It's Meatloaf Day!

A/N1: Been listening to a lot of music during this pandemic and recently I've been using song lyrics to play around with different scenes just to see what happens. Most of them remain (very) short scenes that aren't even drabble worthy. But today I am feeling adventurous, mischievous and more than a little silly – a dangerous combination for me but one that is sure to change your mindset – even if only for a short while. I was wondering what it would be like to be Chuck - to wake up knowing there are cameras everywhere and wondering what he might do to have a little control – you know... "Feeling guilty, feeling scared, hidden cameras everywhere Stop! Hold on, stay in control!" Combine that with listening to Bat Out Of Hell last night and having it replay over and over in my head and well, you get this.

A/N1.1: Some of you may not be familiar with or even listened to the album Bat Out of Hell. I wish there was a way to format this highlighting the lyrics but after trying several different ideas, realized it would just make the story more complicated to read. What I can tell you is if the dialogue seems "theatrical" and maybe a little over the top - it's the lyrics. Still, the best advise I can offer is - listen to the album. Every song is an ear-worm and lyrics will be committed to memory.

I certainly don't have Meatloaf's voice and I don't own any of the rights to Jim Steinman's music or Chuck, but if I did well I can see myself tearing up the road, faster than any other boy has ever gone!

6:02 Monday Morning

Chuck's Bedroom

The alarm had just gone off, the radio playing the appropriately titled Manic Monday by The Bangles. Chuck stretched out in bed yawning and thinking I really wish it were Sunday.

But it wasn't. He looked around his room, side eying the cameras (that were not so well hidden) and the mics - really, couldn't they cover them up a little better - and sighed.

I'm in a fishbowl.

Guess I'm lucky I don't get all revved up cause I'd have no place to go.

And, like a big feather pillow traveling in slow motion, it hit him.

Looking up at the equipment that gave the government a panoramic 360-degree view of his life, an idea came to life. An evil idea. More evil than discussing sandwiches and desert islands under one of the surveillance mics.

Hiding the smirk that was growing under a well-executed fake sneeze, Chuck looked in the mirror one last time before saying loudly to no one in particular

"It's Meatloaf day!"

And with a smile that stretched from ear to ear, he turned in such a way that the camera would not catch him while he did his best bugs bunny smirk. He was heading out to what promised to be an interesting day.

Across the courtyard, Casey frowned.

"Meatloaf day? Ellie didn't say anything about that?"

He was so caught up in that thought he had to hurry to catch Chuck so the two of them could ride together to work.

9:02 Monday morning

Castle

Casey was still shaking his head. The ride into work had been …. unusual … even by the Moron's standards. It started out like most every morning, Chuck saying good morning and Casey grunting in reply.

They drove in silence for a few minutes when Casey remembered Beckman had sent some images for the Intersect to look at.

"Hey numbnuts, here's a folder the General wants you to take a look at. See if you flash on anything."

Chuck took the folder and after opening it, looked like he flashed immediately on the very first image. It looked to be a big one.

"What? What did you see?" a fair amount of concern in his voice.

Chuck had his eyes closed and shook his head, seaming to clear the effects of the flash away. Then his eyes grew wide and in a steely, almost unearthly voice, began to speak.

"The sirens are screaming, and the fires are howling way down in the valley tonight. There's a man in the shadows with a gun in his eye and a blade shining oh so bright."

The look on Casey's face was a mix of concern and confusion. "Uh, what?' was all he could say.

Chuck turned towards him, his steel mask covering his face of any emotions, and he continued

"There's evil in the air and there's thunder in the sky, and a killer's on the bloodshot streets."

Casey's concern grew. He had never seen Chuck react to a flash this way and he had to admit he was a little unnerved. "A killer? He's a killer? He's going to kill? Where? When? How bad will it be"

"Down in the tunnels where the deadly are rising. Oh, I swear I saw a young boy down in the gutter he was starting to foam in the heat."

"This sounds bad" Casey said, the concern and worry sneaking out. "We gotta tell the General right away." Casey stomped down on the gas pedal and cut deftly through traffic, getting to Castle in record time.

Casey practically pulled Chuck along, so intent on his mission he never saw the smirk on Chuck's face.

Guess that's how a bat out of hell would move he thought.

