A Common Spy Problem
A/N: Happy birthday, It's a Common Spy Problem! It seems like just yesterday that you were a short little one-shot, marked as complete and everything, and now look at you. Twenty chapters later and we're about halfway. Writing this has been fun, having to rewatch season 2, my favorite of the 5 seasons, is still awesome and I look forward to the rest of the ride. Of course I wouldn't keep writing this if no one read it, so thank you for sticking with this story for a whole year. Your responses have been amazing and I hope I can keep this entertaining until the end.
Someone I really hope will stick with this to the end, is the always awesome Nervert. He'd beta'd every chapter of this, sometimes working until early morning to try and make sense of what I'm trying to achieve. Thank you for your hard work, buddy, and all the advice, support and listening to me vent about writing, politics and life in general.
The last time we spoke was right after a challenge I concocted because I'm a lush, or a mental patient, or both, or one because of the other, either way, in my exhausted haze, I screwed up my author's note. For one, I forgot to thank everyone for nominating and voting in the Awesomes. I'm truly grateful even if I forgot to say it. Thank you. Also congratulations to all the winners – every award and nomination was well deserved. I'm humbled to consider you my colleagues and keep up the awesomeness.
The second thing I've fumbled was the disclaimer – it actually belongs to the other story, but the jist of it is that I don't own much. That still applies. I don't own Chuck. I also don't own AP and I would like to thank her creator, wepdiggy, for graciously allowing me to reference/use some characteristics in this chapter.
In lieu of tea and cake, I now bring you something hot and sweet. The previous chapter marked the end of the first arc, so after the break we jump into the prologue of the second. Enjoy.
Chapter 20
Sarah's mouth moved lazily against Chuck's, their lips playing a game of catch and release. Eventually they parted from some much needed air. She opened her eyes slowly to find Chuck hovering over her, perched on one elbow. He was dressed in jeans and socks, his hair still wet from his shower.
"Good morning," he whispered.
"Good morning," she breathed back. She reached up to cup his jaw, loving the feeling of his smoothly shaved skin under her palm. He leaned into her touch for a second before he caught her hand in his, linking their fingers. He placed a kiss on the back of her hand and pressed it against his bare chest.
"What time is it?" Sarah asked, her voice still gravely from sleep.
"Don't you mean what day is it?" Chuck teased.
Sarah mock frowned. "It's still two thousand and nine, right?"
Chuck laughed as he released her hand to search for his phone on the nightstand. He located it and checked the screen. "Yup," he replied as he put it back, "only three days in." He leaned closer, brushing a stray hair out of her face. "And may I say," he drawled, "I'm a big fan of this year already."
Sarah chuckled, a single "hmm" that got lost in his mouth. Chuck attempted to deepen the kiss, but she pushed against his shoulder and clamped her lips. He pulled back, giving her a questioning look.
"Morning breath," she explained.
"I brushed," he replied, but huffed into his hand to check anyway.
Sarah gripped his wrist, guiding his hand to her waist. "I mean me."
"I don't mind." He moved in for another kiss to prove his statement, but she backed away. "But apparently you do," he concluded and searched the nightstand again. He found a roll of mints and held it up. "Want one?"
"Yes, please."
Chuck popped one from the packet straight into his mouth. He pulled back his lips to reveal the lozenge between his teeth. "Come and get it," he spoke around it.
Sarah rolled her eyes and propped herself up on her elbow. "You're incorrigible," she complained playfully.
"Yeah, but you like that about…" He trailed off when their faces were suddenly millimeters apart. His eyes dropped to her lips and Sarah used the distraction to lift the roll from his hand. She flopped back onto the mattress, triumphantly chewing on a mint while watching Chuck and waiting for him to realize what had just happened. She didn't have to wait long.
"If you don't get back here and finish what you started," he warned lowly, "I'm not going to let you win any of the board games today."
"Let me win?" Sarah raised an incredulous eyebrow.
"It doesn't count as a win if you cheat," he pointed out. "And seriously," he added, "who cheats at Twister?"
"I didn't cheat," Sarah protested and popped another mint in her mouth.
