There was a small gathering on a small boat somewhere in America. Or more precisely, two people sat on an airboat out in the middle of a lake in the Everglades. Swarming with crocodiles, and even worse insects. The first walked around with a heavy limp, wincing as she walked across the surface. The second sat tentatively on the boat edge, blinking at the moonlight.

"So what do you want me to do?" Morgan asked, wincing as his companion winced around the boat.

"I want you to do exactly what I want you to do. We need to head to an office so I can show you exactly why you should trust me. Your best friend, Chuck Bartowski, has been lying to you for the past 3 years," Alicia responded, fiddling with where Casey had shot her.

"Does it hurt, being shot?" Morgan asked, trying to break the silence. He trusted her, but there was something about her which he didn't like.

"That idiot, John Casey, he works with your pal Bartowski. Any one less agent makes our ultimate goal easier,"

"Which is?"

"Enough Morgan, really. I want you to remember that you have left the comforts of California behind you. You're in Orange County now, and you're working for me,"

Morgan could only nod, thinking about his family. The chance to make his mum proud of him. He had to do what was needed.

"Where to first?"

"Actually Morgan, we're heading upstate first. There's something we need to attend to,"

*

Sarah Walker clutched onto Chuck's arm as they stood by the graveside. It wasn't a place she wanted to go to regularly. First with Bryce, now this.

What seemed to piss her off even more was the fact that not many people had bothered to attend the funeral of a man who had died to save so many. A few army marines stood blinking in the sun, whilst she and Chuck took up seats near the coffin. A painting of John Casey adorned the area around them- him in his army uniform and in Buy More clothing.

"I can't believe he's actually gone," Chuck whispered into her ear. She nodded briefly, feeling eyes on the back of her head. She turned around and found nothing but the countryside.

After the service, Chuck and Sarah approached the coffin. Chuck laid a red rose on his coffin, the irony deep in it.

"Guess no more crosswords for you huh big guy?" Chuck laughed bitterly.

"He'd be proud of what you've done Chuck,"

"Would he? Would he approve of how quickly we abandoned those people on the cruise ship?"

Sarah kissed him briefly as if to respond, and he breathed in the scent of her shampoo. Fantastic.

"He'd approve to know you could fight another day. That's all that matters,"

*

They were watching through a pair of binoculars over the hill. Alicia was kneeling nearby, her eyes peeled on Sarah at all times. Morgan admired the scenery, his eyes slowly slipping shut as he realised he hadn't slept in two days. Or been on Call of Duty in 3 weeks.

"Looks like John Casey died too. An eye for an eye. Isn't that justice Morgan?" Alicia breathed, thinking of her brother who had drowned on the cruise ship.

"I don't know Alicia, Casey looked after us on those long Buy More hours,"

Alicia came close to slapping him, but resisted. She needed him more than he needed her. He just didn't realise yet.

*

General Beckman walked over towards them, and she smiled bitterly at them. She stuffed a tissue into her pocket briefly, and Chuck couldn't help but wonder if that was tears he noticed.

"You have a new mission," Beckman reminded them, her voice wavering. "I've given you time to grieve for John Casey. But the spy world can't wait for you two to sort out your guilt. So I want you to head down to Orlando to experience the good life,"

"What does this mission involve, cause I don't feel a lot like missions at the moment," Chuck pressed, folding his arms at her.

"This is simple surveillance. After we catch Alicia Weiss you will be free to a year off," Beckman smiled.

"That's all mighty fine General, but we should remember that every time I go on holiday I almost get killed,"

"Yes, well usually we'd have Colonel Casey accompany you on this one, but he's hardly available at this minute," Beckman coughed, and then regained composure. "Which is why there's something else about the mission,"

"What is that? You're assigning some hard-ass agent like Forrest or Carina to tail our every move,"

"Not exactly," Beckman smiled weakly, and took a last look at Casey's portrait. "I'm coming with you,"