Author's Note: When I found out about the impending season 5 renewal, it put me in such a good mood that I decided to give writing a story a shot. This is the idea that I came up with; technically, this is the first story I ever attempted for Chuck, I was just stuck on it for a long while.
Author's Note II: This is a story about the journey Chuck undertakes to get control of his life back. Any relationship between Chuck and Sarah will be a minor element. Don't expect to see much of Sarah. I know that will turn some of you away, so I'm letting you know upfront.
Summary: Begins at the end of Nemesis, into Crown Vic: Sarah leaves to join Bryce, it doesn't turn out quite like she thought. Now that Sarah's gone and there's no one to look out for him, Chuck decides he has to embrace the CIA's original recruitment plan for him if he wants a chance to get his life and freedom back.
Once Again: Do not own Chuck at all.
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Chapter 1: Turning Point
The room's phone rang, she was pretty sure she knew who was calling. After a minute of ringing, she resolved to answer the call and accept everything that came with it. She walked across the room, from the window she had been staring out of for the past hour, towards the nightstand where the phone rested. Just as she was about to pick up the phone, her cell started to buzz, and the picture she had gotten so used to seeing came to life on the screen. One look at his face and she was back to square one. Even in her own room she couldn't escape them. The dueling beckoning finally became too much for her; she unplugged the phone, turned off her cell, and threw both across the room. She crawled into her bed and under the covers, deciding to hide away in her room. There would be time to deal with things later, much later; maybe if she stayed there long enough they would sort themselves out.
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Saturday
November 24, 2007
9:00 am PST
After a night of uneasy sleep, a decision was finally made.
Sarah Walker's mind had been a jumble of warring thoughts and feelings ever since Bryce Larkin had come back from the dead. This was a complication she did not need, not on top of everything else going on. Of course, Bryce wasn't about to make it any easier for her. Yes, they had been in a relationship, but he had abandoned her, turned on his country. At least, that's what she had believed up until that point, and he had the nerve to say she still loved him?
Yes, there were still some strong feelings there, but she had grieved his loss; she had started to move on. There was no turning back at this point. Not after meeting Chuck. Because of him, Sarah had realized that the idea of having a family, having kids, wasn't as farfetched as she once had thought. She wanted something more, something fulfilling. Even though she still cared about Bryce, their relationship was not enough, not anymore. She knew Bryce was still the same man he had been for as long as she'd known him, and that man was not interested in anything beyond the status quo. Chuck, on the other hand would gladly give her everything she wanted. Unfortunately, she couldn't have him. More specifically, her training and sense of duty wouldn't even let her broach the subject of a relationship with him; no matter how much he got hurt every time she shot him down.
As it seemed to be the case more and more lately, Chuck was the main source of her inner conflict at the moment. She was so drawn to him, it was disconcerting. At times, when she was alone, it was easy to forget all her training and let herself freely feel for him; to picture a real relationship with him. That could not be allowed to happen. She was an agent, and he was an asset. Agent Sarah Walker knew full well that at some point she would be forced to burn him, just like countless others before him had been once their usefulness ended.
She could not allow herself to become compromised. Giving in and kissing him when she thought they were both about to die was one thing. But she was a professional, what she wanted was irrelevant, no matter how right it felt. She pledged to protect the greater good. Besides, she couldn't disappoint Director Graham. He had saved her from a life of crime; he had given her a purpose. Without him she would still be Jenny Burton, daughter of a conman, and probably in jail if not dead. Graham had turned her into Sarah Walker, CIA agent, feared and respected. Falling for her asset and getting him killed would be no way to repay the Director.
So, when Bryce asked her to join him on his mission, she saw a way out. Operation Bartowski and Bryce's mission weren't all that different. They were both after Fulcrum now. Both missions were equally important to the well being and security of the nation. Bryce needed help; she was sure Director Graham would understand, maybe even commend her initiative; after all, she was his favorite. It's not like she was leaving to be with Bryce, that aspect of their partnership was over as far as she was concerned.
But could she really leave Chuck? Who would protect him? Who would look out for him? Sure, Casey would protect the Intersect, he was a soldier and he followed orders to the best of his ability, of which he had plenty. The problem was: those orders did not include looking out for the best interests of Chuck. That was made clear that first night she ran into Casey during her date with Chuck. He had been ready to shoot both of them on that rooftop. Sarah had no doubt he would do the same now if he was called upon to do so. Hell, he had shot Bryce for the second time just two days before without blinking an eye. Chuck could end up either dead or in a bunker deep underground before he knew what was happening if she wasn't here to stop it.
That thought alone was enough for her to make up her mind.
