Sighsofmiscommunications4

A/N: This 'one shot' is getting out of hand. I'm going to wrap it up here I think. I have two others to finish.


APR
Horseshoe Beach FL
13Aug2009

FT Meade, MD
NSA Headquarters

The download went off surprisingly well except for an incessant buzzing in his ears. The techs all told him it was nothing to worry about but Chuck pointed out loudly, since in his mind the noise was loud, that their heads had never been stuffed with anything remotely resembling what had been shoved into his brain. He told them to fix it or Beckman would have their collective asses. When he walked almost drunkenly out of the treatment room one tech said to the other, "Man, we better find out what went wrong. We shouldn't have messed with the download rate. Beckman will have our asses if we screwed up her Intersect."

Casey watched as Chuck walked slowly and carefully down the corridor towards the cafeteria where they were to meet up after the download. Something was definitely wrong when Bartowski turned and walked into the wall and stopped after grabbing it as if he were going to fall.

"Bartowski, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you drunk?" He tried to make it sound snarky because he knew Chuck would freak out if he actually sounded concerned. But there was definitely something wrong.

"Casey, my balance is shot and I have this high-pitched buzzing and whining in my ears. Sounds like a bunch of mosquitoes and it's hard to hear. I think you better get Beckman's wizards to check out the download and me. I don't know and right now I can't think straight."

He slid down the wall and sat on the floor and closed his eyes hoping that the nausea caused by his dizziness wouldn't make him…

"Oh, shit!" Casey jumped back and still got Chuck's last meal on his shoes. Casey ran down the corridor to the nurses' station and told them there was an emergency.

Two hours and a total physical later he was still dizzy and still puking up things he couldn't remember eating. He was on intravenous fluids to counter any dehydration and he wasn't thrilled about that. They'd tried Compazine and were waiting to see if it helped any.

Beckman was enraged and called her entire Intersect staff into a private meeting that might as well have been held in the hallway since she was shouting so loudly.

"You assholes screwed up the most important man in the intelligence business. You've reduced him to a puking, dizzy and useless wreck. He can't even stand up without being sick. Figure out what went wrong, how to fix it and get Chuck Bartowski healthy again or you'll all be looking for work at the damned South Pole. I want an update every half hour and no one eats, sleeps or goes home until Chuck's fully functional again."

Casey just shook his head. 'Thank God Walker wasn't here or those guys would have been gelded and gutted for messing up her boyfriend.'

Casey figured he'd better call Judith Lodge to tell her the good news. And he needed to buy another pair of shoes. These ones would never take a shine again.

"Lodge, secure."

"Casey, secure. Bartowski has had a reaction or something to the download. He's dizzy, nauseous and puking up things best left undescribed. The techs are working on it and the General is walking around with a firing squad in tow. He complained of dizziness and high pitched noise and then staggered into a wall and sat down. Immediately after that he covered my shoes with his last meal. I'll report back in with an update when things change, Lodge. Just wanted you to know."

"Call me if or when there's any change. Do I need to fly out there?"

"No, he's in no danger except from our technicians. Stay put. Nothing you can do."

Several hours later and he was still suffering from vertigo and occasionally vomiting. He'd learned to ignore the whining in his ears but the bloody vomit was scaring the hell out of him. Casey asked a doctor who told him and Chuck that it was nothing to really worry about, just an irritated stomach lining. Chuck cussed him out and he scuttled away.

"Chuck, don't sweat it. Beckman's on their case. They'll solve the problem. Maybe it's not related to the download at all. Maybe it's a 24-hour bug or virus?"

Chuck stared at Casey then smiled. "Get that damned asshole programmer back here. It's a computer virus in his download. Get him to scrub it clean and reload it."

He lay back down, exhausted. Maybe this would fix the problem. He'd try anything at this point.

"You're telling me that it was a virus in the download? If it was a virus, was it deliberately planted? Do we have a security leak?"

"Specifically, General, Chuck said it was a Trojan Horse that would have replicated itself until all the other data was overwritten, including, Chuck thinks, his body's autonomic systems. In short, it was an assassin program. A long and painful assassination program. He recommended replacing everyone and starting fresh. There must be something in the download they didn't want known. That's what he figures."

