A/N: Alright friends, a promise is a promise. You've somehow kept your review end of the deal quite well (Despite the shrinking fandom) and I thank you for it. And here we have the continuation of our little charade here. Neat.
Chapter Fourteen: Saying Yes to the Dress and the Scrutiny of Shaw
*If the writing looks cramped, you might want to adjust the spacing yourselves, not sure why it's doing that now.
Sarah's ringtone blared throughout her apartment, eliciting a tortured groan. "Are you kidding me?" she mumbled as she brandished her knife from god knows where. She readied herself to throw it, head under the pillow all the while.
"Maybe..." a warm, familiar voice sounded beside her, gently freeing the knife from her grasp. "You should spare the phone, considering that it's your only alarm device, now that you've..." he searched for a proper word, glancing at the shattered alarm clock on the bedside table. "-Mutilated your clock."
Sarah couldn't hide her smile as she snatched the phone off the stand, answering it. "Hello?" she put a considerable amount of effort into masking her distaste at being up so early. It was only eight-thirty, and on a Saturday too. She hadn't gotten too much sleep either, on account of it being her last 'free' night with Chuck for a while.
"Walker..." Carina's voice filled the soundpiece and eventually the speaker, causing Sarah to groan inwardly.
"It's early, Miller. You'd better be fucking stranded on some godforsaken island with only your lipstick if you're calling me." Sarah growled.
Chuck raised his brows. He'd never quite understand their relationship.
"Even better, boss." Carina's smirk seemed to radiate to Sarah through the phone. "I'm at work, where we were supposed to meet up, right about now."
"Ugh...I have priorities, Miller."
"Screwing the boy-genius is the new priority?"
"I'll ha- You know what?" Sarah sat up, smirking. "I don't have to deal with this."
"Oh?" Carina tried. "Why not?"
"You're the one with Larkin now." Sarah grinned. "I have dirt on you."
"What?" Carina scoffed, but Sarah saw right through her facade.
"You're sleeping with him...you're in a relationship." Sarah grinned.
Chuck watched with amusement. She was a total goddess. He loved it.
"Walker, your'e-"
"-right. I'm right." Sarah grinned. "So I'll see you when I see you. Good?"
"Whatever." Carina rolled her eyes and Sarah pictured it just as well.
"Bye." Sarah smirked and hung up.
"You got her?" Chuck grinned.
"Oh...I got her good." Sarah grinned as she tossed her phone aside, pulling Chuck back to her.
The two met in a passionate embrace, which Sarah stopped gently.
"What's wrong?" Chuck frowned.
"It's just that...well, I'm not sure how I can survive this." Sarah smiled somewhat bittersweetly.
"There's the safehouse." Chuck reminded. "We can...rendezvous...there."
"Yeah, when my dad isn't checking up on you." Sarah rolled her eyes, as Chuck laughed at her disgust.
"I just wish...I wish I could go with you, undercover." She shook her head. "This is my team, and therefore, my problem."
"And I'll be back before you know it. Tell you what- I'll make it up to you. Something special, I promise."
"Chuck, you don't have to-"
"Please, Sarah." he smiled, causing her heart to melt once more. "You'll love it."
-0-
"This feels like 'say yes to the dress'..."Chuck whined as Sarah, Hannah, and Carina all gazed at him at the suitor's, sporting one of the most tasteful Armani styles they had. "But...backwards..."
"Now now..." Carina licked her lips devilishly. "I think you're...ravish-worthy."
Sarah's jaw dropped as she turned to her friend, raising her brow. "Say that again, Miller?"
Hannah was completely oblivious to their argument, motioning for Chuck to circle for them. "You look...incredible, Chuck."
"Well thanks Hannah." Chuck smiled, unaware of her flirting.
Sarah rolled her eyes and Carina smirked triumphantly, happy not to be the sole offender.
Chuck smiled sheepishly at Sarah, and she returned the smile. No one would quite understand their comforting connection.
"I think it's a winner." Sarah smiled, stepping up beside him as she ran her hand down the smooth, almost invisible seams.
"It's not fair." Hannah mumbled to Carina, who was watching the ordeal with a smirk. She didn't care for Chuck like Sarah did, she had Bryce. It was just something about making her jealous that seemed so fun.
Carina laughed. "Get used to it. Walker always gets what she wants. Why do you think she's the leader?"
Sarah didn't hear their conversation; she didn't have to to know that Carina would defend her loyally, despite her...quirks.
"Well then..."Carina smirked, "Looks like we've got ourselves a panty-dropper."
It was a good thing the place around them was vacant, because Carina would sure as hell have a hard time explaining how she got a knife embedded in her sleeve, just centimeters away from her arm, to a civilian.
