Happy Valentine's Day! Sorry about the long hold up with this chapter, I've moved and was busy unpacking! Enjoy!
Chapter 4: Over Dinner
Chuck stood before the mirror and adjusted his tie. Then he adjusted it again. Had his neck gotten thicker? Or maybe he was just sick of ties, for he felt like it was strangling him! Maybe it was time to move to clip-ons. He assessed his outfit; a sleek black jacket and light blue shirt and shoes that felt like lead weights. He eyed the clock. Sarah would be knocking on that door in less than five minutes. He felt himself sweating again. He never used to sweat when it came to Sarah, only if her life or Casey's life, or his loved one's lives, or his own were in danger… how much longer could this go on?
"Chuck," Someone called behind him.
Chuck gave a yelp and turned, clutching his heart. Why did people have to insist on sneaking up on him? What was the big deal with knocking? Chuck turned and found Awesome in his threshold, looking fabulous as always, not a hair out of place. His blue eyes assessed Chuck's outfit.
"Lookin' sharp, bro." Awesome dusted Chuck's shoulders. "You and Sarah going somewhere fancy?"
"Yeah, a restaurant in San Diego."
"Nice!" Awesome exclaimed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Fancy digs are always a great way to show you care."
There was a brief sound of footsteps and Ellie's face appeared in the doorway. "Chuck, Sarah's here."
Chuck gulped again. He didn't even hear a knock on the door! How could he have not heard that? Would he hear the cock of a gun if she decided to point one at him. "I'll be right there." He stammered. You let her in here? You just let a killer in the front door? How could she have let Sarah in without telling him first? But then he remembered, to she and Captain Awesome, Sarah was just an outrageously pretty, sweet yogurt girl who had fallen under Chuck's spell.
"Are you alright?" Ellie asked, her eyes already alight with concern. Chuck knew that Ellie always worried about him, and before the events of last Christmas, he thought she was being overprotective. But if only she knew… No, I'm not okay, Ellie, I'm going out to dinner with Shooty McGee! Now, don't worry, you know her, it's Sarah! Don't act so shocked. It's always the pretty ones.
"Fine," He lied and gave a small smile.
"Well, don't keep Sarah waiting." She said, giving him a smile before disappearing down the hall.
"Good night!" He called.
"'Night!" Came her distant reply.
Chuck turned back to the mirror. Awesome was still grinning at him. Shoot me…
"You look awesome, bro." Awesome said and clapped him on the back again.
Chuck gave a smile. "Thanks. I better go get Sarah."
Awesome moved aside and ushered him with a big hand gesture.
Chuck walked down the short hallway to the living room and stopped dead in his tracks. Sarah sat on the couch, her legs crossed, and her arms resting against the pillows. She wore a lavender dress with a scoop neckline and spaghetti straps that was so enticingly seductive, it left little to the imagination. Her blue eyes sparkled as they greeted him, her full lips spreading into a grin. "You've kept me waiting."
Again, Chuck gulped. "Sorry."
Sarah was on her feet in no time, and heading to the door. "Do you have the directions?"
Chuck nodded. The Mapquest print out felt like a bomb in his pocket.
"Good night, Ellie, Devon!" Sarah called over her shoulder.
"Night guys!" Chuck added.
There was a faint chorus of goodbye from somewhere in the apartment.
Chuck and Sarah stood staring at each other.
"So, do you want to go?" Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, right." Chuck said, finally willing his feet to move. He grabbed the door and followed her out into the night.
The Martini Olive turned out to be a happening restaurant/night club, as Chuck soon found out. He pulled the Nerd Herder in front of a big building that had a flashing neon sign of an olive being speared by a toothpick. Somehow Chuck found it hypnotizing. He watched over and over as the toothpick penetrated the olive, imagining a squishing sound. There was a line of customers waiting to get in, and an amused valet knocked on his window. Chuck looked over and Sarah was already out of the car. She was on the sidewalk, staring at him. Chuck got out and handed the keys to the valet. "Don't scratch the paint," Chuck joked nervously.
The valet didn't even look at him. He handed Chuck a ticket and drove off. Now Chuck was really stranded. He stared at Sarah. She held her hand out to him. How he wanted to take it and go off into the sunset with her. But he knew the truth now. He knew how merciless she was. He knew that she must have killed people before, of course, that was part of the job. But an unarmed man?
"Chuck?" Sarah asked.
How long had he been having a private monologue?
His eyes focused. She was right in front of him, and grabbed his hand, towing him to the sidewalk. "You're standing in the street." She said, irritated.
"Sorry," He replied. Automatically, he went to go stand at the back of the line, but she grabbed his hand again. "We're on the list."
"What list?" He asked. He had to jog with her to the front of the line, where a big bouncer stood next to a smaller man with a clip board and an earpiece. The Bouncer eyed Chuck like he was a worm under his boot. Chuck grinned up at him nervously. The smaller man babbled into his headset, and then appraised Sarah.
"Reservations for Dr. and Mrs. Cullen," Sarah told the smaller man. She had one eye on Chuck, apparently trying to tell him to relax and play it cool. Chuck cleared his throat and straightened his tie.
The man with the clipboard grinned at Sarah, and then looked for their names. "Cullen… ah, yes, you may go in, Heidi at the stand inside will seat you." He waved them forward.
The Bouncer scowled at Chuck, but moved aside so the two could pass.
It was a happening party inside The Martini Olive. Bright lights flashed above a wide dance floor, and tunes blared from invisible speakers. A young girl with soft brown hair stood with a headset in front of a hostess station. "Dr. and Mrs. Cullen?" She asked, a wide smile spreading over her face. Apparently, this was Heidi.
