A/N: Happy Wednesday evening…..and welcome to Chapter 17 – Invitations and Departures. This is a big chapter (apx 7,000 words) and is critical to setting up the rest of the story, so I'm releasing it a little bit early. I hope you enjoy it!

Last chapter, Chuck's mosaic of data points started to become clearer, while Sarah's thoughts about her career became considerably less clear….until Carina gave her some tough love and hard truths. In the meantime, Casey spoke with DNI Beckman, who suddenly has questions for, and an interest in, Special Agent Charles Bartowski. As they speak, however, it appears that DNI Beckman also has some questions about Langston Graham. Things seemed to be moving in the right direction, but Ted Roark eavesdropped on John Casey's conversation with the President….How much did he learn, and is Chuck now in danger?

I continue to be amazed by your feedback, and I really do welcome the opportunity to engage with any of you who to reviews, or sends me a PM. For those who do so religiously, my deepest thanks, and for those who don't I wish you would, but thank you for taking your precious time to read my story. I do appreciate it!

Again, my deep thanks to klipdoctor for beta reading, and to CliffM for his pre-reading service….These guys rock! As with previous chapters, I have made some additional edits after their good work, so any errors are mine and mine alone. And as usual, I don't own Chuck or profit in any way from writing this completely AU story.

Valkyrie's Invisible Shield

Chapter 17 – Invitations and Departures

Date: Tuesday, 28 December 2021

Time: 23:15 EST

Location: 2501 Q Street, Georgetown, Washington D.C. Chuck Bartowski residence.

Dinner had been a relaxed and fun experience, with Ellie and Devon getting on famously with Carina and Morgan. Chuck's balsamic glazed salmon over couscous and the wine Morgan had brought over received rave reviews from the three couples at the table. After dinner, everyone retreated to the living area for more wine and talk. By eleven o'clock, Carina and Morgan said their good nights and left the dinner party. Ellie and Devon, who had offered to do the dishes, moved to the kitchen to take care of the clean-up while Sarah and Chuck stayed on the couch nursing two fresh glasses of wine.

"Chuck, can we talk, please?" Sarah looked into his eyes a little uncomfortably.

"Uh oh….did I do something wrong, Sarah? Something to upset you?" Chuck was visibly uncomfortable with Sarah's desire to "talk," something that, in his previous experience, seldom brought good news. He leaned toward her, his brow furrowed and his eyes a little darker than usual.

"God, no, Chuck!" Sarah exclaimed, smiling. "You're the most amazing man I've ever met."

"Sarah, if this is one of those "it's not you, it's me" conversations, just rip the band-aid off and say what you need to….please?" Chuck was still a little doubtful.

"What? No. It's nothing like that, Chuck. I just want to tell you something really important to me, but it's also incredibly difficult, and I'm afraid about how you might react." Now, it was Sarah who looked downward, avoiding eye contact.

"Sarah, I love you, so please….no secrets, no lies. Just tell me what's in your heart, and I promise that whatever it is, we'll work through it. Together." He reached over and gently lifted her chin to make eye contact. "I promise….ok?" He pulled her into a comforting hug.

Sarah basked in the comfort of Chuck's arms for a moment before pulling back and giving him a slightly nervous smile. "Ok, Chuck….just remember that you promised." She looked expectantly and received a nod in confirmation.

"I'm just going to say it, so here goes….you, Chuck Bartowski, have turned my world upside down. I love you with a depth I'm not sure I can fully comprehend or explain, and while it's hard for even me to believe, my feelings for you have completely changed what I deem important in my life. Mom and Dad….and Carina as well….they will all tell you how singularly driven I have been. Sports, academics, work….I set myself a goal of being the youngest person ever to become a partner at Dunmore, Bradley, and Caine, one of New York's most prestigious law firms, and if I'm completely honest, once I set my mind to something, I make it happen. And while my singular focus on achieving my goals made for a somewhat lonely life, I was happy achieving and being recognized for those achievements. And then you happened." Sarah stopped speaking momentarily to collect her next and most important thoughts when Chuck jumped in.

"Sarah, do you feel I'm distracting you from achieving what is obviously important to you? I never want to stand in the way of what you want to achieve or become. You know that, right?"

