First off. O.O That was by far the best CA episode yet. Shirtless Auggie out for revenge? Hell yes.

Secondly: Do any of you watch Psych? I was thinking of doing a Psych/CA crossover. Right now it would be a oneshot, but it might evolve into a story. Would anyone be interested in reading it?

Chapter 3

Priorities

Two coffee cups. That was what Annie was holding when she walked into the Tech Ops. office. They were what she was still holding when she walked back out. Auggie wasn't there, and none of the other agents had seen him.

Figuring that he was in a meeting with Joan, she placed both cups on her desk and logged onto her computer. She checked her email first, just in case she had missed some memo. Nothing. She glanced at the door to Joan's office, it was closed. But then, it was always closed, even when Joan was the only one in it. Well, it wouldn't be her fault when Auggie complained of his coffee being cold.

"Get much sleep last night?" Annie jumped at Joan's voice. She'd been so focused on her office door that she hadn't heard the head of the DPD arrive. Joan was eyeing the two cups of coffee skeptically.

"I'm not a caffeine junkie," Annie looked imploringly at Joan.

"No, it would have been in your file."

Wait a minute. Joan. Was talking to her, in front of her desk. That meant Auggie wasn't in a meeting with her, he couldn't be. "Hey, have you seen Auggie?"

Joan cast a glance over at his empty desk. "No. He-"

"Joan," a man that Annie had only met in passing walked up to them and whispered into Joan's ear. Annie furrowed her brows. The man's whisper, although she couldn't make out exactly what was being said, was fierce. He straightened, and Annie caught a look at Joan's face. Her features had gone rigid, her lips pursed into an unconscious frown. Something was off.

"What's up?" Annie asked casually, although she didn't expect Joan respond.

Which is why Joan's answer took her by surprise. "Someone managed to break into the room at the hospital where to co-pilot was checked in."

Annie stood up. "Did he-"

"No, one of our agents scared him off."

Damn. That meant they hadn't caught whoever had tried to kill the co-pilot. Because that was what the intruder had been there to do, there was no doubt about that. In a way, this was good news. It meant that when – if – the co-pilot woke up, he'd have important information. Information worth killing for.

"Do you want me to-"

"No."

"But I could-"

"Annie, I asked Phillips to send Serrano to check it out. I need you here, to go through those agent files."

Joan waited until Annie had taken her seat again before walking – more like stalking, Annie thought – off.

-O-

Annie tried to focus on the files she was reading, she really did. But so many other thoughts cluttered her brain that it was nearly impossible.

Who had tried to dispatch of the co-pilot? It must have been whoever had hired the two in the first place. Or it could have been an accomplice. Another agent? Two traitors within the agency, and no one knew who they were. The polygraphs sure hadn't revealed anything. Who knew what other classified information they knew about, information that they could be selling to enemies, terrorists, right now.

Auggie would know what to do. At the very least, he'd listen to her theories. That's what he would do, but he couldn't. Because Auggie still hadn't made an appearance. Annie kept not-so-surreptitiously glancing over at the empty desk, frowning every time she was greeted with Auggie's absence. She'd tried to bring it to Joan's attention several times, but she was too busy with the co-pilot attack to spare her any time. Annie gritted her teeth as she glanced up for what had to be the 155th time. It just wasn't like Auggie to skip out on work without any phone calls, notices, or explanations. Something had to be wrong.

All of these thoughts, with no one to share them to, finally threw Annie over the edge. She slammed closed the file she'd just been reading - Conrad, of all people – a little more fiercely than she'd intended. The corner ripped. Annie sighed, and glanced at the clock. Great, it was late enough for her lunch break, and she'd just thought of someone she could talk to.

-O-

"Annie," Jai smiled as the operative walked into the room. He reached for the remote and turned off the TV.

"How're you feeling?" Annie asked, taking a seat on the slightly-raggedy-looking chair opposite the bed.

Jai shrugged, and winced. "I really should stop doing that," he sighed. Annie chuckled. "So, what's up?"

Annie threw her hands in the air in exasperation. "Why does something always have to be up? What if I'm visiting because I feel like it?" Of course, something was up, but Annie hated how Jai, of all people, knew her so well. Of course, no one knew her better than Auggie. Come to think of it, Jai actually probably didn't know Annie that well. She'd have to work on controlling her facial expressions.

"I mean, I can't come visit the guy who saved my life without a reason?" she continued.

Jai raised an eyebrow.

"Fine," she crossed her arms. "I'm worried about Auggie."

"Okay," said Jai. He looked at the female operative expectantly.

Annie sighed. He really wasn't being helpful. Maybe she should just leave. But, no, she had to suffer through Jai's antics for Auggie's sake.

