A/N: So, Chuck has helped Casey with the attack on Beckman & Associates. The problem is not resolved, but things are becoming clearer. What will happen now?
I am so grateful for all the reviews and, yes, we will find out who the insider is in this chapter.
Thanks to MarkeyDaSad for beta reading again.
Anger Management
Chapter 10: Reveal
Sarah had heard Chuck go to bed the previous night, much, much later than normal. She had gone to bed frustrated with how the day had finished, but resigned to it. She had then lain in her bed thinking.
She had made an important decision, but hadn't been able to act on it. She hadn't even been able to talk to Chuck about it. Tonight, she would talk to him about it and maybe act on it, too.
Just the thought of it gave her goosebumps.
She hadn't done it since she broke up with Ryan. Not that the memories of her time with Ryan left her with any desire to continue. She had felt numb. That was the best way to describe it. Numb.
Now, she was filled with desire. Desire for Chuck. Desire to be with Chuck in that most intimate of ways.
She wished that he had been her first, but that was just a path to regret, so she would try to avoid going there. She needed to focus on her present and her future. The near future would hopefully be everything she ever wanted.
She just needed to get Chuck back with her, mentally. Then, physically, too.
Chuck woke later than normal. Staying up hacking as he had done was tiring. Going to bed at ridiculous o'clock hadn't help either.
He looked at his bedside clock and groaned. He liked preparing breakfast for the two of them, but now he had no time before he started again for the day.
He staggered to the bedroom door and opened it.
Directly outside the door stood Sarah. She had a coffee in her hand and was about to knock on his door. She looked startled. "Oh!"
A smile spread across his face. "Sarah, you wonderful person!" He took the coffee out of her hand.
She grinned at him. "Not just any old person. I'm your wonderful girlfriend!"
"You are," he replied and, holding the coffee away from her, leaned forward and gave her a kiss.
He always thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but standing in front of him in one of his t-shirts and bare legs on show, she was absolutely stunning.
She smiled, watching his gaze dropping to her legs and bare feet. She loved that he found her attractive. It made her feel more worthy of his love.
"I have to brush my teeth," he told her, then turned and placed the coffee on his desk.
She let him, but pouted and he noticed she went and sat on his bed.
When he returned, she was looking at his laptop, obviously trying to understand what she was seeing.
She looked up at him. "Really?"
He had been planning to soften the blow, but that was no longer possible. "Yeah."
"I can't believe it," she said, not sounding surprised, more saddened.
"How did you work it out?" she asked.
He had planned to break this news to her differently, but realized he would have to do it now. "Sarah, I haven't told you this before, but I used to be a hacker before everything 'went tits up at Stanford, six years ago"
Her hands shot to her mouth. He hastened to explain. "I never hurt anyone or stole anything. It was just… entertaining. Each place I went was a puzzle."
He could see concern on her face. "Did you ever get caught?"
That warmed his heart. She wasn't upset, just worried for him. "No. I was too good for that." It wasn't a boast, just a fact.
"Is that what you were doing at work yesterday?" She was obviously connecting the dots.
"A bit, but I did more when we got home," he confessed.
She frowned at that. "I heard you go to bed late. You were doing this until then?"
And that was why he was so tired. "Yeah."
She placed her hand on his chest. "You need to look after yourself better, Chuck." She couldn't help thinking that she needed to look after him more, too.
He looked at her hand, felt it through his t-shirt, burning through to his heart. He looked back up into her eyes. What he saw there was a mixture of concern and... something else.
She stood up, wrapped her arms around his neck kissed him. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her closer. He could feel her body through the two layers of cotton and her bare legs pressed against his. He should stop this before he lost control, but as he pushed her away, hoping she hadn't noticed, he could see her eyes. That other thing was now apparent. Desire.
Sarah held his gaze. She obviously wanted it, too. In a rather husky voice, she expressed what they were both thinking. "Tonight."
Chuck was driving to work, but felt like he was in a dream. Tonight!
He phone rang, bringing his thoughts back to the present. He answered it and Lester's voice came on the speakerphone. "That guy wants you again. Does your girlfriend know about him? Should I break the news to her?"
