CHAPTER 42

Two weeks after canceling their plan to run Chuck and Sarah met with Casey to go over both the information he'd gathered on Volkoff.

"I think we have two options here," Casey said looking over the files they'd gone through. "First is you do this as the Piranha like you want. He hands over the info." He pointed to a folder marked Electronics Shipment, "This one is close to us, so there's a good chance we'll pick it up anyway and get to work on it. Piranha gets credit for bust, we do the work, usual."

"And the second option?" asked Sarah, leaning back in her chair with her arms crossed while Chuck sat to her right holding the edge of the table.

"We keep the Piranha out of it," Casey said looking to Chuck, "which I think is the best option for all of us, but you in particular."

"What?" Chuck blinked. "But this is supposed to be his big fish. His big get."

"It still can be, but you deserve the credit," Casey said, adding somberly, "and right now you need it."

"Why?" asked Chuck.

"Because this has nothing to do with a flash," Casey said motioning to the pages on the table. "We can tell them you looked into him on your own after I mentioned him in passing or something. We can still have the Piranha join in later if you really want him attached to this, but I think having you be the one who starts this all is key. Whenever they finish another Intersect we'll have proof that not only are you useful without the Intersect, but you've done better than every agent across three dozen countries and let us land a hit on the commie son of a bitch. All without a flash."

Sarah beamed hearing Casey's argument was focused on helping Chuck. "Thank you, Casey," she said, earning a quick nod from him before she looked to Chuck. "I agree him."

They saw Chuck's shoulder deflate a little, sinking back into his chair. "I guess I just figured this would be the Piranha's big one, not mine."

"Chuck, sweetie," she said reaching over to squeeze his shoulder, "I hate to break this to you… but you're the Piranha."

Chuck rolled his eyes while Casey snickered. "I know, I just… It feels different. He's separate from me in a lot of ways. He's not a screw up like I am, you know? He doesn't have to worry about all my stuff, he can just be a vigilante. There's… There's a reason for a time I thought it was a bit like Batman. The Piranha is this symbol, he's more than me. He's about taking from bad guys and helping people with it."

"I get that, Chuck," Casey said to his surprise. "But the things is the Piranha doesn't matter."

Chuck bristled. "What?"

"You're important, Moron," said Casey. "You need the credit more than him, and you deserve it. The whole reason you have this inflated idea of the Piranha's importance is because that was the only way you could get any credit, but that's not the case anymore. You can take the credit now without worrying about getting hunted for it. You're our analyst. Maybe not officially, but you are, which means you have access to databases and we'll overlook you slipping into the ones you don't." Both men met the eyes of the other as Casey said firmly, "You're not alone anymore, Chuck."

Sarah reached over to squeeze his hand in support of Casey's statement, and after a quick glance to her Chuck gave a relenting nod. "Okay. Let's do it that way."

An hour later Beckman was on the screen staring at her monitor with her brow furrowed. "What exactly am I looking at?"

"A manifest for a ship from a Volkoff Industries subsidiary to a company in Seattle. You'll notice it's mostly pretty boring stuff except for where I've highlighted the four containers marked only as non-perishables. Then everything but those packages is marked as having been transferred to a delivery company who then delivered two hundred thirty four packages to a single cul-de-sac, most of them marked as fragile electronics. So either they neighborhood is preparing for the lan party of the century or they're building something fairly massive with Volkoff tech."

"And when did you flash on this?" Beckman asked looking over the file.

"I didn't."

Beckman looked up suddenly. "Excuse me?"

"I didn't flash, ma'am. I just did a search on a bunch of information from Volkoff's companies and when I was going over a shipment list I noticed the discrepancy. When I dug a bit deeper I found the records showing all the contents from the other shipments recorded except for the non-perishable containers, which weren't accounted for beyond a marker for an unspecified amount of machine parts. But they weren't recorded as transferred to the delivery company either. Everything else from the shipments was except for them, but the electronics shipped suddenly appeared out of nowhere."

"You found this on your own?" she asked skeptically.

"Casey mentioned Volkoff was one of the most wanted arms dealers in the world. When we were off from the Orange Orange I didn't have much to do so I looked into him."

"So you just decided to do a search of all his shipment manifests?"

"It wasn't too hard," Chuck said with a shrug. "Just ran a couple automated searches to look for gaps and then reviewed them. This is just the first one I got to that seemed significant. Even if it wasn't Volkoff tech, anyone ordering that many electronics is either opening up a store or up to no good. And I doubt they're opening a Buy More in the middle of a cul-de-sac."

Beckman stared at him for a few seconds, searching his face before she sighed and looked back to the file. "This is suspicious, but without knowing what was shipped we have no idea what they're building. We'll secure a house if can. Agent Walker, you and Mr. Bartowski will pose as married couple moving into the neighborhood. Agent Casey, you can monitor them while posing as a cable company employee."

