Chuck Vs the Helo Driver Chapter 3
AN: Before we begin this chapter let be known that i don't own chuck or the NSA or the Coast guard for that matter. I would also give Credit due to the wonderful guy ESARDI who turned a three page paper of mine into a short story! one of epic potential i hope and thank you the readers for enjoying this story i originally was hoping for 5 reviews but with esardi help this has taken on a life of its own.
sorry my bad! this is the right document...
and to all those in the armed services who serve and whom have served thank you.
-Batty 02
General Beckman was not in a good mood. Frankly she had not had this bad of a day since Bryce Larkin stole the intersect, blew up the room that stored it and emailed it to Chuck Bartowski. She walked into her office and sat down heavily on her chair. The headache she had was closed to a migraine. She once again rubbed her temple and thought, 'What a cluster fuck'. With the execution of Bryce Larkin the intersect project was effectively no more. She opened her drawer and reached for her bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue. 'This job is going to make me an alcoholic', she thought.
She sign deeply and thought about the events that had led to this point, 'A blind man could have seen this coming'. It was definitely not the fault of the team that surrounded Larkin. Sarah had warned her over and over that Bryce Larkin did not belong in the field. She had passed her concerns to the top brass but they would not hear of it. Washington had spent over two billion dollars on this project and by god they were going to make it work. General Beckman knew that Bryce Larkin was in real trouble when he started bleeding from the nose. She was sure these scientists might have been covering something up, refusing to admit failure. The top brass, which included the Senate appropriations committee and the President himself, wanted results. Well where had this got them? 'This time they were demanding an agent, not some skinny nerd who could not pull the trigger.'
She shook her head her head once again. 'What made this bunch think that Larkin was going to be able to handle the intersect? Sure he had been part of Project Omaha but he was not a candidate then with 1.0. What in the world made them think he would be able to handle something twice as powerful?' The worst part was that it was not just the failure of the project but the human costs. After that disaster which cost the lives if those three agents, they should have closed down the project, but they actually bought the bullshit Larkin was spewing. 'These people did not care how many agents died, they wanted their intersect no matter what.' That last mistake had nearly cost them more agents and very valuable information. 'The success of the intersect project had always been in front of them. Doctor's Fleming test did not lie. Chuck Bartowski was the only person that had been able to handle the intersect. If anybody had ever bothered to read the reports it was Chuck's beautiful mind that was the key. Who had been able to disarm a bomb the first time out in the field in a room full of people? Why had a three person team had all those successful missions and brought Fulcrum to its knees? They just did not get it; Sarah Walker and John Casey were and are great agents, but the real reason for their high rate of success was one person. The skinny nerd no one wanted to give credit to.'
She poured herself another drink, and slowly started to sip it. 'To think they had come so close to sanctioning Chuck. God that would have been the mistake of a life time!' She always wondered why Langston Graham insisted they eliminate Chuck. He got their bosses to agree, that is why she initially went along with it. Diane Beckman always followed orders. And that was the crust of their dilemma wasn't it?' She had argued against Larkin until she was blue in the face and no one would listen. Beckman highly suspected it was that no one wanted to rock the boat. 'We have all become good little drones who follow orders blindly!' It was amazing how quickly the tide had turned against Larkin after he went crazy spewing how great he was in front of the visiting Vice President. It seemed like all of a sudden he became the number one enemy of the state. It clearly seemed to the General that the determination of the higher ups to execute Bryce Larkin was less a concern that he was suffering and more to do with covering their tracks for this colossal political mistake. 'Everyone was in CYA mode and Larkin was a loose end, they could not afford to have around.' She smirked, ' They could have easily locked him away, but the danger of that embarrassment being exposed was too much of a risk. Bryce Larkin became a liability no one wanted and expediency became the order of the day.'
General Beckman closed her eyes and opened them slowly again as she read the report in front of her desk for the third time. Six national transports vans where missing, along with their sensitive nuclear cargo. Their drivers were all executed and dumped. These incidents were increasing in frequency and effectiveness. In the last three weeks there had been reports of the theft of six XRAMS, as well as some stinger missiles stolen from Camp Pendleton. These were the times that she really missed Chuck. He was a natural at analyzing, planning and tactics. Once he figured out how the enemy operated they were toast. It amazed her how even now he was once again the only one that was having success against the Ring.
Beckman had decided to reassign John Casey and three NSA strike teams to work closely with the Coast Guard. It was a move that was highly criticized along with fast tracking Chuck as a Lieutenant flying SAR missions. When she first proposed it, Beckman was almost laughed out of the room. The commanding Admiral for the Coast Guard simply refused. It had taken some heavy arm twisting and intervention from the President himself to make it happen. Chuck was known around the military in some circles not as Bartowski but as Agent Carmichael. Once General Beckman had let that small piece of information be known, the higher ups had sat up and taken notice. The Commanding Admiral for the Coast Guard had accepted kicking and screaming. He was not screaming now, instead he was always with a big smile on his face.
Chuck had worked his butt off and at the six month mark the Coast Guard knew they had someone special. At the year mark he was a trusted pilot and at the year and a half mark he was one of their best pilots. Of course the cozy relationship had come with piles of cash from the NSA to the Coast Guard. Where ever Chuck landed the Coast Guard improved by leaps and bounds financially. It had been one of the best moves she had ever made. Clearly without the arrangement she made with Chuck, Beckman knew she would have lost the position that she currently held. In this business you could become a scapegoat rather quickly. The top brass were looking for one and she was a prime candidate. Once again Chuck Bartowski was saving her. The Intel she had sent to Chuck proved to be the only success that they were having against the Ring. His ability to decipher Intel was the best she her ever seen. Chuck had managed to keep three strike teams very busy. Colonel Casey was actually smiling! Of course he never would have admitted anything to a mere "Moronic Lieutenant", Casey's term of endearment for Chuck, but she could tell he highly respected Chuck. They were working extremely well together and the Ring was on the run throughout the West Coast.
