Yep, you guessed it...I don't own Chuck, nor do I own Randy Newman's lyrics.

To everyone on here who has contributed. I just found this site a couple of days ago, and you have all done an amazing job. Just the fix that this addict was looking for.

Summary: This basically came about because I was snowbound at home for 2 days, so I decided to have a marathon of all 24 episodes of Chuck. A few too many hot buttered rums, and hot chocolates laced with irish cream and butterscotch schnaaps, and I had a question to answer...How would I end Chuck? I thought about it for a while, then decided that since I have a script project do later this quarter, why not expand the ideas...write a complete story so that I have something to use for that project. So this may not be long and detailed, but just enough to establish what I needed and broken up into segments that will later become the script for that project.

Flame away...I can take it. And keep up the great work everyone.


Chuck vs The NSA

The door opened, standing there was Devon…and in true Captain fashion, he extending his arms toward her, inviting her to hug him.

"There's my other babe"

She walked into his arms, accepting his generous offer, and tried to remain composed.

He really is awesome. Ellie is going to need him to be.

Breaking the embrace, Devon placed his hands on Sarah's arms…

"I'll go get Ellie" he said quietly.

Sarah didn't wait for Ellie to return, instead she slowly made her way through the apartment to Chuck's room. The door was closed and she remained outside just looking at that door.

With everything you have done in your life…all of the situations that you have been in…you can certainly do this.

Sarah closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and pushed open the door, but did not step inside. Her mind drifted off to that night when they first 'slept together'.

There he was, grey sweats and a t-shirt, awkwardly…and rather stiffly…gyrating his hips and moving his body around in a manner that only Chuck would call dancing. It was so cute.

A faint smile appeared on her face just as it had that night. Her eyes scanned the room. Slowly, she took a step into the room…then another, and finally, another. She continued into the room, her eyes continuing to scan…inviting memories that she was not entirely sure she would welcome at the moment. Chuck's bed, the Morgan-door, and Chuck's desk…a desk that appeared less like the workspace of a computer nerd and more like a personal art gallery. She let her eyes browse the photographs…she was in each one of them. Their first picture together…the 'fake' photo of them together at Comic-Con. Chuck had fished it out of the garbage where he had deposited it after finding her bug and re-framed it. Their first 'real' picture together…taken at Halloween not long after she first reported for her assignment here. The picture they had taken together on their mission to Palm Springs. Her eyes continued along the desktop until she finally stopped at one photograph. It was a picture from Ellie's wedding day. Devon and Ellie in the center, Chuck standing at Devon's side in his tuxedo, with her standing next to Ellie in her beautiful 'burgandy organza' bridesmaid dress.

Ellie looked so beautiful that day…and Chuck…he looked so handsome in that tux.

Sarah picked that picture up by its' frame, took a step back and sat down at the foot of the bed. Her focus locked on the photo, she let her right hand 'touch' Chuck. Her mind began to wander, and she let her thoughts drift back to that day.

Tears began to run down her cheeks as a familiar melody began to play in her mind and her memory of that day continued…the dance…and that song. It was their song…a song whose lyrics she imagined was her speaking to Chuck...telling him just how she 'really' felt about their relationship...those same lyrics could have just as easily been him speaking to her. Speaking words that had been muted for so long…muted by circumstance and choice. A choice made be each of them with the hope of protecting the other. Sure, there had been slips…there were bound to be because sometimes a look just couldn't say enough. But that night, through that song, a look said everything. Sarah closed her eyes and returned to the dance floor that night…

The dance…one in which Chuck's eyes never left her eyes…or her eyes his. The dance floor was dark, the only light a spotlight shining on Devon and Ellie. Chuck reached out his hand for hers but did not utter a word as the melody began to play…the ambient light casting an incredibly romantic feel over the room…she could have sworn she was in a fairy tale. Gently taking his hand, she bowed her head as Chuck led her on to the dance floor.

'Something in your eyes makes me want to lose myself,
Makes me want to lose myself in your arms.
There's something in your voice makes my heart beat fast,
Hope this feeling lasts the rest of my life.'

'If you knew how lonely my life has been,
And how long I've been so alone.
If you knew how I wanted someone to come along,
And change my life the way you've done.

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she never broke her gaze into Chuck's eyes…'I hear you. Can you hear me?' Together, they continued to glide above the floor.

.

'But I'm alright, 'cause I have you here with me
And I can almost see through the dark there is light.'

'If you knew how much this moment means to me,
And how long I've waited for your touch.
And if you knew how happy you are making me
I never thought that I'd love anyone so much.'
.
.

'It feels like home to me, it feels like home to me
It feels like I'm all the way back where I belong.'

So deeply engaged in her memory of that moment, even Sarah's training didn't alert her that she was being watched.

