A/N (1) Previously on Chuck versus The Journey: Chuck and Sarah enjoyed a mostly carefree Friday afternoon at the beach. After a serious, eye-opening conversation about Sarah's past as The Enforcer, their night's rest (and the cuddling that Sarah requested) is interrupted soon after it had begun by Bryce Larkin calling Sarah.
Did you ever have to make up your mind?
And pick up on one and leave the other behind?
It's not often easy and not often kind.
Did you ever have to make up your mind?
"Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind" (John Sebastian)
Chapter 23: Sarah vs. The Soap Opera
Sarah touched the loudspeaker button on her phone with the grandeur of a comedian who was about to deliver the punchline of a joke while she scooted back to Chuck and comfortably leaned against his side so he could hear better.
"Hello, Jailbird," she greeted Bryce gleefully, apparently enjoying the moment. "Did you get out on parole, or did you have to seduce half-a-dozen female guards to escape?"
Chuck's mood plummeted like jumping out of a plane. Without a parachute. Bryce wasn't calling out of courtesy. He would find a way to disturb the burgeoning romance. For Chuck, it was a romance. It didn't conflict with the vow he made the first night. Staying true to his silent pledge to make her happy, even if it didn't include him, did not rule out the option that he and Sarah possibly would find a way to enjoy that happiness together. Having lost a couple of words, he heard Bryce close a short speech.
"… and so I'm back and ready to pick up our mission again."
Sarah turned her head back to Chuck, so their eyes were only inches apart, and they quizzically looked at each other with raised eyebrows.
"But you're out! You are aware that Chuck's quick-thinking saved the mission when he filled your place - and that the Andersons never made it, right? The Carmichaels are residing in the honeymoon suite."
She let that dangle in the air for a short moment before inquiring: "How do you think you're going to get back in the team?"
Larkin laughed that laugh that made him so unpopular by everyone who knew him better: "Substitution!"
Sarah and Chuck exchanged another clueless glance.
"Well, I'm certainly thankful that Chuck brought you in because I have a plan for correcting this awful situation," Larkin continued.
"That's another fine mess you got us into, Bryce-" Chuck began, but Sarah had no patience for his ramblings and interrupted:
"What awful situation would there be if not the one you created? A gun, Bryce, a gun. You didn't listen when the General said, travel lightly?" she retorted distinctively chagrined.
"So this went sideways, but it felt wrong to go into an important mission unarmed," he countered.
"Never mind," Sarah said, waving a tired hand at Chuck to express her boredness in Larkin's insistence that the near-disaster was not his fault. She had had similar discussions before. It was a conversation like that that once ended in his assurance that he would leave her behind to die if it was the only way to get the job done.
"So, what's your plan?" Sarah markedly sighed.
"It's simple, Sarah. We change the players! No one believes anyway that something like you would stay caught by a lanky mess like Chuck. It's men's work. Foremost, I want to get the Intersect out of the line of fire."
She mollifyingly nodded to postpone Chuck's inevitable outburst of anger and made the universal sign for indicating stupidity by tapping on her forehead. The anger boiling up inside of her could not be appeased that easily.
"First, that it and something you're talking about is an actual person. Her name is Sarah Walker, and I have it from good sources that she doesn't like to be referred to as an object. And second, in case you haven't noticed, you're on loudspeaker, Chuck is listening."
Bryce didn't appear to be abashed that Chuck heard his offending comment.
"That makes it easier as I have to explain my plan only once. Casey told me about last night, including the cover story you made up how you met. Very creative, Chuck, and a good jumping point for us."
"Jumping point? Bryce, don't speak in riddles!" Chuck tossed in.
"It's simple. You told the story of how you two met because I had a fling with Chuck's then-girl. Now, I found that I was wrong and that Samantha Lisa is the one for me, so I come back to apologize. Samantha realizes what mistake she made and comes flying into my arms again."
•••••••••••••••••••
Sarah was stock-still as if she fell victim to Mr. Freeze himself. She could not believe Larkin was serious.
Is he so keen to be the hero of the mission to risk something so foolishly irrational?
She knew Bryce better than she wished and understood his ambitions and motivations. If Walker and Larkin were successful in their career's most important mission so far, it was very likely that Beckman would seriously consider teaming them up again. It would be unreasonable not to at least think about it. So possibly Bryce wasn't so reckless from his point of view. He was pushing his luck, but the prospects, if it went well, were stellar. That would be just his game. High risk, high reward.
