Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench

Well, in the previous chapter: Sarah heals old wounds in regards to her former boss Director Langston Graham. She shares the story of how she scouted and then inevitably offered a position to work for him after working in former position as Practice Administrator at Georgetown University Hospital. She took it and 3 months in would face a challenge as Chief Operating Officer in dealing with one Kieren Ryker, a Senior Attending Physician in the area of Pediatric Medicine for Langley Memorial Medical. Of course, Sarah and Ryker butted head almost immediately, especially when it involved an infant that was under his care. He suspected shaken baby syndrome but Graham wanted more tests to be done, which Sarah saw to it. Needless to say, the tests were conclusive that it wasn't shaken baby syndrome and because of Ryker's stubbornness he eventually got fired but not before creating a chaotic scene resulting in the media, as well as the lawyers involved. She would also find out during her therapy session with Dr. Dreyfus that Graham was always looking out for her despite being so strict, which resulted in closing the chapter on that part of her past. As Chuck, he would find himself going to Hartley and Vivian in order to invite them to Hospital Gala happening this weekend. What he didn't expect was to have both of them taking him to get a complete makeover, much to his nerdy surprise. So, what's in store for this chapter? Who does Chuck compare himself and his shoes to as he's sitting in his office in deep reflection? When and what point does Stephen Bartowski share is thought on the tape that chuck listens to? Why does Chuck compare his father Stephen Bartowski to The Riddler? Where does Chuck reflect back to in his childhood after something his father said triggers a memory involving his parents? What does Mary Bartowski clarify concerning love? How will Sarah react after Chuck provides her with the file folder he's been holding on to for quite some time from Conway? 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.

A Sliver of Truth

XXX

It's around 7:15 a.m. on a Wednesday morning, as Chuck in his office sitting behind his desk and working on some paperwork. He decided to head into work earlier than normal because he hasn't slept much at all with so much weighing on his mind, professionally and personally. Ever since learning of his dad's association with Ted Roark before completely disappearing out sight and the reappearance of Sarah's father, Jack Burton, to where he learned so much on why he's back in her life thanks to Conway, things have certainly become chaotically complicated. Chaotically complicated in the sense that the absolute truth rather than any sort of lies being told are considered far more troublesome than they're worth.

In his mind, and not to mention heart, he wants to, in good conscience, share what he knows with Sarah, but at the same time conflicted knowing that her mother, Emma, doesn't want her oldest daughter to know why Jack is really in Los Angeles. To him, it will alleviate some of the mental and emotional anxiety, worry, fear, stress etc. that has been building up inside, causing a tremendous amount of inner conflict. A kind of conflict where the truth that Sarah knows to be true isn't considered to be the whole truth. The quintessential wildcard in all this is how will she react when or if she finds about it, he thinks to himself. It's something that's been constantly weighing heavily on him since finding out the real reason with the help of THE best private investigator in town.

While sitting there continuing to look over and write on seemingly important paperwork, he pauses inevitably dropping the pen down. Afterwards, he takes that moment to reach up and rub his eyes with both of his hands. Once he's finished, he leans back in his chair to stretch out and flex his upper torso area, as well as lower back, which helps straighten out some the kinks that he's recently been experiencing. Kinks that developed from either sleeping wrong, or not all, because of keeping silent with what he knows. To him, he finds himself between a rock and a hard place so much so that if he doesn't make a choice in what to do, it's going to seriously impact his health even further than it already is.

His thoughts concerning his moral, and not to mention ethical, dilemma that he's facing is for the time being set aside as his focus shift to the top left drawer of his desk. He leans forward and to his left to reach over and open it. After briefly peering down, he reaches inside to retrieve two things: a small handheld tape recorder and miniature cassette tape. One of several miniature cassette tapes that he was able split with Ellie so that they would be able to listen separately. Plus, the mere fact there were so many of them that it wasn't hard dividing them up. He ended up taking a few to the office to maybe listen to them while either doing paperwork or just something to listen to during a break from doing said paperwork.

