A/N: Last chapter retold S3E14, another of the good episodes with lots of happy Charah. The main difference was that General Beckman had approved their leave. Did you spot the fun I had with the punk rocker? The actor was the boyfriend of Yvonne Strahovski, who played the part of Sarah, his name, Tim (Tyma in the chapter, which I think is the Polish equivalent).
Anyway, this chapter is the retelling of S3E15, "Chuck Versus the Role Models."
Thanks for the reviews; I really appreciate people taking the time to leave them.
As always, JohnnyRayChandlett did a great job here as my pre-reader, adding some gems to make the chapter sparkle just a little.
Disclaimer: Still not owning Chuck, but happily rewriting it.
Prove Yourself
Chapter 21 – Older Spies
They had been exhausted when they'd gotten to bed after their return from Europe. Chuck particularly, so he is still asleep. Sarah can't sleep, but is thirsty, so she quietly slips out of bed and heads to the kitchen to get some juice.
She is just bending down, getting the juice out in the refrigerator, when she hears a voice just the other side of the door.
"Oh, hey, dude. I had the most incredible dream, man." Sarah stands up and Morgan trails off, "I was, uh..."
She smiles at him. "Hey." She shows him the juice. " Do you want some?" He seems to have frozen, staring at her. "Hello? Morgan?" She realizes why he is frozen. She has bare legs and the vest she is wearing only just covers her panties. Good job I didn't go to bed naked last night!
She tries to get him to look away from her legs, wakes the carton at him. "Do you want some orange juice?"
He snaps out of his daze. "Orange juice. Absolutely. Man, that sounds good."
She hands it to him, and walks over to the breakfast bar to drink hers. She moves to the other side, to hide her distracting legs. It's sweet really.
He pours himself a drink and brings it over, sitting opposite her, now staring at her breasts in the low top vest. This is getting ridiculous! I shouldn't have to dress to avoid lecherous looks in my own home!
She asks him, in a firm voice, that conveys that she is getting annoyed, "Why're you here, Morgan."
He takes a drink and seems to force his eyes up with embarrassment, obviously knowing that his eyes had wandered where they shouldn't have, and feeling awkward about it. "Been missing you guys."
She feels less annoyed, hearing that. This guy only really has one friend and she's not only captured that man's attention, but also taken him away for a week. In a gentler tone, she asks, "Did Chuck tell you where we were?"
"No, but the general did," he tells her.
That takes Sarah by surprise. "You've been talking to the general?"
"Only when she's called Casey while I'm in Castle."
Sarah remembers now that Casey was having to train Morgan. Hiding a smirk, she questions, "And how is training going?"
Morgan thinks for a few seconds before answering. Sarah remembers that he's not as bright as his best friend. "Slow. I'm not sure Casey wants me to learn how to be a spy!"
Sarah reminds him. "He's not training you how to be a spy, Morgan, but a support analyst. Becoming an agent takes years of intensive training for people that are suitable. You and Chuck are not suitable."
He knows this, but still looks crestfallen. "But I wanted to be a spy!" he whines.
Sarah looks at him briefly. That verdict may seem harsh, but he has to accept the fact, just like Chuck had needed to; it doesn't make either of them lesser men.
"You knew you weren't going to be one, Morgan. Talk to Chuck, he isn't one, but still makes such a difference for Casey and I."
"I know," he admits. "I just fancy the excitement."
Sarah shakes her head. "I can tell you, most of the time is observation, assessment and reporting findings to our superiors with no "excitement" at all. If it gets "exciting," it is deadly. I don't want you killed any more than Chuck."
He pales. "I guess. I'll focus on becoming better able to support you guys."
"Thank you, Morgan." She smiles and takes another sip.
He now seems to be able to ignore Sarah's body and just chat with her. "So, how was your vacay?"
She doesn't want to steal Chuck's opportunity to give their news to his best friend, so answers vaguely, "Oh great, although it ended faster than we'd expected."
Morgan winces, "I heard about that."
Curious about what Beckman was telling the others, Sarah raises an eyebrow to encourage him to say more.
Morgan doesn't disappoint. "Oh, not from the general. She'd told Casey and he told me."
That will have been an abbreviated, grunt laden version. "And what was that?"
"You intercepted an Interpol team taking an ex-terrorist into safe haven and then had to take out his previous people to avoid both him and you getting killed." He looks at her with a degree of awe. "You must've been awesome!"
She laughs. "Well, Chuck and I worked well as a team and were "awesome" together."
"I bet," he replies.
Sarah is glad that Beckman has conveyed the information as she has. No mention of them messing up or the news they had told her. Sarah is grateful for that.
"Chuck not up yet?"
She looks at Chuck's friend and shakes her head. "We got back last night and he's still sleeping."
"No, I'm not. Just woken up." Chuck's voice behind her is another of the reminders that she's losing her touch, since being with Chuck. She should have heard him sooner, but possibly she unwittingly heard him and her mind had automatically singled his steps out as "friendly" and shut off her ever-alert surveillance mode, because there was no harm coming from him.
She then feels his arms wrap around her shoulders, Thankfully, he keeps his hands off her breasts; she doesn't think Morgan would be able to cope with seeing that.
