This is a very crazy idea that I came up with after a watching Season 1 of Covert Affairs non-stop. It sort of serves as a prequel for the Avengers fanfic (No more secrets under my stories), but it could be read & understood separately (I think.)

I can't believe the amount of views this story had in one day, thank you so much for taking an interest!

And also thanks for the reviews, keep'em coming! They help in tuning my Auggie/Annie and keep it real.

Disclaimer: I don't own Mockingbird, Avengers, Covert Affairs, Auggie, Annie or anything else.


Chapter 2: Chess match

Annie could feel the long hours and the tequila shots taking a toll on her body and her mind. She needed to stay alert for Auggie. Her friend, the one person that had always been there for her had turned into someone's mark and she wasn't about to leave him stranded.

She was still unsure of the waitress back story or to which tune she was singing to these days. Auggie hadn't seen her in two years. Anyone's life can be turned upside down over and over during that time, she was a walking proof of that.

Anyone could be turned in that time. Even the dreamy-lovey looking waitress that seemed to have been Auggie's wing woman back when he could see and not just hover. Back when his life was completely different. Still... the way they linked, the way he caressed her cheek and moved that bit of hair behind her ear, that meant something. She was around after it happened, she stayed around, she was the real deal.

Could it be possible that she was the one big secret love Auggie was keeping from her? Until an hour ago she thought there had only been Natasha, but heck, this was different. He was a big boy. He had broken his fair share of hearts, she was sure. But there was heartache in him, maybe this was it. Maybe it hadn't been just Tasha.

That stupid rushed feeling in her chest again. That quick pounding and anxiety coming from nowhere. No, not nowhere. She knew where it was coming from. And no, it wasn't the beer. Of course it was the beer. Well, it will be the beer's fault in the morning.

Auggie wasn't Annie's property, he was her friend. Her dear, dear friend that deserved a break.

Compartmentalization: farm 2.0.1. She closed her feelings in a box, and left only the Agent Walker within now, telling her to assess this female, this potential mark. They had had a potential mole not two hours ago and now she was here. Annie Walker wasn't prone to believe in coincidences. Agent Walker wasn't allowed to.

She looked at the way the waitress was wrapping up the tables and how she had talked big Carl into letting them stay while she and the other waiter wrapped up the place. She was thorough in cleaning the tables. Aligning the seats. Refilling the salter. She was methodical, exact, focused. And then she flipped her hair to the side and laughed wholeheartedly at some comment Auggie made about a crazy frat party on spring break.

They did go way back, didn't they? No matter how much she tried, she couldn't picture a young adult August Anderson. She imagined he was as charming as now, but with even more intense eyes, his broad shoulders were probably there, though no so fit. His tattoo... No, that was from his soldier's days. She wondered if his sense of duty was already there or if it kicked in at some point between frat parties.

Annie realized that in a second the waitress had managed to sneak up 3 shots right in front of them "You now Ms. Walker, this guy right here was all in for body shots back in the day. You should've seen all the ladies in line just to get a taste" she drank the shot quickly and kissed his cheek

"Gosh I've missed you Augs" his eyes weren't conceited or full of himself anymore. His expression changed from playful to something else entirely. Something she had seen only a very few times, in a train when Natasha was walking out of his life and towards herself "I've missed you too Elle" he brushed her arm slowly. Was that sign #3? No, but that was the third different nickname he used on her. And this one seemed to truly get to her. Uh oh. I guess I'll have to do the boozed up walk of shame at home after all.

"Well, you and Annie should come visit then." You and Annie. Putting distance from the nickname. I would've done that too. Wait, "You and Annie"?

Did that mean something? Was the waitress trying to imply some romantic interest between them? Or was she trying to lower agent Walker's tingly spy-dy sense?

"I'm located in NY again, it's just a 4 hour ride. Well, 3.25 if you don't mind much about state traffic laws"

Annie didn't. She was a heck of a driver. Auggie said so sounding proudly. Annie's anxiety inside her chest lightened up when hearing his proud tone, the way he said "Annie". She shook her head slightly. She had to work on her compartmentalization, darn it. It didn't matter how many beers and shots she had on her or how long ago she had woken up that day, she was protecting Auggie now. She had to. She didn't feel safe yet. The red haired was still around, she could feel it.

Annie looked at the waitress again, who was taking off her apron and leaving it on a bar stool. She was slightly puzzled to see someone from his past so similar to her. The waitress had her same loosen blond hair though slightly darker, her broad shoulders, her small steps, her long legs, quick comebacks, loud laughter with a bit of snorting and several amounts of sarcasm.

Annie wasn't Auggie's best friend as she always thought. She suddenly felt she was filling in for the waitress.

"Penny for your thoughts Ms. Walker?" Auggie's hand brushed her arm and then stayed in the now familiar corner of her elbow. "I was just looking at your friend"

He sighed "She's a mark too? Annie, she's not. I can get her credentials checked if that'll help you sleep at night."

"What? No hot coco and laughing at the TV tonight?"

"It's 2 am already"

"Oh, right. Your real best friend showed up. Okay then, I'll go sit on the sideline" She had no idea where this was coming from. Yes she did, it was the beer's fault.