"Uh, ma'am," Chuck said raising his hand.

After staring at him a moment she raised her brow when he didn't speak, apparently waiting on her to call on him. Rolling her eyes she said, "Yes, Mr. Bartowski."

"Yeah, wouldn't it be better to have Casey tied to us more directly? While cable repair may work initially, if this last more than a day he'd stand out." He looked to the others, who nodded in agreement.

"That's a fair point, I suppose," Beckman conceded.

"Maybe he could be Sarah's brother as well?" He looked between the two continuing, "I don't think it's too weird to have him come around a bunch that way. Maybe he keeps coming around the neighborhood during his breaks to visit her, stops by for meals after work, stuff like that. He could be an army vet having trouble getting back into a normal life and relying on his sister for support. It could us extra sympathy from the neighbors and give him a reason to hang around."

"That… is what we'll do," Beckman said after a brief pause. Then to his surprise a small smile appeared on her lips. "I'm glad to see your test results weren't a fluke."

"Thank you, General," he said with a nod.

"We'll secure housing within the week and have the standards prepared for the identities. I assume you'll stick to the Carmichaels?"

"Yes, Ma'am," Sarah said with a nod.

"Casey?" Beckman asked.

"I don't care," he said with a shrug.

"John Riker," Chuck said with a grin. He noticed that while Beckman and Casey seemed confused, Sarah tensed and grimaced, then swiftly hid it behind a stoic mask.

"Why that name?" Sarah asked evenly.

"It's from Star Trek," he answered with a shrug. "TNG, specifically. I thought about Picard but Casey's not really a Picard type. Riker's relatively more of a badass and closer to Casey's look than Patrick Stewart."

"It's fine by me," Casey concluded with a shrug.

"Then we'll get it done." Looking to them, Beckman settled her gaze on Chuck with a nod. "Good work, team." Glancing at another file she continued, "I should also let you know construction is nearly complete on your office. You should be up and running in your new cover within the month, so you won't have much longer at the Orange Orange."

"That's great," said Chuck, and while Casey vaguely shrugged in agreement Sarah had maintained her stoic expression even as the call ended and they went about clearing up.

After digging around Casey brought over a pair of gold rings he held up with a smirk. "Looks like it's a shotgun wedding."

Chuck shook his head while Sarah just took the ring and pocketed it. It was hard to miss her tenseness as she departed, and them not being in his department meant no chance to ask about it or even kiss goodbye, but he knew the next day was their sleepover.

It had been days after Graham's death when Ellie stopped Sarah in the courtyard to ask if she wasn't attracted to Chuck. Then after Sarah hinted at potential sleepovers Ellie went into business for herself and mentioned Devon's suggestion that she move in with him, saying it would help them get closer. "And it doesn't mean you have to rush things," she'd said motioning to her apartment, "Devon and I lived together a long time with Chuck and we only just got engaged."

He'd arranged it so their sleepover would be on a night Ellie and Devon worked the late shift through the morning. "That way we can let them think whatever they need to think happened happened," Chuck had said when they discussed it in the courtyard days after her talk with Ellie.

The doctors were busy preparing for work while he'd gone about preparing for his night with Sarah. He'd briefly considered going all out like he'd told Devon to when he asked Chuck for advice, but he knew there was already an inherent pressure on them because it was all planned. So his task for the night was to minimize that. Having her walk into the apartment filled with flowers and a trail off candles leading to the bedroom would be a bit much. The only flowers he'd prepared were gardenias he put on the table.

He'd gotten Quantum of Solace which they could discuss the spy aspects of, but also because it wasn't a movie he cared if they watched. If anything it being lack luster might help lead to them otherwise occupying themselves. He'd done all he could think of to make sure things for a comfortable night in preparing for as much as he could.

It wasn't too long after Ellie and Devon left that she knocked and he checked all the food before rushing over to answer the door. Opening it he found her wearing a black skirt, blue button blouse and genial smile. Waving her inside he put on an apathetic expression, letting her walk inside before closing the door.

Sarah set her overnight bag by the couch, turning to him as he walked over and she met him with a kiss. She was careful not to get lost in it though, pressing a hand to his chest and pulling herself back. "You're still cooking?"

"I put everything low," he assured, but before he could sweep in to capture her lips again she shook her head.

"The sooner we eat the sooner we can relax."

Chuck tilted his head to consider it, concluding she was right and stepping back. "We get married and all the romance dies, huh?"he said with a dramatic sigh.

Sarah smiled, but her concern that he might be sincere kept her from laughing. "What do you mean?"

"I thought that purple thing was what girlfriends wore to seduce their boyfriends," he said with a teasing smile, "but you show up without it, don't want to kiss me." He concluded with a playful pout, "I see how it is."

