Chapter 9
A/N: *peaks from around the protective barrier I’ve built* Oh, hey, you’re back. No one really stormed the castle, so it appears we’re all good. Chuck and Sarah have moved past what happened (it’s me, you knew they would), we learned Stephen may not be at fault, and Mary sucks at time-management. (What if she’d left something on the stove when she left? Goodness gracious.) So Truffaut is up and running, but it seems to have very few employees. It’s okay, I have ideas. Chuck is about one thing, family, and families are messy.
Today’s music was released way back in 1969, but don’t worry, you don’t need an 8 track and you know the song. (You guys do know what an 8 track is…right…never mind.) This song by the Rolling Stones, You Can’t Always Get What You Want sums up this entire story. Ch 9, Get What You Need…You can’t always get what you want but if you try sometimes you find you get what you need…
Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck, I don’t really like cherry red soda, but I love the Stones.
“They seriously started a band?” Chuck asked.
“Yeah, Jeffster, and Chuck, they are God awful,” Morgan said. “Neither one can sing, and that keytaur….I mean I love the 80s but give me a break.”
“How’s Anna?” Chuck asked, thankful he was out of that place.
“Scary…hot….scary hot…but scary,” Morgan said, thinking.
“Still wearing the nerd herd uniform the way she wants?”
“Oh, yeah,” Morgan said, grinning and lost in thought. Chuck shook his head, and watched the video again. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he figured he ought to appear to give it a shot.
“Do you want me to take him back to the zoo?” Casey asked, coming into Chuck’s office.
“Nice to see you too, John.” Morgan said pleasantly. “Enjoying your new job as a secretary? You should be a bouncer or something, it more fits your skill set.”
“You should be a garden gnome,” the big man grumbled.
“Well, should I give you two some alone time, or do you just want to go out on a date?” Chuck said. Casey growled.
“I came in here to find out if anyone made any progress on the break-in,” Casey replied.
“Well, I haven’t and I don’t know if Sarah has or not,” Chuck said.
“Why don’t you go ask her?” Casey asked. “We’re missing something, no one is that good.”
“I’m not asking her because she’s talking to her mother,” Chuck replied. “And, you’re right, there is no sign of anything.”
“Does she know you’re out here with your boyfriend mixing your chocolate and peanut butter?” Casey asked.
“That does sound delicious,” Morgan said. “What does that even mean though?” Chuck shrugged. “Casey, what type of sandwich would you want if you were stuck on a deserted island?” Casey turned and left. “He always does that.” Morgan turned to Chuck. “I thought you were a partner in the company.”
“I am, but those two started it, so I’m trying to stay out of their way,” Chuck said. Morgan looked at him, and shook his head, disappointed.
“Charles Irving Bartowski,” Morgan began. Chuck looked at Morgan in shock.
“Ellie?” he asked. Morgan waved his hand.
“Focus, Chuck,” Morgan said, annoyed. “You are going to take in the profits of your position without doing any of the work.” Chuck thought for a second.
“Okay, 1, I never thought of it like that, and now I feel bad, but 2, don’t you do that at the Buy More?” Chuck asked.
“Chuck, it’s the Buy More,” Morgan replied as if that explained everything. Chuck nodded and got up to go talk to Sarah. “Go ahead, if you don’t care, I’m going to watch this while you’re gone.” Chuck shrugged. “So what am I looking for?”
“Anything that will explain how they got in with no one realizing it until it was too late,” Chuck said.
“Really?” Morgan asked. “Because it’s pretty obvious.” Chuck turned to him. Casey stuck his head around the corner.
“There is no way a bearded gnome can figure this out and I can’t,” Casey said.
“Bet me,” Morgan countered.
“What’s the stakes?” Casey asked.
“If I’m right, I get a job here, a place to live in Simi Valley, and a date,” Morgan said.
“If you lose, you never come in here again,” Casey said grinning.
“Deal,” Morgan said.
“Deal,” Casey said, reaching out his hand his eyes gleaming. They shook on it.
“Not to be a party pooper, but Casey, you don’t have that authority,” Chuck reminded him.
“Fine, let’s go tell you girlfriend and throw out the gnome,” Casey said, as happy as they’ve ever seen him.
“I really don’t think he likes me,” Morgan said.
“He didn’t choke you this time,” Chuck pointed out.
“There’s that,” Morgan said, brightening. They walked to the conference room, where Sarah waved them all in. Casey told Sarah the bet.
“Okay, if you can figure it out, I’ll get you the job, but the housing-” she began, and then the screen popped on.
