Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: After waking up from trying to basically sleep away all the hoopla and not mention attention from Bash At The Bench Read and most definitely Sarah, Jack wakes up later in the evening. It's quiet leaving him with his thoughts to the point where he makes the decision to make a getaway. He heads for the nearest nurses' station where he steals an iPad then finds himself up on the roof looking over the courtyard. While there so many thoughts are running through his mind, one of which is his first initial meeting with Daphne Peralta. A memory he would note down in a letter that he would subsequently leave behind. In that latter, he shared that his professional career would certainly go on upward trajectory under tutelage, but his personal life regarding family would end going on a major downslide. Afterwards, placed the iPad aside once he was done and once again look down at the courtyard to where a call would be placed to Sarah. She would be informed by Casey that a situation is happening at the hospital involving Jack and when she arrived along with Chuck, Emma, and Molly. Casey notified them that Jack didn't jump but is sitting in the courtyard and this would lead Sarah to speak with him, but not before Chuck told her that he got a call from Roark concerning Jack. So what's in store for this chapter? Here's the who, what, where, when, why, and how. Who is leading in the mayoral polls now that Jack has quit Garretty's campaign? What does Jack really need from Sarah? Where does Jack send Sarah in order to show a sign of good faith that he's not entirely full of shit? find out! When did Jack think Sarah would come back to him in order to get a sense of clear understanding? Why does Beckman leave and tell Casey to keep her informed of the situation? How is Sarah's mindset knowing there's a possibility that Jack is telling the truth of what Jack left for her? Read and find out! I hope you enjoy the read and leave a comment to share your own thoughts on this particular chapters. As always, reviews are awesome.
Again, if you enjoyed reading my stories and left a comment I truly appreciate it. Please continue to do so as it gives me the incentive to write more chapters.
I don't own Chuck.
The Courtyard Bench
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The expression on Jack's face unsettled Sarah because it's something that she never saw before until now. When it comes to her father, he always exuded an overabundant amount of confidence and carried himself to a much higher degree, especially in the business he was in. He talked the talk and certainly walked the walk as well. The man always delivered on his word until he up and quit being part Mayor Garretty's campaign as his spin doctor for re-election. Speaking of the current mayor, he would inevitably find himself behind in the polls to the new comer, potential mayor, and military veteran Jim Rye.
In any case, what Sarah could tell from her quick assessment is that there is an overall sense of uncertainty mixed in with doubt and the one thing she'd thought she would never actually see ever expressed on his face…fear. Fear is a weakness that should be exploited and used to your advantage. One of the lessons that her father taught her when he attempted to raise his oldest daughter to see, act, and even think just like him, she thinks to herself. Her thoughts are subsequently broken when she suddenly hears Jack utter two words. Her attention inevitably refocused all on him.
"It's funny." Jack breathed out, shaking his head.
He peers down briefly at the iPad on his lap, then up towards the starry filled night sky. From his vantage point, sitting where he is, the majestic scenery doesn't do it justice after he was standing on the roof doing the exact same thing a while ago. Unfortunately, his time of gazing up at the stars is interrupted by the sound of clearing throat. A sound that even though didn't grab your attention, it did speak volumes when grabbing an individual's attention, especially when that someone is trying to figure out what their true purpose is by sitting alone in a semi-lit empty courtyard with a stolen iPad.
Speaking of that someone, Sarah arches her right brow after she hears Jack saying that. This would lead her to cross her arms to the point where she intently eyes the man sitting on the courtyard bench. The same bench that has been a prime focal point on past shows regarding Bash At The Bench, she thinks to herself. Of course, it didn't start out that way as it was merely just a place where patients, the public, doctors, nurses, and whoever would take a break or a breather from inside the chaotically hectic confines of Westside Medical Center.
That was before. Now, it's a popular hangout spot every Friday for everyone to either watch in person and/or stream online thanks to a risky decision Chuck made years ago with 1 kid. That's all it took, as his decision, for the most part, paid off because of wanting to do something that ended up turning out to be far bigger than himself and would have a much deeper meaning in the whole scheme of things. Thinking about it further, the simple concept of just talking with a child on an ordinary hospital bench sounds boring, but adding songs, dances, skits, and eventually a stage, then moments happen to where they become magically special.