As for the small handheld tape recorder, he was able to purchase one from the Burbank Buy More and luckily for him they actually had some in stock, which was considerably surprising since they've in a way become priceless modern artifacts. In a way, he felt like a nerdy version of Indiana Jones but without all the thrills, danger, intrigue, sword/gun play and life-threatening heroics that is usually associated with such an epically classic and adventurous trilogy directed by the legendary director Steven Spielberg. Of course, if he considers himself a nerdy Indiana Jones, then his bearded sidekick is most definitely Shortround, he thinks to himself. It's that particular thought popping into his mind warrants a faint chuckle and grin afterwards knowing Morgan would gladly take up that mantle of Indy's shorter partner in crime.

Unfortunately, he's not the type of guy to hold or even shoot a gun, unless it's for the classic Super Nintendo game Duck Hunt, which he and Morgan enjoyed playing growing up. It's not like he's iconic movie character Indiana Jones in the memorable movie scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark where Indy encounters a sword wielding assassin while trying to save Marion and instead of battling him, he makes the decision to just shoot the assassin where he stands. It's an epically funny scene that is considered even funnier when you find out that Harrison Ford was sick and just asked Spielberg if shooting him would be considered better, which fortunately made the final cut of the movie. As a matter of fact, of all the scenes in that movie that particular one sticks out the most with the other being the Nazi guy's face in the dark fedora and trench's melting off when the ark is opened up, he thinks to himself. An Indiana Jones trilogy movie night is in order.

It's after thinking that initial thought, he refocuses back on the much deadlier weapon than a gin, that is his mind. To him, he would rather be armed with what others have deemed him as a brilliant and not to mention smart as a whip, individual all while wearing his unmistakable Chuck Taylor high tops. Shoes that are a literal and metaphorical representation of being able to do some quick thinking on his feet in order to face then hopefully solve any problems that come his way that are considered absolute obstacles. Plus the fact it's considered his trademark if compared to Indy with his beaten up, faded, and worn fedora. worn. He's faced insurmountable obstacles mentally, personally, spiritually, and most definitely emotionally as well, but he's made it through to the other side with a few scars to show for it.

Essentially, it's those scars that tell an unfortunately sad truth in the life of one Chuck Irving Bartowski. However, at the same time they have made him a much stronger person because of it as he unknowingly forged a path that would lead him to create from the heart a truly beloved YouTube channel spotlighting kids who have fought, are fighting, and some sadly lost their fight with cancer. As much as he's proud of being able to brings some joyous smiles in the form a distraction that is Bash At The Bench, he can't help but feel or yearn for that matter to be able have his own father look at him the way that the parents of his aforementioned Rockstar Rebels look at their kids. A look of pride, joy, love, happiness, admiration, strength, and faith interwoven with strength of staying strong and positive during his/her most difficult time in their life.

In his mind, it's something he lacked when his father left and it was up to Ellie and Devon to raise him. Of course, Hartley and Della were there as well, with Vi's father stepping up as guardian/foster father when it came to the pivotal, as well as most important aspects of his life. Prom, being accepted into Stanford, falling in love, being heartbroken, finding the inspiration to pick himself back up for a worthy cause, graduation, falling in love again, reconnecting with family, etc. All situations that resulted in his new found journey in life where even though he's moving towards an absolute uncertainty that's truly scary, there's a sense of an indescribable, curious excitement in what's ahead or waiting around the corner for him, he thinks to himself.

Yet, what he feels is missing is the presence and bond that he shared with his own father, Stephen Bartowski. Granted, they weren't the type to toss around a football like Devon attempted to do with him for some quality male bonding time. love just three words. When it came to their own unique way of bonding it involved things like Sudoku for instance, where the challenge in solving puzzles mentally strengthened the connection between father and son. It's something like that he truly misses and has shared thought in the past during his time of much needed therapy when he was younger. Of course, he's glad he was able to hear the words "well done, son", "good job, son" and/or "I'm proud of you, son", coming from Hartley; but to hear from his own father now is something to at least hope for somewhere down the road.

A road that at a young age he was able to travel without the uniquely sage wisdom and advice that his father used to convey or throw out from time to time. Sure, he had to dig deep and find the hidden, underlying message of it all to get the point, especially when it came to girls. That was their "guy talk" and he rather enjoyed it because it was how they communicated with each other. Of course, it was vastly different from Devon relating dating with sports analogies along with sharing his own personal experiences with the ladies including Ellie, which was something that he didn't want to have permanently brain stamped to the point of causing irreparable trauma. Hartley, on the other hand, treaded lightly on the subject matter in his own British way and the fact he had a daughter only provided him with such firm advice on how a woman should be treated.

