A/N: How's this for fast turn around time?…I had the opening conversation rattling around my head and the rest…good or bad…just happened. Hope you like it. Of course, you could review and let me know…don't be shy…it will be our little secret…sorta…yep, just hit that review tab and go wild…speak in tongues if you must…I'm sure there's a translation app somewhere…JT
No change since yesterday…still don't own Chuck or related Chuck stuff…and still no beta…also, the spelling and grammar errors?…still mine.
Thanks Jim.
Sarah Vs. The Strong Swimmer - Chapter 23
Chuck Bartowski was speechless…simply speechless.
"Ah, Charles…how nice to see you this morning."
"Lester" Chuck finally managed to choke out, "what are you and Jeff doing here…in my apartment…this early in the morning? How did you get in and, most importantly, why are you here?"
"Well, Charles…your minion, Morgan, invited us in…"
"I did no such thing!" Morgan almost yelled.
"Please, Charles…I realize that using the Americans with disabilities act to afford hiring Morgan was inspired, but, could you please tell him to keep quiet until the adults are done talking? Thank you. Now…as for the reason for our visit…we regret to inform you that we won't be able to allow you to hire us…or use our music in any of your advertising, It seems that one of our over-zealous fans posted one of our audio/video masterpieces on Youtube and, unsurprisingly, it has become quite the sensation. In fact, there have already been over one hundred thousand views."
"Uh…wow" was all Chuck could manage to say before Lester started talking again.
"Exactly, Charles. Now, with impending stardom, we can't afford to lend our talents to you and your little 'Mrs.'…"
Chuck could have sworn he heard a growl coming from the kitchen.
"…in fact, after we finish our breakfast here…say, I realize you have your girlfriend right where she belongs…barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen…but she seems to be taking her time bringing out some food…"
Chuck was definitely sure now that he was hearing growling and energetic banging about coming from the kitchen.
"…perhaps you should offer her some assistance…Jeffrey and I would like two egg white omelets with rye toast…and some freshly squeezed orange juice with the pulp and seeds strained out."
"Chuck!" Sarah almost screamed. "Get in here…now!"
"Here's your chance, Charles. We'll be right here while you get things straightened out" Lester whispered while giving a dismissive wave of his hand.
Chuck got to his feet, too stunned to say a word, and stumbled into the kitchen. As soon as he stepped around the corner, Sarah grabbed him…and not in the playful but frisky way he enjoyed her using when she grabbed him…no, she grabbed two handfuls of collar and pulled his face down to hers. "You better get those two assholes out of here…or, so help me god…you are gonna be scrubbing, whatever they call brains, off of the walls for days!"
"I…uh, see your point. Consider them gone."
"They better be…or consider them dead…and consider yourself cut-off."
Seeing the look in his fiancé's eyes, he took the threats very seriously. When he walked back to the table, he found Lester and Morgan engaged in some sort of staring contest while Jeff appeared to be playing with a PSP…that was invisible.
"Lester…Jeff, I'm sorry but Morgan and I have to get things together for today's installs so…"
"Charles…just a minute…we didn't have the chance to offer you a once in a lifetime business opportunity" Lester said, suddenly looking a little panicked. Before he could say anything else, the front door swung open and Carina walked in followed by John Casey.
"Carina" Morgan called out, a smile on his face.
"Hey, Martin" Carina answered with grin.
"Great…a meeting of the moron society…looks like everyone's here" Casey said with a snort.
"Please, John…if Charles and I wanted to talk about grilles or large appliances…we'd seek you out. Please, allow the businessmen to finish speaking…" Carina managed to snag one of Casey's arms as he started towards Lester who had already turned his back and was once again talking to Chuck. "…you see, Charles…Jeffster had already been approached by the Chkgun93 management group who wish to book us for a tour of exclusive clubs throughout the pacific northwest…"
"What the hell are you talking about Lester?" Chuck asked as he kept a wary eye on Casey who looked ready to explode.
"It's really simple, Charles…we are offering you…and, of course, the little 'Mrs.'...the opportunity to become a corporate sponsor for…Jeffster."
"What ?"
"Charles…it's not difficult to understand. Chkgun93 management group is ready to book us to play a string of exclusive dates at exclusive clubs. The members of these clubs enjoy dressing up in furry animal costumes. We need a corporate sponsor so we can make sure Loretta is ready for a road trip and to purchase the costumes we'll need in order to take this booking. So, how much would you like to invest…"
Chuck suddenly burst out laughing, followed moments later by Carina and then Casey. Morgan had a confused smile on his face, not sure what had gotten the others laughing but fairly sure it wasn't something he'd done. Sarah wandered into the room, wondering what the hell was going on and why Lester and Jeff were still sitting at her table.
