A/N: Well, the one-shot was popular, so I've taken the story back to in-progress and am continuing it. This second chapter is another setup, introducing some other characters.
As before, no betas on this, so PM me if you spot any significant corrections that need to be made.
The Nerd and the Assassin
Chapter 2: Team Building
"And you think this is a good idea?" General Diane Beckman asked, looking very skeptical.
Director Langston Graham sitting opposite her in her office nodded. "You know that agents who volunteered to download the Intersect failed to hold onto it." He didn't mention that they mostly were unable to continue to work after that. "I think the Intersect probably works in his head because Orion designed it based around his own brain, but maybe his son's brain could have been the canvas upon which he planned to paint it."
"But Orion didn't do that, so you don't know for sure," she reminded him. "He disappeared long ago." She brought them back to the current topic. "Why not bring the son in?"
"My operative thinks he wouldn't cope if taken from his sister."
"This is the operative who was partnered with Larkin. Why should I trust her?"
He sighed. "She was cleared of any involvement."
The general remembered hearing about the interrogation carried out on Agent Walker. She shivered, remembering when she'd undergone it herself before she left the CIA. "And you want me to give up Major Casey to this babysitting?"
"He knows about Bartowski and the Intersect. We don't want to spread that knowledge." He held her gaze. "We don't know who we can trust."
She winced. It was an NSA agent who let Larkin into the DNI facility. "We should have Bartowski tested."
"I think he's already proven his value in the field," Graham stated.
Her grimace almost made him smile. She knew what he'd done and how the White House believed he was instrumental in the events, although not how. Taking him away and into a bunker would be challenged from the top. And she'd probably been reprimanded for letting the assassination get so close to success. The FBI probably had too.
"I still want him tested. We will send the Intersect expert who has worked for us before."
He sighed. "Very well."
Major John Casey was pissed. More than pissed, actually.
General Beckman had notified him on his arrival at Los Angeles military base that plans had changed. He was no longer to apprehended the suspect, but to work alongside a CIA operative to protect him and act on what intel he could provide. Working here in LA of all places!
Beckman and Graham were sorting out cover stories for them both, but apparently the skirt had already insinuated herself into Bartowski's bed. If Casey didn't know her reputation, he'd think she'd seduced the guy. However, she wasn't known for that, but for killing. She was like a younger, female version of himself. He suspected she had even more blood on her hand than he did, which was impressive given the difference in years on the job.
He was now driving to the hotel she was staying at to meet with her.
This was going to be the worst assignment ever.
"Fuck!" he exclaimed.
Chuck and Sarah had showered. Together. She'd dried her hair, applied minimal makeup and dressed.
She really just wanted to take him back to her bed, but they needed to be ready to meet the NSA agent who'd be arriving in twenty minutes. She was still amazed at how Chuck Bartowski filled her with almost overwhelming desire. She'd always been more in control of her body than this before.
Pushing such thoughts aside, she considered what she knew about the NSA agent. Major John Casey was an old school killer. He'd been with the NSA for a long time. Her friend Carina had worked with him, but Sarah never had. That wasn't just because she worked solo, but also because their skills didn't complement each other, they were identical. Assignments rarely needed two assassins. Here, however, the two best killers in the American intelligence community would make doubly sure that the Intersect-holder was safe.
"I flashed on his name, you know."
Sarah looked at Chuck sitting at the end of the bed. She hadn't thought about this. "When I mentioned his name to Graham?" He nodded.
She wanted to know what was in the Intersect on her counterpart. "And?"
"He wasn't always John Casey," Chuck replied.
"Changed his name when he became an agent, like I did?" she asked.
"I'm not sure, the details are a bit confusing as to when he became an agent. He was in the marines before that. His real name is Alexander Coburn, but supposedly died, except that's obviously not true."
Sarah didn't know this about the man. "He may not like it, but you knowing that about him will convince him of you having the Intersect in your head."
Chuck nodded and looked at her in her dark blue dress suit and white blouse. It looked very formal. Very CIA. "Is there anything you can wear and not look stunning?"
