Chapter 3
A/N: I’m following the order of the dream, there are some time jumps and I know some of you hate them, but I’m sorry. Ch 3, How Far You’ll Go, submitted without comment.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck, Terminator, or Norse Mythology, but my daughter really, really, really, has a crush on Chris Hemsworth…
Now, one week after the last chapter ended
It stood before them, the metal shiny, the eyes red, over six foot tall. The T-800, straight out of the movies. She should be terrified, she should be scared out of her mind, God knows Hogun was, but she wasn’t. She was pissed. She was a madder than a baptized cat pissed.
“I swear to God I will rip you apart. I will take your arm and beat you to death with it!” she screamed.
“Valkyrie, let him go, we’ve got no way of beating it!” Hogun screamed from across the room.
“NO!!!” she screamed, rage rushing through her. “He is not yours to have.” The machine paused, as if it was studying her. The next words out of her mouth shocked even her. “He is mine,” she said softly. “And, I will destroy this entire hellhole if I have to, to protect him.” The lighting flashed in this dark section of the world…the Wastelands.
“Valkyrie you can’t beat it” Hogun yelled, still using his body to shield Molly. Molly didn’t seemed scared, she trusted Casey, which was a miracle in its self.
“I can to,” Valkyrie snarled. Chuck lay there, groaning, the beating the bandits had put on him was evident. The machine looked in Chuck’s direction and then at Valkyrie. “You. Don’t. Get. Him.” She said softly, but intensely. The sword she was holding she had taken off the bandits, almost seemed to glow. Her clothes were ripped, her blonde hair whipping in the strange wind. In this land of lovelessness, she was protecting someone not because of her job. She couldn’t admit why, but somewhere, deep inside her, she knew.
“You will bring him to Frigga,” the machine said, as it turned.
“I’ll not let her hand him over to you either,” she said. The machine turned, and almost seem to study her. It stared at her for a long minute, nodded, turned, and left.
“What the hell was that?” Hogun yelled. Valkyrie turned to Hogun.
“It was me, keeping my promise,” she said. Hogun could only stare.
}o{
One week ago
Sarah woke up, but didn’t open her eyes. She had slept better the past two nights than she had in years…since before the machines. She was tired. She was tired of being a killing machine, just to be a killing machine. Today, she wasn’t tired any more. She had something to fight for, a spark of hope. If Orion had created the machines, then maybe, just maybe, Chuck could stop them. She knew what she had to do. She got up, grabbed a robe, and headed out. She knocked on Hogun’s door. After a few seconds, Casey opened it.
“Valkyrie,” he grunted. She nodded to come in, and he opened to let her.
“Casey, I’m not turning Chuck over to Frigga,” Valkyrie said, not looking at Hogun. He stood there.
“For three years we’ve been partnered together. You are a fighting machine, never letting an emotion get in the way of anything, until this kid,” Casey began.
“He’s the same age as me,” she said.
“Valkyrie, he’s naïve, and has no clue. He’s not like us,” Casey replied. Valkyrie’s head snapped up.
“That’s the point, John,” she said. “He’s not like us, he can do things.” She paused for a minute than continued, softly. “His father is Orion.”
“Ah, hell,” Casey muttered. He went over and got a cigar to chew on. “Valkyrie, do you think he can save the world?”
“I don’t know, but don’t we have to give him a chance?” she asked. “Hogun, our way isn’t working, we’re not winning, we’re not even drawing even. We own four sectors, but you and I know the truth, everything the machines want is in the wastelands. There is a stronghold there we can never overrun.” Casey nodded.
“Propaganda has given the people hope,” Casey admitted. He studied her for a second. “I don’t get it, Valkyrie. In three years, you’ve never done anything like you’ve done in the past two days, why?”
“Because for the first time I think we have a chance to be something more than just the human version of killing machines. Because I know you hate feelings, but those machines have no feelings, and they do it better than we do. The only way to beat them is to have something to fight for,” she said.
“We’re disobeying an order,” Hogun said, his resolve weakening.
“God, country, family,” Sarah said. “He’s got a chance to give us our country and families back.”
“That’s a lot of feelings,” Hogun replied.
