"So let me get this straight; one day of working here and someone is already trying to hit my new nerd?" Big Mike barked, slamming his office door shut. Anything said after that was only the business of those left in the room.
"You think it has something to do with the new job?" Sergeant Sarah Walker asked, her patrol hat sitting on her head.
"I bet it's those Buy n' Large motherfu… morons," Morgan said, his arms crossed and a surprisingly stern look on his usually care-free face.
"Morgan, you're obviously not a suspect, Pattell, began, "but what were you doing last night that put you there right in tie to get Chuck?"
Morgan sucked in some air and slowly whistled it out. "I thought my boy Chuck would have been home hours before, and when he wasn't I got worried about him, so I went to go find him. The timing was just luck."
"What were you up to last night, Chuck? Where were you coming from?" Lester asked.
"He was at my place," Sarah said. "We were celebrating Chuck's first day."
"Celebrating how?" Morgan asked, his bushy eyebrows jumping high on his forehead.
"We watched a movie, and had pizza. That's it," Chuck said, glaring at his traitorous little friend.
"There's nothing wrong with a platonic friendship, Bartowski. It's healthy for a man," Big Mike weighed in. "But for real, people, let's not waste the officers' time. Do we have any real suspects?"
"Think hard, Chuck," Sarah began, "who would want to try to hit you? Who would follow you all the way from my place?"
"Your place, huh?" Morgan interjected.
"Morgan, get the hell out," Sarah said, pointing at the door without taking her eyes from Chuck's.
"Okay, sorry, last one. No more butt-ins. Got it."
"Do you owe anyone large sums of money? Have you gotten into any kind of trouble since Stanford?" Sarah asked.
Chuck hugged himself tightly and chewed his lip. "I've got nothing. I mean, I slept in some abandoned buildings throughout my homeless tenure, but I never broke into anyone's house or business, let alone stole anything."
"I ran your background and Ellie's when I was helping you look for Ellie, and you're totally clean, so there's no known criminal activity you're associated with," Sarah said.
"I don't know what to tell you, son," Big Mike sighed. "What do we do, officers? Just hope it was a one-time thing? Keep him locked up in the Buy More until we figure something out? Constant buddy system?" Mike shot in the dark.
"That's a great idea! Keep me in the Buy More! I can't be hit or beat up in a store with security cams and timer-locked doors."
"But dude, it's Taco Tuesday," Morgan whined.
"Morgan, we talked about this," Sarah growled, and Morgan cowered back against Big Mike's desk.
"You sure about that, Bartowski?" Big Mike asked, turning his attention to the victim at hand. "This ain't exactly a Hilton."
"It's warmer than a dog park," Chuck said aloud before realizing he had. He immediately ducked his head and shot his hands into his pockets, making himself as small as he could.
"It's not a bad idea," Sarah concurred. "It's locked, it has cams and a panic button behind the service counter. If something did actually happen, there's a million places Chuck could hide until we got here."
"This is going against my usual pessimistic self, Bartowski, but damn it, I trust you. You can crash in the breakroom until we figure this thing out."
"Oh my God, thank you so much, Big Mike. You're officially the best boss ever," Chuck gushed, his hands pressed together like a praying monk.
"Yeah yeah, whatever. Just keep the place tidy, you got it?"
"Absolutely, sir," Chuck said, shooting ramrod straight.
"Good man. Now Grimes, back to work. And thanks for being there for our new boy."
"You got it, Chief. Chuck is like the big brother I didn't want but now I'm glad I have, you know?"
Sarah smiled at the awkward sweetness, and Lester laughed, but Big Mike just huffed. "That's touching. Now go make me money."
Chuck was on his way out of the office, right behind the officers, when Big Mike snapped his fingers. Chuck turned around and Big Mike said, "Bartowski, I heard that quick comment." Chuck swallowed deeply. "I'll unlock the vending machines in the breakroom before I leave, but don't go wild."
"You don't have to do that, sir, really," Chuck rushed, wishing he hadn't opened his mouth when he had.
"Nonsense. Look at you, Bartowski. You're the tallest S.O.B. in here and you probably weigh the least. It's rough out there, but we'll get you turned around, you hear me?"
"Yes sir, crystal clear," Chuck said, trying not to smile.
In just two days, Mike had given Chuck a job, helped him get new shoes, and was now giving him temporary lodging in the store without him being a burden on his only friends. Big Mike was burley and downright crass sometimes, but he had a heart in there.
Chuck exited the office and closed the door behind him, and Sarah was waiting for him. Lester was off by the video game section where the demo cases were set up.
"Hey. You doing okay?" Sarah asked gently, taking his hand supportingly, but then deciding to let it go before she, he, or anyone else could make too much of it.
Chuck did notice, however. "Yeah, I think so. I'm shaken up a bit and a little worried, but I'm in lock-down in Fort Mike, so that helps."
"That's good. I'm glad we're able to work out a short term solution. I'll talk to Captain Casey when I get back to the barn and try to figure something out, see if I can get anyone on this," Sarah assured him.
"Thank you, Detective," Chuck said with a wink.
Sarah immediately brightened up at that. "You remembered our conversation from last night."
"Well of course I did," Chuck laughed. "How could I forget? I'm all onboard for Operation Detective Walker."
"It does have a ring to it," Sarah laughed.
"Walker, Burbank Detective!"Chuck said, shooting her with finger guns. Sarah's fallen face made Chuck sober up. "Too soon"
"Too soon," Sarah confirmed. "But really, thank you, Chuck. I'll check in on you soon, okay?"