“Oh good, you’re all here,” Beckman said. Chuck didn’t look happy. “Listen, Mr. Bartowski we can sort out our disagreements later, this is about the safety of your friend.” Chuck nodded, Morgan looked concerned. “We are very concerned about Stephen contacting Mr. Grimes, and given what he did to Chuck and Sarah, we fear he might escalate things.”
“General, do you mean physical harm, because my father wouldn’t do that,” Chuck said.
“Chuck,” Beckman said as gently as she could. “After talking to your mother about what we think is going on, I need to ask you a question, and you to answer seriously, did you ever think your father would keep you away from your daughter?” The look on Chuck’s face gave the answer. “I’m sorry, I know that sounds harsh, but he seems to be escalating. I want Mr. Grimes there with you, and I’m thinking about assigning Casey as his permanent security.”
“General,” Casey began. “Hold on just a minute, I’m already watching four people.” Beckman nodded. “Is this guy really worth it?”
“I figure out what happened at the break in, and you haven’t,” Morgan retorted. Beckman leaned forward.
“Really,” Beckman said. “I’d love to hear what you think, because we need this solved quickly to find the information taken.” Morgan looked at Chuck.
“He and Casey kinda made a bet, General, but Casey promised things he couldn’t deliver on,” Chuck explained. Beckman frowned.
“Whatever the major said, I will honor,” Beckman replied.
“The problem is, General, if Morgan is wrong he’s not allowed to come back in the doors here,” Chuck said.
“That’s not happening, I need Mr. Grimes there, and not in Burbank,” Beckman said. Casey groaned and Morgan rubbed his hands together.
“Great, I’m playing with house money,” Morgan said. “The fight was staged.” Beckman lifted an eyebrow. “The fight between the security guy and the robber, watch it again, it’s staged. I know my Kung-Fu movies.” Casey stared at Morgan. Sarah, grinning played back the video and Morgan pointed everything out.
“Well done, Mr. Grimes!” Beckman said. “We’ll have the security guard picked up, and find out where his accomplices are. Now, what were your terms?”
“A place to live here in Simi Valley,” he began.
“Done, the Major has a duplex, Morgan can move into the other side,” Beckman said. Casey groaned.
“A job here,” Morgan said.
“Doing what?” Sarah asked. “I’m not saying no, just what would you do?”
“We can’t play video games like we do every night, Buddy,” Chuck said.
“Wait,” Sarah said. “You are who Chuck plays?” Morgan nodded. “General, Morgan is an amazing strategist.”
“I have my moments,” Morgan said proudly. “And I find the best sub-$10 cuisine in Burbank, I’m sure I can do the same here.”
“Done,” Beckman said. “Mrs. Walker, you and I can work out his compensation.” Sarah nodded.
“I also want a date,” Morgan said. Sarah’s eyebrows shot up. “Not with any of you,” he quickly added.
“Looks like you missed your chance, Bartowski,” Casey muttered.
“You sound a little jealous,” Chuck retorted. Sarah stood there, thinking.
“I have an idea,” she said. Morgan smiled.
“I trust you,” Morgan said. Sarah smiled at him. “Now, I’m going to go get my stuff to move in, if that’s alright.”
“Sarah, attach a tracking watch to him, and show him how to use it,” Beckman said. “I don’t like sending you alone, but I just don’t have the resources right now.” She scanned some paperwork and looked up, catching Sarah’s eye. “There is a government agent in California though…let me work on something. Good job team!” And, with that, she cut off.
“Team?” Chuck asked. Sarah shrugged.
“She is one of our biggest customers as far as money is concerned,” Sarah said. Chuck looked a little upset.
“And I nearly blew it yesterday,” he said. Sarah shook her head.
“I don’t care if you did,” Sarah said.
“Chuck, you’re family,” Emma said. Chuck gave them a sad smile. They heard Molly on the baby monitor.
“I’ll go, let you all do some real work,” and with that Chuck was gone. Sarah knew this whole mess was still bothering him. It wasn’t going to affect them anymore, but it was still bothering him.
}o{
Morgan had loaded the Nerd Herder, he had to figure out how to get it back to Burbank before he was reported for stealing it, and thought he would bring some sizzilin’ shrimp to his new co-workers. He was walking to his car when he heard a commotion. He turned and a beautiful red-headed woman was running toward him, being chased by men. Morgan quickly opened the door, and started the car.
“Get in,” he yelled, she seemed to take a second to weigh her choices, but she dove in the car and he took off. “Morgan Grimes,” he said.
