Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench

Well, in the previous chapter: Chuck spends quality time with Sarah after the events of what happened Friday afternoon and evening with Jack Burton. Chuck holds a secret of Jack Burton's health but doesn't tell Sarah causing him to experience a moral dilemma thus battling his own Peter Parker Principle. It's during their talk in which Sarah finds out after watching Bash At The Bench that Chuck made her the priority instead of the show, which has made her fall deeper in love with him. She would consider and tell Chuck that he is a far better man than Cole will ever be to her to where a promise is made between the two of them to never lie to each other. Chuck agrees and that would lead to a shocking, as well as surprising conversation with Emma Walker who he would share what he knows about her ex husband. So, what's in store for this chapter? Who does Chief Beckman send Sarah to that is considered an old friend? What move is referenced? How many references to the movie itself can be named? Why does Sarah compare her love life to a lightning bolt? Where is Chuck when he and Morgan are called slackers? 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.

Back In Time

XXX

It's 09:55 a.m. on a Monday morning and Sarah finds herself sitting in a chair outside the office of Dr. Leopold Dreyfus. According to Chief Beckman, he's an old friend of hers that is a board-certified therapist with a PhD in clinical psychology and a masters degree in psychiatric counseling in the area of family and/or individual therapy. She received a call from her auburn-haired boss yesterday and informed her that it would be in her best interest to see him in order to talk over the events that transpired Friday afternoon involving her father. Although she initially declined at first, she would begrudgingly agree to it knowing that her boss would not reconsider the decision made and that a part of her feels she does truly, as well as genuinely, care about her.

It would be a far cry from how her former boss Langston Graham treated her. He utilized her skills as his quintessential right hand to keep in line his subordinates who didn't get the memo, in a manner of speaking. Plus, the fact that whenever he needed to make an example of someone she would be the one to all intents and purposes throw down the hammer in order to make a statement. Oftentimes, the statement came in the former of executing a red test in which he would need someone to eliminate headaches and by "eliminate" it refers to the simple termination of their employment at Langley Memorial Medical. In his mind, it showed him how absolutely committed she was in being his right-hand woman.

Of course, it's one of the main reasons why her nickname as the Wildcard Enforcer stuck with her for so many years working for him. In that moment, she wonders if he'll somehow get her to talk about that particular subject matter or any of her past experiences during her time there. Her thoughts concerning the vast difference in her boss now and boss then would be subsequently interrupted by the sound of a phone ringing causing her to turn her focus to the man sitting behind the desk. She momentarily looks at the name plaque on the desk that displays the following name: Lori Baine. After a few seconds, he stands up to speak to her while making his way around the desk itself towards her.

"The doctor is ready to see you now." he said, with a courteous nod and smile.

Sarah acknowledges the man who is clearly not a female that goes by the name Lori Baine, but it's Los Angeles after all, she thinks to herself. It's not long before the individual in question briefly knocks then opens the doctor's office door. As he steps inside, he announces his 10 a.m. appointment.

"Sarah Walker..." said the male individual. "...Dr. Leopold Dreyfus." he added, motioning to his boss.

"Great, Scott. Thank you." waved Dr. Dreyfus, standing in front of his desk in a seemingly respectable, but welcoming manner. Afterwards, Scott takes his leave and closes the door with Sarah standing face to face with the man she'll be speaking with or in this case to. "Wonderful assistant, he is. My secretary, Lorraine, is sick and he gladly stepped in for today." he smiled, with a welcoming nod to her. "Ms. Walker, it's good to meet you..." he added, briefly exchanging a handshake with his newest patient. "...or would Sarah suffice?" he added, briefly exchanging a handshake with his newest patient. He then motions to the couch behind her next to the office door she just entered through.

"Sarah is fine." she answered, ducking her head slightly. Her attention suddenly focuses on a picture frame sitting on a shelf located behind Dr. Dreyfus' desk. "Your family?"

