A/N: If you haven't read the revised version, I suggest you go do that now, as I made several changes that do affect the overall story. Ok well it had only been a day since I posted the first chapter of this series and it was almost immediately met with both positive and negative criticism. I just want to give a huge thank you to everyone who posted regarding several huge pot holes in the original version of this story and because of them I was able to revise and create a much more believable and realistic story that I feel will be much stronger and will have a lot more development. Thanks again and please, don't hold back in your feedback and review of this chapter, I truly appreciate every review and comment. I know that a lot of people have been commenting saying that they liked the original version more but I didn't revise just to please some readers. I revised it because I felt that the revised version would create a much better direction for this story. I hope you guys enjoy chapter 2, and without further ado, here it is.

A HUGE thanks to uplink2 for being my beta for this chapter. He provided me with an amazing analysis and some great feedback for chap 2, helping to really shape the overall direction of this story as whole. Go check out his stories, they're really good, I've just started reading them and I'm already hooked.

Oh yeah, I don't own Chuck, and that's probably for the best lol.

March 28th, 2010

Bob Hope Airport (Burbank, CA)

8:09 P.M.

Shaw entered the Bob Hope airport and immediately spotted Sarah. She had a look of confusion on her face; he knew that she was expecting another tall, curly brown haired man.

"I know Chuck is here. And if you want to protect him and his secret, take my hand and follow me." He leaned in close and whispered these words to Sarah. He knew that she would do absolutely anything to protect Chuck, so she took his hand in hers and he led them off towards security. "Alert anyone or try anything, and you both die."

Once they had made it past security and were waiting to board a flight Sarah suddenly found her voice.

"What the hell is going on Shaw?"

"That's getting a bit loud for my taste. I just need to make one phone call and Chuck doesn't make it back home. I know you may be a bit confused Sarah, but so was I at first. The director made sure to clear everything right up though." He leaned in for a kiss and she slapped him hard across the face. "Oooh, feisty, I like it. But let's save something for the honeymoon huh?"

"I don't know what you're planning here but-"

"Shut up Sarah. You've talked enough, now it's your turn to listen. And believe me; you're going to like what I have to say."

March 28th, 2010

Outside Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, CA)

6:07 P.M.

Shaw massaged his left cheek; Chuck had one hell of a punch. He was getting ready to call a taxi when a black Lincoln Town Car pulled up to him. The window rolled down and the small impish man, now known to him as the Ring Director, motioned for Shaw to enter the vehicle.

"What? How are you still alive…"

"Get in."

"You'd have to shoot me first."

"You're not of much interest to me dead, how do feel about the blonde though? I can have my entire organization after her with the press of one button. I just want to talk Shaw; we never got to finish our conversation."

Without hesitation Shaw grabbed the door handle and stepped inside the car, slamming the car door behind him.

"The entire US government is going to hunt your puny ass down once they find out you're still alive."

The director placed his hand up, motioning for Shaw to stop talking. "Just watch this Daniel, and then if you still feel that way, you can call your precious government. In fact, you can even be the one the put the bullet in my head."

Shaw was already thinking of more creative ways to end the director's life.

The director pulled out a small laptop and opened it up. The video of Shaw's wife began to play, exactly where it had left off in the old factory. He once again became a lifeless figure as he watched his wife laugh at the camera.

The scene changed quickly to Evelyn Shaw walking alone at night along a street in Paris. A younger Sarah also came into view as she walked past Shaw's wife. There seemed to be hesitancy from Sarah as she walked past Evelyn, and Shaw quickly realized what this was; Sarah's red test. Shaw was in shock and couldn't find the words to try and tell the director to shut off the video, he just kept watching in horror. BAM. The sound of a gunshot emerged from the laptop and there both women were. Sarah, alive and standing, with a gun in her hand, smoke still fuming from the gun, and his wife. Except Evelyn wasn't standing anymore. She lay lifeless on the sidewalk, a pool of blood slowly surrounding her motionless body. Sarah ran off camera and the video ended.

"You see what your precious government has done to protect you? You see how they treat their 'best and brightest'? By pairing you up with the woman who killed your wife!"