"It will be done immediately. I'll put them all in security hold and we'll sweat the truth out of them. I'm sorry for the innocent but the guilty must be found and eliminated after a thorough interrogation. In my own operation, spies? Disgraceful. And how's Mr. Bartowski?"

"Better. Ears have quit ringing and it's been hours since he vomited. He's been asleep and on glucose and saline drips to balance his electrolytes. He should be awake in a few hours and we can test him."

"Good. See to it."

Chuck sighed and pulled out the IV's that were almost empty anyway and got out of bed. He wasn't dizzy but he felt disoriented, as if he'd been asleep a lot longer than a few hours and he had the remnants of a headache. He was just very glad that they'd fixed the problem.

But he knew he had another problem. There was a Fulcrum mole in NSA Headquarters and he needed to identify him before he tried something more immediate than a mere computer virus.

He found his clothes and dressed and walked out into the corridor, ignoring the trickle of blood from where he'd pulled out the IV's. That was the least of his problems.

He found Casey in the cafeteria and he sat down with him.

"How you feeling, Bartowski? You still look like crap. Should you be up and around? What did the doctor say?"

"I didn't talk to anyone. I can only trust you. Casey, there's a Fulcrum mole here at NSA HQ. That was no mere corrupted file. It was deliberately written to replicate itself and overwrite all the existing data with itself and eventually would have killed me. We need to find him. I need access to the personnel files and I need it now. Get Beckman's OK but get it done, please, before the next attempt."

Casey knew Chuck was scared. Who wouldn't be? He called Beckman and made arrangements and then took Chuck to the Internal Security Division's computer center to review the files. There were literally thousands.

Seven hours and 2,388 images later Chuck flashed on Elizabeth Ivanko, a computer technician in another building. Casey checked the logs and found that she'd been in to the Intersect Section on a routine repair the day before Chuck had contacted General Beckman regarding a download refresher. That meant his identity was secure and that Fulcrum was planting the virus to catch the next download, not this one that wasn't on the schedule. They'd lucked out.

When agents went to her home to make the arrest they found that her entire family had been killed in a 'home invasion'. Someone was tying up loose ends. Beckman was furious and wanted Chuck to review every employee file in the NSA and find 'those other traitorous bastards' but his doctor recommended that he rest and pick up the search from Burbank in a few days. He needed to 'rest his brain' and recover his stamina.

Chuck's New Apartment
Burbank, CA

Judith Lodge fussed over Chuck from the moment he entered the new apartment until he finally begged her to leave him alone. "Judith, please, just quit hovering, woman. You don't need to feel guilty you weren't there because you couldn't have done a damned thing to help. You had duties here that were just as important. I'm fine, Jude, and that's the truth. So please, let's pick a nice restaurant and get out among people. OK?"

"Chuck, you're supposed to be resting. General Beckman called and explained what happened and what you went through. I almost freaked out. Casey never went into any details. You could have died. The General said it was an assassination program. Oh, God, Chuck, you must have been so sick. How did you ever figure it out?"

"I didn't. Casey did, sort of, anyway. He said maybe I was sick from a flu bug or virus. I just went from there. And now, I'm really hungry, Jude, so unless you've suddenly developed your Julia Child abilities, please let's go out and get some foooood."

Judith watched Chuck like a hawk for the next few days looking for any signs of problems from the download virus. After three days she finally admitted to herself that she was needlessly worried and also needlessly harassing here cover boyfriend. He'd been eating, sleeping, laughing and joking just like the 'old Chuck' so she eased off the mother hen and went back to being his partner and pseudo lover.

Everything was fine until they went to Ellie and Devon's for the ritual of the Friday Night Mystery Meal. Ellie gasped when she saw her brother.

"Chuck, what the hell have you been doing to yourself? You've lost weight and, oh shit, those are IV tracks in your arm."

"Not now, Ellie, please. It's no big deal. I was in D.C. on business and caught a bug and couldn't keep anything down and the ER docs at the facility put me on something to restore my 'electrolyte balance' whatever the hell that is. No big thing, I'm fine now and starved."

