Hallo! :D Sorry about being late, but I was suuuper busy today. :/ Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

Thanks to everyone (but particularly theflockroxmysox) for all the reviews! I appreciate it! XD

Onward, readers!

Feign- (v) To represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of.

She held back a hiss, digging her teeth into her lip and clenching her hands around the edge of the medical table she lay on. The doctor glanced up apologetically, but kept silent as he probed at her wound.

"Annie, are you okay?" Auggie suddenly appeared in the doorway, going faster than was probably safe.

"Fine." Annie replied, managing not to sound too tortured.

Auggie gave her a look, "You're an awful liar when you're in pain, Walker."

"I'm shooting you a dirty look." She shot back, indeed glowering at him. "And if looks could kill, Anderson."

"I'd be dead more than once." He offered a smirk. "I'm fully aware."

"Sarcasm not-Ow!" She flinched, unintentinally edging away from the doctor's hands.

He offered a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry, Agent Walker, but I need to get the bullet out."

"Bullet?" Auggie's smirk disappeared, jaw falling slack in alarm. "You got hit?"

Annie groaned, shooting the doctor an exasperated look. "Yeah..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Confusion and frustration filled his face.

"Because I didn't want you to freak out. I'll be fine once they get the bullet out." She grit out her words carefully as the doctor's tweezers dug into her side again.

Auggie's expression softened. "You're an idiot, Walker."

"I'm your idiot." She shot back teasingly.

He chuckled, "True, true." He walked over and grabbed her hand, holding on to it tightly. THe doctor's assistant grabbed a chair and brought it over, pressing it against his knees. He sat down next to Annie's head.

"Hey, isn't Chloe's birthday soon?" Auggie asked by way of distraction.

"Next week. Why?"

"Well what are you going to get her?"

"Why do you assume you haven't gotten it yet?"

"Walker." He replied, jokingly stern.

"There's this fairy costume she wants." Annie admitted begrudgingly. "I was going to get it today after work." She suddenly squeezed his hand with furious intensity, hissing as the doctor's tweezers dug deeper.

He smiled. "Sounds like something she'd like."

Annie smiled at that. "Yeah. Yeah, it does."

The whole situation made her realize something: She didn't have to hide her pain from Auggie. He'd always be there for her, and she wouldn't have to worry about it. She could always trust him.

Well that was adorably fluffy... but personally, I still like my Zugzwang (Chapter 7) best. Yu-Gi-OH! rocks your socks. And yes, I'm that much of a dork. :P

Anyways, thanks for reading and please rview.

Until tomorrow,

Cali