The Colonel's Daughter

Well, I know I said I would be taking a break for a while in writing but this parituclar story has been stuck in my head for the last day and half so I had to write it out. This story is mainly about Casey's relationship with his daughter and how he's been keeping a watchful eye on her. What will happen and will there be any danger ahead? As I said in the summary, there will be moments of Charah sprinkled in.

Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment please leave a comment for this this one as well. Tell me what you think and I hope you enjoy the read.

I don't own Chuck but I do own the 3rd season on DVD.

Like Father, Like Daughter

XXX

Castle
8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 7th, 2010

Colonel John Casey sits in front of Castle's main computer on a Sunday evening. On the screen in front of him are several individual windows that show live footage of what seems to be a small diner of some sort. He scans each window following a young female as she makes her rounds to each table. After a moment or two, she's seen going behind the counter to take a bit of a break leading the NSA agent to enlarge the window she's in.

The young female in question is his daughter Alex McHugh who works at the Pie Shack in Silverlake in order to pay for college at USC. Ever since he found out he has a daughter he's been keeping tabs on not only her, but her mother as well. To him, it has been more of a protection issue than wondering what could have been if he hadn't joined Keller's unit and continued to be Alex Coburn who married the first love of his life Kathleen McHugh.

Kathleen McHugh would eventually become Kathleen Holmes. Alex's mom met Kevin Holmes who made her happy and after dating for 6 months they eventually got married. He did a thorough background check on him finding out he graduated from UCLA with a 2.9 GPA and immediately after graduation he started working for his father in the construction business.

He would later branch out on his own as a licensed contractor and has continued success keeping his nose pretty much clean. The man has no prior arrest record to speak of. It pleased him to know that she was able to find a guy who be would able to take care of her. Kathleen would always be his first love but now she has happily moved on like he has with the woman he loves…Jayne Richardson.

As much as he wanted to tell the two of them who he is, he couldn't because he wanted to protect them. If he told either one of them of his true identity then they would both find themselves in constant danger always looking over their shoulders. He didn't want that for either of them because it's an unbearable life to live knowing their giving up a peaceful existence for one of utter chaos at every turn.

Casey's thoughts return to his daughter who is all grown up and has become a beautiful woman like her mother. He remembers Alex walking into the house after the attempt by Keller's men to kill her mother failed. The feeling of absolute shock to hear Kathleen say his name as she was speaking to her daughter caused the veteran government's legs to nearly buckle.

It took a great amount of restraint on his part to leave and leave his past alone. However, he would end up finding himself visiting the Pie Shake in Silverlake where his daughter works at. The first time he walked in there was a bit of awkwardness on his part because he didn't know what to say to her. He just grunted a hello and sat at the table where he would eventually choose as his spot.

A spot facing the front door and when it came to his order he would always get a plate of apple pie and cup of black coffee. It became predictable on his part because Alex would immediately come over with what she refers to as his usual routine whenever he visits. His response to her was that he was merely a creature of habit. He couldn't help but grin at her intuitiveness for staying on top of even the most insignificant details.

During his visits, they would talk about an assortment of topics but mainly about her majoring in criminal justice in the area of criminal psychology to sharing that she passed her criminal psyche file. Like father, like daughter he thinks to himself. He is proud of her and even prouder that she's perusing her Master's Degree to one day work for the government using her talents and skills to the best of her ability.

The cold school NSA Agent's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a presence behind him. He immediately reaches over typing a few key strokes and turning off the live footage. "What do you want Walker?" he grunted.

"You're daughter is a beautiful girl Casey." the blonde agent said to her partner. "Why don't you at least tell her who you really are? She has a right to know who her father is." she firmly stated.

Casey slowly swings his chair around to face Sarah exuding a look of seriousness up towards her. "Alex Coburn is her father and he died a war hero." he softly stated. The veteran government agent pushes himself from his seat standing eye to eye with Sarah. "It's all she has ever known and it will stay that way." he said walking off.

