A/N - The re-written sparring scene is for DLK and I'm fine with new characters being brought in as long as they feel organic and not forced. So this chapter is my take on how Chuck has to play Sarah's role and in reeling in an asset, namely Hannah!
Chuck vs The Cardinal Rule
You were never good at this; the saying your feelings part.
Bryce Larkin
She's always been a keen observer of human nature, using what she's learnt to live other people's lives if only for the duration of the assignment. A skill honed since young, initially used for personal benefit but finally put to a better use when she joined the CIA. Years of being someone else has not made her forget who she is and who she really wants to be. She just isn't sure it's who Chuck wants her to be.
"You need to concentrate on the bo, try and predict where you think it will strike next." She turns and thrusts the bo out, nearly catching him in the side before he clumsily steps aside, almost losing hold of his own weapon in the process.
"I still can't flash." He knows he has the information inside and wonders if his recent assignment has broken his Intersect link somehow. He still cannot remember pulling the trigger and for the past four nights, had woken Sarah up with his thrashing in bed. The same nightmare over and over again, only he wakes up just as he catches hold of the gun, crying and shaking with Sarah holding tightly on to him.
"I know." She ducks as he swings wildly; she moves a step back and then forward, bringing her bo to within an inch of his neck. "This is still part of your training. The Intersect is only a part of you." She circles around him, noting that his eyes though wary, are at least following her bo.
Her next move is fast, as she bends and sweeps his legs before hitting him in the back, causing him to fall over. "Sorry." She extends her hand to help him up and does not expect him to grab hold, pulling her forward such that she tumbles onto him, his hands encircling her waist.
"My ploy worked." He kisses the end of her nose. He sees her smile but when he looks into her eyes, all he can see fear and worry there. He knows he needs to ask her why she's worried and what exactly she is afraid of but he is too frightened that he would not like her answers. So he kisses her on the mouth and she closes her eyes.
"Agent Walker, may I have a word?" Shaw stands at the doorway, arms crossed as he takes in their compromising position, noting that Chuck blushes but Sarah doesn't as she stands up and helps Chuck to his feet. "Save you later?" The message and smile she gives Chuck is dazzling and Shaw cannot help but feel as if he's intruded.
"How's his training?"
She's walking next to him but does not turn her head towards him as she answers. "He's getting used to the basics." She has to stop herself from saying more because she still does not know Shaw's motivation.
"We have another mission that would seem to require someone like Chuck." Her reaction is somewhat predictable as she stops and turns to face him.
"He hasn't flashed in any of our training sessions, even with Casey." Sarah modulates her voice so that none of her emotions come through. Her hands are idle by her side and her expression neutral.
"We don't need the Intersect. Briefing is in fifteen minutes. "He turns to walk away and it's then that she reacts, her face showing both fear and surprise. She does not expect him to turn around almost immediately. "Don't worry Sarah, this is an easy one."
She does not like the fact that he's using their first names to engender a sense of familiarity or the fact that he can see through her façade when it comes to Chuck.
"Her name is Hannah and although she doesn't know it, she's working for the Ring and in possession of this." Shaw changes the picture from the petite Brunette to a picture of the Ring's newest communications device. "It's a phone, closed network and something we've been trying to get our hands on."
"So why not just steal the phone?" Casey figures he could get it done in time for dinner.
"We need to see how she activates it and we need to know what they want her to do for them. She has a 146 IQ but dropped out of MIT senior year because her dad left and she went home to look after her younger sister. She's currently freelancing as an IT troubleshooter and programmer." Shaw looks at Chuck as he projects Hannah's picture onto the screen once again.
"So Chuck, are you ready to try out your seduction school training?" He looks at Sarah and not at Chuck when he says this, and is again unsurprised when he sees her duck her head before looking up.
"Uh, I, um, didn't. I haven't. .."He takes a deep breath and looks to Casey and Sarah; only continuing when he sees Sarah give him an encouraging smile. "You just need me to find out what she knows right; I just need to talk to her?"
"That's right Chuck. CIA compatibility assessments show that she's just your type. She's currently stranded at LAX and should be booked on another flight tomorrow. You have all of tonight to get the information and the phone. Sarah will provide backup onsite and Casey and I will be at Castle keeping track."
"Relax Chuck." He hears Sarah's voice and is comforted by it. "Just be yourself."
"Cause that tends to get all the ladies." He's just muttering under his breath but she catches it anyway.
