A/N Thanks again to all who read, reviewed and alerted. What I really enjoyed last chapter was seeing folks reading the story for the first time all the way through. I hope you enjoyed it and will continue on this ride.
Big thanks again to esardi, his pre-read really got me to fix some things that made what I was trying to say much clearer for the reader. Thanks buddy!
This chapter our final act begins to take shape. Plus Chuck and Sarah join the mile high club... again.
Still don't own Chuck but I do own all five seasons on Blu-Ray and DVD.
Chapter 30
The Arrival
London
Ring Hive
Simon Foster had arrived at the London Ring Hive located just south of the Wembley Rail Yard. The location gave the base the perfect cover for the comings and goings of numerous Ring Operatives from analysts, to high tech engineers, to agents and on the rare occasion The Ring Director himself. Simon had always had a fondness for this location as it was just a few kilometers from his boyhood home. He had worked out of each of the dozen Ring Hives all around the globe but he felt most comfortable here as well as the safest. The cover of the rail yard provided numerous possible escape routes in all directions in and out of the city. Plus the old tube tunnels from the Willesden station that closed in 1966 served as perfect chambers for many a Ring financed project. It was where cutting edge cellular regeneration technologies were being developed. These advances could allow rapid healing from what had traditionally been life threatening injuries. Potentially entire organs could regenerated from tissue badly damaged by gunshot, stabbing or other types of physical trauma. This had followed closely the work of Fulcrum with Bryce Larkin after he was shot stealing the Intersect. In fact much of the research used for his rehab had been done at this very lab. Because of the rarity of highly qualified agents and Intersect suitable candidates, the ability to bring back potential Intersect Agents from near death was a top priority for the Ring. The Director likened it to advancing your pawn to the opposing player's first rank and getting your Queen back.
But this time the location of the Hive was also critical to his plan to draw out one Charles Carmichael once again. From here he could coordinate operations around the globe and force Carmichael to make the choice that would leave him most vulnerable. The choice that would leave him exposed and the only possible outcome being surrender. Killing the Intersect was not an option. Capturing him was a must. He was way too valuable to simply put a bullet in his brain. For the Ring to build their own Intersect and build it's army of Intersect Agents, the first and only successful host must remain alive. However everything and everyone he cared about was expendable, especially Agent Sarah Walker. She was his Achilles heel.
"Any word on the cargo from Cardiff?"
"Yes Director. The container was off-loaded about three hours ago. It should be arriving at the siding within the hour."
"Good, once it arrives at the yard I want it brought here immediately so I can personally inspect it."
"Yes sir. I will notify you of it's impending arrival."
Foster nodded and looked down at the tablet PC he was holding. Scanning the screen he placed his hand on his chin and looked deep in thought. His assistant had seen this look many times before. It meant 'Don't move. More orders will be forthcoming.' After a few minutes the Ring Director set the tablet down on the conference table he had been standing next to.
"Is the modified Ring phone ready for Agent Saunders?"
"Yes Director. Our technicians have it all configured and it will be delivered by courier to her hotel before she registers for the Conference."
"Make sure that it is. Was the 'other' special modification done as I requested?"
"Absolutely sir. Simply enter the proper code and a small charge will release a neurotoxin gas and anyone within a ten foot radius will be dead within three minutes."
"Very well. If we have any problems getting what we need from her and her mark, or if she shows even the slightest indication that she was 'compromised' while in the care of the NSA, I think it will be time our newly returned sex toy was traded in for a younger model." He said with that cocky British smirk Simon Foster was known for.
London
Rubens Hotel
Andrea Saunders checked into her room on the second floor of the Rubens Hotel shortly after her arrival in London. As she had nothing with her other than the small suitcase the Ring had provided her with when she was brought to the airport in LA for the trip here to London, she needed to get some shopping done.
She would need a professional business wardrobe for her days at the conference plus her 'honeypot' clothes for the nights that followed. The hotel's location near Sloan Square and Victoria Station would allow for both ease of shopping and transportation to many of the great shops and fashion centers throughout London. She was actually looking forward especially to tomorrow when she planned to begin her day at Harrods. If this turned out to be her last mission she was going to be dressed in style when she went out in a blaze of glory. The Ring owed her that much at least.
