A/N: A quick thank you to those of you that left reviews for the last chapter.
And thanks to Ironclad2022 for checking part of Sarah and Chuck's interaction, recommending modifications as needed.
This chapter will include a mission….
= ! = =
Healing
Chapter 16: Taking Chances
= ! = =
Dreyfus looked over the rim of his glasses at Sarah who had just sat opposite him. "Dr. James has spoken to me since your two visits.".
"And?" Sarah asked.
"She tells me you are willing, but having difficulties."
Sarah flushed. "Does she give a detailed account of our discussions and my tasks?"
"She does not. She has only stated what I said, but that she will work with you to accomplish your goals." He didn't state what those goals were and she wondered if he even knew. "My only concern is its effect on your relationship with Mr. Bartowski and your work."
She nodded. That made sense. If it adversely affected either, Graham could notice. "Both are doing well," she said. She really believed that.
"So I hear," he replied.
She leaned forward. "What has Graham said?"
"He asked whether the change to Chuck's status could adversely affect your working relationship, specifically whether his no longer being your asset would."
Sarah pushed aside the happiness that the director was still interested in this. He'd not said anything to her, so she'd wondered if he'd gone off the idea. "The working relationship has nothing to do with me being his handler," she asserted.
"Why do you think he asked?" Dreyfus questioned.
She had to think about that. She shook her head, confused. "He knows I always take my responsibilities seriously. He can't think I work well with Chuck because I'm his handler."
"So?"
Thoughts she didn't want crept into her head. "Does he suspect that I'm so compromised that I will jump Chuck's bones if the asset / handler constraints aren't there?"
Dreyfus put his pen down before responding. "He is very aware of your contact aversion. He is completely unaware that you are working to overcome that."
She breathed out a sigh of relief. He continued, "However, he worries that without that constraint, you may get emotionally entangled."
She scoffed. "I've been that from nearly the start of this assignment."
"You and I know that, but he doesn't."
"And it hasn't affected my performance or what we've gotten out of Chuck." She locked eyes with him. "That's because Chuck is a loyal American citizen who wants to do the right thing for his country, rather than how either of us feel about each other."
Dreyfus nodded. "That fits with yours and the major's reports and Graham's opinion of the man." He picked up his notebook and pen. "I will record that you were surprised that the idea of any effect came up."
"You can note that I was offended at the suggestion."
His lips almost shifted into a smile. "Noted."
He looked at her. "Your last mission was driven by Mr. Bartowski, wasn't it?"
She smiled, genuinely pleased to talk about it. "The director approved it immediately whereas the general didn't. However, when we succeeded, even she thanked him."
"He's making a difference," the doctor commented, looking carefully at her.
"Graham told Chuck to keep thinking outside the box."
"He didn't tell me that."
"So, you think he'll go ahead with the status change?"
"Fairly quickly. He wants to encourage your man."
Hearing Chuck called her man filled her with as much pride as the other words about him. "Thank you for your help with that," she said.
"Anything else changed?"
She wondered whether she should mention the new sleeping arrangements, but decided that was a topic for the other doctor. "No. I'm still wearing these gloves and don't expect that to change."
"Well, if there's nothing else to discuss, we'll end there. See you in two weeks, unless something comes up to bring it forward."
= ! = =
The next day, Sarah sat in her office, deep in thought.
It was another day with no mission, and gave her time for contemplation. In the past, she'd hated such days, always wanting the job to distract her from the thought of the consequence she'd suffered. However, she now appreciated the time.
She was thinking about Chuck and how she wanted their relationship to progress.
The instructions from Dr. James were still beyond her, but being touched by Chuck was definitely helping her. It was inducing feelings she'd thought she'd never get again.
Tonight, she planned to go further than before, being topless. She wanted his hands on her. Ironically, this sensation was not only something she'd not suffered when raped, but also rarely featured in the sex she'd experienced with Bryce. Their coupling had mostly just been that; frantic, post-mission encounters.
Sarah was sure that with Chuck, it would be a sensual delight.
