A/N: Last chapter Chuck and Sarah stopped the Ring from harming Devon and foiled their plan to kill Daniel Shaw, who had escaped CIS detention and was obviously trying to get to the team. Basically S3E4, but retold with Chuck and Sarah working effectively together.
This chapter is the retelling of S3E5.
Thanks for reviews. Glad to see that people are enjoying the events, now with the strong Charah relationship.
I have more help from JohnnyRayChandlett with this one, so thanks to him, once again.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck and certainly don't make any money from this; more's the pity.
Prove Yourself
Chapter 11 – Paris
General Beckman has just told Sarah to get Chuck over to Castle to discuss a mission. She'd asked whether she should get Casey as well, but had been told that would not be necessary.
Sarah looks at the monitors covering the various parts of the Buy More. In the rest room, Morgan is sitting on his own calling for Chuck. She has no idea why he doesn't just get up and walk to where Chuck is talking to Casey on the sales floor. She shakes her head. Since being promoted to the Assistant Manager, Morgan has seemed a bit full of himself, demanding his team do things, rather than asking.
She calls Chuck on his phone and he picks up immediately. "Hi, Gorgeous."
She smiles. They haven't discussed pet names, but he just uses words describing how he feels about her, which she finds really endearing. She does the same. "Hi, Lover. I need you over in Castle."
On the monitor, she can see him smirk. She used to hate smirkers, but, it seems, not this one. He asks, "Need?" God, he keeps thinking of sex! And I'm not much better!
She stays professional. "Beckman wants to talk."
His face changes, becoming almost professional. Almost. "What about Casey?"
Casey is obviously watching him on the phone, curious.
Sarah replies, "She said he wasn't needed, but as we work as a team, he should come. Tell him to stay out of the camera's sight."
"Will do."
She watches the two men talk and then walk to the locker room to come through to Castle.
Beckman appears on the screen. "Is he there yet?"
"Just coming through, General," Chuck says, as he walks over and sits next to Sarah.
Casey holds back.
The general looks at Chuck, "First, I want to tell you about a change to your work at the Buy More. We're taking a lot of your time now, so we've arranged for that to be covered by a company requesting ready access to you personally, after being impressed with your services. They are effectively buying fifty percent of your time from the Buy More."
Chuck looks surprised, but also impressed. "Wow, I bet that pleased Big Mike."
The general looks down at the papers on her desk. "The other thing is that we've been reviewing Agent Shaw's notes. It seems there is a significant Ring presence in Paris."
Chuck sits up looking excited. "Paris, France?"
The general looks up and nods. "Shaw's notes indicate that he was tracking a package that he thought was to be sent to Paris from Los Angeles. He was going to get you to follow it, Analyst Bartowski, thinking you were an agent. I want you and Agent Walker to go."
Sarah is happy that the general is not sending Chuck on his own, acknowledging his role and sending the two of them together, but she is concerned. "Do we trust information from Shaw?"
Beckman looks at her. "Probably not everything, but this seems to be legitimate."
Chuck is almost bouncing in his seat. "When do we go, General?"
Beckman's face takes on an amused look. "I take it you'd like to go to Paris."
He grins. "My dream location," he admits.
"Well, I'll arrange for you to stop over for a couple of days, if, and only if, this mission is successful."
He replies instantly, "Oh, it will be, General. Will this be covered by the work for the new company?"
"It will." She looks down at a paper again. "Your flight leaves in 3 hours. Agent Walker, you'll have the details waiting for you at the airport." She ends the call.
Chuck looks at Sarah with a huge grin and grabs her hands. "Paris, Sarah!"
She loves how excited he is, but she has mixed feelings. She always used to hate going there, after her Red Test, but now she's going with the love of her life and will be able to stay for a short break. Maybe this will erase the bad thoughts about the city and replace them with happy ones. She hopes so. She wills it to be so. Wouldn't it be terrible if he loves the city and I hate it?
She stands up. "Come on, Chuck. We don't have much time to get there."
