Payman Alahi's Compound.
Chuck was strictly tech support for this mission. His job was easy - reconfigure security apparatus to confuse the guards on duty. He was on the initial penetrating team with Casey, Zondra, Carina and Sarah.
The compound was a fortress and had impressive security. However it was not impregnable and drone survey had let him identify the gadgets in use.
FBI took the death of one of their best agents, real hard. They were now out for blood. They wanted the culprit found. But the mission wasn't done yet and they decided to focus their rage by supplying the manpower required to mow down any opposition.
Two squads team of FBI SWAT personnel had covered the entries and exits and once signalled would use deadly force.
The Brits having completed their mission were awaiting debriefing in the British Consulate. Tom Chappell was taking care of getaway incase of failure. On the way over, the tension in the van was palpable. Amy, had been of them, even if they hadn't been a team in while. Zondra and Sarah clearly had issues. And Carina was making things more difficult. Her coping mechanism it seems was flirting. Aggressively. And being the guy Sarah wanted, her flirtations were annoying not only him, but Sarah as well. In fact, Sarah's able-to-withstand-Carina's-shit meter had been constantly rising with each move on Chuck.
Zondra finally had enough. "Carina... I don't care how you cope but shut the fuck up."
The only sound came from the van's moving components. Even Casey held his biting and snarky comments. A fellow agent had died. It was a moment of silence for their fallen comrade.
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief internally. If not for Zondra, she would have let loose on Carina. And... that could have ruined their weird... friendship. She knew that she needed to secure herself as Chuck was just as committed for their relationship as she was. Like Ellie said, both feet in, from both of them. Yet, she felt constantly threatened even from the slightest interest shown from other... females. She knew that she had him gobsmacked with her physical appearance. She just freaked out whenever she thought he would rather be with someone less... damaged.
And she also knew he was a bit insecure in that he felt constantly he was unworthy of her. And there was the Bryce issue. No matter what happens, that scar won't fade. She would need to help him realize that the scar would never grow into a wound and bleed again. She would rather die than be the cause of that.
"Fuck..." the curse left her mouth before she could stop it. The day had been taxing. They had disabled most of Peyman Alahi's financial assets and network nodes, taken out the top lieutenants of the Council currently in the USA and nabbed one among the most dangerous arms trafficking individual in the world. Yet they felt no victory as they managed to stop just one small plot in a much larger scheme. Who were the weapons for? Why was the Council helping facilitate transactions and business deals between La Ciudad and Alahi's terror network? How and when did Geaz sink his claws into Amy? And why did she have to die? Who was the traitor who shot her? How could she and Chuck safely get out of the spy game without being collateral damage for the greater good? And most of all, was what she was doing worth the risk to Chuck's life? Hers?
Zondra's voice cut in. "You got something to say, bitch?"
Obviously they still had issues. And she so wanted to tell her the truth. She was so tired of everything and no matter how much she didn't want to, the only three people she trusted were in the van with her. Chuck, Carina and now... Zondra. She would want to trust Casey, but she didn't put it past him to take her out if he was ordered to. The others would never do that to her.
"I am sorry, Zondra. For everything. For not believing you. For accusing you of treason. But most of all, for destroying the only good friendship in our lives. I hope you can forgive me someday." Sarah sighed and looked away.
The other C. A. T. S. were dumbfounded. Ice queen Walker, showed emotion. Specifically sadness and remorse, and it wasn't because their mission plan was not followed. It was for the loss of a comrade. Little did others know, they were actually five C. A. T. S. - Sarah, Carina, Zondra, Amy and Julia. On their fourth mission, Julia sacrificed herself to keep the team safe. Her body was found with nearly three hundred bullet rounds, a couple dozen electric burns and lacerations all across her back. They all had been reduced to tears.
They all swore revenge and when they did get it, the bastards suffered. Everyone but Sarah had shown their true feelings. Through the entire thing, Sarah'd not shed a single tear. She went through with it like she would any other. Cold precision and efficacy. Not a single emote on her throughout the ordeal. And that continued throughout their time together. Only Zondra could get her to laugh and Carina would get her smiling once in a while. Amy was the one who could get her to show amusement and excitement occasionally. And... Bryce. He got her passionate and exhilarated.