“Huh?” the woman answered.
“It’s my name, Morgan Grimes,” he replied.
“Oh, Carina,” she said. “Thanks for the save.”
“Where to?” Morgan asked. “And what did you do, stiff them the tip on some egg rolls?” Carina just stared at him.
“Sure, let’s go with that,” she said. “Unless you know anyone with access to the federal government agency, I’m not sure.”
“I do, but it’s in Simi Valley,” he answered. Carina just stared at him.
“Blonde lady, blue eyes, tall?” Carina asked.
“Yeah, Sarah!” he exclaimed. “You know her?”
“Probably,” Carina said.
“Oh, you may know her as Jenny,” Morgan said. Carina looked at him. “That’s who she was when Chuck met her.”
“Chuck? Chuck Babinski?” she asked. “Wait, so you’re Martin?”
“No, I’m Morgan, and he’s Chuck Bartowski,” Morgan explained.
“Same thing,” she said, as she sat back. “Let’s go there.”
“It’s a bit of a drive,” he said, and gave her a quick glance. “So, what type of sandwich would you want if you were on a deserted island?”
}o{
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Sarah asked, watching Chuck hold Molly in his office. He was sitting in one the chairs facing the back of his monitors like he was a client.
“I feel a little useless,” he said.
“Chuck, why?”
“Listen, I get it, I did something good with Verbanski, but what else am I good for?” he asked. “Morgan figured out things I couldn’t, he even pointed out I wasn’t doing my part as an owner.”
“Well, he’s right,” Sarah said. Chuck looked at her, and she gave him, a “well, you said it” look. “Listen, I can’t do a thing you did with those computer programs. You’ve turned this business into a profit machine, and take away our government contracts because of my contacts, you are the only reason we make money. We each have a specialty, but there’s something else you have that the rest of us don’t. You care. Chuck, you’re a part of this, it’s up to you to decide how much you want to be a part.” Chuck sat there nodding.
“Sorry,” Chuck began, but stopped.
“What?”
“No, it’s just an excuse,” Chuck said. “Starting now, I’m going to be a part, but if I do too much tell me to back off.”
“If you were going to say your life’s been flipped upside down, you’d be right, and I don’t think that’s as much as of an excuse but an adjustment,” Sarah said, winking. “Now come on, we’ve got work to do, and I need you, as a part owner to look at some things. They walked up front as Morgan entered and Carina was behind him.
“Hey, Sarah, this is Carina and she needs some help,” Morgan said.
“Carina is it?” Sarah said smiling. She walked up to Carina, studied her, grinned, and hugged her.
“Miller,” Carina said, returning the hug. “I’m glad you got out.”
“Walker,” Sarah told her. “I’m glad I got out.” The two broke the hug and Carina saw Chuck holding Molly.
“Wow, she’s gotten big,” Carina said. “Nice boy toy,” she whispered.
“Chuck, this is Carina, an old friend,” Sarah said. Chuck raised an eyebrow, but said, nothing, knowing he’d get he’d get the full story later.
“Wait, baby daddy, Chuck?” Carina asked.
“I really don’t like that term,” Chuck said. Sarah shrugged.
“It’s not an untrue statement,” she said.
“You keep being the sassy one,” Chuck said grinning.
“You two are sickening,” Carina said. Sarah stuck her tongue out at Carina. Carina shook her head. “You are absolutely domesticated, and you love it.” Sarah nodded.
“Oh, what fresh hell is this,” Casey growled.
“Miss me, John?” Carina asked. Casey growled and walked away.
“They know each other?” Chuck asked, the whole group following Carina following Casey.
“Long story, I’ll tell you later,” she said.
“Casey, seriously I need to check in,” Carina said. Casey turned, gave her a look, grunted, and took her into the conference room along with everyone else. Beckman came on the screen.
“Agent Miller, thank God you okay,” Beckman said. “Last we heard the Triad was on your trail.
“Wait, those were Triad?” Morgan said.
“Yeah, Marty, why did you think I jumped in your car with you?” Carina asked.
“The beard,” Morgan admitted.
“It is an impressive beard, my friend,” Chuck admitted. “What did you think was going on?
“I thought she had stiffed someone a tip,” Morgan admitted. Chuck just blinked and shook his head. Sarah had her head buried in Chuck’s arm laughing.
“Agent Miller,” Beckman said, really enjoying what she was about to do. “The DEA has two choices with you so badly compromised right now. They can put you in the office and have you do nothing but paperwork-”
“I’ll take the other, whatever it is,” Carina said, cutting in. Beckman smiled.
