CHUCK VS. THE GOOD & NORMAL & WONDERFUL LIFE
SUMMARY: Chuck and Sarah have a wonderful marriage and daughter and live the normal life in a good house at a good island community. Or do they?????
DISCLAIMER: I don't own "Chuck."
NOTE: A big "THANK YOU!" to everyone who has reviewed my story. I like getting reviews. Keep them coming!
ANOTHER NOTE: My guess is that by the end of this chapter and/or the next chapter, you will figure out what is going on. And several people have wondered what classic television series helped inspire this Chuck story. Well I could let you know but …. "That would be telling!"
AND STILL ANOTHER NOTE: Is it just me or does this season of "Chuck" the TV series have a lot of episodes ending with Chuck very sad and depressed? It seems to me that at the end of a lot of episodes in this second season, I'm feeling very sorry for Chuck. I especially felt that way after the episode "Chuck Vs. The Suburbs" ended Monday, Feb. 16. Well, hopefully, this chapter will give everyone some fun instead of sadness.
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CHAPTER THREE – NOW WHAT? NOW WHAT? NOW WHAT?
Chuck tightened the last screw on the back of the CPU cover and it was done. He picked up the unit and put it on the shelf against the wall. Then he turned back to the workbench. All clear. That was the last of the repairs that had been waiting for him today. He wondered if there were any other computer problems or issues in the building. He looked at the phone on his desk. The message light was not on. He checked his cell phone. No messages. He checked the "To Do" sheet on his desk. Blank. He went to his computer and checked his email. No frantic notes from anyone about their computer.
Could I actually have done everything and I now have nothing to do? he wondered.
"Chuck!"
He knew that voice oh so well.
"Hey Jill," he replied without turning around.
"Have you thought any more about working with me?" she asked.
"Yes, and thanks but no thanks, Jill."
"Chuck, I really wish that you would do this. You are capable of so much more than working on computers. Let me help you. Work with me," she said.
"Once again, thanks but no thanks. Now I hate to rush you off, but I have a few repairs to do that I'm behind on." He didn't have any repairs at all but he wanted to end this conversation and get away from her. He felt strange being alone in a room with Jill. And like on previous occasions, being alone with Jill worried him a little. He still couldn't figure out why, but it did.
Jill stood there holding a folder against her chest with both arms and frowning. She said nothing for a moment and then uncrossed her arms and dropped them to her sides. "Fine Chuck. But I still wish you'd come work for me. We could be so good together," she said and walked out of his office.
Chuck didn't answer. As she walked away, the front of the folder she held was in full view. He saw some design on it and then all kinds of different pictures and images appeared in his mind at rapid speed. It was like his brain was overloading with a movie or video or something. He felt a slight pain, like a headache coming on. And then, he wondered where he was.
"What the hell?" he muttered out loud. "That was Jill, my ex from college … Jill, the Fulcrum agent who … how did she get out of prison and …."
He stopped talking and looked incredulously around him. Where am I and what is happening … Sarah and I … we were on a mission … and…. Chuck thought. Suddenly, he had an idea of what was going on. But more importantly, he quickly realized that he and Sarah were in trouble and that he probably didn't have much time. He had to do something – and quickly. Help, I have to get help, he told himself. He grabbed his cell phone. It wasn't his iPhone. Never mind that, he thought, dial, dial, dial! He quickly punched in a number.
Chuck heard the ringing and then a recording. "I'm sorry. The number you are dialing is not in service."
Now what? Now what? Now what? Chuck asked himself.
He thought of someone else and dialed their phone number. Once again, there were three rings and then the same not-in-service recording.
Chuck looked over at the phone on his desk. Maybe a land line will work, he thought. He rushed over to it and dialed a number. The result was the same. The number he was trying to dial was not in service. He dialed another number. Still no service. He slammed down the phone in frustration.
He tried to think of someone else to call or something else that he could do. He started to dial another number but then he heard a noise behind him. Before he could turn around, he felt hands grabbing him and then everything went black.
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Chuck opened his eyes and found a frowning Sarah staring down at him. Where am I? he wondered. He moved his head and it hurt. He grasped it with one hand and tried to glance around. He was in an office and he was lying on a couch.
"Daddy!" Sallie screamed in delight as she ran up to the side of the couch. "You're awake," she exclaimed.
"Hi Sallie," Chuck said. And then he looked back at Sarah who was still standing there, looking down at him and frowning. She looked upset.
"What happen?" he asked.
"That's what I'd like to know," Sarah replied. She sounded angry.
"You fainted Chuck," Jill Roberts said as she walked up to the couch and looked down at him. "We were just discussing things and you blacked out. I helped you onto the couch and then Sarah walked right in."
Chuck stared at Sarah, puzzled.
