Chapter One : Borrowed Time
The rain fell softly as Chuck Bartowski turned around, closing the front doors of the Buy More behind him, locking the door and setting the new alarm system. Chuck smiled. Big Mike had actually paid for the high tech security system out of his own pocket. Chuck guessed that he didn't want any more harm to come to his precious marlin.
The moon shined down, reflecting off of Chuck's Buy More ID pinned to his shirt as he made his way to the Nerd Herder. Small drops of water ran down his cheeks as he put his key into the door to unlock it. Rather than turning, however, he stood there, key in hand, smiling as he looked up into the rain.
Chuck knew that he should not be happy right now. Just two days ago, he had almost been put into a very small room with tighter security than the Buy More could ever wish to have. That threat was still there. But Chuck kind of felt like he was living on borrowed time; that every second he had was a gift. He would be able to see his sister's wedding. And Sarah… where to begin with that?
His hand left the key and he turned around and leaned against the Herder, his white dress shirt getting more drenched by the second as the rain picked up slightly. Chuck didn't notice. His mind only had room for one thing right now, and that was a mysterious blonde. A blonde who continued to amaze and astound him, and make him feel things he had thought he would never feel again, and also things he had never felt before.
Sure, the situation was complicated. Chuck accepted that. There was nothing he could do about that. He now knew that she felt strongly about him. When they were on that rooftop, when he was about to be taken away from her… Chuck almost choked up at the thought of it. Their hands had connected, but it was so much more than that. Chuck had felt their spirits, their souls, become one, and she had told him things that he had always wanted her to say, but she never had. It was the perfect moment.
Chuck knew that Sarah had issues to work through, and he knew that it would take time, and he was fine with that. Eventually, they would be together. If it had to be under the disguise of a cover, then fine, he was all too willing to do that. He knew the feelings were real.
Glancing down at his watch, Chuck figured he had better get home before Ellie sent out the search parties. He wiped his wet hair out of his eyes with his left hand as he turned around to unlock the door. Chuck heard a noise behind him, and went to turn around, but before he could, something hard made contact with the back of his head, and he fell forward, banging the front of his head off the top of the Nerd Herder. From there he collapsed, landing on the wet pavement. Now, water and blood mixed together as they ran down his cheek and painted the pavement.
A rather large, muscled man dressed in all black stood over Chuck's unconscious body. No smile graced his face. A job was a job. Setting the aluminum baseball bat down on the pavement, he reached into his pocket to pull out a cell phone. The number he needed was on speed dial.
"Is it done?" said a voice on the other end right after the first ring.
"He's out," replied the man dressed in black.
"Bring him to me. Quickly. Before anyone notices he is missing."
The man in the parking lot laughed. "You think I'm worried about anyone this guy calls a friend? They are probably all still living at their mom's house playing Xbox right now."
The man on the other end of the phone was quick and sharp with his answer. "Listen to me, if you want paid. Get him here quickly. You would be surprised what type of friends Chuck Bartowski has."
The man in black shrugged. "You're the boss. I'll be right there." He closed his phone and put it back in his pocket. Bending over, he picked up Chuck and threw him over his shoulder while grabbing the bat that he had set down, and sent off towards his Avalanche. Small amounts of blood dripped from Chuck's two wounds as he was shoved carelessly into the automobile. With a squeak of tires, Chuck was gone, as thunder and lightening joined in with the rain.