Chapter 10

When Annie arrives at the DPD she is issued a guest pass and cleared to enter. She goes straight to Joan's desk glad to avoid Auggie for a bit longer. Joan sees her coming and puts her papers down.

"Annie, thanks for coming in. Your work with McQuaid. . . and analysis of the evidence. . . it saved Arthurs's life and that of countless key players in our military. I can't thank you enough. I only wish you felt free to share your op with me, that's not a criticism of you, I know I didn't give you reason to believe I would be supportive and I am sorry for that."

"Joan, I was doing what I was trained by this agency to do and again, it is what I am good at, it's what makes me tick Joan. Where we last left things before I resigned gave me no choice, but to do what I did. I couldn't see things playing out any other way but the agency putting on bureaucratic blinders."

"By the agency you mean me. Annie, we've been through a lot together and maybe I have not said it before, but I owe you a lot and I haven't had your back. I am deeply sorry for that. I know things between us are. . . not what I want them to be, I'm not good at this, but I do want us to work on repairing our relationship both professionally and personally. That said, Calder and I are lifting your suspension and clearing your record of all wrongdoing in deceiving the agency about your medical condition. We are putting you back on the investigation into Chicago and the motorcade bombing."

Annie looks at Joan and says, "Does that mean I will be unchained from a desk?"

"No, it means you have a place here, you have a role in helping us drill down the real motives and culprits behind Chicago and today's motorcade bombing. With your intimate knowledge of the players we will find out who is responsible and bring them to justice. We can't risk losing you by putting you in the field, but you will work intimately with those we task with gathering intel on the ground."

"Thanks Joan, but those aren't terms I can accept. I'm going to stay at McQuaid Security where I am a valued and supported as a field operative. I need to do this for myself and for McQuaid. I've come too far, given up too much to give up now."

Joan looks incredulous at Annie. "For McQuaid? What are you not telling me? Annie, your health is important to us, the agency, Auggie, Calder and me. You have to take that into account. You are an excellent operative, but not if you are hurt or dead. We need your know how, there are still ways to serve and it's not any less relevant inside the confines of this building. I am telling you that as a mentor and as a friend."

"I appreciate that Joan, but I swore an oath and I put my country above my life. I belong in the field. . . at least until this is truly over. I'll take my chances. I've got nothing to lose anyway."

"Annie, you still haven't met Mac and I want you to. Come to dinner this week and we can look at next steps together. You once felt, there was no together, I want to change that."

"Unless it involves me going to track down Belenko and any known contacts of his, I can't. I can't sit at a desk and do nothing. I have a mission. Thank you Joan."

"We don't have enough to go on yet and based on our mistakes the last week, we need to have irrefutable evidence on Belenko before we hunt them down."

Annie is already out half way out of Joan's area, "Another reason, I no longer work for the CIA. I can't sit on my ass and do nothing." Joan stares at Annie as she walks away. She is moved by Annie's devotion to her work, but also very worried for her. Did Joan's failure as a mentor make Annie that way? One would argue she was given Annie's single-minded determination, but Joan cared about Annie and hoped she expressed that adequately, she didn't want to see Annie hurt anymore than she was. But Joan came to the conclusion that any physical damage could not surpass the damage that had been done to Annie's heart emotionally.

Right after Annie was out of view, Joan picked up the phone to call Arthur. She wanted to find out how Annie was going to run down Belenko and offer any support she could. She felt it was the least she could do after all that Annie had done.

Meanwhile Calder and Auggie have an encounter.

Calder to Auggie, "Look man, I know why you risked so much to help Annie, I risked as much last year, I get it and I'm sorry I gave you a hard time. Sometimes I let the pressures of answering to the higher ups get me. We all have to do what we do even if it means breaking the rules. The thing is sometimes hindsight is what helps us see the light."

Auggie smirks, "Thanks for the apology. I'm glad we're on the same side Calder. I know this job isn't where your talents are best used. As much as you wanted to move up and make it big, you like Annie belong in the field."

Calder walks away, "Yeah, after this Belenko business that's just my plan. I just need to work it so Joan gets what she deserves when I go."

Auggie, looks down and nods "So I called it man," he reaches out his hand to shake Calder.

Calder, "You're not getting rid of me so fast, we still have a lot of work ahead of us, let's go smoke 'em out Anderson!"

Auggie, "Yes, sir!"

Calder, "Oh, keep on Annie, Joan filled me in, she's sticking with McQuaid Security so she can be right up on Belenko's ass. Whatever went down between the two of you, I need you to put that aside, kiss and make-up, find out what she's doing."

Auggie, "Guess I'm not surprised, the way the agency has come down on her despite her sacrifices. So, we're spying on her now?"

Calder, "Auggie, we are spies and spies are good at spying on each other, but I prefer to think of it as working our intel together."

Auggie, "Except she doesn't know it. Ok, I'll reach out to her."