CHAPTER 27
"No." Casey stood with his arms crossed while vigorously shaking his head. "She's a civilian. There's no reason to tell her."
"What if a Fulcrum agent finds out about us and tries to talk to her? Get her to inform on us?"
"What?" Casey asked, "Why would they do that?"
"Why would they bug the Buy More?" Chuck asked with a dramatic shrug. "It's unlikely but it's a possibility. And it's one I'd rather avoid. If she knows then she can protect herself and come to us if something is wrong. Apart from the possibility of someone finding out she knows something and making her tell them, what downsides are there?"
"You literally just said the only one that matters," Casey pointed out.
"Not as much as keeping her safe."
"Which her not knowing does." Casey looked to Sarah who was stood behind a chair watching them. "What do you think, Walker?" He figured the moron would listen to her.
"I think he has point."
Casey looked almost betrayed. "Really?"
Holding the back of the chair, Sarah's shoulders bobbed. "She's smart. If someone did try questioning her she'd be smart enough to play it off, maybe even play them and find out something about them. If the worst should happen it's a liability, but if it does and she doesn't know anything, do you really think they'll just let her go? How do you think Chuck will react to seeing her once they're done with her? We need him to access the Intersect. At least if she knows it's more likely she'll be able to avoid the worst outcomes, and if they should happen she'll have an out and Chuck won't be… broken."
He looked over his shoulder to her and smiled at her apologetic expression. They'd discussed all this the night before after he revealed everything. They'd spent half the night talking, Chuck telling her everything he could think of, going over how he worked as The Piranha, her telling him about how he was part of the curriculum at The Farm, and discussing how they'd try to convince Casey. They'd also decided to hold back on telling him about the Piranha for now. They were confident he was on their side, but not enough to know he wouldn't mention the Piranha to Beckman, even just as an incentive to give them more leeway. They didn't think he would arrest Chuck, but Fulcrum and the situation with Gaez made it clear even the agencies they worked for couldn't be trusted completely.
When Casey turned away from them growling, Chuck looked over his shoulder, sharing a brief smirk with Sarah as both knew they had him. He'd just turned back to him as Casey turned back to them. "There's a chance she'll go to the press."
"She won't," Chuck assured. "Not when it would just put me in danger."
Casey looked ready to argue, but then realized that was definitely right. She was protective enough she definitely wouldn't blab to anyone. "Fine. I'll call Beckman to get the NDAs ready."
"I don't know about that," Chuck said holding up a hand. When Casey growled at him Chuck waved his hand. "Hear me out. If there's a record of her knowing then Graham will know about it. If something happens to me there's a chance he'll go for her too, but if I just tell her then there's no record of it then no one really has to know. It's not like I'm sworn to not tell anyone legally and I'm not an agent like you two, so if anyone does find out we just say I told her and never told you two, but at least that way she'll be safe, which is the whole point of telling her."
Casey grunted. "What about Devon?"
"Awesome is…" Chuck sighed. "I don't know. Maybe once they're married, but Devon's a mess whenever he knows a secret. He was a wreck when he came in to ask my permission to propose to Ellie. I say we leave him as need to know unless Ellie forces it. Even then I'll try to convince her to wait until after the wedding."
"Fine," Casey relented. "Just don't screw it up."
"I doubt even I could do that."
"You'll find a way." Casey shook his head and sighed. "What about this Orion crap? You sure he's on the level?"
"All he's done so far is help me. I'll be on guard, but it's not like it matters much right now. I haven't heard from him or had a need to contact him."
"What about the upgrade you mentioned? Did he say how long it would take?"
"No, but I can't imagine it would be too long."
Casey nodded. "Contact him. Tell him you want the upgrade. If he asks why tell him it's for the analyst tests. Knowing a couple more languages can only help, and we can even try to pass it off as you studying with Walker if we need to."
"Which leaves Gaez," Sarah walked around over to stand behind Chuck on the couch. "It shouldn't be too hard to convince them to let us stake him out."
"I have to say I'm surprised you let him in on your old missions, Walker," Casey said eyeing her.
