April 2008

Bon Tempe Lake - North of San Francisco

Chuck was thirsty; he had just gained 300 vertical feet on the trail leading up to the lake and was still trying to identify five more species of birds before calling it a day. He paused to catch his breath and sat down on a stump. He had moved up to San Anselmo two months ago and so much had changed. Sarah was gone from his life, God that still hurt to say it and think it but at least he didn't cry anymore. For the first month he tried every avenue to get Sarah's address to write but Graham and Beckman said it was deep cover and couldn't help him. They also told Chuck given the sensitivity of the mission not to expect any contact from Sarah it was just too dangerous.

His small business developing software games and advising on hacking defences was starting to work out and he loved the area. It was a perfect micro climate most of the year, not too hot and not too cold. Great biking and hiking in the watershed areas and State Parks plus he was close to San Francisco. He had poured himself into the business and exercising. He had cut back on almost all the junk food. Sometimes though a little gremlin from time to time snuck cheese puffballs into the apartment.

Zondra Rizzo, ex C.A.T. squad member and now CIA field agent was between missions and on a two week vacation, she was enjoying the spring migration by tramping the watershed areas, sewage ponds and lakes and trails all in the aid of getting her bird count up. Her dad had taken her out birding with him as a young child of six and his passion for bird watching had become her passion. It was one way she kept from going crazy with the life she led and the things she had to do. She loved the peace and quiet and solitude, it restored her soul. Well not completely but it helped. Up ahead she noticed the young man sitting on the stump up ahead. She felt for her gun tucked away then snapped up her binoculars and checked him out. Not a threat, just another bird watcher. As she got closer Chuck noticed her. She was about 5'9" he guessed and with brown hair and this olive complexion to her skin. Wow, nice looking and she walked with this air of confidence. He'd seen that kind of walk before but he couldn't quite place it, not a swagger more like a "don't mess with me" stride.

Chuck's hearing was excellent and he heard something over in the pine tree. As Zondra approached he put his finger to his lips and pointed over at the pine tree. Zondra snapped up her glasses smoothly and saw the Lewis Woodpecker. She moved quietly closer to Chuck who then heard another bird call and looked behind him. Zondra followed his movement and saw the Scrub Jay. As they were both looking at the jay she noticed movement at her 9 o'clock and saw the spotted towhee, she nudged Chuck's arm to alert him and he spotted the bird. They scanned the area for another two minutes without saying a word.

Chuck lowered his glasses and then finally saw the beautiful woman standing beside him and broke the ice. "Have you had a good day, seen any life birds yet? Oh, sorry I forgot my manners; my name is Chuck and put his hand out." Zondra smiled. She couldn't believe it, she was wearing shorts and a lightweight hiking shirt that wasn't revealing but nonetheless very complimentary to her body and yet this guy takes forever to notice her. The nice thing she filed away for future reference was he didn't ogle her. He did however make great eye contact with her and had lovely brown eyes.

"Hi I'm Zondra, no life birds yet, but this is my first day. What about you?"

"Honestly, I only started into Bird watching about a month ago so everything goes on my list right now. The one thing I have going for me is I can hear them and then I can usually spot them, even though 80% of the time I don't know exactly what I see. I'm headed over to Alpine Lake, apparently there are some teals over there. I'd welcome the company but don't want to intrude?"

Zondra, normally would have said goodbye and gone her own way, she didn't like getting overly involved with civilians but there was something about this guy, what the hell, after all four eyes and four ears were better than two in spotting birds."

They spent the next two hours tramping along the lake and nearby trails. Most of the time she was helping him identifying the birds they saw, but he was a quick study. His hearing was an order of magnitude better than hers and he always nailed down where the sound was coming from, impressive. They walked down the trail together for three miles back to the car park entrance. For a lot of the walk there was companionable silence. He didn't ask her about herself but mentioned his new company and just moving here. They were now back to the car park and Chuck looked at here and was about to speak and stopped, he then started again and said. "I really appreciate you helping me with the identifications, you are a sensei of birding and he did a mock bow to her." She laughed and bowed back and said "When you can take the binoculars from my hand you can leave the temple." Both of them laughed. She just knew this guy would not take a chance on asking her out he was very careful about not intruding into her space, quite the gentleman. She surprised herself as she said. "Listen Chuck, I am starved and I am going into town to eat, I would welcome your company." Chuck smiled and said. "Lead the Way."

August 2008

Zondra was sitting in Chuck's apartment, wearing one of his T-shirts and curled up on the sofa. He was fussing in the kitchen making her pancakes for breakfast. She gave him a big smile when he looked at her and she felt warmed inside at knowing him and being with him. She still shook her head. In the space of four months they had had some amazing ups and downs including her pulling a gun on him. She smiled, they both knew that she would never ever do him any harm. She then started going back over the past four months in her mind and drifted a little.

