Chuck vs. The Moment Of Truth
Well, here's my new story folks. This story will mainly involve Shaw concerning his past with his late wife Eve. It will center around their first meeting, their parntership, their eventual feelings for one another, and everything in between leading to him finding out the truth of what really happened to her. There will also be some Charah moments because Ellie is 9 months pregnant so she could give birth any moment so that mixed with this story. Anyways, feedback is welcome and appreciated.
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.
How It All Began
XXX
Casa Woodcomb
Echo Park, CA
September 15th, 2010 6:39 p.m.
Three weeks have past since Shaw revealed to Sarah that his wife Evelyn Shaw died as a result of being killed by a Ring agent. Once she informed the rest of the team of what she learned it ultimately shed new light on to the mindset of their esteemed team leader concerning his mission to take down The Ring once and for all. However, they didn't dwell on it as more important situation at hand needed to be attended to.
The situation at hand didn't involve missions or The Ring for that matter. As a matter of fact, it has been relatively quiet when it came any potential threats to national security or activities concerning the organization that has been a headache for the team for nearly 3 months.
True, it is cause for concern but the down time is considered a welcomed change as they are given the opportunity to focus on a situation that needed attention…Ellie giving birth at any moment. The youngest Bartoski sibling heavily relied on his burly teammate Colonel John Casey to keep a watchful eye on his sister when he left for his honeymoon 3 months ago.
When it comes to his brother-in-law Devon, he knows he is always by her side tending to her every possibly emotional, mental, and physical need but that wasn't why he needed him. To him, he considered the veteran NSA agent calm under extreme pressure and would sorely need his assistance if Elli suddenly went into labor.
As much as his brother-in-law relied on his seemingly awesome well thought out fool proof plan to get to the hospital quickly, Chuck put his reliance in the grizzled government agent to see to it that the fool proof plan be made absolutely fool proof. In his mind, the former nerd herd leader witnessed his awesome brother-in-law freak out several times in the past after Ellie thought she was going into labor only to return later from the hospital experiencing either indigestion or false labor pains.
It wasn't just her and Chuck that would be on a heightened state of alert, as the rest of the gang would be as well. Alex, Morgan, Jayne, Isabel, Rusty, Shannon, and Travis would be at the ready to quickly drop everything in order to be at the hospital once the moment of truth happens for the mother and father-to-be.
In the meantime, the proud parents-to-be are having dinner at their house with Chuck and Sarah. It would only be just the 4 of them as they share family time together. Granted, the married couples Woodcomb and Bartowski have spent an inordinate amount of time together but in Ellie's mind she wouldn't to have one last get together before they are busy taking care of their daughter.
"Are you guys excited?" asked Sarah sitting comfortably on her husband's lap.
"Excited isn't the exactly the word I'm thinking of." replies Ellie resting her hands on her bulging stomach. "Anxious is more like it." she addrf reaching over with her right hand rubbing her husband's right thigh.
As Chuck is sitting there with his beautiful wife on his lap, he can see on her older sister's face the combination of fatigue, frustration, crankiness, anxiousness, and of course every emotion in between concerning her pregnancy. He couldn't even fathom how it felt being pregnant but if it was anything like the movie Junior starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito then he truly felt her pain he thinks to himself.
He shook his head a bit as a sudden mental images of Devon, Travis, Morgan, himself, and even Casey as expectant fathers popped into his head. The brown haired business man wouldn't last one minute if he were pregnant and neither would Awesome, Travis, or Morgan for that matter knowing his indignation for pain. Chuck knows his best friend and he would want to be completely knocked out when it happens.
A hint of a grin appears on his face when the image of a pregnant Casey comes to his mind. He can only imagine if he went into labor that instead of doing deep breathing expresses he would just continually grunt until he gave birth. However, in this case they would to a c-section for a man and the thought of giving birth the way natural way causes him to grimace just even thinking about it.
His thought's concerning male pregnancy is abruptly ended when his feels himself being shaken by his wife. Chuck peers up at his wife's angelic face expressing a grin.
"What's up babe?"
"Elli has been asking you question sweetie." she said looking into his eyes and gently rubbing the back of his neck.
"Sorry…" he responded turning his attention from Sarah to his big sister. "…I guess I was zoning out for a second there." added Chuck expressing a sheepish smile.
"What were thinking about bro?" inquired Devon. "I noticed you had a grin on your face."
The question he poses causes Sarah and Ellie to turn their attention to him. As much as he wants to share his thoughts on guy pregnancies he quickly thinks of something else to respond with to his awesome brother-in-law.
