A Heart Torn
A Charah Tale
By Lord Rapier
Edited and guided by CliffM
Chapter 14:
Buona luna Di Miele (Happy Honeymoon)
Chuck carries his bride across the threshold. When the door closes behind him his eyes go wide. The tiny apartment is sparsely furnished, a simple couch, a folding table and chair in the small kitchen area. There are pictures, lots of pictures. Chuck is in all of them, some with Sarah, many of him alone. Most of them are fakes from their mission in the suburbs. Sarah looks at Chuck's face as he takes it all in. There had to be more than a dozen pictures of him, in an apartment that might have fit into his bedroom on Franklin. There was even the one with the pencil still stuck in it from the reunion mission. Chuck's mouth falls open, "Sarah… "
Still in his arms, Sarah pulls his face down and kisses him, a tear falls from her eye. "I missed you so much baby. No man could possibly stand a chance against you. You're my first and only love, nerd, or hero, you're my Chuck. I've never wanted anyone else since the first day I laid eyes on you. I know, I did stupid things. I guess I needed some time… to grow up. You've been so patient with me, and I'm going to spend the rest of my life showing you how grateful I am. Sarah smiles, "If you take a right, you'll find the rest of the shrine to my love for you, in the bedroom. I think having all these pictures of you, was to make sure I wasn't able to escape my punishment, my pain. What I did you to you was unforgiveable, and yet you forgave me."
Chuck makes that right turn, passes through the door, and carries his wife into their honeymoon bed. "Sarah we've discussed this. We need to let the past go and move on."
Chuck lays Sarah down on the bed, looking around he sees more pictures like the ones in the outer room. Sarah pleads, "Please Baby, indulge me just a little longer. There are things I have to say before I can let the past go. When we leave Italy, I'll leave it all behind. Please be patient with me, just a little longer. I need you to know how much I've missed you. How much I appreciate you. How brave you are, and what a coward I am. I know I should have come home, called you. I was so frightened that you hated me. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing the hurt in your eyes. I saw that in your stateroom, it nearly killed me. For right now, your wife wants to make love to you, to adore you, to tell you over and over that I'm yours forever."
Chuck lies down next to her and takes her in his arms. "I don't need to hear any of that, but if you need to say it, I'll listen." He smiles, "Especially that forever part."
Sarah puts her hand behind his head and pulls his face to hers. She kisses him on his mouth, "Yes Baby I'm yours forever." She kisses his eyes, "I can't see any future without you in it." She kisses his ears, "I want to hear your voice first thing in the morning and last thing at night." She kisses his mouth, "I want to hear you call my name, when I make love to you, until we're old and wrinkled." Sarah is crying as she says, "Chuck, I don't know how long forever is, but I want us to find out together, with our children and our grandchildren. Charles Irving Bartowski, you will never be rid of me. No matter how much you complain and scream at me. You sir, are stuck with me."
Chuck kisses her back as he runs his hands over her clothed body, "Sarah Bartowski, are you saying this is mine, all mine, forever?"
Sarah smiles, "Yes Colonel, it's all yours, for forever and a day. Now stop talking and make love to your wife."
Sarah's alarm goes off at 7 A.M. She wakes up spooned into Chuck, his arm around her waist. Rolling over she kisses him. Taking a deep breath she lets out a heavy sigh. "Chuck are you awake Baby?"
Chuck groans and pulls her closer, "Shhhh, I'm having a really good dream about a gorgeous blonde who made love to me all last night. I just hope my wife doesn't find out."
Sarah laughs, "Too late she already knows, but I think she's okay with it. She had a similar dream about a handsome nerd who loved her up so good, she was screaming his name. Sweetheart, would it be okay if I tell you something?"
Chuck smiles and pulls her closer, "Sure Baby, go ahead."
Sarah holds him really tight, "Chuck, you know that dream you told me about. The one where I kept leaving you?"
Chuck sighs, "Sarah, can't we let that be. I love you. I trust you. I know you won't leave me again. For goodness sakes you turned down Director of the CIA, to be with me. I believe you."