Now this new threat was presenting some real problems. Every strike they had made had been successful. They were hitting several places at once. Something big was coming their way and they needed to stop this threat before a major catastrophe happened. With no intersect to counter this group; she knew they were highly vulnerable. She only hoped that Chuck was able to work his magic again with the recent Intel they had sent him. Beckman took another large swig of her drink; she was relaxing in her seat a little bit more. Looking blankly at a picture on the wall, she briefly zoned out as she kept thinking of how she could convince Chuck to accept the new intersect. When Beckman snapped back to reality she realized that her plan to used Sarah Walker as bait to lured Chuck to get uploaded with the intersect was no longer an option. The look on Sarah's face after the execution of Bryce Larkin said it all. Sarah Walker simply did not want anything to with the CIA again. General Beckman could not blame her. Sarah had gone through hell with Larkin and almost lost her life a couple of times. Beckman knew she would have felt the same way if it had happened to her.
As much as she wants to sympathize with Sarah, General Beckman knew she had a responsibility to defend this country. That meant finding a way to get Chuck to accept the download. She had a strong suspicion that once Sarah found Chuck her chances would be reduced to zero. That was why she had not told Sarah where Chuck was. Beckman knew this was a problem that she needed to be fixed. She also knew that Sarah would be one pissed off woman for not being told where Chuck was. 'What a dilemma. Well at least she does not know where he is.' However, who was she kidding, as soon as Sarah dedicated all her efforts to finding her man, it would not take her long.
A knock on her door snap her out of her thoughts.
"Enter."
One of her agents who were also her body guard, Jerald Wallace, entered. "General, you wanted to be informed if anything out of the ordinary happened to a Chopper pilot named Bartowski?"
"Yes Agent."
"Ma'am he just radioed in an hour ago sending out a mayday of the Shelikoff Straits. The odd part was that he was taking fire and lost power to the engines. His last communication was that he was going to try auto rotating into a bay."
The General narrowed her eyes, "How could this be, he was supposed to be on simple SAR missions!"
The General took a deep breath before she continued, "Get me in contact with Colonel Casey immediately!"
A couple of minutes later a concern Colonel Casey came on line. "Colonel what is the status of Lieutenant Bartowski?"
"Ma'am right now we simply do not know"
"Why are you not in the air finding out Colonel?" The General's frustration was coming through loud and clear.
"Believe me ma'am; my men are chomping at the bit to go after Chuck. However, there's a storm with 90 mph winds and 110 mph gusts dumping its rain on the air station in Kodiak and so they can't launch a recovery."
The General knew Casey well enough to know that he was really worried. Chuck and Casey had really formed a strong bond since they had gotten back together a year and a half ago. As a matter of fact, Chuck had become quite the favorite among the NSA strike teams. In the time they had been together, they had become family. It really surprised her how much they considered him part of their team. It all had started when one of the strike team chopper pilots had come down with appendicitis just before a mission. Chuck had volunteered and Casey being stuck had no choice but to accept. Chuck did a magnificent job. He even swooped down and drew enemy fire to save his team.
After that there was the incident when Chuck would not give up and found Sergeant William "Blue" Stevens. He was trapped by Ring Special Forces. The sergeant had gotten separated from his team. The strike team running low on ammo had been picked up when their forces were being overwhelmed. Chuck piloting a Coast Guard helicopter had gone in against orders. He landed his chopper and told his co-pilot to take off. He had his P-90 sub-machine gun the strike team guys had convinced him to carry along with his Glock 17, 9mm handgun. Stevens had sprained his knee and was out of ammo. However, Chuck found him and carried him to a safer more defensible spot. Together they hung on until the other two strike teams came to the rescue. The operation turned out to be a huge success as they were able to recover some deadly chemical WMD's.
General Beckman scolded Chuck and Casey, however; they knew her heart was not into it and they even smiled several times during this supposed dress down. One thing she had made perfectly clear was that since Chuck could not seem to "stay in the chopper," that he would have two strike team members with him during any missions. That was just fine with Chuck, he considered those guys his friends. That was how Chuck became part of the NSA strike teams. They barbecued every weekend, played Volley Ball together, trained together, even practiced tactics and breaches together. Soon Chuck was flying one of the NSA Choppers all the time they had a mission. Yep Chuck was one of them in every way except in name. That brought a little resentment from some of the Coast Guard Pilots who considered Chuck an NSA plant. That never became a problem since they kept moving Chuck around as the Intel dictated.
Knowing their history the General was mystified at what Chuck had been up to. "Colonel what was Chuck doing when he went down."
"Ma'am he was on a simple SAR mission while looking for a downed state trooper flight to Bristol Bay"
"Were there any drugs involved?"
"None that I am aware of, I am simply at a loss as to why anyone would have been shooting at Chuck."
"Very well Colonel Casey, keep monitoring the situation and let me know immediately of any changes."
"Yes ma'am."
There was no denying it; this was going to be a long night. 'Oh well,' she thought another night on the couch.' She was referring to the couch in her office. She pressed the button and immediately Agent Wallace entered her room.
"Yes General Beckman."
"Agent Wallace, could you have someone bring in a blanket and a pillow?"
"Staying at the office again General?"
"I am afraid so Agent."
"I will attend to your request right away."
A pillow and blanket were brought over by 'Agent Wallace," Ma'am may I be of further assistance."
"No Agent thank you" General Beckman knew it was going to be a long night. She could have gone home but it was Bartowski that was in trouble and right now she rather be here. General Beckman got herself as comfortable as possible and tried to get some sleep. She soon fell into a fitful sleep tossing and turning.
Two hours into her sleep the chime of a new e-mail alerted General Beckman that she needed to check her computer. With a start and half a sleep she got up from her couch and made her way to her desk. She clicked on it and said "Access Denied" the first thought was 'what the hell, denied?' Then she saw the sender, it was a direct e-mail from Chuck Bartowski's private account. She hissed, "Bartowski!" All of a sudden the screen swirled and said access granted! She saw the report that he was working on and her face went from pink with annoyance to ashen white, she couldn't believe what she was reading. This was the recent Intel she had sent him. Apparently he gathered some other intelligence from other sources and was able to put everything together like his always did. She regained composure and immediately contacted Colonel Casey.
