Chapter 18
A/N 1: Since we spoke last I have contracted what I believe to be the Bubonic Plague…my wife thinks it’s a head cold and I should just grow a set, but I’m going with the plague. I most warn you I’ve had ideas while on cold medicine, so if you hate what happens, let’s blame it on that.
I would seriously like to say you all are humbling me with your response. I know this story is absolute fluff and nonsense, but don’t we need some right now? Thank you all! Now, are you ready? Of course you are, you’re here aren’t you? Happy 2018 everyone! Sit back and enjoy Ch 18, I’m Thinking About It.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, Star Wars, or Lethal Weapon, but I must say I like the Lethal Weapon TV series better than the movies
Shots flew over their position and Sarah turned to look at her husband. Her husband, she liked the sound of that. It had been just over nine days since they were married. Since then she had moved out of her Echo Park apartment (that had once been his, weird right?) the game had launched, Manoosh had been hired on full time to help Skip and Chuck handle any bugs found in the game (there had been very few). The game was selling much better than anticipated, and they had a bona fie hit on their hands. The girls were getting along great and she and Chuck…a smile made its way to her face, she felt her cheeks turn red, and parts of her flipped and flopped that hadn’t in years until she met him.
“I swear, I can’t figure out if you’re getting turned on just looking at me, or the gunplay,” Chuck said, with a grin on his face. Sarah bounced a shoulder.
“Why can’t it be both?” she asked. Chuck’s brain would have smoked but two more shots flew over his head. “You understand that plan?”
“I do, are you good with it?” Chuck asked. Sarah shook her head.
“No, but what choice do we have?” she asked. She leaned in and kissed him quickly. “For luck,” she said with a smirk. He just looked at her. “Okay, terrible time to bring it up, but does it bother you that Luke and Leia were brother and sister?” she asked.
“At the time, no, because we didn’t know, but down the road…this should have been a sign for the prequals, I’m telling you.”
“Under gunfire and you have me talking about nerd movies,” she said, with a grin. “I love you Chuck Bartowski.”
“I love you Sarah Bartowski,” Chuck replied.
“We go on three,” she said.
“Wait. Is it one, two, three, and then we go, or actually go on three?”
“Seriously, we’re going to do the Lethal Weapon thing right now?”
“I’m not doing the Lethal Weapon thing, I’m genuinely asking,” he replied. His brow furrowed. “Although, I did always think that it would make a better TV show.” Sarah studied him and shook her head.
“No, they’d get someone like Jordana Brewster to play the psychiatrist,” Sarah said. “Something about her.”
“I thought she was pretty good in The Fast and the Furious movies,” Chuck replied. Sarah just gave him a look.
“You know I can drive better than all of them, right?” Chuck just waggled his eyebrows. “Three then go, ok?” Chuck nodded. Sarah squeezed his hand, took a deep breath and began to count. “One, two, three, go!” On go, Chuck went left and Sarah right. Sarah managed to take out three of the ten since they naturally went to their right when someone popped up. Chuck was riddled with gunfire, and made some scream that didn’t sound manly at all. “Chuck!” she screamed. The remaining seven turned toward her. She fired off as many shots as she could, but she felt the gunfire slam into her. She stood there for a second, as a few more shots hit her. When they were done, she looked down at the multitude of colors on her chest. She took her helmet off, and as she did, a paintball caught her in her hair.
“Hey!” Chuck yelled.
“Sorry,” came the mumble. The two already had a good idea who had done it.
“Looks like we win and you lose,” said one of the remaining four on the other team.
“Well,” Chuck began. “You might ought count a little better.” The other team just looked at him. “The name of the game is capture the flag, and if you’ll turn around and look. The group did and there stood Molly, holding the flag high, being as humble as only she could.
“We got the flag-ag, we got the flag-ag! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah! We got the flag-ag, we got the flag-ag! Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!”
Chuck and Sarah turned to each other, pointed at each other, and said at the same time, “That’s your child.”
}o{
“Bartowski, you have the most effeminate scream I have ever heard in my life,” Casey grumbled when they found themselves at the pizza buffet later.
“I assume you have a point?” Chuck asked, grinning. Sarah grinned at Chuck and shook her head. She and Carina shared a look. There was no telling where these two were going with this.
“You should go out with honor,” Casey said.
“So, my scream is dishonorable?” Chuck asked. Casey nodded. “Then I guess the fact, I stayed ‘alive’ longer than you, means nothing?”
“Look, we all know it’s because Walker protected you,” Casey replied.
