A/N: We have come to the end of our little tale. Will Sarah win a WNBA title? Will Chuck realize Sarah wants him to purpose? Will Jill get what's coming to her? Will I ever shut up so you can read this?
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck
October 1st
The team trudged back into the locker room. Chuck didn't know what to do or say. They were now down 0-2 in the best-of-five-finals. The only good news was the next two games were in Cleveland, after losing both in Washington, DC. Everyone had been hyping up the big 'Sarah Walker vs Jill Roberts' battle, but it never materialized. In the first three minutes of the game, Sarah had gone up for a rebound, and she crashed to the ground with three other players on top of her, wrenching her knee.
She had refused to wear the special brace Chuck had gotten her, and now she was scolding herself. She missed the rest of game one, and was effectively useless in game 2. Chuck didn't know if he could get her ready in time for game 3, and truth be told, he didn't know if she should be playing. The professional in him said she couldn't get hurt any worse; the boyfriend in him told the professional to shut up, she was in pain.
As he started into the locker room, Jane stopped him. "Sorry, Curls, players only. Don't feel bad, I just kicked out Beckman and Casey."
"Did Casey growl?" Chuck asked with a grin.
Jane gave him the first smile he had seen on her face that day. "Like a hungry old bear," she said.
"You know it's killing her, right?"
"I know, Curls, and we're winning this thing for her."
"Nah," Chuck said, making her step back. "Win it for you."
"You're alright, Curls, regardless of what Robin says about you."
"She loves me… deep, deep, deep down," Chuck said with a grin.
"Don't think you went deep enough," she said as she shut the door.
}o{
Chuck walked down the hallway and found Beckman, Casey, and the team doctor huddling together talking in low voices. As they saw Chuck approach they went quiet.
"I think he should give it to her," Chuck said, stopping beside them.
"Give who what?" Casey asked.
"The shot of Toradol," Chuck replied. "It's legal, she has the exact symptoms of why you should use a NSAID, and frankly, she's going to ask you for it."
"Bartowski," Casey began.
"Look, I know who she is, and I love her for it. If I can't help her, then I want someone who can. I'm not sure why everyone thinks I'm against this. I'll be on the bus," and with that, he left.
}o{
October 9th
Chuck hadn't asked what happened during that team meeting, but as soon as they got home, Sarah told him the plan. Jane had told her she was wearing the knee brace, and if she didn't there would be hell to pay. They would handle the next two games at home, and Sarah's job was to learn how to play using the brace. She told her teammates she was going to get an injection before each game, to lessen the pain. Chuck told her that was a good idea, and she just stared at him for a few moments.
He asked her what her plan was for Thanksgiving, making her blink. He said if she didn't have to be in studio that he would like her to join him and Ellie and Devon. She kissed him, and told him she was there. The next few days consisted of Chuck working on her knee, doing strengthening exercises, and going over the contract TNT and NBA TV had offered her for the upcoming NBA season.
The team won the two games at home. Sarah had good, but not great, games. She said she was feeling better each day, but Chuck watched her at home, how she was limping. He was hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst. They were scheduled to fly to DC the next morning, for the 5th and final game of the WNBA Playoffs.
They had just gotten into bed and turned off the lights, when Chuck sat up, and turned on the light beside him. "Okay, this has to be said."
"Oh God, are you pregnant?" she asked, turning over, shock covering her face.
"What? No!" Chuck replied, his eyes wide.
"Is it mine?" she asked, as serious as could be. "Wait… that's it, it's not mine, is it?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
"Well, I'm not the one sitting up make declarative statements, like the world depends on it."
Chuck just looked at her. "Are you through?"
"For now," she said with a shrug. Chuck shook his head, as she snaked his arm around her. "Now, what is it?"
"I need you to recognize where you are right this second," Chuck began.
"In bed, with my boyfriend, semi-naked… is that the problem? Should we both be fully naked? Would that make this discussion go faster?"
"You know damn well it wouldn't," Chuck retorted, making her giggle. "I know what's wrong with the team."
"Okay, you have my attention," she said, sitting up.
"You're not recognizing what you've done, and what you've accomplished," Chuck began.
"No, Chuck, this team doesn't want participation trophies," Sarah retorted.