The safety of one man did not outweigh the safety of the entire country. The fact that she was even thinking of placing Chuck before her duty was great for a girlfriend, not for a government agent, and especially not for Graham's protégé.
Deciding she could no longer perform her duty with the Intersect, Sarah Walker packed her suitcase and dialed a number she wasn't sure she would ever use until that very minute.
The call went through after the second ring.
"Bryce?"
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Saturday
November 24, 2007
3:00 pm PST
Major John Casey and Chuck Bartowski stood waiting in the middle of the Major's living room for the conference call with their bosses to begin. Casey was patiently facing forward, not wanting to even glance at Chuck for fear of breaking the dam of questions he was sure lurked just behind one ill-timed look. The kid was falling hard for Walker, if he hadn't already. Judging by the reaction to Larkin's reappearance and subsequent interaction with Team Bartowski, he would bet it was the latter. Casey would gladly shoot Larkin again and get rid of that particular pain in his side; if it benefited Chuck in any way, well that was just a bonus. Unfortunately, he was under strict orders not to shoot the arrogant tool. As it turned out, he was not a traitor, but rather, he helped expose Fulcrum. The Major still had his doubts. Anyone who can screw over a friend as badly as Larkin screwed Bartowski is not to be trusted as far as he was concerned.
Crap. The moron looked like he was about to burst. Why did I look?
"Casey, have you heard from-" Chuck was cut off by the sudden appearance of General Beckman and Director Graham on the flat screen on Casey's wall.
"The serial numbers Chuck flashed on are a strain of counterfeit currency the treasury has been trying to crack for years, but perhaps we should wait to brief you until Agent Walker arrives," began Director Graham without any greetings, as per usual.
"Yes. Where is Agent Walker?" General Beckman had asked, but both their superiors were intently waiting for an answer. They did not like to be kept waiting, especially not by a subordinate.
"Uh... Ma'am, Agent Walker's currently-" Casey found himself being cut off. Oh, great.
"She, uh-Agent Walker's currently suffering from a spastic colon which acts up on her from time to time, so..." finished Chuck lamely. Casey could only grimace and bob his head in agreement, of all the things the moron could've come up with... but it was out there now, and internally he was smiling; he couldn't wait to tell Walker about this one, if she was still around that is. He wasn't sure she hadn't run away with Larkin. He was only half joking when he had said as much to Chuck the night before. If she was still around though, there was a definite possibility she would kick Bartowski's ass for making her look bad.
Graham interrupted his little fantasy. "She has no history of that."
"Perhaps we should reschedule when Agent Walker is feeling better." The look on General Beckman's face clearly showed this was not a topic of conversation she was willing to get into.
If looks could kill, thought Chuck. How does she ever get along in an informal setting?
"Ma'am, there's no need for that. Bartowski and I can fill her in on anything she missed when she gets here." Casey didn't want to waste time waiting for something that might not happen. There were bad guys out there that needed shooting. If Walker didn't show by the end of the day, he'd let them know about Bryce's offer and her apparent acceptance. Let her deal with the consequences.
General Beckman considered Casey's words for a few seconds before replying, "Very well. As we were saying, Lon Kirk now devotes most of his time and money to aid projects, mostly foreign."
"And we think he's the source?" Casey spoke up.
"Not confirmed. However we have intel that a major counterfeiter is in Los Angeles trying to acquire a new set of printing plates," stated Director Graham.
"How shall we proceed?" Casey really didn't want to hear what was coming next. He knew they would need Walker's special talents for this one.
"As far as Kirk is concerned: very cautiously. He's very well connected." Damn. If Graham thought they should be cautious, this was not going to be good. Casey couldn't handle the mission and protecting Chuck by himself. They might both end up getting killed.
"He's hosting a charity event tonight at the New Constellation Yacht Club. Walker and Chuck will go as guests, Casey as staff." As General Beckman finished, she thought she saw bemusement on Casey's face for a moment, but that couldn't be. Not from Major Casey, at least.
"One question: will Chuck and Walker be going as a couple?" Casey was trying to not show the smirk fighting to reveal itself, but from the General's reaction, it clearly didn't work.
The General leaned back in her chair with an appraising eye, "Unless they have a problem?"
"No problem." At least none that I'm telling you about, Chuck thought. He wouldn't say it to the General or Director, they would reassign Sarah in a heartbeat, but why hadn't she answered her phone when he called her last night? Or this morning, for that matter. Could she have really left with Bryce like Casey said?
"Good luck, then." And, with those parting words from Graham, the connection was terminated.
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A/N: I adapted the second scene from the corresponding scene in Crown Vic, so most of the dialogue is from that episode; it's just been shifted around. I thought this would be a good place to break from canon. Please let me know if you're interested in me continuing with this story.