A/N: Here it is.
The beginning of the end, really.
I'm really looking forward to these next chapters.
I really hope you enjoy it and thanks for being so patient!

'She likes the taste of Captain Morgan,
Cigarettes, oh, she adores them.
She can get a little crazy sometimes.

Tight shirts and mini skirts,
Her family's rich, so she'll never work.
And she's always on my mind. Whoa.

I can see the love when I look into her eyes,
If everyone could see what I see inside.

Well, she lives at night and sleeps all day,
She'll dance and drink her life away.
But she doesn't know who I am.

She gets what she wants and she doesn't quite,
She might as well get paid for it.
But she doesn't know who I am,
And she doesn't give a damn.'

-Give a Damn, Rocket to the Moon

Disclaimer: I don't own Covert Affairs.

Give a Damn

Every once in a while Annie would glance over at Auggie lounging in the passenger seat, his head back and eyes closed. They held hands and his thumb worked soothing circles into her skin. She couldn't help but smile. From what she could tell, brunch had gone well and both her father and her boyfriend came back in one piece, smiling after their 'man to man' conversation. Despite all his oddities and loud personality, Annie appreciated her father. He was a good man and she couldn't deny even if she wanted to.

"So," Annie began, unable to stay quiet any longer, "What did you think? Of my family, I mean."

"Your mother seems fun, your sister is slightly insane but sweet," he laughed, "And your dad scares the hell out of me."

"You are quite the profiler," Annie laughed, "You've managed to accurately describe my family after meeting them once. And I'm sorry about my sister, by the way, she and Michael got engaged and then sprung it at the dinner table last night. She has talked about it non-stop since."

"Does it- bother you," Auggie asked carefully, she turned to look at him for a split second to see him staring straight at her. Had her voice revealed her frustration?

"Well-" she took a deep breath, "It's not that I dislike Michael it's just that last time I spoke to her they weren't exactly on good terms, in fact, I believe we had that conversation a week ago. Then she comes home to visit for Thanksgiving – a family celebration for Christ's sake – and springs Michael on us and then just blurts out that she's engaged!

"I mean, what the hell is that? We were supposed to spend time together – sister time – and now she'll be spending most of that time with her fiancé," she dragged the word out in a very immature voice, "And even if we get to have sister time, all she's going to do is blabber on about this stupid wedding."

When Annie finished, she was met with silence and turned to see Auggie staring at her with wide eyes. It was then that she realized she'd been rambling and nearly yelling. The car startlingly quiet after her rampage.

"Too much," she asked softly.

"No, no," he said quickly, shaking the shocked look off his face and replacing it with a sympathetic smile, "I was just waiting to make sure you were finished."

She gave him a giggle. Perhaps she had overreacted while simultaneously revealing to her boyfriend just how psychotic she could be.

"I'm sorry, Auggie," she sighed, turning her eyes back to the road. "I didn't mean to freak out on you like that."

One more turn and they would be in Auggie's driveway. She wished they would have more time together but considering it was nearing dinner time and everyone would be meeting at six the next morning to head to New York, she decided she wouldn't pester him with this desire.

"Oh baby," he grinned, "I am a master at handling and dealing freak-outs. I've been best friends with Corrine for a million years, remember?"

"Now that," she said pointedly, "Is a very good point, Mr. Anderson."

"I know, Ms. Walker," he replied, returning to his relaxed position just as they turned into his noticeably crowded driveway. "I know this is going to sound like clichéd and utterly unhelpful advice, but have you talked to Danielle about it?"

"I can't do that," Annie groaned as she put her car in 'park', "She would be so hurt."

"Sometimes it takes a little pain to get things right again."

Normally she would have scoffed at his words, but the look in his eyes and the tone of his voice made her take each and every syllable to heart. He popped up then and unbuckled his seatbelt, turning to look her square in the face. It was times like these that she forgot his 'disability' and thought of him only as Auggie. Only as exactly who he was.

He reached out for her chin, his fingertips bumping her mouth instead. She could have prevented the mishap but she didn't want to. All she wanted was for him to touch her. She'd been aching for it ever since she got in her car after the pool party a few hours before.

Mentally she scolded herself for sounding like those stupid paranormal teen romance novels that her sister forced down her throat. What was it called? She couldn't remember, though she was pretty sure that it had something to do with apples and vampires. She shook it off and leaned in to give him a soft kiss to the mouth. He smiled beneath her touch and she pulled away.