Sarah is feeling grumpy. There had been a ticket mix-up and although they would be sitting next to each other, it would be either side of the aisle. For eleven hours!
She hasn't yet opened the package handed to her when they arrived at the airport, but is instead fuming while waiting to board the plane.
Chuck, in his soothing voice, tries to cheer her up. "At least we can still look at each other, Sarah, and when we get to Paris, we'll have all that time together."
She appreciates what he is trying to do, she really does, but can't be happy. "It's not the same, Chuck. I wanted to sleep on your shoulder." Her tone is almost whiney.
He chuckles, "So, that's all I am? A pillow?"
That does lighten her mood a bit, so she only mock-glares at him, while trying to stop her lips curling at the edges.
They get called to board. They're near the middle of those for their area, slowly moving forward.
When they reach their seats, the two occupants of the window seats are already there. A woman next to Chuck and a man next to Sarah. She inwardly groans and hopes this man keeps himself to himself. As she looks at him, she sees a man around fifty years old, smartly dressed and already leaning to his side with his head pressed against the pillow provided for his seat. He won't be a problem.
She looks over at the woman next to Chuck. She's a very different case. Young, attractive, brunette and very attentive. She's eyeing Chuck up. Sarah starts to bristle, but holds it in. I can't make a scene when we've only just boarded!
She sits back and opens the package, takes out the papers inside and starts to read.
It quickly grabs her attention. They aren't going to be intercepting someone in Paris, they have to do it on the plane. The courier is on with them.
She needs to sit with Chuck and talk about it, but can't across the aisle. She buzzes for a flight attendant.
While she waits, she overhears the conversation next to her. "Hi, I'm Chuck, well, Charles, but my friends call me Chuck." Sarah looks over at them.
The woman smiles at him. "I'm Hannah. Just Hannah, Chuck."
"Good, that makes it easy. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, Charles-but-my-friends-call-me-Chuck." Sarah can see Hannah's eyes almost twinkling. The words, on their own, are harmless, but Sarah can see the way Hannah is looking at Chuck. That's not harmless and she's flirting with him, too.
The flight attendant arrives. "Can I help you?"
Sarah says, loudly enough for Hannah to hear, "There's been a ticket mix-up. My boyfriend and I were supposed to get seats together." She reaches over and grabs Chuck's hand. "I get very nervous on a plane and he has to hold my hand most of the time. That won't work across the aisle. Can you find us a pair of seats together, please?"
The flight attendant, Margret from her nametag, looks apologetic. "I'm sorry, we're fully booked."
Sarah notices the man next to her stirring. He then pipes up. "I can swap with your boyfriend. I don't need a window seat."
Sarah turns a dazzling smile in his direction. "Oh, thank you."
Margret smiles, obviously glad a crisis has been averted. "Thank you, sir."
Sarah gets up, followed by this kind man. As she does so, she notices the surprised expression on Hannah's face, which makes her feel good.
"Well, as I said, nice to meet you, Hannah." Chuck being as polite and as clueless as ever.
With an obviously annoyed look at Sarah, Hannah replies, "Yeah."
Sarah lets Chuck take the window seat and sits back where she was, now completely ignoring Hannah. She leans over to him and whispers, "Remember, you're mine."
He looks surprised. "I know, we're a couple now. Why do you say that?"
She places a hand on the side of his face. "I love how oblivious you are. She was flirting with you."
He frowns, "You think?"
She nods and leans over and gives him a gentle kiss.
"Is that why you got the seats changed?"
"Partly. It seems I get very jealous, Chuck."
He snorts. "Well, now you know how I feel whenever any men are around you, Sarah."
She looks down. "I'm sorry that happens, Chuck. I've had to encourage it as an agent, but never try otherwise."
"You don't have to try, Sarah. You're stunning and everyone can see that. Moths to a flame, Sarah."
His words warm her heart, just like they always do. I don't know how he does it, but I'm so glad he does.
She leans over and kisses him again. "Thanks, Chuck. You attract a lot of women too, y'know."
The look on his face shows he disagrees, even before he starts talking. "So you say, but I know better."
