Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Sarah along with Chuck, Molly and Emma go to National City Bank to find out what's in the safety deposit box. What Sarah finds are her piggy bank with a note, a stuffed dog, and a signed baseball with a protective case. However, it's not just any signed baseball as it's the signature of Jack's favorite player from the San Diego Padres Tony Gywnn. Sarah and Emma share the personal significance of the signed baseball with Chuck and Molly. However, it's that same signed Tony Gwynn baseball that is considered so important and priceless to him that he's willing to have Sarah give it away or sell to show that he's serious in wanting to talk. Sarah ends up going to meet with Jack and before she agrees to talk with him, she negotiates some terms that her father subsequently agrees to. So, here's the who, what, where, when, why, and how of it. Who does Sarah compare Chuck to so much so she finds him even more attractive than he already is to her? What 2 things do Chuck use because of what he hard on one of his father's tapes? Where did Jack go to college in order to get away from his mother Rebecca Franco? When did Jack reconnect with his mother? Why are Chuck and Vali talking about Back To The Future? How will the numbers 11235 help find Stephen Bartowski? 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.
Breakthrough
XXX
"It still blows my mind Jack agreed to your terms."
It's Monday morning and Sarah is on her phone talking with Chuck about the terms she had him agree to before they would sit down to have their discussion. Of course, being the professional that she is and tapping into her enforcer persona, her father didn't have much choice in the matter being that his health was gradually deteriorating. In her mind, she has the power now and because of his agreement he ended up waving the right to be discharged "AMA", which means - against medical advice. Since it's a patient's right to refuse care, she was actually shocked at the fact her estranged father didn't refuse knowing how problematic he was all throughout the week to practically every staff member.
The outright disrespect by him on the day after being admitted as a patient then being incredibly difficult to her nursing staff truly tested her patience, especially when he was detoxing. She didn't know how but she was able to restrain herself from completely going off on the man for kicking one of her nurses who turned out to be Anna. As much as she would have enjoyed her father getting beaten down by a small and not to mention scary Asian woman with anger management issues, she and Head Nurse Alex Forrest pulled her aside then ordered her to take a breather. Thankfully she did thus a crisis was averted in the form of a potential lawsuit for the hospital and adding another blemish on Anna's personnel file to where she ends up terminated because she's deemed a liability.
Jack was put into wrist and ankle restraints during that time, but would have them eventually removed after she, along with Chief Beckman and Casey, informed him that he's better behave or face the consequences. It took so much for her to not break out in a wide smile and keep the enforcer expression on her face while standing by her auburn haired boss who pretty much gave him a verbal tongue lashing, which Beckman didn't hold back whatsoever. For her, the mental image of a man who has always considered himself an alpha male backing down and submitting to a woman who Sarah most definitely considers an alpha female with her scary-ass hell hound, Casey, behind her. Both of whom she absolutely respects.
"He had no choice but to." Sarah answered back. A faint but noticeable smirk is expressed in the corner of her mouth. The reason is because he had to sign a contract put together by Hartley with Vivian who gladly helped in putting it together for the Chief Operating Officer. A contract in which if Jack breaches it in any way, shape or form he'd end up forfeiting his right to receive the artificial kidney that's being funded and produced by Ted Roark's company. "There's no other options for him. He either continues living like he has been pretty much destroying himself until he dies or gets help." she added, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Like I said, I'll back you up every step of the way. Also…" There's a pause and a noticeable sigh on Chuck's end. It leads Sarah to quirk her right brow, especially after hearing a soft exhaled sigh.
"What? What is it?"
"It's nothing. I don't want to…"
"Spill, Chuck." insisted Sarah, cutting off Chuck. "I know I'm dealing with my issues involving Jack and I appreciate your support. More than you'll ever know, but that doesn't mean I haven't forgotten about yours? Support goes both ways. So, what's up? Any progress?" she asked, with questionable encouragement.
There is momentary silence on the other end when Chuck speaks up. "There may be some progress. I was listening to one of my dad's tapes and he mentioned two things. Golden ratio and Fibonacci sequence."
"And they are?" she asked, quizzically.
"Well…umm…" Sarah can hear a momentary pause leading to the sound him clearing his throat before he speaks up. "…the golden ration deals in irrational numbers. It also a ratio found all throughout life. It's been said that people who we find conventionally attractive or proportion is based on the golden ratio. Di Vinci primarily used it in his paintings." he explained, the best he could with confusing his girlfriend.
"Ok…" replied Sarah, expressing confusion on her face. "…will it help find your dad?"
