A/N: I kinda like revisiting this one. It's fun to have them both in the same boat, trying to be better than the other. I'm going to through some childhood backstory in there for both of them, and the new characters I've written. I've just got to figure out what I want it to be! Thank you for coming back to this story with me. It's only new chapters from here on out!

-Charahfan44


Burbank, California - 2015

Dinner with the Reynolds family was coming up fast, and the Carmichael's were still going over the covers they had been given. The younger agents seemed to have everything down pat.

"So, both of got into the private school for different reasons." Crawford was going everything in his head. "I had wicked test scores, and Hall runs a crazy fast mile."

"Do kids even get into schools for track?" Harper rolled her eyes. "Why couldn't I do soccer or something?"

"I'm sure you joining another team won't be out of the question." Chuck assured her. "They look for the obvious candidates from what we can tell. They'll be looking for an athletic agent."

"Make sure you keep your test scores as accurate as possible." Sarah looked to Ethan. "They'll be looking at you just as much as her."

"Tests are easy." He smirked. "That's what got me into The Academy in the first place." He didn't hold back his boastful comments. After making a fool of himself in front of the superior agents in Director Graham's office, he needed to show off a bit.

"It's crazy that there's any room in that tiny head of yours for so much information." Harper mumbled.

"I don't have a tiny head." He frowned.

"You totally do. It's just hidden by all that hair." Harper giggled.

"Knock it off." Sarah warned. "If Agent Carmichael and I have to get along, so do the two of you."

"Sorry." Harper looked down. "Let's focus on getting this mission done fast. I'd rather not be stuck here forever."

"As travel agents, we wouldn't be staying in the same place very long anyway." Chuck agreed. "They really chose the perfect cover for us." He looked at his new partner.

"We'll see who gets the longer client list." Sarah winked, before checking her watch. "We should be leaving. As for the mission, we need to sweep their house for any sort of bug or equipment tying them to The Circle." Sarah stated. "We need to be able to justify why we're looking."

"Bathroom breaks will be our friend." Chuck added.

"We can make friends with the kids, ask to see their rooms?" Harper suggested.

"Good idea." The blonde agent replied. Harper took pride in this, sitting up slightly. She liked getting praise from Agent Walker. It satisfied her need to be the best.

"I'm sure they have a daughter. I could always form a different kind of connection." Ethan suggested. "My seduction scores were pretty good."

"I think for now we should stick with Agent Hall's idea." Chuck responded. "Anything too complicated could trip us up in ways that we wouldn't want."

"Alright, we should head over." Sarah stood up, the rest of the agents following suit. They made their way to the Reynolds' in a timely manner, as a regular family would. They were a few minutes late, trying not to seem too eager.

"Well hello there." Cindy opened the door, her husband and two children with her. "This is Steve, my husband."

"Howdy." He waved slightly.

"And these are my children, Rachel and Steve Junior." She pointed to her kids.

"What's up." Ethan gave a nod at the kids. He was trying to play the part of the cool kid.

"Pleasure to meet you." Harper said, giving Ethan a look.

"Please, come on in." Cindy gestured inside. The Carmichael's entered with gratitude, looking around carefully.

"What a lovely place you have here." Sarah smiled. "I love the artwork."

"Oh yes, we get those specially painted for us in Somalia." Steven said. Chuck and Sarah exchanged looks. Somalia was a pretty obscure country to be receiving artwork from. Maybe a code?

"We have a lovely dinner set out. Let's eat, shall we?" The eight of them made their way into the dining room. The walls were a warm brown sugar tone, and the table was spectacular. Specific place settings were underneath beautiful china. The chandelier above the table made everything seem extraordinarily perfect.

"What do you guys do for a living?" Chuck asked, noticing the intricacy of their home.

"I have a little bakery in town, and Steven here works for the government." Cindy said, sitting at the head of the table. "He designs planes and things." Chuck and Sarah shared another look.

"That sounds exciting." Sarah said.

"It can be boring." Steven replied. "Long hours and too much math." He laughed.

"What about you two?" Cindy asked.

"We're travel agents." Chuck smiled. "We moved out here mostly for the children."

"Oh really?"

"Both of us were accepted into St. John's Academy." Harper smiled.