But... regret and remorse? As far as they knew, she never did those. She never apologised unless it was to do her some good. And she was never fervent and open. And they knew she was like this just six months back. This guy... Chuck. He seriously had an effect on her. Making her a better human being.
Carina was insanely jealous. Not for their relationship. In her opinion, love was for suckers and fools. But she was jealous of Sarah and... she couldn't believe it... but Chuck too. It was clear both had been pushing each other away from whatever extremes they had been in. His effect on her was clear as day. Sarah apologized to Zondra. And when she should have, she didn't do so. Despite Zondra taking the experimental, drug-enhanced, radioactive lie-detector test and that was something even Casey would be reluctant to go near.
Zondra growled. "Now? After all these years, a simple apology? No... We will have this... discussion like we should. In the fucking ring beating the apology out of each other. You got me blondie?"
Sarah smiled. "I would have it no other way."
The compound was Chuck's dream come true and nightmare all at once. It was a security infiltration expert' nightmare while the tech geek in him was in paradise.
There were state-of-the-art technology in motion detection and low latency automated response and lockdown systems. Combine that with heat signature verification, iris scanners and biometric locking mechanisms, infiltration all but required taking out of every electrical system in the vicinity with localized EMP blast to brute force your way into the compound. Luckily for him, the mainframe that ran the security systems had confoundedly been left open for premier hackers like him to exploit. He induced a meltdown of the electrical systems causing a localized blackout specifically in the compound that would require a minimum of three days to be brought back to optimum state. Having secured a warrant from a federal judge, courtesy of the FBI, they were going to use C4 blocks to blow holes into the compound and perform a heavy extraction of Alahi. Anyone else could be shot if not surrendering. All of this after the strike team bypassed the backup security measures.
His job was to breach the backup measures through his knowledge of electrical systems and short electronic systems to trigger the emergency escape codes that would disable the battery-backups. For the biometric measures, they would be capturing the head of security to help create a path.
He accomplished all his jobs and was waiting for the strike team to capture the security lead, trying not to freak out. Unsurprisingly, despite great care, complications had arisen and Sarah had been shot three times. One shot grazed off the side of her head and left her unconscious. Chuck realized that while it might be painful (really, really painful - he was still sore), even with a vest on, the fragility of human life on seeing ones you care for deeply, even come close to death is enough to put all matters into perspective. And he could now understand how it shook her, that his possible untimely demise would cause such a drastic shift in her outlook. He was not pushing, never really being forceful with how he wanted this relationship to progress. And they had been going slow... Not too slow, but slow nonetheless. From his own trepidation to mess it up and his and her insecurities. Wise people had said before, that to truly grow you need to be up for a little pain. The two of them, he realized have so much to speak about, but he was never ever going to let things be just enough ever again. She wanted more. He wanted more. They were going to get more. He just stopped short of hyperventilating with worry, instead choosing to once again compartmentalize and dress the wound on her head. He had gained enough muscle mass to carry her in fireman style.
The others, meanwhile let Chuck care for the knocked out Sarah, while they cleaned the entire area and were returning with the captured security head. They then signalled for the SWAT units to breach the compound.
Ellie's Hospital
"FBI-DEA scores big time, with the arrests of notorious mass murderers.", read the heading of the L. A. Times the next day. While in the intelligence community they knew it was a joint op between multiple parties, the credit was left to Feds so that the spotlight could be directed away from the team in Burbank. It had been ridiculously difficult for Chuck to get any time or space next to Sarah. The two remaining C. A. T. S. were being notoriously difficult considering they were very nearly the last two remaining. Zondra in particular was absolutely ferocious. She may have been infuriated with Walker, but she had been her best and one true friend so far. Just when they were about to finally beat the snot out of each other and resume their bond, some asshole decided to almost kill her. It nearly took all his persuasion and just better timing his visits to make sure that he got a seat next to Sarah's bedside. He was reading the newspaper when he heard a raspy voice, still a beautiful voice. "Chuck... Where am I?"
