Chapter 17: Recovery

A/N: I do not own Covert Affairs.

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Joan stepped forward beside Auggie. "Doctor, did you just say twins?" she asked as she put her hand on Auggie's arm.

"Yes. Twins. We had to do an ultrasound after the surgery and we discovered that there was indeed two of them."

"Th-thank you, Dr. Smith." Auggie stammered. "Is she awake? Does she know? Can I see her yet?" His mind was reeling.

"Annie is awake and is in recovery. We have not told her yet. I thought you might like to do the honors. If you'd like I can take you to her..."

Auggie turned to Joan. "Are you staying? I know you have to be exhausted... and Mack and Arthur..."

"Are doing just fine without me. I want to see her before I leave but then I will give you some time with her. But, Auggie, you really should try to get some rest yourself."

He didn't respond, instead he turned back to the doctor. "Lead the way." He wrapped his hand around Joan's elbow and allowed her to lead him to Annie.

Annie had been told that she had collapsed and been brought to the hospital. Her heart had needed a valve replaced and a pacemaker, so they'd done surgery soon after her arrival. When she had asked about the baby, the nurse had smiled at her like she knew something Annie didn't and said, "Just fine, dear." Annie didn't like the thought that this nurse might be hiding something about her child from her.

I.V.'s were sticking out of both hands and those sticky things were on her chest, probably monitoring her heart. Even though she hadn't technically slept in over 24 hours, she felt wide awake. She wanted Auggie. She needed his presence. Vague memories came to her in flashes. Had she and Auggie really had sex on the floor of the office? Was that a dream? Oh god... was that where she had collapsed? Hearing footsteps coming towards her room, she turned her head just in time to see Auggie, Joan and Dr. Smith walk through her door.

"Auggie!" She exclaimed as she attempted to sit up in bed.

Auggie made his way to stand beside her. Feeling his way along the bed, he found her hand and grasped it. Feeling her and hearing her voice solidified the fact that she was really ok in his mind.

"I'll be back in a little while to check on you, Miss Walker." Dr. Smith said as he exited the room.

Joan came and stood along the opposite side of the bed from Auggie. "Annie, I'm glad you're alright."

Squeezing Auggie's hand tightly in her own, Annie faced her boss. "Thanks, Joan. Thanks for staying with him. I know you have your own family to take care of..."

"Which the two of you are part of. Don't forget that. I'm always here if you need me." She stared into Annie's eyes to make sure she understood. Annie nodded. "I just wanted to see you before I left. I'll leave you two alone now. Take care of them, Auggie." Joan came and placed a reassuring squeeze on Auggie's arm before she left the room.

Turning back to Auggie, Annie asked, "Auggie, what... happened? How did I get here? I have these flashes... Did we..."

Auggie couldn't suppress his grin. "Yeah, Walker, we did. Then you scared the shit out of me by passing out right after. I... called Joan for help getting you here."

Annie groaned. "Joan knows... what happened?"

"Well, I didn't tell her, and I did put your dress back on... but I think she suspects." He sat on the edge of the bed next to her.

Groaning again, "Did they tell you anything about the baby? It's really ok, right? The nurse I asked acted all weird..."

"Yeah..." Auggie didn't know how to tell her without just saying it and he didn't want to shock her too much.

Becoming instantly alert, Annie became more stern. "Auggie, what aren't you telling me?"

"Annie... They... they discovered something during your surgery..."

"What? Something's wrong with the baby isn't it? Tell me, Auggie!"

"No, nothing's wrong with the babies."

Annie sighed in relief. "Oh, thank goodness." Then, his words dawned on her. "Wait, did you just say 'babies'? As in plural?"

"Yeah, I did. We're having twins, Annie."

She reached up with her free hand and placed it on her stomach. Gulping, she said, "T-twins?"

"Uh-huh." Auggie nodded along with his response.

"Wow..." she said. "Twins. Well, I guess our little reunion went really well, huh?" she said, grinning.

"You're ok? You're not gonna start having another attack are you?"

Annie paused for a moment to assess herself. "No, I'm ok. Strangely peaceful, actually. I feel very calm." She looked at him and noticed one tear sliding down his cheek.

"Annie... I... I thought I was going to lose you. Both of you... Well, all three of you, come to find out. I was so scared. I just kept wondering if I hadn't pushed you into... doing that if you wouldn't have..."

Reaching up and placing a hand on his cheek she tried to comfort him, "You didn't push me into anything. I wanted it just as much as you did. And if it didn't happen then, it would have happened some other time. I'm fine, now. The doctor says I should make a full recovery and be able to go back to work in a week, as long as I heal as much as he wants me to before then. I'll be on heart meds for the rest of my life, but I shouldn't have attacks anymore."

"I just don't know what I would have done if..."

"Hush. I'm fine. We're fine." She took his hand and placed it over her belly. "Everything is fine."

Two days later, as Auggie was entering the hospital with a bag of Annie's things for her discharge, his phone rang and called out, 'Joan Campbell'. He stopped and answered, "Yes?"

"Auggie, we've had some news come in. There has been a confirmed sighting of Alexei Belenko in D.C.."

Auggie's body stiffened. "Ok, Joan. Thanks for letting me know."

"Auggie, I'm going to send some people to tail you and Annie. We don't know if he knows you're alive yet. And if he does, Annie may be a target."

"Yeah, ok Joan. I've gotta go. Annie's being discharged today."

"Ok, Auggie. Don't worry. We'll do everything we can on this end."

"I know, Joan." He hung up the phone and made his way to Annie's room as quickly as he could.