A/N: Boy isn't everything going absolutely perfectly in this fic….Yep…Into every life some rain must fall…I must say, the one constant in this from the readers has been the question, where's Ellie. She's here, but….well…I'm sorry…Warning, some language, it's nothing you wouldn't hear at a high school, also it gets heavy…really heavy…Welcome to Ch 6, Emmett's Revenge
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, or Emmett, or Bryce Larkin, but I'm okay publicly flogging two of the three…
Chuck was on top of the world. It had been a wonderful weekend he had spent with Sarah Walker…his girlfriend. Sarah Walker, Chuck Bartowski's girlfriend. Chuck Bartwoski, Sarah Walker's boyfriend. That just sounded amazing.
"I can practically hear you squealing over there, Chuck," Sarah said, grinning.
"Sarah, I'm shocked the whole world can't," Chuck admitted, making Sarah's grin grow. "We're beating Emmett at his game, we're saving the arts programs, and we're dating, exclusively."
"Seem pretty proud of yourself, Bartowski," Sarah replied.
"Nah, it's just the love of a good woman pouring out of me," Chuck responded. His eyebrows shot up when he realized what he said, but Sarah was laughing, so he didn't worry about it. He wasn't worried about anything. He had Sarah, and that was all he needed. They pulled into the parking lot, entered the building, where they saw Beckman. She didn't look very happy.
"Mr. Bartowski, Miss Walker, my office please," she said, with a pained look on her face. They followed her, not sure what was going on. They entered the office and Emmett was already there, looking quite proud of himself.
"Steal another child's soul, Emmett?" Chuck asked. Sarah slapped his arm for him to behave.
"Mr. Bartwoski, are you and Miss Walker in a personal relationship?" Emmett asked.
"Most people have a personal relationship with other people, Emmett, it's called being friends, having a soul, you might try it," Chuck replied.
"Were you at Miss Walker's house Saturday morning?" Emmett continued.
"That's really none of your damn business," Chuck replied. "Besides, when I took this job, Principal Beckman told me she didn't care what I did on my own time, and to keep it appropriate at dances. We did."
"That was under a different administration," Emmett rebutted.
"Uh, no, you don't run the school," Chuck said, shaking his head. He stood up. "I have classes to teach."
"Sit down, Mr. Bartowski," Beckman said softly. Chuck looked at her.
"You have got to be kidding me," Chuck said. Sarah stared at Beckman.
"Sit down, Mr. Bartowski," Beckman said again. Chuck remained standing.
"You know what, no," Chuck said, making Beckman very uncomfortable. "This cannot be part of the deal. This is ridiculous, I have done everything and then some to try and make these kids lives better and you're going to let this asshole tell us what to do." Beckman's and Sarah's eyes nearly popped out of their head. Emmett grinned like a snake he was so proud of himself.
"You two are reassigned," Emmett said. Chuck laughed, straightened, and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Fat chance," Chuck said. "You have no one to teach our classes."
"Oh, you're right about the classes you teach solo," Emmet said. "But I did what you said, I took the money donated by the family, and hired a teacher to teach those classes that you two taught together." Chuck looked at him.
"Okay," he said shrugging. "I get that, so do we have half the day off now?"
"Oh, no," Emmett said, quite proud of himself. "Miss Walker will be assisting Mr. Barker in English since she's a linguist." Chuck looked sick. Sarah stood, turned to Chuck, and took his hands. She looked him in the eyes to try to convey they would be okay. "Mr. Bartowski, you will assist Mr. Montgomery." Chuck nodded. "Also the new teacher I hired will run the school play and forensics. Miss Walker, you are out of the both. Mr. Bartowski, you will not be doing forensics. Miss Walker, you and Mr. Barker will chaperon dances together. Mr. Bartwoski, you and Mr. Montgomery will also chaperon dances together."
"I won't do the play," Chuck said.
"Then I guess we'll just put Bryce in charge of the flyers," Emmett said, grinning. Chuck looked over at Beckman.
"You're going to let this son of a bitch get away with this?" Chuck asked. Beckman didn't answer, she just looked away. "We built all of this Beckman, you asked us to, and now you're going to dump us?"
