CHAPTER 45

Chuck was stood at the register when he reached for Mauser's extended hand and glanced at the man's watch, feeling the pull off a flash focused on the watch face. He saw images of it on the wrist of a man over corpses, and then the face of Frank Mauser, Fulcrum agent.

Chuck let out a nervous laugh as their hands separated, and Mauser met his eyes.

"The moment you're face to face consider your cover gone," Quinn had told him days earlier.

"How?" asked Mauser.

"He's a hacker with incredible recall," Quinn said so quickly it had to be the truth, "and over a year ago cracked the private server in a Fulcrum substation and saw files on nearly every agent to date. It's possible he won't remember you, but even if he does you don't need to worry. He's not an agent, just some pathetic idiot in over his head."

Standing before Chuck in the Orange Orange, Mauser wore a sly smile. "I'm typically in charge of hostage negotiations, but as you might suspect some of us tend to look into old cases and I happened to look into one concerning you a few weeks back."

Chuck's wariness grew, laughing as he ran his hand over his forearm, carefully clicking the panic button on his watch. "I don't have a car to have parking tickets, so I'm guessing you're talking about Morgan Grimes' murder?"

"That's the one," he said with nod, crossing his arms. "I know it's been a long time but I looked into it and saw, well, my colleagues dropped the ball. I noticed a few things though, in particular that while many of the witness descriptions were varied there were aspects you described in every other description, which leads me to believe you're the one with a good sense of how he looked."

"That's true," he said carefully.

"Well I'm hoping maybe you'd go over it again with me, give me an idea exactly what happened. Maybe I can revive the case," he said setting a voice recorder on the counter.

"Okay?" Chuck blinked in confusion, wondering if maybe this was a coincidence. "Um, he was an older guy…"

"Get him to tell you everything he can," Quinn had told him. "As far as anyone knows he is the only link to Orion, and we need to figure out why that is. Why whoever killed his friend went after him and why some nobody like him matters to Orion."

"Can't you just get his description of the guy off the case notes?" Mauser asked looking from the file Quinn had placed in front of him to the man sat across from him.

"For all we know the notes are lies. Agents clearly got to the detectives early so I need to hear it from Bartowski's mouth."

After giving his description of Joe Chill and what happened Chuck shrugged. "That's about all I have."

"Are you sure?" asked Mauser. "What about Orion?" He glanced at Chuck and saw him arch his brow. Seeing suspicion in his eyes Mauser swiftly said, "There was a note that you said something about the men asking you about Orion. Does that mean something to you?"

"Uh, no," Chuck said after gulping. "Not really."

"Charles," Mauser said with a sigh, sliding his recorder aside and meeting Chuck's gaze as he said, "don't lie to me, please. If you do I'll have to kill your sister and her fiance."

Chuck felt like he was thrown into the arctic. "What?"

"If you're lying to me I'm going to drive to Westside Medical and shoot Ellie Bartowski in the throat" Mauser said evenly. "I'll let her drown to death in her own blood. So I'll repeat: Do not lie to me."

"Don't bother being coy," Quinn had told him, leaning forward in his chair with his hands steepling.

"Shouldn't I try to convince him I'm on his side," Mauser suggested waving a hand coaxingly. "Give some good cop before I go bad cop?"

"It won't matter," Quinn said shaking his head. "It should scare him, keep him focused. As long as you're not a complete waste of skin then you should be able to handle him. Threaten his sister, Ellie. She has a fiance, Devon Woodcomb. They're both doctors. He still lives with them, so doesn't have much more important than them."

"I don't know what else I can tell you," Chuck said pressing his hands into the counter. "I was out with a friend when the guys came up asking about someone I didn't know and killed my friend. I don't know who he was or who Orion was."

"You've hacked into a Fulcrum server," Mauser said shaking his head, "surely you've tried hacking into other databases. You're telling me you didn't look through them for this guy or Orion? You didn't find anything?"

"What" Chuck knit his brow. "Hacked into a Fulcrum server? What are you talking about?"

"Don't play coy with me, Charles," Mauser snapped, slamming his hand onto the counter. "There had to be a reason for them to think you were linked to Orion, so what was it?"

Chuck stared at the officer a moment, taking a breath to steel himself. "You really don't know who the killer was?" When Mauser cocked his head Chuck said, "I figured he was Fulcrum."