“Or, you can move in with Mr. Grimes for both of your protection,” Beckman said. Chuck tried so hard not to laugh. Sarah was crying from laughing so hard, and Casey was even chuckling.
“Uh, General, that’s a bad idea, the Triad are looking for me,” Carina said.
“Not in Simi Valley, and certainly not in Morgan Grime’s half of a duplex,” Beckman said. “Plus with the Major living right beside you, he can keep an eye out if something should happen. These are your choices Agent Miller. DEA desk, or temporary assignment to the DEA where you could sometimes, possibly do assignments.” Carina looked at Morgan.
“General,” Casey said. “It might be even better if you made Carina Mr. Grime’s cover girl friend.” Carina glared daggers at Casey.
“This is for Prague, isn’t it?” she said. Casey just shrugged.
“That’s not a bad idea,” Beckman said. “Sarah, can you find something for Carina to do at Truffaut, you won’t actually have to pay her.”
“She does have a certain, skill set,” Casey said, laughing.
“Casey, that’s a bit low,” Chuck said. Sarah beamed at Chuck.
“Agent Miller, regardless of the crude was it has been put, Major Casey is right,” Beckman said. Carina sighed.
“How much cover goes into the cover?” Carina asked.
“Not as much as you usually give,” Beckman responded. Sarah’s eyebrows about shot up off of her head. “But as usual, what you and Mr. Grimes decide to do, that’s your business.
“Okay, I’ll date Marty,” Carina said.
“Good,” Beckman replied. “Mr. Bartowski, Mrs. Walker, would you be so kind as to help them get into their role by going on a double date tonight. I do believe we owe Mr. Grimes a date.”
}o{
As Chuck and Sarah got to the restaurant, Sarah got a text. She read it, looked at Chuck, and then pulled him in for a time-stopping kiss.
“What’s was that for, national emergency?” he asked, when his brain rebooted.
“No, that kiss was I love you, thank you for being my boyfriend, baby daddy,” she smiled as Chuck gave her a look. “And, to hope you know whatever she says in there tonight, I’m not that person in anymore.” Chuck smiled at her.
“Sarah, I’ve been told by enough people what kind of changes you went through after you met me, I don’t care about before that,” Chuck said, sincerely. “I love you.” Sarah smiled, but she looked worried.
“How about in a few days we either have Ellie over, or go to her house and have her tell you all the embarrassing stories in the world about me,” Chuck said. Sarah grinned, but there were tears.
“Chuck, dad was in prison, and I had to do things for the CIA, any means necessary,” she said. Chuck looked upset. “See, this is why I don’t talk about the past much.”
“I’m going to kill Graham, to make you use yourself like that-” Chuck was angry, but Sarah laid a hand on his arm, to try to calm him and cut him off.
“Listen, I had to stop people, by killing them, not bang half the football team,” she said, trying to make a joke. “Too soon?”
“You made a joke about that right after I met you, how would now be too soon?” Chuck asked, the anger abating. “Sarah, were they bad guys…or girls, I don’t want to be sexist…should that be women instead of girls.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Yes, Chuck, bad people,” she said. “And some men I had to seduce, which meant lead them on, let them have what they thought would be a good time, and then…” Chuck nodded.
“You did it to save innocents, at the cost of your own innocence,” he said. Sarah stared at him.
“Damn,” she whispered.
“What, did I say something wrong?” he asked, very confused.
“Just when I think I can’t love you more, you say something like that. Something so understanding, and exactly what I needed to hear,” she said. “We need to stop by Large Mart on the way home.” With that, she swallowed, steadied herself, and began to lead him inside.
“Why would we need…Oh,” he said, understanding hitting him. “We have a full box.” She just gave him a look, and it finally dawned on him. “Oh, boy.”
}o{
Sarah was humming happily, working on business expenses when Carian barged in.
“Is something wrong with me?” she asked. Sarah gave her the once over.
“Nothing physically, mentally we don’t have that kind of time,” Sarah answered. Carina was still upset and not taking the bait. Sarah sat back, arms crossed, curious. “Sit,” she said, nodding toward the chair across from her. Carina hesitated, shut the door, drawing an eyebrow raise from Sarah, and sit down.
“He slept on the couch last night,” Carina said. Sarah unfolded her arms, and leaned forward on her desk. “He was an absolute gentleman.”
“Those guys exist you know,” Sarah said.
“I need to go back to the DEA,” Carina said. “I’ll just stay on the desk, I can’t do this, Sarah,” she said.
