A/N Well I was inspired to write this due to some speculating over at NBCs Chuck boards, about what if there was 3rd organization who'd been involved from the beginning with Chuck. That speculation appears to have been completely wrong, but here it is anyway.

Chapter 1

Sarah smiled inwardly at the situation. They were having dinner at the nicest restaurant in New York, were sleeping in a five star hotel, and were being chauffeured around in a limo, and the best part was that it was all on the government's dime. Beckman had requested that they spend some time in New York checking out an anti-terrorism conference and make sure that none of the delegates were Fulcrum. They'd been happy to oblige, happy to be away from the Buy More, happy to be away from Ellie's wedding craziness, happy to stay in the same bed, happy to play the affectionate couple. "I can't believe how deep Fulcrum has managed to penetrate in some of these circles." Chuck said snapping her out of her thoughts.

"We'll be fine, Chuck, I don't think they compromised us."

"I think you've compromised yourself this mission."

She smiled, easily catching his meaning. "Perhaps we should spend some more time in the room, you know make sure that they don't see us anymore and blow our cover." While normally such banter would be out of the question being on "vacation" had allowed them to bend the rules a little bit, they flirted more, kissed, and touched each other more. Sure it wasn't a fully real relationship, but it was more than what it had been a few months prior.

They returned to their meals for awhile eating in a companionable silence. "I can't believe you've never been to New York before," Sarah said laughing lightly.

"Hey, not all of us get to travel around the world working for the CIA."

"Well you do now." She smiled at him, "Do you want to get dessert here or…"

Chuck's eyes twinkled, "I think our hotel room is getting cold."

Sarah pulled out her cell phone and dialed Casey, "Casey we're ready to go back."

A grunt was his only reply. "Which number?" Chuck asked as Sarah hung up.

"What?"

"What grunt number?"

"You've numbered them?" She asked surprised despite the fact that it seemed like such a Chuck thing to do.

"Yeah, of what I heard it sounded like a number six."

"Which means what?"

"Ok I generally don't care, but I'll do whatever it was you just asked me." Sarah laughed.

They stood up, having already paid their check, and headed out towards the door. Chuck—ever the gentlemen—helped Sarah with her coat before they made their way out into the cold New York air. Having spent the last two years in southern California they both smiled at the lightly falling snow. Casey pulled up to the curb a moment later. He stepped out and opened the door before returning to the driver's seat.

As soon as Casey pulled away Chuck had wrapped his arms around her and was pulling her close. "Chuck," her voice warned him while her eyes implored him to continue.

He smiled as their lips were centimeters from each other, "good for the cover." They both smiled at their common reason for touching and kissing each other.

"Casey might see," She knew that Chuck didn't like personal displays of affection and Casey seeing wouldn't be great for her, but they both knew what the end result would shortly be.

"You know Walker for a CIA agent you and your boyfriend really suck at sneaking around."

The couple shrugged, "He's n—" She was cut off as Chuck placed a finger on her lips.

"Go with it," Chuck whispered. Sarah smiled wickedly before crashing her lips down on Chuck's.

"That doesn't mean I want to see it though," Casey said before raising the window and turning his attention back to the traffic.

As they broke for air she smiled; they seldom had the chance to get Casey back so thoroughly and in such an enjoyable way.

***

Casey turned to them as they approached the hotel, "I'll turn the limo over to our contact and schedule our debriefing with Beckman for 0600."

"Can you give us another hour or two? We don't get to sleep during these UN meetings." She teased.

"0730, but that's the latest."

"Fine by me."

The bellman opened the door as Casey pulled up to the hotel. As they made their way through the lobby they played the role of young lovers who were completely enthralled with each other, being young and completely enthralled with each helped. They made it up to the room in record time completely entranced with each other.

***

Casey handed the limo off to the agent who'd take care of it for the night, and made his way back to the lobby and up to his room. He got off on the 18th floor and headed to his room; He slipped his room key into the door and slid it open, a quick check behind him confirmed that he was not being followed. He entered his room and tossed his gun onto the table while making his way over to his surveillance equipment.

