The Colonel's Daughter
Well, I'm having time writing this entire story. Anyways, I think you'll like the stakeout chapter with Travis, Chuck, and Casey involved. Added to that is the girls night out with Sarah and Jayne as she tries to help her through what she went through in the last chapter. Again, if you enjoy this chapter please leave a comment and tell me what you think.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.
I don't own Chuck.
Surveillance And Beer
XXX
Olive Garden
7:15 p.m.
April 12th, 2010
"This is just wrong on so many levels" said Chuck shaking his head. He's sitting in the front passenger seat of the Crown Vic. He is dressed in black wearing a black knit cap on his head.
Chuck and Travis sit in Casey's 1985 Crown Victoria parked behind a dumpster in the alley across from Olive Garden. They are hidden within the darkness as they prepare to keep a watchful eye on the date that is going down between Alex and Morgan. When Chuck learned of the plan he knew it was a bad idea from the get go but went along with it in order to make sure Casey doesn't do anything rash.
The lanky business owner knew he couldn't talk his burly teammate out of it being the stubborn man that he is. In his mind, Casey always had a way to persuade you into doing something and granted it oftentimes was through the threat of bodily harm. Plus, he was able to convince Travis to come along. He immediately knew he had to not only look after Casey, but Travis as well for Shannon's sake.
If Sarah knew what he is doing right now being on a stakeout he would most definitely be in big trouble he thinks to himself. What were you thinking? That's what she tends to always say when he does something totally stupid in the past like not staying in the car. This time it isn't him that is doing something stupid but rather her partner Casey. Plus, he could tell her he, as well as Travis didn't have a choice in the matter but to come.
Yet, his thoughts concerning his fiancé turn to the amazing night they both shared together. Chuck is thankful he's sitting in the darkness as it masks the sheepish grin on his face. The atmosphere was right for the two of them to get it on and despite Morgan calling him just when things were starting to heat up it didn't cool either of them off not one bit. His thoughts about last night are abruptly ended by sound of Casey's voice.
"Quit whining Bartowski." responded Casey.
As Chuck sits there in disbelief thinking how bad this truly looks spying on his best friend while he's on his date with Alex, Casey is behind wheel as his eyes are locked directly in the front entrance of The Olive Garden. For the past 30 minutes, they've sat watching not only couples walk in and walk out of the popular eating establishment, but families as well who decided to dine out on a Saturday night.
He gave his word to Sarah he wasn't going to interfere or do anything to ruin the bearded little bastard's date with his daughter. However, he never said anything about doing surveillance on the two of them, which is to him technically not interfering or ruining his daughter's date. Instead, it's watching from a considerable distance in the darkness of an alley with two other guys dressed in somewhat similar outfits.
True, its sounds creepy he thinks to himself but when it comes to his own daughter he's not taking any chances, especially after learning Morgan is the guy she's going on a date with. The agent dressed in black couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that Alex could find anything remotely interesting about Chuck's annoying little friend who has already received a kiss on the cheek from her much to his chagrin.
Casey remembers that horrible moment and even though he doesn't know what it feels like to suffer an aneurism he felt like he was experiencing one in that very instance. He actually couldn't sleep that night because his thoughts were consumed by the image of Alex kissing him on his scraggily looking beard. For him, just even thinking about causes his stomach to churn to the point where it makes a faint but clearly audible sound.
"Somebody's hungry." Travis responded from the back seat. The 4th member of Team Chuck leans his head forward situating himself between the two men sitting in front of him. "I told you we should have brought something to eat, especially since we're sitting in front of Olive Garden of all places." he said looking directly at the building across the street.
"We're not here to eat." grunted Casey. "We're here to…"
Travis interjects finishing the thought Casey might possibly have said to him. "Yeah yeah, we're here to keep an eye on Morgan to see if he's on his best behavior." he stated. "But come on Casey…" he said pleading to the veteran agent. "…I can make a run to the gas station and get some snacks." added Travis pointing behind them.
"We are going to be here a while Casey." Chuck said glancing over at him.
The NSA agents sits there briefly thinking about it. His mind has been so consumed with the stakeout that he hardly ate anything and as much as he hates to admit Chuck or Travis for that matter is right on something he agreed that food is much sorely needed. "Fine." gruffly stated Casey. "You better make it quick."
"Awesome." he said opening the door to his right but before he heads out Casey stops him.
"Travis." he quickly stated keeping his focus on the front entrance of Olive Garden.
"Yeah?"
"If they have double stuffed Oreo cookies get them." responded Casey.
