A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, PMs and comments on the Chuck FanFiction Facebook group. It shows me what you think, which I really appreciate.
Thanks also to Captainrick944 for another beta. In addition to his first run through, he had to review sections I added about something Sarah 'read' from Casey's thoughts. A reminder that his fantastic "Orion Cyber Security Systems," that I beta for him, is nearing the end, but the excitement does let up, so keep reading.
Last chapter, Doctor Zarnow arrived and although Sarah could see he wasn't reliable, Casey took a little longer to convince. The team overcame him successfully, but Chuck, as in the show, put himself at risk trying to save Sarah. His feelings for her are just the same here. What's clearer to both is her feelings for him. They are both resisting their feelings, so the bosses still think it's just a cover relationship. That chapter was an AU rewrite of "Chuck versus the Helicopter."
This chapter rewrites "Chuck Versus the Tango."
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Chapter 3: Artwork
Stephen cursed the fact that Chuck was now using a laptop. Well, it wasn't the use of a laptop itself, but the fact that when he wasn't using it, Chuck closed it.
That meant no camera or microphone Stephen could use, which, in turn, meant he didn't hear their conversations, and he was desperate to know how his son was getting on.
He had heard of three people saving General Stanfield a couple of nights ago and had wondered if his son had been part of that, but there were absolutely no photos of the three. He'd done his usual scanning through CIA records, but nothing came up.
Traffic cameras had been no good because Chuck didn't seem to be using the normal Nerd Herder to get around. Until earlier today, that was. Seeing Chuck leave the Buy More and climb into a Nerd Herder, Stephen watched him through a series of traffic cams. He went to a hotel and went in. Then, shortly after, he came back out with a large man who he helped into the car. They sat there for a while, then set off again.
They drove to the port. There were no cameras there, at least not in the area Chuck drove the car. Stephen just had to be patient. He waited and waited. Then, finally, the car left the area and reappeared in the traffic cameras. It was following a large black SUV.
Stephen was worried about what his son being with this CIA woman, and possibly the man he'd seen him with was an agent too.
Both cars drove to Echo Park. He didn't see them arrive as there were no cameras he could use for that, but he knew his son was home. Maybe that other guy was in the other car.
He sat back and wondered if that guy was the third person involved in saving the general.
He slammed his hand down on the table. He hated not knowing what was going on.
"Leave the damn laptop running, Charles. Or get a new computer and leave that on like you used to."
Chuck Had forgotten his sister's dinner plans for the night before. Not surprising with what had happened, but she would undoubtedly have been pissed off. She had said nothing in the morning, probably because of the funeral, but he knew he should apologize.
So, when they got home from the funeral, and she was still there, having a day off, he did apologize profusely. "I just forgot, El. I am so, so sorry. " Sarah didn't know what excuse he was going to use. He had a few in his mind, so she kept quiet. "I just wanted to take Sarah to the beach for a romantic evening and… and not think about Bryce," he said.
Sarah picked up on it from there. "It was lovely, Ellie. The sunset was beautiful. I'm sorry, I didn't know about the dinner you had planned."
Ellie gripped Sarah's hands. "I wanted it to be special for you, Sarah, to thank you for being with Chuck." Reading her mind, Sarah could see she really did think that, but there was also a hint of frustration at not being able to quiz her about her past.
Sarah never thought about her earlier years and had blocked that off from her mind, but this triggered a flashback to when her dad was caught. She tried to hide that almost as soon as it appeared in her mind but wasn't quick enough.
Chuck was surprised at her thought and then realized that all he knew about her past was what he'd seen in the Intersect, not from her memories. She had all that blocked off, even from herself. However, though he wanted to know more, now was not the time to focus on it.
Ellie sighed. "It wouldn't have been a happy meal, if he was thinking about his old friend. I had guessed he wouldn't want to be there and so I didn't cook it. I just thought he would have let me know." Ellie gave her brother a slight glare, but there was no real anger behind it. She then turned back to Sarah and said, "Tonight, at 8:00 pm. Please bring this idiot."
Sarah agreed and led him to his bedroom for them to change clothes.
Once in the room, he immediately asked, 'Your dad, what did he do?'
She hated thinking about those days but knew Chuck well enough to know it would get to him if she didn't, and he would probably keep asking. He knew enough bad things about her, so was this really any worse?
She sat at the foot of the bed. 'Dad was a conman. He got caught, and I was recruited into the CIA.' She thought briefly about that recruitment before she closed those thoughts off.
Chuck sat beside her. 'Graham?'
She sighed and decided to tell all. 'Yeah, Graham followed me when I tried to escape after spotting the police taking Dad. He persuaded me to sign up. He said he'd make things easier for Dad.'
'Why did he want you?'
She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. 'I'd learned from my Dad. I was a conman too. I could lie, manipulate, take things off of people without them knowing.' She looked back up at him. 'All skills that spies need.' She held his gaze as she thought that.
Chuck realized she was right, of course. 'How old were you?'
'Seventeen,' she replied. 'I'd been with Dad for ten years. I knew it was wrong sometime before he got caught, but it was all I knew.'
She hadn't thought it, so he asked, 'Your mom?'
Sarah didn't want to think about her or anything about her. 'We left her when I was seven.' That was all she would think.
'Wow! Earlier than I lost my mom,' he told her. 'She left when I was nine.'
Sarah held his hand. 'Two broken people, huh?'