"We're a team, Casey. He's going to be our analyst, I figured I'd kill two birds, let him practice looking over real missions and maybe spot what I missed. You saw how he put things together on the Lon Kirk mission. We both missed what was right in front of us but he saw it. I took a chance and it paid off. I finally get to find out who the mole was and put it all behind me."
She was right in that it wasn't difficult to convince Beckman to let them go, though all noticed that despite it dealing with another CIA mole Graham wasn't there. They put off telling Ellie everything and told her they were going on a trip to meet with potential investors while packing for Brazil.
It was Chuck's first away mission. His first time out of the country even, though it was on a fake passport. However there wasn't much time for them to enjoy Carnival from the back of a van parked in an alley half a block from the Palmero Hotel. "Palm like in hand," Chuck had pointed out with a sagely nod that only earned him a grunt from Casey.
When Gaez' private plane landed they all focused on the hotel. Casey was sat behind the wheel while Sarah sat in the passenger seat, her knuckles seeming to get whiter as her fists tightened with each passing second. Chuck sat in the back with a few laptops, one displaying camera feeds while another showed a live relay of the hotel's computers. If they missed him then at least they'd know someone checked into the room and he could check the cameras.
"Gaez's car," Sarah said sitting up, pressing her hand into the dashboard.
All three watched as the driver got out and opened the back door, letting Gaez exit… but only Gaez. Chuck felt his stomach twist watching him enter the hotel, and Chuck watched on the camera feed as he walked to the desk. He then watched as the clerk checked him into the suite under a pseudonym, and Gaez made his way up.
Sarah sank back in her seat while Chuck slumped forward, hanging his head in shame. Casey sighed. "It was a good guess. The intel was all there."
"I can't believe I got it wrong and made us fly out here for nothing." Hearing how distraught he was Sarah turned, frowning as she reached out for his hand to gain his attention. When he looked up and met her eyes he saw a sadness not over the failed mission, but over something he knew he had to correct, so swiftly shook his head. "I don't regret telling you about it."
He saw here exhale, clearly relieved. "It was a good try. Maybe we'll find something else here to-"
"Wait," Casey said sitting up in his seat, nodding toward a sports car which pulled up to the hotel.
Sarah spun in her seat while Chuck dug his hands into the front seats, lifting himself up to look. The three watched as the valet opened the door and a blonde woman exited, handing him the keys and almost skipping into the lobby.
With a gasp Sarah turned to Chuck, who fell back into his seat to check the cameras. Her shock turned to anger as Chuck said, "Amy."
"That baby-voiced bitch," Sarah said practically throwing open the passenger side door and leaping out.
She barely heard the back door slide open as Chuck hurried out and ran around her when she stomped out of the alley. Wrapping his arms around her he pulled her back into the alley whispering, "Wait, wait, wait!"
"What the hell are you doing, Chuck?" She asked icily.
"Just wait, please," he said looking to Casey, who got out looking confused. "Look, I know you're pissed and we're ready to go…" Chuck looked back to Sarah asking, "But are we the ones you should be doing this with?"
"What is that supposed to mean?" She asked, a hint of venom still in her voice which made him swiftly pull himself off her.
"You're not the only one her betrayal hurt," he said raising his brow imploringly.
Sarah grimaced before her shoulder slumped and she exhaled. "Damn it."
Casey smirked seeing her deflate. "We have it recorded," he said nodding toward the van.
"Exactly," said Chuck. "Their pattern says they'll be here three more days. That's plenty of time for us to call in backup and setup a plan."
It was so clear to her that he just wanted to help her repair her friendship with Zondra. They could take Gaez and Amy down themselves and get all glory for it, but here he was putting that off, willing to risk it so she had a chance to mend a friendship.
Taking her phone from her pocket, Sarah turned and made her way to the van. Putting it to her ear as she opened the door, Chuck heard her start, "Carina? Do still have Zondra's number?"
After arranging things they returned to their hotel where Chuck and Sarah shared a room as part of their cover, but she'd made sure to make it one with two rooms and a door connected to Casey's. Even separated by two meters each found themselves glancing across the room to the other until they caught each other and smiled. After that they turned to face on another, talking a bit before drifting off to sleep facing each other.
