Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Team Bartowski gave separate tours with White, Mark, Pollak, and Heather at Westside Medical Center. Chief Beckman and Chief Walker ended up at the main conference room with Mark, Heather and White. Sarah shared with the hospital's guests running the hospital the moment after Beckman decided to take a long overdue vacation. That and how her relationship with Chuck started, which White found very informative. So informative she barked at Mark to take notes. Meanwhile, Chuck and Morgan had a entirely difference experience with the actor Pollak. The actor was more concerned with taking pictures and posting on social media than actually interacting with pediatric kids. He even went so far as having a potential idea involving hiring kid actor playing sick or work with actual sick kids in order to be acknowledged in the possibility of an Academy Award. An idea that Chuck and Morgan were in total disbelief with after they heard it. Moving forward, Sarah was able to get some alone time to speak with Heather. During their brief interaction, Heather revealed information that was surprisingly shocking and that was Sarah actually saved her back in High School. However, before she could find out more, they had to leave and in a desperate attempt to not let them leave, she invited them back for Bash At The Bench. A surprise for the rest of Team Bartowski. That following evening, Casey left the veterans homeless shelter where his mentor and sensei Ty Bennett was housed as he made his way to the parking garage across the street where his car was parked. The proud marine would come face to face with a man from his military past named Scary. So what happens in this chapter? Here are the who, what, where, when, why, how's? Who does Casey sarcastically reference when talks with Scary in the parking garage? What mission was Bennett involved in that caused him to go through P.T.S.D. and other related issued associated with it? Where does Mark's focus go to that had him stammering out and so frazzled that it instantly caught Chuck and Morgan's attention? When did Heather decide to step out of her comfort zone? Why was Sarah crying while she spoke with Heather during an eye-opening talk with Heather? How does the relationship between Heather and Sarah turn out? Read and find out! I 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.
Demons and Angels
XXX
The man known as Scary was part of a Special Forces military unit that involved Ty "Sensei" Bennett and Alex Coburn. Scary's role in the unit was the Special Operations Officer or otherwise known as Operator. Essentially, he was the go-to guy who provided vital intelligence before and during missions in order for the team to not only be well informed but implement any contingency plans to be initiated if the situation went sideways. Of course, the reason he was named Scary was because he thoroughly anticipated and provided information to questions that weren't even asked for, or even thought about, which was why he was so frighteningly good at his job. For Casey, he was the guy that he referred to when he talked with Sarah after she showed him the redacted medical file on his day off at the shooting range.
In any case, Scary stood 10 feet away from Casey, and the man who stepped from out of the shadows into the light wasn't wearing his usual black suit with matching tie. Instead, he was actually wearing jeans, sneakers, and a colorful Hawaiian button-down shirt. It was something the proud Marine noticed first after he pointed out the weight gain and loss of hair. Although, the two men knew each other and considered themselves associates more so than friends, Casey still had a grip on the concealed weapon that was hidden underneath his shirt. After what seemed like a long, silent stare down between the two men, Casey spoke up.
"Undercover mission, Magnum P.I.?"
"Funny," Scary responded with a smirk. "R and R actually. It's currently on a holding pattern right now because of you." He briefly raised both eyebrows then gave a slight nod.
"Did you get in by chopper or a red Ferrari?" Casey sarcastically retorted back
Scary didn't respond because the Magnum P.I. references from Coburn would have continued on if he did. Instead, he just shook his head because he never really considered Coburn a funny guy. He knew him back then more as a serious guy who eventually garnered the reputation for being a focused, and unrelenting soldier. A soldier that never questioned orders. It's that particular thought in which he peered down and pointed out something for Coburn to know.
"I'm not armed,." he shared, holding up and showing both hands. He then lifted up the bottom of his Hawaiian shirt and did a 360-degree turn, which revealed what he said was true.
During the 360 turn, Casey cringed when he saw the exposed hairy stomach and back of Scary. Although it was brief, it left a serious brain stamp on his mind. He shook the images of Scary's stomach and back out of his head the best he could, then responded to his former associate.
"What happened to Sensei?"
