"You wouldn't really bring a woman home, with all that has been in the news recently, would you?" Annie asked Auggie after he recovered from the shock of her presence.
Auggie shrugged. "I don't plan to let this job turn me into a monk. What's up with you these days? You've never spent this much time stateside."
"I don't really know. It's... different without you around."
Auggie scowled. "As much as we worked together, you made your own success, Annie."
"Ever since Venice..."
"You've gotten stone-walled."
"Yeah."
"What's Jai up to these days?"
"He's Joan's Golden Boy. I don't know what changed."
"You are smarter than this, Annie."
She admitted to herself what she had been trying to avoid. "Jai's sabotaging my career."
Auggie shrugged. "I wouldn't be surprised."
"So what do I do about it?" Annie asked.
"You take care of you. I'll take care of Jai."
"Thank you, it's nice to know you are still looking out for me."
"How's life outside of work? Is Danielle speaking to you yet?"
"Barely," Annie replied. "But I'm fine. I have a blind date at a blues bar this weekend. Maybe my career being stalled will mean I get to actually show up."
"Be careful what you wish for." Auggie replied.
Annie smiled. "Thank you, Auggie. It's really late I'm going to go on home."
"Thanks for coming by, Annie."
Annie hesitated a moment, then wrapped her arms around him for a platonic hug. "Good night." She said, then let herself out the door.
…
Auggie was snooping around to discover Jai's schedule when Arthur came to his office.
"Welcome home." Auggie said.
"I wish my wife were so enthusiastic. Running off with an old asset on your anniversary is not to be advised."
"Joan understands." Auggie replied.
Arthur grunted in disagreement. "So what kind of trouble have you caused while I was away?"
Auggie sat back and pinched his lips. "Arthur, I think we need to prepare to declassify Helen."
Arthur got very serious. "Why do you say that?"
"Liza told me that, beyond the recent inquiries in my love life, there are some folks digging deeper. She specifically made a comment about brunettes."
"Natasha was a brunette." Arthur said.
Auggie shrugged. "And she could have been talking about Tash. But there's not as much concern if they are digging in to Tash. Tash was a mission. Helen was an operative."
"The wedding records aren't public, Auggie. They won't find that."
"I know. I just wanted to give you a heads up, in case there was anything she worked on that needed protection."
"We have to keep this under wraps. Find out who is doing the digging, and get them to stop."
"Yes sir." Auggie replied.
"I mean it, Auggie. There were… some other things that Helen was involved with. Some of which we can't declassify any time soon."
Auggie was confused. "Things I wasn't involved with?"
Arthur shrugged it off. "No, it's nothing interesting. Just a couple of assets that we need to protect."
Auggie didn't believe him, but let it slide for the moment. "If you say so."
"Maybe you should get close with Liza again. The secluded life doesn't suit you."
Auggie looked toward Arthur, offended. "I haven't been secluded."
"According to the press, you have." Arthur commented.
"The press doesn't know everything about me yet. I'm not a complete idiot when it comes to discretion."
"I don't think you are."
"But you think-"
"Look," Arthur interrupted. "I think you are fully capable of balancing work and pleasure. You are doing great. I just suggest you consider using some of your spy skills to handle the press, and since you have a history with Liza, that seems like a good place to start."
"Yes sir." Auggie replied.
Arthur left his office and Auggie took a deep breath. Between Annie, Liza, and his past, perhaps he was foolish to think that he could have a normal relationship with Parker.
Auggie refocused by checking on Jai's schedule. It was nice for his life not to be all about congressional meetings and press conferences. He poked around the CIA security system a bit until he got Jai's badge records that showed all of his comings and goings around Langley. Auggie made a note on his schedule for the next day.
That evening, Auggie was ready when he heard the knock at his door, but he still called out before opening.
"This is a pleasant surprise." Liza said as she walked in.
"I'm glad you think so. Can I get you anything? Wine, beer?"
"If you're opening a bottle, I won't refuse."
Auggie nodded and moved to open a bottle of wine.
"So, is this visit for business, or pleasure? After seeing you with Parker Rowland last night, I didn't expect you to be in need of pleasure so soon."
"Then you know it's about business."
"This isn't your office."
"We could reschedule for in the morning, if you like." Auggie said as he offered her the glass of wine.
"Since I'm already here, talk."
"Who's digging on me?"
"Everybody is digging on you, Auggie. You are mysterious and handsome. You could be next season's Bachelor if you wanted. America can't get enough of you."
"What were you talking about last night?"
"Ah, the brunettes." Liza stated. She watched Auggie for any reaction.
"Are you the one doing the digging?"
"No."
"Who is?"
"You know I can't tell you that."
Auggie sighed. "Liza, no matter what you tell yourself to sleep at night, exposing information can do harm. Not just harm to my reputation, but actual physical harm to innocent people around the world."
