Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Chuck meets up with Conway, the private investigator he hired thanks to Hartley's recommendation. He has a particular set a skills that are proven to far exceed Chuck's expectations that it considered scary, crazy to the nerd. In the beginning of their conversation, Chuck would learn that Conway has a son going through cancer treatments at Westside Medical Center and he would like nothing more than to have be the next Rockstar Rebel. Chuck agrees and Conway just want to be anonymous because of the court deal made between him and his ex wife. Once that situation is taken care of, the real business at happen would happen as Conway shares the information he has on Jack. Information, interesting, and not to mention stunning information that would inevitably lead him to come face to face with Jack Burton in his top floor lavish suite at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel. So, what movie and movie character does Chuck compare Jack to? When did Jack find out concerning the diagnosis he's dealing with? How and in what way are Greek Gods involved? Chuck reveals that Sarah's real birthplace is where? Finally, why is Jack really in Los Angeles? Read and find out! Anyways, hope you enjoy the read and leave a comment to share your own thoughts on this particular chapters. As always, reviews are awesome.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.
I don't own Chuck.
A God Amongst Men
XXX
"What makes you think I have cancer, Schnook?" Jack faintly mused.
In that instance, Chuck backs up a few steps and stops just before hitting the one of the stools in front of the bar. He glances back eyeing the Crown Royal Bottle and the bucket of ice. He slightly turns and then leans back sticking his left hand in between both items sitting on the top counter of the bar. He pushes aside said items fully revealing in plain sight the prescription pill bottles right that were concealed behind them. Afterwards, the observant nerd turns his attention back to Sarah's father.
"Keytruda and Axitinib." Chuck stated. "My sister and brother-in-law are both doctors. Plus, I've practically grown up at Westside Medical Center. So, after doing a quick Google search, I know those 2 medications are specifically taken to try to reduce the risk of cancer in patients with advanced kidney disease."
"How do you know those are mine?" questioned the silver haired fox, with a bit of salt and pepper mixed in. "They could have been sitting on that counter when I got the room. This is a lavish hotel after all. They are known for their excellent customer service."
"I saw you take them?"
"Did you now? When?" Jack questioned again, quirking his right brow towards Chuck.
"The men's room bathroom at C3. The night Sarah and I had dinner with you. I was in one of the stalls when you came in. I heard you talking to yourself and then next thing I know…" he revealed, briefly glancing behind him at the two prescription pill bottles sitting on the counter. "…one of those bottles rolled into my stall. I then hear you puking your guts out." he added, eyeing
"You were spying on me."
"Not intentionally." Chuck answered back, holding up his left hand. "You see, when I finished with Colt's minor problem with the cypher I helped create in his kitchen, I headed back to the table. That's when I had to take a quick detour to the bathroom. A few moments later, you showed up and now I'm standing here confronting you."
Jack stands there momentarily silent but then continues on. "You said you heard me, but did you actually see me take them?"
This time it's Chuck who is briefly silent before he answers. "No. Still...are you dying? I'm just assuming you are."
"As the saying goes..." retorted Jack, with a crooked grin. He takes the moment to sip his glass of Crown Royal XR Whiskey. "...you know what happens when you assume. You make an ass out of you and me." Afterwards, he notices that Chuck isn't amused whatsoever, evident by the sheer and utter seriousness in Chuck's face. After taking another satisfying sip from his glass full of golden elixir, he breathes in deeply from his nose and does a quick exhale. "I'm not dying...yet. I should be dead from the lifestyle I've been living over the years." he added, shaking his head and lifting his glass of liquor in his right hand. The sound of ice clinking inside the glass itself submerged in alcoholic beverage after taking a moment to briefly rock it from side to side. "Alcohol. My main vice and one of the main reasons it ruined my marriage."
It's that revelation Chuck hears gives him a somewhat better insight as to the man behind the persona of Jack Burton he built himself up to be over the years. A man who got so caught up in the limelight and success of his profession it figuratively, as well as literally, consumed him to the point where it tore him apart physically from the inside out. In a way, he's the iconic movie character Gordon Gekko from the movie Wall Street played brilliantly by Michael Douglass.
