Chuck vs. The Proposal
Previously, Casey challenged Morgan to build a fire and miraculously he did with Casey's former teammates watching from a distance. Though it didn't really phase Casey it totally surprised Morgan who had the help of Tom Hanks on his side when it came to the movie Castaway. So, what's in store for Morgan this time around when it comes to the next challenge Casey has for him. Plus, how does it involve actors Tom Skerritt, Craig Sheffer, and Brad Pitt. Hint: It involves fish. So read and find out! Anyways, I think you'll enjoy it. Enjoy the read peeps. Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment please leave a comment for this one as well. Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy the story.
Fish Out of Water
XXX
It's 4:55 in the morning in Buckeye Flats where Morgan and Casey are currently camped at. Of course, the two men are sleeping in separate tents for the safety and not to mention well-being of Chuck bearded best friend. Plus, the fact the proud marine knew that the little man child has habit of sleeping naked and that right there is just cause to sleep separately. Add to the fact that if and there's a big if they did share a tent he would find some way to build some kind of fortified wall in between the two of them for 2 reasons.
Reason #1 is to avoid any kind of physical contact mainly because Casey is big on personal space. Hell, just breathing a few feet away from him can lead to an all-out death glare growl from the military veteran. Now, when it comes to reason #2 it could very well lead to the NSA Agent gauging his own eyes out for not being able to un-see the pasty and not to mention hair body of his daughter's moronic tiny sasquatch of a man.
Granted, being a government agent and military solider he's seen things that could most definitely make any civilian seek professional help in regards to therapy. Things that are truly considered either questionable, spine tingling, and absolutely maddening to the point where it's so deeply embedded in one's own brain that it could very well push a normal human being to the brink of insanity. That or have that individual in question go completely over the edge. Fortunately, when it comes to Colonel John Casey he's close to what is considered normal that he'll every go to and the people who love/care about wouldn't have it any other way.
In any case, the surprising events of last evening in which Casey gave his potential son-in-law his first challenge and that was to build a campfire without the use of a lighter. For the grizzled military veteran, he fully expected the moron to fail at the first challenge due to his track record when it comes to fire.
True, when it comes to Morgan Grimes he and fire don't necessarily go hand in hand. In his mind, he wouldn't even trust the man holding a magnifying glass because he would somehow start a forest fire because that's how much of a moronic idiot Casey thinks of Morgan. Unfortunately, Chuck learned that lesson the hard way when he mistakenly put Morgan in charge of Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. several years ago for a mission involving the rescue of Sarah's late boss C.I.A. Director Langston Graham.
Needless to say, having the man child schedule an unwarranted and not to mention unneeded fire safety drill was stupidly irresponsible in hindsight of Chuck even though he did actually put his secretary Beverly Kim in charge. Plus, the fact it nearly cost his nerdy best friend his business from being burned to the ground. For Casey, he considered having a talk with Chuck concerning putting together Morgan insurance in case he doesn't have any other options but to put his bearded buddy in charge.
For anyone other than Morgan Grimes, it's most definitely viewed as a nightmare scenario if there ever was one if he were to put in charge ever again. Of course, he starts out with the absolute best of intentions in attempting and/or at least try to make a good impression, especially in the eyes of his best friend and not to mention boss one Charles Irving Bartowski. If it were any other person, he or she would be fired but since they've known each other since childhood there is certainly a strong bond there between the both of them.
A bonded brotherhood that even though is considerably strong it has been tremendously tested to the point where it has come close to breaking. Yet, their uniquely confusing and oftentimes weirdly complex, immature relationship somehow works for the two of them that continues to absolutely baffle everyone around them. Of course, their relationship comes under special circumstances as Morgan was there when Chuck's father Abraham Bartowski up and left his family leaving the former nerd herd leader completely devastated personally, as well as emotionally.
For the most part, Casey has never really understood their stupidly, annoying relationship over the years; but on the same token has a considerable sense of understanding on why the two of them are way they are. Although their individual upbringing is on total opposites of the family spectrum, they've both dealt with heavy life stuff that would inevitably cause them to either stay the same or completely adapt to another way of life and not to mention mindset.
Speaking of the aforementioned Morgan Grimes, he's currently sleeping his tent zipped up nice and snug in his sleeping bag. The events of last night's accomplishment of achieving Casey's challenge to start a fire without using anything except mother nature was certainly a confidence booster hence the shirtless victory dance around the fire. A confidence booster that he hopes gives him some kind of added bonus points involving getting his blessing to propose to Alex.
Of course, it was just the first challenge and in Casey's mind it was done by pure stupid luck along with the fact that in some weird way Tom Hanks was able to help. As much as the former Buy More salesman of Beastmaster grills wants to curse out the world renowned and certainly beloved actor he doesn't since he didn't do any wrong.