Of course Andrea knew she wasn't alone and wouldn't be for the duration of this mission. She knew that there were a team of Ring Agents assigned to monitor her every move. It was what any good spy organization would do. She had spent almost two months in CIA/NSA captivity and you don't rise to the position of Ring Director by trusting agents who have been out of your direct control for that long and in the hands of your adversary. Even agents captured on deep cover missions were evaluated for their loyalties. Hell the Ring had used Stockholm syndrome many times themselves to try and turn prospective agents. She didn't think the Director suspected that was anything to worry about here as the use of dependency on your captor was not something the CIA or NSA ever used as far as they knew, but she had been a loyal CIA agent before she was turned in Thailand and she knew the Director was wary if she had been turned back. She guessed her chances of survival on this mission as rather slim seeing neither the Ring nor the CIA trusted her. The only one who did it seemed, was Charles Carmichael. She hoped he didn't live to regret that trust.
But even if all she has left is just these few days, she had decided that it would be enough. The chance to breathe unfiltered air and not spend the rest of her days two hundred feet below ground was worth it. Plus she might get the chance to actually do something really for the greater good at the end of her life. Maybe redeem herself for what she had done when she let the pain of betrayal and the agony of the unspeakable acts that had been done to her and the other captives in Thailand poison her mind and heart. Poison them to such an extent that she betrayed the country she had pledged before God to serve and protect. Maybe if she got out of this alive and finished out her term in prison she could finally go home, see her family and visit her grandfather's grave in the Korean War veterans section at Arlington without being ashamed of how she had dishonored his memory.
But first she had to begin to focus on her mission. Fortunately she had been alone in her room when her new friend at the base of her skull began to tingle. It was less noticeable this time and the message from Beckman had been simple. 'Report'
Her message back, 'In London, Assigned new mission. Something big coming.'
She hoped the General got the message. She almost chuckled when she thought about how far technology had come. It was almost like telepathy. It seems the twenty-fourth century wasn't so far away after all.
After unpacking the small suitcase and placing the things the Ring had provided in the drawers in her hotel room, she took an inventory of what she would need to get the next day. Andrea had always been a planner and she carefully organized her shopping schedule in such a way as to maximize efficiency. It was a trait she had picked up at the farm and it had served her well over the years. She had even taught some of her own specialized techniques to her students.
Placing the list on the end table she undressed and drew herself a bath and poured in some scented bath beads she found on the vanity. This was probably the last night she would have that wasn't entirely about the mission. She could have a little girl time and simply relax even if was just for a few moments. It was a luxury she missed when she was in custody.
After drying herself off, she put on the plush terry cloth robe the hotel had provided, took a bottle of wine from the mini-bar and headed towards the bed. Her long dark hair still wet even after removing the towel she had wrapped around her head. She simply planned to pull it into a ponytail in the morning anyway before she headed out on her shopping spree. Andrea laughed to herself thinking about what the reaction would be if she asked her 'bodyguard/assassin' if he would mind carrying some of her bags like all the other men who had the 'good' fortune of shopping with the women in their lives. Husbands, boyfriends, fathers and sons, all embarrassed that someone would see them carrying their loved ones purse. All so normal but nothing like the man who would be accompanying her.
Taking a deep drink of her Chardonnay she reached over and plugged the data drive into the computer Foster's assistant had given her. She figured they had installed a Trojan
program on the flash drive they gave her that would report her activities back to the Ring as soon as she went online to file her nightly report. So she figured doing a little homework would be a good thing. If she was going to help on this mission she needed to understand everything about her mark and maybe, just maybe figure out why the Director was so interested in what he had in that safe at his home.
Opening the folder on the drive the first thing she found was a collection of news articles about David Hutcheson, articles that described some of his accomplishments and his career history. But the one she found most interesting was a small article from the London Times. The headline read, 'Security expert's wife loses battle with cancer'. As she looked at the picture of what appeared to be a very happy, loving couple from a few years earlier she could see that Hutcheson was a handsome man, distinguished and from the smile on his face not the usually stuffy British society type. They slight graying of his hair at the temples looked good on him.
But she wondered if the sparkle she saw in his eyes when he was looking at his wife was now extinguished. The thought that she would probably have to put on the full court press to reignite it and then ultimately snuff it out like an unwanted candle bothered her. Her breath hitched just a little and it surprised her. She looked up from the article and turned her head towards the window, in the distance she could see the lights shining on Buckingham Palace. It was beautiful and it made her do something she never did on a mission. She let herself feel. It was an odd sensation. In all her years with the Ring and the CIA she had never felt any remorse about seducing a mark. True nearly all of them were despicable human beings who didn't deserve her concern but this was something else. She had changed. She let out a small laugh when she realized the genesis of that change. It was a tall, lanky, handsome man who had started it. Carmichael cared about people and you couldn't be in his presence and not be affected by it. If you weren't, you didn't have a heart to begin with. Somehow this man that she was going to betray back in Zuoz had instead of taking revenge upon her like every other man she knew would have, taught her to care again. She knew that Charles would find a way to accomplish his mission without intentionally hurting anyone. She hoped she could find out somehow to do the same.
