Chapter 5: Mission
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please note that I do not own any of the characters in this story.
John Casey had cut ties with the NSA and Team Bartowski to find Gertrude Verbanski, all because he had finally realized how he felt about her. After all, if there was one thing he had learned from Chuck, it was to treasure the people you love above all else. Now that Casey had found Gertrude and told her how he felt, they were staying together in a hotel in Vegas. They laid low, not letting anyone know of their location, because the other thing he had learned from his experiences with Chuck was that running away from government service was next to impossible, which is exactly what he was trying to do with Gertrude.
Of course, there was more than logistical difficulty involved with hiding from the government. After all, Casey and Gertrude both understood that being spies was intertwined with their identities. It wasn't something that either one of them would just be able to let go of. But for a small period of time, John Casey tried to deny and set aside that part of his life. A part of him wanted to just run away from all the duties and responsibilities the government had called him to and just worry about the people he cared about. After all, since he was no longer a part of the NSA, he should have the freedom to do that. But it was something else that was keeping him from letting go; a sense of duty to his country.
Because of this, he had mixed emotions when he received an email from General Beckman with the subject line reading: possible mission, respond ASAP. He begrudgingly read the email as he grunted to himself about the government not being able to leave him alone. It said:
Mr. Casey,
I have a proposition for a mission I would like you and Ms. Verbanski to consider. I will contact you in 24 hrs. through video feed with details of the mission. Please be ready.
General Diane Beckman
"What's wrong, John?" Gertrude asked him as she walked into the living room of their hotel room, where he was sitting on the couch. She had seen the expression on his face and heard the grunt, so she figured something must be wrong.
"It's General Beckman." he responded grumpily. "She wants to have a video conference with us in 24 hrs. Says she got a mission to discuss with us."
"Hmmm." she said, clearly intrigued as she sat down on the couch next to him. "Sounds interesting."
Casey just grunted at her. She, however, had something to say.
"What? Aren't you at least curious about this mission? After all, this could be an exciting adventure. And besides, what did you expect to do without a mission? I don't exactly see a government-trained agent and assassin like you becoming domestic. I mean, come on, you aren't Chuck Bartowski."
"That's not the point. I cut ties with the government, and I planned on actually focusing on the people in my life for once. Plus, how on earth did she even find us?
"John, she's a general of the United States government. Of course she was able to find us. And besides, are you really ready to be done with the government? Because when I look at you I see a spy who is completely dedicated to his country. Dedication like that doesn't just disappear overnight. Plus, didn't you say General Beckman wants to talk to both of us? Sounds to me like she is looking for a pair of spies, and we may just fit her bill. Doing what you love with the woman you love…and for the country you love. Isn't that what you want?"
Casey was quiet for a minute, but he finally responded.
"Fine. We'll talk to Beckman, and maybe I'll consider her mission."
"I knew you see things my way." she said with a smile as she cuddled closer to him. And it was only by her persuasion that 24 hours later they sat in the same hotel room with his computer open, waiting for a video conference call to come in from General Beckman. It took a few minutes, but finally a video call came through. Casey clicked to answer the call, and the face of General Beckman popped up onto the screen.
"Good evening, Mr. Casey and Ms. Verbanski. I assume you got my message."
"Yes General." Gertrude replied assertively. "What kind of proposition do you have for us?"
General Beckman paused for a moment to collect her thoughts, and then began to explain the details.
"We have a mission that needs the expertise and position that few people have. Mr. Casey, you are one of those people. The government may have cut ties with you in the past…but after much reconsideration, people higher up are starting to regret that decision. Casey, you are a valuable asset to our country. I had to work to convince some people higher up, but we have come to a decision that we need you back on our side."
"Thank you, General." Casey said with a small smile that showed he wasn't ready to be done with the NSA like he thought he was. "Now tell me about this mission."
"Our intelligence has recently picked up on activity by the Ring. Casey, I know you are familiar with the Ring from your work with Agents Walker and Bartowski. Ms. Verbanski, can I assume that you have knowledge of the Ring as well?"
"I haven't worked with them directly, but I have heard of them." Gertrude replied.
"Good. Although we are fairly certain their presence has been wiped out in America thanks to the efforts of Team Bartowski, we know that they are currently operating in other countries, and we assume they plan to come back to our country. We want to take their operation down before that happens, which is where you two come in."
"I'm not sure I follow, General…what do you want us to do with a group of Ring foreigners?" Casey asked somewhat bluntly.
