What do we do now…go on waiting

This story is the follow-on to the Chuck vs the Plan Series

Still don't own Chuck. Normal disclaimers apply. Characters and events are fictitious.

"Sometimes it helps to know that you got something to lose."

-Agent Walker, Episode 3.4

Chapter 3—the Party

Casa Bartowski

When Carina got to the breakfast table, Morgan was there staring into a cup of coffee. She smiled at Sarah, "What did you do to him?"

"Don't even," Sarah quickly replied.

"So, then what's with the security? I know you're the big cheese now, but this much security? And who is the frat club? Some of them look kind of cute."

"Calm down Carina. Those are people who work for me. And no you can't try to make them a new trophy." Sarah pointed to a chair at the table.

"Okay, spill. What's up?" Carina sat back in the chair.

Sarah got her cup of coffee and sat at the table. "Chuck and I are working together. As you should be able to look this up on your own, Chuck is now the Director for Operations and Analysis the DNI. He is also the head of the Office of National Intelligence-Integration and Director of the Interagency Task Force on Trafficking. I am now a CIA Director, head of CIA Intersect Section and the Intersect Initiative."

"What that computer project? Oh, it's out here? Well, I guess that makes sense. Close to Silicon Valley and all."

Morgan shook his head and pointed at Chuck.

"Oh, you developed the program?" Carina asked.

Chuck responded, "No actually, my dad did."

Morgan watched the exchanged, then asked, "Are you going to tell her?"

Sarah nodded, "Chuck is the Intersect."

Chuck launched into his explanation.

Carina was quiet, taking in the amazing story. She listened intently to the whole thing. Then she smiled, "So you did break the rule, you fell in love with an asset."

Sarah just shook her head, "Yes Carina, I love him. We are together. Remember the wedding invitation." She held up her ring finger and showed off the rings.

"Saying together, I've got a little together thing with Karl tonight. I need you to come along." Carina looked at Sarah and then Chuck. She decided she was going to see how far this love of theirs went.

Chuck went over to the laptop that was sitting on the counter. "Yeah, that would make sense. Karl Stromberg has not been a nice boy. Reports we have here show that he is getting back into heavy weapons. Not sure if it is linked to our jobs, but it might be."

"Just what is your job?" Carina asked.

Sarah responded rather quickly, "Our job is to stop two subversive organizations call the Ring and Sion and stop human trafficking of a group called Messer Schwartz or MS. If Karl is selling to them, we should get involved."

"Well, last night I saw that Karl was wired ten million dollars. I don't know what the weapon is, but someone must be serious if they willing to pay that much." Carina looked over at Chuck and the laptop. "I thought you just said," she pointed to her head.

"Well, I don't exactly plug into a computer every night for new up-to-date information. So, I built a little search program. I've put together a few enhancements and checked on things last night. Likely don't have the info on the ten million because you haven't filed a report. But it keeps up pretty well. Let's see…" Chuck went back to typing.

"I need you to come to the party tonight. You can be my friends. Even Morgan can come." Then looking back at Sarah, "He does know enough to stay out of the way?"

Morgan beamed, "Yeah, I can do that." He knew it was his chance, a chance at the big time. Maybe he could prove something, something to Carina.

"Karl will likely have a small army there and a lot of traps." Sarah thought out load.

At that point Mary came into the kitchen and Casey was following. Sarah looked up concerned, "Everything okay?"

"Yes, a new colt. He looks fine and the mother is just great," Mary replied happily.

"Oh Mary, this is Carina. Carina, this is Mary Casey." Sarah made the introductions.

"Sorry, I didn't make the wedding. Tied up in an undercover mission," Carina responded.

Mary had been going through herself to get people that Casey knew to come to their wedding. There was a small battle over the list, but Casey went along with it hoping that some people would not come.

Carina looked at Casey, "So, what are you doing here?"

"Better question is what are you doing?" Casey thumbed through Morgan's paperwork. He crossed his eyes at Sarah. "The guys called in that you met up with a Karl Stromberg last night. Not a nice person."

Sarah began, "My call," in answer to the unsaid question from Casey. "Yes, we were just talking about that. Carina wants us to go to a party tonight at Karl's."

Chuck closed the laptop and looked up, "Well, I didn't come up anything. It could be almost anything from a shipment of small arms to…"

"Well, it has to fit into a fairly small case. He brought something in the other day in a gold case and put it in his vault." Carina shrugged, "It's next to the bedroom. While I have Karl occupied, Sarah and Chuck can go to the vault and get the weapon. And like I asked, what are you doing here Casey?"

Sarah answered, "He's the commander of the military joint task force that is a part of our team."

"Well, maybe you should come too, in case this weapon turns into something you need to dispose of." Carina observed. She then gave a run down of what she knew about Karl and his operation.

"Are you two going?" Casey asked.

Chuck nodded, "Yes, and Morgan too. Since we met Karl last night, Carina introduced us all as her friends."

