While Chuck and Sarah are 'honeymooning' aboard their dream cruise ship, they meet Jack and Jodi Coleshaw. Enjoy the fun! But first, Mary makes a decision, and the path she sets out on changes everything.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mary / 10 PM Monday January 31st, 2012 / The roadhouse cafe from the Curse

On Saturday, we last saw Mary holding her phone against her cheek, deep in thought, Mary looked like she had a major decision to make, and wasn't quite sure how to proceed.

It now was Monday, two days later, and Mary had made her decision. While Chuck and Sarah were cruising somewhere on the open sea heading for the port of Puerto Vallarta, Mary Bartowski was seated at the table in the safe house waiting for a powerful player to arrive. When Mary heard a car pull up outside, she checked that the gun on her lap was hidden from view. Mary then poured herself a fourth double shot of whiskey, or was it a shot of courage at this point?

The door opened, and General Beckman walked through the door toward Mary.

"Mary, I came as soon as you sent the message. Code O, haven't gotten that message for years. What happened?" General Beckman pulled up a chair directly across from Mary and looked her straight in the eye.

Mary slid Beckman the half empty bottle of whiskey that sat on the middle of the table. Beckman filled the double shot glass in front of her, and took a healthy belt.

"Chuck and Sarah are back together." Mary was staring down at her drink when she said those words, avoiding the general's probing stare.

"That's great news Mary, but certainly no reason for a Code O request. Or even your serious demeanor. Has Sarah's memory returned?" Beckman was hoping this conversation wasn't going to happen.

"No, not fully, but it seems she's remembering some things, mostly about Chuck." Mary continued to look down and play with her drink, avoiding eye contact with Beckman.

"So Sarah remembers only snapshots of the past five years, yet she fell back in love with Chuck? No surprise is it? We should have taken her memory from her long ago, if that's all it took? What can that have to do with Code O, we've had all sort of intersect issues over the past five years, the past thirty years really, this is no different." Beckman already understood why Mary called a Code O. Beckman was afraid as far back as when she heard Sarah's mind was erased that this day was coming, but she was going to keep plausible deniability as long as she could.

"It's the only way to help Chuck help Sarah. And, knowing those two kids, they'll figure this all out someday anyhow, but only after it is too late, after HE is dead. Then they'll hate me for not telling them exactly how this intersect mess got started, and for not doing all I can to help them now." Mary finally looked up from her cup of courage to meet Beckman's eyes, Beckman had not seen that look for a long time. This was not the look of a concerned mother or doting grandmother, but the look of a cold-blooded killer.

"Help them do what exactly?" Beckman was trying to keep this meeting under control.

"Help them reconstitute the Omaha project. Get enough of it working, that Sarah's memory paths can be restored. You know what happened, her memory is still there. Quinn short circuited the part of the brain that processes the medium term memory information. The same way that ….." Mary slowed her sentence, and before she could finish, Beckman finished for her.

"I know, I know. But you can't, we can't start the program again. We can't risk that. Look at all the pain and agony it has caused us all, you the most." Beckman was surprisingly sympathetic.

"Diane, I'll take full responsibility. I'll find HIM. I'll take care of him and protect him. He can stay with me until this is over." Mary was pleading now.

"Mary, his mind is gone. He won't even know who you are, he doesn't know me. Plus, this is exactly what Gepetto wants you to do. Gepetto wants you to resume the research, the research that stalled for Gepetto. Did it ever occur to you that Quinn short circuited Sarah's brain on Gepetto's orders, so Chuck would be forced to figure out a way to fix her." Diane knew as she spoke, that Mary would pick up on the hints, there was no turning back now.

"Diane, you sound like your already have HIM back?" Mary was confused.

"Yes I do, I have HIM. Gepetto delivered him the day after Quinn 'fell' to his death off the concert hall roof. Gepetto left instructions to deliver him to you, and ultimately to Chuck, but not until you asked. You see, the Puppetmaster has returned, pulling all of strings, like the old days. I'm not sure I'm ready to play into Gepetto's plans."

Mary was now hopeful, "If anyone can help him remember, it's me. Maybe Chuck and Ellie too. You know how he loved our family. Plus, if he can help Chuck, the cure for Sarah should also cure him. Finally, if this is Gepetto's plan, to have him help us, help Chuck, then if we don't follow through on Gepetto's plan, isn't that more likely to have dire consequences than anything?" Mary had thought this through very well, and made great points. Mary then continued, "And he's the only chance Chuck will have to fix Sarah, he is the only one who ever was able to write the upload and activation software, with Chuck's help maybe he can again, even with all he has been through. All those years since he last worked on it, nobody has ever replicated his work. Those glasses Quinn had were the last ones he made, signaling the end of the Omaha project."

