Posted December 8, 2021
A/N from MyNameIsJeffNImLost: In July, I posted in the Facebook Chuck Fanfiction group:
Right after WillieGarvin finished up the Chandler arc of "Chuck vs A New Day," started re-watching "Chuck vs the Cougars." I don't know why I hadn't realized the parallel: Skip and Casey were both DJs in the episode. Who was the better DJ? When could they have a DJ battle? Maybe a "holiday" party before "Chuck vs Santa Claus."
I already had six other story ideas, so I thought this idea wouldn't go anywhere. Then, nevr started commenting on the post with great ideas. That got my creative juices flowing, so we committed to writing this one-shot together, closer to holiday season. Several stories later (for both of us), we finally got back to this idea, and this one-shot is the result of our combined effort. The result is a canon-compatible story, set a few days before "Chuck vs Santa Claus."
A/N from nevr: When Jeff mentioned this in the Facebook Chuck Fanfiction group, I got excited. I instantly thought of Skip, or anyone else really, playing anti-war songs that would get Casey mad, making him less focused on his own song choices. After Jeff and I talked about it, we just had to do it.
Disclaimer: Nobody else owns anything here, so why would we?
Disclaimer 2: If you PM issues to me, I'll fix them. There's no expiration date.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Buy More
Burbank, CA
Chuck tried hard not to daydream, but with the Buy More almost closing, the Christmas—no holiday—party about to start, and Sarah probably coming, he was completely failing. Sarah was going to be there! He'd been broken up with her for a couple months, but sometimes it didn't seem like that.
For the cover, they were together. As far as Ellie was concerned, he and Sarah never broke up. Morgan knew Jill was in town, but not the details. After Jill, Sarah came to Thanksgiving as his girlfriend. Even Devon's parents thought they were dating. Sarah's dad thought they were dating, and she encouraged that.
If they were only fake-dating, it felt as real as it felt when he asked Sarah out on a date. She wasn't about to leave him to go to Jakarta, though. And she was going to be at the Christmas—no holiday party. As his girlfriend! It might just be for the cover, but it didn't feel like he was forcing her.
He wondered what she would wear. It didn't matter. Whatever it was, she always looked gorgeous.
His daydream was abruptly stopped by Emmett. He said with his normal tone of disdain, "Bartowski! Why are all these people here? We're closed. We can't afford paying everyone."
Chuck found his calm. That was a valuable lesson he had learned from his NSA protector. Casey had an angry center, not a calm center, but Chuck has learned how to find his own calm one. It was useful for dealing with some of the Buy Moron antics and was very useful for dealing with the Buy More Assistant Manager. The Buy More Holiday Party was about to start, so of course everyone was going to be at the store. Their fearless assistant leader didn't realize that and was more concerned about not being around his employees. "It's the Holiday Party."
"That's right." The annoying man sniffed and looked around. "I expect you to clean this place up by tomorrow. I'm out of here."
He expected Chuck? Big Mike was the one in charge. He was the person who was responsible for getting the employees to make the store ready to open. If he didn't do it. It was Emmett's responsibility, but that useless man abandoned his post and scampered away.
With the fun police gone, Chuck expected Big Mike to come out and tell everyone to "get down," like last year. That didn't happen. Actually, several people came out to set up the sound system, but they were running late, almost as if something was wrong. Chuck didn't get involved. He figured he would be asked if he was needed.
Chuck resumed daydreaming about Sarah's eyes and how her smile lit up the room. This time he was interrupted by Big Mike. "Chuck! Get over here!"
Chuck half-expected this. He went over to help with the setup. A group was huddled around the sound system. A couple were Nerd Herders. They should be able to handle this without him. He asked, "What's the problem?"
Big Mike said, "Skip isn't here."
"Skip isn;y here? What's wrong?"
"He called. His car won't start. Kirk went to pick him up, but we don't know how long it will be, so we need a DJ."
Fernado piped up. "Not Chuck. He has better things to do."
Chuck couldn't figure out what better thing he had to do, but then the group was joined by someone else. "Hi, Chuck!"
