An: Ok, I apologize about the extremely long wait for the latest chapter. It wasn't fair of me to hold out on updating for so long. I is sorry…I kinda lost interest in the story, but once I reread all of the lovely reviews, I became rejuvenated. Hurrah. So here's chapter three. Finally. Review please, I thank ya.
Chapter Three: The Ten Rings Part II
Two Hours Later…
A loud, unwanted knock on the door woke Chuck up from his slumber. He was still on the couch, this time his arms were sprawled out in every direction. A blanket covered his body in effort to cure him from the draftiness in the room. A fan was revolving in quick ministrations, blowing cold air toward him and causing him to shiver. He yawned loudly, stretching his arms to the ceiling. The blanket slid off of his chest and pooled to the ground. He got up slowly to his feet, completely unaware of the near death experience that had occurred two hours before. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Chuck sauntered lazily to the closed door and grabbed a hold of the handle. He pushed it down and opened the door. Leaning against the wall for support, Chuck sleepily waved at his visitor.
"Sleeping Beauty, you are finally awake."
Chuck yawned again, but this time it turned into a small chuckle.
"Hey, that's a good one. Very witty, and I love the connection that I'm a girl."
Rolling his eyes, Casey took a step forward into the room. Chuck closed the door behind him and took a seat back on the couch.
"How are you feeling?" Casey asked sincerely, his eyes glossed over Chuck's disheveled appearance.
"Uh---fine actually."
Casey's eyebrows raised in mild surprise, "Really? You don't have a headache or anything? Look at your hands, do they feel different?"
Chuck did as he was told. He brought his hands up to his half-lidded eyes and examined them thoroughly. They were a little different. Both ring fingers looked bent, like they were aligned incorrectly. Then his forefinger on his right hand was in fact taped to his middle finger in a steady splint.
"I broke a couple of fingers didn't I?"
This earned a snort from Casey. "Let's see if I can list everything wrong with you shall I? You dislocated both of your ring fingers, broke your right forefinger and sprained your right thumb. Then there's the minor concussion, whiplash from the neck, and bruised ankles and shins. And how can I forget the nice little scar you're going to have right---"
Casey prodded at Chuck's left eye. Chuck winced painfully and rubbed the bandaged covered wound with his least injured hand. "---here. Courtesy of me of course," he winked.
Now that every injury had been addressed, Chuck let the nerves in his body adjust to all of the damage he withstood. A second passed and then Chuck's face twisted in a distressed expression.
"Ow."
"That's all you have to say for yourself?" Casey asked almost angrily.
"Yeah, uh, can I have some Vicodin please? Or something that is possibly stronger?"
Shaking his head, Casey pulled Chuck up to his feet. Feeling the pain take its toll, Chuck's body swayed back and forth, regulating to the degree of soreness. All of his bones ached like mad.
"W-where are we going now?" Chuck asked not too overly enthused over moving at all.
"The Castle," Casey grunted.
"Right," Chuck nodded and followed Casey out of the room. Each step felt like he weighed over a thousand pounds. "So where is the new base of operations anyway? And I'm assuming Sarah already there too, huh?"
Another grunt. Chuck took it as a yes to one of his questions. He listened intently for an explanation but gone nothing in return. Sighing softly, Chuck settled for continuing to follow Casey down the gym's hallways. When they finally reached the end of the hall, Chuck stopped walking and leaned against a wall, breathing heavily and outright exhausted. Casey shot Chuck an annoyed glance. He beckoned the younger spy to meet him where he was standing. Chuck heaved a breath of air and forced himself to gravitate to where Casey was positioned. Once they were side by side, Chuck looked at a blank white wall. He stared at it oddly. Massaging the bridge of his nose, he looked over to Casey confusedly.
"So, we run through the dry wall and end up in the Castle?" Chuck asked him dryly, "That's ingenious."
"Shut up and turn to your left, idiot."
Chuck turned to the left and came face to face with a steel encased door, complete with a padlock and access monitor.
"Not going out of our way to be inconspicuous are we?" He said sarcastically.
