F/N from AC: Some readers have expressed surprise that Sarah and Carina are making public appearances such as shopping while they are trying to hide from the bad guys. Well, they are a bit young, untrained in spy strategies, and they seem to be relying heavily on their new looks to allow them to "hide in plain sight". As we will see again in this chapter, they are not content to stay huddled at Casa Bartowski all week as they await the call for the transfer of the device. Whether venturing into public is a good decision or not remains to be determined.
I do not own Chuck.
Chuck and Sarah vs the Makeover
CHAPTER 12: The Pier
April 30, 2004
Wednesday: Day 3 of the Los Angeles Mission
Devon's morning schedule tended to be heaviest, so he was usually up and gone early for rounds. On the days he had surgery to perform, he was up even earlier. Ellie was on swing shifts, alternating between research and E.R. support. Chuck's schedule fluctuated the most: it could be morning, evening, or even both.
This morning, everyone was heading out. Curiously, Chuck told Ellie that Morgan would be coming by early because they would hang out together later that day. As he hurried out the door, he said to just give Morgan a chair, a grape soda, and a stack of graphic novels, and he would be good.
Ellie was puzzled by the rushed announcement but focused on getting ready for work.
When she came to the living room, Sarah asked, "Morgan? Is that Chuck's co-worker?"
"Yes," Ellie replied. "You probably saw him at the Buy More. He's been Chuck's best friend forever, so he is around all the time. Did I mention it's All…The…Time." She laughed at her own joke. "He's a good guy, maybe a bit goofy, but I guess people could say the same about Chuck." Ellie lowered her voice, leaned towards the girls conspiratorially, and explained, "When he was in high school, Morgan had a crush on me, which got a little annoying. So, I am a little biased."
Carina tittered, "He had a crush on you for a few years? That's cute, isn't it?"
Ellie gave Carina a flat look. "Well, it lingered a little longer than a few years. I don't think he really gave up hope until Devon moved in this year. But, in hindsight, I guess it is a little sweet and shows his loyalty. Just like he has been loyal to Chuck all these years." Ellie looked at them with a face full of mixed emotions, with frustration being the dominant one, and huffed, "I just wish sometimes Morgan could be a little less….Morgan."
At that, the front door rang, and before them stood the aforementioned man.
Ellie gave Morgan access to Chuck's room to pick out some reading material, and it pleasantly struck her that he had shown the courtesy of not using the Morgan door. He also grabbed a beach chair and was given a grape soda from his stash in the fridge. Soon, he was posted out front by the fountain, lost in his own world.
Carina and Sarah were looking out the front window at him when Ellie walked up, ready to head out to work. "So he's just going to sit out there all morning, waiting for Chuck?"
"I guess so," Ellie responded, looking out the window.
"Is this normal?" Carina asked.
Ellie shook her head, "Not really. He usually just comes over when Chuck is here. This is a little odd."
"Why isn't he waiting inside? Isn't it uncomfortable out there? Do you think Chuck doesn't trust us?" Sarah tentatively asked Ellie.
Ellie narrowed her eyes and considered the situation. "No, no. If he was worried about you guys stealing, he would have Morgan wait inside the house."
Sarah nodded her head at that.
Ellie thought a bit longer, then suddenly said, "He is on sentry duty. Chuck must still think someone might come here looking for you guys, so he has Morgan keeping an eye on things." She turned to the pair and said, "See what I mean? He somehow manages to be annoying in the sweetest way. So, just let him hang out and offer him grape sodas occasionally, and everything should be fine." With that, she left, patting Morgan on his shoulder as she passed by.
Sarah and Carina turned their attention to cleaning up, showering, and throwing on their sweats, unsure what the morning would bring. They each applied some light makeup, more confident in using it to change their looks slightly. And they didn't mind that they thought they looked better with a little makeup to bring out their eyes and complement their new hair colors.
Once they were ready and dressed, they returned to the living room to hang out a bit. They would look out at Morgan from time to time, with Carina looking more often than Sarah.
