A/N 1:
Sorry that it has been a while. Got sidetracked by life, some good, some bad. Then, I lost the story, lost my momentum. So, I had to get this back in my brain. I think I am back on track.
An interesting contrast that I see between Sarah and Carina, in these stories (and neither term is pejorative) is that Carina is Tough person, who is learning to soften up, and that Sarah is a Soft person, who is learning to shed the Toughness that she created to hide behind.
Anyhow, this is about 3x the length of my normal posting, as I wanted all the scenes to follow on the other
So, when we left off Carina was surprised that Chuck didn't jump at the opportunity to be her boyfriend, and she decides to increase her efforts at winning his heart.
A/N 2:
Don't own Chuck, Not making money from this.
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A few days later, Carina knocks on Chuck's open door and steps into his room. "How is Mi Chucketto, tonight?"
Chuck spins in his desk chair, turning away from the computer and chuckles. "So now I am your little Chuck?" He asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Hey, I've been out shopping and the Italian seeped in" She laughs in response.
She bounces herself down on the bed and opens up the bag in her hands. "Lookie, Lookie at what I got for you." she gleefully says, bobbing her head towards the bed, inviting him to sit next to her.
He moves to the bed, sitting next to her, looking at the red box in her hands, trying to make out what it is.
"Ta Da!" She exclaims, holding out a boxed set of books. "The Daredevil Saga, with that Elektra lady."
Chuck's eyes widen in surprise. "Oh Wow! The Frank Miller collection! That is an awesome series." Then he turns to her, confused. "How? Why? Where did you find this?"
She smiles up at him, eyes sparkling in happiness at his response. "It was in a store window, and caught my eye. You do like it, don't you?" she prompts.
Chuck straightens up, from looking at the set, and immediately reassures her, "Oh yeah, this is great!" then sets the books aside to give her an appreciative hug. "These are great! I am just surprised. Why? How did you know?"
"Well, you know, I actually do pay attention to things you say." She grins up at him and bumps shoulders, affectionately. "I remember you mentioning him, and I also remember that movie with Jennifer Garner, as that Bad Ass ninja. She looked so hot in that red outfit." She wiggles her eyebrows for emphasis.
Chuck laughs, "Yeah, that was probably the most memorable thing from those movies. But yeah, this is a classic. And, it must have cost a bit. I mean these run a few hundred dollars. You shouldn't have." he states, his look shifting to one of concern.
"It's no biggie." She replies, smiling, staring into his eyes. "Consider it a belated birthday gift or something. I thought it would make you happy, and the new improved Carina likes making people happy." Bumping his shoulder again, she adds, "Especially you."
Chuck pulls her into a side hug, and kisses the top of her head. "Well I appreciate it."
He then pushes her slightly away, so he can look full in her face, and grinning, inquires "The New Improved Carina?"
"Yep." She replies, popping the "p" as she stands and shifts to sitting in his lap. She reaches up to brush some hair from his forehead, then runs her fingers across his scalp, staring him straight in the eyes, as she continues, "The. New. Improved. Carina."
Chuck involuntarily shudders, turtling his head into his shoulders and squeezing his eyes shut, in intense response to her touch. After a moment, he regains control and can again meet her eyes. With a smirk, he prompts, "Do tell."
As she continues to finger comb his hair, she explains. "Old Carina was gung ho, full speed, ask no questions and take no prisoners." She leans in to bump his forehead with her own. "And, the Chuck influenced, new improved Carina, slows down to appreciate the moment, to consider consequences, and how things affect others. I've learned that running from the bad, makes you miss out on the good. You've helped me remember how to care more deeply for others."
Carina stares deeply in his eyes for a moment, then leans in to kiss his lips.
Chuck hesitates for a moment, then leans into the kiss, as they savor each other's lips, a delicacy they had denied themselves for months.
And then he pulls back, "Wow. Caring is good. I like caring." he babbles, trying to regain his senses and sensibility.
Carina bites his lower lip in response, sucking it between her lips.
He pulls away with a slight pop, as their lips separate. "But I want to know more about the new Carina."
He stands, lifting her, then lowering her to her feet. Carina unwillingly stands on her own, and confused, searches his eyes for the passion they just shared.
Seeing her reaction, Chuck smiles down at her. "I liked that. I haven't forgotten your sweet taste."
