(no subject)

[samecgh]

Part Six

“Damn it, this fit three days ago,” Bryce swore. Chuck watched him try to pull on a t-shirt that was not fitting over his chest. The bump had grown a lot in the last few weeks and the small change of clothes Bryce had bought in November was no longer fitting him.

Chuck had been told this was going to happen soon and he had gone shopping a few times (with Ellie and Sarah) to get clothes that would fit him better, because he doubted Bryce would want his shirts. Carefully, he approached with new jeans and a green shirt that Sarah had helped him picked out. Bryce eyed the shirt and slipped it on, watching it cover and get down to his jeans. It was looser and he would be able to grow more into it without a lot of clothes runs. He also slipped off the jeans and replaced them.

Ellie was all set at the table, purse ready and paperwork sitting beside her. “Hey, you two ready to go?” she cheerfully asked. Bryce just moved toward the door and the other two followed along. She had gotten the same room as last time and realized that the blood tubes hadn't been given, which she walked out to get.

“Bryce, are you okay?” Chuck asked, remembering that he hadn't said anything since the comment about not fitting into his older clothes.

“I'm fine,” he spurted, then changed his mind. “No, yes, no!” He forced himself to breath calmly before talking again. “It's catching up to me.”

Perceptive, he asked, “About being a parent?” Bryce nodded. “What are you worried about?”

“Wrong, doing something wrong, being wrong. Not knowing what to do,” he admitted.

“You're not the only one here,” he reassured, “You're not going to turn out like your parents, either of them.” He squeezed his hand once and was happy when there was a returning squeeze.

Ellie came back and they separated so she could get to Bryce. The blood tubes were set on the counter as she got out the gel. Prepared for the cold this time, there was only a hiss as it landed on his stomach and she moved it around with the wand. The fetus had grown a lot since the last time. “Arms and legs all there,” she noted, “No facial problems, everything seems to be alright. Do you want to know the gender?”

“Yes.”

“No.” Chuck and Bryce looked at each other. Then Bryce nodded.

Ellie moved the wand to check. “Looks like... a boy.” Chuck smiled as his imagination played up, but Bryce just nodded again.

She saved a shot for printout and got the blood tubes ready for drawing. Chuck handed paper towel over and Bryce was able to clean himself off before sitting up for Ellie.

Like the last appointment, Ellie walked out with them until she told them she had a shift and walked back into the hospital. Chuck and Bryce got in Chuck's car and left the parking lot. After some shopping for food and picking up blood for Chuck, the two ended up back at the apartment. Bryce was looking worried about something. “Hey,” Chuck muttered, grabbing his hand and rubbing his thumb across the knuckles.

“Halfway,” he muttered, staring at the bump. Chuck knew he would probably be killed for it later on, but he wound one arm around Bryce so he could hug him as much as he managed around the separator. I can't do this. I can't do this. Chuck didn't say anything as he heard Bryce repeat over and over in his head.

“Ow,” Bryce muttered, rubbing along his stomach. “He just kicked me.”

“Can I?” Chuck indicated, a hand wanting to feel also. He navigated his hand to where he felt it and the baby rewarded him by kicking his hand. “Heya, buddy.” He rubbed for a second before moving up to kiss Bryce lightly. “You're doing great. Okay?”

He looked about ready to fight, but Chuck stopped him. “Yeah, okay.”

{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}

Devon warned him when they were together without either Bartowski. “Ellie's planning a baby shower,” he mentioned, finishing a set.

Bryce looked up from the computer he had been using. “Who would she invite?” he questioned.

“Sarah, and….” he thought before backtracking his idea.

“Tell Ellie it's a great idea, but not going to be very fun with so few people,” he said, going back to the computer.

It didn't stop Ellie from bringing up the idea. She had him sectioned off in a private room to take his blood. “Devon told me you thought it wouldn't be a good shower,” she noted.