Then she almost shakes her head, wondering where that thought came from. Although he had relaxed a lot about PDA, Chuck wouldn't do that in public; it was reserved for the time they were alone and pleasuring each other. Is it because she wants his hands there right now and on all the other spots on her body where he had laid them with so much success in making her happy? Maybe she should excuse herself and drag Chuck back to bed, now that he is awake.
He kisses the top of her head. "Hi, Gorgeous."
She places her hands on his arm. "Hi, Chuck."
She can feel Chuck's chest rumble as he says, a little louder, "Hi, Buddy."
Morgan is now grinning. "Hi, Bud. Sarah and I have been talking about your trip."
Chuck sits next to Sarah. "And what has she told you?"
Morgan shrugs. "Just that it was good, but cut short."
Sarah tells her boyfriend. "Apparently, Beckman had told Casey about Arnaldo and he told Morgan."
A knowing look appears in Chuck's eyes and he nods to her, obviously grateful that he can tell Morgan about their news. Turning to his friend, he says, "We've some other news, Morg."
Morgan looks upset. "Oh, no. You're not breaking up, are you?"
They both look shocked at that. "Why would you think that, Morgan?" she asks.
"You didn't get up together, so when he said news, I realized you must have slept apart."
"Morg, I just came in and kissed her, calling her gorgeous. Does that sound like what I'd do if we were splitting up?"
Before Morgan can answer, Sarah adds, "And I wouldn't still be dressed like this here, either."
Morgan looks pleased, though a bit called out on his earlier staring, but took it in stride. "Well, what is it?"
Chuck grins, "We're engaged."
Sarah sighs when Morgan looks at her ring finger and frowns. Maybe they should have waited until returning to the States and bought a ring here. Even Morgan notices. "No ring, Morgan. We are waiting for it to be delivered."
"Oh, I get it. And when it arrives you'll perform some Norse Ring ceremony,"
Sarah doesn't understand that and is about to question it, when she realizes Chuck is sniggering. She turns to him waiting for an explanation. He stops and explains, "Morg sometimes comments that you're a Valkyrie, one of Odin's women who chose which of those slain in battle go to Valhalla."
She knows about Norse mythology, but didn't like this association. Very few of her victims would have gone to heaven, but being the decider of life or death felt similar, somehow. However, she knows where Morgan's heart is and that these two guys always exchange banter like that, so she keeps on her sweet face.
Chuck is now looking at his friend. "You do know that the Norse only exchanged rings at their wedding."
Morgan, however, is on a roll now. "And they also exchanged swords; his one from a dead ancestor for her to keep, to pass on to their firstborn son, and her one from her father showing the responsibility for protecting her passed to the groom. You could exchange knives like that."
Sarah snorts hearing this, thinking of giving anything from her dad, let alone a weapon. Some of what Morgan mentioned is more realistic, though. She places a hand on one of Chuck's and gazes into his eyes. "I do trust you with my life, Chuck." He beams at her. She then continues, "… but not with any knives or swords!"
He looks affronted, "I could flash."
She acknowledges that. "You could, but do we really want you walking around with a sword or a knife strapped to you?"
"Well, no. I guess not. I am clumsy a lot of the time," he admits.
"Exactly. Don't want anything down there getting damaged." She kisses his cheek, while noticing both men wincing.
Morgan finally composes himself. "Congratulations to both of you." He turns to Sarah, "How did he propose, Sarah? He and I have talked about this moment for years. Was there a band playing in a fancy restaurant, bended knee; the full works?"
Chuk looks embarrassed and Sarah thinks she probably does too. Chuck starts to reply, "Well, not exactly…"
Morgan looks annoyed, "Why not?"
Sarah doesn't want Chuck getting any heat from this. "We both announced it at the same time, on a train."
Morgan glares at his best friend.
Sarah continues, "We do everything together, where we can, Morgan. Neither making decisions, or trying to influence the other. At least, we try."
"But the ring…" Morgan starts.
Sarah talks over him. "Was chosen together. The one we both liked was too large, so they're adjusting it before sending it to us." She can see the question coming. "From Switzerland."
Morgan smiles. "So, he can still go down on bended knee when he puts the ring on your finger."
Sarah grins. "He can indeed." She looks at Chuck with a twinkle in her eye. "I hope he does."
Chuck just grins back at her. He obviously plans to do so, which make her heart soar. Deciding everything together doesn't exclude enjoying the wonderful rituals of love and courtship.
Sarah decides she better change the subject, for Chuck's friend's sake. "Morgan, we heard you were going to help Casey on a mission…" She says no more, leaving it to Morgan to give them the details.
Morgan looks slightly annoyed. "Casey wouldn't let me go on the mission with him, even though he's been training me. I had to stay in Castle and monitor things from there."
Chuck immediately responds, "That makes sense, Morg. The general said it was a team of assassins. They're deadly, bud."
"I guess. But Casey went in on his own," Morgan looks exasperated.
"Where was it?" Sarah questioned.
Morgan looks flustered. "I can't remember which bank, but one of them. These Peruvians had gone in and taken lots of money and some other assets."
Chuck got in, before Sarah, "That doesn't sound like something needing either assassins or us to go in after them."
