With Friends Like You Who Needs Enemies

"What brings you to LA Carina?" Sarah said smiling at her friend. They sat at a little coffee shop that Chuck had taken Sarah too when they first started seeing each other.

"Actually, I'm on my way to Minneapolis but I thought I would stop by and see my best friend."

"That's sweet, I'm so glad you did. How is everything going with you?"

"Well not bad. I'm actually in between men at the moment. You know how that always makes me cranky?"

Sarah laughed. "I thought you got cranky when you were with the same guy for too long?"

"Yeah, that'll do it too."

The two beautiful spies laughed at their joke. They both were happy to just let their guards down if only for a moment.

"Why are you going to Minneapolis?"

"Business…I can't say any more than that."

Sarah shook her head as though she understood completely.

"Doubt if you're interested but Bryce was in town last week. He's probably still here. He normally stays for a couple of weeks when he's here," Sarah said.

"I guess you're taken this marriage thing pretty serious. Letting me have a go at Bryce."

"Bryce and I have been over for a long time. I know he always had a thing for you."

"Yeah, he has a thing for long legs doesn't he?" Carina said.

"Long legs, short legs, big tits, little tits…Bryce has never met a woman that wasn't his type."

"He doesn't sound that enticing does he?"

"Carina, you know as well as I do that what Bryce thinks isn't what makes him enticing," Sarah said laughing.

Carina laughed too but then got serious. "You know, I may take you up on that if you're serious?"

"Give him a call. I'm sure he won't mind."

"I think I will but I've got to ask you about this marriage of yours…is it real? Have you legitimately married an analyst?"

"I can't really talk about it Carina. But the marriage is legal."

"I didn't ask if it was legal I asked if it is real. So let me ask you this…when was the last time you spent any sack time with Bryce?"

"I'm not going there."

"You have haven't you? What's the problem with Chuck? He not able to get the job done?

"Chuck is just fine."

"Then why are you spending time with Bryce?"

"I didn't say I was."

"You didn't have too. It's as obvious as those C cups you're sporting."

"Enough Carina."

"No, let me ask you one more question? Are you in love with him?"

"Bryce?"

"No, Chuck. Are you in love with him?"

Sarah stared at Carina for a moment. "Honestly Carina, I don't know if I even know what love is. Do you?"

"This isn't about me. I'm not the one married to an analyst. So I ask you again. Are you in love with him?"

"Chuck and I have a connection that I have never had before. Not even with Bryce."

"Sarah…are you in love with him?"

"Goddamnit Carina. I don't know. I don't even know what love is or how it feels. Do you?"

"I don't know what love is but you know what they say in this business…love costs ten bucks. True love costs twenty."

"Real classy Carina."

"Don't give me classy Sarah. You and I wouldn't know real class if it were sucking on our toes We are charlatans. We might be able to look the part but deep down we both know we're imposters."

"Carina, just drop the love questions would you? I'm still working out a lot of things when it comes to Chuck."

"Aren't you a couple of months late for that?"

"Carina, I'm warning you, cut the crap. I've had all I'm gonna take from you."

The two spies looked at each other appraisingly. The aggression is always just under the surface with these two.

"Why won't you tell me if you love the guy or not?"

"Because I don't know!" Sarah yelled at the top of her lungs. How many times do I have to say it? She stood as she did so staring down at the redhead with fist clenched. She looked around and began to calm herself. She sat down and smoothed her clothing. "If you must know, I don't know if I love him. I don't know what love is. I don't know what it feels like. I don't know how it is supposed to make me feel. And, I don't know if love is even relevant for people like us." She looked at her friend. "Are you happy now? I don't know," she said emphasizing each word.

"So with all this ambivalence about love, how is Chuck doing?" Sarah caught on to Carina's ploy. She was trying to continue the line of questions only using Chuck as the subject.

"Carina, I'm done talking about Chuck and myself. Is there anything else you want to talk about because if not…I'm leaving?"

"Well, how about Casey. What's he up to?"