"Mary, even if you could get him to remember enough to help Chuck, the moment Gepetto finds out Chuck was successful, you all would be in grave danger. Chuck most of all. Gepetto is is pulling all of our strings again, like the old days when …." Diane slowed, and this time Mary interrupted.

"Diane, let me worry about Gepetto. I should have dealt with that issue long ago. It's time for me to fix this, so this curse does not hang over more generations. You owe me that much Diane. The CIA owes the Bartowski family. The CIA owes Chuck, and now Sarah. And for God's sake, we have the next generation coming into our lives now. You know when those two kids have children, it will start all over again for them, same as it did for Stephen and I. It's time to stop running and hiding. It's time to make a stand. Here and now. I have to stop this, for my kids, and their kids. I have to end this. Can you help me? " The warrior, protector, and queen of the Bartowski family had fired her last salvo of part logic and part passion at the General.

General Beckman stood up, poured herself another glass of whiskey and said, "Alright, fine." She reached into her briefcase and handed Mary some papers. "Here are your orders Agent Bartowski. Code O, Omaha. You report to no one. You have authorization to run the mission however you deem fit, to its conclusion. Deal with Chuck and Sarah however you choose, but know letting them in on everything is dangerous. We'll deal with the fallout when this is all over. God help us all."

With that Beckman slammed her whiskey, and stormed out the door, as only generals can.

When Mary heard the general's car pull away, she finally whispered a faint, "Thank you Diane. But I'm not sure God is on my side on this one. I only hope He will understand and forgive me someday."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

First contact / Tuesday evening, February 1st, 2012 / cruise ship

"Chuck, you look like James Bond, all dressed up in that tux. Do I qualify as a Bond girl?" Sarah was fishing for compliments from Chuck, but Chuck wasn't biting.

"Well Blondie, a man like me has lots of options at a swank party like this is going to be." Chuck swallowed hard, thinking did I really say that?

Sarah decide to play along. She walked up to Chuck in full seductress mode. Sarah was wearing a ravishing sparkling, light green dress, slit up the side, and very low cut. This was a dress that a runway model could not do the justice to that Sarah did. Sarah slinked up into Chuck as she said, "Oh James, I love it when you are mean to me, take me right here and now."

Sarah started to give him a seduction kiss from the old days, but she broke out laughing before she could follow through. Then, Sarah quickly fixed Chuck's tie, as she un-slinked herself from him. She grabbed his arm, and pulled him toward the door.

Chuck shook his head and wiped the stunned grin off of his face, not sure what exactly had hit him.

"I'd make a bad James Bond anyhow." Chuck bemused, as Chuck and Sarah arrived at the party, arm and arm. "But Sarah, you could star in a Bond movie as a Bond girl with no coaching at all." Chuck started laughing at the thought of Sarah kicking James Bond's butt for real.

Sarah started laughing too, "Chuck, you're the only person in the world who doesn't see your inner Bond. Now channel it for me at this party. Think of the song, 'You're so Vain.' That's me, your Bond girl, singing it to you. Now let's have some fun, James."

Now they both were laughing.

From the upper balcony overlooking the hall, Jack and Jodi Coleshaw spotted the couple that stole their room.

"Look at them laughing. Nobody has that much fun for real, they're faking it." Jack didn't like what he saw, maybe he felt like he and his wife were not the coolest kids on the block any longer, who knows? He continued, "I think they're the terrorists we were warned about. They stole our room. I still don't know how they did it. One of them talked to Fred on the phone I guess, and talked Fred into giving them the room."

"Our Fred gave them our room? Darling, Fred's a very good judge of character, I'm sure it is nothing?" Jodi was not nearly as into this as Jack. Coleshaw Inc gets so many threats from terrorists, until she saw some real evidence, she was going to stay calm.

"Yea, can you believe it? Fred told me some story about how the lady lost her memory, and this was their third honeymoon in a a little less than two years, I couldn't quite get it all, but Fred was tearing up telling me about it." Jack was steaming over his gullible butler's soft heart.

"Oh honey, look at them. They are young and in love. They are probably having the time of their lives in our suite. Let them enjoy it. And if they were the terrorists, they sure wouldn't take our room calling attention to themselves, now would they?" Jodi was so cool Jack thought. Jack smiled and calmed down considerably as he leaned over and gave her a kiss.

"You're probably right. But let's check them out anyhow. The husband is at the bar ordering drinks, go see what you can find out. I'll go talk to the wife, she is already seated at the dinner table." Jack took the lead like usual.

