The Colonel Vs. The Parson's Fight Chapter 9

Recap: Ten years later, Decker's file looks more like War and Peace, and his C.I.A. partner has been revealed to be the nephew of a notorious arms dealer Ho Ming. Team Bartwoski have been deep undercover to try and link the nephew with Ho Ming, but once again, the mission goes sideways when Chuck is captured and drugged.

Colonel John Casey was moving rapidly, quietly up behind the Chinese weapons dealer, who currently had Chuck Bartowski, the Intersect, in a tight choke hold. The large Asian begin to press Chuck's neck, and the young man was gasping frantically, his feet flying out from under him, his hands trying to break Ling Ho's tight hold. Sarah Walker had her gun drawn, facing Ho, trying to get a head shot off. But her frustration was only magnified by the fact that Ho kept shifting his and Chuck's body, back and forth, his lips repeating over and over, "這是一次報復。這是一次報復』["This is the time for revenge. This is the time for revenge."] With his left arm, Ho reached out, and a 5 inch stiletto snapped out of his arm holster and he pressed it against Chuck's throbbing neck vein. Chuck tried desperately to flash on anything to help himself, but the tranquilizer Ho had used on him earlier was befuddling his mind, and the computer in it was refusing to reboot. Black spots were rapidly descending on Chuck's vision, and he mouthed carefully to Sarah, " I love you." His body slowly relaxed into Ho's arms, and the weight of the unconscious man pulled Ho's arm down enough that Sarah was ready. However, her eyes flicked just once toward Casey, and Ho dropped Chuck, whirled around and sent the stiletto flying through the air. Both Casey and Sarah fired, and the Chinese's head was blown to bits, blood and brain matter splattering over Chuck's still body. Sarah bent down to Chuck, and checked his pulse. It was then she spotted Casey, bent over, his right leg on the ground, his left bent, trying to lift his large body. John's face was completely white, and as he stared down, his left hand was around the hilt of the knife now buried in his upper abdomen. Blood was spewing from the wound, and he swayed like a half hewed tree, a mixture of deep pain and disbelief in his eyes.

"Walker..." John moaned loudly, and rolled to his right side to the ground, his Sig Saur hitting the warehouse pavement with a loud clatter. He tried to reach out to Chuck, and he dragged himself slowly to check on his friend, and asset. Sarah was already on the cell calling 911, and she knelt down to stem the flow of Casey's blood, now joining the puddle rapidly growing from Ho's body. "Bartowski..." John reached once more out and felt for Chuck's pulse, but as he moved, his entire body shuddered. He pulled himself up in a ball, and whispered to Sarah..."poison. There's poison...I can taste it... Carson Leonard's con...coction..." He began to shake, and Sarah held his right hand tightly.

"John, the aid car is coming. Hang in there. Chuck is okay. Don't worry. I won't leave you." Sarah was crying softly, as she watched the man she respected deeply, convulse again. Over and over, she muttered the words, trying to convince herself that Casey was all right. Suddenly, the Colonel arched back, his hands going to his chest, tearing at his shirt, as he gasped for breath.

"Heart...feels like exploding...Dear God, Sarah...Tell Parson..." Another wave of pain clutched his body, his groans exploding into screams of pain. Sarah was frantically trying to listen for sirens, and each second that ticked by, she saw the Colonel writhing in agony. He pulled himself closer to her, and with one large breath, he groaned out, "Tell Annie...First Corine.." another spasm, he clutching his chest, "First Corinthians...Thirteen." His eyes rolled back into his head, and his hand fell from her blouse.

"John? John? Dear God, don't die on me, Colonel." She bent over, ear pressed to his chest, but she heard no heartbeat. She touched his neck, searching for the familiar double beating, but it was not there. She begin CPR, pressing hard down on his heart, counting loudly the number of chest compressions, and breathing deeply into the Colonel's mouth. She only felt the paramedics had arrived when they literally had to tear her away from John, trying to convince her that they would take over. She crawled back to Chuck, and hands bloodied with AB negative blood, she begin to caress Chuck's face, astonished at the peaceful look he had. Once again the paramedics pulled her away to get information on both men. They had revived Casey with a defibrillator, but the erratic beeping on the heart monitor did nothing to calm her. Chuck was also loaded up in a second aide car, and the driver walked over to Sarah and asked, "Miss, where to?" He reached out to touch her, to try and get her out of the daze she seemed to be in, but she jerked away from his hand, her face confused.

