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?
This chapter took longer to write than previous ones while I decided how to proceed. I also started two new stories. I finally got my head in gear for this and am back on track.
Thanks to my beta, MarkeyDeSad. He kindly pointed out a gap to fill and generally helped improve this chapter.
Thanks also to AncientGamer for suggestions again and to WillieGarvin for his assistance when I was considering legal options.
I really appreciate the reviews left for the last chapter and comments & likes on its Chuck FanFiction Facebook group post. I hope you like this one as much.
= ! = =
Anger Management
Chapter 11: Traitor
= ! = =
Sarah felt Chuck get up the next morning. How could she not with an arm and a leg splayed across him. To give him his due, he had tried to slide out from underneath her, but he was incapable of achieving that without waking her.
She grumbled at him.
"Sorry," he replied. "I have to work out what to do about Daniel."
She lay for a while, really not wanting to get up. However, Chuck had said last night that they could work on this together. She wanted to help him. They were a team. So, she dragged herself out of bed.
When she finally padded into the kitchen, seeking coffee, he was already drinking his and gazing into the distance. She loved how he looked when he was thinking. A dreamer, dreaming, looking dreamy. She grabbed herself a coffee and walked over to him; giving him a kiss on his cheek. "Morning, Chuck."
"Morning, Beautiful."
She smiled. He always seemed to use terms of endearment now. She really liked it, but she loved hearing him say her name, too. Maybe she just loved hearing his voice, whatever he said.
"So, is it Daniel?" she asked, as she sat down next to him.
"It is," he replied.
"How'd you find out?"
"I hacked into his personal phone account, found texts," he explained. Then he looked at her curiously. "Out of interest, why do you have his phone number?"
"I have work and personal numbers for both my Project Managers, in case I have to contact them and one phone isn't working." As she said this, she realized Chuck might worry about her having Daniel's personal number more than Carina's.
"Do Not get jealous of him, Chuck. I only have eyes for you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss that left him in no doubt she was not interested in that pig.
The kiss escalated and she dragged him back to their bedroom and in no time their clothes were scattered around the room, none sharing their bed with them.
When they finally stopped and she was draped over him, just like when she woke, she sighed with contentment. This hadn't helped with solving how to brief Casey and Beckman, but it was the stress relief that she needed this morning.
"I'll have to worry about your co-workers more often, if that's the reaction I get," Chuck teased her.
Sarah leaned up, lifting her head off his chest and looked into his eyes. "I am yours and only yours, Chuck. Don't ever think otherwise."
"And I'm yours, Sarah. I have been since I first set eyes on you," he replied.
She slid up his body and gave him another kiss; this one was a tender kiss that conveyed her love for him.
As she looked at him, she remembered something she needed to do. "Chuck, I am going to call my mom this evening and arrange to see her. I can't believe we've been together, as a couple for so long without her meeting you! So, tonight I'll arrange that."
"Do you think she'll approve of me?" Chuck asked, nervously.
"She will adore you,," Sarah replied. Then she kissed him again while moving her naked body against his. "Just not in the same way I do!"
Then, she lifted herself off of his body. "C'mon. We've some thinking to do before we have to get ready for work." She pulled her clothes back on and headed out of the bedroom.
As she dressed, he groaned, but followed suit.
= ! = =
They had been discussing possible solutions to the problem for an hour and neither had come up with a viable one. At least not one that would keep Piranha's identity secret.
One that Sarah had suggested, and really liked, was for Chuck (AKA Piranha) to spoof a communication from the hacker to Shaw and get him to place calls from his work phone; then they could get hard evidence on Shaw without exposing Chuck. Unfortunately, Chuck pointed out the flaw in that one as well. "Shaw's smart. He would be instantly suspicious of that. Why would his contact want him to do that when he could just use his personal phone?"
Sarah felt completely defeated. She'd not felt this bad since she first arrived in Los Angeles.
"So, what're you gonna do?" She asked.
