A totally unauthorized posting. I'm Minirix's cousin. Just call me Ace. Minirix has gone vacationing in Europe while I'm left slogging for my exams. Tsk, some cousin. So I'm going to have a little fun and post her story (took me a while to figure out how to). She is going to kick my ass once she gets back – which is about three weeks from now. But it will be my birthday when she returns so she might cut her favourite cousin some slack. I think so. I hope so. But blame her for writing me this story. I've pestered. I've begged for her to continue Beautiful Mess but she said she wants to leave it as it was. Said she was too busy (imo, she's lazy haha) and didn't want to post anymore Beautiful Mess. And then before she left, she finally said, "Wrote you something. Log on to my account." And I did. And I hated it. Read it and you will know what I mean. Hopefully she doesn't take this down when she finds out. By the way, I don't think if it's been edited and I definitely don't know how to, but read it anyway and you'll understand why I post this in the first place.

(I think Sarah's prettier but Carina's hotter. I'm a guy. Sue me - Ace)

When the car rolled to a stop at Burbank's parking lot, it was nearly half past noon. Carina took a moment before she turned off the ignition, and stepped out of the car. A few seconds later, Chuck followed suit. Despite the sun high up above their heads, he shivered involuntarily as soon as he breathed in the uncommonly icy Los Angeles air. February in Burbank had never been this chilly, Chuck thought, as he fixed his attention on a subdued looking Carina.

His partner had been distant and quiet throughout the entire ride. He wondered if the cold had dampened her mood . Circling to her side of the car, he stood with his back against the door, mimicking her posture.

"You're quiet today," he said.

"Is there a question in there somewhere?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

She let out an audible sigh but didn't offer anything more. Respecting her silence, Chuck's eyes wandered across the almost empty parking lot to the sterile looking building that was the 'new' Buymore. Gone were the familiar friendly green and yellow colours of Buymore. The building instead was painted in stark white, almost as if the agencies were consciously trying to ward people off their premises. Not that it mattered seeing how this Buymore only operated solely as a warehouse. Largemart must be pleased. But he did wonder how the 'powers that be' got the approval for the colours – or lack thereof. Then again, they can get away with almost anything.

"I need to tell you something," Carina said.

A pause.

"Okay," Chuck said, eyeing her from the corner of his eyes.

"About yesterday…"

He sighed, his eyes cast downwards. So here it comes. "You're gonna say it was a mistake, right?"

Confused, she turned to him, "What are you talking about?"

"You're gonna say that the kiss was a mistake. It's not gonna happen again. We have to be professional." A rueful smile on his lips. "Happened to me before."

Her arms folded across her chest as she narrowed her eyes at him. "They want you to move to this CIA-sanctioned complex, much like where you're staying at. Only difference is, instead of you staying there all by your lonesome, they want you to room with the rest of the team," she paused, gauging his response. He seemed fine – which was odd. "So now, while you don't have all those pesky agents checking up on your well-being every single day, you have two outstanding bodyguards to keep you company 24/7. The agencies must really love you, Chuck." She waited for him to flare up. Or be shock.

Nothing.

Carina was feeling a little mad at his calm countenance. And she didn't know where her annoyance was coming from. Is he actually happy that he gets to stay with-

"You don't look surprise," she said, refusing to finish her previous train of thought. Because Carina Miller apparently didn't deal with irrational emotion. Nor did she want to.

And the cheeky bastard is smiling.

"What's so funny?"

"So it wasn't a mistake?" he asked.

"Of all the things I've said, it was what I didn't say that you actually picked up on?" she pushed herself from the car. "You're ridiculous," she said and walked off.

"Can't blame a man for feeling pleased," he chuckled, falling in steps with her. "It means that you like me."

"In your dreams," Carina shot back, though there was less heat in her voice this time.

"Nah. In my dreams, we're way past that."

"Why aren't you surprised?"

"The general have spoken to me about it."

"You knew about it?" her footsteps ceased. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I told her no, and I thought that was it." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't think she'd talk to you about it." Then he lit up. "But you're here now. Having a capable and outstanding ex-DEA agent, and now CIA spy extraordinaire as my bodyguard should help my case."

"When will you ever learn?"

Chuck looked on as his partner walked on ahead without him. He has learned. In fact, Chuck knew they wouldn't let the matter rest just because he said no. But he didn't want to let Carina worry about him. Not anymore.

