Author's Note: Sorry I've been a bite MIA for a week or so. More updates will start coming slowly. Please be patient with me. I'm not satisfied with the title of this chapter, but it's something so that the chapter could be posted for you guys. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 14

"Home"

The day finally came that Annie could go home. She was both excited and nervous. On one hand, she was excited to finally be going leaving the hospital room she'd spent a week in and being back in her own home. On the other hand, she was nervous about Auggie staying with her, the potential for Amos returning for her, and about being able to manage things as independently as she would want to be. Her injuries meant she couldn't walk around freely or use her dominant hand. For now, she would have to use a wheelchair and depend on Auggie or Danielle for help. Even the thought of dependency seemed like poison for Annie. She had always been very independent and now, after she had all but accepted her blindness, gotten past it, and became mostly independent despite it, she was once again thrust into a situation where she needed help.

Auggie knew Annie was feeling mixed feelings about going home. He understood them. His mom had had the same problem when she went home from the hospital the first time. She had been very excited to try to get back to a normal routine and nervous because she was still getting used to being an amputee. Auggie wasn't ready to tell Annie about his experiences with his mom just yet, her death was still an open wound he was still struggling to heal.

After all the discharge paperwork was signed, the doctor was giving final guidelines about medications, appointments, and progress expectations. Annie listened carefully to each instruction given to her. Auggie and Danielle listened as well. The doctor explained the medications she would be taking to ward off infection, pain, and swelling, the braces she wore on her wrist and shoulders, the cast her leg was in, and the wheelchair she would be taking home.

Joan had gone back to DC to investigate a tip they had received on Amos' whereabouts. She was worried that he would go after Annie again. She was more steadfast now in her decision to allow Auggie time off to stay with Annie than when it had first been made. Annie needed protection and she didn't want just anyone doing it.

After hearing all of the doctor's instruction and getting all of their questions answered, Danielle and Auggie helped her into a wheelchair so that they could go home. After a bit of awkwardness with getting into the car, they were finally on the road from the hospital to Danielle and Annie's home. Annie sat in the front seat of her sister's minivan with the seat pushes back as far as it could go so that her leg could be stretched out and had the seat leaned at an angle to allow for less pressure on her shoulders. Auggie sat in the bucket seat behind Danielle watching Annie. Silke sat in the back of the van with her head on the console between the driver and passenger seats. Silke also watched Annie. Annie's eyes were closed right now, but Auggie could tell she wasn't asleep. With each bump in the road, mildly sharp turn, or unexpected increase or decrease in speed Annie's face would show the pain she was otherwise not expressing. Annie always did this for Danielle. She always hid her pain from her. A few times Danielle would steal glances over at her sister and noticed the pained expressions, but said nothing. The four hour car ride was very quiet except for the radio playing classic rock which they would all occasionally hum to if a familiar song came on.

Upon arriving to Annie and Danielle's house, Auggie got out and immediately got the wheelchair from the back of the van. Danielle got out and opened Annie's car door. Since her right wrist and arm were broken and current braced, Annie turned so that she was sitting with her feet dangling out of the car. As Auggie approached with the wheelchair and parked it about a foot from the car, Danielle went to Annie's left side and put her arm under Annie's arm to support her weight. Auggie waited behind the wheelchair as the girls balanced themselves for a moment.

"Okay Annie, we're going to lower you into the wheelchair now." Danielle said after they took three very slow awkward steps. Auggie moved the wheelchair so that it was behind Annie, locked the wheels, and then helped Danielle lower her cautiously into it.

Annie felt extremely disoriented in the wheelchair, without any control of where she was going and without any visual input as to know where she was. Auggie, however, spoke up immediately "We're heading to your house, Annie, past the flower garden on the right on the path from the driveway to your place. Silke is on her leash beside me as Danielle pushes you." Annie was a bit stunned at how quickly he picked up on her need for knowing what was around her. She needed this even more now that she was incapable of exploring her surroundings at all. She hoped he would be able to continue this intuitive information providing throughout what would inevitably be a frustrating few weeks for both of them.

Annie heard the door to her house being unlocked. "Okay, we've got the threshold to go over, we'll put a little ramp there this weekend to make coming and going easier." Annie closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and prepared for the inevitable pain that would come as they went over the bump. The pain wasn't quite as bad as Annie had expected, but she was exhausted. Her routine was off. She had not been able to be up and about like she usually was and being in constant darkness meant it was difficult for her to stay on a sleep schedule.

After getting Annie settled on the couch, Auggie and Danielle preceded to make sure everything was out of the car. They both came back inside doing different tasks around the house. Annie listened to them hurrying about the rooms as she relaxed into the pillows and adjusted her elevated leg.

"I'm going to go make us all some lunch. Will you two be okay for about an hour?" Danielle asked after doing several tasks, which Annie was annoyed to not know what she was up to her in own house. But she knew she would have to let it go for now.

"Yes, we'll be fine. But you can use my kitchen if you want." Annie said leaning back against the pillows with her eyes closed.