Dr. Dreyfus briefly glances back in response. "Oh, yes." He then goes to retrieve said picture frame where himself, a woman, and other adults pictured in snow suits. "My wife, Clara and..." he shared, pointing to the males pictured. "...our sons at Big Bear. Julius. Jules for short. The oldest and then there's the youngest one, Vernon. He hates to be called Verne because he got teased by his brother because of Ernest P. Worrell when he was considered popular back in the day. Both married with kids." the experienced doctor said, taking that moment to shake his head and roll his eyes.

In that moment, Sarah couldn't help but express a soft chuckle of amusement with a smile added in. It causes her to relieve some of the nervous tension that's been building up within her. "Beautiful family. And those two standing next to you?" she inquired, with keen interest on her part.

"That's my nephew, Martin and his wife, Jennifer. He's bit of a hot head sometimes. Takes after his father, George. My brother." he shared once again. A second later, he places the picture frame back where he retrieved it from and returns to the spot where he was just standing. "Please, have a seat."

With a look of momentary hesitation on Sarah's face and a quick glance behind her, she complies with Dr. Dreyfus' request. She takes a few steps back and slides in the gap provided in between the couch and coffee table. She then lowers herself down and sits in the middle edge of the couch, but then pops back up briefly expressing pain while rubbing her bottom.

"Sarah, are you okay?" he asked with concern, pushing himself into a standing position.

"I sat on something." She immediately turns around to look down at what she sat on that poked her rear end. She reaches down and plucks out the culprit responsible that nearly became a part of her. In doing so, she turns around and looks at it with a bit of bewildered confusion. "A toy car Delorean?"

Dr. Dreyfus chuckles and shakes his head in response. "My apologies. My grandkids visited me here at my office over the weekend. They have a tendency to leave their toys around. Thank you for that. I'll have to call Vernon later to let him know. My nephew gave that to him as a gift. A big fan of those Back to the Future movies." Dr. Dreyfus reaches over and takes the toy in order to place it on the top of his desk as a reminder. Afterwards, he motions over to the couch. "Please, have a seat." he requested, taking his place sitting in a dark brown, leather chair.

As he does, he keenly observes his new patient being somewhat indecisive on which area of the couch to park herself. From where he's sitting, it seems like a mental battle is going on whereby telling him that she may be thinking that by him asking her to sit down it's considered a test for her in some way. A test to find some kind of underlying meaning, which there really isn't. He just wants her to sit down, he thinks to himself.

Meanwhile, Sarah experienced a brief moment where she didn't know whether to start off by sitting down then lay down or lay down then sit. Since it's her first time being in a place like this, she decides to sit down for the time being, but on the edge of the couch for the time being. She would be snapped out of her momentary thought process by the sound of Dr. Dreyfus' somewhat gravely and raspy tone of voice.

"Are you comfortable, Sarah?" inquired Dr. Dreyfus, tilting his head down. His spectacles lowered a bit from his nose and peers above them. He is now sitting with his left leg crossed over his right. The sound of pen top clicking as he uses his pen to briefly jot down something in what she assumes is a notepad in his black leather encased folder. A few seconds later, he peers back up.

"Comfortable as I can be." Sarah retorted back. She leans over to her right and sets her purse down off to the right near the armrest of the couch. The nervousness that initially went away earlier as she was learning about the doctor's family has now returned. "What do I call you? Doctor? Doctor Leopold? Dr. Leo? Dr. Dreyfus? Doc?" questioned Sarah, with nervous curiosity and uncertainty. "Sorry, I'm babbling. First time jitters and all." she added, with a shrug rubbing her hands together.

"Don't be. It's completely understandable how you may feel that way/ This is a safe space where you can freely share your thoughts and feelings without any fear and judgement. All I ask of you is to be open to talking about issues that resulted you being here at the behest of Chief Beckman. Nothing said will leave this office and be shared. Strictly doctor-patient confidentiality." Dr. Dreyfus stated, with utmost assurance.

Sarah lets what Dr. Dreyfus said sink in. As far as she is concerned, all her thoughts and feelings concerning her issues with her father were completely unleashed without fear and judgement on her part. Damn whoever witnessed and listened to what happened, she thinks to herself. A sense of relief was greatly lifted as the immense weight pertaining to the issues involving her father was something a long time coming. While sitting there on the couch, she instantly reflects back on that particular moment on Friday afternoon that once she started expressing what and how she felt the floodgates would end up breaking open for her, so to speak. Despite that, there is still part of her that feels there's still some unfinished business and more needs to be said hence the opportunity provided for her thanks to Chief Beckman.