In her mind, it has also become a representation of change to a family's life so much so it brings joy, hope, utter surprise, shock adulation, strength, energy, etc. when sitting on it. All in a very positive way. Plus, it's a place that's been surprisingly therapeutic in somewhat similar fashion to Dr. Dreyfus' couch during her therapy sessions with him. Essentially, conversations with Morgan and not to mention Chief Beckman, have taken place on it that have been considerably heartfelt, eye opening, as well as extremely cathartic, she thinks to herself.
Her thoughts of both conversations move to the first ever meeting with Chuck at the very same bench that ultimately change her life for the better. The moment in which she would make her presence known, but at the same time fall in love with that man. For her, it was the moment after Casey appeared after calling him and before talking with Devon in his office that she became heart warmed even though she didn't outwardly show it at first. Thinking about it further, she would unknowingly find herself considerably intrigued by him to the point where she agreed to a dinner date with his sister to learn about her now nerdy boyfriend.
In any case, she refocuses back on the kids and how that bench that has been considered a life changing experience for not only so many kids, but parents as well thanks to Chuck Bartowski. The conversations, smiles, tears, laughs, stories shared, and everything in between as Chuck sat with countless kids continuing to battling, lose their fight, and/or surviving cancer. Each kid possibly seeing her nerdy boyfriend as not just a friend who continues to keep in contact with them, but as a hero as well. A hero has made an incredible impact on spotlighting diseases that can be either cured, as well as those unfortunately don't have a cure at all.
The kids spotlighted by Chuck, with the help of Morgan, Alex, and Kathleen, truly are Rockstar Rebels as they go through hell mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and most definitely physically. The toll it takes not on just them, but their parents as they try to find any reason to smile as a means of distraction for the pain they've been experiencing all throughout their ordeal. A moment of peace that, in a sense, breaks up and frees them from the possible grim reality of their situation involving constant medication, chemotherapy, surgeries, etc. As much as it's heartbreaking to think about, to the point of shedding tears right now, she restrains herself from doing so in order to respond to her father.
"What's funny?" questioned Sarah, expressing a look of disbelief.
She knows full well what's happening right now is no laughing matter, especially when it involves taking one's own life. Fortunately, it didn't happen and even though he's alive, Sarah feels conflicted about her about her feelings as to why a small part of her is thankful that he didn't make the decision to jump. Maybe it's because of my sessions with Dr. Dreyfus that I'm feeling this way? It could potentially be one of the reasons as she momentarily reflects back on been able to gradually open up about her father and how she's been able to make progress so much so that the possibility of forgiveness has been discussed.
True, Dr. Dreyfus did bring up the subject of forgiving her father for all that he's done to her in the past. However, she felt she wasn't ready to forgive a man that stole her childhood away from her and that's something she considers absolutely unforgiveable. Plus, the fact that she still has some unresolved issued regarding on how Jack treated her mother and even though there wasn't any sort of physical abuse, there was a tremendous amount of verbal abuse directed towards her. The kind of verbal abuse that attacks and eats away at your self-esteem and not to mention self-worth, she thinks to herself.
Emma Walker is a truly remarkable and strong woman. To be able to be still standing after all she's been through with Jack Burton knowing the mental and emotional turmoil he put her through in their marriage. A marriage that started strong with hopes of getting stronger with a child on the way. I was that child. All he needed was the right job and through determination and persistence he was able to lock that aforementioned job down. Yet, it was the job that ended up causing an immense change in him to where he become totally unrecognizable as the man her mother first fell in love with. A man who ultimately became a complete stranger to her because of the job.
Now, the man sitting on the bench looks like a shell of his former self. The strong and annoyingly arrogant persona that took years to build up have faded away leaving someone who is weak and most definitely seems lost in every sense of word. As much as a part of her wants to smile because of her father's misfortune, there's a sense of conflict going on within her that's considerably confusing. Am I actually feeling sorry for him and all that he's been through over the last few years, she thinks to herself? It's that sense of conflict in which she feels the anger growing inside of her causing Sarah to end up shaking her head to the point where she waves those thoughts of actually feeling sorry for him aside with her right hand that's been resting on her upper left arm.
"You know what, I honestly don't care. If this is some sort of ploy or sick game to get me down here for me to talk to you then I'm not playing, Jack." she firmly stated, with angry and annoyed tone in her voice.