"John," Beckman rarely addressed Casey by the first name, so he knew something bad had happened. "What is the status concerning the weather."
"General they are predicting another twelve hours before there will be a break in the weather."
"I am sending you the e-mail I received from Chuck. I had sent him our latest Intel concerning these hounds. You will now understand why Chuck was fired upon. I intend to send you a squadron of Apaches. I want the full attack force ready to go as soon as possible. This is top priority John; we need Chuck back home and alive."
"Yes ma'am understood."
The General cut off the link, breathing heavily trying to calm down her nerves; she once again looked at the e-mail and griped the armrests tightly. Blinking red a name of a once CIA Agent thought dead, who had a total dedication to the destruction of the CIA flashed over and over, DANIEL SHAW.
Dulles International Airport 6:00 AM
Sarah was an impatient person by nature and having to wait an hour before her flight was scheduled to leave made her pace back and forth. If she kept this up she was going to wear a hole in the carpet. She had to get controlled of herself. She was acting irrationally and was starting to draw the attention of everyone around her. She went to the bathroom to wash her face and calm down. 'Take it easy Sarah, acting like a person on drugs was not going to make matters any better.'
Taking a couple of deep breaths she finally calmed down and she decided to sit down. All of a sudden she remembered, 'the picture of Chuck that Carina had sent!' She scrolled through her saved picture and finally found it. She looked at it, she REALLY looked at it and her heart nearly stopped. "DAMN!" She said in a voice a little louder than she should have.
The old lady next to her raised her eye brows in confusion. Sarah looking back at the lady and turning three shades of red said, "hum...just my boyfriend sending me his picture."
The old lady took a look at the picture of Chuck, shook her head and gave her a knowing look. Sarah wanted to disappear at that moment. "Nice taste." the old lady said. Sarah not knowing what to do got up and moved away from the old lady. Sarah sat in a corner seat and finally relaxing she starting looking at Chuck's picture, viewing it with reverence. 'Two damn years Chuck!' She thought. Taking another deep breath she whispered, "Never again!"
Her thoughts started drifting too the greatest night of her life. It was the night that everything changed between her and Chuck.
Barstow California two years earlier
They had been on the run one step ahead of blood hound known as Casey. Chuck was convinced that his father along with the Fulcrum base was nearby. Tired from a long day of driving, they had decided to stop at a seedy motel just outside of Barstow. They both enter the small room, looking around Chuck immediately noticed it had only one bed.
"Sa...Sarah I am sorry, I thought this room came with twin beds"
Sarah smiled lightly she always loved the way he stuttered when he got flustered. "It's ok Chuck."
"Don't worry Sarah I will sleep on the floor."
"No way Chuck you are sleeping in the same bed as me. We are both adults and this is not the first time we have slept in the same bed."
'Easy for her to say,' Chuck thought. 'Every time I am near her on a bed I do not sleep well at all.' The smell of her hair, those lips, her beautiful eyes, her soft skin.' Ok he realize that he better stop right now or the reaction he was going to have on a certain part of his anatomy would make Sarah see that Chuck's thought were anything but gentlemanly.
Sarah continued, oblivious to the effect she was having on him. "Besides I need to keep a close eye on you at all times. I cannot let you out of my sight." With that she announced, "I am going to take a shower."
Chuck smirked and before he could stop what he was saying he blurted out, "Does the keeping a close eye on me thing include while you are showering!"
Surprised by his statement Sarah smiled devilishly and said, "Nice try buster." She then went in to the shower deciding to run the water a little colder than she had expected. Both Chuck and Sarah thinking the same thing at the same time, "Where did that come from!"
When Sarah got out of the shower, she shyly went to the bed. Chuck was already there in a tee shirt and his boxers. Sarah was wearing a light tee shirt and cotton panties. Her smell was intoxicating. Chuck had a hard time concentrating but managed to say, "Sarah why are you doing this?"
She misunderstood and replied, "Because the floor is gross and you do not deserve to be sleeping on a disgusting floor."
"No Sarah, what I meant to say is why are you risking your career, and committing treason for me. Why, Sarah, why."
'Isn't it obvious Chuck,' Sarah thought. However, she replied, "You do not deserve to go and spend the rest of your life in a bunker Chuck!" Sarah continued, "You deserve to have that normal life that you always wanted, and Ellie deserves to have her father walk her down the aisle."
"You know you are wonderful right." His smile threatened to light up the room. Sarah had no defense against that smile. Her knees became weak and her heart fluttered every time he smiled at her like that. Chuck continued, "So what happens now?"
"We continue to try to find your father and rescue him from Fulcrum."
"Then what Sarah, what happens to us"
"One mission at a time Chuck."
Sarah had her hands behind her head looking at the ceiling. Chuck signed, turned off the TV and for some reason thought he would turn off the night lamp that was next to Sarah. He leaned over not giving it a second thought when he was almost hovering completely over Sarah. The proximity to Sarah the smell of her lavender shampoo hit him like a cad five tornado. Chuck froze over Sarah and they stared intently at each other.
At that moment it seemed the world had stopped and the only people in it were Chuck and Sarah. As she looked at him with longing desire she kept thinking, 'Do it Chuck, go for it please!'
As if reading her mind, Chuck took a step he never thought he would ever have the guts to do, like a dive bomber he crashed his lips against hers. At that moment Chuck lit a fuse in Sarah and she exploded into action. She grabbed his hair with both hand and pulled him down onto her deepening the kiss. Chuck for his part snaked his arms underneath her, pressing her tightly against him.
Eventually they needed air and finally broke the kiss. However, they both looked at each other smiling brightly. It was like the weight of the world had been lifted from both of them. They dove back into each other for another searing kiss.
