Repost of a Repost! Found morewriting boo-boos. Now I'm paranoid about all my CA stories.

Auggie and Ben both reached the stage at the same time. There was a moment where neither of the two would climb the steps, not wanting to turn his back on the other. After another moments hesitation, Auggie smirked, and mounted the stage, as if confident that Mercer would never stab him in the back. Metaphorically, of course. If it was literally...he probably would. The both moved over to where Flint was. After giving them the choice of two songs, they both chose the same one.

"So, do you want Michael or Paul?" Auggie asked coolly.

"Michael." Ben practically ground between clenched teeth. Auggie smiled at Ben's obvious hostility. Wouldn't it be something if Ben punched him right then and there on stage? Ben decided not to rise to the bait and took his place, waiting for the music to start.

Every night she walks right in my dreams
Since I met her from the start
I'm so proud I am the only one
Who is special in her heart

Ben's voice was sweet and smooth. He looked over to Annie and fell to his knees, causing her to roll her eyes. Pulling an 'Arthur Campbell' wasn't exactly the way to impress her. Realizing that she was unimpressed, Ben switched gears. Maybe having a vocal duel with Anderson would work. What did he have to lose?

The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
I know she's mine
Because the doggone girl is mine

Annie's face shifted from boredom into disbelief. Who was he to think that he could just proclaim his ownership over her? Almost as if saying it would make it true. Her thoughts trailed back to when Joan had mentioned that Arthur wanted her to ''drop Ben's leash''. Well, if he wanted Ben all to himself, then he could have him. Annie was through with it. All she had to do was convince Ben of it.

I don't understand the way you think
Saying that she's yours not mine
Sending roses and your silly dreams
Really just a waste of time

Auggie's voice easily surpassed Ben's. He had to listen carefully to figure out where Mercer was standing, but once he figured it out, He turned and was singing directly to him. It was no longer a song FOR Annie, but a song ABOUT her. A conversation of sorts. Mercer was obsessed with her, and Auggie hoped with everything he had that Annie realized it.

Because she's mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine

Auggie winced inwardly as he realized the way those lyrics sounded. He hoped that Annie understood that it was just part of the song, and not the way he actually felt. If she honestly wanted Mercer over him, than Auggie was willing to let her go. He loved her deeply enough to let her go, and not force her to be with someone she didn't love. A bitter lump rose in his throat and lent a credible amount of emotion to his next words.

I love you more than he
(Take you anywhere)

Auggie's voice broke with pain, and instead of losing points for it, the female spectators showered him with support for his show of emotion. Ben couldn't believe it. This was suppose to be a singing competition, not a 'lets share our feelings' competition. He had to do both? He had the strangest feeling that he was floating out to sea and was sinking fast. He said his next lines with a faintest note of a plea in his voice. If emotion worked for Anderson, then why not him?

But I love you endlessly
(Loving we will share)

Instead of coming out as an emotion filled appeal to her heart, it came out sounding like a creepy stalker begging for a date. Ben kicked himself. Emotions were not his forte. He raked his hand through his hair. Well, emotions were out. What else did he have?

Joan grinned to herself. The opportunity was too good to let go. She slipped up behind Annie, who was standing at the foot of the steps. One good, hard shove and Annie was up onstage again. Turning, she gave Joan a look that, if she wasn't Annie's boss, would have made her worry.

So come and go with me
Two on the town

Ben saw Annie up on the stage while Auggie more or less sensed her. The both had the same thought at the same time. Auggie reached for her hand, which she automatically took, at the same time that Ben grabbed her arm. The resulting tug-of-war on stage was almost comical. Ben shoved Auggie's shoulder lightly, while singing.

But we both cannot have her
So it's one or the other
And one day you'll discover
That she's my girl forever and ever

Annie jerked her arm from Ben's grasp, and Auggie enfolded her in his arms. He really hoped that Ben could see the self-satisfied smirk on his face. He had learned, after knowing her for a few years, that the best way to catch an Annie was to not try. She would inevitably run from another hunter into the arms of the first one. In layman's terms, she would run from Ben, straight into Auggie's arms.

Don't build your hopes to be let down
'Cause I really feel it's time

Ben practically snarled at Auggie. Thats when he realized that he had one ace-in-the-hole that Anderson did not. He knew Annie, in the biblical sense. Annie was too much of a romantic to fall into Auggie's bed right away, so hopefully Ben would be able to trip him up. With a plan forming, Ben switched gears from trying to beat him by singing, back to good old fashioned spycraft.

