My first shot at Covert Affairs post 4X10…

Consequences Part 1 of 2

Being demoted wasn't the worst thing in the world for Auggie, they shoved him in the basement with some fairly restrictive tech, but for the most part they left him alone. He tried to play the grieving boyfriend, which wasn't hard with the amount of fear and longing he held for Annie in her current state. He hoped he put on a good enough show for those that could cause her harm.

Most days were long and boring and all he wanted to do was put in his requisite 8 hours so he could go home and start his real job, bringing down Henry Wilcox. Wednesdays were special though, for the past 4 weeks Annie had made contact every Wednesday via their chat room protocol. He had gone so far as to restrict his liquid in take so he wouldn't have to pee, he didn't leave his computer until he heard from her. She varied the times either for unpredictability or time zones, he had no idea where she was and that drove him the most crazy.

"Hey boss," Barber knocked.

"Not your boss anymore," Auggie replied as he typed.

"Temporary at best," Barber guffawed.

"I don't know, I kind of like this 9-5 life I have now, I am really catching up on my beauty sleep," Auggie pasted on a fake grin.

"I wish that were true man. Wanna go grab lunch?" Barber stepped into the small windowless room.

"Sorry Eric, it may be grunt work, but I actually have a pretty significant deadline on this code," Auggie hated lying to Barber but there was no way in hell he was missing Annie.

"Tomorrow?" Auggie offered with a more genuine smile.

"Sure, just make sure you eat something, you look a little um, not well," Barber trailed off lamely.

"Really? Is that beauty sleep thing a myth?" he frowned.

Barber chuckled and retreated back upstairs. Auggie worked diligently for 2 more hours before the tinny voice of the screen reader announced her presence:

"Hey, Mingus?"

"Well hello there," he typed back.

"So glad I caught you," with a smiley face icon that was read to him.

"You caught me a long time ago," he added a winking icon for good measure.

"I thought of you last night."

"I think of you every night."

"Fair point, but I ran into our friends, the Quinns, remember them? They asked about you."

"How are they?"

"Good, just like the old days, nothing had changed. We drank too much but had a great chat."

"I miss them."

"They miss you too, I am going to meet up with them again tomorrow night. Gotta run, chat soon."

And she was gone. He read the time off his watch face, pulled up his email and put in a request for an emergency use of vacation time, sighting an ailing aunt in Illinois, he sent it to Calder. He powered down the computer and was gone before 4:00 pm.

He made it to the bank before it closed and made a significant cash withdrawal, he stopped home and threw a few things in a bag and proceeded to National Airport. In the cab he pulled up his IPad and looked at flights.

Using his credit card he bought a seat on the 7:00 pm to O'Hare and then grabbed some dinner. The first flight was smooth. He bought himself a Cubs hat in O'Hare and then proceeded to purchase a ticket to Barcelona via the red eye to Heathrow using cash.

He tried to lay low during what turned out to be a very long layover at Heathrow in case anyone at Langley was suspicious of his last minute departure, he trusted Calder now but only marginally. He was relieved when they called his flight to Barcelona.

It was 5:00 pm when he deplaned in Barcelona, he was stiff and tired, but he grabbed a coffee and stretched a little before finding a taxi to a familiar café.

***555***

Annie got the gig at the café easier than she expected. After hanging out there for a day she befriended a waitress who was clearly having boyfriend issues. Annie convinced her she should spend the night with him, she could take her shift if the manager agreed, a few batted eye lashes and spotless Spanish compliments later and Annie had a paid gig for the next night, the night she hoped she would see Auggie.

Although autumn had arrived and the daylight faded quickly it was still warm enough for outdoor dining and the café was hopping, Annie had to work for her tips tonight, but it was suddenly all worth it as she saw him sitting at the exact table they had sat at over a year ago. How did he manage to do that, the exact table?

"I'll be with right with you Sir," she said in Spanish and saw his smile of recognition.

"Take your time," he responded.

Annie deposited drinks on one table, cleared dessert dishes from another and settled a check before she got back to Auggie who was reclined in his chair, one long leg bent over the other, his cane folded up on the table in front of him.

Annie asked Auggie for his order, he told her to bring him the specialty of the house with a grin. She shook her head at him and went in to get him a beer and some food.

Auggie bided his time, had a couple beers, ate the delicious food Annie kept dropping off for him and listening to news on his phone, he looked like a tired tourist. Aside from a few appreciative glances from women, no one seemed to notice him there. Except Annie, she couldn't stop looking at him and she had to control her desire to just launch herself into his arms.

Near the end of her shift she came by his table again.

"Anything else Sir?"

"Just the check, thank you," he replied.

When she took the slip of paper from her apron she intentionally dropped it and kneeled down next to him.

"Two blocks West, small church, 30 minutes," she said in English and stood up smoothing down her skirt and taking the Euros he produced from his wallet.

"Keep the change," he smiled as she noticed the denomination of the note.

***555***

Auggie slipped into a pew in the church, it was cool inside and the lingering smell of incense was soothing. He listened closely and could not seem to identify anyone else in the sanctuary. Finally he heard the wooden door behind him snitch open and light footsteps approached.

She slipped into the pew next to him and took his hand, he squeezed it. They sat silently for a few moments as Annie got her bearings.

"I so hoped you would come," she whispered.

"I so hoped I was invited," he replied turning his lips towards her ear and placing a soft kiss at her temple.

TBC…