Wow... you guys are pretty persuasive aren't ya? Well persuasive enough to have me reaching for my laptop and start typing another chapter to a story I've convinced myself I wouldn't revisit. The feedbacks have definitely been helpful in giving me ideas on how to expand the story. So thank you for that. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. But if it does, tell me about it anyway :)
All mistakes are mine.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck.
It had been seven days since he left; and five since they'd last heard from Beckman about his request for a break.
And the C.I.A. skirt has not been taking the news well. Not that the reticent agent would say anything about it. She went about her work as usual. But Casey could feel the hostility and anger radiating from her body.
Glancing warily at the fury blazing in her eyes and the sweat forming on her forehead, he braced himself for another attack.
She charged forward and swung a punch which he evaded easily. "I can read your moves, Walker. You're way too emotional. It shows."
"Shut up, Casey," Sarah hissed and went for his mid-section which he blocked again. "I take it that the geek still hasn't called," Casey dodged her right hook, "Figures. Knowing her, Bartowski must be all tied up."
The fire in her blue eyes intensified and she swung her arm wildly. Casey saw an opening. Swiftly he dropped and swept out with his leg, knocking her legs from beneath her; the move sending her sprawling on her back.
He looked down at her and grunted, "Face it Walker. It's not me you're mad at. Not even Bartowski. You're mad at yourself. You have issues; don't take it out on me. I'm your sparring partner not your human punching bag."
And with those last words, Casey left the room as Sarah squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the angry tears.
He was right.
Their laughter could be heard even before they descended down the steps of the Castle. Sarah's shoulders went rigid, her grip on her pen tightening.
"Wow..." the D.E.A. agent's voice could be heard, "... Everyone's here."
Casey lifted his eyes from his reports and saw the smirk on her face. He scoffed, "Look who's back."
"Well hello to you too, Johnny," Carina greeted and her eyes fell on Sarah, "And Sarah."
Sarah looked up impassively from her reports and gazed briefly at Chuck before she resumed her task. "Had fun?" She asked her voice devoid of emotion.
Chuck started to speak but Carina placed her hand lightly across his chest, shaking her head.
"Come on, Sarah," Carina smiled with an air of mischief, "You're not jealous are you? Nothing happened. Well... nothing much."
"Agent Walker-" Shaw paused and looked at Carina, "The Castle is for authorised personnel only," he informed as he went down the stairs.
"He looks like a male bot," she whispered cheekily into Chuck's ear and Chuck grinned.
"Chuck, when did you get back?"
"A few minutes ago," Chuck replied, "And Shaw, this is Agent Carina Miller from the D.E.A. We have worked together before."
"I've heard about you. You're one of D.E.A.'s finest," Shaw stated formally and extended his hand towards her, "Pleasure."
Carina regarded his proffered hand for a second, her hands on her hips. She smiled and reached out to shake his hands, "I'm sure the pleasure's all yours," she said politely, her words causing Casey to snort in amusement while Chuck suppressed a smile.
"Don't get me wrong, Agent..."
"Shaw," he said without batting an eye, "Daniel Shaw."
"Right... as I was saying, don't get me wrong. It's just that Walker here never mentioned about you before. You know how she is," Carina directed her attention towards Sarah, "she's not exactly what you would call a sharer," her smile broadened, "aren't you... Sarah?"
The blonde agent remained silent, her mouth set into a grim line. Sarah held Carina's gaze, her tempestuous blue eyes meeting Carina's mischievous ones. With a voice that betrayed no emotion and her poker face properly in place, Sarah spoke, "We have a mission briefing in about," she glanced at her watch, "ten minutes. So, unless you are going to be involved in the mission, you shouldn't be here. I can't speak for all agents but over here, when we are assigned a task, we finish it," Sarah ended her sentence with a smile and her eyes locked on Chuck briefly before she looked back at Carina.
Chuck watched the exchange between the two women; his eyes flickered from one to the other. He exhaled. The tension between the two agents was almost palpable; it was stifling. His eyes searched for Casey. The Colonel looked up at him from his desk and grunted. He shrugged his shoulders and went back to reading his reports.
"Chuck," Shaw said to him, his voice breaking the suffocating silence that hung thick in the air, "Since you're already here, why don't you join us for the mission briefing? We could use your input."
"Well actually," Carina interrupted, "Chuck has already promised me a date," she nudged Chuck lightly, "didn't you, Chuck?"