"That's where Rachel and Steve Jr. are attending, as well." Cindy clapped. "They would love to show you around on Monday!"

"Sure would." Steve Jr. looked to Harper. "Maybe we'll have the same classes."

"Ethan is in the pre-college classes." Sarah bragged. "Our boy has such a big brain."

"Stevie here is too." Steve Sr. matched her arrogant nature. "He has the highest test scores in the country."

"The country, huh?" Chuck smiled. "That's an incredible accomplishment."

"It's really nothing." Steve Jr. turned red. "Tests are a cinch. Organic Chemistry and Quantum Physics give me a bit of a headache though." He laughed, causing his family to laugh in tandem. The Carmichael's followed suit.

"What about you, young lady?" Steve looked to Harper. "I bet brains run in the family."

"You could say I'm the black sheep in the family." She shrugged. "I run track."

"This keeps getting funnier and funnier!" Cindy exclaimed. "Rachel holds most of the records at St. John's."

"You don't say." Harper looked to the girl. "Well, I'll be looking to break those." Sarah gave her fake daughter a soft kick under the table, followed by a stern look.

"It's been a while since I've had decent competition." Rachel responded with a smug expression. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Do you partake in any other sports?" Steve Sr. asked.

"Just a few." Harper tried staying modest after her slip up. "The big three of course, soccer, basketball, and track. I've dabbled in swimming and tennis. And at our last school I was in the top five ranking for archery."

"That's quite a list." Cindy nodded. The table grew silent for a few moments, the sounds of metal clanking against glass becoming prominent. Chuck looked at the other family between bites, trying to catch any signals.

"Do you guys have a bathroom?" Chuck asked. If they were agents of The Circle, they were trained exceptionally.

"Yes, we do. Down the hall to the right." Steve answered.

"Thanks." He nodded, giving Sarah a slight look before getting up from the table. Her eyes followed him out of the room, knowing she needed to keep the Reynolds' sitting at the table.

"So, tell us some more about your life here." She smiled.


Burbank, California - 2015

Dinner was as uneventful as any of the Carmicahel's could've hoped. They didn't want to get into any trouble right off the bat. The senior agents weren't sure how they were going to get any sleep while in the same bed, but both knew it was needed. They each changed in the master bathroom separately, Sarah taking a longer time on purpose. Before settling down for the night, they updated Director Graham. Each device in the house was tapped into the CIA's mainframe, making communication easy. Chuck clicked the television on in the master bedroom, Graham's face popping up onto the screen.

"Carmichael. Good." Graham nodded. "How'd the sweep go?"

"He didn't find anything." Sarah said flatly.

"I may have detected a faint signal coming from their attic, but I didn't have time to check it out." He shot back at the blonde. "It's not like anyone else did a solid sweep."

"Sure, we all should've, and then the Reynolds' definitely would've made us." Sarah argued.

"That's why we came up with a plan before we went over there. Yet, I'm the only one who followed through with it." Chuck retorted.

"I see you two haven't worked out your differences yet." Graham glared, interrupting the banter. "I hope you didn't give your neighbors any reason to suspect you aren't actually a couple."

"We were professional at dinner, sir." Chuck stated.

"I've set up a craft day with Mrs. Reynolds, and I'll check when I'm there." Sarah said proudly, changing the subject. "I'll do my own sweep of the house when I go over."

"Good thinking, walker." Graham replied. "Make sure you're getting close to the other families in the neighborhood as well."

"I'm sure she will." Chuck said slyly.

"What does that mean?" Sarah asked.

"Stick to the mission, you two. I'll check in a few days from now and see where you're at." Graham clicked the signal off, and disappeared.

"What was that?" Sarah asked.

"You basically told him I failed the mission." Chuck retorted.

"No, I didn't. I told him you didn't find anything, which you didn't."

"It's the way you said it."

"Would you stop being such a girl?"

"Guys!" Ethan's voice interrupted their arguing. "Would you quit it? The whole neighborhood can hear you."

"Sorry." They said in unison.

"Anyway, I have something you should check out." He led them into his room, slightly pulling back his blinds. "Look." He shoved a pair of binoculars in Chuck's face, pointing him in the direction of the neighbors to the east. The father was putting a heavy bag into the shed, while his son buried something on the side.

"What's in the bag?" Chuck asked.

