Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Sarah and Vivian finally have their face to face dinner with each other. Fortunately for her it turns out that Vivian wasn't actually a rival to begin with. The blonde would find out she just sees Chuck as her brother. Plus, the fact she's in a relationship with a woman she meet during a business trip. The dinner turned out awesome but when Sarah came into work the next day something happened when she noticed the atmospher within the building is sad. So what's in store for this chapter as it's basically a flashback of how it all began for Bash At The Bench? What happens after that leads Chuck to come to a decision after watching something that was created just for him 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.
Origin Story
XXX
"Joshua Rush. He was battling a very rare form of Retinoblastoma at 9 years old, back in the summer 2003." The image of Chuck from the chest up on his Live YouTube channel. "Technically, he was the first Rockstar Rebel before Bash At The Bench even started. Still going strong at 16 years old and although he's lost his sight, it hasn't stopped him from being a gamer. I should know because he's beaten me in Call of Duty with some considerable persistence on my part." he added, expressing a soft chuckle. He briefly shakes his head turning away from the screen then peers down. He takes a deep breath then lifts his head turning his attention back to the screen. "If you're a comic book nerd like me, you know every super hero has an origin story. This origin story starts off with how Bash At The Bench began and ended up with the first super hero, or should I say Rockstar Rebel, being featured for a live YouTube audience." he shared with a grin.
Chuck reaches up scratching his curly haired mop of a head with his left hand and starts reflecting back while holding his phone with his right. "It all started sometime after graduating the fall of 2003. I've been saving here and there doing odd jobs when it came to fixing computers. It would be the start up for my computer software/game business, which didn't have a name at the time." In that instance, he shakes his head and mentally gets back on track. "Anyways, Bash At The Bench was just starting out with a few kids every Friday that I spotlighted as a fighter of the week with the help of Morgan. I had permission from Chief Beckman to record by the benches located in the courtyard of Westside Medical Center. Once the show was done, the video would be given to the kids as a gift. Of course, we had to meet with the Chief Administrator and the hospital's attorney Emmitt Milbarge in order to sign an agreement beforehand that recording our show would only be done in the courtyard instead of inside the children's medical wing. Both parties mutually agreed on that, what goes inside the children's hospital is considered to be off limits. For the kids, it's their fortress of solitude and to break that agreement breaks not only the hospital's trust, but the trust of the parents as well."
The nerdy business owner peers over to his right then leans back against a seemingly teal blue colored background. He returns his attention to the screen and continues on. "Well, that following Friday, we were busy setting up in front of the blue bench in the courtyard. I then took Morgan aside because I had an idea." he stated raising both eyebrows.
"Morgan, I've got a plan." he whispered
"All right nerdy Hannibal..." whispered his bearded sidekick. A quick nod given off towards his nerdy best friend "...is it a plan that I'll love and will it come together?" Morgan inquired arching his right brow.
"I'm going to need some chardonnay but don't bring me the bottle. Put it in a travel mug." he requested briefly looking around. "I need my headphones too."
Instantly, Morgan's eyes widen. "You're going Piranha!?" he bellowed out
Chuck waves both hands in front of Morgan."Shhhh. Lower your voice." he whispered out loud, briefly looks around again.
A look of surprised concern is expressed on Morgan's face. "It's been a while since you've done that?" he whispered, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you sure?"
"With what I have planned. It's risky."
"How risky?"
"We might end up chewed out by Chief Beckman, end up in jail..." he answered back. "...or both."
"Even though I warned Morgan about the risk involved, he was in, every step of the way. After he got me my headphones and 'thinking juice'..." he further shared in air quotes. "...I got to work. Ummm, side note. The movie Swordfish..." he points to himself. "...was based on me because of my reputation as a hacker. Unfortunately, I didn't think it was an A+ film in my honest opinion. No offense to Hugh Jackman." he said, shrugging his shoulders with his arms crossed. Chuck then lifts and waves his left hand to get back to the origin story. "Getting back to it. There I was with Morgan, sitting next to me on the blue bench."
"Thinking juice." requested Chuck.
Morgan hands over the chardonnay discreetly placed in a green Chewbacca travel mug. After taking a quick sip, Chuck hands back to his bearded hetero life partner. The tall, lanky nerd's eyebrows are furrowed signifying absolute focus typing furiously away on the laptop with his headphones on. Every so often biting the top of his bottom lip. The focus he has on the laptop is broken when he suddenly stops.
