CħᴧᵽṪ€ᴙ 3

"Where is she?" Knowing that Carina wouldn't be on his front porch unless there was a very good reason to. Chuck stared her down while Carina tried to come up with the right words. But how do you tell someone that the most important person in their life ever was missing or possibly dead.

"Can I come in?"

Chuck stepped back as Carina entered. Jenny walked in to see what was going on and sensed that her master wasn't doing very well. Remaining close by, she watched him as he closed the door. Carina then walked into the living area turning turns towards Chuck. "You might want to sit down."

"I don't want to, where is she?"

"I don't know?"

"Well what happened?"

"I don't know?"

By now Chuck had had enough. "Do you know anything?"

Carina sat down. Chuck felt like an idiot for saying what he said but this was something that couldn't wait.

"Sorry, Chuck, but I don't know where she is. But I wouldn't be here unless I had to."

"And I, am the only person you can turn to?"

"You're the only one that I can trust with this and you know that Sarah would do the same for you. I need you to help me find her. I know that this is not what you want to hear, but I need the best. Sarah always said that you were the best. She always said that Chuck would know what to do if anything happened to me."

"I hardly think that Sarah would say that."

"Okay that was me but am I wrong?"

Chuck got up to let Jenny outside then closed the door again. Carina got up. "A dog?"

"Long story."

Chuck walks into the kitchen and puts the kettle on, and over a cup of tea Carina fills Chuck in. Carina knows that he is special and that his skill set has been life saving in the past. So, she figures that she could ask him for one last favour for Sarah.

Thinking he heard Jenny, Chuck goes to the door to see that its not only Jenny but Casey as well.

"Oh, great your here to. I was doing just fine forgetting about Sarah and now your both here."

"Nice to see you too. But remember I was coming for a visit."

"Casey."

"Carina."

Casey put his gear down as he motioned to the fridge. Chuck nodded and Casey comes to the table three beers. Carina continues to plead her case. "Chuck, we need you to help us. After the feed on the broach was taken off, she knew that it wasn't going to end well. I have to believe that she tossed the feed when she did to save herself from being found out and to give us an idea of where she was heading to."

"Chuck." Casey putting down his beer. "I know that what Carina is telling you is not much because that is all she has. Carina left Sarah weeks ago and even then, intel was minimal. This Anton fellow we figure killed the last agent and her team when they found out about his work. Fearing that his secrets were no longer secrets anymore."

"And you let her go on this mission."

"She wasn't alone."

"If she wasn't alone, then why do we need to go looking for her." Chuck gets up and leaves.

Carina looked at Casey. "Well that didn't go well. I told you it wouldn't be easy."

Carina got up and wondered why Casey wasn't going after him. "Was he always like this."

"Some days, but you don't know the whole story so give the guy a break."

Carina didn't know that it had been over two years since they had seen each other. Casey filled her in as she sat back down. "Chuck told me about a year ago that he had to make a choice that didn't sit well with him but he made the choice anyways. He always said that it was either him or it. That is all I know."

"Well that's kinda stupid, who or what is this thing that was so big that Chuck broke it off with Sarah."

"Don't know but it had to be important enough, big enough in order for Chuck to bow out. They fought so hard to be together so I don't know and now after all these years you bring him this."

"Who else would do it? She needs him."

Hours went by till Casey who had nodded off, felt Carina tap his foot as she got up. Chuck walked in and placed his bags on the floor. "How much time do we have?"

"Less than 6 hours. Beckman needs an answer."

Casey walks up and looks at him. "Your doing the right thing."

"I hope so."

"Thanks, Chucky."

Casey and Carina headed to the door but Chuck stops them. "Need to wait for a bit I have someone coming to get Jenny."

Casey grabs Chuck's bags from the floor and heads out as Carina's ride was out on the street waiting for them. Chuck and Carina remained inside as Jenny snuggled in beside Chuck.

"You be a good girl for Garcia and I will be back as soon as I can. Got to go help an old friend."

Laying his head on hers, Carina heard someone at the door, opening the door there stood Garcia. Chuck got up and gave Garcia his keys and shook his hand. "Thanks, I appreciate this on such short notice. But a friend is need of my help so I have to go."

"Your always helping others." Garcia answered.

Chuck smiled, grabbed his computer gear and headed out. Getting into the car, he took one last look as the driver drove down the street.

Washington DC

Arriving in DC, Beckman welcomed Chuck back, but the reunion was better sweet. Chuck watched as Beckman pulled out a small case that when opened, he saw that it included his credentials and CIA badge. Beckman walked around her desk. "I never filed your resignation papers." Shocked, Chuck looked up at her. "And why not?"

