Chuck vs. The Proposal

Well, to recap the previous chapter Packard reflects back on the moments after he, T.I. and Mackintosh were taken down in the secretly facility somewhere in the Iranian Desert. The tense situation in military cargo plane where Casey channeled in his inner Judge Dredd according to Mackintosh. Fast forward to their trail where not only Casey was a witness but stayed in the courtroom to be visibly seen as if it was a slap in the face to show he's not afraid of them. Of course, he remembers T.I. not taking well nearly going berserk and it had to practically take an army to get him subdued. This chapter focuses on Team Chuck with honorary Alex having a discussion about the battling the mind, then Morgan waking up in unknown surroundings, and Casey continuing to torture Dalton. All three groups heading to the same intended destination. So, how does Frankenstein's monster, Toy Story 2, and Sherlock Holmes relate pertaining to this story? Read and find out! Anyways, hope you enjoy the read and leave a comment to share your own thoughts on this particular chapters. As always, reviews are awesome.

Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.

I don't own Chuck

Mind Games

XXX

"Here's what we know." stated Sarah. A map is on the screen in the conference area of the Bird of Prey. A blinking red dot appears off the coast of California signifying that the locator on Chuck's watch is working fine. All of a sudden, the screen itself starts to go on the fritz, leading Sarah to reach raise her hand and hits the side of the flatscreen causing it work again. "As I was saying…"

As Sarah continues on, Alex leans over to Chuck as he and Travis are sitting at their seats figuring out a plan of action for rescuing their friends/teammates. She has a concerned look on her face after focusing on the blinking red dot representing her bearded beau Morgan Grimes.

"Should I be worried?"

For Alex, since getting on the Bird of Prey she felt somewhat relaxed after letting out her frustrations outside the hanger due to the lack of urgency on Sarah, Chuck, and Travis' part. It's true that she considers herself to part of Team Chuck as a whole but when it comes down to the mission aspect of it all she didn't truly didn't understand the kind of mindset to go by. For her, she thought it was all business and the joking around suddenly stops.

Boy was I totally wrong. It's the total opposite of what she has imagined ever since finding out Casey is her father. Although her father would be somewhat tight lipped about what went on during their missions, it would be her bearded boyfriend who would provide her with the rundown of events that happened. Granted, it would be second hand information coming from Chuck but it's considered to be information that would give her the entire spectrum of events, especially whenever Morgan took part in the missions.

In her mind, when it comes to her father and Morgan along with everybody else in their inner circle there is a practical difference in sharing any details whatsoever. Of course, her father shares very little after a mission because he doesn't want to concern her to the point where it changes her completely. On the other hand, it's far different when it comes to Morgan and the rest of her extended family as individually share what they can leaving out for the most part the incredibly dangerous, as well as possibly gory details of the mission itself.

The mental and emotional along with the physical aspects of being part of their world even though she not entirely in it if that makes any sense she thinks to herself. As far getting to know her father on a deeply personal and emotional level, it's a work in progress but at the same time the bond between them is growing incredibly stronger. Yet, she knows there is a part of him that is kept at a distance from her for her own protection and she fully understands why being that there is still a side of him that from what Sarah has informed is a described as a guy who absolutely scary.

Her thoughts concerning the world she's not been fully immersed in is subsequently broken by the sound of Chuck's voice as he gives his response to her. "Nah. She took a bit of beating 3 months ago…" answered Chuck. "…and for the most part she's still holding up." he added briefly looking around then giving a firm nod.

"How about you guys?" she inquired turning to her head to face Chuck. "The beatings you all have taken. They've got to take its toll on you."

Chuck is about to answer her when he hears the voice of his lovely wife chime in. "They have."

In that instance, he and Alex's attention turn towards the front where Sarah is standing. Afterwards, the daughter of Alex Coburn continues on. "How have you managed to keep going and stay relatively sane through it all?" she wondered with absolute curiosity.

