Chapter Seven – Castle
Disclaimer: Still don't own Chuck
For those who have been following the story and asking about the identity of the villains, yes, villains, please be patient. It will be worth your while. Thanks for suggestions to improve and the reviews.
24 Hours Later…
Verbanski was driving slowly through the clogged traffic lanes of rush hour traffic in Burbank. She glanced at Casey, who had traded places with Chuck, and gently touched his left cheek. She smiled as the giant sitting next to her simply grunted in response as he constantly scanned in all directions, looking for any potential threat. She returned her complete attention to driving as the traffic began to move again.
Chuck was asleep in the seat behind Verbanski, leaning against the door. Sarah was awake and sitting upright. Still clad in the t-shirt Chuck had dressed her in, she now wore a pair of blue jeans but was still bare footed, her ankles, knees and wrists all bound by plastic ties. Her safety harness was pulled tight. Her expression was neither angry nor happy. Sarah appeared calm. Her hair, always carefully groomed and presented, was a mess, her face appeared slightly pale as she wore no makeup.
At the sound of Casey grunting to get Chuck's attention he woke up with a start, sitting upright and blinking. "ETA 30 minutes Bartowski," Casey informed him. Chuck nodded and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He looked across at Sarah who had turned to gaze at him. Chuck smiled at her. Sarah did not smile back.
"How do you feel, Sweetie?" Chuck inquired.
Sarah looked at Chuck for a moment before replying. "I have a headache. My hair is a mess. I don't have my face on. I have scratches on my legs and the jeans are rubbing the scratches. I want to brush my teeth. I need to go to the bathroom and you've got me tied up. How do you think I fell, Chuck?"
"Point noted. Well, make that points noted actually," Chuck responded. Turning his attention to the surrounding as Verbansky drove. Like Casey, Chuck was now scanning for any threat to their vehicle.
"Chuck, while you were asleep Ellie contacted us. The entire family came. Devon, your mother and Clara are waiting for us at Castle. Morgan and Alex are there as well," Verbanski told him.
"I can't thank you enough for coming and saving us, again," Chuck humbly stated.
Gertrude eyed him through the rear view mirror before speaking. "Oh, your welcome, but you owe John and me a big debt. John was in the process of stalking me and the game was on. Your call for help interrupted our courtship Chuck. Dresden is so nice this time of winter."
Casey turned to look at Chuck. Scowling, he simply grunted his agreement with his displeasure over the interruption of the strange courtship ritual he and Verbanski loved so dearly.
"Of course, John got to use his new toy I gave him, so all was not lost Chuck. You know how he gets when he can't shoot at someone after a couple of weeks," she said with a smile.
Chuck shook his head, laughing to himself. What a strange world I inhabit these days. Two of my closest friends think a modified sniper rifle is a romantic gift.
Verbanski approached the parking lot of the Buy More. She drove around the area twice as Casey and Chuck scanned for any threats. Sarah sat silently, keeping her observations to herself.
The black SUV pulled up to the Orange Orange which had closed early as instructed. Casey and Chuck quickly exited the vehicle and removed Sarah from the passenger seat. Without warning Casey lifted Sarah over his shoulder while Chuck hobbled in pain to unlock the Orange Orange door. Sarah, annoyed at being carried like a sack of potatoes vented her frustration by hitting Casey in the back as hard as she could repeatedly while he carried her.
Ducking to prevent from hitting the top of the doorframe with Sarah, Casey followed Chuck into the Orange Orange and the unceremoniously dumped Sarah on the floor while Chuck locked the doors and reactivated the security system. Casey stood over Sarah, grunted and said "enough of that Walker. There's limits." He moved to the hidden Castle entrance in the storeroom, leaving Chuck to pick up Sarah.
"Some friend he is," Sarah snarled as Chuck picked her up like a new husband carrying his bride across the threshold. Trying hard not to laugh, Chuck told Sarah, "actually, if it weren't for Casey, we wouldn't be married. And not because he's saved our lives dozens of times."
"Humph. I don't care," Sarah said. "He didn't need to dump me on the floor like that."