"Behave yourself now Jack." Jodi teasingly called out.

"Always Jodi. Always. It's his wife you have to worry about!" Coming from most men that might sound arrogant, but Jodi thought that every woman in the world would trade places with her in a heartbeat, that her husband was indeed the 'most interesting man in the world'. Of course, she hadn't met Chuck (or Sarah) yet.

Chuck was in the process of ordering two vodka martini's, shaken not stirred, when Jodi Coleshaw approached Chuck.

"But them on my tab, Scottie"

"Sure thing Mrs Coleshaw," Scottie replied, "Can I get you anything?"

"Mr Coleshaw and I will take two of the same." She presented her hand to Chuck and said , "I'm Jodi Coleshaw, please call me Jodi. My husband and I own this cruise line."

Chuck took her hand and kissed it politely, "Pleasure meeting you Mrs Coleshaw." Chuck knew very well who she was, she and her husband lived in LA. The two of them were in the local newspaper, on TV, in national magazines and on the Internet all the time.

"Please, it's Jodi and the pleasure is all mine. I had to come and introduce myself to the husband half of the charming couple who talked 'our' butler out of 'our' private suite on 'our' own cruise liner," coming from most women, that would sound like a death threat, Jodi made the accusation almost seem like a come on.

"Oh boy," was all Chuck could get out, thinking that he and Sarah were busted big time.

"Don't worry Mr Bartowski, I think it's delightful that you and your wife are in our suite, my husband and I were once newlyweds too. But your third honeymoon, at your age, there has to be a story." Jodi was as charming, as she was gorgeous, a real lady, thought Chuck.

"I don't know what to say. Chuck, call me Chuck. If I'm to call you Jodi, then you need to know everyone calls me Chuck" Chuck was struggling and buying time, trying to figure out what truth to tell, or what lie to tell.

Thankfully, the drinks arrived, and so did the calvary. Sarah showed up holding Jack Coleshaw's arm.

"Darling, I met this delightful young lady at our dinner table, her name is Sarah. She spotted you talking to her husband, and I volunteered to escort her over to make sure you weren't being too flirtatious."

Jack Colelshaw was as confident as any man Sarah had ever met. She liked that in men, and liked Jack Coleshaw. Jack was exactly the kind of man she was comfortable around, she knew how to handle men like him.

Jack on the other hand was extremely distrustful of Sarah. Normal woman melted around him, Sarah hardly noticed him, he actually had to introduce himself twice. Then he had to run to catch her arm when she saw Jodi had cornered Chuck.

"Chuck, this is my husband Jack. Jack this is Chuck Bartowski, he goes by Chuck. Chuck was about to explain to me how Fred gave him and his wife our luxury suite. He's delightful by the way. Chuck and Sarah have been only married for a little over a year, yet this is their third official honeymoon after his wife suffered an accident which left her with amnesia. Who does that? That sounds like bad fan fiction, doesn't it?"

Jack piped in, "That's a story I want to hear too. I'd ask you to our private suite with a panoramic view of the ocean, but I think you would have to ask us. Yes indeed, a great story, the sort of thing that I would have thought only my wife and I are capable of doing. Just who are you two?"

Chuck and Sarah made eye contact, the non verbal message Chuck and Sarah passed back and forth was, 'Just who are you two?', as Mr and Mrs Coleshaw were as smooth as any spies they had ever encountered. Not to mention, Chuck and Sarah had to deal with the issue, 'who are we', as in 'who are we' going to tell these people we are?

Jack took the lead in controlling the conversation, which was his way, "Why don't we all sit down at our table, the first course is about to be served, and after we eat, we can talk."

As they approached the table, Jack hurriedly rushed ahead to pull a chair out for Sarah, he was shocked to see Chuck already had a chair out for Jodi, causing Jack to look a little irritated. But Jodi and Sarah looked at each other and simultaneously burst out laughing. In these 'mine is bigger than yours' type settings, the woman usually are way ahead of the men in terms of knowing what's going on. Jack didn't even realize how frustrated being around Chuck was making him. And Chuck certainly had no idea he was irritating Jack, as Chuck's 'Bondness' hung onto him effortlessly. Chuck's ways were charming to Jodi, and made Sarah swoon.

Dinner went without a hitch. The two couples got along fabulously, making small talk, and finding out how alike the four of them really were.