He shrugged, “I have no one to invite. And Chuck could only be able to invite two, maybe three, but that third one is a 'don't ask, I'm not that type.' There would be no point in having a shower with five to seven people.” The baby kicked at his discomfort, but he ignored it as she filled out the paperwork.

“We could make that work,” she said. He stared as she walked out the door with the blood samples. Bryce brought out his phone and sent Chuck a quick message. She's still going to have a baby shower.

How is this a bad thing?

Which is how a Saturday in early May ended up decorated with blue pastels and paper crepe over the Bartowski living room. Devon had ended up with a double shift and was taking a nap before they would begin the shower. Ellie was making snacks while the cake finished in the oven. Chuck was being ordered to put more ribbon up while Bryce was ordered to the couch.

At least, that's where he was supposed to be.

“Bryce,” she gasped, seeing him fill a bowl with an assortment of food, “We're going to be eating in an hour. Oh my.... what are you eating?”

“Brussel sprouts with melted butter and honey mustard. It sounded good,” he explained, taking a bite, “It is really good.”

“The last blood tests did show that you had a reduced iron level and vitamins K and C were down. You were eating a lot of spinach yesterday?”

“Last couple of days.”

“Your body's telling you what it needs. I plan on still adding a multivitamin to your diet, one that has more iron. And I'll need to take your blood in a couple of weeks.” He nodded and finished off his bowl before sitting it in the sink and walking off.

Sarah was the first to arrive, a gold and green present bag going with the two diaper packages in a plastic one. Her gift joined the two others from Ellie and Devon while the diapers end up in the small pile Ellie had started. Elliot walked in just as Devon woke up from his nap and joined everyone downstairs.

“Charles,” he called out, seeing the young man hover over Ellie's shoulder, looking at the snacks she was making.

“Elliot,” he replied, backing away so she could place it along with the others.

“I take it Casey is not coming,” he stated.

“Yeah, he said he would rather go into ….” he started, before realizing Ellie and Devon were listening in, “Into training with new green shirts that are being taught by Jeff and Lester.” Bryce motioned to Sarah what he had actually said and he started quietly laughing at whatever the real reason was.

Talk was slow. There were certain things that couldn't be discussed in front of Devon and Ellie. Elliot may know about Sarah, but he didn't know about he Intersect. At least everyone knew about vampires, so both could enjoy a glass of blood while they started talking about names. Ellie suggested, “Bradley.”

“Knew a Brad,” Sarah objected.

“So did I, complete bully,” Bryce added.

“Oliver?” Chuck threw out. Bryce narrowed his eyes at the suggestion. He ignored it. “Arthur?”

“Why don't we call him Clark?” Bryce offered. Chuck quieted his Smallville related ideas.

“Bryce, don't you have any ideas?” Ellie asked.

“I …. haven't thought of it,” he hesitated. Chuck carefully nudged his leg and he nudged back.

“That may be a well suggestion,” Elliot said, finishing his glass, “Saves the child from ill wishes.” Unsure of where to go from there, Ellie ended up bringing over presents. The first thing Bryce pulled out was a set of onesies covered in sports balls. The girls started awwing over them while the guys didn't quite know what to do. The majority of the presents were clothes.

Toys and other little items were sneaked in as well. Sarah got a couple of loud rattlers, which Chuck ended up playing with. Bryce pulled out pacifiers from Devon. Ellie somehow hid and made them a homemade baby blanket that was knitted or crocheted. Chuck choked up and hugged her tightly for a few minutes after that. Elliot's was last. Bryce carefully pulled out a fragile mobile, small planets and stars hanging off. “There is also a cradle that can be brought over,” he mentioned.

“That might be a good idea. I don't know where our old cribs are,” Ellie said. After the gifts had been opened and everyone had been thanked, there was more talk. Somehow it moved from the baby to the planning of the wedding. Elliot pulled Devon into a discussion on the choosing of best man and groomsmen. Sarah and Ellie were discussing flower and food ideas. Bryce got up under the pretense of getting some food and ended up hiding on the other four.