Jack doesn't respond. He continues sitting there as his attention is eventually averted from the night sky filled with stars to his oldest daughter standing in front of him a few feet away. "I didn't want to believe it. I refused to."
A mixture of perplexed confusion appears on Sarah's face after hearing that. "What are you talking about? Believe what?" In that instance, she directs her attention to the iPad sitting face up on Jack's lap leading her to step forward, lean down, and quickly grab it in order to see what her father has been watching. "What are you even looking at?" questioned Sarah in an investigative manner. A sense of disdain in her voice.
"You." answered Jack, expressing a faint crooked smile. That one word and that smile directed up towards her is all it took for Sarah to briefly freeze as her attention is momentarily locked on her father. Her line of sight moves down to the iPad she's got in her hands.
XXX
"I don't hear any screaming." Chuck said, peeking out from behind the bush. Afterwards, he turns around and continues speak to the other individuals standing in front of the opening of the small corridor leading towards the double doors. "That's an awesome sign, isn't it?" he added, in a questionable manner.
"It's a powder keg waiting to explode, Bartowski." Casey growled, standing with arms crossed. Chief Beckman standing next to him with her phone clutched in her left hand.
After saying that, the expression on Molly's face turns into one of potential excitement. "Sweet! I'm going to get this on video and post it on my YouTube channel." she stated, fishing her phone out from her back pocket. "Definitely gonna get some major views." excitedly grinned the 13 year old.
Unfortunately, the moment she retrieves her phone it's snatched out of her hands by her mother. "Not this time young lady."
"Hey!" she responded, in a loud whisper. An angry whine expressed by the youngest Walker daughter.
"Need I remind you what happened the last time you posted something involving your sister?" Emma noted, in her stern motherly tone of voice. "All the mess it started."
"You told me to do it."
"Just for us! I didn't tell you post it online." she retorted, considerably exasperated.
"You should have said that." she loudly whispered back. "Be more specific next time, Mom. I'm not a mind reader." A brief eye roll added afterwards.
The "discussion" between mother and youngest daughter gets a bit heated after the roll eye leading Chuck to try to intervene.
"Let's take this inside, ladies." he suggested, doing his best to guide them towards the double doors.
While doing so, he can't help but think and compare Molly to a young female version of Anakin Skywalker and Emma as Shmi. Both introduced in the 1st move of the prequel trilogy The Phantom Menace. When it comes to Anakin, so much potential was seen by Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn to be a strong Jedi Knight. Unfortunately, the Jedi council sensed a dark side in Anakin that made them vary wary, especially Yoda. Of course, even though he doesn't consider himself a Jedi Master, Chuck can sense a dark side in the 13 year old to where she could very easily teeter to the side of the Sith, he thinks to himself.
Unfortunately, things didn't turn out so well for Anakin as he ended up slaughtering younglings after he knelt down to give his allegiance to Palpatine who sent out Order 66 to eliminate all Jedi Knights. Granted, it's a movie and idea of Molly turning Sith is quite humorous to even think about? The thought of her actually bringing balance to the force, but the death of Emma causes her to spiral inevitably going all Vader is something that would be an awesome topic to debate with Morgan. It's that particular thought in which he quickly shakes aside in order to focus back on more important matter at hand.
It's an important matter that took some doing, but Chuck was finally able to get Molly and Emma inside in order to continue their "discussion". As for Chief Beckman, she takes a moment to shake her head then turns around in order to step forward in order to peek out from behind the bushes as well, in order to check on her 2nd in command. While doing so, her hulking head of security approaches, then stands by her side at the ready for any instructions to be given to not only him, but his security team as well.
"I agree with your assessment, Colonel." nodded Chief Beckman. "There's no telling what Mr. Burton's intention are now that Sarah is out there with him." It's in that moment, she's alerted to her phone that is vibrating in her left hand. After checking the name of the individual on the screen, her attention is briefly directed back to Casey. "Continue to monitor the situation and notify me if anything changes."
A firm nod is given in response. "Copy that."
