A/N: Last we met, we had left our couple as...well.. A couple! Finally, right? Let's catch up with them and see how things are going.
WARNING: This chapter contains or was made in a factory where there is strong adult language and depictions of violence. Viewer discretion is advised
A Gluten- Free Chapter
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck. Try the meatloaf.
Chapter 12
Sarah was stirred from sleep by the faint sound of pots and pans rattling. She didn't open her eyes yet, feeling so unbelievably comfortable. In her sleepy haze, she seemed unsure of where she was, the feeling of contentment something so foreign to her. She felt a warmth beneath her, rising and falling in rhythm with her own breathing. Inhaling deeply, the unmistakable scent grounded her. She knew there was only one place she could be. The memories of the night before came rushing back, prompting a broad smile. She was still lying with Chuck, her left leg and arm draped across him, her head nestled under his chin. She couldn't remember a time when she'd felt so comfortable, more loved than she did right now. It wasn't the first time she had slept in a bed with someone, but this… this, she realized, was how it was always meant to feel. So safe and secure like she was...like she was home. The sensation made her purr as she squeezed him a little tighter. She was startled just a bit at the deep vibration of the chest below her.
"God, I could really get used to this," came Chuck's gravelly voice, still sounding gruff from sleep. His left arm that had encircled her back, pulled her closer. He cupped her cheek with his right and kissed her long and sweet on her forehead. They both moaned in quiet contentment from the incredibly intimate moment. Chuck heard what sounded like a pouty grunt, much like that of an irritable child.
"I don't wanna," Sarah pouted, sounding so adorable.
"You don't 'wanna', what?" Chuck asked with a bit of a snicker.
"I don't wanna get up. I'm so comfy," she whined.
"Ok. So don't. I don't have to be anywhere for a while," he chuckled, amused at her child-like grumbling.
"But I gotta pee," she whined again. Chuck couldn't hold back his laughter at how cute she sounded.
"Well, maybe I can reach a cup or someth- Ow!" Sarah slapped him on the chest with a tsk and a huff of exasperation.
"I'm goin'. I'm goin'," she exclaimed as she peeled herself off him, climbed out of bed and quickly padded out of the room. Chuck put both hands behind his head, looking up at the ceiling. He could hardly imagine being happier than he was right now. All of the crap and heartache of his past seemed worth it if it brought him to this point. A text notification vibrated his phone on the nightstand, jarring him from his reverie. He grabbed the phone to check the message.
Target has lost scent. Proceed?
Chuck pondered for a moment. He had a plan, but it was not without risks. He had to time things just right or he could cause more harm than good. It may not be the smartest plan, but he knew it would work. He was just not looking forward to one of the greatest risks or the fallout after. Chuck began to respond.
Leak this address to Target. Mark will be at location at 20:00 on Tues. Keep me updated on progress
2157 Pinecrest Ln. Grady, NC
As Chuck sent the text, the bed shook violently, sending the phone tumbling to the floor. Sarah had run back into the room and dived on the bed, crawling her way on top of Chuck, like a jungle cat. Without a word, only the devilish grin on her face, she kissed him passionately. Sarah's knees pressed into the bed on either side of Chuck's hips, her hands buried in the pillow beneath him. Once he was able to get his wits about him, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling Sarah down to lay on top of him. The contact was glorious, Sarah emitting a small yelp into Chuck's mouth, never breaking the kiss. The kiss deepened, their tongues exploring, breathing becoming more labored. In a flash, Chuck rolled to the side, flipping Sarah to her back, Chuck now hovering over her. The kiss broke only long enough for a yelp to actually escape before Chuck attacked her lips again. Sarah whimpered into his kiss, running her fingers through his thick curls.
"Hey guys, breakfast is...Whoa!" Ellie had walked into the room, the door having been left open, to see the couple making out on the bed. She quickly stepped back into the doorway, out of site, offering her apologies. "Oh my God. I'm so sorry guys but maybe you should close the door if you're gonna do that sorta thing," Ellie snorted.
The mood broken, Chuck groaned as he rested his forehead on Sarah's shoulder. Sarah started to giggle at the whole situation. "Sorry Ellie. We'll be right out," Sarah managed to get out between giggle fits.
"I'm glad you find this so humorous," Chuck smirked as he tickled her side. Sarah let out a playful screech, smacking him on the arm.
"That's enough outta you. You already got us in trouble," she hissed a giggle, her tongue sticking out between her teeth. She wiggled out from underneath him as Chuck tried to protest.
"Me? I was minding my own business when I was savagely attacked. I was traumatized I tell you." Chuck declared in his best southern bell impression while pressing the back of his hand to his forehead, striking a fainting pose. That elicited a cackle from Sarah, covering her mouth to silence herself a little.
"You're such a nerd. God, I love you," she sighed, her happiness bubbling over. She grabbed his arm and started tugging. "Come on you. Breakfast is waiting and I'm starving." Chuck acquiesced, dragging himself out of bed and following her to the kitchen. He, of course, had to tickle her sides as he followed, warranting playful slaps to his hands as she sped up.
As they sat themselves at the dining room table, Ellie stood in the kitchen cutting up fresh fruit. Seeing the playful banter unfold, coupled with the scene she walked in on, all she could do was smirk and shake her head. Chuck caught the look and called her on it.
"What's that look for?" he questioned, expecting a lecture of some sort in response.
"Nothing. It's just that you two are so sickeningly sweet, you should come with a Surgeon General warning." The jab brought laughter to the trio as they started in on their breakfasts. The conversation was light, discussing mostly the day's plans, particularly the girl's shopping trip. Once the kitchen was cleaned up, they all showered to get started on their day. Sarah took her shower first, returning to the bedroom in a robe to allow Chuck a turn in the bathroom. She got dressed and began to make up the bed. It was then that she noticed Chuck's phone on the floor. She pressed the power button to see if it was on and it prompted to swipe to unlock. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she swiped the screen, revealing the last text conversation. It was a continuation of the text thread from yesterday. The unknown caller was referencing the 'Target' again. What surprised and concerned her was Chuck's reply.
