T10Chpt1
T/N: Prologue was skimpy, so here's another chapter to keep you interested. Then I have got to dissertate.
Nik
Chapter 1
Burbank Buy More
The text message was terse: CASTLE NOW.
Casey was grinding his teeth, trying not to kill Morgan who had latched onto Bartowski and was not letting go. He was whining about Anna Wu and his continuing battle with reality even though Chuck was on the phone with a customer diagnosing a system problem.
Chuck looked at his cell phone, saw the text from Casey and mouthed 'later' and went back to his phone call while trying to peel Morgan Grimes off his arm. He needed to take notes.
Casey glowered at him and turned and went back to the break room to use the 'secret' entrance to the Castle. One of these days Grimes would have an accident. He amused himself with all kinds of different scenarios: the falling stock shelf unit; the big screen TV unit crashing down on him; his personal favorite: Grimes being run over repeatedly by a berserk Anna Wu in a Nerd Herder. Casey had a thing for Anna Wu but kept it under control until he was in the privacy of his shower and then…
Castle
"Where's Chuck?" Sarah Walker was looking forward to seeing her cover boyfriend for the first time that day. She always looked forward to his special 'hello, Sarah' smile that reminded her of someone else long ago in South America. Her smile faltered as she remembered the circumstances and then was quickly restored by Casey's comment that he was 'unpeeling Grimes from his arm and finishing up a trouble ticket.'
The large monitor came to life displaying a split screen of Director Arthur Graham of the CIA and General Beckman, NSA. Something had happened and the two refused to share the same office long enough to conduct a video conference.
"Where is Mr. Bartowski, Major Casey? This is not an optional briefing." Beckman was in a pissy mood so Casey knew to tread carefully.
"He's still at the Buy More, ma'am, handling a customer trouble ticket. All the other Herders are in the field. He'll be along shortly."
"I don't have time to waste. Arthur, handle the meeting. Do what you want. I do not want to waste any more time on something I disagree with so strongly. Good bye, Major Casey." She disconnected abruptly and the image wavered as it adjusted to one screen image.
"What General Beckman is so upset about is a decision I shoved down her throat. She's so…anal sometimes. Now, Agent Walker, you can fill Chuck in on the details but basically, you're moving in together at a CIA-provided apartment and your cover relationship can proceed where it will. Just don't let it compromise the mission too badly."
"The CIA feels that someone with feelings for the asset will provide a deeper and more committed level of protection than an agent operating as simply a cover girlfriend."
"Major Casey, that means you can end your evening surveillance and have a somewhat normal life if that can be said for someone living in California." He smiled knowing that the only saving grace for California in Casey's eyes was that it was the final resting place of Ronald Reagan.
"Thank you, Director. I'll try. Now, any new missions on the horizon?"
"Not at this time, no, sorry. But one can always hope. That's it. Be safe."
He disconnected and the CIA logo floated across the screen as Chuck walked down the stairs.
"Sorry, guys, I couldn't just dump the customer. As for Morgan, hopeless, utterly hopeless. Anna's dumped him for some mystery man she doesn't have the remotest chance with. I had to listen to her tale of Wu-woe but here I am." He smiled at Sarah that special 'I'm not allowed to love you but I do anyways' smile that melted her heart every time he did it.
"Well, moron, you get to live your fantasy as long as Walker can stomach it. You and she are, I'm sorry, I just can't say it. Just, please, keep the girly stuff in your love nest and keep it out of the Castle. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
"Can I have the English language version of that, please? I'm lost."
"No shit, Sherlock. What's new about that?" Casey was on a roll. He didn't mind the fact that his partner and her ex-cover boyfriend would be shacking up. No. It made his life easier. What bothered him was that he would have nothing to fill his evenings with except the History Channel, 100 Pipers and bonsai.
"Enough, Casey. Chuck, I'll explain everything tonight. Pick you up at 7pm, okay?"
"Oh, yeah, cover date night. I forgot. Imagine that. Yeah, 7's fine. See ya then, Sarah. I have to get back to work."
He walked up the stairs and back to the Buy More. His mind was not on what he was doing and so he didn't see the Dodge Ram bearing down on him. The driver blew her horn at the last minute and he scooted out of the way.
"Asshole!" she screamed at him. He looked at her and flashed. Oh, crap.
He turned and watched her park the big truck park in front of the Buy More and enter the store. He ran back to the castle.
"Guys, Eva Mardis is in the Buy More. She almost ran me down and I flashed and she went into the store. She's got weapons and drug charges galore but she's also the wife of Eddie Vasco."
Casey looked at Walker who shrugged her shoulders. "Who is Eddie Vasco, Chuck?"
"Eddie Vasco is the 2nd in command of the Fulcrum units in the American Southwest. We follow her and we find Eddie and take him and Casey squeezes him for info or maybe turns him. He used to be CIA back in the early 90s."
"Good job, Bartowski. I'll send this into DC and we'll see what they want us to do. In the meantime, go back to work and don't do anything to arouse her suspicions. In other words, ignore her."
Sarah was proud of Chuck. He was maturing and acting more and more like an agent and less like a…she didn't know exactly what he wasn't any more.
As Chuck walked back to the Buy More a second time, his mind wandered down his 'to do' list. First was to contact Larkin and find out what the hell was going on. Then he had to develop a plan to kill himself. "That sounds so nasty on so many levels'.
He took out his cell phone, got dial tone, entered a complicated code and then dialed Larkin's number.
"Larkin, secure."
"You son of a bitch." This was said in idiomatic Klingon.
"Chuck? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong? Beckman's got a private contractor to sanction me, that's what. And guess who told her I was a Fulcrum recruit, Bryce old buddy old pal?"
"Chuck, I haven't spoken to Beckman in months. I've been deep cover…"
"Yeah, infiltrating Fulcrum. She said that."