'As if made for each other,' he replied. Sarah snatched her hand back, not wanting to go there. 'Sorry,' he added, but she knew he was only saying that because of his promise to avoid 'gushing,' as she put it. He obviously still thought it.
Sarah closed off her mind to him and thought about that. She had read about his mom leaving when he was nine and his dad less than four years later, so neither of them had parents close. She had her mom, briefly, but that was no longer an option. It did feel like their backgrounds sort of matched them up. She couldn't think that way, though.
Chuck then thought, 'I guess you changed your name then. What is your real name, Sarah?'
She tensed. They had drummed into the students back at the Farm that spies should always keep their birth names secret. It gave power to those that found out. Then she relaxed her muscles, Chuck already knew things about her that would give him power over her if he were so inclined. She knew he wasn't like that. 'I haven't used that name since I was seven, Chuck. I've been Sarah Walker for longer than that.'
'Just curious,' he replied.
She decided there was no point hiding it from him. 'Samantha Lisa were my first two names when I was born. No one has used the last name since I left Mom, so that is completely irrelevant.' She looked at Chuck, 'I never want to talk about my early name again, Chuck. It's not who I am.'
He agreed. 'Do you have a middle name now?'
'Not officially, but if I did, it would be Lisa.'
'Sarah Lisa Walker,' he mused. I like it.' Strangely, she found she did too.
She opened her case to find something to wear.
'You can use the drawers I emptied and the space I made in my wardrobe,' Chuck offered.
Sarah hadn't even considered that before. 'You're right. I should.' She opened the wardrobe and saw the hangers he'd left. She started moving her dresses, tops, jeans and skirts over. He watched. She could hear him thinking how good she'd look in some of them, which made her smile. She noted which ones.
When she opened the drawers he'd pointed at and started transferring underwear, he looked away. She teased him, 'Too much?' That drew his eyes back and he saw what she was holding. He blushed but replied, 'I mustn't see you in that, Sarah. I don't think I could control myself.'
She looked at the black lacy bra she was holding. She almost wanted to rush to the bathroom with that and matching panties to put them on to show him. She shook her head and thought, at exactly the same time as him, 'Not professional, Agent Walker!' Why she even thought about doing it was beyond her.
She pulled the case toward her and told him to look away. She didn't want to think about what she had expected of some of this clothing. He didn't need to know she'd thought she might have to seduce him with it.
She was less careful with her swimwear. Although the bikinis were small, they were a lot less revealing than what he had probably seen other women wearing on the beach. Then she thought about what he'd said to his sister. She turned around and saw him at his laptop, booting it up. "Chuck, shall we go to the beach today?"
He turned around. "We could. Want to go for a swim or just a paddle?"
She thought for a few seconds but couldn't decide. She shrugged. "Prepare for either."
His laptop was waiting for him to log in, but instead, he closed it down. "Okay."
She grabbed her blue bikini and a blue flowered sundress and skipped to the bathroom. 'Yes, I'm skipping!' she thought. 'An afternoon at the beach is just what I need.'
Chuck laughed and opened a drawer to pull out some trunks.
Ellie had grinned when she heard their plans. "Beach bums," she teased. Sarah could, however, feel her sadness at not being able to do the same because Devon was at work.
Sarah called Casey as they walked, hand in hand, to her car. "You're taking him out?" Casey questioned her.
"We both need some time off," she replied.
"So, you're taking him for a roll in the sand?" he snarked.
That annoyed her slightly, "If I wanted a roll with him, it would be on his bed, not in the sand."
That stopped Chuck from walking. She looked at him, frozen. She leaned over and gave him a peck on his cheek. 'Keep walking, Chuck. Both Casey and Ellie could be watching.'
"Just keep him safe," Casey growled and ended the call.
Chuck was carrying a rucksack with water, his spare clothes, and a couple of towels. "In case we want to sit, but also need one if we swim," he said when she questioned that. He also had sun cream in there, which she didn't question.
Sarah had a smaller bag with her towel and a bottle of water. Her scandals were now attached to that, whereas he was carrying his.
Paddling in the water was relaxing for both of them. Holding hands was for the cover, he had insisted, but she didn't object.
She had pushed back thoughts of the last time she'd been on a beach with someone. Bryce, two years ago. After all, thinking of him was painful for both of them.
Right now, she was just happy walking next to this guy, swishing her feet through the shallow water. This was, in reality, the most relaxed she had ever been. That was because of this guy. He made her feel good about herself, and he was good to be with.
They were now approaching some bathers, splashing each other with the water. Having fun.
Chuck was about to turn back, but she tightened her grip on his hand and pulled him onto the beach.
"What-" he started.
"We're putting our stuff down and going for a swim," she replied.
She dropped her bag, pulled off her top, and dropped her shorts, putting both in the bag after pulling out her towel. The towel she dropped on the top of the bag. She turned to take his hand and found him motionless. She realized his mind had frozen once again.
Chuck was totally stunned at seeing Sarah in her bikini. He knew she would look amazing in it, but seeing her was something else entirely. He was so overwhelmed by the sight of her, that his normal behavior just didn't kick in. He just stood and gawped at her.
Sarah was surprised at her own reaction to his behavior. She blushed. She was used to men looking at her and, although she never really liked it, had not expected this from "Mr. Gentleman" the bashful, overly proper Chuck Bartowski. She blushed because she found she liked being admired by him as she stood in front of him, which was embarrassing.
She snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Swim, remember?"
He refocused, initially on her fingers, then on her eyes, those gorgeous ocean-blue eyes of hers. He couldn't stop his mouth if he tried. "You're absolutely stunning!"
The warmth that spread through her was a reminder of her own feelings for him that were growing, those feelings responding to his words. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the water's edge.
They spent the next forty minutes in the water. Initially swimming together on the surface, then underwater. The last ten minutes were spent behaving just like the people they saw before, playing.
Near the end, she was rubbing water out of her eyes after he'd splashed her. She was standing waist deep. She couldn't see him, but then felt his arms wrap around her calves, and she was upended. She had not expected that, nor had she 'heard' his thoughts about it.
When she surfaced, he was standing in front of her, beaming. His thoughts very clear. 'I beat Agent Walker!'
She wasn't having that but also wanted to try an experiment. She jumped toward him, knocking him underwater in the process, and she followed him in. leaning down on him, she thought, 'Can you hear me thinking what a jerk you were, doing that?' She also tried to read his mind and got nothing.
He wrapped his arms around her, trapping her arms. He surged to the surface.
The feeling of her flesh pressing against his was unexpected and very pleasant, but he realized this was wrong. "I am so sorry, Sarah. I know that is too much for our non-relationship." His thoughts, however, were not on that but how great she had felt in his arms, her naked flesh pressed against his.
Sarah focused on his words and tried to push back her own reaction to the contact and to his thoughts. "It works for the cover, Chuck."
He looked shocked, then nodded and walked out of the water.
Sarah winced at the pain she felt as he was hurt by her words. She never intended them to hurt him. She rushed to follow him and caught his arm before he reached their things. She pulled him around and into her arms and kissed his lips. Chuck tensed initially, then relaxed into the kiss. It was their first real kiss, other than the occasional peck on the lips. Both enjoyed the feeling of the other's lips on their own as well as the embrace. However, with their mind link, they also experienced what the other felt, which somehow made the kiss even better.
She released him, and he just stared at her before thinking, 'For the cover?' there was no bitterness in his words or thoughts.
She shook her head slightly, not wanting an exaggerated show for anyone looking. 'No. To apologize to the best man I know and to thank him for such a wonderful day.'
He grinned. "Thank you." Then he turned to pick up the towel he planned to use to dry himself.
Sarah dried herself, keeping her thoughts to herself. 'I really am screwed! I enjoyed that far too much! And tonight, I need to sleep, really sleep, with this man that I'm falling for!'
Once they sat down on the towels, still feeling a bit overwhelmed, she focused on something else and thought at him, 'The mind link cannot pass through water. At least, not seawater.' Chuck looked at her in surprise as he hadn't noticed. She explained her reasoning, 'When I pushed you under, I tried to think at you, then tried to read you and couldn't do it.'
'I got nothing from you, Sarah,' he replied. He then asked, 'You don't think it gets blocked when your mind is completely focused on something else, do you?'
She considered that but didn't think that had been the case. Then she thought about what they'd been doing in the water. She smiled. 'Were you enjoying yourself out there?'
'More than I have in many, many years,' he replied, honestly.
She felt pleased to know that. Although it wasn't part of the job or necessary for their growing bond, it felt good to give Chuck some happy memories.
'Every minute with you makes me feel good, Sarah. What we did out there, and… and holding you like that was a dream.' His thoughts made more poignant because she felt them too. 'I can't even describe the kiss,' he added.
She had started to think the kiss may have been a mistake. A great one, but still a mistake.
'Not a mistake, Sarah. I won't hold you to another,' he thought. Then she 'heard' him spiral off, thinking of holding her wet body against his and their kiss.
'Chuck!' she snapped him out of it.
He focused, then decided he couldn't continue this and lay down to sunbathe.
She did the same.
Sarah's fair skin was looking a little red when they left the beach. They had both forgotten about sun cream. When they reached her car, she was not in any pain, though.
She pulled her phone out of the glove compartment to check for messages.
"We had today off, Sarah," Chuck reminded her.
"With this job, that rarely happens," she replied.
She had a missed call, a voice message, and a text, all from Casey. She also had a missed call and voice message from Graham.
She had no intention of there being any secrets from Chuck about anything Casey communicated, and suspected it was all connected, so she put the voice message from him on speaker.
"Beckman and Graham want to talk. Seems the holiday is over. I said you were keeping Bartowski sweet. We have a call. Be at my place at 4 pm."
She looked at the time. 3:20. "Shit!"
She drove them back to Echo Park so fast that Chuck had to hold on for dear life. However, she needed to hear the call from Graham, too, so she put that on.
"Walker, we have a mission. The elusive La Ciudad is in LA and needs to be found. Beckman and I have set up a call at 4 pm, your time. Be there."
Chuck flashed on the name. Sarah didn't, probably because she already knew it. He commented, "Wow! This guy is bad! The most elusive and dangerous arms dealer in the world."
"And no one knows what he looks like," she replied.
"So how do they know he's in LA?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Must be intel gained somewhere."
"And you and Casey have to find this invisible person, who is currently somewhere in LA. That's not gonna happen," he commented.
Sarah just put her foot down.
Sarah rushed to Casey's apartment and Chuck to his. He got himself a glass of water and wandered to the table where he saw a newspaper. He sat to read that, putting his glass down briefly. There was a picture on the front page. He flashed. It was lucky he wasn't still holding his drink, or he would have dropped it.