Leak this address to Target. Mark will be at location at 20:00 on Tues. Keep me updated on progress
2157 Pinecrest Ln. Grady, NC
Sarah recognized the street name as the one that Chuck was living on currently, but she wasn't certain of the actual house number. Why would he want to 'leak' that address and who was he 'leaking' it to? And who was on the other end of that text? She wasn't aware of anyone named Mark, but assumed he would be at this address at 8:00 PM on Tuesday, if she was interpreting it correctly. It all seemed so 'Cloak and Dagger'. It was very weird to be sure, but she couldn't exactly approach the subject with him. How would it look if she came up to him and asked, 'Hey. I was snooping through your text messages and …'? She trusted Chuck and, while she knew he had some things he was keeping from her, she'd be a hypocrite if she held that against him. He had admitted that there were things he needed to keep private for now, and she believed him when he said he would reveal them in time. She was, in effect, making the same promise, though perhaps not in so many words.
Hearing the shower turn off, she locked his phone, placing it on the dresser. She busied herself with making the bed and finished getting dressed. Chuck came in the room, dressed in jeans and a casual button-down shirt, rubbing his head with a towel. He quietly approached Sarah from behind, placing a soft kiss to the curve where her neck and shoulder meet. Sarah let out a soft hum, scrunching her shoulders up and tilting her head in the direction of the kiss. She turned around, dropping the t-shirt she was folding and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Things like that are going to get you into some serious trouble Mr. Bartowski," she purred, bouncing an eyebrow at him. A devilish grin spread across his face as he bounced his eyebrows in return, admittedly better executed than hers.
"I certainly hope so." He craned his neck down to kiss her but it was a bit tight lipped as she was laughing at his antics. Undeterred, Chuck wrapped her in a hug, lifting her off the ground, his lips still pressed against hers. Sarah let out a screech of surprise, her laughter spilling out, breaking their kiss.
"Put me down, you big goof!" Sarah exclaimed playfully, smacking him on the shoulder. "As much as I'd love to spend the day with you in this room," she smirked, "we're never going to get our stuff done if we don't get out of here. Now, come on. I need to head out with Ellie and you have a meeting with the attorney. You don't wanna be late." It was Chuck's turn to pout, huffing indignantly.
"Fiiiine. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I fully expect to pick up where we left off tonight, though," he smirked, giving her a quick peck on the lips.
"I think we can come to some sort of arrangement," she responded with a wry smile. She returned the peck on his lips and pushed past him, patting him on the butt as she passed. "I'll leave you to finish picking up. I'll see you later." She sashayed out of the room, smirking over her shoulder as she exited. Chuck, slack-jawed, watched her leave, shaking himself back to reality a few moments later.
"That woman is gonna be the death of me yet."
Chuck finished in the bedroom and met the ladies in the living room just as they were about to leave. Ellie gave him a quick side hug and Sarah a chaste kiss, squeezing his hands. As they exited, Chuck called after them.
"You two have fun and put it all on my card."
"Oh, we plan on it," Ellie snickered as they closed the door behind them. Chuck chuckled to himself and sighed in contentment.
"Speaking of which, I've got some shopping of my own to do," Chuck smiled as he collected his keys, wallet and phone.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
After a long day of shopping, lunch and more shopping, Sarah and Ellie met Chuck at an Italian restaurant that was a favorite of Chuck's. The restaurant was family owned and they knew Chuck well, seating them right away. Sarah was taken aback at the level of service they were getting, but figured that was just the benefit of being wealthy. Interestingly though, nobody ever referred to him as 'Carmichael', only 'Bartowski'.
"This place is really nice and the service is outstanding. I guess being wealthy has its advantages," Sarah added, as she started reading over the menu.
"What? Oh. No. They...they don't know about… you know," Chuck replied a little sheepishly.
"No, Chuck here helped their son, Anthony, get into college. Tutored him through high school, only accepting food as payment," Ellie bragged, giving her brother a wink.
"Hey. I was a teenaged boy. Food is currency at that age. Plus, they were struggling a little and I couldn't take their money. They're doing great now it looks like. This place looks amazing. It's super busy,." Chuck mused, looking around the place. At that moment, they were interrupted by a handsome, well-dressed man with olive skin and perfectly groomed hair.
"Chuck Bartowski. I thought you'd forgotten about us. It's been too long," the man spoke, an air of confidence and sophistication. Chuck turned to the man, a smile on his face. He stood to greet the man, extending his hand.
'Anthony. Wow! It's great to see you." Chuck shook his hand but was pulled into a hug by the shorter man. They separated as Chuck continued. "This place is amazing. It was always great, but it looks so ...fresh now."
"Thank you. Thank you. We did a bit of redecorating. Once I got my MBA, Pappa let me take over the business. I made a few changes here and there, gave the place a little face lift. The business is still all about family though. We still make all of Grandma Guigenti's recipes," Anthony boasted, pride evident in his tone.
"That's great! Congrats on the MBA. I knew you'd do it. That's really awesome," Chuck exclaimed.
"None of it would have been possible without your help, Chuck. So, thank you." Chuck tried to wave it off but Anthony would have none of it. "No. No. If you hadn't helped me in high school, I wouldn't be where I am today. You're a good man Chuck Bartowski, and you're family in my book. Now, please introduce me to the love ladies you have with you this evening."
"Oh, right. Right. Sorry. Anthony, this is my sister Ellie. Ellie this is Anthony Guigenti." The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. "And this...this is Sarah Walker. My… girlfriend," he beamed, his goofy grin plastered across his face.
"Wow. Looking between the two of you, I don't know who's luckier. I guess they were right. Good things do come to those who wait," he nudged Chuck, giving him a wry smile. "It's lovely to meet you both. Please, enjoy your meals on the house," Anthony declared, holding a hand to his chest.
"No. That's not neces-"
"Ah, ah, ah. No arguments. Food for payment, remember. The deal still stands. Pappa may be 'retired', but that's the way he'd want it. Your money's no good here. Now. Manga." He waved as he left to speak with other guests throughout the restaurant.
"You really are an amazing man. Everywhere you go, you seem to leave smiles in your wake." Sarah smiled as she shook her head in disbelief. Chuck just blushed, hiding behind his menu.
"Yeah, well. Mr. Amazing needs to figure out what he's gonna eat, 'cause I'm starving. Hurry it up," Ellie chided playfully.
The trio ate and talked about the day's events. Ellie and Sarah went into great length about their shopping excursion as Chuck listen intently. He loved just watching Sarah, how open and animated she was. She seemed like a new person, without all of the pressure and stresses of back home. He knew that when they went back, all of that stress would come back, weighing her down. Hopefully, some of his plans would help with that, but they would have to wait a bit longer.
