Thanks for the reviews and alerts :o)
Seems like I'm on a little 'wrap-things-up' roll this weekend. As I said in the AN after the previous chapter I really didn't know what more to add to this story, getting this chapter together was sort of a challenge, but here it is. The final chapter of this little story.
Only a couple of days to go before season 3 is here! YAY! :o)
DISCLAIMER: As always I don't own Annie, Auggie or Covert Affairs.
Three months after returning to work Christmas was approaching and Auggie had been given more fieldwork than he'd expected. After his initial mission to Stockholm with Annie he'd been to London, Brussels and Johannesburg on solo missions, and on another mission with Annie. This time they'd been on a two-week mission in Budapest. To their pleasure they'd had some free time while waiting for the asset to contact them and they'd managed to see quite a lot of the city. Now he was on his way home from another mission, his hardest and most challenging so far. He'd spent the past week in Rome and was glad to be heading home. He struggled to get comfortable in his seat; whishing the Agency would at least allow him to fly business class. Coach was just too cramped for his long legs, and his bruised ribs didn't make it easier to get comfortable. He checked the time. Three hours and he'd be at Dulles. Annie had promised to come pick him up and he couldn't wait to see her again. Their relationship had been growing steadily stronger over the past couple of months.
"Aaaaggeeee…" Annie's squeal caught Auggie's attention before he saw her. Before he fully realized what happened Annie had thrown her arms around his neck and kissed him senseless.
"I guess you're happy to have me back," he said with a laugh as they pulled apart.
"More than you can imagine. It hasn't been a very good week. Did I hurt you? You seemed to wince when I hugged you."
"I'm fine, just some bruised ribs from that fight I told you about. What's going on?"
"Let's get your bag and we can talk about it in the car, okay?"
Auggie nodded and went to get his bag from the carousel.
Fifteen minutes later they were in Annie's car, headed for Auggie's apartment.
"So, are you planning on telling me what's going on anytime soon?" Auggie asked after riding in silence for a few minutes. Annie responded with a sigh.
"Danielle and the girls have to move, turns out Michael's loophole really was a loophole."
"Any idea where they're moving?"
"Because of her catering business Danielle would really like to remain in the area, but they'll probably end up moving out to Reston or something. I don't think she can afford somewhere big enough for both her and the girls in Georgetown. The house is on the market now and unsurprisingly there's been a lot of interest."
"Listen Annie, I don't know what you've got planned, but if you want to you're more than welcome to move in with me."
"Really? You'd be okay with that? We've only been going out for a few months."
"Annie…" Auggie said with an exasperated sigh. "We've been best friends for a long time. We know each other well and I know I'm in it for the long run. I wouldn't have made this step with you if I wasn't."
"Your apartment isn't the biggest…where would I stash all of my shoes?"
"We'll get a new place. With the two of us splitting the rent we wouldn't have any trouble paying rent on a bigger apartment. We'll make it work until we find the perfect one, okay?"
"Hmmm… You are making a good argument Augs, I'll give you that. I'm willing to give it a try."
"With that settled, how 'bout some dinner? I'm starving. Plane food just doesn't do it for me. Especially not that crap they serve in coach."
"Tell me about it. I bet these past couple of months have been a reminder to the harsh realities of cheap hotels and flying coach, huh?"
"Yep, sure has. But to be honest I'm just happy to be out of the office, so I really don't mind."
"I guess that's it," Annie said as they stacked the last box with her stuff against the wall in Auggie's living room. The Brooks' house was sold and Danielle and the girls had moved into a condo in Reston. Annie and Auggie were looking for a bigger apartment, but for now they'd stay at Auggie's place. Annie's furniture and most of her stuff was in a storage unit and she'd brought her clothes and a few personal items to Auggie's apartment.
"Are you sure you brought enough shoes?" Auggie asked teasingly as Annie was unpacking her wardrobe later that afternoon.
"Har har Auggie, very funny."
"Seriously though, how many pairs of those death traps do you need?"
"Hey, a girl can't get enough shoes," Annie said as she swatted him on the arm.
"Ouch, I was just asking."
"Well, you're the one that wanted me to move in. I guess double walk-in closets are on the list of requirements for our new place."
"Sure is. Now, let's order some food. Chinese ok with you?"
"Yeah, sounds great," Annie said as she headed for the kitchen to find the menu, with Auggie following behind her.
When they returned to the DPD after lunch a few days later Joan called Auggie into her office.
"I have some news for you Auggie. First of I must congratulate you on doing some fine fieldwork over the past months. You've always been one of our best officers and it's great to have you back in the field."
"Thank you Joan. You know I always do my best."
"I know Auggie, and that's one of the things I appreciate most about you and why I respect and appreciate you so much."
Auggie was lost for words and wondering where Joan was going with this.
"Anyway, you've blown us away with the work you've done in the field lately and Arthur has agreed to make an exception and authorize you as a field officer again."
"What?" Auggie's eyes were wide with surprise.
"You heard me Auggie. You're going back in the field full time. We need to find a replacement for you as Head of Tech Ops. Barber would be my first choice, but since he's working with Jai now I'm thinking Stu. He's done a fine job covering for you when you've done fieldwork lately."
"Wow," Auggie breathed, he was so surprised that he wasn't able to form a coherent sentence. After a minute he finally found his voice again. "Yes, Stu would be my first choice too. When will we start our new positions?"
"As soon as possible. I'll talk to Stu next. I'm pretty sure he'll accept to replace you, it shouldn't be a problem." Joan's tone was dismissive and Auggie got to his feet.
"Thank you Joan," he said as he left her office. He tried hard to suppress a grin.
As he settled down by his desk in in soon former office he lightly shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't quite comprehend turns his life had taken lately; he had his sight back, he was not only in a relationship with Annie, they were living together and now he was going back into the field full time.
"What's going on?" Annie's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Huh?"
"You heard me. What has you grinning like the Cheshire cat?"
"Close the door behind you and I'll tell you. It's not official yet."
Annie entered the office, pulled the sliding door closed and sat in the spare chair opposite Auggie's desk.
"I just talked to Joan. Apparently they're so pleased with my work in the field that they're making an exception and putting me back into the field full time."
"Wow… Auggie that's great news! Who's replacing you? And when do you start?"
"Joan's talking with Stu right now. She wants me to start as soon as possible."
"I'll miss having you in my ear when I'm out in the field, but I know Stu will do a good job. After all, you've trained him"
"Thanks Annie. Do you want to go out for dinner tonight? To celebrate?"
"Sure. I'd better get back to work. Joan wants me to finish the translation I'm doing before I leave today. Hopefully we'll be out of here by 5 if nothing comes up. Will that be doable for you?"
"Yeah. I just have a couple of reports to go over and a cipher to wrap up. Let me know when you're ready to leave," Auggie said as he put his glasses on and turned his attention back to the report he'd been working on when Joan had summoned him to her office. A feeling of contentment he hadn't felt since before Iraq washed over him. Joan's news was the best early Christmas present he'd ever had.
-The end-
So, that's the end of "Miracle?".
Leave me a review and let me know what you think? ;o)
