A/N: Thanks for the reviews for the last chapter. Review numbers dropped again. I suspect some didn't like the darker side of Sarah and Casey being seen, so it was pleasing that the reviews that did arrive were so positive.

Thanks again to Ironclad2022 for pre-reading the initial section in this. She particularly helped me avoid Chuck saying something that might've upset Sarah.

This chapter will include events from "Chuck versus the Undercover Lover."

Healing

Chapter 19: Undercover

Sarah was lying on her back, gasping for breath. She was struggling to recover from what she had just experienced. She couldn't believe how good it had been.

She thought back to how she'd got to this point.

Chuck had been his wonderful self since they'd returned from New York. So loving, and he'd seemed to have completely dismissed what she had done there, who she'd become. She'd known better, though, and had forced him to discuss it. He'd admitted to being upset by her actions, but fully understood why she'd done them. She'd assured him that, although she couldn't say it would never happen again, it would be rare. She confessed that when people she loved, that darker self would probably emerge once more. Those people being her mom, her dad and him. She even extended it to the baby she'd not seen again since leaving her with her mom.

Her words brought tears to his eyes and the fierce embrace that followed convinced her that they were good again. She'd immediately decided to take their physical relationship further that night. And they had.

He was lying behind her, as normal, with his right hand on her right breast. It felt wonderful, as always, but it was time for more.

She'd talked to him about it before, but he still questioned her when she drew his hand down her body into her panties. She just told him she wanted it, needed it.

The first touch had given her a jolt, but not of pain, just surprise at how good it was.

Chuck was so gentle and so loving as he caressed her. No penetration, just touching her… there.

All her fears were pushed to the back of her mind as the pleasure mounted. Then, her release was more powerful than she'd ever felt, and so, so wonderful.

He slipped his hand out of her panties and moved aside. She lay back feeling like she would never get her heart to stop beating so hard.

"Was that ok?" he tentatively asked. She could hear the nervousness and concern in his voice.

Both were now lying on their backs, so she tilted her head and looked at him. "So much better than ok," she managed to get out.

As she calmed down, she rolled onto her side to face him. "That was just intended to be the next step in getting our love life to where we both want it, but I have to say that I'm going to want you to do that a lot, lot more."

His smile made her love him even more. She soon had her mostly naked body pressed against him as she kissed him hard.

As she came out of the kiss, she realized how stupid it was that he wore his boxers and she wore her panties to bed now. "Chuck, from now on, we'll sleep naked."

He looked surprised, but then said, "I don't think that's a good idea."

She was shocked. "Why?"

He looked seriously at her. "If you fall asleep with me spooning you, you might wake and feel something pressing against you. You know I would never do anything to upset you, but we don't want you to panic."

She knew exactly what he meant. She could imagine it happening. "God, I might hurt you!" she said. "You're right. We'll wear our underwear until that doesn't trigger a negative response."

She then felt incredibly guilty again. Her inability to have sex was keeping the barrier up, or more specifically, needing the two barriers of material in place. She couldn't hold back the sob. "I'm so sorry, Chuck!"

He pulled her back into their embrace. "Don't be. We still have our hands to please each other."

She felt a jolt down where his fingers had been. "God, yes!"

The kiss that followed was tender and loving, and it lasted quite a while.

The following morning, Casey obviously expected Sarah to still look tense, and she was to some extent, but he stopped when he walked into her office for the briefing. "Your eyes are different today," he said.

She frowned. "How so?"

"The darkness from New York has gone, but the sparkle is a surprise." Chuck had just walked in and Casey looked at him. "What have you done to her?"

Both of them blushed. "You better get your expressions under control in less than a minute," the NSA agent commented.

"Your fault if we don't," Chuck replied.

"It's not just the blush, Bartowski. She needs to darken her eyes, too."

Sarah felt Chuck look at her as she cast her eyes down. Casey was right. She couldn't look euphoric when the bosses appeared.

A minute later, three serious faces stared at the monitor as Graham and Beckman appeared.

