Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Sarah and Ellie have a night on the tonight at a restaurant called C3 owned by a man named Colter Biggs or Mr. Colt. After introducing himself to a very flabbergasted Sarah, she would find herself feeling far less fearful in regards to her own assumptions that have been once again quelled for the better. Moving forward Ellie would share more details with Sarah concerning Chuck's break up, being buried within himself, and his gradually emergence from out of the rubble of the aftermath that was deemed Mount Doom. An emergence where he would inevitably find his purpose and meaning to get himself out of the darkness and step into the light in the form of the kids located in the children's wing of the hospital. So what's in store for this chapter? What was profession did Chuck and Ellie's father have? "Speaking of fathers, why does Sarah not talk to hers? Who ends up picking Ellie and Sarah after all the wine they've during their dinner. Read and find out! Anyways, hope you enjoy the read and leave a comment to share your own thoughts on this particular chapters. As always, reviews are awesome.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.
I don't own Chuck
Not Our Burden To Bear
XXX
"My dad was considered a genius who had the skill and uncanny ability to solve considerably difficult and complex problems. At times just for the fun of it." Ellie solemnly shared shaking her head. "He was an uniquely, unusual man but smart and sharp as a tack."
"Like father like son." Sarah retorted exuding a tight-lipped smile. "What was his job?" the blonde wondered.
"A mathematician professor-writer. He researched and published a number of books theorizing how the use of mathematics through carefully analyzation, as well as calculation will in all probability be able locate, stop and solve criminals. Nothing well known or topped any best seller lists. For the most part, his theories were considered far-fetched by some critics." she responded with a halfhearted smile. "Yet, he would find himself surprisingly being asked to consult on a case for a special unit task force of the LAPD and the FBI as well to see if his mathematical theories hold true." Ellie further shared.
"Did they?"
"Case was solved and a suspect arrested."
"That's awesome. I'm certain you all were proud of him."
"Very. However, he didn't seek notoriety, or fame for that matter, for a job well done. He preferred staying behind the scenes. Think of it this way, he was Colombo and Einstein with an added mix of Sheldon Cooper and Sherlock Holmes all rolled into one, but more lowkey." Ellie stated taking a moment to sip some wine. Afterwards, she continues on. "To him, taking part as consultant seemingly provided a way to mentally challenge himself as the cases got increasingly tougher."
"I'm guessing it also the reason why your mom left?"
"She was for sure the tipping point."
"Did something happen before that?" Ellie inquired furrowing her eyebrows a bit.
Ellie nodded. "At first, my mom supported him because he saw how much he enjoyed the mental challenge of it all; but at the same time saw how much of an emotional toll it can take when those theories were unable to save someone's life." It's during Ellie's moment of past reflection, that she shakes her head while breathing a faint sigh of sadness. "He truly believed all his mathematical theories, numbers, data, quantity, structure, space, models, and change would work. Unfortunately, they weren't enough and he took it personally to the point where it broke him causing a mental downward spiral."
"How big of a spiral?"
"He would constantly go over the tragic cases to figure out what numbers were wrong that he knew were right. It just became an absolute obsession for him. He just wasn't same man he used to be and my mom tried anything...everything to reach him. Him standing at the precipice of a seemingly deep, dark abyss. To get him back to the man he was before agreeing to be a consultant for the LAPD special unit task force and the FBI." stated the eldest Bartowski sibling. "He gradually became a shell of his former self. When our mom left his whole focus was to go over the numbers in order to find out where she went or could be hiding at. Unfortunately, all the he came up with were dead ends after dead ends. All is mathematical knowledge and the answers he can come up with nothing. In his mind, she became his greatest statistical anomaly. It frustrated him to no end. He didn't eat or sleep much to the point where he neglected what was most important. "
"You and Chuck."
