Entry Nine
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The sun was shining brightly like a diamond in the clear velvet blue sky, although it felt as though today should be a bleak, rainy day. Everyone knows that LA is a city that never sleeps and rarely has bad weather, good for some maybe. But not for him – not today. Agent Clark Shaw had been training a seduction lesson in Neon, the new hot nightclub in LA, as usual things had gone wrong and now he was left listening to Casey's degrading comments about how much he screwed up. Usually it wasn't that bad however this time Sarah did not jump to defend him, he knew that she silently agreed.
"You see Chuck the key to seduction is to know your mark, and anticipate their reactions. Like a comic book. You know all those comic books well and this is how you should know your mark."
"That's the only action Bartowski gets. "
Muttered a snickering Casey.
"As I was saying-"
Then he saw her. For a split second the world stood still as she threw her silky, chocolate locks over her shoulder allowing them to cascade down her back. Normally he didn't pay attention to any women other than Sarah but he was drawn to her like some sort of magnet. The only word to describe it would be as some sort of attraction, although he can't see her face he silently pleads her to turn to him. Shaw's words are falling upon deaf ears now as he is transfixed in her and only her. It was as though she read his mind as she turned momentarily catching his eyes for a moment as they soaked into him like an espresso.
"-And that's seduction!"
He shook out of his trance and stared at Shaw for a moment as he headed to board the plane, he didn't know who it was but at least she had saved him from another lecture including snide remarks. He silently thanked her hoping that she would somehow get the message. As the team clamber up the metal stairs to board the plane, first class, he stops in his tracks causing Sarah to bump into him because there she is. Sat alone in first class flicking through a DC magazine.
He guessed that Sarah had noticed him staring at the mysterious brunette but said nothing, he didn't want her to become more agitated than she already was with him. After all he didn't need a pencil embedded in his head like one of the Joker's victims. He sat down next to her melting into the chair, it was the first time he'd travelled first class and he intended to enjoy it.
"So Chuck, do you know that girl?"
Yet again Shaw had broken into his inner thoughts and he couldn't help but resent the handsome agent for it. Not only does he rival Sarah's attentions at every time possible, which is extremely unprofessional for a super agent, but he notices all of his movements.
"Nope."
"Go talk to her"
Now he really was confused, it was obviously another attempt to get in Sarah's pants.
"Nah – I'm ok just here! Really."
"Go seduce her, it'll be good practise and maybe the last mission wouldn't have been such a waste. That's an order."
He looked to Sarah for desperate reassurance but yet again she kept her silence and avoided his eyes. He needed answers. He needed her. But she seems clueless to this as he unbuckles his seat belt and begins to head towards the front of the plane brushing past Casey on the way. He can hear him mutter moron as he sighs to himself. By the time he's rejected Shaw will have already stolen his seat.
He tries to slip into his Charmicheal persona but sees it as useless remembering a time when Sarah encouraged him to be himself. Dragging his feet towards the brunette he tried to put on a smile but it always fell flat, at least he could say he tried and pretend he is tired to sleep during the flight to avoid their disapproving looks and scolding.
"Is this seat taken? Yes – thank you!"
He started to move away from the seat quickly as he felt a hand grab his lower arm as his eyes met hers for the second time since he'd laid eyes upon her.
"Actually it isn't"
His first genuine smile of the day as he thanked her for allowing him to sit next to her creating a feeble excuse of how some young couple had stolen his seat but he didn't have the heart to tell them to move. He decided it best to ignore the magazine to avoid Casey's ribbings about it later in the day.
"I'm Chuck."
"Hannah."
He gave her a sheepish grin as he tried to awkwardly get his lanky frame past her petite one as their limbs tangled together until he reached his seat muttering sorry. Everyone had seen their little show on first class and both were bright red.
"-So Chuck, do you usually stare at girls in airports?"
"I-ah, no. I mean, I-uh... wasn't staring – not that you're not easy to stare at but I don't stare at-"
"I was joking..."
"Oh – erm... haha!"
An awkward silence fell across the pair as the flight attendant began to list the emergency exits for the plane ride – this was going to be an uncomfortable journey. He threw a glance over to Sarah who was chuckling at something Shaw had whispered in her ear, they looked like a real couple. He sighed to himself. The flight attendant had disappeared as the flight took off into the air. He could still hear her laughter after they'd taken off, he knew he had lost her now. It was only time until she found another agent who was good enough for her – and after all Shaw was an incredible guy even though Chuck disliked his affections for Sarah greatly. He was happy she had finally found someone he thought dejectedly.
"So not much of a talker?"
