Welcome back. Sorry it's been a while since my last update. Real life always seems to get in the way. Let's check back in with our friends at Emma's Diner and see what's on special today.
Disclaimer: Don't own Jack. Don't own Chuck either.
Chapter 9
In the two weeks since Gerty walked in the diner, there had been a marked improvement. Not just in her, but with Sarah and the diner as well. From day one, you could see that a weight had been lifted from Sarah. Gerty fit right in and the customers loved her. She was an enormous help at the diner, working right along side of Sarah and Chuck. She enjoyed the work, more than any other job she'd had, despite the long hours. It was largely due to the people she worked with. They didn't treat her like an employee, like a simple waitress. They treated her like a friend, like family. She felt like a part of something bigger.
As Gerty's bruises healed, so too did much of the emotional pain she hid behind them. She had a very supportive 'family' with Sarah and Molly, even Chuck. She finally felt like she had some control over her life for a change. She hadn't talked much about her past and they didn't pressure her to reveal it. They accepted her for who she was and she couldn't thank them enough. Eventually she knew she should share her story, they deserve that much. She just hoped it wouldn't change their minds about her.
It was an uncharacteristically cold day in Grady, even for November. They were normally forced to 'suffer' through fifty-five to sixty degree weather, so the forty-two degree temperatures were very much unwelcome. The bell on the door rang, ushering in a cold breeze through the diner, making everyone shiver a bit. Sarah greeted the customer, encouraging them to have a seat wherever they liked. Gerty finished bussing her table and took the dirty dishes to the kitchen.
"Gerty, can you take care of the guy at the counter? I need to check in this delivery at the back door," Sarah called over her shoulder. The rush had died down, so they were less busy, easily giving her the breathing room to grab another customer.
"Sure thing, Ms. Walker," Gerty replied with a smirk. She knew it bothered Sarah to be addressed so formally, especially as close as they had become. It was still fun to tease her about it from time to time. Sarah huffed and rolled her eyes as she shook her head.
Gerty pushed through the kitchen door, pulling out her order pad. "Welcome to Emma's. Honey, can I get you started with somethin' to ..." Gerty finally looked up to the man sitting at the counter and froze. He was a large man with broad shoulders and a chiseled jaw. His short, brown hair and five-o'clock shadow gave him that ruggedly handsome look. His brow was furrowed as he read over the menu, more in concentration than in anger. He lifted his gaze from the menu to address the voice in front of him. His eyes grew wide for a moment before he schooled his features. His brow smoothed and his expression softened. Clearing his throat he spoke.
"Ma'am." The large man bowed his head slightly, offering his short greeting.
"Uh, can...can I start you somethin' to drink?" Gerty asked, quickly regained her composure.
"Coffee would be great, thank you. Black." He pulled his lips into a tight smile and nodded. She returned the smile and busied herself with getting his coffee. When she returned and set his mug down, he closed the menu and set on the counter.
"So, what's good here, Mrs…?" He looked on in anticipation.
"It's Ms. and you can call me Gerty," she pointed to her name tag. The man just grunted and nodded.
"Gertrude." She couldn't quite tell if it was a statement or a question but she nodded in the affirmative. He gave a single grunt as if he accepted her 'response'.
"Ms. Gertrude. What do you recommend here?" Though his voice had a slight gruff quality, it reminded her of a DJ for a late-night jazz show; deep and smooth.
"Well, on a cold day like this, I'd recommend the biscuits and gravy. For comfort food, they're the best around." She looked the man over and could tell that his clothing was not well suited for this weather. He had worn blue jeans, a black t-shirt and a dark green MARPAT jacket with the name 'CASEY' over the breast pocket. The jacket was well worn and didn't seem nearly heavy enough for the cold temperatures outside. His hands were large and well callused, old scars decorating his knuckles and the backs of his hands. He caught her gaze and slowly moved his hands to his lap. He sat up a little straighter and cleared his throat.
"I'll take that then." His answer was short and concise.
"Can I get you some bacon or sausage to go with it? Some fried potatoes or hash browns maybe?"
"Bacon, crispy. Hash browns. Please." His response was as efficient as it could possibly get.
"Alrighty. Comin' right up." She smiled and turned to the kitchen door. As it swung closed behind her she let out a long breath. Sarah seemed to catch it and peered out of the kitchen window to see who was at the counter. Her eyebrows raised slightly, her lips pursed, giving a small shrug. The universal 'hmm. Not bad' expression. She looked back to Gerty trying to hold back a smirk.
"Everything alright, Gerty? He givin' you trouble?" Sarah twisted her lips to the side, trying hard not to snicker.
"Oh. Oh no, I can handle him just fine," she replied, waving Sarah off.
"Mhmmmmm. I bet," was Sarah's reply, her face finally succumbing to her wry smile. Gerty let out a loud 'tsk' and threw a dish towel at Sarah. The color started to fill Gerty's cheeks and she huffed in good nature.
"You're terrible," Gerty retorted, trying to keep the grin off her face. Chuck finished plating the food for Gerty but could see she and Sarah were too busy peeking out the kitchen window to notice. He crept up behind the two women and uttered in a quiet voice.
"You know, I can go give it to him if you two are busy." His sudden interruption startled the two women and his smirk made them both blush. Gerty took the plate from him and playfully slapped him on the shoulder as she made her way out of the kitchen.
"Here ya go, Sweetie." Gerty placed the heaping plate of food down in front of the man and pulled out a bottle of ketchup from under the counter. "Can I get you anything else?" Her genuine smile seemed to reflect on the man's face as he returned a smile as well.
"No. This looks great. Thank you Ms. Gertrude." He nodded at her and pulled out his silverware to begin eating.
"You can call me Gerty, ya know," she interjected. He gave a single, soft grunt.
"I like Gertrude. It's more fitin' a … a woman like yourself." He gave her a smile that looked almost bashful. He turned his focus toward his plate of food, trying to avert his gaze from the woman behind the counter.
"A woman like me? And how am I supposed to take that Mr. … 'Casey'?" She raised any eyebrow and crossed her arms, almost challenging him. The big man slowly chewed his mouth full of food, buying himself as much time as possible. He swallowed hard, before his reply.