Morgan shrugged. "Apparently a known Ring supporter had information stored there, Beckman didn't want them taking that."
Chuck's obviously piecing this together. "So, you got Casey passed the bank's security and to that person's files?"
"Yeah, but I could've done that easier if I'd been there." Morgan pouts.
"I still don't understand why there were assassins involved," Sarah comments.
"Nor me," says Chuck.
"Well, they'd completely disappeared by the time Casey went in and he couldn't find them after, either." Morgan shrugs, as if that is irrelevant. "Ask Casey if you want any more about it."
He gets up. "Anyway, I'm working at the Buy More today. Just wanted to see you. Glad you're back and congrats again."
"Thanks, Morg," Chuck says as his friend heads out of the apartment.
"That was weird," Sariah observes.
"He is always weird, Sarah. You know that," Chuck replies.
"I guess." She turns to him. "Day off today. What do you want to do?"
He looks at her lustily. "You."
She puts her arms around his neck. "Good choice." She kisses him hard.
Chuck asks the question on Sarah's mind. "What do you mean, 'Sarah's not in charge'? Are you demoting her, General?"
Standing facing the screen, it certainly feels like it to Sarah. Punishment for not calling her when on the train?
The general replies, "No. You will be acting in an observational capacity on this mission. The primary agents are named Craig and Laura Turner."
Casey, standing behind his partners, mutters, "Never heard of them."
Beckman continues, "AKA George and Bitsy Witherspoon."
Sarah recognizes those names. "The CIA team who stopped the Air France hijacking in '86?"
Beckman nods. "AKA John and Suzie Smythe?"
Casey replies to this. "The ones who broke up the Uranium smuggling ring back in '91."
Beckman looks pleased that they recognize the couple. "I could go on and on listing the Turners' aliases and accomplishments."
Chuck comments, "So, they've been around the CIA block. Well, that's good for them."
The general adds, "They have also been married for the last thirty years … more or less."
Sarah can't see the relevance. "And this is relevant to us, how?"
"As you are planning to get married, you need to learn how to keep a personal relationship separate from your working one." Beckman tells them.
Chuck asks, "Haven't we be doing that, General."
The general shakes her head. "You blurred the boundaries in Europe. I insist you learn how to go about it properly. Your mission is to watch and learn from the best couple the CIA has ever produced."
Sarah feels doubtful about this.
Beckman looked at Casey. "And you, Colonel Casey..."
He states his plans. "I'll head on down to Pendleton, recertify my weapons training."
Casey starts to turn away, but stops when the general replies, "It's not your training that concerns me. I'm talking about Morgan Grimes. It was your idea to make him a part of the team. It's your job to make him field-ready."
He looks shocked. "You can't be serious, General."
She replies, "He's a diamond in the rough- very, very rough, but I'm sure you'll make him … sparkle." With that, she ends the call.
Casey wanders off muttering to himself. Sarah and Chuck grin about that, but Sarah is also a bit nervous for both Morgan and Casey.
Chuck is driving her mad with the cleaning. "Chuck, would you please sit down? You're making me nervous."
He doesn't stop; if anything, he becomes more frantic. "The Turners are going to be here any minute."
She is perplexed now, "What, you've never met a CIA agent before?" she asks, sarcastically.
He stops and looks at her. "Come on. You heard Beckman. These guys are the best of the best. They're a super spy couple."
She glares at him. "So are we, Chuck."
Chuck starts to correct her. "Well, I'm not a spy, Sarah. I–"
"You're better than a spy, Chuck" Both of them stop. Her almost shouting took both of them by surprise.
Sarah has always thought him the better person, but hasn't really thought that in the context of the world of espionage. He is, however, often better at interpreting data, certainly better with any IT and often came up with the best plans and tactics. He really is better than a super spy, in her head.
She gets up and walks to where he has frozen. She grabs him. "And you are also the best lover I have ever had, Chuck Bartowski. By a long, long way." She pulls him into a steamy kiss.
They don't get to act on their feelings, however, as there's a knock on the door.
Chuck opens the door, with his arm around Sarah, to face a couple, probably in their sixties. The man takes one look at them and turns to his female companion. "Dear God, it's us thirty years ago."
Even as he says it, Chuck is saying to Sarah, "Look, Sarah, that's us in thirty years."
Sarah smiles, but hopes not. This couple look like deadbeats.
Craig Turner is droning on about their past successes. Particularly his part in them, as he has been since arriving. Sarah is close to throttling him. "So, there you have it: Operation Mongoose. Made it out of Berlin with half the KGB on my tail. If it hadn't been for that woman in the fur coat with the AK-47..."
Laura looks as bored as Sarah feels. "Enough with the Cold War stories, darling... You're boring our hosts," Laura Turner comments.
Chuck disagrees, "No-no, no. This is, this is fascinating, uh, to me, at least."
Craig grabs his glass. "A toast, Charles, to old spy stories."
Sarah realizes that Chuck didn't get their female guest a drink. "Oh, Mrs. Turner, can I get you a drink?"
Laura shakes her head. "No, thank you. I'm fine with my water."
