Never for acclaim, always for country.

It had been a whirlwind of a return: first, Bluebonnet and all that had entailed. Then, seeing Eyal again, and all that had entailed. Getting in on the mission with Mossad, finding out about the watch they were after and figuring out how best to break into the bank...

Annie was surprised that her body and mind hadn't simply given up. Given out. Dropped onto the floor and said, 'No more, we're done'.

Instead, she found herself at eleven o'clock at night, writing the same name over and over again on a pad of paper, trying to perfect the signature of the Mossad asset that would get her into the bank vault. There was only one way to do it - this way - and only one chance to get it right. It didn't matter that her eyes were swimming or that her entire body was aching; this needed to be done, and done right. What was sleep anymore?

Setting the pen down, she rubbed her fingertips over her eyes and sighed. Another thirty minutes, then she'd go home.

"Omaha" was a no-go.

Annie and Auggie had called Arthur Campbell at three o'clock in the morning after they'd sifted through Jai's safe house as much as they'd dared. Once Arthur had called them both in at six, Annie was forced to account for her actions over the last three months -- and in that moment, she realized that the paperwork she'd dropped off the night before regarding Derek was going to be lost somewhere in the shuffle of bureaucracy. As long as Simon Fischer was out there, she was going to be forced to deal with him and everything she'd brought down on herself in the process.

"The relationship has become... close," she hedged. As close as she could get without compromising her relationship with Derek, though she'd have crossed the line if it had become necessary. Lena had made it clear that sometimes things were necessary in the pursuit of the job. Thankfully, she hadn't needed to cross that line quite yet. Just come far too close.

"How close?"

When Annie looked down at the floor, she made a face and then took a deep breath. "I think he's in love with me."

The looks on the faces of her bosses made the butterflies in her stomach fall into a deep pit. "How can you be certain that his feelings for you are genuine."

"He killed his handler for me," Annie said, sure in that one answer.

The rest of the day went by fairly quickly and somewhere between the showdown at the motel with the man who'd blown Jai skyhigh and the race back to Langley to talk to Lena, she'd called Derek to let him know that she wasn't going to be able to make it to dinner at his house that night. No, she told his answering machine, she wasn't going to Omaha, but she needed to prep an exhibit at the Museum and it needed her full attention for the next couple of days.

It wasn't the truth, of course, but since he was in the know, she knew he'd get the point: there was something happening, something serious, and she couldn't talk about it. Not right then, especially over the phone.

As she walked back into her house, Annie got a phone call from Auggie, informing her that something was wrong at the office. That officers were going through her desk and she was needed back at the Agency right away. In that moment, she saw Simon in her kitchen - saw her opportunity to redeem herself - and she told Auggie she'd get back to him.

With the footage of the mall shooting all over the news - and goodness, she hoped the FBI didn't scrutinize that too closely - Annie needed to bring Simon in. When he started talking about running away, she agreed long enough to step outside and call Auggie again. Yes, she told him. I'm coming in.

Telling Simon, seeing that heartbroken look on his face, hurt. Even though her feelings hadn't developed into love, she'd come to care for the man who'd saved her life when he hadn't had to. That he'd known who and what she was the whole time only served to prove to her that he wasn't the bad man that everyone seemed to think he was. Somewhere in there, she knew, he was trying to do the right thing.

The hard shove took her off guard and as she hit the island, the shots that took Simon down made her gasp only a half-second before two bullets entered her chest.

As she hit the ground, she caught sight of Lena Smith before her eyes closed... her last thought was that she was glad she'd filed that paperwork. At least Derek wouldn't get some bullshit excuse. At least he'd know.

Her first day back.

Annie knew that she shouldn't have been self-conscious, but she was. Hyper-aware that she was going to be on display for everyone to see, she'd dressed in her best, but left all her jewelry at home save for her plain gold wedding band.

Clay had offered to carpool, and she'd taken him up on the offer. The second set of keys to the Aston Martin were in her purse, just in case. If necessary, he could get a ride home from his security detail, he'd told her, and she was grateful that he'd thought that far enough in advance for her.
( Read more... )

After two years at the Agency, Annie's job hadn't gotten any better (or worse). Sure, it had it's downsides - namely, being shot at (or being shot), but the biggest one had to be the Agency parking lot.

She could never, ever find a parking spot.

Of course, the morning that she'd gotten up early and proceeded to spill coffee on her first outfit, had to jump start her car and then fill a tire with air? She managed to get behind the chatty son-of-a-bitch in the compensation car at the guard shack. She sat there, plotting the ways to key his car without actually getting caught and then he'd moved on.

