A/N: Hello everyone…happy Friday…or whatever day you are enjoying while reading this…unless it's a Tuesday…never liked Tuesdays…or the letter R…or the number seventeen…don't know why…part of the puzzle, I guess…I guess it's ok if you like those things…I promise not to judge…where was I?…oh yeah, hope you like this chapter…a little short but can't be helped…well it could be but I'm just not in the mood…well, that's not true…I'm not saying I'm in the mood, I'm just saying…thanks…thanks for your continued tolerance and support…I really have little control over my actions…I just hope some of you get a smile from these strings of letters and pauses…and, of course, I'll beg for your approval…made evident by your REVIEWS…HINT HINT…sorry, I know I shouldn't shout but…I couldn't help it…the weekend is here…whoopee. JT
Beta less…yup, that's this story…and almost rudderless…just me floundering around, hoping for guidance…and talent…that'd be nice. Also, contrary to some vile rumors floating around…I don't…at this moment…own anything in the Chuckverse…I also regularly fail to make any money from my efforts here…don't look so surprised…it seems that I really am just another pretty face…throwing it on the street for nothing…tears, doesn't that just figure…sometimes I just feel so cheap…well, most times, actually.
Thanks Jim. It really is fun.
Sarah Vs. The Strong Swimmer Chapter 19
Chuck and Sarah watched Major John Casey as he struggled to keep a straight face. The video playing on the laptop had finished a couple of minutes ago and they waited for Casey's reaction. The big man had been silent since the video had begun, the only outward sign that it had affected him at all had been a single tear that had rolled done his cheek.
"I should kill you, Bartowski" he finally said as his body started to shake. Reaching up, he wiped the tear from his cheek before pushing the chair he was seated in away from the table. "If you ever do that to me again, I'll…I'll…" Casey started before he ground to a stop and snorted, twice, before he began braying like a drunken mule. The sound of his laughter pushed Chuck and Sarah over the edge and they both dissolved into hysterical laughter of their own.
Chuck was the first who noticed it…something was missing. Looking around, he finally realized what wasn't happening…Morgan wasn't laughing…or even smiling. Knowing the little man like he did, he couldn't believe that his oldest friend was beside himself in hysterics. He'd taken a seat at the far end of the table and sat with his head in his hands...looking about as far from happy as a person could look.
"Morgan…little buddy" Chuck said, suddenly concerned. "What's wrong? You can't tell me that's not one of the funniest things you've ever seen. So, what gives?"
Sarah and Casey had both caught on and had turned there attention to Morgan…Sarah, because she actually cared and Casey…well, he saw it as an opportunity to regain some degree of control over himself.
"So…are you guys gonna fire me so you can make room for your new employees?"
he asked, his question coming from so far out of left field that Chuck was rendered speechless. Sarah stepped in, asking the question that Chuck seemed unable to voice.
"What the hell are you talking about, Morgan? Why would we fire you? You're our best…ok, you're our only employee…but why would we fire you?"
"Well…I saw the bouquet and…I see the contracts, they're sitting right there" he said as he pointed to the stack of papers sitting in the middle of the table. "I put two and two together…"
Chuck and Sarah sat, dumbfounded, not able to say anything. Casey surprised them both when he spoke up. "Grimes…you didn't put anything together, you moron. Me, I'd fire you but Bartowski here, and the future Mrs. Bartowski…for some reason, they seem to be attached to you…I really hope that their obvious mental problems aren't passed on to the innocent little nerdlings that Walker's currently ferrying around…and I doubt they'd replace you with the doofus twins…although, the aforementioned mental problems mean anything might happen."
Chuck and Sarah sat in shock…neither one of them could believe how long or how, even stranger, nice, Casey's speech had been. Even Morgan seemed shocked by the big man's eloquence.
"Now, we won't speak about what I just said, ever again…understood?" Everyone at the table merely shook their heads in agreement. "Good, now…what are we going to do with this?" Casey asked, pointing towards the laptop but clearly meaning the video.
