I don't own Chuck or anybody else in the Chuck world. I have a birthday coming up so maybe.
A/N: I have to express my gratitude to jagged1 for the beta and tireless work she put in on this, without it and her insistence that I get my ass in gear this chapter might still be getting tweaked by me until the next millennium.
I forgot last chapter to thank DLK for his help in solidifying my storyline and his suggestions and comments. I beg forgiveness. They always say it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission. Ha-Ha.
If you like this in any small part it's because of her and if you don't it's because I didn't listen to her enough. Behind every successful man is a brilliant woman.
Thank you for all the wonderful reviews and I hope you enjoy this. Please leave a review.
Xxx
Chapter 4
Xxx
Carina entered the conference room and noticed Chuck staring intently at the computer equipment. Oddly, the expression on his face reminded her of the look men got on their faces when…no, that couldn't be it he was looking at a computer for God sakes, not a woman.
She shrugged it off, and her eyes shifted, taking in the computers, servers, and then to the well stocked armory; she'd never been in an NSA bunker environment before so it was all new to her. She felt somewhat better after being able to get cleaned up in the bunker facilities. She'd washed her face and combed her hair, pulling it into a pony tail. There were still bruises on her face, but she didn't have her makeup bag or most if not all of the bruises would be hidden. The black eye would probably still be visible but not noticeably.
Carina saw that Casey was in the midst of a heated debate with his superior officer.
"General, we can learn more from a rescued deep cover agent than we could ever learn from a captured Fulcrum Agent," Casey reasoned.
When Chuck had entered the conference room, he had looked at the equipment and flashed. The amount of data flowing into his brain caused him to shut down for a minute.
When Chuck came out of his flash he noticed that Carina has joined them and he could hear Major Casey explaining to the General why they now had a third agent in the bunker.
He decided not to get involved in this dialogue. Agents have been sacrificed for the greater good before, what's one more. Michaels wondered.
Chuck sat with a stoic look on his face, staring intently at the computer equipment. He tuned out the conversation going on in the room. More images suddenly began to flash through his mind. He saw an NSA satellite that could be used to enhance and extend the range of the GPS transmitters he'd fashioned with parts from a Buy More. The more he thought about it, the more images appeared and he was suddenly certain that it would work.
Carina decided it was best to keep her mouth shut for the moment and let Casey and the General continue their disagreement. Besides, she was much more interested in the other agent in the room. She sneaked a peek at Agent Michaels and wondered what he hid behind his dark facade. He was kinda cute and she couldn't wait to find out.
Chuck stood and walked to the computer console. With the enhanced power of the NSA's computer setup he was able to triangulate the position of one of the GPS transmitters he'd planted on the cars in front of the house where Casey had saved Agent Hanson.
"It was something we needed to do," Casey was explaining when Chuck interrupted him.
"General, we still have a viable target. Using the available satellite feed, I have a fix on one of the cars, the other three are out of range but as they move around the city we might be able to get a fix on them before the battery runs out. I suggest an operation on this; the car is currently sitting outside a building owned by Prymial Peripherals."
Chuck glanced at the other agents and continued. "It's a shell company, fronting as a video game company. The first floor is actually occupied by game programmers during the day but the top three floors are used by Fulcrum. According to thermal imaging, there are only three people on site right now. I should be able to slip in and plant a Trojan on their servers."
Beckman smiled, thinking of how the grand plan was coming together: the demise of Fulcrum.
"What have you found out from Meadows? Does he have any knowledge of this facility?" Beckman asked.
"We haven't had a chance to question him yet," Casey answered.
"Planting the Trojan is of utmost importance. Bar … Agent Michaels, can you plant it without them finding out?" Beckman asked.
"Yes, General, it's a simple program. I only need ten minutes to install it. I doubt their security will be enough to keep me out."
"The interrogation can wait. I need to speak with Agent Michaels alone. Please wait outside," Beckman stated. She leveled a pointed stare at Casey and Carina.