Chuck looked at Shaw and then to Sarah with a guarded expression, before he directed his attention towards Carina's cheeky smile. And Chuck couldn't help the smile that stretched on his own lips. "Sorry, Shaw. Technically I'm still on my vacation. The General approved my request for a one week break and today is the seventh day. I'll report for duty tomorrow."
He was about to leave when Sarah called out to him, "Chuck, can I speak to you for a minute?"
Chuck glanced at an amused looking Carina and gazed wearily at Sarah. He recognized the tone. It was more of a thinly veiled command rather than a request. "Sure," he said.
"In private," Sarah added tersely before turning on her heels and marched off, out of their sight.
Carina smiled at him, "I'll wait for you outside," and she looked at Casey briefly, "Bye, Johnny," she shot him a foxy smile and turned to leave without sparing a glance at Shaw.
Chuck found Sarah waiting impatiently, her hands on her hips and her wrath on full display. "Really, Chuck? Paris? And with Carina? What were you thinking?"
"I needed a break, Sarah," Chuck explained calmly, "From everything. From everyone." From you.
"A break?" Sarah clenched her jaws. "Chuck, how could you be so unprofessional?" She paused when she saw him flinched slightly at her remarks; feeing a sliver of guilt. Her hand went up to her forehead for a second before she folded her arms.
"I couldn't flash, Sarah," he muttered, "Didn't it ever occur to you to ask me why? What good am I if I couldn't flash?"
Sarah looked down regretfully. "Chuck..." she started, "... you know you're more than that. You provide so much more to the team," she gazed up at him, "You need to know how important you are. How could you drop everything and went to Paris with her. And you didn't inform m- us," Sarah averted her eyes for a moment, calming herself. "She's my best friend," she gazed at him, "but you and I both know how unpredictable she can be. What if something were to happen to you? Chuck... we shouldn't trust easily."
Chuck watched her silently; feeling drained all of a sudden. He noticed the physical distance between them and smiled bitterly. "Is that how it works for you?" Chuck gazed steadily at her.
Her eyes snapped up to him. She bit her lower lip and looked away. "I never meant to hurt you," Sarah said without looking at him.
"Sarah... you have no idea..." Chuck said, his voice barely above a whisper. He took a step back, leaning against a wall, widening their distance.
Her eyes reddened slightly with unshed tears as she pursed her lips. She avoided his gaze once more. "Chuck... about the other day," she took a deep breath and looked at him, "With Shaw..."
Shaking his head tiredly, Chuck sighed, "It doesn't matter anymore," he muttered quietly.
Neither spoke for a long while nor did they look at one another. "I'm able to flash," Chuck told her softly. "I found out this morning."
Sarah cast a worried glance over to him and Chuck gave his head a shake, "She doesn't know. But Sarah, however unpredictable she is, Carina's not that bad."
She looked at him, her expression unreadable. Sarah took a moment before she said anything.
"So... what did you guys do?" Sarah asked offhandedly, her index finger tapping repeatedly against her arm.
His gaze went up, a wistful smile on his lips but he kept his silence. Sarah was about to speak when Shaw appeared before them, "Agent Walker, briefing in two minutes."
"You should go," Chuck said gently, "I'll see you on Monday."
Sarah moved past him and just before she took another step, she halted briefly and gave him a sideway glance, "Chuck, I know it won't change anything but... I'm really sorry," she told him sincerely and she walked away.
Chuck stared vacantly ahead. He should be letting it go. Letting out a long resigned sigh, he lingered in the room for a little while longer before he made his way out of the Castle through the other exit.
"Sorry," he said as he approached her. Carina turned around and smiled. "Sorry I made you wait."
"Would you stop apologising already?" Carina paused, "You look like you could use a little pick-me-up. Walk me to my car?"
He nodded, looking a little subdued, and fell in step with her; neither speaking for a while.
"So... that was the infamous agent you were talking about. A fine male specimen but are you sure he's not battery operated?"
He chuckled a little at her question. "You know what," he said, "Now that you mention it, I'm not too sure anymore. He could be Superman."
"You're such a nerd," she rolled her eyes playfully. "So how was it?" Carina asked casually.
"How was what?"
Carina just lifted an eyebrow at him in response.
"You mean the way you attacked that guy with your rapier wit?" Chuck deflected.
"Hey, I was being very subtle," she looked at him innocently.
Chuck laughed again, "Yeah, you have about as much subtlety as a spy with a loose canon."
Carina joined in the laughter, "Nah, I'm sure he didn't feel a thing. He's not wired that way. Anyway, you did good down there, Chuck. I'm impress."
"Well I have a good teacher," he smiled at her.
"And don't you forget that," she remarked with mock seriousness.