She saw his mouth talking, but she heard none of the words. Her mind was filled with Chuck, his frantic movements trying to get away from Ho. The bullets flying, and Ho's head exploding, and the sickening realization that her own hesitation to shoot Ho may have indeed cost the life of the best spy partner she ever had.

He lay on the hospital bed, his face as white as the sheet that lay smoothly across his massive chest, heart monitor leads zigzagging up from under his "one size fits all, but not him,"gown. A respirator was doing the job of breathing for him, and his eyes lids were tapped shut, the room bathed in soft light from the dimming ceiling lamp above his head. His left hand was currently being held by by a slight woman with auburn hair, which hid her lips moving in silent prayer. Tiny tear drops fell on his hand and she quickly, and lovingly wiped them away, still praying for healing for this man she was beginning to draw into her heart.

Pastor Annie Coburn had stayed day and night for that last week beside John's bed, praying for him, helping the nurses move him to prevent bed sores. At first the nurses were reluctant to have this woman help them, but whenever they wanted her to leave the room she refused gently but stubbornly, and they gave up the fight finally after the first 24 hours. They began to rely on her observations of his various unconscious grunts and groans, and even began to bring her from off hospital campus coffee, true, delicious, coffee from the coffee stand from down the street when they found out her love of Starbucks. Each nurse, each physician's assistant, even Casey's long time friend Carol, the physical therapist, begin to comment on the mental and emotional connection Annie and John had. But as Chuck and Sarah, Morgan and even the BuyMorians came by to visit, they all saw the toll John's delayed consciousness was taking on this woman of great faith.

The early spring day dawned brightly in Burbank at the N.S.A. Hospital and as always, Annie was already up, her teeth and hair brushed and a quick spit bath taken, and standing vigil at his bedside. But this day, John was restless, often his body jerking in a haphazard way, even mumbling words under his breath. Annie was thrilled, her heart anticipating him finally waking from his deep winter's slumber, but he did no such thing, sinking once more into a depth of coma akin to death. Chuck and Sarah stepped quietly in the room, and found Annie sobbing silently, her shoulders shaking from the emotion, her head down on the bed beside John's hand. Sarah surged ahead, and enveloped her new friend in a deep hug, drawing her away from John's bed.

"Pastor Annie, let Chuck seat with John for a few minutes. Let's go get some coffee, ok? I need to ask you some questions about what Casey told me before he..."Sarah stopped and Annie glanced up into her concerned eyes.

"Coffee sounds good, right about now, Sarah. Thank you." The two women left the room, and Chuck pulled the chair up to John's side and plopped down, easing his large frame forward and patting his handler on the nearest shoulder.

"Hey, big guy. You would be proud of me today. Sarah made me run 10 miles and I only pooped out at about seven...well, no, I better tell the truth with a pastor around...five. But still I got up this morning at 4 to do it, and when you get awaken up, I will challenge you to run from here to Echo Park and back. Hey, hey, betcha can't do it, buddy." He looked at the still figure of the man he come to admire and to love, but there was no grunts, no movement, just the rhythmic whooshing of the machine. He didn't let the sound bother him, too much, and he began his daily platter with John, filling him in on the details of the current investigation into Decker, and his shady dealings under the C.I.A.'s jurisdiction.

"You would be surprised at the General, John. She told me she had your files on Decker uploaded into the Intersect, and we have found some loopholes that we can use to bring that creep to justice. I only wish you could be there John, to see his face when we finally arrest the s.o.b. And lock him away into the bunker the C.I.A. had fixed for me. Yep, can't wait. Now, you need to know that Lester and Jeff are doing to your large appliance department..."

The two women walked slowly across the the street in front of the hospital and down the block to the coffee shop. The brisk air felt so good the Annie, and she squeezed Sarah's hand in appreciation. "Thank you again, Sarah, for bringing me out here." Sarah looked at her with a question on her face."I had forgotten there is still the world revolving around outside John's room, with fresh air, and beautiful California sunshine." Annie stopped in front of the coffee shop, her face turned up to soak up the light from above, and she took a deep breath in, and then coughed at the ever present L.A. smog. "Well, maybe almost fresh air." The two women giggled, went in, ordered their coffee and a large, warm cinnamon roll to split, and sat down. Sarah began to regale Annie with stories from the Buy More and the two morons known as Lester and Jeff, but when they were finished with their roll, Annie smiled and touched Sarah's hand again.

