A/N: Well I hope you all enjoyed Chapter 19 and the final confrontation of these two Intersect beings, because now we see what happens afterwards. Thanks to phnxgrl for her help with editing and to you the fans for the ever needed push.
Chapter 20 – Aftermath
The ER doors burst open as Chuck is wheeled in on a gurney. Ellie is holding the wound and belting out instructions to the nurses and other staff. Behind her is Sam who is holding the door open. Fiona helps Sarah inside along side Emma. Zondra and Carina come in the entrance only to help get clear the way as the gurney moves to surgery. Devon rushes in from another hallway then heads with Ellie to surgery. A nurse directs Sarah and company to the nearby waiting room.
Sarah grabs her stomach then drops to the ground in pain. Fiona and Emma do their best to soften the fall. Sarah is screaming and holding herself tight as the pain overtook the moment.
"Sarah, baby what's wrong?" Emma asks her daughter.
Sarah looks up then turns her gaze first to Fiona and then her mother. She is red in the face along with tears.
"Mom, my water broke…The babies are coming… I'm in labor….They're coming now!" Sarah says panting through the pain.
Fiona looks up to see Ellie coming back with blood coating her hands. She only managed to give another look of panic and belt out three words.
"We've got incoming." Ellie orders.
Michael and Casey along with Clive and Gertrude are at the sight to assist the NSA cleanup crews. They are stationed where all the loading of Shaw and his now arrested or dead minions into transports or ambulances. There are included two body bags containing the late Larry Sizemore and another was some minion that got crushed under the yacht. Both Daniel and Evelyn Shaw are in NSA custody. Daniel is treated for his gunshot wounds. Sam returns from the hospital with a six pack of beer handing them out to the others. Michael shakes his head at his friend's timing.
"Sam…now is not the time to celebrate. We have to finish up here then check in with my mom and Mary at Chuck's house. Plus get an update on Chuck from the hospital." Michael chides gently.
He hands the beer back to his friend as a perplexing look washes over his face.
"Mikey, you are confused. This isn't a celebration. This is a moment to whet the whistle and prepare for the onslaught that is to come. I mean the clean up lady and gents. Sorting this mess out and cleaning our wounds. We'll be dealing with this for the day at least, so why not take a quick breather before digging in?" Sam requests.
Sam opens his beer. He's about to chug it back when a small womanly hand grabs it from his hands. Sam looks over to see where is wayward beer has gone. He sees next to him General Beckman with the beer in her hand and a smile on her face.
"Thanks to you all, we have the Shaws' in custody. The threat of a New Ring is thwarted too. I want to congratulate you for your fine work helping my team finish a long drawn out mission." She says then chugs down the beer then gives a most unladylike belch.
Sam smiles then replace his beer to salute the diminutive General. Casey gives a hearty grunt, as he takes two beers from Sam then hands one to Gertrude. Clive smirks and accepts one as well. Michael lightly grins before attempting to take one before his phone rings. The look on his face goes frantic as he gets the update from Fiona. Michael hangs up the phone then looks at everyone then lands on Beckman.
"General, we need a van immediately. Fiona has just called saying as they're rushing Chuck into surgery, Sarah is into labor too. We need to get down there, now." Michael requests.
Beckman spins around faster than a bullet fired…
"Lieutenant, I need transport immediately." She says to her aide.
The contractions are close within four minutes apart. The pain is intense. She tries to compare it to all her countless adventures. This by far is the worst pain she ever have felt next to worrying about Chuck. Here she is trying to endure the pain and eventually give birth to two little children. The fate of her husband has not yet been relayed to her either. Morgan has tried to step in to be there for her. However, she has almost crushed all the bones in his right hand. Emma and Fiona stay with her till the doctor is sure she is ready. Then they were asked to leave. Sarah clamps onto Fiona's arm.
"Fi, I need you to find Casey… Since Chuck can't be I need my partner to help me." Sarah says panting through the next wave of pain.
"Of Course Sarah, I've called Michael he assures me that they will be here soon. Just hold on for a bit longer." Fi says as she looks up to see the gown behemoth enter the room.
Sarah gives a breath of relief as Casey exchanges position with Fi.
"I'm here Partner why don't you say we get those young ones out of you?" Casey says as Sarah clamps down on his arm.
Casey has not felt vices stronger than her grip. He grimaces as the doctor arrives. Casey gives his understanding grunt, as Fiona leaves to join the rest in the waiting room shaking her arm to bring the blood flow back into it after Sarah clamped it off so well.
Everyone has arrived. Mary has brought Michael's family, Alex and Gertrude stands to the side. The rest of Michael's party is already here. So are Clive and Jackson… Zondra and Carina are in the gift shop, trying to find something for the upcoming additions to the family.