Chuck could hear the edge in Bryce's voice. The agent tried to be cool, but Chuck knew him better – Larkin was displeased that it was not him right now in the honeymoon suite with Sarah. Or possibly the super-spy with the giant ego didn't care about that. Bryce laid many girls at Stanford and never looked back, shrugging off even those occasions when for a change, he was the one who got dumped - when the girl found out that he was not dating exclusively by any means. Perhaps Bryce would not even care if something had happened in the newlyweds' bed, and he was simply reclaiming what he presumed was his.
Top dog in his team, the one that gets the job done, the praise, the bonus, and the promotion. And in passing, a girl as well.
Chuck tore his eyes from the phone's screen and looked at Sarah. Her demeanor was a mixture of anger and disbelief, and she looked a bit like losing her concentration.
"How would you like to accomplish that, Bryce?" she eventually asked with a strained voice.
"Quite simple," came Larkin's cheerful voice. "It's close to 11 PM. We know from surveillance that all your neighbors but one returned to their rooms by now."
"How does that little bit of wisdom help us, Agent Larkin?" Chuck asked impatiently, noticing that Sarah closed her eyes in tense anticipation - she seemed to know where this was leading.
"We put on a show, Agent Carmichael. As soon as we hang up, you two have an argument about Sarah talking to her ex in the middle of your honeymoon."
"The plan you have is a soap opera?" Chuck more commented than inquired with growing frustration. "Hey, I'm the guy who thought that Get Smart is a reality show, and even I can see that your idea is totally stupid."
Bryce was unimpressed by Chuck's obvious disgust.
"Chuck, this will work. People are curious. We'll have them all out in the hallway as an audience to watch and have everyone backup the story later. Everyone will gossip about it."
Chuck snapped at Bryce: "Watch it happening? Out in the hallway? Audience? Did you send out invitations? Chrissake, Bryce, didn't they teach you to be precise in agent kindergarten?"
"You two have an argument. I'll show up in a minute or two at your door. You come out and confront me. Be angry with me, improvise. I'll lead you through it. We quarrel, I'll let you know when to lose your temper, and you attack me. I'll strike you down - don't worry, I won't hurt you -, Sarah welcomes me back and throws you out."
"My God, what a ham!" Chuck exclaimed and raised the arm that wasn't around Sarah's shoulders heavenwards while she gripped the phone she was holding like she was about to break it. She found her voice again.
"Is that really necessary, Bryce? We established ourselves quite well," she emphasized. "I repeat, Chuck was more than helpful in saving the mission after you fucked up."
Larkin did not concede the point: "It was all Beckman's fault that we weren't informed last minute that the Veep was to arrive. I applaud Chuck for his clever move to take my place, but yes, it is necessary, and it's with the best for you in mind."
What an ego! Chuck thought. But… probably… you need that to survive in his world.
"Right, my best in mind," he answered in a peeved tone. "Like having me thrown out of Stanford, sleeping with my girlfriend, and sending me the Intersect, I get it, you're a true philanthropist."
Sarah nervously cut in between the exchange.
"Bryce, I don't know if we can pull it off for the folks we met the last 48 hours that one day I'm in love with Chuck, and the next day, I'm in love with you."
"You can," Larkin assured her. "Assume yourself to be the slightly confused, sexy blonde who realizes that I'm the one you want, not your Charles. Those things happen. You only have to portray how happy you are to have me back."
"And I'm relegated to the role of the weakling," Chuck flatly commented.
"No offense, Chuck, this is nothing personal."
Yeah, as "nothing personal" as the kiss of death by Don Vito Corleone, Chuck sensed that it was personal indeed but did not interrupt as Larkin rubbed it in further.
"People are simple. And because of that, this will work. Besides, we need a spy team and not an agent hindered by an amateur."
"I don't think it'll work. Honestly, it's total nonsense. The people like the Governor and his circle accepted Chuck. They don't feel pity for me being wasted on him," Sarah tried to reason with Bryce. "They think I grabbed me a great guy."
She did not even notice that her free hand absent-mindedly stroked the thigh of her great guy lovingly as she spoke those words.
Sarah let it slide that the act required from her would be nearly impossible to pull off. Going from being all over Charles Carmichael, which had been so easy, to pretend to be in love with Bryce Larkin the next day would demand all her acting skills, and still, she strongly doubted that the Governor would believe it.
