Ch. 17 Reunion
A/N: We've made it to the final chapter (there will be an epilogue/glossary tomorrow). Time to turn up the fluff. But for that to happen, these kids need to get together. Too bad that blasted intersect has them apart. Thank you all for the support and encouragement on this trip. Hopefully you enjoy this as well.
We can't have a David Carner/Dillwg Christmas fic without some song lyrics. Apparently FF isn't a fan of multiple font, so the lyrics will be in italics.
Sarah grabbed her Americano from the barista and made her way over to her preferred seat. Along the way her eyes shifted from her steaming coffee cup to the security cameras and back again. She was trying to convince herself that she was just missing the thrill of the chase that she experienced in her search for her Secret Santa. Or the adrenaline-fueled rescue op. Meanwhile, she worked very hard to ignore the memory of the alternating feelings of fear and rage when she had learned that Fulcrum had kidnapped Chuck.
She tried equally hard to repress what she had felt when she saw Chuck alive and well in the Fulcrum stronghold. And that feeling when he wrapped her up in a hug, so similar yet so different to those hugs that Ellie doled out. Or the feeling she experienced on the drive up to Big Sur. Or while on their lunch date in Caramel. She most certainly wasn't missing Chuck. That couldn't be it.
Rather than dwell on missing Chuck, Sarah turned her thoughts to the upcoming holiday and the fact that time was rapidly running out for her to buy Molly a present. Her mom had sent a picture of an awe-struck Molly sitting on Santa's lap. Between life on the run with her dad, and being scattered to the winds on missions while with the CIA, this was the first family Christmas that she could remember. Even if her dad wasn't going to be in the picture.
That thought made her wonder about Bartowski Christmases. She could practically picture a 5 year old Chuck, a mop of curls atop his head, sitting on Santa's lap and grilling the man about how reindeer could fly instead of asking for a present. She gave a soft laugh at herself for such wool-gathering.
As she collapsed down into the chair, Sarah felt the vibration of her spy…Damn you, Chuck Bartowski…her work phone. She surreptitiously slid the phone out of the hidden compartment in the messenger bag she was using to carry her laptop and books, surprised that she didn't recognize the number. "Walker, secure but in public." She was surprised to hear melodic laughter in response.
"Sorry," came the instantly recognizable voice of Chuck's sister. "I didn't know the number to your burner phone…Now there's a sentence I never thought that I would use in my lifetime." It was Sarah's turn to laugh as she could hear Ellie grumbling under her breath about spies and their toys. Apparently the elder Bartowski sibling was still reeling from the discovery that her mother was a living legend within the NCS community. And that her father and brother were deeply connected to that world as well. "I knew from Dad that finals were nearly over, so I wondered if you would be coming to spend the holidays in LA with Emma and Molly?"
Before Sarah had left Big Sur, she had gone on several walks on the nature trails near the Bartowski cabin. Ellie had joined her on a number of those walks, with Sarah being surprised, pleasantly, how adamant Ellie had been about developing a friendship with Sarah. She was equally surprised when she realized how much she wanted a friendship with Chuck's sister, and how quickly a close bond developed between the two.
Sarah quickly sat upright in the chair. "I am! I've got another final and one last term paper to turn in. After that, I'm hitting the road."
Ellie laughed again. "Well, one advantage of being a spy is that you always keep your bags packed for a quick getaway." Sarah's smile dimmed a bit at the teasing, seeing how close it was the actual truth. "Between spending time with your family, I hope that you will be able to carve out a little to see me and Devon."
Sarah's smile returned in force at the mention of the near mythical fiancé of Ellie. "How is Awesome?"
"No, no, no! Not you too. This is all Chuck's doing. He needs to stop. Seriously! I even caught Woody referring to him by that nickname. The man's own father!" Sarah couldn't hold back the laugh that came out. She reveled in how nice it was to just be able to talk about regular things with Ellie. "The worst part is that Devon thinks the nickname is…ugh, I can't say it."
"Awesome?" She could barely contain the laughter that was threatening to bubble out at the teasing of her friend.
Sarah could practically feel the glare through the phone. But Ellie shifted gears. "How did your classes go for the semester? Are you looking forward to a little down time?"
"You do remember who you're talking to, right? Years of mission after mission, prepping and planning for the next op while flying back to Langley from the previous op. After that, grad school feels like down time to me. But I am looking forward to carving out some more time to spend in the gym. I do not like the feeling of being out of shape."