After a bit, Carina came out of the kitchen with a can of grape soda. "I'm going to take him a grape soda," she announced. She also grabbed a beach chair from the collection on the back porch.
Sarah looked at her with a raised eyebrow.
Carina blushed, adding, "I'm going to chat with him a little."
Sarah smiled, "There's nothing wrong with that. We are trying something new, and meeting new people is part of that. And you know I will be keeping an eye on him," she added with a wink.
Carina smiled at Sarah's understanding and stepped out the door to join their guardian.
Carina stepped up beside Morgan, only slightly startling him since he heard the door open. He just wasn't expecting her company.
"Hi," she said with a small smile. "I thought you might need a fresh drink," she said, holding out a cold can of soda for him.
Morgan was stunned by this beautiful red head who was actually talking to him. He quickly stood up, thanking her as he accepted the drink. "Thanks. Thanks. I'm Morgan."
"Morgan," Carina repeated. "That's nice. There is a breed of horse called the Morgan. Sturdy, strong, dependable." She smiled at him and lightly teased, "Are you sturdy, strong, and dependable, Morgan?"
Morgan blushed at the unexpected attention and looked down. "Well, I do try to be dependable. I don't know about strong."
Carina assured him, "I am sure you do the name proud." She held out her hand. "I'm Carina. Can I sit with you?"
"Sure, sure," Morgan stumbled out, his awkwardness showing. He wondered if he should ask her to take a selfie with him that he could show the guys down at the Buy More. But that seemed like too much to ask of someone so beautiful.
Carina set up her chair next to his and settled in. "So Chuck must think you are dependable if you are his best friend," she mentioned.
"Oh, yeah. Chuck is great. We have been best friends since we were little. He used to live closer, but since we work at the Buy More together, we get to hang out a lot, which is nice."
"That sounds like fun. And there must be fun stuff to do around here," she prompted.
"Oh, yeah. L.A. is great," he affirmed.
One thing about nerds is that they have a passion for things. Comics and computers are common targets of their passion, but it can be anything. And Morgan was passionate about L.A. He was an authentic Los Angeles nerd. So, he began to regale her with tales of L.A.: the museums, Chinatown, the beach, and his favorite arcade at the pier.
Carina listened, mesmerized. She was fascinated by the stories and drawn in by his passionate storytelling. Eventually, Sarah brought out a chair and joined them, curious about what had Carina's attention.
At noon, they adjourned to the house, where Morgan assured them that it would be okay to make sandwiches. After lunch, they returned outdoors, and Carina began sharing some of her story about growing up on a horse ranch and then moving to Washington, D.C. Sarah nodded and quietly listened.
At 2 p.m., Chuck hurried into the courtyard and then pulled up short when he saw the three of them sitting around talking and laughing. His eyes were immediately drawn to Sarah, who looked even more beautiful than she had when he left that morning. She looks like a beautiful model or actress! She's always had an inner beauty, but I think she's brought it to the surface with that little bit of makeup. She looks amazing, but I can't tell her that in front of others, can I? Chuck then noticed that Carina also looked great as well. It looked like Ellie had two quick-learning students from her "makeover school." He decided to change the subject of his gaze and asked for an update from his buddy. "Morgan?" Chuck slowly drew out. "Is everything okay?"
Morgan jumped up. "Yeah, yeah. Sure. No bad guys to be seen."
"And you all would be hidden from them if there were?" Chuck asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Aww, come on, Chuck. They can't stay cooped up all the time. Hiding in plain sight, right?" Morgan argued back.
The girls jumped up in support of Morgan. "Yeah. We can't stay cooped up in the apartment all the time," Carina declared.
"And with Ellie changing our hair and this little bit of makeup, we don't look anything like we did at the hotel." Sarah pointed out.
"Well, I worry. I know we are probably safe, but if anything happened to anyone… " Chuck let the statement trail off.
Sarah tried to reassure him, "I know this is a crazy situation, but the less suspicious and more normal we act, the safer we are."
