Here's another chapter for you. Its the longest one I've written to date. The reason for the delay was I had to re-write it about 3 times before I was happy with it. Thanks for all the encouragement you guys have given me. It has motivated me to write like never before. I don't own Chuck, but I do have four seasons of Chuck on DVD.
Stranger than Fiction
Chapter 3: First Fight
September 19, 2007
"Ugh!" I murmur, waking up with the alarm blaring in my ear. The headache pounding in my head felt like getting hit with a sledge-hammer. At first I didn't know where I was. It takes me a minute to remember what happened last night and get off the floor. Once I do I go to my medicine cabinet and grab two Advil's. "Morgan must of spiked the punch again." I say, swallowing the pills with a glass of water. Feeling slightly better, I decide to take a long shower. After soaking for thirty minutes to wash away any effects of the alcohol, I get ready to leave the house.
I have to hurry, because today I'm reading at the Malibu library to children at 10 A.M. Its the highlight of my month and is something I truly enjoy doing. Getting them excited about books at a young age is key. Making sure kids learn to read has been a goal of mine since becoming famous. Its one of the upsides of being a well know author, making sure illiteracy was being addressed across the nation. I was doing my part too fuel their imaginations and hopefully inspire them to pick-up a book.
I'm involved with several charities and programs that help people learn to read. To see a child pick up a book like its his or her favorite toy, is the greatest feeling in the world. I even go to elementary and high schools and promote literacy. In a way it helps opening them up to new career paths and hopefully encourage kids to further their educations in the future.
I enter the library and wave to the staff working there. Libraries and book-stores have always been a safe zone for me. When my mom left, it was one of the places that made me feel closer to her. One of my fondness child-hood memory is of her reading to me before bed. And I even got an after-school job at the bookstore down the street from our house, to help Ellie out when our father bailed. Books played an important role in my life and I just wanted to show others my passion for them.
Flashing back to those memories bring up a lot of feelings I've rather forget. It distracts me for a second and I accidentally bump into someone. They drop the book in their hands, stumbling a little. "Oh! Sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention." I say, bending down to retrieve a Robert Ludlum novel. The Bourne Identity, one of my favorites if you asked me.
The first thought that pops into my head is 'Wow' as I see her right in front of me. I am staring into the bluest eyes I've ever seen, its like seeing the ocean for the first time. Her beauty and essence confound me, I've seen plenty of beautiful woman before. So, why is she different from so many others? Its like she can see straight into me soul and I didn't know if I liked it. The intensity of her stare was incredible, I can't look away from her gaze. She's unequivocally the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I've never felt an instant attraction like this before. I couldn't wait to hear her voice it could probably make angels weep. She gorgeous and reads my favorite genre of literature. What more can a guy ask for?
"It's all right, I find bumping into people is the only way to get their attention. I'm Sarah Walker by the way. And you are?" She says as she holds her hand out, waiting for me to give the book back. I was right, her voice is magical. Sarah doesn't look angry which is a good sign.
"Beautiful" I whisper as she hears it and blushes a little. "I'm..." Did I really just forget my own name. She must think I'm a bumbling idiot. I don't have a lot of moves or lines that work on the ladies. I try to be my charming self, which usually reveals how genuine I really am. I finally recover, handing her the book and answering her question. "I'm Charles, but my friends call me Chuck. Chuck Bartowski. Can you ever forgive me for almost ruining your day?"
"Of course I can Chuck, we all have those kind of days." By calling me Chuck she thinks we are already friends. I wonder if she's a fan of my work? She recognizes me I can tell, but doesn't seem intimidated by my celebrity. For this I'm grateful. Its the first time in a long time I didn't want a conversation to end. I have to make a decision fast because I had a reading to get to soon. Should I ask her out? There are some many ways she can reject me and the thoughts in my head were all negative at this point.
"So, how are you going to make up to me Chuck?" She says seductively. With that comment I know I have to go for it.
"Maybe I can take you out for some coffee tomorrow?" I say nervously.
"Sure. You seem like a nice enough guy. There aren't too many of those left." She tells me as she hands me her business card.
Not wanting to have her change her mind, I get ready to leave. "Okay. How about 10 A.M.?
"That sounds good to me. As long as you're buying." She replies as I give her directions to the coffee shop a mile from my house.
"I have to do a reading from the kids now. But I'll see you tomorrow." I hope she doesn't stand me up. Even being famous, I still have insecurities about myself. Knowing my luck she would. I'm afraid to leave, thinking she might disappear into thin air. But I say "Until tomorrow Sarah" and go to the children's section of the library.
There are twenty kids sitting in chairs when I arrive. They look excited about my arrival and I give them my biggest smile. "Hello boys and girls! How are you all doing this morning?" I have fun teaching kids the joy of books, so my enthusiasm is real.