The thought of Hartley's firm advice caused him to express a faint chuckle and the reason is that growing up he saw him as James Bond. The truth was that even though he may have resembled 007 and the way he carried himself, it's a far cry from how he actually is. A man with a heart of gold, warm, open, compassionate, giving and willing to be there fighting for the family he loves/cares about, whether it's his own or the ones that he unofficially fostered. The total opposite of the movie character that has so many incarnations of the renowned agent from Sean Connery to Daniel Craig and possibly many more after him, he thinks to himself. Unfortunately, he regrets losing touch with him after heading off to Stanford, but is thankful they've been able to reconnect and catch up after so many years.

In any case, he shakes head, inevitably turning his attention to the cassette tape he's holding in his right hand. It would only take a matters of seconds to get the mini cassette out of its case and then pop it into the mini tape recorder. He then presses rewind keenly noticing that the tape itself was nearing the end, telling Chuck that his father presumably had a lot on his mind on that particular day or moment in time. It's at that point, he wonders when it comes to the truth of why his father left, he actually believes what he's saying or simply fooling himself into believing that leaving his two children behind for the sake of making their family whole again was just all a lie. It's a question that more or less popped into his head just now knowing full well that even though his father is considered a brilliant man, his decision was painfully stupid no matter how much convincing it took for himself to believe it was the right thing to do.

A few moments later, Chuck is snapped out of his thoughts by the sudden click of the small handheld tape recorder he's holding in his left hand telling him the tape inside of it has fully rewound to the beginning. After taking a deep breath, he readies himself then presses the start button. He sits there for a moment listening to silence but then suddenly hears a shuffling sound and then a clearing throat.

Today is July 9th, 1990 at...1245 a.m. There have been some setbacks I've encountered. You see...

XXX

I've had trouble getting the numbers to correlate and flow for me. In the past, it wasn't that difficult to easily decipher the numbers to where there is a definite correlation to the location of someone that needed to be located. A life was on the line and because of that I focused on the numbers that were in front of me that pertained to the case. I saw the beginning, then the middle and eventually the answer would be there right at the end. Simple rational numbers. Any genius can figure it out.

Chuck hears a faint chuckle on the mini tape recorder telling him that even though he can hear the distinct sound of frustration in his father's voice, he can find somehow the humor in the face of what he refers to as uncooperative numbers. He continues listening after hearing what sounds like a sigh that's expressing a mixture of flustered annoyance that would lead the patriarch of the Bartowski clan to keep on speaking.

I remember telling my son that there's a flash of genius within everyone. Here's what I didn't add on to that and if you're listening Chuck...pay close attention.

In that instance, Chuck eyebrows furrow as he leans forward a bit in his desk chair as he awaits what his father is going to share with him. It's apparently something he wanted to or should have added on to what he conveyed to him as a young boy. He doesn't have to wait long.

And even a sliver of truth can stump the smartest of people. That's right son. This problem...the whereabouts of your mother...has gotten me absolutely perplexed. A genius with numbers no less.

In that instance, Chuck stops the tape and momentarily reflects on the other half of what he considered back then. Seemingly profound words that have somehow become riddles. Although he doesn't consider Stephen Bartowski a DC character like Edward Nigma, aka The Riddler. A villain who leaves thought provokingly elaborate clues in every scheme for the expressed purpose of attempting to not just stump Gotham PD, but the Dark Knight himself...Batman. Gotham PD maybe gets stumped, but when it comes to the caped crusader/crime fighting detective himself...never.

Thinking about it further, the comparison to Edward Nigma aka The Riddler is something he never really saw as a kid growing up, but now as an adult it's clear as day. True, his father was certainly a mysterious enigma of sorts describing him as a highly intelligent, but kind man that was truly comfortable in hiding behind the world of numbers instead of being actively social. He enjoyed the seclusion of his classroom and not to mention his own office at home where he would be found at times locked away in, especially when deeply entrenched in the puzzle of law enforcement and government agency cases. In a weird and funny way, he considers his backstory into his own story as a hero who never reconsidered himself a hero. In other words, the anti-hero without all the violence, he thinks to himself.

