A/N – Hi this is my first stab at a fanfic after reading many, many great stories. Creative writing is not a skill that I would consider to have in my wheelhouse but figured I should at least take a try at it. The first chapter has been sitting on my computer for about 4 months now and as my login name implies I was afraid to post. The best way to learn and improve is by doing. It is not spawned from the angst rumors about season 3. More from my own mental musings and I have only now decided to subject you to my writing. That is if you choose to read it.
Standard disclaimers apply – I don't own Chuck, the characters, or anything related to it. Parts of this story will refer to things that occur over the course of various episodes in season 2. They are mostly quoted from memory so the wording will not be exact. No beta so all grammatical butchering and plot holes are owned solely by me.
I always thought that it would be interesting how the story would play out if the following occurred at the end of Chuck vs the First Kill. I propose that this story will have a happy ending although I have not picked which one that will be yet.
The Betrayal
Buymore Lobby
Chuck is warily digesting what Sarah is saying: "Chuck we have found your dad and rescued him from Fulcrum. A NSA team is bringing him to the Castle as we speak. I am here to take you over to be there when he arrives."
Sarah wouldn't betray me, maybe lie to me but never betray me thought Chuck. Something does not feel right about this, but she has been the one constant during this whole mess with the Intersect. She promised to keep me safe and she has. Jill was wrong, I can trust her. My father the almighty Orion suggested so as well. I need to apologize to her and thank her.
"Sarah I must apologize" Chuck said apprehensively.
"Why?" Sarah gulped as she is finding it harder and harder to fight the overwhelming sense of guilt and betrayal of her current mission threatening to consume her.
"I was beginning to think that I could not trust you. You are the only person during this time who has been there to help me and kept my best interest at heart" Chuck felt better as the words started to flow from him. He could not believe that he had started to lose faith in Sarah. Combined with the exponentially increasing excitement of seeing his Dad rescued from Fulcrum his patented Bartowski smile was creeping across his face.
"Thank you Chuck." Sarah choked out meekly grabbing his hand and moving towards the door, barely able to maintain her professional mask knowing what she is leading her Chuck towards. "Let's go see your Dad". She said choking back the bile that has found its way to the base of her throat with the delivery of that lie. I can't believe I am doing this. I promised myself and Chuck that I would not let him go to a bunker. Casey is right though, this is the safest place for him. If only that vile thing Jill had not escaped, if only his Dad was not captured we would not be in this place, If only I had more courage to follow my heart. I have to do this for his safety, I have to follow orders. Maybe if we find Orion Beckman will release Chuck? Sarah rationalized to herself as she found herself walking across the parking lot with Chuck basically pulling her as he strode purposefully towards the Orange Orange. Sarah felt herself walking slower than normal subconsciously trying to enjoy what she knows is her last few moments with HER Chuck.
Castle
I can't believe she is going through with this. Grunts Casey as he watches the camera feeds while readying the tranq gun. I will hide in the blind spot next to the steps to tranq him as he reaches the bottom. It will allow me to surprise him and catch him so he doesn't hurt himself. That is the least I can do. For once I regret being sarcastic and I wish I had not said the comment about readying a dark hole for him to the General. I never thought she would take me up on it. This has been the best team and assignment that I have been on in a long time. The first time I felt at home in forever. At least Walker has not realized that this will most likely be more than a jail sentence, but a death sentence when he is no longer useful. This is so screwed up. Not only has his father served the greater good with honor, so has Bartowski despite being forced too. With no training he has done better than 99% of agents. Casey is shaken from his thoughts as he heard the door to the Orange Orange open. He hastily moves to his ambush site crouching to the low ready position. Three should but him down quickly. Sorry Kid. I hope you can forgive us, but Walker and I are about to earn your hatred.
Buymore Plaza Parking Lot
"Sarah are you okay? You seem to be walking slower than normal. You're not hurt are you?" Chuck asked with concern as he turned over his shoulder locking his eyes onto hers misinterpreting her rapid breathing and slow pace to physical pain instead of the real reason.
"Sorry Chuck. I am okay. I was just lost in thought about the roller coaster the past couple of days have been." Sarah finds herself looking down at their still interlocked hands taking in the electric connection that his gentle touch gives her. Sarah felt as if her legs were turning to lead. The various pivotal conversations over the course of the past few months start to play through her head.
"I have never had anyone who cares about me like that. Yeah you do".
"I will get this thing out of my head one day. When I do I am going to the live the life that I want with the girl that I love"
"This is something you should give to a real girlfriend. I know."
"He must of done something right. You turned out okay."
"I don't need to know anything about your past. I know who you are Sarah Walker. A girl I would like to share a cheeseburger with."
"You have to know that your father's sins are his and not yours".
Well this betrayal occurring right now is certainly mine she guiltily admits to herself. This will be the one that I regret the most.
Sarah finds her hand shaking uncontrollably as she unlocks the door to the Orange Orange. Thankfully her body is covering Chuck's view as it takes both her hands to make the key finally enter the lock and turn it. As they enter the store she lets Chuck walk by so she can lock the outer door.
Chuck pauses by the counter to wait for her to catch up. Sarah for the first time since she walked out of the Buymore looks into his eyes as she reaches up and places her trembling hand on his cheek gently rising on her toes to plant a gentle kiss to his lips. "Thank you Chuck" is all she says quickly turning away to enter the freezer, knowing that is the last time, if she ever sees Chuck again, that he will allow her to touch him.