He was speechless. He had been imagining what Sarah would look like for the last half hour, but his imagination was not sufficient to prepare him for this moment. Calling Sarah beautiful was insufficient. Stunning. (He felt stunned.) Pulchritudinous. Heavenly. Last year, she wore a red blouse and skinny jeans and looked fantastic. This year, she wore a dress. It was only the Buy More Holiday Party, but she was dressed up like it was a mission at a consulate. She always looked great, but this time… He had no words.
Sarah's smile got bigger—passing dazzling and going to blinding. She closed his mouth, which had dropped open, with a quick kiss of greeting.
Chuck and Sarah separated, staring deeply into each other's eyes. After a moment, Big Mike broke the moment and said, "Right. We need someone else."
Chuck still couldn't find his voice, so he gave Big Mike a curious look. The big man said, "This fine lady deserves your undivided attention."
Sarah wrapped her hands around Chuck's arm possessively and said, "Thank you. I'm not planning on sharing him. What's the problem here?"
"We don't have a DJ," Big Mike answered, "and Chuck is busy with you."
Someone from the back of the group muttered, "We know what Chuck is going to be unwrapping later." Sarah was wrapped tightly in her dress, but Chuck and she didn't do that. Sarah smiled and hummed in agreement.
Big Mike said, "We need someone with DJ experience." Chuck and Sarah both looked towards where Casey was standing off to the side, but didn't say anything. The looks were enough for Big Mike. "Casey! Get over here!"
Casey joined the group. "Sir?"
"We need you to be the DJ for the party."
Casey glared at Chuck as the person he blamed for blowing his secret that he had been a DJ before, but he agreed. He worked with several of the Nerd Herd and Green Shirts to finish setting things up.
Chuck and Sarah went to get drinks. Chuck still hadn't spoken since Sarah had arrived, and she called him on it. "Why won't you talk? Is it the dress? I forgot you don't like red."
What was the problem with red? Chuck told the truth. "You look great in everything."
"I knew I shouldn't wear salmon, but it's Christmas, so I thought I should wear red for the season."
"Look great in red and salmon and… You know what? It doesn't matter." Sarah looked confused. She thought the color was an issue for some reason, but Chuck didn't explain further about her dress. It was hard enough to concentrate. He admitted, "I thought you might not be here." They were together for the cover, but they weren't actually dating.
Sarah said, "Your girlfriend needs to be here, and I'm in charge of you tonight."
No one was in earshot, so Chuck said, "You're my cover girlfriend—not my real girlfriend."
Sarah's smile looked almost a little sad. She said, "Let's not talk about that tonight. Tonight, at this party, I'm your real girlfriend."
Sarah was his real girlfriend? Chuck didn't understand what that meant. It was just for the party. He could fake being Sarah's real boyfriend for one party. The things he did for his country…
Casey's first song started. It was "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby. It was a classic for Christmas, but the second time in Holiday Inn, it was sung from "Beverly Hills, LA." The Beverly Hills Buy More was the rival of the Burbank Buy More, so it was a little tacky. You couldn't dance to it, like Chuck and Sarah did at the previous year's party, so it was not a welcome choice. Chuck had been looking forward to dancing with Sarah all day.
After the song, Sarah lightly kissed Chuck on the check. Wow. What did that mean? He asked, "Why are you doing that?"
Sarah said, "Your girlfriend should kiss you a lot. I'm going to do it more at the store. Casey is setting up the next song and not paying attention, but he's right there. He wasn't supposed to be. I got him the Christmas Truce documentary about the 1914 WWI truce on Christmas Day. That would keep him busy. But now he has to be here as DJ. I can still be your girlfriend, but I can't do too much."
The second song started. It was another classic: "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" by Perry Como. That was another song they couldn't dance to. Sarah was being affectionate, and Casey was ruining any chance for Chuck to enjoy being Sarah's real boyfriend, even if it was fake and just for the night.