But Sarah could not help but notice how Chuck had befriended nearly every man and woman who worked in the restaurant. He knew all of their names, made jokes, and even learned a few words in a few of their native tongues, since most were foreign born. One grandmotherly aged lady even pulled out pictures of her grandkids, whose names Chuck guessed, from an early conversation with the lady. Sarah thought, James Bond would have his hands all over the pretty tall one that keeps hovering around our table while 'my' Chuck pays her no more attention, than any of the rest.

Jack interrupted Sarah's daydreaming and Chuck's fun, as he decided to get to the point with a little interrogation. He began with, "Chuck what do you do for a living?"

Chuck made a decision on how he was going to handle questions about his and Sarah's past with the Coleshaw's. For some reason, Sarah and he never talked about a cover story. He hoped Sarah would pick up on his lead and join in. Before her amnesia, Chuck had no doubt she'd figure out what his plan was. Now he wasn't as sure.

"We have our own little company called Carmichael Industries, I'm the CEO, Sarah is the President. I spend most of my time in the lab, working on our new projects." Chuck gave Sarah a little nod, which she picked up on, Chuck could see it in her eyes.

"That's a unique name, how did you come up with that one." Jack's cross-examination continued.

Good question, Chuck thought, OK Chuck, focus, the truth as best you can, that's the plan, "My wife is an ex-CIA spy, deep cover, a real bad person to mess with, the real deal. I'm a geek, technology type who possessed some unique talent that the government was interested in. Sarah became my handler, that's how we met. Carmichael was a name I used when I went undercover for the CIA, hence when we both quit the agency, we used the name Carmichael for our company, because we both liked it."

Jack's eyes rolled a little bit, "That's a great story Chuck. So you have your own company, what's your latest and greatest invention?" Jack was chuckling at the audacity of the story.

"We..lll ah …. ah." This one had Chuck baffled, the truth was classified.

Sarah was not baffled, "My husband and his team are working on an idea which will cure cancer, a non-intrusive way to replace chemotherapy. Matter of fact, we were just discussing one of our colleague's assignments to recover some money the government owes us, a little over forty million. Once we finish that, we plan to go public with our stock. Maybe you are interested in investing?"

Chuck smiled to himself, she's good, so good, she IS Jane Bond, the world's greatest spy, and she isn't even being a spy any longer. She's going to make a great company president, maybe she should be CEO?

Jack turned his cross-examination onto Sarah, "You are staying in our best suite, the one we usually stay in. My company normally does not rent it out, how did you convince them to give it to you?"

Sarah raised her chin, defiantly, the way she did on the beach, when she asked Chuck to take her back, "I can be quite persuasive over the phone. I wanted to surprise Chuck, and wanted everything perfect."

Chuck thought, holy cow, did she just say that. Wow.

Jack started laughing, enjoying her impetuousness, but continued, "How did you get the rate you got? They charge me more, and I own the place?"

Sarah calmed down a bit, and more softly, yet amazingly honestly answered, "I sort of like puzzles, I took it as a challenge. My father was a professional con man. As a kid, I spent half my time growing up traveling the country with him, so I'm good with people. And there's that ex-CIA thing I have going for me. So I can be a little intimidating, if you don't know me that is."

Jodi, serving as the courtroom judge, interceded to end Jack's antics, "Jack, honestly, that is enough already. I, for one, am ecstatic we persuaded you two to come out of your room and join us, I can't recall the last time we met two more interesting people. The dance competition is about to start, either of you dance?"

"Thank you Jodi, I love this type of setting. And I love to dance." Sarah was all smiles, as she and Chuck seemed to have passed the test. Sarah took a deep breath and thought to herself, Chuck is a wonderful partner, I'm having fun.

"I'm glad you like it Sarah. We offer this dress code formal hall as a romantic thing for couples, a way to let everyone channel their inner desire to be royalty. We bring two pro dancers in for every cruise from the TV show, 'Dance Like Us', to act as judges, dance with people, give some lessons, as well as make the setting elegant. I'm sure you recognize the pros, they are standing over there next to the band. They are on TV every Monday night."

Sarah looked clueless. "I'm sorry. We haven't had much time for TV. I never heard of them. Have you Chuck?"

Chuck was pleased to join in this conversation, since Sarah really wouldn't know what they did with their nights the last couple of years, given her memory failings. "Sarah and I hate reality TV. But, we recently did a tango while on undercover mission in a foreign embassy, that was very romantic, and very hot, with our lives on the line and all."

"Wow, Jodi said, That does sound hot."

"Jodi and I have never lost one of these competitions. I think you'll find we can give you a run for your money" Jack smugly announced.

"Plus, Jack knows the judges." Jodi giggled as she quietly whispered to Sarah. Jodi loved any opportunity to make fun of Jack.

