Melissa parked her DB9 in front of the Orange-Orange and got out. She walked in and saw Alex behind the counter again. "They got you working the register again?" She asked smirking.
"Yeah. I think it's some kind of hazing thing." Alex said smiling. "But on the up side I get to wear yoga pants and a tank top all day. It's like working in your Pj's.
"Well I need to talk to The Enforcer, and the Major. Are they down there?" Melissa asked.
"Yes they are, and I think Agent Walker is in a bad mood. She was very short with me when she came in this morning." Alex said.
"Well her mood isn't going to improve with my visit that's for damn sure. You're running analysis on mission intel. right?" Melissa asked.
"I am." Alex said.
"Well come with me then, I've got a lot of intel. for you to look at." Melissa said walking towards the freezer. She walked down the stairs and found Casey sitting at the conference table looking over files.
"Good morning Captain Barns." He said looking up from his file for a few seconds.
"Good morning Major. Where's Walker?" She asked putting her purse on the table.
"She's in the gym hitting the heave bag." He grunted.
"Alex can you go get her please?" Melissa asked as she pulled the DVD out of her bag and walked over to the desk.
A minute later Alex came back with a sweaty Sarah in workout clothes. "So what do you want?" Sarah asked taking a seat at the table next to Casey.
"I wanted to show you all something before I get into the information Chuck downloaded from the RI servers." Melissa said putting the DVD into the player. The screen showed two men in black tactical gear sitting in an interrogation room. Melissa paused the video. "This is the after-action briefing of the only two men left of the nine man extraction team that came for us. I have not seen this footage yet but Jordan tells me it's very accurate." Melissa said.
The tape showed the two men going over the extraction, and what happened. It was very accurate. Melissa spent the whole time watching their reactions. Casey had a look of deep pride on his face when they described Chuck's detached look in his eyes when he shot their friends. Sarah on the other hand had a look of shock on her face. Melissa was expecting a lot of reaction to this video, but she never expected to get shock. She expected pride. She expected a smile over the joy of a job well done. Sarah made Chuck into the man he is now and she expected glee over the fact that he could pull something like this off. She did not think she was going to see shock. It's not like Chuck wasn't doing what any fully trained veteran agent would have done. What Sarah The Enforcer Walker would have done to gain Fulcrums respect. When the video ended the next one started up and Melissa saw Chuck's Car pull up to Roark Tower that first night. She paused the video again.
"This took place about three hours after the car exchange." She said hitting play. She watched from a high angle CCTV camera as Chuck took the doorman's gun. She watched as he stormed the building like an avenging angle. Seeing it from the camera's perspective she could see just how scary Chuck was. She watched with full sound as Chuck threatened to kill everyone in the building if they made him make his suit dirty. Casey laughed at that, but Sarah looked sick. Melissa didn't know what the other woman was thinking, but her reactions were pissing her off. The clip ended when Chuck and Roark sat down to talk over terms. The next clip showed Chuck pulling up to the parking garage. She paused again.
"I wasn't here for this one. This happened on his first day at RI." Melissa said hitting play. She watched Chuck smirk as he put the car in reverse and punched the gas. She watched him slide the car to a stop by the front door. She watched as he got out only to be met by three guys with guns. She watched as one of them shot at him. She smiled as Chuck returned fire dropping all three guards. She saw Jordan walk out with her gun drawn and give Chuck a hard time. She laughed when Chuck pulled off his suit jacket and dropped it on the guard he kicked in the nuts. She looked at Casey and saw he was close to laughing as well. She saw a look of lust on Alex's face. She smiled at that. She knew that look very well. But Sarah looked horrified. Melissa didn't know why she looked like that, nor did she know what she was thinking, but she did know one thing. That look on Sarah's face was pissing her off big time. She reached into her purse and pulled out the passport drive and handed it to Alex. "This has all of the files Chuck downloaded. We grouped the relevant files together for you. The ten mission files in the Mission folder you don't have to worry about at the moment. Chuck is going to set up a time when we can all get together and he can go over them with each of us. I think right now it's more important to focus on the financial records and the agent files." Melissa said looking at Sarah the whole time. When she said Chuck was going to brief the team Sarah flinched. "Now I think it's a good time for me to have a chat with Sarah." Melissa said standing up and walking out of the room. She turned around and looked at Sarah expectantly. "You coming or am I going to have to drag you out of the room?" Melissa asked angrily.
Sarah's eyes became hard as she shot out of her chair and marched past Melissa headed into interrogation room one. When Melissa walked into the room Sarah was pacing the small room like a caged tiger. "You got me here, now talk!" Sarah said still pacing.
"I only have a few questions to ask you. The first one is why are you so horrified by the thing's Chuck has done so far?" Melissa asked leaning against the wall.
"That's not my Chuck in that video. I don't know who that was but it sure as hell wasn't my Chuck!" Sarah said angrily.
"I don't understand. How was that not your Chuck?" Melissa asked knowing the answer and not liking it.
"Because the man I love would never shoot someone so casually. He would never go looking for a fight like that. Never. That's not my Chuck. I don't know who that was." Sarah said.
"You know exactly who that was. And on some level you're right. That wasn't your Chuck. That was Charles Carmichael. But that doesn't mean that your Chuck isn't in there too. Let me ask you this, does Chuck, sweet, innocent Chuck love Sarah, or Agent Walker?" Melissa asked.
"What?" Sarah asked stopping to look at Melissa.
"You know what I'm asking. Does he love you or agent Walker? It's a simple question. One that you know the answer to. Here I'll help you out. He loves Sarah. He tolerates agent Walker because he knows you need to keep her on the back burner for your job. Well now Chuck has another side to him. He's Chuck, sweet innocent Chuck, and he's agent Charles Carmichael too." Melissa said.
"Yes, but the look in his eyes when he shot those people. I don't know that person. I don't like that look. Not even a little bit." Sarah said looking away from the other woman.
