A/N: Since it's been ages since I've posted anything at all worth reading, remember that Arthur Graham here works only as Morgan Freeman and I've decided that Faith is Lena Headey of '300' fame.

I've finally said 'uncle' to the whole eyeball thing and have told the collective medical community to kiss my Irish patootie and I've decided to hell with all of them. I'll look right dashing in an eye patch.

Sorry for all the delays. I've got limited access to internet service here. Their WiFi suxs enormously.

Someone else typed this. I hope to hell Nicole remembered to spellcheck. You good authors have betas – I got me a hunnie input clerk…lol

APR

Charah House
Lantana, FL

Morgan and Anna Wu Grimes were regular fixtures at the Talley household primarily because it gave Chuck 'buddy time' with his best friend and also because he was running the corporation single-handedly and making them all scads of loot.

"So, Chuck, you and Sarah and the twins are thinking about going to Havana? Does that mean we'll need to develop a Spanish language version of the 'Process'?"

"Maybe, Morgan, maybe. It's really too early to tell yet. We're waiting on the insurance companies to finish arguing and either give us the money or a replacement for the Sarah and they're dragging their asses big-time. Sarah has her heart set on sailing to Havana in our boat or she's not going."

In actuality, Arthur Graham was dragging his ass. He'd found two 'replacements' but they were woefully below the standards of the original Sarah but Chuck was not accepting less than the same or better. No way. Sarah was the nag of the family and every email or conference they had either started with or ended with "Director, about the boat…" She also demanded a flying bridge and told 'Uncle Art to move his ass' because she knew he was delaying this out of spite and figured he'd be retired before he absolutely had to deal with it.

Faith was sitting across from the 'dynamic duo' as she'd come to refer to them drinking a beer and hoping Anna would quit pestering her to go shopping. Faith enjoyed shopping. She despised Anna for the primary reason that Sarah had confided that when Chuck's first wife had been killed that Anna had offered him 'consolation' in the form of a 'pity fuck' and she found that unforgivable. Sarah might have to put up with her because of Chuck's friendship but she didn't.

Expect for the disgusting Anna Wu Grimes, she'd found a better life in her new assignment. Her teammates were professionals but loved to have fun and didn't put on airs. Her quarters were luxurious and best of all, free. The jobs they'd done in the 3 months since she'd arrived had all been low-keyed but effective and she found great satisfaction in her work for the first time in years.

She also found herself falling hopelessly in love with her team leader, Chuck Talley. He was everything she'd ever wanted in a man but he was already taken. She kept her feelings to herself, never allowing one instance of mooning over Chuck to be apparent or in any way affect the job, but she was only human and he was…someone else's and that someone else was fast becoming her best friend.

In Sarah Talley, Faith found a friend, one who didn't judge, who had enough skeletons in her own closet to not be concerned with anyone else's and who was always ready to listen, advise and just talk. They'd spent many hours on the verandah just swapping stories, laughing about things in general and finding that they had more in common than they'd have thought.

Faith and Carina had formed a 'protective alliance' as far as Chuck was concerned. Over a few pitchers of Margaritas at the Two Georges Carina had finally 'fessed up' to her own lust for the boss but had also gone into great detail about the 'Sand Springs incident' and Mexico and her crappy behavior that almost got him killed.

Despite all that, he'd still wanted her on the team and he still spent hours with her swimming and rebuilding his endurance and overall health and just talking. His wife paid no attention to their relationship because her husband paid such exquisite attention to her.

After Morgan and his wife left and the remains of the BBQ had been cleared up, Sarah calmly announced that they had a new mission and it would require Chuck to go undercover with either Carina or Faith in order to infiltrate and identify members of a terrorist sleeper cell operating out of New Orleans.

Their target was either a ULCC ship or the offshore terminal docks. If either was destroyed or damaged the resulting impact on domestic oil supplies and prices would be crippling and prompt a worldwide price war, not to mention the environmental impact on the Gulf of Mexico. Identifying the cell members and leadership was the primary objective and locating their accumulated cache of explosives and other nasty things was secondary.

"Sarah, why can't you and Chuck go as the Talley couple or under another name?"

