Chapter 23
A/N: I’m sorry. I’m not saying some of you are standing there like Molly, hands on hips, more than a little upset that I’ve posted two straight Uprising chapters and no Molly…but I’m not saying you’re not either. I apologize. I’ve learned my lesson.
A/N 2: It is cold here. There is snow, and a sheet of ice, and people are trying to drive 900 mph on it. Welcome to the “south”. (It’s Kentucky but we consider ourselves the south). Did you really think Jack’s going to jail? Come on. It’s me.
A/N 3: Serious fluff broke out in this chapter that I wasn’t expecting but it kinda wrote itself. You have been warned. Shout out to Sound of Music by Quistie64 for Call of Duty making it in to this chapter. If you love fluff and haven’t read that, I can’t help you.
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, or Die Hard…but they are both great at Christmas.
Last time on Sarah vs The Life Unexpected
“General, I owe some men, some very bad men, two million dollars, and my daughter believes she has a plan to capture said men. General, for far too long I’ve put my family in harms way, and today that ends. I am surrendering. I am turning myself in.” Sarah’s jaw dropped and she turned to stare at her father. Chuck turned to Casey.
“I didn’t see that coming,” Chuck said. Casey just grunted.
And now Ch 22, Yippie Ki Yay
“Wait, what?” Sarah yelled. Jack turned to her.
“Darlin’, I can’t do it to you. Do you know what they’ll do to me for two million, to my family?” Jack asked. Chuck put his hand on Jack’s shoulder.
“Jack, I appreciate the sacrifice,” Chuck said. Casey stared at Chuck. Chuck turned to the monitor. “General, I guess you’ll need to send someone down to pick him up.” The general looked confused.
“Wait, who was the sheik that you owe money to?” she asked. Chuck happened to be looking directly at Bryce when Jack answered.
“Sheik Ahmad,” Jack answered. Bryce flashed, and Chuck saw it. As he watched Bryce’s face, it was like he was looking at many pictures at once, and it reminded him something of his past.
“Professor Fleming,” Chuck said softly. No one heard him, but Bryce saw his mouth say the word. He shook his head, and Chuck kept his mouth shut. Bryce told the general everything Ahmad was involved in. “It’s obviously much too dangerous for my family, and Jack,” Chuck said. Sarah stared at Chuck. She knew he had become very withdrawn, but this was weird. This wasn’t Chuck.
“Charlie’s right,” Jack agreed. “I can’t take a chance of my family getting hurt.”
“Give me a moment,” Beckman said and the monitor went off. Jack smirked at Chuck, and tapped his finger on the side of his nose. Sarah’s mouth dropped.
“You…,” she said to her father, and then turned to Chuck. “And you…” Her mouth was wide open in shock.
“Charlie, I didn’t think you had it in you,” Jack said softly. Chuck shrugged.
“I don’t want to see my family hurt, what have I said that’s untrue?” he asked. Sarah just shook her head.
“And he’s family,” she said softly.
“Five bucks says she does him right here in the next ten minutes,” Carina whispered to Casey.
“I might take that just because I think she’s about to drag him to the supply closet right now,” Casey countered.
“How?” Sarah asked to her father. Jack shrugged.
“Lichtenstein,” he answered. Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Really? That’s what you want to go with?” she asked.
“Some one really wants to buy a building and rename it,” Jack said, grinning. “The sheik really wants to buy the Fox Plaza building and rename it to something more appropriate.”
“Nakatomi Plaza?” Chuck asked in a hushed tone. Jack nodded. Sarah looked confused. Chuck caught Bryce’s eye.
“Yippie Ki Yay Mother-” Bryce began as the screen flipped back on.
“Father,” Chuck finished looking at Bryce. “I know, it’s weird calling someone a mother-father, but that’s what they do so who are we to tell them they’re wrong?” Beckman’s eyebrow was raised, and Sarah was biting the inside of the cheek to keep from laughing.
“I mean who are we to tell someone what sounds weird or not, right?” Bryce agreed.
“If you’ll excuse the interruption,” Beckman said. Everyone turned toward the screen. “I have an offer. If you can get the Sheik’s accounts, we can make…some deal.” The last part was made as if there was a bad taste in her mouth. “First, Jack, your record will be cleared.” Jack stuck his bottom lip out as he nodded. “Second, we can make sure that the adoptions are done within a week.” She held up her hand before Chuck could cut in. “By not participating we will still do all we have previously agreed. Third, there are some new weapons we can provide for you, plus give special NSA status, you wouldn’t be active agents, but it would help you get around some…things…shall we say should you need something working for Carmichael.”
“Well, I don’t know, what about Charlie’s family?” Jack asked. Sarah glanced at Chuck. Chuck winked at her.