She was used to compliments, but it still gave her a thrill to hear one from Chuck. He wasn't saying it to get into her panties, he didn't need to. He was genuinely saying what he believed. "I'm sure there is, but thanks, Chuck."
She glanced at what he was wearing. He had what he wore at the Burbank Buy More, including the gray tie. The only thing missing was the pocket protector which wasn't appropriate here. She felt driven to straighten the tie, but knew it was just an excuse for contact, something tame that brought them together without ripping his clothes off, even though she felt the urge for that, too.
The phone by the side of the bed rang. She answered it. "You have a visitor," the receptionist told her.
"Send him up," she replied.
As she put the phone down, she said to Chuck, "Time to meet our partner."
She walked to the door when there was a knock. She quickly checked with a glance through the spy hole, then opened the door to the agent she expected. Stiff and as unfriendly as she knew he would be. "Walker," he acknowledged her.
"Casey," she reciprocated. "Come in." She stepped back to let him pass.
As he walked in, Casey saw Chuck standing at the end of the bed and said, "Bartowski."
"Major John Casey, previously Alexander Coburn until he died in 1989," Chuck stated.
Casey froze and clenched his fists before rushing to Chuck, wrapping a hand around Chuck's neck and growling into his face, "No one knows that, and no one must ever hear that from you." The threat in his tone was clear to both of the others.
Casey released Chuck when kicked in the back of his knees. He dropped to a crouch and found a knife at his throat with Agent Walker beside him. "You're here to protect him, not threaten him. You can apologize or I can dig a bit deeper into your neck."
Casey glared at her, saying nothing. He started to raise his hands, but she pushed the blade slightly, drawing blood. "I can have this through your throat before your hands get close enough to stop me," she coldly stated.
Casey could see the ice in her eyes. She was indeed the deadly operative that matched her reputation.
"Sarah, please stop. He's here to help," pleaded Chuck.
Casey grunted.
Sarah raised an eyebrow, still staring into Casey's eyes. A cold chill washed over him. "Sorry, Bartowski, but you can never tell anyone that."
"I won't, Major."
Sarah eased the blade away and stood back.
Chuck was relieved, but also irritated with them both. "Really good first meet, guys!" he said sarcastically.
Sarah looked at him with hurt in her eyes. "No one threatens you."
He smiled sadly at her. "I know, but I just caught him off guard."
She looked at the major climbing to his feet. "You need to control that anger, Major."
Casey looked at her. "What about yours?"
"I wasn't angry. Just focused on protecting the Intersect."
He snorted. "Protecting your bed buddy, more like."
She narrowed her eyes and snapped, "That's not your concern."
"It will be if you lose focus," he snapped back.
"Cool it, both of you!" Chuck was fed up with this. "We're supposed to be a team."
Casey looked over at him. "You're still an asset in my mind."
"He's an asset to the nation, but is not an asset in your terms," Sarah snarled.
"And never will be," snapped Chuck. "Remember, Major, you were only invited onto the team because Agent Walker needed back up."
"I wasn't invited. I was ordered," Casey growled.
"Then let's both follow our orders," Sarah said.
Casey grunted, but then gave her a nod. She gestured for both men to sit. Casey on one of the chairs at the small table and Chuck on the bed. She sat on the other chair. "What have you been told, John?" she asked, trying to be more friendly.
"Just call me Casey," he said. Then he recounted what he knew. "Just before I shot him, Larkin sent an email."
That was news to the other two. "So, you shot him?" Chuck said.
Casey glared at him for interrupting. "That's what I said." After a pause, he continued, "It didn't take long for our techies to identify who he'd sent it to."
He frowned. "For some reason, my boss talked to her equivalent in the CIA before deciding to send someone out here. Then, I had to arrange for a team to ensure we captured him."
Hence me getting here first," Sarah commented.
Casey just grunted again. "When we arrived at LAX, General Beckman told me the plan had changed. I sent the men away and got a taxi here."
He hadn't answered her question, so she asked again, "And what did General tell you about what had happened here?"
He looked at her for a moment. "That the two of you foiled an assassination attempt by a bomber. The NATO guy you saved made a big deal of it with the White House. Graham had agreed to let him stay here in LA and I was to join you to babysit him." He snarled that last bit.
