Chapter 5a – Wedding, Redux a la Casey

A.N.: Disclaimers in Chapter 1. This chapter is going to cover the wedding, and jumps between various characters, so you'll get 5a, b, c, d, and a very quick e. Sorry this took so long, our host for Chapter 5d was annoyed with me and didn't want to play. Didn't want to post them until I could finish them. So here you go. :)

Casey's phone rings and he's surprised when he looks down and answers. (What the…) "Yeah, Walker. What is it?" (Who didn't I kill?)

Her request is simple. "Chuck wants to throw Ellie her dream wedding. Today."

"You're kidding!"

"It's Chuck," she simply replies.

(As though it explains it all. Well, actually it does.) "Roger that, we're on it." He closes his phone and takes a moment to process. (Today's mission? A perfect beach wedding for Ellie Bartowski.)

"All right, you sissies, for once you'll get to be sissies without me getting mad. Our mission is to tame a Bridezilla!"

He walks out into the main room of Castle, barking directions at his men that make him immensely grateful for their trust. (Order flowers? Get a beach permit…I'll take that myself. Runners, bunting…girly crap, all) There's a single moment of silence before they scatter, PDAs appearing and fingers flying as they begin to research and requisition. He approaches the main computer and begins researching beaches in the areas that are authorized for weddings. (Bartowskis are stand up people. And Ellie's always done right by me, even without Chuck's permission. Can't let her down.) He glances around and assures himself that his men are focused on their tasks, and not on the possible lady feelings of their commander. He grunts a generic thank you to the squad and those closest nod an imperceptible 'you're welcome.' (God, being on a team, made me...) He shudders even as his fingers start dialing. (Damn it, it's like I'm part of the godforsaken family.)

And that is how Casey finds himself here, barely thirty minutes later, surrounded by soldiers playing party planner. Worrying about lighting, and sand, silk, and taffeta. (I am not a pansy. I am not.)

(I could vomit.)

"Sir, how do you spell 'begonia'?"

"Sound it out," he barks. (How should I know?)

Another holds out a length of burgundy silk, which Casey immediately turns down. "No, no, no, no, that clashes with the bunting." (And damn my mother for teaching me what the hell that means.)

He puts the phone back up to his ear and continues his conversation. "Yes, I appreciate that you require extra time to permit the area, but this is a national security matter." (That should do it. Can't argue with the NSA.) He grunts in satisfaction at the tactic.

He strongarms the permits for the beach, and the rentals for the chairs and the gazebo come from the U.S. Military itself. (We have happy occasions too, damn it.) He fights the urge for a cigar, and instead requisitions tuxedos from the C.I.A. (Guess the pretty boy James Bond agency does have some use after all.) He surveys the men pacing through Castle, as dedicated to begonias and bunting as they would have been with bombings and battering rams. (Glad it's my men down here, anyone else would accuse me of being soft.)

He grunts his approval of the unit's progress and escapes outside of Castle to indulge in that cigar. It soothes him, the ritual of cutting the cigar, lighting it, the first puff of smoke. It's the closest Casey comes to smiling in public.

(Bartowski. Always Bartowski.)

If only he didn't actually respect the nerd. (Duty, loyalty, honor, all hallmarks of the Armed Forces, and of Bartowski.) He takes another satisfying draw from the cigar. (And it comes naturally. Kid would make a hell of an agent if he tried. Shame.) Another draw. (He doesn't even realize how he inspires loyalty, how he takes command.) Casey grunts as he ventures dangerously close to being sentimental. (Kid wants a picket fence and 2.5 kids, being an agent won't get him that. Good thing I don't want that.) One last satisfying draw and a series of smoke rings this time. His nerves soothed and his machismo recharged, he returns to the fray.

"All right ladies, status report!"

(Don't accuse me of any lady feelings, but I'll be damned if we let him down on our last mission, whatever that mission may be. This wedding is going to be the best that the United States can throw. In a day.)

A.N.: Hope you enjoyed our Colonel for a bit, I believe he'll be back in a future chapter or chapters. :) I loved how Casey was immediately on board with their last mission, and this is my guess as to why.