Chuck groaned at Lester's antics. "Does he want me to go straight there?"
"Yeah."
Chuck ended the call and changed route.
He had planned to call Casey from the Buy More to tell him that he was continuing to investigate. He couldn't what he had found, but now would do that face-to-face.
He needed to let Sarah know what was happening. Maybe the lunch would be possible.
Sarah could hardly concentrate on her work!
Their embrace this morning had confirmed that he wanted them to move to the next level of their relationship just as much as she did. She had felt it. That memory just added to her excitement and her distraction. How she'd resisted in his room was still a mystery to her.
Her phone rang. She looked at it, the caller was the man she was daydreaming about. She snatched it up and answered, "Hi, Chuck." Somehow she managed to keep it sounding professional.
"Hi, Sarah. I'm coming there again." That sent a thrill through her. She may get to see him.
"Have you already talked to Casey?" she asked.
"No, he placed another call asking for me," was the reply she got.
Knowing what they would be discussing was a bit of a mood killer, she put that to one side. "Let me know when you finish with him. We can at least have a coffee together."
"That would be great," he replied.
As she put down her phone, she realized that there was a bit of a problem with that plan. Somehow she would need to keep her hands off him. Hands that now wanted to explore his body. Somehow she'd have to hold off until this evening.
It was crazy. She'd put this off all this time and now desperately wanted it!
He had only been with Casey for a few minutes before the Security Manager had called his boss and then marched them to the elevator.
Now Chuck was sitting beside Casey facing Diane Beckman.
"Well?" She was just as Sarah had indicated. Clipped. To the point.
"There aren't many internally who have access to that particular user, Boss."
She raised a brow, but said nothing.
"Three in IT and one other. The Project Manager who ran the Access Control upgrade project."
Beckman rolled her eyes. "Don't tell me. Daniel Shaw."
Casey just nodded.
"Damn!" she stated. "What else? Why have you brought Mr. Bartowski up?"
Casey nodded to Chuck, encouraging him to speak.
He cleared his throat. "I tracked the internet traffic to a company in New York, Mrs. Beckman."
She nodded, obviously knowing that. "And?"
He told her part of what he had discovered overnight. "They are planning to open a satellite office over here in Los Angeles."
That got a raised eyebrow response. "Really?"
"Sarah might know some of the people involved if they are still there. She worked there three years ago." He hadn't discussed this with his girlfriend, but wanted her to have a chance to shine. Then he worried that he might have cast suspicion on her with Beckman thinking she might be working for them.
The woman facing him pondered that.
Casey chipped in, "Three years is a long time. She may not know anyone still there."
Beckman shook her head. "Not necessarily. Some people in the Accounting business are lifers." She turned to Casey. "Get her involved, but quietly. If Shaw is involved in this, I don't want him to know."
Chuck felt relieved that his worries about Sarah being under suspicion had been unfounded, but hadn't thought about what Daniel Shaw might do to his girlfriend. Had he put his girlfriend at risk?
A number of people had seen Chuck in the office on the previous day and some will have seen him arrive this morning. If Sarah hadn't insisted on him coming to the party on Friday night, he could have done this anonymously, but thanks to his girlfriend he was now known.
In fact, if he hadn't talked to their IT Manager there, he wouldn't have even been pulled in.
Sarah felt awful about this. She knew this would increase his visibility, but did he really need such aggravation?
As she sat, nursing her coffee at her desk, Carina walked up to her. Sarah was distracted and didn't notice until the redhead spoke. "Saw your boy come in again this morning, Blondie. Is that gonna become a regular thing? Not getting enough of him at home?"
Sarah hadn't thought about the possibility of him coming here regularly. That would be wonderful. Carina's last words, though, hit home. She's hardly had any time with him since he was called in. She was NOT getting enough of him!
She answered Carina's first question. "Dunno. Not even sure why he's here."
Carina grinned. "If you want, I can show you some places no one would find you. Have some 'alone time' while you're here."
Sarah should have been shocked, but with Carina, this should be expected. However, the thoughts Carina's comments generated made Sarah blush.
Carina walked off, laughing.
