Back in Castle, the briefing was coming to a close.

"This news is quite unsettling," Beckman began, "I don't have any information for you at the moment, but I'll brief you tomorrow with anything I find."

Chuck questioned, "Are you sure you don't have know anything about the IWC? Something that big doesn't just magically appear."

"Bartowski's right ma'am," Casey agreed.

General Beckman's head shook on the display screen, "I'll admit the IWC sounds familiar, but I'm not sure where it came up in case reports. Like I said, I'll brief your team tomorrow morning."

Chuck was about to ask for the case reports, when Sarah interrupted him, "Ma'am."

With a nod, Beckman moved to close communication, "Beckman ou-"

"Wait!" Chuck exclaimed.

Beckman quirked an eyebrow while Casey and Sarah turned to him, startled.

Taking it as an expression to continue, Chuck asked, "Would you clear a reconnaissance mission?"

"Pardon?" asked Beckman.

"Well, it should be easy to find where they live or are staying," Chuck explained, "And it'd be easy to tap Buffy's phone after we return it to her tomorrow."

Beckman frowned, "I'm not sure I wish to deploy the Intersect blindly."

"Now would be one of the best times to gather intel on this mysterious IWC," Chuck argued.

Casey grunted, "I hate to admit it ma'am, but the geek might be right."

Sarah offered, "Casey could be tasked with surveillance, while Chuck focuses on Buffy tomorrow."

"Isn't this what you trained me for? To be a real spy?" Chuck added.

General Beckman tilted her head silently as she considered the team's proposal. After a moment's consideration and Chuck's nervous squirming, Beckman gave a short nod.

"Colonel Casey will attempt to establish surveillance over the targets tonight. Tomorrow after a briefing, Bartowski will attempt to insinuate himself into Buffy's life."

"Wait!" Sarah exclaimed surprised, "Bugging her phone and charming a mark are completely different assignments!"

"What's the problem Sarah? I can do both," Chuck asked disappointed at her lack of support.

"It's too dangerous. They could know about the Intersect for all we know," Sarah explained her reasoning.

"Or she could have no idea I'm an agent at all and we gain valuable intel on the IWC," Chuck countered.

"Walker, the kid's a spy. Let him act like one," Casey interjected.

Surprised by Casey's defence, Chuck beamed him a smile while Sarah bit her lip thoughtfully. It took a moment for the three of them to notice Beckman had stealthily disconnected her line during the discussion. There was no point continuing the argument until the next day.

Sarah sighed, "We'll see what Casey finds out tonight."

Casey grunted in approval before sitting down at the main table and looking over some files.

Chuck walked over to a computer terminal and forwarded all the information on the three targets Castle had to his home terminal.

"I'll do some more research when we get home, see what I can find."

Sarah nodded, obviously still not enthused with the idea, "We should grab dinner."

Chuck shook his head, "Actually, Morgan offered to cook tonight. Seeing as how we had an 'emergency' he wants to do his part for team Bartowski."

Sarah smiled, "I like it when he cooks for us."

Chuck's smile brightened in return, "Me too."

The two of them started walking up the stairs holding hands.

"It's kinda sweet when he pretends to be a spy." Sarah added

"I let him help when he can. I'm just worried he might get himself... wait how sweet?"

Sarah laughed, "Don't worry, I meant it's sweet how much he cares for you."

"I know, but sometimes I get jealous." Chuck defended.

"Of Morgan?"

"I don't know if you've noticed, but you are a super-hot super-woman. I'd be crazy not be jealous of anybody. Ok, maybe not Morgan, but you get the point."

"I've only got eyes for you Chuck."

"I know. And you mean the world to me."

"And you to me."

The two voices carried back down into Castle, arousing an automatic, "Euck."

