A/N: thought I would try another one. This takes is an AU that place between Marlin S1 and First date S2. Again I don't own Chuck nor make $ out of it
The primary ingredient for manipulation is deception, and Langston Graham was a man of deception. He cultivated it wherever and whenever he could. It was always easier to manipulate someone if you could show him the proverbial carrot at the end of the string, while simultaneously hiding the knife behind his back.
One does not rise to the deputy director's office without knowing how to improve ones position by manipulation, and he was a master of it. He particularly enjoyed scenarios where he could use his manipulation to induce a major power grab, and this was his biggest move yet.
The intersect project had become a thorn in his side, not because it was a failure, but because he had to share with the NSA. Langston Graham didn't like to share. He wanted to have total control of it with no interference or government regulation. A complete black ops setup, with anonymous assassins and superior agents, all under his control.
What he needed first was to get the intersect from Bartowski, and as he looked at the two agents across from him, he realized how pathetically easy it would be for him to get them to do his will.
"So do you both understand your assignments?"
"Yes sir," the male and female agent both responded in unison.
"Good. The Beta intersect is almost online. When it is you will carry out your assignments. Is that clear," he said.
"Yes sir," they both said.
"Sir if I may when we will receive payment for our services?"
"Agent Larkin you will get what you want when I get what I want. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, You will go through standard procedure for updates. You are dismissed."
They both left the room, leaving the puppet master to revel in his glee. He picked up a folder and opened to a picture of Sarah Walker.
"Oh this is going to be easy," he said while laughing.
Sarah Walker was frustrated. She had spent the last hour pounding the pavement around Burbank, hoping some physical activity would shake her thoughts from their current occupation.
The incident on the roof had left her shaken and disturbed. She always knew that Chuck being evacuated was a high probability, but she was amazed at just how deeply it affected her.
When she saw him on the roof being led to the chopper, she didn't see him with a fellow agent, she saw him with an enemy. She saw him as her enemy because he was taking Chuck. Her tears that night were not because she had failed him; her tears were because he was leaving her. There was no cover anymore for her, and more importantly there was no place to hide. She could try to fool herself into thinking that she wasn't in love with him, but it didn't matter anymore. She could not lie to herself and keep her head clear any longer.
Why is love such a dangerous word…Would they take him away if they knew?…Should I tell him? Could he handle it? Could I handle it?... she thought.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a beeping on her phone, signaling a message from Casey.
Walker we have a mission.. be in castle in 30 minutes.
Casey was waiting for Sarah when she arrived at castle.
"Where is Chuck?"
"Still topside. Brass wants to speak to us alone first."
"That seems strange. Is anything up?"
"Not that I know of," Casey said.
Sarah immediately sensed something was wrong with the situation, and when the screen blinked to life and Beckman and Graham came on, and saw the lack of eye contact her superiors had with her, those fears were not dispelled.
Excuse me General and director, but why is Chuck not here with us," Sarah said.
"The asset is not required to be at every briefing. Is that clear Agent Walker," Graham said angrily.
"Yes sir."
"Agents we have a priority 1 mission that just came on the radar. We have a nuclear arms dealer who is currently in the greater Los Angeles area. He will be hosting a party tonight where we believe he will be attempting to traffic his weapons to a new terrorist cell," Beckman said.
"Do we know who the cell is ma'am," Casey asked.
"No unfortunately we don't, Larkin apparently was not able to get that information before he went deep cover again. It is possible that the identity of the intersect has been compromised."
That useless son of a bitch! Sarah screamed in her head
"Sloppy," Casey mumbled.
"What was that Major," Graham barked.
Casey had his fill of Bryce Larkin and his half assed missions. The fact that he knew Chuck was the intersect and kept leaving loose ends which could lead back to Chuck was the mark of a reckless agent. Casey didn't trust Larkin, and certainly didn't trust his boss Langston Graham, but he had to follow orders.
"Nothing sir," Casey replied.
Beckman saw the situation escalating between them and decided to steer the meeting back towards the mission.
"Major Casey you and Agent Walker will infiltrate the party while the intersect will identify the weapons dealer remotely. Details and covers are uploaded to your secure database. Any questions?"
"No Ma'am," they replied in unison.
"Good. You are wheels up in 90 minutes," Beckman said as she switched off the screen, leaving them to plan and execute their mission.
"Casey I don't like this. Something feels off," Sarah said.
'Yeah I feel it too Walker. Your boyfriend keeps fucking things up. Sooner or later his carelessness is going to get Chuck killed."
Sarah cringed a bit when Casey called Bryce her boyfriend, especially since Chuck came into her life, but she also had to suppress a smile. Although Casey would never admit it Chuck was growing on him. His statement was as close as he would ever come to saying he liked Chuck.