Casey watches as his auburn haired, short statured boss opens one of the doors leading into the hospital where the continuing "discussion" between Molly and Emma is happening. Chuck still trying to do his best to calm things down. Once she disappears completely out of sight, Casey is now by himself with the aforementioned door eventually clicking closed. While momentarily standing there savoring the quiet, he knows the call Beckman received is from the Board of Directors because he's seen that look before. Plus, he's 100% certain that they got wind of the situation by none other than the Hospital conniving weasel of an attorney, Emmitt Milbarge.
While the hulking Head of Security for Westside Medical Center is imaging all the ways to torture Emmitt and possibly have him disappear, he turns around in order to keep a watchful eye on his partner. Speaking of Sarah, she is scrolling through YouTube videos of herself posted by her very own youngster sister. Videos that included her recitals and competitions that her mother took her.
"Brat." she softly breathed out, briefly shaking her head. While continuing to scroll through it, a sudden thought comes to her mind causing her to lower the iPad then directly focusing on Jack sitting on the bench. "How did you even know Molly has a YouTube channel?" Sarah inquired.
"Does it really matter how I know? I just know." Jack answered, showing faint signs of pain on his face. "Besides, you're my kids and I've kept tabs on you from time to time."
Sarah can't help but scoff at what Jack just said. "You have kept tabs on us. Spying, is more like it." she firmly stated back, shaking her head.
In response, Jack simply shrugs his shoulders. Afterwards, he takes a deep breath in order to alleviate the painful discomfort he's suddenly feeling. Once it dissipates, he continues. "I've spent seemingly a lifetime trying to carve out a success life and not letting any sort of distraction keep from achieving my goal like recitals, singing competitions and soccer games. I missed out on so much."
"Wow, Jack. Way to describe us…your kids…as "distractions." she angry reiterated, in air quotes. "So, all this time you've been sitting here and catching up what you've missed out on."
"You have a beautiful voice. It pains me to admit it, but I damn near teared up hearing you sing earlier today." he shared, expressing a smile up towards her. "Molly…has the soccer skills to go pro." Jack proudly added. "I truly regret that."
Again, the conflict stirring within her concerning how Jack is feeling absolute regret of not being there for his kids when they needed him the most. In her mind, that's all they needed growing up was him as a father and not someone who would gradually become completely absent from being a parent and leaving sole responsibility her mother.
"Regret or is it something else?" questioned Sarah.
"Like what?" Jack wondered
"Your guilty conscience eating away at you. You've spent so long focusing on yourself to become a self-professed God amongst men that when cancer knocked you off your throne you found yourself getting hit with a hard reality check. The realization of all the mistakes you made slapping you in the face. "Sarah briefly pauses and then takes a momentary deep breath. "You know what, I actually felt sorry about you. Now, you're just a pathetic has been sitting there." she said, backing up. "Just so you know, we haven't been your kids for a long time, Jack. You saw to that." she added, turning around about to walk off.
"Yes." nodded Jack, in an apologetic manner. "I deserve the blame, but your mother…"
"Don't…" Sarah quickly interjected, turning around in mid stride. Her right finger pointing directly at him mere inches away from his face. While doing so, she's doing her very best in trying to keep her composure. The anger in her voice and in her eyes is very evident as she continues on. "…don't you dare try to place blame on Mom. What you put her through mentally and emotionally. What you put me though."
There is a brief moment of silence but it would subsequently be broken by Jack speaking up. "I know." he softly responded back.
"I know. That's it? All you have to say? Just…I know?" Sarah repeated, in absolute disbelief. The disbelief causes her to express a bit of angry laughter in what she believes is complete joke regarding the situation she's presently in. "You know, for a guy made a career out of spinning the narrative, you're doing awful job of spinning yourself into someone who believes he should be forgiven."
"I'm not asking to be forgiven." he responded, shaking his head.
"What then? Why I am here…" Sarah's tone of voice a bit louder than usual to where it echoes within the courtyard. In that instance, she does a 360 of the courtyard leading her to throw up hear hands in the air inevitably returning her attention back to Jack. "…if you don't want to be forgiven? I didn't have to be here, but I am."