However, there was a problem with this. She knew he would do his best to make it a positive experience for her, but she was sure it would frustrate him so much. She doubted that she could give him the release he would deserve. That was holding her back, but she knew she had to get past this initial hurdle to be able to progress.
She was so grateful to her wonderful, kind boyfriend. So caring, so giving, so tolerant. It didn't ease the guilt, but it made her love him that much more.
= ! = =
It was a difficult discussion for Sarah. She wasn't a natural talker anyway, more a private person who hid behind her walls. This not only needed those walls down, something she could only do with the two doctors and Chuck, but also required her to ask for something she felt was selfish, even though it was leading to something for them both.
After she stumbled her way through her request, her guilt had risen and she wished she'd not brought it up. She looked down at the untouched food on her dinner plate and pushed it away, feeling totally miserable.
Chuck stood up, walked around the table and took her hand. Guiding her to the couch, he sat beside her, now with both of her hands clasped in his.
She looked up at him, feeling the tears threatening her. His warm eyes, full of love here in their haven, gazed at her. "You know I would do anything for you, don't you, Sarah?"
A tear escaped, and he let go of one of her hands so that he could use his thumb to wipe it off her cheek.
"It's not selfish of you. I don't think you realize how much pleasure I will get from what you are suggesting. Of course, more will be wonderful when we can, but this will fulfill some of my dreams alone."
She hadn't considered that. It both brightened her mood, but also sent a thrill through her. "Maybe an early night?" she tentatively suggested.
"You will have to ignore my physical reaction, though. I won't do anything you don't want, but it will still happen."
All the guilt returned. "I just wish I could do something about that," she said. "I'm sure I will be able to sometime, but not yet."
"One step at a time," he replied.
= ! = =
After drying herself from the shower and putting on some panties, Sarah stared at her nearly naked body in the mirror. She was having to control her emotions that were all over the place. She was psyching herself up to walk into the bedroom like this, knowing that Chuck could be watching her. This alone was a big step to take. Only medical staff had seen her like this since her ordeal. She knew Chuck would like what he saw, but it was still something she never expected to happen again. However, she wanted him to do more than look. She wanted him to touch, as well. She was confident that she wouldn't have problems unless he dropped down within her panties. This was just the first step toward being able to cope with that, but….
She shook her head to dispel the doubts. Just get on with it, she told herself.
Chuck wasn't looking toward the door as she entered the bedroom. Of course he wasn't. He wanted to make this as easy as possible for her.
Part of her wanted to just leap into the bed and cover herself, but that wasn't the plan. "Chuck, please look at me."
He rolled over and locked eyes with her. That was also predictable! She sighed. "Chuck, I want you to look at my body. You'll be touching it soon. This is the first step for me."
He looked down and she felt his gaze on her breasts. She held back the shiver that wanted to escape. "Gorgeous," she heard him murmur.
"Thank you," she softly replied and climbed into bed with him. She quickly moved closer and then felt the hairs on his chest against her breasts, and the shiver escaped. A pleasant shiver because it felt good.
She hugged him tightly, pressing her body against his.
"Are you ok?" he whispered.
"Yes, but please just hold me like this for a while."
They stayed like that for quite some time. She felt her heart beating fast, as did he, so she had to reassure him that it was a good thing. He will have also felt two other indications of that pressing into his chest.
She then said she was going to turn over and wanted him to hold one of her breasts. When he did that, she gasped. "So good," she breathed out.
"Oh my god, it is!" His mouth was next to her ear at this point. He kissed her ear lobe and then down her neck. He soon reached a sensitive spot and she moaned as her arousal spiked.
"Don't just hold it," she begged.
His caresses were wonderful. She never wanted them to stop. Then the unexpected happened. Something that hadn't happened for years. She climaxed. She felt overwhelmed as it hit her.
She clamped her hand over his, stopping him from moving anymore.
Part of her was filled with the euphoria associated with it, but another part was horrified and revolted by feeling anything down there, as it brought back memories of the atrocities she had suffered, although she'd not climaxed during any of the rapes.
However, she wasn't going to let the negative side win. She immediately rolled over and kissed him hard.