"Possibly. That and using the Fibonacci sequence."
"How?"
"It's hard to explain, but…" There's another silent pause on Chuck's end, but quickly returns. "You've counted the number of petals on flower as a kid, right?"
"I did." replied Sarah, expressing a brief smile.
"Awesome." he happily responded back. "If you counted the petals on the flower that are all intact, you'd likely discover the number of petals is a Fibonacci number. Many flowers have either 3, 5, 8, 13, or 21 petals. Irrational numbers. All of which are number in the sequence. Anyways…"
Sarah does her best to pay attention and decipher the information that's completely over the top of her head. However, since its important information to Chuck relating to potentially helping him find his father's exact whereabouts she's giving her full focus on what he's saying and putting in a way that she'll be able to understand. In her mind, that's part of his charm as he can get so lost in what he's saying that it's absolutely adorable, she thinks to herself. Plus the fact that whenever her boyfriend goes full on nerd it turns her on beyond belief because it's something he's passionate about, which is one of the things that she finds incredibly attractive about him.
Yet, she can't help but think her Chuck is, in a sense, a nerdy female version of Hermione Grainger, but the total opposite when it comes to appearance. He rather resembles a taller adult version of Daniel Radcliffe otherwise known as Harry Potter than Emma Watson. A character who she believes perfectly portrayed her role as an overachiever who excelled academically and is described by J.K. Rowling as a "very logical, upright and good" character. It's that particular thought in which she can't help but think Chuck may actually have a bit of Hermione in him as well. Of course, add Rupert Grint's Ron Weasley and she has her own Harry Potter trio in one sexy nerdy man.
As much as Sarah wants to continue the Harry Potter trio comparison involving Chuck, she sets aside those thoughts and continues listening to him. In doing so, she learns how the golden ratio correlates with the Fibonacci numbers. He then talks about how in geometry when the golden ratio is applied as a growth factor a special type of logarithmic spiral known as a Golden Spiral is generated. Its information she wouldn't ever remember if she were to ever repeat it back to him, she thinks to herself. Thankfully Chuck explained by putting it in simple terms for her by simply saying that a golden spiral gets wider by a factor of 5 for every quarter turn it makes. He further explained that best examples are seen in everyday life like in Ferris Wheels and seashells.
"I take it you know how to probably find your dad?"
"It's a longshot. I've already called Hartley. He's got all information and dead end locations that were noted down from the people he's hired over the years to find him. We're going to brainstorm and try to figure it out." he further shared.
"Good luck…." Sarah pauses for a moment as she can't help but be proud of him. However, she quickly realizes he's not doing it alone. "…to the both of you."
"Thanks."
"Is this going to distract you from this Friday's Bash At The Bench?" she added, with a mixture of worry and curiosity.
"I'd be lying if I say no."
This time it's Sarah who is silent leading her to ponder to many questions swirling in her head. Yet, it's one thought that she focuses on causing her to speak up.
"Does Ellie know?"
"Not yet." Chuck replied back. "If we find a possible clue that leads us to something concrete we'll let her know. Don't want to get her hopes up."
"Understandable. Keep me posted."
"You do the same. I love you."
"I love you, too." Sarah said, expressing a soft smile. Once the phone call is over, she lowers her phone and stands there for a moment thinking about the conversation she just had with Chuck. Unfortunately, she doesn't have time to think it over as her attention is directed to her right by the sound of a voice.
"Sarah, you ready?"
The voice in question is Dr. Leo Dreyfus and he's standing in front of an open doorway. It's an open doorway that leads into Jack Burton's hospital room.
"Real question is, Doc…" Sarah retorted, with a bit of humor. "…are you?" she added, titling her head a bit and quirking her right brow.
Dr. Dreyfus doesn't say a word. Instead, he simply motions his head directing for her step inside with him. In response, Sarah takes a momentary deep breath, then gives a nod to her therapist who takes a steps back in order to let her go in first before heading inside himself. The door to Jack's hospital room closing shut afterwards.
XXX
The outside of Jack Burton's hospital room had staff, visitors, and other patients briefly stopping in front of or by it as sounds of lively muffled "discussions" can be heard going on inside. Speaking of inside, Sarah is standing at the window staring outside with her arms crossed. A look of annoyed frustration on her face, which is seemingly the same expression her estranged father has on his face as he's laying comfortably as he can in his hospital room bed. For the past 20 minutes Dr. Dreyfus sits in a hospital chair placed a few feet away from the foot of Jack's bed hearing father and daughter airing out their differences.