"You and I will also have to follow up on the intel that Chuck provides," she explained. "One of us will stay to protect him while the other goes."
Another grunt.
"Our daytime covers are being decided. Overnight, I'll be with Chuck," she said emphatically.
"In his bed," Casey muttered.
She held his gaze. "Yes."
"His cover girlfriend?" He questioned, but could see it was more than that.
"Yes," she replied again, with a totally neutral expression.
"If you go away on a mission, I'm not sleeping with him."
Chuck noticeably shivered at that thought. Sarah grinned. "Only I will do that from now on." That gave more away to Casey than her previous responses.
Chuck looked thankfully at her and she had to stifle her chuckle.
"So, I'll need to stay somewhere nearby," Casey concluded.
"I suspect your general has that in hand," Sarah replied.
As if in response to the conversation, his phone rang. "Casey, secure," he answered and turned away from the others. They sat patiently, waiting for him to rejoin them.
"Yes, ma'am," he said as he ended the call and turned back to them. "Seems I have an apartment near to him."
"Wow, that's quick," Chuck said.
"NSA doesn't hang around," Casey responded. "They're fitting it out as we speak."
Chuck turned to Sarah. "You still haven't met Ellie and Devon. They'll be home today, working tonight. We should go over."
Casey watched the two of them. Surprisingly, Agent Walker looked nervous. He knew she needed to establish her cover and that him turning up would complicate that. Part of him was tempted, just to be awkward, but he knew that wasn't going to help the situation. "I'll go and check in at the Los Angeles NSA base."
Sarah knew what he'd done there. "Thanks, Casey." He nodded and left.
Sarah turned to Chuck. "I just want to rip your clothes off and get back into bed, but I do need to meet your family."
His eyes lit up at the first part of her sentence, but frowned at the second. However, he knew she was right. He nodded, and they headed out too.
Chuck had been thinking about what to say to his sister as they walked out of the hotel.
Once Sarah set off, she said, "They obviously can't know that I'm a CIA operative or that you have that thing in your head."
"So, I have to lie to my sister," he said miserably.
"Isn't that better than being taken away from her?"
"I suppose."
"Stick close to the truth, mixed with some real truths," she suggested.
He looked at her, still not sure what to say.
She smiled. "We met two days ago and fell in love, almost instantly. We haven't been apart since. All that's true."
"But so unbelievable," he moaned.
"That we fell in love so quickly?" she asked. It did feel unbelievably fast to her, as well.
"Yeah."
"But that's what happened, Chuck. You said you fall quickly."
"I do, but this is so damned quick."
He gazed at her and she guessed what he was thinking. "Don't you dare say you're not good enough for me, or any crap like that."
He opened his mouth to reply and she glared at him. He mimicked zipping his mouth shut, which made her smile.
"And you're moving in with me," he said. "She can't complain about that. She and Devon were sharing a bed pretty damned quickly too."
She beamed at him. "See. Easy." She reached across and gripped his thigh.
"Hands on the steering wheel, Missy. None of that until we're in bed tonight." Sarah felt the warmth wash through her at that thought.
Thankfully, she'd repacked the few items she'd taken out of her suitcase. She should have checked out and brought it, but she'd wanted this discussion with his sister to be done well before Casey arrived at the complex.
She focused on her driving.
Sarah wasn't used to being nervous. It wasn't in her character, but she'd been nervous when handling the baby, fearful she would do something wrong and hurt her, or be seen to be wanting in her care. She'd been confident that she could protect Chuck, but nervous about entering a relationship with him, but overwhelming desire pushed that aside. Now, she was nervous about meeting his sister. That was all about being accepted. She knew she could act and fool anyone, but here she really wanted the woman to like her, as a person, not an actress or con-woman. It was important to her.
She braced herself as they walked up to the apartment door, hand in hand. He squeezed her hand and she looked at him.
"She's gonna love you, Sarah."
Sarah was grateful for that encouragement. It meant a lot to her.
The door opened before they even got to it. There stood a slim, beautiful brunette. Sarah could tell the familial similarities, particularly in the smile.
Ellie quickly glanced away from her brother and focused her eyes on Sarah. Her jaw dropped. "My god, you're stunning!"
