Ch 3 The Cover
A/N I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed and/or sent PMs. All the notes are appreciated. There have been a couple pointing out spelling errors, which are just as welcome. I want to put out a story that people enjoy reading, and typos definitely take away from the enjoyment. I am working hard to try to catch all the mistakes before posting each chapter, but there have been a few that leaked through.
I had thought when I posted Ch 1 that I was further along than I turned out to be. Ch 4 had to be split in two, and then I realized that the second half was more general notes than fully developed scenes. By the time I finished filling out the scenes, the second part had gotten so long that I had to split it into a third chapter. I still need to proof these modifications, as well as polish the chapters after that. I've got this up to the Epilogue, and I know what I want there—it just has to be written. I had hoped to start the second arc of this story while fine tuning the chapters as they get posted, but as noted above there has been more massive modification than fine tuning so far. When we get to the epilogue, I'll gauge the interest in continuing the story.
Now for Ch 3, where the backstory ends and our favorite couple (finally!) meet. I hope you enjoy.
Sarah Walker entered the Bob Carpenter Center, looking around the debate venue with mixed emotions. She was relieved that it was a relatively small arena, only capable of holding five thousand people, compared with the nightmare of securing a large stadium in comparison. However, it was still capable of holding five thousand people in its seating capacity, and there were countless nooks and crannies where an assassin could hide.
Ron Butterfield had gone over to talk to a tall, imposing man who stood on the corner of the stage, his posture screaming military. As Butterfield hadn't asked her (or anyone else) to accompany him, Sarah assumed this was the NSA contact. Before exploring any further into the arena, Sarah heard a gruff, "Ron, good to be working with you again."
"You as well, Casey. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to acknowledge knowing you. You No Such Agency types tend to enjoy your anonymity."
Hearing a grunt in response, Sarah returned her attention to the site, working through her assessment of threats ranging from guns to bombs. Unlike her Secret Service counterparts who tried to think "how best to protect the asset" based on historical data, Sarah analyzed where she would choose to be if she were assigned to take out a target. She then changed her approach to where would be the best spots to hide a bomb.
As she was mulling through the risks presented by the venue, she noticed a beautiful brunette approaching her with a very determined look on her face. As the woman strode purposefully towards Sarah, she noted that the woman was nearly as tall as Sarah and had eyes that looked just like Chuck's- why am I thinking of the protectee as Chuck?
"Would you care to tell me just what in the hell is going on around here? Just why does the Secret Service feel the need for a detail to protect my little brother?"
Yep. Eleanor Bartowski. And from the looks of things, she was madder than a baptized cat© (copyright used with express written permission only).
"Miss Bartowski," Sarah began.
"It's Woodcomb. And it's Dr Woodcomb," Ellie responded, her voice glacier like in its coldness.
Sarah quickly glanced at the woman's left hand, noticing a sizable diamond ring. She was surprised that she hadn't noticed that less than subtle detail, but chalked it up to being distracted by thoughts of Chuck's eyes. Wait, what?!
"The bearded gnome got tied up with some meeting with the debate moderator and told me that I needed to sit in on a Secret Service meeting about security." The tall brunette rolled her eyes. "And it would seem that he failed to mention this detail to you people."
"I'm sorry. Who failed to mention this?"
"Grimes! That little bearded gnome. For the life of me I'll never understand why Chuck chose him for his campaign manager. Although if I'm going to be honest, Morgan has done a surprisingly good job on the campaign. "
"Ah, Dr. Woodcomb," Ron Butterfield said as he approached the two women. "If you will accompany Agent Walker and myself, we can sit down and discuss the debate and security precautions we will be using. "
As they were seated in a private room behind the stage, Ellie warily looked at Sarah, Ron and John Casey. "So what you are telling me is that there's reason to believe that one of the deadliest people in the world wants my brother dead?"
"Yes, ma'am," Agent Butterfield stated. "We haven't gotten definitive proof that this man is after your brother, but we believe that he is the intended target."
"Why did he have to run into that damned hotel to stop that bomb? I'm sorry," Ellie quickly said. "I don't mean that. Chuck wouldn't be able to live with himself if he'd been able to help, but ran away. The noble idiot." Sarah realized that she too was proud of Chuck for doing such a brave and selfless act without any training or support. Then she wondered why she would be proud of a stranger's deeds. More so, she wondered why she continued to think of the protectee as Chuck?
"Doctor, it may turn out that Mr. Bartowski is not the target of Cruz, or even that Cruz is not actually planning on an attack at the debate. However, we've gotten certain information that we are taking seriously. We are going to do everything possible in order to make sure that Mr. Bartowski, Governor Bartlett and everyone else at the debate is kept safe."
"Thank you all for that," Ellie responded, sagging back into her chair. "I don't mean to be difficult or sound ungrateful for all that you are doing. I should be thanking the three of you for protecting my brother."
Sarah was surprised at the sudden turnabout in personality. The anger and bluster gone, replaced by fatigue, sincerity and what appeared to be regret at the sudden fame accompanying Eleanor's brother. Her concern for her brother's safety was clearly paramount to Dr. Woodcomb. Sarah was briefly jealous over the tight family bond that was readily apparent between the doctor and Chuck.
Agent Butterfield responded, "Doctor, what I would propose is that we reconvene at 7pm tonight in order to discuss this with Mr. Bartowski. We want to impose as little as possible on his schedule and preparations, however we will need to take certain steps in order to ensure that he has the best protection possible. We would like to meet at the house the campaign has leased in New Castle. It is easily secured and offers greater privacy for this sensitive discussion. We also believe that Mr. Bartowski might be more comfortable and receptive in such an environment."
