Chapter 5
Sarah entered the small building of Intersect Games, and was greeted by the receptionist.
“Hello,” the redheaded receptionist said in a thick New Jersey accent. “How can I help you today?”
“Is Morgan available?” Sarah asked.
“May I ask who’s asking?”
“Sarah Walker, his girlfriend’s boss,” she replied. The lady nodded, picked up the phone, and punched a few numbers.
“Morgan, a Sarah Walker is here to see-” she held the phone away from her ear.
“What was that?” Sarah asked, having heard the sound. Suddenly the door opened, and an out of breath Morgan was standing there, trying to appear professional.
“Daphne,” Morgan said, trying to get his breath. “Anytime Mrs. Walker shows up, you let her just come right on back.” Sarah smiled at him and entered down the hallway.
“Interesting choice to be the receptionist,” Sarah said.
“We got her through a work release program,” Morgan explained. Sarah looked surprised. “We were having a cash flow problem early on. We didn’t have any cash to flow. So, if we let her work here, her salary was paid by the state. You should always make sure you have your valuables after you talk to her though,” he said. Sarah looked at him. “She was in jail for conning people as a wedding planner.
“What makes you think she’s a pickpocket?” Sarah asked.
“Are there many in the con game that can’t pick someone’s pocket?” Morgan asked. Sarah had to admit he was probably right. They came to his office and he offered her a chair. She sat, and he sat across from her at his desk. A large smile covered his face, and he steepled his fingers together in front of him, bouncing them together.
“I’m so very glad you came here today to win my approval,” he said. Sarah gave him a curious look.
“Who says I’m not here to make sure you have my approval,” she countered. Morgan’s face fell, and Sarah couldn’t help herself and grinned. Morgan laughed.
“Okay, I deserved that,” he said. “I’ve watched over him for several years, and I’m very protective of him. Probably overprotective.” He held up a pad and a list of questions he had made a copy of. “I’m made a questionnaire to make sure he has the right person. I just don’t want to see him hurt.” Sarah watched Morgan during his admission. She thought he was genuine. A little strange, but genuine.
“Okay,” she said bouncing a shoulder and grinning. “Hit me.” Morgan’s eyebrows raised in surprised. He quickly pulled out a pencil, licked the end, and prepared.
“If you’re on a deserted island what type of sandwich would you bring?” Sarah blinked once, not sure she had heard him right. Morgan noticed the look on her face.
“Okay, okay, maybe a little much for the first question, toss up, which is better Star Wars or Star Trek?” Sarah had no idea.
“Who says either should be better than the other, they both have their own redeeming qualities.” Morgan nodded.
“Nice, I like it,” he said, making notes. “Okay, marathon video game session with boyfriend’s best friend; feelings?” Sarah leaned in close.
“Probably the same that said best friend’s girlfriend feels, and that if we felt like we were being ignored, we might go do something we enjoy, like getting dressed up, drinking, and dancing. All. Night. Long.” Morgan dropped his pencil on the desk and gulped. Sarah sat back. “Let’s skip to the big ones, I’m ready.” Morgan nodded and found one. He looked up, and locked his gaze on Sarah.
“Bad things I should know,” Morgan said, pencil ready.
“Did CIA wetwork,” she began, Morgan looked up over the paper he was writing on, his eyes huge. He drew his thumb across his throat. Sarah nodded, and Morgan gulped. Sarah smiled to herself and continued. “Father was a con man-”
“Two things, first, no offence meant by the pickpocket remark earlier.” Sarah nodded it was fine. “Second, you know I said bad things, right, not cool, impressive, things.” Sarah smiled. She shouldn’t be surprised with this reaction, but that meant he’d probably have the same negative reaction about some things.
“I dated Bryce Larkin, in fact, he is the last guy I dated since I started raising Molly.” Morgan did not looked pleased, but then his eyes narrowed.
“Are you saying he broke up with you because you raised a baby?” Sarah thought for a second.
“He thought he did, what he didn’t know was I was over him already,” Sarah replied. Morgan nodded.
“I’m not gonna lie, the Bryce thing hurts you, I have been known to keep things from Chuck that have to do with Bryce,” he said, making notes.
“Like what?” Sarah asked, honestly intrigued. Morgan thought for a second, and then head nodded like, ‘why not’.
“Five years ago, Bryce emailed Chuck on his birthday, and I deleted the email. It was something stupid about Zork anyway,” Morgan replied. Sarah looked a little confused. “It was a text based Role Playing Game, or-”
“RPG,” Sarah finished. Morgan’s eyes lit up and he made notes. “Of course sometimes that does mean Rocket Propelled Grenade.” Morgan was writing quickly, and his eyes were lit up like it was Christmas and he was a kid. “You were saying about the email?”
