Chuck vs. The Courtyard Bench
Well, in the previous chapter: Casey and James Keller faced off. As they did, Casey shared what he knew of Keller who was considerably astonished at how much was known about him. One of those things was how Keller put all of his military pension in a failed bank investment that involved Lehman Brother who ended going bankrupt. It was the reason for the deterioration of Keller's mental. It also didn't help that Keller roped Bennett who was quite possibly doing harm to his mental and physical health as well by taking an experimental military drug called Laudonal. Casey learned it was partly the reason how ended up with the serious head injury. However, in order to get Bennett to open up, Casey opened up as well concerning his depression that tried to hide from his wife after he came back home form his 2nd tour. Fortunately for Casey he was able to get help and afterwards was able to get help for Bennett. As for Keller, Casey talked to him and even though Sarah didn't know what was said to Keller, it was made clear that Bennett's friend got the message. So, what happens in this chapter? Who does Chuck compare Casey as it relates to a certain 80's iconic movie? What is the name of the 80's iconic movie? Where does Morgan end up sticking his foot while talking with Sarah on the phone? When did Casey's father die? Why does Casey choose to reveal his lady feelings to his mentor? How does Keller end up leaving the hospital? Here are the who, what, where, when, why, how's? 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.
I Got Your Six
XXX
I'm sorry I can't make lunch, babe," Sarah somberly conveyed, with disappointment in her voice. The fiancée of Chuck Bartowski was on the phone and standing by the main nurses' station in the Trenches of the emergency room. She accompanied Casey more as a supportive friend rather than a colleague and trusted partner. "I want to be there for Casey knowing he's making a tough choice for his sensei's own health and wellbeing," she shared.
"I get it," Chuck responded, on the other end of the line. "You should be there for the big guy. He's family. Granted, he's like the older brother who has Chet-like qualities."
"Chet?"
"Weird Science. The iconic 80's movie."
"I don't remember watching that movie." After she shared that, she could feel Chuck smiling on the other end of the line.
"It's on the list for movie night," he noted. "Bill Paxton played the older brother who always threatened Wyatt and Gary with bodily harm. Emotionally abusive, intimidating, and super demanding." Chuck listed off. "Plus, he had no sense of humor."
Sarah was about to respond when she suddenly heard Morgan in the background. "Definitely describes Casey to a T," added Chuck's self-proclaimed hetero life partner.
"Also," chimed in Chuck. "A young Tony Stark/Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., was in the movie as well."
In that instance, Sarah knew that whenever Chuck and Morgan found themselves in the zone of talking about tv, movies, video games, or some random topic, they would be locked in for hours. She harkened back to when she stumbled on the YouTube video of when they had a 4- hour long conversation of what sandwich to take on a deserted island and how mayo didn't fare well in the tropics. A video that she actually got through nearly 8 minutes before she focused on other videos in her quest to get to know her nerd, before he became her nerd. She was about to speak up when she suddenly heard Morgan in the background.
"Don't forget Kelly Lebrock as Lisa, dude! She was hot and quite possibly the reason many young boys, including ourselves, became men."
"True and good call, Morg," responded Chuck. "However, I raise you Phoebe Cates and the swimming pool scene in Fast Times At Ridgemont High."
After she heard that over the phone, there was silence on the other end of the line. At that moment, she rolled her eyes because of what they were possibly doing. Sarah suspected both men of thinking about that particular scene in the movie, which she recalled as well. However, she didn't really pay close attention to it, unlike most of the male population who repeatedly played the scene over on tape back in the day. In any case, she took a quick moment to peer over at the clock and combined with the continued silence she heard on the other end of the line, she thought she had given a considerable amount of leeway for her fiancé to enjoy himself. So, she decided to make her presence known.
"Charles Irving Bartowski," she firmly stated.
After saying his full name over the phone, she suddenly heard a mixture of sounds to the point where she faintly heard the frantically repeated words of "catch it". A few seconds later, she heard a familiar voice on the other end of the line.
"Sorry."
The way that Chuck apologized caused Sarah to cover her mouth so that her nerdy fiancé wouldn't be able to hear her laugh. It sounded like a kid who knew he was in trouble and just fessed up to what he did wrong. Fortunately for her, the beautiful blonde's laughter wasn't heard on his end, evident by when Morgan spoke up in the background.
