A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, PMs, favorites and follows for this. I do try to reply to them all. I can't with the guest reviews, but appreciate those too.
Some people have been wondering why Langston Graham is missing so much, some even wondering if he works for Fulcrum in this story. When, no. He was missing from a number of the video calls in the show. I am just doing the same, but having Chuck and Sarah wondering why. My assumption is that he was progressing work on the new Intersect, but it might have just been the actor wasn't always available!
Captainrick944 beta'd this for me. He's a great help and encouraged me to add some additional text near the end of the chapter.
So, this is a rewrite of "Chuck Versus the Crown Vic." I had originally intended for it to also cover "Chuck Versus the Undercover Lover," but it was becoming too long, so that will be in the next chapter.
Linked
Chapter 9: December 2007
Chuck and Sarah were having breakfast with Ellie and Devon.
It had been eleven days since Bryce Larkin interrupted their lives. They'd heard nothing more from or about him. To Chuck, it looked like he was gone for good. Sarah and Chuck simultaneously thought, 'Good riddance." They would have grinned at each other for sharing that thought if it wasn't for Ellie looking at them.
"So, plans for tonight?" Ellie asked.
Chuck was always wary of saying 'nothing' as a mission could suddenly come up, but there hadn't been anything for days. "We might go out somewhere but not decided yet," he answered.
"We'll have a think," Sarah added.
"Wow. So decisive," Ellie snarked.
"Well, we don't have our lives planned out like you two," Chuck retorted.
Sarah looked at him. 'I wish we could, Chuck.'
'Me too,' he replied and started daydreaming of a life with his beautiful girlfriend. She enjoyed what he was thinking, them growing old together, still absolutely in love.
They had to stop thinking this, however, as they needed to get ready to go to work.
As Sarah drove them, Chuck wanted to ask a question he'd been avoiding. He started with, "Assuming I survive this termination order and the new Intersect team are working. They will probably disband this team. You will stay with me, won't you?"
She glanced over at him, reached for his hand, and teased him, "I said I would, and you've not done anything to piss me off enough to change my mind."
He chuckled. "Glad to hear that. What will you do?"
And that was the big question. Sarah had been so preoccupied with thinking about how to get around the termination order that she'd not even considered this. "I- I don't know yet," she confessed.
Chuck had assumed this was something she had buried in one of her 'compartments' in her head, but obviously not. He felt bad for bringing it up, even for being the cause of her needing to change.
"Stop that, Chuck. I wanted out anyway. You've just given me…." She glanced over at him with loving eyes, "… extra incentive."
He did feel loved, but the inclusion of images and 'feelings' of them having sex together in her thoughts just added to it. He suddenly felt quite hot.
Sarah laughed. "Yes, that's it. I couldn't have such amazing sex with anyone else. It's my sole reason for staying."
He knew that wasn't true, and her thoughts of how much she loved him reinforced that. "Seriously, though. I am happy to help you find a different job in any way I can," he told her.
Sarah became serious. "I know you would, Chuck. Maybe we could set up doing something together. Let's talk about it later."
Chuck could see she had so many other things on her mind that 'later' meant a whole lot later.
Mid-morning, Morgan came to Chuck with a problem. A personal problem. "She's a liar, not to be trusted."
Chuck quickly read his friend's thoughts. He was referring to Anna. However, he knew he had to go through the rigmarole of dialogue and prompted his friend to explain.
Unfortunately, Morgan was going to take a while to get to the point. "Women. Man, they're so elusive, so unknowable. Okay, they wrap you in this wool sweater of lies, and it keeps you warm, but it makes your neck all itchy."
Chuck could see the whole problem from Morgan's perspective but had to get him to say it. "Who are we talking about exactly?"
"Anna. And by the way, never trust a woman whose name is a palindrome, okay?"
Chuck wanted to get back to work but kept the conversation going. "How do you know she's a liar?"
"I waited outside her house last night, in the bushes. I saw her get picked up to go out, then dropped off exactly three hours and twenty-four minutes later. She's cheating on me. My Anna Banana is cheating on me!"
Finally, Chuck thought, he'd said it.
Then Morgan added, "A relationship is built on trust, Chuck. Sex and trust, am I right?"
Chuck tuned out the rest of the things Morgan said. He thought about his relationship with Sarah. He did trust her implicitly and, yes, the sex was unbelievable, but not the cornerstone of their relationship. Trust was part of it, but unwavering love was too.
At that moment, Anna walked up to them. Chuck read her mind. She had her parents visiting and wasn't sure that Morgan was ready to 'meet the parents' or to see how she behaved around them. So, she had been seeing them on her own. Chuck needed to ease his friend into this alternative concept, but Anna cut through that.
"Chuck, I know you're the Assistant Manager, but Lester and Jeff have an important install this morning, and I don't trust Jeff to be left on his own without supervision. Could you go with them?"
It would get him out of this place for a while, but Chuck wasn't sure he should go. Anna continued, "Big Mike's ok with it."
The ship was impressive. Chuck took one last glance around as Jeff brought him the new controller. Chuck turned to walk toward the man who had been watching them, obviously not trusting them on such an expective vessel. Chuck thought he was right about Jeff and Lester.
As Chuck got closer, he was surprised at how closed off the man's mind was. "Okay. Well, the system checks out, and everything's online. Most onboard functions are now controllable from anywhere on the boat."
The man looked relieved, then he thought it was good that they'd not seen the money downstairs. That raised Chuck's interest.