After the second kiss Chuck told her "Don't move, don't getup, I will be right back." He grabbed his pants and immediately went to the bathroom. Chuck frantically searched his wallet for his condom only to be shocked at what he found. It was an IOU from his friend Morgan who had "barrowed" his condom. "Shit, shit, shit! Sometimes I really hate you Morgan!"
He had to think fast, he quickly put his pants on, came out of the bathroom in a rush, grabbed the car keys and told Sarah he would be right back.
Sarah was only momentarily confused. "Chuck where are you going."
Ah...um...you know Sarah, I will be right back.
Sarah started laughing, "What is so funny Sarah."
She was smirking when she said," Chuck you will not need condoms."
Chuck froze as he tried to process what she had just said. "What did you say?"
Smiling evilly Sarah said," I said come back here you have work to do."
Well Chuck maybe dense about something's but once he figures it out he does not need to be told twice. He quickly turned and practically dove at Sarah as she giggled and then yelped in surprise. Their kisses again turned frantic as this time they were practically ripping the clothes of each other. Two years of sexual frustration boiled over like a volcano. The first time they did not last very long. It was great while it lasted but was over way too quickly.
Trying to catch his breath Chuck turned to Sarah with a sparkle in his eyes. "Don't worry Sarah that was just the warm up, I have much more where that came from."
Sarah smiled wickedly at Chuck, "Good to know." She whispered in his ear seductively.
Chuck then slowed down and the next two rounds were slow and gentle. Sarah very early on in round two realized that Chuck was making this about her. He wanted to know what made her tick, what aroused her most, what parts of her body were the most sensitive. Yes Chuck took his time and decided to stroke her raging fire within her. Every time he hit a right spot he made a mental note for the future.
To Chuck's surprise Sarah was quite vocal and did not mind at all telling him what turned her on the most. Her climax was explosive the intensity and duration were the best she ever had. Sarah's imagination had run wild on her, fantasizing what it might be like to make love to Chuck. She has even had salacious dreams concerning the first time with Chuck. However, not only had Chuck reached her expectations, he had far exceeded them. Without a doubt the slow gentle love making that marked round two and the others that followed that night were frankly the best she had.
She was floored about how good it was. 'Damn if I had known how good Chuck was at making love, I would have run away with him sooner!' As good as the love making was, it was their talks between sessions that made this night so special.
Chuck began by apologizing for Jill. This is all it took for Sarah's walls to completely crumble. She apologized for kissing Bryce the first time and almost leaving with him. They went back and forth all night. Sarah admitted to Chuck that she used the Lonkirk mission to push Chuck away. "I was falling for you so hard; I really did not know what to do. I was scared and my defense mechanism kicked in and that is how I dealt with it." She said sadly.
"Don't feel bad Sarah, I acted like a complete jerk and pressured you about the kiss. I should have known better. To be blurting out something like that in front of Casey's bugs was complete stupidity."
God how she loved this man! His concern was always for her. She was rubbing his chess hairs lightly when she decided to ask Chuck something that had been bugging her for a long time. "Chuck why did you break up with me the second time that Bryce showed up?"
'Oh boy,' Chuck thought. That one he had been planning to avoid. Not because he did not want to tell her the truth, but because he was embarrassed about being duped again by that asshole Larkin. "Umm...ahh."
Ok she knew something was up with that one. "Ok Chuck spill, you know I have ways to make you talk." She said that as she did the Bartowski eye brow dance.
Chuck could not help himself; she was so adorable attempting to imitate him. "Ah sweet heart the only reason I hesitated was that I was embarrassed." She gave him a curious look, but knew she wanted him to continue. All he had to say was the magical word, "Bryce."
She had a gut feeling he had been involved with this somehow. "What about that asshole."
At that moment he felt so much joy that she felt that way about Bryce. That was the same way he had felt about him for a while. He grabbed her and kisses her and for the first time he said to her, "I love you." It was a simple statement but he said it with such conviction that he made her gasp.
Sarah smiled brightly and said, "Thank you Chuck, you do not know how great it feels for you to say that to me. By the way, I Love you to, I have for a long time."
Chuck felt like his heart was going to burst, he was that over joyed. He hugged her tightly to him kissed her on her head and continued. "He suckered me Sarah. He told me that my feeling for you would get you killed. He pulled a photo he had taken of you at the hospital and told me this time we were lucky. He said if I did not break up with you, that he would not have any choice but to report us. Bryce claimed that he was only trying to look out for us."
God how she hated that sanctimonious prick. "You know Chuck he only told you that because he was jealous of how much we cared about each other. It makes me think that he might have been the cause for my 49B."
"You know Sarah you might be right, I would not put anything past him."
It was almost four in the morning when the lovers, exhausted from their sweet love making fell asleep holding each other tightly.
They had overslept; Sarah only woke up because something hard was prodding her in the back. She soon realized that Chuck's left hand was copping her left breast. She felt something else on her back, she smirked, 'I guess as a good girlfriend, I am going to have to take care of Chuck's early morning problem.' She started to softly rub her fingers through Chuck's other hand that was on her hip.
Chuck slowly woke up, had he been dreaming, or was last night real? And what was around his left hand that felt so soft and …OH MY GOD! "Good morning baby," Sarah said in a very sultry voice!
"Hi beautiful, how was your sleep?"
"My sleep was fine, the best I have had in a long time. However, I think I may have injured my back."
Chuck immediately picked his head up concerned for her wellbeing, "What is wrong can I help?"
'God he is adorable,' she thought, "Yes you can Chuck all you have to do is move your hips a little, there is something sticking me in the back!'
When he realizes what she was talking about he immediately turned twelve shades of red. Sarah was having a real good time at Chuck's expense, and finally started laughing loudly. Chuck to his credit gave a pretty good comeback, "It is your fault you know."
Smiling brightly Sarah reached around grabbed him, Chuck nearly jumped, "Hi Ho!"
Giggling she pulled him down for a very hot open mouth kiss, when they broke she whispered, "Chuck we are dirty let's take this to the shower."
