This is not an original story. It was written during the middle of season 2. The original story assumed a sequel that never happened. So there will be some brand new content in this rewrite and several new chapters at the end.

Since most of the story from this point on will be new content, I'm going to have to go back to posting once a week. So there won't be a post on Thursday.

I still don't own Chuck.

If you enjoyed this or any of the stories on this site, please take a second and send the author a review. It only takes a second – and it really, really makes a difference. That's probably more important than ever now that the series has ended. If you want to keep the Chuck fandom alive and continue to read about these characters, you really need to think about rewarding the people whose hard work make that possible.

Opportunity Knocks

x-x-x-x-x

Sarah sat across the desk from Peter West fighting to keep the soft smile on her face while not laughing. Today's assignment was simple, talk to this Fulcrum scumbag, see if he volunteered any useful information, talk him into meeting her someplace in private later tonight, and put a bullet between his fucking eyes, the very eyes that were currently boring into her blouse like he was trying to suddenly develop x-ray vision. Even Chuck was on board with this mission.

Peter West sat behind his desk staring intently at Sarah making absolutely no effort to be subtle about checking her out. He clearly didn't think that he had to be subtle. Seth must have really sold her down the river with this jerk. He quite obviously was liking what he saw. But what was not to like? Sarah had made a special effort to look extra nice. Her dark blue skirt had the maximum slit that she had of any in her wardrobe. And the sheer light blue blouse set it off perfectly.

Chuck was honestly a little less enthusiastic about the mission after seeing her outfit. It was hard to fault him for that. She wasn't really trying to hide anything from him. But having said that, she did wait until after she left the room to unbutton that extra button on her blouse. Now it was to the point where it was screaming 'look down me' to every man that got a glimpse of her. That, most definitely, included her taxi driver on the ride over. Peter was certainly no exception. Sarah made sure that she leaned forward to give him the best possible view.

"Agent Anderson," West said once he was able to tear his gaze away from Sarah's mostly exposed chest. "One thing is for sure. You are quite stunning. How long have you known Seth Roberts?"

Sarah fought the urge to laugh. No kidding, dude. That's why you're drooling? "Thank you, sir," she said with a shy smile. "That is very nice of you. I've known Seth for about five years."

"Tell me, Sarah," Peter said thoughtfully. "Why would you be interested in joining Fulcrum?"

"Well, sir," Sarah said. "Would you like the short answer or the long one?"

"Why don't you give me the long one," Peter said. "I have some time and I like watching you talk."

Again Sarah fought the urge to laugh. He thought he was being smooth. Just one more button undone and he would really like to watch her talk. He had clearly been told that she was desperate… and not all that bright. So dumb blonde was a good tactic to play. "Yes, sir," she said with a blushing smile. "Well, if you would have told me that I would be sitting here two years ago, I would have said that you were crazy. When I joined the agency, I was young and naive. I was ready to save the world. I believed that becoming an agent was the best way for me to serve mankind. So I worked my – well let's just say that I worked really hard to be the best."

Peter nodded to let Sarah know that he was listening.

"But I have since found out that the agency that I loved is corrupt," Sarah continued with a schoolgirl pout. "I found out that being the best didn't really matter to them. All that mattered was how enthusiastically you were willing to fuc… I mean date the men at the right level."

Peter's smile told her everything she needed to know. "It's okay, Sarah," he said, using a tone much like one would use to comfort a child. "I hardly think that they wanted to date you. If we're going to proceed you need to be frank with me."

He clearly wanted to hear her talk dirty. Well, she could do that. "I found out what they really wanted too late," Sarah said sadly. "By the time I figured out that they really wanted me to fuck my way to a plum assignment, they had already written me off. So now I find myself babysitting a rich foreign national's kid. And I have been for the past year."

"That's sad." Peter said.

"Yes, sir," said Sarah with a sigh. "It is. All of that work, all of training, for nothing. So I guess that I'm looking for some revenge."

"Revenge," West questioned.

"Yes, sir," Sarah said firmly. "I want them to know the talent that they wasted. I want them to regret it. I'd really appreciate it if you would give me that chance for some revenge. Seth probably told you that I'm desperate. There's no sense in me trying to deny it. If you'll help me, I promise that I won't make the same mistake with you."

