A/N: Wow, thanks for the warm welcome and acceptance of my rather poor chapter, I appreciate every single comment and review, and all the kind PM's. This is actually sort of special...in the sense that I am writing this entire chapter from my phone while vacationing in NY. So if there are any major problems with the text...you've been warned.

Chapter Five: "Damn Brunettes..."

(Immediately following Sarah and Carina's final locker room chat.)

Sarah was furious, with a considerable defense as to why; her best friend was toying with her...emotion, something she'd tried so desperately to forget and erase. Not only was she doing that, but she was forcing Sarah to admit her feelings for the god damn sexy looking Chuck Bartowski, who seemed to be more afraid of her than she was of him. All in all, she considered herself to be in a pathetic state.

She'd returned to find her "team" fully assembled and awaiting her arrival back at the gym. Her icy blue eyes took in Daniel Shaw, clad in workout gear. His eyes almost seemed to ravage her on the spot. She wanted to address her father regarding him, but figured he knew what was best, like always.

It was funny. Not too long ago, that hunger in his eyes...the same passion that consumed him would have driven her to a complete stranger like him. However, that was the past. She'd learned that trust could never be thrust upon anyone, and no one was truly deserving. There was only one character who even came close to being an exception, and he was eyeing Sarah anxiously from the back with chocolate eyes.

"So..." She began.

The team eyed her curiously, awaiting her very orders. Leadership was proving to be a demanding task.

"Testing." The word came to Sarah sharply as she turned her gaze to Hannah, who seemed to be edging ever so closely to Chuck.

"Training." She repeated, more firmly this time. "I need to see you two in action before ANY decisions are made..."

Shaw bore a telltale smirk, while Hannah took in a breath.

"Bryce, why don't you and Casey work with Shaw..." Sarah demanded. "Assess his general skill level while I work with Carina and Chuck to help Hannah."

Casey grunted an affirmative and Bryce simply turned, Shaw following suit. As far as Sarah was concerned, they were out of the picture for now. She wanted to watch Chuck assess Hannah. For purely professional purposes, of course.

Hannah turned to Chuck as Sarah fell silent, smiling.

"So...I'm assuming we start with basic sparring?" She asked.

"looks like." Chuck replied, tossing her some spare equipment. "I guess I'll just see how your speed and efficiency is...?" He glanced at Sarah who nodded once, in response.

Hannah tightened her gloves, getting into position. Within seconds, she was lashing out at Chuck like lightening, who seemed to be able to read her before she made her moves.

Left kick, right hook, roundhouse; the two were barely keeping up as Chuck managed to land Hannah on the ground.

"Okay...first things first...agility." Carina quipped.

Before Hannah could feel bad, Chuck was helping her up in seconds, murmuring something in her ear, causing her to smile.

"What the hell is he saying?" Sarah snapped to Carina, Chuck out of earshot.

"Sexual innuendo..." Carina lied with her snarky grin.

Sarah shook her head as Hannah was about to re-enter the fight. "No...no. Repetition isn't the answer here." Something was making her heart race as she gently judged her off the mat.

"Gloves off." Sarah turned to Chuck.

"Huh?" Chuck was dumbfounded; half by her beauty and half by her odd request. However, he proved to be an unquestioning follower, doing as she asked.

"What are we doing?" Chuck asked mildly, hopeful that it was not a repeat of their first encounter of aggression.

"Showing a new recruit how natural this should be." Came Sarah's orderly retort.

Carina held in a wolf whistle, grinning. She loved when the real Walker came out to hunt.

Sarah blinked and the series of punches, hooks, jabs, kicks, and blocks began. They were as graceful as a tango-ing duo, a constant dance between them. Casey eyed the mat wearily.

"Get out." He grunted to the other two men, who were dumbstruck, watching. He ushered them outside the room with a huff, he knew what was coming.

The only two spectators left were Carina and Hannah, who watched with complete awe as the two battled for supremacy.

In one quick roundhouse, Sarah made contact to Chuck's face, knocking him in the ground. For maybe the first time in her life, a surge of worry rushed through her. Kneeling down, out of breath, she asked, "Chuck! Are you-"

Before she could finish her sentence, he pulled her on top, then rolled so that she was pinned beneath him, his lips just barely grazing her neck. The chill that went through her was unlike anything else, she felt cold and so hot all at the same time.

His voice sounded ever so lightly in her ear. "Truce, agent Walker?" Again, the soft tingle of his lips sent a thrill through her, her heart unable to beat faster and louder.

Sarah nodded, knowing she could have easily finished the right. With a venomous glance at Carina, Hannah was quickly ushered out of the room, followed by Carina herself.

The two switched suddenly, Sarah was straddling Chuck as they remained breathless, hearts racing. Sarah's breath hitched as she pulled her eyes up to meet his, swearing that her lips accidentally grazed the very essence of his. She had goosebumps; he did too. Battlescars.

"I..." Sarah began.

"I...ah...I" Chuck awkwardly fumbled for words.

As if not urged on enough, Sarah swore she felt something change beneath her in Chuck. She leapt off him, turning away.

"I...you..." Her voice...SARAH WALKER'S voice...was cracking.

"Nice...I..."

The two awkwardly muttered,"see you at dinner..." Before leaping away to their respective exits.

Carina smirked as she witnessed Sarah wordlessly flee the scene from the training session. She didn't have to be in the room to have known what just happened.

Chuck Bartowski had broken Sarah Walker. Further more...Sarah Walker now ACHED for him, and vice versa.

Smirking, she pushed Hannah back into the now empty room gently. "Come on kid...gotta make it for dinner."

A/N: Apologies for the SUPER short update, but I HAD to have it out. If you guys match about the same number of reviews as last time: you can expect an update tomorrow night or the day after! Thanks a million!

-LLC