At Risk Part 2

Auggie and Annie were only stuck in Germany one more night, but Auggie's hospital ordeal was not over. His blood pressure spiked on transport home so instead of ending up at his apartment, he ended up at Walter Reed, the last place on the planet Auggie Anderson ever wanted to be again.

"He's so quiet Joan, it is freaking me out," Annie mentioned to their boss as she drove back to the apartment to get a couple things for Auggie.

"It must be hell for him to be back there," Joan sympathized.

"Doctor says it should only be one night," Annie sighed.

"I don't need you tomorrow, the intel you gave Cavanaugh has been a gold mine, but Barber and Stu are on it. If they have any questions, they know where to reach you," Joan was always a softie when it came to Auggie.

"Thanks Joan," Annie disconnected her blue tooth and let a deep breath.

When she returned to the hospital an hour later after showering and gathering Auggie's things she knew he was in distress when she entered the room. The lights were off in the room, but she could see his face contorted in fear and sweat sticking his bangs to his forehead.

He didn't say anything, he was trained too well to talk even in a nightmare, but Annie could see his hands flexing and contracting and his feet nearly running under the blankets. She wasn't sure how to help him or even if she should, would she traumatize him more if she woke him, like a sleepwalker or was prolonging the fear just cruel.

"Auggie," she started softly, deciding she would try to infiltrate his thoughts and not touch him until he felt safe.

"Auggie, it's me, Annie. Can you hear me?" she asked in her gentlest tone.

She saw his hands still on his chest and his legs lie flat under the covers.

"I'm right here and you are perfectly safe," she had to put her hands behind her back to keep from reaching out to him.

The pain on his face ebbed away and she let herself place one hand on his shoulder. Sure enough he was awake in an instant, his hand reaching up to grab hers.

"It's me," she said clear and calm.

"Oh god," Auggie turned his head from her.

"It's OK, you were just agitated, it is to be expected," she let herself touch him freely now, running her hand through his damp hair.

"Sorry," his voice was small and broken.

"For what?" she asked sincerely.

"You should go home and get some sleep," his voice was louder, but flat.

"I don't want to go home, I want to be here, with you."

"Well you would be better off at home by yourself," he closed his eyes and actually shifted away from her.

Annie didn't take that lightly, she marched herself around to the other side of the bed and crouched down so her face was level with his on the thin hospital pillow.

"I'm not going anywhere," she spoke to him like he was a child, which wasn't far from how he was behaving.

"Not yet," his response was barely audible.

And we have a winner! Annie knew Auggie had abandonment issues, he was betrayed by a member of his unit, distant from his family since the accident, Parker walked at the first sign of difficulty. Annie wasn't so guiltless herself, in her effort to avoid her feelings from Auggie she had distanced herself too, he had every reason to think she would leave, even after the past few months of their relationship.

"I'm not going anywhere," she repeated and sank to the floor, sitting with her back against the side of the bed and her legs stretched out in front of her. Soon she heard Auggie drift into a calm sleep and she followed suit.

TBC…