Graham started, "That mission we sent you to New York has unearthed a number of men that had disappeared, thought to have gone rogue, but all ended up working for Ryker."

"We rounded up the ones in Chicago and found them with a major from the NSA," the general added. "Only he'd joined Fulcrum and was recruiting for them."

All three gasped at that news, Casey sounding hurt that someone from his agency had turned.

Casey grunted when the man's image appeared. "I've met him," the NSA agent said. Chuck also flashed on him.

Sarah said, "But none of Ryker's men were Fulcrum?"

"No, but ripe for the picking," Graham responded.

After the call, Sarah walked to the entrance of the Wienerlicious with Chuck and watched him wander back to the Buy More. She started thinking again about what he'd done to her the night before. They hadn't actually talked about it, being sidetracked by the naked-in-bed conversation, but now she wanted to know how touching her there had made him feel. She assumed it excited him, but she hadn't asked. She'd done her usual and had been so wrapped up in her own feelings that she'd not considered his.

Well, tomorrow she planned for him to repeat what he'd done, and she would return the favor. Both would get satisfaction as well as the pleasure of touching the other intimately. She shivered at the thought.

Today she would also purchase the equipment on her list from Silvia, and tonight she would touch herself in the same way as Chuck had, before going to bed. She felt ready now.

It was only thirty minutes later when Sarah saw on the monitor that Chuck was walking over, carrying a computer. When he entered her office, and put the computer on her desk, he looked perturbed.

"What's wrong?" she asked, ignoring the computer for now.

"Jeff had been fixing this server from the Grand Saville Hotel and accessed their main database. He'd found information about a star he liked who's staying there, Tara Reid. He had captured her phone number. He could access every guest staying there, finding not just phone numbers, but credit card details too, along with their room numbers. I had to stop him from capturing more details. I then flashed on some other names."

Sarah was fairly used to Chuck's high-speed, yet rambling way of telling her, so she said nothing and let him just continue. "They were all Russian mobsters, well, apart from one. I took photos of the pages, making sure to capture the room numbers with the names. I showed it to Casey and he's contacting General Beckman."

"We should let the director know, too, in case he has any interest in any of them," she replied.

"Neither of them can know about the other person I flashed on," he said.

That confused her. "Why?"

"Ilsa Trinchina is an ex-girlfriend of Casey's."

That was a surprise. "Is she involved with the Russians?" she asked.

"I don't know, but she's staying on the same floor," he replied.

"What did Casey think?"

"When I mentioned her, he closed down faster than ever."

Sarah thought about it. She was by no means an expert on relationships, but she had a suspicion. "Maybe it was a bad break up. Don't push him." She looked at the server. "So, what are you doing with this?"

"I need to take it back to the hotel. I don't trust Jeff or Lester."

That made sense. Then she thought about their partner. "What's Casey doing?"

"As I said, calling the general, then back on the sales floor, I assume."

She nodded. "So, I'll come with you, as normal. Let's contact Graham first."

Chuck was carrying the server as they entered the hotel and had the backpack she'd insisted he carried on his back. That contained his tranq pistol, just in case. He walked ahead of her so that they didn't seem to be together. She'd already scanned the reception area and seen no suspicious men.

Chuck walked up to the reception desk and spoke to the woman there. "One of my staff fixed this server, but was unable to bring it back. As you are an important customer, I've brought it."

The receptionist smiled at him, and said, "I'll call the manager." She continued looking at Chuck as she did that.

Sarah observed and thought, 'He won't notice, but another woman is taking an interest in him!'

"Thank you," he said and looked around, which caused the woman to frown. Sarah had to stifle a laugh.

She then heard a gasp behind her and recognized the voice that spoke as Casey quietly muttered to himself, "Ilsa?"

She looked at him and followed his eyes. He was looking into the bar at a very attractive woman sitting on her own. Sarah looked back at her partner, who looked like Chuck did when he looked at her. "I can look after Chuck on my own," she said silently to the NSA agent.

Chuck wasn't why he'd turned up, but he still nodded his appreciation. "Thanks," he said just loudly enough for her to hear. His feet were already moving into the bar.

