Chapter 7
A/N: Uh, I forgot I was doing this…it was supposed to already be done…I spent three weeks high on painkillers over my tooth. My back was messed up… Okay, fine, I forgot about it. There, I admit it. I’m sorry. So while it’s not required listening, this chapter was written while listening to steampunk .chuckster’s ConVerse Soundtrack Con Game Vegas, specifically Aceyalone’s All for U. Think of this mission as something Ocean’s 11ish. I give you Chuck vs the Nanny Remaster Ch 7, Sarah and the Intersect…Again
Disclaimer: I don’t own Chuck…and that hurts to admit.
“Overwatch, we are in the building,” Chuck said softly into the mike. Inside Castle, Beckman, Zondra, Carina, Ellie, and Devon, along with the 2 youngest Bartowskis and the youngest Woodcomb watched the security camera feeds being fed into Castle.
Carina was on coms, quarterbacking the mission. “We have eyes on you, Chuckles, looking good.” Sarah grunted disapprovingly. “Come on, Sarah, you know he does.”
“Cut the chatter Carina,” Casey grumbled. Zondra laughed at her friend. “Do you have eyes on everyone?” Casey was behind the bar using his vantage point to keep an eye on everything. Gertrude walked by and gave him a slight head nod. She was dressed in a serving uniform, playing her part by serving guests drinks, but also doing her own surveillance.
“Affirmative Sugar Bear,” Zondra replied. Casey growled.
“That’s Uncle Sugar Bear, Sir!” Stephen yelled from the other room, he and the other two children had been herded off to.
“General, do you think you can shut the door so the kids can’t hear this?” Carina asked General Beckman.
“I wouldn’t bother,” Sarah muttered into her mike. “They’d just hack the feed wherever they are.” Devon looked over at his wife, who nodded.
“Do we need to upload an Intersect into Clara?” Devon asked. Ellie gave him a look, and he got a guilty expression on his face. “Right. Not awesome.”
Sarah chuckled. “Trust me, Devon, you don’t want to deal with what we are dealing with.”
Chuck looked over at Sarah. “How long have you suspected?”
Sarah shrugged. “Stephen has never really shown anything.” She blew out an exasperated breath and continued. “Samantha has a larger vocabulary than almost anyone I know, and she’s four. It could be she is that smart, but it feels like something is enhancing her learning.”
Carina looked over at Beckman, who wasn’t saying anything, but there was a look on her face. Carina covered the mike. “General, do you want me to cut their chatter?”
Beckman yanked herself out of her thoughts, and shook her head. She looked at Carina, with a troubled look on her face. “No, as much as Bartowski has always done things unorthodoxed, the team has always succeeded. This is their mission and I’m not about to tell them how to run it.”
Carina just looked at Beckman for a minute, nodded, and uncovered her mike and spoke. “Morgan, Alex, I have eyes on you as well.” Carina saw both of them give a slight head nod in acknowledgement. Their server costumes matched perfectly with the actual servers.
“Do you have eyes on me?” Jason asked. The voice came into Carina’s ear and she smiled, sultry.
“I see you,” she replied.
Chuck turned to Sarah, both of them smirking, hearing the exchange take place. “Carina, the Sexy Distraction is supposed to be run on Karen, not you.”
Carina glared at the screen that held the spy couple. “I’m not distracted.”
“Uh-huh” Zondra answered, grinning. Carina didn’t say anything, she just sit there, sulking.
“You’re drink, Sir,” Morgan said to Jason, bringing Jason a flute of champagne. “She’s by the fountain,” he said softly. Jason turned to look, without being obvious. Karen was checking her phone, and when she finished, she slipped it in her left blazer pocket. Jason saw Sarah move into position, palming a phone in her right hand.
“I’m in position,” Sarah whispered.
“Target is in her left pocket,” Morgan said.
“We have a green light,” Carina said, sitting up, suddenly all business.
“Show time,” Jason said. He began to walk toward the fountain, nonchalantly, appearing to appreciate the piece of artwork. He stepped to the right, appearing to avoid someone, and at the last second, spun and continued right, crashing into Karen, spilling the drink onto her. At that exact moment, Sarah walked by, slipping the phone in the jacket pocket while switching for the one already in there. Sarah turned looking at Jason like he was a Neanderthal.
“Let me get one of the wait staff to help you clean that up,” Sarah said to Karen. Karen nodded her thanks and turned, shooting daggers towards Jason as Sarah headed off. Morgan came over with towels.