"Stubbornness mostly." Sarah responded with some faint amusement. She pauses for a moment letting Alex's question sink in then speaks up. "Just like the physical wounds of the outer hull of his plane, they can be fixed and the same goes for us when it comes to getting healed up."

In that instance, Travis chimes in. "It's the mental beating that takes time to heal up from."

"He's right." Chuck nodded. "We've all gone through our own individual sense of mind games during and after the mission we've accomplished over years. You've seen how we are before the missions as it helps us get in a more relaxed state if mind if that makes any sort of sense to you." he explained.

"It's how we've become a truly effective and unorthodox team over the years." stated Sarah. "Our approach to certain situations is vastly different than what most teams who have been in the field for years have experienced or are experiencing." she explained further. "Trust me, the mental and emotional pain can stick with you and I've had endured my own personal demons in both areas."

"How are you able to cope?" wondered Alex looking at all of her friends/extended family. "What keeps you from completely breaking?" she added shaking her head in disbelief.

In that instance, Sarah expresses a smile as gives Alex her answers. "Not what…" The blonde beauty averts her attention to the man sitting to her left. "…who." she nodded expressing a softness in her gaze towards her loving husband. "He's been my supportive rock when I needed it the most when dealing with shit from my past or with any concerning during or after any missions. Gives me time and space for me to open up. My Chuck…" added the semi-reinstated C.I.A. Agent. "…and my son. They give me a reason to live each day knowing I'm fighting for someone else that I love and cared about. I'm not just simply fighting to survive another day."

"Ditto babe." grinned the former nerd herd leader. "Yet, the only difference between myself and Sarah is I always express as Casey would put it my "lady feelings" every chance I get." Chuck amusingly added.

"The same goes for Shannon and I along with my kids. Although, I don't always share my "lady feelings" with my wife because she was part of the Zeitgeist family and gets what I tend to go through giving me time to decompress after extremely tough missions."

Alex nods letting all that what's been sink in. It's while in somewhat deep thought Sarah keenly notices that there is something possibly on the young woman's mind leading her to speak up.

"What's on your mind Alex?"

For the daughter of Alex Coburn, she is briefly hesitant to respond but then forges on. "You've known my dad longer than Chuck and Travis. I know in the past you fought against him and now with him. I guess what I'm trying to get at is…" She pauses in order to figure out her what to say next. "…what has kept him from completely breaking?"

"Honestly?" answered Sarah.

"Mhmm." retorted an absolutely curious Alex.

"Your father has been broken for a long time. In my opinion, his proud loyalty as a soldier and as an agent for the United States government has in a way kept the broken pieces of him together."

"A sort of Frankenstein's monster if you will…" chimed in Chuck. "….and not in the classically funny Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein movie version sort of way.

It's at that point, Travis interjects himself into the conversation. "More like the novel version of Frankenstein's monster written by author Mary Shelley that's far more scarier than anything else. The 1994 movie starring Kenneth Branagh not so much."

"I haven't seen that movie."

"It's was okay. Robert De Niro brings an interesting take on being the big guy and…"

Instantly, a clearly audible clearing of the throat gets the 2 men's attention. "As I was saying." she stated briefly eyeing both men causing them to zip their lips. She then turns her attention back to Alex. "For so long Casey has been keeping himself mentally together by putting all his efforts for the greater good of the country he's been fighting for. It's all he's known and willing to die for it. It's his own morbid mind games that works for him. Now…" she said once again expressing a soft smile. "…I can safely say who he's been mentally fighting for and at the same time slowly piecing himself together in order to make himself whole again."

"Jayne?"

"Yes…" nodded Sarah. She then continues on. "…but more importantly you."

