A/N Thanks once again from the bottom of my heart for all the support you have given my stories. It really inspires me to continue trying my hand at all this.
This chapter really sets in motion where the climax to Act 2 of this story is headed. I hope you like it as much as I did writing it. I want to thank esardi as always for his read through and suggestions. He always makes this story better once he sees each chapter. I also want to thank BDaddyDL for working with me on an outline for my next story idea once Permutations is finished in a couple of chapters. Working on that really helped clear the block I was having with this one. That story is going to be a departure and a real challenge for me so I want to get it outlined well before the writing starts. I also want to thank Angus McNab and Shfire for allowing me to work with them on their great stories. It's been a real honor and a total pleasure.
Still don't own Chuck but if I did I would have fought like hell to get the extended version of Goodbye to air in its entirety. Though I still have serious issues with the direction the finale took, the extended version makes so much more sense in certain context that takes at least some of the sting away.
Chapter 22
The Plan
Casa Bartowski
Echo Park, CA
Sunday 10:42 PM PDT
Chuck and Sarah were in their room getting ready for bed. Sarah dressed in Chuck's Huey Lewis t-shirt and a pair of white lace panties was sitting on the desk chair rubbing moisturizing body lotion on her long slender legs. She pulled out one of the drawers of Chuck's computer desk and rested her foot on the open drawer. She glanced over at Chuck who was seated against the headboard trying in vain to concentrate on the latest issue of Justice League. Sarah caught his not so subtle glances at her and began to slow down her strokes ever so slightly. Sarah loved that she had such an effect on Chuck. Now she knew that any red-blooded male would probably have been interested in the sight Chuck was witnessing, the agency had made her fully aware of her power over men but the only person whose attention made her feel loved, treasured and not like a piece of meat was a certain nerd who just snuck one more glance her way.
Much of the reason she was putting the extra effort into her nightly beauty routine was to reassure Chuck that she did all this just for him. She was well aware that Chuck had serious misgivings about her partnering with Shaw. It was more than likely why he had been distracted ever since their meeting ended. Shaw's history of abandoning his partners was causing Chuck some serious anxiety. Not that he didn't trust Sarah to be able to take care of herself, he was well aware there was no one better at that. But in the field anything can happen and partners need to be able to depend on each other to complete the mission as well as have their backs.
But Sarah was also well aware that Chuck was worried that Shaw was going to hit on her and try to take advantage of any assignment that required them to act like a couple. Sarah was prepared for that but she knew that a guy like Shaw would try and be extra affectionate whenever he could knowing that to keep their cover intact Sarah would have to accept things like touching her affectionately, nibbling her neck or trying to kiss her when in public. The thought that the actions she would sometimes be required to do for the job caused Chuck real emotional pain bothered her even more than just her normal disgust at that part of her profession. The only person she was interested in seducing anymore was seated about ten feet to her left.
"Chuck, I know you aren't really reading that comic book. You haven't turned a single page for the last ten minutes. Please talk to me about what's bothering you."
Chuck put the comic on the night stand and watched as Sarah wiped her hands on a towel and headed over towards her side of the bed. She sat with her legs crossed facing him.
"Sarah, I know you can handle yourself no matter how difficult a situation you find yourself in but I can't help thinking about what happened to Andrea when she was partnered with Shaw."
"Chuck I told you this before. What makes me different from Saunders is I have a team backing me up, not just Shaw. I have three of the best spies in the world with me. Carina, Casey and most of all, you. I have complete faith in all of you that no matter what happens you will have my back whether Shaw is there or not."
"I know and I trust Casey and Carina as well but I can't help it. I'm always going to worry about you. I love you and that just comes as part of the package."
"I love you too and you have no idea how much that means to me to know I have someone who loves me and would do anything to protect me. But we have to think like spies here. Something is off about Shaw. I feel it, Carina feels it, Casey, and you. We all think there is something he isn't telling us but until we know for sure what that is we are going to have to use him."
