Chapter 11: The Season Part 6

California, Burbank, Wienerlicious, December 16th, 2007

Chuck blinked, shaking his head as the Intersect stopped dumping information into his mind. "Wow."

"Wow?" Sarah asked.

"Bane's got an impressive file," he told her.

"Really."

Oh. She didn't sound impressed or amused. "I mean… She's not as experienced as you are. But we're not getting a raw recruit."

"Is she trustworthy?"

"I didn't flash on anything connected to Fulcrum," he replied.

"Fulcrum? That sounds like a bad-guy-acro-thingie."

And Buffy was listening in. Chuck winced. Granted, the Scoobies knew about the Intersect already - Caridad certainly did - and probably about Fulcrum, but this still felt like a security leak. Which was his fault.

"Oh, don't worry, my lips are sealed!" Buffy mimed zipping her lips. "Totally silent! Like a… uh, like a totally silent girl. That's me."

"And totally convincing," Dawn said. "Not."

"Hey! I so can keep a secret!"

Chuck sighed. "So, is Willow now resting?"

"Yes, she is. Like a baby. Sleeping, that is," Buffy said. "Well, actually, she's sleeping much better than a baby - those usually cry a lot and wake up everyone. Dawn was especially bad."

To Chuck's surprise, Dawn only glared at Buffy The Slayer, in turn, even looked a little guilty. He shook his head - it was none of his business. The Scoobies had a lot of baggage - like pretty much every Sunnydale survivor. "So… any chance that you'll be done with the slime problem before our new co-worker arrives?"

"Oh! Will she be working at the counter here as well?" Buffy asked.

"No, she won't," Sarah declared before Chuck could tell Buffy that this wasn't really the point.

Dawn laughed. "Bet she would look cute in the uniform. Who had the idea of using this as a cover, anyway?"

"Someone working for the general," Sarah replied.

Chuck cleared his throat. "Since everyone's evading the question, I take it you don't expect to be done by tomorrow?"

"Depends on whether or not we find what we need in the book you recovered. It doesn't exactly have an index, and the documentation of the rituals in it isn't really up to university standard, either," Dawn said.

"Excuses, excuses," Buffy said.

Dawn sent her another glare, then rolled her eyes. "We're working on it, but any prediction would be about as precise as Windows's update prediction."

Which was actually more precise than most people thought, but Chuck knew from experience that trying to correct people about such things wouldn't achieve anything. "So, we can just hope you'll get lucky?"

That caused a round of snickering between the Summers sisters. So much for Dawn's vaunted maturity.

California, Los Angeles, Echo Park, December 16th, 2007

They hadn't gotten lucky, as Chuck put it, by the time Sarah parked her car at their home. She blinked. Home? Was it her home? She hadn't had a real home in… well, too long to think about it right now. And the apartment didn't feel like home. Chuck, on the other hand...

"I wonder if Devon has asked Ellie yet," Chuck said, stretching next to her car.

"If he has, we'll know." Should have known already, actually - that's what messages and phones were for, after all. But perhaps Ellie and Devon wanted to tell such news in person.

Or not - since they weren't ambushed on the way to their apartment by a beaming, happy couple. She sighed. A little distraction would have been nice.

"What's wrong?" Chuck asked as he closed the door.

She looked at him and felt the urge to sigh again. He was so smart, yet so naive in some aspects. "We're getting a new agent while we're in the middle of an unsanctioned operation with a foreign strike team, as Beckman called the Scoobies." A not altogether incorrect term, of course, even though all of the Scoobies present were Californians.

"Yes. Not exactly good timing."

She rolled her eyes at that. "She's a spy, Chuck."

"Yes? I mean, of course, and for Beckman, I realise that," he added, sounding a little annoyed.

"Good." She sat down on the couch. "You saw her file."

"Yes. She's an experienced spy."

Not as experienced as Sarah, but that wasn't the point. "She's a honey trap, Chuck."

He blinked, then held up his hand. "I know what that means. But why..."

"Why are they sending us a spy specialising in seducing marks to gather information or gain access to restricted areas?"