The elevator pinged softly when it reached Buymore's sublevel. Ten storeys underneath the building, the elevator door opened to a wide corridor. Walking right to the end, Chuck slot in his key card, had his retina scanned, and ran his voice through the voice recognition system. Two beeps later, the metal door slid opened and they entered a room buzzing with the murmurings of analysts and the clicking of fingernails on keyboards.

As Chuck and Carina walked past them, the male half of the population halted their activities, looking up from their computers and smiled dreamily at the red head. At least, that was what it looked like in Chuck's head. She smirked when Chuck rolled his eyes upon seeing her wink at a lanky, bespectacled blonde.

"What?" she asked innocently without missing a step. "He's cute. And he kinda looks like you." He really didn't.

Chuck threw an indignant stare. "You're giving the poor guy false hope." They turned left around the corner, halted in front of another door, repeated the previous routine, and entered a square elevator lobby. As the door closed, the sound behind them immediately ceased. "He's going to end up thinking that he has a chance when he goes to sleep tonight."

"Ahh…" she gave a crafty smile, pressing her thumb on the fingerprint reader. As they waited for the elevator to make its way up, she asked, "So you've been there before?"

Without missing a beat, Chuck replied casually, "Yeah. I've been there ever since you kissed me yesterday." His words sounded loud in the sudden quietness of the room and he could see the effect of his response on Carina. Her shoulders tensed as her hand stilled for a moment on the button. Then she turned around slowly, meeting his gaze. "Ch-"

"Carina?"

Chuck and Carina flicked their gaze towards the elevator. If the silence before was crackled with nervous anticipation, the presence of the tall and tanned man, standing in the elevator seemed to have doused whatever expectation Chuck held.

"I'll be damned," the dark haired man said. "The one and only Carina Miller," he glanced at her badge, "a CIA agent?" He advanced, crossing the threshold. Carina stood still, not moving an inch; her gaze unflinching. "You still look amazing as always," the man said, his deep voice measured and smooth. Yet, Chuck was sure he could detect tension simmering underneath his calm exterior. Or maybe it was his imagination running on overdrive. Or probably it was the way his partner reacted to the presence of this ruggedly handsome man that was making Chuck feel all bothered. And he didn't like the way the man was gazing at Carina.

"Well you look alive," Carina spoke evenly. "As always."

He let out a soft timbered laughter. "I'm lucky to be alive, I guess. I almost got killed by a flying toaster."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Carina shrugged.

"It's a little late for apologies but I'll take what I can get."

"No, Marc," she folded her arms, "I'm sorry I failed."

His hand flew to his heart. "Ouch," and as if aware of Chuck's presence for the first time, this man called Marc grinned good-naturedly at Chuck. "Wicked sense of humour she got there, doesn't she?" Extending his hand out towards Chuck, "I'm agent Marcus de Rossi. With the NSA. Carina and I used to work together-"

"Ancient history," Carina interjected.

The amusement filtered through agent's Rossi's eyes. "But you do admit we have a history."

Chuck took in their exchange with growing unease. He wasn't sure then, but he was damn sure of it now. "I'm Charles Carmichael," he took Marc's hand. "We've been partners for three years." Chuck had no idea why he needed to disclose those details but he did register the fleeting surprise in the other man's eyes. He was quick however, to lapse back into an easy smile. "You mean you're the Charles Carmichael? The one who cracked that Duangtawan's case in Thailand? That was brilliant."

"We cracked the case. Couldn't have done it without her," Chuck said. "She does all the hard work. I just followed her lead."

"Chuck's being modest," Carina said. "He is one of the most intelligent agents I've ever worked with."

"I don't doubt that for a second," Marc nodded, and smiled at Chuck. "But I do have to agree with you, agent Carmichael, it's best if we just follow her lead."

Chuck hesitated, watching the edges of Carina's mouth tighten. Whatever history Carina and agent Rossi might have had, it was definitely not as clearly defined as he'd suspected. Though curious, Chuck didn't think that now was a good time to probe the issue further. Deciding to let them have a private moment, he took a step back towards the elevator.

"She's one of the best in the business," Chuck said. "I don't mind following her lead since it gets us result. And," he continued, glancing at his watch, "while I would love to stay here and chat, I have to head down and get some things sorted out. A pleasure meeting you, agent Rossi." Looking at Carina, "I'll see you later."

"No need for that," Carina strode past Marc, and followed Chuck into the elevator. "I'd rather not be late for the meeting," she said airily whilst jabbing the close button.

"Strange that you're not asking me anything," Carina spoke a moment later once they began their descent.