Ilsa glanced up as Casey approached her and her jaw dropped. "John?" she said.

Sarah didn't want to eavesdrop, so she turned back to Chuck, and found him looking into the bar as well. "So, he found her." He smiled at Sarah. "I'm glad."

The manager arrived and looked at Chuck. "Your man fixed it?"

"He did," Chuck replied.

That got a grin from the manager. "We have a backup server, so normal bookings have continued, but it's good to get this back. Follow me, I'll take you to the server room."

He led Chuck away and Sarah couldn't really follow, but thought he would be safe. She sat on one of the chairs in the reception area. The receptionist ignored her completely.

She was surprised when Casey and Ilsa came out and headed to the elevator. 'That's fast, she thought.

A few minutes later, Sarah was sitting quietly looking at the newspapers beside her. Four men walked in, talking loudly in Russian. She briefly glanced at them. They looked Russian, as well. She then looked back at her newspaper, acting uninterested, but listened in.

"I'm going to see my bride-to-be," the first stated.

One of the others laughed. "Can't keep away?"

The first one laughed, too. "No, I can't resist my Ilsa."

The alarm bells going off in Sarah's head were deafening. She grabbed her phone as the men separated, three going into the bar, but that one heading to the elevators. Her call to Casey went to voicemail.

She had to leave a message, "Casey, one of the Russians is heading to Ilsa's room!"

The elevator doors had just closed on the man. Sarah was so glad that Chuck had told her which floor the rooms were on, but then thought about Chuck.

Thinking quickly, she walked to the reception desk and booked a room, grabbed the key from the startled woman, and was tapping her foot anxiously when Chuck walked back. She grabbed his hand, kissed him hard and dragged him to the elevators, noting the startled look on the woman's face. Of course, Chuck was startled, too. "What?"

"Casey is in danger," she hissed. "Play along."

"You booked a room?" he asked, looking at the key in her hand.

"I did," she grinned. "One floor down from Ilsa's."

As they entered the elevator, Chuck gasped. "Casey's in Ilsa's room?"

She nodded. "And her Russian mobster fiancé is heading there."

"Fiancé? Fuck!" Chuck so rarely swore that he must see the disaster that they were approaching.

"Let me handle this," she said. "You stay back."

She noticed him slip off his backpack and she grabbed his hand. "I mean it, Chuck. I don't want you getting hurt. I just needed you out of the reception area."

He frowned. "Why? Wouldn't I be safer there? Or in my car?"

She hadn't thought this through properly. He would probably have been safer in the Nerd Herder. The reception was different. "I didn't trust that receptionist," she muttered.

He beamed at her. "I love the possessive Sarah Walker."

She grabbed his neck and pulled him down into a kiss but then noticed they were nearly at floor eight.

They separated just before the elevator doors opened and Sarah walked ahead. She knew the room Ilsa was in, but unfortunately, as she walked around the corner of the corridor, a man standing further along looked sharply at her. "Hey, this is a private floor!" The Russian accent in his English words was very evident.

She froze, looking around, seeming confused. He approached her, and received a dart in his neck for his interest. Sarah grinned and thanked Chuck who was leaning around the corner, tranq pistol in hand.

"There's an empty room back here with the door open," Chuck told her and they dragged the body around to it. Then, Sarah told Chuck to remain there as she returned to Ilsa's room.

Sarah had taken some time to get here, and she hoped Casey was alright, but her priority had to be Chuck, so she couldn't have gotten here sooner.

She placed an ear against the door to listen. She heard Casey's raised voice, "What the fuck?"

She crashed the door open and two people looked at her, shock on their faces. Ilsa particularly staring at the tranq pistol in Sarah's hand.

Casey was partly out from under the bed and seemed to only be in boxers. Sarah looked away from his body, shuddering. Ilsa was disheveled, kneeling on the bed, only wearing a bra and panties. This was a very uncomfortable situation.

Sarah's confusion over why Casey was under the bed became clear to her. Ilsa's fiancé was lying on the bed behind her, unconscious.