The briefing had been, well, brief. Chuck gave General Beckman and Sarah the information without the theatrics which confused Casey. He went so far as to pull Sarah aside to tell her about Chuck's initial reaction to the flash, telling her what he said – and how he said it – almost verbatim. Sarah didn't react, doing everything she could to keep her Agent Walker mask in place until the two left to take up their posts in the Buymore.

Oh Chuck, she thought. What are your playing at here?

It wasn't until lunch time that she got her answer.

12:02 Monday afternoon

Orange Orange

Sarah's curiosity got the better of her and she had been watching Chuck on the monitors all morning. She saw how he peppered Casey with lyrics from Bat Out Of Hell all morning, and the confused and frustrated look on Casey's face made another potentially dreary day go by a little faster. Morgan had picked up on what Chuck was doing early on and even though he didn't know why he was doing it, decided to join in the fun anyway, narrating an interaction between Chuck and an attractive female customer in his best Phil Rizzuto. The woman had come in with a phone problem - what is it with Chuck, women and phones? she wondered – and when Chuck finished fixing her phone, she turned on the charm and Morgan took to the mic. Calling Casey over as an audience.

"Okay Casey, here we go, we got a real pressure cooker going here" he began as if he were narrating the interaction between Chuck and the woman.

Well, the woman at least.

"Two down, nobody on, no score, bottom of the ninth
There's the windup, and there it is
A line shot up the middle, look at her go
This girl can really fly
She's rounding first and really turning it on now
She's not letting up at all
She's gonna try for second, the ball is bobbled out in center
And here comes the throw, and what a throw
She's gonna slide in head first
Here she comes, she's out
No, wait, safe-safe at second base
This kid really makes things happen out there."

Casey just shook his head and walked away, wondering if the last round of Mystery Crisper had caused brain damage. Morgan smiled and Chuck was able to figure out the flirting that was going on and find a "store emergency" that needed his attention – not hard to do with Jeffster around.

What they didn't know was that Sarah had been watching it all unfold in Castle. She recognized that this was an advanced torture setting Chuck had deployed. Casey was completely out of his element and while she didn't mind Chuck having some fun with their grunting partner, Casey was becoming more and more distracted. A distracted Casey was not good for Chucks safety and Sarah decided to have a little fun of her own while giving Chuck a dose of his own medicine.

Chuck was feeling pretty good about himself as he made his way across the parking lot to the Orange Orange. He was dying to tell Sarah about his morning, let her in on a little of the fun.

He wasn't prepared for what would happen next.

Sarah had been watching him approach and when Chuck walked through the door, she made believe she had her Agent Walker mask fully in place.

Her greeting "Chuck, you're here" sounded more like General Beckman than Sarah. Her next statement "We need to talk" were not the words he wanted to hear next.

"I was watching you in the store today. What do you think you were doing?"

To say Chuck was surprised was an understatement. "What? I was just having some fun."

"Fun huh? That was having fun?"

"Sarah I was just teasing Casey. It was driving him crazy trying to figure me out and you know, that just doesn't happen for me. He is always there, always watching. Today it felt like I had some control – not a lot, but some and it was all harmless fun and …"

"That's not what I'm talking about."

"Uh, what?"

"I'm talking about that blond with the phone – the one you were shamelessly flirting with."

"Uh, wwhhaaatttt?" Chuck stammered.

"Look Chuck, our cover is important. You can't be flirting with every skirt that finds you irresistible."

"Uh, say what again?"

"Look Chuck, I know our cover can get to you, I know you want more than a fake relationship. I can't lie, I can't tell you that I'm something I'm not no matter how I try. I'll never be able to give you something- something that I just haven't got."

Sarah waited for the words to register, expecting a smile of recognition, of understanding that she was playing with him the way he had played with Casey.

It didn't come.

Maybe he needs another line of two she thought.

"Look Chuck, I know it's hard, but you'll never find your gold on a sandy beach.
You'll never drill for oil on a city street.
I know you're looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks but there ain't no Coup de Ville hiding at the bottom of a Cracker Jack box."

And Sarah waited. She expected to hear him say "Oooohhhhh you, I see what you're doing…."

It didn't come

"Oh." was all he said. He stood and looking down at his shoes muttered "Sorry I bothered you" and headed out the door.

Sarah was in shock. What just happened?

It took her a moment before she reacted, and by then, Chuck was half way back to the Buymore. She called after him asking, pleading with him to come back. All she got was a little wave over his shoulder, not even bothering to turn around to deliver it.

