[AU] ... from the 'meet at a different time' meme

[freshoffthefarm]

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

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[fakes_death]

Clay's morning was always very routine. He woke up, took a shower, got dressed in whatever suit wasn't at the cleaners, had a cup of coffee with his newspaper then got in his Aston Martin and drove to the office. Depending on traffic, he'd arrive at the guard sack sometime between 20 minutes and an hour later. He'd say 'hello' to whoever was keeping watch that day, then be in his parking space and at his desk ten minutes later.

Today was all going according to plan until he heard that unmistakable sound of his rear bumper coming into contact with someone else's front bumper.

When he got out of the car to see who it was he was not happy.

[freshoffthefarm]

Not how things were supposed to go. Not at all. And though she'd been in far worse situations and had far worse days? For some reason, hearing the crunch that came with hitting someone else's fancy, expensive car just made her want to cry.

Sucking it up, she took a deep breath, pushed her emergency flashers and pushed open her door. Four inch heels, short skirt and a blouse that was probably questionable in terms of professional? Fine. She'd accidentally left her blazer on her backseat. It was spring.

"Are you okay?" First things first.

[fakes_death]

"I'm fine. My four hundred thousand dollar car is not." Clay was not happy, not at all and he planned on making that known. So much so that he wasn't even going to ask how she was.

He did look her over quickly. She was young and she must be new.

[freshoffthefarm]

His expression kind of pissed her off because, let's face it: "Four hundred thousand dollars? Who drives a four hundred thousand dollar car around here? Who can afford that kind of car?"

She walked closer and gave the car a longer look. The damage wasn't really that bad, maybe a thousand dollars. Okay, fifteen hundred if she pushed it or the paint job was custom. Of course, with that price tag, it probably was. She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. Compensating, indeed.

[fakes_death]

And he planned on making her pay for every cent of that custom paint job, just because she gave him that look.

He reached into his wallet for his registration and insurance before going for the cell phone. He planned on calling the police, simply because of that look.

"Insurance information." He demanded more than asked for it.

[freshoffthefarm]

"In the car."

She walked - more like stalked - to her passenger side and opened the door, then slid sideways into the seat so that she could get the pouch with all her information out of her glove box. Then she walked - STALKED - back to the front of her car. And then, because he was being such an asshole with his tone, she leaned against the front of her car and waited for him to make the next move.

[fakes_death]

"Do you think this is some sort of power game?" He asked when he saw what she was doing. "I've been playing all of those games for decades." Clay was clearly not impressed, intimidated or anything else by Annie's actions. He took her information from her, and handed her his.

One quick camera phone snapshot and Annie's information was ready to be handed back to her. Annie Walker was not going to be a name he'd forget any time soon.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Power game?" She watched as he took a photograph of her information and then snatched it back from him. "I was sitting here until you deigned to look in my direction. You were on the phone and I didn't want to interrupt as that's considered bad manners in polite society, which is apparently not where you were raised."

Annie Walker was not someone to be bullied, especially by some smartass in a suit.

[fakes_death]

"You have no idea how politely I was raised."

He was on the phone taking care of something that he was sure was above her clearance level, and could not wait the twenty minute commute he had from his condo in Alexandria to Langley.

"Do you want my information or are you going to stand there and continue to insult my upbringing?"

[freshoffthefarm]

"I'd love your information, especially since you backed right into the front of my car, but again, my politeness would stop me from just demanding it from you."

She held out a hand and actually smiled at him.

[fakes_death]

Annie's smile softened his demeanor just a little and while didn't smile back, he didn't yell at her either, as he handed her his information. He knew he was being an ass, but he couldn't help it.

It was still obvious that he was angry.

[freshoffthefarm]

Since she had just accused him of hitting her, she was surprised he didn't yell. The anger kept her from smarting off further, though she went back to the inside of her car and used good old-fashioned pen and paper to write it all down. Frankly, she had a feeling she'd be paying out of pocket, but that didn't worry her as much as it should have.

Really, she hoped that, whoever he was, didn't mention anything to her bosses now that he had her name.

Handing back his information, she nodded once. "Thanks."

[fakes_death]

Clay was choosing to ignore Annie's accusation and took his information back. "I'm sure you'll be hearing from my insurance company."

He didn't plan to tell her bosses about what happened, but he was sure they'd hear about it. There were, after all, other people in the parking lot.

[freshoffthefarm]

"I'm sure I will."

She should have left it at that as she stood there, but as she turned away, she couldn't help but add, "Men who drive their midlife crises around in cars that cost four hundred thousand dollars probably have nice insurance policies."

Then she reached for her door handle.

[fakes_death]

He was even less amused, "The car is not a midlife crisis."

[freshoffthefarm]

She paused and smiled at him again, this time without any hesitation.

"I'm sure that's what they all say." Her grin grew. "Compensation, then?"