A/N: We are about to get into Sarah Walker's backstory. While some of it may sound familiar as Yvonne's, please know that while there are a few things I plucked here and there, most of this actually comes from another radio/podcast personality and his childhood. Some of it also I plucked out of the thin air…and the timeline might not exactly match up with real life. Again, its' an AU. What I'm saying is, make sure what you think I said, I actually said. Thanks for reading.
Also, the picture of Yvonne and Mercedes….legit selfie they took at Target and posted to Instagram. These two…
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck.
We find ourselves back in the interview room. Sarah Walker sits in the chair, a smile on her face. She is wearing jeans, a black blouse, and a pair of orange Chucks.
The producer speaks. "Could you give us your name and a bit of your backstory about how you got to where you are today."
"Sure," she chirps. "Now I've told much of this on Chuck's podcast, Beach Sessions, so I'll give you some of the highlights. I am Sarah Walker, and I was born in Australia. I went to university to study acting, and got a few jobs after I graduated. I tried out for a few roles in America during pilot season, but didn't land anything."
The producer speaks. "That had to be tough."
Sarah shrugs. "I don't say this to disparage anyone, but I think one of the things that people find…exotic… I guess that's the right word? About Australians is our work effort. We don't quit, we put in the work. I always knew I'd make it in Hollywood. I always knew I'd make it, because I wasn't going to quit…which has lead to some rumors, I don't appreciate."
The producer speaks. "I assume some of the…rumors of what actors and actresses will do to get a role."
Sarah nods. "I went in-depth on this topic with Chuck, but, no, I did not date anyone in this industry, or sleep with them to get a role. I understand, that stuff has happened, and it is wrong, but I have always done the hard work and knew that my work and dedication to my craft would one day pay off."
Sarah takes a deep breath and smiles. "Sorry, didn't mean to get so intense." She chuckles. "So, there was a movie shot here in Australia, and I'm not sure what happened. Some one was sick, or didn't have the right passport, but the part got recast, and I tried out."
She smiles, and seems to be caught up in the memory. "Here is my first role in a big budget movie, and my first scene I record…I'm sitting across from Robert De Nero literally trying not to shit myself. I studied him in university for crying out loud." She laughs at the memory. "Anyway, I got to know Jason and when they needed someone for Expendables, I got offered the role based off of his recommendation."
The producer speaks. "Was there any plans on the role expanding like it did?"
Sarah laughs. "Oh, God, no! That scene apparently tested so well-"
The producer cuts in. "The one where you burst your way into the fight, killed three guys with a rifle, and two with knives you had on your person, saving Jason and Stallone, and said, 'Did someone order backup?'"
"Yup," Sarah said, laughing and slapping her leg with her hand from amusement. "The audiences loved it, and Jason and Sylvester had already been thinking about ways to expand the franchise, so a few weeks later, I got a call from Jason about the idea, and did I have anyone who I thought would be a good fit for the movie." She chuckles. "To this day, I don't know why I said it, but I had been watching the show, The Finder and the presence of Zondra….she just seemed like a natural fit."
The producer speaks. "And Carina?"
Sarah bursts out laughing. "Zondra introduced me to Carina and the three of us partied a little. When we couldn't find anyone to play the 'killer model' role, I thought, hell, why not try a real model, and as they say…the rest is history."
}o{
Chuck was sitting in his office listening to his sister, brother-in-law, and friend go at it. "I'm telling you that was a great catch," Bryce argued.
"Dude, it was Awesome," Devon said, making Chuck chuckle. "He stretched out, and pulled it in."
"And I'm telling you he should be in the concussion protocol," Ellie chimed in. "When he came down, his head hit the turf and bounced. I know, I know, we're about to get lit up in the comments and on twitter about woman speaking about football, a sport she obviously hates. Again, I don't hate it, I hate what it does to the players brains."
Chuck grinned at his sister. Of all the podcasts at the CIA Network, this was the one that was always on YouTube because it had a visual component to it. It was also on audio providers, but the YouTube viewings were where the majority of the people consumed the show.
Bryce and Devon showed plays on the monitor so everyone at home could see what they were talking about. Ellie and Devon then showed how the body reacted to the hits, or collisions the players were involved in. They also used x-rays where they could and computer simulation to help illustrated their points.
There were always comments about Ellie and Devon killing peoples' joy of sports in the comments, but somehow it was still one of the top rated, and highest grossing, sports podcasts in America, and it only came out once a week because of the doctors work schedule. Chuck told them both he could pay them so much more than what they were making at the hospital if they would podcast five days a week, but both doctors reminded Chuck they were doctors to help people, not get rich.
There was a knock on the door and Chuck paused the episode and looked up at the smiling face waiting to talk to him. "Lou, why do I get scared every time you smile?"
"Because you know I use my smile to disarm you and bring you financial information that is going to give you a headache."
Chuck collapsed onto his desk dramatically, making Lou laugh. She walked into his office and took a seat across from him. "All I want to do is make podcasts," he whined.
"It's just sponsorship deals," Lou began.
"I'm not making anyone work any more than they already do," Chuck said quickly. He sat up. "I know that's the rub, they want Carina and Zondra every day, but we only promise them twice a week, and it doesn't even have to be them."
"I know, Chuck, I know," Lou replied, nodding. "They have other careers, as do Devon and Ellie."
"Insurance going up?" he blurted out, a worried look on his face.
"As long as we promise never to let anyone eat anything out of Jeff's refrigerator, we should be okay," Lou told him.
"It is called the Mystery Podcast," Chuck muttered, blowing a rough breath out. "Okay, so who wants to sponsor who, and how much?"