He nodded. "I mean… we already did such missions, sort of."

Those hadn't been real honey traps. But that wasn't the time to educate him on the differences. "She's here for you."

"What?"

She suppressed a frown. "They want you, Chuck. Or, more precisely, they want the Intersect in your head. And since your ties to the Council means kidnapping - or killing you - isn't a good option, they'll try to turn you."

"Oh."

"Yes. You'll be her target, Chuck."

"Ah." He smiled. "But since I'm now forewarned, that won't work, right?"

Once more, she suppressed a frown. That shouldn't have been a question.

California, Burbank, Buy More, December 17th, 2007

Chuck was in a good mood as he approached the Buy More. The morning run had gone well - they hadn't overdone it - and the night before… He had to make an effort not to grin stupidly. Wow! Things were looking up.

The store was back to normal, too, he noticed - the last aisles had been restocked, and the holes in the walls repaired. They were still down two - Casey was 'sick' for the duration of the 'Slime Crisis', and Jeff was still hiding, although from the Slayers this time - but otherwise, things were back to normal.

"Chuck! Chuck!"

Like Morgan having a problem. "Yes, Morgan?" Chuck smiled at his friend as Morgan rushed up to him.

"We need you!" he whispered. "I just heard that Dawn and Willow found the correct ritual, so they're doing it now, but we need more people to watch out for them while they do the ritual."

"Well, Casey…"

"We need all three Slayers in the ritual - Rule of Three, Bane of Slimes, something something, Dawn said. Or Willow. That means Casey can't come or Caridad and Faith will have a go at each other. And Sarah's stuck at the store while Caridad is away. That leaves Xander, Phil and me."

"And me," Chuck said with a sinking feeling.

"Yes," Morgan nodded emphatically. "Make up a house call in the system and let's go!"

"Uh…" Chuck winced. So much for a good day. But ensuring that the city wasn't buried under slime and eaten by a demon took precedence over a lazy morning. "Alright."

"I was told that we would be guarding a ritual," Chuck muttered twenty minutes later, deep under the Buy More. He was gripping a flamethrower in his hands, the muzzle aimed at the entrance of a tunnel. It was an unwieldy weapon, but, as Xander had told him, it was one of the best weapons to use in a tunnel if you were facing demons and weren't a Slayer with superhuman reflexes and aim. And he had used one before, at his graduation.

"We are," Morgan replied, fidgeting with his own flamethrower next to him. Phil and Xander were covering the other tunnel leading to the cavern.

"No one said anything about guarding naked women," Chuck told him through clenched teeth. No wonder the Scoobies thought Casey's presence would lead to violence!

"It's due to the symbolism of returning to the natural state," Morgan said. "Or so I think. I didn't exactly study magic rituals."

Which was a good thing, of course - bad things happened to amateurs when it came to rituals. Xander's experiences were proof of that.

But knowing that behind your back, five naked women were kneeling in a pentagram? That didn't make it easy to focus on guarding them. He clenched his teeth. He was - training to become - a spy. He could focus on his task.

Although a little distraction wouldn't go amiss. They had tripwires in the tunnels anyway, courtesy of Xander. "What language is that?" he asked as the chanting grew louder behind them.

"Sumerian."

"Isn't that one of the languages that only spell trouble?" Buffy had claimed that if Chuck recalled correctly.

"They've adapted the ritual. Translating it would have taken longer," Morgan said.

Considering the fact that the Scoobies had stayed in The Castle and Wienerlicious, where Chuck spent considerable time - more than Morgan, in any case - it seemed that Chuck had been out of the loop with regards to the ritual. Had that been deliberate, or had it just been a coincidence?

And was it a good or a bad thing that Chuck was worrying about such things, and not about possible demon attacks?

California, Burbank, Wienerlicious, December 17th, 2007

By the time Sarah and Chuck's usual break time came around, he still hadn't returned. She knew that the ritual was supposed to take a few hours, and that he was with the Council's best, but… If it were perfectly safe, if the had sufficient security, they wouldn't have needed him. And flamethrowers? She shook her head and hoped he'd be back safe and sound, and soon.