Shaw could feel the anger boiling within him. Everything had been a lie. He grabbed the laptop and threw it on the floor of the car.

"I understand that you're angry Shaw, but now I have to ask, do you still think I'm the right person who deserves a bullet between the eyes?"

March 28th, 2010

Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, CA)

8:48 P.M.

"Chuck! Chuck! Oh my god, Casey, what happened to him?"

"I was at the airport and Walke- Sarah left something in my car, I went back to give it to her and I found him like this." Casey almost forgot that he was talking to a civilian and still needed to maintain the cover.

Chuck could barely open his eyes but he was able to see that he was at the hospital. Nurses and doctors went whizzing by as the gurney practically flew across the hospital hall. Ellie's voice was getting harder to hear as he started to drift back into unconsciousness.

"Where's Sarah?" That was the last thing Chuck was able to hear Ellie say before everything went black again.

March 28th, 2010

Bob Hope Airport (Burbank, CA)

8:48 P.M

"In a way, I don't blame you. My wife was made out to be a traitor, making it easy for Graham to manipulate you into ending her life. But unfortunately for you, Graham is already gone, and someone still needs to pay." Shaw had just finished explaining the past few hours to Sarah and even though she was putting on a brave face, she was scared. She was without her team and had no clue where Shaw was planning to take her.

"Killing me won't do anything to fill that bottomless pit you call heart." Sarah practically spat those last few words at Shaw.

"I know, don't worry, I don't plan to kill you right away. Until I get what I want from the CIA, you're still of use to me." There was bitterness in every word that escaped Shaw's mouth.

"We will soon be boarding flight 145 to Mexico City." The loudspeaker caused Shaw to stop speaking.

"Well, that's the flight we're supposed to be on. Let's take a little walk. Remember, try anything at all, and Chuck gets a little visit from my Ring friends."

Shaw grabbed her arm but she yanked it away, grabbing her own luggage instead.

"Have it your way." Shaw proceeded to walk slightly behind Sarah as a spiteful smile spread across his face.

March 28th, 2010

Hospital Room 52, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, CA)

9:06 P.M.

Chuck awoke in a panic; he had been having a terrible dream. Sarah had shown up at the airport but she was leaving with Shaw. And then everything went blank.

He looked around and noticed an I.V. tube sticking out of his left arm, and then it came back to him. It hadn't been a dream, not even close.

"Glad to see you're finally awake." Casey mumbled as he stepped inside Chuck's room.

"Casey! What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

"Vaguely… I remember waiting for Sarah. And I remember seeing her there, at the airport. But then Shaw came… And she left with him. That's when my knees gave out. BUT HER SMILE. THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER SMILE."

"Looks like someone is enjoying their meds…" Casey laughed at his own joke but resumed a straight face when he realized that Chuck was still serious.

"Casey, something is wrong with Sarah. Something's not right, I'm sure of it."

"Yeah, I know. Drive her all the way to the airport, incriminate myself by telling her the truth about your red test, and she runs off with Shaw. Even I didn't think she was that cold."

"That's not what I'm talking about Casey! Sarah was surprised to see Shaw, she wasn't expecting him, I know it."

"Listen Bartowski, I know it's hard to accept the fact that she left with Shaw, but maybe you better get some rest…" Casey patted Chuck on his arm but this only annoyed him more.

"Casey! I'm being serious, something isn't right-" Chuck couldn't finish his sentence because the phone on the table close to him started vibrating, it was Beckman.

VRRRRR. VRRRRR.

"Answer it Bartowski."

Chuck snapped out of his daze and picked up the phone.

"Hi General, listen something is wrong- What? Yes. No, I can't. Rome is going to have to wait General, something is more important right now. Well that's what I was getting to. Something is wrong. No! It's Shaw. And Sarah. Yes General, I realize that the nation's safety is more important than my personal feelings but this isn't about that! I think Shaw's gone rogue." Chuck actually didn't have any evidence towards this fact yet but he figured it was the only way he would get the General's attention. "Yes I understand the severity of that accusation- no I don't have any evidence but-" Chuck face went white as Casey could hear Beckman shouting through the phone.