"Stop it, Sarah. You're the girl I win back, Samantha Lisa, in a moment, and you'd better be a good girl," Bryce replied, his voice getting stern and loud, trying to overcome reason with volume.
Sarah stiffened. Chuck was sure the phone would crumble in her hand any moment now. Her eyes wandered aimlessly around like the flashing lights of an ambulance.
"And it's not a recommendation. It's an order."
"Does Beckman support this?" she pulled what Chuck sensed was her last attempt. She looked at Chuck and then at the phone as if it were Bryce in the flesh and back to Chuck.
I have to choose between two men who once were like brothers. No, the decision was already made. I am a puppet in Bryce's game. He predefines the winners and the losers. But if I don't like one thing, then it is being pulled through the arena on a nose ring. Especially if my choice would have been different.
"It's not only supported but recommended by her," Bryce said snidely. "After everything Chuck had flashed on, the Intersect proved useful but is way too valuable to have him on the premises any longer. He should be out ASAP. But we can call the General if you want to postpone this for a minute. A minute that won't be fun for you if we disturb the old crow at that time of the day," Larkin explained coldly.
Chuck gestured to Sarah with a raised finger, then stretching to his side of the bed. What's he doing now? she wondered as he fumbled with his phone, giving her a Wait-A-Sec look as he pressed it on his ear. She instinctively put a hand over her phone as Chuck began to whisper.
"Casey, Casey, it's Chuck… we have a problem here and need a quick solution… what?"
"I know your problem already," Casey replied sourly, "and I certainly want to take him down to the beach and sand-cookie him, but it's too late."
"What's a sand-cookie?" Chuck asked - he always prioritized important issues - with a sinking feeling. "And why is it too late?"
"If you fail to live up to standards in basic training, you might get ordered to run into the surf of the ocean with your uniform and then to wallow about on the beach until you're fully covered with sand. And stay like that all day long."
"Fascinating!" Chuck exclaimed and earned an impatient look from Sarah, who didn't hear the conversation.
"But it's too late, Bartowski. Whatever Bryce plans, he's already standing around the corner from your room. I see him on the security cams. He's on the phone."
"Talking to Sarah," Chuck added, "telling us to stage a brawl over her, in regards to the story we told the Kowalskis, so he can get back into the mission after winning his ex-girlfriend back."
The expletive Casey shouted was the single word from the conversation Sarah understood without any trouble. "I'll be down in a minute and-"
"Bryce says it's approved by Beckman and challenged us to call her so late," Chuck interrupted him, which was met by a long silence.
"Crap," Casey groaned eventually. Chuck sadly shook his head in a silent answer to the unspoken question on Sarah's scared face. "Thanks anyway, Casey," he muttered before ending the call.
Meanwhile, Sarah thought of telling Bryce to appear tomorrow on his own, unconnected to the Carmichaels. She dismissed the idea. If the unknown group watching the security cameras had seen the incident when Bryce was being led away after being caught carrying a gun, then it was a high risk to bring him back into the picture in whichever way.
He will put all of us in jeopardy, including Chuck! He is the Intersect, and Bryce should know better to protect him.
"Bryce, it is not recommended that you come back at all," she began to explain.
"Will you be a good girl now, Samantha Lisa," Bryce interrupted her, raising his voice again. "I'll be over in a minute. Arguments, brawl, a bit of pushing, the sexy thing is coming to her senses and eventually taking me back. Will you, Samantha Lisa?"
Sarah didn't say a word. Her lips and her mouth had turned to stone while her eyes began to beg for help. She was certain that Larkin's plan spelled disaster in the long run, but his words had her paralyzed. Those words triggered anxiety and fear in her she could not control. Like a prisoner tortured, she was on the brink to give in. She was not programmed and controlled by these words. She feared the memories and pain they brought so much that she soon would be willing to do everything to make them go away. It was worse than being controlled like hypnotized because she would be fully conscious of her actions while obeying. The phone slipped from her hand, and she mightily shuddered. She hung her head and breathed laboredly, obviously fighting with herself.
Chuck did not comprehend what was going on but made the decision for her. There was a code between Bryce and Sarah he did not understand. But he remembered the pledge he made to himself.
This was one of these moments that hurt like hell, but it was better to go through with it.