She raised her eyebrows. "So, there are women from your past that are involved in missions?"
"Liza, you are a woman from my past who was a mission."
"So far I've been able to keep that story under wraps." She said with a smug grin.
"Well, if any more of my love life becomes public knowledge, I'll make sure the world knows about our relationship, as well, and I'll make sure that it's as uncomfortable for you as it is for me."
Liza looked at him carefully. "You're bluffing."
"Try me."
"People will assume you are the source of my information."
"The people that matter know that I am not."
Dumbstruck, Liza carefully placed her wineglass on the counter. She stepped back and gained her composure. "I think it's time for me to go."
Auggie motioned toward the door.
"I won't forget this, Auggie."
"That's kind of my point."
She slid the door open and took one last look at him before walking out. He heard the door close behind her, and walked over to secure the lock. As he heard her footsteps move through the hallway he leaned against the door. At least he could mark that one item off his list.
He was just walking back to the kitchen when he heard another knock on his door. He rolled his eyes and turned around. "Really?" He asked as he pulled it open.
"I'm sorry, I know we said we'd get together this weekend, but…"
Auggie's eyes widened when he heard Parker's voice. He urged her inside and rushed to close the door behind her. "No, really, it's okay." He assured as he checked that the lights were on for her.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm glad you're here."
Parker was standing close to him, looking up at his shaggy bangs. "I came to tell you something, and I should probably get it out before I lose my nerve."
"Okay," He said, providing an open posture for her to feel comfortable.
"I can't do this, Auggie. I'm just getting over Billy, and I'm getting ready to leave for the Peace Corp -"
"I get it." He interrupted.
"Do you?" She asked.
Auggie ran his hands up her arms and cupped them behind her head. "I'm adjusting to this new job, and the eyes of the world are on me. I totally understand if you don't want them on you, as well."
Parker nodded as she choked back her emotions. She took two deep breaths and was much calmer. Auggie still hadn't let go. Without thinking, she raised up and met his lips.
Auggie responded enthusiastically, deepening the kiss and pulling her close.
…
Auggie woke up with Parker's hair in his face and inhaled peacefully before checking his watch on the nightstand.
He slipped out of bed, pulled on some cotton pants and put on a pot of coffee. He took a quick shower while the coffee brewed. He was picking out clothes for the day when he spoke.
"You know, people that are sleeping breathe completely differently than those that voyeuristically watch the man they slept with as he gets ready for work."
Parker was momentarily shocked to have been caught spying on Auggie. "Oh, I… um…"
Auggie smiled and walked toward her as he tied his tie. "It's okay. Nothing intrigues people more than me picking out a tie."
"Oh, you intrigued me in other ways last night."
He sat on the bed next to her. "Perhaps the mystery can continue this weekend?"
"I'd like that. Saturday?"
"I wouldn't object to Friday night." Auggie countered.
"I'll see."
Auggie ran his hands through her hair and leaned over for a quick kiss. "I have to go on to work. Here's a key. Lock up on the way out."
"Do you want me to leave it in the mail slot or anything?"
Auggie seemed confused. "No, keep it."
Parker looked at the key he had placed in her hand. "Okay."
Auggie stood up. "There's fresh coffee in the kitchen. Help yourself."
"Thank you. Have a good day, Auggie."
…
"Good morning." Jai greeted in the elevator.
"Jai, what a pleasant surprise. Are you in a hurry? If not, come up to my office a moment." Auggie knew Jai wouldn't resist any chance to go to the seventh floor, and he was well aware that the man had nothing on his calendar for the morning.
"Sure," Jai replied.
"How are things going downstairs in my absence?" Auggie asked after they arrived at his office.
"Really?" Jai responded. "We are going to pretend you aren't keeping watch?"
Auggie shrugged. "I was interested in your opinion."
"Things are going well."
"I'm impressed, Jai." Auggie sat on the edge of his desk. "I didn't realize that you sunk so low that a woman off the Farm for a little more than a year was such a worthy competitor."
"I have no idea what you are talking about."
"I don't have time to beat around the bush. You are taking Annie's opportunities when you should be aiming higher."
"Maybe Annie has been working over her head. There's no shame in her taking some time to decompress and go back to some basics."
"Don't act like this is some philanthropic effort."
"I'm not. I wasn't getting field opportunities, and now I am. If Annie is more qualified, she should prove it."
"You should come up with other ways to prove yourself."
"Maybe I will, while in the field."
"You aren't advancing yourself by making enemies, Jai."
"You don't know everything that's going on just because you are on the seventh floor, Auggie. I don't particularly care how you feel, at this point."
"I'll take that under consideration." Auggie replied with a bite.
"Anything else?" Jai asked.
"No." Auggie replied.
"Well, have a good day." Jai said, dismissing himself.