"Chuck, what the hell is so funny and why are those two assholes still in my apartment?"
Before Chuck could say a word, Lester stepped into the buzz saw.
"Hold on there, missy…the boss and I were discussing corporate sponsorship opportunities…maybe you should just wander back into the kitchen and get our breakfast finished…"
Both Casey and Carina were in motion before Lester finished speaking and that is the only thing that saved his life. Chuck looked up to find Sarah's hands inches from Lester's throat with both Casey and Carina struggling to restrain her.
"I'll kill him!" Sarah screamed as she struggled with the arms holding her. "Let me go so I can dance on his soon to be lifeless body! Where are my knives…GIVE ME MY KNIVES!"
Lester finally realized the danger he was in and, with suddenly saucer sized eyes, he turned and grabbed Jeff and began dragging him towards the door. "Charles…perhaps we chose the wrong time of the month to visit…maybe we should reschedule…" he stammered out as he watched Chuck add his own arms to the others already straining to restrain the now frothing at the mouth Sarah Walker.
"LET! ME! GO!" Sarah screamed at the top of her lungs. "WRONG TIME OF THE MONTH? I'M PREGNANT YOU FUCKING MORON! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU…I SWEAR TO GOD! THE NEXT TIME I SEE YOU!"
"Morgan? Please get them out of here…I don't know how much longer we can hold her…please" Chuck said as he held Sarah's wrists while her fingers seemed ready to detach themselves from her hands and fly into Lester's eyes.
Morgan finally managed to get the front door shut after pushing Jeff out after Lester. Afraid to turn around, Morgan finally found some courage and, putting his back against the door, allowed his eyes to look towards the group of people who had been wrestling with the blonde she-devil. The sight he found was about as far from what he expected as it could be.
"Alright guys…you can let me go now" Sarah said in a calm voice.
"Sarah?" Chuck asked, clearly confused as he watched both Casey and Carina release their holds after exchanging looks. Once free of the restraining arms, she stepped forward and pulled him into a tight embrace, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder.
"It's ok, Chuck…I'm ok…really" she whispered into his ear. "I just really hate that little weasel…never, ever let him into this apartment again…although, if my little performance worked, he'll never come near me again."
"Sarah?…you really scared me."
"I know…and I'm sorry for that. I promise to make it up to you later" she said as she gave his ear a little nip. Releasing her hold on him, she stepped back and nodded towards Casey and Carina. "Thanks guys…ready for some breakfast? Morgan, you hungry?…Morgan?"
Everyone looked towards the front door, expecting to find Morgan still standing with his back against the door…but the door stood open and Morgan was nowhere to be seen. Crossing to the doorway, Chuck looked out into the courtyard, expecting to see Morgan seated on the edge of the fountain but the courtyard was empty. After double checking and seeing no sign of his friend, Chuck ducked back into the apartment and slowly closed the door behind him.
"So, where's Martin?" Carina asked, a smile on her face.
"I don't know where Morgan is" Chuck answered, making sure he enunciated the name. Walking over to the table, he picked up Morgan's pack and looked at it quizzically.
"What is it, Chuck?" Sarah asked from his side.
"Morgan never goes anywhere without this pack…never."
"Moron probably just got scared and ran away…" Casey offered with a snort.
"Yeah…that's hilarious, Casey. Hell, I was scared…and I know that Sarah's…well, Sarah…Morgan was probably terrified". Dropping the pack back onto the table he turned and headed towards the door.
"Where you going, moron?" Casey asked and immediately regretted his choice of words.
Chuck whirled around. "Casey…if you call me…or Morgan…a moron… one more time…I'll do something stupid for you…like erase every trace of you on any data base I can find…and trust me on this…I can find a shitload of data bases! I'm gonna go and find my friend…you spies have a great breakfast" he said before walking out the door and slamming it behind him.
"Way to go, Casey" Sarah said as she headed towards the door.
"Sarah…wait a minute" Carina said as she walked towards her. "Do you really think that Morgan really needs to see you…right now? I know he's a friend…sorta…but, you did sorta freak him out. Maybe a different face might help."
Sarah was clearly torn. "Ok…but you call me when you find him. I really am starting to feel bad. Keep your phone with you…"
"Duh…of course I will" she responded before giving Sarah a quick hug and then walking out the door.
Turning back towards the kitchen she found Casey staring at her. She was surprised to see what looked like remorse on his face.