At first glance, Stephen Bartowski doesn't exude the physical capabilities and violent nature of any of the other Batman villains like The Joker, Two-Face, Killer Croc, Bane, etc. Instead, where he truly exhibited his power was in the mental strength of his intellectual superiority in his given field as a mathematics professor trying to solve formulated puzzles that went way over his head. Although what he taught as a professor went way over his head, the seemingly complex numbers his younger self learned to see in the Sudoku puzzles provided back then in initially opening a part of his mind that he ended closing off after he left. Now years later, his mind has been triggered to flash once again after meeting and falling in love with a woman who is considered the catalyst to his mental reawakening.

Granted, as the aforementioned anti-hero, he too has a tragic back story far different than Edward Nigma's depicted in the comics than in the movie Batman Forever starry Val Kilmer. The movie version of The Riddler was portrayed by Jim Carrey and the character rose from simple Wayne Industries tech employee to rival villains, whereas in the comics he started out simply as a kid breaking into school to cheat at a contest it was holding involving a puzzle. He got away with it and thus longed for greater challenges inevitably taking a job years later as a carnival employee cheating his customers out of money with bizarre puzzles and mind games. Essentially, this would eventually catapult him into becoming one of many worthy and not to mention deadly adversaries for the crime fighting vigilante. As much as he would like to continue to more of a deep character dive initially comparing Stephen Bartowski to The Riddler, he forces himself to refocus on the task at hand.

In his mind, the loss of his mom...Mary Bartowski... absolutely broke his father and caused an immense shift in his demeanor, which he tried to hide for the sake of his kids. Chuck and Ellie knew the truth in how much of a tremendous impact their mom leaving had on their dad. Him wanting to know why she left turning into a gradual obsession to the point where it became an absolute focal point of his life. He locked himself away in his office from time to time and became more of a recluse to his own two kids, causing him to be more of a stranger than a father. At the time, it was truly a disheartening, confusing, and frustrating time because the both of them needed him more than ever, but he was gone in every sense of the word.

Yet, it didn't mean he disregarded his duties as a father in between. When he was there, fully lucid and aware of what needed to be done around the house or for his 2 kids for that matter. It's those moments he and Ellie truly enjoyed, when they had their father Stephen Bartowski, were/are still to this day precious, as well as priceless that the both of them treasure, knowing it was a time of their lives in which he was present. All 3 together as a family to the point of laughing, smiling and even sharing meals together where they would simply have normal conversation. It's when those normal family conversations happen, he and Ellie would cherish it to the point where they would just be in the moment so much so they didn't take it for granted.

A thought that puts a faint smile on his face as he recalled those aforementioned moments. In any case, he sets those memories aside as he reaches down to press the play button in the mini tape recording sitting on the desk and continues listening on to what else has to share to where any possible clues may have been inadvertently left by him.

I've tried every variable in trying to figure out where I possibly went wrong. So far...

XXX

For the past several minutes or so, Chuck sat there listening to his father ramble on once again about using the rational numbers theorem. How using real numbers is an historical anomaly not unlike using the "Pythagorean Theorem". He began talking about how when calculus was invented in the 17th century numbers were thoroughly understood, or so it was believed to be as they were just simple numbers. He then started discussing combining them to where it turns into addition and then adding them repeatedly would end up becoming known as multiplication, which would be similar for subtraction and division. It's at that part where Chuck got lost in what sounded like the incoherent rambles of a man that may have not been sleeping, which is an experience he knows all too well.

After a while, his father's incoherent ramblings eventually stop leading to a seemingly long sound of silence on the tape. In that instance, the other half of the profound wisdom he shared with him earlier causes him to mentally circle back. And even a sliver of truth can stump the smartest of people. While sitting there, a memory from his past starts slowly creeping back from his childhood involving his parents and the relationship they had together. A conversation between his mom and dad emerges that even though it was years ago is considered relevant to the present situation, as he thinks back on it. A time before assisting law enforcement and government agencies. The good times before the dark times, he thinks to himself in a Star Wars mindset.

"Could you guys stop doing that? It's weird and gross!" a 9 year old Chuck moaned, stepping out from the hallway and into the kitchen. The sight of his parents hugging and kissing each other considered a horrific sight for the youngest Bartowski child. "It's like Buttercup and Wesley from the new movie the Princess Bride that Ellie can't stop talking about. Westley and Buttercup this. Westley and Buttercup that. Blah. Blah. Blah. Bleh." he added, expressing a noteworthy cringe all over his face.

