A/N: I swear I had a lot more readers/reviewers than this once... Ah well, my thanks to those that are still around. I love writing this fic so I am defo gonna finish it whether a lot of people read or not.
(For disclaimer, etc. - see chapter 1)
Chapter 4
"It was never our intention for your work to coincide" General Beckman told Casey and Sarah who were stood by the screen, with Chuck and Marie who were seated there too, "Agent Clarke's mission at the hotel ought it have been of no consequence to Team Bartowski"
"Trust me, ma'am, I would've kept my distance if I could" said Marie, forcing herself not to look Casey's way even when she felt his gaze shift to her a moment then, "but when things went south..."
"I don't blame you for seeking help from a source you knew to be safe, Agent Clarke" the General assured her, "You kept your cover intact for the most part and that is important" she nodded once, "I understand your mission at the hotel was at least successful"
"Yes, ma'am" Marie agreed with a nod, "Despite Mr Al-Hakim's previous history, he has kept his vow to go straight, and his hotel appears to be an entirely legitimate business enterprise" she explained, "I planned to be out of there today without a problem, but apparently somebody decided that wasn't going to happen"
"Ma'am, Agent Clarke believes the bartender at the hotel may be a Fulcrum agent" explained Sarah, wanting to move this situation on and get some idea of where to go next with her own mission of keeping Chuck safe, "There's a chance that other staff or friends of his may be rogue agents too" she went on to say.
"That's not what Marie told us" said Casey, looking mad at his partner and making Chuck feel increasingly uncomfortable.
"Um, General" he said to Beckman, getting up and between the other two before a fight had the chance to break out, "I think the point has to be that there is at least one Fulcrum agent at the hotel and we need to deal with that so, orders please?" he asked her, glancing nervously between his handlers who both looked ready to draw blood.
"Thank you, Mr Bartowski" said the General with just a hint of sarcasm at the idea that she might need him to figure this out for her, "Your team will go to the hotel and we will see what you can learn about this bartender or anyone else at the hotel that you would not have seen on your original mission" she agreed, "In the meantime, I will send a team to extract Agent Clarke" she continued, even as Marie looked less than impressed at the idea.
"With respect, General" Casey said carefully, "if Agent Clarke can ID the suspect and be of help to our mission, it seems foolish to take her out. We can protect her" he assured his boss, practically standing to attention before her, looking equal parts confident and respectful.
General Beckman's eyes narrowed at his arguing with her, and yet she could see his point. Glancing straight past Marie and Chuck, her eyes settled on Sarah instead.
"Agent Walker, do you agree with Agent Casey's assessment of the situation?" she asked, curious to see if these two could be together on the important decisions, even if they did have a tendency to fight like cat and dog about the less vital details.
"Yes, ma'am" Sarah nodded curtly, not sparing a glance for anyone else, and just a little mad at herself for agreeing with Casey - unfortunately, she knew he was right on this one.
"Very well" the General agreed, "Agent Clarke will resume her previous role as Casey's girlfriend, and BuyMore employee, if your injury allows" she asked the still pale red-head who nodded in agreement.
"I'm a fast healer, ma'am" she assured her, "and the bullet didn't do much damage, thanks to Agent Casey"
"Excellent" the General nodded once, and then the screen went black.
"Hmm, just like I remember" said Marie a little too smartly as she wobbled a little whilst walking into Casey's apartment and flopped down into the recliner.
"Don't get too comfy" he warned her, "You're not staying forever" he reminded her as he tossed his jacket on the table and turned to tell Walker and Bartowski he'd catch up with them later tonight for the hotel recon.
The door closed in their faces, making the other undercover couple leave perhaps a little faster than they intended. Marie looked up over the back of the chair at her own fake boyfriend that might've proved to be the real thing in a different lifetime, when they weren't both tied to their jobs and all. She tried not to flinch as the stitches in her side pulled tight.
"What's bugging you, John Casey?" she asked him as he bustled around, pretending to be busy she was sure of it, because she couldn't think there was a single thing he really needed to be doing right now, "Seriously, what gives? Last night was like..."
"Last night was nothing" he snapped at her too harshly, though he failed to wound her, hurting her far less than her gun-shot wound as she pulled herself up and walked over to him.
"Hey" she said sharply, making him look at her as they leaned over on either side of the table, "You can kid yourself that you're made of stone, Johnny" she mocked him out of aggravation more than anything else, "but I was there last night, and I am not some stupid little weak-kneed school girl type that's just gonna..."
Her somewhat angry tirade ended rather more abruptly than she'd intended as Casey's hand behind her head pulled her closer and his lips crashed against her own in a kiss that took her breath away. Marie honestly wasn't sure how she got from the other side of the table into his arms, but given the fact standing without dizziness was an issue anyway, she wasn't going to object to being held up just as long as this moment lasted The fact he seemed to be holding her so tight and yet not causing her any pain was a miracle in itself, and by the time he stopped kissing her, Marie found her head was spinning even more than she'd expected it to. Damn blood-loss and painkillers were screwing with her as much as anything else, to the point where she actually thought she was going to pass out for a minute.
