A/N: An AU about Sarah Walker and Chuck Bartowski…and the rest of the gang.

Three Days of Project Omaha

Sarah Walker closed the door to her office, walked to the elevator and pressed the button for the main lobby. Upon exiting the elevator, she was aware that most every eye was upon her as she walked to the front of the building. Her four inch heels clacking against the floor of the government building like a metronome, keeping time with the bounce of the hem of her dress. Most eyes hoping the altitude of the bounce would reach just a little higher. She gracefully moved through the crowd of people, her Versace custom-made garment showing off every curve and sway of her body and held the eye like a magnet. She didn't really notice, she was used to it.

Without slowing down at security, she showed her ID as she moved through the checkpoint unperturbed.

Exiting the building, her elegant, high stepping gait took her to her little black Porsche and in no time she was seated behind the wheel, her long legs visible as the bottom of her dress pulled up high on her thigh.

Sarah looked at the front of the CIA building over the top of her steering wheel and laughed at her silly imaginings. Instead of a black Porsche, she sat in a blue Ford Focus. Instead of four inch high heels, she wore cheap pumps. Instead of everyone watching her as she emerged from the elevator, not one person looked her way. Instead of the gorgeous blonde with long flowing hair and a knockout wardrobe and the walk of a runway model, she hadn't really changed her look since high school. She moved with a hesitant, shuffling pace as she clutched a book to her chest hoping that no one really paid attention to her. Still, after ten years, she found it difficult to believe she worked for the CIA, even if it was in the library. She looked down at her legs to see her ankle length dress fell far below her knees.

She drove back into the city to her little apartment on the north side. Today was Thursday so she stopped for Chinese takeout for two. Thursday was Chinese, Friday was Mexican on the even days, Thai on the odd. Monday was chicken pot pie, Tuesday was either lasagna or pizza and Wednesday was pot luck. She had it down to a science. Her meals, like everything else in her life were planned and repetitive. That's the way she liked it…predictable. At least, that's what she told herself most nights.

She walked into her apartment. "Steve, I'm home," she yelled as she closed the door behind her. Her apartment was small but tastefully decorated…if you were a senior citizen.

She unloaded her book on the desk at the far end of the main room and walked into the kitchen. She sat the food down on the countertop and kicked off her shoes. Reaching behind her back to unclasp her dress, she walked into the bedroom.

"Steve, where are you?" she said as she slipped off the dress and hung it carefully in her bedroom closet.

Wearing only her slip, she fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. She intended to put on her pajamas and prepare for a romantic evening.

"Steve," she called out once more.

Immediately, she was joined on the bed by Steve…a beautiful, white Bengal Cat that climbed onto her stomach and greeted her affectionately.

As she stroked the cat's back, the telephone rang and she lifted Steve off of her stomach and rose to answer it.

"Hey Carina, you coming over tonight?" Sarah said.

"Yep and I've got the movie."

Sarah involuntarily drew in her breath. "What did you get?" she asked, expectantly.

"The Proposal," Carina said and squealed with delight.

"I loved that movie. We saw it last summer, right?"

"That's right, on opening night."

"Hurry up and get over here, I can hardly wait to get started."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye."

Sarah rose from the bed and stepped out of her slip. Now wearing only a brown bra and black panties, she searched for her favorite pair of pajamas. This was going to be a special night and deserved her bunny PJ's.

Finding them, she slipped into the bottoms one leg at a time and then put on the matching top. After buttoning her top, she hurried into the kitchen to warm up the food in the microwave. Carina would be there in about five minutes. She only lived ten blocks away. The two women were looking for a suitable apartment to share, but since they both had cats, that limited their options.

Just about the time Sarah pulled the food from the microwave, Carina opened the door and walked in wearing her pajamas underneath her overcoat.

She removed the coat and sat the blue ray on the TV and then joined Sarah in the kitchen.

"Hey, Sar."