When it came to her relationship with Chuck, and looking back, she realized she was in too deep before she knew it, she was a goner. It only took that first two weeks spending time with him. Afterward when she went on a short two week mission, she couldn't stop thinking about him and cursed herself that she had no pictures of him. This had never happened to her before. So she checked him out with the agency and got the shock of her life. Red flags popped up all over the place. She finally talked with Director Graham and he told her everything. [except that Chuck used to be the intersect which was way above her need to know.] Graham told her that Bartowski was now a civilian, who for a year had done amazing things for his country and had worked with two handlers. That mission was over and now he had no further connection with the intelligence community. Zondra, again out of character had worked up the courage to ask Director Graham if there was any reason for her to not get involved with Chuck. Her heart was in her throat as she waited for Graham's reply.

Graham said. "Agent Rizzo, you can tell him you are an agent but nothing more and yes proceed, have at it, if that is your desire. Keep him safe Zondra, I like Bartowski"

Five weeks after first meeting him on the trail, she had specially invited him over to her hotel suite in San Francisco, her sanctuary. He showed up and once in the room smiled at her, one of those big smiles that she thought about when he wasn't with her.

"Chuck, I need to tell you something and I'm nervous about doing this but here goes. I have never lied to you. I don't want ever to do that but I haven't been totally forthcoming with you. Here goes, I am an agent with the CIA." She was about to go on when she saw Chuck's demeanor abruptly change and he was angry. She'd never seen him angry before. He stood up and moved two steps towards her towering over her as she sat on the edge of her bed and said. "You mean this was a mission, I was a mark and you were playing me. God I'm so sick of this, why the hell can't you people leave me in peace. I just want to be normal again. So what's the plan this time Agent Rizzo get me in the sack, manipulate me, control me or recruit me?"

Zondra saw red and she sprang to her feet, how dare he say that to her and how dare he get into her personal space, so with practiced ease she pulled her gun out and pointed it away from him but told him in a low threatening voice. "Back away, now."

Chuck looked at the gun and took a step back and said. "Unless you plan to shoot me, please put that away Agent Rizzo, I am sorry if you felt threatened." Zondra looked down at the gun and then Chuck and holstered the gun.

Chuck wearily sat back down in the chair. He put his head in his hands and said. "What do want from me Agent Rizzo, because I'm confused, I thought I had a green light from the CIA to get on with my life? To try to be a normal guy and live a normal life?"

Zondra didn't know where to begin but she knew every word out of her mouth from this point on had to be true, because one lie, one deflection, one hesitation on her part would kill this relationship dead in its tracks. God he was like a deer ready to run. So very slowly Zondra told him the truth, their meeting was a pure accident. It wasn't a mission for her. She had been on vacation and the thing she most loved was being in the woods. She then told him about her dad taking her out bird watching as a child. Finally she told him that she had followed standard agency protocol and had cleared her possible relationship with him to Graham, who said it was okay for them to "..give it a go." Chuck had calmed down and was listening closely to all that she said and he was looking at her body and her eyes looking for a lie. She knew he still didn't quite trust her.

Zondra smiled inwardly and said in for a penny, in for a pound, she then said. "Chuck you know agents protect their real identity, especially there real name and the identity of their family more than any other secret they have. There is simply too much danger, too many enemies who could use that information and hurt them. I am going to go with my heart and my gut on this Chuck, I am going to trust you with something precious. My real name is Sofia, I won't tell you my last name."

Chuck had wanted to get out of her hotel room and shake the dust from his shoes. He hated the idea that the CIA was sniffing around his life. But he listened and he was waiting for the story, the lies, and the half-truths and was amazed at how Zondra or Sofia spoke to him. The sharing of her real name, that was amazing, Sarah had never shared her real name with him. He sat back and ruminated on what Zondra had said. She was either the most brilliant liar on the planet or he was getting the truth. He jumped in and asked her a lot of questions. To be fair only twice did she say she couldn't answer a question because of her promise to Graham.

Chuck then said. "Zondra. I need to tell you something, it's about an agent who was one of my handler's. I need to tell you this before we start down this road of maybe getting into a relationship you need to know what happened, the fact is I'm still in love with her and she with me. I forced her to make a choice and in the end she chose the CIA over me. I have no contact with her, even though I tried, I even went to Graham. He told me that it could be years before I heard from her."

Zondra looked at Chuck and said. "So if I wasn't a CIA agent and just a normal girl, would you have told me about this other woman?"

Chuck said. "Of course, it wouldn't be fair to a normal girl, I just wouldn't have told her the other woman was a CIA agent. Listen Zondra, I guess I'm damaged goods not only to you but to any other woman I might meet right now. But I want you to know that the last five weeks has been the happiest I've been since, since I left Burbank and I know it's solely because of you, being in my life."