XXX

Whiz Kid Systems, Inc.
9:00 a.m.
Monday, April 8th, 2010

Chuck Irving Bartowski pulls into his parking space of Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. located at the front entrance of the building since he is after all the president and CEO of the company. A company that has been thriving after the release 5 months ago of the updated version of the computer game Zork, which has been quite a success for not only the lanky business owner but for his employees as well.

He had to give credit where credit is due. If it wasn't for his employees he wouldn't be the businessman he his today and he personally thanked each one of them for their hard work. It has been a team effort every step of the way and despite facing setbacks causing absolute frustration the blame would not be placed on any one individual. They faced and overcame the challenged together.

As he sits in his black 2 door 2009 Honda Insight, he looks over on the passenger seat and sees laying on top of his lap top computer bag today's edition of the Los Angeles Times. On the front page, is his face expressing his oh so familiar Chuck-ish smile with the following title: Game On For Charles Bartowski. The interview was done last week and when he reaches over to pick it up he read the following article:

Charles Irving Bartowski, age 29 and stands at around six foot 4 inches, appears to be your typical, everyday guy. He enjoys spending his free time with either his friends and family or playing Call of Duty on X-Box Live. If you were to see him walking down the street, you'd probably consider him just another average Joe who has an infinity for always wearing his favorite pair of black and white Converse Chuck Taylor shoes.

However, Charles or Chuck to many who have gotten to know him know say he has such a infectious, positive personality to which this reporter agrees with. He is the President and CEO of Whiz Kid Systems, Inc., a fledging company that started a year and half ago, which is steadily growing into a formidable competitor within the computer gaming industry.

For many who remember the computer game Zork, it was one of the first interactive fiction computer games and an early descendant of Colossal Cave Adventure. The first version of Zork was written in 1977–1979 on a DEC PDP-10 computer by Tim Anderson, Marc Blank, Bruce Daniels, and Dave Lebling, and implemented in the MDL programming language. All four were members of the MIT Dynamic Modelling Group. The game distinguished itself in its genre as an especially rich game, in terms of both the quality of the storytelling and the sophistication of its text parser, which was not limited to simple verb-noun commands ("hit grue"), but some prepositions and conjunctions ("hit the grue with the Elvish sword"). Now 21 years later, the computer game has received a facelift, so to speak, as it steps into the 21st century with stellar 3-D graphics. It is available for both Windows and Mac users.

When asked how Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. began, Charles Bartowski replied, "It's in honor of my father who passed away 2 years ago whose nickname was "The Whiz Kid" so it was only fitting to christen my business in memory of him." "He(Abraham Bartowksi) told me, 'Second chances are hard to come by and when you do get one seize it…cherish it…and never let it slip through your fingers.'" Though he was quite frank about what he meant concerning those second chances he never let the opportunities to have his company grow into what it is today slip through his fingers. It started out just an employee of one but after a year and half in business he manages 20 people who are not just employees to him but are considered family. He cherishes everything he's worked hard for and owes much of his success to his fiancé Sarah Walker and his sister Dr. Ellie Woodcomb.

In just a year and a half, Charles Bartowski is indeed the whiz kid of Whiz Kid Systems, Inc. He wanted to update a childhood game from his past and bring it forward to the present. He succeeded with the computer game Zork and now he's reaping the rewards. The determination he has in whatever his mind thinks up continues to change his future into whatever he wants it to be.

When it comes to the success he has achieved, Charles Bartowski doesn't let it go all to his head. "I stay pretty much grounded by hanging with my best friend who I grew up with since the age of 6." he told us. "I surround myself with family and friends who keep it real with me who don't always agree with everything I do or say. If you have people who are constantly saying yes to you then you find yourself with an overly inflated ego and quite possibly talking to yourself in the third person."(Laughs) He then added. "I think of it this way. Life is like a computer game and you'll face challenges at every level. It's going to be difficult to pass certain levels in life but if you don't quit you'll achieve what you set out to do. I never focus on the words game over because for a person like myself its always game on."

