10 Weeks Earlier

Medellín, Colombia.

They check in with Joan in the morning, and they confirm Calder's landed before catching a ride on the Metro to the Pablado station, where it will deposit them at the heart of the city. It's hot and bright outside, and Annie watches as the Rio Medellín races by below them outside the Metro window, a sliver of blue-green amongst the other bright colors of the cityscape it winds through.

Auggie sits comfortably beside her the entire ride, content to draw lazy circles on the back of her hand. Everything feels like it's in slow motion, the sleepless nights and endless travel are starting to take their toll. Every now and then she sneaks a glance at him, and the happiness his simply being there creates makes Annie glow. They don't talk, but she prefers the seemingly peaceful silence anyway, because then - at least for a little while - things almost feel normal.

They arrive at the station without complication, and as soon as they step off the metro they're immersed into the bustling energy of El Pablado, one of the busiest, most populated communities in the sprawling metropolis of Medellín. Auggie at her arm, Annie begins to lead them down the crowded walkway and away from the station. They'll have several blocks to navigate before they reach their destination, the Pergamino Cafe, so they take their time. Annie spots a kiosk as they go, and she stops to pick up two new prepaid cellphones, one for her and one for Auggie.

She makes quick work of the protective plastic casing the cellphones come in, handing him the first phone before opening the other for herself. She inspects her phone briefly, shoves it in her bag, and discards of the plastic remains.

"Those things are a pain in the ass." Auggie marvels, impressed, and he explores the surface of the phone with his hands, his cane resting against the crook of his elbow. "How'd you do that so fast?"

She leans close. "Spy magic." Annie says secretively, her voice lowered for effect. She can't keep a straight face though, and ends breaking into a muffled fit of highly un-spy-like snickering.

Auggie shakes his head, mock reprove, but for her efforts she is rewarded with his quintessential signature grin. He sticks the phone in his pocket, and they continue down the crowded street in affable silence.

The Pergamino Cafe comes into view. It's one of Medellin's premiere coffee shops, with a spacious front porch and plentiful seating, the surrounding decor bright and clever. The locals are sprawled across the area now, sipping expresso and resting after a morning of shopping sprees, the occasional tourist thrown in for good measure. A general buzz of conversation and merriment lingers in the air here, and it's refreshing - lively. Annie surveys the area thoroughly, and her eyes find their target. She stops and reaches for Auggie's arm, their shoulders brushing, and he pauses beside her.

Calder Michaels sits at a table against the building toward the farthest part of the cafe front, the most remote area possible in such a civilian, traffic heavy place. He's wearing sunglasses, so Annie can't see his eyes, but he spots her - nods in her direction.

"He's here," she hums flatly. Auggie sighs. They both steel themselves.

"After you, dear," he gestures with his cane hand, his anticipation equally dry.

When they reach Calder's table, they each take their respective seats. Auggie folds his cane, but keeps it in hand.

"Just like old times." Calder drawls, removing his sunglasses and setting them on the table beside a half-full glass of water. He regards Annie cooly, and she holds his gaze. "The only thing we're missing is the rum."

"And still no edible arrangements basket for Wyatt Earp." Auggie dead pans. "Maybe the third time's the charm?"

"I prefer Vodka, actually." Annie interjects, pulling her hair over her shoulder and leaning against the table top.

"Very funny, Anderson." Calder picks up his water and languidly takes a sip. Auggie smirks and follows it up with a half-shrug of indifference: the picture of guiltlessness.

"So, how did we end up here?" Calder muses aloud, "You've all worked so hard to keep me out of the loop, and look - now you need my help. It's like you make it your job to do things the hard way. Is that what they're teaching all these washed out, wannabe die-hards at the farm nowadays?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Annie says cooly, "You're just another moving part in a much bigger picture. Joan said she told you everything, so you and I both know this is bigger than just you and me. You wanted trust? Well now you've got it. And for the record," she adds as an after thought, "We never asked for your help."

