Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends…it just goes on two-month hiatuses. After putting to rest a lingering family issue - and playing around with various Chuck and personal projects - Daddy Liam's back, my little weasels, with a new chapter of Innocence and a desire (for now) to get this bad boy done. Or at the very least a desire to fulfill a promise to a lady (you know who you are). Anywho, I recommend going back and reacquainting yourselves with previous chapters. Lord knows I had to.
And hey, if you're wondering: "What projects is Liam working on now? Or how can I check out the wide array of high quality fiction he's put out in the past?" then wonder no more. Feel free to pop on over to my profile page to check out the status of my past, current and future fiction projects, as well as my creepy avatar pictures (yes, I finally figured out how to update my profile and avatar).
So sit back, relax, snuggle up with your girl, and enjoy Chapter 19 of "The Road to Innocence".
Oh, and as always, props to BillAtWork. I know I've said it before, but at this point, he deserves a co-"Story By" credit for his work on RTI. And just because I'm a good guy, he'll literally get it.
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The Road to Innocence
Chapter Nineteen – The Morning After
Story By: Liam and BillAtWork
Written By: Liam
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In the wee small hours before the dawn, Rachel continued to sit at her table in the Great Room, alone. She puffed idly at yet another cigarette – she'd gone through nearly a whole pack this night – as she played a game of solitaire.
Maybe it was for the best, she thought, if Sarah won him now. The man was so...it was becoming increasingly difficult to think around him. And she needed to think clearly right now. She needed to focus on the mission at hand, getting that laptop, finding Sabine.
When Chuck was around, her head got all foggy. She lost focus. And assuming Sarah didn't blow it – which was a huge and possibly erroneous assumption – the biggest distraction on her quest would be removed.
Boys and romance. Two complications she didn't need. So it really would be for the best if Sarah didn't find a way to screw up. If she and Chuck actually were beginning their happily ever after.
Rachel sighed. Yeah. Right. For the best.
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Sarah groaned as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the blinds into her eyes. Hey, wait a second. Where the hell was her mask...?
Suddenly the memories of the previous night came flooding back into her mind. Tears, a few shots of vodka, and... Oh dear God, she professed her love. And it felt...fantastic.
A wide smile broke out over Sarah's face. She buried her face into the pillow to contain the giggle that threatened to spill forth. It was unbelievable to her that after everything, Chuck could still welcome her into his bed. The only rational explanation was that she was dreaming.
As Sarah turned over to find Chuck, intent on disproving her theory, her worst fear came to life. For the king sized bed she was certain she shared with him the night before was devoid of the man she sought.
"Chuck?!" she called out, not bothering to mask her panic.
The bedroom opened and Chuck slid inside, a tray of food in hand. "Hey there!" he called out. "Good morning!"
Sarah quickly checked her panic and offered a "Good morning" in return. She watched curiously as Chuck approached the bed with the tray, a tray that contained a bagel slathered with cream cheese, a half piece of grapefruit, and a cup of steaming coffee. And just to cap it off, a single white gardenia.
"What's all this?"
"Breakfast in bed," Chuck stated, as though it were terribly obvious. Which he thought it should be. After all, food...bed.
"Uh..." Sarah drawled.
"What? Has no one ever brought you breakfast in bed before?"
"Well, uh, not in a romantic sense," Sarah said hesitantly. "More of a, 'We gotta refuel', sort of...yeah. I'm just gonna stop talking."
Sarah trailed off, embarrassed. Frankly, she wasn't sure what she could talk about with him. It seemed, however, that Chuck had no such issues.
"Yeah, well, we'll get to that. In due time, anyway." Wow. He certainly was...brazen this morning. "In the meantime, this is more of a 'I know you probably haven't been taking care of yourself since my abrupt kidnapping, so I'm gonna feed you' type breakfast."
Sarah adjusted in bed and allowed Chuck to place the tray over her legs. She shyly tucked her hair behind her ears, still unsure how exactly to deal with this "morning after". She ultimately settled on neutral conversation.
"So...you're not having anything?"
"Already ate," Chuck smiled. "I stayed in the main suite so I wouldn't disturb you. Looked like you need the rest."
"And, uh, the gardenia?"
"I didn't think that needed an explanation either," Chuck pouted.
Sarah nibbled on the bagel as an uncomfortable silence fell over the bedroom. Well, she found it uncomfortable. Judging from the way Chuck lounged back in bed, his eyes closed, a content little smile at his lips, he didn't find it uncomfortable in the least.
She took a deep pull of coffee, hoping the caffeine would somehow give her insight, or better yet, courage. What the hell was she supposed to do now? Jeez, just a few hours ago she told her asset she was in love with him. What was the appropriate morning after response?
"You're freaking out, aren't you?" Chuck asked, interrupting her musings. She turned to find his soft brown eyes fixed upon her.
"What?" she quipped, trying to play it off. "Freaking out, I don't...Oh God, Chuck, tell me what I'm supposed to do," she pleaded, clearly freaking out.