She raises an eyebrow.
He just looks at her and says, "One disastrous relationship followed by five years solo and then over two years chasing and failing to catch you, Sarah."
"Oh, you caught me straight away, Mister. I just failed to act on it."
That brings a smile to his face, then he looks inquisitive, "You said that was part of the reason. What else?"
"We need to look at these papers and decide what to do." She holds them up.
"Okay. Can I look at the first page?" She hands it to him. Attached to the front is a photo of a man, a particularly massive man.
She sees Chuck flash. "Hugo Panzer, a Ring close-combat expert."
"Strange person to be a courier," she muses. "Well, he's on the flight and we need to get something from him. Read the rest."
He does and comments, "So, we need to recover a CIA code key from him."
She shakes her head. "Not from him, but from his luggage."
"How're we going to do that, Sarah?"
"We tranq him, get his boarding pass and use that to find his luggage. Simple."
He frowns. "What do you think the key opens, Sarah?"
She shrugs. "I don't know, but something Beckman doesn't want the Ring to get."
Chuck snaps his fingers. "Maybe it's something Shaw is giving to them."
This is not relevant to the mission. Her agent experience is telling her to just focus on what is important. "It doesn't matter right now, Chuck. We just have to get the key. First, we have to find Panzer."
"Okay". Chuck starts to get up. She pulls him back down. "Not until we take off, Chuck. Besides, Hugo Panzer is very dangerous, a master at close-quarters combat. We have to be careful."
He smiles. "Sarah, don't you worry. Casey gave me a tranq-pen."
"A what?"
He pulls a pen from inside his jacket. "This. It will help tranquilize him."
"I've never seen one before. Do you know how to use it?"
He looks embarrassed. "Well, no, but it has to be easy, doesn't it?"
She looks at him with loving frustration. "Chuck, if you are trying to work out how to use it when you need it, you'll fail."
"I guess."
She holds out her hand. "Give it to me, please."
Once he has, she presses the end, which pushes down a standard looking pen tip. She presses harder and a jet of liquid squirts out. "Well, it must be taken orally. That's not easy. I'll do it."
Chuck disagrees. "No, Sarah, I have to do it. Casey gave it to me."
She glares at him. "Are you the spy?"
"Well, no, bu-"
She interrupts him, "Are you Field Support Analyst?"
"Yes, bu-"
"So, you support the spy. Carrying extra equipment the spy might need, is your job. Thanks for this extra equipment, Chuck."
His shoulders slump and he sighs, good-naturedly. "Yes, you're right."
"We still have to find him, though."
He's looking over her shoulder, trying to catch the attention of the flight attendant, when he focusses on something else. "I've found him."
She looks over her shoulder and watches the man come on board and then turn away from them, obviously heading to his seat. "Okay, so I now know where to head, when I try to find him."
"What can I do, Sarah?"
She turns to him. "Other than sit here and look pretty?" she teases.
He laughs. "Won't that attract all the women?"
That wipes the smile off her face. She looks over at Hannah who is reading. "Mmm. I might have to find something for you to do."
Sarah has been playing the part she sold to the flight attendant and the two in the seats across the aisle; gripping Chuck's hand with both of hers and leaning into him. She had spotted Hannah lean forward and look over at her and had made her face look panicked as the plane took off.
She whispers to Chuck, "When we can undo our seatbelts, I'm going to rush that way, like someone desperate for the bathroom. Follow me as fast as you can. You hide in one of those, while I go and get Panzer's pass."
He whispers back, "I'm not hiding anywhere, Sarah. I'll stay out of sight, but keep an eye on you and him."
She can tell he's determined to do just that, wanting to make sure she's safe. In the past, she would have been annoyed and reminded him that she had been an agent for over twelve years, so could look after herself. Now, however, she loves him saying it and does feel safer, somehow, so she leans over to kiss him.
A few minutes later, the light goes out. She releases her seatbelt. "Now, Chuck." Pressing her hand against her stomach, she gets up and rushes away, feeling Hannah's gaze on her. She can hear Chuck following.