Jeff wanted to relieve himself before they left and started to head for the stairs, but the man stopped him. "The bathroom is not down there."
However, Jeff did see men counting money down there. "What's with all the cash?"
Chuck read the man's mind, but also listened to what he said, "They're counting money raised for Mr. Kirk's aid organization from a charity event."
"Kirk?" Lester asked, "As in the captain?"
The man replied, "Lon Kirk, the man who owns this boat."
Chuck had heard of him. "Oh, right. Lon Kirk- he's a billionaire."
The man nodded. Another man walked past carrying a box down the stairs. A twenty-dollar note fluttered to Chuck's feet.
Two bikini-clad girls walked in and sat. Chuck 'saw' that they had been "bought" for the previous night but hadn't yet been paid. The man took out two wads of cash from his jacket to pay them.
Chuck leaned down to pick up the note and flashed. He already knew from 'reading' thoughts that they were not handling charity money, but he still flashed on the note in his hand. It was fake, and these people had printed it and many more.
Casey, Chuck and Sarah were in the Home Theater room. and for once, Director Graham had made an appearance. He was talking, "The serial numbers that Chuck flashed on are a strain of counterfeit currency that Treasury has been trying to crack for years."
Beckman picked up from there, "Lon Kirk now devotes most of his time and money to aid projects, mostly foreign."
"And we think he's the source?" Casey asked.
Graham replied, "Not confirmed. However, we have intel that a major counterfeiter is in Los Angeles trying to acquire a new set of printing plates."
"And how shall we proceed?" Sarah asked this time.
"As far as Kirk is concerned, very cautiously. He's very well connected," Graham told them.
"He's hosting a charity event tonight at the New Constellation Yacht Club," Beckman stated. "Walker and Bartowski will go as guests. Casey as staff."
Sarah nodded. She didn't like going into potentially dangerous situations with Chuck, but she was happy about one thing. 'Time to dress up, Chuck,' Sarah thought. She loved dressing up for him and seeing him dressed up too.
Out on the shop floor, Big Mike was giving a speech to the staff. "For those of you who are unaware, this Friday is our annual Buy More Christmas..." Lester stopped him, and Big Mike corrected himself, "... holiday party, with respect to our Hebrew friends and whatever else we have here. So, there's no confusion, I'll go over the ground rules. Rule number one: Jeff, no spiking the eggnog."
"Can I bring my own?" Jeff asked.
"No! Rule number two: Jeff, no holding the mistletoe over the women and copping a feel."
The rest of the 'discussion' was around food. Chuck disengaged. He doubted he would even be there.
Chuck was distracted all day. He was just thinking of what he regarded as his almost date with Sarah that night. They had never had a real date. He would really like to treat Sarah and go on one, but he knew that was never going to happen. Which just made him want it all the more.
In his mind, Sarah deserved to be dated, wined and dined. Instead of that, the two one them would attend this charity event, posing as an established couple. All fake.
He consoled himself with the fact that they were going as a couple, and it wasn't him going as a waiter. He would have the amazing, and totally gorgeous, Sarah Walker on his arm.
Sarah, of course, looked stunning. He didn't have to keep quiet about that with the bugs in the living room. Casey already knew "the asset" fancied "the handler," so when he said, "You look amazing," everything was fine.
She straightened his bow tie for the third time and gave him a sultry look. He knew the camera was behind her, so Casey wouldn't see that. "You look good yourself, Chuck," she said. Her tone was all business, totally professional. It didn't match the look she was giving him.
She walked past him. He thought, 'Laying it on thick, Sarah. Are you really going to make me all hot and sweaty?'
'Well, we'll both be hot and sweaty later.'
That thought carried him out of the apartment and floated him to the limo.
Lon Kirk was apparently a gambler, amongst other less attractive qualities. Chuck would be given $100,000 of CIA money. As they dressed in the bedroom, Sarah had told him, "Don't worry. I will help you with it."
"First problem I'll have will be carrying that much."
"You do know that you'll be given it in chips, don't you, Chuck?"
"Of course," he replied. However, she could see he was starting to panic.
'Chuck, stop panicking.' Sarah thought and said, "Maybe your girlfriend will be the gambler."
"You can do that?" he asked.
She nodded. "I've done it a lot." She hated some of the situations she had been in when it was necessary, but she was a natural.
He gripped her hands. "Then I will be the eyes, as required."
She leaned up and kissed him. "Yes, please, Mr. Intersect." He could see the twinkle in her eyes as she said it and didn't take offense. Her thoughts reinforced that look. 'Looking forward to when the Intersect is not needed again tonight, Lover.'
As they arrived at the event, they drew attention. Chuck knew it wasn't him that the eyes followed but the stunning blonde on his arm.
Sarah tried to get him to think differently. 'You look fantastic, Chuck. Stop putting yourself down.'
Chuck took two glasses from a passing waitress and handed one to Sarah.
"Since when do you drink martinis?" she asked.
"Oh, I don't, no. But Carmichael loves them," he replied. 'I can hardly ask for a beer in here, can I?'
'No, maybe not.' She scanned the casino, looking for Lon Kirk. She spotted him and nodded in that direction. "There he is. Let's go."
As they walked over, Chuck thought, 'I hope you can play roulette, Sarah. I am completely clueless.'
'No problem, Chuck,' she replied. He got a memory of her winning in a casino surrounded by men watching her. She had a red dress on with a slit almost the full length up her right leg. Some men were watching her play, but most were just eyeing her up. 'I hated it, but I was successful. Both at roulette and getting the information we required.'
