A/N This chapter took a lot longer to write than I thought it would- also because it ended up longer than it should have really been. I hope you like it. Your reviews have been the most wonderful things, and I hope you keep them coming.

Still though, Covert Affairs has been cancelled because I don't own it. Otherwise, it would be very much alive.

Chapter 5

Waking up had never felt so wonderful.

That was Auggie's first thought upon waking up in Annie's apartment, curled up in her bed together, where they had taken last night's affairs. To him, waking up was probably the most difficult part of his day- everyday a process, however long or short, of orienting himself of his surroundings and the fact that he couldn't see. It had been most terrifying when he had just been injured: disoriented from still vision heavy dreams, he'd have to battle the anxiety that came with the realization that he couldn't see. To be honest, even to that very day, years and years after the blast at Tikrit, waking up was still the part he hated most about his days for the exact same reason, minus maybe the sighted dreams- his have slowly faded into the visual nothingness that greets him every time he opens his eyes.

That day however, there was very little he felt disoriented about. Auggie reached for Annie, knowing exactly where she was, and pulled her frame to him as gently as he could as not to wake her. She stirred, but made nothing of the contact and continued in her deep sleep. Auggie kept her near however, inhaling that beautiful smell of grapefruit he had missed so, so, so much.

He had feared he had lost her long ago to Henry. Those were dark days, both for him and Annie. He'd blamed himself for allowing her to tread that path that Henry Wilcox had paved for her, blamed himself for the death of the Annie Walker of old. All he had wanted when he had come for that little chat with Annie that had turned into a hell of a lot more was to tell her how he felt. He wanted her to know he had feelings for her that ran much deeper than the best friend role they had both allowed each other to be since they started working. He thought he could finally have that normal relationship without the complications involving work, instead, it had blown up into proportions he couldn't ever have imagined. To want was simply too different than to have. He didn't know if it was ever possible to want something and have the exact thing you wanted. Yet here, today, he lay with a woman he thought he had lost. She was alive, and that's what mattered. She was alive and still felt the same way that he did.

She had however, set more boundaries compared to the last time. Annie had pulled out of that passionate kiss they shared first, only to voice out her concerns.

"Doesn't it seem too fast, Auggie?" she had asked. "Moments ago, we'd just admitted how broken we were with the relationships we'd cut off, and now, we're just here, together again. Couldn't just this be emotions running too high?" He heard the tremble in her voice, the fear. He felt it too, because he knew that she could be right. It was too much at the heat of the moment. But he knew too he was hell bent on not letting her go this time around.

"We'll take it slow, then." He responded. Even if he'd had every damned physical urge, he uttered words he knew had to be said. "Not tonight."

"Not tonight." Annie echoed. She took Auggie's arm however, pulled his firm chest to her back. He couldn't help that grin that escaped his lips. "Stay, though. Don't leave me tonight."

They had fallen asleep cuddled up in Annie's bed, sharing sweet kisses and hugs. It was comfortable and restful- a contrast to how it had been when Auggie had first arrived in the apartment. All the bad had been exhaled, what remained was the good: the feelings they had for each other.

Annie stretched, and Auggie was brought back to the present by her movements. He smiled a smile that felt so foreign even to him. It seemed to be one reserved for Annie.

"Morning," he whispered.

"Morning," she replied, landing a chaste kiss on Auggie's lips. He smiled.

"I take it you're calmer now?" Auggie chuckled. Annie did the same.

"Much."

"I like these short, sort-of-one-word conversations."

"I like these conversations," Annie sat up, pushing on Auggie's chest. "because I have them with you." She gave him a kiss on the lips before pulling away, announcing that she was making some breakfast. Auggie decided to freshen up in the bathroom as she did so.

"Mmmm. I like the smell of that. You still know the way to my heart." Auggie announced his presence and Annie laughed. She liked these mornings with Auggie. They were always so light and so carefree, something hard to come by in their line of work. She took a mug of coffee and offered it to Auggie.