"Sarah, how the hell is having a WNBA career, when you didn't, a participation trophy?" Chuck asked. She stared at him. "How is being made available in the expansion draft because your team doesn't want you anymore, and then going to the WNBA finals, a participation trophy?
"I get it, the job's not done, but you need to be damn proud, and recognize what it is that you've done. You need to savor this, because maybe you never get back. Maybe you need to step back, recognize what you've accomplished, and celebrate it for what it is."
"I knew I fell in love with you for a reason," she said softly.
"Sarah, tomorrow… tomorrow is yours for the taking. You are Sarah 'THE Ice Queen' Walker, and you can have anything you want. And I mean anything," Chuck told her holding her hands.
"Anything?" she asked.
"Yup," he replied. She moved toward him. "What are you doing?"
"There is something I really want right now," she told him.
"Is it me? Please tell me it's me." She never answered, she just bounced her eyebrows. An hour later he laid back, exhausted. "It was me," he said dreamily. Sarah burst into laughter.
}o{
October 10th, Game 5 of the WNBA finals, Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington, DC
Sarah was standing at the half court circle, Jill two feet away. Robin was about to shoot free throws, the Rockers currently down five points with two minutes to go.
"Say good-bye to it all," Jill snarled. Sarah had been on fire all night. She currently had thirty-five points, eleven assists and nine rebounds, one rebound shy of a triple double. "Win or lose, you lose him after this is over."
"I don't know how you figure that," Sarah retorted, not looking at her.
"You and I both know you used him to get what you want… the same way I did." Sarah snorted. "What? You know it's true," Jill said, as Robin hit both free throws to cut the lead to three. Jill headed back to get the inbounds pass, with Sarah defending her.
"You have no idea how amazing he is," Sarah said.
Jill tried to drive by her, but Sarah was there, to cut in front of her. Their knees collided, and Sarah winced, but there was little pain; the brace had done its job. "You don't love him." Jill again tried to drive by her, and Sarah let her go and then back tipped the ball. It bounced straight to Jane who grabbed it and tossed it to Sarah. Sarah drove down the lane, with Robin on the other side. Sarah bounced passed the ball across the court to Robin, who was being tailed by a Mystics player. Robin put up the shot, but it bounced off the rim. Sarah grabbed the rebound, and laid it back in. The Rockers were down one, with a minute and a half to go.
"Triple-double!" Jane shouted to Sarah. Sarah shrugged… she didn't care. There were only two things she cared about: The win, and Chuck Bartowski.
Sarah picked up Jill defensively at 3/4 court. "We're in the WNBA finals. How about we play ball, and quit worrying about my man? Hmm?"
"He'll be anyone's man by tomorrow," Jill retorted, trying unsuccessfully to cross up Sarah.
"He's gonna be celebrating with me tomorrow," Sarah countered, not able to get to the ball.
"You haven't won yet," Jill said, trying again to drive by Sarah, clanging knees and sending them both to the ground. The whistle blew, and Sarah was called for a blocking foul. She rolled her eyes as she got up, and realized something was wrong. The brace had somehow locked up, and wouldn't move. She reached down, unclasped it, and threw it toward the Rockers bench.
She looked over, caught Chuck's eyes and mouthed, "I'll be okay." She walked to her spot at the free throw line to the left of Jill. "I've already won, you just don't understand how," she said to Jill. Jill glared at her, and shot the free throw. The normally 92% free-throw shooter missed the first. She turned and walked away from the line, cursing.
"Whoops, did I get into your head?"
Jill glared at Sarah, then sank the second, pushing the lead out to two. Fifty-five seconds remained in the game.
The ball was inbounded to Sarah, and as she came up the court, she and Carina shared a look. It was time.
Sarah called out the old Harvard play. She drove to the basket as the shot clock ran down, and pitched the ball over to a wide-open Carina in the corner. Carina pulled up and from the look on her face, it was absolute money… except… it wasn't. The ball bounced off the rim, and then off Robin's outstretched fingers for the rebound. It was the Mystics ball, up 2 with 31 seconds left in the game.
"Hey, Red!" Jane yelled at Carina, who was walking down the court, dejected. "Head up, cause you're draining the next one!"
"But-"
"I said, head up, Red!" Jane growled. Carina set her jaw and nodded.