"Sorry, Sarah."
"Why is Morgan apologizing?" she wondered.
"Yeah, Morg," responded Chuck, on the other end. "Why are you apologizing?"
"Put him on the phone," Sarah requested.
"She wants to talk to you."
After she overheard a bit of back and forth between the two best friends, Sarah finally heard Morgan's voice. "I don't know," Morgan retorted. "I just am."
Sarah quirked her right brow. "So, you're just guilty by association."
"Yes ma'am."
"Even though I heard what you said," Sarah retorted, with a mischievous grin.
There was a brief moment of silence on the other end before Morgan responded. "Wh..what did you hear?" he nervously stammered out.
"How Kelly Lebrock was hot and the reason many boys like you and Chuck," Sarah briefly paused. "Became men, as you eloquently put it."
Sarah heard what she thought was a curse word on the other end but it was too muffled to know exactly if it actually was. Afterwards, Morgan spoke up once again. "I said that!?"
Sarah heard Morgan's voice crack on the other end of the line. "Those were your exact words, Morgan." There was another moment of silence, which led to Emma's oldest daughter to speak up. "Morgan?"
"Kelly Lebrock doesn't compare to you, Sarah. You're beautiful and awesome…"
As Sarah was half listening to Morgan, she made eye contact with one of the nurses named Blake working behind the main nurses' station of The Trenches. She rolled her eyes like she did earlier and the way she did that it caused Blake to express an amused grin.
"That's sweet of you to say," Sarah responded. "Are you saying these things so I don't tell Alex?"
"Nooooo…well," responded Chuck's hetero life partner. "Yeah. Please, don't tell her. Is she with you?" Morgan blurted out.
Although Sarah couldn't see Morgan doing it, she imagined he was probably nervously squirming while she listened to him blabbing away on the phone. For the beautiful blonde, she knew after being around her fiance's bearded best friend that whenever he got overly flustered or nervous, he got very verbal. Essentially, that's pretty much who Morgan Grimes was since he was a kid and his mouth had a tendency to get him in trouble to the point where he got beaten up at school. Granted, it was mostly from girls, but he was able to get out of it partly unscathed thanks to Chuck. Unfortunately, he ended up sticking his foot in his mouth again.
"And have you seen Kelly Lebrock lately?" Morgan uttered. "You and Alex are far better looking than her. Plus, she's let herself go."
At that point, Sarah couldn't pass up the opportunity to mess with Morgan just a bit more. "Are you sure? Have you seen pictures of her recently?"
"I haven't."
At that point, things didn't get better for Morgan and Sarah fully expected him to quit talking. Instead, he spiraled and spouted off something about how true beauty was subjective. Of course, he tried to give an explanation, but it didn't make any sense whatsoever. Meanwhile, she could hear Chuck in the background trying to reason with his best friend to give him back the phone, but to no avail. He continued rambling until Morgan said something about how Kelly made a mistake in marrying Steven Seagal. That's when she chimed in just to have a bit more fun with him."
"Are you saying that I'm making a mistake in marrying Chuck?"
"NO!"
Morgan's emphatic 'no" was somewhat shouted on his end, which caused Sarah to quickly move the phone away from her right ear. After a few seconds passed by, she placed it back. When she did, she faintly heard what sounded like a slap on the other end of the line. Afterwards, she heard a voice speak up.
"Thanks, Chuck."
"I had too, buddy."
"I know," responded Morgan. "I don't know what came over me. It was like I was the bus from the movie Speed. My mouth wouldn't stop. It was as if it was going over 50 mph…"
"And if you slowed down or stopped, you'd end up exploding?"
"Yeah," Morgan replied. "Thanks for being my Keanu Reeves and stopping me from exploding." There was a seemingly long silence afterwards. However that would end when Morgan spoke up again. "Awkward."
"Yep," There was a slight pause before Sarah heard Chuck's voice again. "Listen, I always got your back, Morg."
"Ditto."
After a few seconds of silence, Sarah suddenly heard Chuck's voice again on the other end of line. "Sarah?"
"Are you two done with your lady feelings?" sarcastically questioned Sarah. "I can give both of you more time together if you want," she humorously added, borrowing from Casey.
"We're done."