"He's not my boyfriend Casey, but you are right he keeps fucking up."
I can't understand why he keeps putting Chuck in danger like this! Why can't he just leave him alone..hasn't he hurt him enough..I swear I will never let Bryce hurt him again!
The evening started off pretty standard for Chuck Bartowski since he had become an unwilling recruit of the CIA. He was on a mission with Sarah and Casey waiting in the van and feeding them Intel on a supposed nuclear weapons dealer. The plan was for Chuck to id the guy, Sarah to move in and get friendly with him and get him to drop his guard, and for Casey to provide security for Sarah.
He really didn't like these types of missions because there was a chance that Sarah would need to go to extremes to get this kind of information. Visions of Lon Kirk flashed in his mind and acid churned in stomach at the memory. Although the relationship with Sarah was supposed to be a cover, he was head over heals in love with her; but recently he got the sense that Sarah might have some kind of feelings for him. Her reaction to him on the roof was and the tears she cried that night were real. He knew her well enough to know that.
The mission was shaping up to be a bust. Sarah and Casey were at the cocktail reception waiting for the target to arrive, when suddenly all hell broke loose. The fire alarm sounded and chaos ensued during which time communication between Chuck and Sarah was severed.
"Casey I've lost com with Chuck. I'm going back to the van," Sarah said.
"Roger Walker. I'm stuck on the west side of the building evacuation. I will be there ASAP," Casey replied.
Sarah immediately ran back to the van but by the time she got back they had Chuck surrounded and a figure dressed in black had a gun to his head.
" Honestly Mr. Bartowski. It will go a lot easier for you if you cooperate," the figure said.
"Let him go," Sarah said as she pointed a gun at the masked gunman.
"I don't think so Walker," the figure replied.
"Sarah!"
"Its ok Chuck I'm here," she said as she eyed his abductor with steely eyes.
"Who are you," Sarah demanded.
The figure removed her mask revealing a rather beautiful brunette.
"Zondra?"
Instantly Chuck flashed and learned of her involvement with the cat squad, and Sarah's involvement as well.
"You know I will kill him Walker. Put down your gun."
Sarah begrudgingly dropped her gun.
"Good. Time for a nap Mr. Bartowski."
"Noooo," Sarah screamed as Zondra bought the gun down on his head.
Sarah Walker was an amalgam of emotions as she waited for Zondra to reappear. She was strapped to a chair inside a holding cell, still wearing the cocktail dress from this evening. Anger, fury, rage and fear all mixed with a feeling of dread, hopelessness, and failure, just rocked her to the core.
Suddenly the door opened and his tormentor reappeared.
"Hello Walker. Long time no see," she said.
"Where is Chuck? What have you done to him!"?
"No love for an old friend Walker," Zondra asked while snickering.
"Zondra if you hurt him I swear to God I will…,"
"You will what Walker?"
"I will kill you," Sarah said flatly.
"Well I guess I got the right guy then," Zondra replied.
"What are you talking about," Sarah said angrily.
"I finally found the man you love. I told you that day when you betrayed me that I would destroy you. Knowing you the way I do I think he will be very valuable," she said as she exited the cell and slammed the door.
"Don't touch him Zondra," Sarah screamed as she left.
Sarah winced at the statement, but deep in her heart she knew it was true. She knew even before the night on the roof with Longshore, but that night it scared her when she realized how strong her feelings were for him.
Where is Chuck?… He could be anywhere. He could be hurt or… Stop Sarah…focus chuck needs you….Love...love is dangerous…love leads to mistakes...her failure to protect him was a mistake...Jesus why couldn't she get him out of her head...she gave herself up for god's sake….I almost killed another agent for him…why couldn't he understand how I feel?…why can't I tell him?… hasn't he earned that yet?…God I am so fucked...she thought.
The door to the cell opened again and Zondra walked back in and dragged Chuck in behind her. Chuck slammed face first against the wall, the impact caused his knees to buckle and he slumped to the floor.
"Chuck are you alright," Sarah yelled.
"Sarah!"
"Welcome back Mr. Bartowski. I trust you are enjoying yourself so far," came a voice from the center of the room.
"Did she tell you about us," Zondra asked.
"Shut up Zondra," Sarah yelled.
"Oh I think that Chuck deserves to know the truth," Zondra said as she smiled wickedly at Sarah.
"You see Chuck. Sarah and I were at the academy together. We were close. Very close as a matter of fact, we were training partners among other things," Zondra said as she approached him.
Chuck strained against the cuffs trying to free him.