“Bartowski,” Sarah corrected. Casey rolled his eyes, and grunted.
“You know what I mean,” Casey said.
“So, I only stayed in the game because of Sarah?” Chuck asked.
“Don’t get your feelings hurt, Bartwoski,” Casey said, grinning. “She’s former CIA and she still let’s you mix her chocolate in your peanut butter.” Chuck dropped his pizza.
“He needs better food metaphors,” Chuck whispered to Sarah. Sarah chuckled.
“It’s a testament to her that you stayed alive as long as you did,” Casey finished.
“Huh, so my wife,” he said, turning to Sarah, who beamed. “Managed to keep herself and me alive, even though I’m a deterrent, longer than two former agents could keep themselves alive?” Casey stopped mid-bite on his pizza. Carina roared with laughter.
“You kinda set him up for that one, Dad,” Alex said.
“I hate you, Bartowski,” Casey said, shaking his head.
“Love you too, Casey,” Chuck replied. Casey just grunted.
“Okay, to business,” Sarah said. “First, thanks for coming in on your day off. Chuck and I are a little concerned and we wanted all of your assessments.”
“So, Burke Industries wants to meet with us on Monday to discuss a contract?” Alex asked. Sarah nodded. “So, what does that have to do with the paintball game?”
“Lacy Burke was the older kid who shot Sarah in the head with the paintball after the game was over,” Morgan replied. “His younger brother, the infamous Jerry.”
“The one that wants you two to order the baby brother?” Carina asked, laughing. Sarah nodded.
“Here’s the problem, from what Chuck and I have been able to figure out, Lacy is putting all this mess into Jerry’s head. Jerry seems to be a good kid, but Lacy..” Chuck pulled out a packet on the kid.
“This is all sealed by juvie,” Chuck said, looking around. Casey gave him a look. “I know, Casey, but I really think you should see some of this stuff.” Casey poured through the papers and shook his head.
“They try to make it go away by throwing money at it,” Casey said. Sarah nodded.
“But, it’s not our kid,” Chuck added. “So, do we leave all of this out, and do the job, which is easy and will make us some serious payola, or…” Chuck shrugged with his hands out to the side. Carina shook her head and grinned.
“You have become the biggest softie in the world,” Carina said, pointing at Sarah. Sarah didn’t disagree. Casey was quiet for a moment.
“God, country, family,” he said softly. “These parents have no idea and they think they’re doing the right thing, don’t they?” Sarah nodded.
“I have no idea about Lacy, but Jerry, he just idolizes his brother,” Sarah said.
“You have a plan?” Casey asked. Chuck just grinned and turned toward the arcade where Emma had Molly and Clara. Casey followed his eyes, and Casey’s nearly bugged out of his head. “Chuck me,” he muttered.
}o{
Chuck and Sarah got everyone home, exhausted from the day. Everyone went to bed rather quickly, and soon Chuck and Sarah found themselves alone. Chuck walked into their bedroom and feel face first on the bed.
“I do scream like a girl, don’t I?” he asked, his mouth full of comforter.
“Chuck, I love you, but please don’t insult girls that way,” Sarah said grinning.
“Admit it, it’s why you feel for me.”
“Chuck, it was despite that,” Sarah answered, heading into the bathroom, not shutting the door.
“I know what you’re up to, you temptress, but I was riddled with gunfire today, and I’m sorry, but the answer is no,” Chuck said. Sarah came to the doorway.
“You should try getting hit with a real bullet having one of those vests on,” Sarah said. Chuck turned his head toward her.
“I don’t get excited over gunplay, that’s you,” he said, still not moving. “It really hurts?” She nodded.
“I know several that have broken bones,” she said heading into the shower.
“I’m not coming in there,” Chuck said.
“I know,” Sarah replied.
“I mean it’s not that I can’t.”
“I know, the past few weeks have been too much on you,” she said, amusement in her voice.
“Woman,” he began. “You’re right.”
“Chuck, are you okay?” she asked, real concern in her voice.
“I’m fine, but the last month my life has been turned upside down, and some days I just wonder why you chose me,” he said.
“Because you love me, and I love you,” came the reply. “Oh, shoot,” she said.
“What’s wrong?”
“I can’t get this paint out of my hair,” she said. Chuck groaned and pushed himself off the bed. “Don’t, you’re tired, and you’d have to get your clothes off, all you want to do is lay on the bed.”
“Sarah, if we don’t get that paint out of your hair, you’ll get angry, and I don’t like it when your angry.” Chuck walked into the bathroom.