"So it's okay for you to do bad things but the second he does them he's not your Chuck anymore? Well okay then. Call him and tell him you're breaking up with him because you don't like the look in his eyes when he was playing up his Carmichael persona. Call him and tell him he's not your Chuck anymore. Please do that. I want you to. Because if you don't want him there's a line of really hot women waiting to get their hands on him. I should know I'm the first one in line. So call him up and tell him it's over. Do it. I'll take great pleasure in comforting him. Great pleasure." Melissa said suggestively.
Sarah turned to her and all but bared her teeth. "How dare you say that! You're not putting your hands on him!" She yelled getting in Melissa's face.
"Why the hell not? It's not like you appreciate him. Hell just yesterday you tried to pull rank on him. You fucked him all up mentally you know? But that was what you were going for right? You see I don't think you give a damn about the look in his eyes when he shot those people, no I think you have a problem with the fact that Chuck has balls now. I think you don't like the fact that he's not weak, and dependent on you anymore. I think it's killing you to lose the power you had over him. I think on some level you liked the fact that he needed you to survive in this spy world we live in. I think you got off on it. Did you even ever really love him?" Melissa asked angrily.
"HOW DARE YOU QUESTION ME!" Sarah yelled grabbing Melissa by the front of her blouse and pinned her to the wall.
"That's right. There's The Enforcer. It's nice to meet you. I knew you couldn't hold it in forever. Come on. Pull rank on me. Show me who's boss. Do it. Because no matter who you think you are, your not my boss. You don't control me. I take orders from Chuck. So does half the team. Your not the leader anymore Walker, and if you where I would quit. Because it's clear that if you're not top dog then no one is. That's what you wanted to say to Chuck yesterday, right? I'm Sarah Walker! No one is better then me! Right? Hit me. Go ahead. Do it. You want to right? You want to prove you're tougher then me right? I can see it in your eyes. Show me what The Enforcer's capable of. Show me why half of the intelligence world hates you. Show ME!" Melissa yelled.
Sarah pulled her right arm back but stopped. She growled and let Melissa fall to the floor. "You don't know me so stay the fuck out of my head!" Sarah yelled looking at her clinched fists.
"I wonder what face Chuck would make if he saw this video. I wonder if he would be horrified by The Enforcer?" Melissa asked.
"He's seen The Enforcer before. He's met all of the sides of me and he's never flinched once." Sarah said sadly as she took a seat at the table.
"Makes you realize who the better person is, doesn't it?" Melissa asked disgustedly.
"Yes it does. Is that how people see me?" Sarah asked putting her head in her hands.
"Some do. I didn't before yesterday. Sam still hates you on some level for ending her career. Jordan only knows your reputation for being a crazy bitch. Kate, being CIA, has heard stories about you. Some good, some not so much. When we were first given your file as part of the fake taskforce to find you and Chuck some of the other agents knew about you. Some of the things they said were not very nice. Look I know that being the best of the best means pissing some people off. I also know it means that you have to run every part of the mission to get shit done. But when your playing the support role you have to actually support. You can't be in charge of a mission you're not on. Do you know what he was like yesterday after your phone call? He was half the man I know as Chuck. I can only guess that's how he was after Jill left him." Melissa said taking a seat across from Sarah.
"How the hell would you know?" Sarah asked getting defensive.
"We talk. You know the thing you don't like to do? Have you ever even told him your real name? Or where you grew up? Or your favorite color even? We covered all of that on the first day. Well I did any way, and he told me about himself after he brought me on board. With a guy like Chuck how the hell did you get away with not talking to him? He's so open and honest. Even when he was lying to me it was mostly built on truth. Not his truth, but truth none the less." Melissa said shaking her head.
"So you think you know My Husband better then I do because you talk?" Sarah asked defensively.
"I Know I do. The simple fact is I think he's too good for you. I also think you tricked him into loving you as much as he does. It's like some sick form of Stockholm Syndrome." Melissa said angrily.
"This I've got to hear. Come on you NSA Whore, tell me why I you think I don't deserve my own Husband." Sarah said sarcastically folding her arms.
Melissa looked at Sarah shaking her head. "I think he loves you more then you can ever love him back, and I think it's such a waste of a good man like him. I think you stacked the deck in your favor and then forced him into choosing you. You made sure the only hot woman he could have any sort of relationship with was his sister for the last year and a half. I also think you kept him dependent on you to stay alive so he was forced to latch onto you to survive in this world. I also think you kept stringing him along until he was fixated on you. I think he worships you like some deity, and you don't give a shit about him you cold hearted mean bitch." Melissa said getting in Sarah's face. But then she smiled and stepped back. "It doesn't matter though, because I'm just going to sit back a watch you fuck it up with him and when you do I'll be right there waiting to pick up the pieces." Melissa said smirking.
Sarah shot out of her chair "Fuck You! You don't know a God Damn thing about me! You come in here and think you can tell me all that shit? He's my Husband! Mine! And you don't know a Fucking thing about us! I love him with every fiber of my being. I love him just as much as he loves me and you can't do a thing about it! I don't care if I have to kill you, but your never getting My Chuck!" Sarah said advancing on Melissa.
But instead of fighting back, Melissa started clapping. "It's about damn time. I thought I was going to have to describe the nasty things I was going to do to him to get you to start acting like you cared about him." Melissa said smiling.
"What?" Sarah asked confused.
"I was pushing you into admitting your feelings for him. Now maybe you can tell him some of that? Lord knows he deserves to hear it. The man thinks you can do no wrong. It's like he thinks you can walk on water or something. It's nice to know you at least love him back." Melissa said.
"Of course I love him!" Sarah said looking insulted.
"Well from the crap you told him yesterday you had me questioning it." Melissa said.
"I really messed up big time didn't I?" Sarah asked.