Back in their hotel room, Buffy, Xander, and Dawn had begun their research into the mysterious NSA/CIA joint project. Dawn had setup her laptop and begun typing the moment they returned to the room. Buffy and Xander had both flopped onto the beds, eager to do absolutely nothing. After what seemed to be ages, Buffy decided to break the silence.

"So... Research..." Buffy began dejectedly.

"Yeah... Research." Xander added helpfully.

"Yes research," Dawn snapped angrily.

"Do we have any way of actually researching these people? Buffy asked.

"You know... I think I remember reading a mouldy, old, watcher tome about the nefarious NSA-," Xander began, before being interrupted by Dawn's fist, "Ow! That hurt!"

"If they are spies or secret agents, we can do research on them. Or at least their covers," Dawn explained, completely ignoring Xander's indignant mutterings of crazy lovers.

Buffy perked slightly, bouncing the bed, "How do you suggest we do that?"

"I can see what's publicly available on the web," Dawn explained her plan of attack, "Xander you could get in contact with our former Initiative buddies, and Buffy you could do some recon."

Xander shook his head in adoration, "That's my research girl."

Buffy glared at him slightly, "Our research girl."

Dawn stuck her tongue out at both of them, "I'm no one's research girl."

"Then who are you?" Xander asked scratching his head in slight confusion.

"I'm the research girl," Dawn explained pertly.

Buffy groaned, "Going to Oxford just inflated your ego didn't it?"

"She deserves it," Xander chimed in, hoping to score brownie points.

Dawn gave him a fond and knowing look before turning back to Buffy, "And becoming the head of hundreds of Slayers didn't inflate yours?"

"Nope," Buffy replied, popping her 'p'.

"It totally did."

"Gotta love how after many years and thousands of dollars spent on education, she still uses the phrase, 'totally did'" Buffy returned.

Understanding the current predicament, Xander remained silent. It would not do well to upset either. One would beat him to a bloody pulp. The other, would beat him to a pulp and deny him sex. Bloody pulp or regular pulp with no sex; it was a no-win situation.

"California, born and raised," Dawn mimicked the phrase Buffy often used.

"Brat."

"I see you've put on some weight," Dawn didn't meet her sister's eyes.

Buffy gasped, before looking down, "You take that back!"

Dawn shrugged her shoulders, "It's true."

At Dawn,s humorous tone, Buffy narrowed her eyes, "At least I didn't get my first grey hairs until last year."

"What?" Yelped Dawn, reaching for her head.

"Right over there," Buffy indicated by pointing with her finger.

Raising the offending hair in front of her eyes, Dawn plucked it with vigour. Before Buffy and Dawn could start again, Xander intervened.

"Ladies, ladies. This isn't helping the research party in the slightest," Xander moved his hands in a calming fashion, "Buffy should do some recon after patrol. By then we should have some basic info for her."

The Summers sisters turned to Xander before Dawn asked, "What are you suggesting?"

The moment Dawn asked the question, Xander's stomach let out a loud rumble. Startled, Dawn and Buffy both stared at Xander for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"Maybe a food break to calm us all down?" Xander suggested, sheepishly.

Buffy tilted her head before commenting, "Xander thinks about food all the time."

"I know, he eats more than most slayers," Dawn added.

Sensing a growing feeling of dread, Xander began making his way to the door. Careful to stay facing both women, lest they pounced.

"Hey look, I'll go grab us some food, maybe some donuts. Flashback to good o'le Sunny-D?"

"Have you noticed his middle?" Buffy asked Dawn, "Donuts indeed."

Squinting her eyes, Dawn replied, "Maybe, all I know is I'm going to miss that eight pack if he keeps going."

"He had some deep fried Twinkies the other day," Buffy continued, while shaking her head, "A moment on the lips and a lifetime on the hips."

"I wouldn't mind if he developed some love handles though, sometimes he's too fit," Dawn complained.

Buffy scrunched her nose, "Eww Dawn, I don't want to think of you and Xander. I'm already wigged out as it is."

"Well you should know..."