In a repeat of last year, Jeff came over holding mistletoe. Fortunately, he wasn't holding it over himself. Unlike last year, when Chuck and Sarah were awkwardly dealing with that amazing kiss at the docks and Bryce, Sarah didn't hesitate. She lightly kissed Chuck again—this time softly on the lips. He normally didn't like PDA, but when Sarah kissed him, his heart skipped a beat, and he didn't care as much. After Jeff walked off, Chuck said, "Sorry for the creepy coworker that made you do that."
"I didn't do that because I had to for my job. Dating you doesn't feel like a job." Chuck knew it was another one of those special Charah moments, but they couldn't even dance to this song.
Near the end of the song, Skip and Kirk arrived. An intense discussion started at the DJ station, so when the song ended, Chuck and Sarah joined it to find out what mess Casey was in.
At the group, Skip said, "Sorry I'm late. Casey should stay as DJ."
Casey started to bow out, but Lester interrupted him crying, "DJ Battle!" Several from the crowd cheered. Casey wasn't getting out now.
After a minute, Skip was set up to play a song. It was Paul Hardcastle's "19." It wasn't really a Christmas song, but it was a good dance song. Chuck and Sarah didn't go back to dancing, though.
Eight to ten years after coming home
Almost eight-hundred-thousand men
Are still fighting the Vietnam War
None of them received a hero's welcome
Nineteen
S-S-S-S-Saigon
Nineteen, n-n-n-n-n-nineteen
N-n-n-n-n-nineteen
The entire song, Casey was seething. Chuck and Sarah were standing to the side nursing another drink.
Casey started his song: "Wonderful Christmas Time" by Paul McCartney. This song was considered one of McCartney's worst compositions, but it was popular at Christmas time. It was a better choice for dancing. Sarah took a firm group of Chuck's hand and held him in place, saying they weren't dancing again.
The party's on
The feelin's here
That only comes
This time of year
Simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime
Simply havin' a wonderful Christmastime
Chuck felt like they were under the microscope and couldn't be too close with Casey watching. Sarah said, "Don't worry." Worry? What was he supposed to be worried about? The fact they weren't dancing? Sarah continued, "With how Casey reacted earlier, he probably won't cope with more."
Skip countered one ex-Beatle with another: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon—another anti-war song. While Skip's next song played, Chuck went to get Sarah and him drinks. Chuck and Sarah awkwardly stood and listened to the song. They were in Santa's Village, looking like giants that weren't having fun dancing or destroying the small village, like Rampage. Casey looked like he was about to blow.
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong,
(War is over if you want it)
For the rich and the poor ones,
The road is so long.
(War is over now)
And so happy Christmas for black and for whites,
(War is over if you want it)
For the yellow and red ones,
Let's stop all the fight.
(War is over now)
A very merry Christmas
And a happy new year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
Sarah looked upset, and Chuck couldn't figure out why she was so upset. Chuck looked at Sarah, and she figured out what Chuck was thinking. She answered the unvoiced question, "Casey doesn't want to be there, but he's a Marine and won't quit. He didn't like that we left Vietnam without winning, and he doesn't want to leave here. Before getting roped into being DJ, he was planning on leaving the party the moment I arrived."
"You're upset that Casey—"
"I'm supposed to have you all to myself."
Casey didn't want to do this, but he wouldn't quit. From what Sarah said, everyone would be happier if he left. He started his next song: " A Good Man Is Hard To Find" by Bruce Springsteen. That song came out in the 80s, but was written during the Vietnam War.
Well once she had a fella, once she was somebody's girl
And she gave all she had that one last time
Now there's a little girl asleep in the back room
She's gonna have to tell about the meanness in this world
And how a good man is so hard to find
The song was about a woman missing a soldier in Saigon. The first songs weren't dance songs, but now it was just depressing.
Skip started another one: Billy Joel's "Christmas in Fallujah" with Cass Dillon singing. Billy Joel had played a live version last month in Australia, and it was just posted online. Chuck suggested they dance, but Sarah shook her head no. "Not with Casey being like he is. He'll take it out on us, saying we are being too close as asset and handler, whatever that means."