Carina's face softens into a slight smile, her concerns somewhat allayed.
"But," he continued, "if we are going to see if there is anything deep and long term here, it can't just be about sex."
Carina, leans into him, lightly poking his chest with one finger, and pouts, "But, I like the sex." She pokes his chest again and grins up at him, "And, you are really good at the sex part."
Chuck throws his head back and laughs, then smiles down at her, and in a bad Elvis voice, responds, "Thank you, Thank you very much."
She laughs lightly in response, then assuming a more serious demeanor, adds, "But, I get it. A relationship can't be one dimensional. We need to make sure we are compatible when we aren't bumping uglies." They both chuckle at her description.
"I am not as go, go, go as you, and I worry that you might get bored with me," Chuck explains, voicing his concern. "And I definitely can't keep up with a 7/24 party lifestyle."
Carina steps forward into his arms, embracing him and laying the side of her face against his chest, "I get it baby. And, I am pretty much over that lifestyle, too. But, we don't have to be exactly the same, do we? Isn't there some common ground, some give and take, that can make this work, make us work?"
He tightens the hug, then steps back, and smiles in reply, "That is what we are going to find out."
Leaning in again, to kiss her forehead, he explains, "And, that is why I don't want to jump right back into bed."
Carina teasingly groans out an, "Aww!"
He chuckles at that, continuing, "Because that would totally distract us from exploring the rest of our lives."
He takes a big step back, and leans over, picking the books up off the bed. Grasping the boxed set with both hands, he gives her a sincere, heartfelt smile, "Thank you very much for the books, I appreciate your thoughtfulness. I do like the new, caring Carina, and I want to get to know her better. Let's do dinner tomorrow night, OK?"
Carina steps up to him, stares deeply into his eyes, for a beat, then lightly kisses his lips. She lowers her face to his chest and lightly slaps it with her palm, as she pushes away. "Yeah, dinner will be good." She steps to the doorway, and half turns, smiling back at him. "I am serious about making this work. If I am going to do this whole monogamous serious relationship thing, I couldn't find a better man than you, Chuck Bartowski." With a wink, she took her leave.
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The next night, Chuck was just closing the door to his room, when Carina topped the stairs, a guitar case in hand. "Hey," she calls out, "are you going out?"
"Meeting. This evening was the only time everyone could get online together." he answers, a quizzical look forming on his face. "You play guitar?"
"Well, actually no," Carina coyly responds, drawing out the "o". Tilting her head, to look up at him side-eyed, she adds, with a smirk, "But you do. I was coming to see you. Do you have a few minutes? Can we step back into your room?"
"Uh, sure, I can take a moment. What's up" he queries as he re-opens his door, stepping through the doorway to allow Carina to follow.
"Well, I have seen that you have a guitar floating around, and a friend of a friend had this opportunity." she begins explaining as she hoists the guitar case onto the bed, and proceeds to open it. "So anyway, I jumped on this opportunity and got this for you." she declares, as she lifts out of the case, and presents to him, a vibrant purple guitar.
"Wha…." he asks, confused and gingerly taking the guitar in his hands.
"It's autographed." she explains, pointing out the names written on the body.
Wha…" Chuck questions, trying to make sense of it all.
"It's the Foo Fighters. You like them, right?" Carina prods him.
Chuck's eyes widen even larger as he deciphers Dave Grohl's signature.
"Wha…!" he continues with his questioning.
"Yeah, I have heard you singing along, 'Looking for a na na na na, Looking something something, yeah. Something, something and learn to fly.'" she attempts.
Bewildered, Chuck just stares down at her. "Huh?"
"Yeah,"she continues," and that one,"'Breathe out, so I can breathe you in, something, something. La, la, na na na na na na, something, out of her head she sang.' And then it's like, 'Everything could be this good forever. Something, something.' It's a really good song, too. And, I have heard you playing their music, so you've gotta like them right?" She presses him for reassurance.
Chuck stifles the laugh that is trying to break through his confusion and paint the whole scene in absurdity. He manages to gather his wits enough to say, "The Foo Fighters. Yeah, The Foo Fighters. They're great. But what? I mean, Wow! This is really nice. You know. It's really cool, with all the autographs."
"Right!", Carina nods in agreement. "And the color. That purple. It's just like Bling!"