"In a normal situation, what you said could have been laughed off, but out in the field? It hit him hard. He's made a lot of decisions over the last week that has him questioning himself, and his morals. Chuck's an honest guy. Having to keep up the lies and the tough guy front is very taxing for him. He doesn't know it but I can see it in his eyes. Every time he threatens to kill some one, every time he shoots some one, and every time he has to talk to Roark his eyes lose a little bit of their spark. But when he spends time talking to me about his day, or taking Sam to the range, or when he works out with Jordan his eye gain some of that spark back. When he can be just Chuck for a few hours at the end of the day I can see him come back to life almost. He smiles more. His shoulders relax. The time he spends taking care of us lets him concentrate on something besides the things he did that day to grow the ledged of Charles Carmichael." Melissa said holding her Angle pendent.
"You really do love him don't you?" Sarah asked smiling sadly.
"I really do. That stuff I said about picking up the pieces was not bullshit. While I'm not hoping you guys break up I will tell you there is a line of very sexy women that would love nothing more then to be with Chuck. I should know I'm at the head of that line. I know you love him but I think you need to realize your not the only beautiful woman in the world that knows he's a great guy. You need to start acting like it. You need to start treating him like he treats you. You need to count yourself very lucky that a guy like Chuck loves you." Melissa said smirking.
"I don't know if I should be happy that Chuck has such a good friend that loves him as much as you do, or I should see you as a threat to my marriage." Sarah said with a raised eyebrow.
"I think you should see me as both. I think to help keep you focused on making Chuck your top priority you should always remember I'm more then happy to take him off your hands. With that being said I don't think you and I are going to be as good of friends as we thought we were yesterday. I think having me around will keep you honest." Melissa said.
"I noticed you keep touching that pendent. Did Chuck give you that?" Sarah asked.
"No I gave it to myself. It's a symbol of being one of Charlie's Angles. A way to say I work for Chuck and no one else. I have one, Jordan has one and in a few days Sam and Kate will have one." Melissa said proudly.
"Do I get one?" Sarah asked smirking.
"No. You have your symbol of love, and dedication already. It's on a string around Chuck neck right now but it's yours. This is mine. I'll always be Chuck's girl. Like the women on the TV show he saved me from a life I didn't like living and made me into something more. I will forever be in his debt, and I'm more then happy spending the rest of my life repaying that debt. Without Chuck I'd still be a NSA whore as you put it." Melissa said smiling.
"Yeah I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean it." Sarah said.
"Yes you did, and I'm okay with it. It's not like we're friends after all. I'm after your man remember?" Melissa said smirking.
"That's right. I keep forgetting we're enemies now. You bitch! How was that?" Sarah asked matching Melissa's smirk.
"Much better. Now that that's out of the way I have to tell you that Chuck almost killed Ted Roark today." Melissa said sadly.
"He what? When was this?" Sarah asked sitting back down.
"You know how he downloaded all those files into his head right? Well one of them was a file about how Roark kidnapped Chuck's dad and later killed him. Chuck flashed on it in his sleep and when he got up he put on his vest and loaded it down with enough guns and ammo to kill everyone in the building. When I got up he was half way to the door looking like he was ready to fight all of Fulcrum by himself. I talked him down and got him to open up but I'm concerned about him. It's a lot to take in and process. I don't think it's really hit him yet, and if it has then I think he's holding a lot in because he knows how important the mission is. I think you two need to make up so you can talk to him about it." Melissa said.
"I agree. I need to fix things with him. I have no idea how he could even be in the same city as Roark let alone pretending to like him. It must be killing him." Sarah said.
"I guess it's on par with having his wife tell him he needs to tuck his tail between his legs and watch his tone when speaking to the great and powerful Enforcer." Melissa said smirking.
"You're never going to let me live that down are you?" Sarah asked smiling sadly.
Melissa shook her head gravely. "No, I'm afraid not." She got the words out before she broke. That set Sarah off and killed the tension in the room. "But in all seriousness I'm not going to stop reminding you of what you have because there are some very good women out there that would kill to have what you have, me included." Melissa said getting serious again.
"I know. And I'm going to do my best to fix this. I promise." Sarah said nodding.
"Good now we can go back out there and I can explain the information on that hard drive." Melissa said walking to the door. As she went for the button to open the door Alex opened it from the other side.
"You need to come quick. The General's on the conference screen and she needs to talk to you both!" Alex said in a rush.
They all jogged back to the conference room and took seats. "You needed to see us Ma'am." Sarah asked.
"Yes. I know you are short agent Carmichael at the moment but I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important. We just got word that Victor Sidorov is in Los Angles. For those of you that don't know Sidorov, he's a Russian arms dealer and former KGB Radical. He made a fortune selling stolen Russian military hardware to the highest bidder. He's sold old surplus AK47s to war lords and drug cartels the world over. Recently there's been a lot of chatter about the possibility of him having Russian nuclear warheads. He's staying at the Four Seasons at the moment and there are a few other major players in the area that he could be meeting with. The Mission is to find out who he's meeting with and what he's selling. If it's possible to do so with out drawing attention to your ongoing operation then we would like you to arrest him and anyone he's dealing with. Ideally if Agent Carmichael could follow Sidorov to the meeting and flash on the buyers we would have a better idea of what we're dealing with." Beckman said.
"Well ma'am we have a very strange situation with the on going mission. Chuck is a trusted member of Fulcrum and could easily slip out and shadow Sidorov. Especially if he takes one of our trusted agents in the Fulcrum organization with him to provide a cover story. But if Fulcrum is the interned buyer of what ever Sidorov is selling we have a very bad situation on our hands Ma'am." Sarah said.
"I agree Ma'am. Fulcrum trusts Chuck as much as they do me, but if Chuck is anywhere near a Fulcrum bust then his cover will be blown. With that being said I think we should get him involved Ma'am. He might have an idea about how we can pull this off without hurting the on going mission." Melissa said.
"I think we should just nab him and beat the crap out of him until he tells us everything we want Ma'am." Casey growled out.