"I have no idea. I was scoping out the locals, and I saw that. I came and got you guys right when I saw them."

"Let me look." Sarah said, taking the binoculars from Chuck. "Whatever it is, it's heavy."

"Could be weapons." Chuck shrugged.

"Before we jump to any conclusions, let's look them up." Sarah rolled her eyes.

"I already did." Ethan sat at his computer, pulling up the CIA mainframe. "They're the Moore's. They've lived there for ten years, and none of them have any criminal records."

"None?" Sarah asked.

"That's what he said." Chuck answered, causing her to shoot him a look.

"I think their records are too clean." Ethan frowned. "Not even a driving ticket."

"Looks like we have our next dinner." Sarah sighed.

"David, the son, goes to the school Agent Hall and I are enrolled in." Ethan said. "I'll get him to trust me, and I'm sure I'll be over there in no time."

"Good thinking." Chuck clapped him on the back. "Start on it tomorrow."

"I will."

"Lights out in twenty." Sarah started towards the door.

"Yes ma'am." Ethan nodded.

"Goodnight." Chuck said, following behind Sarah. They made their way to Harper's room, noticing the lights already out. They decided not to bother her, as she was probably already asleep.

"I could've swept the attic." Sarah admitted, getting into bed beside her partner. "Just saying."

"I would've done the same thing you did." Chuck reassured her. "We can't give ourselves away, this mission is too valuable."

"So don't get caught." She scoffed, returning to her sassy nature.

"Says you." He retorted, following suit. "I think we both know who screwed up in Budapest."

"Are you bringing that up again?"

"I'll bring it up for the rest of our lives if that's what gets under your skin." He sassed. "We're supposed to have each other's backs here." They slid under the covers at the same time, angrily fluffing the pillows and sheets.

"I wouldn't have gotten caught if you hadn't showed up." After a few moments of silence, Sarah was the first to speak.

"What are you talking about? It was my mission!" He yelled. "They sent you without warning, and you ruined everything!"

"I got it done!"

"That's what you call getting it done?"

"I can't stand you." She turned on her side, facing away from Chuck.

"Ditto." He did the same, turning out the light. He knew this was going to be the most exhausting mission he had ever been on, and not because of the tracking. His partner was also his nemesis within the agency, and they had a long way to go.


Budapest, Hungary - 2007

Charles Carmichael was always on point. In the five years he had been graduated from The Academy, he had become the top agent in the CIA. Director Graham always sent him on the toughest and most dangerous missions around the world. His target this time was Andor Batori, the leader of a smuggling ring. He had been following the perpetrator for weeks, tracking him down to a hotel in the capital of Hungary.

"Carmichael, do you copy?" He heard Director Graham's voice in his ear.

"What is it?" He snapped, irritated that Graham decided to reach him now. He was laying flat on his stomach, forty stories above the ground, looking into Batori's window through the scope of his sniper rifle.

"We have a slight hiccup." Graham replied.

"Why? I've got Batori in my line of sight right now, it won't take me more than an hour to apprehend him."

"It seems as though the agency sent in another assassin." Graham stated. "They thought you would've had it done by now, so they sent you some back up."

"Back up? When have I ever needed back up?" Chuck asked. "We have to be careful with this capture, I can't just go in there guns blazing." He tried defending himself.

"The CIA expected Batori to be apprehended a few hours ago. They were getting impatient, and this agent's handler decided it was time for her to take the training wheels off. She's working alone now."

"And she was sent here, to ruin my mission?" He scoffed. "I'll have Batori in CIA custody before she can even figure out his location."

"That's the thing, she already has." Graham replied. Chuck used his binoculars to look closer into the room. A strikingly beautiful blonde was using her powers of seduction to get Batori under her spell.

"Oh come on." Chuck groaned. He clicked his watch, ending the conversation. Being extremely careful, he inched his way back down the roof, landing on the balcony of his suite. He made sure to pack a few extra weapons, and made his way to the smuggler's hotel. He made quick work of a bellhop, exchanging his clothes, and grabbing a tray of food. Within a few minutes, he was knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Batori called, obviously infatuated.

"Complimentary room service." Chuck said back.

"Ah, some champagne." Batori opened the door with a smile. "Perfect."

"We made sure to bring you the best." Chuck nodded, casing the room with his eyes.