"Mr. Bartwoski," Emmett said, putting his hand on Chuck's shoulder. Before he could react, Sarah took his arm and twisted it behind his back.
"Keep your hands off of my boyfriend," Sarah growled.
"I see you wear the pants in this relationship, Miss Walker," Emmett said, in pain, but still taunting.
"Emmett, she can wear whatever she wants to," Chuck said, shaking his head at the terrified man. Sarah let him go, and came over to Chuck. He held her right in front of Emmett daring him to say something. "I'm disappointed Diane, I thought better of you than this." Beckman didn't answer, she just looked away.
"Now, I'd like to introduce you to your replacement," Emmett said, and walked over to the door. Beckman looked pale, and Chuck's mouth dropped when he saw the woman enter the room. "I'd like to introduce to you, Mrs. Bartowski." Chuck stared at his mother as the wheels turned in Sarah's head. "Just so you know, she is the one who helped me come up with the whole plan."
"I shouldn't be surprised," Chuck said, shaking his head. "She's all about the greater good and how the whole is more important than the parts. Great to see you, Mary," he said, sarcasm dripping from his voice
"It's Mom or Mrs. Bartowski," Mary replied.
"Nope, because you are neither one of those things," Chuck said. "It's no wonder dad left." Sarah put her hand to her mouth, stunned at Chuck. He always found the good in people, but this, this was something he had never seen.
"Watch your tone with me, young man," Mary snapped.
"What exactly are you going to do? Not be there for me? Tell me to broaden my horizons and learn how to do something myself? Put everyone else in front of your children?" Chuck asked. "I knew it was a mistake to ask for your help, you haven't changed a lick." He turned to Emmett. "I was wrong, Emmett. I don't know your mom, so I don't know if you're a son of a bitch or not, but I am." Sarah's mouth dropped, and Mary stiffened in shock. Chuck turned to Beckman. "It appears I've come down with something and instead of throwing up on you, I'm taking the day off," and he walked out of the office.
"Since I've been with him in every conceivable way for the past 48 hours, I've probably got it too," Sarah said, and followed after him.
"That went well," Emmett said.
"Get out of my office you slimy son of a bitch," Beckman yelled. Emmett fled. Beckman stared at Mary. "Did you learn nothing?" Mary gave Beckman a frosty look, turned, and left. Beckman sat there a minute and picked up the phone. "We have a problem," she said. "Will you help?"
Outside, Sarah was hurrying to catch up with Chuck. He was tall, pissed, and was covering ground in a hurry.
"Chuck, will you wait!" she yelled. Chuck turned, surprised to see her.
"Sarah, you have to go back. This isn't your problem." She caught up with him, with an eyebrow raised. An amused smile came to her face as she saw Chuck process the look on her face and rethink what he had said. She took his hands in hers.
"Chuck Bartowski, you are my boyfriend, and whatever problems are yours, are mine, that's the way things work," she said. Chuck nodded, and looked in the direction of the office he had just came from, anger covering his face.
"Yeah, I know that," he said. "I had to learn that on my own, since I had no one to teach me." Sarah wondered just what happened to him and Ellie. He looked down at her. "Sorry, when she's around it drags up old reflexes. Mine has always been to run. You know, it's funny, I want everyone to like me, except one person. The one who gave birth to me. I just want her to stay out of my life."
"Come'ere," she said, pulling him into a hug. "I don't know what you grew up with, you know a little of what I grew up with, but as long as we're together, my promise to you is this, your problems are my problems."
"Literally," he muttered, causing her to chuckle. He pulled away, cupped her cheek in his hand, and leaned his forehead against hers. "I make you the same promise. Now, I owe you a story, but not here, you mind taking me to that coffee shop you like?" He pulled away, she nodded, took his hand, and led him out of the school. They passed a senior who was just coming in, and she grinned at Sarah.
"Get it, Miss Walker," she said, holding up her hand. Sarah high-fived her and looked over at Chuck who looked a bit proud of himself. They got in the car, drove to the coffee shop, ordered, took their seats, when Chuck hopped up and said he wanted to wash off his face for a second. He left his phone on the table. Sarah knew his code, he had given it to her. She never wanted to be that person, but she knew he needed someone more than her right now. She made a decision, right or wrong, picked up the phone, smiled at the picture of them as his lock screen, unlocked it, and made a phone call.