“I’m so sorry,” Jason began, very confidently, but after a second his shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, and defeated. “I am the world’s biggest klutz. Everywhere I go I bump into someone, I make a mess, or….” He trailed off. Sarah listened, intently. She was impressed with the change of attitude. “You ever have someone in your family that you try to live up to, and no matter how hard you try you can’t?” Karen’s eyes softened. “That’s why I moved here, to try to get away from her shadow, but no matter where I go it’s like she’s there.”
“Ex-girlfriend?” Karen asked, intrigued by this point.
“Younger sister,” Jason answered. “Everything she does….perfect. She changes careers, it turns out perfect. Gets married, they’re perfect. Have perfect kids. Me, I’m stuck with Dad, and he doesn’t even want to admit I exist.” Karen felt for the guy. She looked around, saw everything was running smoothly, and made a decision.
“Come on,” she said, nodding to the bar. “Let’s go over here and talk so you can get it all out.” Jason nodded and the two headed off, taking Karen’s eyesight off of the door Chuck and Sarah were getting ready to enter.
“He’s good,” Chuck said, leaning down whispering into her ear. Sarah could feel his grin and knew he was goading her. “Maybe better than you.” With that she turned around and gave him an, “oh please,” look. Chuck’s grin only intensified. “Pretty serious backstory there, huh?”
“You know every good story has a bit of truth to it,” Sarah said. Chuck narrowed his eyes and looked toward the bar where Jason and Karen had gone. “What?” Chuck looked at her and shook his head.
“Nothing,” he said. They walked over to the door and Sarah pulled out the phone with the special key on it. She put on the glove with the fingerprints, scans in, enters the code and the door slides open. They turn to each other and smile. “Hope everything’s going this well in Castle,” Chuck said.
}o{
5 minutes earlier
Castle
“We have a problem,” Samantha said to Stephen. Stephen looked over at the monitor that Samantha had hacked into.
“That’s not cartoons,” Stephen whined. Samantha had told the adults her and Stephen were going to go watch TV, while Clara read in the corner. For some reason, they believed her. Samantha looked over at Clara who was engrossed in her book.
“I know, I am hacking the feed,” she explained. Stephen looked at her like he wasn’t stupid. “Someone’s already piggy backed the signal,” she said. Stephen looked around, saw no one was watching, and smiled. “Does that mean?” he asked gleefully. Samantha nodded. “How did they solve all those missions without us?” Samantha shrugged. “Clara,” Stephen said, pulling her out of her book. “Can you get your Mom and Dad? I need them to look at something, I’ve hurt my leg and I think it’s bleeding again.” Clara got up and started out. “I really need both of them.” Clara rolled her eyes at her cousin, but went anyway. In a few minutes the two Doctors appeared.
“What’s up, Buddy?” Devon asked.
“I’ve got a cut on my leg, but can we go to another room for you to look at it?” He leaned in and whispered. “I don’t want Zondra and Carina to see me without my pants on.” Ellie smiled, thinking how many times those two had changed his diapers, but nodded for him to lead on. They went toward the back of Castle, came to a room, and had Devon and Ellie go in. Stephen stood to the side. “Lady guest first,” he said to Clara. Devon and Ellie exchanged a look. “Dad said for us to stay together.” Clara walked in, not wanting to start a fight.
“Are you worried, Buddy?” Devon asked. “It’s all going to be fine.” Stephen nodded, reached out and put his hand on a panel beside the door. The door slid shut and locked. The panic room was sealed.
“We know,” Samantha answered.
“You two let us out of her right now!” Ellie yelled beating on the door. Samantha shook her head.
“My father always took care of you,” Samantha began. Ellie’s eyes got wide. “Something is about to happen, and I have to do what he would have done if he was here.” Ellie shook her head.
“I always thought you took after your father, but there’s a whole lot of your mother in there as well,” Ellie said, proud of the girl, even though she hated the situation. “Sarah protected everyone, even if it made them mad.” Samantha smiled, and a tear came to her eye. Ellie shook her head. “This is a bad idea.” Samantha shrugged. “Take care of your brother.” Samantha almost looked hurt.
“Aunt Ellie, it’s what Bartowski’s do.” She said and started off.
“Don’t worry guys, we know Kung-Fu,” Stephen said as they headed off. Devon looked at Ellie.
