I don't own Chuck, but I sure wish I did.

I'm not really sure about the introduction, and I'm not sure where I should take this piece. I'm more of a stream of consciousness writer, so I don't do coherence and plot over chapters well. That's why this is my first longer-than-a-one-shot fic. I'm also not sure whether to make this more of a drama/angsty fic or a supernatural/sci-fi/adventure piece. Any reviews and suggestions would be helpful! Thanks a lot...

Introduction:

"Sometimes I wish I was dead too."

Sarah, startled, turned, expecting to meet his face, but he was staring out the window. A window out of many windows they had come across, in their struggle to find their place, a place to finally feel safe.

She didn't try to chastise him; "I just try to push that thought out of my head." She knew they were both in a difficult place, physically and emotionally. His sentiment had been common recently.

She hesitantly walked toward him, pulling him close and resting her head on his back, the only luxury she allowed herself since it happened. She knew what he was looking at; it was what he was always looking at. She turned her gaze in the same direction and toward the barren horizon. The tumbleweed looked almost comical, turning and turning in endless circles across the yard. The trees no longer had their usual green foliage and it seemed as if the whole world was engulfed in an orange light. The sky was melted gold, which could have been beautiful under different circumstances.

They just stood there, her holding onto him, staring out the window.

He turned and faced her, pulling her arms away from his body. He stared into her eyes and said, "Thanks for staying with me. You've been like a best friend these past few days. You don't know how much your support has kept me going through this all." With that, he drew her in close again, head rested on her shoulder, and inhaling the deep scent of lavender and gunpowder.

Chuck turned his head and whispered in her ear, "And you know what the best part is?"

She grinned and replied, "We can say how we really feel."

They stood there, like grinning idiots, when a dark shadow interrupted their confessions and blemished the orange landscape.

Chuck's face registered with instant recognition.

"Casey!"

He bolted out the door, leaving Sarah ponder what had just been confessed and to observe from afar. They could talk more later.

"I knew you would make it! We got your message a few days ago…We were waiting." Chuck beamed and engulfed the weary man in a crushing hug, releasing days' worth of worry.

Casey, although never one for PDA, couldn't help but grin. "Keep it in your pants, Bartowski."

Casey extracted himself; "I couldn't get here earlier 'cause of the stupid morons who put the blockade the road. I searched all the possible places Bartowski; I went to your apartment, the Buy More, the hospital to look for Ellie and Devon … but I couldn't find anything." Casey finished the sentence with a rare hesitancy and averted his glance from Chuck's hopeful face.

Chuck, crestfallen, tried to hide his disappointment. "It's okay buddy…right? If you didn't find them at all, then they should be okay…I mean…they could just be hiding out too... at least Team Bartowski is back again." Trying to lighten the situation, he playfully butted Casey's arm and proceeded to lead the tired spy toward the cabin.

"Sarah's been here, protecting me, so you didn't have to worry."

"Hmph. Who said anything about me being worried? And I'm sure she had you covered, or…uncovered, the whole time."

Chuck's face turned a bright shade of pink, but he laughed it off. "It's been great really. Getting back in touch with nature…But sometimes I wish I could listen to some music or play some Call of Duty with Morg— " He stopped before it all came out. He wasn't quite ready yet.

Sarah, quiet the whole time, assessing their new situation with Casey, tried to interject as if nothing happened at all. She gestured her hands and explained to Casey, "We've just been on the lookout for others. I've tried to set up some minor surveillance with the equipment we had left, but it's really no use now is it?" She hesitated for a moment before saying what they all had on their minds, "General Beckman's gone. And there's nothing left. There are no orders. No rules. Everything's changed." She averted her gaze to Chuck.

"I know….I guess the Intersect isn't of much use anymore is it?"

Sarah stepped toward Chuck to say something, but surprisingly Casey spoke first. "Fumes must've gotten to your head, Bartowski. Who said we were here to protect the Intersect? Everything's changed moron. We're here for you."

Chuck, touched, stretched his arms out to bear hug the gruff NSA spy, but Casey adeptly maneuvered out of the sign of affection. "Just because everything's changed still doesn't mean you can hug me idiot."

Chuck sniffled, "I missed your snide comments."

Sarah chuckled and picked up Casey's bag, "I'll put this in your room."

Casey and Chuck were sitting down at the table when she came back. She knew how much an advantage having an extra man was, but that meant they also had to restock their food supplies: "We're running short on food, so we have to make it to the nearest supermarket…if they have any left. We've already checked the nearest drugstore and looters and things...got to it first. Plus I don't think we can survive much longer on Frosted Munchies."

Casey nodded. "You can take the man away from a mission, but you can't take the mission out of a man. Come on, its time to get crackin'."

Sarah gathered what guns and knives they had left, packed a large black duffel bag and threw Chuck the only reminder of the life he used to have, his black Buy More jacket.

"We can't go by car, its too conspicuous, so we'll have to trek it by foot. But we have to be careful about being quiet..."

"Great. Just coming back and I get to hear Bartowski complaining about his wussy legs? I need a drink."

"Hey hey, I resent that. My legs have gotten a lot stronger you know? I've been getting training."

"Oh I'm sure you have...."

Sarah sighed; it was going to be a long trip.

So how was it? Good, bad, boring, needing of more action? I kind of have any idea of whats going to happen in the next chapter but any suggestions are always welcomed!

Please review.