"All I mean to say is that you… you seem to have a certain… grace about you. I think 'Gertrude' suits you better, is all." She could swear that he let slip a sheepish smile before diving back into his food. Gerty twisted her lips to the side, trying to hide the huge smile threatening to break across her face. Feeling the warmth creep up her neck, she chose to exit the situation and seek refuge in the kitchen.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A short while later, Gerty came by to check on the man at the counter. He had nearly cleaned the entire plate and emptied his coffee.
"So, um… how was everything?" she asked with a genuine smile. He nodded his head and wiped his mouth with his napkin.
"Very good. Thank you, Ms. Gertrude. I knew you wouldn't steer me wrong." He gave her a wry smile as he took his last bite.
"Can I get you a warm-up on the coffee, Sir?" The man's brow furrowed slightly and she heard yet a different grunt this time.
"No 'Sir'. Just Casey, please. I worked for a livin'. And yes, more coffee would be great. Thank you." He nodded his appreciation. She chuckled at his correction of being addressed as 'Sir'. She filled his mug and looked him over again and found he was giving her a questioning look.
"I worked a diner over in Jacksonville some years back. Saw lots of boys from Camp Lejeune. Only ones I saw that liked to be called 'Sir' didn't have hands like yours." She gave him a smirk and put the coffee pot back on the hotplate. Casey gave a single note chuckle and nodded. "Can I get you anything else, 'Just Casey'?"
"Actually, Ms. Gertrude, you might... I-I just got into town and I'm looking for… for some work. I imagine lots of people talk in here. Know anyone who's lookin' for help?" What smile he did have had disappeared and in its place was a much more solemn expression. She could tell that he was swallowing his pride by asking her this. She had been recently out of work and seemingly in worse shape than he was, so she could relate.
"Well, most places around here like to keep folks on, at least through the holidays, so they're probably full up. What sorta work you lookin' for?" Gerty bent over and leaned her arms on the counter to make their conversation a little more private.
"Beggars can't be choosers. I'm lookin' for any kind of honest work." He took another long sip of coffee then looked down into the blackness of the cup.
"Well, there's the community bulletin board over there you can look at, but there's only one place I know of for sure that's lookin' for help." The man looked up expectantly from his cup. Gerty motioned toward the sign in the front window, 'Help Wanted'.
"Yeah. The owner's lookin' for a new cook. Don't know if that's in your wheelhouse or not, but if you're interested, I can call the owner over." She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head in anticipation of his answer.
"I'd … I'd be very grateful if you'd do that for me." He seemed very appreciative and had a difficult time keeping her gaze.
"Alright, I'll be right back." She collected his dirty dishes and took them back into the kitchen. Making sure the door had finished swinging closed, she walked quickly to the back of the kitchen where Sarah was prepping salads.
"Sarah!" Gerty called in a forced whisper. "He's lookin' for a job!"
"Who is?" Sarah asked, looking around the kitchen in confusion. Gerty motioned with her head toward the kitchen door.
"'He' is. You know… the… the guy." Gerty waited with wide eyes for Sarah to say something.
"OH. You mean, 'that' guy." Sarah made the air quotes on 'that'. The older woman rolled her eyes.
"Yes. 'That' guy. Says he just got to town and is looking for work. He wants to talk with you." Gerty pointed to the kitchen door, seeming a bit impatient.
"Ok. Ok. I'm going. Gesh. You in a hurry to pick out china patterns or something?" Sarah chuckled, her tongue stuck out between her teeth. Gerty gave her an exasperated sigh and a slight smack on the shoulder.
"No thank you! I've had enough of men for a while. I'll finish your salads, you go deal with him." Gerty playfully ushered her off and took over her task of preparing salads for the day.
Sarah straightened her outfit, being sure to brush off any food. She wanted to at least try to seem professional. When she pushed through the kitchen door she could see the man in question still seated at the counter. He was intently focused on the coffee mug in front of him, slowly turning it in circles. She cleared her throat as she approached, not wanting to startle him.
"Mornin'. Gerty mentioned you might be looking for work. I'm Sarah. Sarah Walker. I'm the owner." She extended her hand to shake but the large man seemed taken aback. He quickly caught himself and stood, took her hand, shaking it firmly, but not in an overt show of strength as some men are prone to do.
"Casey. John Casey," he rushed out.
"I'm sorry. Were you expecting a man instead?" Sarah questioned, having noticed his surprise.
"Oh. No. No Miss. I was a bit surprised at how young you are, I'll admit. I just assumed your name would be … um… Emma." He sheepishly thumbed over his shoulder toward the front door where the diner's sign hung outside.
"Ah. I see. Emma was my mother. When she passed, I took over the diner. I couldn't see changing the name." Sarah gave a small smile but her heart wasn't fully in it.
"Sorry for your loss, Miss. Accept my condolences," he briefly bowed his head in a sign of respect.
"Thank you. Would you care to talk in my office?" Sarah pointed toward the small hallway at the back of the diner. He nodded in the affirmative and she lead the way, opening the door for him and showing him to a chair. He was a large man, as tall as Chuck but almost half again as broad. Despite his size he seemed to move with more grace than most men, even with his faint limp.
"So, Mr. Casey, we do have an application you can fill out, but since you're here, I'd like to talk a little more informally. We can get to the application later." She gave a small smile and pulled out a notepad and pen.
"Miss Walker, about your application, I can save you some time and money. When you do a background check, you're gonna find that I have a felony record. Most people have trouble lookin' past that fact. So, I can let you get back to your day and take my leave if you like." He dropped his gaze to the floor for just a moment before looking back to Sarah. Her expression was flat and difficult to read. To say the moment was awkward, would be an understatement.
"How about you tell me a little about that? Then we can see whether I get back to my day or not." He slowly let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding. He nodded his agreement and then tried to find where to start.
"Well, I was convicted of felony aggravated assault and served thirty-one months in prison." He had a difficult time looking Sarah in the eye, instead looking at her desk as he spoke.
"I see. That's a very... 'legal' description, but gives me very little context. Can you tell me the 'why'?" She didn't look angry or even fearful. She was still straight faced and attentive. Casey was a bit taken aback since most employers hear 'felony' and end the conversation there.