"Straight to business I see," responded Scary, with a smirk once again. "That's the Alex Coburn I know," he added, pointing to him. "Hey, do you still like pancakes as a late-night snack?" He checked his watch then continued on. "How about we head on over to IHOP and…"
Casey quickly removed the weapon that was concealed underneath his shirt and held it by his right side, which Scary witnessed. In any case, the hulking Head of Security considered himself the total opposite of Scary personality wise. The proud marine recalled reading in his file that he was described as a type A personality who exuded a sense of self control, was goal oriented, excelled in a controlled fast-paced environment, introverted, and worked hard to establish an efficient working environment. On the other hand, Scary was not only a type A personality, but he was also type B as well. Easy going, relaxed, highly flexible, extroverted, and able to deal with high stress situations by joking around. Essentially, their personalities oftentimes clashed and although there were personal issues between the two of them, they were momentarily set aside for the mission.
"Rain check then," Scary retorted back.
Casey briefly peered down and switched the safety on his weapon from off to on. "Just get on with it, Scary," he growled, sounding frustrated, annoyed and irritated.
There was a moment of silence on Scary's part, after he witnessed the safety switch, before he responded back. He cleared his throat then spoke up. "Sensei was part of a mission in Fallujah," he shared.
'Sensei thinks it's 2007. The year it happened, right?" questioned Casey. Scary nodded and confirmed what was asked by his former associate. Speaking of the former associate, he continued on with another question in mind.
"He was perched from a distance while keeping an eye on his unit's back for any un-friendlies."
"Spotter?"
"He refused but was assigned one," answered Scary, "A direct order. You know sensei. He can be," He briefly paused to search for the right word. "Stubborn, especially when it comes to mission parameters."
A faint smirk is expressed by Casey because his mentor was a loner and felt he could do his best work without someone by his side. As a highly skilled veteran sniper himself, he felt the same way. However, early on in his grunt training he knew he and his spotter always utilized different concealment techniques, which can oftentimes be layered. Since it was a desert setting for Sensei, the effective disguise would have to be undetected even when enemy troops are standing right on top of them. Without the benefit of cover, it was just a shroud of concealment that keeps snipers alive and helps them easily escape.
Casey prided himself in not only being a marine, but a sniper as well. A sniper who devoted a great deal of time and energy to honing his concealment skills, which was to stay low as possible. Use the terrain to my advantage. It's one of the things that was taught to him in sniper training, not just by Sensei, but by other trainers as well. He recalled, there were so many other factors to consider and not just using the terrain to his advantage. Essentially, one of those factors considered was if you're perched on a high terrain follow the low dead space down and then come up from behind to the designated position, while always maintaining the low profile, low silhouette.
His thoughts concerning a sniper's mission parameters were set aside as he asked a question that he truly wanted to know since he heard the date Bennett gave to Dr. Busgang in the waiting room area within The Trenches.
"What was the mission?"
"Bin Ladin, Day mission," answered Scary, raising both eyebrows. "Reliable intel placed him at a compound surrounded by innocent civilians. Not hiding in a cave as it was reported in the past," he added, providing additional information.
"How reliable?"
"85%" he answered, slightly shrugging his shoulders.
"Did they find him?" Casey responded back.
Scary shook his head and then shared further information. "What they found was a trap. It was a set up. Sensei knew it before the unit did." He briefly paused then continued on. "He took out as many as he could before he ended up defying orders and then headed in himself. His spotter went in as well."
"Oorah!" Casey softly grunted.
"Drone footage showed that the both of them fought their way in, as most of the unit was pinned down by insurgents. The odds were stacked against them, and an 85% chance was considered all or nothing. A decision had to be made."
The proud marine's eyebrows intently furrowed after he heard that. "What decision? Yours?" questioned the skilled sniper.
Casey's former associate shook his head once again. "It was for the greater good, Coburn. You know that," Scary retorted back.
"That decision," growled Casey. "Left a highly decorated and respected soldier battling demons that have haunted him ever since it happened," he added, gnashing his teeth. "It's those same demons that have affected his mental, emotional and physical health. He's been disavowed and unable to get proper medical treatment. It doesn't help matters that he's homeless too," Casey angrily shot back. "They owe him that!"
"He knew," Scary stopped, then corrected himself. "You all knew what you signed up for, especially Sensei. To be the soldiers that knew the risks and went into hell any way," he firmly stated, pointing directly at Casey.