When the door closed, Beckman narrowed her eyes and looked at Chuck. "Can she be trusted? Is she associated with anyone that is affiliated with Fulcrum or suspected of being involved with them?"
"All I know is her name, Carina Hansen, DEA."
How shortsighted of me. If we've removed everything from his mind before the operation, he is blind to anyone he knew or met. He shouldn't have even remembered her name. We'll have to update him. I need to fix that.
"No ma'am, she's DEA and therefore less likely to have been recruited. Major Casey seems to have a history with her. If she's suspect he might be too," Chuck replied with a smirk.
"Good enough. Call them back in?"
When they were all seated again, Beckman looked at Carina. "Agent Hansen, I don't know if you've heard of Fulcrum. Agent Michaels and Major Casey are on a deep cover assignment and therefore I am their only contact. Since you've already seen this base and know too much, I'm offering you a chance to help us. The only other option is a bunker until it's over."
"I've heard of the fight with Fulcrum and I trust Casey. I would like very much to help. " She was hoping that she might be able to help find closure for Sarah.
"Very well, welcome aboard. Agent Hansen will accompany you while you plant the Trojan," Beckman said. "I'll expect a full report in two hours time."
"Understood, General," all three echoed.
Xxx
Casey looked around the base armory. There were so many weapons he didn't know which one he wanted to fondle first. There was the newMP8 with not only the laser sight but the dead man technology that could sense body heat.
Carina sat looking at Chuck still at the computer terminal, calling up the building schematics after he'd directed Casey to the weapons. He still hadn't really looked at her and only spoke to her once.
"So Agent Michaels, what do your friends call you?" Carina asked as she walked over and rubbed his arm.
Chuck's black eyes melted back to a soft brown and when he looked at her he stammered. "I … I … I don't have any friends, Agent Hansen."
When she rubbed his arm, he felt so nervous and inadequate. Here was a beautiful woman touching him and looking at him with lust in her eyes.
Carina continued to rub his arm thinking he's shy. This is going to be so much fun, she thought. She loved a challenge.
She laughed softly and flashed her eyelashes. "You can call me Carina."
"Okay."
"Do you have a first name? People must call you something," Carina cooed continuing to rub her body up against his arm.
"It's Carson, but I can't remember anyone ever calling me that. I guess people call me Agent Michaels," Chuck tried to maneuver himself away from her.
"Well, Carson, that's kind of sexy. We're going to be spending a lot of time together and I'd really like to get to know you better," Carina moved closer to him again and rubbed her body against his.
"I don't think that would be appropriate," Chuck said as Casey came back into the room.
Chuck transformed back into cold Agent Michaels and his eyes once again flashed black. Carina noticed how odd it was that his face lost all of its softness.
"We have a mission to prepare for. Agent Hansen, I suggest you go get suited up and meet us at the van," Chuck's voice was cold again, and he concentrated on the computer.
Carina looked at him and wondered where the cute, nervous man went; in his place was the impassive agent again.
As Carina left the room to get ready, Chuck looked at Casey. "This is a stealth mission. We're only going to implant the Trojan and leave. Do you really think we need all that firepower? There are only three people in the building."
"Can't be too careful. More people might show up," Casey smirked, hoping he'd get a chance to use his new toys.
"Remember, I'm the only one who's going in. You and Agent Hansen will be back up. We don't want to alert them. Stay in the van, Casey." Again, he didn't know why he chuckled at that phrase.
Xxx
Sarah was still sitting in the chair looking at her captor. "Do you think I could use the bathroom? I've been tied up here for quite a while."
"You'll have to wait until Samuels comes back. Sorry," he said, looking like he really was sorry.
"Could you please go ask him? I really need to go," Sarah plastered a helpless smile on her face that had melted the hearts of many a man.
"I'll go check," he replied with a smile of his own.
