A/N: Welcome back. Thanks for all the great feedback and kind words. Took a little longer to get this chapter out but I hope it was worth the wait. Let's head on over to the land of make believe and see how things go when Chuck comes over to Sarah's for dinner. Come along neighbors!
Disclaimer: I still don't own Chuck.
Chapter 6
"I'll get it!" Molly yelled as she ran down the stairs as fast as her little legs would carry her. Sarah had also heard the knock and, while closer to the door, she opted to let Molly do the honors. Molly was so excited that Chuck was coming over, she could hardly contain herself. She had asked her older sister seven times in the past half hour what time he would be there.
The little girl reached for the door knob, but just before she you touched it, she heard Sarah clear her throat. Molly winced. "Oh. Right," she whispered. Then in a rather loud voice questioned, "Who is it?" She smiled a mischievous smile at Sarah. Then a response came from the other side.
"Uh...Candygram," came the reply in a comical voice.
"Who?" Molly exclaimed with a giggle.
"Uh… Landshark?" came another comical response.
Sarah and Molly both laughed, Sarah motioning for Molly to open the door. Standing in the doorway was Chuck, still in the knocking pose. That warranted a giggle from Molly. "Mr. Chuck, you're so silly." Chuck gave the little girl a huge smile as they walked into the foyer.
"I hope pizza's OK? Do you like pizza Molly?" he asked, giving Molly a wry smile.
"Uh..I'm eight. Of course I like pizza," she exclaimed, like the question was beyond ridiculous.
"I thought you might. I also brought over some movies, if it's OK with Sarah." He gave Sarah a smile and a questioning look. She returned a bright smile and nodded her approval. Chuck maintained eye contact with her for a moment, mesmerized by her incredible smile. A light tug on his shirt pulled him from his trance.
"What kind of pizza did you get?" Molly asked, her head tilted all the way back in order to look up at him.
"Well, how about I go set this down and you can have a look?" Chuck walked into the kitchen and placed the two boxes side by side and let Molly flip them open. Sarah was looking over her shoulder as the little girl tore into the boxes with gusto.
"Ewww. That one has all vegetables on it. That's the kind Sarah likes. Hey. They didn't put olives on it this time. See?" Molly pointed, looking over her shoulder at Sarah. Examining the next pizza, Molly's eyes went wide. "Oooo. Pepperoni! That's my favorite!" Molly clapped her hands in excitement as she jumped up and down. Sarah was taken aback by the topping choices, namely on the veggie pizza. She turned to Chuck with a tilted head.
"How?" was all she managed to get out. Chuck just shrugged with a sheepish smile.
"So, you know...several weeks…sitting alone...watching. You pick up a few things. I guess you could say I had a … thirst for knowledge when it came to all things 'Sarah Walker'." His ears grew a lovely shade of red. He then winced and closed his eyes. "Oh, God. That sounded very … 'stalkery' didn't it? I swear I don't have a picture shrine of you in my closet or anything. N-Not that you're not worthy of a picture shrine. I just…" Sarah took his hand in hers and Chuck's spiral stopped. He let out a big sigh. "Sorry. Spiraling." He gave a sheepish grin.
"I've never had a guy care enough to want to learn things about me. How I like my pizza, for example." She gave him a shy smile and a firm squeeze of his hand before letting go. She pulled out some paper plates from a cabinet and passed them around. Everyone ate their fill as they chatted idly before making their way to the living room.
"Are we gonna watch a movie?!" Molly was bouncing up and down with excitement.
"Peanut. It's a school night and it's getting late. You still need to take a bath and brush your teeth," Sarah reminded with a soft but parental tone.
"Awwww," the little girl deflated with a pout. She turned to Chuck with a pleading look. Chuck just held up his hands with the 'don't look at me' expression.
"Sorry kiddo. I have no powers here. What your sister says goes," Chuck shrugged. "But, if it's OK with Sarah, maybe I could read you a story or something once you're all ready for bed?" Chuck looked between the two sisters to see if there was unanimous approval. Molly's wide-eyed nods were soon followed by Sarah's more reserved nod of acceptance. With that, the little girl was up the stairs like a shot. Thirty minutes later, Chuck was replying to some emails on his phone when he heard a call from upstairs.
"Mr. Chuck! I'm ready for bed now!" came Molly's not so dulcet tones. Chuck couldn't help but laugh to himself as he made his way up the stairs. When he reached her room, he could see that she was lying in bed, her covers pulled up tight and Sarah sitting on the bed beside her. Chuck just leaned on the doorframe and looked in at the two. He couldn't help but get lost in the sight of them. With their age difference, it was like looking at Sarah, tucking in her daughter, the spitting image of herself. He envisioned himself in this same position but playing a much different role. How he longed for that sense of family, of belonging. The emotion welled up inside of him, almost overcoming him.