XXX

The eyes of Morgan Grimes begin to gradually flutter. For him, spurts of brightness cause him to wince as he slowly turns his head to the right. In doing so, he suddenly finds bumping into the bottom of a very large boot. 2 to be exact. He immediately turns his forward continuing to wince and at the same times trying to focus his vision all-the while the reaching up to cover his face from the sudden brightness. While trying to focus, he clearly hears a loud but muffled sound as he's staring straight up at a metal ceiling.

In his somewhat groggy and blurred state, he continues to focus more and at the same time tries to figure out where he currently is because the last thing he remember is running with Casey from the guys he hired to challenge him. Now, he has no idea where he is as he hears what sounds like a seemingly repetitive sound coming from outside.

In any case, while lying down flat on his back he's able to fully open his eyes and once he does he focuses even more in order to get his bearings straight. Unfortunately, he feels tap on his left arm leading his attention to directed towards his left. Upon looking in that direction, his gaze is lifted upward to a familiar sight. The sight of the unmistakable charming smile of the man who he remembers callings himself Packard or Pac for short. After a few quick blinks and shaking the cob webs out of his head he speaks up.

"What happened!?"

Packard covers the small communications part headset in front of his mouth in order to yell into the ears of the pilot and 2 cohorts. "You got tased that's what happened!" he stated reaching down with his hand.

The offer to help him up causes Morgan question the man's intentions. Sure, in his mind Casey has probably told him to try to throw him off in any way when it comes to trying to make him fail the challenge. To him, offering a helping hand would most definitely be something that would be absolutely deceptive in order to get the upper hand. A smooth and calculating way to let down his guard because it always starts with a helping hand then you end up losing a challenge you promised yourself you wouldn't lose he thinks to himself.

In that instance, Morgan swats the offered hand to the side and pushes himself into a seated position. Afterwards, he looks back and notices that Packard is motioning for him to have a seat next to him. He continues to be cautious knowing there are quite possibly far more tricks up his sleeve from a guy who was learned from the best one Colonel John Casey. It's not long before he pushes himself up into a crouched position then sits back on the seat next to the dark and peppered hair individual sitting to his right.

His brief attention on the zonked out tattooed tank and the somewhat similar lanky version of his hetero life partner is subsequently broken by another communications headset in front of his face. He is leery for a moment in taking it as the man sitting to his left is staring at him waiting for what him to take it. Again, in his mind he knows that it's a test in wits and not to mention mind games knowing full well that he has to outsmart Casey at his own game. It's not long before he carefully makes the decision and takes the communications headset to where he put is on in order to clearly speak to Packard without all the engine noise disrupting the conversation.

He knows the next words he chooses are very critical and may determine a possibly pivotal part to where the challenge goes from here. So after sitting there for a moment and carefully considering all his choices he momentarily adjusts the communication headset then begins talking.

"So…" Morgan calmly said. "…are there snacks or better yet an in-flight movie?" he added expressing a smirk.

XXX

"You're a strange, furry little man." grinned Packard shaking his head.

For Morgan, the decision to not go all serious and hard like Casey would was in his mind a way to keep Packard and his 2 compadres on their toes. For the most part, he believes that by going down that particular route it he doesn't have to try so hard and for that matter be or in this case act like somebody who is far from a total badass. This way he's portraying someone pretty close to himself but with more confidence since he's not really in mortal danger of any kind he thinks to himself.

White sitting, briefly averts his attention to the other two men sitting across from him. They are still zonked out evident the presence of drool running down the side of the very large tattooed tank's open mouth. His equally as large head back and against the copter window. On the other hand, the quasi doppelganger to his best bud is somewhat balled up in on the other side with a weapon clutches in his right hand. A weapon that looks to a taser. A taser that quite possibly knocked him out during the escape towards the falls edge.

Though chaotic as it was, it's a memory that's slowly coming back to him as he continues to stare at the weapon that instantly took him down for the count. In that moment, a slight shiver runs down his spine as he experiences some remnants of phantom shock that come with the territory he thinks to himself. He vividly recalls in great detail the time he found himself accidentally tased by Alex during their shockingly great first date. Pun intended he thinks to himself.