"I think that can be a last ditch effort Major. I think we should talk to Chuck. Have him look over the files I just sent and get back to me when you have a plan in place. If he doesn't have something in six hours I'm signing an arrest and interrogation order for Sidorov. Major gather strike team one and tell them they could have a mission tonight. That is all, Dismissed." Beckman said sighing off.
Alex went to the computer and downloaded the files onto a flash drive and handed them to Melissa. "I'll run this by Chuck, and see what he has to say. Is there anything else you need Chuck to get? I know I said I was going to go over the data on the hard drive, but I think this takes precedent over that for now. Alex look over the files if you have any questions I'll be back tomorrow. I was sitting right next to him when he sifted through the files. I have no idea about anything in the Mission folder. That's all Chuck. I'll let him explain that to you guys." Melissa said gathering her things.
"Can you take this to Chuck and have him call me?" Sarah asked handing Melissa Chuck's iPhone. "Now that we're working for the government again we can use our secure phones. No one can trace them. We have access to the President's personal communications satellite." Sarah said.
"I'll make sure he talks to you. He really missies you very much." Melissa said quietly enough so that only Sarah could hear her.
"Thank you." Sarah said smiling.
"Walk me out?" Melissa asked.
Sarah nodded and followed Melissa up the stairs. When they got out side Melissa turned to Sarah and to the surprise of the blonde, she hugged her. "I came here for one reason. That was to get you, and Chuck talking again. That all starts with you admitting that, like the rest of us Chuck is more then he was before. He's Your loveable husband Chuck. He's also the man I take orders from, and gave me a second chance at this life of spies. He's also Charles Carmichael now. A man of action and planning. A true force to be rescanned with. Like you're Sarah Walker, and Sarah Bartowski, and The Enforcer. You have to respect the fact that with every passing day he's becoming your equal. Now he might not say it but the fact that you don't respect that hurts him. He starts to question his actions, and when he does that he's not thinking clearly. You know what happens to agents that can't keep there head in the game. They don't make it very long. And just like he's your connection to normalcy, you have always been his sources of confidence. Don't take it away from him when he needs it the most." Melissa said pulling away form Sarah.
"Your very wise when it comes to this stuff aren't you?" Sarah asked looking thoughtful.
"It's my Angle specialty. Jordan has wisdom that comes from working a very long time in this world of cloak and dagger. Sam is the muscles. She's like G.I. Angle. Kate's the cute Angle. She can get into anywhere with a smile and a bat of her eyelashes. As for me? I keep the group together, and everyone happy." Melissa said walking to her car.
"I know we said we weren't going to like each other, but I do. I'm glade to know you Melissa." Sarah said smiling.
Melissa winded down her window. "I still want your husband, but I'll keep my hands to myself, because I like you too." Melissa said driving off.
Sarah stood there smirking. She didn't know how to feel about Melissa. On the one hand she was jealous of her connection with Chuck. On the other hand she was glad she was around. She always seamed to know what the team needed. "Thank you Melissa for saying all that stuff, and for reminding me of not only who Chuck is now, but also who I am." Sarah said to herself as she walked back into the yogurt shop.
Chuck took a bite of the gray burger sitting in front of him. It did Not taste like a beef burger, but it didn't taste like cardboard either and that surprised him.
"Well, what do you think? Good right?" Jordan asked smiling.
Chuck didn't feel like hurting her feelings so he just nodded. "So how did you find this place?" Chuck asked looking around.
"My son took me here once. He's into health living like me. He dose the same workout I do every morning. He runs track at school too." Jordan said proudly.
"Do you get to see him? What's the cover story? I mean UCLA is not that far from here." Chuck asked.
"I see him about once a month. I told him I'm running intelligence gathering for Special Forces groups in Iraq. He thinks I'm living in D.C. if I do run into him on the street I'm supposed to tell him I'm here for work and that I can't talk about it. Thankfully I haven't had to use that line yet." Jordan said.
"It does sound a little weak. If he's half as smart as him mother then he's not going to believe that." Chuck said.
"He's smarter then me. He's close to graduating with a degree in computer engineering, and he's only 22. I'm so proud of him. He's my greatest achievement." Jordan said smiling.
"Does he know what he want's to do after he graduates?" Chuck asked.
"He wants to work for RI. He want's to build next generation computers. He's been working on a prototype for a while now. I don't know half of what he says when he talks about it, but I bet you two would hit it off really well." Jordan said.
"I hope so. If he's that good I want him to head up the new project Prometheus. I have this idea for a small powerful laptop. I want it to be light, small, and fast. I want it to be good for a verity of applications. I want it to also cost less then 250 bucks to make. I want him working on it when I take over the company." Chuck said excitedly.
"See that's what I'm talking about. I understood half of that." Jordan said laughing.
"I've got so many ideas that I want to try. I'm going to expand the R and D department. I want to give back to the world by making awesome computers and software, and I want to sell it as closest to cost as we can. I want to turn RI in to the company it should have been." Chuck said speaking a mile a minute.
"But if you did that how are you going to make money?" Jordan asked confused.
"We charge those that have more money more for our products. If a company places an order for a hundred PC towers today how much of a discount will they get?" Chuck asked munching on his not-a-burger.
"Depending on the company 15-20 percent." Jordan said.
"When I take over that's going to change. When you place a bulk order in the future you'll be charged more for buying in bulk. I'm going to call it the corporate charge. Not a lot but enough to offset the cost of selling just above cost to the public." Chuck said smirking.
"But they'll stop buying from you then." Jordan said scratching her head.