-0-
"Well, Agent Walker." Chuck smiled as Sarah straightened his tie. He had to pick up Jill in a little less than an hour. "Looks like your boyfriend is hot stuff."
"And he's my 'hot stuff', so he'd better watch it." she returned with an amused smile, blushing subconsciously as Chuck eyed her in the beautiful dress.
"God..." He smiled, taking a step back to adore her futher. "I don't think I can make it tonight...I'll be too preoccupied with the most beautiful lady in the room."
"Getting cold feet, Chuck?" Sarah teased, biting her lip as he pulled her to his chest.
"If you were me, you'd do the same." he replied, wanting so much to forget the mission and everything else in the world that was not Sarah Walker.
Sarah leaned into his chest, savoring the warm feel of his embrace.
"Well, I was waiting for the right time to do this, but I don't see a better one on the horizon what with this mission and all..."
"Huh?" Sarah glanced at him amusedly, unsure of what he was about to do.
"This..." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a simple, beautiful charm bracelet. "Was my mother's."
"Oh Chuck...I-"
"I was to save it for someone special, someone I really cared about." Chuck began. "And honestly, there's no one I could ever give it to but you, Miss Sarah Walker."
Sarah was trying hard not to let the tears that were slowly building in her eyes pour down. She hadn't had a moment like this in...well, ever.
"Chuck, it's beautiful." She smiled as he gently took her wrist, clasping it together. "I love it."
"And now, when I'm not around..." Chuck smiled. "You have a little part of me to carry with you..."
Sarah smiled, kissing him gently as he pulled her close.
"As if I'm not a pain in the ass already..." he added playfully, cherishing the laugh he elicited from her as they embraced.
-0-
Sarah seemed to be glowing as she sat back in the van, watching Casey drive them to the drop location, where he and Sarah would move to the back of the party, while the others kept watch from the van.
"Walker..." Carina spoke in a low voice as she sat beside her best friend. "You're literally radiating happiness...did you and the nerd screw again?"
Sarah rolled her eyes, but her smile never faded. "No..."
"The bracelet." Carina proved yet again how sharp she was. "Wow...I was hoping for a ring."
"Carina..." Sarah replied, patient with her immature friend. "We're definitely not there...It's been half a year..."
Carina nodded. "Only teasing. So, what's the occasion?"
"He just...it was his mother's, and he told me he'd saved it for 'the girl."
"Oh..." Carina nodded, impressed. "Looks like you did a number on him. Not surprising, you seem to do that to men a lot..."
Sarah lightly slapped her arm. "It was beautiful...the way he spoke to me-"
"-Walker..." Carina warned. "Love is dangerous...if not for your sake then his."
"I'll tread lightly." Sarah remarked, but Carina wasn't stupid; she saw right through it. The two were head over heels in love.
"So...what about you and Larkin?" Sarah smirked, enjoying the change of pace.
"What about him?" Carina defended briskly.
"What's up with your relationship?"
"No relationship." Carina huffed.
"So you are still sleeping together then?"
"I turned him down last night..." Carina shrugged.
"What? Why?" Sarah seemed shocked. "You had a good thing going there."
"I like to keep them on their toes." Carina smirked, watching as the van rolled to a stop.
"Be safe, Walker."
"Always am." Sarah stepped out of the van with Casey. It was showtime.
-0-
"Wow, Jill." Chuck smiled. He'd finally caught her at a moment where she hadn't been gaping at him all night. Maybe it was his cologne, or the tux...she couldn't stop and he found it so odd. "Your job...it seems so prestigious. You must be great...I remember bio-chem."
"Chuck..."she immediately blushed. He was one of a kind. He remembered all that?
Meanwhile, Casey couldn't help rubbing it in to Sarah as they prepared for their part.
"Kids gettin panties dropped tonight, Walker." Casey smirked as she took a side opposite from him by the back.
"Shut up, sugar bear." Sarah Walker was not to be toyed with, and if she had to prove it every once in a while, so be it.
Casey's eyes widened. "How...-"
"-damn straight, John." she smirked, relaxing against the wall as the argument died out.
In the van, the awkwardness was almost palpable. It mainly revolved around Bryce and Carina, with Hannah and Shaw watching amusedly, each doing their respective jobs.
"So...about last night..." Bryce trailed off when he saw Carina's glare.
"Not now." She hissed, hoping the others wouldn't hear her.
Shaw rolled his eyes. "How very professional."
Carina whipped around. "Shut it, two-by-four. You're the first one to go, should we ever need to...lighten the load."
Shaw grunted while Hannah held back her laughter. Bryce widened his eyes in surprise. She was...hot.
"I think I need some fresh air." Hannah decided, stepping out.
