Disclaimer: I don't own Covert Affairs, else I'd have my own Auggie. And all you drooling fangirls would be sooooo jealous!

Prompt #3: Whisper - Her world could be exploding around her, and the sound of his voice in her ear always managed to center her.

Words: 809

Gunfire was tearing up the hotel room, forcing Annie to take cover under the bed. "Auggie, I'm pinned in here!" she shouted over the noise of breaking glass and shredding fabrics. "I need a way out. Now."

"Hang tight Walker, extraction team's moving in," he said calmly.

"Make them hurry! I don't have a lot of cover that'll last much longer." Another round made her curl up in a ball, shielding her body from the shards of glass that were slicing the bedroom furniture to shreds.

"Just stay calm and keep low."

"That last part's going to happen pretty definitely," she replied. "Can't exactly stay calm with little metal slugs flying through the air at a thousand feet per second."

His chuckle, while morbid and inappropriate, helped lighten the mood a tad. Annie kept herself centered on that chuckle. She knew that as long as she kept her head - and her body out of the line of fire - she'd survive.

The sniper must've brought a friend along, because now there was gunfire coming from the other side of the room. Annie ducked under the bed again, cursing loudly. "There's another one!" she told Auggie. "I'm back under the bed. Where's the team?"

"They're taking fire too. Apparently your two friends have another friend. Just hang on, they're making their way up as fast as possible."

Reflex made her duck again. "Why does this always happen to me?" she muttered to herself.

"I guess the universe likes throwing chaos at you."

"Har har har. I'm rolling my eyes at you, smartass."

"Tut tut, Walker. Such language."

A burst of bullets ripped through the mattress, and the blonde spy felt something hot tear her shoulder. "Shit!" she shouted, clutching the wound and feeling her blood well up through her shoulders.

"Annie! Annie, talk to me!" came Auggie's barely audible call. She could hear the undercurrent of panic, but for the most part he was level as an empty balance. "You gotta talk to me, okay? I gotta know you're okay."

"Bullet tore open a big hole in my hiding place. Grazed my shoulder." She glanced at the door of the hotel room, her only way out - and almost fifteen feet of space between her and it. "Could sure use that back-up anytime now."

"They're two minutes from you. Just stay low." Another chuckle invaded her ear, but this one sounded more forced than its predecessor. "Don't get shot, Walker. I don't feel like housebreaking another agent."

Now Annie let out an inappropriate laugh. "You housebroke me? Don't make me laugh. I'm the one who talked you out of your office for the first time."

"And got me barefoot in a morgue."

"Still using that one as a comeback?"

"Don't call it a comeback," he quipped. "Besides, it's got history."

"Whatever. Point is, I'm the reason you started getting your feet wet in fieldwork again."

"Which is why you have to come back. Now that I'm used to this much adrenaline, a newbie won't even get my blood pressure going."

"Unless she's hot, easy, and pretends to like Mingus. Oh, and has a pulse."

"You really have no confidence in my taste in women, do you?"

A part of Annie realized the strangeness of the situation - she was pinned down by sniper fire as hell practically took up residence around her, and she was shooting the breeze with her best friend slash handler like they were trading smack in his office back at Tech Ops. But the familiarity was soothing in a way. She wasn't panicking over her wound or the fact that she was cheating death. With Auggie in her corner, she could face down anything.

The gunshot wound was beginning to really hurt. Sucking her breath in, Annie wiggled so that she could see the door of the hotel room. Very soon, she told herself. They'll be here soon. Just gotta hang in there until the cavalry arrives.

In less than eighty seconds, they were hustling her down the steps and into a van, speeding for a safe location. The last thing she heard was Auggie's voice. "Alright Walker, just take a breather. You're safe. You're coming home."

And coming from him, Annie knew it would happen. Auggie never lied to her.

It's true, you know. The universe loves throwing all this chaos at Annie. Then again, that's what makes it great to watch.

It's been a while, but you know the drill. Review please!