"Ellie nodded. "The last thing I remember him telling me was something that happened when were younger. Chuck broke a piece off our Mom's favorite charm bracelet. This was before his downward spiral. He was banging on the door of his office because he was trying to get away from me. I was mad." She pauses briefly expressing a look of painfully poignant, bittersweet reflection. "He came out and after calming things down between the two of us, brought the both of us together. It was then he said something that has always stuck with me."
"What was it?"
"Nothing broken in this whole word that Chuck and I couldn't fix if we worked together." she shared with solemnness in her voice. "After he told Chuck to get some glue from the kitchen, he specifically said to me to look out for and protect Chuck. Be there for him no matter what because I'm his big sister. "I was 12 at the time when he said that. 6 years later, he left and I've been looking out for him ever since."
"That's a lot of responsibility for a young girl to take on. The burden you must have shouldered." Sarah empathetically responded.
"The thing is though..." she said taking a deep breathe then releasing it. "...when it comes to that kind of burden there's a quote that truly stuck out to me that I try to adhere to." Ellie pauses in order to recall the exact words correctly. "No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as succession of happy days."
"Poignant and meaningful."
"I personally interpret it as when it comes to a parent such as my dad who I watched his gradual downward spiral, his pain, and all that is associated with it, is not our burden to bear. It's not fair to me or Chuck to be carrying it around like a heavy weight dropped on our shoulders. It's robs of us from being able to live our own life without having it hold you back from a lifetime of potential relationships, love, joy, happiness and success."
"It looks like you've done pretty good in doing that El. Just look at you and not to mention Chuck. The way he turned out."
"Thanks..." retorted Ellie with an appreciative smile. "...it was tough, but look at him now. It took him a while to get there too and with the help of a therapist he slowly but surely forged a bumpy albeit successful path towards living a life on his own nerdy terms." she added with a faint sound of chuckle expressed.
For Sarah, the circumstance of why their parent's left them was tremendously heartbreaking. To her, the absence of 1 parent is tragic enough but having 2 leave to where an older sibling is left to raise the younger one can most definitely have a detrimental effect both negative and positive. Her thoughts of Chuck and Ellie's unfortunate lack of parental upbringing would subsequently lead to her own erratically complicated relationship with parent...her own father. It would the sudden thought of her father that would bring up feelings that would she believe were long buried until now. She would be snapped out of her momentary reflection of the man by the sound of Ellie's voice.
"So how about you? Sarah's attention is refocused back to her colleague and friend. "What's your family situation like?"
XXX
"Wow. Divorce can be rough for kids. No matter what age you are." stated Ellie shaking her head.
For the past 10 minutes, Sarah shared with Ellie that living life D.C. isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially if you have a father working as professional liar or what is known in Washington Politics as a Spin Doctor. She would most definitely get an education in the seedy and not to mention insane world of Campaign public relations advisors, pollsters, and media consultation who sole job was to develop deceptive or misleading messages/information. Jackson Burton, or Jack for short, was/is considered THE best at what he did and had the arrogance to back it up as well, according to Sarah. Unfortunately, it would be his arrogance and recklessness that would be the downfall of her mom and dad's marriage. Plus, he practically taught her everything she knows in regards to being the wildcard enforcer when it came to her position of Chief Operating Officer for Langley Memorial Medical.
"He had this mentality that if you believed anything he said, you're considered a schnook. Someone like Chuck, if he ever met him..." she said with her briefly going wide. "...would be called a Schnook. Correction, a Class A Schnook."
"Class A Schnook?" she asked utterly perplexed.
"Easy target to fool with what he says." answered Sarah shaking her head. "Someone like Casey. Copface."
A even more perplexed expression graces Ellie's face after hearing that. "A piece of work your father."
"When he's gets a good read on a person, that's when he strikes. It's what he's best at. That's not the half of it." she stated pointing her finger up waving it briefly in the air. "He would go by a mentality that I still remember to this day. "Any amateur can a spin a person thinking their way and that's the end of it; but a pro can spin it in a way where he has the person believing it was their own idea to begin with. Then add on to it while still standing by their side."
