Chuck vs Le Renard

I. Back in the Saddle

Flashback to two nights ago, in a European train sleeping compartment:

"Sarah Walker: do you agree to quit the spy life with me?"

"I do. Chuck Bartowski: do you agree to quit the spy life with me?

"I do."

##########

The present, in a Swiss pastry shop:

"Chuck Bartowski: do you agree to not quit the spy life and be with me?"

"I do. Sarah Walker: do you agree to not quit the spy life and be with me?"

"I do."

With giddy smiles erupting from their faces, Chuck and Sarah embraced, kissing each other fervently, and reveling in the nearly head to toe touch. They broke the kiss, both breathing heavily, and still smiling excitedly. Pulling back from him slightly, Sarah looked into the kind, deeply chocolate brown eyes that had struck her to her very core the first day they had met, two and a half years ago. She jumped into his arms bringing her beautiful, long legs up and around his waist, and their lips once again crashed together.

"Ungh! I'm not going to have to put up with that all the time now, am I?"

They pulled out of the kiss, both out of breath, and turned to face their newly reinstated partner, while keeping the sides of their heads touching. "Oh, you old softy … you know you're happy for us." Chuck had spoken for them both while Sarah just looked on, smiling and blushing lightly.

Casey would never admit it … even to himself ... but seeing the smiles on their faces did stir something deep inside him. Just indigestion … damned rich pastries. "I've notified Beckman. She said we need to find a secure place to contact her. I think something's brewing. Any suggestions?"

"Uh, guys," Morgan walked up to them while furiously typing into his iPhone, "I think I have a solution to that problem."

"Shut up Grimes. I don't need any more of your babbling."

"Easy Casey. Remember: he did find us in Paris."

"Ungh. Okay … spill it, Grimes."

"You guys aren't going to believe this. Two blocks from here is the KaufenMehr."

Sarah started laughing while Chuck and Casey just stared at the smiling bearded face. "It's the Swiss equivalent of the ... wait for it ... BuyMore!"

Now it was Chuck's turn to laugh, joining his lovely girlfriend, while all Casey could do was shake his head and say," You've got to be kidding me."

"Way to go, buddy!" Chuck clapped a hand on Morgan's shoulder and squeezed gently. "See Casey, I told you he would be a valuable member of the team.

"Let's go." Casey angrily snatched up his bag, and took off down the street at a fast pace, with Morgan half walking, half running, to keep up.

Chuck and Sarah, on the other hand, hung back, strolling arm in arm, like the tourists they really wanted to be, stopping now and then to look in the shop windows and exchange warm kisses. Having walked the three blocks Morgan had told them about, they turned right onto Rathausgasse and stopped dead in their tracks. There it was, half way down the block on the right side of the street, the large green and yellow sign that was so familiar. "Wow," came out of both their mouths as they just stood and stared.

Casey came storming out the doors several seconds later. He stopped in the middle of the street and looked around, saw them, and motioned impatiently for them to join Morgan and him in the store. "We'd better get going before he starts dismantling something … or someone." Sarah giggled; it was the most wonderful sound Chuck had ever heard.

Entering the store, they once again had to stop and stare. It was like they were home, and had walked into their BuyMore, except nothing was in English.

Morgan ran up to them, "Most of the people here speak some English but I can't seem to get them to understand that we need privacy. Sarah, do you know the language?"

"Sure, Morgan ... Swiss French is the main language in this part of the country. Who do I need to talk to?"

"Here comes the manager."

A large man, dressed in a nice business suit walked purposefully down the aisle. When he arrived Morgan shook his hand. " Michael, allow me to introduce Sarah Walker."

The man was already staring at Sarah who had extended her hand and said 'hello' in the native language. He slowly raised his hand and gently took her hand, raising it to his lips. "Welcome, belle femme, to my humble store. How may I be of personal assistance to you?" He continued to hold her hand and stare. At least he's gentlemanly enough to keep his eyes above my neck. Finally, Chuck cleared his throat rather loudly, and Sarah ... less gently ... pulled her hand away.

She spoke flawlessly to him in his native language, eliciting a look of, first surprise, and then pleasure, from the rotund store manager. They spoke back and forth for several moments and then, with a big smile and a bow, Michael motioned for them to follow him. He led them to the rear, right corner of the store and into the theater display room. Even though the three men were there, his attention was entirely on Sarah: "My dear, please make yourself comfortable. I will see that this room, and all it's amenities, are locked down, for your use only. Please let me know if you require anything else."