"Huh? No. I'm in Europe, Greece actually. I'm working on identifying and eliminating arms traders to and from the Balkans. Talk to me."
"She contacted Kappa for an engagement."
"Shit. What are you going to do?"
"I don't know. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. I might have to go dark. Damn it. I just found her again and we're making some progress."
"Sarah? Good. You know, after Quito, she never, I mean, we never…"
"TMI, my brother. TMI. Watch your ass over there. I'm the last one and I'm kinda busy right now. Call if you need me. And watch out for Beckman. Bitch is up to something. I've ducked two extractions already."
"Yeah. You're the last one. I'm sorry I got you into this, Chuck. Really, man. I had to send it somewhere. You were the only choice I had, brother."
"Got to fly, Bry. Watch your skinny ass. How's the herpes?"
"Fuck you, Chuck. It was only a cold sore. I told you that!"
"That's not what Jill said."
"Have…have you heard from her?"
"She's married. Out of the family. She's happy, Bry. Don't screw it up for her. You had your chance and made your choice now live with it."
He disconnected and entered another string of numbers and turned off his cell.
He did no more than set one foot into the store before Morgan was on him like white on rice.
"Chuck, I took your advice and confronted Anna and…it was horrible. Your advice sucks so bad, Chuck."
"Um, Morgan, I didn't give you any advice. Think hard, little buddy. Did whoever gave you this advice have brown hair or almost no hair?"
"Oh, no. Jeff." Morgan was devastated – again. "Chuck, you have to help me. I'm losing my Anna-banana."
"Morgan, you never had her. Now, go back to work before a broken heart is augmented by a broken head. Big Mike's been watching you not work. Go." He pushed Morgan toward a customer and walked up to the Herder desk and read through the phone messages and then checked the board. All the Herders were accounted for. He could relax for a few seconds.
"Excuse me, but I need some help. Which of these phones is the best for web access?" He looked up into the violet eyes of Eva Mardis and was instantly captivated by her voice and eyes. She wasn't beautiful but she was certainly striking.
Chuck handled her questions, showed her several models and offered his personal opinion. She bought four of the top of the line models and then she smiled at him. "You're cute. If you're not busy later, come over to the Marriott. My ex is having a party and I have to go and make people think I actually like the guy. I only have to show my face for a few minutes and then…" she ran her fingers down Chuck's tie, across his belt and then grabbed his package and gently massaged it.
His voice squeaked "What time and how dressy is it?"
Eva giggled and gave him a tweak. "8ish and please, lose the uniform. A nice suite would really make you look…edible." She giggled again and left, making sure he saw her perfect upside down heart of an ass in her tight leather pants.
"Chuck, buddy, I need…"
"Morgan, I love ya, dude, but I need my space right now so go back to work, numb nuts!" Christ, I'm turning into Casey!
Castle
Casey had been watching the encounter on surveillance monitors in the Castle and chuckled. Sometimes having Chuck around was entertaining and beneficial.
"What's so funny at the Buy More, Casey? A rack of CDs fall on some kid or something?" She was getting tired of Casey's constant badgering of her asset. Yeah, and soon he's going to be my boyfriend under the cover and over the cover and between the sheets, on the couch, on the kitchen counter, on the washing machine when it hits the spin cycle…oh, my!'
"Bartowski just provided us with a way into the party and a chance to meet with good ol' Eddie. Here, hit 'play back' and you can see the boy in action. He does have some moves, I'll say that for him." Actually, Casey was impressed. Chuck took his orders, tried the best to obey them and when he couldn't, he did what was best for the mission.
"That BITCH!"
"I see you got to the best part. Y'know, he wasn't encouraging her or anything. She must like Nerds is all." He chuckled and then went back to the Buy More to learn more about the evening's 'entertainment'. Messing with Walker was such fun.
Buy More
Chuck watched as Casey came back onto the sales floor. Casey looked at him and gave him a thumbs-up and…gasp…a smile! He walked over to Chuck and got right to the point.
"Bartowski, I told you to avoid her and I see once again you fell into the shit pot and came out with the prize. So, what time and where?"
Castle
The chime sounded an incoming video conference and since Sarah was alone, she took it at her workstation.
"Ah, Agent Walker, good. I was hoping you would pick up. What was Mr. Bartowski's reaction? I want all the juicy details."
"He doesn't know. He flashed…" and she outlined what she knew and the 'date' at the Marriott. She was surprised at the Director's laughter. "That boy would fall into a bucket of shit and crawl out with a rose between his teeth. Too bad we can't recruit him. With the proper training, no female operative on the opposing teams would stand a chance. Incredible."
Sarah frowned, not liking the direction this conversation was heading.
"Agent Walker, we may be expanding Mr. Bartowski's role in the future. Despite his flailing limbs and girly screams, he's got real potential and has proven time and time again that the man, not the machine, makes the difference. Um, actually, the human agent, not the machine. Sorry. Must be PC and all."
She frowned even more. Definitely not the direction she wanted this to go.
"So, tonight Bartowski goes in, plays nice with this Eva Mardis, flashes on our fast Eddie Mardis and gets out again. We can't risk him in an unprotected environment like a dinner party, even at the Marriott. You and Major Casey will provide backup and support tonight. You'll be a waitress and Casey will be working the bar. Keep an eye on our boy and don't let him wander out of contact. Contact me when the mission is concluded."
Sarah called Casey and told him of their new instructions. Casey grunted when told he was a bartender but laughed outright when Sarah mentioned she was a waitress.
"What? What's so funny?"
"The Marriott's waitresses wear…very skimpy uniforms, Sarah. Very skimpy. The lad's going to get to see his Christmas present a bit early this year." He was still laughing and Sarah hung up on him in a huff.