Sarah hugs him tight, "Thank you for forgiving me and trusting me, but that's not what I want to tell you. I had a dream every night too, hundreds of times. I would dream that you made love to me. But, when I rolled over to take you in my arms, you weren't there. I was alone. I would lie awake for the rest of the night. Crying, yelling at myself for being so stupid, so cowardly. I wanted to call you so many times. Alex, Mrs. Sawyer, even Carina pleaded, with me to call you, to end my pain. To let you finish us once and for all, or to get you to take me back, but I was so scared. I couldn't bear the thought that I could lose you forever. That you might end things with no way back."
Sarah is sobbing, her chest heaving as she fights to breathe, "The worst thing. The dumbest, stupidest thing that I did, was to forget how loving you are, how forgiving. God how could I be so stupid? Honey, it was me, my fear that kept us apart. I know you've forgiven me, but I haven't."
Chuck pulls her close and kisses the tears off her cheeks, "I love you, Sarah. It's easy to forgive you. How could I not want to hold you in my arms. You know, Casey was your advocate, he reminded me of all the stupid things I did to hurt you. No one is perfect, especially me. Let's move forward. From now on, you won't leave me, and I'll be there when you roll over. Only good dreams from now on, okay, deal?"
Sarah reaches up and strokes his face as she kisses him, "Deal. Can I ask you a question?"
Chuck sighs, "Sarah please, can't we just be happy?"
Sarah buries her head into his chest, "Of course Baby, it's about something else. When you fought Zondra, you never made your flash face. Has the intersect changed that much?"
Chuck laughs, "You didn't see the flash face, because I didn't flash."
Sarah sits up, shock on her face, "What, you mean that was you, all you, and with the other agent too?"
Chuck pulls Sarah back into his arms, "Yes Mrs. Bartowski, that was all your nerd husband. I trained for hours and hours every day. I had a lot of time on my hands, and I needed somewhere to put that sexual energy. Not to mention, punching and kicking that bag was cathartic. No, I wasn't picturing you. I would never hurt you, real or imagined. I will admit, I flashed to fly the jet, and dismantle the bomb. The fighting and computer work is all me."
Sarah stares at her husband in disbelief, "Holy cow, you mean, I really am Mrs. Batman. I mean It was hard for me to miss how your body has changed, hard, well defined, but I never, even for a minute imagined…"
Chuck smiles, "I'm glad you noticed. I worked really hard to get lean and mean. In the beginning I used the Intersect to learn the moves, but little by little it became muscle memory. I guess that's why I picked it up so quickly. Maybe I cheated a little, at first. But now all the moves are mine. I think that's what my dad intended the Intersect to be, a teaching tool, not to create killers."
Sarah just stares at him, "Casey told me you could kick my ass, but I thought he meant… Did you know that next to me Zondra is our best fighter? You took her down easily, and you didn't hurt her…, and here I've been treating you like a delicate flower. Speaking of Zondra, she'll be here any minute, up for a shower with your wife? Holy Crap! I got naked with Batman."
Chuck laughs and pulls Sarah in for a kiss, "And I got naked with Mrs. Batman. You, Sarah Bartowski, are Batman's kryptonite. Let's get in the shower and I'll tell you how I got the name."
During a quick shower, washing each other, Chuck tells the tale of how he came to be Batman (insert Chapters 1 & 2 here). As they're drying each other off, "So long story, short, I became Batman. You should have heard Casey growl when they called him Robin the Boy Wonder."
Sarah throws her head back and laughs, "I wish I could have been there. I'll bet he was pissed."
Chuck bends to kiss her, "I wished you werethere, in a way you were. I was terrified that I couldn't do it without you. Casey reminded me that one of the reasons you love me is because I get the job done, that I act brave no matter how scared I am. Are you ready for this? He admitted out loud that I was his best friend."
Sarah stares at Chuck, "He did what? Casey said that? Out loud? Damn. Baby, I'm so sorry I wasn't there, but I'll be there from now on. The very next time you're scared, I'll be right there holding your hand. I promise."
