9 Years Without You
By CharmingCharles2896
Chapter 11: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Think on your sins
10:59 P.M.
Casa Bartowski
The firemen had finished putting out the fire and were now going threw the charred remains that were his house. Thoughts of Sarah were buzzing around in his head as his worry got the best of him. He was currently looking through the burnt remains of the living room when he noticed something shiny under a pile of burnt drywall. He bent down and with his gloved hands he picked it up out of the ruble and looked at it, it was a briefcase. Casey came up behind him and placed his hand on his shoulder before speaking.
"Chuck it just doesn't add up we haven't found Sarah yet even though her car is still in the garage, there is no body and it smells like gasoline in here." Chuck just continued to look at the mysterious briefcase; Chuck slowly walked outside into the front yard and sat down in the grass. Chuck looked at the briefcase inquisitively as he opened it slowly. Inside was only one thing; inside the briefcase was a small laptop.
"Strange." Chuck carefully picked up the small laptop and looked at it. Casey walked up behind Chuck looked at the laptop and sighed.
"Chuck they just found a body in the living room, there going to take it to the forensics lab to try and identify it." Chuck looked over his shoulder quickly a look of anguish on his face that would be burned into Casey's memory forever.
"Don't worry kid I don't think its Sarah so just stay positive." Chuck put the laptop back into the briefcase stood up and patted Casey on the arm before walking to his car and driving away. Chuck would drive to his guesthouse and crash there considering his house was gone. He was tired but he new that no sleep would come tonight.
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2:30P.M.
Bartowski Technologies and Cyber Security
6 Days Later
It had been 6 days since the fire and still no word on Sarah's waribouts the forensics had comeback and it was now known that the body they found was a girl named Beth Parker or as Chuck new her Carina Miller, the news that Carina was dead really bothered Chuck, of coarse it saddened him but it did make him worry about Sarah, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was up it just didn't add up. He was currently sitting in his office at work looking at the laptop that he had found, it was an interesting computer in the way that it didn't turn on, there was no power button, no way to turn it on as if it was supposed to be activated by somebody else.
"Hey Chuck how you doing?" Morgan knocked on the open door as he walked into Chuck's office.
"Okay I guess. I'm worried sick about Sarah but other then that I'm fine." Morgan just sighed as he sat down in the chair on the other side of Chuck's desk.
"So buddy want to head out on our lunch break and get a bite to eat?" Morgan was trying desperately to get Chuck's mind off of Sarah and the rest of this fiasco.
"Sure where do you think we should go?" Chuck's voice was low and sad, his mind filled with thought of his beautiful wife.
"How about that pizza place down the street?" Chuck nodded yes and they walked out to go to lunch.
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1:23 A.M.
The House With The Red Door
Chuck was sound asleep, actual sleep coming for the first time in many days. The laptop was lying on the coffee next to the couch where he was currently sleeping. Since the house was a two bedroom one was for Ellie and Awesome the other was currently occupied by the Children, so that left the couch for Chuck to sleep on, of coarse Ellie offered to move the children out of that room so he could take it but he didn't mind the couch. Chuck was awoken from his sleep by the light emanating from the laptop, which had suddenly come on.
"What the…" said an incredibly groggy Chuck as he sat up. The screen flashed on and three green dots appeared on the screen, the words 'press enter' appeared on the screen.
"Interesting." Chuck pressed enter and the screen came to life as if the laptop had finally come on line.
"I'm gonna have to take you too my lab tomorrow."
8:00 A.M.
On Chuck's right was a very tired Casey and on his left was Morgan nursing a grape soda on the rocks.
"Look Chuck a message, in the messages folder." Morgan pointed to the folder on the screen as Chuck clicked on the folder opening it up. It was a video that had just been sent to them.
"Shall we see what's in that video?" Chuck opened the video and played it and a black emblem of a bird showed up causing the flash instantly.