Casey ignored him and punched in a code on the touch screen. Just like the Castle V.1 back below the Orange Orange, it was set up with the same security system. And when looking at it nonchalantly, Chuck immediately figured out how to breach the system. He didn't the Intersect for simplistic algorithms like this.
A soft tap to his shoulder (which felt more like a punch) pulled him from his trance. Chuck's eyes focused back on Casey, who now signaled him to enter the new base. He took several steps before noticing that there were steps to climb down. Sending Casey the Are-you-serious look, Chuck groaned out loud and began his decent to the bottom of the base.
Concentrating on each individual step ahead of him, Chuck slowly but surely made his way down the grated steps. His mouth screwed itself up in a pained grimace and he cursed excessively every time a foot would touch the next step.
"This is cruel and unusual punishment!" Chuck whined and used the handrail beside him to keep balanced.
"You're not the only one who is in pain, Bartowski."
This made Chuck smile, if not only briefly. "As you should be, I kicked your ass."
Before Casey could come up with a snarky remark, a new voice spoke up, sounding very gleeful and almost sickly happy.
"—He's got you there, Case," Chirped Sam. She was sitting on top of the oval table used for briefings. Her legs swung back and forth as she was too short to touch the floor.
"Don't call me that," Casey snarled.
"What?" Sam asked innocently. She batted her eyes and smiled.
Chuck smiled as well. The constant banter between the two agents alleviated the sometimes overwhelming pain of pushing his body down the stairs. When he made it to the last step before the grated platform, Chuck saw Sarah sitting in a chair, trying desperately to contain herself from laughing as well. She was staring at the table top, a blush creeping up on her cheeks. She looked absolutely beautiful, even when amongst the dark dreary contrast of the new and improved Castle.
"—Well I guess I can come up with a new nickname if you're so impartial to it."
"How about you shut your mouth for once and don't ever talk to me unless it's a matter of national security?"
"You're a matter of national security," shouted Sam indignantly. Casey scoffed at her lame comeback. She then leapt off of the table and passed Chuck without acknowledging him at all. Now standing toe to toe with the Colonel, she lifted an accusing finger poked him on his toned chest. "Let's make something perfectly clear, ok? I'm not afraid of you. So all of this--" She waves at his form "—does nothing for me. You're grunting and growling…well you just remind me of a dog quite frankly. Couldn't you just use words instead of resorting to the default 'grrr…'? I mean, jeez…"
Casey was left somewhat speechless. He was probably more surprised in the woman's drawn out and mostly pointless rant. He had noticed that she does that a lot. He blinked.
Opening his mouth slowly, Casey retorts in a calm tone, "You want to know what I honestly think of you?"
"Oh god yes." Sarcastic.
Chuck watched the two battle it out verbally for another second before stepping down on the Castle's hard floor and joining Sarah at the table. He pulled up a seat and sat beside her, then sent her an amused smile.
"They get along so well," He whispered to her jokingly.
"Like a brother and sister." She agreed with a nod.
"I wish we had some pop corn, this is pretty exciting…"
Sarah chuckled under her breath but then grew quiet. She still felt an odd presence surrounding them both. Had they not just professed their love to each other only a few hours ago? Why were they not acting differently? She stole a quick look at Chuck who was watching the two other spies arguing with interested eyes. It made her think that Chuck was really delusional when he told her that he loved her. Either that or he somehow didn't remember.
"—I think that you are too stupid to insult."
Sam's contemptuous expression never faltered, "Thank you."
"That's not a compliment!"
"But you sounded so sincere!"
"—Am I interrupting something, Colonel?"
Clutching his hands until they bled white, Casey snapped his dead lock gaze with the SHILED agent and focused on the wide screen television set up against the myriad of computer equipment assembled on the far end of the base. His back stood straight, but his cheeks burned red with being caught in mid-argument with the dumb woman.
"No M'am," Casey told her politely, "We we're waiting for our debriefing."