"Huh?" Jack didn't quite get what Jodi said, but he was pretty sure he didn't like it.

With that, the dancing contest began.

Jack and Jodi really were quite good at the tango. Not quite as good as Chuck and Sarah, but ninety nine percent as good. By the end of the night, neither couple could even recall who won, as the night was full of dancing, laughing, more stories, and good fun. OK, maybe Jack and Jodi did win, those dancing contests are all rigged anyhow, aren't they?

Jack and Jodi stayed seated as Chuck and Sarah strolled off after saying good night to their new friends. They all agreed to meet up poolside later in the week.

"You think it could be them?" Jack was still on the fence as he asked his wife the question after Chuck and Sarah were gone.

"I don't know darling, they seemed mighty nice. And why tell us her father was a thief, or that they both were ex – CIA, or that he's some geek genius? It makes them the perfect suspects to say all that, so they likely aren't the terrorists." Jodi was not on the fence.

Jack still carried on, "And a cure for cancer. Right. Give me a break. Two kids like that president and CEO. Right. Maybe they aren't terrorists, but for sure they are a couple of con artists."

"I don't know Jack, they seemed pretty legit. Why don't you check out their story. It is a long cruise, we'll find the terrorist, we never fail, do we?"

Jack wasn't budging, "And anyhow, what gives? It has been a long time, like maybe never, since we met a couple where you liked the guy more than the lady liked me?" Jack wasn't jealous, as much as surprised by the charm Chuck exhibited with his wife, or the lack of effect his charm had with Sarah.

"Jack, I like Sarah more than Sarah liked you too. Didn't you notice? Sarah is very taken. She's smitten with her husband, as I'm with mine. Darling, speaking only from Sarah's point of view, he's fifteen years younger, five inches taller, and did you notice how he filled out that tux? Plus, he's so nice to her. Woman like that sort of thing. You should know that, you are an expert at being nice to me." Jodi was not going to be deterred in defending the young couple.

"Geez, I didn't think you noticed that sort of filling out the tux type of thing." Jack was channeling his inner Chuckness for the moment, being just a little bit whiney.

"For the record, I'm happily married, not dead Mr Coleshaw. Do you need me to prove that to you?"

"I thought you'd never ask Mrs Coleshaw." Jack quickly recovered his smug ways.

And off the Coleshaw's went to their room, to do what the Coleshaw's do well, ninety nine percent of perfection isn't bad after all.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Friends / Tuesday evening / in C&S room

"Chuck, I was shocked you told the truth, that was a great plan. What made you think of that?" Sarah had her arm around Chuck.

"Sarah, we never make friends with normal couples. In this area, I have a bit of an advantage, since I fully recall our time together. I have a theory, the reason we can't make friends, we always lie to new people. So I thought, since we are trying to be normal, let's try it out, no secrets, no lies when we talk to others. So the plan was tell them who we are, with all our flaws. It can't hurt us any more than lying has hurt us the past five years, can it?"

"I'm all in on that Chuck. I loved how the conversation went. You handled the Jack and Jodi situation perfectly. I think Jack suspects something about us. And he seemed a little intimidated around you. Like you said, we told him the truth. Maybe he can grow to trust us if we deal with him more, he could be a valuable ally in the future, couldn't he?"

"You're right, he could be an ally. That's pretty funny that you thought he was intimidated by me, in your dreams maybe Sarah. You might have me confused with that Bond fellow. But I know who I am. On a different note, you seemed very comfortable with Jodi, that's a good thing, right?" Chuck and Sarah were getting ready for bed as Chuck asked his last question.

"You think Jodi liked me?" Sarah asked.

Chuck probably knew how much Sarah wanted a friend, more than she knew herself, given her spotty memory, he tried to encourage his wife as much as he could, "I know she liked you Sarah, she seemed riveted on your every word." Chuck turned off the lights and joined his wife in bed. Chuck again proved his 'Bondness' one last time as he and Sarah got close to each other in their bed. The last words spoken in their room that night were, "Oh Chuck."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Surprises / Wednesday 3pm / in the hall outside of C&S room

Chuck caught Micheal at the door, as Michael was setting the 3 pm snack cart in place.

"Micheal, I want to surprise my wife with an extra special dinner tonight, some flowers, a nice bottle of wine, she doesn't eat real much meat, but let's try a lobster dinner for two, with a really great salad, all the toppings. Could you maybe find a chocolate anything for desert, and add in whatever you can to make the setting romantic, I'd appreciate that so much." Chuck was excited about his plan to surprise Sarah.

"Certainly, Mr Bartowski. Don't worry, I do this all the time. I got it." Michael had the look of someone who was certain of what was needed, and that he could deliver.

