A/N: Happy Sunday everyone. I know this is not Tuesday, but…1) so many of you have asked me to accelerate the release schedule, and 2) while this is not a Christmas story per se, it does have a Christmas in it, and it seems natural to have the story's Christmas fall close to the real Christmas, as opposed to several weeks later. As such, between now and Christmas I intend to release two chapters per week….Sundays and Thursdays, after which I will return to the Tuesday release schedule. I hope that is ok with everyone.

As an FYI, the notifications on seem to be back on line, so following/favoring will ensure (I hope) that you are notified when a new chapter drops. As for all of you who have followed and/or favorited….thank you from the bottom of my heart…you are awesome!

So, Chuck is ostensibly on his way to New York for a "friendly foursome" weekend with Sarah, Carina and Morgan. Will we see another rough landing? Or will the two couples find something else to focus on. And while the couples struggle to find their balance, a deadly unknown force is rapidly approaching.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and find a minute or two to follow, favorite, and or review.

Thanks to Nevr for pre/beta reading, and of course, I don't own Chuck or profit financially from writing this completely AU story and have no financial interest in Facebook or the Chuck Fanfic community.

Valkyrie's Invisible Shield

Chapter 5 – Fake Dates & Twisted Fates

Date: Friday, 10 December 2021

Time: 18:30 EST

Location: 9 West 57th Street, New York City – Law Offices of Dunmore, Bradley, and Caine

Had Sarah Walker been a nerd, she would have said she felt an imbalance in "the Force." Instead, she sat there puzzling over her lack of focus coupled with an inability to reign in the stupid grin on her face. Sarah Walker's usually razor-sharp mind was strolling elsewhere, thinking about the tall brown-eyed man presently on his way to New York for the weekend. She recalled the first moment she saw him as she and Carina stepped off the plane back in November and finally admitted to herself that she did find him attractive….his dark and curly hair begged to have her fingers running through it, and his deeply soulful brown eyes burned into her. All of this probably explained why she had jumped all over Carina for flirting with him when they got to the White House. Deep down inside, she knew he wasn't to blame for being there to pick her up, but she was more than a little off balance looking at him, and the only emotion she could really understand was frustration….with her mother.

As she started packing up her things, she was feeling….what was she feeling? Nervous? Excited? Confused? Yes. All of it. She suddenly had a deep-seated need to get home a little early, shower, pick a proper outfit, and get her makeup just right….She stopped and shook her head again at her own discomfort with the strange feelings, but the silly grin she bore didn't seem to want to go away.

-O-

Date: Friday, 10 December 2021

Time: 19:25 EST

Location: Normandie Court - 225 East 95th Street, New York City – Walker/Miller Residence

Chuck thanked the doorman and made his way to the elevator. He pressed the button for the nineteenth floor and checked his appearance in the elevator's mirror. He looked good. He wore black wool trousers, a black dress shirt, and a mid-length black leather Jacket. On his feet, instead of his weekend favorite 'All-Stars,' he wore a well-polished pair of low-rise lace-up dress boots with a capped toe.

Alone in the elevator and staring at his own reflection, he suddenly worried about what he was doing. Being Sarah Walker's guardian angel allowed him to see sides of the beautiful woman he hadn't ever really considered, making him equally worried and excited. He talked himself up as a professional doing his job for the President, the country, and the greater good, but deep down, he knew he was stepping into very dangerous ground. He took a deep, cleansing breath and reaffirmed his commitment to service, but while his brain was going through all the right motions, butterflies danced uncomfortably in his chest. The elevator chimed, bringing Chuck out of his momentary introspection. An instant later, the doors opened and Chuck exited to see Sarah Walker leaning against the hallway wall, her arms loosely crossed over her chest. She was smiling.

Chuck returned the smile and strode towards her.

"Ms. Walker. It's lovely to see you."

"Mr. Bartowski. Welcome. Glad you could find the place." Sara's eyes sparkled as she spoke. "Good trip?"

"Super easy. Thanks," Chuck replied as they both stood awkwardly in the hallway.

"Chuck," Sarah blinked and bit her lip for a moment. "Before we go in, I'd like to apologize again….this time in person, for my behavior on Thanksgiving. I was frustrated by something else, and I took it out on you, so I hope you'll forgive me." Sarah held out her hand.

Chuck took her hand as his eyes locked on to hers. "Already forgiven, Sarah. Promise." Caught in the moment, he suddenly realized that his thumb was making small circles on the back of Sarah's proffered hand. He pulled his hand away gently while smiling nervously. "I also have a little confession I need to make, and I hope you will not hate me for this, but…." Chuck was suddenly unsure if honesty was the best policy.

