A/N – As usual, I will start with my profound thanks for the continued support you have shown this story. I greatly appreciate it, and hope that as the story starts to become more complex, you continue to find enjoyment in following it. This was an incredibly fun chapter to write, and I hope you find the humor I tried to inject into it enjoyable. After Chapter 12, the tension and action will ramp up as the pieces start to come together and the team begins to understand what they are up against.

I also want to remind everyone that this chapter does have a portion that requires a T-Rating for adult situations, but again, nothing explicit or graphic.

Finally, I don't own Chuck, and I don't get any money for this, so my wife is questioning my sanity as I sit at a computer writing a story about some TV show characters that have been off the air for over 10 years…..but I gotta be me….!

Chapter 12 – A Crash Course in Survival:

Sunday 8, January 2012 – 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time

Panama City, Florida - NSA Training Facility at Eglin Air Force Base

Their training days were broken into 3 parts, morning, mid-day, and evening, with different disciplines taught in each part. The rotation of subjects kept the day moving and helped keep the star pupil focused. Yesterday's session started on the gun range with weapons training in the morning, evasion and escape at the mid-day session, and spy-craft in the evening session. The team worked 7 days a week, but Friday's evening session could be canceled if Casey felt Chuck had progressed enough. Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings were kept free.

Casey was highly impressed with the competence of both Sarah and Carina in all the disciplines, but having read their files, he was hardly surprised. He was, however, really surprised by Bartowski, who seemed to pick up all the academic aspects like a sponge and had the athleticism to manage the physical components equally well. However, the biggest shock was on the gun range, where Bartowski was freakishly good for someone who professed to not like guns and had never fired one before. His reflexes and hand-eye coordination were exceptional. After getting more comfortable with the weight and kickback of the different weapons, he was good enough to pass qualification tests at Paris Island or the Farm. Bartowski was growing on Casey, not just because he was proving to be an excellent student but also because he was a genuinely good guy. He could see how much Bartowski cared for the people around him and his team. Particularly Walker. Those two have been carrying on for some time under the guise of their cover, but Casey was also a trained spy, and with all the hours they were spending together as a team, he could not miss the furtive glances and accidental touches that lingered just a little longer than they should have. But he didn't mind. Bartowski and Walker worked well together and often seemed to finish each other's sentences. That connection made them good partners, and if there was something more, then good for them, as long as he was not a party to any of the lady feelings that usually came with the romantic entanglements.

As it was Sunday, and the team had the morning off, Carina and Sarah had arranged to go to the fitness center for a steam and a massage. With the pampering done, they stopped to get a smoothie from the juice bar and went to look for Chuck, who had planned to come later in the morning for a swim.

Chuck had found his way to the base fitness center and was excited about having the morning free. He was also trying to forget that he and Sarah were in separate quarters. He was unsure how they would survive a month of this, but perhaps, taking a page out of Sarah's playbook and hyper-focusing on his training and exercising in his spare time would help. If that didn't work, there was an unlimited amount of cold water just off the beach to jump into.

An All-American swimmer at Stanford, he was looking forward to getting into Eglin's Olympic-sized pool and swimming, something he had been missing. He changed into his speedo, made his way to the pool, and did a few warmup laps. Once warmed up, Chuck would do 100 meters of freestyle at full speed and 100 meters of butterfly, with a half-speed 100 meters breaststroke between each sprint. He was not nearly as strong as he was in college, but the speed and ease with which he moved through the water were still impressive.

Sarah and Carina spotted Chuck as they entered the pool area and took two seats in the stands closest to the pool to watch. Finishing a half-speed leg with a smooth flip turn, they saw him do a series of powerful porpoise kicks below the surface before his torso exploded out of the water in a perfect butterfly stroke.

Carina's eyes were wide as saucers as she reached for Sarah's arm while emitting a quiet "Wow…."

