A/N: When I posted this all I could think is, no one will like it, no one will like it….well…I was wrong. So thank you! Please remember when reading this, this is a world of no love, of depopulation, and then…there's Chuck. Chuck is Chuck, and you know what he's all about. This is not a nice world, it's not even the Terminator world. This is really outside of my comfort zone, but so far you guys seem to like it. Also Steampunk .Chuckster, you are the BEST. She has gone to great lengths to help me flesh out this story. Here's Ch 2, Sins of the Father.

Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, Terminator, or Norse Mythology, but my daughter really wants one of those Thor hammers…


He tossed, turned, and twisted, the images coming through his head like an image on a TV.

"Run!" she screamed.

"They're right behind you," he answered, scrambling as fast as he could.

"Chuck, run!" He ran, he ran as fast and as far as he could, it was only a few hundred yards to the checkpoint. If they could get there, they'd be safe. "CHUCK!" he turned and looked. It had her. It looked him straight in the eye, and it had her. Hands grabbed his shoulders and began to pull him into the vehicle.

"NO! I can't leave her!" he screamed. "I can't-"

Cold water splashed over him making his sit up, sputtering.

"Wha? Where?" he tried to get out.

"You were having a bad dream," came the soft voice. He looked around and saw her. The Valkyrie. A real life angel, as far as he was concerned.

"I was trying to sleep," came the gruff voice from his left, with a bucket in his hand.

"And obviously you thought the appropriate response to my nightmare was a bucket of water," Chuck said, trying to wipe water from his eyes. Casey grunted and left the room. There were two double beds in the room. Casey thought the two should get used to sleeping in the same room, because once they hit the road…Chuck really didn't want to think about that.

"Sorry, I should have woken you, but…" she trailed off.

"No, it's fine," Chuck said. "You never know what someone might do, lashing out wise, in their sleep." Sarah gave him a look.

"That wasn't it," she said, trying to hold back a grin.

"Sarah, I'm really sorry about this," he said.

"You're the one who's wet, not me," she responded.

"No, about the whole fake marriage thing, you know," he said, not sure how to talk about it. She waved it off.

"Oh, that," she said. She didn't say anything else, and Chuck went to find some more clothes, ones that were clean and dry. He changed in the bathroom, came back out, grabbed his pillow, and tossed it on the floor. "What are you doing?" He looked at her.

"My bed's wet, so I need somewhere to sleep," he explained.

"Oh," she said. She looked over at the other side of her bed. "Is the whole bed wet?"

"Yep," he said, trying to get comfortable.

"There's room up here," she said softly. He sat up and looked at her.

"It's okay, I'm good," he said.

"We have to pretend to be married, you're going to have to sleep with me sometime," she replied.

"I've been thinking about that," he said. "We should have you sleep with the baby."

"Why, so I can change the child's diaper?" she asked, in a tone Chuck was not familiar with since he really hadn't had a lot of experience with the opposite sex.

"Diapers?" he said, concern filling his voice. "We'll have to change them, and not with disposables either. We'll have to wash them."

"Calm down," Sarah said, not believing what a wuss this guy was.

"No, I'll have to wash them," he said. She looked at him. "It's only fair, you got dragged into this."

"Are you for real?" she asked, not believing what she was hearing. "Besides, I will not be a child's mother, pretend or otherwise and not do my fair share of changing and cleaning diapers!" Chuck saw the challenge in her eyes, and decided to keep his mouth shut. "Now about this grand idea of you not sleeping with me?"

"I just thought it would give you and the baby some room," he said.

"So the baby can roll out of bed on the side an adult is not sleeping on?" she asked.

"Oh," Chuck said. "I hadn't thought of that," he admitted. Sarah nodded. She watched him for a second. "What?"

"Get. Up. Here." She said. Chuck decided it was best not to upset his wife, even though they really weren't married. But they were. But they weren't. But they were. His head hurt, so he crawled into bed, hugging the furthest spot in the bed, to give her plenty of room. "Good night, Chuck," she said.

"Good night….Sarah," Chuck replied. She didn't say anything, but Chuck felt like some of the tension left the room.

}o{

Daylight poured in the room and Casey walked in ready to yell at them to wake up. He paused as he noticed the two in bed together. He looked hard, because he was having real trouble figuring out where one began and the other ended. Valkyrie appeared to be on top of the kid. Casey thought about waking them, thought better of it, and left. Another hour passed and Chuck began to stir.

He felt warm, and cozy. He looked down to see the mess of blonde hair on his chest and shut his eyes, content. His brain rebooted and he realized what was going on. His eyes snapped open and he stopped breathing.

"Eventually you'll pass out," the mumble came from below him.

"Just practicing holding my breath for the next time I go swimming," Chuck said. He watched as the head slowly lifted, turned, and looked at him.

"You know, it would be helpful when you tell these little stories if you put a little thought behind them," Sarah said. "That way they wouldn't be quite so easy to pick apart."

