A/N: Review numbers are definitely dropping on this one, which is sad, but those staying with it still seem to like it, so thanks to those people. I do reply to all the reviews other than those from guests.

Beta thanks to MarkeyDeSad, as usual. He also encouraged me to expand a few sections in this one.

Here we find out how Sarah gets on persuading General Beckman to include her on the mission to catch her dad. A slightly shorter chapter this time.


The Novelist
Chapter 10: Beckman


"Tell me about this General Beckman. What's she like?"

Chuck was surprised at receiving a question like that. "Why do you want to know, Sarah?"

"Well, you know I like to understand people, for my books, but I particularly like to understand ones I work with or have to deal with. She certainly falls into the last category, but should fall into the previous one, too," Sarah explained.

He thought for a while. He'd been interacting with the woman for seven years now, on and off. "She's pretty intimidating, even though she is not physically large. Her presence is much larger than her stature. Even on calls. She's also determined to get her way and doesn't tolerate delays or distractions. She certainly doesn't like people changing her plans, unless they have compelling arguments."

He paused and thought of his conversation with her about Sarah. "When I told her about you, I made it abundantly clear that I wanted to be with you, an author of spy fiction. Her first reply was that she thought you were a good author and she'd read a couple of your novels."

Sarah found that a bit surprising, but then Zondra Rizzo was the same. Maybe she had a target audience just within the intelligence agencies. She grinned. "So, she can't be all that bad," she joked.

He chuckled. "She also commented that she thought you were smart and what you wrote about the CIA was, and I quote, 'pretty close to the reality of what goes on in that organization.'"

Sarah laughed at that. "Doesn't sound like she thinks much of them."

"No, I don't think there's much love lost between the two agencies." He though more about his conversation back then.

He wished he had talked with Sarah about his family connection, but could only hint at it right now. "She knew my parents." Sarah was about to speak, so he held up his hand. "Story for anther time, but I mention it because General Beckman knows me quite well and has been quite supportive of me in a way that confuses Zondra and Casey. When I told her about you, she said, 'Chuck, it's about damn time you started dating again.'"

Sarah hugged him. "Thank you for telling me that. I want to know more about your parents at some point, though. For now, I think I like this woman."

"I don't think she'll agree to you working with us on this, though," Chuck said. "I will try to persuade her, but don't get your hopes up."

Waiting for Chuck to get approval for her involvement would not be fun. Sarah had done enough waiting, being kept in the dark. This was her dad they were after and she should be doing this. "Chuck, call your general. Let me talk to her."

"What!?"

Sarah gazed at her stunned boyfriend. "I want to explain my situation and get her to see the way forward," she replied.

"That's my job," he spelled out, with some frustration. He thought that was obvious. Why was she doing this?

Sarah kept her gaze on him, but stayed calm. "Chuck, since I have known you, I have been kept in the dark more than not. This time, I want to drive it."

He sighed. "Sarah, this is an NSA mission. You can't drive an NSA mission." He hesitated, then said the rest, "You might not even be able to participate." He knew she didn't want to hear that, but it was true.

Sarah certainly didn't want to hear that. What's more, he obviously wasn't going to entertain her idea, let alone push it. She glared at him, then grabbed her phone and called the other NSA person she knew.

"Hello, Sarah," Zondra answered cautiously.

Sarah guessed the caution was because Beckman had put some doubts into her head about the daughter of a person of interest. She put the phone on speaker before replying. "Zondra, I am not hiding my dad." She wanted that clear straight away. "Using an old photo of him, we've managed to locate someone who might be him," Sarah was careful to tell their findings that way.

"Might?" Zondra questioned, picking up on Sarah's wording. Good, Sarah thought. Hooked as I wanted.

She explained, "The photo was twenty years old. You are only going to know if it really is him if I meet and talk to him."

Zondra was silent for a moment. "Chuck has, in effect, read you in, hasn't he?"

Sarah looked at Chuck who had been listening, wide-eyed. He replied to this, "Zondra, Sarah is on our side. She and her mom were brought to California to get them away from her dad, twenty years ago. Neither have seen him since then. However, with Sarah's help, we might have found him. Might."

"How would you confirm it's him, Sarah?" Zondra asked.

"When I talk to him," Sarah started, emphasizing the 'when' pointedly. "I will be able to talk about things only he and I know from my childhood."

Another slight pause, then, "If you tell us what to say, one of us could do that."

Sarah scoffed, knowing this wasn't what Zondra meant, but she went with it anyway. "Neither you nor Chuck look like you could have been a pale blonde-haired girl back then."

Zondra laughed. "I meant a blonde NSA agent."

Sarah smiled. "I know that, however, that highlights why it has to be me. Dad won't recognize me. He only knows the seven-year-old version of me. He will ask questions to confirm who I am. That's if it is him, of course."