"You see, Casey, you are in a unique position where it appears that you want nothing more to do with our government. We believe that you and Verbanski could infiltrate their operation as two former U.S. spies who are looking to turn against our government."
"So, are you saying you want us to take undercover identities?" Verbanski asked. "Because I'm not really sure if that is our style of work. Wouldn't it just be simpler to just take them out rather than go undercover?"
"Actually, there would be no undercover identities in this mission. After all, both you and Casey have a reputation, so any cover would be discovered quickly. Instead, you'll go as yourselves. Casey, you will have to convince them that after losing your status as Colonel, you want revenge against the United States."
"Hhmm." Casey replied with a small grunt.
"So where do I fit it, General?" Gertrude asked, wanting to be certain that she would be involved as well.
"You will be Casey's partner on the mission, and will provide more authenticity to his cover. After all, since you have worked as a leader of a freelance spy organization, your loyalties to the U.S. will seem much smaller. Combining that factor with yours and Casey's relationship, you should be able to convince them that you are both traitors. Once you have infiltrated their agency, you will be able to take them out after some time. After all, you both have the skills necessary to do so."
"It's about time we get to the good stuff. Can't have a good spy mission without taking out somebody. It sounds like an interesting mission." Casey replied.
"I knew you would be interested. So, will you accept the mission?" Beckman said, clearly hoping that Casey and Gertrude would say yes.
Gertrude looked at him as Beckman asked this, and Casey gave his answer.
"I will. But only if some provisions are met."
"Ok…" Beckman replied slowly. What kind of provisions?"
"First off, I don't want Chuck or Sarah involved in this mission at all." General Beckman looked surprised as he said this, but he continued anyway. "They finally managed to get away from the spy life. Plus, with all that they are going through, undercover work is that last thing they need. Plus, I don't want Bartowski with a gun anywhere near me." As he said this, he shuddered, remembering the time when Chuck had accidently shot down the helicopter Casey and his team were flying in.
"I agree with you on those points…Sarah and Chuck should be left alone. And Chuck never was good with a firearm." General Beckman told him. "Continue."
"Also, I want to be able to keep in contact with my daughter while I'm undercover." As he said this, both Gertrude and Beckman looked shocked.
"Mr. Casey, do you understand the risks that poses to the mission?" General Beckman asked him sternly.
"I do." He replied with a look of determination in his eyes. "But I also know how important family is. That's something I learned while being on a team with Bartowski for far too long."
At this point, the General rolled her eyes, but she smiled at the same time. "I suppose you are right. But how will we make that work without exposing your cover?"
"Simple. A letter drop system. I'll write letters to her, and they will be sent to a cover address, where they will then be given to Alex through a location drop. That way, the communication is untraceable to my name or a specific place. Of course, I'll still expect you to put Alex on constant surveillance. Just to keep an eye on her since I can't."
"Casey, do you realize how many government resources that will take?" Beckman asked him firmly. "I'm not sure that higher-up officials will be ok with that."
"They will be if they really believe that Casey is the great asset you said he was." Gertrude chimed in, quickly getting over her shock in order to back Casey up.
"Excellent point, Ms. Verbanski." Beckman said in a more gentle tone. "Believe me, I will do my best to make sure your requests are accepted. In the meantime, it is safe to assume that they will agree to your conditions, so expect to begin your mission very soon. I hear Germany is nice this time of year."
"Germany?" Casey asked. "Darn…I was hoping I'd get to knock off some Russians."
"All in good time, John." Gertrude told him with a smile. "General, I'm looking forward to working with you on this mission.
"I'm glad you two are willing to work with us." Beckman replied professionally, but with an excited tone in her voice. "Expect to hear from me soon with more details of the mission." Then, just like that, her face disappeared from her screen.
"Mmmm…" Gertrude said as she approached Casey. "See I told you. A dangerous mission, taking out bad guys, and all with the woman you love. I told you this would be a good opportunity." Casey then took her into is his arms, and they kissed.
However, as they were kissing, Casey wasn't thinking about how excited he was about the mission, or how Gertrude had been right all along.
Instead, he was thinking about what his daughter Alex would say when he told her that he was leaving indefinitely on yet another dangerous spy mission, just after he had come back into her life.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi everyone! Sorry that it has taken me so long to post this chapter. I have had a rough draft typed up for a couple weeks, but with all of the homework I had, I only got around to proof-reading it and finishing it today. But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about this story, and I will keep working on it. I hope you enjoy this chapter…and please keep posting reviews!