Carina interjected, "Yeah, we're kind of on vacation. Can't we try to have a little fun?"
Chuck chewed his cheek and thought about the situation. He hoped they were right about hiding in plain sight and that their appearances were different enough to work as disguises. "Well, Morgan and I were going down to the Arcade at Santa Monica pier. Do you guys want to come along?"
Carina's eyes lit up. "You bet! Morgan was telling us what a fun place it is. Sarah, we should go," she said, turning to her friend.
Sarah considered it. Going out in public during the day would be risky, but we would be lost in the crowds. And it's doubtful they even know where to look for us. I doubt if an arcade is at the top of their list. What the heck? I am getting a little tired of just sitting around here. And I wouldn't mind spending more time with Chuck. "Okay, sure. I think we would go unnoticed in a crowd. Let's go check it out."
The girls changed into their new jeans and shirts while Chuck changed out of his uniform. Soon, they piled into the Nerd Herder, which Chuck had checked out for the day, and headed off to the pier.
Chuck was relieved when they finally parked at the pier. The drive was tiring for him because he was trying to keep an eye out for any suspicious cars around them that might be following them. It was also tiring because Morgan talked almost non-stop, telling them stories about things they saw along the way. Stories he had heard many times. But the girls, especially Carina, seemed to enjoy hearing it all. Chuck discovered it was hard to tell what Sarah thought about things unless he could look into her eyes. It seemed like they couldn't hide their true thoughts or feelings from each other when they locked eyes.
The first stop was for a Morgan-approved food recommendation. Chili dogs from a cart in the parking lot were the best, he claimed. So, after dogs and drinks, their little group made its way down to the arcade. Morgan led the way as the self-appointed tour guide, and Chuck brought up the rear, keeping an eye on his protectees.
At the front of the arcade, Morgan did a scan of the crowd. He was familiar with the regulars, and no one seemed out of place. He chuckled to himself, seeing a middle-aged couple in matching multi-colored jogging outfits. Those outfits were an insult to fashion. The couple had just arrived and were starting their warm-ups. He snarkily thought I hope they don't give anyone motion sickness when they start running. Everything seemed a go for an afternoon of fun.
Sarah also did her normal reading of the area. She didn't know who was a regular, but no one seemed a threat. No suits were in sight, either. She felt safe and allowed herself to get caught up in the fun.
Carina was bouncing with energy, excitedly looking around a scene that, back home, was only matched by carnivals.
Chuck grinned, watching his little group's reactions. This may only be for a few days, but there's no reason we shouldn't have fun in the meantime.
They started with something straightforward: four players, so air hockey was first up. At Carina's insistence, they decided to play girls against boys, even though neither she nor Sarah were familiar with the game. They gave the boys a run for their money, as it was discovered that their athleticism and reflexes made up for what they lacked in experience. They were just faster than the guys. They were happy to see how impressed the guys were.
Next up was a driving game where Chuck's real-world experience gave him the edge over the others.
It turned out Carina dominated the shooting games, as she had actually fired rifles, shotguns, and pistols on the farm. She even beat Chuck at Duck Hunt and made it into the top 10 scores. Everyone gave her high fives for that accomplishment.
Sarah dominated at darts and anything involving hand-eye coordination. She seemed to have natural athleticism, which Chuck and Morgan couldn't help but admire.
Morgan did dominate at Whack-a-Mole. He confessed the little creatures kind of freaked him out, and he had developed a sixth sense of where they were coming next.
Sarah was having a blast. Everyone cheered each other on. It felt great to hear their praise. This was what she had always dreamed of. To have friends to hang out with and just have fun. This was becoming one of the best days of her life.
They had finally worked their way back to the front of the arcade, where they found the dancing game. That was where Chuck found himself mesmerized by Sarah. The guys admitted to sucking at the game, and each took a humiliating turn proving it. Morgan actually had some sense of rhythm and could move well. Chuck had two left feet and problems coordinating his upper and lower body. Carina was energetic but was still learning to let her body flow. But Sarah was grace personified. She had no trouble remembering the patterns, and the way she moved was captivating. She had such incredible control that her body seemed to flow through all the movements.