He rushed over to Casey's apartment and hammered on the door. Casey opened it, looking very annoyed and thinking 'What's this moron doing here?' Casey was about to tell him to piss off when Chuck said, "I know where La Ciudad is going to be tomorrow night."
Casey dragged Chuck in and through to where Sarah was standing, looking at Casey's laptop. She was shocked he'd barged in until she read his thoughts.
Casey explained to the bosses. "He says he knows where La Ciudad is going to be tomorrow night."
Facing the two leaders was unsettling for Chuck because he knew both had wanted him dead only a short while ago. However, his telepathic link with Agent Sarah Walker made a huge difference. She was tense but projected a calm exterior. That projection soothed his nerves. She was definitely a calming influence. Without her, Chuck would have probably lost it completely.
'Just tell them what you know, Chuck. About La Ciudad, that is,' she advised him via their mind link.
He acknowledged that. Although that was exactly why he'd come over, these two on the screen were intimidating. The military bearing of General Beckman, who appeared seated at her desk, looking severe but nowhere near as threatening as the large black man standing next to her, leaning forward to fit in the view.
"He's going to be at the art auction at the Wilshire Grand hotel tomorrow night," he rushed out.
Beckman leaned forward. "You… flashed?"
"Yes, General. On a photo of one of the paintings that will be there," Chuck replied.
"And do you know what he looks like?" the low rumbling voice came through as the man spoke, his voice almost as scary as the man himself.
Chuck shook his head. "That's not in the Intersect."
The woman, General Beckman, said, "If he's right, this is a high priority. La Ciudad is the most elusive and dangerous arms dealer in the world." Sarah and Chuck shared a thought but managed not to smile at the general repeating Chuck word for word.
The scary man, Director Graham, added, "And the last anyone heard, Mi6 in London had a drop on him, but he vanished."
Casey spoke up, "Well, if he turns up, we'll just take him down at the auction."
Graham disagreed. "Not so easy. As I said, we have no idea what he looks like, no photographs. No one has ever seen la Ciudad that has lived to tell about it."
"So, we'll bring the intersect," Casey offered, "Everything you know about La Ciudad was fed into that computer."
Sarah immediately disagreed, "No way. It is too dangerous. He has no field experience or training."
Casey sneered, "He'll be fine. It's an art auction."
"Do it," Beckman and Graham said simultaneously.
This was going to be the poshest event Chuck had ever been to. While Sarah was taking a call and being told when their clothes would be delivered to the Wienerlicious, Casey told Chuck he would need to be able to dance the tango when he was there. Chuck could, however, see that Casey was lying, so he wasn't fazed. The NSA agent smirked as he walked to his kitchen, not knowing he'd been rumbled.
Sarah finished her call, and they walked over to their apartment. He thought about what Casey had said. Sarah's eyes lit up. 'I can teach you!'
Chuck opened the door, and they walked in, finding Ellie and Devon in the kitchen. The two in the doorway remembered the dinner.
"Good. Glad you dragged him back here, Sarah," Ellie commented.
"We're going out tomorrow night, Ellie," Sarah told her. "In case we might get a chance to dance, I'm going to teach him to tango!"
Ellie turned and stared at them. "Wow! That's some date."
"Yep," Sarah replied. "I'm so excited." And she was excited. Sarah Walker loved to dance. It was one of the few things her job enabled her to do that she enjoyed. It had been a while since she last tangoed. With Bryce, in fact, but she wasn't going to focus on that.
"Dinner won't be ready until 8," Ellie said, grinning as she looked at them. "better get started on the dancing lesson."
Chuck was a bit clumsy initially but soon picked it up. Her mental hints helped a lot. After an hour, he was quite good at it.
Ellie was clapping, as was Devon, who said, "Awesome!"
"You'll be great," Chuck's sister called to him.
"How can I not be, with this beautiful woman on my arm," Chuck replied.
"Smooth talker," Sarah said and reached up and kissed him. 'I am so looking forward to dancing with you. I hope we do get a chance.'
Chuck felt really pleased with himself.
Sarah popped in the shower first.
"Not bad, bro," Devon said as he walked up to Chuck. "Did a semester abroad in Buenos Aires. Spent many a night tangoing my way into señoritas' pantalones."
"I don't want to hear that, Devon," Chuck said, and he definitely didn't need the images that followed. He headed to his bedroom to select the clothes he was going to wear THIS evening.
Sarah had a wonderful time at the dinner with Ellie, Devon and Chuck. The food was great, and the questioning easy to handle, especially as she read Ellie's mind and knew what she was fishing for.
One set of questions had inevitably been about her job.
"So, what job did you leave in DC, Sarah." Ellie wanting to know that was no real surprise.
"I was an auditor," Sarah vaguely replied.
Sarah didn't have to read Ellie's mind to see her frustration. "Auditing what?"
Sarah replied, "Government contracts. Hush hush. Can't talk about it," Sarah replied.
Chuck was watching the conversation and tried not to laugh at how Sarah was skipping around and giving his sister nothing. Sarah was brilliant. No one usually managed to evade answers from Eleanor Bartowski.
Ellie tried a different tack, "So, can you do the same over here?"
"They don't do that sort of thing over here," Sarah replied.
"And you can't tell me what that sort of thing is?"
"Afraid not, Ellie."
