A/N: This is my take on the WWII challenge. I intend it to be more fanciful than factual with a good bit of storyline on our favorite couple.
I do not own Chuck or any of the characters. I can only claim the computer I wrote it on.
Chuck and Sarah Bartowski vs. Story Night
After 4 years of missions, Chuck's ability to flash had begun to fade. It was theorized that like all memories, the Intersect files were becoming buried under all the new input of daily life. Flashes had become less frequent and less detailed. This suited both Chuck and Sarah just fine. She tendered her resignation and soon they were married. Chuck had moved on from the Buy More to a very nice position with a local tech firm and Sarah was happily instructing law enforcement students at a nearby college. Two years of wedded bliss later, the twins were born. Lauren and Linda Bartowski were blond haired and doe-brown eyed bundles of joy. This story picks up on the day of their 8th birthday.
November 11, 2021
"Man am I glad that's over." Falling onto the couch next to Sarah, he surveys the disaster that was their family room. "Remind me again why we couldn't go somewhere for the party instead of hosting it and 12 screaming kids?"
"You know exactly why. The girls wanted a party and their father can't say no when they give him big eyes and smiles."
"Which they learned from their mother I might add." Grinning as he leans over to give her a peck on the cheek.
"What can I say, I raised two smart, beautiful girls that take after their mother in all the best ways."
"Humility being one of your more attractive qualities." Laughing as he reaches to bring her into his lap.
With perfect timing, Lauren runs up. "Daddy! You promised we could put my present together after our friends went home." Tugging at his arm. "They're all gone...please, please, please."
Looking to his wife for a reprieve, she smiles with a twinkle in her eye. "She's right Chuck, you did promise."
"Some help you are.", overdoing a world-weary groan as he lets Lauren drag him from the sofa.
"It's why you love me, babe. Always there for you."
Flashing her a gaze that can still set off fireworks in her belly, "That's not the only reason I love you, hun."
Sarah gives as good as she gets with an electric stare that brings color to his cheeks. "You two have fun and Lauren, try to keep your father out of trouble. Linda! Get your coat honey, time for your big present."
Lauren drags her dad all the way through the house to his workroom. She drops his hand to push a tall stool up to the counter and climbs on. He watches with pride as she puts the ESD band on her wrist and picks up a screwdriver. Next, she looks up with a serious expression on her face. "Ready to work?" It lasts all of 10 seconds before she breaks into a sunny smile. "Come on dad, let's do this. Hit me."
A few weeks earlier, they had spent all evening poring over websites to find the perfect combination of parts for her first computer. Chuck had them all arranged next to the workbench and lifted the case up in front of her. The afternoon passed as father and daughter bonded over circuit boards and hard drives. Once completed, he had a final present for her. He picked up her new computer and carried it to his den with Lauren following right behind. Without her knowledge, Chuck had set up a desk and monitor for her right next to his. She clapped and squealed with joy at her presents and couldn't wait to get it hooked up and turned on.
While they waited for the operating system to load, she climbed into his lap and hugged him tightly. "Thank you daddy, this is the best birthday ever."
"You're welcome angel." Putting a kiss on top of her head and basking in the moment. He remembered all the time they had spent here like this. Even as a baby, Lauren was always content to curl in his lap and listen to him typing. She would watch for hours as the screen changed from one project to another. It was only natural that she wanted to learn to do it too and by the age of 6 she was helping him work on the equipment in his shop. As his mind drifted, he wondered what Linda thought of her present.
"Where are we going Mommy? Is it far? I bet my present is better than Lauren's." Linda's mouth going a mile a minute as Sarah drove them downtown. She just listened and tried to get a word in when she could. Reaching their destination, she pulled into a strip mall that looked pretty much like every other strip mall. As she parked, Linda saw the storefront and knew right away where they were going.
"No way!! Really!! Are you serious Mom?" She was bouncing in her seat as she read the sign out loud. "Master Li Soo's Martial Arts and Fitness Center. Oh man the kids at school are going to be so jealous." She started making karate chopping motions complete with 'whoa...pah' sounds.
Sarah had to fight back a giggle at the sudden memory of Chuck and Morgan doing one of their little karate movie impersonations. "Yes Linda, this is your present. Actually, I signed us both up for special parent and child classes. I did some research and Master Li Soo is one of the best Kung Fu instructors on the west coast." Looking to her daughter, "You ready to go in?"
Linda was out of the car like a shot and waited impatiently at the door for her to catch up. Once inside, her daughter was all wide eyed with excitement. She looked over the trophies and pictures of students past before her eyes were drawn to the adult class on the mat going through exercises. With rapt attention, she followed their movements as they stepped through a complex set of moves.
Sarah let her take it all in while looking on. Her training had been more for effect than form and she was looking forward to learning the art itself more formally. Kung Fu had always been a draw for her with it's many branches and moves that took years to master in a meaningful way.
Impatient for them to get their chance, Linda grabbed her mom's hand and pointed to the class. "I am going to be better than all of them one day, just you wait and see." Sarah didn't doubt that, athletics were Linda's passion already. In school, she could run faster and jump higher than all the boys in her class. Lauren was a close second but had never really cared for the whole concept when there were books to read. Looking down, Sarah met her daughter's shining eyes as she whispered, "Mom, this is the best birthday ever."
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After dinner it was almost a quiet evening, Lauren was busy setting up her new computer with all the drivers and making sure everything was perfect. Linda, on the other hand, refused to take off her gi and was popping out around corners with lots more "Whoa-pahs" The cat was not amused. Mr. Buttons finally curled up under Lauren's chair and was able to get in a proper nap.