Essentially, the respected and not to mentioned experienced therapist wasn't usually the type to ever make house calls or in this particular case hospital room calls. However, he made an exception after being informed by Sarah that there were special circumstances involved and even though her request was considered unorthodox he agreed to meet. Fortunately for him, his old friend Chief Beckman gave her the approval to make the therapy session happen between the two family members knowing it would most definitely be a way of using the opportunity to his advantage. Plus, finally meeting and putting the face to the name of Jack Burton truly intrigued him after spending time with Sarah who was greatly influenced by him growing up.
Of course, he would most definitely be up for the challenge. Easier said than done, he thinks to himself. Unfortunately, he found himself in the role of a referee than an experienced therapist as it started out as a calm discussion then inevitably turn into a shouting match where both individuals were talking over each other instead of to each other. It had to take Dr. Dreyfus standing up and making his presence known in order to get control of the therapy session before it got any worse. In his mind, he can be absolute authoritative when he needs to be and he certainly displayed it.
In any case, there have been family therapy sessions in the past where it has nearly gotten physical. However, he was able to intervene and somehow settle his patients down due to the overwhelming tension, as well as emotions that were building to the point of exploding. The accomplished doctor takes a moment to take a deep breath then proceeds to continue on with the session now that he's been able to attain, for the time being, a sense of control.
"This is a clear case of Avoidant Attachment with signs of Dysfunctional Non-Reciprocal Relationship issues." he firmly announced, but in calm tone of voice.
"If you say so, Leo." Jack retorted with a faint grain.
"It's Dr. Dreyfus…" stated the veteran therapist. He sits there momentarily with his head titled down a bit eyeing slightly above his spectacles towards his newest patient in the bed before him a few feet away. "…Mr. Burton."
In that instance, Sarah gives her response while continuing to look out the window. "Jack, you agreed to do this. If you're going to treat this as a joke then fine by me. One call and the artificial kidney you so desperately need is gone…" she shared, snapping her finger. "…just like that." Afterwards, she turns her head glaring at her father with such enforcer like intensity.
"Alright…alright, darlin'." he answered back, holding up both hands. "I'll be cooperative." His attention turns from his oldest daughter to the man sitting in a chair a few feet away from the foot of his bed. "Sorry, Le…" Jack stops in mid word then corrects himself. "…I mean Dr. Dreyfus."
For Sarah, since the beginning of their unorthodox session in Jack's hospital room he's been totally uncooperative and doing his very best to get her totally off balanced emotionally. In her mind, it's his way of sizing up Dr. Dreyfus in order to a good read on him so that he'll be able to mentally manipulate him, which he's doing a good job on her that's for sure. Essentially, he knows how to push her buttons to the point where she can't help but get reeled in and then angrily snap at him. She knows that she has to let her therapist do the work and provide a sense of hard hitting reality for Jack instead of him causing absolute insanity as a way to distract the purpose of what he's doing here. It's that particular thought in which she takes a deep breath, briefly gazes out the window, then turns around inevitably directing her attention to the man who she hopes will get through to her father.
"You said something about avoid…"
"Avoidant Attachment with some signs of Dysfunctional Non-Reciprocal Relationship issues." chimed in Dr. Dreyfus. "Yes. In simple terms. A person that is physically there but unavailable. Emotionally distant. Establishes strict boundaries. Strongly independent. Plus, falls into category of an alcoholic." he thoroughly shared and explained, in detail staring directly at Jack.
In that moment, Sarah stands there in front of the window completely stoned face. However, she found it considerably difficult not to smile knowing how awesome of a therapist Dr. Dreyfus truly is. True, he's talked about her father for a matter of only 3 days and has gotten some idea of what he's like. Yet, it's within the last 20 minutes that he's been able to do a seemingly thorough read and assess Jack Burton just by sitting in the room, observing, and most definitely listening to him.
Speaking of Jack, he simply expresses a faint smirk in response. "Color me impressed. Did you read me while you were sitting there or did you go and snoop in my chart to get those answers?"
Jack's response causes Sarah to roll her eyes knowing how much of an ass her estranged father is, especially to those he feels he can try to mentally go toe to toe with. As she continues to stand there in front of the window, she can't help but be impressed by the fact that Dr. Dreyfus seems to be totally un-phased by his new patients attempt at getting the experienced family therapist to react the way he wants to, but it isn't working. In a way, it's like they're playing the game of chicken and as much as Jack is trying to make the good doctor flinch and move out of the way, so to speak, he's not budging at all.