A smile appears on Chuck's face as he folds the paper back placing it under his left arm. He then reaches over to grab his lap top computer bag and as he steps out of his car wearing proper business attire but sporting the oh so familiar black and white Converse Chuck Taylors shoes on his feet. After closing his car door, he heads towards the front entrance and once inside his secretary is the first to greet him.

"Good morning Mr. Bartowski…" said Beverly Kim with a bright smile on her face. "…and congratulations on the article sir." she added with courteous nod.

Chuck flashes her a smile as he stops to responds to her while she's sits behind the front desk. "Thanks Bev and good morning to you as well." he answered. "I'm going to cut out the article and frame it."

"All ready done it and on your desk Mr. Bartowski." she said.

"You're the best Bev." he happily responded. "So what's on the agenda today?"

"Morgan." she stated.

Upon hearing that Chuck hangs his head and groans. In his mind, its never a good thing to start off a work day dealing with Morgan and whatever he's done wrong. He lifts his head preparing for the worst as he asks his secretary what happened. "What did he do now?" he asked exuding a pained look.

"He's early for work." she replied. "When he came in this morning he wasn't eating string cheese or drinking grape soda." added Beverly.

"That's bad even for him." he said with concern. "Something is very wrong. Give me 5 minutes and then tell Morgan to come to my office." requested Chuck.

"Yes sir." nodded Beckman's former secretary. Beverly watches her boss walk past her desk and into the hallway heading down towards his office.

XXX

Whiz Kid Systems, Inc.
9:07 a.m.
Monday, April 8th, 2010

"You wanted to see me Chuck?" Morgan said knocking at his door as he sticks his head in.

"Yeah Morg, come in…" he responded motioning him inside. "…and close the door buddy." added Chuck.

Morgan complies to his tall and lanky best friend. He then meanders over to Chuck's desk with both hands in his pockets with a sullen look on his face. "What's up?" questioned the little bearded man.

The minute Morgan stepped through his door Chuck witnesses a seemingly different man from across the room. He lacked his usual Morgan like swagger whenever he knocked or even entered a room with a kick in his step. As his best friend and not to mention boss, it worried him to the point where he asked his secretary Beverly Kim to have him come to his office in order to get to the bottom of this.

"Have a seat." he said. Chuck watches as Morgan takes a seat in front of his desk and makes himself somewhat comfortable. He knows there is something wrong because he's usually very talkative but not on this particular occasion. "The reason I called you in here is…"

"You're firing me." interjected Morgan shaking his head. "I knew it. It was because I accidentally told the reporter who interviewed me that you still have your star wars bed sheets when you were little wasn't it." he stated with regret and disappointment in his voice.

"What?" responded Chuck surprised by his statement. "No…" he said shaking his head. "…what…wait…what?" he added trying to wrap his brain around what he just said. Granted it's true, but it didn't matter because he needed to find out why Morgan isn't himself today. "The reason I called you in here is that I'm concerned about you man." said Chuck.

"I'm fine?" replied Morgan sitting there with his lands in his lap.

"Beverly told me that you came into work early. Not only that, you didn't come in eating string cheese or drinking grape soda for that matter." he stated. "That's not like you and quite frankly it worries me. Did anything happen over the weekend that you want to share with me?" said Chuck leaning with a supportive, reassuring grin.

Chuck watches Morgan scratch the top of his head and purses his lips together as he thinks about past events over the weekend. As he does, he shakes his head and responds to his best friend. "Nope, nothing really." he stated. "Well…" Morgan sits up in his chair getting more comfortable. "…I hung out with you Friday night to start it off, watched the Top Chef marathon on tv with Anna Saturday, that night Anna dumped me, and then I ordered some sizzling…"

"Wait…" Chuck immediately interjected after hearing what he thinks he just heard. "…repeat that last one."