"Mhmmm," Sarah responded. She then rolled her eyes a bit, which caused the nurse that had been intently paying attention to the whole interaction to crack an amused smile.
"I love you," Sarah didn't respond right away, which caused Chuck to speak up. "Sarah? Sweetheart? Baby? Babe? Honey…bun?"
Sarah expressed an amused smirk as she let her fiance squirm for a few more seconds before she answered him. "I love you too,." she softly conveyed, shaking her head. "Get back to work, dork."
"Yes ma'am."
Sarah hung up and momentarily stood there expressing a soft smile. Her attention eventually turned to Casey talking with Bennett. Instead of walking up to them and disturbing the conversation between the two men, she turned around and looked inside the waiting room where Keller was seated. Afterwards, she turned to the nurse who was thoroughly entertained by the one sided conversation going on.
"Blake, contact whoever is available from Casey's security team to stand at the waiting room door that Bennett's friend is in," Sarah ordered. "Also, let me know if that same man in the waiting room leaves or even tries to talk to the patient Casey is with."
"Yes, Chief," the nurse nodded. She watched as Chief Walker headed off to possibly take care of any hospital business that needed attending to.
XXX
"Calm your center, Alex," Bennett softly stated, sounding embarrassed. "I know you're angry at me."
"I'm not angry, sensei. I'm just," Casey paused for a moment and then reached over to grab the rolling stool that was up against the wall. Afterwards, he took a seat by the foot of Bennett's hospital bed with his arms crossed. "Disappointed."
For Casey, he always had great admiration and respect for the man who had a hand in his military training until they parted ways. To him, Ty Bennet was considered more than just a mentor and training instructor. He considered him a father figure that was there for him more than his own father was. A father figure who wasn't mentally, emotionally, and physically abusive to him thanks to alcohol. One of the reasons why he joined the military was to get away from the abuse, and to control his pent-up anger towards his father or he'd end up killing him with his bare hands.
Unfortunately, he had to leave his mother behind and as painful as it was, his mother encouraged him to do so for his own sake. While he continued to sit there, he momentarily thought back to the abuse that was inflicted on not only him, but his mother, as well. It was something Casey never forgot and will never forgive his father for. As much as he wanted her to go with him to escape the abuse, she literally pushed him out the door as a loving mother would do to protect her only son. Her Johnny Boy. It was his mother's endearing way of referring to her baby boy and although he initially refused to go without her, he begrudgingly listened.
It was a painfully defining moment for him, especially since he was in a relationship with his high school girlfriend Kathleen. Speaking of Kathleen, she knew about the abuse and was there for him even though he wasn't the type of guy who opened up about the abuse going on at home. When the opportunity presented itself, he moved out at the age of 17 and with Kathleen's help was able to find a place to stay. The relationship he shared with Kathleen forged a strong bond and drew the two of them closer together. He remembered he wanted to propose to her the right way, get married and then plan for Niagara Falls honeymoon. That was the plan until he decided to join the military in order to build a better life for the both of them.
Essentially, it screwed up wedding plans and he ended up just proposing at a bus station in Buffalo before he left for basic training. Although it wasn't considered an ideally romantic setting to propose, he'll always not only remember that day, but the look on Kathleen's face as well. In his mind, even though it's a story he shared with Chuck when he talked with him alone at Sarah's birthday party, he considered it a cherished memory that he fondly held on to. It reminded him of happier times in their marriage before it unfortunately fell apart between the two of them. Yet, they were able to produce a strong-, willed and independent daughter who takes after the both of them, he thought to himself.
The moment when his daughter was born, he vowed to not only never become his father, but to be far better than him in every way. Casey kept that vow when Alex was born and even though his marriage didn't work out with Kathleen, they happily co-parented together. Of course, if it wasn't for Bennett who mentored an angry lost soul who needed to be guided in the right direction, he would have ended up in a very different place in life. Speaking of his father, he learned from a letter that he received from Kathleen that his father ended up getting killed in a car accident because he was drunk behind the wheel of his car. He also learned that Kathleen would check in on his mother for him because she was also concerned about the safety, health, and wellbeing of a woman who she still has a great relationship with.