"You're right. Carina said he is a bit too concerned about you and we have to use that to get to him. I understand that. I just can't help how I feel seeing you being placed in possible danger." Chuck kissed her lips lightly. "So do you have a plan on what we are going to do?"
"Well, Shaw seems to have some sort of source for his information. We need to try and find out who that is and if we can I think we should try and set up a meet with the Director. We have Shaw tell them he wants to come in. If Shaw is really this supposed Ring Expert then it's likely the Ring knows who he is and would be interested in turning him. We have him tell them that he is tired of being a subordinate working for idiots like Mitchell and Graham and this new assignment as a "consultant" was the last straw."
"So we use Shaw as bait?"
"Exactly. The Director would be a fool to not be interested in turning the CIA's most important Ring expert into a double Agent."
"So where do you come in?"
"I'll be there as his 'partner' and establish his cover as still loyal to the CIA. He can then 'betray' me as a sign of loyalty to them."
Chuck sat up straighter. "Wouldn't that make you a target for the Ring agents that would assuredly be there? I'm not sure..."
"Chuck, you'll be there along with Casey and Carina. I'll be fine."
"I know it's just..."
"Chuck, even though we are not certain about Shaw we still have a mission to find and destroy the Ring. We should use him or anything else we can to find out how extensive their reach is inside the intelligence community."
"I know..." Suddenly Chuck's eyes got that look Sarah had seen many times. That look when his brain jumped into overdrive.
"Ok, Chuck I know that look what are you thinking in the big beautiful brain of yours."
Chuck put his elbow against his knee and thumb under his chin. Sarah had to chuckle as she saw his attempt to mimic Rodin's The Thinker statue. "Chuck, you have way too many clothes on to make that look work and now that I think about it I'd like to see the more accurate version in about two minutes." The seductive gleam in her eyes very apparent.
"Hey hold your horses art lover. I'm sure that can be arranged but we still have a little business to discuss."
"Ok but I do plan on 'appreciating' a certain work of art very soon." She leaned in and gave him another tender but teasing kiss.
Chuck's blush could barely be hidden. Even though he and Sarah had been lovers for a few weeks now he still had a long way to go to keep his cool when she spoke to him like that.
"Ooooh k, duly noted." Chuck's face grew more serious now. "Sarah, while you are talking to Shaw I really think I need to fully clue in Beckman about his connection to Andrea. I know we said I need to see those files she has but she's going to want to know why we are asking for top secret personal files of former CIA Directors. Think about this. Shaw is partnered with Saunders who he betrays and she ends up being captured and turned to work for the Ring eight years ago. Not a great thing to have on your resume, losing a partner. True?"
Sarah nodded but curious where he was going with all this.
"Then he basically becomes a ghost until he shows up in some mysterious files a week ago and somehow is being called an "expert" on what is quickly becoming the nation's biggest threat. How did he go from the mediocre agent Saunders called him into Graham's chief investigator on the Ring? It just doesn't add up. Why him and why didn't anyone else know about it? I need to see if I can figure out why the info on Shaw's activities with the Ring were kept out of the original Intersect and the 2.0."
"Chuck, Graham must have done that for some reason. Shaw said he only dealt with him and then Mitchell."
"Yes, but when did that begin and what was he doing after his mission with Saunders that caused him to be picked by Graham? None of that is even in his file that I have seen."
"I don't know Chuck. Graham must have taken that to his grave. Or..." Sarah's eyes grew larger as the realization hit her. "Maybe there was another mission in between and something in those files could trigger you to flash on the connection."
"Exactly Sarah. Somewhere in those files might be the trigger that opens up the rest of his file and we can finally get a read on what secret he is hiding. Plus what was behind his threat to Saunders in DC? Was Mitchell behind it or was it something else?"
"Okay, I'll keep Shaw occupied while you contact Beckman to get a look at those files and I'll also see if I can figure out why he is so interested in me."
"Ahh Sarah, hello, I think it's obvious one of the reasons why he is interested in you." As he spoke Chuck waved his hand up and down drawing attention to her amazing body.