“Right, I deleted it, and the next day his computer was stolen. We got another sent to us a few days later, must have been some strange replacement plan. Listen, I have only one more question on here that matters.” Sarah looked at him, ready. “Why him? He’s no one.” Sarah gave him a look.
“He’s your friend,” she said, sitting up straight in the chair, starting to get upset. Morgan shrugged.
“Let’s be honest, he got kicked out of Stanford, it took every trick in the book to get him to finish up, he worked at the Buy More foreeevvveer, it took me, ME, Mr. allergic to work, to get him to work on our game, and we’ve only gotten one actually out, the other goes gold next week, and he’s a single dad raising a baby that’s not even his. Loooooser.” Sarah slammed her hand on the desk, making Morgan jump back.
“That is the kindest, most giving man I have ever met! He has put his life on hold for his niece! He took the time to help a child he didn’t even know to get over one of the worst days of her life, when I, her MOTHER, didn’t even know how upset she was. How dare you speak of him like that! I thought you were his…friend….” Sarah noticed Morgan was smiling, glowing, and bouncing. He ran around the desk and hugged her. She knew over 100 ways to kill him, and he knew it. He had done it all to find out exactly how she felt about him. He let her go, and she was watching him, fighting a grin, afraid he might do it again.
“I’m going to need you to sign a few waivers-”
“You do know I know over 100 ways to kill you?” she asked. Morgan tossed all the papers over his shoulder.
“Paperwork is very overrated, plus there’s the possibilities of unseen paper cuts,” Morgan said. Sarah stood, bent, and kissed him on the cheek. Morgan’s eyes got wide and he touched where she had kissed him and looked at her.
“I wish I had someone who cared about me as much as you do him.”
“I think you do,” Morgan answered. Sarah smiled and started out the door. “He’s probably asleep in his office. Clara was teething last night.” Sarah turned and looked at him. “He wouldn’t let anyone help. Alex and I offered to watch her so he could sleep, but he refused. He’s been burning both ends of the candle trying to get the code right and the bugs out so the game can be certified. He thinks he’s done with it. Last night was supposed to be his sleep night, but Clara…” Sarah nodded.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“I completely believe you. Take care of him, Sarah. He’s a good guy.”
“Morgan, he’s a great guy,” she said smiling, “And, so are you,” and with that, she walked down the hall to Chuck’s office. As she walked, her phone went off, she looked down, reread the message twice, and rolled her eyes. She walked into the dark office and saw Chuck, stuffed on a couch that was too short for him. She bent down in front of him, and for the first time since she met him, he seemed completely at peace.
How can this guy affect me this much, this quickly? She couldn’t help herself and ran her fingers through his hair. There’s been no one to share my life with, so why him? She looked at him and smiled. Why not? And with that, she made a decision. She said she could be his baggage handler, and tonight she was going to be that. She pulled her phone out, and shot off another quick text.
“Morgan,” she said softly, never having moved.
“Yep,” he replied from the hall, where she knew he was listening.
“Do you need him for the game for the rest of the day?”
“Nope.”
“He’s going home, for the day, he needs to sleep, but I need him to get his daughter. She’s having teething problems.”
“If anything comes up, I’ll call him.”
“Morgan, call me if anything comes up,” she said. “I know you got my number off his phone.”
“Am I in trouble?” he asked, his voice quaking.
“Are you going to use it wisely?”
“Yes,” he squeaked. Sarah smiled.
“Then no.” She ran her fingers through Chuck’s curls again. He shifted and she saw him smile. “Chuck,” she said softly. “Time to get up.” His eyes opened, and he got the biggest grin on his face.
“Oh, it’s a good dream,” Chuck said. “You’re so pretty.”
“How do you know it’s a dream, Chuck?” she asked.
“Because you’re in my office, and you don’t know where I work,” he answered, with a sleepy grin on his face. “Seriously, the pictures your mom showed me didn’t do you justice, you’re so pretty.” Sarah leaned in close. Chuck’s grin got bigger.
“Chuck, I’m former CIA, how hard do you think it would be for me to find out where you work and get in here.”
“She’s got you there, buddy,” Morgan yelled from the hall. The grin on Chuck’s face fell off.
“I wouldn’t dream Morgan’s here,” he said with a panic on his face. Sarah still close, grinned.
“I certainly hope not Mr. Bartowski.”