"Mistake?" West questioned.

"The one about being willing to fuck my way to a plum assignment, sir," Sarah said with a smile as she played with her hair. "I just want to make sure that you know that I'll do anything to prove my loyalty to you."

"Sarah," West said with a grin. "You sound resolved."

This fish was hooked. It was time to reel him in… then gut him and cut him up for bait. "Yes, sir," Sarah said as she placed an innocent pout on her face. "That's a good way to put it. I am resolved. I'm on a quest. I have something to prove."

West was now so intently staring at her chest that Sarah was beginning to worry that she had miscalculated and he'd want something right here in the office. If that happened, she'd have to do some pretty quick dancing. She wasn't breaking her promise to Chuck. Maybe an upset stomach would work. After all, it wasn't untrue. Just looking at the leer in his eyes made her throw up in her mouth a little.

Fortunately, West wanted the whole package on his terms. "I do believe that I am willing to test that resolve," he finally said with a smug grin. "I'll leave a note for you at the front desk of the Monte Carlo with my room number. Meet me there at nine tonight. Be prepared to be tested vigorously. If you pass my test, we are having a rather important event here in the Vegas area in two days. Call it a party, but it's also very serious. We could use some undercover security. Some incredibly important people will be attending. It would be a perfect opportunity for a new recruit such as yourself to make a good impression with some very key people to the organization. What do you think about that?"

Now Sarah's interest was piqued. A party with important people? That might be worth playing with this fish for a bit longer. "It sounds great, sir," she said with a beaming smile. "Should I come prepared to spend the night tonight? I'm looking so forward to this party. You can count on me to make quite an impression."

"Not so fast, Sarah," Peter said with a leer as he fought a losing battle to keep his composure. "You haven't passed my test yet. I promise that you will find it… challenging."

Oh well. It looked like he wasn't going to give up any useful intel on the party. It was time to end this. When Sarah ever so innocently kicked her lips and her red lipstick glistened in the light, Peter knew that his personal battle was lost. "Thank you, sir," she said with a shy smile as a blush crept up her face. "But I have no doubt that I'll pass. I do hope the test isn't written. I'm not so good at those."

"I'm much better at oral."

x-x-x-x-x

Chuck was sitting at the desk in their room mindlessly playing solitary on the laptop when his cell phone rang. Not knowing what her status was, he answered plainly.

"Hello,"

"Hi, sweetie," Sarah said.

"How did it go?" Chuck said with a laugh. "He didn't want a quickie on his desk, did he?"

There wasn't a really good way to answer that… except maybe tease him about it. "Maybe," Sarah replied with a laugh of her own. "His eyes were bugged out pretty good. But don't worry. I promised you that nothing like that would happen. Sweetie, I'm sorry, but I don't have time to talk about that now. I need you to go get Casey and meet me at the FBI office. Beckman wants to talk about things. Please get here as soon as you can. You know how impatient she is."

Somebody had obviously notified Casey because he was ready to go the instant that Chuck knocked on his door.

In the cab, Chuck decided that the silence was getting a little too awkward so he decided to engage in his favorite sport… needling Casey. "So, Casey," he said with a wry grin. "That Laura Carter chick is pretty hot. Care to debrief me on how you um… debriefed her yesterday?"

"I do not," Casey said sharply. "Just like I don't want to hear about you and Walker and your all too frequent exploits between the sheets.

"But there's a big difference," Chuck insisted as his grin broadened at the realization that his sport was going well. "Sarah and I actually haven't been making it between the sheets all that often. Her new favorite spot is the kitchen table. Besides, we're personal. What you did with Laura was part of a mission. I'm an agent now. I think that you need to share all mission details with your partner. Don't you agree?"