Movement drew her attention. Someone was coming towards the store. No, not someone. Kirsten Bane. The agent hadn't made much of an effort to disguise herself. Large sunglasses - not unusual in Los Angeles, especially among the starlets and wanna-be actresses - and the kind of clothes you saw in the gossip pages. Usually next to articles reporting about stars who couldn't handle their fame, Sarah thought. Bane didn't look like an anorexic starlet, though. She looked athletic, with a healthy tan and a chest that would fit in with every other boob job on the West Coast. Like a cheerleader in her twenties hunting for a sugar daddy.

Or a nerdy intelligence asset.

"Hello! I'd like a Virginia Special," Bane said.

Whoever had chosen the codewords must have been the same agent who had chosen the store as a cover.

"Of course. If you'd like to wait here," Sarah replied, pressing a button to alert Casey.

Bane looked around, and Sarah saw her polite smile twist into a smirk as she took in the store's interior before making a point of looking at Sarah's uniform. Which hadn't been chosen by Sarah, anyway.

Perhaps she should reconsider having Bane not work a shift in the store.

The door to the storage room opened, and Casey appeared inside - not visible from outside the store, of course. He nodded at Bane. "Down here."

"I'm coming. Just waiting for my hot dog."

Sarah blinked. Was the agent really expecting her to fry a hot dog?

"Just maintaining my - our - cover." Bane flashed pearly-white teeth at Sarah. "And I'm feeling a little peckish."

Oh, yes, Sarah foresaw a sudden need for Bane to take over a shift at the store. Definitely. Just to maintain her cover, of course.

The lunch rush was coming up when Sarah's phone received a message. Chuck!

Coming back. All done.

She closed her eyes and sighed with a smile. He was safe. And the city was safe. And the rest of the group, presumably, was also safe. She made a quick mental calculation. Moving cautiously, it took about ten to fifteen minutes to reach the ritual chamber. She shook her head; it was still weird to use that term seriously. Adding some time spent cleaning up after themselves - and dressing again, she thought with a frown; apparently, the ritual had to have been done in the nude - Chuck would be back about… Right when the lunch rush started.

She hesitated a moment. Maintaining your cover was something that was ingrained in any good spy. It was why she was here and hadn't gone down with Chuck. And yet… Screw this!

She quickly finished the order for the two students in the store, then ushered them out and hung a 'technical difficulties' sign Chuck had made for her as a joke on the door before she went down to The Castle.

"...this looks quite advanced," she heard Bane say as she descended the stairs. "Better hardware than at headquarters."

"Yes," Casey replied. The NSA agent sounded a little more curtly than Sarah had expected. He would have realised Bane's actual mission, of course. And he might have decided that one jealous Slayer being angry at him was enough, she added to herself with a snort.

"Ah, Agent Walker. Is something amiss in the store?" Bane asked with a fake smile.

"Nothing, though I closed it for the time being."

"Oh?" Bane raised her eyebrows. "Why would…"

"The mission's done?" Casey asked, interrupting the other spy.

"Yes. They're on the way back."

"The mission?" Bane frowned.

"Weren't you briefed?" Sarah asked with her best 'honestly puzzled' tone. "There was a weapon of mass destruction hidden in Los Angeles. The terrorists responsible have been dealt with, but safely defusing the weapon required further action."

"While you were minding the store and Agent Casey was giving me the tour?" Bane sounded doubtful.

"Yes," Casey said in a flat voice.

"I see," the other spy said, though Sarah thought she was bluffing. Besides, who cared about their reputation when they were already set to leave the agency and join the Council?

She still wanted to teach Bane a lesson, of course. This was her - and Casey's - mission, and no ignorant latecomer would take over. Or take Chuck.

"What kind of weapon of mass destruction was it?"

"Classified," Casey grunted.

"I'm cleared to know," Bane retorted.

"Not even General Beckman has the needed clearance," Sarah pointed out. She wasn't smiling. Well, perhaps a little.

"But you know."

"Yes."

"Ah."