Presidential Palace
Costa Gravis
Carina arrived at the Presidential Palace at 3:45pm for her interview with Hortensia, the fashion obsessed wife of the President of this small but strategically placed Central American country. Her hostess had arranged for the interview to take place in her personal sitting room that had an incredible view of the Pacific from the balcony of the seaside palace. The sound of the blue green waves crashing against the rocks below was soothing and gave the room a very tranquil feel. The room was adorned with large portraits of the couple that had ruled the nation since the late nineteen seventies. Behind what she assumed would be the chair that the First Lady would sit in was an enormous painting that showed her and her husband leading the People's Revolutionary Brigade at the battle of San Jose de la Mare, the decisive battle that forced the former Dictator to fall and flee to exile in Panama.
Carina was accompanied by a photographer/DEA Agent she had worked with on a few missions in the past. Marc Rossi was tall, handsome, confident and a great agent. In his early forties, he had taken part in a number of highly successful missions fighting the Columbian cartels. When she was assigned this mission there was only one agent she wanted as her partner. Marc had extensive knowledge of South and Central American politics and its finances. His connections built up over nearly twenty years with the DEA in the area gave them what she hoped would be an advantage if needed. Marc and Carina also had history. Sometimes rocky, sometimes passionate but on a mission, she trusted him completely. He'd have her back and at some point during the mission, probably her front too.
While Marc set up the video equipment, Carina admired the opulence of the palace. It certainly wasn't her style and was a bit cliché but it fit the image of the former Communist Revolutionary who had "seen the light" and was embracing a more "western" Democratically elected government. If by Democratic you mean the President get's to chose who he runs against. Carina knew it wasn't the "white light" of democracy the First Couple was embracing, it was the "green light" of the almighty dollar.
Carina's attention was drawn towards the large doorway at the far end of the room. It was lavishly appointed with ornate tile work of orange, brown and yellow. The influence of the native indigenous population throughout. Coupled with the Spanish influence of the heavy wooden doors she surmised that the doorway led to the couples private quarters.
The door opened and a surprisingly professionally attired First Lady entered the room. Dressed in a business suit with a pencil skirt the look could have been that of any great western leader's wife. Well that is until you saw the gorgeous white silk blouse with the scandalously deep plunging neckline. The black lace bra accentuated her rather generous cleavage. She was playing the role of a business woman who knew how to use her assets to get what she wanted in the male dominated political realm.
Carina walked over and extended her hand towards her hostess. "Madame First Lady, I'm Miranda White, thank you so much for taking time from your very busy schedule to talk with us and allow us in your home."
"Ms White, so nice to meet you. I hope you find these accommodations appropriate?"
Carina nodded her head slightly taking the extended hand of the First Lady. "Yes, they are perfect Señora Goya"
"Please, call me Hortensia. And who might this handsome gentleman be?" The brunette walked over and gave a very flirtatious smile to Carina's 'photographer'.
"Michael Quinn, Señora." He smiled and took her outstretched hand and kissed it gently. His eyes never leaving hers the whole time. She was impressed that he didn't take the opportunity to gaze at her chest.
"Well Michael, I hope you will make sure I look my best to the world."
"Well with someone so naturally beautiful, you make my job very easy."
"Thank you, Michael. Shall we begin?"
Carina stood off to the side and watched intently at the scene before her. Having Marc as her partner offered them something she hadn't necessarily planned on. The very obvious attraction from the First Lady might come in very handy.
Carina sat down in the chair opposite Hortensia and began asking some simple background questions. When she first knew of her interest in fashion, who her favorite designers were etc. While this was going on Marc adjusted the final lighting setup and then nodded to Carina that he was all set to begin the actual interview.
"Senora Goya, over the last few years you have become one of the world's leading fashion icons. The rich and powerful are not just looking towards the latest hot actress for the newest fashion trends, they are looking at world leaders as well. You have been compared in some circles to trend setting women like Princess Diana, Princess Grace and Michelle Obama. What do you look for and how do you explain your uncanny ability to know what the next great trend will be?"