"We could just take him into custody and interrogate him," Zondra replied.

Sarah hadn't thought about such an action. "And if it's not him, but an innocent civilian that you 'interrogate' that way? Sounds like the shit I write about the CIA doing!" Sarah snapped.

Zondra started to speak, but Sarah ignored her and continued," Besides, if you work with him, rather than against, Dad might help. He's done it before in the UK."

Zondra said nothing for a while. "We would need approval for this, Chuck."

Before he could reply, Sarah did, "let me talk to your boss, get this clear and get that approval."

"She won't like that. A civilian talking to her," Zondra cautioned.

"Well, I don't like her ordering my boyfriend to treat me like a mark! She'll have to get over it, like I do," Sarah replied in a flat tone, holding her anger in.

Zondra laughed at that. "She doesn't get over things that well." She then sounded more serious. "There might also be repercussions for Chuck as well, for revealing classified information to a civilian. He could lose his security clearance which would also effectively terminate any government contracts he had for his company. He could also be arrested and charged with violating national security."

Chuck looked about to speak, so Sarah held up her forefinger to stop him. "All Chuck told me was that he was curious about my dad and asked where he was." This was a lie, but Zondra wouldn't know that. "I questioned why he wanted to know and he just looked embarrassed. I am good at finding facts, Zondra… Besides, you've told me more that he has."

"This won't go well," Zondra muttered.

"Just, let me talk to her. It can be one-to-one if that is easier for her." Sarah smirked. "I might even offer her a personalized copy of my latest book."

Chuck looked shocked at that, so she winked at him.

Zondra was chuckling. "I really like you, Sarah."

"So, please get me that call," Sarah replied.

"I'll call her and talk to her about it. You are right to think it would be better coming directly from you rather than someone who is just thinking about what's in your pants, though." Zondra ended the call before Sarah or Chuck could respond to that.


Chuck had been stealing himself for this since Sarah had called Zondra, so when the call came through from General Beckman, he was sure he was in for a severe chewing out. So, the general's first words were a surprise, "Put this on speaker, Chuck, I'm sure Sarah is there with you."

He did so. "On speaker now, General."

"Good morning, Miss Walker."

Sarah was surprised at how quickly this had happened and also the pleasant tone she heard. "Good morning, General, and thank you for taking the time to talk with me."

The General chuckled. "Well, as you have one of my team wrapped around your little finger and another raving about you, I think you have me at a disadvantage."

Sarah laughed and looked at her boyfriend. "I don't think it's quite like that. But thank you for the compliment." She changed her tone for the more serious topic. "I want to help you find my wayward father and think that what you've heard is the only way to do it."

"Agent Rizzo has outlined your idea to me and, although I don't like civilians getting involved in our missions, I think you are right. However,…" she paused, seemingly deliberately. "There is a lot of paperwork you will need to complete. Non-disclosure agreements, national security forms etc. Mr. Bartowski, Chuck, can take you to the NSA Los Angeles field office for you to do that."

She paused, then told them something that none knew about. "We considered trying to get your mother's cooperation, but her records clearly indicate she cannot be approached about your father due to her mental health. I see her breakdown over his actions was part of the reason for your move to California."

Sarah's eyes narrowed. Just thinking about them possibly talking to her mom about her dad was awful. "If you talk to Mom about Dad, she'd probably have another breakdown," she stated with no doubt in her mind.

Beckman nodded. "We won't," she assured Sarah. Then her tone became less welcoming with the next part. "Miss Walker, one thing I want very clear. Anything, and I mean anything, you see, hear, use or infer from your involvement in this is NOT to appear in your books. That is part of what you are signing up for. If you break that agreement, the full weight of the law will be brought to bear on you. Do you understand?"

Sarah felt like a child being instructed like this, but this woman didn't really know her, so was spelling it out in the simplest terms to ensure understanding. "Yes, General. I will follow all your rules, but I need assurances that my father is not to be tortured or harmed. Agent Rizzo mentioned the possibility of interrogation. Much as I resent what my father put my mom and I through, he is still my father."

The reply was instant, "if your father gives us the information we need from him, he will not be harmed."

Sarah frowned. "That gives no reassurance at all. If he doesn't have what you want, because your information is incorrect, I have no faith in you not hurting him."

The general paused. "I can't promise anything. If he doesn't tell us what we KNOW he has, then we have to get it out of him."

"One of the things my mom told me that I got from my dad was a dislike of being forced to do things I didn't agree with. He will be uncooperative, to say the least. I wouldn't blame him." Sarah had been thinking about her dad since Chuck and she had started the search for photos. She plunged on, "However, one of the things I remember, and Mom thought it too, was that he would do anything for me back then. He may do so still."

"He may not want to tell you about what he has been involved in. This is not petty criminal activities, Miss Walker. We may still have to probe harder than you."