A flower
A tall man in a trench with his back turned
Sarah being cradled in the arms of Casey as he carried her from the building
Burma
BLACKSPARROW
Mutilated bodies lying on the floor in a dark hallway
Human trafficking
Illegal organ trade
BLACKSPARROW
The Masked Man
BLACKSPARROW
Ivan Jameson The Masked Man
BLACKSPARROW
When the flash ended Chuck flew backwards away from the desk his heart pounding in his ears, his breathing quick and erratic.
"Oh my god… BLACKSPARROW that is The Masked Mans logo." Panic rose into his mind as thoughts of worry toward his missing wife crept into his mind. Morgan and Casey gasped at Chuck's words.
"Oh my god he took her…" Chuck's hand flew to his mouth in shock as he thought the worst.
"Hey! Don't say that Chuck, don't think those thoughts, we need you calm, cool and collected." Casey boomed as he grabbed a hold of Chucks shoulders shaking Chuck out of his frightened trance. Chuck walked over to watch the video, which Morgan had paused when he saw Chuck flash. The logo faded and 11 guys appeared, 10 warring president masks and the masked man in the middle. Chuck gritted his teeth in anger as he watched.
"Hello Chuck you know who I am so I'm just going to get to the point." The Masked Man stepped to his left reveling a very scared and very naked Sarah sitting on the ground one knee drawn up to her chest, the other tucked underneath her, tears running down her face as she stared at the Camera… at Chuck.
"I have Agent Walker Chuck, but I'm willing to trade… I'll trade her, for you… You give yourself up and I hand her over to your friends. If not… well let's just say my men would really like it if you didn't give yourself up." He laughed manically as he grabbed her hair and pulled on her until she was standing upright, she shrieked in pain as he pulled on her hair.
"All you have to do Chuck is show up at the old warehouse in Mong Pan and we'll make the exchange." Tears were welling up in Chuck's eyes as he watched the anguish on Sarah's face; the tears began to role as he saw the fear within her eyes. Sarah's eyes sending a silent message to come save her. A desperate cry for help.
"Think on your sins Chuck, and remember, Sarah is waiting." With one last maniacal laugh the screen went back to the home screen.
"Oh god." Said Casey and Morgan in Unisom as Chuck stared blankly at the screen the shock of what he just saw rendering him mute. Casey and Morgan noticed Chuck's stare and walked over to him, Casey put his hand on Chuck's shoulder and spoke.
"Don't worry Chuck we'll get her back we'll figure something out don't you worry." Chuck turned to them a look of fury on his face.
"Family meeting at my house in 2 hours." With that Chuck stormed out of his lab at BTC and left. Casey and Morgan shared a look of hesitation and fear as they watched him leave.
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2 Hours Later
The House With The Red Door
Everyone was at Chuck's Guesthouse as Chuck had called all of them for the family meeting. Mary, Emma, Ellie, Devon, Morgan, Alex, Casey, Gertrude, Molly, Clara and Steven were all in the house a major feet considering the massive amount of people that was. Some sat on the floor some on the furniture the rest just stood. Chuck paced the floor his fists clenched against his face, his mind deep in thought; the people around him were starting to get nervous as they watch him.
"Clara take Steven upstairs into your mommy and daddy's room." Clara stood up and looked at Chuck.
"Why uncle Chuck?" Chuck looked down at her with the nicest look on her face, he crouched down to look at her.
"Clara the grown ups need to talk so take your brother and go upstairs please." Clara nodded before grabbing Steven's hand and walking slowly up the stairs. Everybody went from looking at the two kids to looking at Chuck.
"Everybody…" Chuck took a steadying breath as he continued. "Sarah has been taken." Everybody gasped at his news.
"What are you talking about Chuck?" said Ellie. Chuck just pointed to the TV screen, which was connected to the laptop via cable.
"Chuck no, they won't be able to handle the video." Casey stood up in protest.