"We could use some grape…."

"Shut up, Grimes. Focus." Casey flicked Morgan's left ear with his index finger and scowled.

The manager left the room while Sarah began pulling the drapes, Casey locked the doors, and Chuck and Morgan began setting up the video and computer equipment for their conference call.

"How can we know this is secure?"

"Relax, Casey. I've already locked down the store's firewalls, and added a couple variations of my own. It will be easier for them to tap into Beckman's end of the conversation than this one."

"Well, Mr. Bartowski, Agent Walker, good to see you have your minds on the job once again." Her frown and stare were enough to tell both Chuck and Sarah that she was not happy with them. How much she knew, or assumed, regarding their new status was anyone's guess.

"Agents, our Zurich office has gone dark. As you are the closest team that I know has not been compromised, I want you to investigate. Find out what's happened there and get back to me. Col. Casey, do you think Walker and Bartowski are fit for duty?"

"Yes, m…."

Casey started to answer but Sarah stepped in and stopped him. "Yes, General, we are ready, and on task."

"Very well. Make sure you stay that way." The screen went blank and the two lovers looked at each other and grimaced. "Not sure how much she knows, or has conjectured, but we will have to figure out a way to tell her."

"I know, honey. Let's take care of business here and maybe that will help smooth things over."

"Ungh!"

Leaving the theater room, Sarah sought out Michael once again to thank him for the inconvenience. Several of the BuyMorons were following her, tripping over one another in their attempts to get as close to her as possible, while several others were busy snapping pictures of the striking, blonde American. She heard "blondie" and "legs" from several of then, including the women, but her schooled spy face discouraged them as much as was possible with this gang. Michael once again kissed her hand, and she rewarded him with one of her electric smiles, which caused three of the green shirts to run into each other and fall to the floor in a heap. I guess every BuyMore is the same, regardless of where in the world it is. Sarah walked away, shaking her head mirthfully.

Chuck had picking out several pieces of equipment he thought they may need for the mission and was checking out as she walked up. "Chuck, I think we should leave the store with something to remember us by." She linked her hands behind his head and kissed him thoroughly, running her right leg up and down his left, and leaving her boyfriend completely dazed. Behind them, they heard a huge crash as the entire Nerd Herd staff of the store crashed together, knocking their circular counter off its base and onto its side. Arms, legs, and computer equipment were tangled together, sticking up into the air at crazy angles, as the counter rolled down the center aisle of the store. Chuck and Sarah turned and strolled outside, hand in hand, laughing heartily.

Morgan was waiting for them and led them across the street to the Restaurant Goldener Schlüssel Bern. It had a classic, old world charm, with low, arched, wooden ceilings, and table and chairs made of the same wood as the ceiling. Sarah marveled at the childlike joy in Chuck's reaction to the ambience; she had been in so many places like this while on assignments, yet had completely missed the beauty of the world around her. Casey was, well, Casey. He had secured a table for them; nothing else mattered to him when on the job; which, of course, was all the time. But things were a little different today: the four friends, and colleagues, were together again, making each of them happy, each in their own way.

"We need to eat before heading to Zurich. Morgan, what did you find out?"

"The good news is: I've got train tickets for the four of us; it departs in eighty minutes. The bad news is: it's not a direct route and will take all night to get there."

"That's great Morgan, but we have one problem."

"Ungh. Only one?" As Sarah glared at Casey, he leaned away, out of her reach and continued, "What is our problem, Walker?"

"Well, we left all our spy gear in Paris; all the rest of our luggage left with our train earlier today. So all we have now is the clothes on our backs."

"Not a problem, actually." Casey smirked as both Chuck and Sarah's eyebrows raised in unison. "Knowing your train was eventually headed for Zurich, I figured we would, at least, catch up to you there. So I had all your clothes and gear in Paris packed up and shipped to the Widder Hotel. And while you dawdled along, and we were waiting for you at the BuyMore, I contacted the local train officials: your luggage will be waiting at the station in Zurich when we get there."

Sarah's smile grew throughout Casey's speech. It was one of the longest he had ever delivered, and it warmed her heart. She was sure he had been given a burn notice on them, and for him to take the time and effort to take care of their luggage meant he had no intention of killing either of them. As a small lump formed in her throat, all she could do was quietly say, "Thank you, Casey."

Chuck was touched by his efforts as well and clapped him on the shoulder, eliciting a snarl and glare. In order not to lose his hand, Chuck quickly pulled it back, but continued to smile at his friend.