"Yeah," Casey softly growled, in a pissed off mood. "Expendable." he added, expressing an angry snarl. An icy death glare directed right to Scary.
"At least Sensei has someone looking out for him," Scary nodded. After a few seconds of silence, he resumed speaking. "Listen, we all have our own demons to deal with, Coburn," He took a step forward and locked eyes with the man who stood 9 feet away from him. "Some of us just cope with it in different ways. Personally," A small, crooked smile is expressed on his face. "I go see some shows on Broadway. I highly recommend The Book of Mormon." He paused for a moment as he stared at his former associate. "Still trimming bonsai trees like Sensei did?" he inquired, with genuine curiosity. "Has it helped calm your center?"
Casey doesn't say a word. Instead, he switched the safety on his weapon from on to off. Afterwards, he stepped towards the driver's side door of his 1987 black Crown Victoria and in a matter of moments he was already inside his vehicle with Scary standing behind it. Speaking of Scary, he moved out of the way so that he wouldn't be rear ended by Casey who aggressively backed out of the parking spot then peeled off. The sound of squealed tires echoed within the 2nd level of the parking garage as Scary stood there, watched his former associate drive off then turned right and disappeared out of sight.
XXX
"30 minutes till showtime, Bartowski Brigade!" happily announced Morgan, waving to the crowd.
Friday rolled around and the bearded co-host of Nerdy Nerfherder and Fuzzball stood on the main stage greeting the growing crowd. The sound of excitable claps, woos, and whistles from a growing audience echoed within the courtyard that steadily filled up. As the crowd continued to file, Morgan joined Chuck who was on the camera stage talking to Mark Ratner, since he was invited back for today's show by Sarah. Unfortunately, his friend Shawn didn't come with him, after he asked if he could be invited as well. White turned that request down quickly.
Speaking of the executive producer, she and the Chief Administrator of Westside Medical Center were in Beckman's office having a business related conference call with not only the Board of Directors, but Five Elders Studios. Both women would join the showdown at the courtyard after they finished the meeting. In any case, all three men stood on the camera stage and as they did Mark scanned the courtyard area. He breathed out a sense of astonishment and then briefly glanced over to Chuck and Morgan who were focused on the laptop and camera.
"It's a lot different in person than watching it online," he stated, shaking his head.
Chuck and Morgan peered over then smiled at one another after they heard what Mark said. The YouTube duo returned to what they were doing on the laptop with Mark continuing to gaze out into and around the seemingly massive courtyard crowd. He saw Hugo and Casey. Both men had the security game faces on as Hugo was situated near Heather, while Casey stood by the main stage. The hulking Head of Security more or less stood guard to keep Jeffster away from Heather. Speaking of Jeffster, they were enthralled in a conversation with Pollack that seemed to involve musical instruments as Jeff handed him an electric bass guitar. After a brief moment of watching Pollack strumming the electric bass guitar in front of the two men he was interacting with, Mark returned his attention to the large security titans who met face to face. It was like two incredibly scary and intimidating behemoth gladiators staring each other down before destroying each other.
In his mind, he wouldn't know who to place a bet on to win, because both men could take a beating and keep on fighting, no matter how injured they were. Mark's focus on recalling the two mammoth forces facing off with one another, eventually fell on the area where not only the pediatric kids were normally located, but Sarah and Heather were located as well. As he stood there, Chuck looked over at Mark then stepped over to stand next to him.
"Even though those special kids are known as Rockstar Rebels, they're also gifts from God. His heavenly angels," the nerd proudly described, expressing a soft smile.
"Yeah," breathed out Mark, expressing a soft smile of his own. "She's an angel."
Chuck quirked his right brow after he heard what he thought he heard. "Did you say she's an angel?"
Instantly, Mark's eyes widened. "They're angels," he blurted out. "I said those kids are angels," he quickly added, pointing to them then turned to face Chuck. "Why…why would I say she's an angel?" the assistant to Alex White stammered out. Afterwards, he looked absolutely flustered and frazzled.
It's at that point, the sound of Morgan's voice broke the attention of both men. "Who's an angel?"
"She," answered Chuck.