"…AND IF YOU EVER ACCUSE ONE OF MY AGENTS OF GOING ROGUE AGAIN, YOU BETTER HAVE SOME DAMN EVIDENCE."

The color in Chuck's face still hadn't returned as he put down the phone.

"Shaw and Sarah just checked in with Beckman… Turns out they've already been assigned to a new mission. They're heading to Mexico tonight to investigate another possible Ring affiliation… Everything is.. fine…" It seemed as if even Chuck didn't believe the words that came out of his mouth. "I don't get it… Her smile. I know her smile. I know her. She wasn't there to meet Shaw. It doesn't make sense Casey…" His voice got soft and Chuck lowered his head dejectedly.

"Sorry Bartowski."

March 28th, 2010

Bob Hope Airport (Burbank, CA)

9:08 P.M.

Shaw hung up the phone and turned to Sarah.

"You know, if I wasn't standing here bargaining with the life of your boyfriend, I would have almost believed that crap you just told Beckman."

"The CIA, NSA, and Team Bartowski aren't going to let you get away with this Shaw."

"Team Bartowski? That's cute. By the time the incompetent higher ups realize that I've gone rogue and taken you with me, I'll be far far away, safe under protection from the Ring."

By now they were walking towards a secluded boarding area and Shaw had an iron grip on Sarah's wrist. Sarah waited for a moment when Shaw seemed most distracted and ripped her arm from his grip. She punched him in the face and started to make a run towards the nearest exit but didn't get far before she heard Shaw yell after her.

"You know, the intersect might just be the most dangerous weapon in the world, and I can think of several organizations who would just LOVE to know it was being held by a Burbank Buy More Nerd. Can you imagine the type of experiments they would put him through? Just to access that one piece of very important US technology in his head."

Shaw smiled as he saw Sarah stop dead in her tracks.

"He'd be up in the air on his way to some undisclosed, untraceable location before you could even get a cab. Far out of the CIA's reach."

Shaw reproached Sarah and pulled both of her hands and placed them behind her back. He grabbed a pair of FlexiCuffs from his coat pocket and tightened them around her wrists.

"You see that's what makes a Buy More nerd like Chuck so valuable to me; aside from all those US secrets in his head of course. I know you'd do anything to keep him and that secret safe."

Sarah turned to face Shaw, she wanted nothing more than to kick him hard in the gut, but this was Chuck they were talking about. The guy who still used tranq guns. The guy that would do anything for his family. The guy who had shown up at her hotel room with a red rose, only to encounter Bryce once more. The guy who had saved Shaw from the warehouse just because he knew Sarah cared for him. The guy who still had a Tron poster hanging in his bedroom.

"This is exactly why you don't let yourself become compromised Agent Walker. Boyfriends make for wonderful bargaining chips."

"That night in Paris, I don't regret pulling that trigger one bit." Sarah didn't really mean that but she wanted to get back at Shaw, for everything that he was doing, including endangering Chuck's life. That night was the worst night of her life and to this day she had no idea if Evelyn had been reaching for a weapon. But Sarah had never felt like this before. She was helpless, Chuck's life was being put into danger and after everything that Chuck had done for her, and she was going to protect him, no matter what. Her comment seemed to get a rise out of Shaw though. She was met with a strong hit to the gut and she fell to her knees.

March 28th, 2010

Hospital Room 52, Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center (Burbank, CA)

9:34 P.M.

Chuck pulled the I.V. out of his arm, almost passing out from seeing the needle emerge from his skin; he really hated needles. Where were his clothes? He needed to get out of there and save Sarah. He could feel it in his gut, something was wrong and he was going to get to the bottom of him, with or without Beckman's help.

"What do you think you're doing Chuck?" A worried Ellie entered Chuck's room and sat him back down on the bed. "You're in no condition to go anywhere Chuck. We're still unsure of why you collapsed in the airport."

Chuck hadn't even thought about that, but right now, saving Sarah was more important.

