11.20.2010

Sneak Preview: Chapter 44

I wish I had a really cool graphic for the next chapter of What Fates Impose like I usually do, but I'm on my laptop (which is coming up on four years old and is running Vista off of 1 gb of memory; computer nerds may now wince in sympathy), so... yeah.

But hey!  A preview of Chapter 44.  My second preview on Chapter 44, if you'll believe it.  (Where's the first?  Dig in the archives.  I didn't tag it as 44, but I did share a brief scene since I wrote the first scene of 44 something like 4 months ago)!

It's after the break!  Hope you enjoy!

Frea

Chapter 44
Working Title: Casey Have I Loved

31 JANUARY 2008
CASTLE: DOWNSTAIRS
13:58 PST

“Okay, something’s up,” Sarah said as she came into Chuck’s office.

Chuck dropped his pen and swiveled in his chair quickly. Too quickly. He nearly overbalanced and sent himself crashing to the floor. “Is it a mission? Do we have a mission? Is it something to do with the data we grabbed on Kohlmeier?”

“What? No.” Sarah’s eyebrows drew low over her eyes and she turned her head slightly, still watching him with her eyes, something she only did when she was suspicious of him. “I was going to say something’s up with Casey, but I don’t think that’s just the case anymore.”

Chuck hoped that fact that he had begun to sweat was obvious only to him. “Wh-why would you think that?”

Sarah merely folded her arms over her chest. It made Chuck look down, and notice that she was wearing the pink blouse again, the one he really liked.

He forced his mind to focus by reminding himself that he was dating a lie-detector-trained-assassin. That usually helped. “So nothing new from the data I pulled off of those hard drives?”

Again, Sarah didn’t answer. She strode over to his desk and sat on the edge, so that she was looming over him. It was a little close, but it wasn’t quite to the level of impropriety between coworkers that would have to be explained away on the Castle security footage later. Even so, it hardly mattered. Chuck would have felt that quietly threatening stare on him even from ten feet away.

“Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Uh, nothing.” Don’t think about her gun, don’t think about her gun, don’t think—

“Are you sure that’s what you want to say?”

Chuck reminded himself that they were still being watched by Castle’s security cameras, which was why they had been extra careful at work since they had returned to Burbank. Therefore, it would be messy to explain if Sarah suddenly put him in a sleeper hold.

Of course, he would have to leave Castle sometime.

“Something’s up with Casey, and now you’re edgy around me—well, edgier than normal—you won’t meet my eyes, and you’re starting to sweat.” Sarah ticked points off on her fingers. “Any one of those things alone would be suspicious, but add them up and…”

Chuck winced.

“So what is it?”

“It’s nothing, I swear. Everything’s fine.”

“Uh-huh. Not buying it.” Sarah poked him in the arm. “Out with it, Bartowski. Did you flash on something in my file again?”

Chuck blinked. “What exactly is in your file if you’re so worried about me flashing on it?”

“I’m not sure what’s in my file,” Sarah said, frowning. “It’s been awhile since I had Dave hack the database and find out. But since you freaked out last time you flashed on me—”

“It was only for a little while! You looked really pissed off when you shot that security camera. I was scared.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. The incident had occurred on the day after Christmas, and Chuck figured Sarah was still a little upset about it. She had worn a ring, something he hadn’t seen her wear before, and something in the pattern of the ring had inspired a flash. If there was ever a time he didn’t need reminding that he was dating a cold-school ninja, it was while sitting next to her on the couch watching Fatal Attraction.

And he had since apologized for it multiple times.

“So what are you hiding from me?” Sarah asked, switching topics with the subtlety of a sledge hammer.

“Promise not to kill me?”

“Chuck…”

“Casey made me disassemble and reassemble your gun this morning before you got here.” The words tumbled out in a rush right as Chuck shoved his foot against the floor, sending his rolling desk chair backwards and out of Sarah’s reach. He hunched forward into the sitting down form of The Morgan, remembering her face when she had given him the pocket knife and told him never to touch any of her knives again. “Please, if you’re going to cut off my fingers, do the left hand. I use the right hand for the Wii.”

20 comments:

  1. Sparky20.11.10

    " If there was ever a time he didn’t need reminding that he was dating a cold-school ninja, it was while sitting next to her on the couch watching Fatal Attraction.

    And he had since apologized for it multiple times."

    Poor chuck. At least in season 1 he could freak out and not immediately apologize for it.

    Sarah must be annoyed with the fact her boyfriend is scared of her :) Not counting the times she wants him to be scared :P

    '“Casey made me disassemble and reassemble your gun this morning before you got here.” The words tumbled out in a rush right as Chuck shoved his foot against the floor, sending his rolling desk chair backwards and out of Sarah’s reach. He hunched forward into the sitting down form of The Morgan, remembering her face when she had given him the pocket knife and told him never to touch any of her knives again. “Please, if you’re going to cut off my fingers, do the left hand. I use the right hand for the Wii.”'

    Sarah seems to be more hands-on with Chuck.Fates Sarah threatens to cut arteries and fingers. But they are a couple now,we don't want domestic violence,do we?

