When It All Comes Crashing Down

Author's Note: Alright so to make up for the Auggie bashing in the last chapter, we get a little reward. Won't be posting for another few days, work and such. But I figure this will tide you all over for awhile until I can get back next week some time. Enjoy.

As usual, making no money off of any of this.

Chp 5

"Four hundred and twenty dollars!" Auggie said/shouted in Annie's general direction.

"Actually that was before I tipped the girls. More like five ten." Annie corrected.

"Ughhhh!" Auggie grumbled back.

"Keep complaining, do you have any idea what the going bail rate for treason is at the moment? Any way I'm the one who had to hang out in the same room as that viper."

"Viper huh?"

"Yeah you know deadly, poisonous, goes right for the death kill. Trust me buddy, leaving you alone in a room with her at this point would be bad for your health." Annie said as she took a sip out of her glass of wine.

"Trust me, no plans on that in the near future." Auggie sighed as he leaned back in the couch. "Well, did it work?"

"She trusts me."

"Glad to see you two bonded so well over your massages."

"Actually the good stuff wasn't until the enhancement facials. We spent the massages mostly bashing you." Annie said.

"Great. My dream come true. Two women in my life tearing me to pieces verbally while being rubbed down by Claude and Marcelle."

"Actually it was Tony and Troy but that's beside the point."

Auggie had to laugh at that one. His smiles had been few and far between since last night, but leave it to Annie to bring it back out in him. They had spent most of the night working up a plan. Finally Annie had passed out on the couch around 4 am, her head on Auggie's shoulder. He thought about picking her up and taking her to her bed, but being unfamiliar with the area, he was bound to do just as much damage as good. So instead, he tucked his arm around her shoulder and adjusted them both so he was laying on the couch with Annie laying half next to him, half on top. While Annie slept somewhat comfortably, Auggie spent the time thinking about what Liza had said that night.

When Auggie had said it was someone else, Liza had so easily believed it. She even mentioned things that Auggie himself had failed to notice. When he talked on the phone to Annie, he was completely focused on her, listening not just to what she was saying, but how she was saying it, any hidden meaning. And when he responded, it was always in a softer, friendlier tone then with anyone else. And the gravitating towards her. Any time he smelled that Jo Malone grapefruit and heard those heels, he was like a moth to a flame. He couldn't help himself.

He'd always written off as being part of his disability. He couldn't help but listen more closely, his ears were his biggest gateway into the world. And the voice, well, he couldn't see people's reactions so he had to be careful how he got his point across. He couldn't look someone in the eye and tell if they were offended. And it was always easier to orient himself in a room when he had a focal point, or someone to clear up the discrepancies in what he pictured in his head and what was really going on.

Then again, that didn't explain why it was always Annie. He didn't do that with Joan, and certainly not with Jai or any of the techies.

"Auggie," Annie whispered in a sleep ridden state. Auggie listened to her breathing, still slow and steady, so she hadn't woken up. Just talking in her sleep, about him.

"Auggie, no please don't go."

The heartbreak in Annie's voice was too much for Auggie. His best friend in the entire world, what would she do if he were behind bars.

"Shhh Annie," Auggie whispered as he kissed the top of her head softly. "I'm right here sweetie. I'm not going anywhere." In response, Annie shifted a little closer to Auggie, though he wasn't sure how that was possible, and sighed lightly. Auggie buried his face in her hair and attempted to sleep surrounded by the smell of grapefruit and the feeling of contentment that was emanating from the warm body next to him.

But sleep evaded Auggie even throughout the day while Annie was at the spa. He's stayed at the guesthouse for awhile. Danielle and Michael had taken the girls to upstate New York to visit Michael's parents, so he was free to hang around as long as he needed undetected. He'd walked around a few times, getting the lay of the land as best he could. Annie wasn't exactly the neatest person in the world, and the sand in the bedroom certainly had him thrown for a loop, though he would have to find a creative way to ask about that later. Couldn't have Annie know he was in her bedroom.

