Part A

Lies of Omission


Chapter 1

Chuck

"I'm sorry, Charles. It didn't work. I'll have to rethink my whole approach. I'm sorry. You still have the intersect in your head. I was so sure…"

"Dad, it's OK, really. I have to tell Sarah and Casey. I know you did your best. Maybe the next time it'll work. Don't go all crazy on me, Dad; it's not your fault. Maybe this version of the intersect has different coding or something. I'm sure you'll find the solution. It'll just take time."

'I don't want him feeling guilty and getting caught up in the guilt and blame cycle. I've got that down to a science and one in the family is enough.'

My beautiful Sarah was waiting for me and I knew from the look on her face that she knew it hadn't worked.

"Chuck, it'll be OK, really. I'm sure your dad will rework his approach and the next time…"

"Sarah, I don't think he'll be able to do it. He's so…rattled and he doesn't have the old 'Bartowski' confidence he used to have. I don't want to pressure him in his current frame of mind, OK? We'll just keep on the way we were, handler and asset and hope that Beckman's scientists can come up with a better solution."

She hugged me really tightly and then laid a kiss on me that had me breathless and wanting so much more. I started to kiss her again but she put her fingertips to my lips and I could see her trying not to cry.

"Chuck, I was going to stay with you, honest, but Bryce has the new upload and Beckman wants me to partner with him. He'll need an experienced agent by his side…"

"…And in his bed?" Damn it! I let my mouth run away again. I'd hurt her and that was the last thing I wanted to do. I loved her and wanted a life with her, with or without the intersect, but I just couldn't handle her and Bryce together again.

"No! Never again. I – I – I know you don't understand but I have to go with him. It's my duty, Chuck. I – I – lo – I'm sorry. I'm leaving tonight. Please don't hate me, Chuck, please don't…"

"Don't let me keep you, Sarah. I know how important this fight is. I just hoped we were important, too. Look, you have your duty and Bryce has this untested thing in his head and…he'll need you. I understand and…look, it probably wouldn't have worked out between us anyway. This is probably for the best. I love you and I want you to be happy."

I hated myself for being so cold and abrupt but I didn't want her to see me fall apart. My kick-ass Ninja spygirl was going off to fight the Ring and save the world – again – and I wanted her focus to be on that and on staying safe.

"Chuck, please, I don't want us to end like this! I don't want it to ever end! You'll always be my…"

"Hey, you have to pack and I really don't want to leave my dad alone with his disappointment and guilt. Be safe, Sarah. Take care of yourself. I really need to go…"

I hugged her for the last time and felt her body heave with suppressed sobs. It was better this way. 'Yeah. Sure'. I walked away as fast I could. I didn't want her to see me fall apart.

Sarah

I watched as Stephen and Chuck talked and I knew, when Chuck hugged his father and put his hands on his shoulders and gently shook him, that the damned thing was still in my guy's head.

Damn it! Why couldn't we ever catch a break? I wanted to stay. I was going to stay but if he still has that damned thing in his head my resignation is void and I'll have to go with Larkin.

He walked over and told me what I already knew. His father hadn't been successful. I fell apart. All my hopes and dreams of being with Chuck and having a future crashed around me and I hugged him like it was the last time and then I kissed him, trying to put all the feelings I had for him into that one last kiss.

He tried to kiss me again and I could see the love and passion he felt for me in his eyes and my heart broke because I had to leave him behind.

I told him I was leaving with Bryce and he lost control for just a moment and blurted out his greatest fear – that I was going to be with Bryce in every way – including in bed.

It hurt! How could he…but then I stopped and for just an instant I was Chuck Bartowski and I saw the situation through his eyes and so I told him that I'd never be with Bryce that way. He was ashamed of himself for letting his mouth utter what he'd been thinking. This isn't how I wanted this to end. I didn't want to destroy the man I wanted to spend…

I begged him not to hate me and I watched him change right before my eyes.

He told me he understood that Bryce would need an experienced agent, would need me, and he wrapped me in his arms and I just lost it. He tried to ease things for me by saying that it probably wouldn't have worked out but that he loved me and then he was gone. I watched the man I loved walk rapidly away and I fell to my knees and cried. I never told him I loved him. He didn't know that I felt the same way about him that he felt about me.