“Seriously, I need you in here to help me so you’ll have to lose the clothes,” Sarah said. Chuck undressed, climbed in the shower, and began to look through Sarah’s hair. “Sarah, there’s no paint in your hair.” A giggle was his only answer. “Oh, well played, well played.”
}o{
Monday morning found Molly not in school, but at work with her mother and father. Chuck opened the door to leave the conference room, where a shocked Mr. and Mrs. Burke were sitting hearing everything that Jerry had said to Molly over the past several weeks.
“And on the oneymoon, you have to make multiple calls,” Molly said, as the door swung open and shut.
“Sarah just keeps sitting there, blinking,” Carina said.
“Is it Morse Code?” Casey asked.
“I think her brain has shut down from everything Molly has already learned,” Chuck said, leaning again the wall, not looking at the conference room.
“You’ve already solved their computer problems, haven’t you?” Carina asked. Chuck gave a tired grin and nodded.
“These poor people,” Chuck began. “They thought by making Lacy watch his younger brother it would keep Lacy out of trouble, and it has, but Jerry’s learning things that he’s too young to understand.”
“Speaking of oneymoons,” Carina began. Chuck just rolled his eyes.
“When would you like us to go?” he asked. “The merger, the game, preschool graduation…” Chuck just stopped and shook his head. “Plus the girls without either of us…and, Molly wants me to be the one to straighten out the Jerry mess someday.”
“That’s no time soon, right?” Carina asked, a little worried. Chuck gave her a look. Carina looked away. “Let her stay as innocent as you can as long as you can,” she said softly. Chuck looked at Casey, who nodded. He knew he wasn’t Ellie, but he knew what she would do, and he pulled her in for a hug.
“You know I will,” he said softly.
“He said you had multiple pills to help you call the stork,” Chuck heard Molly say as the door opened. He looked over and saw Sarah who seemed surprised at Chuck hugging Carina. Sarah glanced at Casey and then at Chuck.
“She okay?” Sarah mouthed. Chuck nodded, pulled away, and looked Carina in the eyes. Carina gave him a tight smile, and hugged him again.
“You’re a good one, Chuckles,” she said, let him go, turned, walked by Sarah, squeezed her hand, and headed off.
“I’ll go..”Casey said, and took off after her.
“I could be wrong, but that looked like lady feelings out of Casey,” Chuck said. Sarah just grinned.
“Come on,” Sarah said. “We need to take care of this.” The two went inside.
}o{
A few hours later, Chuck, Sarah, and the Burkes left the conference room, handshakes all around.
“Seriously, if she learns anything new, let us know ASAP,” Mr. Burke said. “We’ve got work to do with our oldest.”
“Hey, as a guy who grew up with no father, let me just say, you just being there means a lot,” Chuck said. The Burkes thanked them again, and left. Alex walked up with Molly.
“I need to get back and check on Clara,” Molly said. Chuck squatted down.
“What are you going to do next year when you’re in different schools?” Chuck asked.
“I’ve got to get her ready this summer,” Molly said. “I’ve planned it all out.” Chuck looked up at Sarah.
“I mean seriously, I won’t be mad if you tell me she’s really yours.” Sarah shoved Chuck in the shoulder, making him tumble. Molly pounced Chuck, and Chuck made dramatic noises.
“See, Bartowski, effeminate,” Casey said as he walked by.
“Does he stand around and wait for those moments?” Chuck asked.
“Maybe there are more of them than you realize,” Sarah answered, walking away, with a grin on her face. Chuck laid there and tried to look hurt.
“I still love you, Daddy,” Molly said. She grabbed his cheeks. “Now take me to school.”
“Okay,” he said, her hands still on his cheeks.
}o{
The week flew by, and Chuck and Sarah started to settle into a routine with the kids, work, and life in general. Friday morning rolled by, and Sarah woke up, finding herself in bed, along. She got up and went into the kids’ room, and found Chuck sitting in the rocking chair, holding Clara.
“What’s wrong?” She asked. Chuck just shook his head, and offered Sarah sleeping Clara. Sarah took the little girl, happily. Chuck woke Molly, and the morning ritual began. Chuck told Sarah he needed to drive himself to work this morning, and Sarah offered to take both kids to school. When she got to work, Chuck was no where to be seen. She went inside, and as usual, found Morgan at the front desk with Alex. What was unusual, was the look on his face.
“Where is he?” Morgan asked softly.