"Don't touch him!" Sarah screamed.
"You hear that Chuck? That is an emotional response. That is the sign of an agent that is compromised," Zondra sneered.
"Shut up Zondra," Sarah screamed.
"Sarah and I shared a lot of things Chuck," Zondra said.
"Chuck don't listen to her," Sarah said.
"Look I will do whatever you want. Just please don't hurt Sarah," Chuck pleaded.
"Don't hurt Sarah? My God Walker isn't he precious? I can see what he is the one. He is the one I have been waiting for."
"The one whoa," Chuck said as she punched him in the stomach.
"Zondra don't!"
"The one that she loves Chuck."
"The one that she loves? I don't understand," Chuck said.
"Oh you are so sweet," Zondra said.
"She is Lying Chuck. Don't listen to her," Sarah shouted.
"You see Chuck when you know someone as well as Sarah and I know each other there are things you pick up on very quickly," Zondra said as she walked back towards Sarah.
"I don't understand if she is your friend..,"
"My Friend? We were lovers Chuck! I loved her and she betrayed me," Zondra screamed.
"How?"
"Your precious Sarah implicated me as a traitor! Me! I taught her how to be a spy! I taught her everything!"
"Zondra your problem is with me. Take me and let him go please," Sarah pleaded.
"What fun would that be," Zondra said as she looked at Sarah and then approached Chuck while pulling her gun.
"Zondra Noooo," Sarah screamed.
"No please don't. Please," Chuck said.
"Zondra please leave him alone," Sarah begged.
"Sorry Walker. He is part of the deal."
Zondra grabbed Chuck by the hair and pulled him up. She then put the chain between his handcuffs on a hook and slowly raised it up until his feet were just touching the ground.
Chuck groaned in the uncomfortable position and tried to gain his balance as his arms burned from supporting his weight.
"Part of what deal? What is this," Chuck asked.
"Well Chuck I could just kill you in front of Walker."
"Zondra," Sarah screamed.
"Wow testy little bitch isn't she Chuck," Zondra laughed.
"As I was saying what good would it do to kill you? It's over too soon. However; if I torture you, If I make Walker see me break what she wants most in the world, I would have a lot more fun," Zondra said as she pulled a blade out of her pocket.
Chuck saw her approach and shivered.
"Leave him alone Zondra," Sarah yelled at her.
"I was just thinking how you managed it," Zondra said completely ignoring Sarah.
"What? How I managed what," Chuck said with increasing frustration.
"How you manage to get her to fall in love with you. I couldn't do it, Bryce couldn't do it. Even some super spy named Shaw couldn't do it, but that's probably because he is gay," she replied.
"Look I'm sick of this shit. Sarah doesn't love me! it's just a cover! she told me..awwwh," Chuck yelled as Zondra slashed his face with her blade.
"Don't fucking lie to me Chuck. I can tell it's not a cover!"
"I will kill you Bitch," Sarah seethed.
"Oh please Walker," Zondra said dismissively.
"I can tell Chuck!"
"Tell how? Tell what? Why are you doing this to me," Chuck demanded.
"I'm going to destroy Walkers world just like she destroyed mine. The job was my whole life as it was with her when I knew her. She would never put anyone above the job. Not me, not Bryce, hell not even her father! But you Chuck, you are special."
"No I am not!"
"I saw the surveillance on the roof Chuck. Did you know that she was ready to kill a fellow agent if he took you away? Did you know that?"
Chuck looked at Sarah and she met his gaze stoically, but he could see the corner of her eyes begin to tear.
"She promised that she would keep me out of a bunker and.."
"A bunker! She didn't do that to keep you out of a Bunker! If you went to a bunker she could see you again. She could visit and still complete her mission. She did that to stop them from taking you away from her!"
"What are you talking about," Chuck asked.
"She put you above the mission Chuck! You are the most important thing in her life," Zondra said as she walked back to Sarah and pulled out her gun.
"Zondra please don't do this," Chuck begged when he saw the gun near Sarah.
"She took away the thing that I most loved on this world and now I am going to take away what she most loves in this world. I'm going to take you Chuck," Zondra said as she raised the gun at Chuck.
"Zondra I swear to god I'm going to kill you," Sarah said as tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Chuck closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable. It all seemed so unfair. He finally found the woman he wants to spend his life with and now it's all going to end. In a moment of courage he opened his eyes and looked directly at Sarah.
" I love you Sarah. I always will."
"I love you Chuck. I am so sorry," Sarah sobbed, the tears coming freely now.
In spite of he situation Chuck smiled. The words made him the happiest man on earth if only for a brief moment, and as he closed his eyes he knew he would die a happy man.