"Can you use those skills on other things?"
Sarah leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table and putting her chin on her fists. "That's what I'm trying to find out."
"So, you're searching for a new job, then?" Ellie's doubts made Sarah realize the older woman thought she was sponging off of Chuck.
Sarah deliberately frowned. "Of course I am. Do you think I like burning sausages?"
Chuck had to cough to avoid laughing. Sarah was turning this on his sister.
Ellie held up her hands, backing off the topic rapidly. "Oh no! I didn't mean that, Sarah. I'm… I'm just glad to hear it."
Sarah mentally grinned and narrowed her eyes. "You didn't think I was relying on Chuck's support and your generosity letting me stay here, did you?"
Ellie, the inquisitor, rocked back in her chair. That was exactly what she'd been thinking and now had to deny it. "No, no. I wouldn't think that, Sarah."
"Oh good," Sarah replied. "I'd hate to have to leave your lovely apartment… and Chuck. But I would have to if that was what you thought of me. I am not a sponger."
Ellie looked around at all the faces staring her way. "Anyone for coffee?" All three nodded, and Devon got up to help her.
'You were playing with her,' Chuck accused Sarah.
'She was a bit obvious, but the intensity behind her thoughts was surprising. If I'd answered wrongly, she would have gone for my throat!' Sarah responded.
The rest of the evening was much less intense.
When they went to bed, Chuck asked, 'Tell me what I need to do for tomorrow.'
'You'll need a cover rather than go as yourself. The idea with a cover is to keep it as simple as possible without revealing true personal detail. First, you'll need a name.'
He immediately thought, 'Charles Carmichael.'
She grinned. 'You've wanted to use this since Stanford? ' He nodded. 'Tell me his background.'
"Yeah, I've had it since then. it's kind of where I envisioned myself being by now.' He paused then described him, 'Graduated with honors from Stanford. Runs a hugely successful software company. Semi-retired and is considering entering America's Cup.'
Sarah frowned. 'That does sound like you, Chuck. It probably would have been you if it wasn't for Bryce.' She then shook her head. 'Apart from the sailing part. I'd drop that in case you get drawn into a conversation with someone interested in that.'
She took a breath. 'Ok, so that's done.'
Chuck was nervous about this mission. Sarah tried to address that. 'No reason to be nervous, Chuck. I am not going to leave your side.'
He was grateful for that. However, he pointed out something important. 'If we separate, we can cover more people. Scan them. Find La Ciudad that much quicker.'
'True, but your safety is more important,' she replied.
He snorted. 'To you, maybe. Not to Casey, Graham or Beckman.'
She gripped his hand. 'Chuck, you know there's no maybe. You ARE more important.'
He gazed into her eyes and read her mind. She opened it up enough for him to see she really did care for him. Her eyes expressed it too. 'Thank you, Sarah.'
Sarah received the clothes and other items that would be needed just before leaving the Wienerlicious the following afternoon. She placed them on the back seat of her car and went to collect Chuck.
When they arrived at the apartment, Ellie and Devon were out.
"I'm going to take a shower, then I will start to get ready. I assume you'll follow?" she said to him.
"Yeah, sure," he replied, heading into his bedroom. She followed and hung their clothes over the door to his wardrobe.
"Wow! Pretty swanky," he commented. She smiled. 'Usual attire for you, Agent Walker?' he thought at her.
'Not the suit,' she replied with a smirk.
When she went into the bathroom, Chuck decided to check his emails. He hadn't done that for a few days.
When the laptop had booted up, he clicked on the email icon, and found nothing of interest in the new mails folder. He was about to close the laptop when a small window appeared in the middle of the screen. Green text appeared on a black background.
YOU CAN'T TRUST HER
He reached his hands to the keyboard.
WHO IS THIS?
The reply was immediate.
NOT IMPORTANT
DO NOT TRUST HER
Chuck quickly typed his reply,
I TRUST HER MORE THAN SOMEONE WHO WON'T TELL ME HIS NAME
More text appeared in return,
SHE IS A SPY. CAN'T BE TRUSTED
Chuck decided to ignore this.
HOW DID YOU ACCESS THIS ACCOUNT?
The reply was as before,
NOT IMPORTANT
Chuck had had enough of this. He sent one last reply,
PISS OFF!
Then he closed the laptop. He walked to the bed and sat down. Someone very skilled had gained access and was broadcasting messages to him. That would have to be someone as skilled as himself, maybe more. This was not good. He needed to discuss this with Sarah.
He lay down and thought about tonight's mission. He hoped that between the pair of them, they could find this evil man.
Sarah walked into the room, once again covered in only a towel, but Chuk managed to ignore her appearance. 'I've got a hacker,' he told her.
'You ARE a hacker,' she replied.
'I'm serious. Someone is talking to me on my laptop.'
Her eyes widened. 'We need to stop him. Find him,' she thought.
I'll do it,' he replied. 'Just need to set a trap. Do not tell anyone.'
With that, he jumped up and walked to the bathroom.
Sarah thought of opening the laptop but decided against it. She'd leave it to the hacker.
She reached for her evening dress.
Sarah was more nervous than Chuck as they rode in the limo. Taking him somewhere dangerous felt so wrong.
'You'll be with me, though, right?' he thought.
'I will. Do not try to wander off,' she replied.