It's mesmerizing and at the same time quite humorous to witness for the Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical Center. In her mind, it's as if her father is throwing everything at him including kitchen sink, so to speak, but completely missing causing him to be absolutely frustrated. She knows this because there's a number of tell-tale signs that lets her know that Dr. Dreyfus is getting under his skin as they continue to go back and forth with each other. One of those tell-tale signs is the way he tilts his to the side then back, which means that the target he's encountering is tougher that he thought. Of course, she knows this because he's taught her exceptionally well to read other people's body language.
Her thoughts concerning being able to read people's body language are suddenly broken when Dr. Dreyfus asks a question that causes Jack to shut up completely. When she heard the question itself and saw how her father reacted, it seemed as if the power shifted completely over to the seasoned therapist's side.
"You didn't answer my question, Jack. Do you have a relationship with your father? Mother?"
It's when Dr. Dreyfus mentions his mother, Sarah clearly notices Jack's body language suddenly tighten up leading her to quickly surmise it does in fact have something to do with her grandma. For her, she only knows of the kind, elderly woman who would visit from time to time and slip her money, which is the standard protocol for a grandparent to a grandchild. Unfortunately, Molly wasn't able to experience the financial gift giving from someone Sarah considers to this day one of her favorite relatives. Unfortunately, she passed away a couple of years ago due to a heart attack. In that instance, it's Sarah who takes the initiative to do some familial investigating instead of her therapist.
"Did something happen between you and Grandma Becca?"
Jack shakes his head in response. After a brief silence and a looking as if he's suddenly uncomfortable sitting in his bed, he speaks up. "I don't want to talk about it."
"It is about her." Sarah retorted, stepping forward. "What is it that you're not wanting to talk about, Jack? Huh? What did she do to you?"
"Just drop it, darlin'. Ok?" Jack requested, holding up his right hand.
"No. Not ok." she answered back, shaking her head with her arms crossed. "Grandma Becca was awesome, especially to me. From what I remember of her, she was the kindest and sweetest person." she shared, taking a moment to reflect back on the times spent with her.
"Then you don't know her very well!" Jack angrily spitted out. The sudden and angry outburst leads to absolute dead silence in the hospital room to the point where all 3 individuals could possibly hear a pin drop on the floor. "She was a bitch and you would have been better off not knowing her. The woman who visited and always gave you money was actually a complete fraud." he further shared, continuing to express anger.
It's that revelations about Grandma Becca that leaves Sarah considerably stunned. However, when it comes to Dr. Dreyfus he pushes back then momentarily adjusts his spectacles to where it's no longer sitting on down at the tip of his nose. He locks his eyes with Jack then utters the following 8 words:
"Interesting. Let's expound on that, shall we?" he stated, clicking his pen then placing down on his notepad.
XXX
For the past 15 minutes, Sarah would find herself learning more than she ever bargained for in regards to the not so loving side of Grandma Becca. A side that was considerably cruel and abusive more in an emotional and mental way than physical. The latter would be inflicted on his father, which is the reason he ended up divorcing his mother. She put the blame of his father splitting solely on him despite the fact that she was mainly responsible for the collapse of their marriage. All the things that Dr. Dreyfus assessed about him earlier, exactly describes his mother because she was going through some personal issues that she refused to deal with. So, she acted out and inflicted the emotional, as well as mental pain on to her son.
Sarah would eventually find out with continued encouragement from Dr. Dreyfus that he chose to stay with his mom instead of going with his dad. The reason he stayed because he felt like that if he abandoned her it would haunt him for the rest of his life. It was more of an obligation than anything else according to him. Over time, he ended up resenting his father for leaving all the responsibility in caring for his mother to him all-the-while taking the full mental and emotional brunt to where it scarred him in every sense of the word. She and the seasoned therapist would continue to learn from Jack that when he turned 18 he moved out to be free from her emotional and mental tyranny against him.
He never contacted or visited his mother because he needed time away from all the chaotic insanity he put up with growing up. For the next 5 years, Jack spent the time getting his head right and at the same time went to college where he enrolled in San Diego State University . He double majored in psychology and business with a minor in public relations. His college journey had its ups and down filled with triumphs along with a few setbacks that triggered memories of his painful past. A past that no matter how hard he tried to forget about it, the memories caused him to mostly drink rather than taking or using other alternative methods to dull his mental and emotional pain.