She heard Chuck behind her say, "Victor Federov. A Russian oligarch with ties to everything from the mob to a plot to overthrow Parliament."

"Walker? What the hell?" Casey growled.

Ilsa looked at Sarah as well, and said, "Who the hell is she?" While Sarah was trying to get her head clear, Ilsa pulled a gun on her. "Well?"

Casey was out from under the bed, holding his gun. Sarah had no idea where he'd hidden it before, but didn't want to think about that. "You lied to me," he accused Ilsa.

.She scoffed at that as she looked at his gun. "Says the energy consultant."

"I take it you're a spy," Sarah cut through the crap. The fact that Federov was unconscious prevented her from thinking Ilsa was just a mobster's girl.

Ilsa turned to her. "And presumably you both are, too. Although, tranq pistol?"

"Not intending to kill anyone," Sarah replied.

Ilsa looked back at Casey, "But you were."

"When he grabbed you, I wanted to blow his head off."

Sarah felt so sorry for her partner.

Ilsa sighed and lowered her gun. "This is a mess. I should never have brought you up to my room."

"So you could just get plowed by a drunk Russian crime boss?" he growled.

She glared at him. "I wanted you to do that to me!"

Sarah wished she'd already left the room and started toward the door.

"Wait," Ilsa said. She looked back at Casey. "I work for the DGSE, the French Secret Service. We've been investigating Victor Federov since the Paris commuter train bombings back in '02. My agency has tried everything to take him to trial, but his organization is airtight, totally legit from the outside. The only way we could take him down was..." she faltered.

"By screwing it out of him?" Casey cruelly snapped. "How, uh... French."

Sarah now felt sorry for the woman. "Casey!" she admonished him.

He took it back, and seemed to calm down.

"You guys have to get out of here before he wakes up," Ilsa told them.

That made sense to Sarah. The woman would handle the situation. It did take some time to persuade Casey, though. However, he finally put his other clothes back on, which made Sarah comfortable enough to drag him out.

Graham contacted Sarah telling her they had reviewed the list she'd sent and a video call was being set up. She called Casey first, wanting to make sure he came, and then Chuck.

Five minutes later the three of them were facing the two leaders.

Beckman started, "We received your report, Major. Ex-KGB, Eastern Bloc thugs, Russian arms dealers...Frankly, we're not used to seeing this particular crowd stateside these days. We need them observed and contained. Obviously you are to be involved in the former."

Sarah would normally expect Casey to make some sarcastic comment at that point, but instead he just grunted.

"So you want us to infiltrate the Grand Saville?" Sarah asked.

"The hotel's bar has been booked for a private party early this evening," the general stated. Sarah guessed this was to introduce Ilsa to the other Russians. She had to stop herself from glancing at Casey.

"Mr. Bartowski, it's up to you to tell us what these criminal agents are all doing in Los Angeles. You and Agent Walker will go undercover."

Chuck looked briefly at Sarah and she nodded for him to explain why that wasn't an option. "General, I had to return the server to the hotel this afternoon. I overheard one of the Russians talking to staff there."

The general frowned and looked sharply at Sarah. "I hope you accompanied him."

"I did," Sarah replied. "Shall we let Chuck tell you what he heard?"

Beckman's frown deepened and Sarah was sure that Graham's lips curled slightly.

"They're here for a wedding," Chuck said.

Casey had heard Federov talking to Ilsa about their honeymoon, so he already knew about this.

"And I overheard the Russians talking about it," Sarah added. "It's tomorrow."

"So, we know their reason," Graham said.

"Their official reason," grumbled Beckman. "That many of them on American soil is not good."

"None are of interest to the CIA," Graham stated. "Which is just as well as the general's suggested way forward is not viable. You've both been seen by Russians." He looked at Chuck. "A Buy More employee wouldn't get into a private party."

The general scowled. Sarah didn't mention disguises or that a woman who had a room there could probably dress up and be welcomed.

"I still want them watched," the redhead stated.

"Agreed," Graham said. "But that would need to be around the clock, and not for this team."

Sarah felt relieved. She didn't want either of her male partners going back there.

