her assistant and she wasn't sure exactly what time she would be able to get in. An all day spa trip started early, but after a long night, Liza might not have been such an early bird. Thankfully Annie's instincts were correct and the 815 appointment would be just right.

"Hello, welcome to Serenity," said the over perky brunette at the front desk.

"Hi, I'm Annie Walker, I have an appointment for a full treatment at 815."

"Oh yes, Ms Walker, your assistant called when we first opened. Glad you could make it to the early appointment, as I told him on the phone, its much more relaxing in the morning when you can enjoy your day with us."

"Thank you I truly appreciate it. I had a, uh, rough night to say the least." Annie threw in a little sniffle at the end, trying her best to look sad and depressed.

"Oh you poor thing, well trust me a day of pampering is just what you need to forget it. Follow me around the changing room and we will get you all set up and ready to go." Annie followed behind the woman, scouting for Liza as she went.

"If you'll go in here and get changed, just leave your things, and then you can head to the sauna to start the day off, help relax the muscles. It's aromatherapy, lavender and vanilla to help relax. It's right down the hall to the left."

"Miss"

"Suzie please"

"Suzie, I know this might be an odd question but is this a personal sauna? I've just had an unbelievably rough night and I just don't really want to talk to anyone."

"I'm sorry, its not. But there is only one other customer in there right now and to be honest sweetie, I think she is in the same boat as you."

"Oh ok, thank you."

"Not a problem, if you need anything at all while you're in there, just hit turn on the switch by the door, that will let us know up front. We'll be in to get you after a half hour to take you for your massage treatment."

And with that, Suzie headed out the door. Annie changed quickly into the robe laying on the couch in the changing room. "Hmmm glad I'm not footing the bill for this op," Annie muttered to herself after feeling the fine quality of the robe.

She headed down to the door to the sauna and took a deep breath before turning the handle. Liza Hearn sat with her head down at the far end of the wooden benches. She didn't even look up when the door shut. Annie took a seat at the other end, avoiding eye contact herself. She probably only had about 15 to 20 minutes before they came back for Liza and Annie needed to get the messy part over with before then.

She sniffled a little, still no response from Liza, then a little hiccup in her breath, still nothing. Man, thought Annie, this woman is heartless. Finally Annie let a half sob, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to bother you, I just, had a really..."

"YOU! You little tramp, what did he do, send you here to spy on me?" Yep, now Annie confirm she had made contact.

"Spy for HIM? Why the hell would I do that? I can't believe this!. What the hell are you doing here." Annie retorted.

"Me? You have a lot of nerve. I can't not believe you two." Liza stood up and made her way to the door.

"Wait, what do you mean, you two? Shouldn't it be the other way around" Annie lowered her voice, surprise inflected in her voice.

"Oh don't play that came with me. You know what I mean. Auggie dumped me for you. I get it, your cute, younger, and follow him around like a lost puppy dog. But I know you're not stupid. And neither am I so don't degrade me."

"Liza, I'm not playing stupid, but you've got it all wrong. Auggie dumped me last night not you."

Liza stopped in her place, hand on the door. "What?"

"Last night he came by my place. Told me it was over, that he'd fallen in love with you, and that was it, we were over." Annie made sure to throw a couple of solid sobs in at the end.

"You and him, were seeing each other?" Liza looked closely at Annie's face. This was the judgement moment. Annie was a good liar, despite her sister's opinion to the contrary, but Liza Hearn was very good at spotting a liar. This would have to be Annie's best show yet. Thankfully she had some specific details that only a best friend would have the privilege of knowing. Like the fact that he spends every Wednesday night with a bunch of geeky friends of his talking about the latest software encryption's or hacker codes to hit the web.

"Yeah we'd slip away at work some late nights, Wednesdays mostly."

"Wednesdays? He told me he went to some guy named Sherman's house."

"Yeah, don't tell me you didn't know about it?" Annie asked.

"You mean you did? You knew about me?" Liza asked.

"Well yeah. But he told me he was just using you. Trying to get information out on who the leak was. That's Auggie I guess, his only love is the agency".

Oh God, if Auggie could hear her right now he would be losing it.

"Using me?"

"That's what he told me, obviously it was a little more then that."

Liza turned around and walked slowly back to bench she was sitting on.

"Using me. That egotistical, sleazy, blind bastard. He had the nerve, the balls, to use me. Me. He never wanted to even talk about it. I was the one that would always bring it up..."

Annie sat in silence letting Liza rant for a few more minutes while she sat there, calculating her next move. Finally Annie spoke up, breaking Liza' rant.

"That's how he works," Annie said flatly, "He takes what he needs from you and moves on."

Suddenly Annie found herself in a flashback. With Ben, but this time it wasn't of their amazing time in Sri Lanka. This time it was him, in her room, with that damn match book and that damn painting.

Whoa Annie She thought not the time for your head to be out of the game.

Liza stood up from the bench on the other end of the room. The moment of truth had arrived. Either Liza would head for the door, and Auggie would be behind bars by lunch on Monday or she'd let her undeniable need to believe that it wasn't her fault, that she was worthy, that he was the bastard, it wasn't something wrong with her, overcome her and take over. Annie held her breath as Liza walked past Annie.

And took a seat on the other side of her.

Phase 1 accomplished.