A/N: Welcome back everyone, it has been quite some time since I last posted, but this story hit quite a few roadblocks that took time to get through. A huge thanks goes out to my beta michaelfmx, who is a constant inspiration. I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. I realize that this is quite a different story from what I've written before but I enjoy the challenge of it. That being said, a quick reminder that this is an AU fic. Familiar characters, places and event will be used to suit my own preferences. Canonical timelines and events don't concern me much. Hopefully that becomes more clear as the story unfolds. Alright, enough babbling from me, I hope you all enjoy the update!
February 4, 2009: Washington D.C.
"His name is Theodore Roark," Graham explained, pushing the folder containing the man's profile towards Sarah. "Sixty years old, founder and CEO of Roark Instruments and your new mark."
Sarah flipped through the documents while the CIA Director, Langston Graham, spoke. It was obvious, even at first glance, that Roark was a big fish. If Graham had decided to assign her a new mission, specifically one that included investigating a man like Theodore "Ted" Roark, it was evidence that her reputation within the agency was recovering after the CAT Squad catastrophe; and it was about time that her efforts were noticed. For the six months since her diversion to Malibu, Sarah had thrown herself into each and every mission she'd been assigned. Big or small, tedious or dangerous she'd been eager to prove herself to her superiors and finally, it seemed, her hard work was paying off. Langston Graham had been her direct superior while she worked side by side with the other members of the CAT squad and, after their fallout, Sarah wasn't sure that Graham would be willing to let her continue as a solo agent. Apparently, she'd been wrong.
Graham leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on top of his desk and lacing his fingers together. "Recently, we've discovered some disturbing communications between Roark's company, Roark Instruments, and Fulcrum. Encrypted messages. Suspected monetary transfers."
Sarah looked up from the picture of Roark's face that she'd been studying. "He's been in contact with Fulcrum? Why?"
"That's what I need you to find out," Graham continued, his intense gaze boring into Sarah's. "Roark is a powerful man and his company has a reputation for creating some impressive technology. Whatever his connection with Fulcrum is, it can't be anything good."
Sarah closed Roark's file and centered it on the desk in front of her. She sat up a little straighter than was necessary and lifted her chin before replying, "What are your orders then, sir?"
"You'll be flying out to Burbank, California, tomorrow morning. Your job is to gather as much Intel as possible on Ted Roark and his communications with Fulcrum
The mission sounded simple enough. Sarah was about to respond that she could be ready to leave far sooner than tomorrow morning when Graham spoke again, "But you won't be going alone."
Sarah blanched. For a moment, she wondered if Graham had also briefed one of the other CATs on this mission, but she quickly put that thought out of her head. Graham wasn't a fool. He wouldn't force a mission with agents he knew couldn't work together efficiently. But Sarah had been working small solo missions for the better part of six months now. Part of her was affronted that Graham felt she needed a partner now. She could handle a simple Intel mission on her own, even if infiltration became necessary. It would be easier if she didn't have an unfamiliar partner stepping on her heels.
Finally, Sarah found her voice and asked, "You're assigning me a partner?"
Graham nodded. "He's a very capable field agent and he's proven himself to be quite proficient when it comes to gathering intelligence. His name is Bryce Larkin. Between the two of you, I expect that this mission will go very smoothly."
Sarah knew it wouldn't do any good to try arguing with Graham, but learning that he still felt she needed support on a mission had put a significant damper on her mood. As if on cue, there was a knock on the door to Graham's office. At Graham's approval, the door swung open and in stepped a suave, blue eyed, confident looking young man dressed in a dark black, well-tailored suit. To Sarah, he looked like every other field agent she'd come in contact with during the last few months. Handsome, confident (or cocky, Sarah corrected as she studied the quiet smirk on his face) and cool as ice. Aware that Graham was watching them, Sarah stood and offered Bryce Larkin a cordial handshake. She wasn't going to let Director Graham think she was being petulant about the partner situation. If anything, she was prepared to take charge of this mission herself. Bryce was going to play the role of sidekick and Graham was going to realize that assigning her a partner was a completely unnecessary, and even a slightly insulting, gesture.
"Agent Larkin," Sarah greeted her new partner as he took her hand and smiled softly.
"Bryce," he corrected, his intense blue gaze never leaving hers. "No need for the formalities. We're partners after all, Sarah."
Sarah narrowed her eyes but managed to suppress the grimace she felt forming, replacing it with a tight smile instead. Taking her hand back from Bryce she turned to face Director Graham, who was still watching them both with a curious expression.
"I take it Agent Larkin has already been briefed on the mission," Sarah said, making sure to stress the professional use of his name. "Is there anything else we need to know before we leave?"
Graham must have caught the venom in her tone but he continued in stride. "Nothing more Your orders are clear. Any and all information you gather on Roark is to be sent back to us immediately. If you find substantial evidence concerning his connection with Fulcrum then I expect you to take the actions necessary to shut him down."
"We won't let you down, Director," Bryce said confidently from behind Sarah.
"No we won't." It was probably petty to try and throw in the last word but Sarah was already seething. She'd hardly known her partner for more than a minute and already he was managing to get on her nerves.
Langston Graham nodded, signaling that they were dismissed. "Good luck."
o-o-o-o
"We'll need to establish a cover," Bryce said as they unloaded their bags from the taxi that had just arrived outside of the Maison23 apartment complex Graham had already secured them a private suite. All they needed to do was check in, set up their base and, as Bryce has just mentioned, establish a believable cover.
"Have something in mind?" Sarah asked, ignoring Bryce's offer to carry her bag and instead slinging it over her own shoulder. Bryce waited to reply until he'd paid the cab fare and then gestured for her to follow him into the apartments.
"I think a cover as a couple will do nicely," he said. "We could say that things are getting serious and we've just moved into the apartment together." Sarah couldn't deny the logic of his proposed cover, no matter how repulsive she found the idea of even "fake dating" Bryce Larkin.
"Or," he amended, as he held the door of the building open for her. "We could go the whole nine yards and establish a cover as newlyweds."
Sarah shot him a glare but it was plain to see from Bryce's calculated expression that he wasn't trying to insinuate anything. He was already throwing himself headfirst into this mission and that meant using whatever cover, lie or drastic measures he could think of to ensure its success. At least that's what Sarah hoped he was intending. She was still having trouble reading her new partner.