"Seems like an impasse," Sarah stated. "Unless Dad has the information you THINK he has, he is going to be mistreated by you. Doesn't paint your team in any better light than my CIA."

Chuck felt he had to intervene as this was going sideways. "General, what if we show Sarah why you think he definitely has the information? Then, she will be convinced and will work on her father to supply it."

Sarah nodded and Beckman instantly replied, "she shouldn't see this information. It's classified."

"I don't need to help you, either," Sarah stated flatly. "You want my help, you play ball. Until you do, Chuck, Zondra and that other guy get the rest they are entitled to."

Chuck was horrified at how Sarah was playing this. Beckman however, didn't react as he would expect. "I will think about this." She cut the call.

Chuck turned to Sarah. "You're playing with fire here."

"I don't like being a pawn, Chuck," was all she could say at that point. Internally, she was shaking like a leaf. Standing up to that woman felt important, as did making the woman see reason.

"This could blow up in all our faces," he intoned.

"If she's smart, she will know that my way is best," Sarah explained. "If she isn't, she doesn't deserve my help."

She stood up and headed into the kitchen to get a drink. When she got there, she would have to decide between water, coffee, wine or something stronger. Her shaken legs were in favor of something stronger, her stomach remembered the vodka and thought otherwise.

"Whatever happens, I will support you," Chuck mentioned as she walked away.

That caused her legs to divert. She dropped down into his lap and she kissed him.

This is what I need, more than anything, she thought.


Chuck wasn't too surprised to get the summons to a video call at Casey's. Sarah had expected it too.

Sarah stood with him. "Take me with you this time and drop me off at a nearby coffee shop. You can then join me when she's finished with you."

Chuck winced at her choice of words, but he nodded.

Sarah quickly showered and dressed. Chuck was stunned at how quickly she could do that. Zondra was a quick-change artist, necessary sometimes on missions, but Sarah seemed even faster. Consequently, she was ready almost as fast as he was.

They sat largely in silence in the car. apart from discussing where she could wait for him. However, as they got close to that coffee shop, Sarah spoke. "Will you be able to tell if she's lying?"

Chuck had been thinking about this as he drove. "She is usually a straight shooter, but I guess lying is part of the job spec for them all."

"Do you think I should trust that Dad won't be harmed?" she asked, quietly.

He sighed. "I don't see how you can be sure of anything here, but he might have the information and volunteer it. If he does, all your concerns disappear."

"True."

He stopped at the curb outside the coffee shop and she got out and walked in. She hadn't even kissed Chuck, she was so deep in thought. He watched her go, worried about her.


Zondra and Casey were clueless about this call. All Chuck had time to say was that Sarah and the general had been discussing options. He received two sets of raised eyebrows, but then the general appeared on the screen for their call.

"Miss Walker is a strong -willed character," were her first words. She paused and looked at Chuck for a few moments.

Chuck was desperately trying to think of something to say.

Beckman continued, "I like her. She reminds me of myself at that age, and your mother too."

Zondra and Casey's eyes shot toward Chuck on hearing that. Zondra knew nothing of his mom's connection with General Beckman and Casey only suspected it as he was there when Chuck was recruited.

"We have no evidence of her claims to be able to manipulate her father, but we will go with her suggestion in case she can. It's worth trying."

"What about the assurances she was seeking, General?" Chuck asked.

Beckman sighed. "You know as well as I do that we can't make promises, or if we do, we may have to break them."

Chuck tensed. His conversation with Sarah was going to be fraught.

The general continued, "However, having read the information we've received from England, it seems that he is a very willing helper… with the right incentive."

"And what would that be, Ma'am?" Casey asked.

"His daughter's career," Beckman replied.

That took Chuck by surprise. "What?"

"If he doesn't help, she now knows too much about the NSA and couldn't be trusted with her fiction," Beckman stated with a straight face.

"You'd-" Chuck started.

Beckman cut him off. "No, of course I wouldn't!" Even on the screen it was possible to see the twinkle in her eyes to go with the smile. "I love her books too much!" Her face morphed back into its normal stern visage. "Jack Burton doesn't know that, though."

With anyone else, Chuck might have said, 'You devious bitch!' but not with the general. He just smiled and nodded. "Thank you, General."

"So, we're good to go? Taking his girlfriend on a field trip?" Casey asked.

"You're not going anywhere, Casey," Zondra told him.

"No, you're not, Major," Beckman agreed. Then she smiled. On someone else you might call it an innocent look. On her it was a bit disturbing. "On this mission, Mr. Bartowski will take his two girls." She then ended the call.

Zondra barked out a laugh, while Casey scowled.

Chuck smiled. The two women that really liked each other. What could go wrong?


A/N: So, Sarah's going on the mission. That starts next chapter.