When he left Sarah pulled on the bonds securing her, and used an old trick Casey had taught her. Dislocating her thumb and pulling her hand through the rope, she found it was very painful but it worked. Once her right hand was free, she reached for the knife on her thigh that they hadn't found and cut the remaining ropes.
She shook her head at their ineptitude; they should have used nylon zip ties. It would've been much more difficult to get out of them but Casey had even taught her a trick to get out of those if necessary.
She tipped the chair over and after trying the door, she positioned herself behind it, waiting for it to open. The first one in would feel her wrath for making her wait.
Xxx
Chuck had picked up some toys, too, before leaving for the office building. He took a key pad reader and swipe card simulator: a few more gadgets he might need to spoof the servers.
Chuck directed Casey to the office building.
"Stay in the van," he said as he climbed out. Why do I find that so funny?
Chuck made his way to the side door and deactivated the sensor before opening it. "Are you tracking me, Casey?" The camera attached to his head gear should've been showing his progress.
"Got a clear picture. Just remember one hint of trouble and we're coming in," Casey growled, hoping he might get to use one of the new toys.
'This isn't a 'smash and grab' it's a 'plant and disappear'. We don't want them to know we were here," Chuck growled back. "I have to get to the servers on the second floor and I'll be done in ten minutes. Keep the engine running."
Chuck sprinted to the inner door and attached one of the devices to it, checking for other alarms besides the visual ones. Finding there were none, he attached the key pad reader and after finding the correct sequence, swiped his card. The door clicked open and he carefully opened it, looking around the door frame. Seeing no one in the hall, he quickly entered and made his way to the stairs and the second floor.
"Casey I'm in. I'm going to plant the Trojan and be back shortly."
Casey and Carina watched as Chuck made his way out of the stairwell and down the hall, looking in each room he came to. Finally, he entered a room filled with electronics.
Chuck went directly to a rack and began fiddling with connections on the back of it, placing items from his bag in different slots and connectors. Then, he moved around the front and sat at a chair and began typing at a quick rate while several windows opened and closed. He then plugged in a flash drive and after the progress bar finished its track across the screen, he pulled the drive back out and again typed several commands. Once satisfied, he cleared the screen and stood.
"Done here, Casey. I'll be down in a minute. I need to get back to base and start downloading data."
After an affirmative grunt, Casey shut down his mike and sat back, watching the monitor closely as Chuck made his way back out the way he'd gone in.
"Casey?" Carina began. "I heard about what happened in Burbank. I'm sorry. Chuck seemed like a nice guy."
Casey grunted and she knew he didn't want to talk about it. But she did.
"Casey I never understood what exactly you and Sarah were doing there, protecting him. Was he that important?" Carina asked.
"How did you find out about it? It wasn't like it was front page news."
"Sarah called me right after it happened. It destroyed her, and she loved him, you know?"
"That's why spies shouldn't fall in love," Casey said softly while looking her in the eye.
The back door opened and Chuck climbed in. "Let's go. We all have work to do."
The ride back to the warehouse was quiet except for the sound of Chuck tapping various keys on a small phone-like device.
Xxx
The door opened and the man entered, rushing in when he saw the chair laying on its side. Sarah quickly grabbed him and put her knife to his throat. "Call Samuels. Either we settle this now or I leave."
"You can let him go, Agent Walker," Samuels said as he strode into the room. "I understand you need to use the facilities. We'll talk when you're done. This way please," he said, pointing down the hallway.
Xxx
"I believe you have an interrogation to begin, Casey. I've got to get the download started and set up the video feeds to see if we can identify anyone," Chuck didn't let his eyes move from the monitor he was studying.
Casey grunted before leaving the room.
"Do you want me to keep you company?" Carina said with a laugh, while rubbing his shoulders.
Chuck suddenly felt so shy. She was rubbing his shoulders and it felt like a junior high dance. He reverted to his nerd persona. He started to stammer. "Th … that's okay, I … I have work to do. Why don't you get some rest?"