"Because the principals involved know me from an assignment in Europe when I worked with Bryce Larkin. We failed to eliminate several members of the Chechen cell and they've since relocated to the US. It's unfortunate but that's how it has to be. Also, a dummy corporation has been formed, Barton Industries LTD and Chuck will be using the alias of Charles Barton for obvious reasons."

"So what's our cover?"

"You'll go as Chuck's mistress and business associate investigating possible relocation to New Orleans. The back story is that we're having marital problems and Chuck's planning on moving on without me after restructuring the company and filing for divorce." She was cold and professional but they could all see how this was affecting her.

"The mission will last approximately three weeks and the three of you will work to identify and eliminate the cell leader and members as well as map out their contacts in the US."

"Three of us? But…"

"One of you is the mistress, the other is the business associate. I'll remain here for any logistical or any other support you may require. It's how it has to be. I don't like it but it's a mission requirement. There's an Intelligence Center in New Orleans like the one in Miami. They'll provide any manpower you might need when the takedown occurs. It would be best if none of you were involved in the take-down after Chuck does his thing but we don't know who we can trust in New Orleans."

"Since Carina has a degree from Boston College in applied cybernetics, she'll be my associate and Faith…you and I will become a lot better acquainted." There was gentle laughter but Faith could see how this was affecting Sarah and Chuck.

"We leave in 2 days so get your stuff packed and we'll fly via charter to New Orleans and keep the plane at the Executive Air Center there. That way we can be out of there if things go sour or when the mission's over. Either way, flying commercial is out since we'll have our personal armories with us. Carina, no RPGs and leave the Stingers behind."

"I'll have briefing packages and photos ready for everyone in the morning. Until then, just relax and enjoy your last few nights in Florida. It's cold and rainy in New Orleans." Sarah ended the briefing with a forced smile and walked into the kitchen and up to her room using the back stairs. Chuck followed her after warning Carina about any 'funny stuff' and ruffling her hair because he knew she hated it.

"Any advice, Carina?" Faith was serious.

"Yeah. If he comes at you with a bowl of ice cubes, be prepared to be ravished. Oh, and avoid dancing with him – especially the Tango." She giggled and then told her the best advice she could give. "Seriously, never forget who you are and who he is. And remember, he tells Sarah everything."

Upstairs of the Charah House things were tense and about to explode.

"Sarah, why can't you come with us and set up a hide site so we'll have someplace to fall back to…and I can sneak out and get my Sarah fix for the day?"

"It's not in the mission brief and it's not professional, Chuck. You have your mission and I have mine. Besides, I'm known, well known, to these scum and we don't know how deep this goes into our own intel networks. It wouldn't be wise to risk it, no matter how much I'll miss you, baby."

"Call Art and tell him we pass on this one. It's bothering you too much and I can tell. It's not worth our happiness just to catch one more group of would-be terrorists. I won't work without you, Sarah. That was the deal."

"This is too important. It's more important than us, don't you understand? This is why I didn't want you part of all this as far back as Burbank. This is why spies don't have 'relationships' or permanent attachments, because the damned job can be more demanding that the glue that holds us together."

"Hey, talk to me, sweetheart. Don't you trust me? What more do I have to do to prove to you that I love you and won't leave you? Doesn't all of this mean anything to you?"

"Chuck, I'm sorry. I'm just upset. I don't like you going off without me to cover your back, that's all and … and I just feel so useless. Promise me you'll wear your specials, Chuck. Promise me! I have a terrible sense of … I don't know, I'm afraid, baby, for the first time since we got together here, I'm afraid for you. For us!"

"Hey, remember the 'bug-out' plan I drafted when we first got the company up and running? I think you should spend the time updating it. Maybe spread some of our cash around just in case, y'know? And nothing is going to tear us apart, Sarah. We're stronger together than any force I can imagine. C'mon, I need some expert help in picking out my stuff. You know how bad I am about ties and stuff."

'Yes, Chuck, we are stronger together but we won't be, and that's what's bugging me…we'll be apart and isolated.'

Breakfast the following morning was not the usual affair. The banter and good humor that marked the Talley household was gone and in its place was a stiffness usually found in households with severe problems. Amelia noted the tense atmosphere and took Chuck aside to ask him about it.

"You know Senora Talley wants a child, Jefe, and every day that goes by makes her sadder and sadder. Give her what she wants and needs. A child in this house would bring such gladness and joy."

