A/N: A chance to heal some old wounds.
Thanks to michaelfmx, my hard-working beta. Any errors you see are my responsibility.
As well, thanks to Zettel and Grayroc for their encouragement and suggestions.
Don't own Chuck, et al.
—
SECOND CHANCES
"You OK?"
She shakes her head. Snaps at him, angrily, sarcastically. "No, Chuck, I'm not. I killed another agent's wife, for god's sake. How could I possibly be OK?"
"I'm not suggesting a break up so much as an old flame putting in an appearance, putting a monkey-wrench into the works."
"Carina?!"
"Walker?!"
Chapter Twelve: Redemption?
Sarah jumps to her feet, torn by wildly conflicting emotions at the sight of the tall redhead.
She's so very glad to see Carina once again, hadn't realized just how much she'd missed her until this very moment.
But, at the same time, she can't fight off her anger, her disappointment.
It's plain to see that Carina has found the time to come to Burbank. More than once. This, even though she'd never been able, after that one instance, to make the time to visit Sarah in D.C. At her repeated invitations, Carina had consistently begged off, consistently giving Sarah the impression that the DEA always needed her for another mission.
And yet, here she is, obviously not on any sort of official business.
Sarah can tell that Carina feels the awkwardness of the situation as well. The woman is normally impervious to shame or embarrassment, but Sarah knows her well enough to be certain she sees traces of both in the redhead's demeanor.
And why didn't Chuck tell me about this…whatever it is…between her and Casey?
Unsure of her own feelings, Sarah doesn't make a move. Instead, Carina recovers first. She walks over and gives Sarah a quick hug, whispering as she does so, "Can we talk?"
After a moment's hesitation, Sarah nods choppily.
Concentrate on the mission, not your feelings.
Carina then steps back, says out loud, "Good to see you on your feet again, Walker. But why are you here?"
She replies, "I'm Forrest's replacement."
Carina absorbs that for a few seconds. "What happened? A house land on her?" She smirks.
That's one reference that Sarah does get. She smiles, thinly. "No, unfortunately not. The situation here has changed. Her presence was no longer required."
"What's changed?" Carina looks around the room. "Everything looks to be about the same."
Sarah opens her purse and takes out a set of keys. "Tell you what. Come with me and we have a little talk. And I'll explain. And why we need your help. OK?"
"My help?"
"Yes."
"OK. Where're we off to?"
"Just across the courtyard.
Sarah turns to the two men, who've stood as silent observers.
"Chuck, Casey, we'll be back in a bit."
Casey grunts his assent, but Chuck, instead of agreeing, steps forward and, placing his hand on her shoulder, quietly asks, "Sarah, could I have a word before you go?
She nods.
Casey speaks up. "Come on Miller, we'll wait outside."
The redhead seems reluctant to leave, clearly curious, but does follow Casey out the door.
After the door shuts behind them, Chuck quietly asks, "You OK? You seem upset."
"I am…a bit. I wish I'd known about the thing between her and Casey."
"I'm sorry. I guess I should've told you, but I thought they were done some time ago. And I had no idea she was on the way here.
"And as much as I kidded Casey, it is his personal life."
"I understand, Chuck. But there's also some stuff I need to sort out with her. We won't be too long."
"You seem angry with her."
"I am."
He nods. "I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but maybe you could give her an opportunity to explain?"
"Explain what?"
"Why she hasn't visited you, but could make time for Casey."
She gapes. "How...how did you figure that out?"
"I listened closely to what you said about her. You didn't say it outright, but I could tell you missed her. And now finding out she could've come your way must hurt."
"It does. Especially since I had no one else I could talk to."
"Until you came here."
She nods, smiles, "Yes. Until now."
He gently squeezes her shoulder. "Remember, Sarah, she's your best friend. She deserves a chance."
Sarah shakes her head. "No."
He's taken aback. "You saying she doesn't?"
"I meant, no, she's not my best friend. Not anymore."
"But maybe if you talk—"
She looks up into his eyes. "You are, Chuck."
He swallows heavily. It takes a few seconds before he's able to speak. "Sarah, I'm…I'm not sure what to say. It's just that you've known her for so long…"
"I seem to recall someone telling me that the amount of time that's passed is not necessarily the determining factor."
