I would like to apologize for not writing sooner, and give a huge SHOUT OUT to Shadow for Beta'ing these last chapters. He had his work cut out for him.
Thanks Bro!
I do not own Chuck, but oh if I did!
VIII- What they're doing Now
"Is the line ready?"
"Line is ready!" BEEP! A mechanical instrument chimes as several rounds from handguns ring out.
BEEP! Silence. "Alright. Take your targets down replace them with fresh ones and report to my office."
Several military and agent types walk to the targets and begin to replace them.
"Good job Major. As usual you scored in the 100 percentile."
"Hmm, you expect any different."
"Of course not Major, merely wanted to state your score sir."
Casey walks out not saying another word.
"Not bad Major." A uniformed woman tells the Major as he walks down the hallway from the underground shooting range. Casey stops dead in his tracks, stiffens his body as he salutes "General, to what do I owe this honor."
"Are you ready to go off the grid Major?"
"General?"
"We have been getting information from a source in Prague that Fulcrum has united with a former KGB operative, who is in possession of several missing nukes. You will be assigned to follow said agent, and identify the Fulcrum agents he contacts. If necessary, terminate Fulcrum agents to recover the nukes. You will be in deep Major. No back up. Officially you will be off the reservation. As always, if you are captured we will deny any knowledge of your existence." The General smiles and extends a packet towards Casey's chest.
He smirks as he looks down at the packet being handed to him. He comments to himself. 'Finally, My dream job. Thank you.' He quickly snaps back to reality. "General if I may inquire. How long will I be re-assigned?"
"Does it matter?" she replies with an irritated voice.
Casey stares at the General's forehead, purposely not looking into her piercing gaze. "No mam…….. well yes mam it does."
"Why? I am giving you the chance of a life time. Your dream assignment" She snaps.
"Mam, I" I can't believe I am going to say this "Made a promise which I intend to keep."
"How long John. How long are you going to stay with the Bartowski's? When is enough enough? You staying with the remaining survivors is not helping. The assignment is way below your pay grade."
"General, Ellie Bartowski is from the same two parents as Chu… the former intersect, and if Fulcrum put two and two together they could initiate a full movement to kidnap, and attempt to make her the next intersect if not for our presence. That being said General, I believe it behooves the NSA to keep a vigilant eye on the family."
The General sighs "Well said Major. I will allow it. Make sure there is a surveillance team keeping tabs on their whereabouts at all times. Nothing extravagant understood?"
"Yes General. I will make sure of it personally."
Casey salutes turns and walks away down the corridor towards the exit. He grunts as he speaks to a nerdy imaginary image in his head 'Alright numbskull my debt to you is repaid in full. Your sister will be safe.'
As the General watches Casey leave, Director Graham walks out of a nearby doorway and asks "How did it go?"
"Exactly how we thought it would. He stayed."
"Excellent." Graham peers at the file in her hand and raises an eyebrow. "What's in the file?"
General smiles "You really want to know?"
Graham hesitantly replies "I'm afraid to ask again." As she hands the file marked TOP SECRET to the Director, he nervously smiles. Viewing into the file, his eyes instantly grow larger as his lips begin to tighten. He gazes upon a picture of Chuck staring back at him. He quickly glares towards the General. "Diane, You almost gave him the file on Chuck and his where abouts….. How could you!?"
"Quiet down Graham." As she raises her index finger to her lips in a shushing gesture. "I am merely making a point of how certain I was he would not accept the assignment."
"He was so close to finding out. I am impressed."
"So am I."
They turn to walk the opposite direction.
The General quirks her head and questions the Director. "Tell me. How is Agent Walker doing?"
Graham does not reciprocate the glance and quickly replies. "fine."
She smirks at the cold blatant lie she was just given "Really?" and gives a Casey grunt of the #7 edition.
Graham quickly turns his head and stares at the General.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A radio in the background plays as the lyrics of an old song from Don Williams begins
Coffee black.
Cigarette.
Start this dayyyyy, like all the rest
First thing every morning that I do……. Is start missing you
Chorus:
Some broken hearts never mend.
Some memories never end
Some tears will never dry
My love for you will never die
(soft country rifts)
An irritated voice is heard, "Why do you insist on listening to this song every morning?" as the person speaking presses the button turning the music off mid stream.
A monotone voice replies "It helps me focus on my mission and why I am still alive." As a blonde haired woman stands from her once seated position.
A well dressed woman with her hair and make up applied with great care, but her eyes are blood shot and show the wear and tear of the past missions. Although, the missions have all been complete successes, she denies herself any down time even when given a direct order from the director himself. She manipulates the system into continuing to keep her working or as she calls it, destiny.
The beautiful blonde walks by the man, keeping eye contact with him as she stands directly in front of him turning the song back on. Sarah slowly turns around and while walking him away she gives him a warning that chills him to the bone. "Bryce, Don't ever touch the radio while our song is playing, or it could be the last thing you ever do." She sits back in her seat and continues to make preparations for their assignment.
"What the hell is wrong with you Sarah!? What do you mean our song?!" she ignores the questioning. "Chuck is dead!" Her body involuntarily flinches. He stops after realizing how forceful his last statement sounds and calms himself. "Sarah, I miss him too. He was my best friend. The only person I still had contact with in the outside world and trusted as much as you." Bryce sits down next to her and places his hand on top of hers momentarily. "Sarah, its me. C'mon let me in. For the last several months I have painfully watched as you work yourself to death. A partner can only take so much"
"Have you ever………" Sarah clears her throat "I dream about him every night." Her eyes become more swollen as she fights back the tears. "The incident replays through my mind. It's almost like he is trying to say something to me." Bryce hugs her tightly pressing her head against his chest. He smiles as she begins to grab a hold of him. Her defenses are falling as her body craves the intimacy a man can give a woman. He slowly lowers his hand from her mid section to rest in the small of her back as he presses her against him harder. Her body wants this just not from him.
But in the middle of Love's embrace…… I see your face.
