A/N: Mei-Ling is a communist. I expect she doesn't believe anyone should own Chuck. Well, maybe the "people" should own Chuck (as represented by the State, I guess).
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Beckman and Graham looked out at them from the screen of Casey's TV. They didn't look particularly upset. In fact, they might have even looked a little pleased.
Beckman said, "We kept Lo Pan's arrest quiet until the FBI and the PAP could coordinate their raids in Hong Kong and Los Angeles. Those raids took place a few hours ago and were, thanks to the information you and Ms. Cho were able to obtain, entirely successful. It appears that the White Dragon Triad has been severely damaged, if not eliminated entirely."
Sarah said, "But the people from the ship? What about them?"
Graham said, "You did all you could, Agent Walker. Two people drowned and one died from hypothermia. Without your team there, the toll of casualties would have been much worse. You got the police and rescue workers there immediately and Ms. Cho may have convinced some of the immigrants to stay on the ship."
"And the ones who made it to the beach? What happens to them?" asked Chuck.
"They are now enmeshed in our legal system, our immigration system. Time will tell, but it's unlikely to be quick." Graham looked pained and sounded resigned.
"And Muan? The Triad man in the consulate? What will the Chinese do with him?" asked Casey.
"They've already done it, Major. He's dead. Died on the grounds of the consulate, so on Chinese soil. No cause of death given. They reached out to coordinate the transport of the body back to Beijing," said Graham. Casey grunted.
"But, back to the White Dragons," said Beckman. "The President of China spoke to our President a couple of hours ago. He'd specifically called to thank us for the very successful joint intelligence operation conducted among the MSS and our agencies and for the rescue of one of their diplomats. It seems he had been briefed by the Minister of State Security, our counterpart, and wanted to express his thanks and appreciation to the President personally."
"General Beckman and I just finished a call with the President and he specifically asked us to reach out to the team responsible and express his personal thanks and congratulations for a job well done. It seems this is a major step forward in relations between the countries. So, Team Bartowski, please accept this as coming directly from the Oval Office," said Graham with a satisfied smile.
That was met by a stunned silence. Predictably, it was Chuck who broke the silence, "You mean you're not mad at us? You covered for us?"
"Of course, we covered for you Chuck, you're our guys," said Graham. "Just like the Minister covered for Agent Cho. I spoke to the Minister this morning and together we agreed on the story to tell our respective political leadership. We'll always cover for you if we can. And as to being mad at you, why would we be mad at you?"
"Because we went off and helped Mei-Ling when you told us it wasn't any of our business."
"No. I said we couldn't help her "officially"..."officially"...that left the door wide open for you and your team to help her unofficially. I knew at least one of you would recognize the distinction. Anyway, I was right, we couldn't help officially. Her situation was outside of our jurisdiction. From a purely legal point of view, I was totally right. But we knew you wouldn't leave it alone..not you guys," he said with a chuckle. "I probably wouldn't have either in your shoes."
Chuck, Sarah and Casey were grinning, "Very subtle, Sir, Ma'am," said Casey.
"Thank you, Major," said Beckman with a small smile. "We thought so."
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Mei-Ling threw her bag into the back of the Porsche and climbed into the passenger seat next to Sarah. Casey had to handle paperwork for Beckman and, although Sarah had volunteered to do it for him, that wasn't in the cards. As he was busy, she volunteered to take Mei-Ling to the airport.
"Thanks for the lift," she said.
"Any time. Happy to," said Sarah.
"Where's Chuck?" asked Mei-Ling.
"He's having dinner with his sister. Same night every year. They call it Mother's Day. Real Mother's Day here in the U.S. is in May, but they have their own special version between just the two of them."
"Why?" asked Mei-Ling.
"When he was little, their mother left them. Their father was not really around, at least that's the way they describe it, I guess I don't really know. Anyway, this is the anniversary of the day their mother walked out."
"Seems an odd choice to celebrate," said Mei-Ling.
"I know, but that's not exactly what they are doing. They came through it. Came through it together. It's the celebration of that. Of the day they began to take care of each other. They are incredibly close. I don't know much about siblings, and I know you and Lee are close, but Chuck and Ellie...wow...really, really close."
"Thanks for sharing that, Sarah. That sounds like a wonderful relationship they have... And thank you for the help over the last couple of days. Rescuing my brother and then the fight with the White Dragons. I'm not used to people, well, acting like you did, like your team did. Just helping me and not asking for anything in return. It's not what happens in my life, in our lives. As spies."
"You're welcome, Mei-Ling. You overheard the conversations at Casey's the night we grabbed you. You know it was Chuck. He convinced us. He's not a spy and doesn't think like we do. It gives us a different perspective. Maybe a healthy perspective once in a while. It turned out pretty well, though. Your boss covered for you and our bosses covered for us. Politicians are happy with the result. And, best of all, the Triad is on the ropes."