"You misunderstood me, Chuck. I'm not upset because you are distracting me from what is important. What I am trying to tell you is…." Sarah swallowed, sharpened her resolve, and stared deeply into Chuck's eyes. "What I'm trying to tell you, Chuck, is that you are it for me. You are the most important thing in my life, and it's my work and career that I see as a distraction from what I really want. And what I really want, Chuck is a life with you. A future with you." She paused for just an instant.

"I was worried that by telling you this, you might think I was being clingy, needy, and maybe trying to push you into something you might not be ready for, so I wasn't going to say anything out of that fear, but Carina talked some sense into me and made me understand that if I want to have a future with you, I needed to be open and honest, so there it is, Chuck. You….us….that is what matters the most to me, and I hope this doesn't push you away because I feel incomplete when you're not near me." Sarah looked to Chuck for some affirmation or at least an acknowledgment of her feelings and, as she waited, her heart raced. She had never been so open or emotionally exposed, and in that moment, she unconsciously held her breath. Then she saw it.

The corner of Chuck's lips started to curl into a smile, then a grin that reached his eyes, which sparkled with a light she had never seen before. Then, without a word, his lips crashed into hers as he pushed her over so he was almost lying on top of her. He broke the kiss and pulled back a little, his eyes locked onto hers. "You had me worried for a minute there, Walker." Then he whispered in her ear. "Me too, Sarah," and his lips crashed into hers again with even more fire.

Peeking from the entrance to the kitchen, Ellie struggled to hold down a squeal while she grabbed Devon by the hand and pulled him into their guest room. "Oh, my God….Emma is going to freak!"

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 08:00 EST

Location: Number One Observatory Circle, Washington, D.C. - Vice Presidential Residence

Ted Roark pulled the encrypted phone out of its charging cradle. He held the phone in front of him, staring at the screen momentarily, unsure what was about to happen and what it might mean. If Volkoff was dead, the only actual link back to him was gone. If Volkoff was alive, Roark would need to figure out why Decker hadn't killed him yet. He had not heard anything from Decker since the day he "went hunting," but given that Ted Roark was not a micro-manager, he would let Decker operate at his own pace. The most important thing was to make sure that Volkoff was dead and that any evidence linking the two of them had been found and destroyed. The good news for Roark was that there was no way Volkoff could implicate Roark in any wrongdoing without implicating himself.

He was about to dial when there was a knock on the door.

"In!" Roark shouted gruffly.

The head of his security detail opened the door and leaned in. "Sir, we're ready for you."

"Thank you, Vincent. I'll just be a moment."

"Of course, Sir." Vincent started to close the door and step back out when Roark called to him again.

"Vincent, can you come in, please? And close the door."

Vincent did as ordered, and waited to be offered a seat, which didn't happen He stood there waiting. He didn't like Roark and this sort of treatment didn't really improve his opinion of the man.

"Vincent, what do you know about Special Agent Bartowski?" Roark asked casually. "I mean, I know about him saving Sarah Walker from potential abductions twice, but what do you know about what he does when he is not on the protection detail?"

"Sir?"

"Come on, Vincent, I think we need to recognize him for his bravery and good work, and I just want to know about the man. Maybe I'm asking the wrong guy. If you can't help me, I'll ask John Casey." Roark made a move to suggest he was getting up.

"Well, Sir, Special Agent Casey would know more, but Bartowski has an excellent reputation, and everyone in the Secret Service has heard about him setting all kinds of records in the training and aptitude scores. I understand he was originally recruited into the Treasury because of his computer skills. He went to some big tech school out west…. I can't remember which one. Anyway, he was supposed to work on chasing down counterfeiters and money launderers for the Treasury before John Casey grabbed him."

"That's helpful, Vincent. Thank you. Anything else that might be important?"

"Well, Sir. The rumor mill suggests that Bartowski is romantically involved with Sarah Walker."

"Interesting….." Roark leaned back and rubbed his chin.

"Sir?"

"Nothing Vincent. It's interesting, that's all. Give me two minutes. I need to make a couple of quick calls. And close the door, please." Roark thought about Bartowski and the threat he represented. Sure, his financial footprints were well covered, but could he take the risk? Maybe he would speak to Decker about Bartowski having an accident, sooner rather than later. He dialed the next pre-arranged number for Volkoff's current burner phone.