"Dating will be enough," Sarah said in a clipped tone. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw Bryce smirk, but right at that moment the concierge greeted them and Sarah was forced to push the debate aside for now and deal with the check-in process. Once they were alone in the elevator heading to their suite, Bryce asked, "Afraid of a little commitment, Walker?"
Sarah bristled. Bryce's tone was teasing but his words were far too personal for her to find it amusing. What right did he have to mock her anyway? He didn't even know her. She was itching to throw him a scathing reply but managed to hold her tongue. Starting an argument with Bryce wasn't conducive to the mission and if Graham knew that she was letting insignificant comments get under her skin, then it was likely he wouldn't trust her for more important missions in the future. Bryce seemed to lose interest in teasing her when she didn't respond and simply adjusted the bag he carried on his shoulder; a smug smirk the only indication that he knew he'd managed to bother her.
The silence continued until they'd reached their suite and stepped inside. While Bryce began unpacking their gear and setting up the tech they would need to track Roark and his associates on the nearby vanity, Sarah found herself straying to the enormous windows that overlooked the city. Her thoughts began to drift as she watched the midday traffic and dozens of civilians scurrying along the streets below. She was officially back in Burbank. It had been a long six months since her chance encounter with Chuck on the beach in Malibu but she hadn't forgotten it. In fact, she found herself thinking about him more often than was probably healthy for a spy who was supposed to have no personal attachments. No roots. But Chuck had left an impression, to say the least. Being back in the place she'd last seen him felt oddly coincidental. She found herself scanning the horizon for any sign of the Buy More but all of the buildings seemed to blend together
"Sarah." She turned away from the window when Bryce called her and joined him in the center of the suite, where he was busy pulling a change of clothes from his suitcase. "We should get outside while we have daylight and see what we can find on Roark."
As he spoke, Bryce began to undress in front of her, taking off his button down shirt and replacing it with a blue cotton tee but not before giving Sarah a completely unobstructed view of his chiseled torso. She suddenly became very interested in the toe of her boot.
"I suggest we split up," he said and Sarah heard the zip of his dress pants moments before the dark fabric pooled around his ankles. She focused harder on her boot. "We can get a better grip on the situation if we divide and conquer, don't you think?"
A few more moments of rustling fabric and then a second zip and Sarah assumed it was safe to look up again. "I'll see what I can find around Roark's actual compound. I'm sure there will be security in place so I doubt I'll be able to get too far inside, but I can get a good idea about the layout of the area and look for any structural weaknesses, should we need to infiltrate at some point."
"Meanwhile, I'll see what I can find out about Roark's company from his competitors. I'm sure some of the other software companies around here will have something to say about his recent business," Sarah added, reminding herself that if she intended to take charge of this mission, she would need to be more involved in the planning process.
Bryce nodded as he donned an LA Dodgers baseball cap to complete his "civilian" cover outfit. "Make sure to keep your cell phone on. It's got a GPS device inside that we can use to find one another in case anything goes wrong. That being said, try and keep a low profile. The less attention we attract, the better."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "I don't need you to tell me how to do my job."
"I know nothing about how you operate on missions, Agent Walker." She cringed at the way Bryce stressed the words. "I'm covering my bases here. Things would be easier if you'd just talk to me. We're partners. Arguing won't get us any closer to completing this mission."
Sarah took a deep breath. She was being petty and she knew it. But she had not been expecting Bryce's company on this mission and his attitude wasn't exactly a welcome addition either. He was right though. If they were going to succeed and impress Graham, she needed to put the arguing behind her.
"Sorry," she said tightly. "I'll agree to work on our communication if you agree to stop treating me like your inferior. Sound like a deal?"
Bryce's lips curled into a smile and he chuckled, "Deal. Now let's get started."
o-o-o-o
Sarah wandered around downtown Burbank alone for an hour or so, checking her phone every once in a while for anything from Bryce, who'd gone to explore Roark Instruments, but there was nothing new from him. She passed a few small electronic stores but, upon quick inspection, realized that they knew nothing-or perhaps didn't care-about Roark and his business. There were, however, plenty of advertisements she found sponsoring the local Buy More. Deciding that questioning a few of the employees there might be her best bet, Sarah headed further downtown until she reached a large strip mall. The giant yellow and green sign was an eyesore, she thought, but at least it made the store easy to find.
She passed a small hotdog parlor that smelled like old, burnt meat and also a busy Large Mart. Her mind went back to the night she'd spent with Chuck when he'd offered to take her on a tour of said Large Mart the next time she was in Burbank. At the time, they'd both laughed it off for multiple reasons, the biggest one being that they'd both assumed they would likely never meet again. She wondered if she would find Chuck in the Buy More, and the thought almost gave her pause. What would she say to him if she did see him? Would he remember her? Was it strange that she remembered him? Was he even still working at the Buy More? A large portion of their conversation had been about Chuck's desire to leave the store. God, how was it that, even with everything that she had done in the last six months, she could remember her conversation with him as if it was yesterday? Sarah was good at cutting people out of her life. She was good at closing doors. But as she approached the Buy More, she felt herself beginning to tremble with anticipation.
The automatic doors opened and she stepped out of the warm LA sun and into the sterile, air conditioned Buy More. She took quick stock of her surroundings; simultaneously searching for any possible threat and also a particular tall, curly haired nerd. Finding no sign of either, Sarah swept around the perimeter of the store once, pretending to browse, before she noticed the large Nerd Herd sign overhanging a circular desk. Again, there no sign of Chuck, but the two men who had been his antagonists all those months ago at the beach were there arguing with a well-dressed customer. It wasn't ideal, but Sarah had to see if she could gather information from someone and those two were her best bet. She caught part of their conversation as she approached the desk and almost immediately began to eavesdrop.
"The answer is no," said the short Indian man that Sarah vaguely recalled being named Lester. He was leaning back in his desk chair, hands laced behind his head, glaring smugly at the customer standing on the other side of the desk. "Sorry, advertisement space is reserved for Buy More business only."
"Come on, Lester. We both know that's not true," the man said. "And even if it was, this is NextExpo! The Buy More could have its own booth! This is exposure, I'm not trying to con you guys."
"Sorry, Charles," Lester said with a shrug. "We don't deal with traitors."
"Traitor? You're calling me a traitor because I found another job?"
"You jumped ship!"
"I did not! Oh for…Can I talk to Big Mike?"
"He's busy."
"Doing what?"
"Doing something. Probably eating."
