Chapter 5c – Wedding Redux, a la Sarah
A.N.: Disclaimers in Chapter 1. This chapter actually takes place before 5b, and is the reason why I needed that Game Night question. Hope you enjoy.
Sarah and Chuck stand side by side in the bridal boutique, eyeing varying shades of purple and pink. He'd insisted on picking Ellie's dress himself, but had pulled Sarah from her (thankfully completed) list of clergy, music and guests to help with the bridesmaids. (This is definitely not what a normal guy would do. But it's so Chuck.) The man in question wanders off, muttering to himself.
(Our last mission. And how fitting that it's not saving the world, just saving the day for someone he loves.)
She flips through the dresses, looking for something that fits Chuck's requirements. (No heavy fabrics, flowy, halter, pretty. Yeah, that's specific.) She sighs, but can't help but smile as she spots Chuck flitting from rack to rack like a schizophrenic hummingbird. She shakes her head and moves to the next rack. (A wedding, in a day. And all that money -- money that could take him wherever he wants to go -- all of it for Ellie.) She indulges herself and looks at him, memorizing everything about this moment and this man. (Once this is over...) She stops herself from completing the thought, the twinge in her heart unwelcome. (He's safe. That was the job. He's safe, he is, and it's time to move on to where I can do some good.) Trailing silk through her fingers, she sighs again. (Not good, Walker, no regrets, that's the motto.) She pulls the dress against her for a moment, feeling Chuck's gaze alight on her with uncanny awareness. She lets it drop and checks from the corner of her eye to see him look away. (Get your head in the game, Walker.) She turns to the rack in earnest, her trained eye weighing and assessing each dress in a heartbeat. (Ugh, what are these designers thinking? This is nearly impossible, on that vague description.) She spares a heavy-lidded glance at Chuck, still in whirling dervish mode. (But I know he'll find it.) As if waiting for that thought to cross her mind, she hears him call out, "Sarah!" from across the floor.
He holds out a dress for her approval. "It's not exactly it, but I don't think Ellie will mind. What do you think?" He gazes at her, innocent and wide-eyed, breathless for her opinion. She can feel the nervous energy pouring from him, but more than that, his strong sense of purpose. His certainty. (And you don't think being an agent is your calling.)
She turns her full attention to the specimen before her. (Oh, Chuck. How can I leave?) The dress is purple, with a deep V in the front and a criss-cross back, thin straps, flowy. Sarah's heart clenches just a little in her chest as she smiles at him. "I think it's perfect," she whispers. He rushes off to see about altering four in a hurry, leaving Sarah to stand there trying to catch her breath. (Does he even realize?)
She looks at the dress again and sighs. (Only you, Chuck. Only you would pick out a dress that could be a dead ringer for my answer that night.) Her eyes find him at the counter, seemingly giving the clerk a heart attack with his check. (You'd move heaven and earth for anyone you care about. And you wonder why I keep away, you wonder why I don't let you know how much I lo-) She reins her thoughts in as she inhales deeply. (Mission almost over, Walker. Stop wondering about Chuck and start clearing your head for the Intersect Project.) She catches him beaming at the captivated clerk, with four seamstresses gathered behind her.
"Sarah! They can do it! We can do this!" he calls to her. As she meets his gaze the wattage on his smile doubles and she has to catch her breath. (Focus, Walker. Mission. Almost. Over.) He reaches out a hand for her and her heart aches at the thought of not seeing him again.
And for the first time, Sarah allows herself to consider life without the CIA instead.
A.N: Still with me? I hope you're enjoying the ride and that I'm still being true to our beloved cast of characters. It's fun to play with such multifaceted and developed personalities, hopefully the voices are staying true. :) Next up, the problem child chapter...