What would happen if Chuck did not go back to save Sarah and Casey in Vs the Subway.

"If you stay, everyone you love will be in danger. You have to choose who to protect: you or her" Orion said while waiting for his son to make a life changing choice.

Alarms started going off, making the situation even more stressful. "Right now, Charles, you have to run to protect her" explained Orion in a hurriedly.

"I'm sorry Sarah. I'm sorry, if I would have to choose I would always choose to protect you" answered Chuck and he gave her one last passionate kiss. Without a second glance, he jumped into his father's green Jeep and sped away. This left Sarah just standing there, completely heartbroken.

Minutes later, after her mind was still in shambles over Chuck, Sarah found herself walking straight into Shaw's new office. She had been called there to meet with him personally. If she had it her way, he'd have a bullet between his eyes rather than a pleasant conversation.

Looking at her would-be killer, her eyes narrowed down in disgust.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" she remarked, emphasizing the sir.

His expression did not change in the slightest. He leaned against his desk and smiled.

"I would be remise if I didn't tell you, you look great Walker, love suits you I guess" he answered cynically.

He was just waiting for Sarah to attack him.

"Shut up Shaw, this is crap and you know it" Sarah spat back.

She was done trying to pretend that everything was ok. Because it wasn't at all, it was far from it actually. It had been a difficult day; she was not going to give in and break down in front of him.

But Shaw only craned his head. He replied, "Only two people know what happened in Paris. It's your word against mine."

She shook her head in sheer disbelief. Taking a step towards him, she threatened in an intimidating tone. ""Chuck saw what happened. We all know you tried to kill me."

"Yes, but Chuck has become an unreliable witness. His mind has been comprised by the Intersect and now that he has escaped…he seems so guilty." He feigned a pained sigh. "I'm sorry you had to learn about his mental deteration in such a public forum. Sad he didn't tell you in a more intimate way, Sam," Shaw finished in the same condescending fashion. He was still waiting for her to lash out.

And then she broke.

In a flash Sarah got up and aimed her gun right at Shaw's chest. He faked a surprised face. This was what he wanted all along.

"You are going to put your hands up, and walk out, and tell the Generals what exactly what happen in Paris. So move it." She demanded.

Shaw smirked, causing Sarah to drop her guard."I knew you would bite."

The doors suddenly busted open and six agents ran into the room, armed with guns pointed right at Sarah.

"Drop it, Agent Walker," commanded one of the agents.

Sarah looked at all of the Agents. Her eyes wavered with betrayal and then final became resigned. She bowed her head unwilling to meet any of them in the eye. How could she have been so stupid?

Shaw then began his orders."Arrest her. She has gone rouge." He took a step towards her, "It's a shame; I remember when nothing affected you. Now you're emotional as your boyfriend"

Sarah lifted her gaze to meet his. They were brimming with resentment and anger. Her fist clenched and before Shaw could react, Sarah punched Shaw right in the face. He collapsed to the ground and then Sarah was carried out of the room, a satisfied smirk on her face. Now she remained in CIA custody, waiting for punishment of a crime she did not commit.

! (Break)

After Chuck had left Sarah standing alone in the empty parking lot at the CIA building, he and his father began their long drive up into the hillsides of Los Angeles to where a secret NSA hideout was located. Throughout the entire drive Chuck found it impossible to wipe the most recent memory from his brain. Abandoning Sarah was the worst thing he could've done and he knew it. Every time he would replay it in his mind, the look on her face as they parted from their last kiss, it made his heart drop a beat.

Stephen saw the soulful look in his son's eyes and he patted him on the back encouragingly. ""Son, I know you don't want to believe me but that was the most important choice you would ever have to make, and I am so proud of you."

But Chuck still was fearful. He asked, "Dad, how do you know everybody will be okay, especially Ellie?"

"You just have to believe in your decision," was the answer. Orion pulled the car into the driveway of the cabin and continued, "So you have to train and make sure that when you do return, it was not all in vain. You need to be ready, Charles. Ready for anything."

Chuck remained silent. His thoughts still lingered on Sarah.

And when they arrived at the front door and entered in the hideout, Chuck had no strength to continue. He sat on the couch, drained from such an emotional trying day. Closing his eyes he remembered back when he thought his world was really ending; Sarah was going to leave with Shaw for Paris. But with just like anything he knew about Sarah Walker, she was completely unpredictable.

He let sleep take him over.

! (Break)

Chuck sits in his apartment lying in the middle of the floor with a plastic toy guitar resting in his limp hands. A bottle of alcohol sitting beside him, half-empty. Morgan is on the floor not too far away; tied up with old videogame controllers thanks to the Intersect. Chuck is drunk and he makes a clumsy grab for the bottle of whiskey. He's about to take a long self-depricating sip but the door opens and Sarah walks in. She is in total shock when she sees him so unlike himself. She wastes no time and rushes to untie Morgan so her and Chuck can talk in private.

"Morgan, can you leave us please?"She asks him kindly as she sits beside Chuck.

