A/N: Hi, all! So the reason it has taken me so long to update this fic is a) I felt it needed to be edited (but then I gave up on that. Sorry, it's unedited.) and b) much to the surprise of many of my online associates, I have a life.
Here you go! Enjoy! Please review! :)
Lying on the floor, Chuck woke up and immediately looked around to see where he was. Seeing only Sarah, he relaxed immediately before taking in the rest of his surroundings and finding out that he was in his bedroom.
Sarah, worried, asked him softly "Chuck, are you okay?"
"I think so," he answered as he sat up. "What happened?"
Sitting down next to him and placing a reassuring hand on his leg, Sarah responded, "You fainted after Carina told you what would happen if Beckman finds out that the new Intersect has flaws. "
Chuck took a moment to process this. When he did, he said, "This can't be happening again, Sarah. What's going to happen to Ellie and Awesome? Us? Morgan? You know he's not used to living independently."
"Chuck, I said I'd do anything to protect you," Sarah whispered with steely resolve, "and that's one promise I will never break."
Chuck grabbed Sarah's hand and took a deep breath, "I know, Sarah, I know."
"Don't worry," said Carina, suddenly appearing at the still-open window, this time with Casey in tow, "I won't say a thing. Of course, I may need some compensation for the arduous task of lying to Beckman."
Sarah raised an eyebrow, unsurprised, "Now that's the Carina we all know and tolerate. What do you want?"
"I need your help with something." Carina simply said.
"What is it this time?" asked Chuck, before adding, "Do I at least get to buy the suit?"
Carina looked at Casey, almost silently ordering him to speak, "Time for a new mission. Oh, and Bartowski? We're never trusting you with government money after the gambling incident. I'm buying the suit."
"Chuck, trust me," Sarah said, looking him in the eyes. "We'll be fine, I'll figure something out."
Back at the Castle, Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Carina all stand in front of the wide screen in the central area; the usual spot for meetings with the higher-ups.
"The General should be online shortly, she has some important information to tell us," began Casey, as he stood hands crossed behind his back.
"I wonder what that might be," Chuck muttered under his breath, eyes locked on Sarah, who returned his look with a desperate glare of her own, when the thought of Chuck's potential disappearing act filled her head, and with surprising clarity she could see her future beyond that. It was the saddest thing she could imagine.
Chuck's not going anywhere without me, she thought defiantly.
The screen came to life with the usual figure of a sitting General Beckman filling the screen. She looked as she usually did, that is to say, annoyed at the world in general, but particularly annoyed at Chuck.
"Good afternoon, Team," began the General " The Ring threat is bigger than anything we have encountered before, and if Chuck was important in the war against Fulcrum, I hate to say this, but he is invaluable now. His safety has never been more important. Therefore the CIA will be appointing a new official liaison to this project as soon as possible. For now Assistant Director Follmer is the temporary CIA representative at management level."
"I wasn't aware that anybody at the CIA knew about my, er…situation," interjected Chuck, choosing his words carefully due to Carina's presence.
"Agents Walker and Casey," interjected Beckman, ignoring Chuck as she usually did. "Do you remain confident in your abilities to handle the asset? This has been a more testing assignment than either of you have experienced."
That statement shook Sarah out of her musings, and she saw Beckman staring at her expectantly. "I feel well equipped to deal with the new threat posed by the Ring, and to protect the asset, ma'am."
"No worries from me, ma'am," answered Casey. "I'll do my job."
Once Casey had answered, Beckman turned to Carina, who had been standing off to the side looking slightly bored while the General spoke with the "official" Team Bartowski. "Have you tested the concept we discussed with your arrival on the asset?"
Carina answered, "Yes, I did. I don't particularly understand why you asked me to be so specific, but it has been done."
"The Government doesn't pay you to understand, we pay you to get results. So what are they?" said Beckman.
"Whatever you were expecting to happen, didn't. I wasn't accused of being rogue, as you warned me." Carina lied. "May I have permission to share my thoughts about the situation?"
"You may proceed," said General Beckman, looking attentively at Carina.
"We all know that the asset is certainly in more danger than before, although why the Ring would be interested in a computer technician I don't know, but according to what I've been thinking, if the asset is removed then the Ring would certainly notice a change in governmental activity. Since they probably know about Agent Walker and Colonel Casey, they would realize that the asset had been removed once they were reassigned, and that narrows down where he could be to a select few government compounds. He would be safer here," Carina suggested.
"I see you've given this a lot of thought, Agent Miller, and for what it's worth, I agree. Mr. Bartowski, you should thank Agent Miller, because she is the reason why you're are not going to a bunker. That having been said, there will be some changes on this team. Agent Walker and Mr. Bartowski are now moving together for full protection. And I am not accepting no for an answer this time. Agent Miller, you are now officially a member of this team. Let one of my staff know what needs to be sent to Burbank as soon as possible. Any questions?"
Everybody was numb; they couldn't believe what had just happened to the team. Chuck and Sarah had to school their features during the General's speech, so that they wouldn't explode with happiness.
"Yes ma'am." They responded in unison. Even Chuck was being more formal now in front of the General.
"Good. About the mission you are all assigned to do in a couple of days, we'll have a briefing tomorrow morning. Consider yourselves free for the night." The image of the General and the Assistant Director soon disappeared from the screen.
"You two both owe me big. Understand?" said Carina pointedly, glaring at Chuck and Sarah.
Sarah came over to give Carina a hug and whispered, "Thank you." When she finally released Carina, she found Chuck standing behind her. As Chuck closed in to give Carina a hug, he found himself confronted with Carina's raised hand.
"One hug is enough. Don't make me regret my decision. Although if you're willing to reconsider my offer to come up to my hotel room…" she finished seductively, leaving the sentence hanging.
"No, no reconsideration needed," began Chuck, looking extremely flustered while Sarah looked almost ready to burst into flames on the spot, despite a valiant attempt at controlling her jealousy. She knew what Carina was trying to do to her. "While still being flattered, and incredibly intimidated, I'm still gonna have to say no," Chuck finished.
"Worth a shot," said Carina, before she turned and addressed Casey, "So, Johnny, you think you might be able to handle me this time?"
Casey responded under his breath, "Why didn't I listen to my mother and stay in the choir. Then I wouldn't be in this situation."
As Carina and Casey walked upstairs, Chuck suddenly realized that Sarah possibly might not be happy with the idea of moving in with him. He knew she loved him; she'd tried to tell him as much earlier, but there was always that little nagging doubt in the back of his mind. Although General Beckman told them she was not accepting no for an answer, he knew if Sarah did not care for the idea, he would somehow convince Beckman he couldn't do it. He'd do anything to make her happy, even if it cost him his happiness.
Chuck mentally braced himself for rejection as he turned to face Sarah, however all thought left his brain as he looked into her face. She was giving him the biggest smile that he had ever seen, and Chuck knew she felt the same way he did. He struggled between wanting to see the smile remain on her face and wanting to kiss her. His desire to kiss her won.
When Chuck moved in to give her a kiss, it took Sarah a little longer than it should have for her to remember the surveillance cameras. Taking a step back, Sarah said to him, in order to take his mind off a mutually desired yet wholly inappropriate outcome, "Uh, Chuck we should go tell Ellie and Awesome you'll be moving out."
Before Chuck could respond, Sarah grabbed his hand and quickly led him upstairs.
A/N: Also, since I don't really plan on editing (just polishing) the chapters should be posted a lot faster. Can't wait for you all to see how it ends! ;)
And, of course, thanks to the eleven individuals that put this amazing story together! I hope to work with you some more on the next installment! :)