"How do you know that's not the truth?" he asked. She raised an eyebrow and just stared at him. "Are you implying that I'm uncomfortable right now?" he asked as his voice raised just a hair of an octave. "Because I'm totally comfortable on my end." Sarah grinned, bounced her shoulder, turned her head, and laid back down. Chuck gulped.

"See what I mean?" she asked.

"In all fairness, I was trying to be a gentleman," Chuck said.

"I'm not really concerned about a gentleman right now, what I am concerned with is a pillow," she retorted.

"That's all I am to you, huh?" he asked, grinning. He could feel Sarah fighting a chuckle.

"You've gotten funnier," she said. "You're also my husband. I figure at some point you need to appear to comfortable to be around me."

"So this was training?" he asked.

"If that's what you need it to be," she replied. She stretched against him. About halfway through her stretch she realized he had quit breathing again. "Breathe," she said softly.

"You're going to be the death of me," he said.

"Better me than one of those machines," she said somberly.

"When I'm gone I want you to find someone else," he said. She turned to look, fighting laughter. A grin covered his face.

"Okay," she said, grinning. "Do you me to wait a specific amount of time?"

"Whatever you feel is reasonable," he replied. "But not Hogun, I don't think he appreciate your skills." Sarah laughed out loud at that one. "Told you I was funny.

}o{

The three were eating breakfast, in the back corner of the restaurant. Chuck sat by Valkyrie, thinking about how hard the journey was going to be. He felt someone behind him rather than heard him.

"How about you come with me, honey," the man said. Sarah was facing Casey.

"I've always wanted to do this," she said. She raised her left hand, with only her ring finger extended, the ring glinting in the sunlight.

"That was subtle," Chuck said, grinning. Sarah grinned back at him.

"I've never been accused of it," she replied.

"My apologies sir," the man said. Chuck nodded. "Would 1,000 credits for an hour make it worth your while." Chuck about choked on his drink. Sarah started to say something but he held up his hand. She remembered their cover and nodded.

"I don't know who you are, but no, there is no amount of money that is worth-" Chuck began.

"She's pure," Casey said cutting in. Chuck glanced at Casey, confused.

"My apologies," the man said, and left.

"Moron," Casey said quietly. "There's no love out here, 1,000 credits is a perfectly acceptable offer for any normal husband." Chuck looked at Sarah, and shook his head.

"I'm sorry, I could never," he began and couldn't finish.

"Thank you," Sarah said softly. "I appreciate what you tried to do, but getting us killed over protecting my integrity isn't worth it."

"So a husband would let you go for that?" he asked.

"Yes, but with Casey saying I'm pure, then that makes you out to be someone of wealth or importance, so we have to be careful with that, or someone could attack you," she replied. Chuck shook his head.

"Well, it's obvious I can never be married to you," Chuck said. Sarah gave him a look, but inside she was surprised at how much it hurt. "Because I would never let anyone have you for any amount of money." Sarah had things in her flutter and flop she didn't even know she had. She stared at him, so confused at what she was feeling.

"Let's just hope the rings are enough, and let me and Casey handle anyone that tries to approach me, okay?" she asked, barely trusting her voice. Chuck looked at her, like he wanted to argue, but he didn't say anything. "What?"

"I was also gonna ask what was he going to do with the other 59 minutes," Chuck said, not looking at her. Sarah laughed, loudly at that one.

"You are funny," she said.

}o{

The three stood in the governor's office, looking at a map. They were trying to strategize the best way to get to Heaven, taking the least amount of time.

"I've gotten you rail passage through the east Badlands from Washington, D.C. through what's left of Bowling Green, KY, on to Fayetteville, AR," the governor said.

"Governor!" Casey protested. "Fayetteville is one of the biggest hotspots for the machines!"

"While that may be true it is the shortest route through the wasteland, and remember you'll be carrying a baby," the governor replied. "From there to Stillwater, OK is just under 190 miles. You'll be doing that on foot. With a civilian, and a baby. The most you can hope for is 40 miles a day."

"More like 30," Sarah said. She looked up at Casey. "Having to dodge patrols, possibly double back, and not being able to take a straight route, we'll be lucky to only be out there a week." She looked over and Chuck had his hand raised. "Yes, Chuck?"

"Badlands?" he asked. Sarah nodded.

"Most everyone refers to the 6 machine control districts as the Wastelands, but that's not exactly true," Sarah answered. "From Washington to Fayetteville, we would travel through the Badlands, which are lawless for the most part. There's a chance the train we travel on might be robbed, but it will at least give us some protection, some cover from the elements, and we'll actually have a private room and the baby can probably have the crib."

"I get my own room, right?" Casey asked. The governor nodded.

"When we get to the actual Wastelands…well, it's strange there. No one is quite sure what the machines have done, but they are more concentrated there, the earth has funny things happening to it, and the weather is messed up, is the best way to put it," Sarah explained. "Once we past Stillwater, we're in the Western Badlands, same as the eastern, just in another part of the country."

"Frigga should have you some transportation on a train out of Stillwater, and supplies for the baby," the governor explained. "Your biggest challenge will be the Wastelands. You'll get off at Bowling Green, restock, and stay the night there. If all goes well, it will take you two weeks."