"Sarah…..I want one. I want one now…please tell me he has a long-lost twin brother or something," stammered Carina, who had never seen Chuck in a speedo.

Sarah herself felt a little warm as she smiled at Carina. "He's mine, you hear me? All mine. And no, I'm sorry, but he doesn't have a bother, long lost or otherwise."

They watched Chuck swim a few more laps, alternating strokes and speed until he slowed and did two lengths of the pool slowly to cool down. Chuck climbed out of the pool and dried off. He was heading to the changing rooms when Sarah and Carina appeared before him, with grins on their faces.

"Hey girls, how was the steam and massage," Chuck asked happily.

"It was really great, Chuck," responded Carina, "Though now I think both blondie and I need to take a dunk or two in the cold plunge pool," she added with a hearty laugh.

Sarah smiled sweetly and apologized for her friend's inappropriate remarks on account of the fact she had been sexually deprived for the last few weeks, while Carina pushed back, calling Sarah a horny school girl and that she should speak for herself.

Chuck laughed as he shook his head at the two women when he noticed the time on the wall clock. "Ladies, we better get going….Casey will grunt us to death if we are late." The girls were both disappointed that Chuck and his speedo were on the way to the changing room. They already knew how to really drive a car and would have preferred a few more minutes of Chuck in a speedo, but they were both due a refresher course soon. And, what better way to relieve sexual tension than to drive at the edge of control for a few hours.

The remaining weeks flew by as the team fell into a rhythm, with Chuck enjoying his Sunday morning swim and the girls enjoying their Sunday morning steam, massage, and "Chuck in a speedo" sessions. Casey was uncharacteristically happy, as he seemed to like being on a base, eating mess hall food, discharging firearms, and going for 5-mile runs while smoking one of his cigars. He was also happy with how Chuck's training was progressing.

On the other hand, Chuck and Sarah struggled with the lack of intimacy their schedule and housing arrangement provided. Perhaps it would be worth the risk to fess up and tell Casey, but before doing so, they needed to be sure they had his respect, so each day was a struggle. This was never more true than when Chuck had to spar with Sarah, and all he could think about was tearing her clothes off and having a go right on the mat. It was equally challenging for Sarah when she had to watch Chuck spar with Carina, their physical contact provoking the green monster lurking deep inside her.

= ! =

Thursday 12 January 2012 – 20:00 Eastern Standard Time

Panama City, Florida - NSA Training Facility at Eglin Air Force Base

"Hey, Chuck…how's sunny Florida?" Morgan and Chuck had had regular calls to stay connected while Chuck took his "vacation." Morgan knew Chuck was going to Panama City, Florida, and Sarah would join him. A good thing after the unfortunate Christmas party fiasco, but it sounded to Morgan like things with Chuck and Sarah were all good, so he was happy for his friend.

"All good, Morgs. It's way off-season, so really quiet here which is what I really need, and really good for Sarah and me…..anything I need to know?

The business was running smoothly, though some of the new contracts they were developing suddenly stopped progressing, simultaneously…like someone flipped a switch. Morgan went into the details with Chuck, who wrote the key points down and planned to speak to Beckman. It was not that those agencies owned anything to him or Orion; it's just that this sudden change in the wind came with a strange feeling that was very uncomfortable.

"That is odd…Let me speak with my contacts at the NSA and the FBI to see if they have heard anything. Anything else?" asked Chuck.

"Yeah…Jill Roberts just up and quit. No notice, nothing….She did not suggest she was going to a competitor. She just walked into my office, told me that she had some personal matters to take care of, dropped all her Orion goodies on my desk, and walked out the door."

"Oh…that was unexpected," Chuck lied to his partner, "but since she was with us for such a short time and had not really picked up new work, her departure does not really cause a big issue. Hey….what about reaching out to Anna Wu from Oracle? When we spoke with her initially, we were too small to get her attention, but she is a rock star and can probably run the whole place better than the two of us combined. Given our growth curve, she might have a different opinion now….she does not solve the Jill Roberts gap, but if we can get her, she might be able to bring some talent with her," said Chuck.