He did not have to be told twice, 'SHOWER SEX, YEAH!' His mind was gone and for that matter so was Sarah's. She kept thinking to herself, 'We have a lot of making up to do.'
Just as he threw the covers off, the door burst open and in walked Casey. "Knock, Knock."
"Shit" was all that Sarah said.
"Goddam Casey don't you ever knock!" Chuck was pissed. And he quickly threw the covers over Sarah.
Even at this moment Sarah was amazed at the way Chuck always protected her. 'I picked a good one!'
"Yuk! I need brain bleach! I will not be able to sleep tonight!"
"Funny Casey" Sarah retorted.
"So Walker it looks like the Moron has been dipping his chocolate in your peanut butter!"
"Ha, Ha Casey you are a regular comedian. Where did you learn that one, assassination school?" Chuck bit back.
Casey was having a good time he had gotten under the nerd's skin. This was getting to be a good day after all. "Here is what we are going to do. The moron is going to cover himself up." He kicked over Chuck's boxer shorts. "Then MS. Walker he will hand you your clothes and you will proceed to get dressed in the bath room." As if to reiterate his point, "No funny business Sarah, you would not want your boy toy to be thrown into the bunker do you?"
Chuck picked up his boxers and starts to put them back on. Sarah signed in disappointment, 'Why couldn't you have found us an hour later. God I am hopeless,' she thought, 'We just got captured and all I am thinking is of Chuck and a hot shower.'
When Chuck put his boxers on Casey grabbed him roughly around the shoulders and pointed a gun at him. "Hey!" Chuck protested. Sarah narrowed her eyes.
"Listen up Romeo, you are going to take Walker's clothes and drop them off on the bed. However, first I want you to hand me her gun and throwing knives, now move numb nuts!"
"Seriously, Casey after last night that insult does not fit!"
Casey rolled his eyes and pushed Chuck towards Sarah's clothes. "Hurry up before I brain you!"
Chuck quickly picked up Sarah's gun and throwing knives and handed them to Casey. He then neatly picked up her clothes and placed them gently on the bed and mouthed to her "I am sorry."
Sarah shook her head and smiled warmly.
"Ok get back here Mr. Walker."
"God Casey you are full of it today." Sarah snapped back. She picked up her clothes wrapped the bed sheets tightly around her and went to the bathroom to get dressed.
"What about me Casey, when do I get dressed?"
'This was just too good,' Casey thought. "You don't"
"What!"
"The fact that you are without your clothes will make it harder for you to escape again."
Sarah overhearing what Casey was saying was formulating a plan. She would get close enough to Chuck so she could push him into Casey. Hopefully, the distraction would be enough for her to strike. She walked up to Chuck who was next to Casey. "Chuck could you please hand me my shoes."
Chuck bent down and in that moment he was off balance. Sarah pretended to reach for her shoes and pushed Chuck towards Casey's legs. Reaching for anything to catch his fall Chuck grabbed both of Casey's legs. At that precise moment Sarah struck. She slapped Casey's gun from his hand and whipped a round house kick towards his head. Momentarily dazed he knew he had lost the fight when she stood up pointing the gun at him. All Casey said was, "Damn!"
"Come on Chuck put your clothes on and let's get out of here."
Sarah took his cuffs off him and pointed to Chuck, "Cuff him to the water heater."
Chuck looked at Casey and gulped, "Sorry Casey." Casey just growled.
Chuck and Sarah quickly got to the car when they saw a bunch of Fulcrum Agents going into the room. "Sarah," Chuck pointed. Sarah didn't care she just started the car.
"But Sarah its Casey!"
Sarah looked at Chuck and saw his puppy dog eyes. 'God how can I refuse him anything, If he knew the power he had over me when he looks at me like that I would be toast.' "Fine, but you better stay in the car Chuck or so help me I will cut you off for a week!"
'A week!' "Sarah you have my solemn promise that I will stay in the car."
'Good Boy!' 'Hmm… this being compromise thing can be pretty good.'
When Sarah went in after Casey, he was heading back to the car from the back, water heater in tow. He got in the car, "Step on it moron let us get out of here."
"Casey!" Chuck was in shock. "Sarah went in after you!" just then Sarah was being dragged out by Fulcrum Agents.
"Let's go before they see us."
There was no way he was leaving Sarah. "I am not leaving Sarah."
"Let's go or I will break your neck."
"I am not leaving Sarah and besides you are cuffed to a water heater!"
"You want to bet I can't kill you?"
This conversation was getting old rather quickly so Chuck punched the accelerator and hit the Fulcrum agents holding Sarah. A shoot occurred but Sarah ran out of bullets and was now once again the prisoner of John Casey. Everything else became a blur, the escape from Castle, rescuing Orion from Fulcrum, blowing up the base and last but not least having the intersect removed from Chuck's head.
The night of Ellie bridal dinner when Chuck saw Sarah again he was at a loss for words. Casey decided to wait for them in front of the car to give them space. He was actually happy for Sarah; she was finally getting her wish. Sarah was about to enjoy that normal life she so craved. When Chuck grabbed her hand and she said it was real, Sarah meant everything. That included marriage, the house with the white picket fence and the red door, the 2.5 kids and the dog. She really meant what she said that night.
Unfortunately, as it so often happens between Chuck and Sarah things did not work out as planned. First at the rehearsal dinner, his sister and Devon got a slight case of food poisoning forcing Chuck to take the future bride and groom to the hospital, ruining a perfect opportunity for Chuck and Sarah to get more practice in her room.
The 'scum bucket,' Sarah's term of endearment for Bryce Larkin came in acting like he owned the place, forcing the General to push the intersect project to begin a week earlier than expected. Sarah had been caught off guard and initially accepted the assignment. Bryce had told her that Chuck had accepted the position of analyst on the team. Not wanting to leave him behind she worriedly agreed on the assignment. Therefore, she was in shock when Chuck came up to her and asked her to go on a vacation with him. Thinking he was kidding Sarah told him that she had been assigned to go with Bryce on the intersect project.