"That may be so but both my and Carina's instincts are telling us its something else besides just that. A major part of our training in seduction is to learn to read what the mark's true motives and responses are. Is it just lust or is there something else behind it? A female agent can get into real trouble if they think their mark is responding because they are just interested in getting them into bed when their cover may have been already blown. Believe me I know."
Chuck's expression turned to a frown for just a second but it was enough for Sarah to pick up on it.
"Chuck, I know you well enough to know that this part of my or actually now our job bothers you. But in this case Shaw is a trained agent I can't just come on to him like I would a regular mark. He would see right through it. I need to give him the impression that he is the one initiating things and his advances are not totally unwelcome." Sarah shifted a little closer to Chuck and looked sincerely into his eyes. "I know seeing me flirt with a target has always bothered you even before we were together. I'm sorry that I tried to use that fact against you and hurt you in the past. The fight we had right here in this apartment after the Lon Kirk mission was in part an example of that. I knew that you didn't fake that flash, you would never do that no matter how you felt or how much you were hurting. But I still accused you of being jealous and letting your feelings get in the way of the mission."
"Well if I'm being completely honest I was a little jealous." Chuck tilted his head down a bit sheepishly.
"I know and I used your feelings to hurt you so I could run from my own." Sarah tilted his head back up with her hand so she could look again into his eyes. "Chuck, that was a very tough time for me. What happened on the docks when I kissed you scared me. I was falling hard for you and I couldn't bear the thought of dying without knowing what it would be like to kiss the man my heart was completely in love with but my brain was still denying. Then everything that happened when Bryce came back from the dead just added to my confusion. I kissed him in this very bedroom and I didn't know how to handle it all. But one thing I learned from that kiss with Bryce was that what I felt with you was so much more than I did when I kissed him. There simply was no comparison." Sarah's eyes fell and looked at their clasped hands. "I know I never told you this but I knew at the time you were smart enough that you had probably figured it out. Bryce asked me to basically abandon you and go with him on his next mission."
Chuck's face dropped again. He had always suspected the meaning behind Omaha. Sarah sensing the hurt was still there down deep whenever Bryce's name came up reached up and caressed his cheek tenderly.
"Chuck I won't lie to you. I had packed to go with him." The hurt in Chuck's eyes grew but Sarah knew she had to press on and tell Chuck the whole truth. "It just seemed like it would have been so much easier. Somewhere I knew what it all meant. Somewhere without any strong emotions. It was simple and safe but it was empty and no longer what I wanted or needed. That kiss on the docks changed everything for me. There was more meaning in that single kiss than any other kiss I had ever had including that one with Bryce in this bedroom. So when you called and I saw your face on my phone smiling up at me I knew I couldn't leave you. Right then and there I knew I could never leave you and it really scared me. How had I let someone get so close that the idea of leaving them was unthinkable? I left people my whole life. So when the Lon Kirk mission came up I tried to focus on being professional and accused you of faking that flash so I could push you away one more time. I accused you of something I knew in my heart you didn't do. I am so sorry for that and I want to take back what I said that night. That kiss was not a mistake. It was the most right decision I had ever made in my life."
Sarah leaned in and kissed Chuck passionately. As she pulled back she saw her favorite smile on his face.
"Mine too." Chuck then returned the favor and gave her a kiss that almost took her breath away.
She pulled back and place both his hands on his face gently. "Chuck, I know that you've been worried that I might have to seem to flirt with Shaw or be overly nice to him but understand that if it comes to that, and I plan on doing everything I can to prevent it, it is only a means to an end. It means nothing. He means nothing. Besides I'm also a team leader and for a lead agent to hit on a member of their team is very unprofessional and is grounds for sexual harassment. I could be brought up on charges within the agency. That's what Mitchell did and Mitchell was a sexual predator. But I may need to stroke his ego and get him to think if he is the one making the play that I might be interested."
"Sarah, I trust you completely. It's Shaw I don't trust. Even Carina said she gets a creepy vibe from him when he looks at you."
