A/N: Well shoot, that was a while. Sorry readers, (if you're still there), life got pretty crammed for a while. Fear not, I haven't forgotten you, or died, so...sorry, more updates to come. Let me know how much you hate me in the reviews, i look forward to reading them. Enjoy, folks.
Chapter Thirteen: Listen here, dork.
Walker's team had retreated back to the office, where they were to continue as usual until the day of Jill's work party. The only three who couldn't seem to find their peace were Chuck, Sarah, and Carina, mostly for Sarah's sake.
Upon arrival at the building, all but said three parted ways, leaving an angry, pacing , Sarah Walker, a stunned Chuck, and a deadly Carina all holed up in Sarah's office.
"Okay, so...that went well." Chuck cleared his throat, anxiously testing Sarah's patience.
"Well?" Sarah spun around sharply on her heels. "Well?"
Chuck prepared himself for the onslaught of terror headed his way.
"She was practically ready to jump you in the damn car!" Sarah sharply recalled aloud.
"Not the only one, as I remember it." Carina smirked, immediately following a sharp kick right after, never stopping to frown.
"Oh shut up." Sarah huffed as she took a seat at her desk.
Chuck couldn't help it; he found the entire debacle amusing.
Carina elegantly sat across from their direction on a chair, waiting.
"I mean, this will be quick. In and out, right?" Chuck tried.
"Nice wording there, genius." Carina laughed.
Sarah groaned and faced Chuck. "Listen here, dork." She demanded.
"it's ner- ah nevermind." Chuck replied nimbly.
"You're fantastic."
Chuck visibly brightened. So Sarah wasn't really mad.
"So why the stress, Walker?" Carina asked the question they all were thinking.
"So Jill takes you to the party..." Sarah resisted the urge to shudder. "And then?"
"I get her a drink?" Chuck asked meekly.
"No, the mission, moron." Carina commented.
Sarah shook her head. "You identify our target; we're trying to go for a high ranking Fulcrum agent- one who can get us on the inside."
"They're not stupid, nor dysfunctional...they'll notice if an important member is missing." Carina remarked.
"Which means we'll have to work fast. I think, with the right persuasion, we can get Jill to work with us." Sarah began.
"What? No...she's loyal." Chuck stated.
"Right, but if you show her it's for the good of her country..?" Sarah tried.
"No." Carina shook her head. "At the end of the party, we bring her, and whatever agent we snatch, back here, sedated."
"Go on..." Sarah nodded as Chuck listened in horror.
"We use the simple hostage terms- If you ever want to see daylight again, you're taking in one of us with you when you return to Fulcrum as our double agent."
"She'd never agree..." Chuck protested, not wanting to harm her.
Sarah could see his uneasiness. "We won't harm her, Chuck." she promised.
"We're only bluffing." Carina added.
"Okay fine." Chuck relented slowly. "But the only person she'd take in to Fulcrum is me...she'd feel less threatened that way."
Sarah shook her head immediately. "Absolutely not."
"What? why?" Chuck tried.
"The risk of a double agent...especially with a group as deadly as Fulcrum...No."
"Who would you have, in my place?" Chuck tried.
"I can." Carina suggested.
Sarah shook her head. "She'd rat on you the minute you let her out of your sights."
"I have to be the one, Sarah..." Chuck tried again.
"Why don't we send in Shaw?" Carina reccommended. "He's...expendable."
"As far as I'm concerned, Shaw's a rookie." Sarah decided. "Carina...could you give us a moment?"
"Yeah...just...keep it in your pants." Carina grumbled, leaving the office and shutting the thick wooden door behind her.
"I can do this, Sarah." Chuck tried hard to convince her that he was able.
"Chuck, I know you can." Sarah sat beside him, turning to face him. "That's not what I'm worried about."
Realization dawned on Chuck. It wasn't that she thought he was incapable...she worried about him too much.
"Sarah...I'd do this a million lifetimes over if it meant I'd be at risk instead of you."
Sarah shook her head. "This is my team, I'm responsible-"
Chuck cut her off. "Sarah this is me here. You know that I'm the sensible choice here. Plus I'll have you at my back, not to mention Casey, Carina, and the others."
Sarah nodded slowly. "Ugh this mission just won't end."
"Hey...I'll get this done, for us." Chuck smiled softly, turning to place a soft kiss on her lips. One that she savored as she leaned onto him. She was compromised. And she was in love with it.
"I think it's time we present our plan to the others."
-0-
"An inside agent?" Jack rose a brow. "That's risky, kid."