During his pity party he had forgotten his objective to seduce Hannah, pushing his thoughts of Sarah out of his mind as much as he could he focused.
"Oh – I talk, well babble more but that's mostly when I'm around really beautiful women – I mean not only then there are other times like this time when I was five when my sister Ellie left her doll in my room and I broke it playing-I don't play with girls toys but it was an accident -"
"You think I'm beautiful?"
"Yeah – but I normally don't say things like that when I first meet-"
"Chuck?"
"Yes?"
"You're babbling."
She giggled at his gibberish, it was unlike anything he had heard before because Sarah never giggles at anything. Sure she laughs but not a school girl giggle like this. He found himself laughing with Hannah about – well nothing really. As their laughter echoed through the passenger cabin a certain distracted blonde stared in their direction longingly. She knew that Chuck would have to deal with other agents without her some time but it still killed her to hear him with another woman. Shaw had told her to keep her distance from Chuck because she'd get him killed eventually if he was too involved with her. He knows they're professional but he has his own opinion on their relationship. She'll have to protect the world from Chuck – but how can she protect the world and her heart?
"So Chuck, why are you heading to the most romantic city in the world?"
"Well it was originally me and my girlfriend-"
Her smile faltered.
"-but we broke up last minute and I thought, hey I might as well enjoy it."
"Oh... That's too bad."
"She moved on to another guy, she's happy now-"
The no old girlfriends rule Chuck...
"-but that's over now and her restraining order is very specific!"
This was rewarded with another giggle.
"You're cute Chuck,"
Smiling sheepishly as she complimented him, he was going to ask about watching a movie but she beat him to it – the less talking the better. She clicked on a film called 'Because of Winn Dixie' and promised that it'd be good. During the two or so hours that Winn Dixie played they'd constantly point out parts that were funny, cute or sad just to remind the other they were still there. Chuck had begun to enjoy Hannah's company and saw her more as a companion rather than a mission. When the film had finished he decided to share his own Winn Dixie like experience.
"I had a dog named Peaches, he ran away."
"How can a dog run away?"
"I don't know... My sister said-"
"I think he ran over the rainbow bridge."
"Nah... So why are you off to Paris?"
She paused for a moment as if wondering herself why she was going.
"Modelling – well I'm wandering between jobs. I was going to do this one at a BuyMore but a load of the girls said it was just two middle aged men leering at them – I'm really glad I didn't go. You never know, I'll probably end up at a BuyMore... Funny right? One minute you've got a future and the next your thinking about applying to work at a BuyMore... What did you say you did again Chuck?"
He nervously laughed for a second.
"I'm head Nerd Herder at a BuyMore..."
"Oh... Didn't you mention that you went to Stanford before?"
"Yeah I just kind of got stuck-"
"Yeah, all your options fade and you're stuck in a dead end career with a dead end job."
"Finally someone understands."
"Modelling isn't all it's cracked up to be – half the girls are really bitchy and you have to try be something you're not."
The similarity between their situations was not lost on Chuck it was as though he had connected with her. For the rest of the flight they talked about the BuyMore and all the weird stuff that goes on there from the Jeffster band performance to the crash in the BuyMore until he felt a vibrating in his pocket. There was only about fifteen minutes left of the flight to Paris and soon they'd be landing and he'd have to deal with the ribbing of his failed missions. He hoped they viewed this as a success. Checking the screen he noted it was Sarah as he continued animatedly explaining the story of Big Mike's marlin.
Having fun? S
Typical she finds a way to weasel her incredibly flexible body into the conversation and into his mind. He considered ignoring it but decided against it as she'd just persist.
Yes, Hannah is great. You? C
I'm bored. Watched Winn Dixie. S
He had to control a chortle at this comment noting that he and Hannah had just watched the same film during the flight. They'd stopped talking and she was flicking through a model magazine whilst he texted back.
Me too. It was sweet how they found each other. C
My favourite part. S
You and Clark watch it? C
No, just me. You and Hannah? S
Yeah, on different TVs. Wish we had rainstorms back home. C
What was he doing? She thought to herself. Typing he finds the only model type looking brunette who seems totally into him on an aeroplane. What are the chances? It's always brunettes.
I'm sure Hannah would approve. S
Sure Clark likes the sun. C
Typical. They'd fought even over text message – they would never be together at this rate as he felt the woman of his dreams slipping through his fingers at a terrifying speed.
Sorry :( C
He's saying sorry? I was the one that started it. He can't apologize!
Me too. S
I'm bored Lol. C
What does 'Lol' mean? Hmm... I'll just agree.