She then remembered what else he needed, which had been left in the back with them. She opened the box. "Here. This is for you." She showed him the item within, "Inside the watch is a tracking system. That way, you can't run away from me. And if you flash on anyone, tell me immediately and then stay out of the way." 'You know this already,' she added.
He nodded. "Absolutely, yeah." He put the watch on. "I, uh, I always run from a fight."
The window through to the driver dropped as he said this. Casey, in front, said, "This isn't a joke, Bartowski. No one who's ever seen him has lived to tell about it."
Chuck knew this and responded, irritably, "Is that supposed to help?"
"Toughen up. You'll be fine," Casey replied, "... assuming you know how to tango."
Chuck and Sarah flashed mental smirks at each other. 'Play along,' she suggested.
"I did some preparation, okay? I wouldn't call myself an expert..."
'You're pretty good, though,' Sarah thought before saying, "Why would he need to know how to tango? Is that code?"
Chuck acted as he should, "No, not- no, he told me that I needed to know how to tango..." Casey snorted behind him. "Oh, spy humor!"
'I really hope you do get to use those skills,' Sarah thought.
He smiled at her, thinking about dancing with her in that amazing dress from which he had difficulty averting his eyes. 'Breathtaking,' had been his thought when he'd first seen her in it. That had made Sarah feel so good, even though she knew it was the case.
Casey had stopped the limo by this time. "Come on, you ready?" Sarah asked as she rose.
They got out and walked into the museum.
When offered some food, Chuck immediately grabbed some. "Oh, nice, yes, thank you."
He managed to drip sauce off of it onto his white shirt. "Oh, great. I've been a spy all of five seconds and I already have soy sauce on my shirt."
Sarah quickly scanned the room. Not seeing any threats, she took his hand and pulled him along. As they approached the men's restroom, she thought, 'Go and wash it off. And Chuck, stop saying that you're a spy.'
"Right, of course," he muttered.
'I won't be far, but I want to start "reading" people,' she informed him.
'Right,' he repeated, but just in thought this time.
He had almost finished when an older man came out of one of the further stalls and walked up by Chuck to wash his hands. Chuck had been concentrating and had not sensed him before. He looked at the man and flashed. Images of dead people lying on the ground and the front sheet of a document.
Briefing Paper
LA CIUDAD
TOP SECRET
Chuck shook his head, not expecting the flash.
The man frowned and asked in a British accent, "Do we know each other?"
Chuck focused on him and read his mind while replying, "No. No, not that I know of. Sorry."
Chuck walked out of the restroom and spotted Sarah, not far away, as she'd promised. He walked up to her, thinking, 'The British are here, looking for La Ciudad as well.'
'Are you sure?' she asked. Then the man walked out too and she read his mind as well.
She guided Chuck into the main room and spotted Casey behind the bar. Chuck sensed her doing that, and they both walked over to the older man, now dressed appropriately for a different role.
"Drink for the lady and yourself, sir?" Casey asked.
Chuck ordered two drinks and was going to tell Casey what he'd seen but was interrupted. "Chuck Bartowski?" Chuck turned and looked at a man his age. He was about to deny it but read the man's thoughts. The guy said, "Allan Watterman, Stanford, remember?"
Chuck reluctantly answered, "Hey, how are you?"
Sarah thought at him, 'Get rid of him, Chuck. He'll blow your cover.' Then she added, 'I'll tell Casey about the British spy.'
"I'm great. You?" Chuck replied to the man.
Watterman replied, "I'm great. I don't know if you heard, I sold my software company. Kind of unemployed. The problem is, I'm too young to retire and I'm too rich to work."
Chuck knew he needed to get away but couldn't just get up and walk. He replied, "That's quite a pickle you find yourself in, Watterman."
The man continued, "What are you doing now? Last I heard, you were, um, you were fixing computers or something?"
Chuck hated the view people had of him, so he replied, "Just kind of weighing my options right now. I may be getting a managerial position at an electronics conglomerate, so, you know..."
Watterman replied, "Well, I always knew you'd make something of yourself. Who are you here with?"
Chuck turned and pointed down the bar to Sarah, who was talking quietly with Casey, "Oh, my date. She's right over there."
Watterman replied, "She's with you? Wow, you are doing well for yourself!"
Chuck nodded, wishing it were true.
Watterman continued, "Well, hey, um, give me a call. You know, if you need help with the whole job thing. I know people." He handed Chuck his card and walked off. Chuck flashed on the card. Insider trading and offshore accounts in the Caymans. He was surprised he hadn't read that in his mind, but realized he had been distracted at the time with the mission by the British spy and Sarah. 'I must concentrate harder.' he thought.
'Yes, you must. Stay focused,' Sarah thought back. 'Casey's going to talk to the British agent.' She walked up to him with their drinks and laced her arm through his. "Let's walk," she said.
Casey had taken a tray of drinks and walked to the man. Chuck and Sarah walked near, 'hearing' him thinking as he talked. 'Major Casey, NSA. We need to talk about La Ciudad.' The man beckoned to another, and the three walked away.
Chuck refocused and scanned people's thoughts. Sarah was doing the same but trying to focus her away, 'You can focus it?' he asked.
'It's like you focus on me when we share thoughts,' she replied.
He tried it and found he could zone out some to keep a focused direction. 'Neat!'
After that, he scanned to their left, his side, and she to the right. After twenty minutes of this, Chuck was getting very frustrated. He'd sensed several local NSA agents who were waiting for signals from Casey or Sarah, but no bad guys.