"Casey they need to know it's the only way." Chuck retorted unflinching as Casey crept closer.
"Chuck I'm telling you that's a mistake you should find another way." Casey was mere feet from Chuck, staring down Chuck.
"No god damn it I'm doing this my way Casey! They need to see it… and that is final. I'm making the most important decision of my entire life and they need to be included. To leave them out of it or to find another way would be to betray there trust and let down Sarah and those are two things I won't do so they have to see it, it's that simple…" Casey stood back and nodded as he went back to the couch and sat.
"Hello Chuck you know who I am so I'm just going to get to the point." The Masked Man stepped to his left reveling a very scared and very naked Sarah sitting on the ground one knee drawn up to her chest, the other tucked underneath her, tears running down her face as she stairs at the Camera… at Chuck.
"I have Agent Walker Chuck but I'm willing to trade… I'll trade her for you, you give yourself up and I hand her over to your friends. If not… well let's just say my men would really like it if you didn't give yourself up." He laughed manically as he grabbed her hair and pulled on her until she was standing upright, she shrieked in pain as he pulled on her hair.
"All you have to do Chuck is show up at the old warehouse and we'll make the exchange." Tears were welling up in Chuck's eyes as he watched the anguish on Sarah's face; the tears began to role as he saw the fear within her eyes. Sarah's eyes sending a silent message to come save her. A desperate cry for help.
"Think on your sins Chuck, and remember, Sarah is waiting."
There wasn't a dry eye in the room; everyone was simply shock, horrified. Emma was wiping her eyes as everybody looked at Chuck.
"Chuck who the hell is that bastard!" Chuck stood up and turned to face the crowd of people.
"Everybody that is the Ukrainian mercenary Ivan Jameson nicknamed the masked man. See three years ago my then teammate Agent Daniel Shaw gave himself up to the ring and was captured. On the rescue mission General Beckman called an airstrike on the Ring base to destroy it once and for all. We got him out just as the bombs destroyed the base and horrifically scaring Ivan's face. The injuries caused him to go insane and ever since he as had a vendetta against me and Sarah." Nobody new what to say it was all so unbelievable and so horrifying.
"What are you going to do Chuck? Are you going to go rescue her?" Asked a worried Emma who was the first to break to silence. Chuck simply nodded as Morgan stood up next.
"So how are we going to rescue her, Tact team, covert op?" Chuck shook his head no and spoke.
"No, what's going to happen is Casey and I are going to fly to Burma and meet him. Then Casey will fly home with Sarah." Chuck said that so matter of fact that nobody noticed what was missing from that sentence.
"Wait, what about you Chuck?" said Ellie as she stared into his eyes afraid.
"What about me?" Chuck was seriously trying to avoid the inevitable confrontation about his plan, he really didn't wan that to happen right here right now.
"You said you and Casey fly there." Chuck nodded. "Then Casey and Sarah fly home. Why aren't you flying home Chuck?" Ellie bellowed as the anger of the realization started to sink in.
"I'm not coming back. Isn't it obvious, I'm going to trade myself for Sarah. I'd rather die knowing that she is okay, that I did anything I could to get her home safe because it would destroy me inside to know that I could have done something and I left her there in that hell hole." Ellie had tears in her eyes just waiting to fall.
"Chuck come on there has to be another way, you could go get her you were a spy once why don't you just do that." Ellie was right up in Chuck's face desperately trying to convince him otherwise.
"What about Beckman couldn't she help you were part of her A team you know? Why don't you ask her for help?" Chuck was getting frustrated, Ellie refused to understand his point of view which didn't surprise him at all.
"Beckman pretty much hates me right now after I refused to get the new Intersect update. I doubt that she would help at all, I can picture it now she'd say that it was a terrible tragedy. Then she'd say they would have a small memorial service add another star to the wall of fallen agents and that it was best to just move on and forget about her." Ellie was speechless.
"Chuck I will not stand by and allow my brother to die okay. Believe me I love Sarah but it is not worth trading your life!"