Calder growls - Annie's pushing the envelope and he's not appreciative in the least. "I've always known this is bigger than me, Walker. I wonder if you have, though."

"Are you going to sit here and patronize me," Annie asks icily, "or are you going to cut the smart-ass-with-a-chip-on-his-shoulder cliche and do your job?"

A waitress walks up at the exact moment, delivering three new glasses of water and simultaneously diffusing the awkward, slightly heated silence with her presence. Auggie busies himself with his glass, not doing a very good job of containing his glee at Annie's repartee. Calder simmers from across the table, eyes narrowed, lips drawn in a thin line of contempt. He and Annie engage in a battle of stares until he leans back against his chair with an exasperated huff- she wins.

"So what's the plan, boss?" Calder acquiesces.

Annie smiles sweetly and settles comfortably into her seat.

"The satellite image we recovered off of Seth Newman's hard drive had a photograph of Henry Wilcox and an ALC cutout meeting in the jungle here in Medellin." Annie, much like her predecessor Joan Campbell, quickly shifts into no-nonsense mode now that she has Calder's complete attention. She pulls a folder containing the photograph out of her bag and slides it across the table: "We find Teo Braga, we find the cutout, we bring him in and turn him. The information he can give us against Henry and his involvement with Lexington Global should allow us to tie him back to the missiles."

"Missiles that are still missing." Calder clarifies, inspecting the photo. "You really think Wilcox is behind this?"

"Underestimating him will be your first and last mistake, Calder." Auggie cautions.

"The missiles won't be missing any more if we find the cutout." Annie gestures to the picture. "This man" - she points - "is the missing link, and Teo will be able to find him. If we catch him, we're one step closer to ending this. Henry blames the agency for his son's death, and that blame's fallen on all of us. He won't stop until he gets what he wants."

"Revenge?"

"Yes."

Calder eyes both of them skeptically, worrying the rim of his glass with his index finger. "And how do you propose we find Teo Braga?"

"Hummingbird is operational," Auggie chimes, clearly enjoying dropping the bombshell, "so don't worry, wherever Teo goes, I'll find him."

Calder's impressed at that. "You've been holding out on me, Anderson."

"Spy's got to have his secrets." Auggie shrugs.

"So we find the cutout, we find the missiles." Calder raps his fingers on the table top now, warming to the idea. He leans back, folds his hands behind his head. "Is this the part where I give you both my blessing? Send you on a wild goose chase to save the world, while I turn and look the other way?"

"You make it sound so contrived." Annie sighs, "but ideally, yes."

"And you wonder why I don't trust you people." Calder mutters.

"Joan said you promised her 48 hours," Auggie reminds him, "so Calder, are you a man of your word? Or are you dragging us back to the states in cuffs?"

"You'd both be in body bags before doing anything I told you to do." Calder knows that he's on the losing end of the battle. He eyes Annie one more time, almost as if he's debating. "But what am I, if not a man of my word... Take your 48 hours," Calder sighs, "but on one condition."

"Which is?" Annie asks impatiently.

"Simple: keep me in the damn loop this time." Calder snorts, "I'll even do you one better, I can reach out to my contacts here in the city, and my friends inside the embassy at Bogota. There might be some pieces of the puzzle we missed. Henry Wilcox might be good, but trust me," Calder smiles devilishly, "I'm better."

"Just like that?" Auggie seems dubious, as if it's too good to be true.

"Just like that." Calder echoes. "Amazing, isn't it, how far a little honesty can go?"

"I toyed with the idea of using the NOC you created, and dropping in on an ALC meet," Annie voices her thoughts out loud, already considering the possibilities of Calder's offer, "We aren't the only ones looking for the missiles, and if they think I can help them it'll make me worth keeping around. It would give me an in with Teo that won't blow his cover - or mine."

"Dangerous," Calder considers thoughtfully, "but bold. I like it."