True, it's a totally different setting altogether with it being in the realm of the political world. A world where a shared mentality of greed is actually good. A mindset in which it is a clean drive that captures that essence of the evolutionary spirt. Unfortunately, by being able to capture the aforementioned essence of evolutionary spirit he found himself caught up in a truly unhealthy lifestyle that would lead him down a potentially dark path of his own destruction.
"It's still not considered an excuse. To blame what you've done as a result of your drinking." he responded back, with a mixture of anger and empathy in his voice. "You have to own up to what you put your family through. What you put Emma and most all of…" he pauses for a moment and stares intently at Jack. "… Sarah through."
"You're right." Jack takes another soothing sip from his glass of Crown Royal XR Whiskey. After wincing a bit from the experiencing a bit of the burning sensation down his throat post swallow, he continues on. "I have to be truthful with myself." he added, peering down at the liquid contents inside of the glass.
"It's the only way you can face it. Head on." Chuck firmly retorted with encouragement.
"I have renal cell carcinoma." he said, lifting his head and staring at Chuck.
XXX
For the nerdy business owner, the way Jack freely and openly admitting that leads him to believe that he's accepting the grim reality of one day succumbing to the cancer. A cancer that is considered to be karma for all the dastardly devious, and not to mention tyrannically twisted, lies that people paid him for to write or say in order to get elected into a position of absolute authority, he thinks to himself. His thoughts concerning the matter are subsequently broken when he suddenly sees Jack moving to his left.
Speaking of the political spin doctor, he finds himself stepping out into the terrace/balcony area of his lavish top floor suite of The Westin Bonaventure Hotel. He stands there for a moment and briefly closes his eyes feeling the cool breeze against his face, which is an experience he often took for granted. Afterwards, he takes a few steps forward and leans against the railing with his forearms resting on the top rail all-the-while making sure to have a firm hold of his glass of golden alcoholic elixir.
Jack stands there scanning as far as the eye can see from the top floor at the illuminated nightlife of Los Angeles. The City of Angels. A place where people self-indulge on a seemingly daily and nightly basis the decadence of the pleasures she has to offer, whether they are good for you or not. A city where it can most definitely eat you alive and then spit you out, so to speak, because of how immensely superficial it can lead any individual to gradually become.
"Saying it out loud, makes it sound real now."
"When did you find out?"
Jack doesn't even turn around. He responds to Chuck's question as he continues to lean forward and look out into the wondrously scenic nightlife landscape overlooking Los Angeles. "It started 6 years ago. I was having problems going #1 and when I did go there'd be blood in my urine. That concerned me. I was also tired, loss of appetite at times, and that would lead to me losing some weight." he explained thoroughly. "They did tests and that would lead to more tests until a definite conclusion was reached." he shared, shaking his head. "Cancer."
"I'm sorry."
"Of course, I wanted a second and third opinion. You get the point."
"What stage are you in?"
"Stage 3…" replied Jack. "…and it's considered regional." he added, with concern in his voice.
"What does that mean?" the nerd inquired, trying to get a clear grasp of his diagnosis.
"It means…" He turns his head in order to look Chuck in the eyes. "…the cancer has reached my lymph nodes and will have to be surgically removed. With what I have, there's a percentage rate I fall under when it comes to the 5 year survival rate for being at stage 3."
"What rate do you fall under?"
"53%." he calmly answered. A look of shock is expressed on Chuck's face after hearing that. Yet, he continues to stand there and listen intently as Jack once again turns his attention back out to the landscape covered in darkness, but illuminated by the individual glowing orbs that light up throughout the city. "Out of 100 people, 53 of them diagnosed with stage 3 kidney cancer will still be able to live 5 or more years after being diagnosed. I am 1 of those 53."
"It seems you've done your research."
"I've done much more than that." Jack respond back.
It's at that point, Chuck uses the information that was provided to him by Conway to his advantage. "Like getting dialysis." It's that piece of information that causes Jack to quickly snap his neck to the man standing to his right. He notices Chuck opening a file folder. The same file folder he entered with, clutched in his right hand. After watching him flip through a few pages, Chuck lifts his head and looks him dead in the eyes. "U.S. Renal Care at 1801 S La Cienega Blvd. Suite 100."
"You've been following me."
Chuck shakes his head. "Not exactly. I hired someone to follow you."
In that instance, Jack's shocked expression softened and then replaced with a faint grin. "I could be playing you. After all, I make it my living to lie and spin the truth. Also, make you believe in what I want you to see or hear for that matter."