"Who?" Chuck was about to open his mouth when Morgan suddenly held up both hands and stopped him. "Before this ends up turning into a comedy skit like the baseball skit made famous by Abbott and Costello," he noted. "How about we ask Mark who she is." The hetero life partners then turned to Mark for the answer.
Speaking of Mark, his face exuded a mixture of panic, worry, fear, anxiety, etc. all rolled into an absolutely flustered individual. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as the dedicated and diligent assistant as his eyes darted back and forth between Chuck and Morgan. Afterwards, he breathed out a defeated sigh.
"See, I'm just a guy who enjoys my job as an assistant despite how I'm treated. It's not all bad," he shared, expressing a soft smile. He then turned to face out to the crowd. However, he faced one specific area and that was where the pediatric kids were located. "I'm also a guy who enjoys playing D&D with my friend, Shawn."
"Awesome. You're a fellow nerd then," grinned Morgan.
Mark nodded. "Plus, I somehow get to hang around with a beautiful girl like her,." he added, briefly motioning over to the individual in question. "I have to pinch myself sometimes. It's like I'm dreaming."
"Heather?" Chuck asked, briefly glancing over at his bearded best friend.
"Do you have a crush on Heather Chandler?" inquired Morgan. "Does she like you back?"
After Mark heard Morgan's question, he stood there for a moment and gazed longingly from a distance at the object of his affection. His shoulders drooped, then White's assistant suddenly dropped down and sat down on the edge of the camera stage. Afterwards, he shook his head and spoke up.
"It's complicated." Mark shook his head then shrugged his shoulders. "Aw, forget it, you guys. I mean, how can I expect two cool guys like yourselves to understand, especially you?" he stated, looking up at Chuck.
"What do you mean?" wondered Chuck. The nerd dropped down and took a seat right beside Mark. Morgan did the same as he seated himself by Mark, with his nerdy best friend sitting on the other side.
"Seriously?" Mark remarked, shaking his head with a sense of amused disbelief.
"Bubble," Morgan chimed in.
"What?" Chuck responded. He leaned forward to look at Morgan.
Unfortunately, Morgan leaned back as he gave his response. "He's saying you live in a handsome bubble of awesomeness," clarified Morgan. He stopped and looked directly at Mark. "Right?"
"I guess," Mark replied, expressing confusion on his face.
Chuck and Morgan continued to lean back and forth until they were able to finally look directly at one another. "I'm living in a handsome bubble of awesomeness?" he faintly breathed out.
Chuck sat there for a moment and recalled the moment in his bedroom with him and Devon. He couldn't help but be flattered by the compliment, which caused him to faintly chuckle. The reason he faintly chuckled was because he was actually considered to be at Captain Awesome's handsome level. Also, he considered himself verbal, like his bearded best friend since childhood. His thoughts that concerned being put on the same level of his brother-in-law's handsomeness was abruptly broken when he heard the sound of Mark groaning.
"How did you do it, Chuck? You and Sarah?" questioned Mark, briefly throwing up his hands. A look of pleading interest expressed in his eyes. "What's your secret?"
"You know what, Mark? There is no secret. I was just my nerdy self."
"That's it?" Mark retorted back.
The youngest Bartowski sibling was momentarily silent. He gathered his thoughts before he responded. "All I can say is," Chuck leaned over and gave him a friendly supportive shoulder bump. Both men looked at each other. "Sometimes the nerd gets the girl."
Morgan smiled and reached up with his left and to place on Mark's right shoulder. White's assistant turned to the bearded man sitting to his right. "Or in your case, angel," he noted with reassurance, patting his right shoulder a couple times.
All 3 individuals then turned their attention to the area where the pediatric kids were located. They watched as Heather and Sarah waved to the kids then the Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical Center said something to the actress. A few seconds later, Heather nodded then both women made their way towards the pediatrics hospital. Hugo Panzer followed them but not before he turned around to do a quick scan of the already secured courtyard area.
XXX
"They are absolutely precious," Heather stated. "All of them truly live up to being called Rockstar Rebels," she added. She was momentarily silent before she continued. "How do you do it and not be a complete wreck?"