The call ended with Beckman agreeing to get the Los Angeles NSA to set up surveillance.

Chuck looked like he was going to say something to Casey, but she caught his eye and shook her head. He nodded and left. Casey just muttered, "She'll be married to a Russian mobster tomorrow."

Sarah threw caution to the wind and hugged her partner. "Sorry, Casey," she said.

As she stepped away, he looked at her in surprise. "I never thought you'd show sympathy. Bartowski must've softened you."

He was right about the harsh, man-hater that she used to be, but it was still unpleasant to hear. "I'm sympathetic to those I care about," she grumbled. Then, she thought about who she was saying that too, so quickly added, "And my partner."

He grunted and was going to leave, but she also said, "Besides, you've been very supportive and I really appreciate that."

He looked at her and nodded before turning and walking out.

Sarah was still concerned that Casey might do something foolish, so she kept an eye on the surveillance, both in-store and the external view of the entrance. She wondered about sitting out the front, so she would be able to get to his car before he drove off if he came out, but decided that was too much.

Two hours later, a taxi pulled up outside the store. That was unusual and definitely caught Sarah's eye. Her jaw dropped when she saw Ilsa step out.

Sarah watched the surveillance. Ilsa walked up to the Nerd Herd desk and was probably going to ask for Chuck because she didn't know Casey worked there. However, Chuck had spotted her and intercepted her before she got there. They talked briefly, then Chuck walked with her toward the Home Theater room. He stuck his head in and shortly after, ushered her in, closing the door behind her.

She looked at the surveillance of that room. Casey was obviously in there. He stood and stared at the door. Before he even got to say anything, Ilsa rushed to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and was passionately kissing him. Sarah had to look away, feeling like she was intruding. She was pleased for Casey, but also worried about what this would lead him to do. She rushed over to the Buy More.

Chuck was standing a short way off, waiting for her. "This is a mess, isn't it?" he murmured.

She looked at him and briefly imagined them in this situation before the fact that she would never do what Ilsa was doing hit her. "She's in a horrible situation, and he's understandably upset," she replied.

"I'm so glad the director would never expect you to do anything like she is."

Sarah thought about that. She wouldn't since the rape, but would she have before that if it was the only way? She had to bury that thought.

"It's so awful that we can't do anything for them," he added.

She agreed. Would she have been so sympathetic before meeting Chuck? Like Casey had mentioned, the nerd had definitely softened her. All for the better, she thought.

"Much as they probably need this, I know that her coming here wasn't a good idea," she said. "It might spur him on to do something foolish."

"Love gets to you that way," Chuck replied.

He was right. Sarah would do anything for Chuck and knew he would do the same for her. "This really is shit!" she said.

She couldn't kiss him, much as she wanted to, so she squeezed his hand and headed back over to the Wienerlicious.

Thirty minutes later, Sarah saw Ilsa leaving the Buy More and climbing into a taxi.

At least Casey wasn't with the woman. She watched the monitors for a further half-hour. Casey had come out of the Home Theater room and was back on the sales floor. He was engaged with a customer in front of the Beastmaster that he sold. It was almost as if he'd forgotten about the French spy, but she knew that was just an act. She did the same, hiding her feelings behind a mask.

God, this really was shit!

Just the thought of not being with Chuck was bad, but having to do what Ilsa was doing would be unbearable. Ilsa had probably reconciled herself to it, but then Casey turned up. It must be more than heartbreaking.

After a few minutes, she stopped watching her NSA partner and did something more enjoyable, watching her man, her lover. She felt after what they'd done to each other, they really were lovers.

Of course, she should've expected what she observed. Chuck was surreptitiously watching Casey. It wouldn't be obvious to most, but Sarah could see it. He was concerned for Casey, too. Maybe he was imagining her having to do what Ilsa was. She definitely needed to reassure him that she had never done anything like that. He knew it, but his mind spiraled off into these negative thoughts so easily.

At the end of the day, Casey left at the same time as them. She didn't consciously do it, but found herself driving slower than normal, following the NSA agent back to the apartment complex.