"Great. Good." They say in unison. Meeting Sarah today was like fate smiling down on me. I wanted to share all those feelings with the kids. I have a child-like wonder that helps me connect to them better than I do with most adults. My life was about to change, I could feel it in my bones.
After asking them about what they have been up to since I last seen them, they settle down and I begin reading The Frost Queen. It was one of my favorites as a child, so I know they'll like it as well. I make sound effects to go with the story as I'm reading. They're laughing and clapping throughout my reading of the book. Once the Frost Queen has triumphed over her evil foes, the kids stand-up and applaud. This is why I do it, to see all their enjoyment as I'm doing what I love.
After telling them I'd see them soon and saying good-bye to all the children, I notice Natalie still sitting down all by herself. So I go over to where she's sitting and ask her what's the matter. "Well, I was wondering if you could read a book about ballerinas next time? They're my favorite of all-time. Please! Please! Please!"
She looks hopeful and I could never refuse a request like that. "Of course we can. If you want I can even get you some ballerina slippers, so you can become a world-famous ballerina one day. You should always follow your dreams Natalie." I say encouragingly.
I give her a hug and she tells me her shoe-size. Natalie reminds me a few more times not to forget the slippers before I leave. "I won't forget Nat. You can trust me on that. Have a good-night and be a good girl okay." She nods her head, as I get up and leave the library. If I was paying more attention, then I would have seen Sarah Walker watching me read to the kids and interacting with Natalie after.
In my BMW driving home, I'm stopped at a red-light looking through my rear-view mirror. When it happens, I flash. The information it contained is about an NSA surveillance van being used in L.A. Not knowing what a flash is at this point, I think it's just my over active imagination playing a trick on me. I gun it and continue driving home. It would be crazy for an NSA agent to be in Malibu right? Not know the fun that was in store for me.
September 20, 2007
I wake-up in the morning, refreshed and anxious about my date. When I got home yesterday inspiration struck me. I started storyboarding a new character, which in my opinion resembled Sarah a little too much. Jessica Kent would be the protagonist in my new book. I hadn't written like that in years, its like Sarah was my muse. The ideas wouldn't stop coming. Seven-hours later I had a basic-plot and main character to build upon.
My last date was six-months ago and that didn't go anywhere. I haven't been on a second date in more than two years. Its slightly embarrassing to say, most of the time I found dating difficult. Finding common goals and interests wasn't easy in L.A. Morgan will be gone for the day, he has meetings with my publisher about the release date for Final Vengeance and scheduling book-tour dates. There's nothing to occupy my thoughts as its almost time to get ready. After taking a shower I realize I don't know what to wear. So, I call Ellie to come over and help me out.
"What's the emergency Chuck? You sounded desperate."
"I...I kind of have a coffee date later today. What should I wear?" I utter, knowing she's going to have a million questions for me. Where did you meet? Do you like her? What does she look like? Is she kind? How serious are you about her? When can I meet her?
"Well, since its just coffee maybe you should go casual. Go with the blue polo-shirt and beige cargo shorts. What's her name by the way?" She tries to sneak in at the end.
"Sarah and if you're wondering I met her at the library yesterday." I say, knowing she's going to want to know more later. She looks thrilled for me and if I know my sister, a little relieved that I'm dating. I tell her 'thanks' and that we'll talk when I get back from my date. After dressing I leave the house not knowing what to expect.
In all my nervousness, I'm forty minutes early so I order a coffee and put some cream and sugar in it. About half way through it, the cap explodes off the lid and I have coffee all over my shirt. "Damn! Damn! Damn! I couldn't have Sarah seeing me like this, with coffee stains all over me. I have enough time to get home and change before our date. If not I can always call Sarah and tell her I'm running late. She seems like the understanding type, so I dump the rest of my coffee out and head home.
Once I enter the house I notice something isn't right. My alarm system for the house is turned off, which I always set. Taking in the scene before me I have to be careful: a paparazzi or a deranged fan might have broken in. I didn't have a lot of crazy fans, but there is a lot of fan mail I received that was slightly disturbing. So I move cautiously through the house, looking for any sign that I'm not alone. That's when I hear it, the creaking of a floor-board coming from my upstairs bed-room. I take the stairs stealthily and approach the door silently. I peak inside and what I see shocks me, a masked figure clad all in black, has unplugged my computer-tower and is going to take it. My new story is on that hard-drive. There's no way I'm giving it up without a fight.
"Hey! Put that down right now if you value you life!" The masked person drops it and it smashes on the floor. I must have surprised my guest because they were not expecting anyone to catch them. All my hard work from the night before is ruined. I'm seeing red and can't wait to tear them a new one. The person must think I'm brave or foolish for calling them out like that. "What are you doing in my house?" I yell, knowing they won't answer me.