Chuck smiled. This Sarah might be fun to tease if their situation was not so serious at the moment. He entered Castle and looked at his pouting wife. "We're home. Sort of," he told her. Sarah looked away and said nothing.
Chuck carefully carried Sarah down the stairs and set her in a chair. "If you promise to not go Sarah Walker on me, I'll remove the restraints and you can go to the restroom and clean up as soon as Verbanski gets here to take you," he told her.
She looked up at him as if thinking of a truly sarcastic reply, the type she liked to verbally hurl at him when he annoyed her. Before Sarah could speak her body suddenly convulsed, causing her to become rigid and fall out of the chair, her long lean body suddenly looked like a pole on the ground. Sarah's face contorted in agony, her eyes squeezed shut, her already tangled hair looked like that of Medusa, moving on its own as if it were alive.
"Ellie! Ellie! Come quick! Sarah's collapsed!" Chuck screamed. He dropped to his knees and touched her forehead. It was on fire. Ice. Get Ice. The Governor. Chuck checked and found it was still on her slender wrist.
"Move Chuck. Devon, get the clinic ready. Casey, carry Sarah to the clinic. Now!" Ellie ordered. Devon had already left and Casey quickly but gently lifted Sarah and rushed to the Castle clinic. Verbanski took Chuck by the elbow and gently led him to the debriefing area.
"Sarah is a strong woman. She will survive this Chuck."
"I know Gertrude. This time. But how much more of this can Sarah take?" Chuck sobbed.
Morgan and Alex entered the debriefing area. Verbanski looked at Morgan with pleading eyes and mouthed the words "help. Lady feelings." Morgan shook his head at home much Casey and Gertrude were alike and said "I got this. Chuck, long time no see. Time for some Guitar Hero. I made some special modifications to our set-up. We can mess with Beckman now whenever she calls to check in you know." Morgan took his friend by the arm and led him over to where the game controls were set up so he could distract his best friend until the latest crisis had passed.
Five hours later…
Sarah lay in the hospital bed in the state of the art clinic Chuck had installed in Castle when Carmichael Industries purchased the facility. She rested peacefully, monitors displaying all of her vital signs, indicating that at that moment, everything was normal.
Chuck was sitting in a seat next to her bed, holding Sarah's hand while she slept. He looked up as Ellie walked in and smiled a fragile smile. "Hi, sis."
Ellie leaned over and hugged her brother, kissing him on his head. "She's a strong woman Chuck. She has you to help her get through this too. All of us love her and that will make a difference."
"I just can't take much more Ellie," Chuck whispered.
Ellie took Chuck's face in her hands, turning him so he had to look her in the eyes before saying, "imagine how Sarah feels Chuck."
"You're right, Ellie. I have it easy compared to Sarah right now," Chuck said softly.
"Chuck, Sarah's ok at the moment. She had a memory come back with her last attack. She remembered you getting jealous about a British agent. It confused her and it upset her, which I think is actually good," Ellie said.
Puzzled, Chuck asked, "why? Why would that be good?"
"Because Sarah was Agent Walker when she had the memory, Chuck. She remembered being worried that you were jealous. Chuck, she remembered being worried about how YOU felt. Sarah FELT good emotions that she connected to you! Chuck, her Agent Walker personality knows she had real feelings for you and she felt them, even if just for a moment. It confused Sarah because she doesn't recall those emotions and her Agent Walker personality, as you described it to me, tries to protect Sarah from anything Walker views as a threat, including you. Now Agent Walker is not so sure you're a threat anymore Chuck," Ellie said with a broad smile.
"Ellie, this is scaring me. Is Sarah developing multiple personalities? Is there any way you can help her," Chuck implored.
"It's just a working theory Chuck, but I think your were correct in your assumption Sarah still has a functioning Intersect but with a virus. I think the virus is partitioning her mind in an effort to neutralize the Intersect without destroying it. The unfortunate side effect for Sarah is her memory loss and these horrible attacks she is having. Chuck, I think she has many of her memories of the past five years, including her emotional memories, but they are being shunted off into different quadrants of her brain, much like a hard drive is partitioned. The problem is, Sarah is having trouble reading her memories. Do you understand, Chuck?"