"Um… Let's see. I went to visit an … acquaintance of mine. When I arrived at her home, I wit-... I witnessed her former boyfriend attempting to take... some liberties. I could see that she had been badly beaten. Shortly after I arrived, the neighbors called the policy due to all the screaming. When the police and ambulance arrived, he was still screaming." Even though the tale was horrific the insinuation that Casey had inflicted some serious harm to this asshole made her want to laugh. She stifled her snicker, covering her nose and mouth with her hand, trying to play it off.
"Given the…'injuries' the man sustained, I was arrested for felonious aggravated assault. The man claimed that I assaulted him purely out of jealousy. My ...acquaintance… I refused to allow my lawyers to ask her to testify on my behalf. She had been through enough and I couldn't allow her to be subjected to that kind of circus. The only regret I have is that I wasn't there for her sooner."
"I see," Sarah choked out. Clearing her throat she began again. "I-I see that you have some military experience. Can you tell me a little about that?"
"Yes. I'm a Marine. Retired. I served for twenty-three years before I was wounded in combat. I took a round to my left femur. Even after PT, I wasn't considered fit for active duty, so I took my retirement. That was about two years before the … 'incident'. After retirement, and after I was released from prison, I traveled and worked odd jobs as I found them. Since my incarceration, it's been difficult to find work. All people see is a felony record." Sarah was quiet while she listened to his tale, taking in his expressions and mannerisms while he spoke. He seemed to be telling the truth and she could easily corroborate his story from public records if need be.
"So, I need someone who can work a kitchen, clean, empty trash. Whatever needs done. Is that something you think you're qualified for?" Sarah folded her arms and sat back in her chair, waiting for his reply.
"I've worked maintenance, been a janitor and a cook in more than one greasy spoon in my time. I'm qualified, Miss Walker." He looked her straight in the eye, sitting tall.
"Ok John. I expect you here at 6:30 every morning, except Wednesdays. We'll work out a schedule. I'll start you out at $11.25 an hour. After ninety days we'll re-evaluate. How does that sound? " She gave him a raised eyebrow, awaiting his response.
"Thank you… Thank you Miss Walker. I really appreciate this opportunity." He quickly stood and offered her his hand. She stood and shook it, giving him a broad smile.
"Welcome to Emma's family, Mr. Casey."
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Thanks for cooking tonight Gerty. It's nice to be able to sit back and have someone else do it for a change," Chuck mused as he rubbed his full stomach.
"Thank you Miss Gerty. It was really good. I even had seconds." Molly lifted her empty plate to show everyone.
"Good job Peanut. And Yes. Thanks Gerty. We really appreciate it." Sarah smiled as she threw her napkin on her plate in surrender.
"Well, it really is the least I can do, considering. I don't feel like I contribute much around here." The older woman was moving the remainder of her food around her plate, seeming in deep contemplation. Sarah reached forward and placed a hand on her forearm.
"Hey. I asked you to be here, remember? Besides, you help around here more than you know. Just having someone in the house to share the cleaning and straightening is an enormous help. Not to mention all the work you do at the diner. I really don't know what we'd do without you."
"Sarah, you pay me to work there. That doesn't count," Gerty rebutted.
"Yeah, well, not nearly enough. And it does too count." Sarah stuck her tongue out at Gerty and
the two women laughed. "Chuck, could you do me a big favor and start cleaning up while I help Molly get ready for bed? Please." Sarah put on her most innocent smile, batting her eyelashes and Chuck was helpless against it.
"You know you don't have to do all that to get me to take care of the dishes? You only have to ask." He huffed good naturedly as he started clearing the table.
"Where would be the fun in that?" Sarah winked before he headed into the kitchen. "OK, Molly. Let's get your bath taken care of." Sarah and her sister were starting out of the dining area when Chuck poked his head back in.
"Hey, Sarah, Molly. I have a new book for bedtime tonight, i-if it's OK?" Chuck asked, looking a bit anxious. Molly started bouncing with excitement and Sarah wasn't about to deprive her sister of storytime with Chuck. Sarah nodded her approval to Chuck and Molly voiced her excitement as she raced up the stairs.
Chuck was putting away leftovers when Gerty came into the kitchen carrying her plate. She scraped it off into the trash and put it in the dishwasher. "That Molly is something else. She really thinks the world of you, you know it? You're practically all she talks about," Gerty offered as she started to help cleanup the kitchen.
"Wow. Well, she's a really great kid. I love her to pieces." Chuck seemed to blush a bit at the woman's admission.
"So, Chuck. I'm just curious. Now that Sarah's hired a new cook, are you still gonna be workin' at the diner? Or do you have other plans?" Gerty questioned, leaning on the kitchen island.
"Um...well..I-I guess it all depends on what Sarah wants. I'll… I'll be here however long she wants me to be. If she doesn't need me anymore...I-I don't know. I guess I never really wanted to think about that." Chuck stopped scraping a casserole dish into the trash for a moment, deep in thought, before continuing on.
"You know 'wants' and 'needs' are not always the same thing," Gerty interjected, raising an eyebrow as she continued to watch him.
"Right. You can't always get what you want. Right? I guess there's a big part of me that hopes that I can be both. That's not really for me to decide though." Chuck put the casserole dish in the sink and then leaned his hands on the counter, his head slumped. Gerty could just see his profile and the forlorn expression on his face. When he spoke again, it was quiet, just more than a whisper.
"I've… I've tried so hard to be everything I think she needs. The truth is, I… I don't really know what she 'wants'. When she realizes she doesn't 'need' me anymore... then what? It feels like some twisted version of Nanny McPhee where I end up losing in either case." Gerty gave a quiet snort and approached him, giving him a one armed hug, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Chuck, I don't know what she wants, or even 'needs' to be honest. I don't know that she does either. What I do know is that you make her happy. I can see it in the way she looks at you, especially when she watches you with Molly. So, it may take some time, but have faith." She gave him a squeeze and then began helping to cleanup again.
"Yeah. Thanks." Chuck took in a deep breath and blew it out before getting back to work.
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Molly was tucked into bed and Sarah was sitting on the bed beside her talking. A soft knock on the door preceded Chuck's head poking in the doorway.
