Chapter 6
A/N: Can I say how much I love that I posted the last update the 25th, (Thursday) and this story is now over halfway down the Chuck fanfic page! There have been 19 stories/updates since last week! To all those writers keeping Chuck going, thank you. Seriously, I know what it takes to put your work out there and be vulnerable and I thank you for it, and the amazing stories you all create!
Anyone else ever work on a fic for 30 minutes and realize it was the wrong one? Anyone? Asking for a friend….Okay, it was me! (This is the one with the T-800s, right?)
Now, we have Chuck and Sarah in the Wastelands…plodding along, one admitting they are in love with the other, and one…well, she’s doing as much as she can. Charrakids…I think you’re gonna like this one.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck, Terminator, Norse Mythology, or Daughtry, but we do have the same hair cut….You never know when you’re gonna meet someone. And your whole wide world, in a moment, comes undone…
The T-800 had Ellie, and it looked him straight in the eye.
“Chuck!” the voice screamed, but it wasn’t Ellie. “CHUCK!” His eyelids popped open and he looked at lovely vision in front of him that pulled him out of the nightmare. He wasn’t sure if the nightmare he had was the worst nightmare or not, but it was in the top two. He was covered in sweat, gasping for air, but she was there. He stared at her, the worry on her face, the concern in her eyes, and he was alive. She had saved him, gave him a new lease on life. The past few days and all the emotions he felt, poured to the surface. They were in a hellhole with very little chance to escape and he knew one thing, he had to live life. He knew what he wanted to do, but he couldn’t, not to her. As much as he wanted to take her in his arms, he couldn’t do that, he knew how she felt about things, and he would not be that man. Hence why he was so confused when she crashed into him.
It took him just a second to realize she was kissing him. Her tongue played on his lip, and he opened his. He nearly moaned as she deepened the kiss. He was seeing sounds, hearing colors, and possibly having an out of body experience. When she pulled away he felt a sense of loss he didn’t know existed.
“ARGGGGHHH!” she screamed as she bound to her feet and walked away. She looked at him, tears in her eyes. “I can’t do this,” she said at a whisper. “I can’t let you die, and if I let down my guard, you will.”
“You think you feeling something for me will let down your guard?” Chuck asked. Sarah nodded. “So by not acting on your feelings shuts off your feelings?” Sarah just stared at him.
“Damn it,” she muttered softly.
“Is that 3?” he asked with a grin. She just looked at him, but the grin came. The one she should stop, but couldn’t, the one she didn’t want to stop.
“I think you’re well past 3,” she said. Chuck’s grin made his nose scrunch up.
“Let’s just call it 3, but know those 3 count a whole lot more than 1 a piece.” Sarah shook her head at him. “Seriously, Sarah, I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” She just looked at him and smiled. At least Chuck thought it was a smile, he kinda thought it was the way a lion looked at its prey.
“Who said I was uncomfortable,” Sarah said, winking, and going over to check their bags.
“And she scores again,” Chuck said.
“Not yet I haven’t,” she muttered to herself. Chuck made a small noise, and she whipped her head around. He wouldn’t look at her, but his ears were red. She grinned. He was going to be the death of her, and she could care less at this point. They took care of breakfast and breaking camp in silence, comfortable silence. Chuck was ready to go, and was looking at his wrist computer when he turned and there she was standing quietly beside him. He nearly fell over from the surprise.
“Sorry, I was off in my own world and you startled me,” Chuck said. Sarah had him by the waist, and had him steadied…well she did, and then his knees began to get a little weak her holding him like that.
“Are we heading toward Hogun?” Sarah asked. Chuck nodded.
“Yes,” Chuck replied. “The only problem is I’m not quite for sure how far away he is. Dad never tested them, or if he did, he didn’t leave me his findings, and I’ve never had a reason to split all this gear up and try it before.” Chuck almost sounded like he was apologizing. Sarah bounced a shoulder in a shrug.
“Then we just follow the signal,” she said, and they sat out. After a bit, she noticed Chuck looked several times like he wanted to say something and then changed his mind.
“You must be lonely,” Chuck finally said. She looked at him. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking love, or needing someone, I’m just saying, you must be lonely. Do you have someone to talk to?”