After hearing that, Chuck nods in response. "Ordinarily, I'd believe you except for one thing." he stated, pointing his left finger in the air and wiggling it around a bit.
"What's that?" he inquired, turning his whole body towards him. He then then shifts his body weight over to his left with his left arm sitting on top of the rail and tucked comfortably against his side. His left leg crossed over his right as if to relay the message to Chuck that he's not flinching whatsoever. Once again, he lifts his glass of Crown Royal XR Whiskey clutched in his right hand and takes another sip. Little does he know, that would soon change.
"You're practically broke." he announced, causing Jack's eyes to widen seemingly stunned by what he just heard. In that instance, Chuck reaches over and takes the glass of liquor in Jack's hand and replaces it with the file folder. In doing so, he takes a sip of the liquid courage without even thinking about it and wasn't fully prepared for how potent it is. It causes him to suddenly wince in momentary pain then sound off a mixture of a hissing inhale and then blowing out a considerably satisfying exhale. "Awesome whiskey." Chuck faintly stammered out, eyes wide open and both eyebrows raised upward.
XXX
"Actually, to be more accurate..." Chuck shared, correcting himself. Chuck slides over to his left placing the glass of what remains of the whiskey on the terrace/balcony table. Afterwards, he takes back the file folder from Jack who was thumbing through it for a few moments. He turns several pages until he finds the piece of information he's looking for. "...you've used the money that you got quietly selling off your firm, DoluPate Consulting, in order to pay off…" He briefly stops for a moment to turn his attention to the lavish suite itself. "...this place. How much does this set you back a night...cash wise?." he wondered with sheer curiosity. "You've primarily paid in cash from what I've read. 400 a night for this upscale room and you've been here since August of last year. It adds up."
Jack is stunned silent for a just moment while looking through the file folder. He then peers up forcing himself to breathe out his response to the amount of money he's spent living in a seemingly palatial palace that is the top floor of the suite of The Westin Bonaventure Hotel. "$78K."
"Yikes. Add little perks that go with it like the restocked mini bar and other goodies." responded Chuck with a painful wince. "Fortunately for you, that's considered pocket change with how much you sold your consulting firm for. Living a lap of the luxury. Caviar dreams and campaign wishes style." he added, channeling Robin Leach with a bad British accent.
"Glad you find this all amusing."
"I don't actually." he retorted shaking his head, with a quick shrug of his shoulders. "Do you know what or more importantly who I see when I look at you?" Chuck added, pointing at him.
"What? I'm actually curious to know myself." questioned Jack somewhat amused. "Go on, read me." he mused with encouragement.
He furrows his eyebrows and crossing his arms as he stands there a few feet in front of the nerdy individual who is currently dating his daughter. In that instance, he lowers the file folder and gives his full and undivided attention to Sarah's father. Both men locking eyes as Chuck gives his response.
"I see a guy who at one point considered himself a god amongst men. You were admired and maybe even worshipped for your abilities. It's those kinds of people who were/are considered to be desperate or greedy enough to not only get to the top in the political realm, but stay there as well. The whispers and talk of your name quite possibly gave you unimaginable Zeus like strength."
Chuck's focus on Jack is unwavering so much so it slightly throws professional spin doctor off a bit, but he doesn't show it one iota. He's able to mask it as he continues listening to what is being told to him.
"I'd even go far as to believe you felt you could never be touched because you were always flying high. Out of reach. Untouchable. Nobody could ever take you down." he shared, briefly turning his head and extending his arm out towards the moonlit night sky. This would lead Jack to do the same as well as he suddenly finds himself hanging on his every word. "Those who dared try your God like powers and abilities found themselves in an epic clash with a Titan. Only the end result would be their utter destruction. Unfortunately, you found yourself flying too high and not to mention too close to the sun to the point where you ended falling to your demise. A story similar to that of Icarus in Greek Mythology." He stops there and there is a somewhat deafening silence shared between both men. Yet, the sound of city life is heard down below making the atmosphere on the terrace/balcony intensely eerie. However, the intensely eerie atmosphere suddenly changes as Chuck claps his hands together to where his demeanor completely shifts. "Anyways..."