"Those poor people, though," said Mei-Ling.
"Yeah. That part sucks," she said.
"Chuck...he's an interesting element in your team. How'd that happen?"
"Can't tell you," replied Sarah.
"Right. Of course not," said Mei-Ling, without attitude. She understood entirely. The very fact that she had been allowed to work this closely with an American team was, in and of itself, so unusual as to be just about unprecedented. "He's good though. I like him, I mean I like you all, but he's different. You are a very lucky woman, Sarah."
"I know. Casey and I are happy to have him on the team."
"That's not what I meant. You, personally, are lucky. You have found love. And the love of a really good man. A man who loves you back and cares for you and respects you and still allows you to do your job. I have never seen that before in a woman spy. You know, we have a saying in the MSS, 'Zhe xiang yewu bushihe jiating'. It means 'This business makes no home for a family.'"
Sarah gave a short bark of laughter. "Here we say 'Spies don't fall in love.'"
"Huh. Same thing. You are happy and you are still a badass spy. I truly didn't know that was possible, but now I see it is. You are my role model from now on, Sarah. Oh, don't make that face. I know your reputation. I know how much wet work they have had you do. And here you are, happy and in love with a great guy. Sarah, if you can find love, I can as well. Seriously. That means an incredible amount to me. I'm not exaggerating when I tell you it's life changing."
Sarah was uncomfortable with Mei-Ling's revelation. She was nobody's role model. She knew just how deeply flawed she was. "Well," said Sarah. She paused for a few moments and said, "I'm still trying to figure it all out myself honestly. This relationship thing is really pretty new for me. I mean a real relationship, with a real guy, for real, not a cover thing or a seduction."
"I have no advice. I don't have any real relationships either."
"Casey?"
"No. I mean yes, it was real, is real, just ...limited. I saw you with Chuck and...well, I wanted something. I don't know...intimacy, I guess. Just some connection. I like Casey. He's a great guy, but I'm leaving. I doubt we'll keep in touch. For goodness sake, forget the normal difficulty of our jobs, our countries aren't even allies, well, most times anyway. Talk about a difficult relationship," she said with a smile and wave of her hands.
Sarah laughed lightly and said, "Yeah, that would make any problems I have with Chuck seem easy."
"You have problems with Chuck? I'm surprised. You seem to get along perfectly."
"No. Not really problems. That's sort of the problem, you know?" Sarah was laughing at herself a little bit. "It's all too good. It's moving too fast. People all tell me I'm in love, but I've never even used that word...ever...with anyone. I'm just a little freaked out. Chuck's sister told me to just relax and enjoy it."
"You talked to your boyfriend's sister about it?" Mei-Ling asked with a touch of teasing humor in her voice.
Laughing at herself again, Sarah said, "Well...she was the only one around to talk to. I certainly wasn't going to have that conversation with Casey. And Ellie, his sister, is, well, sort of a friend, I guess."
"A friend?"
"Yeah. I don't have friends, and it's, well, it's good with Ellie."
Mei-Ling paused, looking out the window at Los Angeles passing and finally said, "Are we friends?"
Sarah smiled a little and said, "I guess so. I don't know. I don't have enough friends to be able to tell."
"Me either. Is there a sign or indication we should look for? Some way to tell? Like a symptom," Mei-Ling asked with a smile.
"I have no idea. Maybe we can look it up on the Internet? Google it?" asked Sarah.
"I'll bet there's a secret handshake or something," said Mei-Ling.
They found themselves grinning at each other.
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"As usual, Sis, that was delish," said Chuck as he moved to clear the table.
"Thanks, Chuck," said Ellie with a happy, loving smile. "Sarah wasn't upset that you were having dinner with me? Just the two of us?"
"Oh, no. No worries. She understands...she's good that way. She's taking a friend to the airport."
"Oh. Who?"
"Umm, I don't think you know her...she's a new friend. But she didn't have a ride to the airport and you know Sarah. Always ready to help."
"Or just an excuse to drive her Porsche?" she said laughing.
"Yeah, that too," he said with a smile. "She does love that car."
Ellie reached out and laid a gentle hand on his and said, "She's a very loving woman."
"Oh...yeah," said Chuck, a little flustered for a moment. "She is. And I...I...Ellie..." He ran a hand over his face. "Can I talk to you about...? I'm a little freaked out about Sarah. I'm falling for her so fast and so hard...I hope she feels the same way..."
"Don't worry, Chuck."
"I know. It's nuts, right? I'm freaking out that things are going too well. That I'm too happy. That we seem too happy together. It's like the dial on our relationship goes up to eleven. Everything is ...well, just more. Like all the colors are extra vibrant. And it's so fast. It's only been a few months and I'm already so totally in love with her. I spend every minute I can with her and it's not enough. I think about her all the time. Just looking at her smile makes me happy for an hour." He was filling the dishwasher.