"Maybe you're right, Bartowski," Casey said with a hint of sarcasm. "I'll make sure that you get a copy of the report. And while I'm at it, I think I'll make sure that you get a transcript of Walker's mission in Italy when she infiltrated a terrorist group trying to acquire nuclear weapons. The way I hear the story, she got really friendly with the leader of the group. The bug she was wearing probably picked up every sound. The transcripts for those kinds of intimate encounters on a mission are usually sealed. But I think I can call in a favor and get a copy. There may even be an audio file someplace. I wonder if her moans sound different in Italian. It might be a fun exercise for you to compare. Sound fair?"

Chuck already knew generally what happened inItaly. Sarah's face was pretty red when she told him the basic story… and he wasn't eager to hear any further details. "On second thought," he said softly as the smile faded from his face. "That information is fairly need to know. I guess I don't need to know."

"Good answer," Casey said with a laugh. "Very good answer."

x-x-x-x-x

As soon as Chuck and Casey walked into the conference room they noticed General Beckman on the monitor. Sarah was sitting talking to her. When Sarah saw Chuck her face lit up into a smile. Chuck returned the gesture.

"Come in gentlemen," Beckman said when she noticed them enter the room. "Please take your seats quickly. We have a lot of information to cover and some decisions to make."

Chuck quickly took the seat next to Sarah and Casey walked to the other side of the table. Sarah immediately took Chuck's hand under the table and gave it a quick squeeze. As soon as they were seated Beckman placed a picture on the monitor. Immediately, Chuck flashed.

"This is Peter West," Beckman said. "He is the man who Agent Walker met with this morning."

"He is Fulcrum, ma'am," Chuck said. "He is the head of the Las Vegas office."

"Very good, Chuck," Beckman said. "Agent Walker, would you please brief Chuck and Casey on your mission?"

"Yes, ma'am," Sarah said firmly. "As soon as I had gained West's confidence, he told me of a party that some very important people will be attending in two days. He invited me to attend and act as undercover security."

"Clearly there might be some valuable intel there," Beckman said. "Who knows what important people West is referring to. It might be clients. It might be internal Fulcrum people. What is it worth to infiltrate this party?"

"Where is the party being held?" Casey asked.

"That's the problem," Sarah said sadly. "I'm not sure yet. West wants me to meet him tonight at a hotel room for a test. If I pass, he'll invite me to the party."

"What?" asked Chuck with a grimace. "Like a vision test? A hearing test? Maybe a math test?"

"Sorry," Sarah said softly while looking at the table as she squeezed Chuck's hand. "It's more like a loyalty test. I talk to you about it later. Don't worry. It's not happening."

"I think that we need some help on this one," Beckman said firmly. "We need more intel. So I've asked Agent Roberts to set up a meeting between Agent Carter and Peter West. He seems to have a proclivity towards attractive agents."

"Who doesn't?" Chuck said with a smile.

"Are we sure that we can trust her, ma'am?" Casey asked softly while ignoring Chuck. "If they get tipped off, Agent Walker is in big trouble tonight."

"That's very true," Beckman said wistfully. "I and Agent Walker had a long talk with her. Agent Walker has convinced me that she is loyal. It is a risk that I feel we have to take."

"You know, Sarah," Casey said in almost a whisper. "She has betrayed you before. You're putting a lot of faith in her."

"Not really," Sarah said. "She is anxious to help Seth. She is going to be eager to help us as much as possible to use it as a bargaining chip later."

"Agent Carter is meeting with West right now," Beckman said calmly. "Hopefully, she'll get invited to the party as well. We'll get together later and discuss Agent Carter's meeting. Then we'll discuss how to proceed."

Just then Laura poked her head into the room. "Excuse me, ma'am," she said. "I'm back from my meeting with Peter West."

"Come in, Agent Carter," Beckman said quickly. "This is excellent timing. Give us your report on your meeting. How did it go?"

"Yes, ma'am," Laura said as she sat down at the table. "It was short and sweet. I believe that I convinced West that I am willing to defect to Fulcrum. He was very interested. He said something about a sandwich, and I don't think he was talking about lunch. He told me that he would have an exciting opportunity in two days as long as I could pass his test."

"You too," Casey said laughing. "What is this guy, a machine?"

"No, Casey," Laura said sadly with a big sigh. "My test is a little different than Sarah's. He wants me to kill Seth."