Smiling at the guys in the shack, she showed her ID, waited until they'd looked under her cars with mirrors, and then picked up the pace on the way to the agent parking lot.

It just wasn't her morning.

The short cut she took through the visitor lot took her right past the spots in front for all the diplomats and the Agency hotshots. She didn't see Mr. Compensation trying to adjust his parking until she'd plowed into his rear bumper.

TO: [REDACTED], [REDACTED]
FROM: Annie Walker, CIA
RE: AGENCY GUIDE TO FIREFIGHT
CC: [REDACTED]

1. Bring a gun. Preferably, bring at least two guns. Bring all of your friends who have guns.
2. Anything worth shooting is worth shooting twice. Ammo is cheap. Life is pricey.
3. Only hits count. The only thing worse than a miss is a slow miss.
4. If your shooting stance is good, you’re probably not moving fast enough nor using cover correctly.
5. Move away from your attacker. Distance is your friend. Lateral and diagonal movement are preferred.
( Read more... )

Apparently, wearing her very expensive diamonds (the ones that made her sparkle from the other side of the room) to work really only tipped people off about the kind of morning she'd had, especially since she'd arrived an hour late.

Joan called her into the office as soon as she arrived and told her that she understood how difficult it was to come off a honeymoon schedule, but in the future, please try harder to make the effort to be on time. Annie had taken the hint and left the office with a smile still on her face. To make up for being late, she only took half her coffee break and she took it a half hour late, which meant that she missed seeing Clay. It was probably a good thing, since she'd likely have just gotten distracted again.

The barista had told her that her coffee had been paid for, so she tipped the woman her five dollar bill and went back to her desk. The afternoon was spent in a short meeting, then with more newspapers and online articles looking for actionable material.

When it came time to go home, she lifted her coat and purse, then headed for the elevator. He'd promised that he was going to cook and they'd carpooled, so she couldn't go anywhere without him.

She had a good feeling that he was upstairs in his office still.

The previous night had been a very intense, very long event.

His financial situation had been the involved and intense discussion, while Annie's had been, 'I still owe four thousand on my Audi', and she still wasn't entirely sure why he'd wanted to have such a thorough discussion about their money, other than that he wanted to marry her 'someday', but now that they were back together, Annie knew that there were other things they ought to discuss.

As usual, dinner was taken out, this time at her favorite Italian place not far from the Agency. He was talking, and she was listening... kind of. Really, she was thinking about the reasons they'd broken up, and the things that had taken place after. Not as concerned with the bread basket as he was, Annie stared at her glass before she finally picked it up.

Sipping at her wine, aware that he was still talking, she interrupted with, "Do you think I'm a slut?"

Annie had told Danielle that she was exhausted, but that was so much of an understatement that it was ridiculous. After making sure that her older sister had put the good coffee on the menu, Annie hauled her suitcase off to the guesthouse with as much nonchalance as she could muster.

After she'd made sure that her classified paperwork was put away where it was supposed to be, she came very close to laying down on the window seat and falling asleep there. It took way too much effort than it should have to make it into the shower and actually scrub her body down.

There is nothing better than your own shower after an op like that, was the thought that she managed after, as she changed into the usual post-mission bedtime wear of Harvard t-shirt and shorts. When the knock came, she thought it was Danielle, reminding her about something else that had happened while she was gone.

Opening the door with a groan, she said, "This couldn't have waited until morn..." Her voice trailed off when she saw her visitor, "ing?"

The sun woke her up a good fifteen minutes before her alarm went off. That was her story and she was sticking to it. It was more true that she'd needed the sleeping pill that Danielle had slipped her once she'd snuck back in from her midnight blindfold visit to Webb, but it wasn't true that it had worked as well as it could have. She didn't wake up tired or even stressed, but calm. Married. Today was the day that she'd dreamed of off and on over the last six years, while at the same time wondering where it had all gone wrong. Today, she was marrying the man of her dreams -- and really, how many women got to say that?

Once the moment of introspection was done, she turned on her side, excited. Wrapping an arm around Danielle's waist, she squeezed lightly until she felt her sister hug her arm.

"I'm getting married today," she said quietly and felt her sister nod.

"I know. I've been helping you plan for a few months. I've been cooking for a day and a half," came the sleepy reply. Annie grinned even bigger.

"Come on, get up. I want to grab an apple and a granola bar before everyone in the house gets up. Twenty-seven bedrooms of people looking for breakfast is going to be unholy."