"I think..." Chuck stop to correct himself. "...no. I know I got it." he grinned, turning to his left. A wide-eyed Morgan expressing a mixture of emotion on his face.
"Point of no return, dude." breathed out Morgan.
"I know." nodded the nerd. He stares at the laptop screen with the following word highlighted: ENTER
"I didn't press enter right away. I waited until we got everything ready for our first kid to be highlighted on our show, which still didn't have a title. Morgan and I threw around some names, but nothing stuck. So, we ended going back to the one thing we both knew...Star Wars. Since I considered myself the Han Solo type it was only fitting that Morg be Chewbacca. Yet, we still had to choose a moniker because we didn't want George Lucas mad at or sue us for that matter for copyright infringement. We ended picking Nerdy Nerfherder and Fuzzball because of a particular scene in Empire Strikes Back where Han rescued Luke from nearly dying on the snowy planet of Hoth. The scene where Leia calls Han a stuck up, half-witted, scruffy looking nerfherder. Chewy laughs and Han before that, leading him to just looks at his wookie pal saying "laugh it up fuzzball". Chuck fully explained. He briefly reaches up with his left hand to rub the back of his neck then leans forward. "The kid's name that we would be spotlighting was 11 year old Charlie Avery. He was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphlobastic leukemia. It's the most common form of pediatric leukemia in the United States. So, after hitting enter on the laptop it was full speed ahead."
"What's up guys! Welcome to the debut of..." he briefly peers down at the bench he's sitting on. "... Bash At The Bench. I'm the Nerdy Nerfherder, Chuck Bartowski and working the camera is my buddy Morgan Grimes, aka Fuzzball." Morgan momentarily steps into view happily waving then returns back to his position behind the camera. "I would like to introduce you to a special friend of mine..." Chuck corrects himself. "...ours actually. This is Charlie Avery." the nerd introduced with a soft smile. A brief glance at the camera then returning to interview the 11 year old. "I see we got similar names. Awesome isn't it?"
Charlies grins. "It's cool."
"Do your parents call you Chuck or you just go by Charlie?" he wondered. His brief attention directed at Charlie's parents standing behind him with Alex several feet away.
"Just Charlie. I hate the name Chuck. No Offense."
"None taken." chuckled the Stanford grad. "How are you feeling?"
"Good. Tired though. It's hard to breathe sometimes with what I got."
"A couple of the basic symptoms of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, right?"
Charlie nods. "I have my good days and my bad days."
Chuck expresses a reassuring smile. He then reaches over to give a gently pat of Charlie's left shoulder. As the interview continues, he suddenly notices from where's he's sitting on the blue bench that a number of employees are either looking out their open windows or stepped out on the office balcony/terrace wondering what's going on.
"What was going on..." stated Chuck raising both eyebrows. " was that I just hacked into all of Westside Medical Center's television feed in order to broadcast our very first Live YouTube show. I continued interviewing Charlie, even though he or his parents, and Alex for that matter, didn't realize we were live streaming the entire interview. Scratch that. They didn't, but someone surely did. That someone..." he paused then continues on. "...Chief Beckman. I suddenly became aware of her impending arrival when I suddenly noticed Emmitt emerge out in the distance pointing in my direction from the 1st floor entryway, with the hospital's head of security John Casey following right behind her. They definitely weren't happy campers either judging from the angry, disappointed expression on Chief Beckman's face. Luckily, she didn't pull the plug on the show immediately. To our surprise, she let us finish. Needless to say, the Live YouTube test run was a colossal success and failure." he recalled, taking a moment to slowly breathe out. Chuck shakes his head as his looks into the camera. "We both knew, we were dead men walking once she pointed at them motioned us over with her right finger."
XXX
"Morgan and I found ourselves sitting in front of Chief Beckman as if we're at the principal's office. In a way, we were." stated Chuck, shaking his head. "While we were sitting there in silence slightly glancing at each other, Emmitt was standing to her right pacing back and forth giving the "I told you so" talk to the Chief. As for Casey, he simply stood behind her just glaring or quite possibly through us. You had to be there." he thoroughly recalled.
"I knew this would happen, Chief." he declared, wagging his right finger at both men. "He was going to slip up and today's the day. I hate to say it but..." Emmitt stopped and snidely squinted. "..I told you so!" he added, expressing a weaselly smile towards Morgan and Chuck. "I think they should be sent to jail, Chief. Bring charges on them. Also..."