"Chuck, I have been doing this job for a long time and I haven't had an agent like Ms. Walker. But when Team Bartowski was formed I saw how the three of you worked together and no matter what, you could rely on each other. When you became an agent, I hoped that you wouldn't want to quit. But when the agency felt that Sarah's job was on the line, you chose to quit, knowing what it would do to your relationship. I know that you cared for her so much that you risked your happiness so that she could still have her job. But you were and still very important to her."

"I know, but I couldn't be the one with the job, when I wasn't the spy. It found me. She was destined to be a spy. What kind of life would she have had if this was taken from her. I couldn't be the one that allowed them to take that away from her. Even if meant that we were no longer a couple. If I could stop it then its exactly what I did.

"Exactly that is why I never filed. I knew unfortunately that one day I might need you, she might need you. I didn't think that it would be because of this mission."

"General I haven't flashed in a long time." Beckman sat down and turned towards Chuck. "Chuck, you don't need to flash to be an agent. You did it before."

"Yeah Casey reminded me of that as well."

Beckman slowly got up and squeezed Chuck's shoulder. "I know its hard to come back under these circumstances but if you were out there wouldn't you want her to come and find you?"

"What, and have her turn into some blonde she male and terrorize the world as she searched for me."

"Yes, I would!"

Beckman left her office leaving Chuck to have a moment. Casey and Carina walked towards Beckman as she closed the door.

"He feels obligated to keep her safe. He stills feels guilty for his choices."

"But General, he made an admirable decision to put someone else's life in front of his own. How many men or women for that matter would give up an opportunity like Chuck did so that the person they loved could remain doing their job. They were going to give her a new assignment, right?"

Beckman lowered her head. "Not at that moment." They felt that after the Ring and Shaw she wasn't agent ready anymore. That she had become soft in the eyes of the CIA. That she had lost her edge. And on top of that her relationship with Chuck didn't help either."

"Seriously, they proved themselves over and over to be fit enough to remain as agents, remain as a couple. It was almost 8 months with no problems."

"We had plans for Chuck to head to Europe again for additional training at the end of that year but instead he made sure that Sarah was given another shot. Also, he had some pretty big reasons for them not to say no. He sent a package that they couldn't say no to. He made it clear that with what he gave them he'd step back and he did, no questions asked, so that Sarah could remain an agent."

Chuck reached over to the desk and grabbed his items. Flipping open his badge cover he sat back remembering sitting at a table where Sarah gave him his gun wrapped up in a cloth napkin, where he had to do his final test. He felt that he had lost her and in a sense, he did. Was the badge worth it. Chuck closed it and headed out the door where Casey and Carina waited.

Carina grabbed his arm and headed down the hall to one of the ops room where Chuck had requested all of Sarah's intel and research. Carina sat down with him as he got straight to work. Chuck watched the clock as time was running out. The longer it took them to find her the less chance of her returning in one piece.

Hours later, Chuck was impressed by Sarah's detailed analysis and research. She had crossed a lot of names of her list that she figured were not going to lead her anywhere. The ones that were starred Chuck knew that they were still ones to look into. Carina's returned with something to eat and drink. Looking at how much Chuck had gone through in such a short amount of time she knew that she had made a good decision by getting him. Carina put the food down.

"Yeah, she wasn't sure if these few." As she inserted the USB drive of Sarah's last feed.

Chuck unwrapped his burger while he listened to her voice. He hadn't heard her voice in almost two years. Watching intently, he rewound certain parts that caught his eye. But wasn't thrilled to see Anton kiss Sarah like he did. Carina spoke up. "She's just doing her job."

Hesitantly "I know."

Chuck switched to her last feed from the Caribbean and thanked Carina for the broach idea. But as Chuck watched she knew what was coming up. Interjecting Chuck continued to watch. "You might not want to watch this."

'Anton, wet and not wearing much slid between Sarah's legs as she kissed him, then he returned that kiss which was very hot and steamy'

Her actions Chuck quickly remembered her every kiss she had with someone else before him, Cole, Bryce. But then he had Paris. Carina left him alone as he paused the feed. Finally seeing her reflection in the mirror, it pained him to the core.

