AN- A short in-between chapter. I wanted to lay a bit of groundwork for later. Call it 6a.
"You called this meeting, Agent." Director Graham said over the video link at Casey's apartment. General Beckman was also on screen and neither of them looked particularly happy.
Sarah nodded and closed the folder she had on the counter in front of her. Chuck was at the Buy More with Casey watching him, so she didn't have to worry about hurting his feelings when she put on her Agent Walker act. "Director, General. Thank you for agreeing." Sarah said, as calmly as she could.
"This is an important project Agent Walker." Beckman replied with an almost unwilling nod of acknowledgment. "If you have operational concerns, we need to hear them before they become problems."
"Agreed, and unfortunately some of those concerns have since become problems." Sarah said, keeping her expression neutral. "If we'd had more time to plan the operation, that might not have been the case. Given the need for haste we compromised on a number of measures. There are issues we will need to address now. Otherwise we will not be able to maintain the operation in its current form."
Graham's face tightened but didn't show any emotional response. Nor did he comment yet. Beckman nodded again. "Proceed Agent."
"The main issue is with holes in our covers. Casey is, from the outside, pretty well set. People assume he's retired or reserve and does the Buy More job more or less as a way to pass the time. If anyone looks too closely we can throw in a medical issue to explain why. My cover is the one that presents issues, apart from grease and annoying people staring at me. When I arrived I had no long term plan. So a standard short term stay suite was setup, but its turning into a longer term and is out of 'character' for someone who works where I do. As is my car. Nothing tracks to the persona I presented on my first nights in town and have subsequently maintained."
"So, you want to change out your car? Just buy something or requisition it, I'm not seeing the issue." Beckman said, tone growing more annoyed.
"No, you're not. For outside consumption I could play the part in a number of ways. I could say it was family money, daddy's car, and such. Play a grad student for example. Perhaps even a hands on franchise owner. The car isn't the issue, its a symptom of elements of the story not meshing properly. The problem is people on the inside. Chuck's family is made up of a neurologist and a cardio-thoracic surgeon. They are neither stupid nor blind." Sarah continued. "And before you suggest some kind of disappearing strategy, its going to be difficult to make well loved and even only locally prominent doctors disappear without questions. The whole problem is we need to reduce scrutiny of our activities – not increase it. Its difficult to change things they know about now."
"Agent Walker, you don't bring up problems without a... solution." Director Graham spoke finally.
"Correct, I do not. I'd like to discuss a few more items if I may?" Sarah said, not sharply but with a bit of an edge put into it. Both of the people on video nodded.
"So, to recap. I don't fit the social and economic cues of someone the asset would normally date. Doctor Bartowski didn't see it for some time because she holds her brother in high regard and was essentially just happy he was dating. However recently she has started to suspect something is 'off' and confronted me on a 'girls day' outing."
Graham's eyebrows rose at this, he and Beckman appeared to be suppressing smiles. Sarah kept talking. "It is… difficult to avoid social gatherings with the elder Bartowski. At any rate, she isolated flaws in our behavior. As well as the disparity in my apparent economic status and employment. And then proceeded to question my relationship to the asset."
"So, are you requesting reassignment? I'm not.." Graham began to say before Sarah interrupted sharply.
"No! That would be worse from the standpoint of attracting attention. How would you maintain close observation? Or the cooperation of all parties? The asset has formed an attachment to me, and even a grudging sort of working relationship with Casey. We've built some trust." Sarah shook her head. "Also, with the information we've seen it appears that we cannot trust NSA or CIA personnel divisions right now. One of the most highly placed, remaining, scientists on the Intersect project turned out to be a traitor after all. We're lucky that Major Casey and I are clean."
"All I'm hearing so far are problems Agent Walker." Graham prompted.
"We can make adjustments to my cover job that few people on the outside will question." Sarah said, choosing her words carefully. "We could 'reveal' the fact that my family owns the franchise for example. Or we could shut down the restaurant in favor of something else as we bring the local support facility online. I'll leave that up to the planners."
"Which still leaves the question of what to do about suspicions from people close to the asset." Beckman stated.
And time for a couple more nudges… "The closest people, yes. Dr. Bartowski is, possibly unfortunately from our point of view, extremely observant. Once the novelty of her brother's new girlfriend wore off she began to question the flaws in our 'progress'." Sarah shrugged. "Also, its difficult to conceal our comings and goings – and injuries, from a doctor who does regular ED rotations. Under the circumstances, I was forced to go off script and come up with a story on the fly to cover the apparent issue. That has bought us some time, but its not perfect."
Graham looked at her and asked slowly. "What story did you give her? Is it one we will need to back up?"