His hand settled on her lower back, holding her tightly.
Unfortunately, she felt his body's response to what had happened pressing against her belly. The negative side nearly took over then. The last time she'd felt something like that was when she was raped. But this was her boyfriend, who she knew would never do anything like that. She just clung to him, her fingernails digging into his back, as she tried to force those thoughts away.
"I have to at least move my hips and legs away from you," Chuck murmured. He obviously felt himself pressing against her, and guessed she would react badly to it. She moved her hips away as well, and the fear subsided completely.
She kissed him hard again, though. When she pulled her lips away, she said, "I love you so much."
"Was it ok?" he tentatively asked.
"I didn't expect what happened. It was both wonderful and terrifying."
"Did it used to be good?"
She knew he didn't really want to know, but was being supportive. "I've been groped before, but never pleasured like that," she honestly answered.
"You deserve to be worshipped," he said. She could hear the anger in his voice.
She looked at him. "I've never been loved before, Chuck."
"I just want to kiss your whole body," he admitted. "Really worship you."
She shuddered at the thought of that. "Not tonight, but maybe you can kiss there soon."
She lay down with her back to him and snuggled back into his embrace. He placed his hand under her breasts, which felt intimate but not arousing. She then drifted off to sleep.
= ! = =
Waking with Chuck's hand on her left breast didn't cause any panic. In fact, it was a lovely experience.
Sarah lay silently thinking about the previous evening. It had definitely moved their relationship forward.
The panic she had experienced had gone now, and she could just appreciate what had happened. Not surprisingly, Chuck had been amazing throughout and after.
Sarah decided that she wanted this to happen again, maybe let him kiss her breasts as he said he wanted to, but she also needed to get over her fear of touching him. She'd not discussed that with Dr. James, so would do so when she saw her next. She was determined to overcome her fear of this form of intimacy with her loving boyfriend, as part of her planned progress.
She also needed to work on what she'd been instructed to do, both by hand and then with the items she had yet to purchase.
She then looked at the clock and groaned. Time to rise and head to Casey's for the morning's briefing.
= ! = =
The briefing was differently to normal. Director Graham notified Sarah that it was a purely CIA session and the general would not be joining them.
Sarah had put the call on speaker, so Chuck commented, "Director, if Casey isn't to be involved either, we can have the call on my computer."
Graham obviously considered that before responding, "We may do that sometimes, but this one should include him."
Sarah guessed what it was about and hurried Chuck to get ready.
Soon, Chuck, Sarah and Casey were facing the director who launched straight in, looking at Chuck, "Since you downloaded the Intersect, you have been involved in a number of significant missions, all of them successful. Both Agent Walker and Major Casey have reported that your involvement in each made a significant difference. You, Mr. Bartowski, not the Intersect. That has helped you, but you are talented anyway." He looked at Sarah next. "Dr. Dreyfus has also told me that you are recovering better from your trauma with help from the man standing next to you."
She had to control her reaction. She just nodded and said, "That's true, Sir. He has been very supportive, as has his sister."
"Ahh, yes. The neurologist," he responded.
"They both just want to help when they see a need," Sarah added.
Graham nodded. "Noted." He then looked back at Chuck. "I know you didn't choose this life you have found yourself in, but you are good at the analysis and identifying solutions to problems, whether you use the Intersect or not. You can carry on in this fashion, as an asset, but that doesn't reflect what you do. I believe you should become a member of the CIA."
Chuck had expected this because Sarah had mentioned it, but he acted as if this was the first time he'd heard about it. "Wow! Thank you, Director." He glanced at the two either side of him. "And thank you both, too." Looking back at Graham, he frowned. "But what does this mean, Sir?"
"It means you would become an employee. A field analyst. It's basically what you've been doing, but you would get paid, too, along with other employee benefits."
Chuck gasped. "Paid?"
Graham looked amused. "More than your Buy More salary. Will you accept?"
"It's a surprise. I never thought such a thing would happen." Sarah watched as he locked eyes with the director on the screen. "If it's what I'd have to do anyway, I'd be stupid not to accept, Sir."
