Chapter 8: Where angels fear to tread
It was one of his bad days. After almost a week in the hospital, Sarah had seen every mood possible from Chuck. He could be his sweet, normal self one minute, angry and hurtful the next. She knew Ellie found it hard to be around him sometimes. Her brother meant the world to her, and he seemed to be slipping farther away with each episode. Today, he was complaining about tests. Everyday it was one test or another. He accused the doctors of a sadistic need to poke him in every way they could. Twice, they had resorted to sedation when he wouldn't cooperate.
She watched him now, sitting stooped in his wheelchair. They had just completed another FMRI and were waiting for the nurse to wheel him back to his room. The anger from earlier all gone, now he was just so tired. 'He's been losing weight. I didn't see it at first, it came on so gradual. But, Morgan stopped by yesterday for a visit and was taken aback at Chuck's appearance. You can see it now though, sunken eyes, cheeks so hollow.' Reaching to trail her fingers through his hair. He stirred under her touch, but nothing more.
"There you are Mr. Bartowski, ready to go back to your room? Lunch is about to be served. I hear there is chocolate pudding today, yum." The nurse takes hold of his chair and pushes him to the elevators. Sarah follows along.
"Chuck, I will be up to your room in a little while. Ellie and I have a meeting with your doctor on the latest test results." Giving him a brave smile that he barely notices.
The nurse gives her one of those sympathetic looks. A look that is really starting to piss Sarah off. 'I don't want your damn sympathy. I want someone to figure out what is wrong and save him.' Remembering his statement about the Intersect, 'You had better be wrong Chuck Bartowski. I'm not ready to end this assignment yet.' She smiles to the nurse, "Take good care of him."
"Of course Sarah, he is my number one patient.", pushing him into the elevator.
She watches the doors close. 'Do they have a class on how to be insincere and patronizing or what?'
Meeting up with Ellie, they arrive at Dr. Schmidt's office and are ushered in. This isn't the first meeting. With each one, hope seems to dry up a little more. They hear lots of 'we think' and 'maybe this will tell us something'. Soon followed by the admission of inconclusive results. Still, Sarah smiles for Ellie's sake and plays the strong one for them both.
"I would like to say we are closer to finding out what is happening with your brother, but it doesn't look good. Today's functional MRI is disturbing to say the least. I am very sorry Dr. Bartowski, Miss Walker, but without an answer, I don't see him lasting more than a few more weeks."
"No, no, no, no....how can that be. He has always been healthy, never smoked, barely drinks. I would have seen something if it was this bad. There is no way my brother can be dieing and not see any symptoms. He can't!" Ellie starts crying and leans into Sarah.
An arm around Ellie for comfort, Sarah looks to doctor Schmidt. "What makes you think that?"
He turns his computer screen so all can see and punches up a picture. Sarah can see the shape of a head in cross section and various colors in neat little pathways. "Here you see his normal brain activity, completely normal in all respects. Which is part of what makes his problem so unusual."
Bringing up a second picture. Where before it was a nice orderly little map of lights, the new image is a riot of clashing colors. "This is what one of his seizures looks like, for lack of a better term. This is the image from his test on the day we admitted him. If you look closely, see that darker spot there. And one right here." He points to the screen. "We don't know what the lack of activity means, but it is most likely brain damage."
He taps on his keyboard again and Sarah sees a new picture. "Here is today's FMRI. Can you see the difference?" Sarah barely contains a gasp. Instead of just a couple small dark areas, it is now riddled with them. "We think this is the source of all his problems. The damage could easily be causing the mood swings, the lethargy, all of it. And, if it is not stopped, I see this leading to a coma and eventually death. I am so sorry ladies. I really wish I had better news for you. All I can suggest, make the most of the time you have now. My colleagues and I are at a loss."
Sarah has to speak for both of them, Ellie is a lost cause with the pronouncement on her brother. "Thank you for trying Doctor. I appreciate all of your efforts." Standing, she pulls Ellie up and leads her from the room.