"Unbelievable." breathed out Ellie.
"That's pretty much politics in a nutshell." The new found friend of one Dr. Ellie Woodcomb thoughts concerning the twisted mentality of her father would be averted to her younger sibling. "My sister Molly was fortunately spared by mom shielding her away from all the manipulative heads games." Sarah shared with a clear sense of thankfulness in her voice. "Myself, on other hand, was not so fortunate. It changed me."
A look of deep concern is expressed in the eyes of Ellie. "How so?"
"I was a completely different person whenever I was her...in Wildcard Enforcer mode. Despite getting results for my former boss Langston Graham, I felt myself slipping away to the point of becoming..."
Ellie chimes in. "A cold and calculating robot. Distant. No emotions involved." Sarah nods acknowledging the fact she did in fact share with Ellie that upon their first meeting when Chief Beckman introduced her to Ellie and Devon. However, Devon would be called off to surgery before the latter would be shared.
"It's the reason I needed a change of scenery. To..." She pauses for a moment to take another sip of wine. Then continues on. "...in her words, let go her and the look behind."
It's the mention of the words "the look" that instantly catches Ellie's attention causing her to hone on it immediately. "What look?"
"It's a look I get when I'm in full Wildcard Enforcer mode. A look that says one way or another I'll provide results by any means necessary." she shared with intensity in her tone of voice. An intensity that Sarah clearly notices throwing off Ellie evident by way she avoided eye contact just now. This leads her to expound further. "Your reaction right there..." she said with a slight tilt forward of her head towards the experienced neurologist. "...now imagine if I kicked up to an 11."
As much as Ellie wants to know at this very moment if she is a Spinal Tap fan, she sets it aside focusing on the matter at hand. "Has your mom or sister seen that look before?" she inquired with immense curiosity.
"My Mom plenty of times to the point of actually being worried about me. She's personally seen me at my best and at my worst. Molly..." Sarah takes a moment to recall with what happened last night between the two of us. "...she would see it first-hand. In her own words, it scared the shit out of her. Pardon my language." she said without even thinking about it.
Ellie sits there across from Sarah silently taking in a side of her that caused her to be briefly rattled to her core. The look she gave her caused a momentary flinch to where she had to look away because it was as if she penetrated deep within her very soul. A look that even though wasn't taught to her by her manipulative father, it was certainly honed and crafted with his help she thinks to herself. To her, it's a thought that's both horrific and sad. Horrific in the sense that her own father would help bring out the worst in his very own child to become better or be THE best at their profession.
"Is your father still in D.C?"
"He could be. Don't keep tabs on him. It depends on who is willing to pay top dollar for his services." answered Sarah shrugging his shoulder. "Jackson Burton. My father. Someone who at one point in my life I wanted to emulate. Grow up to be him. I can't believe I was so stupid to even think that."
In that instance, Ellie speaks up with a soft expression on her face as she clearly sees a kindred spirit in her as it relates to her younger brother. After taking a quick sip of her glass of wine she, speaks up. "No..." she said shaking your head. "...you're not stupid." It's at that point, she looks Sarah dead in the eyes. "No burden is so heavy for a man to bear as succession of happy days."
"So, what you're saying is..."
"I'm saying is..." responded Ellie. "...don't allow yourself to be seen or think of yourself as a Schnook because of what Jackson Burton molded you into. Know that's he's the reason you're determined to break out of it."
An encouraging and appreciative smile is expressed on Sarah's face as she takes a much needed deep breath. In her mind, it's as if she's been set on a path on one day being completely free from Jackson Burton's hold that he somehow has over her when it comes to being pulled back into the old ways of thinking. Of course, there's another reason that she wants to break out of it as well, she thinks to herself. In that moment, she raises her glass of wine towards her. "To leaving our burdens behind."
"I'll drink to that." nodded Ellie clinking her glass of wine with Sarah's.
