A/N - In reply to the reviews – yes Auggie steps through the curtain in this story. This is somewhat of a filler chapter but I felt like there needed to be an explanation for Auggie's decision. The next chapter will be from his POV ;)

Disclaimer: Covert Affairs is not mine. But dreams are free.

Chapter 2

"Auggie told you." It was a statement. Gentle, warm, but unyielding as it hit Annie in the chest, pulling her back to the present reason for her distress.

"Yes. I'll be fine, it was just a bit of a shock." Annie sat with her elbows resting on the knees of her expensive power suit, shoulders hunched as she stared out at the city, eyes rimmed red from crying.

"You know Annie, the move to overt status is something which most operatives have to face at some point in their lives. Auggie is perfect for the position even though he's still quite young. I know it might not make much sense to you that we're splitting you up as a team. You both work together exceptionally well, but the truth is Auggie has never been truly happy since we pulled him off the field. He hates being in the background watching other people act as he plays a supporting role. We felt that a role in the spotlight would give him more of a sense of peace and purpose."

Annie understood what Joan was saying. It was selfish for her to want to hold him back purely because she needed him in her life. But she had spent her life 'understanding' why people had to leave her. She had understood when her dad had left her for 2 years without a single visit because 'his country needed him.' She had understood when she had been sent to boarding school at age 12 because it was considered less of a risk for her parents to travel without her and her sister. She had been torn away from everything familiar and everyone she loved but she would have been in the way if she stayed with her parents.

All of her life had been spent suppressing her own needs to allow other people to do what they needed. But now she was sick of losing people and just this one time she wanted to fight to keep someone in her life. Auggie had had a choice. And he still chose to leave her. He chose work over his best friend. But she couldn't say all this to Joan. She was her boss. Annie took a deep calming breath before replying.

"I understand that it's a huge promotion for him. I just thought that he wanted to get back out on the field. I didn't expect to lose him this soon. He's the one person I know is always on my side when I'm out on the field." Joan looked at her in understanding. Auggie and Annie were close friends. That was how she and Arthur had started out. She knew what it was like to be separated from the one person you could always rely on by a government order. It had happened to her when Arthur had been sent out on a deep cover mission for 2 years. She hadn't known whether he was alive, in prison, or in love with someone else. It had been torture. She realized that Annie would struggle with Auggie's promotion for quite some time.

"Annie. I know you and Auggie are close so let me try to explain why we're making this change. Auggie has started taking unnecessary risks in an attempt to prove that he is able to get back on the field, but the reality is that it is no longer an option for him and he needs to come to terms with that. It's dangerous enough for a fully capable agent to be sent out - we can't guarantee anyone's safety no matter how hard we try. So to send out a blind operative is reckless and irresponsible." Annie glared at Joan. She wanted to protest that Auggie was probably safer than most of their other operatives. That he was the most capable person she knew. That he deserved a chance to go back on the field. Joan met her glare and continued as if she had read Annie's mind,

"I am aware there are some situations where he is highly capable, but Auggie has specialized skills that are most useful to us within the agency. Not to mention that we'd like to keep him alive, apparently against his wishes at times given his recent actions. Although he has had a lot to overcome with his disability, he still thinks he is invincible and that is what concerns us. Both Arthur and I have discussed this decision with him at length and it isn't something he's jumping into without thinking, it's been on the cards for a while." Annie looked down at the ground as Joan resumed talking.

"I know this is hard for you. He's your support person and I know what it's like to feel like the carpet is being pulled out from underneath you. We kept him in place for you as long as we could to get you settled into the CIA but we feel that you're ready to stand on your own two feet now. We will have someone to replace Auggie as your handler, and don't worry - Auggie has been putting the applicants through hell in the interviews. It will be someone amazing at what they do, and you will be safe. The CIA takes care of its operatives." Joan spoke comfortingly, addressing each of Annie's fears and letting her know she had been heard. For now that was all Annie needed, although she hadn't expected to find her normally distant and detached boss so understanding. Clearly Joan had reasons for the Ice Queen facade.

"Will I still be able to see him?" Annie looked up at Joan afraid to hope but part of her couldn't help it.

"Definitely within the walls of Langley. And we are the CIA, covert missions are our specialty remember. We can find ways for you and Auggie to spend time together, it just won't be openly." Joan smiled at Annie, making an unspoken agreement to do everything she could to make sure her and Auggie would be able to stay in contact.