Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own Chuck. Oh, and I do not own The Coffee Bean and the Tea Leaf, but I do have to say, they make a mean blackforest roast.
A/N: I know I said Saturday night, but it's Sunday morning, so almost the same thing. Here's chapter 5. Have fun reading.
Chuck vs. the Scarlet Ibis
Chapter 5
Los Angeles, California
Sarah's Hotel
4:22 PM
February 01, 2008
They pull into the parking lot of her hotel and hop off hand in hand as they make their way towards her hotel room. Both of them walk into the lobby and heads turn to look at the beautiful couple, laughing at each other's jokes. Any onlooker would say they looked perfect together.
They step into the elevator, hitting the button for the eight floor where her room is located.
"So what are you going to do about Bryce?"
"I have an idea, but before that can happen, I think you owe me a few moves."
"Really now, Chuck? You're going to torture Bryce by having him listen to us having fun?"
"Why of course!"
"You're a naughty man Chuck Bartowski," she teases, bumping her shoulder with his.
"Well, you're a naughty lady Sarah Walker," he says, mocking her previous statement.
"We're quite a pair aren't we?"
"Only the best my dear Sarah."
Reaching into her purse, she extracts her keys and opens the door, and as soon as the door is closed, Chuck pushes her into the wood of the door, an excited squeak flying from her voice.
He leans down and says in a husky voice, "So Agent Walker, I believe you have a few moves to show me?"
"Without a doubt, Agent Bartowski."
They both laugh and their lips crash together in a shockwave. They move along the walls of her hotel room before finally making it to their bed, crashing down together, with Sarah on top.
"You ready Agent Bartowski? Are you sure you can keep up with me?"
"Is that a challenge Agent Walker?"
"It sure is," she says seductively, a teasing lilt to her voice. She smiles and arches her neck down to capture his lips with hers.
***
His ears perk up at the sound of a door opening, and voices coming through the closed bathroom door. He hears the door close and a dull thud as if something had just fallen. Turning his head to the door, he wonders what is going on out there.
The unmistakable sound of a moan comes through the door, that voice only belonging to one person, Sarah Walker. The moans continue and become more frequent, driving his brain crazy. His thoughts shift to that he should be in the bedroom with her, he was the one meant for her.
Reaching into his pocket once more, he extracts the phone, "They're here in the apartment, I'll get the information from the briefing and have it sent to you ASAP."
"Good work Agent. We'll have the human intersect in our grasps soon. The other two are of no consequence, their fates are up to you. Once again, good work, Agent Larkin."
Flipping the phone shut, he speaks once again into his tile prison, "Chuck, you will pay for taking my woman."
***
After a half hour of rollicking fun, they finally decide to let down the torture set on one Bryce Larkin. Putting their clothes back on, they both stand and take deep breaths, psyching themselves up for the up and coming confrontation.
"You ready?"
"Why wouldn't I be? It's just Bryce Larkin," he says, voice deadpan.
"Well, this is the person who got you kicked out of Stanford and ruined your life."
"Not exactly ruined my life, something good did come out of it," he smiles, eyes indicating what he's talking about. She blushes and averts her eyes away, not wanting him to see the tears.
"And besides, I've stared down big, buff Russian men with Colt .45s pressed against my forehead. What's there to be scared about?" he laughs, Sarah joining in the melodic laughing of his voice.
"Well, it seems like your ready."
He flashes her a smile, and he puts his hand on the doorknob of the bathroom, and turns it, pushing the door open to reveal a handcuffed Bryce Larkin sitting on the shower tiles.
"Hey Bryce."
Bryce looks up at the man he formerly called his best friend. His insides are disgusted, but those emotions do not make it to his face, instead a stoic look appears.
"Chuck."
He watches as Chuck takes two long strides to the shower, and leans against the wall next to it, face turned towards the door. He hears the audible sigh come from his mouth as his eyes shift to the open door, watching the blonde look at Chuck in amazement and wonder.
'She should be looking at me like that,' his mind says, belligerently.
Instead of voicing that thought, this comes out, "So Chuck, you look good. An agent now huh? Congratulations."
"Well, to be honest, I've been an agent before."
They words shock Bryce to the core, Chuck had been an agent before.
"What do you mean by before?" Bryce questions, eyes betraying his confusion.