    And bad Casey! Getting Chuck in trouble.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous20.11.10

    Why would he watch Fatal Attraction with his super assassin girlfriend in the first place? It screams bad idea or as my aunt Martine would say, that's a "Tue l'amour" (love killer). That guy needs a copy of "How to Date Sarah Walker for Dummies" like yesterday. Poor, secretly insecure Sarah must feel like crap because of that. Can I virtually hug her?

    Will she get mad at Chuck? He did touch her precious gun without her permission. That's right up there with using her knives and stealing her Porsche in the list of capital offences against the person of Sarah Walker. At the same time, he must look like a terrified nine years old and we all know the power of Chuck's cuteness when it comes to her. Which one will win?

    I'm excited. Also can Sarah kick Casey's butt for this? He deserves it.

    Lily

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  3. I was just wondering this morning when this gun thing would come out! Guess I know now!

    Can't wait. Thanks for the preview.

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  4. mc.darklydreaming20.11.10

    My guess is that Casey would get the worst of whatever is coming to to these two since I'm sure he forced Chuck. Of course Chuck isn't without fault since he should've thought more carefully about who can cause more damage to him, Sarah? Or Casey? Yeah, no brainer.

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  5. I love that you guys make Sarah more violent than I do. And who doesn't love Fatal Attraction? C'mon, I thought it was fitting with the fact that there's a dead rabbit and rabbits seem to be the sworn enemies of Team Prometheus.

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  6. Anonymous20.11.10

    You know, everyone says that you write great stories, but no one ever tells you that you cut off previews at the perfect moment(s). This preview told me what will happen this coming chapter while making me confused as to what may happen this coming chapter. You dangle such tasty morsels when we want the whole meal.

    All in all, this coming chapter looks to be entertaining. Your characterization of Chuck and Sarah are amazing. Chuck babbles, Sarah speaks through action. After reading the past preview of the gun disassembling, I was wondering when we would see it.

    “Please, if you’re going to cut off my fingers, do the left hand. I use the right hand for the Wii.”- Definitely my favorite dialogue of this preview.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Ayefah20.11.10

    Sarah threatens or mentally fantasizes about a lot more violence than she actually perpetrates against her partners. Of course she isn't going to hit Chuck. She might take out some frustration on Casey and call it "sparring", though, a la "Cubic Z".

    Seriously, if it hurts her feelings that Chuck is genuinely frightened of her, she's not going to go around reinforcing that impression by being violent. You can't scare someone out of being scared. :)

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  8. Eh, either way, daily beatings will continue until morale improves. And thanks, anon. My dream job is to someday be a promo monkey, no lie.

    :)

    explains a lot, no?

    ReplyDelete
  9. I swear, if this week's Chuck wasn't a Sarah-centric episode that's going to be the most badass thing I've ever seen, I might say that I'm not sure which I'm more excited for; Chuck, or Fates.

    Please make promos. THEY WOULD BE SO GOOD!

    Ayefah; 'You can't scare someone out of being scared'? Really? I tend to reach a point where it's SO scary that nothing even matters anymore due to it's scariness, and then I'm FEARLESS :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous21.11.10

    Yes, indeed. Promo's that you make Frea would have Chuck audiences on the edge of their seat more often.

    As I failed to state before, this preview has solidified my theory (at least to me) that Chuck is not so scared of Sarah hurting him but more so of what she can do IF she wanted to hurt him.

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  11. Just a little pick me to make me feel better, thanks Frea!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ayefah22.11.10

    Frea, being a promo monkey would suit your sadistic instincts admirably.

    ReplyDelete
  13. And writing my 700+ page fanfiction definitely suits my masochistic instincts admirably. I think I would be all set!

    And Anonymous, you have it on the nose, I think. Chuck doesn't fear Sarah so much as he fears what Sarah is capable of. Crazy lines to draw, but c'est la vie. Of course, Sarah didn't help him out much...telling him early on exactly how many ways she knew to kill him? What a dysfunctional relationship.

    Hope you're feeling better, Nicky!

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  14. Anonymous22.11.10

    This is sorta off topic but:
    http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/19/more-likely-to-be-renewed-chuck-or-fringe/72827

    so, Chuck or Fringe?
    It's like choosing between your children :'(

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  15. Ayefah23.11.10

    Why is it a choice? They're not even on the same network.

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  16. Anonymous23.11.10

    First, why would you watch "Fatal Attraction" the day after Christmas? What kind of Christmas spirit is that? And second, don't we ever get to spend Christmas with Chuck and Sarah in "Fates"???

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  17. Er, it was on TV and why the hell not? And second, no.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous23.11.10

    So sorry if I seemed insulting. That was NOT my intention. It's just that "Fatal Attraction" doesn't seem like a very happy movie to watch during the "joyous season." But, to each his own....

    ReplyDelete
  19. I'm sorry, I shouldn't read comments on the blog first thing after I wake up. My filter doesn't activate until the third Dr. Pepper. Sorry, I was in a bad mood and took it out on you. My bad.

    ReplyDelete

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