The bearded man jumps to his feet and gives them their space, mumbling about how he can never listen to Pretty in Pink ever again.

Once he's gone, Sarah's expression turns serious. She looks at Chuck and expects an answer for why he is drinking is sorrow away. He can tell that she is uneasy by his appearance. He returns her gaze, crestfallen.

"I know what I look like, the mint ice cream sobered me up pretty bad" he explains with a defeated sigh.

"Chuck its okay," she says and scoots closer to him.

"No it isn't!" He moans, "I thought I could save you. I thought Shaw was a bad guy and I was going to save you and we would be together!"

"Shaw is a good spy" Sarah tries to defend the other guy but it falls flat and is forced. She desperately waits for Chuck to understand the truth. She wants him to just shut up and kiss her.

But he only continues to ramble on, "I get it, I think everybody gets It: Shaw is amazing! And you two are going to run off together and save the world." His voice dies down and he mumbles," And that's great news for the world, but earlier on in my drunken haze, I realized I hadn't asked a question, a really important question that I would like to ask you now if that's ok?" He pauses for a second and finally asks, "Just once for the record: Sarah do you love me?"

The entire apartment falls into silence. Chuck looks at Sarah, his heart beating so fast that he can hear it pumping blood through his ears. Sarah has that confused expression on her face and is speechless. He worries that he's not going to get the answer that he wants to here. He feels like an idiot. Of course she doesn't love him, she loves Shaw. She wants a real hero, not someone like him.

As he vocalizes these things, he forgets to listen to Sarah, who is in the middle of trying to answer his question. Chuck thinks he heard something and stops talking. He blinks in confusion.

He asks, "What did you say?"

Sarah gives him a timid smile. "I said yes. Yes, I fell for you a long time ago. After you fixed my phone and before you started disarming bombs with computer viruses. So yes, yes."

He can't believe it. It feels like a dream. Sarah brings herself towards him and cups his face with her small petite hands. Sarah Walker loved him. She loved Chuck Bartowski. He smiles his goofy Bartowski grin and then they revel in a long, passionate kiss.

!

While Chuck remained fast asleep, Orion was rummaging around the cabin, looking for weapons and other supplies that could aid in helping his son reach his potential. He walked over to his large computer monitor and opened several drawers. He grabbed the supplies needed to finish building the Governor for Chuck. Several minutes passed and Chuck shifted uncomfortably in his sleep, finally waking up when the sun's rays had seeped through the open blinds and fell onto his face.

He groaned and scratched his head, looking around and not remembering why he was there. Then it all came back like a flash. Sadness filled him up once more.

His father saw that he was now awake and said, "Chuck, we have limited time here before we're compromised. That means we'll have to leave soon and cannot return to Burbank." Before Chuck could retort, Orion took his phone and removed the battery. "It also means we'd be safer without phones, they might trace our calls you know."

Chuck eyed his father and then stood up off the couch. He grabbed the phone back from his father, "I can't do this, Dad. I can't leave everyone behind like you did…I can't keep making the same mistakes."

Stephen replied, "Charles you have to. In order to protect everyone, you have to disappear." He saw the conflict still brewing in those young brown eyes and sighed. "But if it helps, I will always be with you."

Chuck stared at his dad briefly and then to his phone and his watch. They were tools for the CIA to find him. He frowned, he wasn't going to like this at all. Conceding, he said. "Okay, Dad. Let's go."

He made sure to leave his cell phone and watch on the table. No one would be able to find them now. Not unless they wanted to be found that is.

Father and son then abandoned the hideout. The green jeep rumbled down the rough terrain towards Orion's secret cabin.

After the four longest hours of his life, Chuck saw the cabin from the corner of his eye. Stephen led his son inside the house to drop off his things before going to the backyard which was an open field, perfect for sparring or any other kinds of training. Chuck had to crack a smile at that. His dad was always prepared. An assortment of weapons hung by the backdoor, as well as an obstacle course that would make John Casey proud. Chuck surveyed the entire yard and almost was hit in the face when his father tossed at stick to him.

He caught it with uncoordinated hands. He looked at his father with a shocked face.

"Son, flash," he said.

Chuck blinked. He said worriedly, "Why? I don't want to hurt—"

Orion cut him off, "You need to learn to live outside your comfort zone. So flash and fight me."

Chuck still looked unconvinced. Orion grabbed a boa stick from the wall and advanced towards his son. He jabbed the stick gently into Chuck's chest, hoping that something would come of it. Chuck only shook his head in defeat.

"I'm sorry Dad, but I can't flash when my emotions are compromised."

"No Charles, you can and you will," directed his father.

Suddenly the stick swept underneath Chuck's legs, causing him to trip and fall to the ground. Chuck was on all fours, gasping for air. He looked up angrily at his father. Orion then stepped closer and put the stick inches away from his nose.

"You and only you are in control of yourself."