"How I'm going to be an awesome uncle to my niece Clara." he firmly stated.
"Yes you are." replied Sarah leaning in gently pressing his lips against her husbands.
Afterwards, the happy couple their attention back to Devon and Ellie who are just smiling at that. They briefly turn to look at each other and then return their attention to the expectant parents.
"What?" wondered Chuck raising his eyebrows.
"So when are you two having kids?" asked the elder Bartowski. "It's never too early to start." Ellie firmly added with a wide smile.
"Yeah guys…" Devon chimed in. "…it's time get the juices flowing."
Chuck eyes widen and eyebrows immediately raise upon hearing that from his brother-in-law. "My juices will be flowing…" he quickly replied. "…when Sarah and I are ready Devon." added the business owner turning his head to face his wife.
His response leads Sarah to lean in one more time to give him a kiss. As the couple continue kissing, the image of the happy couple is suddenly on a computer screen. The computer screen belongs to Daniel Shaw who is sitting behind his desk in his office. He has been monitoring what has been going on at Casa Woodcomb. After a brief moment, he opens his desk drawer taking out the white envelope he took from the lock box containing intel on The Ring.
The Special Agent of the C.I.A., takes out his wife's wedding ring staring at it then turns his eyes to his computer screen where he witnesses Chuck and Sarah happily interacting with their family. It's at that point, Shaw put the wedding ring back in the white envelope setting it on his desk in front of him. He then reaches into his right pants pocket and takes out an item. Afterwards he holds it up at eye level and the item in question is his wedding band.
To him, it has been five years since he was worn it and now after much consideration he decided keep her memory alive. He places the wedding band on the ring finger of his left hand and then flexes it in order to get the familiar feeling back he once had when he wore it. As he twists the wedding band on his ring finger, he turns his eyes to Chuck and Sarah once again. It's at that point, his thoughts turn to his beautiful wife Eve Shaw.
XXX
C.I.A. Headquarters - DIrector Langston Graham's Office
Washington, D.C.
August 9, 1998 9:39 a.m.
"Congratulations Agent Shaw on passing your red test." he gruffly said. "Were there any complications?" he added.
Shaw sits across from his boss as calm as can be in front a man who has a reputation for being a hardass back at The Farm. Though he didn't get personally acquainted with the seemingly intimidating figurehead of the C.I.A., he knew friends in the academy who did and he put pretty much put the fear of God into them. His thought's concerning his teaching tactics subside as he responds to his superior.
"No problem sir." firmly replied Shaw. He is dressed in a dark suit, tie, and dress shoes with his identification hanging from his left front pocket. "I eliminated the target as ordered." he added.
"Excellent. Then you are ready." Graham said with a hint of a smirk on his face.
"Ready and willing sir." nodded the eager fresh out of the box C.I.A. agent.
"You're first assignment Agent Shaw..." firmly stated Graham eyeing his new agent. "…Rome, Italy. You will be posing as a independently wealthy young ex-patriot. Your jet setting lifestyle and influential associates won't draw attention." he added. "This is where you will be staying."
Graham hands him an open file with several photos of a rather extravagant mansion attached to it. He briefly scans the photo and then turns his attention back to the veteran C.I.A. Director who continues on with what he has to say.
"You will afforded the accoutrements that go with it." stated Graham. "Cars, clothes, and a yearly stipend."
Being a spy has it perks he thinks to himself. As much as he will thoroughly enjoy delving into his new persona as an independently wealthy young ex-patriot with all the amenities at his disposal, he knows that he's there to do a job. True, there is a possibility that he may get caught up in lifestyle he's been given but what a life to get caught up knowing that it's on the government's dime.
In that instance, he wants to smile, but restrains himself from doing so. He doesn't want to give Graham the wrong impression that he's in the spy game just to live like a rich playboy. To him, he's in it to make a difference not just for himself but for the people he cares about likes his friends and family. It those people who he's fighting the good fight for so they can feel absolute safe even without knowing they're in actual danger.
In his mind, all his training has lead up to this moment and he will do it to the best of his ability. He took an oath to protect his country along with all its citizens by any means necessary and do it for the greater the good.
"When do I leave for Rome sir?" inquired Shaw.
"12:00 Hrs." replied the C.I.A. Director.
"I'll make preparations and leave for the airport as soon as possible." he said pushing himself out of his chair.
Shaw is halfway out of his chair when Graham immediately chimes in. "You're not going in alone." he firmly stated.
A look of curiosity appears on his face as he says that. "Sir?" responded Shaw furrowing his eyebrows at his boss sitting across from him behind the desk.