He noticed that Walker had disabled her room's cameras, "well that's nice change." He muttered under his breath. He heard his stomach growling and picked up the phone to order room service, he hated wasting the government's money, but someone needed to be watching the asset and Walker sure wasn't going to be ready to defend him.

Casey waited for the knock that was accompanied by a "Room Service," call. He opened the door and gruffly grabbed the food closing the door and turning around in one motion. As he did that the women who had just delivered the food stuck her foot in the door, stopping it from closing then shoved it back open and before Casey could even react drove a hypodermic needle into his neck.

"Monitor his surveillance, we'll deal with the rest when they're sleeping."

"You sure sir?"

"Watch the lobby in the event they show up we grab 'em otherwise give him the night."

The man nodded and turned his attention back to Casey's surveillance equipment. "Wait sir, the surveillance in their room is down and shit! Two Fulcrum agent's just walked into the lobby."

"Fulcrum?"

"Yes sir, snatch and grab team perhaps?"

"Lima take care of them."

He turned to the agent in the room with him, "Keep on the cameras." He keyed his comm. again, "Alpha two take the rooftop, prep it for evac." He walked out and made his way back to the elevator.

***

"Sarah, I have to know, are we ever going to be a real couple?"

She picked her head up off his chest, "What do you mean? We already are."

"No I mean…Are we ever going to be able to be open about it." She cringed, she knew the relationship was hard on him; he wasn't used to having to hide it and it was barely real. They hadn't made love or even gone on a real date, but she'd told him that she wanted more one night after a mission and told him that she was ready for a real relationship.

***

One week prior to leaving for New York.

She felt slept tugging at her, she'd been up for well over a day first on a mission and then on the mission from hell.

***

The mission was supposed to be a simply raid on a Fulcrum warehouse. Chuck had flashed on it and identified it as a minor computer and explosive storage facility. Sarah and Casey had called Beckman and gotten the O. hit the place and try and secure some intel on further Fulcrum operations. Chuck had been ordered to stay in the car as the two agents headed into the facility.

Sarah and Casey entered on the ground floor and encountered no resistance. Walking quietly through the warehouse they heard a commotion upstairs. One of the guards walked out and started loudly talking to his friends, "Hey there should be some more beers downstairs in the fridge, just no spawn killing me while I'm gone."

Casey turned to her, "You have got to be kidding me, they're playing video games?!"

She gave him a slightly puzzled look the term spawn killing sounded like something Chuck had said, but she couldn't completely place it.

"Come on Walker, you must not listen to much surveillance he complains about it all the time, that and "martyrdom whores" he screams about at least once every time he puts in Call of Duty 4.

She tried to contain a laugh that Fulcrum and Chuck were both playing the same game. The Fulcrum agent made his way down the metal staircase slowly. He was slightly inebriated, probably from the previous beers they'd been consuming, but as he finally made his way to the bottom of the stairs Sarah approached from behind. She took one of her knives and dragged it across his throat, killing him.

They headed up the stairs and approached the room full of rowdy Fulcrum agents. It was comical at how easy these guys were making it. As she thought back to the whole thing she realized that this op was too easy. It might be a trap, what spies spent their entire night playing video games and getting drunk?

They moved forward anyway it wasn't like they had much of a choice and burst into the room and quickly dispatched all the guards. They began searching the room for clues as to what Fulcrum was up to.

"Chuck its clear come on in."

As they were going through the wires near the television she encountered one that was far too familiar. It was Primacord linked to C4 charges like the one hidden behind the television unit. "SHIT CASEY IT'S TRAP."

They both desperately searched for a way out of the building. Their eyes collectively settled on the window facing the bay. A quick look at each other and they're jumping out of the window and into the bay. As soon as she hit the water she realized her mistake. Chuck! "Chuck it's a trap get out of there NOW!"

Whatever his response may have been was cancelled out by the sound of the building being leveled by the C4.

"CHUCK!" She screamed into her microphone.

They scrambled up to the dock again and began searching for Chuck.

"What the hell was their plan?"

"I don't know, I'll check in with Beckman." Casey said dialing. "Major Casey, secure."