Shit, did I just screw up and went to get the keys to lock up and go after Chuck to explain and apologize when the video feed came alive and General Beckman was there.

"Ah, Agent Walker. Just who I wanted to speak to. We have some new protocols we need to review. It shouldn't take more than a couple of hours."

"General, I'm sorry but I really can't do this right now."

"Is there an emergency? Did something happen to the Intersect?"

"Yes. No Chuck – I mean the Intersect isn't in any danger I just have to…."

"Agent Walker, whatever it is, I'm sure Agent Casey can handle it for now. These protocols are important and need to be review immediately."

Sarah took a deep breath to pull herself together answering "I understand General" hoping that Chuck would understand later.

3:02 Monday afternoon

A Secure Connection

The review took three hours. Three long, grueling, tedious, nerve wracking hours. She had the general on one screen and the Buymore on another. She wanted to see how he was - until she did. He was at the Nerd Herd Desk, head down on his arms looking miserable. Casey went by him a couple times to check on him, each time glaring at the camera he knew she would be watching on. His glare was worse than his growl.

At one point, Chuck got up, said something to Morgan who reached up and patted him on the shoulder before Chuck slumped away.

He didn't come back.

Sarah called Casey as soon as she finished her conference. "Casey secure. What the hell is going on Walker? The moron was in a strange but great mood until he cam back from you. What. Happened?"

Sarah blew out a big sigh "Long story Casey. Let's just say I just proved I'm not funny."

"Well whatever it was, fix it. Do you know where he went?"

"I have a pretty good idea. And don't worry, I'll get to him. I'm gonna hit the highway like a battering ram on a silver-black phantom bike ... uh, I mean Porsche" and she hung up.

Casey just stared at the phone for a minute "Where the hell did I hear that before?" he muttered.

6:02 Monday Evening

The Beach (yeah, that one)

She had been watching him for a while now. On the beach.

He had come here - to their beach .

It was a hot summer night and the beach was burning.

There was fog crawling over the sand.

Wait. What? God, now he's got me doing it she thought.

But maybe that wasn't so bad because when she listened, really listened, she could hear his heart. She could hear the whole world turning. She swore she could see the shooting stars falling through his trembling hands.

She kept watch. Lost in her own thoughts - and then he did it. He was licking his lips…

and his lips were shining.

That did it.

Who am I kidding? I am dying just to ask for a taste.

We could be lying together in a silver lining by the light of the moon.

That's when she knew.

There's not another moment, not another moment to waste!

He wasn't surprised when she dropped down to sit beside him on the sand.

"How long you been watching me?"

"About an hour."

"Sorry you had to wait so long to cool down before talking to me."

Sarah sighed "That's not why I waited. I was trying to figure out how to say I'm sorry. I had watched you tormenting Casey with song lyrics all morning and was trying to have a little fun and give you a dose of your own medicine. It really backfired on me. I feel like a sinner before the gates of Heaven and I should come crawling on back to you."

Chuck huffed "Thought you didn't know music?"

Sarah went silent for a moment, staring out at the ocean before saying "I'm really sorry Chuck. I didn't meant to hurt you. Will you forgive me?"

Chuck blew out breath and nodded his head "Yeah. Yeah I forgive you. It's just … well some of the things you said did hurt. It brought back Jill in a big way and I - I never want to think of you in that way. You know, like Jill."

Sarah placed her hand on his forearm and at least he didn't jerk away, a good sign she thought. "I don't want to be thought of like Jill, and I promise. I'm not like her. At all."

"Oh I know. It just brought me back there, you know? It wasn't a good place and I – I don't want to go back there again."

Sarah looked at him, urging him to go on. Her look said "no judgements"

Reluctantly, Chuck went on. "Yeah. Yeah I mean after Jill well I was nothing but a lonely boy looking for something new. And then, then you came into my life and it … it took a while but I realized … you were nothing but a lonely girl. But you were something….something like a dream come true."

Chuck thought his deep sigh said everything. Still….. "We could be standing at the top of the world instead of sinking further down in the mud. But it's been made very clear to me that my dream will never come true. You and me, it just can't be and to make sure I am watched all the time. In public, in private, even … even in my own bedroom. I've got nowhere to hide … nowhere to hide what I'm feeling.

But … every Saturday night I felt the fever grow.

Do ya know what it's like? All revved up with no place to go?"

Sarah tried her best to hide the smile blooming on her face "So let me get this straight. Every Saturday night you felt the fever grow?"