“Uh-oh, I’m in trouble. No one uses Mr. Bartowski unless I’m in trouble or they’re my teacher.”
“Maybe I’ve decided to teach you how to be happy, Chuck,” she said, unable to help herself. Chuck’s brain may have short-circuited with that one. “As much as I’m enjoying this, I need your keys, we need to go get your daughter.” Chuck came out of his stupor quickly. “She’s fine, teething, and causing a small ruckus. My daughter is causing a huge ruckus because of said small ruckus.”
“Do we have a problem with those two?” Chuck asked. Sarah began to stand and offer him a hand to get up off the couch.
“I have it on good authority that some people believe helping others is what makes them tick,” she said, smiling at him. “So we’d have to be a hypocrite to say anything. Besides, how much of a problem could a five year old really be?” Chuck’s face had a look of horror.
“You don’t watch movies, do you?” Sarah kind of shrugged, confused. “You NEVER say something like that. It’s like saying, one last mission and then someone dies. It’s like saying what could go wrong and then you’re shocked when the water pipe breaks in the bathroom and ruins your floor and you have to move out of your house for a minimum of three weeks.”
“What. Could. Go. Wrong.” She said. Chuck nearly fell off the couch in horror. He covered his head, waiting for the roof to fall on him.
“Protect yourself, Sarah!” he shouted. She rolled her eyes, grabbed him, and drug him out of the room.
}o{
“I still don’t understand why we’re in my car,” Chuck said.
“Because we need your daughter’s car seat, and yours is bigger,” Sarah replied.
“Why am I not driving?”
“You’re tired.”
“If, I was completely awake?”
“I’m a trained CIA agent.”
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“I’m more qualified to get us all home safer.”
“I think you’re just a bit of a control freak,” he said, grinning. Sarah shut the car off and turned toward him, a slight grin on her face.
“Would that be so terrible?” she asked softly. Chuck’s brain seized.
“That’s really not fair,” he wheezed. She arched an eyebrow, the grin growing.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked innocently.
“You know what, I’ve not slept much, and I think I misunderstood what you said,” he said, getting out of the car. Sarah did as well, and as they both got to the front, she placed her hand on his arm.
“Maybe you didn’t,” she said, as she smiled and headed into the preschool alone. Chuck was stuck in the parking lot, brain overheating.
“What does she see in me?” he mumbled to himself.
“Same thing Molly does,” Emma said from behind him, scaring Chuck half to death. He calmed down, and started to ask why she was here when he realized he didn’t have a car seat for Molly. “You’re a great guy, Chuck. She’s been waiting for a long time for a great guy.”
“A guy, who breaks down, who’s wallowed in misery for years, a guy who’s out of his league with her?” Emma smiled.
“I’ll let you in on a little secret. She thinks you’re too good for her. In fact, if she wasn’t so happy and have her roots planted in her family, home, and job, she’d probably keep everything bottled up inside.”
“I can’t ever imagine her like that,” Chuck replied, looking at the door Sarah just went through. He looked back at Emma who shook her head. “What about you, Mom?” he asked with a smile. “Am I good enough for your girl?” She walked up to him, and hugged him.
“Chuck, you’re perfect,” she said. She released the hug and patted his arm to get him to come in with her. “Listen, Sarah is probably going to want you to fill out paperwork to let the two of us pick up Clara if you need someone else too.”
“I’ve got Morgan and Alex,” Chuck replied, a little surprised. Emma nodded.
“I know you think the world of Morgan, but is he the best at handling a baby?” Chuck realized that even though Emma didn’t really know Morgan, that she nailed his friend. “And if Molly see’s Alex picking up Clara…”
“I asked you this morning if I had a chance against her, and you said no. I asked Sarah if she’s going to be a problem and she answered, how much of a problem could a five year old be. Which is the truth?” Emma smiled.
“Sarah really didn’t answer your question did she?” Emma said and went inside. Chuck followed, and saw Clara being held by Sarah, and Molly waiting for him. Molly handed him papers to sign.
“Sarah, what is going on?”
“Chuck you need someone you can trust with your child, and Molly right now is determined to be a big sister. If you don’t want this, it’s fine, but please don’t think it’s a bother.”
“Sarah, you barely know me.” Sarah smiled at him.
“Chuck, you’re wrong. I know you, we may not have known each other long, but I know you.” Chuck couldn’t help but grin.
“Okay, should I,” he began, but paused not wanting to step out of place.