"Sounds great Michael." Chuck slipped Michael a little extra for his help.

"Did you have fun dancing on Tuesday night?" Michael asked Chuck.

"We had a great time, thanks for asking." Chuck was surprised at the question.

"I asked because my wife works as a waitress in the formal hall, she waited on your table, a tall, thin, beautiful version of me, if you remember her. She said you and your wife won the competition hands down." Michael was acting very passionate about this subject.

"I remember her, she was striking, her name was Michelle if I recall. Thank her for me, but tell her she should probably not mention our winning to the Coleshaw's, I think they were a little sensitive about our dancing." Michael never ceased to amaze Chuck.

Michael seemed to be on a mission on this dancing issue, "But, if you don't mind the advice, she told me to tell you, that when you walk with your partner, to make sure you switch your head slightly quicker, and tilt it back. Do you want me to show you?"

"Well, ah, sure, I guess, you mean right here?" Chuck had danced with Awesome he thought, so I suppose dancing with a cabin steward on a cruise was not that much weirder.

"We don't have to dance together, just watch me. You Americans, you are funny people." Micheal laughed at Chuck, as he floated down the hall with the grace of a butterfly, switching, holding, dipping, driving, perfect, with Chuck following Micheal, trying to imitate him.

"Uggghmmm." Sarah cleared her throat, as she had snuck up behind them, and followed her throat clearing with some loud laughter. "Do you two need to use our room?"

Of course, Sarah busted him, like usual, chuck thought. "Michael's wife loved our dancing Tuesday night, you remember, Michelle, our waitress, but she had a tip for me, that Michael passed along."

Sarah was trying to hold back her laughter, "Michael, you were very graceful. Do you and your wife dance?"

Michael slightly bowed his head when addressing Sarah, maybe due to how little her robe covered her, but he politely and enthusiastically replied, "We were the Tango champions of Mexico, before we immigrated to America. Our dream is to save enough money to buy a dance studio."

Sarah stopped laughing, "Well thank you very much for the dancing tips, and for the great room service. You and your wife are lovely people, I hope your dreams come true."

"I appreciate that Mr and Mrs Bartowski, anything else you need, you let me know" with that Michael scurried away.

"Chuck, how do you do that?" Sarah admiringly asked.

"Do what Sarah?" Chuck didn't know what she meant.

"You bring out the greatness in everyone around you. That was such a sweet moment. Speaking of sweet, chocolate again, my favorite, I'll never get tired of chocolate. I have to keep my nourishment up to keep up with my husband."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Second Contact / Thursday afternoon / on the cruise ship

"Men are so unfair about bathing suits. You expect us women to walk around near naked, yet you get all sensitive about doing the same." Sarah was not angry, but she was frustrated, not with Chuck, more with the entire male population.

Chuck, at his absolutely whining worst, "When you said you got me a 'little' present, you weren't kidding. There isn't enough there to even cover everything. "

"Chuck, when you walk to the pool area in that bathing suit, more heads will be turned watching you than me, trust me. I can't take my eyes off of you right now, and I have a real good idea what's underneath." Sarah was not having much luck convincing Chuck of this idea.

Chuck decided this was not a battle he was going to win, "OK, I'll do it, but only for you. And I want you know, I'm not having fun".

"But isn't it fun to make me happy. And seeing you walking around in that man bikini, makes me very happy, and appreciative." As she said the word appreciative, Sarah got real close to Chuck, showing off some of her 'old' seductress talents. 'New' Sarah very seldom used her seductress skills on Chuck, but she showed in this case, she still had game.

"OK, I 'm having more fun now. It makes you that happy?" Chuck was warming up to the idea, although his swimming suit was having even more trouble containing Chuck with Sarah's bikini clad body in such close proximity.

"It does, I love showing off my husband to the world. Now let's go." Sarah grabbed Chuck by the arm, pulling his hands from in front of his waist area.

Chuck and Sarah walked down by the pool, arm and arm, laughing about Chuck's swimsuit, Sarah teasing Chuck mercilessly, while Chuck kept adjusting himself, which was not helping matters any.

Chuck and Sarah found the Coleshaw's located right by the pool.

As Jodi looked up, she let out a little gasp, as Chuck's waist was pretty much eye level with Jodi.

Chuck scurried quickly around her, and sat on the other side of the table, as close to Jack as he could get.

Before Jack could get up to pull Sarah's chair out, Sarah already had seated herself. She may have for the first time understood why Chuck was uncomfortable with her present, it was a little outrageous she thought as she noticed how flushed Jodi looked. Yet, for how much she loved Chuck, and she did, she still enjoyed teasing him, and this was a good one.

