This is a bit of a longer chapter, with a lot of different ideas, but I hope that you like it.
Still don't own Chuck.
Self-Sacrifice
Three weeks later…
"Chuck, have you noticed that Jamie has been acting a little weird lately?" Sarah asked one night as she and her boyfriend made supper.
Chuck shrugged, "I guess she's been a little more tired than usual, but it's not affecting her performance at work or anything, so I really didn't think much of it."
"I'm worried that she might be sick or something. When we were training today, she asked for a break like every ten minutes."
Chuck laughed a little, "You? Worried about Jamie? That's a new one!"
"Hey," Sarah chided, "Cut me a break. The kid's kinda grown on me."
"I'll keep an eye on her at the Buy More, but seriously, Sarah, I don't think you need to be concerned; she's been training really hard to prepare for her assessment that we could surprise her with at any moment."
"Yeah, when are we going to do that?" Sarah asked.
"Soon," Chuck replied, "It's been almost month since you and Casey stopped her twenty-four-seven training, and I just wanted to make sure that she was actually into this, and that she wasn't just doing it because you two were shoving it down her throat."
Just then, Chuck's phone started buzzing. He picked it up. "Hey, we've got a mission!"
"Great, what is it?" Sarah wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to him, trying to see over his shoulder.
"Don't know. Briefing with the General in five."
The entire team, this time including Morgan, crowded into Casey's living room. The general's face came onto the monitor.
"Good evening, team. I'm sorry if I interrupted your dinners, but I have a mission for you."
"Great, general," Chuck replied, "What is it?"
"When Jamie broke into that compound and got shot, she was going after a certain flash drive that contained information on Intrepid, remember?"
Of course they remembered.
"Well, that flash drive is still out there, and we believe that we know where it is."
"Where, General?" Sarah asked.
"The CIA believes that the flash drive was moved to another location in LA, however, this isn't another warehouse; it's a company downtown, Keystone Gaming INC."
"Keystone Gaming?" Chuck repeated, "I know where that is! The CEO, Tom Ritter and I went to Stanford together!"
"Really?" Sarah asked.
"Yeah, well, sort of, He was like, a Junior when I was a Freshman, so, I wasn't like, pals with him or anything, but I knew him. We were in the same fraternity, too. I doubt he'd remember me, though."
"Agent Bartowski, You will use your knowledge of the industry to gain access into the building, get a job there or something. It's up to you how you want to go about it. Jamie, you will go along, and observe from the van. You will also assist Agent Bartowski in any way you can." The general ordered, "Colonel Casey and Mr. Grimes, you will need to figure out a way to steal the drive once Agent Bartowski has located it. The reason for this is that We do not believe that Tom Ritter is Intrepid. We think that it's one of his employees, and we cannot have Chuck blowing his cover if the theft sets off an alarm or something."
"Excuse me, General, what about Sarah?" Chuck asked.
"If you get the job, hire Agent Walker as your secretary. She can cover for you while you are searching for the drive." The general instructed.
x-x-x-x-x-x
The next day, Chuck walked into Keystone Gaming, Incorporated. He knew that once he handed his résumé in, that he would definitely get face time with the CEO. He handed his résumé to the receptionist, and turned to leave, when he heard a voice behind him.
"Is that Chuck Bartowski?"
Chuck turned around, "Tom Ritter!" They shook hands, "Gosh, I didn't know if you'd remember me."
"It's hard to forget you, Chuck. We were in the same fraternity, and you were like, the only other guy who was into the kind of stuff that I was. Well, you and Bryce Larkin, but mostly you."
Chuck chuckled nervously.
Tom continued, "So what are you doing here?"
"Well, I'm looking for a job, and I figured I'd at least give you my résumé." Chuck replied.
"Jen!" Tom called to the receptionist.
"Yes, Mr. Ritter?"
"Do you have that résumé that Mr. Bartowski just handed in?"
"Yes sir, right here." She held up the papers for him to see.
Tom walked over, took the papers from her and promptly stuffed them into the shredder.
Chuck was dumbfounded.
Tom then walked back over to Chuck, a smile on his face. Did you seriously think that you could walk in here, hand in a résumé, and walk back out?"
"Uh…" Chuck stammered.
