Chapter 9: Lost...

A/N: I do not own Covert Affairs or anything affiliated with it.

THANK YOU to everyone who has written me a review so far! They are all wonderful! Keep them coming!

"JOAN! You're not listening to me! They fucking have Auggie!" Annie was screaming into her cellphone. She was still collapsed against the side of her crippled car, nearing tears of frustration and fear.

"Annie, calm down. We'll find him. Right now we need to get you out of there. We've got your position. A team can be there in thirty to escort you out of the country..."

Annie cut her off, "Joan, if you think I'm going to leave here with him in hands of... of we don't even know who! Then you're in for a big fucking surprise."

Joan sighed and nodded. She realized Annie couldn't see her and said, "Alright, Annie. The team will come, but only to assist you with the search and rescue."

Collapsing her head against her chest, Annie spoke softly, "Joan, I promised you I wouldn't lie so... I had an attack. I had to use my emergency injection. It was the only one I had because this was only supposed to be a low profile, few day mission and I haven't needed it in months!"

"Ok, Annie. I'll make sure to get you some more. Are you ok?"

"Yeah, yeah, physically I'll be fine. You got the plates I read off right?"

"Yeah, Annie we're on it."

"Just help me find him, Joan. Please?"

Joan had never heard Annie be so docile and ask for help with such need in her voice. It nearly made her want to go to Columbia just so she could wrap her arms around her and comfort her. Annie had always been like somewhat of a progeny and a daughter to Joan. She was protective. "We will, Annie. I promise. Barber is already tracking his cell's last known, ok?"

"Ok." Annie ended the call and slowly climbed up and into the car. Better to have some cover rather than none at all. She opened the glove box and pulled out the gun she had there. Pulling out the clip to make sure it was loaded and clicking it back into place made her feel some semblance of safety.

Just as she had promised, Joan's team was coming to the rescue less than thirty minutes later. Annie climbed into the van and asked for an update. "His phone's last known is about 13 miles from here. The signal cut off about 15 minutes ago. They must have finally remembered we could track it."

"Damnit. Get me Barber on the line. NOW!"

"Yes, ma'am." the guy said to her, fearfully. A minute later, Barber was giving Annie all the information he had currently.

"Looks like the signal cut off at another warehouse, Annie. But from there they could have taken him anywhere. Theoretically, they could already be out of the country depending on what resources they have."

"Ok, Barber. Thanks. Keep me updated, ok?"

"Of course, Annie." He paused for a moment before speaking again. "Hey, you found him once, ya know? You'll find him again."

"Yeah, thanks Barber." Annie hung up the phone and waited for them to reach the second warehouse so they could scour it for Auggie, and if Auggie wasn't there, for clues.

The second warehouse looked much like the first, abandoned, old, decrepit. The team did a sweep without Annie, much to her chagrin, before announcing that Auggie wasn't there.

Annie climbed out of the van and started looking around. There had to be something here that would lead her to Auggie. She saw two sets of tire tracks. One had probably belonged to the car she had seen speeding away, the other to the new car he was probably now in. She told one of the men to follow the tracks as far as he could and report back.

Inside, she searched again. She doubted he had even been inside but she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she missed something because of arrogance. Searching, she finally spotted one thing out of the ordinary. Auggie's cane was shoved between some boxes. Quickly, she snatched it up and looked at it. She pulled apart each section looking for... she didn't know what. But then, she found something. A wire. A tiny wire was attached to the cord that held the cane together.

Auggie, you fucking genius, I love you! Annie thought to herself as she pulled the wire out and examined it. It looked to be part of a tracking device but she couldn't be sure. She ran back to the van as quickly as she could and dialed Barber on the laptop.

"Annie, I don't have anything new yet..." he had begun but she cut him off.

"Barber, I found this in Auggie's cane at the second warehouse. Is it some kind of tracking device?" She held up the wire for him to see.

"Yeah, yeah it is! Or, part of one anyway. It's missing the GPS part."

"If he has it, can we find him?"

"Yeah, maybe. But I'd have to have that piece to track the other. Have one of the guys get it to me on our standby charter, would you? It should be here in a few hours if you do."

"Yeah, yeah, of course. Barber, thanks!" She closed the laptop and ordered one of the men to get the wire to the plane as quickly as possible. Just then, her phone rang.

"Yeah, Joan?" Annie answered.

"Annie, you need to go back to the hotel and get some rest. Barber told me we won't know anything for a few hours and you won't do him any good if you collapse again. I'll have a couple of the guys stay with you to make sure they don't try to come after you, too."

Annie sighed. She knew Joan was right, even though she hated to admit it. "Yeah, Joan, ok."

Minutes later, Annie was walking back into the hotel room she and Auggie had been sharing for weeks now. Everywhere she looked she saw remnants of him. She decided she needed a shower to clear her head and get the grim off.

As she entered the bathroom she saw the box sitting in the corner of the counter she and Auggie had designated as 'hers'. She had completely forgotten about it with everything that had happened. Annie sighed and picked it up. Well, I have to do it. No better time than right now... she thought, sarcastically.

After she had showered, Annie again picked up the box and read the instructions. Following them to the letter, she waited. She looked down at the stick she held in her hand and compared the results to the box. Well, Auggie, she thought, when I find you, I guess I'm gonna have to tell you you're going to be a father...

Annie collapsed onto the bathroom floor and started crying.