She stopped Chuck from getting out of the Porsche to let Casey walk to his apartment without feeling harassed.

"You know, he'll think we're making sure he doesn't sneak back out and drive off." She looked at Chuck after he'd said that.

"Damn it! You're right! Come on, let's get into our apartment." She glanced at him. "I want to kiss you so much, Chuck Bartowski."

He didn't need any more encouragement and virtually ran there. She had to hold back the laugh, not wanting Casey to hear any frivolity.

There hadn't been any sexual contact, but they'd passionately kissed each other so much since arriving home, that her lips felt bruised. Both had seemed to want to convey their love for the other.

She'd then spent some time making sure he knew that she had never done what Ilsa was doing.

When she finished talking, he said, "I know But it still makes me shudder, because that appears in my head. It's the sort of idea that triggers nightmares."

"Not when you're holding me tightly in bed, I hope."

He looked lovingly at her. "Your gorgeous body in my arms is part of the wonderful present. Nightmares are about a horrible past, even though I know it never happened."

She could understand that and was determined to make sure any bad dreams were quickly squashed that night.

Neither felt like watching a movie after they'd finished their dinner.

"Let's go and sit out by the fountain," she suggested. "Always calming." He agreed and they made their way out there.

As she sat listening to the water, Sarah reflected that she loved being here. The only downside was not being able to take off a glove and hold his hand. Unfortunately, that lack of contact filtered through into her thoughts.

Casey and Ilsa were suffering from more than just lack of contact.

Because she was facing that way, she glanced toward the parking lot. She blinked twice, not expecting what she saw. "Chuck. Casey's car has gone!" she finally said.

"Oh shit!" he replied as he stood up. "D'you think he's gone there?"

"I expected him to drink himself into a stupor," she replied. "I can't imagine him having a place to get his mind off things other than in a bottle of Johny Walker."

"Get you keys," he said.

She rushed into the apartment and grabbed them and then they headed to the Porsche.

When they got to the hotel, Sarah approached the NSA agents that were lurking outside. They weren't very good at concealing themselves.

"Did Casey go in?" she asked.

The leader nodded. "He seemed worse for wear, though."

"Did he go to the party?" she asked.

"Oh, the party's cancelled. The Russians are all in the garden. Seems they brought the wedding forward."

Chuck and Sarah looked at each other and rushed into the hotel.

The man on the reception desk looked up at Sarah. He completely ignored Chuck. "How can I help you?" he asked.

"I thought the bar had been booked for a party," she said, even though she knew it was canceled.

He noticed that she was holding a room key. "No. Guests like you can use the bar. The party has been changed. They brought the wedding forward a day."

Sarah put on a surprised expression. "Oh, when does the wedding start?"

"It's private, so you won't be allowed to join them, but it starts at 9pm."

Sarah looked at her watch. That was forty minutes away. "Aww. When's the bride coming down?"

"She's already out there," he replied, now looking bored with the conversation.

"Well, I guess I'm lucky to have a room on the other side of the hotel. The noise won't disturb us."

The man noticed Chuck and looked at him contemptuously but said nothing.

Once in the elevator, she said, "Federov must still be in his room. That's where Casey would go."

They headed up to the floor they'd been on earlier that day. Both were holding tranq pistols.

Once on the floor, they heard Federov talking before he came around the corner. Sarah pulled Chuck into a doorway and down into a passionate kiss.

The three Russians didn't pay any attention to them as they passed. Nor did they stop talking, obviously thinking no one would understand Russian. "Good to have caught him. Shame the others need to stay with him and miss the ceremony."

The other man chuckled. "Then you have one night of wedded passion before you send her and that man to their deaths?"

Federov sighed. "I'm going to miss her."

They were now too far away to be heard, stopping at the elevator, but they didn't have to wait for it because Chuck and Sarah had brought it to their floor.

Once the doors closed, Sarah took her lips from Chuck's. He pouted wanting the kiss to continue, but she shook him. "More of that tonight. We've a partner to save."

As they approached Federov's room, they heard scuffling inside. Sarah kicked the door open.

