A/N: My first try at this but I just had to write something for post show finale. I used the broadcast date (Jan 27) as the date Sarah left Chuck at Echo Park in vs. Sarah and went from there. Hope it makes sense even thought the time line jumps around quite a bit. Had thought this would be a short 2-3000 words but it took on a life of it's own so I had to go back and create chapters. Thought I would start with the first two chapters and then publish one a day or so. Would love to have your reviews if you think it is worth the time and effort. Thanks.
Don't own Chuck, etc., etc.
Friday, June 8, 4:23 pm
After watching Chuck walk out of the courtyard Casey returned to the apartment. Alex and Morgan had not heard all the exchange but could read the body language and both had tears in their eyes at his return. "Listen, I have to go back to Gertrude. We're working an op that has to be finished. As soon as it is done we are both returning and we are getting on top of this situation. You two get him to pull it together and get Carmichael Industries up and running. I know Sarah found offices for us. Get them rented and operational. This can not continue and I am not going to see these past five years end in this disaster. I love you guys and I love those two kids. Now get to work! "
Morgan and Alex just looked at each other with eyes wide. They never thought they would hear the 'L' word from Casey. It appeared that Gertrude was having a profound effect on the big guy. With a group hug Casey departed and Morgan and Alex sat down to make a plan.
Wednesday, July 18, 11:30 am
Morgan and Alex picked up Ellie, Mary and Clara at LAX. On the drive to Westside Medical Center they filled them in on what had happened.
"Chuck found a set of car keys and snuck out. He does that sometimes but only drives down to the the beach."
"Wait," Ellie said, "He took some car keys ... and snuck out?"
"Yeah, we've had to hide them so he wouldn't do something like this. He just stares straight ahead all the time and doesn't pay attention to where he is or where he's going, so we thought it was dangerous for him to be driving. Anyway, he ran a red light at Converse Road and a delivery truck t-boned him. He was still conscious when the ambulance arrived but just kept screaming 'Sarah, Sarah, Sarah'."
"What are his injuries?" Of course Ellie would ask and she was going into her 'doctor mode'. This was necessary so she could be unemotional, or as unemotional as possible. There was such a connection between these two she wasn't sure she could be detached enough to do any medical good. Fortunately, Chuck was already in the best hospital in town and had a fantastic team caring for him.
Alex was the stronger of the two right now because Morgan just saw his best friend in a hospital bed and in a coma. "Broken left leg, broken left arm in two places, lots of cuts from the glass, a collapsed left lung, possible kidney and liver damage, and..." She paused a moment to collect herself before continuing with "...a fractured skull with severe brain swelling."
Mary Bartowski had been playing with Clara in the back seat but with this last statement she gasped and began crying. Ellie reached back to take her hand but was pushed away. "This is all Steven's and my fault. All this spy life has ever brought on us is pain and despair. I always rationalized it and said to myself I was doing it for a greater good and I'm sure your father said the same thing. But we left you two children to fend for yourselves, we weren't there when Chuck was going through getting kicked out of Stanford, and we weren't here to stop the Intersect before it ruined both his and Sarah's life."
"Mom...".
"No, Ellie, don't say anything. We are to blame. I should be doing something to find a way to fix it."
"Mrs. Bartowski, I'm right there with you but there isn't anything we can do for Sarah; we don't even know where she is or how to find her. And Chuck can't be helped until the doctors can work their magic." All eyes fell on Morgan as he said all this. There were still tears in his eyes but also a strength and determination unusual for Morgan. It wasn't the Morgan they were used to seeing and hearing but it was obvious he was becoming a new, more mature man. Alex reached out and took his hand to comfort him as well as show him how proud she was of his right now.
Wednesday, July 18, 2:00 pm
"Dr. Woodcomb, thank you for coming. I know you are Mr. Bartowski's sister but also one of the preeminent neurologists in the country. This is going to be a difficult time and we will appreciate any and all assistance you may give. But we also understand if at times you have to walk away and be the loving sister."
"Thank you Dr. Monchak. What can you tell me?" It would take nearly two hours for the two doctors to pour through the X-Rays, scans, tests and charts. As they progressed, Ellie saw the prognosis was not good but was able to stay in doctor mode throughout the briefing. Then she went to see Chuck for the first time.
Mary Bartowski went directly to Room 519 leaving Clara in the capable hands of Alex. Morgan had left the girls at the hospital to go to the real estate agent's office to start the process of getting the offices rented. Mary was shocked when she entered the room. Chuck was buried in a myriad of tubes, wires and bandages. But she could see enough of him to know that he was a mere shadow of himself from just a few months ago. He had dropped at least 60 pounds, leaving a gaunt, almost unrecognizable shadow laying on the bed. "Oh my God" she gasped with her hands to her mouth and tears coming once again to her eyes. She couldn't really get to him with all the equipment around but was able to take his left hand in both of hers in a fierce grip as tears dropped onto the bedsheets. She twisted the wedding ring on his hand. So much joy such a short time ago. And now all this pain...