Jack is suddenly snapped out of what seems to be a trance like state after hanging on Chuck's every word. He shakes his head and refocuses back on the man himself as he hears him continuing on.
"That's who I see. I could be totally wrong though." he stated, chuckling a bit to himself as he returns his focus to the file folder. "That was just for your living arrangements." Chuck then peers down once again to thumb through the documents once again inevitably locating what he wants to focus on. "When it comes to your treatments, you've been dipping into one specific account you've set up for yourself after transferring all the money from different account both in the U.S. and offshore into there."
Chuck briefly looks up to see that Jack is rendered speechless. Although a part of him is enjoying him squirming, the other part of him that is truly empathetic knowing that he's quite possibly scared on the inside despite exuding a peaceful calm on the outside. In his mind, Jack Burton has been wearing a suit of impenetrable armor. In his mind, he possibly considered himself a master when it came to reading people and would use it to his advantage in order to manipulate an individual or a massive group of individuals into thinking or reacting his way.
"How do you know about my accounts?"
"Like I said, I hired a guy and he's very thorough. The best." His attention returns back to the file folder after turning several pages, he continues on. "Pill medications, the injectable medications, vitamins, and most of all the dialysis treatment that costs $500 for just 3 treatments...per week." A noticeable expression of genuine concern on his face after saying that. It's costing you nearly $72K for this year alone. That's gotta be burning a hole in your account." he added, shaking his head in disbelief. "You've probably maxed out your credit cards early on. You've just been relying on cash to get you by now once you started liquidating certain assets. Am I right?"
Jack faintly muttered a curse under his breath after hearing that and even though he considers what Chuck did an invasion of his privacy, a part of him deserves it. Yet, he still has his sense of pride that he's still sticking to, which has taken a beating in the past 6 years. For the past few months, he has tried not to think about all the money he's spent so far because it would just get him angrier knowing the amount of wealth he was able to accumulate over the years only to have it be gone in an instant for the betterment of his own health and well-being. He'd go so far to call in favors that people have owed him so he would avoid using his own money but that would quickly dry up.
"I've underestimated you. Chuck." he stated, pointing at the man sitting on the other side of the bar.
"What happened to Schnook? I kinda gotten used to it." Chuck faintly chuckles then shakes the moniker once again. "Most people do underestimate. I don't know why?" he added, shrugging his shoulders.
"I think I do."
"Are you going to read me?"
"It's what I do best." grinned Jack, with his usual air of smugness returning in that moment. After taking a moment to gather his thoughts, he proceeds to read the man sitting 2 bar stools away from him. "You're a nerd and seemed to be proud of that fact. Yet, you don't give off the typical nerd look."
Instantly, Chuck quirks his right brow. "What's considered to be a typical nerd look?"
"You know..." he began. "...glasses, pocket protector full of pencils and pens. No offense."
"None taken." A soft chuckle is expressed in response. "Nerds come in many forms not just the stereotypical ones you just mentioned, like in the awesome classic nerdy movie Revenge of the Nerds starring Anthony Edwards and Robert Carradine. Nowadays, everybody is considered a nerd when it comes to something they're passionate about. Me, I'm a Star Wars nerd." he added, shrugging his shoulders. He then notices Jack staring at him flatly, so he refocuses back on the topic at hand knowing it's a bad idea and could very well lead to something said that he will take very personally. "Continue with the reading."
Jack nods then briefly squints his eyes while furrowing his eyebrows. Afterwards, he proceeds on. "First off, you didn't tell Sarah you came here to talk to me. That tells me, you're the type of person who tries and wants to make things right. You lead by emotion rather than logic and that has probably bitten you in the ass on one more than occasion." Chuck doesn't say a word trying to avoid showing any tells to tip off Jack. "Second, when talking with your friend Mr. Colt, he shared that you and your sister have a pretty close relationship, but didn't really delve into the specifics of your parents. They are either divorced, one or both died, or..." In that instance, Jack notices a slight reaction causing him to respond. "My condolences."
"They're not dead." he calmly remarked.
"But you don't know that for sure. Hmmm. Interesting." noted Jack. After giving a quick nod, he keeps going. "Anyways, you run a business with your best friend as your partner that you say you trust..."
"I do."
"Still..." the elder gentlemen responded. "...keep your head on a swivel." he added, pointing to him.