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 14:05 CET

Location: Rue Maryse Bastie BP 87, Boos France - Aéroport de Rouen-Vallée de Seine

Volkoff was sipping an espresso coffee in the airport's private aviation lounge. He had chartered a private plane to fly him to Tallinn, Estonia, where he would be picked up by a private car service and driven to Saint Petersburg. By this time tomorrow, he would be on his own jet, preparing to take off for the Cape Verde Islands before crossing the Atlantic to Venezuela. Volkoff was annoyed at having to run, but his frustration was somewhat soothed by the fact that he would soon be living on his mega-yacht, navigating the Caribbean instead of London's gray and damp winter. What he needed was an adequate amount of female companionship, which could easily be arranged in Venezuela. He took a moment to smile inwardly as he savored the thought, when his phone rang.

Volkoff stared at the phone for a moment. Given that Roark had to have hired the American hitman, he hadn't considered receiving a call from him. He stared a moment longer and thought about the implications of answering and not answering. If he answered, Roark would know he was still alive and a potential threat. If he didn't answer, at a minimum, Roark might presume he was no longer alive, until the hitman reported in. A hearty laugh escaped his lips as he put the phone back in his pocket.

"Boss?" Sergey asked.

"The hunter becomes the hunted, Sergei. We are going to put Roark in the ground. He must not know I'm still alive. First, I will strip him of power, then I will have him incarcerated, and when he is in jail, I will have one of our friends put a shiv in his kidneys." He thought for a moment. "The problem I have is that while Roark is a power-hungry idiot, he was right about getting the sanctions lifted. That needs to happen so I can use Vostock Oil & Gas to expand not only our cash stocks but also our influence over Europe. I still want to achieve that goal. So perhaps I need to find a way to work with him until I don't need him anymore, but I need to send him a very clear message to behave himself. Regardless, there is no percentage in staying somewhere he can easily find me, so staying hidden at sea is a perfect solution, and.…"

Volkoff's pontifications were interrupted by a pretty young hostess who approached. "Excuse me, Sir, the pilot asked me to inform you that your plane is ready for departure. Your luggage has been stowed, and if you follow me, I'll escort you to the aircraft." The hostess smiled, earning a lecherous look from Volkoff.

"Thank you, my dear….after you." Volkoff waited a moment to see the young woman turn so he could watch her backside as she walked ahead, leading him and his men to a golf cart for the ride to the waiting aircraft.

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 08:10 EST

Location: Number One Observatory Circle, Washington, D.C. - Vice Presidential Residence

Roark looked at the icon of a ringing phone on his screen and, after several rings, hung up and tucked the phone in his pocket. He was about to dial Decker when he decided there was no need. Decker would call when it was safe to do so. Roark turned his thoughts back to Bartowski as he stood and exited his office.

"Vincent, please get me a number for Special Agent Bartowski. I'd like to express my gratitude for his service."

"Of course, Sir. Just a moment." Vincent called dispatch and requested the number, which was given immediately.

"Sir, this is Bartowski's private cell phone number. Would you like me to have your secretary arrange the call for you?"

"No. Just give me the number. I want to make this personal, Vincent. Thanks."

Vincent handed Roark the small piece of paper with Bartowski's number neatly written in block numbers, and Roark wasted no time dialing, never considering that he was calling a person recovering from a gunshot wound at a little after eight in the morning.

-O-

"Bartowski," Chuck answered in his customarily professional tone. This was his personal number, but he seldom had truly personal calls besides Ellie and occasionally Devon.

"Special Agent Bartowski, good morning. This is Vice President Roark. How are you feeling, son?"

"Sir!" Chuck straightened his spine as he spoke. "Thank you, Sir. I'm still a little sore but recovering quickly, and I hope to be back in service before too long."

"Well, I was with the President and John Casey at Camp David yesterday, and they mentioned your heroic work, and I wanted to call you and invite you to a private lunch at my residence….a sort of thank you for your service lunch if you would."

"I would be honored, Sir. Just let me know when Sir." Chuck replied. He wasn't a fan of Ted Roark, but given that he didn't work for the man, all he knew was what his colleagues shared about their experiences with him, and very few seemed to be good.

"Terrific. I'll have Rosalie send you an invitation for lunch at the Naval Observatory."

"Thank you, Sir. I look forward to it." Chuck was about to expand on his excitement for the lunch, but Roark cut the call, leaving Chuck a little dismayed.

Roark then called his assistant, Rosalie. "Rosalie, I want you to send an invitation for lunch to Special Agent Charles Bartowski. He'll be my guest at the Naval Observatory. Set it up as soon as my schedule permits."

"Yes, Sir. Anything else, Sir?"