Beckman sat silently trying to comprehend the news that Laura had just delivered. Finally she broke her silence. "Agent Carter," she said. "Why would West want you to kill Agent Roberts? He is one of their agents, correct? Do they suspect him of being disloyal?"

"Well, ma'am," Laura started softly. "Anything that I would say is a guess. He frankly spent most of the time gawking at my chest. But my opinion is that they are just trying to give us some things that they know we don't want to do to prove our loyalty. He said after Sarah passed her test, he would give me the details of how he wanted me to execute mine."

"And they would sacrifice one of their agents?" Beckman asked skeptically.

"I think that it shows that they don't think too highly of Seth," Laura said sadly. "I guess they consider him expendable."

At that, the room fell silent for a long moment. Finally Casey cleared his throat. "It sort of makes sense, ma'am," he said thoughtfully. "If they could get two agents of the quality of Walker and Carter that they had confidence in, it would be worth the sacrifice. Especially given that they don't think very highly of him anyway. I also think that means that West is planning on putting Sarah through the wringer tonight. He's not just after straight sex. He is going to press the limits of what she is willing to do to prove herself."

At that overt of a description, Sarah looked at Chuck anxiously. He gave her hand a quick squeeze of encouragement which brought a slight smile to her lips.

"I'm afraid that I agree," Beckman said with a deep sigh. "It's not worth it. Does anybody have any other ideas?"

"Well, ma'am," Chuck said. "Sarah is an expert at interrogation, right? We're going to execute him tonight anyway. Why not give her a chance to talk to him in a controlled environment?"

"Too risky," Beckman said. "Who knows what he would tell her while being tortured. It could all be bullshit. It could lead us into a trap. It's not worth that for such an unknown benefit. Let's proceed with our original plan and call it a day. At least we'll have one less Fulcrum middle manager to deal with. That's a victory. Agent Walker, meet with West as scheduled, then terminate him. Agent Carter, be available to back Agent Walker up tonight in case things change."

"Yes, ma'am," Laura and Sarah said together.

"Let's take a ten minute break," Beckman said. "After that, I would like to meet with Agents Casey and Walker to go over some highly classified sensitive Intel. Chuck, I hope that you won't feel offended. Normally, you would be included in this discussion. But I think that it would be best for now if Agent Carter accompanied you back to the hotel. Agent Walker will join you in an hour or so."

"Yes, ma'am," Chuck said without emotion.

x-x-x-x-x

As soon as Beckman called the break, Sarah pulled Chuck into a small interrogation room and quickly closed the door. "I'm sorry, Chuck," she said angrily as she grabbed both of his hands. "I don't know why Beckman doesn't want you at the next session. But I sure am going to find out."

"Don't worry," Chuck replied with a soft laugh. "I actually am looking forward to talking to Laura for a few minutes."

That was a surprise, especially given the way he spoke to her last night. "Really?" she asked. "Why?"

"Lots of reasons," Chuck said as his eyes sparkled. "But most of all I want to know about you. I'll bet that she's the one person in the world who knows what makes you tick."

"Well actually," Sarah said softly. "You're the one person in the world who knows what makes me tick. I know that I don't have to say this. And I'm sorry if this sounds possessive or jealous, but I'm nervous about her being alone with you. She thinks that the best way to get to know someone is by fucking them."

"You're right," Chuck said with a grin. "You don't have to say it. You seriously can't be worried about me and Laura. For one thing, she was just with Casey yesterday. That single fact alone disqualifies her in my book. Hurry back. I want to spend some time with you this afternoon. I want to make sure you know how much you're loved."

"That's sweet," Sarah said as she kissed Chuck gently. "But I think I already know."

"No," Chuck protested as he shook his head. "You know how much I loved you yesterday. I love you even more today. As soon as you get back, I want to explain the difference."

"Okay," Sarah said with a laugh. "Aren't you the smooth one today? Am I going to have any clothes on while you're doing this explaining?"

"That's up to you," Chuck replied with his own laugh. "But, speaking of that, do you think you could do me one small favor?"

"What's that?" Sarah asked.