"But….?" Sarah ducked her chin and stared at him through her eyelashes.

"Ok, Sarah. Total honesty. Remember when you had trouble pulling your bag out of the Uber at Thanksgiving?" Now, it was Chuck's turn to look down at his shoes. "I might have given your bag a little shove to jam it into the trunk." He looked up sheepishly.

Sarah's eyes widened, and her jaw fell open. "You, what?!" Sarah's hands were now on her hips while she raised a single eyebrow, but her facial expression never showed anger.

Chuck stammered for a second or two. "In my defense, I was just doing my best to do my job and trying to be helpful, but then you were…." Chuck searched for the right word.

"A bitch….Is that the word you were looking for, Chuck?" Sarah interrupted Chuck's stumbling apology.

"No….not really. Well, maybe just a little, but I'm really sorry, Sarah. It was childish and stupid of me, and there is no excuse for my behavior….do you want me to go?" Chuck's shoulders were slightly hunched with his chin down, conveying the sincerity of his apology, but there was still a charming and almost mischievous glint in his deep brown eyes that captivated Sarah. She stood immobile momentarily, her hands still firmly on her hips. Then she unexpectedly burst out laughing. After a few seconds, she calmed herself.

"No, Chuck. You don't need to go. I guess we were both acting like children." Her smile widened, and her eyes brightened.

The two stood quietly appraising each other until Chuck spoke to break the building tension. "So, you gonna invite me in, or do I camp out here?"

Moment broken, Sarah stepped back and waved Chuck into the apartment where Carina and Morgan were waiting. They gathered in the living area, and after the requisite greetings, Carina poured four glasses of red wine. Chuck and Morgan looked at each other momentarily, acknowledging the concern about drinking on duty while maintaining the cover throughout the weekend. The four made small talk that was surprisingly comfortable, while the women drank, and the two agents carefully sipped. With the bottle finished, they grabbed their coats and called an Uber to take them to Sparks Steakhouse for dinner.

The food was amazing, and through the meal, both couples chatted amiably, occasionally casting furtive glances at each other. Once the plates were cleared Sarah asked for the check, and despite Chuck and Morgan's objections, she picked up the tab. As she finished signing the credit card slip, the men excused themselves to collect everyone's overcoats from the coat-check room, temporarily leaving the two women alone.

"That was really nice, Sarah. Thanks for dinner." Carina gave Sarah a hug. "And thanks for agreeing to ask Chuck to come up. I'm having a great time."

"You're welcome, sis," Sarah grinned. "And I'm having fun too. I needed this, Carina, so thanks for pushing me a little. What are we doing next?"

Carina pulled back from the hug. "Let's go dancing. I want to go try The Georgia Room. It's the new place everyone is raving about…..and I'm buying. Let's catch up to the guys before some hussies steal them." Carina grabbed Sarah's hand and led her toward the entrance, where Chuck and Morgan were waiting with the ladies' coats.

"Boys, we're going to a new place for drinks and dancing, but if you don't mind, I'd like to walk off the meal a little first," Carina shared. The foursome wrapped themselves up and stepped out into the evening's chill. Morgan and Carina were walking in front, holding hands, while Chuck and Sarah walked quietly behind them, occasionally stealing glances at each other until Sarah broke the ice.

"Penny for your thoughts, Chuck."

"Oh. Sorry, Sarah. Nothing really. Dinner was really amazing, and you have been so generous. Right now, I'd be sitting in my little apartment eating pizza and playing video games by myself. This is sooo much better."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. I love a good steak but don't normally do the fancy steakhouse thing unless it's work-related. I just thought it would be something you and Morgan would enjoy."

"Thank you, Sarah. What was your favorite thing at dinner?" He asked.

"My fillet with Béarnaise was amazing. And the ten thousand calorie creamed spinach was….Mmmmmm." The sound Sarah made almost caused Chuck to stumble. "Yours?"

"The company." Chuck kept steady eye contact as he spoke.

"Charmer!" Sarah grinned as she wrapped her arm around his bicep without another word.

The two couples walked wordlessly for another ten minutes until Carina pulled out her phone and called an Uber. They were at the Freehand Hotel twenty minutes later, riding the elevator to the second floor and the Georgia Room. On arrival, the hostess recognized Sarah as a VIP and, after arranging for their coats to be taken, quickly escorted the two couples to a table before sending over a waitress to take their order. It was only ten thirty, so early by New York standards, and the club was still relatively calm.

"Come on, Morgan. I want to dance." Carina didn't wait for an answer. She just grabbed Morgan and pulled him along.

As Morgan was being dragged away, Sarah leaned toward Chuck. "I didn't see that one coming at all."

