Chapter 10 – Sarah's Home

Disclaimer: Still don't own Chuck

After all the angst and action in the past chapters, I thought I would like to try my hand at something lighter and hopefully amusing.

The smells of fried bacon, fruit and pancakes filled the room. Nobody talked and sounds of cutting and scraping filled the eating area, the only other sounds were that of grunts and moans of pleasure as each enjoyed the food.

The sounds of group bliss during a meal were suddenly interrupted by the command, "put this on!"

Everyone turned to look at Alex standing in the entranceway, holding out a black trench coat at arms length. "I'm as overjoyed as everyone that your back Sarah, really, I am. But wear some clothes, please! Otherwise, I'm gouging Morgan's eyes out and it'll be your fault! Morgan knows he is to never look at another leggy woman and there you are, walking around in a skimpy outfit. I won't stand for it!" Alex tossed the trench coat in Sarah's direction and promptly crossed her arms and stomped her foot, an angry scowl on her face.

Casey grunted and then whispered to Sarah, "She means it. Don't forget she's my daughter. I can't be held responsible if she attacks."

Sarah glared at Alex, chewing her pancakes. She reached out and picked up her glass of orange juice and took a sip. She reached into her lap and picked up her napkin, folded it and tossed on her plate. Reaching behind her back, she untied the straps holding her apron on, allowing it to fall to her lap, never smiling once.

"Well hello to you too, Alex," Sarah snarled as she stood and walked to the end of the table to face Alex, her arms by her side, standing tall with her rib cage spread and her shoulders pulled back, emphasizing the effect of her purple nightgown's cut in displaying her female chest assets. Her chin jutting out and teeth clinched, Sarah moved slightly, shifting her weight from foot to foot, establishing perfect balance.

Chuck recognized the expression and attitude Sarah was displaying all too well, having seen it a few times himself when he had misplaced one of her throwing knives when making the bed or whenever he didn't stay in the car when she told him to. He jumped to his feet and scooped up the black trench coat. Quickly he draped it around Sarah's shoulders, covering her, as he whispered in her ear, "be nice Sweetie, be nice. Alex is very sensitive about tall, leggy women being around Morgan to begin with. She loves you, but your current attire is a bit provocative and while I love, oh yes, I love the way it looks on you, as your husband, I would prefer if you only wore this without a robe in the privacy of our room."

Sarah continued to glare at Alex, tense and ready to strike. She whispered to Chuck, "ok, I won't kick her ass this time, but only because you asked and she's Casey's daughter. Her Morgan problems are her own to resolve." Sarah slipped her arms through the sleeves of the jacket and buttoned the middle button before finally tying the belt around her slender waist.

"Alex dear, I'll keep your request in mind for the future," she said, the sarcasm dripping from her words, "but only because my husband doesn't want anyone to see me like this but him. Oh, and if you're going to complain about my attire, let me tell you this. Chuck better not see your tush hanging out ever again. You might want to wear a bigger t-shirt that covers more than the top half of your butt."

Alex's eyes became big as her mouth fell open in shock and surprise. Quickly she reached to feel her bottom, discovering Sarah was right. Her lacy panties were proudly on display as Morgan's t-shirt was far too short to cover her properly. Blushing, Alex pulled down her t-shirt, turned and ran from the eating area.

Sarah sat down, put her napkin in her lap, picked up her silverware and proceeded to cut up what was left of her pancakes. The silence was deafening. Chuck slowly returned to his chair and sat down. Sarah stabbed pieces of pancake with her fork and took a bite. She sat and looked at everyone at the table as she chewed: Chuck, Casey, Verbanski, Mary, Clara, Awesome and Ellie. Casey's low growl broke the silence.

"Walker, was that necessary? Awesome is a doctor and see's naked women all the time. I've seen you dressed in far worse on missions and Chuck's your husband. I get it you feel comfortable around us. But this is Alex, my baby girl," Casey growled through clinched teeth. "Have you forgotten Carina?"