“State of the art security at his home, plus the two duplexes the other employees are looking to purchase,” Beckman offered. Jack looked at Chuck.
“Come on, Bartowski, we could use the weapons,” Casey said.
“Dear, this is your call,” Chuck said looking at Sarah. She gave him a level look and extended it to her father when he looked over at her.
“Are you staying?” she asked. Jack looked her in the eye.
“I can’t just stay here with your Mom here with someone else,” Jack admitted. “It would kill me. But, I’ll go clean, when I’m here I’ll even work here, if you’ll have me.”
“That may be the most honest thing you’ve ever told me,” Sarah said. She looked up at Beckman. “We’re in, plus we keep any of the money actually get out of the Sheik.” Beckman nodded. “The rest of the team is back later today, we’ll gameplan tomorrow and call you tomorrow afternoon with our plans.” Beckman nodded, and cut the feed. She turned to her father. “You could have let me in on it.” Jack grinned.
“Nope, after what the schnook has been through the past few days with all of you, I figured he was perfect for the job,” Jack said. Chuck grinned. Sarah shook her head and left.
}o{
The three met at Lou’s. They sat in the back, trying not to draw attention, but who are we kidding, three of the most gorgeous spies that ever lived were sitting at a table and talking in hushed tones, men and women stared at them.
“I may have to pay you three to come in more often, I can’t ever remember a time we were more busy,” Lou said with a grin to Sarah, Carina, and Zondra. “Sarah, I want to apologize.” Sarah waved it off.
“I’m aware most of that was Bryce’s doing, what I really don’t get is how no one put together Burton Industries and Jack Burton,” Sarah replied. Lou shrugged.
“At one point Morgan mentioned it,” Lou said. She took a deep breath. “And, to be honest, I kept noticing how good looking your dad is, and may have gotten distracted.” Sarah had an amused smile on her face.
“Total hottie, right?” Carina said. Sarah shook her head.
“Please, continue telling me how good looking my dad is, Carina,” Sarah said. Carina looked at her. “You’re going to do what you want anyway, I might as well tell you to. Wanna join us Lou?” Lou shrugged and sat down.
“Okay, what are you three up to?” she asked.
“We took Jill away to Vegas to try to get the low down on her and Bryce,” Zondra said.
“We’re hoping if we get Bryce and her together, she’ll lay off blondie,” Carina explained.
“So, spill,” Lou said grinning.
“Well, Jill thinks he’s good looking,” Zondra began.
“He is pretty,” Lou said. Sarah nodded.
“Worse, he knows it,” Sarah added. Carina snickered
“Who took longer to get ready, you or him?” Carina asked.
“Oh, him,” Sarah said, shocked Carina would even asked. “That man would primp, and put product in his hair for hours.” Zondra and Lou were rolling. “The thing is, I would catch him doing stuff like Chuck does, watching sci-fi shows, looking at a comic book in a store, or something nerdy like that, and he’d hide it, and act like I was wrong. Or he would say he was just getting info in case he ever had to go undercover in that scene again.” Sarah shook her head. “He denied himself everything he really wanted, including Jill.”
“Do you think if he were himself you two wouldn’t have broke up?” Lou asked. Sarah thought for a second.
“Well, we wouldn’t be together, but I wonder,” Sarah began. The three looked interested so she plowed ahead. “What we had was convenient.”
“Ain’t nothing wrong with that,” Carina said. Sarah rolled her eyes.
“What I’m saying is, we were both looking for something else, and neither of us was truly honest with the other, or ourselves. IF Bryce had opened up to me, then maybe I would have been more honest with him, and then we would have realized, we’re friends. Great friends, and colleagues, but that was all,” Sarah explained.
“You think he wanted Jill even when he was with you?” Zondra asked. Sarah nodded.
“So we’re back to him being pretty,” Lou said, grinning. “How does she feel about him?”
“She doesn’t know, it’s been a while, and frankly, she’s beating herself up for losing Chuck,” Carina said, glancing at Sarah. Sarah shrugged.
“She should be,” she said, smirking. The other three laughed. “But what did they really have, her and Bryce I mean? What Jill thought they should be, or was there something really there?”
“That’s what Jill is wondering,” Zondra replied. “Spy life is not conducive for relationships.” The three spies nodded. Lou just gave all three of them a look, and rolled her head.
“Oh wah,” she said. The three dropped their jaws. “I get to be beautiful and go to glorious places, and have excitement, and danger, and good looking men buy me drinks. Try sitting here, waiting on some of the guys I wait on.”
“You do know that some of the criminals we have to get close to aren’t that attractive,” Sarah said grinning. “And some of the good-looking men, are absolute disgusting pigs.” Lou leaned forward.