It's at the point, Sarah slides herself back and makes herself comfortable the best she can. Afterwards, she takes a deep breath leading Dr. Dreyfus to speak up.

"When you're ready..." he nodded, with encouragement. "...go ahead. I'm listening." Dr. Dreyfus added, waiting for her to start speaking.

XXX

"And that's the last time I spoke to my father. Haven't seen or heard from him since." she shared, giving a brief shrug of her shoulders. "I don't know where he is or what he's up to. Honestly, I don't really give a shit." she added, suddenly realizing she just cursed.

"It's fine. I've heard worse in this office." faintly mused Dr. Dreyfus. He briefly peers down at his notepad then returns his attention back to his patient. "How did it make you feel? What you said to him." questioned the experienced therapist.

"Great. Never felt better. A sense of relief actually." Sarah notices the flat look that Dr. Dreyfus expresses as he jots down something on his notepad. It's the same flat look that he's expressed sitting in his chair across from her since they started her session. "What else is there to say?" she added, holding up her hands in a questionable manner.

Dr. Dreyfus doesn't respond. Instead, he takes a moment to breathe in and out then slightly raises his right brow while tilting his head from side to side. For Sarah, she finds it quite unsettling and weirds her out a bit to have someone just sit there listening to her freely share her personal issues involving her own father. In her mind, it's like being in a relationship only the guy in question is actually trying to help her mentally get better instead of driving her completely insane, she thinks to herself.

While sitting there continuing to be silently stared at by Dr. Dreyfus, she starts to grow incredibly uncomfortable to the point of squirming in her spot on the couch where she is sitting at. In that instance, her fingers are now fidgeting after locking her hands together and then begins peering down to where she starts darting her eyes right and left. She does her best to try to avoid eye contact with the more seasoned gentlemen waiting for her to speak up again.

As much as she is resistant to sharing more of herself and personal life with a complete stranger no less, she ends up shaking her head then breathing out a sigh of surrender.

"What do you want me to say?" she asked, with a noticeable mix of frustration and confusion in her tone of voice.

"I can't make or force you to say anything. You have to be willing to open yourself up in order to gradually be free from any pain that may still be lingering from your father reappearing in your life then leaving." he retorted, providing his professional expertise. "It's up to you if you want to unlock that door that you locked, open it, and then step through it. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

"What if I lost the key?"

"You're evading."

"I'm what?"

"What you just did. It's called evasion. Asking a question with a question." responded Dr. Dreyfus. A few seconds later, he leans forwards a bit and looks directly at Sarah. "Like I said, is up to you and only you."

Sarah is silent for a moment mulling over what her therapist just shared with her. After taking a small moment for herself, she resigns herself to move forward instead of going back or stalling for that matter. "How..." she began, shaking her head. "...where do I even start?" she inquired, directing her full attention to her therapist.

"The beginning. So..." he answered, with a faint, tight lipped smile to his patient. He then leans back and comfortably settles in for their session taking a moment to readjust his glasses beforehand. "...let's go back in time. Mentally go back that is, and describe your relationship that you shared with your father. What was it like growing up for you?" Dr. Dreyfus suggested, giving a leading off point to Sarah.

"It started off awesome. I was the oldest of 2 girls so daddy's little girl..." Sarah responded, momentarily expressing a smile. "...but the relationship changed."

"Changed? How?" he asked, arching his right brow.

"Instead of having a father-daughter relationship, it became more of a relationship that's best described as..." Sarah mentally searches for the right words until she comes up with the best description she can think of. "...mentor-teacher." he shared, best summing up their relationship.

"A parent...more importantly a father should be a teacher and mentor when it comes to every aspect of raising their child or children. It's the role of any parent to be a compass of sorts and guide you on the right path." he retorted, seemingly sharing from his own personal experiences as a father himself. "It's not like we have some kind of book in our possession we were able to get from the future and has all the answers in it that all parents have asked. If I did, I'd be rich."

