Was planning on working on the newest chapter of "Revenge Week", but plotbunnies. Btw Hatta, I don't know a legally SANE woman who dosn't like the idea of Auggie in a cowboy hat, but you have to share!

The Abyss

Annie walked into Allen's with Auggie in tow. She looked over to where Jai was playing darts and caught his eye, letting him know she was there. They had been dating for about 6 months and reached a plateau in there relationship. Nothing really big, they had just gotten comfortable with each other. Maybe to comfortable in Jai's case. Annie was planning on talking to him about it later that night.

She winced as she remembered the blind joke he had cracked at Auggie's expense. She was pretty sure that Jai believed that his position as her new boyfriend allowed him to make little slights against her best friend. She knew that it bothered Auggie, even though he never said it. He would never say anything about it, not wanting to put pressure on her relationship with Jai. Not that it mattered, because she was going to put a stop to it right then and there.

Once she and Auggie found their seats, she headed for the bar to order their drinks. Seeing Anderson alone, Jai decided to make his move. He finished his game, and sat down in the chair opposite Auggie's. "The crowd around the bar is three deep. It might be a while before Annie gets back. Actually, I'm kind of glad, because we really need to talk."

Auggie smiled at this. He had been waiting for the "talk" for over a week. Prince Wilcox had more patience than he originally thought. "Oh? What about?"

Jai took a deep breath. "I know that Annie is your friend and all, but I'v seen the way you look at her."

Auggie laughed aloud at this. "Another blind joke, Jai? Really?"

The sound of Auggie's laughter grated on Jai's ears. Who did he think he was? Laughing at him like that? "You know what I mean. Annie is mine, so just stay the hell away from her !"

Aiggie laughter stopped apruptly. Jai did not just say that. "Annie is not a piece of property, Jai. You, of all people should know that."

Jai balled up his fist, and was abut to take that damn smirk off of Auggie's face, when they were interrupted. "Hey, it's my two favorite men. Is it my birthday?" Annie slid Auggie's drink into his hands and put hers down so she could give Jai a kiss. "So, what are you two talking about?" She asked when they parted.

"Jai seems to think that I have a thing for you."

Annie shrugged this off and took a swallow of he drink. "To be honest, I'd be insulted if you didn't." Jai gritted his teeth at the joke. The sound didn't go unnoticed by Auggie. This was going to be fun.

"He also thinks that your his property. I was just trying to convince him otherwise."

Annie's face shifted. She couldn't believe that Jai had said something so hurtful. It was then that Jai realized that he was in trouble. "Excuse us for a moment, Auggie." She stood, and as she passed Auggie's seat, her grabbed her hand and squeezed. Using A-and-A shorthand, he was asking her if she would be ok. She responded by squeezing his hand back, she would be fine.

Annie and Jai walked to the back wall where they would not be disturbed. "Jai, what is the matter with you?"

"You really wan't to know? I'll tell you. Anderson is my problem. The way he is always touching you, your little inside jokes, the hugs, the little kisses. I never see one of you without the other, point is that I'm dating you, not you and HIM!"

Annie was shocked. This was not the way she had planned the conversation. "He's my best friend Jai! He was there for me when all you cared about was finding Ben! Did you ask how I was feeling after he died in my arms? No, but Auggie did! He cared for me then, he cares about me now!"

Jai was floored, and could think of only one thing to say, "You DO know that I could have any woman I wan't, right? I chose you, and you should be damn grateful for that."

Annie shook her head. Deep down she had always known something like this was bound to happen, especially with Jai. "I am not your property, Jai, and if you can't handle that, then your not the man I thought you were. Your worse. You are just like your father!"

With this, she turned and wove her way through the crowd back to their table where Auggie was waiting. Before she sat, however, she slid into his lap and kissed him full on the lips. Surprised, Auggie wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her back, hard.

Annie was surprised by the amount of emotion behind the kiss. Usually, he would wait till she was finished before laughing it off with her, but this time was different. It felt as though they were dancing on the edge of an abyss. As though one false move, and they would fall into it. For the first time, she wanted to fall.

His hands tightened about her and he twisted slightly so that his back was to the crowd and she was facing it. After about 30 seconds he broke the kiss. "So, whats going on?" He asked while Annie tried to catch her breath.

Annie took a moment, before glancing over his shoulder. "Jai is looking like he's contemplating the best way to murder you."

"I wasn't talking about him, troublemaker, I was talking about everybody else."

Annie flushed, and not from embarrassment. "Oh. Well, pretty much everybody is staring, and talking about us."

"Then lets give them something to really talk about."

She pressed a fingertip to his lips. "Wait. Are you sure about this Auggie? You know that once we go down this path, theres no going back."

He nipped her finger lightly. More like a gentle scrape of teeth, but it was enough to elicit a soft gasp from her. "Annie, I have never been more sure of anything in my life." he took her hand and brushed his lips across where he had bitten her, soothing it.

"Auggie, please, don't make me love you. Not after Ben. I fell for him, and once he died, It was you who helped me up. Please Auggie, Theres no one to help me up if it happens again." She felt her eyes tear up. "I can't fall by myself."

"Then lets fall together, Annie Angel."

He kissed her again, and with arms wrapped around each other, they both fell into the abyss, together.

Much longer than I planned, but as we all know, that is the way of the plotbunnies! I swear, once I check out one more story, I will work on it and hopefully publish it tomorrow!