Chapter 1
A/N: I’ve met a lot of great people over the years being a part of Chuck fanfic. Steampunk, Joe Watkins, WillieGarvin, and then…then there’s MySongStory. He’s been an amazing friend, and he shares my love for music and how it relates to any story. One of his favorite singer/poet is the one and only Bruce Springsteen. This weekend, I heard this song. And while this song is written about one thing, I can also see how one Chuck Bartowski could see this song in a slightly different light whereas one Sarah Mae Walker is concerned….WHAT DO YOU MEAN MAE ISN’T HER MIDDLE NAME???
Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck
They were sitting on the beach, which shouldn’t have surprised her. She couldn’t help but huff a tiny laugh and shake her head. She looked over at him, and knew that everything was changing…hell everything had changed. Ellie and Awesome…married. Stephen/Orion….missing. Bryce…dead.
She looked over as he pulled a tiny music player, and fiddled with some small speakers. She shook her head. As much as she tried to resit it, Chuck Bartowski had been introducing her to music and it was beginning to affect her.
She looked out over the water gently crashing onto the beach. His music was beginning to affect her, and she was so affected by him….she shook her head. She was ready to lose her job for him.
She thought about that word choice for a second. Job. She no longer saw it as a career but as a job. She was a spy. That, she knew. She couldn’t change that. She was good at her job, but….she looked over at him. He was going to enter that world, and it would destroy him. It would change who he was.
Upbeat music began to play and she found herself slowly moving to the music, her eyes closed.
I get up in the evening
And I ain't got nothing to say
I come home in the morning
I go to bed feeling the same way
I ain't nothing but tired
Man, I'm just tired and bored with myself
Hey there baby,
I could use just a little help
Man, did she feeeeeel that. Some days of her spying…it was exactly what the songwriter was singing. She was good at what she did….but she was burned out. She looked over at Chuck, who was staring out into the water. She realized he still hadn’t said anything. She was perfectly fine with the silence, hell she preferred it, but this was Chuck Bartowski. She wanted to speak, but she didn’t know what to say, or how to say it. Bryce was dead. Chuck had seen him die. His friend, his…nemesis…did Chuck really have a nemesis?
She didn’t know what to say, but she knew what to do. She laid her hand on his, the one closest to her. He turned his palm over, and she slipped hers into his, and thought she had never been more comforted when trying to comfort someone.
She gave her head a slight shake and let a small smile cross her face. That was the Chuck Bartowski experience in a nutshell, wasn’t it?
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, still looking straight ahead at the waves. She realized he hadn’t looked at her since the song began. “This song…it’s about life and how hard it is, and finding…a moment of happiness in the worst of things. About finding that someone who just makes things better when life’s…”
“When life’s shit on you?” she asked softly.
“Casey’s word-smithing is rubbing off on you I see,” Chuck said, unable to stop the grin on his face. He turned to her. “A lot’s changed.”
“It has,” Sarah agreed.
He gave a slight nod, and was silent, just listening. She closed her eyes, allowing her head to move to the music.
Message keeps getting clearer
Radio's on and I'm moving 'round the place
I check my look in the mirror
I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face
Man, I ain't getting nowhere
I'm just living in a dump like this
There's something happening somewhere
Baby, I just know that there is
“They want me to go to a facility, to be a spy” Chuck said softly.
She opened her eyes and nodded.
“That means…you and Casey…you’re here,” Chuck continued.
Sarah nodded again.
“Why?”
“They think it’s for the best,” Sarah told him.
“What do you think?” Chuck asked.
Sarah didn’t say anything, she just listened.
You can't start a fire
You can't start a fire without a spark
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You sit around getting older
There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me
I'll shake this world off my shoulders
Come on, baby, the laugh's on me
“That opinion wouldn’t be appreciated by my supervisors,” Sarah told him, opening her eyes, and staring into his.
She saw him hesitantly lick his lips and then speak. “Yeah, but I don’t care what they think.”
Stay on the streets of this town
And they'll be carving you up all right
They say you gotta stay hungry
Hey, baby, I'm just about starving tonight
I'm dying for some action
I'm sick of sitting 'round here trying to write this book
I need a love reaction
Come on now, baby, gimme just one look
She stared at him…and the look she gave him…
“If you do this,” she began, and paused. Was she really going to do this? She stared into his eyes as the music continued to play.
You can't start a fire
Sitting 'round crying over a broken heart
This gun's for hire
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
You can't start a fire
Worrying about your little world falling apart
This gun's for hire Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Even if we're just dancing in the dark
Hey, baby
She took a deep breath. “If you go, you're gonna be a spy for the rest of your life.” Chuck nodded. She could tell that part excited him.