Morgan noticed his buddy's condition and laughed to himself. He, too, was impressed by Sarah's dancing, but Chuck was apparently entranced. He nudged Carina, drawing her attention to that fact. Carina's eyes widened, seeing what was happening, and she smiled. Sarah, I think you are finding yourself an admirer, and you don't even know it.
They finished off with Guitar Hero, which Morgan ended up winning. Chuck usually won, but today, he seemed unable to focus. Having no experience with the game, the girls crashed and burned with good humor.
They stood around the arcade's entrance, basking in the good feelings of having fun and cutting loose, when Morgan suddenly stiffened. "Hey Chuck," he quietly called out to his friend.
"Yeah, Morgs?" Chuck answered, picking up on his buddy's sudden discomfort.
"Um. We may have a situation," Morgan's words and demeanor now had the girl's attention, too. "When we first got here, that couple over there had just arrived and started warming up. I think it's odd that, after a couple of hours, they are still over there stretching."
Sarah was instantly on alert and was scanning the crowds.
Chuck looked over at the couple, his nervousness renewed. "Shit. It must be the Nerd Herder. Maybe they saw it and recognized it from the hotel. But they don't look like the other suits chasing us."
"Come on, Chuck. You've seen movies. It's called undercover. But why haven't they grabbed us yet?" he wondered.
Sarah was frantically scanning the crowd, and suddenly, a lot of people looked suspicious. The man in the business suit seemed to not be as engrossed in his phone as he was trying to act. Then, the guy in the golf shirt and blazer wasn't as noticeable as the giant man who hovered near him. And there was something else that seemed really off. "Hey Morgan, isn't it odd that the sanitation guy, pushing around the trash can, is wearing wingtip shoes?" she asked.
Morgan immediately turned to look. "It's got to be whoever is chasing you. I am sorry, Chuck, I let you down, and it looks like they found us."
Morgan and Sarah scoped out the situation, but Chuck had a sinking feeling. I failed them. I was too obvious and got us caught. It looks like hiding in plain sight didn't work. His sinking feeling worsened when he saw a black, unmarked but ominous looking van pull into the parking lot. It looked like they were surrounded. But he couldn't just stand there. "Hey, let's pair up and see if we can get away from here at least."
He looped his arm through Sarah's and leaned into her as they walked towards the entrance. Morgan and Carina quickly followed suit, matching their actions.
They had yet to make it a dozen steps when two suits stepped out from behind one of the shops and headed right towards them.
Sarah stepped in front of Chuck and assumed a defensive pose.
Chuck thought, Well, this is it, and started raising his hands when he had to abruptly stop to keep from running over Sarah.
Morgan lightly pushed Carina closer to Chuck, then pivoted and spread his arms to protect them from anyone behind them.
At the same time, the jogging couple, the businessman with the cell phone, and the sanitation worker all seemed to stop what they were doing and converge on them as well.
The two suits hurried towards them and then passed them, calling out, "Hector Vasquez, this is the D.E.A., and you are under arrest."
The quartet, stunned into silence by this turn of events, turned to watch as the D.E.A. team converged on the guy in the golf shirt and sports coat and his giant bodyguard, who fortunately gave up quietly.
Chuck was the first to come to his senses and encouraged others to keep moving. "Let's go, go, go," he loudly whispered to them. Soon, they were all slow-hurrying back to the car.
It wasn't until they were out of the parking lot and back on the freeway that they broke their silence.
"Holy Crap! What was all that about?" Morgan exclaimed. "I thought this was it for us."
"Yeah," Chuck agreed. "We got lucky, but it was stupid of me to bring a Nerd Herder. It's one of the things that can connect us. We're going straight home and ditching this car."