They continued the conversation for a few more minutes, then closed the call with a friendly goodbye.

Meanwhile, Jill Roberts was in a small private office rented by a series of shell companies located all over the planet, trying to figure out where Chuck Bartowski went for Christmas. His parents were dead, so perhaps it was to visit the girlfriend's family. Roberts did not take too long to identify Emma Nowak, who owned a daycare center in Austin…..leverage.

= ! =

Monday 30, January 2012 – 15:30 Eastern Standard Time

Panama City, Florida - NSA Training Facility at Eglin Air Force Base

"Beckman Secure"

"Casey Secure….we are wrapping up the training and should be back in Santa Monica on Wednesday, 3 February."

"So…how did our boy do, Major?" asked Beckman.

"Ma'am, the kid is a natural. He learns fast, retains everything, and has the physical ability to handle himself. Whether it's shooting, he is freakishly good with a gun, by the way, or hand to hand. Had he gone to Paris Island, Quantico, or the Farm, he would have been at the top of his class in all three," replied Casey.

"High praise indeed, Major. And Agents Walker and Miller?"

"Ma'am, both are outstanding. They are evenly matched across all disciplines except hand to hand, where Walker is an absolute assassin….and spy-craft, where Walker has had more in-depth training than Miller. But they are both outstanding, and I would comfortably go into any bad neighborhood with either, including garden spots like Mosul, Kandahar, or Mogadishu. More importantly, the three seem to really be in synch. I'd love a few more weeks with Bartowski here, but he's good to go. The only question is whether he has the stones to pull the trigger or really fight hand to hand if needed. I'd like to recommend a quarterly refresher course here at the base, say 3 to 5 days," Casey offered.

"Very good Major. Let's make that happen. What about Bartowski's relocation to Santa Monica?'

"On track and should be ready for our arrival on the 3rd," confirmed Casey.

The team had been unable to find rental apartments suitable for their security and operational needs, but they found a building for sale that fit the bill. Beckman had agreed to purchase the building through one of the NSA's numerous shell companies and immediately dispatched a team to modify the spaces to be fit for purpose. The apartments in the building would be rented to Bartowski and his cover girlfriend Walker, one for Bartowsi's partner Morgan Grimes, one for Miller, and one for Casey. The retail space on the ground floor would be leased to a franchise, perhaps a yogurt shop and the remaining apartments would be publicly listed for rent. The NSA also dispatched a "cleaner team" in the form of a moving company to pack up all of Bartowski's belongings and move them to the new apartment as soon as the upgrades were completed. For Morgan, the same commercial moving service was going to take care of his move shortly thereafter. Chuck had told Morgan that he wanted them to relocate to be closer to work while staying close to each other and that Chuck was going to pay for Morgan's rent for the first year. If Morgan didn't like it, Chuck would move him back to Echo Park. Chuck had sent Morgan the address to check out the neighborhood, and Morgan was suitably wowed. The building looked beautiful and featured balconies facing the Pacific. The location was spectacular, just a 15-minute walk to the office and maybe 20 minutes to the Santa Monica Pier.

The move to Santa Monica represented the next step in the continued progression for Orion as a company and for Chuck and Morgan personally and professionally. The future was exciting, though neither truly appreciated how much excitement the future had in store for them.

= ! =

Thursday 2, February 2012 – 19:30 Eastern Standard Time

Panama City Beach – The Craft Bar

The team gathered for casual dinner to celebrate the close of their 4-week training exercise at a local brewpub chain. The team was relaxed and happy with their progress and pleased to put this chapter behind them. Tomorrow, they would pack up, fly back to Los Angeles, move into their new apartments, and resume their routine, but tonight was about relaxing and team building.