Once out of Hannah's view, she slows and enters the next compartment, searching for Panzer. She's in luck, spotting him in a window seat at the far end on the right-hand side, with an empty one next to him. "We'll go to the end, by the next set of bathrooms, then I'll come back on that side and sit by him. This'll be easy. Stay behind me, Chuck, and then out of sight at that end."
He grunts, acknowledging he's heard her.
Once she gets to Panzer, Sarah stands next to the empty seat. "Excuse me, sir? Sorry to bother you. The man that I'm sitting next to keep touching my leg, so I'm trying to get away from him. Would you mind if I sit here?"
Panzer looks up at her and nods. "Fine."
She sits. "Thanks."
She picks up the magazine in front of her and turns to the crossword and gets the pen out.
Noticing her do that, he observes. "Pens don't always work on planes because of the pressure change."
She lifts it up, pretending to look at it, but actually aiming it at him. "Oh, I think this one will work." She presses hard, squirting the liquid into his mouth. His reflex makes him swallow and he slumps down. She leans over, pulls his mouth open and squirts more in. "Sleep tight."
She searches him and finds his boarding pass.
She walks back to Chuck. "Come on, the access to the luggage compartment is this way."
They find it and just about manage to squeeze in together.
He smiles down at her. "I like this, Sarah."
She snorts. "Bit too tight. We'll enjoy being this close tonight."
The door opens on the cold luggage compartment.
Taking a photo of the pass with her phone, she hands the original to Chuck. She points to the right. "You check that side, I'll check this. Call if you find his luggage."
They start searching. With both of them doing it, it's not long before they find it. Chuck calls to her, "I found it. It's a casket."
She replies, "Smart. The ring knows that customs won't check the body. Open it up. We have to find that key."
He looks at her. "That's kind of disgusting."
"We haven't got time for this, Chuck." She opens it.
Chuck groans.
She ignores him and reaches for the dead man's hand to check in his jacket, but finds the key in the palm of the hand. She pulls it off. Then they hear the lift.
"Chuck, someone's coming, hide back there." She points to the other side where there's a gap.
"What about you?" he replies.
She smiles. "I've got a tranq gun that I took from my case."
She kneels by the casket, out of sight.
Using a mirror from her purse, she watches a flight attendant enter. Only she can't be a flight attendant, as she's carrying a gun.
Sarah shifts out into the main gangway and shoots hitting the woman in her chest. She drops to the floor. Chuck is out quickly looking at the woman. "She's holding a real gun, Sarah! Everyone knows not to do that on a plane!"
He needs to focus. "Not now, Chuck. I'll tie her up and then we'll get back to our seats."
Chuck looks beyond her. "The door, Sarah."
She twirls around and shoot again. This time, it's Panzer that drops. "I don't think much of the tranquilizer in the pen, Chuck."
As they head back to their seats, Sarah notices Hannah sitting on her own at the bar, drinking. As they get closer, Sarah sees that she looks miserable.
Sarah has never felt like this before, but she suddenly feels sorry for the shorter woman. "Chuck, I'm going to sit with Hannah for a bit, she doesn't look happy."
He looks surprised. "Are you sure, Sarah? Comforting people is what I do, not you."
He's right. It's one of the things he does really well, but hearing his words just makes her more determined to help Hannah. "Yes, Chuck, I'm sure. If I don't come back to my seat in a quarter of an hour, join us."
He's obviously still dubious, but he nods and walks off.
As she walks towards the drinking woman, she says, "Hi Hannah. I'm Chuck's girlfriend, Sarah."
Putting the glass down, and turning her head slightly to see who is now standing next to her, Hannah replies, "Oh, hi, Sarah."
"You look down in the dumps. Want some company?"
She looks up at Sarah, with a sad smile. "I'm probably not much company right now, Sarah."
Although Hannah hadn't said yes to her question, Sarah takes the seat next to her. She's not used to this, but really does want to ease Hannah's pain, in some way. Has Chuck's love thawed up the heart of the Ice Queen?
She asks, "Why's that?"