"So do I, but we can use that to our advantage because he seems to be oblivious to us being aware of it. Maybe Saunders was right. He is so self focused and egotistical he misses the basic spy skills to read people if they don't fall under his charm. But we can't underestimate him. He has to have some skills to have gotten to where he is in the agency."
"And that's why we have to get that intel from Beckman. We need to know how he got to this point."
Chuck reached out and with a move she wasn't expecting pulled Sarah down onto the bed with him and ended up on top of her kissing her. Once he pulled back she saw the gleam in his eye. "So best kiss ever huh?"
"Mhhhm." Sarah then showed Chuck why she was still the one in charge and flipped him over so she was now on top.
"Chuck, I believe you owe me a proper pose that would make Rodin proud."
"Oh I do, do I?"
She kissed him ferociously. "Yes you do. And besides I believe that a certain 'work of art' needs some extra special polishing, don't you agree?"
"Oh absolutely, and I know of a certain goddess who thank god still has her arms and hands intact that needs some worshiping as well."
Conference Room
Castle
Monday 9:45 AM PDT
Sarah walked into Castle at 9:15 with Chuck following at 9:30. They had decided to show up separately just in case Shaw was watching. When Sarah arrived she checked the daily logs and had seen that Shaw had arrived at 8:30 and had headed to the workout room at about 8:50. Calling up the surveillance cameras she saw that he was finishing working on the bench press. He was sweating and shirtless and looked like he was heading for the showers.
'That's perfect' Sarah thought to herself. She told Chuck she was heading into the locker room and Chuck knew that was where she would keep Shaw occupied while he contacted Beckman. She nodded imperceptibly to Chuck as she headed to the locker room.
Chuck then looped the cameras and called up the video link to Beckman.
"Mr. Bartowski, I take it you have some information you would finally like to privately share with me regarding your mission."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Normally I would not be happy about being kept in the dark while your team was being updated. Especially when it comes to something as critical as reading in Agent Miller on her new partner's special status. But I went along with it because of the special nature of the situation we find ourselves in. Don't make me regret that decision."
"Thank you General. We appreciate the generous latitude you afforded us. We believe it was worth the special consideration."
"Very well. But that ends here."
"Actually General we are hoping you could grant us just one more request that we believe may be vital to this mission."
"Mr. Bartowski you really are trying my patience..."
Chuck then interrupted the General and the look on her face let him know quite clearly that she wasn't pleased being interrupted by a subordinate. "General, sorry but if I may be allowed to continue."
"Get to the point Mr. Bartowski." The highlighting of the word Mr. quite clear in her tone.
"Thank you General. Over the last 36 hours we have uncovered some very important information that we believe warrants further investigation."
"Is this regarding the disks you briefly told me about when I granted your access to the prisoner Saunders?"
"Yes, ma'am but it's also something we learned from our discussions with Ag.. Ms Saunders that has added another level to all of this." Chuck said professionally.
"I'm listening."
Chuck continued. "General as we told you there was some information encoded onto those disks that we needed to check further before we briefed you or anyone else on the team."
"Yes, as I informed Agent Walker in an email, our analysts discovered the names of some Ring operatives in Europe that were part of a planned assault on a CIA base in Istanbul. We were able to locate four of the ring Agents involved and they were dealt with late last night. It seems that we are already seeing results from the addition of Agent Shaw to the team."
"General, that's good news but that is not what I are talking about here, however."
Beckman looked at Chuck with a confused expression. "I thought you were talking about files encoded on those disks we retrieved?"
"I am, but that wasn't the only thing that was encoded on them." Chuck said and watched her surprised reaction on the monitor.
"General, I was able to crack a new Ring encoding scheme used on these disks and we found log files and videos very creatively hidden on those disks that would be undetectable even by the best analysts at Langley without having access to the original disks which are still locked up here in Castle. I made special sector by sector copies and was able to break their encryption late the evening after we retrieved them. General, these files were mission logs and reports and the videos were from surveillance cameras of the training sessions from my time in Zuoz. It seems someone with knowledge of my identity was trying to send the Ring documentation regarding the development of me as the 2.0. We weren't sure of all the ramifications and authenticity of what these files contained so we needed to talk to former Agent Saunders to confirm that these were in fact her logs and videos."