There's a knock at the door and Sarah grabs a robe, "You get dressed, I'll let Z in. Baby, I don't want to leave you, not even to go into the next room. I'll leave the door open." She kisses him and walks into the living room. Chuck just finishes getting his pants on when he hears a loud crashing, Sarah crying out, and a loud thud. He comes charging out of the bedroom to see Sarah lying on the floor blood on her face. There's a man standing over her holding a gun fixed with a silencer. He says, "Buona Luna Di Miele, Mrs. Bartowski."
Chuck screams "NO!" and taking two quick steps he launches himself across the room, his bare left foot hitting the gunman's hand, causing the shot to go wild, and the gun to go flying. Twisting in the air he lands near the assailant and strikes him. The palm of his hand crushes in the side of the assailant's head. The man is dazed and staggers. Chuck immediately spins on his left foot and kicks the attacker in the throat with his right foot. The gunman grabs his throat, choking, struggling to breath, Chuck recognizes the man, "Decker…" Chuck's next strike is to the side of Decker's right knee with his foot, causing the knee to bend in an unnatural way. Decker screams and falls to the floor. Chuck grabs his head by his hair with his left hand and draws his right hand back for a killing blow.
Sarah, blood streaming down her face, yells, "CHUCK, NO… DON'T!"
Chuck hesitates for an instant, just long enough to catch someone coming through the door in his peripheral vision, gun drawn. He recognizes Zondra Rizzo, "I've got this Colonel." There are two metallic chugging sounds as Zondra fires her silenced pistol. Chuck looks down to see two holes appear in Clyde Decker's chest. Decker goes limp and Chuck releases him.
He runs over to Sarah who's starting to get up. Tears are running down his cheeks, "Baby are you okay?"
Sarah throws her arms around his body and holds him tight, blood transferring to his chest. "I'm okay Chuck, I'm okay. He caught me by surprise, slammed the door into me. I thought it was Z."
Sarah talks to Zondra never letting go of her husband, "Z, get a cleanup crew in here. I want to know how he got in the building, much less to my door. I want every agent on my security team in front of me at the office ASAP. If you can't find them, I want them hunted down and brought in. Z don't leave the area just in case someone called the local cops. I don't want you accused of leaving the scene of a murder. Chuck how did he know I'm Mrs. Bartowski, how did Decker know we're married?"
Putting his arm around Sarah, he leads her to the kitchen, "Zondra, where do we go to get Sarah medical attention? I want her checked out." He grabs a towel and wetting it, he gently dabs the bloody area, trying to see the damage. "I don't know Sarah, there has to be a leak somewhere. I just hope it got plugged when he died. Z tell me he's dead, I mean really dead."
Sarah smiles, "I'm fine Chuck, I don't need a doctor."
Zondra was checking Decker's body to ensure her shots were effective, "He's dead Colonel, really dead. I'll have a medical officer standing by at the office." Rizzo gets on the phone, working on following her orders.
Sarah stands on her tiptoes to kiss Chuck, "Baby, I'm fine. I'll probably have one hell of a headache, but I'll live. You on the other hand, you look like you've just been through a massacre. Please tell me that's not your blood."
Chuck leads Sarah to a chair and insists that she sit. He takes a close look, "No Baby, that's all yours, no extra holes in me. Sweetheart, you're going to need stitches, that's a deep gash. Sarah, why'd you stop me? I wanted to crush his skull?"
Sarah looks up at Chuck, "I know Hon, and I'm sure you could have. You killed for me once already, and that's one too many times. You're not a killer, and I don't want you to become one. Yet another mistake I need to make up to you, I should never have given you that gun at the Station. Thank God Casey was there. How did Shaw do it? He manipulated me and so many others, how? I'm glad he's gone. We need proof that he's really gone. We need to call Casey, see if they found the body. Looks like we'll need another shower, but we'll have to wait until the forensic team gets here. We've got to make sure that Z isn't charged with anything. The evidence tells the story."
Chuck stands close and presses the towel to Sarah's wound then pulls her head tight to him, allowing his stomach to hold the towel in place. "Do you think it's over Sarah? Are we finally free of both of them? Can we really start our lives now?"