"Ok if I come in," Chuck asked, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Yes Chuck. You can come in," Sarah chuckled. She began to get up to trade places when Chuck placed his hand on her shoulder.
"No, actually, this book is for the two of you." Chuck pointed between the two sisters before he pulled the book from behind his back. He handed the book to Sarah and stepped back. Sarah examined the book. It was a rather sturdy, hardbound book. Sarah looked at the cover and then showed it to Molly as she read it.
"Peanut and Sam: An Earth and Beyond Story." As Sarah started to leaf through the pages, she caught the 'Let's Read Together' slogan followed by the 'Intersect Games' logo on the Copyright page. Her eyes immediately shot up to Chuck, meeting his gaze.
"Hey! This is from the game I played. Earth and Beyond. That's so cool. Can we read it? Please?" Molly was so excited she could hardly contain herself. Sarah continued to lock eyes with Chuck, only mouthing the silent question. Chuck just shrugged and gave his bright smile. Sarah returned a small smile, shaking her head in disbelief.
"OK. Let's read it then." Sarah started to read and soon discovered that the story was about two sisters, Peanut and her older sister, Sam. It detailed their adventures discovering planet Earth and Outer Space. There were places where 'Sam' was talking and others where 'Peanut' was talking. Naturally, Sarah had Molly read the 'Peanut' parts and Sarah read the 'Sam' and narrator parts. Chuck just stood back, leaning against the doorframe to Molly's room, a grin on his face as he watched the two sisters. The two laughed and talked about the book until Sarah gave Molly a kiss goodnight and made sure she was tucked in nice and tight. When Sarah stood, Chuck made his way in and gave Molly a kiss on the forehead and smoothed a few strands of hair out of her face. Chuck gave her a brief wave and exited the room, Sarah following as she turned off the light and pulled the door closed. Sarah motioned for Chuck to head down the stairs, her expression unreadable. They found themselves alone in the living room where Chuck turned to face Sarah.
"Don't tell me you had that book made for her." Sarah had her arms crossed and a slightly furrowed brow.
Chuck hesitated for a moment but eventually responded, "OK." He stood quietly, his hands in his pockets. Chuck shifted his eyes around the room and to the floor, avoiding direct eye contact.
"That's it? OK? That's all you're gonna say?" Sarah threw her hands in the air in exasperation.
"B-But you said not to tell you!" Chuck exclaimed, holding his hands up, a bit exasperated himself. With one hand on her forehead, the other on her hip, she let out a long sigh. After a moment she pulled her arms around herself and looked to Chuck.
"I just don't want you to throw money and gifts at us, Chuck. That's not a requirement for being in our lives. I don't need you to buy us 'things', Chuck." Sarah's voice was stern and her expression flat. Chuck put his hands back in his pockets, his gaze intent on his Chuck Taylors. His plan of a heartfelt gift for two of the most important people in his life had backfired, spectacularly. Adding to that, her words of 'need' sparked the memory of this evenings conversation with Gerty. He pushed those thoughts aside for now raising his gaze to meet hers, the forlorn look on his face as he began.
"That wasn't me 'throwing money at you', Sarah. It was supposed to be a special, personal gift from me to you two. One I spent a lot of time on, not something I just had made. I was hoping you might enjoy reading it together. I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry." Chuck couldn't keep her gaze, looking instead to various pieces of furniture. "I-It's late. M-maybe I should just go." Chuck slowly started to make his way toward the foyer. Sarah quickly stepped in front of him, placing her hands on his chest, halting his escape.
"Don't go. Please?" Her voice sounded small, just above a whisper. She leaned forward, resting her forehead on his chest. "I'm… I'm sorry. I… I could see was my dad trying to buy me little gifts whenever he came home, from being off, doing God knows what. Trying to buy his way back into our good graces. I guess I just had a flash of that. I have to keep telling myself that you're not him, not even close. I'm sorry to ever compare you to him, Chuck. That's not fair to you." Sarah raised her head to look up at Chuck through her lashes. "The book is really wonderful. She was so excited. Thank you so much. I hope you can forgive me." Chuck could see the shimmer in her eyes and he knew that was his kryptonite. He would never be able to deny her anything with that look.
Chuck directed her to the couch and sat beside her. He wrapped a strong arm around her, pulling her into his side. Sarah was more than happy to comply, hugging his side, her head on his chest. They just sat in comfortable silence for a moment before Chuck spoke.
"You wanna talk about it?" He gently rubbed his cheek across the top of her head, breathing in the intoxicating scent of her hair. The simple gesture felt so intimate, so comforting, Sarah couldn't help but coo at the sensation.
"I suppose I owe you that much, huh?" Sarah sighed, melting a little further into Chuck's side.
"No. You don't 'owe' me anything, Sarah. If you aren't ready to share that with me, that's fine. I'm not gonna push. I'll be here when you're ready." With his free arm, he reached across is lap and took Sarah's hand. He gently caressed the backs of her fingers with his thumb. Sarah nodded her head against his chest and sat quietly for a few minutes.
"Thank you, Chuck. Thank you for being so understanding. It's not that I don't want to share these things with you, but in sharing them, that means I have to relive them. I'm just not quite ready for that part of it. Does...does that make any sense?" She sat still, waiting for Chuck's reply. What she said was true, she didn't want to relive those painful memories. Yet, another part of her was scared to reveal too much to Chuck. She was afraid it may be too much and push him away. In true Chuck Bartowski fashion, his response was perfect. He placed a soft kiss to the top of her head.
"It makes perfect sense. Whenever you feel you need to talk about it, I'll be here." Sarah smiled into his chest, placing a soft kiss where her mouth rested. Chuck took in a ragged breath at the sensation and Sarah stifled a chuckle at his reaction. She removed her hand from his and gently rubbed the spot she just kissed. Sliding her head to look up at him through her lashes, she gave him an apologetic look.
"You forgive me?" The little pout made Chuck melt. He tenderly brushed his thumb across her cheek as he returned her gaze.
"There's nothing to forgive." Chuck placed a soft kiss to her forehead, lingering there for maybe a little longer than was customary. He just couldn't help himself. The touch of her, the closeness to this amazing woman set his body ablaze. His baser instincts wanted her so badly, but his head and heart knew he had to wait. He would wait for as long as she needed, but that didn't mean it wasn't a struggle. Before his mind or hands wandered further, he knew he needed to remove himself from the situation.