"Will they? If we make the best computer in the world can they really afford to not pay the price? What else can they do? Buy them from the store one at a time? You know that's not going to happen. Especially after the PR campaign I'm going to run explaining the reason we can sell the new Roark super book laptop to inner city schools so cheap is because of the support we get from the corporations that over pay for their orders. What company is going to find a way around the corporate charge and risk looking like assholes for not supporting poor kids? Think about the bad PR we can rain down on them for it. Can you imagine some one like Kate standing with a group of young kids holding laptops. 'we had to stop the computers for kids program because of so-and-so evil company. Because of them these kids wont get an education." Chuck said in a British accent. "Can you imagine the backlash for something like that? And after the first one the rest will pay whatever we ask. Think about it Jordan, every household with kids will have at lest one of our laptops, and when the parents help little Timmy with his homework and see how good the Super book is they'll go out and buy one, and then they'll tell their friends. And what celebrity wont over pay for a supper book to help the children? Come on, the good press will sell them faster then we'll be able to make them." Chuck said finishing his beer.
"OH MY GOD! It's genus! Why the hell aren't we doing something like that already?" Jordan asked looking at Chuck with awe.
"Because RI is run by a guy trying to fund a secret intelligence organization. If you cut the cost of running Fulcrum off the budget you suddenly have a lot more capital to bankroll something like this. I mean, sure we're going to fund the super team with RI money, but even if we grow three times in size it's still going to cost a hell of a lot less then Fulcrum. The amount of money he burned on building his Intersect is sickening. It's his white whale you know?" Chuck said as he called the waitress for the check.
"I know. I've seen some of the budget statements." Jordan said trying to take the check, but Chuck was faster.
Chuck was shocked by the total, but he figured eating at a nice place this close to beach came with a high price tag. He peeled off a hundred dollar bill and handed it to the waitress. "Keep the change." he said with a smile. The girl blushed and walked off smiling.
"And the Carmichael charm strikes again." Jordan said standing up smirking.
"What? Oh the waitress? She was like young enough to be my kid practically." Chuck said waving Jordan off.
"You really need to learn to control that smile of yours Chuck. You're going to get in trouble one day because of it." Jordan said as they got into the car.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. But I think I'm going to be in trouble if we don't get you back to Teddy soon. What's he doing without you there to look at all this time we've been gone?" Chuck asked.
"I'm not sure, and that's the scary part. With a guy like Roark you never know what he'll do next. I'm still surprised by the fact you can keep predicting his reactions." She said.
"Actually he's very predictable when it comes to me. He's obsessed with the Intersect, with it's potential for power. He sees me as a way of getting everything he ever wanted and more. He see me as the key to all that power. I can predict him because he thinks he's controlling me with you ladies. He thinks I'm an over sexed young computer nerd with a gun and a bad attitude. He thinks that you, Melissa, Sam and Kate are keeping me busy when I'm not diligently working in the basement of RI. And I do everything I can to fit that mold because that's what he's like. He's a sexual deviant nerd with a bad attitude. I can predict his moves because I'm playing the same part." Chuck said shrugging.
"Well you must play by different rules because you're noting like him." Jordan said.
"So you think. Around him I try to act just like him. Some of the things I've said to him make me sick to my stomach." Chuck said looking out the window. Chuck's Blackberry rang. "Hello?"
"Hey Chuck, I just got back from lunch and you're not in your office. Are you headed back soon I got something very important for you to look at." Melissa said pacing Chuck's white office.
"Yeah me and Jordan are on our way back right now. Is that very important something you wanted to show in your pants?" Chuck asked in a sexy voice.
"No why?" Melissa asked confused.
"Are you sure because you call me on my Work Cell to tell me you want me to look at something in the middle of the day after you tell me your going shopping." Chuck said hopping she would catch on.
Melissa looked at her phone confused for a second before it hit her. She called him on a phone that's being taped. She smiled at Chuck's quick thinking. He knew she screwed up and he was giving her an out. "Okay you got me. I stopped by Victoria's Secret and got you something. I'm keeping it warm for you." She said in a voice that made Chuck's pants uncomfortable.
"Well I look forward to dissert then. See you in ten minute." He said hanging up.
"Melissa?" Jordan asked smiling.
"Yeah, she just got back from Castle and I think they have something important for me. I'm guessing it has to do with the mission. Can you come down with me to see what it is? I would love to hear your thoughts on whatever it is." Chuck said.
"Why? It's not like I know anything you don't." Jordan said confused.
"No but you have years of experience. Something I don't have yet. You're my Wise Angle after all." Chuck said smirking.
"There you go calling me old again." She said laughing.
"Me? Call you old? Never!" Chuck said waving her off that set them both off laughing.
When they walked into Chuck's office they found Melissa sitting in Chuck's chair looking at something on his laptop. "No, by all means, make yourself comfortable in my chair. Play with my laptop too. Would you like me to get you anything to drink?" Chuck asked with a smile.
"Yes I would like you to get your ass over here and look at this. Beckman called while I was there, she has a urgent mission for you." Melissa said.
"What are we looking at?" Chuck asked pulling Melissa out of his chair.
He sat down and she sat in his lap. "This Russian arms dealer named Victor Sidorov…" Melissa stopped talking when Chuck started flashing.
"Victor Sidorov, born in Moscow. Joined the KGB at age 18. In 1987 after the cold war ended he quit the KGB and joined a radical off-shoot group that pledged to bring glory to Mother Russia. When the group leaders were arrested the rest of them scattered. Sidorov has spent the last twenty years selling surplus soviet weapons on the black market. He's a really bad dude. He's here in L.A.?" Chuck asked.
"Yeah he's staying at the Four Seasons. Beckman has his phone tapped. She thinks he's here to make a sale. She said she would like you to follow him around and find out who he's meeting. She also said it would be great if you could arrest him and the buyer." Melissa said thinking back to the briefing she just came from.
"So the General wants me to shadow Sidorov to the buy and bust them?" Chuck asked looking over the file.
"In a nut shell." Melissa nodded.
"Jordan, I'm guessing you know this guy?" Chuck asked looking up from his laptop.
"I know him, he's a real asshole. I was part of a team that tried to get him about six years ago. We caught the buyer but he slipped away. We lost two agents that night. Victor doesn't play around. If he thinks he's cornered he'll shoot it out." Jordan said staring off into space.