"Mr. Bartowski, that was the reason you requested the meeting with Saunders? I thought it was about who might have been the source of the disks and any other information she could give us about the exchange."
"General, that was basically accurate when I told you but we felt that until we knew for certain what the source and accuracy of the files were we didn't want to raise any suspicions that somehow might tip off the Ring that I had broken their new encryption."
"Very well but this information changes everything. If the Ring knows your identity then we need to look at other alternatives to protect the asset."
Chuck grew tense as he knew that most likely meant shipping him off to a bunker. His rising stress level caused him to take a deep breath.
"General, Sarah and I discussed that with Saunders and we do not believe they know my identity at this time. We believed her when she said that she never sent them. We believe we stopped them from getting that information into their hands before my identity was relayed. Someone in Zuoz hacked into her computer and was able to grab the files when they were being uploaded to former acting Director Mitchell. Because of the impenetrable security at the training facility these files had to be collected from the inside and then transported out before they could be sent. If the Ring had tried to send them electronically the special file signature of the source computer would have alerted Langley as to the attempt."
"She never told the Ring your identity?"
"No ma'am. She planned to keep all of the files and my identity a secret until she was to turn me over after the kidnapping. It was the lifeline we told you about when you had our agents grab her files from her safety deposit box in St. Moritz."
"No wonder the Ring was so eager to make the exchange."
Chuck shifted on his feet and took one more deep breath before he continued. "General, we also found out something from Andrea that I need to tell you about and this concerns the additional request I mentioned."
"Continue Mr. Bartowski."
Chuck then proceeded to tell the General the facts about Shaw's involvement with Andrea and what her opinion of his skills were.
"That's all very interesting but it was eight years ago. Of what relevance is it here?"
"General, I'm guessing that losing a partner isn't looked on too kindly when it turns out they were captured and an Agent never reported it. Especially if they have a reputation for shoddy work in the field as it seemed Saunders felt Shaw had."
"It would probably involve sending that Agent on some pretty thankless missions to get them further training and back into the good graces of their superiors and future partners. Why is that relevant?"
"Well how did Agent Shaw go from being considered a mediocre Agent who lost his partner to becoming the CIA's lead Agent in the war against the Ring?"
"That I can't answer, Chuck. Only Graham was involved with that assignment."
"Saunders, Prince, Mitchell, Graham, Shaw, the tapes of me in Zuoz, the timing of it all seems just a bit too coincidental for my taste, ma'am."
Chuck noticing that the General was thinking decides now is the time to ask for the files. "General, I know it is probably highly irregular for an agent to have access to the private files from a former Director of the CIA which is why I would only request the files you have on Shaw and the Ring initiative, we would limit access to them to only Agent Walker as team leader and to me, the Intersect. We need to see if we can figure out if there is any link in all of this."
Before the General could respond Chuck told the General what Sarah's plan involved. "General, whatever is going on with all of this Agent Shaw seems to have some good contacts within the Ring. We would like to propose that he leak to his contact that he is willing to defect to the Ring. Have the Director contact him as turning the CIA's lead Ring Agent into a double Agent is too good for him to pass up. Hopefully we can arrange a meet and Sarah would go as his partner and make it seem to them we still believe in him."
"But the Ring Director would very likely be suspicious of Shaw's sudden change of heart."
"That's where Sarah comes in. Shaw would then offer her as an incentive to prove his newfound loyalty. He double crosses Sarah and then takes over the team assigned to take down the Ring. All while working for them."
"That would be tempting certainly. I take it you, Agent Miller and Colonel would be there as backup?"
"Yes ma'am but before we put Agent Walker and Agent Shaw into any danger I think we need to know what really has been going on for the last eight years with Agent Shaw. Can he be trusted and what other contacts does he have within the Ring."