Heather walked down the pathway with Sarah that led to the main entrance of the pediatrics hospital. Hugo Panzer was several feet behind the two women. He gave both of them not only breathing room, but some considerable distance to have a private, as well as quieter conversation between the former high school classmates, away from the courtyard crowd noise. Speaking of the former classmates, they steadily approached a nearby courtyard bench as Sarah spoke up.
"It's tough," responded Sarah, with her arms crossed. She stopped in front of the courtyard bench, and it led to Heather to stop as well. The actress turned around to face the Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical Center. "After a year of working here, it's impossible to not become attached to those special kids. It's tougher when one of them unexpectedly passes away,." she shared. The sound of genuine heartfelt emotion expressed in her voice.
"A Rockstar Rebel you were close to?"
Sarah shook her head. "Chuck," she answered. "The Rockster Rebel's name was Camden Willard and Chuck took his death hard,." she shared, briefly lowering her head. Afterwards, she turned around and took a seat.
Heather reached up and placed both hands on her chest after she heard that. Although she considered herself an actress who was able to receive a supporting role in a movie, she was seen by Hollywood as someone who portrayed a believable character instead of playing a character. Her thoughts, feelings, and emotions after she heard how Chuck took Camden's death hard were truly genuinely heartfelt. They weren't manufactured and/or made to look like it personally affected her to where she produced tears because what was shared by Sarah did in fact affect her in an immensely deep way. After she stood there for a moment, Heather shook her head. Hollywood's rising young female star then took a seat next to Sarah and responded.
"I wouldn't know how to cope let alone be able to keep my composure," she retorted, shaking her head.
"Chuck held it together the best he could," Sarah recalled, thinking back on that heartbreaking moment. "Unfortunately, he broke down during a live Friday episode. It was just him at the beach. His beach. It caught all of us at the hospital, and possibly anyone who watched on the show's YouTube channel, in our lady feelings."
"Lady Feelings?"
A soft smile was expressed by Sarah. "It's something the hospital's head of security, Casey, says that involves being up in our feelings," she explained. Sarah's smile gradually faded as her focus deviated onto how a senior administrator should act. "When you're in the position I'm in," Sarah paused and took a deep breath before she continued speaking. "Your job is to compartmentalize and think logically rather than emotionally. In other words, separate yourself."
"Separate?" questioned Heather. "In what way?" she wondered.
"The person that wants to cut the red tape and break the rules for the patients from the authority figure that hospital personnel look to when the rules need to be followed for the sake of the patients," she thoroughly explained, looking Heather directly in the eyes. "There are times where there can be tremendous difficulty in separating the two when the situation that's considered professional turns," Sarah paused and broke eye contact with Heather. "Personal."
While Sarah momentarily sat there, she was hesitant in what she wanted to say next. However, as she briefly glanced over, she noticed that Heather took in everything that was shared with her to heart. In that moment, she had one thought. It's now or never. A few seconds later, Beckman's second in command needed to, for all intents and purposes, rip the band aid off as quickly as possible to focus on how she saved Heather's life.
"That difficult time is right now," Sarah pointed out. "Sitting here with you," she added, finally turning her head to face her.
There was a seemingly long silence from Heather before she responded. "I know you've been wanting to know how you saved my life since yesterday."
"I'm not going to lie," Sarah retorted. "I wasn't able to sleep last night."
"Does Chuck know?"
Sarah nodded. "He only knows what you told me." She then leaned a bit closer to Heather. "What you say will only stay between us. Think of it like doctor-patient confidentiality," softly whispered Beckman's second in command.
The Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical Center saw the uneasiness and uncertainty in not only Heather's eyes, but in her overall demeanor as well, after she said that. As much as Beckman's right-hand woman wanted to know the circumstances behind how she saved the actress' life, she knew she certainly placed Heather in a difficult position, especially when it pertained to recounting a moment from her painful past. A painful past that her younger self was unfortunately responsible for because she fell in with the wrong group of kids in High School. For her, it was considered a wrong that she most definitely wanted to make right, knowing full well the moment White revealed the actress' name attached to the movie or series, she was instantly flooded with painful thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Essentially, it's those same painful thoughts, feelings and emotions she was now struggling with. Why? Although Sarah was considerably proud of Heather for overcoming the ugly demon that represented the younger teenage version of Sarah Walker. Yet, there was a part of her that still felt that she deserved a harsher punishment back then from her mother. That was then, this is now, she thought to herself. In her mind, Sarah couldn't help but think she was putting considerable pressure on Heather and that's when she made a judgment call for her sake.