Sarah was close enough now to lean against the desk and when she did her eyes flickered over the man Lester was harassing and she felt her heart skip a beat….Or five.
"Chuck?" The word came out of her mouth almost involuntarily but he looked so different she just had to make sure. As soon as he looked at her, she knew it was him, but he'd changed quite a bit in the six months since they'd last met. His dark curly hair was shorter, much shorter, and styled just slightly. She was surprised by the twinge of disappointment she felt at seeing that. He wore a pair of dark dress pants that accented his long legs and a crisp, white button-up shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing a rather expensive looking watch on his left wrist. The one thing that hadn't changed were his expressive brown eyes and the enormous, toothy grin that spread across his face when he saw her. That and the fact that he still wore a beat up pair of Chuck Taylors on his large feet.
"Sarah? Oh my god!" He took a step towards her and, for a moment, Sarah thought he was going to hug her but he stopped himself just in time and clapped his hands to his sides. "I can't believe it's you. What are you doing here?"
Good question, Sarah thought. She was currently trying to remember why herself. He looked so different. So good, if she was being honest with herself. And Lester had said something about him being a traitor? If he'd left the Buy More, it made complete sense as to why he seemed to have grown so much.
"I'm…here on business," Sarah said quickly when she realized Chuck was still waiting for a response. It was a sloppy cover but he didn't seem to notice, or care. His smile just continued to grow. "What are you doing here? You look great. I mean different. Than you did when we-At the beach." Damn it. Sarah was stumbling. She never stumbled.
Chuck's laugh was loud and clear. She'd forgotten just how heartwarming it was to hear him laugh like that.
"Yeah, getting out of the Buy More uniform does wonders for the soul," he teased, gesturing to his fancy clothes. In the back of her mind, Sarah realized that both Jeff and Lester were still watching the exchange like hungry wolves, but it was hard to care what they thought at the moment.
"I can't believe it's really you," Chuck said again, this time almost as a whisper, and when Sarah looked up to meet his eyes she felt her heart begin to hammer against her ribs. "I didn't think I'd see you again. I mean after everything that happened, I hoped I would, but I never…."
He still rambles when he's nervous, Sarah noted. She was glad that hadn't changed.
"Uh, anyway! I'm actually working for a great software development company now," Chuck continued, holding up the stack of cards he'd been trying to convince Lester to put on display. "Roark Instruments."
Sarah's blood ran cold and she had to work very hard to school her features. Chuck was working for Ted Roark. There was no way he was a part of any of the shady business Roark had going on, at least not intentionally. Right? Sarah was certain Chuck wouldn't knowingly take part in something like that. But that didn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. Chuck had connections to Roark, and Sarah had a connection to Chuck. He had just become her asset; one she was going to have to use and burn. Unless she kept his identity hidden from both Bryce and the CIA itself, but that would mean compromising her mission and the safety of the free world. If Roark was as dangerous as Graham suggested, then Sarah couldn't let her feelings get in the way of doing whatever it took to shut Roark down. At least, that was what Sarah knew she'd be expected to do and in any other situation, she wouldn't hesitate to follow through. But now, conflict roiled inside of her, twisting her gut and making it difficult to concentrate on the moment at hand.
"Sarah?" She hadn't realize she'd been staring silently until Chuck patted her arm gently. "You okay? You disappeared there, for a minute."
Play the cover, Sarah. You can do this.
"Sorry," she said trying to recover quickly. "I don't think I've ever heard of Roark Instruments. What sort of work are you doing there?"
Chuck opened his mouth to respond and Sarah briefly wondered if this would be all she needed from him. If he gave her an answer with enough information she wouldn't have to continue to lie to him. Just a few words to clue her in and she could save him from falling into something dangerous. But before he would say anything, Lester interrupted, "The devil's work, that's what he's doing."
Sarah clenched her fists to avoid decking the smug nerd squarely in the face. His timing was impeccably exasperating. Chuck rolled his eyes and turned away from Sarah. He leaned across the Nerd Herd desk and met Lester's pointed glare with a smile.
"You know Lester, Roark is still looking to hire. I could put in a good word for you and Jeff."
Sarah saw something akin to hunger flash in Lester's dark eyes. The look disappeared as quickly as it came and he leaned forward in his chair until he was almost nose to nose with Chuck. "I will never betray the Buy More."
"Really?" Chuck raised a skeptical brow. "Why is that? What has the Buy More really done for you all these years Lester? Have they recognized your technical talent on installs? Or rewarded your glowing customer service? If you ask me, both you and Jeff have gone unappreciated here for far too long."
Jeff, who had been little more than a wide-eyed spectator during the entire conversation, suddenly leaned forward and whispered something in Lester's ear. Lester nodded slowly as his partner spoke, tapping one finger against his chin as if he were deep in thought. After a moment, he held up one hand to silence Jeff and leaned against the Nerd Herd desk again, lacing his fingers together before speaking. "Here's the deal, Charles. I will let you leave some of those cards on the Nerd Herd desk and you," he paused, jabbing a finger against Chuck's chest to emphasize his point, "Make sure Roark hears about Jefferson and I and guarantee us VIP access to the Expo. Do we have a deal?"
"We do," Chuck said, setting the stack of cards down. Lester pursed his lips and took the cards, stacking them carefully in a small display stand, spinning them around to face the entrance of the store.
"Pleasure doing business with you, Charles," Lester said. "We'll see you at the convention."
Chuck kept his carefully crafted, business-like expression even as her turned away and met Sarah's gaze. He jerked his chin, gesturing for her to follow him to a nearby aisle and only when they were safely out of the view of the Nerd Herd desk did Chuck lose the mask. He waggled his eyebrows at her and stuffed his hands into his pockets. "Pretty slick, huh?"
Sarah had to admit that watching Chuck deal with his former antagonists with such poise and confidence was impressive and further proof that he had changed. He was no longer the meek, under achieving boy she'd met on the beach. And it was sexy as hell. Where the hell did that come from? Sarah admonished herself. She recovered quickly, thankful that Chuck hadn't seemed to notice her hesitation.
"I'd be more impressed if those two weren't dumb as rocks," Sarah teased, earning a sincere laugh from Chuck.
"Good point. Mission accomplished regardless." Chuck's brow suddenly furrowed and he pursed his lips. "Anyway, you asked about Roark Instruments."
"Right." Sarah tried to ignore the heavy feeling settling in her stomach as she was reminded of the mission.