The screen lit up and Beckman wasted no time with pleasantries. "Please report your status. Have you found anything?" She eyed Carina with her hands on Chuck's shoulders.
Chuck flashed again and was suddenly all business and articulate. "Ma'am, we just got back. Casey just left to begin his interrogation and I'm about to download what I can from their servers and tap into their video feeds. Considering the time in DC, unless we find something very important, I suggest a briefing in the morning."
Signing off, Beckman once again looked through narrowed eyes at how Carina was standing very close to Chuck. If this continues I might have to put her in a bunker to keep him safe.
Carina still had her hands on Chuck's shoulders and he once again became the stammering, unsure individual. "There are rooms set up down the hall, Agent Hansen. Go … go get some rest."
Carina pulled her hands from his shoulders and walked around in front of him so she could look him in the eye. She'd seen at least three different variations of him. She wanted answers. "Who are you, Agent Michaels?"
Chuck looked at her and whispered cryptically, "I am Legion."
Carina cocked her head to the side and looked at him, wondering what he was talking about. He made no sense sometimes and she'd only known him less than six hours.
"I'll see you in the morning, Carson."
Chuck looked at her. "Good night … Carina."
Carina's smile expanded when he used her name.
Xxx
Sarah came out of the bathroom looking for her inevitable escort. The same man she'd held at knifepoint was leaning against the wall with a scowl on his face.
"Hope I didn't get you into too much trouble? I really had to go. What's your name?" Sarah asked.
"It's Mike, Mike Edwards." He answered with a blush. No one this beautiful had ever even talked to him before.
"Well, Mike, let's get to the meeting," Sarah used her brightest smile.
Mike led her to an elevator, glancing over his shoulder to make sure she was still there. Her brilliant smile continued as they took the elevator to the fourth floor where he would have to leave her in the company of Samuels and other members of Fulcrum.
Xxx
Chuck had set up the download and the video. It would take a while and he'd review it in the morning. He was so tired and the lure of his nightly visit with his blonde Angel made him make his way to a room for a nap. Casey could handle Meadows.
He was staring into the most brilliant blue eyes again. She was speaking but if not for her mouth moving he wouldn't have known. Her sensuous lips were forming words but that wasn't what he concentrated on. He only knew he wanted to press his lips to hers and make contact with her tongue. The only problem was she was always just out of reach. If he could only hear what she said? The shine in her eyes always ended with sadness and then tears. He wanted to comfort her, but just when she was within reach, he would wake in a sweat with tears in his own eyes.
Carina woke to a noise that sounded like a cry for help. Making her way to the room next to hers, she found Chuck shaking and crying out. She sat on the side of the bed and held him stroking his head, and telling him it would be okay. She knew about nightmares - she'd had them but never like this. He was muttering and she couldn't understand what he said.
"Carson, it's going to be okay," Carina cooed.
Chuck looked at her through tear filled eyes.
"Would it help if I just held you for a while?" Carina asked.
Chuck nodded, not trusting his voice.
Carina pulled the blankets over them and held him. "I'm here, don't worry. Go back to sleep."
Chuck looked at her and closed his eyes, falling into a light sleep.
Carina put her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat and steady breathing. The musky smell was intoxicating and she was asleep within seconds.
Chuck instinctively put his arm around her and pulled her even closer.
Xxx
Sarah sat at the end of the table with a bright light behind the other people in the room. The light cast such a shadow on their faces that she couldn't really see them.
A voice spoke from beyond the light. "We have a mission for you. It will be your test to see if you can be trusted."
"What is it?" Sarah asked.
"We want you to kill General Beckman," the voice said.
"Will this be my initiation?" Sarah asked, thinking how Beckman had given the command that killed her Chuck.
"We have her schedule for the next week. Do this and there will never be a question as to your loyalty again."
Sarah thought about it for a moment. "Where and when?"
"She will be attending her grand-daughter's graduation. Nothing as garish as a rifle shot, the method will be explained to you later."
"Like I said, where and when?" They could see Sarah's eyes cloud over with hate.