Graham nodded. "My thoughts exactly."
"Do I give the Buy More job up?" Chuck asked.
"No. You still need that as a cover," the director replied. "Just as these two do."
"Ahh, yes."
Looking at Sarah, Graham said, "Take him to the LA CIA office and have him complete all the paperwork. He will then have a photo taken for his ID."
"Yes, Sir."
"Thank you, Director. I appreciate this," Chuck said.
"Welcome on board, Chuck." The call ended.
Casey said, "You deserve this, Bartowski." He shook Chuck's hand.
Sarah noticed her boyfriend winced as the NSA agent gripped his hand tightly. "Thanks, Casey."
Sarah pulled him in for a hug. "Well done, Chuck, but Casey's right."
"Wow! If I get hugs like that, it's definitely worth accepting."
Sarah knew he was saying that for Casey's benefit. She playfully slapped his arm. "Only one you're getting, mister."
She grabbed her bag and led him out. "Should I change out of my Nerd Herd outfit?" he asked as they walked to the door.
"Maybe just remove the pocket protector," Casey called to him.
= ! = =
Later that morning, Graham notified Sarah that he wanted a video call with them.
When Sarah called to get Chuck and Casey to come over for a call with Graham, her boyfriend said, "Lester and Jeff got sent on a call to the marina. Big Mike didn't trust them to go on their own, so Anna's gone too. I have to man the phones while they're gone." He sighed. "Keeping my cover."
She sighed, too. "I guess you need to." He still needed to join the call, though. "I'll come over there. Casey will have to set up for a call. Someone else will have to cover for you for a few minutes."
He groaned.
When she got over to the Buy More, he'd persuaded Morgan. She smiled at his friend and thanked him, before leading Chuck into the Home Theater room. Morgan obviously assumed they wanted to continue their relationship in some way.
Casey was already there getting the call set up. "This is less than ideal," he muttered.
Graham and Beckman appeared on the screen. He spoke first, "We have intel that a major counterfeiter is in Los Angeles trying to acquire a new set of printing plates. We think it may be used for funding Fulcrum."
"Any leads to follow?" Chuck asked. Sarah was pleased he was already getting more involved.
Graham replied, "It's believed that there is a connection with the marina. There's a billionaire hosting a charity event tonight at the New Constellation Yacht Club. Lon Kirk. He appears to devote most of his time and money to aid projects, mostly foreign. However, we think he could be involved. Sarah and Chuck will go as guests. Casey as staff."
He looked at Sarah briefly. "Kirk likes to gamble." Her eyes lit up and he chuckled.
Casey asked, "Anything else we should know."
"Be very careful," General Beckman replied. "Kirk is very well connected."
"You seemed excited that he was into gambling, Sarah," Chuck mentioned, as the call ended.
Casey snorted and crouched down to undo what he'd done for the call.
She looked at her boyfriend. "I'm an experienced gambler myself." She leaned closer and whispered, "I learnt from my dad."
"So, they'll give us some money?"
She nodded gleefully.
He shook his head. "I'll leave that to you. I'm not good with the odds."
She beamed. "Thank you." She wanted to kiss him, but Casey was still with them, so she turned and headed back to the Wienerlicious, waving to Morgan on the way.
= ! = =
Chuck called Sarah soon after. He'd checked on where the team had gone in the marina. Neither were too surprised at whose boat it was on. These sorts of coincidences seemed all too common.
She stayed on the call as Casey joined to hear the news.
"Damn. If you'd gone with them, you might've spotted something," Casey said.
"Anna's pretty sharp. If the guys behaved for a few moments, she might've," Chuck replied.
Casey snorted. "Those two behave?" Sarah thought the same.
The three walked in shortly after that, and Chuck called Sarah so that she could hear his conversation with them. Casey loitered nearby.
"You were on Lon Kirk's boat?" Chuck said. "No wonder Big Mike was concerned. He's rich."
"Jeff caused a scene but we got away with it," Lester said.