"Very well, Mr. Bartowski. I'll grant you access to those files first. But anything you find that is relevant to this mission I want to know about immediately this time. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Beckman then leaned in a little closer to the camera and spoke in a softer more friendly tone. Something very, very rare from the General."Off the record Chuck. I'm kind of curious myself about what is going on with Agent Shaw and why I had never heard anything about his assignment or even that he existed until just a few days ago. I wasn't happy that I was forced to add him to this team and change what had been a very successful dynamic in the past. My dad always taught me, "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it."
As the screen went black, Chuck was left stunned. He had never seen the General be ...well... so un-General like. But he was glad he had the access he needed. Now it was time to figure out what had gone on in the life of Daniel Shaw the last eight years.
Locker Area
Castle
9:46 AM PDT
Sarah walked into the women's locker room and listened for the shower to shut off. She walked over to her locker and changed quickly into her workout gear. Once she heard Shaw finish drying off and begin to head towards the locker room she headed in his direction. As she came around the corner she strategically bumped into the tall Agent who was only wrapped in a towel with a second one drying his hair.
"Ooh I'm sorry Agent Shaw, I didn't see you coming."
"No, it was my fault Agent Walker. I was drying my hair and wasn't watching where I was going."
"Actually Agent Shaw I wanted to talk to you today. I wanted to thank you personally for the success of the mission on saturday. General Beckman informed me this morning that the disks we captured have been decrypted and on them we found mission plans and names of Agents who were planning an assault on a CIA base in Istanbul. We have already captured the Ring Agents responsible."
'So they took the bait. Sacrificing those Ring agents was worth it.' Shaw was very pleased with himself.
"Just doing my job Agent Walker."
"Sarah."
"What?"
"You can call me Sarah."
"Ok Sarah, that wasn't necessary but thank you. You can call me Daniel if you like." Shaw smiled his manufactured smile and slowly shifted his weight on his hips. The split in the towel around his waist opened just slightly.
'Are you kidding me? He's actually trying to get my attention onto the fact that he is just wearing a towel?' Sarah played along and lowered her eyes just briefly and saw that Shaw seemed to think it had worked.
"Ok... D .. Daniel"
"Sarah would you mind if I got dressed? I'd like to talk to you too about something if I may and I think we would both be more comfortable if I were fully clothed." He gave her his best attempt at a warm smile but Sarah could see the cockiness in his eyes.
Sarah knew that most women would find Shaw attractive. He certainly fit the classic James Bond/Superman look. But did he really think that a woman like Sarah Walker would be affected by seeing him shirtless in just a towel? What did he think she was? A horny teenager that just the sight of his broad hairless chest would make her knees weak? Come on! She was a trained CIA Agent. The best there was. She had seen countless handsome men shirtless. Anybody who thought that the sight of Daniel Shaw with just a towel on would affect her was an idiot.
But she could use this against him. Let him think it was getting to her when it really did absolutely nothing for her but make her want to laugh out loud at the absurdity of it all. Sarah had never understood why men would choose to remove all of the hair on their bodies. A bit of chest hair, like Chuck's, was incredibly manly and very, very sexy. Sarah Walker liked real men and real men had hair. Not wookie hair like Peyman Alahi but some chest hair was much sexier.
"Of course. I think that's a good idea. I'll wait here." Sarah made sure Shaw saw her glance down to the towel as he turned towards the locker room.
After a few minutes Shaw returned.
"Sar.."
"Da..."
"You go first Daniel.
"Sarah, I'd like to apologize for my unprofessional behavior since I got here. You are the lead agent on this mission and I'm afraid I didn't show you the respect you deserve. I hope that we might put that behind us and we can have a more friendly ... working relationship."
"I'd like that Daniel. I think I owe you an apology as well, Your intel was good and you are a valuable member of this team. Adding new members to a successful team is always difficult for everyone involved. I hope we can have a much friendlier and professional relationship going forward as well. "
Sarah reached out her hand and Shaw shook it firmly. He then gave her the infamous Roan Montgomery 'hallway' eyes. Not quite in the bedroom yet but definitely having left the living room.
"What were you going to say Sarah?"