They stared at each other. Bane was about to look away when they heard the door to the store open. Followed by the Scoobies' voices.

"I told you: piece of cake." Dr Summers.

"We had to use the flamethrowers, though." Harris.

"To burn down some plants blocking the tunnel. That doesn't count!" Rosenberg.

"There was no such stipulation," Harris retorted. "And the plants were probably mutated."

"Nothing mutates that quickly, and I sealed the entire area before anything could get into the tunnels!" Rosenberg huffed. "Pay up!"

"There were contaminated traps in the area. They would have had enough time to affect the… Ah, hello! You must be the new agent," Harris said with a smile. He looked a little singed, but not seriously hurt. And Sarah didn't smell anything but flamethrower fuel and smoke, either.

Bane blinked but quickly recovered. "That is correct," she said with a practised smile. "Kirsten Bane. And you would be?"

"Harris. Xander Harris."

That caused a round of giggles among the rest of the Scoobies. Sarah didn't check if Bane showed any sign of being annoyed. Chuck was there, bringing up the rear with Grimes.

"Chuck!" Sarah didn't quite rush into his arms, but she pretty much pushed through the rest of the group without taking her eyes off him, Chuck noticed. And she carefully looked him over once she'd reached him.

"Uh, I'm OK," he told her, shifting the strap of the flamethrower's tank a little - the damn thing got heavy after an hour or so. He should have burned off some fuel himself and lightened the load, but that might have reduced the oxygen down there a little too much after Xander's stunt. "Really," he added in a softer voice.

"Good." She ran her hand over his arm.

"But I need to drop this before I collapse." He wasn't entirely joking, either.

"Mr Bartowski?"

Apparently, Bane had already arrived - and was headed towards them. She was wearing nice clothes - tight jeans, tight top, ankle boots. Something Sarah might wear as well, he thought. And very well. "Yes, Agent Bane?"

"You've seen my file, of course."

"Comes with the territory, so to speak," he replied. He would have pointed at his temple, but he was still holding the flamethrower with both hands.

"I wasn't aware you were doing field missions. Of that nature, I mean," she said, looking at it.

He shrugged, then struggled not to wince when the motion made the damned straps dig further into his hurting shoulders. "I do what's needed for the mission." That sounded professional, didn't it?

Bane was smiling at him, but Sarah was frowning. Almost glaring. Apparently, it hadn't sound professional, then.

California, Burbank, The Castle, December 17th, 2007

"Ah! I needed that!" Chuck heard Buffy announce as she stepped out of the locker area. "Shower's free, by the way," she added, but Dawn was already pushing past her. "You really need more showers in your lair," the Slayer added.

"Or make the one you have bigger, so we can share it," Faith said with a leer. "Save water, and all."

"I don't think that's what people had in mind when they talk about saving water," Willow replied.

"Well, pity for them," Faith retorted, craning her neck while she shifted a little on the seat she had commandeered, both boots on the table. "Of course, he shower's not that small," she said, glancing at Casey with a smirk. "We might give it a try anyway, if you're up for it."

Chuck didn't think it would work - Casey was built, after all, and Faith, while no amazon, was a little taller than Buffy. Although there might be positions...

Caridad stood abruptly, interrupting his wayward thoughts. "I'll go home to shower," she spat as she stomped out. Chuck glanced at the floor to check if she had damaged it, but saw no dents. Phil quickly followed her.

Faith shook her head, chuckling until she noticed the disapproving looks Buffy and Willow sent towards her. "Hey! You were the ones who told me that you can't call dibs on people."

"That wasn't exactly what we meant," Buffy said.

"It was about respecting the right of self-determination, instead of trying to throw people over your shoulder and carry them off," Willow added.

"Well, that's what I'm doing." Faith turned towards Casey. "And you're very self-determined, aren't ya?"

"Huh?" Casey looked startled for a moment. "Yes, of course." Was he having second thoughts? More second thoughts?

"Although Caridad had a good idea: What do you say to blowing this joint and calling it a night at your flat? I'm in the mood for some post-mission celebrating."