"Is there anything you can tell me that this file doesn't have in it?" Chuck asked turning the laptop to face Jordan. She flicked through the file for a few minutes but she shook her head.
"No, this looks like the same file we were working off of six years ago, just updated. There is someone that could tell you a lot more about Victor, but Sam's not here right now, and I don't know what kind of mission you have her on. She tracked him down for the Russians on a joint taskforce I think. I remember we talked about Victor before." Jordan said shrugging.
"Sam's in D.C. looking for an agent I want on the team." Chuck said pulling out a burn phone.
"Actually you don't have to use those anymore. Sarah said you can use this again." She said handing him his iPhone.
"Oh my baby! I've missed you so much! I've had to remember phone numbers again, it sucks." Chuck said caressing his iPhone.
"Should we leave you two alone?" Jordan asked smirking.
"Hey, you don't know what it's like for a geek to be separated from his tech." Chuck said indigently.
"Whatever nerd." Jordan said laughing.
"Don't you have a phone call to make?" Melissa asked trying to get them back on task.
"Yeah, I hope she's done with her mission already. If not we're going to have to wait. She's supposed to lay low with Carina." Chuck said pulling up Carina's number.
"Hey Chucky." Carina answered.
Chuck palmed his face. "Is Sam there?" Chuck asked exasperated. He was sure no one in the world could make his head hurt fast then Carina.
"Hello to you too. What I'm not good enough now? Need I remind you that you called my phone?" Carina asked.
"Carina, this is national security important. Can you put Sam on please?" Chuck asked in a voice full of authority.
"Yeah she's right here. What's going on Chuck?" Carina asked in full agent mode.
"Are you home?" Chuck asked.
"Yeah."
"Put the phone on speaker." Chuck said doing the same.
"Okay, your on with both of us, what's going on Chuck?" Carina asked.
"Victor Sidorov is here in L.A., he just got here last night. He's by himself. Beckman thinks he's here to make a sale. She want's me to shadow him and bust the meeting. I wanted to ask my expert on all things Red related what she knew about Victor." Chuck said.
"I'm not surprised he's alone. He usually is. He has trust issues. If he's here in the US then it's important. He would never risk a trip here unless the payout was huge." Sam said.
"Can you tell me anything about him personally?" Chuck asked.
"Well I know a lot, what are you looking for?" Sam asked.
"Give me the dating profile summery." Chuck said scratching his chin.
"Victor Sidorov, 41 years old. Tall and thin. He is in very good shape and he knows hand to hand combat. He's good with a knife, but better with a gun. He's from money so he's cultured. He likes opera, and fine wine. He owns a string of five star restaurants across Europe through a ghost company. He like's fine suits and expensive watches. Like any other man he's got a soft spot for the ladies. Beside that I've got nothing.
"So he's like Carmichael, just older and Russian?" Chuck asked looking around.
"I can see the similarities." Sam said.
"In your opinion, Agent Glass, would the honey pot work with Victor?" Chuck asked smiling.
"It would but you would have to send someone like Walker or Melissa. He like's them tall and leggy." Sam said.
"Send me in Charlie, I'll have him talking before the first course." Melissa said smirking and sticking out her impressive chest.
"I would love to send you my head Angle, but I'm thinking this would be a good opportunity for Kate to get her head back in the game. She needs to remember what seduction is all about. True seduction, not taking your top off and getting into bed with your mark." Chuck said looking at Melissa with a smirk.
"Hey! I know how to work someone now. Ask Jordan, she'll tell you." Melissa said pointing at the blushing older woman sitting in front of them.
"She don't count, she's way too easy to seduce. I had her panting this morning without even trying. Besides Kate was trained to do this kind of thing. Not that the CIA gave her a chance to really use it. I think this can be a way to show her she's more then a play thing. Remember how good it felt when I gave you your first mission? Remember how powerful you felt? Don't you want Kate to feel that way too?" Chuck asked Melissa.
"Of course I do. She needs it too. She's feeling so low right now. I can see it in her eyes. I'm just worried about her." Melissa said.
"I think she can do it. One look at her baby blues and a glance down her top and you'll have to peal Sidorov off the floor." Sam said.
"I think it's the accent that's going to get him personally. It's what stopped me dead in my tracks the first time I met her." Chuck said smiling.
"I agree, but I think you should have lots of backup." Jordan said.
"I need to talk to Sarah and Casey. I'll talk to you later Sam." Chuck said reaching for his iPhone on his desk. But Melissa got to it first.
"There's a white gold Angle waiting for you when you get back Sam. Thanks for killing the surprise by the way." Melissa said laughing.
"I'm so sorry about that." Sam said.
"It's okay. Chuck knows now and he's happy with it. Jordan has her Angle too. I think Chuck should give Kate her Angle tonight after the mission. Then you're the last one to get yours. Call it punishment for ruining the surprise." Melissa said.
"Not cool. I'll see you tomorrow night." Sam said hanging up.
Melissa handed Chuck his phone back and retook her seat in his lap. Chuck just smiled and shook his head. He called Sarah.
"Chuck I love you and I'm sorry for what I said yesterday. I didn't mean it and I want you to know I love you and respect you. I also know you're the team leader on this mission and I'm going to work really hard at trying to share the spot light with you, and not push you aside." Sarah said in a rush.
"Wow! Slow down Sarah. I love you too. And I know you love me and respect me. I'm not even mad about yesterday. I know you're just worried about me. If the situation was reversed I would be worried too. Whatever gave you the idea that I was hurt by what you said yesterday?" Chuck asked.
"Melissa came by today and she told me some things I needed to hear. She said I'm married to the best guy in the world and I needed to treat you better. She's right you know. I need to start treating you like an equal when it comes to this spy stuff. You're my husband and my partner. She also reminded me that I'm not the only woman that loves you. She kindly reminded me that there's a whole line of women waiting to get a crack at you, and she's the first one in line." Sarah said laughing.
"Well she is my head Angle after all." Chuck said smiling exasperatedly at Melissa. Melissa, looked away pretending she couldn't hear what was said over the phone but her blush was evidence enough.