"What do you mean, Sarah?" Chuck leaned in as well.

"Carina and Morgan. I mean, I really like him. He seems like a nice guy who isn't affected and has his act together. And he seems to be really good for Carina." She paused. "It's just that…." Sarah stopped speaking.

"Just what?" Chuck pressed.

"Well, Carina has always been active in the dating scene. I don't mean that in a bad way or anything, just a bit of a free spirit, doing what she wants, when she wants, and Morgan isn't the usual type of guy that gets her going. If you know what I mean….Nothing against Morgan at all, he's just not her….usual."

"You know, I liked chicken fingers when I was a kid. I mean, that was all I ate because I loved them. Eventually, I tried something else and decided that while chicken fingers were awesome…you get the rest of the story. They seem to be enjoying each other's company, so as long as they are happy.…." Chuck shrugged.

"Chicken fingers, huh?" Sarah smiled. "So, Chuck. What about you?"

"What about me?" He smiled mischievously.

"You're going to make me say it, aren't you…." Sarah deadpanned. "Ok. We'll play it your way. Do you have anyone special in your life?"

"Of course. My sister, Ellie….and Devon, her husband."

"That's not what I meant." Blush rose on Sarah's neck.

"Oh? What exactly did you mean, Sarah?"

"Do you…You know what? You're a jerk!"

Chuck recoiled and feigned shock at her comment, "Why, Ms. Walker! If I didn't know better, I would think you were hitting on me…."

Sarah didn't miss a beat. "And if I was, Mr. Bartowski?"

"Damn…Flirted into a corner." Chuck let out a deep laugh that lit up his face. "I'd be wondering what an incredibly amazing woman like you is doing hitting on a regular schlub like me." He held eye contact.

"You're an idiot, Chuck Bartowski. Now take me dancing," Sarah commanded. Chuck stood, held out his hand, and led her to the dance floor.

"Just to let you know, Sarah, if anything seems wrong, I'm not having a seizure or anything. I'm just a terrible dancer, so while you might be mortified, please don't be alarmed." Chuck's self-deprecating humor and free laughter infected her as she laughed with him. As they approached the dance floor, the DJ spun up 'How Deep Is Your' Love by the Bee Gees. Chuck smiled inwardly, and as he and Sarah stepped onto the dance floor, he confidently spun her and pulled her into him. Sarah looked up at him, surprised at how smoothly he led her. She was about to say something about sandbagging her with his dancing skills but decided to let it go. Her eyes locked onto his for a moment, then she leaned her head on his shoulder and, for the first time, fully took in his height, strength, and scent.

Morgan and Carina were similarly absorbed a few feet away until Carina noticed Sarah and Chuck. She gave Morgan a nod, glancing their way. He smiled at her and pulled her in close again. They danced close for another minute, then Carina pulled back a little and looked at Morgan.

"Morgan?"

"Yeah?"

"Morgan, I know this whole thing, you know, with Sarah and the cover and all that, but…." Carina stopped for a moment, obviously a little uncertain.

"But, what, Carina?" Morgan asked gently.

'Ok, I think I like you, ok? That's what I wanted to say. I mean, I know you are just doing your job and all that, but I like you, and I wanted to know if I was all by myself on this or not."

"Carina, I also like you, but it's complicated." Morgan winced as the words left his lips.

"Oh." Carina looked down, crestfallen. "I understand. I'm sorry for bringing it up. How about a drink?"

Morgan held her firmly. He lifted her chin, forcing eye contact. "Carina, I like you. A lot. But my job requires me to keep things at arms-length, putting the mission above all else. My feelings….our feelings make things complicated. I didn't mean complicated as a dodge, but I wanted to give you some understanding. Guys like Chuck and I, what we do and can be called upon to sacrifice...these are difficult things. Hard things. It makes relationships complicated, and…."

Morgan was cut off mid-sentence as Carina's lips latched on to his. As their kiss deepened, Sarah noticed them and whispered to Chuck, "They seem to be doing ok."

Chuck looked up. Carina was absolutely stunning and, more importantly, a hell of a woman, so he could not have been happier for his partner, but then he thought about the mission, and his face clouded over a little. Sarah noticed.

"Is something wrong, Chuck?" Sarah asked, still in his embrace as they swayed to their own beat.

"What? No. Of course not. Carina is amazing, and I'm happy that they seem to have found each other."

"Then why the long face?" Sarah looked up at him through her eyelashes.

Chuck collected his thoughts for a moment. "Sarah, Morgan and I have chosen a career of service, and that service can be extremely demanding. I don't know many in our line of work that can successfully maintain a romantic relationship because of that demand. So, while I am really happy for them, I'm also a little…I don't know….may be a little sad, because I know what can be required of us." He didn't notice that he had stopped dancing.

