Disclaimer: If you've learned one lesson by now I hope it's to don't do drugs!. If you have time for one more lesson, please realize that I do not own Chuck.
Chapter 6: The Walker Gambit
Chuck got up early and put on his suit. Today was the day. Today was the last day of whatever life he'd started when he'd clicked on that email. It seemed almost odd that Bryce wasn't here. He hadn't talked to Bryce in more than a year, but it seemed like since he started this, it would be only fitting for him be here to finish it. Honestly, Chuck couldn't tell how he felt about the situation as a whole. He'd spent much of the last three years completely miserable, scared and in danger. But without them, he might never have gotten over what happened at Stanford.
He had a completely different feeling about Stanford now. Instead of hating Bryce for betraying him and getting him thrown out, he hated the whole experience. He hated Stanford for allowing Bryce to be put into that situation. He hated that the CIA wouldn't have offered him a choice. He hated that Jill was Fulcrum and he hated that, she could be pulled into such an organization while attending college. Chuck definitely hated himself for not noticing while they were dating. He should have known, he should have been able to tell. He could have saved her, like Bryce saved him.
The thing Chuck dreaded about this meeting, was that Chuck never got what he wanted. All he wanted when he was a fifth grader was for his Mom to come home. All he'd wanted as a teenager was for his Dad to have an interest in him. All he'd wanted in college was to have a good time and graduate. And all he wanted now was to get his pathetic life before the Intersect back. He wanted to go home and start over with Ellie, Devon and Morgan and possibly Sarah if she was interested. That's how he knew for sure that it was never going to happen.
The knock came on Chuck's door exactly when he expected. God forbid Agent Casey was two minutes late for something. "Hi, Casey."
"Chuck." Casey nodded.
"Where's Sarah?" Chuck asked.
"Agent Walker did not return with me yesterday. She had personal matters to take care of and is making her own way to the meeting."
"But she is coming, right?"
"Yes, Chuck, Sarah will be there." Casey replied softly. Much too softly for Chuck's liking, nothing could be good about Casey being 'nice.'
Chuck swallowed with difficulty. "Let's get this over with."
"Grab your bags, we aren't coming back," Casey ordered him.
For some reason, that sounded ominous, but Chuck dutifully returned to his room and packed his last few toiletries into his bag. Chuck followed Casey down to the lobby to check out.
They made the drive Fort Meade in silence. When they were right outside the front doors Casey stopped Chuck. "Be smart today. Don't volunteer any information you don't have to. Be as honest as you can be, but for God sake, make sure General Beckman knows you wouldn't give up the Intersect secrets no matter what. This is about protecting the information in your head. General Beckman considers that information to be way more important than you are; she needs to be sure it's safe. You have to make her feel that information is safe." Before Chuck could even ask a question, Agent Casey was once again striding towards the huge black building.
Chuck soon had a bright yellow visitors badge proclaiming him to be Charles Carmichael visitor. As soon as Chuck stepped into the lobby of General Beckman's office, Mrs. Young ushered them in. "The General is waiting for you."
Casey pushed the door open and they stepped into General Beckman's office. Sarah and the General were seated at the conference table. "Good, you're here. Have a seat gentleman." Chuck shot Sarah a quick smile but she wore a solemn mask over her normally expressive features.
"I went over details of this mission with Agents Walker and Casey yesterday, Mr. Bartowski, so I'll spare you and myself another rehashing. Suffice it to say, that the mission against all odds was deemed a success. As I'm sure you no doubt aware, I've been of the opinion that you should have been secured long ago. Only the protests of the agents in the field and a mostly stellar string of successful missions kept me from completing that order. Indeed the agents assigned to you have proven to be unbelievably loyal to you and by that I mean that I don't believe that it's caused by just your good looks and charm." The General gave him a very sour look.
"I have been completely unable to determine the source of your hold on Agents Walker and Casey. I don't suppose you'd care to enlighten me as to how exactly you compromised not one but two of what were some of the best agents in the employ of the U.S. Government?"
Chuck's mouth was very dry. He wished desperately that there was water for him to drink. General Beckman's eyes were boring into him and he looked at Casey and then at Sarah, but it was clear neither was going to come to his rescue. "I, uh, I don't know, I was nice to them?" Chuck tried.