"Relax, for starters. Jeez, Sarah, I'm not some Bosnian assassin who'll kill you in your sleep."
Sarah took a deep, cleansing breath. It didn't work near enough.
"Look," Chuck sympathetically started, "you're confused. This is new for you. I'm not exactly a pro at relationships either. Frankly, we have more issues than The New Yorker."
"So what's the point of trying?" Sarah asked sadly.
Chuck clucked his tongue and shook his head. "You know, Sarah Walker, once I'm done with you, you won't dare ask such a cynical question again."
"Chuck..."
"Sarah..." he teased, drawling out her name in the exasperated same tone. Then, quite seriously he said, "We have work to do. It won't be easy, but if we can promise each other honesty, we can make it work."
"There are still so many problems," Sarah said. "Practical problems, such as if Beckman ever found out..."
"There are more pressing problems than Beckman right now," Chuck countered. "Issues between us, with this job. Let's focus on that before we worry about Beckman."
"I like worrying about Beckman," Sarah said. "Beckman can have me reassigned and you shipped to a bunker."
Chuck blinked. "Jeez. You're a very 'down' person, has anyone ever told you that?"
Before Sarah could offer a protest, Chuck leaned in and kissed her. When they broke apart several long moments later, Sarah had a dazed gleam in her eyes. Then, inexplicably, she elbowed him in the gut.
"Ow!" Chuck cried out. "What--!"
"Don't think a little sweet talk will make me forget you've been flirting with her!" Sarah reminded.
Chuck gingerly rubbed his stomach and pouted. "Like I said. Issues to work out."
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Ellie awoke shortly after nine. She stumbled into the main suite area in search of coffee.
But alas, there was no java brewing in the coffeepot in the kitchen. Ellie grumbled and went to work preparing a pot.
As coffee began to percolate, Ellie wandered into the living area. On route to the television, she happened to notice a pillow and rumpled sheets on one of the couches. Obviously Sarah's bed. But where was Sarah?
Ellie turned when the main doors swung open. Rachel entered, hungover and looking like crap warmed over.
"Where have you been?"
"Getting my drink on," the agent answered. "And not so loud, 'kay? There are a couple little men in my head playing the bongos quite insistently."
"Where's Sarah?" Ellie asked.
Rachel paused. "Uh..."
Ellie wasn't sure she liked her hesitation. "There something you want to tell me?"
"Let me check my bedroom before I decide how to answer."
Ellie narrowed her eyes. She pushed past Rachel and moved towards the other bedroom. Rachel briefly considered stopping her.
"Screw it," she muttered. "She's gonna find out anyway." Then, loudly, she called after Ellie, "Hey! Did you get coffee going?"
Ellie threw open the bedroom doors without so much as a knock. She found Sarah and Chuck sitting in bed, her trying to clean up cream cheese spilt on her shirt, him trying to muffle a laugh. Both looked up at the intrusion, but only Sarah wore a look of abject terror. Chuck seemed entirely calm.
Ellie observed the sight silently for several long moments. Without a word, she simply shook her head and exited the room, closing the door behind her.
She returned to the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Taking a seat at the table near Rachel, she drank a long, slow sip. The agent noticed the sullen expression on Ellie's face and glumly sipped her own coffee.
"Man, I hate being right," Rachel mumbled.
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Ten minutes later, Sarah quietly slinked from the bedroom and grabbed some clothes. Neither Ellie or Rachel purposely paid her much mind.
Ten minutes after that, Chuck emerged, freshly showered and wearing a bathrobe. He politely said good morning to Ellie, but had difficulty meeting Rachel's gaze. He poured two cups of coffee and returned to the bedroom.
After another ten minutes, both Chuck and Sarah emerged, the latter obviously having just concluded her own shower. Both were dressed and appeared quite timid now. The world outside the bedroom a far more uncertain place.
"Are things settled?" Rachel quietly asked Sarah.
Sarah glanced back at Chuck. He was pouring another cup of coffee and joining his sister at the dining table. "Not yet. But I think they will be."
"So, I guess for now I should back off," Rachel mourned.
"No," Sarah said decisively. "For always. He's mine."
Rachel smiled sadly. "Look at you," she said, mustering all her strength to be proud and impressed. "Finally manning up and growing a pair. Atta girl."
Sarah smiled slightly in return, perhaps more pleased by her own recent actions than Rachel's compliment.
"Are we ready to get to work?" Rachel asked of the group.
"No," Ellie flatly stated. "Not until I gain of grasp of the current situation." At her tone, the others fell silent and dutifully gave her their full attention. It was a natural response to authority.
"First," Ellie began, "I must say that I'm aghast that my brother would even entertain anything remotely resembling a romantic notion towards either of you. Second, am I correct to assume there's been some level of consummation with one of these relationships?"
"Uh..." Chuck drawled, unsure how to respond. Sarah was no help. She stood frozen in place, wide eyed, horrified.
"It's a simple question," Ellie said.
"We've, uh, reached a preliminary understanding," Chuck lamely offered.
