A/N 1

OK, I hope everyone is at least understanding what I am trying to do with these Characters.

And I am sure everyone was happy there was minimal Sham. And, really happy that Shaw is dead.

Feel free to imagine his death as gruesomely as you like. Riddle him with as many bullets as you wish. Hell, maybe he was stabbed, hung and kicked in the balls, before he was shot. Make yourself happy. You are welcome.

Sorry, no happy Charah, yet? Apparently this is what my brain thinks would happen.

Carina is used to Sarah being broken and coping. So, for her, Sarah's behavior isn't totally OOC, yet. Carina assumes Walker will handle it, in time.

Now we get Carina POV, which include her thoughts on Chuck/Carmichael.

Enjoy?

A/N 2 No money, no Chuck, nada, zip, zilch

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Carina's Fan Fucking Tastic Day

The next morning, Carina stood in front of the DEA headquarters. She looked up at the building and smugly said aloud to herself, "I own this bitch", breaking out a massive grin. She was almost vibrating as she pulled her elbows to her stomach, her clenched hands by her shoulders and bounced her shoulders in turn, rapidly stomping her feet in harmony, just to burn off some of her excited anticipation.

Life is so fan fucking tastic right now! The Director has to be so proud of our accomplishments that I've gotta get some kind of commendation, some kind of recognition. I AM the golden girl. I AM the number 1 agent in the DEA. I AM part of the number 1 spy team in the world! God I love Chuck!

She didn't deny that most of that had to do with Chuck being the intersect. And she would fully admit, that some kind of luck determined that after Chuck was ordered to Rome, by himself, that she was ordered to join him, due to the fluke that she had already been read into the Intersect Project and the DEA wanted she had made the most of it, pulling her weight and more, making sure that she did all she could to produce success.

She didn't hide her candle.

Carina's heart warmed as she thought of Chuck. And, I'm partnered with the greatest guy in the world. And, he turned himself into one of the best spies in the world. He was such a puppy dog in Burbank. Cute enough, and tempting because Sarah seemed attracted to him. Best friend or not Carina always felt the need to show the equally model-esque blond just whose milkshake brought all the boys to the yard. And that is who I was expecting to deal with when we got to Rome.

I never would have imagined in a million years that Chuck would have had the interest, and the ability to become a real spy. It's so weird. A fake spy name was usually just a convenience, to provide some separation from the past. For Chuck, Charles Carmichael is a different person. He Daniel Day Lewised the shit out of assuming that role. Chuck is trying to completely bury himself in Charles Carmichael, and if he could ever get the persona to fit himself as well as the Armani Tuxes, the world had better watch out!

Yeah, Charles Carmichael is a real spy, She snickered, or at least what he thought a spy was supposed to be, which I would guess was heavily influenced by James Bond, Bryce Larkin, and probably that dick, even if he is dead, Daniel Shaw. On the upside, he dresses well (boy can he wear a suit, she subconsciously licked her lips), takes the missions seriously and gives them his all, and has an overall more adult demeanor. On the downside, he is a bit pushier, thinks he is supposed to be a bit domineering and hard, essentially a jerk, and he sometimes embarrassingly fails to pull it off. She let out a small laugh, recalling how she would tease him about those times.

And if he thought initially, she giggled, remembering, that he needed to embrace recreational sex, I had no problem letting him embrace me. And, man, did he put all he had into being a good lover. She shivered, her body reacting to the many memories of his touch, his tongue, his entirety making her body quiver in release after release, throughout the night. I'm actually surprised that none of the other women who got the "Full Carmichael" ever become love struck stalkers, although my ability to put out a cray – cray jealous girlfriend vibe has to help keep them away. She smiled, at herself.

"But seriously" she thought, "setting aside all the fun things I taught him in the bedroom, I have to acknowledge that I was instrumental in turning him into a kick ass spy. I put in the hours teaching him armed and unarmed combat. I added to his understanding of spy-craft. And I was the one who held him in the night, after he had to pull the trigger.

Casey and others might prefer whiskey to drown out the initially intense, adrenaline driven remorse and guilt that often followed gunplay. Carina preferred to chase her whiskey with a big, tall cup of sex. Those times in bed weren't as fun as the other times with Chuck, but they were more necessary. As time went on, some cuddling and head stroking could be enough to stop his shakes.