It was Ellie's turn to laugh. "You? Out of shape? You are so fit that if you decided to run the LA Marathon, you wouldn't just finish, you'd win the whole damn thing. But I'll text Devon and have him hook you up with a month long membership to his gym. He swears it's the best in LA. And if anyone would know, it would be Devon."
Ellie paused for a moment, making Sarah wonder what the wonderful doctor as up to. "You know, on the 22nd there's a Christmas tradition here in Burbank that we do each year. There's a big event at a local shopping plaza. Food, music, the works. You should join us. I promise a good time."
"Well, if you promise, how can I say no?" Sarah's voice carried more enthusiasm than she really felt. It was hard to get too worked up for Christmas, although getting to spend it with her mom and Molly would make it the best she could remember. Maybe a pre-Christmas party with Ellie wouldn't be so bad.
When Ellie hung up a few minutes later, Sarah felt better than she had for weeks. She was really looking forward to spending more time with Ellie, and once again meeting the myth that was Awesome. Her eyes cut up to one of the security cameras. What she really wanted to do was spend more time with Chuck, but she was thrilled to look forward to bonding some more with Ellie, her second favorite Bartowski.
}0{
Sarah cast her eyes around the parking lot filled with people reveling in the Christmas spirit. "What in the hell am I doing here?" She then quietly laughed at herself. You are here because Ellie invited you, and you are desperate to get (and stay) on Chuck's sister's good side.
Despite all of the holiday cheer around her, Sarah couldn't dredge up any Christmas spirit of her own. Ellie had accused her of refusing to allow herself to partake in any Christmas spirit as she hadn't been able to find out where the IC had stashed her favorite professor, or when (she refused to consider "if") she would see him again.
So, she found herself being dragged along to this Christmas party in the Burbank Buy More shopping plaza, complete with a "hill" made out of shaved ice for little kids to sled down while their parents stood off to the side in jeans and polo shirts. But the kids were having a blast. Near the sledders was a mall Santa posing for pictures with kids and adults alike. It didn't take a trained professional to spot the fake beard or padding under the bright red suit.
"Are you sure that I can't talk you into posing with Santa?" Ellie was just this side of pleading with her. If she wasn't a Bartowski, it probably would have been annoying. But Ellie, like her brother, was the genuine article. Still, aside from the "Secret Santa" gifts and accompanying cards that proved they came from Chuck, there had been no word from him since the surprise video chat on Thanksgiving.
"Sorry, Ellie," Sarah said with the trace of a grimace. "I don't really do Christmas. Plus, I guess that I'm having a hard time getting into the swing of things. But you can go, if you want." Sarah knew before she finished speaking that Ellie wouldn't go. Eleanor Bartowski seemed determined to cheer Sarah up, and Ellie was on a mission to do just that. I'm going to need a whole lot of eggnog before I could even fake having a semblance of a good time.
When Sarah spotted two odd looking men in Nerd Herd uniforms step onto the stage near the mall Santa and grab some instruments, Sarah decided that a drink was definitely in order. When Sarah heard the shorter, dark haired man belt out, "Hello Wisconsin", Sarah paused to shoot a confused look over her shoulder. Apparently the greeting was some kind of inside joke, as a number of people in the crowd laughed or whistled. Sarah spotted the mall Santa making his way towards the stage, prompting her to resume her mission to find something to drink. The harder the better. After all, Ellie had driven them over in a mint condition vintage convertible Mustang, so Sarah didn't have to worry about driving.
The Nerd Herd duo launched into a cover of Slade's "It's Christmas", which brought back memories of her father playing the song while heading to a Salvation Army con with Sarah as his unwitting co-conspirator. The song would have been hard enough to listen to if it had been a recording of Slade singing it, but a nasally, off-key version was even worse.
Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall?
It's the time that every Santa has a ball
Does he ride a red nosed reindeer?
Does he turn up on his sleigh
Do the fairies keep him sober for a day?
So here it is merry Christmas
Everybody's having fun
Look to the future now
It's only just begun
Sarah had just grabbed her spiked eggnog when the lyrics from the chorus washed over her. "Look to the future now. It's only just begun." Was that why I'm so out of sorts? Had I started to actually think about the future, ensconced in the safety of Stanford? While with the Agency, she had only looked to the future as far as planning for her next mission. There was no future beyond that. After all, there was no guarantee that she would be making it out of whatever mess Graham was going to throw her into next.