Chuck laughs, "Yeah, that purple really pops!" he gleefully agrees. Then he sets the guitar down and turns to her, and more quietly, more seriously, questions, "But why? How? What?"
With a big smile, she excitedly looks up at him, answering, "Like I said, a friend of a friend and a unique opportunity. So do you like it?" she presses.
"Of course. It's great. But, I mean, it's so extravagant. And, and out of left field." He looks down at the guitar, admiringly, then back up to her, his eyes expressing both appreciation and concern. "It's just too much. This had to cost a chunk of money. It's just too much."
"Awe, come on Chuck, don't be like that. Don't overthink it. I don't think it was too much." She smiles, trying to reassure him. "Consider it an early Christmas present, or something. Like I said, I like to do nice things for you. And, I win if it gets you to play guitar more." She looks deeply in his eyes and more softly adds, "Maybe you could play it for me."
She steps to his chest,and his arms instinctively encircle her. In a familiar fashion, she looks up as he looks down, her lips seeking his. She tightens the embrace, lips to lips, chest to chest, pelvis to pelvis, and she is pleased as she feels his hardness, as he begins to vibrate.
Vibrate? And, then the ringing of his phone became apparent, even buried in his pocket.
"Oh Shit! Shit! Shit!" Chuck exclaims, abruptly pulling himself from her arms. "My meeting."
He races out the door, answering the phone and offering hurried apologies.
Smiling, Carina sits on the bed and shifts back against the headboard, pulling the guitar into her lap. Yeah, I think he likes it. He's gonna like it as soon as he stops freaking out about it. She absently strums at the strings. That almost went very good. She licks her lips in remembrance. He's got to love this, and that I am doing nice things for him. He's going to see that I am thoughtful and giving and that's got to help make him fall in love with me.
She slid her body down, to lie prone on the bed, and snuggled into the duvet, embracing the guitar. I am going to win you over, Chuck Bartowski, I will make you see how wonderful I am.
/
It is late when Chuck returns to his room, and he quickly stops himself from turning on the lights, when he sees Carina's moon illuminated form, under his blankets. She is softly snoring, so he quietly moves closer to the bed, and is able to make out the guitar case, on the floor, next to the bed, and her clothes piled atop it.
Hmm..Looks like she was hoping I would find some way to show my appreciation. Carina, Carina, Carina. You've got to understand that strong, committed, long term relationships aren't transactional. She has got to understand that a guitar isn't going to win me over. It's the sharing of all the little things. And, truly caring about what the other is feeling and experiencing.
He shakes his head and softly smiles down at her. I hope you will learn, honey, that it is about a lifetime of small, intimate moments, not a few transitory, grand gestures.
He lays himself, fully clothed, on top of the covers and dozes off, dreaming of wild redheads, ripping off intense guitar solos.
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Chuck awoke to commotion. He opens his eyes and is presented with Carina making another attempt at the Foo, "There goes my hero, Wakey, Wakey, Wake. There goes my hero, Chuckie, Chuckie, Chuck." she was singing, as she danced around his bed, wearing one of his T-shirts, and strumming tunelessly on the purple Foo Fighters guitar.
He sits up, and dazedly takes in the scene. He laughs and says, "Good Morning to you too, 'Rina."
"You gotta wakey, wakey, 'cause we're gonna party, party," she continued in a sing-songy fashion, grinning at him, her eyes sparkling, and still swaying and dancing around the room, strumming the guitar.
"Whaty, Whaty, Whaty are you talking about?" he asks, grinning back at her, as he swings his legs over the side of the bed, to sit on its edge.
"How early can you finish work today? We've got plans!" Carina inquires, and exclaims.
"We do, do we? Big Party tonight?" he asks with raised eyebrows and a smile.
Starting a little dance, Carina sings out a simple tune.
""we're goING TO A CO-ON-cert.
gonna see THE FOO FI- IGH-ters.
gonNA DO SOME DA-AN-cing.
it's gonNA BE A GOOD TI-I-ime."
She pops her hips back and forth in time to her tune, grinning and playing, at playing the guitar.
"Say what? The Foo Fighters in Concert? Where? When?" he babbles, surprised at the news.
Bouncing on her toes, she excitedly explains, "Here! Tonight! This is part of their European Tour!"