Jack is silent once again after hearing that response coming from his oldest daughter. After a few seconds of briefly looking down he finally lift his head to respond. "I was fully intending to end my life, but I ended up writing you a letter." Sarah doesn't say anything, which leads Jack to continue on. "That letter had me rethink…reevaluate my life. How it started when it came to my career to where it took me on a path of power, notoriety, money, heavy drinking, and everything in between. It's that same path that caused me to find myself heading in the opposite direction. One that I didn't ever see or refuse to see coming that caused me to become desperate. So desperate I wind up sitting right here…in pain…much of my own doing." he shared, briefly looking down and patting the courtyard bench.
Sarah doesn't utter a word after hearing what Jack shared with her. In her mind, what he said sounded genuinely sincere and not in any way manipulative, to where she's fully expecting the other shoe to drop, once she lets her guard down. However, she honestly believes there is no other shoe to drop because all that's left is him…Jack Burton. A man left with absolutely nothing. It's that particular thought in which she breathes out the following to words: "What letter?"
Jack doesn't say a word. He simply reaches out and gives a nod to have Sarah give him the iPad. She does and after watching for a moment scrolling away he taps the screen then gives back the iPad to his estranged daughter. After taking the iPad from Jack, she starts reading the letter written by him that initially stopped him from taking his own life. While doing so, she finds herself taking a step to her right, turning around, then taking a seat on the courtyard bench right next to her father.
XXX
For the past 5 minutes, Sarah sat quietly reading the letter that her father wrote without being interrupted by him. In it, he spoke of how he started off with every intention of doing things his way, but at the same time learning the ins and outs from Daphne Peralta. His stubbornness would end up biting him in the ass when he made a mistake in not providing the information that he was supposed to relay to their client. Instead, he changed it thinking it sounded better but he'd later learn from Daphne that people can be easily persuaded by changing the context of the intended narrative. In other words, through the act of mental manipulation people can be led into thinking they're making the right or wrong decision on their own, but they really aren't. He learned that the hard way.
As Sarah continued reading on, she would learn how big of an influence Daphne Peralta was to her father as she placed more emphasis on the importance on his job than with his family. Although there wasn't anything going on between the two of them, Jack did stray from his marriage with other women, but didn't share any further details concerning his infidelities. For her, reading that piece of information confirmed what she along with her own mother suspected for so many years. In any case, she refocuses back on the letter and her father's sense of unwavering dedication in which it would become the unfortunate catalyst of the gradual shift of his priorities as a father and husband to a career driven man. He was a man that early on in his career would make promises to be there when his family needed him and keep them, but as time passed the promises would end up being broken.
The disappointment in himself was miniscule compared to the large amounts of disappointment coming from his family who dealt with the pain of his absence. Each time he'd receive a picture, video, text, etc. the feeling of guilt would increasingly grow until he made the decision not to feel that way. Then she read the following words: They have to suck it up and deal with it. The weight of those words impacted Sarah in such a way after reading that particular line in the letter, she became absolutely infuriated. The feeling of anger building inside of her, but at the same time holding so much self-restraint in not getting up from the bench and punch her father across the face. After taking several deep breaths to calm herself down, she would further learn that once the decision to disregard the disappointment altogether, he somehow was able to convince her mother to spend quality time with their daughter to make up for his unfortunate absences. For him, the time spent together with her was not about making up for his absences, but more about teaching Sarah how the real world works and sharing the lessons along with the insights that were taught to him by the same individual who hired him.
After reading that particular part of the letter, it became obviously clear to her that she was being groomed to follow in his footsteps. She would most definitely be right. The words "potential", "molded", and "predecessor" were used to describe her as she would be considered a tremendous asset to an already successful company for Phoenix Consulting in the future. Unfortunately, that didn't happen or being introduced to Daphne Peralta for that matter, which he constantly talked about during their "quality time" together growing up. He'd eventually branch out on his own to form his own consulting company. Despite all of Jack's efforts in mentally grooming her into being someone she wasn't, the bond that was established between the two of them would find itself completely falling apart. The reason it fell apart…Cole Barker.
While sitting there on the bench, she reflects back on her time with her ex fiancé and always had a sneaking suspicion Jack was in Cole's ear. Of course, finding out at the Hospital Gala that he and Cole have kept in contact wasn't surprising to her in the slightest, she thinks to herself. Thinking about it further, her father maybe saw himself in Cole and probably wanted to have that close association with someone who embodied and personified what he used to be or no longer could be. Plus, the fact her former beau would slip into their conversations about speaking with Jack and telling her he sounded like he wanted some sort of reconciliation in order to settle all the issues she may still have with him. She recalled shutting the possibility of reconciling with her father down knowing it was just another way of mentally manipulating someone else to do his dirty work for him.