Ellie stomped her foot to emphasize her point.
"That is enough Ellie I'm going to do this and that is it! I mean come on Casey is no spring chicken, he's nearly 58 years old. I'm nearly forty and I know that I wouldn't be able to just go over there and get her. If Casey and I go over there and just kick down the door neither of us will come back! Then all three of us would perish in that hellhole. How would you feel then? Huh? Well, how would you feel if you're only brother went over there and was gunned down while his friend met a very similar fate. Then you're brothers wife was viscously raped for months on end until they finally mercifully shot her between the eyes. Is that what you want? Because if it is then I'll gladly go do that for you, hell I'd do it right now just for you. There is no other way to save her Ellie and yes I know that means that I'm going to die, but it would be worth it in the end to die knowing that she is safe cause that is all that matters to me. I'm going to trade with him so please just let it be." Ellie had tears running down her face as she collapsed into an unconscious heap on the floor.
"That's just the way it is." Chuck said as he walked away into the small office near the back of the house.
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Chuck was typing on the laptop currently sending the masked man the message confirming that Chuck would trade for Sarah. There was a big ruckus outside in the family room after Chuck broke the news to the rest of them. There was a knock on the door and Casey walked in.
"Chuck we need to talk." Casey walked further into the room then closed the door.
"You don't think my plan is at all a good idea Casey." Chuck looked up from the laptop.
"It is a stupid idea Chuck, you really plan on sacrificing yourself in the hopes that it will save her?" Casey said in a low intimidating tow that would scare any man.
"Yes I do Casey it's the only way to save her, this is a no win situation, someone's going to die this time there is no way around it. this is my Kobayashi Muru, my no win situation." Casey shook his head and breathed a sigh of exasperation.
"So you're just going to give in to his demands and hope for the best?" Chuck nodded yes and spoke.
"Casey I made a promise to myself that if I ever got Sarah back I would do anything in my power to make sure that I didn't lose her again. If I don't save her I'll lose her forever and I can't let that happen. I know that if I trade them I'm going to die but that doesn't matter I'd gladly die for her any day of the week. As long as she gets to live a long happy life then I'm okay with paying the ultimate price."
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4:29 A.M.
The Airport
3 Days Later
Today was the day, Chuck and the rest of the Family were at the airport to see Chuck and Casey off. Ellie was a blubbering mess, this would be the last time that she would ever see Chuck alive and it was tearing her up inside, Ellie hugged Chuck one last time before stepping back into the comforting arms of Devon.
"I have to say thank you to all of you before I go. Without you I wouldn't be the man I am today so thank you. I really wish that it didn't have to end this way but I just don't see any other way. I'll miss all of you so much and I only have one final request… don't hold a grudge toward Sarah considering the events that are about to transpire, she doesn't deserve that and I wouldn't approve of it." Chuck picked up his small bag off the ground and started towards the private plane. Ellie sobbed into Devon's shoulder mourning the lose of her brother. As Ellie watched the plane fly away all she could think about was how wrong things had gone.
Chuck and Casey sat inside the private jet in total silence a dark mood falling over them as they both contemplated the task ahead of them. Finally the silence became too much for them and Casey spoke.
"I'm just going to say this once, You and Sarah deserved better then this. For two people as good as the two of you it truly saddens my to have to see it end this way, right after things had just gone back to normal. For as long as I live I will cherish the time that I new you Charles Irving Bartowski… and I promise that I'll make sure Sarah ends up okay because there is no person on this earth besides my daughter and my wife that I love more than you and Sarah." In all the years that Chuck new Colonel John Casey he had never seen him cry until today, tears threatened to fall as Chuck looked upon his long time partner. Chuck looked out the window at the night sky as it faded away preparing to start a new day. Chuck looked at the glow of the early morning shy, a bittersweet smile creeping onto his face as he looked at his beloved city for the last time.