"It's what your mother and I do, son. We love each other." responded Stephen with a chuckle. His arms still wrapped around Mary's waist and they both rock from side to side in each other's arms. In that moment, He leans forward to press his lips against Mary's causing her to smile and expressing a playful giggle of her own.

Afterwards, Chuck shakes his head as his parents finally separate with his mother turning to face him while standing in front of and staring into the open fridge. "It's the truth, Chuck. When you meet someone..." Mary briefly glances at Stephen who does the Bartowski Eyebrow dance towards her causing her to laugh. "...you'll finally know what real love is. It's a kind of love that some feel is a lie and not at all real, but there one thing to remember that can turn it and make it feel absolutely real."

"What's that?" questioned Chuck turning his attention to his mother.

"A sliver of truth." answered Stephen. The patriarch of the Bartowski clan steals one more kiss from his wife before completely separating from their embrace. Once they do, Stephen makes his way towards his son still standing in front of the open fridge, but not before getting playfully slapped in the butt by Mary.

"Great..." groaned Chuck, rolling his eyes. "...I suddenly lost my appetite." he added, shutting the fridge door.

It's at that point, Chuck peers up at his father who is shaking his head in amusement. He reaches up with his right hand and rubs the back of his neck before moving up to his head to where he rubs then rakes his hands through his hair. Afterwards, his father reaches down and places his right hand on his left shoulder then bends down a bit to get down to eye level with him.

"Listen Charles, there are two things I know for sure are for real and will get me through life." he said, holding up two fingers on his left hand. "Do you want to know what they are?" Chuck nods and listens intently at what his father is about to share with him. "The first being numbers and the second..." He watches as his father turns back to look at Mary leaning against the counter smiling at both of her boys. "...your mother. Both have never failed me. Not once. They've provided me with answers to the truth. When it comes to your mother though..." Stephen pauses to where he finds himself standing by his son. His seemingly large and hairy left arm draped around his neck. "I may consider myself a smart man...borderline genius...but when it comes to her I can find myself always stumped."

"Why?" Chuck wondered, peering up at his father with confused curiosity.

"The questions may always be the same, but the answers are constantly changing. It's not necessarily a bad thing, son. It just means..."

In that instance, Chuck hears his mother interject her thoughts into the mix. "It means Chuck..." she said stepping forward and making her way towards both of them. Once standing in front of the two of them, she first gives her husband another kiss on the lips then bends down feeling a kiss on the top of his head. He then sees her at eye level with him as she continues on. "...love doesn't have one definite answer. It's ever changing along with people like me and your dad. Understand?"

"I guess so." shrugged Chuck, peering up then shifting back and forth from his mom to dad.

"You will..." Stephen replied, patting Chuck on his chest with the palm of his left hand. "...you will. Just you wait." he added, removing his arm that was draped around his neck.

After doing so, Chuck just stands there watching his parents continue on being lovey dovey causing the same cringeworthy expression he had earlier to return. He had one word popping into his mind and even though he doesn't quite understand it, its a word that Ellie repeated over from the movie Princess Bride. "Inconceivable." he faintly muttered under his breath. Chuck then turns around and heads back and disappears into the hallways he emerged out of earlier.

The momentary flashback subsequently ends leading Chuck to shake his head. Of course, back then he shrugged his shoulders at what his father and mother said about love. How when you meet someone the questions stay the same but the answers are constantly changing. All it takes is a sliver of truth. Boy were they right. The reason is he met a woman with so many of the same questions but all come back with different answers. Or so he thought he did the first time around and it ultimately left him losing his mojo. However, he believes he got it back 2nd time around as she comes with questions that certainly have answers that constantly change. All awesomely positive, he thinks to himself.

It's that thought that brings a hint of a smile to his lips to where he once again refocuses turning his attention back to the mini tape recorder. He stares at it eagerly, and not to mention patiently, waiting with intense curiosity as to what else he has to say. He doesn't have to have long when he suddenly hears the sound of a clearing throat on the recording. Unfortunately, he'll have to wait on what his father is going to say next when he suddenly hears his cell phone ringing. The name showing: Sarah.