"So, you want to come in," he asked as he absentmindedly played with the ends of her getting-too-long hair. "It's probably a damn mess but you could help me pack for our overnight."

Sweet-Jesus-god-lord-almighty. Their overnight. How amazing did that sound? Without using her big girl words she nodded her head, not even thinking that he may not notice the gesture. But he did. Auggie Anderson noticed everything about her. For a moment – maybe even less, like the consideration of a moment – Annie felt guilty for her hormone-riddled thoughts but all that faded the moment that August Anderson ever-so-slowly let his nose and mouth and glorious eyelashes brush against the curve of her neck, slipping in sweet kisses to her flushed skin.

Was it getting hot in there or was that just her?

"I think-" he kissed her again "My mom-" another kiss, this time to her collarbone "Would love to meet you."

It seemed that he'd stolen her ability to speak and so she settled with nodding just one more time. If only she knew what she was getting herself into.

They walked hand-in-hand up the drive and she watched with fascination as Auggie made his way up the driveway, sidewalk, and stairs without a second thought, his cane, or her help. And her sister called him handicapped. The nerve! It was strange, but she was hardly nervous about stepping into Auggie's hugely chaotic family. But then again, she probably used up all her nervousness that afternoon during brunch. The brain only has so many pain receptors, after all, so perhaps the same rings true for nerves.

"Go ahead and slip off your shoes," Auggie said as he used his toes to shed his Chuck Taylors.

"I remember," she said, feigning offence, "It hasn't been that long since I've been here."

"Sorry, sorry," he grinned, his hands up in surrender.

They'd barely been in the house for two minutes when a small person slid around the corner in his stocking feet, his lamp-like grey eyes honed in on Auggie. That is, until he noticed her. At first he looked shocked, his little mouth forming an 'o' and then he gave her an impish look. She knew that look, it belonged to her boyfriend.

"Who're you," he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm Annie," she answered cautiously, giving him a half smile and narrowing her eyes, "Who're you?"

"Me? I'm Benjamin. Benjamin Harper Anderson," he said in a tone that was all business, holding out his hand to her, "Good to meet you, Annie."

"And you, Benjamin."

"Please, please. Call me Benji," he smiled, revealing two missing teeth.

"Alright, Benj," Auggie shook his head, "Back off of my girlfriend, yea?"

"You're funny, Uncle Auggie but I don't like girls, they have cooties," Benji laughed before turning back to Annie , giving her an apologetic look, "No offense."

"You know, Uncle Matt says the same thing," Auggie chuckled.

"Auggie," Annie exclaimed, shocked, as she smacked Auggie on the shoulder.

"And they hit people too," he groaned rubbing the spot where she hit him before promptly being popped again, all while Benji giggled adorably. "I'm going to tell on you!"

"Who are you telling on," a woman stepped into the entryway, all thin limbs and huge green eyes.

A shudder rocked its way through Annie's body. Now she was nervous. There was no doubt in her mind that this was Mrs. Anderson and Annie realized that she'd just punched the woman's almost-youngest in the shoulder. Way to make an impression, Annie. She could feel her cheeks flaring red and her heart beating like a bass drum.

"Oh, hello," Mrs. Anderson smiled, patting her hands on her floor length skirt, "August, who is this? Introduce me."

"Mom," Auggie said. His smile changed then, softening around the edges and looking a bit – was it possible? - nervous. He reached out for Annie's hand which she took and subconsciously moved slightly behind him, "This is Annie Walker, my girlfriend. Annie this is my mom, Julia Anderson."

The look on Mrs. Walker's face was unmistakable, she looked upset. A hurried smile fell over her mouth though, hiding the look that told Annie she wasn't welcome, and she held out a finely manicured hand for Annie to shake.

"Oh goodness," she said somewhat breathlessly, "Annie, it's good to meet you. I've heard so much about you."

"You too," Annie answered softly, her voice cheaping out on her again.

"So what trouble were you kids getting into," she asked Benji with a grin.

"Annie was beating up Uncle Auggie for saying that Uncle Matt thinks girls got cooties," Benji explained matter-of-factly.

Julia Anderson turned to her son with wide, shocked eyes.

"August," she gasped, though Annie could see the woman struggling against her laughter, "That is inappropriate!"

"Sorry, mom," Auggie replied, unable to mask his smile.

"Alright, well get in the kitchen, I just finished making coffee and streusels," Julia rushed away, like she had too much energy to stay in one place for too long.

"We'll be down in a minute, Annie's going to help me get some clothes together for the road trip tomorrow," Auggie said, tugging Annie towards the stairs.