Despite Sarah's misgivings about both the song and the singing, the crowd was enthusiastically singing along with the chorus. Sarah polished off her drink and turned to the bartender to get another one, slipping him a larger tip to add a floater to boost the alcohol content even higher. She didn't want to disappoint Ellie, but she needed a buffer from sobriety if she hoped to make it through this so-called party.
Ellie wandered back over to Sarah's side, suspiciously hiding her hands behind her back. Sarah unsuccessfully fought the grin that was breaking out over her friend's behavior. "What's that behind your back, Ellie?"
Ellie just smiled at Sarah, her eyes filled with mischief. "Wow, Sarah, that's a beautiful necklace." Sarah's eyes narrowed. She'd had the necklace on when she'd shown up at Ellie and Awesome's place. Ellie looked at her with wide-eyed innocence. Sarah wasn't buying whatever Ellie was trying to sell. "Where'd you get it?"
"I'm pretty sure that you know exactly where I got this necklace…and who sent it to you."
Ellie just smiled, wholly unrepentant. "As it so happens…I do." She swung one of her hands out in front of her, a small gift bag dangling from her fingers. "The same Secret Santa who asked me to deliver this gift."
Sarah's eyes bore into the gift bag, a curiosity bordering on obsession with wanting to know what was inside of it. Her hand extended out to grab the bag, but paused in midair. Something felt different about the present. Significant. Well, more significant. Each present had held a special meaning for her. But having Ellie deliver it made it feel…more.
"What's in the bag, Ellie?" Ellie's grin suddenly resembled the Cheshire Cat. "Only one way for you to find out." She gave the bag a little shake. Sarah could hear something make a metallic clink.
Sarah slowly extended her arm, her eyes watching Ellie the entire time. She lifted the bag from Ellie's hand, her emotions flipflopping from excitement over discovering what the present was to trepidation over what felt like a big moment. She eased the bag open, spotting a shiny bracelet inside.
"It won't bite," Ellie said with a light laugh. Sarah shot her a "I'm not so sure" look. She gently pulled the bracelet out, spotting the charms dangling from the sides. There were some signs of gentle wear, but also of meticulous care. "Well, put it on." As Sarah did so, Ellie leaned over to help with the clasp.
"This belonged to our mom," Ellie said as she secured it around Sarah's wrist. Yep, definitely more.
Picking up her glass to cover her nerves, Sarah turned back towards the stage as Ellie started to drift closer to it. Fortunately, the Slade cover had ended. Unfortunately, not only had the two Nerd Herders not left the stage, but they had been joined on stage by the mall Santa. Ellie caught Sarah's eye, beaming with excitement. Sarah couldn't help but laugh at Ellie's unabashed enthusiasm. Taking another sip of her drink, and feeling the burn of the 151 rum as it settled into her stomach, Sarah moved over to rejoin Ellie. At least she's toward the back of the crowd. I don't think I would be able to survive if I had to head up near the stage to meet her.
Ellie looked back over her shoulder at her friend standing there with a drink in one hand, the other hand held aloft so that she could look at her new gift. "Mom gave it to Chuck years ago." Sarah was stunned at that little revelation. More than just more. This is huge.
Sarah didn't even try to stop the groan as she watched the diminutive singer begrudgingly hand the microphone over to Father Christmas. Oh god, this is going to be even worse. Why does Ellie seem to be even more excited? The woman is practically vibrating while standing still. Sarah raised her glass for a little more liquid courage as Santa lifted the mike to start to sing.
"She told Chuck that one day he would find someone special. Someone worthy of wearing it." What!?
He's gone
The glass tumbled from Sarah's hand. The flammable eggnog drenching Sarah's favorite pair of boots.
2,000 miles
Everything in the Plaza parking lot went out of focus, except for Santa. Who had locked eyes with Sarah and was singing to her, and to her alone.
Is very far
The snow is falling down
It's colder day by day
I miss you
Sarah was oblivious to the tears streaming down her cheeks or the sob that burst from her chest.