"Emmitt..."
"I always had a bad feeling about him."
"Emmitt..."
"The way he doesn't respect authority. Thumbs his nose at it."
"Emmitt..."
"Emmitt wouldn't stop talking." he continued sharing, shaking his head. The next thing I know, Casey steps forward and does a combo bark/grunt nearly scaring Emmitt out of his socks. Not gonna lie, it startled Morgan and I as well." he shared, shaking his head recalling that particular moment in time. "After shutting up, he's directed to stand back by the hospital's hulking head of security, which he does. If there was any consolation for getting in big trouble it would be seeing Emmitt cower at the whim of Casey's death stare." Chuck faintly chuckled. "Unfortunately, it was no laughing for myself or Morgan as the Chief turned her brief attention from Casey to us. She was about to give us a tongue lashing when my sister Ellie burst in to her office with her husband Devon or as I call him, Captain Awesome, following in right behind her.
"Calm down Ellie! This isn't awesome!"
Ellie ignores her husband as she focuses her attention on her boss. "Chief..." calls out the oldest Bartowski sibling. "...I take full responsibility for my brother." she adds, muscling her way in between the two chairs nearly toppling over to the side. The same chairs where Chuck and Morgan are sitting in. "He should have known better but..." The experienced Neurologist turns back to her left to expressing disappointment towards her youngest sibling. "...he got in way over his head."
"El..."
"Not now Chuck." The stern tone in Ellie's voice is pronounced as she returns her focus back to her boss.
In that instance, Emmitt interjects. "Stop covering for Chuck Doctor Woodcomb. He's a grown man. Time to cut the umbilical chord..." he firmly stated in a snarky tone of voice, doing imaginary scissors with his right hand. "... or whatever's attached the two of you so tightly together that you're willing to risk your career for him." the weasel of attorney added. A slight snarl with arrogant nod shot towards his female colleague.
"Whoa. I don't think it's going that far." responded Devon.
Emmitt steps back then flicks the bottom of his suit coat back in order place both hands on the side of his hips. He ducks his head while slightly crouching down and gives a sort of sideways glances to the doctor whose specialty is the brain. "Do you know what I also think Ellie…"
"Doctor Woodcomb, to you."
"You've been making excuses for him and trying to cover for him. No more. It stops here!" Emmitt slams his fist on the corner of Chief Beckman's table. "What would your parents think? Oh right, you don't know where they are?"
Chuck immediately stands up in anger. "That's taking it too far." he angrily spits out.
"Uncalled for Emmitt." responded Devon.
"Dirty pool!" Morgan bellowed shooting up into a standing position.
"From where I was standing, I could see part of Ellie's face and she was seriously pissed off. It was a look that read that she really wanted to rip his face off after the comment made about our parents. She wasn't the only one who had that urge to." Chuck pauses briefly shaking his head. He then continues on. "I noticed Casey glaring at Emmitt during his rant against Ellie and it seemed he wanted to rip him limb from limb. One of the reasons Emmitt and I never really get along to this day." he further shared raising both eyebrows. "It was then that Chief Beckman made her presence known and silenced the whole room. Emmitt tried to get the last word in, but that failed miserably as she just stared him down. What happened next, would be a serious bran stamp as my brother-in-law Devon would say. It's something I will never forget as long as I live and it involved a phone called Chief Beckman received after finally settling a truly volatile situation in her office."
"What!?" she bellowed out, speaking into her phone. A sense of tired, annoyance in the tone of her voice. "Oh, sorry sir." Beckman covers her phone and whispers out loud to everybody in the room. "Board of Directors." This causes all 6 individuals in her office to remain dead silent, while she's back on the phone with a member of the Board of Directors. "Yes, I'm dealing with the situation involving Mr. Bartowski. How did you even know?"
"It seemed that Emmitt took it upon himself to go over Chief Beckman's head to inform them of what happened. She didn't take too kindly to his actions and showed it by turning to him and shooting a death glare in his direction." recalled Chuck with considerable amusement. "Each one of us were honed in on the Chief's phone call trying to figure out what was being said. Bad or good, through her facial expressions. No luck." he shared shaking his head. "After what seemed like forever, she got off the phone."
"I'll deal with you later Milbarge." a miffed Chief Administrator warned, pointing at Emmitt. Her attention then directed to the man of the hour. "Mr. Bartowski." she stated standing up.