Sarah kisses his stomach, "I hope so Chuck. I'm so happy we're leaving this life. When that door hit me all I could think was, NO! I need more time with him." Sarah smiles unseen by Chuck, "You were my hero again you know. You saved my life, yet again. How will I ever repay you, for the hurt, for my life, for all the good things you've brought to my life. How will I ever repay you?"
Chuck holds her head, "Baby, you don't owe me anything. Well maybe just putting up with my lady feelings, and seeing the doctor without a fight."
Sarah laughs, "You've been spending too much time with John. I guess I can start repayment by deprograming you and seeing the doctor. Also, how would you feel about lots and lots of practice." Chuck laughs.
Zondra walks back into the apartment, "So far no local LEO. We may be able to keep this in house. How're you guys doing? Chuck, thank God you were here. Batman kicks the villain's ass, just like in the comics."
Sarah laughs, grimacing as the adrenalin starts to wear off and she begins to feel the pain. Her face still leaning on Chuck, "You know it wasn't long ago, I said almost those identical words. Thanks for what you did Z. He's just not built like us. He would have done it, but he … never mind, just thanks."
Zondra walks over and puts one hand on Chuck's shoulder and the other on the back of Sarah's head. "No sweat Chief. I have to admit, I enjoyed doing it. Dispatching assholes is a good thing. I wish I could bring him back, so I can do it again. I didn't forget that bit at the hospital when he wanted to let you die. Yeah, it felt good, really good."
She hears a noise outside and walks to the door. Turning back into the apartment, "Cleanup crew is here. Time to get you two back to the office, the doctor's waiting. Hop to it, quick shower, can't have you walking the streets covered in blood. Chuck keep pressure on that wound, get it clean, but keep it covered. Grab a clean towel, that one needs to disappear and get that uniform off. We don't need an American military man involved, just in case it gets out of hand. Don't worry about your stuff, this will all be gone in an hour. Everything will be waiting for you at home. If you need new clothes, we'll buy them for you. Now move, your honeymoon won't wait forever, and neither will Sarah's relief."
Chuck smiles, "Thanks Z, for everything. Have the stuff shipped to Carmichael Industries in Burbank, we'll get it there. Keep my uniforms here, have them brought to the station. I guess we'll have to figure out where we're staying."
Zondra shakes her head and laughs, "You want me to ship Colonel Carmichael's stuff to Carmichael industries. That's some cover Chuckles, you taught him well Sarah." She smiles, "You're welcome. Now quit jawing and go get wet. You look like shit."
As Chuck walks Sarah to the bathroom keeping pressure on her wound. "You know I had a good friend who called me Chuckles."
Zondra smiles, "Well now you have two. Get moving, before I strip you myself."
Returning to her station Sarah is immediately taken to the makeshift Doctor's Office. A small room where many agents have been treated for gunshot wounds and other casualties of the job. The doctor examines Sarah, while Chuck holds her hand. He determines that there is likely no concussion. He warns Chuck of what symptoms to keep an eye out for. After cleaning the head wound. "Good news Chief Walker, it looks like you lucked out. You'll need about ten stitches, but the wound is right at the hairline. The scar won't be noticeable." A small injection to numb the area, ten stitches and a large Band-Aid later, Sarah and Chuck leave the doctor. Zondra, is waiting outside the room for them.
Zondra looks at the couple. Chuck isn't allowing much space to get between them. She thinks, where can I find someone to love me like that. That guy would lay his life down to protect her. She smiles, I guess I would too.
Zondra takes a deep breath. She knows Sarah isn't going to like what she says next. "Chief, when we got Decker's body back to the morgue, we searched him. We found an ID on him for Agent Pete Ross. It was altered, Decker's picture was on it. When we went to Ross's place, we found him dead, his throat slit. The good news is nobody betrayed you. The bad news is he got to you too easily. This should never have happened."
Sarah nods, "Well that's a problem for my relief to figure out. I'm done with this crap. Z, I want you to come with us."
Zondra looks shocked, "Of course Chief, I wouldn't let anyone else drive you around to sightsee."
