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Here's Chapter 6.
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights on anything associated to Chuck, the tv show and the characters and storylines they involve. This is a purely fan-generated story from a different perspective if a few events were changed, and if attitudes were different.
AN: To my readers, I apologize for being behind on updating. The issue is, though I left you on a cliff-hanger, I was working out the details myself on how Sarah would react to this situation. I don't just want to reiterate the show's position without the required added perspective… Not simply, Sarah hiding behind the mask of professionalism, but the realities and detriments that might impede their working as a team. Not to mention consequences of any choice at all.
Also, special thanks to WillieGarvin. I was inspired by your long commitment to Chuck vs a New Day. I honestly couldn't imagine keeping a story running so long without much plot holes and stuff. I appreciate greatly the encouragement and enthusiasm you have shown this tale.
And to all the people still up with this story, I can't thank you enough. I welcome all criticism. At the end of the day, I am just an amateur looking to flesh out an alternate story for us to deliberate on.
I guess, as this is fanfiction, my alterations to characters are going to be loved by some, hated by others and just plain okay for the rest. But this is the way I see it should have been for this story… where prison life is the lynchpin for all the different changes.
I hope you enjoy this.
Chapter 6: The Cynic and the Guarantees.
Recap:
"I don't want to know all your details with Bryce or your relationship with him… That would be like you asking me about my past girlfriends and it would be too awkward. What I want to know is this; now that Bryce is no longer here, if I were to ask you on a real date and we had met under much different circumstances, would you have given us a real chance?"
That was tantamount to asking if she had feelings for him. Can she compromise herself over this? Could she effectively handle him as her asset if she admitted the truth not only aloud, but also to herself? The two bullets just reminded her the fragility of his life. If she didn't take this chance now, would she regret it later on? Would her life be back on the cold, human-devoid track it had been before Bryce? Before Chuck? Before Budapest? Chuck interrupted her train of thoughts.
"I am sorry, if I pushed. I know CIA norms is that asset and agents cannot have relations. It's just that I have connected with you on a much deeper level than I have anybody else. And I know that no matter your past, whether it be Bryce or even superman, I don't care. Regardless of what you say Sarah, just know that I will trust you a hundred percent with my life. I won't question your orders unless I find them crazy like leaving you and Casey at some place to be tortured or killed. I just want to know if it were at all possible, would you do it?"
Sarah remained still. Unnaturally still. Like-bolted-to-the-floor-immovable still. All her assets in the past were slimeballs. None had the capacity to try and ask her to bring anything but her appearance into the equation. None had endeavored to peel behind her thick emotionless cover to find the gooey tender heart that was crying out to be touched, felt and loved.
And then Chuck came along. She couldn't fathom how he figured out the connection she too felt for him. Oh, she so wanted to say yes. For more reasons than he could possibly imagine. It would give her the chance to finally experience a decent romantic relationship with a wonderful set of people. It would finally give her the chance to be a part of the normal world.
But she couldn't do that to him or herself. She couldn't let them both hope for something that is clearly out of their reach. Why would he do this? Why would he throw a wrench in their together-but-not-really-but-yet-so-very-comfortable relationship? Did he really want more from her? If she were him, she would have plotted at least a million ways to kill herself and Casey and take off on foot. She was best at that. Running away. Once she found out that Bryce was a rogue agent, she ran away. She asked Graham for an assignment that would keep her far away from Bryce's manhunt as well as reinforce faith in the superiors that she wasn't a turncoat. Then Ryker happened and the castle walls around her heart had been breached by that adorable little girl.
Yet, she remained the impressive and upcoming rising star of the CIA. The feared right-hand of Graham. The human personification of the terminator. Chuck came along and somehow without even meaning to, he keeps demolishing walls around her heart before she even has the time and strength to build them back up. If she were to give into her giddiness, she would have blurted out "Yes" in an instant. But her brain meddled. No matter what happened over the past two months, she had gotten terribly attached with Chuck. If she were to confess any sort of a relationship with him, or an inclination to even try one, her bosses and the ever-lurking NSA would send her away. Would replace her with another zombie from the CIA factory. And whoever replaces her wouldn't be as considerate or understanding of his situation.