Xander decided it was now or never and fled the room leaving two giggling sisters in his wake.

After a pleasant meal with Chuck and Sarah, Morgan had headed out, something about Jeff and Lester. Unwilling to pry for his own sanity, Chuck decided to suffer the loss of game night alone. With a slightly dejected sigh, Chuck decided to continue researching the three people from Sunnydale.

"Chuck..."

Chuck looked up from the computer screen, "Hmm?"

"We could use the next while differently..." Sarah suggested.

Watching Sarah fiddle with her hair, Chuck gulped,"Sarah Walker are you trying to seduce me?"

Sarah grinned, "Why, is it working?

The next few minutes were a complete blur for Chuck. The glorious experience was interrupted by Casey's disgusted, "Euck."

Both Sarah and Chuck sprang apart, as Casey shook his head, "We've got a job to do. Save it for later you two."

Pausing as an afterthought, he added, "And make sure I'm not there,"

Both Chuck and Sarah grinned while Casey shuddered. Obviously shaking off a disturbing mental image, Casey shook his head again before focusing his eyes on Chuck.

"You got anything new for me about the marks?"

Chuck gave a small nod, "They're staying at the local Holiday Inn, room 463."

"Anything else?" Casey asked.

Chuck shook his head, "Sorry."

"Need any backup tonight Casey?" Sarah asked.

"I'll be fine. You can stay here and," Casey paused midway before grimly continuing, "Stay with Bartowski."

"Aww Casey, I didn't know you cared," Chuck laughed.

"I just don't want you blubbering later because of whatever does or doesn't happen."

"Thanks Casey," Chuck smiled.

Casey pointed a finger in warning, "Not a word, sight, or sound."

"Sure thing Casey," Sarah replied, smiling as well.

Casey left Chuck's apartment through the window he entered. He pitied anyone who may accidentally walk in on that.

In the nearby Burbank cemetery, Buffy enjoyed a relaxing patrol. As far as supernatural forces go, with LA acting as a homing beacon, Burbank was quiet and calm. It had been an ideal vacation location; close enough to visit the AI group comfortably and without really having to deal with anything serious themselves. Of course they'd jump in if AI ever needed anything, but the trio had decided that a long overdue vacation was in order.

To complete her quiet night all Buffy needed was the fledgling she detected to pop out his grave so Buffy could stake him. After a few minutes of waiting, the vampire was half out of the earth before noticing Buffy.

"Hey, need a hand?" Buffy offered.

"Yeah thanks," the vampire accepted Buffy's offered hand.

Once clear of the dirt, the vampire brushed himself off, "The name's Brock."

"Buffy."

"So... what were you doing in the cemetery?"

"Looking for vampires," Buffy smiled brightly.

"What? Why?" Brock asked, "Wouldn't vampires be dangerous?"

"I don't know, are you dangerous?"

"Wait... am I a vampire?" Brock asked before grinning, "I'm Brock the vampire."

"Hi I'm Buffy the vampire slayer," Buffy replied.

"Vampire slayer?" Brock asked.

"Yup."

"So we're supposed to fight?" Brock asked.

"Yup."

"I was a black belt in karate. You'll lose."

"Nope."

Brock began posturing, "Look I'm so much bigger than you. I'm going to be more skilled than you. And-"

"Oh. My. God!" Buffy exclaimed, pointing her finger over Brock's shoulder.

Brock confused, turned while Buffy continued speaking, "Look air!"

The vampire collapsed into a dust pile before realizing that he had been duped.

Buffy sighed. The vampire had turned before she finished saying 'look air!'. She was going to get it to work someday. She knew it. With the cemetery clear it was time to head over and check out Chuck apartment. Buffy didn't plan on returning to her hotel room until very late. She wanted Dawn and Xander to finish their nightly activities before returning. She pitied anyone who might accidentally walk in on that.

AN: Reviews are what keep me posting! Thanks for those who did!