That was awkward in so many ways!

I'm not even sure where to start, but to say Covert Affairs Season 5 Episode 5 showcased characters in uncomfortable and compromising situations. It's not easy being a spy.

Watch Covert Affairs Season 5 Episode 5 Online

Covert Affairs has taken its time unraveling the mystery behind the Chicago bomb attack and used it to challenge both Annie and Auggie personally and professionally. I can't decide whether I'm glad the case has taken the slow route or not. I want to know who was behind the bombing, but the journey has been engrossing so far.

Now that the show is in its fifth season, they have a long list of characters who can be brought back and Natasha was a good choice. We last saw her in Covert Affairs Season 1 Episode 7 when Auggie left her behind. Her reappearance in his life came at the perfect time. He needs a strong woman who loves him and no that's not Hayley.

Auggie's avoidance of Hayley's calls was enough to make it clear that she's not the right woman for him. They are having fun, but there's nothing more there. He instantly fell back in with Natasha. Whether his feelings interfered with the job or not doesn't really matter, since the mission was a success. (Yes, it probably matters, but I'll ignore that for now.)

Even seasoned operatives have a weakness. Calder put his job on the line for his hooker lover, Auggie did it for Natasha and Annie's been pushed outside the lines before too. I love that this series allows them to be great at their jobs, but also have huge hearts. Though, I draw the line at Arthur! He better not step out on Joan with his co-worker. That is not acceptable.

As Auggie's handler, Annie compensated for his inability to get the job done. She knew him well enough to see that she needed to step in and make it happen. Did she overstep? Maybe. Given their tight timeframe, Annie made the right decision and it paid off. Even more impressive, she realized she could fix her overstep with Auggie by talking to Natasha and made it better.

"Elevate Me" showcased Annie as a full-fledged operative with an amazing power of intuition and ability to read people. This may have been the best operation that we've ever seen from Annie and she wasn't the main operative. She performed the job as a handler well and was even more spectacular when she played Ivan. 

Whenever Annie and Auggie get the opportunity to work together, the show is better for it and this was a prime example of that partnership working. They are better together professionally than personally. Now they have a lead to find out who was behind the Chicago bombing.

I will say that I missed Ryan McQuaid and his snark. I thought he might show up in Paris working a similar lead, but that didn't happen. With Annie and Auggie in the field together, there really wasn't much room for him anyway. He'll be back soon enough.

Did Annie make the right decision when she stole the key?

Carla Day is a staff writer for TV Fanatic. Follow her on Twitter and on Google+.