Carina was the first to arrive as she was already in South America. Sarah was sat at a table in the hotel's restaurant the next morning when Carina suddenly sat in the chair to her right. "Looking good, Walker," she said observing Sarah's gray and blue sundress, not unlike her tighter red and black one.
"You just get in?" She said shaking her head knowing Carina had just stolen Chuck's seat while he and Casey went to the bathroom. Since they were away from home, Chuck was basically on a leash and wasn't allowed more than a few feet from one of them.
"An hour ago. Stopped to buy some local wears."
"You book a room?"
"Was hoping I could bunk with you."
"I have a cover," Sarah s aid shaking her head.
"Oh?" Carina beamed, leaning forward asking, "Who is he? Or are you back with Bryce? I heard he's back in the game."
Sarah shook her head and before answering spotted Chuck and Casey returning, so nodded toward them. Carina followed her gaze and found Casey in a sleeveless tee and shorts while Chuck wore a gray and blue stripped top and white slacks. He looked almost miserable as he wiped his pants self consciously, complaining about them to Casey.
"You're still with the geek?" Carina asked snapping her head back to Sarah.
"Nerd," Sarah corrected, rolling her eyes upon realizing what she'd done, "and yes."
"Is that so? And how are things with him?"
"He's the reason we're here," she said proudly. "The Milan gap, Gaez's suite, that was all him."
"Really?" Carina turned her gaze back on Chuck, who finally noticed her and looked panicked while Casey sneered. Sarah saw Chuck realize where Carina was sat and frown slightly, but he never said a word as he move to sit on the opposite side of the table. "Well look at you, Chuckles. Don't you look… delicious."
"I look like I should be driving a speed boat full of cocaine," he groused.
"You really don't like white pants, do you?" Sarah said with a laugh.
When Chuck shrugged Carina said, "Well I think you pull them of great Chucky. Maybe we can test that later in my room? Give Sarah the night off and see how you look without them."
"Ha," he exclaimed nervously. "Thanks but, no."
Her lascivious smile faded as she turned serious and asked, "You're sure it's Amy?"
Chuck reached into his pocket and handed her his phone, tapping a button to make the video on it play, showing Amy knocking on Gaez's door. When it opened her pinned her against the door frame, kissing her and all but dragging her into the room before throwing the door closed.
"That perky pussy."
Leaning toward Sarah he whispered, "I liked yours better."
Sarah smirked and winked his way as he leaned back into his seat, taking the phone when Carina handed it back. "We have a team on standby but Gaez has a meeting setup at a club tonight. We can slip in and grab him afterward so we can try to get a read on whoever he's meeting with," Sarah said, clearly avoiding saying they wanted to see if Chuck flashed.
They'd moved up to Chuck and Sarah's room, Carina noticing the separate beds and shaking her head before moving over to where they had setup their gear. It was an hour later Carina got a call and went down to bring Zondra up to their room.
"Hey, Casey, you think you…" Chuck looked from Casey to Sarah before sighing. "Look, I want to give you some space to talk with Zondra." He grabbed Casey's wrist, pulling him toward the door. "Let's go, Casey."
Sarah laughed as she watched Casey grumbling while being led through the door connecting their rooms by Chuck, who flashed her a smile she quickly returned before he closed it, leaving her alone in their room. When the hall door opened Carina led in the brunette Zondra who looked warily around the room while Carina pouted.
"Chuckles left?"
"He thought we should have some girl time," said Sarah.
Carina smirked, sincerely impressed. "Smart boy."
"He really the one who figured out Amy?" Zondra asked walking over to the table. Sarah nodded, bringing up the video on a laptop and letting it play. Once it stopped Zondra sneered. "That rat whore."
Sarah reached for her phone, quickly typing under the table as she nodded. Carina took the seat opposite Sarah. "I should have spotted it," the auburn-haired agent sighed. "I play that stupid act all the time, I just didn't think she'd be playing it on us."
"I don't think this means it was an act," Sarah said feeling her phone vibrate. "She'd have to be pretty dumb to get involved with him." Glancing down she saw Chuck had answered her text simply: Still liked yours best.
Carina caught Sarah's smile before pocketing her phone, but ignored it for now. "Once she's not as… perky, it wouldn't be long before she ended up just another body."