"So, that's it? Do you guys give up on everything? Having a normal life? Having love in your life?" Sarah looked at him sadly.

"Sarah, it's a calling. It's something I chose to do. To serve something bigger than me." He looked at her, his eyes hooded in thought. "Is it very different from how you focus on being the best lawyer you can be, making partner, and building your career? I'm in no way belittling your choices or ambitions. I'm in awe of them, but all these things come at a cost. That's all. I think we take happiness where we can and enjoy it for as long as it lasts."

"And you don't think something special is worth fighting for? I certainly think it is." Sarah was resolute in her expression.

"Honestly, Sarah, I've never been particularly successful in the pursuits of the heart, so I have never experienced a depth of relationship that caused me to reconsider my priorities. Deep down inside, I have hope, like anyone else, I guess, but love hasn't really found me for whatever reason."

"Yet." Sarah corrected him. "Love hasn't found you yet, Chuck Bartowski." She gave him a wink and led him back to their seats for a drink.

-O-

Date: Saturday, 11 December 2021

Time: 03:30 EST

Location: Normandie Court - 225 East 95th Street, New York City – Walker/Miller Residence

The Georgia Room closed at 3:00 am, and thirty minutes later, the two couples were back at the apartment. Carina gave Sarah a smile and a wink, then kissed her on the cheek and, without a word, led Morgan to her bedroom, closing the door behind them. Sarah stood motionless momentarily, staring at the closed door and thinking about Carina and Morgan. She hoped it was something that could work out for them. They seemed good together. Meanwhile, Chuck had taken his jacket off and sat on the couch to make himself comfortable while watching Sarah's wistful expression. After a moment, she looked at Chuck.

"Hey, are you thirsty or hungry? She asked.

"Thanks, Sarah, but I'm actually really good. Why don't you come sit down and relax for a minute." Sarah walked over to the couch and sat down close, but not immediately next to Chuck. She kicked off her heels and let out a soft 'aahhhh.'

"Here, give me those." Chuck leaned over and carefully lifted her ankles, pulling them to his lap and forcing Sarah to pivot on the couch and lean back. Without making eye contact or missing a beat, Chuck started gently massaging one of Sarah's feet. His hands were soft and warm but strong. He pressed on the ball of her foot while gently stroking the upper portion. Sarah's eyes rolled back as she let out a deep moan.

"Oh. My. God. Chuck, if you ever stop doing that, I'm going to find your gun and shoot you." She let herself relax and enjoy the sensation as he smiled quietly. He massaged one foot and then the other, relishing the sounds of pleasure that were regularly escaping Sarah's lips. He felt her body relax and her breathing even out as she drifted off to sleep. He continued to lightly massage her feet and ankles for another thirty minutes, allowing her sleep to deepen, before he carefully slipped out from under her, picked her up, and carried her to her bed. He laid the blankets over her fully clothed body, then went back to the living room, changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt, and settled on the couch, covering himself with his jacket. He thought about the evening, and about Sarah, and with a gentle smile on his face, he fell asleep.

-O-

Date: Saturday, 11 December 2021

Time: 10:15 EST

Location: Normandie Court - 225 East 95th Street, New York City – Walker/Miller Residence

Sarah woke up with a start. She found herself in bed, under the covers, yet fully dressed. She heard the sounds of breakfast coming from outside her bedroom, so she slipped out of bed, removed last night's clothes, wiped off her smudged makeup, and put on a robe. She then ventured out of her room to the smell of fresh coffee and bacon grilling.

"Good morning, Madame," Chuck called out. He was wearing a pair of gray sweatpants and an old red Stanford t-shirt. "Hungry? I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of getting breakfast going." He smiled at her warmly. Even just fresh out of bed, without makeup, she was stunning.

"Smells good. Bacon and eggs?" she posited.

"My dear girl. You are speaking to Chuck Bartowski. Bacon and eggs, indeed. I should pack my things and go."

"Apologies, Chef. What is on the menu this morning?" Sarah batted her eyes.

"I'm preparing a bacon, broccoli, and cheddar omelet, which you may have with egg whites only, whole eggs, or half and half." He smiled. "So, what would milady prefer?" Chuck bowed gracefully.

"Ooh…sounds yummy. I'll take one with the whole eggs, please." Sarah then looked at Carina's door. "What about them?"

"I heard some noises, so I think they are up, but I'm definitely not disturbing them. Happy to cook for them whenever they come out, though."

Sarah gave him a grin. "Chef, can you pour me a coffee with a little milk, please?" She then slipped over to Carina's door and banged on it firmly. "Breakfast is served, love birds. Up and at'em!"