"Chuck, don't look for trouble where there isn't any. For five years you were in a sort of self-imposed limbo after Jill..."
"Who?" asked Chuck
She chuckled and lightly swatted him on the shoulder, "...and now you are not only past that bitch, but wonderfully happy with someone who is crazy about you back. And someone who is terrific in her own right. She really smart and charming. Sweet. Kind. Incredibly beautiful. Athletic. Funny. She's like the complete package. It's like she was made just for you." Ellie sipped her wine and leaned back against the kitchen counter.
"See, that's another thing, El. Sarah is really closed about her past. I have no idea about her family or where she grew up or past relationships or anything."
"Does that worry you?" she asked.
"That's what's so strange about it. I know it should worry me. I mean, what if she has an ex-husband or something? Right? That should bother me that I don't know this stuff. It's weird. But the strangest thing is ...I don't care. I really don't. It doesn't matter to me at all. I just know I can trust her. I know she's good...a good person. If she wants to keep her past to herself, that's ok. It's her business and I'm not going to pressure her. But does that just show that I'm not thinking straight? That I'm so crazy in love that I'm ignoring things I ought to be paying attention to?"
"No, Chuck. It shows that you are understanding...a patient, considerate boyfriend and a loving man. That's all it shows."
"So, I shouldn't freak out? Even though we are moving so fast as to make light speed seem slow? Not to bring up Jill again.."
"That bitch," said Ellie.
"..but my feelings for Sarah are way, way more than what I felt for Jill and Jill and I were together over three years. I thought I loved her, but damn I was so wrong. I had no idea. What I feel for Sarah already is so much more than what I ever felt for Jill. So deep. So satisfying. So joyous. And, yeah, so scary. I mean, I know it's too fast."
"Stop saying that. There's no such thing as too fast, Chuck. It's not like love has some kind of speed limit. Just feel what you feel for her and stop worrying about it. It's going to work out great. In the few months since she's come into your life, you've changed. Massively. I don't know how much of it is her, but it's obvious and it's wonderful. You're not in a rut anymore. You have energy and drive. You seem to be excited to face the day. You're making new friends...I mean, starting with Sarah and John. I'll bet you don't stay at the Buy More much longer. And you're thinking about taking Mrs. Prommer's apartment, right?"
"You knew that?"
"Of course, I did. I know you want to move out. You wanted to even before Sarah, but now..."
"You're not upset? That I want to move out?"
She squeezed his arm with love. "No, of course not. You're closer to 30 than to 20. It's good that you want a place of your own. I'd be worried if you didn't want to move out. That would be too weird." She made a face and swatted his arm. "And, anyway, you are talking about moving about 40 feet away. It's not like you are moving to New York or something."
"New York?...uggghhhhh."
Ellie laughed, "Oh, come on. You've ever even seen New York."
Chuck said, "What do you think she'll say?"
"Sarah? Say about...Oh, you're going to ask her to move in with you?" Ellie squealed with happiness and clapped her hands.
"Yes...no. I'm talking about both of us taking the apartment. Together. I don't want her to move in to my apartment. Then she's coming into my space. I want it to be our space from the beginning. A blank space that we can together make our own...Oh, God. It's too much, right? I keep doing this. Keep going too fast."
"Just relax. Talk to her about it. If she doesn't want you guys to live together yet, she'll say so. She's not shy. And we both know it's a hassle to have her stuff strewn between two places. For both of you. Remember when you were looking for your blue tee shirt last week?"
"You think so? You think I should ask her?"
"That's not what I said. I said you should talk to her about it. That's not the same as flat out asking her. Tell her you've been thinking about it and tell her that bit about wanting it to be your place together. That was really sweet. See what she says. I'm mean seriously, you are sleeping together just about every night, either here or at her place."
"Ok, I'll do that. Thanks, El," he said.
"What's the timing? When do you have to make up your mind?"
"Well, Mrs. Prommer is moving out at the end of next month, and I figure the landlord will want to clean the place up...do painting and stuff...so, I guess a new tenant could move in beginning of the year. He's probably marketing it now though. We'd probably have to tell him in the next few weeks."
"So, go ahead and talk to her then," Ellie said with a delighted smile and a bit of a giggle. "I'm so excited. My baby brother might be moving in next door with his best girl."
"Aw, come on, Ellie, you'll always be my best gal."
"Don't take this the wrong way, little brother, but I really hope not."
Chuck grinned at her, and she grinned right back.
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A/N2: Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese Lunar New Year) to Lee and Mei-Ling Cho and all their friends in the MSS.
A/N3: Thanks for following along, guys. I do appreciate the reviews and PM's. There would be no fun to post anything without the feedback. So, please do keep it up.
A/N4: A dangerous and mentally unstable scientist/engineer named Lazlo Mahnovski has escaped custody and is making his way to Los Angeles. Stay tuned, my friends.