Mary stated, "Okay, we'll get set up. This will be a nice run through. Eldie can run it."

"Yeah, I'll get a detail out for backup." Casey added.

"Okay, I guess I should have expected this. You know I have been working this over a year now and will not take kindly if something…"

Sarah intervened, "We'll take care of it. There will be no problem."

Carina ended, "Better not be."

"Mary, the information on Karl and his house is loaded on the server. I think if Eldie follows how you handled the warehouses as a template, it should work. We'll go over the plan this afternoon." Chuck explained.

Stromberg Mansion

Eldie called over the net, "We are in position around the house."

Mary came back, "Right, we have good visuals all the way around the property. Sarah, it's a go."

Sarah nodded. Chuck and Casey got out of van and helped Sarah and Carina out of the vehicle. Morgan got out after Sarah from the back seat. They were parked next to the house as they were directed there as soon as they announced Carina was one of their passengers.

Morgan turned to Carina as they were walking in the door, "So, why is this a big party. I mean parties are nice, but this looks like a lot of people. Is this a birthday? Your birthday?"

"Well, you could say it's an engagement party," Carina replied quietly.

Sarah heard that, "Carina, who's this for? Don't tell me its you?"

Carina was just about to respond when Karl came to the door, "Oh Smouchie, my love and wife to be." He embraced her in a bear hug and big kiss.

Chuck shrugged, "Should have known."

Morgan looked around, "Oh, this will be fun."

When Carina was released, Sarah got next to her with a sweet smile, "Congratulations, you're going to have the most amazing life."

Chuck moved up and shook Karl hand, "You are a very lucky man, Karl."

Karl easily replied, "Thanks Chuck. Heard you already are."

"Oh yeah, happiest guy in the world," Chuck took Sarah's hand.

Sarah beamed, "We really are."

Carina pointed to Casey, "Oh Smouch, I want to introduce you to my uncle Johnny, Dad's brother."

Casey was quick, "Kid brother, hey, how are you?"

Karl took his hand, "Nice to see you. It's great to finally meet one of Carina's family. Not sure about the resemblance."

"Oh, Carina takes after her mom, a little thin and hardheaded," Casey shot back.

Karl smiled and nodded, "That she is."

A little later Chuck and Sarah were working their way around the party trying to find the best way to the vault. They were motioning to each other along the way. Carina was observing from her position with Karl. She wasn't looking to leave his arm anytime soon.

While Karl began to get everyone's attention, Chuck and Sarah slipped out of the main room and headed to the vault. They heard Karl below saying, "I'd like to make a toast…" They rounded the corner and saw Morgan standing there.

Chuck called out in a whisper, "Morgan? What?"

"Sorry man, had to go." He motioned with his thumb, "It's just down the hall." He looked at them both, "What? What are you doing? Oh. Crap. Sorry, I'll just."

Mary had been watching and called over the net, "No, have him stay with you. A couple of Karl's security guys are checking the grounds. It would cause to much attention if he came back right now."

They all heard the growl from Casey over the net.

Morgan looked between Chuck and Sarah, "So, what?"

Sarah shook her head, "Come on with us and don't touch anything."

It was the timing as much as it was Morgan, but as soon as she said that Morgan leaned back on a table in the hall and then reached back to steady himself by holding a figurine on the table. The figurine bent over and the door next to the bedroom swooshed open.

While impressed the secret door opened, Chuck still put his hands on his hips and looked at Morgan.

"Wow, the Ellie look. I get it. I get it." Morgan looked at the lock on the door. "So, who gets that?"

Sarah just motioned for Morgan to get out of the way. She stepped up to the lock and put her head against the door. After a few times through the tumbler turns, Sarah opened the door.

Morgan stepped back, "Wow. Could you always do that?"

Just as they were about to enter the vault Steven called out, "Hold it. We got some strange signals coming out of the vault. Please put your goggles on and lets see what they got."

Sarah reached into her purse and pulled out the goggles. When they put them on, it was apparent.

Chuck moaned, "Dad, there are lasers and what looks like electronic traps."

Sarah added, "Looks like if you stepped on an electronic pad, you would likely be shocked. And of course all of this probably sets off an alarm."

Chuck had forced a flash and then shook his head, "Sarah, there's no way. Neither of us can get around all of the beams and traps. We are too tall. Even if we bend and jump perfectly, our foot or hand will get caught in one of those beams."

Morgan was listening, "So, there has to be a panel to shut this off?"

Chuck turn to Morgan, "Yeah buddy, but where?" Chuck studied his friend for a second, "So while you were in Hawaii, did you keep up with Anna and her Taekwondo?"

"I was never as good as she was, but I was starting to get the hang of the kicks. Why?" Morgan looked at Chuck and then the vault. "You're not thinking…"

A/N Well, took a little longer than I expected to post this, again. I'll try to keep getting them out at least every two weeks. Hope you enjoyed, please leave a review.