Chuck shook his head at her antics. "That's just mean. If I were in there, I'd completely ignore you and keep doing whatever I was doing. Thank you very much."

"I see. So what you are saying is that if you were in there with Carina, you would continue doing whatever you were doing and ignore me completely? Do I have that right? Chuck?" Sarah's hands were on her hips as she looked at Chuck, but she was smirking.

"Yeah, I guess you do, and I would," Chuck smirked back, then ducked as a cushion from the couch that somehow appeared in Sarah's hand flew just past his ear, nearly hitting the coffee machine.

"Give me my damned omelet, funny guy." Sarah giggled as she shook her head.

"As you wish," he sang back to her as he plated the omelet and walked it to the table with a fresh cup of coffee. He then pulled out her chair and waved his hand. "Milady," he added, placing a napkin on her lap as she sat. Sarah took a bite of her omelet, and another almost pornographic moan escaped her mouth.

She put her fork down and stared at Chuck intensely. "Foot massages, and you cook? The Secret Service may need to send out a search party for you, buddy, because I may never let you leave." Their eyes locked in silence, but their moment was shattered by Carina's voice.

"Damn, that smells good. Do we have coffee?"

Chuck backed away from Sarah breaking eye contact and turned toward the kitchen as he explained the omelet's egg choices while pouring Carina a coffee. "Here you go, Carina. So what about the eggs? And where is Morgan? He's never late when he smells food."

"I'll have mine with egg whites, Chuck. Thanks. As for Morgan, I think I broke him last night. Sorry." Carina shrugged her shoulders and sipped her coffee without a care in the world as Sarah and Chuck laughed heartily.

Eventually, Morgan joined the group, and after making himself something to eat, the two couples got dressed and ventured out to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center, the windows at Saks Fifth Avenue, and, eventually, the Hayden Planetarium. After the planetarium, they enjoyed a light lunch at Barney Greengrass on the Upper West Side. By late afternoon, everyone was tired and looking forward to pizza and a movie at home. Sarah had ordered several pizzas to be delivered while Carina and Morgan went to a local wine shop to replenish their inventory. In the meantime, Chuck searched the Netflix and Amazon Prime channels for suitable entertainment choices. Eventually, they settled on a James Bond movie marathon that went late into the night. By 12:30 in the morning, Carina and Morgan slipped off to bed, leaving Sarah and Chuck sitting on the couch watching Goldfinger.

-O-

Date: Sunday, 12 December 2021

Time: 07:15 EST

Location: Normandie Court - 225 East 95th Street, New York City – Walker/Miller Residence

Once again, Sarah woke up with a start. She was a little disoriented, though she was warm and comfortable. She slowly opened her eyes and realized she was sleeping directly on top of Chuck on the couch. Their arms were wrapped around each other, and their legs intertwined, and although they were fully clothed, Sarah could not remember a more intimate moment. Her cheek was nestled against his chest, her head tucked under his chin. His scent, heartbeat, and sound of his breathing was indescribably comforting, and they somehow manage to fit together perfectly. She blinked, relishing the contact and the warmth, trying not to move. Suddenly, she felt his chest vibrate as he spoke with a soft but deep voice.

"Hey, you ok?"

Sarah pondered the question for a moment, thinking about potential consequences. 'Fuck it,' She thought. "Never better, Chuck." Then she squeezed him tighter and snuggled herself even deeper. "You?"

"I'm good, Sarah. More than good actually." Chuck paused. "Do you think we could get Carina and Morgan to occasionally bring us food and drink?"

"Food and drink, Chuck?"

"Of course, if we can get them to bring us food and drink, we'd never need to move from right here….haven't quite thought through how we manage bathroom breaks without leaving the couch, but food and drink delivery is a good start, don't you think?"

"Mmmm. A very good start, Chuck." Sarah squeezed chuck again as the pair, now fully awake, basked in the feel of each other embrace wordlessly.

After twenty quiet, yet startlingly intimate minutes, Sarah shifted.

"Chuck, as much as it pains me to say it, the fact that you haven't sorted the bathroom issue out yet means I need to get up." Sarah pushed herself up a little and was now practically straddling Chuck, her face inches from his, her lips inches from his. "Good morning, you." She whispered as she lingered hovering over him, her eyes locked on his, their hips pressed against each other.

"Hey you back, Sarah Walker." Chuck smiled with an honest tenderness that knocked Sarah's socks off.

Eventually, natured call won out, and Sarah gently pushed herself off Chuck and headed for the bathroom.