Anna responded quickly, "We had to check out their systems and then make some modifications. The system checked out, everything was online and the modifications worked, so most onboard functions are now controllable from anywhere on the boat. Pretty cool stuff. It was all so expensive."
"What did Jeff do," Chuck asked. Sarah could almost hear the groan behind the question.
"He went looking for the can," Lester piped up.
Anna sighed. "He went down the stairs, which he shouldn't have, and upset the Ship Manager for doing that."
Lester added, "We followed him and there were men down there counting money."
"So much cash," Jeff crooned.
Anna said, "The Ship Manager said they were counting money raised for Mr. Kirk's aid organization, from a charity event."
Sarah knew the LA charity event had yet to occur, but maybe they'd had another previously. However, it seemed suspicious.
"They were also paying prostitutes," Jeff said.
Anna snapped at him. "We don't know they were prostitutes!"
Lester laughed. "Oh, they were." Apparently, he then pulled a one-hundred dollar bill out of his pocket and unfolded it. All Sarah actually heard was him saying, "Anyway they provided quite the distraction. I was able to pick up this beauty after one of the crew carrying a box of them dropped it."
"Those girls were beauties!" Jeff said.
Chuck and Lester got into an argument about the note, finishing with Chuck commenting that he needed to take it back.
"You're on here again. Anna," he said.
Their call ended and Sarah saw on her monitor Chuck leaving the store, heading to her, with Casey following. She headed out, noting that Tracey was busy with customers.
Casey had steered Chuck to his car. Sarah arrived only just after.
Once they were all in, Casey turned to him. "What is it, Bartowski?"
Chuck handed him the bill. "This is counterfeit. Lon Kirk has at least a box load of these on his yacht. Our team saw them counting a lot of cash. It may all be counterfeit. Do you think he's printing them from those plates?"
"Maybe," Casey muttered. "Makes this evening's trip more important. We should let the higher ups know."
"Casey, can you drive off?" Chuck asked.
"Why?"
"Lester might look out and I said I'd take this back to the yacht. I don't want him making a fuss."
Casey grunted and drove them out of the mall. As he did, Chuck suggested Sarah take a photo of the serial number on the bill and call Director Graham.
Graham called back fairly quickly and she put the call on speaker.
"The serial number Chuck flashed on is part of a strain of counterfeit currency that the Treasury has been trying to crack for years. Rather than just raid the yacht, we want you to go to that event, See if you flash on anyone there, Chuck. Kirk is probably going to sell the plates and we want to see who to."
"We will, Director," Chuck responded.
Graham ended the call.
Sarah grinned at the two men in front. "So, I still get to take lots of money there!"
"You better bring the same amount back," Casey growled.
She gave him an affronted look. "I'll be bringing more back!"
= ! = =
Sarah obviously had no time for making any purchases that day, nor did she have time for any manual 'healing' attempts. She had to get ready to go out to this event. However, the fact that she would get to do something that she enjoyed, both during her time with her dad and on some missions, put her in a happy mood.
When she stepped out into the living room she saw Chuck turn around and look at her. She definitely looked at him. He looked gorgeous in the suit he was wearing.
"Wow!" he said. "You look stunning!"
She was wearing a long dark blue dress and matching gloves that covered her whole arms, dipping just under the sleeve of the short black jacket she wore on top of the dress. Only a small amount of her neck and chest were visible at the front of this combination.
She'd been pleased with how she looked and the fact that she was almost completely covered. She didn't want to risk any contact from others. Chuck's comment brought a beaming smile to her face. "Thank you, Chuck. You look very handsome in that."
"And your sparkling eyes compliment the attire perfectly."
That made her realize how rarely she'd honestly smiled over recent years. "Well, I'm going out with my gorgeous boyfriend, dressed to the nines."
"And with one hundred thousand dollars for gambling," he commented drily.
She grinned. "That, too."
= ! = =
When they arrived at the yacht club, the event had already started. As had the gambling. They spotted Lon Kirk at the roulette wheel and headed over to him.
Chuck took two glasses from a passing waitress and handed one to Sarah.
"I've never seen you drink martinis before," she said.
"Oh, I don't. But apparently Carmichael loves them," he replied.