He blushes.
"What's good for the goose, Chuck."
"Yes, you're right."
He gives her a quick kiss, then nods briskly. "OK, time to get this show on the road. I'll go and get Casey and we'll toss around some ideas about how we'll handle Shaw. You go and have your talk with Carina."
…
As they pass the fountain, the redhead asks, "Where are we heading, Walker?"
She points. "Just over there. My place."
Carina's surprised. "You mean you're not staying in that green hellhole that Forrest inhabited?"
"No. Left it behind today. No plan of going back. Ever."
They reach the door. Sarah uses her key to unlock it and they enter. The smell of paint is fairly strong, but it appears the job may be finished as Sarah sees no sign of the painter's paraphernalia.
Carina looks around the bare interior appraisingly. "I like what you've done with the place."
"No call for snark. I haven't even moved in yet."
"No, I meant it. It's bright and cheerful. The opposite of that place you had in D.C. There was no there, there."
"What do you mean?"
"It was a place. To sleep. To put your stuff. Plain, white walls. Nothing else." Carina gestures, sweeping her hand around the room, "But this place has color, life. Like it could be a place to live in, not just exist."
Sarah looks around, really sees the place for the first time.
A home? Maybe.
"Sorry about the comment. It's just that I've known you to be occasionally sarcastic."
Carina chuckles. "What? Me?" She looks around again. "No green. Good choice."
"Yeah, after seeing Forrest's place I was quite firm on that point."
Sarah looks at her friend, raises an eyebrow. "When were you there?"
"I worked an op with the team a while ago. Forrest called me in to lay down the law about my participation."
"Yeah, Chuck told me about that mission. Told me you were a loose cannon. I wasn't surprised."
The woman raises an eyebrow. "He did, did he? Did that come out while you were debriefing him?"
"Can it, Carina. I'm not you. Nothing like that going on."
"You sure? He's pretty cute."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"I saw the way you reacted when he put his hand on your shoulder. Usually, when a man does that, your instinctive reaction is to stiffen and give the guy a 'remove-your-hand-before-I-do-it-for-you' look."
"I don't do that."
"Trust me, you do. When we went clubbing, I saw it more times than I can count. Just for a split second, then you would make a conscious effort to loosen up. But it didn't come naturally."
"Your point is?"
"When Chuck touched you there was no hesitation. No thinking about what your reaction should be. You just relaxed, leaned in closer, looked him in the eyes."
Sarah can't stop the heat in her face.
"So what's going on, Sarah?"
"We're friends. We talk."
Carina looks at Sarah suspiciously. "Are you running some sort of op on Chuck?"
"What? No. Why would you ask that?"
"No way the Sarah I know makes friends that easily. Especially with someone who's not really in our line of work."
Sarah lashes out, unable the keep the anger she's been repressing from her voice. "That's the point, Carina. I'm not the Sarah you knew. If you'd come to visit more than that one damn time, you would've noticed that I'm not the same as I was. That all the crap that I've gone through has changed me."
Sarah sees a flash of Carina's no-shame attitude, but then the woman's shoulders slump. She hangs her head, her cheeks flush, whether from embarrassment or guilt, Sarah's not certain. Maybe both. In any case, it's not a reaction she can ever recall witnessing before.
"It was the lowest point of my life. But the only person I could've talked to, the only friend I had couldn't find the time to come and see me again.
"But you've somehow found the time to come out here."
Carina raises her head, her voice low. "You're right. And I'm sorry."
"Why? What kept you away?"
"When I saw you…when I saw what the accident had taken from you…
"You looked so frail. In so much pain. An invalid. So different from the confident, bold Sarah whom I'd worked with. And partied with. I wanted that Sarah back.
"But I didn't know what to do. I…I felt helpless."
"You didn't need to do anything, Carina. Just being there would've been enough."
"Yeah, I eventually figured that out, but by then it'd been so long that I wasn't sure how to approach you. I was too ashamed."
Sarah studies her friend's face, sees something unspoken in her expression. "There's another reason, isn't there?"
"Yes. I..I was…"
"Spit it out."
Carina almost shouts, her words echoing off the apartment's bare walls. "I was afraid. Absolutely gut-wrenchingly, bloody terrified."
She lowers her voice. "You happy now?"