Chuck shared the outcome of the visit to the attorney. The Loeschers' wishes were to be cremated and their ashes scattered along the beach. The love of the beach was one thing he shared with the Loeschers, most of their 'family' outings centering around the beach or ocean. They left detailed instructions as to what items were to be given to which family members, the biological family of Cindy and Mark. The remainder was to be donated to charity and their condo sold to pay any outstanding debts, the remainder going to various charities. The attorney was handling all of those matters. Though Chuck was named the executor, he was given little from the will. Some pictures of his time with them and anything that was his that was left behind when he left home. With a little monetary incentive on Chuck's part, he had managed to expedite the process, scheduling the cremation for later Saturday and making the ashes available on Sunday. He had scheduled a small service for the Loeschers' family and friends on Sunday afternoon at the funeral home they detailed in the will, the same one performing the cremation. Chuck didn't want to be away from Grady any longer than necessary, so he used some of his financial muscles to grease the wheels, as it were, making all of this fall inside a rather small timetable.
The topic was beginning to put a cloud over their evening, so Chuck changed the subject to something much lighter. "I did some shopping of my own today."
"Oh really?" both women replied, taken aback.
"Yes, really. I did some early Christmas shopping, which I will not disclose, and I also picked up some souvenirs of sorts for Molly, Gerty and Casey. Just a little 'Thank you' for holding down the fort while you've been gone." Chuck took a drink, his eyes opening wide in realization. "Oh. That reminds me... Ellie, do you have any time off? I don't know what Sarah's plans are, but it would be great if you could come back with me… us to Grady for Thanksgiving. That … that way I can have my whole family together for the holiday." Chuck swallowed thickly, fighting off the emotions that were threatening to break free.
"Wow. R-really? I… I don't know what to say. I'm sure I could take the time off. I'm working in research now, not practicing clinically. That offers me a lot more flexibility. Are...are you sure I wouldn't be intruding?" Ellie looked between Sarah and Chuck with some apprehension. Chuck looked apologetically to Sarah, but before he could speak, Sarah broke in.
"We would love to have you, Ellie. You don't know how much it would mean to all of us to have you there. Chuck is family and, by extension, so are you. Please?" Sarah spoke with such sincerity, a glassiness to her eyes that quickly mirrored in Ellie's. Nodding her head, a tight smile across her face, Ellie agreed.
"I'd love that. Thank you." Ellie blew out a breath, fanning her face with her hands.
"Well, it's all settled then. I'll have Megan book you a flight whenever you wanna leave, along with a ride from the airport. Unless… unless you want to fly out on Monday afternoon. That's when I was planning on leaving." Chuck looked between the two women.
"Oh, crap. I didn't book a return flight. I just bought a one-way out here," Sarah exclaimed. Chuck gave a wry smile, taking her hand across the table.
"It'll be alright. I took the liberty of chartering a jet to take me back. There'll be plenty of room," he smirked.
"In that case, I'm definitely in," Ellie chimed in. The three chuckled, amused at Ellie's abrupt turnabout when she discovered she wouldn't have to fly commercial.
"Alright, what d'you say we headed back to the apartment? Tomorrow promises to be a long day." Chuck snuck a sizable tip under his glass, as they stood to leave, hoping Anthony wouldn't catch it. They waved their thanks and goodbyes to Anthony as they left.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Chuck and Sarah spent the evening as they had the previous night, snuggled into one another. There was a bit more making out involved, but they managed to contain themselves for now, not wanting to move too quickly. The two had slept more soundly together than they could ever remember. It was truly a testament to how comforting they were to each other.
Ellie and Sarah accompanied Chuck to the service on Sunday afternoon. Chuck was awestruck at the outfit Sarah had purchased the day before. If was not overstated, but on her, she looked positively stunning. He couldn't help the sense of pride as he introduced Sarah to the mourners at the service. Chuck only knew a handful of mourners by name, and even fewer by face. He was grateful that the two most important women in his life were there with him, otherwise he would have felt truly alone. No one else at the service felt like family, and nobody treated him as such. He was an outsider, even with the people that were supposed to be his 'parents', foster parents or not. Ellie and his new extended family were all he had now. He wanted to feel more grief for the loss of the Loeschers, but he had cried all the tears he had for them and was ready to move on, no matter how cold and unfeeling that may have seemed.
When the service concluded, he, Sarah and Ellie went to a remote section of beach, too rocky for sunbathing and watersports. The only dirge that played was the rhythmic crashing of the waves, chorused by the screech of seagulls. Chuck released the ashes of Cindy and Mark together, taking some solace in knowing that wherever they were, they would have each other. A few tears were shed, but no words spoken as they sat by the ocean watching the waves. After almost thirty minutes, a strong wind off the ocean forced them from their quiet contemplation. They took that as their sign to leave, a storm quickly approaching. They spent the remainder of the evening watching comedies on Netflix, trying their best to lift their spirits. Chuck and Sarah eventually fell asleep on the couch, snuggling up together. Ellie smiled at the sight, covering them with a blanket before turning off the lights and heading to bed.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ellie was sitting with her feet up, sipping a glass of champagne as she watched the wispy clouds pass beneath them out of her window. "Bro, this the life. How can I possibly go back to flying commercial after this? You've ruined me. I blame it all on you," she snickered, leaning her head back, resting her eyes.
"You and your First World problems. The champagne not chilled enough either?" Chuck chided with a smirk, causing all three to burst into laughter. Chuck went back to working on his laptop. He was typing furiously, his fingers a blurr. Sarah looked on in wonder at his skill. She watched his face contort as he typed, transforming from a furrowed brow to a wry smile to a furrowed brow again, all the while his mouth moving as if speaking to himself. She found it all adorable and rather enchanting.
"What are you working on?" Sarah asked, interrupting the silence.
"What? Oh. Um.. This and that. Mostly catching up on emails, and checking in on some side projects." Sarah could almost see him wince at his revelation.
"What sort of 'side projects'?" she inquired, her attention peaked.
"Well… you remember when Bryce and Jill came to the diner?" Chuck began.