Inside were two Russians and Casey, who was tied to a chair. However, he'd managed to kick one of the Russians between his legs, so the man was bent double in pain. The other was staggering, holding his head, although still holding a knife.

Casey was standing and about to throw himself back to break the chair. He'd obviously head-butted the second man.

"Стой!" she yelled at the men.

The men looked at her in surprise, probably that she spoke Russian as much as her telling them to stop.

The one bent double lifted up and started to point his gun at her. He got a dart in his neck from Chuck for his troubles.

'What the hell?' she thought and shot the other man too, before running over to Casey.

The smell of whiskey surrounded him. He'd been drinking before heading over here. That probably made him easier to subdue. He was also dressed in a dinner suit, looking very smart.

She quickly sliced through the rope that had him bound to the chair.

"The plane won't be taking her to a honeymoon," Casey mumbled. "There's a bomb on it."

Chuck looked at Sarah. "We have to save her."

She was thinking the same. She looked at Casey. He wasn't in any state to help them.

She headed out, telling Chuck to keep Casey there. She caught the elevator down and spotted some men loitering in the reception area. She rolled her eyes, but approached the NSA agents. She showed her ID and said, "You need to come out into the garden. Bring those outside, too. We have a wedding to stop."

One of the men talked through his earpiece and the others followed her into the garden.

Guests were already seated and Ilsa had just walked out, dressed in a beautiful white wedding dress. She looked stunning. Federov had been looking at her with a smile on his face, so no one was looking back to where Sarah and the three NSA agents appeared.

There was until there was a splash off to the side. She looked there and saw Casey climbing out of the pool. He now looked completely sober.

"Hope I'm not too late to object to this union," Casey said. The bravado obviously impressed the bride-to-be. The expression on her face said everything. Sarah wondered if she was in love with her partner.

Federov snorted. "Take these two to my plane and strangle them. They're not going anywhere."

"Really?" Sarah said and the eyes and guns were suddenly pointing at her and the three men with her. They were completely outgunned.

"Who's gonna stop me? One little girl with one little gun, and her little playmates?

Sarah started to lower hers and looked at Ilsa. The woman looked at Sarah and nodded to her.

Sarah carefully placed her gun on her right foot and kicked it. It sailed over the guests and Ilsa caught it while Sarah grabbed a gun off a guest near her.

"Try two little girls," Ilsa said as she pushed the gun into the back of Federov's neck.

At that point, a dozen more NSA agents turned up, but the guests were lowering their guns anyway with their leader being at risk.

Sarah watched how Ilsa wasn't looking at her captive but at the dripping NSA agent. She was pretty sure that the French spy would be sharing Casey's bed that night.

She just about heard Casey say, "She looks good with a gun."

'Fuck practicing,' Sarah growled to herself as she walked into their bathroom, conscious of the double entendre. Tonight, her fingers were not going to be touching her. They would be in use, but not on her.

She stripped, showered and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror.

She decided that she'd carry the panties to the bedroom rather than wearing them. She'd put them on later.

So, a naked Sarah Walker entered the bedroom. Chuck's eyes widened. "Oh god, Sarah!"

She waved the panties at him. "I'll put these on before we go to sleep. Take off your boxers."

He did as she requested and looked completely ready. "We're just pleasuring each other, aren't we?" he asked tentatively.

"Yes, but there's no need to do that blindly, is there?" she replied.

He looked more intently at her. "God, you're gorgeous," he said.

She looked at his naked body. "So are you, Chuck."

Their moans were soon filling the air. Sarah knew that similar ones would be sounding in the next apartment, too.

A/N: A slightly different version of the events we watched. I enjoyed the episode but found Chuck to be an idiot when he had the bug to plant, so none of that here. I didn't like how he was so insensitive around Casey either, and seemed not to realize it.

I didn't include the stupid tiff between Ellie and Devon in this. Sarah did get involved in the show, but it was another irritation for me. Sorry for the Ellie-lovers that would've liked to see it here.

Please leave a review and let me know your thoughts on this chapter.