Chuck laughs, "Yes Z, we would appreciate your company while we're still in Naples. But what Sarah meant was we want you to come with us. To Burbank to work with us, at our firm."
Zondra Rizzo is rarely surprised, but this time she is, "You mean quit the agency? Go civilian? I don't know. I mean I can't think of anyone I would rather work with. Thanks to you, Sarah and I have become friends again, inseparable. But she has a new partner now. Do I get to think it over?"
Sarah walks over and puts her arms around Zondra. "Take all the time you need, we'll always have a place for you," Sarah smiles, "I can't wait for our kids to get to know their Aunt Z."
Zondra's face shows her shock, "You mean you're…"
It's Sarah's turn to laugh, "No Z, not yet. Not until we're officially married, in front of the family, and you better be there for the wedding. You and Carina will be bridesmaids. You're both my family. There's no way I'm going to choose between you. Chuck's sister will be my Matron of honor. Plus, she'll be a lot closer to help with the planning. I'm warning you, you had better be there for our kids, or I'll hunt you down and cover you in dirty diapers."
Zondra laughs and throws her hands up in surrender. "Fine, ugly puffy dress I can never wear again and throw up on my designer clothes, got it. You know I don't have any family to speak of. I guess having a sister…," she hesitates, "And brother like you two, is pretty good. I'll consider your offer.
Chief, right now, you need to brief your replacement so we can get you on your honeymoon. Sorry Colonel Carmichael, you're going to have to put up with a security detail. Both of you are HVT's (High Value Targets). They're in front of Sarah's office where a man in a dark suit is waiting at the reception area. He stands up and immediately walks to Chuck, offering his hand. "Colonel Carmichael, I was briefed that I might run into you here, it's an honor to meet you."
Chuck stares at the man's hand, keeping his own at his side, "Mister, I don't know who the hell you are. Unless you're here to organize my new fan club you need to put that hand down before I find a new place for it. Now who are you, and why are in my way?"
Sarah, Zondra, and the man are shocked at Chuck's gruffness, he stammers, "I'm John J. Jameson, the new Chief of Station."
Chuck looks him up and down, "You're nobody until this woman says you're somebody. This woman, who you just disrespected to kiss my ass. This other woman you ignored is the number two agent at this office. Someday you may need her to cover your ass, like she did mine this morning. At this moment I wouldn't hold it against her if she didn't. Now Mr. Jameson, I hope you enjoyed your morning coffee while we were fighting for our lives. To show you that I'm not all bad, I'm going to let you start over. If I even think you're being disrespectful…, let's just say you should be nice."
Chuck steps aside. Jameson clearly shaken, steps over to Sarah, and offers his hand. "Station Chief Walker, my name is Jameson, my apologies. I'm hoping to be your replacement." Chuck smiles, out of the corner of his eye he sees Zondra cover her mouth.
Sarah takes his hand, "A pleasure to meet you sir. As you already know this is Colonel Carmichael. This is Zondra Rizzo, my partner, and our top agent at this office. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. We had a little trouble on the way in. I'm afraid, I'm going to have to have you cool your heels just a little longer, while we brief the President.
Jenkins, please set Mr. Jameson up with an office and our protocol manuals. have him sign the appropriate paperwork. Mr. Jameson, I'm fairly certain that will help to occupy you for quite some time. If you have any questions, I'm sure Jenkins can help you. I'll look forward to seeing you here again at ten hundred hours tomorrow, please be on time." Sarah smiles, "Are there any questions I can answer for you right now?" Jameson shakes his head. "No… good, Jenkins please put that call through to General Beckman at the White House."
Sarah, Chuck, and Zondra walk into her office leaving Jameson behind with a bewildered look on his face. Before the door closes behind them, they hear a familiar voice bellowing through the office. "Carmichael what the hell did you do now?"
Sarah, screams, "Casey," she turns and runs to him, throwing her arms around him hugging him tightly. "Damn it, Walker is that anyway to treat a General?" He throws his arms around her, and pulls his head back to look at her bandage, "You okay Walker?"