"After you falsely got me kicked out of Stanford, the CIA approached me with a job offer and my expulsion at Stanford fueled my decision. So you see, by getting me kicked out of Stanford, you didn't stop them from recruiting me, you just stopped them from recruiting me to Project Omaha."
His eyes darken in recognition, Chuck Bartowski was and is a CIA agent. He was even more dangerous now, the Intersect plus being very, very capable of defending himself. He wouldn't be surprised if he found a gun on his person right now. He curses inwardly and thinks of an idea to remedy the situation.
Chuck spends the next ten minutes explaining what happened after Stanford, and how he ended his work for the CIA, and how he came to become an Agent again. All Bryce can do is listen and absorb the fact that Chuck Bartowski is utterly, and he means utterly lethal.
Another ten minutes pass by with Chuck explaining the details of the briefing, but when it comes to the new cover, Bryce looks up, fire in his eyes.
"So you and Sarah, huh? Congratulations," he says, unable to keep the venom from his voice.
Chuck notices the change in Bryce's demeanor, but continues to plow forward, his demeanor also changing to the professional assassin, Scarlet Ibis.
"Well Bryce, it seems like L.A. had a lot more to offer than Omaha."
Hearing those words come from his mouth, he tries to rush Chuck, but to no avail, he's still handcuffed to the shower door handle.
Ibis lets out a chuckle, amusement lilting in his voice, "Now now Bryce, no need to do anything stupid. Sarah and I are more than capable of detaining you. So be a good boy and listen to the rest."
He continues to explain the new cover, and Bryce is visibly seething, his body shaking with an uncontrollable rage.
Deciding to wrap it up, "Bryce, you'll stay here in Sarah's hotel room. Sarah will be staying at my place until we find an apartment of our own. Have fun living your own lonely existence."
He walks out of the bathroom, back ramrod straight, and bends over to whisper in Sarah's ear. Bryce sees her laugh and giggle, before she turns to unlock his handcuffs. Her face instantly becomes serious when she looks at him, losing the emotions that she showed to Chuck.
"Well Bryce, looks like you're off the hook now. Meet at Castle tomorrow night at 1900 hours, we're going to set up surveillance on the port. Try not to do anything stupid, please?"
"Sarah, honestly, please don't tell me what we had wasn't love?"
"Bryce, what we had was not love, what he had was passion. It was sex, and it was a way to relieve stress. It was fun, but it didn't run any deeper than that. What Chuck and I have runs so much deeper than the physical part of a relationship. Chuck and I connect on an emotional level, something the two of us didn't have. I'm sorry Bryce, the thing between us is over."
She removes his handcuffs, leaving Bryce on the tile floor, to return to Chuck Bartowski, nerd and spy extraordinaire.
Bryce slams his newly released hand onto the tile floor, not believing he has just lost the girl to Chuck Bartowski, a nerd. Fishing in his pockets once more, he dials a number and speaks into the phone.
"Jax, secure."
"Larkin, secure. I have the information from the briefing, meet me at the coffee shop downtown in 20 minutes. I have some things to take care of here."
"Roger that, see you then."
Flipping the phone shut, he composes himself, getting ready for the confrontation with Chuck. He rips open the door, finding Sarah and Chuck at the kitchen, talking and laughing. The laughter dies down as they look on at Bryce, his face totally void of emotion.
Chuck slips back into the Scarlet Ibis, knowing that Bryce is looking for trouble.
"What's the problem now, Bryce?"
"You."
Bryce lunges at Ibis, throwing a right cross which is easily deflected, and feels the punch to his solder plexus, causing him to cough up all the air in his lungs, bringing him to his knees. A hand, cold as ice, wraps around his neck, pushing him into the wall of the kitchen.
"I told you to be a good boy Bryce, now look what happened. Don't think that I'm a rookie, I have much, much more experience than you do, don't forget that. Got it?"
Sarah watches in amazement as Chuck manhandles Bryce, holding him by the neck, nose to nose. This was Scarlet Ibis, this was the totally lethal professional assassin, not Chuck Bartowski.
"Now Bryce, are you going to be a good boy or do I have to smack some more sense into you?"
He shakes his head, and Ibis removes his hand from his neck, and slips back into the Chuck Bartowski persona. Sighing, he walks out into the hall without a backwards glance. Sarah turns towards Bryce, who is still against the wall, but slowly making his descent to a sitting position.