However, what surprised her the most, while continuing to read on, is that it seemed like she has been reading a letter confessing his failures. For her, it genuinely seemed like she was reading the words of man who wanted to come clean, especially coming to the point where she ended up calling off her wedding to Cole. What was truly eyeing opening was learning that her father knew Amy and Cole were seeing each other behind her back, but didn't have the decency to tell his daughter about it. To spare her the pain and humiliation of finding out on her own. Jack explained he chose to not saying anything to where he anticipated for her to come back to him for any sort of understanding of what happened. When that didn't happen, he took it personally, therefore siding with Cole after the break up, instead of being the father he should have been all along.
From his point of view, Cole represented the extravagant and lavish lifestyle in which she would be set up to always being taken care of. A mentality that Jack, at one point, thought he would be doing for her mother and even though she was flattered by what his new found lifestyle provided, it ended up gradually taking away what was considered to be most important, without him even realizing it. In a sense, he wanted the best for her in hopes of his legacy, living on knowing full well he wouldn't be around after finding out about his condition. Unfortunately, his master plan failed thus leading everything in his life to fail as well. It's then she began reading something that she couldn't really wrap her mind around involving the very last paragraph of the letter.
I thought I knew my daughter and who she truly needed to be. Who she needed to be with. I gave her the tools for success and fully expected her to one day follow in my footsteps. To one day take over what I paved the way for her in hopes she saw what I've been building…or tried to build. I was wrong. I admit it. The truth is I didn't know my daughter at all and come to think of it…I ended up not knowing myself. Forgetting the man, I was supposed to start off as years ago. I got lost and never really found my way out of the darkness that I walked myself into. There was no turning back once I entered. However, my daughter made it out the other side and made it a point to seek out a fresh start. Reinventing herself, but at the same time, staying true to who she is. The point I'm trying to make here is, Sarah Walker doesn't need to be anyone but herself. She's smart, beautiful, a damn good singer, and stubborn as a can be. Stubborn like her old man. Truth be told, she's not the type of woman who wants to be set up to being taken care of, as she is a person who'd much rather be of service, when it comes to the care of people. She takes after her mother whereas it's the total opposite of what I have been doing as I was basically in service for myself. I'm proud to know she set out on her own path and proved to herself that she is able to accomplish something she set her mind to do. Sarah, if you're reading this just know you've turned out far better than I ever imagined and I know this won't make up for the years of pain I caused you but from the bottom of my heart I wanted to tell you…
"I'm sorry, darlin."
It's those two words Sarah hears that causes to turn her head, in order to face Jack. It's apparent that she was so focused, that she didn't know he had been watching her read the entirety of the letter. He then waited for that moment to give the apology she had be wanting, as well as has been waiting for all these years. Of course, a mixture of emotions stirring within, so much so begins welling up to the point of tears. However, she composes herself, leading her to clear her throat, in order to mask the impact of reading what was supposed to be his last words before leaving this world. Afterwards, she gets up from the bench in order to take a step forward, then turns around to face him with the iPad still in her possession.
Meanwhile, Casey is continuing to closely monitor the situation, with both eyes laser focused on his partner's location. He's not alone as Chuck, Molly and Emma have joined him with their attention locked on to her location as well. If anyone saw them right now concealed by the entryway peeking out from the bushes, it would be like a scene from the Three Stooges minus the harmonious hello introduction.
"Does anybody know what's going on over there?" whispered a very curious Molly. "It's hard to see because it's dark."
"Not a clue?" answered Chuck, relaxing his eyes from squinting.
"From what John said, things settled down after she started looking at the iPad Jack handed back to her." Emma stated, expressing concern in her voice.
"Times like these, I wish I had super hearing and ability to see in the dark like Superman. That would be awesome." the nerdy business owner shared.
"You know what would be awesome, Bartowski?" Casey softly growled. "Quit your lip smacking about nerd stuff. It would make my job easier."
"Seriously!? I'm concerned about Sarah just as much as you are." he retorted back.
"Boys..." Emma sternly interjected, in her motherly tone of voice. "...let's calm it down. I know both of you are concerned about Sarah equally but in different ways."