"Yes. I want John Casey in my office as soon as possible. Make that happen, Rosalie."

"Of course, Sir." Roark liked Rosalie. She was smart and efficient and not bad to look at either. Maybe he would break one of his few rules about shitting where you work and fuck her before the current term ended. The thought of bedding young Rosalie put a smile on his face.

-O-

"That sounded exciting!" Sarah approached Chuck from the kitchen. "Who was that?"

"That was Vice President Roark. He has invited me to lunch." Chuck noticed the suddenly sour expression on Sarah's face. "What?"

"I can't stand him. He's a misogynistic pig. If you saw the way he leers me….at my mother, it would make you sick. My father can't stand him either." Sarah added. "He's obnoxious and incredibly self-absorbed….a complete tool. Dad only accepted him on the ticket because the party felt Roark could deliver certain key states where my father didn't have the same draw with the voters. Dad has been keeping him out of the way, sending him on fundraising trips and stuff away from D.C. and any decision-making. If he asks you anything about what Dad is doing, please be careful with whatever you say." Sarah's concern was evident in her furrowed brow as she spoke.

"That he leered at you is reason enough for me to decline the offer, but you know I can't really just say no to the Vice President of the United States. Maybe I should talk to your father first. What do you think?" Chuck pulled Sarah close and kissed the tip of her nose.

"Give me a proper kiss, Chuck, and I'll tell you what I think." Sarah smiled coquettishly.

Without missing a beat, Chuck grabbed her and kissed her deeply. "Wow Chuck, I'd tell you what I think, but I can't really pull together a coherent thought just now."

"Wow yourself. I'm suddenly wondering if we have enough money to quit our jobs, stay here, and make out all day." Chuck whispered as one of his hands found Sarah's rear end and squeezed, causing a slight yelp to escape her lips.

"Just make out, Mr. Bartowski?" Sarah grinned and grabbed Chuck's backside with one hand while grabbing a handful of his hair in the other. "I don't think so!"

"I'm guessing I'm gonna be late to my meeting with the physical therapist?"

"Yes, you are…."

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 09:15 EST

Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. – John Casey's Office.

A phone ring interrupted John Casey from focusing on the latest staff rotations. He huffed in frustration and answered more gruffly than usual.

"John Casey."

"Hey Casey, Chuck. I'm not sure what the protocol is, but I got a surprise call from VP Roark this morning inviting me to a one-on-one lunch. I mentioned it to Sarah, and she told me I should talk to her father, but I thought I should speak to you first….to organize the appointment."

"Roark called you? What exactly did he say? I mean, what is he inviting you to lunch for?" Casey asked, more than a little surprised.

"He said that he was with you and the President at Camp David and that the three of you were talking about me and my service in the context of protecting Sarah, so he wanted….." Chuck was in mid-sentence when Casey cut him off.

"Have you received the formal invitation yet? I imagine it would come from Rosalie Prince, his private secretary."

"Just this second. It's why I'm calling. Lunch tomorrow at 12:30 at the Naval Observatory. What's got your knickers in a twist, Casey?" Chuck was suddenly a little concerned by the reaction from his boss.

"Knickers in a twist, Bartowski? I swear I have no idea where you get this crap." Casey shook his head as he spoke into the phone. "It's just that the conversation Roark is referring to never happened. Yes, the President and I discussed your progress in the search, but Roark wasn't in our meeting. President Walker has been keeping the circle tight on the events surrounding his daughter and the mess that is targeting him, and Roark isn't in that tight circle. I'm sure he thinks that if Roark smelled blood in the water, he would do something stupid to help himself politically." Casey paused momentarily as his computer dinged, announcing an incoming message. It was from Rosalie. John Casey was asked to report to Ted Roark's office at two p.m. today.

Casey paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "Bartowski, I just received a demand for a meeting with Roark today at two p.m. If we hurry, we can get to Camp David, talk to the president, and I can be back in time for the command performance. Get yourselves ready, and inform Sarah's detail that we will be moving. I'll be there in twenty minutes." Casey was all business now.

"We'll be ready, boss." Chuck hung up the phone and looked at Sarah.

"So, we're not meeting the therapist to map out your P.T. plan today, then? I'll call and cancel your appointment." Sarah smiled warmly.

"I'll take care of that, Sarah, but you might call your parents and tell them we're coming up to Camp David for a few hours."