"What? I ordered sizzling shrimp last…"

The concerned business owner readjusts himself in his chair as he waves at Morgan to stop. "No Morg." he quickly responded. "Before ordering sizzling shrimp and right after watching the Top Chef marathon on tv with Anna." added Chuck.

He knew Morgan and Anna have always had an on again/off again relationship between the two of them. True, it started off with the two of them as mere co-workers with her being in the nerd herd and him as one of the green shirts. They were complete and total opposites and yet somehow to his amazement they established a relationship built mostly on sex.

However, that relationship grew to something more. He remembers being at the nerd herd desk when Morgan told he, Jeff, and Lester that he wanted to impress Anna's parents. Jeff and Lester advised him to be someone other than himself while he being the voice of reason told him to just be himself. In Morgan fashion, he listened to the two dynamic dingbats and showed up looking like a complete idiot wearing a captain's hat.

To him, it has been a nice albeit strange relationship between the two of them. At one point he wanted to test that love by seeing if she would agree to his weird list of things before the two of them moved in together. She actually agreed to it and for the past year and half they have been seemingly living in peaceful bliss every since then. Unfortunately, looks can be apparently deceiving.

"Oh…" he said raising his eyebrows with a hint of a grin on his face. "…Anna dumped me." nodded Morgan.

"Dude sorry man." he softly said. "Are you okay? What happened?" inquired Chuck.

Morgan takes a moment before answering Chuck. He rubs his hands on his lap and then takes a deep breath. "She said I wasn't mature enough for her and needed a real man in her life." he responded. "Come on Chuck. You've known me for a lot longer than Anna. Am I mature?" asked Morgan.

Chuck had to pause for a moment as he thought back to their Friday bros night as he remembers Morgan wrapping himself in toilet paper just to win a bet. A bet to see if it could take him less than 5 minutes to unroll it as quickly as he could right down to the tube. He lost. Of course, Sarah wouldn't be a witness to this as she and Ellie had their girls night out. Instead of answering his question, he asked him a question. "What did Anna say exactly Morg because you could have interpreted wrong?"

"She said I am not man enough for her and I don't take things seriously. She packed her bags, moved out, and moved back in with her roommate." he sullenly said.

It saddened him to see his best friend like this and its that point Chuck makes the decision to see if you could help him in a way. "Do you need anything? You know we could go the pier on our lunch break and play arcade games." he suggested. "Plus, since I'm the boss you're not going to get in trouble for coming back to work late."

"Nah, I'm all right man." replied Morgan standing up from his chair. "I just need to keep my mind busy with work."

"Okay." said Chuck standing up. He comes around his desk to walk Morgan to the door and as he open it he places his right hand on his left shoulder. "Dude, if you need anything I mean anything just call." he firmly stated. "Or if you just want to talk during the day my office door is always open for you."

A small hint of a grin appears on his face as Morgan reaches up to pat his best friend on the back of his right shoulder. "Thanks man." he said walking out of his office turns right down the hallway.

As Chuck stands in the doorway of his office, he watches his best friend walk down the hallway without his usual fervent zeal. He knew Morgan would get over it eventually and would someday meet someone who would truly make him happy. It would be a healthy relationship filled with love instead of just about sex. He lightly taps the doorway frame with his right fist and then turns around closing the door behind him.

XXX

Orange Orange
12:15 p.m.
Monday, April 7th, 2010

Chuck took the opportunity later that day to have frozen yogurt with Sarah on her lunch break. Their wedding is only 3 months away but the topic of conversation didn't focus on that as it focused more on the article on the front page of the Los Angeles Times, which is sitting on top of the table in front of the two. A proud smile appears on her face as she glances over at her soon-to-be husband but notices he's preoccupied at the moment staring out the window.

"What's wrong?" wondered Sarah. "You hardly touched your cup of frozen yogurt."

"Anna dumped Morgan." he replied turning his head to face her.