"Listen, if you don't want to talk about it," Sarah pushed herself into a standing position. "I understand. We'll…"
Heather quickly reached over with her left hand and grabbed Sarah's right hand. "No." She saw Sarah turn back and look down at her hand. She then peered up, and both women locked eyes with each other. "I want to talk about it. You have a right to know."
"Are you sure?"
Heather nodded. "You need to know."
Sarah quietly sat back down beside her former high school classmate and allowed as much time that she needed before opening up to her. While she did, Heather took a moment and gathered her thoughts.
"I was going through something," she breathed out. "Only a handful of people knew about it. My parents, my therapist, and now you." A few seconds later, Heather proceeded to share with Sarah what was considered privileged information.
XXX
Sarah shook her head after Heather revealed what she was going through. "Social anxiety disorder?"
Heather nodded. "At the time I thought it was just another way to be described as an introvert," she honestly shared. "I was wrong."
"Low or high functioning?" wondered Sarah.
Beckman's second in command knew that when it came to individuals who go through high-functioning anxiety, they were able to accomplish tasks and appeared to function well in social situations, but internally they were all over the place mentally, emotionally, and physically. As for those individuals who deal with low- functioning social anxiety, their coping skills and/or behavior were viewed as considerably fragile. In other words, they easily succumbed to frequent emotional or mental breakdowns, developed phobias, and avoided particular people, places, or things. Additionally, they relied on obsessive-compulsive behaviors to seek control.
The reason Sarah knew this was because she studied and became knowledgeable on the topic, as well as anything related to it, especially after Chuck suffered his anxiety attack. It initially started with Bryce's arrival at the hospital, but fully triggered by the sudden appearance of Jill a couple months back. Of course, she was truly thankful for the hospital's Head Nurse, Alex Forrest, for being the one to not only get him out of the elevator safely but talk him down from such a scary chaotic experience.
"High. However, I wasn't much of a social butterfly to begin with. The typical gawky teenager with braces," the actress added, briefly rolling her eyes. "My parents encouraged me to make friends, but the thought of going up to kids I didn't know…"
"You felt an intense sense of fear, anxiousness, and maybe even embarrassment," Sarah chimed in. A nod was given by Heather as her former classmate continued on. "Associated symptoms included sweating, trembling, nausea, a shaky voice, intense feelings of impending doom, fear, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and possible stomach problems," she medically listed off.
Once again Heather nodded. "I avoided doing things like going to sporting events or dances. or talking to other kids in school, because I didn't want to end up completely embarrassing myself. The only time I spoke up was to answer a teacher's question," she added, with a slight shrug of her soldiers. "I pretty much kept to myself."
"I know the feeling," she softly breathed out.
Sarah shook her head knowing she shared a common bond with Heather. In her mind, it would have been so much simpler back then if they had become friends, rather than have Heather specifically targeted for the expressed purpose to fit in with the so- called cool kids in high school. Unfortunately, she hit puberty, and everything changed when it came to her outward physical appearance. On the other hand, when it came to the inner struggle in dealing with the heavy weight of her own conscience, she battled against it, which certainly took an immense toll on her. Her thoughts concerning how much of a tremendous toll it took on her personally, led Sarah to bring up a question to the woman sitting next to her.
"Did you have nightmares?"
"The normal ones, like being stuck in a large crowd or public speaking," answered Heather. "That was until…"
"That was until," Sarah interjected. "I made your life a living hell."
The crack in Sarah's voice, after what she said, showed there was genuine emotion behind her actions back then. Tears accumulated in her eyes as she reflected back on the torment that she inflicted on someone who never deserved it. Yet, the torment of emotionally and mentally torturing Heather in a deeply physical, as well as psychological way, was absolutely sickening, knowing that it added to the severity of her anxiety disorder. A debilitating anxiety disorder that doesn't discriminate and crippled so many individuals, including well-known actors, actresses, athletes, and singers/musicians.