"Coffee's the way to any agent's heart," she said. Auggie put down the mug after a sip and grabbed Annie by the waist playfully.

"I don't think I wanna know how you know that," he joked. "just don't say it ever again."

Annie took the plates to set the table for breakfast.

"I'm flying to Glencoe this afternoon," Auggie said as she reached over to lay a knife down. Annie stopped, quite shocked at the news. Annie knew he hadn't returned to Illinois since he'd been fresh out of rehab. She also knew it was by decision that Auggie avoided going home. She wondered what was there now that would compel him to return. She hadn't realized she asked the question out loud.

"Tony contacted me when I was in Istanbul with Tash," he mumbled as he pulled the toast from his plate. "Dad's really sick. He wouldn't give me details, but he'd begged me pretty much to come home."

"That's why you were here." Annie said. "I'm sorry, honey." She reached out for his hand, and Auggie pulled her to his side. He needed her near. So many things were running through his mind- his last stay at Glencoe, the phone call with Tony, Annie… He didn't want to leave without her again, but it was imminent with his flight out tonight.

"I'm terrified," he confided. It summed up how Auggie felt that very moment. He hadn't been on speaking terms with his father since he had made the decision to return to DC after his injury. He was terrified that his own father would turn him away. But he was his father, and more than anything, he was terrified that he would entirely lose him before they were able to tie up loose ends.

Annie knew there was little to say. For the longest time, both she and Auggie had kept their families filed in a separate space of their lives. It was something common to CIA agents. So many people could be collateral and the last people they wanted involved would be their family. For Auggie however, he had been the collateral and this had affected his dynamics with family greatly. It was a time in his life he kept very neatly boxed up, and while Annie hoped he wouldn't keep it from her for too long, she respected the space he kept. She said then what she knew was the only apt thing to tell Auggie.

"I'm here, Auggie. You don't have to be alone."

It was probably one of the most beautiful things he ever heard. It was odd. He had kept to himself for so long- even before Iraq, he was the most independent people anyone could meet. Now, he kept to himself as an ongoing fight for the independence that had unquestionably been diminished since losing his eyesight. While he had accepted that there were things he needed to outright ask people to help him with, he was never totally comfortable with it. This time however, he felt good to know that someone was truly there for him. He hugged Annie tighter.

"I know."

"I can take time off."

Auggie thought about it. He hated to be away from her again. He fed off of Annie's energy, her spirit, and she sure could use it in a situation like the one he was entering. Her comfort, even now was something he didn't want to lose. However, he knew there were scores he needed to settle at home that were better dealt with alone for the time being.

"I'll be fine," Auggie said, kissing her in the cheek.

"I'll miss you though,"

"Me too."

"You'll keep in touch, right?"

"I couldn't handle a day without hearing your voice… not after this. Now go, you're gonna be late for work." Auggie pushed her up, and she argued to have her breakfast first. She was late as it was, and the truth was, knowing that Auggie was leaving left Annie wanting to maximize his time with him. She rushed through getting ready, and found Auggie nursing his second cup of coffee at the counter before she left.

"Lock up when you leave," she said as she grabbed her car keys. Auggie nodded, listening to the bustle of sound Annie left. He loved that confident stride she had, and he loved it even more with the heels clacking on the floor. In the middle of Annie's last minute instructions, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to a kiss.

"Yes, mother. I'm a big boy. Now go to work. I love you," he chuckled as he let her go. Annie smiled- she had missed Auggie so much. This was how things were supposed to be. This was where they were both happy. She next words she uttered were the truest at that moment.

"I love you, too."

It killed her to pull away, but it was something she had to do. She had to let go for a bit, but it wasn't as difficult as before. She knew he had him- she had his heart, and it was the most important thing that very moment, and even if circumstances pulled them apart, there was nothing that could break them.

"Annie," his voice broke through her thoughts before she left. She turned around before she shut the door. "When this is all sorted, we've got to talk."

She returned to her thoughts. Nothing could break them. Except maybe, them.