"Yeah about that, are you building a harem over there Chuck?" Sarah asked laughing.
"No, I most certainly am not, but Melissa is I think." Chuck laughed out making Melissa turn bright red.
"We are not your harem, we are your team. We work for you, that's all." Melissa said getting off Chuck's lap.
"Was that Melissa?" Sarah asked smirking.
"Yes, it was. She was sitting on my lap just a second ago." Chuck said.
"Really? Does that happen a lot? Her sitting on your lap?" Sarah asked angrily.
She was expecting Chuck to get flustered and try to back peddle. What she wasn't prepared for was Chuck's casual, "Yeah it does. I think Melissa's part cat or something. She's really into touching. Not in a sexual way, but in a lap sitting cuddly type of way. I think it's kind of cute." Chuck said smiling at Melissa.
"Really? Wow that's a little strange. I mean to be that touchy feely with someone don't you think?" Sarah asked finding the whole situation not that funny anymore.
"I don't know? Some people are very tactile with their friends I guess?" Chuck said sitting up. He realized they were headed towards the argument zone at ramming speed and he didn't know what he did.
"So you would have no problem with me being more tactile with My guy friends then?" Sarah asked with an edge to her voice.
"No, I mean you'd actually have to open up and make friends first but…" Chuck knew he messed up the second the words left his mouth, he didn't even mean it like it came out. He just meant she wasn't a very open person. Not that he minded. He knew this. He didn't care. It's not like he wasn't supplying most of the emotion of the relationship for the past year and a half. But he said the words and like having an egg slip out of your hand he was going to have a real mess to try and clean up.
"So now I'm the problem? It's my fault that you have that red headed Whore crawling all over you? Is that what your saying Chuck?" She half yelled, half asked.
He cupped the phone and looked at Jordan and Melissa. "Can you guys give me the room please? I'll tell you the plan later."
Melissa nodded and pulled Jordan out of the room. "Okay Chuck." She said with a guilty look on her face.
Chuck sighed. He knew it was a rhetorical question, but he knew that if he left her hanging any longer she would get even more mad at him. "No that's not what I'm saying and I don't think it's very nice of you to use that word to talk about Melissa."
"I'll say whatever the hell I want about the bitch spending every waking moment trying to get into your pants! As for your cool and care free attitude, I think if the tables were turned you'd be freaked out and whining like a child about it!" Sarah yelled.
"I think I've seen you do a lot more then sit in somebody's lap, and I still stuck around so you need to take two steps back and think about your next words very carefully. We're having a full blown argument over nothing right now." Chuck said wiping his hand over his face.
"I think I'm justified. I also think it's funny that you can take the moral high ground. You spent the last week with how many women? You've become quite the ladies man Chuck. I'm very proud of you. You went from professing your undying love for me to fucking how many women?" Sarah asked sarcastically.
"You know damn well I didn't have sex with any of these women. You know most of this shit is for the cover. You know the shit you always tell me? Oh Chuck I'm just flirting with that guy at the bar for the cover, or I'm just dry humping that guy over there for the cover. I'm just stripping down to my see through underwear for the cover." Chuck said mocking her. But then he pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it like he never saw it before. Why was he doing this? Why was he fighting with Sarah? Why was he fighting with his wife?
"If that's the way you feel then I think we need to…"
"NO! No don't finish that sentence. What the hell are we fighting about? What are we doing Sarah? I love you. I know you love me. Why are we fighting for? What started this? You called me to tell me you love me. How did we get here? How did we get to the brink of divorce that fast?" Chuck asked sitting in his chair and slumping forwards.
"I… I'm not sure? Chuck what's going on?" Sarah asked sitting in one of the chairs in the interrogation room she was in.
"Okay. I want you to try something for me. Take out my ring and hold it in your hand." Chuck said pulling Sarah's ring out and looking at it.
"Okay." she said holding the platinum band in her hand.
"Do you remember our wedding?" Chuck asked laughing nostalgically.
"Of course I do. It was a week ago." Sarah said confused.
"Work with me here Sarah. Think about it like it's a distant memory. Look back at that night like it was 50 years ago, not 6 days ago. We're just two old people sitting on a park bench trying to remember. Come on Sarah picture it please." Chuck pleaded.
"Okay Chuck. I'm remembering it." She said exasperatedly.
"No your not. Lets try this another way. Remember the first time we met? I was standing behind the Nerd Herd desk, and Morgan was talking to me. He spotted you first that day you know?" Chuck asked smiling.
"I know. I saw the look in his little eyes when I came through the door." Sarah said laughing softly.
"I still remember what he said to me. Stop the presses, is that Vicky Vale?" Chuck said aping his little friend.
"I remember walking into the Buy More thinking about how easy this was going to be. A single, computer nerd, living with his sister? Please. But when you dropped that phone and looked at me with those kind brown eyes I lost all of my edge. I didn't want this to be easy. I didn't want it to be quick and easy and be on to the next mission." Sarah said softly.
"Well I didn't really know what to do when you walked up. I knew one thing though. I knew not to even think about you, don't even look at you. Because It was never going to happen. Girls like you don't go for guys like me. We don't get the prom queen. This is not some John Hues movie. The hot girl is never going to even look at you twice. I was glad that guy came in with his daughter. It was the distraction I needed. I could get out of the range of that pretty white smile." Chuck said pulling his tie lose.
"When he walked up I was disappointed. I was so close to getting your full attention. You had just stopped rambling, and you were calming down. Then he showed up with that cute little girl. Chuck there has never been a man that made me think about the future like you did that day talking to that little girl. I knew I was looking at a man that was going to father my children. I saw you tell that little girl that ballerinas were tall, but I also saw you putting Band-Aids on scraped knees and kissing away fake booboos. I've never thought about life after my service was over, but for a brief second I was transported somewhere else." Sarah said as a tear ran down her cheek.