A look of concern appears on her face. She knows how close a friendship he and Morgan share as he was there for him when not only his father left, but when his mother died as well. They weren't just best friends as they are also brothers that have formed a strong bond like she shares with chuck but under different circumstance. "How is he doing?" she asked.

"He's pretty bummed about it." said Chuck. "Bev told me he not only actually came into work early, but he also didn't come in eating string cheese or drinking grape soda." he added.

"That's totally unlike him." responded Sarah shaking her head. "Did Anna give him a reason as to why she dumped him, which I probably do know the answer to?" she said.

"According to Morgan, Anna dumped him because he wasn't mature enough and told him she needed a real man in her life." he states tapping his finger on the newspaper on the table. "She moved out and moved back in with her roommate." Chuck responded hanging his head down for a moment.

"Ouch." she replied reaching over to rub Chuck's back with her right hand. Sarah knew Morgan shouldn't be alone and decided that he needed his best friend. The topic about wedding plans and the L.A. Time article weren't important at that very moment. "Hey…" Chuck lifts his head to look at her. "…some time this week take him out just the two you. He needs his best friend more than ever." she said with a smile on her face.

"I knew there is a reason why I'm marrying you." he said leaning in to softly press his lips against hers as he closes his eyes. When their lips separate and opens his eyes he she's him staring deeply into his.

"Just one reason?" she said with a grin. Chuck responds by leaning in once again and presses his lips against hers but instead of being soft, there is a little more oomph to it causing her to only smile but him as well.

XXX

The Grove - Starbucks
12:20 p.m.
Monday, April 7th, 2010

Alex McHugh stands second in line behind a man wearing a blue tooth in his right ear, a business suit, and expensive looking shoes. As she is holding her book bag over her right shoulder she knew what she would be getting. Her order is simple and that was to get a To Go, Tall, Non-Fat, No Water, 180 Degrees, Tazo Chai Tea Latte. It's has been her favorite drink to order since she first ordered it as a freshman thanks to her then college roommate at the time.

It's finally her turn and in no time flat she stepped aside waiting for her order to be done so she could study outside. After paying for her order, she waits a few seconds and then its called out to where she reaches over to retrieve her drink. She takes a quick sip of her hot beverage and proceeds to head towards the exit. As she does, she turns sideways in order to get out the door due to the long line of people.

She experiences a bit of difficulty maneuvering her way through but is able it able to lunge forward and out at the last second. When she does her momentum combined with her somewhat heavy book bag over her right shoulder causes her to fall back to where she spins around. Unfortunately, while off balance she runs into a man causing her hot drink that she just ordered to spill all over him.

The man is not only soaking wet but possibly burned as well by the pained look on his face. Alex quickly apologizes to him. "I'm so sorry. It's an accident on my part." she frantically and apologetically stated.

It takes a few moments for the man to compose himself after the hot drink spills on him. He then forces a smile on his face as he responds to Alex. "It's not you're fault." he replied. "I wasn't paying attention. "I'm just having a…" The man then just waves it off. "…you know what I'm fine. I may have suffered a 3rd degree burn but I'm okay." he jokingly said with a grin.

"Listen…" she said feeling bad about what just happened. "…let me make it up to you."

"How?" inquired the man.

"Over coffee and trust me I won't spill it on you next time." she said with a hopeful smile on her face.

The man thinks about it for a moment and gives her his answer. "Sure. Where?" he asked.

"How about here same time tomorrow? I have 2 hours before my class starts." Alex suggested.

"It's a date…" he replied with a smile. The man pauses for a brief moment when he says that. "…I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it, I'm paying anyway since it was my fault you're in pain." he said. "And I'm not taking no for an answer." she firmly stated.

The man grins. "Okay, since you're paying."

Alex takes out her cell phone leading both of them to exchange numbers. Once that is done, she notices the logo on her shirt. "Where do you work?"

"Whiz Kid System, Inc."

"Yeah, I've heard of that place." she responded. "Oh my name is Alex by the way." she says with a smile.

"Morgan." he quickly responded back returning the smile.

XXX