I know she'll tell you I'm the one for her
'Cause she said I blow her mind

Ben hoped that by reminding Auggie, and Annie, that he had slept with her while Anderson had not, it would cause Auggie to miscalculate somewhere along the way. He hoped anyway, because it was the last idea he had.

The girl is mine
The doggone girl is mine
Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine

Annie was furious. She had half a mind to slap Ben again. It wasn't until she felt Auggie give her arm a warning squeeze that she was able to calm down. Sh understood what he meant without either of them speaking a word. This was his...fight, not hers. Let him take care of Mercer.

She's mine, she's mine
No, no, no, she's mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine
The girl is mine, the girl is mine

Annie had to decide to have a bit of fun with the two. While they bickered like two little boys over a shiny new toy, she ping-ponged her head back and forth between the two as if she was watching a tennis match. A ripple of laughter from the crowd cut through the music. Auggie pulled Annie close again, his voice filled with triumph.

The girl is mine, (yep) she's mine
The girl is mine, (yes) she's mine

Angry, Ben grabbed Annie's wrist and practically snatched her away from Auggie. He wasn't thinking about the way he was hurting her, or the way it looked to the audience. All he wanted was to get her away from Auggie, using any means possible.

Don't waste your time
Because the doggone girl is mine

Hearing Annie's whimper of pain, Auggie realizing that Ben had finally snapped. He reluctantly let Annie go, and changed his voice subtly. He knew he had to calm Mercer down before he hurt Annie seriously. Using a calm, almost conversational tone with him, Auggie tried to talk to Ben, with no animosity on his voice.

Ben, we're not going to fight about this, okay?

Auggie fought to keep his voice neutral. He knew that if Mercer heard any hint of emotion in his voice, good or bad, it would only succeed in escalating the problem. Ben, however had a hard tone of voice.

Auggie, I think I told you, I'm a lover not a fighter.

Auggie frowned slightly. At first, Ben figured this was because Auggie had suddenly realized that he had lost, until his eyes fell on his hand, clasped tightly around Annie's. A look of confused horror passed over his face. He dropped Annie's hand as though it had burned him, and Annie moved about five feet away from her bickering lovers.

I've heard it all before, Ben, she told me that I'm her forever lover,
You know, don't you remember?

Auggie couldn't help but smile as he scored a direct hit to Mercer's ego. This comment, coupled with Ben's guilt over hurting Annie's wrist, did the trick. Ben had shown up at her apartment, demanding to know who she was with, and Auggie had, indirectly, made himself her ally. Together, they had told Ben that they were lovers. The only thing Auggie couldn't figure out, was when had Ben figured out that it was all been a lie?

Well, after loving me, she said she couldn't love another.

Ben hoped that Auggie didn't call him on this. Annie was apparently trying to stay out of it, and wasn't about to tell Auggie that she had said no such thing. Ben knew from experience that the best way to sell a lie was to be consistent with it. He just hoped it worked. Thats when Auggie called him on it.

Is that what she said?

Auggie was 50-50 on if she had actually said that or not. He knew that a woman in love would say pretty much anything to keep her favorite lover. His heart sank when he heard the tone of Mercer's voice. As flat as the state of Kansas. 'Oh God, he's telling the truth.'

Yes, she said it, you keep dreaming.

Ben couldn't believe that it was working. He had actually convinced August Anderson, Wonder Boy of the DPD, that Annie loved him, the Bad Boy of the C.I.A. The look that crossed Anderson's face was priceless.

I don't believe it!

The words tore themselves from the deepest part of his soul. Auggie felt as though he were about to die. At least, until a small ray of light burst through the gloom. Annie had moved to his side and slipped her hand into his. Mercer was lying. He had to be. Feeling renewed, Auggie put his heart and soul into the final lines of the song. If he lost to Mercer, Jai would never let him hear the end of it.

The girl is mine, (mine, mine, mine)

As the final bars of the song died away, the room exploded. Flint repeated the same instructions he had used for round three. And the results were the same. Auggie and Ben were tied. Flint turned to Annie, and spoke the words that she had been dreading.

"Annie, its up to you to break the tie. Who is your choice for the winner?"

Annie's face was a mask of indecision. On one hand, it was such a simple choice. While on the other hand, it was impossible.

"I choose..."

"BEN!"