Annie and Auggie spend a quiet weekend together so Annie can catch up on some much needed rest. But, then the phone rings and it looks like they have some decisions to make. Sometimes life can get complicated.

I guess I need to remind you that I own nothing associated with Covert Affairs. I do this just for fun ... and it is fun. Thanks for the nice comments, alerts, etc. I appreciate your taking time to let me know you are enjoying the story.

Chapter 10 – Springtime Weekend

Annie and Auggie enjoyed a quiet Saturday evening together with a takeout dinner and a nice bottle of wine that Auggie had purchased on their last grocery shopping trip. In fact, he'd begun to enjoy shopping trips with Annie, especially when they had time to window shop in the wine and beer aisle. Auggie had developed a nice stash of red and white wines, which he knew Annie enjoyed. He also had a fridge shelf full of beers from around the world.

Sunday morning dawned warm and breezy … the picture perfect first Sunday of May. Rather than cook breakfast, Annie and Auggie decided to go to the café for breakfast and to pick up the Sunday paper. Walking back to Auggie's apartment, the couple's usual position for strolling along the sidewalks of Auggie's neighborhood changed subtly. Auggie had unfolded his cane in the restaurant and continued to use it to navigate his way home. Annie carried the newspaper under her left arm and her right hand was nestled in Auggie's left hand. Aside from his cane, they were like any other couple enjoying the spring morning walking hand-in-hand.

"The sun feels amazing," Annie shared. "In Norway, I felt like I'd never feel warm sunshine again … the rest of my life."

"You're happy this mission is over, aren't you?"

"Yes, Auggie, on so many levels, it's hard to put into words," she said as she leaned into Auggie's left side and put her head on his shoulder. Auggie released his hold on her hand and wrapped his left arm around her.

"Today is perfect, Auggie," she whispered. He squeezed her shoulder. "It really is … perfect … the breeze, the sun, the leaf buds on the trees are beginning to come out and they look lacy and feathery. The sky is such an intense bright blue with wisps of bright, white clouds swirling in the wind … and I'm with you. Today IS perfect."

Auggie stopped, pulled Annie in close to him and kissed the top of her head. "Thank you for thinking to describe what you see. I love the word pictures you paint."

"I just want you to see what I see so badly." She reached up and kissed his cheek.

"I know," he whispered, "and I love you for it. But we're just going to have to be happy with your descriptions and my vivid imagination."

Back at the apartment, Auggie made a fresh pot of coffee and Annie went through her Sunday morning reading ritual, but the past weeks were catching up with her and she had trouble stifling a series of yawns. "The news is really boring today, isn't it?" Auggie teased.

"I'm so sorry, Auggie," she yawned, "I think I'm having a sinking spell."

Auggie chuckled. "I don't think I've ever heard it put quite that way. Why don't you go into the bedroom and take a nap."

"You coming, too?" she asked seductively.

"No. You really do need to wind down and get some rest. We'll make up for it later."

"How about I curl up on the sofa? I want to stay close to you," she said as she retrieved a pillow from the bedroom and laid it on the arm rest.

"Your choice," Auggie said as he felt through a stack of large grey books lying on the center shelf of the bookcase. "Here it is," he said to himself as pulled the big volume out of the stack and started back to the sofa.

"Whatcha reading?" Annie asked.

"Winter's Bone … everyone's still talking about the book and the movie, so I thought I'd check it out."

"Don't they have it in an audio book version?"

"Oh, I'm sure there is, but I still like to read a book for myself. Besides, it helps me keep my Braille skills sharp."

Annie curled up on her side hugging the pillow with her feet against the side of Auggie's leg. Auggie realized that with every few pages he'd read he was reaching over and giving Annie's leg or foot a little pat. Annie's relaxed breathing while she napped made him smile.

The quiet afternoon was shattered by Auggie's land line phone ringing and announcing "Mom and Dad" several times before he could make his way to the kitchen to pick it up. He suspected it would be his mother calling, but just in case it was someone else in the family calling from his parents', he answered a generic, "Hello."

"Auggie, Hi. How are you?"

"Fine, Mom. How are things going there?"

