Chapter 3

A/N I am so sorry that I haven't updated sooner. Life got a hold of me and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to do this chapter to work the way I wanted it to flow. I hope it makes a little sense and no fruit! I am also doing something different, anytime Auggie is talking to Annie it's in italics, since it will be through an ear bud. The bold print is Annie's "inner voice" or conscience.

Annie walked to the parking garage to meet Jai for their lunch date, "Wait", she thought to herself, "When did I start referring to this as a date?" Annie was confused as her thoughts suddenly rebelling, wondering about Jai in something more than a platonic manner.

"ANNIE" she heard in her ear. Auggie's voice was already filled with frustration. "I have been calling your name for ten minutes. I thought maybe the ding bats that work around here forgot to charge the ear piece." Auggie said on one breath.

"No I was thinking about how I am going to breach the question of what was going on in Joan's office." She told him, even though to her ears it sounded feeble.

Auggie was sure she was hiding something but let it pass for now, "Ok well now we know that we are working, let's go to lunch."

##

Annie looked around for Jais car and found it easily. Jai was leaning against the hood waiting for her, "Ready for lunch?" Annie chirped as she saw him.

"Down girl" Auggie said in her ear.

"So where are we headed?" Annie asked Jai, purposely ignoring the voice in her ear that was sending shivers down her spine.

"I know a little place that is far enough out of the way that won't be to crowded and we will get quick service. Also that have the most amazing lasagna you've ever had." Jai said totally unaware that he was being recorded.

"Oh sounds great! I love small restaurants, they always have the cutest decor and charming atmospheres." Annie was sure that Jai thought that this was a date.

"Well isn't it?" her inner voiced asked. "No, it's just a recon mission." she answered herself. "Yes that's what you tell yourself dear. But we both know that you have an interest in him. And that he is interested in you." It said to her. Annie thought about this and her conscience was right. She did find Jai interesting but did that mean she was attracted to him? She wasn't sure.

Right in the middle of her thoughts Auggie's voice filled her ear "What does he think this is a date?" Annie was sure she heard disgust in his tone.

##

The rest of the ride to the restaurant was silent, it was a comfortable silence with neither Annie nor Jai felt the need to fill the quiet. When they arrived Jai parked the car and rushed around to open Annie's door for her. "Thank you Jai." Annie said. As they entered the restaurant the smell of spices assailed her nose, Annie inhaled loving the scents of all the foods from the kitchen. Looking around she saw that the restaurant was decorated in warm reds and burnt orange colors. She really enjoyed the paintings that covered the walls, they were mostly of little Italian children playing on bikes or with dogs, it made her smile. "Jai this place is amazing." She said spinning slowly so Auggie could record everything through the camera pin.

"You'll have to tell me about it when we go over the footage." Auggie told Annie. It pained him that he couldn't see the things that were making Annie's voice a reverent whisper, but he knew the loved that tone in her voice.

"So shall we order?" Jai asked Annie. It confused him as to why she was spinning around but seeing as it was her first time here he just let her do it. He thought she was cute. He had been attracted to her when he first saw her, after being assigned to get information on Mercer from her, but she had always seemed to distance herself from him whenever it felt like he could make a move. Of course she seemed to always be with Auggie too. Jai knew for a fact Auggie had been to at least two of the infamous Thursday dinners. But he knew that he would get a chance soon, he was just biding his time.

"Yes ordering would be great. Whats good here?" Annie asked as she scoured the menu.

"The lasagna is good. It's homemade and goes really quick and the pasta and meatballs are good too." Jai said fairly certain he knew what she would get.

"Ok I think I will try the lasagna and tea to drink please." Annie told the waiter a few minutes later.

"I will have the same." Jai said. He had been right, she had chosen the lasagna. "So Annie, why the impromptu invitation to lunch?"

Annie froze she had been found out. She started looking for something to tell him anything finally relief came in form of Auggie. "Just tell him he looked upset after he came out of Joan's office and you thought it would be nice to cheer him up with lunch."

Annie could her herself parroting Auggie's words back to Jai, "You looked bummed after coming out of Joan's office so I thought that a quick lunch would lift your spirits. What else are friends for?" She really hoped the Jai bought it and after a minute of scrutinizing her he finally sat back in his chair.

"Oh ok." Jai was still a little confused but he accepted the answer.

After their food arrived they ate in silence, Jai looked up over Annie's head and abruptly stood up, Annie looked up in confusion. "Jai?"

"Yes? Oh I have to go to the rest room I will be right back, excuse me." Jai said quickly. Annie watched Jai walk away confused.

##

Jai walked around the corner and was immediately met with a fist grabbing his jacket and slamming her against the wall, "What are you doing with Annie?" the voice growled in his ear.

Jai was momentarily stunned but reacted just the same bringing his arms up and pushing out, "It's just lunch Mercer, besides you left her in Sri Lanka remember?" Ben Mercer was a patient man but here lately he had become short tempered and Jai's comment pushed a button he reacted on instinct and started throwing punches causing a lot of noise.

##

Annie heard a commotion back by the restrooms and her instincts kicked in and she got up to investigate as she got closer she could hear the distinct sound of flesh hitting flesh. "I think we have a situation." she said loud enough for Auggie to hear but low enough that it didn't look like she was crazy talking to her self.

"What kind of situation?" Auggie asked her, instantly alert and listening.

"Jai saw something and practically ran from the table. He has been gone for a while so I am going to investigate. I do-" She stopped as she rounded the corner "Ben?"

"Ben MERCER" Auggie's voice barely registered as her brain went into overdrive.

"Hi Annie...ANNIE?" Ben yelled as Annie dropped from the shock of the situation.

"Annie?" "Annie?" both Auggie and Jai yelled.

Annie who had past out from the shock of seeing Ben, was swallowed into a blackness that left her safe from the pain that was sure to come.

A/N: HAHA FINALLY! I hope this made sense. Next up Annie wakes up and finds out what went down in Joan's office. It may take me a couple of days so stay with me. Thanks for all the alerts and favorites but you know what really helps REVIEWS so tell me what ya think. But don't be to mean.