"Wait. What?!" Ellie shot up in her chair. "Are you telling me that asshat and his harpy showed up at the diner? Sarah's diner? Are you fucking kidding me?" Ellie was beyond livid at hearing about Chuck's ex-friend and ex-girlfriend.
"Ellie! Calm down. Geez." He motioned for her to relax, glancing at Sarah for a moment then turning back to Ellie. Sarah had a solemn look on her face that did not go unnoticed by Ellie.
"What? What is this?" She pointed between Sarah and Chuck. "What aren't you telling me? Sarah? Dear? Sweetie, what isn't he telling me?" Ellie interrogated, sounding more and more concerned.
"El, please…" Chuck pleaded, but Sarah raised a hand.
"No. It's OK Chuck. Ellie's family. She deserves to know." Sarah took a cleansing breath. "Ellie, apparently after the … 'incident' with Jill, Bryce and Jill moved to Boston. I had just graduated from Harvard and was working entry level jobs, when I met ... Bryce. We dated for a while but I had to come home when my mom got sick. Eventually he got fed up with my absence and left me just when I lost my mother. So, needless to say, neither of us are members of his fan club." Ellie just sat there, mouth agape, eyes wide as saucers, trying to wrap her head around it all.
"To make matters worse, Bryce was sent to meet me by his company to sign some papers. He came back the next day with Jill in tow. They then revealed that in both of our relationships, Chuck's with Jill and mine with Bryce, we were nothing more than a game to both of them. So it had all been a lie from the beginning. Now you know the true depths of their evilness," Sarah snorted.
"Oh. My. God. I… I couldn't make this shit up if I tried. Are you… are you fucking kidding me? Chuck, you moved across the country and just 'happened' to meet another victim of those two assholes? If this isn't fate, I have no idea what is," she pointed between Chuck and Sarah. Chuck glanced at Sarah, raising an eyebrow, pondering the role of fate in all of this. A grin came across his face and Sarah have him a shrug, as if she were thinking the same thing.
"Well, that's quite possible. But the point I was trying to make is that after I dropped the bombshell on them in the diner, I didn't stop there. I've kept tabs on them and monitored their banking activity, stock trades ,etc. So... along with all the previous information I obtained, I may have sent it all anonymously to the FBI, FTC and SEC. I may have also dropped them a hint that they could be found in a little bungalow in Boca Raton, Florida under the names Bruce and Janice Anderson. I suspect the news will be quite entertaining within the next few days." Chuck cracked his fingers with a wry smile on his face. Both women sat in shock at Chuck's admissions.
"Are...are you serious? You mean… he's actually gonna get caught and pay for what he did?" Sarah was on the edge of her seat, the shock still apparent on her face. His smile grew into a satisfied smirk.
"Yeeep!" Chuck replied, popping the 'p'.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. I'm so lost. What the hell is going on?" Ellie interrupted.
"Well, Chuck here apparently 'stumbled upon' some illegal dealings that Bryce was involved in, including an offshore account he had opened in my name to hide his ill-gotten gains. Chuck closed the account and returned the money. Then he put a hold on all the other accounts. You should have seen the look on Bryce's face. It was so priceless," Sarah mused, recalling the events of that day.
"So now the authorities got an 'anonymous' tip about where they can find Bryce and a paper trail of his crimes?" Ellie asked, believing she was finally understanding. Chuck just nodded, a huge grin across his face.
"I could kiss you right… wait a minute." Sarah stopped herself, getting out of her chair and straddled his lap to plant a passionate kiss on an unsuspecting Chuck. Pulling away she smacked her lips, enjoying the taste, "I can kiss you now." A devilish grin broke out across her face as Ellie chuckled at the humor of the moment. "So, Mr. Bartowski… what other 'side projects' are you hiding from me?" Locking her hands behind his neck, her devilish smile still present, she raised an eyebrow along with her question. Chuck swallowed thickly, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Well… there are some…. I … I just can't tell you about right now," he winced, looking a little fearful at the reaction that might garner.
"Charles Irving Bar-" Ellie began, fire in her eyes.
"El, just hold on," he interrupted, trying to hold his hands up defensively, which proved a little difficult with Sarah still on his lap.. "There are some things that I just can't share at the moment. I promise that I will when the time is right. I can tell you that it's nothing illegal and I hope that you'll all understand in the end. This is just something I have to keep close to the… the vest right now. I'm asking you, both of you, to trust me. Please?" Sarah stared into his eyes, the pleading look on his face was echoed in those eyes. She wanted to protest, a little hurt that he wouldn't share this with her. So this is what this feels like? She could understand the hurt and frustration he must have felt at her not sharing- how did he put it, baggage?- with him. She sighed, nodding her head slightly.
"I do trust you, Chuck. I don't like the not knowing, but I love you and trust you," Sarah relented.
"I trust you little brother, but hiding things from people is a slippery slope," Ellie interjected.
"Thank you. I promise, I would never do anything to jeopardize your love and trust. Please believe that I would not keep this from you if I didn't think it was absolutely necessary." Chuck took Sarah's hand, holding it tightly in his. She gave him a smile and nodded, kissing him on the nose. She climbed off of his lap, returning to her own seat.
"Well, on a different note, we," he paused a moment looking a little sheepish, "I mean 'you' got an email from the restaurant supply company. The furniture you ordered is in and they're on target to install on Friday, if that still works?" Chuck was reading from a webmail account he had set her up with for the business, which accompanied the new website, giving them at least some sort of online presence.
"Yeah, that should work. I was planning on staying closed on Friday. Can they get it done in one day?" Sarah asked, peeking over his shoulder at the email.
"He seems to think so. It'll be nice to go into the holiday season with a new look. I think the customers will like it," Chuck added. Sarah agreed, kissing him on the cheek. Liking it so much, she kissed him again. Suddenly, she couldn't keep her lips away from his face, and she didn't mind it at all.
"Go ahead and confirm then. I'm so excited!" Sarah patted her hands together, looking like a kid on Christmas. A clearing of a throat broke them from their conversation as the attendant for their private flight approached.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt Mr. Carmichael, but we'll be landing at Raleigh-Durham in about five minutes, if you'd please have a seat and buckle up." With that, Chuck stowed his laptop and the three got buckled into their seats awaiting landing.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Holy Shit!" Ellie exclaimed as she stepped out of the car. As she stretched her legs, she looked back appreciatively at the black Porsche, gleaming in the afternoon sun. The engine compartment made a periodic 'tink' sound as the engine cooled from its workout.