The figure gets in a fighting stance and I know my skills are about to be put to the test. This person has had training, I could tell just by the way they were getting ready to attack me. We approach each other cautiously at first, not knowing what to expect. We trade punches that don't connect. Then its like an explosion, a kick that I wasn't expecting, lands to my mid-section. "Umph!" I exhale, as I get ready to take the offensive.
"Not bad, you didn't telegraph that kick at all." I'm throughly impressed with this persons fighting prowess. "My turn" I say, landing a solid punch to the head followed-up by a leg sweep that has the assailant on the floor. They looked shocked that they were in a vulnerable position. It probably rarely happened too them, so I take advantage and take them into side-control. My jujitsu and wrestling was excellent. I try to rain some elbows down on my opponent, but they block them with their forearms easily. "You thought I was a push-over didn't you? A pretty boy author who couldn't defend himself? Oh how wrong you are." While they are distracted by what I utter, as I pull the mask off my attackers face.
"Sarah?" I say, shocked at what I'm seeing before my eyes. She punches me in the eye and gets to her feet. A little dazed, but still confused by what's happening I say. "What are you some deranged fan or something?" She has a funny look on her face and pulls out her Smith & Wesson 9mm from her waist-band, then points it a me.
"Whoa! Hold on. Don't shoot me for god's sake." This is the most scared and defenseless I've ever been. Researching scenarios like this a hundred times can never prepare you for the real thing.
"Who do you work for Chuck? Nobody without serious training could have taken me down like that." She asks with her finger still on the trigger.
"Four-Star Publishing everyone knows that. I do a lot of research for my books, thats how I took you down. Why who do you work for? Whatever it is it's probably more interesting than my story."
"What did you do with the intersect? Do you have an external-drive to back-up your data? Do you work with Bryce Larkin? Tell me the truth or things will only get worse for you." She looks angry, so I tell her the truth.
"What's an intersect? Bryce Larkin, my roommate from Stanford, we haven't seen each other in years. He's an accountant living in Washington D.C. As for an external-drive I have one, but haven't had time to back-up my data recently. Been kind of busy. Why what has Bryce done now?" Its like she's speaking another language with all these ridiculous accusations thrown my way. Bryce was always a trouble maker in college, so I knew I was in this predicament because of him.
"Bryce wasn't an accountant, he worked for the CIA. He stole something from the CIA and NSA, they want it back." She lowers he gun and I think she might believe me. This is unbelievable my best-friend from Stanford was a spy. Its like being transported into one of my favorite spy novels.
"He sent me an e-mail the other night and I opened it. There was lots and lots of pictures. Was I not suppose to open that?" I start flashing on a ring on Sarah's left-hand when she removes the gloves she's wearing. Its a video of her disguised and shooting a man. Oh man, is Sarah somebody I could trust?
"Chuck? What just happened? Did you just retrieve data from the intersect? Is it in your head isn't it?"
"Oh! Yes, I saw you shooting a guy in a parking lot dressed like an old lady. Are you sure you're one of the good guys Sarah?" I look hopefully at her, not knowing if I could trust my instincts anymore.
"Of course you can trust me. Its just you have the intelligence agencies most important secrets in your head now. There's people out there that would kill to get their hands on you now. I don't know what our next move is, but I'll protect you. I'm going to have to call the Director of the CIA to update him on the situation."
This is the coolest thing ever, but I was still shaking uncontrollably from all that has happened and all that would still happen. As she tries to make the call, I take a steading breath to gain control of my limbs. Then I see the van I flashed on last the day before, pulling up to my driveway. This could not be good.
"Sarah! Sarah! I think we might have a problem." I say, pointing to the men pouring out of a van with their guns at the ready. She puts her phone away and looks where I'm pointing. "They've been following me since yesterday. Its an NSA surveillance van, equipped with long range listening devices and phone jammers. I flashed on the van before without realizing it. They've probably heard everything we've said. You were never going to be able to make that call Sarah." Dejectedly, I count seven people and their are only two of us. I didn't like those odds.
"Do you have a plan Sarah? I hope you have a plan or we're done for."
"There's always something to do. We can take them if we work together. Can you do this Chuck?" She asks me.
"I'll just pretend this is more research for the next book I'm writing. I'm with you."
We are surrounded on all sides with no idea what the outcome would be. I didn't know if they were friendlies or enemies. The spy world was knocking at my door and I didn't know if I was ready for it. Ready or not this situation wasn't going to solve itself, so I get ready for a war.
A/N: This has been my favorite chapter to write so far. I put a lot of effort into it and I hope it shows. As always review so my writing can improve. The ideas are coming together nicely and hope to have another chapter out soon. It might be a little delayed, as I'm starting a new job on Monday. Thanks for reading and am loving all the Chuck fan fiction others have been putting out. Keep Chuck and Sarah alive.