A/N: So know you know why and how Jenny went to jail. Sarah vs Jill off the bat. It's time to bring in the big gun, and guys you know Ellie don't play. As for your reviews...I need you all to know how many times you folks have nailed things here and there that are already written and will happen in the future. It's kinda amazing to tell you the truth. FYI I've finished 12. I give you Pros and Cons Ch 5, Prison Blues
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck, and we are now done with flashbacks.
Chuck was working on his laptop, as Sarah was signing more papers. She was applying for her job at Carmichael Solutions. Chuck told her HR required her to have an application on file, and before she could apply as Sarah Walker, she had to finish her paperwork for a name chance. He glanced at the clock and saw it was almost three.
"I think there is more paperwork involved in changing your name legally, than illegally," Sarah said, signing the last piece of paper and watching Chuck's eyebrows go up and look over at her, amused.
"I wouldn't know," Chuck replied. Sarah did the mature thing, she stuck her tongue out at him. "Hey, I've got an idea," he began.
"Oooo, is it a thing you say you want to do and then you invite Bryce and Carina to 'secretly' meet us doing said thing so we can have the most awkwardest of double dates ever?" Sarah asked, faking enthusiasm. "Chuck we can go do anything, just no forcing Bryce and I together right now, okay?" Chuck looked a little sheepish. Sarah fell forward, her head landing on her arms that were on the table. "What time are we supposed to run into them?" she asked, head on the table.
"Seven," Chuck replied.
"And the activity?" she asked, head still on her arms.
"Miniature golf," he replied. "Frozen yogurt afterwards."
"No," she replied. Chuck sighed. "Vegetarian pizza," she began.
"No olives!" he finished. Sarah raised her head and smiled at him.
"You do know he and Carina are dating, right?" Sarah asked. Chuck waved his hand.
"It's just physical," Chuck replied. Sarah stared at him. "He's never had feelings for anyone but you."
"Chuck, maybe it was just physical between he and I," Sarah said, putting her hand on his. Part of Chuck hoped that was true, part didn't, and he wasn't sure which part he was rooting for. "Whatever it was, let us handle it, I don't need you fixing the two of us up."
"Did you meet someone in prison?" he asked. She gave him an amused smile.
"What happens in prison, stays in prison," she said, winking at him. Chuck put his fist in front of her, and she bumped it. "Bartowski, I've never met anyone like you. No one else would have done for me what you did." Chuck grinned shyly and shrugged.
"Sarah, you're my friend, I'd do anything for you," he said.
"Anything, Chuck?" she asked.
"Anything," he said.
"Good, I need a piece of meat." Chuck's eyes got huge. "I want some burgers, now! I haven't eaten all day," she said. He roared with laughter, grabbed his jacket and the two headed out, Chuck thinking about the time he did more than she knew.
-ooooo-
"Sam, you need to flip on your father," the lawyer told her. She shook her head. Sam had been in prison for months. Chuck and Bryce graduated from Stanford, and had launched their company while she had sat in jail. Business was going great for them. Chuck visited her constantly and made excuses for Bryce. She knew why Bryce hadn't visited, the awkwardness was too much for both of them. Chuck assumed it was because of what they felt for each other, but it was because they were hesitant to be in the same room together by themselves. However, he had hired her a great lawyer and she had gotten Sam a deal. Two years in a minimum security federal facility, but she had to flip on her father. They had been going round and round for a day on the offer given by the prosecution. Sam refused to hurt her father by flipping on him. She was looking at twenty-five years in prison, but she was loyal to her father, even though he hadn't always been loyal to her.
"Where's Chuck?" Sam asked. "He said he would be here."
"I'm not sure," Bethany, her lawyer, replied. The door opened and Chuck came in. Sam jumped from her seat, hugging him.
"I'm so sorry, there was a deal that took longer than I thought," Chuck said. "I'm so sorry."
"It's okay, Chuck," Sam said, holding him. Soon she wouldn't have any physical contact with anyone. She was going to jail, it was just a question of how long. "They want me to flip on my dad, Chuck," she said into his shoulder. He didn't react to that, like she thought he would. Sam didn't see her lawyer and Chuck exchange a look. He knew, the lawyer had told him. "He's my dad, I can't," she said softly. Chuck nodded, holding her, wishing she could know the truth. He knew how mad she would be if she found out. There was a knock on the door, and Jack was led in. "Dad," she said, letting go of Chuck and running over to him, hugging him.