Sarah doesn't know what to say. One thing she's never seen in Carina is fear, regardless of the seemingly overwhelming odds they've faced together.
"Afraid of what?"
"I was horrified that if it crap like that could happen to you, just out of the blue, it could also happen to me.
"For the first time in my life, I understood, really understood, that I'm not invincible. That maybe there's a bullet or knife or a bomb out there with my name on it.
"And I realized that all the garbage they fed us about dying gloriously in the line of duty is just a pile of crap. No matter how dramatic the exit, you still wind up being dead.
"I couldn't face that. I couldn't face you. Even talking on the phone was too much. Doing so would only constantly remind of my mortality."
"We'd fight and never lose. For we were young and sure to have our way."
She's surprised. "You know the song?"
"Yes, Carina, I do. The accident made me face my mortality as well. Made me face my life. What I've done. What I haven't done.
"It also robbed me of my self-confidence. To the point that I let myself stagnate. Meekly let them hide me away like some forgotten, unwanted relative."
Carina laughs bitterly. "And when you needed me, I was too selfish, too cowardly to be there."
She takes Sarah's hand, pleads, "Is there any way you can forgive me?"
Sarah can't recall ever seeing her friend shed genuine tears, but sees it now.
"Carina, one thing I learned from being here…from Chuck," Carina blinks at that, "is that we all deserve a second chance to make things right.
Sarah takes a deep breath. "It'll take some time for me to let this go."
"I understand."
"But I am willing to make a new start. Right here, right now. If that's what you'd like."
Carina manages a weak smile. "Yes, I'd like that. Very much."
Sarah moves in and hugs her. "To new beginnings, then."
"New beginnings."
After a few moments, Carina pulls back and, after dashing away a few tears, says with bit more of her usual irreverence, "Sarah Walker's a hugger now. You have changed."
You don't know the half of it.
"We can discuss more about that later. Right now, I need to know if you'll help us."
"Yes."
"I haven't even told you what we need from you."
"Don't care. I'm in. No way I'm letting you down again."
This time it's Sarah who has to fight off the tears.
"Thank you." She looks around for a place to sit, but, of course, with no furniture the options are meager.
"Let's go into the kitchen and sit on the counter."
"OK."
They hop up onto the counter, their legs dangling over the edge.
Sarah turns her head, says seriously, "What I'm about to tell you, while not exactly a secret anymore, needs to be kept quiet, alright?"
"Gotcha."
"As I'm sure you've already figured out, Casey and Forrest were sent out here because of Chuck. The details aren't important right now, but he inadvertently came into possession of a massive government database known as the Intersect."
"A computer program?"
"Started out that way, but the images that formed its structure were downloaded into Chuck's head. When stimulated by what he saw or heard, he could not only recall data, but also connect seemingly disparate chunks of that data. For instance, when he saw you for the first time, your file would've become like an open book to him."
"He did give me a strange look the first time I met him." She adds, cheekily, "Not the kind of awe-struck look men normally direct my way."
She shrugs. "I guess my file could be a little intimidating."
Sarah dryly observes. "Yes, I suspect it would be rather…emasculating…for most men."
"Very funny."
Carina pauses, thoughtful. "You know, while I was here, I could tell he was hiding something. I tried to worm it out of him."
"You did? How?"
"Tricked him into coming to up to my room under the guise of a computer emergency. Had on this skimpy little red negligee set under a short robe, which conveniently slipped off just after I locked the door behind him."
From somewhere inside, Sarah feels a sudden surge of jealous anger. The thought of Chuck with Carina…
"I don't need to hear what went on in your room."
"No, you never did enjoy being regaled by my stories of conquest, did you?"
Carina pauses. Sarah's certain it's for dramatic effect.
"But you don't have to worry. Nothing happened. He wouldn't bite. Figuratively…or literally. Even a little bit. Which was a shame." She smirks at Sarah. "He's got nice teeth."
Her surge of relief, Sarah fears, is evident in her face. She tries to disguise it by turning away.
But it's a no go. Carina notices.
"What's he to you? You didn't even know the man back then."
"No, you're right. But he's a friend now. I don't want you trying any of your seduction tricks on him.
"Am I clear?"
Carina studies her closely before quietly replying, "Sure, Sarah. No tricks."