'God, I worry so much about your safety, Sarah,' he thought.
'I can take care of myself, Chuck, but thank you for caring.'
They reached the table, and Sarah sat next to Lon Kirk, with Chuck sitting next to her.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Charles," she said to her cover boyfriend. "I love a flutter." She smiled at the man at the other side of her.
Chuck saw Casey walking toward them and called to him, "Chips, please."
Casey placed some down and pushed them across to Chuck. "100, sir. Good luck." He also said, in a quieter voice, "Don't lose it."
Chuck took it and slid it across to Sarah. "For you, my dear."
Her eyes lit up. "Perfect." She got Casey to break some of them down into smaller denominations.
Kirk looked at the two of them, then said, "I don't believe we've met before. I'm Lon Kirk. I'm the host of this evening's event." He reached across Sarah to Chuck and shook his hand. "I know the people of Taiwan are deeply appreciative of your generosity."
Chuck replied, "The name's Carmichael. Charles Carmichael."
Sarah handed one of her chips to Casey, saying, "Red three." Then she placed one on black twenty.
Lon smoothly replied to Chuck, "Pleasure, and your stunning... companion?" He reached for her hand and kissed it.
'He's testing to see our connection, Sarah,' Chuck thought.
"Sarah Walker. Pleasure," she replied with a large smile. 'Don't read his thoughts, Chuck.' It was already too late for that. Chuck saw the man undressing her in his thoughts. 'Remember, this body is just for you, Chuck.'
Chuck needed to get Kirk to think about other things, but Sarah spoke first. "May I ask, Mr. Kirk..."
He interrupted her, "Lon, please."
She nodded. "Lon… I was wondering how you came to focus your charitable efforts on Taiwan."
"Well, I started doing business there, and I just fell in love with the people, their indefatigable spirit, and I said to myself..." He placed chips on three of the red spaces, speaking briefly to Casey, "Three and nine, please."
"Sorry, sir, three is taken."
Kirk looked perturbed but then hid it and continued, "I said to myself, 'Lon, you can help. '"
Sarah smiled, "That's wonderful."
"And I always bet on red because it reminds me of all the pain and suffering in the world."
She smiled again, "How noble. I chose mixed because I like to mix things up."
Kirk obviously liked her answer and was mentally undressing her again.
'And because you knew it would unsettle him?' Chuck asked.
'I didn't know that, but I'm happy I did,' she replied.
"Any other bets?" Casey asked, looking at Chuck.
Chuck held up his hands. "Oh, I don't. This is one of my girl's vices," Chuck replied.
Kirk raised a brow. "And what are her other ones?" he asked.
Sarah tapped him on the arm. "Naughty."
All three saw the result. Chuck was surprised. Casey called out, "Three, red."
"Ooh. That's me," Sarah cooed.
Kirk was disappointed, as that was what he was going to bet, but he was gracious. "Congratulations," he said to her.
A man approached to call Kirk away. Chuck had read their minds and flashed on the name that sprang to their host's mind.
Kirk smiled at them. "If you'll excuse me."
Sarah smiled back but knew what was going to happen.
Chuck came out of the flash as Kirk started to walk away. He said to the other two, "Kirk is going to talk to Rashan Chen. He's the Taiwanese Attaché to the Premier. He's dirty. They're using the charity as a front to launder counterfeit money."
Sarah thought, 'Chuck, the men's restroom is that way. Follow and try to find out what they talk about.'
Chuck quickly got up, saying, "I need the restroom."
He walked past the two men slowly. They were arguing before he got close enough to hear their words, but Lou Kirk's thoughts were easy to pick up. He didn't like the man he was talking to, but would transfer the plates to his yacht, as previously agreed.
Chuck continued past them to the restroom but quickly exited and headed back to where he left Sarah.
Kirk was already with her. "You should come to my yacht," the man said to her.
Chuck was now in range and both he and Sarah 'saw' what Kirk had planned for her there.
Sarah read Chuck's mind about the conversation he had overheard and confirmed it with a dive into Kirk's. She hadn't read it in their host's mind because it was full of what he planned to do with her naked body. She grasped Chuck's hand and replied with sparkling eyes. "We'd love to."
Kirk looked flustered and was about to say something, but Chuck interrupted him, "Thank you, Mr. Kirk. We certainly would like that. Right now, we need to leave."
Sarah stood, laced her arm through Chuck's, and left with their winnings and the intel they needed.
The briefing with Beckman and Graham at Casey's apartment the next morning was short.
Graham peered at them dubiously. "You think Kirk is actually delivering plates, not receiving them?"
"It looks that way, Director," Sarah replied.
"You're sure that is what you heard?" Beckman asked Chuck. "We can't risk an international incident if you are wrong."
"That is exactly what is going to happen, General. We just don't know when."
"The attaché's yacht leaves for a pleasure cruise in two days' time. They may transfer the plates while out to sea," Graham noted.
"So, the plates will be loaded sometime before then," Casey said.
"We will arrange for Kirk's men to be intercepted." Beckman turned to Sarah. "We need you to go to Kirk's yacht and make sure he doesn't still have plates or if he's given one set away and replaced them with another set."
"Yes, Ma'am, we will," Sarah replied.
"Not Bartowski. He's known on the yacht and would be recognized. You go on your own, Agent Walker. Get that information by any means necessary."
Beckman ended the call.
Chuck read Sarah's mind on what that meant and really didn't like it. She walked out and he stayed with Casey. "Wait, does... does that mean she's going to go and flirt with Lon Kirk? Alone? I mean, do you have any idea what kind of message that gives?"