“Every city is gonna be a new mission and a new identity, and you're not gonna be the same person.”
“Yeah,” Chuck said, nodding. “That's a great thing.”
She blew out a breath. “Chuck…” God why was this so hard? “Chuck…this song…it’s me.” Concern covered his face. “I’m…” she sighed, frustrated at herself. “I am changing my life every little bit…every time I go somewhere, but not for real reasons, you know?”
He nodded, listening, thinking. She licked her lips, and continued. “Chuck, listen. We could…” she paused…was she ready to do this?
“We could what?” he asked.
“We could run?” she offered. She took a deep breath. “Together. You and me. We go now, and we never look back.”
“Are you serious?” Chuck asked, stunned.
She nodded, letting it all spill out of her now. Chuck could see how important all of this was to her. “I have some money saved up. I'd have to get us some new identities,
create an escape route. For now, go to the training facility in Prague, then meet me at the Nadrazi train station in three weeks' time at 7:00, and then I can figure the rest out later.”
“What are you saying?” Chuck asked.
“I'm saying I want to be a real person again,” Sarah told him. She looked him straight in the eye. “With you.” He sat there, stunned. “This is what you want, right? I mean, this is it, Chuck. Will you run away with me?”
“Yeah,” he said, breathlessly. “Yeah.” She nodded, and turned to look out over the ocean, knowing that she had been more vulnerable in her life.
“This isn’t some vacation, is it?” Chuck asked. She turned back to him. He was staring at the ocean as well. “This is…this would be the rest of our life…on the run.”
“It would,” Sarah said, nodding, fear gripping her. “Do…do you want to-”
He turned to her, quickly, and the worry she had that he didn’t want to be with her, faded. When he spoke, what he said made her realized no one in her entire life had paid more attention to what she had said and done than Chuck Bartowski.
“What you’re feeling now…is some of that because of the life you had to live…before the CIA?” Chuck asked.
‘What do you mean?” Sarah asked.
“Sarah…Sarah…what your dad told me, what you told me…you’ve always…you’ve always been on the run, even when you were sitting still,” Chuck said softly.
“I have,” Sarah said.
“Is that what you want?” Chuck asked. “Or…”
“Or what?” Sarah asked. “Chuck, we don’t have a choice.”“Okay,” Chuck said, nodding. “Okay.”“Okay,” Sarah said, but something told her…it was not okay. And when things were not okay….Chuck Bartowski tended to not leave them alone.
}o{
“Why are we here General?” Casey asked the next day.
Beckman pulled off her glasses, confusion on her face. “I was told the team had questions,” Beckman said. Sarah and Casey shared a look, fought to roll their eyes, and both turned to Chuck. Chuck didn’t look at them, but stared straight ahead. “Bartowski?” she said, the tone indicating she was most certainly not pleased.
“Some times you have to dance in the dark,” Chuck said softly. Sarah’s eyes went wide. He cleared his throat. “General, with all due respect,” he began.
“Jesus,” Casey muttered. Sarah felt her heart drop to her shoes.
“You’re making a mistake,” Chuck continued. Beckman’s eyebrows almost shot off of her face. “Your plan is to make me an agent.”
“Yes,” Beckman said.
“And that’s what you want?” Chuck asked. “Me? An agent?” Beckman pursed her lips. “For the sake of this discussion can we pretend you’d prefer I not be.”
“I think I can do that,” Beckman answered straight faced.“What are you doing?” Sarah hissed, never moving her lips. Chuck made a mental note to have Sarah teach him how to do that.
“Lighting a spark,” Chuck answered. Sarah had never been more terrified in her life. “I have many reasons for wanting to be an agent,” he began. He glanced at Sarah, and continued to look at her. “Some of them….much more important than others.”
“Christ,” Casey muttered, putting his hand over his face.
“Chuck?” Sarah tried to whisper, but it came out an octave too high.
Chuck looked back up at Beckman, a look of constipation covered her face. “I’m sure you have the greatest plan to make me an agent.”
“The best we have in spycraft have agreed on a perfect training ground for you,” Beckman said.
“So, Casey, Sarah and who else were consulted?” Chuck asked.
“Excuse me?” Beckman said. Casey and Sarah slowly turned to him. Not out of shock, but because…because of the point they thought he was making.
“General, I’m not like you,” Chuck began.
“God, don’t I know,” she groused.