"Good. Now let me sum up what's going on here.
"A little over a month ago, the Intersect stopped functioning. Forrest wanted out, so I was sent out here to replace her."
"A make-work project." A statement, not a question.
"Yes, the Director was happy to be rid of me, and, frankly, I was happy to get out of D.C. I'm to be here for a year, to wind things down and make sure Chuck is safe from any remnants of the organizations that he and the team helped to cripple."
"OK. Then what?"
"I retire. Full benefits."
"Retire? How'd you swing that?"
"I'm a bad memory of a previous time, a previous director. The sooner they're rid of me the better."
"What'll you do then?"
"Like I told Chuck, I'll cross that bridge when I have to."
"Seems you and Chuck talk about a lot of things." Carina raises an eyebrow. "Just how close is your friendship?"
"Don't try to change the subject. The problem we're facing at the moment doesn't have anything to do with Chuck. Not directly, anyway.
"It's all to do with me."
"How?"
"You ever meet a CIA agent by the name of Daniel Shaw?"
"I'm not sure. I've met a lot of men."
Sarah doesn't rise to the bait. "About Chuck's height. Muscular build. Dark straight hair. Dark eyes. Ring a bell?"
Carina thinks for a moment. "No, I can't say that it does. Why?"
"In the course of completing my Red test, I shot and killed his wife. And now he's after me."
"Damnit, Walker! I always knew that your career path would come back and bite you in the ass one day."
Shrugging her shoulders, Sarah agrees. "Seems you were right."
"You still haven't told me where I fit in."
"Before I tell you, I need to know if you've ever met anyone connected with Chuck? Family? Friends? People he works with?'
"Just Casey and Forrest. She insisted I stay clear of the Buy More and his personal life. Figured I'd give her that if it meant I could get my hands on the diamond."
"Good. What we'd like you to do is pretend to be Chuck's ex-girlfriend from Stanford, Jill Roberts. That way, you can be close to him, protect him while Casey and I go after Shaw."
"Protect him from who?"
"Shaw. We're afraid he'll come after Chuck, to get back at me."
"Hold on. Why would Shaw go after Chuck to get back at you?"
Sarah chooses her words carefully. "There are some here in Burbank who believe that he and I are in a relationship. We hope that you stepping in will dispel that notion. Help keep him safe."
She pauses, can hear the determination, the fierceness in her voice. "Carina, I won't let him be hurt because of something I've done.
"OK, I've got that." She pauses. "You know, Sarah, I keep hearing over and over how you want Chuck to be safe, but nothing about any concern over your own safety."
"I can take care of myself."
"Yes, I've seen that you can. Many times. But you seem overly concerned about a man you've only known for a short time."
"I told you. We're friends."
"Just friends?"
Sarah suddenly finds the pattern in her kitchen floor tiles fascinating. "Yes. That's all."
Carina leans in close. "Sarah, I want you to look me in the eye and tell me there's nothing else going on between the two of you."
Sarah's reluctant to turn her head, afraid that she'll give herself away.
"Sarah…"
What happened to your determination to be a truth-teller, Sarah?"
Ashamed, she turns. Faces Carina, her expression open, unguarded.
"I…"
"Oh, my god! You're in love with him, aren't you?"
Startled by her friend's intuitive leap, Sarah can only nod.
"You really are in a relationship. That's why you need me to fool Shaw."
"Yes.
"When?"
"When what?"
"When did you know?"
"In the last day or so."
Carina shakes her head in wonder. "Let me make sure I've got this right. You're telling me it's only taken you a month to fall in love with Chuck Bartowski. That's damn quick, girl."
"I haven't been here a month."
"You said—"
"I said the Intersect stopped working about a month ago. I wasn't sent here until later."
"OK. So how long has it been?"
Sarah replies. "Two."
"Two weeks?"
"Two days."
It's a day of firsts. Carina seems to have lost her ability to speak.
A full ten seconds pass before she manages to reply, incredulously, "Two days?"
Sarah nods, smiling at her friend's astonishment.
"You're kidding me, right?"
"Nope."
"Are you out of your freaking mind? That's hardly enough time to get to know how a man likes his coffee, Sarah, let alone fall in love with him!"
"And yet, here I am."