"I thought my GT 500 was fun to drive, but this thing…. Damn! Does Chuck know you drive it that fast?" Ellie gave Sarah a smirk as they got their bags out of the front luggage compartment
"Well… if the expression on his face in the rearview mirror was any indication… he does now." The two women burst into laughter as Sarah led her up to her home. Ellie stopped at the bottom of the steps to take it all in.
"Wow, Sarah. This place is incredible. This house, the neighborhood. It's like the cover of a magazine. I could have pictured myself growing up in a place like this." She sighed, smiling a bit. "Well, I'm here now." Sarah gave her a smile, motioning for her to follow. Sarah opened the front door, ushering Ellie in, hoping to get out of the cool air. As the door closed behind then, Sarah called out to the house.
"Hello?" A few seconds later, the sound of running could be heard as a little blonde girl was charging down the staircase. She jumped from the third step up and charged toward Sarah.
"SARAH!" the little girl yelled as she jumped at the seemingly older version of herself. Sarah caught her and spun her around, the two laughing. "You're home, you're home. I missed you."
"Oh, Peanut. I missed you too," Sarah replied, giving her a big kiss on the cheek. She set Molly down, taking the bag off of her shoulder. Molly looked up at Sarah with concern on her face.
"W-Where's Mr. Chuck? Is … is he not coming back?" The sadness on her face was palpable. At witnessing the emotion, Ellie almost broke into tears, a sympathetic pout on her face.
"Oh, Sweetie. He's coming. I promise. He drove my car back from the airport and he...well, he drives a little slower than me," she smirked. The little girl's face brightened at the news, but showed concern as she glanced at Ellie. Molly tugged on Sarah's sleeve, indicating she needed to tell her something. Sarah bent down closer, following her gaze.
"Is… is that… 'Jill'?" Molly asked in a loud whisper. Ellie's eyebrows shot up as did Sarah's. Sarah began to snicker, remembering the story behind the question, but pulled Molly into a one-armed hug.
"No. No, Sweetie. That whole 'Jill' thing you thought you heard was a misunderstanding. No, this is Mr. Chuck's sister. Molly, meet Ms. Ellie." Sarah motioned to the brunette woman in the foyer. Molly's mouth and eyes grew huge with amazement.
"Mr. Chuck has a sister, just like I do?!" There was an explosion of excitement on her face as she broke away from Sarah to wrap Ellie's lower half in a powerful hug. Sarah and Ellie were both taken aback. "Can you be a part of our family too?" The little girl's sincerity and excitement nearly sent Ellie into a sob. Sarah covered her mouth with both hands, nearly overcome with emotions herself. Ellie knelt down, cupping the little girl's face in her hands. She took in a ragged breath, tears filling her eyes.
"Miss Molly, I would love nothing more than to be a part of your family." Her lip quivering, she gave the little girl a diluted version of the 'Ellie Bartowski' hug. Surprisingly, Molly gave as good as she got, squeezing Ellie for all she was worth. Ellie and Sarah looked at one another, sharing teary, tight-lipped smiles. Pulling away after a moment, Ellie wiped the tears from her eyes, sniffling as she tried to regain her composure. As luck would have it, this was the moment Chuck entered the house, stepping into the scene of crying women, with an elated Molly in the middle.
"Um… should I come back later?" he asked, pointing over his shoulder at the door, confusion, and a bit of concern, coloring his face.
"Mr. CHUCK!" Molly screamed, plowing into his legs at breakneck speed. Chuck let out an 'ooph', nearly losing his balance. Once he recovered, he bent down, scooping Molly up in his arms and giving her a twirl, followed by a big hug.
"I missed you soooo much, Peanut. Were you good for Ms. Gerty and Ms. Judy while Sarah was gone?" Chuck asked, with a mock glare.
"Yeeeesss. I was really good," she nodded emphatically.
"Are you suuuuure? Is Ms. Gerty gonna tell us the same thing?" he inquired, giving her a raised eyebrow.
Sarah just stood back, thoroughly engrossed in watching the back and forth between Chuck and Molly unfold. That kaleidoscope of butterflies was back, swirling and diving in her stomach. At every turn, there was one more thing that made this man incredible. Much like the first time they went out for pizza, Sarah's mind drifted, envisioning Molly as her daughter ...their daughter, and what an amazing father he would be. Dragging herself back to reality, she could see that her dream was not that far from this reality. Chuck was like a father to Molly, and he showed her as much love and devotion as any father might. Far more than her own, to be sure. Despite the fact that Molly was her half-sister, she had become more and more like a daughter since their mother's passing. Molly, unknowingly, assuming that role, and Sarah hers.
Ellie, too, was entranced by the scene between Chuck and Molly. She knew her brother was a child at heart and therefore related well with children. Still, there was a light in his eyes when interacting with Molly, something much deeper than mere playmates. As focused as she was on Chuck and the little girl, she couldn't help but turn her attention to Sarah. Ellie watched Sarah, watching Chuck. She could see something in her eyes, her smile. An expression of longing, of desire. Not of a carnal nature, though there may be a bit of that as well. This seemed more like desire for completeness, longing for the whole that had been missing. Ellie herself had not found it yet, but understood the urge. Hoping to find that perfect compliment. That look… that glimmer in Sarah's eye as she watched the man she now professed her love to, Ellie could see that Sarah's search was over. As for Chuck, Ellie knew from the moment Chuck saw Sarah in her apartment, his solitary declaration of her name spoke volumes. The look of adoration, love and wholeness was almost overpowering. She knew her brother had finally found her. Now she was certain that Sarah had found him in return.
A high pitched screech followed by uncontrollable giggling pulled Sarah and Ellie from their musings. Chuck had tickled Molly, eliciting the giggling fit as she rolled on the floor. He allowed Molly to catch her breath, digging into the bag that he had brought with him into the house.
"Ok. Since you've been so good, I brought something back with me that I'd like for you to have." From behind his back he pulled out a plush replica of the spaceship that was showcased in the Earth and Beyond series of games and books.
"It's the Magellan!" Molly exclaimed, her hands pressed to the top of her head as she stood in wide eyed surprise. "You… you got that for me?" Molly asked in disbelief.