It's evening in the desert
I'm tired and I'm cold
But I am just a soldier
I do what I am told
We came with the crusaders
To save the holy land
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And no one gives a damn
And I just got your letter
And this is what I read, you said
I'm fading from your memory
So I'm just as good as dead
We are the armies of the empire
We are the legionaries of Rome
It's Christmas in Fallujah
And we ain't never coming home
We came to bring these people freedom
We came to fight the infidel
There is no justice in the desert
Because there is no God in hell
They say Osama's in the mountains
Deep in a cave near Pakistan
But there's a sea of blood in Baghdad
A sea of oil in the sand
Between the Tigris and Euphrates
Another day comes to an end
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Peace on Earth, goodwill to men
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
It's Christmas in Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Merry Christmas from Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Merry Christmas from Fallujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Oo-ra!
Wow. Skip was never outright mean to anyone, but he was really needling Casey. Chuck wanted Casey to leave so he could dance with Sarah. Sarah seemed to want him to leave. There was no way Casey would want to listen to more anti-war Christmas songs. He would give up, no matter what Skip played.
Suddenly, Sarah straightened up and set her jaw. Then, she took Chuck's drink and walked over to Jeff and Lester. Chuck should have followed to back her up, but he was too confused to move fast enough. Sarah handled the drinks to the stunned losers and said something. Lester saluted, and the two hurried off. Sarah came back with a small, mischievous smile on her face.
Casey's next song started. Chuck couldn't believe it. It was "Christmas Time Is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas. That was about as depressing of a Christmas song as you could have. This party was so lame! After a minute, there was a high pitched squeal on the speakers. Sarah put her hand over her growing smile.
It was time for a third meeting at the DJ station. After a brief discussion, the group ruled that Casey forfeited. He grunted and said he didn't want to be there anyway. It was amazing to Chuck that Casey lasted through as many anti-military songs as he did.
Before he left, he couldn't help but discretely quip to Sarah to not to mix her peanut butter with Chuck's chocolate. Chuck didn't know what that was supposed to mean, but based on Sarah's angry reaction, he figured that must have been what Sarah was upset about earlier. Casey was watching them while Sarah was staying close to Chuck for the cover. That meant walking a fine line of being close to Chuck for the cover, but not too close because that would offend Casey's sensibilities.
With Casey gone, it immediately seemed a happier Christmas—no holiday—party. Skip was about to start his song, when Lester said, "Sarah gave us the idea how to make sure Skip won, so she should pick the song." Chuck realized that must be why Sarah had been so happy with herself.
Sarah said, "Something to dance with Chuck." She pulled Chuck back to the dance area and held him close as Skip's Christmas song started: "Last Christmas" by Wham!
Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special
Chuck thought about how last Christmas—no holiday—party was so bad. Last Christmas, he and Sarah were fighting because of the kiss at the docks, Bryce's return, and Lon Kirk. Sarah actually shared what she was thinking. "It wasn't last Christmas, but this song does sum up my time with Bryce and how stupid I was to think we loved each other. This year is better." She tilted her head against Chuck's shoulder as they danced.. Did she mean Chuck was her "someone special"?
The dance was wonderful. Chuck wished he and Sarah could really date, but the stupid thing in his head kept getting in the way. Sarah clung to him tightly the entire song. At least he could hold her like that. It might not be real, but it felt like it was real.
At the end of the song, Sarah gave Chuck a long, soft kiss. It didn't end quickly. It finally ended after a minute because of cat calls. PDA fear was a thing of the past whenever Sarah was around. Sarah had his heart. Chuck wondered if Sarah was giving him her heart, even if she could never admit it. If she was giving him hers, he'd do a better job of taking care of it.
Skip resumed faster songs for the party. Chuck and Sarah didn't dance like last Christmas—she was a lot closer. She practically hung on him.
Between two of the songs, Sarah asked, "Can I have a drink?"
Chuck countered, "Maybe you've already had too many." That would explain why Sarah was so affectionate. She was drunk.