Carina wasn't emotionally immune to the psychological blowback of killing someone, but her fuck around and find out, you make your own bed attitude, lessened her assumption of personal guilt. And since she lived on adrenaline, she had an easier time coping with its effects.

He's worth the effort, she affirmed, he's a good guy, my friend, and someone who I want to be part of my life.

And, I must admit he has changed my life. The butt chewing ,heh butt chewing, she momentarily mentally snickers, that he gave me, when we first moved in, about what a dick move it was to take the diamond, is one I will always remember.

Combine being human and fallible, with being young, dumb and wishing she was full of cum, with her charge forward, take no prisoner personality, she could really be an asshole sometimes. And the mission first mantra provided some cover for her "let the chips fall where they may" attitude.

I have never seen him that mad. I didn't know a face could turn that red. His fists were clenched, his eyes red, almost in tears, and he was shaking as he chewed me out about how Sarah could have been killed, when she had been captured, and also when I left them on the beach. Of course, he never mentioned the danger it put him in. That's Chuck for you.

But, when he was thinking of Sarah's safety, there was no margin allowed. God, he must love her.

He didn't understand. We had been on missions before. Things had gone to shit many times. We improvised and did what we had to do. Sarah was Bad Ass Agent Walker, she can take care of business. I figured Agent Walker would do what Agent Walker does and everything would end up fine. Mostly. Well nothing worse than what a some stiches and a couple of months recovery time couldn't fix. You know, nothing.

He sure let me know that he wouldn't put up with it. He is all about risk assessment and has no tolerance for unnecessary and self-created risk. If you want to go cowboy, you do it within the fences of the plan.

That was the first time I realized there was a steel core to Chuck Bartowski, and I got my first sense of Charles Carmichael.

It was so hot! Her whole body, well, mainly between her legs and in her core, tingled, still more aroused by that memory, than other memories of actually screwing other men. Charles was in charge!

So, now I at least slow down and take a moment to consider others safety and anticipate broader consequences. What was that saying he always quotes? Great power comes with great responsibility? Think about other's feelings. She rolled her eyes at herself. Chuck what have you done to me? He's made me better, she admitted to herself with a soft smile. God, I love Chuck.

He's made me a better person AND a better professional.

And boy has it paid dividends professionally, she thought, bringing herself back into the moment. We really are the stars of the intelligence community, at least to those who know, the leaders, and that is who I care are impressed. They control the career ladder, and I'm not done climbing.

She finally entered the building, her meeting time with the Director closing in. She steeled her emotions, drew back her shoulders and held her head high, as she strode across the floor. The energetic shock waves of her presence preceding her, grabbing people's attention before her red hair burned her appearance into their memory.

As she strode through the hallways, Carina's thoughts had the opportunity to reflect on those around her. She felt, for the most part people created their own reality, but had to allow that everyone couldn't be partnered with Chuck.

Man it sucks to be them. I must admit "There, but for the grace of Chuck, go I because she knew most of them were destined for the dirty wars in Central and South America.

She knew it first-hand, readily recalling her own experience in that war zone. While her looks had her typically assigned to surveillance, or "inducement of enemies", which usually occurred at parties or events, she still had to spend a fair amount of time running through dingy alleys or winding her way through jungles and over mountains.

Though, Carina being Carina, she always made the best of a situation.

She smirked, remembering, I could always find a diamond in the rough to scratch my itch, some guapo underling who was insignificant enough to not blow the operation, but informed enough that our pillow talk could provide some bonus information. But, if I never have to hack my way through another steamy jungle, fighting mosquito's while trying to keep an eye out for booby-traps, it will be too soon.

South and Central America assignments are supposed to be the fast tracks to promotion, not European ones. It's like we have to choose comfort or career. I am so, so lucky that I'm fast tracking, and I get to sleep on silk sheets and fish in high class clubs and parties, for my plaything de jure. All, because of Chuck. Don't they wish they knew what's behind this big grin. Damn, I can't contain my smiles, even if I am just thinking about him. I am so lucky to be with him.