I don't know how long I was in tears until I felt Casey kneel beside me and put his arm around my shoulders and help me to my feet.

"Sarah, you're doing your duty. If Stephen had removed the damned intersect you'd be out of the CIA in days and you and the kid could try and make a go of it, but it's still there and you made a deal. I'll watch over him and keep him safe. You do the same."

"Casey, he doesn't believe that I was going to stay! He doesn't know…" I started to cry again.

"You don't want him walking out into the courtyard and see you this way. It would kill him, Sarah. I'll take care of him for you and keep him safe and sane…well, as sane as he'll ever be. Now, go on. You have to pack and get moving. Stay safe, partner. Check in with me from time to time and I'll give you an update on the moron."

I hugged Casey and then ran to my car, leaving behind all the things I really needed and wanted in my life. I was leaving home.


Casey

I heard the fountain bug engage and listened to the two of them telling each other goodbye. Beckman will either kill Chuck or take him into custody despite her promises to Walker.

I heard Chuck make the best of a rotten situation and I was proud of him. He was giving her absolution for what he had to see as another damned betrayal.

That's when I made a life changing decision. I would not allow Beckman or anyone else to take Chuck away. I would convince Beckman that with an unproven Version 2.0 in Larkin's mind, a backup version was more than a luxury - it was a necessity. Hanging around with the moron had taught me some techno babble and I was going to snow Beckman.

Larkin is now Beckman's Golden Boy and she (actually I think he) insisted that he have his Golden Girl as a partner if Stephen couldn't get the damned thing out of Chuck's head. Walker made the deal and now she's going to have to honor it.

I walked out to the courtyard and helped her up and promised her that I'd watch out for her boytoy and that she could check on him from time to time. She hugged me and ran to her car.

I went looking for Chuck. He's my responsibility now. I won't let him down.


Four months later

"Chuck, Casey. We got a contract to get signed. Get your lazy ass out of bed and into work. We have bills to pay and customers to keep. C'mon, moron, if you're hung over it's your own damned fault. I'll see you here in 20 minutes or I'll have your ass!"

Chuck fumbled for the phone and mumbled something unintelligible. His head hurt from the previous night's Tequila shooters. He rolled over and saw that whomever he'd brought home last night had already left and he breathed a sigh of relief. He probably wouldn't remember her name and that would have proven awkward.

"Yeah, John, I'm coming. Jesus, y'know I think I can hear you without the damned phone. I got to shower and get something greasy in my stomach and then I'll be in. You just make damned sure you don't insult these people like you did the last client. I don't care if they wear wings and a tutu, keep your prejudices in check."

Casey laughed and disconnected and Chuck went in search of some Advil and some leftover takeout from whenever. Thank God for the microwave! He showered, dressed and scarfed down some leftover Chinese and left his small apartment and headed out to 21st Century Security, the new cover for the remnants of Team Intersect.

Put simply, Beckman finally realized what a pain in the ass working at the BuyMore was for the two team members. She authorized the new cover using the old Orange Orange location as their office saving the taxpayers a cool million by not having to demolish the old Castle.

Big Mike almost had a coronary when both Chuck and Casey resigned within hours of getting Beckman's final OK on the cover operation. Casey actually missed selling the monster BeastMaster grills to unsuspecting Yuppie Larva although he would never admit it. He did not miss the green shirt or the hassles of dealing with BuyMore employees trying to cramp his style.

Chuck pulled up to the front of their office and snickered. He was driving a government Impala with California plates but Casey still pushed his Crown Vic around saying that it had 'character' and a really big motor. Casey was big on anything 'really big'.

Casey was sitting at his desk in his 'office' cubicle and started ragging on Chuck who was busy ignoring him and making coffee. He was worried about his partner-in-crime and his sudden love of getting blitzed and laid every night except when they had a mission or a business function.

"So, moron, what STD-carrier did you bed last night? Still letting that airhead from Westwood between the sheets?" She wasn't exactly an 'airhead'. She was an analyst for Morgan Stanley that Ellie had fixed him up with. He'd met her once and she'd seemed OK and really liked Chuck, why, he never knew.

