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Casey felt guilty. He liked Chuck. He really did. He was like the annoying, nerdy, smart-ass little brother he'd never wanted. He enjoyed their banter. Well, mostly because he was the one with the witty comebacks. Hell, he was even looking forward to the moment when Sarah and Chuck quit being such dumbasses and actually acted on their feelings. In his opinion, there wasn't anything wrong with it. He'd definitely gotten attached to someone at one point, but it had been too long ago and it had only reaffirmed his belief that his job was for a greater good. Still, Chuck was a complicated matter just like that job had been. Would he be able to walk away?

He knew at some point this would end. He had known it when he had been assigned to Chuck. Had known it when they had started work on the intersect, but his partner was quickly becoming someone else's partner-Chuck's and Casey understood how it felt. He had wanted plenty of times to take an extended leave from the job, but he just enjoyed shooting shit too much. It was what he was good at. He sucked at emotions. He sucked at being normal. Hell, he hadn't had sex in who knew how long. Not because the opportunity hadn't arose, but because he knew his line of work just didn't afford him the luxury.

Which is why when Walker appeared at the Buy More, informing him the higher ups needed a word, he was a bit on the edgy side. They never needed a word with him. It was always either Chuck or Walker that got the powers that be in a tizzy. Casey just grunted at her and stormed into the lounge, finding his gloomy, less than attractive bosses staring at him from the flat screen with blank faces.

"Casey," General Beckman began, trying to mask her disgust, "it has come to our attention that Walker has grown attached to the intersect and, well, that puts you at risk."

"Part of the job, Ma'am," he said, becoming more and more uncomfortable. Were they seriously trying to discuss that sick little relationship with him?

"Yes, but when the time comes to dispose of the Intersect..." She trailed off and he nodded knowingly. He would be the only one with enough detachment to do it, meaning he would have to go through Agent Walker.

"So, to ensure your safety and that of the assignment's, we've arranged for you to have another partner." Beckman's amused smirk only served to make him more edgy.

"A what?"

Sarah was surprised when she hadn't heard yelling. Maybe they hadn't gotten to the whole partner thing yet. It made sense. Just because Casey worked with and lived near Chuck didn't mean he had to spend time around him and their animosity towards one another only served to cause more and more people to ask questions.

"You know, I think it'll be good for the guy," Chuck said, "have someone else to pick on. Not that I don't enjoy the whole him handing me my balls every ten minutes. It's just I would rather laugh along with him."

Sarah gave him a small smile and he continued, "and maybe they can do some male bonding. You know, shoot each other in the kneecaps or something."

Chuck looked up and his eyes widened. "Or opposite sex bonding because-well...huh."

This was the stupidest assignment she had ever been sent on. Really, an agent protecting another agent. Sounded like babysitting to her. She had babysat before. It wasn't fun. Kid cried every time someone got shot in the movie. This was so uncomfortable-having to play house with some incompetent jackass while wearing one of the shortest skirts she'd ever seen. It was nauseating. She didn't wear skirts. Well, not often. People were staring at her. She hated people and she hated staring people even more.

She had barely entered through the front of the Buy More when a man much shorter than herself slid into her path and she blinked in surprise. "Hello, Miss. How may I help you?" he asked, looking her up and down. She raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I'm looking for someone-"

"Aren't we all?" he said with an over-dramatic sigh. This was not happening. Did this guy really get women like this? She hoped not. She looked past him and spotted the intersect. "Oh, well, I think I found a someone," she blurted, pushing past him, her heels clicking decisively on the tile. The Intersect's eyes landed on her and his eyes widened as he said something to the woman standing next to him. She focused on her. It was one of the agents. She was vaguely aware of the man following close behind her. She stopped in front of a now stuttering Intersect and a more than a little surprised agent. Feeling the other man practically breathing down her neck, she turned slowly on him and asked in a condescending tone, "Don't you have some televisions to sell?"

He opened and closed his mouth for a few moments and the Intersect sighed, "Lester, go!"

"I'm helping her find whoever she's looking for, though I must say looks can be deceiving," Lester said coolly, as he continued to eye her.

She continued to ignore him. "Don't you people have jobs?"

The intersect stared at her in an annoyed manner. "The guy you're looking for is in the lounge," he said in an irritated voice that sounded kind of squeaky as he pointed over his shoulder. She nodded, trying to keep her grin in check. This kid was odd.