Casey's second thoughts took second place, it seemed, since the man stood. "My shift's about over, yes."

"Good."

As the two left as well, Chuck saw Bane shaking her head. The new agent didn't quite look shocked, but she didn't look as composed as she had at the start either. "Won't there be a debriefing?" she asked. "I know I'm not cleared for it, of course."

"We came. We spent far too long in dusty tunnels dealing with icky stuff. Then we were done," Buffy said.

"And we had to burn some plants to secure our route," Xander added. "Mission accomplished."

"And briefing done!" Buffy announced.

"It's a debriefing, Buffy," Willow corrected her.

Judging by Bane's smile she didn't realise that the Scoobies weren't making fun of her - well, they were, but this was their real debriefing. Chuck cleared his throat. "So, Agent Bane, do you have any questions about the station?" He noticed that Sarah was glaring at him again and quickly added: "I mean, within the constraints of or regulations." Which should have been implied.

"How much longer will this facility be hosting our… allies?"

"Scoobies. Our official designation is 'Scoobies'," Xander replied before Chuck could.

"Giles would never let you make this official," Buffy retorted.

"That's not what our records say."

"What? But… Oh. Computers." Buffy shook her head. "That's a dirty trick."

"Yes." Xander grinned.

Bane didn't. She looked distinctly not amused, Chuck noted. And probably still hadn't realised that the Scoobies weren't - just - kidding.

"We'll be out of your hair in a day or two, Agent Bane" Willow said.

"Depending on how long it takes for everyone to stop whining about whatever hotel we pick," Xander said. "And whether or not we get to stock up on hot dogs before we leave."

"Oh… no more free food." Buffy pouted.

"Hotels have buffets," Willow pointed out.

"Not all of them."

"The good ones all do. It's sort of a requirement," Xander said. "Of course, some take a dim view of people cleaning out the buffet by themselves."

"That was one time! And I still say they were in the wrong - if you announce an all-you-can-eat buffet you should deliver!" Buffy declared.

Bane had stopped smiling by now. Chuck didn't think that that was a good sign.

Bane had finally lost her fake smile, Sarah noted with satisfaction. She wasn't overly fond of the Scoobies' antics, but if they were aimed at the right target...

She stepped forward. "So, with the debriefing done, shall we start preparing your relocation to more comfortable quarters?"

Summers blinked, then nodded. "Yes! The beds here are too hard, anyway!"

"Wimp." Dr Summers must have finished her shower.

"Says Miss 'I need my caffeine just so'!" Summers retorted.

But the Slayer was moving towards the area the Scoobies had taken over, presumably to start packing.

"Oh… Faith left without taking all her weapons!"

"No pinching stuff!" Rosenberg yelled.

"I'm not! But She should have packed up her stuff!"

"Don't be a baby. Just pack it up." Sarah caught a glimpse of Dr Summers drying her hair.

"She'll complain about me touching her stuff," Summers replied.

"She only does that to rile you up," Rosenberg said, walking over.

Harris sighed, shaking his head. "No foreplanning there."

"I heard that!" Summers yelled.

Harris chuckled.

Bane cleared her throat. "Your team seems a little… lively."

Harris turned towards her, grinning. "Oh, we're all about the living. First rule: Don't die!"

"A sensible rule," Bane agreed.

"Yes." Chuck nodded. "Not dying is good. Essential, even." He stretched. "So… party tonight?"

"As usual," Harris replied.

"Party?" Bane asked.

"A traditional end-of-mission party," Harris explained. "Good for morale."

"Ah."

"Would you mind keeping watch here while the rest of us celebrates, Agent Bane? You weren't on the mission. It's not an order, though - you have just arrived, after all, and will need some time to get acclimated, I guess.." Sarah smiled at the other spy. And even more when Bane shook her head.

"No, no, it's OK. I can handle it," Bane claimed.

Perfect. It wasn't as if the spy could refuse - not without making a bad impression on Chuck.

"Thank you, Agent Bane. That's very nice of you." Chuck smiled at her.