"I should go. You need to get to bed." She reluctantly released him, allowing him to stand. She already missed his warmth, the scent of him. Her mind had been entertaining the notion of what it would be like to reenact this scene with her head on his bare chest instead. The thoughts of so much skin touching, set her heart to racing. She knew she needed to push those thoughts aside. The physical, that part was easy. It was the emotions and all that went along with it that was so hard. If the physical came first, it would just muddy the waters, cloud her judgement. She needed to get on solid footing before she could make that jump. She walked Chuck to the door, watching him don his jacket. She pretended to straighten the collar and adjust the zipper, any excuse that allowed her to touch him more. Chuck bent down, meeting her lips half way, their kiss lasting only a moment. Chuck feared if he lingered any longer he wouldn't want to stop. Little did he know that she too was of the same mind.
Sarah watched him walk off the front porch. She wanted to reach out but opted to use her words instead. "Have fun storming the castle." She waited with baited breath, worried he hadn't heard her.
"You think it'll work?" was his reply, turning to look back as he continued walking in reverse.
"It'll take a miracle." She brandished her brilliant smile and he his.
"Bye, Bye," they exclaimed in unison, waving to one another. They both chuckled and he blew a final kiss before disappearing behind a hedge row.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
As was the case most mornings, Chuck was the first one at the diner, waiting outside the front door in the predawn cold. Rubbing his hands together for warmth, he didn't hear the large figure approach from behind him.
"Mornin'," a deep voice called, shattering the silence. Chuck almost jumped out of his skin. He turned to see the large man that had been at the diner yesterday. He assumed this must be the man that Sarah had hired as his … replacement.
"M-Mornin'" Chuck replied, unable to keep the shakiness out of his voice from the cold. Not wanting to seem unfriendly, Chuck extended his hand toward the man. "I'm Chuck." The man examined Chuck's hand for a moment then slowly accepted it in a firm shake. This 'Chuck' didn't seem to be the type of man to try and assert his dominance. The non-aggressive way he shook hands told Casey he was not a threat. Still, Casey stared into the man's eyes and could see he was not the aggressive type. With some men, meeting a large Marine such as Casey, they felt a need to prove something. This 'Chuck' didn't seem to feel the need to prove his manhood. Hopefully that would make their working environment somewhat tolerable.
"Casey," the large man replied. Chuck was honestly intimidated by the man, if for no other reason than his physical presence.
"Is that uh… y-your last name? Or first name? Or is it one of those 'Cher' or 'Prince' kinda situations, with just the one name?" Chuck swallowed hard, realizing he was rambling. He also discovered he was still shaking the man's hand like an idiot. He quickly pulled away, giving a sheepish grin. The large man had a raised eyebrow and just grunted as he looked Chuck over.
"Last name," he commented dryly, tapping the name tag on his jacket.
"Riiiight. Right. Right. Right. Sorry. I'm just…" Chuck trailed off, closing his eyes and shaking his head. He muttered to himself 'idiot'. He heard Casey grunt and while he wasn't entirely sure what the grunt meant, he only assumed it was in agreement with Chuck's assessment of himself.
"To state the obvious again, I'm guessing you're Sarah's new hire. My replacement I suppose." Chuck drew quiet at the thought, his mind swirling into unpleasant thoughts. Casey gave a different grunt than the ones he'd heard so far. It was almost like his own language.
"Don't know nothin' about that. Only my first day," he shrugged and began to pace. Luckily after a short while, the now awkward silence was interrupted by Sarah and Gerty coming around the corner. Chuck perked up at the sight of Sarah and he noticed out of the corner of his eye, the big man straightened noticeably as well. Chuck looked to Sarah and Gerty as they approached. Sarah was flashing him a sweet smile that he happily returned. Gerty seemed to slow her walk slightly as she neared the entrance, trying to present a carefree, nonchalant expression.
"Morning Sarah. Morning Gerty." Chuck beamed at the two women.
"Morning guys. I see you two have met?" Sarah pointed between the two men. They looked at one another and simply replied in unison.
"Yes."
"Ooookay. Well, let's get inside then." Sarah stepped up to unlock the door with Gerty close behind.
"Mornin', Ms. Gertrude," Casey proclaimed, bowing his head slightly.
"Good Morning, Just Casey," she replied with a wry smile. It could be the dim light or the cold morning air, but it almost seemed like the big man blushed.
Once the door was opened everyone filed in and got to work. Gerty had her tasks for prepping the dining area, silverware, etc. Chuck got started on the biscuits and breakfast meats on the flat top. Sarah showed Casey around a little more and then took him to the kitchen to talk with him and Chuck.
"Alright. Chuck, John has some prior experience in diners and kitchens, so if you could just show him the ropes of things we might do differently here, I imagine he can hit the ground running. Any questions so far John?"
"No questions, Ms. Walker, but please just call me Casey. Everyone does."
"Alright… Casey. On one condition. Stop calling me Ms. Walker or Ma'am. Please call me Sarah or even Walker if you feel the need to keep with that theme. But for the love of God, don't ever call me Ma'am." She gave him a wry smile and he smiled in return.
"Yes Ma-... Sure thing, Walker." She gave him a wink and went back to her work, leaving him with Chuck.
"For what it's worth, you can call me whatever you want," Chuck interjected. Casey gave him a flat look and Chuck just shrugged. "Bartowski doesn't exactly roll off the tongue...Anyway...let me show you the daily routine." Chuck pulled out a large three-ring binder and opened it onto the large prep table in the kitchen. All of the recipes for everything they made, Chuck had created a detailed recipe card complete with pictures, ingredient lists and instructions.
"The big ones to keep in mind are the biscuits and the sausage gravy. Just follow the detailed instructions. Hey, if I can do it, I'm sure you'll have no trouble." Casey looked over the biscuit recipe and grunted with a head nod. He continued reading through the book as Chuck pulled the biscuits from the oven. The heavenly aroma permeated the air. He even noticed Casey sniff the air and grunt.