"I'm sorry if this sounds possessive," Chuck said softly. "But do you think you could button one more button on your blouse?"

x-x-x-x-x

As soon as Casey and Sarah were back in the conference room, Beckman started the meeting.

"Begging your pardon, ma'am," Sarah said firmly. "But what do you want to talk about that couldn't include Chuck? I thought that we agreed that we were going to treat him as an equal."

"Relax, Sarah," Beckman said softly. "I don't really want to talk about anything."

"I'm confused, ma'am," Sarah said softly.

"I just wanted to get Chuck and Agent Carter alone for a while," Beckman said with a smile. "I want Chuck's opinion on how much we can trust her. Why don't you two give them about an hour before you return to the hotel?"

That got an obvious sigh of relief. "Thank you, ma'am," Sarah said. "But as long as we have a minute, Chuck was just telling me some thoughts that he had."

"Okay, Sarah," Beckman replied. "Talk to me."

"I think he's figured out how we can kill Seth."

x-x-x-x-x

Chuck and Laura were pretty much silent during the twenty minute cab ride back to the hotel. When Chuck opened the door to the room, Laura walked in and went directly to the refrigerator. "I need a drink," she said with a sigh. "I'm taking a wine out of the mini bar. I hope you don't mind."

"Thirty six dollars for a glass of white wine," Chuck replied with a smile. "I don't mind. The government is paying for this. Just don't let Casey find out."

"Why?" Laura asked softly. "Why would Casey care?"

"Wasting the taxpayer's money pisses him off," Chuck said with a grin. "Well actually, a lot of things piss him off."

"I don't know," Laura said with a smile. "He was very nice to me. Very, very, very nice in fact, if you get my meaning. Do you want anything?"

"I assume you mean from the mini bar," Chuck said as his grin broadened. "But even if you didn't, no thank you."

"I guess I had that one coming," Laura said with a sad smile as she sat on the chair. "You don't trust me at all, do you?"

"I'm sorry," Chuck said as he sat on the bed as far away from Laura as he possibly could. "It's just that I can't imagine anyone who would betray Sarah the way that you did. She is the most special person in the world."

Laura smiled at him. Oh, she smiled at most men. But this was different. It was a genuine smile. "You really love her," she said. "Don't you?"

"More than I could possibly explain," Chuck said in return. "I can't even bear to think about how she must have hurt walking in and finding you and Seth."

"You don't think like an agent," Laura said sadly. "That's why I'm glad that Sarah found you. Okay, Chuck, if I try and explain this to you, will you give me a chance and have an open mind?"

"I'm listening."

"Agents just feel differently about sex," Laura began softly. "That's how we're trained. We're taught to treat sex as a weapon. Just like we're taught to fight and shoot, we're taught to flirt and fuck. If you were modest about sex or showing your body when you started in the CIA Academy, you sure as hell aren't when you graduate. It's simply a fact of that life."

"I know that," Chuck interrupted dismissively. "I'm not totally naïve. Sarah knows that as well as anyone. She's used sex on missions. What you did was different. It was personal."

"But that's what I'm trying to say," Laura said insistently. "Most agents don't distinguish between mission sex and personal sex. Put yourself in an agent's shoes for a second. Think about it. If you're on a mission to get close to some slime ball terrorist's organization and that means you're going to be required to fuck said slime ball terrorist twice a night for six months, why be uptight about having a good time fucking the hot guy you just met in the bar celebrating the successful end to that mission? It doesn't make sense. The only way to get through those missions is to become pretty casual about it all. So that is why I didn't see it as betraying her at the time. I honestly thought she would be okay. Maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe I wasn't looking out enough for my friend that day. Maybe I allowed my own lust to rationalize it. But Seth was the last person on earth Sarah should have married if she was looking for a faithful husband. And Sarah has suffered with that part of the job exactly because she wasn't willing to be casual about it. That means she has to feel guilty about fucking that slime ball terrorist where most spies don't. It's not healthy, Chuck. She is the only spy I know that feels that way."

"But I read a transcript," Chuck protested firmly. "Where you threatened to make Seth no longer a man if he touched Sarah. Tell me you weren't jealous. That sounds pretty hypocritical to me."