"Yes ma'am."
"While I was standing there, ready for whatever punishment befitting my risky plan I knew that if I got Ellie into my mess, that won't be fixable. Fortunately, it didn't exactly go down that way..." Chuck said expressing a crooked grin. "...much to my and everyone's surprise. Emmitt, most of all."
XXX
"What is the board's verdict? Jail time? Charges?" inquired Emmitt cracking a growing smile.
"Neither."
"What!?" all 6 individuals expressed simultaneously.
"Are they insane!?" Emmitt declared staring at Beckman. "What are they going to do then?"
"Nothing."
"Am I living in the twilight zone!?" he announced, throwing his hands in the air.
"Check outside Chief's window Emmitt. If there's a monkey out there, you are." jokingly remarked Morgan. A faint grin and chuckle at his expense.
Chief Beckman quickly shoots a look towards Morgan causing his expression to fall immediately flat. "The Board believes it's great p.r..." she firmly stated in air quotes. "...for the hospital and helps us stand out among the rest in the area."
"Yeah, I barely dodged a bullet, but not Emmitt." he further recalled. "After being kicked out of her office, we all heard her shouting in her office and the words that no child, or adult for matter, should ever hear. That was 7 years ago and here we are today. As you can plainly see, where I'm at right now isn't the courtyard of Westside Medical Center and Bash At The Beach isn't happening today. I am outside, though." It's at that point, Chuck stands up and begins walking down what seems to be a ramp. A ramp that end up being part of a lifeguard tower. "If you haven't figured it out, I'm at the beach." he shared, doing a 180 degree turn. "More importantly, my beach, where I go to sit, think, and make sense of everything. Only a select few know of it and I have shared my space with only 3 people. You know who you are?" A slight smile given as he briefly looks into the camera on his phone.
As Chuck takes a moment to look out into the vast Santa Monica ocean, the Live YouTube viewing audience who are watching the livestream are commenting and not to mention wondering what's going on. The hospital staff that comprise of Ellie, Devon, Alex, and Sarah huddled around the nurses' station. Big Mike, Jeff, Lester, and practically the entire nursing stuff are glued to either their phones or computer screens for that matter. Also included are Kathleen and Morgan who are sitting together watching at Kessel Run Technologies while Emma and Molly are sitting in their living room watching on the couch in the comfort of their own home. Meanwhile, Vivian and Hartley are seated and viewing it from his office at his law firm.
"Early this morning I received a call from Camden Willard's mom. She told me that Cam passed away. Congestive heart failure is what had happened. What I found out was that patients who are able to survive Wilms Tumor at any stage are at an elevated risk for death years after their original diagnosis. It doesn't seem fair does it? I announced his remission 2 weeks ago after a 3 year battle." Chuck takes a moment before continuing on. A faint tinge of anger in his voice. He's visibly emotional and doing everything in his power not to breakdown right now. He takes a deep breath and composes himself before starting back up again. "His mom told me that he had the most fun whenever I made a visit to the children's wing of..." In instance Chuck is struggling to speak but forges on. He briefly lowers the phone in order to get himself together. Afterwards, he left it back up and continues speaking. "...a visit to the children's wing of Westside Medical. Over the course of 7 years, I chose a special kid every Friday since 2003 who I deemed a Rockstar Rebel. You know what, all those kids in there are Rockstar Rebels in my book." he passionately declared. "I stopped counting on how many Rockstar Rebels that Morgan and I picked. I know there's a lot that's for damn sure."
Once again, Chuck takes a moment for himself as he turns away from his camera phone. He is about to lower it when he lifts it back up. He visibly takes one large deep breath and forges on. "I used to think that I didn't really make a difference with these kids. I was just a person jumping from one moment to the next. Meet new friends along the way. Having memorable images to look back on that aren't necessarily my own." He shakes his head in order to not let the tears come out. "Being glad to play some part in it. Lives changed, mainly theirs for the better. They find happiness or some type of resolution while I move on staying on my own unforeseen path. No real happy ending in sight. My best friend Morgan hanging with me every step of the way."