It's at that point, Chuck stops the tape and picks up his phone with his right hand then answers it placing it against his right ear. "Hey, what's up? I was actually thinking about you." the self-professed nerd said, expressing a toothy smile.

XXX

"So, nothing really stuck out at you from what you heard on the tape? Just some nonsensical gibberish." questioned Sarah.

"I wouldn't say that. In a weird way, what you call nonsensical gibberish can be considered another puzzle to figure out. Like the Sudoku puzzles he and I used to work on together as a kid." retorted Chuck, leaning comfortably back in his desk chair. "It may not be easy at first to figure out because you're so confused at what you're looking at or in my case listening to, but the answers are in there somewhere." he added, shaking his head in hopes of making sense.

"If anybody can find those answers it's you, Chuck."

For Chuck, being given encouraging reassurance from Sarah is one of the many aspects and not to mention qualities that make her so awesomely loveable. Granted, he's always had the encouragement and reassurance of Ellie as his main cheerleader growing up, but that was the role she took up as the older sister, as well as quasi parent to her younger brother. Plus, the fact he's had a whole host of cheerleaders in his life that have rooted for him to succeed. However, having Sarah root for him just gives the nerdy business owner a much needed boost to his self-esteem, self-confidence, and mojo that he believed he was lacking in regards to matters of his own heart, he thinks to himself.

"You think so?"

"Would I lie to you?"

"No..." Chuck answered back."...no you wouldn't. As I would never lie to you." he firmly retorted back, feeling conflicted in that moment.

"That's right. You've always told me the truth. The promise we made to each other, remember."

"I remember."

"You know..." A brief pause is given on the other end of the line as Sarah continues on. "...that promise also extends to breakfast."

A soft chuckle is expressed by Chuck after hearing that on the end of the line by Sarah. "I don't remember that being part of the promise, Ms. Walker."

"It's actually in the fine print in the unofficial contract between the two of us that I just made up right now, Mr. Bartowski. Right under the section where it states you're paying."

"So, it's like that?"

"Yeah, it's like that. What are you going to do about it?"

"Call Hartley and talk to him about the unofficial contract that doesn't really exist, but could write one up. He lives for this stuff like this you know."

"I'm sure he does. Listen, I want to spend some time with you before heading off to my 3rd session with Dr. Dreyfus."

"That sounds awesome. Subway good with you? The one in Santa Monica."

"Yeah, the one where we ate before after the Clue themed mystery dinner?"

"You got it. Hey, how is it going by the way with your sessions?"

"It's going..." Sarah replied, pausing briefly. "...but it's helping." she added, sounding positive on the other end of the line.

Chuck can't help but smile after hearing that. Instead of going further into how far she has progressed in the matter of her therapy sessions, he back off and makes the decision to just leave it at that. "I'll see ya there. Heading out the door now."

"Me too. Bye."

"Later."

After hanging up, Chuck backs up his desk chair turning it to the right just a bit and then pushes himself up into a standing position. As he makes his way to his open office door, he sticks his phone in his right pocket of his pants, but then suddenly stops standing in front of the archway leading into the hallway. He stands there for a moment then turns around looking straight at his desk. He makes his way back to desk. The area of the right side desk desk drawer to be exact. Chuck reaches down placing his fingers on the drawer handle, pulls it open, and stares down at whatever he's looking at inside. A few seconds later, he retrieves what he's been looking at...a file folder. He takes a deep breath and then picks it up with his right hand to where he taps the back of it against the palm of his left hand. Afterwards, he walks off with it heading over to Subway to have breakfast with Sarah.

XXX


NOTE: IS CHUCK DOING WHAT YOU ALL POSSIBY THINKING? INTRIGUED AND POSSIBLY ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT? SO AM I AND I'M WRITING IT. LOL! SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK? IS CHUCK'S CONSCIENCE NAGGING AT HIM THAT HE'S ULTIMATELY GOING TO REVEAL THE TRUTH TO SARAH? THAT WILL BE ANSWERED IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! IN THE MEANTIME, LEAVE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS AND AS ALWAYS I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR MY STORY. PLUS, I ONCE AGAIN GIVE A TIP OF THE HAT TO NEVR FOR DOING THE BETA!