-O-

Date: Sunday, 12 December 2021

Time: 17:00 EST

Location: Normandie Court - 225 East 95th Street, New York City – Walker/Miller Residence

Chuck and Sarah's day had been full of quiet yet intimate gestures. After eventually getting off the couch, they took turns getting showered and dressed and spent the day without Carina and Morgan, walking, mostly hand in hand, around the Upper East Side, stopping for a burger with extra pickles at the Shake Shack on 86th. They ate quietly and eventually made their way back to the apartment. By five o'clock, Chuck had his canvas bag packed and was ready to go.

"Chuck, can I walk you to the subway?" Sarah asked shyly.

"Sarah, walking out that door is going to be tough enough. It would be a little easier on both of us if we said goodbye here." He smiled a little sadly at her.

"Can you take a later train?" she asked. "Or maybe catch the ten pm shuttle flight from La Guardia with Morgan?"

He looked at her tenderly. "Sarah, I really need to go. But I wanted you to know how much I enjoyed being here with you. And if you are coming to DC for Christmas, I'd happily pick you up at the airport…unofficially, of course. And I promise to not mess around with your luggage."

Sarah stepped into Chuck, hugged him tightly, and spoke into his chest. "I'd really like that, Chuck. I'd like to see you again, and if you want to pull a Morgan and come visit, you just let me know, ok?"

Chuck squeezed her back, then placed a very soft kiss on the top of her head and stepped back. "See ya, Sarah Walker." He gave her a dazzling smile and a wink, and then he was gone.

Sarah shuffled mindlessly back into the apartment, plopped herself down onto the couch and wondered what the hell had just happened. Her musings were interrupted by Carina's giggling from her bedroom. Sarah smiled, knowing her friend was happy, even if all she felt was inexplicably empty for the moment.

At the same time, Chuck Bartowski stood alone in the elevator while staring at his reflection in the mirror, chastising himself. 'What the hell did you do, Chuck….How could you allow all that to happen….could you be any more stupid?!'

-O-

Date: Sunday, 12 December 2021

Time: 15:00 PST

Location: Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, Canada

Hans Gruber cleared Canadian immigration as Bruce Hornsby, an Australian national enjoying some vacation time. He collected his bags and went to the transit hub to get a bus downtown. From there, it was a short cab ride to Vancouver's Pacific Central Station, where he would board Amtrak's Cascades train for the four-hour ride to Seattle. He would cross into the US on an American passport as Jonathan Van Zant, and once in Seattle, would fly on Alaska Air's 11:20 pm flight, arriving at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport at just before eight in the morning on Monday the 13th.

-O-

Date: Monday, 13 December 2021

Time: 10:30 EST

Location: 50 West 57th Street, New York City – Mangia Cafe

Chuck was nursing his third cup of coffee desperately trying to focus on doing his job and being as professional as possible, but the truth was he was completely out of sorts. He had an uncomfortable pang in his chest that would not subside, and on more than one occasion he reached for his phone to call Sarah. For a moment, he even considered just walking into her office and laying it all out on the line. Everything out all at once, including the protective detail assignment and perhaps most important, the fact that Sarah Walker had completely shattered his beliefs of what was important. Like an iron fist in a velvet glove, Sarah gently but completely demolished Chuck's walls and his resolve. He was completely unsettled by the depth of feelings he was experiencing. 'Jeez, Chuck, get it together….you didn't even kiss her properly. How can you be so lost already?' Chuck grumbled with the unfamiliar sense of overwhelming loss. 'Hell, her office is just across the street, and….No! Snap out of it Chuck.' He reached for his coffee which had cooled since he started getting lost in his head, and its lack of warmth startled him back to the present. He refocused on his tasks, watching and listening to her, each of her movements and utterances hitting him hard. He also noticed Sarah seemed to lack the positive energy she always had at work, and in particular, the energy she had the entire weekend they were together. He knew he would be seeing her in less than two weeks for Christmas, and the thought of buying her a little Christmas present suddenly filled him with joy, though the emotional lift was pathetically short lived. He stood and ordered a fresh cup of hot coffee.

-O-

Sarah was in a funk. Chuck's departure Sunday afternoon bothered her much more than she would have thought possible. Sarah had always had an independent streak, something she nourished and protected, so she was extremely uncomfortable with the deep seeded feeling of need she suddenly felt. A need that was for someone else….not something she could solve for on her own. It didn't help that Carina was in a similar funk when Morgan left a few hours after Chuck. The two women had pulled out a container of ice cream each, and used large soup spoons to find comfort while curled up on the couch watching some sappy Hallmark movie. This morning, sitting at her desk, Sarah struggled to focus on the transaction files in front of her as her thoughts kept drifting back to a slow dance, a gentle caress of her hand, and warm, comfortable, and impossibly intimate embrace while waking together on the couch.

