Chuck Versus the Doomsday Plot
A/N: Chuck is a Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer thrust into a plot by a global terrorist organization to detonate a nuclear device in a major European city. When he teams up with a beautiful CIA spy named Sarah, they must race against the clock to stop a global catastrophe.
This story is inspired by the numerous instances Chuck is called upon to disarm bombs in the series. So…why not place him in EOD?
The story will be A/U. Plenty of action, and plenty of icky lady feelings! Casey might even get to shoot somebody! The characters will not necessarily mirror canon in how they think/act, but they are pretty close.
The good news is…the story is written from beginning to end. I'll space out posting chapters as I proof/edit to ensure the story is production quality…or as close as I can get it. Please forgive any typos/syntax errors that I may miss. Spellcheck is a wonderful tool for my aging eyes...but it isn't foolproof (me, being the fool).
I do wish to warn readers the story will include strong language, but the fluff scenes will be true to a T-rating.
It is my sincere hope the story is enjoyable to the reader.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck. I have made no cents (or sense) from my work…..
Chapter 1: Chance Encounter
Somewhere North of Baghdad, Iraq, Summer 2005
"Viper Main, this is Viper Actual. Requesting EOD on my pos, over." Lieutenant Commander Mike Saville said over his radio. The Navy SEAL Platoon Commander had just exited a building in a rural village north of Baghdad, and found enough explosives to level the small village.
After evacuating the village, the platoon pulled back to a safe distance.
Chief Petty Officer Cody Stone, Commander Saville's Platoon Chief, sighed heavily. "Well, Boss. Guess Miss CIA over there is about to bust a gasket."
Commander Saville rolled his eyes. "Cut her some slack, Chief. Not her fault the intel was bad."
"Still." Chief Stone replied, pausing to spit a large, salivated glob of tobacco. "She scares the shit out of me when she's pissed."
"Agreed." Commander Saville said off-handed. "Just stay frosty, Chief."
Chief Stone nodded, scanning his sector. "Hope EOD sends Lieutenant Bartowski. That guy is fucking Einstein when it comes to shit that goes boom."
"Had his team on standby." Commander Saville replied. "Intel said this entire area is crawling with IEDs. Until we shut down the border, this place is gonna be the Wild West."
"More foreigners?" Chief Stone asked, with a bit of contempt in his tone. He had personally killed a number of foreign insurgents at Fallujah. He hated them with a passion.
"Wouldn't be surprised. This place is a fun house for insurgents." Commander Saville said, checking his equipment.
The CIA agent approached. Her blonde hair pulled in a ponytail behind her helmet. "How long until EOD arrives?"
"Right about….now." Chief Stone said, as a Humvee entered the village from the south.
Commander Saville addressed his platoon. "Set up security." The men took up their positions, scanning a 360-degree radius.
Radios crackled to life. Viper Actual, this is Archangel. How copy?
Saville keyed his radio. "Five by five, Archangel. We are on the hill northeast of the town, about a quarter of a click out. Is that enough breathing room, over?
That should do it. Will let you know if you need to pull back further. Can you give me a sitrep on the package, over?
Saville motioned to Chief Stone, who first spotted, and inspected the device. "Total shit show. Tripping hazard at the main entrance, and plenty of pucker factor all inside the house. Look for the rice bags, over."
There was a brief pause before a reply. Better pull back further, guys. I'm familiar with this MO. Going in solo. Sending my team your way to help with security, over.
Saville and Stone gave each other concerned looks. Saville keyed his radio. "Archangel…is this like Fallujah?"
Feels like it.
Saville spotted the Humvee stop, and one individual exited the passenger side door. He slung a bag over his shoulder, with his sidearm drawn, heading for the compound. Saville noticed he wasn't wearing his EOD suit.
"Archangel…the hell are you doing? You're not protected."
Won't matter. Pull your guys back…now. I'm going in.
Saville turned to his men. "Move!"
Stone turned, and pointed to another hill, addressing the CIA agent. "Better get going, Ma'am. You don't wanna be this close."
"Is the bomb really that bad?" The CIA agent asked, not knowing the details of the one in Fallujah.
Stone, his Texas accent thick, spit another glob of tobacco juice before replying. "Took out five city blocks. The bomb wasn't the problem. The shockwave was a doozy. Never seen anything like that before. Hell…I had to change my drawers."
Before entering the house, the EOD tech examined the tripwire just inside the door, and cautiously entered the house.
Seconds turned to minutes, which felt like an eternity. The hot sun not making the situation any better.