"Well Miranda, first of all I want to say I that I am humbled by being included with such women. Unfortunately the Princesses are no longer with us but their stamp on fashion remains to this day. You're wonderful first lady has a sense of style that works for her and that is what I try to look for. Something that works for me and makes me feel beautiful when I put it on. I'm not really sure how but I just know what's right when I see it."
During her answer Carina watched the first lady carefully. It was obvious she loved talking about herself and she planned to use this as the "seduction" of Hortensia Goya had begun and there was one thing Carina was a master at, it was seduction. And not just seduction in sexual terms but seduction of one's inner self esteem.
After a few more questions that would have had Hortensia blushing like a school girl if she had any sincere modesty Carina decided to ask a few questions that might lead to something she could use.
"Hortensia, if I may call you that, you have stated that it doesn't matter where good fashion comes from. That everywhere in the world there are designers or even just creative local artists that you admire. Can you tell us where these out of the ordinary locations are and how you managed to find them?"
"Certainly Miranda, please feel free to call me Hortensia. Well as my husband travels around the world I like to accompany him not only because it is my duty as Secretary of State but also as his wife to be with my husband as often as possible. In the last year alone we have travelled to Los Angeles, Moscow, Buenas Ares, and Kuala Lumpour. Four months ago my husband and I spent five days in Macau on a trade mission. While my husband attended to business with some important investors, I found some amazing designers who had a brilliant sense of color and I made some suggestions to some of my favorite designers in Argentina and we came up with a few items I think will be all the talk next season. We then flew to Moscow for some meetings trying to develop tourism from eastern Europe and in between meetings I spent a day in St Petersburg looking at some local fashion boutiques while my husband was being entertained by some local businessmen. Also we leave the day after tomorrow for London for a conference that my husband will attend and I have set up some showings with designers there."
'Bingo' Carina thought to herself. It seems that the first couple had managed to spend time in each of the principle locations related to the meeting the Ring Director had in LA. As she had been briefed before leaving LA that the Director had headed to London after the meet, it seemed likely that the First Couple would continue their business there.
Carina then realized it was time to get the 'tour' of the palace that she had been promised as part of her interview. Marc was to shoot as much video as possible. She turned to her photographer/partner. "Michael, I think we have enough here."
Marc acknowledged and began to move the camera and tripod to shoot some reaction shots.
"Madame First Lady if you don't mind we need to shoot some reaction shots and cutaways to use in editing. Once Michael is done I would love it if we can have that tour of the castle and your 'closets' we discussed with your staff. He would love the chance to shoot some of it if possible. It would help add a more personal side to such an icon as yourself." She said with a smile born of years of training.
Putting on her most suggestive look Hortensia responded never looking at Carina, all her attention was focused on a certain photographer. "Of course Miranda, whatever Michael needs. I would love to have him shoot in my private quarters." The blatantly suggestive nature of that answer even stunned Carina.
Carina looked over at her partner and saw the unspoken answer to the First Lady's suggestive response. Regaining her slight loss of composure Carina answered for them both. "Thank you Hortensia. I'm sure Michael will give everything he can to bring out a most intimate portrait of such an amazing woman."
CIA G650
Somewhere of the Atlantic
Sarah opened the door of the cockpit and smiled at the man she loved busily working on his laptop. His hair was a bit of a mess she assumed was from his running his hand nervously through it while trying to decipher whatever issue he was working on. It was an unconscious habit he had when his brain was working overtime. There wasn't much she found sexier in her lover than his amazing mind hard at work doing whatever he could to help save the world from whatever nefarious threat it faced today.
Sarah had just spent the last four hours at the controls of this amazing flying machine as she always took whatever hours she could in the air to keep up her skills and to fly at least the minimum annual hours to keep her license current. But that wasn't the main reason she did it today. She loved flying the Gulfstream. It was smooth, roomy and a dream to fly for a pilot, even if that pilot was one of the best CIA agents on the planet. It was one of the perks of accepting Graham's offer those many years ago. Learning to fly and becoming certified for jets was something little Jenny Burton never would have even imagined would happen to someone with the past she had. The shy, withdrawn target of Heather Chandler's abuse focused just on getting through each day hopefully without being noticed. Her future choices seemed really limited until that day her father got arrested and her life changed forever.