"Are you saying if we can remove the virus, Sarah will be OK," asked Chuck.
"That's what I'm saying, It's possible, but there might be complications. I have to do more scans and read Dad's notes again."
"How will you do it Ellie?"
"Oh Chuck, I really wish Dad was here. He would be able to help Sarah without any problem. At least I think he could," Ellie said quietly. "I so miss our father Chuck. I so miss our father."
"So do I Ellie, so do I," Chuck said as he hugged his sister.
"Chuck, time to look at that ankle. X-ray then cast. Let's go. You are not getting out of this," Ellie commanded.
The next morning…
Sarah was awake and annoyed by the fact she was restrained in her bed. She had been allowed to take a shower, put her face on and comb out her hair, styling it in a simple ponytail. All of her scratches had been treated and bandaged. She was dressed in new clothes that fit her. Bored, Agent Walker was now busy hurling insults at Chuck who was equally busy hurling them back.
"You're a turd Chuck," she pronounced with great certainty.
"You sound certain about that Sarah. What gives you that idea?" Chuck replied as he read the latest issue of Batman.
"I agree Walker," Casey announced as he strolled in. "Castle is on permanent lockdown until I say otherwise. We need more intel before any of us venture out." With that brief statement, Casey simply grunted and left.
Her voice dripping with sarcasm, Sarah answered, "I have a new memory Chuck. Want to hear about what you did to me, Chuck? I think even you'll agree what you did was pretty lousy, Chuck." Sarah dragged his name out in length and emphasized the last two letters, further emphasizing her displeasure with him.
Chuck looked up from his comic and met Sarah's gaze. "Tell me then, Sarah. Why am I such a turd."
"I remembered I had made the decision to stop spying for the CIA. I was going to run, run with you. We were going to disappear and make a life together. You were in Prague, training. It was supposed to be just a cover till I could get together papers, identifies, cash, everything we would need to run. Chuck, I trusted you. I thought you loved me, that you wanted me. Me! Chuck I have a few more memories back as well. Would you like to hear them?" Sarah inquired sarcastically.
"Actually, yes," Chuck replied patiently.
"I know you know about Jenny," Walker said simply. "I know you were aware of her abandonment issues, of my abandonment issues. I trusted you Chuck. I trusted you enough to give up everything for you. I thought I was in love with you. But I was wrong. You weren't in love with me and you couldn't be trusted. When it was time to run, you wouldn't. You just left me at the train station in Prague. You abandoned me like everyone else I have ever trusted."
To her surprise Chuck did not react in anger. He simply looked at her with a patient expression. Slowly a smile spread across his face, infuriating her. "Oh, I see, you still think it's funny what you did to me? How you hurt me? Betrayed me," she yelled.
Chuck stood up and walked over to Sarah, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her tightly. She struggled to escape his grasp, even trying to bite him so he would release her.
"Whoa, girl," Chuck laughed. "Easy there."
"It's not funny," Walker hissed.
"Actually, Sarah, I'm thankful you remembered Prague. I want to tell you why I did what I did," Chuck said.
"You see, Sarah, I always felt so unworthy of you. You are so smart. You can do so many things I can't. You speak multiple languages fluently. You can kick a room full of people butts. I don't think there is a small arm you aren't proficient at. You're not as good as Casey, but then, who is? You are an amazing dancer. Let's not forget you could drive Formula One or NASCAR if you wanted. Oh, and to top it all off, you are a stunningly beautiful woman. You could have, can have, any man you want. In fact, you have had an impressive list of possible suitors since I have known you." Chuck paused to collect his thoughts.
"Sarah, I was really insecure. Bryce didn't help matters. I'm still a little insecure now that I don't have you telling me I'm your hero. You see Sarah, you're a woman a man like me, a lowly nerd, can only dream of. You're unobtainable. Sure, you fell in love with me. But you fell for Bryce to. When that relationship didn't work out you moved on. It just happened to be that I was the man you moved on too. I was so afraid you would get tired of me and move on again," Chuck explained.
