Author's Note: The latest chapter for this story, for your reading pleasure. I hope you're enjoying this story. There's lots more to come, don't worry. And Miles WILL be back. I don't know yet how it will happen, but it will.

Oh, as always, I don't own Covert Affairs or its characters.

Chapter 8

"We'll figure it out"

Annie was released from the hospital the next day and Joan graciously agreed to come take Auggie and Annie home. Auggie insisted on helping Annie into the car and sitting in the back seat with her. Annie didn't argue. She simply followed his lead. Joan had visited a couple times, but had found it difficult to see Annie so depressed. She seemed like a shell of her former self right now. There was no smile, no laugher-not even with Auggie. Joan wasn't sure how to talk to this Annie. She used text or pencil and paper to speak with her, but she couldn't seem to find the right words to say to her. More than anything, Joan wanted Annie to know that her days at the CIA were not over. That she would fight for her to keep some job there as soon as she was released from doctor's care. When she'd told Annie just that-tears had welled in Annie's eyes, but she did not give any other response.

In the rearview mirror, Joan looked at the couple. Auggie sat next to the window and Annie was leaning against his chest, presumably asleep. Her closed eyes and steady breathing could have been a rouse, but Joan knew the doctors had said she would be quite exhausted for several months to come. Auggie's eyes were closed as well as his head was laid against the back of the seat. His arm wrapped protectively around his girlfriend, Joan knew the two of them would have quite a challenge to face as Annie recovered.

The meningitis would still hold its grasp on Annie for at least six months. And since the deafness seemed permanent, the effects of the disease would be lifelong for her. Joan didn't want to think about the long process that Annie was about to endure, she had seen it from afar with Auggie, as he had went to live with his family in Illinois after his injury. With Annie, it seemed she would be right in Joan's backyard to recover. And just like with Auggie, there would be a permanent change in her as well. She couldn't imagine how her best linguist would get used to never hearing another spoken word.

Annie's language skills were her trademark. They were the reason she was recruited to the CIA. Of course, Joan would fight for her to stay on. Letting her superiors know that Annie was still invaluable, even just translating, decoding, and searching for patterns in any one of the eight languages she knew fluently. They all knew that just as Auggie had been benched from field operations, Annie would also be a hindrance in the field and would not be allowed on official operations outside of Langley.

Auggie sat in the back seat of the car as Joan drove and became lost in his thoughts. He could feel Annie next to him as she leaned against him in the car, but this wasn't the same Annie he'd met on her first day at the DPD. This Annie was very different, but he still loved her. He loved her with every fiber of his being. He'd fight to keep them together. No matter what, he still wanted her in his life. Joan seemed to understand his need to be with her. She had willingly accepted his plea to work from home on any cases that needed him until further notice. He already had any equipment he might need at home and if something special came up, he knew Barber or Hollman would help him out in any way they could. They loved Annie too, not in the same way Auggie did. But they'd be willing to help her or Auggie out in any way they possibly could. The entire DPD was devastated at the news of Annie's illness. Only Joan, Author, and Barber knew about the deafness right now. They wanted Annie to have time with it before letting everyone know. Barber had been sworn to secrecy, and surprisingly, so far he had kept his promise. Auggie secretly thought that Barber thought that if he didn't tell anyone that it somehow would stop being true.

"We're almost there." Joan told him quietly as she pulled onto the street where their apartment was.

"Thanks." He told her, knowing he wouldn't wake Annie as he spoke. "Would you mind helping me get our bags into the apartment?" Auggie asked, knowing full well he didn't even have to ask, but wanted to show that he didn't expect her help, but was grateful for it.

"Of course, Auggie. I'll stay for a little while to help get everything settled as well. I took the rest of the day off to make sure you guys have everything you need." Joan told him.

"Oh, thanks Joan. You didn't have to do that. Danielle will be over later to bring dinner. I think she's bringing dinner for the rest of the week-longer if I don't stop her. That woman is hard to say no to." Auggie said as he felt Annie stir in his arms and the car simultaneously stop.

Annie woke as the car stopped. She felt like she was waking from a fuzzy dream. Everything was incredibly peaceful and quiet. She raised her head and looked at Auggie. He looked tired, but then again, he always looked tired after a long day at the CIA. She felt like she'd just fallen asleep as she got back from an extended mission. As they sometimes took a car service instead of her car, when she woke up, nothing immediately felt different-until she spoke.

"Whoa." She said much more loudly than she would have if she could hear herself.

At that moment, she knew something was different-that they were not coming home from work. She knew she had just spoken. She had felt her mouth moving and felt the vibrations of her speech in her throat, but she heard nothing. As realization washed over her, she understood that she had not been dreaming. The last month had really happened. She had meningitis and it had left her completely and irreversibly deaf. To her own surprise, as well as Auggie's, she continued speaking after the first word.

"Oh. It wasn't a dream." She said after a long pause.

As Auggie turned his head in her direction and shook his head, she now remembered everything-the confusion, the exhaustion, the pain, the struggle-everything. She understood now what it was like to lose a sense. As she now looked at Auggie, she wondered if they could possibly make this work. She wanted to. If anything she needed to. She loved him more than life itself. But would it be fair for him to have to shoulder her burden with his own? Would he even want to? Were his actions now led by love or by pity? How could she ever know for sure?

As he brought her closer to him and kissed the top of her head, so enduringly, so simply, she knew, that no matter what-she wanted to give this all a try. She wanted to fight for them. She knew it would be difficult, probably the most difficult thing she could imagine right now, but he was worth it. They would figure it all out-together, as they always had.

Placing her hand in his and intertwining their fingers, she spoke again, this time being sure to enunciate each word clearly, but keeping her tone more normal than she had before. "I love you Auggie Anderson."