A/N: Ownership of Chuck. Ok, I said it. Now let's get right to the story, huh?
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Chuck sat at the Nerd Herd desk at the Buy More, manning his post, but thinking about Sarah. He had a happy little smile on his face, which he always wore when thinking about Sarah. He was pulled out of his pleasant revery by the jarring rings of the desk bell. A cute, petite brunette had banged on the bell multiple times. She held her phone in her right hand as if she blamed it for something. Automatically, he thought 'no wedding ring and probably right handed, with her watch on her left wrist.' He was getting better and better at noticing things...at least he hoped he was. He was certainly trying.
"Hi," he said, standing up.
"I keep pressing the button and nothing's happening," she said, frantically while gesturing with her phone.
He smiled at her and said, calmly, "Is it fully charged? Because sometimes this model..."
"My entire life is in this thing...Ok? I've got names, places, dates, times, music, photos, recipes."
"Wow," Chuck said, still with a small smile. "You cook too?"
"What if I lose everything?" she sounded actually scared. "I can't start from scratch. I can't be the person I was..." She turned and walked away from the desk, pacing in her anxiety. "... before this thing came along. I'm freaking out." Chuck agreed that she was, in fact, freaking out.
He followed her away from the desk. Placatingly, he said, "Listen to me,….uh..."
"Lou," she said.
"Lou?" He sounded a little confused. "Really? Cause...I wouldn't have...Oh..." She checked out his nametag and smiled a little to herself. "See, Lou, this is my world," he gestured behind him at the Nerd Herd desk. "This is what I do. And I do it pretty well. Trust me." He smiled at her with what he hoped was his most calming and reassuring smile.
"Ok," she said, handing over her phone. "I know I'm totally spazzing out. I'm sorry. It's just a little overwhelming to even consider..."
"No, no, no," Chuck interrupted her. "Don't go there. Come back. Go to a happy place. Is there something that you think about that quiets the voices that are in your head?" He wiggled his fingers around near his head to indicate her chattering voices.
She took a deep cleansing breath and let it out slowly. Visibly calming, she said softly, "Turkey..."
'Huh?' thought Chuck, a little startled.
"Muenster cheese...egg bread...grilled..."
"Was that a ...was that a sandwich?" he asked, a little confused, but also a little charmed by her quirky response.
"Yeah. They're my passion," she said.
"It sounds...it sounds pretty delicious."
"I own a deli in the mall and I often think about meats and cheeses," she said, by way of explanation.
"Ah...who doesn't? A good lunch is essential to a good day. My girlfriend works at the Wienerlicious, so I don't miss lunch." Chuck said with a huge smile. Despite his newfound attention to noticing things, he didn't notice the slight droop in her shoulders or the tiny dimming of her smile at the mention of his girlfriend. "Look, I promise you that if you come back tomorrow, your phone will be all fixed up and good to go. Ok?"
"Really?" she asked, brightly.
Before he could answer they were interrupted by Morgan. His little bearded friend said, "Ah, I'm sorry. Excuse me," he said to Chuck. Turning to Lou, he said, "Hi. I'm Morgan, by the way," extending his hand to her.
"Hi, I'm Lou," she replied, shaking his hand.
"Hi, Lou, nice to meet you. Chuck, there's a man over there that wants to see you. Says no one else can help him. He can see you're with a customer, but he says he doesn't mind waiting. I just thought you should know."
Chuck looked up and saw the man. He was maybe in his sixties, a little pudgy, and very grey haired, wearing a suit and tie. He looked pretty innocuous, but Chuck literally gasped from surprise. "No way...what the hell?" he murmured. His look of shock was almost comical. The reaction was so extreme that both Lou and Morgan spun to look at the man, who stood there holding his briefcase and patiently waiting, watching them without much in the way of expression.
Morgan said, "Who is he, Dude?"
Chuck ignored the question. "Uh, Morgan, please do the paperwork for Lou. Get Lou signed up for Nerd Herd service. Phone diagnostic and repair. No deposit. Pick up tomorrow." Moving away from them, he turned back to look at her and said, with a bit of a distracted smile, "I'll take care of it, Lou. It will be good as new. Don't worry. Now excuse me, please."
He left them and walked towards President Dan Carroll of Stanford. Chuck felt he was walking in a dream. 'What the hell is happening?' he thought.
"President Carroll," Chuck said, neutrally, by way of greeting. He did not extend his hand offering to shake hands and neither did President Carroll.
"Good morning, Mr. Bartowski. I'm sorry to disturb you at your place of business. Is there someplace here where you and I could speak privately for a few moments?"
"Certainly. Come with me, please." He led him into the Home Theater Room and closed the door. "What can I do for you?" He was so tempted to ask if the man needed his phone or computer fixed, but that level of overt snark would have been rude.