For Auggie's sake. Annie shook her head. That made it sound like Auggie was in some kind of trouble. Which he wasn't. The worst that could have happened was that Auggie was sick, too sick to call in to the agency. He'd be better soon, and then he could call. Joan probably wouldn't even realize he'd been gone, preoccupied as she was.

"Annie?" Joan looked quizzically at her. He'd paused halfway through bringing his cup of water up to his lips.

"He didn't show up for work today," Annie shrugged, emphasizing the casual tone of her words. "And he didn't call in sick or anything." Another shrug.

Jai set his glass down without taking a sip. "Protocol states that you have to leave word with the agency if you're not coming in-"

"I know. But what does that mean for Auggie?" Annie's casual tone slipped a little as she asked.

Jai shrugged. "That he's too sick to come to the phone? Look, Annie, you're still fairly new to the agency. Just because an operative doesn't show up for work one day, doesn't mean he's in trouble. Auggie's just sleeping off a cold, I guarantee it."

Annie couldn't bring herself to meet Jai's gaze. She hated being told off, especially by someone like Jai. Someone who made her look like an off-the-street rookie, which she was trying her hardest not to. Jai was probably right, though. She was just being paranoid. "Look, in our line of work, there's a very thin line between intuition and paranoia. Our job is to walk right up to that line, but never cross it." Annie's lips curved into a small smile as she remembered Auggie's advice.

There was a knock at the door, and Joan walked in.

"Joan," Annie jumped guiltily, even though it was her lunch break and it wasn't like she wasn't allowed to visit Jai.

Joan glanced at her. "Jai," she nodded an unenthusiastic greeting to the operative.

"Joan," Jai smiled an obviously sarcastic smile. "Always a pleasure."

Joan ignored him. "Annie, I need you back at the agency. Lunch break's over."

"O-okay," Annie glanced quizzically at Jai, who was busy staring contemptibly at Joan.

"C'mon," Joan led Annie to he door without a backwards glance. Annie, however stopped at the door to turn back and mouth "thank you". Jai nodded and picked up his water.

-O-

Annie watched through the window of her guest house at the lights in her sister's main house flicked off, one by one. It was late, but Annie couldn't sleep.

After work, she'd arrived at the tavern with a small hope of catching a glimpse of the elusive Auggie. She sat there for an hour, maybe two, maybe longer. Other people had come and gone, some she recognized from the agency, some she didn't (and many who were obviously not spooks). But no Auggie.

Now she was sitting on her bed, encrypted cell phone in hand, dialing Auggie's number for the fourth time. Maybe if she called just one more time, he'd have enough time to get up from the bed and find his phone. Which he'd obviously lost. Otherwise he would have answered.

No answer. Annie huffed her frustration, rubbing her face in her hands.

"Something wrong?" Danielle asked from the doorway. Annie hadn't even heard her come in.

"No," Annie palmed her cell phone into her pocket in one smooth movement.

"Oh, come on," her sister scoffed. "And don't you hide that cell phone from me. So, who was it?" Danielle stepped into the room. "Oh, don't tell me it was that guy with the mustache."

Annie looked up. "You can't even remember his name?" She asked incredulously. "No, it wasn't him."

"Well, something's wrong. And I'm not leaving this room-" she sat down on the bed next to Annie. "- this bed – until you tell me what it is."

Annie looked at her sister. She shouldn't say anything, that would be against protocol. But Jai hadn't been very helpful. Maybe, if she was vauge…

"A co-worker of mine didn't show up for work today. Which would be fine, but he's never missed a day of work since I've been there."

Danielle leaned in closer. "What do you think happened?"

Annie shrugged. "He didn't call in sick."

"He could have been too sick to come to the phone."

Annie didn't respond. Why did everyone come to the same conclusion? Wasn't there someone besides Auggie who would see her side of things?

"You don't think anything, you know, bad, happened? Do you?" Danielle asked. Talking to her had definitely not been Annie's best idea. What had she been thinking? She couldn't help. To fully understand the situation, she'd have to know where Annie really worked, and she couldn't know that.

"You know what, I'm going to get some sleep," Annie cast her sister a glance.

"Oh, okay. Well, see you in the morning," Danielle headed to the door, but not without stopping to glance, perplexed, back at her younger sister.

-O-

The cold draft was what first woke Auggie. His aching head came as a close second. He reached up to rub it, but his hand came up short, stopped by something… Coarse fibers, digging into his wrist… Rope. Auggie's eyes snapped open instinctively, little good that did him.

A malicious chuckle sent shivers down Auggie's spine, and he swallowed hard. Agents did not panic like this. Not visibly. (Most agents weren't blind, though, Auggie thought ruefully). He turned his head slowly in the direction of the laugh and was greeted with a surprisingly less malicious, but still unwelcomed voice.

"Well, look who's finally awake."