Her luck and her hard work had combined to put her in the enviable position she found herself, preparing to walk into the Directors office. She was the Golden Girl.

So, confidence exuded from her as she walked into the Director's waiting room, right on time, which led to her being directed right in to his office.

Director Simpson, stood and smiled when she blew into the room. "It's good to see you Agent Miller."

"Of course it is, I am your number-one kick-ass agent," she braggingly replied, striking a pose when she reached his desk, hand on popped hip, and winking.

He guffawed. "Number one or not, there is definitely only one of you; although, one day that fiery red head of yours might swell so big that it won't fit through the door." he continued, teasing.

"We'll just have to put in double doors." she deadpanned as she took her seat, her air becoming more professional, her posture more rigid. "Always good, to see you, sir." finally giving him a proper greeting.

Director Simpson, took his own seat, fanning the files across his desk. "You have done an amazing job, and you country owes you a debt of gratitude for taking on such a challenging mission. You, Carmichael, and the rest of the team performed better than we ever could have hoped, even with the weirdness that was Danial Shaw. I don't know if we will ever get to the bottom of that."

Carina nodded her head in agreement. "Thank you sir, I am proud of my team and the work we've done. I'm hoping you will agree that there is more good work to be done out of Rome."

"There definitely is", he replied with a perceptible level of excitement. "If we can have the same level of success on our core missions that we had in the Ring war, we are going to change the world. Myself, The heads of the CIA and NSA, The DNI, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, all agree on how to use the Intersect." The Director smiled, "The fight will be over where to point it."

"Sounds good to me, but with due respect, it is Chuck, or I guess Charles Carmichael." she interrupted.

" Early on, it was a problem that the powers that be," Carina pointedly raised an eyebrow, looking right at the Director, "forgot that the Intersect is Chuck. He is a person, not a machine. And what he can do separate from the Intersect, in addition to how he gets the most out of the Intersect data, can't be overlooked. "

"I firmly believe we are lucky that the powerful weapon that the Intersect is, ended up in Chuck Bartowski. Or Charles Carmichael. Or whatever he is called, other than 'the asset' or 'the Intersect'," she emphasized with air quotes.

Carina figured that her success record earned her, at least a little, leeway to speak truth to power.

"Point Taken, Agent Miller. And, I am not oblivious to your contribution to the team, and how your success reflects well on me. You are appreciated."

Hell what I am saying, that is going to make your head swell even more." He said with a grin.

"Even so, I need your input, that kind of understanding, and your insights about the best way to use the Inter… your team. So, I want you involved with strategy sessions. You can easily join in remotely."

Carina thought she might explode, just spontaneously combust. This was even more than she expected. She expected some appreciative words, congratulations and commendations. This was a level of respect and appreciation that had only existed in her most hopeful dreams. She was being accepted into the highest levels of leadership, as a valuable partner. God I love Chuck!

She listened intently as Director Simpson shared the nuts and bolts of the plan, where Chuck and Carina are going to be onsite advisors for missions, with assault teams from the U.S. military, or various partner organizations, like Interpol, or perhaps drawn from trusted local troops, handling the gunplay.

Chuck will be so relieved if he never has to pull a trigger again. I'll jump in if needed, or if I need a little bang-bang action to get my blood going, she thought.

Overriding all of the planning that took them the rest of the afternoon, was the excitement this future instilled in her.

She could have floated all the way out of the building, but being mortal had to settle for proudly strutting back through the hallways.

Life is Fan fucking tastic.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

OK, so that finishes the Thanksgiving Arc.

So how am I doing, keeping personalities true to canon, while having them do new things?

To recap, it has been around a year and a half since Ellie's wedding, and a little over a year since he was sent to Rome.

Because I say so, the Ring is now defeated.

We have checked-in, in some fashion, with the major players.

Here is what is ahead.

Next Arc is how they do back in Rome, with a new charter, and new missions.

The 1 Chapter Thanksgiving arc, turned into 5, so I have no idea of exactly how many more chapters are to come. 10-15?

There is my version of a conclusion, to come, and I think it is exactly how it would turn out. So, there.

BTW, the first Missions Arc chapters won't be ready for another week or so. I have to see what they are up to.