Craig, still full of himself, says, "The wife does not partake, so I guess I'll just have to toast for both of us." The wife? Who uses that expression when mentioning their love of thirty years?
After taking a drink, he comments, "A serviceable Manhattan, Charles."
He had taken the cherry out and now drops it back in the empty glass. Sarah is starting to get pissed with this overblown buffoon. "Is there something wrong with your cherry?"
Craig expounds on the best drink. "Actually, a true Manhattan is made with a rare and delicate marasca cherry... The only place you can find those, here in LA would be..."
Laura provides the answer, while looking bored. "The Grand Ambassador."
Craig picks it up with enthusiasm, "The Grand Ambassador."
She gives him a look. "Don't be a booze snob, darling."
Chuck still wants to hear more. "Getting back to your story, though, the woman in the fur coat, I'm assuming, was you, Mrs. Turner?"
Laura doesn't respond.
Sarah is getting bored with this story, but feels she has to engage. "That's how the two of you met?"
Laura snarls, "How we got divorced. The hussy in the fur was a Russian double agent."
That surprises Sarah. "I thought the two of you were married."
Craig replies, "Remarried- three times." He pats her on her knee. "Some women are too special to marry just once."
Sarah feigns amusement, but Chuck seems to really think it funny.
Laura looks pointedly at her watch. "My, look at the time."
Craig leaps up, "Goodness, we'd better get going."
Sarah is relieved, but acts otherwise, "Oh, so soon?"
Chuck is as enthusiastic as he has been all the time they were there. "This has been just great. Sarah and I cannot wait to work with the two of you."
Laura smiles at him. "Oh, you won't have to."
"The mission is tonight, Charles," Craig advises him. Although it was Chuck who had made the comment about being with them, it still irritated Sarah that Craig only talked to him.
Laura adds, "The target is Otto Von Vogel."
Strangely, Chuck doesn't flash. Craig tells them, almost gleefully, "Otto has created a decryption program that could render CIA security useless."
Laura notes, "Tonight's party is a smoke screen for him to meet potential buyers."
"Our job is to access Otto's master suite, where he stores the software," Craig tells them.
This sounds more interesting. Sarah perks up and says, "Okay, great. What do you want us to do?"
Laura looks at her. "Your job. Watch and learn."
As they walk out, Chuck is grinning. "I can't wait to watch these two in action." Sarah turns and gives him an unbelieving stare. He doesn't notice and adds, "It is going to be great."
She has to get him to see the reality. "Chuck, they are the worst team I have ever seen. And their relationship is a farce."
He looks shocked at her words. "But they've been together for thirty years, Sarah."
Planting her fists on her hips, she glares at him. "They've been divorced three times, Chuck! That's not together! I don't want a marriage like that, do you?"
He backtracks rapidly. "No, no, no I don't, Sarah. We're not like that."
"Then stop idolizing that shitty example of married life, Chuck." She is furious.
Before she can storm out, Chuck grabs her wrist and pulls her into his embrace. In a humble voice, he says, "I'm sorry, my love. I was getting carried away with his story." He kisses her lips and she relaxes into it. He is such a good kisser.
Much as she loves his kisses, she does have to get him to see reality. When they breathlessly part, she composes herself and pushes away from him. "Chuck, he is a good storyteller, wowing you with his exploits. Laura sees the same events quite differently and I thought what he did, completely over the top. Showmanship, rather than skillful handling of the situations."
She pauses as he thinks about that. "You could have dealt with that much better, Chuck."
He grins at that. "Even though I'm not a spy?"
She nods. "Even though you're not a spy."
Chuck and Sarah have arrived with the Turners at the venue. The older couple are walking in front.
Sarah sees a man directing people. She notices Chuck flash and grabs his hand to make sure he doesn't stumble. He comments, "So, that's Otto, I take it."
"Avoid him and his guards," Laura advises them. "If anyone asks who you are, tell them you're our nephew, Bernard."
Craig turns to them. "Actually, tell them she's our niece. No offense, Charles."
Chuck shrugs. "No, none taken."
Craig turns around and puts his arm through Laura's. She says, "Shall we work the room first?"
He replies, "After you, my love."
Chuck and Sarah follow them. She feels this is going to be boring.
Watching them separately talking to the other guests, she sees two people with no connection at all.
Chuck however, seems to think their ability to talk to anyone is impressive. "You see, consummate professionals. I mean, what do you think makes them such a great spy team?"
She shrugs. "Um, a lifetime of training."
He smirks at her. "Very funny. I'm talking about them being a couple. I honestly can't believe the CIA doesn't hire more of us."
She tells him the truth. "They're not that great."
He misinterprets her comment. "Oh, don't be jealous."
"I'm not jealous. I'm just saying they're not that great," she explains. They really aren't!
Chuck's enthusiasm disappears from his next comment. "Sarah, we, uh, we may have a slight problem." She looks forward and spots Otto walking towards them. Shit!
Before she can make any move, the Turners head Otto off, appearing, as if by magic between him and his targets..
"There you are Otto, old boy!" Craig states.
"We heard you were in town and assumed you were having a party," Laura adds.
Otto looks blankly at the two of them. "I don't recall putting you two on the guest list. … I'm just kidding. Look at your faces!"