She pushed the files back and grabbed her phone, but somehow managed to resist the urge to call him. Christmas was only two weeks away, and she didn't want to seem desperate. For a moment she was proud of her strength and the decision to not call him, but almost immediately after that thought landed, the sense of longing returned. It took every ounce of discipline Sarah Walker had, which was not inconsiderable, to get back to work and do what she needed to do, but the empty feeling just would not leave her alone.

-O-

Date: Monday, 13 December 2021

Time: 15:00 EST

Location: 50 West 57th Street, New York City – Mangia Cafe

Earlier that morning, Gruber had calmly left the terminal building and found his way into Manhattan using a combination of bus and subway. He had booked a small Air B&B on 116th Street, in the heart of Spanish Harlem. When he arrived, he found the lockbox with the keys to the apartment, used the code provided to extract the key, and let himself in. He showered and allowed himself four hours of sleep before getting dressed, heading to midtown, and familiarizing himself with the area around Sarah Walker's office. He had been using his time on the various planes, trains, and buses to plan Walker's abduction, and while he wanted to minimize additional contacts, he needed to pick up the supplies he had requested. Those included some ampules of methohexital, a fast-acting injectable tranquilizer typically used to knock out surgical patients. He needed syringes, handcuffs, rope, duct tape, and, most importantly, a driver with a van. He also needed a clean and untraceable 9-millimeter automatic pistol with a suppressor. The arranger in London had organized everything needed. The rest, like the safe house and his exit plan, he kept very close to the vest and would manage on his own.

Gruber looked very much like a tourist. The way he walked, the way he paused to look at things, the way he dressed. To the untrained eye, he was just another person marveling at the sights of New York during the Christmas season. Gruber took pictures of many things but only cared about a few. The location of the building entrance, the subway station, bus stop, loading areas, intersections, and most importantly the time and frequency with which police officers patrolled. He made a point of not lingering in any singular spot but wanted to get a visual on Walker, gauge how fast she walked, whether she carried a large bag, and if she gave any signs of being armed. He saw a cafe just down the street and decided to pop in for a coffee and warm himself up. New York's windy winter was bitter compared to what was currently summer in Pretoria.

Chuck saw the man approaching the cafe. There was nothing outwardly threatening about the man, but there was something in his eyes. He was good at camouflaging his movements, but his eyes constantly scanned. Instinctively, Chuck covered his tablet and put his earpiece in his pocket. He had gotten to know the guys working at the cafe quite well, so in a very smooth and practiced movement, he swung around and called out in his best New York accent.

"Hey, Jimmy. Get me a pastrami on rye with extra pickles, yellow mustard, and a Coke." As he turned to order, he used his phone to discretely snap a few photos of the man as he walked by.

"You got it, Chucky!" Came back Jimmy's friendly reply. A few minutes later, Jimmy brought Chuck his sandwich and Coke while Chuck studied the man sitting behind him in the window's reflection. The man sat there calmly and drank some coffee. And after a few minutes, he left. Chuck waited to make sure the man was gone, then took a moment to look at the pictures he had taken. None were ideal, but perhaps the people in D.C. could do some enhancing and maybe get a facial recognition hit. Chuck sent the pictures to John Casey, along with an explanation.

-O-

Date: Monday, 13 December 2021

Time: 19:05 EST

Location: 50 West 57th Street, New York City – Mangia Cafe

It was a little past seven in the evening when Chuck noticed the man again, this time appearing to take pictures of Sarah's building, which is admittedly interesting architecturally given that its sides sloped elegantly. He heard Sarah packing up for the evening and made a call to a member of the New York team that would be Sarah's shadow for the commute home and explained the situation. A minute later, Sarah appeared, as usual, moving with purpose toward the subway station. The man moved his camera and was clearly taking pictures of Sarah surreptitiously, then began to follow her while pretending to do otherwise. Chuck gathered his things and trailed from a distance. As Chuck walked well behind the man, his phone vibrated. It was Casey.

"Bartowski."

"It's Casey. Chuck, I don't know where you found this guy, but he could be trouble. We have no idea who he is, but we ran a network-wide facial recognition search and got some disconcerting details. Canadian immigration links his face to an Australian by the name of Bruce Hornsby, but we checked with the Aussies, and there is no one by that name with that biometric in their system. He entered Canada from Hong Kong, but getting information from the Chinese….well….maybe we get lucky. Anyway, he entered the US by train and flew from Seattle to JFK as Jonathan Van Zant. From there, we picked him up sporadically, mostly New York City subway cameras, but can't tell you where he is."