"Well, you've been gone more than two weeks. Any food you did have has gone bad and I didn't know exactly when you'd be returning so I haven't stocked it. Plus I know you don't like me doing that for you." Danielle smiled to her sister. Annie was correct, she preferred to go with Danielle to the store, pick out her own produce and groceries and then come home and put them away herself.

"Well, I think for the next few weeks I will simply have to accept your help on that too. You know how to label everything and where most things go. Auggie will probably be in the kitchen more than me anyway." Annie stated trying not to get frustrated with the situation. Danielle and Auggie were just there to help and right now she needed it. As much as she didn't want admit she needed help, it would just be another 6 weeks or so. "Can you show him where things go sometime?"

"Of course, I'll get you some groceries as well" Danielle said.

"I think I can figure out what things go in the kitchen, Annie." Auggie said not sure what they meant by that.

Annie laughed a little at this. "August, things have to be a certain way for me. I have the kitchen organized in a certain way. In order for me to function, I have to have it that way. If you put the milk in a different place than I think it is, I might end up putting orange juice on my cereal one morning instead of milk. Everything has a place and everything has to be in that place or I simply can't function in my own house." Annie explained patiently. All this was 'living with a blind person 101", but Annie had not had to give these instructions to anyone yet. Danielle had went to the center for the blind where Annie had completed rehab to be trained and no one else had bothered to get close enough to Annie since the accident to need this information.

"Oh, okay. Got it. So, in other words, put everything exactly how I find it, ask if I don't know where to put something, and inquire if I don't know where something is." Auggie asked clarifying.

"Pretty much. You'll catch on and trust me; I'll let you know if you mess up. I have to. This is my world you're stepping into, it has to be my way or I can't live as independently as I have been." Annie hoped he would catch on quickly. As difficult as the next few weeks were going to be, she at least wanted to know that when all was healed and everyone gone that she wouldn't have to go around hunting for lost objects. She would teach him how to make her life easier. He was trying and deserved her patience. She couldn't assume he would come equipped with this knowledge.

After Danielle left, Auggie got up from the chair he had sat in and began walking through the house. "Sorry I haven't shown you around, August." Annie said shyly hearing him moving around. "Your room is on the left down the hallway. Mine is on the right directly across from it. There's a bathroom off your room and one off mine, so we won't have to share a bathroom. Obviously the living room is where I am now and the kitchen and dining area are to the left of the door. You're welcome to any food or anything that is here, but I'm honestly not sure what you will find there." She said unsure if he was still able to hear her.

"Okay, I'll put my bag in the guest room later. I'm making sure there are no bugs around right now." Auggie told her. "Where do you need me to put your things?"

"Oh, ummm, I guess I could try to do it later. I have a system for these things. Where's Silke?" Suddenly realizing she had not heard the padding of her paws on the wooden floors since they came inside.

"I will help you put your things away, Annie. Danielle let Silke outside. Should I let her back in?" Auggie asked.

"I appreciate the help. Oh, no, she's fine. She will let you know when she is ready to come in. I'm usually out there with her, but she's fine alone." Annie said seemingly staring forward. Auggie had to admit it was still weird for him to be around her, but he wouldn't change it for the world now. He found her oddly mesmerizing now and discovered he wanted to know more about her the more time he spent with her.

"Do you need anything?" Auggie asked after walking around the house at least three times.

"August, is your search complete?" Annie asked purposely ignoring his question. If she didn't think about it maybe the urge to use the bathroom would pass. She thought she could manage on her own once she was in the bathroom since she was wearing very lose sweat pants that could be pulled down easily, but she didn't want to chance it and having to humiliate herself.

"Yes, no bugs found and I've put my things away. I assumed I could use the dresser in the room."

"Sure, makes no difference to me, I don't use that room." Annie said shrugging, but immediately regretting the movement as she winced in pain the same second.

"It must be weird to not see. Do you see anything at all? Like shadows, light, or colors?" Auggie asked curiously as he sat down on the chair beside her.

"No, nothing. It's not even that I see black. It's just nothing, a void of nothing. It's hard to describe. Nothing exists for me unless it is in my grasp. Like, I know there is supposed to be a coffee table in front of the couch I'm sitting at, but if I'm not touching it someone could silently move it and until I go to touch it and it's not there, I won't know it's been moved. It's like I'm a 6 month old who hasn't established object permanence yet. If an object is not in my hand, it's not there. It doesn't exist for me. But at least the 6 month old can see the objects in front of him, I can't even do that much." Annie answered Auggie sadly. The answer made her sad, but his questions made her heart soar. Few people asked her things about her blindness. They were all too afraid of it. Only Danielle had ever dared ask her such things. It told her more about him than he could imagine.

"Wow, Annie. I can't imagine. I really can't." Auggie whispered honestly after a moment.

"I couldn't either until it happened to me. I don't recommend experiencing it." Annie said smiling and trying not laugh.