"I didn't show up like that because unless your sister and Awesome snuck out anyone who watches the footage would know they're gone. Me showing up like that with just you here would be obvious," he pointed out, following him.

He stopped by the table, picking one of the gardenias and handing it to her with a smile. Taking it she sniffed the petals and watched him turn to continue cooking, suddenly wishing she had showed up in one of the negligees she had in her bag.

While it may not have been the best food she ever had she enjoyed it immensely because of who made it. After they finished they moved onto the couch where he put in a Bond movie and at first she'd rolled her eyes, but he used it as a springboard to ask her questions about the spy world, and then halfway through they had ended up on top of each other making out until the credits rolled.

Pulling themselves apart, Chuck shut the movie off. "Hey can I ask you something?" He waited half a second before adding, "Besides that."

Watching him put the disc away she nodded, heading over to her bag she moved to the dining room table after their meal. "Of course."

"The other day when we were talking about our next mission with Beckman I noticed you got all tense and quiet," he said shutting the TV down.

Frowning she asked, "Was I?" She knew she had clammed up but couldn't help it.

"A bit," he said sensing her reluctance. "I get it though. This stuff is fast. I'm not getting any idea or anything. I might joke about it but I'm not taking it serious or anything, so you don't have to worry about it."

Sarah blinked in confusion watching him walk toward the table. "What are you talking about?"

"I know we're not really married or anything," he chuckled. She blinked again as he looked to her with a solemn smile. "I get that it freaks you out. First Ellie and Awesome talking about moving in together and then this. I just want you to know you don't have to worry about anything with me. I'm reluctant to tell Ellie about the mission because I know how she'll react, but I'm not going to jump to conclusions like she will, so you don't need to worry."

Feeling the tension fade from her body let her smile. "I'm not worried about the mission, Chuck. Honestly, I'm looking forward to it."

"I guess it could mean nights like this the whole time," he said turning off the oven. Thinking back he turned to her asking, "Was it the name I chose for Casey?" Her reaction made it clear that was it.

"It doesn't matter," she said sharply.

"Bad ex?" He offered hoping to lighten the mood, but when he saw her glower at him he held up a hand. "I guess not."

There went the mood, and both realized it.

Sarah sighed, looking at her bag, mentally pushing the negligees aside. She'd killed the mood so it would just feel odd now.

Chuck was ready for this though. It seemed inevitable something would go wrong to sour the mood, so after a breath he asked, "How about a game?"

"What kind of game?" she asked warily.

"Video," he said with a smirk. "Movie lessons are simple, but an education in games is more difficult. Besides, it's been years since I've been able to sit with someone and play a game. We'll start with the classics, so nothing too complex or frustrating."

By the time she came out of the bathroom in a tank top and shorts she found Chuck sat on the foot of his bed with Super Mario World on the television. "You can be Mario," he said handing her the first controller. A little part of her noticed as they started that he'd given her control of the red character and taken the green for himself, reminding her how she'd made sure nothing she brought had red on it.

At first he'd been right that is wasn't too frustrating, not until she missed a jump at the first boss and fell off the boat instead of killing a little dinosaur turtle monster, and Chuck came along with his tall green sprite and beat it with ease. Sarah grunted watching him give a little cheer.

"Just means I'm the first to beat a level on the next island," Sarah said once she had control again. That was also when she started making sure to kill every enemy and gather coins while he seemed to skip them, pushing her points above his.

But then while she moved to the level with the next boss he went back and unlocked some secret path, which lead him to a star. She kept going forward into the cave section while he played a bunch of odd levels, doing tricks and finding secret paths to unlock more of the path until suddenly his character came out of a pipe in front of a large castle with lightning striking over it.

"Last level," he told her with a smirk.

"That's cheating," she said, but spent fifteen seconds guiding her character all the way back to follow his path and make an attempt at the last level. She made it through a single door before a misplaced jump lead to Mario's spiky death and she pouted watching Chuck take his turn.

Having played the game countless times over the years he knew the route he preferred, the one he thought easiest, but knew that if he told her she would avoid it. So he just took it, let her see which doors he chose. He'd been planning on dying against the boss so she could beat it, but then died in the room before him. With a smile he set his controller down and leaned back, watching her as she played through the last level on her own.

It was amusing watching this living Valkyrie focus so hard on a game, the controller creaking when she nearly missed a jump. He could hear her groan when she missed hitting Bowser, the final boss, her brow knit until she let out a laugh hearing him wail.

"She looks like you but acts like me," he said when Princess Peach appeared waving her arms in fear yelling for help.

"Don't make me laugh," she said while doing just that, leaning over to bounce her shoulder against his.

He watched her, sparing brief glances at the screen only to gauge her progress. When he heard Bowsers final wail she saw a victorious smirk cross her lips before stretching as she realized she'd won, thus beating the game and Chuck as she exclaimed, "HA!"

