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Prompt #7: Sugarplum - "Really? Nothing else came to mind?"

Words: 962

This could not keep happening to her. It was starting to get ridiculous.

Once again, Annie Walker found herself relying on Auggie Anderson to bail her rookie ass out of a sticky situation.

But this time, it wasn't during an op, thank God. It was just a guy who didn't know the meaning of "no" one night at Allen's. A new face among the patrons, he'd immediately tried to hit on Annie. The blonde was sitting alone because she'd been waiting for Auggie to return, so this made her the target for the new guy's unwanted affection. She was just considering slamming him senseless when a familiar voice drawled behind her, "Something the matter, sugarplum?"

Well, at least Auggie wasn't half-naked this time.

She tried not to pant or swoon when she felt his corded arm tighten around her waist protectively. It was a supreme effort of willpower. "Hey babe," she said, glancing up at him. "Nothing's wrong. Just met someone new."

"That so?" he said casually, his sightless eyes focused on a spot just above her mark's left shoulder. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Brad," she said by way of introduction. "He's an FBI agent, apparently. He was just showing me his badge and gun." Code translation: douche was hitting on me and wants to get into my pants.

Auggie apparently translated correctly. One eyebrow raised in surprise and mild irritation. "That so?" he repeated.

"But I told him, I'm not that impressed by a badge," Annie said, creeping her hand up his chest and feeling every muscle she touched tense up. "I like my soldier boy just fine."

Brad peaced out, apparently intimidated by Auggie as she'd intended. Auggie's lips twisted into a pleased smile. "Soldier boy?"

"Well, you are." Annie suddenly noticed that her hand had been absently fiddling with the buttons of his shirt. Blushing red, she let out the breath she'd been holding and tried to move away from Auggie, but she underestimated his arm strength and just how fast he was. His hand clamped onto her wrist as it pulled away, holding it captive just above his heart. "And where do you think you're going, Walker?" he said.

"To get you another beer," she said easily.

"Mind telling me why you were feeling me up?"

Crap. "Brad looked back," she lied. "I was trying to sell it. Men are all about the visual." The words tumbled out before her filter managed to catch them. Double crap!

"That so?" I am in sooooo much trouble now, Annie barely had time to think. Auggie leaned down and whispered in her ear, "That's a matter of preference. I learn better with my body, personally."

"I bet you do," she managed to choke out. Even though he was her best friend, Annie was still a hot-blooded woman who could fully appreciate the incredibly toned and fit body of her handler/crush. Noticing that they were beginning to draw some stares, Annie guided them both back into their booth.

"Three, by the way."

She frowned, confused. "Three?"

Auggie's grin was pure melted chocolate hiding poison. "Times I've physically saved your butt."

"I'm frowning at you, Auggie." For good measure, she punched his arm. "And I can only remember two times, that time at the Farm party and that time with Chloe's class trip."

"The morgue," he replied instantly.

It was a sad comment on Annie's life that she knew exactly what he was talking about. "No way! I had that totally under control."

"Please. If I hadn't been there you would've had a hell of a harder time explaining yourself."

Annie pouted at him despite the futility of the gesture. "You're incorrigible, you know that?"

"I do now, Annie darlin'."

Well, she told her rapidly racing heart, at least he didn't say sugarplum again. I don't think I can handle that right now.

He spoke again, clear jest in his voice. "Sugarplum? You all right?"

She laughed, then lightly socked Auggie's chest. "You need to come up with some new pet names."

"Now why would I do that? This one has history behind it."

"Because saying we had sex in the training officer's office is a great story behind the use of 'sugarplum' as a pet name."

"I like it," Auggie said honestly. "Makes me think of the Sugar Plum Fairy."

Annie's brows rose to almost her hairline. "One, never would have pegged you for a Nutcracker fan. And two, why her? Why not Clara?"

Her handler grinned again. "One, Clara's big claim was that she beaned the Mouse King with her slipper. You'd never sacrifice your precious Louboutin heels like that." Annie scowled and smacked his chest playfully. "And two, the Sugar Plum Fairy is poised and elegant and strong. Strong enough to rule when the Nutcracker Prince is gone."

The compliment made Annie's cheeks glow. "She's not alone though, when she dances at the end. You forget that she's got her Cavalier."

Auggie shrugged. "That's true. She's never truly alone."

Annie felt the soft, secret smile uncurl on her lips as she scooted closer to her best friend. Her handler. The Cavalier to her Sugar Plum Fairy.

Suddenly the pet name sounded so much better, and she wanted him to say it again.

Nearing holidays plus late night plus cute nickname equals Nutcracker reference! Not intended, but I liked where this went!

Review please!