They reached the table, and Sarah guided Chuck to sit next to Lon Kirk, and she sat on the other side of her boyfriend.
"Thank you for bringing me here, Charles," she said loud enough for Kirk to hear. "I love roulette." She smiled at the man at the other side of him.
Chuck saw Casey walking toward them and called to him, "Chips, please."
Casey placed some down and pushed them across to Chuck. "One hundred, sir. Good luck." In a quieter voice, he added, "Don't let her spend it all."
Chuck slid all of it to Sarah. "For you, my dear."
She could feel the excitement coursing through her. "Perfect," she said.
Kirk seemed to ignore Chuck between them, taking a good look at Sarah, and said, "I don't believe we've met before. I'm Lon Kirk. I'm the host of this evening's event." He finally looked at Chuck and reached his hand to shake his hand. "I know the people of Taiwan are deeply appreciative of your generosity."
Chuck responded perfectly, "The name's Carmichael. Charles Carmichael."
Sarah handed one of her $10,000 chips to Casey, saying, "Red three." Then she placed one on black twenty.
Lon smoothly replied to Chuck, "Pleasure, and your stunning... companion?" He reached across Chuck for her hand and kissed it. Even through the glove, it felt unclean.
She could tell Chuck was bristling, but she replied, "Sarah Walker. Pleasure." She could feel the man's eyes undressing her. She hated this and especially Chuck witnessing it. However, she asked, "May I ask, Mr. Kirk..."
He interrupted her, "Lon, please."
She nodded. "Lon… I was wondering how you came to focus your charitable efforts on Taiwan."
"Well, I started doing business there, and I just fell in love with the people, their indefatigable spirit, and I said to myself..." He placed chips on three of the red spaces, and asked Casey to add two more, "Three and nine, please."
Casey shook his head, "Sorry, sir, three's taken."
Kirk looked irritated, but then looked back at Sarah and continued what he'd been saying, "I said to myself, 'Lon, you can help?'"
Sarah smiled, "That's wonderful."
"And I always bet on red because it reminds me of all the pain and suffering in the world."
She smiled again, "How noble. I always like to mix things up." She sensed his eyes undressing her again.
"Any other bets?" Casey asked, looking at Chuck.
Chuck held up his hands. "Her vice, not mine."
Kirk raised a brow. "And what are her other ones?" he asked.
Sarah inwardly shuddered, but replied, "That's not for sharing." She was absolutely not going to flirt with this man. She was tempted to wrap her hands around Chuck's arm, but thought that was going too far.
When the wheel stopped spinning, Sarah smiled. Casey called out, "Three, red."
"Ooh. That's me," she cooed.
Kirk briefly looked annoyed again, having intended to bet on that, but he turned to Sarah and said, "Congratulations." Then, he got called away. They watched him walk over to speak to a man at the far side of the room. Sarah noticed that Chuck flashed on him.
He told Sarah and Casey, "Kirk is talking to Rashan Chen. He's the Taiwanese Attaché to the Premier. He's dirty. I think he could be the buyer."
Chuck suddenly stood up. "I need the restroom."
Sarah watched him slowly walk past the two men, and guessed that he listened to them.
He told Sarah and Casey, "Kirk mentioned that he has what Chen wants and will transfer it to him."
Chuck continued past them and into the restroom, and then after a few moments headed back to Sarah.
They didn't get to talk because Kirk soon appeared. "You should come to my yacht," he said. They both knew he meant just her.
Sarah controlled the shudder and responded, "We'd love to. Wouldn't we, Charles?"
Chuck smoothly replied, "Of course, my dear."
Kirk frowned, but said nothing else.
Chuck looked at Sarah. "I think we should leave while you're ahead."
She knew they had achieved the best they could for the mission, but not for her personal goals. She pouted. "Really?"
Chuck nodded. "Really," he replied.
Of course, he was right. She turned back to Kirk and thanked him again, before standing up with Chuck.
They walked out with her winnings and the intel they needed, as well as a plan for the next day.
= ! = =
"I would've liked to win more," she grumbled once in the car.