A small smile is given by Sarah as she is briefly silent before giving her response. "He did guide me on a path. A mental one that was totally messed up." She could see Dr. Dreyfus' eyebrows intently furrow leading her sense on her own that she's possibly got her therapist's attention now. So, she takes a deep breath and prepares herself to describe her life growing up, especially during her adolescent, teenage years. "He taught me or should I say groomed me to be him. It pretty much started when he involved himself in the world of politics and practically fell in love with it. My father has a knack for reading people and ended up parlaying it into eventually becoming THE top, as well as highly sought after political spin doctor." she shared, briefly smiling with a hint of admiration in her voice.

"My father would always preach to me that any amateur can a spin a person thinking their way and that's the end of it; but a pro can spin it in a way where he has the person believing it was their own idea to begin with. Then add on to it while still standing by their side." she said, deep in thought.

It's at that point, the smile and sense of admiration in her tone of voice would be gone as she reflects more on her teenage years while continuing to sit comfortably uncomfortable on her therapist's couch. She beings to remember the lessons her father taught her when it comes to reading people in order to find an "in" and then be able to easily manipulate him or her into your favor, she recalls.

"He taught me his own lessons from the playbook he referred to as "The Burton Bible"..." she revealed, suddenly reflecting back on what her father considered his teaching manual for his daughter to learn from. "...and they were thoroughly and constantly ingrained into my way of thinking." she added, shaking her head in disbelief.

In that instance, Dr. Dreyfus' curiosity gets the better of him and inquires about The Burton Bible. "What were some of his key lessons from it? The Burton Bible. Remember them? If you don't mind sharing them." he asked, with a sense of encouragement on his part.

Sarah shakes her head in response and tries to remember the lessons of her father's playbook. There were 10 lessons in total. He called them the Holy Grail of reading people." she mused, taking a moment to think back while shaking her head. For her, it's been a while since she actually had to say them back without getting in trouble for not saying it word for word. "Lesson #1..." she began. "...choose your mark carefully. If you're lucky, they'll come to you making it easy for yourself."

After taking a moment to actively search and struggle in figuring out the next lesson within her mind, the oldest daughter of Jack Burton suddenly snaps her finger. "The devil is in the details. It's lesson #2. A person's behavior can send a clear message, especially when it comes to their mannerisms."

It's in that particular moment Sarah starts to remember more of the lessons that her father taught her pertaining to The Burton Bible, which is evident by the faint smirk on her face. A smirk in which the therapist that Chief Beckman recommended Sarah go to keenly notices. As much as he would like to delve considerably deeper into each of those individual lessons, he lets her continue on with what he believes is parental brainwashing that he has encountered before with many of his past and current patients.

"Mirror and reflect...that's the lesson #3. Copy the mark's body language. When it comes to lesson #4..." she continued to share, leaning forward and lifting her right finger. "...the most powerful person isn't always the most obvious." she firmly stated, with a firm nod added as well.

"Interesting." responded Dr. Dreyfus. "It seems the lessons your father taught you haven't been forgotten and for a moment there, I could see a smile on your face." he added, taking to jot it down on his notepad.

The impact of those words instantly hit Sarah causing her to make a grim realization. "I never really stood a chance to have a normal childhood. Did I?" she said out loud to herself in a questionable manner, sitting on the couch.

XXX

After sharing the remaining 6 lessons from The Burton Bible, Sarah began focusing more on the grim realization of her not so normal childhood. She shared with Dr. Dreyfus how when it came to the father-daughter dates they wouldn't go to the movies, dinner, or any place that would make the cohesive stronger between the two of them. Instead, they would sit in the park or anywhere in a public setting for that matter and he would teach her his way of reading people to the point of actually going out into the field to see if she learned anything.

Of course, it wasn't the typical not to mention traditional way for a child to bond with a father. Yet, it somehow worked for the both of them in a twisted sort of way. In any case, as the teaching lessons and shared bonding moments with Sarah came to a close, Dr. Dreyfus segue into another subject matter relating to her father.

"The relationship with your father. Has it reflected in any of your past relationships." he asked, potentially focusing on considerably personal matter.