“Look the governor would never agree to this, but if we do it, she’s got plausible deniability. If we hand him over, it’s more of the same,” Sarah said. Hogun nodded, chewing on his cigar.
“Okay, but if we find out he can’t do anything, I’m out,” he said. Sarah just stared at him. Casey shook his head. “Tell me you have been mixing your peanut butter with his chocolate.”
“I don’t even know what that means,” Sarah said honestly. Casey smiled.
“Sure you don’t Valkyrie, sure you don’t,” he said. He studied her for a minute. “If you fight that well, with nothing to live for, I wonder how well you’ll fight with something to live for.” Valkyrie took a few steps toward Casey.
“You trying to say something, Hogun?” she asked, staring at him as if daring him to say the wrong thing. Casey grinned and chewed on his cigar.
“Pretty sure I’m saying it,” he said. She studied him a moment, turned, and left.
}o{
The governor was sitting in her office when her screen came to life. A distorted figure came on in front of her.
“Governor,” the voice said.
“Frigga,” the governor responded. “Bartowski is on his way accompanied by two of my best, Hogun and Valkyrie. They are also bringing the baby.”
“You ordered them to bring the baby?” Frigga asked.
“No, I told them if they didn’t the child would be put in orphanage if they didn’t reunite it with the father, and Valkyrie and Bartwoski decided to deliver the child.”
“Interesting,” Frigga replied. “Anything else I should know?” The governor considered for a moment, then spoke.
“Bartowski is special,” she said. “I beg of you, do not sacrifice him.”
“Did he ask for protection?” Frigga asked. The governor shook her head. “Has anyone freely decided to become his protector?” The governor shook her head again. “Then you know what the rules decree.”
“Can I appeal to Odin?” the governor asked, not believing the words coming out of her mouth. There was silence and the figure seemed to give a smile…a frightening smile.
“Do you know your mythology, Governor?” Frigga asked. Beckman nodded. “Then you know when Odin is in his sleep, I am the law and he is powering up for an attack.”
“Maybe I won’t send Bartowski,” the governor said. Frigga again seemed to give the frightening smile.
“Maybe I tell the machines that he is there and is the son of Orion,” Frigga countered. “They won’t care that I control three sectors when they learn their creator’s son is in your grasp.” The governor blanched. “Do we understand each other?”
“You’re sentencing him to doom!” the governor hissed.
“Didn’t his father do the same thing to this world?” Frigga countered. The governor’s shoulders slumped. “Who says I’m sentencing him to doom?”
“All of the missing technology people you have acquired over the years says so!” the governor snapped.
“So I have acquired them,” she replied. “Oh, you believe the fairy tales that I sacrifice them to the machines so the machines will leave Heaven be?”
“Don’t you?” the governor asked.
“Governor, you can never go too far for the people you love, and for family. Always remember that,” Frigga said, and with that the screen went blank.
}o{
Sarah walked back into her room and noticed the bed was empty. A part of her was glad because that meant they could get going another part of her…she didn’t even recognize that part. She heard the shower running and walked over to the bathroom door.
“Do you have clothes in there?” she asked. “If not I can leave so you can get some.”
“I’m good,” came the voice, a little high pitched.
“Everything okay? Do you need some help?” she asked, a grin on her face.
“Nope,” he yelled, the voice even higher. Sarah couldn’t help herself and smiled.
“Okay, I’m here if you need anything,” she said laughing to herself.
“Got it!” he yelled, sounding almost scared. She shook her head and went and sat on the bed. She heard the shower turn off and a few minutes later he came out of the bathroom, dressed. He looked a little freaked out if she was honest. “It’s all yours,” he said, as controlled as he could. She slowly got off the bed and let the robe fall to the ground. She was modestly dressed, but she noticed his ears quickly go red, and he took his gaze to another part of the room.
“Chuck, are you feeling okay?” she asked, grinning.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” he sputtered out.
“Your ears are getting kinda red,” she said.
“That happens when my shower is too hot, or strong, beautiful women tease me,” he replied. She studied him for a second.
“Was the shower that hot?” she asked grinning.
“No,” he replied, finally able to look her in the eye. She held his glance.