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 10:45 EST

Location: Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland - Camp David Presidential Retreat

The security team had alerted the main house that the two expected Suburbans had arrived. Casey drove the first, with Chuck sitting up front and Sarah in the back. Right behind them was a second truck driven by Sarah's security detail.

As the two big trucks approached the main house, Chuck saw Jack Walker waiting outside, wearing jeans, boots, a white button-down, and a blue down vest. His arm was wrapped around Emma Walker, who was wearing jeans and boots but wearing a long sweater over a thick wool turtleneck. Emma waved excitedly as Chuck got out and opened the door for Sarah.

"Hi, kids!" Emma beamed as she pulled both into a warm hug. "What a wonderful surprise!" Jack leaned in and gave Sarah a kiss before Emma pulled her away into the house.

Jack turned his attention to Chuck. "Hey Chuck, Welcome to Camp David. Good to see you again." Jack gave Chuck a firm handshake and a modest pat on his bicep. "John, good to see you again. Come on in. Let's chat before the ladies want to rejoin the party."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Chuck replied professionally as he followed the President and John Casey into the office, closing the door behind him.

-O-

Emma pulled Sarah into a small library where a cart sat with a variety of sandwiches, salads, soft drinks, and coffee. As they entered the library, Sarah took a seat while Emma closed the door.

"So, sweetheart, how are you? And equally importantly, how are things between you and Chuck?" Emma sat next to Sarah and took her hand as she smiled warmly.

"Oh, Mom, that man is….I'm in soooo much trouble." Sarah blushed as she dropped her face into her hands, emitting a soft giggle.

"I thought you might be," Emma replied. "And I suspect that the man you're referring to is in just as much trouble. Does he know? I mean, Sarah, with all the love in my heart, sometimes you tend to make things complicated, and, well, outside of business, you aren't always the world's greatest communicator." Emma leaned back a little to survey her daughter's reaction while squeezing Sarah's hand.

"He does. We had a very open talk last night. I said things I never imagined would come out of my mouth."

"And?" Emma pressed.

"Mom, I told him he was it for me. That I wanted a future with him, a life with him." Sarah's eyes sparkled as she spoke, her smile bright and wide.

"And?"

"And he didn't run away screaming. In fact, he kissed me within inches of my life. I swear it was like he reached into me and embraced my very soul. At that moment, I understood that nothing else mattered to me like he does. If he had asked me to marry him, I would not have hesitated to say yes."

"Oh honey, I'm so happy for you! But even more importantly, I'm really proud of you. I know it must have been hard for you to be that open, that vulnerable, and to know he feels the same is a just reward." Emma leaned in and pulled Sarah into a tight hug. "So, when's the wedding, and when are the babies coming? You know your Dad and I aren't getting any younger." Emma laughed as Sarah turned a bright shade of red.

"Geez, Mom….things are already moving way faster than I ever imagined would make sense, but please….I have so much to digest that I really don't need the added pressure." Sarah put her hands up defensively as she spoke.

"On one side, I have never felt happier or more complete, but I'm terrified on the other. I tried to do some work the other day and realized I had almost completely forgotten I had a job, a career….a really brilliant one in front of me….but now it just feels like a distraction from what I'm meant to do."

Emma stared at Sarah, a little wide-eyed but still smiling. "Ok, wow. You were right… I never expected that to come out of your mouth." Emma gave Sarah a look of pride, meeting her eyes. "I'm thrilled about your emotional shift, Sarah, I really am, but if I may….you know, the two of you can't just drop off the planet and live naked in bed all day….At some point, you will need to find something to keep you busy and stimulated….outside of the bedroom."

"I was going to jump all over that comment, Mom," Sarah chuckled, "but I know that. Up to a few weeks ago, making Partner was all that mattered. That is no longer the case, and I need to figure out what that means for me and my work at the Firm. Chuck has no desire to limit my professional ambitions, so really, it's more about finding a different balance in my life with Chuck at the center of it."

-O-

Across from the library, seated comfortably in Jack's office, Casey asked Chuck to recount his conversation with Ted Roark. As Chuck spoke, Jack and Casey paid rapt attention to each word.

"That's it, Mr. President. The whole conversation lasted about ninety seconds. Sarah overheard my half of the conversation, and when I told her it was Vice President Roark, she immediately cautioned me and suggested I call you. I was preparing to meet my physical therapist to discuss the therapy plan going forward when the lunch invitation for tomorrow arrived, so I called Casey to set up a meeting with you. Casey also received a demand for a meeting with Roark for later today."