"You're asking if I saw or wanted to see my father in any of the men I've dated?" Sarah's answer from Dr. Dreyfus is a simple nod. Afterwards, she gives a nod of her own and then a brief tilt of her head before continuing on. "Maybe..." She briefly pauses for a moment." "...and like most women with bad relationship experiences with guys having been attracted to the bad boys and dealing with the aftermath of 'daddy issues'." Sarah added, doing air quotes with the last two words. She then shakes her head and crosses her arms afterwards.

"Hmmm. Go on." encouraged Dr. Dreyfus.

"I think...I think because I didn't have the normal father-daughter relationship I grew up with I've somehow been seeking or searching for that type of normalcy...in...the guys...I've...dated?" she shared, slightly ducking her head as if she's unsure of her answer.

"Is that what you think?"

Sarah instantly lifts both her shoulders in the air while her arms are still crossed. "I don't know." she quickly blurted out, uncrossing her arms and briefly throwing her hands up in air. "The last relationship I had felt close to normal that I almost married him. Yes, he was "my type"..." she stated, doing air quotes once again and rolling her eyes while doing so. "...the bad boy who ended up cheating on me with my now former best friend and not to mention bridesmaid for my wedding that didn't end up happening. Such a butthead. Both of them, buttheads."

A faint grin is expressed by Dr. Dreyfus as he speaks up in response to the latter. "Let's focus on that. Your last relationship. What was his name?"

"Cole Barker. Orthopedic surgeon in the area of Sports Medicine. The definition of "bad boy'"..." she firmly stated, doing air quotes. "...and the fact he was British made him desirable and attractive in all my former female co-worker's eyes back in D.C. It was mostly the British accent that did it."

"Not you? He wasn't desirable and attractive in your eyes?" questioned Dr. Dreyfus.

"Not at first. He was like..." Sarah shakes her head for a moment to mull over a comparison regarding her ex. She suddenly spots then focuses on the toy Delorean she came close to becoming one with sitting on top of her therapist's desk causing her to instantly give a name. "...Biff Tannen. You know, from the Back to the Future movies. Annoyingly obnoxious, arrogant, rude, aggressively smooth in his pursuit...similar but the total opposite of the movie character. Physically and personality wise, that is." she explained in her comparison of her ex and the iconic 80's movie character.

"So, you eventually gave in and started dating him."

"I did. My first impressions of him had me instantly having my guard up. All the warning signs were there..." stated Dreyfus' newest patient. "...but, he would gradually show me a side of him after dropping the whole James Bond persona. That's when the real him came out. The man I fell in love with." she added, briefly reminiscing on her relationship with Cole.

"You've dropped your guard. All the walls you've built up around yourself, gone?"

"I thought they were, but a part of me was still clinging on having my guard and wall up to protect myself. My past dating history, and all." Sarah retorted, taking a deep breath in then out.

"Why? What happened?"

"I don't know if this makes sense, but..." Sarah scoots forward to the edge of the couch then leans forward a bit inevitably locking eyes with Dr. Dreyfus. "...I found myself losing who I am as I was dating him. The travel and extravagant trips he took me on. Lavishing me with expensive gifts and trips. A small part of me believed I was just seen more as a beautiful blonde eye candy on the arm of a handsome surgeon to famous athletes." she confessed, expressing regret in her voice.

"It's normal to feel that way when it comes to being in a relationship. You think you're compromising for the person you love until you compromise everything, without the person you supposedly loves you doesn't make any compromises of their own. The heart has to be willing not forced." Dr. Dreyfus assessed, in his professional opinion. "It's when you're with someone who you're sharing your life where you don't have to make any compromises whatsoever for without losing yourself in the process is when you know it's going to be..."

"Awesome." Sarah chimed in smiling. In that instant, she thinks about who she's in a relationship right now.

The smile on his patient's face causes Dr. Dreyfus' right brow to raise. "What's his name?"