"How very quaint." General Beckman was clearly not impressed with his answer. She glared at him for a few moments. It seemed to stretch on endlessly until Chuck was sure she'd been staring at him for minutes. "What do you want out of life, Mr. Bartowski?"
Chuck didn't know how to answer that, going back to the Buy More didn't seem like a safe or smart answer. "I don't know, I mean it's been such a long time since what I wanted even mattered." Both Sarah and Casey cringed at this and Chuck guessed it was the wrong answer. "But, you know I'd like to get a real job, something that pays more than twelve dollars an hour and spend some time with my family without lying to them all the time. Maybe settled down and start a family eventually… I really don't know. Just something that matters I guess."
"Do you wish to serve your country?" General Beckman asked.
"Like how?" Chuck asked. He was honestly confused.
"Sometimes people must make sacrifices. They sacrifice something of themselves to make the country a better place. Are you one of those people?"
"General I think I have sacrificed for my country. It may not seem like much to you, but I've given three years to this Intersect project for no more reason than Bryce Larkin sent me an email. I wasn't trained. I haven't been paid. I've mostly tried not to complain about the impositions put on my life, now you're asking me if I want to give more?"
General Beckman frowned. "I suppose you have a point, but don't forget that the CIA and NSA have provided you topflight protection service for three years—"
"And made me go out on missions and risk my life," Chuck interrupted.
"As I was saying we have provided you protection services in place, when it would have been easier to remove you. We did this to preserve what we could of your normal life."
"You did it to gain my cooperation." Chuck pointed out.
General Beckman was becoming agitated and Agent Casey's eyes looked like they might pop out of his head at any moment.
"I see," General Beckman sighed.
"Mr. Bartowski, I find myself in a very difficult position. That is not your concern, it is my job to make difficult decisions, however my options are very limited. On one hand, I have the security of an entire nation, on the other, the life and happiness of one citizen. Now, obviously my inclination is to protect the many at the sacrifice of the one." Chuck gulped. "However, the one has been a valuable asset to the many and the one is protected by agents who report to me. The problem with this, is that I can no longer be sure where the loyalties of my agents lay. You see both Agents Walker and Casey have made strong cases, that your life and freedom be preserved. I can see no reason for this, the right call is put you in a secure facility until you no longer represent a danger to yourself or others. Yet we continue to go around and around. Now with two trusted and loyal agents I would simply declare my intentions and they would deal the consequences. The problem Mr. Bartowski, is that I'm no longer sure what the loyalties of my agents are. I issue them orders and instead of following them, they interpret them, forget them, or argue. I have seriously considered trying to replace them, with agents I know will follow the instructions I give, but there are two problems with that.
"I suspect both of the agents in question would deny my order and work to prevent replacement agents from taking their places. I'm not sure they would be restrained in their means of prevention. Secondly, such actions would pit them against the very agencies they work for. Thus forming what could only be considered a rogue cell, with access to an extremely dangerous intelligence asset." The General paused. "You see my problem, Mr. Bartowski."
Chuck had no idea what to say. General Beckman seemed to indicate that Casey and Sarah were refusing orders from her. It wasn't really something he could see either of them doing. The only thing that indicated it was even a possibility from Sarah was she had insisted she would keep him out of a bunker or from coming to any harm, but Casey…Casey never refused orders. "Why are you telling me all this?" Chuck asked.
"I suppose I'm telling you this to make it clear that today we teeter on the edge of a knife, Mr. Bartowski. On either side we have disaster. Your handlers have continued to push an objective that I find intolerable. However, we lack options, Mr. Bartwoski. I hope you appreciate the sacrifices being made for you.
"Effective today Agent Walker has been removed from field operations and has been permanently assigned to your protection detail. You will be returning to California to settle your affairs and pack your personal belongings. You will move to a secured community in Severna Park and commute daily to your job here at the NSA headquarters. You will maintain contact with Agent Walker on a 24x7 basis. If the two of you lose contact, I will issue an immediate termination order for you. This arrangement is to last for no less than ten years. Do you understand, Mr. Bartowski?"
Chuck's eyes had grown larger and larger. "You mean I have to move here?" Chuck asked.
"Yes."
"What do you mean Agent Walker has been removed from field operations?"
"I mean, Agent Walker has given up her career as a field operative to become your full time babysitter. Was I somehow unclear?"
"Sarah," Chuck had been watching her off and on throughout the General's remarks, but her face remained a stoic mask. "I don't want you to have to do this."