"Ellie, he's been doing everything normally. I've been watching him like a hawk. He's been eating us out of food every few days. It's like he's got a pit in there." She poked him gently in the stomach.

Later, when Judith and Devon cleared the table, Ellie handed Chuck two envelopes and gave him a big smile. "Two, must be love, little brother."

He put the envelopes in his pocket to read later that night. Since he shared the apartment but not his bedroom with his partner, privacy was no issue.

Finally escaping the cover-related chitchat, Chuck had the chance to read Sarah's letters. Thankfully she always put a sequence number on the bottom rear corner so he knew if letters were in the right order or if any were missing.

'Dear Bald One:

I figure that title is a fleeting one since your hair grows out faster than most people so I'll use while it still applies.

I miss you so much, Chuck, and it hurts to know you were hurt and I couldn't be there. I almost said 'to hell with it' and jumped on a plane to Los Angeles to be with you. I know you're fine now but I've had this feeling of dread for the last few days. I hope you're taking care of my man for me, Chuck. And scars don't bother me so don't let them bother you, Chuck.

Before I forget, please send another fix for me. I've sucked out all the Chuck scent I can from this rag and it's heading for the suitcase for emergencies. Please, baby, I really love the t-shirts. They bring you to me, if only through scent. But it makes me happy and you should want that if you really, really love me, Chuck. I need the damned t-shirts like a crackhead needs the next smoke. I'm hopelessly addicted to you.

Baby, I want to come home soon. I want to quit this crap job that keeps me away from you and just come home and love you and be everything you need in a woman. I think maybe Beckman would not object to an unpaid security source for her Intersect. Someone might sneak into your bed and do terrible things to you and I could protect you from those nasties while doing other nasties to you, myself.

I'm going to close this off now before I start bawling. I miss you, Chuck, and it hurts knowing so much is arrayed against us. Will we ever have a life together or is this as good as it can get?

I'll never love another, Chuck, only you.

Sarah

Chuck took a deep breath and reread the letter. He was feeling a sense of dread like none he'd felt since he'd sent her away. Would she hold on and stay the course or would she weaken and finally say 'to hell with it' and move on? He had no idea what to do and he was beginning to feel a sense of panic.

He had no one to turn to for advice. He didn't think this subject was covered in the CIA training regimen. Casey would laugh in his face and Beckman would either throw him underground or do something equally terrible to Sarah.

He turned the unopened envelope over and over in his hands, afraid to open it because it might contain either an ultimatum or a 'Dear Chuck, I love you but…"

He always suspected he was a coward and now he had proof. He was afraid to open an envelope because its contents might cause him irreparable harm. How stupid was that?

He ripped the envelope open and read her letter.

Dear Chuck:

It's been three days since my last letter and I had hoped this one would be more upbeat but it won't be.

I heard from someone we both know about what happened in D.C., Chuck, and I don't want to be a widow before I'm even a bride. I'm coming home and we'll just deal with the shit Beckman throws at us. I'm sorry, I'm not strong like you. I can't deny myself happiness like you did when you misunderstood those sighs and sent me away to where you thought I'd be happy. Well, damn it, I'm not happy, I'm frikkin' miserable and I'm going to do something about it.

I'll be home in Burbank in 4 days from the date of this letter. I don't care if the entire NSA is waiting to kill me, Chuck, I will have you in my life, we will be together and I don't care who I have to beg, threaten or kill to make that happen.

Sorry for all the drama in the last letter but I'm at the end of my rope emotionally.

By the way, will you, Charles Bartowski, marry me? Please say yes. I couldn't live with less.

Your loving Sarah

A few minutes after finishing her last letter he called Casey and asked him for a few minutes of his time, face-to-face. He had something he needed some 'older guy' advice on.

He knocked at Judith's door. "Hey Jude, I'm running over to Casey's for a few minutes. I need some advice on something. I'll call when I get there and when I leave. Won't be late." He didn't wait for a response. She was probably asleep.