Daniel had been observing their conversation. He walked over and sat on Sarah's desk. He questioned her, too. "Why was he here yesterday?" He seemed very keen to know. Then, he added, "Or doesn't he share with you? You know I'd share with you." The look he gave her when he said 'share' spoke of things she never wanted from him. She shuddered with revulsion.
Making that feeling show in her expression, she replied, "Daniel, I just threw up a little. I am sure that no woman in this state wants you to 'share' anything with them." Then, she added, "Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you. The only things I'll share with you are your project related items."
He shrugged and walked off.
Sarah was surprised when she received a call from her boyfriend.
"I'm going to head back to the Buy More after lunch. Care to eat with me?" Chuck asked.
"You know it, Chuck," she replied.
Chuck asking her to meet for lunch had changed Sarah's whole perspective on the day. She really missed their lunchtime meetings. They had been the highlight of her day from the start. She had originally thought that was because it gave her a break from a job she hated, which was partly true, but now she knew there was more to it than that. She had fallen for the tall, brown-haired goofy guy from the start; she just hadn't realized it.
As she walked into the elevator to go down to the cafeteria, she felt her anticipation rising. God! I am only having lunch with him! I am so far gone!
Before the doors closed, a tall slender body slipped in. Sarah groaned. Carina!
"You don't think I'd miss the opportunity to see your guy again, do you?" said the redhead, teasingly.
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Carina…" she grumbled.
She didn't think Carina would try anything with Chuck and knew that her elevator partner was just trying to wind her up, but it did push her buttons.
Carina grinned and said, "You haven't taken me up on the offer to show you where to take him, so I'll probably have to show him… the ropes."
Through gritted teeth, Sarah hissed, "Keep your hands off him, Carina."
That just got another grin. "Maybe."
Sarah had started to like this confident, but confrontational woman. She felt she was becoming a friend. She wished, in a way, that she herself was that confident. However, this aspect of the redhead's nature was not so welcome.
When the elevator door opened, Sarah quickly walked to the reception desk, just in case Carina decided to beat her to Chuck. She knew that was silly, but it was how the conversation made her feel.
Chuck was leaning on the desk in front of Gwen chatting to her. Sarah felt no jealousy. Gwen had become a friend and Sarah knew she was happily married. There was no competition there.
She trusted Chuck, and believed there would be no competition from Carina either, but the threat did make her nervous all the same.
Chuck's face lit up when he saw her. That made her completely forget about Carina. She felt special. She walked up to him. "Hi, Chuck."
He surprised her, and probably himself too, when he replied, "Hi, Beautiful."
She blushed and the reason for that said, "Aww."
Sarah smiled at her friend, sitting behind the desk. Gwen waved them off. "Go. Take him for some food. He looks half starved!" She chuckled as she said that last part.
Sarah guided him through to the cafeteria.
Sarah had been glad that Carina hadn't accosted them before, in the line, but when she joined them, uninvited, at their table, Sarah was about to tell her to piss off, when Chuck caught her eye. She closed her mouth and looked at him. After placing a hand on her wrist, he quietly told her, "Not worth it." Those three words and his hand on her calmed her down. He was right, of course.
She huffed instead.
Carina had been watching them as she sat down, next to Chuck. What she said surprised Sarah. "He's good for you, Blondie."
Sarah knew it, but hearing someone else, particularly Carina, say it was still good. Sarah nodded and looked over at him. "He is."
Chuck then looked embarrassed.
Carina groaned. "God! You two are as bad as each other!"
Sarah chuckled. We are!
"So, what're you doing here today, Chuckles?" Carina asked.
"Just helping a bit… While Laszlo's out," he replied.
Sarah could tell he was holding back. That was sensible. Carina could be the insider. Sarah doubted it, but could be wrong.
"Oooh. So, will you be here whenever he's out?" Carina seemed more interested than she should be. Sarah didn't like it.
Chuck just shrugged. Sarah felt he seemed more reticent to talk than usual. She asked, "But you're going back to the Buy More this afternoon, aren't you?"
He looked up at her. "Yeah." There seemed to be something he wanted to say, but not in front of Carina. Sarah wasn't going to push. He could tell her later. She just said, "Shame." Then, she continued eating.