Chuck's eyes narrowed and then they became a blur. Flashes of combat moves for using the boa stick flooded into his brain. He had now become an expert. The flash had ended a split second later and Chuck leapt up and then immediately threw himself into battle. He attacked his dad with flawless moves. He quickly dispatched the stick from Stephen's hand by smacking his weapon with extreme force against his father's. Then he finally stabbed the stick against his chest hard enough so that Orion lost his breath. Before Chuck could make his finishing move, he was forced to his knees clutching his head while a high piercing noise invaded his ears. He moaned.

Orion looked down at his son with a sympathetic expression. He said, "Son, I know you need the Governor but I am still only in the testing stages. I apologize but you'll have to bear with the pain for now."

Chuck rose to his feet with wobbling legs. He let out a pained groan and then through half-hooded eyes, glared at his father.

"Dad, I need to stop. Please," he begged.

Stephen nodded and watched his son as he headed back inside the cabin. He hated that Chuck was going to have to relive what he himself had to go through a decade ago. It was obvious that Chuck could not stay on the run for forever. He needed to be with his friends and family.

But to ensure their safety, Chuck had to master not only the Intersect, but himself. Once he could do that, he could leave his life of running and hiding behind. He could go save them all and live a normal life.

Stephen hoped that it would all pan out that way.

Even if it didn't for him.

!

Five Years Later…

It had taken longer than expected. But at least he was now ready to go home. Exile was tough, but he knew it was only the beginning.

To get his life back—and everyone he held dear to his heart, he had to fight with everything he's got.

Chuck was standing in the dojo, practicing for one last time. He was a force to be reckoned with today. He punched the bag twice in hard succession; it swung backwards and then when it came his way, Chuck unleashed a perfect upper kick. The bag came off its hinge and then hit the ground with a loud bang.

His father was watching from the entrance. He looked extremely proud of his son.

"I think you're ready, Charles." He said honestly.

Chuck looked over his shoulder and smirked. "Yeah, you think so?"

Stephen nodded but added, "But there is one last thing I need to make sure of…"

He went to the armory and grabbed a training sword; unsheathed it, pointing it at his son. Chuck raised an amused brow. Even after all these years, his dad still had it.

"Quickly, disarm me." He instructed.

Chuck eyed the dull blade and then turned away from the broken punching bag. He did not need the Intersect's help for this. Without warning, he made his dash towards his father. He made sure to run sideways, evading Stephen's first strike. Then he agilely moved in such a way that he was now in his father's face. He sent his elbow hard into Orion's chest, causing him to fall backwards. Before he fell to the ground, Chuck took hold of his wrist, twisted it enough to cause him to release the sword. Chuck then claimed the weapon with deft fingers only to discard it on the floor.

He gave his father a triumphant grin, "So am I ready now?"

Orion was helped back to his feet by using his son's hand as leverage. He rubbed his aching back but returned the grin with earnest.

"Yes, I'd say you're definitely ready, Charles."

"Good, so when can I leave?"

He watched his dad walk back to the armory and then take a knife from the top shelf. Chuck's face became perplexed. What was he doing now?

Suddenly he heard the whoosh of said knife coming quickly towards him. There was no need to flash because he had reacted fast enough for the blade to fly right past his face and stick into the wall behind him. Chuck stared at the knife that almost killed him and then back to his dad. He was breathing heavy with wide, frightened eyed.

"I thought we gone over this!" He yelled exasperatedly. "No more knives to the face, remember?"

Orion shrugged, saying. "I was just making sure…"

Chuck wanted to laugh but couldn't force the sound from his throat. Instead, his face softened when he realized that this would be the last time seeing his father.

"You're still not coming with me, are you?" He asked, knowing the answer.

The elder Bartowski shook his head, "I'm sorry son, but I can't risk following you. This is your story now, Charles. You were always destined for great things. Now prove it."

Chuck looked down and away, overwhelmed with what was happening. He saw the Governor around his wrist and he traced a finger along it. He had him brimming with a new sense of confidence and purpose.

"I'm going to save everyone," he promised with one last look at his father.

"I know you will. Be safe, son."

Chuck gave Stephen a giant hug. They parted and then Chuck left to gather his things before leaving forever. This left Stephen alone in the dojo.

He smiled, "Aces Charles, Aces."

!

A green Jeep raced down the hills to the city below. With a determined look set on his face, Chuck pressed the gas pedal as hard as he could. His mind traveling a mile a minute as it thought about its one purpose in life.

To save his friends, his family, and most importantly—

An attractive woman in a brown jacket and pink shirt heads for the Nerd Herd counter. Her eyes set straight ahead, she tries to locate her target.

A short bearded man is surprised by this unanticipated visit and he shouts" "Stop the presses, is that Vicky Vale?"

The tallest nerd herder—Chuck, he has a phone pressed into the crook of his shoulder as he joins in with his friend's song.

"Vicky Vale, Vicky Vicky Vale, Vickity Vale—"

He stops when he's elbowed gently in the side. He looks up and suddenly drops the phone while his mouth falls agape.

It's like staring into the sun, when he sees Sarah Walker for the very first time.

He is lost in her radiance.

He could not look away.

And he could not look away ever since.