A/N: Walker, PI, Ch 5, The Job

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.


(Italics indicate a voiceover)

Chuck smiled while still looking down at his drink. He looked up at me with a lopsided grin on his face. I just sat there, returning my own smile. I wasn't about to let him know how bad he was affecting me internally.

"I'm about to hand you a slam dunk career maker of a case," he said, looking back down at his drink. "The problem is, it's going to take you against some of the most powerful men in the city…and the state." I watched him, but he never looked up at me. This was different than before. Before it was something in him, that wouldn't let him look at me, shyness, bashfulness, or something, but this…this was different, and I didn't know how.

"I got this information from different people, but none of them in ways the police can use, or would," he continued. He paused for a second, like he wasn't sure he could go on. "I've hesitated bringing this to anyone else because I didn't know if I could trust them, if they'd believe me, but after last night…" He stopped. Completely stopped and looked like he wasn't going to continue.

"Listen, I can take care of myself. Tell me, and I'll figure out if I want to continue or not." He wasn't being chauvinist or macho, he truly was worried. Anyone could see that, but I still knew there was something else. I should have walked away there, with my instincts screaming at me, but I didn't, I couldn't, and deep down, I knew he knew I couldn't.

"I guess you need the whole story of how we got this far, don't you?" he asked. I nodded and he took a deep breath and looked away. He stared at the museum and I could see his eyes

reddening, fighting off tears. Something clicked, and I thought I understood.

"This has something to do with your girlfriend," I said, not asked. He nodded. A lump caught in my throat. "You think you betrayed her memory with last night?" His head whipped around with a bemused expression on his face. I was now confused.

"Last night was last night, is what someone told me," he said with a knowing lopsided grin. I couldn't keep the smile off of my face, but I really wanted to knock that grin off of his. "I don't regret last night, or think I cheated, or sullied my honor. But, last night that's not something that I've ever done," he added. "That should tell you something." I just looked at him, worried he was falling for me. I didn't need that, it was bad enough I thought I was falling for him. I needed the job, and didn't want to feel like there were strings attached. With him, I knew there wasn't, but sometimes your mind…it just can't believe something good is happening. I was thinking maybe, until this case was over, it needed to be nothing but professionalism from me going forward, and then he went and said what he said. "But last night, wasn't just last night to me." I fought my jaw from smiling, but I lost. "I need to start at the beginning."

He ran his hand through is hair, and took a deep breath. He looked at me and nodded.

"They caught the man who had murdered my girlfriend, you may have heard of him, Daniel Shaw." I nodded, he was a Senator's kid. "Daniel told me he was part of a gang, and that they were going to spring him from jail soon. He said his gang was being run by some men, but they had a big job to do. I asked him why he was so sure they were going to spring him, and he told me that he was going to turn state's evidence against the two if they didn't spring him."

"Didn't Daniel Shaw die in jail?" I asked. Chuck nodded. There was a flash across his face, was it guilt, was it rage, I don't know it could have been indigestion, I'm not a feelings reader.

"There was a power outage and the computer and camera system's generator didn't kick on. He was killed during that time period. I was there to talk to him about who these two men were, and he died before I could find out."

Something about that story seemed a little off to me, but I let it go. I shouldn't have. I should have trusted my instincts, but I didn't. I just let it go…like I should of done with him.

"After he died, I learned everything I could about Daniel, and I found his crew. I tracked them, found out who they worked for and followed them. He paused, the concern look on his face, I just waited. I gave him a look that told him to just spit it out. "I think Daniel works for Alexi Volkoff."

"The Russian gangster that poses as a real estate tycoon and business man? Also the man who your mother was trying to bring down?" I asked, now understanding his concern. He nodded. I thought for a minute. "Isn't he tied to the governor?" Chuck just nodded again, and stayed quiet. Something feel into place. "Are you telling me that you think Ted Roark is the second man?" Chuck nodded. A newspaper was on the table beside me, I grabbed it and scanned it looking for the story that I thought I had seen in last night's edition. There was the follow-up. Ted Roark was in the city staying in one of Volkoff's hotel rooms. "He's in town for a few days." Chuck nodded.

"Volkoff's hotel has a vault in it," he said just above a whisper. I looked at him. This was getting stranger by the second. Why did he need me? Why did I let him suck me in? I knew why, I knew exactly why, and heaven help me, I think he knew why as well.


A/N: Reviews and PMs are always welcomed!

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