“You men,” she said softly. “Always noticing how someone looks,” and with that she started to walk past him, when she felt a hand tentatively grab her wrist. She glanced at the hand, then at him. He noticeably swallowed.
“You are devastatingly beautiful, and it’s not even one of your top ten features,” Chuck said, his voice thick. Sarah froze. “You have an inner beauty that makes your physical beauty look like someone that was beaten with an ugly stick. You could have ran last night when I bared my soul. You could have told me how I deserved to die, how I was going to get from Frigga what I deserved, but instead you told me you’d protect me. No one has ever done anything for me like that, ever.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” she replied, barely trusting her voice.
“But you will,” he said. “Because you said you will.” She nodded this time not trusting herself to speak. Chuck let go of her.
“For the record, the reason I call you Angel, is because you are. You keep saving me,” he said. Sarah nodded, not knowing what else to do, and walked calmly to the bathroom door and shut it. She leaned against it, and slid down it. Her face was in her hands. She had no idea what to do with all these emotions she had. This fool out there, he wasn’t interested in her because of her looks, he was interested in her because of her. She suddenly had a very good idea what Casey meant about mixing chocolate and peanut butter.
}o{
The three had breakfast very quietly. Casey was studying Chuck and Sarah, Chuck was thinking, and Sarah kept playing with her food, her mind a million miles away.
“Everything alright with you two?” Casey asked.
“Just thinking about how hard it’s going to be in the wastelands with a baby,” Chuck answered. Casey grunted and looked at Sarah. She was still pushing food around with her fork.
“Valkyrie?” Casey asked.
“Probably best to start calling Mrs. Bartowski,” she said. Chuck looked over at her. “You know, the cover.”
“Is that why you’re pushing your food around, regretting your choices in husbands?” Chuck asked, grinning. Sarah looked up at him, and held his gaze. A smirk started to make it’s way across her face.
“No, I’ve just been thinking and I can’t decide if it’s good or bad,” she said. “We can’t use the pure excuse anymore Casey, I’m going to be carrying around a kid.” Casey grunted in the affirmative. “However, for whatever reason once a woman has a child, there does seem to be less of a…desire…is that even the right word? However, I was thinking the same as Chuck, food, diapers, all of those things in the Wastelands…it’s going to be rough.” Casey nodded.
“And being stuck in the same room as Bartowski for a few more days can’t make any of this easy,” Casey said grinning. “I mean it’s bad enough caring for one child, now two.” Chuck made a ‘ha-ha’ face at Casey. Sarah reached over and took Chuck’s hand. It was harder to tell who was more surprised, Chuck or Casey.
“Chuck has been nothing but an absolute pleasure,” Sarah said, as sultry as she could. With that, she got up, and left. Casey shot Chuck a look, who put his hands up in defense.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” Chuck said.
“That I believe,” Casey replied.
}o{
They had gotten Molly, gotten their tickets, and were on the train. There were two rooms, one for Casey and one for the other three. Chuck’s and Sarah’s room did have a crib, so the two had plenty of room to share a bed. Sarah was putting Molly down for a nap while Chuck was stretching out on the bed.
“Rats,” Chuck said. Sarah turned to look at him.
“Something wrong with our accommodations?” Sarah asked.
“My feet hang over the bed,” Chuck grumbled. “It happens quite a bit, so I have to lay on my side and bend my knees.”
“Show me,” she said. Chuck turned over and got into the most comfortable position he could.
“See the problem?” he asked.
“Not really,” she replied.
“I kinda hang over your side,” he explained. She gave him an exasperated look, and came over and got on the bed with him. “What are you doing?” he asked, a little concerned.
“I’m showing you how ridiculous you’re being,” she replied. She lay on her side and found herself plopped up against him, his chest to her back. “See?”
“No, that won’t work,” he said.
“Why not?” she asked.
“My hand,” he said, trying to figure out the best way to tell her.
“What about it?” she asked, looking over her shoulder, getting perturbed. He gave up, and slightly pinched his fingers, making her jump. The look on his face was, ‘see’ she mocked glared at him. “I thought you were going to behave.”
“I thought you were going to ease up on the teasing?” he counted.
“I’m teasing?” she asked, a grin on her face.