"Ag.. Daniel, I have what could be a very dangerous mission I'd like to propose if you are willing."
"Of course."
"The mission comes with some serious risks to you but I wanted you to know that I would not propose it if I didn't believe it could be a major breakthrough in our fight against the Ring."
"What's the mission involve Sarah?"
"I'd like you to turn yourself in to the Ring."
Shaw was taken aback. "You want me to sacrifice myself to the Ring?"
"Yes, I want you to contact your source and have them leak to the Director that you are done with being treated like a second tier spy and working for a bunch of idiots like former acting Director Mitchell. You would be willing to act as a double Agent for the Ring when in fact you would be a double Agent for us."
"Wouldn't they suspect that?"
"Of course they would. Their spies. Good spies never take things at face value. That's where I come in."
"You?"
"I'd be your partner and as a sign of loyalty to them you would offer to betray me and let them capture me thereby allowing you to take over as lead Agent on the primary team fighting against them."
Shaw looked away for a second and thought about the idea. It was perfect. He could arrange for a meeting with the Director, bring his new 'partner' along, get his revenge and pin her horrible and painful death on the Director himself to Beckman. He would then convince Carmichael that Beckman had betrayed them and ordered him to intentionally 'sacrifice' Sarah to establish his loyalty as a double Agent for the Ring. He would convince him to go after Sarah's killers and deliver him to the Elders. It was a perfect setup for the fast track to his ultimate goal, Supreme Elder of the Ring. He fought to hide the smirk growing inside.
"Does the rest of the team know about this plan?"
"Not yet. I wanted to talk to you privately about it first as you are the one taking the biggest risk. Once you and I are in agreement we will present it to Chuck first and then to the rest of the team."
"Why Chuck first?"
"I value Chuck's input on every mission. He is my right hand."
"Sarah, please don't take this the wrong way but what is the nature of your relationship with Carmichael?"
"He is a vital member of my team. Why do you ask?" Sarah's forehead was furrowing.
"Well Agent Miller told me that you live together and that Colonel Casey lives next door." Sarah controlled her expression but knew he was lying. Carina would never tell anyone where a fellow Agent lived and certainly not who she lived with. 'Has Shaw been spying on us?' She wondered.
"We live together because that is part of our cover. Chuck is absolutely brilliant and a very valuable asset. He is much more than just an analyst and in the beginning he needed twenty-hour protection. Casey moved in next door because it was convenient but we quickly realized that wasn't sufficient. It just became easier for Chuck and I to live together and so we created a cover as boyfriend/girlfriend. Now we are training him to better protect himself so that cover may not be necessary for much longer."
"So you are Chuck's cover girlfriend?"
"Yes, just a cover. Chuck isn't an agent. He is an asset and I am his handler so anything else would be forbidden and totally unprofessional. Besides he's not really my type." Sarah gave Shaw a slight smile she thought he would read just what she wanted him to read into.
The gleam in Shaw's eye grew larger and brighter. Sarah knew he was thinking exactly what she wanted him to and was about to make his play.
"Ok, I'm in. After we talk to the team I'll get word to my contact and maybe you and I could go over some of the other details of the mission at say dinner tonight."
"Sounds good."
"Thank you Sarah, for trusting me."
"You've earned it." She said with a smile as she turned and headed to the dojo.
'That went perfectly. I just hope Chuck convinced Beckman to let him have those files.'
Hoff Building
Suite 2210
Monday 5:39 PM PDT
Special Agent Daniel Shaw was fighting to keep his composure. He was so close to finishing his five year mission. He was about to end the life of the woman that killed his wife but more importantly he was about to become the biggest and most important Agent in the Ring.
He was going to accomplish that fact by delivering the governments most important and valuable asset, the Human Intersect 2.0 as his personal weapon. When he convinced Carmichael that US intelligence ordered Sarah's death, he would join him willingly.
Shaw walked over and opened the TR-15 safe he had installed in his loft. Taking out his special circular phone, he presses it's one button.
"Yes, Agent Shaw."