"Chuck, everything okay?" Ellie asked.
"Ellie, it's Sarah."
"Sarah…THE Sarah Walker?" Ellie asked. It sounded like she was vibrating, but that wasn't possible, was it? "Is something wrong?"
"Kinda, Mary was hired at the high school," Sarah began.
"Where are you?" Ellie asked. "Does he know that you called?"
"No," Sarah began.
"You did the right thing," Ellie told her. She really hoped Chuck saw it the same way. Sarah told her where they were. They disconnected, Sarah put down the phone, and waited. Chuck came out of the bathroom, sat down, and looked…well…flustered.
"I need to tell you a lot," he began. "I just have trouble doing it, Ellie should be here. I should call her."
"I already did," Sarah said, looking down and deciding to just plow through this. "I understand if you're mad at me, but I did it because I don't know what you're going through, and she does, and the way you talk about her, like she's your actual mom, but your sister, and-" Chuck laid his hand over hers, and she looked up at him. He had an understanding smile on his face.
"Thank you," Chuck said softly. It was a few minutes later when a hurricane blew in the door. Sarah was taken aback. Here was this doctor, woman who had been like a mother to Chuck, and from what Chuck had told Sarah had one of the kindest souls she had ever heard of. To top it off, Ellie was simply elegant. Beauty, grace, and Bartowski charm. Sarah stood to shake her hand, and was gathered in a full on hug.
"Thank you," Ellie muttered, pulled away, studied her, and smiled. "Chuck, you didn't do this woman justice."
"How do you really describe her?" Chuck asked. Ellie shrugged, having to agree with him. They all sat, Ellie beside Sarah. Chuck told Ellie what happened, with Sarah filling in when he got a little embarrassed with what he had said. Ellie sighed.
"So, I guess you need the full story to understand this," Ellie said.
"I mean, yes, but it's your story, the two of you," Sarah said. "It's not my place."
"Sarah, you're family," Ellie said simply. The grin on Chuck's face read, "don't even bother fighting her, you will lose."
"Okay," Sarah said, an amused smile on her face. Ellie nodded.
"Let's be fair, Mom has no business being a mother," Ellie began.
"None," Chuck agreed. Sarah watched and listened to the two. There was no bile or hatred, they were just stating facts.
"Mom was very good at teaching, I believe you call it pedagogy," Ellie said. Sarah looked at Chuck, her eyes narrowing.
"Okay, that makes sense," she muttered. Chuck looked away, his ears red.
"Oh, I know what he did that first day," Ellie said, smacking his arm.
"Ow," he said, rubbing it, but grinning at the both of them. Ellie wasn't mad, she was shaking her head.
"He reverts because of her sometimes," Ellie explained.
"Is it gonna be one of those conversations like I'm not in the room, because if so I can leave," Chuck said. Ellie and Sarah both glared at him. He gulped. "Right, shutting up."
"Mom's very…clinical," Ellie said. Chuck nodded. "She doesn't think Chuck can ever be an effective teacher because he cares too much, empathizes with his students."
"That's why they love him," Sarah said. "I'm sorry, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, how does she connect with them?"
"Mom, has these great projects that excite kids into learning, Chuck goes about it a different way," Ellie explained. "What Chuck, USUALLY," she said, turning to him and faux glaring. "Does, is try to reason with her there is no one way."
"He's right," Sarah said. "Some students do have trouble connecting with Chuck's way of teaching, but his enthusiasm and infectiousness usually makes all the students interested and want to try." Ellie beamed. Ellie looked over at Chuck, who nodded.
"Mom wasn't always this bad," Ellie began. "She met dad, who was a lot like Chuck in his affection for others." Chuck smiled and looked away. "Mom…tried. Even then she had trouble sometimes connecting with us, but she tried, really hard. She put everything into teaching and trying to be a good mom." Ellie sighed. "Of course she tried to do things very precise, exact, and with a schedule, and I flourished in that environment…Chuck…."