The super-spy couple was the life she was destined to lead. She would be better off and safer in the long run because Bryce was right - there would be no amateur who could endanger the whole mission. He remembered when he saw the two of them fight side by side at the Buy More. Larkin would be someone who had her back instead of someone who would be a burden to carry. Chuck picked up the phone.
"Ok, Bryce, a minute, and we'll run your damned show."
"Chuck, you understand, do you? It's a necessity-"
"Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam!" Chuck snarled and hung up without waiting for another response. He turned around and faced Sarah.
"Chuck, I'm so sorry," she began, but he put his index finger on her lips, as tender as he would say goodbye to her forever.
Perhaps, he realized, perhaps I do that right now, this very moment, giving up the heart of Sarah Walker for good. Dedicating myself to let her go to her true destination. Like I vowed I would be.
He felt older and heartbroken all of a sudden, foreboding that he was not stepping aside for tonight only, but it didn't change his mind.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. I had the loveliest day of my life, but all good things, as you know. Thank you very much for spending today with me."
He could see her eyes began to change to a watery blue. "But, Chuck-"
He put the tiniest pressure on his finger that was on her lips, making her stop.
"America desperately needs her best spy couple to avoid nationwide disaster, that's for sure. Make me proud of you and-" he tried a self-mocking grimace "-please help me to look good now so the critics won't pan me."
"But, Chuck-" she protested again. He silenced her by kissing her briefly, with feeling but without passion. Soberingly Sarah realized it was the kiss of a friend and not a lover. When he let go of her, his expression was somber. There was not a hint of mischief in his eyes. She gaped at him and brought her hand up to touch her mouth as if she could save the vanishing feeling of his lips on hers.
Oh, my God, Sarah was struck by realization like by a thunderbolt. Chuck kissed me goodbye! Chuck Bartowski, not Charles Carmichael. Oh, my God! This moment is much bigger than I thought. I can't let him go!
•••••••••••••••••••
He got out of bed. She still sat there with a bewildered and frightened expression, so he pulled her up as well.
"Wouldn't work without you," he artificially smiled, but couldn't hide the sadness in his eyes.
Her eyes darted left and right, and the color in them changed as rapidly as a storm driving clouds along a menacingly dark blue sky. Bryce had pulled the trump card, and it had yielded the desired effect. She was angry, desperate, and frightened, and confused by Chuck's behavior.
That isn't the Chuck I know. He's sad but determined, and foremost, he isn't rambling. He knows exactly what he's doing. It hurts him, but he proceeds nonetheless.
They both stood there in their nightwear. Chuck realized it was he who had to open the argument.
"Who was this at that time of the night?" he demanded loudly.
Her voice refused to do the ugly work she had to do. "It was Bruce," she whispered.
Like a stage director in a rehearsal, he gestured to her with both arms to speak louder. "I didn't hear you!"
"It was Bruce!" she bellowed, reluctantly accepting the unwritten plot they had to act out. "It's none of your business! It's just a phone call!"
"Just a phone call! Why is that the third just-a-phone-call today! Why can't that scumbag leave us alone!"
It was an eerie scene. Sarah looked at him with the tenderness of a girl sending her soldier off to war and, at the same time, yelled at him with an angry voice.
"If you must know, Jill broke up with him. He's terribly lonely. He's got no one else to talk to, so I do. It's just like old friends, nothing more."
"Just-a-phone-call, just-old-friends, how many more just-somethings will you throw at me!"
"You're silly, Charles, there's no just-something!"
She hated that their time on the mission was about to end within minutes, but she was proud of him as he played his role. Or maybe he is venting out frustrations, and there is more seriousness in his words beneath the surface.
"The next time he calls, you just-hang-up-on-him."
"You don't tell me who I'm allowed to talk to. You married me, you didn't buy me! You will accept that I have friends who are not yours!"
It was upon her to upscale the quarrel. "Ouch!" she shrieked, "Let go of my arm!"
"I will let go of your arm," he shouted, picking up her escalation so quickly that she could not hide a hint of pride from appearing on her face, "but you will let go of him!"
"So, and if I don't want to? Hey? What's then?"
"I should have seen that! A beautiful shell, but… but…" his voice boomed. He was sure everyone on their floor was listening. Possibly they pass Coke and popcorn around.
A heavy knock resonated, and the door got rattled forcefully.
"Samantha," Larkin's voice shouted from outside, "Samantha Lisa, what's going on in there? Do you need help?"
Chuck noticed her flinch again.