"I think I am going to have to tell Casey, but explain why this can't be acted upon," he replied.
"So why tell him."
"Because he might have ideas himself."
She pondered that for a while. Casey was smart. Maybe he would come up with something following their revelation. And it was going to be both of them giving it. Chuck was not going to face this alone.
= ! = =
Casey looked surprised when Sarah followed the two of them into his office. "Don't need you, Walker," he said, dismissing her.
"Tough," she replied and sat down in one of the chairs facing the desk.
The Security Manager stared at her for a few moments, obviously deciding whether to demand she leave or not, then looked at her boyfriend. "Well?"
Chuck looked at him and gripped the arms of his seat. "It's definitely Daniel Shaw, but..." He then paused. Sarah reached over and gripped his wrist. He looked thankfully at her.
Casey was obviously not used to being kept waiting and growled, "But?"
Chuck looked back at him. "But the evidence is not admissible."
Casey frowned. "Why?"
Chuck lifted his laptop out of its bag. "I'll show you."
Chuck brought up the text messages between Daniel Shaw and his contact, clearly showing the username & password of the account ushered and the IP address and port number.
Sarah watched Casey as he read this. He was harder to read than most, but it was obvious that he was pleased to have the culprit identified. She could almost see the cogs turning; the recognition of what Chuck had said about admissibility becoming apparent.
Casey grunted.
He stared at Chuck for a good two minutes. Sarah was feeling uncomfortable, so God knows how her boyfriend was feeling.
Casey finally spoke, "Let me think on this."
Sarah reacted instantly, "No."
The older man slowly turned to her and said, "Excuse me?"
Sarah spoke slowly emphasizing the word 'you'. "You aren't going to hand this over or Chuck will be imprisoned. So, no thinking how to do that without consequences to you. You told him to do this, so you are as guilty as him."
Casey leaned forward and rested his elbows on his desk and put his chin on his folded hands. "I need to work out the best way to get this data." He glanced at Chuck,. "Legally."
Chuck leaned forward as well, interest exuding from him.
Casey noted, "I should be able to get the data supplied to me from the telephone company when I get a subpoena. I just need to justify that."
Chuck blew a breathe through his pursed lips.
Sarah had a light bulb moment. A soon as this subpoena concept was shared with her, she immediately saw the solution. "Can you just get it for all the people that had access to the username, but only use it on Daniel Shaw. If questioned later, just say he was the first you tried."
Casey sat back and a smile formed on his lips. "I do like you, Walker." Then he thought for a few seconds before commenting, "Not sure how fast I would be able to get subpoenas, though, and we need to tackle this quickly."
They discussed the concept for a further fifteen minutes, then Casey released them both.
Chuck filed out first, obviously still in thought.
Casey followed Sarah to the door. "Your boy done good." She looked at him and he added, "You too, Walker."
She smiled at him, not something that felt a possibility a short while earlier.
"We also need to focus on the New York angle. I will be seeking your help on that." Casey looked at her meaningfully as he said this.
She had wondered if that might happen. She was totally okay with it. All her loyalty was with Beckman & Associates. She nodded her acceptance.
= ! = =
Chuck had left and gone back to the Buy More. The local investigation was in Casey's hands now.
Sarah had returned to her desk and was trying to get on with her work. Trying being the operative word!
Knowing you have a traitor working next to you, with you, was disturbing. The fact he was working with someone from Gateshead Financial, the company she had worked for in New York, was also. Since she heard that, she'd worried that Casey and Beckman would think she must be involved. That didn't seem to be the case, although Sarah had no idea why. She would have suspected her.
Daniel was in meetings most of the day, so at least he wasn't right there, in that seat a few yards from her. That was some comfort.
"You seem to be miles away and not happy. Chuckles not performing?"
Sarah came back into focus, looking at her other Project Manager standing in front of her desk, leaning over towards her. She was about to reply, when Carina added. "If you've finished with him, I'll taking him for a spin."