Sarah looked to Chuck, leaning against the doorframe. The look of adoration on his face was undeniable. She could even see a shimmer in his eyes reflected from the nightstand light. He met her gaze and, without a word, she tilted her head and furrowed her brow slightly, concern etched on her face. Chuck broke their connection, shaking himself from his thoughts and turned to Molly.
"How about that story, huh?" His voice had a small hitch as he first spoke. He took the chair from her desk and brought it over to the bed. Molly was handing him a book. He took it and looked at the cover. "Wow…" Chuck paused for a moment in thought. "Um.. this uh.. This was one of my favorite stories when I was little. My uh…. my mom used to read it to me when I was a little younger than you are now. You sure you want me to read this story?" Chuck asked, swallowing a small lump that had developed in his throat. The little girl just nodded.
"It's my favorite story. My daddy used to read it to me when I was small. It reminds me of him," she confessed with a smile on her face. Chuck brought a clenched fist to his mouth, pressing the first knuckle against his bottom lip. While he tried to make it appear he was in contemplation, he was desperately trying to fight back the tears threatening to escape. After a moment, he cleared his throat.
"It would...it would be my honor to read this book then," Chuck choked out as he tried to regain some composure. He took a cleansing breath and cleared his throat again as he opened the book. In a soft, narrator tone, he began to read.
"In the great green room there was a telephone and a red balloon and a picture of-"
He continued to read through the book, showing the pictures as he went. As he concluded with the final line "Goodnight noises everywhere…" he closed the book. While he was still trying his best to keep his composure as a result of the powerful emotions tormenting him throughout the reading of the story, the little girl let out a giggle. This took Chuck by surprise and he gave her a questioning look.
"You sound just like Bernard," Molly giggled some more. Chuck's eyes grew wide for a moment but feigned ignorance. "You know. The guy from that game, Earth and Beyond. I played it on your computer. He's the one that guides you through the game," Molly insisted. Chuck gave a small chuckle.
"Oh. Is that so? Huh. Well... I think it's time for bed." Chuck tried to change the subject quickly. He leaned forward out of the seat and placed a kiss on top of her head. As he started to pull away, her little arms wrapped around his neck and gave him a big hug.
"Thank you, Mr. Chuck, for reading me the story. Can you read it again some night?" Molly asked with a sweet innocence as she released him from the hug and snuggled under her covers. Chuck tucked her in and smoothed the hair away from her face.
"As you wish," he responded softly with a smile. The little girl returned the smile as Chuck turned off the light and placed the chair back at the desk before leaving. He stopped to see Sarah had taken up his post in the doorway, leaning against the jam, watching the events unfold. There was a look on her face that he couldn't read, especially in the dim light of the room, backlit by the hallway light. He was a little fearful that he had over stepped some boundary. Perhaps reading the story or maybe the kiss on the head was too 'familiar'. She continued to stare at him as he approached but then relented and made way for him as he reached the door. He followed her downstairs, his mind racing as he watched her descend the stairs with a grace that made it look so effortless. She found a seat on the couch in the living room and Chuck joined her with a respectful distance between them.
"I uh...I hope that was OK?" Chuck spoke hesitantly, breaking the silence as he motioned toward the stairs. She gave a tight smile and nodded but there seemed to be more that she was struggling to say, so he just sat there and waited, giving her time to find her words.
"I'm sorry," she finally spoke. "I...I could tell that was very hard for you. It really meant a lot to her though… and to me too," she confessed looking at her hands in her lap.
"I meant it when I said I was honored to read that story to her...knowing that we both have a special place in our hearts for that book… I was just so humbled that I got to share it with her." He cleared his throat and averted his gaze away from Sarah. She watched him for a moment and could feel the weight of the emotions in the air. She decided to change the subject in hopes of salvaging their evening.
"So...you said you brought some movies?" she asked, trying to sound more chipper. It seemed to break Chuck from his thoughts, or at least gave him an opportunity to excuse himself to get his messenger bag. When he returned, he held the bag in his lap and reached inside.
"So I have one that is animated that I figured we could watch with Molly...i-if you want, of course," he hesitated. "I have a movie that is probably a little bit too 'PG' for her but you might like. It's one of my favorites; a cult classic," Chuck looked to her for some guidance but she just motioned toward the DVD player, a 'be my guest' expression on her face. He nodded and pulled the disc from the case and moved to put it in the DVD player. While Chuck was up, Sarah moved around the room turning off some lights to give it a more 'theatre-like' feeling. When they returned to the couch, they found they were a little closer together than before. They maintained their distance as the movie started. The more they watched and the more they became engrossed, the more at ease they became.