She stands over him with a look of pity, "Bryce, I told you not to do anything stupid. Now look what happened. You have a very pissed off Chuck and you have a very pissed off me. I don't want to see you again until we meet at Castle to set up surveillance, got it?"
Turning her back to him, she walks out the door after Chuck, overnight bag in tow, leaving Bryce to stew in his own thoughts.
"Well, that just solidified where Sarah and I are," speaking into the empty room.
He gets up and leaves the room, taking one last look where he had lost the girl he wanted. Exiting the hotel, he hails a cab, and heads off to meet his Fulcrum counterpart.
***
She finds him leaning next to his motorcycle, face in his hands, looking towards the ground. She walks up to him and wraps him up in her embrace, and her reward is his arms coming around her back.
Concern lacing her voice, she asks, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just that Bryce Larkin always has to show up at the most terrible times, I swear to God."
"He does choose the best times to show up doesn't he."
"Yup. Come on let's go home."
She smiles at the word home and hops onto the bike behind him, once again wrapping her arms around his stomach. It just feels so natural to hold Chuck like this, trusting him with her life and heart. She sighs in content, and snuggles into his back. They zoom out into the Los Angeles traffic, heading to Casa Bartowski, also known as, home.
***
Los Angeles, California
The Coffee Bean and the Tea Leaf
5:00 PM
February 01, 2008
"They are setting up surveillance on the port tomorrow. That'll be the perfect time to capture the Intersect."
"Good work Larkin, I didn't expect this from someone who seems so loyal to the CIA."
"I have my reasons for turning my back. Regarding the Intersect's partners, leave the blonde alone, do not harm her. I want to deal with her on my own. You can do whatever you want with Major Casey."
"We'll be sure to do that. With the Intersect in Fulcrum's hand, we will be able to knock off the CIA and the NSA. Once again, Fulcrum appreciates your hard work."
Both leave the coffee shop, each turning in different directions, one to set up an ambush, and the other to wallow in their own self-pity.
***
Echo Park, California
Casa Bartowski
5:15 PM
February 01, 2008
They find themselves on Chuck's bed, lying in each other's embraces, neither wanting to move. Her thoughts wander to what Chuck has done in the past. His past is so interesting, Stanford, past missions, she just wants to know it all. He is able to be strong and tell her stories from his past, but she can't pull herself to do it for him. She notices him staring at her, and she suddenly has an itching to ask him about his first mission.
"Chuck, what was your first mission?"
"My first mission was here in the states, near Chinatown actually. My objective was to assassinate Triad mobster, Tang Zho."
"Your first mission was a downright assassination?" her voice, incredulous.
"Yeah, it was my first time taking a life too."
***
Chinatown, Los Angeles, California
Zho's Mansion
9:00 PM
December 23, 2005
His first mission entails the infiltration of a gigantic mansion, the stealing of information, slipping past gigantic Chinese men, and silently killing a man named Tang Zho. Simple and easy? Hardly. He takes deep breaths to psych himself up, and he slips out of the nerd persona, and into the silent ghost he is trained to be. Checking himself over, he finds his gun and knives in their places. Stepping out of the car, he melts into the night, turning into another shadow.
Approaching the side entrance, he spots two guards, no weapons visible. Sneaking in from the side, he wraps his arms around the first guards neck, pulling him to the ground, cutting off his air supply, the tell tale sound of a neck snapping telling him he is gone. The other guard turns around to find his partner dead and as he reaches for his radio, the silent assailant strikes. A chop to the neck makes him drop the radio, a punch to the stomach makes him double over, a kick to the knee drops him, and a choke hold breaks his neck.
Hiding both bodies, he stealthily makes his way to the front, finding three guards, shoulder holsters showing pistols. Slipping behind the front guard, he has to resort to using his knives to silently end the lives of the three guards. He covers his mouth, as a knife moves across the man's throat, slicing the jugular. A gurgle sounds into the night sky, but is covered by the sound of chirping crickets. Stripping the fallen man's weapon, he silently moves to the next guard, who is oblivious of the first guard's fate, and the man finds a knife sticking out of his throat. The third man notices the commotion and immediately moves towards his fallen comrade, but to no avail, a knife sprouts from his back, as he falls to the ground.