“The third form is for you to be added to my pickup as well,” Molly said, growing a little impatient. He looked at Sarah, who was trying to hold in a laugh. She blinked a few times as if that would hold the laughter at bay. Chuck pressed his lips together, blew out his cheeks, nodded slowly, and then shrugged. He went through the papers signing them. Mrs. Wood beamed at Sarah, and Sarah grinned back at her. Chuck looked down at Molly.
“Don’t you dare try and pull something to get me to pick you up, Missy,” he said pointing at her.
“He’s not joking, Molly,” Sarah said backing him up. “If you pull something, whatever punishment Chuck says, goes.” Molly nodded, smiling like she had won the lottery.
“Okay, Mom,” she paused and looked at Chuck. Chuck had a bad feeling what she was about to say. “And, Mr. Chuck.” Chuck let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. A look at Sarah told him she was wondering the same thing. “Let’s all go home,” she said, taking Emma’s hand and leading her out the door. “I’ll ride with Granny and you two can bring the baby.” Chuck and Sarah shared a look.
“I guess we’re going,” Chuck said, opening the door for Sarah and Clara. Sarah shrugged, and took Clara out to the car. He saw the look on Mrs. Wood’s face. “You aren’t going to believe me if I tried to explain this would you?”
“Chuck, I don’t think whatever you’d try to explain, you believe anymore,” she said. “I guess I’ll see the four of your tomorrow?” and with that she turned and went to the other kids, giggling. Chuck shook his head and headed to the car. When he got there he saw that Sarah already had Clara buckled in. Chuck joined them in the car.
“I like that seat,” Sarah said. “Those ones when Molly was a baby were so difficult to fasten sometimes.”
“Sarah,” Chuck began. Sarah let out a breath, knowing what was coming. “Thank you,” he said softly and reached out and took her hand. Sarah was surprised, but happy. She squeezed it, and decided in for a penny, in for a pound. She leaned over and gave him a soft kiss on the lips.
“It’s my pleasure,” she said. Chuck couldn’t help but laugh, and the two drove away, happily.
}o{
When they got to Sarah’s they decided to do something easy and had pizza delivered; vegetarian with no olives, of course. Clara started to fuss, and Chuck started searching for the gel to relieve the pain.
“You trust me?” Sarah asked. Chuck was surprised.
“Yes,” he replied not sure where this was going. Emma handed Sarah a bag from a local store. In it was a bottle with little pills. She picked up Clara, and gave Chuck a chance to read the label. He shrugged not seeing anything that could hurt her. Sarah bounced Clara as she softly hummed. Chuck thought he might fall asleep standing up listening to her it was so soothing. Molly had disappeared and a terrible racket had come from another room. Emma went off to see what was going on. Sarah took one of the tablets, and gently placed it under the tongue of Clara. In a few seconds she stopped fussing and smiled at Sarah.
“Mama,” she said. Sarah’s eyes got huge as she looked at Chuck. He just laughed.
“Sarah, it’s no big deal,” he said. Sarah gave him a look.
“Who’s that?” she asked pointing to Chuck.
“Dada,” Clara answered. Sarah turned toward Chuck, smirking, but when she saw his face, she knew she had messed up. He wasn’t mad, just sad.
“I’m sorry, Chuck,” she began. He waved it off, but went over and sat on the couch. “Clara,” she said turning back to the little girl. “I’m Aunt Sarah, and that’s your Uncle Chuck.” Clara yawned, and put her head on Sarah’s shoulder. Emma came out into the room with something Chuck had never seen before.
“Is that a swing?” he asked. Emma smiled. Sarah got Clara in the swing and turned it on. Molly came into the room with an old bunny and started to give it to Clara. “Sweetie, she’s teething and she’ll chew on it.”
“I know, but it’s her turn to have it now.” Chuck looked at Sarah who shrugged at Chuck but smiled at her daughter. “Okay,” he relented. Molly handed the bunny to Clara who inspected it for a minute and then began to chew on the bunny’s ear. In about 20 seconds, she was asleep. Sarah turned toward Chuck, which was good, because he had just caught her in a bear hug.
“Thank you,” he said, sounding almost desperate. “Thank you,” he whispered. Sarah held him and patted his shoulder. “I just hate I’ll have to wake her when I leave.” Sarah pulled back and gave him a look.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asked. Chuck just stared at her. “Clara is sleeping with Molly and Emma tonight.” Chuck looked at Emma as she whispered, “good night,” and took the swing carefully back to her room. Chuck gulped.
“Sarah,” Chuck began.
“Chuck, I’m going to stop you before you spiral. Tonight you need sleep. That’s all this is. You’re half-crazed and sleep deprived. Now you can sleep in your old room, which would make the most sense, or you can give me all the reasons why you can’t.”