"Chuck..." she happily answered, with a smile. "...Chuck Bartowski. He's the complete opposite of my last relationship. "Genuine, honest, open, selfless, resilient, great with kids..." Sarah listed off, expressing proudness in her voice. "...and most of all a big nerd. My nerd. My Chuck." She pauses for a moment when it comes to the latter part of what she said. "Come to think of it, Cole never really took the time to know me. The real me. How I consider myself and embraced being a big nerd as well."

"Did you ever give Cole a chance to?" Dr. Dreyfus asked, with genuinely real interest.

"There were times I let my nerdy side out and he would just refer to it in his British way of being "cheeky". I looked it up and it meant off putting behavior but at the same time appealing as well." Sarah shared, knowing how much it hurt her to find out back then and think back on again now.

"And you let it slide?"

Sarah nods. "Truth be told, I let it a lot of things slide when I was with Cole. The reason I was never my true self in the entirety of our relationship. I realize that, now."

"How about Chuck? Does he let you be your true self?"

After Dr. Dreyfus asks that question, he once again keenly notices her whole demeanor shift from sad and considerably glum to happy and undeniably cheerful. He can clearly see the life returning in her eyes by the mere mention of his name leading him to assume he's most certainly a positive influence in her life in every sense of the word. His thoughts concerning the sudden 180 is subsequently broken up by the sound of Sarah's voice responding to his question.

"He does..." nodded Sarah, continuing to flash a smile thinking about Chuck. "...by encouraging me to finally embrace my nerdy side and because of that it's like I've been struck by a bolt of lightning."

It's at that point Sarah stands up, sides step to her left between the coffee table and couch, then makes her way to the toy car replica of the Delorean. She turns around seeing Dr. Dreyfus standing up and setting down his notepad on top of the seat cushion of his dark brown leather chair. He's looking straight at her wondering what she's going to do with it. His question is then answered.

"I've felt like I've been driving 88 mph trying to get away from and being defined by my past relationships including the relationship with my father..." Sarah holds up the toy car replica of the Delorean and stares at it for a moment then averts his attention to her therapist. "...and all I've been waiting for is that 1.21 gigawatts of electricity to come down and strike transporting me to the love I've always wanted. It took a long time and I think...I know my bolt of lightning finally hit."

"Chuck."

Once again, Sarah nods with clear emotion in her eyes, but also a sense of relief all-the-while restraining herself from not shedding down her cheeks, which Dr. Dreyfus is highly aware of. Speaking of the seasoned and experienced therapist, he peers down at his watch then returns his attention back to Sarah.

"Let's stop here for today." He steps forward and holds out his hand to where Sarah places the miniature toy replica into Dr. Dreyfus' left hand. "Come back tomorrow. Same time. Ok?"'

Sarah nods in response. "Tomorrow." she said, with an appreciative smile. She turns around as Dr. Dreyfus motions and inevitably escorts her to the door. She about to reach for the door knob when she suddenly turns around causing her newly found therapist to stop in his tracks then steps back a bit. "Payment. How much do I owe?"

In response, Dr. Dreyfus holds up his right hand. "Chief Beckman took care of it. No need to worry about that." he replied back, stepping around Sarah to reach for the door. He then opens it, steps aside and generously lets Sarah exit first.

As for Sarah, she nods expressing a smile then steps forward and before exiting her therapist's inner office one thought comes to mind pertaining to her boss' generosity. Thanks Chief.

XXX

After her highly insightful therapy session, Sarah contacted Chuck but wouldn't be able to speak to him long after he informed her that he's about to go into a meeting with a potential investor for Kessel Run Technologies. She understood and despite that he promised her that he would call her immediately after the meeting was over. She would go from her therapy session back to Westside Medical Center knowing that Chuck would make good on his promise. Speaking of the nerd himself, he's in his office sitting behind his desk with his bearded best friend by his side in the middle of a conversation with said investor sitting in a chair on the other side of his desk.

"I know Ted Roark is a business associate of yours, being that you're the CEO of Strickland Media and Publishing, but why us, Mr. Strickland? We're just a small business working hard and was lucky enough to be on his radar thanks to a tribute video on our YouTube channel his grandkids were watching." he shared, being openly honest to the media and publishing titan.