They meet Devon in the outer office and Sarah hands her over. "I think you should take her home, Devon. The news was not good."
"They've given up, telling me Chuck is going to die. That can't be right. We were supposed to always be there for each other. Always." Crying on his shoulder. "He won't be at my wedding. He promised to be there. God, how can you take everything from me! It isn't fair!"
Devon gathers her up and looks helplessly at Sarah. All of this is so far beyond her, she has no idea what to say. 'If Chuck were here...' She starts to think. But that just makes it worse, sending her heart to tumbling in her chest. "Ellie, Devon, they might have run out of things to try here, but I am not giving up yet. There has to be something we can do and I aim to find it." Sounding so confident, she can almost believe herself.
After saying her goodbyes to Devon and Ellie, she takes the elevator up to Chuck's floor. She puts her smile in place before going into his room. Chuck is sitting up in bed, staring vacantly while his lunch goes untouched. Not for the first time, Sarah sits on the edge of the bed and feeds him. He offers no resistance or initiative. "Chuck, I have to go out for a while. I need to talk to Casey. Don't worry, I will be back before you know it."
"Okay Sarah. Thanks for putting up with me." He even tries to smile for her.
It is too much, she has to hurry from the room to avoid any tears. She doesn't have time for them right now. Dialing Casey, she walks to her car. "Casey, I think it is time we call the General. If the Intersect is what's killing him, then his government has a duty to try and help him."
"Are you sure about that Sarah." She can't help but notice he didn't call her by her last name. "They could just as easily decide to bring him in."
"I know Casey, I know. What else can we do. They think he might not live more than a few weeks as it is. If he is alive, there is always hope. If he dies, I want to know I did all I could. I will be there in about 10 minutes. Make the call." Hanging up, she puts her Porsche in gear. 'If he lives and ends up in a bunker, will he ever forgive me?'
Back at the hospital, "How's my favorite patient. I see you did a good job on your lunch. I have a surprise for you. It is such a lovely day, how would you like to go out in the garden for a while? Would you like that?"
"You do realize I'm an adult. I've even had sex a time or two.", giving an annoyed glare.
She bustles on, totally unfazed, "That's nice Mr. Bartowski. Now be a good boy and hop in the wheelchair." She holds it steady for him and then pushes him from the room.
"I am starting to wonder if you've ever had sex though. I don't think they allow that kind of thing where you come from. Fantasyland right?"
"Now, now Mr. Bartowski. I am sure you will feel much better when we get you outside."
He makes the rest of the trip in silence. Once outside, he has to give her credit. The weather is perfect. The smell of flowers and greenery is rejuvenating. She pushes him to a nice spot, overlooking the back of the hospital. A breeze tousles his hair, he turns his face up, eyes closed and drinks in the warm sun. After a few minutes, Chuck starts to look around. Unable to remember the last time he had seen more than the four walls of his room or some lab, he vows to make the best of this time.
Movement catches his eye, a man on the loading dock is wheeling something up to the doors. Chuck sucks in a breath as a flash starts. The first real one in weeks. He sees the crate, plans of a ventilation system, Ribauld's face. 'Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. He's going to poison the hospital. I have to tell Sarah and Casey.' He reaches for his cell phone, only to find hospital gown and nothing else.
'Think Bartowski, think. What would Sarah or Casey do. In the realm of things they would do that I can also accomplish. A depressingly small list. First, I have to find a phone. Then, try and stall him till the cavalry arrives.'
"Nurse. Nurse Bannon. You were right about the nice day. I feel so much better now. In fact, I could really go for another cup of that yummy pudding. Do you think you could get me some?" Giving her one of his winning smiles.
He gets a smile in return. "Of course Mr. Bartowski. One chocolate pudding coming right up."