Juvenile Annie Walker would fit right into all the frat parties' memories. He brushed her forearm in a soothing way. She hated he could do that. She hated even more that he knew that it would calm her down.

He wished he could see her face right now. He could hear her breath increasing, and the side of her body was agitated. Could it be possible? Was this the break he has been waiting for? He had to put it to a test "You better watch yourself Ms. Walker, or you'll start sounding like a scorned wife"

"Oh do I now?" The waitress smiled at her from the tables on the other side and headed to the restrooms in the back.

"I'm gonna go powder my nose" Annie let go of his grasp and he called on her while she was walking away "Don't exchange perfumes in there. I'll be here, all alone. Easy mark. You better hurry Ms. Walker, before Red Riding Hood comes to eat me up" She half grinned at him and saved the obvious sex joke for later.

When she opened the bathroom door, she found the waitress waiting for her, arms crossed over her chest.

"I take it you wanna talk"

"Who are you?" the waitress uncrossed her arms, and got a card from her skirt pocket, handing it over.

"Dr. Penelope Morse. Agent 19, Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. I am a doctor there. Surgeon, top of my class. Recently received a commendation from the Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine." Annie nodded, that wasn't what she was meaning to ask. The waitress knew.

"But you still don't trust me. I wouldn't trust me either, trust me. But you trust Auggie. And so do I" the waitress came closer to her, leveled up. "So ask away"

"Why couldn't you just call him on the phone?"

"Because I'm in the middle of a covert"

"And you decided to skip protocol and banter with an old fling?"

"He's not an old fling. He's an old friend." Annie raised her eyebrow "You know, I do that eyebrow thing too." Annie looked down to the card for a second.

"So let's cut to the chase, shall we? I'm a friendly asset, not a potential risk. I would never let anything happen to Auggie if I can help it."

"And that's why you're here. Keeping the red haired away?"

"I don't know what you're talking about" they shared a half smile.

Auggie talked from the restroom door "She means that obvious new agent that's posing as a legal aid."

The waitress walked closer to him and grabbed his arm, not the other way around. She didn't mean to walk, it was a possessive gesture. Annie recognized it, she did it all the time at the office. Damn those thoughts again.

"I think your taste in women is improving Auggie, I like this one" Annie started saying something like whattheheck but stopped when Auggie talked.

"My dearest Dr. Morse, Annie is my friend. My best friend in fact, you've been busy learning traditional chinese medicine in Shanghai."

His best friend. Annie liked the title. She found herself with those crazy unnecessary and inconvenient thoughts again. And then something in the back of her head clicked "Wait, Shanghai two months ago?" The waitress relinquished Auggie's arm and took a step forward, leading the way while she half smiled at her.

Annie remembered what happened then. Big operation broke off all over the news around 3 months ago. A conglomerate of human trafficking groups based on Shanghai had been turned upside down, apparently from within. It was huge, and no other agency had taken ownership. It was labeled as a Multi-national effort, which in reality meant 3 levels above our clearance. The long and hard to remember division she was part of no doubt. She was black ops.

"Your new best friend here can lead you in then. By the way, that hurts my feelings Auggie… After everything we've been through" She was mocking him of course, playing him on his own turf. Annie needed to start taking notes from this chick.

And right there she realized that agent Walker was gone for the day and that she was only Annie, willing to hear stories about her friend Auggie. Agent Walker was sound asleep believing this woman's words: She wouldn't let anything happen to Auggie.

A little part of Annie wished she wasn't wrong about Penelope. Auggie meant too much too her to be reckless. But how much exactly? In what way? Damn beer talking. Yeah, the beer. Keep lying to yourself.

Annie placed Auggie's hand in her forearm and started walking at Penelope's speed, with Auggie between them.

"I can't wait to hear those stories about a young and green August Anderson" The blonds shared a smile and Auggie felt a small hand on his free arm. He gestured the main bartender and he chuckled hard at him "Way to go Auggie, I want my waitress in one piece tomorrow, you hear?"

"I wouldn't miss it Kurt, biggest tips of the week"

Auggie spoke secretively at Penelope "So I'll find you here tomorrow?" Penelope kissed his cheek, grabbed her big handbag and opened the door of the pub slowly. She and Annie started checking the street, windows and general area for potential unfriendly folks. They shared a nod when they were satisfied.

"I'll take it you're going to his place as a safety precaution" Annie nodded.

"Actually, she's afraid of her sister lecturing her about getting at 2 am drunk as a pirate" Annie hit him on the back of his head, in a very childish gesture and Penelope couldn't help but giggle.

Auggie cleared his throat and decided to ignore Annie's sudden aggression "You hadn't answered my question Nell" she tilted her head to the right a bit, then looked at Annie and she nodded. It was okay, Annie could use the backup.

"I was hoping for a late night of chess actually" Auggie smiled.

"My two favorite blonds in a chess match, I can't wait to see it. Well, hear it" Annie breathed out heavily restraining a snort and Penelope picked what she meant right away.

Auggie chukled and hailed a cab "Right, you've been playing that for 2 hours now. Who's winning?"