"Is there anything I can get you? Are you comfortable? Do you need any pain medicine? Do you need something to drink?" Auggie inquired again.

"Well…" Annie began biting her lip, dreading having to ask. "I do need to use the bathroom. I hate to ask, but I don't think I can wait until Danielle returns. If you could just help me to the bathroom I think I can handle it from there."

"Oh, of course, Annie. We can use the wheelchair to get there, I can carry you, or you can walk as I hold you up." Auggie said allowing her to decide. She was glad he wasn't taking all her independence from her. He was at least giving her choices. She took a moment to weigh all the options he laid out.

"I think the best way right now is for us to take the wheelchair and then you help me up once we're there. I should be able to balance enough on one leg to get to the toilet and sink."

"Okay, then that's what we'll do." He said getting up from the chair and moving over to her. As he stood next to her he said, "Put your left arm around my neck and I'll lift you to the wheelchair."

In one smooth movement Annie went from the couch to the wheelchair. Impressed she said, "Wow, was that your first time doing that?"

"No, it wasn't." He said without further explanation, but in a tone that did not invite questions.

After a mildly successful first trip to the bathroom outside of the hospital she called for Auggie to help her back to the living room. As she stood with her left hand resting on the sink and left leg slightly elevated off the floor, she suddenly began to get quite dizzy. As she began to feel herself falling to the ground, Auggie was there. "Hey!" He said as he put his hands on her shoulders and moved further into the bathroom to support her weight. In the same instance, she was in his arms as he carefully cradled her trying not to put any unnecessary pressure on any of her injuries.

"You okay?" He said after a few seconds.

"I think so." She said weakly "The room started spinning on me and I lost my balance."

"I've got you now. We'll forgo using the wheelchair while going back. Do you want to go back to the couch or your bed? He asked.

"The couch is fine." Annie said leaning her head against him. This seemed too intimate to some part of her, but right now she couldn't think about it. She felt exhausted and weaker than she had in days.

After making their way back to the living room, Auggie positioned Annie back on the couch carefully. He adjusted all of the pillows around her. As he sat back down there was a knock at the door.

Auggie got up immediately and went to answer it. It was Joan.

"Hey Joan, what brings you here?" Auggie asked making sure he said her name so that Annie would know who it was.

"I've come to give you guys some news and to check to see how Annie is doing." Joan said walking through the living room to sit on the chair closest to Annie.

"Annie, how are you feeling?"

"Well, Joan, probably about as good as I can, all things considered. I'm feeling pretty exhausted, weak, pained, and frustrated. But August has been a big help so far. He just saved me from a potential fall. What news do you have?" Annie said trying to gather what energy she could to sit up on the couch.

"I'm glad things are working out with Auggie. Auggie did you do a sweep of the property?" Joan asked obviously no longer speaking to Annie by the way her voice carried.

"Yes, there were no bugs. One second." Auggie said as he heard a scratch at the door. He let Silke back in the house. As Annie heard Silke lapping up water and then the soft padding of her footsteps across the floor she was highly amazed at Auggie.

"Thanks August" Annie said as Silke padded over to the couch and sat next to Annie. She nudged Annie's left hand letting her know where she was. Annie placed her hand on her back and gently rubbed her as Joan and Auggie continued to talk.

"What news do we have, Joan?" Auggie asked sitting on the end of the couch at Annie's feet.

"We've tracked Amos to Africa. He's meeting buyers there. We have some people tracking them now. We're not sure who the buyers are or what they're planning to do with the weapons they buy from him, but we've at least got eyes on Amos." Joan said. Then added in Annie's direction, "That means right now, he can't hurt you Annie. You're safe. He's not even on the same continent as you."

"That's good. Does that mean Auggie has to leave?" Annie asked trying to mask her disappointment. She was warming up to him. She was really starting to like him in more ways than one.

"No, he's out of work until you are better. His only mission right now is to take care of you and make sure no one comes after you. Amos could have other people to do his dirty work for him, especially if he suspects we are watching him. Auggie understands the importance of keeping you safe. You may not realize it Annie, but you are a valuable asset to the agency. We do hope you will seriously consider working for us someday."

Moments later, another knock came at the door. Recognizing the knock to be the one Danielle always used to let her sister know it was her, Annie said, "Come in, Danielle." As the door opened and Danielle walked in with a platter of sandwiches and bag of groceries on her shoulder, Auggie and Joan looked at Annie in surprise. Sensing them looking at her she said, "What? I can't know who's at my door just by their knock?" she smiled and then added. "She always uses that knock so I know it's her. Let's eat; I'm starving and Danielle's chicken salad is the best you'll ever have." She said showing off. Despite the extremely exhaustion she was feeling, she was feeling a little more like herself.

Author's Note: Just like you'd clap or boo for the concert you just sat through, please review my writing as you read it. I'm not above saying, I really do NEED to hear from you. Each review is like a piece of chocolate rewarded to me for my hard work. Do you think I deserve that reward?