Chuck looked over at Sarah, who was rubbing her feet on the rounded edge of the coffee table. He guessed that was her attempt at a foot massage. Given her profession, her feet undoubtedly hurt after a long day. Without a word, he gently reached down and cupped his hands under her heels and slowly pulled them over to his lap. She looked quizzically at his hands and then at him, but did not stop him. She just pivoted her body so she was lying down with her feet in his lap. When he began to massage the arches of her feet she closed her eyes and let out a strangled moan at the sensation. His strong hands and fingers went to work on her feet and she couldn't help but let a moan escape periodically. The gesture was so intimate yet so comfortable and natural. She felt herself melting into the couch as she returned to watching the movie. As time went on, he extended his efforts up her calves and back down, but never ventured further than her knee.
Sarah was pulled from her reverie as a particular phrase from the movie caught her ear. She turned to look and saw that the narrator was describing the relationship between a young farm boy named Wesley and the farmer's daughter, Buttercup. What had struck her were Wesley's replies of 'As you wish' to the young woman's demands. She immediately recognized the words as those that Chuck had used when tucking Molly into bed. The narrator went on to describe the implied meaning of the words; 'I love you'. Sarah's chest tightened and a lump began to form in her throat. She could feel a burning behind her eyes, but she closed them for a moment to allow it to pass. She looked to Chuck, who was intently watching the movie but had not halted his efforts at massaging her feet. She watched his childlike fascination with the movie and could make out that he was mouthing the words 'As you wish' along with the character. Seeing that light in his eyes and the glow of the TV softly highlight the features of his face, she felt a kaleidoscope of butterflies swirling in her stomach. She probably had some doe-eyed, dreamy look on her face, but she really didn't care. She felt...happy. Probably for the first time in a long time, and it was this quiet, kind and generous man that made her happy.
Eventually, she was able to pull her attention from him and bring her focus back to the movie. It was funny and charming and she found she really liked it. The kissing scene at the end made her chuckle and blush a bit at the same time as thoughts ran through her head. As the boy's grandfather was leaving and he uttered 'As you wish', the parallel was not lost on Sarah from the book reading events of the evening. She just watched him as he turned off the TV and stared at the dark screen for a moment. He looked down at his lap at her slender feet, his hands still gently kneading the muscles. Realizing he had been mindlessly rubbing and caressing her feet for more than an hour, he stopped and slowly took his hands away. He glanced over to see her looking at him. He gave her a sheepish smile and shrugged.
"Was that OK? D-did that help at all?" Chuck inquired, feeling a little apprehensive.
"Chuck, I can safely say I have never in my life had such an incredible foot massage. I feel a little bad that you were doing it for so long but it just felt...well...amazing." She gave a wry smile. "Thank you for that Chuck. You have no idea how nice it feels after all the hours and days I spend on my feet. I feel so guilty though. I wish there was something I could do for you." She looked away a little shyly, realizing how that may have sounded. Chuck, being the gentleman he was, didn't seem to pick up on it.
"Sarah, I didn't do it expecting to get anything in return," Chuck replied with a sincerity that was just... Chuck.
"I know, Chuck. That's what makes me want to do something for you all the more." She smiled at him, a bright smile that reached her eyes.
"I just… You work so hard to take care of everyone else. I thought, even if just in a small way, I could...I could take care of you for once." He began to speak again but Sarah sat up and took hold of his forearm. He stopped and looked at her hand and then at her.
"Chuck, thank you. It really means a lot to me," she confessed. He just gave a small smile and nodded.
"I uh...I should get going. We've got work in the morning." He stood to retrieve his DVD, placed it back in the case and closed up his messenger bag. Sarah stood to walk him to the door. Once they were on the front porch, he turned back to face her. "Thanks for a great night Sarah. I really enjoyed spending time with you guys." He gave a smile as he looked down at his feet, then back at her.
"Well, it was great having you. Thanks for the pizza and the movie...and the story and, of course, the foot rub. I feel so spoiled. Now I'm gonna want one every night," she chuckled slightly, until she realized the implications of her comment. Her cheeks turned a nice shade of pink as she fought the embarrassment. What is the matter with me?
"As you wish." The words escaped as if of their own volition. His filter seemed to be nonexistent, letting his inner feelings flow uninhibited. This way bad. Very bad. His throat closed up and his eyes widened as the crimson hue rocketed through his face and into his hair. "Uh... I'll uh… see you tomorrow," he quickly choked out, waved goodbye and made a hasty retreat.
Sarah stood frozen. The words he spoke took on a hidden meaning that she now knew the cipher for. Did he…? Did he just? Unable to take her eyes off of him, she could see the realization written across his face. He didn't try to explain or walk it back. He just seemed embarrassed perhaps that he had revealed himself. But did he? Did he really reveal his true feelings for her? Was he really…? As he made his escape, he waved and she instinctually returned the gesture, though a little slowly.
She stood for a moment longer, her mind racing. What if he had? As she pondered that, she found it didn't freak her out. In fact, that kaleidoscope was back, and a smile began to creep across her face. Perhaps the more important question was, did she?