“Who will protect him?” Sarah asked. Carina looked at her. “You are shook to your core,” she said. “Morgan Grimes rescued you without wanting a thing, he took you to dinner, treated you like a princess, refused to take advantage of the situation, and you, Carina, are feeling things you don’t know how to handle.”
“Blondie, you don’t understand…” Carina began lost for words. Sarah just smiled.
“Oh, I don’t?” she asked, picking up a picture of Chuck and Molly. Carina looked at it, turning pale. “You are scared to death. You enjoy your life, you really do, and that’s great, you should, but you’ve got the taste of something else, and while you don’t want to want it, a small piece of you, is attracted to it in a way you’ve never felt. So, Carina Miller, are you gonna face it, or run, and leave ‘Marty’ all alone.”
“I called him Morgan last night, and you know what he said?” Carina asked. Sarah shook her head. “He looked kinda disappointed, and I asked why, and he told me, ‘Me being Marty, that’s kinda our thing,’ and he walked off.”
“Now tell me how it ends,” Sarah said. Carina blushed and Sarah nearly fell out of her seat.
“I said, ‘I’m sorry Marty, it just slipped, you know being all these different places, it won’t happen again.’” Carina couldn’t even look Sarah in the eye.
“Is it the beard?” Sarah asked, grinning.
“No!” Carina said forcefully. She was quiet for a second. “I do like it though.” A knock on the door paused their conversation, they saw it was Chuck and Sarah signaled him to come in.
“Sorry to intrude, but we have a potential client,” Chuck said. “They have a potential infiltration they’d like us to do for them to check their security,” he said, wincing.
“What?” Sarah asked, worried.
“Morgan, heard the whole thing, saw the blueprints, and thinks he knows a way in, but it would take someone with a certain skill set,” he said.
“Me,” Carina said, grinning. Chuck nodded.
“Okay, I’ll talk to them,” Sarah said. “If we agree, you and Casey do the infiltration and take Morgan on coms with you since he knows the plan.” Carina nodded, got up, and headed outside.
“Did it work?” Chuck asked grinning.
“Did what work?” she asked, amused. What were those two up to?
“Operation RESPECT,” Chuck said, the smile covering his face. “Reject Each Sexual PredicamEnt Carina Tries.”
“Are you allowed to use two letters in the same word?” Sarah asked, laughing. Chuck shrugged.
“It’s all Morgan’s idea, I’m just helping him,” Chuck said.
“You do know Carina is…” Sarah trailed off.
“A human being that deserves to be loved just like anyone else?” Chuck offered. Sarah smiled, got up, walked out her door, and as Chuck turned to join her, she swatted his backside. “Gotta stop by Large Mart tonight.”
“AGAIN?”
}o{
“Did it work?” Morgan asked, sticking his head into Chuck’s office. Chuck shook his head, smiling.
“They were talking about something pretty seriously, when I walked in, Buddy,” Chuck said. “They want to take you on coms.” Morgan fist pumped upon hearing that. “Are you ready for this?”
“I’ll just take ANOTHER cold shower,” Morgan said. Chuck gave him a look. “Dude, do you know the look she gave me, when I told her no. She gave me puppy dog eyes, and then came and sat on the couch with me.”
“Morgan,” Chuck said, warning him.
“Then, she stretched a leg over me,” he paused, lost in thought. “They are so long,” he said, in awe.
“Morgan,” Chuck said, his voice getting louder.
“Then she straddle me, and whispered into my ear about how she’d make me think my name actually was Marty,” Morgan said, his eyes far away.
“MORGAN!” Chuck yelled bringing Morgan back to Earth.
“Sorry,” Morgan said. “There’s been a lot of cold showers the past 24 hours dude, I think part of my brain is frozen.” Chuck nodded.
“I understand,” Chuck said.
“I get now why you wanted Jenny back so much,” Morgan said, his eyes glazing over again. Chuck put his hand over his face. He picked up his phone and sent a text. A few minutes later, Casey came in, with a bucket of water, and poured it over Morgan’s head.
“AHHH!” he yelled. Casey grunted at Chuck, nodded and walked off. “Thanks, Buddy.” Morgan said, and headed out of his office. Sarah stuck her head in, a confused look on her face.
“Thinking about Carina?” she asked. Chuck nodded. “What do you say you and I take our girl to lunch?”
“That’s the best idea I’ve heard today,” Chuck said, grinning.
A/N: Next time, dinner with Ellie, bring your ear plugs…You just might find, you get what you need… Take care, see you soon
DC