Me too, plane landing now. See you on the outside. S
Meet you there. C
As he left the plane he felt much lighter, and happy that he and Sarah had finally put aside their differences. He grinned – maybe Paris wouldn't be so bad after all. Hannah followed behind him out of the stairs as he agreed he'd maybe see her some other time, she knew he worked at the BuyMore anyway. They hugged for a moment and as they parted she pressed her lips on his, the kiss was slow and tender and... strange. He felt her tongue search for his as a blonde woman looked on from the plane hurrying down the stairs telling her team that she would get a taxi. It all happened so quickly that it was a blur and as soon as he realized what she was doing he pushed her off gently.
"It's like cheating on her."
Hannah sighed.
"Do you love her still?"
He paused for a beat.
"Yeah... Not that I don't like you but –"
"I get it. I'll see you around?"
"Sure... Bye Hannah."
"Bye Chuck."
He watched as her figure sauntered off into the crowd of people, this time as he watched her leave he didn't feel the trance like sensation sweep over him - instead he watched as a newly made friend left. Now all he wanted to see was Sarah. Shaw's voice boomed behind him-
"Mission accomplished! Sarah got us a cab."
As the trio wandered towards the taxi point where Sarah would be waiting, he walked with a spring in his step. Not because of Hannah but because it felt as though he and Sarah were finally getting back on track. As he swung open the door to the taxi he grinned at her, but her expression remained stoic as though she had seen through him. Shaw and Casey shoved in and he was left with the last seat next to Casey as they made a very tense, thankfully short, journey to the hotel.
As they arrived at the hotel the team piled out of the car quickly as possible separating into their different groups. Him and Sarah were meant to pose as a married couple meaning they had to share a room, not that he would mind but his good mood had dissipated as soon as he got into the taxi. They hurried into their room, noticing the one bed, as he threw his suitcase (that Shaw had carried thinking it was Sarah's) onto the bed.
"So as you can see just the one bed-"
"Is that a problem Chuck? I can always ask Clark to-"
"No problem. Why would it be a problem?"
"Well you have aversion to any kind of affection from anyone other than brunettes-"
"Jill was over six months ago!"
"Well Hannah was under ten minutes ago!"
"So was Clark!"
How dare he even relate his and Hannah's relationship to hers and Clark's? They were totally different. Sure she admired Clark's record of service to the CIA but she didn't mouth-rape him within a few hours of meeting him. She hadn't even kissed him!
"Me and Agent Shaw are COMPLETELY professional! Unlike you who blurs lines between a SEDUCTION mission and reality."
"Well she talked to me Sarah, she TALKED! When did you last talk to me? Without going all nuclear about me talking to someone else?"
"You KISSED her!"
"She kissed ME! I pushed her away because I still love-"
"Don't say it."
"What? That I love you? THERE! I love you."
"I have to go."
It was all too much for her now, how can he just tell her that he pushed her away because he loves her. She can't slip up now, she would definitely get reassigned. She needs to protect the world from Chuck – cute, lovable, adorable, nerdy Chuck. The same Chuck that wouldn't hurt a fly. She sighed. She needed to leave. She headed towards the door, the only way out from here. She'd rather be anywhere but here.
Before she knew what was happening he'd grabbed her lower arm pulling her into his torso and proceeded to crash his lips into hers. Kissing her desperately when she allowed his tongue to intertwine with her own. Melting into the kiss as his strong hands cradling her neck. Her fingers rifling through his unruly head of curls.
Their bodies moulded together, his hands snaking round her back pulling her into him urgently as they stumble backwards towards the bed. Her hands attacked his shirt tugging him into her body as they collapsed onto the bed. Tangled legs thudding into the mattress. A moan escapes her lips when his fingers slowly caress her hip.
Pushing themselves further onto the bed as he prowled over her as she tore his shirt off to reveal his naked torso. Her legs wrap around his chest as he frantically tries to peel off her shirt.
"Sarah"
He whispers it as thought it's some sort of affirmation that he's really there and it's really happening, she laughs quietly not believing it was true herself. Trailing kisses down her now exposed chest soaking in her scent-
Knock Knock
"Room service."
They can hear a faint, gruff voice from outside the hotel door – they know it's not really room service and it's just Casey checking up on them. Chuck lets out a frustrated sigh as he rolls onto his back beside her beginning to get up from the bed where they had laid. This time he's pushed back down onto his back when she straddles him hiding his gasp of surprise with a passionate kiss. They locked eyes for a moment in silence as Casey impatiently knocked again and declared he was room service.
"We're busy."
And that was all she said before she pressed her lips back onto his - proving that blondes do it better than brunettes. It's always Sarah Walker, always has been. Always will be.