As she begins to push, the pain is enormous. Casey witnesses just how bad a woman of Sarah's caliber could hurt a man. As the first child's head began to come into view, Sarah screams only one thing.
"CHUCK!"
Chuck's eyes opens as he sits up in his bed abruptly. He takes stock of his surroundings. He is surrounded by things from his room in the old apartment. It is the one he shared with his sister and brother in law. This is along with his best friend then finally his wife. It seems different as he glances around. It is like he has taken a trip back in time. This he knows is impossible. Though, it feels quite real. He gets up then goes over to the closet. He spies his Nerd Herd uniform hanging on the door. None of Sarah's clothes are in her side of the closet either. Even her desk and computer is not around. He moves into the apartment. There is nothing that looks like what it has last resembled. They have redecorated it before the wedding or even before that when she moved in here.
Chuck sees a paper on the dining table. He scans it. The date on the paper causes him to jump in terror. The date on the paper is for seven years ago. It is his birthday. The day he got the email from Bryce that changes his entire life. He darts back to his room and checked for the email. He finds nothing of the sort. Without that email his life would not have been so exciting. He would never have met the love of his life. Blinking he is about to head out to find Sarah, Casey and the others. He needs to see what kind of false drug induce trip some devious villain have placed on him. He almost has exited the room when the email arrives. It has no sender. There are only two words: Go Outside.
With the ominous demeanor of the message, Chuck sees no option but to follow the email instructions. He exits the apartment. For a moment, it is bright and incredibly foggy, like early morning fog coming over the valley. After he closes the door, the fog lifts and two figures stands before him. Chuck freezes in fear as he recognizes his father. He walks over and clapse a hand on his shoulders.
"Hello Charles, I've missed you." He says with a crooked smile he would always give him.
Chuck pulls his father into an embrace that he has never thought would be possible. He gazes over his father's shoulder to see different face that is lost before their time. Bryce smiles to his old friend then walks over patting the two guys.
"Good to see you buddy. You shouldn't be here." Bryce opines.
Chuck looks at his father and friend with a puzzling look. He is trying to decipher the meaning behind the meaning.
"I don't get it Bryce? Why are you two here? Why does it seem that I've gone back in time to before you sent the email? Wait… did I die? Is Sarah, is everyone safe?" Chuck excitedly asks.
Stephen shakes Chuck back to reality. His spiraling is in full effect. He needs to be brought back down.
"Charles, you need to calm down. You are unconscious right now in surgery. Devon is helping and Sarah needs you." His father states.
Chuck steps back then looks at him with concern.
"What's wrong with Sarah? Dad, Bryce what is wrong with my wife?" Chuck asks with increasing agitation.
Bryce looks at Stephen with a bit of concern then glances away. Stephen takes a breath and gazes back at Chuck.
"Son, Sarah has gone into labor. What has happened to you brought it. Charles, you need to wake up then be there for your family… our family." Stephen sagely says.
For a moment, Chuck is at a total loss. Both his friend and father have died violently and there is much left unsaid.
"Dad… there are so many questions. There are so many things I want to say to the both of you both… I need more time." Chuck protests.
Stephen sees that he means well in wanting to spend time with his lost family. However, this is only chance meeting. It will not last.
"Charles you need to go. We are only able to make this possible for a few short moments. I want you to know you are Aces Charles Aces. I love you and you have made me proud so many times. You found your mother and made this family whole again. Tell your mother I will be in her memories and love her, your sister too. Tell those grandchildren about me and live a full life." Stephen says as he and Bryce turn away and the fog is returning.
Tears trickled down Chuck's face as Stephen moves back and Bryce shakes his best friend's hand one last time. It is obvious that is this heartfelt moments that breaks the dapper spy's demeanor.
"Chuck, it sucks having to see you again then only say goodbye. We have to go this time pal. You can't stay here much longer. We can't allow you to stay. I'm glad you and Sarah have found something in each other and have made it amazing. Those kids will be the best things to happen to you and her. Tell her I'm glad we had time to know each other. Also I'm glad she has you to keep her safe. And Casey…Well, he's just Casey." Bryce says with the fog swirling around their feet.
Chuck wants to at the least say how he admires the life Bryce has lived. He only manages to say one thing.
"I will make you both proud, somehow, someway. I promise you this." Chuck says as the fog swirls higher.
Bryce and Stephen begin to fade into the fog as a last moniker is heard.
"Then live your life pal, maybe name the boy after me… See ya Bartowski." Chuck hears from the fog.
Devon has dropped in to explain the surgery as a success.
"Hello Sarah, Chuck is doing just fine he has a wound from the bullet that has grazed his lung. The repair is routine. There is no vital damage done. He should be arousing soon." Devon explains.
Sarah is extremely weak.
"Devon, I do not care what strings you must pull I need to see Chuck!" Sarah says adamantly.
Devon realizes that his sister in law means business.