In the back seat, Carina was vibrating. "Oh my gosh! What a rush! My heart is racing, and I feel so alive. And scared. But I'm alive." She turned to look at Sarah, reached out with her arm, and pulled them together for a hug. "We're alive. And we're safe," she added. Then, after a big, calming breath, she ran her hands through her hair and repeated, less loudly this time, "Oh my gosh. What a rush."
Sarah's head was on a swivel as they raced away from the arcade. She wanted constant confirmation that there was no danger around them. She needed to see no one racing to their car, intent on pursuit. Somewhere in her subconscious, her Dad was urging, "Run! Get away! Jettison everything and everyone, and find a safe hole to hide in!" Her hands clenched and unclenched while her feet beat a nervous pattern on the floor. After several minutes with no pursuit, Carina's words sunk in, "We're safe." Slowly, her body relaxed, and her mind calmed. When we get back, I need to think about whether this is still the best idea or whether we need to move. Did I get too distracted while having fun? God, this sucks. What should I do? All I know is that I just need to catch my breath right now. Sarah was silent for the entire ride home, her stomach turning the whole way.
Chuck dropped off everyone else at the front of the apartment building. He felt the Nerd Herder was just drawing attention to everyone, so he returned the red and white beacon to the Buy More. He would have Ellie pick him up on her way back from work.
The other three rushed into the apartment, Morgan making a beeline for the refrigerator. Grabbing a grape soda, he turned to the girls to ask what they would like and discovered he was alone.
Once in the apartment, Sarah had pushed a fired-up Carina into their borrowed bedroom. "Oh my gosh. That was so exciting and intense!" Carina blurted out. "I mean, back home, I was a bit of a tomboy. My brothers and I did things that were exciting and a little dangerous. We rode horses and climbed trees, rooftops, and barns. But nothing has ever felt like this today. This was such a rush." Carina, wide-eyed, looked at Sarah, "I think I like it," she admitted, surprised.
Sarah wrapped her arms tightly around herself and nervously paced around the room. Exciting? Do you think this is exciting? That felt like when one of Dad's cons went bad, and we had to run. This feeling sucks. I over-prepare to make sure I don't feel like this. What is up with you, Carina? Don't you understand how serious this could have been? Sarah looked back at Carina, surprised at her statements. "This felt like when one of Dad's cons went bad. I don't like it. Don't you understand how serious this was?" she argued back.
"But nothing really happened. It was all in our own minds. We spooked ourselves," Carina pointed out as she finally recognized how out of sorts Sarah was and tried to reduce her stress.
"But it could have! We could have been surrounded, and it would be all over." Sarah insisted, arms crossed and jaw set.
"But we weren't," Carina pushed back. "I mean, we could be surrounded now. They could be planning to grab you at the drop or the airport. Anything is possible. But none of that is happening right now. There wasn't ever any danger for us back at the arcade. We spooked ourselves, but I've gotta say, that was the biggest adrenaline rush that I've ever had."
"Is that all you can think about? How big of a rush that was for you. Ignoring that we all could have been captured or killed?" Sarah still insisted.
Carina couldn't hold back a slight laugh at that, which earned her a glare from Sarah. "But, we didn't. Because they were the police chasing someone else. You gotta let it go. We didn't do anything wrong by going to the arcade and having fun. And you are forgetting the most important thing," Carina teased.
"What's that?' Sarah asked snappishly, not liking Carina's disregard of her worries.
"You are badass, Sarah Walker, and I trust you. I know you can take care of things when it gets serious. I mean, you work for the F.B.I.. I'm not oblivious to how serious the situation is that we're in. Back at the hotel, when everything happened, I was scared. But then, I decided to put my faith and trust in you. And it has worked out. You got us away from there safely. We are with some great people and actually having some fun in our lives. So, today, we spooked ourselves. And we have to get over it."
Sarah unwound herself, taking in Carina's words, as she walked over to the bed and heavily sat down. "Like I said, it just made me feel like when things went bad with my Dad. I felt like I had failed. I don't like that feeling."