The children were singing
He'll be back at Christmas time
And these frozen and silent nights
Sometimes in a dream
You appear
Outside under the purple sky
Diamonds in the snow
Sparkle
Our hearts was singing
It felt like Christmas time
2,000 miles
Is very far through the snow
I'll think of you
Wherever you go
On stage, Santa pulled off the fake beard to reveal a smooth shaven face underneath. Next came the cap and the white wig. Only then did Sarah realize how much she had missed those curls.
He's gone
2,000 miles
Is very far
The snow is falling down
It's colder day by day
I miss you
I can hear people singing
It must be Christmas time
I hear people singing
It must be Christmas time
By now, everyone in the audience knew that something magical was taking place right in front of their eyes. The assembled crowd had gone silent. When the final chorus had started, the whole crowd had been looking back and forth between Santa and the gorgeous woman at the back. When the last note was sung, Sarah suddenly rediscovered the ability to move. She wasn't aware of the crowd parting before her as she made a beeline towards the stage. A slow walk transformed into a jog and ended in a full sprint as she launched herself up onto the stage and into the waiting arms of Chuck.
As their kiss slowed and finally stopped, Sarah realized that their first kiss had been quite the public affair, as the crowd erupted in cheers. Not tearing his eyes away from hers, Chuck used a thumb to wipe away the tracks of her tears from her cheeks. "I think you made my sister cry, Sarah Walker."
Sarah reached up to run her fingers through the riot of curls atop his head. "I'll make it up to her. Somehow." Chuck gave her another quick, yet highly public kiss. "This would have been far less dramatic if you had just come over to take a picture like she had suggested." Sarah let out a gasp, her head swiveling to lock eyes with a thoroughly unrepentant Ellie who flashed her a beaming smile and two thumbs up. Twisting back to Chuck, "She knew about this?! That's why she dragged me along to this party?"
Chuck let out a laugh as he led Sarah by the hand backstage. "Knew? Who do you think was responsible for renting this Santa suit? Or renting out Santa's Village and hiring elves? Or twisting Jeffster's arms to get them to agree to let me come on stage to sing? Ellie was on hand when my mom got word that the NSA was going to let me out of protective custody. Ellie set this whole thing up. She was rather determined that you be heart-warmed." Chuck flashed her that grin that he seemed to save just for her. "Have you been heart-warmed, Sarah?"
Sarah grabbed Chuck's hand, leading him out of the backstage area and into the parking lot, certain that Ellie would have arranged for Chuck to have a car handy so that he and Sarah wouldn't be stuck with his big sister as chaperone/chauffeur. "Something was definitely warmed by your singing, but I don't think it was my heart. Now, where's your car so that we can get somewhere private. Quickly."
Chuck's jaw dropped open in mock surprise. "Why, Ms. Walker. Talk like that will get you on Santa's naughty list."
Sarah sent him a smoldering look. "If you want me to be naughty, you're going to have to be very good. Are you very good, Chuck?"
Chuck's mouth kept opening and closing without a sound being uttered. Sarah smirked, then reached into the pants pockets in the Santa suit, fishing around for car keys. Fob in one hand, Chuck's hand in the other, she waved the fob back and forth until she saw the lights on a black 6 series BMW flash on.
Sarah nodded her head approvingly. "Your sister has great taste." Chuck looked at Sarah intently, rediscovering the power of speech. "Yes," he replied with absolute certainty. "She certainly does."
}0{
"This is really nice, Chuck. But don't think that this gets you off the hook for a showing of Tron. You promised, after all." They were seated in a vintage diner, after an exhausting, hours long reunion behind closed doors.
Chuck beamed back at her. "Tron? You want Tron, I'll give you Tron." Sarah tilted her head, confusion apparent on her face. "You didn't watch it yet? I gave you the DVD." Ah, that must be some movie quote, Sarah realized. "Nope. I was waiting to see it with you."
Chuck was so overwhelmed by her sentimentality that he lunged forward, reaching for her head. Sarah's training started to kick in, but she forced herself not to subdue Chuck. She was immediately glad that she did, as he soundly kissed her. A moment later, reason took over as Chuck abruptly ended the kiss. He stepped back, looking appalled at his action.
Sarah immediately felt the loss of the feeling of his lips against hers. She opened her eyes to see Chuck's expression. Sarah immediately figured out why Chuck had stopped kissing her. Seriously? After what we just finished doing…and doing, you're embarrassed by kissing me? Anticipating that he was about to go on some long, rambling apology, Sarah decided that turnabout was fair play. Chuck was frozen in place for a moment until a grin spread on his face before he enthusiastically returned the kiss. He had discovered that the cure to PDA discomfort was Sarah Walker.