"Holy Crap, This is amazing", Chuck exclaims, springing to his feet, stepping to her and lightly grasping her shoulders.
They start bouncing up and down, in unison, turning a slow circle in the process, as they chanted together,
""we're goING TO A CO-ON-cert.
gonna see THE FOO FIGH-ters"
But, that only lasts a few moments, and chuckling, they settle down.
Chuck asks, curious about the situation, "How did you get the tickets? And why? And how? And When? And…And… Wow!" He runs his hands through his hair, dissipating his nervous energy.
"OK, The how is, I bought us tickets. But don't worry, I got a deal. One of my clubbing buddies is working for the promoters, and she was telling me about it, and I thought of you. That's how I was able to get the guitar, too." She sits the guitar on the bed, then turns to him and clasps his hands, between them, at the waist. "Isn't that great? Don't you love it? This is how much I care about you. I want to make you happy" She smiles up at him, proud of herself and presuming his answer.
"Oh, 'Rina." he compassionately replies. He pushes the guitar to the other side of the bed and sits down, then pulls her to sit beside him. "Now, don't get me wrong, the concert is great and all, and I appreciate the thought, but you have got to stop doing this."
Carina's smile collapses, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What…what do you mean?"
"Doing all of this. Buying me stuff. The grand gestures. You are making a nerd mistake." he says with a smile, softening the reprimand.
Carina looks up at him, in confusion. "I don't get it? Don't you like it? I am just trying to make you happy."
"See. That's just it. It's about the making part. You have to understand that you can't make someone do, think, or feel something. You can put it in front of them, but you are never guaranteed a response."
"So, you don't want me to get you stuff? Do nice things for you?" she asks, still confused.
"No, no. You aren't getting it. It's not about what you do or don't do. Of course I like, and appreciate gifts. It's the "making" comment that implies you can force or guarantee an outcome." he gently explained. "Because that often leads to the next presumption of, "and that will make them love me."
Carina's eyes widened, as the truth of that hit home.
Chuck continues, "In the nerd world it relates to the hero's reward. Me and a million other boys, read the stories of heroes and quests, with a big reward being awarded at the end of the quest. So far that is fine. But, in many stories and tales, the prize is the princess. I do x,y, and z, so I am due a reward at the end, our version of happily ever after. But then they will bring that thought process into the real world, and try it with real women, and discover that the princess has free will and agency. The real woman didn't sign up for that deal, and will make up her own mind."
"Oh, I definitely get that. The presents with expectations." Carina nods in agreement.
"Yeah, so a guy will do X, Y, and Z, and then be butt hurt when the damsel doesn't leap into his arms. It's so, so common in high school, and they just need real life explained to them. And, you are doing the same thing to me." Chuck softly says, widening his eyes in emphasis and taking her hands to provide reassurance.
Carina gasps, squeezing his hands, as it all sank in.
Chuck kisses the back of her hands and looks lovingly in her eyes. "I appreciate your good intentions, but you have to understand that loving long term relationships aren't built on a few grand gestures, but on a million little kindnesses and considerations for that person you've chosen to center your life around."
He shakes their clasped hands for emphasis. "I think there could be something good here. But, like I said, we need to feel out how we are in the million quiet, little moments we will be sharing."
"I see that now." Carina nods her head in understanding. "I guess I did go too far, and too fast."
She chuckles at her own admission, "You know I have always been driven and goal oriented. I have to succeed at the mission. And I guess I made you a mission." She sought forgiveness with her eyes and another squeeze of her hands.
"It's Okay." He offers, in forgiveness. "I am flattered at the intention and attention."
"So now what?" Carina asks, as their new understanding settles over them.
"Weeell" Chuck draws out, "I guess we to to a concert and rock out!" he finishes enthusiastically.
"Yes!" Carina exclaims, jumping to her feet, her joy restored.
""we're goING TO A CO-ON-cert.
gonna see THE FOO FIGH-ters"
Chuck laughs, stands and embraces her, lifting and twirling her around the room.
As he puts her down on her feet, and their laughter subsides, Carina states, "Well, I am happy that you are happy, and I am glad we can talk about things like this. That's a good thing, right?" She asks, seeking confirmation. Chuck nods his head, and she quickly continues. "But, we have to look for ways we can mesh. Like this concert. I like to go out and see the band, whose records we sit at home listening to. Both are good, right?"