"I was just kidding …with the whole 'moron' thing…you know that, right?"
"Yeah Casey, I know that…and I'm sure that Chuck knows that as well…but, seriously…I wouldn't use that word again…for a long time"
"Right…like Bartowski's gonna erase me if I do."
"Casey…you know how we always get those updates about hackers who can do so much 'damage' to computer systems?"
"Yeah…so? Bartowski's gonna 'hack' me? Like he's as smart as these little pimply faced whiz kids we're always recruiting?"
"John…he's smarter. I know that look…you think I'm just talking him up because I'm in love with him…well, I am in love with him but that's not why I warning you…I'm doing it because, what he threatened you with?…I know he could do it…without even breaking a sweat. You'd be gone, just like that" she said as she snapped her fingers. "Every trace of you that exists anywhere on a computer…it would vanish…forever."
Casey seemed to take time to consider what Sarah had just said. "He wouldn't do that…he's not built that way."
"John…think about it…we're rebuilding him…exposing him to more of our world. I know it's necessary so that we can keep him safe but, think about it. Chuck Bartowski is the sweetest guy I've ever met, but I believe, that if you push him, just once too often…poof" she finished with another snap of her fingers "…you're gone"
Casey simply stood there, obviously lost in thought. Snapping out of it, he looked at the woman who'd just given him a whole lot to think about. "Ok…good to know…no more 'moron' cracks. What do we do now?"
"Come with me" Sarah said as she headed down the hallway towards the 'office', "Right now, we find Morgan"
"Ok…how are we gonna do that?"
"Casey…I have his phone lo-jacked…"
"But he left it sitting on the table."
"…and his watch" she added with a smile.
"Why didn't you just remind the mo…Chuck, about that little fact? Don't tell me you lo-jacked him with Bartowski knowing about it?"
"He knows about the phone, not about the watch. We'll locate him, call Carina…and after we give her a few minutes alone time…we'll call Chuck. Hopefully Carina will have him calmed down before Chuck 'finds' them and we'll have everyone back here for breakfast…ok, probably lunch"
"What…is Carina gonna 'seduce' him into calming down? Get him under control? "
"You know, Casey…you really can be an insensitive prick sometimes. Carina may be a bit of a wild card…ok, more than a bit…but she actually doesn't seem to find Morgan totally un-appealing. They sat here and played video games…with you, if I remember. Did it seem like she was treating him like a 'mark' to you? She'll talk to him…it'll work…wait and see" she finished with a smile as she sat down at the computer and got to work finding Morgan.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-
Carina had gotten the call from Sarah and now found herself standing where she never imagined she'd be standing…at the doorway of a large video arcade. Promising herself that it wouldn't be that bad, she took a breath and walked inside, immediately feeling the eyes of every young man turn her way. Wandering further in and pretending not to notice the stares, she finally found he quarry standing in front of a large video display with a plastic guitar hung around his neck.
"Morgan…there you are. Mind some company?"
"I guess not…wanna play?"
"I don't know how to play a guitar" she answered.
"Neither do I…although, off the topic…sorta… Chuck does…but that doesn't help him…I still kick his ass."
"Would you mind giving me a few pointers?"
"Sure…I guess so…if you really want to…play, I mean" he answered, still trying his hardest not to stare at the beautiful woman standing beside him.
"Won't I need one of those guitars?"
"Well, yeah…sorry…wasn't thinking. Just go to the booth…over that way" he said as he gestured with his guitar. "The attendant will sign one out to you and then just bring it back here and I'll so you how to play."
-00-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Chuck looked down at his phone and then hit the accept button before placing the phone to his ear. "Hey, Carina…you're where?…doing what?…yeah, I understand…I should have looked there first…how's he doing?…really?…ok, should I 'find' you guys?…ok…if you say so…yeah, I'll see you back at the apartment…well, have fun…and Carina?…thanks…it means a lot to me…yeah, I'll call Sarah and Major Douche and let them know…yeah, I see you then." Chuck hit the disconnect, After making the call to Sarah, he pocketed the phone and headed back to the apartment…sure that Morgan was in good hands.
-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Carina smiled as she watched Morgan set a new high score on Guitar hero. She gotten the hang of the game but Morgan seemed to beat her every time…even though, and she smiled at th thought, he tried to throw the game a few times. She watched as he entered his name at the top of the high score list, Chewienerd, and then smiled.
"So, ready to get back to the apartment for some lunch?"
"Yeah…sure. Carina? ...Thanks a lot."
"Any time, Morgan…any time."
A/N: So, I lied…no mission this time…next time though…a mish… just for all of you. JT