Jenny never would have imagined she would be blessed by being so completely in love with the man busy at work in front of her. And most of all she never would have imagined that someone like him would love her back with such abandon. That she, Jenny Burton, Rebecca Franco, or even Sarah Walker would be the center of this amazing man's world. Everything that she had been through in her life and that they had gone through to get here made her more and more determined to protect him, and their love at all cost. It was something very precious and she knew she would never do anything to betray his love for her or hers for him.
As she watched Chuck working she once again thought back to that night after he downloaded the 2.0. She had thought of that night many times while Chuck was away in Zuoz. How her instinct to run almost had them make what would have been a terrible mistake. How he instinctively showed up at her door that night to talk about why he had done what he did and make certain that she understood his decision. Her feelings were first and foremost with him just like they always had been. He could see clearly that she was in pain because of what he had done and it nearly broke him that he had hurt her.
But that night they talked things out and even though it kept them apart for far too long, what they decided to do that night led to this. Chuck was a certified CIA Agent, her permanent partner both at work and in life and now their relationship was out in the open and fully within regulations. No more "It's complicated". It was simple and it was thrilling. What happened that night when they decided to talk first before acting, set them on the course to have it all. They could both do the job that they loved and have the kind of life changing relationship they both had dreamed of. Sometimes talking really is the right thing to do no matter how difficult it feels in the moment. If only she had known that earlier. It could have prevented a lot of hurt and pain she put him through.
As Chuck was focused on the intel Beckman had provided them, he felt that warmth he only felt when Sarah was looking at him. Even if he didn't know she was there, he knew she was watching him from somewhere. It was uncanny how in tune they had become.
A loving smile began to grow on his face and when Sarah saw it she knew he knew she was there. She couldn't help it. Watching Chuck think was one of her life's great pleasures and wouldn't you know he was responsible for virtually all of the others as well.
"You know some people would find that creepy." He said looking up into the pools of azure that made his heart skip.
"Tough, I love watching you think. It's sexy."
Chuck closed the lid of the laptop and placed it on the small table in front of him.
"You know comments like that from someone as beautiful and amazing as you give hope to millions of nerds everywhere."
"Well there's only one nerd I'm worried about and he hasn't kissed me in four whole hours."
"Well we can't have that." Chuck got up, walked closer and pulled his girlfriend into his arms. Fortunately at 6'5" the ceiling height of the G650 was one of the few private jets that Chuck could fully stand up in. He leaned down and kissed her tenderly. "So did you enjoy your time in the cockpit?"
"Yes it was amazing. I do love flying this plane. But not as much as this." She kissed him deeper this time.
"So what are you working on?"
The couple walked back and sat of the seats opposite each other with the small table in between.
"I've been going over some of the new intel that Beckman gave us that isn't in the Intersect and comparing it to what was in there. I'm trying to figure out any changes in the intel that might indicate what the Ring has planned. So far there doesn't seem to be a pattern emerging like I had hoped. Beckman said that Andrea thinks the Director has something big planned. I just wish we knew something more from her."
"Chuck, she has to be very careful and keep all of her reports brief. You remember what the analysts said, no more than 30 seconds a day. The risk is too great she will get detected. You know as well as I do nothing is foolproof. Someone in her position, any slip up, even the slightest doubt in their minds about her loyalty and she will be dead before she takes her next breath. It's an incredibly high risk assignment and if she or the implant is detected then things won't end well for Andrea."
"I know Sarah, I just think I'm missing something, some little piece that ties it all together, you know?"
Sarah reached over and took his hand that had been nervously tapping the top of the laptop. She held it firmly but with real sense of calm in her grip.
"Chuck, I have absolutely no doubt you will find that missing piece. I trust you completely and this is what you do best. You connect the dots even when there is no clear pattern, you will find one and you will find it here. I trust you completely, I always have."
"Thanks sweetheart. I just hope I can live up to your confidence in me."
"You always have." she said smiling proudly.
"The only thing that sticks out is this Transport Security Expo. Nothing else seems to be going on in all of Great Britain that would attract their interest. It seems likely that the Ring would have some agents there but I can't seem to put my finger on what they would be interested in other than just general fact finding about the latest technology trends."
"Chuck, this conference attracts companies that supply security items for various nations around the world, right?"
"Yes, it's kind of a meet and greet for suppliers and clients."
"It's possible the Ring is either targeting one of those companies or one of their clients. In fact they may already own one of those companies that supply various security systems. If the Ring has access to all the major transportation hubs around the world it could be a big advantage for them. That technology could be used for other more devious purposes and once it's in place. It could give the Ring an opening into cities and countries around the world and they end up having tax payers pay for setting up their own network."