"A what?" He wasn't sure he'd heard right.

"Partner," Director Graham repeated and he frowned. "I already have a partner."

Before either the General or the Director could respond, the door to the lounge flew open and a tall, leggy brunette stepped in. Her eyes landed on Casey and widened. "No. You did not call on me for this! No, no, no, no!"

"Mo-"

"Look," she snapped, stepping towards the screen and pointing a finger at the two faces staring at her in shock, "when you called and said I was a specialist in this area I thought you meant shooting people, not-not playing house with a him!"

Casey blinked as he let her words sink in and he stared at her, studying her for a long moment. She did look awful familiar. She threw him a dirty look and Casey had the distinct impression he had been on the receiving end of one of those looks several times.

Beckman looked heavenward for a brief moment. "Agent John Casey, meet Molly Marquez, though-"

"Molly Marquez," Casey cried and she frowned at him, saying in a biting tone, "I'm so glad you remember who I am."

"She can't be my partner, she isn't an agent," he protested, then addressing Molly herself, "You look different, so I didn't recognize you." She ignored him. "I'm not overly fond of him. I doubt if I had to save his life, I would!"

"Molly-"

She cut Beckman off. "No, this is ridiculous! I'm not going to act as this man's partner."

"It's an order-"

"I'm not part of the CIA or the NSA, so you can't order me around," she snapped, stomping her foot and causing Casey to grin. She glared at him for a second before turning to glare back at the plasma screen.

"Your father would have wanted you to help."

She bit her lip painfully and stared down at her heels. Casey wanted to punch Beckman. Her father was a sore spot for the both of them and Beckman had no right to bring it up. Guilting her into helping him made it worse. She rubbed her forehead. "Fine, I'll do it, but I'm so not having sex with him!"

"What?!" Casey bellowed incredulously, "since when does one have sex with their partner?!"

"Since they're supposed to pretend they're dating," Molly muttered, her eyes still downcast, "I wouldn't have agreed to that part if I had been told it was you."

"If we had told you who it was, you would have said 'no.'"

She glared up at Director Graham in a way that made Casey smirk. It was her 'thank-you-Captain-Obvious' glare. "Duh. Casey and I didn't exactly part on good terms."

"How old are you again?" Molly glared at Casey, before saying in a grudging voice, "Twenty."

Casey brought a hand up to his face. Great, just great. Now he was going to be the cradle-robbing fat kid of 'Team Chuck.'

"Just make it work," Beckman snapped before the screen went blank. Molly sighed and turned towards him. "Well, hi, Casey."

He nodded his hello and she shifted uncomfortably. "They kind of told me I'm supposed to move in with you-"

"Great," he grumbled, backtracking when she shot him a dirty look, "nothing against you, but I'm not really good at living with others..."

She rolled her chocolate eyes at him. "Casey, you were never this bumbling with words. In fact, you were always blunt and straight forward."

"I still am," he grumbled again and she grinned for the first time. Before, he could say anymore, she launched herself at him.

There was a loud thump against the lounge's glass door and Chuck sat up. "Oh God, he killed her!"

Anna snorted in an almost knowing fashion as she came to stand next to Morgan. "Or they're making out."

"John Casey making out? That's like saying he speaks Elvish fluently," Morgan joked and Anna shot back, "Then I guess he speaks Elvish."

"Casey and kissing implies he has feelings and Casey does not have feelings," Morgan argued and Anna rolled her eyes. "Everyone has feelings, Chuck."

The door to the lounge opened and an uncharacteristically rumpled Casey stumbled out with a dazed look on his face as he tried to re-tuck his green shirt. The leggy brunette stepped up to him and said something in what appeared to be a commanding tone and Casey grudgingly nodded. Smirking, she turned to leave, Casey's eyes trailing her curiously as he walked up to Chuck and Sarah.

Anna smirked at the group. "I told you he spoke Elvish."

"Who was that little slice of heaven," Lester purred and Casey broke from his silent perusal of the retreating brunette with an ominous glare. "That would be Molly."

"Molly," Morgan said slowly, "care to elaborate?"

Casey shifted his glare to the small, bearded man and said through gritted teeth, "Molly is my girlfriend."

"Whoa, whoa, wait," Lester laughed, "girlfriend? That was your girlfriend?"

Casey snarled at him and stomped off. Chuck smirked. "Oh, this is going to be great."