After a moment of both woman taking their time enjoying the taste of the wine, it would Sarah who would bring up a question. "Have you always been so profound?"
"I have my moments..." she retorted. "...and maybe the wine helped too." Upon saying that, Ellie and Sarah share a big laugh as they finish what's remaining of their meal along with what's left of their 2nd bottle of wine.
XXX
Sarah stands next to Ellie just off to the side of the front entrance of C3. For the two of them, it was somewhat difficult to decipher which they enjoyed more... the conversation, the food, or the wine. 2 bottles of wine to be exact. Regardless of whichever won out, they would have experienced absolute enjoyment in fun, food, and fill of wine. They're aren't alone either as Mr. Colt or Colter Briggs is with the ladies as they exchange pleasantries with the hulking mammoth of a man. While standing there, a waiter walks out handing over 2 bags. Both containing a full to box filled with Chef's special to bring home to eat. For both women it's a sentiment that, at first, they try to decline but end up taking because in the blonde's mind who wouldn't refused roast duck from a well-known Chef that's friends with a certain female doctor and her nerdy younger brother.
"Thank you, Mr. Colt. We truly enjoyed our dining experience." smile Sarah, nearly hugging the bag with her to go box inside it with her left hand. Her handbag situated underneath it held tightly in her right hand.
"Not a problem. Enjoy it! And please, call me Colt. I feel like someone's talking to my dad by calling me mister." he said giving a jolly laugh. "Before you 2 go, answer me one question."
"Shoot." said Ellie sporadically blinking. At the same time she's trying to not fall over and into Sarah.
Both women filled enough wine that they find themselves somewhat rocking back and forth but in different directions. From Colt's standpoint it's like 2 skiers with one leaning backwards and the other leaning forward. A very humorous sight indeed for the man that own's 60 percent stake of the restaurant itself while his business partner owns just 40%.
"Don't you feel like your worries just drift away when you eat here." he respond lifting both hands up to his said. Colt then closes his eyes briefly and deeply inhales inevitably exhaling from out of his mouth. The big man with a big heart in preparing food stands there waiting for an answer.
Meanwhile, the two tipsy women turn to each other momentarily then return their attention back to Colt. "They do." they both say in perfect somewhat slurred unison.
The gentle giant who knows food waves his hand. "Come back any time. You know you're family..." he deeply bellowed giving the biggest smile towards her. In response the woman who saved his life exchanges one back up to him. After exchanging hugs, his attention is then averted to Sarah extended his hand to her. After giving a shake and leaning down to kiss the top of it he continues on. "...and so are you." Colt added with a firm nod. A wink given back to her as it was given to him by her.
Sarah didn't really know if it was from all the wine she consumed but she couldn't help but blush and faintly giggle. It was completely unexpected but at the same time adds a certain charm to the not at all monstrous restraint owner and entrepreneur. Plus, it does help that's his towering frame and lovable presence make him such a delightful, as well as likable individual. Not at all what I initially thought when I first laid eyes on him, which is another assumption that I got wrong once again she thinks to herself. Once Colt releases Sarah right hand that seemingly dwarfs hers in comparison, she suddenly feels something. When she looks to what's been placed there, it's a card but not just any card. The same card Ellie was given in regards when getting special treatment because of her association with Ellie. Hey, being friends with her certainly has its advantages.
"Will you two get home okay? Did you drive here?"
"Yes." nodded Ellie briefly stumbling forward while trying standing still.
In that instance, Colt quirks his right brow. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." she answered back biting her biting lip. Then the sound a smack. "Words takes like peaches."
In that instance, Colt takes potential action. "I'll be more than happy to call a cab for you two. No trouble. I'll even wait with you. It's not like there a big emergency inside I'm needed for right now." He retorted with concern in his deep bass of a voice.
For Sarah, the moment she hears the word emergency, it prompts a sudden tipsy wine induced realization. "I know who to call!" she happily bellowed out raising her right arm straight up in the air. Her handbag dangling from her hand swinging from side to side.