Ellie chose to enter just then. "You are in my wheelhouse now, Walker." She put her hands on her hips and the pose was Honestly terrifying to all in the room, seasoned agents included. "What in the name of all things holy, were you thinking? I cannot have a good friend of mine being this effing reckless. Is this going to be routine with you and my dumbass brother, seeing who gets shot more?"
The two women spies had their jaws unhinged.
"When I told I didn't know your priorities, I didn't mean get yourself shot." Before they could comprehend the situation right now, their jaws dropped to the floor. This woman was full on hugging Sarah, scolding her, embarassing her and going crazy mother hen.
"You are important for both of us, Walker. I expect this will be the last time I see either of you here. Understood?" Sarah nodded vigorously and hit Chuck lightly to get him to nod as well.
Ice Queen Walker had made... friends in civilian life. And... they had almost none. They both concluded that to get the deeply damaged emotionally reticent Sarah to become as open as she was now, the family had to be special.
After all the pleasantries it was back to just him and her. "Chuck... I-"
"I'm sorry, but I held out too long." He grabbed her face gently and crashed his lips and kissed... And felt her response. This was his worry, his affection and his cry for her.That was her, reciprocating her need for him. If they hadn't been sure before, they were now. They were meant for each other. Their hearts want each other and they will not let any more things block them or deprive them anymore.
"I... I like you a lot, Sarah Walker. I like you far more than Inhave any other. I like the brashness in you. Your aggression. Your competence. Your exceptionalism. I like that you see beyond the tags that how with me, for the real me. And I hope that no matter what happens, you know that I will be here for you, as long as you would have me. Yes... I have my faults like anyone, but I know that for us, I will work to overcome them. I can no longer stay in the just enough phase. I need more. I... I... want all of... you... us."
Sarah knew among the two, Chuck was the one gifted with conveying his feelings better. But in the past few weeks, she had been making all the steps as he seemed hesitant. But just like when he got shot, it seems the graze propelled their relationship much further than simple words would. And she was for once, not scared or running for the hills. She was nervous but absolutely delighted that he finally acknowledged directly, on his own accord, that he wanted more. More than their current and more for their future.
"I want that too. I like you too. I have been waiting for this moment for sometime. Now that's done... why are you still sitting there and not making out with me?"
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Zondra's voice interrupted. "Well... never thought I would see the day when a boy made Walker's chocloate gooey. I always thought it was the other way around." Zondra was leaning against the doorframe and smiling slightly. Her friend finally grew up.
Sarah felt her emotions choke her up. "Z... I am so terribly sorry. I... I... didn't believe my best friend when she believed in me so many times. I can't imagine what I put your through. I... I... really hope you can forgive me."
Zondra walked to ward her and laid a hand on her cheeks. "You know Sarah... we have had this conversation, and I will forgive you. I truly will. I... I... just need sometime. After all, I don't even know why you want to forgive me... Nothing new has come up."
Sarah looked away. "Before she died, Amy... Amy told me she had a kid. Jeremy. She also gave me a flash drive that I stashed in Castle. I assume it has details on it. She said that Gaez had gotten to know that she had a kid and threatened him. He wanted her to sneak a bomb onto a car with the three of us on it so that the team behind his string of defeats could finally be taken out. And she decided instead, the she could break us up by... by planting a transmitter on... on your boot. And... And... I guess she was right."
Carina had entered the room just as she started her Amy story. They didn't know what to make of it. But more importantly, Amy had a kid? And they never met him? What was going to happen to him? The news was far beyond tragic. But the three of them felt a righteous anger burn in their heart. For Amy, they would burn down Geaz. For Jeremy, they would let her know how loving his mom truly was. And for themselves, they would never be duped again.