A puzzled look slowly spread over Sarah's face as she slowly stopped chewing. "What does Carina have to do with this," Sarah asked, truly dumbfounded.

"Sarah, honey, it's ok, you'd never say that to Alex if your remembered," Ellie interjected. Standing, Ellie quickly ran over to Sarah and placed her hand on Sarah's forehead. "You don't feel warm, that's good. I think we found the first hole in your memory Sarah. Also, you might want to work on Sarah being in control and not Agent Walker," Ellie added before returning to her seat.

"Please tell me why Alex is so upset. What did Carina have to do with this? Alex came in here and threatened me, insulted me and I don't take that off anyone," Sarah said in frustration, gesturing with both hands in frustration.

"No excuse Walker," Casey said through clinched teeth, his fists clinched and eyes staring intently at Sarah. "Calm down baby, calm down John," Verbanski whispered, love and concern showing in her eyes as she stroked the big man's arm. "We knew Sarah would have issues, she'll learn. And John, Alex could have displayed more tact in how she approached Sarah on the subject."

Casey relaxed his teeth and fists but continued to glare at Sarah. Verbanski leaned over to whisper in his ear, "I'm proud of her though John. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. Subtly was never your strong suit. Alex has established her boundary and Sarah will respect it. There are going to be clashes if we're all cooped up here. We have five adult alpha females in one living space. Would you expect any less?

Casey grunted he understood and he looked down at his plate. "Honey, my Colonel," Verbanski whispered, "Alex has to learn there are other, less confrontational ways to deal with these things. She's not a match for Sarah in hand-to-hand combat. A normal woman, it's over in seconds, but not Sarah. Alex has to learn to assess threats better. I'll work with her John, and so can Mary."

Chuck whispered in Sarah's ear the history of Morgan, Carina and Alex. Sarah's eyes grew wider and wider, her mouth falling open. Chuck finished the story and sat up in his chair. Sarah, covered her open mouth with her hand turning to lean on Chuck who put his arm around her and hugged her close. "Casey, I am so sorry," Sarah said softly. I didn't remember. I would never have said what I said if I had remembered. I would have said something snarky, but not what I said," tears welling in her eyes.

Sarah stood quickly, wiping the tears from her eyes, "Casey, I'm going to go apologize right now." Sarah quickly strode from the eating area, leaving everyone in silence.

With the same suddenness that Sarah left the eating area, a loud thud broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention to Ellie. With her typical authoritative, emphatic speech when in charge, Ellie began spewing forth words, "John, what did I tell everyone about possible memory gaps Sarah could have, hmm? What did I say? She just had the virus removed four hours ago. It's a miracle she's up and walking around, that she's remembers so much, that she can feel her emotions for Chuck, for all of us again. What's worse, after Chuck, you are the most important person to her in this room. I'm ordering you to be patient with her for at least a week." Casey, surprised to be under verbal assault from Ellie, leaned back and away from her, his hands up in a defensive posture, a rare sight for everyone who knew the giant sniper.

Awesome, who was watching Verbanski coil as if preparing to strike, reached over and touched his wife's arm. "Ellie, Ellie, honey, it's OK. It's OK. Casey's got it. We've all got it. Just a little too much stress over the last few weeks, too much change for all of us. Let's be happy Sarah's much better, and she owes so much of that awesome recovery to you. You're awesome babe. Let's just chill and enjoy this awesome breakfast."

Ellie glared at Casey, turned to glare at Awesome and then folded her arms and sat back, announcing with certainty again, "Sarah's my patient. What I say goes when it comes to her treatment."

Mary leaned forward and held Clara out to Ellie. "Here honey, take Clara. Everyone understands you're just looking out for Sarah's well being. Everyone is just tense."

Verbanski relaxed, realizing Ellie was just concerned and as a medical doctor asserting protectiveness over her patient. Everyone else was under stress from so many different sources. She leaned over again to whisper to Casey, "my Colonel, there are far too many alpha females here. If we don't get a mission and shoot something soon, there is going to be bloodshed." Casey grunted his agreement, leaning over to whisper in her ear, "my trigger finger is starting to itch."