"I just got fired from my job. I thought I'd actually convinced them to let me stay, but..."
Sarah places a hand on Hannah's shoulder. "I'm so sorry."
The contact makes Hannah look at her appreciatively. "Thanks, Sarah." She takes another drink, then says, "You and Chuck look happy together, at least when your panic attack is not taking over."
Sarah changes her expression to one of embarrassment. "I struggle with the take off and landing. To be honest, I probably could've managed just holding his hand at those times, and it wouldn't have been a problem as no one walks up and down then, but I also just want to snuggle up to him on the flight."
Hannah smiles slightly, but the sadness is also visible. "I can see why."
Sarah has always been good at reading people. This woman doesn't really pose a threat to anything other than her self-confidence. She decides to be honest with her. "I'm also very possessive. I saw how you were looking at him and felt a bit threatened."
Hannah looks at her, surprised, then down at her glass. "Well, I didn't know he was with you, then. A great looking guy had sat next to me and seemed to like me. I wondered if we could get together, in Paris. He didn't brush me off." She then looks back at Sarah. "Then I realized it wouldn't work out."
Sarah frowns. "You did?"
Hannah nods. "Just looking at you, I knew I didn't stand a chance of getting his attention." She looks back down at her drink. "I realized he was probably just being polite, being friendly, not actually interested in me."
Sarah snorts. "Hannah, that is so like him. He's clueless about women and has no idea how attractive he is, or when a woman flirts with him." She then realizes the implications of that. In a subdued voice, she says, "That's my biggest worry."
Hannah looks at her for a few seconds. "You have nothing to worry about, Sarah. For one thing, you're stunning, no one could compete with your looks, but, watching Chuck with you, I see a man is totally in love. He won't stray."
Sarah smiles. "Thanks, Hannah, I really appreciate that." Then she laughs. "I came over to comfort you, and, instead, the reverse has happened."
Hannah smiles. "No, Sarah, talking to someone, is helping me."
"What was it you did for your ex-company?" Even as she said it, she knew she'd phrased it badly.
Hannah's wince confirmed it, but she answers the question. "I'm in IT. I do installs, look after the local servers, support the users. That sort of thing."
Sarah looks at her, then says, "That's like Chuck's job."
"Really? Lucky guy, still having a job," Hannah mutters.
Wondering whether she could help Hannah, she asks, "Where do you live?"
Hannah laughs. "Well, until the call, Paris. I am now officially flying there to empty out my office and move out of the apartment they provided."
"So, you're coming back to the States?"
"Yeah, States, but none specific. I guess wherever I can find a job."
As Hannah is saying this, Sarah notices Chuck walking towards them. "Would you consider coming back to California? Los Angeles?"
"I guess, if there was a job."
Chuck has just arrived and placed a hand on Sarah's shoulder. He overheard this. "Don't you have a job?"
Hannah looks up at him. "Just fired."
"Oh, that sucks."
Sarah put her hand on his and looks at him. "She does the same job as you. Any jobs at the Buy More?"
As Beckman told them, half his time would be funded by her, under the cover of the company who had specifically asked for him. He'd still be working for Buy More, but this 'company' would get priority call on his time.
Chuck can obviously see what Sarah is doing. "We never have enough IT support people. Would you be interested in working at a Buy More, Hannah?"
She laughs. "I'd be willing to work anywhere that would take me, right now!" Then she seems to think about it. "California would be good, though. I was visiting friends there and do like the sun and the beaches."
Sarah places a hand on Hannah's arm. "I'm sure you'll love it."
Hannah looks at her. "Thanks, Sarah. I think I might now have another friend in LA."
Chuck chirps up, "Two, Hannah."
The plane lands at Charles de Gaulle airport. Sarah has been gripping Chuck's hand with one hand, while the other is around his arm. To be honest, she really likes sitting like this.
When they stop, she lets go and stands, but looks shaky.
"You need to be careful, standing up quickly like that is not good for you, Sarah." Hannah looks a bit worried.
"Thanks, Hannah. Hope to see you in Burbank soon."