Auggie seems to be uncomfortable with the idea - something Annie is well aware of - but he remains quiet. She doesn't dismiss his silence though, and her hand finds his knee, squeezing it fleetingly.

"If we go this route, and you're going to reach out to your contacts, maybe we can get a better idea on ALC movements in the city." Annie suggests. "You said it yourself, there might be something we missed. If there is we need to find it before Henry does."

"Understood." Calder finishes his glass of water and stands, stretching his arms. "I'll be in touch. And just so we're clear, as far as the CIA knows, this conversation never happened."

"What conversation?" Auggie grins, elusive.

"Exactly my point." With a smirk and a nod, Calder dons his sunglasses, throws a few pesos on the table and departs.

Annie watches him walk away, and she waits until he's lost in the crowd on the sidewalk before she turns to Auggie, her expression somewhat baffled.

"That was…"

"Fun?"

"Easier than I thought."

Auggie snorts, and rises, holding out his hand. Annie takes it and pulls herself to her feet.

"Easy? I have a feeling by the time this is over we'll owe him our first-born child." Auggie unfurls his cane. "Now, let's go find a hotel."

"As good as that sounds," she slips her arm through his, tucking herself into his side, "can we get something to eat first? I'm starving. Somewhere quiet though, so we can talk."


The Aguacate Arbol restaurant is situated next to the Parque Lineal La Presidenta. Annie and Auggie order some empanadas to go, and once they have their food in hand they cross the street and head into the park. They settle on a bench off the beaten path of the main foot traffic and eat in silence.

There's a quiet ambiance that hangs over the place, the bright city life a hum on the edge of the periphery. But despite the semblance of serenity the scenery provides, Annie remains apprehensive, troubled. She's been that way since they left the Pergamino after meeting Calder. Auggie has been quiet too, brooding, and his mood is the source of her disquiet.

"You think it's a bad idea."

She finishes off the last bite of the empanada as she talks, but it's distracted, distant. She watches Auggie carefully, trying to gauge his response. He doesn't reply right away, taking longer than necessary to swallow the bite he has in his mouth. She can't tell if he's contemplating or simply stalling - neither of those options necessarily a good thing. She bites her lip, averts her gaze, trying to avert where she knows this is going.

"Auggie…"

"It's not a safe idea." He amends her previous statement.

"It's not the worst idea." She argues.

"You mean there's a worse idea than using yourself as bait?"

Auggie's words are sharp, they kind intended for cutting, and Annie recoils from the blow. She can see his frustration in the lines of his face, the set of his jaw and the tightness of his shoulders. There's regret there, too. She opens her mouth to say something, but falls short. His tormented expression smothers her into silence.

They linger in a painful lull of stubborn wills, but it doesn't last long. Annie leans into him, melts into his side and rests on his shoulder, and he bows his head to press his lips to the top of her own: unspoken offerings of an olive branch.

"We have to finish this Auggie," she says quietly, "someone has to stop him."

"I know."

"Does it scare you?"

"Yeah, it does."

"It scares me too."

Auggie runs his thumb across the flat of her wrist.

"With this job we live and breathe madness everyday." He sighs, heavily, the echo of an equally heavy heart. "So far we've managed to survive the chaos, but…"

"But?"

"As good as we are at this, as good at you are at this, no one's invincible - you're not invincible, Annie." He squeezes her hand, "Inevitability isn't something I can protect you from, that's what scares me most."

Annie draws back, and she stares at him. It overwhelms her - Auggie overwhelms her - because in that moment he is so heartbreakingly beautiful that it's agonizing. It's not the first time, but the feeling never lessens, never fades. She reaches out, touches his face, as if to reassure herself that this is real - that he is real. His hand finds hers, and he holds it in place, an anchor.

Proof of what she's already known all along.

He makes her brave enough.

"Auggie?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you, so much."


A/N: Music: Quien es el Patron, by System Solar.