Carina came and sat next to Sarah, putting her hand on Sarah's shoulder. "You didn't fail us. Nothing bad really happened. We are going to make it to the drop, okay. I think you are doing a great job," Carina assured Sarah.
Sarah turned to Carina, asking, "So you don't think we should leave? Go someplace else where we could hide by ourselves?"
"Talk to Ellie first," Carina advised. I think we are okay here. It's nice to have everyone here helping us. And I can't deny that I am really enjoying this group of new friends," Carina confessed with a small smile.
I guess she is right. Nothing actually happened. We were hiding in plain sight, and no one really paid us any attention. We just happened to stumble into the middle of someone else's drama. And we were having a good time before that. Sarah smiled at the memory.
She bumped Carina's shoulder and smirked, "So you think I am a badass?"
Carina bumped back, "One hundred percent, definitely. I have seen you in action at the gym, Walker. I know you are a badass." Carina paused and added, "I think someone else thinks you are badass. At least when it comes to dancing."
Sarah looked at her, confused. "Dancing? What? At the arcade?"
"Yep." Carina grinned at her, popping the p for emphasis.
"I don't get it? What are you talking about?" Sarah pushed.
"That's because you were busy dominating the dancing game and didn't notice Chuck staring at you like you were the only thing in the world. You had him spellbound." Carina couldn't help giggling as she looked at Sarah's baffled face.
Chuck was watching me? Well, I guess they all were, but really, he was that interested? I never felt anything creepy, but I was engrossed in the game. He seems so kind. Does this mean he is just as creepy as all the other guys? I never saw it in his eyes. "So. What do you think? Is he a creep like all the other guys? Was he just staring at my butt?" Sarah, her eyes narrowed and defensive, asked Carina.
"As we say back home, hold your horses there," Carina interjected. "Remember, all guys aren't creeps just because they show an interest in you. It's a matter of their being respectful. And Chuck was looking at you with respect."
Sarah's shoulders loosened as she let go of her tension. She couldn't hold back a giggle when Carina said, "Well, mostly respectful. And not just at your butt. It did seem like he was admiring all of you, so I hope you take it as a positive and not a negative." Carina suggested.
"Sure. I guess. I was having so much fun." Sarah started.
"Me too," Carina interjected.
"And that is something I have always wanted since I was a little kid. I just wanted someone to play with, to have fun with," Sarah continued.
"Me too." Carina agreed.
"So, I really wasn't thinking of Chuck as a guy, just as a friend," Sarah explained in a subdued tone.
"I'm not saying you have to do anything. I know this is an unusual and temporary situation. I just want you to know, if Mr. Tall, Dark, and Kind interests you, I think the interest would be returned."
Sarah wasn't sure what to say. Chuck is attracted to me? He might like me? I guess I have sensed something. And I must admit that he looked at me like that even before my new hairstyle and makeup. So there may be something more to our new friendship. I wasn't sure if it was him or me. Both? Am I attracted? I guess I can't deny that anymore. There is just something about his eyes. It's like there is nothing hidden from me, and I can sense what he is thinking. And that makes me feel safe. I just want to lose myself there. I get the feeling it might be the same for him, and I guess this is confirmation. Do I want that? I'm leaving in a few days. Is it worth exploring this connection that I am feeling? This is so weird. I've been avoiding men. Carina encourages me to open up. And now I find someone who makes me feel like this, and he lives on the other side of the country. What's up with that? Sarah, what are you going to do? What do you want to do?
Carina had learned to give Sarah space, when she got lost in her head. Carina had figured out that Sarah was so used to being alone that she had constant internal conversations. You just had to wait for her to rejoin you.
Sarah finally looked up and asked, "What do you think I should do? He's nice and everything, but we're only here for a few days. And it's not like I came here looking for romance. That's your department. Isn't it easier if I just ignore it? Just ignore him?"
"But that's not as much fun. And you have to admit we've had more fun in a couple of days than we've had in months back home. So just have fun. Don't push anything with him, but I hope you will accept it if something good happens".