Afterwards, Chuck and Casey briefly look at each other and then respond in unison. "Yes, ma'am."
The brief momentary distraction lifted the tension causing Molly to express a bit of chuckle. All of a sudden, they would be redirected back to what would be referred to as ground zero after hearing a sound that seemingly echoes all throughout the courtyard causing the 13 year old to blurt out two words.
"Holy shit!" Molly bellow out loud. She quickly covers her mouth after saying it, but then ends up shrugging it off. She just keeps going as if she didn't just use language her mother doesn't approve of. "I think she just slapped him in the face." she added, proudly expressing a smirk concerning her old sister's actions.
"Oh boy." Chuck breathed out. Both eyebrows raised so high, it seems like they're going to fly off.
XXX
"I deserved that." responded Jack, massaging his right cheek with his right hand."
Sarah expresses a slight smirk in response. After taking a moment to briefly look down to the ground, she returns her attention back to her father. "I wanted to do that ever since the day you split from my office after telling me you wanted to talk. When I came out of the bathroom ready to hear you out, you were gone. That pissed me off."
"I remember." Jack nodded. "What I also remember was you not holding back about how you felt about me. You certainly let loose, that's for sure."
"Your back was turned. It showed me how you didn't have the decency to at least turn around, look me in eyes and take responsibility for all the screwed up shit you pulled. What really set me off is what you said after I pretty much got out all I could say to you off my chest while you continued to stand there facing the other way."
"Are you done?" he shared, mentally reliving that moment briefly in his head.
For Sarah, hearing those 3 words again causes her to wince a bit, but they don't have the same impact as it did when he first said it to her. Now, it's said under a different context and set of circumstance, but at same time they're associated with one of the most mentally, as well as emotionally painful moments she endured involving her father.
"I was so ready to rip your head off right then and there, but I didn't get the chance too." she recalled, still doing her best to keep her composure. The tone in her voice expressing a mixture of sadness, disdain, and anger.
"Your boss."
"Chief Beckman…" nodded Sarah. "…she stopped me from making a terrible mistake. I'm thankful she did." She cracks a small smile thinking about the woman who accepted and welcomed her into the Westside family as her Chief Operating Officer despite her rocky past. "She's taught me more in the past several months than you've ever taught me growing up." she firmly added, intently eyeing her father.
"That's good…" Jack said, smiling softly. "…good to here. I'm glad you have someone looking out for you. So many people actually. How you've been able to make a home here and…"
"What's this all about, Jack?" interjected Sarah, in a question manner. "Is there a point you're trying to make or is there no point at all?" she added, briefly pointing the iPad she's holding towards him.
Jack lets that question that's been directed to him sink in for a moment. A few seconds later, he takes a deep breath then pushes himself up into a standing position. In doing so, he sounds off a painful growl as he is able to look directly at instead of up at his daughter.
"I've been doing some soul searching…"
"You have a soul?" Sarah scoffed, spitting a faint chuckle.
"Do you want to know why I'm doing this or not?" Jack angrily retorted. "I get it. I've been a heartless, inconsiderate bastard. I'll never be father of the year…" In that instance, he starts shuffle around as if he's trying to gather his thoughts. "…but I need to say this because if I don't…"
Once again, Jack continues to shuffle around and begins muttering to himself as if he's mentally fighting with himself. For him, it's a fight, or in this particular case, a battle between his own ego and pride. Both at war with each other. Ego and pride winning out over his self-respect and dignity fading into the background, while he gradually built up a God-like persona for himself in the political world. Now that his ego and pride has been crushed, what's remains are his self-respect and dignity that are slowly emerging to the forefront.
"My whole career has been about indulging my ego and pride. Taking rather than giving. It's ironic what my career gave me, ended up taking everything from me. I've accepted the fact my career is over, which means my ego and pride took a nose dive. Got nothing left. Word is out that I've quit on a client and I'm probably labeled a liability." Jack shakes his head, then continues on. "I started out with so much dignity and self-respect, believing I'd make a difference, but that all went out the window after working with Daphne Peralta."
It's clear, by the look on Sarah's face and her overall body language, that her patience is wearing very thin because her father is not getting to the point. All he's doing is babbling on and on to where she's had enough of it and makes it known to Jack.