Sarah chuckled. "Thank you, but I wonder if blurting things out is a family trait."
Ellie blushed, then grinned. "We do speak our minds, but I normally consider my words."
"And she catches me out for some of the things I say," Chuck commented.
"You surprised me, Sarah," Ellie admitted. Then, she rushed forward and pulled Sarah into a hug, one so tight she could hardly breathe.
"Please don't hurt him," Ellie whispered into her ear.
"I don't intend to," she whispered back.
Ellie released her and Sarah gasped in some air. She wondered if this woman had inherited that strength from her mother.
The brunette grasped her hand and pulled her into the apartment.
Sarah looked over her shoulder to see Chuck following and beaming at her. She suspected that he knew the reception she'd get, including that hug. She'd talk to him about her dislike of surprises later, although she then remembered that first kiss and what that led to later. Maybe not all surprises were bad.
Sarah had joined Ellie in the kitchen as she brewed coffee after Sarah had been introduced to Devon. The muscular blond had hugged her as well, but nowhere near as tightly.
"Thank you for what you've done for him," Devon had whispered. She tensed before he added, "He just needed laying so badly." Sarah was still grinning about that.
Ellie started talking, keeping her voice low so only Sarah could hear. "I've never seen him so happy. You've brought back the Chuck I remember from the start of college before…" she didn't finish.
Sarah loved hearing this, but had to ask, "He's really been down since then?"
Ellie huffed. "Well, he thought he was happy with that harpy, but once she flew off, yes, he plummeted to new depths of depression." Then, she seemed to realize what she was saying. "I shouldn't mention this. It's his story to tell, not mine." She looked at Sarah. "But thank you."
"He's told me about Jill," Sarah said. "We've both talked about our previous partners. Chuck's just what I need. He's not a rebound, but my last boyfriend was more than a disappointment. Chuck already means more to me than him."
"How long were you with him?" Ellie asked.
"A year and a half. We split up six months ago." All that was true.
"Where?"
"DC. That's where I've come from." Not strictly true. She hadn't seen Bryce since their vacation in Cabo.
"Is your ex the reason you're here?" This was starting to feel like an interrogation.
"Being reminded of his betrayal while in DC was part of it, but a fresh start here was what I wanted." That wasn't a lie. She held the other woman's gaze as she said, "Meeting Chuck was such a surprise. I found I didn't want to part with him, even at the start."
"Sounds rebound," Ellie accused.
Sarah gripped Ellie's hands. "I am so over my ex, Ellie. Being reminded that all of the people I know there are his friends, rather than mine hurt, though."
"Ahh," Ellie's eyes showed sympathy. "I understand."
She added a key truth, "Chuck means everything to me now."
Ellie smiled on hearing that. Tentative hope appeared in her eyes and Sarah felt she'd survived that first interrogation, but more may follow.
Ellie poured the coffees and the two of them carried them into the living room.
Sarah sat in the space next to Chuck and he placed his arm behind her. She happily settled back onto it and he held her shoulder. It felt so right.
"So, deets," Ellie said as she sat next to her boyfriend, Devon.
"My phone was broken so I went to the Buy More," Sarah said. "Someone told me Chuck could fix it but he wasn't there. I left my details and Chuck turned up at my hotel room and surprised me." There was a lot of truth in this, just not where Chuck surprised her. "We got talking over coffee once he'd worked his wonders. I don't know, but I think I fell for him the moment I saw him."
"I was the same. Not surprising with Sarah's looks," Chuck chipped in.
She gripped his leg just above his knee and looked lovingly at him. "When he kissed me, I realized I was a gonna."
Ellie gasped and looked at Chuck. "You kissed her, when you'd only just met her?"
He blushed. "Her gorgeous lips just drew me in."
Sarah said, "I'm not like this, but I wouldn't let him leave my room."
"Awesome," Devon let out.
"From what you told me, your first encounter was the same," Chuck reminded them. "A supply closet in the medical school?"
Ellie blushed.
Sarah laughed on hearing that. "At least my bed was more comfortable."
"So comfortable," Chuck muttered.