"I – I'm not sure. She was gone when I woke up…or rather when you screamed in my ear to get my ass in here. And she's not an airhead. She's got an MBA and a future. Can either you or I say the same?"

"Lad, you need to cut back on the booze. You lose situational awareness at the wrong time and someone will kill you, Chuck. Seriously, lay off the booze. She's not worth it."

"Casey, you only met Maggie once so you have no business saying she's not worth it."

"I meant Walker, moron."

Whatever retort Chuck might have slung back at Casey was squelched by Chuck's phone's ring tone. He glanced at the display and chuckled. Speak of the Devil. He pressed 'ignore' and went back to making coffee.

She'd called almost every day for the first two weeks after she'd gone off with Bryce and the frequency had dwindled over the months to once or twice a week.

He'd let them all go to voicemail and deleted them without listening. There was nothing she could possibly say that would interest him in the least.

'Except maybe "I'm sorry, I made a mistake. I love you and I'm coming home." That's the only thing he was interested in hearing.'

He changed the subject of his thoughts and their conversation.

"Casey, we still on for this weekend assuming no missions?" Fat chance of that. It had been a week since their last tasking. Anything Chuck pulled from the intelligence summaries he read was routed through to DC and sometimes they'd get a task but only for those items of interest that were 'local'.

The First Team got the juicy assignments. They got the leftovers.

"Yep. Looking forward to kicking some ass for a change. It's been boring around here lately. Why can't you flash on some local terrorists or some Fulcrum or even Ring baddies? I hate it when we have to go in with the DEA on an op. And that Carina…brrr." He didn't actually shiver but it was the thought that counted.

Chuck laughed at Casey. Carina Hansen was 'sex walking' and once she'd heard that Walker was no longer in the picture she'd made every attempt to get him into bed without any success. She'd even gone after Casey in spite of their 'history'. Casey never would explain or talk about 'the handcuffs'.

"I'm going down and start the review. Maybe we'll get lucky. Call me when the clients get here if I'm not back. Casey, we've got to do something about getting a receptionist. Talk to Beckman. Explain the situation."

"Bartowski, we're the second string now. We don't get the usual perks the First Team gets. Not any more. I'll include it in my report. You go find us some bad guys."

Chuck walked into the room that used to be cold storage when this place was the Yogurt Shop and accessed the Castle and started reviewing the intel summaries.

Casey didn't know that he and Maggie…she'd dumped him last weekend saying she wasn't anyone's rebound girl and certainly not 'Sarah'. That had been humiliating for both of them. You don't sigh someone else's name when you have an orgasm. It was so not cool.

Casey's cell rang and he looked at the display and smirked. 'He still won't take her calls. Lets it go to voicemail and then deletes them without listening to them. He's learned the hard way. Good boy.'

"Hello, Walker. He's fine. I'm fine. How's Bryce?" He almost always got a call shortly after she'd tried to reach Chuck. It was painful talking with her but he respected her and always took her call.

"Casey, he still won't take my calls and he's never called or responded to my voicemails. How is he? I miss him so much and I hate this damned assignment and Bryce Larkin! Every day is another day in Hell. How is he?"

"He's…OK. He deletes your voicemails without listening to them. What do you expect him to do? I know he worries about you but he's never said one word about you or Bryce to me. His new girlfriend dumped him because he called her 'Sarah' at the wrong time. You figure it out, Walker. How do you think he is?"

"He talked about it with you?"

"No, idiot! I still monitor his place, his new place, I mean. Hell, Walker, he's still the intersect. Just not the first team any more. She dumped him and I really think he was relieved. Now, Carina…that girl has her sights on him but so far he's blown her off. So far."

"I have to go. My flight's been called. We're going back to DC for an evaluation. This new thing isn't working right. Too many blown missions. Maybe…maybe if I get some free time I can fly out and see him…"

"Sarah. Don't. Don't do this to him or to yourself. You made the deal. You know the rules. Just keep yourself in one piece. He's coping but if anything happened to you…"

"I'll do what I have to do to keep him safe. I'll talk with you later."


