Chuck vs. The Shake Up
Well, here is the newest story for you guys to read and I hope you like. It's set two months after Chuck and Sarah's honeymoon. Anyways, my personal goal is to get at least over a hundred comments with this story so help me out here.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment please leave a comment for this this one as well. Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy the read.
I don't own Chuck but I do own the 3rd season on DVD.
The Decision
XXX
Undisclosed C.I.A. Facility.
Washington D.C.
Monday 10:00 pm
"General, I would like to thank you in advance for being here." stated the grizzled military veteran. He sits behind a conference table leading a panel consisting of fellow colleagues in military garb and dark suits. The main topic of discussion…The Ring. "I have been going over the reports about The Ring and I have grave concerns regarding the lack of information on who this organization is and what their true intentions are. " he addd.
The General he is speaking to is General Diane Beckman who is standing behind a podium ready to answer questions pertinent to the topic at hand. She exudes an ere of stoic confidence as she responds to her superior.
"I understand sir." she replied. "It has been difficult to attain any vital information that would help in learning about this new threat because they are shrouded in secrecy." said the read headed woman.
"I see." responded Beckman's superior.
When it comes to The Ring, it's considered a sore subject matter to her. One of the things Beckman prides herself in is being able to know all she can about an enemy from the information she receives. It's that information that gives a good assessment on how to act accordingly but when it comes to this organization she doesn't know all the key players who are involved, which in her mind could be anyone.
In spite of not being able to know their intentions or their goals for the matter they have become a truly formidable enemy. A formidable enemy whose unpredictable tactics has caused quite a headache not only for her but for Team Chuck as well. She vividly recalls how The Ring has attempted to as Chuck would call it turn one of her best agents Colonel John Casey over to the dark side by using individuals from his past.
When Team Chuck encountered Ty Bennett during a mission at Global Launch Agency it revealed he had a close association with the veteran NSA Agent. After informing her of what happened, she dug into Bennett's past finding out he was a combat trainer for the NSA and Casey was a former student of his. Her patience would be sorely tested when his emotions clouded his judgment causing him to jeopardize the safety of the intersect.
Beckman remembers how furious she was because of how personal he took it because he considered Bennett a valued mentor turned traitor. She gave a stern lecture that the safety of the intersect is their main goal and not personal vendettas. It wouldn't be only the occasion in which Casey's past came back to haunt him as he was blackmailed into stealing a top-secret government emotion-suppressing and performance-enhancing drug called Laudanol.
She would learn of her association with Colon James Keller opening his sealed file to find that he was once known as Alex Coburn. The same Alex Coburn Chuck flashed on who was officially killed in action in Honduras on the same day John Casey appeared as a new recruit on Keller's black ops team. In her view, he went rogue but despite proving he wasn't a traitor he ended up suffering major consequences because of it.
The last incident involved a ring enforcer named Vincent Smith and he took the fight to Casey but he, like Keller, would find himself 6 fight under. Her thoughts concerning the previous Ring agents quickly turn to the past 2 months. She unfortunately has lost several good agents in the heat of battle against them and as much as they been making positive progress thanks to Chuck she doesn't want to lose any more people.
"What we do know is that they built an intersect of their own hiring a man named Dr. Victor Vale with the assistance of an M.I.T dropout Manoosh Depak. Mr. Depak would later be turned by the efforts of Agent Bartowsi who was responsible for destroying it." she states."
"To my understanding, is this the same Charles Bartowski who before becoming an agent was simply a civilian?"
"Yes sir." she answered with a quick nod. "Since becoming a human intersect, the success rate in thwarting potential threats have far surpassed the expectations of those who may have doubted the project would actually work."
Beckman stands there as her superior remains silent for just a brief moment. She watches him glance at two individual seated on either side of him and then returns his attention to her. "As much as I commend the success of your team for thwarting potential threats before they happen, my concerns are about this mysterious organization and their intentions."
"Yes sir." she replied. "My team is doing their very are best in getting the results needed especially against The Ring." she stated with confidence.
"They are and I don't doubt that General." her superior responded. Beckman feels a sense of pride after hearing that coming for him. "However, it is my feeling that despite your team being the best they are up against an enemy we nothing about. If I may quote Sun Tzu, -To know your enemy, you must become your enemy."
"I don't understand sir." she retorted expressing a mixture of concerned curiosity. "Would you elaborate further." added Beckman.
"As strong a unit as your team is, I believe they are at a extreme disadvantage and with the lack of intel on this organization it's going to leave them completely vulnerable." he firmly stated.
The sense of pride she previously felt for Team Chuck when it comes to the battle against The Ring suddenly caused her to be concerned. True, they have made significant progress in either eliminating former members or capturing them but apparently it isn't enough causing her to shaking her head a bit. In the eyes of her superior he sees a weakness in their armor and somehow they need to find a way to be considerably stronger.