He strips both guards of their identification and quickly gains access to the mansion. He looks around and spots cameras, and he figures there must be a security control system around. Moving down the hall, he spots the door, and tries to turn the doorknob, but find it is locked. Using one of his knives, he is able to pick the lock and slip inside, but not before being noticed by the man inside.
He quickly pulls out his USP .45, the knife ineffective from such a distance, and aims down the sight, pulling the trigger to send a bullet into the man's throat, silencing him forever. Hastily moving, he shifts over to the computer console, cutting the camera feeds so he won't be seen on tape. After hiding the body in the storage closet in the room, he slips back out and slinks along the walls, a ghost in its area of expertise.
Approaching the main room, he finds three guards sitting down to dinner, all of them laughing jubilantly, unsuspecting of the shadow in their midst. Their laughing abruptly ends when they each find bullets in their throats and hearts. Quickly moving up to the three fallen guards, he drags them under the table, obscuring them from view from any onlookers.
Quickly moving out of the room, he approaches another corridor lined with wooden doors, numbers adorning their green surfaces. Sneaking a peek in the first one, he finds a room full of electronics. Sitting in the back are two men, none suspecting he is there. Continuing his assault, he slits both their throats silently, foregoing the use of bullets, trying to conserve ammunition. He accesses the computers, pulling up files containing list of Triad gang members, how they obtain their money, so on and so forth. The DEA is going to have a field day with this information.
Quickly planting hijacker viruses, he exits the room, leaving the bodies in their places. He proceeds to the second door, finding nothing but bundles of drugs and cash. Behind the third door, he finds 3 Triad gang members, in the midst of playing cards. Taking three aware Triad gang members with a knife is suicide, so he foregoes the knife, drawing out his pistol. He takes aim, putting a bullet square in the forehead of another. The other two notice the extra eye in their friend, and immediately scramble for their weapons, but they are shot down, bullets flying into their throat and heart.
Exiting the room, he turns a corner, finding the stairs leading to the second floor of the mansion. There he finds another set of doors, but there is only money and drugs stowed behind them.
Finally reaching the end of the hall, he pulls out his pistol, ready to take a shot if necessary. He slowly pushes the door open, carefully not to make a sound, and finds a man in deep slumber. There he is, the man he's looking for, Tang Zho. Quickly moving to his bed, he slits his throat, blood gurgling through the wound. The loss of blood to his brain kills him immediately, leaving a lifeless shell of a man.
Walking over to the window, he opens it up and hooks himself up to a cabinet drawer, rappelling himself down and out of the mansion and into the cool night air. He makes a solid job into the night towards his car, only stopping to clime the gate. Hopping into his vehicle, he drives off, his spy persona finally dropping from the man. He turns back into Chuck Bartowski, and tears begin to cloud his eyes, causing him to pull over.
He looks back on the events of what just transpired, disgusted with himself. He tells himself that this is what he signed up for, and he was just doing his job. He stows the memories to the very back of his brain, and he puts back the emotionless face back on.
He thinks it will get easier as time goes, but boy is he wrong. For now though, that is what he believes, and that reassures him of what he is doing. He speeds away into the night, leaving only a wisp of smoke from the exhaust pipe of his midnight black Porsche.
"Graham, secure."
"Bartowski, secure. Objectives completed, highjacker viruses uploading information now. Tang Zho confirmed dead along with twelve other Triad gang members. Also discovered stashes of drugs and money. The DEA is going to have a field day."
"Good work Agent Bartowski. Congratulations on your first completed mission."
"Thank you, sir."
***
Echo Park, California
Casa Bartowski
6:00 PM
February 01, 2008
Tears flow to his eyes, falling in cascades to the comforter below. Sarah wraps him in her embrace, letting him sob onto her shirt. All she can do is lend him her shoulder to cry on, words unnecessary.
Finally composing himself, he leans over and kisses her softly. Their lips linger for a moment before they crash together once again, both bodies falling onto the soft mattress.
He speaks into her ear, voice husky with emotion, "You still have the handcuffs?"
She blushes, remembering she had packed the handcuffs for those exact reasons. She looks up at him, a mischievous smile playing on his face.
"Yes I did. Those we can use later, I want me some Chuck right now."
