The Mission - January
Team Carmichael is given a local team of analysts to supervise, along with a few field agents. This allows Chuck to disseminate his Intersect findings though all of them, minimizing evidence that the Intersect is in play. Only a handful of leaders know the truth behind Team Carmichael.
When Chuck walked into Analyst Central, the office set aside for those members of the team, the opening door caught the attention of those closest. One, a very pretty brunette, looked up from her workstation, and a big smile blossoming on her face, greeted him with a sweet, "Good Morning, Agent Carmichael." A very, very sweet "Good morning", that carried undertones of "If you want to take me and ravage me on my desk right now, it would be perfectly fine."
At her greeting, many heads snapped to attention, looking to drink in today's appearance of Agent Carmichael. Chuck Bartowski's irrepressible charm, combined with Agent Carmichael's reputation had created a fan club amongst many of the Analysts.
The rest of the Analysts' heads whipped around, too, as those interested in the other gender knew that Agent Carmichael's appearance usually was accompanied by Agent Miller's appearance. And, they were rewarded to see their goddess sweep into the room, Carina's hair seeming to be blown by unseen fans.
"Good Morning Claire", Chuck softly said, as she preened from the personal attention.
"Good Morning everyone," he loudly proclaimed to the room.
"Good Morning", they responded in unison.
"Are we ready to make a difference?" He encouraged.
A full throated "Yes," was their reply.
"Are we ready to shut down the bad guys?"
Another, practiced "Yes" was the reply.
"Are we ready to save the world?!"
"Yes", they cried, cheering.
"Hoo-Rah!" he shouted, stealing a page from the military. Casey would be proud.
They then began their day's work.
If the Analysts had a crush, mainly on Chuck, the field agents had a raging boner for Carina.
Carina was their fiery haired Valkyrie. Their handler/manager who led them into their version of battle, seeking glory, and Team Carmichael's track record provided plenty of glory to go around, especially with Chuck avoiding any visibility and trying to stay in the background.
Whether doing small team intelligence gathering, or suiting up to provide tactical support on a larger strategic mission that Charles Carmichael was running, Carina was their obvious leader, the tip of their tip of the spear.
I wonder what Carina was up to tonight? Chuck considered, Well, she has been eyeing that shorter, red headed analyst, Ben? Yeah, I think Ben. I don't get how she can poach a plaything from the Analysts, from time to time, and not have it be awkward. At least she isn't hooking up with any of the field agents. That would really drop a drama bomb in the middle of everything.
I just don't get it, fishing in the company pond. Having to face some one night stand, across a desk, would just be too weird. At least Carina is a serial one night stand.
He isn't sleeping with anyone else. He is among the group that Carina is sleeping with. That's a kind of a relationship.
And, Chuck isn't allowed to be jealous, since there is no commitment of fidelity, but he feels like the others should be jealous of him.
Others get to share her bed, but he gets the mornings with her, light heartedly chatting, her sitting on the counter, her long legs dangling and bouncing, punctuating her laughter with motion, as she eats her oatmeal and fruit (you don't maintain a body like that eating crap).
He gets the middle of the night whispering of memories and dreams, on those occasions that she accepts his invitation to join him in his bed for a night of just cuddling. It is those little moments of life that he savors and saves, adding to the affection for her that has grown in his heart.
Love isn't on the table, at least for now. His heart is too wounded, her heart doesn't require it. And, you can't put your heart in hands that might not be there in the morning.
Thinking of Carina, he looks over at the armory and sardonically laughs.
He remembers how he first tried to only use a tranq gun, but the fact that the enemy tended to be fully clothed, if not also wearing tactical gear, meant that for the darts to actually penetrate, his target area was limited to exposed, or lightly covered skin. Even with the Intersect, and all of his duck hunt practice, it was always a challenge to successfully score a hit.
And then one day he didn't, and Carina got shot.
A Ring agent had gotten the drop on Carina when Chuck entered the room, from the side. Chuck immediately recognized the situation and, in an instant, fired his tranq gun, to no effect.
The agent had shifted slightly, so the dart ended up stuck ineffectively in his collar, and he was able to get his shot off and hit Carina.
Fortunately it just grazed her arm (she was pissed about not being able to wear sleeveless outfits until it healed, more than anything.). The second shot might have been deadly, but it never came because Chuck threw his tranq gun at the agent, knocking him out. He assumed the Intersect helped his aim with that, but the throw was pure instinct, instinct to protect Carina in any way possible.
After that, he grudgingly accepted that he had to carry a real gun.
Whatever damage it did to his heart and soul, would be insignificant compared the pain of Carina being killed. And, he rationalized that putting Carina in the position of shooting someone for him, wasn't far off from him shooting them himself.
How many people had She killed on his behalf. Supposedly keeping his soul pure came at the price of sacrificing Hers. His sins making Her already heavy load, heavier. He could never be forgiven for that.