"Dude! You're the guy I've wanted to walk through those doors for the past five years since I started this company! I don't need your résumé; you had this job from the moment that I first opened the doors of Keystone Gaming! When can you start?"
x-x-x-x-x-x
Everything went according to plan. Chuck was able to locate the flash drive, and Morgan and Casey managed to steal it. They captured their first Intrepid agent as well; sadly, it was the lovely receptionist, Jen. Sarah immediately took on the job as a temporary receptionist.
They gathered in Castle for debriefing with the General after the mission.
"Great work, team," General Beckman praised, "Your performance on this mission was exemplary. Our analysts are working on decrypting the data as we speak. On top of it all, Chuck has a brand new job. Congratulations, Agent Bartowski."
Jamie didn't hear anything that the General said; her stomach was churning. She felt nauseous, like the room was spinning. "I think I'm gonna hurl," She whispered quietly.
Chuck turned his head turned and looked at her worriedly, so did Sarah.
"Agent Coleman, are you alright?" The General asked, concerned.
"Uh, yeah, general. Bad breakfast," she explained. Then she put her hand to her mouth, "Oh God," She uttered as she ran out of the room.
"Agent Walker, go see if Agent Coleman is alright," the General ordered.
"Yes Ma'am." Sarah got up and walked out of the room. She knocked on the bathroom door before walking in. Upon entering, she saw Jamie leaning over the toilet.
"Jamie are you alright?"
"Hold my hair back would ya?" Was all she said in response.
Sarah brushed the hair out of Jamie's face as Jamie began another round of vomiting. "My God." Sarah breathed.
When Sarah was sure that Jamie was done throwing up, she went over to the faucet and got her a glass of water. "Here" She handed Jamie the glass.
"Thanks," Jamie said as she took the glass and proceeded to drink its contents.
"So, how long as this been going on?" Sarah inquired as she helped Jamie to her feet and led her over to the sink where she could wash the vomit off her face and out of her hair."
"Two weeks, maybe."
"Two weeks! Jamie, don't you think that you should see a doctor?"
"No."
"Why not?
"Because I already know what's wrong with me."
"What? Jamie, what's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, I mean everything, I'm pregnant." Jamie's eyes were welling up with tears.
Sarah took a step back in shock, "Oh my god."
Jamie started crying, "Sarah, I don't know what to do! I mean, I'm twenty-three years old, and I'm going to be a mom. I wasn't supposed to be a mom until I was like, married and thirty-five."
"Hey," Sarah walked over and put her arms around Jamie, "It's going to be okay, I promise."
"I'm not so sure. How can you be so sure?"
"Because you are a strong girl. You are going to get through this, and you are going to be a great mom."
"You really think so?"
Sarah smiled comfortingly, "I do."
"Thank you," Jamie whispered as Sarah pulled her in for another hug.
Just then, Sarah realized something. "Wait, Jamie, who's the dad?"
"Tripp Rayner," Jamie admitted.
"Does he know?" Sarah asked.
"No, and I don't plan on telling him, because we weren't even supposed to be together. If the CIA found out, there would be serious hell to pay."
"Have you told Casey?" Sarah prodded.
Jamie's frightened expression turned to horror, "Absolutely not! Sarah, we have to keep this a secret. We still have to train every day, just like we have been. Please, I'm begging you."
"Okay," Sarah agreed, "But Casey's your handler, and you'll have to tell him sometime."
x-x-x-x-x-x
"So, have you told Casey yet?" Sarah asked one day about a week later, as they were working out. Jamie was on the stationary bike, and Sarah was on the elliptical machine.
"Sarah, I was a world-class spy. I fought terrorists with my bare hands. I have shot someone from a half a mile away… and killed them. I once even made a very dangerous drug lord believe that I loved him. I was one of the most ruthless spies in the CIA, and yet with all that, I am too afraid to tell Casey the truth. I can't do it Sarah, I just can't do it!" Jamie looked like she was about to cry.
Sarah didn't give in to Jamie's apparent hunger for sympathy. "Jamie, you and I, we're friends, aren't we?"
Jamie nodded her head, "Yeah, I guess."
And if I screw up, you'll take care of me, right?
Once again, Jamie nodded her head.
"And if I can't do something and you can, you'd do it for me, would you not?''
"Sarah, where are you going with this?"
"I'm saying," She paused for a moment, and then continued, "I'm saying that I'm going to tell Casey if you can't."