Casey grunted a happy grunt. "Hmm... and I hear Agent Walker can be quite the giver."
"She is supposed to be Carmichael's girlfriend!" Chuck said, raising his voice. "And she said we'd both go."
Casey shrugged. "Lovers' tiff."
Chuck rushed out to catch up with Sarah. He found her in their bedroom, checking out her bikinis.
Her thoughts were stormy. "I know. I'm pissed off, as well."
"You were never going to do this sort of mission again, Sarah."
She turned to him. "What was I supposed to do? Admit that I'm in love with you and can't go? I would be marched out of here so fast."
"So, that's it?" he asked, raising his voice again. "You'll never do this again… until they tell you to?"
She gasped as she heard his words and the silent thoughts behind them. She had broken her promise, but what could she do? And would she do this again in the future?
She tried to calm down. "I can handle Kirk and, if necessary his men too. I've been in worse situations. Besides, now I can read minds, I can prompt and then 'read' their thoughts straight after. He won't get anywhere."
Chuck grabbed her and pulled her into a kiss. She was a bit taken aback. He had done it so quickly and without thought. She melted into his embrace and kissed him back just as desperately.
His thoughts were a swirling mix of desire, hurt, and worry for her. Sarah thoughts were full of love, desire for Chuck, and reassurance.
When they separated, somewhat breathless, she said, "Trust me, Chuck."
He nodded. "I do, but I can't help worrying."
"Casey will have men there to make sure I am safe, but I would like to see you as soon as I am off the yacht. Follow Casey?"
"God, I will."
He helped her select the bikini. She modeled it for him. It wasn't the skimpiest, which he was glad about. 'That one's just for you, Chuck. To see me in and then help me out of, at some time.'
She got him to apply lotion to her body, rubbing his hands all over her. It was a mistake, as that led to him removing the bikini and them having sex, which wasn't the point, but oh so enjoyable.
When she had the bikini back on, she commented. "That is NOT what will happen on the yacht, Chuck. Remember that."
She pulled on a top and shorts and went to the bathroom to reapply her makeup and sort out her hair. 'What you do to me, Chuck Bartowski!'
He chuckled. 'I do what you want me to do to you. Every second of it.'
'Hmmm. Don't tempt me back!'
They sat and ate some lunch together, and then she collected her things to head out.
The euphoria that came from what they had done earlier was wearing off. Chuck started to worry again.
She kissed him. "I'll be fine, Chuck. See you soon."
Chuck walked out after her, far enough away that she wouldn't be able to 'hear' him worry.
He stood by the fountain watching her. 'Be safe, my Love.'
He sensed Casey walking up behind him but said nothing. Casey was feeling sympathetic. "She's good at her job, Bartowski. She'll be back safely."
Chuck turned around, "How can you know that?"
Casey replied, "I've read missions she's done before just like this. Never had any problems."
"That were recorded," Chuck qualified.
Casey nodded. "True, but if she had had … problems, she wouldn't be so confident."
Chuck relaxed a bit.
"Hang in there. Your handler will be fending you off again before you know it." Casey walked back to his apartment.
Chuck should have gone into the Buy More for the afternoon but knew he wouldn't be able to rest. He called in and checked on the sales and nerd header teams and then headed out.
Casey left just after him. Chuck knew Casey's team was already in place. Chuck drove to a coffee shop to collect some coffee and donuts.
Casey was watching Sarah and Kirk through binoculars when Chuck arrived but quickly turned a with gun in his hand.
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't shoot. Put the gun down," Chuck said. He raised the bag he was carrying. "You can have the jelly-filled."
"What are you doing here, Bartowski?" Casey growled.
"Thought you might be hungry, you know." He waved the bag again. "Where's Sarah?"
"Oh, that's it. You think your girlfriend's stepping out on you. Agent Walker is fine and doing her job, see?" He handed Chuck the binoculars. "Plus, we have a whole team here to back her up, okay? So, you can beat it, Bartowski."
Chuck was watching Sarah wandering around on deck in just her bikini. It really hurt to see her dressed like that with Lon Kirk, who was also there.
"Shit!" Casey exclaimed.
Chuck turned to him. He could 'read' the problem but had to ask, "What? Is there a problem?"
"The delivery was just attempted. Look, further down the marina." Chuck looked and then lifted the binoculars to his eyes.
Casey muttered, "We assumed that would happen after Walker had gotten the intel. Damn!"
The yacht where a disturbance was occurring must belong to the Taiwanese attaché. Chuck noticed something on the yacht and focused in on it. He flashed. "There's a GPS missile tracking device on the yacht. They're going to blow it up!"
Casey understood immediately. "Kirk has got his money, and he's going to bury the evidence before it gets discovered."
Both turned to Kirk's yacht. A man had approached Kirk and was saying something to him. Kirk obviously gave him some instructions, and the man hurried off.
"What's going on?" Chuck asked.
Casey didn't reply but told his men to get ready.
The man came back, pulling something behind him.
"That's the missile launcher. We have to stop them."
Kirk followed the man into the cabin, leaving Sarah on her own. She spoke into her watch. "Casey, I just overheard Kirk and one of his men."
"We know they have a GPS tracker on the attaché's yacht," Casey told her.
Sarah hurried on, "Apparently, the rocket guides itself, and the coordinates are set. Kirk plans to be the one to pull the trigger."
"We're coming," Casey told her.