"It's okay, Chuck." Sarah replied.
"It's not okay!" Chuck objected. "You can't give up your life for me!"
"I share your sentiments, Mr. Bartowski, believe me, but I am not Agent Walker's boss and she has made her commitment to this action quite clear. If you would prefer to voluntarily report to Desperate Plains…"
"Those are my choices?" Chuck asked. "I have to ruin my life or hers?"
General Beckman looked at him impassively. "As I said, sacrifices need to be made. This was the only compromise that proved at all acceptable between all parties."
"Sarah?" Chuck looked at her desperately, he needed to talk to her about his.
"I told you, I would keep you out of a bunker. This is what was necessary, take the deal," Sarah implored.
"I don't want you forced to watch me…for ten years…" Chuck sighed. "This is crazy. What's happening to Casey?"
"As Major Casey is apparently unwilling to follow my orders, I have remanded him back to the Air Force to finish his commitment to the armed forces. At the end of his current tour next spring he will be discharged," General Beckman explained.
"You did this, John?" Chuck asked. Casey shrugged, but didn't reply.
"I cannot stress to you enough the sacrifices that have been made by all parties." General Beckman reiterated. "I suggest, you agree, now. The terms are not going to change. If you are not prepared to sign this agreement," General Beckman removed a document from the folder in front of her. "You will be arrested. I'm not sure of the outcome of that action, but I can assure you, it won't be good for any of us."
General Beckman slid the document over and Chuck scanned it. It seemed to be the basic outline that the General had explained. It did lay out his salary and some other arrangements. "Sign it," Sarah urged.
Chuck picked up the pen in front of him and signed the agreement. Sarah gave him an encouraging smile and signed the agreement next to his name. General Beckman then took it last and signed it.
"I hate you," Chuck told General Beckman. Both Sarah and Casey's eyes immediately shot towards him.
"I am sorry you feel that way, Mr. Bartowski, I have a very difficult job. I can't be best friends with everyone. Major Casey, you will escort Mr. Bartowski, back to Los Angeles to collect his personal affects and to assist in cementing his cover with his relatives. Upon your return you will report to Elmendorf Air Force base. Agent Walker, I have Director Cummings standing by. You should be released to take care of your personal affairs by two this afternoon. Gentleman, have a good flight." General Beckman stood indicating that the meeting was over.
"Can I talk to Sarah for a minute?" Chuck asked to nobody in particular. General Beckman who'd been stepping away stopped short.
"Excuse me?" she growled.
"I'll call you," Sarah told him. "I'm not exactly sure when, but I will. Tell, Ellie, I'm sorry I'm not there."
"If you're quite through," General Beckman said viciously.
Chuck sighed and Casey led him out of General Beckman's office. When the door was closed behind them. Chuck said, "Casey, I'm so…"
"Don't!" Casey replied bitingly.
Casey stomped towards the elevators as Chuck trailed along to behind him.
***
Casey still didn't want to talk in the car, nor did he want to talk at the airport. When Chuck had him cornered on the plane, he tried again. "Casey, I'm sorry."
"You've always been a sorry excuse for a man, what exactly are you sorry for now?"
"That you lost your job… I can't believe you'd stick up for me like that."
"I think you're over stating your importance in all this. General Beckman and I had a general disagreement that we could not work past. That's all. If you can't respect your boss then you can't work for them."
"What did you guys disagree about?"
Casey glared at him but didn't answer. So Chuck asked another question. "Why is Sarah doing this?"
"You'll have to ask Agent Walker about her motivations, she and I haven't discussed it. I think she's being stupid, but I admire her commitment to the mission. I have to assume she let her girl feelings get in the way."
"What should she have done?"
"Let you live in the bunker, it's only ten years."
"Could you do a ten year prison sentence?" Chuck asked.
"Easy," Casey huffed. "Did you know that I was once captured and tortured by the Taliban? What the hell are a few years in a cushy detention facility?"
Chuck sighed. "I just wish Sarah would have talked to me about this first."
"Why can't you just be grateful," Casey snarled. "Do you have any idea what she's given up for you? Do you even know, that she used to be regarded as the best? She was my partner, the best partner I ever had and now she's finishing her career babysitting the world's largest boob." Casey put his head phones on and proceeded to ignore Chuck the rest of the way to Los Angeles.