Thankfully, his mom wasn't with him at the time and even though his mom went to the funeral out of obligation as the wife, Casey didn't. His refusal was a big middle finger to the man who he saw as a failure as a man, a husband, and a father. Essentially, the pent-up anger and unresolved issues that he harbored for his late father were subsequently utilized by Bennett as a way of channeling that anger into something in his training to become an elite soldier. Bennett's influence changed the course of Casey's life as he finally had someone other than his mother and Kathleen who believed in and saw potential in him, unlike his father.
He was a mentor who was able to mold Casey, not just into a soldier, but the man he aspired to be, and ultimately became his father figure. A father figure who was now in the hospital being treated for a serious head injury because of taking an experimental drug that was secretly funded by the military. Added to the fact if Bennett didn't tag along with Keller, his sensei wouldn't have ended up in this unfortunate situation in the first place.
"I'm a big boy," responded Bennett. "I don't need to be looked at or treated as a child," he added, sounding angry.
"Then why tag along with Keller?" Casey inquired, shaking his head. "Better question, how long has this been going on?"
"Not long," Bennett answered. "One day, he asked me if I wanted to make some fast cash. All I had to do was volunteer to take some pills. Sounded simple enough."
"That's it though, Sensei," Casey angrily growled, which caused Bennett to suddenly flinch. That led Ty Bennett's protege to take a deep breath and calm himself down before he continued on. "You have no idea what's in them or what the side effects are."
"Dizziness is one side effect," responded Bennett, with faint amusement. "I know that for sure."
At that point, Casey glared sternly at Bennett and then expressed a soft growling grunt. "I don't think what happened to you is funny. Taking an experimental pill that you know nothing about."
"I know it's not," Bennett softly retorted. "I just don't want to be seen as weak," he added, shaking his head.
There was a brief moment of silence between the two men. While sitting there, Casey could clearly tell that the man he had looked up to, and still does, felt like he was being seen as weak. Far from it, he thought to himself. As much as he always conveyed his disdain for others sharing their lady feelings, he had to set that aside in order to get through to someone who he considered one of the two most important influences male figures in his life. The other being the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan. So, he manned up, softened his body language, and started to speak to him not just as one veteran soldier to another, but as a human being as well.
"I know you're not weak," Casey answered back. "You're the strongest person I know."
The two men shared a brief silence before Bennett spoke up. "The woman was right, you know.."
"Who are you talking about?" questioned Casey. "Right about what?"
"The woman at the clinic who gave the pills to test out. I felt stronger and for the first time since," Bennett paused and mentally searched for the right words to convey to the man who was sitting to his left. A few seconds later, he continued on, "Well, in a long time, I was my old self."
"You mean stubborn and hardheaded?" Casey stated, cracking an amused grin.
Bennett started straight ahead and shook his head while he continued to do his best sitting comfortably in the emergency room bed he was assigned to. Afterwards, he turned his head and locked eyes with Casey. "Fearless," he firmly responded.
XXX
"Did the dizziness cause you to fall down the stairs?" Casey inquired.
"Yeah," nodded Bennett. "It was like the hallway was spinning," he shared.
When Bennett nodded, Casey was keenly aware of certain tell-tale signs he noticed. It let the hulking Head of Security know his sensei wasn't telling the whole truth. Two of those signs were the way he looked to the right and up, as well as how he nervously rubbed his hands on top of the blanket covering the lower half of his body. Plus, the fact that he noticed Bennett's left hand shaking a bit until he covered it up then held it with his right hand. Casey's instinct told him Bennett was holding something back.
"What aren't you telling me, Sensei?" he softly grunted.
Bennett was silent and looked like he was hesitant in answering the question evident by his overall body language. After Bennet shifted in his bed a few times trying his best to get comfortable, he gave up and gave a soft, somewhat exasperated exhale. At that point, the hulking head of security of Westside Medical Security pressed forward and investigated further.
"Sensei, do you remember what you told me and the rest of my training squad I was in?"
Bennett returned his focus back on Casey. When he did, he furrowed his bushy eyebrows towards the man sitting next to his bed. "Of course I did," he responded, sounding angry. "I may be old, but not senile."
"Prove it," Casey retorted, smirking. His arms still crossed together.
"Never get too emotionally involved," stated Bennett. "Especially on a mission. You end up endangering your fellow soldiers. Finish the mission and deal with the aftermath later," he added, intensely staring back at Casey.