"You're sure? It's not just some infatuation? Some sort of reaction to being out in the world after being in your dungeon for so long? That he's just not some sort of Prince Charming substitute?"
"Carina, I'm not some teenage girl with a crush. This is real. I never felt this way with Bryce, not even close."
Carina snorts. "No surprise there. Always figured the two of you were just a convenience for each other.
"Still. Two days. How?"
"I'm not sure myself. At first, I thought it was just a protective instinct. Life had already kicked him around pretty badly long before we came onto the scene and made it that much worse.
"But when I met him, something happened. Not good at first, but then it got better. Much better.
"I not sure I can explain it…" Sarah's voice tapers off, frustrated by her seeming inability to express herself.
Carina leans in closer, quietly asks, "What, Sarah?"
Sarah takes a deep breath. "Carina, have you ever been with a man who listened, really listened, to what you had to say? One who didn't judge you by word or deed? One who put forth every effort to make you feel good about yourself? Who believes that you're worthy of love even after all the stuff you've done in your life?"
A wistful look flashes across Carina's face, but she makes no direct reply. Instead, she asks, "How does he know about you? Was it that…that Intersect thingy?"
"No, I told him. Last night. Pretty much all of it. What I've done. Whom I've been."
Carina gapes at her. "Are you crazy?"
Sarah shrugs. "Maybe I am. Maybe love is some form of insanity."
"Always thought it was."
Sarah ignores the comment. Tightly gripping her friend's hand, she quietly, wonderingly, says, "Carina, he sees me. The contents, not just the container." She marvels. "And he hasn't run away, screaming. Even though he probably should."
"Damnit, girl, you've got it bad. I don't think I've ever heard you speak so…passionately. About anything…or anyone."
Sarah blushes. "I know. I'm not sure where that came from."
"I just wish I could have been here to see the moment when you first realized how you felt."
"You're seeing it now, Carina."
"Not really. It's like seeing a baby's first steps. No matter how many steps you see afterward, it's not quite the same if you miss the first one."
It's Sarah's turn to gape. "Did you just make a motherly allusion?"
"Can it, Walker. Don't have to be one to know about that stuff."
Sarah grins at her.
Carina shakes her head, disbelievingly. "Sarah Walker in love. Who'd a thunk it?"
"Not me. I never expected this to happen. Never expected to find me here."
Her voice low, almost shaking, Sarah adds, "But I won't go back, Carina. Not back to the way it was. I was. I can't."
"He feels the same?"
There's no hesitation in her reply. "Yes."
Carina studies her for a few moments before quietly replying, "Well, if he means that much to you, he's at the top of my list as well."
"Thank you."
"But if he hurts you, you know I'll have to go after him."
She replies, confidently, "Don't worry. He won't."
"How can you be sure?"
Sarah looks inside herself. Searches for even a single sliver of doubt in her mind…or heart, but doesn't find it.
"I just know." She stares at the floor once more. "But I've hurt him."
Carina quietly asks, "How, Sarah?"
She doesn't reply for a few seconds. "When I heard about Shaw, my first instinct was to leave. To pull Shaw away from here. To keep Chuck safe.
"But he told me he was worried that I might not come back even if I did take care of Shaw. That I might feel he'd only be safe without me in his life."
She hangs her head. "He was right, Carina. I was ready to run away. From here. From him. For him. For good."
Carina places her hand on Sarah's shoulder. "What happened?
"He was angry, justifiably so. But, instead of turning his back on me, on us, he did something that completely surprised me."
"What?"
"He took me in his arms, informed me that he wasn't going to let me go, that we'd find a way to work it out. Together."
Sarah shakes her head, a small smile on her face. "He called me 'baby'. And I let him."
Carina grins. "That just further proves how far gone you are."
Sarah chuckles, ruefully. "I know."
A few seconds of contemplative silence pass before Carina changes the subject. "OK, you can tell me more later. What are we doing next?"
"All of us will have to meet this evening with Chuck's sister and husband. And Morgan, Chuck's best friend."
"Why?"
"They know about Chuck and the Intersect. I told them yesterday. And they're the only ones who know the real Jill Roberts. They'll have to be let in on the charade. And, of course, they need to know what's behind it."
"So, Jill Roberts. Guess I've had worse names. Seems kinda bland, though. What's she like?"