Chuck's smile grows larger across his face as such unwarranted affection is rare and he misinterprets her Judas Kiss as a glimmer of something more. Sarah quickly keyed the code to the Castle swiftly entering to allow the natural shadows of the space to hide the tears that are threatening to overflow.
Chuck with a growing smile still plastered across his face from the combination of the brief kiss, the thought of his father being saved and feeling of relief that this whole mess may come to the end floats down the steps of the castle. As his right foot touches the floor he asks "Where's Casey?" He is answered by the quiet pfft, pfft, pfft of the tranq gun firing, followed by a slight burning sensation in his back.
"Sarah! Casey! Look out! Someone is in the Castle!" Chuck yells as he spins to see the threat. Seeing Casey holding the tranq gun Chuck's eyes widen in realization even as the sedative is rapidly attacking his senses.
As he drunkenly stumbles backward away from Casey "Wh.. why Casey?" Suddenly feeling Sarah wrapping her arms around him to catch him as he starts to fall. "You too Sa- arah?". Tears start to run down his cheeks as Sarah starts to lower him gently to the ground ending up with his head in her lap as he sprawls across the cold concrete floor. The shadow of Casey's form is standing over him now. "Blackrock…. Fulcrum…. Barstow… Orion… Jill wa was righttt." he gasps out as the darkness of unconsciousness takes him.
Casey sets down the tranq gun motioning Sarah to move over. "Let's get him off this cold floor. I'll take his head. Grab his feet Walker. We need to move him to the gurney back in the Medical Bay". She starts to move slowly releasing Chuck as Casey moves into position, not bothering to hide the cascade of tears that are streaming down her face.
"Walker it is for the best. We will be able to keep him safer there." Casey says as he starts to lift Chuck.
"Only if there are no Fulcrum agents inside the secure facility Casey." Sarah replies with wide eyes. Casey's face turns into a snarl with a low growl coming from his throat as that realization sinks in to both of them.
They carry him delicately to the medical bay placing him on the gurney. Casey's cell phone chirps. He looks down at it and reads a text message. "The extraction team has pulled up. I will open the rear entrance for them." Casey says as he strides heavily from the room. Sarah only weakly shakes her head in acknowledgment, her stormy eyes never leaving Chuck's unconscious form. She selfishly runs her hand through his soft curls taking in; no stealing a last luxury that she knows will likely fuel her nightmares and heartache for years to come.
I am sorry that I could not be stronger Chuck. I am sorry that I wasted our limited time together because of my fears. "I love you. You are the best man I will ever know." She whispers in his ear. Sorry I never said that to you when you were able to hear it. Sarah thinks as she silently sobbed when the extraction team entered the room.
Sarah and Casey hover gingerly over Chuck watching the every move of the extraction team as they prepare Chuck for transportation. The desperately want to ensure that he is handled with the care and respect that he deserves. Not because he is the nation's most important intelligence asset, but because he is their friend, teammate, and their portrait of the cost of the greater good. They both walk beside the gurney as it is wheeled out of the Castle and into the cargo van. Casey tugs on Sarah's arm with more force than it appears to tear her away from Chuck's side so the van can depart. Casey shuts the door and confirms that it is latched. With his slap to the door the black van pulls away. Casey and Sarah stare at the taillights until they disappear.
Finally Casey breaks the silence. "Walker we need to report the status and transfer to the Beckman. Let's get back inside." Laying a hand on her shoulder and giving it a gentle squeeze.
Sarah shaken from her emotions and thoughts by Casey's hand "I don't think I can talk during the briefing Casey. I need a few minutes."
"Don't worry Walker. I will take care of the talking." Casey said in an uncharacteristically caring tone.
As she reluctantly moves towards the door she says "Casey what do you think Chuck meant about Blackrock, Fulcrum, Barstow, and Orion? Do you think he knew where Fulcrum took his Dad? He was preparing to hastily leave the Buymore when I arrived. Maybe if we find his father we can save Chuck from the bunker." Sarah stated as the momentum of the idea starts to gain steam in her head. Not to mention what did he mean Jill was right? Did she warn him not to trust us? Damn her if she did. I will have to review the tapes of her time in the castle later.
"I don't know Walker, but that seems like a place to start. Let's discuss it with the General. The least we could do for the kid is try to find his Dad." Casey says as he enters the back door of the castle. There is no way the General will let Chuck back out in the field. But the least we can do is try to find Orion to make up for this massive mess.
Blackrock – Barstow, California
I am sorry Charles. For the mess that I created and for you being dragged into this life I tried to save you from. Orion thought as he monitored the NSA feeds from Burbank noting that a high value asset was being prepped for transport to a secure facility. He watched from the Buymore Plaza security cameras as the van containing his son pulled away. I thought you could trust them Charles. I thought your handlers were different. Sarah reminded me so much of your mother. I thought she cared about you Charles. Well I was wrong about Bryce in the end and it appears that I was wrong about them as well. Son, I don't know how yet, but I will get you out of this if it is the last thing I do.
As Casey and Sarah entered the Castle to report to the General, and Steven Bartowski in the bunker at Blackrock started working on a plan to save himself and his son little did they know that they were all thinking the same thing at the same exact time.
Damn Bryce for sending Chuck the intersect. Damn him for volunteering Chuck to this curse.