Chuck was very curious, but not really more than that. A few months ago, Chuck would have been nervous and uncomfortable to be talking to Carroll. At this point, though, he found that he wasn't. His experiences with Sarah and Casey had put things into more perspective for him. Carroll had already done the worst thing he could do to Chuck. There was simply nothing to be nervous about anymore.
"Mr. Bartowski, I will come right to the point. I'm sorry. I'm so desperately and sincerely sorry. To say I made a mistake is to vastly minimize the extent of my negligence and the terrible effect it has had on your life. Frankly, I'm ashamed of what I did to you. I'm going to try to do what I can now, but the place to start is just to simply apologize to you. I'm so, so sorry."
Chuck was deeply shocked. The President of Stanford was flat out apologizing. He would never have imagined it. "How?...Why?..." In his confusion, his voice became a little shaky.
"Director Graham called me into his office a few days ago. He showed me the tape of Larkin and Fleming agreeing to frame you for cheating. Then he shared with me his critique of my investigation and the hearing that followed it... where I ruled against you. His critique was …. thorough and unsparing, as well as entirely accurate and appropriate." Carroll looked very uncomfortable remembering the conversation with Graham. Chuck wondered what that conversation must have been like. "I wanted to give you this apology in writing so that you could hold on to it, but the lawyers wouldn't let me. They worried that you could use it to sue us. So, not in writing, but real nonetheless. I'm sorry, Mr. Bartowski. I'm so, so sorry."
"Um...okay," said Chuck.
Carroll reached into his briefcase and removed a large piece of stiff, heavy paper. As he turned it around towards Chuck he said, "This is for you."
THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
to all whom these Letters shall come greeting
The Trustees and Faculty of the University, by virtue of the authority
vested in them have conferred on
CHARLES IRVING BARTOWSKI
who has satisfactorily pursued the Studies and passed the Examinations
Required therefor the Degree of
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
in
Electrical Engineering
and
Computer Science
with all the Rights, Privileges, Honors, and Responsibilities thereunto appertaining
Given at Stanford University in the State of California on the Sixth Day of
November in the year Two Thousand and Seven, the Two Hundredth and Thirty-first Year
of the Republic, and the One Hundred and Sixteenth Academic Year of the University.
Conferred with Distinction
It was followed by three signatures, including, in the center of the page, Dan Carroll's own signature. Carroll said, "Congratulations, Mr. Bartowski," and extended his hand.
Chuck's mind had locked up. He shook Carroll's hand automatically, without thought. As he did begin to process events he said, "I don't understand. I don't have the credits..."
"Not true. You do. Your work with the CIA has been a work/study arrangement. You have all the credits you need. Director Graham and I finished up the paperwork yesterday. I flew down here last night to be able to see you this morning. I deliberately wanted to show up unannounced...I wasn't sure you would want to see me if I told you I was coming."
"Oh...so this is real? I mean, it's done? I mean, I really graduated?"
"Yes. You have. You are a graduate of Stanford University, double major with distinction. If you would like to participate in the ceremony...cap and gown...the whole thing, just say so and I will arrange it. But it is not at all necessary. You have graduated. The upcoming ceremony is next spring. No need to decide now, you can let me know any time before then. Perhaps your family would like to see you there and hear your name called. It's up to you, Mr. Bartowski."
Chuck, still in a bit of a daze and processing events, mumbled a thank you.
"One more thing. If you should ever choose to pursue graduate studies you will have a full scholarship at Stanford. I don't expect that that is something you are thinking about right now, but in five or ten years, who knows? Just keep it in the back of your mind."
Chuck said, "Thank you."
"I would also have offered you a job at the University, but given your current employer...," he looked around at the room they were in, "your real employer...I considered that unwise," said Carroll with a small smile and a shrug.
They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few moments until Chuck decided to ask the question that he'd been pondering for five years. "President Carroll, why didn't you believe me?" asked Chuck.
Carroll sighed heavily and seemed to find something very interesting to look at on the carpet at his feet. "Since I saw the tape of Fleming and Larkin, I've been asking myself the same question over and over again. I was wrong, Mr. Bartowski. I should have believed you. In hindsight it was the most obvious thing in the world to believe you, but at the time...I don't know...I don't know why I didn't. Maybe I was too angry...We had given you a full scholarship, the best opportunity we could provide for you...and to think that you...that anyone in that position...could take what we had given and then cheat...game the system...it made me very angry. Maybe irrationally angry, I don't know. I kept thinking that if you had cheated on Fleming's test you had cheated on all your tests...you had made fools of us all...even those professors who supported you...especially those professors who supported you. By the way, you should know that Professor Pachnanda hasn't spoken to me in five years...not since then, because of what I did to you. I have to apologize to him too...Seems I have a lot of apologizing to do...But I was so angry...it's why your punishment was so severe, expulsion rather than suspension...I'm sorry, Mr. Bartowski...I'm sorry."