"Come on you three, let's order. We need to eat. That train isn't going to wait for us." They all smiled as Morgan sounded like a travel agent hustling along stragglers on a tour stop.

##########

Unfortunately for Chuck and Sarah, Morgan had not booked them a sleeping compartment for this leg of their journey. At least they were in seats together, but it just wasn't the same as the privacy they had enjoyed previously.

Unfortunately for Casey and Morgan, they were in the two facings seats with Chuck and Sarah, and were subject to all the sweet nothings being whispered and their loving, albeit PG rated, caresses. Casey's grunts and muttered obscenities were the subjects of the surrounding passengers' stares, but the two young lovers were oblivious to it all.

The lights had been dimmed in the car as the time neared midnight. There had been a little conversation through the evening, mostly Morgan wanting details as to what had happened with Shaw, but the others shushed him; it was too public a place to discuss that kind of thing. Mostly, they had just dozed fitfully through the evening, with Casey continually having to push Morgan upright; the little bearded gnome kept leaning over onto his shoulder.

Now, with a final goodnight, Chuck moved into the back corner of their seats, his back against the window. Sarah then snuggled up to him, her back against his chest, and pulled her long legs up into the seats. Having removed her high heeled boots, she wriggled her toes, and sighed in contentment as the blood and feeling began returning to her feet. Snuggling deeper into her man, she deftly pulled his right hand, which had already been wrapped around her waist, under her blouse, to rest comfortably on her tummy. She looked around at his face and smiled with joy and contentment at his wide open and unblinking eyes. They were soon both asleep, dreaming of being together and the love they could now openly share.

Although he appeared to be asleep, Casey remained awake, his mind actively working. A spy didn't live long if they were not aware of all that was around them and two men, across the aisle and three rows back, had caught his attention earlier in the evening. They were obviously watching his team, one or the other watching while appearing to be reading or using their iPad. When either had moved along the aisle, they always seemed to move more slowly past the team's seats, once even timing it to meet two other passengers, thus being forced to lean in closely to Walker's seat. He was sure they were up to something, on the pretense of ogling the beautiful blonde woman.

Quite some time had passed, and as he pondered staying awake all night, he heard a very soft 'psst' come from the seat across from him. Putting his left foot on Sarah's seat, he leaned forward, untying and retying his shoelace.

"Two men … three rows back." Without moving, other than an imperceptible movement of her lips, Sarah whispered to him.

"Yeah ... got a little close to you earlier."

"Saw that … you want first watch?"

"Sure. Wake you in an hour."

Sarah shifted slightly in Chuck's arms, and Casey saw her nod in acknowledgement. Leaning back, he settled in for a night of vigilance.

##########

They arrived in Zurich on time … 8:45 am … and they left the train, Chuck and Sarah to the rear of the car, Casey and Morgan to the front. Oddly enough, both men followed Chuck and Sarah, which allowed Casey and Morgan to double back and follow the followers. It was a classic bit of spy craft that Sarah and Casey did instinctually, without even speaking. Their partnership had grown over the years and was now one of mutual respect, experience, and trust. The team had really missed Casey during his exile, and he felt complete once again, as well.

Neither of the men had moved from their seats the rest of the night. Sarah had contemplated taking a walk, during one of the train's stops, to see if they would follow, but both men appeared to be asleep, so she had just remained in Chuck's arms.

During her shifts being awake, she thought back to the many nights, in the privacy of her apartment, that she had imagined lying in Chuck's arms through the night. Each time those thoughts invaded her spy trained brain, she chastised herself. But more often than not, the only way to quell those thoughts would be to get out her heavy bag, and workout until exhaustion finally overwhelmed her. As the months went by, it became harder and harder for her to work those feelings of desire out enough to fall fitfully asleep. Now, feeling his heartbeat and breathing against her back, she regretted the time they had wasted.

True to Casey's word, Chuck and Sarah's luggage was waiting for them at the Customer Service Office. Once collected, they proceeded towards the taxi stand. They stopped near the exit to embrace and exchange a long kiss. While appearing to be two young lovers, completely absorbing in one another, they each scanned the crowd to relocate their tails. Sure enough, the two men were now trying to look inconspicuous, standing next to a sunglasses kiosk, and waiting for their targets to move again.

While trying to stay completely in spy mode, both Chuck and Sarah were feeling the surge of adrenaline from this physical contact. It was all Sarah could do to keep her mind on the job, and Chuck lost focus merely from the intoxicating smell of her beautiful, blonde locks. Despite the adrenaline surging through her, the thought that this is why spies should not be romantically involved flashed through Sarah's brain; reluctantly she pulled out of the kiss. Chuck stood still, holding her, his eyes closed.