By the look on his face, Sarah realized the joke had been on her. At the beach she had been smiling at Chuck until Larkin signaled her it was time to go. She was delighted when she told him no. The only problem was that she never got to say to Chuck that she was staying. Chuck's dad interrupted them before she got the chance. Saving Bryce was her number one priority. Not because she cared about him but because she did not want the government to come after Chuck again.
Chuck surprised her by showing up with a wrist computer and together again one last time Casey, Sarah and Chuck went to save the world. When Chuck went to get help he was able to find a phone on one of the dead guards. Help arrived within five minutes. As Chuck came to the rescue with an NSA strike team, he saw one of the bad guys raise his gun and pointed at Sarah's head. Chuck ran as fast as he could and pushed Sarah out of the way as the agent shot. Chuck had caused the Ring Agent to miss. The Ring agent however, did not miss Chuck's head when he whipped the gun around and connected with Chuck's head knocking him out. The NAS strike team then jumped into action and arrested four of the five agents. The one that hit Chuck suffered Sarah's wrath as he got not one but two knives stuck in his throat.
Sarah immediately went over to Chuck making sure he was ok and being with him while he was in the hospital. They found Larkin with a flesh wound to the ribs but otherwise alright. He had been able to download the intersect 2.0 and was waiting for the Ring Agents to break through the door before he would take them on. Larkin found Sarah next to an unconscious Chuck and then that is where he formulated his plan that initially went so well. He lied and told her the Ring agents knew who Chuck was. He told Sarah that the only way to lead them away from Chuck was to go on missions and make them realize that another person had the intersect. Bryce needed Sarah because of her experience dealing with the intersect. He sounded very convincing; Bryce always did when he was lying through his teeth. She knew him better when she was with him and the bull shit he spewed that day she would have caught immediately. However, being in love and in fear of losing Chuck to a nefarious organization was too much of a risk for Sarah to take. Therefore, reluctantly she accepted the assignment with a condition that she would only serve until her contract was up in two years. She was beyond heart broken when she decided to leave a letter instead of talking to him in person. Now she could kick herself for how stupid she had been.
She carried with her two letters, the one that Bryce had stolen from Chuck's bedroom and the one Jason gave her when he died. Sarah simply did not know how to handle this. However, she knew that once she found Chuck, he would be her rock. He would be there for her all the way when she had to face that poor young lady who had lost her one and only. From what Jason had told her about Gloria, they were High School sweethearts and it had carried through their college years. He said he felt married to her, considered her his best friend and confided with her for everything. She did not want him in the field anymore that was the reason he was quitting after their mission. 'To be killed by friendly fire, betrayed by a psycho who had no business being in the field. How horrible it will be for this poor woman if she found out how close to happiness she had been only to be snatched away.' She got misty eyed again. It was in these moments that she was glad that Bryce was dead. However, she did feel bad for the way they agency had decide to end his life.
She was awakened from her deep thoughts by the buzzing on her phone. It was the Director of the CIA. Tom Harding had come up from the ranks; he was tough as nails and was not a political animal like so many before him. She answered the phone out of respect.
"Walker secure but in public."
"Harding secure. Agent Walker could you please report to my office today at nine?"
"Sorry sir but I cannot do that."
"May I ask why Agent."
'Sir I am going to search for Chuck, he is lost in Alaska and I am lost without him. I have three weeks left on my contract and have six months' vacation time accumulated. You can consider this my resignation. When I find Chuck I will come back and sign my papers. I know that I am being insubordinate, but at this point I just do not care anymore. You are a good man Director, the best we have had in a while. Please be careful of all those deceitful people in the agency and the politicians that control their purse strings. This job is just not worth losing your soul over."
The Director remained silent for a while, finally he said, "Good luck agent Walker, I sincerely hope that you find Agent Carmichael and that you finally are able to live the life that you deserve. From myself and the agents who care about you, I want to thank you for your invaluable service you have given to this county. We will miss you Sarah."
"Thank you sir." With that she hung up.
NAS Offices Langley Washington 7:00 AM
Laura Cummings General Beckman's personal assistant had just arrived. She noticed the light on in the General's office. She knocked as was customary and was surprised when the General said, "Enter."
"General ma'am I am surprised you are here this early."
"I never left."
Laura raised her eye brows in surprise. "May I get you some coffee ma'am?"
"Yes Laura that would be nice."
Laura was about to leave to get some coffee for the General when her phone buzzed. "General Beckman's Office may I help you?"
"Yes, Laura, this is Tom Harding is the General in? I need to talk to her right away"
"Yes sir she is. Let me buzz you in, hold on a moment please"
Laura buzzed the General, "Yes Laura?"
"General Beckman the CIA Director is on line two ma'am."
"Thank you Laura."
General Beckman wondered what was so important that the CIA Director wants to talk to her at this early hour," Yes Tom what do you need."
"Diane, I just got some vital piece of information you might be interested in."
"What would that be Tom?"
"Is Agent Carmichael missing Diane?"
"Why would you say that Tom?"
"Because I have an Agent who has basically resigned and is on her way to Alaska to find him."
'Oh boy here we go.' Beckman thought. "It was a hell of a night wasn't it Tom."
"Yes it was Diane. How about we meet for coffee in an hour?"
"Same place as usual Tom?"
"Same place Diane."
"Sounds good Tom, oh and thank you for the information."
"Anytime Diane." With that the Director hung up.
'Well I better get Casey on the line.' Beckman thought, 'He needs to prepare for hurricane
Sarah.'
Beckman contacted Casey. "Colonel what is the status report on the weather."
"The best estimates are that we have 6 more hours before the system passes General."
"The update was not the only reason for this call Colonel. I have it on good authority that you can be expecting a guest soon that will assist you in finding Chuck."
"Who might that be General?"
"Agent Walker."
"Oh shit, begging your pardon General, how in the world did she find out so quickly?"
"I have no idea, but Chuck has a place in Kodiak on Purtov Street, find it and secure his computer first. I have a feeling that is where Agent Walker will be, wait for her there."