Casey sounded off a soft, but amused grunt. "You also reminded us that things happen in the military where you'll be let down. Don't focus on that fact. Rely on your brothers to get you through it."
"I know what I said," Bennett angrily shot back.
"I don't think you do, Sensei." Bennett was about to speak up, but Casey cut him off. "You're not relying on your brothers," He briefly paused. "To watch your six." "Afterwards, Casey shook his head. "You've had my six ever since you took a scared kid under his wing." There was a momentary pause once again knowing what he truly meant what he shared with Bennett as it came from a place he rarely tapped into. "Hell, we've all never forgotten." Casey scooted a bit closer and locked eyes with Bennett. "I've never forgotten."
"Are you expressing your lady feelings, Alex?" asked Bennett, shaking his head.
"What if I am?"
Casey sat there stone faced as the two men stared each other down. Both men exuded unwavering determination to not break eye contact with one another. For so long, the man who instilled in him that emotions or in this particular case "lady feelings" were considered an absolute disadvantage. A sign of weakness that will ultimately get you killed in the field of battle. As much as the ornery veteran taught those, he had under his tutelage to suppress their emotions, Casey clearly could see and hear the emotions in his face and voice. The man who was considered the definition of badass during his time in basic training then on special operations missions was, and still is, a badass. Unfortunately, his overall mental and physical health deteriorated because he didn't get the proper care/treatment he needed after going through severe PTSD.
For it was considerably difficult for him to see Bennett in the condition he was in now. Yet, at that moment, Casey didn't show it, knowing full well his mentor was purposely distracting him from his main objective of finding out what caused him to fall down the stairs. In his mind, it wasn't just the dizziness that contributed to the serious head injury that he sustained. After a moment of shared silence between the two men, he knew he needed to not handle the situation with kid gloves. Instead, he had to attack it, but in a very respectful way.
"I know what you're doing?"
Bennet quirked his right brow. "What are you talking about? I'm not doing anything."
"If you say so," Casey softly grunted. He shook his head and then proceeded on. "You wouldn't be here if you hadn't gone with Keller."
"Keller is my friend."
Casey shook his head. "Keller's an addict."
"He's not a drug addict!" he shouted, causing a bit of a scene.
It was at that point, Casey stood up and turned around to close the sliding glass door to have more privacy between the two of them. Before he did, he glared at everyone who stood frozen within the Trenches whose eyes were fixed on their location. After he expressed a noteworthy grunt, Casey slid the curtain for additional privacy as well. A few seconds later, he scooted the rolling stool a bit closer to Bennett, sat right back down and continued talking with the mentor who had greatly influenced him.
"I'm not talking about drugs, Sensei," Casey growled. "He's just in it for the money. He could care less about you. All he sees is the opportunity to get paid, which is why he hasn't moved on. Who knows what is going through Keller's system. He's basically a walking molotov cocktail."
"I wish I had a cocktail right now," Bennett retorted. He sounded considerably irritated, annoyed, and agitated by what his protege shared with him. "Or at least a beer or two. Maybe whiskey. Something much stronger."
"Like an experimental drug called Laudanol?" stated Casey. "That won't help, Sensei. Do you know how stupid you are!?"
"Stupid!?" he angrily spat back. "I should kick your ass!" Bennett added, sitting straight up.
"Bring it, old man," Casey growled. He fully expected Bennett to jump out of bed to fight him. Unfortunately, he didn't and instantly fell back with a seemingly deflated look on his face that resembled an old Pitbull who barked but didn't have much of a bite.
After laying there, somewhat elevated with his head against his pillow, he looked up at the ceiling lights with a mixture of anger and disgust on his face. As he did, Bennett shook his head several times. "You have no idea what I'm going through."
The painful, angry intensity in his eyes was clearly seen by Casey. Yet, what he saw in Bennett's eyes wasn't just anger. There was also a tremendous amount of pain that emanated from them as they spoke volumes. At that moment, Casey didn't say a word. He simply reached out and placed his left hand on Bennett's left shoulder. Afterwards, he decided he was going to share something he has never told anyone except one other person.
"I went through depression after I got home from my 2nd tour." The confession was a complete shock and surprise to Bennett as he turned his head to face him.