Sarah glared at her. "His performance isn't in question and he and I are far from over."
"Shame," the redhead quipped before turning to walk over to her desk.
Sarah turned towards her. "Carina, have you and Daniel…"
Carina, having just sat down, swiveled her chair around and gazed at her before answering. "You're not interested in him, are you?"
For the first time, Sarah saw something unusual in Carina's eyes. Concern. There was no teasing, no inuendo, no jokey banter coming from the redhead's mouth.
Sarah shook her head, but was grateful to her colleague. "No, but thanks for the concern. I… I just wondered, that's all."
Carina shook her head as well. "No. We're alike, both predators. We wouldn't work together. I could see that the first time I saw him. I guess it's just something you sense."
Sarah could see the sense in that. However, she didn't agree with all of it. "No, Carina. You're not alike. Men want to be with you, he forces himself on his victims."
Carina smiled at her. "Thanks, Sarah. Women don't usually say nice things about me."
"Come after my man, and you'll see a different side of me," Sarah warned.
Carina laughed. "Okay. Message received. I'm only teasing you, Blondie."
Sarah didn't really think Carina would do anything to upset her, but she still would keep an eye on the redhead when Chuck was around.
She sat back and contemplated what Casey had said to her just before she left him. Although Gateshead Financial was the first real job she'd had, she had no fond memories of the place. Bryce had seemed special initially. He was, after all, her first boyfriend. Everything was new, including sex. That had felt good, after the initial pain, but she now knew, after being with Chuck, how much better it could be. Bryce had ruined everything, of course, which seemed like something of a specialty for him. It had tainted her view of everything in New York, especially the firm where they both worked.
If she could help find the individual at Gateshead Financial, she would be happy to do so. If the whole company was involved, maybe that would help her get over what had happened while she was there. Maybe even hurt Bryce?
= ! = =
The internal phone system had been programmed to identify internal calls with the name associated with the desk phone number, so when her phone rang, Sarah knew who was calling and not to say his name with Daniel sitting only ten feet away from her. "Sarah Walker, how can I help you?" she answered the call.
There was a grunt before Casey started talking. "Your good idea and mine will take too long. I've called your boytoy to come in. Meet us at Beckman's office in forty minutes."
"Thank you. I will," Sarah replied, then the call ended.
The act was not really necessary, but she felt it was needed, to be careful.
Neither Carina nor Daniel had paid any attention to her.
Thirty-five minutes later, Sarah got up and walked to the elevator. Daniel, who had been overly attentive all morning, seemed distracted. He'd had a call on his personal cell phone late morning, which seemed to have rattled him a bit. Sarah was just glad he was paying her no attention.
Arriving outside Mrs. Beckman's office, Sarah was immediately ushered in.
Mrs. Beckman was on the phone but saw Sarah enter and waved her to one of the three chairs opposite her desk. The others hadn't arrived yet.
Putting down her phone, the chief looked at Sarah. "I want you to know that we appreciate what you and you boyfriend are doing for us."
Sarah immediately answered, "Thank you, Mrs. Beckman, but I don't think I've done much, it's all Chuck."
The red-haired woman smiled and replied, "We wouldn't know about him if it wasn't for you, and I hear you have made suggestions to our Security Manager that he hadn't thought of. I also expect you will help as we focus on Gateshead Financial."
Sarah nodded. "Yes, I will, Mrs. Beckman."
After pondering for a few seconds, Sarah received the response, "You can call me Diane, Sarah."
Sarah was surprised and almost hung her jaw on hearing that, but managed to control herself. "Thank you, Diane."
Diane Beckman gave her a brief nod.
The door behind Sarah opened and Casey and Chuck walked in. Once they had sat down, Beckman looked at her Security Manager, saying "Casey?"