He sits there wondering who will be joining him on his first mission in Rome. Granted, he would rather fly solo on this mission but to have someone as back up or possibly as an assistant is considered very helpful. To him a female agent can certainly complicate things but he is dead set on not mixing business with pleasure. He's heard of agents in the past being killed because they weren't focused because they let their emotions for their partner compromise them.
Whoever he is teamed up with, she'll immediately be apprised of the rules he thinks to himself. His attention is abruptly broken when Graham receives a phone call. He picks it up and after a few seconds he tells his secretary to second him in.
"Agent Shaw…" he said standing up button his suit jacket. Shaw takes the same cue and stands as well. When he does, the door opens behind him to where he turns around seeing a female agent step walk in though the door. "…I would like you to meet your new partner Agent Evelyn Reinhart."
XXX
Dulles International Airport
Washington D.C.
August 9, 1998 11:35 a.m.
"Let's lay the ground rules here Reinhart." Shaw firmly stated with exuding an ere of arrogant confidence to his partner sitting across from him. "We are strictly professional is that clear." he emphatically added holding a cup of star bucks coffee in his left hand.
After being introduced to each other a few hours ago, the two headed to the airport. They checked in for their flight, went through the routine of being checked at security, and found the gate where they would depart from. Since they had an hour to kill, they went to a nearby café ordering coffee and since he's a gentlemen he offered to pay for hers to which she obliged at the generous gesture. Once they got it, they found a vacant to sit at with luggage in tow.
"I know the rules Shaw." she replied back crossing her arm with her cup of coffee sitting on the table in front of her. "Agents do not fall in love." added Eve.
"Affirmative." he responded. "Just keep that in mind unless you want to end up dead." he added eyeing the dark haired woman.
As he's sitting there, he can't help but notice the color of her eyes. They are considered to him an absolutely captivating greenish hue to them. In his mind, any guy would most definitely get lost in them if they were remotely interested in establishing a relationship with her. Unfortunately, they would have to contend with her stubbornness and albeit icy outer exterior.
"You don't have to remind me. Besides, you're the one who brought up the subject first." she retorted back picking up her cup of coffee and takes a sip. "I'm just saying." she added shrugging her shoulders.
"What the hell does that supposes to mean?" he quickly responded narrowing his eyes at her.
"It means…" she said leaning forward placing both arms on the table. "…you could end up compromising yourself because you're too focused on me than on the job." added Eve.
Shaw turns rolling his eyes and shaking his head. As he does he makes a quick hissing sound in order to show her absurd that sounds to him. He gives a sideways glance to Reinhart who quirks her right brow at him. The brief silence he gives would soon be broken as he fully faces her in order to respond.
"Please…you're pretty high on yourself aren't you."
"Look, you want to check out my ass now so we can get this over with." she said pursing her lips together with a slight tilt of her head to the right.
God she's irritating! The newly appointed agent of the C.I.A. can clearly tell that they were going to be butting heads. In his mind, he wonders if the man upstairs is punishing for something he did wrong. Granted, he is all for equality in the workplace but in his mind no man should suffer this kind of inhumane torture unless he wants to know what it's like to be married.
"I already checked it out and trust me…" he said crossing his arms tilting his head slightly to the left as if pointing to her ass. "…it's not that impressive." whispered Shaw leaning forward.
In that instance, Eve responds by shaking her head expressing a smile of disbelief. When she does, Shaw finds another thing about her that simply captivates him. The combination of her eyes and smile are truly considered a deadly combo. Damn it he thinks to himself. In that moment, he wonders why he couldn't have a male partner. At least with a male partner you hardly talk to each other and keep to yourself.
"What is wrong with you Shaw?" asked Eve.
Shaw is silent as he leans back in his seat briefly scanning the fairly occupied airport café. He shakes his head in disbelief. "Boy are you a piece of work Reinhart." he said.
"Look, I just want to have a fair shake." she said. "This business is pretty much a boy's club so I have to work twice as hard to have gotten where I am." added the green eyed beauty tapping her finger several times on the table in front of her.
The hard stare he has been sending her softened. He briefly peers down know that he has been an ass to her and she really didn't deserve it. For the most part, he feels a bit threatened by the fact that Agent Evelyn Reinhart is an outstanding agent. She has to be because the percentage of woman who actually make it as agents roughly round out to at least 15%.
He truly had to hand it to his new partner for getting through the Farm because they push a person testing him or her to the limit physically, emotionally, and most definitely mentally. To him, she is truly capable of handling anything that lies ahead of her when it comes to being a spy. Of course, he's not going to say that to her face and instead gives her something to that effect.
