Yes, I know, finally! It took quite a while for the bunnies to decide this one. They were busy telling me about the next story.

Considering this was supposed to be a two or three shot, I am not sure how I lost control to the bunnies.

DISCLAIMER: Owning only fevered and twisted imagination here.

PHOTOGRAPHS AND MEMORIES Chapter 6

"Annie, I am sitting down the block from your house. I was about to come up your driveway when my driver, Stan, described a very beautiful, very blonde woman who looked like she came from a magazine ad for scotch at your door. I assume that was Joan?"

Why did he even phrase things as questions? Even blind the man knew it all. It was infuriating and cute all at once.

"Yeah."

"I have a horrible suspicion on how this conversation went. And I have an even worse suspicion on how it was received. I am probably living dangerously, but I am coming to your door. Stan says there are no bikes in your driveway to trip over, so I will meet you at your door"

He hung up before she could really answer. Yeah, right now it was infuriating. She could just meet him at the door and turn him away. But somehow, she knew she wouldn't. Before Joan showed up, she was going to see him. Still, the knock on the door still startled her.

He was trying to look confident; she could read him better than that. His shoulders were thrown back a bit and his fist around his cane was a little too tight. She smiled. Somehow his nerves calmed hers. Considering he was wearing a very tight black t-shirt and jeans, she had something to smile about.

"Come in."

He had been there before and was able to navigate to her sofa. Just cocking his head and folding the cane told her they were going to sit and talk.

"Sofa right behind you. Sit. I think I need to tell you…"

"No, Annie, I think I need to go first this time."

She took in a long deep breath. Annie had a feeling this was going to be a very important conversation or the worst one in her life.

"Go ahead."

"Before I say anything else, last night was, well I don't think it was a mistake. I feel like you and me, we have been headed toward this for a long time. We have been friends, really good friends. I know I want it to go to the next level. Annie, when Joan called this morning, I panicked."

"You panicked?"

Running a hand through his hair and over his face he winced. It did sound a little lame. From any man it would be dumb. From a trained operative, it was beyond moronic.

"Maybe panicked isn't the right word exactly."

"No, I think that's about right. Do you want to share with the class why?"

The hands that gripped his now folded cane just got whiter around it. For a man who could process as fast as she knew he could, he wasn't sounding too bright. Annie hoped that was a good thing.

"I wanted last night and us to be about that, just us. The hard reality here is that our job rules every aspect of our lives. Who we know, how we drive, who we lo…. Well, our relationships. Last night we weren't operatives. We were just us, Annie and Auggie. And it was incredible."

"Yes, it was."

Her voice was a little softer. She wasn't tossing him out yet. He could still pull this one out. He reached his hand for her. Annie hesitated and gave him her hand. He couldn't see her to read her reactions. It seemed only fair to give him that.

"Annie, the last woman I got really involved with led to me going to Iraq when it went wrong at work. "

"You really think it will go wrong?"

"No! I just, I just, hell Annie, I wanted us to be us. I wanted us to figure out what it all meant and how we felt and what we wanted before I had to read in Joan or anyone else. I wanted to be a real and normal couple for a little bit. OK?"

"Ok, but that reading in Joan? Too late."

"Oh crap. How bad was it? You know what? I don't even want to know right now. Right now, I want to talk to you, Annie about us, just us."

His hand began to slowly caress the smaller one he held. Those lazy circles he traced with his very talented fingers were making her palm and other interesting areas tingle. He had a half smile on his face. His head was tilted as if asking a question. She leaned toward him without even realizing it to answer.

Just before her lips touched his, she murmured, "Us, just us? I think I like the sound of that"

He pulled her off balance into his arms and kissed her hard and deep. No one and nothing else was coming between them and this moment. She allowed herself to be pulled back into those arms.

She was sprawled against him. Even at that awkward angle, she felt wonderful. His kiss was commanding and she let him take the lead. Oh, even in a few hours, how could she have forgotten how delicious he tasted? And as his hand began to slowly slide under her T-Shirt, she was glad she hadn't gotten a chance to change into more dressy clothing. Suddenly, he pulled back, leaving her gasping.

"Annie. I want you. I want all of you. This, us, last night feels like a natural extension of us. But how do you feel?"

Part of him was smacking down his brain for stopping. Auggie knew when he had a woman where he wanted her. But this wasn't any woman. This had to be right. He could hear her pulling air into her lungs in short gasps. She was affected by his kisses. Good. But then she pulled herself upright out of his arms. Bad. He heard her take a long deep breath as if preparing herself for something. Oh. Very bad. His brain received another smack down.

"Annie?"

Annie looked at him breathing hard too, waiting for her to answer. She hadn't seen him this vulnerable before. Those eyes reflected all his nerves. She wasn't sure if it was sweet or a little scary. She stood up and began pacing.

"Give me a second. You can't kiss the air out of my lungs and then want conversation."

"And yet, you manage."

There. There it was. That brief, slightly sardonic sense of humor that had been her anchor since she got to the Agency. Lover Auggie and her best friend were there together. Maybe she needed to remember that.

"Har har. I guess I panicked a little too. You're right. Last night was….well, do I have to say it?"

Auggie began to relax ever so slightly. He could hear her tone. She was nervous, but not mad. This was good. The wedgie his brain was receiving was halted.

"Considering you can say it in several languages, yes. A man likes to hear it, especially when he can't see it."

At that moment, they both knew. Both were smiling although Annie was the only one who could see that. Auggie was guessing, correctly, of course.

"Ego, much? Ok, the earth moved."

"Several times."

"Stop it! Seriously Auggie. We're both on the same page about last night. It's this morning we need to discuss."

His face sobered and he sat up. The beat down, wedgie and swirlies on his brain continued. This may be bad after all. Damn.

"We both freaked a little. Last night felt….well, I think you were right, it was a natural extension of us. Then our real world, which is its own microcosm invaded. You were denying what we did and talking in Agency-speak. I get it. I do. And if I hadn't Joan made sure I did."

"Joan. I can imagine."

"Not unless you can imagine the 'don't break his heart speech' laced with the explanation of how much more the Agency values him."

"What?"

"Yeah. Apparently, I am very nice, but pretty replaceable. And considering how far off the rails you went for Natasha, both times, they worry when you get too involved. I think they like the 'James Bond model of love and leave them' Auggie better. Nice, huh?"

"The Agency weighs and measures every thing and every one. But that's not how I see you."

"Auggie, I spent the night with my best friend. It was perfect. It will be even better without tequila. But this morning, he denied it to our boss, who came over and told me to be careful not to hurt him because, well, they are the CIA. I am a little shaky, ok?

He stood and held out his hand. He said nothing but just stood there, waiting for her. His brain and heart and libido were all working in harmony at that moment. She had just talked about making love sober. Clearly, she meant for it to happen again. That was good.

"Annie?"

It was the same tone of voice he used last night when they were first wrapped around each other. Slightly husky, unsure, and sounding as if his whole world depended on the answer. There really was only one answer. She stepped into his arms.

They stood just like that, not kissing, but just holding onto each other, drawing strength and comfort from the other. Her head just reached under his chin and it occurred to him how well they fit together.

"Listen to me, Annie. Don't worry about Joan or the Agency. What do you want?"

She pulled away slightly to look at him. She wanted to remember his face when she said this.

"You. I want you. I want us."

The smile on his face was pure joy. She only wished she had a camera to capture it for years to come.

Yeah, I am leaving it there. This is only T rated. The next story is fermenting and should be longer. What do we think?

By the way, apparently Jai gets shirtless in the fall season opener. I saw photo online. Very very nice!

Reviews and chocolate feed the bunnies people!