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It didn't come as a surprise to OA when Maggie told him she was taking the assignment. He knew when she first mentioned it, she wouldn't be able to turn it down. Still, it upset him. He didn't want to lose his partner, even if it was temporary.
After their hug, OA turned around to look at Maggie again, his eyes lingering longer than they should. He didn't want her to go, and judging by the way she was staring at her badge, she was having mixed feelings about it too. Sighing, he tore his gaze away and started to make his way towards the elevator. Only making it a few steps, he turned back again. "Maggie?"
Maggie spun around at the sound of her partner's voice. "Yeah?"
"I'm sure you have a lot to do before you leave tomorrow, but maybe we could grab a quick drink." He looked almost hesitant, like he was sure Maggie would decline.
"That would be nice, but I thought you were going out with Scola and the others."
"I was, but I would rather hang out with you." OA sent a quick text to Scola, letting him know that he changed his mind.
Maggie smiled, though it didn't quite meet her eyes. "Well, we both know that I am loads of fun."
OA chuckled as he followed Maggie to the elevator. "That you are, Mags."
…
The car ride was quiet, tense even, but before long the two found themselves seated in a corner booth at one of the team's regular hangouts. After about thirty minutes of small talk, OA decided to bring up the dreaded subject. "I'm sure you can't tell me any details about the assignment, so the only thing I'm going to ask, how dangerous is it?"
"OA…" Maggie sighed. "You know there is a risk every time an agent goes under. Let's just leave it at that."
He was well versed in the field of undercover work, meaning he knew all too well about the risks. That's what was making him feel sick to his stomach, especially when she phrased her reply like she just did. "I just want you to be safe Maggie."
She reached over and briefly squeezed OA's hand. "I'll be careful."
OA immediately missed the warmth of her hand when she pulled away.
"Um, how's Mona?"
The question threw OA off for a second. "Uh, she's pretty shaken up, but she'll be okay."
Maggie couldn't quite meet his eyes when she asked her next question. "How are things going between you two?"
"I… don't really know. I don't see things lasting very much longer. She's great, but there are too many differences between us. I guess neither one of us thought this would be a permanent situation." He sighed. 'She's not you' is what he wanted to say.
"Oh." Maggie really didn't know what to say. She couldn't give away that she was pleased to hear that, so she settled for another long pull of her beer.
OA could tell something was off with the brunette. Her whole demeanor changed when his "relationship" was brought up, looking almost relieved when he said it wouldn't last. He knew he was probably just projecting his own feelings onto the situation. After all, he couldn't deny that he had fallen for his partner. They had gotten closer, however, and he felt a certain tension whenever Maggie and Mona were in the room together. '…but that couldn't mean… could it?'
"OA?"
He snapped out of it when he heard his name being called.
Concern marred Maggie's beautiful features. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah, sorry."
Maggie looked down at her watch. She knew she needed to get back to the JOC, but she really just wanted to stay with OA. Leaving him was the biggest reason why she was hesitant about taking the assignment... Who was she kidding, it was the only reason.
She desperately wanted to tell him that, but if she did it would open the window to a whole lot of questions that she wasn't quite ready to answer… and she didn't have the nerve for that. Instead, she needed to get out of there before she slipped up and revealed anything she shouldn't. "I really need to get back to the JOC."
OA nodded solemnly, knowing that he would soon have to say goodbye. He placed some cash on the table to pay for their drinks and stood up when Maggie did.
The ride back to the JOC was just as quiet as their departure, neither knowing what to say. Things were changing between the two of them, and they both could feel it… maybe it had changed long before and they had just been too blind to it, or more likely it was that neither had the guts to do anything about it.
Arriving at the building, both agents stepped out of OA's truck, and made their way towards each other.
"I guess this is it." OA spoke quietly.
Maggie smiled sadly. "Yeah. Thanks for tonight."
"You're welcome. Please be careful and come back to me." The words felt small, insignificant even. There was so much more he wanted to say, but that was a line that couldn't be crossed… not right then anyway.
She nodded, smiling through the unshed tears and OA felt in that moment that she knew the words stuck on his tongue. "That goes for you too." Yeah, she knew.
Instead of saying anything, OA wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug, it lasting a lot longer than the one upstairs… a lot longer than any they had shared or would be considered appropriate for just partners.
Letting go of each other moments later, they gave a final, sad goodbye.
Maggie turned around and started towards the elevators, finally letting her tears fall. This had been a tough decision, one that could hurt her either way. She just hoped she had made the right one, though right now she had her doubts. This had to wrap up soon, as she had too much waiting for her when she got back.
With a lump in his throat, OA watched his partner walk away. Maybe this would give him time to truly sort through his feelings about her. Maybe when she got back, they could have a chance to be more than what they are now. That thought certainly put a smile on his face.