"So, here you are, two days later. I hope you ate while you were there," Ellie said.
Sarah nearly blushed as she thought of Chuck's attention on her body, but answered, "We did."
Chuck was noticeably silent, but then said, "I've asked Sarah to move in with us."
Ellie gasped. "That's quick."
"I don't want her wasting her money on a hotel room," Chuck said decisively. "I know this is sudden, but after the last two days together, we don't want to be apart any more than we have to."
"You should definitely move in, Sarah," Devon said.
Ellie looked unsure. "I'm not going to hurt him," Sarah said. Then she smirked. "Any more than he wants to be." Devon chuckled and Ellie smiled slightly. "I can contribute to food and bills," Sarah continued.
"If you don't like this arrangement, we'll find somewhere else," Chuck stated. Sarah almost crossed her fingers, because staying here would be best.
Ellie sighed. "I'm just being over-protective. Of course you can move in." She looked at Chuck. "You'll have to get rid of some of your dolls."
Chuck choked on his coffee. "They're not dolls," he said as Sarah raised her brow at him. "They're collectibles."
"I think I need to see our bedroom." Sarah stood. "Where?"
Ellie grinned and told her.
Sarah walked down there. As she opened the door, she saw what his sister had mentioned. Action figures from some movie, she guessed. However, what dominated the room was the queen-sized bed. That called out to her. She could ignore the collectibles, at least initially. She wanted to immediately strip, lie down and wait for him. God, he made her so horny!
She drew her eyes away from it, noticing other things. The computer space on the desk. The stack of discs and computer games beside the gap. The music system and stack of CDs. The poster on the wall labeled "Tron."
There wasn't much room for anything she was going to bring, but she was used to living out of her case, so she didn't need much space.
She looked back at the bed. That was what she needed.
She turned and found Chuck leaning on the door frame. "I'll make space for you, Sarah."
She moved close. "We just need the bed, Chuck. We'll be there a lot."
He visibly and audibly gulped as she sauntered past him and back to the living room.
He eventually followed her.
Sarah had completed the relationship form required and submitted it. She had also decided she wanted her own car, rather than one provided by the company. She made a search of the local dealers and then on reclaims available. It didn't take her long to find what she wanted. "We're going out, Chuck."
"You've found a car that interests you?" She nodded. "Ok. Let's go."
She was soon in possession of a black three-year-old Porsche 911 that she'd bought at a bargain price from the reclaims auction. She'd told the CIA team where to collect their car. Her credentials had been immediately verified.
Having her own car was something new. She'd never owned one before, always using what the CIA supplied.
"You know that this car doesn't match you being an unemployed person," Chuck commented. She looked at him. He was right, of course.
"We'll say it was shipped over from DC," she replied. "I was earning enough for it back then and couldn't part with it."
He smiled. "So, two perks of being here. A fast car and free accommodation."
She gave him a look. "I've always had free accommodation, Chuck. The other 'perk' is a loving boyfriend who I want to share a bed with. Never had one of those either."
"Share away, girlfriend."
She grinned at him.
As they pulled into the parking lot, he said, "No contact from your director yet, then?"
She'd not wanted to worry him, so hadn't said anything. "Not yet. I'm a bit concerned that it's taking so long."
"They're setting up long-term jobs for you both. That can't be quick, can it?"
"Usually done before I arrive," she admitted. "I guess this is different."
Casey was sitting by the fountain as they walked toward it. He grunted and nodded to the apartment across the way from Chuck's. "Just moved in."
"Welcome to Echo Park," Chuck said.
"And the Buy More," Casey growled.
"So, you've heard from Beckman?" Sarah asked in surprise.
"You've not from Graham?" he asked.
"Not yet," she responded. She was pissed now.
He smirked. "You're not in the Buy More. Seems you're observing from outside."
"What've you been told?" she asked, her anger building.
"Ever heard of the Wienerlicious?"
"Oh god," Chuck breathed out. ""This is some sort of payback."
She snapped her head around to look at him. "What?"
"You'll be smelling of fried sausages each day you're there," Chuck explained.
"Shit! That's why Graham hasn't called me."
She dragged Chuck to the apartment door. "Let me in. I need to make a call. Tomorrow, you get a key made for me."