Before Chuck could say anything, Morgan smiled and held up a finger. "I've got it…we'll send it into American Idol and then we'll…"
"Shut it, moron" the old Casey reared his head. While he began pounding away at the keyboard he briefly looked up at Chuck and Sarah…and winked. "You'll use the copy I just emailed you, and after you hack Lester's corporate account, send the video to everyone who works for Buymore And then you'll use his account to also post the video to Youtube…simple, really…now, go get to work" he finished while pointing to the front door.
The sound of the front door opening caused all four of the table's occupants to turn their attention to the couple that were standing in the doorway. Ellie and Devon stood in the doorway, staring with curiosity at the four people in gathered around the table.
"What was making that god awful noise we heard a few minutes ago?" Ellie finally managed to get out. Following Chuck and Sarah's glances, she couldn't believe that her neighbor could have made the noise she and Devon had heard. Morgan stood behind Casey with two fingers pointed at the big man. "John?…that was you? Are you sick?"
"Uh…no ma'am…that was your brother's fault" he answered while turning to glare at Morgan who had decided that perhaps now would be the perfect time for him to leave.
Ellie and Devon stepped aside so Morgan could make his exit. "How was that noise you were making my brother's fault?" Ellie asked, still confused.
Instead of answering, John Casey motioned the young couple to the side of the table where he'd been seated. Once Ellie and Devon were positioned in front of the laptop, he hit the play key and quickly stepped away. He made it as far as the kitchen before the sound of laughter started again. Sticking his head around the corner, he mouthed the word 'coffee' to Chuck and Sarah who merely nodded their acceptance, both clearly mesmerized by the other couples reaction to 'Jeffster'. By the time he returned from the kitchen with the fresh pot of coffee, the young doctors were once again standing in the doorway, obviously ready to leave.
"John…I understand" Ellie said as she struggled to keep a straight face. When Casey grunted a reply, she offered a quick goodbye to her brother and her future sister-in-law before taking Devon's hand and turning to leave. Pausing just outside the door, she turned back. "Chuck…what about this eyesore of a bouquet?"
"It's part of…never mind, I'll explain it later. You guys have a good day at work, we'll see you later" seeing the look in his sister's eyes, he added, "I promise it will be gone before you guys get back home."
"Alright, Chuck" Ellie replied. After giving a quick wave to Sarah, she pulled the door shut.
"Listen up" Casey said as he sat back down at the table. After closing the laptop and taking a swallow from the coffee cup in his hand, he took a deep breath. "Ok…we've got a mission. Beckman and Graham want you two to attend a charity function in La Jolla, tomorrow night. Bartowski…I need you to look over this guest list" he said as he slid a piece of paper across the table.
After picking up the list Chuck had only reached the fourth name when the flash hit. Casey and Sarah watched as Chuck made his way down the list and noted four more flashes before he set the list back down on the table.
"Well, I have news" Chuck said as he started to massage his temples. "Sarah?"
"You want me to get you some aspirin?"
"While that would be great, thank you very much…first I have to tell you that you can't go to the party with me…"
"Really?…and why is that?" Sarah asked, her smile slipping a little.
"Well…um…one of the names I flashed on…it's Jim Palmer…"
"Craptacular" Sarah mumbled under her breath.
"Spill it, Walker" Casey said before picking the list up and taking a look.
"I worked him…as a mark…about three years ago. He got busted but a rookie agent blew my cover…I doubt he's forgotten me. You're right, Chuck. I'm off this one…to big a risk. What about the other flashes?" she asked as she got to her feet, preparing to retrieve the aspirin she'd offered earlier.
"Well…" chuck started and then paused as he watched his fiancé walk towards the bathroom.
"Hey…numbnuts…focus. Your girlfriend's ass will still be there after we get this stuff out of the way."
"…yeah, sorry Casey…it's just so hypnotic…" his head seemed to turn on it's own and only Casey's growl forced him to return to the task at hand. "…oh, yeah…three of the other four names are all low level douche bags but the last name…that guy's MI6. He's been tracking this baddie who goes by the name of 'La Ciudad'…no pictures…up here" Chuck tapped his head, "so, that's kinda scary."
"And not at all helpful, moron."