She needed to tell him, no. Dash his hopes to the ground so that the gorilla she called Casey won't be able to tamper with the team' working nature. Knowing Chuck, he will still tamper it. And looking at his expectant and hopeful face, she decided she couldn't do that to him. Fortunately, Harvard had taught her more than just languages and international relations. She learned to counter argue and guilt trap the other person.
"That isn't fair, Chuck."
Chuck's expression was one of bewilderment. "Not fair? I think you have it backwards. Because I am being forced to- ".
"No. That question isn't fair. I already told you, assets and agents cannot be in a relationship. But let's put that aside. Say I answer positively, would you be content or would you expect more? How would that affect your attitude towards missions? Now that you have expressed feelings for me, if I reply the same, wouldn't you stupidly, with that do-gooder-attitude and no-person-left-behind mentality, just follow me and Casey to rescue us from impossible situations? What about in our interactions…? Casey would figure it out.
"What if I say no? Wouldn't you close off? Would the atmosphere really be as it is right now? Or maybe you would try harder and change my mind… I cannot do either Chuck. I like you as a person. You are a good-hearted and kind person. And yes, if I were to have met you under completely different circumstance, I might have been intrigued. But how would that have turned out? I am a CIA agent. I would be jettisoning off through the world, seducing poor marks while my partner would be back home wondering when I would be back, "Is she cheating on me?" and so much more.
"What about when you learn my full past? You do not know half things I did before and after I was inducted into the company. Say we have a comfortable partnership then. There is a great chance that you would leave me with a broken heart.
"So… that question isn't fair." Sarah was panting with tears brimming in her eyes. She was also mentally slapping herself. In her attempt to get herself out of this, she might have confused him too much. She almost asked him to leave, but then stopped when she saw a big smile blooming on his face.
"Why?... Wh- Why are you smiling?" she managed to sputter out before Chuck reached for her and grabbed her in a crushing hug. Somehow, she felt warm, happy and comfortable in that position. With him in her arms, she in his. There was this magical connection, and she feared this hug was the final moment they might get to explore this moment. "Chuck, I- "
He cut her off. "I have gotten better at interpreting Sarah speak. And replying to all your doubts, questions, etc., I like you too, Sarah. Like I said before, no matter what, it isn't going to change our relationship from before. And… I will wait till the time is right"
Sarah was genuinely speechless. Chuck let go of her and she collapsed onto her sofa. Her mind was processing what he just told her when she almost missed what he said, "Besides, Bryce left me a parting present. Well, presents anyway. I will tell you later about those. For now, I'll get going. Good night, Jane Bond."
He began walking towards the door. Unbeknownst to Sarah, she had a smile on her face. A small, miniscule smile. But a smile, nonetheless. A smile that alit the hope, the longing for a partner that completed her in more than physicality. A smile that rarely ever made its way into the murky depths of her psyche. A smile that signaled the good, enjoyable and rollercoaster times ahead.
She would enjoy the night before coming up with what to do in the morning.
During Batty was the first time Casey noticed a significant shift in the convict's interactions. He seemed to be, in a lack of a better phrase, a post-night-in-bed-with-multiple-women mood. He had a skip in his step, talked in a manner that rivalled a kid in Disneyland, made them both pancakes and coffee and once it was all done, he said he had an announcement to make.
At the same time, he saw the wily CIA skank struggle to maintain a disinterested, unsmiling, impassive visage. She was twitchy as if wanting to reach out to the felon and try to bring him down from whatever high he was in. Weird. Something happened when the moron went over to her place. He was feeling like the third wheel. Again. Urgh.
