Chuck vs. The Cerebral Assassin
This story takes places after Sarah and Casey find out that Chuck has lost his memory after falling into the waters of the Port of Los Angeles from 50-100ft high crane. There will be a return of Sarah's family into the story and Bryce will unfortunately be sticking around for a while, which may not sit to well for any of you who have become avid readers of my fanfic. There will also be a new character introduced and she will play a role in helping Chuck in trying to regain his memory.
Anyways, 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 either.
The Doctor Is In
XXX
Its around 8a.m. and Sarah sits at the conference table in Castle lost in thought. The past two hours have not only been absolutely shocking but an all out emotional rollercoaster for her as well. The man she loves and is going to marry woke up to no memory of his own identity, or even the identity of her and Casey as well. It was like a punch to the stomach and no matter how hard she tried to breathe at that point she couldn't.
As she let go of Chuck's hand, she slowly backed up and out of the room into the hallway. It was at that point, she didn't have any idea what to do or even where to go because her life is in the room she just left. She remembers walking the hall in disbelief shaking her head and trying to figure out what to or how to fix the situation. What she remembers next was feeling a hand on her right shoulder and Casey stepping in front of her.
When she looked at him the first thing she did was slap him in the face not once but several times. The reason she did that because it was Casey who assured her that Chuck would be fine and it didn't turn out that way. Essentially, the first time was a reflex action but the second she started doing it she didn't stop until Casey stopped her by catching her right forearm and it caused her to then punch him the face with her left hand.
Unfortunately, that didn't do as much damage leading her to wear herself out to the point where she started crying. Casey guided her against the wall where he slowly helped her to sit on the floor and then sat down right beside her. He didn't say a word and as her partner, he did the only thing he could do to back her up and that was to simply wrap his right arm around her so that she could cry.
It was a gesture that she would most definitely appreciate from the burly NSA Agent at a tumultuous time in her life. About 15 minutes later, she would apologize to Casey and his response was that he deserved it because he gave her his word that Chuck would be okay. He felt like he let her down but she reassured him that he did all that he could do at the time in order to save his life.
The talk Sarah had with her partner helped but she wanted to know how this could have happened. She wasn't the only one that wanted answers as a determined Colonel John Casey wanted answers as well. It wasn't before long they found Chuck's doctor and asked or should I say demanded to know what happened to him. She still remembers the conversation as if it happened a few seconds ago.
"What happened to Chuck Doctor Kline?" she asked with concern.
"Your fiancé may have possibly suffered post-traumatic amnesia." Dr. Kline stated. "According to Agent Casey, he fell from crane approximately 50-100 ft in the air." he added.
Upon hearing that bit of information Sarah immediately turns to Casey. "You never told me that."
"I didn't want you to worry you even more." replied Casey. "You've already been through enough Walker."
"We're partners Casey and I expect you to be straight with me, especially when it comes to Chuck." she emphatically stated. "He needs our help."
There is a momentary pause as Casey furrows his eyebrows and then glances at Dr. Kline standing in front of the two of them. "Your right but we're not helping Bartowski out here."
Sarah turns her attention from Casey to Dr. Kline with a look of absolute concern. "What's his status doctor? Is it long term or short term?"
Dr. Kline takes a deep breath as he gives the two agents his assessment concerning Chuck. "Chuck's condition is transient Agent Walker." he answered. "It may be either anterograde, retrograde, or a mixture of both."
"What does that mean?" questioned Sarah.
"Retrograde amnesia is a form of amnesia where someone is unable to recall events that occurred before the development of the amnesia while anterograde amnesia is basically Chuck losing of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused his amnesia…" Sarah and Casey listen carefully as the doctor continues on with his explanation. "…and because of that it led to a partial or the complete inability to recall the recent past, while long term memories from before the event remain intact, which he has." said Dr. Kline.
"So what you're saying is…" inquired Casey.
"What I'm saying is…" Dr. Kline expresses a look of seriousness at Sarah and Casey. "…he is experiencing both types of amnesia."
The news of Chuck's prognosis deeply impacted Sarah to the point where tears started to form but she restrains herself from crying. She knew she needed to be strong not just for herself but for Chuck as well. "So what happens now?"
"There's nothing more that can be done at this point." responded Dr. Kline. "I'll contact General Beckman informing her of Chuck's condition and she'll contact you on what the alternatives are."
There's nothing more that can be done at this point. Those were the words that kept repeating in her mind as she, Casey, and Bryce returned to Castle inevitably leading her to sit at the conference table up until now. Her concentration would suddenly be broken by the sudden appearance of Bryce sitting down across from her. There is a brief moment of silence on his part as she notices his attempt to talk with her.
"What do you want Bryce?"
"I just wanted to see if you're okay." he replied.