“Do they?” Devon asked. “Or do they know Morgan Kung-Fu?” Ellie shrugged.
}o{
Undisclosed location
A tall, dark-haired man stood in shadows and watched the monitors of the stolen feeds of Team Bartowski. He looked over to the side where three prisoners were tied up, with gags in their mouths. One prisoner almost had his gag off, but instead of securing it, the dark-haired man decided to let it fall, and hear whatever plea they had this time.
“Listen, leave them out of it,” the older male of the three prisoners said. “Leave everyone else out of it. This only ends with someone dying and it could be you.” The dark-haired man nodded. “I know he’s adverse to killing, but he has children now, and he’ll do whatever it takes to save them.”
“And her?” he asked never looking at the distinguished gentleman.
“You know exactly what she’ll do,” he answered. The dark-haired man turned toward him.
“Do I? Do I really? She doesn’t remember.” Realization came over the distinguished gentleman’s face.
“You’re going to give it all back to them, just to take it all away,” he said, not asked. A sick smile crossed the dark-haired man’s face.
“Just like they did to me.”
“You don’t even know if it will make her remember,” the distinguished man answered.
The dark-haired man smiled, shrugged, and started to answer, when someone ran up.
“Our hack’s been discovered,” the man said in a panic. The dark-haired man walked over, pulled the gag over the distinguished gentleman’s face, ran his finger down the side of his female prisoner’s face, who tried to back away, but couldn’t because of her restraints, and stopped in front of the other man in front of him.
“Perfect,” he said looking at the second male, who kept trying to look at two different monitors at once. “You know you are actually the problem. If you’d of just had one child, we wouldn’t be here today.” The second male prisoner struggled against his restraints. “I see where she gets her anger from.” The dark-haired man bent down. “Here’s the thing, someone is going to die, and since the two of them won’t kill, eventually, I’ll win.” He stood up, turned to his flunky. “Is the team ready?” The flunky nodded. “We’ll go on my signal.”
}o{
Now
Party
“We’re entering the elevator now,” Sarah said.
“Copy,” Carina answered. “We have cameras in the elevator, but we may lose coms, so no making out.”
“Afraid you’ll learn something,” Sarah said, smirking. Chuck laughed and hit the button to head down. “So far so go,” he said, and then he winced. Sarah shook her head.
“At least it’s going better than that mission,” she said. Chuck looked over at her, grinned, and looked back ahead. He thought back to that night, where they finally figured out what kind of missions Carmichael Industries would be involved with.
}o{
6 years ago
“That was terrible,” Sarah grumbled, throwing her go bag on the floor. Chuck couldn’t help but chuckle. She turned toward him, anger on her face. “How can you laugh? Do you know what almost happened?” Chuck walked up and put his hands on her upper arms, and drew her in close.
“This amazing agent once told me as long as we all came back and stopped the bad guys, it was a good day.”
“Well, I know it wasn’t me because I would have said that much more eloquently,” Sarah grumbled, pulling away. Chuck chuckled. “How did I used to do this?” she asked softly. Chuck looked at her. “How did I not worry you could die at any moment?”
“Agent Walker used to compartmentalize her feelings,” he said, with a smirk on his face. “At least that’s what she said…I didn’t really believe her.” Sarah walked toward him, angrily.
“And, why didn’t you stay in the car?” she asked very forcefully, with what appeared to be anger on her face. Chuck looked away, because he didn’t want to laugh in her face. That would lead to bodily harm…his. “Chuck, this isn’t a joke.” Chuck looked back down at her.
“You know why,” he said. She looked away, and Chuck knew that she was upset, but there was more. “You also know why you’re feeling what your feeling.” She stopped, her jaw dropped. She stared at his implication. “I’m just saying, post-mission sex….I’m a fan.”
“We are so not,” she said, sputtering. “I am mad that you didn’t,” she began, but Chuck stepped right up to her and her words died at her lips. The grin was still on his face, but his eyes…they were dancing. She was getting lost in them.
“You were in trouble, and I do what has to be done,” he said softly, moving one of the locks of hair that had escaped behind her ear. Sarah shuddered at the touch.
“We don’t do these type of missions anymore,” she began. Chuck nodded, and realization hit her. “You knew we shouldn’t,” she accused. Chuck shrugged, walked over to the couch, and sat down, grinning. “We had come to this realization already, but you knew I didn’t remember it, so you had us do this on purpose.” Chuck tried to keep the smile on his face. “You think you know everything do you?” Chuck looked up at the glint in her eye. In the past he had thought it was a dangerous one. He had learned that it wasn’t that dangerous. She pounced, tackling him on the couch, and started to kiss him. She kissed him where his neck met his collar bone and he growled.