XXX
Bennet expressed a look of disbelief at the absolute bombshell that was dropped on him by his former protege. He sat there for a moment in his emergency hospital bed trying to process what was just shared with him. As much as he wanted to say something, nothing was coming out of his mouth. In that instance, Bennet was rendered speechless as he heard the man he knew as Alex Coburn continue on.
"I hid it from Kathleen until," Casey stopped and was just silent.
It was at that point Bennett finally softly uttered something after being rendered speechless for so long. "Until."
"I lashed out at her in front of our daughter who was very young at the time. It scared Alex and she ran to her room crying. Kathleen immediately checked on her." Casey shared, recalling that moment in time. "I didn't know what was wrong with me. I just wasn't feeling myself. "
Silence blanketed the room both men were in until Bennett broke it by speaking up. "You felt like you just wanted to fight someone," Casey nodded. "Anyone, out of frustration."
"Have you been feeling that way?"
Bennett didn't respond right away. He just sat there with his head down and looked as if he was mentally and emotionally struggling with himself. As for Casey, he didn't push him to answer. Instead, he waited for him to open and he learned from Dr. Howard Busgang if he ever encountered a military veteran who was dealing with PTSD. Fortunately for him, it was working as he suddenly noticed that Bennet lifted his head and faced him.
"One moment I'm irritable and angry like I want to take on the whole damn world," Bennett shook his head and then continued on. "Next thing I know, I feel like I'm just useless.," He briefly paused. "Then I think, who is going to miss me?"
The latter part of what Bennett conveyed was a complete gut punch. For Casey, the thought of his mentor thinking that he's useless and doesn't matter, as if he was like a piece of trash thrown away, caused the hulking head of security to experience a mixture of emotions. One of those emotions was mainly anger. However, he pushed the anger down, knowing full well it won't help matters any. Instead, he took a deep breath before and decided to share something poignant, as well as meaningful to prove the latter part of what he said was dead wrong.
"You're wrong, you know."
"About what?"
"There's so many people that would miss you if you were gone, Sensei," Once again, Casey reached out and placed his left hand on Bennett's left shoulder. "I'm one of them." Casey expressed a truly appreciative smile towards his mentor. A few seconds later, he pressed forward. "I was an unfocused kid with anger issues before I met you."
"And what are you now?" Bennett retorted back.
"I'm focused and dealing with my anger issues," Casey softly answered back. "Thanks to you, Sensei."
"Bonsai tree?" Casey responded with a grunting nod, which Bennett proudly acknowledged. Speaking of Bennett, he continued on. "Still going by the steps to pruning that I taught you? No shortcuts?" he inquired.
"Yes, Sensei." Casey nodded. "Among other avenues." After he said that, he knew Bennett was going to ask him what other avenues he used, so he continued on before he could even ask the question. "You've taught me basically everything I know and now I want to return the favor."
"Alex," Bennett shook his head. "No," he added, refusing the generous gesture.
"All I'm saying is I got your six," Casey took a moment and uncrossed his arms. "You don't have to do this alone. I know you would have done the same for me, or any one of us you looked out for."
"I had to, or you grunts would have shot yourselves in the foot." Bennett briefly paused, then spoke up again. "That or gotten yourselves killed. Worse…killed each other under my watch."
Casey smirked and then expressed a grunt of appreciation. "Listen, you never took it easy on me or any of the other guys. No matter how stupid we were and the mistakes we made. You always had our six." Bennett sat there in silence in his emergency room hospital bed letting what was said to him sink in. That moment gave Casey the opportunity to continue on. "I know I'm not making this easy for you and the mistake on my part would not be calling you out on it."
"And that mistake is?"
"You stupidly volunteered and risked your life to take a clinical drug called Laudanol," firmly stated Casey. "That and combined with the prescribed medication you're taking now, it could have been much worse." The sound of anger and concern was very evident in his voice. "You always told us never to be afraid to speak up about someone's actions because they have to be held accountable, no matter what."
"You're right," Bennett momentarily paused. "You must have had an exceptional instructor,." he proudly added.
A proud smirk was expressed by Casey after he heard that from his mentor. "You were lucky it was just your head."