“He said he needed to come in by himself this morning,” Sarah replied. Her phone made a noise. She looked down and saw it was a message from Chuck. “It’s from Chuck,” she informed Morgan. She read the message. Tell him I’m okay. We need to talk. Can you meet me at the beach? I need my baggage handler. She looked up at Morgan.
“Go,” he said. “Trust me, go.” Sarah took off, jumped in her vehicle and drove to their spot at the beach. She found him sitting there, looking at the waves, tears streaming down his face. She walked over, sat down beside him. He took her hand and didn’t say anything for a few minutes.
“I’m sorry,” he began. “I know I should have told you this morning, but I thought I could get through it. It’s just been me and Ellie for so long that even though I love you, it’s hard sometimes to remember you are a willing part of this.” He looked over at her and smiled. She squeezed his hand.
“Tell me.”
“It’s their wedding anniversary,” he choked out. Sarah pulled him into her, and they stayed there. He cried, and she ran her fingers through his hair. She never tried to stop the sobs. That was the problem, for so long he kept it all inside, and now that this emotion was finally coming out, she would be damned if she was the one stopping it. After thirty minutes he ran out of tears. “I keep soaking your shirts like this,” he said.
“It’s okay,” she said softly, rubbing his neck. “I’ve got this amazing guy at work who makes me lots of money so I can go shopping anytime,” she said, haughtily with a grin on her face. Chuck laughed, and she joined him. When they stopped, she continued. “And, he loves me and trusts me enough to let him in.”
“I didn’t immediately,” he said. “I’m sorry for that.”
“This is the first time for you being married and figuring this out as well,” she said, winking at him.
“Well,” he began, and he stopped. “I was going to make a joke, as far as you know, but since you’re former CIA I’m sure I’ve been vetted,” he said, grinning. Sarah returned the grin, and looked away. “When?” he asked softly.
“The first day I met you,” she replied. Chuck’s grin got bigger. She pulled him close. “What am I gonna do with you, Chuck Bartowski?” she asked softly while smiling.
“Be here for better or worse,” he replied softly. “I only hope I can do as good a job as you’re doing for me.”
“You’re doing just fine, Chuck,” Sarah said, grinning.
}o{
The rest of the day the two spent together, away from work. Sarah called Morgan to let him know Chuck was okay. As the day went on, he got better, and the afternoon ended with them meeting for dinner, and celebrating the Awesomes’ wedding. Molly watched Clara very carefully to make sure she was okay. Chuck tried to explain to her that Clara really didn’t understand, and Molly nodded during said explanation, and went right back to her duty. Chuck and Sarah shook their heads, but silently both were pleased about how much the two cared about each other.
The next morning saw Sarah going for a jog. One of the rooms downstairs was being outfitted as a gym, but Sarah wanted to run outside. She went past a park, when she heard someone call her name. She turned and didn’t see anyone, her spy senses on high alert.
“Don’t beat me up,” the familiar voice said.
“What do you want, Bryce?” she asked, venom dripping from her voice.
“First, congratulations,” he said. Sarah stared at him. “Tell me you really love him.”
“I do, not that you’ll believe it,” she replied. Bryce just looked at her, and shrugged.
“I just can’t see it,” he answered honestly.
“You just can’t see anyone with me other than you,” she countered. Bryce had to agree with her.
“Look, I’m going to be sent here for a mission, but I needed you to give Chuck a heads-up.” Sarah just raised an eyebrow. “There’s a kill order out on Jill,” he said. Sarah just kept staring at Bryce. “Jill from Stanford.” Sarah kept staring. “Chuck’s Jill.” Sarah was done staring. Bryce took a step back. “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said quickly.
“Well, what exactly did you mean?” she asked, biting off each word, close to beating Bryce within an inch of his life.
“This is Chuck we are talking about,” Bryce said. Sarah continued to stare. “Sarah, what’s he going to do if she’s killed and we could have saved her.”
“Why do you want her saved?” Sarah asked. Bryce looked away. “She’s your mission.”
“I need help,” Bryce admitted. “I…care…for her..” Sarah’s eyebrows raised and she took a step back.
“Wha? You, Bryce Larkin, care?”
“I’m not a robot,” he said. Sarah just stared at him. “I wasn’t that bad,” he insisted.
“Conceited, arrogant, trying to hide who you were,” Sarah began.
“Wait, what do you mean by that?”
“You’re just a big a nerd as Chuck and Morgan are, and all you ever did was talk trash about them,” Sarah said. Bryce looked away.
“Sometimes you hate on others because they can be themselves,” Bryce said softly. “Would it have mattered?”