Little did they know, Casey was hiding around the corner and heard every word that they had just said. However, they were not really mentioning specifics, so he was completely confused. He finally stopped eavesdropping and left Castle.
"Sarah, you wouldn't!" Jamie exclaimed.
"He's going to find out, Jamie,'' Sarah said, "and it'll be a lot easier on him and you if you tell him sooner than later. It will also be a lot easier on him and you if he hears it from you instead of me or Chuck, or even worse, Morgan."
"Chuck and Morgan know?"
"No, but they have a nose for this sort of stuff." Sarah said.
Jamie cringed at the thought of Casey finding out from Morgan. "Okay, I'll tell him tonight." She promised.
x-x-x-x-x-x
It was at the same time that a lovely woman with light brown hair walked into the Buy More. She was about 5' 3", and maybe 35 years old.
"Excuse me; may I speak with the assistant manager? She smiled at the sales associate behind the customer service desk. "I'm Molly Monroe from corporate."
The associate pointed her to where Morgan was standing. Ms. Monroe sauntered over to him, "Mr. Grimes, I'm Molly from Corporate, may I have a few moments of your time?"
"Absolutely," he smiled, "Please, step into my office." He guided her through the 'employees only' doors, and that was when everything went black.
x-x-x-x-x-x
Jamie and Sarah were just finishing their workout when Sarah's phone started buzzing. She picked it up, "It's Morgan." She said.
She answered it, "Hey Morgan, what's up?"
"Well, not me, definitely not me!" He whispered
"Morgan, what's wrong, and why are you whispering?" Sarah asked.
"Some lady came into the Buy More, saying she was from corporate. Next thing I know, I'm in the trunk of a speeding car."
"Morgan, don't worry, we're gonna find you." She handed the phone to Jamie, explained the situation to her, and then said, "Keep him calm, I'm gonna trace his call."
Jamie took the phone, "Morgan, sweetie? It's Jamie here. Stay calm, Sarah's trying to locate you."
"Why would she kidnap me?" Morgan wondered aloud.
Jamie had an idea of who the woman might be, "Morgan, what was her name and what did she look like?" She asked.
"She was short, had brownish hair, blue eyes and a pretty smile. I think her name was Molly M-something."
"Monroe?" Jamie asked.
"Yeah that's it, I think. Why, do you know her?"
Jamie's face grew serious. She covered the mouthpiece on the phone with her hand, "Sarah how much longer until the call is traced?"
"Something's interfering with the signal, so it's taking longer than usual, but it should be no more than five more minutes." Sarah replied.
Jamie put the phone back up to her ear, "Morgan, the woman that kidnapped you is Marsha McCauley. She's a very dangerous person, but don't worry, she's not going to hurt you."
"How do you know?" Morgan asked shakily.
"Because it's not you that they want. They're using you as bait, but I promise, nothing is going to happen to you."
"How can you be so sure?"
Just then, the trace was completed, "Got it!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Okay, Morgan, hang tight, we're coming for you." Jamie assured him, and then hung up the phone.
"You shouldn't have given him false hope," Sarah reprimanded, "You have no idea if they're going to hurt him."
"Sarah, they don't want anything from him. They're using him as bait to lure something else out." Jamie said.
"What's that?"
Jamie hesitated for a minute, "Me," She finally said, "She wants me, and as long as she gets me, Morgan will be unharmed."
"Let me get this straight, she kidnaps Morgan to get you out of the shadows? Why?"
"Because she knows that I know who she is, and I have something she wants. She also knows that I'll want to protect my team."
"Well she's not going to get you."
"Yes she is," Jamie contradicted, and before Sarah knew what was happening, Castle had gone into detention mode.
"Jamie, what are you doing?" Sarah ran over to the window that separated them.
Sarah, I have to do this. I know I'm being stupid, but if we ever want to see Morgan alive again, I have to hand myself over to her. I'm sorry."
"Jamie!" Sarah screamed after the retreating girl, but Jamie didn't look back. She just ran up the stairs and out the door.
Sarah backed away from the window, and sat back down. She felt like all the training that Jamie had just gone through had been for nothing. It was a failed attempt. Renegade still hadn't been stopped. She rested her forehead on the table in defeat.
Still, things might not be as they seem…
There's Chapter 21 people! Hope you like it.
Chapter 22 will be up hopefully by next Saturday.
Please Review!