"No real idea. Chuck will fill you in tonight. And we'll sort out how you'll approach him at the Buy More."
"OK. When are we going to start the ball rolling?"
"Sooner the better. Tomorrow morning would be my guess."
Carina jumps down from the counter. Sarah follows suit.
"Sounds good. Guess I'll stay at Casey's tonight, then play it by ear tomorrow."
"Alright." Sarah hesitates before asking, "You two have something going on?"
"Kinda casual. We worked together before. In Prague."
"I had no idea."
She smirks. "Don't ask him about it. He'll just growl at you."
"Got it."
Carina looks at Sarah, her curiosity apparent. "By the way, have you two…?
"None of your business, Miller."
"I'll take that as a no."
Sarah puts on her poker face, doesn't reply.
Coquettishly, Carina adds, "You know, if you want, I could give him a few pointers over the next couple of days."
Sarah growls.
"I was just kidding! Where's your sense of humor, Walker?"
"Tell you what. After we take care of this mess, when I know Chuck's safe, we'll go out and have some fun. Until then, my sense of humor is on hold. Alright?
"Alright."
…
The next morning, Sarah, in an oversized tracksuit with her hair tucked inside a ball cap, and wearing dark sunglasses is inside the Buy More, waiting for the Carina to make her appearance.
The meeting the night before had gone about the way she'd expected. Except for one part which had caught her by surprise.
Before bringing Carina into the room, Sarah, with Casey backing her, had told Morgan, Devon and Ellie of the possible threat to Chuck's life. And why that threat existed. They were worried, had expressed their fears, openly and loudly, talking over one another.
But then Ellie had stopped the confused babble with a sharp word and said, "Hold on, guys. We're forgetting that Sarah's the one primarily in danger here, not Chuck."
Ellie had then stood up and walked over to her, quietly asked, "Are you taking precautions, Sarah?"
"Yes, Ellie, I am."
Ellie had then said, with some earnest, "Please do. We don't want to lose you. You mean a lot to all of us, not just Chuck."
Sarah remembers the tears she'd barely managed to hold back as she'd nodded.
Shortly after that, Sarah had texted Carina, asking her to join them.
After introductions had been made, Morgan, predictably, had fallen all over himself in his rush to gain the redhead's acquaintance, going so far as to kiss her hand and address her as Mademoiselle Carina.
After everyone had sat down again (Morgan squeezing himself between Ellie and Carina on the couch), Sarah and Chuck had explained what the plan was and the part everyone would have to play.
And now, while Casey was on overwatch (just in case Shaw did show up early), Sarah had disguised herself so she could gauge the response to their little charade.
At the moment she's standing within ten feet of the Nerd Herd counter, pretending to be interested in a garish looking toy weapon that shoots some kind of foam dart.
The two Nerd Herders she remembers as Jeff and Lester are standing a few feet to one side, ignoring her.
Morgan is leaning on the counter, talking with Chuck who has his head down, typing, when Carina makes her entrance.
Sarah almost doesn't recognize her. Last night, Chuck had spent some time describing Jill, both in appearance and character. Carina had taken the lesson to heart.
She'd dyed her hair to a chestnut brown. Changed into a conservative skirt, with a white blouse buttoned almost all the way up. Round eyeglasses.
Standing near the entrance, she looks around, as if searching for someone.
Morgan, playing his part well, is the first to notice her.
He nudges Chuck's shoulder with his hand and in a loud stage whisper says, "Chuck! Look, it's Jill."
Chuck looks up. "Jill? Jill Roberts?"
"Yeah, look."
Carina, spying Chuck, walks, somewhat hesitantly, towards the Nerd Herd desk.
He looks appropriately perplexed, apprehensive, even a little angry, as Carina approaches.
He's good. Maybe he's channeling his real feelings about Jill?
First of all, it's Morgan's turn to speak.
"What are you doing here, Jill? You come back to dump on my friend again?"
"No, Morgan." She glances pleadingly at Chuck. "I've come back to ask for his forgiveness."
"Forgive you? Why the hell should he do that?"
Chuck steps in. "It's OK, Morg. I'll handle it from here.
"Why are you really here, Jill?"
Carina doesn't reply for a second and Sarah can see the threatening tears in the woman's eyes.
