I've revised chapter one. Posted that one in a hurry and missed a scene so please go back and reread that one. :) Thanks for the reviews :)
Title: Sacrifice
Author: Cindy Ryan
Category: Angst, romance
Spoilers: All especially for Chuck vs the best friend
Notes: First Chuck fic. Couldn't resist after watching Chuck vs the best friend. This is AU after they rescue Morgan. Also in recent episodes there seems to be a hint of a friendship developing between Casey and Chuck or at least grudging respect and I'm using that as a springboard.
Summary: What if Chuck hadn't had as much time to get out of the car with the remote control?
By noon that day all Sarah wanted to do was hole up in her hotel room, shut the drapes and block out the world.
She couldn't do that, no matter how much she wanted too.
The CIA techs had confirmed Captain Hotchins earlier theory. The heat and force of the explosion had been too intense for any trace of human remains to survive. The explosion had knocked down part of a nearby building making the debris field a large one to search.
It'd take time to pick up all the pieces but one fact remained.
Chuck was gone.
Chuck may be gone but he still needed her.
Needed her to look after Ellie.
Needed her to keep tabs on Morgan and the rest of his surrogate family at the Buy More.
Sarah sighed as she trudged through the familiar parking lot from the Orange Orange. She'd checked in on Ellie around nine only to find she was asleep.
Awesome told her she was in shock and probably wouldn't be up to visitors for awhile.
Sarah huddled deeper into her light pink jacket.
She knew the feeling.
Everywhere she looked.
Especially here, Sarah expected to see Chuck.
To see him clowning with Morgan.
Or hopping behind the counter at the Orange Orange to make sure the latest flavor of yogurt was on the up and up.
That the government wasn't slacking in their cover when it came to the latest yogurt craze.
Sarah sniffled at the memory as she trudged to a stop in front of the sliding doors of the electronic store.
She frowned seeing a white piece of eight by eleven paper plastered to each door. In large black letters was a simple notice:
Closed due to a family death.
Will reopen tomorrow night.
Mgt.
Sarah swallowed hard and blinked back fresh tears. She peered into the dimly lit store and saw no familiar faces.
She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out her cell phone and hit redial to try Morgan once more.
When all she received was the voice mail greeting Sarah turned away from the door and headed towards her car.
She had an idea of where Chuck's childhood friend might be.
********
Major John Casey did a double take at the video screen in the operations headquarters below the Orange Orange.
"Excuse me, Ma'am?"
General Diane Beckman leaned forward as she folded her hands and rested them on the surface of her desk. "Did I give you an order to close up shop, Major?"
Casey rested his hands on the cardboard box that was sitting on the table. "No, Ma'am I just assumed….."
Beckman shook her head slightly. "You know what they say about assumption. I want you and Agent Walker to take a few days leave. There are no new assignments right now and…."
Casey stiffened his hands gripping the edges of the box. Just the thought of having nothing but time to think gave him a headache.
"General, with all due respect I don't need…."
Beckman's expression softened. "Trust me when I say you do, Major. Even if it does come with the territory you and Agent Walker both suffered a loss. Take the time to deal with it or it'll eat you alive and we need both of you. Closing up shop can wait."
Before Casey could reply the screen winked out and went to black. With a sigh John pushed the empty box aside. After a moment he looked at it and picked it up. He hurled it against the glass wall that separated the small rooms. It bounced harmlessly to the ground ending on its side.
Casey sat down staring at the box. He didn't want to stay here.
He hated failure.
He didn't want to dwell on it.
Didn't want to babysit Sarah.
Didn't want to see the ghost of Chuck everywhere he turned.
John sighed as he picked up his cell to call Sarah.
Orders were orders.
No matter how hard they were to follow.