"I'll try to stop him," she said, and they lost contact.
By that time, Casey and Chuck were nearly at Kirk's yacht, which hadn't yet left the harbor. Casey jumped on board. Chuck was a little slower but no less determined to help Sarah.
Casey shot one man, but was then tackled by another. He lost his gun and started to fight hand-to-hand. NSA snipers took out three others, but this one was now obscured by Casey.
Sarah had dashed down into the cabin after Kirk and his man. Chuck rushed down also knowing that both his protectors would reprimand him for it.
Sarah was fighting with Kirk's man. 'You shouldn't be here, Chuck!' She was momentarily distracted and received a blow to the head as a result.
'I have to stop Kirk,' Chuck replied.
Kirk had pulled out the rocket launcher and was lifting it to fire out of the doorway, now blocked by Chuck. Chuck didn't think about the fact the rocket might hit him, killing all of them when it exploded. He dived forward and tackled Kirk, and the two tumbled to the floor, both grasping for the launcher.
Chuck realized that either of them could set it off. He reached his arm back, clenched his right fist and hit Kirk's face as fast and as hard as he could. The man slumped to the ground, letting go of the rocket launcher, which Chuk caught with his left hand. The knuckles of his right hand hurt so much he wasn't sure he would still be able to write with it.
Sarah was rising from her fight but had seen what Chuck had done. 'You could have died!' Chuck could feel her pain in the thought.
'So could you, taking on the two of them!' he thought back in anguish. However, the pain from his knuckles was starting to win the battle for his attention.
Sarah was about to wrap her arms around him in relief when Casey walked down the steps into the cabin. "Impressive, Bartowski. I think you saved the lives of the crew on that yacht, and the NSA men, by doing that." Chuck could 'read' that Casey really was impressed. "But don't you ever do that again."
"He's right, Chuck. You are too valuable," Sarah responded. 'But I love you for doing it.'
"Well, I'm so sorry for doing the right thing!" Chuck huffed and stormed out of the cabin and up the steps.
"Maybe we laid it on too thick," Casey told Sarah. He briefly thought about the upcoming order, then squashed it down. It was troubling him.
"Well done, team," Beckman said. Graham was absent again. The general looked at Chuck, somewhat troubled. "Mr. Bartowski, you didn't follow orders, but that seems to have been a good thing. Thank you."
Chuck and Sarah thought that she might be thawing toward him. They could tell Casey hoped that was the case too.
Beckman ended the call slightly more abruptly than normal.
Before going to bed, Chuck called his father. "Any progress, Dad?"
"They are doing tests in a new location," Stephen replied.
That was a disturbing piece of news. Chuck and Sarah just looked at each other. 'We should prepare to run, Chuck.'
"But I have managed to get access to their code," Stephen continued. He looked at them. "I can't read your minds, but I can easily see the thoughts running between you. You're sharing thoughts of running."
They both looked at him.
"It's what I would do and certainly what Mary would have proposed." He smiled wistfully at Sarah. "You are so like her."
"And you think we shouldn't?" Sarah questioned.
"Not yet," Stephen replied. "Put your plans in place, but wait. I am hoping to cause the new Intersect to fail."
"We need to know when they will activate it, Dad," Chuck said.
"They need to finish their tests first before they decide that."
"Will you change it? So that it fails their tests?" asked Sarah. "Or just when they activate it."
"I am going to do both," Stephen replied. "Minor glitches that delay them while I finish the main change that will only be applied before they activate it. That will allow code to download, but the code will never work in a human mind."
"How long do you need, Dad?" Chuck asked.
"About seven months, Son."
"That's quite some time, Stephen," Sarah observed. "Especially if they are testing. They must think they are closer than that."
Stephen smiled. "They do. They think it will be ready in a couple of months. Hence my delaying glitches."
"Thank you so much for this, Dad."
Sarah joined in, "Yes, thank you, Stephen."
"It's the least I can do after getting you into this mess," the older Bartowski replied.
Sarah gripped Chuck's hands and made sure that Stephen could see that. "Thank you for inadvertently bringing us together, Stephen. I never expected to find love."
Stephen smiled but still looked slightly sad. He trailed off, "Nor did she, nor did she." He finally ended the call.
Chuck pulled Sarah into a kiss. "So, we have seven months before we have to worry."
Sarah didn't reply with words or thoughts. She just tightened he grip around Chuck's shoulders and kissed him harder with such passion that nothing else mattered.
Things proceeded as normal the following day. In other words, crazily busy in the Buy More with Christmas getting closer.
The next day was a weird one in the store. Customers were still needing presents for Christmas, but the sales staff were not that focused. Chuck had to work hard himself just to get them to work. Members of the Nerd Herd team were equally unfocused. This was because Morgan and Anna went to the yacht club for a meal with her parents the previous day. Morgan had tried to be someone different and failed miserably, and Anna seemed subdued the day after that. Chuck guessed that it hadn't gone well for either of them. Chuck was relieved that they hadn't gone the day before and seen anything that had happened, but he was sad for his friend.
Chuck had talked to Morgan partway through the day. Morgan told him that the boat trip hadn't happened, but he'd made enough of a fool over himself over dinner that he thought Anna hated him.
"Have you talked to her today?" Chuck asked.
Morgan shook his head. "No. Not sure if she's avoiding me or me avoiding her."
"You should talk to her. She may forgive you," Chuck told him.
"Yeah," Morgan muttered. Then he perked up, "Yeah, I will." He walked off, but got caught by a woman wanting to buy her son the best video gaming system for her son. That grabbed Morgan's attention.