Once he'd opened the door, she stormed in. "You might not want to listen to this," she said over her shoulder as she walked through to the bedroom. She kicked the door shut.
"Agent Walker, I wondered when you'd call," Graham said.
"Too fuckin' scared to call before it was a done deal?" she snapped.
"That's no way to talk to the Director of Covert Operations," he said quietly.
"And this is no fucking way for me to stay by his side, protecting him… like you agreed!"
"Sarah!" he snapped, which stopped her dead. He never called her by her first name. He continued in a normal tone, "Beckman pointed out that someone needed to look out for enemies from the outside of a big box store. Casey couldn't work over there, so it had to be you."
"Fuck. She's right," she groused.
"We may try to find a way to get the three of you together somewhere with surveillance and more security, but until then, this is it."
That sounded interesting. "What would be the cover, the change in jobs in this new location?" He clearly hadn't thought about that and was silent.
She thought quickly. "How about Casey and I set up something like a detective agency and hire Chuck to cover the IT?"
"Could work," he said. "Let me discuss this with Beckman and get back to you."
When she walked through to the living room, Chuck handed her a coffee. "A lot of shouting to start," he commented.
"Yeah."
"So, what's happening?"
"He'll get back to me."
He put down his coffee, took hers off of her, putting that down and held her shoulders. Those eyes of his looked deep into hers. "If you have to work in the Wienerlicious, we'll still be together every morning, for lunch, every evening and all night." He paused for a moment. "You'll still have plenty of time to get sick of being with me."
She snorted and then wondered how much belief was in that last statement. She crashed her lips to his. He had to know she didn't think that would ever happen. He let go of her shoulders as she moved in and soon had his arms around her. She opened her mouth and they tasted each other's coffee.
After a minute they separated and pressed their foreheads together.
"All that time apart is going to be painful, even without the wieners," she muttered.
He grinned. "Will it make you appreciate mine more?"
She gave him a smoldering look. "Remind me of it."
The coffees were forgotten.
The CIA and NSA moved quickly when instructed to do so by such senior individuals.
Neither Casey nor Sarah had to suffer the covers originally proposed.
Chuck handed in his resignation. The amount of leave he'd accumulated meant he was able to walk out straight after doing that. He left Big Mike spluttering having lost his most valued employee. Grossly underpaid, but so essential to the working of the store.
While they waited for the refit of the offices acquired, which would only be four days, Chuck and Sarah stayed in the apartment. They didn't spend all the time in bed, not all of it. She sat with Chuck listening to him outlining his thoughts of how he could contribute more to the cover business, expanding what it could do.
She shouldn't have been surprised at his suggestions. He was so gifted, not just as a hacker, but it seemed also with inventing software to enhance what the two spies brought to the team. She was completely in awe of her man.
Discussing his ideas with the director and the general made them aware of him as more than an Intersect host. Graham had some hints, but Beckman was totally unprepared.
So, when Castle Security opened its doors on the following Monday, with impressive surveillance in place, they offered more than just consultancy on physical security to corporate clients, but also IT and cybersecurity, too. The references were mostly from agency sources, but some of the IT ones Chuck gathered from local companies that had benefited from his expertise.
For Chuck, this was just what he'd needed to get him out of his rut. It motivated him as much as the love of the amazing blonde. Of course, she was encouraging him, too.
He also resurrected an app he'd started at college but abandoned after Jill and Bryce. He needed time to update it but it was the basis of a great post-firewall protection that should be popular. He wouldn't sell it through their company, not wanting to draw attention to them, but would set up another company, Carmichael Software. He had to explain the name to his girlfriend.
If it wasn't for this thing in his head, life would be perfect, but then the Intersect had brought the love of his life to him, and that was worth more than anything to him.
With this quiet time, Chuck didn't realize how having the Intersect would affect their lives. He would soon.
A/N: So, the team has been set up. Different covers to canon from the start.
Thoughts?
I'm not sure when I'll get the chapters out as I'm writing them in parallel to publishing. Definitely not working to a fixed release schedule as I have with recent stories. More like the older ones. I am working on the next chapter, though.