Hannah grins. "Oh, you will. Enjoy Paris." With a wave to both of them, she gets up and heads up the aisle, following the man who had sat next to her.
Sarah pulls out her phone and notifies the local CIA team about the two in the luggage compartment.
She looks over to Chuck. "We need to talk through what happened with Casey and Beckman and find out what she wants us to do with the key. Then, my lovely boyfriend, we have a hotel room to exhaust ourselves in tonight and a city to explore tomorrow."
He breathes out and says, "God, I love you."
She grins at him. "Love you too, Chuck."
The hotel room is lavish; a complete contrast to the one she had used when she first visited the city. This one also has a view of the Eiffel Tower, something that excites Chuck. "Look, Sarah! What a fantastic view!"
He is right, but she's looking at him by the window, still in his suit. A lovely view indeed.
"Chuck, much as I like you in a suit, you need to shed it."
He turns and grins. Rushing to her, he wraps his arms around her and kisses her showing her how much he loves her. She kisses back with just as much love.
When he releases her, she helps him with his clothes as much as he does with hers.
They fall onto the bed and make love with the sunlight pouring in through the window onto them. They explore each other's bodies as much as they had on their first time together, but here, in the city of love, the city Chuck has always wanted to visit, it feels so much more special, so much more intense, each and every time. They don't stop until they are too exhausted to continue.
Lying on top of him, with her head resting on his chest, she can't imagine ever feeling happier. A beautiful city, a beautiful hotel room, a beautiful man who loves her as much as she loves him. What could be better?
Being in Paris with Chuck, she has had the best time of her life. Admittedly, that wasn't too surprising considering her past. Her time with him in California had been wonderful, but being on holiday, a real holiday, in this wonderful city with the love of her life was so much better.
They hadn't made it out of their room that first day and had used room service to refuel so that they continue what they started mid-afternoon. When they finally slept, it was around 11 pm, but back in Los Angeles that would have been 2 pm the day after they set off. They'd been awake for over thirty hours. She was used to that sort of thing, but Chuck certainly wasn't and, after their bedroom romp, nor was she last night.
She had awakened shortly before 7 am, but hadn't wanted to get up, but enjoyed lying on her love. When he had started to wake himself, she'd kissed him and things escalated. Neither had brushed their teeth, but neither cared. An hour later, they'd showered together, which did delay going for breakfast, but it was so worth it.
They finally emerged from the hotel after 10 am, but had enjoyed walking together for the next three hours. They had done just what she'd thought about a few days ago. Walking through the Champ de Mars, holding hands, but also stopping occasionally to kiss. They reached the Trocadéro terraces and looked at the beautiful view. The Eiffel Tower did look good from this view, but that just made Chuck more desperate to get to it and go up it. They will be doing that in the afternoon after their lunch at the café they've found. Sitting outside, watching the world go by is relaxing, beers in the hands not holding the other's.
Chuck has been telling her about the sights they have yet to see. "You may not know, but the Eiffel Tower's most amazing engineering feat is the elevator itself…" He pauses his ramble and looks at her. ".. and with that, I realize I'm the most boring person in the world."
She grips his hand harder and looks at him, annoyed. "Stop putting yourself down, Chuck. You are absolutely not boring." Then she thinks about that and leans over to him and whispers, "Unless you're talking about what you were doing in the hotel room." She sits back pleased with herself.
"Oh, ho. Well, Miss 'I'm Not Funny', your sense of humor is as good, or as bad, as mine."
"Well, I am learning from the best," she replies, fluttering her eye lashes at him.
He grins. "Well, anyway, this afternoon, we go up the tower at 3 pm. and when we've enjoyed the view …" He pauses and looks at her. "… and are amazed at the construction, we can go to the Notre Dame cathedral."
She loves that Chuck is so full of enthusiasm. It has been carrying them both along all day.
"I also want to see all the art in the Louvre, but it's only open until 6 pm. We won't have time, Sarah," he whines.
"Chuck, our flight isn't until the day after tomorrow. We can go there tomorrow morning."