Regaining her composure, Sarah watched the crowd's movements: grabbing Chuck's hand she pulled him into a surge of people, all headed to the taxi stand. Her timing was perfect, placing several other customers between them and the two men, who came running out of the station. Realizing their mistake, the men tried to force their way into the next taxi but, not only were they rebuked by other travelers, they were soundly lectured by security before being told to find other transportation. They both kicked at the pavement in frustration, knowing they had lost their quarry.

It was not a long taxi ride directly to the hotel but Sarah directed the driver to take the scenic route; two lovers, visiting the city, and wanting to get a lay of the land before beginning their explorations. The driver was more than happy to accommodate, knowing it was running up his fare. While making it look like they was taking in the sights, they both kept a vigilant watch behind and around them to see if anyone was following. Finally, after 45 minutes, Sarah was confident they were alone and directed the driver to take them to the hotel.

Beckman had reserved two rooms for the team at the Widder Hotel and when Sarah gave the concierge their name, their check in was expedited, and they were quickly shown to their room. The bellman told them that Casey and Morgan had not arrived as yet, so he opening the door connecting the two rooms. The checked both rooms, discovering that they had a giant, king size bed, and Casey and Morgan had two queen size beds. Each room had a nice sitting area, and a balcony overlooking the business district across the street. Chuck and Sarah even had a two person jacuzzi in their bathroom, which had already elicited ooh's and ah's from the couple.

"Uh, Sarah, didn't the General say she made the hotel reservations?"

"Yeah. What's the matter, Chuck?"

Wwweeeelllll, she got us a room with one bed. Do you think this means she knows we are together?"

Walking over to him and taking his hands in her's, she responded, "She isn't stupid, you know. We did go off grid … together. Even if she doesn't know for sure, I'm sure it's a scenario she has considered. But, if she thought it was a problem, she wouldn't have sent us on this mission. Let's not worry about it for now." Looking into his eyes she easily read the worry present in them.

Rubbing his thumbs on the backs of her hands, Chuck stammered, obviously freaking out a bit: "We … we have … uh, worked too … hard to get to … to where we are now, Sarah. I can't go back … not now … can't give you up. I lo…."

Sarah placed both hands on his face and raised herself on her toes, to place a warm kiss on his lips. The kiss deepened quickly into something that promising much more. Reluctantly breaking the kiss in order to breath Sarah sighed into his ear, "Me, too, Chuck, me too. We are together now … no one will ever change that." And their lips touched once again….

##########

Casey and Morgan had watched Chuck and Sarah evade the men following them. Casey merely grunted while Morgan pumped his fist in the air a couple of times. "Come on, Grimes, we need to find out who those guys are. Think small and insignificant; we don't want them to see us now."

Before Morgan could say a word Casey was moving, melting into the crowd despite his size. Think small he says … insignificant he says… what's he think I've done my whole life….

The two men moved to the shuttle pickup area and boarded the bus marked Kloten Airport. Casey slammed a fist into the sign directing travelers to the train platform, as Morgan ran up. "Back to the taxi stand … if you don't make it there when I do I will leave you here. Move it!" Casey had grabbed Morgan's shoulder, spun him around, and gave him shove down the walkway.

Morgan did manage to keep up without hurting himself or any other travelers. He was, however, terribly out of breath. Casey once again grabbed him, heaved him into the back seat of a taxi, and then piled in after. "English?" At the driver's nod, he continued, "See the white and green shuttle bus? Follow it; there's a bonus if you can keep up."

The driver was excellent, keeping the shuttle well within view despite the heavy traffic and narrow streets. "Ze bus ... she do not go to ze aeroport. Iz very strange."

"Just stay with them."

About ten minutes later the shuttle pulled up in front of a modern, glass and steel building. The two men jumped out and ran inside. When the cab pulled up to the building a sharp intake of air from Casey and he shouted at the driver, "Get us out of here; go, go, go!"

Morgan had jerked his head around to look at the big man: the hard set on that strong face would have scared anyone, but Morgan, knowing Casey's facial expressions as well as anyone, knew they were in trouble.

"Wha-what is it, Casey?"

"That, Morgan, is the Einsatzgruppe TIGRIS; the Federal Criminal Police. What have we stepped into this time?" Then to the driver: "Get us out of here; to the Widder Hotel on Rennwig.