"I'd love to tell you all about it but not here," Chuck said, glancing up at a random passerby who was giving them a strange look. "I don't know what plans you have today but I've got about an hour left of my lunch break before I have to get back. We could go somewhere and grab a bite. Catch up. Only if you want to of course. If you're busy we can-"
"That sounds great," Sarah interrupted before he could continue stumbling over his words. "Do you have a particular place in mind?"
Chuck's eyes lit up as he realized that she'd accepted his lunch date without hesitation. "Yeah! There's a place nearby that serves great Sizzling Shrimp. It shouldn't take us long to—"
"Sarah."
Damn it.
Sarah wasn't much for fate but it certainly seemed like the entire universe was against her having a conversation with Chuck that lasted more than ten seconds. Both she and Chuck turned to see Bryce Larkin striding into the Buy More, lifting the Dodgers cap off of his head and running his fingers through his hair as he approached. Sarah watched Chuck's face fall when Bryce stopped beside them and threw a possessive arm over her shoulder. She knew she'd agreed to the 'couple cover' only a few hours ago but now was the worst possible moment that Bryce could have walked in. She had no choice but to play along and try to ignore the obvious pain and confusion written all over Chuck's face.
"Finally found you, babe," Bryce said kissing her lightly on the cheek. Sarah tried not to cringe. She hated pet names; that one in particular. "I've been looking all over for you, why didn't you answer your phone?" Sarah knew he hadn't called, she would have heard it. Bryce was acting for his cover. He must have been tracking her through the GPS device in her phone.
"Sorry," Sarah said, surprised by the saccharin sweetness with which she managed to reply. "I was catching up with an old friend. Bryce, this is Chuck. Chuck this is my…boyfriend. Bryce." Chuck was obviously crestfallen but trying hard to hide it. He smiled warmly and offered Bryce his hand.
Bryce looked Chuck up and down, raising an appraising brow before accepting the handshake. "Pleasure to meet you, Chuck."
"The pleasure's all mine," Chuck said tightly, his eyes flitting to Sarah for a brief moment. Bryce caught the exchange and tightened his grip around Sarah's shoulders.
"I didn't interrupt anything did I?" He was playing the role of jealous boyfriend rather well, Sarah noticed. There was just enough of a threat in his tone to make it seem like Chuck was stepping into the middle of a serious relationship.
"No," Sarah said, looking pointedly at Bryce. "Chuck was just about to show me around Burbank and tell me about his new position at Roark Instruments."
Bryce's eyes lit up and Chuck began to squirm under the intensity of his gaze. "Really? Sounds interesting. Why don't we all go somewhere and catch up. I'd like to get to know the guy who was about to take my girlfriend out on the town."
Chuck's ears turned red. "No, no. It wasn't like a date or anything. I didn't even know that Sarah was-That you two-I was just….Uh…"
"Relax, Chuck," Bryce laughed, clapping Chuck's shoulder a bit too hard. "I'm just giving you a hard time." Chuck smiled weakly and Sarah had to grit her teeth to stop herself from snapping.
"I'm starved, what say we all go out and grab something to eat?" Bryce continued, steering Sarah by the shoulder and gesturing for Chuck to follow. "Know any good places, Chuck?"
o-o-o-o
The sizzling shrimp smelled delightful but Chuck's stomach was churning far too much to even consider eating. His eyes kept drifting across the table to Sarah and Bryce. For her part, Sarah seemed reluctant to be openly affectionate in Chuck's presence, which he appreciated. But Bryce was another matter. He was all over her, constant touches, brief kisses, toying with her hand when it lay on top of the table. Chuck knew he didn't have any right to be jealous but he was. Painfully so. This was not how his reunion with Sarah was supposed to go, in any of the dozens of different ways he'd imagined it might. The many times he'd fantasied about it in the past six months, there had been far less awkward conversation involved. "So Chuck," Bryce began through a mouthful of lo mein. "What's it like working for such a huge company? Do you ever talk to Roark himself?"
Chuck pushed a piece of shrimp around his plate with his chopsticks as he spoke. "It's a lot of responsibility. I haven't worked there too long but Roark trusts my division with a lot of important projects."
Bryce nodded and slurped up his mouthful of noodles. He was obviously waiting for more.
"Uh," Chuck glanced quickly at Sarah who was staring hard at her own plate. "That's all there is to it really. Lots of work but I have talked to Roark personally, yes. He's a great man. Incredibly smart. So he expects a lot from us."
"I'll bet," Bryce said, his sharp blue eyes piercing Chuck like a knife.
"I really have Sarah to thank for the job," Chuck said quickly. He was desperate for her to say something, anything, that would save him from Bryce's scrutiny.
"Do you?" Bryce's hand tightened over Sarah's.
"Well, sort of," Chuck amended, finally catching Sarah's gaze. "When we first met, I was in a pretty bad place. She gave me the proverbial swift kick in the rear I needed pull myself together and get on with my life." He smiled at her then, trying to silently express his gratitude and simultaneously remind her of the day they met in Malibu. She responded with a smile of her own, quiet but sincere. She still remembered and that was all Chuck needed to know. Bryce's gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them. It was obvious from his expression that he'd never heard of their first encounter. Not that Chuck had expected him to. Why would Sarah tell her boyfriend about some oddball she had met on the beach?
"So how exactly did you two meet?" Bryce asked, looking at Sarah for an answer. Chuck noticed the muscles in Bryce's jaw clench as if he were irritated.
Without hesitation, Chuck leapt to Sarah's aid and blurted, "She rescued me from some old coworkers of mine that thought it would be funny to leave me in a sand pit while the tide came in."
Bryce's brows knit together as he tried to piece together what Chuck had described. "A sand pit?"
"Yeah." Chuck's skin began to itch with embarrassment but Bryce's attention was no longer focused on Sarah so he plowed ahead. "They buried me in the sand and then abandoned me on the beach. Sarah was kind enough to give me a ride home that night."
Amusement sparkled in Bryce's blue eyes, but the smirk on his face made Chuck bristle. "That's cute. She saved you from some work place bullies, huh?"
Chuck looked down at his plate. Bryce's summation wasn't wrong, but it sounded so cruel coming from him. Apparently Sarah thought so as well because she finally spoke up. "It wasn't like that. Chuck is entirely capable of taking care of himself."