He grins. "Not first thing, though. I might need to be boring again."
She grins back, "Oh, you will, Mister."
They are sitting waiting to board their flight. Charles de Gaulle airport is just like any other, although she had suffered more delays there than other airports, but Chuck loved it. He'd explored all the shops, and loved finding American products on sale. It's a reminder that he's just a kid, sometimes, but she knows at other times he definitely isn't. That's my exclusive time with him!
So, he's sitting with his bag of treats, French treats, and gifts. "What are you going to tell your sister about this trip, Chuck."
"Same as we're telling Big Mike, that I was sent by my new client to install some software for them."
"Good. Sticking to one story is best."
She sees him wince. "I'm sorry you have to lie to her, Chuck."
He shakes his head. "Oh, it's not that. It is almost the truth, isn't it?"
"Then what is it?"
He starts to look away, but then turns back. "I'm sorry, Sarah. I suddenly thought of the lie you told me when you were drugged, that you weren't interested in me."
She grips his arm, "I'm so sorry about that, Chuck."
He nods and smiles at her with a sad expression. "It would have saved a lot of trouble if you hadn't."
Still looking at him, she makes herself reply. "I know. I was scared, Chuck."
He looks shocked. "Scared?"
She looks down. "Scared of loving you. Scared of losing you. Hell, just scared of a real relationship."
She sighs. "Anyway. I didn't actually say I wasn't interested in you. You asked if it was going anywhere. I didn't think it could, Chuck."
He smiles. "Well, it is now. That's what matters, isn't it?"
She smiles, then leans over and kisses him. "It is."
They are back in Castle, sitting with Casey. General Beckman is on the screen. "Well done on getting the key. When you notified me you'd got it, I sent a case to Colonel Casey. From Shaw's notes, we think the key opens something inside it."
Casey puts the case on the desk and pushes it over to Sarah. She opens the case and pulls out a smooth-edged device.
"What is it, a weapon?" asks Chuck.
Beckman answers him, "No, it's a lockbox. Apparently it belonged to a spy who was working for the Ring."
"A rogue?" Casey asks.
The general replies, "We don't know. He may have just infiltrated their organization."
Sarah opens it with the key. It slides open. Inside are a set of disks.
Casey looks at Beckman. "I take it this will be useful information. We'll get it sent to you, General."
"Thank you, Colonel. And thank you, Agent Walker and Analyst Bartowski for enabling us to get to this information. I'm sure it will make a difference." She ends the call.
Sarah notices a small envelope that was under the disks. She takes it out and opens it. Inside is a ring.
"Who do you think that belongs to, Sarah," Chuck asks.
She looks at him. "I have no idea. It can go back with the disks. The general's team will have to work that out."
She puts the ring back in the envelope and the envelope in the box with the disks back on top.
Sarah has been standing by the Nerd herd desk, chatting to Chuck. Morgan and Casey walk up, with slightly strange expressions.
Chuck looks at them and asks, "What's with the looks?"
Casey replies, "He gave me a raise."
Morgan leans forward, "Inflation, buddy. See what happens when you go away for a two-day install? Everything changes."
Chuck looks up at Sarah. "It sure does."
Morgan asks, "Everything okay with the install?"
Chuck grins and turns back to his friend. "All installations successful."
Sarah has to hide a snigger, knowing the only 'installs' he'd been doing." Yes, they were all very successful!
Casey grunts and walks off.
Morgan smiles at them both and walks off too. As he does, Sarah spots someone who had been standing behind Morgan, a little further back. She beams and hold open her arms. When did I start wanting to hug people?
Hannah rushes forward into the embrace from her new friend. "Hi, Sarah." She looks over Sarah's shoulder and waves to Chuck. "Hi, Chuck. Got any jobs?"
Sarah releases her friend and turns. "You better have, Mister."
A/N: S3E5 with differences, both on the flight over and, of course, with their time in Paris. Just to reassure those, like me, that only want Charah, Hannah will be sticking around for a while, but won't be getting together with Chuck.
As always, let me know what you think in a review.