"Chuck, when we are in private, please call me Jack, even if this is a professional matter. I think you've earned the privilege. That goes for you too, John." Jack stood and started pacing. "What is that jackass up to?" He wondered out loud. "More importantly, why did he obviously eavesdrop on my conversation with John, a conversation focused on your investigative work." Jack stopped and looked at Casey. "John, you don't think he has anything to do with any of this, do you?"

Casey looked immediately uncomfortable at his boss's question. "Well, Sir….Jack….the truth is that I have no idea. There is no question in my mind that the idea that Roark is somehow behind this is utterly and completely outlandish….and yet, like the framework that Chuck here put together tying all of this to the sanctions, Roark being involved does fit into the narrative. I mean eliminating you from your position makes him President, and with your party controlling both the Senate and House, he would be able to alter or repeal the sanctions. Aside from the pure power grab, which could certainly be motivation enough, what would he gain from repealing the sanctions?"

Chuck was stunned at what he was hearing. There wasn't a scenario in the world where he thought the Vice President of the United States of America would orchestrate a plot to remove a sitting President even without considering the Russian element in the mix. Chuck was snapped out of his reflections by Casey. "Chuck, has your program found anything interesting on that trust in the Cayman Islands that has bought up the Russian oil and gas company?"

"Not yet. The trust is extremely well-insulated, so I probably need to make some adjustments to my program to see if it can find something. I'll do the same with the investment bank that actually purchased on the trust's behalf." Chuck suddenly stopped speaking and stared into space, which Jack noticed immediately.

"Chuck? You still with us?"

"Uh.…yeah….sorry Mr. Pre….Jack. Sorry. Can I ask a question?"

"Go ahead," Jack nodded as Casey leaned forward to listen carefully. He knew that anything could happen when Bartowski started thinking out of the box.

"Uhm….before I start, Jack….this is really important to me, so please think about it before answering." Chuck looked expectantly at both men. "I have an idea, but it would require me to break several laws, which means if we found anything, while we would have knowledge, we could not use that knowledge in a court of law. More importantly, I want to give both of you plausible deniability before I do anything even remotely illegal."

To Jack's dismay, Casey started laughing, earning him a curious look from the President.

"Sorry, Jack….I've kind of been through this with Bartowski before, but it is sound advice, and I suggest we hear him out carefully before we make any decisions." Casey winked at Chuck.

Jack looked at both men and then waved a hand. "Noted. Go ahead, Chuck."

"Ok. If you think Vice President Roark is worth a deeper look, I have an idea on how we start linking pieces of information to help us draw some conclusions." Chuck spoke slowly and clearly. "To do that, I'll need to borrow a laptop, and for your security, I'll need to take that laptop with me when I'm done."

Jack still looked puzzled. "What exactly do you have in mind, Chuck? Can you be a little more clear?"

"No. If I tell you, you lose plausible deniability. I just need you to tell me if you want me to dig or not and if you do, I need to 'steal your laptop.'" The resolute tone in Chuck's voice resonated with Jack, who suddenly had another compelling reason to like the young man dating his daughter.

A slow, wide smile appeared on Jack's face. "Give me a minute." He then left the office, returning with an almost new laptop less than three minutes later. "Chuck. This is mine, and I've hardly ever used it. How much time do you need?"

"For this part of the exercise, maybe twenty minutes. Thirty minutes max. Part two will need to happen at about five minutes past two this afternoon and will take less than thirty seconds." Chuck was focused on the laptop's start-up process. "Jack, is there anything on this laptop you need to save? Otherwise, I'm purging everything."

"Only my high score on Minesweeper, Chuck. Purge away. We'll be in the library with the ladies when you're done." Jack winked and turned, gesturing Casey ahead of him and then closing the door behind them.

-O-

Slightly less than eighteen minutes later, Chuck knocked on the door and entered the library. His face was ashen, and his expression grim. "Jack, Casey, can I borrow you for a minute?"

"You're already done?" Jack looked at Chuck and then at Casey.

"With part one, yeah. It was easier than I thought, but I took extra time to triple-check everything."

Jack stood. "Ladies, we'll be back shortly."

Once back in his office, Jack closed the door and looked at Chuck. "Come on, Chuck….out with it, and don't give me any crap about plausible deniability! What exactly did you do, and what exactly did you discover?"