They were silent for a few more moments as Chuck digested Carroll's explanation. "Thank you for coming to see me in person, President Carroll. I'm sure this must have been very difficult for you. You could have mailed me the diploma and a bullshit explanation and that would be that, but you didn't. You came all this way and looked me in the eye and apologized to me in person like an honorable man. That took real courage, Sir. I recognize the difficulty you must have had in doing that and I truly appreciate it. I really do. Thank you."
"Thank you for that...I have no hope that you will ever forgive me for what I did to you. Fleming is beyond that now. Larkin, well, Larkin too. We have rescinded Larkin's degree... posthumously, of course. We no longer want him known as a Stanford graduate, for whatever good that will do us. You are a truly extraordinary young man with almost limitless potential and I stole five years of your life away from you. You and I are both going to have to live with that, I'm afraid. I know you won't forgive me, but I do hope that, one day, you will be able to forgive Stanford. As an institution it is much better than the treatment you received at my hands. I hope that one day you will see that and give Stanford another chance."
He stuck out his hand and said, "Good-bye, Mr. Bartowski. Good luck and if there is ever anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to ask. God knows I owe you more than a few favors."
"Good-bye, President Carroll."
Chuck opened the door to the Home Theater Room and let Carroll leave. Then he stood there for almost a minute staring at the diploma on the coffee table, trying to come to grips with his new status. He felt like he was about to cry and laugh at the same time.
He touched his watch and said, "Sarah, Casey, can you come to the Home Theater Room right away, please? I'm not in danger or anything, but I need to talk to you both." Both of them acknowledged and indicating they were on their way. Chuck picked up the diploma from the table and looked at it as if he expected the letters to fade away.
Predictably, Casey arrived first. He said, "Come on, Moron, I was about to sell a Beastmas...Hey...what is it? Did you flash?" Chuck shook his head, no. Looking hard at the expression on Chuck's face and not understanding it at all, Casey asked, "What is it, Chuck?"
Chuck held up his hand and waited for Sarah, who arrived moments later in her Wienerlicious outfit. "What's the matter?" She looked back and forth between them. Casey shrugged, indicating he didn't know. Slowly, Chuck turned the diploma around so that they could see it.
"President Carroll of Stanford was just here. I'm a college graduate."
"Oh, Chuck," said Sarah, her hand going to her mouth in surprise and excitement.
"How?' asked Casey, equally surprised.
"Graham got to him and showed him the tape of Larkin and Fleming. From the look on his face, it looked like Graham gave him a pretty hard time too," said Chuck. "Together they monkeyed up some work study credits for me from the last couple of months and...and..." The tears that had threatened to spill gave way and Chuck started to cry. "And...and I'm a college graduate."
Sarah launched herself at him and wrapped him in a hug, kissing him and almost crying with happiness herself. "Congratulations, sweetie. I knew it. I knew it. I knew Stanford would regret what they did to you." She pulled back and grinned happily at him, "And with distinction, too. I have a smart boyfriend."
Casey put a hand on Chuck's shoulder and squeezed. "Congratulations, kid. Well done. What's distinction mean?"
"It's honors. Top of the class type stuff. They don't use Latin honors at Stanford. It's like cum laude, except not," explained Chuck laughing. He was grinning moments after he had been crying. "Wait, I have to call Graham. I have to thank him."
Chuck took out his phone and sent a text. Moments later the video screen on the wall of the room activated and there was Graham.
Chuck said, "Director," he showed the diploma. "I...I...Thank you...You...thank you...President Carroll was just here. I know what you did...what you did for me..." Chuck was on the verge of tears again.
Graham said, smiling, "Congratulations. And no thanks are necessary, Chuck. I mean it. Larkin and Fleming screwed you over and Carroll was asleep at the switch. Today you got exactly what you deserve, no more no less. You earned that degree and you earned the honors that go with it. It is my pleasure to see that the fraud that was perpetrated against you has been rectified, Chuck. My real pleasure. Honestly. It's an honor to have you on my team, son."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you very much."
"Sorry, now I have to run. I've got to meet with some Senators on the Hill in an hour. I'll try to call you tonight and tell you about my conversation with Carroll. I think you'll get a kick out of it."
Chuck smiled at him. "Thank you, Sir. I look forward to it."
The screen went black.
Sarah wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss. "Congratulations, Chuck."
"Thanks," he said with a wide grin.
Casey stuck out his hand and said, "Congratulations, Bartowski. Well done."