"Too bad," Jill said, bringing the ball up the court. As she crossed the half-court line, she faked left, but Sarah was ready and slapped the ball away. Sarah sprinted after it, and saw the red blur heading to the far corner. Sarah shot a bullet pass her way. Carina caught the ball in the exact same spot, and this time, she buried it! Rockers up by one with 24 seconds left in the game.
To Washington's credit, they were never rattled. Jill got the ball, pushed it up-court, and did what any point guard should do in that situation: She got the ball to the league MVP Elena Delle Donne, who spun and, as the whistle blew for a foul on Robin, hit a twelve-foot fall-away jump shot, giving Washington a one-point lead and a free throw upcoming with six seconds left. Delle Donne went to the free throw line, and buried it, making it a two-point Washington lead. Beckman called timeout.
The team walked to the side line, and took a seat. Beckman looked them from one to the other. "I have one question: Who's setting the pick on Jill?"
"Oh, that's me," Carina insisted. "I'm gonna plant her ass to grow!"
"Get me the ball, you come off the screen blondie," Jane said, looking Sarah in the eye. "Knock down that shot and then drinks are on you tonight."
Sarah nodded as the buzzer sounded. She went to the far corner of the court. Robin threw the ball in to Jane, and she began the sprint.
Six.
Sarah ran up the sideline.
Five.
She made the sharp turn, as she saw Carina step out.
Four.
She heard the collision as Jill ran into Carina.
Three.
The ball came towards her, as she approached the top of the key, well outside of the three-point line.
Two.
The ball hit her square in the hands as she turned, squared, and jumped.
One.
The ball left her hands, feeling as good as it did on the game winning shot in the NCAA title game years ago.
Zero.
She felt the same knee crumple as she landed, and fell into a heap as pandemonium reigned down.
}o{
Tuesday, October 22nd
"What do you think, Sarah?" Candace Parker asked, turning to her.
"If I'm Rondo, and I have both LeBron James and Anthony Davis available, I'm thinking fifteen assists a night," Sarah replied with a shrug. "As a point guard, I have to be excited."
"It's not fair," Steve Smith said, turning to Matt Winer. "They are deadly on the court, they are both amazing beautiful ladies, and their analysis is spot on."
Everyone laughed. "And in case we didn't mention it earlier, Sarah Walker, WNBA Finals MVP and Champion, for the folks at home; the knee is okay?"
Sarah grinned at Matt, and her mind flashed back.
The ball dropped through the hoop as she pushed herself up. She knew who was beside her, before she even turned.
"You okay?" he asked. "Did it blow?"
"No," she replied, turning to him, her eyes shining. "It just gave out, I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Actually, I'm not fine, but I think you can help me with that," she said, taking his hand.
"What can I do? You tell me, and I'll do it."
"Marry me."
"Matt, my knee is perfectly fine," Sarah said with a smile. "It just gave out at the end, but I'm good."
"What Iwant to know is how is your wrist and hand, because, girl, that rock is huge!" Candace said.
"I kinda like it," Sarah said with a grin.
"I am invited, right?" Candace asked.
"Yes, but you have to know Chuck is going to want your autograph," Sarah replied, which had everyone laughing.
The segment ended a few minutes later, and as she walked past the cameras, she saw her fiancé standing there, leaning against the wall. "Got us a place here in Atlanta," Chuck told her. "The one you wanted."
"Chuck, this is ridiculous… we have a place here, and in Cleveland," she began.
"The only part of that sentence that matters is we," Chuck told her. "Now, let me help you," he said, lifting her left hand.
"What are you doing?" Sarah asked.
"You're a professional athlete, and I'm your PT, so I have to make sure you don't exhaust yourself carrying around this rock," Chuck said with a grin.
"You don't mind if I exhaust myself other times," she retorted. Chuck nearly tripped, and she wrapped an arm around him.
"Never change, Chuck. Never change."
A/N: This one took awhile, and I'm sorry. Life got in the way for me, my family, my beta, and just everyone I seemed to know. I appreciate all of you sticking around to the end and joining me on this little trip. Will this have a sequel? I HIGHLY doubt it. The amount of prep work on this one was a little ridiculous, seriously. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
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