Laura laughs and says, "Oh, Otto, you are terrible."
Sarah doesn't hear any more as the three wander off. She notes, "Textbook subversion. Not bad."
Chuck watches them leave. "You know, we could take a page out of the Turners' playbook."
Sarah looks at him. "You've got way better moves than that, Chuck."
Sarah is getting frustrated. She is not used to 'watching' and is itching to get involved.
Craig Turner is chatting with an attractive brunette by the main stairs. Sarah is not sure if that is related to the mission or if he's just chatting up a beautiful woman. Looks more like the latter.
"I thought she said she didn't drink?" Chuck's voice makes her turn towards the bar.
She sees Laura knocking back drinks. They walk towards her.
"Hi, Mrs. Turner, uh... Sarah and I were just wondering if the mission is still going according to plan."
The woman glares at him for asking that.
This isn't right. Sarah asks, "Is something wrong?"
Laura points over at her husband. "Her. It's disgusting. Man's old enough to be her father!"
She turns back to the couple with her. ""Bastard left his Mic on." She activates the speaker on her watch.
They hear Craig's voice. "You are a very, naughty girl. It's too bad my wife is here. Perhaps we can hook up later at my hotel?"
Laura snarls, "The man's nothing but a CIA-sanctioned gigolo."
Chuck looks surprised, but that is exactly what Sarah had thought when she first saw the couple by the stairs.
Laura looks incapable of anything, so Sarah takes charge. She catches Chuck's eye, then grabs his hand and drags him away from the bar. He recognizes her 'say nothing' look and keeps quiet until away from Mrs. Turner. "Where are we going?"
She replies, "Upstairs to do their job. We are the professionals, Chuck."
They get to the top of the stairs and start looking for the right room. Chuck nods to the door in question. "Master suite."
Sarah has just spotted it as well. "Yeah."
They head in there. Sarah scans the room. "Otto's safe has to be around here somewhere." Behind her, Chuck sneezes. She comments, "Gesundheit."
He replies, "Thank you." He sneezes again, "There's got to be a cat around here. My allergies are going crazy."
He then walks to the bed and picks something up. "Hey! Look at this!" He unravels a large whip and cracks it, which makes a very loud sound. "Our buddy, Otto, is into some kinky stuff, even by German standards."
Sarah is just going to make a joke about Chuck with the whip, when she spots the door from the bedroom opening. "Chuck?"
He turns to her, alerted to her nervousness. "Yeah?"
Sarah speaks slowly and clearly. "Put the whip down."
He sees where she is looking and turns, while asking "Why?"
It is clear to see why, particularly when the tiger snarls and starts to walk into the room.
Chuck goes into ramble mode. "Not a fan of the whip, are you, big fella?" The tiger jumps onto the bed. "I'll just put this away and let you get back to your cat nap."
Sarah is pulling him away from the bed, but then notices him flashing. Really? Now?
The tiger growls at them. She knows Chuck will freeze after the flash, so pulls him, shouting, "Chuck! Run!" Thankfully, he does and they rush into the closet and Sarah shuts the door.
"Sarah, the software is on the tiger's collar." Sarah can't deal with that right now. She grabs a chair and uses it to ensure the door stays shut. She then pulls out her gun while watching the tiger pacing just the other side of the door.
"No, Sarah. I am not letting you shoot a tiger. They are endangered and majestic." He pulls out his tranq gun. "I'll use this."
Then he stops and seems to be considering whether to use it or not. "What would the Turners do?"
Sarah doesn't want to talk about them. "Probably shoot the tiger, like I was going to do. If either of them stayed upright long enough. She's a drunk and he's a philanderer. As a team, they're a total mess."
Chuck nods. "True. I don't see them as role models anymore. Wouldn't want to turn into them."
She snarls, "I would rather be eaten alive by a tiger." She looks at him and says, "Speaking of, I am done waiting around for Otto to find us. Let's get the software and get out of here."
He holds his finger up. "Shh-shh-shh." She does so and they hear the sound of the tiger snoring.
Sarah quietly moves the chair, opens the door and peers out. Sure enough, the tiger is lying on the bed, asleep.
Chuck, peering over her head, comments, "Sleeping just like Big Mike after eating a baker's dozen."
As they walk into the room, Chuck says, "Hold on." With that, he fires two tranq darts into the slumbering form. The tiger starts, but then settles down.
"How do you know that was enough?" Sarah questions.
He replies, "I don't, but if the cat starts to move, I'll shoot again. You get the collar."
"Not very reassuring, Chuck!" she mutters.
"I can't get near it for my allergies," he replies, but fires two more darts. "Happier?"
She walks over and undoes the collar and they walk out, leaving the motionless cat behind them. She puts the collar in her clutch bag.
Once out of the room, he grabs and kisses her. She had been going to make a sarcastic comment about the convenience of his allergies, but the deep kiss wipes that thought away.
They separate and rush down the stairs and through the door to the outside.
Chuck is just telling Sarah, "We'll call the Turners from the road…"
Both of them stop, on the steps, facing a gun in the hands of Laura Turner, who says to her husband, "Impressive. You know, I didn't think they had it in them."