"We will give you all the information when it's needed. For now, you will stay here. No outside contact allowed."
"Understood. Can I get a change of clothes?" Sarah asked.
"Your bag has been brought here and Edwards will be waiting outside to show you to your room. Please stay there and do not try to leave," Samuels said as he showed her to the door.
Xxx
Chuck was dreaming again but this time he could feel the heat from his Angel's body and his arms were around her, his face nuzzled in her hair. He woke quickly when he realized the smell of her shampoo was not right and he was in the spoon position but the red hair that greeted his eyes made him slowly extricate his arms and rise from the bed.
Carina felt the movement of the bed when Chuck got out. She turned to look at him, and smiled. "Morning, lover. We don't have to get up yet."
"I'm sorry, Carina. What happened?" Chuck asked in a shy voice.
"You were wonderful, lover," Carina teased.
Chuck's eyes went wide and he backed up until his back hit the wall. "I … I …I …," he stammered.
"Relax, Carson, I'm just having some fun. You were having a nightmare and needed someone. Nothing happened," Carina smirked.
Chuck looked at the floor. "I've got work to do." Grabbing his clothes, he ran out the door.
Xxx
Chuck was scrolling through the video when Casey entered the room with a grunt. He looked up and flashed reverting to the cold Agent Michaels.
"Is there any coffee?" Casey asked.
"Over there. I just made it," Chuck answered. "Did Meadows tell you anything useful?"
Casey looked over at Chuck, amused at the younger man. He's not as tense as he was yesterday. Maybe Carina put the cuffs on him and worked him over.
"He doesn't know anything very low level. He didn't even know the names of all the people in the house," Casey shrugged.
"Are you sure you asked the right questions?"
"Have a go if you think you can do better," Casey was pissed that his ability was being questioned by this punk.
Carina entered the room as Chuck replied. "I think I will." Then, he walked out the door ignoring the looks on their faces.
"What was that all about?" Carina asked.
"He thinks I don't know how to interrogate a suspect," Casey growled.
"What's his story?" Carina gazed at Casey, studying his reaction to the question.
"You know as much as I do. Super Agent, almost a ghost, rumors abound but no one ever believed them."
"What did you do to him? The way he acts around you is so different from when you're not there. Did you piss in his corn flakes?" Carina laughed.
"I don't know, but I want to see how he handles the interrogation." Casey said as he grabbed his coffee and headed out the door.
Carina grabbed a coffee and followed Casey to watch the interrogation. Standing on the other side of the one way glass, they watched Chuck enter the room.
Chuck approached the agent, observing the bruises starting to form on Meadow's face. The way he was breathing alerted him that Casey had also delivered many body blows. He stood and looked at the man for a minute, waiting for him to ask why he was here and say he didn't know anything.
"I already told the big guy everything I know," Meadows said with a small smile. These government types, no guts, he thought. Meadows knew he could stand a beating, even sodium pentothal and its derivatives
"I think you know more than you told him. I won't be as pleasant," Chuck stated as he pulled his gun from its holster.
"You're going to threaten to kill me? I know you won't do that."
"I'm not going to kill you, even if you beg me. I'm going to shoot off every appendage you have," Chuck growled.
Meadows looked into Chuck's black eyes and didn't know whether to believe him or not. Government agents didn't do that a beating yes, but real torture was left to the other side.
"Shall we start with your pinky?" Chuck grabbed Meadow's hand and pressed his gun to it.
Meadows looked on apprehensively but kept his mouth shut.
"I'll start with the end. That way there'll be three shots on each finger," Chuck said as he pulled the trigger.
Standing on the other side of the one-way glass, Casey and Carina jumped when they heard the gun go off. They'd both assumed it was a bluff and he'd continue to threaten before backing off and trying another way.
Meadows looked down with tears in his eyes and a grimace on his face, finally looking at the blood on the table and his pinkie that was missing the end from the first knuckle.