A grin appears on Tavis's face as he turns to Chuck. Afterwards, he turns back to look at him with a hint of a grin on his face as well. As Travis shuts the door making his way down to the gas station Chuck and Casey are left alone for the time being. There is a brief moment of silence that blankets the inside of the car leading Chuck to break it. "I'm sure Morgan is going to treat your daughter with respect." he said in a reassuring manner.
"He better…" spitted out Casey. "…or you'll be treated to my hands around your neck Bartowski." he grunted.
"Just give Morgan the benefit of the doubt will you. He's…"
Chuck doesn't get to finish his sentence as Casey holds up his finger. He wonders why until he sees Morgan and Alex appear in his line of sight across the street walking towards the entrance of Olive Garden. The two look pretty happy to be in each other's company as they approach the front entrance leading Morgan to open the nearest door for Alex who they notice give him a smiling nod as she enters with Morgan following suit. After a moment or two they see them being seated next to the window in clear view for them to clearly observe during their stakeout.
XXX
The Ecco Ultra Lounge
7:30 p.m.
April 12th, 2010
Sarah and Jayne are sitting at the bar downing a bottle of beer each. On Casey's request, Sarah took his girlfriend out in order to have some quality girl talk with her. In the past, she would find it incredibly difficult being along with any of Chuck's friends and family to just talk with them. However, after being with Chuck she is more inclined to talk one on one because after all she has been practicing speaking with her soon to be sister-in-law Ellie.
As they sit at the bar, Sarah being the skilled spy that she is trained to be is aware that they are being check out by half the men within the lounge. She pays them no mind as she clearly displays her engagement in clear view for all the men to see that she's taken but it doesn't hurt to receive free drinks from them, which is considered great in her eyes. As she glances around the busy establishment her attention is focused on Jayne who suddenly asks her a question.
"How do you do it Sarah?" questioned Jayne.
"Do what?" wondered Sarah as she glances at her friend sitting next to her.
The blonde agent notices a distance look in her eyes telling she is thinking back to earlier in the morning when in all the chaos she killed two people. Jayne then shakes her head trying to wrap her brain around the situation. "Not be effected by killing someone." she replied. "You, Casey, Travis, and Chuck must get used to it." Jayne added.
"Chuck hasn't killed anyone. Not unless he has no choice in the matter and I'm happy with that." she faintly grinned. "He's my Chuck and I want him to stay that way." Sarah knows that isn't the answer she wants to hear so she clears her throat and takes a quick sip from the bottle of beer in her right hand. "It does effect you. I know it did for me when I first joined the C.I.A."
Ever since learning of Casey's secret life as a government spy she wanted to know what it was like to be one. Unfortunately, her boyfriend wouldn't share with her the specifics of what he did but did share that he, along with Chuck, Sarah, and Travis work for the government. In his own words, it would be better if you didn't know everything in order to be safe because he didn't want her to become personally involved in a business that is absolutely dangerous.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
She is a bit hesitant to share with Jayne about the worst day of her life but if it means helping her try to get over what happened to her then so be it. "I was just starting out in the agency and in order to become a full fledge spy you have to perform a red test."
"Red Test? What is that?"
Sarah takes a moment to gather herself before continuing on. Afterwards, she begins sharing what still sticks with her to this day. "It's a would be spy's final exam." she explained.
"Go on." she said listening intently.
"I was in the streets of Paris. I was given a time, a place to be there, and just a photo." she replied briefly holding up her right hand as if a photo is in her hand. Sarah remembers feeling a mixture of nervous tension as she approached where she was supposed to be. "All of it was happening as it was supposed to and then my mark drops something on the ground like a piece of jewelry." added Sarah shaking her head.
"What did you do?"
"I knew I just couldn't do it not with her on the ground like that so I just kept walking." It's at this point tears are forming in her eyes as the memory of the worst day in her life are brought back to the surface once again. She composes herself and continues on. "As I kept walking I saw her reflection in the car mirror reaching for her weapon. At least I thought I saw her reaching…"
Sarah pauses as several tears falls from her right cheek causing Jayne to quickly reach over towards some napkins on the bar and hands then to her friend. She can clearly see not only the emotional but mental toll its taking on her to remember such a pivotal but tragic time in her life. It leaves her wondering if Casey dealt with the same emotional and mental tolls as Sarah did when he first started out. "Thanks." she said leaning down to wipe the tears away.
"Don't mention it." she replied. "So what happened next?" inquired Jayne.
"I shot her and I wanted to go back and check to make sure there was…" she pauses to shake her head. "…but there wasn't any time as I heard sirens in the distance."
"You've carried that with you ever since?" she asked. "It must be a heavy burden to bear?"