"I doubt it," shrugged Mauser. "Not unless he's one of the bosses, and I doubt they did anything themselves even back then."

"Look I-I never asked for any of this," Chuck said glancing toward the recorder, wondering if they were the only ones listening to this live. He had to be careful with what he said while also playing into what this guy thought. "I just-I don't know what to tell you. I don't know who Orion is and I don't know why they came after me."

That was when Mauser noticed a black Porsche come to a stop outside as Casey and Sarah hurried out of the car, each drawing pistols they kept low while moving toward the shop.

"These are his handlers," Quinn told him showing Mauser pictures of the two days earlier. "If they show up then abandon the first task. The moment you see either of them you are to complete the second task. Your primary mission."

"And that is?" asked Mauser, glancing at his leg.

Quinn answered, "Kill him."

Chuck saw Mauser's hand slide into his suit jacket and realized he was drawing his gun from a shoulder holster. Not having seen Sarah and Casey arrive, Chuck thought he was on his own or else he might have acted differently. He might have run into the back to hide instead of grabbing Mauser's wrist with both hands as he pulled the gun from beneath his jacket.

Both men grimaced and grunted, Chuck pushing his arms up, keeping the gun from passing his head as Mauser extended his arm. Sarah and Casey looked through the window to see Chuck fending off the man until Mauser's left hand slammed into his chest, making Chuck's grip slip just enough for him to forward the gun down toward his head.

Managing to keep it from aiming at his face, Chuck felt the barrel of the gun against his neck and pushed Mauser's arms slightly to his left. Sensing what was about to happen he even tried to throw his head back to avoid going deaf as Mauser pulled the trigger, the muzzle flash singeing his collar as Chuck stumbled back and fell to the floor.

Outside all the agents saw was Mauser fire and Chuck fall.

"No," she whispered, tears burning her eyes as she raised her gun and opened fire alongside a scowling Casey. The sound of shattering glass and gunfire echoed through the mall parking lots as people screamed and fled while the agents kept firing even as they moved toward the door, watching as their bullets tore apart the attacker's throat, head and torso, spraying his blood across the counter.

On the floor Chuck watched Mauser's body thrash before falling onto the counter, his blood splattering across the counter and walls as well as Chuck, who kicked off the counter to push himself toward the wall.

In unison both agents dropped their empty magazines and reloaded their guns a second before Sarah pushed past Casey to hurry into the building. "CHUCK!" She knocked aside chairs on her way to the counter, her heart thumping in her throat until she heard him.

"Sarah?"

Coming to a stop at the counter she saw Chuck sitting against the wall with his white pants stained red and only a muzzle burn on the collar of his shirt. A shaky breath rattled her as she pressed a hand against the counter, her shoulder slumping. Casey came up beside her, letting out a breath and shaking his head as he looked to the corpse slumped over the counter.

"Who was-"

"Fulcrum. LAPD. Lieutenant Mauser," Chuck answered quickly.

Casey nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket and stepping aside to call in for cleaners.

Chuck glanced to Sarah and saw her trembling slightly as she stared at the floor, so called out, "Casey he has a recorder on the counter. People might be listening. Where's the store jammer?"

"Behind the oranges," Casey called back.

Chuck got to his feet, shaking as he quickly pulled the bowls of oranges off the shelves behind the counter until he found one of the reflectors he made and quickly turned it on. With all the cameras and recorders in the store out of commission, Chuck turned and hurried to Sarah, throwing his arms around her.

Sarah gasped, wrapping her arms around him in return. After a moment she remembered where they were and was about to pull away, but then remembered Chuck had just blocked the cameras. Thankful he thought of that, thankful he was alive, she squeezed him as tight as she could, pressing her head against his chest, listening to his heart beating against it, telling her he was still alive.

"Sorry I'm probably messing your clothes," he said burying his face in her golden locks.

Hearing his voice shake made her breath hitch, but she broke it and shook her head. "It's fine. You're fine, that's all that matters."

"Cleaners are on their way," Casey said turning to them, frowning at the sight of the couple clinging to each other. He gave them a moment before saying quietly, "They'll be here soon"

Sarah took a breath and pulled herself off him. "You said he was Fulcrum? Why was he here?"