"Really?" Chuck asked. "How exactly am I supposed to concentrate when you give me that saucy smile or 'accidently'," he added half an air quote with his free hand, "brush certain parts of you against me or make your hair smell like…like…make your hair smell so sexy?" He gave her a mock pout.
"I don't make my hair smell sexy," she retorted. She pushed up on her elbow again and gestured down at his jeans. "And if I'm so irresistible, then what's with the clothes."
They hadn't had a mission since the Tyler-tattoo-episode, and as they'd been avoiding Casey after the incident with the tranq dart, they'd been making the most of their time off between the four walls of her hotel room, pretending that the rest of the world didn't exist. The hotel's laundry service was probably wondering why she hasn't sent down anything in three days, but Sarah couldn't care less. What she did care about, was that Chuck hadn't woken her with the enthusiasm she'd gotten used to.
"I thought we could get some fresh air today."
"Open a window," Sarah suggested as she pushed against his shoulder until he fell back onto the mattress.
"What has gotten into you?" he asked as she rolled over him, straddling his hips.
"Nothing yet," she smiled wickedly. She grabbed the hem of his shirt that she'd been wearing and pulled it over her head. She pushed up on her knees and her eyes travelled from his face, down his chest to his jeans. "Aren't you going to take those off?"
Chuck shook his head. "Not when you're being a little psycho."
Sarah's gaze snapped back to his and her mouth fell open. Then she closed her jaw with an audible click. "Fine," she huffed and reached for the sheet, draping it around her body. She moved to get off of him, but Chuck grabbed her by hips, keeping her in place.
He smiled up at her, not deterred by her mood change, and brushed a stray hair behind her ear. Then, with a hand on the back of her neck, guided her lips to his. "You're an adorable psycho," he whispered just before their mouths met.
The kiss was a little more heated than before, and despite her annoyance and her intention to play hard to get after his comment, Sarah melted into him. He tugged the sheet from between them and pulled her even closer. The skin on skin contact sent a delicious shiver down her spine. Chuck rolled them over so they were lying side by side and her leg immediately locked around his. She thrust against him and with a groan he broke their lip lock.
"Sarah, wait," he panted. "We can't."
"Why not?" Her frustration was starting to mound at the mixed signals she was getting.
"I think we're out." Chuck sent a meaningful glance over her shoulder to her nightstand.
Sarah shook her head. "Can't be." She reached behind her and found the box. Flipping the lid open, she smirked and retracted the last foil package.
Chuck frowned. "That doesn't add up."
"Have you been keeping score?"
"Of course…not," he amended quickly. Sarah cocked an eyebrow skeptically. It seemed like a nerd-thing to do. A bit creepy, but she could live with it.
"Maybe your count's off," she suggested.
"Yeah, maybe," Chuck mused. Despite his agreement, she could practically hear the wheels turn in his head.
She huffed out a breath and grabbed the sheet again.
"Where are you going?" Chuck asked when she was already halfway across the room.
Sarah turned and gripped the sheet tighter. "I am going to take a shower as my boyfriend would rather do math than take advantage of the naked and willing woman next to him." She didn't wait for a response.
Closing the door behind her, she dropped her head against it. Most of the past seventy odd hours was a blur of watching movies, playing games, making love and even an impromptu dance lesson or two, but she was pretty sure that, if they had been less than cautious, she would've remembered. They weren't hormonal teenagers for goodness sake.
She heard rustling from the room, guessing Chuck was probably cleaning up. That was what Bartowskis did when they were stressed – they cleaned. Ignoring it, and Chuck's paranoia, she turned on the shower and stepped in under the spray. Hopefully by the time she was done, he would realize how silly he was being.
After taking her time to get clean, even shampooing twice, Sarah turned the water off. She perked her ears, but the room was silent. She knew Chuck wouldn't just leave, he'd probably gone out to rustle up some breakfast. She wrapped a towel around herself and towel dried her hair before putting it up in a clip and reaching for her toothbrush. She'd just finish rinsing when the bathroom door opened. A white sock appeared around the doorjamb.
"You can come in," she told him, keeping her voice even.