"I have to go. I'm sorry Ellie, I'll explain later."

"CHARLES IRVING BARTOWSKI. Sit down right now. If you're just going to just up and leave after collapsing unexplainably and not give me any explanation, then you obviously don't know how far my powers reach in this hospital." Ellie wasn't angry though, it was more like she was worried, and Chuck didn't want to worry her.

"Listen El, I know that I might be acting strangely, but there's a lot going on, and I can't explain it right now. But I promise, as soon as I fix this, I'll tell you everything. But please, you have to let me leave, it's important."

Ellie sighed. "Chuck, I just… I don't understand what's going on. Last I saw you, you were getting ready to meet Sarah at the airport and next thing I know you're showing up in my ER. What happened?"

"El… I understand that you have a lot of questions, but right now I need to get to Sarah. We got into a fight and I said some stupid things, she left the airport and I was about to call Casey for a lift when I collapsed. I know that you want to what's wrong with me, but right now, I need to find her and apologize." Chuck hoped that this excuse would be enough to hold off Ellie, for a little while at least.

"Fine. Go. But I want you to promise me that you'll come back in and get checked out as soon as you're back. And have Sarah with you. She loves you Chuck, I can tell. So just apologize to her and make sure that she knows you love her too."

"Thank you thank you El, I promise!" He gave her a tight hug and grabbed all of his clothes as she left the room shaking her head disapprovingly.

Chuck was just about to leave when Casey barged in.

"Heard you're leaving."

"Yeah, something is up, I'm sure of that Casey. Sarah had this look on her face; it was almost as if she felt in danger. I need to find her."

"Don't go and do something stupid Bartowski. You heard the General, things are fine, don't start creating more trouble for yourself."

"Casey, this is Sarah! Do you really think she would just up and leave like that? Without telling me first? Besides, I saw something in the warehouse. The Ring Director was showing Shaw a video, his wife was on it. I didn't get a chance to see it all but I think it has something to do with Sarah."

"Listen Chuck, I'm not saying I don't believe you. I'm just saying that if you wanna do this properly, you're gonna need a plan."

Chuck just stared at Casey when suddenly a grin appeared on his face. "I've got it! Go warm up the Vic, you're about to become Team Bartowski's newest member."

March 28th, 2010

Castle (Burbank, CA)

9:57 P.M.

"General!"

"Chuck, I hope you're calling to say that you're ready to leave for Rome- What is a civilian doing in Castle?"

"Right, about that General, you said I could pick my own team. John Casey is one of the best and the only way I'm going to Rome is if he's back on the team."

"Let me get this straight, first you accuse Shaw of treason, without any evidence, then insist something is wrong between Agent Walker and Agent Shaw, again, without evidence, and now you're giving me an ultimatum?"

"Yes. And right now, I'm the only intersect out there, so if you want to continue having the intersect as a member of the CIA, you'll reinstate Casey." Chuck had no clue where all this confidence was coming from but it seemed to be working.

General Beckman stared long and hard at Chuck through the computer monitor before breaking the silence.

"Fine. But one screw up from either of you, and it's over. For good."

The screen went dark and Chuck turned to face Casey.

"You're welcome." He said proudly.

"Save it moron, we've got work to do."

"Ah, there's the Casey we all know and love."

March 28th, 2010

In the air, on route to somewhere in Europe (Exact location undetermined)

10:03 P.M.

"Lucky for us, we're flying private. Commercial airlines are just so overrated nowadays don't you think?"

Sarah didn't say anything, she was just thinking about Chuck. Thinking about how he must be feeling right now. There was so much that she wished she would have told him, but most importantly, she wished that she was with him right now, heading off to wherever he had planned to take them. She had been so prepared to start a life with Chuck, ready to leave this entire spy life behind even.

"Listen, I know you're probably thinking about poor Bartowski right now, but he'll get over it. I'm sure he could just give Hannah a call when realizes that you'll never be coming back, because once you get the Intel from the CIA and give it to me, you'll be of no more use to me. And then it'll be bye-bye Walker and Shaw will come in once again to save the day. Who would have guessed, Sarah Walker, committing treason. A traitor. But thankfully I was here, to save the day, and stop the Intel from being handed over to the Ring."