“Would it have mattered?” Sarah replied. “No, because I never loved you, Bryce. I do care about you, and I want you to be happy. So, by all means, embrace your inner nerd. Embrace you, and live, and quit making decisions for others.”
“So you’ll tell him?” Sarah looked away, and huffed. “Please.”
“I’ll think about it,” Sarah said.
“Sarah, if you all don’t help me, she could die, I mean you don’t hate her that much do you?” Sarah gave him a look. He stepped back. “Right, you’ll think about it.”
}o{
Sarah opened the door to her house, she liked the sound of that, and heard the trash talk immediately.
“I thought you two were game geniuses?” Molly asked.
“Seriously, Dude, she doesn’t have to be so mean,” Morgan replied.
“Molly, where did you hear that kind of talk?” Chuck asked, never looking up from the screen.
“It’s what Uncle Morgan said to you while you two were playing video games one day,” Molly replied. Morgan and Chuck shared a look.
“I’m sorry, Chuck,” Morgan said. “I didn’t realize words could hurt like that.”
“Molly,” Chuck said.
“I’m sorry I hurt you, Morgan, I just wanted to be like you and Daddy,” she said. Morgan grinned, and Chuck knew she could call him whatever she wanted to now during games. Molly beat them at Mario Kart, AGAIN, and began her victory celebration.
“She’s got moves,” Morgan admitted.
“As long as they’re none of Carina’s moves from when she’s drunk, I’m good,” Chuck replied. Alex came down the stairs holding Clara.
“Mama,” Clara said, reaching for Sarah. Sarah immediately smiled and took her.
“Hey, Sarah,” Alex said. “Good run.” Sarah shook her head.
“Not exactly,” Sarah replied.
“Let me guess,” Chuck began. “You just met the spouse of someone you had to,” he paused looked at his oldest daughter. “ ‘take care of’ and now that spouse has it out for you?” he said, grinning. Sarah just looked at him.
“Why would ask something like that?” Sarah asked, a little worried.
“Because that’s the life we live,” Chuck said, watching his wife’s face, and now noticing that she wasn’t smiling back. “Has that happened?” he asked in terror. Sarah worked her jaw for a second and looked down.
“So there’s this test, called the red test,” she paused and let it sink in. Chuck nodded. “And I did have to ‘take care of’ someone. I found out later her spouse was killed here in LA when he went to stop the Ring, or FULCRUM or whatever they’re calling the bad guys these days.” Chuck’s mouth dropped. She held up a hand. “I’m fine, but since you said that, I just wondered how you knew.”
“Lucky guess,” Chuck choked out. Alex, made a head movement at Morgan, and he jumped off the couch and headed toward her. Alex took Clara, and then made another head movement toward Molly. Morgan turned mid-stride, but Molly had already figured it out.
“Just don’t order a brother down here,” she loud whispered to Chuck. Chuck dropped his head. Sarah came over, and Chuck pulled her into his lap, as everyone cleared out.
“I’m sweaty,” she said.
“For better or worse,” he countered. Sarah looked at him.
“I don’t think sweat was included.”
“Uh, husband,” he said pointing at the ring. “So I should know.” She just looked at him. “Fine,” he said, fake exasperated. “Wife trumps husband.”
“And don’t you forget about it,” she said, nipping at his ear. “Monday we have to go to court for Molly and Clara, and there is something else that did happen in the park,” she said. Chuck just waited. “Bryce was there.” Chuck just groaned. “It gets worse.” Chuck looked at her like, “how?” “There’s a kill order out on Jill.” Chuck just sat there. “The one you dated.” Chuck nodded. “Should we help him?”
“What did you tell him?”
“I said I was thinking about it,” Sarah replied. “But, I had to tell you or I was no worse than Bryce.” Chuck nodded. He looked at her hair closely. “What are you looking for?”
“Paint,” he replied, grinning. She grabbed his hand and pulled him off the couch and let him to the stairs. “We’re gonna help, aren’t we?” Sarah sighed.
“Yeeeessss,” she whined.
“You really don’t want to,” he said.
“Naaeeiioouu,” she whined.
“Then we shouldn’t,” he said softly. She turned to him and grinned.
“Come on, help me find paint in my hair and I’ll call it even,” Sarah said, pulling him upstairs.
“Wait,” he began. “How is this…you know what, never mind.” Sarah gave him a huge toothy grin.
“See, you’re learning.
A/N: For the record, I have enjoyed everything Jordana Brewster and Brandon Routh have been in…except Chuck….Next time….because no one asked for it, but I need to do it for one scene…Jill.
DC