"He was a cop," Chuck said glancing to the body as Casey pulled him off the counter and knelt beside him to dig through his pockets. "He was asking about Morgan's case, about Orion. He said if I didn't tell him he'd kill Ellie and Devon. He said he found it looking through cold cases and saw they had a note saying the guy asked me about Orion."

"Must have felt like he hit the jackpot," Casey said pulling out his ID and shaking his head in disgust at the stained badge.

"I guess I blew our cover," Chuck said looking to the people gawking at them through the windows from across the mall.

"It's not your fault," Sarah said quickly. "You did the right thing activating your alarm."

"It doesn't matter," Casey said standing with a sigh. "We were out of here soon anyway."

They could hear sirens growing louder as Sarah looked to Chuck. "Let us do the talking."

He took her advice to heart, keeping his lips sealed as the cops arrived, then moments later agents arrived to take control of the scene which they claimed was involved in their case. Mauser would be outed as a corrupt cop linked to a cartel who had been taken out by the Piranha months earlier. Having fallen on hard times due to his addiction, he tried to force the store to pay for protection, but when the clerk was resistant he shot at him and was gunned down by his coworkers.

"What am I supposed to tell Ellie?" Chuck asked after they'd entered Casey's apartment an hour later. Chuck had thankfully changed out of his bloodied clothes for new ones Sarah went and bought him at a store in the mall.

"I thought she was read in on everything?" Casey asked making his way to the computer to arrange for the call with Beckman.

"She is," he nodded, "but she's also going to flip her lid when she finds out I was almost shot."

"She'll be glad for the almost," said Sarah.

Once Beckman connected and they told her what happened she let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead. "Are you absolutely sure he didn't know about the Intersect?"

"He didn't mention it even vaguely, General," Chuck told her, thinking back on all he said, then perking up. "Actually, he did mention something interesting."

"And that is?" she asked setting her hands on the desk as she looked into the camera.

"He said Fulcrum has leaders, not a leader. And that they've been around for a while, but don't do their own work. That means that Fulcrum isn't led by just one person but some kind of group. A group of people in some kind of position of power."

Beckman stared at him as did the agents, though their surprise was more apparent. "You got that from him speaking with a plural?"

"Well he also said the guy who killed Morgan probably wasn't with Fulcrum and that the leaders wouldn't have done it themselves. That means even if Fulcrum didn't exist then the people at the top now were active then, or at least he believed they were, and that they were important enough to have people murder for them. I think that means either there is a group of them in control or if there is one guy in charge he has some kind of council supporting him. Either way that means there has to be some way for them to communicate. It means there's a chance that once we find the right string to pull we can collapse it all if they're attached."

"Agents?"

"We weren't there to hear the conversation, General," Casey said shaking his head. "Would you like us to review the surveillance?"

Beckman shook her head and surprised them saying, "I'll trust Bartowski's judgment. But this is still a grim reminder that no matter how much we prepare we clearly can't account for the unexpected, whether they be some plan, coincidence or… dumb luck." She sighed, solemnly saying, "For the time being I'm putting Mr. Bartowski under twenty four hour surveillance. I want one of you with him at all times."

"What?" Chuck asked blinking, "Are you sure about that, General?"

For a fraction of a second Sarah was upset he would question it since it would give them time together, but then she realized he was questioning her being the one to suggest it. For the rest of the second she was glad he had been to one to question it, since it could help their cover of hesitance.

"I am," she said with a nod. "In fact I'm going to move forward negotiating the purchase of the apartment across from Major Casey's and have you move there as soon as possible."

The agents shared glances while Chuck looked out Casey's window. "Uh, General, would it be possible to secure that apartment for Ellie and give me Ellie's apartment? It's pretty big and she's getting married and starting a family-"

"No," Beckman said holding a hand up to silence him. "Once we purchase the apartment it will be renovated and fitted with every piece of security we can fit. Once it's completed you can move in. If I still deem is necessary you have round-the-clock security then Agent Walker will take the spare room. If nothing else that should quell your sister and her fiance's concerns over your love life."

Chuck's brow knit as internally he told himself, Cover, remember the cover. At that he looked to Sarah with a slightly put out expression before turning back to Beckman with a solemn nod. "Whatever you think is best, General. Um, if it's alright I'd like to request I not return to the Orange Orange and focus on the Volkoff stuff, if possible."