"Thank you, dearest Sarah. I know now why Chuck loves you so much. My spirits are lifted up, my waist line is expanded, my blood sugar is through the roof, and my caffeine level is wonderful, so what were you going to tell me?" Annie sat back, and sipped her coffee, her dark, brown eyes sparkling at the agent who loved her friend John as much as she did.

"When John was stabbed, Annie, he said something to me that I don't understand." Sarah spoke quietly and seriously, leaning forward to speak directly to the pastor. Annie only remained silent, but her body language was relaxed and open so Sarah continued.

"He first told me that the poison..."Annie flinched at the word, but Sarah continued, knowing this strong woman could handle it. "The poison was a variety an old enemy used. We were able to get a anti-toxin ready at the hospital for John, and that is why he is not dead." Sarah gulped, and looked down at her hands that were currently clasped very tight. Annie reached over and unclasped them, stroking them for a good measure to quiet down Sarah's nervousness.

"I can't get over the fact that if I had reacted faster, John never would had been stabbed, and never would be in the coma he is in now. It's my fault, Annie, he's there." Sarah drew in a gasp of breath, and her hands shook slightly. Annie took them again in her hands, and she looked deep into the agent's face.

"Sarah, I want you to know that Diane told me that if it wasn't for the information you were able to provide to the e.m.t.s even at the site of John's assault, he would not be alive. She said you kept his heart going, even after he died..." Annie cleared her throat as she said the word, but continued, "your hands, his blood, your life you gave him. Do you not know that God picked you to save my John? And I shall always be grateful for you giving me back a man that I am totally in lust with." Sarah gasped and looked at Annie, and in spite of their tears, they both laughed. "Did I ever tell you that I once say John in his birthday suit, as I was cleaning him up at the cabin. Wow, what a man!" The two women giggled loudly again, and the entire coffee shop looked over to them.

"SSSSSHHHH, we have got to get under control here, dear woman." Annie laughed and then she spoke quietly, "John also said something to you you didn't understand?"

Sarah nodded slowly, as the horrible replay of that day flashed through her memory. She tried to let go of the guilt, and finally, finding some peace, she spoke, "He said to tell you First Corinthians 13. What's that?"

Annie went white, and her hand went up to her mouth, tears pouring out of her eyes. At first, Sarah thought she had upset the gentle pastor, but when Annie removed her hand, there was a brilliant smile. Annie snagged her purse and pulled out a small New Testament, well used by the looks of it. She turned to the passage quickly, and then passed it to Sarah to read, who began to read the beautiful centuries old love poem:

"If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love."*

Sarah was touched by the ancient words, and she snorted a little when Annie told her that John had located the New Testament she was holding and read to her on their first date. She imagined her tough, shoot first, ask questions later, cigar smoking, Johnny Walker drinking partner reading gently the poem to this pastor friend, long before he could speak the words of love he was beginning to feel. It was a different side of Casey she had never seen, and she laughed at the mental image.

"Now you can see how wonderful this is for me, Sarah. Tough as nails Marine Corps Major is beginning to fall for a rural community pastor of no real significance." Annie grinned, but Sarah stopped her, and corrected her,

"Pastor Annie, if you can teach my partner how to love you and the God you serve, you are not a nothing in my book." Sarah smiled widely and then her body poster went rigged, as she glanced at the front door of the coffee shop. Annie turned and watched two men in dark glasses and suits enter the shop. They stopped when they spied Sarah, but only nodded once curtly and sat down at the other end of the shop.

"Oh, dear God, what is he doing here?" Sarah muttered, and Annie was amazed to see the quick transition from lady friend into cold agent.

"Who is that, Sarah?"

"Someone who is ultimately responsible for letting John lay there at the hospital so long." Sarah rose slowly, her teeth grinding and stomped over to the two men. Annie watched and then she went and reordered a double shot decaf skinny milk latte with sugar free almond nice and extra hot to go.

By the time she had joined the threesome, both men had discarded their sunglasses, and one of the men had stood up and was nose to nose with Sarah, whispering dangerously to her. Annie walked up confidently, and touched Sarah's shoulder.

"Sarah, honey," Annie drawled out the words slowly, and she saw the man's dangerous eyes shift her direction and then dismissed her as some kind of putz. "Why you keeping these two gorgeous men from me, dahling? Hi there, my name is Annie Sue Macahaney, and are you married and if not, can we go for a date? Or heck, even if you are, I would love to get to know you two so very well." She spread the charm on thickly and saw the man's pupils open up in lust, and he grinned in spite of himself.