"You're right!" Chuck broke out into a patented Bartowski grin. He reached for Sarah's hands across the table and pulled her into passionate kiss.
"They could track movements all around the globe as well as getting a back door into all kinds of other agencies that use these systems. You have to believe that MI6 or Mossad have access to these systems. We certainly do in the US. That tunnel in could be used as a tunnel out as well and get the Ring behind every law enforcement firewall that has an opening to these systems coming out."
"Exactly, and what better way to gain access to these systems than to get the job of installing them."
Chuck's face lit up with a devilish smile. "You know smart Sarah may be the sexiest Sarah of all."
"Oh really? Maybe we will have to test that theory."
Chuck began to feel the tips of his ears begin to flush. "Ahh… what do you have in mind?"
"Chuck, do I have to spell it out for you?"
"Ahhh… please?"
"We'll be landing in about two hours. That should give us plenty of time to test the theory, unless you don't want to?"
"Sarah… um yea, of course I want to but what about the pilots?"
Sarah stood up and began to unbutton her blouse slowly, very slowly and very very seductively. "Chuck, I'm a pilot. I just spent four hours flying a jet across the Atlantic. But I'm also a fully trained CIA Agent. Don't you trust me to make sure that the ones flying the plane right now won't be disturbing us until we are on the ground?"
"Damn, I love smart Sarah!"
London
Ring Hive
Simon Foster watched carefully as the large shipping container was lifted off the rail car that had just been diverted from the Wembley Yard above down to the Ring's own private platform. He had a clear view of eight different cameras on the monitor wall in the control room. He watched intently as his crew of yardmasters diligently placed the container onto the concrete dock. Once the container was secure, the crew was dispatched to return the now empty rail car to the hump yard above. The unburdened flatcar actually bowed up slightly without the weight of the container and its load.
The Director waited for the signal from the yardmaster supervisor that the rest of the crew had exited the facility and it was now safe for him to make his appearance known. The four men that remained were all trusted Ring personnel.
Simon walked down the small flight of stairs that led from the control room to the rail siding with a confident smirk on his face. He had been waiting for the arrival of this container for two years. It's contents could help change the Ring's fortunes across the globe. It would also be the key to acquiring the only human Intersect and all of the technology needed to develop the Ring's own Army of Intersect agents.
Foster had scoffed when told of Ted Roark's attempt to develop his own army for Fulcrum. The Director thought Roark's personal relationship with Orion had clouded his judgment and took his eye off the real prize. Foster also thought Roark didn't use a big enough stick to make sure Orion complied with his wishes. Plus the Fulcrum scientists that had worked on the project in Meadow Branch had been incompetent. Simon Foster wouldn't make that kind of mistake. He had already made one when he trusted that Shaw could bring in a willing Charles Carmichael. But if he was being objective, if Shaw had been able to do it things would have been a lot easier.
But the Ring was flush with cash and the Director could afford to bring in the best scientists available. Foster also had one other advantage that Roark didn't. He knew who the human Intersect was. Plus he had just bought the biggest game changer he could imagine.
The Director stepped up the final step onto the platform and he was having trouble not grinning ear to ear. He was like a kid at Christmas that knew he was getting the gift he wanted. And oh how Foster wanted this. It was the one thing that had eluded the Ring ever since it was founded.
As he circled the container examining the security locks one of the Ring agents with him did a sweep for trackers. The last thing they needed would be having the Hive compromised. He had agents sweep it when it came off the boat but as it had been touched by two crews not directly in his employ, it was only prudent to check it again once it arrived at the Hive.
Simon swept his hands along the sides of the container as he completed his visual inspection. Once back where he started he looked over to the agent had who had been doing the RF sweep. The agent shook his head side to side and the smirk on Simon's face grew larger.
He stood facing the doors and closed his eyes briefly. After savoring the moment just a little longer he finally came out of his inner thoughts and looked over to his assistant who as always was standing to his right and five feet behind. His smile growing larger.
Foster's assistant was a little surprised as he had never seen the Director act like this. Normally Foster was all business. The assistant stood there passively waiting.
"Open it."
A/N2 Before you day anything, yes I did pilfer Marc Rossi from my other story, which pilfered him minirix's Beautiful Mess. But hey I like the character and I also enjoy using the same OC's in different stories as it makes character development easier.
Next time... well I'll leave you wondering about next time.