The speakers in the diner were playing Winter Wonderland as Chuck explored his lack of PDA discomfort until the kiss was broken up by their server delivering their food. "Do you think that Roan either planned this, or at least saw it as a possibility?"
Chuck momentarily choked as the sip of hot chocolate went down the wrong pipe. "So, so hot." He quickly fanned at his mouth, making Sarah regret the timing of her question. After a long swallow of water, Chuck leaned back into the vinyl covered booth. "He saw the possibility of the most amazing woman in the world- and considering that encompasses both my mother and sister, that is some praise- wanting to date a nerd like me?" Chuck was laughing at the absurdity of it. "Oddsmakers in Vegas couldn't calculate how remote a possibility that would be."
Sarah, however, was not amused. "Two things. First, you really need to stop putting me up on some pedestal while putting yourself in the trash. You have no idea of how many women on or around campus would kill for the chance to date you. Which reminds me, no more unaccompanied trips to Green Library or Lou's Diner." Chuck boggled at the absolute conviction in Sarah's tone, as well as the very specific edict. "Which leads me to my second point. Number two, after all that we've been through to get here, the two of us had better not just be dating, but dating exclusively."
Chuck's grin brightened the entire diner. "That right there," he said while using his index finger to draw circles in the air across the table from her, "is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten. Bar none."
Sarah smirked at him, deciding to have a little cheeky fun at Chuck's expense. "Would that Christmas present be the whole 'dating exclusively' thing, or," she said while waving her hand in front of her chest like Vanna White on Wheel of Fortune, "were you talking about these?" Chuck's eyes pingponged back and forth between her eyes and chest before locking onto her eyes. A bead of sweat slowly inched down his brow. "Because I'm all for you unwrapping these again…but we should probably wait until we're somewhere a little more private."
Chuck's face turned a brighter red that the nose of Rudolph on the Christmas tabletop decoration. Still, his hand shot in the air as he called out to the waitress, "Check please!"
}0{
A lone figure stood in the shadows outside of the home of Professor Chuck Bartowski. The inside of the home looked like a scene from a Norman Rockwell painting. There was a tall Christmas tree with twinkling white lights and glittering silver tinsel. The man of the house was standing next the tree on his tiptoes as he stretched to put a star on top of it.
Near the professor's side stood a stunningly beautiful woman, a glass of champagne in her hand as she unabashedly laughed in response to something said. Near this woman was a child with ringlets of gold who was running circles around the tree in her finest red and green Christmas dress. Not far from them stood two couples and a lone middle aged, yet captivatingly beautiful woman, all five watching the tableau before them with expressions of joy.
The entire scene appeared idyllic. If a person didn't know any better, they would believe the house to be filled with nothing but happiness and goodwill towards man. But the watcher in the shadows knew better. Two of the women in that tranquil setting were the most deadly, capable spies on the planet.
The phone in the man's hand vibrated. It was the call he had been expecting, waiting for.
"Report." A tight smile formed on his lips. No unnecessary, half-hearted pleasantries. Efficient and succinct. The man nodded with approval.
"I have visual on Agent Walker. She and Frost are safeguarding the two architects of the new Intersect 2.0." He paused as the two women simultaneously lost their smiles and began looking out of the windows. Alert. Searching the shadows for the slightest hint of threat to the civilians inside of the home. Damn, they are good.
He stepped out of the shadows, now visible in the bright moonlight as he stood on the sidewalk across the street from the house. In perfect synchronicity, the two women relaxed their posture, tension giving way to subtle smiles. "I believe that the Ice Queen has found her King, Director. But…she may also have discovered a partner just as skilled as she, and even more experienced. If you are looking for an unquestionably loyal team to root out Fulcrum, I believe that I have found them for you."
Roan sauntered across the roadway. "Merry Christmas, Madame Director." He disconnected the call as he strode through the door now held open for him by Stephen. Fashionably late, but always fashionable.
A/N2: We made it to Christmas. The couple are happy and together with the families united. Hopefully that was fluffy enough to satisfy the readers out there. There will be a short epilogue tomorrow, as well as a glossary explaining the names of the non-canon secondary characters.