He launched straight in. "You having to start legal proceedings before we could get any subpoenas would both delay things and would make the individuals aware of what we're doing. Same would be true of anything we did against Gateshead Financials, allowing them time to hide any evidence, if they were involved themselves."
Shit! Sarah thought.
"We could submit the evidence from an anonymous hacker, but government prosecutors may not take that seriously," Casey grimly told them.
"Chuck's identity cannot be compromised!" Sarah stated heatedly, then realized who she was ordering; she blushed and looked worriedly at Diane. Thankfully, the latter looked pleased to hear that and nodded.
"So, what can we do, Casey?" Beckman asked.
Before he could answer, Chuck offered, "I could send him a text of some sort, spoofed from his contact. Or…" He paused and a grin appeared on his face. "Yes, better than that, send only from that number saying the phone was likely compromised and would send from a new number."
Casey looked at him and a slow smile appeared. "A number of a phone we own that can capture messages."
"That's right, Casey," Chuck replied.
"Do it," Diane Beckman commanded.
Casey stood. "Come with me, Bartowski, and we can work out the messages to send. I will get a burner for you to use."
"Oh, I have better ones in my disposal," Chuck replied, standing. He looked back at the woman the other side of the desk. "Mrs. Beckman."
She nodded at him. "Mr. Bartowski. Thank you."
Sarah sat there stunned, as she watched Chuck and Casey disappear through the Beckman's office door.
Diane Beckman brought her out of this state with her next words. "I am going to want your young man to join this company, Sarah. I hope that won't cause you a problem."
Sarah certainly had not expected this. She tried to control her features as she thought about the idea. "I just need to let all the other women in the company know he's off limits," she replied.
Beckman snorted. It was the first time Sarah had heard her do anything like that. "I think your protective behavior at that party would be good enough for that!"
Sarah grinned. "Thank you, Diane. It will be good for him to get out of that Buy More."
= ! = =
Sarah didn't see any more of Chuck at the office that day.
She spent time thinking about who she could remember at Gateshead Financials. Bryce, obviously, and some of his friends; that woman he went off with; and finally, the other girls on her floor. Probably none of those.
By the end of the day, she was feeling dejected, not sure how she could possibly help.
Daniel Shaw had obviously gotten over whatever was troubling him earlier and decided to pester Sarah again. "Come on, Sarah, you know you want to be with me," he said, sitting on the end of her desk and leaning towards her.
"Daniel, you do know I have a man in her life, don't you!" she said flatly, trying to keep her anger in check.
He scoffed, hearing that. "What that lanky idiot who collected you from the party?"
She snarled as she replied, "He's no idiot! He's the smartest man I know. He's also the man in my bed and no one could compete with what he does to me, especially a self-important jerk like you."
She grabbed her coffee cup and stormed off to the kitchenette to get a coffee. As she walked away, she heard Carina, "That's telling you, Daniel."
When she returned, Daniel was back at his desk glowering at her. She glared back at him and then sank back into her gloomy thoughts.
She had perked up when Daniel suddenly grabbed his cell phone and read a message before standing and heading to one of the small meeting rooms on their floor. She hoped that was Casey and Chuck contacting him.
Daniel never sat down at his desk again that day. He returned, grabbed his coat and left. Sarah couldn't see his expression, so had no idea whether he was worried or not.
At least he wasn't bothering her.
Carina had headed to a meeting shortly afterward and when she returned she looked slightly pissed off as well.
The three of them spent their time deep in thought, none looking happy. God! Misery corner!
When she finally left for home, she was none the wiser; about anything.
= ! = =
Walking in the front door of their apartment, Sarah could smell food cooking. Chuck was obviously home.
"Hi, Chuck," she called out.
"Hi, Sarah," he replied from the kitchen.
She walked up behind him and leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"Hmm. I want more of those," he commented, while he stirred the Pad Thai he was cooking. "Preferably on my lips."
She grinned. "How about other parts of your body?" she replied in a suggestive tone.
Him stopping stirring was answer enough. She laughed and headed to the bedroom to get changed.