Chuck immediately removed his feet from the top of the table, almost losing his balance and falling off his chair in the process. Sarah held his still weak body in place, steadying him with her hands. Both of their eyes made solid contact for the first time since Chuck had awakened from his first restless sleep. Uncertain blue eyes stared at Chuck's glazed over brown ones. They were full of compassion and love. From that very point on, Sarah understood that there didn't need to be words spoken between them to rationalize their love for each other. It was written all over his face every day, and it only took her till this moment (as she helped him from spilling out of the chair and onto the floor like an idiot in front of the General) to realize it. Love really is blind.
"Thanks," Chuck muttered honestly, pushing himself up into a sitting position. He winced when he used his fingers to ensure he wouldn't lose his balance again.
Not wanting to stall their debriefing any longer, Sarah nodded at Chuck and then turned toward the large TV. Her smiling face melted into a serious expression.
General Beckman raised a speculative eyebrow at her team of spies. Mostly at Chuck in particular. She was still never quite used to the younger man's antics. Sighing, she folded her hands on top of her desk.
"Agent Wesson," She began in a demanding voice, "Would you mind telling me why you are here? The Castle is meant for my agents only, not others from different agencies…"
Leaving Casey's side, she shoved passed him and approached closer to the table. Even when Beckman had delivered a harsh blow meant for her, Sam still remained calm and maybe even a little bit chipper.
"Director Fury has given me orders to be a part of the new Intersect project, General. He feels that since you have NSA and CIA operatives involved, it's only fair to include SHIELD."
"SHIELD?" Beckman repeated, "Is that what they're calling it now?" She seemed unimpressed.
"Yes, General," Sam replied with a curt nod, "and Director Fury wants to be fully informed about the Intersect itself, he thinks that its technology could be useful in our department. We have, uh some interested individuals who want to see the full capabilities of this super computer."
Chuck stared over his shoulder to see an expectant look cross Sam's face. Like she was eager to see what Beckman's response would be. He was thoroughly confused however. What certain individuals want to be let in on the Intersect? Unsure, Chuck turned back around to face the TV screen. He barely caught Sarah's face; she was intrigued as well.
"If these 'individuals' are who I think they are then I'm cautious as to why I would let them in on the Intersect at all." Beckman spoke cryptically. Only Sam comprehended what she was saying.
"I fully understand your skepticism, General," Sam replied. To Chuck, she seemed heartfelt, "but you see, we have the upper hand in this situation—"
"—How the hell can you say that?" Casey interjected, his eyes narrowed at Sam.
"It's the Ring," She revealed solemnly.
"The Ring…" Chuck echoed thoughtfully.
"What about the Ring, agent Wesson?" Beckman was now more interested.
"SHIELD has gathered a large amount of data concerning the Ring. It's mostly on its connections with Fulcrum, HYDRA, and other secret underground agencies. And we've drawn one conclusion on all of the information we have…"
"And what would that be?"
"That the Ring is not one single operation. It's ten," Sam's voice grew more serious as she continued to relay all the details her agency knew about the Ring, "It's actually called the Ten Rings, and they've been around for a very long time. To put it simply, each 'ring' is divided up into a faction. There's Fulcrum. They were in charge of finding and rebuilding an Intersect of their own. Then there's HYDRA…" She grimaced and her eyes flashed dark as if she just relived a terrible memory, "T-they are who SHIELD fights—"
"What is HYDRA's involvement in this?" The General sounded worried.
"HYDRA's whole existence is about furthering their military technology," Sam explained, "They use highly advanced weapons, devices and vehicles developed by the other factions of the Ring. So they joined in as part of the whole organization to grow stronger as a whole. All parts of the Ring are mostly American based, and I'll explain more on that in a minute, but HYDRA is unique. Its international and they are bent on destruction and world domination."
"So they're terrorists essentially?" Sarah asked.
"Exactly," Sam nodded and folded her arms.
"But what about the other parts of the Ring?" Casey inquired.
"They are not as big of a deal when being compared to Fulcrum or HYDRA, but they are dangerous in their own rights." Tired of standing, Sam walked over to an empty chair and plops down. She rubbed her face tiredly, "The remaining factions of the Ten Rings are independent government contractors. So far we know of Starkwood and BxJ Corporations…and all they want is to supply their weapons to terrorists or in our case, HYDRA and sometimes Fulcrum."