John Casey's Apartment
Burbank, CA

He opened the door to Chuck's almost knock and motioned him in.

"Ok, Bartowski, what's so damned important it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"Casey, I – I- I've been exchanging letters with Sarah and things have gotten straightened out and now they've become a mess again. The short version: she's on her way here, right now, and will land at LAX around midnight and we're going to get married and that's it in a nutshell."

John Casey just stared at him. He didn't move a muscle or blink or twitch or reach for his gun; he just stared at him. Then he did something he'd never done before – he smiled, a real smile, showing all his teeth and the smile was so genuine that his eyes crinkled and he looked 10 years younger.

"Well, son, it's about fucking time. I thought you two were never going to have the balls to take life seriously and just go for it. I'm proud of you, Bartowski. You're finally a man in my eyes. Go for it. Don't end up like me. I lost my chance and it's been eating away at me slowly. I didn't have the balls you do, Chuck. Take the shot."

"Well, actually, Sarah made the decision. I was trying to figure out how to get over there and spend some time with her and maybe get married and screw Beckman but, well, she preempted my plans. And I'm not sure just what to do and how to handle this situation."

"Well, hell, Chuck. You take her to your room and you take off all your clothes and then…"

"No, no, asshole. I know how to do that, I don't know how to handle Beckman. She's going to have a cow or worse, send Sarah to the ends of the earth and me down the memory hole. I can't let that happen. So I'm asking for some advice here, John."

LAX
Los Angeles, CA

Chuck drove Casey's pool car to LAX and was waiting at the agreed spot when he flashed on several NSA agents milling around the terminal where Sarah's plane was going to disembark it's passengers in about 15 minutes. The strangest thing was that not one of them even looked his way. Then it dawned on him that they were there to pick up Sarah, to intercept her and stop them from meeting. He felt a slow rage building within him like nothing he'd ever felt before.

He stood there waiting. He was armed and he figured he could take out 3 or 4 of them before they could reach her and to hell with the consequences. He knew it was stupid, foolhardy, crazy, and even insane but he had to do something.

Chuck spotted someone else in the milling crowd of passengers and those waiting for loved ones. Judith Lodge. What the hell was she doing here? Wait, why hadn't he flashed on her like he did the other agents? In fact, why wasn't her file in the intersect?

She looked over in his direction and he knew the exact moment she recognized him because her face reflected first shock, then shame and finally resolution. She smiled at him then, a sad smile full of pain. He pulled out his iPhone and dialed Sarah's number. He'd never given any thought to it's being in service he just dialed it as speed dial #1.

"Chuck, I'm on the ground and just about ready to attach to the jet way. Couldn't this have waited just a bit?" And she was laughing, delighted with his call and his impatience.

"Sarah, it's a trap. There's NSA all over the place and my handler, Judith Lodge, she's in the middle of it. I can't flash on her, Sarah, just the other NSA agents. I can take maybe half of them, Sarah, but the rest… Oh, God, we were so close. So close."

"Chuck, listen to me. Listen. Leave. Leave now. Do not approach those agents. It's OK, baby, I promise you. Nothing will happen to me. Just leave now, Chuck. Please. I promise, nothing, nothing will happen."

"No! No, I won't let you go. Not again. This shit stops now, right now. I don't care what happens to me, Sarah. I won't let them hurt you. It stops now. Stay on the plane. It'll be all right baby. Remember, I love you. Only you. Good bye, Sarah."

He pocketed his iPhone, ignoring Sarah's demands that he leave and meet her later. There would be no later. He started picking his target order based on how close they were to the gate, to Sarah.

Judith Lodge felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She frowned until she saw the caller ID. "Lodge, secure."

"Walker, highly pissed. What the hell are you doing, Jude? Why are you and your goons staking out the concourse? You have a helluva lot of explaining to do, little girl. You're messing up my life and I've had it. Back off before he starts blasting away trying to 'save' me. You've pushed the wrong man, Judith Beckman Montgomery Lodge; he's not like anyone you've ever met. He's committed, Jude. You've seen how he does things. Others come first. And right now, I'm his 'other'.