"OK. While these cool, I have one more thing to show you." Chuck motioned for Casey to follow him to the back door. They walked out behind the building and pulled the cover off of a sizable box. Underneath was a large metal cabinet on wheels. There were chimneys and electronic gadgets on the sides. Painted on the doors as the name "'Pit of De-Spare' Ribs and Shoulder Smoker". Casey snorted when he saw the name. "Behold. Our smoker. We're going to start adding pulled pork to the menu soon." Chuck opened the cabinet and explained everything to Casey. He listened intently and nodded his understanding. Chuck finally showed him the gravity fed delivery system for charcoal and the app that controls the temperature and air flow.
"Nice work Bartowski. Really impressive." There was no sarcasm or snide remarks. " I admire a man who has this much respect for smoked pork." Chuck was taken aback at the seriousness of his statement.
"Well, uh...th-thank you. We uh… we should probably get back inside. Need to get breakfast made before the women start to get cranky." Chuck put the cover back on the smoker and motioned for them to head inside.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Alright everyone. Time to close it up. Casey, tomorrow's Wednesday and we don't open on Wednesdays. It's my only day off, at least until I can get more help. If you want to come in tomorrow to go over recipes in the kitchen on your own, that's fine. Just don't burn the place down and clean up after you. Here's a key to the front door. Please don't lose it." She handed the key to Casey and he looked at it in his hand and then back to her.
"You...you trust me with the key to your place? To come in here by myself?" He looked at her in disbelief.
"Well, sure. Is there a reason I shouldn't trust you?" She gave him a wry smile. He was quiet for a moment, his jaw clenched. All he could do was shake his head. "Well that settles that. We'll see you Thursday, bright and early. We'll figure out what days you'll work then." They all filtered out of the diner and she locked up. Sarah turned to the large man. "Hey Casey. You got dinner plans?"
"Um...nope. Hot Pockets and the History Channel," Casey grumbled.
"As thrilling as that sounds… you're welcome to join us at my place. We always have leftovers and there's plenty of space at the table," Sarah added.
"Well, I wouldn't want to impose…" Casey trailed off.
"If it was an imposition, I wouldn't have asked. Tell you what, Getry, would you mind showing him the way to our place? Chuck and I are gonna swing by the store and pick up a few things." Sarah gave Gerty a knowing smirk which made the older woman roll her eyes.
"Sure thing. Casey, you have a car I hope?" she walked up to the man, following him to the parking lot.
"Y-Yes Ma'am. Right this way." He lead her to an old black Ford Crown Victoria. It was in good shape and very clean. He lead her to the passenger side and opened the door for her.
"Quite the gentleman," she commented as she slid into the passenger seat.
"My momma taught me well," Casey replied with a small bow of his head before closing her door. He got in and began to drive following her directions to Sarah's house. They rode in relative silence but Gerty was beginning to feel uneasy with all the quiet.
"If you don't mind me askin', did you retire from the Marines?" Gerty turned in the large front seat to get a better view of him.
"Uh, Yes Ma'am. A little earlier than I intended." He offered.
"Really? Why's that?" she inquired. She placed her left elbow on the back of the seat and leaned her head on her fist.
"I uh… I was injured in the line of duty. Bad enough that I wasn't fit for active duty anymore, so I retired. And here I am," he shrugged.
"And here you are… How long have you been out?"
"I'm sorry?" Casey questioned. He looked a bit concerned looking between Gerty and the road.
"Out of the Marines. How long have you been retired?" She asked, looking a bit perplexed.
"Oh, right. Um… almost six years now," he confessed.
"Wow. So what have you been doin' all this time?" She shifted in her seat a little more, trying to face him better.
"Oh… you know. Did some traveling around the country. Workin' odd jobs here and there. That uh… that sorta thing." He was getting a little nervous. He really didn't want to reveal his prison record to her, at least not yet. He was certain she would want to distance herself from him without really giving him a chance.
"Right. Right. OH. It's just here. The one on the left with the big front porch with the light on. You can park here on the street is fine." She pointed to a spot under a street light. When he stopped the car, he got out and opened the door for her. She genuinely seemed surprised but gave him a broad smile. He followed her to the house and she opened the door. When they got into the foyer he heard the sound of running followed by an excited yell.
"Ms. Gerty!" yelled Molly as she barreled into the older woman, gripping her legs in a big hug. She crouched down and gave the little girl a proper hug.
"I missed you girly. How was your day?" Gerty asked as she was taking her coat off.
"Goooood. I was just playing Uno with Ms. Judy… Whoa! You're ginormous!" Molly exclaimed as she craned her head back to look up at Casey in amazement. " You're as tall as Mr. Chuck but like, lots bigger." Gerty snorted at the little girl's outburst.
"Molly, this is Mr. Casey. He's the new cook at the diner. Mr. Casey this is Molly." The little girl's hand shot up toward the large man. Casey was taken aback but reached down and took her small hand and shook it gently.
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Molly." The little girl grinned from ear to ear and the big man couldn't help but grin a little himself.
Molly grabbed Gerty's hand and pulled her off to show her some artwork she'd make at school. Casey just watch the exchange. He was never one for contemplating 'what ifs' but there was just something about the interaction between the two. Perhaps if he'd chosen a different path in life. Maybe if he'd met someone like Gertrude twenty years ago…No good would come from that line of thinking. He shook the thought from his mind just as Sarah and Chuck walked in the door.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I haven't had a home cooked meal in… well a really long time. Thank you. If I'd more notice I would've thought to bring something to contribute." Casey sat back in the dining room chair, patting his stomach.
"It's no trouble, really. We're glad you could make it. Unfortunately for some people at the table, it's time to get ready for bed." Sarah slowly turned her head toward Molly.
"Awwwww," the little girl pouted.
"Tell everyone goodnight," Sarah pointed around the table. Molly gave Gerty a hug and said her 'goodnight', then she walked up to Casey, tilted her head to one side, eyeing him curiously. Casey began to feel a little uneasy. He was not all that comfortable around kids to begin with, having had very little exposure to them. Hoping to diffuse the situation, Casey held out his hand toward the little girl.
"G'night, Miss Molly," the big man offered. She looked at his hand as if contemplating some great mystery of the universe. Then she shook her head. Casey began to withdraw his hand, feeling a bit awkward and a little saddened to be honest.