Jack broke up Sarah's (and Jodi's) swimsuit fixation by coming to the point, which a man in his position had to do in order to get everything done on his daily list, no time for subtlety. "I apologize for being so cryptic with you the other day. We suspected you of being Basque terrorists. We have been on the trail of a man and woman Basque terrorist team, who are planning a chemical attack on one of our cruise liners. You fit the profile; young, athletic, perfect looking people, with a mysterious past. I had my people check you out, your incredible story turned out to be one hundred percent the truth. You kids have led an amazing life for such young people."

Sarah laughed, "Us Basque terrorists, that's a good one Jack."

Jack continued, " We're so sorry to hear all the suffering you have been through the past four weeks, and happy that you decided to take this cruise. If there's anything we can do to help, ask."

Chuck answered, "No problem Jack. I can't think of anything you can do to help. To tell you the truth, it's nice to meet some normal people to be friends with."

"Honey, Chuck and Sarah might be the only two people in the world who consider us normal." Jodi was captivated by Chuck and Sarah's charm, in a good, non creepy way.

Sarah then, for some reason, probably all those years of training, and she could not help herself, "Did you mention that you thought we were terrorists. "

Jack answered, "Yes, you see. Fred was right, we weren't planning to be on this cruise, and he was perfectly right to let you have our suite. But we got word that a husband and wife team of Basque terrorists were coming on board our ship to release a biological weapon while we were at sea returning to Los Angeles. We probably would not have stayed in the suite anyhow, as we are trying to stay out and around the ship as much as possible while we investigate. Unfortunately, you were our prime suspects, you fit the profile we were given, now we don't have any real leads."

"Jack, Chuck and Sarah aren't worried about that, they are on their third honeymoon." Jodi gave her husband the eye, the 'you crossed the line' eye that happily married couples give to each other.

Sarah's training had fully kicked in by now. "Nonsense, if Basque terrorists are going to release a poison toxin on board, it will kill us too. Chuck and I are trained Basque terrorist hunters, we will find them and neutralize them. Give us all the information you have, we'll take them down, piece of cake."

Sarah looked at Chuck, slightly smiled, and whispered, "Piece of cake, that means something doesn't it, probably another old memory flash?"

Chuck shrugged his shoulders, as that was one he wasn't sure of himself.

Jack answered Sarah very firmly, "No, I can't let ..."

Sarah cut him off, "NO is not an option Jack, this is what Chuck and I DO, we ARE going to help you."

Jack was an expert at reading people, Sarah's firm conviction convinced him. Plus, he needed help, as neither he and Jodi, nor his security team were having much luck, "OK, Jodi and I were going to roam the ship, attend as many events, games, activities as we could, see if we could spot something suspicious. If you want, we could divide the ship up instead?"

Chuck now answered, "That won't be needed Jack. Sarah and I need names, records, and photographs of everyone on board."

Sarah nodded her head, she thought she knew why, she really hadn't seen the intersect in action, ever, but this looked like the time.

Jodi volunteered, "Our cruise photographer takes a picture of everyone as they come on board. I could call down and get you copies."

Sarah then asked, "How quickly can you get them sent to our room?"

"Within the hour."

Chuck then added, "Also, we need photographs of your entire staff."

Jack answered this one, "That's even easier, last week we updated this with all our new staff."

Jack got up and headed to the wall behind the outdoor bar at the pool. Hanging there was a picture of the cruise staff, dated two weeks ago. "We'll find out in an hour or two, if anyone is missing from this wall photograph, or from the boarding pictures."

Chuck added yet again, "And we need a complete listing of everyone on board, the names will help, and anything else you have, employment records, social security numbers, everything really. Between Sarah and I, we can get through information rather quickly."

"We'll have all of that info to your room in the next couple of hours, anything else?" Jack was surprised at how quickly he found himself working for this young couple.

Chuck continued giving orders, "No, and why don't you to do what you normally do, as to not arouse any suspicions. Sarah and I got this."

With that, the Bartowski's got up and walked away. It took them a few days, but they finally got themselves into some trouble. They seemed to be loving it.

As Chuck and Sarah walked toward their room, Sarah noticed Chuck was unusually silent. "Are you mad at me?" Sarah asked.

"No, not at all baby. What makes you think such a thing?" Chuck was spacing out, but not on what Sarah thought.

"Well, I think such a thing because I volunteered us to help hunt down the Basque terrorist threat, without asking you? I thought you might be mad, given we retired from the CIA and are trying to be normal?" Sarah was really looking hard at Chuck, trying to get a read.