"It's my pleasure." Bane flashed a sickeningly sweet smile at him. "You've certainly earned a celebration - not many agents, much less analysts, would dare to go on a field mission with a flamethrower."

"Oh, it wasn't that bad," Chuck said - was he blushing? Sarah narrowed her eyes. "It's all hands on deck in such a situation, after all."

"It's still brave - you could have kept watch on the base, couldn't you?"

"Uh, that would have been…" Chuck coughed, awkwardly smiling at Sarah. "It wouldn't have been optimal."

"Ah."

Sarah frowned. There were very good reasons she had stayed back instead of going with Chuck. Someone had to maintain the cover for the base. Especially with a new agent arriving - who could have been a mole. Still could be, of course.

"So, let's go eat lunch," she declared, reaching for Chuck's hand. "We can keep the store closed for the afternoon. And we need to change."

She dragged him off to the locker room area before he could do something stupid, like inviting Bane along.

"Whoa… you're really hungry, are you? Or were you really worried?" Chuck whispered as they reached their lockers.

"Worried," Sarah said. It wasn't a lie.

"Sorry." He smiled at her, then reached out to hug her, and she felt a brief pang of guilt for not being completely honest with him. But she couldn't speak freely with a Slayer in the base.

"It's OK," she whispered. "Now, at least." After a moment, she pulled away and added: "Let's head home and take a shower first. I smell like a fryer, and you smell like…"

"A gas station?"

She nodded with a laugh.

"Ah, we could shower here and then hit a restaurant on the way back," he said.

And leave him to Bane while she was showering? Certainly not! She shook her head, then stepped up to him again, whispering in his ear: "We can share the shower back home."

"Oh…"

Seeing his silly grin, she knew there wouldn't be any problems with leaving Bane for today.

California, Los Angeles, Downtown, December 17th, 2007

The Scoobies had rented a small restaurant for the party. Situated at the edge of Downtown L.A., it didn't look particularly expensive - and wasn't, as a quick check of their website had revealed - and it didn't have an impressive view of the town, squeezed as it was between two taller buildings. But it was private and had a well-worn charm, sort of. A little like the Bronze, Chuck thought, not for the first time, with some nostalgia. Just without the regular demon attacks.

Not that he had been a frequent visitor to the club in Sunnydale, anyway. Gaming nights had been more important, and the few times he and Morgan had visited usually hadn't turned out well.

But this was different. They were celebrating saving the city. Stopping an apocalypse - his third after the Mayor and Wolfram & Hart. How many could boast of that? Well, boasting might be a little… boastful. And not in the good sense. But he had done his part, small as it had been.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

He looked up. Sarah had returned from the bar, holding out a drink to him. Whisky Cola. Much more cola than whisky, Chuck believed. He didn't mind - getting drunk wasn't a good idea in general, and specifically not around the Scoobies. Or at night. Or both, as was the case.

"I was just woolgathering for a moment," he replied. "You know, lost in thoughts like old men."

She chuckled at that as she took her seat next to him, crossing her legs. Which were clad in very tight leather pants. He focused on her face as he took a sip from his drink.

"You're not old."

"I feel old," he replied, nodding towards the impromptu dance floor the Slayers had created by moving a few tables. Buffy, Faith and Caridad were dancing as if it was a competition. It probably was, for Slayers - they tended to see contests and challenges everywhere.

The rest of the Scoobies had taken their short turns on the floor and were now watching the three, amused or exasperated in Dawn's case. Though Chuck thought that that was faked. Or not, since Morgan was talking to her while Xander and Willow seemed to be Slayer watching with the occasional quips being exchanged. Phil had excused himself a little earlier, citing the need to write a proper report.

And there was Casey. Standing at the bar, looking rather stiff for the amount of drinks he had downed so far. The agent wasn't the easiest man to read Chuck knew - that dubious honour belonged to Andrew - but Chuck was certain that the only thing keeping Casey from leaving was his macho pride. And the knowledge that a Slayer would track him. Two Slayers, probably.