A soft chuckle expressed afterwards. "Yeah, my sister is right. It does sound like the premise to the awesome series from back in the day, Quantum Leap." After a small pause, Chuck peers down then gradually keeps going. The wind whipping through his curly hair. "It was Emma Walker who changed my way of thinking. An awesome lady, who by the way, recommended that I stop slouching and I'm happy to report, I'm not." he added, struggling to express a smile. "Anyways, she basically said I have this gift of bringing people together in such a positive way even if I don't even realize it. That a part of me is in each one of the kids I interact with. Thinking about it, I consider myself their big brother and will always be there for them, no matter what." he added sniffing then clearing his throat once again. "The most recent Rockstar Rebel Cherice Baxter is thankful that I was able to bring together and make new friends with Molly Walker. She's the Chief Operating Officer Sarah Walker's little sister. A brat and I can say that because I got a pass." he stated with an amused chuckle. He gives a brief wave into the camera. "Hey guys. Oh, Devon you're still taking Molly to the junior high prom and I'm not letting you back out." he firmly stated, pointing into the camera. "Hey, she asked you so, be the awesome guy I know you are and do it." He stops then keeps going on. "Also, I did receive your calls, voicemails texts, emails..." he said placing his hand against his chest. "...to check on me. Just know, I'm not ignoring you. It's how I deal because it's happened before."
At this point, everybody who is watching is either visibly emotional, in tears, or just crying their eyes out watching Chuck pour his heart out. Speaking of the nerd in question, he takes one big breath as he looks out into the California Pacific that is Santa Monica beach. "In honor of my little buddy Camden Willard memory, I'll Be Missing You. A song cover done by P Diddy that was originally performed by Sting that's titled Every Breath You Take. However, the version I will be attempting to do is BYU's acapella group Vocal Point. So, here goes and bear with me." After taking a moment to give a few practice hums he begins. As he does, he closes his eyes.
Every step I take, every move I make
I'll be missing you
Life ain't always what it seems to be
Words can't express what you mean to me
Even though you're gone, we still a team
Through your family, I'll fulfill your dream
In the future, can't wait to see
If you open up these gates for me
Give anything to hear half your breath
I know you're living your life after death
Every step I take, every move I make
I'll be missing you
Ohhhhhhhhhhh
At this point, the tears start to flow and slide down his cheeks while continuing to have his eyes closed. His voice is breaking and cracking, but that doesn't stop him from singing and keeps going knowing full well that if he stops, he's going to end up full on crying. So, he musters all the strength he can find within himself and sings to the best of his ability even though he may not sound good at all. Fortunately for him, he doesn't care and gives it his all knowing it's for a special kid who made not only him smile, but everyone who was privileged enough to get to know him. His parents included.
Kinda hard when you're not around
Know you're in heaven smiling down
Watching us while we pray for you
Every day we pray for you
'Til the day we meet again
In my heart is where I'll keep you, friend
Memories give me the strength I need
Strength I need, strength I need to believe
On that morning
When this life is over
I know I'll see your face
Every step I take, every move I make
Every time I pray, I'll be missing you, I'll be missing you
Every step I take, every move I make
Every time I pray, I'll be missing you
When the song ends, the floodgates open and as Chuck lowers his phone the sound of sobbing then full on crying can clearly be heard as his YouTube livestream cuts off. By this point, Molly is full on crying being comforted on the couch by Emma. Devon is hugging his wife while making sure Sarah is ok as she is full on crying standing next to the married couple. The nursing staff is comforting each other unbeknownst to the people in the hospital who have no idea what's going on. Kathleen is comforting Morgan at Kessel Run Technologies whereas Hartley is embracing his daughter Vivian who is ugly crying in his arms. Alex, in the arms of her father, Casey, who is just bawling, so much so that it effects the head of security to where a bit of his lady feelings escape from his eyes.
XXX
After fixing herself the best she can, Sarah called her mother Emma to check on not only her but her little sister Molly as well. She's at the tail end of the conversation while sitting behind her desk in her office. "Tell brat I love her."
"She heard you. Give my love to Chuck if you get a chance to talk to him. That was such heartbreaking news to find out about Camden."
"It was..." answered Sarah. "...and I will. Love you, Mom."
"Love you too, sweetheart."
After hanging up. her thoughts immediately go to Chuck and what he's emotionally going through right now. She's trying to busy herself and refocus on business at hand in the form of files/paperwork that Scooter left for her on top of her desk, but she just pushes them off to the side. It's at that point, a knock is heard on her office door.
"Yeah?"
The door opens leading Casey to step through. "How are you doing, Walker?" inquired The Colonel.
"I finally stopped crying. How about Alex. How's she doing?"