"Thanks, Case," he said, shaking Casey's hand.
Sarah said, "Wait here. I'm going to get Morgan. You have to let your little buddy know." She left the room.
"So, what now, kid?"
"I don't know. I guess we'll celebrate. What does somebody do after graduating from college?"
"Get a job," said Casey.
"Ha. Well, between my cover job and..."
Morgan came in to the room with Sarah. "Is everything ok, Chuck? You looked a little freaked out when you saw the old guy."
"Yeah, little buddy. That old guy was from Stanford. Some new evidence surfaced in the last few days about the charges against me. So..." Chuck turned the diploma around so Morgan could see it.
"Is that real?" asked Morgan.
"Yeah. It's real. I graduated from Stanford," said Chuck. Morgan stood in stunned silence for almost five seconds, just staring at the diploma. But then the reality caught up with his shocked mind.
"YEAH," he shouted, pumping a fist into the air. He jumped up to embrace Chuck in a strong hug. "That's so cool. Oh, man. That's so great. You did it. Those idiots finally saw the light. Oh, man. This is great. Congratulations, Chuck." He turned to look at Casey and Sarah, "Isn't this great?" Morgan was grinning from ear to ear and almost bouncing up and down he was so happy for his friend.
Sarah gave him a big smile and said, "Yeah. It is, Morgan." He disengaged from Chuck and gave Sarah a big hug.
He broke the hug with Sarah and began to move to give Casey a hug. Casey growled, "Don't even think about it."
Stopping in mid-movement, his arms still spread, Morgan stammered, "Right. Right. No hugging. Got it. Got it." Turning back to Chuck, he said, "Wow. I can hardly wait for you to tell Ellie. She's gonna flip."
"Yeah, she is," said Chuck with a big smile.
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Ellie and Devon were sitting on the couch in their hospital scrubs, snuggling a little and watching the news on TV, when Chuck and Sarah came in after work. "Hey, you guys. How was your day?" asked Ellie.
"Great, sis. Actually, a little more than great," Chuck said with a huge smile. Sarah just stood there smiling.
"Oh?" asked Ellie
"Don't be shy, bro. If something awesome happened you have to share. Don't tease your sister," said Devon with a smile, while turning off the TV and sitting up.
"Well, it seems some new evidence came to light at Stanford...about the allegations against me five years ago. Stanford...well..." Chuck smiled from ear to ear and turned the diploma around to show them. "They changed their minds. I graduated, Ellie. With distinction. I graduated."
Ellie sat staring at the diploma and then at her brother. She seemed to levitate off the couch without effort and fly across the room to Chuck. She pulled him into a huge bone-crushing hug and let out a squeal that could have been heard blocks away. "OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD."
Devon bellowed, "AWESOME, CHUCK. AWESOME." He hugged Chuck and, for good measure, Sarah too.
Ellie jumped up and landed on the couch and began jumping up and down squealing. She kept repeating, "You did it. You did it." She was clapping her hands and laughing so hard it probably hurt her face. "You're the best, little brother. The best. Aces, Charles. This is just terrific."
Sarah wiped away happy tears.
"Way to go, dude. Great news," said Devon.
Sobering and climbing off the couch after a little while, Ellie said, "So what was it?"
"What was what?" asked Chuck.
"What was the new evidence they found? After five years I would think that's pretty unusual to get new evidence. And it must have been totally exculpatory for them to react the way they did. So, what was it?"
Chuck thought about the ramifications if she knew the truth. None of them were good. And what kind of a lie could he tell her that he could maintain? He finally decided to plead ignorance, "I don't know. I was just so happy to get the news, I never asked."
"Yeah," said Sarah, supporting him. "Doesn't really matter, right? As long as he graduated it's all good news."
"I want to know, though," said Ellie. "I'll contact the school in the morning. They really screwed you over, little brother. I want to know what happened to make them change their mind."
"No. No, don't do that. Don't do that, El," said Chuck. "I'll do it. I'll reach out to them and get an answer. You don't have to."
"Yeah," said Sarah. "We got this. You're busy enough."
She looked at them both for a few moments, then grinned broadly and said, "Ok. No problem. Come on. I'm buying you guys dinner. We're buying you dinner. Come on, Devon. Let's get changed. We're going to go out to dinner to celebrate."
"Thanks, guys. Sounds like fun," said Chuck
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A/N2: I've said many times just how much fun I'm having here writing New Day and I really am. Well, this chapter and the prior chapter were among the most enjoyable yet. I hope you enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them. I always thought the portrayal in canon of how he eventually got his degree was sort of anti-climactic (mak89 called it "underwhelming"). He was the victim of a massive fraud and it should have had, in my mind, a massive reversal.