"That's not going to end well, I think," Sarah commented in a low voice. Possibly low enough not to be overheard even by Slayer ears so close to the oversized speakers Xander had brought. Which, Chuck realised, might have been brought just for that purpose.

"I think so too," he replied in a whisper. Then he blinked. Didn't he once read that whispers carried farther than a low voice? Did that apply to Slayer hearing? Perhaps he should have asked Willow for a privacy spell, if such a thing existed in the first place.

"Nothing we can do," Sarah said. Which probably meant 'nothing we should do'.

Chuck nodded anyway. "At least the new agent wasn't as bad as we expected," he said to change the subject.

"Chuck." Uh-oh. He knew that tone. And that expression. "She's behaving exactly as predicted - doing her best to make a good impression and gain your trust."

"Uh." It seemed that he had missed that. Well, there had been the ritual, so he had been a little tired and distracted. On the other hand… "Wouldn't anyone try to make a good impression the first day on a new job? Well, other than Casey, perhaps."

Apparently, that wasn't funny. "Chuck. She's been assigned to us after Beckman got told off by the Council. She's an expert on seducing people to manipulate them - and we don't have a mission in need of such a speciality. She's here to seduce and turn you."

He took a swallow from his drink. If she put it like that… But, anyway. "Well, forewarned is forearmed. She won't succeed, so her being nice won't hurt us."

Sarah took a swallow from her own drink. A rather large one, Chuck noticed.

Then the music stopped, and the Slayers seemed to take a break. And headed towards the bar. Where Casey was standing.

"Uh…" Chuck started to stand up, but Sarah's hand on his arm - holding his arm, with quite a strong grip - stopped him.

"Don't," she hissed.

"It'll come to blows!" He retorted.

"And you'd be in the middle of it."

"But…" He had to do something. Caridad was a friend. As was Faith, sort of. And Casey was a team member.

"Summers isn't doing anything either," Sarah pointed out.

He blinked. Buffy was watching - from a distance. She nodded at Chuck before turning her attention back to the trio at the bar. And Morgan wasn't moving either.

Sighing, he sat down as Sarah released his arm. This was… He shook his head and finished his drink. And wished he had Slayer hearing. Faith was hanging all over Casey. If he had been sitting, she'd be in his lap. But the agent seemed uncomfortable. "You wouldn't have some spy gadget to listen in?" he whispered. "Parabolic mic?"

"Not on me," she replied.

"Pity." And the Intersect wasn't any help either.

Caridad was about a yard from the couple - if it was still a couple - and was glowering and glaring, or so it seemed, at everyone nearby. But mainly at Casey. Faith pulled back, frowning. She nodded towards the door. Casey hesitated, raising his glass to his lips. His empty glass.

And Faith tossed her head and started for the door. Uh-oh. Chuck pressed his lips together. This wasn't the time to comment on Slayer attitudes. Really not the time.

Buffy followed Faith out, nodding at Chuck - and Sarah - as she passed them. Chuck was confused for a moment. Until Buffy turned at the door and looked at him, then at the bar before she left. Oh.

Sarah sighed. "Our turn it seemed."

"Ah…" Chuck licked his lips. "So… how do we split? Spies or sexes? I mean, do you talk to Casey and I to Caridad, or do you have a girl talk with her and I get maimed by an angry NSA agent?"

Sarah looked at him for a moment, then sighed. "Talk to her. I'll handle Casey."

Chuck stood and started towards the bar. "And then we switch in halftime!"

It wasn't a good joke, but Sarah snorted anyway as they approached the bar, empty glasses serving as an excuse.

"I don't want to talk about it," Caridad hissed before he could say anything. Slayer hearing, probably. Or Chuck had been too obvious.

He did his best to look puzzled. "I wanted to ask you to dance," he lied. Which wasn't a half-bad idea, now that he thought about it. Slayers were physical people, prone to go stir-crazy if they couldn't move, burn off their energy. Or so Willow had said, once. Dawn too, probably.

She snorted, then glanced at Casey, who was glaring at Sarah. "Let's dance then."