"About the same. Damn near the whole hospital got into their lady feelings, thanks to Bartowski."
Sarah shakes her head and express a faint chuckle. "I swear I saw you express your lady feelings out there."
Casey expresses a faint grunt in response. Afterwards, the hulking head of security speaks up once again. "Have you tried calling him?"
"It's not going to help any. He needs his space and I'm abiding by his wishes. You heard him."
"Bullshit." growled Casey.
"Excuse me?" responded Sarah, quirking her right brow.
"You heard me. You finally figure out you love the nerd and..."
Instantly Sarah stops Casey after hearing what he just uttered. "Whoa. Whoa. Hold on. What did you just say?"
"Don't make me say it again, Walker." he softly grunted.
In that instance, she rolls her eyes. "Right, you know everything that goes on inside and even outside this hospital." she stated shaking her head.
"All I'm saying is your chocolate is gonna have to mix with Bartowski's peanut butter sooner or later." added the hulking head of security.
"Don't tell me you're on team Charah?"
"Team what?"
"Apparently, it's what Chuck and I are being dubbed now." she retorted back, expressing an amused chuckle. "It's in all of Alex's texts she sends."
"Is that what it was? I delete those. Thought it was some copy and paste thing." he grunted, crossing his arms.
There is a brief moment of silence shared between the two partners leading Sarah to suddenly push herself out of her desk chair. Afterwards, she sidesteps to her left then makes her way forward to her office door. "Come on." she added, grabbing her phone from her desk.
"Where we going?"
"Children's wing. Check on the kids and see how they are doing." she answered, motioning with her head for Casey to follow.
"Why do I have to go?" slightly moaned Casey.
"Come on..." insisted the blonde Chief Operating Officer. "...you big baby." she added, holding the door open and waiting for him to follow. After a brief moment of staring at each other, Casey begrudgingly adheres to his boss for the time being. The two would be partners would find themselves roaming the children's wing of the hospital noticing that the normally jubilant atmosphere is unfortunately replaced with considerable sadness due to a death. A death of one of their own who talked, ate, experience countless emotions, and not to mention lived with them for periods of time as well. As she gives comforting waves and faint, reassuring smiles to a number of kids she makes eye contact with, some of which are sitting with nurses. One of those aforementioned nurses is the head nurse Alex Forrest who she hasn't spoken to in quite some time since the refinery explosion, which was most definitely chaotic.
"I'm surprised to see you here?"
"Just visiting my nephew." Forrest stated. "Casey." the head nurse nodded.
"Forrest." nodded The Colonel back.
"I didn't know that. Where is he?"
"Over there with Casey's daughter. That's my sister and her husband. Yeah, they found out Kyle was diagnosed with Childhood Hodgkin Lymphoma Disease about 6 years ago.
"I'm sorry. How old is he?"
"He's 9 and such a strong kid." faintly grinned Alex. For Sarah it's the first time she's actually seen the head nurse smile in the short time she's interacted with her. In her mind, her seemingly gruff exterior is just a way to hide her vulnerability in the form of her nephew. As much as she would like to have a heart to heart with her, she decides against it leading the head nurse to continue on. "He was actually one of Bartowski's Rockstar Rebels 5 years ago."
"That's awesome."
Forrest stands there watching from a distance Alex talking with her nephew Kyle while at the same time exchanging verbiage with his parents. "I may seem as if I don't care...I do. It's just that this is a hospital after all. I come here to do my job. That's it. I do my best to keep an emotional distance. It works best that way. It comes off as cold and heartless to others. Casey knows what I'm talking about."
"Roger that."
"Chuck is a good kid. Heart in the right place. I've talked with Kyle and he has nothing but nice things to say about Chuck. If you see him, let him know that."
Afterwards, Forrest walks away without waiting to get a response back from Sarah. While standing there looking at Forrest joining her 9 year old nephew Kyle, his parents, and Alex, she begins turning her attention to all the other kids that are present. It's then an idea pops in her head regarding what Forrest said to her. It leads her to use her phone and momentarily searches then finds the number she needs, which Casey is quite curious about. After waiting for a few seconds, the other end picks up.
"Hey Morgan, I need help with a project." she said, with a slight smile expressed. Sarah then turns her attention to Casey. "Yours too." added the blonde, with a nod towards him.