Chuck asks, "What are you guys doing?"
Laura tells him, "We're teaching you a little something about spying."
Craig takes Sarah's clutch bag off of her. ""Lesson one: trust no one... Except your partner, of course. We'll take Otto's software."
Sarah realizes exactly what's going on, but Chuck doesn't understand. "What? No, no! You're the Turners! You can't be doing this to us."
Craig smiles. "Don't feel bad, Charles. We're the best at this."
Chuck glares at them and replies, "You were supposed to teach us how to be a great spy couple, but you're nothing but low life traitors. Some role models!"
Everything he said, Sarah would have said too. She grabs his hand and squeezes it giving him a loving look.
The Turners at least look embarrassed. Craig frowns and asks, "You really think we're that bad?"
Sarah replies this time, "More so because you were once great."
Laura looks at Craig. "We were great, remember?"
Craig looks at Chuck and Sarah. "Check back with us in thirty years, kids. The CIA has a way of breaking young idealists. Especially if they're in love."
As Laura and Craig walk away, with Laura's gun still on them, Sarah grips the gun behind her back, but notices Chuck flashing. He quietly says, "No, Sarah. I've got this."
She instinctively dives to her left, away from him, while he dives to his right, whipping his gun around and shooting both. Her twice in the leg, him twice in his back. It doesn't matter where they were hit, they both slump to the ground.
Chuck grins at Sarah. "Advantages of tranq darts." Sarah has to admit the truth in that, although she would have had no difficulty hitting both between their eyes. She holds his head in her hands and kisses him, long and hard.
When they separate, she breathlessly tells him, "We are never going to be like that, Chuck."
"What do you mean, they went rogue?" asks General Beckman, when they call her from Castle.
Chuck replies, "General, Mrs. Turner pulled a gun on us. And might I add, I think she may have a bit of a problem with the, uh, sauce."
Sarah adds, "The Turners tried to steal Otto's software."
Beckman comments, "The Turners are two of the most decorated spies in the CIA. There must be some explanation for their behavior. I suggest you find it."
Sarah nods, "Once the tranquillizers wear off, we will, General."
Casey cracks his knuckles. "I'd be happy to do the interrogations, General."
She glares at him. "Colonel, you have your mission."
Chuck looks over at him. "Oh, yeah, how is that field training with Morgan going?"
Casey grunts. Then growls, "Put it this way. He makes you look like a natural-born operative."
Beckman is very clear about this. "If you can't make Morgan Grimes field-ready, I'm sending you both to boot camp in Pendleton. That is all."
Casey had told them he would let them know when the Turners awoke. The amount of tranquilizer they had in them should keep them out until morning, so Chuck and Sarah have a night to try to forget what they had experienced.
On arriving home, Chuck has immediately started washing dishes from breakfast, which is stupid as they have a dishwasher. Sarah can't believe what she is seeing. "Chuck, why are you doing dishes?"
He almost snaps at her. "I'm a Bartowski. This is what we do to deal with stress. We clean."
Sarah walks up behind him and wraps her arms around him, hugging him from behind. "I know you're upset. I am upset, too, but we are so much better than them."
He stops, turns and puts his soapy hands on her back as he holds on to her. She doesn't care at all. "I don't want to get like that, Sarah."
She leans up and softly kisses him. "We won't, Chuck. I'll leave the CIA and you'll leave the NSA long before the agencies even get a chance to make us like them. Remember?"
She feels the tenseness leave him. "You're right, Sarah. God, I love you."
She squeezes him again. "I love you, too, Chuck. Now, dry your hands. We've a bed waiting for us, where I can take care of your stress."
They hadn't set an alarm, expecting Casey's call to be what woke them. It did. Sarah answers it, feeling the mattress move as Chuck gets up and heads to the bathroom. "Hi, Casey."
"You moron's didn't lock the cell door!" growls Casey.
She is instantly angry. "We weren't the ones still there! Are you saying you didn't check?"
An angry grunt is the response she gets.
"Are you saying they escaped? Passed you?" she snaps back at him.
An even angrier grunt.
"We'll it's a good job Chuck wanted to see if he could analyze the data then, wasn't it! Or they'd have the software." She angrily continues.
Chuck hadn't had a chance to look at it yet, or even separate it from the collar. Now he probably wouldn't get a chance to, if they had to search for the Turners.
"They know where you live, Walker."
In her anger at Casey's attitude, she hadn't thought about that. Shit!
There's a knock on their front door. Shit! Shit!
She drops the phone and rushes out of the bedroom. She opens the bathroom door. "Get out of the shower, Chuck."
He peels back the curtain. And looks at her naked body. "Have we time?"
She has to stop the smile forming. "The Turners are here. Get out and hide the collar."
She goes back into the bedroom and quickly pulls on shorts and a t-shirt, grabs her gun from under her pillow and heads to the front door. On the way there, she sees movement outside. It's not the Turners, it's Otto. Shit! Worse!
She guesses that there must be a transmitter on the collar. She calls to Chuck. "I'll get the door and see who it is." They work so well as a team now. He'll understand it isn't the Turners. Hopefully he'll guess who it is.