"You said it yourself," Bennett jokingly remarked. "I am, after all, hard-headed." Afterwards, he felt a surge of pain from his head injury, which caused him to hiss out.
The two men shared a laugh together. Once the laughter subsided, there was momentary silence that blanketed the room once again. Fortunately, the silence was broken when Casey spoke up. "Please, let me help you."
Bennett sat in silence as he contemplated being given help that was offered to him by the man he knew as Alex Coburn. Meanwhile, Sarah returned to The Trenches after being contacted by nurse Blake at the main nurses' station. After the Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical center exchanged head nods with nurse Blake, she headed straight towards the waiting room where Keller was in a discussion with one of Casey's security team. Before she arrived, Keller stepped outside and he was stopped by orders of Chief Walker, which the military veteran didn't take too kindly to.
"Mr. Keller," Sarah stated, making her presence known. She nodded at the security team member that was assigned to stand guard. The guard nodded back and then stepped outside of the room where he posted himself by the door, just in case he was needed. "What seems to be the trouble here?"
"I just wanted to see how Ty was doing," responded Keller. "But that jackass out there wouldn't let me."
"That jackass, sir," firmly retorted Sarah. "Was following my orders,." she added, arching her right brow.
"I don't understand," Keller shook his head out of bewildered confusion. "Why am I being treated like this?"
"When it involves the safety of a patient, we don't take it very lightly, Mr. Keller."
"Safety?" questioned Keller. "Is something wrong with Ty?"
Sarah was about to respond when someone entered the room. The Chief Operating Officer of Westside Medical Center looked behind her and saw Casey approach then stand right beside her. He immediately crossed his arms and directed his focus towards Keller. "Walker, can I have a word alone with him?"
After Casey asked that question, Sarah leaned over to him. "Are you sure?" she whispered, with a bit of concern on her part.
Casey simply responded with a grunt. Sarah stood there and took a moment to read her partner's eyes. After a few seconds, she nodded and that led her to make her exit from the waiting room. After acknowledging the security team member that was standing guard outside the door, she made her way to the main nurses' station of the Trenches. Upon arrival, she stood there for a moment and briefly talked with nurse Blake behind the desk. The conversation between the two of them was interrupted by a ringing phone, which Nurse Blake answered. Sarah turned her attention toward the waiting room where she noticed the expression on Keller's face, but not Casey's, since he had his back facing her.
However, judging from the expression on Keller's face, what was being said to him by Casey caused Bennett's new found friend to back up a bit. In her mind, it was like Batman, or better yet, old Bruce Wayne from the Batman Beyond Series who was able to put the fear of God into anyone by simply staring at you, she thought to herself. Her mental focus was suddenly broken when she saw Casey backing up inside and then open the waiting room door. Keller stepped out of the waiting room first, followed by her hulking partner. When he did, he leaned over to his security team member that was posted by the door and whispered to him. The aforementioned security team member nodded and then directed his attention to Keller.
"This way, sir," he stated, motioning towards the exit.
Keller was a bit reluctant to do so but complied when he saw Sarah approaching. "Fine. I'll go willingly."
As Keller was escorted out of the hospital, he took a quick second to look behind him. He and the security team member eventually disappeared out of sight. As for Sarah, she briefly turned her head and peered up at Casey. "Did he drive here?"
"Negative," responded Casey. "But I got it handled, Walker."
Sarah nodded. "I know you do. Just know I got your back." Afterwards, she turned her attention to Bennett's room where she saw him through the opening doorway of bed #5. He seemed to be resting comfortably despite his head injury. "What about Bennett?"
"I got that handled too," grunted Casey. As he said that, he lifted his phone and placed it against his right ear. After waiting for a few seconds, he spoke up. "Brother Bodhin, please."
XXX
NOTE: One of the things I explored in this chapter was Casey's father. We never really got any background information on Coburn Sr. in the series. We did get small mention of Casey's mom in Vs. The Santa Clause when it assumed that he was calling his mother. It could have been Beckman for all we know. In any case, I have a bit of family backstory with Casey and his abusive father, which is one of the reasons he joined the military. In any case, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and Bash At The Bench will either be next chapter or the following chapter after that. As always, share your thoughts and leave a review because they're considered an incentive writers like myself to keep on writing. Tip of the hat to NEVR for doing the Beta! You rock dude!