Laura held up her hands in a show of surrender. "I was totally jealous," she said with a sad smile. "I still am. Guilty as charged. But in my defense that is a very recent development. A month ago, I wouldn't have cared at all. Seth and I would have made it a game to see how far we could push her. If you read that transcript you know that I had agreed to join them. Even today, I don't care if Seth fucks someone else. That's a good thing because it is most definitely going to happen. I've helped him pick up some hot chick in a bar more times than I can count. I could probably be talked into it tonight if he wasn't locked up. He is not going to be any more faithful to me than he was to Sarah. That's what he is. And I have no intention of being faithful to him either. In fact if Casey is willing tonight…"

Chuck needed to change the subject. "So, what's changed?"

"I fell in love," Laura said softly. "I can't explain it any better than that. I'm even a little embarrassed about it. I mean, I fully understand Seth's shortcomings. I do. I still want to kick his ass about once every ten minutes. But I love him. That just changes your perspective. That's why I understand for the first time how Sarah really felt that day. And it makes me want to cry. I'm so sorry. I love her, Chuck. Can you help me?"

"What do you want me to do?"

"Talk to her for me?" Laura asked hopefully. "She'll listen to you. Look, I'm not trying to pretend that we don't have issues to overcome. I'll do the work. I just want a chance to win my best friend back. I've missed her. I want to hear her tell me all about you, why she's clearly so lovesick."

Chuck studied her sitting there for a long minute. He knew that CIA Agents were trained in how to get men to do things for them. And he knew that she had him pegged as a nice guy and an easy mark. But he was actually a better judge of character than anybody gave him credit for. "I'll talk to her," he finally said. "No promises after that." Then he folded his arms over his chest defiantly. "Fuck her over again," he said softly but firmly. "Hurt her in any way and you've just made a serious lifelong enemy."

Well, this Chuck Bartowski sure talked to her like no man ever had before. The honest truth was that it was pretty impressive. "Thanks," Laura said. "That's all I ask. I love her just as much as you do. You might not believe that now."

"But you will."

x-x-x-x-x

Sarah was just entering their hotel with Casey when she got a text from Chuck.

"What's up?" Casey asked.

"I'm not sure," Sarah answered. "Chuck says that he is in Laura's room. He wants me to come there. I'll see you later."

Sarah wasn't aware that Laura even had a room. She spent last night locked up with Seth in the FBI offices. But Chuck's text directed her five floors down from where they were staying. So she took the elevator to the floor and looked for the room.

Suddenly a hand was over her mouth and she found herself being dragged into an open room. Whoever this hand belonged to was a professional. Agent Walker wasn't easy to get the drop on, even surprised and not expecting trouble. But he had her bent over backwards in a pretty helpless position. His other hand had her arm that was reaching for her gun pined behind her back.

Finally Sarah was able to spin out of his grasp. In a single fluid motion she had one of her knifes in her hand and was ready for battle. "Damn it, Bryce," she spat out, her eyes flashing with anger once she recognized him. "What in the hell was that about? Are you trying to get killed?"

Bryce made no attempt at apology. "I need to talk to you," he said urgently. "I only have five minutes and we can't be seen together."

Sarah was still visibly angry, but she had probably calmed down enough to listen. "Okay, Bryce," she said. "What's up?"

"The party you're invited to," Bryce said. "It's a party for the Fulcrum Elders. All six are going to be there."

"How do you know that?" Sarah asked skeptically.

"Do you really want me to summarize a year of deep undercover work in five minutes?" Bryce asked sarcastically. "Trust me, I know. This is our big chance. They are in the same place once a year, at their annual strategic planning session. The party is to celebrate that. We can end Fulcrum in one single attack, end them forever, Sarah. Do you know what that means?"

Certainly Sarah knew what that meant. The question was almost insulting. It was what she dreamed about every night. It was almost too good to be true. It meant the war would be over. Chuck would be free, free to start a family, live a normal life, buy that house with the red door she always dreamed about and live happily ever after with their kids. "Where is the party?" she asked eagerly.

"I don't know," Bryce said. "That's the problem."

"That's what we need you to find out."

x-x-x-x-x