A/N: okay so I am sorry. When I looked back at chapter 13 I guess the image was a little dark with kids being in danger. I will say more at the end as to not ruin anything for this chapter.
Chapter 14
From Chapter 13: Chuck began frantically kicking and screaming trying unsuccessfully to free himself from their grip. Just as the point in the chorus when the bomb was set to explode, Chuck became still and closed his eyes.
Chuck closed his eyes not wanting to see the death of hundreds. He waited listening for the explosion followed by the screams of those who had been injured and the cries of those whom had just witnessed the death of those close to them. All the other sounds faded in his mind as he waited, but the explosion and cries never came. Chuck forced one of his eyes to open ever so slightly, then opened both eyes fully. The bomb had not gone off. The song came to an end and all those in attendance rose to give the children a standing ovation. Chuck sighed so heavily in relief that he would have fallen to his knees if the Director and the Doctor were not still holding his arms.
The director looked down at Chuck with fury evident in his eyes. "Is this your idea of a joke or are you just trying to make me look like a fool as some sort of revenge?"
"What? No, that is not what is going on here?"
"Then what is going on here Mr. Bartowski?" the director had turned to face Chuck in a more aggressive stance.
"Well I…I don't know what is going on here. The intersect said that there was going to be a bomb going off during the song, but…" Chuck was interrupted by a harsh pull on his arm.
"I have heard enough out of you today," the director pulled Chuck over to an agent standing near by. "Get him out of my sight."
Chuck was so confused by the events of the afternoon that he barely even noticed when the agent took hold of his arm and pulled him around a shrub towards the vehicles, or when another agent took hold of Chuck's other arm as they made their way towards the vehicles.
Suddenly something brought Chuck's attention back to the present. Something was different yet very familiar. And then he realized what it was, orange creamcycle. Well not really, but it was a combination of a bright citrus and warm vanilla smell that always made him think of orange creamcycles as well as brightened his mood, and there was only one person who ever smelled that good to Chuck.
---
Sarah had seen the relief in Chuck's face when he opened his eyes. She knew that he was not trying to pull a fast one on the Director, not when he had shown pure desperation just a moment ago when trying to save those children. No, something had been planned for today, but for some reason didn't happen. She would have to worry about that later as her chance to free Chuck seemed to be approaching. She kept her distance until the agent had pulled Chuck out of the sight of the director and the Doctor then made her move. She took Chuck's left arm and looked at the other agent, but before she could say anything Chuck, who had been staring at the ground the entire time, suddenly started to look around as if searching for something. It only took a second for him to turn and look her straight in eyes. She concentrated everything she had into conveying a message for him to keep calm into a single look.
---
Chuck had nearly freaked out. He knew she was near, but he nearly fell over when he realized it was Sarah holding his left arm. He was about to throw his arms around her when he felt her grip on his arm tighten like a vice sending pain shooting through his bicep as she stared hard into his eyes. Coming back to his senses Chuck remembered the other agent holding his right arm and did his best to act calmly.
"I guess I am going to be stuck babysitting the nerd. The director wants you to help with the final sweep," Sarah acted as if she were annoyed as she spoke to the other agent.
"Huh, what did you do to piss off Graham," the agent laughed as he let go of Chuck's arm.
Sarah shook her head as she slowly led Chuck away, "I don't think we have enough time for me to explain all the ways I have pissed off Graham."
Once out of sight of the rest of the agents Sarah loosened her grip enough that Chuck could turn to face her. "Oww," Chuck said as he rubbed the area where she had been holding his arm.
"Sorry about that, are you okay?" Sarah asked as she looked up at Chuck.
Chuck just smiled and then threw both of his arms tightly around her, "I knew you would make me do this alone."
Sarah thoroughly enjoyed the warmth she felt as he held her, but she couldn't relax just yet. Using all the will power she could muster she pulled away from Chuck. "We are not safe yet. We still need to get you out of here." As she spoke she had started to walk away trying to pull Chuck along with her, only to have him remain standing where he was. "Chuck I missed you too and I promise to show you how much later, but we really need to get out of here," Sarah said with a small smile peaking through her serious expression.
"Sarah I…I can't," Chuck looked heartbroken as he spoke.
"Now really isn't the time for jokes Chuck," the smile faded from her face.
"I am not joking Sarah. I can't leave, not yet," Chuck dropped his head.
"What are you talking about?" Sarah was starting to show a hint of frustration in her own voice.
"They were going to kill hundreds of Children and the President, Sarah." Chuck paused for a second before continuing, "I know that if I go with you right now we are going to be running, and I am okay with that as long as I am with you," Chuck shared a small grin with her. "But first I need to take care of this. There was supposed to be a bomb here today, just because it didn't go off doesn't mean that this is over."
Sarah was amazed at what she was hearing, amazed and yet strangely not surprised. As one tear rolled down her cheek she answered with sadness in her voice, "Chuck we may never get another chance at this."
The words she had chosen did not go unnoticed by Chuck. This may be the only chance they had for him to escape, but it may also be the only chance they would ever have to be together. "Sarah, I want to run away with you more than anything in the world, but I could not live with myself if I didn't do everything I could to stop Fulcrum from hurting innocent people. If they succeed the war will continue and thousands of people will die, all because I did nothing."
Sarah couldn't argue with him. It would be so unfair for her to spend the first year she knew him telling him that he must continue on, even though he hated to, because it was for the greater good, and then turn around and tell him to forget the greater good just because she was afraid of losing him.
The conversation was temporarily interrupted as two agents came walking by. Sarah quickly grabbed Chuck's arm as if he were still in her captivity. Once the agents were gone Sarah spoke quickly, "Fine Chuck we will do it your way. We will go back to the compound and figure this all out, but once you give them the information they need we are gone first chance we get."
"Sarah you can't come with me. What if someone recognizes you?" Chuck's fear showed in his expression.
"Graham is the only person that would recognize me, and as far as anyone else is concerned I still work for the CIA," Sarah finished in a hushed voice as she began to lead Chuck back towards the SUV's.
"Wait, what do you mean as far as anyone else is concerned you still work for the CIA? You don't work for CIA anymore?"
Sarah couldn't tell if it was shock or excitement that she heard in Chuck's voice, "We will talk about it later," she said as she pushed him to the waiting black vehicles.
Chuck hopped into the back seat and Sarah stepped back. She didn't want to be in the car with Chuck if the Director decided to ride back with him. When she saw that Graham had taken a spot in the lead car, apparently still too angry to be near Chuck, Sarah attempted to get in the car with Chuck.
"Sorry this one is full," Dr. Williams said as he took the last open seat in the car just as Sarah was about to climb in.
"If you want I can ride here and chaperone him," Sarah said to the agent sitting next to Chuck.
"That's alright," the agent shrugged. "Director Graham instructed me to watch him personally. He may be mad at the geek for some reason, but he still wants him protected."
Sarah didn't want to leave Chuck, but she didn't want to draw any unwanted attention to herself either, so she closed the door and took a spot in the car directly behind the one containing Chuck and the Doctor.
A/N: In any story I ever write I will never have a kid die. As my specialty is the holistic health care of children, it goes against everything I do. Let me know what you think, PLEASE!