“And I’m not like Casey or Sarah, or any other spy,” he continued. “But these two…these two have gotten the most out of me.”
“They have,” Beckman agreed. “Their results have been…unexpected.”
“Then why aren’t they continuing to train me?” Chuck asked.
“Chuck, you are going to be an elite spy, that means no team,” Beckman began.
“Excuse me,” Chuck said, cutting in. Sarah wished she could disappear and at the same time wouldn’t leave if a stampede came through. “I thought we were the best team you had.”
“You are but,” Beckman began.
“So, we’re the best team, I’m like no other person in your employee, and you’re going to…” he turned to Casey and Sarah. “Take me away from the two that make me the best.
Casey nodded, holding Chuck’s gaze. “He’s got a point, General.” Casey let out a sigh. “I hate to admit it, but…he’s got a point.”
“Major?” Beckman said, confused.
“Bartowski…he’s a social butterfly,” Casey began.
“God is he,” Sarah groused. Chuck gave her a look, making her shrug. “What? You are.”
“So me being by myself, the life of a normal spy, how would I do?” Chuck asked.
Realization hit Sarah. “You wouldn’t do well at all,” she said softly, nodding. “Not like Casey or I.”
“What are you three suggesting?” Beckman asked. Casey pointed at himself, confused. “Yes, Major, you clearly seem to agree with whatever….this is,” she said, gesturing to the three.
“Casey is trying to be a team player,” Chuck said quickly. Casey looked at him but kept quiet. “Keep us together, have them train me, and have each of us do what we are best at.”
Beckman sat there, considering.
“And no red test,” Sarah said softly, but quickly. She looked up at Beckman. “He can’t, General.”
“I can past tests,” Chuck protested.
“Not this one, Bartowski,” Casey said.
“A red test is you killing someone,” Sarah said.
“WHAT?!?!” Chuck replied. “No, I won’t.”
“Then you won’t be a spy,” Beckman countered.
“Then you won’t get what’s in my head,” Chuck countered the counter.
“General…” Casey began. He sighed, looked at Chuck with all the contempt in the world, shook his head, and turned back to Beckman. “He’d shit the bed.”“Thanks, Casey,” Chuck muttered.
“But he’s right,” Casey continued. “That’s not who he is, and furthermore…” Casey paused, struggling.“You can do it,” Chuck said softly. He jumped and grabbed his foot, hopping, giving Sarah a glare, as she just stared ahead.“Shut. Up.” She whispered, again, not moving her lips.
“He shouldn’t,” Casey said. Beckman started to reply, but Casey plowed ahead. “He could kill someone to save Walker or I. I don’t doubt that, but…he’s not like us, and…that’s what makes him….” Casey looked like he wanted to throw up in his mouth. “Special.”“Not. A. Word.” Sarah hissed, not moving her lips. Chuck had never been more impressed in his life.
“So, what should we do?” Beckman asked.“Glad you asked,” Chuck said. He reached over, grabbed a tablet, hit a button, and watched as Beckman glared at him. “I sent you my proposal.”
“Have you shown it to the team?” Beckman asked.
“I haven’t,” Chuck replied.
“The first thing you need to do as an agent as a part of a team, is communicate to your team,” Beckman chided him.
“So, I’m no longer an asset?” Chuck asked.
“That’s correct Mr…Agent, Bartowski,” Beckman said, rolling her eyes. “If they’re okay with this, I am. Your training will take place in Burbank.”
“So, I’m an agent?” Chuck asked. “For clarification?”
“General,” Casey said, a warning in his voice.
“Yes,” Beckman said, feeling a migraine coming on.
“And Sarah and I don’t have to be a cover couple?” Chuck asked.
“I guess not,” Beckman said, shaking her head, wanting to be off the call.
“General,” Casey said, almost pleading.
“Major, hush,” Beckman said. Casey grimaced. “What…wait…what are you…Agent Bartowski, unhand her.”
“Sarah,” Chuck said, taking Sarah’s hand. “I made a mistake, and asked you to go on a vacation with me. What I should have done is ask, if you’re not doing anything, would you like to go to dinner with me, and we…we talk about if you’re open to dancing in the dark with me?”
“Is that a euphemism?” Beckman asked, unable to look away.
Casey groaned and walked off.
“No,” Chuck said quickly.
“But what if I want it to be?” Sarah asked. Chuck’s mouth dropped. Beckman sighed, and cut the feed.
“Uh, Sarah,” Chuck began.
“Chuck, shut up and kiss me.”
A/N: I hope you enjoyed it.