Chuck looked at Casey, who nodded approvingly. "Go on, Chuck. Tell us everything."

Chuck hung his head for a moment, then looked up at Jack. "It won't stand up in court, but I would bet my life that Roark is knee-deep in this."

Jack stumbled back into his chair, mouth open and eyes wide. "Chuck, be very careful here. We're talking about a sitting vice president, and my running mate here. I need you to be very sure, so explain it to me slowly enough so even I can understand it."

Chuck shook his head and looked up at Jack with a grim, determined expression. "Jack, with all the respect in the world, if I'm right, this guy is involved with attempting to abduct your daughter, the woman I love more than anything, twice….and we both know an abduction would have likely resulted in her death. I won't bother to mention that I was also the recipient of a bullet that, had I not tripped over Sarah's foot, would have killed me instantly. So yes, I will lay this out slowly and carefully, but I want your promise that you will keep me away from that piece of shit, or I will kill him with my bare hands."

"Bartowski! Don't forget who you're talking to!" Casey chastised, but Chuck was having none of it and fixed Jack with an icy stare that chilled the room. Seeing Chuck's look, Jack was suddenly reminded that his Secret Service agents were incredibly dangerous men who were capable of causing unspeakable harm to others when circumstances required. The silence held for a moment as Jack and Chuck stared at each other while Casey's eyes moved from one man to the other.

The President nodded. "Go on, Chuck."

"Ok, Jack….here it is. I pulled up the numbers we picked up from the phone intercepts, then went back and did a search of where those phone numbers were physically when the calls were made. The phones were encrypted, so we could not pinpoint a location, but we could ascertain a general area. Then, I pulled up Roark's travel itinerary. Suffice it to say that if it's not him, it's someone on his team because there is a one-hundred-percent match. Having said that, no one on his team would have the resources to do this."

"What?" Jack was still trying to get his head around what Chuck was telling him.

"Jack, within a mile or so, the geography is a one hundred percent match. He's knee-deep in this, but I understand it's tough to take, which is what part two is all about." Chuck looked at his watch. "Casey, you will meet with Roark at two p.m. At exactly five minutes past two, I will call the number we lifted from Decker's phone, and assuming he hasn't dumped the burner yet, my bet is that it will ring right in front of you. I doubt he will answer it, but you will know."

"Won't he know it's not Decker calling?" Jack asked.

"It doesn't matter. The important thing is that when I call, the phone that rings is in his possession. But regardless, I will spoof Decker's number, and he won't be able to track the call." Chuck responded confidently. "The problem is that the outcome of steps one and two may validate that Roark is our guy, but it does not give us the legally actionable evidence we need to charge him, and it does not tell us if others are involved."

John Casey stood quietly with a grim expression on his face. The more Chuck spoke, the angrier he became. "Sir, colluding with a foreign national to undermine the Presidency is treason!" Casey blurted out.

Jack was momentarily lost, trying desperately to digest the information he'd just been given, so Chuck stepped into the void.

"I think I may have an idea." Chuck started pacing the room as Jack and Casey just stared at him.

A minute passed in total silence before Jack spoke. "Chuck, I'm sorry about my reaction before. You are absolutely right. Tell me what you're thinking."

"Tonight I'm going to find the link between Roark, the trust in the Caymans, and Kraken Capital. I know it's there. Once I have that, I need to figure out how we chart a legal path to discovering the information we can use….as a backup. A plan "B" as it were." An evil grin appeared on Chuck's face.

"So what's plan "A" for Roark?" Jack asked.

"Simple….Roark has to die." Jack was about to object when Chuck raised his hand. "Jack, I don't mean we kill him….If I'm right, it should be reasonably to Volkoff that Roark hired Decker to kill him, and we're equally reasonable that Volkoff figured that out and split. My bet is that Volkoff is going into hiding, while he tries to figure out how to neutralize Roark. We just need to find him first and give him a little push in the right direction."

Jack was considering Chuck's idea when Casey looked at his watch. "Christ….I need to go, or I'll be late for the meeting with Roark." Casey growled as he moved toward the door. He glared at the younger man. "Five past two exactly, Chuck. Mr. Pres….Jack." Without another word, Casey nodded and left, leaving Jack and Chuck staring at each other.

"Jack, it's me who needs to apologize. Sarah has become impossibly important to me, and I let my emotions get the better of me. I meant no disrespect." Chuck's tone and expression fully conveyed his honest apology.