“I can’t take your bed!”
“Who said you were?” Chuck’s eyebrows raised. “Chuck we’re two adults, we can sleep in the same bed without having sex.”
“I’m aware that we won’t be having sex, I just don’t want…” he trailed off, and lowered his head. Sarah took his hand and rubbed it with her thumbs.
“Chuck, look at me,” she said softly. He raised his head to see her smiling. “I don’t think tonight will be the last time you’re in my bed, or I’m in your bed, but we certainly aren’t ready for that.” Chuck blushed furiously. “Furthermore, while I am very confident in myself, I’m not sure how my ego would handle it you falling asleep in the middle.” Chuck laughed softly. “You need sleep. Tomorrow we’ll take the kids to school, take you home to change, and then you can take me to work. And, if I have time you can take me to lunch.”
“What if I have something important to do?”
“Morgan already said you didn’t need to do anything.”
“Well, as long as it’s cleared by Morgan,” Chuck replied, grinning. Sarah led him over to the couch. She sat down, and patted her lap. “Lay your head down.”
“Are you-”
“Chuck,” she said a little exasperated, cutting him off. She did have a smile on her face though. Chuck did as she asked, and he had to admit it was quite comfortable and quiet and…. Less than a minute later, Sarah heard his breathing change; he was asleep. “What am I gonna do with you, Chuck?” she asked softly as she played with his curls. She picked up the remote, found some program to watch with the sound down, and sat there, more content than she had ever remembered being. She heard soft footsteps.
“Is he okay?” Emma asked. Sarah didn’t even bother trying to hide the fact she was playing with his hair.
“I think he will be,” she said with a smile. “Mom,” she began. Emma shook her head and chuckled.
“Sarah, just go with it,” Emma said smiling. “Why shouldn’t you two be happy?” Sarah looked at her, and tilted her head as is to say “why not?” Emma went back to bed and Sarah continued to watch TV. A few hours later, Chuck began to toss and turn.
“It should have been me,” he mumbled. “It should have been me!” Sarah hugged him the best she could. “Ellie, it should have been me,” he said softly as tears rolled down his cheeks. Sarah shook him to wake him.
“Chuck,” she said softly. He opened his eyes and looked around, and saw her. He sat up, wordlessly, looked at her for a second, and his eyes threatened to break again. She hugged him, and he sobbed quietly. “You’ve never had a chance to grieve, have you?” He shook his head on her shoulder. “Let it out, Chuck,” and he did. For thirty minutes he cried. He let out all the hurt, anger, and frustration of ten long years and the loss of his family. When he was done, he pulled away, a look of embarrassment but gratitude.
“Sorry, I think your shirt is soaked,” he said, wiping his eye. Sarah laughed, she couldn’t help it. How come in his worst moments he could make her laugh? She stood up and took his hand. She led him to the kitchen where another bag was. She handed it to him and pointed to the bathroom. He looked down, seemed to almost freeze up again, when she gave him a look and nodded her head toward the bathroom. She went in her room, changed into a tee shirt and her sleep shorts. She pulled back the covers to the bed, and waited outside the bathroom until the door opened.
“Go pick your side,” she said as she headed to the bathroom. She stopped, not able to help herself. “Just remember, this will set a precedent,” she said softly. She thought she heard Chuck’s brain lock up.
“You’re going to be the death of me,” he muttered.
“You’ll enjoy every second of it,” she said as she shut the door. Chuck went into his old bedroom, got in the bed, and waited. He wasn’t sure what he should do so he just stared at the ceiling. Sarah walked in, not even hiding the grin on her face. She got in her side, and scooted as close as possible, leaned down to his ear, and spoke very softly, her breath hitting his ear.
“Good choice,” she said. Chuck didn’t know if he’d sleep at all tonight. In five minutes, he was asleep.
}o{
Chuck opened his eyes as the sun came in the window. He had missed this, there was something about that window, the sun coming in, the blond hair laying on his chest…wait, what? He looked down, and there was Sarah, wrapped up with him, her head on his chest. He should probably get up, things would be awkward enough with Molly. He felt something to his right. He turned his head and there was Molly watching him.
“How long until I can call you Daddy? I would like a little brother to go along with Clara,” she said as she skipped out of the room. Chuck noticed the weight wasn’t on his chest anymore. He turned his head slowly to see Sarah looking at him.
“Remember yesterday when you asked if we had a problem with her?” Chuck nodded his head. “I think we have a problem.”