Around 20 minutes later, the EOD tech exited the house, holding something in his hands…gently. He walked to a nearby well, and tossed the device down the well, dropping to the ground. There was a loud explosion, which destroyed the top of the well, and sent water shooting in the air. The tech stood up, dusting himself off, then keyed his radio.
I have exercised the demons. This house…is clear.
Snorts echoed through the SEAL platoon. Saville, smiling, keyed his radio. "Copy that, Archangel. Moving to your pos."
Saville noticed the tech give a thumbs up, and plop down on a nearby crate, sticking the hose from his CamelBak in his mouth.
As the group approached, Chief Stone walked straight up to the EOD tech, as the tech sprayed water in his face. "Damn, Lieutenant. Nearly gave me a coronary. The hell was that thing?" The Chief asked, pointing at the well.
"That, was the detonator, Chief. Used a bomb to set off a bomb." Bartowski said, pulling out his camera, handing it to Stone. "Exactly like the one in Fallujah. Our friend is back."
"Shit." The Chief muttered, handing the camera to Commander Saville. "You better see this, Sir."
Saville looked at the pictures with a grim look. "Dammit…we didn't even see the other bags down in the cellar."
Bartowski put on his blouse, the rank of Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade denoted on his collar, with a EOD Officer badge above his left breast pocket. "Commander…looks like they were expecting you. CENTCOM briefed me on your mission. Found this on the far wall, with a wire attached." Bartowski removed a note he found in the compound, and handed it to Saville.
Saville read the note, and handed it to the CIA agent, who now joined the men. "Lieutenant…this is Miss Walker. CIA."
Sarah made eye contact with the tall Lieutenant, and did a double take when she saw his name tag. Bartowski? Is he the guy Bryce talked about from Stanford? Wow…he's…really cute…
Chuck cleared his throat. She is insanely beautiful...those eyes...I could get lost in them. "Pleased to meet you, Ma'am. I'm Lieutenant J.G. Charles Bartowski. Please, call me Chuck."
Sarah grinned. "I didn't know people still named their kids Chuck."
"My parents were sadists." Saville and Stone snorted. A small laugh escaped Sarah's lips.
"Carnival freaks found me in a dumpster, and raised me as one of their own. And I like to play with explosives."
"Damn…" Stone said, laughing. "They raised me in a pig pen."
Chuck laughed at Stone's reply, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Couple of misfits."
Stone gave Chuck a friendly punch on the arm. "That's what makes us so nasty, L.T."
Chuck gave a goofy look. "Disgusting. Revolting. Downright pitiful. A freaking landfill. That's us, Chief."
"Damn right. We're some nasty bastards, that's for damn sure." The Chief said. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Asshole was taunting us." Sarah said, handing the note back to Commander Saville. "This mission was a bust."
"Not entirely." Chuck said, smiling, handing Sarah a handheld device. "Whoever they had setting this up…didn't expect us to survive. So they left their dirty prints all over the place."
Sarah gave Chuck a surprised look. "That's good work, Chuck."
Saville gave Chuck an impressed look. "The Lieutenant here doubles as an Intelligence Officer."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "EOD and Naval Intelligence? Impressive."
Chuck shrugged, smiling at the beautiful blonde. "I get bored easy."
Sarah grinned, distracted by her attraction to Chuck, unable to catch herself with her next statement. Cute, smart, and funny...wow I like his smile. "Not surprised…considering you graduated from Stanford."
Chuck folded his arms. "I see you did your homework, Miss Walker."
Sarah blinked to hide her frustration. She didn't mean to let that slip. "We have a mutual acquaintance."
Chuck thought hard. "You must know someone I graduated with."
Sarah nodded. "Bryce Larkin."
Sarah noticed the look of pure anger flash in Chuck's eyes. She already knew the story. She was briefly partnered with Bryce on a mission in South America. He went on and on about how he seduced his roommate's girlfriend back in college, and how naïve and weak the guy was. Too trusting of people. Too caring. It was a dog-eat-dog world, and he wanted to teach Chuck a hard life lesson. He was boasting to Sarah about his accomplishments. Sarah knew Bryce was trying to impress her.
She wasn't impressed, and made sure their partnership didn't get personal. The guy thought he was God's gift to women, and she wasn't that kind of girl. She sympathized with Chuck, and she never met him. Until now.
Saville and Stone knew the story too. The three of them often hung out together between missions. They knew Chuck was a stand-up guy. He had saved them in Fallujah. To show their gratitude, they took him out to get him drunk, and get him a girl on his birthday in Coronado.