Sarah squeezed Chuck's hand under the table, which he calmly brushed over. "I understand, sir."
"But I like it." Jack nodded. "That's a real advantage. Do you know what you're getting into? Everyday, they'll make sure you get a bug sweep when you step past security. A full background check will be in order, so we'll have our guys create a nice alias for you. I'll see if we can make our own little 'Charles Carmichael'."
Chuck nodded, he and Sarah were listening intently.
"Now once you've gained their trust, we can establish a hidden comm. link, which is how we'll be able to communicate, thanks to our latest technological investments. You really won't be able to talk to us without raising suspicion, so you'll have to settle for listening when you're in more public environments."
"Okay..." Chuck tried his best to follow.
"Now." Jack began. "Fulcrum keeps a steady trace on all their workers. Luckily, just being with Dr. Roberts is an advantage. Her name is quite prestigious and should carry over with you as well. They'll most likely keep a sharp eye on you the first day, which means following you home. We've got a faux apartment all set up, and it's secure, so you'll be bug free. You can make your reports there, and speak with us unseen and unheard."
Chuck's head was spinning.
"This will all happen after the party, so this needs to go PERFECTLY." Jack demanded. "No screwups. I have faith in you, kid."
"Why Chuck?" Shaw tried. "Why can't we go in?"
"Do you have an intimate knowledge of the target?" Casey smirked.
Sarah rolled her eyes. Great, more rubbing it in.
"No, but i-"
"Well that's that." Casey smirked. "I love me some interrogation."
"There won't be any of that...on Dr. Roberts anyway." Sarah clarified unhappily.
"The target we've acquired for the party is a core element of fulcrum, Steve Lorenzo." Jack informed the team.
His picture appeared on the screen behind him, as a tall, dark haired man with brown eyes, much like Chuck.
"Now Chuck will have to maneuver his way to Sarah and Casey, who will be hidden outside of the party. Once Jill and Lorenzo are following, you will move in and get em down." Jack grinned.
Sarah nodded and did Casey.
Carina and Bryce frowned. "What about us?" They queried.
"Van duty." Sarah smirked. "Hannah and Shaw are joining you there.
Bryce and Carina had an awkward air around them. This wouldn't end well.
"Now that this had been settled...well, let's prep." Jack grinned, leaving the team rather speechless.
-0-
"Sometimes it's good to be normal." Chuck admitted, happy he stopped by at the Orange Orange with Sarah for frozen yogurt.
"Yeah..." Sarah nodded in agreement, walking beside him as she licked her spoon playfully. "But i'd get fat if I were 'normal' everyday."
"I highly doubt that." Chuck teased, throwing away his empty cup as he put his arm around her waist. "Movie night tonight, feel like going to Ellie's?"
"I'd love to." Sarah responded happily. She loved the warm, loving feeling Ellie seemed to spread wherever she was.
"Your treading on thin ice, sweetheart." Chuck smirked. "She's going to take you shopping next, then brunch dates, and even vacations after that."
"That sounds fun..." Sarah countered.
"Well maybe you're just in love with her then." Chuck retorted, earning him a playful smack on the arm. He took in a breath.
Sarah glanced up at him. "Did I hit you that hard?"
"No it's just...I never thought this would happen."
"Chuck...I may have a strict diet but I always have time for frozen yogurt."
Chuck laughed at her teasing. "Wow you're on a role today."
"You're changing me." Sarah laughed with him, his smile seemingly infectious.
"I just never thought I'd be on a simple walk with Sarah Walker...my girlfriend." he added the last part with an extra amount of happiness.
"I would'nt have thought i could have gone out with my boyfriend...until you showed up Chuck." She smiled back, leaning into his embrace.
"So...we're happy and dating and all and that's great..." Chuck began playfully. Sarah listened, waiting for his next statement. "But what about Carina and Bryce...what's their deal?"
"They had sex."
"What?" Chuck coughed a bit, feeling somewhat awkward. "And who's idea was it to stick them in the van, under the scrutiny of Shaw?"
Sarah simply smiled devilishly as she got behind the wheel, Chuck getting in beside her.
"You...are evil, Sarah Walker."
"Chuck, you have a little yougurt on your lips."
Chuck's playful smile faded. "Where?"
"Right here." Sarah smirked as she leaned over, kissing him delicately at first, which built into something more.
"Oh...yeah..." Chuck mumbled in bliss.
A/N: I know it was short but it's just a kickstart to get back out again. Okay so party and part one of fulcrum infiltration coming up. Please leave a review if you enjoyed it. Thanks a million for reading and reviewing and as always, have a great one guys.
-LLC