2 Days Later...
Chuck is sitting in the chair in the living room of Casa Bartowski on a Sunday afternoon quietly trying to figure out and solve another Sudoku page. He's considerably focused evident by the way he's biting the top button of his pen and chews on it. For him, it's a way to distract him from the events of Friday that seriously hit him in a very emotional way. The only person he has actually interacted with and actually spoken to is Morgan since they are roommates after all. His concentration would suddenly be broken by a laptop placed on his lap.
"Morg?" question the nerd. His right brow arched towards his bearded roommate. "What's going on?"
"I thought you might need some cheering up?" he said, taking a seat on the edge of the coffee table.
A faint grin is expressed after hearing that. "Not really in the mood for watching guys getting hit in the groin, buddy." he retorted, shaking his head.
"It's not that." In that instance, he stands up and before he walks off, he points to the laptop. "There's a special message for you on our channel." he nodded with a slight smirk towards his nerdy best friend.
After disappearing out of sight, his attention is redirected to the laptop in question and notices a new video entry added to the Nerdy Nerfherder and Fuzzball channel. It's entitled: "Chuck Bartowski: Our Rockstar Rebel"
A look of confused curiosity is expressed on Chuck's face as he sets aside the Sudoku paperback book and pen. He then leans forward placing the laptop where Morgan was just previously sitting. He then scoots himself forward sitting on the edge of the living room chair and before pressing enter, he turns to see if Morgan is still there and then hits play on the video. For Chuck, it starts off with a black screen then the following 4 words in white show up: "You Are A Rockstar". After a few seconds, it slowly starts to fade into black then the following words in white appear again: "7 years". It fades again with the following words appearing again: "303 Rockstar Rebels". It does the same thing again: "1 Man Made It All Happen". His picture appears on screen. It's at that point, he hears a very familiar song that Chuck knows very well. "Rockstar" by Nickelback begins to play with an assortment of images/pictures of kids from the hospital with so much more being shown.
I'm through with standin' in lines to clubs I'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth and I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be
(Tell me what you want)
I want a brand new house on an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub
Big enough for ten plus me
(Yeah, so what you need?)
I need a a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet
(Been there, done that)
He can't help but smile as he sees familiar faces from Rockstar Rebels of the past starting with 16 year old Joshua Rush smiling while happily holding a X-Box game controller in one hand and the Call of Duty game box in the other. It' then goes to a little girl with the following name shown: Allison "Iron Girl" Stark. A nicknamed bestowed to her by Chuck since her last name is Stark, after all. The next scene is of a number of nurses from the children's medical wing of Westside Medical Center dancing and lip syncing to the song with seemingly all the kids. Among those nurses is Alex who is shown dancing next to her father Casey who is just standing there not really participating, which causes Chuck to burst out laughing while sitting there continuing watch the video made just for him.
I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher
And James Dean is fine for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair
And well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Chuck then sees Ellie and Devon lip syncing and dancing along with to the song as well. They are rocking out with a number of kids around them that are part of Rockstar Rebel past evident by the names that are shown when cut to each individual child. 7 year old Caleb Wardlow. 12 year old Anthony "Bilbo Baggins" Bilboni. 10 year old Cassie Tremaine. 13 year old Anton Savoy. 11 Year old Chloe "Little Hoss" Cartwright. For Chuck, seeing those familiar faces of kids from Bash At The Bench past again is like suddenly finding himself in a 'This Is Your Life' scenario that could potentially happen in his own home, he thinks to himself. He sets that particular thought in the back of his mind as he continues watching with a wide smile plastered all over his face.
I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up assholes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free
(I'll have the quesadilla, ha, ha)
I'm gonna dress my ass with the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves
To blow my money for me
(So how you gonna do it?)
I'm gonna trade this life
For fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair
And change my name
'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial
Well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
What Chuck doesn't expect after seeing more Rockstar Rebels of the past is Lou and her husband dancing/lip syncing to the song then cutting to Mr. Colt. He does the same as well, with his staff dancing in the background of his restaurant C3, along with his business partner Brad White. Interwoven with that, are images/pictures of kids from the hospital with signs that say "WE LOVE YOU!" or ''YOU ROCK, CHUCK!' He then suddenly sees his friend Manoosh dancing with a mouth full of Nacho Sampler while another friend of his Lazlo is standing next to him. He's shaking his head then walks off screen apparently not wanting to be part of it, which is considerably amusing for the nerd watching.