"Well we'll keep her from that," said Zondra. "Let her rot jail instead."
"Really?" Carina said with surprise, "I thought you'd be all for putting her down."
"Nah," Zondra shrugged. "Dying young and attractive is the kind of thing an idiot like her would prefer. Let her die old and ugly behind bars."
There was a long silence as Carina looked between the CIA agents avoiding each other's eyes until Sarah's phone audibly vibrated. Rolling her eyes, she pulled it from her pocket as the others shared a curious glance. Sarah shot a glare at the door connecting the rooms before setting her phone down. Before she could do anything, Carina grabbed it and laughed when she saw the message telling Sarah: Make up! You can do this!
Carina glanced back at the door, shaking her head before handing Sarah the phone back. "He's right."
With a sigh Sarah set it back on the table and turned to Zondra. "I'm sorry."
The brunette agent's stern expression softened. "Me too."
After another ten seconds of silence Sarah's phone buzzed again. Carina laughed while Sarah hung her head and Zondra arched her brow. Sarah picked the phone up and saw another text message from Chuck telling her: Tell her why it hurt. Why you're sorry. You can do it.
Setting the phone back down, Sarah looked to the door and yelled, "I thought you were giving us time!"
Six seconds later the phone buzzed: Sorry. Casey's listening and telling me basics. You're doing great!
Turning her phone over, Sarah looked at Zondra. After a breath she admitted, "You know how it is with us. We don't let people get close, but we did. When I thought it might be you I just… It was all made worse by the thought that it was you. That I'd let someone get close and they were the one who betrayed us." It was the same reason she was so pissed at Bryce the moment she heard he'd gone rogue. "Even after everything it still stung and I let it get to me."
Zondra was surprised by her open, sincere answer, as was Carina, who grinned as she knew the reason for the change. "It was the same for me in away," Zondra said quietly. "You were probably the closest person I had since joining up. When you accused me I was… I couldn't handle it. It felt like it's own kind of betrayal."
Carina was beaming as she watched the two smile at each other until she heard an odd thud from the neighboring room a split second before Sarah's phone buzzed. When Sarah turned it over she furrowed her brow and Carina sat up along with Zondra to look at the message: Now kisssgjshfs;';';
The door between the room was thrown open and Zondra started to reach for her gun as the women all turned to find Chuck standing there wide eyed. "Casey sent it! I swear!"
Behind him Casey was getting off the floor laughing while at the table Sarah sighed. "It's fine, Chuck. Thank you for the other ones though."
Zondra watched a brilliant smile take the tall man's lips. "So you're the one who figured everything out?"
"No, I-I just looked over everything and told Sarah what I noticed," he said shaking his head, grunting when Casey walked up behind him to push him into the room. After shooting a glare back at the NSA agent, Chuck quickly turned to Zondra and extended a hand. "Hi. I'm Chuck."
"Zondra," she said shaking his hand. The fact he'd been so quick to deny his achievement was surprising, especially since he did so while basically admitting to it. It was if he wasn't sure how this all worked. "Who are you with?"
"Special assignment," Casey answered for him. "He's technically private for now, but unofficially NSA and CIA."
"Which explains your presence, Major," Zondra nodded. "For a minute I thought it was 'cause Carina's here and you were looking to repeat Prague."
Casey grunted. "Does everyone know about that?"
"I don't," Chuck offered.
"Well let me tell you, Chuckles," Carina began until Casey fixed his glare on her.
"How about we go over the plan instead?" Sarah started to stand but instead turned to Chuck.
When he realized not only she was looking at him, but the others were as well, Chuck's eyes widened. "Me? Uh, okay. Well, uh, Gaez has a meeting at this club…"
Sarah watched Chuck as he spoke and felt a swell of pride deep in her chest fueled by something more. He'd reunited her and Zondra. His little messages had been adorable, but even more helpful. Each had been a little reminder that she wasn't alone in this. She wasn't alone in anything anymore, not really. Whatever happened she knew she had him.
AN:
Originally this was two chapters but they were way short, so they did the fusion dance and gave us this chapter. Hopefully it's not jarring.