Upon listening to Sam inform them on the Ring and its motives, Chuck became fully engaged in a flash. Making sure that Beckman did not t notice his unusual facial expression, he covered his face with both hands and waited until the Intersect stopped its stream of data. As the flash ceased, Chuck learned about everything that had to do with the government's knowledge of the independent contractors. What was shown inside his mind was almost exactly what Sam was trying to tell the General, but more extensive and thorough.
"Mr. Bartowski, are you alright?"
A soft hand touched the side of his face, pulling him away from the simmering effects of the Intersect. Chuck dropped his hands to the table and saw Sarah staring back at him. She noticed the dazed expression on his face and she mouthed "flash." He nodded discreetly. She retracted her hand from him and quickly became professional. General Beckman coughed to get everyone's attention.
"Yes, General, "Chuck replied tiredly, "I'm fine…just had a long day. Continue, Sam." He gave her the go ahead gesture and she smiled gratefully.
"That's actually mostly it," She shrugged in her chair, holding her hands out helplessly. "We probably have loads more info on each faction, but I'm just a standard agent…me and my partner are actually just getting acquainted with SHIELD and its protocols and procedures."
"So what you are implying is that if I keep you on board with the Intersect project, you will inform my people on the continual information gathered from SHIELD as soon as you learn of them?"
"Yeah, it's a simple trade. We learn more about the Intersect and you learn more about the bad guys who will stop at nothing to have it…"
"That sounds fair," Chuck butted in.
"You don't make the decisions, Bartowski," Casey reminded him.
"—I have decided on provisional bases, Agent Wesson, you can join the Intersect project. But that's only if you can provide me with substantial information on the Ring. If you can't or are stringing me along, you will be terminated at once," Beckman warned her in a steady tone, "Understood?"
"Understood, General," Sam agreed, "And I'll relay this meeting to Director Fury at once. He will want to speak with you."
"As I expect so," Beckman sighed. Then she changed the subject as soon as everything became too quiet. "I almost forgot to inform all of you that there is a mission planned for tomorrow."
"Mission? Oh boy," Chuck whooped sarcastically, getting a dirty look from Casey and an irritated look from the General.
"Yes Mr. Bartowski, or should I say, Agent Bartowski?" She placed on a pair of reading glasses and shuffled together a manila folder with Classified stamped red on the top. She flipped open the folder and read the contents inside. "Apparently there is a small Fulcrum sleeper cell in downtown Los Angeles. It was another training facility for new recruits and it was what was left of Ted Roark's legacy as a Fulcrum Elite. Tomorrow, I want the three—four of you to go find the building, secure it and locate any Intel left on the computers that may give us a valuable lead on the remaining Fulcrum agents, and hopefully something about the Ten Rings."
"You can count on us, General," Chuck said gave her the thumbs up, "We got everything under control."
"For everyone's sake, I hope so," Beckman told him soulfully, "Brief me when the mission is a success, goodnight."
The screen went blank.
"That went swimmingly don't ya think?" Sam bounded out of the chair and laughed. She shed all of her unwanted seriousness.
"I wouldn't say it went that well…"
"Oh Charlie, don't be so pessimistic. I think I got the General right where I want her."
"And where would that be?" Casey growled defensively.
"Uh, I don't actually know. I just always wanted to say that." She laughed.
Chuck and Sarah exchanged glances and Casey's eye twitched.
"Anyway, before I get going back to headquarters, I wanted to ask you something Charlie."
Chuck leaned back in his chair and stared at her confusedly, "Yeah, what about?"
"Director Fury will know that you are the human Intersect by the time I brief him. He will also know about the strengths and limitations that these flashes entail. I can tell you with complete conviction that he will want to meet you, Charlie. And there's a big chance that he'll try and talk you into ditching what you're doing now and join SHIELD…"
"I'm not going anywhere," Chuck said defiantly.
"You say that now," Sam warned him, "but my boss is pretty convincing. He's gotten the best of the best joining our cause. Just by seeing you beat the living tar out of the Colonel over here, you'd be a perfect fit for the Initiative."