"Report Major."

"We don't know what happened ma'am, the building was booby trapped and the whole thing was a set up."

"Major we received intel shortly after you went in that indicated Fulcrum was aware that you and Miss Walker were working together. Considering your success against them we believe that they were willing to sacrifice those agents to take down you two."

"They didn't even put up a fight General, they were playing video games like civilians."

"Yes Major we understand, we are still trying to understand the situation, but at this time we believe the whole thing was a set up for you two the intersect should be safe."

"Actually general, he may have been caught in the blast we're currently searching the site for him."

"I'll dispatch a team and leave you to it Major, good luck." She hung up the phone.

He headed over to search the opposite side as Walker. He had just reached it when he heard her scream, "CHUCK!" he spun about and was running over to where she was now collapsed on the ground checking for his pulse and other vitals.

She was thankful for the rain, it hid her tears and she could pass off her shaking as a result of her wet clothes. "It's weak," she called to Casey. She tilted her head to the side listening for his breathing, "Don't—don't you dare leave me." Normally he was safe; Chuck never got hurt, of that she always made sure, she wasn't ready to face the possibility that he could get hurt. She and Casey could get hurt, but not Chuck he had to be safe. He was her constant. He was put in danger and threatened often enough, but he always managed to stay safe. Always safe.

Casey was over quickly, "Beckman's sending a medevac helicopter that should be here momentarily." She heard it approaching in the distance.

***

They were all sitting in the waiting room waiting for some news on Chuck. Sarah was pacing impatiently, annoyed at the lack of updates from the doctors, "Sarah can you please sit down! They're doing their best. Chuck will be fine."

Sarah looked over at Ellie, "How can you be so sure?" Her confidence was shot; she couldn't be the detached agent anymore. She already knew how'd she play it off to Casey, she'd tell him that this was all for cover that the pacing and concerned girlfriend were just for Ellie's sake. It's a lie, one she thinks he'll fall for not because he necessarily believes her, but because it's easier.

"I know the surgeon Sarah, he's the best."

"What if the best isn't good enough?" Sarah said collapsing into a chair.

"Sarah he's going to be fine," the desperation in Ellie's voice was almost palpable. She was clearly afraid for her brother's safety as well. Sarah had just snapped while Ellie managed to stay slightly more in control.

"Ellie? Devon?" The surgeon called as he walked around the corner. Sarah sprang up with them, but managed to resist running to him.

"Steve, how's my brother?" The pain was evident in Ellie's voice despite the brave face she was putting on.

"He'll be fine, he's out of surgery you can see him if you want." That was all Sarah needed as she took off for his room.

"HE'S SLEEPING THOUGH," the surgeon screamed down after her.

***

Her heart jumped as she saw his eye flutter open. "Sarah," he ground out. She could hear the pain and thirst in his voice. She brought a glass of water over to him and inserted a straw for him.

"You had me—us worried there."

He smiled at her, he looked like death. "Ellie was by, but she had to go on shift."

"C-Casey?"

"He's fine." Sarah stared at him for a long moment. She made her decision; this time was far too close, Chuck almost died. In one night her relatively perfect world had been shattered, her Chuck was merely mortal and wasting time was no longer an option. She needed to indulge herself with him before one of them ended up dead from the next bomb, "Chuck you once told me you—you had feelings for me."

He looked at her, confused as to why she would ask, but he remembered telling her as much. "Do you still?"

His look of slight confusion turned to one of complete bewilderment; he shook his head up and down slowly, indicating he did remember. "Chuck I…I care about you to," She let it hang in their air for a moment before leaning in towards him. Her mouth right next to his ear she whispered to him, "Do you think we could make this…make it real?"

His eyes gave her all the answer she needed, but before she'd give in and kiss him she had to warn him, the CIA agent in her might have lost the professionalism battle, but she was still around. "It won't be easy I don't know how much a long time we'll get and we have to keep up our cover appearance."

He nodded sadly, but she wiped the smile from his face with a kiss.