"That's your big plan? Framing me for treason?" Sarah let out a mocking laugh.

"Please Agent Walker, I figured you for someone a bit smarter than that. You see, that's only the beginning. Once the CIA believes that everything is fine again and their guard is down, that's when the Ring is going to make their move. I'll still have access to all the databases and that's when we'll wipe the CIA clean. But it only starts with the CIA; we'll eventually get the NSA and FBI too. I plan to make them pay for what they did to me. Oops, did I reveal too much? Eh, it's only a matter of time before you're 6 feet under anyways."

Sarah just stared out the window. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer and one escaped her as it rolled down her cheek. She wanted to be with Chuck so badly right now. She just wanted him to be there to tell her that they would make it out of this alive, like always, because she was a "bad-ass blonde" as he referred to it.

She wiped the tear from her eye and took a deep breath. She was Sarah Walker. She needed to come up with a plan. She was going to make it out of this alive, and she was going to spend the rest of her life with Chuck. Even if that was the only thing she was sure of at the moment.

March 28th, 2010

Castle (Burbank, CA)

10:00 P.M.

BEEP BEEP.

The main monitor turned on and a slightly worried General Beckman appeared on screen.

"Colonel! Is Mr. Bartowski there with you?"

"Uh no General, he left to grab some things from his apartment. What's going on?"

"Some of my men were inspecting what was left of the warehouse and found some hidden surveillance footage from inside the building. The Ring Director has Sarah's red test."

"I don't follow."

"Sarah was ordered to murder Evelyn Shaw as part of her final examination. We know have reason to believe that Chuck may have been right and Shaw may have gone rogue. They didn't board their flight to Mexico and Agent Walker isn't picking up on the encrypted line."

"I see. So how do we proceed from here General?"

"Tell Mr. Bartowski nothing. There is going to be a change of plans. We're sending our top men to investigate this and you and Chuck will proceed to Rome as originally planned. Some new Intel regarding the seven elders has appeared on our radar and the trail last left off in Rome. The seven elders are more important than retrieving Agent Walker at the moment and that's why we need Chuck there."

"But General-"

"Casey, this is an order that comes from the top. There is nothing I can do at the moment. Just follow the original plan and accompany Mr. Bartowski to Rome, ensuring he has no idea what's really going on. We need the intersect if we're going to follow this trail regarding the seven elders and I am sure that Mr. Bartowski will not cooperate if he knows that Sarah is in danger. I can't risk him going rogue to save her, not now, this is too important. But Casey, I want to ensure you myself, we will find Agent Walker and bring her back safely. But in order for us to do that successfully, we need Chuck to stay in the dark. For now at least."

"Noted General. Will do. What should I tell Chuck then? He's going to want to know why there is a change of plans."

"Tell him that Agent Walker left with Shaw. She's deep undercover and that is why they will not be able to have any communication."

Casey's loyalty would always lie with his country, but he couldn't help feeling for the poor kid. He had been through so much, and all of the lies and deceit didn't seem like they were going to end anytime soon.

The elevator door opened and Chuck stepped out.

'You ready Case? I'm all packed."

"Change of plans Bartowski."

"What do you mean? You said you'd help me! I don't understand."

"I just got off the line with Beckman. Sarah's gone deep undercover. With Shaw. No calls in, no letters out."

Casey didn't even believe himself as he told this to Chuck, but after seeing the defeated look on Chuck's face, he knew that Chuck was convinced. Casey really hoped that the CIA would find Sarah soon; he couldn't bear to watch the kid go through any more than he already had.

"I'm sorry Chuck." Casey placed his hand on Chuck's shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze. "We have our new mission though, we're going to Rome."

A/N 2: I hope that this answers some of your questions from the previous chapter. I know that I left some things open but don't worry, I plan to answer everything in due time. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and I'll try and have the next one up ASAP. Don't hesitate to let me know what you think in the reviews, I really want to know what you all thought!