"I need another drink," he told her.
'OK. Let's sweep around the other side of the room and head back. I need one too.'
'This is harder than I expected,' he thought.
'He's not going to be obvious, Chuck.'
They reached the bar, and Casey had returned. He started talking to Sarah about the British, so Chuck moved slightly further up the bar and ordered from the other man behind it. He picked his up and looked out into the room. Across the other side was a painting he hadn't noticed before, probably because it had been hidden by viewers. Surprisingly, he flashed on it and saw what was being hidden behind the label showing it as 'Water Lilies; 1921.'
He hurried back to the other two and told them. Casey called it in as Chuck and Sarah walked over to check it out.
'The frame hides it, Sarah, but there's definitely some chemical in a canister hiding inside it.'
As they approached it, a woman walked to it as well, admiring it. She had long dark hair swept off her left shoulder and covering the right side of her neck. She was attractive, but to Chuck, nowhere near as attractive as Sarah. However, as they got closer, Chuck read her mind first, then Sarah did too. He then flashed on her profile. He saw her killing people with knives and guns. He also saw her right neck, which had a large scar from a knife wound.
This wasn't some art enthusiast. This was La Ciudad herself. 'keep her talking, Chuck,' Sarah told him, 'I'm gonna let Casey know.' She turned and signaled to Casey.
Keep her talking? Chuck had no idea what to say to the woman, but she spoke first, "Beautiful painting."
He looked at her. "Yeah, beautiful." Then realized how that sounded, although she was indeed beautiful. "Beautiful painting, yeah. It definitely has a quality about it. Very, I would say, Bob Rossian in its influence."
"Who?" she asked.
"Bob Ross," he replied. "The guy who used to paint on PBS, with the afro and the soothing-" He stopped and looked at the frowning woman. "You have no idea what I'm talking about, do you?"
"Sorry," she replied.
"It won't be the first time," he muttered.
She put out her hand, "I'm Malena."
He shook her hand. "Hi, I'm Charles Carmichael."
"So, you don't like the painting?" she asked.
"No, it seems very lovely. I'm just more interested in the frame." Then he realized he shouldn't have said that. However, his phone rang, and he looked at the caller. Morgan. Chuck declined the call and looked up again. "So, sorry about this. Work never leaves you alone. I'm in the software game, so... "
She interrupted him, "So you were saying about the frame?"
He needed to stop this line and said, "Nothing, it doesn't actually matter, sorry."
Someone, not Casey, unfortunately, walked past, offering drinks. "Champagne?"
Malena turned, "Sure, yeah. Thank you."
She saw Chuck already had one. "Cheers," she said.
Chuck clinked glasses with her. "Cheers."
She was silent for a moment as the music changed. "I love a tango," she said, eyeing him up.
He flippant replied, "Oh, yeah. Who doesn't?"
She focused more on him. "Do you?"
Chuck read what she was thinking and panicked. He did NOT want to dance with this woman. He looked around for help.
Sarah was talking to Casey but 'heard' his panic. She said one more word to the NSA agent and walked toward them. "He does," she said to Marlena and turned to Chuck. "You promised me this dance, Charles." She pulled him toward the dance floor, leaving a frowning woman behind.
Chuck looked apologetically at Marlena as he saw men closing in on her.
"Stop looking at that 'beautiful' woman," Sarah quietly spoke to him, emphasizing what Chuck had thought about Marlena. 'Dance with me. Casey has it in hand.'
They danced the tango. For both, it was a wonderful experience.
Chuck had never been a dancer, but this one he now knew. He'd danced it with her at the apartment, but doing so on this dance floor, holding her in that dress, it was like a dream come true, even though a major arms dealer was here too.
Sarah always loved to dance, and here, in this setting, dressed as they both were, it was so, so good. She felt right for the dance, and Chuck looked and felt so good. She could almost block out all thoughts of the mission and just succumb to the pleasure.
However, the fight that broke out behind them, and the gunshots, drew both of them back to reality.
They turned to look. Four NSA agents had surrounded Marlena, but four of her men had closed in, shooting. All four NSA agents were on the ground, bleeding, but they'd fired back, and two of La Ciudad's men were down too. Casey shot one of the remaining men, and the British man they'd seen before turned up and shot the other one.
Casey was turning to the woman, but she lifted the short side of her dress and pulled out her gun which she was about to use on him.
Sarah, faster than Chuck could imagine, did exactly what Marlena had done. She pulled out her gun and fired as she lifted it. No aiming before firing.
Sarah's bullet hit Marlena's wrist, and she dropped the gun, crying out.
Casey grabbed her, twisted her around, and cuffed her, which caused a further cry due to the pain in her wrist. He led her away.
Chuck and Sarah looked at each other, adrenaline pumping. She had a quick flash of post-mission sex, before she closed off that thought.
They left quickly and were soon back at Casey's apartment, facing his laptop screen.
Beckman started, "Well done, team. Capturing La Ciudad is really impressive. The MI6 team is taking her back to Europe, where she will be facing trial on multiple counts of terrorism."
Casey growled, then asked, "Why do they get her, Ma'am? They shouldn't even operate here."
Beckman replied, "They can, as long as they log it with us. Here they didn't, so we will be discussing it with our counterparts." She then chuckled, actually chuckled, "The others involved here that shouldn't operate on US soil are the CIA."
Graham frowned, but commented, "Quite a mess the NSA made of this."