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Work the next day started as the previous days had, with Chuck awaiting her arrival outside the diner. Much like the other days, Molly greeted him with a hug and he with a giant smile, always happy to see them. Chuck busied himself in the kitchen, making biscuits from scratch and preparing the breakfast meats. Sarah started coffee and made sure there were plenty of silverware bundles for the day. Once her tasks were done, she helped Chuck in the kitchen with chopping vegetables for omelettes and potatoes for homefries. The two practically danced around one another as they moved from counter to counter and task to task. It was as if they had been doing this for years. They talked, joked and laughed. Chuck had gotten so comfortable, in fact, that he absentmindedly began to sing as he worked. It was something he enjoyed doing when he was by himself. It helped him clear his head when cooking for himself or tinkering on an engineering project. He had his back to Sarah when she heard him start. She stopped in mid chop and just stared, listening intently.
I remember the days, of just keeping time
Of hanging around in sleepy towns, forever
Back roads empty for miles
Well you can't have a dream and cut it to fit
But when I saw you I knew, we'd go together
Like a wink and a smile
Leave your old jalopy
Buy the railroad track
We'll get a hip, double dip, tip toppy
Two seat Pontiac
So you can rev her up, don't go slow
It's only green lights and alright
Let's go together with a wink and a smile
Give me a wink and a smile
We go together like a wink and a smile
Chuck turned around to work on the counter behind him, causing him to face Sarah. Even though there was no music playing, you could almost hear the needle screech as he stopped in mid-song. His eyes growing wide in realization, he immediately covered his mouth.
"Oh my God. I'm...I'm so sorry." Chuck's ears were fire engine red as he closed his eyes in mortification. Sarah was still looking on in wonder. He had a beautiful singing voice and ...oh God. Those damn butterflies again. Before Sarah could say a word they heard clapping coming from the dining area.
"That was really good Mr. Chuck! Do another one!" Molly shouted from her booth over her bowl of cereal. Sarah burst into laughter and Chuck just shook his head, a small smile growing on his face.
"She's right. It was really good. You have an amazing voice. You shouldn't be embarrassed about singing. You know, there's just something about a man who can sing…" she trailed off, a smirk on her face as she turned away to go wash up in the sink.
"Wh-...uh...Wh-what sort of something?" he choked out as the lump in his throat made it difficult to get the words out. She gave a wry smile over her shoulder and shrugged as she left the kitchen. He just stood frozen, staring at the swinging door as it slowly lost momentum and came to a stop. He gave a long blink and finally shook himself back to reality. He quickly spun around to the flat-top griddle to tend to the meats, which were close to burning.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Sarah, honey. I hafta ask. Where 'are' you gettin' your biscuits from these days? I might stop makin' 'em myself and just buy 'em from you," Mrs. Clark chuckled.
"Well, I'm glad you like 'em. We actually bake 'em fresh in-house every day," Sarah smiled, proud that she could boast about that fact, and to Mrs. Clark no less. If anyone knew down home southern cooking, it was Mrs. Clark. She cleaned up at the county fair every year with her food entries. If the biscuits got her seal of approval, that was a huge win for them.
"Is that so? You made these, Suga'?" The older woman looked to her, clearly impressed.
"Um, No. Our cook makes them from scratch every morning," Sarah admitted as she stole a glance back toward the kitchen.
"Mmmhhhmmm. That tall drink o' water I see millin' around back there?" she asked with a raised eyebrow. Sarah just chuckled and nodded. "Ummm. With skills like that, he can be the cream in my coffee any day!" She gave a single clap and let out a laugh with her tongue between her teeth. After their laughter died down, she continued, "Oh, Lord," she exclaimed as she blew out a breath and fanned herself with her hand. "This here sausage gravy ain't no joke either. Not as spicy as I make, but I imagine that'd blow the heads off most of these white folk in here," she laughed as she gave a teasing tap to Sarah's arm. "Hmmm. You better put a leash on that boy. Some woman gonna come along and snatch him up." She flashed a suggestive look Sarah's way. Sarah just smirked and gave her a wink. "Giiiiirl!" Mrs. Clark exclaimed, giving Sarah a playful pat on her arm as she burst out laughing.
"I gotta go, Mrs. Clark, or you're gonna get me in trouble," she playfully chided the older woman. That garnered another bout of laughter from Mrs. Clark as Sarah made her way toward the kitchen. Once safely behind the kitchen door, she raced over to Chuck and grabbed his arm, practically bouncing up and down. He just looked on in confusion, waiting for some context for the outburst. "Mrs. Clark. She loved your biscuits!" she exclaimed.
Chuck raised an eyebrow. "I really hope that's not some sort of euphemism, and that we're talking about the buttermilk biscuits," Chuck teased with a wry smile.
