[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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[freshoffthefarm]

Annie had been right. The deep cover op was going to go down whether or not she felt entirely comfortable in her own skin for it and it was going to go down six days from today. She had six days to put all her affairs in order and the CIA had six days to pull all other assets from the Eastern European country that she was supposed to go and become comfortable in.

When Joan told her there was a meeting upstairs that she needed to attend, and that the entire morning had been a shitstorm for everyone involved so watch her step and keep her mouth shut, Annie gathered up her leather notebook, a pen and went to do as she was told.

In the smallest conference room on the 7th floor, Annie stood in the corner looking out over the view of the parking lot and waited.

[fakes_death]

Clay was five minutes late for the meeting with the operative from the DPD that Joan recommended. Joan told Clay the person in question was her best. He trusted Joan to make that call.

The look on his face when he saw Annie Walker standing in the conference room was pure surprise. He doubted he could hide it if he wanted.

"Ms. Walker," Clay said by way of greeting before sitting at the table in the center of the room and putting his pile of files on the table.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Director Webb."

Annie blinked, then looked at the door as if the universe was going to send her someone else to deal with because frankly, this was bordering on ridiculous. She hadn't seen the man in two years of working at the Agency (she didn't think), and now, her day was centered around him.

Since he'd chosen the head of the table, she sat directly to his right and set her notepad on the table in front of her. Then she waited.

[fakes_death]

Clay opened the top file that contained the mission brief before sliding a second copy over to Annie.

"When our bumpers made contact earlier, I was in the middle of trying to smooth over events in Eastern Europe that got out of hand. My operative there said that my three informants were killed, and she was on the verge of being found out. That's when we decided we need a new operative and a new approach."

[freshoffthefarm]

"And you and Joan want me to be that new approach," she said as she skimmed the report, the pertinent details popping out at her. That he'd lost three people and thought a fourth might have already been compromised didn't frighten her; she had confidence in her own deception skill training.

It did, however, explain the need for a long-term op. "So, this is why it's four to six months."

[fakes_death]

He nodded once. "It takes a lot of time to be believable in a situation like this. Though Joan wouldn't have picked you if she wasn't confident that you could accomplish what we need."

Clay placing his faith in someone's decision like that was rare. The reason he pulled her from an outside department was to keep the emotions of his own people out of the equation as much as possible.

[freshoffthefarm]

"I've been with the DPD for couple of years," she told him as she finished skimming his file and then lifted her head to give him a gentle smile. "Joan knows what I can and can't handle. I'll do my best not to screw up your op."

It was a statement that he could put his faith in her. She wouldn't let him down.

[fakes_death]

"That's what I was hoping to hear, Agent Walker."

When she got back he'd be more convinced that she didn't screw up his op. Until then he was going to stick with Joan's judgement.

[freshoffthefarm]

"Six days," she added without responding to what he said. Truth be told, she wasn't out to impress him. Joan was her boss and as long as things got done, then she was going to be pleased with her own performance. "I'm sure we'll talk before then, but if we don't, then..."

She held out a hand for him to shake. "See you on the other side."

[fakes_death]

Clay shook her hand, "I hope it goes well and I'm sure we will."