Even though Carina had spoiled it a bit, Sarah had still enjoyed seeing Chuck. They had brushed their legs under the table; that contact a reminder of how she felt about him and missed him.
As she drove home, she wanted to find out what he hadn't been saying in front of Carina. That wasn't all she wanted this evening, but it was important, or at least seemed it.
When she thought about what else she wanted, she flushed. She had to push those thoughts back to be able to concentrate on her driving.
When she reached the apartment, Chuck hadn't arrived. That damned Buy More! She had to help him get out of there!
She changed and started preparing food for their dinner. Nothing too heavy, though.
She started cooking it, hoping Chuck would arrive soon.
Twenty minutes later, Chuck walked in. He came straight to her and kissed her. She melted into it. She had missed this!
He walked off to change as she plated the food. She had put the plates on the table by the time he returned.
"So, what happened today?" she asked.
He stopped eating and collected his thoughts before speaking. "There weren't many internal people who would have access to set up a private user to give to the external person, most in IT as you would expect."
She caught the implications. "Most?"
He nodded. "Yeah, most."
"Who else?" she asked, getting a bit irritated at how he was skirting the issue.
"The Project Manager on the last major software upgrade," he replied.
She frowned. That didn't sound right. "Why would that person have that access? Shouldn't it just be kept within the IT team?"
Chuck nodded. "You'd think, but apparently he justified it somehow."
"He?"
He put his fork down and looked at her. "Daniel Shaw."
Sarah's jaw dropped.
He rushed on. "We don't know it is him for sure."
"How do you find out?" She would love for Daniel to be fired, so she was very interested to know for sure.
He replied. "There's a couple of things to try. One of the other IT guys, who doesn't have the access control privileges, is remote installing key logging software on his laptop. That will show if he does anything else, but that's unlikely. The main thing is me accessing his email history."
She was surprised at that. "Can you do that?"
He flushed, but answered, "I got access."
She put her cutlery down. "What aren't you telling me, Chuck?"
He looked at her. "I may have to use my hacking skills."
That made her frightened. "Won't that get you into trouble?"
He shook his head. "I'm too good for that, but, anyway, we'll try the other ways first."
She pushed her fright to one side. They would talk about the risk of this hacking stuff another time. "So, you'll be coming back in to the office?"
"Yeah. Tomorrow morning." He smiled at her.
That sounded good. Maybe she could see him, without Carina, this time.
Their conversation turned to his work at the Buy More and her work. Sarah was, however, distracted. Thoughts of Carina and her behavior reminding Sarah of her other plans.
They had finished loading the dishwasher and cleaning up after the meal. Chuck was walking to select a DVD for them to watch, as they usually did.
She stopped him. "Come and sit down, Chuck," she said, softly.
He did, but looked at her worriedly. "What is it, Sarah?"
She knew how his mind worked by now. She leaned over and kissed him. A gentle kiss. He relaxed.
"Chuck…" She paused, feeling nervous. Why do I feel nervous? He loves me.
Maybe she should have enticed him into this. She wasn't used to being the one driving it. She looked at him and took a deep breath. "Chuck, make love to me."
She watched him closely, not sure how he was going to react.
He looked stunned. "T- tonight?"
She nodded. She felt she had to explain herself. "I wanted to last night, after we got home, but you dived straight into your work."
He looked down. "I'm sorry about that, Sarah. I get caught up in it."
He hadn't told her if he wanted to yet. He looked up at her. "I've wanted to for weeks, Sarah. I didn't want to push you."
That made her warm all over. She had thought he probably did, but hearing it was good.
He wasn't, however, doing anything about it. Sarah realized she was going to have to do more than ask, she was going to have to make it happen.
She shuffled closer on the couch and kissed him, a deep kiss that conveyed all her desire for him. As their tongues explored each other's mouths, she pulled him closer.
He finally made his move. He scooped her up in his long arms. She already had her arms around his neck, so she just hung on.
He walked them down to his room. He looked at her before entering. She hadn't thought about where before. She wanted to go to the bathroom first, but this as the final destination was as good as hers.