"My teachers noticed the change and were very concerned. The next thing I knew, I got called into the guidance counselor's office. Of course, I denied anything was wrong, but she eventually got me to open up to her. Afterwards, I pleaded for her not to call my parents and tell them what happened," she recalled. "The guidance counselor did anyway, way because she thought it best to look out for my best interests," Heather thoroughly revealed.
The tears that accumulated in Sarah's eyes flowed down both sides of her cheeks. After she reached up and wiped away the tears with both hands, she heard Heather continue on.
"I remember waking up crying in a cold sweat," shared Heather. "My parents rushed into my bedroom and comforted me. They became concerned when it happened more than once. When they asked how I was doing…," She paused and thought back on that moment in time. "I repeatedly told them I was fine."
"You weren't fine though," Sarah responded, shaking her head.
"I believed I was fine," Heather shrugged her shoulders. "My self-esteem took a big hit because of you." The impact of those words hit Sarah hard. "When we moved to Los Angeles, I was taken by my parents to go see a therapist."
"I'm sorry," Sarah softly uttered. Tears continued to flow down both sides of her cheeks. "I know you're probably mad at me. Even hate me…"
"I'm not mad," interrupted Heather, shaking her head. "Or even hated you. To be honest, I was mostly confused. Why me? What did I ever do to you?" She took a long pause. "But…"
"But?" questioned Sarah, chiming in.
"I gained some perspective during my time in therapy."
"What kind of perspective?"
"I wanted to live life, instead of watching it from the sidelines. In hindsight, you gave me that push without even knowing it."
"I'm glad you're living it," Sarah softly smiled.
"I am too," nodded Heather, softly smiling back. "Because I came close a couple times in wanting to end my own life."
Sarah's eyes widened with shocked surprise after she heard what Heather said. As much as she wanted to say something, nothing was coming out of her mouth. All she could do was just sit there with her mouth agape and let the revelation that was just shared with her gradually sink in mentally. If Heather did take her own life and her parents felt the girl that was bullying her was responsible, it would have been devastating news. News that the younger and older version of Sarah Walker could never have handled, she thought to herself. Thankfully for her, Heather didn't take her life and decided to live it. Sarah's thoughts were broken when she heard Heather clearing her throat before she continued on.
"Only my therapist knows," Heather shared. Afterwards, she took a relieved breath, sharing something that was kept secret, even from her own parents. "Anyways, what I learned from my therapist helped me step out of my comfort zone that I was so used to hiding myself in," Heather openly and honestly revealed. "She encouraged me to gradually introduce myself into anxiety-inducing situations with the help of prescribed medication."
"Did you?"
"At first, I was resistant to what my therapist suggested.," Heather paused and took a deep breath. She then continued on. "Then one day, I decided not to let the disorder run my life, and since we were now living in Los Angeles, I wanted to step out of my comfort zone."
"How?"
"During my sophomore year in High School, I told my parents I wanted to go out on auditions. Any auditions to get my foot in the door, even if it was just a commercial," Heather responded. She lowered her head and stared down at the sidewalk pavement. "Plus, get a complete makeover, knowing how seriously determined I truly was in accomplishing the goals I set for myself."
"How did they react?"
"Typical parents. They wanted me to think about it because they were already overly protective with all that happened to me. My parents didn't want me to become one of those tragic Hollywood stories about how a kid actor ended up on drugs, rehab, or even dead." Heather shared, continuing to stare down at the sidewalk pavement. "However, despite their concerns I was dead set on proving to myself that I could step out of my comfort zone," the actress retorted. She then lifted and turned her head to look directly at Sarah. "Prove to you that I will amount to something. I will be somebody, someday."
Instantly, Sarah reflected back on her mean girl High School days and how she relentlessly taunted Heather. The one thing she constantly repeated, was that Heather would never amount to anything because she was considered an absolute nobody. True, it was considered the harshest words that could be uttered to anyone, especially to a 15-year-old teenager in high school. For her, reliving those nightmarish high school memories felt life her old demons that represented a very different Sarah Walker were finally being exorcised thanks to Heather.
"You did prove it, Heather," smiled Sarah, wiping away the tears from her eyes. "Although it initially started out in reality television, going on Real World: Los Angeles in Pasadena and…"
"You've been following my career," noted Heather, cutting Sarah off.
Sarah nodded. She was able to compose herself for the time being as she gave her response to what Heather said. "I've been your biggest supporter, even though you didn't know it."
"How about being my friend?"
A look of astonished surprise was expressed on Sarah's face after she heard that. "You want to be friends?"
Heather reached over and held Sarah's hands. Afterwards, she locked eyes with the woman she now considered a friend. "I forgive you for what you did to me back in High School. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise," Heather softly stated. "Plus, I can count on one hand the number of true friends I have, especially in the business I'm in. You're one of my true friends, Sarah Walker," the actress firmly emphasized, with a reassuring smile.
"Thank you." Sarah softly breathed out.
Tears flowed from her eyes once again. It then led to a comforting and poignant moment between both women, as they hugged each other. In that moment, the thought of the nonverbal interaction between Heather and Mark popped into her mind. She was going to bring it up too. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to, as the moment wouldn't last, as Heather and Sarah suddenly heard what sounded like someone frantically gasping for air. Both women turned back in the direction where they knew Hugo was positioned.
The two of them stood up and saw that Hugh had got Jeff placed in a side headlock under his right arm with his head sticking out, while he had Lester lifted up two feet above the sidewalk. A large meaty left hand balled into a fist that grabbed part of the Canadian Hinjew's long sleeve Jeffster shirt located underneath his chin. On the sidewalk below them, there were two pens and a couple items of memorabilia strewn about, that presumably were for her to sign. Afterwards, both women saw Casey who suddenly appeared.
"I don't know how those two morons got past me?" he growled, with irritated annoyance.
"Don't worry Colonel," Hugo responded, turning around. He faced Casey with Jeff and Lester still locked in his clutches. "They've been neutralized," he added, with a gravelly tone in his voice. A smirk expressed behind his seemingly well managed goatee. "I could stomp a mud hole on their asses to send a clear message."
"Casey, help!" Lester pleaded, dangling from Hugo's left hand. Lester's left hand was gripped around White's Head of Security's left wrist, while the left arm of the dark, long- haired other half of Jeffster was wrapped around Hugo's left forearm. A forearm that was seemingly larger than Lester's entire head.
Casey stood a foot away with a satisfyingly twisted smirk when he saw Jeff and Lester in Hugo's clutches. His focus was broken when an announcement was suddenly made that all 6 individuals heard. The announcement was made by Morgan.
"10 times till showtime! 10 minutes!"
After the announcement was made, both women briefly looked at each other with Heather reaching up to wipe away a few tears that remained on Sarah's face. Hollywood's rising star assisted her new blonde friend in fixing herself up and then nodded at her. The two women then walked, arm in arm, back to the courtyard where the show was about to start. As they walked past Casey and Hugo, with Jeff and Lester still neutralized, Sarah made sure to say something to Hugo before heading back to the courtyard.
"Don't hurt them, they're the opening act."
Hugo looked to Casey who simply shrugged his shoulders. Westside Medical Center's Head of Security then walked off and followed the two women with Hugo standing there for a moment. A second later, White's top security guard dropped the two men down on the sidewalk that he had neutralized. A hard thud was heard as Jeff and Lester hit the ground. As for Hugo, he briefly looked down, then wiped his hands, before he walked off in order to do the job he was assigned to do. There were a few moments of silence in the sidewalk between the courtyard and the front entrance of the pediatrics hospital before it was broken.
"Thanks, Chief." Jeffster painfully uttered in unison.
XXX
NOTE: Since I consider myself an introvert and researched social anxiety disorder, I think I fall under the category under being a high function anxiety. However, I do my best to step out of my comfort zone working in a public relation type work setting where I have to do a considerable amount of public speaking. Anyways, it can be nerve wracking at times but it's also a rewarding job as well. As for the chapter itself, I hope you enjoyed the read. What did you think and what are your thoughts on the impact that Sarah had on Heather back in High School. Sarah's initial negative impact eventually turned into a positive on for both women. Plus, what about the Mark's crush on Heather? How will that turn out? Thanks to NEVR for doing the beta! Leave a review because they're considered an incentive to write more!