"We came to pick you up at quitting time as usual and you weren't down on the walkway in the front. We waited and waited. I called your cell phone and you didn't answer. So I parked the car, got Sallie and came up to your floor and we found you here," she said.
"Here" was on a couch in Jill Roberts' office. Chuck thought for a moment and then he remembered. Yes, he and Jill were meeting in her office and talking about improvements and changes to the computer network. That was the last thing that he could recall. And then what happen? he asked silently. I don't remember. I guess I did black out. He shook his head, trying to make sense of it all.
"Why don't you three go on home. Chuck needs to rest. He probably got dehydrated or he has been working too hard or something like that. I'm sure he'll be fine," Jill said.
Chuck sat up. The pain in his head was now gone. He stood up off of the couch. He didn't feel weak or dizzy or anything like that. He felt OK. "Yeah, let's go home," he said to Sarah and Sallie.
Sarah still looked at him with a frown. "Fine," she said. She grasped Sallie's shoulder and directed her toward the door. As they walked out, Jill called "Glad you're feeling better Chuck. See you tomorrow."
"Look, I was meeting with Jill and—" Chuck started but he was motioned into silence by Sarah. She held up her hand indicating for him to wait. Sallie had dashed toward the elevator and when she was further ahead, Sarah spoke in a low tone.
"We will talk about this later – at home when we're alone. I do NOT want to discuss this in front of Sallie," she said firmly as they walked toward the elevator.
"But –"
"Chuck! NOT NOW!"
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Chuck, Sarah and Sallie arrived at home about 15 minutes later. When they got inside the house, Sarah turned the television onto one of the cartoon channels. "Why don't you watch some TV sweetie," she said to their daughter. Sallie climbed up onto the couch and sat down. Sarah stood nearby and waited. Once satisfied that Sallie's attention was on the program, Sarah directed Chuck to their bedroom. She pushed the door almost closed. Then she turned toward Chuck, crossed her arms, and bore her eyes at him with an angry look on her face.
"I'd like an explanation," she said firmly.
"So would I," Chuck said.
"Chuck, this is not funny. I would like to know what happened in Jill Robert's office."
"Nothing happened. It's just like Jill said. I was meeting with her about the computer network. We were discussing improvements, upgrades and changes. That's the last thing I remember. And then after that, I don't remember what happen. I must have blacked out or passed out or something and then …." Chuck stopped and thought. He tried to remember the fainting spell or feeling sick but he couldn't. What had caused it? And why couldn't he remember that part? He felt his head, searching for a bump that he might have gotten when he blacked out and fell.
"Chuck," Sarah said.
Chuck looked at his wife.
"Where is your undershirt," she asked as she pointed at his chest.
Chuck looked down. No undershirt. He always wore an undershirt with his shirt. But he wasn't wearing one now. What happened to it?
He looked back at Sarah. She looked even more upset. She started to speak several times and stopped. She put a fist up to her mouth and her body quivered a little. Then she looked away and seemed to be trying to gain control of herself. She took a deep breath and, after a few seconds, turned back to Chuck.
"You are not waiting outside for me to pick you up at the usual time. You don't answer your cell phone when I called to find out where you were. I go up to your office to look for you and you're not there. And then I find you in Jill Roberts' office, lying on the couch and you don't have on your undershirt. Chuck, what am I supposed to think?"
"Sarah, it's just like I said. I was in a meeting with Jill and then I woke up and there you were. I know that sounds lame and maybe even strange. But other than that, I really don't remember anything," he said. "And as to my cell phone …." He reached down and pulled the phone out of his pocket and looked.
"Well, it's turned off. That's why I didn't get your call. I guess the battery got low and it automatically shut off," he said.
Sarah stood there frowning at him. She swallowed two or three times and then spoke in a shaky voice.
"Are you … are you having an affair with Jill Roberts?" she asked.
"What? No! No! NO!"
"Chuck, I want the truth. Tell me the truth."
"Sarah, I am telling the truth. I promise you, I am NOT having an affair with Jill Roberts. I'm not having an affair with anyone," he said looking directly into her eyes.
Sarah didn't say anything but kept looking back at him, studying him.
"Sarah, I would never, NEVER cheat on you. You know me, you know I'm couldn't do that. I wouldn't do that. You know that," Chuck said.
Sarah stayed silent and kept looking at him. Her silence was unbearable to Chuck. His eyes never strayed from hers as he tried to read her expression, her mind as to what she was thinking or feeling. Then she nodded and her expression softened a little. "Of course you couldn't do that," she said as she let out a breath. "I know you. You would never do that. You would never cheat on me or lie to me. I knew that after five minutes with you on our first date."
She moved forward and embraced him. Chuck held her close to him. "I know it sounds like a lame or even a crazy excuse but all I remember is that meeting with Jill and then waking up and there you were. That's all I can remember. But I know I would never cheat on you. I couldn't do that. I love you," he said.