"I'm only busting your chops because this business can eat a even the most experienced hardened agent up." he states. "Are you prepared to have this be your whole life?" asked the dark haired agent.
"Are you?" she retorted.
Shaw nods. "Damn right I am." he emphatically stated. His response, causes Eve to express a smile. Damn there's that smile again he thinks to himself. However, he plays it off and speaks up. "What are you smiling about?" asked Shaw.
"Hey, at least we agree on something."
"I guess so." he replied with a tight lipped smile.
Upon saying that, the two agents hear an announcement that their flight to Rome, Italy will be boarding in five minutes. It's at that point, Shaw and Reinhart finish their coffee then head to their gate with luggage in tow.
XXX
Castle
Santa Monica, CA
September 15th, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Shaw continues to sit behind his desk fiddling with his wedding band. A hint of a smile appears in the corner of his mouth as he remembers the flight they both shared towards their intended destiation Rome, Italy. They both argued on who would be getting the window seat until they both realized they'd be sitting in first class. It's at that point, they just enjoyed themselves as they experienced first class treatment.
While they enjoyed the comforts of first class, they talked but so much of their personal lives because neither of them wanted to know anything that cause them to be emotionally attached to each other. Instead they focused on their experience at The Farm and what both of them considered the hardest test they faced during their time there because a potential agent can quickly fail in an instant.
When it came to Eve hardest experience she shared with him how it was difficult for her were the field training exercises. She recalls tell him it would be up to her to establish whether or not it was a test scenario or actually real. To her, the mental aspect of the exercises were considered the toughest challenge she faced during her time at The Farm.
The difficulty in being placed in a created alternate reality type setting is trying to figure out how to spot people who were potential recruits, assess their personality, and use their weaknesses, if any, against them in order to convince the individual to spy for the United States. Essentially, she had to learn how to be manipulative and they put as much pressure on her as they possibly can to have her achieve that goal.
It was considered to her something she truly hated at the time. However, his partner at the time told her that she learned to appreciated later as if she was being hazed into a fraternity or sorority. The process she went through would go with little or no sleep at all leaving her exhausted as she worked 24/7. Yet, in spit of that, it made her even more determined to prove to herself that she belonged there.
In his own experience, they want to see how much a potential agent can handle when they're state side combined what you can handle in training determines if he or she can handle what one can handle overseas. One example she shared with him was during her paramilitary training where they made a fake prison camp situation where she wasn't tortured but was put under a tremendous deal of dourest or stress.
The point of the exercise was to see who would break and who wouldn't. Even told him that she came close to breaking because the exercise was considered absolutely grueling in not only in a mental sense, but an emotional sense as well. However, it wasn't so much physically grueling due to the fact she was able to pass the training course aspect in fitness involving running.
To listen to her speak about her experience concerning that particular aspect of her training with respect and admiration for her instructors put a smile on his face. It showed her what she could possibly endure if they were captured overseas to the point where she would have to defend her cover story possibly on a consistent basis. After sharing her difficult experience with him, he shared his with her.
It mainly consisted of his physical skills. He learned anyone who could not pass the army physical fitness test was actually not allowed to do the paramilitary training. Yet, didn't necessarily mean he would get kicked out of the program. Unfortunately if he failed, there was a kind of stigma attached to that, if you were physically unable to do it. He remembers her telling Eve how the instructors made sure that everybody knew it, and so there was a stigma.
He, along with everybody else really worked hard to be able to achieve the physical level that was expected of them. True, he did see a few recruits get cut from the CIA training program after making mistakes during the trade craft aspects of it. He shared with that even the CIA realizes that the physical element, while important personally, isn't really going to have a great impact from your job the trade craft aspect must be passed. Otherwise, you're be cut from the program.
Before the two of them sharing their experiences at The Farm, the nearly 9 Hour flight from Washington D.C. To Rome Italy breezed by. His thoughts concerning the first meeting between him and wife fade. His attention would return to the back to the computer screen where he watches the interaction between his two married subordinates on the screen.
He watches as Chuck sits on the floor massages her right foot while Sarah is behind him massaging his shoulders. After watching for a few more seconds, he punches a few keys on his keyboard turning off the feed to his computer screen. He then reaches opening his desk drawer placing the white envelope back in and then closes it back up. It's at that point, he gently touches his wedding on his ring finger and then get up heading out of his office but before he does shuts off the lights.
XXX
NOTE: SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? I WANTED TO DELVE MORE INTO SHAW'S PAST IN REGARDS TO HIS WIFE. I WANTED TO EXPLORE THE ASPECTS OF THE RELATIONSHIP.