Beckman frowned, feeling sympathy for him. Not only had she just told him he had to spend more time with an agent he clearly was struggling with his feeling for, but he'd just been through a traumatic experience. "Of course. You'll receive a paid leave from the Orange Orange until your company offices open."

Her kind tone surprise them all. "Thank you, General. Hopefully I'll find something that can give us a more solid target for Volkoff."

"As of now you're all on paid leave from the Orange Orange," she said looking to the agents.

After she ended the call, Casey turned to Chuck and Sarah with a teasing smile, but remained silent. Sarah had head gaze low in thought before a smile touched her lips and she looked over, surprised to find Chuck staring at the ground in confusion.

It didn't fit. The pattern was always high low with the low being lower than the high, but that wasn't happening. Was him seeing Mauser killed supposed to be the low? Because he found that while it was definitely creepy and he still wanted to take a long shower even after having scrubbed himself off in the Orange Orange bathroom, he didn't feel bad about it. The guy had tried to kill him and died for it. So where was the drop? Why was the rise coming so soon? With a smile crossing his lips he realized the pattern was finally breaking.

"I guess I'll have good news to tell her too," Chuck said with a laugh.

"We'll hold off on saying I'm moving in until we know for sure," Sarah cautioned.

"Yeah, of course," he said quickly, though she couldn't get a read on his tone. Something felt off but she couldn't be sure. "If it's okay I'm going to take a long shower. I feel like I still have blood on me."

Sarah followed him to the door, stopping him before he could open it and asking quietly, "Are you okay?"

Chuck turned to her and nodded. "Yeah," he said with a sincere nod. "I-I thought I might not be but I think I am. I just… I keep feeling like I have blood on me, and that's making me think of Morgan. Once I shower I should be fine."

Sarah glanced toward Casey sat at his computer looking into Mauser before smirking to Chuck. "Why don't I help you get the hard to reach spots?"

With a smirk Chuck nodded. "I'd like that."

While they walked across the courtyard together, Quinn sat alone in a hotel room connecting a camera to one of his laptops. He scrubbed through the footage, coming to the section where the agents arrived on the scene and opened fire on the yogurt shop. His brow knit, tilting his head watching them open fire on the Fulcrum agent through the window.

Watching Mauser's corpse be wheeled out of the building brought a smile to Quinn's face, picking up his secure phone and bringing up his contact list, filled with not only Fulcrum agents under him but those above him. As expected not only did they have an agent in the LAPD, but his position made him important enough to garner contact with those in authority, which gave him access to them.

Turning to the other laptop he brought up a bank page and swiftly began typing information, bringing up the account of Frank Mauser. Not his main account with his pay from the CIA and LAPD, but his private one with all the funds from Fulcrum, stolen from drug dealers, and his few private interests. The one Quinn drained of it's near two million dollars before doing his best to wipe the transaction and begin the process of transferring the money into his own account.

"Thank you, Frank," he said with a chuckle. "From the ashes of your failure… Quinn Industries is born."

AN:

With the Buy More largely gone, the whole S2 Christmas episode is basically wiped out leaving all its pieces open for other aspects. Looking back at it there isn't really much of import that happens about the episode as a whole, but it's full of a bunch of little aspects resonate. The charm bracelet is the obvious one, even if it doesn't appear much. And though Mauser's death plays into another episode, it ultimately isn't important.

Chuck being scared of Sarah for killing Mauser is a pretty stupid take on things, I think. Not only does he know she is a killer, he's flashed on her killing people two different times, each time with him seeing it happen. If anything he should maybe be worried she'd be angry at him because he didn't lie about where Bryce was or how Bryce gave him a copy of the Intersect or anything but telling Mauser he was the Intersect.

The only thing that matters beyond the bracelet might be that Sarah lies to him, which isn't tied to Mauser. It's a device that can be transferred to any topic at any time. So I decided early on to have Mauser used by Quinn, using him asa source for Quinn's association to Fulcrum and The Ring. It also gave a fake out death moment since there's also no longer a herder to have blow up.

Quinn lies about what Chuck is to avoid complications since I think it's fairly clear he's using Mauser as a means to an end, and a disposable one. Why is Mauser listening to him? Doesn't really matter. If it bugs you then take the usual wizard did it and replace that with money and guns.