"You don't trust many people, do you?"
"Life and the business I'm in taught me that trusting someone will get you so far. Reason why people pay me to have their back and get them to where they want to go." he revealed, taking another sip of his glass of whiskey. "If they fail, I simply move on to the next soul who needs my services."
"Just like that?"
"Just like that..." nodded Jack. "...with the money they paid me."
Chuck is silent for a moment mulling over what Jack said. "I trust your daughter, Sarah. She trusts me. We trust each other. We've become very close."
"Do you love her?"
It's that question that causes Chuck's eyes to widen a bit. "I...I..." he began, becoming noticeably flustered. "...I care about her. I care about Sarah."
In that instance, Jack clearly can see he is thrown off balance and clearly uncomfortable talking about his relationship, especially with the man who he believes hasn't really cared about his family until now. "Poor Schnook. You've fallen for my daughter and you can't admit to yourself can you." he said shaking his head, expressing an amused chuckle. "Trust me, she's left a trail of broken hearts in her path."
Jack's latter response causes Chuck to suddenly break out of his momentary spiral he's experiencing. "Cole...Cole Barker...her ex fiancé cheated on her with her bridesmaid Amy."
"2 sides to every story..." He holds up two fingers and then shrugs shoulders afterwards. "...and I must say, he's the total opposite of you." Jack added, pointing to him shaking his head. "What is it about you that my daughter likes. For the life of me, I can't see it."
A goofy smile is expressed after hearing that, but quickly falls flat once he notices Jack staring at him. "Oh, you want an answer. Well, let's see. I'm a good listener, I make her laugh, selfless, and she tells me that I'm not only kind to others, but considerate as well. She also enjoys when I sing, especially to the kids at the hospital. Plus, I think she digs my hair." he said, pointing to his mop like head of hair. "My sister says it makes weird animal shapes. So, that could be it too."
"This guy really is a schnook?" faintly muttered, in absolute disbelief.
XXX
"By the way, the name of your consulting firm, DoluPate." he inquired, sitting on the bar stool. Jack standing on the other side of it.
Chuck and Jack would reconvene inside after spending some time out on the terrace/balcony. While sitting on the bar stool with the file folder now sitting on top of the bar counter, the nerd watches as Jack sticks a couple of ice cubes in the same glass and he used before. It's not long before the former patriarch of the once Burton household reaches for the Crown Royal XR Whiskey bottle and then uncorks the crown clear top handle. Before taking a moment to savor the smell of the cork himself, he's offered the opportunity to smell, which he politely declines by simply holding up his left hand.
After taking a quick whiff of the cork, he places it on the bar counter and picks up the whiskey bottle and pours in a half a glass. He then picks up the glass, swirls it around, then smells it before taking another pleasurable sip, which he proceeds to do.
"What about it?" He turns to his right and makes his way out and around the corner to where he plops himself down on the stool at the end of the bar.
"Is there a meaning behind it? With you, there must be. Some kind of underlying subtext. Hidden message."
In response, Jack glances over at the glass of remaining whiskey sitting on the terrace/balcony table. He steps over and retrieves it then gulps down what's left to where he takes a moment to savor it. A soft growl of satisfaction as his momentarily stares at the glass that once contained the golden liquid elixir. He then turns his attention back to Chuck. "If you must know I combined the names of two Greek Gods to form a name combination that best reflected how I do business."
"Spinning lies."
A grin is expressed by Jack and then gives a slight shrug of his left shoulder with a brief tilt of his head to the left. "You call lies, I call it fabricating the truth." Afterwards, he continues on explaining the naming process of his consulting company. ""Dolus is the god of trickery and guile. Also considered a master at cunning deception, craftiness, and treachery. Whereas Apate, is the goddess of fraud and deception. Put them together..." he explained, lifting both hands in front of him, pressing then intertwining them together as if he were praying.
"It suits you, befitting the man you once were."
"I once was? I still am that guy."
"Are you?"
"What do you mean?" wondered Jack, arching his right brow towards Chuck.
"You've been here since August of last year..."
"Yes..." Jack quickly cut off Chuck. "...you said that already. Tell me something I don't know." he insisted, shaking his head.