“I’m not much of a talker,” Sarah said, smirking. Truth be told she had said more in the time she had been with Chuck than at any point in her life she could remember. “I don’t do the sharing of feelings and stories of my past well.” Chuck grimaced a little at that one, not sure if it was a shot or not, but he thought not as Sarah seemed to have a look on her face like she was reflecting. “It’s been so long since I’ve had family or people I trust…” She gave her head a small shake and looked over at the nerd traveling with her. She shook her head. “How did you do it?”
“Do what?” he asked.
“Become the first person I trust since these machines landed?” she asked. Chuck gave her a look she couldn’t describe.
“You must hate me,” he said softly.
“Uh, I may not deal with my feelings much, but what I feel definitely isn’t hate,” she said, and thought about what that actually implied. She hurried on. “Why would you think I hate you?”
“My dad made those things and your family…” he said, trailing off. She stopped and placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked up at her.
“I don’t blame you for any of it,” she said. Chuck shook his head, and started walking. “So let’s talk about the elephant in the room.”
“How my dad destroyed this world?” Chuck asked.
“It’s that or our feelings for each other,” Sarah said.
“Was that a joke?” Chuck asked shocked.
“If I have to explain it, it wasn’t much of a joke,” Sarah said. “For the record, I’m not discussing my feelings, because that would just lead back to earlier.”
“Would that be so terrible?” he asked, grinning. She gave him a flat look, that she couldn’t hold.
“Damn it,” she muttered, walking on, shaking her head trying to hide the grin from him.
“That’s 4, wasn’t it,” he asked as she ignored him and kept walking. “You can admit it, it was 4.” She spun on him.
“If I didn’t have to save your life, you would be in so much trouble,” she said. Chuck walked right up to her.
“You know those 75,392 ways you know how to kill someone?” he asked. She nodded, grinning. “You also know that many ways to save me,” he said softly, placing a light kiss on her forehead. He walked on, following the signal on his wrist, knowing she wasn’t moving behind him. Her shoulders slumped, he was definitely going to be the death of her. “And for the record, that was 5.” She turned and took off after him.
}o{
They had walked in silence, Chuck’s grin fading as time and the distance past. Sarah was worried he was brooding about them. She couldn’t, not that she didn’t want to have feelings for him, because she did, and that scared her and excited her all at the same time. She was working up the courage to say something and promising whatever his answer was to deal with it, when he spoke.
“I guess the irony is, he did it to save the world,” Chuck said softly. She looked at him, but he couldn’t look at her. There was absolute shame on his face. “Overpopulation.”
“I don’t understand,” she said. Chuck swallowed thickly and steadied himself.
“He created…I don’t even know what to call it except Skynet because of the movie,” he began. “He created the AI to help solve the problems of overpopulation.”
“So what happened?” she asked. His eyes were far away, and haunted.
“He activated it,” Chuck said, tears in his eyes. “He thought that it would find solutions, save fossil fuels, reduce our carbon footprint, but he never imagined the solution it would come up with.” Sarah was confused. She studied him and it dawned on her. The most simplest, direct solution to the problem of overpopulation.
“Kill humans?” she asked with horror in her voice.
“Yeah,” he choked out. “Solved all the problems at once, and it started with the creator,” he said turning to her. “It also realized that the biggest problems came from those with the abilities to create things. By killing them, society wouldn’t advance.”
“You’re telling me the reason the “sacrifices” of the techies are made are to prevent the world from overpopulating again?” she asked. Chuck nodded.
“That’s why it wants me,” he said. “I’m the last of my line, and with my death…” He couldn’t finish.
“They will not take you,” she said.
“I know you’ll do everything in your power to save me,” he said.
“No, I will save you,” she said. Chuck shook his head.
“Not at the ultimate price you won’t,” Chuck said and looked into her eyes. She met his look, but what she was there, it touched her soul. He wasn’t going to let her die for him. “I had nothing left in this world.” He reached up and gently cupped her face and smiled a sad smile at her. “Now that I do, I can’t go on knowing I caused your death.”
“Chuck you can do more good than I ever can,” she said. Chuck shook his head.
“More good for who?” he asked. “Because my world, it would be destroyed.” She grabbed his wrist.
“You think I want to go on without you?” she asked. She stared at him, just realizing what she was saying, but saying it she was. He had to go on even it mean without her. “You can fix things.” Chuck shrugged.