Ellie had approached the door quietly and when she saw Sarah sitting on Chuck's bed holding one of his framed photographs, she chose to remain quiet rather than interrupt whatever memories the photo held for Sarah. Her eyes shifted to Chuck's desk, and by its' absence she knew that the photo in Sarah's hands was from her wedding day. She continued to watch as Sarah never lifted her eyes from the photo…the fingers of her right hand gently placed on the likeness of Chuck.

The poor girl, she looks so…heartbroken.

Ellie did her best to keep from crying at the scene. She mustered the happiest face should could…given the circumstances…and entered the room.

"That was Chuck's favorite picture" she said softly.

Sarah re-entered the here and now and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"You looked so beautiful that day" Sarah responded.

"Did you look at the picture? Someone else looked pretty amazing that day too." Ellie continued, "Chuck always loved your hair back like that…and that dance, he didn't stop talking about it for weeks. His face would get this amazing look on it when he talked about it. I would catch him looking at that picture and he would have that same look on his face…I could always tell when he was thinking about that dance."

"That was an amazing moment." A truly enchanted moment. "One that I'll probably never forget, or equal." Sarah confessed.

"I know that Chuck wasn't always the best at speaking about his feelings…especially with girls, but Sarah, I hope you know how much he loved you."

"I know" acknowledged Sarah. I hope he knew how I 'really' felt about him.

"And you…I've always wanted to thank you."

Puzzled, Sarah probed "For what?"

"For taking the time to really get to know who Chuck was. Not a lot of girls like you would even bother to talk to a guy like Chuck, let alone date him…not unless they were being paid."

If you only knew the truth about what brought me into his life.

Ellie continued, "I always knew that Chuck would finally meet a girl who could do that."

Do what? Get him killed?

"You were the best thing that ever happened to him..." Ellie started to breakdown "…and I'm sure that wherever he is, he's happy that you're safe"

That was enough, for what may have been the 87th time today for all she knew, tears began to stream from Sarah's eyes. Still holding the picture in her hand, she put her arms around Ellie and the two shared another somber hug. They held the embrace until each had assured the other they had regained the composure necessary to disengage from their hug.

Together, Sarah and Ellie rose from the bed. Ellie clutched Sarah's free hand in both of hers…Sarah was still holding the picture.

"So what's next for you?" Ellie queried

Sarah's response was more or less the truth. "I can't be here at the moment. I'm going to take a little time and get a way for a while. Then, I'll decide what I am going to do next."

"Well don't stay away too long" Ellie told her "you're always welcome here"

Really? Sarah pondered. Ellie noticed the look on Sarah's face and continued…

"Chuck may be gone, but you will always be part of our family"

Sarah's mouth opened slightly in shock…her reaction to the weight of Ellie's last statement.

I enter these peoples lives based on a lie and all they do is accept me as friend and grow to love me as family. Ellie was just as amazing as her brother.

"Take all of the time you need in here, and feel free to take whatever it is you need. I know that Chuck would want you to."

Sarah responded with a heartfelt "Thank you"

With that, Ellie turned and left the room…leaving Sarah alone with her memories.


Sarah stood before the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. 89 stars expertly chiseled into the white marble. She was still angry with the Honor and Merit Awards Board…and the Director for that matter...for not supporting her nomination of Chuck for the wall. Sure, he had not actually been a part of the agency, but after all they had accomplished…after all that he had sacrificed for his country…Charles Carmichael deserved a star on that wall. For all they may have done, she couldn't imagine that the other 89 souls memorialized here had done any more than Chuck. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that someone had walked up beside her. Sarah didn't need to look to know who it was.

"He didn't ask for this…for any of this" Sarah started "He just wanted a normal life…and you were right all along…I couldn't protect him…not like this."

Casey didn't hesitate to respond to Sarah's statement. His former partner was hurting and needed his help. In spite of his lack of trust, and faith, in the CIA, he had to admit to himself that Sarah was the best partner that he had worked with. Yeah, she got distracted at times, but she was courageous, loyal and had saved his life several times during the past few years.

"Chuck's not dead because of anything that you did or didn't do Agent Walker. He's dead because of who he was. You saw him out there…He always did what he thought was right and he always put the people he loved first…regardless of the risk to himself. That's why you're still alive."

"I told him that it wasn't his job to protect me." Sarah rebutted

"When did he ever listen to us?…especially if he thought you…" Casey corrected himself, remembering that Chuck had saved his neck on more than one occasion, "…we were in trouble."

Sarah started to weep again as Casey continued, "He may not have looked like much on the outside, but underneath that thick nerdy shell was a real hero."

That made Sarah remember something that she had told Chuck. 'Some people want to be heroes and others have to be asked.' They certainly had never asked him.