Chuck watched as Judith answered her cell phone, listened and then looked over at him, a look of fear mixed with envy on her face. She said a few more words into the phone, listened, for what seemed hours to Chuck, and then hung up. She looked at Chuck and smiled, a full smile like Christmas morning, then she motioned to one of the other agents who spoke into a cuff mike and they began to disperse.

She walked over to him and put her arms around him, effectively blocking him from pulling his weapon from the shoulder rig. She looked up at him and smiled that same smile.

"My Mom's going to be so pissed at you, Chuck. Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to your precious Sarah Walker. We were here to stop anyone from hurting you, dumb ass. You left without either of your handlers, you left your watch on the sink in the john and I only twigged to where you were headed when I called Casey and he told me about his 'advice'."

"At first I thought you were running out on us but now I know you were running to us. Give me the keys to Casey's car, please. I don't want to hurt you, Chuck, but I want those keys. You won't be needing them anymore. Other transportation has been arranged."

"Jude, you've totally confused me and that doesn't take a lot these days. Just what the hell are you saying? And while we're on the subject, just who the hell are you? You're not in the NSA database and you're not in the intersect. Who the hell are you?"

"All in good time, Chuck. All in good time. Right now I believe you have a plane to meet. Promise me one thing, though, Chuck, just one tiny thing?"

"What's that?"

"When you find out the answer to all your questions, don't hate me, please? I was doing a job, not one I particularly wanted, but a job. I was a place holder, nothing more. And that's the way it was supposed to be. See ya around, Charles. Watch your ass out there."

She walked around him and there stood Sarah Walker. Judith walked up to her and handed her a set of keys. "The Porsche is in short-term parking. The ticket's under the mat. Your weapon is behind the passenger seat and your boyfriend is right behind me. Anything else, Agent Sarah Montgomery Walker?"

"Nope. Ya did good, kid. And you kept your knickers on with him around? You have grown up."

"Oh, screw you, sis. I didn't even try. He was too damned lost and when he got that first letter I could have killed you. You broke his heart, you bitch. You are so much like mom even if she's your stepmother'.

"Well, I take that as a compliment. So, tell me, what do you think of him?"

"If he wasn't already taken, and I wasn't married... He's wonderful, Sarah. No shit. You have no idea…"

"Yes, I do. He sent me away to be 'happy' and lost his own happiness. I told you he was committed. Well, so am I. And how is Jerry? Still pushing troops in the Marines?"

"Captain Jeremiah Lodge is completing his final tour of duty in the Crotch and will be home before Easter. And then I'm back on the retired list. No more favors, Sarah, understand? You and mom will just have to wing it. I'm done with this spy shit."

"No way. I suppose you're going to get preggers as soon as possible?"

"Why not? Have you seen Ali? Chuck thinks she adorable."

"What? Oh, no. Not yet. We still have some wild things to do with our lives. No kids until at least… whenever."

"See you Christmas?" Judith asked.

"Nope. A Bartowski Christmas is a must-see-must-do event but maybe Thanksgiving?" Sarah responded.

"Ask Mom when you're ready for the lecture. Bye, sis."

"Hey, Walker, I almost forgot. I'm going down to Palm Springs to see dear old philandering Dad. The apartment's all yours. Try not to break anything. I signed for it."

"Hello, there, baldy."

"Hello, Blondie."

"Need a lift?"

"Depends. Where are you going?"

"The nearest motel, why? You had something else in mind?"

"Yes, actually. I have an apartment, totally stocked for the weekend, no room mate and nothing but you on my mind."

"OK, I guess I can handle a delay." She smiled and rubbed his hair-stubble head and then started to tear up. "Oh, baby, I thought I was going to die when Ellie called and said you'd been burned on a mission. I couldn't reach Casey or Jude or anyone. No one would answer or could answer. I was so scared, Chuck. Like I wrote, I was coming home but then Ellie said you were fine, just crispy around the edges so I put off my leaving until…"

He kissed her just to shut her up. Well, no, he kissed her because he could, finally.

"Let's go home, Sarah."

A/N: There WILL be an epilogue of near-epic proportions.