“If I don’t have you, then why would I even care?” he asked. She started to respond, but they heard something, and she looked around. Her eyes narrowed as she listened intently and she heard it.
“We’ve gotta run! We need shelter, now!” she screamed. Chuck followed her gaze and figured it out. Rain. Acid rain. In this part of the Wastelands it wasn’t unheard of. He didn’t know how much damage it could do, but he didn’t want to find out. He looked around and saw it in the distance.
“There!” he pointed at the old substation. They took off in a sprint, and they knew it was going to be close.
“If we get there without being fried alive, I’m going to kiss you,” Sarah said.
“Don’t tease me like that, Valkyrie,” he replied, thinking she was teasing him to encourage him on.
“It’s Sarah, and who said I was teasing?” she asked with a wink. Chuck’s eyes nearly popped out of his head, but he ran with strength he didn’t know he had.
}o{
Chuck was seeing spots, but they got inside the substation as he gasped for air. His hand automatically went to where a light switch was, but his brain told him it wouldn’t work…but it did. He felt to the floor, gasping air.
“Out of shape?” Sarah asked, her breath seeming normal.
“I’m dying,” he said. She started to bend down to give Chuck his prize when he asked the million dollar question. “Sarah, how are the lights on?” She froze. How were they on? She stood up straight and looked around. Chuck got up, holding his side, trying to catch his breath. “There” he said, pointing to a panel. He walked over, studied it and put his hand on it.
“Human DNA recognized. Welcome to the resistance,” the computerized voice said and the door slid opened. They walked downstairs through the narrow opening.
“This is genius,” Chuck said. “Even if they could break through the door, the walkway is very narrow making it hard for a T-800 to get here.”
“But eventually they would all come,” she said. Chuck shook his head, and then realized she couldn’t see him.
“There are only ten of them,” he said. “Well, nine at the most now, I don’t know if Heaven destroyed any or not.”
“What?” Sarah asked. “Dad created them as well,” Chuck said. “They were supposed to help stop wars, stop crime, but instead they became Skynet’s enforcers.”
“A lot of people died to kill that T-800 in the Governor’s sector,” Sarah said.
“If there are only six left, if they banded together…” Chuck didn’t want to finish that sentence.
“So the bipedal machines, they’re created by Skynet?” she asked.
“Yes, somehow Skynet can’t replace the T-800s, yet,” Chuck said. They got to the bottom, and Chuck’s face lit up. He ran into the room and began to turn things on. “Sarah, electricity!” He ran the bathroom. “Running water!” She then heard the sound of a shower turning on. “SHOWERS!!!!” He ran up, picked her up, and spun her around. She laughed. For a moment, just one moment, he thought there could be some peace and quiet they both deserved. “We can have our own rooms tonight!” Sarah’s face fell, for just a split second. “Unless, that is, you don’t want to.”
“I think it would be safer if you were nearby,” she said. Chuck nodded.
“That makes complete sense,” he said. She started to walk off. “I’m glad, I would miss waking up with you.” She stopped dead in her tracks. “That’s 6 right?”
“Chuck, you’re playing with fire,” she said, controlling herself…but just barely.
“Well, I guess this is a bad time to ask about my prize,” he said. She didn’t move, if she did, she would tackle him, kiss him, and …a blush rose in her cheeks thinking about it. “I was thinking about trading it in for something.” She didn’t like this idea. She was looking forward to that kiss. She turned to face him and the look on his face was one of amusement. She narrowed her eyes at him. “Your choice on if I do or not.”
“Trade for what?” she asked.
“A date,” Chuck said.
“A date?” she repeated, stunned.
“My guess, you haven’t had many, honestly I haven’t either, but I was thinking, what if next week you’re fighting a T-800, ripping it’s arm off and beating it to death with it, and the through crosses your mind, I should have gone out on a date with Chuck.”
“Okay,” she said shyly. Chuck’s face lit up.
“Okay?”
“Mmmhmm,” she nodded. Chuck nodded, grinning.
“Okay, it won’t be the fanciest things, there are some ration packs here, and I thought maybe a little music,” he said.
“Dancing,” she said quickly and quietly.
“You want to dance?” he affirmed. She nodded. “What kind of dance?”