While continuing to warmly slumber away as best he can in his sleeping bag nearly zipped up to his head, a sound is briefly heard like a tent being zipped open. This causes Morgan to stir after being hearing the noise leading him to left his head and when he does he blinks several times in order to focus on the now opened portion of the tent. After a few seconds, he finally is able to focus and as he's about to say something he's suddenly pulled out of his tent causing Morgan to let out a bit of a girlish scream.
XXX
"Get up Grimes…" growled Casey. "…and don't bother getting out of that sleeping bag either. I know you sleep naked." he added with a disgusted look on his face.
As Casey standing there with his arms crossed scowling down at what could possibly be his daughter's future husband waiting for any kind of response, Morgan is just now regaining full consciousness. "Oh thank God it's you big guy!" he said with absolute relief in his voice. After briefly shaking his head to get fully focused and awake he speaks up again. "I'm wearing socks. So, I'm not really naked per say." A sheepish grin is expressed but that falls flat as he peers up at his future father-in-law.
A low but clearly audible grunt is heard leads Morgan to interpret that Casey irritated and doesn't really care. So, it's at that point the former Buy More green sheet tries to sit while still in the sleeping bag he's presently zipped up in. Unfortunately, the first two attempts fail in embarrassing fashion leading Casey to stand watching the entire situation unfold before his very eyes.
In his mind, he still has no earthly idea what his daughter sees in the furry little bastard. A furry little bastard who presently is looking like a fish out of water flopping on land desperately trying to get back in the water. If that doesn't represent Morgan Grimes as a whole in a fish out real life situation, he thinks to himself. A seemingly pathetic sight that he could just as easy eliminate with a snap of finger to put out of his misery for his own sake and not to mention sanity.
For Casey, he suddenly finding himself attaining some profound insight when it comes Morgan as a fish out of water pertaining to real life ala Buy More years. He was merely a guy who his whole life has just been a fish out of water flopping around and getting by just enough to live the way he wanted to.
For the most part and much to his surprise he was able to survive flopping around with the other fishes namely Jeff and Lester in the Buy More river bed full of unmotivated Salmon. A cesspool of flopping Salmon if there ever was one helmed by the big Salmon in charge Big Mike. In any case, when those three slacker Salmon got together they'd presumably get eaten alive in an instant by bears or end up in jail due to the charge of constant perverted, sexual harassment of the entire female species.
True, they lacked motivation in swimming upstream to reach for their highest potential. Yet, when it came to pulling off schemes that's when the motivation kicked in and they determined to pull it off even if it killed them. It's boggles the mind how Buy More was ever able to stay in business knowing full well all the Salmon working there were swimming downstream goofing off when they were costumers upstream needing help.
It's at this point Casey returns to his train of thought back to Morgan. A man who was able to narrowly avoid bodily harm and the threat of death at every turn but somehow end up getting baited and hooked by one Anna Wu. God bless that woman for trying to swim alongside with him and endure the immature, as well as asinine flopping that went on while they were in a relationship. When the news of their break up spread like wildfire, the only one not surprised by it was Morgan himself since everybody else were just waiting for it to happen.
Since then, Morgan has become a motivated and determined Salmon who left the Buy More river bed and made his home in Chuck's flourishing river bed of a business known as Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. A business in which he's swimming upstream for real this time alongside his long time best friend Chuck Bartowski and making a life not only for himself, but his baby girl as well.
It's that particular thought nearly brings a proud but smirk to the corner of his mouth. Unfortunately, that would suddenly fade as his focus suddenly averted to Morgan's third attempt at standing up is a complete success due to him rolling over onto his stomach. Afterwards, he starts contorting his body to where he manages to get himself into a standing position facing the other way. In that instance, he quickly spins around to face the man that has his fate concerning whether or not he'll get the blessing he so wants from him.
"I thought for a second a bear grabbed me and was about to have me for breakfast." he quickly babbled out. "I'm glad it was you and not Yogi's distant relative or maybe even Boo Boo thinking I was delicious picnic basket." he added briefly leaning to the right looking behind Casey. "Plus, I don't think any bears are on mutually good terms with any Park Rangers here like Yogi and Boo Boo are with Ranger Smith." he said taking the moment to hop around in circle in order to check behind him. Once he's facing Casey again, he stops and expresses a relieved smile. Unfortunately, that smile would quickly fade as the grizzled government agents speaks up.
"What are you lip smacking about idiot?" He quickly changes the subject. "Nevermind. You trying to explain it will only give me an even bigger headache." he added taking a moment briefly close his eyes in order to calm himself. "Just listen. Get changed and follow me for your next challenge." he ordered stepping forward. As he walks past Morgan, the hulking NSA Agent initiates an intentional but light shoulder bump.
The intentional shoulder bump may have been light to Casey to Morgan it nearly knocked him down. Fortunately it didn't but it did cause him to turn him around to the point where Morgan speaks up as he watches Alex's father head toward his tent. "What's the next challenge?" he hollered out.