Chuck found him curled under his comforter, sniffling and not allowing himself to cry. He ended up sliding under and curling around him. Bryce buried his head in Chuck's shoulder and tried to be closer. “I haven't had anyone be this nice to me since...” he confessed.

“Since Stanford.”

“Yeah.” He stayed until Bryce wore himself out from crying and he was able to slip out and go back downstairs.

“Is he okay?” Sarah asked, looking a tiny bit worried.

“A little overwhelmed. The Bartowski way of doing things is a little much,” he whispered. Devon and Ellie had left and he just noticed it. “Hey, where'd they go?”

“Hospital, emergency call in,” Elliot answered.

“Oh,” he nodded. The three of them turned as the door opened and Casey walked in. “Casey, did you decide to join us after all?”

He grunted, “Beckman wants a meeting.” Elliot left before them and the other three walked over to Casey's for their new assignment.

{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}

Around mid-June, rumors began of a new Intersect being close to completion. Sarah and Casey would look sad (Sarah) or closed off (Casey) when they saw Chuck. Bryce ended up having to reminders of what he was supposed to be doing.

The first was a phone call from Orion. Devon and Ellie were downstairs, so he locked himself in the bathroom to be quieter and to keep people from interrupting. “You need to be out there,” he shouted.

“I....”

“This agent you sent in your place is not a sufficient replacement. I need the perceived Intersect, not an agent that doesn't even know what it is.”

“I can't,” he gritted, “I'm grounded.”

“Grounded? How long?”

“Couple more months.”

“Damn it,” Orion cursed, swearing up a storm, “You know that once the new Intersect is up and going, they will issue a kill order.”

“You don't think I don't fucking know that,” he hissed. His mind has an insane hope that he might be able to save Chuck's life and keep one parent with their child, but they split the Bartowskis and he knows they don't care about families of agents and scientists. His anger brought up sorrow and he had to wipe his eyes after they blurred.

“Remember what's at stake,” Orion warned before hanging up. Bryce stared at the phone until someone knocked at the door.

“Sorry,” he muttered, walking past Devon.

“No problem,” Devon dismissed, walking in.

The second came the next week when Casey came while the two doctors were away. He walked over to Casey's apartment where General Beckman and Director Graham were waiting on the screen. “Sir, ma'am,” he greeted.

“Agent Larkin,” Beckman greeted.

“Agent, you have no doubt heard about the near completion of a new Intersect. There has also been chatter of Fulcrum trying to find the current Intersect,” Graham informed.

“Do they know it's Bartowski?”

“No, but there has been more references to you.”

“You can't have paternity leave. Once the baby is born, you'll be out.”

“Yes, ma'am. Could I ask something?” he inquired, not pausing before going on, “I know with the new Intersect, you will be issuing the kill on Chuck. When I leave, this child will not have a parent if you kill him.”

“We can't promise anything,” Beckman said, before cutting the connection.

Casey, who had been watching, muttered, “That was idiotic, Larkin.”

“What would you have done, Casey? It's not like I have a lot of choices left,” he grunted, walking out. He was almost in the Bartowski apartment when he saw something flash, but finding the source was fruitless. Training told him not to ignore it, but his mind and body just wanted to shut down.

{*}{*}{*}{*}{*}

“I see why woman complain about wanting the baby out,” Bryce moaned, looking over his stomach and trying to see his feet. It's the beginning of July and he was still getting bigger because of the baby. He had now hit the stage of not being about to see his feet, even while laying on the bed. Chuck was finishing switching around his room so they could fit the cradle away from the windows and the door. “How big do my feet look?”

Chuck gave them a critical eye before dropping down next to them. “No bigger than yesterday,” he commented, pulling one into his lap and massaging.

“Hmm,” he hummed, “Are you going to do that every time I criticize myself?”

“Just making sure you're getting proper circulation.” After a few minutes on one, he switched to the other. “Any thoughts on the name?”

He went over the name idea he had. “A few.”

Chuck waited for his ideas and paused when he didn't immediately said them. “Share?”

Bryce smiled, “Nope.” He laughed when Chuck dropped his feet and moved up to be face to face. He began kissing him, holding his head in place while his other hand moved down. “Can't do that.”

“Why?”

“Door's open and parade's in an hour.”

“Not even...”

“Do you want Ellie to walk in here?”

He scowled, “No.” His hand decided to rub the bump instead. “Your Dad's being mean,” he told the baby inside.

“I'm being cautious. And I want to argue my idea before you strike it down,” he mentioned. Bryce did allow for one long kiss before they heard Devon yelling up.

“Guys, we got the barbeque,” he reported, bags rustling. Chuck got up first before helping Bryce. He walked past and Chuck watched him as he attempted not to waddle and fail. He smirked before hurrying up so he wouldn't be noticed.

Ellie passed a plate to Bryce, who immediately loaded a rib and coleslaw. Devon grabbed some chicken and salad. She waited until they left before handing Chuck a large beverage container. “Is that....” he asked, before opening it and smelling the smoke in the lamb blood. “Oh, thanks sis.”

Bryce noticed what it was. He sniffed it once before raising an eyebrow and going back to his food. Ellie finally joined them and ate. Food demolished, they noticed it was about time for the parade. Walking out, they started to hear the sirens that signaled the beginning and had to move quickly to get a spot to see.

Sarah sneaked up on Chuck and ended up standing next to him before he could even realize it. Casey was more noticeable and walked up behind them. A float of veterans came by and Casey saluted them. Chuck waved like everyone else and the float went by with the vets returning the salute.

Bryce snapped his neck as something flashed again in his peripheral vision. This time, a person had a camera in their direction, and couldn't move fast away from the crowd. “Sarah,” he motioned, about ready to create a path over.

Chuck stopped him before he could and Sarah grabbed Casey to chase the man down. “What is it?”

“We may have someone watching us. I noticed beginning last month,” he reported. Chuck smacked him. “What was that for?”

“You're supposed to tell me about this stuff,” he hissed.

“Actually, I'm supposed to tell Casey and Sarah,” he contended, watching them come back. “Anything?”

“Car waiting for him,” she said. Casey looked suitably angry at the person getting away. “How long?”

“Since last month,” he told her. She smacked him. He turned to Casey and placed himself far away so the man couldn't hit him. “It was a second and I didn't actually see a person. Then, it was quick sightings.” He stopped her from arguing back. “There's already been increased intel about the Intersect, most of which concerns me. They still don't know about Chuck.”

Unhappy, they went back to the Echo Park since everyone was leaving the area. “Chuck, it may not be safe for you to go to the fireworks tonight,” Sarah suggested.

“With you guys with me, I should be...” he argued.

“Nighttime, Chuck, easier for someone to sneak up and grab you,” Bryce stated.

“Or you,” Casey muttered. Bryce glared at him.

“What if we stayed in the car?” he suggested. The two agents that had been with him longest stared at him.

“You hate the car,” Sarah mentioned.

“No, I said it's never safe in the car after you two leave, but if you stayed in the car....” Casey and Sarah glanced at each other, silently evaluating the idea before Sarah nodded to the idea. “Yes! There's this great spot that Ellie, Elliot, Devon and I use.”

Night came quickly for the group and they were soon going toward a park near the one Chuck had taken Bryce on Valentine's. Devon and Ellie sat on a blanket while Elliot took a tree stump. Sarah and Casey took the front seats while Chuck and Bryce had the back. Chuck leaned back against his door, then encouraged Bryce to lean against him. The car muffled the sounds of some of the fireworks, the crackles duller. The largest still created the biggest sounds, and they silently watched the light show.


Previous | Masterpost | Next