Eventually, the long day was over, and the party set up.
Big Mike walked out in a Santa suit. "Okay, people. The official Buy More Christmas..."
Lester interrupted him, "Hey, now."
Big Mike nodded. "… Holiday Party is about to commence." He looked around his team. "As a reminder, I will accept all gifts, cash and checks in my office or under the tree." He looked at them all. "Keep it clean, and be prepared to get down!"
The music began and people started dancing to it.
Chuck spotted Casey looking grim, as always. He walked over to the man. "Not partying, Casey?"
"Not my thing," was the gruff reply.
"Don't spoil it for everyone else," Chuck said.
Casey grunted. "Walker not with you? Missed out again?"
Chuck smiled. "She likes dancing, so I hope she'll come."
Casey looked at him and said, "I hope she does. You deserve a reward. You did good, Chuck."
Chuck wasn't sure what was the most surprising. Casey complimenting him, calling him by his first name or the fact that the guy was thinking the same thing. "Thanks, Casey. Fingers crossed."
Casey nodded and went to get a drink.
Shortly after, Sarah walked in wearing a tight t-shirt, a very short black denim miniskirt, and heels high enough that her lips were almost on a level with Chuck's.
"Hi," Chuck said. 'You look so hot that I want to drag you to the Home Theater and rip all your clothes off.'
"Hi, Chuck. I made it!" she replied. 'Not here. Later, Lover, later.'
As this was in public with people that thought they were a couple, they felt comfortable gazing into each other's eyes and beaming.
Jeff staggered up to them and held something high in the space between them. "Mistletoe," he announced. His eyes didn't focus on who he was talking to. Chuck could 'see' that Jeff was hardly there and really didn't know them, so his next comment was not in the least perturbing. "You'll thank me later, dude."
Chuck didn't hesitate and leaned forward and kissed his cover girlfriend, thinking, 'I love you, Sarah.'
Her replying thought was, 'Love you too, but we can't make out here.'
They separated.
"Cool," Jeff said and staggered away.
"How about a dance?" Chuck asked.
Sarah's eyes lit up. "Definitely."
They started dancing on the spot. Chuck was a bit clumsy at first but soon got into his stride. Sarah just flowed around him. 'My God, Sarah, you are so sexy when you dance!'
She faced him and beamed. 'I just love to dance, Chuck. You need to take me dancing if you like this.'
Their mood was only slightly spoiled when Casey walked past with his phone pressed to his ear. He was obviously talking to the general.
Sarah 'heard' him think. 'I hate this damned Intersect.' He clearly wasn't talking about Chuck.
'Listen to his thoughts, Chuck. He'll be out of my range soon,' she thought at her boyfriend.
Chuck did that and relayed what he 'heard' back to her. 'Beckman's just told him the baby version of Intersect computer was successful, and the new Intersect should be up and running soon. Once the new computer is online, it will be time to "take care of Bartowski." Casey isn't happy about it. He's coming round, Sarah. Oh, and she must have asked if he has grown too fond of me and may be compromised. He reacted badly to that, and now he's closed down any positive thoughts about me,'
'Maybe we can win him around,' Sarah thought.
'Well, Dad's buying us some time.'
That brightened up their mood again. And they continued to dance happily as Casey left the Buy More.
When the slow songs came on, they would have had to leave if Casey had stayed, but instead, Sarah wrapped her arms around Chuck's neck and pressed her body against his. 'I know we are both looking forward to getting home and making love, Chuck, but can we just dance until the end?'
'For you, anything,' he replied.
Sarah was approaching her first Christmas with Chuck, Ellie and Devon. She had been getting more and more nervous about it as it got closer.
For many years now, she had either been working at Christmas, often in countries that did not celebrate this time of year or hiding in her apartment in DC, away from people. She had spent more time there at Christmas than any other time of year. The loneliness just emphasizing how little she liked the place.
This year, she would have to participate in happiness. 'Ugh!'
When they met for lunch, she had to face him gushing, "I love Christmas, Sarah!" Chuck positively glowed with enthusiasm. It was so unbearable!
The only thing Sarah could relate to was Casey's mood. He was grumpy as hell, and avoiding people like the plague. Sarah felt like that too. Mind you, his reason was different. He was expecting to receive a termination order, and he really, really didn't want it.
So, the two government agents both felt miserable. Different reason, but same end result.
Her unhappiness had really kicked in this morning, December 21st. It was the Friday before the weekend off, and after that then there would only be one day left before Christmas Day, the day she hated.
Chuck should have sensed her unhappiness but was so happy that he didn't notice until she called him in the Buy More that afternoon and asked if he could make it home on his own that evening. She wouldn't be home until late.
They weren't physically together, but he could tell from her tone that something was wrong and asked her.
"Nothing's wrong, Chuck. I just need a bit of time to myself."
"But we're never apart, except when working," he responded, very surprised at what she was suggesting.
She thought about that. He was right. They were inseparable unless working. Not only that, she was supposed to protect him when he wasn't with Casey, as he was in that store. Casey was in no state to "Baby-sit the Moron," as he would put it. She couldn't abandon Chuck. She sighed. "Okay. Can we just go to the beach? No meal with Ellie and Devon. Just the two of us?"
"Has Ellie upset you?" he asked, still confused.
"No, she hasn't. I just need to have some time. I can't leave you, so you'll need to come with me. Beach… please?"
He wanted to question her further, but she obviously didn't want to talk about whatever it was on the phone. "Okay, I'll let Ellie know."