As soon as she goes back inside, Chuck throws off the blanket and stumbles from the wheelchair. His legs are unsteady at first from lack of use. But, the need to stop Ribauld is stronger than his weakness. He reaches the loading dock and spies a phone. Trying to dial Sarah or Casey is fruitless, the phone is not programmed to an outside line. Slamming it back on the cradle, he hopes to find one he can use inside. Chuck pushes through the doors, on the trail of the Demon.
When Sarah reaches castle, she sees Casey is already on the line with General Beckman. Stepping alongside, she waits for her turn to speak.
"Hello Agent Walker, I am told you have important news on the Intersect?"
"Yes ma'am I do. We didn't want to make any reports until we could be more certain. It looks like we may lose the Intersect. Chuck Bartowski is dieing and the doctors don't have any hope for a cure. They are unaware of his special condition, but to me, it seems the Intersect is what's killing him. There is all this unexplained brain activity and they believe it is causing damage little by little. I was thinking that if we could get some of our doctors in on the case, they might have better luck. After everything Chuck has done for us, I think we owe him a fighting chance."
The general takes in Sarah's argument, "I understand Agent Walker. With the new Intersect still months away from completion, it would be a shame to lose the asset. But, I think this might be for the best. Agent Walker, Agent Casey, it is up to the fates to decide. Request denied."
Sarah quick steps forward, "But General, just like that. Write him off when he has sacrificed so much without a real choice in the matter. Isn't there anything we can do?"
"I have to agree with Walker. Bartowski deserves something from us. He may be an annoying little moron, but you can't deny his heart and desire to do his best with no training to fall back on."
The General stares them both down, "Enough! This isn't a debate. I can't authorize any kind of assistance for Bartowski. It might be more dangerous in the end. You both know very well how deeply Fulcrum has infiltrated. If I start moving resources, especially resources with knowledge of the intersect, who is to say where that information could end up. We could save his life, only to have Fulcrum agents show up on his doorstep. Keep me posted of any changes." She kills the feed, leaving Sarah and Casey to stare at a blank screen.
The silence is broken by Sarah's cell phone. She pulls it out and looks at the caller id. Answering quickly when Ellie's name flashes on the screen. "Ellie, what is it? You should be trying to get some rest?"
"Where is Chuck? The hospital just called and he is missing. Aren't you with him Sarah?"
"Ellie, slow down. What do you mean Chuck is missing." Giving a look at Casey and nodding to the security feed from the hospital. "How did he get out of his room without anyone seeing?"
"His nurse thought it might be nice to go to the garden for some air. He seemed to be enjoying it, even asked for some pudding. When she got back he was gone."
"They took him to the garden and that is the last they saw of him?" With the prompting, Casey winds back the camera for the courtyard until he sees Chuck. "Ellie, calm down. He can't have gone far. I will find him, promise."
As she talks, they watch the feed. Chuck looks agitated all of a sudden, looking down the hill at something. He calls the nurse and she leaves him. Once she is gone, he gets up and totters down the hillside.
"You stay home. I am sure by the time you could get here, he will already be back in his room. I will call you as soon as we find him." Hanging up on Ellie.
"Where did he go Casey? Can we see what is down the hill?" Looking on as he starts flipping through other viewpoints.
"Check his gps location, Walker. I can see his watch." Comparing timestamps, he checks the other outdoor cameras for the same period. "Gotcha, loading dock. What the hell is he doing down there?"
While Sarah waits for a location, "Roll it back, he must have seen something."
"Already
on it. Nothing but some delivery guy." Freezing the screen, he
looks more closely. "Does that crate look familiar to
you?"
Focusing on the picture, "Casey, that's the missing
bomb! Oh my god, Ribauld is going to hit the hospital. Chuck must
have recognized him." She is drawn back to the locater, "Signal
is weak, but he is still there. He must be in the basement."
"What are you waiting for Walker. We can't let Chuck catch the bad guy all by himself. He would never let us forget it."