“Sarah, we should go into the bedroom,” he began, and she laid a finger on his lips and shook her head no.
“Nope,” she answered, her eyes dancing and then she hit him with her version of the Bartowski eyebrow dance. Chuck groaned.
“But, protection,” he began, and again, she laid her finger over his lips.
“I’m sick of not knowing and you knowing things, so it’s time we do something that you don’t know how it’s going to work out.” Chuck’s eyes grew big as saucers. Sarah grinned. “I’m not Sarah Walker. I’m your Sarah, and I want us to be in this together, and we can’t if everything we do is me having to relearn something. So it’s time we do something neither one of us has experienced.” Chuck looked at the couch, questioning the location. Sarah bounced a shoulder, shrugging. “Up for post-mission sex Agent Carmichael?” Chuck nodded, the grin covering his entire face.
}o{
Now
Elevator
“Thinking about that couch, aren’t you?” Sarah asked. Chuck laughed out loud. The elevator stopped and the doors opened. They stepped outside. “Carina, I’m going dark for just a moment.” She hit the earwig, turning it off, and nodded at Chuck to do the same. He did and looked at her. “I need to make sure you’re good with things. There is no guarantee I get my memory back with this, and if I don’t,” she paused, not sure what to say. Chuck took her into his arms.
“You’re my Sarah, remember?” he asked. She nodded. “Your heart never forgot, and it never will. Whatever happens, we got this.” He pulled back, and she grinned at him.
“You’re good, Bartowski,” she said straightening his tie.
“I learned from the best,” he said. She kissed him, and turned the earwig back on, as Chuck said the same thing.
“Everything okay?” Carina asked. Sarah grinned.
“Yeah,” she answered.
“Had to make sure he loves you no matter what?” Carina asked. Sarah didn’t answer, but blushed just a bit. “You two,” she began, shaking her head. “All these years, and you still question if you deserve each other. No one else would have your mess.” Sarah and Chuck both laughed. They made their way down the hallway with no resistance. They followed all the corridors and made their way to a display where a pair of sunglasses sat.
“This is almost too easy,” Chuck said. “Carina, are we missing something?”
“There’s nothing, Chuckles,” she responded. “Get them and get out.”
“And I get my memory back,” Sarah muttered under her breath, thinking about the moment that bothered her the most.
}o{
8 months after the last flashback
Chuck and Sarah walked into Casa de Bartowski after a long day at Carmichael Industries.
“Think we should sell Castle?” Chuck asked. Sarah didn’t respond, so Chuck continued. “Before everything happened back then, we talked about it. I mean I do like it as the original team’s hideout, but we have the office building now…and of course there is the sentimental reasons of keeping it for the supply closets.” Sarah was still off in space. “It’s where Morgan and I first had sex.” Sarah blinked and turned toward Chuck, tilting. “No, we didn’t, but you are off in outer space.” Sarah rolled her eyes, walked over to the freezer, pulled out a container of Rocky Road, grabbed a big spoon, took the top off the ice cream, looked him directly in the eye, and took a huge bite. She chewed, sighed, looked at her husband, winced, and looked down at her stomach.
“Were you a soccer star and never told me?” she asked. Chuck looked at her. She was as beautiful as ever, maybe more so. In a month or so, it would be three Bartowskis.
“Nope,” he said, grinning. He followed his wife’s gaze, to what he thought was the couch. “We should get rid of that,” he said turning back to her. She looked confused. “The couch.” She smiled but nodded toward the couch. Chuck followed her gaze to the wall, past the couch, where their wedding picture hung. Chuck looked back at her, confused. He started to say something, but the look on her face, told her she was thinking. She looked at him, smirked, and pulled out her phone. Feeling Good by Nina Simone began to play on the Bluetooth speakers. She opened a drawer and pulled out twist ties, and stared at Chuck. He started to speak, but the look she gave him, shut his mouth before he could say a word.
“I know, we got married. I’ve watched it, over and over and over. I know we practiced with these, but right now, I need something. I need a memory, so I need you to help me make one,” Sarah said, looking right at him. Chuck grinned and nodded. “Our song is on repeat, so I need you to give me your vow, and then listen to my vow. That’s it, that’s all I need. Okay?” Chuck nodded, walked over and took a zip tie. He took one and held her hand.