"Well," Lou began. A knock on the door interrupted them. Chuck looked up, saw his friend and smiled. "You never smile at me like that and I don't burn you on a national podcast," Lou teased.
"She doesn't bring me sponsorship deals and make my head hurt," Chuck countered, sticking his tongue out at Lou. Lou stuck her tongue out and added a, "Nyaah." But the smile fell off of Chuck's face. Lou turned in her chair and saw Zondra wincing. "Job offer?" Zondra nodded. "Welp, look at the time," she said, glancing at her wrist that had no time piece on it. "I need to go." Lou began to gather her things.
"You're not fooling anyone," Chuck told her.
"Not really trying to," Lou told him. She headed out, paused in front of Zondra, laid her hand on Zondra's forearm and squeezed. "I'm sure, whatever it is, you're gonna kill it."
"Are you kidding?" Chuck asked, leaning back in his chair. "It's Z, of course she is. She's the best."
"Call me later," Lou said softly.
"Or you could just stay," Chuck offered. Lou shook her head, and took off. "Well, is this a leave the door open talk or shut the door talk?"
"Can we go to the beach?" Zondra asked. Chuck shut his eyes and a second later his head bounced off of his desk. "This is going well," she said to herself, chuckling as she saw his shoulders shaking from laughter.
}o{
"You remember when you got the part on The Finder?" Chuck asked her, as they strolled down the beach some time later.
"Uh, yeah," Zondra replied.
"Remember how I was worried you'd forget about me after you became a big movie star?" Chuck continued.
"Yes," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Did I ever tell you there was a time I worried you only came back in my life after that because I had made the podcast thing work, and you came back for a job?" Chuck asked softly. "My anxiety hates me so much some days."
"I know buddy," she said, wrapping her arms around his near one and squeezing it. "I'm always a phone call away."
"I know, Z, but you…you've kinda been my rock as a friend. Not that Bryce and Morgan aren't there for me about anything, but….for the person that, 'isn't good at feelings'," Chuck said with air quotes. "You always listen and never judge."
"Oh, I judge the hell out of you," Zondra disagreed.
"Okay, about my wardrobe, sure," Chuck replied.
"And some of those sci-fi movies as well," Zondra added.
"Yeah, but never the important stuff."
"Did you just admit that sci-fi isn't important?"
"Oh, God," Chuck groaned. "There she is, Miss Let's-not-get-too-serious."
"Chuck, you're my friend, I love you, and I'm not leaving you or the podcast, okay, I just may need a little more time away."
"No, I know you won't leave me, but I also knew a day would come when you became a huge star, because you are," Chuck told her. "Okay, hit me with it."
"So, Sarah Walker called," she began, and waited for him to do his thing.
"Oh," Chuck replied, his voice going up an octave. "Expendables: Ladies Night 3, This Ain't No Bachelorette Party finally happening?"
Zondra snorted at him. "Again, no one thinks the tagline should be that." Chuck shrugged as he grinned. "And since she created her own production studio, I'm pretty sure she's not back for that."
"Probably not," Chuck replied. She watched him, smiling as she shook her head. "What?"
"Listen, we both know you have the BIGGEST crush on her," Zondra began.
"I do not," he hissed.
"She's not around," Zondra told him, laughing. "She is amazing, I know she is, and watching you not ask all the questions you want to ask is absolutely adorable, especially since I know they're not the normal dude-bro questions."
"I would love to interview her," Chuck agreed.
"On a date," Zondra added. He gave her a flat look, and she gave him one that read clearly, "Really?" "Chuck, I've got news for you, the best thing she could do is date a guy like you, a real guy."
"An anxiety ridden nerd," Chuck muttered.
"An amazing, caring, giving, loving guy, who would always put her needs first," Zondra countered.
"Can we drop your infatuation with your secret hatred of your friend by trying to set me up with her?" Chuck asked. Zondra rolled her eyes, but relented.
"Fine, she wants to have dinner with me."
"Well, maybe she misses you and wants to catch up," Chuck offered.
"That's what I thought, but she told me to pick the place because she's going to expense it," Zondra continued.
"Nope, you're getting a job offer, or at least a feeler." Zondra nodded. "I need you to promise me one thing."
She stopped walking, and tugged his arm, making him turn to her. "What is it, nerd?"
"You kick that project's ass, like you do everything you're ever in," Chuck told her. She pulled him in for a hug. "You got this, Z. You are going to be absolutely amazing and I can't wait to see my best friend on the big screen, or small screen, or whatever size screen it's on."
"What is it men and the size of everything?" Zondra asked, grinning as she pulled away.
"I think it's really a type of body shaming if I'm honest," Chuck said with a shrug.
She stood there, thinking about that. "You could be right," she said. "Maybe that needs to be a topic on the next podcast." She laughed at Chuck's full body shudder. "How about we have dinner tonight?"
"Do I have to expense it?"
"Nope, on me, beer and pizza?" Zondra offered.
"I mean, if you want," Chuck said with a shrug.
"We can watch movies with your girl in it," Zondra teased.
"Again, you and I are just friends," he teased back. "I'm honestly excited for you."
"I know you are, and that's why you're Chuck." She squeezed his arm. "Let's go watch your Australian dream girl."
"Do you know her new studio is the most diverse studio in Hollywood?" Chuck asked. Zondra just shook her head.
A/N: This is gonna be a train wreck, isn't it? Next time:
"Men are being body shamed, and it's not right," Carina said. Zondra was near tears trying to hold in the laughter. "All they ever hear about is when it's too small or micro or all that stuff." Chuck went red. "And listen, if you're out there for a good time, and want something a little bigger, fine, but it's like boobs."
Oh Lord.