Summary: What if Chuck and Sarah met before any kind of makeover for Sarah? Would Chuck have still been as attracted to her? Would Sarah have been different emotionally? This AU story wonders if they would have still had the same impact on each other if their lives intersected in a different way.
F/N 1 from AwesomeCasey: WadeDT has published some "Chuck" stories on FanFic, and wrote this story as his last effort in this life. He passed away in April, 2024 after a battle with cancer. One of his final wishes was that this story be published, and he worked on it right up until the end. He used to bounce ideas and partial chapters off me to see if they were conveying what he hoped to convey. I am not a qualified beta, or even a qualified pre-reader. I am just someone who enjoys Chuck fan fics and a friend of Wade's who wants to see Wade's wish fulfilled. As such, I am a facilitator for this story, not the author (hence the F/N designation). Captainrick944 was kind enough to set up this WadeDT2 account to hold Wade's final story since we could not access his original account (WadeDT). I have never published on FanFic so please bear with me on my learning curve. Neither Wade nor I own "Chuck", nor do we profit from anything published here.
Chuck and Sarah vs The Makeover
Chapter 1: Sorry Langston
May 2001
San Diego, CA
Jennifer Burton fled the school building, head down, moving quickly, but not so quickly that it would attract the attention of bullies or taunters. Why does school have to suck so bad? For so many years I wished my dad would let me go to school, instead of his version of homeschooling. Seeing the kids playing on the playground made me ache to join them and have some fun.
Finally, things worked out for me to enroll in a real school, just in time for my senior year. I didn't know that everyone would turn out to be jerks. Well, not everyone. Many of the kids just try to stay unnoticed, like I do. But there are enough of those A-holes like Dick Duffy and Heather Chandler to make going to school miserable.
And what is up with boys? Even if they aren't a serial groper like Duffy, they all seem obsessed with sex. Even in music class, the quiet guys seem to look at us girls with a desperate hunger. They are almost as bad as the older creepy guys that used to watch me at the motels and convenience stores. Skeevy. When I learned that word, it really fit how disgusting they were.
There just seems to be no escape from them. And I just thought guys would be friendly and want to just goof off and have fun. And the girls are a pain in their own way. They are so worried about boys and belonging to the in crowd, there is no way to just be friends. You have to be judged worthy. And the ones that aren't caught up in that are misfits like me, and just keep to themselves. Like me. I just don't know what I am supposed to do, in so many situations. School isn't a dream for me anymore, it is a nightmare, which I can't wait to escape from. Well at least there is only a month left until graduation.
She reached her car, the other indulgence her father allowed her in this unusually settled situation. She threw her backpack in the car, and sadly looked back at the school. I just wanted some friends to hang out with and apparently, I have no idea how to make friends, or who to trust. At least I have my Lollies, at Sunset Village.
Jenny's only friends, such as they are, were a handful of elderly shut-ins. Her Little Old Ladies, or Lollies as she called them. Ladies who needed her help with light housekeeping and running errands, which provided her a little spending money. It was a good fit for her, as she didn't have to deal with a lot of different people, and their mothering instinct soothed a huge hole in her heart, even if it was temporary. The biggest challenge was keeping her dad away, preventing him from looking around to see what they may have forgotten that they owned.
Jenny started heading their way, for her afternoon visit, and was oblivious to the non-descript sedan, which had followed her from the school parking lot. She was oblivious about it until it turned on its police lights.
Jenny's heart went cold. Being Jack Burton's daughter instilled a wariness about the police.
What's going on? I didn't run a light. I don't think I swerved. Why are they stopping me? She was startled out of her fretting, when the trailing car hit its siren for a moment. Well, it's not like I can run from them. Just pull over. It may just be a mistake, or maybe my tag is expired?
Jenny pulled her car over to the side of the road. She rolled down her window and nervously waited.
The hubris of that bastard Graham. Always overstepping and pushing the CIA into areas it doesn't belong. Even if some criminal is involved with foreign terrorists, if it's going down here in the U.S. it's the FBI's jurisdiction. FBI Agent Harrison fumed. If we hadn't caught wind of the strike team he was assembling, he would have left us completely out of the arrest. There must be some kind of leverage play going on here, where he wants to control who he is arresting. And then, we find in his strike team instructions, orders to make note of, but not apprehend the target's teen age daughter, but instead to alert him, so he can personally apprehend her. What is that about? She is a minor! He has no business pursuing her, instead of contacting CPS. I don't know what he is up to, but he isn't going to get away with it on my watch.
The FBI agent perked up when she saw a young woman heading to a car. She looks nondescript. Mousy looking, frizzy, dirty blonde hair, and no fashion sense. Well, I am not here to be the fashion police, "Okay, that's her. Get ready to follow, when she pulls out. We will wait until she is away from the school." Agent Harrison informed the plainclothes officer driving. "Our reports indicate that she should be heading to her afternoon job."
After a few minutes of following their target, they hit their flashing lights. When the driver didn't respond, they hit the siren for a moment, and that worked to get the driver to pull over. Agent Harrison reminded her companions that she would approach first, and they would step in when needed. Agent Harrison exited their sedan and cautiously approached the convertible compact car.
"Jennifer Burton? Are you Jennifer Burton?" Agent Harrison asked.
Jenny was shocked. They know who I am? "Umm.. Yeah. I mean yes. Yes, that's me." She nervously replied. "What's going on? What did I do?" She now noticed another woman and a man were standing slightly behind the middle-aged woman who was questioning her.