Regardless of the rumors around the DOD and what the intelligence community may have thought, John Casey was not a heartless killer. He was just as much of a human being as anyone else. He recognized the turmoil that Sarah was in, so he stepped closer and put his arm around his old partner to comfort her…and he would stay there for as long as she needed.

Finally, Sarah had composed herself enough to step away from Casey. She turned to him…

"Thank you John"

"Don't mention it" Casey paused, "And when I say don't mention it, I mean don't mention it. I've got a rep to protect."

That warranted a chuckle from Sarah and she responded to him…

"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me Major Casey."

"So…what's next for you?" Casey inquired

"I have a meeting with the director this morning. I'm going to request some personal time to get away for a while. I need to decide if my heart is still in this. " she answered.

"Really?…they won't be too happy at the thought of losing you" Casey noted.

"They just might have to get used to it" she concluded.

"So do you know where you are going to go?" Casey inquired…"don't worry, I won't be tailing you if that's what you are thinking" he added.

Sarah confessed her lack of a plan, "Honestly, I have no idea. Maybe I'll go back and visit Ellie and Awesome…maybe I'll head to Europe…or maybe I'll just get in my car and drive…"

"I here Bermuda is nice this time of year" Casey interrupted.

He saw the puzzled looked that came over Sarah's face.

Sarah replayed a scene in her head from the day before Chuck had died.

"So what happens now?" She asked

"Honestly, I don't know…I could really use a vacation. I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year" responded Chuck.

"I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year…"

"I hear Bermuda is nice this time of year…"

By the time she snapped herself back into the real world, Casey was nowhere to be found.

That bastard. Did he know something? Has he known something all along? Did he and Chuck plan all of this and not include me?

How could they do that to me?


"…Once it is deemed safe, the operative will pass the mark into your custody. Once the mark is in your custody you will make contact with us to obtain final transport instructions. That's it." the director concluded.

Sarah was direct in her response to the Director.

"In all honesty sir, I don't think this is an assignment that I am currently capable of undertaking. After Operation Bartowski I was really hoping to take some time and make some decisions about my future with the agency."

"You're thinking about leaving the agency?" the director asked

"That's just it sir. I don't know right now. That's why I would just like to get away for a while. Operation Bastowski took quite a toll on me sir." she explained.

"Besides, there are plenty of great female agents who could handle this assignment in their sleep." Sarah added

"I know how difficult that assignment turned out to be for everybody involved…but Sarah, I wouldn't even ask you for this if I thought somebody else were capable of completing the assignment." the director persisted.

"Sir…it's just…" Sarah started before being cut-off.

"I would consider it a personal favor" the director said...making sure to emphasize personal.

Damn him.

"…and you might just be able to accomplish your other goal as well…take a nice, relaxing vacation at the same time…courtesy of the American taxpayer." the director added

"How's that sir?" she probed.

"The exchange will be made in Bermuda. It won't happen for a couple of weeks, so you can head down early, relax on the beach, do your soul searching and then complete the exchange. When you get back, you can let me know what your decision is." he replied.

Bermuda…so that's what Casey meant. He must have known about this.

"Sir, are John Casey and the NSA involved in this operation?" Sarah queried.

"I wouldn't know if John Casey is involved, but this is the NSA's operation" he admitted. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh, just something that Casey mentioned to me earlier today. He told me that Bermuda is nice this time of year." Sarah paused briefly and continued, "Sir, if this is the NSA's operation, why is the CIA involved?"

"Call it inter-agency cooperation, call it whatever you like…the fact of the matter is that Beckman requested your participation specifically. Seems you impressed somebody over there with the work you did these past few years." That should seal the deal.

Not impressed with his transparent tactics, Sarah relented none the less. "Alright sir, one last mission."


Notes: I know it is a bit unorthodox, starting with the 3rd act, but that was the easiest to write...plus, I have not made any final decisions on which Act 2 or conclusion I will use. If there is enough ( or any) interest, I will update with the first 2 acts upon completion followed by a conclusion and some additional notes to tie up any loose ends.

About the song at the dance...I really tried to keep up with the whole 80s nostalgia that the writers and producers of the show seem to love, but I just couldn't find one that worked like I wanted. I tried Bryan Adams "Please Forgive Me" but that song is too much of an epic...with the tempo becoming way to fast in the middle...and, while it might work for Chuck and Sarah, it didn't work as a wedding song. There was The Pretenders "I'll Stand By You", but for similar reasons, the song just didn't cut it. There were a few others, but none worked like 'Feels Like Home'...it's a great wedding song, and is pretty much perfect for what I imagined Chuck and Sarah wanting to say to each other.

This chapter may change...my outline has 2 different Act IIs that I haven't decided upon, and 2 different conclusions. Depending on which way I decide to go, this act could change to accomodate those decisions.