"Bartowski, I have to say, I was impressed with how you handled yourself over the last 4 weeks. I think if you had gone through any of our respective training programs, be it the CIA's "Farm" or my beloved Paris Island, I have no doubt you would have qualified at the top of the class." Casey gave his best impression of a smile, a condition he was not well practiced in, as he spoke. "You exceeded all my expectations, though I was particularly impressed with how you handled yourself on the gun range. Myself, Walker, and Miller are all good….very good actually, but we have all had years of training and practice. Given your rather vocal and un-American dislike of guns, I was sure shooting would be your weakness, but nope….You shoot like God damned Dirty Harry….your driving, however, is much more like Miss Daisy and something you definitely need to work on." Sarah and Carina laughed out loud at Casey's observations.

"Thank you, Casey, high praise indeed, and greatly appreciated. I must admit, aside from getting back in the pool and swimming, I am surprised to say that I enjoyed learning how to shoot the most out of all the training. I appreciated the mechanical nature of the movement and the weapons themselves. It surprised me, as I really expected to hate shooting." He smiled with some affection towards Casey.

"I also enjoyed your swimming Chuck….." Carina jumped in on Chuck's comments popping the "k" seductively with an evil grin on her face "and your speedo….Mmmmm, my favorite part of the week…."

Casey stared up at the ceiling, Chuck turned beet-red, and Sarah kicked her friend under the table while giving her a death stare. Carina then exploded in laughter, taking everyone with her until Casey reached under the table to pull out a wrapped present for his star pupil. At that point, the laughs stopped, ultimately allowing Casey to speak.

"Chuck." It was the first time any of them noticed Casey call Chuck by his first name. Sarah and Carina were sure it was because Casey recognized the commitment and effort Chuck made in all aspects of the training. Chuck had indeed pushed himself to excel, mainly because he realized that the lives of his partners and his Sarah might depend on him. "I wanted to give you something to remind you of what you accomplished here with us this last month…. Please do not open this here," he quickly added. Then, having a little fun with Bartowski and perhaps tipping his hand a little, he continued. "My gift to you is a brand new Sig Sauer P229, along with the proper Federal credentials that allow you to carry her in all 50 states. Now, I think you all know that I give each of my firearms a woman's name, something that reflects the character of the weapon and my respect for it. And given how well you and Walker have been working together, almost finishing each other's sentences, I took the liberty of naming her Sarah for you. You take care of Sarah here." He patted the box affectionately. "You always keep her close to you, you always respect her, and she will never let you down…." He slid the beautifully wrapped box to Chuck and gave him a grin. "Enjoy her…."

Chuck was at a complete loss trying to process the significance of the gift while at the same time considering the dangerous double meaning he laid out, hoping it was just an odd choice of words, then realizing that was almost certainly not the case. Casey was a man of few words and many grunts, and when he spoke, he chose his words carefully. There was no mistake in what he had to say, and perhaps it was also a tacit approval of the romantic relationship he and Sarah had struggled to keep secret. He looked at Casey. "Casey, I don't know what to say." Chuck paused to look at Sarah, who was the color of a Chile pepper, then continued softly, almost reverently, "My Sarah…I promise to always take outstanding care of her," as he cradled the box tenderly in his arms. Sarah's posture straightened a bit, and while her blush did not diminish, Chuck could see some warmth in her eyes and perhaps a small smile she was trying to keep to herself. God, she was beautiful, and he loved her with a depth he struggled to comprehend, but now was the time to have a little fun with Casey. Hopefully, Sarah would play along, so he continued as his face broke into a massive grin. "During the day, I will keep her stuffed in my pants and take her to bed at night, so she is always close. I will keep all of her parts clean and well-oiled so that she is always ready to go when I need her." He struggled to keep a straight face as both Sarah and Carina exploded in uncontrollable laughter, immediately followed by Chuck, and finally, Casey, who could only utter, "Touché, Bartowski…touché…."