"I know what you want and just because Chuck lost his memory doesn't mean you can try to convince me to come with you." she quickly spitted out.
"Whoa!" responded Bryce. "That's not my intention and you made it perfectly clear you love Chuck. I'm here as a friend and nothing more." Bryce added with a sense genuine concern in his voice. "What can I do to help?"
Sarah stares directly at her former partner sitting across from her. At this point in her vulnerable state, she knows she can't let her guard down especially with Bryce because in the back of her mind she doesn't trust him as far as she can throw him. Yet, he was able to prove himself to be an important asset to the team when they could count on him the most. "I don't know."
As she says that, Casey appears. "Unlike Larkin, I know how I can help." chimed in Casey walking up the stairs towards the entrance of Castle.
"How?" she asked watching Casey stand at the top of the landing in front of the keypad near the entrance.
Casey presses a few keys and the doors open leading him to step aside. A look of confusion appears on her faces and then her eyes widen as she sees someone emerges through the doorway causing her to immediately stand up. "Dad." she softly said.
XXX
"How you doing kiddo?" he said embracing his youngest daughter.
The appearance of not only her father, her mother Emily, and sister Cassidy was a complete surprise to her. It was Casey who took the initiative to call Jeremiah Wexler informing him of the current situation her daughter is in and he immediately dropped everything to be at her daughter's side. Sarah truly regretted slapping the best partner she ever had but he made it up to her by contacting her father.
"I am hanging in there." she replied.
"Well, when Casey called me we hurried over as fast as we could." he stated glancing at Casey giving him a nod. Casey nods back and then takes his leave disappearing into one of the many areas of Castle.
"We'll always be here for you sweetie." responded Emily.
"Hey…" Sarah turns her head to look at her old her sister who is standing next to her. "…what is family for." she answered rubbing her little sister's back.
"How is Travis doing?" inquired Wexler."
"He's banged up. He suffered some broken ribs and possibly a concussion." she replied. "He's going to be out of action for a while and unfortunately they're not going to have a house to come home to."
"Don't worry about that." responded Wexler. "Zeitgeist members take care of their own." he added with a firm nod.
A smile appears on Sarah face as her attention goes from her father to her older sister. "How is Daniel doing?" asked Sarah.
"We're no longer seeing each other." she answered. "The long distance relationship thing just didn't work out."
Wexler's attention turns from his daughters to the man standing on the other side of the conference table. "Mr. Larkin." he firmly stated eyeing the man with an authoritative stare.
Bryce walks around the conference table and reaches out to shake Wexler's hand. "Mr. Wexler, it's nice to see you sir."
Wexler stands there for a brief moment looking at Bryce as if he's expecting a handshake. What he instead receives is a not so warm greeting from Sarah's father. "I would say the same son but I would be lying."
The father of DeAnna Wexler turns his attention back to his daughter leaving Bryce to retract his hand and back off a bit knowing he wasn't high on his list of people he liked. Every since Sarah first introduced him to her father he wasn't very much embraced by the head of the Wexler family. He remembers there would a small amount of small talk between the two of them and that inevitably became the extent of their relationship.
"Come on." said Wexler reaching down to hold her hand. "Let's you, me, your mother, and your sister partake in some frozen yogurt. I hope I get a discount or at least have it be free since you're in charge of the place." he stated smiling down at her.
"Sure dad." As Sarah and her father walk up the stair followed by their mother she turns to Cassidy. "You coming Cass?" hollered Sarah.
"Yeah…" she said nodding with a smile towards her little sister. "…I'll be up in a sec."
As Sarah, her mother, and her father disappear out the door in order to have to frozen yogurt Cassidy turns to face Bryce who she hasn't seen for quite some time. "Long time no see Bryce."
"Cass and yes it has been a long time." the deep cover agent responded back.
"What are you doing here?" questioned Cassidy quirking her right brow. "I thought you would be out tracking Fulcrum or something." she added.
"Just came to visit Chuck and Sarah." he said with a hint of a smile on his face. "Hey, even spies need to take a break for a while."
"Come on Bryce. If you even try to take advantage of DeAnna knowing that Chuck doesn't have any idea who he is I swear I will shoot off your manhood." she emphatically stated. "I'm looking out for my little sister and my future brother-in-law. I will not have the likes of you coming in and ruining that you got me." Cassidy firmly stated pointing at him.
"Hold on." responded Bryce throwing up both hands in front of him. "First off, what is it with people threatening to shoot my manhood off?" he said. "Secondly, I'm just as concerned about Chuck's well being and as for ruining their relationship Sarah already gave me the 3rd degree that she no longer has feelings for me. I'm here to support her not just as her former partner but as a friend."
"Why don't I believe you at all?"