Moments later Chuck stood behind her, still clad in his jeans, but barefoot. With his hands on either side of the basin, he kept her trapped between him and the sink. Their eyes met in the mirror, but neither of them spoke. Sarah waited for the apology, not that she wanted one. She wasn't angry at Chuck for trying to be responsible. It was rather sweet, even if his timing couldn't be worse. But instead of telling her he was sorry, he dipped his head and pressed a kiss just below her ear.
When she didn't protest, his lips trailed down her neck and her breath hitched when he paused at the spot where her neck and shoulder met. She felt him smile against her skin before his hand slipped under her towel. Sarah gasped at the unexpected contact and grabbed hold of the basin when her legs threatened to give out. Just as she was about to lean back against Chuck for support, he gripped her waist to turn her around. He lifted her onto the edge of the sink and stepped in between her legs, which wrapped around his hips instinctively. The rough material rubbing against the insides of her thighs provided an irresistible contrast to the soft stroking of his fingers up the curve of her ribs. Chuck captured her lips and she moaned in protest when his hands suddenly fell away. She wasn't deprived of the contact she craved for long. His arm circled her back, helping her to keep her balance, as his finger slid along the top of the towel. When he reached the knot he tugged it loose, causing to towel to slip and pool around her waist.
Sarah had always known their relationship was different than those of other couples. She'd been assigned to protect him. She was better equipped to do so and the role reversal had never bothered either of them, but in moments like these, when Chuck took control, and she willingly gave it, she never felt more normal. He allowed her to be vulnerable, safe in the knowledge that he would never take advantage of that. She loved him for it.
The thought gave her pause.
Sensing her hesitation, Chuck broke off the kiss. "What's wrong?" he asked concerned. "Too aggressive?"
"No." Sarah shook her head to reassure him, cursing inwardly for interrupting the moment and evidently letting his tendency for bad timing rub off on her. She chewed thoughtfully on her bottom lip as his eyes studied her face, waiting for an explanation. "It's just that I…" She stopped herself, wondering if she shouldn't wait till after. No, she decided, she wanted him to know. "I love you, Chuck."
The statement was barely audible, and for a second it didn't seem that he'd heard her. Her heart started pounding even louder. She opened her mouth to say something, to try and explain, but the words died on her lips when he dropped his forehead to hers.
"Say it again," he asked, the awe evident in his voice.
"I love you." She said it simply, her voice stronger this time. Telling him wasn't as difficult as she'd imagined it would be. She pulled back to look at him. "I've never felt this way. I didn't even know it was possible to feel this way."
"I know what you mean," Chuck replied. "I always thought that was what I lost back at Stanford, but it wasn't until I met you that I realized how wrong I was." He took a deep breath. "I know I botched it before and I was looking for a way to make it up to you, but then we had mission after mission…what I'm trying to say," he got himself back on point, "is that I love you too, Sarah. With all my heart."
She'd wanted to believe it even after he'd broken the promise he'd made while high on nitrous, but hearing him say it again still amazed her. Her fingers ran up his arms and finally found their way to the curls in the back of his neck. She pulled his head closer. "Show me," she breathed.
The kiss started off slow, but quickly escalated when Chuck parted her lips with his. His grip around her back tightened, pressing her flush against him. With his hand on the back of her thigh he lifted her from her perch and slowly made his way out the bathroom.
When they reached the bed, Sarah unwrapped her legs from around Chuck. Her feet found the floor and she ran a hand down his chest until she reached the waistband of his pants. She tugged on it as she fell backwards onto the mattress, pulling him with her. Chuck landed on his knees, balancing himself on an outstretched arm, and lifted his head. A smile broke over his face, but it quickly faltered when he dove back in for another earthshattering kiss. When he released her lips again, his mouth moved down the column of neck. Panting, Sarah's hand fumbled between them, finding the button on his jeans and popping it open. She managed to pull the zipper down before Chuck's hand joined hers, helping her to push his jeans past his hips. He stood up, making short work of his clothes and taking an eyeful of her in the process, then crawled back onto the bed. He took a moment to catch his breath, smiling down at her, before finally reaching for the packet on the nightstand.
A/N: I will get back into the "Next Time" spoilers at some point. For now I can tell you that Valentine's Day and The Suburbs are to follow, Charah style, of course. Until then, stay awesome.