"Yeah" Chuck said "All revved up with no place to go"

She moved close, close enough for him to smell her body wash "Only Saturday?" she purred.

Yeah. That.

9:02 Monday Night

Chuck's Bedroom

They found themselves lying on Chuck's bed a little while later, just holding each other, enjoying the contact and the comfort of being together. Sarah shifted a bit and Chuck pulled her tighter. "You'll be gone when the morning comes … wont you?"

Lying on his chest, Sarah nodded "Yeah. Like a bat outa hell."

Chuck couldn't help the deep sigh and Sarah knew she needed to put him at ease.

"Oh, baby." She said looking up at him through her lashes "You're the only thing in this whole world that's pure …. and good …. and right. And wherever you are and wherever you go there's always gonna be some light."
She didn't want to plead but she didn't want to waste their one night together.

"But can't you see, I gotta get out, I gotta break out now.

I've gotta leave before the final crack of dawn.
So ….we gotta make the most of our one night together cause when it's over, you know, we'll both be so alone."

And before he could answer, her lips were on his.

After what seemed like a moment and an eternity all rolled into one he exclaimed

"For crying out loud, you know I love you"

"I do" Sarah whispered "I do. But Chuck, we're stuck. You know we're stuck here and we may never get out."

Chuck just shook his head. "Well I know that I'm damned if I never get out, and maybe I'm damned if I do. But with every other beat I've got left in my heart, you know I want to be damned with you."

"Chuck, I'm damned to live this life. You aren't!"

Chuck eyes never left hers and when he spoke it was with a clarity and a conviction Sarah had never experienced from him before.
"If I gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned dancing through the night with you."

A smile crept onto his face, growing big and wide until it was beaming at her. And he began to sing, softly at first but building in intensity.
"Well if I gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned,
Gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned"

It all became too much for Sarah and she finally gave in to Chuck's power and conviction. Heaven can wait, because she and Chuck were here right now. And that's when she joined in, singing with all she had in her.
"Gotta be damned, you know I want to be damned
Dancing through the night,
Dancing through the night,
Dancing through the night with you"

With that the two of them crashed together in a kiss that made her see paradise by the dashboard lights. She gave as good as she got, pouring all of her heart, all of herself, all of her feelings into the kiss. When the two of the broke apart gasping for air and filled with excitement, Sarah turned to him. "You know what you said earlier?"

"I said a lot, but I'm thinking you mean when I said you know I love you, right?"

"Yeah" she smirked "Well, you should know you took the words right out of my mouth. It must have been when you were kissing me."

"Sarah, what are you saying?"

"What I'm saying Chuck is we're gonna go all the way tonight.
We're gonna go all the way and tonight's the night."

And they did.

6:02 Tuesday Morning

Chuck's Bedroom

The alarm jolted Chuck awake, the repeated chorus echoing through his head.

All revved up with no place to go
All revved up with no place to go
All revved up with no place to go
All revved up with no place to go
All revved up with no place to go

He was alone in his bed, wondering if it was all a dream. It was a good dream – no great! It was a great dream. He just wished it wasn't just a dream and sighed.

"I know that look"

Chuck jerked his head up to see Sarah at the bedroom doorway, his white Buymore button down on, a cup of coffee in her hands and a smirk on her lips.

"You were thinking it was all a dream weren't you."

Chuck's eyes nearly popped out of his head as she slowly walked toward him, her legs looking like miles of scenic highway. She sat on the bed next to him "No Chuck, it wasn't a dream. It was something like a dream come true."

"Your dream?"

"Our dream" she answered. "so, if you're all revved up I'm sure we could find someplace to go – together."

And they did!

Fini!

*Bat Out Of Hell – Studio album by Meat Loaf. Written by Jim Steinman and produced by Todd Rundgren. Released October 21, 1977

A/N2: So, hope you enjoyed this as much as I did writing it. Pretty sure I captured at least one line from all the songs on the album – but honestly some fit better than others. I saw the Bat Out Of Hell album tour at the Capital Theater in NYC way back when and it was a bigger tour de force live than the album – something I didn't think possible – and I tried to capture that in this story. If you've never listened to it, do it – with ear buds or heads phones. I'm gonna leave this collection open because I have a couple more songs in mind and if I can get to them, it WILL be a collection.

Everyone stay safe. Stay healthy. And wear a mask!