"Strickland Media and Publishing was a small company before it was able to build up and grow to what it is now known today. It was started by my great grandfather James Strickland." he shared, expressing a grin thinking about the man who started it. "The funny thing is you two..." he said, pointing at Chuck and Morgan. "...he would call slackers by the way you act and look. However, looks can be deceiving and what you've been able to do with Kessel Run Technologies thus far looks promising."

"Awesome and thanks. Very much appreciated for not having some preconceived notions about us.

In that instance, Morgan chimes in. "Chuck's right. We may act like slackers and goofballs based on what we say and/or do on our YouTube channel, but we take our job here very seriously." he insisted, knowing full well having him as an investor will be something truly major for the company.

"I don't doubt you." replied Strickland, pausing for a moment. He then continues on. "My great grandfather had a saying that was passed down to my grandfather to my father then me when it comes to business. He said and I quote, 'Never give an inch. Maintain discipline at all times'." he added, with a firm nod towards the two men in front of him.

"Profound words to live by, business wise." retorted Chuck.

"To each his own in the interpretation, but the reasoning behind it has been the foundation of what Strickland Media and Publishing is all about. Has been for years." Mr. Strickland responded back. "So, are you willing to have me on board as an investor?"

It's at the point, Chuck and Morgan look at each other inevitably coming to the same conclusion. "Could you give us a second?" Chuck requested, standing up and stepping away from the desk with Morgan to huddle up. As for Strickland, he is sitting down hearing the muffled whispers between the two men that he genuinely wants to invest in their company. In his mind, he believes they'll achieve great things all thanks to a friendly nudge given to him by Ted Roark. His thoughts concerning the matter are set aside when his attention is averted back to the two men in question as they turn around leading him to stand up.

"Mr. Strickland, we've come to a decision." Chuck announced, briefly turning to his bearded business partner. "Glad to have you on board." he added, extending his hand for a handshake.

All 3 men would seal the deal with handshakes and after Chuck escorted him out to the front entrance, Mr. Strickland would take his leave. Afterwards, a small quasi celebration would erupt in the front lobby of Kessel Run Technologies between not only Chuck and Morgan, but Kathleen as well. Once the celebration settled down, it would be Morgan who brings up another subject matter.

"Listen dude, I know this a major milestone for us and we need to party it up..." Chuck is about to open his mouth but Morgan raises his right finger. "...but that will have to wait. We have to prep for Bash At the Bench and we need to choose a Rockstar Rebel for this week. I'll go look over the list of potential contenders." he added, turning around and heading to the back.

As he does, Kathleen and Chuck are left standing there at the front entrance lobby in stunned surprise. After a brief silence, Kathleen leans over to her left and speaks up. "Who is that and what has he done with Morgan?" he wondered, shaking her head in disbelief.

"I've stopped asking that questions years ago." mused Chuck, reaching up with his left and rubbing the back of his neck. "I've got to call Sarah and let her know the good news and then Ellie. Her head will explode and knowing my sister, she'll certainly plan a celebration dinner for this momentous occasion." His attention is then directed fully to Kathleen as he has out his phone. "Could you do me a favor and let Morgan know the Rockstar Rebel for this week has been anonymously given and I think it's an awesome pick. Share the name later."

"I'd be happy to. Oh, and say hi to Sarah for me. It's been a while since I last saw her."

"Will do and you'll probably see her sooner than later at Ellie's celebration dinner. Whenever that is." Chuck retorted, flashing a grin with a shrug added in.

"Looking forward to it." she called out, glancing over her left shoulder.

She disappears out of sight leaving Chuck to hit his call log list and then hit Sarah's name. After a few seconds, the other of the line picks up. "Hey Sarah, guess what." he smiled walking off and out the front door to speak to her outside.

XXX

NOTE: How did you like the Back to the Future references all throughout Sarah's therapy session? This was a fun chapter to write and there will be more sessions in the future for her and maybe even a couples session as well. Just wait and see or in this case read. If you're wondering about Chuck's investigation into the stuff that his father left behind, that's still will be the focus in this arc so don't worry about that. In any case, leave a comment and share your thoughts on what you enjoyed about it. Thanks again for the support and as always tip of the hat to NEVR for doing the beta!