Beckman frowned too. "We are making amends and will be reassuring those there that they are now safe." She looked at Chuck. "And you identified her from a knife wound in her neck?"
That was the story he and Sarah had concocted. "Yes, Ma'am," he replied.
"I don't understand how that is in the Intersect, but not her gender," the general stated. None of them needed to say anything. She refocused on the three people facing her. "Time off for you three. Take a couple of days." With that, she ended the call, not giving Graham any chance to say more.
Casey faced the other two. "Good work, you two." He then looked at Sarah. She could see how uncomfortable he was. "And thanks, Walker. I guess I owe you one."
Casey thought for a few seconds about something he'd pushed to the back of his mind and what Sarah 'read' both surprised and disturbed her. She and Chuck would have to think about it and decide on a course of action. However, focusing on Casey's comment, she shook her head. "Partners, right? We look after each other."
Both Casey and Chuck knew that wasn't how it worked, but she'd given Casey a way out. It did, however, make him more uncomfortable, and he thought more about his secret. Chuck 'read' it this time and was shocked.
After Casey ushered them out, Chuck immediately thought at her, 'Beckman has told him the new Intersect will be up and running in six months and he would then have to kill me?'
Sarah thought back. 'We can't be seen just standing here as we discuss this, Chuck. We need to get to your bedroom.' She quickly pulled him across the courtyard. Ellie and Devon were watching a movie, but she stopped it and turned to them. "So, how'd it go? Did you tango?"
Chuck opened his mouth to reply, but Sarah gushed, "We did, Ellie, and it was wonderful." She looked at Chuck with teary eyes. "Chuck was wonderful." He was surprised that she also thought it, not hiding her thoughts at all.
Ellie squealed in delight and was going to say something else, but Sarah grasped Chuck's hand and said, "Sorry, Ellie, we've got a bed to get to."
Devon and Ellie laughed as she pulled Chuck to their bedroom.
When she turned to close the door, she released his hand.
'Sit down,' she said. He sat at the end of the bed and she sat by him and continued their earlier thoughts, 'Casey obviously doesn't want to think about what Beckman told him, so we only got that by chance. I've received no such message.'
'Does that mean it's just an NSA view?' he asked.
'I think it might be Graham's view too, but he already thinks I might be compromised.'
Chuck 'read' the meaning of that last word but had to check. 'That you wouldn't carry out such an order?'
Sarah was hurt that he even thought that might be a possibility. 'Chuck, you know I wouldn't do that. However, it's concerning that he would think I'm compromised.'
That wasn't what concerned Chuck right now. 'How can we avoid me being executed, Sarah?' Full panic mode in force now.
'I'm not sure yet, but we have time to plan,' she replied. She tried to calm him down, she stroked his arm and thought, 'I won't let it happen, Chuck.'
Chuck was surprised that her soothing thoughts did settle him down. He then thought about their encounter with his sister and her boyfriend. That brought a different, but much smaller, upset which he aired. 'You know, they'll think we are always having sex!' Chuck thought, trying to seem amused, but actually frustrated by it.
Sarah took his hands and looked at him. 'Sorry, Chuck. We can't. Not as asset/handler.'
He sensed her thoughts behind that. 'Feels like an excuse,' he replied.
That was partly true. She didn't want this to upset him, so she lowered her walls a bit more. 'I am attracted to you, Chuck, but that ruling is significant and could, as I told you, get me sent away. However, you're right. That's not the only reason.' She signed, knowing he'd want to challenge this point. 'I don't think I'm good enough for someone like you, Chuck. Please don't argue with me on that.' He wanted to but didn't want to upset her, so he mentally backed off.
She grabbed a t-shirt from her drawer and asked him to turn around, as did she. She slipped off the dress, which pooled on the floor. Standing in just her panties, she pulled on the t-shirt, hung up the dress, and then went to the bathroom.
Chuck hadn't realized he would be facing his mirror when he turned. The sight of her naked back froze his brain. She was so gorgeous. Leaving as she did, Sarah had no idea what she'd done to him.
When they were about to climb into bed, Chuck had his usual difficulty keeping his eyes off of her long legs.
Once in bed, Sarah surprised herself when she thought at him, 'You know I don't mind you looking at my legs, Chuck.'
'It's disrespectful,' he instantly replied.
'Not when I'm giving permission.'
He sighed and looked at her beautiful face, inches from his as he faced her. 'This relationship is not going anywhere. I shouldn't look. I'll just want you more.'
He was right, and she shouldn't encourage him to think otherwise. However, he'd done good today. Without him, they wouldn't have had a chance to catch La Ciudad. She felt good and that was because of him. Those thoughts of post-mission release started to bubble to the surface, but she pushed them back down. However, some form of contact with him would be good and would also take both their minds off what Casey had thought.
'Roll over and face away from me,' she instructed.
She let him see what she was planning. 'And that's ok because I'm not looking at you?' he asked.
'Is that ok?' she asked.
He nodded. 'I'd really like that, Sarah.'
They fell asleep with her spooning him, her arm around his chest and their legs entwined. It wasn't sexy, didn't increase his yearning for her, but it was deeply comforting, for both of them. They'd been through a lot in the last few days, and this both brought them closer, but also eased any negative thoughts.
A.N: So much easier to find someone when you can read minds; they can no longer hide in plain sight.
Please drop me a review, as I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter.