Title – Goldeneye
Author – lostinfantasy9918
Spoilers – The entire series, "n'est ce pas?".
Summary – A more serious fic than the tv series were: in someway, by the end of the series I wanted Chuck adopting at its fullest, his role as spy, leaving his geekiness aside. This is how it goes.
Chuck Bartowski couldn't help but feel a flutter of nerves as he adjusted his tie for the third time that evening. He knew it was silly—he and Sarah had been on countless dates before but this time was different. This time, they were starting over.
The restaurant they had chosen for the date, was one of Los Angeles' hidden gems, nestled in a quiet corner of Silver Lake. It was a cozy, intimate place with soft, ambient lighting that made everything feel warm and inviting. The tables were set with white linens, flickering candles in the center casting a gentle glow. Those walls were lined with shelves full of old books and framed photographs of far-off places, giving the whole place an eclectic, bohemian charm.
A few small tables were scattered around, each surrounded by lush potted plants that created a sense of privacy even in the small space. The air was filled with the soft murmur of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the faint strains of a live jazz band playing in the corner. The view through the large windows offered a glimpse of the city lights beyond, shimmering against the inky blackness of the night sky. It was the kind of place that felt like a secret, shared only by those who knew how to appreciate its quiet elegance
He glanced across the candlelit table, watching Sarah as she scanned the menu, her eyes flicking back and forth as she considered her options. Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, and a small, thoughtful frown creased her brow as she debated between the risotto and the salmon. At his eyes, she was beautiful. It still amazed him that she had chosen him, not just once, but now, after everything they had been through, she was choosing him again.
The soft hum of conversation and clinking glasses filled the air, creating an elegant backdrop to the cozy, intimate table Chuck and Sarah had claimed for themselves. A single candle flickered between them, casting a warm glow over their faces as they exchanged smiles. That night was supposed to be special, a night to relax and enjoy each other's company away from the chaos of their usual lives.
After the "famous" kiss at the beach hadn't triggered her memories like they'd hoped, they'd found themselves in uncharted territory. The old Sarah Walker, the one who had fallen in love with him, was still somewhere inside her, buried beneath layers of pain and confusion but the Sarah sitting across from him tonight was a blank slate, a new beginning. And so, they were dating again, rediscovering each other despite the history they shared.
He could tell she was trying, really trying, to connect the dots between the stories he'd told her and the flashes of memories that sometimes came to her in dreams. It was like dating a ghost—a hauntingly familiar presence, but just out of reach. But Chuck was patient. He loved her, with or without the memories, and he would wait as long as it took.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" - Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow as she caught him watching her.
Chuck started, caught off guard. - "What? Oh, sorry! I was just, uh, admiring the view."
She smirked, closing her menu and leaning back in her chair. - "Is that right? And here I thought I was the one who was supposed to be nervous tonight."
Chuck laughed, but it was a little forced. - "Who, me? Nervous? Never. I mean, what's there to be nervous about, right? Just a casual, normal dinner date. No assassins, no evil organizations, no life-or-death situations. Just us." - He gestured around the restaurant. - "Totally normal."
Sarah's eyes softened, and she reached across the table to take his hand. - "Chuck, it's okay. You don't have to pretend everything's fine all the time. I know this isn't easy."
He looked down at their joined hands, his thumb gently brushing over her skin. - "Yeah, well, I guess I'm just trying not to screw this up." - he admitted quietly. - "I know it's a lot to ask, to start over, to try and build something new out of… out of what we had."
Sarah's grip tightened slightly. - "You're not screwing anything up. I'm the one who can't remember. I'm the one who's trying to piece everything together. But I want to. I want to remember us, even if it takes time."
Her words were like a balm to his wounded heart. He offered her a small smile, the knot of anxiety in his chest loosening just a little. - "You know, when I first met you, I thought you were way out of my league. I mean, you're a badass spy, and I'm just a guy who fixes computers and occasionally saves the world."
She laughed softly, shaking her head. - "You have a trick or two up your sleeve, Mr. Bartowski."
"Maybe. But you've always been the amazing one, Sarah. And I just want to be good enough, you know? I don't want you to feel like you have to force yourself to remember something that's gone."
Sarah looked at him with a kind of intensity that took his breath away. - "Chuck, I chose you once, and I'm choosing you again now. Whether I remember everything or not, I know one thing: you're the most important person in my life. And I'm not going anywhere."
He swallowed hard, clearing his throat, forcing himself to smile. - "Well, when you put it like that, I guess I'd better step up my game."
She laughed again, the sound light and genuine, and for a moment, it felt like old times. But then his phone vibrated in his pocket, shattering the moment.
Chuck laughed, the sound light and carefree. It had been too long since they'd had a moment like this, just the two of them, without the weight of the world bearing down on their shoulders. He wanted to savour every second, but there was something else on his mind, a surprise he'd been planning for weeks. He was about to mention it when his phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him back to reality.
He glanced at the screen, a slight frown crossing his face as he saw the message.
Sarah arched an eyebrow. - "Everything's okay?"
"Absolutely…" - Chuck assured her, though his mind was racing. - "I've got a surprise for you, remember? Can't have anything ruining that."