"Ma'am how do you know she will be there."
"Colonel, do you have any doubt when it concerns those two?"
"No ma'am none at all."
"Good I leave you to it and remember to have a tactical suit her size."
"Yes ma'am and thanks for the heads up."
Once the General hung up, Casey started getting nervous. 'Oh man how am I going to explain this?' He thought. 'She might gut me before I can explain.'
9:00 AM Seattle Washington
The five hour flight from DC to Seattle was uneventful. Sarah had to rush as she had a connecting flight to Anchorage Alaska. It still always amazed her how you could get on a plane fly across country and lose only two hours because of the time difference.
Sarah was tired, she had been running on adrenalin all day and it was finally catching up with her. An Elderly man of average height in a blue battle dress uniform with Major bars on one collar and a cross on the other was watching Sarah with a critical eye.
When Sarah turned on her phone again she immediately realize she missed a call from Carina. She redialed her number and waited. On the second ring Carina picked up. "Hey Blondie where are you now"
"Just arrived in Seattle, I have a connecting flight to Alaska, thanks for the tickets Carina."
"No problem Sarah, you really sound tired."
"Yeah no sleep and jet lag is a deadly combination"
"Well I have some good news for you."
Before she could continue Sarah burst out saying. "Did they find Chuck, how is he, where is he?"
"Jesus Christ Sarah take it easy! It is not that type of good news, it is information."
"Oh." A deflated Sarah said.
"A thank you would be nice."
"Sorry Carina I am really grateful for everything that you have done for me."
"I just texted you Chuck's address, it is in Kodiak Alaska."
"I'll go there first and see what I can find out, thank you again Carina you have been a life saver."
"Anytime Blondie," She could not help herself at what she said next. "So Sarah did you finally get your head out of your ass and take a look at the picture that I send you of Chuckles?"
Sarah knew that teasing tone from Carina, however; at this point she did not care if the whole world knew that Chuck was her man. "Oh yes!"
'Wow this is better than I thought.' "Well what did you think?"
"Two things, I am glad that he is in shape, he is going to need it when I get through with him. Secondly, stop checking out my boyfriends' ass Carina that is my property!"
Carina was beyond shocked, "Holy shit! When did this happen?"
"Two years ago in Barstow."
"Then why in the world was he so mopey and hurt!"
"That was a pure misunderstanding that will be corrected when I see him again. Listen Carina my flight to Anchorage is now boarding, I have to go."
"Bye Blondie, remember to invite me to the wedding!"
"Invite you? You are going to be a bride's maid."
"Ha, ha, Sarah you are such a kidder!"
"Who is kidding?" With that Sarah hung up.
For a long time after Sarah hung up Carina kept looking at the phone totally in shock. 'She was kidding right…right? OH MY GOD!'
Flight from Seattle to Anchorage
As luck would have it the Chaplin had a seat next to Sarah. She looked totally exhausted by the time she sat down. Everything was now catching up to her, Jet lag, lack of sleep, worrying about Chuck, the fact that Bryce stole the letter, whether or not Chuck had moved on, did he have a girlfriend! 'God I am a mess' she thought and just closed her eyes for a moment. She fell into a fitful sleep.
She saw Gray ominous Clouds approaching her. All of a sudden it started to snow however it was not cold, she reached out with her hand to grab the snow and felt that it wasn't right for it to snow in the end of March. Sarah then watched the stream she was standing on begin to fill up with dead fish as they floated by her. An eagle she had just witnessed flying by with a fish in its talons landed in front of her with a thud, standing up and stumbling before it died. The snow made it hard to breathe then it started to burn her eyes. She saw him in a blue flight suit and his arms where reaching out for her as she ran as fast as she could toward him. No matter how hard she tried it felt like she could hardly move. Just then a black figure walked behind Chuck and shot him. She heard Chuck calling out to her as he fell to the floor in slow motion.
Sarah woke up with a start,"CHUCK!" She screamed.
Everyone around her including the Chaplin were by her side. "Miss, miss, are you alright?" The Chaplin said.
Sarah finally realized where she was. She was sweating and had this wild eye look about her. Taking deep breaths, she finally calmed down. "I am fine." She tried to deflect.
She looked at him with a critical eye, he was average height. The man had blue battle dress uniform on and Majors' bars on one collar and a cross on the other.
"Miss I am not convinced that you okay. I have already called the stewardess and asked her for some water for you."
Sarah nods her head trying to make sense of what she dreamt. She than looks at the book he is holding tightly in his hands and asks, "What book are you reading?"
"It is the Holy Bible. I was just making some notes for the next sermon." He holds out his hand, my name is Major Bob Millings, Chaplain for the coast guard."
Sarah shakes his hand. "Sarah Walker nice to meet you."
The Chaplin looks at Sarah closely, "May I say Miss Walker, you look like a person with the weight of the world on her shoulders." When she says nothing in return he continues, "If you want to talk, if you have something that is bothering you, I am here to listen."
She sighs, her mind races, why did she let Chuck through her grasp in the first place. Was he dead, did he still love her? She didn't want to lie to a man of the cloth but she couldn't break her oath either. She had to be careful what she said to the Chaplin.
She took a deep breath and says, "I'm a specialist with my firm and I make certain problems go away. It makes the firm I work for run smoother. Four years ago I meet a guy, I thought it would be a cake walk, but by the end of the day I found myself falling in love with the most amazing man. However, my reputation and regulation forbid me from following my heart and to be honest I was scared as well. The project with him ended and my boss wanted me for several other projects, to complicate matters I found out that I was partners on the new project with Chuck's nemesis. I left him instead of listening to my heart, I towed the company line and not a day goes by that I don't regret it."
Sarah continues, "I just found out that Chuck joined the Coast Guard and became a pilot. He is now living in Kodiak and I am so hoping that he'll take me back. That is if he hasn't been snagged by some other woman." Sarah huffs at the last statement with a worried look.