The sheer impact of electricity coursing through his entire body was absolutely unforgettable as it in a weird way set the tone for their entire relationship then on. Granted, he did need another pair of pants afterwards causing him to be embarrassed but this time he doesn't need any because of how quick he got shocked, which was far different than his 1st experience. In any case, he sets that memory aside in order to get to the business at hand.

"Toy Story 2." Morgan retorted with a faint grin. "It's what Buzz Lightyear said to Woody when he first meets him minus the furry part." he added.

Packard quirks his right brow and then briefly glances over at a sleeping Mackintosh semi-crouched in the corner on the other side. "A movie I presume. You and Mac would totally get along if you were on my team." he said with an amused tone in his voice.

"It sure is…" nodded Morgan with a grin of his own. "…and I'm thinking I'd getting along with Mac who I assume tased me?" he added raising both eyebrows.

"You'd be correct. Very observant of you."

"I notice things. I'm like Sherlock Holmes but without the fighting ability. Like Benedict Cumberbatch's BBC version instead of the version starring Robert Downey Jr.'s." he retorted back.

While sitting there Morgan knows what the best thing he can do for himself right now is continue to talking and spit out movie reference in order to avoid revealing anything that could potentially cause him to fail Casey's challenge. It's part of who he is and he's spent his entire life soaking up cultural reference into his brain and not to mention involved in countless discussion that are most definitely considered wastes of time. So, he using that to work his advantage and hopefully the use of his own unique way of mind games will be able to offset Packards.

"Whatever you say…" Packard pauses then continues on. "…Morgan is it?"

"It is." he nodded.

In that moment, Morgan notices once again that Packard has quirked his right brow at him and then proceeds to seemingly have a seemingly perplexed expression on his face. An expression he witnessed plenty of times in the past and truth be told he's gotten used to it. Once again, he hopes to use to his advantage.

"Anything wrong?"

"Everything…" answered Packard. "….everything seems so wrong. You most of all. No offense." he stated putting both hands in front of him.

"None taken." he replied shaking his head. He takes that moment to suddenly cross his arms and legs as if he were a therapists of sorts. "What seems to be wrong about me? Am I odd?"

"Odd is not really the word I'm looking for."

"What then?"

"You don't seem the typical recruit the agency usually trains. Plus, if Casey is training you then the agency must desperate for recruits. Scraping the very bottom of the barrel." he surmised shaking his head once again.

"Ouch. Tell me how you really feel." Morgan chuckled.

"Like I said, no offense." Packard reiterated.

"Its all good. It's not like I've heard it before."

"So you are a potential recruit?"

"You could say that." Morgan pauses knowing he's doing some in the moment quick thinking. He's utilizing everything that his hetero life partner Chuck's path to an eventual government agent as his way of convincing him that's he is in fact a recruit that Casey is training. Way to think on your feet Morgan he thinks to himself. "I'm more an analyst. The agency thought it best if Casey were the one training me to toughen me up if I were ever out in the field."

"That makes more sense than you being a potential recruit. Truth be told, you don't have the build or the right skill set to do what we do. Just me observation and we just met a few hours ago." he proclaimed.

"You're right. I was chosen for my brains than my lack of brawn." he stated uncrossing his arms. He taps his right temple with right finger then crosses his arms once takes a brief moment to try to get a read on the man sitting to his left. After a few seconds of silence he suddenly realizes something then continues. "So I'm assuming you've seen me in action using my brains then."

"We have." nodded Packard again. "If I didn't see it with my own eyes, I would for sure thought it was just plain dumb luck." he added in amused disbelief.

"I have something that not every analyst has. A secret weapon." he firmly stated leaning forward. Upon saying that, Morgan instantly notices that he's got Packard hook, line and sinker.

XXX

"Relax. The parachute is for me. When we reach the drop point just open the back hatch and I'll be on my way with some your investments." grunted Casey.