"Oh, that's lovely," Ellie snapped. "Not only are you buddies with your kidnapper, but you're also getting action from the woman who didn't protect you from your kidnapper. I mean seriously, Chuck, what the hell? You must realize how big a mistake choosing either of them is."
Rachel lifted her coffee cup and tried to look wounded. It didn't take much effort. "We're sitting right here." She took a sip and grumbled. "Jeez. I thought we were bonding."
"Yes, I find your job interesting," Ellie admitted. "And you're very nice for a kidnapping government assassin."
Rachel shrugged. She'd take compliments any way she could get them.
Sarah, however, didn't take it as well. Chuck could see the reaction. She was going into retreat mode – first emotionally and psychologically. Then shortly it would be followed by an actual physical retreat.
"Ellie, stop it."
It took a few moments to realize where those words came from. It was actually when Sarah's head whipped around to gape at him that Chuck realized he spoke. And then, suddenly, he was rolling.
"Look, you're pissed. That's fine. You're protective of your baby brother and I love you for it. But just stop. This is Sarah you're talking about and she doesn't deserve your anger."
Rachel coughed, none too subtly.
"And neither does Rachel," Chuck quickly added. "Yeah, it's an incredibly screwed up dynamic we have going on. And this is an incredible weird circumstance we're in, certainly weirder than usual."
Unconsciously, Sarah nodded in agreement at that truth.
"What you need to understand," Chuck continued, "is that not only do I trust these women, I happen to like them. Now I know you have issues with them, but you're just gonna have to get over it. Because for the time being, they're a part of my life. As for the future, I have no idea where or if Rachel fits in."
The agents each reacted to those words.
"But Sarah...she's my handler. And long after this mission is over, she's gonna be here, with me, in my life. If you can't handle that, then tell me now, because, well..."
Chuck felt his energy sapped. He ran a hand through his hair.
"I need you to get along with her. It's that simple."
There was no mistaking the gravity of his words. He left no room for argument.
Sarah was stunned by his words and tone as he spoke to his sister. In her heart, she felt equal parts warmth and remorse. It meant so much that Chuck would stand up to his sister in her defense, but Sarah knew she wasn't deserving of it. And she'd loathe herself to her dying day if she were the cause of a rift between the siblings.
And Ellie...Ellie was simply devastated. While she was coming to appreciate Rachel to be a descent person – and even rationally knew that Sarah was the same – she couldn't quite reconcile their actions. Not yet. And while she knew her brother's capacity for forgiveness, she couldn't believe he would so readily side with them.
"Fine. Whatever," she murmured, stepping away from the crowd. She needed room to think, to breath.
With no easy segue, Rachel quietly asked, "Can we do some prep work for tonight? Chuck?"
Chuck snapped from his trance, drawing his eyes away from Ellie and onto Rachel. If his sister was having a rocky time, then Rachel was having a...bouldery?...time. The redhead's eyes were bloodshot from a hard night of drinking. And she appeared to have trouble meeting his eyes.
"Rachel..." he tried.
She would have none of it. "Can you get us into Harris' room undetected?"
Clearly Rachel needed this meeting to be about business. Chuck nodded slightly and grabbed his laptop.
"Now that I'm tapped in, I can easily manipulate the hotel security cameras."
"How about the door locks?" Sarah asked.
Chuck shook his head. "No way. It presents too many problems." He reached into his pocket and retrieved his room keycard. "Standard hotel keycard. These things are printed for each guest, encoded with the information to unlock their door. Once the guest checks out, the keycard is destroyed and the hotel uses an algorithmic program to create a new code for each door's locking mechanism."
"Can you print out a copy of Harris' keycard?" Rachel asked.
"Doubtful," Chuck answered. "I can access all the current room codes from this laptop, but there's no way to associate a particular code with a room. It'd be trial and error. And there are over 800 rooms in this hotel."
"Can you assign a new code for the door? Print off a new keycard?" Sarah asked.
"Sure, I could. But that presents another problem. Harris' card wouldn't work anymore. From what Rachel says, he's probably the type who'd get suspicious if that happened. And if we don't find the laptop on the first pass, that would be an issue."
"So..." Rachel drawled. "In order to access Harris' room, we're either gonna have to break down the door, or—"
"Steal a keycard," Sarah finished. Then, together, the two women shouted—
"Not me!"
Rachel quirked a brow, grinned at Sarah. She spat out the words just a fraction of an instant sooner. Sarah groaned, said, "Oh, come on!"
"Hey," Rachel defended, "you lost by the uniform rules of "Not Me" we established a long time ago. It's on you."
Chuck glanced curiously between the two women, uncomprehending. "Who whah?" he asked.
Grimacing, Sarah informed him, "I'm the one who has to lift a keycard."
"And how do you plan to do that?"
"Oh, the usual way," Sarah reluctantly admitted. "A little subterfuge."
And just because she felt a little pissy at the moment, Rachel added, "And by showing a little cleavage."
Sarah glared. Chuck blinked. Once more he brilliantly asked, "Who whah?"
END PART