"Great, I'm beginning to work on the guest list for the Memorial weekend party, and I was hoping … maybe … you and Annie could come this year?"

"Oh, Mom … I don't know …"

"Auggie, you haven't been here for the party since before you went to Iraq, and I think it's about time you put in an appearance." Amanda's tone was light, but her delivery was firm.

Auggie sighed deeply. Annie was about half awake but decided to lay still and listen and watch.

"Mom, I'd have to discuss this with Annie, and I don't know if we'd be able to be out of the office at the same time. And, we've both got a lot going on at the office."

When she heard her name mentioned, Annie perked up and listened carefully, but since Auggie's mother was doing most of the talking she just observed Auggie's reactions between a series of "Uhh Huhs" and "Ohhs."

"I want to show you off and prove to my friends that you're just fine … and as happy and handsome as ever. And, I want you to bring Annie … please … think about it ... talk it over with Annie."

"We'll talk about it. Aside from your party planning, is everything else ok?"

"It sure is. Now, seriously consider coming out for Memorial Day and try to stay a few extra days," Amanda finished the conversation.

"We'll talk it over and think about it. Love you guys."

"Auggie, you know how much we love you."

"Yep. Bye."

Annie sat up on the sofa and stretched. "What was that all about?"

"Mom's on another crusade to get me to go home … this time for her big Memorial weekend start-of-summer party … and she wants you to come, too."

"Me? Why?" Annie asked.

"Well, for one thing she likes you. And, I'm guessing she thinks she'll have more luck getting me there, if you're part of the package," Auggie said thoughtfully.

"Is that all?"

"Well, that and she wants to put me on exhibit to show off to her friends that I'm ok, don't have any disfiguring scars and have acquired a beautiful girlfriend."

"So-o-o-o, we'd be put on display like trophies or something?"

"Not quite that overt, but essentially, yes."

Annie paused to craft her response carefully. "If we went, this could take some future pressure off of you, and we'd get to go to a great party?"

"Something like that."

"Would going to Glencoe be that bad?"

"Not if you went with me," Auggie said with a devilish smile. "Neither one of us has taken much time off lately. Maybe a change of pace and scenery would be good for both of us … even if it is Glencoe."

Monday morning Annie and Auggie met up for a mid-morning coffee break and trekked up to Joan's office to talk to her about taking some time off around the Memorial Day holiday. Joan's secretary was away from her desk, but the door to her office was open so they stood quietly in the doorway waiting for Joan to look up and notice them.

"Are you two taking hovering lessons from Jai?"

They laughed nervously.

Auggie cleared his throat and spoke first. "Joan, Annie and I have been invited by my mother to go to Glencoe for the Memorial Day weekend and maybe a few additional days before and after. Before we put in a formal request for time off, we were wondering if it would be a problem for you if we did take some time."

It was hard for Joan not to smile. Every time they asked for time off, Annie and Auggie turned into middle school students asking for a hall pass.

"I don't see a problem, since you've both been putting in so much extra time on the Russian-Somalian arms mission. Take some extra days … relax … rest up … have some fun."

"Thank you, Joan," they said in unison and left as quickly as they could without stumbling over each other. Going back to their stations, Auggie took Annie's arm. When they reached the door to his office, Auggie said he needed to work through lunch, but suggested they meet for dinner after work. "Want me to bring you a sandwich from the food court?" Annie asked.

"If you're going, that would be great."

At the tavern after work Annie asked him if there was a particular reason why he seemed so reluctant to go home over Memorial Day. Auggie breathed deeply before answering, because when he took the time to explain his concerns and fears to Annie they sounded so immature.

"I'm almost ashamed to talk about it," Auggie admitted. He explained that large events were uncomfortable for him. "I don't like my family feeling like they have to look after me."

"Look after you?"

"Well, the last time I was at a large get together, my brothers and sisters-in-law had literally scheduled who was going to take care of me. It was embarrassing, to be handed off every half hour to another person bringing me a drink, a snack and another round of small talk."

After they had a bite to eat and enjoyed a beer or two, they decided to call it an early night and head home. Tonight Annie would drop Auggie at his place, and go home to the guest house. Their "going home" conversation continued in the car.