"You are the best female spy the U.S. has. You loved being a spy. I knew about Jenny. Not everything but enough to know the CIA helped you gain your confidence. Gave you purpose. I knew you had issues. But, Sarah, so did I. I truly believed there was only one way I could have you. There was only one way I could keep you. That you would stay in love with me. I had to become a spy myself," Chuck said as he looked in Sarah's eyes, looking for any sign she understood what he was telling her.
"There's more too Sarah. You served the greater good as a spy. You and Casey do things that are horrible, that the rest of the people of this nation could never do, they don't have the courage or the skill. You save lives and keep people safe everyday you do your job. I can never, never, repay you for the times you have saved my life, Morgan's life or the lives of my family. You found my parents for Ellie and me. You taught me to believe in myself, to have confidence in myself. Sarah, nobody else, even Morgan, has done that for me. Only you," Chuck told her as tears began to seep from his eyes.
"The only way I could be worthy of a woman like you, to be loved by a woman like you, was to be a spy. That's what I thought. I didn't understand that you loved me unconditionally, like a wife is meant to love her husband. I didn't love you unconditionally myself until I realized that was how you loved me. You taught me that Sarah. But you had never told me you loved me. So I was filled with doubts, so many doubts. I just had to become a spy so I would be worthy of your love. By serving the great good like you, I would be protecting you, my friends, my family and my country. In doing so, I would eventually become worthy of you. Do you understand," Chuck implored.
"I don't believe you," Walker replied.
"Would you believe Carina?"
"What does Carina have to do with this, Chuck," Walker snapped.
Chuck left the clinic room and returned after a few minutes. He walked over to the computer in the clinic and turned the monitor so Sarah could view it with ease. He turned up the speakers and inserted a memory stick into the tower. He opened a video file and hit play and turned to face Sarah. The video was one Carina had given Sarah. It depicted Chuck explaining his decision at Prague while trapped in a vault. As the door opened Chuck declared his love for Sarah and collapsed from the effects of gas being pumped into the vault.
"Carina gave you that. She edited it out of the mark's surveillance system. It helped us a lot in our relationship at that stage. Things were pretty bad between us at that time. I didn't about things like a Red Test. I didn't understand why you were so dead set against me becoming a spy. But Carina helped you understand by giving you this video. Casey helped us both too, at different times, but that's kind of embarrassing and we can talk about that later." Chuck paused before asking, "still think I'm a turd? Have any more questions about Prague."
Walker looked away, silent. Chuck could not tell what she was thinking. He picked up his comic and told her, "I was sorry in the past that I hurt you in Prague. I am still sorry now. But know this Sarah, I loved you then and I still love you now."
Chuck turned and left the clinic. Walker turned to look at the door he had just exited. Her eyes were brimming with emotion as she fought back the tears, refusing to let herself cry, to give in to the powerful emotions welling up inside, confusing her.
That afternoon…
Ellie's commanding voice boomed over the Castle intercom system, "I want all family members to report to the clinic. That means everyone in Castle. Now."
Within minutes the entire group was assembled. Waiting to see what Ellie had to say. Sarah had a far away look on her face, almost as if she were somewhere else entirely.
"Sarah, everyone. We all know Sarah has had her share of troubles recently, troubles she did not deserve. Sarah, you may not believe it or feel it, but every person in this room loves you, admires you and owes you in ways we can never repay you. That's why I have asked everyone to be here, so we can all support you in whatever decision you make. This may seem like it is nobody's business but your own, but that's not entirely true. The choice you make, the choice you must make, will affect everyone in this clinic, not just you. But Sarah, whatever choice you do make, I know everyone here, most of all Chuck, will support you," Ellie passionately stated for all present to hear.
Sarah slowly looked from face to face of the people gathered in the clinic. She said nothing.
Ellie looked at Sarah and began to speak, telling everyone "Sarah, there is no easy way to say this, so I will be direct. You have an Intersect in your brain. You know that. What you might not know, is I have been able to determine the Intersect is fine. The problem is the Intersect you uploaded has a virus in it. If something is not done, and done soon, one of these attacks you have been having will either kill you or leave you in a vegetative state."