It would be a year later after graduating college Jack would meet Emma leading him to make the decision to quit drinking and instead of focusing on the pain of the past he focused on making himself better man for her. Of course, they fell in love, got married, and eventually would have their first child together. A daughter named Sarah Lisa Walker. It would be right around the time he interviewed with then ended up working for Daphne Peralta. As for the aforementioned female figurehead of Jack's past, he found a mentor/mother figure in her who he imprinted on. The good news is it would be the start of a successful career path, but the bad news is it's that same path in which he now finds himself sitting in a hospital bed needing a kidney to save his life.
However, way before his eventual downward spiral of living life with reckless abandon that caused him to hit rock bottom there would be a conversation early on in their marriage between husband and wife concerning meeting his parents. He did his best to avoid it knowing full well he had no earthly idea where his father was, but he knew that his mother was still living in the same place that he moved out of. He only knew that information after talking with friends who informed him about her. In any case, after some much urging on Emma's part Jack finally contacted his mother and braced himself for the emotional, as well as mental kamikaze that is Rebecca Franco. Much to his surprise, he would end up talking with someone who he actually thought was a wrong number because of how she sounded on the phone.
What he found out after speaking with her is that she reluctantly got help a year and half later after he moved out. The help would be court appointed after he she ended up having an emotional and mental breakdown due to all that stressful issues that she wasn't dealing with. Issues that resulted in a fight with a cop that wasn't prepared for what he was about to encounter. She would go through treatment alone even though she had doctors, a therapists, and care givers assigned to her. It's during her treatment that she was diagnosed with clinical depression and bipolar disorder, which were both treated by taking prescription medication. She was a completely different person when Jack and his new family finally visited her.
Although it was considered to be a tremendous turn around emotionally and mentally for her, Jack still harbored those unresolved feelings and emotions that he pushed down for his family's sake. It's something he never shared with them until now. For him, despite getting help and turning her life around to where she became the quintessential poster loving grandma who gave warms hugs, fresh baked cookies, and money with a smile, Jack never let go of the resentment and anger that he's held on to for so long. Sadly, he never truly reconciled with his mother and despite talking things out the relationship was there but not really there.
"That's a lot to process. Didn't expect that at all." Sarah breathed out, shaking her head. "It does make sense why you never really talked about your parents or family life for that matter." she added, shrugging her shoulders.
"Yeah…" growled Jack. "…well. Now you know. Does it change how you see my mom after what I've told you?"
"Sort of." answered Sarah. "I'm not gonna lie it does hit hard, but she was able to change after getting the help she sorely needed."
"In my eyes, she never changed. The medication changed her." Jack retorted back, shaking his head. "You happy now? You got what you wanted." he added, crossing his arms still in bed. His attention briefly going back and forth between Sarah and Dr. Dreyfus. "You found my weak spot and now you can exploit it."
"The question is…" stated Dr. Dreyfus. "…are you happy now?" he added, pointing to Jack with his pen. "Plus, it's not necessarily a bad thing to show weakness. As for exploiting it, that's not why I'm here."
"That's head shrink talk. All just bullshit. Don't trust it. You're just playing an angle with me and you've found your opening. I'm just waiting for the hard right cross knockout blow after being hit with so many punches to the gut."
"Not every situation is considered an angle, Jack. Stop being so defensive and trying to think of this as a chess game or a boxing match for that matter to either win or lose." Sarah responded.
"It's what I've been doing for years. It's all I know." he shared, genuine honesty in the tone of his voice.
"Then we'll have to change that now a successfully positive breakthrough has been reached. If you're openly willing to continuing sharing that is?" offered Dr. Dreyfus, with encouragement and years of psychological expertise. "All up to you."
XXX
Chuck is standing a few feet away from a large white screen with several separate windows showing images of maps. His focus isn't on the maps on the screen as he's presently reading a text message that he received by Sarah. A text message that has the following 7 words on it: Serious Mind Stamp. Talk later. Love you. The nerdy business owner's eyebrows raise significantly knowing that his girlfriend's use of a Captain Awesome saying must be incredibly huge to have the words serious in front of mind stamp, he thinks to himself. His focus on Sarah's text message is subsequently broken by the sound of a voice in close proximity of him.
"Anything wrong, lad?"
The youngest Bartowski sibling lifts his head to see not only Hartley looking at him, but Vali has as well. All three individuals are in Vali Chandrekaren's spacious and not to mention large office within Roark Enterprises. He stands there for a brief moment locking eyes with his father's best friend then turns his attention to a man who has become incredibly helpful when it comes to providing any resource that's readily available to use no questions asked.