"What…" Bryce expresses a bit of frustration as he rubs the back of his head. "…am I going to have to prove myself to you too?"
"There's one thing that Sarah and Chuck shared with me about you is that you never let your guard down around you." she stated. "And whatever charms that once worked on Sarah won't work on me."
"Really." replied Bryce. "Apparently Daniel's charms worked on you. So what happened between the two of you that it wasn't able to work out?" he asked with curiosity.
"That's none of your business." she angrily stated. "You should be more concerned with being a supportive friend than fulfilling your selfish needs you arrogant bastard."
"Well you're a…" he said stepping forward towards her.
As he does, Casey makes his presence known. "Is there a problem?" grunted Casey immediately eyeing Bryce.
Cassidy glances at Bryce and then turns to had up the stairs to join the rest of her family. "Nothing." she said. "No problem whatsoever."
Casey watches as Cassidy disappears out the door leaving he and Bryce alone in Castle. Bryce turns to glance back at Casey and then walks off leaving the NSA agent to wonder what just happened between the two of them.
XXX
"Chuck will be okay." Emily comfortingly said to her youngest daughter. "We just have to pray that he will be." she added as she sticks a spoon fool of yogurt into her mouth.
"I hope so mom." she replied. "He needs me now more than ever even though he doesn't know it." added Sarah. "I just don't want to think about the possibility of him never being able to remember me."
The one thing that Jeremiah Wexler knows is that Chuck Bartowski has always been there for his daughter and has been deeply loyal to her. He has witnessed the undying love he has for her knowing he would do anything and everything to make her happy. Unlike Bryce who he never trusted the minute he laid eye on him, Chuck earned his trust and formed a quick bond with him.
For him, he never thought she would be happy with Bryce because he exuded a sense of cocky arrogance that just rubbed him the wrong way. In any case, the unwavering smile on he sees on her daughters face every time he pays a visit to see her made him feel good knowing that his daughter is finally experiencing happiness. As a father, he would most certainly give up all that he has in order to have Chuck's memory return for Sarah's sake.
"Chuck will never forget about you even if he tried honey." Wexler stated. "He is a resilient young man and his memory will come back. Its just a matter of time and with you by his side he will pull through just you watch."
"Dad's right sis." responded Cassidy. "You two have been through so much together and this is just another obstacles both of you will eventually overcome."
"I know Cass but…" she said shaking her head leaning back in her chair.
"But what?" questioned Cassidy expressing concern.
"The thing is we've been able for the most part see the obstacles and face them together but this…" she answered pausing to take a breathe. "…this is something bigger than having a computer virus downloaded into his brain or being forced into some kind of twisted challenge that he has no chance of surviving."
"Have faith D." she said reaching over rubbing her right shoulder. "You're not in this alone. You not only have us by your side but Casey as well."
The Wexler family share a moment of togetherness but are soon interrupted by Casey's appearance. "Sorry for the interruption but meeting with General Beckman in 5 minutes." he states.
"Be right there Casey." she said
"Mind if we tag along?" Wexler inquired. "I don't think my old friend would mind if we sat in on the meeting since I am responsible for providing the military with state of the art weapons." he added
A hint of a smile appears on Sarah's face upon hearing what her father says. They all head down to Castle joining Casey and Bryce. After several minutes Beckman pops up on screen. She is completely surprised by not only her old zeitgeist associate standing in a highly classified base, but Sarah's whole family standing down there as well. She decided not to get angry like she usually does because it would be considered futile on her part to do so.
"Agent Walker, the doctor treating Chuck has caught me up to speed on his condition." Beckman stated. "My sincere apologies for what you and your family are going through at this juncture.
"Thank you General." she replied. "Like my father said, Chuck is resilient and his memory will come back. Its just a matter of being there by his side to the point where something concerning his life, his friends, his relationship with me or whatever the case may be will jog it back to his old self."
"Are there any possible alternatives." asked Wexler.
Please say yes Sarah think to herself. The blonde agent would consider a slew of possible alternatives hoping one of them would work in order to have Chuck flash his signature smile she grew to love. For her it didn't matter how long a process or expensive it would be just as long as she can not feel like a stranger to him, which is considered a tortuous experience for any loved one to go through.
"There is a government facility located 30 minutes away from the medical center and it deals in neuroscience involving memory loss." she says. "And considering how valuable Chuck is to the team he will be looked at and watched over by the best doctor there."
"Do you know who the doctor is?" asked the NSA agent.
"I do Colonel Casey and you know her too" she answered looking directly at Casey.
A look of confused curiosity appears on everyone's face as they immediately turn to Casey for the answer. He returns the stares with a questionable look on his face as he returns his attention to Beckman on the screen. "Sorry General but I don't recall any doctors that I know of. Maybe a medic or two in the marine corp."