To take control of the situation. Agent Harrison quickly and authoritatively explained, "You haven't done anything wrong, Miss Burton. This is actually about your father, Jack Burton."
Sarah gasped as her heart caught and her stomach dropped. Dad! What have you gotten us into? "What? What is going on?"
"I can explain, but I would prefer to not do that standing by the side of the road." She identified herself. "I am FBI Agent Harrison with Witness Protection." Then she pointed to the others with her. "This is Caroline Johnston, with the Child Protective Services for the state of California. And, this is Officer Bryant, who is with the San Diego Police Department and is a Child Welfare specialist. We would like you to come with us to our offices so we can explain what is going on."
"Can I call my Dad? Can he be there, too?" Sarah anxiously asked, her jaw trembling and eyes watering.
Agent Harrison winced. "Well, that is kind of complicated. But he will be informed of everything that is going on. If you could move to the passenger seat, I will drive your car, and the others can follow us."
Jenny was dazed and lost. How big of a mess am I in? How bad did Dad screw up this time?
Mindlessly, she unhooked her seat belt and crawled over to the passenger seat.
Agent Harrison moved into the driver's seat, and proceeded to drive Jennifer Burton to a meeting that would change her life and redirect her future.
"Would you like something to drink?" Agent Harrison asked Jenny, as they all settled into a conference room, in San Diego's Federal Building, downtown.
Realizing how dry her mouth is, Jenny accepts. "Yes, some water, please. And, will my father be here soon?"
Agent Harrison picked up a desk phone, hit a button and asked for 4 bottles of water. "Well, you father is the whole reason that we are here. And that is why, I am sad to inform you that he won't be able to join us."
The other two government officials nodded their heads in agreement and sympathy.
She held her hands out, across the desk, towards Jenny, in a subconscious offering of support. "I am afraid to inform you that your father was, or more accurately, is being arrested by Federal Agents, right now, at your home."
Jenny's hands flew to her mouth, covering her gasp, as her jaw started trembling and her eyes filled with tears.
Agent Harrison hurriedly continued. "He has been under surveillance for weeks. Reviewing it, I found no evidence that you were involved in any way, other than being his daughter. So, I insisted on being involved and assigned to bringing you in. Let me assure you that you aren't being charged with anything, and are instead being brought in under our Witness Protection program. I am here to protect you and make sure that you aren't harmed by anyone your father was involved with."
Sarah's mind was spinning. The details weren't surprising, as she had no illusions about the kind of trouble her dad got into. And, he had said this was going to be a big score. Apparently, it was a big disaster. But in all of her worrying about what might happen to her dad, she had never really thought about what would happen to her. And now, what was going to happen to her was front and center, and totally unknown. "I'm not going to be arrested?" she nervously asked.
Agent Harrison thought, Director Graham might have planned to railroad you into something, but I'll be damned if I let that happen. But she just said, reassuringly, "No Jennifer, you aren't going to be arrested. All three of us are here to ensure that you are treated well, and fairly."
She assumed a serious mien, "I'm not going to try to gloss over reality. Your father is in big trouble and is going to Federal prison for many years. I understand that your world is being turned upside down. But, believe it or not, this could be a good thing for you." She now smiled reassuringly. "Know you have us on your side, looking out for what is best for you, as you go through these changes.'
Jenny tried to gather her thoughts into some kind of order. "So if I am not being arrested, what is going to happen to me?"
"I have some ideas, but it is ultimately up to you. I would like to help you finish high school" Agent Harrison explained. Her visage softened as she continued. "I have looked over your history, or more accurately your dad's criminal record. I know you have not had an easy life, and I want to help. I can tell that you are intelligent. So, I would encourage you to come take a job with the government. It will make it easier for us to conceal your participation in witness protection and make it easier for us to make sure you are doing okay. I can also help you get enrolled in a college program. It will allow you to build a stable career and future."
Jenny is stunned. That actually doesn't sound too bad. Once I was old enough, I just figured I would get some kind of job. Stay with Dad until he moves on, then figure something out. I wouldn't even know how to find Mom, and she probably hates me anyway. This sounds like a chance for a stable life. And amazingly they are willing to help me get it! "I'm kind of in shock here," Jenny confesses. "But to be honest, I really didn't have any defined plans for the future." Her reality hits her, and she softly continues, "I have been more focused on just surviving day to day."
Agent Harrison stretches across the table, so she can take one of Jenny's hands. "You have survived. I am going to help you begin a new better life, and put all of this behind you." Making sure to meet Jenny's eyes, she smiles and says, "How about if we start with your name. You aren't really Jennifer Lisa Burton, are you."
Jenny shakes her head, "No, it's just the latest name Dad had for me. My real name is Samantha Lisa Burton. He said it would be easiest to enroll me with a name that was close to real, by just changing my first name."
"Well, we also recommend that you change your name. Sarah Walker is what we are suggesting. Normal and Common. What do you think?" asked Agent Harrison, with a wry grin knowing it was a jab at Graham. The name was in his notes and it would remind him of one that got away.
I guess a new name should go with a new life. It's time to leave Dad's world behind and take this opportunity for a fresh start. Don't blow this chance. It's best to follow their suggestions. "Sounds good to me," she said with a tentative smile.
"Good. Good." Agent Harrison approved with a smile. "Sarah Walker, welcome to your new life."
F/N 2: This chapter sets up Wade's story, It will be AU with only hints at canon. The focus is on character and relationship development. Please leave a review as it will help me know if this is being read.