Afterwards, it shows Kathleen dancing and lip syncing behind the front desk counter of Kessel Run technologies. As the camera pans back, Morgan appears on top of the counter dancing in a Breakfast Club sort of way in a serious but at the same time goofy way. It doesn't stop there as he unexpectedly sees two people he thought would never actually participate...Chief Beckman and Roan. It just shows two of them dancing arm in arm while briefly lip syncing the song as well. Though surprising as it is, it's comforting to know that's she's been kept in the know by way of her head of security one John Casey.
I'm gonna sing those songs that offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills from a Pez dispenser
Get washed-up singers writin' all my songs
Lipsync 'em every night so I don't get 'em wrong
Well, we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses, drivin' fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
As the video gets closer to the end, Chuck's smile would grow even wider when he sees Hartley and Vivian dancing in front of the sign of their law firm. He's tickled when they both start doing the twist dance in the scene at Jack Rabbit Slims from the movie Pulp Fiction that Uma Thurman and John Travolta made famous. It then cuts to Sarah, Emma, Molly and Cherice dancing away in the living room of the condo that he has previously stood in. The sounds of girly screams of joy coming from the two new found friends, Emma and Cherice, with Emma taking a moment to carefully monitor the most recently crowned Rockstar Rebel. Sarah waving into the camera leading Chuck to express a soft smile once he sees her.
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny with her bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial
Well, hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Hey, hey, I wanna be a rockstar
Once the song ends it all goes black. Yet, it's not over as more people appear catching Chuck completely off guard. There's no song playing, no dancing, or lip syncing for that matter. All it is are the parent(s) of each Rockstar Rebel saying the following two words: "Thank You". It starts off with Joshua Rush's parents, then Caleb Wardlow's mom, it goes on from there to where the Baxters are shown. It's only two words and yet, deeply heartwarming for the nerdy business owner who tears up to the point where tears start sliding down his cheeks. It ends with the most powerful thank you off all coming from Camden Willard's parents with a little extra message for Chuck.
"You brought a smile to our son's life and we'll never forget that. Don't you forget that."
The message from Cam's parents hit Chuck hard causing him to smile and cry at the same time. It took him a while to compose himself, but once he did, he would hear a familiar voice as he's wiping his face. "I'm not cleaning the chair of all your snot."
Chuck laughs then clears his throat in order to gather himself. He stands up and walks over to his best friend. The tall, lanky nerd opens his arms and envelops Morgan with a hug. His bearded roommate hugs him back. "Thanks man. I needed that."
"You're welcome." he added, patting him on the back. The two men separate and step back leading Morgan to chime in once again. "Not my idea though."
"Who then?"
"Sarah's. She..." nodded Morgan. "... made it all happen. Just for you." he added, pointing to his hetero life partner.
It's those 3 words that resonate with Chuck. The next day, the Stanford graduate would find himself walking into Westside Medical Center. While he takes a moment, greeting and stopping to talk to a few of the staff, as well as nurses who are happy to see him, Sarah is busy having a department head meeting in the 2nd floor conference room area. She's in the middle of talking when a knock is heard on the door. All eyes including Sarah's are directed to the door as it opens with Chuck poking his head inside.
"Oh, sorry to interrupt." he said, ducking his head a bit embarrassed. His attention turning from those seated at the tables to Sarah standing behind the podium. "Hey, are you free Friday night?"
"Yes." nodded Sarah.
Chuck smiles in response. "Awesome. Then, it's a date." he nodded back, briefly patting the door frame. Afterwards, he disappears out of sight leaving Sarah standing there in front of the department heads who are just smiling from ear to ear due to what just happened. As Sarah returns her attention back to her colleagues and continues the meeting, she can't but express a highly visible glowing smile that's plastered all over her face. A glowing smile that Devon, Big Mike, Forrest, a very disappointed Emmitt, Casey, Scooter, Devon, and most of all Ellie clearly see. Speaking of Ellie, she faintly breathes out five words with a smile on her face after witnessing what just happened. "It's about time little brother."
XXX
NOTE: I hope you had tissues handy while reading this latest chapter. Also, I'm sure it's an ending you truly enjoyed! The next chapter will be of Chuck and Sarah's date. No delaying it any further. So where is Chuck taking Sarah for their first official date? Let's just say it involves Harry Potter. Anyways, leave a comment and share your thoughts! Once again, I tip my hat to NEVR for the beta!