"I would ask but I doubt you're going to tell me about it." Chuck stared vacantly in front of him. "Besides, I have a feeling that I wouldn't like what I'd hear."

Silence.

"He's nobody, Chuck."

"Okay."

"He's just someone I once worked with when I was at the DEA."

"I know."

And Chuck knew one other thing: agent Rossi was definitely not a nobody.

The colonel looked up from his papers when he heard chattering coming from behind him. He turned, and he grunted in mock annoyance.

"Casey!" Chuck beamed as he quickened his pace towards the big man. He instinctively placed a palm on Chuck's chest.

"Bartowski," he growled, "I don't do man-hugs."

"Still as gruff as ever, aren't ya, Johnny?"

Casey snapped his head at the offending voice and seemed genuinely surprised to see Carina standing in the briefing area. He stood, and eyed Chuck with a suspicious glare. "Did she threaten to handcuff you to the bed if you didn't include her?"

"Watcha gonna do if I did?" Carina said.

"Hey come on," Chuck reasoned with Casey. "I want her here with me. She's my partner."

"Well we don't need her for this assignment when we have the original intersect team to do the job," Casey glowered at Carina.

"Intimidated by a strong woman, John? I know you're still sore about the cuffs but doesn't mean we can't be partners," she said. "Unless, you're secretly pining for those days…"

"Okay," Chuck wedged himself between the two as Casey's nosetrils flared. Gently pushing them apart, he said, "There'll be no tying up, no handcuffs, and definitely no animosity between us. Deal?" he looked at them warily. "And Casey," he warned, "I'd appreciate it if you can be civil to my partner or-"

"Or you'll what?"

"Or I'll tell Beckman"

"Very mature, Bartowski." Casey sat down with a huff at his desk. "Tattletale."

"You forgot to add respectful. A respectful tattletale. And you," he pointed at Carina. "You are to stay at least five feet away from John Casey."

"Or you'll tell Beckman too?" she chuckled incredulously.

"No. Or I'll get jealous."

"Hah," the colonel snorted.

Both heads swiveled toward the big man. "Still with your lady feelings. Can't keep it in your pants, huh, Bartowski?"

And that sparked off another round of back and forth ribbing between the three of them. Amidst all the commotion, the sound of heels clicking against the metal stairs as they descended one cautious step at a time managed to escape their attention. It wasn't until they had reached the bottom of the stairs did the owner of said heels made her presence known.

"I guess I'm late to the party."

The room instantly fell to a hush at the sound of her voice. Chuck froze. He remembered it all too well. All those years that he had to heal; he should be over this. He should be ready to face her. So why did he suddenly find himself struggling to breathe?

In those crawling seconds, he neither saw Casey. Nor Carina. He saw himself back at the train station. Alone. Hopeful. And then utterly crushed.

She left with agent Shaw, the general had said. Deep undercover. She won't be returning.

She was history.

Chuck blinked. And the first person he saw when the fog from his mind lifted made his insides roiled with guilt. Carina.

Dammit.

It took a considerable effort from him to drag his eyes away from Carina's resigned smile. He half turned and gazed for the first time into the eyes of the woman who'd left him three years ago. A woman he had once thought was the one for him.

He was over her.

"Hi, Chuck," she smiled. A little tentatively. A little sadly. Her blonde hair, cut shorter fell in soft waves as it lightly touched her shoulders. Her slim built seemed to have lost a bit of their mass. Eyes once so arresting looked weary behind her lashes. Eyes that seemed to have seen a considerable share of tragedy. More than they used to.

Yet despite it all, Chuck could not deny it even if he wanted to. She was still as beautiful as when he first met her. But more than that, Chuck Bartowski was still affected by her.

He really was over her.

Standing right there between the two female agents that helped shaped so much of who he was; caught between his past and his present, Chuck only wished that he will make the right decisions for his future.

"Hey, Sarah."

As he looked back at Carina, he thought, he should be.

See what I mean. She's cruel. She left me with a cliffhanger (she insisted it wasn't). And it's my birthday. Why I post this you ask. Because I want people to pester her to write more Beautiful Mess. I already tried. But maybe if people flood her inbox, (or her review box or whatever it is you guys called it) she might cave? Or maybe not. But till then, I probably have a few days respite because she rarely checks her mail. Wish me luck.

And T, if you read this (from whichever part of Europe you're at), don't get mad. Remember, it's my birthday. I'll buy you lots of chocolates when you come back ;D ~ U.