Damn, she's good.
"Chuck, can we go someplace private?"
He shakes his head. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Morgan."
Carina gnaws on her bottom lip, then nods firmly. "Chuck, I was so stupid all those years ago at Stanford. I believed all that crap about you cheating. But I should've known you'd never do anything like that.
"I was foolish, running from you, running to someone else. I wanted to say how sorry I am. Can you forgive me?"
Chuck studies her for a few long moments. "It's a long time ago, Jill. Let's put it behind us. I forgive you."
The tears leaking out, Carina chokingly replies, "Thank you, Chuck."
"Is that all?"
She starts to nod, but halfway through shakes her head instead.
"No. There's something else.
"Is there any chance that you'd be willing… willing to take me back?"
"Take you back?"
"Yes. I've never stopped loving you. Even after all these years. No one has come close to taking your place. Not really.
"So I was hoping you might give me another chance?"
Chuck appears a little overwhelmed by Carina's plea.
"Jill, I loved you. You crushed me when you left. It's not that simple."
She grabs his hand. "I know. And I know I don't deserve it, but I'm begging you to at least consider it."
Chuck gives her an uncertain look.
"Please, Chuck. If you tell me there's someone in your life, I'll back off."
"No, there's no one." He hesitates. "OK, Jill, let's talk."
He turns to Morgan, "Will you punch me out for lunch, Morgan? Jill and I will head over to the pizza place."
"OK. But be careful."
"I will." As he steps out from behind the counter, Carina tentatively reaches for Chuck's hand. After a moment, he allows her to take it and they walk toward the front of the store.
Sarah's close enough to easily hear Lester's exclamation. "I knew it, Jeffery! I knew Grimes made it up."
Jeff replies, "Made what up?"
"The whole story about Chuck and the blonde. I knew she was too much woman for him."
"You actually saw her? I never did."
"Which goes to further prove my point. If they were together, the first thing he would've done is bring her here to show off."
"So when did you see her?"
"A few nights ago. I saw her walk out of the store around closing time. And talking to Chuck out front. Even then, I knew he didn't have a chance with her."
"How could you tell?"
"By her walk."
"Her walk?
"Jeffery, it's a scientific fact that the intensity of a woman's libido is revealed by her walk."
"Scientific?"
"Gait analysis, my friend. I read the article in Playboy."
Jeff comments, reverently, "The source of all truth about women."
"Amen to that."
"So what did her walk tell you?"
"That the blonde is a sexual dynamo, way out of Bartowski's league. She'd kill him within a week. It wouldn't have taken her, or him, more than five minutes to figure that out. Bartowski's too much of a coward to go down that road. Ergo, they could never have been together."
"Ergo?"
"Latin, Jeff. It means therefore."
"Oh." Jeff pauses. "What about when he was with Alexandra?"
"A man like Chuck Bartowski could never really get a woman like that. I don't what exactly what kind of sick game they were playing, but I always believed they were faking it."
Excitedly, the older man responds. "I did too, Lester. Remember what I told you?"
"Jeff, I'm only going to say this one more time. Alexandra Forrest is not a spy. Pretending to be with Chuck Bartowski was not part of her cover."
"But—"
"No buts. Spies do not come to Burbank. Let it go."
Jeff nods, blearily. "OK, Lester." Another pause, this time a little longer. "What about Jill? She was pretty hot too. Even with the glasses."
"Jeff, my frizzy-haired friend, couldn't you see it? The way she moved? The woman is obviously sexually-repressed. Probably hasn't been with more than a couple of men in her whole life. Clearly, much more the type for Chuck."
"Thank you, Lester. For educating me about women."
"No, problem, Jeffery." Lester looks around. "Now that we know nothing's going on with the Chuck and the blonde, I think I might give her a try. Watch out for her, will you?"
"But I don't know what she looks like."
"Doesn't matter. You see any tall, attractive blondes you call me. OK?"
"Right."
"In the meantime, we'll have to make sure everyone knows that Morgan was way off the mark."
"And that it was all based on science."
"Of course."
As the two men walk away, intent on their mission, Sarah chuckles to herself.
Part one accomplished.
Now to find Shaw.
TBC
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A/N: Next time we'll see our villain. Until then, thank you for reading and reviewing.