"That's the life of a spy." she said. "You're not the same person you started out to be in the beginning. The more missions you go on to where one life is taken then another and then another all for the greater good you end up losing something very valuable." added the love of Chuck's life.
"What's that?" Jayne asked.
"Your own identity." she firmly stated looking directly at Jayne.
XXX
The Ecco Ultra Lounge
7:38 p.m.
April 12th, 2010
"What has kept you from not losing your own identity?" wondered Jayne.
Jayne notices a smile grow on Sarah's lips as she responds to her question with only one word. "Chuck." she replied.
"How so?" she asked with curiosity.
"The number 1 rule for spies is that we don't fall in love." responded Sarah.
"And you ended up falling in love with Chuck." she answered with a grin.
Sarah simply nods as her response to Jayne. "Yeah, as much as I tried to stay professional and not compromise myself I found myself wrestling with my feelings and emotions so much so that it interfered with are working relationship." explained Sarah. "Chuck took the chance and put himself out there because he wanted to know if there something more between the two of us. " she said.
"What did you do?"
"In the beginning I buried my feelings deep down and shut them off because I considered them a liability." she firmly stated shaking her head. "At the time, I thought it was going to mess up my life because I opened up my heart."
A look of curiosity appears on Jayne's face upon hearing that bit of information coming from Sarah's own mouth. She wonders why would opening her heart mess up her life knowing she has the greatest guy by her side. True, the first time she saw the two of them together she couldn't believe she is actually with him but after getting to Chuck she was able to understand why.
"You thought that?"
"Hey, I was clearly messed up mentally and emotionally before I ever met Chuck. Plus, I had family issues to deal with so I didn't have that support system like Chuck has with his sister Ellie and his best friend Morgan." she quickly responded. "It was hard for me to deal with what was I going through at the time."
"Why?" questioned Jayne quirking her right brow.
"Have you met Chuck?" she said with a hint of laughter leading Jayne to join in as well after she thinks about it. "He has a certain charm about him that you can't help but fall for to where you end up falling in love with him like I did." added Sarah.
"He is a sweet guy."
"Chuck is more than sweet Jayne…" replied the blonde beauty. "…he's awesome." she added. "He loved me even before I loved him and during the process of our professional working relationship he has helped me not only learn how to love but he shown what real love is." she said glancing down thinking about how truly lucky she is to have Chuck in her life.
Sarah lifts her head to see that tears have formed in Jayne's eyes causing her to hand a napkin over to her this time. After wiping away the tears that were forming, she responds to the love story that she and Chuck share. "You are so lucky Sarah." she said. "Why can't John be more like Chuck?" wondered Jayne shaking her head.
"You have to understand Casey is very different from Chuck. He's not the type to express what he like to refer to as "lady feelings." she said with a grin expressing air quotes. "However, I do know one thing though." stated Sarah putting her finger up in the air.
"What's that?" she wondered.
"He cares about you and I know he loves you." she said reaching over to gently rub her left arm. "Its going to take him much longer to get where Chuck is. Just be patient with him."
Sarah is right Jayne thinks to herself. To her, John Casey doesn't seem the type to open up share his "lady feelings" like Chuck does with Sarah. In her mind, it's pretty romantic in a fairly tale sort of way. Granted, she would very much like to have him be more like Sarah's fiancé but honestly that wouldn't be the John Casey she fell in love with and quite frankly she finds him quite sexy the way he is.
"John is worth being patient for." she responded with a wry smile. There is a brief pause as the two ladies think how lucky they are to have great men in their lives. A moment later Jayne turns to Sarah expressing a gratifying smile. "Thanks for the talk Sarah."
"No problem." said Sarah. She raises her bottle of beer leading Jayne to do the same. They clink bottles and then take a quick swig of their alcoholic beverage. "I'm glad we were able to talk and I hope you're feeling better now."
"I am." she says with a smile. Jayne asks the bartender for two more beers and then turns her attention back to Sarah. "What do you think Chuck and Casey are doing right now?"
"Well…" answered Sarah. "…before I left Chuck was watching The Lord of the Rings on tv with our dog peaches so I know where he is. When it comes to Casey, he's probably trimming his bonsai tree or cleaning his guns." she stated shrugging her shoulders as she takes a swig from her bottle of beer.
XXX
Inside Crown Vic - Alley Way
8:23 p.m.
April 12th, 2010
"I'm really having a great time Morgan." said Alex. "I'm glad you chose this place as our first date." she added.
"I am too." he said. "How's your fettuccine alfredo?"
"Excellent."