That's when Chuck told them the story. How he helped his roommate pass several advanced computer coding classes, and the thanks he got was betrayal. Chuck was engaged to a girl named Jill, and she slept with Bryce. Chuck spent the entire evening drowning his sorrows. Saville and Stone agreed if they ever met this Bryce…he was a walking body bag. They were stone cold SEALs, and considered Chuck part of their band of brothers.
"Bryce Freaking Larkin…is a spy? Thought he was an accountant. I see. Well…nice meeting you, Miss Walker. Tell Bryce to go screw himself next time you see him." Chuck said, his tone cold, then proceeded back to join up with his team.
Sarah noticed the disgusted looks from Saville and Stone. Now knowing why, she didn't want Chuck to get the wrong idea. Even though she had just met Chuck…there was something about him that attracted her…drawing her to want to get to know him.
Not to mention Sarah thought he was easy on the eyes. Surprising, since Sarah didn't normally pursue relationships. This was new territory for her.
"Chuck…wait." He must think Bryce and I were...oh, no...
Chuck kept walking. He spotted a glare on a hill outside of town. It didn't look right. On instinct, he turned, lifting his hands to grab Sarah as she said, "Bryce and I were not…"
Sarah never finished, as her face was splattered with blood, and Chuck collapsed into her. Sarah grabbed Chuck, pulling him to a nearby wall.
Saville and Stone both yelled out in unison. "SNIPER! TAKE COVER!" Another shot landed close to Sarah, as she pulled Chuck to cover.
"Two O'Clock! Top of that ridge!" Saville yelled to his platoon, who began laying down suppressive fire on the sniper.
Stone got on his radio, to give orders to two men they left on another ridge to pull security. "Rabbit…Sledge…find that mother fucker!"
On it, Chief. Sledge replied over the radio.
Sarah ripped Chuck's blouse open and applied pressure to the wound. It was a through and through to the top left of Chuck's chest. She hoped the bullet missed his lung.
Chuck coughed, spurting blood. "Shit…" Sarah muttered, removing a chest seal from her pocket, ripping it open with her teeth.
"Hang on, Chuck. You're going to be just fine."
Stone placed himself in front of the pair to provide cover.
"How is he?" Stone asked, concerned.
"Bad! We need a CASEVAC now! Through and through sucking chest wound!"
Stone glanced behind him, and saw Chuck coughing, writhing in pain. He keyed his radio. "Boss, we need a bird, now!"
"Viper Main, this is Viper Actual! Man down, I say again…man down! Requesting immediate CASEVAC on my pos!"
Viper Actual, this is Viper Main...solid copy…man down…bird inbound. ETA five mics, over"
Saville addressed Rabbit and Sledge. "Rabbit…Sledge…give me a sitrep on that shooter!"
Nothing here, Boss. No shell casings. Not even a damn trail. This guy is a ghost.
"Dammit." Saville muttered. "Alright…set me up a LZ."
On it, Boss. Saville made his way over to Chuck's position, kneeling down. "Chuck…we gotta move you. Are you good?"
Chuck gave a thumb up, struggling to breath. "Yeah."
By now, another SEAL slid next to Chuck with a stretcher. "Chuck…you call for a ride, my man?"
Chuck tried not to laugh. He struggled to reply. "You're a lousy taxi driver, Ramirez."
Chuck was loaded on the stretcher, and Saville grabbed Sarah by her shoulder harness. "Walker…go with him. We'll wrap up here."
Sarah nodded, holding Chuck's hand as he was carried to a flat surface just outside the village. She felt panicked, but was holding it together. She never panicked under fire, but she was concerned for the man who just took a bullet for her. The man who in their brief conversation, had managed to kick down a wall she built around herself.
The entire team set up a perimeter, with the EOD team parking their Humvee close by, providing cover with the M2 mounted in a roof turret.
A minute later, a helicopter could be heard approaching, and radios crackled to life.
Viper Actual, this is Angel Six-Five, inbound. Pop smoke, over.
Stone grabbed a smoke canister, yanked the pin, and tossed it. He yelled out "Blue!" as the canister flew through the air.
"Copy that, Angel Six-Five. Popping blue smoke, over."
Roger that, Viper Actual. I have your blue smoke. Is the LZ hot, over?
LZ is secure, Angel Six-Five..but be advised...I recommend a hot extract. Looks like the shooter bailed, but we won't chance it.
The UH-60 Black Hawk came in fast, swung to its side, and landed. A medic jumped out, and ran in a sprint, with two soldiers jumping out from both sides, providing cover.
"Status!" The medic shouted, as she grabbed Chuck's wrist to check his pulse.
Stone spoke up. "GSW to the upper left torso, through and through. Sucking chest wound. Patient is conscious, and breathing. No morphine administered."