"Yeah, that is a good way of looking at it. We both can share an interest, with me focusing on the low key version, while you can take us to the high energy version." Chuck suggests.
"Exactly!" Carina excitedly agrees. "LIke Mario Kart. There is a high performance go kart track that I heard about. We could have some fun getting into some real world Mario Kart action."
Calming, she reaches out for his hands and pulls him into an embrace, laying the side of her face against his chest. "This is all new for me. Committing for the long term, thinking of a lifetime together. I guess that is it, isn't it? If we are going to live together, we have to learn how to live. Together."
"Well, tonight we can be together, at the concert. But first I need to get cleaned up and get to work, so I can finish up as early as possible." he states, as he pulls off his shirt and heads towards the shower. Carina, admiring the view, starts following. Chuck unbuttoning his pants, turning to ask about what time, before she gets out the door, turns and finds her at his heels, pulling off her shirt.
"Whoa, Whoa, Whoa." Chuck stammers, putting his hands up, as if surrendering, and quickly backs away.
"Alone, I meant showering alone." He hurriedly continues. "Got to focus on work." he stammers,
Carina, stops in her tracks, sighs, and pulls the shirt back on. "Well, shoot. OK, I'll go back to my room and take my own shower." she pouts, teasingly. "Let's connect at 5, and we can figure out dinner, then." She pauses at the door, looks over her shoulder, gives a wiggle of her butt, and says, "see you tonight."
As he continues undressing for his shower, Chuck smiles, hearing her voice fade away, down the hallway, as she sings.
""we're goING TO A CO-ON-cert.
gonna see THE FOO FIGH-ters"
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Casey Interlude
Well that was some "Good" that was pretty great. Casey thought, with a smirk, as he stepped out onto the balcony of her room.
A gentleman takes his cigar outside, after, and Casey did try to be an Officer and a Gentleman. Although, she would never know about the Officer part.
He took a sip of his Glenfiddich, the 21 year old whiskey befitting a successful salesperson, like he was pretending to be. Although she could easily have assumed some kind of military background, his bearing and manner, of a type. And, when finally unclothed, his prosthetic foot offered another clue. It wouldn't have been unusual, International sales people were sometimes pulled from ex-military who had been posted overseas.
Looking over the Italian coastline, boat lights dotting the sea, he took a deep breath.
A guy could get used to this, he thought, a Costa Gravan Presidente Cigar in one hand, a glass of fine whiskey in the other, and a grin on his face.
He heard her rustle the sheet, entwined around her body, full and solid, befitting a woman in her prime, her body fit from being active, like snow skiing. That was an activity she mentioned, as they shared a drink, in the upscale, hotel bar he had decided to prowl that evening. Her comment was wrapped in a subtle invitation for a possible future rendezvous, to follow up tonight's fortuitous meeting.
If Casey's appearance was of a type, so was hers. Fit, Middle Aged, Professional, with a job in Sales, PR, or a handful of other professions populated by the more attractive, and demanding frequent travel.
Casey sets his drink and cigar down, and quickly and quietly moves into the room, grabbing the duvet, which had been unceremoniously tossed aside, in their initial flurry of lust filled gymnastics.
He pulls it onto the bed, and over her, summoning a soft mewl from her lips, as the rest of her body burrowed into the new found bedding, never fully awakening from her well earned slumber.
He watches over her for a moment, making sure she is settled, and enjoying the feminine energy radiating from the bed.
He takes his masculine energy, which was crackling after the evening's activities, back into the cool breeze on the patio. He gathers up his cigar and whiskey, as he steps to the rail, rolling his neck, then shoulders. A slight shudder ripples through his body, Damn It feels good to be alive.
He ducks his head to light the cigar, then looks back out at the Mediterranean before him. Never would have guessed this, in a million years, he admits. If I would have been asked, back when my ass was squeezed in the walls of that Costa Gravan palace, this wouldn't have been conceivable.
Despite the crap I give Bartowski, I can't deny he has developed into a force for good, beyond what any of the yahoo's running the intersect development ever projected. He is a smarter man, and a better man, than their jaded brains could envision.