With stomachs full and hearts lightened, the team piled into the motor pool car Casey had requisitioned. They dropped off Sarah and Carina at their housing, then stopped at the motor pool to drop off the car and wait for someone to drive them to their billets.

Chuck had showered, put on a fresh pair of pajama pants, and thought about the enjoyable evening and how much he missed having some private time with Sarah. They had been cautious for the 4 weeks, occasionally stealing a kiss or an intimate hug, but nothing more, and he longed to have her in his bed. But tomorrow, they would be back in California and move into their new place. THEIR, new home, and he was doing the math to calculate the hours before he could close the door to their apartment behind them and enjoy every last centimeter of Sarah Walker. His happy musings were interrupted by an unexpected tap on the window.

"Sarah?" he whispered as he opened the window for her. "What are you doing here…..We only have to wait until tomorrow….do you want to get caught?"

"Shut up, Chuck…." she whispered back as she snaked her way through the open window and into his room. "I can't take it anymore….it's been 4 weeks, and I have needs. I thought I could hold it together till tomorrow, but then you go and get all sexy-like and start talking about keeping my parts cleaned and well oiled…." Sarah's eyes burned with intensity as she pushed Chuck back onto his bed and climbed on top of him. "And given that it's pretty apparent Casey knows or at least suspects, I no longer care. Tomorrow, when we are in OUR new place and in OUR bed together, we will make love all night long and share the intimacy I know we have missed for the last month. But for right now, your Sarah wants to be tucked into your pants. She wants you to grab her with both hands and fire every bullet you have with her, and when you are done, you will clean all her parts and make sure she is well-oiled and ready to go again and again."

In one fluid motion, she whipped off her top, then attacked his mouth hungrily while her hands found the waistline of his pajama pants and started pushing them down. They did not make love, cuddle or intimately gaze into each other's eyes; no, they attacked each other like wild, uninhibited animals whose sole purpose was to satisfy a primal urge that had gone too long without being met. What they shared was intensely physical and frantic. They were almost violent as they consumed each other with unchecked aggression and urgency seeking to satisfy their hunger. It was early morning by the time they finished, and the room was in shambles. They were covered in sweat, lying on their backs on the floor, with Sarah's body perpendicular to Chuck's, her legs resting on his. The mattress had come off the bed, the sheets and pillows were scattered all over the room, and the t-shirt Sarah had ripped off at the start of their activities had gotten stuck in the overhead lights.

"Wow…." was all Chuck could muster, which was marginally more articulate than Sarah's, "Mmmmm."

Hunger satisfied, bodies depleted, and room in ruins….it felt like paradise. And then the alarm on Chuck's phone went off, causing both to grumble. Then, as they turned to each other, they broke out laughing.

45 minutes later, the team met for breakfast in the mess hall before heading out. While neither Sarah nor Chuck said much, they both wore a face of relaxed contentment that Carina could not miss. She waited for Casey to go get a second helping of pancakes.

"Walker, you seem pretty happy and relaxed this morning…..you too, Chuck…." Carina grinned while looking at Sarah and then Chuck.

"I finally had the kind of sleep that really releases tension…." Sarah gave her a little mischievous smile.

"And I spent my evening getting myself really familiar with the beautiful gun Casey got me. I stripped her down, put her back together, and oiled all her most important parts. Very therapeutic. Now I'm looking forward to getting back to Cali, and our new place, together." He smiled sweetly at Sarah, who beamed back.

Carina was laughing as Casey returned.

"What did I miss, Miller?" Casey asked as he sat back down.

"Not much. Seems you really overwhelmed Chuck with your gift. Apparently, he was up all night playing with her…." she replied matter of factly.

"Easy Bartowski….She's not a toy," Casey admonished.

"I know, Casey, you taught me to respect the weapon, and I have nothing but respect for my Sarah." Chuck smiled back at him.

They were in the jet an hour later, leaving a gleaming white west-bound contrail against the crystal clear blue sky.

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