"I love you too. And I know you wouldn't cheat on me. And besides, if you did, I'd be able to spot it instantly. I know you. You wouldn't be able to hide something like that from me. I would see it on your face in a second. I know you that well," Sarah replied.
They stood that way for a while, holding each other and trying to forget and drive away the argument they just had.
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As Ellie Bartowski marched through the front door of the BuyMore, her eyes, by habit, immediately looked over at the Nerd Herd counter. She couldn't help it. Every time she came into the store, she always looked for her brother who almost always was working at the Nerd Herd counter. But he wasn't there. He hadn't been there or at home or at any of his usual places for over a few weeks now.
She had to stop for a moment and compose herself. She didn't want to break down crying in a public place like the BuyMore. She took a deep breath and told herself that she came here to do a task and that she needed to complete that task.
This will help, this will help find Chuck and Sarah. So get yourself together girl! Chuck and Sarah need your help, they don't need you to cry, she said silently. Once composed, she walked on. When she got to the middle of the BuyMore, she spotted Morgan Grimes at an aisle on the right, sitting on the floor, loading boxes onto a store shelf. She turned that way and walked toward Chuck's best friend.
Morgan continued loading the boxes onto the shelf, not noticing or acknowledging that someone was standing right next to him when Ellie arrived at his side.
"Morgan?" she said.
Morgan's head slowly looked up. "Hey Ellie," he said without any enthusiasm. He did not stand.
Ellie studied Morgan. He did not look good. Chuck and Sarah's disappearance had affected many people but Ellie knew that she and Morgan were probably the ones most depressed and upset about it. Since her brother and his girl friend had gone on that date a few weeks ago and not returned, no sign, no traces, no clues – nothing – had been found. The police had been unable to tell them anything as they couldn't find anything. For a while, they had expected some ransom demands to occur but now, a few weeks later, the police ruled out any kidnapping theories. And any other speculations as to what occurred were certainly not any more cheerful or hopeful than kidnapping.
Both of us are wrecks about this, Ellie thought as she stared at Morgan. Like her, he looked tired, red-eyed and depressed. But also like her, he hadn't given up.
"Did you bring them? Is that them?" Morgan said indicating the bundle of papers Ellie had tucked under her arm.
"What? Oh … yes … here they are," she said as she handed the papers down to him. Morgan took a look at one of the sheets from the bundle. Big, bold headers saying "Have You Seen This Man? Have You Seen This Woman?" were at the top of the sheet and underneath those headers were photos of Chuck and Sarah along with text describing them, their last know whereabouts, and who and where to call if anyone did have any information. A few days after Chuck and Sarah had gone missing, Ellie had made up the flyers on Chuck's computer and had hundreds made so that she and others could post them all over. Yesterday, Morgan had called her and asked if she could bring 1,000 copies to him.
"I'll get these out there Ellie," Morgan said as he looked at the photos of Chuck and Sarah. "I talked to the people at the BuyMore main office and every BuyMore in town is going to post these in the store and employees at every store are going to post them at places all around the BuyMores. I'll also get copies on the internet. Jeff and Lester have set up a website and we can get a copy on there. They're also going to get the posters or information posted on every missing persons website that's out there." His eyes never strayed from the two photos on the flyer. "We'll find them Ellie, we'll find them." And then his head bent down.
Ellie crouched down and put her arm around Morgan's shoulders. "Thank you," she said softly.
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Major John Casey opened his eyes and immediately closed them as the bright light shining down into his face bothered him. After a moment, he opened his eyelids cautiously and let his eyes adjust to the brightness. He could tell that he was lying down and he immediately wondered if he was bound or strapped to some table or platform. He moved his arms and legs slightly. No, he was not tied up.
His eyes focused on his surroundings and he realized that he was in a bed in a strange room and clad in some sort of loose fitting pajamas, not his regular clothes. Sounds coming from a distance indicated a lot of activity and talking. He turned his head to the left and saw some monitors alongside his bed with cords and tubes that led to him.
Hospital, he realized.
He turned his head to the right and found a tall, well-dressed man standing there, watching him. He recognized the man as fellow NSA Agent William Myers.
"Glad that you're awake major," Myers said.
"What happen? How did I get here?" Casey asked.
"You went on a mission that went bad. You managed to escape and call in for help on your cellular. We tracked down your phone but that's all we found. It took us quite a while to locate you because apparently some people found you unconscious in an alley after you called and took you to a hospital. With no ID or anything on you, you got listed as 'John Doe' and you've been in a coma for a while."
Casey thought for a moment and he started remembering. Then he became concerned. His eyes darted rapidly sideways, looking around in his hospital room.
"Where are agents Walker and Carmicheal?" Casey asked.
"We were hoping that you could tell us that major," Myers replied.
END CHAPTER THREE