"Director, I need to set up a meeting with you in two days."
"What is this meeting to be about?"
"It's about my turning myself in to the Ring."
"But you already work for us, Agent Shaw."
"Yes, but the CIA doesn't know that. They want me to turn double or I guess more accurately triple agent as a mole inside the Ring."
"And why would we agree to that?"
"They are willing to sacrifice their lead Agent, Sarah Walker to establish my loyalty to you allowing me to take over their primary team fighting against you. They think you would jump at the chance to have a double agent leading their fight against you."
"Under normal circumstances I would agree. Sarah Walker is a formidable Agent and incredible beautiful. We would love to have her 'sacrificed' to us. But what is really in it for us?"
"Once I take over their lead team I will deliver what you want most, The Intersect as a willing defector to our cause."
"I've heard that before, Agent Shaw. Agreeing to meet in public is a tremendous risk on my part, how can I be certain that you will deliver?
"Trust me, I'll deliver."
"What's in it for you, Agent Shaw?"
"Besides killing the woman who killed my wife, once I deliver the Intersect I want my meeting with the Elders. I want a seat on the High Council and a fast track to the next suddenly vacant elder chair" the last part not spoken out loud.
"Very well, we will set it up for wednesday evening. We will send you the location in the usual manner."
"Thank you sir."
"And Agent Shaw believe me when I say this, if you do not deliver the Intersect it will be the last failure you'll ever make. Understood?"
"Clearly"
Shaw took the specially designed Ring phone and placed it back in the safe. He then picked up the burner phone that sat next to it. He dialed the overseas number.
"Hello, Daniel?"
"Yes it's me."
"Did the case arrive properly?"
"Yes, it was perfect." Once he had Walker out of the way he would get the files from the disks so he could study Carmichael and his skillset. That knowledge would help him best utilize he abilities.
"I take the fact you are calling me isn't just to confirm delivery. Do you have other news for me?"
"Yes, it should all be over in forty-eight hours."
"Thank you Daniel. I have been waiting for far too long for justice."
"I know, we both have. I'll let you know when it is done."
"Goodbye Daniel. I knew you wouldn't fail us."
"She deserves justice for what happened."
"So do you."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye Daniel."
Daniel Shaw headed off to the bathroom. He had to get ready for a dinner meeting with his soon to be deceased boss. He figured he would put on the full court press. Even though he planned to kill Sarah Walker in the next 48 hours, no harm in taking her out for one last spin before he ends her miserable life. She was incredibly beautiful and he knew her reputation as a Montgomery's best female student was just too inviting not to find out if it was warranted first hand.
As he turned on the water in the shower he looked around and said to himself, "She'll look great on her knees in here tomorrow morning."
In a small town in the Swiss Alps a suitcase began to be packed. Plane tickets were bought. After waiting five long years for this day there was no way a mother would not be there to see justice served.
Unknown location
Monday 5:48 PM PDT
A middle aged man with a British accent pressed a sequence on a different device. He quietly waited for the connection to be made.
"Get the jet ready. I want to be in Los Angeles within twelve hours. And double the surveillance on Agent Shaw. I want to know everything he does, everyone he meets, everything his teams do and every phone call he makes I want recorded. Have the report ready for me when we are on the ground at Bob Hope. Also I want surveillance on Sarah Walker and any known associates."
He hung up the phone and leaned back in his leather chair, picked up his glass from his desk and sipped his expensive bourbon.
"Okay Shaw, what's your big play? Are you just going to kill your wife's assassin never knowing why she was targeted? Are you really going to deliver the Intersect or are you just another mediocre Agent trying to make a big score? I guess we'll find out soon enough."
The Ring Director then got up and headed for the door of his office. He had a plane to catch and within the next 48 hours either he would be on his way to finally acquiring the only living Intersect or the CIA would have a few more dead agents on their hands.
A/N 2 I hope I didn't take too many shots at canon in this chapter for you. But they just gave us so many WTF moments in season 3 it's hard not to. I hope you enjoyed reading it. Next up Permutations.