How he was going to go about it would be considered a complete unknown on her part. The team she currently has is a strong cohesive unit and to even suggest there is a weakness within the team dynamic is slap in the face. In her mind, he needs to witness her team in action in order to have a truly proper assessment rather than reading it in reports because if he did his opinion would without a doubt change.
Beckman is snapped back to reality as she hears her boss continue on. "It is therefore I have come to a decision." he said.
XXX
Whiz Kid Systems, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA.
Tuesday 9:15 a.m.
"I love you to babe." said Chuck on his cell phone. "I'll see you when I get back from work and enjoy your day off." he added walking into his office.
The second he enters he's suddenly greeted by his bearded best friend who swivels around sitting in his chair. "Hey buddy." Morgan happily said.
"Dude!" responded a startled Chuck. As he stands there, taking a moment to catch his breathe he peers over at the man who he grown up with wondering why he is sitting in his office. "Do you mind telling what you are doing?"
Morgan briefly peers down as he playfully leans back and forth in his best friends chair. "I'm sitting."
Chuck rolls his eyes at his comment as he makes his way around his desk placing his iPhone on his desk and plants himself at end. He removes his coat and hangs it on the back of his chair. As his left hand rests on top of his chair, he peers down at his best friend who is grinning up at him from ear to ear. After a few seconds of staring at him, he doesn't get the message so he has to verbally tell him.
"Would you mind getting up so I can get to work?"
In response, Morgan raises both his eyebrows giving his tall and lanky best friend a quick nod acknowledging his request. He rolls Chuck's chair back, pushes himself up, and then step sideways letting his best bud sit down. "There you go my liege." he replied giving him a quick bow of the head.
"Morgan…" said Chuck shaking his head. "…didn't we have this discussion already?
"What discussion?" he replied back. "We've had so many can you be more specific."
In that moment, the successful business owner bites his bottom lip in order to restrain himself from saying something that may hurt his best friend's feelings. He quickly takes a deep breathe and expresses a tight lipped smile responding to his occasionally flighty friend.
"You know bestowing me with titles like captain, master Bartowski, and my liege." he sternly responded. "Is awesome if its just you and I hanging out playing Call of Duty with Trav or something but when we're here at work it's a professional working environment man." added Chuck. "I'm the boss so I don't want clients sitting in my office with you passing by my door and they suddenly hear you hollering out what's up General Solo and then giving the Chewbacca call."
"That was one time and I apologized for that." he retorted.
After briefly reliving that embarrassing moment in his head, he pulls his chair towards his desk and turns on his computer. "What are you doing in my office anyway?" he wondered as he makes himself comfortable in his chair "Shouldn't you be working on something?"
The President and CEO of Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. can clearly see the excitement emanating in his best friend's eyes. Granted, he has seen that look in his eyes before after going on a grape soda and string cheese bender for a week straight but it somehow different. It causes him to become a bit concerned because he the grin is still plastered on his furry face.
"It can wait." he quickly responded taking a seat in one the chairs in front of his desk. "Listen…" said Morgan leaning forward. "…I need to talk to you."
"About what?" replied Chuck staring at his computer screen furiously typing away at his keyboard.
"Alex..." he stated. "…I need your advice about something concerning a personal nature." Morgan emphasized.
The tone in which his best friend said that causes him to stop typing and slowly turn his head towards Morgan. When he looks at him, the expression on his face as he stares at him is similar to that of troll doll without the Don King hair do. So many thoughts are swirling in his head right now but the one thought he clings to he doesn't want to ask because if he does he'll be the second one to die for knowing about it.
"What about Alex." he replied raising his right brow with absolute curiosity.
"Things between the two of us have been serious as of late and since you're my best friend I wanted to come to you."
"Go on." responded Chuck leaning forward intently invested in the conversation.
"Okay." he said taking a quick breathe. Morgan stands up and begins pacing around the room expressing a hint of a smile every so often. The more he paces around in front of desk the more worried Chuck gets causing him to become deeply concerned. He is about to get his attention when he suddenly sees him stop and turn to face him. "You know how in life we don't plan for things to happen but it happens anyway?"
"Yeah." he said slowly standing up.
"Well, it happened between me and Alex." he stated expressing a jovial smile towards a man he considers his hetero life partner.
Chuck immediately hangs his head knowing the consequences he will suffer because of it. After shaking his head, he makes his way around his desk and plants himself in front of Morgan placing both his hands on his shoulders. He looks him directly in the eyes responding to his bearded little buddy. "Morgan…" he responded. "…what were you two thinking."
"Well, we thought this through and…"
"Dude…" interjected Chuck. "…do you have an idea what Casey will do to you if he finds out." he quickly adds shaking a bit.