"Kid," he said, looking stoic, when they broke the hug. "They offered me a deal. All I gotta do is flip on you and I only have to spend two years in jail. I'm going to take it if you don't."
"Dad!" Sam said. Jack shrugged. "Ain't no sense both of us doing twenty-five years," he said. She stared at him. "Take the deal kid, or I will." Jack turned and left. She turned to Chuck, who just held her.
"What do I do?" she whispered.
"Take, it Sam," Chuck said softly. "He's forcing your hand." Sam nodded against him.
"I'm all alone," she said.
"No, Sam, I'm here, and Bryce is helping," he said. "We're in your corner, you got this. I'm here, whatever you need." She hugged him tighter, and then backed away. Chuck nodded at her. She looked over at the lawyer, and nodded. The lawyer got up, and went to tell the ADA they had a deal. Sam put her head on Chuck's shoulder, relishing this contact, trying to soak it up to get her through the next two years. She was going to get through the next two years and do everything in her power to thank Chuck Bartowski for saving her life.
-ooooo-
Jack sat in his jail cell, looking at the picture Chuck had given him of his daughter and the schnook. The two loved each other, and they both thought the other could do better. He knew the two would end up together, even if they didn't. He knew from the moment he met Charlie over two years ago. He had been called to meet with his lawyer, he wasn't sure why, he and his daughter were both pleading not guilty, but when the door opened and he saw the tall, lanky, curly-headed young man, he knew his life was about to change. He could read people, and this guy was willing to do anything, for who he didn't know, yet.
"Who's this schnook, Al?" Jack asked his lawyer.
"Someone who has information you need to hear," Al said. Jack nodded, and the schnook sat down across from him.
"I'm Chuck," Chuck said, extending his hand. Jack looked at it, and then back to Chuck never moving. "Erm, okay," he said, pulling it back.
"You're the schnook my daughter talks about," Jack said.
"No, that's Bryce, not me," Chuck replied. Jack grinned.
"Sure, Charlie," he said. "Did she send you here?"
"No," Chuck said. "She has no clue I'm here, and doesn't even know that I know what I'm about to tell you. Your daughter has been offered a deal."
"That's her business," Jack said. Chuck studied him.
"It involves her flipping on you," Chuck said. "And she won't."
"She shouldn't, I'm family," Jack replied.
"You're both looking at twenty-five years," Chuck replied. "If she flips, then you take a plea deal, you're out in twenty-five and she's out in two."
"I'm awful old when I get out," Jack said.
"And she's in her mid 40s," Chuck said. "Is that really what you want for your daughter?" Jack leaned back, and studied him. He wasn't messing around, he meant what he said. Jack leaned forward, elbows on the table, hands together in front of him.
"So," he said shrugging. "What do you need me for?" Chuck grinned at him.
"Really?" Chuck asked. "Your daughter, I don't know if you've noticed, but she's a bit stubborn." Jack grinned.
"She is, isn't she," Jack admitted. "You have a plan?"
"Yeah, but you won't like it," Chuck said. Jack stared at him, and then nodded for him to go ahead. "The only way she takes that deal is if she feels like you've turned on her."
"How would I do that, I have no offer for a deal," Jack pointed out. Chuck leaned back.
"She doesn't know that," Chuck replied. Jack shook his head.
"You are devious," Jack replied. "You promise me you'll take care of her."
"Jack, she's my friend, I'll do anything I can for her," Chuck said. Jack studied him and shook his head.
"You really believe that, don't you," he said. Chuck looked confused, but Jack held up a hand to cut him off. "Al? What do you think?"
"As your lawyer, this is a terrible idea," Al said. "As a dad…Jack, you've got to."
"Okay," he said, nodding. "Get out of here, and keep your promise, Charlie."
"I will," Chuck said, standing. Jack offered his hand, and Chuck shook it.