Carina, for once being serious, spoke. "I am going to string Geaz up by his groin and slowly carve out his organs, one by one while alive, beforefeeding him to wild hounds." Chuck looked at her horrified. "Don't look at me like I am a bond villain, Chuck. Amy...Amy was like the fun kid sister for us three. And for someone to use her kid against her? That's beyond despicable. We are fair game. But not our family. He will get what he deserves. And that is what we will do."
Chuck knew a thing or two about retribution. Doesn't mean he had to like it. But if Sarah was adamant, then he would help her. It was time he left; his company won't run itself and Sarah was going to be discharged into very good hands, within an hour. He kissed her on the head and whispered, "Date night, tonight. A real date. Just the two of us. Okay?" She nodded with a huge smile before he left.
Sarah's Apartment.
"Sooo... Blondie? You do know that I can absolutely steal him from you right? Although I don't know what you were thinking, he really isn't your type." Carina's voice dripped into a snooty snobbish tone of getting whatever she wants, whenever she wants and however she wants. But Sarah smiled, "If physical beauty was what he wanted Carina, I am sure I would have done a number of things with him by now. So go ahead, take your best shot. I warn though, your perfect record, will be tarnished."
Carina began laughing hysterically and Z even smiled. But they saw Sarah wasn't laughing with them but simply smiling like she did when she thought them fools. "Wait... Seriously? You still didn't get horizontal with that juicy cute ass? You didn't get the curles in between to taste your pastry? It's been three months Sarah!!! Concerned with performance issues?"
Sarah started laughing like that was the funniest thing she ever heard. "Even you will have performance issues Carina. You know what, how about we take a bet. Tomorrow onwards, you have one week to succesfully get Chuck to sleep with you. If you win, you can take my Porsche. If you don't, you give me your Lexus LF-A... Got it?"
Carina looked like she won the beat already. "You know Blondie, they say betting is for those who are fools. Looks like I get to prove it now."
Zondra knew the week ahead was going to be an interesting one. If what she saw between Chuck and Sarah was remotely real, then Carina had no chance whatsoever. "Sar, since you are fine... It's about time for the ring. I hope you are ready... I have had a lot of time practicing kick your ass."
Sarah snorted. "Atleast I know I was not entirely wrong. Delusion isn't only Carina's thing."
Unknown Safehouse.
Tiny was doing nothing much. He was supposed to be a freeman, but it had been a week since his official release and he had been second guessing accepting Chuck's help. Maybe he should have disappeared underground and taken his family and ran. He could only rely on Chuck so much to keep things interesting.
He was just about to do the laundry when he felt a knife press the small of his back. "Got you."
Castle, dojo.
Sarah received a call from Chuck. "Sarah, I am sorry, but I need your help. It's urgent. Come to this location ASAP, preferably alone." And hung up before she could say a thing. She was sore from kicking Z's ass. But Chuck asked for her help. And she wouldn't let him down.
"Z... I need to go. Something's come up."
Zondra looked at her. "Sure... Where are we going?"
Sarah gave her an annoyed look. "It's personal. Come on, we'll meet up tomorrow."
Zondra put a hand on her shoulder and said, "Sar dear. I lost Amy just yesterday to some fucking traitor, and you almost go shot in the head. It is going to be a while before me or Carina let you go alone anywhere. I know you can take care of yourself, but we aren't changing our minds on this. We could either go with you or well... I will stick to you like a parasite. Upto you really."
Sarah sighed. "Fine... Pack your gear mainly a vest and lot of knives. Also an assault rifle and a few clips. We maybe heading into dangerous territory."
"We going to war or something?"
"Possibly. The location for the call of help was a safehouse for a former Council henchman, turned asset. It might very well be a gang war."
Zondra visibly tensed. This was going to be a heavy task.
Safehouse
As soon as Chuck received the call from the assasin claiming to be the real Panther, he rushed without thinking to help Tiny. Once he reached there he realized the sheer stupidity of his decision. So he called Sarah for help while he bought time.
When he buzzed the door, it opened to a muzzled Baretta in his face and Tony firmly duct-taped to a chair. "Hello, Charles. It is time, we finally met."
Chuck could only look on, surprised at who it was holding the Baretta.