"The Initiative?" All three of them responded in unison.
"Yep, and wow, look at the time!" Sam sprang up from her chair and headed towards the stairs. "I need to get going before my partner kicks my ass; she's a very inhumane person when she wants to be."
"Sam, can you be any more cryptic?" Chuck got up and shouted at her.
"See ya bright and early, Chuckles! Nice meeting all of you, a pleasure."
She bowed and sprinted up the stairs. The automatic door slid open and she disappeared behind it. When it slammed shut, Chuck, Sarah, Casey was all left behind, staring at each other in complete silence.
"Somehow I don't think she was supposed to mention that little piece of information to us," Chuck mused out loud.
"Which part?" Casey grunted.
"I think the Initiative part. Her face went all red…"
"Did you flash on it at all?" Sarah got up stared at Chuck questioningly.
"No, actually I didn't," He shrugged, "Maybe the Intersect has nothing on it…SHIELD seems to be pretty covert in general, and I barely could get any new information out of the flash that Sam didn't already explain."
Contemplating it for a little while longer, Chuck was interrupted by a vibration sensation in his back pocket. He picked it up and saw a picture of his sister on the front. Feeling nervousness well up in his stomach, Chuck closed his eyes and answered the phone.
"Hey, Sis. What's up?"
Sarah saw Chuck's facial expression change as he frantically checked his phone for the time. His eyes widened and he tried to convince Ellie that he would be home as soon as he could.
"Yeah, I'm so sorry, El! I completely lost track of time. Sarah and I were uh…exercising at the new gym…and we—"
Sarah heard Ellie laughing on the other end of the phone, most likely in disbelief.
"I so do work out!" Chuck replied stubbornly, "You can ask anybody. Like your husband, he'll vouch for me."
There was more mumbling and this time less laughter.
"I'll be there in twenty minutes at the most, ok?"
"Ok, bye."
He ended the call and stuffed the Iphone in the back of his pants. He stared directly at Sarah and his lips curved up in a small smile.
"What's the word?" She asked him lightly.
"Dinner at Ellie's, my dad will be there…."He held her hand and rubbed it slowly, "It's kind of a big deal. Now that the family is back together for the most part, Ellie wants to have a sit-down family dinner at least once a week." He stared at her lovely blue eyes and is lost in them. "Since you're a part of this family, Ellie said that you're more than welcome to come."
"I'd love too," She answered happily.
Chuck flashed the biggest smile she's seen in a long time. He pulled her closer to his chest until they lacked any space between them. Before he moved in to her lips, Chuck was derailed by a very irate grunt.
"Number 17: Uncomfortable around an excess amount of lady feelings and it makes me want to throw up. Did I get that right, Case?" Chuck called to him with a cheeky grin.
"Just get the hell out of here…the both of you. I'll finish closing the gym down if you promise me you'll stop the kissy faces; its driving me insane."
"I can manage."Chuck conceded.
"See you tomorrow, Casey," Said Sarah.
"Just leave."
Chuck nodded and linked his arm with Sarah's as they traveled up the stairs to the exit. When he approached the first step, he cringed and sent Sarah an exasperated look.
"I can't go up, that's impossible."
Sarah shook her head. She climbed up several flights of stairs and beckoned him to follower her, "It's not impossible, Chuck. Nothing's impossible with the right motivation…"
Holding onto the handrail, Chuck raised an eyebrow, "Motivation? Explain Agent Walker."
"Well," She drawled out in the cutest way possible, "If you can't make it up these stairs, then what makes you think you can come home with me after we have dinner at your sister's?"
At this, Chuck's mouth went slack. He knew he didn't need a flash to get him up to the entrance. He took a deep breath and then rushed up the stairs, taking Sarah by the hand and yanking her through the doorway.
When the automatic door slid shut, Casey was still at the bottom of the Castle, doing clean up. He shook his head dubiously and laughed to himself, "I guess nerds can really get the girl."
Next Chapter: Viruses, Worms, and Spyware, oh my!