The next morning Cairo – local time

Sarah awoke to be thankful that she was given another day. Not that she feared for her life but, one she had more day to figure out why she was in Cairo and how long she'd be there and how could she get word to Carina. She just hoped that her dear friend was doing whatever she could to try and find her. Sarah got dressed and for the first time in a day or so she walked around to see how beautiful Cairo was. Arriving very late two days ago the jet lag got the best of her and her dreams didn't help. He was now the main fixture in most of them, a constant reminder of how much she still missed him and what went wrong. She knew that he didn't continue with the CIA but why? Forcing herself or more like doing whatever she could not to remember him she thought that she did pretty well, till she dreamt of Paris and the dream that was not her own, dreamt it anyways. Staring outside to the people down below, she figured that they were in the middle of a very busy market area. Either he wanted to hide in plain view or this was the only place he could find to stay. Walking down the stairs to the main floor she saw Anton getting up, kissing her good morning. Sarah smiled then sat down next to him at the table. Grabbing a cup, he got up and poured her a cup of coffee. Smiling back, she sat back and nursed her coffee. A slight feeling a warmth took the slight chill off her body even being in the desert.

"Good morning Sarah, sorry for the hastily exit we had to make to get here."

"It's okay you had your reasons, its just that I wasn't expecting such a long road trip."

"Yes, I understand, so sorry but I got word that they were having an auction very soon on Egyptian antiques and I hoped to attend just in case there was a chance of getting the last statue."

"Really?" Knowing that she was right to think that there was more to these statues. But she couldn't play all her cards just yet.

"Yes, but I have to run darling. I need to meet with the curator of the museum and then get my seat for the auction. I will try to be back by noon, your welcome to stay here or visit the market. I will leave one of my men with you."

As Anton got up Sarah grabbed his hand and held it as she turned slightly to reach for his shirt and pull him closer. Kissing him she spoke as she released her lips from his. "Can I come, I would love to see the museum, always wanted to but never got around to it."

Anton trying to focus from the kiss. Blinked a few times, then Sarah kissed him again. Anton wiped his lip slightly then stood up. Looking at her she made it very hard to say no.

"Ok, but I have to go to my meeting, you can mingle around then we will meet for lunch. But I will still leave one of my men with you."

Sarah got up and gave Anton a hug which lead to a sultry kiss. Anton knew that he couldn't resist her lips. Anton walked out of the room as Sarah grabbed her napkin and wiped her lips.

Egyptian Museum of Antiquities

Sarah walked in as Anton headed down a long hall way that housed at least fifty 14 foot statues and other Egyptian antiquities. Seeing how far he went, it allowed her to gauge her time to make sure that she ended up at that end. Walking around she tried to lose her tail, trying several times she finally succeeded when she made him bump into a small crowd knocking over a display. Sarah found a phone and quickly dialed Carina.

Washington DC

Dialing she knew that it would early there but she had to take that chance. The call went through but the waiting was painstaking.

Carina rolled over and swore at the idiot that chose to call her at this hour. Looking at the clock on her phone her eyes diverted to the number, she quickly pressed the button to accept the call. Running down the hall to have Chuck listen in.

"Sarah!"

"Yes." As she muffled her voice.

"Where are you?"

"Cairo, can't talk long. There's' a big auction coming up and I feel that is when he'll make his move. Will know more then."

Carina ran into the room as she put her phone on speaker. Chuck who was still awake, didn't like the intrusion but waited to see who was on the other end."

"Sarah, where are you?"

"Now, I am at the Egyptian Museum."

Chuck quickly pinned the number and sure enough there showed an outgoing call to the United States. Chuck nodded as Carina tried to keep her on the line.

"Where is this, Auction? You ok?"

"Got to go. I am fine. Not sure when I can get back to you. Ditched my baby sitter. Don't know where I am staying looks like somewhere near the main market. Got to go."

"Sarah be safe."

"I will."

"We're doing our best, be in touch soon."

"I know you will."

"Sarah." Chuck silently cried out.

The line went dead. Carina put down her phone then sat down next to Chuck as he tried to log into the feed of the museum. Chuck finally got a connection as they watched Sarah walk back out as her baby sitter met her.

Egypt

At that moment Sarah looked up at the camera almost instinctively. Feeling that someone was watching her. If she only knew that he was. Carina went back to her place to pack for Egypt while she made calls to Casey and Beckman. Chuck waited for the door to close and in his solitude watched Sarah walk throughout the museum. She hadn't changed much, maybe her hair was a big shorter than it had been. Otherwise she was still as perfect as perfect could be. Chucked watched her till the feed fizzled out.

Sarah walked through the wings till she ended up at the wing where Anton had entered over 2 hours ago. Not seeing or hearing much, she had to get rid of her shadow before she could continue looking more into this. Seconds later, her prayers were answered when her shadow got a call and he left not before she was told to stay put.

Sarah watched as he left the wing and Sarah started opening doors trying to find the room he was in. Sarah was able to catch one of doors before it closed shut as one of the curators walked out. Checking to see if there were cameras she was safe for now. Listening outside she managed to hear Anton's voice and another, while the third voice belonged to the man that he had yelled at the hotel back in the Caribbean.