He may have missed it but Annie most certainly saw the hurt look on Mrs. Walker's face.

oOo

The knock on the door shoved her out of her nap. She hadn't been expecting anyone to come around, at least, not this soon. Her eyelids were heavy, her limbs pulling her into the couch, skin hot, heartbeat slow. She slid easily back into her sleep, she didn't want to see anyone, she didn't want to remember. The knocking persisted and she dragged herself from the couch, pausing when her vision fills with stars. She can't remember a time she'd slept so well, that her mind had been so quiet.

Her feet padded softly across the floor, her tube socks muffling her weight. Subconsciously her heart thuds faster as she turns the lock and wraps her fingers around the doorknob, normally she wouldn't lock the door but lately it seemed she needed to lock the world out. It surprised her to see him standing on her porch, looking tired and perhaps a little sad. He was the last person she expected to show up.

"Conrad," she breathed, hope whispering in the depths of her chest.

"Can I come in," he asked formally, shushing the hope to silence, "I need to talk to you."

"Of course," she said, her voice still hoarse with sleep. "What time is it?"

"It's almost six, Corrine," he said with exasperation, "Have you been sleeping all day?"

"Since I got home last night," she answered shortly, weaving her way into the kitchen. She was thirsty as hell.

"Jesus, let's turn some goddamn lights on, yea," Conrad mumbled, "It's like Auggie's room in here."

Corrine gave him a soft chuckle but it was all she could spare. It was still a mystery as to why he was standing in her kitchen, watching her extract a bottle of Smart Water from the fridge. She was preparing for the onslaught; the yelling, the name calling, the disappointment. It was all too familiar for Corrine, but coming from Conrad she suspected that it would feel a lot worse.

"Corrine, look at me," he said softly, moving in close so that he could lift her chin with the tips of his fingers, "I just want to talk about this, I'm done being angry, I'm not going to yell at you. Stop shrinking away from me, stop hiding. It makes me tired."

"It makes me tired too," she said quietly, staring up into his blue eyes and catching herself leaning into his touch. It was just so damn familiar, so damn comfortable and she couldn't help taking advantage of it, it was just too easy. "No. No, no. I can't do this."

Easily she slipped through his fingers, as she'd done so many times, to return to her couch-turned-bed and fall back asleep. Maybe if she did she would wake up far enough in the future to forget everything that was wrong with the now. Conrad's long strides shadowed her own and she wished that he would just go away but she knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't. As she folded herself on the couch, Conrad sat beside her, too close for her tastes at that moment.

"Why," he whispered, trying to catch her attention, "Why can't you do this? What's changed, Corrine?"

"I don't love you," she said pointedly, not to hurt him, just to get it off her chest, "Not like you want me to."

For several long moments he stared at her, his deep eyes thoughtful and still carrying that god awful hurt. It was a battle for her to keep her eyes on him, to stand what she'd done to yet another one of her victims but at this point he at least deserved her attention, she owed him that.

"I know," he said simply, his broad shoulders seeming to deflate.

"I want to, I try-"

"I know, Corrine," he whispered gently, "You're still in love with him and I get that, but you've got to face the facts; he doesn't love you anymore Corrine, not like that."

To hear some outside observer say it was more painful than she'd expected, much like a blow to the gut. It was official now. All that time she'd spent pushing away the one boy she'd been in love with, holding him at a distance so that neither could get hurt and here she was dying inside with a knife through her heart.

"But I'm here," continued Conrad, "Let me be with you, let me take care of you. At least for now."

There was a slight pause and Corrine was vaguely aware of the fact that her vision was distorted with a veil of tears that fled from her eyes as she blinked.

"I love you, Corrine," he hushed, gently carrying away her tears with his thumb as she sat numbly beside him, "Let me love you."

"Okay," she whispered, allowing him to reel her in with his beautiful blue eyes and heated skin.

Soon they were kissing, hard, each one choking down their regrets and sorrows with tainted love. It was a pact, it seemed, to give each other what they couldn't have.

And that's when it started.

That's when she knew that it was time to start saying goodbye to August Anderson.

oOo

The disappointment in his mother's reaction to his incredible girlfriend hadn't slipped past Auggie's attention; he'd simply decided to ignore it as soon as it made itself know. This was a habit he'd come to possess as a young child. No one that Auggie brought home would ever be good enough for Julia Anderson and it wouldn't make a bit of difference if he was the happiest man in the world with said girl. Why? Because at some point in the distant past, when Auggie was still a toddler, Julia Anderson decided that her son would forever be paired with none other than the tragically beautiful Corrine Morgan. It seemed that there was nothing the girl could do that would make Julia relinquish this insane idea.