Chuck was bored and pulled up the local crime reports for Los Angeles hoping to find something that would keep the team busy. Casey became cranky whenever he went more than a few days without some 'action'.

He flashed on a 'gang war' in China Town between the White Powder Ma tong and new group trying to carve out a niche in the drug trade. The LAPD reports he'd hacked into included photos and mug shots of the dead.

He flashed and flashed hard. The 'new group' included several Chinese who were in the intersect and were operatives of the Red Chinese intelligence service. Drug distribution was the perfect cover for an intel operation.

Casey talked it over with the General and was told to leave it alone. The LAPD and the FBI would handle it. She thanked him for his 'input' and disconnected. Casey was not happy at all. He hated being on the second string of anything.

Chuck was waiting for their tasking. He felt strongly about this intel. Unconsciously he wanted to have a major coup, a successful operation, just to show General Beckman that there they were still a viable operation.

"Well, what did she say? Are we good to go?"

"Nope. Stand down. The LAPD and the FBI 'will handle it'. It was good intel, Chuck, but we're not included in the operation. Sorry. I know you're bored…"

"We could always drive down and cruise around China Town a bit, Casey. Maybe we could spot one of them. There's a restaurant they use as a cover and meeting place according to the LAPD intel reports. Hungry? Feel like a little Chinese for lunch?"

"We got a client meeting in an hour. It's not our task. Leave it alone, Bartowski. We have our orders." Casey was disgusted. It was good intel and he wanted to do just what Chuck had suggested but he had his orders. 'Stand down'.

The client meeting went smoothly and 21st Century Security had a big job ahead of them and Casey was already contacting contractors to handle the wiring and installation of the external security cameras and sensors. He and Chuck would handle the internals as well as beef up their network security. Beckman would be pleased. They were covering their expenses unlike so many other intel units.

Two weeks later

The installation was finally done and Cangelosi Trucking and Storage was now secure. Casey had subcontracted out the security monitoring and all they had to do was deposit the check. It wasn't as good as gunplay but it was strangely satisfying. Maybe he was getting old.

"Hey, Bartowski, let's stick this sucker in the bank and go out and have dinner to celebrate."

"Yeah, sure, whatever. Y'know, I feel like…I crave Chinese food, Casey. How about it?" He hadn't let it go. He'd hacked into the LAPD system and created a backdoor and a username and password. He had been following along with the investigation. So far they'd come up with nothing. The FBI had assigned a single agent to the task force.

"OK. We'll hit the Golden Dragon and then maybe a bar? We need to celebrate at least one successful venture."

"Um, I was thinking something more authentic. How about Wu Chow's down in China Town?" He looked at Casey and saw the beginnings of a rant forming.

"I told you to let it go, Bartowski. What part of 'stand down' didn't you understand, you moron!" He would have said more but Chuck interrupted him just as loudly.

"The FBI is so concerned that they assigned one damned agent to the LAPD task force. One! We have a Red Chinese intel operation right here under our noses and no one seems to think it's important enough to task more than one damned agent!"

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt if we just had dinner and took a look around." He felt just as violated as Chuck did with the thoughts of a foreign intel operation in the US and no one was doing squat about it.


Wu Chow's
China Town, Los Angeles

Chuck was looking around at the restaurant noting the location of several surveillance cameras – more than would be required for simple security of a restaurant against robbery.

They placed their orders and were enjoying a local brew when a young Chinese woman and three large men in suits appeared at their table.

"Forgive the interruption, gentlemen, but you seem to be taking an unusual interest in our security arrangements." She was short, about 30 and was wearing a Chinese pants suit. She had long hair and was stunning. Chuck took this all in and stood up politely.

"I'm sorry to worry you. My partner and I are in the security business and are just celebrating the completion of an installation and large contract. It's purely a professional interest." He smiled his 'Sarah' smile unknowingly and pulled out a business card for 21st Century Security and handed it to her.

She looked down at the card and Chuck's eyes followed and spotted the 'death dot' of a laser sight on her chest. He didn't think. He acted. He yelled out 'Casey, sniper' and dove into the woman knocking her to the ground and covering her with his body.