"Actually, I think we're fine." The blonde appeared before him, nothing on but a silk robe. "Thanks, though." She smirked, knowing exactly who he was.

"My manager wanted to make sure I delivered it." Chuck replied.

"Tell him it wasn't needed."

"I'm afraid I'd be fired."

"So sad." She walked towards Batori. "Let's get back to our little rendezvous."

"Yes, you heard the lady, out." He flicked his hand in annoyance, his hungry eyes focusing on the blonde once more.

"I thought I was going to do this the easy way." Chuck pulled out a tranquilizer gun, shooting Batori twice in the neck.

"Are you kidding me? I had him!" The blonde yelled.

"Obviously." Chuck started towards Batori's unconcious body.

"I don't think so." The agent cocked her gun, standing over the burly Hungarian. "He's mine."

"You're new here, so let me straighten this out for you, sweetheart. I'm the top agent in the CIA, and Director Graham sent me here himself. I was here first, and I'm not leaving without Batori."

"Oh I'm sorry muffin, did I take your toy?" She asked playfully.

"This isn't a joke." He demanded. "This guy is a major-"

"Drug smuggler, arms dealer, blah blah blah." She rolled her eyes. "I don't really like your condescending attitude. You weren't getting it done fast enough, so they sent some fresh eyes."

"You're forgetting something."

"What's that?"

"The agency didn't send you, your handler did. Up until today, you were still being babysat. What makes you think you can take on Andor Batori?" Chuck raised an eyebrow in confidence.

"I got to him first, didn't I?" She folded her arms.

"Fine, if you're so capable, you take care of it." Chuck put his gun behind his back, turning to leave the room. He knew that a man of Batori's size would need multiple doses of tranquilizer to stay down. This new agent wouldn't be able to carry him, let alone realize he'd be waking up soon.

"That's it?"

"You said you could handle it." Chuck smirked.

"Fine." She glared at him. "I'll figure it out."

"Can I stay and watch? I think I'll stay and watch." Chuck let out a laugh.

"You think you're so smart." She sent him a look that made him shiver.

"I am the best agent in the CIA." Chuck watched as his fellow agent struggled to move the unconscious body. The guy was nearly three-hundred pounds, and there was no way a woman of her size would be able to move him on her own. After a half hour of standing in the doorway watching her struggle, he decided to help her out. "Okay, I can't watch this anymore." He laughed, making his way over to help her.

"No way." She looked at him. "I can do this on my own."

"He hasn't moved an inch in a half hour, aren't you tired?"

"Men don't tire me out very easily." She replied with confidence. Her response caused Chuck to pause.

"I'll take his arms, you grab his legs." He ignored her ego.

"I said I got it."

"You've got to be kidding me." Chuck rolled his eyes. "I've been watching you struggle for almost an hour now."

"I have a plan." She stopped trying to lift Batori.

"Oh, you do?"

"Why are you so smug?" She asked. "It's really starting to piss me off."

"You started pissing me off the second you stole my mission." Chuck replied. "And quite frankly, I'm done watching you fail. Pay attention and see how a real spy gets it done." He moved towards Batori, only to meet a fist to the face.

"You'll have to get through me." Sarah smirked.

"That should be easy." Chuck spit the blood out of his mouth, retaliating with a kick to Sarah's stomach. She landed on the bed, bouncing up as quickly as she had gone down. Her roundhouse landed Chuck square in the jaw. They fought in the middle of the room, throwing punches and trying their hardest to keep the other one down.

"Wait, stop!" Chuck stopped her incoming punch. "Where did Batori go?"

"What?" She looked around, noticing the absence of the target. "You tranqued him twice, how is he gone?"

"Two isn't enough to keep a three-hundred pound Hungarian down." Chuck said matter-of-factly.

"You knew he was going to get up?" Sarah asked.

"You didn't?" He rolled his eyes. "That's what happens when they send a baby agent. Now we're screwed."

"Graham will know the truth."

"Yeah, that you let him get away."

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I'm going to be better than you ever were. Just wait and see, I'll be taking your missions in no time." She gave Chuck one last glare before turning around to leave. "Keep your ears open, Sarah Walker will be a name you can't escape." With that, she was gone. Chuck had just met his match, and he was interested.