“You are killing me,” he said honestly. She smiled.
“Good,” she reached down, grabbed his hand and put it on her hip. Electricity jumped at the touch for both of them, but they both tried to play it off. “See, that will work just fine.”
“We have different definitions of fine,” he muttered.
“Can’t control yourself, Chuck?” she challenged.
“You put my hand there, I didn’t,” he countered. The baby cried, ending the standoff. Sarah hopped up to get Molly, leaving Chuck on the bed wondering how he’d ever sleep tonight. She took the baby, sat in the rocking chair, and rocked it. Chuck watched, the motion of the train and Sarah rocking sending him off to sleep.
He woke a few hours later, finding Sarah in the same position, quietly talking to the baby. The room was dark, so he could barely see Sarah, his eyes not adjusted to the dark. He assumed she couldn’t see him, but she could since her eyes had adjusted.
“He thinks he’s being cute over there, watching me like I don’t know what’s going on, but I see him. He’s a good one, you’d be lucky to have a father like him,” she said softly where only the baby could hear her. “I hope your father is a good man.”
“What are you doing?” Chuck asked.
“Spending time with the baby,” Sarah replied.
“But, I thought there was no love in the world?” Chuck said, using her own words. “I thought we had to blend in.” Sarah held the baby and just stared at him, smirking.
“You keep trying to be funny,” she said. Chuck lay there watching them, not sure if he should say what he was thinking.
“You’d be good at that, you know,” he said, earning an eyebrow raise. “A mother.” She laughed.
“Chuck, there are a lot of things I’m good at, but motherhood, isn’t one of them,” she said.
“Really, you’re the baddest woman on the planet,” Chuck replied. “If anyone tried to hurt or take your child, you’d end them. You love, even when you’re not supposed to, you’re kind when nothing is expected in return, you, Sarah, are the perfect mother.” Sarah said nothing, but her eyes said so much. “I think you sell yourself short.”
“I think it’s time for dinner,” she said. “Of course since you slept all day, you’re probably not hungry,” Sarah said. “I’m going to get Casey.” And with that, she put the baby in Chuck’s arms, and left the room.
“Molly,” Chuck said looking at the little girl. “I’m sorry about your real mommy. I’d say maybe one day you’ll get one as awesome as Sarah, but she’s kinda one of a kind.” Molly cooed.
Sarah knocked on Casey’s door. He opened it and pulled her in.
“Valkyrie, be careful by yourself,” he said. “I know you can defend yourself, but we don’t need a lot of questions.”
“I can’t do this,” she said. She looked up at John, tears in her eyes. “I can’t do it.”
“Ah, hell, you fell for the moron didn’t you?” he asked. She couldn’t answer. “Okay, Valkyrie, we keep him safe.” She looked at him in shock. “What can I say, the moron grows on me too. But, let’s not tell him until we’re there, because I can’t take what all he’ll say.”
“I can hear him now,” Sarah said, grinning. “See, I knew you two were capable of feelings.” Casey pulled out a bottle of Johnny Walker Black and poured them both a drink. “To life with the moron.”
“To life with Chuck,” she said. Casey raised and eyebrow, but didn’t respond. They took the drink.
“Come on, let’s go have dinner before he tries to Barowskify the entire train,” Casey said.
“They’d be powerless to stop him,” Sarah muttered.
“Seriously, you fall for that nerd?” Casey asked.
“Shut it, Hogun,” Sarah said, following him out the door.
Now
Frigga stood at her monitor, having watched the entire meeting between Valkyrie and the machine take place. She looked down at the tube, the human body inside, being kept alive by machines. She looked back up at the monitor, and rewound the footage to the curly haired man on the ground. She pushed some buttons and checked the readouts. The footage had been analyzed in real time. While the man had some minor damage and bruising from the bandits, he was okay. She smiled as she watched the blonde haired warrior do something she had never seen…stand up to a machine, and know she would win. She was willingly his protector. There was hope still alive in this world. There was a chance, and for the first time in a very long time she believed they could win. She looked back down at the tube, and nodded.
“Well, things just got interesting,” she said. “You can never go to far for love or family.”
A/N: …..Dreams are weird….Take care, see you soon
DC