"I can tell you exactly where he is, Casey. He is thirty yards in front of me on 57th street, following Sarah Walker to the subway," Chuck spoke quietly but pretended to smile while listening on the phone. "He seems to be doing reconnaissance at this stage, but I want to know who this guy is, Casey. I'm going into the subway now, so I'm going to lose you, Cas….."

"Fuck!" Casey growled. He smashed another number on his phone.

"Grimes," Morgan answered immediately.

"Listen, Grimes, we have a possible situation. Your partner spotted a very questionable guy doing what appears to be reconnaissance on Sarah Walker as she started her commute home. He's tailing the guy while one of our NY people is shadowing Walker closely. I've lost contact with Bartowski, so get to the subway exit near her place and back him up. And have him call me when you have contact."

Twenty-two minutes later, Sarah surfaced at 96th Street. Her shadow emerged just a few steps behind her, with Gruber a few paces further back. Sarah's shadow walked steadily by and continued along 96th Street without breaking stride as Sarah turned into the lobby of her building. Gruber slowed, crossed to the far side of the street, took some more photos, and then continued westbound on 96th Street toward Lexington Avenue, where he could get another subway and make his way back to his Air B&B.

Morgan spotted a concerned-looking Chuck Bartowski as he came running up from the subway station, taking two steps at a time, and waved him over. "Chuck, cover Sarah from our apartment. I'll tail mystery man and see if we can figure out where he is going." Morgan turned to follow Gruber from the opposite side of the street. "And, Chuck, call Casey."

Morgan followed Gruber carefully but unfortunately lost him at Grand Central. Grand Central Station was one of New York City's two major subway and commuter train hubs, and under the grand marble structure was a complex maze of train and subway lines stacked one on top of the other. Because the turnstiles and exit gates became massive choke points at rush hour, Gruber disappeared into the jumble of evening commuters, and Morgan alone wasn't enough to keep track of him. An hour later, Morgan was back at the studio apartment with Chuck, just around the corner from Sarah's place, de-briefing with John Casey. The news wasn't good. There had been no new information from London, and without an ID or location of Chuck's mystery man, all they could do was play defense.

-O-

After switching directions and changing subway lines, Gruber headed back towards Spanish Harlem to stop at a certain bodega on 118th Street and asked for Ramon. A short, heavily tattooed man eventually came out from the back of the store.

"Waddaya want?" he asked brusquely.

"My name is Nestor Vega. You have a package for me," Gruber replied calmly.

The tattooed man gave a non-committal grunt and disappeared momentarily, returning with a medium size box with heavy string tied around it and a handle. Gruber checked to ensure that the tape seals were undisturbed, and upon completing his inspection, he took the box and left.

As he carried his box, Gruber considered the two anchor locations where he would most likely have a clean shot at taking Sarah Walker. The residential location had fewer pedestrians, but there were numerous security cameras, and finding a spot to part the extraction van would be a challenge. The office building was considerably more trafficked by pedestrians, but had no security cameras in front, and had a large loading zone that would likely be empty by the time Sarah Walker's day ended. 59th street also offered a straight shot to New York's West Side Highway, where he had numerous options for escape if needed.

Twenty minutes later, Gruber was back at his Air B&B. He carefully unsealed the box, inventoried the contents, then picked up the burner phone that was inside. He hit the first speed dial.

"This is Heather."

"Heather. I need you and your van in the loading zone outside 9 West 57th Street in Manhattan, on the north side of the street, tomorrow at 6:30 pm. You will stay on station until I release you or tell you to open the van's sliding door. If I tell you to open the door, you will immediately return to the driver's seat and keep your eyes forward. Once I'm in the van with my package, you will drive west to the West Side Highway and head north, exiting at the 79th Street Boat Basin. You will enter the marina parking lot, pull into a parking spot, leave the engine running, and exit the van. Before we arrive, I will hand you a small case. Inside that case will be the ten thousand dollars for your services, plus an additional ten thousand dollars for the van. After 24 hours, you may report the van stolen, but not before. Are my instructions clear?"

"Crystal," Heather responded.

"One more thing, Heather. You are not to speak and you are not to turn around. My package is of no concern to you." Gruber hung up before Heather could respond.

Gruber had all the pieces in place and would set up at 9 West 57th every day for the next few days until he felt the circumstances were right, at which point he would make the grab. He would then eliminate Heather and drive to a safe house in Mount Vernon, New York, with a garage under it. Once he verified his objective had been achieved, he would eliminate Sarah Walker, walk to the Metro North train station in Mount Vernon, and ride the commuter train all the way to New Haven, Connecticut. There, he would lay low for a few days before making his way out of the country, this time, through Mexico.