"Ok Sarah sit tight and rest I will see what I can do, OK?" Devon says as he conferences with the other doctors.
He soon returns with a smile on his face. He notices Alex has entered wanting her turn to see the twins.
"Well Sarah, Your doctor has ok-ed your transfer into Chuck's room. If you wait a bit I will have a few orderlies to come and move you." Devon says.
"Devon, I see Sarah is very impatient just give me the room number I will push her to him." Alex says.
"Ok the room is 102 on the 4th floor take the elevator to your right. You can not miss it. Wait, I need to check her in up stairs. I will go with you." Devon says.
Alex pushes Sarah into the ICU to see Chuck after the surgery. Devon helps guide her after telling everyone to move to the ICU waiting area. Soon Alex has help from the ICU nurses to help hook up Sarah's bed.
Tears well up as she sees Chuck in his bed. Physically, Chuck looks fine. Other than the dressing over the gun shot wound. He appears to be asleep. She recalls Devon saying that it might be awhile before he awakens. He has slipped into a coma. With things like this, it's impossible to predict when he would awake.
Sarah reaches over to grasps his hand. With that Sarah finally goes to sleep knowing her husband is in recovery. She just needs to see it for herself.
Alex notices Sarah fading fast. She needs her sleep to regain her strength.
"I'll leave you two alone. He'll be fine Sarah. You and my dad always said nothing could keep him down. No matter how many times you told him to stay." Alex says as she leaves.
Sarah just nods and falls asleep.
Sarah awakes later to gaze at her husband. The nurse has brought her children to feed. Sarah gets propped up then the first child is given to her. She is still too weak to speak. As she nurses she thinks back to all the times they have saved each other from one crisis or another. Memories and feelings come in waves. She sees their first meeting, their first kiss and their wedding. She could recall the year they have spent, trying to get her memories back. It is how just one specific memory is the key for everything falling back in place. He is her rock, strength and the guiding light that has helped the agent become a woman.
The nurse interrupts her musing to take the fed child away to replace it with the other one. As Sarah gets comfortable she thinks again about Chuck who she is still holding his hand. She recalls that she has another outlook on life that makes her as happy. It makes her as happy as the day she told Chuck, that she loved him and their two children. She looks over to see her husband lying unconscious. She couldn't face the long road alone. She squeezes his hand. Sarah finally finds her voice even if it just a whisper.
"Chuck, baby I need you to wake up for me. The babies are here. I cannot face raising them alone, even for a short time. I know you're ok. I'm not strong enough to face a task of this magnitude. You have saved this family. Now we need you to be here to show the way. So please my love, come back to me." Sarah hoarsely whispers.
Mary had stepped into the doorway and wipes a tear from hearing Sarah's whispered words. Her son has done so much since he first got the Intersect secrets. Sarah has been there to help him. She understands how her daughter in law would feel helpless to the fact of raising children alone. Her own thoughts go to her late husband on how he had to raise Chuck and Ellie without her. Mary lays a hand on Sarah's shoulder. Sarah looks up at her mother in law.
"Would you like to hold her?" Sarah whispers.
"Why I would be delighted…So what is this young one's name?" Mary asks.
"Well that is a problem neither Chuck nor I have arrived at any names. I am waiting for him to awake so we can name them together. Right now she is bubbly. Since seems to have such a happy and bubbly disposition." Sarah whispers.
"Bubbly huh…? Well it could be a worst name I suppose. Hello Bubbly I am your grandmother." Mary coos
Sarah smiles then yawns.
Mary looks at her as she holds her grand daughter.
"Sarah, you won't be alone my dear. You will have a family to help and love you. Chuck will wake up. We must have faith in that. He is his father's son after all." She says as a Nurse appears to relieve Mary of the bundle of energy.
Sarah smiled a little as Mary lets the young one go. Sarah is exhausted. She goes back to sleep before the next feeding round to occur. Mary follows the nurse to see both children in the nursery.
As Sarah sleeps there is a new presence in the room. Sarah lightly awakes. It is a woman possibly another nurse. She is looking over his chart. Sarah notices there is pressure on her hand. She gazes over to see Chuck's eyes flicker then open. She gasps drawing his attention to her.
"Sarah?" Chuck whispers as he strengthens the grip on her hand.
"Yes Chuck I'm here…You have two new additions to the family who wish to say hello to their daddy." Sarah whispers back. "Sleep now Chuck, everything is going to be fine."
The nurse or doctor Sarah did not know which moves over to look at Chuck then addresses him.
"Welcome back Mr. Bartowski, You had a few of us worried." She says.
A/N: Now this chapter was a bit unique to write since I had so many loose ends and characters to deal with. But I enjoyed the challenge, but I'm sure you're wondering just what is coming in the final chapter. I have to say as I post these last chapters, I tried to get a lot dealt with. Until the next chapter.