“Okay, I have to know, when you do these missions, do you ever have to seduce a man?” Lou asked. All three grinned.
“Who said they’re all men?” Carina asked. Lou’s eyebrows went up.
“How far do you go?” Lou asked. Sarah sighed.
“There are missions, typically long term, get close to a mark or even get the mark to fall in love with you, where that is required,” Sarah said. “But, an agent is never required to do them. Those are volunteer. The best seduction is flirting, teasing, and promising more. That’s all I ever have done, others…” she said, looking at Carina, who shrugged. “Believe why waste the good time that is available.”
“Hey, I’m a one guy woman now,” Carina said, and then paused as she thought about that. “Walker, you ruined me.”
“I think it was Casey that ruined you,” Zondra said, batting her eyes at Carina. Sarah burst out laughing and Lou wondered if a fight was about to break out. Carina stared at Zondra for a minute and then shrugged.
“He gives me lady feelings,” she said grinning. Everyone groaned and Sarah tossed a napkin at her.
“And my lunch is ruined,” Sarah said. “Although I’m shocked I could ever eat again after catching you two in the supply closet.”
“TMI!” Lou said. The door opened and they all noticed Chuck walk in. “Someone misses you.” Sarah turned and saw him. He noticed all four women at the table, and got a strange look on his face. He waved, then reached in his pocket for his phone, he said something, waved again and left. Sarah raised an eyebrow, pulled out her phone, and called him, all while watching him through the window. He had already put the phone in his pocket, and pulled it back out.
“There is no way I am coming in there with the four of you having lunch,” Chuck said. Sarah burst out laughing.
“Would you like me to bring you a sandwich later?” she asked.
“Nah, I’ll find something, just tell me, did I do anything wrong?” he asked.
“No, you’re good,” she said. “Love you.”
“Love you,” he said and disconnected.
“Well, we cost you one sale,” Sarah said, grinning.
“I mean do you blame him?” Lou asked.
“I’m shocked he works with all of us,” Carina replied. “Back on topic, Jill and Bryce.”
“So Bryce brought flowers, and they talked last night,” Zondra said. “She said she wants to take it slow and figure out how she really feels about him.”
“How are you with working with Bryce?” Carina asked.
“I’m fine with it,” she replied. “I’m about out of my contract,” she said, looking down and then back up at Sarah. Sarah reached over and put her hand on Zondra’s.
“There’s always a place here for you,” Sarah said. The door opened back up and there was Chuck, looking defeated.
“Your man must love that sandwich,” Lou said, and got up to go make him one. In a minute he walked over to them.
“I’m not trying to horn in on your conversation so I’ll gladly go sit by myself on the far side of the room,” Chuck said, hoping they’d let him go. Zondra patted the seat right beside her.
“Sit, Chuckles,” she said, grinning. He sat and saw the grins of the other two.
“I should have gone fast food,” he muttered.
“Pretty brave today, Chuck,” Carina said. “Pulling that con on the general and not letting your wife know.” Chuck shrugged.
“I just played along,” Chuck said. “Can I ask you guys a question?” They all nodded. “You know that class that Bryce planted those tests in?” They nodded again. “Why is that class so important for the CIA?”
“Recall would be extremely useful as an analyst,” Sarah replied. Chuck gave her a look. “Really, do you think you could do some of the things we did?” Chuck grinned. “I’ve seen you trap a spider and carry it outside.” Chuck dropped his head. She reached across and put her hand on his. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”
“I thought it was my girlish screams,” Chuck said.
“We’re going to need you to quit insulting girls like that,” Zondra said, shoulder bumping him.
“Watch it, Zondra,” Sarah said. “That’s my move,” she said smiling, but a little serious. “Why the questions about Stanford, is this about Bryce?” Chuck bobbed his head around and glanced over at Zondra. “She’s one of us.”
“Today during the meeting with Beckman, when your dad mentioned the sheik, Bryce’s eyes did something and then he started spouting of information,” Chuck said. “It’s like he saw a bunch of stuff really fast, it kinda reminded me of Professor Fleming’s class at Stanford.”
“What are you saying, Chuck?” Zondra asked.
“I’m saying, I think there is a reason Beckman keeps giving me those weird looks, I think there is a reason Bryce wanted me out of Stanford, I think there is more going on than we realize,” he replied. “Think about it, we’re civilians, yes, former agents, but civilians. When have you ever heard of one agent being partnered with all these civilians?” He turned to Zondra. “Before you came along of course, and I’m glad you’re here.” Zondra smiled at him. Sarah studied Chuck for a minute.
“She’s hiding an agent,” Sarah said. “Bryce is a good spy, but not that good, so why?” Chuck nodded.