"Your sure that the last statue is going to be at this auction."

"Yes, it is your unless someone else out bids you."

"Who else would that be?"

"We know pretty much who is going to be there."

"Yes, we do but we don't always know of the online or phone in bids. That won't be till the day of."

"Are the transports ready?"

Anton spoke to the third man. "Silas are the transports ready?"

Silas, a bit hesitant spoke. "Yes sir, we will have a truck load of immigrants ready to move. A 1/3 of them will transport the antiquities for us, as planned while the other 2/3 will move go on as normal. Unless they are detained we will have someone at the other end to take the antiquities off the trucks. The shipment of the duplicates will be marked with a gold symbol the real ones which are just the four you have will eventually be taken to your place.

"Good." As he walked up to Silas. "That wasn't so bad. If you told me this a few days ago you wouldn't have to worry about the consequences. If this works out your safe, but if there is any problems and I lose my statues and my money I know who to come after first."

Anton grabbed his face then kissed each cheek, then reached for the door.

Sarah hurried back out and waited further down the hall as Anton came out and turned to her direction. Sarah turned and smiled as he walked towards her.

Washington

Carina and Casey entered the small room to see that Chuck was still at it. Impressed that he hadn't lost computer skills, Casey wondered if it was enough. Chuck had found an approximate location of where Sarah could be. Showing the two he was able to pinpoint from Sarah's location at the museum and her saying that she was staying somewhere near the main market and throwing in the flights manifest, she had to be in the west side of Cairo.

"I guess we start there." Casey looked around at the two.

Piggybacking on a Lockhead C-5 Galaxy Bomber, Chuck and Carina sat along the back side next to their hammocks, while Casey comfortably jumped into his and closed his eyes. It would be a 16-hour flight, which Chuck knew was 16 hours of worrying till he saw her. But what would he say, what would he do?

The bomber took off as the engine roared and the wheels bounced under its large frame. Gaining enough speed, the bomber ascended into the air which seemed like forever before it levelled out. Moments later the green light came on allowing personal to freely walk around the plane. As Casey slept, Chuck walked around in awe at the magnitude of the plane. It housed a couple of hummers, a helicopter and 4x4 quads just to name a few of the items. Most of the plane was quiet by now as most on board knew when to sleep to regain their strength. Beckman had pulled strings to get them on board and because of her connections the team had full support of the personal on board if need be. The best part was that she threw in a few Navy Seals to help them.

Chuck walked back to see that Carina wasn't alone. Chuck walked up to her as the man got up and Carina introduced him to Samuel. "Nice to meet you, Charles. My name is Samuel Garrison MI6."

"It's Chuck. Nice to meet you."

"So, you're the one."

"The one." As Chuck sat down.

"Yes, the one that captured Sarah's heart."

"Chucky, you know that you always had her heart, I saw that when we first met. Remember when I told you that I loved taking what Sarah wanted. I knew then and I still know that you had feelings for her and I know she still does."

Chuck let her words soak in, then looked at the two.

"I don't think that if she knew that I was helping you guys she'd be all Chuck I missed you. It was me that broke it off again and this time its for good."

Chuck got up. Extended his hand to Samuel then hugged/kissed Carina on the cheek. "I'm going to try this hammock thing. Getting kind of tired. Talk to you later."

Chuck found an empty hammock further down, grabbing his head phones his music cradled his soul to sleep.

Casey woke up to see that Carina had been up for some time. Wondering where Chuck was, she pointed to the last hammock. "He finally fell asleep. Very restless."

Casey sat down beside her. "I guess we can let him sleep a little bit longer."

Casey drank his coffee. "Where do we go from here?"

"I think we eventually check out the market like Chuck wants to. I'm thinking that he has a plan already but I'm not sure how he'll react once he sees her or what he's going to say?"

"What do you say?"

"Right. At least when Chuck showed up about a couple of years ago, while she and I were on an assignment. They hadn't seen each other for some time and he decided to show up on a take down and almost blow it. Seriously, you should have seen how mad Sarah was at him. But in the end, I think that they both needed to see each other, even if it was under those circumstances."

"I found that too, when we took down Carl Stromberg, even after their annoying nattering, it was obvious that they had feelings for each other."

"You think he'll be alright."

"Yes, he will. He would never literally hurt her, I know that for a fact. His choices well as admirable as some of them are, he has a long way to go. But she seems to love that about him. I better get the sleeping prince up."

