Auggie POV

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my sightless eyes. I had been thinking of this very question for almost a month now, and have yet to reach a conclusion.

"To be honest, Joan, I don't know. There's so much I like here but there's so much I left unfinished in DC and it's already catching up with me. Can I give you my answer in a week?"

"You're running out of time, Auggie, I'll let you have your week but this is purely out of professional courtesy, one that I am not likely to extend again. Good bye."

I listened to the dial tone for a few seconds before hanging up myself and stowing the phone underneath my pillow.

There's so much for you at Langley.

I choked out a wry chuckle, yeah, there definitely was a lot I had left unfinished back in Langley. For one thing, I wondered what it was that Annie was going to tell me the day I basically just gave her my 'vette and left. There was a part of me that still wondered if this was the right thing to do. I was content, yes, but I wasn't as happy as I was back in Langley.

So the choice is simple, yes?

No, I argued with myself, it is so far from simple.

On one hand, I had Eritrea and Parker, a girl that I could see myself settling down with and having a family with. On the other hand, I had Annie, the woman that I had believed to be so beyond my reach for months now, and scolded myself every time I thought about her in any romantic way. Those feelings, I kept locked up in a box, one labeled do no open.

What if you let those feelings out? What would happen then?

And that was the root of the problem. I couldn't; I had kept them locked up for so long that letting them out now was like letting down the last wall I had. I couldn't handle that type of hurt. It would hurt just as bad, if not more, than when I had that conversation with my doctor those four months ago, hearing him saying that I wasn't a qualified candidate for the stem cell research just about made me crack.

If Annie knew about how I felt and turned me away, I would be even more devastated. I ran a hand through my already tussled hair, my thoughts jumbling together.

Annie POV

"Target spotted," I murmured into my Bluetooth, hoping that Jai would be able to hear me.

"Turn up the charm, Walker," was his response.

I walked towards Shariff, a smile on my face. He looked up as I approached, giving me a polite smile and going back to his translations.

"Hi there," I leaned on the edge of his wooden desk, "can you help me out with some of these words? I'm kind of new here."

"Of course," he obliged, his accent immediately gave away that he was a native Farsi speaker. Perfect.

I lead him to my desk, away from the others.

"Remember, if you can't get him to talk or slip something, I'll be coming in myself and shake him out when everyone is asleep," Jai reminded me, his teeth gritted. I could tell that he didn't like being in this camp as much I did.

I pulled out the letter I had scribbled to him in Farsi, it read:

This is your only chance to tell me what your group is planning and what happened to Abdul, if you don't, there is a very large chance that the next time we meet, I will not be as polite.

I watched as his eyes scanned over the paper, narrowing when he read through it twice.

"What is this garbage," he hissed, "I know nothing of what you are speaking of."

I leaned in towards him, my eyes narrowed and I rose to my full height, towering over his short stature.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. So either start talking now or I assure you that you'll be sent on a one way flight to Gitmo."

"Who are you?" He asked instead, his eyes narrowed into cold slits.

"I'm the woman that controls where you spend the rest of your life right now. If you tell me what happened to Abdul and where he is, I will pretend that we never even had this conversation," I matched his cold, accusing tone.

He hesitated and that was the only confirmation I needed, plus the way his eyes darted around the room was a dead give away too; he felt trapped. Keep pushing, I told myself.

"This deal won't be offered to you again. When I find him, and trust me, I will, I'll make sure that when you arrive in your cell you will have both your legs broken," I threatened.

He took a slight step back, "You would not do this to me, you are a lady!"

I laughed, it sounded like a bark, "So? That isn't going to stop me. Now, I am going to ask you one more time, Shariff, where is Abdul?"

He swallowed, visibly paling, "Keep going east of here away from the camp for about twenty miles, when you hit the Red Sea banks, you should see a small hut. We were keeping him hostage hoping for a trade off; we did not harm him, I swear on it! We just needed more money."

"Who is this we?" I pressed on.

His face immediately hardened, slightly, "I cannot tell you that."

Before I could continue to press he added quickly, "Our numbers have grown over the past year, I do not know everyone."

"Annie, that's all we need. Stand down and give him the line that was protocol to close this up."

"Fine," I ground out, "if you tell anyone of this conversation then I promise you a team will be tracking you for the rest of your life. You'll have to go into hiding and be constantly on the move, so best to keep your mouth shut," I told him, closing everything up and giving him a bright smile, projecting my voice slightly.

"Thank you, I knew that I was reading it wrong, I really appreciate you help!"