"You still with me, Clarke?" he asked her with that annoyingly sexy smirk that got her every time.
"Not like I can run away too well right now" she teased him, "Y'know we catch up to the guy that did this to me..." she shook her head, so serious and angry she didn't have words anymore.
"Trust me, the asshole's going down" Casey promised her, and though she knew he would say that about any rogue agent, not just one that had hurt her, it gave Marie a nice feeling inside.
She had a team right now, and that wasn't a bad thing. She had been a loner too long and got the feeling that maybe Casey felt that way too, at least until Team Bartowski came along. She had no doubt that Sarah and Chuck had a whole lot of opinions about her being back and the pseudo-relationship she and John Casey shared. She was not wrong, as outside in the courtyard the rest of Team Bartowski were talking about just that very topic.
"I just find it weird that Casey has, kind of like, a girlfriend" shuddered Chuck, "I mean, most of the time he acts like he's not even person, just like a robot with guns and stuff, but with Marie... I dunno, it's like he's really into her"
"I know what you mean" Sarah nodded her agreement, "He seems to care so much about her, I just hope it doesn't jeopardise our work" she said, all business as usual and reminding Chuck one too many times that they themselves could never really have a romantic relationship, at least not until the Intersect was out of his head.
"So, hotel recon tonight" he said, changing the subject before things got anymore awkward, "I'm assuming we go as two couples, another double date?" he checked as he let them both into the apartment.
"It makes the most sense" his handler agreed, as she sat down on the couch and Chuck went into the kitchen to get them both a drink.
Their covert conversation was prevented from continuing as Ellie and Awesome arrived home from the gym together, both still in their work out clothes.
"I'm telling you, babe, there was a definite dirty girl vibe to that chick" Devon was saying as they came in.
"I can't believe you were even looking" she admonished him, "People will say you're a Peeping Tom or something!"
"Hey guys" said Chuck, drawing the couples attention to the fact he and Sarah were even there, "What's the what?" he asked as he walked over and handed Sarah a can of soda, popping his own open too.
Devon flopped down into an armchair and gestured that he was giving Ellie the floor. She put a hand on her brother's shoulder as she spoke.
"Chuck, would you please tell Devon that who John Casey is or is not dating is absolutely none of our business!" she said, with an exasperated sigh as she looked towards her fiance.
"Dating?" choked the Asset, glad he hadn't been drinking at the time, else he probably would have sprayed the room with sugary liquid right now.
"The hot little red-heed that was all over him when we just came by?" said Awesome with a raised eyebrow, "Seriously, props to the guy. I was starting to wonder if the bro batted for the other team, if you know what I mean" he said, giving Sarah a look, "Not that I have anything against it, y'know, gay guys are awesome, I was just a little worried maybe John was getting a little too attached to Chuckles here"
It was then that Sarah nearly did a rather spectacular impression of a fountain. That remark just made her cough, and right when she needed to swallow.
"Hey, yeah" said Chuck as he sat down fast beside her and rubbed her back, "Nope, Casey is straight, straight-arrow, a totally straight girl-liking dude" he over-did it and he knew he was doing it too, but by the time he noticed it was too late to take back.
"Well, I guess it is sweet that he has a girlfriend now" said Ellie, "Assuming she is, y'know... permanent?" she said awkwardly, "I mean, for all we know, he might like the company of a lot of women for... things"
"I don't think Casey is like that" said Sarah with a forced smile, "I'm pretty sure he's serious about Marie"
"Marie?" echoed Awesome and Chuck nodded madly.
"Yes, yep, Marie Clarke" he confirmed, "You remember the girl who worked at the BuyMore with us a while back?" he reminded them, "She's back in town and those two love birds and have got to... re-kindling things" he said, his grin too wide and his hand gestures a little too excited for something that ought not to be any of his business.
"Is that what the cool kids are calling it these days?" winked Awesome as he dove out of his chair to go get showered and changed, along with Ellie who was eager to leave this conversation behind anyway.
"Y'know, lying to them never gets any easier" said Chuck when his sister and soon-to-be brother-in-law were gone, "And talking about Casey's love life really freaks me out" he added, much to Sarah's apparent amusement.
She found it weird that her partner might care about another person in that way too, but she also understood why he usually kept himself detached from the world and everyone in it. Sarah knew she would find things a whole lot easier in her life if she could be the same, not only thinking of her relationship with Chuck now but also with Bryce. Romance was hard enough for so-called ordinary people, but for secret agents it was damn near impossible. Sarah wished Casey and Marie both good luck if they could find a little happiness together, however briefly. Of course, she wouldn't actually tell them that, it would be unprofessional.
To Be Continued...