Ellie paused before continuing, "Here are your options, all of them have risks. Do nothing and you'll die and it won't be a pleasant death. I can remove the Intersect, but if I do that, you'll definitely lose all of your memories of the past five years, the five years you have known Chuck and our family, our friends. You will lose the memories of what has happened since Quinn did this to you. Do you understand Sarah," Ellie asked, pausing for Sarah to acknowledge what Ellie had just said.
Sarah looked at Ellie, her expression blank. She simply nodded yes.
Gathering herself to continue her speech, Ellie continued, "Sarah, I believe I can remove just the virus. You will have gaps in your memories from the last five years. You should remember most things, but there will still be gaps. I have no idea where those memory gaps will be. The gaps will be a result of how the virus is dividing up your memories, cordoning them off so you cannot find them. You will still have a functioning Intersect. That means you will be under my care for the rest of your life or until I can fix all the problems in this version. The risk to this approach Sarah, and I want you to understand, is that if removing just the virus doesn't work, you will lose all of your memories. You'll have to learn everything again. How to walk, talk, feed yourself, dress yourself. You will be starting out like a newborn, except you will have the body of a mature, adult woman."
Ellie paused. She wanted everyone present, especially Sarah, to understand what was at stake for Sarah and those who loved her, especially her brother Chuck.
"Do you have any questions Sarah," Ellie asked.
Sarah sat silently in her bed. She laid back and stared at the ceiling, blinking her eyes.
"Ellie, which is the safest approach for Sarah? Which will put her health at the least risk," Chuck asked, concern written all over his face.
"The safest option is removing the Intersect, but this has to be Sarah's choice," Ellie emphasized. She added, "Sarah, it would be best if you made the decision within two or three days."
"I want to be alone. With Chuck. Please leave us," Sarah said, quietly, but firmly.
The sudden proclamation stunned everyone into silence. Starting with Casey and Verbanski, who both desperately wanted to flee the room and the mounting level of lady feelings present, were the first to leave, followed by Mary who carried Clara and was accompanied by Devon.
With a tearful Alex holding his arm, Morgan walked over to Chuck and looked up at his best friend before speaking, "no matter what Sarah decides, I will be there for you and the blonde Valkyrie. I will give body parts, blood, tissue if it will help her. You know that buddy." Alex looked up at Chuck, "same here."
Ellie was the last to leave, pausing to touch Chuck's arm. She smiled, tears running from her eyes. She spoke so softly Chuck almost didn't hear her words, "now is the time to love her like only you can Chuck." With those words, Ellie left.
Chuck walked over to one of the cabinets in the clinic and opened the door, removing a scalpel. He walked to Sarah's bed and took her first her hands, and then her ankles, and removed her restraints. He tossed both the restraints and the disposable scalpel in the waste container before turning to face Sarah.
He looked at her before speaking in the gentlest voice he could muster. "You will no longer be treated like a prisoner in Castle. This is your home in so many ways. We came to love each other here. To become more than what we were. You taught me so many things, Sarah."
Tears ran down Chuck's face. He continued, "I love you so much that it's selfish on my part. But like I told you on the beach. I am here for you. You can trust me, even though recent events may make you think otherwise. Everyone here loves you and would do anything for you Sarah, because you would do the same, have done the same for each of us. I want you to have the Intersect removed. It is the safest choice you can make. I would rather lose you as my wife, friend and business partner than for you to lose everything or worse die or wind up a vegetable. The choice is yours, and I will respect it, but please Sarah, do what is best for you."
Chuck watched Sarah's face. She was emotionless. Suddenly Sarah looked like the weight of the world rested on her shoulders. She slowly stood from the bed and extended her hand to Chuck, taking his hand in hers.
"Chuck, I don't know what to do. Ellie said I have some time. I know we had living quarters here for when lockdowns took place. I am so confused. I feel so torn inside. But I know this much. Even if it was a cover to you, or it was a just a cover to me, I don't know, I rest better when you hold me while we sleep. Will you hold me Chuck," Sarah asked in a small, but confident voice.
Chuck smiled.
Sarah turned and led him by the hand to their Castle living quarters.