“It’s got to be something else,” Chuck said, taking a bite of his sandwich.
“So, you think it’s got something to do with the recall?” she asked.
“That’s the thing,” Chuck said. “Bryce wasn’t anywhere as good as me on recall.”
“You think whatever’s going on, it was supposed to be you instead of him?” Sarah asked. Chuck shrugged.
“You said it yourself,” he said to Sarah. “I couldn’t do what you do. Why create something like we’re talking about for an analyst?” Chuck studied her for a bit and grinned. “Is this what you were like in the field, figuring out the next move?” She bounced a shoulder with a grin.
“Easy, Walker, you don’t want your nerd overheating,” Carina said.
“It’s Bartowski,” she corrected. “And you’re wrong. I like it when my nerd overheats,” she said giving Chuck a wink.
“I bet you’d be a mastermind as a tactician in Call of Duty,” he said.
“The three of us would wipe the floor with you, Bryce, and Morgan,” she said, grinning.
“Oh, of course you would,” Chuck said. “Bryce would go off and play hero, and destroy our gameplan.” Sarah glanced over at Carina.
“Someone on our side does tend to go off by herself a lot,” Sarah said, grinning. Carina shrugged.
“So me and Morgan against you and Zondra,” Chuck said. “We wouldn’t last a minute.” Sarah grinned at him.
“We need to get back and figure out what we’re going to do,” Sarah said. Chuck nodded.
“I figure you’ll just tell me to stay in the car,” Chuck said grinning. Sarah had a twinkle in her eye.
“I’m thinking I might keep you nearby,” she said.
}o{
“Zondara and Casey are obviously our security,” Sarah said. Jack nodded. “You’re the point man,” she said pointing at her father. “Bryce is Lichtenstein, I am his business manager, and Chuck is my personal assistant.”
“I don’t know about Charlie,” Jack said. “No offense, Charlie.”
“None taken,” he said. “I figured I’d stay in the car with Morgan and Alex.”
“They’re overwatch, I need you there in case we run into any problems with the money tracking,” Sarah explained. “Bryce is the main guy, but I’m the one that gets everything done, so I need an assistant. It’s not that uncommon, plus an assistant should be very good with computers.”
“It does make a lot of sense,” Chuck said. Jack turned to him.
“Whose side are you on?” Jack asked.
“Oh, no one’s,” Chuck replied. “I’m just as shocked as you that she wants me there, but she does make a lot of good points.”
“What do you expect, she’s my girl,” Jack said. Chuck smiled.
“You raised a good one,” Chuck replied.
“Okay, you both did great, one donated sperm, the other-” Carina began.
“STOP!” Sarah said, scared where that was going. Chuck and Jack both looked a little uncomfortable standing beside each other. “Chuck plants the tracer, we find the accounts, we’re in and out, any questions?” Chuck raised his hand. Sarah grinned. “Yes.”
“Will I have on a vest?” he asked.
“Why will you need a vest?” Sarah replied.
“In case there are bullets,” Chuck responded. “These things always seem to go bad.”
“It’s not a bad idea,” Casey said. Sarah nodded. She turned to Bryce.
“Can you speak German?” she asked. Bryce looked insulted. “You couldn’t when we worked together.”
“He can now,” Chuck said, eyeing him. Bryce gave him a look. Chuck barely cocked his head to the side. “Vay' vIghel stanford nIS maH.” (We need to talk about Stanford-Klingon)
“QaSpu'DI' Qu',” (After the mission-Klingon) Bryce replied. Carina turned to Sarah.
“Spałeś z nimi i poślubiłeś jednego z nich,” (You slept with both of them and married one of them-Polish) Carina said.
“Czy to czyni mnie Królową Nerdów?” (Does that make me Queen of the Nerds-Polish) Sarah said, rolling her eyes.
“While I don’t know exactly what you two are saying there, Carina,” Chuck began. “Let me remind you that your boytoy mostly communicates by grunts.” Carina gave Chuck a look and then looked over at Casey and winked. Casey grinned and grunted.
“Johnny, I told you don’t grunt at me like that in front of others,” Carina said. Sarah rolled her eyes.
“So we have the plan, we’ll give it to Beckman, and go from there,” Sarah said. “Any questions?” Everyone shook their heads and left the conference room except Chuck and Sarah. She walked over to him. “Chaq polish vaj ghojmoH SoH jIH?” (Maybe I should teach you Polish-Klingon) Chuck grabbed her hand and led her out of the conference room. “Where are we going?” She asked with a coy grin on her face.
“Supply pa'Hom Samta'meH,” (To find a supply closet-Klingon) Chuck answered as Sarah laughed and happily came along.
A/N: Sorry about the different languages
Until next time
DC