Carina leaned in, and with a sly look, confessed. "I want to take more risks and try things." She paused, looked away for a moment, and said, "I plan on getting kissed before we leave." She declared, blushing. "Maybe you should, too."
Sarah freaked out a little at that suggestion. Carina didn't realize Sarah had never had a relationship with a boy. Her father had constantly reminded her that boys couldn't be trusted. He told her repeatedly that boys had only one reason to make her think they liked her, and that was to take advantage of her sexually. So, Sarah had not dated boys and honestly had never even kissed one for real. Her feelings for Chuck were confusing, and she knew those feelings were uncharted waters for her. Maybe it was just as well that she would be leaving L.A. in a few days.
Chuck was still wound up from the afternoon's events, so he went through Buy More's rear loading dock and straight to the cage. Working on repairs gave him something to occupy his hands and mind while he waited for Ellie to pick him up. It was unlikely anyone else would come back here and work, and nobody would complain if they found him. So Chuck worked undisturbed until Ellie texted that she was waiting outside.
"Ellie, I am so glad to see you. Something bad happened today," Chuck blurted out as soon as he got in the car.
Ellie's blood went cold. "Who's hurt?" she immediately asked, quickly followed by, "Why am I picking you up, and why aren't you wearing your uniform?"
"Everyone's okay. Nobody's hurt," he quickly reassured her. And the rest is part of the story." Chuck then proceeded to tell her of the day's events and their eventual "escape."
Ellie looked at Chuck and gave him a flat look. "Let me get this straight," she started, annoyed. You almost gave me a heart attack when you got in the car because you saw someone get arrested at the beach? Chuck, how many times have we seen people get arrested at the beach? Almost every time!" she finished, exasperated.
Chuck defended himself, "You don't get it. It seemed like they were there for us. It reminded me how dangerous this could be. I could have gotten everyone hurt."
Ellie's tone softened, understanding his feelings. "It's okay, Chuck. Nothing happened. Everything's okay."
Then she set her jaw and told him, "Listen, oh brother of mine. We're in this together. You told me what was happening, and I made my own decision. If anything happened, it's on me, too." She smiled and hurriedly added, "Most importantly, nothing happened. You did nothing wrong."
"Well, I drove us in a Nerd Herder, which stands out, and I've been seen in one. That was kind of stupid. That's why I dropped it off at work." Chuck was obviously not quite ready to let his self-flagellation go.
"Dumping the Herder isn't a bad idea for all the reasons you mentioned." she agreed. And, then, she teased, "And I won't argue whether it's stupid to be seen in one."
"Hey, now!" He responded, feigning to be hurt.
Chuck and Ellie returned home to find the girls were still sequestered in their room. Devon was trapped on his stationary bike while Morgan told him the story of the day's events. Morgan was especially wound up, as evidenced by the two cans of grape soda on the coffee table.
Once everyone had gathered in the living room, Ellie quieted their chatter about the drama at the pier. "Okay, everyone knows what happened today, and I know it was exciting, but everyone needs to remember that nothing came of it. It didn't involve us. There is only one tragedy today."
That statement got everyone's attention, and they silently waited to hear what it would be.
"The only tragedy today is that it is Chuck's turn to cook, and he neglected to make anything for dinner."
Ellie's joke broke the day's tension, and everyone had a good laugh. Sarah offered to buy pizza, and soon, several pies were ordered. One of them was vegetarian with no olives, per Sarah's request.
Morgan had left, and everyone had gone to bed when Chuck knocked on the girls' bedroom door. He asked Carina if he could talk to Sarah privately, and Carina withdrew to the living room, thinking that something was going on between them. She hoped it involved kissing!
As it turns out, Chuck had a quiet yet serious conversation with Sarah before retiring to the couch. Chuck wanted to go somewhere with Sarah the next morning and asked her to trust him with the details until the next day. Sarah looked at Chuck's eyes, trying to discern any ulterior motives in his request, and only saw concern and determination. She agreed to go with him the next day. He makes it way too easy to trust him. I hope I'm not losing my ability to read people!