Sarah just rolled her eyes at him, though good-naturedly. "She's like the queen of southern cookin' around these parts. So if she says they're good, that's like getting a … 5-star rating in this community!" She was so excited she was practically vibrating. Finally understanding, Chuck's smile exploded across his face and, without thinking, he gave her a huge hug, lifting her off the ground.
"That's fantastic! That word of mouth advertising is going to be huge for you!" Chuck exclaimed, releasing her from the hug. Realizing he got a little carried away, he made an attempt to smooth the fabric on her sleeves but pulled back, thinking better of it. Sarah just took his hands in hers.
"It's OK, Chuck," she chuckled as she looked up at him through her lashes, the smile still plastered across her face. "This is all thanks to you Chuck. I don't know how I can thank you for … for everything." She paused for a moment then continued. "I um...I have some more good news. So the meetings I've been having with Mr. Kellogg. Well… a group of angel investors have decided to invest in this diner. That's why Bryce was here. It just so happens his firm was organizing the signing of the contracts. That means that I am getting some much needed cash flow into this place. I'll be able to afford to do some renovations, get some new equipment. Maybe even hire some more people if I can attract them."
"Wow. That sounds like a really good deal. What uh...what do you know about them?" Chuck inquired.
"The company is called Orion Group. All I really know is what I could find online and from Mr. Kellogg. To be quite honest, though, I didn't really have much of a choice. I was literally days away from the bank taking this place. Now...now I can breathe for once. I'm sorry I was so crazy before. I was just so stressed and scared, frankly. Sure, it means that I have to share the profits of the diner, assuming I make any. Having 85% of a diner is better than no diner. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to buy them out some day." She shrugged her shoulders and gave a small smile.
"That's the spirit. I'm really happy for you. It sounds like things are really coming together for you. I imagine that means you won't need me anymore," Chuck added, but his jovial tone was missing.
"No! No, of course I need you. Who...who's gonna cook and make the biscuits? Plus you...you said you had some ideas for specials, and you still need to show me those…" Sarah stopped her spiraling and gasped, covering her mouth. "Chuck. I...I've been so focused on me and the diner. You… you have a whole life, a job outside of all of this. I'm probably taking you away from things you'd rather be… It's just... I...I can't-," she cut herself off, biting her lip. She was staring into his chest and began shaking her head. "I… I don't 'want' to do this alone." She slowly looked up at him through her lashes. Chuck could only stare down at her, his eyes searching. What he was searching for, she couldn't say, but eventually he seemed to find it. His gaze was deep and penetrating and without breaking he squeezed her hand tighter.
"I'm here," was all he said. His expression slowly morphed into a tight smile and he spoke again.
"Well, I guess I'll just have to make you my specials on our day off tomorrow then," Chuck gave a wry smile. "Unless you have other plans?" Sarah returned the smile and shook her head. She slowly released her grip on his hands. She pointed a thumb over her shoulder as she backed away.
"I should probably…" She didn't finish the thought but motioned with her head toward the dining area. Chuck just nodded in understanding and she left.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Sarah walked up to a booth, where a young couple were sitting across from each other, and began greeting them, "Welcome to Emma's. Can I get you started with-" She stopped in mid-sentence and her expression immediately changed. "Bryce," she muttered, trying to hold her tongue, given the surrounding customers. He was classic Bryce, with his Brioni suit and million dollar smile. The woman seated with him was an attractive brunette with slight features and equally expensive taste in clothing. She blended in well as his arm candy.
"Sarah! What a surprise," Bryce exclaimed, his oily charm nearly made her nauseous.
"Mhmm. Can I get you something or is this a professional visit?" Sarah asked flatly.
"As lovely as it is to see you again, we were actually hoping to chat with our old buddy Chuck. See, Jill and I are old college friends of Chuck's, and since we're in town we thought it'd be fun to… you know...catch up," Bryce smiled. The woman with him gave a matching smirk. Clearly they were meant for one another.
"I'll see if he's available," Sarah replied looking between the two and then turning to head back to the kitchen.
"Oh, Bryce. She's far more homely than you let on. Now I definitely understand why..." the brunette smirked as she trailed off. Leaving the unspoken hanging in the air.
"Well, she's really let herself go. I mean, look at this dump," Bryce goaded. They both knew they were speaking loudly enough that she could hear them. Sarah just kept walking and pushed through to the kitchen. She stormed past Chuck and straight into the walk-in cooler. She slammed the door and a moment later Chuck could hear a muffled scream or perhaps a primal yell of some sort. After about fifteen seconds, Sarah emerged and started toward Chuck.
"Sarah? Asking if you're alright seems rather foolish," Chuck interjected.
"Bryce is out there with a friend of yours from college. Says they want to 'catch up'," Sarah declared with air quotes.
"I...I don't have any friends from college. Y-You're the only friend I have, period," Chuck admitted a bit sheepishly. Then his brow furrowed. "Wait a minute. Who's the 'friend' with him? Is it a thin brunette, long hair?" Chuck asked.