She opens the door. Otto is standing there with the big cat sitting beside him. She can't decide which of them looks more dangerous.
Her eyes are drawn to the tiger. "Who are you and why do you have that?"
He pushes passed her, taking the tiger with him. "Sorry to drop in on you like this. Sasha always feels at home wherever she goes. You don't mind if she looks around?"
"Yes I fucking do mind! Get the hell out of our place, whoever you are!" she snaps.
He turns to her. "You know exactly who I am. The question is, who are you?"
She thinks fast and changes her expression to show she recognizes him. "You're the guy with the mansion up in the hills! God, I'm sorry. My boyfriend thinks that it's really funny to crash rich people's parties."
He ignores her ramble and nods to the two men with him to take the cat further into the apartment. "Where are the two CIA agents you're hiding?"
She frowns, not just for the act, but also because she wants to know the same thing. "I'm sorry, who?"
He replies, "I believe you know them as Mr. and Mrs. Turner."
She changes her expression again, to incredulity and annoyance. "Why the hell would CIA agents be in our apartment?"
"Because this isn't a real apartment. This is a CIA safe house. And you two are not a real couple. You are spies."
She hears a sneeze. Chuck and the tiger must have met again. As long as he sneezes, he's okay.
"We are not spies and we definitely are a real couple! You better get the hell out of here, before I call the police!"
The other men come out, leading Chuck in front of them, still sneezing. One shakes his head at Otto.
Otto turns to them and says to one of them. "Take Sasha outside. I need to talk to these two and can't think with all his sneezing."
Once the cat has gone, Chuck stops sneezing and sits down on their couch, the one in which he always hid his tranq gun, under the right cushion. "Thank you," he says.
Otto stares at them for a second or two. "Now tell me where the Turners are or Sasha will do more than make you sneeze, she's quite hungry."
Chuck pales. That's not an act, Sarah thinks, almost smiling. "The Turners?"
"Your partner has already tried that. Tell me," Otto snaps.
"I can only tell you we don't know who you are talking about," Chuck replies. Sarah is so proud of him.
Otto glares. "So, maybe Sasha won't be hungry anymore." He turns to the other man and nods.
As the man turns towards the door, Chuck whips out his tranq gun and shoots Otto, just as she expected him to. At the same time, Sarah pulls her gun from the back of her shorts and shoots the other man.
Chuck grins at her. "I prefer the other treasures in there, but glad you also had you gun."
She grins back, bends down and kisses him. "Later, Lover."
She starts to get up again, but then sees the Turners walking through the front door, with guns pointed at the two of them. She drily comments, "We expected you earlier."
Chuck turns and sees them. "What are you doing here?"
Craig replies, "We came to show you we're not traitors, Charles."
Chuck snorts. "By arriving and pointing guns at us?"
Laura replies to this. "We came to save you from Otto."
Sarah states, "We didn't need you, did we?"
Craig smiles and lowers his gun and taps on Laura's arm to encourage her to do the same.
While Laura looks at her husband, Sarah raises her gun and looks at both of them. "We have to bring you in. You know I can't let you go."
Laura still has her gun pointing at Sarah. "That's funny. I would have said the same thing thirty years ago."
Craig comments, "After what we did? You would have shot us dead where we stand."
Chuck states, "Which would be perfectly justifiable…". He watches the two looking at each other, as does Sarah. "… And yet unnecessary. He doesn't turn to her, but says, "Wouldn't you agree, Sarah? They were going to save us."
Sarah looks at him questioningly. She trusts his judgement, but this goes against everything she has ever stood for.
Craig puts his hand over around Laura's gun and takes it off of her. "Sorry, darling. It's over. We didn't even need to come here."
Laura turns to her husband, puts her arms around his neck and pulls him down into a kiss.
Sarah watches them, silently. They really do love each other.
She turns and pulls Chuck down into a kiss too.
"What is this? A love fest?" Trust Casey to spoil the moment.
All four look at him. "Gonna need that tranq gun again, Bartowski. There's a cat loose in your sister's place. Making a bit of a mess."
"Good work, Team. Our cryptographers are analyzing Otto's software as we speak. Thanks to you, our nation's communications network remains secure." General Beckman looks almost happy for once.
Sarah and Chuck both reply, "Thank you, General."
Beckman frowns. "And now, on to the subject of the Turners and their actions."
Chuck stands and walks forward. "Actually, General, if I might be able to say something on behalf of the Turners…"
Sarah stands and pulls him back. "No, Chuck. It's okay. I got it. The Turners' double-cross was actually a triple-cross. By stealing the software, they were planning to lure Otto into a trap. Chuck taking the collar, and its transmitter, to our apartment achieved the same thing. The Turners guessed this and were coming to save us."
Beckman looks uncertain for a few seconds, then nods. "I would expect nothing less from the Turners. I just hope you and Mr. Bartowski were able to learn something from these two exemplary operatives."
Sarah looks at Chuck with a raised brow. He nods, "As a matter of fact, General, yes, working with the Turners was... quite illuminating."
Beckman looks at the Turners. "You must be ready to move on to your next assignment."
Craig shakes his head. "No, General, we're not. No more assignments."
Laura looks fondly at her husband and adds, "What my husband means to say is, we're retiring."