"Look, what are you getting at?" Sarah questioned once again.
"I know that I want to…no." Jack stops and shakes his head in order to change his wording. "I need to make amends. You…your mother. However, what I need most…" He pauses as the struggle in his voice can be clearly heard.
"Just spit it out, Jack!" she declared, expressing her intentions very clearly. "What do you need!?"
He quickly lifts his head in order to lock eyes with his oldest daughter. "HELP!" he cried out, taking a step forward. His voice resonating then slowly fading away with the confines of the courtyard. "What I need…" he calmly, reiterated back. "…is help." The tone in his voice become considerably emotional and sounding truly genuine.
Jack takes another deep breath, then backs up in order sit back down on the bench he just got up from moments ago. The expression of pain on his face as he slowly lowers himself down causing him to softly sound of a growl once again. After the pain subsides, he returns his attention back to Sarah.
"I've done things my own way and look where it's gotten me. Bad kidneys. Practically a death sentence, after the news I was given. Listen…" Jack readjusts himself, sitting on the beach in order to be more comfortable. "…I know I taught you that asking for help is showing signs of weakness. If that's the case, then I'm weak, because I'm asking for your help, darlin'. Not for your kidney, even though you think I'm full of shit right now."
"You're right." she retorted, continuing to keep her guard up. "You have been full of shit ever since you got here." Sarah noted.
In response, Jack shrugs his shoulders accepting his oldest daughter's assessment. Afterwards, he continues on. "Well, then a sign of good faith then. To show I'm not entirely full of shit."
"Remains to be seen." Sarah dryly answered back.
Instead of comment back concerning his daughter's doubts, he just keeps going with his sign of good faith. "Do you remember what you gave to me when I decided to branch out on my own? You wanted to help start up my own consulting company?"
It takes a second for Sarah to realize what her father is talking about causing her eyes to suddenly widen. "My piggy bank."
"That's it." he nodded, with a faint smile up towards his daughter. "You actually gave it to me. All the money you saved up along with some of the money from the singing competitions you were in as a teenager. You said it would help…"
It's at that point, Sarah chimes in unison with her father. "Take you places that I hope to one day follow. It's an adventure like no other, because all we need for an adventure is you and me."
Jack proudly smiles up at her after for being able to remember what she said to him years ago. "Your mother thought you made a big mistake."
"I should have listened to her back then." retorted Sarah.
Jack expressed an amused chuckle then continues on. "I've had that piggy bank with me every place I traveled to that a client hired me. When I took the job here, I decided to go to a bank and put in a safety deposit box. Listed your name with instructions to give you a key to open it."
Sarah is unsure whether or not to take his word for it after hearing that, but proceeds with caution. "What bank?"
"City National."
There's a moment of silence as Sarah stands there mulling over what Jack shared with her. "IF you're telling the truth, then it's really there..."
"It's there." Jack blurted out, quickly leaning forward. A sudden shooting pain causes him to sound off a growling hiss as he leans back to alleviate it.
At the same time that was happening, Sarah instinctively reached out towards him, but stopped herself from doing so. Instead she crosses her arms and speaks up. "I'll check it out tomorrow. If it's there, we'll discuss the help you're asking for. No guarantees." she answered, not revealing what Chuck shared with her beforehand. "Casey!" she called out.
"It's a start." nodded Jack. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet, Jack. Besides, you've got bigger problems to worry about." she stated, then turns around to walk off.
While doing so, she passes Casey and Chief Beckman giving them both a firm nod. As she continues walking towards the double doors, she hears her father's voice and the greeting he gives the two of them.
"Chief Beckman...Copface, fancy meeting the two of you here."
It's not long before Sarah reaches the double door entrance where Chuck, Emma, and Molly have been been waiting with anticipated curiosity for her. "Up for a trip for City National Bank tomorrow?" asked Sarah, looking at all 3 individuals.
XXX
NOTE: So what do you think? Do you still not trust Jack, especially after what he put in a safety deposit box? Will it change anything between Jack and Sarah even if that piggy bank is there? Look out for the next chapter and as always I very much appreciate the support for this story. In any case, leave a comment and share your thoughts concerning this chapter! Plus, a tip of the hat to NEVR for the bet. You continually rock!