Casey got up and grabbed a cup of coffee and walked over to Chuck. Placing the cup at the height of the hammock, Casey waffled the aroma of the coffee in Chuck's direction, till the hammock started to move. Casey stepped back as two long legs poked through and landed on the floor of the plane as one arm extended out. Casey put the cup in his hand. "We meet in 15 minutes."

Chuck gave a thumbs up. Casey grunted a smile and walked back to get ready for the last debrief before they would land.

Cairo

Landing in an undisclosed field, the team decided to head directly to the central/market area of Cairo. Chuck, Casey, Carina, Samuel and the 2 Navy Seals jumped into two trucks and headed into town. Donning appropriate clothing, they were able to find housing from a local whom Beckman had ties with and who was already familiar with Cairo. Parking in the back the team set up their surveillance in the spare room facing the street. Chuck unpacked his gear and hooked up his computer watching the people below and listening in the distance the familiar music of morning prayers. Watching the vendors set up their displays of spices, fruits and vegetables. Chuck passed one of the tripods to Casey as he walked over towards the window to set up one facing the left corner of the markets while he grabbed the other one to face the right side. Casey gave the Navy Seals a picture of Anton and one of Agent Walker and no matter what she her life was number one. Both agreeing Casey left with them to do some foot patrolling around the area. Carina and Samuel set up another ACID mapping crossing off the names that Chuck had found not viable to finding Sarah or Anton.

Chuck sat at the table and hacked into the Wi-Fi and internet feeds. Each list he did another search to find out where the feeds where coming from and how long people were online. Being so early in the morning, he didn't think that anyone would be on but the few that were he spoke into his watch alerting Casey of possible places where Sarah could be. Casey and the Navy Seals tagged each of those places that came up with a pin that when activated could only be seen by special goggles. Allowing the buildings to be easily located later on.

2 days later

It was the morning of the second day and they had no leads. Chuck, Casey had just been out doing a walk about when Carina had a hunch that the three go back out. No sure why, but she learned to go with her gut.

Sarah awoke to the same routine as the days before. This time Anton wasn't at the table but left a note. Opening the note, she read. 'Didn't want to bother you. Had to go back to the museum, will be back in a bit meet me at the Khalid café at 11:00. See you soon.'

Sarah got ready and figured that she'd do some shopping and maybe make her and Anton some supper. 'I got to move fast on this.' She told herself. Heading back downstairs, she grabbed a cloth bag and her sunglasses and headed out, unfortunately not alone. Choosing to ignore her literal shadow, she combed the stalls of the market, smelling the fresh spices and looking at the vegetables, fruits and how their markets were so much more exotic than ours back home.

Chuck and Carina walked together as Casey and Samuel walked a few feet behind. Carina grabbed some samples and shared them with Chuck. Carina found some berries passing a handful to Chuck, Chuck remembered sharing some berries with Sarah.

Sarah turned left and started looking at the scarves and garments that blew subtly in the wind. Casey moved in beside Chuck as Carina and Samuel stopped to look at some jewelry. Chuck finished his berries, wiping his hands on his pants, he got a whiff of a scent that wasn't local but something that he knew was familair. Chuck looked up and looked nervously around the market. Casey saw that Chuck looked liked he had just flashed. Walking closer to him. "Did you flash?"

"No worse."

"What?"

"Please tell me that I am crazy to smell her."

"Smell her?"

"I mean I smell her perfume."

Casey looked around as well and all they saw were locals buying a variety items. Chuck then heard what could only be a voice of an angel. Casey and Chuck stopped in their tracks as Sarah came into view and as she turned her scarf blew away from her face, Sarah tried to manage it by flipping it back behind her shoulder. Chuck swallowed hard as Casey couldn't believe their luck, they had found her. Chuck dropped what he had picked up and headed straight to her but as he got within range of reaching her, Casey held him back as a tall man came in from behind and grabbed her. Turning around she smiled as he kissed her. Grabbing her bags, they headed down further down the market. Chuck followed Sarah as Casey kept close to Chuck. Casey spoke into his watch. Carina and Samuel quickly headed into that direction as well. Stopping short of being seen, Chuck watched Sarah being escorted into a café. Casey held Chuck back but Chuck was determined to let Sarah know that he was there. As Anton walked ahead, Sarah stopped then turned as she heard a name being spoken high above the sounds of the crowd.

Chuck stopped shy of being seen and said her middle out loud. 'Lisa', Sarah stopped and Chuck hoped that she would inquire and at the last second, he saw her turn in his direction. Carina and Samuel watched from the other side out of view. But as a hand grabbed hers Sarah turned smiling at Anton but not before she took another look in Chuck's direction.