"Ok." he answered, placing his hand on top of the file folder. Instead of opening it, he shares what he knows after speaking with Conway at Santa Monica Beach. "You didn't actually join Garretty's campaign until January of 2010. They didn't contact you. You contacted them..." he revealed pointing to Jack. "... and offered your services knowing full well they already had a spin doctor on their payroll. They immediately dumped her and hired you on the spot because of your well known reputation."
"If that's true..." He remarked, taking a moment to sip his whiskey once again. "...what would I have to gain from that? Me, providing my services to such a small fish."
Chuck suddenly slaps the file folder somewhat lightly in response. "You answered that...just now...yourself." In that instance, Chuck gets up from the bar stool and steps away from it then momentarily turns around. "Nothing. You gain nothing..." Afterwards, he turns around on his heels and points at Jack once again. "...except for the possibility of reconnecting with Sarah."
"Pure coincidence."
"Is it?" questioned Chuck, crossing his arms. "It does give you the opportunity to explain why you're here in Los Angeles instead of showing up out of the blue while going to dialysis." The informative nerd can clearly tell that he's got Jack rattled, but tries to play it off that he isn't. So, he continues on in hopes that he voluntarily fesses up. "I'm betting you planted the seed in "visiting Westside Medical"..." he suspected, using air quotes. "... with Garretty and his campaign manager. Like you said, Garretty is considered a small fish when it comes to associating yourself with a Mayoral race no less. You mainly have dealt with high profile candidates and to lower your standards must have been humiliating, knowing word would potentially spread in the political realm."
There is shared silence between the two men until Jack stands from his stool and starts clapping. "Bravo Schnook. You solved the case. Congratulations, Sherlock" he responded in sarcastic fashion.
"Which one?"
"Which one, what?"
"Sherlock Holmes. Benedict Cumberbatch or Robert Downey Jr version?"
"Seriously!?"
"You know what..." Chuck waves off his question and refocuses back on the matter at hand. "...nevermind. Did I mention the guy I hired was very thorough." Jack doesn't say a word, which leads Chuck to the finishing blow that breaks his case wide open. He steps forward in front of the bar counter, leans down, flips open the file folder and thumbs through it towards the end of it. After finding the page that he needs, he takes a moment to scan it then returns his attention to Jack. "Your name is on the national waiting list for kidney, which is managed by an organization called the United Network for Organ Sharing or UNOS. They keep track of all the people in the United States who need kidney transplants, and matches them with donors."
"And you're telling me this, why?"
"Well, the guy I hired informed me that a call was placed to Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego." The moment Chuck mentions the name San Diego, he notices his eyes suddenly go wide, which leads him to go on further in his reveal. "You called there because you wanted to know something. You see, what I didn't know was that Sarah wasn't born in D.C. Only grew up there. She was actually born in San Diego."
"That sort of information is considered private."
"He has his methods." Chuck retorted. "Should you go on or should I."
In response, Jack is silent, but takes that moment to finish the rest of his glass of whiskey. After a satisfying and pleasurable sigh, he stares down into the bottom of the now empty glass. Afterwards, he sets the glass down on the bar counter and pushes it off the side. "Compatible Pair." He then turns his attention back to Chuck.
"What?"
"I called the hospital in San Diego to see if I matched. If I was compatible for a transplant. I turns out I am."
"Molly and Emma?"
"Not a match. Plus, Molly is too young."
"Emma?"
"She and I are ABO incompatible. She suffered jaundice during her pregnancy with Sarah.
"ABO?"
"In simple terms, it's one of the diseases which can cause jaundice. Emma dealt with it during and after her pregnancy with Sarah.
"So that leaves..."
"Yeah..." responded Jack, with a firm nod. "...Sarah and I match. I'm really here to ask her if she's willing to give up one of her kidneys to save my life." he added, turning his attention back to his empty whiskey glass. He stands up and reaches over to slide the Crown Royal XR Whiskey bottle towards him to pour some more in his glass. As he does, Chuck stands there completely shocked and surprised concerning Jack's true intentions.
XXX
NOTE: DUH! DUH! DUH! So what do you think about Jack's real reason for showing back in Sarah's life? The next chapter will be so much needed Charah quality time and maybe some motherly wisdom from Emma Walker. Anyways, share your thoughts and leave a review. Thanks for the continued support of this story. It's much appreciated. As always, I tip my hat to NEVR once again for doing beta.