"That would be great. I'll talk to you soon, Sergeant."
"Hey Cap?" Sarah asked, wrapping her knuckles lightly on Captain John Casey's door.
"Hmm?" he grumbled, not looking up from his computer.
"I responded to a well-being check request at the Buy More this morning."
"Good for you, Walker," Casey huffed, still not looking at her.
Sarah rolled her eyes and Casey smirked at himself before she continued. "The subject was followed last night by a grey Ford Escape, and while entering a crosswalk, the car tried to hit him. He reported being followed for a quarter mile, and doesn't believe the near hit was an accident. Had he not been picked up by a friend looking for him, he believes he would have been in serious danger," Sarah summarized.
"What do you want to do about it, Walker? Hold his hand while he crosses the street?" Casey quipped.
Sarah just crossed her arms over her uniform. "I was hoping he might have some people we can put on this. It's not a homicide by any means, but I think he's justified in being worried that it might not be a one-time attempt."
"With McCully not doing a damn thing around here until he retires next month, we're a little short handed in that department," Casey grumbled. He got up from behind his desk and went to the coat rack by his door. "So let's go."
"Captain?" Sarah asked, her eyes wide.
"I said let's go, Walker. I know you speak Spanish and German, but did you forget English?"
"You know I speak three languages?" Sarah asked, honestly shocked.
"You're the youngest woman in this precinct, Walker. Of course I read your file. I read everyone's file, but yours was extra fun."
"Uh, thank you sir," Sarah said as they made it to the elevator.
"So tell me about our subject," Casey said as he tagged the button for the first floor.
"He's mid to late 20s, dark hair, about 6'4, and he's homeless."
"Why the hell would someone have it out for a homeless beanpole?"
"Our question exactly," Sarah said. "Yesterday was his first day on the job. He was celebrating with a friend, and leaving her place, he noticed the car that kept following him. He reported it was following from a distance until he started to run."
"That's definitely no accident," Casey confirmed as they left the elevator.
"Sir, are you sure you have time for this?" Sarah double checked.
"I got shot in the shoulder three months ago. I had so much down time that I was filing reports and answering emails that didn't exist yet, so yeah, I have time, Walker. And what kind of captain sends beat cops on their own to do a detective's job? Besides, keep me sharp," Casey shrugged as they came into the parking lot.
Sarah was halfway to her cruiser when she heard Casey's gruff voice pound through the air, "Walker, where are you going?"
"To my cruiser, sir?" Sarah asked, wondering if there was a right or wrong answer.
"I'm not riding that thing. We're taking my car."
Sarah stood stunned for a moment before she made her feet move again. "I get to ride in the Crown Vic?" Sarah asked, and Casey's smirk told her she said it aloud. Now she knew how Chuck had felt with his slip that morning.
"Just don't drool. It's real leather interior."
"That must have cost a small fortune," Sarah scoffed.
"Says the police sergeant that drives a Porsche."
"That's different. I bought mine at a police auction."
"And I bought mine with a captain's salary and a Marine Corps pension."
"Touche," Sarah yielded.
"So where are we going?" Casey asked as they strapped in.
"Sarah froze, and then dropped her chin to her chest. "I didn't get the intersection from the subject."
"Rookie," Casey grumbled. "So where's the subject?"
"Working at the Buy More."
"Okay, so we're going to the Buy More," Casey said and started backing out of his spot.
Sarah and John Casey strolled through the automatic doors and stepped into the air conditioned electronics store.
"Walker, you take the lead since it's your guy," Casey ordered.
"Yes sir. No pressure," Sarah mumbled under her breath, but she still heard Casey's little huff.
Sarah easily spotted Chuck working at the Nerd Herd kiosk in the center-back of the store. They made their way with clear purpose to the desk, and Chuck stiffened immediately upon seeing them.
Sarah wasn't usually an unwelcome sight, but the giant meat wall beside her made him think about ducking under the desk.
"Mr. Bartowski, I'm Sergeant Sarah Walker, if you remember me from this morning."
"Of course I do, Sergeant," Chuck confirmed.
"And this is Captain John Casey. We're looking into the near hit from last night; whether it was accidental or a premeditated attempt. Do you remember the street corner you were at when it happened?" Sarah asked. No audible sounds from Casey seemed like a good sign.
Chuck's shoulder's fell, and he felt like a complete idiot. "I uh… I don't actually know. I know it was just a few blocks away from Morgan's…."
"Okay, where does Morgan live? Can we start there?"
"I don't actually know Morgan's address."
"Oh for God's sake. This kid's an idiot," Casey said loud enough for Chuck to hear, too. "Listen kid, if we haul you into the back of my car, can you take us there? We're trying to figure out if someone is trying to kill you or not, understand?"
"Yeah, I got it. It's just… I'm kind of working right now, and it's only my second day, so…."
"Bartowski, keep wasting Burbank's finests' time and go with them. When a captain comes down personally, you say 'yes sir' and you do what you're asked!" Big Mike barked. "You're staying here anyway, right? You're MIT or Stanford or something, right? You can do computer repairs in the maintenance room to make up that time."
Chuck's eyes widened and he got a big goofy smile. "I can fix computers instead of talking to customers?"
"Yeah," Big Mike confirmed, looking confused as all hell.
"Can you guys keep me till the end of shift?" Chuck asked.