As the call ended, Chuck put down his phone, worried about his girlfriend.
Sarah felt even worse. Now she'd worried the love of her life. She'd explain this evening, at their spot on the beach.
The sun had set before they reached the beach, but the moon was bright enough that they could see.
Sarah had been silent on the drive over, and her only thoughts focused on driving. That in itself was unusual, as she rarely needed to do that unless in a car chase.
Chuck stayed silent too, but his mind was full of worry. Worry about her health, worry that she would be sent away, even worry that she wanted to leave him, his insecurities rising to take their old position of power again.
When they reached the beach and got out of the car, Sarah grasped his hand and virtually pulled him to their spot.
They sat, and she looked at the water for a while before she turned to look at him and started speaking. "It's none of the things you've been thinking, Chuck. I am sorry I worried you. I love you and never want to leave you. My health is as good as ever, and Graham is not sending me away. It's…" She looked at the ocean again. She was finding this hard to tell Chuck because it suddenly seemed so stupid. That thought had crept up on her while she held the rest back.
"I would never think you stupid, Sarah. I sometime can't believe how perfect you are."
She snorted at that. "Hardly!" She didn't want to discuss this, though.
She looked back at him, somewhat in the dark, but she had no difficulty finding his lips. 'You perfect man!' she thought as she kissed him.
When she pulled away, she realized that thinking about her problem would be easier than saying it. However, she would start with words. "I don't do Christmas, Chuck. I don't like it and don't think I can cope with it."
Chuck was shocked. "How can you not like Christmas, Sarah?" he said, without really thinking about what she had said.
She looked at him shaking her head. "This is why I wanted to be on my own tonight. This overwhelming joy about Christmas is stifling!"
She started to get up to walk on her own, but Chuck gently held her arm and said, "Please don't go. Stay and tell me why. I just need to understand."
She sat back down and looked at the waves for a minute or so. Then started, 'I don't remember Christmas with my Mom and Dad when they were happy together. I remember two years with them fighting. I hated that. Then I left with my Dad. I know I haven't told you much, other than Dad was a conman. Well, we left Mom when I was seven, and Christmas was one of the times me and Dad conned people the most. Then, when I joined the CIA, I was usually on missions, often killing people on December 25. On the two occasions when I wasn't on a mission I avoided people and stayed in my apartment in DC.
'The merriment and joy people feel makes me feel ill. I don't want to be around that, Chuck.'
She looked at him waiting for his reaction.
Chuck sat and tried to take that all in. He eventually got his internal thoughts in order. Her thoughts upset him more because it was the opposite for him. 'Christmas is one of the few times I ever really enjoyed myself after Stanford. It's the one day I escape from everyone else and just spend time with my sister and her boyfriend. Family.' He gripped her hands. 'I thought this year would be even better with you in my life.'
Sarah winced on 'hearing' that. In the smallest voice she had ever used, she said, "I don't think I can be there, Chuck."
Chuck gazed at his girlfriend, who now had tears rolling down her cheeks. He realized how his exuberance must have made this worse for her at lunchtime. He hadn't even noticed her mood. What sort of boyfriend was he?
Sarah wiped her cheek and looked at him. "I'm not upset with you, Chuck. I don't want to spoil the day for you, so I have to do something, be apart from you all."
"But what about the protection?" he blurted out, then cursed himself. "Sorry, this shouldn't be about me."
She had winced at the word 'protection,' visibly shrinking.
Chuck shuffled closer and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer so that her face pressed against his chest. "I will do whatever I can to help you through this, my love."
His words, tone and the thoughts of love he sent her way warmed her and made her feel protected. She wrapped her arms around his waist and held him. "Thank you, Chuck. Your love for me soothes me. You know that, don't you?"
"It works both ways, Sarah. I'm not sure how I would cope without you in my life."
They just hugged each other for a few minutes, with no other thoughts than their love for each other.
Chuck's brain finally started facing their problem again.
Sarah pushed away from him. "Chuck, it's my problem, not yours!"
He refuted that. "Sarah, if either of us has a problem, we share it. There is no you and me anymore. It's us. We share and tackle problems together.'
His belief in that got through to her. She pulled him into another kiss. 'You really are perfect for me, Chuck.' As she thought it, she also thought that being able to communicate while kissing was another benefit of their link.
When they separated, Chuck, who had difficulty thinking whenever this gorgeous woman kissed him, said, "Ellie knows what it is like being upset when others are happy. Our first Christmas without Mom was hard for all three of us, not a happy time. When Dad left as well, that Christmas with just the two of us was bad too. We found ways to cope and to look forward to the day, but we always spent it on our own. When Devon came into our lives, it became the three of us, but we still stuck to our "Christmas Day" and all its weirdness. I would love you to be part of that, but if not, you and I can do anything together."
She thought about the siblings' life and knew his was a family possibly more broken than hers.
"Ellie won't force you to become happy if we stay, Sarah. She will respect your feelings, but she will make you welcome. You know she loves you."
Sarah hadn't really thought like that, but he was right. Eleanor Bartowski had welcomed her into the little family willingly. The two women had a stronger bond than just through Chuck. It surprised her a bit, but Sarah realized that she loved the older woman too. She tentatively asked, "Will she mind if I hide in our bedroom a lot of the time?"
"She'll worry about you but won't force anything on you other than food at meal times. If you want to stay in there and eat, she'll cope."