"I'm calling my mom before we eat, is that okay?" she called out.
"No problem. Food will be ready in ten minutes, though," he called back.
Once in more comfortable clothes, Sarah made the call. Her mom answered immediately, "Sarah. Sorry I've not called…"
"Mom, I haven't either," Sarah replied. "I've a lot of news. Can I see you this weekend?"
"Just you?" he mom questioned.
Sarah rolled her eyes. How is it moms just know? "Noo…"
"I haven't seen your new place yet. Can I come and visit? And meet this Chuck?" Emma asked.
Sarah had been going to suggest the opposite, but that would work. "Sounds great, Mom. Can you come on Saturday and stay for a night?"
"That would be lovely, Sarah. I can get to you around lunchtime."
"I can't wait, Mom!" Sarah really couldn't, she'd be able to show off the apartment AND her boyfriend.
She walked back out of the room and told Chuck. "You and the apartment are being vetted all weekend!"
He looked panicked and she burst out laughing.
= ! = =
As they ate their meal, Chuck told her about what had happened. "So, once we'd agreed the messages to send, I headed back over to the Buy More. Some of the phones I have stashed away have more security on them than a normal phone, so using one of those was better than an ordinary burner."
Sarah finished her mouthful, then asked, "So did you come back to our office or call from the Buy More?"
He paused before taking his next mouthful of Pad Thai. "Back to Beckman & Associates."
Sarah nodded. She hadn't seen him, but that was probably for the best.
"I sent the message from Casey's office. He was impressed at how I was able to spoof it coming from a different phone," He remembered Casey being shocked at how easy it was for Chuck to do that. "Then, a few seconds later, I sent the next message, one that we had spent some time concocting, from the phone I had brought, as the new number for Shaw to contact."
"What time was that?" she asked.
Chuck confirmed the time Daniel Shaw had leapt up from his desk. She grinned. "I saw him receive the texts."
"He fell for it," Chuck said, smiling.
He proceeded to tell her how he and Casey now had evidence they could use against Daniel Shaw. They were now focusing on the person at Gateshead Financials, having sent similar texts. This person had yet to reply.
"I have news too," Sarah commented.
Chuck raised a brow.
"Stop eating while I tell you this, Chuck." She was smiling, so he shouldn't be worried.
He did so and looked her way.
"Beckman wants to hire you," she said.
"She already has, via Casey," he stated, looking confused.
Sarah shook her head. "No, permanently. As an employee."
"Oh," he took that in. "Oh, wow!"
"We could drive to work together, have lunch together, every day, it would be wonderful!" She was beaming at him.
"God, it would, wouldn't it!" he replied, looking dreamily back at her.
"She asked me if that would be a problem for me," Sarah mentioned, picking up her fork again.
He frowned. "And you said?"
"I'd have to keep all the women in the company off you!"
He laughed.
What Chuck told her next, was more of a surprise. "I saw Carina again as I left."
"What did she say?" Sarah growled.
"I don't think she was serious. She didn't come close, but she did suggest she knew where to go to hide from cameras." He popped in another mouthful.
Hoping this wasn't another attempt to get Chuck away from her, Sarah asked, "And what did you say?"
"Oh, I replied, making myself really clear, that I had no interest in her. I remember stating 'I'm in a relationship with the most wonderful and beautiful woman in the world. Why would I ever want anyone else, when I have my piece of heaven on earth already?'"
Sarah immediately got up and pushed his chair back so that she could sit in his lap. She kissed him.
He kissed her back, just as forcefully, then pulled away. "She grumbled then said that I could use them with you."
Sarah stood and took his fork out of his hand, placed it in the bowl in front of him and dragged him to their bedroom.
No more food would be eaten that evening.
= ! = =
A/N: So, one perpetrator snared. One more to go, or a whole other firm? And Sarah's mom is coming to see them. What will she think when she hears they are now a couple?
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