"I'm sure you know this one Colonel." she replied. "She was your former partner during your academy days."
Casey thinks back on who she is talking about until it dawns on him. "Agent Leslie Burke." grunted Casey.
"Affirmative Casey." replied Beckman. "Now Dr. Burke specializing in the area of head trauma involving agents who suffer memory loss in the field. He will be transferred to the facility within an hour." she said.
Upon her saying that, Wexler interjects. "If you don't mind Diane, I think myself, my daughter, and agent Casey will transport him there unless you have a problem with it." Wexler asked eyeing his former teammate.
There is a brief moment of silence as everyone in the room intently watched and listened for her answer. "No…" she stated shaking her head. "…no there's no problem. I'll contact her about your arrival within the hour." she added as Castle's main screen turns off.
"Wow." responded Bryce. "I've never seen her like that before." he added looking at everybody in the room who just stare at him.
Sarah ignores what Bryce just said and turns immediately to her partner. "Spill it Casey. Who is she?"
"She was known as The Cerebral Assassin. A nickname she received because of how excellent she did in her seduction training." answered Casey. "She would have given you a run for your money Walker."
"Well then…" said Wexler glancing at Casey and turns to face Sarah. "…let's not waste any time. Let's go get Chuck."
XXX
Casey, Sarah, and her father pick up Chuck who brought along a duffle bag full of clothes with him as they transported him to Neuroscience Center where they're going to meet Dr. Leslie Burke. Upon their arrival, Sarah sees a woman walk up to greet then who is about mid 30's, around 5'10, dark brunette shoulder length hair, wearing a light brown 2 button pin stripe pants suit with black high heels. Casey and Dr. Burke converse catching up for a few minutes on old times as he shares with her how Roan Montgomery told him he failed her a couple times because he wanted to spend more time with her on a more of a one on one basis.
As Chuck is checking in, Sarah asks if she could have a word with Dr. Burke. "Dr. Burke I understand this is one of the best facilities that has treated agents who are suffering memory loss." Sarah said stepping into the main living area of the facility.
"We've had a lot of success but you have to understand Agent Walker this is not an exact science." she replied. "Chuck's memory could pop back in tomorrow or could be lost forever."
Sarah expresses concern as she glances back at Chuck who is at the front desk with Casey and her father. "But there is a good chance that he could possibly recover and regain his memory."
"I'm hopeful but there are no guarantees." responded Burke.
The blonde agent leans forward as she expresses how much this means to her. "I'm counting on you Dr. Burke. He means a lot to me. I love him and we're supposed to be getting married in 6 months."
"I know. General Beckman informed me of your relationship with Chuck and that is why I implore you not tell him anything about it."
A look of confusion appears on Sarah's face upon hearing that. "Don't tell him? Why not?"
"Relationships that are deeply emotional in nature such as you and Chuck can have unpredictable consequences. The shock would be too much for him to take." she answered. "I was informed that he already knows that he works for the C.I.A."
"Yeah. When we got to his room to pick him up for transfer he found his wallet and saw his C.I.A. badge." Sarah stated." He laughed thinking it was a joke and we played it on him but when he saw our reaction he freaked out a bit." she added. "It took a while but he calmed down and told him we were taking him to a facility that would help possibly restore his memory."
"Well do our best Agent Walker." she said.
With Dr. Burke's assurance she would do her best to help Chuck, Sarah could be able to breathe a little easier. Its at this point, Chuck walks up with Wexler and Casey following behind him. "I'm checked in. Place looks nice and I noticed an Xbox when I passed the recreation room so that's cool." he said in a joking manner. "Do spies play Xbox?"
"Some of them do." replied Sarah with a hint of a smile on her face.
"Of course they do Chuck." said Dr. Burke. "You have to watch out for a patient named Karl who is a master at some game called Call of Duty." she added expressing a hint of laughter. "Anyways, General Beckman sent me your file and we'll be working hard together to get your memory back."
"I hope so." replied Chuck.
"I want to ease you back slowly and Agent Casey along with Agent Sarah will have the opportunity to visit every other day if that's okay with you." Dr. Burke stated giving assurance to her new patient.
Chuck turns to look at Sarah and Casey then back to Dr. Burke. "That's fine with me."
"Casey, it's good to see you after all these years." she said to her former partner. Casey simply nods. "Well then…" Dr. Burke stated. "…shall I show you to your room?"
"Okay." he responded back. Chuck looks at Sarah who he notices is smiling at him. "I guess I'll see you around Agent Walker and you too Agent Casey."
Casey once again nods while Sarah verbally responds as he watched Chuck turn around to leave with Dr. Burke. "Yeah. See you around." she said giving slight wave. "I love you." Sarah softly whispered under breathe.
XXX