She sat there unmoving until Ellie came in with a stern and determined face. She checked all the monitors and the most recent chart entries. Dr. Monchak was behind her but said nothing. "Oh, Chuck. How could this happen to you? Your life was finally moving into a wonderful future and now this. First, Sarah's Intersect problems, her brainwashing and near assassination of us both, her departure and now this accident. I don't understand why this has happened. You're too good a man to deserve all this."
Mary's hand now moved to Ellie's shoulder and they stood there for what seemed like hours just holding each other and Chuck's free hand. "Dr. Woodcomb," Dr. Monchak said quietly. "We need to discuss where we go from here. I think it would be best for Mrs. Bartowski to get some coffee while we talk."
Mary knew that medical tone of voice, nodded briefly and turned to go, "Ellie, I will be in the waiting area. Come tell me what is happening as soon as you can."
Monday, July 16, 3:40 pm
Sarah Walker, CIA agent, stormed out of General Beckman's office. Damn her, she thought. I just got my feet back under me in my spy world and now she wants me to take more time off? Who does she think she is? Go to Paris? Is she kidding me? Too many bad memories there with the red test years ago, then Shaw drugging me in order to kill me and Chuck coming to the rescue on the bridge. Well, I guess that last part is a good memory. Sarah gasped and clutched her chest as the realization hit her: that was a memory of three years ago ... with Chuck. Where did that come from and how and why did it come now? It was the first memory to come to her since she left Burbank. Put it our of your mind, Walker, she thought. That was a lifetime ago and someone that doesn't exist any longer.
Wednesday, July 18, 7:18 pm
Way, way down deep in the unconscious mind of Chuck Bartowski there was an image stirring. The most beautiful girl in the world was standing in front of him smiling the smile that always melts him into a complete puddle of goo. Then, just like the apparitions coming out of the Ark at the end of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, that beautiful face grew black, with fangs and a scream that terrified Chuck. The pain in his heart was truly incomprehensible.
In the hospital room the monitor on Chuck's heart suddenly jumped and warning bells went crazy just like on Star Trek. Doctors and nurses came running and pushed Ellie aside as she was frozen in place with eyes wide and her hands at her mouth. Her logical, medical mind kept trying to get her to take action but her sisterly love was overwhelming. So much for being a doctor in this case. When her brain finally took over, it moved her feet to run from the room and seek out her mother in the waiting area. It was going to be a long vigil.
Thursday, July 19, 10:00 am
It took Sarah two days, with all of the CIA's resources, to track her father down, finally getting a bead on him in Dallas, Texas. She was on the first plane out of D.C. the next morning.
On the plane she reviewed her memories. Actually she did this every night but it never really made any sense. And it always cost her many tears. Then she would berate herself for being so emotional. She had gone more than four months with nothing new coming and now, with one little suggestion from General Beckman ... Diane ... this major memory. The carving on the door jamb of the 'dream home', the Wienerlicious cups, Irene Demova, the feelings of comfort and joy during the one magical kiss. And now Paris. But what led up to the trip to Paris? And what happened after Chuck saved her from Shaw? There was nothing there. Was this real or was her mind playing tricks on her? Can she really find enough memories to renew her love for Chuck? Can she unthaw the cold, hardened spy heart she has once again honed to a razor's edge? Did she actually want to remember and ruin all her hard work to return to the spy world? How could love have ever entered her heart and soul?
Sarah was pretty sure what her dad would tell her but wanted to hear his thoughts anyway. She doubted he knew of her situation so they definitely had some things to catch up on. From Chuck's stories she knew that he had been around a couple of times during her time in Burbank but she didn't remember any of it. Maybe her dad could fill in a couple of gaps there. She pondered how to tell him everything while she sat there unconsciously twisting her wedding rings around and around.
Her flight attendant stopped at one point and whispered, "You must really miss your husband, honey. I always miss mine and find myself playing with my rings, too. Just remember how great it will feel when you are back in his arms!"
Sarah just looked at her and smiled ... smiled through the pain in her heart while wondering what that pain meant and why it was there.
Thursday, July 19, 3:00 am
Ellie was the one constant in Chuck's life. She was there when their mother left, she was there when their father left, and she was there when he came home from Stanford. She had constantly tried, unsuccessfully, to move Chuck on from the Buy More in order to fulfil his potential. Then Sarah entered his life and Ellie saw the amazing change in his whole world. Even through their ups and downs she knew this girl was extra special to him. And she could see it in Sarah as well. Even in Costa Gravis, when they were suppose to be 'broken up', Ellie could see neither had lost that special feeling. There was an amazing connection between them. She didn't know it all started out as a CIA cover but it didn't take long to know Sarah's smile and joy in Chuck's company was genuine.