"Did you ever think they'd just figured out how to have some one-on-one time with you and keep you safe?" Annie asked. "Did you consider you're over reacting?"

"This is starting to sound like a conversation I've had with my mother," Auggie said.

"Ouch, Auggie. That hurt."

"It should," he chuckled.

"It'll be better this time, Auggie," Annie said in her most positive tone. "I'll be there with you."

"Yes, I know. My special guest will be the prettiest young woman at the party, and you can take care of me any way you want," he leaned in and whispered as he kissed her earlobe.

"Auggie!" she yelled as she pulled into a parking place in front of Auggie's building.

When the car stopped, Auggie said, "I'm guessing here that I'm home."

"You're guessing right. Front door will be at your 12 o'clock." They kissed goodnight in the car and Auggie gave her cheek a little extra love pat.

As he got out of the car, Auggie told Annie not to pick him up in the morning. He wanted to go in early, so he'd call for the car service. Annie watched as he disappeared into the apartment building lobby, and pulled away to go home.

Passing the kitchen window to the guest house, Annie noticed that her sister was working in the kitchen, so she slipped in the back door to visit with Danni while she tidied the kitchen. "Hey, Sis."

"Annie! You're home early tonight. There's some stir fry in the fridge, if you're hungry."

"Nope. Auggie and I had a bite at the tavern, so I'm good … thanks."

"You want to talk about something?" Danni asked. "You sound like you want to talk."

"That obvious, huh," Annie admitted. "I don't know … Auggie's mom is pushing him to go home to Illinois for some big Memorial Holiday party she has every year, and it seems this year I'm part of the package, too."

"Annie! You're being invited to meet the family. Do you know what this means?"

"It scares me, if I think about it too much."

"Well, don't think about it so much," Danni advised. "Go and have fun."

Auggie was at his computer early in the morning and Annie could tell the tech ops crew was up to its collective asses in alligators by the time she was settled at her work station. She could tell the situation was tense and important from Auggie's expression and the level and intensity of activity. Rather than pop in for her usual "Good Morning," Annie decided to wait a couple of hours and slip in with coffee for Auggie and his crew.

Jai sauntered into the officers' pit from the conference room, set his travel mug on the desk and turned on his computer. Annie looked up and smiled. "Good morning," Jai greeted her.

"Morning … do you have any idea what's going on in there?" Annie asked glancing toward Auggie's office.

Jai thought to couch his words carefully, so that Annie would not get the feeling that everything in the office other than her own missions is above her clearance level. "Mmmm … there's a little problem in North Africa," Jai answered.

"And the rest is above my clearance level." They smiled at each other and Jai nodded. He'd learned during the first few weeks he had worked with Annie that the worst way to relate to her was to lie.

Later in the morning when the level of intensity in the Tech Ops office seemed to drop a few notches, Annie opened the door and announced. "I'm going for coffee. Any of you guys in?" Everyone nodded and started reaching for money. "Nope, I'm buying today … it looks like you all are having a hectic morning." Stu turned around, smiled and nodded. Annie wasn't even sure Auggie had heard her, but she knew he would appreciate a fresh cup of coffee."

She returned about 15 minutes later with a tray of coffees and handed them out. When she approached Auggie, she lightly touched his shoulder and whispered, "Coffee, 10 o'clock." Auggie didn't turn to smile at her but he nodded and grinned letting her know he'd heard her. She looked back as she left to see him pick up his coffee, take a sip and a deep breath.

In the late afternoon, Auggie emerged from his tech lair munching a granola bar and sipping another cup of coffee. He carefully traversed the path to Annie's desk where he could hear her typing on her keyboard. "Hey, Annie, thanks for the coffee this morning. Things were really tense for a while."

"I could tell. Is that cereal bar your lunch?"

"Yep, but it'll tide me over til supper. Do you want to share a pizza with me tonight? We can order in and talk about Memorial Weekend."

"Sounds good. Just let me know when you're ready to leave. I have lots of work to keep me busy, so I won't be just hanging around waiting for you to finish up."

Auggie nodded, pulled his laser cane out of his pocket and hurried back to the Tech Ops Center.

Note: Well, it looks like Annie and Auggie are going to make some travel plans. Wonder how this is going to work out for them?