"Care to comment on where we can find the rest of your friends you were with tonight or shall we move up a knuckle?" Chuck asked with a cold look on his face.
"You can't do this. There are rules you have to follow," Meadows cried.
"You killed your partner and sold out your country. There are no longer any rules. Let's try the next knuckle," Chuck pressed his gun to his hand once again.
"That is one cold hearted bastard," Casey stated, watching through the glass.
"You can't let him do this." Carina's voice quivered. She had never seen a government agent act this way.
"You've seen him. I don't think we could stop him if we tried."
"This isn't the man I saw last night after you left. He seemed so gentle. Is it all and act?" Carina asked, as she stared at the scene in front of her.
"Don't know, this is all I've ever seen from him."
Meadows was sobbing now and thrashing about, as much as he could while being bound. "Okay…okay, what do you want to know?"
"I want to know where I can find the rest of the people at the meeting last night. I also want to know every contact you've had since joining Fulcrum." Chuck demanded. "Remember, you still have many more fingers, toes and another appendage that you might not want me to shoot off."
Meadows started to reel off addresses of safe houses between cries of pain.
"Are you getting this, Casey?" Chuck asked over his shoulder toward the one way glass.
Casey quickly pressed the record button, wondering how he knew he was here. If he could see the look of horror on Carina's face at this moment, he didn't know if he'd react at all.
Casey pressed the intercom button and confirmed that he was recording.
Carina's phone chirped, alerting her to an incoming text message. After reading it, she quickly excused herself and went back to her room for privacy.
Casey had a scowl on his face. He'd done his best and thought Meadows knew nothing. Maybe I'm getting too old for this shit.
Meadows continued to recite locations of drop zones and meeting places. The first place he'd said was Prymial Peripherals, followed by several safe houses.
He finally started to reveal agents that were not even suspected of being Fulcrum. Chuck flashed on the first name and called for Casey to get in here and get the rest.
Xxx
Chuck pressed the controls to connect with Beckman and then began to recite the name he recognized that Meadows had revealed to him.
"He's still talking; there'll be more names later. I felt I should warn you immediately, Colonel Walters is one of the names. He's one of the men tasked with your security. I suggest he be taken into custody right away."
"Are you certain? Did you flash on his name?"
"What? Flash?" Chuck asked.
"I meant did you recall his file?" Beckman clarified.
Chuck looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Something didn't seem right. "Yes ma'am, I saw his file. There have been irregularities in his bank accounts for the last year."
"Thank you, Agent, I'll have him picked up right away and let you know if there is any new information that will help you. That is all."
Chuck sat and stared at the black screen, trying to recall the conversation he'd just had with Beckman and how he'd 'flashed' as she called it on the files of Colonel Walters and all of the people he'd seen at the house.
Flash? He thought. What the hell is a flash?
Xxx
Casey entered the room after Chuck left. "Please continue, Meadows."
"Agent David Young….and." Meadows gasped for a breath. He looked down at the pool of blood on the floor, and went on. "Agent Sarah Walker. She's CIA, I think."
Casey tried to hide the anger and feeling of betrayal that hit him. Damn Sarah Walker!
Casey couldn't believe it. She'd been his partner and he'd never even suspected. It sort of made sense now, the way the terrorists grabbed Bartowski. He'd thought she was in love with the nerd and her actions after his death had all but confirmed it for him.
Now he knew why she'd taken off, back to her Fulcrum masters.
Not only would he enjoy putting a bullet in Evans head but he'd save a bullet for Sarah Walker, a turncoat and traitor to her country. He'd actually believed her act when Chuck had been killed. She was the ultimate honey trap.
Xxx
A/N: Hope you enjoy. If not let me know how I can get better.
Thanks to all the readers who left reviews and all who put alerts on my last story, I hope you like this too. I love you, not as much as I love Sarah but close, actually not even close but thanks.
PS: Please read and review. The more reviews I get the quicker I'll post the next chapter. Just kidding, maybe.