"Hopefully only the one that matters." Her voice is as soft as his when she answers. Sarah knows that it's an open channel and that Shaw is also listening in and stops herself from saying anything else. "Do you see her?" It's as new as an experience for her as it s for Chuck to be doing this and she does not want to think of the extent he may need to go in order to get the information required.
"Yeah, she's over by the bar." He sees Hannah's profile and realizes that four years ago, she would have been the exact person he would have looked for when asked about his type. Only he's realized that it's not about type or compatibility tests but recognizing something in the other person that resonates within him beyond just looks and common interests. Something that doesn't always need to be articulated but eventually has to be acknowledged. "Save you later." He knows she'll understand his message as he adjusts his tie and walks towards the bar.
Sarah listens in on their conversation, giving him small insights when he gets a bit tongue tied but ultimately, he's Chuck and because of his innate likeability, he has Hannah beguiled and deep in conversation inside of two hours.
It's only when she starts to notice the signs that she begins to feel uncomfortable. Sarah can hear the pitch of Hannah's voice as she compliments Chuck, knowing that her hand is on his arm even though she can't see it. She hears his next question 'So describe your perfect guy' and almost answers before realizing that Chuck is not talking to her.
But Hannah answers anyway and Sarah closes her eyes as she listens to her description. "Tall, funny, smart, kind...kind eyes umm, nice smile…curly hair." Her voice tapers off as she leans in close. Sarah can swear she can hear the kiss even though Chuck's nervous laughter comes through almost instantaneously, that she can guess he ducked his head.
Sarah can see the divergence of her duty from her life and knows it is a battle she cannot win currently as she talks into his earpiece. "Chuck, you need to get her to trust you. Don't make her feel embarrassed; she likes you and will tell you what we're after. You need to re-establish that connection. You need….to follow through on the kiss." She hears him clearing his throat as he asks for another drink and offers one to Hannah, apologizing at the same time.
"Sorry, it's been some time for me since I had a real date or even a fake one." She listens to his voice and can tell he's still nervous but at least he answers Hannah's question on fake dates.
"No, not fake but just going out with someone with whom you have a connection with and really talking to them about everything, being honest with your emotions you know. Just knowing you don't have to hide or pretend to be strong that just being there together and sharing that experience, no lies, no covers, just us."
"Wow." She hears Hannah exhale and can picture Chuck looking at her as he answers, "Yeah." Their responses are both echoing her own but it's not something she can express out loud, restricted by her job and duty.
"Ask her up to her room." She says the words but does not mean them, although Chuck can't tell because she's Agent Walker directing her partner on his mission and not Sarah asking Chuck to do the impossible.
She hears Chuck clear his throat and mutter a no under his breath. "Did you say something?" Hannah's voice is low, like she's leaned into him.
"I was saying I still don't know how I got so lucky and met someone like you in here. Who do I have to thank for getting you to this exact bar at this exact time?" He smiles even though he does not feel like it, but he needs to get the information and he knows he needs to do it without hurting Sarah.
"My flight was cancelled and a number of planes have been grounded back east so I can only get a flight out tomorrow. The company I'm working for, they're big on encryption and I just finished reverse engineering part of this program for them, it's some new way of storing information via visual images. Anyway, they only contact me through their own phones as well." She takes out the Ring phone and places it on the bar counter. "Only I can't activate it. So I'm stuck until the morning or until they call." Hannah finally makes her move, as she places her hand on top of his.
"Listen, Chuck, I don't normally do this." She sees his eyes widen and she stops still unsure if she's read his signals wrong.
"Go up to her room, Chuck. Don't worry, I have one of Casey's tranq guns. We have enough information, we just need time to clone the phone and she won't remember a thing." Sarah turns to exit the van only to hear Shaw's voice come online.
"Hold off Agent Walker, Chuck, you've read Hannah's file. Would she be able to write code for the Intersect? Cough once if you think it's a yes."
"Wait, Hannah…" Chuck coughs and takes a drink but he does not break his eye contact with her.
It's the closest Shaw's ever come to the Ring since Eve infiltrated them five years ago. "She's our link to the Ring. We need to turn her. Make her an asset. Chuck, go up to her room. Sarah, same plan but we need to bring her in."
Chuck takes her hand. "I wanted to tell you that I don't do this either and the last time I had a date, I think Bush was still president." He smiles, showing his teeth. He tells himself that maybe Hannah would be safer on their side and that he's not about to ruin her life.
"Would you like to go up to my room?" Hannah matches his smile when she sees him nod. Her mom had always told her that if she ever met a nice guy, she should just take a chance and tell him what she's feeling.
The End
As highlighted before, reviews really do make me write faster. Just ask DLK :)