Beckman looks surprised. "So, the US intelligence community loses their best team."
Both Turners shake their heads and look over at Sarah and Chuck.
Chuck puts his arm around Sarah. "Thank you."
Laura stands and takes her husband's hand. She looks over at the younger couple. "Watch each other's backs, you two."
Craig smiles and adds, "And I wish you many happy marriages."
"Just the one for us," Sarah says, looking lovingly up at Chuck. He looks just the same back at her and nods.
I could look into his gorgeous eyes like this forever.
Beckman coughs, then obviously decides not to say any more and disconnects the call.
When they get back to the apartment complex, they go and look at Ellie and Devon's apartment. It is wrecked.
Casey walks in behind them. "Grimes was brave today. Stupid, but brave."
"We didn't get a chance to ask what happened, Casey," Sarah comments. Chuck is too speechless to say anything.
"He lured the Bengal tiger in here, ran upstairs, apparently with it following right behind him, and jumped out of a window. I caught him."
Chuck looks at his grumpy partner while Casey spoke. A smile forms on Chuck's face. Sarah knows he is going to tease his partner. "Bonding, Casey?"
Casey just grunts.
Sarah can sense Chuck is also proud of his little friend. She grasps his hand and says to Casey, "So, field training going well, then?"
"Courage doesn't make a field operative, Walker. You know that."
"But it's a very important characteristic," she replies and feels Chuck tighten his grip on her hand, grateful for that message.
An affirmative grunt. "Don't worry about this place, Bartowski. We have someone coming to clean up this afternoon."
"They were still in love after thirty years, Sarah."
Sarah is now used to his need to sometimes discuss other things after making love. She could just bask in the feelings, but not Mr. Talkative. "Mmhmm."
"But they kept divorcing." He sounds both upset and worried.
Sarah rolls over, leans on her elbow and looks into his eyes. "You're worried we will get like that?"
"Am I being stupid?" He is more than just questioning; he is obviously frightened.
She sighs. "It was a wake-up call, more for you than me, I think. I have seen a lot of agents burn out and, recently, some go rogue. It isn't always for money, some of them will have gotten disillusioned to the point they shift allegiances."
"Fulcrum and The Ring," he states.
Sarah acknowledges that. "Yes, but I suspect it's not just them."
He still looks worried. "So why not us?"
"I'd gotten tired and cynical about the life before I came here, Chuck. I was ready to leave. I didn't want to burn out. Then I came here and met you. You changed my whole perspective on this life; hell, on life itself!"
A year ago, she wouldn't have been able to talk about this; another indication how much he had changed her.
"And you, Chuck Bartowski, are so different from anyone else in this business. I don't think you could be a traitor even if your life depended on it." She dips her head and gives him a tender kiss.
When she lifts her head again, he still has his eyes closed and a soft smile on his lips.
"You are my hero, Chuck. You have virtually removed the assassin in me and made my life so happy."
He huffs. "Only after I nearly ruined everything!"
She shakes her head. "We weren't talking to each other, both making wrong assumptions and letting our fears drive our actions with each other. It was both of us, Chuck. We are so much better together than we ever were apart."
He smiles. "We are, aren't we!"
She smiles back. "And, we will both leave this life as soon as we can. Mr. and Mrs. Bartowski, free of all of this."
He looks as dreamy as she feels thinking about that.
He rolls them over so that she lying on her back, giggling. "I love you so much, Sarah. I can't wait for that." He kisses her until they can't breathe.
Gasping, she comments, "I think you're going to have to, Chuck." Then she decides to tease him. "For one thing, we're not even married yet and I still have no ring to prove it's going to happen!"
"Tomorrow, I'm calling the jewelers and we start planning that wedding, Sarah! Our most important mission!" She loves the determination in his eyes.
She places her palm on his cheek, looking into his eyes. "And we can involve your family in this mission, Chuck."
His face brightens. "You're right! We'll have to wait for Ellie and Devon to return and we need to track down Dad again. What about your mom and dad?"
She would love to have her mom there, but that wouldn't be safe; that saddens her, so she focusses her answer on her dad, being sad about that too, but at least she has always known he would never be there for her. "Dad couldn't be with us; he's still a wanted criminal, Chuck."
Chuck realizes he shouldn't have mentioned parents, so he leans down and gives her another lingering kiss that wipes such thoughts away. This becomes more passionate and they forget about everyone else again.
Later, with Chuck asleep beside her, Sarah starts thinking about her mom again. If she could remove the threat, her mom and sister could come to the wedding. She also really needs to talk to Chuck about them, it's a secret that she wants to share with him; she doesn't want to hide this from the man she both loves and trusts completely.
As she starts to drift off herself, she resolves to discuss this with her brilliant boyfriend the next day. He would help; she just has to talk to him, plan with him. She goes to sleep with a smile on her face.
A/N: So, that was an alternative take on S3E14. Hope you liked it.
I struggled with this one. The episode was one of the better ones, so harder to rework as a result. I am going to take a break for two to three weeks, before I start work on the next chapter. If you're enjoying this story, I haven't finished it, just be patient.
Please let me know your thoughts of this chapter in a review.