Sarah searched his thoughts for anything he might be hiding, but there was nothing. "You know, the mind link avoids any doubts about the other person's words," she told him, so grateful for it.
He chuckled. "Being able to read the minds of others does that. Our link means we can 'hear' the other searching too."
Sarah blushed. "Sorry."
"As I said, if you want to go away somewhere, just the two of us, that's ok too. Ellie will miss us, but she'll cope."
Sarah nodded. "Don't forget the mind reading, Chuck. You can't hide that you would miss Ellie, too."
It was his turn to blush. "True, but I would do anything for you, Sarah."
That started her tears again. She pulled him to her, and her cheek rested in the crook of his neck. "I've never felt so loved, Chuck. Thank you for everything."
After several minutes, she finally thought, 'We'll stay at the apartment. I will come out of my sanctuary when I can. Okay?'
He kissed the top of her head, 'Anything to help you through this difficult time.'
In the end, Sarah spent the initial part of Christmas Day in Chuck's arms. In their tender lovemaking, he outdid himself in sharing his love for her, physically, mentally and emotionally.
Sarah was in tears after that, so overwhelmed with how she felt and so very much in love with him. She had never felt happy on this day, but he made it all about her.
She did stay in the bedroom for the rest of the morning until she showered. Her wonderful Chuck, however, came and checked she was ok at least every half hour.
She joined them for the Christmas meal and agreed to watch Twilight Zone with them. These three made it feel so much better than she expected. There was no pressure to 'enjoy' anything. They just chilled. She actually did enjoy herself most of the time, which surprised her.
The only uncomfortable time was when they decided to pass around presents to each other. Sarah hadn't thought about this and had nothing for any of them. She felt awful, and her feeling of being somewhere she shouldn't be started rising.
'You don't need to give anything. You've given me the best gift I have ever received. You.'
She looked at him with love and happiness back in her eyes, 'You're the best thing that has ever happened to me, too.'
One good thing was that she received no presents, so didn't feel so guilty until she read their minds.
Ellie and Devon had bought her a Christmas present before they knew how hard this time was for her. They were holding it back so as to avoid upsetting her. This kindness got to her, and she started to tear up. She rushed to the bedroom and closed the door on all of that.
Chuck hadn't told the other two details of her issues, just that she found that day a problem and refused to talk about it.
"Should we have given Sarah her present, Chuck?" Ellie asked, concern on her face.
"I don't know, El. I'm going to go to her," he got up and walked to the bedroom. When he entered, he found Sarah sitting on his side of the bed, facing away from him.
If it wasn't for their link, he would have no idea what was happening, but he 'saw' everything. "Sarah-"
She stood and walked around the bed to him. "Hold me, Chuck."
He enveloped her in his arms.
"Their kindness is a bit overwhelming, Chuck," she said. "I've never experienced so much love or consideration before. I didn't want to burst out in tears in front of them on this day that is so special for you all."
"Where's my kick-ass agent?" he asked.
"Agent Walker is off duty, apart from the protection responsibility, Chuck. This is raw and vulnerable Sarah Walker that you are seeing."
He hugged her tighter. "I love both aspects of you, Sarah. What do you want to do?"
"I want to clean this mascara mess off of my face and come back out," she replied. "Don't worry, none is on your shirt."
"What should I tell them?"
"Just that I'm coming back. I need to tell them myself," she replied.
He could 'see' her determination.
"Please don't push yourself, Sarah," his concern evident in his tone.
She smiled. "Ever MY protector, huh?"
He smiled back. "If I can protect your heart like you protect all of me, we will have a happy life together."
Sarah pulled him back into a kiss. 'I want that life, Chuck, so very, very much.'
They were both breathless after the kiss and looked lovingly into each other's eyes for a minute before she walked to the bathroom to sort herself out.
Neither Ellie nor Devon said anything about what had happened. Sarah knew Ellie was a kind, sensitive woman, but she had expected some comments about the two of them from Devon.
Ellie's thoughts were full of sympathy for her, wanting to help but not sure how.
Devon obviously thought they had been more than just kissing and hugging. He thought sex was a great healing process. Sarah thought he was probably right, but the kiss and embrace was wonderfully healing too. That was what she had needed. Sarah tightened her grip on Chuck's hand as she thought that. Chuck was what she needed. Chuck, her loving boyfriend, gave her everything she wanted and needed, whenever he could.
She looked at him, a bit teary eyed again, but happily this time. 'I love you so very much, Chuck. Thank you for being you.'
'Love you too, Sarah,' he thought back, giving her a loving look to go with it.
She smiled, pleased that she had him and was spending the day with him and his family.
She participated in everything else that day. She found that she loved being around these happy and loving people who included her in everything, not because they felt they needed to but because they wanted her to be part of it.
Christmas Day ended the same way it started for them when they finally got to bed. The slow, tender lovemaking perfectly wrapped this day up for both of them.
For Sarah, she wouldn't forget all those painful, upsetting Christmas Days, they were part of her, but this one outshone them all. She would hold onto this memory tighter than the others. She also felt that future ones could be even better.
As she lay next to the now slightly snoring Chuck Bartowski, she reflected on how grateful she was that he and his family were now in her life. And how she would do anything to make sure that continued.
A.N: A successful mission, the holiday party and then an emotional Christmas for Sarah. Christmas Day was skipped in season 1, which I thought was a missed opportunity. How did Sarah and Casey cope with the assignment during that time? With this different relationship between Chuck and Sarah, it was something I couldn't skip.
I'd love to know what you thought of this chapter, so please drop me a review.