His musings were interrupted by the walking twig. "Anyway… I have news and am not sure if you would regard it good or bad."
Silence pervaded the apartment. He got impatient. "What are you waiting for? A medal? We don't have all the time in the world to spend, wasted away as you did three years. Get on with it."
The felon raised his eyebrows at him. "Really? This early on this beautiful morning? Boy… those marines sure screwed you over. Regardless of the resident gorilla's impatient impertinence, I am waiting for your bosses to join the call."
That caused his and CIA skirt's eyebrows to shoot up. "Why is that exactly? And why would they talk to you? Your interactions can never happen directly with them. In the hierarchy of things, you are our asset."
The bone-headed imbecile replied, "That would have been true, if I had signed any legal document or things of that sort. I am neither an employee of the NSA or the CIA, nor do I have any affiliation to you. I only follow your orders because that was my best course of action then. It no longer is now…"
He was glaring with all his might while Sarah wore a disappointed expression. Chuck immediately dialed it back, "Look. I know it is for my protection and I can't thank you guys enough for it. But you both are the best agents from your respective agencies in covert intelligence gathering and strategic response events. You are being underutilized and to have a good operation here, you need an analyst, a tech support guy and frankly much better tech.
"With the debacle a few days ago, Ellie found out and I gather with the deal you made with Ellie, your bosses were slightly mollified. However, I have leverage and some suggestions that would help this team… do whatever it does well. So, I requested a meeting with them. They agreed."
His glare lessened slightly while Sarah was back at struggling to keep herself from smiling. Really weird. He nonetheless must admonish him. "In the future, you will run everything by us… Understood."
A defiant look was what his statement was met with. "I will, unless I think it would not be in the best interest of this team."
He was about to retort when the laptop screen on the table glowed with the figures of Director Graham and General Beckman.
To an outside observer, it immediately became apparent that the only person in that room who had any inclination to help or stay clear of whatever argument was going to take place between the intelligence heavyweights and Chuck was Sarah. Casey meanwhile took the façade of a soldier with a salute to the general.
With all the greetings and pleasantries out of the way, "Mr. Bartowski, I must confess this is a rather unique way of getting our attention."
Chuck replied, "I needed to get you all here."
Beckman spoke in a short, clipped tone… "And what exactly do you want?"
"Over the past couple of weeks, things have remarkably changed... You see. I am no longer a convict. As in my conviction has been overturned." They were all shocked.
Yet she tried to trudge on. "How does that affect what happens now?"
"I had two fears mainly – my sister being harmed by you or getting caught unknowingly in the crossfire and you using my history as a convict to rob me of all my rights. Both have been taken out. You have no more leverage on me. But I do have some on you."
"If you think, you can blackmail us, you have another thing coming. And your record hasn't been expunged. Else, we would know." Graham spoke in an amused tone.
"Oh! I think you have mistaken me. I am not here to blackmail anybody. I am here to make a deal that would benefit us both. As in the CIA/NSA and me… Regarding my record, it was cleared, and I was awarded a $500,000 from LA county and $1.5 million and my dual degree in electronics and computer science from Stanford. See here".
With that he took out the diploma from the envelope on the sofa and the two cheques that were deposited in his account. "The reason neither you nor the media know of this is because it was classified by the DNI due to its relevance with the intersect project. You would have gotten to know in the evening when you met the DNI. But I decided to tell you first.'"
They were still surprised but had seen lot more astounding things. "Now you see… I said I had leverage. One, I am no longer a convict of any sort. That means none of civil rights can be violated. Two, I have the most important intelligence asset in the world in my head that cannot be recovered or removed by any means possible. Three, I have a dual degree in computer science and electronics, with minor degrees in cryptology and data science. Four, I can do again what happened with my sister and this time, it won't be pretty. Lastly, I have concluded that you are hunting a fringe element in your own agencies, hence the importance you place in the intersect. So… if I decide not to co-operate, not only would the lack of any intersect be detrimental to what you want to achieve, but you would also be going against the very nature of America, something you swore to protect and defend – especially the soldier here."