"Yeah. Said her name was ..Jill I think?"
"Fuck!" Chuck exclaimed then quickly covered his mouth. "I'm so sorry," he pleaded. He began to run his hands through his hair and started pacing.
"No. It's ok. I uh...I've never heard you use that word before. I'm guessing in this case it's warranted." She studied him, hoping he would confide in her what was going on, but she didn't want to push.
"It's a … long story. Let's just say that I wasn't surprised that you and he had a relationship. He was always great at getting the girl." Chuck paused and let out a long sigh. "I figured he'd show up again. It was just a matter of time. I wasn't expecting her, but...I guess it makes sense. I have a feeling I know what they want. I'm sure part of it is so they can try to humiliate me some more. I'm sure they want to gloat and embarrass me in front of you." Chuck wiped his hands on a towel and started toward the kitchen door. He was stopped by a hand on his arm, squeezing him gently.
"Chuck, don't let him get to you. He's definitely not worth it." Sarah released his arm and Chuck gave a nod, not turning to face her. He walked into the dining area and easily found Bryce and Jill as they stuck out like a sore thumb. He made his way toward their table and stood, arms crossed. Sarah stood back behind the counter, still close enough to hear.
"Bryce….Jill," Chuck addressed them with a nod, his expression flat. He didn't linger on the woman, instead returning his attention to Bryce. "What the hell do you want Bryce?"
"What? No hugs? No cheerful Bartowski greeting? I'm beginning to think you didn't miss us," Bryce asked, showing mock hurt. "And I brought Jill all this way. She was so excited to see you too. Weren't you Jill?" Bryce turning his smirk toward the brunette across the table.
"I was Bryce. I was just thinking to myself the other day, 'I wonder whatever became of Chuck Bartowski?' Well, I have to say … I'm a little disappointed. I mean, really? A cook in a …'greasy' spoon?" She wiped her fingers across the table, then rubbing them together with a grimace. "Couldn't even cut it as a nerd in L.A., so you wind up as a burger slinger in the armpit of America. I could comment 'how the mighty have fallen', but let's be honest, you were never mighty. And the fall… eh, not really far." She gave an unimpressed shrug.
"I'm not gonna lie, I was really shocked to see you here. I didn't think you had enough ambition to get off the couch, let alone across the country. I should have known that Sarah would take pity on you and give you a job. She's definitely the patron saint of lost causes." He motioned around at the diner.
"Alright. Enough. You can say what you like about me, but you leave her out of it. She's a hundred times a better person than either of you will ever be. So just don't." Chuck was fuming but kept his volume to a reasonable level, given the customers nearby.
"A little defensive of little Ms. Walker are we? I wouldn't hitch my wagon to that horse, Chuck." Bryce brandished a pleased smirk. "This place is a pit that hemorrhages money. Even with the influx of capital, this place will be dead in a few months. Or…. Oh! It is, isn't it? Does wittle Chuckie have a qush on Sawah?" Bryce goaded with a pouting face. Chuck just maintained his flat stare, arms still crossed. "Oh my God. You are sooo hopeless. You always shoot for the moon and come up short don't you? As I'm sure Jill can attest, you fall for girls that are so far outta your league. Women like Jill and Sarah, they aren't gonna settle for some pathetic nerd with aspirations of mediocrity. They've tasted the glamorous life now, the life of privilege. They're not gonna settle for your trailer park existence. The death of this place will set her free and she'll leave you in the ashes." Bryce and Jill just laughed among themselves.
"Are you quite finished?... Why the hell do you care so much about my life now anyway? Huh? I know I'm just a joke to you. You two made it perfectly clear how little you both cared about me back at Stanford. And in MY bed no less... What is it that I did that was so damn terrible? What more can you take from me?" Chuck was getting more animated, but still kept his voice down so as to avoid attracting any more attention.
"Oh, Chuck. Poor Chuck. You realize that our 'relationship' was all just part of a game, right? A social experiment of sorts. If you recall, Bryce introduced us? We were 'old friends'?" She emphasized with air quotes. "Bryce and I were still together the whole time. It was all supposed to be an experiment in seduction. How easily could I make you believe it was all real. To see how far you'd be willing to go. Boy did you buy it hook, line and sinker. Then you had to get all serious and keep pushing. That's when the game stopped being fun anymore, so we 'revealed' ourselves to you. We planned for you to walk in on us. We assumed that would be enough to end the game, and we were right." Jill just sat back in her seat looking rather smug after her revelation. Chuck was in shock at their admission. There were no words to describe it.
"Then, after moving out east, we decided to pick the game back up again in Boston. This time it was my turn." The oily grin on Bryce's face getting broader. Chuck's eyes widened even further then quickly narrowed in anger.
"No," Chuck let out just above a whisper.