When she turned to him for a chance to gloat, she found him smiling at her. There was pride there, but she saw mostly warmth that reached out to fill her own smile. Setting her controller down as the ending medley played and Mario lead Yoshi and Peace across the screen, Sarah leaned over to kiss him. It was filled with affection and thanks for him taking her mind off the whole Ryker thing without giving her a hard time about it. She'd ruined the mood but he hadn't let it ruin their night together, and just like he'd told her weeks ago he was happy just ti watch movies, convince her to play a game and lay with her in her arms.

They kept the kiss sweet, gently stroking his cheek as she pulled away before he stood and went about turning off the game. He'd been putting the controllers away when he heard her get out of bed and looked over to watch her slide out of her pajama shorts, leaving her in lacy black underwear before undoing her bra and pulling it from her top a moment later.

When her eyes rose toward him and caught him looking, he swiftly looked away, leaving her grinning as she raised the blanket and slid under it. Once he finished, Chuck walked to his side of the bed, ignoring Sarah's grin as she watched him slid his pajama bottoms down ans slide under the blanket in his boxers and undershirt.

"Why are you all the way over there, Chuck?" she asked watching him settle into the edge of the bed.

"Why are you all the way over there?" he asked her, mirroring her position on his side.

"You know I won the game-"

"Beat the game," he quickly corrected.

"-so I expect some kind of reward," she said sliding forward slightly.

"Oh?" Chuckling, he slid forward as well, letting his hand slide to her waist.

"Mmhmm," she nodded, slithering toward the center of the bed.

"And what kind of reward are you expecting?" He shimmied closer, his hand wrapping around her back as she did the same to him.

"I think the princess should get a kiss."

"Which one of us is the princess?" He asked just before she closed the distance between them, pressing her body against his as her lips met his.

With both of them smirking through the kiss, it didn't last long, but was quickly followed up by another quicker one before Sarah pushed Chuck onto his back. He slipped his arm around her as she rolled onto him, settling her head against his shoulder and her arms around him while her left leg slid between his. The kiss he placed on her forehead as she closed her eyes and basked in the warm emanating from him destroyed her plot to guide his hands. Instead she found herself shifting against him, sighing as his arms tightened around her and they stayed intertwined, listening to his heartbeat into sleep took her.

Forty two miles a door opened as after a long day at the precinct LAPD Lieutenant Frank Mauser entered his living room only to have the lights turn on before he flicked the switch.

From behind him a voice greeted, "Hello, Frank."

With a sneer Frank swiftly reached for the gun holstered beneath his arm only to have the lamp in front of him explode from a gunshot.

"Don't bother," said the man behind him.

Mauser licked his teeth and sighed, tossing the gun down. "What is this about?"

"Fulcrum."

Mauser's eyes widened, leaving him thankful he wasn't facing the shooter. "Never heard of 'em."

"Funny since they recruited you last year. But don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you."

"No?" Mauser asked, hearing him rise from the recliner and walk around him just as Mauser turned to look at the man.

"No," Quinn said with a smirk, "I have information I'd like to share, and you're the best man for a job I have in mind."

AN:

Thus begins the suburbs. As I said in a previous AN I originally had this as the kind of climax for the angsty relationship arc, but I always had it as the first stab at Volkoff. It's fun having storylines intersect (heh) like Bulsara and Gaez, so having Volkoff be the one who supplied Fulcrum the Intersect parts seemed sensible. I think it still works as a kind of climax or at least lead into the climax of what would probably be around where a longer season one would end.

Speedruns of Super Mario World without glitches were at about 16 minutes last I checked, so I didn't think it would be too outlandish for them to complete it in an hour or two with Chuck knowing about star roads and stuff.

Is there any stuff from different episodes you'd like to see used? Characters or story aspects, whatever.

I have plans for most of the stuff mentioned like Verbanski, The Ring, The Elders, Volkoff, Ryker and the things that go with them like Emma and Molly, Mary, Vivian, Agent X and Decker's team, and I've got loose ideas for Shaw, Cole, Jill, Forrest, Rafe Gruber, Jack Burton, Sarah's reunion, Ellie's wedding, etc. though they might change or just fall through. I've also got things planned with objects and locations like Orion's wrist computer and Orion's underground facility.

Many, or I guess most, of them are altered from canon slightly, at least in how they are introduced if not their role and function (The Ring and Elders are getting overhauls) and I have some characters in mind I'd like to reintroduce. Again, OCs are kept to a minimum in favor of canon characters either returning or having their roles shifted. But if there's something specific you want to see included like you really think Fatima Tazi would add to the story somehow, or want to make sure I don't miss Sydney Price, feel free to let me know. I can't promise I'll use them, but maybe you'll remind me of something I forgot or it will spark an idea.