"Thank you Agent Butterfield, Agent Walker, Major Casey. Again, I apologize for being so short with you earlier. I know that none of this is your fault. I will see you at 7pm at Chuck's house."
"Agent Walker, this is Major John Casey, NSA. I have permission from his superior at the NSA, General Beckman, to read you in on the latest intelligence obtained by the NSA regarding Cruz and an attempt at the debate. Unfortunately, it is not encouraging. Mr. Bartowski was named specifically in a captured cell phone call from within the United States, and the NSA analysts positively identified the voiceprint as belonging to Cruz. We are confident that Cruz will attempt to kill Chuck Bartowski, and that the attempt will take place at the upcoming debate."
"I know some of the background of the two of you. Not complete by any stretch of the imagination. However, I do not need to know, and honestly probably will sleep better not knowing the full extent of your…accomplishments. General Beckman and Director Graham indicated how skilled each of you are at neutralizing threats to the US. What I would like is to convene the Secret Service team for a meeting in half an hour. I would then like the two of you to each address how you would approach the debate if you were in Cruz's shoes. That way my people can prioritize the areas of greatest risk in the limited time that we have before the debate."
"Agent Walker. Your reputation as an enforcer precedes you."
"As does your reputation, Major Casey."
"Is there going to be a problem here?" Ron Butterfield asked, noting the tension between the two agents.
"No, Ron. We're good."
"Yes, we're good. The same might not be said if the CIA hadn't sent me, but had the DEA send Carina Miller."
Growls erupted from Casey as he clenched his fists at his side. Butterfield merely raised an eyebrow while Sarah simply smirked.
"What is that? Spy humor? And quit smirking. I hate smirkers."
Sarah didn't flinch or back down. "I see we have something in common."
Casey's growls instantly shifted into a grunt. The CIA skirt had a backbone. Maybe she would be tolerable to work with after all. And Casey was secretly happy that Carina was not involved in this mission. He did not approve of hitting a lady, but Miller was no lady. Then again, he didn't need that photo resurfacing. And one of his thumbs was still sore in the spot where he broke the bone to get out of those damned fuzzy handcuffs.
As both John Casey and Sarah stood to leave the meeting, Agent Butterfield spoke up, "Agent Walker, an additional moment of your time, if I may?"
Sarah turned and resumed her seat, curious as what the Secret Service supervisor wanted to speak with her privately about. Butterfield stood, removed his jacket, walked over to a refrigerator and removed two water bottles before retaking his seat and passing one of the bottles to Sarah.
"May I call you Sarah?" Ron Butterfield started.
"Certainly, sir," Sarah responded in a guarded fashion, somewhat leery about the familiarity.
"Please, call me Ron. For these one on one meetings, I prefer to operate a little less formally. We need the formality, the chain of command if you will, in group meetings. However, as I said, Langston Graham gave me some insight on your background. He and I went to the Academy together, before he ventured off into intelligence and I went into protective services."
"Simply put, Sarah, Langston said you are his best. That if there is anyone who can outthink Cruz it will be you. As you are aware, Langston can be…how could I put this tactfully, he can be stingy with his compliments. By calling you his best, he's telling me that you and I are more peers than superior and subordinate. "
"Let me put any concerns that you might have about this assignment being some type of demotion to rest. I approached Langston, envisioning a scenario not unlike what we are currently facing, where we in the Secret Service are going up against a professional assassin, rather than a crackpot with a gun. Langston indicated that you had been going from mission to mission, and not too long ago had a scenario where a team you were part of was compromised by a mole. He thought this change of pace for a month or two could help you keep you edge professionally."
"Given your background in deep cover assignments, and Mr. Bartowski's status, we have an option- only if you are agreeable- to insert you into Mr. Bartowski's inner circle and daily life as a cover girlfriend. Always by his side, yet always in the background. It would be a perfect cover."
"While I am the Agent In Charge for this assignment, and will ultimately use the personnel at my disposal in the way that best carries out the protective detail required, I realized that this particular situation presented a solution that could only work with someone with your skillset of operating undercover. Let me make this clear, if we do decide to go with this unique protective detail, you and I would sit down with Mr. Bartowski to make it clear that my personnel are there to keep him alive. That being said, from what I've read and personally observed, it would not be a problem with Mr. Bartowski. He is the regular guy turned reluctant hero, who appears to have been swept up into a political movement."
"Please understand that this is not a solution that I would order you to take. The Secret Service doesn't utilize seduction missions or honey traps. If you say no, we use the standard approach- no recriminations whatsoever. Director Graham will never hear about this conversation from me, regardless of what decision you make." Sarah could see how earnest Butterfield was. No tells whatsoever that he was trying to trick or trap her. It would be refreshing to work with him.
"The information from the NSA does not indicate how Cruz intends to make his attempt on Mr. Bartowski. It may not come at the event itself, possibly en route, earlier than the debate or at some point afterwards. We simply do not know. We could insert you undercover as his girlfriend in order to have an added layer of protection in close proximity to Mr. Bartowski that Cruz likely wouldn't anticipate. But if you choose not to go under cover, we will use a standard protection detail relying on whatever insight that you and Major Casey can provide. Regardless of your decision, I am grateful for your help on this detail."