Without even looking back, Casey yells back his response. "You're going fishing!"
Upon hearing that, Morgan stands letting what Casey just said sink in. He continues to mull it over knowing full well they didn't even bring fishing poles with them. In that moment, he wonders what kind of twist does he have in store this time when it comes to the fishing challenge. Afterwards, while still zipped up in his sleeping back he shrugs his shoulder and hops back, bends downs, and shimmies into then disappears into his tent in order to change.
XXX
The start off to their intended destination for the next challenge didn't start off on the right foot for Casey. He had to deal with the all-out absurdity of Morgan's antics. Add to the fact that he did without having his usual cup of coffee. Black and bitter. It's how has always taken in. It's his fuel that helps get through the day and now that he isn't properly fuel he'll be grumpier…a lot more than he usually is.
As always, the experience and grizzled military vet made preparations ahead of time knowing the challenges he put together for Morgan. He has everything he or for this particular case Morgan needs within the green duffle bag slung over his right shoulder. Of course, he is also prepared when it comes to a contingency plan in case his former teammates decide to appear. If they decided to reveal themselves and come out of hiding that is.
In his mind, he knows they're out there and they've been on him since leaving the apartment complex. It wasn't hard spotting them knowing full well they tried very to conceal their whereabouts. For a season veteran such as himself, it's not that hard to spot if you know what you're looking for.
In any case, when it came to the first challenge was considered a cake walk in his own eyes. To him, any man should know how to build a fire if they were ever to find themselves stuck or lost in the wilderness. It was a complete surprise to him that Morgan even pulled it off thinking he would somehow hurt himself in the process of trying.
Essentially, it's who Morgan Grimes is. When he is faced with unenviable task such as the one he's in now he can completely go all in or not all. There's no in between with him. In the past, he would go all in for all the wrong reasons and it would most definitely bite him in the ass, especially when it involved the schemes he got into with Jeff and Lester. Now, he's doing it all for the right reasons and whether or not it will bite him in ass will all rest on his shoulders alone.
Truth be told, it puts all the added pressure on him knowing full well that Casey wants or in this case is expecting him to fail. Speaking of Casey, he's leading the way with Morgan following closely behind him who is making sure not to follow to close that he bumps into him by mistake. Every once and a while the NSA Agent takes out a map in order to examine just to make sure they're heading in the right direction.
His thoughts are focused on the task/challenge at hand when a voice behind break it.
"How long till we get there?"
"We'll get there when we get there." Casey gravelly retorted.
The man who spent living behind a wall for weeks in order to try to take out his former rival Premier Alejandro Fulgencio Goya, isn't much for small talk so he hopes that's all the conversation he's going to have with Morgan until they to their intended destination. Unfortunately, what he hopes for and what he ends up getting is two totally different things.
"I'm only asking because I thought I saw a bear and…"
"Keep this in mind moron. Don't worry about the bear. Bears are more afraid of people than people are of bears. You just got to know how to handle the situation."
"Have you fought off a bear before Casey?" Instantly, Morgan slaps his forehead. "Of course, you have. You must have and you probably made his fur out of a coat or something. Grizzly Casey."
It's at that point, Casey stops in his tracks and turns around causing Morgan to be quickly startled leading to stop instantly. This leads to Casey steps forward and locking eyes with Morgan. He glares down at him and speaks up.
"I'm only going to say this once so listen good." Casey arches up both eyebrows in order to get Morgan's response, which is a quick nod from him. He then continues on. "The bear or any bears for that matter aren't your concern. Your concern is to focus on the challenge I have for you." Casey turns around and is about to head forward when he turns around again point his right finger at him. "One more thing."
"What?"
"I saw that bear too. So good thing you spotted it too." he said turning around giving a firm nod. Afterwards he walks forward with an amused smirk in the corner of his mouth. In that moment, Morgan's eyes widen leading him to quickly look behind then immediately follows Casey in order to catch up to him for safety reasons sake.
XXX
"Where are we?" he asked looking around at seemingly majestic and not to mention beautiful scenery. The breath from his mouth wafts out in the cool park air.
The two men are standing on top of the embankment looking out at a lively riverbed. It took at least 30-45minute trek to get to it and by the time they did the sun started to rise. Now, with the sun slowly shining above Casey and Morgan are able to see what they came here to do, which was to complete the next challenge. A challenge that the proud marine meticulously planned out beforehand.
"Kaweah River. In the middle fork of it to be exact." Afterwards, he tosses a duffle bag over to Morgan to which is caught by the short bearded man. "Open it. You're gonna need it for your next challenge."
"What is it?" he said opening it and looking inside.
"A full body fishing wader suit." answered Casey. "You're going to get in there and catch our lunch."