"I need the bathroom first, Chuck, but I have never been in your bed. I want to tonight." She looked at him to see if he was okay with that. Of course he was!
He let her put her feet down. She ducked into her room briefly, then into the bathroom.
When she emerged, he was facing away from her as she walked into his room. She both wanted him to look at her and was nervous about it.
He turned and saw her. His jaw dropped.
She could feel the flush rising from her chest up her neck and to her cheeks. His gaze on her dressed like this made changing such a good idea.
Standing there, all in black lacy, partially transparent, underwear was the most she had ever tried to impress a man. She desperately wanted to impress Chuck.
She walked towards him. He gulped. He knew what they were going to do, but obviously what she looked like appealed to him a lot, too.
She put her arms around his neck and, with his arms around her waist. he picked her up. Their lips crashed together. She wrapped her legs around him and their kiss deepened. God! This felt good!
She pulled at his t-shirt. He turned and they dropped onto his bed while still kissing.
That underwear didn't stay on for long, but she was glad she had worn it. The look in his eyes told her how much he liked it on her. His clothes didn't last much longer.
When they joined, it was the best she had ever felt. How he made her feel was amazing. How they both finished together, exquisite.
They lay together afterwards. Naked and in each other's arms. She never wanted to separate. Their movements, after half an hour, only to repeat what had happened before, this time slower, but just as wonderful.
She fell asleep, still naked, with her head on his shoulder.
Waking in his bed, lying with an arm across his naked chest and one of her legs across his was such a wonderful experience.
Looking over him, at his alarm clock, she could see that she should get up and take a shower, but being in contact with his body like this felt so good!
Now that they had made love, her worries about being good enough crept back into her thoughts. He had seemed to enjoy it, but did he want more from her?
He was certainly everything she wanted. It had been better for her than ever before. Never had she experienced so much pleasure from sex. It had surprised her. Was this just because he was so much better than her previous men or because she loved him so much? Maybe both?
Whatever it was, she wanted more of it. More of Chuck Bartowski.
She glanced around his room. It was very tidy. A bit nerdy, but then, so was he. She decided that she would move in here with him, if he let her.
"Morning, Gorgeous." His voice rumbling through his chest.
"Morning, Lover," she replied.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. Her breasts pressed against his slightly hairy chest. God, that feels good!
Her desire for him increased significantly.
His desire for her apparent, too.
Neither of them had brushed their teeth, but she didn't care. They'd not open their lips.
It was quick. Both of them desperate for it. The end made her cry out his name. Afterwards, she remained lying atop him, reveling in the feeling of their naked flesh together.
After a few minutes, she leaned up and kissed his lips, brushing against his chest and feeling like starting again, but there was no time now.
She climbed off of him, both looking longingly at the other's naked body. She had to stop this and get ready for the day. She turned and went into the bathroom to shower.
As the jets of hot water beat down on her, she thought about them showering together. Could they? Would they be able to keep their hands off each other? Probably not! Maybe at the weekend when they had more time.
As they sat eating breakfast, Sarah told him, "Chuck, I'd like to move in with you." He looked puzzled, so she continued, "Into your room."
He smiled his biggest smile. "Absolutely."
She smiled back. "I wasn't so bad, then?"
He looked shocked that she had even suggested it. "Sarah, that was the best sex I have ever had! Three times, each better than the last."
She grinned. "Best ever for me, too!"
He looked at her seriously. "I think it's because we're in love, Sarah."
She did too and nodded. Then she joked, "We might never get to watch another DVD."
He laughed. "We can still have movie nights on the weekend. When we can stay up late."
She smirked at him. "And weekends affect how long you can stay up, Chuck?"
He blushed. "Was I too quick?"
She felt upset with herself for joking like that. "Not for me. You were perfect."
She could see that he understood. She noticed the time. "I better get to work. See you for lunch?"
He smiled. "Yeah. Sneak off, avoiding Carina this time."
"You're glowing, Blondie. Morning sex?"
Sarah glared to Carina. "I'm not talking about my personal life with you."
Carina chuckled. "I'll just observe it when you walk in, then."