"I'm sorry, that just won't do." To everyone's surprise, none more than Casey, the little girl threw her arms around the large man and gave him as big a hug as she could muster. Like a deer in headlights, Casey wasn't sure what to do. Eventually, he awkwardly and gingerly patted the little girl on the back, like he was afraid he might break her. Molly pulled away, standing with an innocent look on her face.
"Do you have to go home to your family now, Mr. Casey?" The little puppy dog eyes were irresistible.
"Um...uh...N-no. I… I don't have any family," Casey replied, taken a little off guard by the girls pointed question.
"Hmmm," she considered his response for a moment. She then patted his arm sympathetically, "That's OK. He've got plenty of room in ours. G'night Mr. Casey." The large man took in a short breath through his nose, his expression was stoic, teeth clenched so tight you could see the muscles in his jaw. As if she hadn't a care in the world, she skipped her way to the stairs and bounded up them to get ready for bed. There was an uncomfortable silence that was thankfully broken by Sarah.
"Chuck, I think Molly might want you to read that book tonight. Come on." She stood from the table and ushered him upstairs, giving a glance back over her shoulder toward Gerty, a wry smile on her face.
Gerty cleared her throat and stood up from the table collecting so plates. " I should probably get started on cleaning this mess up." Casey immediately shot up and began collecting other dirty dishes from around the table.
"Here, let me give you a hand." His arms laden with dirty plates and glasses, he followed Gerty into the kitchen. They worked silently, scraping and rinsing dishes then placing them in the dishwasher. He frequently stole a glance at Gerty, something he found himself doing often, ever since first meeting her at the diner. If she noticed, she never let on and he was thankful in either event. He was usually a man of very few words, but his nagging desire to learn more about this captivating woman was winning out. She was far more outspoken than he, though she didn't feel the need to fill the air with useless words. She was beautiful but in a very approachable way, meant to be touched and adored, not a trophy for a shelf. He was not a stranger to beautiful women, even some of the 'trophy' variety. There was just something about this woman that drew him like a moth to a flame.
"So um… you live here then? With them? The nerdy guy too?" Casey asked, breaking the silence in the room.
"Yeah. Well, sort of. Chuck, the 'nerdy guy', he doesn't live here. Well, I mean he's here often enough, but he doesn't stay here...you know...sleep here." She seemed a bit unsure of how better to clarify that, but opted to leave it alone.
"So he and Walker are a thing?" He couldn't help but let his disbelief show through.
"Yeeesss. Why is that so hard to believe? He's a really great guy and treats her like a queen. He's great with Molly too." Gerty was probably a little more defensive that was warranted, but she was eternally grateful for Chuck and Sarah for all they'd done for her. They really were like family to her now, and you watch out for family. Since it didn't seem to affect their relationship, she left off the part about his money. Seeing as Sarah was back to driving her old car and Chuck wasn't the type to throw money around or draw attention to it, she'd extending him the courtesy of keeping that to herself. Casey held up his hands in surrender.
"No. Good for them. He just isn't what I'd guess her type to be, that's all. They seem happy enough." Casey shrugged as he started filling the sink with hot water and dish soap.
"Yeah, they do seem pretty happy. Though they seem to be taking things kinda slow for some reason. Not sure what that's all about. I mean I've been here for two weeks and they were sort of seeing each other before that, from what I gather. To be honest, I don't think they've...you know… 'sealed the deal'. Hell, I've never even heard them admit to anyone they are actually in a relationship. I've only seen them steal a kiss here and there when they thought I wasn't looking or when he leaves at night. It's like they're teenagers," she chuckled a bit. "I'm sure that's more than you cared to know." John just shrugged and gave a grunt.
"Not my business to meddle in their affairs. If they're happy, to each their own, I suppose." Casey directed his attention to washing dishes, trying to think of a way to shift the conversation. He wanted to learn more about her but didn't want to seem like he was prying. She didn't wear any jewelry, but that wasn't always a good indicator of marital status. Some folks didn't wear them all the time, especially if you worked with your hands a lot.
"Since you're stayin' here and all, there's no 'Mr. Gertrude'? Or does he work on the road or something?" He was doing his best not to look at her, trying to play it off as casual conversation. Out of the corner of his eye he could see her turn to look at him, but he continued his washing. After a long pause she finally responded.
"No. Never married. Just a string of bad decisions in the rearview." She was quiet for a long moment. He could barely hear her blowing out a long breath over the running water. He had clearly dredged up some bad memories for her. He felt like an ass now. He turned off the water and turned to look at her this time.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. It's none of my business really." Pulling herself from her thoughts, she paused her repeated drying of the same bowl and turned her head to look at him. She couldn't hide the glistening in her eyes as she met his gaze. Casey's face transitioned from sincerity to looking very contrite. Seeing the sadness in his eyes, she reached a hand and touched his forearm. She gave him a warm smile that reached her eyes. She couldn't remember any man looking at her like that before.
"It's OK. I don't mind you askin'. There's nobody...Not anymore. I-I ran away from a very bad situation recently. Literally. Then I found myself in a little diner, not even enough money for a cup of coffee." She wrapped her arms around herself, looking up at the light above the sink. Her lips were pulled tight, her chin quivering, she shook her head ever so slightly. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She closed her eyes tight, hoping to hold back the flood gates, but the effort was futile. She opened her eyes, drawing in a ragged breath as the tears silently streaked down her cheeks.
"That was when I met Sarah. Without a word, she fed me and gave me a place to stay. Chuck even paid for me to get some new clothes and whatever I needed. Sarah… Sarah said…. 'A great man once told me that this place was like home, like family. And we take care of family around here.' I had no idea how right she was. These people have treated me like family, a family the likes of I've never known. I will be forever grateful for what they've done for me. That's why I got a little defensive before. These people mean the world to me. I'm sorry..." Gerty turned away from Casey, trying to hide her tear stained face, feeling a little embarrassed for falling apart and over sharing to someone she hardly knew.