The conversation between Morgan and Alex that Casey is listening intently to is abruptly halted by the sound of chips being crunched loudly in the back seat. "Sounds like everything is going well in there." said Travis holding a bag of Doritios in his left hand.
"If I find crumbs in the back seat you're cleaning it up moron." Casey gruffly said leering at Travis in the rear view mirror while sticking a double stuffed Oreo cookie in his mouth.
It's at this point, Chuck interjects his thoughts into mix. "Funyuns are the most underrated snack food." he said holding up a piece in his hand and then sticks it in his mouth chomping away at it. He then turns to look back at Travis and then Casey sitting beside him. "Don't you think?" he asked still chewing the contents in his mouth.
"Really?" replied Travis leaning forward to respond to his friend and teammate. "I always found Frito corn chips to be considered the most underrated snack chip."
As the two discuss the topic of the most underrated snack chip it causes Casey to grimace. Why? It's a very similar to the conversation he and Morgan have have in the past concerning what type of sandwich one would bring to a deserted island. "I'm surrounded by idiots." Casey muttered under his breathe.
Casey tries to ignore the two as he boosts up the signal to the listening device in order to hear the conversation between Morgan and Alex are having in the restaurant.
"This may sound weird but I'm really glad you spilled hot tea all over me that afternoon on The Grove." said Morgan with a hint of laughter.
"You are?"
"Yeah." he replied. "I would never met an awesome girl like you. You're beautiful, smart, you literally can kick butt, and not to mention you own the original Battlestar Galactica series on DVD." added Morgan.
"Thanks." she said. "I never really thought I would get along so well with someone I accidentally spilled hot tea on. You have a big heart Morgan Grimes and you have great friends who care about you very much."
"Hey, they're now your friends you know." he retorted back.
"I know." said Alex.
"Speaking of friends." Morgan said. "That was quite a surprise learning that you and John Casey know each other."
"Right." replied Alex. "Casey has been like a father figure to me since my dad isn't in my life. He's stops by the Pie Shack every now and then to talk asking me about how my classes are going." she said.
"John Casey?" questions Morgan. "The same John Casey who grunts a lot and doesn't seem to have a funny bone in his big scary body of his?"
Upon hearing that, Casey expresses a grunt in response to Morgan's statement leading Chuck to quickly turn to Travis with a hint of a grin. Casey is too busy listening to the conversation between Alex and Morgan to even notice the two men grinning next to him.
"I've actually heard him laugh quite a few times." she responded. "We joke around whenever we talk and I'm thankful that I have gotten to know him."
"Listen…" Morgan said. "…could you use your camera phone to record him laughing because I seriously want proof that Casey isn't some emotionless robot."
Laughter is heard between the two but unfortunately Casey is not laughing at all as he heard what Morgan said about him causing Chuck to intervene. "Calm down big guy." he said. "We're just here on a stakeout remember." he firmly stated.
Casey's eyes narrow as he turns to look directly at Chuck who at this point is trying to stay alive long enough to get back home in one piece. He then hears his burly teammate respond to him. "I am calm." he replies gritting his teeth. The NSA agent returns his attention to the conversation between Alex and Morgan.
"Casey is not an emotionless robot." she responded. "Far from it. He's been there for me whenever I needed some much needed advice. He's been the one positive male role model in my life other than you that matters to me and I greatly appreciate all that he has ever done or will do for me." said Alex.
"Wow, I never knew. I pegged Casey wrong." retorted Morgan.
"Never judge a book by its cover Mr. Grimes." she stated. "You never know what you'll find inside." added Alex.
As the conversation continues on between the two, Casey reaches over to turn down the listening device as a grin appears on his face, which Chuck notices. The veteran agent turns to see Chuck grinning as well causing him to quickly lose the grin replacing it with a scowl. "What?"
"Nothing." he quickly responded. "So are we done? Can we go home now?" asked Chuck.
"Yeah Casey." added Travis. "How long are we going to stay out here?"
"Why?" grunted Casey. "You worried you ladies might get in trouble with your wife and your fiance if they both find out what you're doing?"
Chuck and Travis turn to face each other then face Casey. "Yes." they both said in unison.
"Whipped." he softly grunted. Afterwards, he turns facing the eating establishment once again and at the same time turns up the listening device to hear more of the conversation.
As all 3 men sit back making themselves comfortable for however long they will be there, they are unknowingly being watched unbeknownst to them. From atop the roof of the building just to the right of them, Agent Smith discreetly followed Casey to this exact location and has been making himself comfortable wondering why the Colonel is parked in a dark alley across from the Olive Garden. He certainly intends to find out.
XXX