His smile softened as he gazed at her appreciatively, "It wasn't all for show, you know. Let me take you out to dinner before you leave for D.C. and this time, you pick the restaurant."
"Why, Chuck... are you asking me out on a date?" Carina eyed him mischievously.
He grinned, shoving his hands in his trousers pockets, "Umm... you know what, if my one week with you have taught me anything, it's that one can never win an argument against a seasoned D.E.A. agent. I'll let you believe whatever you want to."
"You learn quick," she winked.
Chuck pressed his lips together, "What about you and Sarah?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well... back at the Castle..."
She frowned for a second before a look of recognition appeared on her features, "You're worried about that?" Carina waved her hand dismissively, "Sarah and I go way back. We've been through a lot worse. Way worse. This is nothing, Chuck."
"That's a very relax way of looking at things. It is a long standing friendship we're talking about here. Shouldn't you at least be a little worried?"
"Chuck, you worry too much. If something works out, then fine but if it doesn't, you just move on. Why worry your pretty little head over it?" Carina stated with an indifferent shrug. "Besides, Sarah and I have what you would call a unique friendship. I enjoy rattling the control freak a bit and she knows it," she smirked.
"It's that simple, huh?" He mused.
"Don't worry, Chuck," Carina said casually, "If things don't work out with Sarah," she grinned wickedly at him, "you know where to find me. Not a blonde but... I'm definitely sexier."
His mouth gaped slightly, "I didn't..." but he thought better of it. It was futile. "I wish I could see things the way you do. Instead of having to worry about what should've been and what could've been. Constantly trying to figure out what a certain action means. Trying not to hurt people's feelings."
"Why couldn't you just let things be?" Carina asked in amusement, "Seriously, Chuck, a nice guy like you... makes me wonder why you're stuck in this business."
Chuck smiled a little as they approached her car. Leaning against it, he spoke, "You make it sound like everyone in the spy business are people with questionable characters."
Carina rested her back against her car, "Give it a few more years, Chuck. You'll know what I mean," she swivelled her head to the right, "But guys like you... I don't know. Hard to tell."
He narrowed his eyes in bemusement, "Meaning?"
Carina shot him a cryptic smile and glanced down at her wristwatch, "Love to talk but I've gotta go." She fished for her car keys in her purse and unlocked the door. Opening the car door, she tossed her purse on the driver's seat.
"So... no dinner, huh?" Chuck asked.
"Rain check?"
He smiled in reply. "Thank you... for everything."
"Aww... Chuckie, you're not going all sentimental on me are ya?" She teased, "Careful there, you might end up pining for this sexy superspy."
He blushed slightly, "You're really..."
"Amazing? Trust me, I know," she smiled saucily.
"Yeah... I never thought I would ever say this but... you are amazing," he told her truthfully. Chuck pushed himself away from the car and stood facing her, "Carina," Chuck started hesitantly, "Uh... if you ever want someone to talk to... someone to just hang out with or someone to carry all your shopping bags for you," he said making her smile, "then you know you've got one more friend in Burbank. I'm just a call away."
Her smile wavered for a split second; the mischief in her eyes fading as well. But all too soon, she graced him with a cheeky grin and raised an eyebrow in mischief. "You know," she leaned in, "carrying shopping bags is not the only thing you can do for me..."
He shook his head and smiled as if in defeat, "I'll see you around."
She stepped back with a slight chuckle and got in the car. "Hey, Chuck, did ice queen ask what we did in Paris?"
"Yeah," Chuck looked a little mystified, "Why?"
Carina cracked a sly smile, "Don't tell Sarah about what happened in Paris. It'll be our little secret. Let her go crazy for a few days," Carina laughed.
"But we-
"Bye, Chuck," she shut the door, started the engine and sped away, leaving behind a speechless Chuck. And just like that, she was gone.
He waited till her car was out of sight; waited till the reddish glow of the setting sun disappeared into the horizon. And still he waited.
Throwing a glance over his shoulders and letting his gaze wander over to the Double O, he let himself relax a little. As he walked away and flashed back to the last two weeks of his life, Chuck realised that it really didn't matter anymore.
He was finally letting go.
Well... did something happened between Chuck and Carina in Paris? ;) As they say, unleash your imagination. So that's really, really it guys. Thanks for the time, the feedbacks and the kind words. And if it's not too much trouble, please tell me what you think of this chapter as well. Although something tells me that this chapter might not be the ending that people want, but it's how I'd like to see things resolved. Hey, I tried my best :) And as usual, thanks for reading.