"What if we take too long in the Wastelands and miss our train in Stillwater?" Chuck asked.

"You'll have a ticket for anytime," Beckman answered. "I suggest you two get some sleep tonight," she said looking at Chuck and Sarah. "This is the last time you'll have a quiet night until you get to Heaven."

"Unless Bartowski's girlish screams wake us up again," Casey said.

"Quit offending girls, Casey," Sarah said, shoulder bumping Chuck where the governor didn't notice. Chuck stuck his tongue out at her.

"I've had to give the safehouse to another team, tonight you'll be in a hotel room, Hogun, you're by yourself," the governor said. "Mr. and Mrs. Bartowski…" she couldn't finish the sentence from grinning.

"Our last night alone, Charles," Sarah said with a Southern Belle voice. "Whatever shall we do?" she asked taking the key from the governor. The governor was fighting a laugh.

"I hope to see you all back here one day," the governor said stoically.

"Group hug," Chuck said opening his arms. Casey grunted and left. Sarah raised an eyebrow, shook her head and left. Chuck turned to the governor who had an eyebrow raised and pointed to the door. "You're gonna be sorry if you never see me again."

"Are you sure?" Beckman asked. Chuck nodded.

"Wait up, Honey!" Chuck yelled hurrying after Sarah. Beckman watched them go, sure she'd never see Chuck Bartowski again.

}o{

Chuck and Sarah were in their hotel room. Sarah was going over the train schedule with Chuck.

"So from DC to Hendsonville, TN then to Bowling Green, KY. There we'll stay the night at a hotel and take off the next morning," she explained.

"Why?" he asked.

"It lowers the chance of the train being robbed if it's not running as much at night," she explained. Chuck's face went a little pale and he just nodded. She continued. "From Bowling Green to Hopkinsville, KY to North Little Rock, AR, and then finally to Fayetteville, AR."

"Okay, I understand," he said. They sat there quietly for a second. "Would it help to talk about it?"

"It's not you," she said softly. Chuck nodded, keeping his mouth shut. "I don't think you would ever would try anything, and God knows I know more ways to kill you than you really want to know." Chuck kept listening. "I'm an agent. I'm the Valkyrie. I have a job as a killing machine. I don't love. I don't have feelings. I don't do anything but destroy what I'm pointed at." She was quiet for a minute.

"You don't know how to do this, and it scares you?" Chuck asked. She nodded.

"I know it's a cover, but out there…don't you get it, I have to trust you, and I don't know how to trust anyone," she was close to tears.

"But you have to trust Casey to watch your back," Chuck said, trying to understand. Sarah nodded.

"An agent who's been trained," she said. "I have to trust you, a civilian. You have no training, I've had no training in this. I mean, you're a good person…at least everything tells me you are."

"I'm not," he said softly. She looked at him. He was looking at the floor. "My father, he was Orion." Sarah stared at him, in shock. "My father created this hellhole and you're right not to trust me, because there will come a point that I'll screw something up."

"You didn't do what he did," Sarah said.

"I was standing right there when it happened," Chuck said. "I was standing there when he activated it, and it started to take over the internet. He made me run and get my sister, and protect her." He gulped back the tears. "And then I didn't protect her," he whispered hoarsely. "They took her, and left me, and I hid for the next two years, working with Doc Awesome, until he was going to lose people. I knew it wanted me. It wanted to use my mind like it has all those others that are good with computers. I know it wants to take us out so that we aren't a threat to it. I know I'm being given to Frigga and I'm going to be sacrificed to the machines, and I'm okay with it. My family caused this hell to happen, and I should be the one to pay. So, Sarah, don't trust me. Don't put your safety in my hands, because my family, we fail." Sarah looked at him. He was nearly broken, crying. She looked at her ring. A wife would comfort. Valkyries didn't comfort. They punched things, fought things, destroyed things, and did it all while smiling. She couldn't be what he needed. That's why she was so shocked to see herself take his hand.

"I'll protect you," she heard herself say. "Frigga won't sacrifice you."

"You have a job, Valkyrie, you have to turn me over, and it's okay," he said. She squeezed his hand and looked at him.

"Why do you trust me?" she asked.

"Because you'll tell me the truth, no matter how bad it is," he answered. "You really were sorry to shoot me." She let go of his hand, and got into bed.

"We've got a long day tomorrow," she said. Chuck nodded, and got on the far side of the bed. She just looked at him, shrugged, and came over to his side to hold him.

"Cover?" he croaked. She shook her head. "Warmth?"

"How can I protect you if I don't know where you are?" she asked. A few minutes later she fell asleep. He was sure he wouldn't all night. Minutes later he was.


A/N: So there you have it, Stephen Bartowski screwed around and created Skynet, or this version of it. This dream was wild guys, and it continued on a bit last night as well. I know the big broad strokes of this story, I just have to figure out the small details, and I'm trying. I'm stunned at how much you all have enjoyed this. If it's too dark and you need some fluff, I hear that Sarah vs The Life Unexpected is pretty good. 😊 Take care guys, til next time.