The only benefit being, Chuck and Sarah were able to put the house back together with few interruptions. Worn out, they collapsed on the sofa. Chuck started on a back rub as she complained about a knot in her muscles. "Honey, you should have stretched out more first. You know you aren't as..."
"Finish that sentence at your own peril Bartowski."
"Or what, you'll pull a muscle?"
"Oh, I can still do a lot more than that." Fixing him with her best agent stare.
Totally unfazed, he blasts her with a grin. "Promise?", adding in some eyebrow wiggling.
"You better believe it." She replies with a throaty purr. "Come here and make your wife feel all better.", pulling him into a deep kiss.
"Eeewwww....", erupts from the hallway.
"Girls? Are you spying on your Mom and Dad?" Sarah looks toward the sound.
"Noooooo." They say in unison.
"Daddy promised to...", Lauren started.
"read us a story.", Linda finished.
"Honey, when are you going to stop with the promises?"
"But sweetie, how could I say no to those big, brown eyes?"
Gazing deeply into his big and brown eyes, "I have the same problem." She leans in to get another kiss but is thwarted by two pint-sized missiles jumping onto the sofa.
"Not now Mommy. Daddy can't tell us our story. Come on...come on...come on...please...please...please..."
Chuck laughs as he pulls in his three ladies for a big hug. "Yes, girls, you'll get a story. But not until you both are ready for bed. I want to see teeth brushed, pajamas on and the two of you in your beds."
"Yes Daddy." They were grinning from ear to ear. Linda and Lauren hop off the sofa and run for the bathroom.
"Now, where were we?" Pouncing on her husband and pushing him onto the cushions, her lips reaching for his.
"Eeewwwww..."
"Girls! Bathroom! Now!" Whispering to Chuck, "I think they get that from you."
"Me? Why me? You're the super spy in the family."
"Exactly! If they got it from me, they would be so much better at it", giggling before dropping into his kisses.
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Ensconced in their beds, the two wear eager, expectant looks when Chuck and Sarah walk in. As Chuck makes his way to the bookshelf, Sarah tucks in the girls before perching on the bed next to Lauren and letting her snuggle up. They all watch as Chuck runs his finger along the line of books.
"Not one of those, daddy." Linda pipes up.
"Yeah, we want a new story." Lauren chimes in.
Together they chant, "New story, new story, new story...."
"Girls, it's late. Your father can't get a new story for you right now."
"Awww....", as they turn their wide eyes to Chuck.
Sarah bites her lip to hold back a smile as she watches him melt and give in to the request. She wonders how he will get out of this one.
Casting around the room for inspiration, Chuck's mind starts working in overdrive. "Hmm...a new story? Let's see." His eyes come to rest on 'Happy Birthday' balloons and an idea sputters to life. Crossing the room, he sits down next to Linda so she can slip under his arm and get comfortable. "Who can tell me what today is?
With a giggle, Lauren says, "That's easy Daddy. Today is our birthday!"
"Yes, that is true, but today is special for another reason too. Today is November 11th and if you look on the calendar you will see it is called Veterans Day."
"Our teacher talked about that, said it was for remembering people that had gotten in to big fights to protect us from other people who were bad. Everyone got involved so they called it a world war. That must have been scary." Linda peers up at her father as she speaks.
"It was.", giving her a kiss on the forehead. "But more than just fighting went on. There were lots of spies that did important things during those times."
"Like James Bond?" The kids call out together.
Grinning, "That's exactly right, just like James Bond." Lowering his voice and looking back and forth between them, "The best and most successful spy in World War II was an American. He was so good and so secret that no one has ever heard of him. But...." Pretending to look around for anyone trying to listen in before continuing. "He kept a journal in the hopes that eventually someone would learn of the things he did."
"One day, I was working on an old house, trying to put in some network cables. Your uncle Morgan let go of one end of a cable and it fell inside the wall where we couldn't reach it. I had to put a hole in the wall and what do you think I found? A dusty, leather bound book. I opened it and the pages were filled with handwritten notes, all dating back to the 1940's."
All wide eyed, Lauren whispers, "Wow, that's really, really old. Could you read it?"
"Yes, I sure could read it. Not certain of what I found, I hid it in my tool kit and took it home so I could go through it more carefully. And it was amazing, all the things this man had done during those dangerous times." His face and voice getting more animated as he talks. "But there was one mission that changed his life forever and I have never forgotten it. This mission was a turning point in the war to be sure, but the personal implications were even greater."
"Come on daddy, tell us, tell us." Linda was starting to fidget next to him.
Sarah has to join in, "Yes, daddy, tell us about this amazing spy." Her little girl voice makes Lauren and Linda laugh.
"I will." Meeting their eyes one at a time he says solemnly, "But you can never tell anyone, it has to remain our secret."
Looking as serious as only 8 year olds can, they nod their heads.
"His name was Carmichael. Charles Carmichael and he was a special agent in his Presidents Secret Service." Chuck couldn't resist just a little accent when he said it.
He hears a snort from his wife and glances over to see her holding in laughter. Bouncing his eyebrows a couple of times, Chuck returns to his tale. "As a top, top agent, Carmichael reported directly to the President for his orders. I noticed in his journal that he liked to give names to his missions. This one is entitled, 'Carmichael versus the Secret Weapon'."
"Ooooh." The twins breathe out.
"Tonight's story begins a long time ago in a country far, far away...."
"Daddy!", the girls begin laughing again.
Next: The Spy, the Pilot and the Princess