Bryce held up his hands, putting a stop to Sarah's rant before she could get carried away. Chuck thought she still looked livid but she sat back and fell silent again, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Relax. I'm not trying to insult anyone." He leaned against the table and winked at Chuck. "You can take a little friendly ribbing, can't you Chuck?"
Chuck gave him a half-hearted smile and a weak, "Sure" but the rest of lunch was stiff and awkward. Eventually, Chuck realized that his hour was up and quickly excused himself, throwing a fifty dollar bill down on the table and telling them that the meal was on him before dashing for the door. As he left he threw one final glance over his shoulder, hoping to catch Sarah's eye, but she didn't look after him. Chuck heaved a sigh, pushed the restaurant door open and bolted down the street as if he could outrun everything that had just happened.
By the time Chuck realized it would have been smarter to take a cab, he was already late. He bolted through the employee parking lot and swiped his access card at the back door, only to run face first into John Casey's freshly polished security badge.
"Afternoon, Casey," Chuck mumbled, pushing himself away from the larger man's chest and straightening his rumpled shirt.
Casey grunted, "You're late."
"Yes, yes I am. Thank you for noticing," Chuck replied, sidestepping the stoic, hulking security guard and continuing backwards down the hallway. "But everyone gets a first offense, right? If you wouldn't mind keeping this between us, John, I would really appreciate it."
Casey's eyes narrowed and Chuck quickly amended the use of his first name, offering a quick salute before turning the corner and releasing a giant sigh. John Casey was Head of Security at Roark Instruments and one of the most intimidating men Chuck had ever met. He was an army veteran, with the scars and attitude to prove it, and sometimes he took his security gig far too seriously, in Chuck's opinion. But he had good intentions and the few conversations they had shared since Chuck had joined the company were pleasant enough. Although the word "conversation" might be too generous, considering Casey's usual input was little more than an occasional grunt.
Chuck hurried down the hall to the office he shared with two other software engineers, Pete and Jose. They'd worked for Roark longer than he had and hadn't exactly offered him the warmest of welcomes when he first started. They were both older than Chuck, so there wasn't much common ground to stand on besides work, but they had become a bit friendlier in the recent months.
Pete looked up over the rims of his bifocals as Chuck entered the large office and crossed to his desk, still breathing heavily from the dash across town.
"Ten minutes late, Charles," Pete said, returning to his computer screen. "Don't make it a habit, Roark won't be happy. You haven't been here long enough to start racking up tardy slips."
"I know, I'm sorry," Chuck said, hurrying to set his things down and reboot his computer. "I went out for lunch and got a little sidetracked."
"Did you bring us anything?" Jose asked, peeking around from his own computer, his thick brows raised hopefully. Chuck spotted a crumpled chip bag still lying open on Jose's desk.
Chuck smiled and shrugged. "Not today, Jose. Remind me to treat you next time."
Jose sighed and grabbed the chip bag, rolling it into a ball and squinting one eye shut as he aimed for the trashcan near the door. The bag hit the far wall and bounced against the rim of the trash bin before landing squarely inside.
"Score!" Jose shouted, lifting his hands in the air and swiveling in his chair. Chuck laughed but Pete just rolled his eyes.
"Get back to work, you two. Roark wants to see the progress on this software by the weekend. None of us want to stay here after hours, so let's get as much done as we can, alright?"
Chuck and Jose exchanged glances and then turned back to their respective computers. Chuck stared at the screen as his current project appeared on it, but his mind wouldn't stop spinning. It kept drifting back to lunch, then back to the Buy More, then back to the beach in Malibu before starting all over again. As if he wasn't distracted enough, his phone suddenly buzzed in his pant pocket. He pulled it out and read the incoming text, feeling his stomach sink as he realized he'd forgotten something very important.
Hey, are we still on for tonight?
He had a date with Lou.
o-o-o-o
Sarah managed to keep calm all the way from the restaurant to the apartment suite but once the ugly green door swung shut behind them, she grabbed Bryce's arm, spun him around and shouted, "What the hell was that?"
Bryce looked genuinely startled by Sarah's sudden outburst. So much so, in fact, that it took him a few seconds to respond. "What the hell was what?"
"What you did in the Buy More and what you said to Chuck. There was no need to antagonize him like that!"
"I wasn't antagonizing him," Bryce growled. "I was doing my job and questioning a man inside Roark's personal circle."
"He's not a part of anything Roark is doing," Sarah argued, immediately regretting the words when she saw Bryce's frown deepen.
"You don't know that," he said. "You have no idea what this guy has been up to since you last saw him."
"I know enough. I know that Chuck wouldn't take part in anything criminal."
Bryce took a step closer but Sarah stood her ground even when he came uncomfortably close. "You're attachment to the nerd is intriguing, Agent Walker. But also entirely unprofessional."
Sarah was about to defend herself but Bryce cut her off. "Whether or not you think you know the guy, he is still our best bet at getting close to Roark. He has the answers we need. Are you telling me that you're willing to throw away the success of this mission for a civilian, Walker? Should I tell Director Graham that my partner has already been compromised?"
"No," she hissed. It was far more complicated than that but Bryce wouldn't understand and arguing the point further would be pointless. Bryce's icy blue eyes flickered back and forth over her face, searching for a hint of a lie. Sarah knew he wouldn't find one. She was an expert at keeping a mask when she needed one.
"Good," Bryce said tentatively. "Then we agree. We'll need to use your connection with Chuck to find out what he knows about Roark. Let him believe you want to get close to him and he'll open up."
"Need I remind you of the cover we already established?" Sarah protested. "Chuck isn't the kind of guy-He won't let me get close to him if he believes you and I are in a serious relationship."
"That's not exactly true," Bryce replied, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Tell him our relationship has hit a rough patch. Tell him you're unhappy. Chuck seems like the type who'd comfort a beautiful, broken-hearted girl without hesitation. Especially one he's already head over heels for."
Sarah's mouth fell open but she couldn't find the words to protest Bryce's observation. To abuse Chuck's trust was one thing but to actively take part in toying with his heart seemed downright cruel. Part of Sarah knew that she wouldn't hesitate to follow Bryce's suggestion were her mark anyone else. But Chuck was different. The honesty and kindness he'd shown on the beach had moved her. She couldn't do this to him. But Roark's demise was her mission. Anything personal had to be ignored. She couldn't let feelings get in the way of completing the mission. She knew that. She was a spy; she'd always known that. So then why did it suddenly seem so complicated? She realized that Bryce was still waiting for an answer but all she could manage was a hesitant nod.