"Yes. Of course it's for you. That was given to me as a gift from the design team that helped to make the game, to show their appreciation for how hard they thought I'd worked. And, since you worked really hard while we were gone, I think it only fitting that you should have it now." Chuck gently handed the plush spaceship toy, the size of a football, to the little girl, who accepted it as if it were the Crown Jewels. She held it out, turning it in the light, the iridescent fabrics catching the light in a brilliant display of colors. She excitedly showed the toy off to Sarah and Ellie, then raced to the entrance to the living room where Judy was standing, watching the whole episode unfold. Molly bounced around, running around them in the foyer, eventually 'flying' her spaceship to Ellie again.
Molly stopped and pointed out some more features of the spaceship and some facts about the game. Ellie was crouched down to listen when something caught her eye. She noticed that the little girl wore a necklace that had come out of her shirt during her playing. She gingerly cupped the pendant, examining it more closely. Her eyes grew wide as she gasped. Everyone froze, focusing on Ellie.
"Whe-Where did you get this Molly?" Ellie breathily asked.
"Mr. Chuck gave it to me," she declared with pride. "He said that his friend gave it to him to keep until he came back...but… he didn't come back. So… Mr. Chuck gave it to me. He said he only trusted me with it. Right, Mr. Chuck?" Molly beamed up at Chuck, who returned a tight-lipped smile and a nod. Ellie covered her mouth with her fingers, tears streaming from her eyes.
"What's...what's a matter Ms. Ellie?" Molly asked, looking concerned about the tears that had sprung to her eyes. Ellie gave a pointed look toward Chuck, who quietly nodded. Ellie took in a ragged breath before smoothing out the little girl's shirt.
"I know who gave that necklace to … to Mr. Chuck. His name was Morgan and he was a very, very good friend, but he had to move away. While he was away, Morgan grew up and became a soldier. They sent him even farther away to help people all over the world. When he was helping people in a dangerous place, he …" Ellie was unsure how to proceed. Beyond the strong emotions of the situation, she didn't know if the little girl would understand, or if it would be too much for her. Ellie looked to Sarah for permission, who had a forlorn look on her face, clearly having anticipated the ending of this story. Sarah gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded.
"Did… did he die? Is that why he couldn't come back home?" Molly questioned as she held the pendant, a silver miniature of Han Solo in Carbonite, reverently between her small fingers. Her understanding showed her maturity beyond her years. Having lost both of her parents, she was not a stranger to the notion of death and loss. Ellie was taken aback, surprised by the little girl's perceptiveness. Speechless for a moment, Chuck took the initiative to continue on. Kneeling down to Molly's level, Chuck brushed some hair out of her face.
"That's right Peanut. He sacrificed himself to help protect others. He was a very special person, and I knew I would need another very special person to watch over that for me." He pointed to the pendent still in her hand. "And you, little lady, are one. Very. Special. Person," tapping her nose with every emphasized word. She giggled, scrunching up her nose and shoulders.
A low grunt came from behind the group, causing everyone to turn. During the excitement, Gerty and Casey had entered through the backdoor of the house and through the kitchen. They had witnessed the revelation of the history behind the necklace. The grunt emitted by Casey was one that those close to him had not heard yet. His face was nearly as stoic as always, but his jaw was visibly clenched, his lips pulled thin.
"Hey, Molly. How about you take Magellan upstairs and play with it in your room for a bit. Huh?" Chuck suggested, pointing up the steps. The little girl nodded with a smile and ran up the stairs, the plush spaceship leading the way. Chuck and Ellie stood from their kneeling positions.
"Hey Casey. Gerty." Chuck waved. Gerty pushed through and gave Chuck a hug.
"It's good to have you back. You doin' OK?" she solemnly asked. He nodded and offered his 'thanks'.
"Gerty, I'd like you to meet my sister Ellie. Ellie, this is Gerty Verbanski," he gestured between the two women. They shook hands with a smile.
"Chuck and Sarah have told me so much about all of you. I feel like I already know you. You must be Mr. Casey," Ellie stated, extending her hand to the large man. He took her hand with a soft grunt, clearing his throat before addressing her.
"It's a pleasure Miss," Casey nodded.
"Please, call me Ellie." They exchanged pleasantries among themselves. Gerty gave Sarah a hug and began to fill her in on the major goings on while she was gone. Ellie pulled Chuck aside so as not to interrupt the ongoing conversation.
"Chuck, I know how much that necklace meant to you. For you to pass it down to Molly like that…" she trailed off shaking her head.
Chuck rubbed her arm and smiled. "I have all the reminders I need right here. , " tapping his head. "I think it's found a good home with someone who will appreciate it." He smiled, looking up the stairs.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The next day, Chuck took Ellie to the diner, going in to work a little late so she didn't have to get up at the crack of dawn. Once there, Sarah showed her around the diner, introducing her to many of the regular customers. They all greeted her warmly, being sure to relay how fond of Chuck they were. She genuinely enjoyed hearing their praise, but after a while it became like a broken record. Sarah showed her the plans for the new booths, tables and equipment that were coming on Friday.
There was excitement in the air as many old friends and family were back in town for the Thanksgiving holiday. They naturally came to Emma's to talk about old times and catch up on local gossip. That meant that the place was packed. With Sarah, Gerty and Alex working tables and Chuck and Casey in the kitchen, things were still strained. Ellie eagerly jumped in to help, putting her waitressing experience from her high school and college days to good use. The atmosphere was so relaxed, so friendly, that it hardly felt like work.
Chuck had to admit that he'd missed this place, even though it had only been a few days. The thoughts he had before, about no longer being needed here, still floated through his mind. The difference now was that, while he may not be 'needed' at the diner, he was at least 'wanted' to be part of Sarah's life, Emma's family. That meant more to him than anything. This place and these people had made him happier than he'd ever been. He would do anything for his new family, a theory that he was going to have to put to the test later today.
Throughout the day, all Chuck could think about were those text messages. He had made all the necessary arrangements. He picked up some rather hard to find items when shopping in LA. and called in a few favors. He was nervous because there was still a margin for error, and that could be disastrous. He was so on edge that loud kitchen noises kept making him jump through the roof. A few times he stepped out into the alley behind the diner to cool off, pacing to try and get his thoughts in order.