"No. You were right. I've been a politician too long, and I considered the political implications before thinking about what had actually happened to my only child. I'm ashamed of my reaction. Just promise me that for as long you have Sarah in your life, you will defend her with that kind of total commitment, putting her before anything. Promise me, Chuck." Jack's expression softened considerably to that of a father who failed his family instead of the commander-in-chief.

Chuck gave Jack a coy smile. "Jesus, Jack….I've already taken a bullet in the chest for her; what more can I do to prove my absolute commitment to her?"

The comment was meant to be tongue in cheek, but Jack understood it more broadly and knew Chuck would do anything for Sarah. He walked to Chuck and pulled him into a hug. "I know. Thank you, Son. Now, let's join the ladies for something to eat while we figure out how to get you out of lunch with Roark without showing our cards."

-O-

Date: Wednesday, 29 December 2021

Time: 14:00 EST

Location: Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, D.C. – Office of the Vice President

Casey had driven back from Camp David at high speed, running his strobe lights the entire way. He arrived at the Eisenhower Executive Building, where the Vice President's ceremonial office is located, and passed the numerous security checkpoints, greeting his men as he went. As he approached the Vice President's office, he ran into Vincent Boles, the head of the V.P. security detail.

"Vincent, good to see you. How's Ginger? The kids?" Casey smiled broadly as he shook hands with one of his most senior men.

"All good, Skipper. Ginger is killing me with a new diet, and the boys are killing me with their ice hockey schedule, but otherwise, everything is really good. How are you, Casey? You seem to have a lot of plates spinning."

"You know the job, pal. It's always something. By the way, do you know what the Veep wants with me?" Casey kept things light and casual.

"No idea, but suddenly, he was very interested in your boy Bartowski. He's on the books for lunch tomorrow at the Observatory. Roark said something about recognizing Bartowski for his heroic service….He's asked me a lot of questions about how your investigation is progressing, but he knows the information is strictly 'need to know' and that I am not in the loop. He may press you on that." Vincent added. "It's almost two p.m. Casey. You should go straight in. Roark can be a pill if you're late."

Casey smiled and shook Vincent's hand. "Thanks Vince…Love to Ginger and the kids." John approached Rosalie, who smiled at him and stood, opening the door, and waved him in before closing the door.

"Mr. Vice President." Casey stood ramrod straight, waiting to be invited to sit.

"Special Agent Casey. Please have a seat." Roark spoke without looking up from the notebook he was writing something into. "So, Special Agent Casey. I'd like to be fully briefed on the status of your investigation into the attempted abduction of Sarah Walker. As I mentioned the other day, what impacts our President impacts me, so I expect to be fully informed and kept in the loop of any new developments." Roark looked at Casey as if he was an insignificant underling.

Roark's look was not lost on John Casey, who suddenly felt the same rage that flared when Chuck Bartowski wanted out of the lunch, but he looked at the treasonous bastard with a flat expression.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Vice President, but by Presidential Order, the investigation is not to be shared outside of a select group of people approved by the President himself. Given the intensely personal nature of the events, I'm sure you can un…."

As Casey spoke, Roark's face became redder and redder. He slammed his fist on his desk and shouted. "Who the fuck do you think you are talking to, Mr. Casey? I'm the Vice President of the United States of America and next in line for the Presidency! You will tell what you know!"

As Roark railed at him, Casey kept an eye on the mantel clock on Roark's credenza. Four minutes past two showed on the clock, and John Casey was holding his breath as Roark stared laser beams at him.

"Well? I'm waiting, Mr. Casey." Roark emphasized the "Mister" as a threat, but John Casey didn't bite. He just stared impassively.

"I'm sorry, Sir. You will need to refer to the President, and upon his approval, I will gladly comply with…." Casey was interrupted by a ringing phone. He looked at the clock again. Five minutes past two. 'Fuck' he thought to himself.

Roark was momentarily confused as he pulled the phone from his pocket, looked at the number on the screen, then declined the call and smiled. He was about to lay into Casey again when there was a knock on the door. Rosalie cracked the door open and looked at John Casey. "Special Agent Casey, dispatch called with a priority message. Apparently, Special Agent Bartowski was visiting the President and First Lady at Camp David with Sarah Walker when he collapsed. The on-site medical team responded immediately but was unable to revive him. I'm sorry. President Walker wanted you informed and requested you report to him immediately."