"She's sad because we're going on a job without her, Amelia. That's all. I've never worked without her nearby and we're both unhappy with it but can do nothing about it. So, please, do what you can to make sure she's kept busy and has little time to brood, for me, okay, Amelia?"

"Of course. But you need to put a baby in her to make her truly happy."

She was almost as bad a nag as Ellie. He'd have to call Ellie and see if she could make it down for a few days to give Sarah some company. Another thing for his to-do list. 1) Knock up Sarah; 2) Call Ellie; 3) Save the world.

Well, he'd definitely try and handle all the items on his list, especially the first. A baby. They'd never discussed it but it did make perfect sense. More glue to keep them together. Yeah, and someone to leave behind if the worst-case scenario came to pass. He'd definitely talk to her before he left.

Sarah just pushed her food around her plate. She'd had a bout of the 24-hour flu earlier in the week and still hadn't been able to keep much down. She'd watched the look on Chuck's face during the briefing and saw doubt, concern and uncertainty flash across it too subtly for anyone but her to notice but she had. She needed to talk with him before he left and assure him that she'd still be here when he came back. Damn his parents!

"Hey, Sarah, up for a walk on the beach?" He'd noticed how little she'd eaten. He was concerned about this flu that seemed to have singled her out and was hanging on. He'd ask her about checking in with a GP in town while he was gone.

"Yeah. Slow walk, though. I'm so tired since this damned flu has hit and it just keeps coming back every few days."

The walked out to the water's edge and then started north along the beach.

"Sarah, have you ever considered having a family? I mean, sure, we're a family, you and I, but I meant having a baby? I'm just curious, babe, not pushing." He saw a look of abject despair cross her beautiful face before being carefully hidden. But he'd seen it.

She stopped walking and just stood there, her arms wrapped around herself as if hugging would make the world a better place. He wrapped her in his hug and whispered that he loved her and needed her and that she was all he ever needed to be happy and that he was sorry he'd mentioned it.

"No, Chuck, don't be sorry. I – I don't think I can get pregnant. I think all the abuse when I was younger, all the problems I've had, well, I don't think I can get pregnant. I'm sorry, Chuck…" and she started to cry, not the 'I'm upset' cry, but more the 'my world is ending' type of cry. He scooped her up like a baby in his arms and walked back to the house and took her up the back stairway to their room and put her on the bed.

"Sarah Walker Talley, you listen to me and you listen good. I do not need a child to feel complete. I have you and I am complete. Sure, a baby would be nice and I'd love to have a little Sarah-clone to spoil and love, but as long as I have you and you still love me, that's enough. Anything more is just greedy."

"Oh, Chuck, I've been off birth control since we got married. I want a child, a little Chuck to love and spoil and watch grow into a man just like his daddy. I want that so much, Chuck, that I cry every morning when the damned stick says 'NO' instead of 'YES'. I want us to have the family neither of us ever had and it kills me that I can't give you that." And she cried and cried until Chuck worried he'd have to send one of the girls out for a sedative from one of their 'special physicians'. Finally she fell asleep although he was sure it was far from restful.

"Dr. Bartowski."

"Ellie, it's Chuck. Sarah's – there's something wrong. She's trying to get pregnant and she can't and it's making her sick. I – I – Sis, can you find a way to break free for a few days and come down here? I have to – go on one of those business trips with the twins and I don't want her to be alone. Please, Ellie, I'll pay for the tickets and arrange for a car at the airport. Please, Ellie…"

"I'll be down as soon as you let me know what my flight schedule is like. Oh, little brother, I was afraid something like this would happen. She's been through hell, Chuck, and I'm sure she's told you about the abuse, the torture, how Director Graham rescued her, her years of therapy that he had her in, but that's in the past. Make the reservations and I'll watch for your call. I'm heading home now to pack."

"Thanks, Ellie, I – I – she never told me anything about that and after Key West I'd hoped she gotten some closure. I guess I don't know her as well as I thought I did."

"Now, Charles Bar – er – Talley, do not start analyzing and second guessing and feeling all guilty about this. None of it is your fault. It happened years before you met and she'd completed therapy. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Thanks, Ellie. I owe you one."

A/N: At least three more chapters have been written and will be posted whenever my hunniepot finds the time to transcribe my chicken scratch to disk. It's done. Just needs editing.