"Take care of her," Jack said, his face serious. Chuck nodded and left. Jack sighed, pulling himself out of the thoughts. The schnook hadn't told her, and Jack was afraid Sarah wouldn't give the two of them a chance. There wasn't a lot he couldn't do, but maybe, just maybe, there was something he could do. He picked up the letter he had written, and stood up as the guard came to his cell. The guard looked at it, and held out his hand.
"Let me see it," the guard said. "You know I have to see all outgoing mail." Jack handed the letter to him, and the guard read it. After a few minutes, he put the letter back in the envelope. "I wish my little girl had someone like him in her life."
"He needs to be more in her life," Jack said, exiting the cell, following the guard to the visitor center. He smiled as he saw Bryce, and looked down at the letter in his hands.
-ooooo-
"So, how's it going?" Bryce asked, "somehow" paired up with Sarah. "Get all the paperwork done?"
"Yeah, I'm officially Sarah Walker now, I've moved on with my life," she said, grinning.
"Seriously, how are you doing?" Bryce asked, real concern on his face. "Why didn't you let me come see you more?"
"Because it was bad enough Chuck kept coming each month," she began.
"Sarah, by the way, it fits you," he said, she grinned. "You wouldn't have made it without him."
"I know," she said. "But if you had shown up, do you know what my and his visit would have been?"
"So, how are you and Sam?" Bryce said, doing a Chuck impersonation, making both of them laugh. "He means well, but…." She grinned. "Plus that night," he began. She nodded. "Look, I don't want you to take this the wrong way-"
"God, Bryce, we both said it meant nothing, please don't tell me you've gone and fallen in love with me?" she asked, there was no smile on her face, she was serious.
"No, Sarah, it was nothing," He began. "I have felt awful and terrible about it ever since and seeing you, it reminded me of how much it hurt Chuck. I know you saw him that morning, that look on his face. He tried to hide it, Sarah, but we both saw it. It finished breaking him. When you went to prison, he had lost his girlfriend and his best friend was in prison. He isolated himself in his work. He's scared, Sarah, he's scared of getting hurt again." She looked away. She had seen his face that morning and she knew, but she also knew Chuck deserved better. Bryce took a deep breath. "Sarah, I'm dating Carina, what is it going to take to get it through his head."
"He thinks it's just physical," Sarah said. "Oh, and he reminded me that we slept together." Bryce groaned. "Exactly. Carina thinks I should just go for it with him."
"I do too," Bryce said. Sarah smiled, and sank her put. "Did you play a lot of put put in the pen?" She laughed. Chuck watched them, a smile on his face, but pain in his heart. He knew what he wanted, but he wasn't Bryce. He wasn't good looking, he wasn't charming, and that first night she met them, she came over to see Bryce, not Chuck. Besides, those two just looked so good together. He didn't know what to do with these feelings. In college he had been with Jill so he was able to ignore them, and then afterwards, he was so hurt by Jill he told himself, it was his mind overreacting to a friend being the friend he needed. As Bryce and Sarah, then Jenny, relationship seemed to go nowhere, he wondered, was he allowed by his own code to ask her out? It wasn't right. He couldn't do that to Bryce. He was so happy around her, she made him laugh, she made him happy. He couldn't lose her, so if all he could have her was as a friend, than that's what he'd do.
"For the love of god just go over there and kiss her and see how you feel," Carina said. Chuck turned to her.
"I can't do that," Chuck said.
"Chuck, Bryce and I are together," Carina said.
"You mean, actually in a relationship?" Chuck asked, color draining from his face.
"Calm down, Chuckles," Carina said. "He knows the score, he's not going to try anything with her." Chuck sighed.
"I just want her to be happy," Chuck said, looking away, tears in his eyes. "I want her to enjoy the life she deserves."
"With you," Carina said, making Chuck snap his head around to her. Carina winked at him. Bryce was watching the interaction of the two.
"I think Carina got though to him," Bryce said, watching them talk. "I'm just glad everything is out in the open now."
"Oh God, YES!" Sarah said. "You don't know how tired I was of lying to you two about my life."
"So, does he know everything?" Bryce asked, grinning. Sarah looked away, a blush on her face. "Maybe if you told him, you two could work things out. Like how you really feel?" The blush grew deeper. "He'd do anything for you, you know, hell he already has." She gave him a look, and he realized what he said. He looked over at Chuck and Carina.