"Well, Annie Sue, I'm Rodney and I would love to spend time with a charming woman like you, but Ms. Walker and I have some more business to discuss." He dismissed Annie with a wave of her hand, and Sarah turned abruptly, muttering, "Annie Sue, let's get out of here before the stench smothers me."

When Sarah turned around, she bumped Annie, and Annie's double decaf skinny milk with sugar free almond extra hot latte went spewing right over Rodney's dress shirt, and down to his crotch. He danced ridiculously, ordering his partner to try and get some napkins, and keeping Annie Sue's hands away from his body. He swore loudly, and several of the customers had to put their hands over their children's ears. "Annie Sue kept apologizing and patting him down, and without him knowing it, she had lifted his pistol, and stuffed extra napkins down the front of his slacks. He only stopped when he felt the tip of his own pistol in his gut, and he looked down at the flaring dark brown eyes of a woman bent on wrath.

"You ever again touch my man, John Casey, with anything again, I personally will see you put away for a very long time, capice?" Her voice was low, and she added a Casey growl to it. She expertly kept the safety off the gun and stuffed that down his pants front too. "Move carefully, Rodney, or you might just loose the family jewels."

Rev. Annie Coburn twirled around and stomped out of the shop, head held high, and grabbed the hand of expert C.I.A. Agent Sarah Walker. The two women skipped back over to the hospital and once inside the safety of the building they busted up in laughter, Annie also shaking with the adrenaline rush she just had experienced.

As they punched the elevator button to John's floor, Annie sank against the wall. "Dear Lord Jesus, if that is what being a spy is like, I think I will leave that up to you, John and Chuck, and go back to preaching. Man, that is a rush, though." Sarah laughed again at the woman who had just gone notched higher on Walker's respect meter wipe the tears from her eyes.

As they exited the elevator, Chuck came flying out of John's room and grabbed Annie.

"He's awake and asking for you, Pastor. Hurry up." The three of them surged into the room, and Annie gasped as the head of the man she loved slowly turned to her, his eyes freed from the tape, now even a brighter blue. The nurse was pulling the respirator tube out of him, and Annie grabbed his hand as he gagged and winced at the horrific pain the withdrawal of the tube caused. A few tears left his eyes, but he sought her out, and carefully lifted her hand to his lips. He croaked out the words..."Beloved..." and Annie, now crying openly rushed to grab some ice chips and put them in his mouth.

"Slowly, beloved, slowly." She cautioned him, and he rolled his eyes at her, and then tried to smile at little at Chuck and Sarah. "Already nagging..." he gasped and then coughed violently. Chuck rushed up and helped the nurse roll him over to his side, and the deep hacks eased off. Sarah braced John's back with pillows, and adjusted the sheet over his bare backside.

John still did not let go of Annie's hand, and he kept rubbing it gently with his thumb. "How, what...made you wake up, John?" Annie asked.

"Me. I kept talking so much he needed to wake up to shut me up." Chuck said proudly, as Sarah hugged him. John only grunted in agreement and kissed Annie's hand again.

"John, I must tell you what Annie did to Decker just now at the coffee shop." Sarah laughed but John and Annie were in their own world, and Chuck and Sarah crept out to update the General.

"Decker, huh?" John hoarsely whispered, trying to fight his eyes closing on him.

"One extra hot non fat latte in his lap, and one loaded pistol down his pants." Annie said rather satisfactorily. John's large frame begin to shake and for a moment, Annie was frightened, but then the shaking bubbled up to the surface, and John was actually laughing, deep laughing from his toes up. However, he grimaced and then settled down.

"Wish I could have seen..." he yawned deeply, and then asked for the very first time, of many times to come in their lifetime together, "stay with me, Parson?"

Annie leaned over and kissed the sweet lips of her man. "Always, beloved, always."

The End and the beginning.

The scripture used is from Eugene Petersen's The Message, published by W. Eerdman Publishing Co.

Time for reviews dear friends. I did repost chapter 1 with a few changes to use that to bring us up to date. We will have to see season five to see how Decker finally gets it, and I hope it will be our John Casey who is the Angel of Justice. Thank you again for traveling with me. I think I will be revisiting the rebuilding of Annie's church lost in arson fire in the Colonel Vs. The Boogie Man. Need to bring the four brothers together to build: David Dixon, Stargate SGI, John Casey, Chad Shelten, Daybreak, and Jayne Cobb, Firefly. Have a delightful week!