Sure, there'd been a point in Auggie's life that he would've gladly claimed Corrine as his own, but she'd made it abundantly clear that she didn't share his feelings. But then something magical happened: In the midst of this heartbreak, he'd fallen in love.

And yet, though Auggie was perfectly content to let go of his mother's disapproval, he knew that the girl he'd fallen in love with – the one fidgeting on his bed – was dwelling on it. By the agitated squealing of his bed springs, he knew that Annie's leg was shaking and he gathered by the hot gaze on his back, that she was contemplating whether or not she should approach him about the not-so-welcoming welcome from his mother. Should he ease her tension and bring it up for her? It would be kind of him. Was he going to be the sweet, problem-solving boyfriend? Not today. If she wanted him to help her with her issues, she needed to face those issues first.

In relieving himself of his dress shirt, Auggie bumped the delicate bruise on his hipbone, making his eyes cross in pain. He could tell it was really swollen without even touching it and he made a mental note not to let his mother see it unless he wanted an impromptu visit to the emergency room. As he pulled his t-shirt over his head, Annie's anxiety finally bubbled over.

"I don't think your mother likes me," she said in a mangled bluster of words, "No. I know she doesn't like me."

Auggie spun to face her as he pulled his shirt over the brim of his jeans, it felt good to be in normal people clothes again. He hated feeling dressed up.

"Annie, you have to understand that my mother-"

"Holy crap!"

The sudden exclamation made Auggie jump, his bed springs protesting as Annie flung herself at him, her hands suddenly grabbing at the hem of his shirt.

"Shit, Annie, if you wanted to take my clothes off you could have just asked," he said as she lifted his shirt almost up to his shoulder, her fingers trailing feather light of his heated, bruised skin.

"Hush. What happened to you," she asked, still sounding worried.

"Nothing, Annie," he managed a smile but found it difficult to speak as her fingers skimming his hips made the blood rush southward from his head, "I- uh- I had a disagreement with a barstool this morning, it happens, especially whe- God, you've got to quit that."

He groaned and grabbed Annie's hand, pulling her close so that his arms wrapped around her and her breasts pressed into his chest. At some point he'd found her mouth with his, his hand shoved into her hair, her hands exploring his back beneath his shirt.

"Much as I hate to say this," Auggie breathed, unable to detach his hands from her hips, "We should probably throw some of my stuff together and head downstairs before my mother comes to investigate and believe me, she will."

"Mm." Annie nodded against his chest and he felt goosebumps crawl up his skin as her hair brushed against his stomach. "Okay, what do you need, just jeans and stuff?"

"Yea," he said, finally pulling away. He went to his closet and pulled out his nylon messenger bag, it would be big enough for overnight, "If you grab me some jeans and a t-shirt, then I'll grab some sweats to sleep in-"

"Oh god," Annie giggled from his closet, "What in the world is this?"

"What's what?"

"Do you seriously have a '1 Up' shirt?"

"Hey," Auggie grinned, "That is a classic!"

"A classic what," Annie laughed, "Proclamation of nerdiness?"

"Back off, Walker," he said, his face all serious, "Mario is the greatest game that has ever been created. Show some respect."

"Do forgive me," she answered lowly, her thin arms slipping around his torso, "I hadn't realized what I was talking about."

"It will be difficult," Auggie breathed, backing Annie up to the edge of his bed, distracted by the shape of her body against his. "I will have to take it into consideration-"

Annie's knees buckled as they hit the edge of his bed and they went down together, his hip knocking against hers. With a groan, he squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip, staving off the blunt pain that rocketed from his hip to his foot.

"Hmm," Annie said sarcastically, "I have this strange feeling that your gigantic purple bruise may be a little more than 'nothing'. But of course, that's just my opinion. What do you think?"

"It's just a bruise, Annie, I've done a lot worse before," he said as he regretfully rolled off of his girlfriend and onto his back.

"Yes, but I imagine that those previous injuries didn't do much to interfere with your sex life," she replied matter-of-factly.

"Ugh."

"So, would you like me to get you some frozen peas for that?"

He laughed.

"And that's why I love you."

A/N: Maybe not exactly what I promised, but honestly, I like this chapter.
But that doesn't really matter!
I'm more interested in what you think!