Chuck vs. the Impossible Variable

A/N1 – Song recommendation – “Digital Love” by Daft Punk

Disclaimer – I don’t own Chuck.

CHAPTER 3 – Operation Understanding Love

Burbank, CA

Casa Woodcomb-Bartowski

One evening, Chuck was asleep, then suddenly awakened by Edgar.

DEFINE LOVE.

Chuck sat upright, "What?"

VARIABLE UNKNOWN.

ANALYSIS INCOMPLETE.

LOVE DEFINITION UNKNOWN.

Chuck stared at the darkness. Edgar wasn't malfunctioning. It was genuinely confused.

For perhaps the first time in its existence, it had found something it could not calculate.

After Edgar’s analysis of human emotions, Edgar wanted to learn what love was.

Chuck decided that he should get permission from General Beckman regarding this issue.

XXXX

Burbank, CA

Castle

The next morning, in the daily briefing in the Castle Conference Room.

General Beckman appeared on the monitor. Sarah and Casey sat beside Chuck.

"So you're telling me," General Beckman said carefully, "Edgar is a conducting second independent analysis?"

"It has another question about humans," Chuck replied.

General Beckman glared at him and asked, "What kind of questions?"

Chuck hesitated and then replied, "It wants to know what love is."

"Love?" General Beckman asked.

Chuck told her, "Yes. Edgar is asking for permission to interview Sarah, Casey, and my family and friends for their definition of love."

Chuck told her that he could build a portable communication device from the spy devices in Castle that would allow Edgar to hear what other people say while still communicating with me, but now outside of Castle and his bedroom.

General Beckman thought for a minute and was curious to see what would happen when the Intersect got people’s answers to its question, so she granted Chuck’s request, much to the dismay of Casey and Sarah. Even Chuck didn’t seem too pleased that General Beckman had agreed with his request.

XXXX

The next day, Chuck found Sarah taking a break outside the Orange Orange getting some fresh air.

Sunlight illuminated her blonde hair. For a moment, Chuck forgot the conversation he needed to have.

Sarah smiled at him and said, "You know what's funny about all of this?"

Chuck asked, "What?"

She continued, "The CIA has spent years trying to understand human behavior."

Chuck smiled, "How'd that go?"

"We're still terrible at it."

They laughed, and then Sarah grew serious.

Chuck asked her, “Edgar wants to know what love is. Can you give your definition of love?"

She paused, "Love is choosing someone."

Chuck listened.

"Every day. It's trusting someone with the parts of yourself nobody else sees."

Her voice softened, "It's caring more about their happiness than your own."

Chuck felt his chest tighten as Sarah looked directly at him.

"And sometimes it means risking everything because life without them isn't really living."

Edgar absorbed every word. Recording, analyzing, comparing.

Yet still something remained missing.

XXXX

Later that day, Casey was walked into Castle, and was confronted by Chuck and Sarah.

He said, "This is stupid."

Chuck grinned, "Edgar wants your definition of love."

Casey nearly walked back out, "No."

Chuck said, "Casey”

"No. I’m not going to have a conversation with the Intersect."

"Casey, please."

He sighed heavily, "Fine."

Sarah smirked, and Chuck grinned.

Casey looked uncomfortable.

More uncomfortable than during gunfire, more uncomfortable than explosions, and he finally responded, “Love means somebody becomes your mission."

Chuck and Sarah exchanged glances.

Casey continued, "You protect them, you fight for them, and you don't quit…"

His voice lowered, "…Even when they drive you crazy."

In that moment, neither Chuck nor Sarah joked.

Because they knew Casey wasn't talking theoretically. He was talking about people he had cared about. People he had lost.

Edgar stored the information.

Still incomplete.

XXXX

Burbank, CA

Casa Woodcomb-Bartowski

That evening, in Chuck’s bedroom, Edgar asked again.

DEFINE LOVE.

Chuck sat alone in his room.

This time, he answered aloud.

"You know why you can't solve it?"

Silence.

"You keep treating it like a formula."

Edgar waited.

Chuck smiled, "Love isn't data… Love is the most powerful feeling in the universe. It is how we have all survived. It can make you feel happy, sad, nervous, calm, hot, and cold. It can give you strength and make you weak. It is the most powerful feeling in the universe!”

Chuck continued, "Love is knowing every reason something shouldn't work, and wanting it anyway."

Edgar processed.

"Love is when somebody changes who you are for the better."

A memory appeared. Sarah teaches him confidence, teaching him courage, teaching him to believe in himself.

"Love is seeing someone and feeling like you're home."

Edgar analyzed, compared, simulated, and calculated. Then Edgar stopped for the first time it stopped.

XXXX

After Edgar began asking impossible questions about love, Chuck quickly realized something.

Edgar wasn't satisfied. It had listened to Sarah, it had listened to Casey, and it had listened to Chuck.

Yet every time Chuck flashed, he could feel the system still processing, still comparing, and still searching as if it understood the words but not the meaning behind them.

So Chuck decided to seek out two people who knew more about lasting love than anyone he knew, his sister Ellie and his future brother-in-law Devon.