Living quarters in Castle…

Sarah knocked on the door to Morgan and Alex's room before slowly opening the door. Morgan was sitting next to Alex on their bed, his arm around her. Alex's eyes were puffy from crying, tear tracks stained with mascara ran down her cheeks.

"Morgan, would you leave the two of us alone, please. I would like to talk to Alex in private a moment," Sarah asked politely.

"Are you sure that's a good idea. The last thing I need right now is Casey beating me to death and then Chuck defiling my dead body because the two of you came to blows," Morgan said, his voice trembling slightly. "This is a delicate situation Sarah, we're all confined to Castle at the moment, and well, Alex finds this to be a sensitive subject."

"Morgan, I promise, no bloodshed. I came to apologize to Alex," Sarah said sweetly with a broad smile. Suddenly adopting her enforcer glare, Sarah ordered, "now leave!"

"I want both of you to note, I am leaving against my better judgment and under duress. Any and all injuries or damage incurred due to physical combat between the two of you is not to be held against me. I am not liable," Morgan said with hands raised in surrender as he inched his way past Sarah, closing the door behind him.

As Sarah turned to look at the tiny Alex, she could hear Morgan running down the corridor shouting, "Casey, Chuck, there's going to be trouble! It's not my fault! They wouldn't listen."

Sarah sat down a few inches away from Alex who had folded her arms across her chest and was looking down the floor.

"I'm sorry Alex. You came in and challenged me like that and I don't take that from anyone. Chuck would have been sleeping on the couch for a week. I didn't remember the problems Carina caused between the two of you. Chuck had to tell me. To be honest, I'm not surprised. This is typical of Carina," Sarah told Alex.

Alex looked at Sarah, new tears running from her eyes. "I'm sorry too. It's just your so beautiful and your leggy like Carina. To make things worse, Ellie runs around in shorts and a skimpy top and she's a beautiful woman too. I'm so short and I don't have long legs like you and Ellie. For so long Morgan was in love with Ellie and Sarah, you have to know, Morgan has a thing for tall, leggy women. We're just starting to really get close but I still feel so insecure and I really love Morgan."

Sarah put her arm around the younger woman and hugged her. Alex hugged Sarah back and sat up. Sarah leaned over and whispered conspiratorially, "I'll tell you a secret. It's a good thing you're a red head or I would have kicked your ass back there. Chuck has a thing for short brunettes and it makes me crazy jealous still."

Alex wiped her eyes, a huge grin appearing on her face. "Really, you get jealous too! I didn't think that a woman as beautiful as you could feel threatened by another woman."

"Oh, let me tell you Alex, I can get jealous. Chuck cover broke up with me for this girl named Lou. Hate her to this day. She owns a deli and you know how Chuck loves sandwiches. She was your size and really cute. I interrupted their first date, which unfortunately, had turned into a mission for Chuck, well, I say unfortunately," Sarah giggled at her memory of how she had ruined Chuck's first date with Lou. Alex giggled with her and then suddenly exclaimed, "Sarah, you had a memory come back!"

The two women hugged and giggled, bonding over their shared secret insecurity.

Alex lowered her voice and spoke in a secretive manner, "Sarah, I have been wondering, Chuck and Morgan do so much together, and now Morgan spends so much time with my Dad, do they ever…

In the corridor…

Mary and Verbanski stood at the end of the corridor to the living area, watching as Chuck, Morgan and Casey stooped outside Morgan and Alex's room, trying intently to hear the conversation inside.

Chuck whispered to Morgan and Casey, "They're talking about us. Sharing intel. We're doomed." Casey grunted, "shut up Moron. Can't make out what they're saying. We need accurate intel."

"What are we going to do with them, Gertrude," Mary sighed, shaking her head.

"I know Mary. Just look at them. Chuck, the male intersect. John, the greatest living sniper and Morgan, who John says could become the best magnet in our profession. Two super spies and one in training, acting like adolescent boys," Verbsanski whispered.