"Right now she believes that Chuck and I have taken up some self defense classes that happen at odd hours given our schedules, and that I took the Wienerlicious job more or less out of boredom and plan to change jobs soon. I gave her my standard story of working for a defense contractor in DC, modified. I recently resigned and moved here." Sarah lied with a small smile. "This means I will probably actually have to give the asset some training and physical conditioning. I have no problems with that. The story also created a need for the job solution to be sooner rather than later."
Beckman tapped her desk and spoke. "That's fine, but its got its own issues that will fall apart quickly. You said that the asset's sister was distracted by your presence in his life?"
Sarah suppressed an urge to give a shit eating grin as they took the bait. Instead she shifted a bit uncomfortably on the stool. "Yes… were are you going with that?"
"Diane, Agent Walker doesn't really do those kinds of assignments, and certainly not long term." Graham said with a note of reproach in his tone. "If you're suggesting what I'm thinking you are."
"I'm not suggesting she sleep with the asset or do anything she's uncomfortable with." Beckman said, raising her hands placatingly. "Just that we give the appearance of progress in the relationship. Some overnight stays and extra dates outside of missions should do it." She paused, pursing her lips. Then she nodded. "And we get the added bonus of better close surveillance and security. I'm still not totally comfortable with the number of near accidental security breaches we've had. The Chinese agent was simply the latest. This would be a good alternative to placing the asset in a bunker."
"As I've advocated that we take the bunker off the table previously, I will make arrangements for the proposed plan." Sarah said, in what she figured was an appropriately resigned tone. "In the long run, it might be a good idea to find an apartment for me. Its starting to seem a bit unnatural for me to 'waste money' on a hotel this long."
Graham nodded, as did Beckman. Graham spoke first. "Put in a request through the local substation and I'll approve the budget."
"Thank you." Sarah said.
"If there's nothing else, we'll…" Graham started to say. Sarah interrupted.
"Actually, there is one thing." Sarah said, then shrugged. "Well two. First, given the asset's attachment to me and his emotional state, I'd suggest we work our mission parameters to ensure that… well, that my primary focus is on the asset and not a target." There's also the possibility I'd kill the first person that makes Chuck think I'm… like Jill I suppose.
Beckman nodded. "Agreed. If a mission comes up requiring those skills, we'll try to work around it or bring someone in. And the second?"
"Access to the original background materials on the Intersect itself and the development team." Sarah said. She watched both the director's visibly wince and continued. "I'm not a scientist, nor am I a dedicated analyst, however I am a good investigator. If our long term goal is reinstatement of the computerized version of the Intersect and the removal of it from its current civilian home… finding some of the original designers is probably a reasonable step. I've found an individual's notes are an insight into more than what they're taking notes on."
Beckman looked thoughtful, Graham was unreadable. Hmm, interesting. The background material is a sore spot, I wonder who's in it? Time to back out gracefully, quit while I'm ahead. Sarah schooled her expression and waited. Eventually Graham spoke. "We'll take that under advisement. For now we'll work on the other items identified. Keep us apprised as to progress on them and any new concerns. I'd appreciate a written report on any other concerns we can address before they become real problems."
"Of course." Sarah said, nodding. The video cut out without a goodbye, normal for Beckman but indicating a bit of irritation from Graham. The original Intersect project is definitely a sore spot for Graham. She smiled to herself and left Casey's apartment after setting his alarms. Heading out towards her car, she took out her phone and dialed Chuck.
"Bartowski – Bored, but secure." Chuck's voice came over the phone in a parody of security procedures.
Sarah laughed. "Walker – Infatuated, and secure."
Chuck didn't respond for a second and then, "That sounds like very good news for me."
"Wanna go on an officially sanctioned, not mission related, just Chuck and Sarah – actual for real – date?" Sarah said, smiling as she got into her car. "I have been, well not quite ordered, but directed to spend more time with you outside of missions. As well, to do more overnights. Both of these to serve the purpose of showing people how our relationship is progressing and providing better security for you." She put the phone on speaker and pulled out into traffic.
"Wait. You've gotten the CIA and the NSA sanction, officially, dating me and progressing our relationship for public consumption?" Chuck asked.
"Essentially, yeah. Should take the pressure off since this means we can actually go out to dinner without a mission and no one will care. We can get away with a great many more evenings to ourselves." Sarah said, a note of pride in her voice. "Until we get everything else solved, this is probably the best outcome we could hope for."
"Do you like noodles? Meet at my place around six?" Chuck asked eagerly.
"Its a date." Sarah replied. And for once, that's literally all it is.