Instantly, Morgan quirks his right brow then lifts his right finger. "What about the food in the cooler? There's plenty in there for lunch since Alex packed a lot. Come to think it, we haven't had breakfast yet."
Casey quickly chimes leading him to step forward then around to face Morgan. "Zip it Grimes! Forget about breakfast. Your mission right now is to catch at least 3 fish you got that." he firmly stated holding up 3 fingers while glaring down at him.
As this is happening, Casey's former teammates are off in the distance on the other side of the Kaweah River bank securely hidden monitoring the entire situation unfolding before them. All 3 men are somewhat spread out but fairly close to each other. Each man looking through a hand held scope while wearing head phones attached to listening device in order to hear the conversation going on between Casey and Morgan. While doing so, they're in constant communication with each other as well.
"Casey is nuts."
"You got that right Mac"
The responses from MacKintosh and T.I. leads to Packard to speak as he crouches in his spot closely monitoring the situation at hand on the side of the river. "There's always a method to Casey's madness boys. You should know that by now." he said expressing a bit of smirk.
"Yeah we know." responded T.I. "It's just crazy is all. Is that guy a potential recruit or something?"
"If he is, he's been lucky so far." Mackintosh retorted.
Packard chimes in after being briefly silent. "Don't know and I don't really care. What we're here to do is observe and when the time is right we make our move. On my say so. We don't want to mess this up by having one you jump the gun on this and screwing it all up."
"We know. You don't have to keep reminding us." T.I. responded with a tinge of anger in his voice.
"Calm down big guy. There's a lot riding on this. Pac is just taking everything into consideration and crossing all the t's, as well as dotting all the I's. Isn't that right? That is what you're doing Pac?"
There is a momentary pause as Packard continues looking through scope at Casey continuing to talk to Morgan. He then lowers the scope and speaks up. "What I'm doing is…" he started saying. "…making sure our retirement plan doesn't blow up in our faces. We know Casey and Casey knows us so we play it out as if we're going fishing. It's matter of being patience knowing when to use it as bait in order to hook Casey in."
"So the little guy Grimes as Casey calls him…" MacKintosh stated. "…we know he's the bait."
"How do we bait him then? We had the chance to reel him in last night."
"Last night was just casting out the hook but without the bait. Getting a feel and a temperature of the water, so to speak gentlemen."
"What's with the sudden fish and fishing analogy talk Pac?
"Let's just say when I was younger my grandfather took me fishing and taught me a thing or two. It's the reason I was closer to him than my worthless deadbeat of an old man."
"The only thing my old man ever taught me was don't ever be weak. Never show signs of weakness. Only the strong survive."
"My dad was actually…"
The topic of dads is suddenly interrupted by Packard cutting his electronics teammate/business partner off. "Can the dad talk. We got more important fish to fry. The gold that Casey deprived us of years ago is rightly ours and owed to us for instance. So focus on that. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yeah."
"Got it Pac."
As all three men continue to carefully observe the situation from a securely hidden distance, Morgan has put on the full body fishing wader suit and is standing down at the river's edge. He's about to head in but then stops in order to look back up at Casey.
"What Grimes? Get in there…" urged the United States Colonel." "…are you backing out of the challenge?"
Morgan shakes his head. "No, I'm not. I'm just thinking…"
"Thinking what!?" Casey snapped back with annoying agitation.
"Wouldn't this be easier with a fishing pole and a net? You know, in a River Runs Through It kind of way? I know you're Tom Skerrit character Reverand Maclean. The man who is well known as playing Viper from the movie Top Gun. As for me, I'm well…" In Morgan's mind he wants to compare himself to Brad Pitt's character Paul MacLean who grew up to be more of fun-loving wild child. However, now that he is considers himself more gown up and responsible he compares himself to Craig Sheffer's character. "…Norman Maclean. The son who learned everything from his father, especially the art of fly fishing." he explained.
"Get it through your head idiot. This isn't a movie. You either go through with the challenge or we pack up, go home, and you don't get what you want. It let me know the type of man you really are." he growled. "So, what's your decision?"
Chuck Bartowski's hetero life partner takes into consideration what Casey said to him. He then turns around facing the Kaweah River and faces the challenge ahead of him. Afterwards, he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and clinches both hands expressing determination to face his future father-in-law's challenge head on. A brief moment later he opens his eyes then steps forward making his way into the seemingly vibrant waters of the river to catch at least 3 fish.
XXX
NOTE: SORRY FOR THE DELAY GUYS! LIFE PRETTY MUCH GOT IN THE WAY. ON THE PLUS SIDE, I GOT A NEW DOG FROM THE SHELTER AND I NAMED HIM CHIRRUT AFTER CHIRRUT IMWE FROM STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE. ANYWAS, AS ALWAYS PLEASE REVIEW BECAUSE REVIEWS ARE AWESOME!