With that said, I walked away from a stunned, son of a bitch. I walked out of the tent and ignored the sun's burning rays as they seemed to sear through my shirt.

Suddenly, a hand snaked out and grabbed my wrist, pulling me behind a tent. I immediately flew into attack mode, grabbing my opponent's wrist and twisting it behind his back.

"I surrender, don't kill me!" Said a sarcastic voice.

I looked up and was met with soft brown curls and immediately, I released my hold on his skin as if it were on fire. He, unfortunately, did not let go of mine.

"Annie, I told you that our conversation wasn't over. I've been looking for you everywhere, where have you been holed up in?" Auggie asked, a small smirk touching his lips.

I cleared my throat, "How did you know it was me?"

He shrugged, "You may be wearing different shoes, but your perfume is still there even if it is extremely slight. Now, I need to explain to you why I ran."

I shook my head, "You must've had a good reason, Auggie and I completely understand. But, why didn't you call at least . . . once?"

It was absolutely amazing how I could shake down a potential terrorist and not be able to face this man without my heart fluttering nervously in my chest and my voice cracking in the slightest way.

He sighed, "Annie, the day you got back from Stockholm, I got a phone call. I had recently been a candidate for stem cell research; it would've potentially given me my sight back. My doctor called and he said I wasn't eligible. That just about crushed me; I left on such short notice because to be honest, I didn't want to face all the disappointment I had left back in DC and all the regrets."

My breath got stuck in my throat, "Why didn't you tell me? I could've helped you."

He shook his head, "I couldn't let that much disappointment fall on you. It was my bullet to take and I took it like a man. I just . . . didn't realize how much I would miss you until you showed up. I guess it's true, the heart grows fonder with separation, or something like that."

The smirk was now a small smile that made my heart melt.

Cautiously, still unsure, I wrapped my arms around his neck, breathing in his comforting smell, "I missed you like hell, Auggie," I whispered in his ear.

I felt his arms wrap around my back, "I did too, Walker, I did too."

We pulled apart after a few seconds and I saw that small smile turn into a full blown grin. I loved that smile, I thought.

"So, how long are you staying?" He asked.

I hesitated, to be honest, I was pretty sure that I was leaving tonight.

"Not long, really. When are you coming back to Langley?" I asked, dreading and anticipating the answer.

I watched as his face darkened, "I don't really know if I'm coming back yet," he answered quietly.

Before I could even process what he said, he continued.

"I'm . . . happy here, Annie, there's no stress from the job, everyone is so open and nice, and I think Parker and I . . . could potentially have something. Hell, I wouldn't have flown half way across the world if we didn't, right?" he chuckled.

I didn't laugh back.

You knew that this was a major possibility, no, you knew that this was definitely the reason why he stayed in Eritrea. So why does it hurt so much when he says it out loud?

"Oh," was all I could managed, and my arms around his neck dropped and I took a small step back, "I see."

"No, Annie it's not that I won't visit, it's just . . . " his sentence trailed off.

It's just that I won't be there every morning to bring you coffee, it's just that I won't be the one talking you down from a panic attack when you have the possibility of dying, it's just that I won't be your best friend any more.

"It's ok, I understand. Well, I hope you have a nice life here, Auggie," I told him sincerely, he deserved happiness, even if it wasn't with me.

I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes and refused to make another sound until I felt like I had my voice under control.

"I'll miss you," I whispered.

"I'll miss you too."

With that, I walked away.

Jai POV

"I'm . . . happy here, Annie, there's no stress from the job, everyone is so open and nice, and I think Parker and I . . . could potentially have something. Hell, I wouldn't have flown half way across the world if we didn't, right?"

I felt my mouth drop open, despite the theories I already had of those two being together, having them realized was absolutely incomprehensible; after all those nights at Allen's and all those sparring sessions, I had expected Annie and Auggie to be together.

I listened for her reply, knowing that it was wrong and I should take off the headset, but I couldn't.

She didn't answer for the longest time and I wanted to smack Anderson for not realizing it.

"Oh, I see," her voice sounded way off. It was neutral and calm, but it didn't take a spy to figure out that she was extremely disappointed.

"No, Annie, it's not that I won't visit it's just . . . "

Just what? You're just going to not come back for at least a two years after you realize that you don't love her? That what you have with Parker is absolutely nothing compared to what you have with Annie? I mean Jesus, the whole DPD had been placing bets on when you guys would get together!

I couldn't take it anymore and shook my headphones off, sighing, I threw them on my bed. Who knew someone so intuitive could be so damn blind.

I began to pack, we were both leaving tonight, even if I have to drag her by her hair with me.