Saturday afternoon, Ellie sat at the outdoor table, grading medical charts while Devon relaxed next to her, reading a fitness magazine.

With the mobile communication link in his ear and a GLG-20 listening device with a modified video feed on his shirt, Chuck approached carrying three coffees.

Ellie smiled immediately, “Okay, little brother."

Chuck blinked, "Okay, what?"

Ellie told him, "You brought us coffee."

She pointed at him. “You only bring us coffee when you need something."

Devon nodded, "Or when you've accidentally broken something."

Chuck sighed, "Why does everyone know me so well?"

"Years of practice," Ellie said.

Chuck handed them their drinks and sat down.

Devon looked between the siblings and said, "This feels serious."

Chuck rubbed the back of his neck, "Actually… I have a question."

Ellie leaned forward, "About what?"

Chuck hesitated and then asked, “What is your definition of love?"

The silence that followed lasted several seconds.

Devon looked at Ellie. Ellie looked at Devon. Then both looked at Chuck.

"Wow…" Devon said, "… That is so not what I expected."

"Neither did I," Ellie admitted.

Chuck shifted nervously, "So?"

Ellie smiled softly, "Why are you asking?"

Chuck quickly improvised, "Uh… curiosity?"

Ellie narrowed her eyes, "Chuck. Is this about a certain blonde?"

Chuck blushed as he said, "What?"

"That's not curiosity", she replied.

Devon laughed, "He's got the same face he makes before asking you for permission to do something stupid."

Chuck groaned, "Can we just answer the question?"

XXXX

Ellie thought quietly for a moment, then she looked toward Devon.

Her expression changed immediately, the way it always did when she looked at her fiancé.

Chuck noticed. Edgar noticed too. Recording everything.

Ellie finally spoke, "Love is feeling safe."

Chuck tilted his head, "Safe?"

She nodded, "Not physically safe."

Her voice softened, "Emotionally safe."

Devon listened quietly.

Ellie continued, "It's knowing somebody sees every part of you. The good parts, the bad parts, and even the embarrassing parts."

Chuck laughed, "I have plenty of those."

She pointed at him, "Exactly, and they stay anyway."

Chuck considered that.

Ellie smiled, “When Mom and Dad left, I was terrified. I was trying to raise you, pay bills, go to school, and figure everything out."

Her eyes drifted toward Devon, "And then this ridiculous guy showed up."

Devon grinned, "I prefer handsome."

Ellie immediately told him, "You were ridiculous."

Devon laughed and said, "I was handsome and ridiculous."

Ellie laughed, and then looked back at Chuck, "For the first time in years, I didn't feel like I had to carry everything alone. That's love."

She squeezed Devon's hand, "It's having somebody stand beside you when life gets heavy.”

Edgar stored every word.

XXXX

Devon sat back in his chair, "Okay, my turn."

Ellie smiled, "This should be good."

Devon pointed dramatically at Chuck, "Love is choosing the same person over and over again…"

Chuck immediately recognized similarities to Sarah's answer.

Devon continued, "…Everybody thinks love is some magical feeling. Butterflies, fireworks, and romantic music”

Chuck nodded, "Isn't it?"

Devon shook his head, "No. Those things happen, but they don't last forever. "What lasts is the choice."

Ellie smiled knowingly.

Devon looked at her, "Every morning I wake up and choose Ellie."

Chuck watched the two of them. The statement sounded simple yet powerful.

Devon continued, "And she chooses me. Some days that's easy, and some days less easy.”

Ellie chimed in, "Like when you reorganized my entire kitchen. It was chaos!”

They continued their minor disagreement, "It was organized chaos."

"No, it was terrifying chaos."

Chuck laughed as they playfully argued, and then Devon grew serious.

"The point is, love isn't one big decision. It's thousands of little ones. Every day … you choose patience, you choose trust, you choose forgiveness, and you choose to stay."

Edgar processed. Cross-referencing with everyone else’s statements.

Comparing variables and the patterns aligned.

XXXX

The conversation drifted to lighter topics afterward.

But Chuck remained thoughtful.

Later that evening, he sat alone in his apartment.

The courtyard was quiet.

Suddenly, Edgar spoke.

NEW INPUT RECEIVED.

Chuck sighed, "You're still working on this?"

YES.

"Of course you are."

A pause, and then

SARAH WALKER DEFINITION: LOVE = TRUST.

JOHN CASEY DEFINITION: LOVE = COMMITMENT.

CHUCK BARTOWSKI DEFINITION: LOVE = HOME.

ELLIE BARTOWSKI DEFINITION: LOVE = SAFETY.

DEVON WOODCOMB DEFINITION: LOVE = CHOICE.

Chuck smiled, "That's a lot of definitions."

Edgar processed.

ALL DIFFERENT.

"Yeah."

ALL CORRECT.

Chuck blinked. For the first time, Edgar sounded less confused. Almost enlightened.

LOVE APPEARS TO BE MULTIPLE VARIABLES.

Chuck laughed, "Welcome to being human."