Every time Bryce addresses her, her condition seems to become worse.
He had no time to deal with that now.
I hate that name, Sarah vehemently thought. I hate what it does to me, what it tells about me, and hate myself for it. But I must not allow that hate destroying someone else - Chuck. If I only had an idea of stopping what Bryce started without having my life collapsing like a house of cards. But I can't. I need all my strength to play my role and not break down into a heap of misery and fear.
Chuck stormed clumsily over and ripped the door open, wondering it didn't come off and fly through the room.
Oh, yes, why should it? The last time I checked, I wasn't Superman.
There stood Bryce, enjoying the scene immensely. As Chuck approached, Larkin went back a few steps, so both men were out in the hallway, setting the stage. Not a moment too early, as the first doors opened. Some people peeked out carefully, others stepped out and watched, alone or in pairs.
Bryce has my life in his hands, and he is grinning. He has no clue either what that good-girl-talk really means, but he knows its crushing power on me. He is clever enough to know that he can blight Chuck's feelings for me - because if Chuck finds out, he will turn away in disgust from me. I cannot let Bryce ruin my life. I have to fight for my chance to find out about Chuck and me.
Sarah stood in the doorway, the right hand on her mouth that was half-opened, her eyes widened in fright, her left hand slightly stretched out at hip level to support herself on the doorframe, her right leg raised an inch or two, and her knees pressed together.
She is perfect! She can change her character in an instant. Chuck realized that while the situation seemed tense between him and Bryce, everyone's attention turned to Sarah as she performed the role of the helpless scantily-clad princess waiting for rescue. Following that notion, he understood that his part was that of the dragon, and Bryce was the knight in shining armor.
Oh well, might as well get over with it!
"You piece of crap! Leave us alone," he shouted and tentatively shoved him.
Larkin pushed back roughly and loudly, but controlled, said: "I won't. I'm here to take my woman back." Turning his head to Sarah, he inquired, "Does he mistreat you, darling? Daddy's here to make it all up for you!"
Sarah almost fell out of character as she inwardly cringed. She wanted to run back into the room, lock the door, leave Bryce and Chuck out there and hide in a spot where no one could see her. A place where she could sit out her breakdown without anyone to notice her condition. A blanket to throw over her trembling body, not to warm, but to veil the angst and shame she experienced.
Of all the blows to her strength, self-esteem, and self-control, Bryce's was the hardest - and the meanest. Chuck didn't know what he did when he called her Samantha Lisa, but Bryce knew her Achilles' heel and exploited it mercilessly.
He even used what Chuck never could guess and threatened her with the consequences if she didn't comply. Sarah did not know if the threat was still valid after Graham's death. Had it been activated and everything was lost already, or was it was void, and could it do no harm anymore? For many years she rather chose to obey than to risk the menace becoming true - at least while Graham was alive, she had no doubt that the threat was real. It was the one, single weak spot in her life.
No, not true. For the past year, another tender spot had materialized - Chuck! First to her agitation, then to her surprise, and eventually to her joy, Chuck had become the center of her world.
Sarah watched the events unfold, struggling to cast off the spell over her and the compulsion to obey she had learned so well. Yes, following Bryce's orders would incarcerate Samantha Lisa and the menace of her past because he would not speak those words again - for the time being. The sword of Damocles would be lifted away for tonight. But it would be only until the next time Bryce forced those chains on her that made her compelled to follow his wishes.
I need to break out of this vicious spell.
Bryce offered his chin to Chuck and shot him a secret inviting glance, one Chuck understood all too gladly. He clenched his fist, hauled off, and imagined he could let go. Untrained in fighting, Chuck couldn't hurt Bryce much anyway, but he would find some satisfaction if, for once, he could swing out for real.
The intention died painfully. Before Chuck's fist reached Bryce's chin, Larkin's right hit his cheek, throwing him back against the wall where the same fist hit him hard in the stomach. As the air was pressed out of his lungs and he bent down in misery, Larkin's side of the left hand hit his nape forcefully. Chuck was thankful that Bryce didn't rip loose as he was sure he would be unconscious otherwise. Still, he slumped down hurting, his long legs sprawling on the floor and his back against the wall. He put a hand over his stomach, the other on his cheek, groaned, and looked up to Bryce looming over him. Was that necessary?
Sarah yelled internally.