He laughs, and pulls her down for another kiss. His hands sidle their way down her sides, the contact of his fingers through her shirt causing her to shudder. Moving one hand to his chest, and the other to his hair, she can feel his hands squirm under her shirt. She moans at the contact and she raises her arms to allow him to take her shirt off. He ogles her for a second before returning his hands to her back, seconds from popping the clasp on her bra.
She moans as his hand edge their way up her back to reach her bra, but a knock sounds out and the door opens to a surprised Ellie, red cruising its way up her face.
"OH MY GOD, I'm so sorry. I saw Sarah's Porsche outside and assumed she was in here. I wanted to ask, are you staying for dinner?" she smiles sheepishly, face still red with embarrassment.
Looking down at Chuck, who had buried his face into his pillow, she laughs and manages to choke out, "Yeah Ellie, I'm staying, every night in fact. Can't miss out on your awesome cooking."
Chuck lifts his head, eyes shining, while Ellie's head shoots up, and Sarah laughs at their expressions, one of them in happiness, and one in shock.
"You're moving in? With Chuck?" the excitement palpable in her voice.
"Yeah, I'll be over at my place tomorrow to grab some things to bring over."
Ellie taking two big strides, gather both her brother and his girlfriend in a big hug, causing both their airways to stop working.
"Ellie, WE NEED TO BREATHE," Chuck manages to choke out.
"Sorry, I'm just really excited."
"Since when are you not," he quips, earning a punch to his shoulder.
"You may be my brother, but I can still hurt you."
"I wouldn't doubt it sister."
"Anyways, dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes. Don't have too much fun in here, if you know what I mean."
A booming, "Awesome" is heard from the living room, causing all three to laugh, two of them falling onto the bed, the other making her exit out of the room.
They stare at the ceiling, hand in hand, reveling in the pleasure that they can do this without the constant nagging of Casey and their superiors.
"Well, it seems like they approve."
"I'm glad that they do. I love Ellie like a sister and Devon like a brother."
"I'm glad that you do. Both of them have come to think of you as family. I hope you have come to think of us as a surrogate family as well."
"Of course, you guys are the closest thing I've had to a family in a long time. You've been generous and caring and I could never have asked for a better group of people to call family."
A tear slides down her face, and Chuck wipes it away with his thumb. He caresses her cheek with his fingers, drawing her in for a long kiss.
"What can we possibly do for fifteen minutes?" he says to no one in particular.
"Oh, I have a couple ideas," she says, a wicked smile appearing on her face.
"Care to share?"
She smiles wickedly and cranes her neck down for a deep, smoldering kiss.
***
Echo Park, California
Casa Bartowski
6:30 PM
February 01, 2008
Dinner is fun and light, full of smiling and laughing. Even Casey comes over, joining in on the fun. Jokes are cracked, at the expense of Chuck of and Sarah, who turn a deep crimson red. Stories of Chuck's childhood are told, and in turn Chuck tells them about Ellie's childhood, which earns him a hard punch to the shoulder. Dinner comes to an end, Casey leaving for his apartment, smiling for the first time in years.
They all settle on to the couch, watching a movie. Sarah sitting in Chuck's lap, Chuck's hands holding hers, and she leans back to snuggle into him some more. He looks down, the dazzling smile only for her making its way through. She returns the smile and continues her snuggling.
Suddenly feeling bold, she looks up at him, and whispers, "I love you. I know I don't say it too often, but I really do love you. I've never, ever been in a serious relationship like ours. This is hard for me and I hope you understand."
She looks back down, takes in a deep breathe, and looks back up to see his eyes shining.
"Don't worry Sarah. We'll get each other through this. I'll always be here for you. I love you."
She snuggles even closer into his embrace, and listening to his heartbeat, she falls asleep on the couch, in the arms of the man she loves.
***
In the courtyard, a shadow appears from the archway. It watches the scene inside the apartment, all the people inside laughing and smiling. It lets out a lone tear, which is quickly swiped away and is replaced with rage at the scene before him.
"I'm sorry Chuck. This is all going to come to an end."
It slinks back out into the open street, disappearing in the crowd, becoming a ghost.
A/N: So, hope you like the twist…is, but whatever. I got this out quick because I love writing so much. I won't be around in the weeks after the next because of NaNoWrImO 2009! 50k words in a month, think you can handle it? Hehe, probably start another Chuck fic there and once I'm done, probably post on FF(dot)net. Hope you guys enjoyed Chapter 5. R&R