""You might've lost it," he replied.
"I would not!" she snapped at him.
"Sorry!" he said, hands raised, looking somewhat shocked at her response.
"Hmph!"
"We got what we needed, though," he replied.
"No. Not until we have the plates," she stated.
"Are you ok with going to his yacht?" he tentatively asked. "He probably expects you to wear a bikini or a swimsuit."
She briefly glanced at him. "He'll be disappointed, then." She then grinned. "You can show lots of your skin, though. I'll like that."
He blushed but chuckled. Then, he frowned. "I hated how he looked at you, Sarah. He didn't even register that I was there most of the time! He just wanted to get you alone on his yacht and his hand into your panties."
That caused a full shudder to rush through her body. She knew that, but did Chuck have to actually say it? "Do you think I need reminding?" she snarled at him.
He went silent, after quietly mumbling, "Sorry."
They drove home in silence and Sarah went straight to bed, in t-shirt and panties. She knew she was being unfair to Chuck who'd been angry on her behalf, but it was all too much.
It seemed that her healing was solely around her boyfriend and others could still get her upset.
= ! = =
The briefing the following morning with Beckman and Graham was short.
Graham thought about what Chuck and Sarah had just said. "If Kirk is delivering plates to the man you flashed on, Chen, we obviously have to stop him."
"Are you sure that is what you heard?" Beckman asked Chuck. "We can't risk an international incident if you are wrong."
"Yes, General. We just don't know when," Chuck replied.
"The attaché's yacht leaves for a pleasure cruise in two days' time," Graham noted. "They are unlikely to transfer the plates while out at sea, not with other passengers aboard to see it happen."
"So, sometime before then," Casey said.
"We will arrange for Kirk's men to be intercepted." Beckman turned to Sarah. "However, we need you to go to Kirk's yacht. If he still has the plates there, we need to know."
"Yes, Ma'am, we will," Sarah replied.
"Not Bartowski. He's an analyst, not an agent." The way she said that made Chuck wince. "You go on your own, Agent Walker. Get that information by any means necessary."
Those last few words really upset Sarah. The meaning was clear, but it wasn't the sort of thing she could do. However, she didn't have to respond. Graham said, "Agent Walker will not be expected to do that. Besides, Chuck may flash on what Kirk has on the yacht. Both go."
Beckman was glaring at him as he reached forward to end the call.
Casey grunted and headed out.
Chuck pulled Sarah into an embrace. "She knows I don't do those sorts of missions," she muttered.
"I take it that means to seduce him," Chuck said. She nodded against his chest.
Seconds later, she got a text from Graham, telling her to call. They initiated the video call.
Graham launched straight in, "I am sorry you had to hear the general make that comment, Sarah. She doesn't seem to understand that she cannot give commands to you like that."
"I don't… can't… do that sort of intelligence gathering, Sir," she replied.
"I know. I will have to educate the general about that. If I am not on a call, and she asks for that, just refuse and I will back you." He sighed. "She is living in the past. It may have been common practice in her day, but not anymore."
"Thank you, Sir," she said.
Graham looked at Chuck next. "Her comment to you, while technically true, would mean you are less able to help. She has already used you in an agent-type function, so I don't know why she thinks this is different. It may be because I made the decision to make you an analyst without consulting her. I will talk to her about this."
"Thank you, Sir," Chuck replied.
"Good luck on the yacht," Graham said and ended the call.
= ! = =
Chuck smiled at what Sarah had chosen to wear. Her gloves, obviously, this time in a pale blue. She wore a blouse in a lighter blue, which had sleeves that went just beyond her elbows, which meant that the gloves reached up under them. The long lightweight white pants billowed out as she walked. They covered her legs and the white sandals.
Basically, all but her head was covered.
"As always," Chuck said. "You look stunning."
He was standing in long navy blue shorts with an unbuttoned short-sleeved pale blue shirt. "You look great, too," she said.
He reached out his hand, but she didn't accept it and said, "Not until we reach the marina."
"Yeah. Of course."