***

"Chuck you know we can't; Beckman would reassign me immediately and…"

"I know. I understand Sarah, just I don't want to have to-"Chuck stopped as the door to their suite exploded open. A quick look at Sarah's face confirmed his worst fears; she hadn't brought any weapons into the bedroom, they were defenseless.

Despite the lack of weapons Sarah was still up, and positioned on the right side of the door before he could say Fulcrum, Chuck stood up on the left side near the bed. They both knew it was probably futile, but she was going to go down fighting.

The door burst open and a man clad in full black armor entered pistol first in a weaver stance. Sarah threw a kick out aiming to knock the gun out of his hands, but he dropped his elbow and pulled the gun and his arms up and closer to his chest. She missed and the intruder jumped back into the room from which he entered and, seeing that she was unarmed and did not need to be killed, with his right hand pulled out a tranquilizer gun. He crossed his arms with his left hand holding a pistol aimed squarely at Chuck's head, who was standing to the intruders right, and the right holding the tranq gun aimed at Sarah, who was on his left.

Sarah looked over to Chuck to see if he had flashed on the intruder, but he was looking as confused as she was; he was wearing a balaclava that might be obscuring Chuck's flash. "Miss Walker please do not attempt anything further or I may be forced to harm either yourself or Chuck," he spoke with a British accent, it sounded like he had been raised near London.

"Why don't you leave and you won't have to deal with us."

He tapped the radio on his chest, "Report in."

"Lima, two tangos down, we're clear," the radio was slightly louder that it could have been, but he'd had it up higher while waiting around in the noisy hotel lobby so the Chuck and Sarah were able to hear the communications.

"Alpha two, rooftop clear we're good for evac."

"Sierra, feeds are clear no more company."

"Ok, I have the Intersect here there is however one slight complication…"

"The girlfriend?"

Chuck and Sarah looked at each other, "We're not really-"

"Echo we can't take her."

"Alpha two signal Alpha one to bring in the chopper I'll be up in five." He tapped his headset again stopping his broadcast.

"Who are you?"

He stared at her. He knew that he shouldn't tell her anything, hell protocol said he should take her down right now, but he felt a little sorry for the pair he knew what was going to happen to them by the end of this. "Classified," he turned his head and focused his attention on Chuck, "Chuck let's go."

The radio burst to life one last time, "Chopper is inbound Echo."

"Wait you actually call each other that? I mean Echo and Alpha? Don't you guys have names or something?"

"Callsigns are—Let's go Chuck, Casey is already down he won't be coming to back you up." He fired a round into the bed to make his point.

Chuck took a step forward and closed the gap towards the mysterious enemy. When Chuck closed within a couple of feet he reached out and batted the pistol away from him; Sarah lunged forward in an attempt get the tranq gun away from him, but was stopped as the enemy fired a tranq dart into her neck. She continued heading for him for a moment before dropping to the floor. "Don't worry she'll be fine in an hour or so."

Chuck rushed over to her, "Sarah?" He felt for a pulse. He let out the breath he was holding when he felt it.

"That was stupid of you Bartowski." He said as he fired a tranq round into Chuck. "They didn't cooperate, I had to tranq him." he lifted Chuck over his shoulders and made his way the elevator that his team member, Lima, was holding for him.

They contained their laughs at two heavily armed agents clad in black one who was supporting an unconscious man listening to elevator music as they slowly ascended to the rooftop. They stepped off the elevator into the snow and approached the helipad. "ETA?" He asked Lima.

"Should be coming into range right about now."

"You know our footprints will be pretty obvious in the snow, should we do anything about them lead?" Sierra asked as she stepped up onto the rooftop.

"Don't worry about them."

The MH-60 Pave Hawk landed in short order. Putting Chuck into the helicopter he tapped his long range radio back to base, "Team six is clear." And with that the elite team was on board and heading out into the New York City skyline.

End Chapter 1

A/N- Well I was hoping to see Chuck's renewal news, but it looks like I'll have to wait a bit before I get to hear that news so I decided to post this hope you enjoyed.

Updated it and added a few things, nothing that changes the story, but I just wanted to change the flashback around a bit.