"When you left your card I didn't know what to do. I knew my odds of being with you were slim to none, but when you walked in the next day my heart almost stopped. At that moment I knew I had to do everything I could to see you again the next day, and the day after that, and the next. I knew I had to try my hardest to make that a reality. I knew I was looking at a Goddess, and she came looking for me? Me? Chuck the Nerd Herder? The whole time I was getting dressed I was waiting for a phone call. I was waiting for you to tell me that you came to your senses and the date was off. I even took my time driving to your hotel. I was postponing the rejection." Chuck said playing with her ring.
"What rejection? I was trying very hard to stay on task. I knew there was no way I was going to be able to hurt you. I knew it the second I met you." Sarah said sadly.
"How did we go from that first meeting to where we are now? How did we go from love at first sight to a few words away from divorce? If it's something I did then I'll fix it. I swear to you Sarah I'll do anything to fix this." Chuck said close to breaking down.
"I don't know Chuck. I don't know. It seams like every time we talk on the phone we end up fighting. I don't want to fight with you Chuck." Sarah said lost.
"I think I know what's wrong. I think your threatened by Carmichael. I think you think that if I'm Carmichael then I don't need Sarah Walker, and you know what? Your right. Charles Carmichael could walk into a bar and walk out with any woman in the place. He's cool. He's confident, and most of all he's a predator. He takes what he wants. But so does Agent Walker. For a long time I was very insecure about the fact that I was just Chuck and I was with Sarah Walker CIA Agent and sexy lady. I knew that one day you would be on a mission with some James Bond type and I would never see you again. You'd run off to be with someone just like you. It took me a long time to realize that wasn't going to happen. It took me until about a week ago really, but for a long time I was just counting the days till the end. Now I think the shoe is on the other foot. You're with Carmichael now, and you think I'm going to run off with another woman. You think I'll wise up and see your not good enough for me. You think Melissa's going to be sitting on my lap one day and I'm going to look at her the same way I look at you. That I'm going to fall for her and run off with her. You can see it in your head. You can see us in bed together, or on a plan headed someplace hot. I know you can see it because I saw it for a very long time. Every time Bryce showed up. Every time you flirted with a mark. Every time you looked at a good looking guy checking you out when we were on cover dates. I saw it in sharp detail. My brain was my very worst enemy. Now it's your turn. The saddest part about the whole thing is there's nothing I can say to you that will make the doubt go away. Nothing to stop the nightmares from plaguing your daydreams. You have to find your talisman. Your shield against the bad thoughts, because no matter what I say, you'll have these thoughts in the back of your head." Chuck said.
"How did you? I mean I didn't even know until you said it but you're right. What's your talisman?" Sarah asked softly.
"It's two things. One is in your hands right now." Chuck said looking at her ring.
"Your ring?" She asked.
"It's not just my ring it's what's inside of my ring. It's a promise. It's a vow. And it's a symbol of how much I love you." Chuck said smiling.
"Always." Sarah said softly looking at the inscription.
"That's right. I know you put that ring on my finger and said your vows to me and I knew you were sticking around for good." Chuck said.
"What's the other thing?" Sarah said clutching his ring.
"What?" Chuck asked.
"You heard me. What's the other thing? You said it was two things. What's the other talisman?" Sarah asked.
"It's nothing. So you want to talk about the plan to get Sidorov?" Chuck asked trying to change the subject.
"I don't think so Chuck. What's the other thing?" Sarah asked.
"Look, I'll tell you if you promise me that you wont laugh at me. I don't think I can take that." Chuck said sighing.
"I'm not promising nothing. Spill." She said smiling.
"Okay, it's my gun." Chuck said.
"Your gun?" She asked confused.
"Yeah it's my gun, now can we talk about something else?" He asked.
"How is your gun a symbol of me not leaving you?" She asked.
"Fine I'll tell you. The gun's not a symbol of you not leaving me it's the symbol of Charles Carmichael. Carmichael is my other talisman." Chuck said blushing.
"I still don't get it. Carmichael is your talisman?" She asked.
"Well he's more of a back up plan. The gun makes the agent. Just like Bond has the PPKs I have the Sig229. I use it as a prop to get into character. I put on an expensive suit and tuck my gun in my back and I'm Charles Carmichael, CIA spy and world class lover. I figure, If Carmichael can get any woman in the world then he can get Agent Sarah Walker. If you ever drifted away from me. If you ever met someone you were attracted to more then me I could always turn on the charm and get you back. Because if your going to leave me, Chuck, for someone else then Carmichael could get you back. He's everything Agent Walker wants. If Agent Walker ever got tired of Chuck and started looking for something else Carmichael could be that something else. If Agent Walker ever wants excitement, and danger Charles Carmichael would always be there to show her a good time." Chuck said with his Carmichael confidence and sexy voice.
"Oh my god. You really know how to get me going don't you?" She said blushing.
"Like I said it's knowing I could get you back that gave me the confidence to drive away the bad dreams. You just have to find your symbol. I can't tell you what it is but once you find it. You can tell me." Chuck said.
"I will. I'll start looking." She said.
"Don't try too hard you'll never find it that way. It has to just happen. Like it did with me. Now as for the mission tonight. I have a plan that I think will work out well for everybody." Chuck said looking at his computer.
"Really? What have you got?" Sarah asked smiling.
"All I'm going to say for now is I hope you have a hostess outfit because your attitude lately has been very bad young lady." Chuck said in his most charming voice.
"Well I think I'm going to need a spanking then." Sarah said matching him.
"I'll see you in two hours. I'll bring my team with me. Can you have someone pick us up outside of Roark Towers in a limo or something? My cover is going to be a date with Melissa and Kate." Chuck said.
"A date with two girls?" Sarah asked.
"It's the only way to get most of the team out, I also have a reputation to uphold." Chuck said defensively.
"Hey I didn't say anything. I'll see you later, and we can talk face to face." Sarah said.
"I look forward to it." Chuck said smiling.