“Slow,” she said just above a whisper. Chuck nodded, the grin seemingly permanently etched to his face.
“I’ll do my best to make it the best date you ever had,” he said.
“I know,” she said and walked off.
“Was that from Star Wars?!” Chuck yelled, as she shrugged and kept walking.
“Still wanna play this game?” she yelled back.
“Absolutely,” he said to himself softly. “Either way, I win.”
}o{
“Do you know what it is we’re eating?” Chuck asked with a grin on his face. Sarah was trying not to laugh or spit up food so she simply shook her head.
“Are we sure it’s not expired?” she managed to get out. Chuck shook his head no. “Great, Chuck, you’re going to give me food poisoning.”
“Well, you’ll never forget the date,” he replied, making her laugh again. She didn’t know when she had laughed more. Even before the machines. “I’m sorry, I really thought there would be better choices of food.”
“Chuck, you are doing the best you can with what we have, and I really appreciate it,” she said. She took a deep breath. “Chuck, when this is all over, and we both survive,” she said, pointing her fork at him to let him know they would. “I’m supposed to go back to the Governor.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t know if I want to,” she said softly.
“What would you do?” he asked. She knew she was being too vague.
“I like spending time with you and doing things with you,” she said. He looked at her, and grinned.
“I like doing things with you,” he replied, not seeing the problem. Ugh, Chuck she thought. Why are you making me say this? “I’d love to have you around. You know that.” She nodded.
“If I don’t go back…our arrangement…” she couldn’t say anything else. Chuck looked confused, and then it hit him. His eyebrows went straight up.
“Oh,” he said. Then her REALLY thought about it. “OH!” She nodded.
“It would be permanent, and it wouldn’t be fair if you found someone else,” she said, looking away. Chuck lifted an eyebrow.
“Do you really think that I just find you convenient?” he asked. She looked away and shrugged. “Have you met you?” he asked, astonished. “You are amazing, and I’m not even talking about the way you can beat one of the machines to death.” She shook her head, and it dawned on Chuck what this was about. “Oh, it’s because you ‘don’t know how to do this’ isn’t it?” She nodded, tears in her eyes. “Will you please look at me?” he asked softly. She did. “Sarah freakin’ Walker, I ‘don’t know how to do this’ either, but I know I’m falling more in love with you every day. I would love for you to stay with me when we get through this, and I understand if there were things you didn’t want to do, I mean one day I hope you would, but for now, I get it. I won’t make you stay, but if you want to stay, I would do everything within my power to make you happy.” Sarah gave him a shy smile. “I love you, and I know you think you can’t tell me how you feel because if you do it could get me killed, but I think because you love me, you make sure I don’t get killed.” She sat there silently for a second.
“You could be right,” she admitted softly.
“Really, I could be right,” he said, grinning.
“Fine, you might be right,” she said, and she pointed a finger at him. “But that’s all I’m admitting to.”
“I’ll take it,” he said the smile on his face. He stood up, messed with a computer for a second, and music started to play. He turned back to her and offered her his hand. “I believe I owe you a dance.” They began to slowly dance.
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
The song ended, and the two just stood there holding each other.
“What’s next for your date, Sarah?” he asked.
“You’ll think it’s silly,” she said, he head right on his shoulder.
“No, I think it’s what you want, and that’s what we’ll do,” he said.
“You won the prize and you traded it in for a date that will make me happy,” she said.
“I know,” he said smiling. “Don’t you get it, that’s all I want for you to be happy.” She scrunched into him even more.
“Okay, what I want is to go to bed with 30 minutes of complete silence, but I want to cuddle with you while I have the silence,” she said, waiting for him to laugh.
“Sound great,” he said.
“And then we go to sleep,” she said, waiting to see what he did next.
“Uh, do I still get to cuddle?” he asked. She smiled into his neck.
“You better believe it,” she said, pulling away smiling at him. She took his head in both her hands, and gently kissed his lips. It wasn’t the kiss from this morning, but she said so much with it. She pulled away and the smile he gave her made her heart flip. She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. The room was empty, until a computer monitor came on. It simply read “1 or 11”.
A/N: ….. And I’m gonna say what I need to say. And hope to God it don’t scare you away. Don’t want to be misunderstood. But I’m starting to believe that. This could be the start of something good. Take care, see you soon
DC