The medic checked the chest seal, and checked Chuck's eyes. He was awake, but she could tell he was fading fast.
"Okay, let's get him on board! Ready…one…two…LIFT!"
The group ran to the helicopter. Stone grabbed Chuck's hand as he was placed on board the helicopter. "Hang on, Sir! You hang on!"
Saville tapped the medic twice on the top of her helmet, screaming over the sound of the rotor blades. "You've got another passenger! She's CIA!"
The medic nodded, and climbed into the helicopter. The flight crew boarded, and the engines revved, and took off in a matter of seconds.
On board, the medic motioned for Sarah to put on a headset. "Help me get this IV going."
Sarah helped with the IV, and once in place, the medic applied a heart and blood pressure monitors to his fingers, while briefing the trauma team over the radio.
"Where are we taking him?" Sarah asked.
"332nd in Baghdad." The medic replied, checking Chuck's vitals.
Sarah removed her cell phone, and sent a text, before turning her attentions back to Chuck.
Chuck gave Sarah a pained look, but she leaned close to his ear.
"When you're back on your feet again…we need to talk about Bryce! It's not what you think!"
Chuck muttered, but Sarah couldn't hear him. She leaned close to his ear. "It…never is…!"
Sarah leaned back to Chuck's ear. "Bryce was a jerk! We were never a couple! Partners only!"
She pulled back to see Chuck's reaction. He nodded, muttering again. She leaned back to Chuck's ear.
"Sorry I…was a…jerk!"
Sarah shook her head. "It's okay!"
Chuck swallowed hard. Sarah gently took his hand, lost in his eyes. Chuck too found himself engrossed in Sarah's eyes. They just met…but there was something…happening…neither could explain.
Chuck reached into one of his pockets, and removed a letter, holding it up to Sarah. "My…sister! Ellie!"
Sarah nodded, stuffing the letter in her pocket, taking Chuck's hand. "I'll see to it she gets it…but I'm counting on not having to mail it! You hang on!"
Chuck muttered something again. Sarah could tell he was fading, so she quickly moved her ear to his lips.
"You have…beautiful eyes!"
Sarah smiled, making sure Chuck saw her smile. She leaned close, ensuring he could hear her every word.
"Handsome and charming! I like you, Chuck!" Sarah said, then kissed him on the cheek.
Chuck smiled back, ghosting the back of his knuckles against Sarah's cheek. His eyes closed. Sarah held his hand close, glancing at the monitors. His heart was still beating. She could see his chest moving, but the medic quickly placed an oxygen mask over his face.
"His blood oxygen is dropping. Don't worry. The oxygen will keep him stable. He'll be in surgery in about five minutes anyway."
Sarah felt the aircraft descend, and swing around. She held on, as the helicopter landed on a pad. Before she could even register landing, Chuck's stretcher was yanked from the aircraft.
She got out, but felt a hand on her arm. "Ma'am…this is as far as you go. Don't worry. He's in good hands."
As Chuck disappeared through a set of double doors, she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She hoped he would be okay.
Sarah was met by her two partners, Zondra Rizzo and Carina Miller. They both looked concerned. Sarah turned her attention to her team, feeling something was off.
"What happened out there?" Carina asked, seeing blood splattered all over Sarah's face.
"It was a setup. What have you got? I know those looks." Sarah replied, wiping the side of her face, seeing Chuck's blood in her hands, made her heart sink even further in her chest.
"We intercepted a cell signal 24 hours ago. We got the signal, but we were unable to get the cell's owner. Probably a burner. The intel…had your name all over it." Zondra said, handing Sarah a file.
"They were after me?" Then, it dawned on Sarah. The bullet that tore through Chuck's chest…was intended for her. He saved her life.
"Dammit!" Sarah hissed. "Our EOD Officer took a bullet intended for me."
Carina motioned over her shoulder. "The guy they just brought in?"
"Yeah." Sarah said, removing her helmet. "Lieutenant J.G. Bartowski."
"Jesus, Sarah." Carina replied. "What do you wanna do?"
"Like you need to ask. I want this asshole found." Sarah said, venom dripping from her tone. "A good man is in there fighting for his life…for me. I owe him."
Sarah stormed past her partners, tossing her helmet to Zondra. She wanted answers, and she wanted them right now.
Sarah paused as she rounded a corner, leaning against a wall. She huffed, removing the letter from her pocket. She held it close to her heart, and closed her eyes. "Come on, Chuck. Please be okay."
Sarah returned the letter to her pocket as her partners caught up. She gave them a nod, and the three spies got in a Suburban, ready for the hunt.