“I told you almost a year ago, that I’m here for you. Nothing changes that. You could walk out that door tomorrow and return in 20 years, and I’d still be here for you. I love you Sarah Samantha Jennie Burton Walker Bartowski, and nothing is ever going to change that. I’ve loved you for 6 years even when you didn’t know how to accept it. I made mistakes in the past and wasn’t there for you, but that will never happen again. I am here for you, our children, and our future.” Sarah smiled, tears glistening, as Chuck tied his zip tie on her finger.
“Perfect,” she whispered, and Chuck’s heart lurched. She continued. “My mind doesn’t remember, but my heart can’t forget you no matter what you do. I’ve seen all the mission logs of how I was a mess. Somehow you found me, every time I was lost. You. You found me. So, I’m not going anywhere, because it’s useless,” she said, grinning. “You’re just gonna find me anyway, and bring me home. Because you, Chuck, you’re home. You always have been.” She tied the zip tie to his finger, reached over, grabbed a big bite of Rocky Road and ate it, all while smiling.
“Perfect,” he said. She reached up, kissed him, took his hand and turned.
“Come on,” she said. “My back is in no shape for the couch.”
“You need to lie down and me get you some pillows?” he asked. She raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Oh…OH!! But the ice cream will melt.” She gave him a look of, “really?” “You know I bet it’s just as good as a drink,” he said, following her. “I love you Sarah.” She smiled at him.
“I know,” she replied. Chuck grinned.
}o{
Now
“We really shouldn’t have given that couch to Morgan,” Sarah said softly.
“Huh?” Morgan’s voice came over the comms. Chuck chuckled, as Sarah reached up and took the glasses. Nothing happened. Sarah smiled.
“See, last mission, no problem.” Chuck’s face fell, and everyone groaned. “What?”
}o{
Undisclosed location
The dark-haired man watched everything take place. He watched Chuck and Sarah and scowled. They had the glasses. He put a head set on, and picked up his phone. He typed a message and sent it to two people. “All teams go! Castle assault team, go! Intersect protection team, go!” He turned and looked at his three captives. “Let’s see if they’re still as good as they used to be.
}o{
Now
Bar
Jason’s phone went off, and he excused himself from Karen. He checked his text message. It begins. The color drained from Jason’s face, and he texted back quickly. You promised you wouldn’t hurt them. He waited and the text came back. I promised I wouldn’t hurt the children, and I haven’t. As for the others….oh well.
}o{
Castle
As the three women sat monitoring the situation, one received a text message. She checked her messages. It begins. She quickly replied. I’m doing as you asked! The return message came back. The children will be fine…I can’t say the same for you….
“Castle’s under attack” Zondra yelled.
}o{
Now
Vault
Chuck’s heart lept into his throat.
“The rest of you get back to Castle, ASAP,” Sarah said. The tone in her voice left no question as whether or not to argue with her. She started forward, when doors opened, and a squad of goons came out firing. Chuck and Sarah were separated, both taking cover. Sarah glanced at the intersect glasses and shook her head. Not until Ellie tested them, for all she knew she would forget everything.
“General, take the kids and hide,” Zondra said.
“Are you sure?” Beckman asked.
“Go, General!” Carina yelled. “Don’t let anything happen to them!”
“We’re 10 minutes out,” Casey’s voice came over the comms.
“I don’t know if we have 10 minutes!” Carina said, and then she yelled.
“Carina? Carina!” Sarah yelled.
“Sarah, I’m trapped!” came Chuck’s voice through her earpiece.
“Sarah, this is not good, we’re being overrun here at Castle, Carina’s been shot!” Zondra’s voice came over her earpiece. Sarah stared at the glasses.
“Sarah,” Chuck’s voice pierced through her thoughts, and spoke right through her soul. She heard the bullets firing at him. “I know what you’re thinking, and I know I can’t stop you, so do me one favor. Promise me.”
“What is it, Chuck?”
“Don’t forget the kids,” he said, smiling. Sarah smiled as well.
“Hey, nerd. I’m not forgetting you either. I love you.”
“I love you, Sarah.”
“I know.” Sarah put on the Intersect glasses and the flash began.
WAIT!!!! WHAT!!!! YOU’RE ENDING IT HERE!!??!!! Yep. I’ll be back with more as soon as I can.