"Hey, Rina," Sarah responded. "I've got your food there. I just need a little extra sweet and sour sauce and we can get started."

Carina picked up her food and went into the main room to get everything ready. Once she had the movie ready to go, she paused it and waited on Sarah to join her.

"How was your day?" Sarah asked as she sat down on her side of the couch. She pulled her feet up with her knees drawn up to her chest.

"Pretty dull. I only work for the city's library system. I can't compete with the excitement of working for the CIA," Carina said, digging at her with an old and worn smooth ploy.

Sarah played along like always because, deep down, she loved it. "I work in the basement. No one even knows my name. My supervisor calls me Janet at least three times a week. And…," she said, raising her voice at the crucial juncture in the ritual. "We don't even have any books."

The girls laughed at their own joke even though it was years old. Neither one could remember who said it first or why.

Carina looked at her friend seriously. "Still, you know its exciting working for the CIA, you can't argue that."

"Yes I can…but not right now. I've got something else to talk about."

"What?" Carina said. Any new topic was exciting.

"I turned in that suggestion I told you about." Sarah said with an open expression.

Carina's eyes got large and her eyebrows raised in shock. "You did… when?"

"Today. I can't go into specifics but I told them that I thought it was at least plausible that this very important software program could be stolen and even transferred via email. From the books I've read, I said that I thought it might be possible that if someone with just the right brain function was to see that file… that it could actually be downloaded into their brain."

"Wow, you said all of that?"

"Yup," Sarah said, obviously please with herself.

"Do you think anyone will pay attention?"

"Naw, at least not anyone important. Some analyst will probably get assigned to verify my opinions and they'll put some checks and balances in place. I'll never hear another word about it."

Still, it's cool. You've had an impact on national security," Carina said, awestruck.

Sarah smiled. "Are you ready to watch the movie?"

"Uh, not yet. Can we talk about something else first?"

"Sure, what?"

Carina hesitated trying to find the courage to begin. "I promised myself that I would say this before we watch the movie."

"What is it," Sarah had become concerned.

"Remember that date I had a couple of months ago?

"Yeah," Sarah said, her brow indicating she did not expect this topic.

Carina looked sheepish. "I sort of lied when I said I had a good time."

Sarah pulled closer to her friend sensing her vulnerability. "What happened?"

"It was exactly like every other date I've been on…awkward. And then he took me home and I was worried whether he was going to kiss me or not but instead of kissing me, he turned off the car and turned to face me."

"He didn't do anything did he?" Sarah spoke in a whisper but her heart was beating like a diesel engine at high idle.

"No, nothing like that. I only wish that's what happened."

Sarah's nose wrinkled and her brow drew down. "What did he do?"

"He talked to me…honestly."

"He talked to you…what did he say?"

"He called me beautiful."

Sarah's frown turned into a smile. "That's wonderful, Rina, why hasn't he called you back?"

Carina started to cry. "Because he didn't say I was beautiful…he said I could be beautiful with a little effort."

Sarah moved closer and wrapped her warms around her friend. "That's a horrible thing to say."

Carina pushed away. "The thing is, Sar, I think it might have been the kindest thing anyone's every said to me."

"What?" Sarah said, not understanding.

Carina stood and grabbed Sarah's hand and pulled her off the couch. She pulled her to the large mirror in Sarah's bedroom. The two women stood looking at each other in the mirror.

"Well?" Carina said, after she had stood looking at first herself, then Sarah.

"Well what?"

Carina's voice showed her exasperation. "Look at us, Sar. Can you honestly say either one of us is pretty? Especially when you compare us to the women you work with at the CIA."

"That's not fair. If you're talking about the agents, they've got the US Government helping them to look like they do."

Carina ignored her. "Sarah, look at us. I mean honestly look at us…what do you see?"

If Sarah was honest, what she would have told Carina was that she saw a red-head with short stringy hair and eyes the size of marbles. Her eyebrows and eyelashes were practically nonexistent. Her posture was horrible and the expression on her face screamed desperate with a large portion of low self-esteem thrown in for good measure.