Bryce returned the gesture and then gathered up a few toiletries from his suitcase that still lay open on the bed, sweeping towards the bathroom without a backwards glance. Sarah stood frozen in place, trying to process what had just happened. She'd managed to lose her partner's trust, reveal her personal connection with Chuck, and ruin any chance she had at keeping him out of this mission all in less than ten minutes. Deciding that she might just go crazy if she stayed cooped up in the same room with her infuriating partner any longer, she grabbed her keys and strode out the door, letting it slam shut behind her.
o-o-o-o
Lou was a nice girl. She was sweet, she was funny, and she was cute. She'd even offered to name a sandwich from her shop after him. She was perfectly pleasant company and she had done nothing to warrant Chuck's divided attention but that was what she got. Chuck's mind wasn't on the first date he'd had in months. It was on Sarah. Or more specifically, on Sarah and Bryce. He'd thought about her almost every day since they met on the beach, and seeing her again in the Buy More had brought them back with an incredible intensity. And then Bryce had walked through the door.
Chuck knew it wasn't fair of him to assume that she'd put her life on hold for a guy she hardly knew. A guy who had been nothing but a pathetic nerd buried in the sand. But the illogical part of him had held onto the hope that he would see her again and that, maybe, they could pick up where they left off. Chuck hadn't forgotten the kiss they shared that night in the courtyard right outside Ellie's door. The kiss he had never expected to receive but that had still managed to turn his whole world upside down. And more than anything, he had come to realize, he didn't want that to be the last kiss he ever shared with Sarah. And that was why Chuck had been so hopeful that she would be willing to give it another try when she walked into the Buy More; and back into his life. It was dumb, he knew. It was improbable. But still, it was crushing to realize that she was now with another man. A man like Bryce. Suave, muscled, confident and charming. Everything Chuck was not, no matter how hard he'd tried to change over the last six months.
"Chuck?" Lou was talking to him. She had been for the last ten minutes, but he hadn't been listening.
"Yes?" he said, coming to a stop when he realized that Lou had paused a few feet behind him. They were strolling along the street in front of a busy strip mall, still carrying the coffees they'd stopped for an hour ago. It was getting late and the sun had just fallen below the horizon, blanketing the street full of window shoppers in hazy twilight. It was a rather romantic setting and Chuck hadn't seen any of it.
"Were you listening to anything I just said?" Lou asked, her brow furrowing.
"Uh," Chuck struggled to find an excuse and when none came, he just smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Lou. I'm a little distracted tonight."
"Yeah, I noticed." Lou's tone was teasing but Chuck could see genuine hurt in her eyes. "Look, Chuck. Maybe we should call it a night."
"No, we don't have to! I'm sorry, I really am. It's not you Lou, I promise. I've had a lot on my mind with work lately."
"It's alright Chuck, I understand," she said, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "But I'm not sure how much fun the rest of this date is going to be if you keep drifting off. Look, why don't you give me a call when things settle down at work, okay?"
Lou was already backing away, robbing Chuck of the chance to convince her to stay. "At least let me walk you home?"
"Don't worry about it, Chuck. I wouldn't want you to get lost on your way back," she teased. "Call me later. I'll be around." She gave him a wave and looked both ways before dashing across the street and disappearing into the crowd. Chuck sighed. It seemed as if nothing was going right today. Tossing his half-full coffee cup into a nearby garbage bin, he stuffed his hands into his coat pockets and continued down the street alone. A few people walked passed by him, mostly couples, Chuck noted. He kept his gaze straight ahead, trying to ignore their happy smiles and bright peals of laughter.
As he walked, his mind drifted once again to Sarah. Now that Lou had left, there was nothing to keep his thoughts from her. Not that they hadn't been on her all day in the first place. He sighed and ran a hand over his face in frustration. She'd haunted him all these months and now having her back in Burbank was only making it worse. If only Bryce hadn't walked through that damn door. Chuck stopped when he realized that someone was standing directly in front of him. He looked up from his shoes, following the soft brown boots that covered a pair of long, shapely legs and then up past the dark jeans and tan leather jacket he'd seen earlier that day until finally he was face to face with the woman currently dominating his thoughts.
Sarah's eyes were rimmed with red and her cheeks were splotchy and flushed. She'd been crying. It wasn't at all what Chuck had expected to see, and before he could ask her what was wrong, she hid her face in her hands and burst into a fresh bout of tears.
o-o-o-o
Sarah was frustrated; with Bryce, with the mission, but most of all, with herself. She'd never bumbled an assignment like this before, especially not one that was so important. This was supposed to be her chance to prove herself to her superiors and her first day had gone completely backwards. She knew what she had to do to right the situation but thinking about it only made her angrier. She wished she'd remembered to bring her old punching bag with her but she hadn't expected this mission to warrant its use.
Sarah didn't know where she was or how long she'd been trying to walk off her frustration but the sun was setting now and she could feel the slight chill in the air even through her jacket. She paused to take quick stock of her surroundings and realized that she'd wandered into the middle of an outdoor shopping plaza. There were dozens of shoppers passing around her, all seeming to blend into one another as she scanned the area. Sarah's gaze continued to travel around the open plaza until, suddenly, two shoppers in particular managed to draw her attention. She recognized the taller figure as Chuck; the other was a young woman she'd never seen before, but it was obvious from her body language that she was Chuck's date.
Or girlfriend. Sarah felt her stomach turn at the thought and then quickly admonished herself for such a ridiculous idea. If Chuck had met someone else, he would have brought her up sometime during lunch with her and Bryce. Or even before that, at the Buy More. But instead he kept forcing a tight-lipped smile and glancing at her from the corner of his eye when he thought she wasn't looking. Sarah could read body language easily and Chuck was like an open book anyway. He was jealous of Bryce; a reaction she would not expect him to have if he was already in a relationship.
Sarah stepped into the crowd and began making her way across the street, keeping her eyes trained on Chuck and his date as they walked. Chuck looked distracted. The young woman was chattering away animatedly and Chuck, to his credit, was doing his best to look engaged in their conversation, but Sarah could tell that his mind was far away. Briefly, Sarah wondered if he was still thinking about her. Their second encounter hadn't gone exactly the way she'd wanted it to and she was sure that Chuck must have felt the same way. Finally, the woman stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, watching Chuck continue ahead without her. When Chuck noticed her absence, he turned, stumbling a little over his large feet in the process. They exchanged a few words that Sarah wasn't close enough to hear, but gathered from the young woman's expression that she'd had enough for the night. Sure enough, she gave Chuck a small wave and then hurried back the way they'd come, eventually disappearing into the crowd. Chuck looked defeated; not sad, but tired, as if he held an enormous weight on his shoulders.