He watched her tell her story, captivated by her every word. He was moved just as much by what was left unsaid as he was those parts she laid bare. There was a strength in her, a perseverance that he admired. She had been on hard times too, been through some terrible things, likely. He could relate in some small way but he was certain there was far more he couldn't fathom. The 'bad situation' she mentioned left an acrid taste in his mouth, an anger burning inside of him. The thought of someone being …'unkind' to this beautiful woman was unforgivable. Then to watch the tears cascade down her cheeks, it twisted his insides. His protective nature wanted to grab her and hold her, make it alright. Propriety halting his actions, he still wanted to impart some sort of comfort to her, but words were not his strong suit. She turned away, clearly embarrassed, his sense of propriety cracked slightly, gently placing his large hand on her back, just below her shoulder blades.
She shivered, gasping slightly at his touch but relaxed into it after a moment. Almost unconscious of it she leaned back into his hand, allowing it to hold more of her up, trusting in its strength. After a moment, feeling his hand on her left arm, she looked down to see his palm resting on her, offering a clean handkerchief in his outstretched fingers. The gesture brought a smile as she gently took it from him. She wiped her eyes, cheeks and nose. With a sniff or two, she finally stood fully and turned around to face him. Despite his normally gruff exterior, she could see a warmth and kindness in his eyes. She gave him a broad smile and a "thank you". He let out a soft grunt and a nod, a small smile breaking across his face. She offered his handkerchief back but he just held up a hand, indicating to keep it. Without any more words Casey went back to washing dishes and Gerty drying. They worked in a comfortable silence for several minutes before it was interrupted with Chuck's head peeking in the room.
"Gerty. Casey. Have a great night. I'll see ya around. Call me if you need anything," he declared as he pointed at the two, his trademark smile spread across his face. They could hear behind him Sarah faintly whispering.
"Will you come on and leave them alone?"
"What? I was just saying goodnight. Gesh," Chuck retorted.
"How about you come say goodnight to me instead?" That was the last they heard of Chuck and Sarah. They looked at each other for a moment and they both chuckled but returning to their work, their comfortable silence returning. Once the dishes were washed and dried, with nothing to occupy themselves, the silence had now turned awkward. Not knowing what else to say or do, he figured it best he make his leave.
"Well, I should probably head back to my room. Been a long day for everyone." Casey started toward the foyer to collect his coat. "I had a really great evening. Thank you, Ms. Gertrude."
"Oh, of course. Any time. Wait a minute….room?" she questioned.
"Uh...yeah. I'm renting one of those extended stay hotel rooms across town. Didn't want to try to find an apartment until I could find a decent job." Casey gave her a bit of a sheepish smile and a shrug.
"Ah. That makes sense I suppose. I hope you can find an apartment soon. You're planning on stayin' awhile, right?" Gerty tried to control her expression be she likely failed, her sense of hope spilling over.
"Uh...yeah. Yeah, I think I can see myself puttin' down here for a bit," Casey nodded, a wry smile forming across his face. "Well, I'll be seein' ya then. G'night Ms. Gertrude." He gave her a single wave goodbye.
"Night Casey." Gerty waved from the front porch, watching him walk to his car, get in and drive away. When she could no longer see his tail lights in the distance she sighed and had to chuckle at herself. You must be outta your mind. You need to stop looking to a man to make you happy. "Yeah. But he sure ain't hard to look at."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Come on, Gerty. Let's just go in and look. It'll be fun." Sarah tried coaxing the older woman into the expensive boutique.
"I've never shopped in a place like that. What would I do with those clothes? I mean, look at me." Gerty looked herself up and down. The clothes she had on were a bit frumpy, hand-me-downs from Sarah's mother. She had mainly only picked up underwear and a few sets of work clothes the last time they went shopping. Her long dark hair was pulled into a messy ponytail and she was wearing no makeup. She was still an attractive woman but wore nothing to accentuate that fact.
"I see you... I see a beautiful woman. I think she's been hiding for a long time. It's time that you did something for you, something that makes you happy. Something that makes you feel good about you. Embrace that beautiful woman in you. In the end, it doesn't matter what 'I' see. The important thing is that you need to see it. See it and feel it. And I'm sure a certain someone might notice too." Sarah shoulder bumped her and laughed.
"What? What are you talking about?" Gerty fainned innocent.
"What am I talking about? Really? Oh, come on. Does a certain retired Marine not ring any bells? Uh-huh. Yeah. Exactly." Sarah pointed at the older woman whose cheeks were starting to flush. "I'm not saying you should jump into anything. He just seems like a good man. He's not bad to look at either, right?" Sarah smirked nudging Gerty with an elbow.
"Yeah, well. My 'good man' radar seems to be broken. Plenty of men in my past seemed like 'good men'. Hell, Ray… he started out as a 'good man', or so I thought. Then he started to drink more and more often. Started losin' money at the track or bettin' on sports. When things didn't go his way… Let's just say if Ray wasn't happy, nobody was happy…" She trailed off, leaving it at that.
"I get it. That's why I said not to jump into anything. But, somethin' tells me Casey would be different." Sarah gave the older woman a knowing smile.
"What? What's that look? What are you not telling me?" Gerty gave her a raised eyebrow and folded her arms across herself.
"Well, it's not my place to say. You should talk to him about his past, though. Then I think you'll understand." Sarah stopped in her tracks, taking Gerty's arm to pull her to a stop as well. She got a mischievous look on her face and Gerty could see it.
"I don't like that look. What's that look?" the dark haired woman asked, feeling a bit apprehensive.
"I have a fabulous idea. Come on." Sarah started pulling Gerty across the street toward another set of shops. Gerty could see where they were heading and she was suddenly filled with both panic and excitement.
"Oh, No. I don't know about this, Sarah." Gerty was trying, half-heartedly, to pull away from Sarah, but the younger woman had an iron grip. Sarah just flashed a smirk at her.
"Oh, yes. This is so happening."
A/N2: And so we now have our good friend John Casey in the picture. As you can see , NO, he was not the person some of you feared. I couldn't possibly do that.
It's November in Grady, so the holidays will be approaching soon. Those are always a fun time to right about, especially for those that enjoy a little fluff in their stories.
Please send your PMs or leave a review to let me know what you think. I enjoy reading them and I really do appreciate them, even if I don't always have a lot of time to reply to them all.
Until next chapter.