"Then what about me..." questioned Dalton. "...my plane. You risk heading into Iran airspace just so you can leave my ass to deal with the headache that comes after?" he added with angered agitation.

Casey doesn't respond clearly ignoring the fact that they'll heading into danger once they're detected by radar by the Iranian government. He continues looking forward and piloting the plane with a lack of concern on his face. Of course, he's dealt with these situations before heading into other countries in order to execute a mission deemed important. One of them being tracking the whereabouts of a shipment of gold by orders of then President Clinton and then either destroy it or make sure it doesn't fall into anyone hands so that it funds an terror organizations. He vividly recalls giving the order to Mackintosh to set up a handprint scanner to override the panel that could only be opened by the hand of someone authorized to access it. That someone is would be himself after being betrayed by his handpicked team who he took down. The same handpicked team who now has his daughter's moron of a boyfriend in their clutches.

His thoughts concerning matters of the past are subsequently broken by the sound of Dalton's voice. "Well!?"

A grunt of annoyance is expressed by the grizzled government agent. "You're a resilient guy. You'll manage and if thing go bad just start shooting."

"Seriously!? I can't pilot the plane and shoot at the same time! Not, with you leaving my ass high and dry to settle a score. That seems rather reckless and not to mention inconsiderate of you doesn't it?" questioned Dalton taking the moment to take a swig of his alcoholic beverage.

"Reckless sure. It's a reputation I was known for in the past."

"Why am I not surprised." he sarcastically retorted rolling his eyes.

"As for inconsiderate..." Casey stated. "...it doesn't matter one way or another if it hurts you're lady feelings. Don't really care. You're in this whether you like or not and whatever hell is unleashed on you after when I'm gone. So, just man up and take care of it by any means necessary." he growled briefly glaring at Dalton.

Dalton is momentarily silent as he lets what Casey said sink in. While doing so, he takes a couple more swigs of his alcoholic beverage then expresses a somewhat pleasurable sigh of contentment. He then briefly stares at the bottle he's holding in his right hand and then averts his attention to the remaining bottles of alcohol down to the left by the co-pilot seat. Afterwards, he lifts the bottle that's clutched in his right hand and chugs what's left of it. Once he does, he reaches down picking up the box holding the remaining bottles while at the same time pushes himself and out of the seat to where he intentionally bumps into Casey's right side. A sly smirk is expressed after hearing the sound of a grunt in his communications headset. Afterwards, he hears Casey's voice once again.

"Where are you going? If you're jumping out the plane, just know the United States government takes ownership of it. "

In that moment, Dalton glances over his right shoulder. "I wouldn't give you the satisfaction if even if I did. What I'm doing is..." he retorted. He's standing in in open entrance between the cockpit and open area of the rest of the plane. He drops the empty bottle in the empty slot of the box and retrieves another bottle of beer. "...finish what's left of these beers and then take a nap. It's still a long way to Iran and besides...I want to rest up, be clear headed and on high alert when the shit hits the fan." he sarcastically stated once again. He then reaches up still clutching the fresh bottle of beer in his right hand and before removing his communications headset he says one last thing. "I need to take a piss first." he proclaimed leaving the communication headset dangling after removing it.

Once disappearing out of sight, Casey briefly glances back through the open cockpit entrance and then faces forwards. A slight shake of his head after hearing that last statement he expresses a bit of a smirk concerning the conversation between Dalton and himself. For him, it was considered somewhat enjoyable more so for him than the supposed retired arms dealer. Now that's he has some peace and quiet in the cockpit formulating a game plan knowing he's got a lot of time on his heads to do just that.

XXX

NOTE: HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS CHAPTER AS I ENJOYED WRITING IT EVEN THOUGH IT DID TAKE A BIT OF TIME. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT! AS ALWAYS GIVE A REIVEW AND SHARE YOU THOUGHTS!