Around noon, he called his mom in Illinois. If this plan failed, he wanted to make sure he had said everything that needed to be said to his mom, she would pass the right messages along when it was time. Needless to say he had her a little thrown when he had made a point of saying I love you at least five times in the conversation. When he had hung up with her, he grabbed his walking stick and headed out the door. Damn it if he was going to spend what could possibly be his last 48 hours of freedom in a room, patiently waiting his fate. There was one thing he really wanted to do, in case this all ended badly.

Thankfully the third number pre programmed in his cell phone was a cab company he used frequently. The cab showed up about twenty minutes later and Auggie was out the door. He had his own mission in mind to complete.

So when Annie walked in the door of the guest house after her relaxing day at the spa with The Viper, she was taken a back to see the coffee table laid out with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, two plates with what looked to be some of the tastiest chicken alfredo she had ever seen, and a bottle of wine.

"Annie, have a nice relaxing day did we?" Auggie said as she took off her coat.

"Working mostly, but you know, found some time to enjoy myself. Auggie, this looks amazing." Annie said.

"Well, no matter how this turns out Annie, I wanted to say thank you."

"Auggie this is going to work. We're going to find the leak and this will all go away" Annie assured her best friend.

"Either way Annie, thank you, for everything. Now if you can help me find some wine glasses we can enjoy dinner. I was afraid if I went routing around in your sister's house I might break something. " Auggie said, leading her in the general direction of the door.

"Heck I'm surprised you managed to find the plates without breaking your leg on a Barbie doll." Annie said, taking his offered arm.

"I didn't. I bought new plates. Didn't want to risk it."

Annie had to laugh," I have to agree, you've risked enough these last few weeks. Come on Evil Kanevil, let's go adventuring." she said as she led him out of the guest house.

After finding the wine glasses, they came back and enjoyed a nice dinner. Which Annie figured was the perfect time to tell him how much their little operation had cost today.

"Well was it worth it at least?" Auggie asked.

"Well yeah I mean, I haven't felt this good in a long time, Troy's fingers were to die for."

"Not what I meant." he replied with a smirk.

"I know what you meant. And yes it was worth it. I'm meeting her tonight for drinks. We're BFFs." Annie said.

"BFFs?" Auggie questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"Best friend forever, gee Auggie, for a tech geek, you're a little slow on your acronyms." Annie said.

"No I'm not, just hurt. I thought I was your BFF?" Auggie punctuated the statement with a put so pathetic that is had Annie laughing so hard she choked on the wine she was attempting to drink.

"Whoa killer," Auggie said, reaching over to rub her back, "you ok there? Don't die on me. You're probably the only one who'd be willing to visit me in prison."

"i'm fine Auggie really, you are just in rare form tonight, I wasn't ready for it." Annie replied. "and anyway, if they were conjugal visits, I'm sure Bea and a few other ladies from the agencies would take the chance" Annie smiled.

Auggie smiled back, "Who says I'd want anyone but you".

Annie just stayed where she was. Auggie's comment had stopped her as her mind was coming up with a snappy comeback. He couldn't mean it that way. Not the way that was making her heart flutter and her face flush. In the way that she had always hoped Ben would say something to her when he showed up again. But Ben had shown up and gave her a job to do, a mission to accomplish and used her feelings for him to accomplish it. She didn't get that feeling from her conversation with Ben.

But she was feeling it now, with Auggie. That indescribable feeling that made you happy but wanting to throw up the same time. She was burning up but felt a cold chill run up her spine. At that moment, she was glad Auggie couldn't see the blush on her cheeks that she knew was there.

"Annie, sweetie, you ok?" Auggie reached out and traced the edge of Annie's face, pushing a few loose hairs away. For half a second, Annie thought about leaning in, about what it would be like to kiss Auggie. To feel his lips on hers, his hands in her hair.

Ok Annie, slow down here. It's your best friend. Too many inappropriate thoughts here.

"I, um, have to get a shower." Annie said, backing away slightly. "I'm meeting Liza at 8 for drinks."

"Ok" Auggie replied. "I'll clean up."

"No Auggie, its ok. You're liable to break your neck in there."

"Really Annie, I think I figured it out by now. You think it will be ok for me to crash on your couch. I don't really feel like going home."

"Sure, mi casa is su casa. I'll lay some things out you might need before I head out".

"Sounds perfect".

Annie got up and headed towards the bathroom to start a nice cold shower.

"