Sarah destroyed that theory. "I've only had a couple sips." She saw Chuck's doubt and said, "I've been leaving my drinks where Jeff will clean them up. On missions, you always have a drink in your hand, but don't get drunk."
After he came back with two drinks, Chuck asked, "Why are you doing this?"
"After this party, it's not real," she sadly replied.
Sarah just took a sip and set her drink off to the side, where the Nerd Herd's alcohol vacuum named Jeff would take it. She didn't drink any more before pulling Chuck back out to the dance area. Staying close to Chuck seemed more important to her than drinking, and he couldn't disagree. He didn't want to try to think of something better to do than dance with Sarah in his arms. If he did try, he would fail. It was unbelievable. He never wanted to stop.
Eventually they did stop because it was time to go before the mad rush happened at the end of the party. Chuck went to say some general goodbyes to the group hanging around the Nerd Herd desk. Lester said in a sleazy tone, "Have fun unwrapping your holiday present."
Sarah looked confused for an instant and mumbled, "Isn't this a Christmas party?" She must have realized it was more PC to call it a "holiday party," so she didn't wait for Chuck to answer before saying to the group, "I'm looking forward to unwrapping my present. Let's go, Chuck."
What was Sarah saying? Oh, right. The cover.
Sarah led Chuck by the hand out to her car. She was driving Chuck home, so maybe that was why she didn't want to drink. Chuck asked, "Are you thirsty, after not drinking so you could drive?"
"That's not why I didn't drink. I didn't want to forget anything about the night. Well, I wish I could forget whatever that was with Skip putting down Casey and him practically rolling over with boring songs, but I mean I didn't want to forget a moment with you."
What was that supposed to mean?
Sarah pulled to a stop to let Chuck out at his apartment. Chuck said, "I'm sorry you had to put up with the comments tonight, but I'm not sorry I got to spend the evening with you."
"You don't have to be sorry about them. I'm just sorry we can't…" Sarah trailed off. Can't what? She restarted. "Protecting you is my job, but going to something like that with you doesn't feel like work. I'm glad I got to spend the evening with you, too. I really had fun."
Chuck wanted to lean over and kiss Sarah good night, but he knew that wasn't a good idea. There wasn't an audience to kiss in front of for the cover. She would have to tell him to stop. He'd feel horrible for pushing her. No need to ruin a great night.
Neither had wanted the evening to end, so maybe, as part of that evening… Chuck decided… He leaned over and placed his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her towards him and said, "Just for this evening." She looked surprised for a second, then moved her lips towards his. Both knew it could be no more than this, but both opened their mouths and the kiss deepened. They eventually pulled apart, breathless.
Sarah recovered first and repeated his words, "Just for this evening." The look in her eyes suggested she didn't really want that, but the evening was all they had.
He got out of the car in a daze. She looked the same, but she quickly drove off, leaving him standing there, watching the car disappear. His memory of the kiss, and the whole evening, thankfully didn't disappear.
The kiss hadn't ruined the great night. It had been a final highlight for him. He thought maybe it was for her too.
When he got back to his room, the situation suddenly made sense to Chuck. Part of Sarah wanted it to be real, but she was stuck between a rock and a hard place. She wanted to stay assigned to him to protect him, but she didn't want to risk showing how she felt, or that might end.
He never should have gone back with Jill. When he broke up with Jill that last time, he chose Sarah over Jill, but he needed to give Sarah a stronger signal. It might not be real, but he wanted it to be real, and she deserved to know. For Christmas, they will have fake snuggling, but there should be more. He'll give her his mom's bracelet, like he would give it to a real girlfriend.
A/N: We hope you enjoyed the 2008 Buy More Holiday Party, and we hope you have a safe and fun holiday season this year.
Songs:
- "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby
- "It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas" by Perry Como
- "19" by Paul Hardcastle
- "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney
- "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)" by John Lennon
- "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" by Bruce Springsteen
- "Christmas in Fallujah" by Billy Joel and sung by Cass Dillon
- "Christmas Time Is Here" by Vince Guaraldi from A Charlie Brown Christmas
- "Last Christmas" by Wham!