Sarah nods, "I'm fine, the other guy was sorry he messed with the Colonel. But he was only sorry for a few seconds. Why didn't you tell me, you know, about his training?"
Casey shrugs as Chuck joins the hug, "Not my job," he gives Chuck a nasty look. "Hey Batman, you don't get to hug me until you're as hot as she is."
Jameson looks up shocked and mutters out loud, "Batman, he's Batman… I got scolded by Batman."
Casey looks at Jameson, "Who's the stuffed shirt, sounds like he's talking to himself."
Jameson offers his hand to Casey, "My name is Jameson, an honor to meet you General Casey."
Casey gives him an icy stare while still holding Sarah. "You got any Johnny Walker or cigars?" Jameson shakes his head, "Then why the hell are you bothering me, put that hand down, no JW, no tip."
Sarah grabs Casey's hand and pulls him towards her office. "Jameson, get on that paperwork. Come on Casey we're about to call Washington."
Jameson steps up, to Sarah, "Excuse me Agent Walker, do you think I should be in on that call?"
Sarah looks Jameson in the eye, he quickly averts his eyes, "Mr. Jameson, I'm going to be straight with you. Based on our brief interaction, I'm guessing that your appointment here was political. You treat women as if they're invisible. You kiss the ass of any person you perceive to have power, and you don't follow orders. Why would I think you know how to give them. It's unlikely that you'll receive my endorsement for the Station Chief position. However, I'll discuss it with the President's Advisor and make my recommendation. The decision isn't mine. Perhaps you should use this time to find airline tickets back to whatever paper pushing hell you crawled out from. Now if there's nothing further, I have actual work that needs to get done. As I said earlier, it's been a rough morning. Agent Jenkins will help you with anything else."
As the team walks away Jameson stands dumbfounded, unaware of what to do next. Jenkins takes his arm and walks him away. "By the way her title is Station Chief Walker, not agent Walker. The travel office is that way sir. Goodbye Mr. Jameson, have a safe flight."
Sarah walks behind her desk, presses the intercom, "Jenkins let me know when General Beckman is on the secure line, please."
Jenkins replies, "On it Chief."
Chuck bends and kisses Sarah, "Damn wife, you make me hot when you talk like that. You were dead on, there's no way I would trust that guy with my Buy More team much less running this station."
Sarah sees the look on Casey's face. "It's okay John, she knows. She's my partner and my best friend. So does Beckman, she called to find out why you were evasive when you were talking about us. You forgot that lady is a pro."
Casey shakes his head, "Spies are just awful at keeping secrets. Well Rizzo, what do you think about your new partner in law?"
Zondra looks at Chuck, then at Casey. "I think that Sarah is a very lucky woman, and I'm wondering if there are any more like him at home."
Casey smiles, "See he fooled you too. He's a giant pain in the ass. There are more like him at home. His miniature clone is married to my daughter."
Zondra looks surprised, "You mean Carina's old fling? Man he got under her skin. What's with you guys? You got the whole C.A.T. squad in heat?"
Sarah says," Really Z, the whole CAT Squad?"
Zondra looks down at the floor, "Ummm…" She's saved when the intercom buzzes, Sarah answers, "Talk to me Jenkins."
Jenkins responds, "General Beckman is on the secure line and Jameson is in the travel section looking for a flight home."
Sarah smiles, "Good work, thanks." Sarah pushes a button on the phone, "This is Walker. You're on speaker with General Casey, Colonel Carmichael and Agent Rizzo."
Beckman sounds perturbed, "Sarah are you trying to make me crazier than I already am? Is it Walker or Bartowski?"
Sarah laughs, "With this group Bartowski, anyone else it's Walker for now. How are you General, Does John know that you outrank him again?"
Beckman laughs, "He knows. He doesn't like it, do you John?"
Casey steps up to speak into the phone, "I'd follow you anywhere General."
Beckman sounds surprised, "Damn Casey, when did you become such a kiss ass?" The room laughs. Beckman continues, "John, I offered Sarah and Chuck, Director and Assistant Director of the agency, they turned me down. Can you please talk to them."
