3 Months Later

Sarah was breaking. Three months without so much as a word on Chuck, and she thought she might explode. All she did was search for any possible lead. Day after day, she pored over the reports on every mission Chuck had been in involved in, looking for some possible connection to his disappearance. And night after night, she went home to an empty apartment. She couldn't bring herself to sleep in their bed; it was so cold without Chuck. She just slept on couch curled up in his Star Wars blanket. Casey and Morgan weren't much better. They spent all day with her searching for leads. Casey called in old favors and Morgan scanned every network for signs up of Chuck, but there was nothing. Ellie and Devon were quiet and sad. All they could do was ask Sarah every day when she returned home if there was any news. Every day she just shook her head dejectedly. They had nothing to show for all their work.

Until one day, exactly three months, eight days, and fifteen hours since Chuck had disappeared (not that Sarah was counting), they did. Castle was silent and still, save for the rustling of pages. Then Morgan suddenly let out an excited whoop as his monitor came to life. Sarah was by his side in an instant.

"Morgan, what is it?! Did you find him? Did you find Chuck?" Sarah could barely contain the hope that bubbled up inside her chest.

"Maybe! A CIA mole just forwarded this email he intercepted detailing the transfer of a prisoner by name of C. Carmichael. It says here he was taken to an abandoned warehouse in Poland. Here's the coordinates. This email is old, but he could still be there right?" Morgan was also having trouble keeping his excitement at bay. Without saying a word, Casey requested Beckmann's backing on a rescue mission. She quickly granted them access to any resource she could provide.

"Ok Team, we have a green light. Let's go bring Bartowski home."

Poland

Sarah and Casey walker silently and swiftly along the underground corridor that led to the basement of the warehouse. Morgan had stayed in the van to manage the Electronics in the warehouse. He had managed to hack into their system and was ready to override them at any time. Two guards stood watch at the entrance to basement. Without a sound, Casey and Sarah snapped their necks and silently eased them to the ground. Casey snatched up one of the radios and listened in.

"Team Six, come in." Casey thought fast when he saw the large number six written on his radio.

"Team Six here, over." He said in a voice he hoped sounded like the guard.

"We need a last minute change up here. Get up here and guard Carmichael. I know your new and all, we're needed elsewhere. Don't worry; this guy doesn't have any fight let in him." Sarah gasped. She couldn't believe their luck. They were being led straight to Chuck. Still, the comment about him had here scared for his health. Thinking fast, Casey replied.

"On our way. How do I get up there from the basement again? This place is a goddamn maze." The guard on the other end proceeded to give him directions as they headed up. When they arrived, the hall was empty and they keys were left on the floor for them. Sarah glanced around to ensure they were alone, then reached out with a shaking hand and opened the huge rusty door.

Sarah froze in shock and horror for a moment. A man she barely recognized as her husband lay in the corner of the filthy room, arm chained to the wall. Mentally shaking herself she ran over to him while Casey slipped inside and locked the door. He quickly joined her at Chuck's side. He looked like Hell. He was unconscious, but privately, Casey thought it was blessing. He must be in awful pain. The room was freezing, yet Chuck was only clad in a pair of thin jeans and a light undershirt. Every visible part of skin was bruised and bloody, as though he had received daily beatings. His left arm was bent at an odd angle and he had a very obvious stab wound on his left thigh. Casey gently palpated his much too thin abdomen, trying to ignore how he could feel his ribs that nearly poked through his black and blue skin. God, were they feeding the kid? Casey grunted in dismay as he felt the tell-tale rigidity in Chuck's abdomen that indicated internal bleeding. At least it couldn't have happened too long ago, or he'd be dead, Casey reasoned. He check his pulse, it was rapid and weak, just like his breathing. Sarah gently placed a cool hand on his grimy forehead, nearly pulling it back in shock when she felt the heat radiating off him. Chuck chose that moment to groan softly. Sarah leaned closer and cupped his abused face in her hands.

"Chuck? Baby, can you hear me? Please, come back to me Chuck!" she pleaded. It took a moment, but eventually chucks glassy hazel orbs fluttered open.

"S-sar?" It was all he could get past his abused vocal chords at the moment.

"Yeah, baby, it's me. We're gonna get you home ok? I've got you." Whatever reaction Sarah had expected, what happened next was not it. Chucks breathing quickened and his pulse raced. He began to struggle weakly to free himself.

"Nononononononono! You're…she-she's de-dead! M-my f-fault! Couldn't…couldn't protect her. God, Sarah I'm sorry!"