"Oh dear God," Sarah blurted out, causing both of the Bartowskis to laugh. "That must have been awful." Ellie smiled.
"He was more hardheaded back then," Ellie said, making Sarah wince. "But, it worked…until…" Chuck reached over and squeezed Ellie's hand.
"It wasn't your fault," he said softly. Ellie nodded, tears in her eyes.
"You have to understand, Sarah, back then, there wasn't a lot of stuff about mental health. There wasn't the training, and I know there's so little now, but teachers didn't have all the tools they needed," Ellie said. Worry began to gather in Sarah's stomach. "Mom was working with a student, and the student said she needed more time with her. I had soccer practice…." She trailed off, her eyes full of tears.
"When they found her the next morning," Chuck began. "Well…" Chuck turned away, tears in his eyes.
"Suicide?" Sarah whispered. Chuck nodded.
"It was an absolute tragedy, but Mom took it too far," Ellie said. "She pulled away from her family. She had been close with the student. The student wrote a note that basically said Mom was the last person who cared about her, but it was obvious her kids would always come before her students."
"She pulled away from us, from Dad, from her friends," Chuck said, looking down. "Suzy Mathis was my mother's favorite student, and she killed herself, and mom swore it would never happen again no matter what it took."
"We had been taught by her for years, we had a father, we were fine," Ellie said, mimicking their mother. "She needed help, Sarah, and she managed to hide it all by working so hard at school. All they saw was the best teacher they had turning it up another notch, losing herself in the work, but the school was winning awards." Sarah shook her head and blew out a breath.
"It was about a year later, dad gave up and left," Chuck said. "He tried to take us, but, she fought him and won. She was never there. Ellie had to raise me, because I was clueless. I mean let's be honest, I'm barely on solid foods myself, now." Both women laughed. Tears were still in everyone's eyes. "Thanks, Sis."
"Anytime, Chuck," she said, smiling. "You're Aces, Charles." Chuck smiled back at her. She turned to Sarah. "So, that's why I was so excited to find out about you two, and why he was hesitant to have you meet me, because we have a huge bond, but sometimes I have to explain it, and it scares people."
"What person in their right mind would run away from you two?" Sarah asked.
"She needs to heal," Chuck said softly. "I love her still, I'm just so angry."
"Chuck, you have to go back," Sarah said. "To the play."
"Sarah," Chuck began.
"Don't do what dad did," Ellie said gently. Chuck stopped moving, shut his eyes, and nodded.
"I need to stay for them," Chuck said.
"And for me," Sarah added, her voice full of life. Chuck looked at her. "Hey, I'm gonna toot my own horn, I basically did all the hard work, she's coming in and getting the glory, but whatever, we know who did the work. Make me look good, Chuck."
"Sarah, you don't need any help there," Chuck said. Sarah turned to Ellie.
"See, that's why I keep him around," Sarah said, grinning. She turned back to Chuck. "Now, don't worry about Cole, I promise he's got nothing compared to my boyfriend." Ellie beamed. "She does know we're dating…exclusively?" Ellie cleared her throat and Chuck grinned.
"What's the plan?" Ellie asked. Sarah shrugged.
"No plan," Sarah replied. "Our hands are tied. Emmett took the Carter's money and hired your mom with it, split us up, and fired us from the extracurriculars."
"Dr. Carter?" Ellie asked.
"I guess," Chuck replied.
"Okay, Dr's orders," Ellie said, grinning. "You two go enjoy the day, worry about tomorrow, tomorrow." Chuck and Sarah said their good-byes, and headed to their car. Ellie got in her car, pulled out her phone, and made a call. "Dr. Carter, Dr. Woodcomb here. I'm good, I just wanted to let you know what happened after you donated the money to what is now Buy More High. How? I'm Chuck Bartowski's sister. I'll be glad to meet you at the hospital," she said, and hung up grinning. "Nobody messes with my brother, Emmett," she said, as she drove off.
A/N: Ooof….David giveth…David taketh away…sorry to be so heavy, and yes, I do know of a very similar story that happened…next time, we have a big fight coming to see who rules the school…(psst it's me, it will be alright)…til next time…hope you enjoyed it!