He was the Chuck bomb that fixed things instead of breakding them. And he has a blast radius that you want to be within. He embodies hope, and the redemption that hope makes possible.
He reminds you that you could make a positive choice, right now, in this moment, disregarding any crap that may have occurred before. The opportunity to believe that maybe, just maybe, tomorrow won't be a shit storm, and if you do something positive, right now, you might help make that happen.
And his luminous burst makes visible the greater good, the lives benefited by all the hell you went through, as a warrior for your Country.
The Bartowski bomb blew the mind of this Marine. Opened my eyes to life and living, after too many years of death and killing, assignment after assignment, awash in the evil, blood, and darkness of that world.
I would never shirk my duty, and am proud to have answered the call, to get my hands dirty, so our national family back home could stay clean. But it wears on you, and it coats you in its filth, and distorts your vision of the world.
You begin to both think about, and not think about death.
You are always thinking about it, either in bringing it to your assigned target, or in avoiding it for yourself, as you seek to complete your assignment.
At the same time, the constant awareness of its possibility for yourself, and the repeated exposure to its claim on others, inures you to it. It's like rain, try not to get caught in it, and in the meantime, "you want to grab a coffee?"
I was burnt out. I was so tired of it, I no longer could feel that I was tired of it. Death in my past, death in my present, death in my future, until it claims me. I wasn't on a dark path. I was already at my destination. Death's door.
Then they sent me to Burbank, a land of sunshine, not darkness. I was feeling kind of pasty, I snarked to Beckman, upon receiving my orders. Pallid, would have been more appropriate. Corpse-like is just too morbid. And then my dark shrouded, pasty ass of death, ran into someone alive.
Someone who was living every moment of his life, as he underachieved and wallowed in mediocrity.
Despite his circumstances, allowing for human imperfection, he found happiness in the moment. Whatever he was doing, he found joy in it.
Casey shook his head. It's not like he doesn't get sad, he just carries on and then finds joy in something and forgets to be sad.
He's a freakin' 3 year old, exuberantly discovering the world, in the 6'4" body of a grown ass man.
Take his parents away. That's a body blow, but he eventually shook it off, and learned, again, how to feel happy.
Take his best friend and college degree away from him? He reverts to a world of familiar mediocrity, but excels in it.
Take away his girlfriend, by the supposed best friend, and that pretty much took the wind out of his sails.
He might not have the bliss that a storybook love was supposed to bring, but he was happy. Happy to be with his ragtag family, and his friends, finding joy in moments together.
Broke. My. Brain.
Hijack Chuck's brain? He's still smiling.
Threaten him with termination or imprisonment, and he finds the absurd in it.
It's like a magic power.
And when burnt out, jaded, cold school Casey was exposed, it was alchemy. I was transformed. Over time.
And, it looks like he is changing Carina, softening her hard edges and calming her untamed energy. She will always be a force to be reckoned with, but now, hopefully, she won't blow things up, so much. He takes a sip of his whiskey and it hits him, He's distilling her. He's helping Karina discover her true self and what is the core of her being. He's not changing her, molding her, or taming her, like she is a wild animal. She's not empty headed or imperfect. He's just helping her be the best version of Carina.
Man, that kid has turned our world upside down, just by treating us like people, and insisting that we treat others like people.
I'm damn proud of the kid.
Of course I can't let him know how much he has changed me, or at least not too much, or he won't jump when I say boo. Can't put the fear of Casey in him, if he thinks I am getting too soft.
Well, I hope they are having fun at the concert tonight. He smirked, We all have to find our entertainment where we can, and he turned back to face the bedroom, seeing her silhouette in the shadows he thought, and that's a person that I want to serve, again. He smiled. Do my duty.
I'll find new ways to be of service. Because, they sure do seem to like the service. They love an evening of attention and passion, with just a little bit of mystery and edginess to it.
Roan didn't understand that being boldly stoic, quietly dangerous, and taciturnly mysterious, can be a turn on for some women.
He returned to the bed to join her in some companionable slumber. Perhaps I'll have one more chance to serve that greater good, before I leave in the morning.
Praise Chuck! What a life.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A/N 3:
OK, so there we go. Carina and Chuck are literally and figuratively dancing around each other, as they try to figure out how they can Mesh.
And, you don't think Casey spends all of his time alone, cleaning his guns, do you?