He continued to walk along the street on his own and Sarah quickly realized that this was her chance to speak with him alone. For a split second she considered cornering him and telling him everything she could about Roark's treachery, her real relationship with Bryce, and her confusing and overwhelming feelings. For just a moment she imagined how wonderful it would feel to tell him the truth, to let him know that this was not the way she would have had them meet again. But the moment passed and Sarah suddenly remembered the disdain in Bryce's voice and Graham's expectation of her and her own doubts about her competence as a spy, and she knew that the mission had to come first.
Taking a moment to gather herself, Sarah pushed through the crowd towards Chuck, trying to pace herself so that their paths would cross at just the right moment. As she walked, she allowed the whirlwind of emotions she was fighting to control to seep to the surface. All of the day's frustration and anxiety and anger sprung to the front of her mind and soon Sarah found very real tears wetting her cheeks. Just as she was about to run straight into Chuck, she stopped short and looked up at him. He paused as well, his eyes rising from the pavement to meet hers and his mouth dropped open in shock.
"Sarah," he said, obviously startled to see her.
Let him believe you want to get close to him and he'll open up, Bryce's words echoed in her ears.
She had to be a spy now. She had to do her job. So she burst into tears. Chuck was at her side in an instant, just like Bryce had predicted he would be. Sarah felt his hands rest against her shoulders. His touch was light though, and hesitant, as if he were afraid the contact might be too much.
"Hey. Sarah, what's wrong?" he asked in a gentle voice. "Are you ok? Did something happen?"
"It's Bryce," she replied, adding a small hiccup to the fabricated sobs.
"What happened?" Chuck asked again, but this time Sarah caught a hint of fear in his voice. "What did he do?
"Nothing. He didn't do anything. We just had another fight. The move from D.C. has been so stressful and all we seem to do now is argue. I told him that moving into an apartment together might be too much but he wouldn't listen." Sarah paused to gauge Chuck's response. He was gazing at her intently, a thin wrinkle forming between his brows. "I don't know what to do anymore. Maybe this move was what we needed to realize that we just aren't meant to be together."
"Don't say that, Sarah," Chuck said, squeezing her shoulders lightly. "You're right. Tough situations and stress can bring out the worst in people. But you shouldn't give up on something that's made you happy."
Sarah was speechless. Out of all the things Chuck could have said to comfort her, encouraging her fake relationship with Bryce wasn't exactly what she'd expected to hear from him.
"Bryce cares about you and you care about him, right?" Sarah nodded mutely, afraid that words might give her away. "You guys can work through this. Sometimes the rough patches are what make people stronger."
He tilted his head to catch her gaze and give her a quiet smile. Sarah tried to return the gesture but the guilt weighing heavily in her stomach made it difficult.
"Look, why don't you give Bryce some time to cool off for a bit? Come with me to visit Ellie. She'd love to see you again." After a moment's hesitation, Sarah nodded. The part of her still focused on the mission knew that she could gather more information if she went with him and the other part of her really did want to see Ellie again; to be in that apartment that had made her feel so at home six months ago. Chuck managed to flag down a cab and once they were inside and on their way to Echo Park, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed his sister.
"Hey, El, it's me. Just wanted to give you a heads up, I'm bringing someone over to say hi," Chuck paused as he listened to his sister's reply. "No. No, uh, not Lou…..She had to leave early, said something came up."
Chuck glanced at Sarah out of the corner of his eye, smiling sheepishly before he continued addressing Ellie. "S'ok, El. I'll see her around town sometime, I'm sure. We weren't really clicking anyway."
Chuck assured Ellie that the cab would arrive soon and then hung up the phone, offering Sarah another apologetic smile.
"Who's Lou?" she asked. Even though it was clear he'd been on a date, she was curious to hear what Chuck would say. He didn't know that she'd seen the entire exchange, after all.
"Oh, uh, she's this girl who works at a sandwich shop near work. She's nice. We hung out a little bit tonight." Chuck began twisting the watch around his wrist nervously. "She had some things to do so we called it early."
"You were on a date?"
Chuck's ears turned red and he twisted the watch around again. "Sure, you could call it that. Didn't quite work out though. It's alright. Anyway, Ellie will be excited to see you. She's officially Mrs. Awesome now, by the way."
"How was the wedding?" Sarah asked, watching Chuck's face carefully. His eyes lit up as he began to describe his sister's ceremony and the nervous energy he exuded began to fade.
"It was incredible. They were married on a beach. The beach, actually. The one in Malibu. It was a very simple ceremony but that was perfect for Ellie. She looked amazing and I've never seen Awesome smile that big before."
"It sounds beautiful," Sarah murmured. "I would have liked to see it."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Chuck laughed. "Ellie will be pulling out all of the pictures and videos she has to show you, I promise."
The rest of the cab ride passed quickly with Chuck doing all he could to keep the conversation light and away from the subject of Bryce. He sat just close enough to her that their thighs and shoulders brushed occasionally. But Sarah noticed he never made a move to touch her more than that. Chuck had offered to help and comfort her, like Bryce knew he would, but he remained aware of her relationship and kept a respectful distance. And it made Sarah's heart ache to know that she was abusing Chuck's genuine kindness with every moment that passed.
They reached Echo Park and Chuck led the way into the apartment complex. It hadn't changed a bit since Sarah last saw it, in fact it was also close to the same time of day that she'd been here the first time. Chuck rapped quickly on Ellie's door and it swung open immediately as if she'd been crouched behind it waiting for them. Ellie's wide brown eyes flickered over Chuck and then Sarah, an enormous smile lighting up her face. She practically squealed as she pulled Sarah into the house and also into a suffocating embrace. The hug was over before Sarah could do more than pat her back in return and then she was being held at arms-length as Ellie looked her up and down.
"Oh my god, Sarah! I can't believe it's you." Chuck had said the same thing, Sarah noted. "What are you doing back in Burbank?"
"Work brought me back," Sarah said, feeling a genuine smile creep onto her face as Ellie continued leading her into the apartment.