Sarah hadn't thought this would happen. She had never had sex in the morning with previous boyfriends. In fact, they hadn't done it that much anyway. Maybe that was another reason they both looked elsewhere. However, neither had been anywhere near as good as Chuck.
She tried to clamp down on those thoughts. Not conducive to work!
She took a call from reception. "He's here!"
Sarah laughed, knowing exactly who she meant. Gwen was now her spy! "Thanks."
Carina raised an eyebrow. Sarah was glad she hadn't named the caller as Carina probably would have guessed the reason for the call. She would then try to spoil lunch again.
Chuck hadn't really expected to find anything using either method. Key logging only worked if the perpetrator were going to commit the crime after the software was installed and activate, not before. Email trawling only helped if the email was sent from work. Neither of those things were true here.
He sighed. The only way to find anything would be to hack into Shaw's personal email.
He couldn't do that here in Beckman & Associates offices. He'd have to go home.
He called Casey. After hearing the grunt, he just said he needed to research something. Casey paused, then acknowledged it.
The next call saddened Chuck. "Sorry, Babe. I can't stay for lunch today."
"Babe?" the surprised reply came through.
He chuckled. "Well, you are a babe, Sarah."
"You've just not called me that before," she replied. The amused tone quiet clear.
"Not done other things before, either," he pointed out.
There was a long pause, then she replied, "True." She then whispered. "Again tonight?"
"Oh God! Yes!" He immediately blurted out.
She laughed this time. "Okay. Later."
He had the advantage of being on his own. "Until we're too exhausted to continue," he replied.
He heard the hitch in her voice. "Bye."
He'd called in to the Buy More to say he was still working with the client. It was true, just not on the client site. Beckman & Associates we're paying for this service, so Big Mike would still be happy.
He tried not to think of the implications of Daniel Shaw giving his personal cell phone number to Sarah. Still, it made things a bit easier.
So, he was now looking at the details he had hoped to find, in a text to someone, presumably the hacker in New York.
Although he felt satisfaction at finding the person responsible, he now faced a problem. If he told Casey or Beckman, or anybody really, it would become apparent how he found it. His hacking capability would be exposed. Currently, only two other people knew.
His sister had found out by accident when she had walked into his room one night. She had exploded. In fact, that may be putting it too mildly. She not only berated him for it, but insisted he never do it again. She was incredibly worried he would be imprisoned for it. That was shortly before the break up, so although he hadn't stopped immediately, he had kept his promise until recently.
Now, Sarah knew as well. If anything, that made him more cautious. If he was taken away from her, he'd be devastated. Sarah would be, too.
So, he sat and desperately tried to think of a way forward.
Sarah walked in to the apartment, excited. The TV was definitely not going on tonight!
Seeing Chuck slumped on the couch dampened her enthusiasm. Dropping her bag, she rushed over and sat next to him. "Chuck, what's wrong?"
His glazed eyes refocused. "Oh, hi, Sarah." He paused. "I've found the insider."
She frowned. "That's good, isn't it?"
"Well, yes, but I had to hack to do it," he replied, looking at her expectantly.
She immediately understood his problem. He couldn't tell anyone. "Oh."
He looked at her. "Yes. Oh."
She had to try to help. "Could you push him in some way to make a mistake?"
He pondered that for a while. "Maybe. I'll think on it more tomorrow. Perhaps we could work on a plan together."
She beamed at him, on hearing that. "Good. I have other plans for tonight."
That brightened his mood. In fact, his whole posture changed. He reached for her and pulled her into a kiss. A kiss that lengthened and needed both their mouths open, deepening it.
Suddenly, she found herself lifted off the couch.
She giggled, then in mock annoyance said, "I haven't even changed yet!"
Between kisses to her neck, he huskily replied, "You can wear something different. After…"
As she moaned, loving what he was doing to her, she knew the 'after' wouldn't be until morning. She was more than happy with that.
A/N: Hacker not identified yet. Beckman and Casey suspected Shaw to be instrumental in the attack, but maybe next chapter Chuck will find a way to confirm this. In the meantime, Chuck and Sarah's relationship has finally progressed to where she wanted it.
A review would be great.