"Really?…let's see…I tell you about a guy who could blow Sarah's cover, I identify three scum bags and I point out an MI6 agent who's chasing a major baddie…who just might be in our back yard…and I'm not helping? How about I call auntie Diane and ask her opinion on my intel?" Chuck asked, clearly not happy.
"Listen, you little…" Casey started and then froze when he felt the feather light touch of a blade at the side of his neck.
"Were you just about to threaten my fiancé?" Sarah asked in a quiet, steely voice.
"How the hell did you do that, Walker? Nobody's that quiet." Casey asked, still frozen in place…the edge of the knife hadn't moved.
"I would have to say that this situation speaks to the error of your statement…" Sarah answered, the dangerous edge still in her voice. "I'll repeat myself…were you just about to threaten my fiancé?"
"How the hell am I supposed to answer that?"
"The correct answer, John, is…'no, I was just going to ask him if he had any other ideas that might help with this mission…"
"The hell I…" he started to reply and then felt a second blade, this one on the other side of his neck. "…I…uh…is there anything else you can think of that might help us?"
"Very good, John. Now, please remember this little discussion…that way I won't have to use my 'reminders' again…ok?" Sarah whispered before stepping back, her knives already put away before her second step.
Chuck almost smiled and then realized that Sarah was a really scary person, when pushed. That conclusion chased away any grin that might have tried to escape. He watched as she walked around the table and held out her hand, several capsules sitting in her palm. Taking the offered pain relievers, he tossed them into his mouth, chasing them with a swallow of his coffee. No sooner had he returned his cup to the table when he found his lap full of a smiling Sarah Walker.
"So, Casey" Sarah said, all signs of the valkyrie who had been at his throat, moments before, gone, "I guess we'll need to see if Carina is available to keep Chuck safe…you want to make the call?"
Casey shook his head in disbelief. "You know Walker…I think you've gotten scarier since the baker there, put his buns in the oven. Yeah, I'll call her…I don't think she'd take your call…what, with the nose breaking and all." Getting to his feet, he thought about picking up the list and then decided against it. "Listen, num…Bar…Chuck, maybe you should brief the powers that be…you made the connections so, maybe, you should try your hand at mission planning…just this once." Seeing the smile on Bartowski's face, well that didn't phase him, but seeing the nod of approval from Walker…that made him feel a little…better. He couldn't believe how much this assignment was weirding him out. If he wasn't sure he knew better, he'd swear he was actually enjoying himself. "If you need any help…call. However…if you make me watch another 'Jeffster' video…without the aid of Johnny Walker…I'll double your work out run…with me riding piggy-back…got it?"
"Yeah, I got it. Thanks…for the …well, just thanks. See you this afternoon?"
"Of course…seven miles…don't be late" Casey added over his shoulder as he walked out the door.
Chuck turned back around to find Sarah staring at him, a familiar hungry look in her eyes. Before he could say a word, she grabbed the back of his head and pulled him forwards, her lips finding his. Moments later, a breathless Chuck found himself being led towards their room…Sarah using her free hand to undo the drawstring on her sweat pants which never made it into the room.
"You know, Chuck…I can't believe how much I want you…right now! You better be naked before I am…or else I'm gonna double your 'workout' time…and I won't be riding you piggy-back" Sarah said after releasing his hand and reaching for the hem of her t-shirt. Seeing his smile but noticing that he hadn't sped up his clothes removal pace…she growled at him. "I'm serious, Chuck. Get! Naked! Now!…she growled, her t-shirt now resting on the floor.
"Yes ma'am" he answered, amazed at how frightened and turned on he was…at the same time. He wasn't sure how he accomplished it but his boxers hit the floor moments before Sarah's thong.
"Good boy" she said. "Now, that was the last thing I want you doing really fast…everything else?…you better do it really slow…starting now…" she said as she pulled him down onto the bed, "unless, of course, I tell you to speed something up…then…well, just listen, you'll know what to do"
Chuck considered reminding Sarah that they had some jobs to finish …later. He quickly reconsidered that plan when the beautiful woman in his arms whispered in his ear, reminding him of a job she'd be finishing soon.
A/N: You know you wanna…go ahead…hit it…that review thingie…what? Oh…the magic word?…please?