Her eyes lit up with curiosity. - "Oh? You've piqued my interest, Mr. Bartowski. What kind of surprise are we talking about?"
Chuck grinned, leaning forward conspiratorially. - "If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise, now would it?"
Sarah laughed, shaking her head. - "Fine, keep your secrets. But if it's anything less than amazing, I'm holding you accountable."
"Hey, I just remembered I forgot something in the car. I need to go and grab it." - he said, trying to sound casual. - "It'll only take a minute. Do you mind?"
Sarah's eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Sure, go ahead. I'll be right here."
Chuck leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek. - "I won't be long, I promise."
Sarah watched as he walked away, her instincts prickling with unease. She forced herself to stay seated, but every fiber of her being screamed at her to follow him, to make sure he was safe. He had been acting strange all night, a nervousness that wasn't just about their date. And then, a sudden message. She knew Chuck well enough to sense when something wasn't right.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising anxiety in her chest. "He'll be fine." - she told herself. – "It's just Chuck being Chuck, getting involved in something ridiculous like usual."
But the rational part of her mind didn't believe it. She couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was off. She had seen that look in his eyes before—the one that said he was hiding something from her, something was wrong. And that usually meant trouble.
Without realizing it, she had already pushed her chair back and was standing. She grabbed her purse, her heart pounding in her ears as she moved toward the exit. As much as she wanted to trust him, the spy in her couldn't just sit there and wait.
The cool night air hit her face as she stepped outside, the contrast stark against the warmth of the restaurant. She scanned the parking lot, her eyes searching for Chuck. He couldn't be far, as she walked purposefully towards the car they brought at the edge of the parking lot. She squinted, frowning as she didn't see Chuck near the car.
"Chuck?" she called out, her voice barely carrying over the distance. He didn't hear her, or if he did, he didn't respond. She was focused on the parking lot, looking for a familiar silhouette.
Panic surged through her. She moved faster, her heels clicking against the pavement, the sound sharp and urgent. The moment seemed to stretch, a sense of dread coiling in her stomach as she watched him reach for the door handle.
"Chuck?!"- she called again, louder this time, and she saw him on the far other side of the parking lot, his eyes widening in surprise. And then she saw it—just a glimpse—the small, flashing light on the inside of the car door. Her training kicked in, and her mind screamed a single word: Bomb.
"Chuck, get down!" she shouted, her voice raw with fear. She broke into a run, waving at him, but it was too late.
The explosion tore through the night, a deafening roar that seemed to shake the ground beneath her feet. The blast wave hit her like a freight train, knocking her back as heat and light seared her vision. She hit the pavement hard, pain exploding in her shoulder and ribs as she skidded to a stop.
For a moment, there was only ringing silence, the world spinning and disorienting around her. She struggled to push herself up, her ears ringing, her vision blurred. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the spots dancing in front of her eyes, trying to make sense of the chaos around her.
And then she saw it: the twisted wreckage of the car, flames licking at the shattered remains. Her heart stopped, cold terror washing over her as she stumbled to her feet.
"No." - she whispered, her voice barely audible over the crackle of the fire. "No, no, no."
She forced her legs to move, to carry her forward even as her body protested. She stumbled over debris, her eyes locked on the inferno where he had been standing just seconds ago.
"Chuck!" she screamed, her voice breaking with desperation. "Chuck!"
She was running, her body a blur of motion as she reached the burning car, but there was nothing, no sign of him, just fire and twisted metal and a chasm of emptiness that threatened to swallow her whole.
"Chuck!" - She called his name again and again, her throat raw, her hands reaching out as if she could somehow pull him from the flames, from the darkness that was closing in around her.
Her vision blurred with tears, the heat from the fire searing her skin, but she didn't care. She fell to her knees, sobbing, her body shaking as she pounded her fists against the ground. - "No, please, no."
The world around her felt distant, muffled, like she was trapped in a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. She could hear voices, people shouting, but they were just background noise to the roaring grief that filled her chest, choking her.
A hand touched her shoulder, and she jerked away, instinctively reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. Her eyes were wild, desperate, as she looked up and saw the worried face of a strange, a bystander who had come to see what had happened.
"Are you okay?" - the man asked, his voice kind but confused.
Sarah couldn't find the words to answer. She shook her head, her gaze shifting back to the wreckage. "He's gone," she whispered, the words hollow and broken. "He's… he's gone."
The man's face fell, his eyes filled with sympathy. He tried to say something, but she couldn't hear him over the sound of her own heart shattering.
For what felt like an eternity, she knelt there, staring at the flames, her mind refusing to accept what her eyes were telling her. This couldn't be real. Chuck couldn't be gone. They had just been talking, just been planning their future.
Her breath hitched, and she felt like she was drowning, the weight of her grief pulling her under. She had lost him. Again. Only this time, it was worse, because she couldn't remember all the moments they'd shared, all the reasons she had fallen in love with him. All she had were fragments, broken pieces of a life they had built together, and now he was gone, and there was nothing she could do.
She crumpled to the ground, her body shaking with sobs as the world around her blurred and faded away. The last thing she saw before darkness claimed her was the burning wreckage of the car, the flames dancing in the night like the final embers of a life that had been taken far too soon.
To be continued…