Casey was fast. He saw Chuck grab the woman and pull her down to the floor. The tall man who'd been standing behind the woman was directly in the bullet's path and his stomach suddenly blossomed into a huge hole and a fountain of blood. His body was thrown back from the impact and Casey thought 'Barrett .50 Cal' as he threw himself down under the table.

Two vans pulled up in front of the restaurant windows and several Asian men got out and began shooting up the restaurant with automatic weapons while yelling something in Chinese. Whatever was being said was lost in the noise and screams of the diners.

It was over as quickly as it had begun. "Chuck, you all right?"

"Yeah, I think so." He looked down at the woman he was covering. "You OK? Are you hurt?" She looked to be in shock and he quickly got off her and pulled her to her feet. "I asked if you were OK? Are you?" He flashed but shrugged it off. He'd deal with it later.

She looked at him with a blank look and then looked over to the man lying on the ground. She looked back at Chuck and then threw up all over him.


The LAPD took their statements and they were back in Burbank within two hours. Chuck was wearing a surgical smock and his coat, shirt and tie were in a plastic bag. The smell of her vomit still managed to stink up Casey's Crown Vic.

Casey took one hand off the steering wheel and slapped Chuck on the back of the head. "Idiot! Don't you ever do anything like that again. You are not a trained agent. You could have been killed and then where would we be?"

"I couldn't let her be killed, Casey. What kind of person do you think I am?"

"You're the damned intersect. It was a professional hit. We were damned lucky tonight."

"She's a Chinese agent of the People's Bureau for Internal Security. She's like our FBI, Casey. There's more to this than an intelligence op. We need to let Beckman know. The FBI is doing squat!"

"You flashed?" He was already planning his report to Beckman and didn't plan on mentioning their little 'recon' dinner.

"Yep. Beckman's going to have a cow over this. I think the intel cell is a rogue operation and the Chinese have sent in some agents to take them out without raising our suspicions. The Tong War is just a smoke screen. Does that make sense?"

They drove back to Chuck's apartment where he showered and changed clothes. Casey wanted to report this immediately to the General but Chuck asked him to hold off for a few hours. It wasn't even 6am in DC and he didn't want to irritate the General more than she'd already be.


21st Century Security
Castle complex
Burbank, CA

"Let me get this straight, Colonel Casey. You and Bartowski were involved in a gangland shooting and Bartowski thinks it's a cover for a Chinese housekeeping cleanup?"

"Yes, ma'am. That about sums it up. He flashed on an agent of their 'FBI' and then it all went to hell. It's supposition but based on the intel crap in the LAPD database, it seems logical."

"I'm assigning another agent to your team. Integrate her into your cover operation as you see fit. Leave the Chinese thing alone, Colonel! Do I make myself clear enough for you?"

"Yes, ma'am. A new agent. No involvement with the Tong thing."

"One last thing, Colonel. Bartowski is no longer an asset. He's a field analyst. Cut the surveillance to a minimum and tell him I said 'good work' but make sure he understands the stand-down order. Clear?"

"Cystal, General."


NSA Headquarters
FT Meade, MD

Beckman disconnect the video link and turned to the woman sitting in her office drinking coffee.

"Agent Walker, go home. Larkin will be in the hospital for at least 2 or possibly 3 months, longer if you add in rehab time. I can't have a valuable agent cooling her heels in DC while we sort out the problem with the intersect. Consider yourself reassigned permanently to the Burbank operation. He's a field analyst now, Sarah. Not an asset. Those rules no longer apply."

Sarah Walker blinked and then smiled a real smile for the first time in almost 4 months. She was going home!

"Thank you, General. I understand. I'll be out of here as soon as possible. I have a fence to mend. I tore it up pretty good when I left. Thank you again."

"Go easy on him, Sarah. These last few months have been very difficult for him. He never once whined or complained. I think the boy is becoming a man. See to it that he stays productive and safe. Now get out of here before I change my mind."

Not for the first time Beckman found herself wishing that Bartowski had taken the 2.0 download instead of the pain in the ass who had. She was beginning to really hate Bryce Larkin and his whining and excuses. He'd insisted on Walker as a partner and he still failed miserably.

Next Chapter: Return of the Golden Girl

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