And they were off to the improvised dance floor, right when the music changed again to something rocky. Great. Chuck wasn't a great dancer. Not even a good dancer, to be honest. But he did his best to move with the music while trying to think of a way to talk to Caridad without making things worse.

At least Sarah was doing better with Casey - the two were drinking together at the bar. Although… they didn't seem to be talking much. Well, Casey was the silent, violent type. And there was the fact that Caridad would hear everything they talked about.

Well, nothing he could do about that. They danced for two more songs - about ten minutes - before Caridad stopped and took a deep breath. "I need some fresh air."

"Good idea." Chuck nodded and followed her after exchanging a glance with Sarah.

The street outside was not quite deserted, but there were few pedestrians, and only a handful of cars passing. Caridad leaned against a lamp post. "Some time ago, I would have been thrilled if you asked me to dance," she said without looking at him. "Even if it was out of pity."

"Uh…" He swallowed. Honest, be honest, he reminded himself. "I'm your friend. And it's not pity. More… damage control."

She snorted. Once. Still, progress. "I'm not going to attack anyone. I'm not stupid."

"No one thinks you're stupid."

She turned towards him. "Faith told me I was stupid."

Ah. "She says a lot of things she doesn't really mean."

"She lies less than others," Caridad retorted.

"Ah. But you're not stupid."

"I was."

He bit his lower lip to refrain from making a stupid joke. Quips didn't always help in tense situations. "How so?"

"Casey."

"Ah." That didn't tell him anything.

Fortunately, she elaborated. "I like him."

"We noticed," he commented.

That earned him another snort. "He's tough, skilled, experienced, and he has a dark sense of humour."

Chuck managed to stop himself before he blurted out: 'He does?'

He must have given something away since she frowned and added: "He does. And he isn't taken. Wasn't taken."

"Uh. I don't think Faith is looking for a long-term relationship," Chuck pointed out.

"But I am."

"Ah." Things started to make sense. Sort of. "And you think Casey isn't, since he, uh, hooked up with Faith."

She looked quite vulnerable as she nodded.

Chuck suppressed a sigh. He was pants at this sort of talk. At least Sarah had an easier time with Casey.

"She's gone outside," Sarah told Casey after she had watched Caridad leave the restaurant with Chuck in tow.

"With your boyfriend," the agent replied. "Aren't you concerned?"

"No." She gave him a look. She trusted Chuck. And if he were interested in the Slayer, he would have returned Caridad's affections long before she had met him.

Casey scoffed. "Figures." He grabbed another drink from the bartender.

Sarah took a sip from hers as she studied the agent. He was hard to read, but he seemed a little off. "What happened?" she asked. Straight and to the point might be the best strategy.

"I fucked up."

Yes, he did. But she didn't say that. She took another sip and waited instead.

"I shouldn't have started anything with Faith - Lehane. It's unprofessional. You don't date your co-workers."

She took a swallow from her drink. Chuck and she weren't like that. "That's not the issue," she told him, narrowing her eyes at him. "The issue is that you didn't sort out things with Caridad before you had some 'fun without strings' with Lehane. Or whatever you call a series of one night stands."

He glared at her and ordered another drink.

At least Chuck was having an easier time with Caridad.

Or not, she corrected herself when she saw Chuck return without Caridad and wearing a rather dejected expression. She glanced at Casey, who was ignoring her, then grabbed a second drink for herself and another for Chuck and went to join her boyfriend at their table.

"I hope your talk went better than mine," he said, taking his drink.

"Casey's being stubborn," she replied, sitting down.

"Caridad's out venting her frustration on demons," he told her. "I didn't find the right words."

"Sometimes there aren't any," she said. And killing demons seemed to be the standard Slayer therapy.

"I know," he said. "But I should have been able to tell her more than some platitudes about how things will work out in the end."

She wrapped her right arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. "Sometimes, they do."

But she didn't think they would in this case. Not with Casey.

"Hey, at least we saved the city," Chuck said.

"Good point," she agreed with a smile.

Compared to preventing Los Angeles from being drowned in demon slime, being unable to solve a love triangle was a minor thing. At least in Sarah's opinion.