Sarah had been watching Chuck all day, noticing that something was off with him. He was … jumpy. Something had him nervous and she suspected it was the slow march of time toward the meeting from his text message. She would periodically ask if he was 'OK' and he would answer a little too quickly, stumbling over his words. It would be rather cute if it weren't so infuriating that he was keeping things from her. Luckily, the diner was busy enough that it kept her mind occupied.
As 7:30 approached, Chuck made an excuse to Sarah that he needed to leave to run some errands and go by the house. Keeping her suspicions to herself, she held her tongue and kissed him goodbye. Chuck held her for a moment longer, looking into her eyes.
"I love you," he confessed, his expression resolute as he bent down and gave her another kiss.
"I-I love you too," she replied, her concern growing. Chuck gave her a loving smile, brushing some hairs behind her ear.
"I'll see ya," he waved, heading off to the kitchen. Chuck grabbed his backpack and hoodie from the corner of the kitchen, where he and Casey usually stored their things. He bid Casey goodbye, more awkwardly than usual, warranting a grunt coupled with a raised eyebrow. Chuck just waved sheepishly and made a hasty exit.
Casey never said much, but he was always watching, always aware of what was going on around him. Situational awareness was a lifesaving skill as a Marine, one that he kept honed. Something was clearly amiss with the kid and he was interested in finding out what. He'd likely regret it, he knew, but he felt compelled to have his back. He followed after Chuck, keeping his distance. He saw him head for the restroom, where at least Casey could corner him and not make it look obvious. Making his way across the diner, he pushed into the bathroom, where Chuck was standing in front of the mirror, pulling his shirt down. He thought he glimpsed something, but it was too quick to be sure. Casey sidled up to one of the urinals, keeping an eye on Chuck. He could hear him zipping up his backpack, meaning he had gotten something out. He was putting his hoodie jacket back on, preparing to leave, so Casey spoke up, hoping to forestall him.
"Hot date Bartowski?" Casey questioned, facing the urinal.
"Uh, what? Oh, uh..No. No, just uh… just some things I have to take care of. I'll uh… I'll be seein' ya around Casey." The way he worded it was very peculiar, a certain finality to it. He had a bad feeling that the kid was about to do something really dangerous, really stupid or both.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
2157 Pinecrest Ln. - 7:55 PM
Chuck stood on the front porch of the house, only pausing a moment from his nervous pacing. He glanced up and down the street, then returned to his slow pacing back and forth across the wooden porch. A few lights were on inside, providing a dark silhouette whenever he passed the large front window. Unable to calm his nerves, he fidgeted with the zipper on the new gray hoodie, which he'd picked up while shopping back in LA, and pulled at the collar of his shirt. When a car passed by he froze, watching it until its tail lights faded. When all was quiet he resumed his pacing.
Sarah couldn't get the text message from Chuck's phone out of her head. It bothered her more than she wanted to admit that Chuck was keeping this from her, from everyone. She'd said that she trusted him, but if that was the case, then why was she here, hiding in the bushes. He had acted strange all day, nervous and fidgety. As the time indicated in the text had approached, he'd said he had to run by "the house" for something. He hadn't said "apartment" as he usually referred to his place, or "her house". It was "the house", which Sarah naturally assumed was the address from the text. If 'Mark' was going to be there and the 'Target' was going to be there, what was Chuck's role in all this? Seeing how nervous he was, with all the fidgeting and pacing, she was starting to feel very anxious herself. In fact, she was downright scared. Was he involved in something illegal? Was he in some sort of trouble? Her thoughts and fears were swirling in her head, causing her heart rate to rise. A rustling of the bush beside her nearly made her scream, jumping out of her skin. Before she could make much of a sound a large hand covered her mouth.
"Shhh. Walker, it's just me," whispered Casey, crouching down beside her. He could feel her almost collapse from relief. He slowly removed his hand from her mouth. "You know, if you plan on sneaking around and hiding, you may want to cover up that beacon of blonde hair you got goin' on there." Sarah looked up, as if she'd be able to see it, smoothing it down a bit self-consciously. She frowned at him, letting out a huff.
"What are you doing here? How'd you find this place?" Sarah questioned in a harsh whisper.
"I could ask the same o' you. I knew somethin' was up with the kid. Actin' all weird...well...weirder. So… I followed him to that house. He went inside and turned on some lights, then came back out on the porch. He's just been pacin' out there. Then I saw your blonde head duck behind these bushes. Here, put his on." Casey took off his dark baseball cap, putting it on Sarah's head. She grimaced but adjusted the hat, pushing her hair up inside.
"So what's going on? He's starting to scare me, Casey," she confessed, her voice a little shaky, either from the chill in the air or her own nerves. 'I… I saw a text on his phone. He.. he sent someone a text saying to leak that address to a 'Target' and that 'Mark' would be here at 8:00 tonight." Sarah turned to Casey, trying to judge his reaction. He hummed in contemplation.
"Did it say 'Mark' as in someone's name or 'mark' as in a -"
"As in a con…. Sonofabitch! I feel like such an idiot. How did I not see if before, after all the years with…" Sarah cut herself off, clearing her throat. Casey raised an eyebrow but didn't uttered a word. Sarah tried to play it off and continued. " So… there is a con of some sort? I don't… Chuck's not … what is he thinking?" Sarah questioned, more rhetorically.
"Well, I saw somethin' in the restroom that got me to wonderin'." Sarah turned to him slowly, her eyes growing wide.
"Eww… dear God, woman." He shook his head like he'd swallowed a lemon. "It wasn't that, thank God. I'll skip the details but it made me think. The kid's smart, a planner. He thinks ahead. From what I heard of the crap he did with that… Bruce character, kid's got more chops than I give him credit for. I say we watch and see how it plays out. If he needs a hand, we can step in." Casey waited for Sarah, who eventually relented and nodded her head. They both turned to the sound of brakes squeaking to a halt at the curb in front of them. They were staring at a beat up El Camino that sat between them and the house across the street where Chuck was standing. Chuck had stopped pacing, facing the street now, eyeing the car with his hands in his pockets. The street light offered enough light to illuminate the area, so they had no trouble seeing the scene clearly.
Sarah was focused on the old car, trying to see who was in it. Casey had a little better situational awareness and could see a dark SUV pull up to the curb down the street, it's lights off, almost imperceptible in the darkness between the streetlights. From the other direction, about halfway down the block, a dark sedan came to a stop along the curb with its lights off as well. Casey got a tingle up his spine. Some shit was about to go down and Chuck was right in the middle of it.