"Of course not. Sarah, honey, that's who we are. We are rising entrepreneurs by day, all round good guys available to take down the bad guys by night. I never expected anything less from you, I was right behind you, if you hadn't volunteered, I would have." Chuck somewhat unwittingly, pretty much summarized what Chuck and Sarah's future might be like.

"I like that." Sarah answered, but that still didn't explain why Chuck had gone silent, "So what's on your mind that you are so quiet?"

"I'm not sure Sarah. Something doesn't add up. It isn't like I flashed on anything, but I have a feeling about who the terrorists are."

"Who?" Sarah was surprised, she had no such candidates in mind.

"Michelle and Michael. Think of the profile Jack gave us, they are a couple, young, athletic, and certainly are good looking people. Plus, they have a mysterious past, coming from Mexico and all."

"OK, I see Chuck. But let's go through due diligence, and take a look at all our information, before we make any conclusions. Plus, I don't recall everything about Morgan, but if he was guilty each time he looked the part, he'd be locked away for life, wouldn't he? Let's give Michael the benefit of the doubt, OK?" Sarah's comment slightly cheered Chuck up.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Flashing and such / Thursday evening / in C&S room

By the time Chuck and Sarah had gotten back to their room, information from the Coleshaw's started pouring in.

Chuck began scouring the information, Sarah watched him with curiosity while she was working on the CIA network Chuck had hacked into. She had read all the reports about 'flashing', but had never witnessed a flash, at least that she saw directly, as in the orchestra hall, she was so confused, that she didn't get a good look. But she was pretty sure Chuck was using the intersect to scan for the terrorists.

"How does that work? Flashing. You have a file on me for instance, what keeps you from flashing on me every time you see me, which would be pretty much non stop." Sarah asked while Chuck was working.

"To a certain extent, I can control when. Especially now, I have gotten much better at using the intersect than a couple of years ago. Plus the new intersect is the best version I ever downloaded. So I could have looked the Basque terrorists right in the eye on this trip, and not flashed on them, unless I was specifically trying."

"I see. Another question. Who knows you have the intersect, other than me?" Sarah needed to know some of this stuff if they were going to be amateur detectives and all.

"Casey saw me flash that night in the orchestra hall. We talked later that day about never telling anyone. So only the three of us know. Casey strongly suggested I not tell anyone else, for their sake. Is that OK with you?" Chuck was able to multi-task talking to Sarah while scanning lists, and files, and photographs.

"More that OK. One more question, if you don't mind?" Several of these things didn't add up, Sarah was glad she was getting more background from her husband.

"Sure, anything." Chuck was happy they were having this conversation, since this was the first time they were doing anything intersect related as a couple, he was expected some questions.

"When we danced the tango the other night I didn't think you flashed. Or when we danced on our mission a few weeks ago, I noticed you made a few mistakes, but yet, you danced like a professional, much better than a normal spy. Plus, I read in your file, you are a capable fighter, and a top notch shot with a gun, even if you only use a tranq gun. Does the intersect have anything to do with any of that? I mean, half the time you did this stuff, from what I can tell, you didn't even have the intersect?" Sarah was trying to figure all this out.

"I'm almost sure that muscle memory of things I do when flashing comes into play. It's a little difficult to know, because you spent so much time with me the last five years, that I got very well trained also. When I fight these days, I'm pretty good, not quite as good as Casey or you, but close, even without flashing. Too bad we don't have an expert around to explain it all to us. I guess I'm the expert, and I'm really not sure." As those words came out, Chuck seized up.

"Chuck, what?" Sarah looked concerned.

"Sarah, I just flashed. We found our terrorists team" Chuck shook off the effects of the flash.

"I guess that's what a flash looks like up close?" Sarah looked concerned.

"Yea, it's been a while, I'm fine." Chuck said as he turned to see Sarah confirming the identity of the Basque terrorists on the CIA network he had hacked into for her, Sarah also could multi-task with the best.

"Hurry let's go. We should have time to catch the terrorists while they are still in the formal hall." Chuck said to Sarah as they both jumped off their chairs and into action.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Next up, the last chapter of the three chapter Honeymooner 2 story. In this last chapter, the bad guys are revealed. The boys take on the girls to see who can find the bad guys first. Any guesses who wins? Any surprises left? How about Chuck sings. Sarah does too. Any guesses which one is Sonny and which one is Cher? The story ends at the pier, and Chuck is not done surprising Sarah, as he gathers the whole family to greet them when they return. Did anyone like the Mary storyline in this chapter? I hope so, because that scene will set the stage for much more story.