"Bryce," she said in a low voice. "I know things now that I've been inside that I didn't use to, about how to hurt people."
"You're gonna yell," he said. "You're gonna yell at him."
"What? Happened?" She said softly, but intensely.
"You remember when your dad told you that you should take that deal before he did?" Bryce asked. Sarah nodded. "There was no deal for him." Sarah thought about what he said.
"Bryce, what exactly happened?" Sarah asked. Bryce looked around, saw there was no escaping, and decided to tell the truth, and hope she didn't kill Chuck.
"You were both about to go to prison for twenty-five years," Bryce began. Sarah nodded. "He found out your dad didn't know about your deal and went and told him. After they talked, Jack said it was the right thing to do, but asked why tell him, he had nothing to do with it. Chuck reminded him you can be stubborn."
"Determined," Sarah muttered.
"Stubborn," Bryce said. Sarah bounced a shoulder.
"So, Chuck said the only way you'd do it is if you thought Jack was going to flip on you," Bryce explained.
"There was no deal for dad," Sarah said, having connected all the dots. "Chuck had no damn right-"
"Just like we had no right to confront Jill and tell Chuck about it," Bryce said.
"That was different," Sarah said. Bryce looked at her. "It was."
"Sure, why don't you remind me exactly how it was different," he said, grinning. Sarah grumbled under her breath.
"Damn it, Chuuucckk," she said, looking away. "Why can't he just quit being so…so…"
"Chuck?" Bryce offered. "Here's the bigger question, why don't you just go for it, and don't give me that, he deserves better crap. He deserves to be loved for who he is, and if I'm not mistaken, that's you."
"Bryce," she began. He just shook his head, laughter in his eyes.
"You both have this stupid code," Bryce said. She looked at him. "Oh, he won't do anything because he thinks you and I belong together and that it would be wrong for him to date you."
"You don't own the rights to me," she began.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Chuck wouldn't go against the guy code, that would just be wrong," Bryce said.
"There's a guy code?" she asked.
"Well, Chuck has one," he said, grinning. Sarah sank the put, ending the round. "We're gonna go, I have something I have to do, go have dinner with him, and no sleeping in bathtubs."
"Heard about that, did you?" she asked.
"Why don't you tell him you need him to spoon with you to protect your back?" Bryce asked, grinning.
"Because we might fork," Sarah replied. Bryce burst out laughing. For the first time since they slept together, things felt back to normal, for both of them.
"I've missed you, Sarah," Bryce said, hugging her. He kissed her cheek. "Go get him."
"We'll see," she said, as he pulled away.
"Carina, why don't we leave these two alone?" he said, winking at Chuck. Chuck and Sarah said their good-byes and watched them go.
"What was that all about?" Chuck asked.
"Ending things," Sarah said, looking at him, her eyes a little watery from tears, thinking about how lucky she was having friends in her life.
"Don't worry, Sarah," Chuck said. "We'll find you the perfect guy."
"Eh, I guess I can always hang with you," she said, grinning. She shoulder bumped him. "Now, I believe you owe me some pizza."
"You're gonna eat me out of house and home," he said, extending his arm. She took it and they walked toward the car. Sarah was happy. For now, she had enough. For now.
-ooooo-
Bryce walked up to the apartment door, and knocked on it. He wasn't sure about Jack's plan, but he agreed to it. If she went along with this, life was going to get interesting. A minute later the door opened.
"Bryce," the pretty brunette said. "How are you?"
"Oh, I'm great," Bryce said, pulling out a letter, and handing it to her. "I thought you'd like to see this. It's about your brother." Ellie looked at the letter and back at Bryce. "I think it's time you heard about the girl Chuck met in college that changed his life." Ellie grinned.
"Come in, Bryce, I've been waiting for this story for over two years," Ellie said.
A/N: WHA?! Jack, Ellie, and Bryce….hehehe….Next time, Ellie reveals why Chuck is being….pick whatever adjective most of you have used…Chuck and Sarah sleep together…and Ellie catches them….WHAAAA?! Hope you liked it, reviews and PMs are always welcomed…Take Care
DC