They heard the groan of the driver side door open as a tall figure got out of the car. He had long greasy hair and was wearing a dingy white sleeveless undershirt. He closed the car door, and walked in front of his car and to the center of the street. They now had a clear view of the man as he turned around to look at the surrounding houses before turning back to face Chuck.
"Mother. Fucker!" Casey growled with more venom than Sarah had ever heard from him. She swore the words alone could be lethal. Casey began to rise to his feet, a look of pure hatred spread across his face. Sarah quickly looked between Casey and the man before grabbing him and pulling him back down.
"Remember! We gotta stay outta sight. What's the matter with you?" Sarah chided. Casey slowly turned to her, his expression still primal.
"That's him. That's the fuckin' piece of shit. The reason I got thrown in prison." Casey spat. Sarah's eyes grew wide as her mouth fell open.
"Holy Shit. But...but how? And...and why is he here to meet Chuck?" Before she could get any answers, the man walked a little closer toward Chuck, with either an odd swagger or a limp. Perhaps that was the cause of all the screaming Casey had mentioned?
"Who the fuck 'er you?" barked the man in the street.
"No one of any consequence," retorted Chuck, sounding very calm and collected. Chuck stood with his hands in his pockets, not budging from the porch. The man adjusted his shirt, lifting the tail of the shirt to expose the grip of a pistol tucked into the back of his pants. There was also a sizable buck knife in a sheath on his belt that was now visible.
"Where the fuck is she?" he spat, literally. A stream of brown shot to the ground near the man's feet.
"I'm sorry. Where's who?" Chuck countered, remaining calm.
"Bitch, don't be cute with me. You know damn well who I'm talkin' 'bout. Now you tell Gert to get her fuckin' ass out here 'fore I have to go in and get 'er." He spat another stream of tobacco spit on the ground, taking another couple steps toward the opposite curb.
Sarah gasped, quickly covering her mouth to stifle it. "Oh my God. It's Ray," Sarah choked. She looked panicked, like she'd seen a ghost. Casey turned to Sarah, grabbing her by the sleeve.
"How do you know Ray?" he demanded.
"He's...he's the reason Gerty came to stay with us. He beat her and she finally ran. She ended up at Emma's with nothing but the clothes on her back. No … Are you? Are you tryin' to tell me? That Ray and…" Sarah couldn't finish the thought. Casey was beginning to breath very hard and ragged. She could see his whole body tense, his knuckles white.
"You must be Ray? I've heard a lot about you." Chuck pointed to the man, waving a finger at him. "Wife beater. How appropriate. Dress for the job you want, huh?" Chuck snarked at the man but still remaining calm.
"Fuck you! You don't know me," he barked.
"Oh, but I do. Raymond Eckert. I know quite a bit about you. The name Kim Spees ring a bell? How about Angie Marshall? Or… Denise Wilson maybe? You remember Denise, don't ya?" Chuck was egging him on, and the more he talked the more scared Sarah became. When he mentioned 'Denise Wilson', it was Casey's turn to gasp. Sarah hadn't known the name of Casey's 'friend' but it seemed she did now.
"Denise is a fuckin' whore and she got what she deserved," he bellowed.
"Oh, you gave her what she deserved did ya?" Chuck questioned with a mocking tone.
"That bitch thought she could leave me? Step out on me? That whore had another thing coming. She knew we ain't done until I say we fuckin' done. She needed to learn her role. So, yeah, I beat that bitch's ass. Don't nobody disrespect me." The man was gesturing wildly and it sounded like he was either drunk or high, perhaps both.
Before Casey could lunge through the bushes at the man, a very large, very strong hand grabbed Casey and Sarah's shoulders, holding them in place. A very deep and ominous voice spoke from behind them.
"That wouldn't be a wise idea. Just sit tight until this ride has come to a complete stop. I think you'll find it… most entertaining." Casey peeked out of the corner of his eye to see a very large black man, crouching between them. So large, in fact, that even Casey was a bit intimidated. They decided it best to let this play out to see what Chuck had in mind.
"Speakin' of disrespect," the man pulled out his buck knife that gleamed in the streetlight. He began walking towards Chuck, stepping onto the curb and into the grass. "If you don't bring me my woman, RIGHT THE FUCK NOW, I'm gonna carve you like a Goddamn turkey and then drag her ass out by her fuckin' hair. Do you fuckin' hear me?" Chuck stepped down from the porch, approaching the sidewalk at a slow pace while the man ranted. He entered into the pool of light from the streetlight, only a few feet from Ray.
"You wanna get to her, you're gonna have to come through me first," Chuck challenged, a fierceness in his voice. Sarah gasped and tried to stand on reflex, but was pushed down easily. She tried to fight against it, but it was near impossible. She felt the large black man lean in toward her ear, giving her a sick feeling.
"Trust him," was all he said and loosened his grip slightly. Sarah was shocked by the realization that the man behind her must be with Chuck. She turned back to the scene as she watched in terror.
"You seem to enjoy beating on women. If you're so damn tough, why don't you try me on for size … pussy." That type of language was not in Chuck's vernacular, which was evident by the awkward way he spoke it. Like part of him was fighting against the word coming out. Regardless of how it sounded, it thoroughly incensed Ray. The greasy man cackled as he patted Chuck on the right shoulder.
"Gladly." Ray exploded toward Chuck, driving his knife into Chuck's abdomen with such force that it literally lifted his lithe form off the ground. Ray yelled with each thrust, two, three, four, before Chuck collapsed in a heap on the ground, the knife clattered to the sidewalk beside him. Ray held his arms out as he stood over Chuck's body. "What up, bitch?!", blood running from his hand, down his arm and to the ground from the point of his elbow.
Sarah's world crumbled around her as she watched in abject horror. "NOOOOO!"
A/N2: I know. I know. A cliffhanger? Seriously? Isn't that trope a little played out? Maybe, but here we find ourselves nonetheless. I promise you, I won't leave you hanging for long.
If you enjoy, or not, please leave a review or PM. I enjoy reading them, even if I don't get a chance to respond as often as I like. For you guest reviewers, I appreciate your comments, but I highly recommend that you register at the FanFiction website so that I can reply directly to your questions/comments. You will also get notified when new chapters are published, so you never miss out.
JW