Zondra is shocked and stares at Sarah. Casey replies, "Sorry Diane, I'm on their side. They have more important things to do."
Sarah looks back at Zondra and shrugs, "Come on General, we gave you Shaw and Decker. How can we possibly top that? Time to drop the mic. By the way Casey, has Shaw's death been confirmed?" Casey gives her a thumbs up. Chuck smiles and bends to kiss her.
Beckman sounds pissed, "Right, I heard about Decker and Shaw. Did you have to piss on a wasp's nest on your way out. I'm getting calls from politicians and lobbyists, what the hell did you say to Jameson?"
Sarah smiles, "Diane, the guy is a political hack. I told him there was no way I was going to leave my team with him, and he should go home."
Beckman screams, "Great. You won't be in charge, but you will cause me headaches. You wanted to leave in two days. Who's supposed to take your place? How am I supposed to get someone out there with enough time for you to get them up to speed? Is it the name? Is everyone named Bartowski a giant pain in the ass?"
Casey interjects, "That's my theory General. At first I thought it was genetic, but now I know it's black magic."
Everyone laughs, when the room calms down Sarah answers, "Well General, how about someone who's already up to speed? someone I would trust with my life and my team?"
Beckman quietly says, "Go on, I'm listening."
Sarah turns and looks at Zondra. "Agent Zondra Rizzo, is standing right here. I'm ready to turn the keys and the codes over to her right now. Just to give you a heads up, if you don't promote her, she has a better offer in the private sector."
Zondra looks shocked, she had no idea this was coming. "Sarah are you sure? Am I really ready for this?"
Beckman answers the question, "If Sarah, insert last name here, says you're the right choice, then you're the right choice. What about you Chuck, would you want her on your six?"
Chuck considers for a moment, "General Beckman, I may be a pain in the ass. I may even argue with a General, maybe even two. However, there is no way I'm dumb enough to contradict my wife."
The room laughs. Beckman waits for the room to quiet down. "So what's it going to be Station Chief Rizzo, or Ms. Rizzo of the private sector?"
Zondra looks at Sarah and mouths, "What should I do?"
Sarah gets up and walks over to Zondra to hug her, and whispers in her ear. "Whatever makes you happy. Feel free to try it out. We'll always have a spot for you if you want it."
Zondra hugs Sarah back, "I'm in General, but I'm going to need a couple of days briefing with Sarah before I'm ready to take the reins."
Beckman sighs over the speaker phone, "Making demands already, is your last name Bartowski too?"
Everyone is laughing, as they all come over to hug and congratulate Zondra.
Beckman shouts over the laughter and words of encouragement, "General Casey, you have your orders. Team Bartowski is to be on that plane, the day after tomorrow, at 0900 hours, and bring Rizzo with you. Remember you fly in full dress uniform. I don't want to hear any excuses. Goodbye, and good riddance." There's a click when the connection is broken.
Zondra is struck silent, she can't believe this is happening, "Sarah is this real? Are you really leaving? Is it really over, did you really turn down Director?"
Sarah hugs Zondra, "Get real Z. This is just the beginning. You have a great career ahead of you. I have a great new life ahead of me. What would you choose? Chuck, the love of my life or a job. I made the wrong choice once, never again."
Zondra looks Sarah in the eye, "So you think I made the wrong choice?"
Sarah laughs, "Z we're different people, with different experiences and different goals. If your Batman were right in front of you, then you might make the same choice I did. But that's not the case. You're going to be great. Chuck and I will always have your back. If you need us, flash the Bat Signal. We'll come running."
Chuck hugs Zondra, "That's right Z, and I'll bring Robin the Boy Wonder along too, right John? By the way Zondra, he's available."
Casey grunts, "Eat shit Bartowski, speaking of eating, I'm starving. Is somebody going to feed me, or do we just stand around looking stupid?"
Sarah pretends to swoon, "Oh Robin, can I have your autograph?"
Casey growls, "Rizzo you made the right choice. I've just doubled my Bartowski misery. I'm surrounded, and oh my God, they're gonna multiply. I need a drink. I need several drinks, please."