"Really? That's wonderful! Here, have a seat," Ellie said, pushing Sarah down onto the living room sofa and then returning to the door to grab Chuck and do the same thing to him. "Are you hungry? Or thirsty? I could make us some tea?"
"I'm alright, Ellie," Sarah assured her now frazzled host. "I just stopped by to see how you were doing. Chuck told me you had some pictures from your wedding?"
"Yes!" Ellie clapped her hands excitedly and darted to the bookshelf. Chuck rolled his eyes and gave Sarah a knowing smile. 'Be right back', he mouthed, rising from the couch and creeping towards the front door of the apartment. Sarah watched him leave, and then followed his progress through the window, as he crossed the courtyard and opened the door to a separate apartment. It suddenly occurred to her that he must not be living with his sister anymore. It made sense; it would be difficult playing the third wheel to a married couple. But something told Sarah that wasn't the only reason he'd finally gotten out on his own. Ellie returned to the couch and began flipping through her wedding album, pausing every once in a while to explain the story behind a certain picture. The ceremony really had been beautiful and Ellie was so welcoming that Sarah soon found herself fully engaged in the conversation, her mission long forgotten.
"So, Sarah," Ellie asked after they'd flipped through a few pages of the album. "How long is work going to keep you Burbank? Or do you know?"
"I'm not sure," Sarah replied with the truth for once. She didn't know how long the mission would take to complete at this point. "A while, I hope."
Ellie smiled. "It really is good to see you again. Chuck still talks about you a lot, you know. I always wanted to thank you for being there for him on the beach that day. He owes you a lot."
"He doesn't owe me anything," Sarah said adamantly, but Ellie just shook her head.
"You did something for him that the rest of us couldn't, Sarah. You've seen how different he is now. I don't know exactly what you said to him, but it was just what he needed." Sarah looked down at her lap. "The morning after you left he started printing resumes again. He put in his two weeks at the Buy More, he bought a new suit. And now he's working for a huge software company. All because of you."
Sarah knew that wasn't true. It couldn't be just because of her. She didn't want it to be because of her.
"Chuck had it in him from the start," she said, attempting to deflect Ellie's praise.
"Yes, he did. But you brought out the best in him." Finally Sarah looked up and met Ellie's earnest gaze, feeling her chest constrict painfully. The door opened then and Chuck reentered, his work clothes gone, replaced by a more casual blue polo shirt and pair of jeans. Sarah was reminded of how different he looked from the last time she'd seen him in this apartment. Ellie's praise seemed much more valid now that she saw Chuck standing in the doorway with a poise and confidence he'd been lacking the first time they'd met. The connection they shared on the beach had been strong, Sarah admitted. Even still, it surprised her that she'd made such an impact on Chuck's life when she was little more than a passing stranger. But, then again, had he not done the same to her?
"Did I miss anything?" he teased, gesturing to the photo album that still lay open on Ellie's lap.
"Nothing much." Ellie gave Sarah a knowing wink and shut the album, crossing the room to put it back in its place on the shelf. Chuck plopped down on the couch next to Sarah again. The cushion sunk a little under his weight and Sarah slipped a little closer to his side. If he'd noticed, it didn't show. Ellie joined them as well and soon both the time and the mission slipped from Sarah's mind as the Bartowski family made her feel entirely at home again. Like the six months that they'd been apart had never passed; like if she was more than just a stranger. They talked more about the wedding, Chuck's new apartment and his Call of Duty marathons with his roommate and best friend Morgan. More than once Ellie offered to take Sarah shopping around Burbank and she couldn't find it in herself to decline. When there was finally a lull in the conversation, Sarah checked her phone, realizing that it had been more than a few hours since she stormed out of her and Bryce's suite.
"I should get back," Sarah said as she pocketed her phone and rose from the couch. Ellie looked over at the grandfather clock in the corner of the room, obviously having also lost track of time.
"Sorry we kept you so long, Sarah," she apologized before pulling Sarah into another embrace. "But it was so great catching up."
Sarah agreed, promising Ellie that they would keep their shopping date and then she turned to Chuck who was already waiting for her near the door. Sarah took a deep breath, struggling to ignore the deep sense of nostalgia that came over her, and waved once more to Ellie before striding out the front door. Chuck followed her to the fountain in the middle of the courtyard where they both stopped. Sarah turned to face him and realized that she had no idea what to say to him. The familiarity of the moment was palpable and Sarah could see the longing in his brown eyes but he didn't move any closer. Finally Chuck broke the silence and asked, "Are you going to be okay getting back? I can call you a cab."
"I'll be alright, Chuck," she smiled. "I think I can manage on my own."
He coughed a short laugh and rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. Then can I at least give you my number? That way if something goes wrong or if you need help, with Bryce, or with anything really, you can call me." Sarah didn't hesitate, she simply handed him her phone so that he could dial in his number. Having his number was part of the mission, after all. She had constant contact with him now. Chuck handed her back her phone and stuck his hands back into his pockets, licking his lips nervously. Finally he said, "Look, I don't know if you have plans already but Ellie, Awesome, Morgan and I were going to head down to the beach for a trip this weekend. You're more than welcome to come, if you want. Bryce is too. Um, it might help you two feel more at home in Burbank."
He finished with a shy shrug that brought a smile to Sarah's face. "That sounds fun. I'll have to…check with Bryce first. Can I get back to you?"
"Of course," Chuck replied eagerly. "And it's just an invitation. No pressure. But…it would be great if you came along. Maybe you can teach me to surf this time?"
"That might take more than just a weekend for you," Sarah teased.
"Ouch, low blow," Chuck winced emphatically. "But probably accurate." The two of them shared a quiet laugh and finally Sarah took her cue to leave. If she stayed any longer, she knew there was likely to be a repeat of the first night they'd met and she'd done enough lying to Chuck tonight. She didn't want to make it more complicated than it had to be.
"I'll be in touch soon, then," she said taking a few steps backwards. "Good night, Chuck. And thank you for helping me."
"Of course," he replied, his voice little more than a whisper. He smiled and bid her goodnight, watching her until she left the courtyard and disappeared into the darkness. Only when Chuck was sure that she was gone did he let his smile disappear. He sat on the edge of the fountain, hid his face in his hands and heaved an enormous sigh. In spite of his recent success, his new friends and confidence, Chuck had never felt as low as he did when he watched Sarah walk away, knowing she was going home to find solace in the arms of another man.
o-o-o-o
Thanks for reading! Until next time...