More images swam through Chuck's unconscious brain and Ellie's always gave comfort even though he didn't know from what. There was a warmth there but it wasn't enough to keep the other painful images from invading periodically. The beautiful blonde woman returned as well, sometimes as a comfort and sometimes as a demon. He just wished he knew why she was there.
Monday, March 12, 8:15 pm
Sarah's nightly searches found her trying to find the keys to her feelings and how they came to so go against all her spy training, not to mention her years with her dad. She had copies of Jeff's video and the wedding video. Because of the Norseman she had never seen the end of Jeff's video. The first time she watched it was one of those otherworldly out-of-body experiences. She had gone to her mother's a little over two weeks after leaving Burbank and they watched it together one night after putting Molly to bed. Sarah's mom was in tears from the first moment. Sarah sat there just as she had when she first watched the mission logs. She recognised the characters in the play but didn't know the story line. Oh, she had heard the stories and accepted them as true but ... who were these people ... how could this have happened to her ... she was so well trained as, first a grifter, and then as a spy. But in the end she sat there, doubled up like she had been punched in the gut not understanding any of it.
"Honey, are you alright?" Sarah's mom, Emma, put her arm around her shoulders and held her tight. Sarah resisted at first but finally melted into her arms. There had been very few moments of togetherness for these two and none in the last five years. Once she brought Molly to her Mom, Sarah was forced to end all contact. And it wasn't like they were close or ever would be. Sarah was a spy. A really, really good spy who's emotions, and any possibility of personal relationships, were pushed down so deeply they would never surface again. Would they? "Do you ever ... just want ...to have a normal life? ...have a family? ...children?" She remembered saying these words to Casey. But when? Why? More pain in her chest and her gasp of realization brought more tears. Emma said nothing but just held her. Sarah finally fell asleep crying in her mother's arms.
Thursday, July 19, 10:12 pm
Ellie, Morgan and Alex left the hospital around 9:00 pm after an exhausting day. Ellie had spent the day watching and assisting the medical team working with Chuck. She also spent a good part of the day designing some new neural tests to run to try to determine how much damage had been done to his brain. He still had the Intersect but the damage from the accident appeared to be pretty extensive. Ellie had no idea how that could be affected by the Intersect ... or TO the Intersect.
"Will you guys come in and talk a bit, please?" Ellie asked Morgan and Alex.
"Sure," they replied together.
Mary Bartowski had come back to the apartment with Clara that afternoon. They had exhausted the entertainment the hospital could offer a one year old. Mary was waiting in the living room when they came in. After Ellie went in and spent some time watching Clara sleep, the four relaxed with some wine. Alex had spent most of the day with Clara at the hospital and it was clear she had thoroughly enjoyed the time but was pretty spent. It looked like she and grandma Bartowski would be sharing the babysitting duties, which both would thoroughly enjoy.
After some general chit-chat plus filling Mary in on Chuck's condition, Ellie asked, "Has anyone contacted Sarah?"
"NO!" Morgan jumped off the sofa with this exclamation, startling the three women. "I refuse to call her and I FORBID any of you to contact her!"
"We've argued about this," Alex said softly. "I think she needs to know but Morgan doesn't."
"You forbid us? Really, Morgan, I will tie you up and stuff you in a closet if you ever say that to me again!"
"Sorry, Mrs. B. but I seriously think this is a mistake. Look, I came to love Sarah as family as much as anyone. And I was always so happy for Chuck to be with her. But she walked out on Chuck and all of us. We loved her, we forgave her and it wasn't enough. She still walked out. She knew this would destroy Chuck and she went anyway."
"But Morgan, she is still his wife. Technically, she is the one who should be making the medical decisions for him. And it is very possible her presence could be the stimulus to get Chuck on the road to recovery." Ellie said all this through tears while remembering both the wonderful times as well as the time when Sarah held her at gunpoint. "Yes, there is pain in our relationship right now but Chuck has to be our first concern." After a bit of hesitation, she added, "And I love and miss her, too. Remember, she is in as much, or more, pain as anyone."
"Thank you, Ellie. I told you she would feel that way Morgan."
"As the ranking spy in the family I know a bit about what both Chuck and Sarah have been through, the good and the bad, and can relate, at least on one level, with what Sarah is going through. I've had to deny my emotions and the love for my family. I've had to make decisions that I knew would hurt my children but had to be made in order to keep them safe and me alive. Sarah has lost five years of her life, a life changing time, one in which she moved from emotionless spy to friend, lover and wife. We have to continue to hold her in our hearts. Chuck needs a reason to live and we all know that is Sarah and only Sarah."
"Fine, fine, fine," Morgan said shaking his head. "She won't come back. I know it. But I will try to call her."