XXX
"Anybody here, incoherently lip smack order a ride?" hollered the man with a smirk.
Casey stands in front of the open driver's side doorway of his 1985 black Crown Victoria. He then makes his way around the front of his vehicle and towards the bottom step of the walkway located in front of C3. As he approaches Sarah and Ellie with Mr. Colt standing in between guiding or in this particular case herding them towards their ride home, making sure they stand upright, a valet appears getting the attention of Westside Medical Head of Security.
"Nice car sir."
"Stand down son. I got this so nobody touches her.?" growled the Colonel.
"Casey! You're here!" announce Ellie with exuberance.
"Copface!" giggled Sarah trying her best to be in control of her faculties. This warrants a perplexed expression from her new found friend and colleague.
For Colt, he can't help express a faint but deep sound of chuckle. He then chimes in. "Her?" wondered Colt standing face to face with Casey. His two beautiful dining guests situated on either side of him making sure they don't wander off. "Nice. A real classic you got there."
"The names John Casey..." The two men by comparison are seemingly equal in height but differentiate when it comes the sheer mass of their body size. In a way, it would be like 2 heavyweights sizing each other up before a fight. "...I call her Vera." he added. He then turns his attention to the 2 women standing or in this case wobbling on either side of the big man.
"Colter Biggs." he nodded firmly. His attention briefly averted towards the vehicle behind him. "A man who names their car and takes care of a classic like that..." he said pointing to the Crown Vic. "...earns my respect."
In that instance, Casey expresses an appreciative noteworthy grunt in response with a slight grin added as well. Afterwards, he directs his attention to Sarah. "When I gave you my card, I didn't ever really think this would be ever considered an emergency."
"You showed up."
Casey can't help but be amused by the sight of his 2 intoxicated co-workers one of them being his boss starting Monday. As for the other, he has bond with connected by a certain 6 year old child by the name of Clara Woodcomb. His little buddy. In his mind, he's watched over everybody but more importantly every female that has stepped foot through the hallowed halls of Westside Medical Center since he was hired years ago by Chief Diane Beckman. A woman he has the highest respect and administration for in being able to command an entire facility knowing there a number of morons who walk the halls. Jeff and Lester come to mind momentarily thinks to himself. It's the burden he bears on a day to day basis when it comes to the safety of the people he looks out that he works with/for and those who simply come to check on their health, as well as well being. Yet, he wouldn't have any other way because Westside Medical Center is consider his castle that he has sworn to protect until he breathes his very last breath.
"It's my job Walker..." responded Casey. "...but let's not make this a habit. All right partner?" he added with smirk know she isn't his boss until Monday.
As tipsy as Sarah is, she is able to have a moment of clear thinking as she softly smiles at Casey. "Right..." she nodded. "...partner."
Afterwards, Casey with the assistance of Colt place the two women in the back seat of the black 1985 Crown Victoria. Once they get them situated and buckled up the two men shake hands and go their separate ways but not before Colt leans down to give a quick wav to the 2 women. Once he gets in the driver's seat and shuts the door, he briefly glances back then starts his vehicle. As he puts the car in gear, he retrieves his phone and scrolls through his list of contacts. After finding the number he wants, he hits call and momentarily waits. A few seconds go by and the other end pics up."
"Devon..." he stated briefly look up at the rear-view mirror. The image of both ladies slowly drifting off to sleep in the back seat. "...are you asleep?" he asked driving off.
XXX
NOTE: Thanks again to those who continue to support this story and are now deeply invested in this story. I know many of you are eagerly awaiting the non date between Chuck and Sarah. All I can say is patience is a virtue and you'll enjoy what I have in store. Many appearances of characters you've grown to love, tolerate and most definitely despise will show up but in ways that you'd never think about. Trust me on this, there's plenty of twists, turns, and surprises in store when it comes to what I have planned. As always, leave a review and share your thoughts.