Then, she looked at herself. Her dishwater blonde hair was frizzy after years of neglect and was almost shoulder length. It hung shapeless on both sides of her face with no style most likely due to the fact that Sarah cut it herself. Her blue eyes were lost on her face and she wore no makeup causing even her perfect nose to go unnoticed.

"We look fine," Sarah said out loud.

Carina stomped her foot in frustration. Sarah, what if Ana Wu was standing between us. Would you say we looked fine then?"

"That's not fair, Carina. Ana Wu is one of the most beautiful women on the planet. Plus, with the CIA behind her with wardrobe and such, we can't compete with that."

Sarah watched Carina's expression turn to something she had never seen before. Carina made an effort to stand taller before speaking. She then looked at Sarah through the mirror. "What if I told you I thought I could compete with her? What would you say then?"

Sarah scoffed. "Look at us. You've seen Ana."

Carina turned from the mirror to look directly at Sarah. "I'm going to a beauty salon."

Sarah pursed her lips. "Fine."

"You're mad," Carina said.

"No, I'm disappointed. You're giving in and are going to join all those girls that made fun of us in high school."

"Sarah, that was a long time ago. I'm tired of feeling like I feel. And…I'm tired of being lonely."

"Carina, we have each other."

Carina smiled at her. "Don't take this the wrong way but you can't really scratch this particular itch."

"Oh," Sarah said understanding her point.

"Can you honestly say you haven't thought about having that itch scratched from time to time with one of those dreamy guys you work with?"

"Carina!" Sarah said, embarrassed. They had never talked about itching before.

"Come on, Sarah. Surely, you've thought about it."

"Yeah, I've thought about it. But I'm not willing to settle."

"Settle! I've got news for you. You have to have an opportunity first in order to to settle."

Sarah wanted to argue but realized that Carina was right. She hadn't been on a date in over two years. She wasn't ready to give in but she didn't want to fight with Carina either.

"Hey, let's watch the movie?" Sarah said, smiling through misty eyes.

Carina responded with a tearful nod and the two young women walked back to the TV, hand in hand. They couldn't afford to be mad at each other.

They were all they had.

They resumed their original positions on the couch and started the movie. They watched the movie in silence with just a couple of comments throughout.

When the movie was over, both women had tears in their eyes.

"Now that's the kind of guy I'm after," Sarah said, wiping away the tears on her face.

"You say that after every movie."

"No, I'm serious. He's tall, he's confident. He knows what he wants in life and he's willing to work hard for it…even after Margret told him no, he kept going. I find that so romantic."

Carina got up smiling at her friend. Her expression turned serious as she went to retrieve the disk. She put it in its container and then turned to Sarah.

"I'm serious about the beauty salon." Her expression turned hopeful. "Go with me?"

Sarah thought about the movie and wondered if she looked as good as Sandra Bullock, would that be what it took to find someone. Not that I can look as good as Sandra Bullock, she thought.

Carina was surprised to see that Sarah was actually considering it. "Come on, Sarah. What do we have to lose?"

"When?"

"Next week. I'll make the appointment for two."

Sarah stood and smiled at Carina. "I'll think about it."

"See you on Saturday?" Carina asked.

"Yeah, unless I get picked to go to that leadership seminar tomorrow."

"Very funny. Didn't you say that that seminar was for the up and coming stars in the CIA?"

Sarah smiled. "I'll see you Saturday."

X=X

Later that night, Sarah tried to sleep but was troubled. She sensed that her life was at a crossroads. She knew that Carina had been giving off signals of being discontent for a while now, but didn't realize just how resolute she was at changing her situation.

It caused her more than just a little anxiety. Without Carina she was alone.

Over the days to follow, Sarah would think back to this time of peace and innocence and draw strength from it. Had she known what the next three days had in store for her, she probably would not have gotten out of bed Friday morning.