Bryce's face lit up. He had an idea; he was to test Carina's affections for him once and for all. "Let me join you." He grinned as he stepped out, the door rolling shut behind him.
Carina mustered all her willpower to keep from dropping her jaw.
"And then there were two..." Shaw began somewhat flirtatiously.
Carina almost snorted. "Not a chance in hell, plywood."
Shaw rolled his eyes yet again. What was up with all the wood references?
-0-
Back in the party, Jill had wasted no time in getting to know Chuck better. Chuck felt awkward as he lied to her about investments.
"And then it's straight to the bank." He finished his story with a smile, feeling strange as he watched Jill nearly melt before him. It felt...wrong.
"Wow, Chuck, I-" She trailed off, glancing over his shoulder.
"You...?" Chuck tried to pick it back up. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing it's just...That's Mr. Lorenzo...Steve..."
"Who's that?" Chuck queried, feigning curiosity.
"My supervisor...Oh Chuck it'd mean the world to me and my job if he could finally recognize my talents."
"Really?" Chuck nodded. "I think I can help."
Jill turned to him in awe. "How?"
"You know...A little investment goes a long way." Chuck winked, causing her to grin.
"You'd do that for me?"
Chuck felt his heart sink. "The mission, Bartowski, the mission." Shaw's voice sounded in his ear. Their "business" was a threat. He had to remember that.
"Of course..." Chuck smiled, taking her arm as he mustered the confidence to approach the man.
"Mr. Lorenzo..." Chuck spoke smoothly. He was good for it.
The man turned, finding himself to be merely an inch shorter than Chuck. He smiled wryly. "Hello, Ms. Roberts..."
"This is my...boyfriend, Chuck." Jill stated, smiling.
"That bitch." Sarah rolled her eyes, accidentally speaking over the comm. Chuck tried not to wince.
"A pleasure sir." Chuck shook his hand, and the two began to speak.
-0-
"Well, it looks like you have this, Shaw." Carina noted, opening the door.
"What? I ne-"
"Nope." Carina smirked. "You're just fine." She stepped out, hands on her hips as she watched Bryce lean against the van suggestively to a completely uninterested Hannah.
"I think I should go..." Hanah seized her chance to escape, darting back into the van.
Bryce was wearing a tell-tale smirk, watching as Carina's eyes burned through him.
"What was that?" Carina snapped, completely unaware that she sounded like a jealous Sarah Walker.
"What?" Bryce smiled.
"That." Carina snapped once more. "You know very well what I mean."
"The flirting?" Bryce smirked, feigning interest. "She's cute."
"We both know you weren't after her."
"Oh?" Bryce smirked. "And what exactly do you think I'm after?" he pushed Carina against the van as she pulled him closer.
"This was a stupid plan, Larkin." She mumbled against his lips.
"It worked, didn't it?"
-0-
Casey readied himself.
"Chuck's bringing the two out now to "arrange a business deal' " Sarah informed him, tranq gun ready.
"Shaw, get the van over." Casey demanded over the comm.
"Roger." Shaw responded.
"Three...two..." Casey counted down.
They remained hidden as Chuck walked hand in hand with Jill as Lorenzo held the door open. Once it shut, Chuck murmured. "I'm so sorry Jill." As he jumped apart.
Sarah and Casey rose like sharpshooters, both Jill and Lorenzo down in seconds.
Shaw pulled the van over, Carina and Bryce somehow managing to get in before he took off, quite unhappy about their interrupted...moment.
"Get em in." Casey demanded as he lifted Lorenzo and Chuck lifted Jill, quite delicately, into the van.
"Nice work, team." Sarah commented, as she pulled Chuck aside.
"Are you alright?" She asked gently.
"Sarah I feel...wrong. I feel terrible."
"I know...I'm sorry you had to go through that Chuck." She admmited softly, putting a comforting hand in his.
"It's alright..." He couldn't help but smile when he saw the charm bracelet adorning her wrist.
"I'm glad to have you back, Chuck." Sarah smiled, placing a soft kiss on his lips.
"I'm glad to be back..." Chuck replied. At Sarah Walker's side; there was no other place in the world for him anyway.
A/N: I tried to make this one longer. Next we will adress Jill and Lorenzo and all of that good stuff. And...Cryce...Barina...not sure how that works.
Some stories I've thoroughly enjoyed, recently-(They have no idea I'm doing this and they're probably a bit creeped out, but oh well):
Sarah vs. the Dream- by Jhdesigner22
Anything by Jaytoyz
Don't quit your day job- by Aren Summers
All of those have kept me entertained, you should check em out and tell them how awesome they are!
Anyway, let me know how you liked it. More reviews= faster update. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing, and as always, Have a great one, guys.
-LLC