Danielle rolled onto her back and Annie got out of the way, propping herself up on her elbow to look at her sister. "This is why we gave everyone baskets of fruit and stuff like that in their rooms last night. No one has any reason to be out wandering around that kitchen. In fact, they need to be out of it. With the caterers coming in to help in--" Danielle leaned back to look at the clock, "-- a half hour, you need to get in the shower so you can dry your hair and get started. The guys are all cooped up so we can at least wander freely."

Annie nodded. Everything was set in terms of the people they'd hired to set up and serve at both receptions, not to mention the set up on the large lawn for all the guests. There were so many people in the house that she had tasked her nieces with cameras that she could filter later. While a lot of the guests had covers that couldn't be compromised and many others were people that lived for publicity, they'd had to find a delicate balance with a photographer: all proofs, negatives and cards surrendered after the wedding itself. Photographs would be developed by the happy couple and the photographer could charge the same price as usual.

After Danielle was dressed and had left the room to go check on final arrangements and to make sure the lawn was perfect before coming back with Chloe and Katia.

"Everything is going to be set. The rest of the lunch is going to be ready as the ceremony is done, the tables are all set up on the opposite side of the house and the aisle and arch look amazing. Annie, it's all perfect." Danielle looked so pleased with herself that Annie felt tears well up and her sister panicked. "No. Stop that, don't you dare. Actually, no. Do it now before your makeup is on. Do you need a Xanax?"

Annie laughed. "No, I'm fine. Come on, get dressed. Girls? Start with your hair, so you can step into your dresses. Katia, once you're done, please go and get the box of flowers downstairs? It's the one hidden especially for us."

It was makeup first for Annie so she didn't muss her dress, and then her hair. It didn't take long, thankfully, and then she stepped into her dress. It wasn't until she pulled out her wedding gift from Webb that Danielle's eyes widened and Annie actually blushed. "I know. It matches a necklace he gave me years ago. It's in the box there--" After Danielle fastened it, Annie looked at herself and nodded. "I think he'll like it, don't you?"

Danielle just nodded. There was a knock on the door and Danielle went to open it -- Auggie.

"I assume I'm allowed in since I can't actually see the bride?" Annie laughed.

"Come in. Are you ready?" She looked him over. "Because I don't know who dressed you this morning, but you look amazing." Stepping forward, she gave him a hug.

"Are you insinuating that I can't dress myself on a normal day?" Auggie kissed her cheek and ran his hand over her waist. "This is beautiful, isn't it?"

"It's okay," she answered with a smile. "So far, we've decided he'll like it."

"He's never just liked you in anything," Auggie countered, the look on his face saying it all and Annie blushed again. "Now, are you ready to get this show on the road? From what I've heard, the guests are almost all seated and the groom and his men were headed up the aisle in the next couple of minutes."

Sure enough, Annie could hear music playing. "That's our cue, isn't it?"

Opening the box Katia had brought up, Danielle handed both girls small versions of Annie's bouquet, while keeping a medium sized one for herself. It was at that point that Annie thought she might need to take a breath and it was then that Auggie's voice in her ear did the job it always did: calm her down.

"You can do this. Think of it as the op of a lifetime."

Annie smiled at him and turned her head to kiss his cheek. "What would I do without you?"

He shrugged bashfully and smiled in her direction. "Run away from the happiest you've ever been?"

Annie laughed. "Never again."

The entire bridal party headed toward the double doors at the back and waited for the signal that it was time to exit the house. The backyard had been decorated stunningly, with white rose petals lining the grassy aisle. The President had arrived an hour earlier, and important people were scattered throughout the seats. Annie didn't care about any of it. Once the music started, she only had eyes for Clay.

Holding onto Auggie's arm, she walked slowly down the aisle in the blue shoes he'd bought her for this particular occasion, her eyes focused on his. No, she wasn't going to cry, she was entirely too happy. Her life was perfect.

The following morning, Annie woke up when her phone went off and wasn't surprised to see Webb already gone from their bed. She gave a smile to the sun streaming through the open window and stretched.

Getting out of bed, she bent down to lift her shirt from the floor and pulled it on, then found a pair of cotton shorts in the dresser that were appropriate for breakfast. It was going to be the last time that she would be allowed to leave the bedroom even remotely half-dressed considering that they were going to be filling almost every bedroom in the place in the days to come. The thought both thrilled her and made her nervous, but as she pulled her hair up into a ponytail as she walked into the kitchen, she didn't feel any kind of stress.

It was then she remembered that Webb had said that he wanted to meet on the deck, so she slid open the back door and said a pleasant, "Good morning."