= ! = =
Sarah put on a wide-brimmed hat as she got out of the car at the marina. They were collected and escorted to Kirk's yacht by one of his men. Sarah wondered if that would have been the case if she'd agreed to go on her own. Maybe Kirk would have come himself, putting his arm around her as he escorted her there. She had to dispel that thought.
Kirk was gracious when they stepped onto his yacht, but Sarah could see the daggers in Chuck's back as he turned to take a glass of champagne. Kirk, who was just in swimming trunks, was not happy that Chuck was here. "You're overdressed," he commented, looking at Sarah.
"Oh, I have a skin condition and have to keep covered," she replied. She noted his frown at that.
"I'm so sorry," he replied. She was sure that comment was about not seeing or being able to touch her body, rather than sympathy for a skin condition.
Sarah took a glass and then virtually clung to Chuck. Kirk saw this and turned away, walking higher on the deck toward two women in bikinis. He seemed to have given up on her.
She wondered if Kirk had secretly hoped she would have ditched Chuck in favor of him, as well as turned up in a bikini. He gave no indication of that, but everything about him seemed to be an act. Reality hidden under the surface.
She was sure that Kirk would've shown off his yacht if she'd come alone. Maybe not now. She quietly told Chuck, "We have to get below deck. Let's explore."
She guided him around, cooing over this and that, making sure people heard her being impressed. "I'm sure it's even fancier downstairs," she mentioned and led Chuck to the stairs.
As they walked down, there was a man walking up carrying a crate. They had to squeeze to the side to make room for him. Sarah saw that Chuck flashed on the crate and he muttered to her, "Plates in crate."
"Call Casey," she quietly replied and appeared to stumble, crashing into the man's back, causing him to fall forward. The case went flying onto the deck.
"Ooh, I am so sorry. I'm not used to dodging people on stairs when on board a yacht," she said.
She was disappointed that the crate hadn't broken open, but it had smashed into one of the people sitting on the deck chairs. That man's leg was now pinned under it, with him crying out.
Sarah watched as Kirk, and the two women with him, appeared on the main deck. Both women were now screaming.
Kirk was gesturing to some of his men to pick up the crate, get that man out and clear up the mess, before he finally turned to settle the women down. Not surprisingly, Kirk's men rushed to follow his orders.
NSA men poured onto the yacht, Casey at the front. "Federal agents. Nobody move!"
Chuck and Sarah stood where they were, just one step down and they held up their hands. Kirk, however, demanded, "Who are you people?"
"NSA," Casey replied. "Stay right there. Let us do our job."
Kirk walked toward Casey. "Your job? Do you have any idea who I am?"
Casey ignored the question, pointed at the crate. "Open it."
Kirk refused. "That crate is a bonded humanitarian shipment certified by the United Nations. It's illegal for any of you to open it."
Casey already had permission, so just said, "Oh, I can open anything." He told one of the NSA agents to pry it open.
Sarah was looking at Chuck as he saw Kirk look at one of his men. She turned and saw, at the same time Chuck did, the man starting to pull a gun from the back of his pants. Others were doing the same.
"Guns!" Chuck shouted and ducked down, pulling Sarah with him.
Bullets started firing. Two of the NSA men went down, including the one prizing open the crate.
Casey pulled Kirk to him and hissed in his ear, with his own gun to the man's neck. "I suggest you tell them to drop their weapons or you won't make it to detention."
Kirk waved his men down.
The NSA man, still holding a crowbar, staggered up. Sarah correctly guessed that he must have been wearing a bulletproof vest. He started toward the crate again. The other shot man slowly sat up.
Once the crate was open, Sarah was worried as it appeared to be exactly what Kirk had stated, containing medical supplies, but under a layer of those, the plates were found.
Kirk and his men were led off the yacht, before the plates were taken.
Chuck and Sarah climbed on deck as the other guests were escorted off.
As they passed Casey, Sarah heard him mutter, "Good work, Bartowski."
= ! = =
A/N: I had thought that I'd get to include the Buy More Christmas party in this, but the chapter was getting too long. If I can, I might get out a short chapter early next week, but no promises.
Thoughts?