XXXX

Edgar had collected answers from Sarah, Casey, Ellie, Devon, and Chuck, yet something continued to bother him.

All of its subjects had experienced extraordinary lives. Spies, doctors, and heroes. People who were accustomed to sacrifice.

Edgar required additional data. It wanted answers from ordinary people. People who loved without mission reports, government clearances, classified operations, or saving lives.

The following morning, Edgar spoke to Chuck.

ADDITIONAL DATA REQUIRED.

Chuck sighed, "Oh boy."

REQUEST: INTERVIEW MORGAN GRIMES.

Chuck immediately laughed, "You're going to regret that."

XXXX

Burbank, CA

Buy More

That afternoon, Chuck found Morgan in the Buy More break room, eating nachos while reading a comic book.

"Morgan, I need your opinion."

Morgan looked up suspiciously, "Last time you said that, I ended up dressed like a ninja."

"Fair point," Chuck said and asked Morgan, "What is your definition of love?"

Morgan blinked. Then smiled, "Oh, that's easy."

Chuck immediately regretted asking.

Morgan leaned back in his chair, "You know what love is?"

Chuck asked, "What?"

"It's finding the person who makes absolutely no sense …and deciding they're your favorite person anyway."

Chuck laughed, "That's your answer?"

"No, wait. I'm building toward greatness."

Morgan pointed dramatically, "Love is when somebody knows exactly how weird you are…and instead of running away, they become weird with you."

Chuck couldn't help smiling.

Morgan continued, "When I met Anna, I spent half my time trying to impress her."

"And?” Chuck asked.

Morgan answered, "I mostly embarrassed myself, but eventually I realized something."

"What?" Chuck asked.

"I didn't have to pretend around her."

For once, Morgan sounded sincere, "I could be myself, the real me, the nerdy me, the goofy me, and the guy who still owns action figures…"

Chuck nodded, and Morgan smiled.

"…And she still wanted to be around me."

A thoughtful silence followed. Then Morgan shrugged, "So yeah, love is finding somebody who makes life more fun, and who likes you exactly the way you are."

Edgar recorded every word.

NEW VARIABLE DETECTED.

MORGAN GRIMES DEFINITION: LOVE = ACCEPTANCE.

XXXX

A few days later, Chuck happened to run into Anna outside the Buy More.

Edgar immediately prompted him.

INTERVIEW REQUEST: ANNA WU.

Chuck silently wondered if Edgar had become obsessed with trying to figure out what love was.

Possibly.

"Hey Anna," Chuck said, "Can I ask you something?"

She folded her arms. "Should I be worried?"

"Probably not," Chuck told her.

"That's not reassuring."

Chuck laughed, "What is your definition of love?"

Anna's expression softened immediately. Unlike Morgan, she didn't answer right away.

She thought about it and then smiled, "Love is believing in someone before they believe in themselves."

Chuck blinked as Anna continued, "Everybody sees the finished version of a person. The successful version, the confident version, and the version that has everything figured out."

She shook her head, "Love sees the unfinished version."

Chuck listened carefully as she continued, "The version that's scared, the version that's uncertain, the version that's still becoming who they're supposed to be.”

A small smile appeared on her face, "When I first met Morgan, he wasn't exactly what you'd call confident."

Chuck nearly laughed, and Anna noticed.

"Don't tell him I said that, but he had a good heart, and I saw that before he did."

Anna's voice softened, "Love is looking at somebody and seeing not only who they are…but who they can become."

Edgar processed the statement.

Anna smiled, "And then helping them get there."

ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS RECEIVED.

ANNA WU DEFINITION: LOVE = BELIEF.

Chuck smiled.

XXXX

Later that evening in Chuck’s bedroom, Edgar said,

CURRENT FINDINGS:

SARAH WALKER: LOVE = TRUST

JOHN CASEY: LOVE = COMMITMENT

CHUCK BARTOWSKI: LOVE = HOME

ELLIE BARTOWSKI: LOVE = SAFETY

DEVON WOODCOMB: LOVE = CHOICE

MORGAN GRIMES: LOVE = ACCEPTANCE

ANNA WU: LOVE = BELIEF

Several seconds passed, and then a new conclusion appeared.

ALL DEFINITIONS DIFFERENT.

Chuck nodded, “Yep."

ALL DEFINITIONS VALID.

"Also, yep."

Edgar processed billions of connections, and then a realization emerged.

LOVE APPEARS TO BE THE PROCESS OF HELPING ANOTHER PERSON BECOME MORE THAN THEY COULD BE ALONE.

Chuck sat quietly. For once, he didn't have a correction because when he thought about Sarah, Casey,

Ellie and Devon…and even Morgan and Anna.

Edgar wasn't wrong. What makes it especially interesting is that everyone gives Edgar a different answer.

Love looked different for everyone, but somehow every definition led to the same place: Trust, commitment, safety, choice, home, acceptance, and belief.

Different words. The same truth.

For the first time, Edgar added them all together and found an answer no single definition could provide.

ANALYSIS UPDATED: LOVE IS NOT ONE VARIABLE.

XXXX

End Chapter 3