"Oh, Yes. Much like you, she had no idea either. Sure she didn't fall nearly as hard as you did. You were such a sucker. But when her mother got sick and she felt 'duty bound' to move back home, the game stopped being … fun. So we let her find out about us and let her end the game." Bryce just shrugged as if it was all no big deal.
"It's been so fitting that we find you, here of all places, with ...her," Jill's tone belied a hint of malice toward Sarah. Perhaps he and Sarah hadn't been the only ones hurt by their little game. "This being the five-year anniversary of that night at Stanford, I guess you could say we got a little ... nostalgic. This seems like a fun new game," Jill mused.
"So what's your end game? What do you hope to achieve?" Chuck asked, looking more at ease than he had throughout the conversation. Sarah, however, was about at her breaking point. Having heard everything, she had broken from her shock and was now making her way toward the table, fire in her eyes.
"Who says I have an end game? Maybe just playing the game is its own reward?" Bryce replied with his smarmy smirk.
"No. I think I have a pretty good idea of why you're here." This time it was Chuck who sounded smug, which took everyone by surprise, including Sarah. Sarah halted her advance a few feet from Chuck, looking at him intently.
"I think that maybe it's about Bruce Anderson and his account at Capital Security Bank in the Cook Islands? Or maybe Larry Trainor at Ameria Bank of Armenia? Noooo. That's not it." Chuck looked at the ceiling, tapping his finger on his chin. "OH! I got it! Maybe it's Sarah Lisa Walker and her account at DBS Treasures of Singapore?" With each name Chuck uttered, more color drained from Bryce's face. In the end, he was ashen, the smirk ceremoniously wiped from his face.
"What?" Came the confused responses from both Sarah and Jill.
"Yes Bryce. I know about all of your accounts, including the one in Georgia and the one in the Cayman Islands. And I know where all of that money came from. All of the accounts that you skimmed venture capital funds from. However, I think, if you take a closer look, you'll find that the account under Sarah Lisa Walker's name has been completely drained. You see, if you had paid attention to the fine print of the documents you served yesterday, you would've seen that Sarah Walker now owns the controlling interest in the Orion Group." It was now time for Chuck to brandish a smirk of his own.
"Oh my God," Jill whispered, wide-eyed and biting her bottom lip trying to hold back a grin.
"OH. My. God!" Sarah gasped at the revelation.
"NO!" Bryce slammed his fist against the table. The entire diner grew so silent you could hear a pin drop. "You son of a bitch! You stole my fuckin' money?" Bryce fumed, the veins standing out in his neck, his face red.
"Weeelll. Actually, it wasn't 'your' money. It was Sarah's money. You thought you could hide your ill-gotten gains under her name and nobody would be the wiser. And if she got caught then your hands would be clean. Well guess what 'Buddy'?" Chuck asked in a sing-song voice, popping the 'B'. "The SEC got an anonymous tip about Fulcrum Financial Services. All of your other accounts have been frozen. Including all accounts under the name Bryce Larkin. So... go ahead and order whatever you like, it's on me." Chuck felt a great sense of vindication. He'd wanted to do this for years and the smirk on his face felt delicious. He was blissfully unaware that he was being watched. Chuck's admission had stolen Sarah's attention, breaking her from her state of confusion. She looked on in disbelief at the man before her. She couldn't rid her mind of how sexy this man's confidence made him look at this moment.
Bryce was beside himself with panic. He was still trying to wrap his head around exactly what just happened. He frantically worked on his phone, murmuring to himself.
"No. No,no,no,no,no. No! NOO!" Bryce was shaking with rage.
Chuck looked at his watch, "You know? If you leave now, you might just catch up with the FBI agents searching your hotel room." Chuck stepped back from the table to give them room. Bryce quickly got up from the table, fear in his eyes.
"Jill! Let's go!" Bryce demanded. Jill just rolled her eyes and stood. She looked over at Chuck.
"Well played, Chuck. Well played. Don't hate the player, hate the game. Huh, Chuck?" she grinned. "See ya around." Jill waved as she followed behind Bryce, who was making a much more hasty exit.
Chuck felt a hand grip his arm and spin him around. When his equilibrium returned, he was face to face with a confused and rather angry Sarah Walker. "Will you please explain to me what in the HELL is going on?" she shouted. Chuck motioned with his hands to keep it down.
"Sorry. Sorry everyone. Everything's fine," Chuck waved to the customers in the diner. "Told 'em we don't take outta state checks. They didn't take it well." He took Sarah by the hand and quickly dragged her to the kitchen. Once safely inside, he turned and placed a hand on each of her biceps.