Navigating on the image from the Intersect, Chuck makes his way into the bowels of the hospital. Humming machinery effectively covers any noises he makes. They also prevent him from listening for the approach of danger. Peering around every corner, he creeps to the approximate location called out in the blueprints. 'So far so good. Of course, I have no idea what to do when I find him. I still need a phone. I can let them know, maybe they can get some people out of the hospital before the bomb is set off.'
Entering a small control room, Chuck peers over the console. Ribauld is busy removing a grate from main ventilation. 'If the bomb goes off, it will send it's deadly vapor to every corner of the building in seconds. Think Bartowski.' Flashing lights catch his eye. Looking down, he sees the piping overlay and valve controls for the boiler system. He smiles as a plan starts to form, now if he can pull it off.
"Hey you, with the ugly haircut. Hands up and step away from the package." Chuck's voice reverberates through the equipment room speakers. "We have you surrounded, make it easy on yourself." He pushes a button and cycles an automatic valve on the far end of the room. Ribauld draws and fires at the source of the noise.
"Nice try, but Agent Grimes is just fine. And I should mention, his partner, Agent Wu is currently looking at you through the scope of her rifle." Pushing another button, steam vents from a relief valve in another corner of the chamber.
"Very good, very good. I commend you on your performance. But, I believe you are alone. Were I truly surrounded, you would have taken me right away. Could you afford the chance that while talking to me I might decide to set off the bomb prematurely? I think not. That means you must be right over there." His gun swings up and he fires. Chuck ducks behind the console as glass rains down around him.
Peeking up, he sees Ribauld is on the move. 'Only going to get one chance at this. Where is the CIA when you really need it.'
"We could be so confident in our abilities that we know you won't be able to do it. Never know Mr. Demon. Do you like to be called that? Or would you prefer Sir Demon....maybe his exalted demonyness."
"If I had the time, you might like to find out first hand how I received my title. Actually, I can guarantee you wouldn't like it. Would make me smile though." Edging around the main supply and return pipes to get a better angle on the control room.
"Ooh, I feel so special. You would do that for me?"
"Of course, anything to oblige. I can be very magnanimous to my enemies."
'Keep talking you bastard, just another foot to the right. Come on, you know you have me. Wait for it Chuck. Wait...Now!' He gives an office chair a hard shove, sending it hurtling loudly over the metal walkway. Ribauld spins and snaps off two quick shots. Chuck slaps a button on the panel.
A loud whine is all the warning Ribauld gets. As he turns, the stem from a motorized cutoff valve slams into his temple with a loud crunch. He crumples to the floor and lays there unmoving. Jumping up from behind the console. "Yes!! Who is bad? Chuck Bartowski is bad. If only there had been witnesses to my genius."
At first, he attributes the shortness of breath to excitement and maybe leftover fear. His left arm starts to feel heavy and he staggers, falling to his knees. When he feels the elephant sit on his chest, worry sets in. Collapsing to the floor, he stares up at the ceiling. 'It was fun while it lasted. Wish I could have said goodbye in person.'
Casey and Sarah advance through the basement maze of the hospital. She has her eyes on the tracker and knows they are close. When the gunshots start, she throws caution to the wind, sprinting between the pipes and leaving Casey behind.
"Dammit Walker, wait up. You'll get both of you killed."
She doesn't slow at all. Turning a final corner, she comes upon the body of a man, small pool of blood forming around his head. "Casey! One person down, I think it is Ribauld. No sign of Chuck." Sparing another glance at the tracker, she sees he is near. Her eyes survey the scene, lighting on the broken window of the control room. 'Please be all right. Please be all right.'
Mounting the stairs, she stops at the doorway. Her worst fear before her. "No!" Dropping to his side, she feels for a pulse. It's there, but barely.
He moves, dazed but aware of her. "Must be heaven." With a peaceful smile, his eyes roll back and he is gone.