"I think he'll understand."
"No he won't." he exclaimed disagreeing with him. "He'll kill you." he emphatically stated.
"Why?"
"Alex is pregnant!" he softly screamed at him causing Morgan's eyes to completely bug out.
XXX
Whiz Kid Systems, Inc.
Santa Monica, CA.
Tuesday 9:30 a.m.
"Wait…what! She is!" he screamed out loud as one of Chuck's employees pass by the door wondering what is going on.
A perplexed expression suddenly appears on Chuck's face as he goes over closing his office door. It's at point, he turns around to where he suddenly and slowly realize the two of them are having two totally different conversation.
"I'm sorry I think I may have jumped the gun here." he replied in a very apologetic way. "What are you referring to."
"I was talking about Alex and I moving in together." responded Morgan. "What made you think Alex was pregnant?" he added stepping back shaking his head. "Trust me dude, after the incident with Anna I've been using protection."
Good to know he thinks to himself. "Well…" he said. Chuck walks over to the front to the front of his desk, turns around, and sits on the edge of it with his hands gripping front side as he continues talking. "…you were talking about how in life we don't plan for things to happen but it happens anyway and my first thought was Alex is pregnant."
"Really?"
"The second thought I had was Casey killing you and after disposing your body where no one will find it he'll come after me." he replied pointing to himself. "Then Sarah would have to get involved and it would end up shaking up the dynamic of the team."
"No it wouldn't."
His response, causes Chuck to quickly shoot an "are you kidding me" look towards him. "It's Casey we're talking about here." he firmly stated.
"Yeah you're right." acknowledged Chuck knowing how protective the burly NSA agent is of his daughter. "Why you?"
"Think about it." stated Chuck. "He knows we're best friends and you know that I know that he knows that you always come to me whenever you have anything important on your mind." he quickly spitted out.
Morgan reaches up scratching the scruff of his beard pursing his lips together as he goes into thinking mode. "I do don't I." he nodded flashing a grin.
"Wow…" grinned Chuck expressing laughter heading to his chair behind his desk. "…that is a load off my mind." he added plopping himself down in his chair and leaning back.
He briefly closes his eyes in order to decompress from nearly giving himself a coronary because he thought his best friend got Casey's daughter pregnant. However, he couldn't help but think if they ever conceived an offspring he or she would most definitely be well protected by their grandfather. Plus, he or she would be certainly be taught on the history of who he considers to be one the greatest Presidents of all time…Ronald Reagan.
His thoughts concerning Morgan's non conceived spawn abruptly upon hearing Morgan's voice causing him to open his eyes. "So what's your advice?"
"About what?" wondered Chuck completely forgetting the conversation they just had a while ago.
"Moving in dude." replies Morgan quickly taking a sit in front of him as his unwavering attention is focused on his best bud sitting across the desk.
"Have you two talked about it? I mean seriously sat down and talked about with her?" he wondered eyeing his buddy from across his desk.
Morgan shakes his head. "We just decided to do it on a whim last night."
"You know Casey will find out." Chuck said. "Nothing gets past him."
"No worries. Alex and I will deal with it together." assured Morgan.
"You're going to call Jayne aren't you."
"It helps to have a back up plan just in case." he quickly retorted. "So what about the advice dude."
"Okay." Chuck leans forward and mulls over the sage wisdom he wants to share with his bearded buddy. After taking a few minutes, he comes up with a few. First off, don't walk around your house or apartment naked." The browned haired man briefly pauses. "Write that that down."
"I don't have pen or paper that matter." Chuck picks up a pen and a yellow legal pad sitting on his desk. He leans over and hands it to him. "What was the first one again?"
"Don't walk around your house or apartment naked." repeated Chuck. "That should the number 1 rule to remember."
"No walking naked around the house." quietly muttered Morgan writing it down on the yellow legal pad.
It's at that point Chuck gives him a perfect example to go by which will help him. "Remember when you crashed in Ellie's house when I used to live there?" Chuck recalled. "You needed a place to crash because Big Mike slept over."
"Yeah." he replied cringing recalling the particular memory back in his mind.
"Ellie couldn't sleep for several days after that because she saw the sight of your hairy ass bending over."
"My ass isn't hairy." responded clearly disagreeing with Ellie's assessment. He peers down to his left taking a moment to glance down at his rear.
"Trust me dude, I've seen it and it kind of is." he replied.
"Come on according to Alex its kind of cute."
"Well, from what El told me it actually traumatized her." In that instance, Chuck realizes they have been focusing too much on Morgan's butt and immediately changes the subject. "You know what, let's move on and discuss the second piece of advice."