"Just Sarah giving an update about Jack."
"Good or bad?"
"Depends. Could go either way." Chuck replied, shrugging his shoulders.
In that instance, Vali chimes making his presence known. "I don't know this Jack, but sounds like he's a guy that should get punched in the face."
"Been there, done that. Wouldn't recommend it." the nerdy business owner retorted, taking a moment to rub his right hand.
"Awesome." Vali grinned. "How was it?"
Chuck stands there for a moment trying to compare his punch to Jack's face. After a few seconds go by he speaks up. "Do you remember the parking lot scene in Back To The Future where a young George McFly ending up balling his left fist, took a swing with everything he got, and punched out Biff after he knocked Lorraine to the ground?"
"At the Enchantment Under The Sea Dance. He got what he deserved, especially after laughing about what he did to Marty's mom." nodded Roark's main and not to mention top IT specialist. He then continues on. "1 or 2?"
"What?"
"1 or 2? First movie or the second?"
"Does it matter?"
"Now that I think about it…" Vali responded, shaking his head. "…it doesn't." he added, shrugging his shoulders.
"Anyways…" Chuck breathed out, continuing on with what he's about to share. "...Jack took it too far talking about my parents and I just reacted. Next thing I know he's down and I hurt my hand."
The interaction between both men involving what is considered to be one of the best movie trilogies of all time would inevitably be interrupted by the sound of a clearing throat. Both men direct their attention to Hartley.
"Shall we focus on more pressing matters, gentlemen? What have you learned, Charles?" Hartley nodded, towards his best friend's son.
"I think there might be a way to find my father?"
"How?" immediately questioned Hartley. Both eyebrows rising up with great interest.
"In one of his tapes, he was talking about using Golden Ration and Fibonacci sequence. It seemed like he was on to something. I didn't know what until…" Chuck shared.
It's at that point, Vali chimes in adding to what his nerdy colleague revealed. "Until…we realized something was missing."
"Like what?" inquired Hartley.
"Locations that ended up being dead ends. That's where you come in." Chuck retorted, pointing at him then at the images of the individual maps on screen. He takes a step forward and past Hartley inevitably planting himself in the middle to where he then turns to face the large white screen. "You marked off the areas the private investigators you hired to search but came up empty right?" he asked, briefly glancing over his foster father.
"Indeed." nodded Hartley. "Vali inputted the locations." he added, acknowledging him to overlay the information on to the maps.
Chuck stands there for a moment checking out all the locations that ended up being dead ends. While doing so, he starts mumbling to himself. This leads Vali to approach then stand beside Chuck who he hears what he's been mumbling about causing him to become equally as focused on the large white screen. After briefly glancing at Chuck, his eyes suddenly widen.
"11235...11235!"
It took a while for Chuck to figure it out, but once he closed his eyes, relaxed, and take a deep breath it all fell in too place. He would then experience a much needed flash to finally see it. "That's right. 11235." grinned Chuck.
"Lads!" interjected Hartley, considerably confused at what's happening. "Do those numbers mean something?"
Chuck and Vali briefly turn to each other smiling. Afterwards, it's Chuck who turns to Hartley and reaches up placing his right hand on Hartley's left shoulder. "Yes it does. All we need now is a logarithmic spiral and we're in business."
"Which I can pull up in a jiff!" announced Vali, stepping over to and typing away at his keyboard.
Hartley is momentarily silent as he stands there processing everything that has just been shared with him. Granted, most of things that were shared he didn't really understand as it completely went over his head. However, when it comes to the mind of Chuck Bartowski he knows that great minds think alike and he certainly for sure the son of Stephen Bartowski. It's that particular thought in which Hartley reaches up with both hands and places them on his foster son's shoulders.
"Proud of you, son."
"How about me?"
"Yes, you too." Hartley couldn't help but express laughter in seeing Vali's exuberance after he validated him, but it soon fades. The man who seemingly exudes a James Bond quality about him
squeezes Chuck's shoulders inevitably returning his attention back to him. He then leans forward a bit making sure to lock eyes with the nerdy individual standing in front of him. "Let's find your father." he firmly nodded.
XXX
NOTE: So what do you think? Do you think Jack is on the up and up with his mom issues? Plus, Chuck possibly finding a way to search for his father with Hartley and Vali's help? Hope you enjoyed this chapter and I'll try to get the next chapter out when I can. I've just been busy and at times lazy, but most of all busy. Anyways, as always thanks to NEVR for doing the BETA!