No! Leave Chuck alone! You promised you wouldn't hurt him! And I failed to protect him, and it hurts as if you hit me! I should have known you would betray us! … Us? You just made your last mistake, Mr. Larkin!
Sarah swiftly stepped in between them, forcing herself to stay in the character she was supposed to play while her inner self was one raging sea of fire. She stood over Chuck's legs, almost pressed against Larkin, and absent-mindedly patted Chuck's head from above with her left hand. She had made him feel like an 8-year-old before, and now he felt reduced to a family pet that upset the household for leaving a smelly dog pile on an inappropriate spot.
Bryce, you shouldn't have manhandled Chuck. You had me where you wanted me. You nearly won this game within our game, you almost kept me tied down with those words that made me obedient all these years. But you were too sure of yourself and became too cocky. Because the spell is not as strong as my feelings for Chuck. … You just unleashed the beast.
"Charles, I told you that Bruce and I took that self-defense class before we went camping, so you better try not to mess with the two of us," she spoke while not taking her eyes from Bryce.
My God, she is good, Chuck admired as he noticed the looks of pity on the faces of the crowd watching, one - wasn't that the smug son of the Governor - apparently talking into his phone.
Sarah tenderly laid her right hand on Bryce's chest.
"You shouldn't have knocked him down, that was unfair, and you know that," she said softly.
"But I was so worried about you," Larkin replied humbly. "And worried that you wouldn't take me back."
Lyin' bastard, she thought, the newfound conviction helping her to maintain her role for a handful of moments longer.
I need to keep my self-control only a little while longer. Before I crumble, I have to make sure that Chuck is safe with me, in our room. Only then I can break down.
Her left hand came up to touch Bryce's cheek while her right hand let go of his chest. She looked deep into his eyes and spoke with a mellow voice: "Don't worry anymore. I see I made a big mistake. I want to leave the past behind and live in the present," she explained.
Where did that come from? Chuck wondered. He wished he could see her eyes. He would have seen that they turned into cold and steely cobalt.
The show is over. Hand me my suitcase, let me slip out of the back door with my tail between my legs, and let's roll the end credits, Chuck thought. If Bryce wondered the same, he didn't acknowledge it but simply followed the train of thought.
"Yes, Samantha, take my hand, and let's retreat to our room. Are we even allowed to use the honeymoon suite if we aren't married?" Larkin tried a joke while Sarah maneuvered him away, stepping over Chuck's still sprawled legs.
I will miss that view, I certainly will, Chuck thought.
"Hmmm," Sarah mused with a coy look, "A little less conversation, a little more action?"
"Exactly!" Bryce grinned.
"So," Sarah purred. "Action."
The change in Larkin's face came so abruptly that Chuck did not understand what happened. One moment Larkin was grinning victoriously. The next moment, a motion that was too fast to follow was between them, then Sarah's right connected hard with Larkin's chin. The man staggered back, possibly more in total stupor than from the blow.
Chuck watched as stunned as he had been tasered. Whatever had literally blocked Sarah before, it wasn't there anymore. Bryce was out of the reach of Sarah's arms, clearly not comprehending what was happening. She took a quick, energetic step forward and raised both hands to guard herself, but Larkin, all his training and experience stymied, was too perplexed to think of a counter move. When her motion gave away that she would squat jump, Chuck's heart stood still.
Oh, no, Sarah, he prayed frantically, don't do that! Don't try a flying kick on Bryce! It's a high risk against someone like him, and you'll end up sprawled on the floor like me!
Before Bryce even came to a standstill, Sarah lifted off with both feet, pushed her hips into the motion, her right leg sprang forward like a whip, and then her foot hit Bryce violently in the chest.
Maetobi-geri, Chuck thought, awestruck. A perfect flying front kick! I wish Bruce Lee could be here to watch this.
The bystanders gasped in unison. As Sarah landed safely on both feet, smoothly and elastically like a cat, Larkin fell hard. Pain and anger were written all over his features, and Sarah's face had lost her mask.
Oh my gosh, is she livid! A sexy goddess of flaming fury!
"Samantha Lisa, will you be a good girl now!" Larkin thundered. "You know what will happen otherwise!"
Chuck was sure Bryce expected some immediate benefit from these words. For a fleeting moment, it looked like Sarah ran frontally into a concrete wall, her face convulsed with an anguish Chuck could not explain and her figure indicating imminent collapse. Then she straightened, was over Larkin in an instant, and yanked him up like he was a featherweight. Bryce misunderstood the gesture as he had a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
What is this thing about her name? Chuck wondered. And what would happen, otherwise? What is so strong that it seems to destroy indestructible Sarah?