Beckman spoke in a furious tone… "We get it. You have found yourself in an advantageous situation, what do you want?"
Chuck took in a deep breath. "In exchange for my cooperation, I want two guarantees.
"One. When this is all said and done, I would like no harm to come to my family, friends and me just for the sake of 'national security'. That is no burn notice. If I die due to some operation, some mission, I will gladly do that. But, never because of some obscure sense of national security and information he has in his head.
"Two. I will agree to not pull any stunts like I did with Ellie if I get the opportunity to be a field analyst for this operation"
If one were set off a bomb in the apartment, it would still not have the impact of the massive revelations Chuck dropped on this crowd.
Sarah was beyond herself on Chuck's asks. She was scared that the bosses might ask her and Casey to end him right now. The silence was grating on her nerves, and they were already frayed from her over contemplation of what he meant las night. But it also added a new dimension of what might be, if he were an analyst instead of an asset. It made a lot more sense to her now that she knew why he was confident enough to ask her those questions.
Casey couldn't believe it. He respected the fe- not felon, but still a moron, a hell of lot more. It takes some big ones to stand in front of the heads of the two most powerful intelligence services in the world and demand a set of guarantees to get things his way. Mighty well played, numbnuts.
Beckman smiled. A genuine smile. She had underestimated him. Again. Even Graham did. He is living up to be the perfect host they could have asked for. Smart. Ambitious. Ballsy. Yet, still timid enough, scared enough and controllable. And the requests he had? They would only make it easier for more control over this operation. "I think, I am okay with both those guarantees. In fact, I think its applaudable that even though the judicial system of this country failed you, sent you more than a few years of misery, you are willing to serve our country again. What do you think, Graham?"
Graham broke out into a wide smile. "Finally living up to your potential. Alright, you will be trained as an analyst for both the CIA and NSA… The first of a kind. You will receive back pay and hazard pay for you past two months of operations and you will get all the tech requirements to make this into a good operation." His voice gained an edge, "However, should you ever dupe us or try to make a move which we do not approve or have no good reason for, the burn notice that might have been there after the operation was completed, would definitely come before the operation's done. Copy?"
Chuck was smiling too, "As long as we are clear with each other. I appreciate your understanding. When does my training start?"
Beckman replied, "You will be trained minimally by Agent Walker and Major Casey for hand-to-hand combat in case you require it in the field. Most of your training will be in the gun range and torture survival. This will be done over the net few weeks. Analyst training will be unnecessary for you… With all the intersect data mining you do; this additional burden will make it impossible for you to recover.
"We will vet and assign an analyst from both the agencies to support your operation. Also, along with your sister, we have decided we need one more doctor on call. If you so choose, we could offer it to your sister's fiancé, if she so chooses. Let us know by EOD today."
Graham took the initiative and said, "When we first came to know the recipient of the intersect, we were aghast. Even if Bryce Larkin isn't our or your favorite person in the world, he did this country a huge favor. At the same time, let me make it clear once again. For now, the burn notices are off the table. But cross the line without a good reason, they will be the least of your worries. Copy?"
And the meeting abruptly ended.
Chuck turned to the statuesque figures behind him. "So, what do you think…"
Sarah replied with an unrecognizable glint in her eyes, "I think we have a lot of work to do."
Hey guys… Short Chapter I know. But its implications are pretty wild. Also, congrats Chuck. You are no longer a convict. Next chapter will see Tiny come into the picture. Also, more on Sarah and Chuck's relationship and a few surprises along the way. While Chuck is no longer a felon, it doesn't mean he is okay with the judicial system, or he hasn't learnt things in the joint. Money can only assuage so much. Next few chapters will help understand this too.
Thanks a bunch. See you when I see you.