"Why, are you thinking about spending the night with him too?"

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On whether Bryce is still in town," she said laughing. That lightened the mood some.

"Can I ask you a question Carina?"

"Shoot."

"How long have you been at this? I mean in the spy game. How long?"

"About two years longer than you. Ten years next month."

"You ever think about getting out?"

"Sure, when someone finally puts a bullet in my head."

"No, I'm serious. Have you ever thought of doing something else? You know leave the DEA?"

"What else would I do? Who else is going to pay me for having sex with big bad studs and then shoot them when I'm done? It's the best job in the world. So, what brings about this question? Does Chuck have you thinking about quitting?"

"No, well maybe indirectly. I don't know. I've just been thinking about what I believe in recently. Chuck's been responsible for that."

"So you're thinking about growing old with this guy?"

Sarah looked at Carina with sad eyes. "If you only knew how ridicules that question is. Besides in our line of work we both know the chances of living to retirement. No, I can pretty much assure you that Chuck and I will never see retirement together."

"So why are you interested in retirement?" Carina said.

"I just don't know if what I'm doing is really for the greater good or is our government just like all the others."

"You don't know do you?"

"Know what?"

"Look, I hate to bust your bubble but in the eight years that you've been doing this work, how many times have you had to do something you didn't feel right about?"

Sarah hesitated not comfortable with the question.

"I'll tell you it has been more than you can remember. Do you think that your government, if it were better than other governments would make you do things you know are wrong?"

Sarah looked puzzled at the questions. "What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that you do what your told. You don't ask questions and stop thinking about right and wrong. That will distract you and distraction is what will get you killed."

"What if you're asked to do something you know is wrong and you just can't do it?"

"Then you're screwed."

"What does that mean?"

"It means you better have made a plan to run. You better have money already set aside that you can access and you stay under the grid. If you're lucky you live. Chances are still against you living a year. We're very good at finding people."

Carina studied Sarah carefully. "You're not going rogue are you?"

"Don't be ridiculous. I've had an issue that I've thought about. It's just got me thinking. I can guarantee you that the last thing I will ever do is go rogue. I owe the CIA and I know it."

"That's a relief…you had me worried there."

Sarah looked at her watch. "I've got to go I need to pick up some groceries. I promised Chuck I would make dinner for him tonight."

Carina's smile grew from ear to ear. "He's got you making dinner for him?"

"It's not like that. We take turns. He makes dinner for me as well."

"Are there going to be little Bartowski's running around from this union?"

"You know better than that. I wouldn't bring a child into this world for love nor money. Who in their right mind would think this world is safe enough for children."

"It's done every day by the thousands. Happy Mr. and Mrs. Smith's bringing babies home from the hospital. Mothers nursing the babies and fathers going off to work to provide for them."

Sarah rolled her eyes. "Please, are you trying to make me sick. Carina, we both know that world they're living in is a facade."

"I'm just saying that if Mr. and Mrs. Smith grow old and raise their children never knowing how the world really is…and they've been happy. What's so bad about it?"

"You sound like you're trying to talk me into running."

Carina laughed. "Please, I'd probably be the one they send to kill you. Do me a favor and never even think about going off the grid."

Sarah laughed as well. "If there's one thing I can promise you it's that going off the grid is the last thing on my mind. I just can't wait for the next assignment."

Sarah got up to leave, hugging Carina before she left.

Carina watched her walk away. Her mind clearly working through everything she had just learned. Finally, she pulled her phone out of her purse and dialed a number.

"Hello Bryce, this is Carina. I'm in LA and hoped that you were too. Really? Great. Give me a couple of hours and I will see you there."

Carina gave Sarah one last look and then decided not to put a tail on her. Even though it would be a huge feather in her hat to catch a rogue spy just as she was leaving, deep down she knew that Sarah was addicted to the CIA and not even Chuck who had an unusual connection to her would ever change that.

She walked to her car smiling in anticipation of the night spent with Bryce. She loved taking what Sarah had.