Zondra sat on the edge of her bed and cocked her head to the left studying Chuck. Yes he was damaged goods. But if he knew even a tenth of what had happened to her in the last three years he would know she also was damaged goods. God, what to do? Be honest with yourself Sofia, you are 27 years old and you have never met a man like this. Are you going to meet someone better in the next ten years, not likely, not in your line of work? Then she thought that time is not on my side. It was a shitty hand nature had dealt her but there it was and I know that there is nothing I can do to change that. Finally she made a decision.

"Chuck I have a proposition for you, for us. Let's keep seeing each other, give it another two or three months and see if your heart is big enough to love two women. I don't need for you to stop loving her but I won't be second. I know that doesn't make sense, do you understand what I mean when I say that?"

Chuck gave her a little smile and said. "I honestly don't know, but I know that the chance to be with you for two or three months is something I want to have. I would feel horrible if you just walked out on me and I could never see you again. So proposition accepted, let's see what this funny heart of mine is capable of."

Chuck broke Zondra's reverie and said. "Okay the pancakes are ready, let's eat."

After breakfast Chuck told Zondra he needed to nip down to his office and get a registered letter that a courier had dropped off. Did she want to come? She declined and said. "Listen go get your letter, and pick up a nice bottle of red for us for tonight. I'll clear up the breakfast dishes and clean up." She then walked over to him and put her hand on his cheek and then slid it to the back of his head and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Chuck eagerly responded and for just a moment it looked like going to the office and clearing dishes would be on hold for a while. But then Zondra broke the kiss and said. "Chuck, I swear you have put a spell on me. I am going to be strong here, go get your letter and the wine but hurry back, we have a lot of catching up to do!"

Chuck left and Zondra wanted to replay in her mind what happened last night and what she had just done.

Last night

Zondra and Chuck had mutually agreed that until Chuck could cope with loving two women at the same time, sex was off the table. Zondra had said to him. "Chuck if for some reason this women comes tomorrow and knocks at our door and she and I are both standing there in front of you. I need to know, even if it breaks your heart that you will stay with me. If you can't do that then tell me so and let's part friends."

In the last four months there had been hugs and kisses goodnight and holding hands but both of them realized that until Chuck could make that commitment to her then how could she commit to a serious relationship with him? It cut both ways.

The last mission she had been on finished up earlier than expected but successfully. She requested and got two weeks' vacation. The last two weeks she had been with Chuck constantly, walking, talking, watching DVDs and doing these crazy video games with him. It was getting harder and harder for the two of them to keep their hands off each other. They were just finishing watching a movie and she knew Chuck was a million miles away not paying attention to the screen. He took the remote and turned off the movie. Stood up and started walking around the room. Finally he came back and sat beside her and said. "Zondra, my heart is big enough to love two women. There is something else, and I'm afraid to say it because it is unfair to ask you but I know we will never work out if you continue to be a CIA field agent. Like you I don't want to be second fiddle and as long as you are working for them I get only the scraps of your life, they get everything else." Chuck waited for the answer he knew was coming, after all, how could a computer nerd compete with the CIA. Truth to be told Zondra was every bit as beautiful as Sarah and they were both way out of his league. He waited for the body blow and tensed.

Zondra turned to Chuck and a smile spread on her face and she looked at him and at those big brown eyes and said. "Chuck I want you more than I want the CIA. There are some other factors that actually make my decision easier to leave the agency. If you are willing to commit to us, then I will call tomorrow and start the process of resigning, it takes two weeks but then as they say I'm yours. I need to look for a job, any ideas?" Zondra smiled at Chuck's reaction. The sadness in his eyes was replaced with joy and he grabbed her and hugged her as hard as he could. Then he kissed her and she kissed him back as fiercely. When they parted to catch their breath. Zondra whispered in his ear. Chuck Bartowski you have two minutes to get me into your bedroom and on your bed or I'm out of here."

September 2008

Zondra ex CIA agent now used her real name Sofia Williams. Sofia was in the washroom and was getting ready for bed. As she came out of the bathroom she was wearing her Dartmouth T-Shirt on and was wearing red panties. As she moved towards the bed, Chuck was sitting up on his side and watching her. "Chuck, what's that look for? What are you up to?" He looked down at her pillow. On top of her pillow there was a single rose and a little jewellery box with a white ribbon round it. Sofia stopped dead in her tracks and her throat tightened up and her eyes misted. She bent down and smelled the rose and took the box and undid the ribbon. Inside was an engagement rink, it wasn't too big but she didn't care. Chuck said. "Sofia would you do me the honor of becoming my wife." Sofia couldn't speak, all she could do was hug him and kiss him. Finally she wiped away the tears and said yes Chuck. But you and I need to go down this weekend and meet my parents. Chuck I love them both, I need you to ask them for their blessing. Please." Chuck said. "Of course but I don't know anything about them, hell I don't even know where they live?" Sofia laughed and said. "We are going to San Diego. They are both US Naval officers. Dad is Commander Daniel Williams and Mom is Lt. Commander Janice Williams. Chuck Bartowski my love, you'd better get your shit together and yourself squared aware before you meet them. I want their blessing on our marriage."