"What was Chuck's name I might know him?"
"Lieutenant Chuck Bartowski."
The Chaplain's face fell, "Miss I was recalled from a conference in San Diego, the Coast Guard usually sends me to help with the aftermath of a possible loss of life. I am not sure if you are aware but Lieutenant Bartowski Chopper crashed, he may be lost at sea."
Sarah grabbed the Chaplin's hand and with a conviction in her eyes that he had never seen before, "I know he's alive, he's here." Sarah taps her chest. "And here." She points to her head, "I know it."
At that moment the stewardess brings them both a bottle of water.
The Chaplin is taken aback at her behavior; however, he finds her belief to be uplifting. 'There must be on hell of a story here,' he thinks to himself. The Chaplin says, "How about you start at the beginning?"
Eielson Air force Base Alaska 10:30 AM
Major Cody Smith got ready to address his men.
"Attention!"
"Sit down gentleman." The men all sat down as ordered.
"Gentlemen we have been task to assist three NSA strike teams based off Elmendorf base. The storm is easing up and we should be able to get clearance in the next hour. I cannot stress the importance of this mission. It will be dangerous, this is the real thing. I expect all of you to be sharp out there. We may have to take on an enemy who has the same type equipment we do. We may also be facing stinger missiles. I expect all of you will do your duties. Failure is not an option, am I clear?"
All the men responded in unison, "YES SIR!"
"Get your gears ready, we will be airborne within 90 minutes. Do me proud."
As he was about to leave everyone stood at attention, "Good luck to all of us gentlemen."
Elmendorf Air force Base 10:30 AM
Colonel Casey was pacing the floor like a caged animal. "Fucking storm."
Blue had his arms crossed leaning against the wall. Both men looked at each other and communicated silently. Blue almost whisper, "We will get our boys back." There was the confidence and conviction with the statement that made Casey stand up and noticed.
Ever since Chuck had saved the sergeant they were inseparable. Blue taught him to spar, to shoot and how to breach enemy hide outs properly. They talked all the time. Chuck was family; he was the little brother that he wished he had. Now Chuck was out there in a shit storm and he was here unable to do anything and "IT PISSED HIM OFF!"
"Come on," Casey said, "I need to share with you something that I just been told."
When they arrived at the building holding all of their strike team, they all looked at the Colonel with anticipation. Blue said, "Gather around guys the Colonel has something to tell us."
"Listen up men; there are several things I need to share with you. First and foremost this is going to be one of the most dangerous missions we have ever faced as a team." All the men leaned forward; the Colonel had never spoken like this before. "Chuck was targeted. He was shot down on purpose. The prick who ordered his Chopper to be shot down is former CIA."
"Figures." Blue said under his breath. He never had much respect for that group. As far as Blue was concerned they were a bunch of backstabbing traitorous pricks that always ended up becoming double agents for the enemy for the right price. He knew first hand of this happening when he lost two good friends to one of these turn coat weasels.
Casey shook his head and continued. "We are getting support today from two places. First there is an Apache squadron based of Eielson that will be joining us."
"Shit Colonel that is a lot of firepower. Are we expecting that kind of opposition?" Henderson had a personal stake in this rescue; his brother was on the helicopter with Chuck as his protection. He was deeply concerned about his brother but also Chuck. He had always been eternally grateful to Chuck for taking enemy fire that day. He had saved everyone's butt. Without Chuck they would not be here talking right now.
"Unfortunately yes. We will stop at Chuck's place first and secure his computer."
Blue known for his outbursts said what they were all thinking. "Come on Colonel! Our guys are out there in god knows what shape and the brass is concerned about a fucking computer!"
"What part of following orders did you not understand Blue, I feel the same way you do. I promise to make this quick."
Blue did not say anything else; he just shook his head in disgust and crossed his arms.
Anderson spoke for the first time; he was the youngest of the group, even younger than Chuck. "Sir, you said two places."
"Yes Anderson, a CIA agent will be joining us."
"What!" The group jumped almost in unison.
"Relax, this is Agent Sarah Walker and she is family too."
"Hold on a minute is that the CIA skirt that left Chuck?" Blue was on a roll.
Casey corrected him, "If you mean that she is Chuck's girlfriend than the answer is yes!"
"Then why is Chuck always walking around with a broken heart?"
One look at Casey told Blue all he wanted to know. "Oh my fucking god, they have kept those two kids apart on purpose didn't they. She probably did not know where he was, she just found out now didn't she!"
All Casey could do was sign and blow out his breath slowly. Henderson spoke next, "Looks like Blue got that one on one!"
Changing the subject quickly Casey said, "Gear up we should be air born within the next 90 minutes."
As Casey left Blue muttered to himself, "It amazes me we can get anything done; sometimes you wonder who the enemy is."
Alaska Airlines Flight 97 on approach 12:00 PM
Sarah closed her eyes as she wiped the tears away.
"That is some story Sarah… would you like to say a prayer for Chuck and his crew."
Sarah had never been religious, but at this time she needed something to hold on to. She nods her head as the Chaplain bows his head and speaks "dear lord…."
She feels at peace as she prays, she feels hope like that Morning in Barstow... waking up in Chucks arms. She feels like a new person, all the grief and guilt has been taken away from her, she feels a sensation run down her spine and a presence of mind that she knew was not of this earth. She promised to herself and to God that if Chuck was alive, that she would make him happy. She would do everything in her power to be there for him. She was free of the CIA now and her only thought was about a future with Chuck.
"Amen" they both say just as the Chaplain looks up, the PA pipes up ERA Aviation Flight 531 to Kodiak now boarding. The Chaplain notes a soft smile on Sarah lips as a chuckle escapes her.
"What's so funny?"
"531 was my hotel number in Burbank."
The Chaplain smiles at the coincidence and says, "God works in mysterious and wondrous ways."
They both walk up to the check up point and on to the Dash 8 turbo prop plane for the last leg of the trip and the first part of her last mission. She was no longer working for her country this time she was working for the almighty.