"Ok. First, please just listen before you jump in and yell at me." He paused, looking into her eyes. She furrowed her brow and pursed her lips but ultimately nodded. "Ok. So, some of the things I said out there weren't...exactly...100%...factual," Chuck winced, closing an eye. "So, the part about all the accounts, even the account under your name, that was all true. The part about taking the money and using it to buy part of Orion Group under your name...that was not so true. While the account was emptied, the money was returned to the company that he took it from. If I would have given it to you, then I would have been just as guilty of stealing and you could have gotten into trouble," Chuck dropped his gaze to the floor as he continued. "I really wish I could have given all of that to you, but I don't think I could live with myself. I'm-I'm sorry," Chuck looked up at her apologetically.
Sarah looked into his eyes and could tell what he was saying was the truth. It didn't explain everything, but it was a start. She gave him a tight smile and nodded. "It's OK Chuck. You're right. It would have been stealing. So as much as it pains me, you did the right thing. What I don't understand is, how did you know all of that stuff?" Sarah inquired.
Chuck blew out a breath and stood up straight, releasing his grip on her arms. He rubbed the back of his neck and began to pace. "So, you know I have a background with computers?" he looked at her and she nodded her acceptance. "Well, some of my skills, while very useful for doing good things, can also be used for ...not so good things." Sarah raised a questioning eyebrow at him. "No. I-I don't do bad things, it's just that some of it is not exactly...legal."
Chuck held out his hands begging her to wait. "OK. OK. Let me explain... After seeing Bryce yesterday, I got to worrying about what he was planning. So, after I left your house last night, I did some 'digging'. I …'obtained access' to his phone records, social media accounts and his work and personal email accounts. That eventually lead me to the account he syncs his Chrome browser settings to. That gave me access to his favorites, browsing history and form autofill data. From there, I was easily able to follow the trail. So I anonymously forwarded all of the information I had collected to the SEC and the FBI. I put a hold on all of his accounts so he wouldn't be able to empty them. Lastly, I returned the money that was in your account and expunged it, so it never seems to have existed. That other stuff... I made that up just to get at Bryce," Chuck shrugged and gave her a half smile.
Sarah looked at the floor, her hand on her forehead, still trying to process it all. All of the things she learned about her relationship with Bryce and then about Chuck's hidden talents, it was all a bit much to process.
"For what it's worth, I'm really sorry about...well...you know. I can certainly empathize with that kind of bombshell. At first I was angry, hurt, embarrassed and even ashamed. But then I realized those two are grade A, certified sociopaths. They never cared about anyone but themselves. It hurt to know it was all a lie and several months ago, it would have put me into a really dark place. But now I know that 'I' didn't fail at that relationship, and that gives me some hope that maybe I'm not doomed to repeat it. Because now...now I have some really positive things to look forward to." Chuck leaned down to catch Sarah's gaze and he could see a shimmer in her eyes. He swallowed the lump in his throat and took a breath to try and bolster his courage. "I...I was hoping you might have some positive things to look forward to as well." With that, Sarah's face broke into a smile that caused her nose to scrunch. She looked deep into his eyes and this time it was her that was searching.
"Chuck. I have … SO many positive things to look forward to now. Turning this diner around, making a good home for Molly and finding some happiness for myself." Chuck gave a small smile and averted his gaze to the floor, fidgeting with his fingers. "Now, I wonder where I could find someone that might be able to help me with all those things?" she asked with a wry smile. Chuck's gaze immediately jumped to meet hers, a hint of a flicker in his eye.
"I-I've been thinking about that. A lot actually. I...I may know a guy. He's a...a lot clueless and a little broken, but he means well. Maybe… maybe I'll introduce you two sometime?" Chuck hinted with some apprehension.
Sarah's wry smile grew a little more mischievous. "Well, word is I'm the patron saint of lost causes. Sounds like we might be a good match. Maybe you can bring him over to lunch tomorrow when you make me those specials you keep talking about?" Chuck's cheeks started to color as the grin on his face spread.
"S-Sure. I could do that. I...I mean, he's probably free. I-I'm sure he would make himself free...for someone like you," he grinned sheepishly.
"Well, it's a date then," Sarah declared, her smile reaching her eyes.
"I-It is?" Chuck stammered, trying to keep his eyebrows from shooting off his face. Sarah just smiled even wider, her nose crinkling as she nodded.
"Wow. Um..I-I'll be sure to pass it along," her smile was now reflected on his face.
"Oh. Bring all the ingredients to my house. You can do the preparation in my kitchen. I'd like to...watch you." Her smirk grew devilish and an eyebrow bounced. She could swear she heard Chuck whimper as she turned and walked away. Mission Accomplished.
A/N2: So Yeah. Bryce and Jill. I hate those two, So I took great joy in that.
The song Chuck was singing in the kitchen at the diner was "A Wink and a Smile" released by Harry Connick Jr. and featured on the Sleepless in Seattle soundtrack.
The book referenced in the bedtime story is "Goodnight Moon" by Margaret Wise Brown.
As always, reviews and PMs are appreciated, that way I know you all are still with me.
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