Chuck nodded. "Doctor Isaiah Cullen." He added suavely. Hell, if he was a doctor, might as well ham it up.
Sarah elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a warning glare. Seems she didn't like his add-ons.
Heidi smiled, "Right this way." She led Sarah and Chuck through a threshold away from the dance floor. It appeared that The Martini Olive was split in two. On this side of the building, there were booths and tables and candle light. A bar ran the whole length of the back wall. The blaring music was all but non existent. Chuck and Sarah passed a few couples at the candlelit tables, and Heidi stopped before a small vacant square table.
"Is this to your liking?" Heidi asked.
"It's perfect, thank you." Sarah told her.
Heidi smiled and disappeared.
Chuck went to Sarah's chair and held it out for her. She sat in it lightly, and Chuck took the chair across from her.
"Keep an eye out." Sarah whispered. "Did you check the bar on the way in?"
Chuck gave a nod. "I glanced at it. Nothing."
A few minutes later, Casey appeared, dressed in waiter attire and handed each of them a menu. "Good evening, I'm Scott. Can I start you two off with beverages?"
Chuck took in Casey's waiter attire; the navy jacket, his slick back hair, and the little white bowtie. He couldn't help a grin spread over his face.
"Bring us a bottle of Chianti, please." Sarah said with a smile.
"Very good, ma'am." Casey said. He scowled so deeply at Chuck that a small grunt escaped his lips, and then he departed.
Chuck and Sarah sat in silence.
It was a little unnerving for him to be alone with her now, even in the company of all these witnesses. He didn't know that his fake girlfriend would turn out to be an axe murderer, after all.
"It's really pretty in here, isn't it?" She asked after awhile.
Chuck gave a nod. "The Martini Olive does not disappoint."
The silence continued. Sarah stared at her hands, Chuck dutifully took in the patrons of the bar. As soon as this mission was over, he'd be out in the warm night air and would be able to think. Every now and then, his eyes would roam to her, and his heart would skip a beat. All during high school and through college and even after the Jill fiasco, would he ever even dare to dream that someone as beautiful as Sarah would even bat an eye at him. But he knew the truth now, and he was surprised that snakes did not rear out of her head.
"Okay," She said after awhile, and looked up at him. "I've had enough. We have to talk."
Chuck rolled his eyes down again and across to meet hers. She was leaning on her elbows, her back arched at him, and she had an irritated expression on her face. It looked like she was ready to spring at him. For a fleeting second, he thought he saw the head of a snake peek up at him through her blonde locks. But surely, that was just his imagination.
Chuck quickly folded his hands.
"Your wine, ma'am." Casey reappeared with two flutes and a bottle. He placed them on the table and began pouring accordingly. "Anything?" He whispered.
"Not yet." Sarah said, crossed her arms and flung back in her chair. She glared at Chuck.
Chuck gulped a mouth full of wine. It was pretty good. The Martini Olive seriously did not disappoint.
"Have you decided?" Casey asked, folding his hands behind his back.
Grateful for a distraction, Chuck buried his face in his menu. "I'm not sure. The chicken looks good…"
"We'll have two house specials." Sarah said.
"Excellent," Casey agreed, plucked the menu from Chuck's hands and vanished.
Again, there was that silence.
"So, what's the house special?" Chuck asked.
"Chuck, what is going on with you? You haven't been acting right since Christmas."
Ah, the question. He had wanted to confront her, he supposed, and here, in this crowded restaurant, with many witnesses seemed okay.
"Alright," He said, searching for the words. He took another gulp of wine and rolled it around in his mouth. She continued to stare at him from across the table. He gulped it down and decided it was time. "Alright… I saw you…"
She arched a brow.
He lowered his voice to a whisper. "Last Christmas. I saw you kill that man. He was surrendering, and you shot him."
She let out a small gasp, and for a second tears glistened in her eyes. But seconds later, Sarah's poker face was back. "Chuck…"
"And then you lied to me." He spat the words at her, slow and distinct, his brows creasing together. It was only now that he realized how angry he was. How dare she lie to him like he was a three year old? He had gone through a lot in his past, and he could certainly handle the truth, no matter how hard it was.
"Chuck, it's not what you think."
"Then explain it to me." He demanded.
"Your entrees," Casey appeared again and placed two plates before them. Chuck took a whiff. It smelled like chicken, at least. "Anything else I can get you?"
Sarah was silent. Her mouth was set in a straight line, and she glared at Chuck.
"No, thank you." Chuck said.
Casey eyed Chuck oddly, and then departed.
"Chuck, listen to me. Yes, he did surrender, but I couldn't let him live. What he said was right. Folcrum would look for him, and they'd find him, and he'd lead them to you."
"That doesn't make it alright."
"It was a risk I couldn't take."
Chuck took a bite of his dinner, and yes, it was chicken! Pretty decent chicken, too. He would have to see if this place had a take-out menu. He looked to the bar, and flashed.
He got an image of the guy's mugshot, an alley filled with crates of weapons, and Elliot Thomas shaking hands with Roman Archikov.
There, talking to the bartender was Elliot Thomas.
"You flashed, didn't you?"
"There's something going down in the alley." He said. "And Thomas is at the bar."
Sarah tipped her glass of wine over and onto her dress. "Dammit!" She exclaimed loudly. "Baby, could you go up to the bar and get me another?"
"S-sure," Chuck said. He fought the urge to say they had a full bottle here on the table.
"Keep him here and talking," Sarah whispered. "I'll check out the alley, notify Casey and be right back." She smiled, and vanished.
Chuck locked his eyes on Thomas, took another mouthful of wine, and got up from his seat, taking his glass and the empty with him. He sauntered to the bar, and took a stool.