Smiting Larkin's hope that she would profusely apologize and play his game, she hit his chin twice, starting with the left fist, immediately followed by the right one. Since her body didn't move as one usually would when handing out punches, Chuck knew what she had done.
"Wing Chun Kung Fu double punch," he whispered. Larkin finally tried to fight back. Sarah ducked his attack, and as he tried to close in for the in-fight, there was a blur of movements again. For an instant, it looked like Sarah would do a pirouette, but then the angled knee she had raised hit Bryce powerfully in the ribcage. He reeled, he tumbled like a bowling pin about to fall, and then he went down again.
Sarah lowered her head like a bull in the arena. Chuck blinked as he thought he could see flames coming from her nostrils. She yanked Bryce up again. He appeared a bit damaged by now, blood beginning to trickle from his mouth, and generally looking like an unflattering, crumpled-up photograph of himself. She grabbed his groin.
"Anyone who hurts my man gets hurt worse," she threatened with the most frightening cold voice Chuck ever heard, almost cringing himself when he saw the steely grip of her hand. "If you ever come near him or me again, I'm gonna rip these off and have you eat' em! Do you understand?"
Bryce could only nod, sweat breaking out on his face.
"Good," she said, and everyone watching the scene shivered. The single word carried as much ice as the Antarctic.
She pushed Bryce away, not nearly as forceful as before, but strong enough that he stumbled back into the arms of a young man who caught him this time.
"You can keep him," she deadpanned, "have fun."
Chuck watched her walk back to him, not even having broken a sweat.
"Like a deadly ice queen," someone muttered.
Chuck corrected himself. Sarah paraded her long bare legs alongside the lined-up hotel guests. She took her time, allowing him to take in her trim and slender figure, as she sexily swayed towards him. The tanktop that rode up two or three inches permitted a view of her toned stomach, the hair that was tousled from the uneven fight, the cat-like moves – all that made him breathless just when his breath returned to normal.
The Governor's son on the phone could be heard.
"No, dad, really, it's OK. You can call off your bodyguard. She was like all female superheroines rolled into one. They should give her a movie contract. Yeah, she beat the shit out of, well, I think it was her ex who was trying to get her back. It was the most frightening thing I ever saw - and sexy as fuck. I know for sure that I won't be staring at her boobs at the dance tomorrow night. Piss her off, and you can sing along the falsetto parts of your favorite Beach Boys tracks effortlessly."
The guy's comments broke the spell. The crowd applauded and cheered. A woman picked something up from the floor. "Eeew, that's a tooth!"
Sarah helped Chuck up, cupped his face, and kissed him passionately. He thought it was only a show, but he could not prevent the moan that escaped him. Since their audience was going, "Oooh!" and "Aaah!", it was drowned in the overall noise. He shortly pondered if he should fake a dizzy spell and drop down to make her repeat the procedure, but something in her demeanor told him not to. In acting, less is more.
Sarah smiled tenderly as she pulled away. No one could see that it took all of her willpower to close that little drama with the happy end it deserved.
A few seconds more, then you can let it all out.
"Why don't we take this inside?" she asked invitingly, turning him around and encouragingly patting his buttocks to make him walk back into their room.
An elderly gentleman, who watched the show with his arm around his wife, chuckled. "Poor laddie." His wife raised an eyebrow at him, and he said: "If she's done with him tonight, he's ruined for the world. He'll never look at another woman in his life."
Sarah turned her head around for a moment and smiled conspiratorially.
"That's the idea."
•••••••••••••••••••
A/N (2) That's another fine mess you got us into: This Laurel & Hardy catchphrase actually never was uttered by Ollie. It first was heard in their movie "Murder Case" in 1930 as "Well, here's another nice mess you've gotten me into" and later in similar variations, but never in the form that is referenced so often. Why did I use it then? If you can choose between giving people the legend or giving people the truth, always provide them with the legend.
A/N (3) Heghlu'meH QaQ jajvam: The famous Klingon phrase, "Today is a good day to die."
A/N (4) If you want to file a complaint because Sarah battered Bryce, you know what to do - write a review.
A/N (5) If you want to congratulate because Sarah battered Bryce, you know what to do - write a review.