Morgan nods acknowledging his best friend and is ready for whatever nuggets of wisdom he'll share with him. "Shoot." responded Morgan eager and ready. In that moment, the two men are interrupted by the sound of a vibrating cell phone.
Chuck reaches over towards the lower left corner of his desk where he set his iPhone down and picks it up looking at the screen. "Text message."
"Sarah?"
"No…" replied Chuck checking the message. "…from General Beckman." he says peering up at Morgan.
"Mission? The Ring again?" the bearded one inquired with interested curiosity.
"Briefing at Castle. Noon." he stated. "It must not be important because it usually says ASAP." added the happily married man. He shrugs it returns his full attention to Morgan. "All right buddy, write this down…"
XXX
Castle
Santa Monica, CA.
Tuesday 12:00 p.m.
Team Chuck huddle around the conference area in front of the main Castle computer waiting for the briefing to start with General Beckman. All 4 individuals knew that it concerned The Ring because for the last two months they have been quite busy making their lives a living hell. The one thing they could always count on when it concerns them is how they're constantly picking the wrong times to interrupt their lives.
"I wonder what The Ring is up to this time." wondered Travis.
"Who knows dude." answered Chuck to his teammate and friend sitting across from him. "You never know with them." he added shaking his head.
It's at that point Sarah interjects her thoughts into the mix leading the two men to turn their heads to look at the beautiful blonde woman. "I was anticipating enjoying my day off but that's not going to happen."
Her response leads Chuck to reach over and hold his wife's left hand with his right. He gently rubs the top it shooting over a soft smile towards her. His attention on her would quickly be averted by the familiar sound of an clearly audible grunt.
All 3 teammates turns their attention to the grizzled NSA agent sitting across from Sarah. "Stop complaining Walker." growled the veteran government agent. "You don't hear The Ring complaining and they certainly don't take day offs." huffed Casey.
"That is correct Colonel Casey."
All 4 individuals immediately turn their heads toward the corridor to see General Beckman standing there. From the looks on each of their faces, it's a complete surprise to them that she decided to be in person for the briefing so much so that they quickly standing up from the table. As they do, Casey stands at an attention giving a celebratory salute since he's after all in the military as well.
As Beckman makes her way towards the front of the conference table, a perplexed expression appears on Chuck's face. He wonders why Beckman is making a personal appearance in Castle instead of speaking to them through the normal channel by way of Castle's main computer screen. The one thing he always knows about the tiny woman is that she truly is an intimidating figure, especially when she makes a surprising appearance.
"Be seated team." stated Beckman.
The team complies and as they are seated Travis takes the initiative to ask what the other 3 are clearly asking out loud in their head. "So General…" he said briefly glancing at the teammates sitting beside and in front of him. "…what bring you out all the way to California?"
"I'm here strictly on business Mr. Riley." she firmly stated.
"Is there a reason you came in person General?" inquired the veteran C.I.A. agent."
"I am here Agent Walker because I wanted to personally tell you that my superiors believe the team doesn't have the capability at your disposal in dealing with The Ring."
"What?" responded a bewildered Chuck causing him shoot up from his seat.
"Sit down moron." grunted Casey furrowing his eyebrows at him. After Chuck complies with what he says, his attention returns to Beckman. "Would you elaborate further General?"
"Affirmative Colonel." she replied shooting a stern look towards Chuck. "According to them as strong a unit and your success rate in thwarting potential threats concerning the ring especially in the past two month, they believe you are at a extreme disadvantage and with the lack of intel on this organization it's going to leave you completely vulnerable." added Beckman.
"To what exactly?" inquired Travis. "We've always kicked butt and taken names every single time we've faced the Ring." added the 4th member of Team Chuck.
All 4 individuals are transfixed on Beckman as she stands there briefly silent causing them to grow greatly concerned. "What's going to happen to us?" asked Sarah. "Are we being reassigned."
The mere mention of reassignment leads Chuck eyes to widen. A sudden silence fell within the room to the point where you could hear a pin drop. The silence is momentary as Beckman responds to Sarah.
"Negative. No one is being reassigned." she replied. A sigh of relief is expressed by Chuck as he glances at his teammates seated at the conference table. He then returns his attention to red headed woman to his left. "A decision has been made however."
"And?" asked Chuck with curiosity.
After taking a quick breathe Beckman inform them of her superior's decision. "As of now you have been appointed a team leader. Its an order I have to abide by."
"Who?" all 4 asked in unison.
"Me." a male voice stated.
Team chuck turn their attention to the corridor once again to see a man standing there. All 4 watch as the man approaches and makes his way to the front of conference table where Beckman is standing. When he stands by her side he acknowledges her. "General."
"Team I want to introduce you to your new team leader…" she saod with a bit of reluctance. "…Daniel Shaw."
XXX
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